Bokura wa Itsumo [Chapter 37]

Summarized by: Sarah

The chapter starts with Kyou asking Haruna which date idea is better: Taking an extremely luxurious cruise, with freshly-caught, all-you-can-eat seafood; or buying out an entire amusement park, where they can ride as much as they want? Haruna advises him to think harder about the kinds of dates normal junior high or high school students would go on (and also reminds Kyou that he never said he'd go on that double date with him). Kyou remembers that Haruna is still in middle school, so he guesses he's still too young for these adult dates. Haruna starts to argue, but then decides not to bother and tells Kyou good-bye. Becoming serious, Kyou stops Haruna to ask him if he's decided what he's doing for high school. Haruna is caught off guard by the sudden change of subject and isn't sure what to say. Kyou figures Haruna has probably at least decided on a first choice high school, or been given recommendations, right? Haruna looks away, thinking that he won't be around for high school, then tries to avoid the conversation by saying he hasn't decided yet. Smiling, Kyou asks if he's considered coming to Eirin, their high school. He goes on to talk about the school's academic record and how it's in the best five for the prefecture. He wonders how Haruna would do, though Kyou could look after him... As Haruna thinks that he hasn't really heard anything about their high school before, Kyou also notes that Nori would be really excited if he went there. Doesn't Haruna want to go to the same high school as them; or, more specifically, as Nori?
The scene switches to Nori carefully caring a pot of food to Haruna's house while counting down how much farther she has to go. She looks up suddenly, thinking that she has a feeling that she saw someone just now, but... It might have been her imagination. She balances her pot on the gate and starts to call out, “Haru-...” as the door opens and Haruna's uncle comes out. Nori stares nervously at him until he asks her what she wants. She stutters a greeting, and tells him that she was just bringing some food over for Haruna. Haruna's uncle closes the door, then turns back and tells Nori that Haruna hasn't come home yet. Avoiding eye contact, Nori tells him that she'll come back later, and apologizes for bothering him. Before Nori can leave, he starts talking again. Her name is Sakurada-san, right? And she's in high school? Surprised that he's still talking to her, Nori tells him that's right. Joining her on the other side of the gate, Haruna's uncle remembers that the last time he saw her (in Chapter 26) she told him that she was serious about dating Haruna and asks if that was true. Finally looking him in the eye, Nori answers that she was telling the truth. As he starts to walk away, Nori asks him if he wants to stay and eat with her and Haruna. She's not sure if he'd like her food, but... He cuts her off, telling her that he's sorry, but he can't. He's leaving for two or three days for work. He turns back and thanks her, then tells her that, if she'd like, she can wait inside the house. Nori is a little shocked at that offer. Facing away from Nori as he leaves, Haruna's uncle says, “Please take care of Haruna.” Nori blushes and calls back, “Right, I'll try my best!” (and juggles her pot of food). He raises his hand in acknowledgment, but doesn't look back. From around the corner, we see that Mio (and a second person who isn't clearly shown) have been watching. Mio scowls at Nori, and her driver asks her what she'd like to do. She tells him to go back, and they leave. Meanwhile, we see Haruna leaving a medical clinic, flexing his hand. He holds it up, celebrating his complete recovery! Then we see the jagged scar on his palm, and he thinks that, even though it's healed, the scar will remain. Looking a a little sadly at it, he remembers Onohira. Addressing her in his thoughts, he thinks that this wasn't what she wanted to leave behind, was it? The proof that she was living in this town... She said to him that they couldn't make this town their world; but still, even if it's only a little, he can keep it here. She carved the proof [that she lived in this place] into the palm of his hand.
Haruna arrives home and hears singing(?) coming from his kitchen. He peeks in and sees Nori at the stove, unaware that he's come in. He says, “Nori, what are you doing?” and she jumps back, embarrassed. She tells him that he should have said something if he was home; he points out that she was being too loud to hear him come in and asks what smells so good. Nori explains that she's borrowing his kitchen to make something for him. Haruna tells her that's fine, but... Ah, Haruna's uncle told her that it was OK to come in and wait for him. Haruna finds that difficult to believe, and Nori explains that he left right after. Blushing, she tells Haruna that his uncle told her to take care of him. At that, Haruna turns away and tells Nori that there's no way he really meant that; it's completely impossible. He starts to walk off, saying he's going to change clothes, and Nori stops him. She tells him that she remembers talking to his uncle before. It was eight years ago, when Haruna first came to town, and he came up to her (and Saeka and Kyou). He told them that there was a kid about their age at his house and asked if they would play with him. That was why they timidly came to his house back then. His uncle has always been concerned about him. Haruna turns away again, thinking that Nori is wrong. From the beginning, his uncle has been distancing himself from him. Haruna responds that his uncle was probably just doing that because having to watch him was a bother, and Nori interrupts by smacking him on the head with her ladle. He rubs his head and tells her that hurt, and Nori yells at him that he and his uncle are exactly alike. They both always seem lonely, but it's like they've separated themselves with a rickety gate that they're both too stubborn to make a gesture and open! Haruna seems affected by Nori's observation, and just responds with, “Nori...” Honestly, he and his uncle are a perfectly matched set! Then, Haruna smells something burning... Nori hurries to the stove and checks her pot, telling Haruna that this is a punishment game; if he made her burn it, his punishment will be eating burnt stew! (He seems a bit confused.) Watching Nori try to save her stew, Haruna thinks that he'll always lose to her. He'll keep doing it, but it's somehow comforting. A world with Nori nearby... (Looking at the stew, Nori thinks that it might turn out all right.)
Still watching, Haruna thinks that he probably can't beat Kyou-chan, either. He can't surpass those years that Nori and Kyou have been together. And that “girlfriend test” of hers, he thinks that's because Kyou-chan is a part of Nori. (Though he wonders why Nori came here today.) The impression that he and the impression that Kyou-chan had left on Nori were different from from the start; but, even so... Nori interrupts his thoughts, asking where he keeps the mayonnaise, and Haruna takes off his jacket, saying that he'll lend a hand. Even so, maybe he can leave a mark on Nori, too, deep enough that it seems impossible to erase. Because he wants her to remember him, and this little world that belonged to the two of them. He comes over and asks her if he can taste that, and she tells him that he can't yet. From there, Haruna basically takes over the food preparation, leaving Nori dumbfounded. She stares at the table, wordless, then asks him if he's a chef. She gushes, “That was amazing, Haruna!!” Haruna then wonders, "Amazing? I was just cooking, right?" Nori exclaims that they seem to have finally found his strong point, which Haruna seems to think is an oddly back-handed comment. Well, at any rate, he wasn't able to cook so well while the bandage was on his hand. Nori cries out again, grabbing his hand and saying, “Your bandage is gone!” She just noticed that? So, Nori asks, it's all healed? He tells her that it is, and Nori looks a little sad. That's right... She wonders if Onohira-san is all right? If she could see Onohii, there are some things Nori wants to say... (Haruna's thought: “Onohii...?”) Haruna tells her that she needs to let that fight drop, but Nori smiles and tells him that it's all right! They can become friends through fighting. Haruna laughs and says something along the lines of, “I can only imagine...” Nori looks at him seriously, and begins to explain about the reason why she came to his house today. Looking down a little shyly, she tells him, “I came to finish that girlfriend test.” The chapter ends with an alarmed-looking Haruna wondering what that means.




Translator's Comment: Between the two, I think Kyou should go with the amusement park idea. That actually sounds pretty fun. When Nori referred to Onohira as “Onohii” the last time, I thought she was just having some trouble with the name, but I guess it's on purpose. This may be a joke I'm not getting. I liked the look in Mio's eyes in this chapter. Her character seems pointless to have around if she isn't at least a little evil, so here's hoping. No preview for the next chapter, but it should feature Nori based on the order (that it doesn't always follow).

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