Chapter 26: Hurry...
The chapter starts with Taki on his way to look for Mio. As he starts down the street, he notices that Akane is also on her way out. She tells him that her parents are both late getting home today, so she's going to go buy something to eat. Taki asks if she wants to come his house, then, since everyone made curry. She asks what he means by “everyone,” and he tells her that it's Mio and some others. Starting to get a bit concerned, she asks who else is there, and Taki tells her that the only people she would know are Mio and Marui (and Yuki is home, too). Akane flashes back to her encounter with Marui at the train station, and mutters, “I don't believe it... honestly, that guy...” Taki doesn't really hear her, and looks back and asks, “Do you not like curry?” Thinking that she isn't going to let Marui interfere, she says that she'll come. Speaking of which, where is Taki going by himself? What about Mio? He explains that she went to pick up some extra ingredients, but is taking too long getting back, so he's going to look around for her. Akane asks if she went alone. She can't have gone with him, can she? Taki asks who she means, and she responds, “That failure!” Marui? Why? Though, come to think of it, Taki didn't see him around when he was on his way out...
Hearing that, Akane grabs his hand and starts running (though she isn't certain where exactly to go). He wonders what she's doing, and she tells him to hurry. She starts to explain, “Nao, I think you should look out for that guy. I think it would be better if he wasn't with Ootaka-san! I think that he probably...” Taki cuts her off, saying, “Yeah. He probably does.” Akane asks him why, if he's noticed that, would he not try to stop Marui? Taki explains that if Marui fails his algebra exam, then he'll miss summer break. And he'll probably be the only one, so... Akane shakes him, yelling, “Idiot! Why are you aiding the enemy!?” Taki tells her that these are two different issues, and she replies that they aren't; they're together, so he's giving Marui a chance. Taki smiles a little, and tells her that Mio has always been on his side, so now he's going to trust her. Akane softens a little, and starts walking again. She tells him, “It's not like I'm saying I think that Ootaka-san is going to betray you. I don't think that, but... I'm saying that feelings can change. It doesn't matter what your intentions are.” Thinking about Marui, Akane continues, “No matter how much you think you'll dislike someone, before you know it... it turns out that isn't the case...” Akane realizes that she's been talking about Marui, and thinks that no – she still hates him! Blushing, she turns back to Taki and concludes, “Anyway! People's feelings aren't permanent! Lack of preparedness is your greatest enemy!!” Taki looks at Akane quizzically for a moment, then asks, “Akane... Do you know something?” She pauses, then tells him it's just hunch.
Outside the store, Marui and Mio are finishing with rounding up the bottles that fell out of the bag. Mio asks if they should go get a new bag, but Marui figures he can just carry it under his arm. He asks if her vegetables and such are all right, and she thinks that they are. As Mio stands up, she cringes over a pain in her ankle. Marui is looking at a text message from Ishida (complaining about his dry throat) and doesn't notice Mio's injury. Mio asks if the message says to hurry, and he tells her it's just an annoying note from Ishida. Mio says they should hurry, but Marui soon notices that she's limping and asks if her left leg hurts. Thinking, “He caught me...” Mio says that she just twisted her ankle a little. Marui worries that she might have broken something, and Mio waves it off. She can walk just fine! She suggests they hurry again, thinking that she doesn't want him to look at her with that serious expression again (like when she fell down in the last chapter). She tries to hurry back, but Marui stops her, telling her she can't hurry. She really needs to stop pushing herself. Mio starts to protests, “But, the curry...” and Marui takes the bag, telling her again that she can't rush back on that leg. Mio tells him that the bag isn't heavy, and he says he's fine with carrying it. It's his fault, anyway. Looking back, he tells her that if she hurries any more, he'll have to carry her back to Taki's house. Mio tells him that won't be necessary, and Marui goes on ahead. Mio wonders if it's OK to go on like this... Of course, telling Taki [that Marui confessed] would probably be unpleasant. He would worry when they're together like this... They approach a flight of stairs, and Marui tells Mio to hold on to him. Mio says it's fine; there's a handrail. Marui asks her to imagine that there was an elderly man or woman, unsteadily trying to go down the stairs, and a young man like him was there... Mio says he would help them... then asks who he's calling a tottering elderly person? Marui laughs and says it's the same basic situation, right? Mio thinks that's true; she's reading too much into it. Mio asks if the young man will offer her a hand, and he reaches out to her.
Right as they start down the stairs, Mio's ankle gives out again, and she falls down against Marui. Mio apologizes and asks if he's OK, explaining that her ankle gave out again. Their eyes meet, and Mio pushes him away, saying, “Sorry...” Marui pulls her back towards him, as Taki and Akane round the corner to the bottom of the stairs. A kid runs into Akane, causing her to miss the action, but Taki gets there just in time to see Marui lean in to try to kiss Mio. She jerks away, crying out about the pain in her leg. As Akane complains about that brat who ran into her, Taki looks up the stairway in stunned silence. Akane sees his expression, then looks up and spots Mio and Marui. She yells up at them, “What are you doing!?” Mio sees Taki, and realizes that he saw that. She thinks that this is a misunderstanding... right? She panics, wondering what to do and not sure how to explain. Akane starts up the stairs, asking why the two of them are sitting there. Marui starts to explain: Earlier, Mio hurt her ankle, and just now she fell down. Akane sees Mio's and ankle, and comments that it does seem to be bruising... Is she all right? Mio says she thinks so, probably... Taki comes up and reaches out his hand. Looking a little sad, he asks, “Are you all right?” Taki helps her, and they go on ahead. Akane glances back at Marui's face as he watches Mio leave with Taki. Blushing, she tells him that since she was also invited for dinner, she'll take the bag with the food. She leaves, and Marui leans back against the wall.
Back at his house, Taki tends to Mio's ankle with a first aid kit. He tells her that it's a little swollen, and she should avoid putting her weight on her left ankle so she doesn't twist it again. Mio thanks him, and the others comment that it's good Mio didn't roll her ankle badly enough to break it. Inoji questions where “that girl” came from, motioning towards Akane. Mio explains that she's Taki's next door neighbor, and Akane adds that she was invited for dinner. It's no big deal. Ishida says she looks familiar, and Shii figures that Akane goes to their school. While they talk, Mio thinks that Akane's behavior doesn't seem to indicate that she saw when Marui almost kissed her. Mio is glad; not even having talked about being confessed to yet, if they'd seen that... Shii asks Taki about the plates for dinner, and Mio tries to offer to help. Taki smiles at her, telling her to rest. As he heads back towards the kitchen, his smile fades away. Mio thinks that she needs to hurry and talk to him about Marui's confession. She picks up her phone and sends Taki a message. As she does, Marui finally arrives. Ishida asks where he went that took him so long (and points out the bag is broken). Marui tells him he dropped it, but not to worry. He sighs that he's hungry, and Ishida tells him the curry is done. Marui follows him into the kitchen, leaving Akane and Mio alone.
Akane points out that Mio still has her purse, and Mio nervously laughs about it. Akane asks how that's funny, as Mio wonders why she's feeling so nervous if she doesn't think Akane saw Marui attempt to kiss her. She tries to calm herself, then realizes that the charm Taki gave her is missing from her purse. It was there when she went shopping earlier... She starts looking around the room for it, and Akane asks what she's doing. Mio tries to think of where she could have dropped it, and gets up to look around the house. Akane calls out to her again, and she says she's going to the bathroom. Not seeing it in the hall, Mio figures that she must have dropped it along the street. In that case, the longer she waits, the harder it will get to recover it. She can't look right now... But it may have been hit by a car or bike, or have fallen in a ditch (Mio pictures it crying over its abandonment). She'll look for it tomorrow... At dinner, Ishida is pestering Yuki again (she's commanding him to sit). Shii comments that he's getting some training again, and Inoji recalls that Ishida used to act like that around the older girls in middle school. Marui laughs that he has a thing for older women. Yuni asks Shii if there's leftover curry, and Mio offers to get her another (large) helping. Taki asks her if he should help her do it, but she says she's fine. She has an awkward run-in with Marui in the kitchen, and Taki looks down sadly after seeing them together. Mio comes to ask if he wants seconds, and Taki is too distracted to hear her at first. When she finally gets his attention, he tells her that he's finished. He takes his plate to the kitchen, and Mio sits back down a few seats from Marui. The chapter ends with Taki glancing back at them again, as Mio thinks that she wants to hurry and talk to Taki, soon.
The chapter starts with Taki on his way to look for Mio. As he starts down the street, he notices that Akane is also on her way out. She tells him that her parents are both late getting home today, so she's going to go buy something to eat. Taki asks if she wants to come his house, then, since everyone made curry. She asks what he means by “everyone,” and he tells her that it's Mio and some others. Starting to get a bit concerned, she asks who else is there, and Taki tells her that the only people she would know are Mio and Marui (and Yuki is home, too). Akane flashes back to her encounter with Marui at the train station, and mutters, “I don't believe it... honestly, that guy...” Taki doesn't really hear her, and looks back and asks, “Do you not like curry?” Thinking that she isn't going to let Marui interfere, she says that she'll come. Speaking of which, where is Taki going by himself? What about Mio? He explains that she went to pick up some extra ingredients, but is taking too long getting back, so he's going to look around for her. Akane asks if she went alone. She can't have gone with him, can she? Taki asks who she means, and she responds, “That failure!” Marui? Why? Though, come to think of it, Taki didn't see him around when he was on his way out...
Hearing that, Akane grabs his hand and starts running (though she isn't certain where exactly to go). He wonders what she's doing, and she tells him to hurry. She starts to explain, “Nao, I think you should look out for that guy. I think it would be better if he wasn't with Ootaka-san! I think that he probably...” Taki cuts her off, saying, “Yeah. He probably does.” Akane asks him why, if he's noticed that, would he not try to stop Marui? Taki explains that if Marui fails his algebra exam, then he'll miss summer break. And he'll probably be the only one, so... Akane shakes him, yelling, “Idiot! Why are you aiding the enemy!?” Taki tells her that these are two different issues, and she replies that they aren't; they're together, so he's giving Marui a chance. Taki smiles a little, and tells her that Mio has always been on his side, so now he's going to trust her. Akane softens a little, and starts walking again. She tells him, “It's not like I'm saying I think that Ootaka-san is going to betray you. I don't think that, but... I'm saying that feelings can change. It doesn't matter what your intentions are.” Thinking about Marui, Akane continues, “No matter how much you think you'll dislike someone, before you know it... it turns out that isn't the case...” Akane realizes that she's been talking about Marui, and thinks that no – she still hates him! Blushing, she turns back to Taki and concludes, “Anyway! People's feelings aren't permanent! Lack of preparedness is your greatest enemy!!” Taki looks at Akane quizzically for a moment, then asks, “Akane... Do you know something?” She pauses, then tells him it's just hunch.
Outside the store, Marui and Mio are finishing with rounding up the bottles that fell out of the bag. Mio asks if they should go get a new bag, but Marui figures he can just carry it under his arm. He asks if her vegetables and such are all right, and she thinks that they are. As Mio stands up, she cringes over a pain in her ankle. Marui is looking at a text message from Ishida (complaining about his dry throat) and doesn't notice Mio's injury. Mio asks if the message says to hurry, and he tells her it's just an annoying note from Ishida. Mio says they should hurry, but Marui soon notices that she's limping and asks if her left leg hurts. Thinking, “He caught me...” Mio says that she just twisted her ankle a little. Marui worries that she might have broken something, and Mio waves it off. She can walk just fine! She suggests they hurry again, thinking that she doesn't want him to look at her with that serious expression again (like when she fell down in the last chapter). She tries to hurry back, but Marui stops her, telling her she can't hurry. She really needs to stop pushing herself. Mio starts to protests, “But, the curry...” and Marui takes the bag, telling her again that she can't rush back on that leg. Mio tells him that the bag isn't heavy, and he says he's fine with carrying it. It's his fault, anyway. Looking back, he tells her that if she hurries any more, he'll have to carry her back to Taki's house. Mio tells him that won't be necessary, and Marui goes on ahead. Mio wonders if it's OK to go on like this... Of course, telling Taki [that Marui confessed] would probably be unpleasant. He would worry when they're together like this... They approach a flight of stairs, and Marui tells Mio to hold on to him. Mio says it's fine; there's a handrail. Marui asks her to imagine that there was an elderly man or woman, unsteadily trying to go down the stairs, and a young man like him was there... Mio says he would help them... then asks who he's calling a tottering elderly person? Marui laughs and says it's the same basic situation, right? Mio thinks that's true; she's reading too much into it. Mio asks if the young man will offer her a hand, and he reaches out to her.
Right as they start down the stairs, Mio's ankle gives out again, and she falls down against Marui. Mio apologizes and asks if he's OK, explaining that her ankle gave out again. Their eyes meet, and Mio pushes him away, saying, “Sorry...” Marui pulls her back towards him, as Taki and Akane round the corner to the bottom of the stairs. A kid runs into Akane, causing her to miss the action, but Taki gets there just in time to see Marui lean in to try to kiss Mio. She jerks away, crying out about the pain in her leg. As Akane complains about that brat who ran into her, Taki looks up the stairway in stunned silence. Akane sees his expression, then looks up and spots Mio and Marui. She yells up at them, “What are you doing!?” Mio sees Taki, and realizes that he saw that. She thinks that this is a misunderstanding... right? She panics, wondering what to do and not sure how to explain. Akane starts up the stairs, asking why the two of them are sitting there. Marui starts to explain: Earlier, Mio hurt her ankle, and just now she fell down. Akane sees Mio's and ankle, and comments that it does seem to be bruising... Is she all right? Mio says she thinks so, probably... Taki comes up and reaches out his hand. Looking a little sad, he asks, “Are you all right?” Taki helps her, and they go on ahead. Akane glances back at Marui's face as he watches Mio leave with Taki. Blushing, she tells him that since she was also invited for dinner, she'll take the bag with the food. She leaves, and Marui leans back against the wall.
Back at his house, Taki tends to Mio's ankle with a first aid kit. He tells her that it's a little swollen, and she should avoid putting her weight on her left ankle so she doesn't twist it again. Mio thanks him, and the others comment that it's good Mio didn't roll her ankle badly enough to break it. Inoji questions where “that girl” came from, motioning towards Akane. Mio explains that she's Taki's next door neighbor, and Akane adds that she was invited for dinner. It's no big deal. Ishida says she looks familiar, and Shii figures that Akane goes to their school. While they talk, Mio thinks that Akane's behavior doesn't seem to indicate that she saw when Marui almost kissed her. Mio is glad; not even having talked about being confessed to yet, if they'd seen that... Shii asks Taki about the plates for dinner, and Mio tries to offer to help. Taki smiles at her, telling her to rest. As he heads back towards the kitchen, his smile fades away. Mio thinks that she needs to hurry and talk to him about Marui's confession. She picks up her phone and sends Taki a message. As she does, Marui finally arrives. Ishida asks where he went that took him so long (and points out the bag is broken). Marui tells him he dropped it, but not to worry. He sighs that he's hungry, and Ishida tells him the curry is done. Marui follows him into the kitchen, leaving Akane and Mio alone.
Akane points out that Mio still has her purse, and Mio nervously laughs about it. Akane asks how that's funny, as Mio wonders why she's feeling so nervous if she doesn't think Akane saw Marui attempt to kiss her. She tries to calm herself, then realizes that the charm Taki gave her is missing from her purse. It was there when she went shopping earlier... She starts looking around the room for it, and Akane asks what she's doing. Mio tries to think of where she could have dropped it, and gets up to look around the house. Akane calls out to her again, and she says she's going to the bathroom. Not seeing it in the hall, Mio figures that she must have dropped it along the street. In that case, the longer she waits, the harder it will get to recover it. She can't look right now... But it may have been hit by a car or bike, or have fallen in a ditch (Mio pictures it crying over its abandonment). She'll look for it tomorrow... At dinner, Ishida is pestering Yuki again (she's commanding him to sit). Shii comments that he's getting some training again, and Inoji recalls that Ishida used to act like that around the older girls in middle school. Marui laughs that he has a thing for older women. Yuni asks Shii if there's leftover curry, and Mio offers to get her another (large) helping. Taki asks her if he should help her do it, but she says she's fine. She has an awkward run-in with Marui in the kitchen, and Taki looks down sadly after seeing them together. Mio comes to ask if he wants seconds, and Taki is too distracted to hear her at first. When she finally gets his attention, he tells her that he's finished. He takes his plate to the kitchen, and Mio sits back down a few seats from Marui. The chapter ends with Taki glancing back at them again, as Mio thinks that she wants to hurry and talk to Taki, soon.
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