Chapter 50 is the 50th chapter of Kodocha, the fourth chapter of the tenth book in the Tankōbon Release, and the seventh chapter of the seventh book in the Kanzenban and Bunkoban releases.
Summary[]
Sana and Akito run away together to a theme park. Akito breaks down, expressing everything he's bottled up, causing Sana to be cured of her doll syndrome. They learn that the Hayama's move to Los Angeles isn't because of Mr. Hayama's job - it's for Akito to get treatment for his hand. Because of this, the two feel better about being separated.
Plot[]
Mr. Hayama has called the Kurata household, where they both confirm Akito and Sana have run away. Natsumi is shocked, and is told to stay home while Mr. Hayama goes to the Kurata's.
Meanwhile Sana and Akito are on a train, and Akito is surprised Sana was able to eat a meal. She takes pills to make sure she doesn't get sick from eating, and says that traveling together like this is fun. A train worker comes to check on them, suspicious of them since they're so young - but Akito and Sana recite lines they planned about how they're cousins going to their grandma's house, and they've taken this trip many times before. He continues on without any more questions, and the two fall asleep.
Mr. Hayama and Misako talk - where Mr. Hayama is surprised to learn Akito and Sana are dating, and that Sana is sick (with Akito not having told him of either). Rei is busy checking train stations, who has also gotten some friends of his from when he was homeless to keep an eye out as well. Misako says she trusts Akito and Sana not to do anything truly stupid or reckless, and pries into why he insists on taking Akito with him to Los Angeles.
It's now the next day, and Sana and Akito head to the theme park. Akito is worried since she looks pale, but Sana insists she's fine and starts having trying to have fun. She almost gets recognized by passerbys, before the passerbys decide that's not Sana (saying she looks less cute, and she's not smiling like Sana always is) Akito overhears the encounter. Sana and Akito go on a bunch of rides, and Sana says she's having fun, but is tired. She takes a nap leaning on Akito on a bench. Akito worries if it's safe for her to be doing all this.
Sometime later she's awake again and has bought a disposable camera. Akito is worried that she'll see the developed photos, revealing her lack of expression - but agrees to taking pictures anyways. They continue to go on every ride, making Sana happy.
The two figure out their overnight plans, which ends up being going to a hotel. Sana styles herself to look older, and tells the hotel workers that Akito is her brother. Akito is impressed at her acting skills to fool the employees, and they get a room without much fuss. Sana goes to take off her makeup, and Akito looks at the developed photos - seeing that obviously Sana wasn't smiling in any of them. He hides them, remembering Misako's warning that he shouldn't confront her with her condition.
He hears a noise and rushes to Sana, who's fallen. He helps her into bed, and can tell she's feverish. He starts to call emergency services on the phone, but when he tells Sana this she stops him. Sana falls asleep, and Akito feels at a loss of what to do. He wants them to be together, but he wants Sana to be healthy, he feels like he needs help but doesn't know what to do.
Sometime later Sana wakes up, and she happens on the photos Akito tried to hide. She's confused and upset by seeing her lack of expression, saying she thought she was flashing a smile. She looks in the mirror to smile at herself, when Akito tells her that even if she sees herself smiling in the mirror - she's not smiling in reality. He tells Sana very bluntly that she has an emotional illness, and that she's looked the way she looks in the photo for a long time. Sana says there's nothing wrong with her, that she's just a little run down. Akito tells her at the end of his rope, she'll either get better, or he'll break down too so she won't be alone.
Sana still denies what he's saying, saying she wants to stop talking about this and go back to having fun - deciding to go take a shower. Akito stops Sana from leaving, he says if they don't talk about it she might not get better, and she brings up his move to Los Angeles - saying he's going to leave her and go there, and she doesn't have to do anything but enjoy herself before he leaves. Akito loses it, yelling about how she's not the only one who will be sad and lonely to be apart. He expresses how because Sana's been sick, he feels his sadness over the situation has been unseen. He expresses that he can't handle being apart, citing how when Sana left to film Mizu no Yakata he didn't think he'd make it, and starts crying. He thought he'd be okay this time because they'd started dating, but he feels like she's not even thought of how he feels due to everything.
Sana embraces him, and apologizes, recognizes how hard it's been for him to keep calm given everything that's happened. Him expressing all this confirms to Sana that he really cares about her, and she cries too.
The next day, Sana wakes up confused where they are. Akito is surprised, and as they eat breakfast and Akito explains it all, she says everything before now seems to hazy. He can't tell if she's cured, but the two decide either way to go back home.... just then they see Misako at the front desk. Sana flags her down, and Misako explains they deduced where they were thanks to Shimura noticing the theme park tickets being gone, and started checking nearby hotels.
Sana apologizes and admits they were about to head home regardless. Mr. Hayama reprimands Akito, meanwhile Misako realizes that Sana's doll syndrome is indeed cured. She asks Akito if something happened, but Akito doesn't want to admit to crying.
Back at the Kurata's, Misako explains that the reason for the Los Angeles move isn't to do with his job, it's because he found a famous doctor who might be able to help Akito's hand. Mr. Hayama doesn't want to tell Akito yet, but Misako finds it to be important information, with this in mind, he goes on to explain that the doctor he's found - Dr. Barns, is both a physical therapist, and a karate enthusiast. He's famous and busy, so Mr. Hayama (under the guise of a business trip) had skipped work to camp outside Dr. Barns's house just for a chance to meet him and convince him to try and help Akito. He's now submitted all the proper paperwork, but hasn't fully been accepted as a patient yet - which is why he hadn't told Akito.
Akito is touched, and Sana is impressed and excited hearing about this. They both decide that the move is worth it, and two days later, Akito is fully accepted for treatment.
Sana continues to meet with a therapist in order to deal with all the mounting stuff that contributed to her doll syndrome. Dr. Iwasaki ends up writing a case study book about Sana's doll syndrome, but keeps Sana and Akito anonymous. Though the conclusion he comes to (that Sana is a maternal person, and that her sickness made her unable to fulfill that role, and seeing Akito cry brought her back to that role) couldn't matter less to Sana or Akito.
Sana and Akito talk on a balcony, where Sana talks about how overwhelming everything in her life was. Either way, she's so happy to have fallen in love, but feels like the distance they'll have from Akito's move might be healthy - since she'll have space to sort out everything. Sana and Akito embrace.
At the airport, Tsuyoshi, Aya, and Fuka are there to see Akito off alongside Sana (and are also happy to see Sana healthy). They talk about how Akito is going to have surgery in only three days, and they all wish him luck with his treatment. The Hayama's are about to board, when Sana - in the crowded airport, yells to Akito that she'll stay a virgin for him (freaking out everyone). Akito gives a enthusiastic response (in spite of also being freaked out), and Sana says she'll do her best to get better also - so he needs to take care of himself. Akito gives a small smile to them all, and waves. Sana thinks of how she knows Akito and she are together in their hearts, and that they'll get through it.
Characters[]
- Sana Kurata
- Akito Hayama
- Misako Kurata
- Maro
- Shimura
- Rei Sagami
- Fuka Matsui
- Tsuyoshi Sasaki
- Aya Sugita
- Fuyuki Hayama
- Natsumi Hayama
- Dr. Barns
- Dr. Iwasaki
- Mariko Sakai (mentioned)
Author's Notes[]
SPECIAL THANKS CORNER 4! - Tomi "(An editor at Ribbon, who now is in charge of all my work. That means he's sort of like my agent or manager.) Tomi has never helped me with my artwork, but when it comes to people who I've been difficult for, he ranks number one! Tomi -- I'm sorry I always miss all my deadlines! I promise to try and be better... But even though I'm a pain, you've helped create an environment for me that allows to work to the best of my abilities. Thank you so much!" (This portion has been by Miho, the next portion is written by Tomi)
"Attention! Today, the day that you bought Kodocha Book 10, is a special day! Mark it on your calendars! And every year, on this day, you should read your Kodocha books! No matter how old you get, no matter where you are or what you're doing sit down and read books 1 through 10! And I bet that every time you do, you'll see new things and feel different emotions!
Ahem... anyway... I've been in charge of Kodocha since book 1, but no matter what Miss Obana says, it has been a wonderful experience for me! Miss Obana, good luck in all your endeavors in the future, and I hope we can work together again! " - Signed トミー TOMISHIGE
SPECIAL THANKS CORNER 5! - Kaoru-chan: "(My sister - I know, nepotism, right?) This is my little sister. At first I only had her pasting down tone sheets and erasing pencil marks, but as time went on (and things got rougher), she started doing all sorts of things as she gained more experience. Now she puts the highlights on the tone sheets too, so she's been a big help. She's done so much for me during all this time - from making copies to late night deliveries to organizing my manuscripts to shopping to shredding to drinking with me. (We go out together a lot!) She's really more of a friend than just a sister to me."
"Hey sis, congratulations! I'll always be there for you! 'Cause I'm in the next room! Hee hee"
"I wish I could have a bird like this!" - Signed Kaoru Obana
Trivia[]
- This chapter was never adapted in the anime.
- When Sana dresses up to look older and get a hotel room without suspicion, she uses a last name that combines she and Akito's last names.
- It's romanized as "Haneda" but is written 羽田, which uses the first symbol from "Hayama" and the last symbol from "Kurata".[1]