Hibi Chouchou [Chapter 66]

Atohira has just confessed to Suiren. Suiren looks surprised. He looks away then looks back at Suiren. He urges her to quickly say, ‘sorry’ to him [<- sorry = rejection]. To Atohira’s surprise and aghast, Suiren seems to be nauseous [or choking]. He asks if she is alright and quickly sit down. Covering her mouth, Suiren mutters that it isn’t deliberate. Atohira angrily thinks that if is ruder if it isn’t deliberate. As Suiren sits down, Atohira says that she is already used to a confession right. Suiren mutters..con..fession..? Atohira leaves and comes back with a bottle of water. After giving it to Suiren, she thanks him. She drinks a bit [I presume] and breathes out. Atohira says that she has foresight [/discernment] when she chose that guy. Wondering if Atohira really likes her, Suiren looks at him and remembers Kawasumi. Then, flustered Suiren says, “..sorry..” Atohira says that the time they [Atohira and Suiren] know each is still longer than the time that they [Kawasumi and Suiren] went steady. “..about today, I hope that you won’t tell [anyone] anything.” Suiren says okay. Suiren thinks that a so-called like [/love] is not at all something that someone and someone said so, it is feelings [/intention] that naturally connected.

While walking, Suiren looks at Atohira’s back. Upon arrive at her house, Suiren bows to him. Atohira tells her not to have that kind of expression. He says that when she is in front of him, it is the same thing, she also won’t smile and this is not bad. “See you [/goodbye].” As Atohira walks away, he wonders why he insisted on being rejected by her. And, Atohira goes to Hajime’s room. He greets Hajime who is writing something. After sitting on the bed, Atohira wonders why they are brothers. He lies down on the bed and thinks that this is the same as that guy’s ceiling. This irks him. Ichi asks if there is something that is bothering him. Atohira didn’t answer. He thinks that he doesn’t hate the silence at this kind of time. “Even if I didn’t say anything, but he can feel it. (he should).” And, someone suggests that they go eat curry. At a curry restaurant, Atohira orders 0 degree of spiciness while Hajime orders 10. Atohira reads manga and Hajime reads the newspaper. Their curries arrive and they eat. Hajime asks again what is bothering him. Atohira finally says that Hajime’s younger brother makes him angry. 

Meanwhile, Kawasumi goes to Suiren’s place. There is a scene of Meguna telling him that Suiren went away with someone from a certain school [<- name of Atohira’s school]. Kawasumi tells Suiren that Meguna went to the club room. “..is it Atohira-kun?” Suiren nods. He asks if she is okay and lately, he is always saying this sentence. He wonders out loud over what’s going on with Atohira. Recalling Atohira’s back, Suiren says that there’s no.. problem. Kawasumi asks could it be that she’s hiding something. This startles Suiren. He says that Atohira won’t let her say anything, right. Suiren thinks that they have colliding ideas[/opinion] and she doesn’t want to hide things.. but only this thing.. “Like Kawasumi-kun.. Because I..” Suiren assures Kawasumi that there’s nothing that he needs to worry about. Kawasumi smiles and says, okay. Kawasumi arrives home and sees a pair of shoes. [<- Atohira isn’t at his house?] He goes out again to go to the dojo. Then, he goes to Atohira’s place. Atohira’s mother opens the door. Atohira’s sister says that it is Kawasumi [Hajime]’s younger brother. Kawasumi asks if Atohira is here. The mother tells him that he might be upstairs. Kawasumi goes upstairs and knocks on the door. Atohira says come in. 

After going in the room and closing the door, Kawasumi asks if he came to their school today and what’s up that he went to see Suiren. After a pause, Atohira says that it is nothing. Kawasumi asks why he always won’t tell the truth. Atohira asks if Kawasumi really hates it when Suiren and another guy are meeting alone? He says that it is nothing, he already won’t see her again. Kawasumi says that he always felt that lately, he [Atohira]..towards Suiren..about Suiren..it seems that he had fallen for her.. Atohira says ha? “I don’t like her, a girl who cannot smile.” Kawasumi says that she can smile. Atohira says ya, and if he’s [Kawasumi] a man, then he should have more self-confidence. “There won’t be anything between the two of you, no matter who comes to disrupt things.” Flustered Kawasumi says, “It is because it’s Atohira-kun, I--.. *turns to leave* It’s really enough already.” After he left, Atohira mutters what does that mean. Kawasumi is thinking that as a rival, how he can possibly win against Atohira. At school, people are gossiping about seeing Suiren together with a handsome older guy.

Pouting Kawata says that even if he is in a bad mood about it, but he feel that the two of them are a super match, beautiful guy and beautiful girl. Ryosuke asks Kawasumi who that guy is and is it okay. Quiet Kawasumi thinks that not only is Atohira very handsome looking, he is always--..chasing after him. Flashback: Young Ryosuke told Kawasumi that there is no one stronger than him in their same rank. Kawasumi said not really. Then, their teacher introduced Atohira, one rank higher than him to Kawasumi and told him to have a duel together. And, Atohira defeated amazed Kawasumi. Atohira held out his hand to Kawasumi. Just when Kawasumi is about to take it, Atohira slapped Kawasumi’s hand away and left. This made Kawasumi pout. End flashback. And, 2-D’s maze is finally done! Everyone happily holds up their hand over it. A girl is amused that Suiren will do this kind of thing. Kawasumi smiles at them. At night, Atohira drops the tickets to the cultural festival after he put his bag on the table. He picks the tickets up and holds them tightly.

The next day at his school, Daisuke holds a couple of tickets and asks Atohira about going to the cultural festival at Suiren’s school because the others have work so how about him. Aghast Atohira says that he won’t go. Daisuke asks if he likes Suiren. Atohira denies it by saying how he can possibly like her. So, Daisuke urges him to go. Atohira says that he’s annoying. Then, Daisuke’s cellphone rings. It is Yuri. Atohira can only helplessly watch as Daisuke tells Yuri that Atohira is going with him. At the school, Aya works at the cook while Yuri is the seller of the takoyaki stand. When Suiren and Meguna visit their stall, Yuri asks why Suiren isn’t strolling around with Kawasumi. Meguna says that they couldn’t fit in the same class time. Meguna[?] asks Yuri if that person is coming. Yuri says yes, and he said that he will be coming over with Atohira. Suiren overhears this and looks sideways. Meanwhile, holding a placard to advertise their class’ maze, Kawasumi sees Daisuke and Atohira entering the school. Kawasumi goes to Atohira and says that didn’t he say that he won’t see her again. Atohira says that Kawasumi is still not like a man. And with that, he walks ahead. Daisuke looks tense over this.

Comment: Things with Atohira is a bit complicated. I’m not sure how aware he is over what he is doing like denying that he likes Suiren. Is it he is ashamed that he likes her? But then, based on how he is taunting Kawasumi, I think it is more on not liking the idea that Kawasumi beat him so he won’t admit it to others. It makes me think that is the reason that Atohira slapped Kawasumi’s hand away after that duel when they are young. He seems to I guess fear of Kawasumi’s potential in karate. That is what I feel from that. And just somewhat recently, Kawasumi defeated Atohira in karate and now, Kawasumi got the girl that he likes. Amusingly, Kawasumi has some sort of inferiority complex towards Atohira. Yet, it seems that it is mutual in a way though again, I’m not too sure if Atohira is aware of it. So, even if rejected, Atohira might still cause trouble for the two especially since he got Suiren to agree to be quiet about what happened between them. As Kawasumi hinted, any guy would be okay as long as it isn’t Atohira. Hopefully, this issue won’t cause too much trouble but rather, it will cause the couple to progress their relationship or some character growth for Kawasumi. Honestly, I’m not sure if one is less a man just because he is jealous that another guy is making moves on one’s girl by seeing her alone, and the girl is mum about it and just says, ‘no need to worry’. ^^; I think it is normal to be uneasy about it. But of course, Atohira is going to make things difficult for Kawasumi. Scans by all★wink汉化组

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