It is still summer as the cicadas are chirping. On August, Shou
leads the Ryuhoku team on its first outing into the Nationals. There is a scene
of Yuki and others cheering for the team.
Narration: “Even if the first game against Kagawa Prefecture
was an intense game but the Nationals’ level is really high. With a score
92-78, Ryuhoku was halted at the first game but— it is definitely...*Himiko
asks Yuki to take their picture but Usami-kun sneezed. He hits angry Kuon who
hits Abe who pushed Shou. That made Yuki and Amamiya laugh* definitely an
unforgettable summer--”
Chirp. Chirp. The cicadas continue to chirp. At Osaki gym,
Natsumi screams that their arms are totally not stretched up when it isn’t even
a minute yet. “Are you even men-!!?” The members are shocked that it isn’t a
minute yet. Yuki informs Natsumi that it is already 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
Natsumi exclaims is that so, then, it’s time for a break.
Yuki shouts that they have a 20 minute break. The guys scream that they are at
ease with Yuki around, a priceless treasure!!
Narration: “So, after witnessing Ryuhoku getting into the
Nationals, we’ll soon enter the latter half of the summer vacation. On the
other side, starting this summer, Naruse is going to be a college entrance
examinee.”
Looking at her cellphone, Yuki thinks that even if he is
always sending her nonsense messages but after his July birthday, he is always
showing off that he is 18 years old. Shou wrote her that while they are of the
same age, can he drop the honorifics, and he is already 18 years old so he is an
adult already. [Note: Yuki isn’t 19 years old yet].
While Yuki is putting aside some things, the other members
are talking about Yuki’s boyfriend getting into the Nationals, the one from
Ryuhoku. Suwa says that’s right. Another guy says that he saw Yuki’s boyfriend
on the magazine before.
Just then, Usami-san arrives and asks if Yuki is there. Yuki
exclaims that didn’t she tell her that she would rather die than go to school
during summer vacation. While giving Yuki a plastic bag, Usami-san says that is
right and these are some greeting gifts. Yuki thanks her.
Suwa apologizes to Usami-san since he saw her LIME message
only now so what’s up. Usami-san says that it is nothing but then, it isn’t
exactly nothing. Holding up her cellphone, she tells him about the fireworks
festival this weekend and if he has time, can he go... Yuki thinks that
Usami-san is taking the initiative to invite him.
Turning to leave with the bag of bottled water, Yuki thinks
that she’s so proactive and it is better not to stare. While the other guys are
thinking that they are free, Suwa says that not bad, he’ll go and are they
anyone else coming with them?
To Yuki’s shock, Usami-san says that Yuki and her boyfriend
are also going. Yuki goes what...!! Chirp. Chirp. With his mind wandering,
Shizuka is chirping along with the cicadas. This made his teammates shout the
cicada that is molting over there. Flyaway says that ever since the Interhigh preliminaries,
Shizuka is always lost in thought. “Are you okay?”
Shizuka suddenly wipes his face with a towel and says, no,
he is alright, he is just thinking over some things, that’s all. Narration:
“That day, the decisive battle against Ryuhoku has been resolved. The road
towards the Nationals that I have always been longing for had already disappeared.
Right now, how can I say it?
...*image of Shizuka sitting on the boat with a blank
expression* There is this enigmatic feeling that I have missed the bus towards
the goal so right now, I don’t know where I should go next.” Kira arrives and
asks if he is thinking, ‘should I still continue playing basketball or not’?
“Our school’s coach really likes you.”
Shizuka calls out to his senpai. Kira’s companion says that
Osaki and Nishiura [guesswork from 西浦] are also looking [/scouting] for
him. “But--after high school graduation, there are also a lot of people who
quit club activity and might instead join an interest group.
This made Shizuka wonder if he is thinking about quitting
basketball. Kira says forget about that, in case what’s troubling him isn’t
over yet, would he want to have a change of mood? Shizuka asks eh? In Yuki’s
apartment, while doing sit-ups, Shou asks, fireworks festival? Yuki darkly says
yes.
Shou asks if that ‘Suwa’ guy is also coming. Yuki darkly
says yes. Shou says that he won’t go, he absolutely won’t go. Then, he asks her
to hold his feet. Thinking that he guessed it, Yuki holds Shou’s feet [while he
do sit-ups] and says that actually, she wanted to refuse but Usami-san—
Flashback: Usami-san grabbed Yuki and shouted that
unexpectedly, the two of them will go to the fireworks festival. “But, it would
be hard to hold his gaze while talking and, what if he is attracted to some
other girl. If he’ll say, ‘ah sorry, I have an emergency so I have to leave
first’, on whose bosom would I cry!?” Yuki said who cares about you. End
flashback.
Yuki thinks that Usami-san is proactively being negative and
she always has all sorts of worries. “If I can help her, I also want to do
something...” Upon seeing Yuki’s expression, Shou asks if she likes that
Usami-san person. Yuki says that it isn’t about like or not, they are
friends... Shou kisses her which causes her to blush. He tells her okay but he
has a condition.
On the day of the festival, Suwa calls out to boyfriend-kun,
and didn’t he come with Yuki. Sitting at the corner, Shou says that he should
have come late. Suwa asks if he hates him that much. He laughs and asks, “Could
it be that you’re scared of me?” Shou just glares at him.
Then, Yuki and Usami-san arrive. They are wearing yukata.
Yuki apologizes for there are a lot of people and they are late by 3 minutes.
Standing up, Suwa says that they are so cute while wearing yukata. Yuki wonders
if it is a bit strange and it should be alright since they dressed up together.
There is a scene of Yuki helping Usami-san put on the obi.
Usami-san kept on screaming that it is tight that she might puke what she ate
in the afternoon. [<- too small, I cannot read what cold thing she ate] End
flashback. Yuki recalls Shou going into dog mode when he requested that she
wear a yukata. Yuki thinks that she didn’t wear the yukata since New Year.
“By the way, even if he said he wanted to see me wear it, but
in the end, he didn’t give any evaluation...” Shou says that he got bitten by a
mosquito. Usami-san asks if he is alright, and she has an insect repellant.
Shou says don’t want.
It made Usami-san asks if he doesn’t use polite words [since
she is older than him]. Suwa says that he’s hungry. Usami-san exclaims that
they get takoyaki. While Yuki is wondering if she looks too gaudy, Shou grabs
her hand and says that it’s too dangerous so they better hold hands. “You’re a
bit too cute.”
This made Yuki blush. It reminds her that this year, they
are lovers and they can hold hands out in the open. Shou asks if she is hot.
She says that she’s okay. He says that her hand is really sweating. She asks
really?
Soon, they play a balloon catching game and drinking some
bottled beverage. Yuki thinks that is right, this year is totally not the same
as the previous years. Just then, some people exclaim if that is Ryuhoku’s Shou
so could it be that is his girlfriend over there?
Jealous fangirl exclaims that she’s so ordinary that she
couldn’t compare to her. Another girl says that she’s cuter. Yuki nervously
thinks that this summer, she already has nowhere to run. Suwa says that it is
almost time to occupy a space. Usami-san asks if that side is okay.
Yuki says that they can’t be picky and why is she suddenly
quite proactive. Shou just keeps quiet. While they are standing by the railing,
Shou calls out to Yuki and holds her hand. She asks what it is. Writing on her
palm using his finger, he ‘says’ that he wants for the two of them to be alone.
This made Yuki scream and say that she wants to go to the
toilet for a while. This surprises the two as Shou says that he’ll go too. Yuki
nervously tells him not to come. Blushing Yuki wonders what to do. Is it
because she’s wearing a yukata, no, it is because of summer’s hot air that she
felt that her heart is going to stop.
She decides to rest for a while. She sits down and sighs out
loud with Shizuka who was actually sitting beside her. They look surprise at
each other. Yuki suddenly stands up. While Shizuka blushes over her wearing a
yukata, she thinks that it feels like it is a witness [protection?] program
simply because of the frequency they see each other...
She recalls his confession and thinks that this is the first
time they’ve properly talk since that time. Thinking of starting the topic
here, Yuki asks if he is with his friends. Shizuka says no, his senpai-s
brought him here to relax.
He admits that it is probably because that Yoshizawa reporter
wrote such an exaggerated article that he is always being talked to by people
which caused him to become a bit tired. The article is about the handsome
basketball captains. It even mentioned about fate by telling their story since
childhood.
There is a scene of Shizuka being harassed by people upon
recognizing him. They mentioned about going to his school next year and they
ask an autograph. End flashback. Yuki thinks that there is a victim here,
too... [<- aside from her]
Shizuka says that he took a glance on that stupid interview
and it wasn’t quite easy for her. Yuki just says ah...ya. Shizuka confides to
her that after the preliminaries, he is always thinking that ever since before
he always made the ‘Nationals’ as his goal.
“I always strive hard towards that goal but where should I
go next...” He thinks that this is bad for even if he tell her that... Yuki
says, then, in the end, he’ll still continue playing basketball in college,
right. Shizuka is surprised that he says no, was she listening to what he said.
Yuki says eh, it is because if he wanted to give up, then he
won’t be thinking about the future. “If you wanted to give up, then, you won’t
be at a loss... *Shizuka looks surprised* ...eh, do you want to give up?
*nervous* Are you going to give up?”
She wonders if there is such a thing as for Shizuka to give
up basketball. This made Shizuka smile and says that she is really an extremely
easy-going and optimistic person. Yuki’s are eyes hurt by that dazzling smile.
Another person is also screaming where did that light come from, are the
fireworks starting!?
Shizuka stands up and says that he won’t give up. “I cannot
give up whether it is basketball or my feelings for you.” While Yuki look
aghast and tense, Shizuka blushes and thinks if it is so embarrassing, don’t
bluntly say it. Just then, Kira and others call out to Shizuka to say that
they’re changing location.
They tell him that changing places is the basic technique
for hooking up girls. Shizuka asks what’s ‘hooking up girls’ and didn’t they
come to watch the fireworks. While Yuki still looks stunned, Shizuka goes to
the others and recalls what Yuki told him.
Later on, Shou calls out to Yuki and asks which toilet did
she gone to. She apologizes. While Yuki wonders if she should tell him about
meeting Shizuka, Shou tells her that Usami-san is always shouting that the
‘fireworks are going to start soon’ so quickly come back.
Yuki looks at Shou’s hand that is holding her. She recalls
his request that he had written on her hand. She holds his hand and stops
walking. She asks if they are going back...? He leans down to her and asks,
“You want to run away together, right?”
Yuki thinks that the reason why her heart is always jumping is
because there are a lot of things that had already changed. And, there are a
lot of things she wants to change. The fireworks had started.
Usami-san is freaking out over where the other two are
though it isn’t really bad that the two of them are alone. While looking at the
fireworks, Suwa says that those two are definitely watching the fireworks
elsewhere. Usami-san tries to protest so Suwa asks why?
He looks at her and says, “Could it be that Usami-san
doesn’t want to be alone with me...?” This made her blush. By the stairs, Yuki
apologizes so Shou asks what it is. She says that he is already very tired
because of the tournament yet she unexpectedly called him out. She comments
that they cannot see the fireworks from here.
Shou says that there is no one here so obviously, the
fireworks cannot be seen here. He tells her that it’s alright because last
year, they didn’t watch the fireworks together so this time, it is just okay.
Yuki recalls that last year he said that he gave up on
liking her while eating squid which caused her to become depressed and thinking
of that, this year--- Shou says that since they can hold hands while walking
and he got to see her wearing a yukata, this is quite good.
He murmurs something so Yuki apologizes and says that she
cannot hear him. He leans to her and asks, “Can I spend the night at your house
today?” This made her blush. She slightly pushes him away and says of course
not, and what is he saying. He asks if she wants to spend the night at his
house. Yuki angrily says that’s more impossible. He comments that is how she
always evades him.
Yuki denies that she is evading him. Then, she nervously
wonders if she is indeed evading him. She thinks that always until now, thanks
to Shou’s hard work, their relationship and circumstance had a huge change so
how can she be always be like this!! “Yes, I have to strive hard to become a
qualified ‘girlfriend’.”
Blushing Yuki says that she knows already. Hugging her
tightly, he asks what does that ‘know already’ refer to. Yuki says so she said,
spend the night... He asks if they can spend the night. He starts to put his
hand inside her yukata.
While she calls out his name, he asks if he is already
qualified..? Trembling and blushing Yuki says, ‘qualified’ is... Then, she
looks stunned. She quickly slaps his hand away and stands up. Pulling up her
yukata and points at him, she shouts, “No, you are an examinee!!!”
Shou just looks at her and says forget it, he’ll spend the
night at Abe’s. Yuki tells him to quickly go home and study. She also says that
she even gave him an examinee gift package on his birthday! Shou says that really isn’t of more
help and it startled him.
Meanwhile, Shizuka with senpai, and Suwa & Usami-san
watch the fireworks that lit the sky. Narration: “What would we become on next
year’s summer? What will happen tomorrow? No one knows about the things in the
future.”
Comment: Well, as
I expected, the story isn’t going to dwell too much on the Nationals. And,
what’s summer vacation without a festival. Things are somewhat the same and yet
not exactly the same this year.
Hm...is Shizuka a soulmate or something? In a way, they do
help each other when the other is down and during those times, they always
meet. ^^; I really hope that he would find the one for him rather than hanging
on to Yuki. But I guess, first love doesn’t fade too soon. It seems that Kira
and others are going to help him with that.
Anyway, it seems things are going smoothly with Suwa and
Usami-san though I’m still suspicious about Suwa. Is he fooling around with
her? Shou is very wary of him. Yuki does seem more like forced to do it as the
girlfriend but given her personality, I guess that is what’s needed for things
to progress. Scans by 红莲汉化组
Quote of the day:
You hold the key to your future. The actions you take every
day shape your future. ~ Mattias Skarin, Real-World Kanban: Do Less, Accomplish
More with Lean Thinking
Thanks for the summary!
ReplyDeleteI as well think that Shizuka is definitely Yuki's soulmate or split incarnation and a general parallel against both her and Shou's character.
He, like Shou, is also a bit childish. Shou is the chaotic counterpart of childishness- petulant, stubborn and extremely wilful. And Shizuka is the more innocent, easily embarrassed, impulsive kid.
Thanks for reading, Apurva ^-^
DeleteTrue. ^^
Thank you very much for updating 😁😁😁
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Unknown ^-^
DeleteThanks for the translation. You're a gem!
ReplyDeleteI do think Shizuka and Yuki have a connection, even Shou has commented on it before and I believe Yuki has said that she sees herself in him. Saying that, I'm going to treat his crush on her like her crush on Kido. I expect it to be one step on his journey to maturing but no to go anywhere outside of that. But I admit that I refuse to see anything happening with it because that would interfere with him and Shou rekindling their friendship.
As for Suwa, I'm not sure what to think of him yet either. He's definitely the type who likes to play around so I can see him having fun messing with Shou since it's so easy, but I hope he's not some serious obstacle. I think a cute scenario would be Shou begrudgingly beginning to like him. While Shou likes Yuki, we know he doesn't really look up to or respect any of his senpais. It would be fun and surprising if Suwa turned out to be that person.
And when Yuki said he was an examinee... does that mean she's going to try to hold off on the physical part of things until he passes. Poor Shou. And poor readers lol. It's cute that she gave him a study packet though.
I wonder how long this manga will be. At first I thought it would end when Shou graduated, but I wonder if the mangaka will speedily go through some of the college years since she's bothering with characters from Yuki's school and seems like she might send Shizuka there as well.
Thanks for reading and the comment, Anonymous ^-^
DeleteI also hope that it is so. Rekindling friendship...in terms of playing basketball together again?
If that happens, it would be interesting, indeed.
Haha, most likely. And after he passes, I think there won't be 'obstacles/alibis' strong enough for her to delay the inevitable. =P Well, maybe pass high school, too? ^^;
It's possible especially since the manga is doing well in sales. As for Shizuka, it will depend on whether the mangaka would want the two to be teammates this time or still rivals. I'm leaning towards to Shizuka going there as well since that is how it was in Slam Dunk among other things. =P
Kyaa Shizuka-chan :) I still like shizuka though. Thanks again for the translate hehe.. ^^
ReplyDelete=)
DeleteThanks for reading ^-^
Thanks Kat.
ReplyDeleteI hope nothing happens between Yuki and Shou relationship. I don't want Shizuka or Suwa become in between their relationship.
You're welcome, Sara ^-^
DeleteHm...that would depend. I mean how Shou takes it since Yuki hasn't severed ties with them like he wanted her to. From how I see it, even if Yuki seems nicer to them, she isn't the fickle type = has zero romantic feelings towards them. <- if we are to compare with shoujo leads in a love triangle/polygon series.
Thanks, Kat, for another translation! Appreciate it very much! These two are always fun to read about. Hope it goes on longer than Shou graduating. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Nelle ^-^
DeleteWe'll just wait and see ^^
Thanks for the update... I'm really looking forward to this... And as expected, the author/creator didn't disappoint us with this chapter. I just wished that they made something/show something about Shou's birthday and how it was spent... I mean, it would be interesting to see how Yuki and Shou spent it now that their relationship is officially out in the open... Shou's 17th birthday was I think momentous and quite special, so I thought his 18th birthday would be one as well... Hehehehe... Just my take...
ReplyDeleteAgain, thanks for the update... ��
Thanks for reading ^-^
DeleteTrue, and I'm surprised that it was just mentioned in passing instead of being shown.
=)
I'm now wondering what Yuki's gift was... I'm pretty sure she was again stressed by it... Hahahaha... I hope such will be mentioned in the next chapter...
DeleteAh...it was already mentioned here. It is an examinee gift package to help him for the college entrance exam.
Delete*rechecking* Sorry, I forgot to mention it in the summary. ^^;; orz Anyway, I edited it.
Thanks for the chapter! !! This chapter was like a filler now a new phase will begin anew. .I am excited for that
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Kat
Thanks for reading, Anjali ^-^
DeleteFiller...I think it is more of a conclusion/epilogue to the summer arc ^^
=)
Hello Kat. Do you know that Chinese translation for chapter 68 has already out but not in dmzj? :) I found it on another site :)
DeleteNo, gummyBear. I didn't know. Which site?
DeleteNevermind, I found it. Thanks for the info ^^
DeleteSorry for the late reply :( but I'm happy you've found it :))
DeleteNo problem ^^
Delete=)
Hi Kat! When will you upload chapter 68? I'm really excited for it!!
ReplyDeleteWithin this week, Anonymous ^^ I'm working on it next.
DeleteHey regarding what you said about Shizuka being Yuki's soulmate... Wouldn't you think Shou is her soulmate or do you like the pairing of Yuki and Shizuka?? (just wanted to ask your opinion on them being soulmates as your comment surprised me)
ReplyDeleteWhen I say soulmate, it is like this, 'a person with whom one has a strong affinity, shared values and tastes'. As I mentioned above, 'In a way, they do help each other when the other is down and during those times, they always meet.'
DeleteFor my own preference, hehe, I would want someone like Shizuka compared to Shou since it would be less stressful. For the story, I cannot really say. Storywise, it might be boring if it is Shizuka. And well, this is all about love so...
Maybe Usami-san ♡ Shizuka.
ReplyDeleteproblem solved!!!😄
Haha, true, philia though I don't quite like Usami-san for him. I'm thinking if it would be Shou's ex with Shizuka. =P
DeleteHi do u know where we can read the manga online? In english?
ReplyDeleteAh, in mangafox/batoto-type of sites.
Delete