Suzuka Ep 9: Shashin (Photo)

Despite Yamato's efforts to shorten the distance between him and Asahina, she still gives him the cold shoulder. Yamato cannot comprehend why Asahina adopts such an attitude towards him and feels extremely down. In addition, he feels that he has worked very hard in the athletics team and assumes that it is because he has not achieved any specific results in the 100m race which is why Asahina is rather nasty towards him.

Miki reminds Yamato that the athletics team will be conducting the heats to select members for the upcoming Tokyo championships and he resolves to work hard to prove himself. However, at the sight of his teammates' speeds, Yamato gets cold feet and wonders if he can do as well. Miyamoto assures Yamato that he will do well since he has practised very hard for the past two weeks. At the thought that Asahina will be watching his race, Yamato gets more worried but he makes up his mind not to embarrass himself in front of her. While watching the match, Asahina sees another guy's image in place of Yamato whch makes her stunned for a brief moment. Yamato achieves a record of in the 10 sec range for the 100m race which makes everyone in awe of his achievement. Miyamoto and the captain of the team remark that Yamato bears a resemblance to someone.

That evening, Yamato tries to emphasize his achievement to Asahina but she remains cold towards him. Yamato gets upset and grabs her arm to ask why she is adopting such an attitude but Asahina gets angry and says that she is irritated at the sight of Yamato. In addition, she says that she dislikes Yamato which makes him rather unhappy.

Yamato relates this to Hattori over lunch and the latter tries to console him by saying that it's better that Asahina hates him rather than have no feelings for him. Miki comes to their table and Hattori reveals that Yamato likes Asahina. Miki and Hattori start to bicker because Hattori encourages Yamato to quit the track team since Asahina dislikes him. However, Miki tells Yamato that Asahina dislikes people who give up halfway and he should not give up at this stage. In the end, Yamato decides to stay in the team for the time being since he has nothing to do and he wants to prove himself in running so that he still has a chance with Asahina.

Yamato puts in more effort during training so that he can prove himself. Miyamoto remarks to Asahina that Yamato resembles Tsuda Kazuki but she walks away without a word. During her self-training, Asahina fails to clear her usual height and Miki asks if she has any problems with Yamato. Asahina insists that she's just tired but her frustration at the thought of Yamato being linked to Kazuki heightens.

As training for the athletics team is cancelled for tomorrow, Yamato intends to ask Asahina out even though the possibility of her agreeing to it is remote. He sees Miyamoto and Asahina talking along the corridor and overhears that Asahina is going back to her hometown to see Kazuki.

Yamato is very disturbed about Asahina going to meet Kazuki whom he has no idea about. In order to get Gorou which has run into Asahina's balcony, Yamato happens to see a photo of Kazuki and Asahina in her room and gets her address via Miho. Yamato decides to go to Asahina's hometown, Yokohama to find out who Kazuki is...

The more I see Asahina, the more irritated I get at her. No doubt she rejected Yamato, couldn't she have adopted a better attitude towards him instead of being so nasty? I think Kazuki is someone very important to her but the way she is reacting when people say that Yamato resembles Kazuki is way overboard. Yamato really deserves a better girl than her.

Hattori and Miki look quite compatible together and it would be fun to see them being a couple (if that really happens).

We'll finally get to see more about Kazuki's relationship with Asahina and Yamato might really blow up if he finds out that Asahina is thinking of him as a substitute for Kazuki at least sub-consciously. Asahina may dislike the thought of people saying that Yamato resembles Kazuki but she is also one of those who feel this way no matter how strongly she tries to reject this idea.