Kore wa ai de koi janai [Chapter 15]

 Ren blushes as she recalls Yusei’s confession. She looks at him and exclaims in disbelief. “Hidaka, you actually like me..!? It isn’t ‘like’ between friends?!”

Embarrassed Yusei shouts for her not to suddenly raise her head and look at him. “Didn’t I say it a while ago?” Holding her face, Ren says that it is simply because that it feels so unreal... “Can you say it one more time? Say, Ren, I like you♡” Yusei refuses.

Turning to leave, Yusei says that he can tell it to her throughout her life, stupid. Ren cannot believe it that it is real, the person she likes also likes her... “Also, likes me...! It seems like it is a dream...!!”

She goes after him and asks when did it start!? Embarrassed Yusei says how would he know. Narration: “...by the way, we still went home together... and even live together!!?”

While eating dinner, Ren feels awkward. She wonders what they used to talk about before. They both reach out for the soy sauce bottle. They touch each other’s finger. This made Ren quickly back away and apologize.

Yusei looks a bit tense over her reaction. Lying in bed, Ren thinks that this isn’t the time to be happy yet. “but... I want for us to get along like lovers…--!!”

The next day, holding a bento box to Yusei, Ren happily says, “Here’s your lunch!!” With big eyes, Yusei asks, ha...? “Lunch...?” With a messy kitchen behind her, Ren coughs and says that this is nothing. “Anyway, I also woke up early~ So it follows that...”

Yusei says that obviously she usually wakes up late. “Are the food inside edible?” Furious Ren curses and exclaims that of course, it is! Blushing a bit, Yusei says okay. Taking the bento box, he says that he’ll throw it out if it is no good after he tastes it.

Pouting Ren says that he cannot even honestly say thanks, so stubborn. During lunch break, while eating some bread, a classmate complains about the canteen being so crowded. “Hidaka is really amazing. It seems that he makes his lunch himself everyday.”

Opening his bento box, Yusei says no, today...” His friend asks if ‘Yaotome’ made his today and today is Yusei’s love nori bento. Manami is puzzled. Ponytails asks if it is for real, and it is like what ‘Ren’ would do. Shouri agrees. This made Manami uneasy.

Later, Manami calls out Yusei and asks why would Ren make him a bento box. Yusei asks how come she is asking why, no, it is something that he made after waking up...

Patting her head, Yusei asks what’s up. Manami recalls her friend showing off a necktie and says that it is her boyfriend’s. Manami quickly asks him to give his necktie to her. Taking off his necktie, puzzled Yusei agrees to it. He asks what is she going to use it for. Manami happily holds the necktie and thanks him.

Much later on, Ren sees Yusei passing by. She happily calls out, “Bro—brother- Dear brother♥ How’s the lunch box?” Yusei grabs her cheek and shouts, “You mischievous devil!!! Your nonsense made me totally embarrassed.” Ren says that is obviously made with lots of love!!

Yusei angrily tells her to hide her feelings well and at least, don’t show it off.  After he lets go of her, Ren comments that he doesn’t have his necktie today and that’s a rare sight. “Did you just have PE class?”

Just when he is about to explain, Ren overhears Manami’s friends asking if that is Yusei’s necktie. Manami says yes. Ponytails says that’s really amazing, wearing the boyfriend’s necktie♡♡ “You look good-♥”

Ren becomes aghast and thinks, “Wha-- What did... What did she say...!!! “Wearing the boyfriend’s necktie something... If I have a boyfriend, I also wanted that--~!!!” Manami looks at the two and asks what is Yusei doing here. “The next class is at the laboratory.” Yusei just says ya.

Then someone ask who is that person with him. “Ah, it’s Hidaka’s imouto-” After they left, Ren grabs Yusei’s shirt. Looking gloomy, she asks how come Yusei gave his necktie to Manami.

Yusei asks what’s with her. “She asked if she can borrow it and I let her borrow it.” Ren says that it is because of that so the rumor won’t die down!!? Yusei asks how come she is angry.

Flustered Ren looks away and denies that she is angry. She wonders what is she saying. “After getting jealous, I’m getting angry at Hidaka. I’m not a bit cute.” Ren confesses that actually, she simply wants to have his necktie...that’s all there is to it.

Yusei looks surprised. He holds his head and says, what...that’s really troublesome. Ren says that he is right. “Anyway, I’m such a troublesome girl.” To her surprise, Yusei puts his coat on her and says, “With this, bear with it for a while.” Ren blushes and says ah...

Wearing the coat, Ren thinks that she is already very satisfied. Yusei says the coat is too big for her. Ren goes eh.. She happily smells it and thinks that she must smell it. “Obviously, he is so stiff lip, but his heart is so kind.”

After going in the lab room, Yusei’s friend asks where is his necktie and his coat which he was wearing a while ago. Yusei says that they were seize on his way. His classmate asks what is that.

Upon seeing Yusei’s slightly smiling expression, he muses, “But, it feels that you are in such a good mood.” This made Yusei go ha? His friend teasingly asks if something good happened.

At the apartment, Ren sees the empty bento box in the sink. She goes to Yusei who is watching TV in the living room. She happily says that he was complaining yet he still ate all of it!! “So nice~~”

Yusei tells her that he doesn’t like sweet tamagoyaki [egg roll]. Ren says is that so. “Well, that is because before, the ones in the bento are sweet.” He tells her that is because Manami likes to eat sweet so he got used to making them taste that way.

Ren thinks that even if it is hard to understand but he took the initiative to request it...?? Ren says then, next time, she’ll make a salty one. “You’ll eat it again if I make it, right?”

Blushing a bit, Yusei says that if she doesn’t do some weird stuff in the bento then why not. This made Ren happy that she hugs him from behind and exclaims that she’ll put her heart in making it!! Narration: “It’s such a blessing to have mutual feelings for each other...”

At school, Yusei calls out to Manami and asks if they can talk for a while. Somewhere else, Yusei asks if she is done using his necktie and can he have it back. She says, that’s right, sorry.

Yusei also asks her not to do things that it would make it seem that they are going steady. This puzzles nervous Manami. Yusei says that he’ll tell everyone that it isn’t like that. “And, I won’t say anything that is disadvantageous to you.”

Manami asks why he would suddenly say such words to her or is it because of Ren...? Yusei says no, it isn’t because Ren said that... “Okay...that’s it.” Handling over the necktie, Manami says she understands.

After school, Ren comments that Yusei’s necktie has returned. Yusei says yes, and basically, he is also a general affairs committee member. Ren says ah, so he is setting an example as a general affairs committee member. “So, how’s today’s bento!?”

Yusei says that it is a grade of 40. While walking home, Ren pouts and says that grade is too low. From the window, Manami looks flustered as she watches them.

Soon, it is night. Walking alone in the streets [of Shibuya?], a couple of guys call out to her. “Hey, I found a cute high school girl~~” “Wha cha doing all alone? It’s very dangerous to be alone while staggering in the streets~~”

Manami tensely looks at them then blurts out, “...no matter who is okay. I want to have a boyfriend right now...” The guy with a mask pull down his mask to show his handsome face.

He says, “Then... then, come and have fun with us.” Manami follows the two guys. Blurb: “Daring to do anything as long as [she] uses Ren’s body...!”

Comment: Ren’s dream had come true. Their feelings are mutual though Yusei cannot easily show his feelings. Basically, cannot go all out lovey-dovey though that is understandable since one cannot change so fast and well, he isn’t the type who’ll do that easily.

Noticing the bento, Manami started to hinder them again
. It did work for a while but thankfully, the two managed to patch things up. Yusei immediately made it up to Ren regarding the necktie. Even his friend starts to notice Yusei’s change.

Because of what Yusei told Manami, she has realized that it is already futile. She cannot break the two apart. As for the ending, if this is a serious story, it can be quite scary since Manami is going to do reckless things just because the current body she is in isn’t hers.

I’m not sure though where would they go...karaoke type or motel type. Not sure either if a high schooler can go in the latter one. Perhaps, if things become problematic, Manami would become scared. I would guess that this is a spur of the moment thing because of the ‘rejection’ from Yusei.

Quote of the day:
Cooking is about creating something delicious for someone else. ~ Ayumi Komura, Mixed Vegetables, Vol. 2