Kore wa Koi no Hanashi 24

Kore ha Koi no Hanashi Chapter 24

Page 01

A 21-years age-gap love story between a novelist and a little girl.
(We're pretty much young ourselves)
Chapter 24
(aren't we....?)

Page 02

Is that true?
Yeah, I was surprised too...
(Talking a walk on seeing Haruka on a date is...!?)
But there's more to it.

Page 03

That's...
Haruka and...?

Page 04

"Maybe she found a love in middle school?"
So what.
It doesn't concern---
!!
(Uwaa...)

Page 05

What are you doing...
Ssh!!
Weren't you trying to be an adult quickly?
Shuttup.
Sugita... // Adults don't peep, you know.
...
Geez... What should I call you.... A wussy or an embarrassment...
So? // Who's that guy besides her?

Page 06

In the end, you're bothered by it too.
Huh!?
No!! It's not like that!!
Nanami-senpai...
The ace of the basketball club. // He's cool and smart. // A perfect guy from the book.
Perfect, huh...
Why is such a guy with Haruka?
Like I know. That's why I'm here.

Page 07

Popular guy on the one hand
and a peeping tom on the other...
That's so lame.... (You know...)
I don't mind being lame.
That's just how much.. // I love
Morimoto...

Page 08

So I can't help it...
He says some embarrassing lines so easily...
That's youth for you.
I couldn't say such stuff even if my life depended on it.

Page 09

Hey, // let's go, Sugita.
There's no point in doing this.
If you're that bothered by it, // just ask Haruka herself.
Wha! // As if I could do that!!
That's even more embarrassing.
Huh?
How does it come to that? You're wrong in the head.
It's fine! Leave me be!
Huh---?

Page 10

What are you two doing here?
!? // Sonohara!!
Sssh!!
What?
Just be quiet!
Over there, Morimoto is...
Eh? Haruka?
I don't see her. (Anywhere)
EH!?
(When did she!?)

Page 11

Are you stupid? // That's why you were eavesdropping?
(Honestly) You have to stop him there, mister. (You're an adult after all)
I tell you, I was.
Forget about that already!
Oh, // you're finally back.
What, you're still here, Oogaki.
(Hey)
You~~ Don't give me that after you just left me here! // Haruka-chan already got back...
Oogaki-san.

Page 12

Hello.
Yo.
(Aw, I'm hungry)
(Me too)
Hello, Utako-chan. // Long time no see.
(Reminds me!!)
M- // Mister Four-eyes!! // There's a book I'm interested in.
Mh?
Maybe you have it?
Hee, what's it name?
Ah--- Well... I forgot // the title.
(Well, let's go in the living room)
M'kay. // Then what is it about?
Ehm.... That's...
...

Page 13

So you were all together.
Yeah. // We met by chance on the way---
Hey, Haruka! // I heard you were with Nanami-senpai on your way back today?
Eh?
How do you know that?
Nanami-senpai?
(Yes)
He's the real handsome star of our school.
Hee.....
(And he was with Haruka? Sounds fun)
Hey, hey! How was it?

Page 14

Well... We just talked a bit at the park.
Eh!? No way!? At the park? Just you two!? (Phew---)
Now I'm interested!! // What did you talk about with him?
It wasn't... // really anything special.
Ehh!? Why! Dodging the question isn't fair!!
----Just now...

Page 15

She lied and smiled...
(She also turned red)
And what was with that pause.
Is he alright...
You aren't even in any club, Haruka-chan,
but you still get along with upperclassman?
(How did you meet?)
We're both in the committee meeting.
Nanami-senpai is part of the student council, // but there's a combined project. (So...)
Is he a good person?

Page 16

He's very kind. He should be very busy, but he still help us, the underclassman, out.
Today I was working alone, so he stayed behind and helped.
He's a very considerate upperclassman. // But isn't that just towards you, Haruka-chan?
Eh!? That...
Hey, stop with that already.
What? You don't want to know?
Huh!?

Page 17

!
I'll go play with Sakura...
Ah! Sugita-kun!
I have a new toy for Sakura. // I'll go get it.
Ah... // I see...
Sure.

Page 18

Mister... // Haruka is quite popular at school.
PFT
Hee.... // That's impressive. // Don't lose to her.
That's not what I was getting it. // At this rate, Haruka is going to get a boyfriend.
Hah...

Page 19

Let her get one if she wants.
What the...
So what are you going to do about Haruka?
I'm not doing anything.
But well, // I'm not against hearing her out if she wants advice.
I'm a stand-in parent after all.
Aww. Geez. I'm sick of hearing that.

Page 20

I really wanted to see you panic over it---
Yeah, sure. // Sorry to betray your expectations.
I'm watching TV if you need me.
Geez. Haruka isn't making any progress either.
(What does she see in him?)
Are you different, Utako-chan?

Page 21

....Guess so.
I heard about your marriage.
Haha.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
(Hah~~~) So mean~~ Saying that with a smile.
Even though I was waiting after you told me to wait for 7 years.

Page 22

All my efforts to pretty myself up went in vain...
So you say, but aren't I just a scapegoat?
You also aren't making any progress, right? // He's so close to you, but only paying attention to someone else.

Page 23

I don't know what you're talking about.
Really?
Guess girls are easily attracted to guys "like that".
I suppose they want to become the tragic heroine?

Page 24

Just watching, won't change anything. You should know that.
I don't
want to be used just so that you won't get hurt.
(Aww)
You're really.... // mean...

Page 25

...Simply put, // I'm just envious...
He only looks straight after her.
Even though I know it's no good
I still keep only thinking of him...

Page 26

If he were to face towards me...
If he were to think about me the same way...
I end up thinking that...
Then, // why did you come to me?

Page 27

That's the same as running away.
I might have said those things to drag out your real intent,
but there's no meaning if he doesn't face you out of his own will.
You get it?
A guy like Sugita-kun won't get it unless you tell him out straight.

Page 28

(Geez)
How can you be so direct---
I told you, I don't like being used.
---I see.
That's how it was...

Page 29

...But no matter what I say now, it wouldn't reach him.
I just know it.
So you wait?
I don't know.
You can't control your own feelings like you want to after all. // And I might run away if it becomes any more painful...

Page 30

Mhm, // Next time, don't come running to me.
I can't have an affair with a kid--
Oogaki understood Utako's feelings completely.
7 years.
If your feelings still are the same after 7 years, // I'll go out with you.
That's why he answered like that...
I think it's stupid
how everyone worries about love...
But...

Page 31

It's
impossible for me.
"That's just how much.. // I love her"
He's just a brat...
but just his words are already ahead of an adult....
"If he were to think about me the same way..."
"I decided to marry"
I thought nothing would change

Page 32

But it's changing...
Am I just...
going to get
left behind again....
Shinichi-san.

Page 33

Eh...
I... // might be in love
Haru...
with that guy...
Those two...
I'm sorry, Shinichi-san...
Haruka---?

Page 34

Shinichi-san?
You woke up?
When did I fall asleep...
About two hours ago.
Everyone already went home.

Page 35

I was wondering if I should wake you up, since you looked like you were in pain....
What...
Dinner is ready.
You want to eat?
What...
is this uneasiness I feel?

Page 36

What is it..
Eh?
Ah.. // No...
Impatience or uneasiness....
I just can't calm down.
Haruka...
When you get a boyfriend, // be sure to tell me.

Page 37

?

Page 38

There's...
no way I'll
tell you that, Shinichi-san.
(The reason for Haruka's resolute answer is....?)
(Continued in Aria Issue 11)