Chapter 37 is the 37th chapter of Kodocha, the second chapter of the eighth book in the Tankōbon Release, and the first chapter of the sixth book in the Kanzenban and Bunkoban releases.
Summary[]
Akito is in critical condition thanks to the stab wound Kazuyuki inflicted. He nearly dies, but pulls through after a dream like experience where he meets his mom. Sana misses a live broadcast to stay by Akito's side at the hospital.
Plot[]
Akito is rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, needing CPR to restart his heart. Everyone else rushes to the hospital to be by Akito's side. A doctor explains to his dad and his sister that Akito's is in critical condition due to how much blood he lost from the arm wound, especially since it severed an artery, as well as it being untreated for at least four hours (which shocks the doctor, saying it surprising he didn't collapse hours earlier). Everyone is scared for him.
On the set of the live show Sana was supposed to attend, they stress since she hasn't shown up. Sana's supposed cohost, Rina is scared to go on alone, when Naozumi arrives. Rei is explaining the situation to someone working on the show, hoping for sympathy, but he only receives threats over Sana's career being ruined. Rei is about to hang up, when Naozumi picks up the other end. Rei explains the situation, and Naozumi agrees that Sana's in no position to do the live show. Naozumi (at the initial behest of his manager) decides to cover for Sana's absence.
At the hospital, Akito is in surgery. A police officer confronts Kazuyuki Komori, telling him that they know Akito was stabbed, and that they found the knife in Kazuyuki's bag. Mrs. Komori starts yelling about how her son shouldn't be accused, that Akito is to blame for everything, and that her son is the true victim here. Sana, hearing this, throws her bag on the ground to get everyone's attention, and starts yelling at her, saying this is terrible timing, and that its petty to argue that her son is the real victim while Akito is fighting for his life. She sobs, and her friends back her up, with Fuka criticizing both Mrs. Komori, and the cop, and Tsuyoshi, and following suit. Mrs. Komori is shocked to see kids talk this way to adults, but the police officer concedes that this isn't the right place to talk about this. Misako Kurata looks on.
Akito is in surgery, with doctors struggling to keep him alive. In a ghostly way, he leaves his body and starts walking down the hallway of the hospital, saying he's tired. He tries opening a door, but someone opens it from the other side, hitting him int he face. She says she won't let him get passed her (in a cheeky tone), and Akito is annoyed. She asks why he wants to get through, and he explains that he doesn't want to, but he feels he needs to because he's a bad person (citing how he's broken two girls hearts, and how he couldn't help Kazuyuki). As he explains, he gets younger and younger. She responds saying that that's not a good enough reason, because it takes real courage to admit your mistakes - and that if he wants to badly to be punished, it'd be more of a punishment to live the rest of his life with that guilt festering. He argues again that he's tired, but is jarred.
The woman shows him that Natsumi and his dad are giving blood to help him - and Akito thinks about them for a moment, before realizing... This woman is his mom. She apologizes that she can't be there for him herself, and says some familiar lines, affirming that she loves him, which is why she gave birth to him - so he has to go on and live for both of their sakes. He starts crying, and realizes these words are familiar to him, but he can't remember who told him them... until all his memories with Sana come back to him at once. He imagines Sana calling out to him, and in reality, the doctors rejoice at his heart beating on it's own again. His mom looks at him and smiles, disappearing.
A doctor comes out and tells everyone that he's going to make it, and they cry, feeling relieved. With this in mind, Sana feels alright leaving.
Kazuyuki is told he needs to come with the police officer, his mom again arguing with him, but the man this time clearly explains that it's because this is a crime investigation. Mrs. Komori insists he could never do such crime, when finally, Kazuyuki stands up for himself, saying that he has committed a crime before - that he's killed himself over and over for her sake. He cries, asking why she even gave birth to him, and Misako eavesdrops on everything, entering in as Kazuyuki walks off with the police officer.
Misako first apologizes for Sana's outburst, but concedes that she still ultimately sides with Sana. She takes note of how instead of assessing Kazuyuki's wellbeing when he and Akito first returned, she instead immediately went to attack Akito. Misako shows her Kazuyuki's notebook (which Misako had found in Sana's room), and says that after reading it she thinks she's been loving Kazuyuki the wrong way, reminds her he's not her property, and instead should be able to live his own life. The goal of a parent should be to help their child if they cry out, but instead, she's been punishing him. She finishes by saying that Akito is surely not to blame for the state Kazuyuki is in, and leaves. Mrs. Komori cries.
On the live broadcast, Rina and Naozumi covertly get the news that Sana has arrived. On break, Naozumi worriedly asks Sana how Akito's doing, and is relieved to hear he's going to be alright. She thanks him for his hard work after he briefs her on where they are in the program, and says that everything that's happened in the past is forgiven. The show continues with Sana present, and Naozumi leaves.
At the hospital, Akito wakes up. Everyone looks on hopefully, only for Akito to deflate the tone when he says he's hungry. He asks where Kazuyuki is, and tries to sit up when he's told he left with a cop. He urges his dad to explain to the police that it's not Kazuyuki's fault, and that he pushed him to do it. Mr. Hayama agrees to tell them. Fuka tells him they need to talk later, and inwardly thinks about how when they do, she's going to break up with him, but is okay with it, because even if it's painful, there's time to heal since he's alive.
On the live show, a contestant speaks to the question of why she was born, and Sana says it's an easy one: she was born so that she can live.
Characters[]
- Sana Kurata
- Akito Hayama
- Fuka Matsui
- Tsuyoshi Sasaki
- Aya Sugita
- Kazuyuki Komori
- Natsumi Hayama
- Fuyuki Hayama
- Mr. Suzuki
- Mrs. Komori
- Rei Sagami
- Misako Kurata
- Maro (hibernating in a little house on Misako's head)
- Koharu Hayama (ghost)
- Rina
- Naozumi Kamura
- Maeda
An irrelevant drawing by Miho Obana[]
Trivia[]
- In place of the usual authors notes are two drawings labeled "An irrelevant drawing by Miho Obana". This may have been done to avoid undermining the chapters tone (since author's notes appear nearer to the beginning of chapters, and the beginning of this chapter is tense).
- This chapter was never adapted in the anime, however some elements of the Kazuyuki Arc were reused in the Karate Club Arc.