Jyunishi Comedy #125

I've finally found...
My other wing...

In the student council room, Kakeru asks Yuki if it was true that Honda-san had been hospitalised. Surprised, Yuki asks Kakeru how he knew about it. Kakeru, comments that he'd heard from some classmates that the orange headed guy had been impeached by Tohru's buddies.

Realising from Yuki's response that it must be true, Kakeru tells Yuki that he should've said something about it to him. Yuki tells him that Honda-san wouldn't want to worry people needlessly and that it wasn't the sort of thing to be talking about so readily either. Yuki then explains that Tohru had had a bit of an accident when Kakeru asked if Kyo had caused Tohru's hospitalisation.

Kakeru, looking at Yuki, asks if he's been putting up with a lot of stress and if he wanted to cry on his chest. Yuki, annoyed, threatens to throw Kakeru into the sun, to which Kakeru glomps onto Nao acting scared of Yuki.

[In truth,

It wasn't as hard as I'd thought, and
My not becoming depressed,

In truth,

Just a little]

I'm proud of that

[Even though my weak points are as always,

Even so

It could be that something has changed]

If so, that would not be

My own strength but

Because someone's support was there

[He (Kakeru)'s

One of them

And...]

Kimi interrupts Yuki's thoughts, and asks him what exactly Tohru was to him; apparently she'd been wondering about it for some time. Yuki's a bit surprised by Kimi's question, but much to his surprise, Kakeru blabs that she's his heart's "Mom".

Kimi: Hu~~~h!?

What's that? It's not funny.
Yunyu~n, Kakeru's saying something really gross.

Kakeru: Why?

Kakeru: Afterall, she protected Yunyun when he was as weak as a baby deer, right?

Yuki: You're annoying...!
Blabbing like that...

Kimi: In otherwords, she's your girlfriend?

Kakeru: No, that's why I said "Mom"

Kimi: Ehh~~~? I don't get it.

Yuki: Nevermind already...

Kimi: Although I understand what's so great about a Papa

Nao: That's... in a different sense, isn't it...?

After school, Yuki accompanies Kakeru as he looks for something to give to Tohru* when he visits her. Kakeru eventually settles on a rock music CD and Yuki can only wonder if Tohru listens to CDs let alone rock. Kakeru tells Yuki that when he doesn't know what to give someone, he gives something that he'd like to receive therefore.

*It's customary to give people gifts when visiting, after being on vacation... in Japan.

Yuki then asks Kakeru if he really was planning on visiting Tohru in the hospital. Kakeru tells him that he was going for both him and Komaki, and asks Yuki if there was a problem with his visiting. Yki tells him know, but can only think to himself how he didn't want the rest of his family meeting Kakeru, and finding out that he was his friend, especially considering what he was like...

Kakeru: Aa!!
Hey Yunyun! There's a ero (porn) DVD corner!! Although we're not allowed in!!

After leaving the shop, Kakeru asks if Yuki wasn't coming with him. Yuki was planning on going the next day instead, but wonders if maybe he shouldn't go with Kakeru afterall. However, Kakeru yells at Yuki that he's not allowed to go with him. Apparently, Kakeru doesn't want Yuki to see him when he's with Tohru since he's a different person then, and it's embarrassing for him. As they go their separate ways, Kakeru tells Yuki that he really hung in there and did well.

I'm very thankful

[Being able to have others worry about me.

Being able to have them support me.
So, even

If I were weaker still,

I don't want to be someone who gets drunk on that weakness.

...A place where

Many strangers gather]

[If, for example, I should no longer be here
How many of those others would realise that

There are times

That I'd thought such things as well, but

But, now

Things are a bit different.]

As Yuki starts on his way home, he sees something in a shop window. Learning from the shopkeeper that it was indeed authentic, he decides to buy it. As the shopkeeper rings in the sale and wraps Yuki's purchase, his cell phone rings.

Machi calls Yuki on his phone, and apologises for calling so suddenly, and explains that she wanted to give him something.

["How many"

Doesn't matter]

Finishing up at the store, Yuki asks Machi where she is and tells her to wait there for him, that he'd come right away, as he also had something he wanted to give her.

[It doesn't matter if
It's "one person"]

[That "one person's" there

Is really something

After all, it means

It's not "zero"]

[I was so happy

That time too

I was so happy; so much that it tickled.

Amidst so many strangers
That you'd found

Only me, myself.

Now too]

[That people other than myself
Would

Think about me

Or look for me

Is not a given.]

Like a miracle

It's very fortunate.

When Yuki finally arrives, Machi apologises for putting him through such trouble. She'd thought about waiting until the next day, but wasn't sure if things would remain fresh. Machi gives Yuki a package explaining that it's for Honda-sempai. She realises that it'd be strange for her to give it, and so asks Yuki to give it to her instead. Surprised, Yuki can only wonder that Machi had gone to the trouble of getting something for Tohru.

Machi explains to Yuki that it's a bath set and supposedly is very good for back pain and shoulder stiffness. Curious, Yuki asks Machi if she happened to really like it. Surprised, Machi admits that she did and wonders how Yuki knew that to be the case. Yuki can only marvel at how they really are family.

Machi then gives Yuki another package for him. Looking inside, Yuki discovers she'd bought him fertilizer. Machi explains that she bought it at the same time as Tohru's present and that it was pure chance that she'd seen it when passing in front of a shop. She'd remembered how Yuki had told her he'd wanted fertilizer earlier.

Yuki realises that Machi's comment on "freshness" was about the fertilizer, and tells her that she needn't worry; that it doesn't lose it. Machi then realises that the shopkeeper had been teasing her when telling her that while the fertilizer was very good, it didn't last very long.

Yuki realising how heavy it must have been for Machi to carry those things all that way thanks her for her gifts. He then, in turn, gives her his gift to her. Opening the bag, Machi pulls out a large Mogeta plushie. Yuki tells her that it was pure chance he'd found it. Machi looks at the plushie and Yuki can only comment that her expression was just like the plushie's.

Hugging Mogeta, Machi thanks Yuki. Just as Yuki's about to say something to Machi however, the bag that had held Mogeta gets blown away in a gust of wind, and he goes chasing after the bag. Still holding Mogeta, Machi then explains to Yuki:

Machi: ...

I......
I wanted

To say thank-you

To Honda
Sempai...

I realise... that I'm sticking my nose
Into other people's business but

But

I, That a person
Like the president

Is here in this world

And if she did protect
That president

It makes me so happy

I wanted to... give her my thanks.

Machi: Afterall, if for example,
The president really was as weak

As a baby deer,

It's because you were like that

That you noticed
Someone like me

And talked to me,
I think.

I'm really
So very happy

Machi: That you're here...

Yuki then remembers something Haru had told him:

"Because

Yuki's like that

I feel that there's someone

Waiting for you to find them"

And Yuki realises that he'd found that person in Machi. With tears in his eyes, Yuki thanks Machi for finding him.

The weakness

And kindness

That you have

Is so very

Precious

At the hospital, Ayame sneezes suddenly.

Kakeru: What's this Commander? 'Dyou catch a cold?

This is a hospital, so maybe you should get checked over.

Ayame: No no, no need to worry.
After all, they say that a single sneeze is from people talking about you.

Not to mention!

I'll permit no one but Tori-san (to examine) my body!

*bishi* (points)

Hatori: ...How about getting your head thoroughly checked for once

Kakeru: Or rather, what'm I supposed to eat to become as cool as you.

Shigure: Zzzz....

Author's Aside: Waiting their turn thanks to the visitation rush. (The hospital room's small)

Yuki and Machi laugh together realising that they were like two people at the edges of the world crying together. Holding hands, the two of them leave the station.

To be able

To get a little closer to the middle

This time

"Together"

That's,

Like a miracle, so very happy a thing.

Banner: Amidst so many people, the miracle of being able to find and be found by the one you truly need. Someday, for you too...

To be continued in Issue 11, May 2nd release.