Namaikizakari [Chapter 28]

At his house, Shou closes the refrigerator and drinks directly from the milk carton. He remembers blushing Yuki saying that she is already his. Then, he covers his face and giggled. A beautiful woman [probably his mother sister] asks what he is laughing about, that's disgusting. Then she calls out to their mother about her ID. [Thanks Apurva for the correction] And, it is August, just at the time of summer vacation. With cicadas chirping outside the gym, Miyoshi is fanning himself inside. He asks what happened afterwards between Shou and Yuki. Kanda complains that there isn’t even a bit of sign and even if they are ridiculing them, there is totally no reaction! Miyoshi exclaims, what!? He scolds Yuki that they are really boring and this is youth, youth-- Yuki thinks that since they got into summer vacation, that teacher would always show his face here and is it because he is too idle. Abe says that he opposes it. Hatori asks what it is. Abe says that if Shou and Yuki goes steady, that kind of thing, it is like a relative’s older sister and his friend are going to be together and it makes his feelings become quite complicated!! The others exclaim if Abe and Yuki are relatives. Abe exclaims no. The others say what that is about. It is now the fifth day after the summer camp.

After then, even if they have discussed about that [on the phone wherein he insisted for her to go steady with him and she told him to wait for three months and he refused to do so.] but the two of them are still on a stalemate about it. And speaking of change.. With a towel on his head, Shou calls out to Yuki and says that they are going home together today. The others are in shock. Shouji shouts that he’s not allowed to be on the offensive [/attack]. Yuki says that she still has to tidy up the court so he should go home first. Nishiyama exclaims that afterwards, it is a steel-type of defense. Yuki thinks that basically, bold and unrestrained Shou had become increasingly calm of other people’s gaze. Shou mutters that isn’t she already his.. Yuki angrily shouts for him to finish changing his clothes and go wait at the shoe lockers. Yuki thinks that if this keeps up, it is probably just a matter of time wherein this uproar [/disturbance] will spread out of their club activities. By the street, Shou gives her a cup of ice cream. She refuses that he asks if she wants him to feed her. So, Yuki ends up thanking him and says that she’ll eat it herself. Yuki thinks that even if it is summer vacation right now, she cannot say for sure that no one will see this kind of scene so she must quickly eat the ice cream in order to quickly go home. Eating an ice pop, Shou asks her that isn’t making him wait for three months seriously just nonsense.

Yuki says that isn’t he seriously nonsense for why can’t he wait for three short months. He tells her that because even if she retires, next would be the exams. “Everyday, you’ll be studying as if your life depended on it. And then, next would be-- you'll say again, ‘wait until the exam has ended’, right?” Yuki gloomily thinks that he’s right..indeed..if the exams officially starts, then there would be no time for romance..this guy really hit the mark. Shou asks her what, her face look ashen. Yuki says that it is nothing, she is just a bit cold because the ice cream has frozen her hand stiff. Shou takes the opportunity to hold her hand and says that it’s true. While she is wondering what he’s doing just for this small issue, Shou says that she’s perspiring. She denies it and tells him to quickly let her go. Then, a girl squeals that tall back figure. Ichii pushes Shou’s back and calls out his name. Grabbing Shou’s arm, Ichii says good work on camp and asks about her gift. [<- souvenir] Her two friends say that it is Shou. Shou complains that she’s noisy to death. Ichii says that she heard that this year, Abe didn’t have a nosebleed.. And she finally notices Yuki. Pointing at her, she says, that it is, ‘Butt..butt..’ Yuki thinks that she is Machida and the aftermath of that thing has not yet disappeared. <- spank your butt!

Long haired girl asks why they are together and is Shou making her angry. Shou says no. He calls out to Yuki and says that they are going to that convenient store at the side. Thinking for him not to leave her, Yuki tells him to wait. As she goes after him, Yuki asks why they are going to convenient store again. Holding his ice pop’s stick, he says that he won a prize. Short haired girl says that last year, Shou and that senpai went to a game center. Ichii says not so. Long haired girl says then, the one whom Shou had a love scandal with is that person and no way, for it is that stiff person. They ask [Ichii] Arisa if she didn’t hear Shou mention of it. Looking serious, Arisa says that she didn’t. At night, Yuki is trying to study when she recalls what Shou mentioned about next time, she’ll ask him to wait until exams are over. Putting the notebook on her head and putting her head on the table, Yuki thinks that the possibility of that is very big and why did she forget it. The reason she is retiring, is for her to concentrate on studying and apart from that, she unexpectedly seized the moment to say such hasty words – ‘after retiring, I’ll be frank ONLY towards you.’ Since she talked big, so she cannot say, ‘in the end, wait until the exam is over’. She sees the mug that he gave her which she now uses as a pen holder.

While touching its rim, Yuki thinks that kind of answer, making him ‘wait again for three months’, perhaps it is somewhat careless [/vague]..for he is only asking, going steady or not going steady, that’s all. Perhaps, she is the only one who is too willful. The next day, Yuki is filling the water bottles at the sink. She thinks but in short, she cannot be distracted from club activities. After filling up the water, she’ll take advantage of the break to clean the basketballs a bit.. Then, a girl calls out to Yuki. In the gym, Shou just made a slam dunk. Noda says that it is so amazing that he also wants to be able to do that. Abe tells Noda that no, it is comparatively difficult because of their physiology..ah, did he grow tall again. Stuttering Himiko calls out that they’ll have a 10 minute break. Shika suddenly arrives and tells her that the cheering squad has finished their cheering practice for today. Himiko says good job [otsukaresama] to them. He asks if there is something that’s difficult for her. Thinking that he’s coming over once every 30 minutes, Himiko tells him that she is okay. When someone called out to Shika, he quickly goes in front of Himiko and asks what he can do to help him since Amamiya is looking for Himiko. Amamiya says that he isn’t looking for Himiko, he is calling him so calm down. He asks if Yuki is outside since he wants to see the score book.

Shika says that just now, leader is being surrounded by girls. Hearing this, Shou asks why. Shika says that he doesn’t know. Tonomura says could it be that some people have heard about that rumor of Shou’s confession. Shou asks why it would spread. Looking surprised, Amamiya, Nishiyama and Abe ask if they cannot say it out..? Aghast Shou says no, it doesn’t matter. Meanwhile, three third year girls are asking Yuki if Shou confessed to her at the camp, is it true? Yuki thinks that it is here and where did they hear it from. One of the girls says that the soccer’s manager has heard it from basketball club’s Nishiyama. Realizing that it was Nishiyama, Yuki thinks that right now, she must think of a way to get away and quickly go back to join the training, besides that, who are these girls. Yuki says that she doesn’t know if Shou is serious about that or not and sorry, right now, she must go back to club activities. To Yuki’s surprise, they grab her wrist and ask if she is going steady with Shou, didn’t he say, ‘go steady with me’, and how did he confess to her. While Yuki wonders what to do, Arisa appears and says that if they want to know how Shou confessed, then why don’t they ask Shou himself about it. Yuki immediately recognizes Arisa as Shou’s friend. Arisa says or is it because they won’t dare ask Shou himself. The three girls are unhappy about that. They ask who is she, a second year, and they always see her with Shou.

Arisa tells them that she is always together with Shou, Ichii Arisa. The three girls are scoffing that off. Thinking that the mood is a mutual hostility, Yuki decides that she cannot just ignore this kind of situation and escape by herself. She tells them to wait a bit, let us talk.. Then, Shou calls out to Yuki. He asks what she is doing, and is she goofing around. Yuki thinks that it is his fault. One of the girls says that they’re going because they’re hindering the practice. Another girl apologizes to Yuki. Thinking that she is saved, Yuki says that it is alright. After the three girls left, Arisa scolds Shou for being a big idiot for how come he didn’t tell her that during the camp, he confessed to his senpai and it is only yesterday when she was shock after Abe telling it to him at LIME [<- pun for Line; internet messaging app]. Yuki realizes that Abe also spread it around. Shou asks instead why she is here when it is obviously summer vacation. Arisa exclaims that she came to give him some [consolation] gift. He asks what. Holding a plastic bag, she says ice cream. Shou tells her not to joke around for it has melted. Yuki observes that the two’s relationship is quite good.. At the gym, while Himeko is writing something, Yuki is looking at the timer. She thinks that even if Shou’s face shows that he’s very impatient but it always felt that he has loosen up a bit..and by the way, it seems that he told her that they [Shou and Arisa] are in the same school since junior high..

3..2..1..pfft! She calls for everyone that throwing the ball practice is over at this point, next, group into two for defense practice. Everyone says okay. She tells them to please maintain sufficient space to avoid any collision between groups. While the guys are practicing, Yuki finds herself looking at Shou. She recalls the girls asking if she is going steady with Shou. Yuki thinks that probably, those girls are constantly eyeing Shou and in this kind of situation, can she really hide it from them for three months.. She shakes her head and tells herself no..she must concentrate.. Then, she looks up to see Noda running behind Shouji. She immediately shouts Noda danger.. But it was too late, Shouji has elbowed Noda’s head. Everyone screams for Noda who fell flat on the floor. At the clinic, Noda has a bandage above his left eye. The doctor says that it is only some swelling [/internal bruising] and it didn’t obstruct the eye at all but..just in case, to be sure, he should still go to the hospital. Noda says okay..sorry.. Hugging Noda, teary-eyed Shouji says that he did such a cruel thing to his cute face. Noda assures him that he’s okay. Abe says that Shouji’s elbow attack is really painful, and before, he got a nosebleed. Shooing them away, the doctor says okay, okay, it is already alright so aside from Noda and Yuki, everyone can go back.

Yuki apologizes to Noda for it is her fault since she isn’t seriously watching over them. Surprised Noda says she isn’t and it is only because he is staring blankly [/lost in thought], that’s all..! Yuki continues to blame herself because this is something that she should be paying attention to. At the hallway, Shou goes to see Yuki and asks about the shortie. Yuki says that if it is Noda, Miyoshi–sensei has already brought him to the hospital. She tells him that break time is over so quickly go back to the gym.. Shou holds her wrist that she asks what is it. He asks why she is crying. Looking away, she denies that she is crying. He insists that she is obviously crying. She continues to deny it so Shou looks closer to see. Looking dark and angry, Yuki says that she is really not crying. “..geez, she is only thinking that this kind of failure won’t ever happen again.” He asks ‘failure’, why would she.. She says that he is to blame since it has no meaning if the manager is glancing around, and just stands there while holding a whistle. She thinks that like this, it is totally meaningless to make him wait until she retires. She says that even if it is possible that there will be a hard to avoid situation that will arise, but this time, it isn’t like that. “It is because I’m always thinking of you..” After she said that, Shou lets her go. While he watches her walk away, Yuki thinks but.. Recalling how she promised that she won’t run away again, she thinks that she won’t give up, because she definitely can find the answer [/solution].

At the shoe lockers, Arisa is happy talking about sharing something on the phone with Abe while Hatori watches on. When she sees Shou, Arisa happily says good work [/otsukaresama] and she wants to chat with him about some love topic so she’s always waiting for him. Abe asks if he has seen Noda’s message, he said that his eye is totally fine.. And, the two look surprised at Shou and calls out his name. Shou glances at Abe and says, “I’m always thinking of you.” This made Abe tremble and blush. “Eh!?” Taking his shoes from the locker, Shou asks if he said that, what would he think. Abe says that he’ll feel, ‘Eh!?’ and what’s up for saying that all of a sudden, since it causes him to be mistaken that his heart is beating fast. Shou asks if the person one likes said that, one will definitely be very happy, right.. Abe exclaims, ...ya, eh, what, what!? “What’s up between you and Machida-senpai!?” While Arisa has a serious expression, Shou says that he’s hungry. Abe continues to ask what happened between him and Yuki. Narration: “My enemy isn’t Naruse’s female friends, it is also not Naruse’s fangirls. All the more it isn’t Naruse himself. The one whom I need to prevail over is-- me.” Yuki stands on her desk and puts a huge ‘concentrate’ calligraphy on the wall. Her younger twin sisters shout what’s up with that. And, one of the twins asks if they can take a picture of Yuki. Yuki says that it is concentrating one’s energy. On her notes, she wrote *goal to be in the top 30 during second term.

Comment: The ending of this chapter is a bit vague. I guess Shou is a bit confused whether to be happy about what Yuki said, or not happy because of its implication which is she cannot concentrate on two or more things at the same time. It almost makes me wonder if she just went steady with him then, she won’t be overthinking about other things like hiding it from the others and when to go steady with him. But then, perhaps, if they do go steady, she’ll be bothered by other things like his fangirls, and Arisa. I’m still not sure if Arisa would be a hindrance or she is just too fond of Shou like a sister and do not want him to be troubled because of Yuki. Yuki’s actions in the end also confuse me. She wants to fight herself by studying to be in the top 30? Is it to do what she has to do like studying and basketball stuff within the three months? Then, they can go steady? From what Shou implied, it almost makes me think that Yuki will always have something else that she has to concentrate on so she won’t have time for him. Even if it is good that her world doesn’t totally revolve around a guy, the other extreme of that doesn’t seem to be good either since it is like he is the last priority. Well, of course, there are times when she just cannot help but think of him and she does love him. I mean, after studying, then it will be college, then it will be work. That is unless, she just became a full-time housewife. It doesn’t help that she is a perfectionist. So, for now, it seems the issue is how Yuki can balance ‘work/studies’ and Shou, not go back on what she told him before at the camp, and when to go steady with him. On a side note, it seems that the mangaka is going to start introducing Shou’s family. Scans by 红莲汉化组

Quote of the day:

The earlier you know yourself, the easier life will be. After that, distraction is gone, and you can focus on everything else ~ Author Unknown