Ch 15: That day’s memories

I believe that you will be happy. The chapter begins with a nurse asking Motomiya if he’s fine. He replies that he is in pain because he misses Yuzuno (the nurse). He adds that Yuzuno is not healing him enough in hospital and suggests that they have a date outself. Yuzuno says she has a boyfriend　and tells him to stop fooling around.

Yuzuno and Motomiya were high school friends.  They also live near each other and one day, Motomiya saw Yuzuno crying. Since then, Motomiya has been seeing Yuzuno as more than a friend. Yuzuno is saying that Motomiya i idiot for being admitted to her hospital. Motomiya says thanks for attending to him and adds that it’s the first date outside. Yuzuno retortd says she has to go for her part-time job.  It seems that Yuzuno is hard up for money and doesn't want to say the reason. Motomiya follows her to her workplace; which is a hostess club. He sits in as her customer. Motomiya got drunk and Yuzuno took him back. On the way home, Yuzuno reveals that her boyfriend’s mother is hospitalized but she has not met her, and doesn't know which hospital she’s in. Motomiya asks her doesn't she feel cheated? Yuzuno laughd says yes, maybe. But she wants to believe.

Motomiya went to look for Yuzuno’s boyfriend and asks him to break off with Yuzuno because he doesn't want her to be upset anymore. Motomiya confesses his love for Yuzuno and that his motive in life is to make her laugh, ever since he saw her crying that day. They got married and gave birth to Mao. Motomiya works very hard every day for the sake of the family and he failed to notice Yuzuno’s unhappiness.

One day near Christmas, Motomiya returned home early, bringing back a teddy bear for Mao. Shockingly, he caught Yuzuno in bed with her ex-boyfriend. Yuzuno says that the relationship started when Motomiya neglected her and Mao. Motomiya then sarcastically asks if Mao is his daughter, to which Yuzuno exclaims “of course”. Soon, Motomiya doesn't want to go home. He stays over at a woman’s place. Mao starts saying that her father is bad because he made her mother unhappy and is seldom at home. At this time, Motomiya steps into the house and reprimands Yuzuno for teaching Mao to say bad things about the father. Mao is frightened by Motomiya’s fierce glance and starts wailing. At this time, Yuzuno took her belongingd left the house. Motomiya is thinking how Yuzuno never repents, but he had once been so in love with her. Mao is pitifully deserted by her mother. The grown up Mao wonders if her mother has ever blamed her. She was actually shocked to see her mother walking out of the house but she also thought that her mother will be happier without her.

Oda came to Motomiya’s home to look up Mao. Motomiya asked if he is her boyfriend and he said no embarrassingly, then Motomiya says Oda must be in love with Mao. He passed Oda a paper consisting of Mao’s current address (Hiro’s home) and told him to take care of her. After Oda left the house, Motomiya’s girlfriend commented that Motomiya talked about Mao in his sleep again…

Hiro is returning home early from work and he thinks to himself that there should be no problems going for the fireworks festival in the current work situation. He is also disturbed by the thought that Mao seems to be avoiding Sugimoto but she has never hidden anything from him before.

Oda sees entering the house and he is shocked and furious as Motomiya had said Mao is living in the house. Hiro tells him that Mao has been hurt and requests him for him to leave.

Hiro enters the house and Mao asks him to protect her from Daiki. Daiki has been hassling her to play (video game) with him but Mao needs to prepare dinner.

Hiro changes the topic and says that he is able to go to the fireworks festival. He says he will dig out his mum’s yukata for Mao. Mao is hesitant but Hiro assures her that the yukata will be happy to be worn by her. Hiro pinches her nose and recalls what he had said to Oda earlier i.e. “ to respond to Mao’s feelings” but he thinks that he can’t do it now because Mao is left here by her bad father. He wishes Mao can see his actual feelings, but as what Oda says – Hiro is being dishonest.

CH:14 Change

Mao & Hiro are walking along a street with Croquette and Hiro spotted a poster of an upcoming Summer Festival. He says that they haven’t been to one for a long time and so he suggested that the 3 of them go together. Mao says that she doesn’t have a yukata, but they are cheap these days and she can use her savings. Hiro, however, told her that he has one at home, belonging to his mother.

Daiki appears and comment that they shouldn’t bring a dog out on the busy street. Hiro starts criticizing Daiki for working at the izakaya and Daiki replies that he knows the owner of the izakaya. Mao feels guilty about working at the izakaya too but she also felt embarrassed that Hiro let go of her hand upon seeing Daiki. Hiro asks Daiki to go to the summer festival together & Daiki reluctantly agrees. They 3 of them walks on in awkward silence.

Mao receives a mail from Radical saying that she had a great meal today with the guy she likes. She also asks Mao to come for a party this Saturday. Mao then thinks that Hiro is an idiot.

The scene changes to Oda & his sister. Oda is looking at the poster for the summer festival. His sister urges him to ask Mao to go along for the festival but he says that he doesn’t have her mail address nor telephone number, and he has not guts to ask her in person.

Mao arrives at Radical’s house for the party. It’s to celebrate Ma-kun’s birthday, following the old calendar. She then recalls that she doesn’t know Hiro’s birth date and continues saying that they went to that war-themed izakaya recently again and how she is impressed that Hiro likes that kind of place too. Mao then cuts her off and asks her not to go there again with Hiro. She says she’s working at the restaurant and doesn’t want Hiro to know. Radical is confused and so Mao confesses that the guy that Radical likes, is the same person that Mao likes and is living together with. Radical then says that Hiro had told her that he is living with his sister, which means that Mao likes Hiro but was rejected and yet she still likes him. Mao is getting angry and she says that Radical is wrong that Radical is scary. Radical clarifies that she has not dated anyone before, and never been rejected. However, she is going to try to express her feelings this time and she won’t give Hiro up.

Mao left Radical’s house & is thinking that she will lose a friend. Her phone rings and it is Chi-chan wanting to talk about the upcoming summer festival. However, she sensed that Mao is upset and asked her what is wrong. Mao tells Chi-chan about Radical. Chi-chan says Radical must be upset now because she has hurt Mao too. (but in fact, Radical looks strong and is not crying)

At the izakaya, Mao is working but she trips and fell. She then sees Radical and wants to retreats but Radical notices Mao and starts to place order. Hiro came to the table and sees Mao, saying she’s her neighbor. Radical then started crying and says they know each other because of her online novel.

At home, Hiro is wondering if Radical is the real author. He remarks to Mao that he can sympathize with the way the author writes about family. Hiro then asks Mao why she has been remaining silent. He says that he is not angry about her working at the izakaya because Daiki can take care of her. Mao says it’s not about her working. She tells Hiro not to meet Radical anymore and the novels are disgusting. Hiro mumbles goodnight and walks away. Mao storms into Daiki’s room, where he is playing a racing game. He then asks her to race together. Hiro enters the room. He says the reason that Mao is crying must be because of Radical. Hiro is thinking that he should say that there is nothing between him & Radical, but that will be mean something…. So he didn’t say it afterall.

Some guy is about to press the door bell and wondering if it is Motomiya’s residence. He mumbles that he has no choice since he doesn’t have the cell pone number….

CH. 13: Part-time job

Daiki tells Mao that he understands her feelings; that she just wants to be by Hiro’s side. Mao was about to retort but D says there’s no need to mind what he says, because everything that she is going to counter-say will be just excuses. 

They head towards the house and X is thinking if it’s good for her to enter the house. Mao calls out to Croquette and Daiki comments that it’s just a dog (to X’s annoyance). At the same time, Daiki receives a mail from Hiro who says that he is coming home soon.

Hiro steps into the house and remarks that Daiki should inform him earlier that he’s coming home. Daiki comments that Hiro is late, and asks if he was out drinking. Hiro says he was with some colleagues – 2 guys and 1 girl, but 1 guy left early. Daiki then comments that he has heard rumors about his brother, regarding him flirting with girls. Hiro exclaims that he doesn’t want to be with someone with has ill intentions (indicating Daiki). Daiki firmly says that he is not jumping to conclusions. Hiro then explains that the female colleague is writing a novel and he was keen to hear about it. Daiki brushes off the explanation and says he will be here this summer as mentioned in his mail. Suddenly, Daiki vomits! He was thinking what he had eaten and Mao says it was Chi-chan’s chou-cream. Daiki curses that the chou-cream is poisonous. Hiro says again that if Daiki continues saying such things, he will not be allowed to stay in the house.

He adds that Mao is in charge of preparing meals on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. As Daiki & his brother argues about contaminated food, Mao is thinking that there is nothing between Hiro & Radical, and she falls asleep on Hiro’s lap. Daiki says that Hina is having examinations so she can’t come over this summer, and she actually doesn’t really want to return to this home. Hiro says that Mao has been working hard to return to her home but failed, so she pleads for Daiki’s consent to let her continue staying here. Daiki replies that it is up to Hiro’s discretion.

The next morning, Daiki walks sleepily to the breakfast table. While eating, he says that he intends to find a part-time job while he’s here. It’s a home tutoring job for an elementary school student. Hearing this, Mao also thinks that she should find a part-time job. She sees an advertisement for a job in a war-theme izakaya and is reminded of the dinner between Radical & Hiro. Chi-chan comes into the classroom and comments that it is a good idea to work part-time. She is also wondering what she can do when Oda-kun intrudes that he wants to work too. Chi-chan remarks that she knows Oda-kun like Mao, but Mao has someone else that he likes. Oda-kun is getting angry and he asks what Chi-chan is trying to say. At this moment, Mao stands up and says that she has to go.

At home, Mao announces that she has gotten a job at a convenience store(a bluff). Hiro says that it is fine as long as it’s not an izakaya. He adds that if it’s for money….. & Mao cuts him off saying she has accepted the job. Hiro starts complaining to Croquette that both Daiki & Mao has found part-time jobs. Daiki questions Hiro what he is unhappy about.

Mao starts her job at the war-themed izakaya. She is asked to memorize the menu, tables etc. and freaks out. At this moment, a new staff enters and he appears to be Daiki! He had also lied to Hiro for fear that Hiro will not approve.

Daiki & Mao goes home together after work. Mao asks why Hiro seems unhappy about them working part-time. Daiki says that Hiro is working very hard and so he doesn’t want his siblings to suffer hardship from work too. Daiki adds that how can Mao like Hiro without knowing what Hiro is thinking. Mao says that she doesn’t want to cause trouble to Hiro by confessing her feelings. Daiki says that Hiro is doing a lot to protect the home and will treat Mao like a family member. Since young, Daiki has seen Mao at his home, but Mao cuts him off saying she wish to leave their house soon and be independent.

It is another day at the restaurant. A customer is calling for assistance and Daiki volunteers to go out to serve them. It appears that the customer is Hiro & his colleagues. Hiro is surprised to see Daiki and chided him for lying about being a home tutor. Mao notices Hiro too, with Radical, and is glad that they are not alone. Suddenly, a drunk man appears and harasses Mao but Daiki came back to push the man away. Mao sees Hiro holding a blouse and Radical is saying it’s very pretty, and wondering if it will fit. Mao can’t help feeling jealous.

Mao is walking through a busy street at night. Hiro comes along with Croquette and Mao notices the blouse tired around the dog’s neck. Mao thinks to herself that she is an idiot.