A Whimsical Trip - Wideban Manga Volume 1 / Chapters 11 - 15

100 steps... or is it 99? Is it just a red straw hat, or is it a red string of destiny?

A Whimsical Trip on Kimagure Orange Road

The Red Straw Hat / Kimagure Orange Road (kana)

Manga Chapter Summaries

Wideban Volume 1 - Chapters 11 - 15


Chapter 11The Suspicious Ring (Giwaku No Yubiwa)
Tankoubon
Volume 2, Chapter 3
Kyousuke is worried - Madoka isn't in school. In fact, she hasn't been there for three days, and even Hikaru doesn't know where she is. Master tells him that she asked for some time off, and he then proceeds to tease Kyousuke for worrying so much about her!

The next day, Madoka shows up at school, where she and Kyousuke have a friendly reunion. Madoka even cleans up a toothpaste stain on Kyousuke's shirt - she's being especially nice today, he thinks.

At home, Kurumi acts unusually nice to her oniisama ("big brother", said very respectfully). She's being so nice because her dad bought her a dress, and she's in a good mood. Kyousuke remarks to Manami that she'd always be in a good mood if she got a boyfriend. Of course, that makes Kyousuke wonder - is Madoka so happy today because something good happened to her? Manami adds that sometimes girls act happy all the time in order to hide the fact that they've found someone they like...

The next day, after class, Madoka notices that Kyousuke isn't as cheerful as normal. She invites him to Abcb, where she treats him to pizza. As they eat, he notices a ring on her left ring finger, and wonders if this means that she's... Before he can ask, however, Master calls her over to the phone - it seems there's a man on the phone for her - and Kyousuke spills his coffee. As Master replaces the cup, Kyousuke hears Madoka arranging for the ceremony - over the summer - and as she says goodbye, she asks the man to say hello to his parents for her! Oops - there goes the coffee again...

As Madoka pours him another cup, she says that when women get married, they get used to doing this sort of thing. This is all Kyousuke can take - he abruptly excuses himself and leaves. When he leaves, Madoka asks if she's done something wrong. Master tells her that she's a little young, but she should do what makes her happy. He also remarks that whenever somebody's upset, they usually go home. Madoka asks him what in the world he's talking about...

Manami brings Kyousuke his dinner in his room, but he's not paying attention. She joins him out on the balcony and asks him what's wrong. He tells her that he's lost his confidence lately. Manami tells him that the oniichan she knows always sets a goal, and then does his best to achieve it. She then flashes a megawatt smile at him and leaves. Kyousuke then decides to do whatever it takes to change the situation.

As he leaves his apartment, he runs into Madoka - she's brought him his bookbag. She tells the scatterbrain that this is the second time she's gotten his bag for him. They go to the rooftop, where Kyousuke is determined to find out about the marriage. He asks her about the phone call she got today, and she says that it's so embarrassing that he'd have to call her about that...

Kyousuke can't stand it! He tells her that it's too soon for that sort of thing, but Madoka disagrees. After all, she is 27. Huh? Madoka then tells the whole story - that she was acting as an intermediary with a marriage mediator on behalf of her sister, who's too shy to do it herself! The guy who called was the one interested in her sister. But, wait, Kyousuke's still confused - what about the ring? It turns out that Madoka bought that with her Abcb pay, but she can't get it off. She asks Kyousuke to help her get it off, and he does manage to get it off, but it slips out of his hand and goes sailing off of the roof.

As the ring flies off, Kyousuke wonders - if Madoka ever does get married, will he be there?

Chapter 12Alcohol Blues (Aruko--ru Buruusu)
Tankoubon
Volume 2, Chapter 4
Kyousuke admires the posters in Komatsu's bedroom, especially the wall-sized one of Hori Chiemi. Komatsu comments that Kyousuke dosn't seem too interested in "this sort of thing", and asks if that's healthy for someone his age. Of course Komatsu remembers that Kyousuke already has someone - but what does he see in that delinquent, anyway? Kyousuke says that she's not that bad - but Komatsu continues to have his doubts: after all, she only a first-year junior high student! Kyousuke realizes the "delinquent" that he and Komatsu are talking about are not the same person... Komatsu does warn Kasuga-kun that he needs to keep Hikaru away from that Ayukawa girl - she's a bad influence, especially if you consider the rumors that she once was... even if she's been unusually good lately.

As he heads home, Kyousuke agrees that Madoka has been nicer lately, but he wonders what she was like before he met her. And why did Madoka, and not Hikaru, come to mind when Komatsu asked who he liked, anyway? A voice brings him back to reality - it's Madoka. She tells him she's got the evening off, so they can go and do something. And it's a good thing that she came along, too, she teases - a "kid" like him could get into trouble in this neighborhood! Kyousuke finally notices his surroundings - it's the nightspot part of town.

As they wander, Kyousuke recognizes one place. It's Moebius, the disco where... It's time to dance: Madoka drags Kyousuke toward the entrance, as two tough girls watch them go by. They pick this inopportune time to razz the couple in front of them, until they see (to their horror) that the girl is Madoka! They regain some of their composure, and when they discover that Madoka isn't going to take their heads off, they start mouthing off about her being famous for not being with one particular guy, and how young the kid she's with is. Kyousuke gets mad, of course, and then the girls start to warn him about how bad Madoka was in the past, and that he'd better be careful. Madoka takes this opportunity to whisk Kyousuke off. As they walk down the street, Kyousuke wants to know why she didn't defend herself. She says that he had defended her enough that night, but he's still a bit peeved. So, Madoka says, there's only one thing to do...

They go down a set of outer stairs to a cafe, where the waitress greets Madoka and asks where she's been. She tells her she's been working at Abcb. Aha, the competition, the waitress says. As they start their drinks, Kyousuke is surprised that his drink has alcohol in it, but Madoka tells him it's only a little bit...

Later that night, a thoroughly sloshed Kyousuke asks for his sixth drink. Madoka is worried about him, but all he notices are the two images of Madoka - the wonderful Ayukawa sisters, just like his Kurumi and Manami! Madoka decides it's time for Kasuga-kun to go home.

As Madoka helps a staggering Kyousuke home, he tells her that those girls they met earlier really made him mad. She tells him to forget about them, but he then say he hates delinquents most of all. Madoka then say that he must not like her, because from his viewpoint, she's a delinquent, too. He then tells her that she's wrong, that she's different from them. Kyousuke then leans in for a kiss - SLAP!

Kyousuke wakes up the next morning to find his sisters staring at him. He's in his bed, and he's got a nasty hangover, which he discovers when he tries to get up. As his sisters berate him for coming home drunk, he remembers what happened between him and Madoka the previous night - the attempted kiss, and the slap.

Oh, no, he thinks - is she mad at me?

Chapter 13The Incoherent Feeling! (Chiguhagu Fi--ringu!)
Tankoubon
Volume 2, Chapter 5
Kyousuke slinks into class the next morning, momentarily startled by Matsuoka-sensei. When he sees Madoka, he tries to be friendly, but she'll have none of that. She gives him an icy glare, then pointedly ignores him. Kyousuke tries to apologize after school, but she won't even speak to him.

Later at Abcb, Hikaru notices that Madoka mistakenly served her coffee instead of iced tea. Madoka apologizes and starts to remake the order, and Hikaru comments on how it's strange for Madoka to make such a mistake. As Madoka thinks over the previous night's events, she starts to get mad again - how dare he try to take advantage of her like that! She is woken out of her thoughts by Master's observation that Kasuga-kun hasn't shown up today. Madoka then loudly thunks Hikaru's iced tea on the counter, much to the surprise of Hikaru and Master.

As they close for the night, Master comments to Madoka that young people are so full of energy, so hotheaded sometimes - and they're easily sidetracked in that state. Madoka smiles - she's taken the hint.

The next day, Madoka goes over to Kyousuke to talk to him, but Komatsu grabs him and drags him off to buy today's illusive katsu-sand. An irritated Madoka decides to spend her lunch with Hikaru. Meanwhile, after Kyousuke manages to get two katsu-sands, Hikaru catches him in her famous NeckTackle (tm), and forcibly invites him to share her bento (box lunch) with her up on the school's roof.

As they eat on the roof, Hikaru tells Kyousuke that Madoka seems to not be acting like her normal self - she's absent-minded, and she won't discuss why, even with her! Kyousuke knows why she's acting like that. Meanwhile, a classmate tells Madoka that Hikaru went to eat up on the roof.

Madoka arrives at the doorway onto the roof just in time to see Kyousuke being hand-fed by Hikaru, which sends her back downstairs. Kyousuke saw her leave, so he distracts Hikaru and takes off after Madoka. He can't catch her on the stairs, so he teleports in front of her and finally stops her as she comes down the steps. He begs Madoka to listen, and tells her that he did the things he did that night because of the alcohol. She asks him, in disgust, if he'd do that sort of thing just from alcohol, and turns to leave. He then tells her that the only person he'd do ever that sort of thing with, alcohol or not, would be her.

Madoka asks if he meant that, and he say yes, he meant it. She smiles, and then says that she's hungry. Kyousuke offers her one of his katsu-sands, which she happily accepts.

Chapter 14The Two Snapshots (Nimai No Sunappu)
Tankoubon
Volume 2, Chapter 6
Kasuga Takashi is roped into a photography assignment, but it's a model photography job, which he normally doesn't do. As he walks down the street, he wonders who the model will be. Of course, being a Kasuga male, he manages to plow right into Hikaru! She sees that he's a photographer, and remarks that she once modeled children's clothes for a department store. It would seem Takashi has found his model...

At home, Takashi asks Kyousuke if he's free to work with him on a photo shoot next Sunday, and he agrees.

Later on, Kyousuke and Madoka listen as Hikaru waxes eloquent about her "discovery" by a local photographer. While she sees only fame and fortune in her modeling future, her friends are a bit worried - what if this man isn't what he seems? Hikaru agrees and asks her Sempai (upperclassman schoolmate - in this case, Kyousuke) to accompany her to the session. Kyousuke says that he can't - he has to work with his dad that day, so Madoka volunteers to go along with Hikaru.

That Sunday, it's a big surprise to all when Takashi, Kyousuke, Hikaru, and Madoka end up at the train station together. It's a shock to Kyousuke, since his father supposedly only shoots landscapes, and to Hikaru and Madoka, since they now know the potentially perverted photographer is Kyousuke's dad! After everything is sorted out, they get on the train and head to the beach.

During Hikaru's photo shoot, Takashi tells Kyousuke (with Madoka within earshot) that he's pretty sharp to have someone like Hikaru as a girlfriend. Kyousuke hotly denies anything like that, and when Madoka loudly says that since she's not needed she'll be going home, Takashi finally starts to understand the situation. He casually asks Kyousuke if Madoka might be interested in modeling - and he'd better ask her fast, before she really leaves! A grateful Kyousuke takes off after Madoka.

Kyousuke finally catches up with Madoka, after Power-convincing a crossing signal to display "Don't Walk" for her. She turns down the offer - after all, she says, Hikaru is the model. Kyousuke is adamant: he wants her to model - he knows his father can take good pictures with her - and he's leaving if she doesn't come back with him. She grabs his wrist, telling him he's like a spoiled child - with a little irritation in her voice, but happiness in her eyes - and drags the joyous Kyousuke back with her to the beach!

Later that evening, Kyousuke looks over his father's pictures. Takashi comments that Madoka has a mysterious charm - her expressions change like a cat's eye. He then asks Kyousuke to ask her to pose for him again - in the nude! Kyousuke tells him absolutely not, and his dad tells him he was only joking. Kyousuke relaxes a bit, then notices another picture. Takashi tells him that's a freebie - it's not for the shoot. It's a picture of Kyousuke and Madoka as she leads him back to the beach, with both looking at each other and smiling. Takashi remarks that the picture reminds him of himself and Kyousuke's mother when they were young.

Of course, another picture reminds him of the same thing. It's a picture of Hikaru leaping up and hugging Kyousuke... Takashi then tells his son that he's doubly blessed, and Kurumi and Manami agree, but Kyousuke can't help but wonder - which girl did his mom really resemble?

Chapter 15Jealousy Rain (Jerashi-- Rein)
Tankoubon
Volume 2, Chapter 7

First Appearance:
Hino Yuusaku

As Kyousuke and Hikaru leave Abcb one night, Kyousuke can't help but feel he's being watched. He turns and sees a guy following them, but when Hikaru looks back he disappears.

The next day, Kyousuke is caught under an awning without his umbrella during a rainstorm. After a mild chastisement from Madoka, she offers to share hers. As they walk down the street, they hear Hikaru yell "Sempai!" and so they separate, causing Kyousuke to get drenched. As Kyousuke talks to Hikaru, he sees the same guy, staring at him from a second-story window. Hikaru say she still has business in school and gives her umbrella to Kyousuke. As she runs away, Kyousuke notices that the guy is still staring, but when Madoka turns and sees him, he backs away from the window. She recognizes him as Hino Yuusaku, a childhood acquaintance the same age as Hikaru. The three of them were friends when they were little - they even took a bath together, to Kyousuke's horror. Kyousuke decides that it might be Madoka that Yuusaku is after.

The next day, Yuusaku comes to Kyousuke's class and tells him to tell Madoka that Hino wants to see her. He wants to ask her something in private, so the two of them go to the roof. Kyousuke sees them talking and laughing together up on the roof, and he concludes that since they are old childhood friends, and since he wants something from her, that what he must want is her!

When Yuusaku leaves the roof and heads downstairs, Kyousuke decides to spook him by rattling some buckets with the Power. When Yuu-kun hears Kyousuke laughing at him, he decides to show Kasuga that he's no pushover. He singlehandedly splinters a door, and Kyousuke learns that Yuusaku knows karate - well enough to take care of the likes of him! As Yuusaku leaves, he tells Kyousuke that he will take her back from him...

It's then that Madoka appears and tells Kyousuke that Yuusaku is in love - with Hikaru - and that he's been in love with her since childhood. Yuusaku had asked Madoka what Kyousuke's relationship with Hikaru was like. Madoka pointedly tells Kyousuke that she isn't sure what his position on Hikaru really is... Kyousuke lets it slip to Madoka that he's glad that Yuusaku isn't interested in her, which obviously pleases Madoka.

Still, Kyousuke can't help but wonder if Hikaru knows about Yuusaku's feelings...

Volume 1, Chapters 1 - 5 / Volume 1, Chapters 6 - 10


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