Suzuka Ep 17: Kareshi (Boyfriend)

Hattori finds out what happened between Yamato and Honoka but mocks Yamato for not achieving anything in the end. Yamato insists that there's no hurry to progress to that stage and refuses to listen to Hattori's advice. Miki passes by where Hattori remarks that girls care about the atmosphere when sleeping with the guys they like which leads Miki to flare up and scold him for being a pervert. Yamato is caught between the two of them and wishes that they can leave him alone.

After athletics practice in the gymnasium due to the rain, the ex-captain tells Yamato to remain behind for more training. Although Honoka has something on and cannot wait for him, she's still concerned about Yamato not having an umbrella but he assures her that he will be fine. In the worst scenario, he can ask Miho to bring an umbrella for him. Asahina happens to overhear their conversation when Miki tells her to go back together.

Miki asks Asahina to go to the cake shop together but the latter rejects her invitation as she has to retrieve her handphone which she left behind in the classroom. Although Miki offers to wait for her, Asahina tells her that it's fine and she's not interested in cakes today. However, Miki insists on coming along where Asahina later finds her handphone in the bag all along. Just as Miki thinks that they can finally grab a bite, Asahina tells her that she has to finish a report to be submitted today so Miki decides to go home alone.

At this time, Yamato has finally finished training and bumps into the girls. He decides to call Miho to bring an umbrella for him when Asahina offers to lend her umbrella. Yamato is hesitant to accept it but gives in when Asahina says that she is going somewhere with Miki. This makes Miki puzzled as Asahina had insisted on staying behind alone just now. When Asahina falls into a daze while looking at Yamato, Miki asks her if she is in love with him. Miki mentions that Asahina has been behaving strangely ever since she returned from Hiroshima and it is obvious that she has the intention of waiting for Yamato based on her actions just now. Asahina denies this so Miki does not probe further and offers to treat her to cakes.

The next day, Honoka invites Yamato out for tea which leads their fellow teammates to remark that they are getting along very well. Asahina is observing their actions when Miki tells her to go to the karaoke together.

Yamato and Honoka are walking along the streets when his attention is taken away by a CM of a MD player featuring an idol Shirakawa Nana. Honoka thinks that Yamato likes Nana but he explains that he is interested in the MD player which makes her relieved.

The two of them go for tea where Yamato notices that Honoka is looking around repeatedly. She then reveals that her friend wishes to meet Yamato today and it turns out that Honoka's friend is Nana. Yamato is shocked to see that they are friends and everyone is looking at them as a result. As such, they decide to go to a karaoke so that they can chat without interruptions.

Honoka and Nana knew each other since junior high when the latter was smoking at the shrine which Honoka's family is managing. Nana was quite well-known at that time but Honoka did not know her so she treated Nana like an ordinary person unlike others. As such, they became friends easily. Nana explains that she wanted to meet Yamato because Honoka has never been in a relationship and she tells Yamato not to force himself on Honoka like the last encounter. Honoka gets embarrassed and runs away to the toilet.

Miki and Asahina happen to be in the same karaoke lounge when the latter spots Yamato with Nana in one of the rooms. She barges inside and scolds Yamato for betraying Honoka but this turns out to be a big misunderstanding. As such, the five of them decide to sing together.

Asahina moves closer to Yamato because Miki is coming in later but this leads Honoka to ask him to move closer to her as if she doesn't want Asahina to be near Yamato. Nana observes the unnatural atmosphere between the three of them.

Miki tells Asahina and Yamato to choose their songs but he does not feel like singing. Asahina mocks Yamato for not having the guts to sing so he decides to choose a song to prove her wrong. Coincidentally, the two of them choose the same song. Miki suggests that they can sing a duet which they agree to. However, when Yamato sees how unhappy Honoka looks, he tells Asahina to sing the song alone.

Yamato and Nana send Honoka home when Nana remarks that Yamato is a good boyfriend. However, she gets angry when he says that he will put in more effort to make Honoka happy and not upset her. Nana mentions that he's just trying to convince himself that he's a good boyfriend and put on an act in front of Honoka instead of showing his true self to her. She points out that Yamato has never bothered to understand Honoka and this will hurt her in time to come. Yamato realises that he has not put in effort for their relationship when Nana reminds him that Honoka's birthday is in 3 days' time. This makes Yamato feel that he has to change his attitude towards Honoka...

Well, right from the start, Yamato is obviously not in love with Honoka. He was just going with the flow from the moment Honoka kissed him. As such, he has to put in effort to convince himself that he loves her and take care not to upset her. I mean, if you like someone, why is there a need to force yourself to remember this fact? Nana has observed that Yamato is trying too hard and gives him a reminder to wake up from his ideal boyfriend behaviour. As to whether Yamato can learn how to change the situation, I doubt so. He still has feelings for Asahina but he may not know it since he's too caught up with trying to make Honoka happy.

As for Miki, she can see that Asahina does feel something for Yamato but she knows that probing further will amount to nothing. Thus, she chooses to lighten the atmosphere instead by changing the topic. I think Asahina feels grateful towards Miki for her consideration instead of pushing her into a corner.

Although I was rooting for Honoka initially, I really cannot stand her behaviour of late. She's dating Yamato, for heavens' sake. I know she still feels unsure about his feelings for her but showing that hurt or upset expression every now and then to dictate Yamato's actions indirectly really got on my nerves. At least when she went after Yamato, she had confidence in herself but now that she has achieved her aim, that self-confidence seems to have disappeared into thin air.