Chapter 17: Walls

WALLS

CHAPTER 17 OF THE MANGA

Previously
While Hazumu and Tomari are enjoying themselves on a date with one another at the aquarium, Yasuna, who took Hazumu's place on an after school project so Hazumu could keep her date, falls ill and is taken to the Infirmiry by Sora. She is stablized, and falls into a deep sleep. Yasuna begins to dream, with the dream mostly recounting her attempts getting to know male Hazumu, without shipping with him, since she prefers to ship with girls. But now Hazumu is a girl !

Chapter Overview
Once Hazumu was informed that Yasuna was seriously ill, that immediately killed the date that Tomari and herself was enjoying. On the train ride back to Kashima City, the two girls are strangely quiet. Hazumu falls into a day dream, wherein she recounts the time she first heard Yasuna play her flute. Practicing at school, the beautiful, spellbinding music drifted down and through the rooftop garden where male Hazumu was tending to the plants and flowers. Hazumu next reviews the details that lead up to Yasuna giving her that First Kiss ! When Hazumu finally reaches the Infirmiry, Yasuna has stabilized, and acknowledges Hazumu's presence. Yasuna also invites Tomari to stay next to her at bedside.

This Chapter's Story
Riding the train back to Kashima City, cutting their date short, both Tomari and Hazumu are in foul moods. Tomari because her date with Hazumu 'went south' so quickly, and Hazumu because she continues to blame herself for what has happened to Yasuna. Both girls are exceedingly quiet, as the only sounds are the clacking of the train wheels on the tracks. Hazumu tells herself that she should have paid more attention to Yasuna's condition. Hazumu slowly falls into a rather vivid and profound daydream---

HAZUMU'S DAYDREAM

Back when I was perceived as a male, one day I was watching three girls chatting with one another in the classroom. But when Yazuna entered the classroom, all three quit talking and just indifferently stared at her. Back then, Yasuna-chan was somehow 'different' from everyone else. She was so beautiful, so elegant, so erotic. But she always had this aura of cold indifference about her.

Later that week, I was in the rooftop garden. The plants and flowers weren't looking so good. What to do ? But then music from the nearby woodwind ensemble room began drifting through the garden. What the heck ? The flowers looked better almost instantly. I had to see the person who is playing such music with such a beautiful, elegant sound. Rushing into the building and towards the music room, I peeked into the room through a barely open door. KAMIIZUMI-CHAN ! Incredible. . . . . . . she's not just good, she's amazing. Her music goes straight to the heart. The music was a little sad, but that is the first time in my life that I had listened to music so melancholic that it made me cry ! I thought she was some cold, aloof princess, but how could such a person play such beautiful music ? From that day forward, Yasuna-chan became someone special to me. From a distance, I admired her; I respected her. Over time, I came to know the ''real Yasuna-chan. ''My first crush on a girl; feelings that grew into teenage love. I came to her to do a Love Confession, but was turned down, not knowing why. I was only given repeated apologizes, nothing more.

That afternoon, I went hiking in the woods on Mt. Kashima to try and forget everything. Then I though if I could be changed into someone more to her liking, body, mind, and spirit, that everything would be much easier. Now, even though I became a girl, every time I saw Yasuna-chan, my heart twisted and my spirit stung me. So to protect my heart and soul, I began building a wall between us. Always friends but never lovers. But Yasuna-chan always looked straight through me ! Then one day she kissed me ! My first kiss ! I told her that I accepted her feelings. . . . . . . . didn't I. . . . . . . ?

I tell myself now. . . . . . . .'''That was such a lie. . . . . . . . . . . . . ( Hazumu's daydream comes to an end'''. )

Tomari sees Hazumu in some sort of mental agony, but says nothing. The only sound is the unceasing clacking of the train wheels.

Yasuna is laying on the bed under the bed covers looking upward. She is in the 'shadowlands', the surreal area halfway between being awake and immersed in dreaming. Her eyes are open, but glazed over, with no consciousness or expression. She slowly turns to look out of the open window, with a gentle breeze waiving the curtains. She says to herself, or dreams to herself, that she will be okay, and can go on with her life. Just then, the " Shoop " sound of the door is heard, and Hazumu bursts in ! She stands by bedside, asking Yasuna if she is okay, apologizing profusely, and saying that she never realized that you were sick. Yasuna, still in the shadowlands, begins to cry, as Hazumu takes Yasuna's hand into hers. A weak smile is on Yasuna's pale face. Tomari is in the hallway, looking in, with Ayuki also stopping by to see what the commotion was about.

Without warning, Yasuna suddenly snaps upright in bed, fully awake, and turns toward the door to invite Tomari to enter the room. Yasuna diplomatically extends her hand and arm to take Tomari's hand into hers. She says that she apprciates Tomari coming to see her. Ayuki now peeks around the open door. Yasuna now has Tomari's hand in one hand, and Hazumu's hand in her other hand. She is happily smiling. The Space Alien and Jan Puu are just outside the open window, floating in the air and observing all that is happening.

Chapter Lookback and Commentary

 * teriguu / 2 years ago

This is a really funny mix between a shoujo feelings-centered storyline and [a] shounen harem.