Unmei no Hito ni Deau Hanashi 19 *SPOILERS*

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I'll Tell You Everything

Ibuki begins telling Yuuki about himself and Airi's past.

-Flashback-

20 year-old Ibuki was at a game center and defeated other gamers at an arcade game. Ibuki's prowess at gaming earned him many fans. A 17 year-old Kaji came to pass Ibuki a drink and remarked that the entire game center was full of Ibuki's fans.

However, Ibuki said that he would be happier if his fans were girls. Kaji suggested that if Ibuki became a pro gamer, the number of female fans would increase. Ibuki responded that rather than a fan, he would like it more if there was someone who could understand him completely.

Suspicious Person...?

Just then, a female staff member at the game center cried for help. When Ibuki and Kaji rushed over to help, they found a person wearing a hoodie and a mask collapsed on the ground. The staff explained that the hooded person was sitting on a bench in front of a gaming machine without playing. When she checked on the person, they collapsed on her.

Kaji and Ibuki decided to call for an ambulance, but the hooded person got up shakily and stopped them. They explained that they were susceptible to heat strokes and would be better after resting, so they didn't have to contact anyone.

Ibuki tried to hold them up, but the person started coughing. When Ibuki asked them if they were truly all right, the person weakly replied that it was partly his fault, before fainting.

Meeting Airi

The hooded person was carried back to the staff room. Upon removing the person's mask, Ibuki and the staff member realized that the hooded person was a girl. (Kaji had to leave for cram school).

The staff member had to return to her duties, so Ibuki offered to stay and watch over the fainted girl. Since he had nothing to do, he started to play games on his phone. 

After a while, the girl woke up while Ibuki was immersed in his phone game. She was amazed by how Ibuki could clear the game, saying that it was her first time seeing it. Her fascinated look charmed Ibuki - and that girl was Airi.

Ibuki tells Yuuki that it was love at first sight for him. However, it was to be an unrequited love right from the start, because Airi was very bad at dealing with men.

Airi's Condition

When Airi realized that she was talking to Ibuki - a guy, she immediately retreated and her skin started developing rashes.

Airi explained to Ibuki that ever since she was harassed by a stalker in the past, she developed a psychosomatic allergy towards men. She apologized to Ibuki for saying earlier that it was his fault.

Ibuki tried to offer help regarding Airi's condition, but she refused it. She wanted to overcome it on her own.

Ibuki and Airi

Then, Airi bowed and thanked Ibuki, getting ready to leave. However, in an attempt to be with Airi a little longer, Ibuki blurted out that he would send her home. Airi was surprised, and Ibuki awkwardly swore that he would keep a proper distance from her.

After a moment's consideration, Airi asked Ibuki to teach her tricks to the phone game. Ibuki narrated that that was the first time he was thankful for his gaming hobby.

The two of them added each other as friends in the game. That's how Ibuki learned Airi's name. Ibuki also introduced himself as Souma Ibuki. When Airi heard his full name, she was stunned for a moment, then asked him while blushing if he had a younger brother.

Iori and Airi

Ibuki continues to explain to Yuuki that Airi had told him that she wanted to get to know Iori. Iori had helped Airi back in high school and in the process, grabbed her wrist. However, she did not develop rashes from her interaction with Iori, which intrigued her and made her develop an interest in Iori.

Airi was interested in Iori, but could only observe him from afar because of her fear of men. Then, when Iori started casually dating other girls (his dark period), Airi saw it and was shocked, then developed a great dislike for Iori, and started to complain about Iori to Ibuki. Ibuki listened to Airi's complaints because he wanted to spend more time with her.

-End of Flashback-

Yuuki recalls that Iori mentioned before how Airi has always hated him. She concludes that Airi's "dislike" of Iori was actually "like".

Ibuki and Airi's Relationship

However, Yuuki asks Ibuki about how he and Airi started to date. Ibuki explains that the two of them didn't date - it was a fake relationship.

Ibuki says that Iori fell into his dark period because he blamed himself for the misfortune in their family. Ibuki had always wanted to help Iori stop having such thoughts. Therefore, while using the fact that Airi wasn't aware of her romantic feelings towards Iori, Ibuki decided to ask Airi to help him help Iori.

Ibuki had a fake relationship with Airi so that he could tell Iori that he was happy now, thanks to Iori. Ibuki also explains that he decided to suddenly disappear, believing that if Iori and Airi could get along better in his absence, it would be worth it. 

Ibuki bows his head and apologizes to Yuuki, saying that in the end, his actions simply made her unnecessarily anxious.

Yuuki's Reaction

Yuuki tears up, surprising both herself and Ibuki. When Ibuki brings her tissues, Yuuki explains that she's crying happy tears, as the many things that she was worrying about suddenly cleared up. She thanks Ibuki for talking to her. Ibuki smiles and answers that he hopes for her and Iori to be happy.

Later, after leaving Iori's apartment, Yuuki narrates that even though she's been accepted by Ibuki, it is somehow still painful.

She texts Iori, who is still studying. When Iori takes a break and checks his phone, he sees Ibuki's text to him: "I'm going over today to retrieve my things."

Iori thinks to himself that Yuuki is at his apartment. Just then, Yuuki's messages come in, which say: "I completely forgot that I have an assignment I have to submit tomorrow! I'm sorry, even though I said that I'd wait, I'll be going home for today."

Yuuki narrates that she wanted to talk to Iori about everything, plus Ibuki did not say that she had to keep anything to herself (leaving it up to her own discretion), but she finds that she simply can't bring herself to talk to Iori about what just happened with Ibuki. In the face of the strong feelings of the people who love each other (she's referring to the feelings shared among Iori, Ibuki and Airi), she has lost her confidence and feels that she's in the way.

Gathering

On another day, Yuuki is out with Sanae but is lost in her own thoughts, not hearing the things Sanae is saying to her. She apologizes to Sanae, saying that she hasn't been getting enough sleep because of assignments.

Sanae asks Yuuki if she knows where they are headed, but Yuuki has been absent-minded and so panickedly guesses that they are going for a meal. Sanae pouts and says that Yuuki's guess isn't wrong, but it's actually a gathering with Hiro and Seno. (Yuuki is very surprised when she finds out.)

When Yuuki asks Sanae why they are having a gathering with the four of them, Sanae explains (she already told Yuuki this before but Yuuki was too out of it to listen) that it's because the four of them are going to be doing a part-time job together.

Yuuki asks for a moment to text and update Iori about the gathering and the part-time job. Hiro is surprised and asks Yuuki whether Iori would get mad about not being informed of these things. However, Yuuki knows that Iori wouldn't get angry over such things.

Uncontrollable Emotions

Sanae pouts, saying that it'd be nice if one could get a little jealous over her coming to such a gathering (she's referring to Kaji). Hiro asks her if she came to this gathering in order to make someone jealous. Sanae confirms so, but sadly says that she wasn't able to elicit any jealousy, so she's upset and intends to drink to drown her sorrows today.

Hiro chimes in to say that he also wants to drink to drown his frustrations.

Sanae: Eh- why?

Hiro: Well- I thought it was amazing how coincidences can happen.

Sanae: This part-time job in particular?

Hiro (glancing disapprovingly at Seno): I won't say who, but in the end, one simply can't compete with strong feelings. Even if you want to block it? One can't oppose it after all. When you get to this point, you'll have to admit that those two are destined for each other.

When Yuuki hears the word "destined", she is suddenly reminded of the things weighing on her mind. She picks up her large mug of beer and downs it all in one shot. Seno notices that something is off with Yuuki, as she also has tears rolling down her cheeks.

Sanae and Hiro are also shocked to see Yuuki drinking so much all of a sudden and express their concern. However, Yuuki smiles and tells them that recently, she starts crying when she gets drunk. She also adds that she's been stressed over her assignments. Sanae and Hiro support Yuuki by saying that they should all drink to their hearts' content today. The four of them clink their mugs together and drink more.

Yuuki narrates: I understand why I'm crying so much. Why I'm still in pain even though Ibuki-san has acknowledged me. I, too, wanted to meet my soul mate. There's nothing wrong with this feeling. However, when it comes to "fate", I feel like Iori-kun and Airi-san are much more fated. I simply met him at a club and said that I like him. These shallow feelings can't compare with the strong feelings of the people who love each other... Even though I love Iori-kun too--...

Yuuki starts sobbing. Sanae cries and hugs her, saying that she wants to meet Kaji more. Hiro also cries and says that he wants to meet his soulmate, too. Meanwhile, Seno asks a waitress for more wet towels.

On the Way Home

Later, the four of them are on a train. Yuuki apologizes to all of them for crying, but Sanae and Hiro reassure her that it felt like the gathering helped them all feel closer.

Yuuki narrates that she feels refreshed after crying, and even though she thinks that she's no good, she will continue to face forward.

Seno adds that he enjoyed himself too. He says, "In a sense, it was a release for me."

Hiro is shocked upon hearing Seno's words and tries to ask him in a whisper what he means - if Seno means that he's thinking of giving up. Seno doesn't answer him.

Meanwhile, Yuuki realizes that it's her stop and bids goodbye to the three of them. She alights, but Seno goes after her, shocking Hiro again.

Yuuki and Seno

Yuuki reaches the street and is about to cross, but she trips over a curb. Seno arrives in time to stop her from falling, but she drops her bag.

Yuuki is surprised to find Seno and thanks him for saving her. (They also awkwardly let go of each other after realizing that they're holding each other.) Yuuki asks Seno why he's here.

Seno: I'm somehow glad I came after you.

Yuuki (picking up her bag's contents from the ground): Eh- Somehow?!

Seno (pausing): ...Not somehow. Truthfully, I came because I was worried. ...You weren't crying because you were drunk, right?

Seno extends his hand out towards Yuuki to help pull her up, and the two of them have a moment, staring at each other.

Yuuki and Iori

Seno and Yuuki's moment is interrupted by a lollipop being placed on Seno's hand. They both realize at the same time that Iori is here.

Iori thanks Seno with a pressurizing stare (getting Seno to back off), then looks at Yuuki. Iori's expression changes when he looks at Yuuki and he lifts a finger to Yuuki's eye as if to wipe a tear.

Yuuki thinks that Iori must have found out that she was crying. Yuuki and Iori bid goodbye to Seno and cross the street, while Seno goes in the opposite direction.

Seno looks at the lollipop and thinks to himself that candies seem to always be getting in his way (he recalls how he used to give Yuuki candy but she never got his message. Now, his moment with Yuuki got interrupted by a lollipop). He thinks, 'Well, nonetheless, I'm completely unbound.'

While walking together (holding hands), Yuuki calls out to Iori and he goes, "......Hm?". From Iori's behavior (not looking at her and remaining silent), Yuuki wonders if he's angry.

READ UNMEI NO HITO NI DEAU HANASHI 20 (FIRST HALF) SPOILERS HERE