From Five to Nine [Chapter 82 - She's Having A Baby 2]

In the temple at Kyoto, Takane says that Amane wants to destroy the temple, huh... “What is he thinking, really foolish. From the start, he is a willful child... So, I really don’t understand what he is thinking. For me, what’s important right now is to properly finish the last four weeks of training and return to the temple. Upon returning, compete against Amane for the abbot’s throne as I and my fiancée promised.”

He is startled when the monk slams the table and calls him a big idiot. “Not knowing clearly what your own younger brother is thinking, can you really protect the woman living there[?/Junko] and the throne of the abbot’s successor? It looks like your partner is a very dependable person. She doesn’t at all depend or was spoiled by a fretful man like you who doesn’t have time to mind his younger brother.”

This pricks Takane as he recalls being told by the abbot that simply speaking, he is afraid that Takane doesn’t have confidence to make his girlfriend stay at his side. Flustered Takane says that so-called calmness, is the reason why the abbot made him go to training to become calm.

“Even if I studied Buddhist doctrines on being calm but the current me still couldn’t force myself to be calm. I’m always rattled... In this two months of training, it is meaningless and I’m always quite uneasy... *recalls that the letters Junko sent is 1:5 to his.* Rather, I cannot even spare a bit of free time to think about my younger brother...”

This made the monk burst into laughter. He says that Takane is so straightforward like an idiot. “It is only three months of training, what can you understand. You have to properly sit down and talk whether it is you and your fiancée, and the same with Amane...

...It is no good if you don’t have a heart to heart talk with them. This is also a monk’s job. Training is indeed very important but the most important thing is what exists inside the person’s heart.”

Back at the temple in Tokyo, Junko worriedly imagines about the possible reactions Hibari would have after discovering it. 1. Tell her that she is shameless. 2. She doesn’t approve. 3. Ask if it is really Takane’s child. “It would be like some insulting probe that awaits me. ...it should be a trap? Like here, pretend to be nice and afterwards, insult me. The worst case scenario is driving me out of the house.”

Hibari says about this food, ah forget it, leave it here and I’ll eat it like this. She tells Junko to go and clean/sweep, it is okay to do those simple things. Junko thinks that this is absolutely a trap!! Hibari says that since they let Junko take care of her that proves that the people at the temple didn’t know about this. “Just now, you are still having morning sickness and it looks like you’re not yet in the stable period, right?

...For things to reach this stage, it isn’t necessary for you to be so nervous. If you don’t properly take care of the child inside you, you’ll be punished by the heavens. While Takane isn’t back yet and while the gossip still hasn’t been spread out, there are still many things to do.”

Junko asks if she is approving of her marriage with Takane. Scowling Hibari says that she isn’t saying that she totally disapproves of her. “Even if I still cannot totally accept that you’ll marry into the family but I have a condition... IF YOU GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, THEN I’LL DEFINITELY MAKE HIM BECOME THIS TEMPLE’S SUCCESSOR. *Junko’s eyes sparkle*

...At present, the official successor is Amane. Only when he does something bad, then the successor will be changed. *Junko starts becoming nauseous again* Let me say! What’s up with you, are you not feeling well again!?” Covering her mouth, Junko says no, not about the successor, what she said is too unreasonable that she [Junko] cannot help but be shocked by it.

She thinks that she almost thought that Hibari is really kindhearted. Hibari asks ha, who does Junko think she’s talking to, that’s quite rude... Junko says that it is because she is always talking about the successor, and about this kind of thing, shouldn’t she first bring up the child and then afterwards, let him decide on it for himself.

“And... Before Hoshikawa–san comes back from the training, he still doesn’t know whether or not he’ll be the official successor. Ma...making the child inside my belly obstruct him, don’t even talk about the problem of being successor. I...will probably leave this place.”

Hibari scolds her for being an idiot. “Don’t think over so many things that aren’t here yet. Quickly go back to your room and rest! Ha--... making one excited in vain. *looks away* I can slowly eat by myself. You can quickly leave!” Junko goes out of the room.

As she goes to the toilet, Junko thinks that compared to the usual, Hibari is more or less gentle today. “...am I too naïve... This thing of making the child as the successor as the price of approving the marriage is too strange. Like this, on contrary, it is more embarrassing to tell Hoshikawa-san...

This issue is becoming more and more difficult to tell him. *washes at the sink* I’m really sorry Hoshikawa-san, I really cannot say it. Obviously compared to anyone else, I want to see you but I’m afraid how you’ll react. I really have no face to see you...”

The next day, Junko brings Hibari’s food. She is wearing a facial mask in order not to smell the food. Junko tells her that today, she only has to clean the Buddha statue nearby. “There’s no need for you to clean the main hall corridor and entrance. Quickly go to work.”

Flustered Junko asks if she did something wrong and if it is like that, she’ll re-do it. Hibari says that she’s really slow-witted. “Didn’t I tell you properly stay [/take care] while you haven’t entered the stable period?” Junko protests that everyone from the trip will be coming back tonight.

Hibari asks Junko didn’t want to tell anyone about her condition, right? “Looking at you like this, you basically don’t know how to hide it. From my side, I also don’t wish for some strange rumor to arise. If I were to make you return to your home, all the more it will be strange...

Since it is like this, it is better that you listen to what I say. *Junko scowls and thinks that means...* ...While I still haven’t changed my decision, you properly think about the ‘condition’.” Junko is confused whether Hibari is worried about her or she is trying to grab her weak point and use that to coerce her.

At ELA, Masako and Momoe welcome Junko back since it has been a long time she came to the school. Junko was always in the main headquarters. Masako whispers that she heard that Junko rejected Makoto’s courting and even the New York business trip had fizzled out. Momoe tells her not to say that.

While the other women are gossiping, Masako says that it is because of this, Junko basically doesn’t have the opportunity to go to the main headquarters to work. “On our side, there are still many people who expects the director to come to the school.”

Waving Masako off, Junko says that’s silly and it’s rude towards Makoto. “It is simply because my ability isn’t enough that I’m not up to task, that’s all!” Masako says that is such an ordinary reason that she wants to know something more interesting...

Going to the manager’s office, Takane thinks that is the truth, she wasn’t aware enough. “From the start, the director said that he is letting me concentrate and work vigorously for three months and gave me this opportunity.”

The manager tells Junko that he thought she will work at the main headquarters so he had re-assigned her student class lessons to the other teachers. “For now, your main work is immersion classes with students which is perhaps not enough to bring out your ability. So, is this okay~”

Junko bows and says that there’s no problem and yoroshiku. Junko looks at some flyers and her class schedule. Junko thinks that even if she went to the business trip, can she be as remarkable like Agnes with her current situation?

“But, next, in order to have full strength when the opportunity comes, I have to at least properly take care of my body for four weeks. *Junko teaches a student* I hope that I can directly inform him about this. *Takane doing errands and chanting* Three more weeks. *Junko learns how to fold with Tokiko teaching her* Two weeks...*Hibari has recovered and keeps watch on Junko who feels ill and nauseous* ...”

While Takane is chanting with the other monks, someone shouts, this week, it is already the end of the training so everyone properly do your best. They shout, yes!! Takane smiles and thinks that finally, next week...the training is over. “I’ll go back to your side, Junko-san.”

Comment: Hopefully Takane will remember and do what the monk said regarding talking with Junko and Amane. Takane is indeed too focused on Junko that nothing else matters. He is probably thinking that he can resolve whatever Amane is planning to do that he doesn’t need to know the reason why Amane is doing those things.

Even if Hibari is confusing Junko, I think Hibari definitely cares about the child. Though, I’m not too sure if she’ll still be like that if the child is a girl. What causes Junko to think Hibari is up to something is probably because Hibari is grudgingly forced to accept the marriage.

I’m wondering if it is because Hibari is a Buddhist or from personal experience, she doesn’t intend to make an innocent child suffer/harmed just because she doesn’t like the mother. Still, I think Junko slightly win her over because of this incident. After all, Junko did her duty even if she is in that condition and she doesn’t like the patient.

For now, Hibari is going to help Junko keep the secret. Of course, I think later on, people would know about it even if the couple marries later on. They only have to count the months.

So, Junko is back to square one in her job. She is professional enough not to entertain gossips and say bad things about Makoto. It’s good that Junko can fix herself up again unlike the last time she met with Makoto. And, finally, the training has ended, the two will meet again... Scans by 月球坑组

Quote of the day:

Just keep going when it’s tough. Just keep going when it’s long. ~ Maxime Lagacé