xxxHOLiC 175

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xxxHOLiC
Chapter 175
[Insert text: Maru, Moro, Mokona, and Yuuko-san. / Suddenly, they have vanished, leaving an empty shop behind. / Everything is different, Watanuki's everyday life gone... / And yet still, / he tries to do whatever is in his power to do. / In order to keep the promise he made with Yuuko-san...!!]

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[Side text: A wish for somebody to know him. Encased in his rice balls... those feelings, and his resolve to do what he can!!]
[SFX: ding-do~~~ng]
Watanuki: Good evening... this is Watanuki.
Client: You can come as many times as you like; nothing is going to change.
Watanuki: Look... / I was just wondering if we could have a little discussion.
Client: ......
Watanuki: ...I made some rice balls again today. / I'll just leave them here, okay...?

3
Intercom: ...*beep*
[SFX: hang]
Watanuki: Let's go.
Doumeki: Yeah.

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Doumeki: How long do you plan to keep this up?
Watanuki: Until she decides to eat the food that I made for her... / ...and to eat the food that she makes herself.
Doumeki: And if that never happens no matter how long you wait?
Watanuki: That makes no difference. // I'll just carry on until it does happen.

5
Watanuki: I can't do things like Yuuko-san does... / ...so I'll at least do what I can.
Doumeki: ...Has Yuuko-san still not reappeared?
Watanuki: ...No. / I've been staying at the shop myself at nights, just so it isn't abandoned completely... // ...but I haven't seen Yuuko-san for nearly two weeks now. / Mokona, Maru or Moro, either...

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Watanuki: Well, it's nice to not have them using up the alcohol for once. // Hm, by the way... / ...what's that bag you've got there? // Are you going somewhere or something...?
Doumeki: Well, yeah, I am...
Watanuki: You don't have to come along with me like this if you have somewhere else to be, you know...!
Doumeki: We're going to the same place either way.
Watanuki: Huh?

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Watanuki: Wait... / What are you doing stopping over here as well?!
Doumeki: Nobody's using up the alcohol, right?
Watanuki: And who exactly asked you...
[SFX: STOMP]
Watanuki: ...to come over here and use it up?!!!

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Doumeki: So... / What's for dinner?
Watanuki: I wasn't expecting anybody... / ...so I haven't prepared anything!
Doumeki: I'm hungry. Make something.
[SFX: stare]
Watanuki: Is that attitude of yours a default setup or something?! / Can't it be deactivated?!
[SFX: GRRRRRR~~~!]
[SFX: tap tap]
Watanuki: [aside]Aaagh! How the hell does a guy grow up to be like that?! I'm going to have to ask Haruka-san about this next time I see him!![/aside]
[SFX: grrrr~~!]
[SFX: STOMP / STOMP]
Doumeki: And bring some alcohol. / Japanese sake.

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Watanuki: If Yuuko-san gets mad because of this later, you'd better be throwing yourself at her feet in apology!
[SFX: slam]
[SFX: rustle]
Doumeki: ...I wonder if this means... // ...the time to use this thing is approaching...

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[SFX: di~ng do~ng da~ng do~ng]
Himawari: Is she still not talking to you? / The cooking lady.
Watanuki: Well, yeah...
Himawari: ...But you're still going to go, aren't you. / Today, again. // With your rice balls.
Watanuki: Yeah.

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Tanpopo: Pi!
[SFX: pop]
Himawari: Here.
Watanuki: This is...?
Himawari: I made them. / I'm still not too confident in my cooking, so it's just cookies, but I'd like you to have them.
Watanuki: You made them, Himawari-chan?
Himawari: Yep!
Watanuki: Thank you!

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Himawari: Don't worry. / I'm sure your feelings will get through to her.
Watanuki: ...Yeah.
[Side text: In a shop devoid of Yuuko, Doumeki holds in his hands the key to the future. What fate awaits everyone when the feelings in those rice balls finally get through?!]
[Bottom text: To be continued next issue - see you in Young Magazine Issue 16, on sale Monday 16th March!]