The whole idea behind this dream was that I was hunting "cyborg" squirrels. They seemed to be mostly normal but they had legs and heads that looked like plastic bits of an old erector set I once had. I remember being surprised they could run and climb so well with smooth plastic feet. I thought that they were evil little bastards who were planning to take over the world so I was running around this old world kinda city chasing them with a posse. It eventually led to some sort of giant inflatable castle. It was kinda like a moon-bounce on crack. We chased these robot squirrels everywhere and could never catch them. I think I was just happy to keep them busy. I remember at one point I was being driven back home in a station wagon by my mother and I saw a couple of them along the side of the road looking smug.

I didn't do drugs or drink that night. I don't know where it came from. It was actually pretty unusual for my dreams because I was able to remember so much of it when I woke up. I probably had it around a week ago and it still seems so vivid. It's wasn't my favorite dream but it was far from my worst.

I used to have a reoccurring dream every Christmas Eve. I would be running around an obstacle course in my backyard with toys like GI Joe and the Ninja Turtles. I think that one was mostly caused by my childhood anticipation of Christmas and Toys'r'us commercials. I also used to have that falling dream alot but not for a long time. The best dreams through were ones where I was sleeping. I know that sounds kinda strange but somehow it made the night seem longer and more restful. When ever I try to lucid dream I go for that or sex. It's usually a toss-up.

Currently listening to: "Ask Me Anything" by The Strokes

anyways...see for yourself whatcha think!

PS - i hope to put some video up of what we're doing at cornerstone and let you all, especially that aren't at Cornerstone, peek into our worship style, production, etc... anyways...on with the Kanye Video :)

Kanye - Article

this has to be the most amazing article ever. you need to click the picture of yours truly, Kanye, and check out the story of how star this guy thinks he is. grant and brennan, some buddies of mine, had quite a heated discussion about this in the green room this morning. man, you cannot get bigger than Kanye!

My NHL coverage here is lacking. It was even a pretty good season. A great Finals. Unfortunately the hated Red Wings won the Stanley Cup (as usual), but I had to root for them since the Celtics roasted the Pistons in 6 games. Its only fair.

Anyway, Guy McHockey has announced that the NHL's Winter Classic game will be at Wrigley Field this New Year's Day and be between the defending Champs and Chicago Black Hawks.

So imagine this...

...here.

What will most likely happen is that the Cubs Black Hawks will be massacred by the Tigers Red Wings. Hopefully Cameron and Ferris show up and everything is happy regardless.

Either way, I m still very very very unimpressed by the decision to make the Winter Classic on New Year's Day, as that is College Football time (the one time of year I watch College Football). Why the hell wouldn't they do the Winter Classic on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve? That would be perfect. Shit. I could stop Watching "A Christmas Story" for 3 hours to watch some hockey. No problem.

I'm pretty sure Guy McHockey wants to run the league into the ground...

Sooo here's how it works:

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in your birth date only -without the year.

December 24th - which according to Wikipedia, "is the 358th day of the year (359th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 7 days remaining until the end of the year." One little week away from the next year! Wow! Anyway, moving on...

2. List 3 events that occurred that day:

There were a TON to choose from so I tried to keep to things either really cool or upbeat in nature, skipping things that involved slaughtering and war for instance.

* 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by earthquakes.

* 1777 - Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, is discovered by James Cook.

* 1968 - Apollo Program: The crew of Apollo 8 enters into orbit around the Moon, becoming the first humans to do so. They performed 10 lunar orbits and broadcast live TV pictures that became the famous Christmas Eve Broadcast, one of the most watched programs in history.

3. List 2 important birthdays:

* 1973 - Stephenie Meyer, Author - now that is just freaking cool!

* 1880 - Johnny Gruelle, American cartoonist, children's book writer and creator of Raggedy Ann (d. 1939)

4. List 1 death:

* 1863 - William Makepeace Thackeray, British writer (b. 1811)

5. List a holiday or observance:

*You obviously probably are aware that it's Christmas Eve, so I posted the entire blurb on holidays and observances on that date from Wikipedia so you might learn something you didn't know:

• Christmas Eve
• Calendar of saints: Feast of Saint Adela and Saint Irmina.
• It is the day when food is traditionally set out for Santa Claus and his reindeer in some parts of the world.
• In Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, among others, this is the day that presents are exchanged and opened. In some of these countries, presents are delivered to children by Santa Claus, personified by an adult dressed up as Santa who comes knocking on the door.
• The Declaration of Christmas Peace takes place in the Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City, according to old traditions dating back to the Middle Ages.
• Grand High Climax, a major holiday in the Satanic religion, is celebrated at nightfall.

 GRANDMA’S GIFT

     (Holly)

Grandma got a special gift

On Christmas Eve this year

And that is how it came to be

That Holly Noel is here

A precious little someone

(And beautiful, too)

With hair like strands of spun gold

And eyes of Heaven’s blue

Delicate little nose and ears

(Right where they should be)

A hint of a dimple in her chin

(A gift from Grandpa V)

Her tiny pink cherub mouth

Is mighty, mighty sweet

And a marvel of perfection

Are her wee hands and feet

There is no baby cuter

Nor will there ever be

She’s a Blue Ribbon Winner

As everyone can see

Because she’s nearly perfect

Someday it will be known

That she’s just a little Angel

With wings not yet grown

If I’d have ordered ahead of time

I’d have cast a magic spell

And ask for a Granddaughter  like

My precious Holly Noel

6/19/72    Phyllis DeWitt-VanVleck

Hannah and Jake just went up to Waffle House for dinner. I'm jealous. I love Waffle House. I love breakfast.

When poor Elizabeth was about 3 years old, she tripped in a Waffle House parking lot and ended up with two black eyes and a scratched up nose. It looked like a gator had gotten a hold of her. It was Christmas Eve, no less. Why were we eating at Waffle House on Christmas Eve? We were on vacation in Florida. On Christmas Eve. I know. Go figure. My ex. Need I say more? But it was a great time for the kids and that is what counts in the end. :)

Image first uploaded by indiamos.wordpress.com

I finished downloading the manga Honey and Clover, but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for the continuing chapters in season 2. Probably, the Shoujo Magic hasn’t finished scanlating it, well, no wonder, it is hard to translate such difficult series.

However, if you have the full copy of the season 2 (and so on) scanlated manga, please let me know!  I only got three chapter- scanlated copies of the volume two, that is from chapters 10-12, but since it is still ongoing (whatever happened, please do continue Shoujo Magic!) I’m still waiting here!

I love the Honey and Clover manga. And I’ve also seen its season 1 and 2 anime version that premiered on Animax. However, I haven’t seen yet the live action series (or is it movie?).

I made a summary out of the season one Honey and Clover manga because I love it so much. If you planned to read the manga and wishes not to get spoiled here, DON’T READ BEYOND THIS because it might definitely spoil you! But if you welcome such things, then continue at your risk. *laughs.

Chapter 1

“Well, well, the cherry blossoms will start blooming soon.

It’s getting warm, this is so relaxing.”

- Shuuji Hanamoto

Here we found out the life that college students would experience in Tokyo. The prices skyrocketed high. Mayama Takumi (22, a fourth year architecture student), Yuuta Takemoto (19, second year architectural design student), Morita Shinobu (24, sixth year art student) and with the other guys shared their lives in a cheap apartment of 9 square meters and no showers. Morita, after his disappearance for twelve days, came home with lots of korokkes, (fried mashed potatoes covered with bread crumbs) for his board mates. Mayama-sempai said that Morita always go out somewhere for days, and they didn’t know where. Morita came back exhausted with a mysterious amount of money in his pocket. But everyone had no idea where Morita was working or what. While other mates were saying that Morita was only snickering at their poverty by buying only korokkes and not meat, Mayama asks why Morita wasn’t sleeping in his room. Takemoto answered that he was told off by his sempai Morita to wake him up at eight tomorrow. Morita, according to Mayama, missed one requirement in a class when he was a first year, and went on forgetting it for the last three years so that he wasn’t able to graduate. Then, Morita stayed another year because he lacked one hour worth of class attendance but failed to comply it, that’s why he had to repeat another year. Morita, says Mayama, also repeat his second year because he overslept a lot of times. It was already 9:30 in the morning, and both Mayama and Takemoto were trying to wake up Morita. Just as Takemoto gave up on him by saying “If you end up repeating another year, don’t hold a grudge against me!”, Morita suddenly opened his eyes and readily went to school with Mayama’s kickboard (a wooden cheap version of scooters he made for Mayama). Because he was rushing so much, he bumped into some department cart and said, in excuse that it was not him who destroyed the cart, but Mayama, who had just passed by.

With their art professor Shuuji Hanamoto, Mayama and Takemoto talked about Morita’s unusual behavior when suddenly Mayama noticed a little girl he mistaken as Shuuji’s daughter. But it was found out that it was Shuuji’s cousin’s daughter Hagumi Hanamoto (nicknamed Hagu) who had just entered the university as a first year art student. Surprisingly, she was already 18 years old, although when one looks at her, she looks like a middle school student. While Shuuji was preventing Mayama to introduce himself, on one corner, Takemoto asked Hagu to eat the korokkes with him (which he brought to eat for his lunch).

While Hagu was drinking her tea, Mayama was about to say something to Takemoto but he stopped short at Takemoto’s expression. He realized that his friend was in love at first sight with Hagu.

Suddenly, Morita arrived to thank Takemoto for waking him up this morning, and because of that he can now graduate. In an instant, Morita caught sight of Hagu, and ran away from the room to a yam field behind the university. Then he came back and gave Hagu a fuki leaf (butterbur leaf) and said “Korobokkuru!” Korobokkuru is a character in Ainu myths, and also means a person under a fuki leaf. Hagu was scared while Morita was taking photographs of her. Takemoto was saying that Hagu might cry if Morita won’t stop soon. Shuuji was smiling by saying Hagu looked cute in whatever she was doing. Mayama on the other hand, realized that Morita was in love and reflected that this is another way of falling in love, but apparently nobody realized because of its “unusual method of emotional communication”.

Chapter 2

“How I’d like to see the world through Hagu’s eyes.”

• Shuuji Hanamoto to Yuuta Takemoto

Mayama and Takemoto were staring at the clay footprint of Hagu, which was compared to a stick of cigarette in length. Hagu, who was taken a copy of a footprint yesterday, was terrified of Morita and was now venting her stress on some artwork. Mayama and Takemoto went to see how she was doing and they were shocked at the huge statue Hagu was working upon. The statue would be displayed at the lobby of an art museum at Minatomirai in Yokohama. This made Takemoto reflect about himself and his future. According to him, everyone was doing well: Hagu is so talented that she could enter any job, Morita had a serious job somewhere, and Mayama, who was about to graduate, was invited to work full-time at the design studio he was now working part-time. Mayama consoled him by saying that Takemoto was just a second year, and should do anything that would interest him.

The next day, Mayama and Takemoto noticed that Hagu was cutting out pictures of sandals, bags, and dresses. It was found out that she was making a notebook about them because she could not buy it. Then a person came and noticed Hagu, and said ‘Korobokkuru’ which made Hagu startled. That person said that he saw a person just like Hagu in the internet, and surely they checked it online and found a website which Morita made about the ‘Korobokkuru’. They found out that Morita was earning money from it because 50% of it was commercials, but according to that person, lots of maniacs like him were looking forward to the updates of the website. Suddenly, Morita arrived and gave Hagu a paperweight out of her footprint. Due to her anger Hagu threw all sorts of things to Morita, and one of it was her notebook about the things she wanted. Morita kept it in his pocket. Takemoto invited him to come at the Teppanyaki party with Mayama at Shuuji’s apartment in a week’s time. Morita answered that that he had a work for that night which would take a week. Mayama, on the other hand, asked the person to keep the whole situation as secret as Hagu was Shuuji’s niece.

So for over a week Morita was gone again. After a week, as he was about to go home, he passed by a certain shop and bought a pair of Miu Miu sandals for 32,000 yen. Then he headed off to Shuuji’s place and met Takemoto, whom he gave the one kg. of beef. Takemoto was extremely happy about it.

Morita caught sight of Hagu hiding behind the curtain, and approached her, handing her the pink patent leather Miu Miu sandals. Because the Miu Miu brand is a famous designer brand in Japan, Hagu was so happy. Morita, meanwhile, collapsed because he was exhausted from work. Takemoto took him on his back to take him to the futon.

While carrying Morita, Takemoto felt a pain in his stomach because he was hungry. But Takemoto has to realize that it wasn’t really the pain in his stomach that ached him, but the pain in his chest. He never realized that the guy he was carrying on his back was his love rival.

Chapter 3

“Girls like Morita because he isn’t influenced by what other people say. But he doesn’t have a girlfriend because he doesn’t listen to what other people say at all.”

Morita was sleeping at Takemoto’s room, while Hasegawa (a board mate) was reading about a survey of three hundred girls about the kind of guys that they hate: a self-centered guy, a guy who acts suspiciously, a guy with a long hair that doesn’t take care of himself, the guy who still wears his gym clothes – all of these descriptions perfectly suited Morita, but then again, Morita still got free bento lunches from girls. This irritated Hasegawa. Mayama, on the other hand, explained what really happened. At that time, Morita was eating plain bread for lunch, and this was noticed by a bunch of girls, who took pity of him. They each gave their bento lunches, believing that Morita was so poor to have them. But then suddenly Mayama remembered the time when he asked some girls for a drink, and all of them said that they were going if the guy who wears his high school jersey would go too – and the guy they were talking about was Morita. This irritated Mayama too, like Hasegawa.

Still preoccupied by it, they took it out with Shuuji. Shuuji explained that probably girls like Morita because he was not influenced with other people and just go on with his life doing what he wanted. He also said that in a manually-driven society, it was so hard to find guys like that and that the guys that the girls hated most could be the guys that are influenced by the surveys. These ideas stuck in Mayama and Takemoto’s thoughts as they went out. They both saw Morita by the water fountain pouring water on his head. But later they realized that Morita was taking a bath! The girls nearby were shocked by this action, but later one of them tossed floral scent soap.

The sky gave threats of rain. Morita caught sight of Takemoto and Mayama, and Morita asked Mayama to lend him his pants. Takemoto and Mayama ran away thinking why the girls would like a guy like him.

When they were far enough, they discussed more about Morita. Takemoto asked if Morita has a girlfriend because he was so popular. Mayama was confused what to answer so they just went in to a shop to buy some drinks when they noticed Morita there, wearing, what looked like robes. But those ‘robes’ were just the curtains in Shuuji’s classroom he had stolen.

Chapter 4

And it was thought that their juicy and their fortunate days would never end…

Morita was crying over his noodles. Weeks had passed since they haven’t eaten meat, and Morita was throwing a tantrum by rolling on the floor because of only eating noodles, and no meat.

While passing by the corridor, Takemoto asked Mayama who stayed at the room 103, and why it remained closed ever since he got there. Mayama said it was Romaiya-sempai’s room, who was taking a break in his school to help her family managing the farm as his father was ill. Takemoto couldn’t help but notice the pain expression in Mayama’s face. Just then, as though some miracle, Romaiya came back! All the other board mates, except Takemoto, welcomed him as though he was the savior. Then, Takemoto realized why because Romaiya brought with him sausages, ham, and other meat products. Romaiya said that since he was starting with his ham delivery, he would be able to bring ham again. Takemoto was introduced to him, as he was the newest boarder. Romaiya even said to all of them that they could come to their house and promised them that they would have something to eat, if they have no place to go.

For two weeks, Morita, Hasegawa, Takemoto and Mayama were extremely happy about their situation. They were even uplifted in their creative spirits. But then again, Romaiya came back to his house because his father fell ill again, leaving the guys ‘juicy memories and empty stomachs’. Farewell juicy days.

Chapter 5

But during the whole summer, in the back of my eyes,

the small fireworks that I saw on that riverside,

continued to flicker lightly.

-Yuuta Takemoto

Shuuji, Hagu, Morita, Mayama and Takemoto decided to have a vacation in a nearby beach. Mayama was teasing Hagu by asking her to hold a small size watermelon. Then all of them were satisfied to see that the watermelon looked like a normal sized watermelon for her. Then suddenly, the watermelon slipped between her hands, and Morita shouted, “The Korobokkuru let the dessert float away!” causing her to slip too, so that she was soaked and wet. Takemoto took of his shirt and let Hagu wear it, and it became a one-piece dress for her.

After eating, they lighted up the fireworks. Mayama was shocked because Morita was starting with a 5,000 yen fireworks set (very expensive!). While Morita was dancing with the light of his fireworks, Mayama and Shuuji were talking about Takemoto and Hagu, who were having their conversation. Shuuji said that it was okay since it was a party and they would go to Nagano for summer vacation anyway, but he jokingly said that he would kill Takemoto if he would get fifteen centimeters closer to her.

The next day, Shuuji and Hagu went to Nagano for summer vacation. It was longest summer ever for Takemoto.

Chapter 6

“Her eye lashes are long

that they cast shadows on her face.”

- Yuuta Takemoto, while looking at Hagu

Morita, Mayama and Takemoto talked about how they haven’t seen Hagu and Shuuji for a month. Morita was thinking about what they would bring for souvenirs. Then suddenly, Takemoto’s phone rang. It was Hagu. She called to tell them that her uncle Shuuji wanted to know what they would want for souvenirs: whether its buckwheat noodles or vegetables. Takemoto asked the two, and Morita said “Meat!”. Shuuji, on the other hand, decided it should be buckwheat noodles then.

Takemoto told the other two that they were coming home tomorrow and that they would have to come tonight in Shuuji’s place to get the noodles. Mayama was worried because he wasn’t able to finish the work Shuuji assigned to him. Morita readily offered his help, saying he only have to pay 2,000 yen per hour. Mayama grudgingly refused, while Morita said, “Let me help you Mayama! Aren’t we friends?”

While Takemoto was reflecting about Hagu’s return and how her call made him nervous, Mayama asked about his ring tone of his phone. Takemoto answered that it was “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, and it rings if someone calls that is not registered on his phone book. He also said that he has a different ring tone for Mayama and Morita. He then asked Mayama if he also does that, and Mayama answered that it was fun at first but then he used the same ring tone for any call. When Morita was asked he answered that he doesn’t have a cellphone. Then suddenly, Mayama phone rang, and the tone was familiar to Takemoto. It was “Moon River”.

Then suddenly Mayama went off, while Morita said, “It’s a woman”. This surprised Takemoto that Mayama might have a girlfriend.

The next morning, Takemoto noticed that somebody was inside Mayama’s room. He went there and was surprised to see Morita curling up due to the freezing coldness of the room. It seemed as if Morita was trying to save his electricity bill by using other people’s room, in this case, Mayama’s room. He brought with him his game console, and left the air conditioner and fan on all night. Takemoto was worried about him and asked him if he could still come to Shuuji’s noodle party tonight. Morita answered that he wanted to see Korobokkuru’s face – so that he could take more pictures and update his website.

While walking to school, Takemoto thought if the time will come if a guy like Morita would fall in love with Hagu and whether he will be able to win. Realizing that it was embarrassing to think about it when he’s not even dating Hagu, he shoved off those thoughts.

Meanwhile, a guy came to Morita’s room saying that a weird request came in and asking if he was available. Morita was still curling up with his blanket saying that he’ll have Korobokkuru and noodles for tonight. But the guy offered that if he finished it tonight the pay would be 60,000 yen. Morita got up in his bed and said that he’d do it.

While in the car with the guy, Morita caught sight of Shuuji and Hagu walking in the street. He then closed his eyes. <Probably he was depressed because he can’t see korobokkuru for that night>

In the end, it was only Takemoto who joined the party that night. Shuuji was a bit surprised, and they shared the food altogether. Hagu showed Takemoto her room, and her tiny bed, and her collection of tiny dolls of which she made them clothes. But then Takemoto realized that she doesn’t have a closet for her doll’s clothes and offer to make one for her. Hagu was extremely happy about it, and asked Takemoto to build a rococo style, of which Takemoto was shocked because it was difficult to do so. Shuuji, on the other hand, lent books about rococo style structures to the stressed Takemoto to study on.

Chapter 7

No matter how mad you get at me,

I probably won’t change.

It would be much easier for you to find some other guy to like.

- Mayama Takumi to Ayumi Yamada

Takemoto was walking to school, still plagued with thoughts of rococo style, when he saw Mayama coming out the car. He was with a woman. The girls around him noticed it too, saying that Mayama must have spent the night with her. Suddenly, somebody shouted Mayama’s name, and attacked him. It was Ayumi Yamada, 21 years old, who is nicknamed as the Iron Lady for running 6km to school every morning with her dog during her first year so that the dog would lose weight. She was known in the school with her womanly strength, and she is extremely famous among guys. She is also good in pottery.

She was furious about Mayama’s hooking up with different girls. This is because other girls from different colleges constantly inquired about Mayama from Yamada, and this irritated Yamada. While Yamada and Mayama were fighting, Morita was taking pictures of them, with his optical zoom and 4.32 million pixel-camera, and this irritated Yamada because Morita bought an expensive camera without paying his debts to her. While Morita and Yamada were fighting, Mayama sneaked away. In the end, Yamada’s high-heeled kick made Morita unconscious and brought him to the school clinic.

While walking at the corridor, Takemoto the woman with whom Mayama was thought to have spent the night with. She was walking with a walking stick. Takemoto was curious why that woman went to Shuuji Hanamoto’s room, and why his Shuuji-sensei knew her.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Shuuji prepared a coffee for Rika. She was good friends with Shuuji, along with her husband who died in the accident. This accident left Rika badly scarred on her back and damaged her leg, that’s why she couldn’t walk at long periods without the help of a walking stick.

Shuuji asked her how she was doing, and Rika answered that she was busy but Mayama helped her out a lot. It was Shuuji who introduced Mayama to Rika to work part-time at Harada Design which Rika and her former husband managed. Rika visited Shuuji to borrow a chair she could use at her office for the meantime.

Takemoto, on the other hand, noticed Hagu looking at some home made pudding displays which she intended to give to her uncle Shuuji. Takemoto said that the professor was having a visitor so he wouldn’t probably eat it. Then he noticed that Hagu was hungry and bought her a treat even though he was broke. Takemoto reflected why Hagu was not frequently seen with a group of friends. The café was filled with lots of people talking, and suddenly Hagu felt a pain in the stomach, of which Takemoto accompanied her back to Shuuji’s.

Back at Shuuji’s place, Takemoto asked about Rika, and whether she was Mayama’s girlfriend. Noticing that Shuuji stopped short at this question, Takemoto added that Morita told him that Mayama has a girlfriend, and that there was a phone call to which Mayama responded readily, and the thought that Mayama didn’t came home that night, and him witnessing Mayama coming out the car with Rika, before finally rephrasing his question whether Mayama and Rika were going out. Shuuji was silent for a moment and told Takemoto that their relationship wasn’t the kind that he’s thinking of, and changed the subject by presenting Takemoto more books about rococo style.

Meanwhile, Yamada finally found Mayama lying down somewhere where there was no person in sight, and asked him why does Mayama ran when things weren’t going well. Mayama grudgingly answered that it was because Yamada ran after him, and Yamada fired back that it was because he was always running away. Yamada told him to get himself a job and not just to keep working at Rika’s place. She also asked him why he hasn’t told Rika that he liked her, and whether he would just go on with his life without a definite answer. Mayama answered her back, by asking “Why me?” and that Yamada should find another guy to like because he wouldn’t change. He said it would be better for her to forget about him.

Suddenly, Mayama received a phone call. He left the crying Yamada and dashed off to help Rika carry the chair. Mayama offered to accompany her, but Rika said he need not to.

Alone at the classroom, Yamada was crying while making pottery. Morita came offering her a can of water, and said she had to drink it because she might be drained because of her tears. To lighten up the atmosphere, Morita praised Yamada’s work and told her to send the pots off to a ‘broken-hearted’ restaurant. He also called Yamada as its ‘boss’. Yamada kept on telling that Mayama was an idiot, who put up a nice image but ran away when he couldn’t help it. Morita, confused, asked Yamada that if Mayama was an idiot, then why did she like him, and Yamada answered him back that she didn’t know why. She said that even though she hated Mayama, she still wanted to hear his voice or touch his hand. Then suddenly Morita finally understood it all, and said to Yamada that it was love, and that Yamada was in love with Mayama.

Chapter 8

Is the moon seen through Hagu’s eyes,

different from the moon seen through my eyes?

• Yuuta Takemoto

Mayama reminisced about the time that he listened to Rika singing a song. It was a theme song of a famous movie. At that time, he had just woken up because he stayed late finishing his work with Rika. He didn’t know that Rika does that, and so he held his breath and didn’t move so that Rika wouldn’t notice that he was listening nearby. Suddenly, he remembered the words he said to Yamada, and was disturbed. He noticed Yamada was walking to his direction, and he hide in the bush so that she wouldn’t notice him. He didn’t know that Yamada did notice him hiding there.

Mayama’s phone rang. Morita appeared to annoy Mayama’s ring tone, by singing the lyrics of Moon River. But he fled away when Mayama angrily shouted at him.

Rika called Mayama because she just arrived in school to return the chair to Shuuji, the one he borrowed. Rika asked Mayama to deliver a letter to Tsukamoto-sensei because she was going over to Shuuji’s room. She also thanked Mayama by increasing his pay by 30% because their job was almost finished, and said that she wouldn’t need him for quite a while.

While at Shuuji’s room, Rika was thinking about the past when they were still students. Then Shuuji asked Rika if she had plans for that day because Mayama was waiting outside.

Shuuji stopped by his car in Mayama’s direction. Rika was in her car. Mayama asked where are they going and Rika said that Shuuji will accompany him to buy some wallpaper samples. She also said that a certain Asai-san has tickets for a soccer game and advised Mayama to go with him because it looked like he favored Mayama. Then they rode off while Shuuji was saying whether it was okay if Mayama get snatched away by the other firm. Rika said that if it would happen, then it would.

Meanwhile, Yamada had just finished eating in a cafeteria when Morita came up, greeting her as ‘heart-broken boss’. This fired up Yamada and punched Morita, knocking him half-conscious.

Hagu was about to buy something when she heard a group of students talking about her which made her stressed. She ran to her room and finished her artwork when the metal wire snapped across her cheek. Right on cue Morita arrived to annoy her Korobokkuru again, making her mouse number one. Then suddenly she noticed that Hagu was spaced out, and didn’t move. Then, Takemoto arrived and Morita told him that his mouse number one wouldn’t move. This angered Takemoto because he was suspecting Morita did something to her. Takemoto took Hagu away. Morita on the other hand, decided to follow, but was held off by his professor because of his unfinished work.

At the clinic, the nurse was explaining to Takemoto that Hagu was stressed. She said that everyone around Hagu anticipated another great work from her, when they should make it easy for her. Morita came in, still feeling terrible. Then Shuuji came in late and took her niece away, expressing thanks to both Morita and Takemoto.

Chapter 9

Might she be

trying to cheer me up?

- Yuuta Takemoto, on Hagu

Takemoto was feeling the December blues. Morita, trying to dress in a Santa Claus outfit came in giving him a Christmas invitation at a party. Morita also gave Mayama an invitational card, to which he said that he was already 22 years old to attend and that he should do other things. But Morita ran away before hearing it all, and this irritated Mayama.

Shuuji also confirmed to Takemoto and Mayama that he received a card too, and was surprised because he didn’t know the party would be held in his room. The card said that they should bring snacks and a present of under 1000 yen to exchange. But because Hagu was happy about it, he just consented to Morita’s idea.

Morita also gave Yamada an invitation, and Yamada said that she might not go because Mayama might be going and he might not want her to be there. Morita became serious, but then he hugged Yamada and said “Let me smell the scent of love!” Yamada gave him a wrestling maneuver, which knocked him down and she earned cheers from her male admirers.

And so Christmas Eve came.

Hagu and Takemoto were going out to buy their presents. Hagu was happy and jolly, but Takemoto was still having what he called the Christmas blues. It is because he used to spend Christmas at the pediatrics ward of the hospital. He was living with his mother who was working as a nurse there. That’s why every time he thought about Christmas, he automatically associated it with the smell of the hospital. Hagu noticed that he was spaced all through out, and tried to cheer him.

Mayama went to Rika’s place, and noticed that Shuuji’s car was parking in front her apartment. Mayama asked if they were going out somewhere with Shuuji, and Rika said yes. Mayama didn’t answer, instead he gave the coffee to Rika and said to drink it in the car. Then he left.

When Rika went inside the car, Shuuji asked what was she holding and Rika said it was a thermos of coffee that Mayama brought. Shuuji was worried, thinking that Mayama might kill him someday.

At the Christmas party, Yamada didn’t know what to do with the 8 kg. pile of croquettes Morita brought, but then later decided to make a salad out of it with the cabbages that Morita also brought. Mayama came, bringing with him a party bucket (what looked like fireworks) and was teased by Morita that Rika rejected him. Mayama was surprised to see Yamada, who was already gulping bottles of alcohol, and was drunk already. Mayama tried to get the alcohol out of her hands, and Yamada fell down, revealing her sexy, long legs. Hagu cried because of her envy of Yamada’s legs, and tried to comfort her by saying that she might have those if she’ll be older, but this only aggravated the situation. To cap it all, Morita was also crying because of Hagu’s contagious tears. Mayama went out the room.

Then, Shuuji arrived and Mayama asked her where Rika went. Shuuji answered that she went to her husband’s grave, and Shuuji asked him if he knew about it. Mayama said that he knew about little by little. Hagu went outside and saw her uncle, and they all went inside.

When it was past midnight, Shuuji’s room was a chaos. Yamada was drunk, and everyone was sleeping on the floor. Shuuji and Mayama decided to bring the girls home and came back there to clean up. Morita, who was still awake, invited Mayama to drink. They both noticed the smile on Takemoto’s face when he was sleeping which annoyed them.

They didn’t know that Takemoto was having a good dream: he and Hagu had just finished decorating the Christmas tree and was shouting, “Merry Christmas!”

-END- vol.1

***

Whew! That was one heck of a summary! Yep, to be more specific, it is a by-chapter summary of the season 1 volume.

The manga series was created by Umino Chica, and was published by Queens Comics. Really great thanks to Shoujo Magic who scanlated it for fans like me! (I saw it in the manga copy that I have). I’m really grateful to you guys, especially –

to the editors siana, cutedevil, and lelei;

to the translators jekyl03, taisa, pochi, yuwa, nexx, thestripedone, and kechi;

and to sayuri, sophendolbot, argentum_telesto for your quality checking abilities.

I really want to thank you personally for coming up with this wonderful love-filled manga. Please visit their site http://shoujomagic.net or their irc channel #shoujomagic@irc.irchighway.net.

Made by the fans for the fans like me!

]]> http://kyrillevin.wordpress.com/?p=32 Thu, 15 May 2008 03:28:16 +0000 kyrillevin http://kyrillevin.wordpress.com/?p=32

I finished downloading the manga Honey and Clover, but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for the continuing chapters in season 2. Probably, the Shoujo Magic hasn’t finished scanlating it, well, no wonder, it is hard to translate such difficult series.

However, if you have the full copy of the season 2 (and so on) scanlated manga, please let me know!  I only got three chapter- scanlated copies of the volume two, that is from chapters 10-12, but since it is still ongoing (whatever happened, please do continue Shoujo Magic!) I’m still waiting here!

I love the Honey and Clover manga. And I’ve also seen its season 1 and 2 anime version that premiered on Animax. However, I haven’t seen yet the live action series (or is it movie?).

I made a summary out of the season one Honey and Clover manga because I love it so much. If you planned to read the manga and wishes not to get spoiled here, DON’T READ BEYOND THIS because it might definitely spoil you! But if you welcome such things, then continue at your risk. *laughs.

Chapter 1

“Well, well, the cherry blossoms will start blooming soon.

It’s getting warm, this is so relaxing.”

- Shuuji Hanamoto

Here we found out the life that college students would experience in Tokyo. The prices skyrocketed high. Mayama Takumi (22, a fourth year architecture student), Yuuta Takemoto (19, second year architectural design student), Morita Shinobu (24, sixth year art student) and with the other guys shared their lives in a cheap apartment of 9 square meters and no showers. Morita, after his disappearance for twelve days, came home with lots of korokkes, (fried mashed potatoes covered with bread crumbs) for his board mates. Mayama-sempai said that Morita always go out somewhere for days, and they didn’t know where. Morita came back exhausted with a mysterious amount of money in his pocket. But everyone had no idea where Morita was working or what. While other mates were saying that Morita was only snickering at their poverty by buying only korokkes and not meat, Mayama asks why Morita wasn’t sleeping in his room. Takemoto answered that he was told off by his sempai Morita to wake him up at eight tomorrow. Morita, according to Mayama, missed one requirement in a class when he was a first year, and went on forgetting it for the last three years so that he wasn’t able to graduate. Then, Morita stayed another year because he lacked one hour worth of class attendance but failed to comply it, that’s why he had to repeat another year. Morita, says Mayama, also repeat his second year because he overslept a lot of times. It was already 9:30 in the morning, and both Mayama and Takemoto were trying to wake up Morita. Just as Takemoto gave up on him by saying “If you end up repeating another year, don’t hold a grudge against me!”, Morita suddenly opened his eyes and readily went to school with Mayama’s kickboard (a wooden cheap version of scooters he made for Mayama). Because he was rushing so much, he bumped into some department cart and said, in excuse that it was not him who destroyed the cart, but Mayama, who had just passed by.

With their art professor Shuuji Hanamoto, Mayama and Takemoto talked about Morita’s unusual behavior when suddenly Mayama noticed a little girl he mistaken as Shuuji’s daughter. But it was found out that it was Shuuji’s cousin’s daughter Hagumi Hanamoto (nicknamed Hagu) who had just entered the university as a first year art student. Surprisingly, she was already 18 years old, although when one looks at her, she looks like a middle school student. While Shuuji was preventing Mayama to introduce himself, on one corner, Takemoto asked Hagu to eat the korokkes with him (which he brought to eat for his lunch).

While Hagu was drinking her tea, Mayama was about to say something to Takemoto but he stopped short at Takemoto’s expression. He realized that his friend was in love at first sight with Hagu.

Suddenly, Morita arrived to thank Takemoto for waking him up this morning, and because of that he can now graduate. In an instant, Morita caught sight of Hagu, and ran away from the room to a yam field behind the university. Then he came back and gave Hagu a fuki leaf (butterbur leaf) and said “Korobokkuru!” Korobokkuru is a character in Ainu myths, and also means a person under a fuki leaf. Hagu was scared while Morita was taking photographs of her. Takemoto was saying that Hagu might cry if Morita won’t stop soon. Shuuji was smiling by saying Hagu looked cute in whatever she was doing. Mayama on the other hand, realized that Morita was in love and reflected that this is another way of falling in love, but apparently nobody realized because of its “unusual method of emotional communication”.

Chapter 2

“How I’d like to see the world through Hagu’s eyes.”

• Shuuji Hanamoto to Yuuta Takemoto

Mayama and Takemoto were staring at the clay footprint of Hagu, which was compared to a stick of cigarette in length. Hagu, who was taken a copy of a footprint yesterday, was terrified of Morita and was now venting her stress on some artwork. Mayama and Takemoto went to see how she was doing and they were shocked at the huge statue Hagu was working upon. The statue would be displayed at the lobby of an art museum at Minatomirai in Yokohama. This made Takemoto reflect about himself and his future. According to him, everyone was doing well: Hagu is so talented that she could enter any job, Morita had a serious job somewhere, and Mayama, who was about to graduate, was invited to work full-time at the design studio he was now working part-time. Mayama consoled him by saying that Takemoto was just a second year, and should do anything that would interest him.

The next day, Mayama and Takemoto noticed that Hagu was cutting out pictures of sandals, bags, and dresses. It was found out that she was making a notebook about them because she could not buy it. Then a person came and noticed Hagu, and said ‘Korobokkuru’ which made Hagu startled. That person said that he saw a person just like Hagu in the internet, and surely they checked it online and found a website which Morita made about the ‘Korobokkuru’. They found out that Morita was earning money from it because 50% of it was commercials, but according to that person, lots of maniacs like him were looking forward to the updates of the website. Suddenly, Morita arrived and gave Hagu a paperweight out of her footprint. Due to her anger Hagu threw all sorts of things to Morita, and one of it was her notebook about the things she wanted. Morita kept it in his pocket. Takemoto invited him to come at the Teppanyaki party with Mayama at Shuuji’s apartment in a week’s time. Morita answered that that he had a work for that night which would take a week. Mayama, on the other hand, asked the person to keep the whole situation as secret as Hagu was Shuuji’s niece.

So for over a week Morita was gone again. After a week, as he was about to go home, he passed by a certain shop and bought a pair of Miu Miu sandals for 32,000 yen. Then he headed off to Shuuji’s place and met Takemoto, whom he gave the one kg. of beef. Takemoto was extremely happy about it.

Morita caught sight of Hagu hiding behind the curtain, and approached her, handing her the pink patent leather Miu Miu sandals. Because the Miu Miu brand is a famous designer brand in Japan, Hagu was so happy. Morita, meanwhile, collapsed because he was exhausted from work. Takemoto took him on his back to take him to the futon.

While carrying Morita, Takemoto felt a pain in his stomach because he was hungry. But Takemoto has to realize that it wasn’t really the pain in his stomach that ached him, but the pain in his chest. He never realized that the guy he was carrying on his back was his love rival.

Chapter 3

“Girls like Morita because he isn’t influenced by what other people say. But he doesn’t have a girlfriend because he doesn’t listen to what other people say at all.”

Morita was sleeping at Takemoto’s room, while Hasegawa (a board mate) was reading about a survey of three hundred girls about the kind of guys that they hate: a self-centered guy, a guy who acts suspiciously, a guy with a long hair that doesn’t take care of himself, the guy who still wears his gym clothes – all of these descriptions perfectly suited Morita, but then again, Morita still got free bento lunches from girls. This irritated Hasegawa. Mayama, on the other hand, explained what really happened. At that time, Morita was eating plain bread for lunch, and this was noticed by a bunch of girls, who took pity of him. They each gave their bento lunches, believing that Morita was so poor to have them. But then suddenly Mayama remembered the time when he asked some girls for a drink, and all of them said that they were going if the guy who wears his high school jersey would go too – and the guy they were talking about was Morita. This irritated Mayama too, like Hasegawa.

Still preoccupied by it, they took it out with Shuuji. Shuuji explained that probably girls like Morita because he was not influenced with other people and just go on with his life doing what he wanted. He also said that in a manually-driven society, it was so hard to find guys like that and that the guys that the girls hated most could be the guys that are influenced by the surveys. These ideas stuck in Mayama and Takemoto’s thoughts as they went out. They both saw Morita by the water fountain pouring water on his head. But later they realized that Morita was taking a bath! The girls nearby were shocked by this action, but later one of them tossed floral scent soap.

The sky gave threats of rain. Morita caught sight of Takemoto and Mayama, and Morita asked Mayama to lend him his pants. Takemoto and Mayama ran away thinking why the girls would like a guy like him.

When they were far enough, they discussed more about Morita. Takemoto asked if Morita has a girlfriend because he was so popular. Mayama was confused what to answer so they just went in to a shop to buy some drinks when they noticed Morita there, wearing, what looked like robes. But those ‘robes’ were just the curtains in Shuuji’s classroom he had stolen.

Chapter 4

And it was thought that their juicy and their fortunate days would never end…

Morita was crying over his noodles. Weeks had passed since they haven’t eaten meat, and Morita was throwing a tantrum by rolling on the floor because of only eating noodles, and no meat.

While passing by the corridor, Takemoto asked Mayama who stayed at the room 103, and why it remained closed ever since he got there. Mayama said it was Romaiya-sempai’s room, who was taking a break in his school to help her family managing the farm as his father was ill. Takemoto couldn’t help but notice the pain expression in Mayama’s face. Just then, as though some miracle, Romaiya came back! All the other board mates, except Takemoto, welcomed him as though he was the savior. Then, Takemoto realized why because Romaiya brought with him sausages, ham, and other meat products. Romaiya said that since he was starting with his ham delivery, he would be able to bring ham again. Takemoto was introduced to him, as he was the newest boarder. Romaiya even said to all of them that they could come to their house and promised them that they would have something to eat, if they have no place to go.

For two weeks, Morita, Hasegawa, Takemoto and Mayama were extremely happy about their situation. They were even uplifted in their creative spirits. But then again, Romaiya came back to his house because his father fell ill again, leaving the guys ‘juicy memories and empty stomachs’. Farewell juicy days.

Chapter 5

But during the whole summer, in the back of my eyes,

the small fireworks that I saw on that riverside,

continued to flicker lightly.

-Yuuta Takemoto

Shuuji, Hagu, Morita, Mayama and Takemoto decided to have a vacation in a nearby beach. Mayama was teasing Hagu by asking her to hold a small size watermelon. Then all of them were satisfied to see that the watermelon looked like a normal sized watermelon for her. Then suddenly, the watermelon slipped between her hands, and Morita shouted, “The Korobokkuru let the dessert float away!” causing her to slip too, so that she was soaked and wet. Takemoto took of his shirt and let Hagu wear it, and it became a one-piece dress for her.

After eating, they lighted up the fireworks. Mayama was shocked because Morita was starting with a 5,000 yen fireworks set (very expensive!). While Morita was dancing with the light of his fireworks, Mayama and Shuuji were talking about Takemoto and Hagu, who were having their conversation. Shuuji said that it was okay since it was a party and they would go to Nagano for summer vacation anyway, but he jokingly said that he would kill Takemoto if he would get fifteen centimeters closer to her.

The next day, Shuuji and Hagu went to Nagano for summer vacation. It was longest summer ever for Takemoto.

Chapter 6

“Her eye lashes are long

that they cast shadows on her face.”

- Yuuta Takemoto, while looking at Hagu

Morita, Mayama and Takemoto talked about how they haven’t seen Hagu and Shuuji for a month. Morita was thinking about what they would bring for souvenirs. Then suddenly, Takemoto’s phone rang. It was Hagu. She called to tell them that her uncle Shuuji wanted to know what they would want for souvenirs: whether its buckwheat noodles or vegetables. Takemoto asked the two, and Morita said “Meat!”. Shuuji, on the other hand, decided it should be buckwheat noodles then.

Takemoto told the other two that they were coming home tomorrow and that they would have to come tonight in Shuuji’s place to get the noodles. Mayama was worried because he wasn’t able to finish the work Shuuji assigned to him. Morita readily offered his help, saying he only have to pay 2,000 yen per hour. Mayama grudgingly refused, while Morita said, “Let me help you Mayama! Aren’t we friends?”

While Takemoto was reflecting about Hagu’s return and how her call made him nervous, Mayama asked about his ring tone of his phone. Takemoto answered that it was “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, and it rings if someone calls that is not registered on his phone book. He also said that he has a different ring tone for Mayama and Morita. He then asked Mayama if he also does that, and Mayama answered that it was fun at first but then he used the same ring tone for any call. When Morita was asked he answered that he doesn’t have a cellphone. Then suddenly, Mayama phone rang, and the tone was familiar to Takemoto. It was “Moon River”.

Then suddenly Mayama went off, while Morita said, “It’s a woman”. This surprised Takemoto that Mayama might have a girlfriend.

The next morning, Takemoto noticed that somebody was inside Mayama’s room. He went there and was surprised to see Morita curling up due to the freezing coldness of the room. It seemed as if Morita was trying to save his electricity bill by using other people’s room, in this case, Mayama’s room. He brought with him his game console, and left the air conditioner and fan on all night. Takemoto was worried about him and asked him if he could still come to Shuuji’s noodle party tonight. Morita answered that he wanted to see Korobokkuru’s face – so that he could take more pictures and update his website.

While walking to school, Takemoto thought if the time will come if a guy like Morita would fall in love with Hagu and whether he will be able to win. Realizing that it was embarrassing to think about it when he’s not even dating Hagu, he shoved off those thoughts.

Meanwhile, a guy came to Morita’s room saying that a weird request came in and asking if he was available. Morita was still curling up with his blanket saying that he’ll have Korobokkuru and noodles for tonight. But the guy offered that if he finished it tonight the pay would be 60,000 yen. Morita got up in his bed and said that he’d do it.

While in the car with the guy, Morita caught sight of Shuuji and Hagu walking in the street. He then closed his eyes. <Probably he was depressed because he can’t see korobokkuru for that night>

In the end, it was only Takemoto who joined the party that night. Shuuji was a bit surprised, and they shared the food altogether. Hagu showed Takemoto her room, and her tiny bed, and her collection of tiny dolls of which she made them clothes. But then Takemoto realized that she doesn’t have a closet for her doll’s clothes and offer to make one for her. Hagu was extremely happy about it, and asked Takemoto to build a rococo style, of which Takemoto was shocked because it was difficult to do so. Shuuji, on the other hand, lent books about rococo style structures to the stressed Takemoto to study on.

Chapter 7

No matter how mad you get at me,

I probably won’t change.

It would be much easier for you to find some other guy to like.

- Mayama Takumi to Ayumi Yamada

Takemoto was walking to school, still plagued with thoughts of rococo style, when he saw Mayama coming out the car. He was with a woman. The girls around him noticed it too, saying that Mayama must have spent the night with her. Suddenly, somebody shouted Mayama’s name, and attacked him. It was Ayumi Yamada, 21 years old, who is nicknamed as the Iron Lady for running 6km to school every morning with her dog during her first year so that the dog would lose weight. She was known in the school with her womanly strength, and she is extremely famous among guys. She is also good in pottery.

She was furious about Mayama’s hooking up with different girls. This is because other girls from different colleges constantly inquired about Mayama from Yamada, and this irritated Yamada. While Yamada and Mayama were fighting, Morita was taking pictures of them, with his optical zoom and 4.32 million pixel-camera, and this irritated Yamada because Morita bought an expensive camera without paying his debts to her. While Morita and Yamada were fighting, Mayama sneaked away. In the end, Yamada’s high-heeled kick made Morita unconscious and brought him to the school clinic.

While walking at the corridor, Takemoto the woman with whom Mayama was thought to have spent the night with. She was walking with a walking stick. Takemoto was curious why that woman went to Shuuji Hanamoto’s room, and why his Shuuji-sensei knew her.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Shuuji prepared a coffee for Rika. She was good friends with Shuuji, along with her husband who died in the accident. This accident left Rika badly scarred on her back and damaged her leg, that’s why she couldn’t walk at long periods without the help of a walking stick.

Shuuji asked her how she was doing, and Rika answered that she was busy but Mayama helped her out a lot. It was Shuuji who introduced Mayama to Rika to work part-time at Harada Design which Rika and her former husband managed. Rika visited Shuuji to borrow a chair she could use at her office for the meantime.

Takemoto, on the other hand, noticed Hagu looking at some home made pudding displays which she intended to give to her uncle Shuuji. Takemoto said that the professor was having a visitor so he wouldn’t probably eat it. Then he noticed that Hagu was hungry and bought her a treat even though he was broke. Takemoto reflected why Hagu was not frequently seen with a group of friends. The café was filled with lots of people talking, and suddenly Hagu felt a pain in the stomach, of which Takemoto accompanied her back to Shuuji’s.

Back at Shuuji’s place, Takemoto asked about Rika, and whether she was Mayama’s girlfriend. Noticing that Shuuji stopped short at this question, Takemoto added that Morita told him that Mayama has a girlfriend, and that there was a phone call to which Mayama responded readily, and the thought that Mayama didn’t came home that night, and him witnessing Mayama coming out the car with Rika, before finally rephrasing his question whether Mayama and Rika were going out. Shuuji was silent for a moment and told Takemoto that their relationship wasn’t the kind that he’s thinking of, and changed the subject by presenting Takemoto more books about rococo style.

Meanwhile, Yamada finally found Mayama lying down somewhere where there was no person in sight, and asked him why does Mayama ran when things weren’t going well. Mayama grudgingly answered that it was because Yamada ran after him, and Yamada fired back that it was because he was always running away. Yamada told him to get himself a job and not just to keep working at Rika’s place. She also asked him why he hasn’t told Rika that he liked her, and whether he would just go on with his life without a definite answer. Mayama answered her back, by asking “Why me?” and that Yamada should find another guy to like because he wouldn’t change. He said it would be better for her to forget about him.

Suddenly, Mayama received a phone call. He left the crying Yamada and dashed off to help Rika carry the chair. Mayama offered to accompany her, but Rika said he need not to.

Alone at the classroom, Yamada was crying while making pottery. Morita came offering her a can of water, and said she had to drink it because she might be drained because of her tears. To lighten up the atmosphere, Morita praised Yamada’s work and told her to send the pots off to a ‘broken-hearted’ restaurant. He also called Yamada as its ‘boss’. Yamada kept on telling that Mayama was an idiot, who put up a nice image but ran away when he couldn’t help it. Morita, confused, asked Yamada that if Mayama was an idiot, then why did she like him, and Yamada answered him back that she didn’t know why. She said that even though she hated Mayama, she still wanted to hear his voice or touch his hand. Then suddenly Morita finally understood it all, and said to Yamada that it was love, and that Yamada was in love with Mayama.

Chapter 8

Is the moon seen through Hagu’s eyes,

different from the moon seen through my eyes?

• Yuuta Takemoto

Mayama reminisced about the time that he listened to Rika singing a song. It was a theme song of a famous movie. At that time, he had just woken up because he stayed late finishing his work with Rika. He didn’t know that Rika does that, and so he held his breath and didn’t move so that Rika wouldn’t notice that he was listening nearby. Suddenly, he remembered the words he said to Yamada, and was disturbed. He noticed Yamada was walking to his direction, and he hide in the bush so that she wouldn’t notice him. He didn’t know that Yamada did notice him hiding there.

Mayama’s phone rang. Morita appeared to annoy Mayama’s ring tone, by singing the lyrics of Moon River. But he fled away when Mayama angrily shouted at him.

Rika called Mayama because she just arrived in school to return the chair to Shuuji, the one he borrowed. Rika asked Mayama to deliver a letter to Tsukamoto-sensei because she was going over to Shuuji’s room. She also thanked Mayama by increasing his pay by 30% because their job was almost finished, and said that she wouldn’t need him for quite a while.

While at Shuuji’s room, Rika was thinking about the past when they were still students. Then Shuuji asked Rika if she had plans for that day because Mayama was waiting outside.

Shuuji stopped by his car in Mayama’s direction. Rika was in her car. Mayama asked where are they going and Rika said that Shuuji will accompany him to buy some wallpaper samples. She also said that a certain Asai-san has tickets for a soccer game and advised Mayama to go with him because it looked like he favored Mayama. Then they rode off while Shuuji was saying whether it was okay if Mayama get snatched away by the other firm. Rika said that if it would happen, then it would.

Meanwhile, Yamada had just finished eating in a cafeteria when Morita came up, greeting her as ‘heart-broken boss’. This fired up Yamada and punched Morita, knocking him half-conscious.

Hagu was about to buy something when she heard a group of students talking about her which made her stressed. She ran to her room and finished her artwork when the metal wire snapped across her cheek. Right on cue Morita arrived to annoy her Korobokkuru again, making her mouse number one. Then suddenly she noticed that Hagu was spaced out, and didn’t move. Then, Takemoto arrived and Morita told him that his mouse number one wouldn’t move. This angered Takemoto because he was suspecting Morita did something to her. Takemoto took Hagu away. Morita on the other hand, decided to follow, but was held off by his professor because of his unfinished work.

At the clinic, the nurse was explaining to Takemoto that Hagu was stressed. She said that everyone around Hagu anticipated another great work from her, when they should make it easy for her. Morita came in, still feeling terrible. Then Shuuji came in late and took her niece away, expressing thanks to both Morita and Takemoto.

Chapter 9

Might she be

trying to cheer me up?

- Yuuta Takemoto, on Hagu

Takemoto was feeling the December blues. Morita, trying to dress in a Santa Claus outfit came in giving him a Christmas invitation at a party. Morita also gave Mayama an invitational card, to which he said that he was already 22 years old to attend and that he should do other things. But Morita ran away before hearing it all, and this irritated Mayama.

Shuuji also confirmed to Takemoto and Mayama that he received a card too, and was surprised because he didn’t know the party would be held in his room. The card said that they should bring snacks and a present of under 1000 yen to exchange. But because Hagu was happy about it, he just consented to Morita’s idea.

Morita also gave Yamada an invitation, and Yamada said that she might not go because Mayama might be going and he might not want her to be there. Morita became serious, but then he hugged Yamada and said “Let me smell the scent of love!” Yamada gave him a wrestling maneuver, which knocked him down and she earned cheers from her male admirers.

And so Christmas Eve came.

Hagu and Takemoto were going out to buy their presents. Hagu was happy and jolly, but Takemoto was still having what he called the Christmas blues. It is because he used to spend Christmas at the pediatrics ward of the hospital. He was living with his mother who was working as a nurse there. That’s why every time he thought about Christmas, he automatically associated it with the smell of the hospital. Hagu noticed that he was spaced all through out, and tried to cheer him.

Mayama went to Rika’s place, and noticed that Shuuji’s car was parking in front her apartment. Mayama asked if they were going out somewhere with Shuuji, and Rika said yes. Mayama didn’t answer, instead he gave the coffee to Rika and said to drink it in the car. Then he left.

When Rika went inside the car, Shuuji asked what was she holding and Rika said it was a thermos of coffee that Mayama brought. Shuuji was worried, thinking that Mayama might kill him someday.

At the Christmas party, Yamada didn’t know what to do with the 8 kg. pile of croquettes Morita brought, but then later decided to make a salad out of it with the cabbages that Morita also brought. Mayama came, bringing with him a party bucket (what looked like fireworks) and was teased by Morita that Rika rejected him. Mayama was surprised to see Yamada, who was already gulping bottles of alcohol, and was drunk already. Mayama tried to get the alcohol out of her hands, and Yamada fell down, revealing her sexy, long legs. Hagu cried because of her envy of Yamada’s legs, and tried to comfort her by saying that she might have those if she’ll be older, but this only aggravated the situation. To cap it all, Morita was also crying because of Hagu’s contagious tears. Mayama went out the room.

Then, Shuuji arrived and Mayama asked her where Rika went. Shuuji answered that she went to her husband’s grave, and Shuuji asked him if he knew about it. Mayama said that he knew about little by little. Hagu went outside and saw her uncle, and they all went inside.

When it was past midnight, Shuuji’s room was a chaos. Yamada was drunk, and everyone was sleeping on the floor. Shuuji and Mayama decided to bring the girls home and came back there to clean up. Morita, who was still awake, invited Mayama to drink. They both noticed the smile on Takemoto’s face when he was sleeping which annoyed them.

They didn’t know that Takemoto was having a good dream: he and Hagu had just finished decorating the Christmas tree and was shouting, “Merry Christmas!”

-END- vol.1

***

Whew! That was one heck of a summary! Yep, to be more specific, it is a by-chapter summary of the season 1 volume.

The manga series was created by Umino Chica, and was published by Queens Comics. Really great thanks to Shoujo Magic who scanlated it for fans like me! (I saw it in the manga copy that I have). I’m really grateful to you guys, especially –

to the editors siana, cutedevil, and lelei;

to the translators jekyl03, taisa, pochi, yuwa, nexx, thestripedone, and kechi;

and to sayuri, sophendolbot, argentum_telesto for your quality checking abilities.

I really want to thank you personally for coming up with this wonderful love-filled manga. Please visit their site http://shoujomagic.net or their irc channel #shoujomagic@irc.irchighway.net.

Made by the fans for the fans like me!

]]> http://agamabooks.wordpress.com/?p=864 Sat, 10 May 2008 00:45:22 +0000 Admin http://agamabooks.wordpress.com/?p=864 When she was four years old, Remen's grandfather brought her an unusual present: a paper cup of dirt, which he instructed her to water daily. She did, with increasing boredom, until she was astonished to find that a plant had sprouted. "My grandfather was a scholar of the Kabbalah, the mystical teachings of Judaism," Remen tells us. Through this exercise and others, he taught her that the "spark of God" exists, even in the most unpromising places. Through a series of unpretentious, affecting vignettes, the author of the bestseller Kitchen Table Wisdom encourages readers to recognize and celebrate the unexpected blessings in their own lives. Many of her recollections are linked to her experiences as a medical student and a physician working with cancer patients, but the most memorable ones relate to Remen's deep engagement with her grandfather, who died when she was seven. She gently illustrates her advice through simple yet powerful stories, such as that of a young woman whose husband helped her discover the real meaning of beauty years after her devastating mastectomy; of a widow who learned to cherish her husband's memory with love instead of with "a monument of pain"; and of a little boy who recognized that it's easier to love just a few toys than it is to love many. "Wisdom," Remen writes in this exceptional book, "lies in engaging the life you have been given as fully and courageously as possible and not letting go until you find the unknown blessing that is in everything." Author tour. See details

(Traditions)

1. You thought Christmas was cancelled when Arne Weise retired. I didn't
2. Seeing a young woman with lit candles stuck to her head no longer disturbs you. Why would it? It's Lucia goddammit :P
3. You know what a “Julbock” is and don't find it strange that a goat brings you presents at Christmas. Uhm, I don't think it does.. It's mommie and daddie :D
4. You think that a Christmas without snow is a disaster. I'm used to it by now!
5. You don't find it at all strange or unimaginative that the day after Christmas day is called "another day Christmas, and the day after Easter is called "Another day Easter"
6. You claim that Santa Claus is a Swedish phenomenon. (he’s not, folks…) Uhm. No.
7. Your Christmas tree isn't quite right until you have at least one “Julbock” underneath it.
8. If you have young daughters, around October you start bothering them to join the local St Lucia parade. I've been in that parade a bunch of times! It's fun!
9. You know you are from Sweden when you associate 3 pm on Christmas Eve with Donald Duck, and vice versa. Of course! Everything stops at 3 pm!
10. It is considered a sin to record Donald Duck on the video at Christmas. Yeah seriously, why would you record it??
11. You compare all other spiced wine to “glögg” and with a frown state the obvious superiority of the Swedish Christmas drink. Noo.. I don't even like it.
12. You dress up like a “stjärngosse” and don’t get why Non-Swedes think you are from the KKK and a black guy gets mad. Haha. I never thought of that before :P
13. You don't mind waking up way too early during the first twenty four days of December in order to watch fifteen minutes of TV'sannual Advent Calendar. Totally worth it!
14. You couldn’t care less about the sixth of June and consider celebrating Midsummer as being as close to a proper national day as it will ever get. I do care about the 6th of June, just not as much.
15. During one day in June, you sing and dance around a giantic up-side down penis dressed in flowers and then proudly call it a Swedish tradition. Absolutely! Every freakin year!
16. You've been forced to perform the "frog dance" skipping around a palm tree. I sure have! In Mexico and in Africa!
17. You find yourself trying to explain what Midsummer is actually all about, even though you don't quite remember it yourself. Haha yeah I heard a lot of weird stories at the Midsummercelebration in Battery Park this year!!
18. You spend every Midsummer night in silence, looking for seven different types of flowers beneath seven different wooden fences, pissed drunk from too many “snaps”, desperately trying to get a clue as to why your love life is so fucked up. Never happened!
19. You really want to attend the Nobel Prize Dinner. Nope, not really!
20. You get pissed off when Norwegians claim that the Peace Prize is much more famous than the other Nobel Prizes.Haha no I don't
21. You claim that you are not a royalist but actually do care what "she" will wear on the Nobel Prize dinner. Haha nooo, I couldn't care less! Wear whatever you want.
22. When you associate Thursday with pea soup and pancakes.
23. You think it's normal to get on the back of a truck or convertible car and drunkenly shout and sing for hours at passers-by just because you graduated from school. Hell yeah!
24. You are attending a New Year's Party that suddenly takes a break when it is time to watch “Dinner for One” (Grevinnan och Betjänten). I think I watched that once in my life.. Wouldn't exactly call it a tradition..
25. You believe there are no "real" traditions in Sweden. (Oh, how wrong you are…)
26. You celebrate Easter and Christmas one day before most other countries do and have at more than one occasion utterly failed in explaining to Non-Swedes why this is the case. No, when it comes to explaining Christmas we have our own tradition.. It's all about the presents :P
27. You consider summer and Christmas needing to be greeted by singing. I love singing, so why not??
28. You wake up with BIG hang-overs on the days after April 30th and December 13th. No, not yet. I never really celebrated those days..
29. You look forward all year for August when you get to gather your friends, put on silly paper hats, drink Vodka, sing and eat crayfish. No, Im just waiting for my birthday! ;)
30. Easter means decorating some twigs in a vase with coloured feathers, eating herring and painted eggs. Absolutely!! I even go outside and decorate trees with feathers! It's fun!!
31. You find it perfectly normal to dress up like a witch at Easter and knock on random neighbours doors in hope of getting some sweets. I've done that once since I was a little kid.
32. You find the Easter bunny completely illogical. Yeah, but then someone told me the reason why he comes..
33. You know that real Easter eggs are not made of chocolate; they're made of paper and filled with pick'n'mix (lösgodis).
34. You try to explain who “Näcken” is to Non-Swedes and they look at you funny. Haha I never even tried..
35. You eat minimum ten buns with almond paste and whipped cream on “Fettisdagen” and claim that it just doesn't taste right if the lid isn't triangular. I just eat the bun!
36. As a student, you accept and even enjoy getting dressed in formal wear to go to a candle-lit three course dinner where you will alternately bang on your table and stand on your chair singing songs in praise of alcohol each and every time you attempt to raise your fork to your mouth. Uhm. Never been a part of that!
37. Alre