| Chapter 1 | The Unfortunate Unrequited Love! (Ainiku Kata-omoi) | ||||||||||||
| Tankoubon Volume 2, Chapter 8 |
In a series of flashbacks, we see Madoka, Hikaru and Yuusaku when they were little kids. First we see Yuu-kun finish dead last in a race between the three, then we see him rescued from a bully by Hikaru. She chastises him for not acting strong and brave - like a boy. She then (jokingly) tells him that she'll marry him if becomes stronger, but Yuusaku takes her seriously. He trains in martial arts from that day on. Unfortunately, by the time Yuusaku feels he's ready for Hikaru, he finds that she's already fallen for another guy - Kyousuke. This infuriates him, and he becomes determined to prove to Hikaru that this guy isn't worthy of her. He grabs Kyousuke, intent on mayhem, but it's only a daydream - and he finds he has two handfulls of angry teacher instead... Later that day, he sees Hikaru in the hall, and waves to her. Her eyes light up, but it's not Yuusaku that she sees - it's Kyousuke, whom she promptly offers a five-stack bento (lunchbox) which she made for him. Seeing all their classmates yelling catcalls of encouragement to the pair only infuriates Yuusaku even more. His irritation does not go unnoticed by Kyousuke, either. Yuusaku decides to follow Kyousuke after school, intent on exposing his true character. First he spots him talking with Kurumi and Manami, and since he doesn't know they are his sisters he assumes he must be flirting with them. Yuusaku then spots him checking out a "men's magazine", and is embarrassed by two grown women's comments about him when he looks at it himself. Later on at Abcb, Kyousuke tells Madoka about Yuusaku's behavior, and she says that he's getting what he deserves. After all, a lot of guys are interested in Hikaru, and she tells him that he should "decide whether you really like Hikaru or..." Kyousuke's surprised look tells Madoka that he's picked up the not-so-subtle hint she's given, but she quickly claims it's only for her friend Yuu-kun's benefit. He teases her that his decision may not just be for Yuusaku, but she deflects his joke - not angrily, but with some nervous apprehension at having her feelings be so obvious. Meanwhile, Yuusaku has spotted Kyusuke talking to Madoka through Abcb's window, and has come to the conclusion that he's a real playboy with the ladies. Still, he can't help but notice that Madoka's demeanor is so naturally relaxed and happy - in a way that he's never seen, even since their childhood. The next day, we see Kyousuke and Yuusaku outside school, where Yuusaku intends to pound Kyousuke for his flirtatious ways with Madoka. Using the Power to flip up the skirt of a passing girl, he distracts Yuusaku, but as he attempts to get away, Hikaru shows up. He expects Yuusaku will blab to Hikaru about his "liason" with Madoka, but Yuusaku is so toungue-tied by his proximity to Hikaru that he turns tail and runs off. He's too shy to tell her how he feels. Hikaru explains to Kyousuke that Yuu-kun has been that way all of his life - the part about running off when confronted, that is. She then tells her Darling not to worry - she only has eyes for him! | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 2 | Be Careful, Kurumi-chan! (Kurumi-chan KIotsukete!) | ||||||||||||
| Tankoubon Volume 3, Chapter 1 First Appearance: | School is out for the day, and since Hikaru is at home with a cold, Kyousuke and Madoka start to make plans to go somehwere that evening. Their plans are interrupted, however, when Manami tells them that Kurumi has gone off with some strange high school guy. Kyousuke's worried, but not about Kurumi - he's worried that the guy might get a 30-meter Power-assisted smack - and Manami echoes his concern. They are soon joined by Komatsu, who volunteers to go search - with Manami-chan, of course... Manami describes the guy who took Kurumi - glasses, average face with zits, millipede eyebrows, and a huge mouth. They all imagine the same ugly face. In another part of town, Kurumi and the guy (who doesn't resemble the "ugly guy" the others are looking for) are eating in a restaurant - at least Kurumi's eating, scarfing down spaghetti like crazy while the guy reads his "how to pick up girls" magazine. When Kurumi asks if she can have more, "Glasses" says yes, and is stunned when she orders most of the menu. He continues to read the magazine, deciding that what he needs to do next is take Kurumi to a more romantic setting. Meanwhile, Madoka and Kyousuke look for Kurumi in a video arcade, and when Kyousuke accuses a guy matching Kurumi's imagined abductor, he almost gets creamed by the guy until he sees that Kyousuke is with his old buddy "Ayakawa-san". The guy, Sub-chan, apologizes to Kyousuke profusely, but all it does is makes Kyousuke wonder about Madoka's past. As it gets late in the afternoon Kyousuke puts on a brave front, but Madoka sees that he's really beginning to worry about Kurumi - not to mention his being a bit concerned about Manami, too. Madoka suggests that they check out the park. Meanwhile, Komatsu and Manami are out in a rowboat on the park's lake. Manami wonders if searching in the lake is a good idea - it is for Komatsu, who has Manami all alone now, and especially since he's headed for a deserted part of the lake... Kurumi and "Glasses" walk through the park, as he musters his courage (and consults his trusty "guide"). He turns to make his move, but Kurumi's not there. She's watching a young couple in a passionate embrace, from a distance of about two feet - yes, it's Ushiko ("cow") and Umao ("horse"), Japan's hottest couple - which totally spoils the mood. "Glasses" whisks Kurumi away from the angry couple, and Kurumi asks him if that was a "love scene". Sensing an opening, he tells her yes, it was, and then grabs her by the arm and asks if he would be "acceptable". Kurumi screams... Manami decides that Kurumi's not there, but Komatsu wants to wait a bit longer out on the boat, and starts to make his move toward Manami, but he's interrupted when somebody splashes down beside their boat, causing Manami to scream... Kyousuke and Madoka hear both screams, and race to find his sisters. They find Kurumi by the lakeside, while Manami sits on a rowboat by herself. Komatsu, who was thrown out of the boat, hauls Kurumi's abductor out of the water and is stunned to find that "Glasses" is his aniki (older brother)! Kurumi agrees to let "Glasses" off the hook in exchange for two chocolate parfaits.Komatsu can't believe that his brother could be thrown by Kurumi, but "Glasses" figures she knows some form of self-defense (as opposed to the Power she actually used). Madoka tells Kyousuke that she's glad Kurumi is safe, but tough-guy Kyousuke won't admit he was worried about his sister - until Madoka fools him into thinking she's in danger again, that is, and they all share a good laugh Chapter 3 | Ticket Trouble! (Tiketto Toraburu!) | Tankoubon | Volume 3, Chapter 2 First Appearance: Hikaru is happily waiting for lunchtime - so she can stuff her Darling with the deluxe bento she started fixing for him at 4:00am that morning - when she overhears some girls discussing an upcoming trip one of them will be making with a male classmate. | As they talk, it's clear that they think this is the boy's opportunity to make his romantic move toward the girl - which gets Hikaru wishing that Kyousuke would take her somewhere so that he'd make his move on her. Later that day, Mrs. Hiyama offers Hikaru two tickets she won in a lottery to Ooshima Beach, an island resort off of Tokyo Bay. Hikaru remembers this is where Madoka had once mentioned that they should go, but then she remembers that she had wanted Kyousuke to take her on a trip, so she offers the tickets to him - saying that she hopes he'll wait for her - hoping he'll take the hint as to her romantic intentions and invite her along. Unfortunately, Kyousuke decides that since Hikaru didn't need the tickets that she won't be able to go. Now, who should he take...? He finally musters his courage and asks Madoka to accompany him. At first she's hesitant about going off with him alone, but she finally relents and agrees to go. When Madoka arrives home later, she gets a call from Hikaru, who wants to set a firm date for that trip to the beach they had promised to to take together. Unfortunately, the date Hikaru suggests is the same on as her trip with Kasuga-kun. Before Madoka has a chance to beg off, Hikaru mentions that Kyousuke is supposed to be there, too... This, of course, makes Madoka think that he had invited her even though he had planned to go with Hikaru! Madoka agrees to go with Hikaru on the date that she suggested. After she hangs up, she angrily answers the next phone call - it's from Yuusaku, who called her up by accident. While he has her on the phone, he asks when she and Hikaru are going to the beach. An idea pops into Madoka's head as to how she can fix Kasuga's little red wagon... She offers her ticket to Yuusaku, who gladly accepts. (After all, what girl would want to go on a trip with a jerk like Kasuga-kun, anyway?) Of course she fails to mention to Yuu-kun who his traveling companion will be on the trip. It is an unexpected, and somewhat distasteful, shock to both Kyousuke and Yuusaku when they find themselves traveling together on the train to Ooshima Beach - Yuu-kun had expected Hikaru, while Kyousuke was looking forward to traveling with Madoka. Both plan to get off at the next stop, but were a bit distracted by the pretty girls sitting in the seats across from them. Once the arrive at the beach, they split up. Kyousuke wastes no time in being found by Hikaru, who is ecstatic that he has come where she would "be waiting". Ohhh - now he understands what she meant when she said that before... Hikaru happily clings to Kyousuke as they make their way down the beach. Meanwhile, Yuusaku spots Madoka, who offers to show him where they're staying, when who do they come across but Kasuga-kun and Hikaru, who is firmly attached on Kasuga's arm. This public display makes Madoka furious, while Yuusaku's demeanor approaches homicidal rage when he sees the girl he loves with "that jerk". It leaves Kyousuke wondering why Madoka is so angry, since he is blissfully ignorant of all that has happened in the past few days. Chapter 4 | Panic at the Beach! (Nagisa No Panikku!) | Tankoubon | Volume 3, Chapter 3 Madoka emerges from the surf, seeming a little depressed. She then looks at water and sees the source of her unhappiness - Kyousuke and Hikaru, frolicking in the waves. | As Hikaru grabs Kyousuke and hugs him, he realizes that she isn't the skinny girl that he thought she was. She closes her eyes, inviting a kiss - which Kyousuke almost accepts, until he spots Madoka staring daggers at him. He breaks off from Hikaru-chan, who is disappointed. He, on the other hand, is a bit relieved - after all, he had almost kissed her right in front of Ayukawa! But, then again, why has Ayukawa been so mad at him the whole trip, anyway? Meanwhile, Hikaru spots a girl with a leg cramp and the boyfriend who runs to her aid. She imagines the tender embrace between herself and her Darling as he helps her. It would be bliss, but as she yells for help, she finds that Kyousuke has a leg cramp of his own. So much for that idea... Meanwhile, Yuusaku is generally cheesed at the entire situation. As Hikaru gets some ice cream, a couple of jerks try to pick her up. When one grabs her wrist, Hikaru shoves one of the ice cream cones in his face, asking if he wants more out of her. Unfortunately, she cuts her foot on a piece of broken glass and now is unable to fight back. Before the jerks can do anything, however, Yuusaku charges in (past a bewildered Kyousuke) and pounds the jerks until they run off. As he watches all of this from a distance, Kyousuke finds it hard to admit, but it would seem that Yuusaku cares about Hikaru more than he does. He leaves the two of them together and goes looking for Ayukawa, hoping to clear up whatever has made her so mad at him. He spots her as she uses one of the outside showers, but it would seem that the two jerks have found her, too. As they block her way out, she announces they need the "pain treatment" and proceeds to "treat" one jerk with a left jab and the other one with a spin kick. Unfortunately, Madoka also runs into a little bad luck with these two, when the back strap of her bikini top snaps - she's unable to fight them while she holds her top down with her arms. The jerks sense an opportunity... Kyousuke has seen all of this, and after recovering from his "bikini nosebleed", he tries to fight off the jerks, and gets pounded for his trouble. He almost uses the Power to fight, but decides that if Yuusaku could fight them on his own, so could he. However, the scuffle is all the distraction Madoka needs to turn her towel into a makeshift top, and now Dr. Ayukawa dispenses the presciption butt-kicking that these jerks sorely need. After finishing with the jerks, Madoka rushes over to Kasuga-kun, who lies sprawled out on the ground. She tells him the guys are gone, then she gently chides him for being so reckless. She then tells him that he should be going - after all, isn't there a "special someone" waiting for him? Realization finally hits Kyousuke, and he tells Madoka that he didn't know that Hikaru was going to be on this trip. He had thought that when she said "I'll be waiting", that she had meant she would be waiting at home, not at the beach! Madoka is surprised at this, but walks off, saying that it's none of her business. Kyousuke grabs her wrist as she starts to leave and tells her that it is indeed her business. He had a choice of who to invite on this trip, and he had given the other coupon for this trip to her, Ayukawa Madoka! (Note: This is a rare instance in which Kyousuke actually uses Madoka's given name.) Kyousuke's sincerity and earnestness once again melts Madoka's defenses, as she takes his hand and walks down the beach with him. Not knowing when to quit, however, Kyousuke comments that maybe he should have waited a bit longer to come to her defense - he might have had a chance to see a bit more of Madoka! She yanks back her hand and takes off down the beach, with Kyousuke yelling "Jodan da yo! Jodan!" ("Just kidding! Kidding!") Meanwhile, Hikaru slaps Yuusaku as he administers first aid when she thinks he's getting fresh with her. Chapter 5 | Fire Lure Love Song (Isaribi Koi Uta) | Tankoubon | Volume 3, Chapter 4 As Kyousuke, Madoka, Hikaru, and Yuusaku continue their beach vacation, they are told of a legend of the local fishing village:
| A beautiful girl named Koto was summoned to appear before the lord of the land, who had heard of her beauty and wanted to make her his wife. She already had a fiance, however, and the two of them slipped out of the village that night. The lord's soldiers caught up with them, cornering them at the top of the cape overlooking the ocean. One of the soldiers shot the fiance through the chest as he protected Koto, and when she saw him fall off the cape, she threw herself off after him, killing herself when she fell into the ocean. After this happened, any time that the fire torches used to lure fish are lit at night, Koto's ghost wanders the beach, with a scar on her arm that she supposedly got when she jumped from that cliff. Kyousuke and Yuusaku are a bit spooked, but not Hikaru - she's fearless. However, it's obvious - at least to Kyousuke - that the story really seems to have unnerved Madoka a great deal. As Kyousuke makes his way to his room, he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman with unnaturally pale skin. He wonders who she could be... Later on, the same woman tells Yuusaku that the hotel manager has asked all guests to sign and pass on a register, and hands the register to him. Yuusaku is surprised when he sees that this young woman's name is Koto - just like the ghost in the legend, says Hikaru, when they all meet later. Kyousuke says if the woman was the ghost, she would have a scar on her arm. A nervous Madoka says that the whole thing is silly, and she and Hikaru head for the furo (bath). As the girls enter the furo, they spot someone - it's Koto, who exits rather abruptly. Hikaru thinks that she's rude, but all Madoka notices is the scar on her right forearm. Could she be the ghost? Later that night, Madoka realizes that she left her T-shirt on the beach and heads out to retrieve it, picking up Kyousuke on the way.He kids her that he's there to protect her from any ghosts that might pop up, which only makes Madoka more nervous. When a bat flies overhead, it spooks her enough to grab onto Kyousuke's arm. She then pointedly detaches herself, but by now Kyousuke knows the truth - Madoka is scared of ghosts (which Kyousuke decides is a cute character trait in her). When she tells him about the scar, Kyousuke begins to wonder about the woman himself. As Madoka searches in one direction, a ghostly figure hands her the T-shirt she was looking for. It's Koto, and Madoka promptly faints. Kyousuke has seen the figure, and starts to run off when he realizes he has to protect Madoka. Using the Power to grab an oar out of a nearby boat, he stands ready to battle with the ghost. Fortunately, the "ghost" explains that she isn't trying to hurt Madoka, but that she fainted when she saw her. When Kyousuke explains the legend, Koto is surprised that she and its ghost have the same name. She explains to him that she's not the ghost, and shows him that she has legs (and everybody knows that ghosts have no legs...). Koto says that she thinks that some ghosts are okay, though. She explains - Three years ago, she was surfing in dangerous conditions - bad enough that her boyfriend stayed out of the water. When she capsized - and cut her arm on her surfboard - he came out in the water to rescue her. As she was hurled by the tide toward an outcropping of rocks, he pushed himself between her and the rocks, sacrificing his life for hers. But since she's getting married this fall, this is the last time she'll be coming here to honor his memory. Koto then asks Kyousuke if Madoka is his kanojo (literally, "girl"). She tells him to take care of her - that they have a bright future ahead of them. As Kyousuke carries Madoka back to the hotel, she wakes up and asks about the girl. Kyousuke tells her that she wasn't a ghost. Madoka suddenly realizes her position and gets down off of Kyousuke's back. On the way back, though, they stop to watch the fire lures off the coast. Despite her denials, Kyousuke still thinks it's cute that Madoka is afraid of ghosts... |
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