kimi ga koi ni midareru act 4 summary
Baaahh. So long >.<
Anyway, here it is~
Based on Chinese scanlations, as usual.
Chapter 3 ended with Ichikawa who got a phone call from a person called Makita. Even though Ichikawa’s real name wasn’t used on the designs he made that person was able to tell they were Ichikawa’s anyway.
Now chapter 4 starts with Kijima talking to Ichikawa on the phone. Ichikawa apparently told him that he’d stop participating in the project they’re currently working on (the one they spent so much efforts on already). Kijima is shocked and can’t understand Ichikawa’s decision, so he tells him he’d come over so they could talk this over.
On the way to Kyoto he’s wondering what exactly it was that made Ichikawa change his mind so suddenly… if it was what happened that night between them…?
In Kyoto then Ichikawa lets Kijima listen to the voice message Makita had left. Ichikawa explains that Makita is an old friend of his and that he left his hometown without telling anyone (not even his relatives) about his whereabouts. Ichikawa seems kind of desperate. He blames himself for being so naïve as to think he could get away with just using a false name… Kijima tries to calm him down, asking what exactly happened in the past.
Ichikawa then explains that Makita was a friend of his in Kanazawa (where he originally is from). From when he was 10 years old Ichikawa was already the student of a known painter (Japanese paintings) in that area. That’s also where he learned the basics in the Yuuzen style of dying. After he graduated from University he officially became the disciple of that teacher. Makita was the oldest (or rather: highest, as in studied the longest time there) student of said teacher. Even though that guy might seem rather uncommunicative he really understood how to take care of others and everyone treated him like a big brother.
At some point, though, Makita started having conflicts with Ichikawa. He denied his work and apparently there also were some not so nice rumors making their rounds. Kijima says that he probably was jealous of Ichikawa’s talent, which Ichikawa denies instantly. Makita had a lot of talent of his own. Ichikawa says that in the end he also gave his teacher a lot of trouble, so he decided to leave that place. Things weren’t that easy, though. Afterwards for a while he was a porcelain painter (still in Kanazawa), but at that place he ended up being bullied. Makita’s family seems to have quite some influence in town, so there wasn’t really anything Ichikawa could have done… He can’t understand why Makita would go as far as that, but under those circumstances Ichikawa also ended up giving a lot of trouble to the people around him… which is why he ended up leaving the town altogether.
Kijima now understands the reason Ichikawa had planned to drop their current project. He puts his hand on Ichikawa’s, thanking him for telling him all this. He’d thought that it was because of what had happened between them… and Ichikawa gets quite flustered at that XD He denies and says these two things had nothing to do with each other.
Kijima thinks that this really is a pity… Things like these happen often, though, to genius artists like Ichikawa. He tells Ichikawa not to worry. He'd made a promise in the past. That is, not to let Ichikawa be hurt. And he’d take responsibility and protect him (and he’s saying this while having his hand laid on Ichikawa’s cheek).
Kijima then decided it’d be for the best if Ichikawa were to stay at his place for the time being. Ichikawa is.. taken by surprise. But Kijima quashes all of his objections, so they end up on the train to Tokyo.
On the train Ichikawa seems kind of… nervous? Self-conscious? He tells Kijima that he’s just thinking too much… but Kijima says this isn’t something he could be blamed for, in a situation like this.
In Tokyo Kijima gives Ichikawa a tour of his apartment (which apparently is quite big). When Kijima suggests to take a look at his bedroom Ichikawa-true to his super easy to embarrass nature-gets incredibly flustered and says that there’s no need.
Seeing that reaction Kijima wonders if Ichikawa might again have misunderstood something… but no help can do. After having heard his story there’s no way Kijima could not have been worried about him. That’s the only way for him to protect his important ‘co-worker’.
He also thinks that as of lately he’s been acting kinda not like his usual self… and he really needs to set a clear boundary and not repeat his earlier mistake.
Makita manages to find Kijima’s work place quite quickly and comes to pay him his visit. Makita says that in their latest project there were some designs by a person named Ichikawa Yuzuki included. Kijima refuses to let anything regarding their artists privacy slip, but Makita says that some of the designs were obviously Ichikawa’s. He explains that Ichikawa was a disciple with his teacher in the past and there’s no way he could be mistaken. Even though he was driven out, now his teacher wishes for him to return. Kijima then probes into this… driven out? Makita then pulls off an ‘I’m a total ass’-face and says that Kijima obviously was also fooled by that guy. Just like his teacher. He says that Ichikawa was the kind of person to force other people into… that sort of relationship (including his teacher) and that’s why in the end he was driven out. But still-his teacher can’t seem to let him go and told Makita to bring him back. Otherwise Makita couldn’t be bothered looking for him. It'd be better for Kijima and his colleagues to hand him over anyway, seeing how Ichikawa is bound to bring them trouble. Kijima does… not exactly look happy.
At home he tells Ichikawa that Makita came looking for him today. Ichikawa is a bit shocked. Seemingly Makita also contacted his workplace in Kyoto. Until now he still hasn’t discovered Kijima’s home though, so it’d be safe for now. Though, that guy really is despicable, Kijima says… daring to claim Ichikawa had something going on with his teacher. Ichikawa vehemently denies, looking kind of desperate, too. Kijima winks it off. It’s obvious that the guy was lying. Ichikawa is surprised that Kijima would believe him so easily… because back in his hometown no one would believe him… he can’t hold back his tears as he’s saying this. Ichikawa apologizes for crying just like that… but also says that he’s really happy Kijima trusts him. He thanks him for that.
Kijima then hugs him, saying that he must’ve been really hurt. He says Ichikawa shouldn’t worry… lies with loopholes all over like that, there’s no one who’d remember them anymore. Kijima then is very much and very obviously about to kiss him, but snaps out of it last second. Kijima doesn’t change anything about the position they’re currently in (like, really close), but says that it should be enough for Ichikawa to tell his teacher about the lies that Makita had spread. Ichikawa seems a bit lost and pushes Kijima away. Ichikawa says that he couldn’t tell his teacher. He trusts Makita a lot and also… Makita's lies had some truth to them…. It’d be really hard to solve a misunderstanding like that.
Kijima asks… some truth to them…? And Ichikawa explains that he indeed was in love with his teacher.
Kijima thinks… “What is he saying?”
Ichikawa says that Kijima shouldn’t misunderstand, there really was nothing between them.
And Kijima thinks… “Was in love with him? Ah… so that’s in the past, right?”
Ichikawa explains that his teacher had a family and that it was just one-sided, but that he really loved him all the time… He tried to hide it, but Makita was able to find out anyway and thus treated him even worse than before. At that time his teacher also seemed to have noticed something--maybe even his wife too--and that probably caused quite some trouble for his family. Because Ichikawa didn’t want to cause him further troubles he decided to leave… but-sliding down to the floor-he says that he still is unable to give up on these feelings. He can’t forget about him… even now…
And Kijima wonders why it is that he finds himself so shocked by this…
End of the chapter. Didn't expect anything else, now did you? :p
Oh, right. Magazine ordered with the (much much) cheaper option this time... so it'll probably be another 2~3 weeks until I get it. But when having the choice of either paying €4 or €40 for shipping, there isn't really much to think about, is it? XD
Sooo... opinions? You know I love reading them :3