READ HANANOI-KUN TO KOI NO YAMAI 55 SPOILERS HERE
Nightmare...?
Hananoi has a dream of his younger days when he spent time with the old man he befriended. He then wakes up from his sleep covered in sweat. He wonders if Hotaru's grandfather is the same person as the old man he knew. He also wonders if the old man has already passed on. However, he doesn't have the courage to ask Hotaru about it.
The next day in school, Hananoi tries to approach Keigo to talk, but Hibiki suddenly stands up from her seat and runs out of the classroom, distracting Keigo. Keigo panics and tries to run after Hibiki, so Hananoi says that his conversation with him can wait.
Hibiki's Struggle
Back in Chapter 50, when Hibiki and Keigo were celebrating Christmas together, Hibiki had made a move on Keigo, saying that if they took their relationship to the next level, she would feel more reassured of their relationship. However, Keigo had refused.
Hibiki is now avoiding Keigo at school because she feels very embarrassed, thinking that she's been hated by him (for being so clingy). She doesn't feel comfortable sharing her problem with Hotaru and Shibamu, and ends up borrowing Hananoi from Hotaru to talk about it.
In the Schoolyard
Hananoi tells Hibiki that he doesn't want to be alone with girls other than Hotaru. Hibiki reassures him that she feels the same way, so they are not facing each other. However, she still wants him to listen to her.
Hananoi mumbles that he doesn't have the mood to listen to another's troubles. However, Hibiki says that she can't tell Hotaru and Shibamu about the embarrassing things that she did. When Hananoi then asks why she's telling him instead, she answers that it's because she's not afraid of being judged by Hananoi.
Hibiki elaborates that the main point isn't about how Keigo had refused her - rather, it's about how she from time to time has a self-esteem crisis about her relationship. She doesn't want to have to keep bothering Hotaru and Shibamu about this problem that will keep on occurring.
Hananoi says that he understands that sentiment well. Hibiki says that they are both people who get insecure in their relationships. Hananoi tells Hibiki that he will listen to her troubles, but asks her to make up with Keigo soon. She ends up sharing with Hananoi about how she and Keigo met and eventually became a couple.
Hibiki and Keigo's past
Flashback to their freshman year of high school, Hibiki was the manager of the boys' volleyball club and was dating a senior in the club. Hibiki discovered that her boyfriend was cheating on her. Just as she was about to break down and break up with her boyfriend, she met Keigo for the first time.
Keigo opened the door to the PE storeroom and found Hibiki still inside after practice, cleaning the volleyballs. Keigo recognized her as the manager of the boys' volleyball club and she recognized him as someone from the basketball club who often stayed back late.
Keigo: The teacher says that they're closing the gym soon. We're both working hard, eh- I didn't know that club managers had to stay this late too.
Hibiki: ...We're not the same. I'm doing this just so that... my senpai (boyfriend) would notice me.
Keigo smiled and said that he doesn't really understand, but even if it was for a boyfriend, staying back late alone is still respectable. Hibiki was touched by his words.
Over several days, Hibiki and Keigo started interacting more.
"Oh, You're here early in the morning too, Manager."
"Keigo-kun, why do you get scolded during practice so much? You clearly play better than the others..."
"Well- it's hard, because basketball is a team sport! Tell me, what do you think I should do to get along better with my senpais? Should I perform some tricks with my butt?"
"Hahaha!!"
Hibiki's Ex
On another day, Hibiki's ex-boyfriend was talking with other club members about her, and she happened to overhear from outside.
Ex-boyfriend: --Asami seems to have had a change of heart. It looks like she's fallen for the basketball club's freshman.
Other members: For real?! I was wondering why she wouldn't leave even after club activities were over. Girls who become club managers just to get a boyfriend sure are scary. You'd do best to break up with her soon.
Hibiki thought to herself that the senior was the one who cheated on her, yet didn't give her a chance to talk to him properly about it. Furthermore, he seemed to be pushing all the blame on her by talking about her like that.
Suddenly, Keigo approached the senior and volleyball club members to tell them that they'd misunderstood.
"I suppose you guys were talking about me. Your club manager is always staying back late to finish up club tasks, so I have simply been saying hi to her and thanking her for her hard work. I hope you don't mind me, I tend to chat up people randomly."
The volleyball members all thought to themselves that Keigo had indeed randomly talked to them before. Keigo added, "Anyway-- I'm really jealous! Your volleyballs are always cleaned so well! Us at the basketball club need to learn from you guys! We're always sharing the gym space, so I hope that we'll continue to get along!". Keigo then bowed and left.
Keigo then noticed Hibiki crying outside. He patted her shoulder and left.
Aftermath
Hibiki then quit the volleyball club and broke up with the senior with a slap. However, she couldn't forget about Keigo. After deliberating for a while, she had confessed to Keigo. Keigo wanted to prioritize his club activities and was hesitant to accept her feelings, but as Hibiki was very insistent, they finally started dating at the end of the year (Chapter 1).
Hibiki and Keigo's Relationship
Hibiki laments to Hananoi that up till now, things such as confessing or kissing were all first initiated by her. She is also the only one who remembers their monthsaries and special occasions and it seems like she is the only one who cares about deepening their relationship.
She says that she is aware she is loved, but Keigo also has other things that are important to him. She feels afraid to become a burden to Keigo with how she's always just thinking about love. It makes her feel that she's not good enough for him. She jokes, "Ah-- maybe I should break up with Kei-chan, then wait and get back together with him after he leaves the basketball club?! (But even if he doesn't have club activities, there's still college exams to worry about!!)"
Hananoi asks if her point is that she wishes that Keigo would sometimes put aside everything and just focus on her. Hibiki sadly answers that she's not that selfish to want Keigo to put her as number 1 all the time, but sometimes would be nice. Hananoi asks if "sometimes" refers to occasions such as Christmas.
Done Talking
After a while, Hibiki thanks Hananoi for listening to her rant. She tells herself that she feels better and should cheer up. Hananoi stands to leave and tells her to sit a while more to calm down before returning to the classroom. He also advises for her to talk to Keigo.
Making Up
A short while later, Keigo appears to talk to her! Hibiki is surprised to see him, then realizes that Hananoi had coordinated this. She tries to run away, but Keigo stops her and asks why she's running away.
Hibiki answers, "Well... I was so eager to push boundaries, it must have shocked you, right?"
Keigo sighs and says that he had guessed that she would misunderstand. Grabbing her face, Keigo exclaims, "Say, Kyo-chan, you need to know that you are very, very adorable!! It's not that I don't want to do those things with you - it's just that I was afraid that if we did, I wouldn't be able to think about anything else apart from you anymore!
Pulling Hibiki into a hug, Keigo adds, "Ah---! This is how much I'm obsessed with you!!". She recalls how Keigo had written in his letter to her: "I cherish you probably around 100 times more than you think."
Hibiki cries and asks Keigo if he's being serious. Wiping her tears, Keigo tells her that he is the one who's afraid of being resented and dumped. He also asks for them to redo Christmas. He says that he's given it a lot of thought (and also researched a lot after consulting Hananoi), and even though he's still not ready to go all the way, he wants to be able to ease Hibiki's worries whenever they resurface.
Keigo pulls Hibiki in close and tells her, "This is because I don't want to be separated from you...!", then kisses her. Hibiki nearly passes out from happiness while Keigo blushes from embarrassment.
What should I do...?
Later that night, Keigo updates Hananoi via phone call that he has talked things out with Hibiki. Hananoi tells him that Hibiki even wondered out loud if she should break up with Keigo for a while. Keigo cries out that Hananoi saved him, and Hananoi answers that he's glad he was able to return the favour.
Hananoi asks Keigo if he remembers Hananoi sharing about an old friend he once had, who was much older than them. When Keigo replies that he does, Hananoi elaborates that the old friend might be Hotaru's relative. This surprises Keigo.
Hananoi then asks if he should talk to Hotaru about her grandfather, because he's still unsure whether or not they're the same person. Keigo suggests that he should ascertain the facts before talking to Hotaru. Keigo reassures him that since Hotaru is an understanding and accepting person, it would be easier to talk to her about it instead of keeping it all to himself and stressing about it. Hananoi accepts the advice and decides to ascertain the facts.
READ HANANOI-KUN TO KOI NO YAMAI 57 SPOILERS HERE
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