Chapter 41 is the 41st chapter of Kodocha, the first chapter of the ninth book in the Tankōbon Release, and the fifth chapter of the sixth book in the Kanzenban and Bunkoban releases.
Summary[]
Sana invites people to a proposed middle birthday party for she and Akito, but everyone declines. Sana realizes Akito's probably considered her boyfriend now, while separately Naozumi drops by to tell Akito he better not make Sana cry any more.
Plot[]
Sana is talking to her mom about middle birthday party plans for Christmas eve, when Rei delivers the good news that Mizu no Yakata won best film in a festival, so the cast and crew are having a party where naturally Sana is invited.
A few days later, and the party is here. Director Ono asks Sana if she'd like to be in his next film, but Rei rejects the offer before she can say anything. Naozumi calls Sana over, and he asks for an update on how Akito's doing. She tells him everything, and it turns out the physical therapy place Akito will be going to for his hand is right near where Naozumi lives. Sana invites Naozumi to the middle birthday party, but Naozumi is confused why she'd have a party when she's dating Akito (so why not spend it alone with him). In response, Sana is confused why Naozumi would assume he'd assume she and Akito are dating (something she can't deny, but also something she's still unsure on), and tells him she wants truly to celebrate with everyone. Naozumi notices her awkwardness on her relationship status with Akito, flicks Sana on the forehead, tells her to tell her boyfriend he said hello, and leaves to work on a job. Sana is hurt by this, and she and Naozumi both remember when they felt solidarity on not having their love reciprocated, something that's only true for Naozumi now.
At school, Fuka also declines the invitation to the middle birthday party since it's her birthday and her family and she always go to church and have dinner. She then asks Aya, who already has a date planned with Tsuyoshi on Christmas Eve. She encourages Sana to plan a big party with everyone some other time, and to just spend time with Akito (who she also assumes Sana is officially going out with) on Christmas Eve. In the car, Sana reads a book about dating, still wondering if Akito is her boyfriend.
Akito goes to physical therapy, where he gets fitted for a brace, and where his sister learns how to help him with hand exercises. At karate, he has to sit and meditate, which he sees as a downgrade. Mr. Hayama thinks about how he wishes he could do more to help Akito's hand, and tells his kids he's going on a business trip.
Days later, Akito tells Sana how it's been weird having his dad and sister be nice to him so often due to his hand. Sana inquires about his dad's business trip, where Akito explains he has to go to Los Angeles often due to his job. Sana tells Akito how everyone declined her invitation to their middle birthday party, so proposes just hanging out the two of them. Akito agrees, and it's decided he'll choose the location.
At home, Sana asks her mom if she thinks Akito is her boyfriend now, and her mom says yes (given they confessed they both love each other, albeit in a complicated way). Sana feels relieved by this, and jars Rei by how whimsical she looks. They spy on Sana as she uses this lovey dovey feeling to attempt to knit Akito a sweater, but she gives up after only one row. She decides to instead make cookies, which causes a fire (after Sana uses baking powder instead of flour). At school, Sana gives Akito the one row of knitting that she did, telling him it's a sweater (to his confusion).
Naozumi shows up unannounced to the physical therapy center Akito is attending, and the two talk. It's only the third time they've met, but Naozumi has heard a lot about Akito through Sana, and Akito has seen Naozumi often on television. Naozumi brings up how Akito believed the rumors that he and Sana were going out, and asks if he'll be able to handle it if down the line, more rumors come out. Akito says he doesn't know how he'd react, and Naozumi scrutinizes his response. The two bicker, both unsurprised at how opposite they are. Naozumi gets more serious, telling Akito how Sana has cried over him many many times, and that he better not make her cry anymore. The two go their separate ways, both unhappy about the interaction.
He immediately goes to Sana's house, to tell her he figured out a place but it'll be a surprise until the day of, and thinks of what Naozumi told him - giving Sana a hug. They decide where they'll initially meet up, and Akito leaves. Sana goes into her lovey dovey state again, and wants to make a picnic lunch (but Shimura stops her, fearing she'd cause another fire).
Characters[]
- Sana Kurata
- Akito Hayama
- Naozumi Kamura
- Aya Sugita
- Fuka Matsui
- Fuyuki Hayama
- Natsumi Hayama
- Rei Sagami
- Misako Kurata
- Maro
- Shimura
- Maeda
- Mikio Ono
- Tsuyoshi Sasaki (mentioned)
- Koharu Hayama (mentioned, photograph)
Author's Notes[]
More of Miho's Babbling:
"Hello, everybody! It's me, Miho Obana! Can you believe we've made it to volume 9? 9! That's 3 x 3! That's really cool. That's big...even I'm surprised we made it. As usual, I'm trying to keep writing and drawing and writing even though I'm really feeling stressed out about it. For some reason, the more I draw, the less confident I feel about my drawing. I guess I'm just not meant to feel secure. But even a flea can grow a little hair in its heart... a little, colorful, twisted strand of hair... Oh, what am I talking about? Anyway, here we are on Book 9. Let's make the rest of the journey a fun one! Oh, and I wanted to draw Obake Q-chan for you, but I don't have the rights! So instead, here's the top of the principal's head!"
"In Book 8 I talked about slipping the ghost of Akito's mom into three places in that volume. And I got all these letters from readers, claiming that they couldn't get any sleep because they couldn't find all three appearances! Well, I'm not sure I believe it...but here's where you can find her ghost in book 8: Let's see..."
- 1. on page 13, on the left side of the 4th panel...
- 2. on page 29, she's behind Akito in the panel on the bottom where he's saying, "I have to get him home."
- 3. on page 34, in the bottom panel she's at the back of the crowd (to the right, behind Kazuyuki's mom).
"From the letters, it seems like most people didn't spot her on page 34. Even I have to admit I didn't draw her in as clearly on that page as on the others... So please, get some sleep! Staying up late is bad for the skin! (I say that writing in the middle of the night...)"
Trivia[]
- This chapter was never adapted in the anime.
- Christmas is thought of as a romantic holiday in Japan, which adds context to some things during this chapter.
- The cameos of Akito's mom as a ghost that are mentioned in the author's notes can be viewed here.