Kore wa ai de koi janai [Chapter 17]

 Ren wakes up and sees the ceiling of a room. She wonders what happened to her and where is she. She sees Yusei nervously asking, “...Are you alright? Manami...!?” Ren thinks that this scenario feels so familiar...is it a dream?

Sitting up, Ren asks what he is talking about. “I’m Yaotome Ren.” Yusei looks surprised since he is looking at the real Ren. He exclaims if she is really Ren. Ren says, ha, but of course!

A woman tells Yusei that his imouto is also awake. Then, she pulls the curtain to reveal Manami sitting on the other bed. Manami glumly looks at surprised Ren.

Yusei goes to Manami and asks if she is alright. Manami says that she is okay. Ren wonders if this is for real, no way? She looks at her reflection on the window and thinks that she went back to her original body--...

At night, Ren wonders how come they changed back. “Was it because of the accident? Ah, forget it, anyway, I’ve changed back. *taking out her things from the bag* I have to wash my clothes...”

Then, she sees the stamped paper for the courage test. She squeals and roll over the bed as she recalls the times she spent with Yusei. She also recalls him wishing that she goes back to her own body.

Ren wonders what Yusei is doing right now... “I’m still not a bit used to the house where Hidaka isn’t around... I really want to talk with him. How about I call him on the phone!?”

She takes her cellphone and exclaims in dismay that it is Manami’s phone. “Geez, I forgot to get mine back. *lies on the bed* Ah~ I can see him tomorrow... Hope it’s tomorrow already-!!”

In front of section 2-1, Ren thinks that it has been a long time since she’s been in this class. Looking at her compact mirror and fixing her hair, she thinks that she is unexpectedly quite nervous and it seems that Yusei has already arrived. “Hm...do I look strange?”

Standing beside her, Yusei asks her why is she standing like a fool there. “Quickly go inside.” Surprised Ren stutters as she greets him. He just says ya and went in. Ren squeals over how embarrassing that was.

A girl greets her good morning. She sees Shouri. She quickly screams her name and shouts that it has been a long time, good morning. Puzzled Shouri said that didn’t they see each other every day and she’s acting strange lately.

Flashing v-signs, Ren happily says that it is because she went back being the original Ren-chan. Then, Chika [ponytails friend] greets Ren and comments about Ren’s style today. Ren happily greets her good morning.

Ren thinks, “I’m back to my original life...!! *scene of Yusei answering a question on the blackboard* Hidaka who can answer even if he was called out suddenly. *Yusei talks with a friend*

Hidaka currently chatting with his friend. *Yusei playing basketball with others* Hidaka scoring a goal during PE class... ♡ * Oh... To be able to watch all sorts of Hidaka to my heart’s content...

as long as I’m in the same space as the one I like, in class...even the teacher looks like he is sparkling-... It’s so awesome to be in the same class~~~...”

Her thoughts were interrupted when the teacher calls out to her to at least open her book. Yusei looks at her and mutters, stupid... Ren thinks, “By the way, since I’m back to my original self, can we not go steady already...?”

At the hallway, Ren sees Manami. She calls out to her and says that she brought her cellphone. “Did you bring mine?” Manami gives Ren her cellphone. Ren happily thanks her.

Manami then comments about wallpaper of Ren’s cellphone. She is referring to her and Yusei’s photo sticker. Ren says that this was before when she asked him if they can take a picture together...

Manami asks if she is going steady with her brother. Surprised Ren can only say, that is... Manami blurts out that if they do go steady, she thinks that Yusei wouldn’t tell her.

With that, Manami just walks away. Ren thinks that she knows a bit of that helpless feeling that Manami has when she became Manami... “But, sorry, this feeling of liking Hidaka will not waver.”

After school dismissal, Ren asks Yusei if he is going home with imouto. Yusei says yes. Ren says then, let’s walk together up to the gate. She asks him what’s dinner for today.

Yusei says that he hasn’t decided yet. While they walk, Ren sighs and says that she really wants to eat together, the food that he made. “Eating dinner together, sitting together on the sofa and watching TV... We can no longer do those things...”

This made Yusei pat her on the head and says that he’ll call her tonight. Ren blushes and exclaims that she’ll always wait for it. Yusei says that she’s too loud. Ren is very happy that he’ll call her.

At the sibling’s house, Manami says that she’ll go to her room. Yusei asks if she already ate and if she’s feeling well. Manami says that she’s fine, and she went into her room.

Yusei sits on the sofa by himself. He looks at the side and recalls Ren happily telling him to watch the show because it is very interesting, their reaction is so hardcore. This made Yusei go out of the house.

At home, while on the bed, Ren is staring at her phone. She wonders how come Yusei isn’t calling. She has been doing her best to wait for him.

She holds her phone and wonders if she should try calling him first. “But then, he said that he’ll call me. So annoying... By the way, what’s wrong with me. How come I feel so lonely. Before, I didn’t realize that I would really want to see him so much. It is only after we separated--...”

Suddenly, her phone rings. It is Yusei. She immediately answers her phone. He apologizes for calling her so late. “Can you come out right now? I’m near your house...”

Ren quickly goes out of her room and meets with Yusei outside. Yusei says that she’s so fast... Ren hugs him. She happily says that just now, she really wants to see him and then, he said that he had come over...!?

“Ah, what to do, I’m so happy!! *after she stopped hugging him* It is because before, we always lived together so right now, I feel so lonely without you by my side... *cries* Without you at my side, it is quite hard to pass the days by... What am I to do...”

Hidaka asks what nonsense she is saying. He smiles and says, “Isn’t this good? ...stay at my side. Since everything is back to how it was, ...let us go steady, okay?” Ren is surprised.

While crying, she says, “Ya Yes... Yes...!! I’ll go steady with you.” Holding her hands, Yusei tells her not to cry. Ren smiles and giggles, “I’m Hidaka’s girlfriend~~~”

Seeing that moved expression, Yusei pinches her cheeks which causes Ren to ask what he is doing. Yusei tells her not to always have that kind of expression. “...it makes me really want to kiss you.”

After going !?, Ren looks at the side and says, “It’s okay, kiss me...” After a pause, Yusei says forget it, let’s go home. Ren exclaims what happened. With a smile, he tells blushing Ren, “For the time being, not today.”

Comment: Yay, they changed back to their original bodies. Since it isn’t explained what are the conditions for it, I guess it opens the possibility that if the conditions are aligned again, the two girls might switch again.

There is not much drama and no obstacles from Manami so things smoothly progressed for the couple to become an official couple. It is nice that the two mutually miss each other and Yusei took the initiative. ^^

Well, Yusei is such a killjoy for mentioning kiss but delaying it. Since this is a story, it makes me think that the author wants to make it a cliffhanger/teaser or set up for a better time/scenario for the first kiss. ^^ Scans by 正宮汉化组

Quote of the day:
But nothing makes a room feel emptier than wanting someone in it. ~ Calla Quinn