Namaikizakari [Chapter 34]

The school bell is ringing. Everyone is going back to school. Sachi greets Yuki who is about to go to their classroom. She whines that summer vacation is over and she always stayed at home. “I didn’t work and wasn’t able to get a BOYFRIEND.” And, Yuki immediately bumps her shoulder on the door. Sweatdropping Sachi asks if she’s fine. Holding her shoulder, Yuki says that it is alright, she just made a wrong estimate regarding her width, that’s all. Narration: “—There is that matter a couple of days ago..” Flashback: At the gym, Shou asked if he can be Yuki’s boyfriend. “..is it no good?” Yuki replied, “..ah..it isn’t..no good..” Then she immediately moved away from him and exclaimed but it is so hot so quickly let go of her. Shou smiled and said that this is bad..he’s super happy. Da-thump. Yuki thinks that after Shou confessed so many times, she finally answered him. With a love arrow through her chest, Yuki told him that it’s very hot so she’s going home. Shou asked if she’s shy. Yuki denied it. Shou asked if there’s no need to put aside the basketballs. This surprised Yuki End flashback. At the gym for the opening ceremony, the principal [I guess] is telling everyone to strive harder in studying this third term and there’s a midterm exam this October.

Narration: “Machida Yuki, 17 years old, seems to already have a BOYFRIEND..” Yuki glances at Shou who is standing at the other side of her row. She thinks that it is someone younger than her and it is Shou.. “I wonder what kind of expression the me a year ago would have if I were to know about it then..” Shou yawns that someone told him not to yawn for its infectious. Then, Shou glances at the side to see Yuki looking at him. This made Yuki blush. Quickly hiding back, Yuki thinks that it is no good for she looked entranced. To her shock, Shou leans backward to look at her. Then, she sees him waving his hand below. She blushes then waves back. Yuki thinks that this kind..of strong uncomfortable feeling. At the gym, Shizuka puts a poster ‘Goal: Play in the Winter Cup Competitions’ on the blackboard. Amamiya shouts that it is already this time, so fast-- Yuki informs them that the qualifiers are starting next month. She hopes that everyone would be able to continue and maintain their enthusiasm during the Kanto tournament so do their best to get in the competition. While everyone is raring to practice, Yuki is thinking that even if last year they stopped at the qualifying stage but this year, it is really worth anticipating. It will be good if they can have one or two practice competitions before the qualifiers.

Then, standing behind her, Shou whispers, “Yuki-senpai, can we go out today?” Freaking out, Yuki immediately backs into the cabinet and exclaims, “Go where!!!” While twirling the basketball with his finger, Shou says, go home, station, and by the way, he is curious but doesn’t it hurt for her to be always banging the wall like that. Nishiyama calls out to Shou not to always stare at Yuki, darn it. Shouji tells him not to overdo it or he’ll really get his butt spanked. While Yuki is speechless, Shou asks his senpai if he had carried out his ‘going to have a girlfriend’ declaration during summer vacation. Shouji[?] asks why he is asking that kind of ‘there’s no need to ask’ question, so shut up. Scowling Yuki wonders why everything is so quiet [/calm]. While walking home, Yuki wonders is it impossible that Shou had quickly forgotten about what happened the day before yesterday..no, if it is this idiot, there is a very big chance. <- Puzzled Shou asking who said, ‘I don’t like you anymore’? She starts to ask him about it and he asks if it is about her solely super liking him. Yuki nervously thinks that he remembers it super clearly and besides, he even subtly exaggerated it. She thinks that it is no good, she doesn’t know how to proceed.

Turning around, she says that’s right, she have some urgent thing to do and he’s walking too slow so she’ll go ahead, goodbye.. Shou grabs her wrist and pulls her to him. They look at each other. He leans to her and tells her to close her eyes. She nervously asks eh..eh? Shou says, eyes, if she is opening her eyes, it looks like he is forcefully kissing her. She asks, isn’t that a fact. [<- he always does it] Shou says, “It is already not like that anymore. Because we are going steady and Yuki-senpai is already my girlfriend.” Yuki blushes really red. She says..I.. He repeats, I. She says, ..I.. He asks, I? And she says, “I’m leaving” Then, she immediately escape by dashing away from him. Yuki thinks that it is already over, she and Shou are ‘currently going steady’-something, she is..his girl..girl..‘girlfriend’-something. After he clarified it by saying it out, she totally doesn’t know what to do!!! In her class during self-study, Yuki wonders what to do..because it has been such an excessively long time when she is being difficult with Shou that even if they become lovers right now, it only has this fully uncomfortable feeling..even if it is this way, she also doesn’t feel that there is some special change..what do lovers specifically do..

Yuki starts scribbling on her notebook. Kiss (Do not hesitate) Hug? (Do not hesitate) Hold hands (do not hesitate) Homemade bento (no way too troublesome) Goodnight message (don’t want to use a regular [/fixed] sentence) She immediately rips the page from the notebook and thinks that this is so difficult and what is the best thing to do. “I totally don’t know when I obviously thought that I already have the answer.” Then, while holding the trash bin, a soccer ball hits Yuki’s back. Holding her back, she thinks that hurts. She turns around to see Shou apologizing to her and asking what is she doing during lunch break. Yuki says that she’s picking up the trash and he’ll know just by looking. The others call out to Shou and tell him not to flirt around and pass the ball. He throws the ball at them and they shout that no wonder it’s the basketball club’s main force. Yuki tells him to be careful not to get injured when he’s playing around, goodbye. She curses for he is always like that, uncaring for he doesn’t understand her feelings.. Then, the two notices some giggling and flirting. It is a guy with a girl on his lap. While holding his cellphone, the guy says that Azami [guesswork from 麻美] is very heavy, 2 kg heavy. Azami squeals that it is totally alright for she is light as a nori [seaweed]. The guy says that he totally doesn’t understand what she is saying♡ 

Azami says then, let’s take a picture okay, LOVELOVE~~♡ Yuki becomes aghast when Shou whispers to her, “Let’s try that too, okay?” She imagines sitting on Shou’s lap and telling him that she’s very heavy so quickly let her go. Kissing her forehead, Shou tells her that it is better if there is more meat on her butt. Yuki says, “Idiot, you’re such an idiot!” End imagination. Yuki nervously tells Shou if he is making some nonsense joke. Shou says that it is obviously no good since she’s afraid. Yuki thinks that there is completely no progress. In her bedroom, Yuki thinks that for things to reach this stage and for the two of them to be lovey-dovey like lovers..it will only make one feel that it’s comical..so quickly give it up and properly study. She notices the paper she ripped in between her book. She recalls Shou asking if he can be her boyfriend. She thinks but, in any case, she..is also..going steady with him.. With LIME messages from Shou about being bored on her cellphone, Yuki sends him a message to do his best at tomorrow’s club and good night. She is uneasy for what to do..it is the first time she took the initiative to send a message..anyway, he will only send some strange emoticon..no..it is also possible that he’ll only send an ordinary ‘good night’..how would he answer..

And, it is morning. With heavy eyebags, Yuki has been staring at her cellphone with no reply from Shou. During club activity, Shou is on a roll for he kept on shooting the basket in. Kanda asks what’s with Shou for his mood today is particularly good. Shouji is irritated with the fangirls screaming and cheering for Shou that he complains that second term has just started and those female spectators had started to buzz about. Shou notices Yuki. He calls out to her and tells her that just like before, he fell asleep and didn’t notice her LIME message.. He asks her what’s up with those dark eye circles. Yuki says that it is nothing, she is only studying too diligently, that’s all. And she leaves to probably laundry the towels. Yuki feels like an idiot for no matter if they’re going steady or perhaps not, for Shou, it is only an insignificant small matter, that’s all. Girlfriend-something..for him, it is also impossible that it is the first time he had one-- After the club activity, Yuki is looking at her notes in the clubroom. She thinks that so, just like before, Shou is quite careless, so when his mood is quite good, he can shoot the basket with unfailing accuracy. But, she’s the only one who is anxious like an idiot, and she’s the only one who’s endlessly excited— like an idiot—

Later on, Shou knocks on the door and asks if her work is still not finished. He sees her sound asleep while sitting. He starts calling out to her and even calling her as an onigawara [orge tile usually a roof ornament] yet there is no response. He whispers to her ear, “..Yuki?” Yuki’s eyes suddenly opens wide. She asks him if just now, he didn’t call her with an honorific. [<- Yuki-senpai] He says nope. Yuki thinks that it is no good, she was unexpectedly in a daze that she fell asleep. He tells her not to sleep with her mouth half-open at this place. Fixing the books, she denies that she was sleeping. He insists that she was sleeping. He asks how late she was studying. She says that she isn’t studying that late. He calls her a liar for what did she do to have such heavy dark eye circles. Yuki says that he’s really noisy to death. She slams the cabinet shut, and shouts that if he had replied to the message earlier then she would have been able to sleep early. This surprised Shou. He asks ‘replied the message’, so she didn’t sleep since she’s waiting for that. After a pause, she says yes. Shou repeats that she didn’t sleep since she’s waiting for that.

Turning towards him, Yuki shouts yes, and don’t ask the same question so many times!!! “Want to ridicule me, then don’t hesitate to laugh, okay..? I’m not the same with you for this is my first. No matter what, I’m very uneasy that all by myself, I’m extremely flustered [/confused]. Even if it is the first..but, I also want to properly go steady with you.. I’m always worriedly anxious and endlessly excited all by myself..anyway..you definitely..do not understand my feelings..” While Yuki is catching her breath, Shou asks if she has finished talking. Yuki timidly says yes. He asks if it’s his turn. She says, go ahead. To her surprise, Shou hugs her from behind. Blushing Yuki is calling out to him when she realizes something. She says wait, isn’t he so hot, does he have a fever..!? He tells her that when he’s with her, his body temperature always increases by 5 percent. While struggling to free herself, she tells him that he’s lying. He says that he isn’t lying. He hugs her tighter and says that she’s the one who doesn’t understand. “Merely staying at senpai’s side, I’m always like an idiot that my whole body is feverish [/unable to think]. When going home together with senpai, I always deliberately walk very slow. The first time I saw the ‘good night’ message you sent me, starting this morning, I’m so vigorous that I cannot help it. Compared to Yuki-senpai, I’m more endlessly excited.”

Yuki closes her eyes and thinks that it cannot be like that, absolutely not, because she is absolutely more moved. Shou says that it’s so amazing that he doesn’t know whose heart is jumping wildly. Yuki blushes and didn’t reply. He makes her face him and then he asks what’s up with that ascetic expression. While closing her eyes, Yuki is looking nervous and dark. She asks huh? He asks if she wants to make him laugh. Yuki nervously says no, she’s not.. “It’s because.. *blushing* I..I thought that you are going to kiss me..” This surprises Shou. Touching her lips, he says, “..senpai, if you showed that kind of expression in front of your boyfriend, you cannot complain no matter how you are treated.” Narration: “We definitely have at one side, constant arising clashes and conflicts, then on the other side, gradually, gradually changing.” Shou kisses her then, she opens her eyes to look away. He tells her that she still cannot open her eyes. To her surprise, he kisses her again. Narration: “Like this, ‘what kind of expression would the me a year ago show upon seeing us right now’ –afterwards, two years after, three years after, it is good if I can still say that kind of ‘we’re spending time together’ words..” Then, at night, while she’s studying, Yuki’s cellphone keeps on beeping. Shou writes, “Good might. Typo. Good night. Like you. Already sleeping??? Like you-- *sticker of a character kissing*” Beep. Beep. Beep. Yuki thinks that it’s noisy to death.

Comment: And, apparently, they are now in going steady stage. I guess Yuki is coping with the usual awkwardness and trying not to act like a fool while in love but then, usually, it cannot be helped ^^ Perhaps, for Shou, Yuki is the one acting indifferent. Contrary to what the s/he thinks, it turns out that the other party is indeed acting like a fool and out of the ordinary ^^ It’s good that they are communicating a bit better now rather than dragging issues for a long time before resorting to talking. It seems that they still have a bit of problem with the affection level. Shou tends to overdo it so when he stops, she starts wondering what happened. When she responds back then he starts to overdo it again until she gets irritated. ^^;; Obviously Yuki isn’t exactly the very affectionate type. She immediately backs off from imitating the two lovey-dovey couple. Anyway, as Yuki mentioned, they’ll gradually change amidst conflicts and hopefully, they’ll overcome them together so that they’ll still be together afterwards with more natural lovey-dovey + understanding and communication. Scans by 红莲汉化组

Word of the day:

Don’t hide behind a false front; people will love you more for your honesty. ‘Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart (Ephesians 6:6) ~ Mottos for Success by M.S. Fontaine