Chapter 42 is the 42nd chapter of Kodocha, the second chapter of the ninth book in the Tankōbon Release, and the sixth chapter of the sixth book in the Kanzenban and Bunkoban releases.
Summary[]
Sana and Akito are finally on the same page that they're dating. Therefore, since no one could come to their middle birthday party - they have a date on Christmas eve.
Plot[]
Natsumi is doing at home physical therapy with Akito, and is shocked to learn he's dating Sana, especially because she thought the rumors of her dating Naozumi were true. She then continues on about how she assumed that girl with the funny accent that called their house often might like Akito, and is equally shocked to learn he dated her and they broke up. She feels funny given she's older and has never dated anyone. Based on the earlier mention of Naozumi, Akito thinks about his conversation with Naozumi, he's confused why he'd care about Sana so much.
At the Kurata residence, Sana is trying to convince Rei not to accompany her on her date (with Misako backing Sana up). Sana starts preparing a picnic lunch that's easy to eat one handed, and thinks about how much has changed in the last year, and about how they kissed at their last middle birthday party. She's shocked at how casual she was about it at the time, and gets embarrassed. She quickly changes back to her usual chipper demeanor though.
It's Christmas Eve now, and Sana and he meet up. Sana is excited to learn where Akito has chosen, and he tells her they're going to a graveyard (to Sana's disappointment). He explains though how when he was stabbed, and was in critical condition, he had the dream like experience of meeting and talk to his mom. Unlike Natsumi's response, Sana believes him and is amazed by it. He tells her that because of that experience, he thought it'd be nice to go to her grave and thank her for that, and Sana feels better about it.
They buy flowers and pray her her grave. Sana says Akito is lucky, because since his mom saved his life, it's like he's been born twice. She proposes that his mom could help heal his hand, and he has him raise his arm in view of her grave, asking for her to help him if she can. Sana thinks about how if she'd stopped him from boarding the train, then his hand wouldn't be paralyzed. Akito meanwhile, not knowing Sana was thinking that, tells her he thinks that the brace is punishment for everything bad he's done (repeating some of what his mom said when she visited him, how living with guilt is more noble).
Sana is excited for their next location, but Akito only planned that. They see an ice skating rink out the window on their train ride, so decide to do that. Akito is doubtful at the idea he'd have fun, but does end up having a good time. Some kids are curious about his hand brace, and he hypes it up like it's a science fiction superpower device. Sana gets recognized, and Akito takes his usual place in scaring off them.
They then have the lunch Sana packed. It starts off well, but Sana turns to bickering when Sana asks if he and Fuka ever went on any dates. Akito starts off humoring the questions (which continue on into asking if Fuka made food for him), and Akito goes back to ice skating to avoid answering, where Sana also puts her skates back on and starts chasing him.
They bicker, and head home on the train. They bump into Fuka and her family on their way back from church, and wish her a happy birthday. She leaves to continue plans with her family, and Akito says she looked happy, and she didn't while they were dating. Sana asks gentler, if he liked Fuka. He says he did, he wouldn't have dated her otherwise, but he likes her more as a friend - Sana is the only one for him, though he feels bad for hurting Fuka by dating her when it went nowhere. Sana apologizes for asking too many questions about their relationship.
Sana asks if she could have the watch he lent him back, so they go back to his house so he can grab it. There Natsumi is again shocked to see Sana, and get confirmation from her that they're dating. Sana asks about their dad's business trip, and Natsumi explains that he visits Los Angeles a lot because of his job, in fact - he moved there for two years (wherein Akito and Natsumi lived with relatives in Japan, being split between different relatives). Sana is surprised since Akito never mentioned that, and thinks about how there's a lot she still doesn't know about him.
Since it's taking awhile she goes up to his room, where he's turns his room upside down trying to find her watch. While in there, she spots the dinosaur she gifted him last year, and notices it's wearing a little scarf. It dawns on her - it's the one row of knitting she did for him (where she attempted to knit him a sweater, but stopped after one row). Sana laughs at how cute it is (so hard that Natsumi can hear her from all the way downstairs), and he finds her watch. She's about to leave, but he shuts the door on her, giving her a kiss on the forehead, and then the two of them kissing on the lips.
Akito walks her home, and Sana thinks about how last year all she thought about was her mom, and now all she thinks of is Akito. When Sana arrives home, Rei and her mom are surprised to see her so wistful. Sana thinks about how she wishes she could feel this way forever.
Characters[]
- Sana Kurata
- Akito Hayama
- Natsumi Hayama
- Misako Kurata
- Maro
- Shimura
- Rei Sagami
- Fuka Matsui
- Mr. Matsui
- Mrs. Matsui
- Naozumi Kamura (mentioned, on television)
- Fuyuki Hayama (mentioned)
Author's Notes[]
"Oh, and I'd like to announce that I received the 22nd annual Kodansha Manga Award! Awesome... I think Kodocha was really blessed or something, it's brought me so much good luck. Oops, did I say "was"? It's not over yet!! While I'm here I just want to say one thing - to all my assistants, to my friends who gave me support, to my editors at Ribon, to the animation company who created such a great show out of my book, and of course, to all of my dear readers, thank you so very much! Seriously, I can't thank all of you enough. And I can't even begin to thank all the people whose lives I've made a living hell working on this book - the printers, delivery people, my art supply store, book stores... There are so many people who have helped make Kodocha a big success, and most of you I've never even met! But I'm truly thankful to all of you. Whoops, I used up the whole column and all I did was thank everybody..."
"I'm really happy to have gotten such an important award, but at the same time I have to admit... it fills me with a lot of mixed emotions. When I found out I was getting the award, I was at a really low point - I had lost all my confidence, and I was actually considering quitting writing and drawing! Unfortunately, I think I tend to be a really negative person, I'm always focusing on the bad things about myself. Some people feel like they get better, the more they draw. But the more draw, the more I can see all my problems and weaknesses. And I start to hate my drawing more and more...and it makes me get depressed. But I know there are good things about me, too! And I guess this award is an acknowledgement of the good things...which makes me feel very happy! (Although, I think that the judges probably knew about all my shortcomings and decided to give me the award in spite of them...) To be continued..."
Trivia[]
- This chapter was never adapted in the anime. A second Christmas happens in the anime, though it's in the completely different Hallelujah on Christmas Eve? My Heart....