Kokoro Botan [Chapter 9]

Summarized by: Osora

You can find links to Chinese raw scans on the series Main page ...

Continuing from the last chapter, Nina is thinking about Koga’s words, “It’s the first time I heard you saying that you like me.” She’s feeling a little embarrassed. Koga apologizes to Nina for leaving first, “I thought you were probably waiting for me, so maybe I was being a bit deliberate (walking home with Keiko).” Nina is surprised and wonders if that’s because she said she’s okay if he chooses Keiko. Koga then pats Nina’s head affectionately. Just when they are having a good atmosphere, Nina sneezes loudly. Nina immediately blushes furiously in embarrassment. Koga is stunned for a moment and then he bursts out laughing. Koga helps Nina to wipe her snot and said that they should go home before they can catch a cold. As they are walking home, Koga still cannot stop laughing and Nina is very gloomy about sneezing in front of Koga. She’s thinking that she is such an idiot. When they arrive at Nina’s house, Koga asks Nina if she wants more tissue and tells her to take care of herself and not to catch a cold. Before he leaves though, Koga pats Nina on the head and says that he’ll see her tomorrow at school. Nina brightens up and cheerfully says that she’s home. Nina’s mother says that Nina seems to be in a good mood and then tells Nina that she has found a home tutor for her. Nina is puzzled and asks, “What!? Home tutor…?” Nina’s mother explains that Nina seems very upset when she fails the entrance exam for the cram school and since they also suggested that a home tutor is better for her, there’s no one more suitable for her than Tomohiro, who used to live next door. Nina is surprised and goes, “Eh? Tomohiro?” Nina’s mother continues to say that Tomohiro is in the 3rd year of university now, he just moved back recently, and he’s like a real brother to Nina. Nina recalls a love letter and then asks if there are no other candidates. But Nina’s mother asks what is she talking about and says that they can only hire someone who doesn’t charge much. Nina looks flustered as she recalls that Tomohiro is her first love and that she even gave a love letter to Tomohiro when she was in grade 6 (Tomohiro was in grade 11 at that time). However, Tomohiro only sees her as a little sister. Nina wonders what she should do, having this kind of person as her tutor.
The following day at school, while Nina and Koga are having lunch together, Koga asks Nina if she has studied for the upcoming final exams. The question gives Nina a shock. She stammers, “I-I studied by myself…”, and thinks that it’s difficult to tell Koga about her tutor. Nina notices Koga staring at her. After some silence, she stammers out, “….What’s wrong?” Koga replies that it seems that something has happen to Nina. Frightened and flustered, Nina replies that nothing has happened. Koga sighs and deliberately says, “So you decided to hide it from me?” Nina is shocked, and Koga continues to says, “Forget it, it couldn’t be helped….even Kasuga [Nina] has something that you don’t want to tell me about. It seems that it is not something I can help you with.” Nina now feels very guilty and thinks that Koga’s words have made her feel even more distressful. However, Koga is laughing secretly; he enjoys seeing Nina feeling troubled. The scene changes to Koga’s cram school. Koga sees Aoi and he asks if she has just finishes her class. Aoi ignores him and walks away. Koga then says that Aoi really values her sister very much. Aoi becomes angry immediately and says that Koga must be very popular and with that being the case, rather than her stupid sister, he can find a girlfriend who is more serious. Koga replies that although he doesn’t know the reason yet, he likes being with Nina and sees her as a date. Aoi is frustrated and says that Koga can only relax now because that person will be coming soon. Koga asks, “That person…?”


The scene changes to Nina’s house. Nina is trying to make her mother give up on the decision to hire Tomohiro as her tutor. But her mother refuses by saying that Nina has failed the midterm exams and she herself said that she’ll do something to improve the grades. Dejectedly, Nina leaves the kitchen and sees Aoi returning home. Aoi tells Nina that she has told Koga everything about her tutor including the fact that Tomohiro is Nina’s first love. Nina is stunned, and then her face pales as she goes, “EH? WHAT DID YOU SAY!!?” Koga is walking to the station when his phone rings. On the phone, Nina anxiously asks Koga where he is and if he has already gone home. Koga replies that he’s still at the station. The next moment, Koga sees Nina racing towards him. While still panting heavily, Nina asks Koga if he has heard the news about her tutor. Koga replies that he heard Nina used to like that tutor (Tomohiro). Nina panics and says that the person she likes now is Koga. But seeing Koga not showing any reaction, Nina becomes even more panicky. She starts crying and exclaims that she no longer has any feeling for Tomohiro and that she likes Koga. This time, Koga tells Nina to say that again. Nina is puzzled. While smiling suspiciously, Koga asks Nina to say that again. Nina realizes that she is being fooled by Koga again. She pounds on his shoulder, accusing him of teasing her. Koga laughs and apologizes to Nina. Koga pats her head and says that he understands. Just when Nina wonders what Koga meant by “He understands”, Koga continues to say that Nina is very cute. Nina paused for a moment upon hearing his words and then blushes furiously. Nina is immersed in happiness, thinking, “He said I’m cute” repeatedly in her head. Koga then tells Nina that she should let Tomohiro teach her so that she can improves her grade, plus she may even pass the entrance exam for his cram school. Delightedly, Nina thinks that this way, she’ll be able to attend the cram school together with Koga. Nina then tells Koga that she’ll try her best while thinking that this way, she can be closer to Koga and one day, they will become a perfect couple. At that very moment, Tomohiro is walking out of the station while talking on the phone. He is saying that he is in the neighbourhood and that he’ll visit them. Outside the station, Tomohiro is surprised to find Nina with a guy.

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