Your hair is messy (13)
Naoki travels to a parallel universe where Kotoko doesn't love him. (2013 Japanese TV series)
26
Kotoko was once tormented by a question for a long time, until she threw away the amulet she had prepared for Sano and started a formal relationship with Irie, and then she stopped being obsessed with finding the answer.
Over the years, Kotoko has always been consistent in her words and deeds, "looking forward". She can feel more and more the good of Irie, and believes that being satisfied with the present is equivalent to letting go of the past.
However, the photo that Agan accidentally showed her once again dragged her into the abyss of "unresolved feelings". She was like a possessed person and got stuck in a dead end again.
Kotoko met Sano when she was about to graduate from high school. In just a few months, it was just enough for her to get to know him and like him, but not enough for her to muster up the courage to keep him.
So after Sano left, Kotoko kept thinking, if she had met Sano earlier, what would their ending be now?
That night, Kotoko had a dream. She dreamed that she returned to high school and met Sano at the cultural festival of her second year of high school.
Kotoko had never been in a relationship before, and just like in real life, it took her several months to sort out the strange and unfamiliar feelings in her heart.
Then she went to confess her feelings to Sano, but Sano smiled and turned her down: "High school students should focus on their studies. Let's talk about love after graduation."
Sano helped Kotoko with her studies and took her home every day. The Aihara family's house was not destroyed by the meteor, and Kotoko could invite Sano back every now and then to visit and introduce him to her father.
Kotoko also worked with Sano. She always made the pastries in weird shapes and calculated the wrong amount when collecting money, but Sano never got angry with her, and never mocked her for being stupid in a sarcastic way.
Many classmates also think that they are not a match, but Sano and Kotoko are just two ordinary high school students, and no one is willing to pay too much attention to them.
In the blink of an eye, graduation season arrived again. Kotoko prepared her love letter early and went to find Sano to ask for his second button. She walked on the road to school, feeling extremely happy. She had never been so happy in her life.
The road seemed to have no end. As she walked, the scenery on both sides gradually collapsed and broke down. The whole world was broken into fine dust and was blown into the endless darkness by the wind.
She knew that she would never see Sano again.
Kotoko woke up in the middle of the night in unbearable pain.
She regretted not being able to walk up to Sano at the airport and hand the amulet to him personally. She regretted never trying her best to fight for it and just silently gave up.
The chosen heroine only exists in a world centered around the chosen hero, and the story that truly belongs to her has already ended.
It's too late.
The next day was the weekend, and Kotoko didn't have to get up early for classes, so she slept until noon. In addition, she cried from late at night to dawn last night, so her eyes were almost swollen like a sad frog.
Rujiang's mother thought she was sick, and she asked her about her health out of concern. She even boiled two eggs for her to rub her eyes.
Qinzi held an egg in each hand, wishing she could smash herself to death with it.
It's strange. She cried so much last night and was almost overwhelmed by sadness.
After a good cry and a good sleep, Kotoko woke up and was no longer emo.
Humans are emotional animals, and it is easy for them to amplify their emotions under certain circumstances. For example, they are particularly prone to sadness in the dead of night, and they are also prone to lose their minds and go to extremes when instigated by others.
Kotoko's emotions last night were infinitely magnified, so much so that she almost couldn't bear it. Now that she has regained her consciousness and remembered Irie's mother, the shame is still too much for her to bear.
Kotoko despised herself. She already had a handsome and talented boyfriend, and the Irie family was so good to her. What was she still not satisfied with?
Isn't it just a secret love in youth that ended in vain? There are many lovers in the world who cannot end up together, let alone unrequited love?
No, even for her own sake, she must use all means to forget Sano.
Qinzi was worried, and her level was limited, so her studies and tests did not go smoothly for the next period of time, and she was constantly complained about by her teammates.
Kotoko was depressed, but she had no habit of confiding in Irie. Even if she was depressed to death, she would not take the initiative to ask him for help.
Irie watched coldly, silently competing with Kotoko. He could see she was having troubles, but so what? When he was upset, Kotoko would just brush him aside and ignore him. She'd spent six days on her own on a seven-day trip to Okinawa! She'd even told everyone on the plane that theirs was just a "boring" campus romance!
Irie brought up the past, which made him furious again. According to his previous temper, ignoring Kotoko for three or four months was not much. However, Kotoko was invincible in the cold violence. Irie could ignore her for three or four months, and she could ignore him for the rest of her life.
Irie learned so much from Kotoko that his communication skills were naturally enhanced. If he communicated well with Kotoko, everything would be negotiable. She was good-tempered and willing to put herself in other people's shoes, so accommodating Irie was no big deal. But if he ignored Kotoko and ignored her, she would go off and have fun.
As expected, Kotoko sought help everywhere, bothering her family, friends, and classmates, but she refused to come to Irie to complain. Irie waited and waited, endured and endured, and finally exploded: "What's wrong with you? When you encountered a problem that you couldn't solve, why didn't you come to me? What's going on in your head?!"
Kotoko's thoughts were simple: Irie was flammable and explosive, a giant figure Tsuna couldn't afford to offend. Even if she did nothing, Irie would still get mad at her. How could she dare to bother him with academic issues? He'd be angry again. But she never expected Irie to be angry because she hadn't bothered him.
Kotoko hesitated and said, "Then, could you please teach me, clever Irie-kun?"
Irie really taught her, and without a trace of impatience. He bought professional props and taught Kotoko how to insert the needle in the right place. He patiently reminded her to remember to wear medical gloves, explained the bandaging method, organized her notes, and served as her experimental props, being thrown around by her in his arms.
Irie wouldn't say he enjoyed it at all, especially when he was playing Kotoko's patient and she wrapped her arms around him until they both fell onto the bed. Kotoko's clumsiness was both adorable and funny, and they rarely had such a close bond.
Kotoko also found it amusing. Although Irie wouldn't openly smile at her, he always cooperated with her in a stable mood, which made Kotoko feel a little pampered. She liked Irie who pampered her and never lost his temper with her. This kind of Irie was the boyfriend she was willing to be close to.
The news that Irie was tutoring Kotoko was told to several of her friends as an after-dinner chat. Renko and Satomi turned around and spread the news around the campus. They wanted everyone to know how sweet their couple was.
But there are also straight men who can't resist, such as Funatsu.
Funatsu expressed his confusion. "How could someone be so dumb that they couldn't even learn something so simple? They're clearly not putting their heart into it. If it were my girlfriend, I'd probably be angry. Saving lives is a serious matter, not a joke. It's a shame Irie, for some reason, tried to teach her bit by bit."
Irie thinks that Funatsu Station's perspective is too arrogant.
Although Funatsu was always the runner-up under his suppression, it was undeniable that Funatsu was also a smart person with an outstanding mind. Funatsu had long ago figured out a mature learning method that suited him, so naturally he had no shortcomings in his ability to understand, accept, and do things.
However, smart people also have to accept that there are ordinary people in the world. Irie understands Kotoko. What she lacks the least is hard work and dedication, but she has been unable to find the right direction, so her efforts have become blind.
In the past, before Irie traveled through time, he would have looked down upon Kotoko, an ordinary person, with the arrogance of a genius, just like Funatsu. He would have questioned why she couldn't even learn something so simple, and whether she wasn't diligent enough. If she didn't work harder, he wouldn't want to be in the same hospital with her, and then he would have watched her get nervous and anxious about it, desperately trying to stay close to him, afraid of losing him, and unwilling to be away from him.
Now Irie has to change his mindset because Kotoko doesn't love him to the point of being inseparable. She doesn't even want to become a nurse and work with Irie. It's Irie who wants to be with her and is afraid that if she's out of his sight, something bad will happen.
Kotoko is kind, helpful, enthusiastic and patient, which makes her suitable for saving lives. However, if she finds that the task is too difficult, so difficult that she cannot handle it, in order to avoid making things worse and hurting the patient, she will most likely give up.
Irie didn't want her to give up, nor did he have the energy to make a fuss or argue with Kotoko again and again. He could only step down from the altar to help her out of the predicament and give her the strength to move forward.
Kotoko was very happy about Irie's timely help. In her eyes, this was a kind of growth for Irie.
But in Irie's eyes, he just realized that he had no right to be willful with Kotoko.
27
Kotoko passed the test successfully and won great honor in the group. She proudly accepted the flattery and envy from her new friends, feeling so happy.
Kan and Marina were truly envious, their envy almost turning into jealousy. Why was it that other people's boyfriends were handsome, smart, loyal, patient, and thoughtful? It was so unfair.
She was mentally unbalanced, attacking Qinzi from both sides, and playing the black and white cop game with her.
Agan said, "Qinzi, are we your good friends? If so, please arrange a dinner for us and the medical department. Don't be the only one who's happy. Look at us who are unhappy too!"
Marina said, "Kotoko, even though you've already gotten to Irie, there are still other outstanding talents in the medical department. Why don't you try to be a matchmaker for us? Irie dotes on you so much, he'll definitely agree to help you organize one."
Kotoko thought it was feasible. After the exam, she was full of confidence in the love Irie gave her. Although Irie didn't like dinner parties, if she asked him, he might agree. After all, he had set more than one or two precedents for her.
Kotoko happily went back and acted coquettishly with Irie.
"Look, Irie-kun, except for the lunch we had in the cafeteria during our freshman year, you haven't really eaten with my friends. Why don't you just come with me? Wouldn't it be even better if the nursing department and the medical department could actually create another couple?!"
Irie couldn't do anything about her. "I won't call anyone for you, but the medical department is having a dinner party tomorrow night. I'll ask the secretaries about the specific location for you. You can figure out how to arrange it yourself."
"I knew Irie-kun was the best!" Kotoko contentedly hugged him and rubbed him close. "To thank the best Irie-kun, I'll make your favorite beef stew tonight!"
The next night, Kotoko and Irie worked together to successfully arrange for the nursing department and the medical department to "meet by chance" in a designated restaurant. Kan and Marina, whose wishes had been fulfilled, expressed their envy of Kotoko again, saying that they could make Irie grant her every request.
Kotoko stole the show among her friends and had a great time at the party. She watched Tomoko cutting meat crazily, ate Marina and Funatsu's melons, had a drinking contest with Akan, and chatted with other people in the medical department, trying to match them up.
Anyway, Kotoko forgot about Irie again.
Irie sat quietly in the corner. He had no interest in paying attention to others when they talked to him. He just said "um", "oh" and "ah" politely. He kept an eye on Kotoko from time to time, in case she drank too much and went crazy.
Suddenly someone sat down next to him. Irie didn't know him, but he knew that he and Kotoko were both students in the nursing department. There were very few male students in the nursing department, and there were only a few of them in total.
"Hello, my name is Keita Kamogari, and I'm Kotoko's classmate."
"Hello."
Keita didn't mind Irie's coldness. He used to dislike Irie's character of keeping people at a distance, but after getting along with Kotoko, he found that Irie was actually a warm-hearted person with a cold exterior, and a pretty good person, which made him admire him a little.
"To be honest, the relationship between Irie-san and Kotoko is my ideal love. They encourage each other, holding hands and giving each other strength, accomplishing many things together, walking through life side by side, and encouraging each other a lot... I hope that in the future, I can be like you, making progress together with my girlfriend, and walk through the rest of our lives hand in hand!"
Looking at the passionate young man in front of him, the expression on Irie's face gradually became strange.
"Like me?" Irie said sarcastically, "It's better not to be like me."
-------------------------------
Thanks to Kotoko, Kan and the others were able to transition from being members of Irie's fan club to being her friends. I said "reluctantly" because Irie didn't need friends in most situations, but Kan and the others could still talk to her, as long as the topic revolved around Kotoko.
Kotoko is the channel for the Nursing Department to approach Irie, but conversely, the Nursing Department is also the channel for Irie to approach Kotoko. There are many ideas to please Kotoko, and it is Akan and others who are behind the scenes giving advice to Irie.
Originally, everything was fine. With the help of many people, the young couple lived a happy life. But then, for some reason, Irie's long-dormant illness relapsed without any warning.
He suddenly began to ignore Kotoko. No matter how Kotoko tried to please him, he ignored her and refused to give any reason.
Summer vacation is coming soon. Originally, the nursing department had a joint research assignment to do, but Akan and the others had received a lot of care from Irie in the past. The notes he personally compiled for Kotoko were shared by Kotoko with the whole group. Occasionally, when Irie was in a good mood, he was willing to personally guide them. Otherwise, why do people say that he is a genius? Without taking nursing classes, his knowledge is more comprehensive and thorough than those professionals.
Now Irie and Kotoko seem to have a conflict. It is a critical moment. The nursing department collectively decides to repay the favor and send Kotoko back to accompany Irie. As for small matters such as homework, they can handle it themselves without Kotoko.
Kotoko thought about how she left Irie to play alone last time she went to Okinawa, and Irie didn't know what was wrong with her but was unhappy all the time. So this time, she specially planned a trip for two to Hawaii with Irie as a way to make up for it.
Of course, it's okay if Irie doesn't want to go to Hawaii. Since it's to make up for him, Kotoko is willing to accompany him wherever he wants to go. However, Irie is more like the one who is unwilling to go. He didn't give Kotoko a clear answer, but only said that it depends on his scientific research progress.
Irie's research progress was always uncertain. Kotoko pitifully asked him several times, making him quite impatient: "You were the only one clamoring to go. I didn't say I was going."
After several attempts, Kotoko was at her wit's end. She wasn't good at dealing with Irie's abnormal behavior. What to do? The old way, leave him alone.
"You mean you're not going, right? It's okay, I'll make an appointment with someone else."
The next day, Kotoko booked a flight and flew to Hawaii with Chris.
Irie: "..."
It would have been great if the amazing execution that Kotoko showed when she abandoned him could have been used in other areas.
He was really impressed.
At home, Irie's mother was worried: "Brother! How could you treat Kotoko like this? What happened again?"
Irie closed the book in a distracted manner and just said that everything was fine and asked his mother not to worry.
So what was the biggest conflict between him and Kotoko, something he refused to reveal? What else could it be? Of course, it was Sano Hidekazu!
If you ask Irie who he hates the most in his life, Sano Hidekazu would be the first person that comes to mind. In Irie's view, Sano's entire existence is inexplicable.
It was Naoki Irie who was supposed to take Kotoko to the hospital! He just didn't keep an eye on her for a moment, letting her slip away. Then Sano suddenly appeared out of nowhere, stealing his role and Kotoko's love at first sight.
Later, Sano left Tokyo, and Irie finally got married to Kotoko as he wished. He thought that the accident involving Sano had become a thing of the past, but it wasn't!
A month ago, when Akan and Marina came to the medical department to ask him for advice, they brought a photo of him from high school. It was said that Akan had gone to great lengths to get it, and it was extremely precious.
And Akan wanted to show the photo to Irie mainly to please Irie and tell him how much Kotoko cared about him.
"When Kotoko first came to the nursing department, she saw the photo in my hand and snatched it away immediately. She stared at it intently for a long, long time... Even a photo of Irie-kun could make Kotoko completely captivated. I'm sure Kotoko misses Irie-kun from high school too!"
Irie glanced at it casually and didn't take it to heart.
In high school, Kotoko and him were like a mouse and a cat, natural enemies who could not coexist in school. The slightest contact with him would make Kotoko cry. How could she possibly miss him in high school?
etc.
Irie's body moved faster than his thoughts, and he snatched the photo from Agan's phone in a flash. After concentrating on the background of the photo, Irie's face turned pale.
He saw Hidekazu Sano.
What Kotoko misses is Hidekazu Sano in high school.
How do people usually react when they're sad or humiliated to a certain degree? Irie only remembered that he was trembling the entire time, as if trying to hold up his body and not be crushed by the overwhelming despair.
Irie never mentioned Sano in front of Kotoko, but would contact Watanabe privately, trying to make sure that Sano stayed in Hokkaido and would not come back.
He had seen with his own eyes Qinzi throw away the amulet, and heard Qinzi tell him that it was all in the past. He thought that he and Qinzi had gotten back on track, and that they were getting along better and better, like a truly perfect couple.
He thought he had escaped very far, so far that Sano's shadow could no longer cover him, but the photo before him was undoubtedly a wake-up call, burning away the rationality that he was proud of.
Even a photo of Sano can make Kotoko fascinated.
So what does it matter if he enters the river?
Is Kotoko, unable to find her ideal partner, a reluctant compromise? Is she missing Sano's leisure time and using this toy to pass the time? Even though she's the focal point of the photo, she still has to serve as a foil for Sano, who appears unnoticed within the frame?
Why does Sano appear in the camera? Why is it this haunting Sano Hidekazu?!
Irie knows that there is no point in having a cold war with Kotoko, but how can he express his feelings?
Does he have to ask Kotoko in person, do you still like Sano?
If Sano didn't return to Hokkaido, would you be with me?
Do you really like me?
Irie has the answer in his mind, but he wonders if it might be Kotoko's answer.
It's not that he is completely unable to feel Kotoko's love, but that kind of love is illusory and ever-changing. Kotoko would be moved by him at a certain moment, and would dislike him at another moment.
Like when she emotionally snatched away the photo with Sano, in that moment when her heart and eyes were filled with only Sano, she must have not loved Irie that much.
Irie, feeling guilty towards Kotoko and cherishing their hard-earned relationship, lowers his limits for her time and time again. However, Irie's pride makes him unable to accept being second only to Sano. He does not share Kotoko's heart with anyone. If Kotoko cannot let go of Sano, then they may have to end here.
However, spanning past and present lives, it has been eight years. They have spent eight years, and is this the final outcome?
Irie was unwilling to accept the fact that he could not escape. Sano Hidekazu was like a curse, forever attached to his life.
tbc
Kotoko: It's either Keita or Sano, they both make trouble for me all day long, what a sin.
——————————
There will be no further romantic development between Sano and Kotoko, no scenes between them, and they will not be able to return to Tokyo.
He was just a nightmare used to trap Kotoko and torture Irie.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
