White Album 2 manga online
Volume 4, chapter 4
Page 79
79.1
Haruki: I might not make it in time for the mass.
Sorry.
79.2
Setsuna: I told you, you don’t have to apologize.
Chapter title: SESSION20
Best Friend for Life
Setsuna: It’s just like you to end up taking care of somebody else in the middle of an overseas trip, anyway.
79.3
Setsuna: How is that person doing?
Haruki: Should be fine. There don’t seem to be any broken bones or anything.
Setsuna: Thank goodness.
79.4
Haruki: Anyway, I promise I’ll meet up with you later, okay?
Setsuna: Yeah. I’ll be waiting.
FX: Bip
Narration: That was a lie.
Page 80
80.1
Haruki: I got the first-aid kit.
Haruki: Can I come in?
80.2
Kazusa: I told you, you don’t have to go that far.
Haruki: But we have to disinfect it and put a poultice on, at least…
Kazusa: …
Kazusa: Fine, get in here. I’m cold.
80.3
Haruki: All right.
80.4
FX: Click
Page 81
81.2
Haruki: Who are you here with?
FX: Snap
81.3
Kazusa: Huh? Why?
Haruki: Well, this is a twin room…
81.4
Kazusa: …You really wanna know that badly about the guy I brought with me?
Haruki: …
81.6
Kazusa: Hey, I’m kidding.
81.7
Kazusa: It’s my mom. She got dragged off somewhere yesterday.
Haruki: …Oh.
Kazusa: What about you? You’re here with Setsuna, right?
Page 82
82.1
Haruki: …Yeah.
Narration: I should have known this topic would come up if I asked.
Kazusa: Are you two, um… m-married, or…?
Haruki: …I’m planning on proposing to her soon.
82.2
Kazusa: No kidding… That’s great!
82.3
Narration: Suddenly, the ring in my pocket started to feel much heavier.
Haruki: Well, I guess I’d better…
Kazusa: …!
Wai—!
82.4
Youko: Kazusaaa… Are you still asleep?
The mass is over already…
FX: Kachunk
Page 83
83.1
Youko: Oh, dear!
Youko: I hope I’m not interrupting anything.
83.2
Kazusa: Interrupt—no, he’s just treating me…
Youko: You’re looking a little happier than that.
Kazusa: Shut up!
83.3
Youko: I was a bit worried, but I suppose everything will be all right now.
Kazusa: What will be all right, exactly?
83.4
Youko: But, it was supposed to be tomorrow, Guitar Boy. Why are you here already?
Kazusa: What?! Tomorrow?!
Haruki: Kazusa-san was injured, and I happened to run into her on the way to the mass.
Youko: Hm. “Happened to”…
83.5
Haruki: I’m all done, so I’ll get going now.
83.6
Youko: See you tomorrow!
Kazusa: Wait, Haruki! You could explain a little—
FX: Click
Page 84
84.1
FX: Sigh
84.2
FX: Clench
84.3
Narration: In the end, I didn’t give Setsuna the ring.
I couldn’t even tell her I’d seen Kazusa.
Having finished my work, I returned to Japan, assailed by a murky sense of self-loathing.
FX: Vroooo
Page 85
85.1
Caption: Several days later
85.2
Coworker: …Hey.
Coworker: Kitahara.
FX: Daze
85.3
Coworker: Kitahara!
FX: Blink
85.4
Haruki: Um… Yes? What is it?
Coworker: Something’s been weird with you ever since you got back to Japan.
Haruki: Sorry about that. I must be a little jetlagged still…
Coworker: It’s been a few days. Are you sure you aren’t just fatigued?
85.5
Coworker: By the way, about this interview with Kazusa Touma… You didn’t make up anything that you forgot to ask about, right?
Haruki: No, of course not!
Coworker: I figured. But, it did say that her next performance in Japan was unconfirmed…
Well, there’s just been an official announcement, and she’s going to be performing here in a month.
Haruki: Wha—
Page 86
86.1
Haruki: But… I was sure…
Coworker: Well, she’s Youko Touma’s daughter. It really might have been a rush decision.
86.2
Coworker: Kazusa Touma is in Japan as of today.
Coworker: The plan is to meet with her at the concert for an exclusive interview.
Can we count on you for that, Kitahara?
86.3
Haruki: …No, I’m sorry. My workload is about to put me over the edge as it is.
Coworker: …I see. That’s too bad.
Coworker: With the incredible response your article about her drew, we were hoping…
86.4
FX: Rrring
86.5
FX: Flip
FX: Rrring
Phone: Incoming call
Setsuna Ogiso
86.6
Haruki: Hey…
Page 87
87.1
Setsuna: Sorry to call you out so suddenly.
Setsuna: I just saw the news…
and I couldn’t sit still…
87.2
Setsuna: Did you see the announcement about Kazusa’s concert?
87.3
Setsuna: Isn’t it crazy? She placed in the Giovanni International Piano Competition!
Setsuna: Apparently, only eight Japanese pianists have ever placed in it!
Setsuna: And now that Kazusa is world-famous, she’s coming back to Japan to play piano… It’s like a dream…
Narration: Talking about Kazusa is making it hard to breathe…
I can’t hide it any more…
Haruki: Setsuna…
Page 88
88.1
Haruki: Actually… I saw Kazusa.
Haruki: The night we were planning to go to the mass… At Strasbourg.
88.2
Setsuna: I knew it.
88.3
Setsuna: I mean, I kinda had a feeling!
Setsuna: I wish I could have seen her, too.
Haruki: Setsuna…
88.4
Setsuna: Although…
Setsuna: maybe I was the only one who felt that way?
Page 89
89.1
Setsuna: Sorry.
Setsuna: I can’t quite get my thoughts in order right now.
89.2
Setsuna: …When I do, I’ll get back to you.
Setsuna: I’m gonna head home now.
89.3
Narration: I don’t know whether telling her the truth was the right or wrong thing to do.
But, I’m sure it was better than continuing to lie.
Haruki: Sure. I’ll be waiting.
89.4
Narration: Whether it was really for Setsuna’s sake, or whether it was just to make myself feel better…
89.5
Narration: When I’m at home, the self-loathing torments me more.
FX: Clink
89.7
Narration: That day, I couldn’t make myself want to go home, so I fled to YcDonald’s to keep working.
Page 90
90.1
FX: Vrrrt vrrrt
90.2
Haruki: Hello?
90.3
Kazusa: …
90.4
Haruki: Hello?
…Setsuna?
90.5
Kazusa: …Harukiii.
90.6
Kazusa: Haha. Sorry, it’s not Setsuna.
Kazusa: I knew I couldn’t rely on you.
Haruki: Kazusa?
90.7
Kazusa: What the hell was with that reporter? I told him to back off, but he kept following me…
Kazusa: I dropped my bag, I lost my phone…
Narration: In those words, muttered like someone having a nightmare, I got the feeling that something serious had happened.
Haruki: Hey, where are you right now?
Kazusa: Beats me… I mean, I seriously don’t know.
Haruki: Aren’t there any landmarks around?
Page 91
91.1
Kazusa: Uh, I can see a YcDonald’s from here.
Narration: Without even thinking about it, I gave her a hand…
HarukI: …a Yac?
91.2
Kazusa: Food, Haruki.
91.3
Haruki: God, you had me worried for nothing!
Kazusa: That’s a hell of a thing to say to someone who’s sick.
Kazusa: Just shut up and make that nasty vongole rice soup.
91.4
Narration: According to Kazusa, the media were chasing her down, and then she got cold while she was running away, so she took refuge in that phone box.
Then she got a fever from being out in the cold that long, so I brought her home to warm her up.
…That wasn’t wrong, right? That’s what you’re supposed to do, right?
FX: Clunk
Page 92
92.1
Haruki: It’s hot, so be careful.
Kazusa: Whatever.
92.2
Kazusa: Disgusting as usual.
FX: Chew chew
Haruki: Oh, thanks.
92.3
FX: Chew chew chew chew
92.4
Haruki: And, suddenly, it’s all gone. Guess it was tasty enough.
Kazusa: Shut up.
FX: Spotless
92.5
Haruki; Hey, no! You need to lie down!
Haruki: I’ve put out a change of clothes for you on the bed.
Kazusa: I know, I know.
Page 93
93.1
FX: Sigh
Kazusa: Hey, Haruki.
Haruki: Hm?
Kazusa: …Can I ask you something?
Haruki: Sure.
93.2
Kazusa: These are girls’ pajamas, right? Setsuna’s?
Haruki: …Eh, well.
Kazusa: I figured…
93.3
FX: Zzz
FX: Ding-dong
Page 94
94.1
FX: Gape
94.2
Haruki: Sorry. If I knew you were coming, I’d have woken her up…
Youko: How long has this been going on?
94.3
Haruki: Almost twelve hours now.
FX: Sigh
Youko: That long?!
94.4
Youko: Maybe I should doodle something on her face…
Youko: Hmm… Wow. This is really unbelievable.
94.5
Youko: …Hey, will you keep looking after her like this?
Haruki: Ha ha ha ha!
Haruki: Don’t even joke about that, Youko-san.
94.6
Youko: I’m serious.
Page 95
95.1
Youko: Did you really turn down that exclusive interview, Guitar Boy?
Haruki: …I have too much else going on.
95.2
Youko: You really hate the thought of hanging around with her that much?
Haruki: That’s not what I…
95.3
Youko: Well, I want everyone to know…
Youko: the true face of Kazusa Touma.
95.4
Youko: As you know, the girl is frequently misunderstood.
Youko: I know she’s likely to have a lot of secrets dug up and exposed from here on out.
Youko: And, coming under blows like that… She’s timid and easily hurt. It’ll leave her completely ragged.
Page 96
96.1
Youko: So, before that happens… I want you to show everyone, and Kazusa herself…
Youko: the side of her that appeals to you so much. The side she’s only ever shown you.
Youko: You can consider this job your farewell to her.
96.2
Youko: Please… Let her go.
96.3
Youko: Well, I’ll be waiting for your answer, Reporter Kitahara.
Narration: Like Youko-san said, I still haven’t cut Kazusa loose.
After the day we wept in each other’s arms at the airport, we never once promised to stop thinking of each other.
Page 97
97.1
FX: Zzz zzz
Narration: If that’s been keeping Kazusa bound, then I have to let her go, and bid her farewell, for real.
97.2
Narration: After that, a strange, shared life began for us—what we would call “close coverage.”
97.3
Haruki: Don’t just eat the meat!
Kazusa: Shut up.
Page 98
98.1
FX: Ding-dong
98.2
Tomo: Kitahara-saaan! Are you theeere?
98.4
Tomo: If I just put it through here, will he find it…?
FX: Gulp
Tomo: Honestly! Where could he be, this late?
98.5
FX: Squeak
FX: Rustle
Page 99
99.1
Tomo: Ugh, whatever.
FX: Click click click
99.2
FX: Flip
99.3
Envelope: Your girlfriend is going to be there! You’d better show up!
99.4
FX: Rustle
Kazusa: A ticket?
99.5
Kazusa: Ah…
Page 100
100.1
Haruki: I’m back.
100.2
Kazusa: Haruki…
Haruki: What’s wrong?! Did your fever come back?
Kazusa: No.
100.3
Kazusa: I want you to tell me what’s been going on with you two for the past five years.
100.4
Narration: I had no idea why Kazusa had brought this up so suddenly.
But, from that serious look in her eyes, I knew…
that the time had come to tell her everything. No more lies.
Page 101
101.1
Narration: How I kept hurting Setsuna for three years, and stole her song from her.
How the snow thawed, and she was able to sing again.
How, after we graduated, we both got so busy with work that the time we had to spend with each other lessened, and we couldn’t keep up with the change in circumstances…
and, still, together, we managed to overcome that difficulty so common among lovers.
101.2
FX: Phew
Narration: After I told her all of it, Kazusa gave a small sigh.
101.3
Kazusa: Here. Your reward for spilling all that.
Haruki: Huh?
Kazusa: Someone slipped it through the mail slot.
Page 102
102.1
Kazusa: I mean, you get to hear your true love sing, right? That’s great.
Kazusa: You should take a bouquet with you. Make sure you hold her real tight.
Kazusa: I know she’ll be happy.
102.2
Haruki: Oh, no, my work…
Kazusa: I’m gonna stay at the studio tonight.
Kazusa: Should be back tomorrow evening.
102.3
Kazusa: So don’t come after me.
102.4
Narration: I couldn’t possibly tell her right now…
FX: Crumple
Narration: but, for that matter, with the life I’ve been living lately, do I even deserve to show my face around Setsuna?
102.5
Narration: …When I’m done with work… No, when Setsuna contacts me… I’ll tell her.
Until then, I’ll deny myself her singing voice.
Page 103
103.6
Haruki: I’m back…
Haruki: Wait, why am I even saying…
FX: Kachunk
Kazusa: Hey.
Page 104
104.1
Haruki: Uh?
104.2
Kazusa: What’s with that face? I told you I’d be back in the evening.
104.3
Haruki: Well, I guess…
104.4
Haruki: …
Hey, the ticket…
Kazusa: Yeah, I took it.
I wanted to see Setsuna, too…
104.5
Haruki: Did you talk to her?
Kazusa: Nah. Just listened from a distance.
Haruki: I see…
104.6
Kazusa: Setsuna was really sparkling.
Kazusa: When I thought about how there were three years’ worth of tears hiding in the shadow behind it…
Kazusa: I felt happy, seeing her smiling and singing, but… my heart hurt…
Page 105
105.1
Kazusa: Do you remember what I said when I joined the Light Music Club?
105.2
Kazusa: She could be my worst enemy…
or the greatest friend I’ll ever have. One of those.
105.3
Kazusa: Well… The “best friend” thing may not have worked out, but…
Kazusa: even though that was my fault…
Kazusa: I don’t want to become her enemy now.
Page 106
106.1
Kazusa: I can’t…
Kazusa: I can’t do that.
106.2
Kazusa: Make up with her, will you?
Kazusa: I’m sure she’s shaken it off by now.
She could forgive you before the day is over.
Kazusa: And when you do make up, don’t ever let her go again, okay?
106.3
Kazusa: It’s all right. After the concert next week is over, I’ll leave.
Kazusa: So bear with it until then, Haruki.
106.4
Narration: With that sad smile on your face… Which one of us is “bearing with it”?
Which one of us is struggling to endure?
Page 107
107.1
Kazusa: And… And…
FX: Thmp
Kazusa: …I’m sorry.
107.2
Kazusa: Before you and Setsuna make up, please, just once, let me…
Haruki: Kazusa…
Narration: She was so sweet and pitiful that I…
107.3
FX: Yank
Page 108
108.1
Kazusa: We can’t, Haruki!
Kazusa: You have Setsuna…
108.2
Haruki: Only once.
Haruki: Don’t say anything. Do not say a word about this to Setsuna.
Kazusa: Haruki…
108.3
Staff: It’s time for the closing party!
Setsuna: Coming!
108.4
Setsuna: Sorry, Haruki-kun.
Setsuna: Just hang on a little longer.
108.5
Phone: Haruki Kitahara
Page 109
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Page 110
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