Last Game [Chapter 45]

Ryouko tells her mother that she heard that next week, Yanagi will be going to gramps’ place. Her mother says that’s right, Yanagi says that he’ll go with Kujou along with his club friends. Ryouko says that isn’t it just in time when her father is coming back to the country. Giving her a drink, her mother says yes, but it is good that this time around, he’ll temporarily stay first at this side for a short while as he goes out with his friends. [<- or comrades; probably to entertain his associates at work] Rrring.. The mother goes to answer the phone. The other party asks if it is Michiyo, it’s him. Michiyo happily calls out to her father and it has been a long time since they got in touch. She informs him that she’ll be troubling him with Nao-chan next week and really sorry that she suddenly made this request. Gramps say that anyway, it is low season so it isn’t a bother. His wife is also very lively because it has been a long time since she has seen Naoto. Michiyo laughs and says is that so. Gramps says that after all, she likes Yanagi the most. Michiyo asks him to greet mother for her. Gramps says that’s right, is Yanagi going together with his college friends? Elated Michiyo says that is quite right and also, Nao-chan’s girlfriend. <- eager and impatient mother Gramps says is that so.

Ryouko thinks that Kujou has already become the girlfriend..? Michiyo tells her father that her name is Kujou so she’ll leave her under his care. And, Kujou sneezes. [<- Japanese belief that if someone sneezes for some random reason, you are being talked about] Eating at the canteen with Kujou, Fujimoto asks if Kujou has a cold. Kujou says that she doesn’t think so. Fujimoto happily says that next week, they are going to Yanagi family’s inn and she really anticipates it for they are staying there. She also says besides, not only she’ll at Yanagi’s house, Kujou will incidentally go to his hometown. “Don’t you think that is quite amazing?” Kujou says that even if she doesn’t know what Fujimoto means but it does make her anticipate it since she saw his photo album. Fujimoto thinks that she cannot help but think of Yanagi’s [hard] work.. [<- since Kujou is really dense] Kujou thinks but then, speaking of that, they’ll stay at Yanagi’s then she’ll always be with him. Not long ago, the date (even if it isn’t a date) didn’t go quite smoothly since Yanagi was asking if she isn’t feeling well. So, this time, if it is possible, she’ll have to work hard in doing her best.

At the station, Yoshida happily exclaims that it is the Shinkansen [bullet train]. Souma asks how come he is here. Kujou asks doesn’t he need to look for work. Yanagi worriedly asks if that is no problem. Fujimoto asks if he’ll quickly quit. Aghast Yoshida exclaims that they are so mean when he wanted to see how Tachibana looks in a yukata. While walking, Souma asks Yanagi if he always goes to the inn. Yanagi says no, for it has been almost four years since he went there. Yanagi thinks, but he didn’t think that Kujou would unexpectedly take the initiative to mention about wanting to come and besides, the reason is wanting to understand him more. Then, to Souma’s surprise, Yanagi suddenly grabs his own hair and shouts, “Wrong, wrong! Don’t get carried away! Not so long ago, she claimed that you are a friend, right!” <- usual practice. Yanagi thinks that’s right, they are only friends so she wanted to know about him and that’s all there is to it. “This also says-.. [like] previously, our relationship is merely friends who don’t need to take the trouble of understanding [each other]..that’s all..right..” Clinging on a railing, Yanagi is screaming, “Ah ah ah, it is okay. It’s alright. It’s alright.”

Fujimoto says that the Shinkansen is coming and what’s up with Yanagi. Souma tells her not to mind Yanagi. Riding on the Shinkansen, they look at the brochure. Fujimoto says that it is Keimei-tei [guesswork from 桂明亭] and it really makes her anticipate it. She muses out loud if it means that the Yanagi clan made a fortune from this vacation village. Yanagi confirms it to be true. She says President Yanagi isn’t always in the news or media so what kind of person is he. Yanagi says that every time he sees his sister, he cannot help but think that in the end, she is their father’s daughter.. Souma knows his sister so he becomes tense. Fujimoto hasn’t met his sister so she doesn’t understand what Yanagi meant. Yanagi says but, he thinks that his father is very amazing and he really respects him. Kujou recalls Yanagi saying that he doesn’t plan to join their family business. And, they arrive at the place. Fujimoto exclaims that it is an onsen [hot spring] street! She and Yoshida exclaim that there is a free foot bath. As they hurry there, Yanagi calls gramps to tell him that they’ll go at the inn at around an hour. Fujimoto and Yoshida call out to Tachibana to join them. Tachibana laughs and says that her foot is too fat and she’s embarrassed to show it off.

Then, she mutters about how annoying to death this is. Souma suggests to her that she only have to make Yoshida see that side of hers and he’ll immediately be startled to the point of running away. She tells him that he’s annoying and about this, anyone would say that it is no good in case he becomes her fated matchmaker for no matter when, she cannot relax. Souma makes a hollow laugh, ha ha. As the others soak their feet in, Kujou says that it is the first time she’ll soak in a foot bath and lately, there is always a lot of first. Yanagi tells her to come and it is very warm. He advises her to wash her feet first before soaking. She says okay. She sits beside him and says that it is warm and it really heats up. Blushing Yanagi says ya.. To his surprise, Kujou suddenly holds up her foot and says that it became reddish. Blushing and thinking she’s an idiot, he tells her to wait..you.. [<- he’s turned on by that] Kujou asks about his, let her see it. He holds up his foot and she says that his food has become amazingly red. Just when Yanagi tries to explain [/say] something to her, her foot slightly touches his. This surprises the two and made them embarrassed. Yanagi tells her not to let her foot go around too much like that and please, do not recklessly put her foot everywhere. She apologizes to him. She thinks that is embarrassing.

Seeing her expression, Yanagi calls out to her and says that he thinks that her face is so red--.. Just when Yanagi is about to touch her face, Souma suddenly got in the bath and says that the water is truly good. He is all smiling as he angrily thinks to whom these two stupid lovers are showing that to. This irks Yanagi that he grabs Souma and shouts if he didn’t see the mood. Souma denies that he knows what Yanagi is talking about. Kujou tells Yanagi not to be noisy in the public place. Fujimoto says that Souma is really delighted and thanks for showing displeasure on their behalf. [<- uneasy to look at lovey-dovey] Watching from the side, Tachibana hopes that they continue. [<- Yanagi getting angry at Souma?]. Afterwards, they arrive at the inn and comment that it has a historic feeling to it. Gramps call out to Yanagi and say that it has been a long time. Granny says that he has grown quite sturdy. Yanagi introduces his grandparents to the others. The grandparents thank them for taking care of Yanagi and tell them to please properly rest. Fujimoto whispers to Kujou that they feel very intimate. Kujou agrees. Smiling gramps asks who among them is Kujou. Puzzled Kujou says that it is her.

To their surprise, he says, “Ah, you’re Naoto’s girlfriend. *laughs and pats Kujou’s shoulder* although it is quite unexpected but [you] are also not bad. I’ll leave Naoto to you!” Pushing up her glasses, granny asks what is this about since this is the first time she has heard of this. Surprised Yanagi tries to say, no..wait.. While granny looks displeased, gramps laughs and asks if he didn’t tell her, well, he heard it from Michiyo. Yanagi couldn’t believe that his stupid mother..!! Sharply looking at Kujou, granny asks if she is Naoto’s.. She demands to know how and when they started going steady. Rushing to them, Yanagi exclaims that it isn’t so, they are only friends. This made Kujou look aghast. Yanagi tries to explain that it is his mother’s misunderstanding and in short, quickly walk them to their rooms. To his relief, one of the servants offers to lead the way. The girls exclaim over the beautiful room. Looking at the pamphlet, Fujimoto says that she heard that there is an onsen there that is effective in improving one’s skin. Tachibana exclaims that she’ll definitely go there. Fujimoto tells Kujou that they are going to the outdoor bath. Kujou says that she’ll go to the toilet first so they go ahead.

After they left, Kujou prepares to go out, too. She thinks that speaking of that, lately, she was mistaken as Yanagi’s girlfriend a bit way too many times. “He already has someone he likes that I felt apologetic [to the girl].” Then, she sees Yanagi who asks where the others are. She says that they went to the onsen first, and is he also alone. Yanagi says that there is a bit of something that he talked about with gramps. Then, he apologizes about a while ago for it seems that his granny had some misunderstanding that he is sorry for her harsh attitude towards her. Feeling apologetic, she says that it is alright and anyway, it is baseless so don’t mind it. That stab into Yanagi’s heart. <- two people hurting each other. Looking bitterly disappointed, he thinks that on contrary, it is his family, one after another, who first came into that final conclusion yet on the other hand, in case he gets dump like this, wouldn’t he be..thoroughly reduced to a laughingstock. While Kujou wonders what kind of person is the girl whom Yanagi likes, he notices someone that he quickly pulls Kujou to the corner. He covers her mouth and explains to her to wait until his granny passes by [the hallway]. Kujou thinks is that so..ah..her heart.. She notices that the granny had already passed by so she tries to call his name.

To her surprise, Yanagi hugs her from behind. She tries to call his attention. He finally snaps out of it when she calls out his name. Blushing Yanagi holds up his hands and apologizes that it is granny.. She says yes, she knows. Yanagi thinks that it is bad for lately, he is doing that a bit too much. Kujou thinks that startled her for a moment she almost thought that he is hugging her, was she mistaken about that..? Kujou says that there is something she wants to ask him just now. He asks what it is. While looking at Yanagi who is sitting on the bench, Kujou wants to know what kind of person is the one he likes. She says, about that..she wants to ask him.. She wants to ask him about it calmly [as if nothing had happened]. After Yanagi tells her to sit down and she sits, Kujou throws him a straight ball by asking, “Do you have someone you like?” This made Yanagi choke and he asks why she would suddenly..? This surprises Kujou that she says that she is just casually asking and look, before he obviously went steady with countless girlfriends but lately, he doesn’t have a single one. This shocks Yanagi for it wasn’t countless and is that how she thinks of him. He darkly thinks that isn’t it because of her, and for her to clearly talk about that, it is inevitable that there is no future between them.

He wonders what kind of reaction Kujou would have if he were to answer, ‘yes, I have’. Most likely, she’ll act as if it is nothing like this, ah~~~ He thinks, but perhaps, he should treat it as an opportunity to make her aware of treasuring him more since in the past, she treated him as some air-type of thing inevitable existence..and wavering her a bit.. <- even if he doesn’t have self-confidence but he is very thick-faced. Blushing Yanagi says, “--..I have (she’s beside me)..I have.” This surprises Kujou that she wonders what to do. She says is..is that so..what kind of person she is? Yanagi is shocked that she is asking more about it. Yanagi thinks that she would go as far to ask him when the person herself is in front of him..this..this is.. Aghast Yanagi says that she is simply number one in being slow[-witted] –a total mess.. so slow[-witted] that he is now put into this current situation. Kujou says is that so. He tells her that he plan to properly chase after other party that he gave all of his best but he was ignored by her.. “Not long ago, she still asserted that the two of us are friends.. I think that she shouldn’t be deliberately playing with me, right. Ever since before, it is like this. *groans and covers face* Forever having that ignorant face. I already had enough. How come I had fallen for that kind of person.”

Kujou asks is that so. She wonders what does he like about that person because from the looks of it, it totally doesn’t seem to be like [love]. Yanagi continues to say, “..but, in the end, it won’t do if it is not her. For me, this girl is cuter than anyone. I want to make her happy. I want her to act spoiled towards me. [<- ask him what she selfishly wants] I want to stay at her closest place. [<- probably nearest to her heart] That is what I’m want.” He snaps out of it when Kujou says that it turns out to be like that. He blushes for gawd, what is he saying in front of the person herself, and isn’t this almost tantamount to a confession..!! He’s so embarrassed that he wants to hit the wall. Kujou thinks that she basically knew that that he has someone he likes but to hear him personally say it, compared to her heart imaging it..also.. Looking aghast, she hesitantly wishes him good luck [/gambatte]. This was a blow for Yanagi since he just got an encouragement from the girl herself..what is this situation? So both sides received an unexpected blow. While the two are wondering what to do, the aghast two decide to go take a bath and go their separate ways. And, the trip still continues. From the corner, amused Fujimoto asks what is that satire play.. and it seems fun. Tachibana says that’s really boring and they should quickly go take a bath. <- due to being worried about Kujou, they came back to look for her.

Comment: And, how far can a misunderstanding go between the two? Ah yes, very far especially if they are clueless of each other’s feelings and thoughts that they misunderstand what the other means based on what they say and how they react. Ah..and obviously this can be solved if one of them just confess already and at least, mention the name but no..this is a romantic comedy whose comedy runs on the two’s misunderstanding ^^ So, I guess that makes it less frustrating compared to a serious romantic manga ^^ Ah, is the mangaka poking fun of clueless heroines in shoujo? Apparently, we have one Yanagi family member who might oppose the relationship. I think it would be more on Kujou proving her love for Yanagi than anything else. It is already hinted that the father will appear soon and he is like his daughter. Hehe..which part of it..being manipulative and bossy? Anyway, there are enough lovey-dovey scenes here so here’s hoping that there will be more later on ^^ And, hopefully, less interruptions from outsiders especially since they are already having enough trouble with each other. =P Scans by 红莲汉化组

Quote of the day:

The worst distance between two people is misunderstanding. ~ Ritu Ghatourey