Volume
3:
Valentine's
day is coming so Mama asks Kotoko to make chocolate
for Naoki. In their conversation, Mama reveals that
she also don't want Naoki to go to T Dai. She says
that those people who goes there are nerdy. She would
rather he get a job.
The next
day, Kotoko goes to Yuki's school to bring something
that he has forgotten. As she reaches there, she
notices Yuki staring at a girl. Kotoko then tries to
find out her name from the girl's classmate. She
realises that Naomi is 3 years older than Yuki but
Yuki still likes her. When the ball that Naomi is
playing with is caught by Kotoko, Kotoko urges Yuki
to give the ball back. Kotoko then asks Naomi to come
over to Yuki's house to play by promising to show her
a poster of Genji (presumably a J-Pop group). Yuki is
happy that Naomi is coming to his house. At home,
Naomi and Yuki just stares at each other as Yuki is
too shy. As Naomi tells Yuki that she wants to go
home, Naoki comes home. She then asks Yuki a lot of
questions about Naoki. Then Naomi asks Kotoko to show
her the poster. She tells Kotoko that she has the
same poster but she tells Kotoko it's okay because
she found a good thing during the visit. Kotoko
becomes suspicious as to why she says that. Yuki is
very happy and thanks Kotoko before running to his
room.
Kotoko
finishes the chocolate that she's making for Naoki
but hides it. On the 13th of February, Naoki has to
take another entrance exam at T Dai. As Papa and Mama
are worried that Naoki won't go for the exam, Kotoko
offers to send him to the school to ensure that he
will go for the exam. Upon reaching the school gate,
Kotoko has a bad stomache and fainted. Naoki quickly
brings her to the hospital. Even after the doctor
tells Naoki that she is okay and Naoki can go for the
exam, he stays on to watch over Kotoko. Kotoko on the
other hand, keeps telling Naoki to hurry to take the
exam as she talks in her sleep. When Mama and Sai
arrives, everyone presumes that Naoki has gone for
the exam but they are shocked when Naoki enters the
hospital room. Kotoko burst out crying blaming
herself for Naoki missing the exam.
At home,
Sai apologises to Papa but Papa says it's okay
because Naoki himself has never wanted to go to T Dai.
Mama is happy because Naoki and Kotoko will be in the
same university. Kotoko feeling bad decides to leave
the Irie household that night. As she is leaving
Naoki caught her. He then tells her that it's okay
etc. Kotoko feeling better decides not to leave.
On
Valentine's Day, Kotoko does not go to school but
Kinnosuke who don't know about this expected to have
a chocolate from her. Mama takes very good care of
Kotoko as she just recovered from yesterday's
stomache. Kotoko then tells Mama that Kotoko feels
that Mama is just like her own mother. Mama is very
happy to hear this.
When Yuki
returns home, Kotoko asks him if he got any chocolate
from Naomi and Yuki tells her to mind her own
business. Then Naomi comes for a visit. Yuki is very
happy and shy but when Naoki comes home, Naomi gives
him her chocolate and tells him that she likes him
eversince she first saw him. She then tells Naoki
that even if he doesn't have the answer for her now
it's okay and runs away as she is very embarrassed.
Yuki seeing this becomes angry and blames Kotoko for
inviting Naomi to their house. Mama finds the box of
chocolate that Kotoko has made for Naoki and urges
her to give it to him. Kotoko doesn't think that it
is appropriate as she has written "Hope you get
into T Dai. Kotoko" but she gives it to him
anyway and she tells him that she likes him. Naoki
tells her that he's not listening to her but accepts
the chocolate and Kotoko is very happy. Meanwhile in
school, Kinnosuke is still waiting for Kotoko to give
him the chocolate.
================
It is
graduation day. As Kotoko and Naoki set out to school,
Mama whispers to Naoki to make sure to give some sort
of bracelet (I'm not sure what the bracelet's exact
name but somehow it has got to do with sweetheart and
stuff...) to Kotoko and no one else. Naoki just
ignores Mama.
When
Naoki and Kotoko reach school, everyone is whispering
about the fact that Naoki won't be going to T Dai
University. Naoki just ignores the people while
Kotoko feels bad. Kinnosuke who overhears what other
students are saying got angry because if Naoki doesn't
go to T Dai, he will be in the same university with
Kotoko. When Kinnosuke starts asking Naoki if that is
true, Naoki replies yes, he'll be in the same
university with Kotoko. They then again, trades
insults...^_- Guess who got the last word again.....?
After
Kotoko leaves with Zinko, Kinnosuke tells his friend
that that day he will get Kotoko's kiss. In the
graduation assembly, Kotoko is nervous but when Naoki
is up on the stage making a speech, she remembers the
first time she ever saw him and the first time she
falls in love with him. She also remembers the times
she spent with him eg. when he studied with her, when
he carried her when she injured herself on Sports'
Day. She is daydreaming so she doesn't realise that
her name is being called. Kotoko and Kinnosuke are
the representive for the F-class. As both of them
walk up to the stage, Kinnosuke dreams that they are
walking to the altar. He also imagines that the
principal is a priest performing the marriage
ceremony. He then says, "I DO!!!". The
whole school laughs and Kotoko becomes embarrassed.
Kinnosuke then challenges Naoki for Kotoko. When he
asks the audience if anyone disagree with his claim,
Mama shouts, "I DISAGREE!!!" She then
scolds Naoki for not saying anything. Naoki's friends
teases him about Mama and Naoki is embarrassed.
Kotoko also embarrassed runs away from the stage but
she drops the stack of papers she's carrying right in
front of Naoki. Naoki helps her then shouts "IDIOT!!!"
in her ear.
After the
ceremony, as Kotoko, Mama, Zinko, Satomi and
Kinnosuke are outside they see a couple kissing. Mama
is very angry that Naoki is not taking the chance to
do the same thing to Kotoko. Kinnosuke volunteers to
do that with Kotoko but everyone ignores him. They
see a Grade 1 student apporach Naoki, then after
Naoki says something the girl runs away crying. Then
they see a Grade 2 student doing the same thing. Mama
then tells Kotoko that it is her turn now. Naoki also
gives her the same answers that he gave to the other
2 girls who also asked him about the bracelet. Kotoko
then runs away crying. However, that day, Kotoko
takes a picture with Naoki and this time the picture
is just perfect! ^_^
The F-class
is going to the karaoke to celebrate graduation.
While there, Kinnosuke dreams of singing Kotoko a
love song and she feeling touched, accepts his love.
Then as they are singing together, the A-class
arrives. Apparently the A-class is also there to
celebrate. The A-class people decides to leave but
Watanabe persuades them to stay. As the 2 classes try
to ignore each other, the teachers of the 2 classes
get into an argument. This causes the students to get
involved as well. The A-class people blames Kotoko
for Naoki not being able to enter T Dai University.
Naoki, who has been quiet then tells his teacher that
it's not Kotoko's fault. He then proceeds to insult
Kotoko, Kotoko gets angry and they get into an
argument. Then she pulls out her secret weapon, Naoki's
photo when he's young and dressed as a girl. She then
tells everyone that it's Naoki. Naoki then pulls her
outside. Outside, Kotoko tells him that everyone sees
her liking him as a joke so she's going to forget
about him and find a nicer boy in university. Naoki
then tells her to try and kisses her. He walks away
after sticking his tongue out at her while she
remains shocked on the floor.
================
Kotoko
keeps dreaming about her first kiss with Naoki and
she doesn't know how to behave in front of him. But
Naoki acts normal as when Mama tells Naoki how pretty
Kotoko looks, he tells Kotoko that she has grown
fatter. When she knocks her head on a lamp post,
Naoki tells her that she is stupid. Kotoko feels that
Naoki is mean to have say somethign like that with a
person whom he already kissed.
In school,
she tells Zinko and Satomi about the kiss. They are
shocked and feels that the whole university should
know. Then they find out that the faculty that they
are in is considered as the F-class in the university.
Zinko cries as she doesn't want to be forever in the
worst class. Thei teacher is also very fierce. They
also received lot's of flyers about the clubs in
school. Then Kotoko thinks that she saw someone who
looks like Kinnosuke. Unknown to her, someone is
watching her.
Kotoko
and her friends then go to to Naoki's faculty. When
they reach there, they see him with a very beautiful
girl. As they spy on Naoki and the girl, one of Naoki's
friends tells Naoki that "his wife" is here.
The girl then asks Naoki is Kotoko is his girlfriend.
He tells her it's impossible. Kotoko again thinks
that how could he say such things since they already
exchange a kiss. When the girl looks at Kotoko, she
looks smug. Then she asks Naoki to go to the library
with her, he tells her no. This time Kotoko looks
smugly at the girl.
At home,
Kotoko tells Mama that Naoki seems only to like smart
and beautiful girls. Mama then tells Kotoko that she
doesn't judge people like that. She tells her for
example, Papa and her. Mama then assures Kotoko that
Naoki is not like that as well.
That
night, Kotoko asks Naoki about the girl he was with.
He tells her that her name is Reiko and asks Kotoko
is she's jealous. He then tells her that Reiko is not
only beautiful, she is also very smart. She then asks
him if Reiko is so smart why is she in their
university. Naoki then reminds her of his
circumstances. he then reminds her that they already
exchange a kiss and asks her if she cannot forget him.
Kotoko then thinks that Naoki is going to kiss her
again but then he laughs and leaves her.
In the
school canteen, Kotoko and Naoki orders the same
lunch set but when it comes, Kotoko's set has got
more rice, dishes etc...while Naoki's is very very
little. As it turns out, the person who works in the
canteen is Kinnosuke. he's working in the university
during the day and at Sai's restaurant at night. He
gets into another fight with Naoki. Naoki, after
getting the last word, ignores him and asks the boss
for more food.
Then
Sudou, Naoki's senior begs Naoki to join his club.
Naoki agrees and Kotoko is curious to know what club
Naoki will be joining so that she also can join it.
After school, she follows him but she ends up in the
Manga Club. She thinks to herself that Naoki won't
join such a club. She is then being hassled by the
members about what OAVs she has seen etc...Naoki,
outside mouths the word "Idiot" After
escaping the members of the Manga Club she finally
finds the correct club, the Tennis Club. So she joins
the club even though she has never played tennis
before. The coach is also very fierce and Kotoko
finds out that Reiko who will be in the club as well
is a very good player.
================
Mama is
very happy that Kotoko and Naoki will be in the same
club. She then offers to teach her how to play. Mama
tells her that she is the one who taught Naoki to
play tennis. Yuki then tells Mama that he also wants
to learn so that he can become like his brother.
Naoki then insults Kotoko again and they fight again.
The next
day, Kotoko meets Sudou in school. After Sudou leaves,
Kotoko tells Zinko and Satomi that Sudou seems like a
very nice guy because he is very friendly. However,
they think that Sudou looks a bit perverted etc.
Kotoko
switch classes to be able to in the same class as
Naoki. As it turns out, Kinnosuke also comes for the
class even though he is not a student. Reiko also
comes and tells Kotoko that the teacher is very
fierce. When the teacher is teaching, he suddenly
points to someone behind Kotoko. When Kinnosuke
cannot answer, the teacher asks Kotoko who nudges
Naoki for help. Naoki just ignores her. The teacher
then insults the whole class because Kotoko cannot
answer. Reiko then stands up and tells the teacher
that he should not judge the other people in the
class by Kinnosuke and Kotoko's standard. Kotoko and
Kinnosuke feels insulted then defends themselves but
Reiko insults Kinnosuke who then gets thrown out of
the class by the teacher. After the class, Kotoko
feels sad because her dream of studying with Naoki is
embarrassing instead of good.
As she
goes for her first meeting in the Tennis Club, Sudou
tells her that she looks cute. When she sees Naoki
she is very happy but Naoki continues to be cool to
her. Then the coach tells the new members that their
skill is going to be tested and Sudou will be their
opponent. Kotoko feels relieved as Sudou seems very
gentle and kind. However, when Sudou hold his racket,
he looks scary. Naoki then tells Kotoko that Sudou is
very scary when he plays tennis.
Sudou
manage to beat all the new members. Reiko's skill is
very good so she manage to hit Sudou's tennis ball
back. Then it's Naoki's turn. Sudou loses to Naoki
and he becomes angry. The other members then say they
pity whoever if next and Kotoko is next. O_o She
tries to sneak away but Sudou shouts at her. At the
end, Kotoko too faints from exhaustion like the other
students. Kotoko ends up with the tennis racket
string mark on her face because at the end of the
game, when Sudou's ball almost hit her face, she
blocks it using her racket. She meets Sudou again at
lunch and she's afraid of him, he then apologises and
tells her that he cannot control himself when he's
playing tennis.
Across
the canteen, Kinnosuke calls Kotoko "Sweetheart"
and "Honey" to Kotoko's embarrassment.
Kinnosuke tells Kotoko that her father wants to see
her tonight at the restaurant.
Kotoko is
made to do push-ups etc and picking balls up while
Reiko doesn't have to do that at all. Apparently,
those who manage to hit Sudou's ball don't have to go
through physical training. When Kotoko asks if Naoki
is at practice as well, Reiko tells her no. Naoki
only comes when he feels like it. So Kotoko regrets
joining the club since she won't see Naoki anyway.
At night,
she goes to her father's restaurant. There, her
father tells her that she can move out of the Irie
household since the house is done. He also tells her
by doing so she can forget about Naoki and don't have
to suffer anymore. Kinnosuke is very happy to hear
this while Kotoko becomes very quiet, thinking to
herself.
Mama is
very very upset that Kotoko is moving out. Sai tells
her and Papa that Kotoko has spent such a long time
in their house that is why they must move out. Yuki
is eavesdropping and runs excitedly to tell Naoki
that Kotoko is moving out. Naoki looks shocked. Yuki
then says that Kotoko only gives them trouble. When
he sees Kotoko behind Naoki, he runs to Naoki's room
to sleep. Naoki then asks Kotoko if she is leaving,
she says yes. He then tells her that his life can go
back to normal. Kotoko then says she has something to
do. But when Naoki's back is turned on her, she has
tears in her eyes.
-Jennifer
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