Midori no Hibi ch.72 & 74

April 24, 2004 | 0 Comments

I ended taking a look at these chapters because I was curious about the latest development in the series after someone asked me if the series is actually going anywhere as of late. Thankfully my local Japanese bookstore still has the two latest issues of Shounen Sunday Magazine. Unfortunately, I can't find a copy of the magazine that has chapter 73 of the manga. At any rate, it looks like the series is going somewhere and I think there is a big possibility that the manga will end very soon. As usual, be aware that this is just a rough summary and unless you've followed the manga or like reading spoilers like myself, then don't proceed any further.

I'll just briefly mention some important development that happens in chapter 72. The chapter starts out with Midori looking depressed and spaced out while she and Seiji are visiting a local park. Her condition worries Seiji, who wonders if there is something wrong with her, especially since she's been kind of strange lately. Midori then asks Seiji if he thinks she is bothersome. Seiji is confused by Midori's question and wonders why she suddenly asks something like this. He, however, also assures her that she should not worry about it because he's already getting used to using his left hand. On top of things, Midori is good with cooking as well as making soup stock and she is also dilligent in doing clean-ups as well as helping him around. Because of these, Seiji thinks she's not a bad right hand to have. Midori, however, still looks sad and tells Seiji that her being in his right hand makes it difficult for Seiji to see porn books. Seiji looks embarassed and tells her not to be silly because he doesn't miss those books. He also wonder why Midori keeps saying weird things like this today.

After hesitating, Midori finally tells Seiji that everyday with Seiji is a very enjoyable experience and right now is the best time of her life. However, lately she wonders if it's a good idea to remain in this kind of condition (being on Seiji's right hand). Unfortunately before Midori can finished off her sentence about what she sometimes feel, they are interrupted by the arrival of Lucy Winrad (the American girl that first appeared in chapter 40 - see Love chart above) and Miyahara in the park. Midori is upset that she can't complete her conversation with Seiji but never the less decides to put her thoughts aside for now. Anyway, later on it turns out that Lucy is about to return to the US and therefore Seiji and Miyahara decide to create a farewell party for her in Seiji's apartment. This event seems to have provoked even more thoughts from Midori who wonders if Lucy feels sad for having to leave Japan and if she'll feel the same once she left Seiji. Now, unfortunately, I don't have chapter 73 so I don't know if Midori ends up resolving her newfound conflict about her being stucked to Seiji's right hand.

However, chapter 74 seems to suggest that maybe the manga will end very soon after all. The chapter begins with a teacher announcing to Seiji and Ayase's class that there will be a graduate send-off party next week. However, it loks like they need some committee members to help organising things. Each class must select 2 people and therefore the teacher asks if there is anyone in the class who will volunteer for the job. Of course, no one puts their hand up and Seiji comments that no one will want to do that kind of bothersome work. However, Ayase then puts her hand up and tells the teacher that she wants to be in charge. Seiji then tells Midori that as he thought, Ayase is probably the only one who's interested in that sort of responsibility. Unfortunately for Seiji, Ayase then tells the teacher that the other person who will be in charge is going to be Seiji himself, much to his chagrin.

When the school ends, Seiji is seen trying to sneak out of the school so that he doesn't have to help out Ayase. Midori wonders if it's a good idea running away like this. Seiji, however, tells her that no one can order him around, not even Ayase. Unfortunately for him, Ayase turns out to be right behind him with a broom. She ended up knocking him out cold and dragging him back to the class so he can help her out. Once in the class, Seiji snidely asks Ayase how did he earn this annoying errand to begin with. Ayase, however, tells him to just keep going with his work (which seem to involve stappling a bunch of papers) and Seiji then stops asking any other questions. While Seiji is busy doing his work, Ayase finally reveals the real reason for asking Seiji to help her with the work. It turns out she wants to use the opportunity to reveal her feelings for him. She can't believe that even though she has been trying to do this for a while now, all of her efforts have ended up in failure somehow.

Ayase feels that now is the right time to let her feelings known to Seiji. She thinks that she should not ruin this opportunity especially now that there are only the two of them in the classroom so they won't be disturbed by anyone or anything. While Ayase prepares herself to tell Seiji, however, Seiji manages to finish his job and asks her what should he do with the minutes that he's completed. Ayase is surprised and nervously tells him to put them in the box across their desk. As Seiji mutters about the job being such a nuisance, Midori soon realises that Ayase is trying to let Seiji know about her feelings. Midori panics because she doesn't expected Ayase to still want to do it even after all of those previous failed confessions. Midori, however, can breathe a bit easier for now because before Ayase can say anything, she ends up tipping the table that she's leaning onto and causing herself to fall into the floor. That has to count as one of the most embarassing moment in a person's life when trying to confess one's love for another person.

Seiji is obviously surprised with the incident and asks Ayase what is she doing and if she is okay. In her embarassment, Ayase tells Seiji to shut up because she's okay. Ayase proceeds to curse her luck but then manages to tell herself to calm down and to try again. However, just as she's about to blurt out that Seiji has always..., one of Seiji's friend bursts into the class and tells Seiji that something bad has happened. Apparently Miyahara is engaged in some kind of a fight with another Senior high school student. This latest failure, however, seems to be the last straw for Ayase and she proceeds to vent her frustation. She loudly asks herself why is there always some sort of intereference everytime she tries to confess her feelings. Seiji, who doesn't understand what Ayase talks about decides to calm her down and asks her why she suddenly acts like this. Ayase, however, has had enough and angrily tells him that her patience has reached its limit right now.

Seiji, who's still confused ends up becoming angry for getting the brunt of Ayase's anger. He tells Ayase that he doesn't know what is wrong with her today nor what she actually thinks. In a fit of anger, Ayase accidentally blurts out that Seiji is to blame because if she doesn't love him, she won't have to end up feeling like this. Oops. It looks like the cat is out of the bag. Seiji is understandably shocked and unsured of what Ayase said and what he just heard. Before Seiji can asks further questions, however, Ayase runs out of the class leaving the very confused Seiji and a sad looking Midori. Later on that night, Ayase's mother and sister try to persuade her to have some dinner, however, Ayase refuses to come out of her room for reason that is not known by either of the two.

Well, there it is. At the very least Seiji is now aware of Takako's feeling now so I think it is possible that there will be a resolution to the triangle between Midori, Seiji, and Ayase very soon. Another important development that happens here is the fact that Midori has now seriously considering the ups and downs of going back to her real body for good. I think it is possible that Midori will return to her real body for good so that Seiji will have a chance to fully consider who and what he really wants in his life without the interference of her presence. But I hope Midori ends up being happy at the end of the day. I like Ayase as well but all of these times, the POVs that were given to me were those of Seiji's and Midori's so I don't want to see either one of them miserable. Anyway, if the manga ends very soon then it's likely that the anime won't have to make up its own ending like Fruits Basket.

© memento 2003