Chapter 36 is the 36th chapter of Kodocha, the first chapter of the eighth book in the Tankōbon Release, and the seventh chapter of the fifth book in the Kanzenban and Bunkoban releases.
Summary[]
Akito finds the missing classmate, named Kazuyuki, and is able to talk him out of committing suicide, but only after he stabs Akito in the arm.
Plot[]
Sana tells her family about what happened during school, but doesn't tell them about seeing Akito off at the train, or that Akito has gone to try and find Kazuyuki. Rei reminds her that in spite of everything, she should stay focused on the live show tomorrow, and she falls asleep worrying about Akito.
Akito has arrived in the woods Kazuyuki wrote about, he's discouraged by the fact the forest is big, and that it's cold, but he looks at the watch Sana lent him and gets more energy to continue. Meanwhile at Jinbou Junior High, Akito's dad explains to Mrs. Komori, and Mr. Sengoku that he doesn't know where Akito is. Kids at school gossip about Akito now going missing too, with Aya asking Fuka if she knows where he is, which she declines. Tsuyoshi looks on, worried.
In the woods, Akito marks the path he's taking, and thinks about how in spite of it being noon it's very dark. Additionally, he thinks about how it's driving him crazy being alone in the woods with his thought, since he just keeps thinking of everything bad in his life. He stumbles onto some food wrappers, that lead him to Kazuyuki.
Kazuyuki is holding a knife, and smiles when he sees Akito. He's surprised he actually showed up, and starts laughing... though it's cut short when Akito karate chops him on his head (knocking the knife away). Akito yells at him over laughing at something that's not funny, and demands to know what he's up to, insisting that this can't be over the survey like he said it was. Kazuyuki says it is, because unlike Akito (who he sees as strong) he's weak, and something like that is a big deal to him. Akito says he doesn't understand, but wants to.
Kazuyuki explains how he wants he and Akito the hang themselves together, and that he'll forgive him then, pointing to two nooses he's prepared on a tree. Akito's mad he'd concoct such a thing, and firmly says he'd never do that - because after all, his mom gave her life to give birth to him, why would he throw away his life? Akito says the only way he'll get close to his plan coming to fruition is if he kills him, and then kicks the fallen knife towards him. Kazuyuki expects he'll run, but Akito stands still against a tree. Kazuyuki picks of the knife, and runs towards him.
Cutting to Jinbou Junior High, Sana confesses to Mr. Suzuki that Akito went to find Kazuyuki. She feels bad telling someone when Akito trusted her alone with his plan, but she's too worried about it to keep it to herself.
Back in the woods, Kazuyuki stabbed Akito in his right upper arm. Akito criticizes Kazuyuki, saying that won't kill him, before pulling out the knife, opening the wound. Kazuyuki screams, and Akito asks why he'd be surprised since that's what happens when you stab someone. Akito gives him back the knife, and guides it to touch his chest, by his heart. Akito angrily asks why Kazuyuki is so upset, since he claimed he wanted him dead. Akito yells at him to do it, and Kazuyuki breaks down crying, falling to his knees, apologizing to Akito. Akito then says that if he can't handle a little blood, he shouldn't think of suicide, and says they're done there.
Akito takes off his sweater to wrap it around the stab wound, and tells Kazuyuki that they're leaving. At first Akito walks alone, thinking of how horribly his arm hurts, but eventually Kazuyuki starts following him. The two start talking, and Kazuyuki explains how he doesn't have any friends because his mom won't let him. How he had a good friend when he was younger, but she forced him to stop being friends with him. Akito says that's not right, and that it's not his job to keep her happy, he has to have his own life. Kazuyuki is scared to speak up to her, and Akito asks if he can do anything to help, which touches Kazuyuki. He responds that he'd just like to be Akito's friend. Kazuyuki smiles, and Akito thinks about how he'd like to more permanently help him, like how Sana helped him.
Akito staggers to the ground, and ties a new garment to his wound, the other one being too soaked. They also put his arm in a makeshift sling, which is just a bag. Kazuyuki keeps insisting Akito needs to go to a hospital when they get home, but Akito insists they need to get Kazuyuki home first - since he knows how many people are worried about him.
Sana, her family, Akito's family, and their friends are all worried about Akito and Fuyuki. Rei is in a rough position, he's aware that Sana has the live show to record soon, but simultaneously - this is such an unprecedented circumstance. Just then, Akito and Fuyuki show up. Fuyuki's mom immediately marches up to Akito and slaps him, Akito stays silent while Fuyuki timidly asks her to stop. Everyone is happy to see them, and Sana smiles at Akito, thinking of how he fulfilled his goal. Tsuyoshi notices how pale Akito is, and as Fuka also notices, Akito apologizes to her, and then faints. Thanks to the bag, they don't notice his wound until then, but immediately upon noticing, everyone freaks out.
Sana is so in shock she thinks he's faking, until she touches his cheek, and feeling how cold he is - the reality hits her. He's rushed into an ambulance, and paramedics speak on how his pulse is weakening.
Characters[]
- Sana Kurata
- Akito Hayama
- Fuka Matsui
- Tsuyoshi Sasaki
- Aya Sugita
- Kazuyuki Komori
- Natsumi Hayama
- Fuyuki Hayama
- Mr. Sengoku
- Mr. Suzuki
- Mrs. Komori
- Rei Sagami
- Misako Kurata
- Maro
- Shimura
- Koharu Hayama (mentioned, ghost)
- Rina (mentioned)
- Naozumi Kamura (mentioned)
Author's Notes[]
More of Miho's Babbling.:
"Thanks to all of your support, we've made it to volume 8! Thanks so much, you guys! By the way, this is also my eighth year as a manga artist. So? Well, never mind... But speaking of my eighth year, that reminds me, I wanted to tell you about eighth-year tako! You see, the Japanese word for a callus is "tako." But "tako" also means "octopus." And lately, I started thinking that the calluses on hands from drawing were starting to really look like cute little octopi-my own tako! Sometimes, when I'm on a tight deadline and I'm in one of my crazy moods, I start drawing little octopi right on my calluses. Of course, I could have used that time to work on Kodocha. I could have drawn at least 20 more strands of hair on Sana's head for each octopus! Stupid takos. Anyway, here we are at volume 8. I'm glad to have you along for the ride!"
Komori's Pop Quiz: "Surprise! Last time, in volume 7, I gave you the Komori Pop Quiz, and I got so many letters from you guys! Everyone worked really hard to find Kazuyuki Komori's first appearance. By the way, Some of you sent your answers to the Komori Pop Quiz Manager. There's no such person! (hee hee)"
And most of you got it right! Congratulations! And like I said in volume 7, you get... nothing! Well, maybe that's too stingy. So how about a big kiss?"
Trivia[]
- Akito's mom's ghost appears three times during this chapter. Showing that she's watching over him during this scary situation.
- This chapter was never adapted in the anime, however some elements of the Kazuyuki Arc were reused in the Karate Club Arc.
