Kore wa ai de koi janai [Chapter 7]

Narration: “And, the end of the semester has peacefully ended... (Finally, I avoided the tragedy of failing a subject!!) *happily holding up her arms* Summer vacation, here I come-♡”

At the hallway, someone calls out, “Manami-chan.” It is the guy from before. He tells her that the principal’s speech is really quite long that he is tired to death. Ren exclaims, “Ah- my soulmate. ...eh, about that, what’s your name... name...”

The guy says that she’s so amusing. “I’m Hatsuse Kou from the other classroom. *points to self* It’s okay to call me Kou. That’s right, tell me your LINE. Let’s hang out during summer vacation!!”

Ren wonders what to do since Yusei told her not to get involved with him. Kou says that the guys in the class are planning all sorts of things like barbecue party and fireworks festival.

Ren thinks that Kou doesn’t seem like a bad person and it is a good thing for imouto to have a friend...!! Holding out her phone, Ren says okay. Holding out his phone, Kou says good.

Narration: “By the way, doesn’t summer vacation mean... *watching TV with Yusei at the living room* I’ll be with Hidaka everyday... *holds throw pillow tight* Isn’t that extremely frightening-!!?!”

Ren thinks, “We are simply watching television together, *holds blushing face* how come I’m so happy~~” Yusei calls out to her and says that there’s something that he wants to ask of her. Ren asks what is it.

He says, “Can you lend your body to me for one day?” Ren goes ha? “What do you mean by that?” Yusei says that he felt that he ought to tentatively tell her about it—

Flashback: At school, timid Manami said, “Brother, I’m sorry about what happened before... I will properly apologize to Ren-senpai’s friends...  But I am... so lonely that I cannot chat and hang out with you just like the usual times...!! So... *holds amusement park tickets* I want to go out with brother this summer vacation.”

Holding the ticket, Yusei said that this is the amusement park that she always wanted to go to... Manami said that she always wasn’t able to go because of her body condition but right now...

Yusei asked if it is because it is Ren’s body that she can go now. Slightly flustered, Manami replied that in the end, it isn’t quite good, right. “Taking advantage of Ren-senpai’s body...”

After a pause, Yusei said okay, let’s go to the amusement park. Manami asked, it’s okay...!? She happily said that she’s so happy. “Thank you, brother.” End flashback.

Pointing at Yusei, Ren shouts, what is that, isn’t that a date!!! Puzzled Yusei says, ha? “It’s simply siblings hanging out together, that’s all. Is your brain in some sweet stupid plot?”

Aghast Ren thinks that for others, it looks like an ordinary date, right. “By the way, imouto is also planning a date, right!! Absolutely. No good~~ *closes eyes* I don’t want her to use my body to go on a date with Hidaka... but, but...

*recalls Yusei telling her that Manami always wanted to go but she couldn’t because of her body condition* After hearing those words--” Ren reluctantly agrees to it.  Narration: “I have no choice but to say that...!!?”  

On the day, Yusei carries his bag and asks Ren what’s up with that expression. “Then, I’ll be off.” Ren looks aghast as she grinds her teeth. After he left, Ren walks back and forth. “Ah~~ I’m so bothered~~~!!!”

Her phone rings. It is Kou. She answers the phone. Kou says, “Ah, is this Manami-chan? Are you free today, let’s go out.” Ren says ah, no, she isn’t quite in the mood—

She suddenly had a flash of idea. She exclaims, “Let’s go out!! To the amusement park!!” Puzzled Kou asks, eh now? At the amusement park’s entrance, Manami asks Yusei if she can call him ‘Yusei’ for today.

Holding the brochure, puzzled Yusei says, ha, why? Manami says that it is because isn’t it very strange for her to call him ‘brother’!? “And if it is Hidaka, then that’s my own surname. Ah, can I-??”

Yusei says fine, fine, he knows already, just do what she want. From behind a pillar, Ren is watching them. She thinks that imouto is really enjoying this. “Even if I totally couldn’t hear what they are saying.”

Kou arrives and says that he found her, “Manami-chan!! Ah ha, this amusement park is quite far away- what what, is there some sort of activity here today?”

Ren goes sh— “Don’t be so loud.” Kou asks why. Then he notices someone at the side. Pointing to Yusei, Kou says, “Ah ha? Isn’t that Manami-chan’s brother? That person? And he’s with Yaotome-senpai- Hmm— Yaotome-senpai likes that kind of guy. I’m quite surprised-”

Ren sweatdrops and agrees with him that she [Ren] likes that kind of guy. Touching his lip, Kou says so that means, ah ha...it turns out to be like that. Ren nervously asks wh..what... Kou says, “Manami-chan is a bro-con [brother complex]?

Ren denies it. Kou[/Ren] says ah, quickly look, they’re leaving, let’s go after them! Manami screams as Kou stirs the wheel of the cup ride. Catching her breath, Ren tells Kou to wait, she’ll rest for a while.

While having a drink, Kou says okay. While Yusei is holding a rabbit-shaped lollipop, Manami says that she wants to ride this one next. At a popcorn stand, Ren exclaims that it is a summer limited edition, pineapple flavor!? Kou says that they go try it!!

Narration: “As this goes on, using this body to have fun, the two of them--...” There is a rabbit mascot called Tobi [兔美; guesswork name and it literally means rabbit-beautiful] who is playing with some kids.

Sparkling Ren wants to also try that out. She calls out to Tobi and asks for a picture together. With bunny headbands, both Ren and Kou have their pictures taken with Tobi.

Holding her cellphone, Ren squeals how lucky, and happy she is that she got a picture with Tobi summer edition. Tobi says that it is really great and give him a copy, too.

Ren suddenly looks surprised. “Ah ah!? Where did those two go!!? Brother and... I lost them... *falls on her knees* In the end, why did I come here for-!!! I couldn’t even restrain myself for a while.”

Kou says that next, they go ride a roller coaster. Ren says okay... Then, she remembers something. Pointing to herself, she says, ah...sorry, her body tends to act up easily...

“I cannot ride that kind of intense ride. (I’ve promised Hidaka [to take care of Manami’s body]) Sorry. Ah, it’s okay that I’ll just wait here so that you can go ride it.”

Kou says how come she didn’t say that important thing earlier. Ren is puzzled. Taking off the bunny headband, Kou says that if it is like that, all the more he cannot leave her all alone! “Can you ride a Ferris Wheel?” Ren says ah...it should be okay.

Kou says then, it’s decided, let’s ride the Ferris Wheel! “Are you feeling okay?” Ren thinks that Kou is a good person... Manami and Yusei has just ridden the roller coaster.

After the ride, Yusei lets out a laugh and says that Manami screams too much. Manami says that her voice is already hoarse. “Geez, bro...Yusei, you’re always laughing at me.”

Yusei apologizes. “I just remembered that incident before, when Yaotome is super scared of the thunder. It’s really interesting.” Manami’s eyes widen and she says, ...huh. Then, she slightly frowns.

Yusei looks at the side and sees Ren holding Kou’s hand who is leading her away. Kou happily says that he’ll be her escort and isn’t that very gentleman of him. Ren says what, she’s fine by herself.

Yusei’s eyes widen in surprise. He shouts, why is that girl here! To Manami’s surprise, Yusei runs off. Manami shouts for him to wait but he already left. While lining up for the Ferris Wheel, Kou says that it will be their turn soon.

Looking at the map, Ren wonders if they can find the two when they’re up above? Yusei suddenly grabs Ren’s shoulder causing her to turn towards him. Ren is surprised to see him. Yusei worriedly asks what is she doing...

Looking away, Ren says, wh..at, she’s having fun, can’t he see that? Yusei asks her what’s up with that get-up. “This frivolous guy would unexpectedly bring you to this kind of place. That is why I won’t let you have any relationship with him.” This irks Ren.

She shouts that she’s the one who said that she wants to come here! “Kou is really nice and besides, he is always very concerned with my body condition!! Don’t judge someone based on their appearance.” This surprises the two guys.

Yusei says that she is right, sorry... The staff member calls out to the next guest to ride the Ferris Wheel. Kou says, let’s go, Manami-chan. Kou says, hey...

Kou tells him, “It’s alright if I accompany her. Are you worried as a brother? But then, I feel that it is a bit too much. *Yusei looks surprised* Or there is some other reason?”

Clenching his fist, Yusei mutters, ...ha? “It’s because of imouto’s health and it is inevitable that I’ll be worried...” Catching her breath, Manami says that she finally caught up with him. The staff member asks if they are doing to ride. Yusei says no...

Manami says that they go ride it since it is here. Inside the Ferris Wheel’s carriage, Manami says, geez, she’s startled when he suddenly ran off like that. “What’s up?”

Yusei says that it is nothing and sorry for leaving her alone. Manami says ya. “Ah, did you know!? If lovers kiss while at the topmost part of the Ferris Wheel, they’ll be together forever- How...how about trying it out!!? Just for fun!!”

Sweatdropping Yusei asks how is that possible when they aren’t even lovers. “In the end, it’s really stupid... how can there be someone who’ll believe in that kind of stuff.”

Clenching her fists, Manami insists that there is!! “Look...someone in the carriage ahead of us are kissing-- Eh... isn’t that Ren-senpai sitting inside..?” This surprises Yusei that he quickly turns to look. He tensely sees Kou leaning close to Ren’s face.

Comment: Hehe, someone’s getting jealous. It is really good that there is an ‘other guy’ or else, Ren would have spent that day alone in the house. In a way, Kou’s personality is quite similar with Ren’s. He isn’t stiff like Yusei and would even take a picture with Ren like that.

Being clueless as he is, Yusei doesn’t know Manami’s true intention for the amusement park ‘date’. I guess what Ren and Kou said had strike a chord with Yusei. He couldn’t rebut her and he is starting to think about what Kou’s question. Scans by 正宮汉化组 

Word of the day:

He is wise who always strives to find a right balance in everything: the right degree, how far, how much, how little, where on the scale the right answer lies. ‘Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you. Proverbs 2:11’ ~ Mottos for Success by M.S. Fontaine