Chapter 46 is the 46th chapter of Kodocha, the sixth chapter of the ninth book in the Tankōbon Release, and the third chapter of the seventh book in the Kanzenban and Bunkoban releases.
Summary[]
Sana's family is trying to figure out what cured her doll syndrome when she was younger to see if it will give any insight on what could help her now, and learn that Naozumi had a role in it.
Plot[]
Sana dreams of two sides of herself arguing, with one side of arguing that Akito's move isn't that big a deal, and the other side begging him not to go. She wakes up and it's dark outside. Her mom asks if she remembers meeting a foreign girl when she was younger, and Sana can't remember anything. Misako and Rei discuss this, and come to the conclusion that they'll re-create the situation in an attempt to remind Sana of that memory. Rei wants to be honest and tell Sana that somethings going on with her, but Misako is firm in that it would hurt more than it would help. Rei affirms that he'll do anything to support Sana, so if that means not telling her, then he'll do that.
Akito meanwhile again tries to convince his dad to let him stay, and asks why he would be so firm in them all going together when he wasn't alright separating them when Akito was a kid. The two get in an argument, and it's stated that they'll be moving in a month. Alone, Akito desperately tries to figure out something he can do to help Sana.
The next day, Naozumi comes to check on Sana after his manager had heard a rumor that Sana was sick (sparked by Sana leaving the photo shoot several days ago). They once again pass along the unfinished manuscript for Naozumi to read in hopes he'll understand the situation. In response to reading it, Naozumi mentions that he saw the play that Sana did the year she was 7, and had met Sana just before it. It occurs to them all that the foreign girl that Sana mentioned could've been Naozumi.
In order to see if they can narrow it down, he recollects the aforementioned encounter with Sana. Which is that he had been a fan of Sana's for awhile already, and started acting himself for about a year. He had long hair at the time and used to often get mistaken for a girl, so it wouldn't be unprecedented for Sana to as well.For an acting related thing, he took a bus by himself. He looked out the window, and saw a girl crying, realizing it was Sana, he got out to talk to her. Sana had told him that she was trying so hard to be a good girl, but had gotten a bad grade on a math test. In response he told her that grades didn't matter - she was a good girl no matter what. Apparently after that, Naozumi recollects that she smiled at him.
They decide to reenact this encounter to see if they can spark something in Sana. Akito arrives just in time to see Naozumi trying on different wigs in order to reenact the memory. It's decided that Akito will participate in this, playing the role of Sana. The two then reenact the scene to Sana, who had just woken up from a nap. The experiment works, and Sana remembers the event. Included in Sana's recollected version is the addition that Naozumi affirms to her that she doesn't have to prove how good of a person she is to anybody, including her mom, regardless of if she's her birth, mother, or not - she's good regardless.
Sana explains now that she remembered it, that she thought she had to be perfect in order not to be sent away in the same way that the girl in the Komawari Theater playing she was acting in did. Misako, thanks Naozumi and Akito for helping her remember, and Naozumi and Sana have a moment where Sana thanks him for helping her all those years ago in spite of the fact she forgot. Sana doesn't even notice that Akito's there. Which upsets him.
Naozumi and Akito both decide to leave, and Naozumi gives Akito a sly remark, saying that he believes that he and Sana are meant to be together.
Characters[]
Author's Notes[]
CONTINUED...: "Things get really hard on Sana in this book...she really goes through a lot of extreme emotions... I used to always draw stories that were simple and easy to understand. But these days I want to do something different. I know that my readers really like Sana's energy and cheerfulness, and so I really hesitated before I committed to putting her through this ordeal...but in the end, I decided this was what was meant to be. And I think it's right for the story. It was hard on me to take Sana through this journey, because I originally created her as a very happy-go lucky, carefree girl. It wasn't easy changing the thrust of the story so much...I got so confused sometimes, I wasn't sure how to draw the characters anymore, but I decided to struggle along with my characters. I'm sure many of my readers are finding it hard to watch Sana go through this, and I'm sorry about that. But please, continue to support her as she goes through this period in her life! TO BE CONTINUED..."
❤Thank You❤❤: "Okay, this is my last column... Did you notice I wrote these without any plan in this volume? (Hmm... maybe I should have kept some of these thoughts to myself!) Well, it's like talking... you can't help but say whatever pops into your head... Thanks for putting up with all of my babbling... Next up, Book 10! In contrast to Sana's ongoing emotional troubles, Akito begins to become more expressive. There's just a little left to go, so I hope you stick along for the rest of the ride! See you next time in Book 10!"
Trivia[]
- This chapter was never adapted in the anime.