xxxHOLiC 176

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xxxHOLiC
Chapter 176
[Insert text right: "Don't worry. I'm sure your feelings will get through to her."]
[Insert text left: "I don't want to eat food that I've made myself." Yet Watanuki continues to make food and deliver it to her. Because he wants her to learn about him. Because he wants to know his own reason for existence...]

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[Side text: "I'm sure your feelings will get through to her." Along with those kind, kind words, she gave Watanuki her cookies... but...?!!]
Doumeki: Thank you for the meal.
Watanuki: You're welcome.
[SFX: clatter clatter]
Watanuki: You always do stick to those basic courtesies, for someone so impolite... // [aside]does that mean he was well-disciplined or something?[/aside] // Here.
Doumeki: Mm.
Watanuki: [aside]...then again, if he'd been disciplined properly he wouldn't give responses like that...[/aside]
Doumeki: Get them out, then.
Watanuki: What?
Doumeki: The stuff Kunogi made.

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Watanuki: Why do you know about those?!
[SFX: aahh...]
Doumeki: Kunogi told me. Said we should eat them together.
Watanuki: ...Of course... // Himawari-chan's bad luck doesn't affect you, does it... // That's probably why... // Himawari-chan... / She wanted to help reduce its effects on me...
Doumeki: She was also saying she wasn't sure they'd taste any good.
[SFX: glance]
Watanuki: Don't be ridiculous!
[SFX: roar~~~~~~]
Watanuki: Those are cookies that Himawari-chan made!

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Doumeki: She was saying she hadn't done any cooking in over ten years...
[SFX: rustle rustle]
Watanuki: I don't care! They're still delicious! / Himawari-chan made them herself!!
[SFX: TA-DA]
Doumeki: Hand 'em over.
Watanuki: I'm only sharing these with you because Himawari-chan said so, all right?! / You'd better eat them in a rapture of gratitude and marvel! // No, grovelling on the floor!

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Doumeki: I get it. // They're the cookies that Kunogi made for your sake. / I respect that.
[SFX: sit]
Watanuki: ...... // ...Here.
[SFX: pass]
Doumeki: Mm.
Watanuki: ...How is it?
[SFX: crunch...]

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Doumeki: Bit too sweet for my tastes, but not bad.
[SFX: munch munch]
Watanuki: Why, you! / Whaddaya mean "not bad"?! You're supposed to say it's incredible!
Doumeki: Try one yourself.
Watanuki: No... / I...
Doumeki: ...What?
Watanuki: ......I will. // ...Himawari-chan made these cookies for our sake. // Even if I've forgotten... my body probably remembers.

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[SFX: crunch]

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Watanuki: ...It's delicious!

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Watanuki: ...It would be nice if that woman... / ...could be brought happiness through eating, as well...
Doumeki: She will.
Watanuki: Huh?
Doumeki: Just as long as she actually eats it.

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[SFX: ding-do~~ng]
[BubbleSFX: bzzt]
Watanuki: Hello.
Client: ......Today, I've made nozawana and umeboshi. // I pickled the umeboshi myself.

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Client: ...It's been a full month now. // Why do you keep coming here?
Watanuki: I'm sorry. / I'm being a nuisance, aren't I.
Client: If you know that, then why?
Watanuki: I just... / ...want you to try it. // The food that I make.
Client: ......

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Watanuki: Well, I'll just leave this here.
[SFX: hang]
Client: ......
[SFX: click]

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[SFX: lift]

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Watanuki: I'd like to cook with you, and then eat it together. / And then, I'd really like to learn more... / ...about you. // And for you to learn... / ...about me, as well.
[Side text: Their meeting was "hitsuzen". A wish he wanted to grant. And now, that heart has begun to move!! Have Watanuki's feelings got through to her?!]
[Bottom text: To be continued next issue - see you in Young Magazine Issue 18, on sale Monday 30th March!]