Narration: “Like that, the ordinary and blissfull ‘Natsume
Koiko’s Second Chapter’ has been strangled at its cradle.” Koiko glances at the
side as her mother squeals like a fangirl as she dress up Tsurugi in a yukata.
<- it is this guy’s fault. Yumeko asks if it is okay and is it tight.
Tsurugi says no, it isn’t. She asks him to turn around for
her. He did as told. Yumeko squeals again as she says that he’s so cute.
Tsurugi glances at Koiko who is startled since he had seen her looking at him. He smiles and
asks if it looks good. This made Koiko scowl. She denies that it looks good and
geez, is he really planning to work here. Tsurugi says yes. Yumeko says that’s
right.
Koiko tells him to let her say this beforehand, that no one from
school would know about this. “Even if you might resent that I’m being bothersome, but
if it was known that I have some dealings with you, it will really cause a lot of
trouble!” Yumeko asks why, is it because Tsurugi is so handsome? Koiko angrily
shouts that IT∙IS∙LIKE∙THAT! Puzzled Tsurugi asks if his being handsome causes
her trouble.
This surprises Koiko that she looks at him and mutters, so
that’s how it is. “This is the reason why this guy took great pains to come over
even if I told me on three accounts not to mind me... It turned out that it is
because he is basically unaware of his own position that it had brought about
this kind of crisis!?”
Yumeko laughs and says that it is very cute that Tsurugi
isn’t aware of this little bit then, let her explain it to him. She claps her
hand. Tsurugi sits down and pulls Koiko down so that she'll sit beside him.
Looking like a teacher with a drawing of a triangle with three divisions on the board, Yumeko asks
if they know hierarchy.
“That is a person’s social class in accordance to this
pyramid with its status divisions. As far as status is concerned, it can be
simply divided as people who attract attention, the people who are unknown
[nobodies], and the people who are in between these two.” [<- This is divided in
accordance to physical looks, grades, sports ability, character, etc]
Pointing to the people who attract attention [/top level], Yumeko says
that Tsurugi’s position is here, the upper layer. Pointing at the people in
between the two divisions[/middle level], Yumeko says that Koiko is here, the middle layer,
THE Average. Tsurugi looks at smiling Koiko. Yumeko says that Koiko’s social class and status isn’t the same with Tsurugi so for the two’s relationship to
be good, it will definitely cause Tsurugi’s fans to riot.
Koiko says okay, stop there. “Basically what you said is
right but then, what I’m most worried about isn’t social class or status within
the school. But rather, LOVE’s HIERARCHY- It is just that!” Tsurugi looks at
her and asks, love’s hierarchy-... Koiko exclaims that’s right! Pointing to the
pyramid, Koiko says that no matter if it is a proactive attack [/action] or
being chased by someone, in short, there are a variety of love opportunities.
“Always in a passionate love belongs to the upper layer. As
a popular guy like you who belongs to the upper layer. I don’t want to be
involved with you people and be swept in the whirpool of love! *holds head* Ah
ah, just thinking of it and I feel that it is troublesome to death and I won’t
be a bit happy!!”
Tsurugi looks at her and she snaps out of it. Koiko thinks
that she carelessly flipped out. She says that in passing, the status in school
and love’s pyramid is basically equal. Her mother says so that is why she is in
that smooth and steady love with Suzuki-kun [guesswork from 鈴木].
Koiko exclaims that it is Satou and they had already broke
up, aside from the fact that it wasn’t smooth and steady. Yumeko exclaims that
they already broke up and when did it happen. She looks at the two then smiles.
Koiko scowls and thinks what’s up with that expression. Yumeko says, that means
love between different social class is also possible.
Koiko says, like hell it does. Tsurugi looks serious at
Koiko who says that just merely being misunderstood by this guy’s fans, it can
cause things to become troublesome. “In this kind of thing, I can even imagine
what will happen... going steady with this...this kind of guy-something. (This
is totally not an ordinary thing..!) *stands up* I’m sorry but I cannot keep
you company.”
Turning to leave, Koiko thinks that like this, he ought to
understand that this is how the middle layer exists. To her irritation, Tsurugi
says that kinda feel a bit sad. Yumeko agrees with Tsurugi and tells Koiko
that she is too harsh for even if she doesn’t care for Tsurugi, she also cannot
say it like that.
Koiko exclaims so she’s saying, she didn’t even say that she
hated him. This made Tsurugi smile and says, “What, it turns out that you don’t
hate me. That’s really quite good.” This miffed Koiko. Flustered, she points
her waving finger at him and shouts, “Look, look, look at how you are right now!!
Didn’t I say that for you to have that naïve smile can attract trouble! If you
were to talk with me like that at school, it will get me into a really huge
trouble, understand!”
Tsurugi laughs and replies, “When that happens, I’ll protect
you.” This surprises Koiko as Tsurugi smiles at her. Yumeko blushes over this.
Koiko mentally curses over this popular guy since he can casually say that kind
of words.
She shouts, “You you you..can’t you understand what someone
is saying? Don’t you understand what I’ve just said!? (I’m also an idiot! No wonder
I’m in the middle layer! My immunity [against that] is really bad! What’s up
with me that my heart would go dokidoki-whatever) That kind of lines...go and tell
that to a girl you like.”
Tsurugi frowns as Koiko quickly walks away. Koiko thinks
that a person who wants to fall in love with him can only be an extraordinary
girl! Upon arriving in her room, Koiko notices that the tape on one corner of
her ‘average’ calligraphy was undone from the wall. She quickly rubs the tape
to make it stick on the wall again.
Koiko blushes and wonders why she was going dokidoki a while
ago. She becomes aghast as she recalls Tsurugi smiling and telling her that
he’ll protect her. She mentally exclaims that it is forbidden to go dokidoki!!
She continues to rub and hit the tape on the calligraphy. Later on, Koiko peeks
in the restaurant through the door curtain.
She tells herself that she is just investigating since she is
just itsy bitsy worried whether or not he’ll do some rude thing to the frequent
customers. A woman calls out to Tsurugi and asks for another bottle. Tsurugi
says, okay. Scowling Koiko thinks that he can actually help out and it seems
that he’s really amazing, too!?
A customer calls out to Yumeko as ‘mama’ and says that she
basically likes this store but then, afterwards, there will be more reasons for
her to come here. Yumeko laughs and tells them to come but they cannot fall for
Tsurugi. A man asks why, is he her boyfriend. Yumeko laughs and says that she
likes the older men-type. Another man says then, they can be at ease.
Tsurugi tells them that just now, Yumeko told him that she likes
Kis-My-Ft2’s Tamamori Yuta. Yumeko exclaims for him not to expose her. The man
says what, then could it be that he thoroughly has no chance. Tsurugi laughs
with them. Koiko thinks that he’s really amazing for it seems that he had
already blended in.
“How can I say it, he is really a person who has a pile of ◎. It
appears that before, there is someone who said, ‘where did you hide your
shortcomings’ Compared to me, I’m like a △ and occasionally, I’m a ○
probably. So, mother also feels that I’m very average.”
[The three symbols means ◎ for great/strongly recommended, ○
means correct/recommended, and △ means not good or bad/not really
recommended but a possibility; it is usually used for business documentation.]
Koiko thinks that in the end, she and Tsurugi do not belong
in the same world. With Tsurugi far away from her [horizontally], she thinks that
it’s so far but wrong, it should be like this [vertically far away from him],
so high. “That’s right. This is simply like, him who is from the upper layer would
occasionally have a bit of relation with the average me...
...And, occasionally, come to my house and work there,
that’s all. At school, I’ll just say, ‘it is merely a coincidence that he was
the one who came in as a part-time worker’ and that should be okay. Regarding
Tsurugi saying that ‘I’ll protect you’, *imagines herself saying ‘Ah ha, look,
it is because I’m the owner’s daughter and it is merely for that reason’. Very
good! I’ll use that! I’ll cling to death on my [being] ‘average’.”
Later on, Tsurugi knocks on her door. There is no answer.
He knocks again but still no answer. He opens the door. Holding a bowl of
food, he says that the boss said she might be able to sell off the rest
[/leftovers] so first eat some...
He finds Koiko sleeping on the bed with a magazine. He looks
at the side to see the ‘average’ calligraphy. He mutters, ...average...?? He
wonders isn’t that practice calligraphy. He is startled when Koiko groans out
loud. Talking in her sleep, Koiko says, “Cannot be, Your Highness the Prince...
I’m merely just a commoner... I’m simply ordinary...
...Cannot be ordinary anymore, that’s all... Tour...
Hypness Pince Tsududi... [Your Highness Prince Tsurugi]...*drools*” After
looking surprised, Tsurugi starts laughing and says, “She’s really a strange
girl.” And, once again, the tape on the corner of the calligraphy paper has
fallen off again.
Comment: Koiko is really stubborn with her want to become ‘average’.
Thinking about it, it might be more on some unconscious level that she doesn’t
want to become like her mother. Her mother is popular and charismatic so she
definitely belongs to the upper layer. But, her love life was quite
problematic.
Her mother is pretty passionate with love too so Koiko would
rather go with a romance that isn't so hot like her mother yet not so cold like her sister. It
is pretty much lukewarm which might not exactly help out in her previous
relationship in terms of keeping it for a long time. Actually, it had helped her not to be too heartbroken since she
is the ‘spare tire’ rather than the ‘girlfriend.
Alas, Koiko’s barrier and insistence is slightly breaking
down with Tsurugi’s own stubbornness and charm. That line can easily make a
girl swoon. Not only he's all talk, he had proven earlier that he can also do it based on how he stood up to Satou when he was badmouthing her. Tsurugi also showed that he is very capable at work, too. He definitely
got Yumeko’s approval. Obviously he is quite attracted to Koiko. How
long will Koiko be able to hold out and ignore the special attention? =P Scans by 正宮汉化组
Quote of the day:
Being stubborn can be a good thing. Being stubborn can be a
bad thing. It just depends on how you use it. ~ Willie Aames
hahahahaha... the two of them are adorable kat. heheee... the way koiko denie the existence of tsurugi. heheehe... hmmmmm since its just started, i wont mangaka will not prolong the status "average" because tsurugi doesnt mind at all. its reall such a cute side if him. i like how koiko family interacta to sturugi too. hehhehee
ReplyDeletethankz kat... although this series is not feature in mangasite im happy to read it, i like it..
Yup, Dionne ^^
DeleteIndeed ^^
Thanks for reading ^-^
The guy in this manga looks really good. I like how the story is progressing . Keep up the good work Kat !!!!
ReplyDeleteYup, Anjali ^^
DeleteThanks for reading ^-^
I like how this manga is progressing. The art is pretty cute :):) keep up the good work Kat!!!
ReplyDeleteYup, Anajli ^^
Delete