L♥DK [Chapter 21]

Summarized by: Carolyne

The North wind and the Sun
After that eventful situation in the men’s bath, Wataru challenges Shuusei by declaring that if he still doesn’t realize that he’s hurting Aoi, he will take her away. Shuusei stood up, reached out, and with his arm around Wataru’s shoulders, dares him to go ahead and try. Shuusei then turns and leaves while Wataru is left speechless. The holidays have ended and back in the apartment, Aoi was woken up by a clack sound. She gets out of bed and was surprised to see that Shuusei was up and ready to head for school. Shuusei informs her that he’s heading out and also rejects her offer to prepare his lunchbox. Dejected, all Aoi could do was watch him leave. At the neighborhood supermarket, Wataru spots Aoi who was also doing grocery shopping. Noticing Aoi inspecting a bunch of vegetable so intently, he moves up behind her and joked that she looks like a judge, giving her a scare. He then lets her know that based on experience, vegetables that come in smaller bunches are actually sweeter. After some silence between the two of them, Wataru apologises for what happened at the hot spring bath. He then asks Aoi whether she had made up with Shuusei after that since Shuusei didn’t get the wrong idea about them. Aoi however, with a disheartened look on her face, say that she feels annoyed by his cutness. Because she feels frustrated, she wants to make him submit to her by cooking up something really delicious. Wataru then offers to teach her so that she can develop some amazing recipes that she’ll be confident. He invites her to join the cooking class that the landlady request his conduct. Wataru then questions her real intention: Rather than making him submit, what she really wants is to see him smile.

Back at the apartment, the landlady welcomes the two into her unit while surprised that Aoi was joining them as well. She was happy that her house would get lively as she always finds it too spacious for just Kouta and her. Seeing Aoi also makes her motivated to become a better cook that would get Kouta’s recognition. Their first task was to create ‘animals’ for the zoo-themed lunchbox. Aoi had carved a decent looking elephant whereas the landlady’s creation made Wataru comment that there isn’t such an animal in the zoo. The landlady was taken aback by his criticism as she’d tried her hardest to make a cute lunchbox. The three who were busy cooking, didn’t notice Kouta who was spying on them behind the door. Halfway through the class, the landlady informs Aoi and Wataru to continue with the class while she goes out for a bit to pass the circular around. When she asked Kouta whether he wanted to accompany her, Kouta kept looking over his shoulder towards the kitchen while he headed out with his mum. Aoi was shocked that whatever she was making was very delicious. She wonders if this would finally make Shuusei smile. Looking at Aoi’s troubled face, Wataru comments that she must really like Shuusei. He quickly tells her that it was his assumption after Aoi looked at him astounded. She tries to clarify herself but in that moment of confusion, she forgot where they were and accidentally placed her hand on the heated pot.

While the landlady was busy giving out fliers to the neighbors, Kouta who was playing by himself spots Shuusei who just came back from school. Throwing his ball at him, he exclaims that he doesn’t understand why Aoi is always together with Wataru these days. Back in the apartment, Wataru helped Aoi to cool her hand over running water, asking whether it hurts though there wasn’t much redness. After an awkward silence between them, Wataru asks whether it was painful to keep holding those feelings in her heart, even though loving someone should be something filled with happiness. In response, Aoi believes that with bonds, painful memories and feelings arise as well. Wataru replies that principally that is the case, however for him, a love which is only full of painful memories is… As he said that, he moved behind Aoi with his arms around her as if hugging her. Unfortunately, this was seen by Shuusei and Kouta standing outside the kitchen. Shuusei without a word, turned and left the apartment. Kouta chased after him and called out to him but when Shuusei walked off without responding, Kouta gave up. Feeling that the vibe was a little wrong, Aoi calls out to Wataru who hesitantly turned off the tap and moved away from her. He then tells her that they should continue with the cooking class. Wataru’s comment that ‘love should be a feeling of happiness’ however was stuck on Aoi’s mind.

At night, Aoi lay all the dishes that she’d made on the dining table, confident that they definitely taste good. She looks at her mobile which flashes ’19:15’ and laying her head on the table, mutters that he’s late. She recalls the time when Shuusei said that maybe it’s a good thing to laugh and smile together with her. Aoi closes her eyes and thinks that she wants to smile together with him too. The next moment Aoi opened her eyes, she woke up in shock and wonders what time it was. Coincidentally, Shuusei had just arrived home after his part time job. Aoi tells him that she’d made and waited for him to have dinner together. Shuusei however just brushes it off saying that she didn’t have to wait. When Aoi asks whether he wants to eat, Shuusei answer blatantly that he doesn’t want it. Aoi taken aback by his reply at first, finally breaks down and asks whether he really can’t stand being with her. No matter how much she tries to apologise, is it impossible to return to how their relationship once were. Shuusei questions what she means by returning to their past relationship. Aoi replies that he wasn’t as offensive as before, that he’s treating her coldly, and even though he caused her much trouble before, she can’t stand that him acting coldly. Shuusei smiles bitterly saying, “Are you trying to say that Wataru is kind?” Looking as though being dealt a huge blow, Aoi thinks back on the times when Wataru was there for her and replies that he is gentle. Shuusei was unable to give any response upon hearing such a reply. Aoi, not getting any reaction from him, decides to leave the apartment. Just as Aoi was about to leave, she was suddenly pulled back by a strong force. Shuusei had pulled her back in, and while hugging her tightly, placed his lips close to her face. The door slammed shut cutting off Aoi’s shriek which was left echoing in the corridors…

Translator's Comment:I’m kinda tried of typing ‘Another cliffhanger?!’ Every chapter is a cliffhanger and it’s kinda tiring me out. I really really hope that something exciting happens and the plot advances next chapter. At least the drawing keeps me drawn in. But I need more lovey dovey between those two!
Chapter name’s trivia: I was always intrigued as to why the North wind and the Sun are always linked together (北風と太陽 lit. North wind and Sun) and came across this interesting article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_North_Wind_and_the_Sun)

Bebe©Xiu:I know we have been waiting on the scanlation for this month chapter but I should of wait for the response from the original scanlator instead of making the decision and the announcement Anyway, unfortunately we will not be doing the scanlation for this series. This is the message that we got from the Black Lilac:

“L-DK is the first project which BlackLilac took on as the one that we wish to start and complete. Though we are pretty slow in releasing the chapters and there are many fans out there who are eagerly waiting for the translated scans, BlackLilac would still like to scanlate every chapter.”


We will respect their decision...but we're still doing and continue with the summaries...

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