Tonari no Atashi [Chapter 11-12]

Summarized by: Maggie

Chapter 11: "A promise and an opportunity"
The Chapter starts off with Kyousuke and Yuiko (still) facing each other at the softball practice court. Kyousuke had just told Yuiko that he can’t promise not to see Nina anymore. He first looks down but then into Yuiko’s face. When he sees her crying he looks rather surprised. Yuiko quickly walks over to her bag and gets out her mobile phone. She then throws it to Kyousuke to make him see the message she got from her ex-boyfriend saying: “I’ve caught a cold. It’s painful. Save me.” While crouching down she teary-eyed tells him that she ignored the mail and that she has been wandering around aimlessly all day because Kyousuke didn’t have time for her:” It is you only that has been playing around with Nina-chan…” She then starts crying really loudly. Kyousuke still looks rather surprised but then also crouches down in order to approach her. He lifts her hand that she has been hiding her face with just to see her crying even more so. She calls him cruel. He then hugs her and while both are blushing he excuses himself saying it was his bad. Yuiko starts smiling slightly (she probably thinks she has won) but her smile freezes when he further explains: “But…. At least permit us seeing each other during this practice time. Minami middle school has a ball game tournament coming up and she is really trying her best. It might be the first time that I’ve seen her this frantic for something. I’m sorry.” Since they are still hugging, Kyousuke cannot see Yuiko’s unhappy, painful and rather dark reaction to his suggestion. The scene changes to Nina and Kyousuke training. Nina has just finished 100 times of practice-swinging her bat and looks slightly exhausted. Kyousuke tells her that it’s considerably become like the real thing but she still tends to run away from the ball so at least she should not avert her eyes from it. She takes on his advice and happily thanks him. They decide that it’s enough practice for that day so Nina offers to carry Kyousuke’s bat and with a huge smile on her face says:” Let’s go home!” Kyousuke was just about to decline going home together when Yuiko appears behind them. She smilingly asks them whether the practice had finished already. While Nina and Kyousuke both look a bit surprised she explains that she still had some time left until her and Kyousuke’s date so she went to change clothes. She continues that she’s hungry so she first of all would like to go eat something. Kyousuke tells her to wait a bit as he still has to put the bat away but a smiling Nina interrupts him:” Kyou-chan, take care!” A bit later a lonely Nina can be seen walking up a stairs while carrying two bats. Although her face is not shown, it seems that she is crying. She tells herself that it’s completely all right if he just practices with her, that it’s enough if she can continue loving him.

Probably to demonstrate that time is passing by Nina is shown studying with a friend, Keisuke is shown playing with a mini-ship and a picture with the date on - it is already August the 31st – is shown. The scene then changes to Nina’s training with Kyousuke, Keisuke and Mayu-chan. Nina seems to have greatly improved since Keisuke proudly tells her:” I have taught you everything I could have!” Nina thanks her teacher Keisuke and laughs happily with him and Mayu-chan. Kyousuke tells Nina that she really did her best, that the practice is now completed and that when the new term starts tomorrow her teammates will be greatly surprised about how good she’s become. He goes on:” Well, for us it is the last practice but you will still have practice with your teammates. Also give your best in the real matches.” Nina looks shock-surprised when Kyousuke turns his back on her and walks away. She clenches her fist and looks down, while blushing she calls out to Kyou-chan:” Won’t you come watch the ball game tournament?... I also want you to watch the results of the practice… if you have a little time left… it’s fine to just watch through the fence or from far…” Kyousuke turns around and just bluntly tells her:” I can’t.” Nina’s slight smile begins to crumble while she thinks about what she told him when again confessing: “I won’t tell you to answer me.” However Nina is torn out of her thoughts when suddenly Kyousuke asks whether she was unconcerned. He explains that she will probably get a lot of attention from the audience when it is her time to bat and since she has stage fright… [There is a small picture showing a 4 year old Nina as one of the 7 dwarfs in Kindergarten and she apparently forgot her speech and couldn’t move anymore] Nina starts smiling and confidently assures Kyousuke that she will be fine since she is now grown-up and all. She repeats that she will be fine a few times – probably to reassure herself also. The four of them then walk home. Nina thinks that her summer has ended. The scene changes to Nina’s school. It’s Nina’s team 4’s first match and Nina catches a ball to out someone of the opposing team. Nina’s team won and because she was so good, she is congratulated and complimented by her team captain, team- and classmates. Her team consists of 3 different grades – the first year’s class 4, the second year’s class 4 and the third year’s class 4. They all get into a circle and enthusiastically talk about winning the whole competition. Some boys from team basketball are watching the girls and talk about their decision to get a superior rank – the volleyball, table tennis and basketball team 4 have all won their matches. A blond guy from basketball then stares at one girl in particular – the happy looking Nina - and asks himself if she was really taught by ‘him’…

The scene changes to Nina’s and Kyousuke’s apartment. It is already night. Kyousuke has just taken a shower and walks out to the balcony to find Nina’s chalkboard with a message to him. It says that her team has won today’s match and if they win tomorrow they will be the overall champion… “Can you really not come?” The next scene is a slightly sad Nina looking at Kyousuke’s answer: “I can’t come.” She thinks that she has finally realized that the time she can actually spend with him has become ‘special’. (she means they don’t spend much time together anymore). The next day she and her team are having discussions about how to win etc. The team spirit is good. Although Nina is shown laughing and having fun while playing, she is still thinking about Kyousuke:”Kyou-chan won’t come. Kyou-chan… did I become good (at softball)? It’s because Kyou-chan has taught me….Kyou-chan… Stroke my head one more time and tell me I did well.“ It is the 7th inning in the last match and the points are 4 for the opposing team and 3 for Nina’s team. 2 are out and there are no runners on the field – Nina is the third batter. Her captain tells her to be at ease but Nina gets really serious and thinks that she has to make it for them in order not to lose. At first she still thinks about Kyou-chan that he will again … but then she realizes that a lot of people are at the fence etc. and cheer her on. Apparently most of the other games were already over. Then some girl makes a quick report that the male basketball game has also just ended and it is only the female softball team left for class 4 to have a comprehensive win. Meanwhile Kyousuke and a friend of his are on their way to their club activities when they hear many noises from Minami middle school. Kyousuke looks really surprised when he overhears many people shouting “Uemura-----” (Nina’s surname). Back to Nina’s game – the crowd goes wild!! Everybody is really enthusiastic and shouts Nina’s name loudly and for her to win and do her best etc. Nina looks very scared and teary-eyed asks herself why it became like this. Again Kyousuke and his friend are shown and Kyousuke is desperate because he wants the cheering to stop as he knows very well what will happen to Nina if this continues. He runs off to Nina’s side as fast as he can. Meanwhile Nina is thinking that she cannot do this anymore. It’s impossible, impossible, impossible!! She then suddenly has a strange feeling and thinks that the voice she heard just now was… Kyou-chan! She is crying and shaking when she sees him standing behind the fence desperately trying to tell her something. She can’t hear him. She looks at him and tries to read him:” Calm down. It’s ok! Nina, definitely do not look away from the ball!” She is still teary-eyed but blushes slightly. She thinks that she will do this, looks at the ball and …. Hits it slightly! Nina can then hear Kyousuke shout at her: “RUN!” …and she runs …and in the end slides down to the ground… and makes it! The crowd gets crazy. Everyone is really happy, laughs and cheers for Nina. Kyousuke has put his fingers through the fence but looks calm and is just about to leave when… he hears Nina’s team take a time-out. He takes a quick look and sees a crying Nina on the ground that is holding her foot. His eyes widen. The viewpoint then changes to Yuiko’s who is just talking to a friend when they hear noises from downstairs. She looks out of the window and… her eyes also widen. She sees Kyousuke that is just about to carry Nina on his back.

Chapter 12: “A prince and a classmate”
The chapter starts off with Nina’s thoughts of Kyousuke while running:” Nina, RUN!” She made it. The crowd is cheering but Nina starts crying as she explains to her captain that her foot is hurting. Meanwhile Kyousuke’s hand is clutching the fence tightly…. Then he quickly and promptly walks onto the field while a lot of people stare at him with surprise. He tells Nina’s captain that he will bring her to the infirmary. Kyousuke asks her if she was all right but Nina just whimpers his name. He then piggybacks her. Nina tells her teammates that she’s sorry for not being able to finish the game. The girls smile and the captain tells her that she’s done far enough already and she can leave it to her for she will hit the ball so that Nina can see it. A bit later Kyousuke is still piggybacking Nina. He tells her that her sliding was great. Nina replies that she wasn’t actually sliding but she fell down and hurt her foot. Kyousuke is speechless. He then asks her if her foot hurts and says that after she’s been to the infirmary she should also go to the hospital. Nina is still teary-eyed and her foot still hurts. Kyousuke then talks about the girl that is the next batter (Nina’s captain) and says that her self-confidence is cool and she looks as if she will really hit the ball…. And just in that moment the two of them can see the ball flying in the sky. They look really happy. Kyousuke smiles and continues saying that she really can do it if it is needed and she is very dependable. …Nina looks a bit unhappy and starts crying but agrees.

The scene changes to Nina looking out of her veranda. It is night and she has already been to the hospital – she’s gotten a crutch. She excitedly gets up and thinks that it would be better to thank Kyousuke for today. She then immediately gets depressed because he had actually told her not to get close anymore…. but thinks that it is nothing but good manners to show one’s gratitude yet… :“What should I do??” The scene changes to Kyousuke who is on his veranda. He can see that the light in Nina’s room is still switched on and calls her name a few times. He then goes over to her place and sees her sleeping in a very weird position on top of her bed. She is actually drooling a bit. He tells her that if she is going to sleep than she should actually sleep under the blanket as like this it wasn’t good for her body temperature. When he is about to put the blanket on her, she smiles and sleeptalks to him: “Just 5 more minutes.----- Today my foot was huuurting ssooo much… Here it comes/Eat it! My certain kill critical homeroom------” Kyousuke is again a bit speechless but tells her:” right right. You did great today.” He then realizes that her crutch has fallen down and when he is about to pick it up Nina continues her sleep-talking:” …Kyou-chan… thank you….” He looks at her and remembers them practicing together, her giving him a kiss and her smiling face when telling him:” I won’t tell you to answer me… let me continue to love you….”. He bends down and is just about to kiss her when…. his phone starts ringing. He hears the sound and realizes what he was just about to do. He looks shocked and puts his hand on his mouth. Meanwhile Yuiko is trying to call him. She is together with her ex-boyfriend that gives her a brush and tells her that Kyousuke probably likes that other girl. Yuiko shouts at him that that’s not true for she is Kyousuke’s girlfriend. Her ex just cunningly replies that Kyousuke broke the promise with his ‘girlfriend’ and gave that other girl his priority. Yuiko’s call doesn’t get through. She looks sad desperate and says:” His girlfriend… his number one… that’s me….” The scene changes to Nina that is a bit late for school. When she comes into the classroom she is immediately being hugged by her team captain. Everybody is so happy to see her – they wanted to tell her that they actually won and that she is one of the people that made this win possible. They talk about how this is one of the greatest memories from school. One boy comments that he even started crying due to happiness. Nina tears up: “ As I thought, it was the right decision to hang in there!” Some of the girls then start telling Nina how cool Kyousuke was and that when he came running for Nina he looked just like a prince!! (Hearts are flying everywhere) A few girls mention that they want a boyfriend like him. Nina then starts thinking about last night and that she eventually just started sleeping. Nocchin (Nina’s black-haired female friend) asks her if Kyousuke has a girlfriend. When Nina says he has, Nocchin blushes slightly and tells her she thought that there is still some hope left for Nina. A bit later Nina walks alone in the schoolyard. She thinks about what Nocchin has told her but then decides that it’s already impossible. She overhears a few girls talking about class 4’s softball victory. They say that class 4 made their victory all dramatic, although they had the softball captain in their team to begin with so of course they would win. They look at Nina and say: “It’s so stupid.” Nina feels very unhappy because this win was… everyone had given their best for it. Suddenly a boy with blond hair puts his hand on Nina’s shoulder and says:” The one that the captain transferred with was this complete novice here.” Nina is surprised. The girls that just badmouthed team 4 are also surprised but reply that it doesn’t matter and then leave. Nina calls the blond guy Miyake-kun. A moment later Yuiko notices Nina and Miyake walking together while laughing happily.

The scene changes to Kyousuke and his friend from last time. His friend asks him what had happened yesterday when he ran off so quickly. Kyousuke explains that it was because Nina got a bit injured. His friend says:”…..Is that so…. …. …. ….. ….. (silence)… Kyousuke….Nina-rin likes you right? ….How about you? ….With what I saw yesterday, wasn’t your reaction too desperate for a childhood friend?” Kyousuke is surprised. Just then Yuiko appears and takes his hand to get him come with her. He tells her to wait and asks about what is… Without facing him Yuiko tells him that she already knows:” Kyousuke, again, you broke the promise….” Kyousuke looks shocked-surprised. He calls out her name when… she suddenly turns around and looks at him with a smiling face saying: “However, it’s all right. Hehe. …It’s because you are childhood friends right? I’ve got to approve at least that much. My heart was narrow before.” She continues to smile and Kyousuke looks rather irritated and unhappy surprised (as if he was realizing something). He is about to say her name when Yuiko tells him to look behind him: “Isn’t that Nina-chan?” Meanwhile Nina is talking to Miyake-kun about her getting taught by Kyousuke. She tells him that at first it was Kyousuke’s little brother that taught her but then to get more results Kyousuke also helped out. Miyake tells her that she was quite actively involved and that Kyousuke deserves some gratitude. Nina agrees and shows a great smile when saying: “ Today I’ll definitely tell him (my thanks)!” Miyake looks rather displeased or sad when he sees Nina smiling so brightly. Just then Yuiko happily comes running towards them while still holding hands with Kyousuke. She immediately asks whether the guy was Nina’s boyfriend. Nina looks surprised and first greets them a good day. Yuiko continues: “This is the first time I’ve seen you alone with another guy but Kyousuke. Right Kyousuke? So, are you going out?” Nina blushes a bit and denies it. Miyake then asks Yuiko that she and Kyousuke are going out right? Yuiko smiles and agrees while Kyousuke just looks down a bit. Nina starts thinking that Nocchin is wrong and like she thought there was no hope for her. She is just tearing up when… Miyake says: “That’s great! I’ve always wanted to confirm with Tachibana-senpai… that he was not going out with Uemura.” Everybody looks a bit surprised – Nina looks shocked. Miyake then turns around to face Nina and tells her: “I, I actually like Uemura” .

Translator's Comment: Hi there :D I really don't know anything about softball or baseball whatsoever so hopefully I didn't make any mistakes when translating that part. The general idea should definitely be all right though.

Btw, I am very much cheering for Miyake-kun at the moment^^ ...also, why is Yuiko with her ex-boyfriend all the time!? I wonder if she is actually betraying Kyousuke but still wants to monopolize him... O_o

Anyway, I hope you have fun reading ;)

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