Flashback: At a nursery school, a couple of girls invited young Mamura to play ‘play house’ with them. Thinking that it is boring to death, Mamura refused. The disappointed girl started to cry and called him mean. The teacher came in and asked what happened. Pointing to Mamura, the girl’s friend told the teacher that he made her friend cry. Mamura is surprised that the teacher is reprimanding him for it. Mamura thought that he didn’t do anything wrong, and this girl is just pretending to cry. Narration: “Ever since before, I’m not good in dealing with these living creatures called girls.” Later on, the teacher said that sky is very dark. She told Mamura to be good and wait some more for the one who is going to fetch him. Mamura watched the TV of the cartoon character who said that he’ll do things alone, and look at his instant attack. Then, his mother arrived. She apologized for coming late. While bored Mamura held a stick, his mother gave him a cartoon character toy which he watched earlier. It is her apology for always fetching him late. Mamura hugged the toy tight. She asked him if he’s happy when it is rare to see him this happy.
Narration: “The only one beside me, who can open wide my inner heart without any apprehension, is my mother. But everything ended too suddenly.” Crying by the table that has a divorce paper on it, his mother apologized and said that she loves everyone in this family but beside her, there is someone important. “I’m really sorry.” His mother has fallen in love with her boss at her workplace. She abandoned her husband, kids, and disappeared from Mamura’s life. While his younger brother is crying his eyes out over this, Mamura thinks it’s gross. [-> probably referring to the old geezer he imagined that his mother fell in love with] So from that day on, he grew to hate girls more and more. He would ignore the girls, and call them a hindrance which made some girls also get angry at him. And then he gradually started to show some strange symptom. A girl called out to him and touched him. He blushed which made the girl asked what she did. He shouted for her not to touch him. So, until junior high, he had lived a life that totally has no connection whatsoever with girls. Mamura and friends were discussing which high school to go to. Narration: “But, just as how everything spontaneously ended, everything once again started so suddenly.”
Suzume shouted for him to be her friend. This had made surprised Mamura blush. He felt that she is a particularly annoying girl. Until that day, he always thought that he just have to treat girls with rudeness, they’ll embarrass themselves and leave. But this girl is different. Suzume continued to greet him. He snubbed her but she still called out to him to borrow his eraser in exchange for a chocolate. She kept on calling him, and threatened to tickle him. Narration: “I’m not too sure in what way is she different from the other girls. But I don’t know why I don’t hate talking with her.” And Suzume threatened to tickle him again. One time, Suzume gave him a head butt on the back while calling out to him. While wearing make-up, she bid him goodbye. Blushing Mamura muttered about her suddenly doing that again. While holding his painful back, he complained about how it hurt and make-up doesn’t suit her. He thought that at one side, she would say that she has no friends but she has someone who’ll make her run off to see him. Looked flustered, Mamura clenched his fist and thought that seeing her with very red cheeks rushing off like that, made him angry. “What’s different about her and the other girls? Why is it that girl? What’s good about her? I totally couldn’t understand it. But I don’t know why, I think of her at every moment. Even though as an outsider, *Tsubomi appeared* even if it is for a moment, I also want *held hands with Suzume* to become, whom she’ll regards as, a special existence. *winter with Suzume* When, I’m with her, it is also okay even if I fear that it is a little bit, I also hope to make her feel happy.” End flashback.
Tick tock. Tick tock. It is now 5:40pm at the hospital. After hearing what Shishio said, Suzume opens her mouth to say, “I also liked, sensei. *pause* I’m sorry. Right now, I cannot return sensei’s feelings. Right now, there is someone whom I want to cherish from the bottom of my heart. (No matter what, I perceived it too late. Obviously at that time, [at the clinic], I should have perceived my true feelings.) I cannot accept your feelings. I’m sorry. (I have once again hurt a lot of people) *bows head* Sorry.” Shishio smiles and says that actually, he has earlier come to an awareness that things will become like this. His feelings also felt at ease since in the end, he was able to say what he wanted to say. He tells her that he is already very happy that just because she is worried about him that she came to see him for a while. Thinking over him saying, ‘in the end’, Suzume tearfully tells him even if he told her before that her feelings for him is more like longing for him but she thinks that it is definitely love. “No matter what others say, you are my first love.”
Shishio says ya, he knows. Suzume thinks that he won’t use that voice to call her name anymore. Shishio pats her head and tells her not to cry for she really likes to make small issues into big ones, it isn’t like they’ll part forever. [<- someone dying]. While Shishio is laughing, she thinks that he won’t use that hand to touch her again. He lets go of his hand and says, “Then, see you again in the next school term.” Suzume thinks that even if they’ll brush past each other in the hallway, the sensei of that time no longer exists. With folded arms, Shishio laughs and says, “Goodbye!” Suzume thinks that after crying, being confused, worried [/distress] so many times, and even if the happy memories are only a little bit but these memories will be like that star in the night sky, it will continue to illuminate her inner heart. “It is really great that you were able to become my first love. It’s really great that my first memory is you.” By the wall at the hospital, Tsubomi laments over being busy for Shishio yet he failed to live up to expectations. Shishio says that she’s noisy to death.
She continues to say that he is really covered up in cuts and bruises in defeat. Shishio corrects her as he claims that earlier on, he knew that it is a losing battle. He thinks that if Suzume’s heart hasn’t wavered [from loving him], she wouldn’t have gone steady with Mamura for she isn’t a scheming girl even if she herself hasn’t perceived it. “Although I know it all, but I also want to gamble and see even if possibility is quite small. What. This is truly quite unlike me.” Cough. Cough. Yukichi interrupted his thoughts and offers to treat him to a couple of glasses of beer. This made Shishio laugh and say that he is truly nice, so he wants a big glass. Yukichi angrily tells him not to joke around. Holding Yukichi’s arm, Tsubomi happily sings about free drinks. Yukichi complains about her being like that too, and quit pulling his arm. Narration: “From today on, you are also my unforgettable person.”
Back to the beautiful beach of Okinawa, while Manabu is sound asleep, Mamura is standing by the beach. He couldn’t sleep. His thoughts wander to Suzume. He wonders if she has seen that guy, but before that, did she arrive safely in Tokyo. He becomes surprised and tells himself that it is no good to think about her again. He recalls her asking if he wants onigiri for she has three. He wonders if she is properly eating. And, a girl is running through the sand as her long hair sways around. Mamura seems to hear a female voice calling out inaudibly, ‘mura ..mura.. Mamura. Mamura-’ Mamura quickly turns around to see a familiar ponytailed girl waving her arms like an idiot and calling his name, “Mamura-” Mamura starts rubbing his eyes and wonders if it is a hallucination. He starts to become tense when Suzume starts charging towards him. And she goes flying to give him her trademark headbutt on his stomach. Ah yes, it is for real alright because that really hurts. While Suzume is on top of him, Mamura shouts that it hurts, and why would she go charging at him in full force. She apologizes for she took advantage of the momentum. He changes the topic to didn’t she go to Tokyo, or could it be that she didn’t go back. She tells him that she did and listened to the words that she should have listened to.
She always thought that at the clinic, just by listening to it until the end, and the reason why she didn’t let Shishio finish what he is saying, is because her feelings would definitely once again return to Shishio’s side. So at one side, she told him not to leave her and at another side, she would avoid Shishio. “But actually, that is a mistake. (--In reality) I possibly just couldn’t accept the me, who had a change of heart. (the moment when I finished listening to it, I already clearly know who I truly like. I still definitely needed a bit of time in making the person I like the most as the ‘past’.) Actually, the past me won’t even dare to let myself fall in love with someone other than sensei. (When talking with sensei at the clinic that time, I was thinking how can we interact normally? It is because at that time, my feelings had already changed. Cheering on during the sports festival. *Suzume cheering gambatte* That sadness felt when our hands didn’t touch. *Mamura didn’t touch her hands after the festival* That heart pounding at the aquarium *almost kisses* I only have to properly search in my heart, wouldn’t the answer already come out? Unknowingly, you gave me support [/inspiration], *after the rejection* Even if it is quietly, but in reality, it exists.) *he held her hands and smiled at her* So, right now, I’ll clearly tell you (in addition, more and more..) Mamura, I like you. This time, I’ll make you happy. *blushing* Yoroshiku [Please take care of me].”
This made Mamura blush and says, “Are..are you serious..?” Suzume says how she can lie about this kind of thing. Mamura asks her to repeat it one more time. This made Suzume self-conscious. After some hesitation and pauses, blushing Suzume mutters, “I like you.” This makes Mamura pull her down to him and kisses her. He smiles and says, “Me, too. From today on, yoroshiku.” Narration: “I know it already. To be able to make someone happy is such a happy thing. And the one who taught me this, is you.” While Nana is still sleeping, Yuyuka is looking out the balcony. She complains about seeing something that makes her angry so early in the morning and no wonder it’s quite noisy. She also complains over how Suzume made her worry for nothing so how she is going to punish her. She smiles and wonders how taking a humiliating picture. Narration: “If one day, stars go dim and decline, you will definitely illuminate the path I’m forging ahead in. Happy times, sad times, and no matter what kind of times, you’ll be at my side. Your hand, your smile, your everything, no matter how long, it will be at the place closest to me. Your existence is my life’s daytime shooting star.” And a shooting star crosses the sky above. Fin.
Comment: And Mamura fans from all over the world are rejoicing. For those who knew it in their gut that this is the ending, yes, believe and it will happen ^^ The mangaka managed to pull out a nice ending without making Suzume look fickle as she goes back to the other side. Ah yes, she’s slow and it took her the moment for Shishio to tell her what he wants to tell her to realize her true feelings. Okay.. In a way, the characters seem to have a tendency to have this, ‘I know this and that but nevertheless, did something otherwise’. Shishio knows the outcome but still confessed. Well, at least, to put a period with that relationship for both of them. In a way, that is a major thing for him since he described himself as a coward. He would indeed not forget Suzume for he learned a very valuable lesson there, and because of his choice, he did lost something what could have been a very important part of his life. Anyway, he has friends to help him drink his sorrows away. I can almost imagine Yukichi sighing in relief over what happened. And, I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to pay Suzume’s trip back. Honestly, I’m thinking who paid for that round trip ticket because I’m sure the school won’t shoulder it.
And that was a nice reunion and confession. Very unique with the girl giving him a head butt then confessing to him in that position. Well, at least, I’m right about the kiss in the last chapter. ^^; The way Suzume said that she won’t lie about the confession makes me think that it is a jab against Shishio. ^^; In a way, speaking of shooting star, Mamura did get his wish to be a special existence to Suzume ^^ And if Mamura didn’t get Suzume, she would be the second woman whom he really love yet was taken away by an older man. ^^;; So, in this case, the good and deserving guy wins. Overall, I cannot really comment on the series because I think I skipped some parts. When I first read this, I thought that it is another teacher-student love story. Then, of course, there are rivals and stuff. When Tsubomi appeared, I realize that it will be the usual he is hung up on the ex-, girl sad, etc so I skipped those parts. I got back on the story again when I thought that Shishio is finally going to confess and we can get on some lovey-dovey. Boy, I was wrong about that. ^^; The important confession scene became like that, and Mamura pretty much took over the rest of the series..and it became a love triangle-type of series with either of the guys’ fans hoping he’ll get the girl. ^^;; Of course, in the finale, the choice will be known. Hm..very different from what I thought this series will be. Anyway, as always, thank you everyone for reading my summaries of this series. ^-^ Scans by all★wink汉化组
Word of the day:
Don't force anything. If it is meant to be, then it will be, at the perfect time. It's all a part of God’s plan! ~ Author Unknown