Kore wa ai de koi janai [Chapter 21]

 

Manami shouts at Kou to wait and what’s going on. “I’m waiting for my brother so that we can go home together...” Kou stops pulling Manami along and realized that he carelessly just pulled Manami away [from the gym].

He sheepishly asks if she’s hungry so how about they go to a delicious pizza restaurant. Manami doesn’t want to go. She tells him that it is useless to probe her feelings, and as she told him before, she doesn’t like him.

Kou says that the one he likes is Ren, is that how it is? Manami looks surprised as Kou just smiles at her. Manami asks how did he know. Kou just says that he wants her to accompany him to eat since it is too sad if he eats alone.

Manami calls him a liar because he definitely saw her brother and Ren doing some lovey-dovey. “I don’t want this kind of kindness from you. On contrary, it makes me feel a bit miserable. *Kou is surprised* Are you already abandoning your love for Ren-senpai?”

Kou says for him, if it is the happiness of his loved one, then, it is for the best. He nervously asks what she is planning. Manami says that she didn’t imagine her brother would have fallen in love with a person like Ren.

“Brother he...should stand beside a more beautiful and intelligent person. It would be good if it is that kind of person wherein I absolutely cannot win against... Totally *teary-eyed* I totally cannot sort out my feelings...” 

Kou looks sad at her but becomes nervous when the other people start to wonder out loud if they are having a lover’s quarrel. This made Kou cover her with his jacket. He asks if they can temporarily leave like this.

Manami asks what is this, stupid. Kou says that like he told her before, it is best for girls to be frank. She tells him that there’s no need to mind her.

At the gym, during a break, the manager informs everyone that they’ll have a weekend training camp so practice well the training schedule written on the board. The others groan. The manager tells them not to be lazy. While catching his breath, Yusei looks at the board.

Then, he grabs Kou and says he didn’t hear that club activity would unexpectedly be this serious. “Isn’t it too devilish that there will be a training camp when I have just joined?”

Kou says that this level is common since there will be competitions in a few days. “If you are already this exhausted then you won’t even last until the afternoon.” Irked Kou says that he isn’t tired.

Looking at the board, Ren thinks that this is the first training camp as a helper of the basketball club. “This is really amazing since I can be with Hidaka day and night...!! This is my super youth...!!

That is what she was thinking. But then, what’s this devilish training!!? Wait, this exercises are quite difficult. Even if it is a training camp... *dismayed while looking at Yusei* there’s no time for us to be together, right... There’s totally no way at all!!”

Manami calls out to Ren. By the sink, she tells Ren about the manager wanting to fill the bottles with water then delivering them upstairs and downstairs. Ren exclaims okay, since this needs strength, leave it up to her. Manami says that she has other things to do so she’ll leave that up to her.

She glances at Ren before leaving. While hanging the clothes, the manager says that Manami is fast, so did she put the water bottles at the designated places.

Manami says that it seems that Ren can do it alone. The manager says is that so, actually, that is quite heavy so she wants the two of them to bring it together. Manami looks slightly tense. The manager tells her to just help her hang the clothes.

Later on, Ren is carrying the water bottles that are so heavy for her. She wonders how can she bring these upstairs. To her surprise, Yusei arrives and helps her carry them upstairs. Ren protests that he is already very tired.

Irked Yusei says that he isn’t, how come they are like that [saying he is tired]. Ren blushes and thanks him. Then, she giggles. Yusei asks what is she laughing about. Ren says that it is because he is busy with the devilish training, she thought that there won’t be any chance for her to see and talk with him.

Poking Ren’s forehead, he asks how come she is thinking of such things and she is really belittling the club. He admits that he also totally didn’t imagine that it is a club that is serious with training.

Ren says that’s right, since he and everyone are doing their best, she’ll also do her best. “Even if there isn’t much leisure time, I can give you strength with eye contact. *makes heart sign* it’s love.”

Yusei pulls her head to him and says that simply looking at her would always make him energetic. Ren asks if it is energy, no matter how much, she can share it to him. He asks, really..?

He leans to kiss but she suddenly pushes his chin away. She exclaims that they are in school and currently in training. Yusei says that hurts. Ren suggests that if it is a kiss, how about making it a reward after the training camp ends.

He pinches her face and says then, let’s do it as she says. With that, he leaves. Ren continues with her chores. She thinks that because of thinking that something good is waiting for her at the end, even if it is staggered time, even if it is tiring, one will keep on doing one’s best, right!?

Ren goes on to deliver the drinks and Yusei practices with the others. Soon, it is night. Tired to death, Ren thinks yes, she must do her best... The manger asks if she’s alright.

Her cellphone vibrates. It is Yusei who sends her a picture of a swimming pool and a message telling her to come over. This made Ren say that she’ll go out and buy something.

Then, she goes to the swimming pool to see Yusei waiting for her at the side. He says that she’s so slow. Ren says that she obviously rushed over and by the way, isn’t this super moving, a swimming pool at night!!!

Yusei says that she’s too loud and really has a lot of energy. While taking a picture, she says that there are a lot of stars that it makes her remember that summer day at the seaside. Yusei says is that so, he just thought of it, too.

Ren blushes and asks if he just took a shower because his hair is still wet. He tells her to properly dry it or else, he’ll become bald. Yusei suddenly hugs her that it made her asks what’s up!?

She tells him that there is still one more day before the training camp ends, so he’s too early to get the reward. He says that she’s so noisy, and he’s really too tired today.

He tells her to be quiet and be his pillow. Ren protests but she calms down when she smells his scent without the perfume. Since she is sniffing him, this made Yusei kiss her.

When she senses that it isn’t the usual kiss, she blushes and tells him to stop. She pushes him away but loses her balance. She falls into the swimming pool. She screams that it’s so cold. He tells her to be quiet.

He apologizes and helps her out the pool. She tells him that it is alright and it’s her fault for being careless that she fell into the pool. She says that her face become hot a while ago so it’s good that she fell. Yusei sees something and looks surprised.

She wrings her shirt and says that she’s a bit cold but then, look, how much water she wrung from the shirt. She sees him covering his eyes that she asks if he is listening. Yusei tells her to properly look at herself. To Ren’s shock, it turns out that her bra can be seen through her wet shirt.

She asks if he saw it and she should have worn something cute before going out. Yusei puts his coat on her and tells her not to arouse him too much. “Or else, the ‘reward’ won’t simply be just a kiss, okay?” Blushing Ren goes huh!!?

Comment: I think from here on, Kou will be the one who’ll somewhat try to reason out with Manami regarding her one-sided love towards Yusei. It turns out that Manami thinks that Ren is inferior for her brother. And in some way, probably thought that with her in Ren’s body, her brother would fall for her instead.

And yes, it turns out that she totally has no idea what made her brother fall for Ren which are obviously not beauty nor intelligence. Still, Kou is very mature about the rejection that it is best if the person he likes is happy with someone else.

It does seem deliberate that Manami made Ren carry all those heavy bottles even if Ren volunteered to do it herself. Thankfully, it became an opportunity for the couple to be together.

They even decided to do a kiss as reward for their hard work later on. Haha, but then, it seems that Yusei is barely controlling himself. He should pace himself since Ren tends to easily freak out when he does something more than the usual. ^^; Scans by 正宮汉化组  

Quote of the day:
Hard work does not go unnoticed, and someday the rewards will follow. ~ Alan Rufus