Summary: Arakure (Wild Ones), Vol 4, Chp 17

The chapter begins with a flashback to Igarashi's childhood. He is walking in a building alone and looking a little down. People in the background are talking. The things being said are, "What a weird kid" "He's always so quiet", and "What is he thinking?" Next some old guy is slapping young Igarashi around while saying, "What's with the look on your face? Who do you think you have to thank for the food you're eating?" Some more adults comment about how Igarashi's facial expression never changes. Next we see young Igarashi being introduced to Raizo. Raizo remarks that Igarashi's facial expression is not cute. Below Igarashi is introducing himself. He is smiling, but his eyes are blank and dull looking.

Back to the present. Kou is happy that the day is clear -- perfect for watching fireworks. Igarashi is rude to him and tells his to leave quickly if he's gonna leave. As Igarashi leaves the room, he crushes a soda can with his hands before throwing it into the trash. Kou wonders what's with Igarashi's attitude. Meanwhile, Sachie is looking at the bruise Igarashi made on her wrist when he restrained her and asked her not to leave with Kou. For impact, a drawing of a crush soda can is shown beside the drawing of Sachie's wrist. (This is a little awkward. Clearly Sachie was abused, but I don't know how this plays in Japan. In the US, I would say this is an alert that Igarashi is no good because he's most likely abusive and the abuse will only get worse in the future). Sachie thinks about how her wrist was crushed like a soda can and flashes back on the memory of the event. Apparently after coming on so aggressively, Igarashi let go and said it was joke. He explains that he can't go to the fireworks with her because he has kendo practice (a lie) and that it's okay for her to go to Oosaka with Kou. "Really, I don't mind," he tells her with his gentle smile and lifeless eyes that don't match. So Sachie goes ahead and tells her grandfather that she will go to Oosaka with Kou. Kou overhears and is very happy at the news. Igarashi asks if 3-days and 2-nights is too much. Kou tells him not to worry and that he will serve as Sachie's bodyguard in Igarashi's stead. Driving the knife deeper in Sachie, Igarashi gives a super-fake-smile and tells Sachie to have a good time. Raizo takes note of Igarashi's behavior.

And so Sachie, Kou, and Kou's entourage are in Oosaka at some kind of festival. Sachie is excited and wants to play carnival games. She picks a rifle shooting game and Kou thinks that this is a wonderful chance for him to show off his manliness. He assumes Sachie can't shoot. Sachie, however, has perfect aim and looks fierce while shooting. Kou is stunned and feels intimidated. They move on to some more carnival games. All the while Sachie is angrily replaying the scene with Igarashi in her mind. She cannot figure out why he seemed so serious about asking her not to go, followed by telling her he was joking, and then sending her off with well wishes. After making 3 bullseyes at a darts booth, Sachie sees a guy that looks like Igarashi from the back. For a moment she is shocked but it's some bucktoothed guy instead. Kou notices and tells Sachie to get a hold of herself because Igarashi isn't coming all the way to Oosaka.

Back in Tokyo, Igarashi is the glittering prince of the fake smiles. He has prepared a meal for the household and the other yakuza are in misery because Igarashi is only cooking vegetarian meals. They understand until Sachie comes back, that Igarashi will be acting like a nut. Igarashi's cell phone rings, and it's Kou on the other side. Kou is calling to confirm that Igarashi is indeed still in Tokyo and tells Igarashi that everything is okay. Igarashi is very annoyed, of course. And then for a moment Igarashi's composure is broken. Raizo comes along and sees Igarashi looking upset. Raizo reaches out to Igarashi telling him that he has not seen Igarashi with this expression since long ago. Igarashi turns and smiles with blank eyes and tells Raizo that he's just tired. Raizo pats his head. While Kou is calling Igarashi, Sachie is trying to call Igarashi too. Instead of getting through, she gets a busy signal. Sachie gets really sad because now she believes that Igarashi is very angry with her and has, therefore, given up on her. Tears are welling in her eyes as she waits outside the bathroom for Kou. When Kou comes back out, she regains her composure.

Kou grabs Sachie's hand and says that he's going to take her somewhere else where there are fewer people. Sachie tells Kou that he's kind and he is delighted to hear it. He then grabs Sachie and steals a hug while asking her how she feels about him. He uses "ore" for himself, the grown-up version of "I." Kou father hears this and scolds Kou for using "ore," reminding Kou that he's still a child. Kou changes to cute little kid mode and laughs it off and Sachie jumps in to rat Kou out for using "ore" all the time. Kou tells her to butt out. A little bit later, Sachie and Kou are alone. Sachie says to Kou, "Can I ask you about yourself?" Kou spouts out a bunch of stuff about his birthday and blood type and so on, but that's not was Sachie wants to know. She asks her question differently and specifically asks about the his use of "boku" and "ore." Kou is at first annoyed with the question, but then begins to clarify the matter for her. "'Boku' is the good kid and "ore" is something I decided" He says. Sachie probes further and asks why he has to be careful when using the words. Kou says, "so I can't be separated." Meanwhile, there's a cut away to Igarashi, who is walking around thinking about Kou's challenge and Sachie's shocked expression. He puts his head in his hand in frustration. "I'm miserable" he laments and then continues on with dead eyes. Back to Sachie and Kou. Sachie asks for more clarification. Kou explains that he acts cute because he wants to be liked. He says he smiles and agrees but behind the laughter he's really manipulative and not very cute. Interleaved with this are drawings of Igarashi in full emo-boy mode. Azuma is walking around with a rice cooker and bugging Igarashi about it. Meanwhile Igarashi is pouting about how he could have handled the situation with Sachie better. Azuma asks Igarashi what's with the face he's making. Suddenly, Igarashi comes to resolution with himself and tells Azuma that he's gotta run. In walks Raizo who tells the confused Azuma not to worry. Igarashi has realized that there's something more he can do. Igarashi and Sachie are now both lost in though. Igarashi's thoughts are kinda hard for me to understand, but here's my try: "If I'm going to speak, the words ... my intentions, my intentions ..." They stop and look up in the sky as the fireworks begin.

Both Sachie and Igarashi look longingly into the sky, both asking themselves what they should do and questioning why things are this way. Then Sachie's cellphone rings. It's Igarashi. Sachie answers, but in her mind she feels herself falling apart. "No good" she thinks. She makes small talk by asking Igarashi how he's doing and tells him that she doing fine. "Bear it," she thinks to herself as she says words she doesn't mean while tears are welling in her eyes. Igarashi then asks Sachie if she is now crying, which she is. Sachie is stunned and tries to make an excuse while in the background, Igarashi has said something. Igarashi repeats himself louder. "I'm leaving now."

Igarashi, full of resolve, then goes to talk to Sachi's grandfather. Raizo asks Igarashi what's up and remarks about how hard it's been on Igarashi. Igarashi then says, "I have a request. Please let me pick-up Sachie-sama." The chapter closes with, "But surely that is the real me."Source URL: https://aminefairy.blogspot.com/search/label/Kou
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Summary: Arakure (Wild Ones), Vol 4, Chp 16

Wow! I made it to volume 4! There's high drama in this volume as Igarashi needlessly worries about the intentions of a little kid towards Sachie. He definitely loses way too much cool in the next couple of chapters. So here it goes ...

The chapter starts with the words (Sachie's thoughts I guess) "If I wish to (with myself) extend my hand". Sachie is putting on an apron and Kou is happily offering to feed her a very big strawberry. While making the "Say-aah" face, Kou explains that the strawberry is a rare peach-strawberry that he has brought with him all the way from Oosaka especially for her because she will become his bride. Sachie blanches at the thought and thinks that she has no intention of becoming that brat's wife. Meanwhile, Kou is holding the strawberry on the end of a fork looking like a big eyed and innocent little kitten.

Flashback to one hour earlier to the situation that led to Sachie becoming Kou's prospective bride and Kou's invitation to Sachie to spend time in Oasaka with him as his guest and traveling companion. Sachie looks overwhelmed with shock as this is all happening too quickly. She does not give an answer while Igarashi looks on with a serious expression.

Back to the present, in which now Igarashi, doing his handsome-devil best, is offering to hand feed a cherry to Sachie. Sachie is now happily eating cherries from Igarashi and strawberries from Kou. Apparently both fruits are delicious. Later, Sachie is lying on the ground with a tummy ache from eating too many fruits. Igarashi enters the room to give her some stomach medicine. He asks her if she's okay and then begins to apologize for his earlier behavior only to be interrupted by a phone call from Kou. Igarashi, jealous again, has picked up the bowl of cherries, ready to defend his territory. Kou is at the grocery store with his bodyguards/handlers and is calling Sachie to inquire about the ingredients for hamburgers. Sachie is very pleased and says that she coming to the store to help him shop. As she is leaving Igarashi asks where she is going and why she has to help Kou. Sachie explains that Kou is impractical and will buy very expensive meat. Sachie then turns to leave, but is stopped when Igarashi grabs her hand. "I will go with you," he says. His eyes are obscured by his bangs.

At the grocery store, Sachie's fears are confirmed. Kou has already made his purchases and he's bought some very expensive meat. Sachie is highly displeased, makes a very ugly face, and then scolds Kou for his decision. Instead of getting mad himself, Kou is very pleased to be scolded and says, "Onee-chan is unexpectedly loving" as he snuggles up to her with the other women at the store looking on. Igarashi is unimpressed and grabs Kou by the back of his shirt collar, lifting him high as though lifting a kitten. Igarashi seems to be insulting Kou. ( I don't know what a "Sekuseku" is, but Igarashi says "With that Sekuseku shopping, sekuseku cooked, and after that sekuseku eating, can sekuseku return home?") He says something to the effect of "after shopping cooking, and then eating, won't it be time to return home?" To which Kou counters that yes he will leave, and when it's time to go, he will be taking Sachie with him. Which sets off a ball a lightening between Kou and Igarashi as they angrily glare at each other. Sachie then innocently asks, "Go to where? Are you serious?" Kou is infuriated and says that he's always serious. Kou then calms down and with a serious expression says, "Nee-chan said 'if you wish for my extended hand.' I am serious, I wish to take Onee-chan's hand." Igarashi then says that it's kidnapping to take somebody against their will and that Kou cannot use his childish desires forever. Kou says he understands and tells Igarashi that if Sachie consents, then Igarashi has no right to complain. Confidently Kou says, "I will get what I want with my own power. Surely the response I will get is that we will return to Oosaka together." Sachie thinks back. She did say something like that earlier, but ... flashback to an earlier conversation with Kou's father. He is inviting Sachie to go sightseeing on a 2-night, 3-day visit . Sachie questions whether this counts as Kou using his own power. Igarashi has no reply to give and is looking a bit strained.

Later on Sachie is back in her room, face down on a pillow wondering what to do about the trip to Oosaka. It's troublesome to her. Igarashi approaches her door and asks SUPER politely if he may enter her room. She lets him in while asking herself why Igarashi is being so polite. Igarashi explains that while he was cleaning/organizing the shed he found a kimono that belonged to Sachie's mother. He then asks Sachie to wear it tomorrow during the fireworks display that they promised to see together if Igarashi won the kendo tournament. Sachie is surprised at first and then very happy. She answers back that she would be happy to wear the kimono and go see the fireworks with him. Igarashi is very happy and smiles very sweetly. Kou overhears their conversation is looks saddened. Afterwards, Sachie is walking down a hall. She has a very determined look on her face and is thinking about how she will reject Kou's offer.

Next we see a conversation between Kou's father and Sachie's grandfather, Raizo. Kou's father explains that Kou never knew his mother and asks Raizo if he will do the favor of letting the Sachie spoil Kou for a little while. Sachie overhears the conversation and then realizes that she can't say no to Kou, even though she was really happy about going to the fireworks with Igarashi. Kou then approaches her and expresses how happy he is that Sachie is going to make hamburgers and that he's okay not knowing his mother because he has Sachie to look after after him. He then says that sometimes Sachie feels like a mother. While all this is going on, Sachie is feeling sorry for Kou and giving him loving hugs. Kou accepts the hugs, sinking into her bosom with closed eyes. He asks if Sachie will go with him to the fireworks festival in Oosaka. Sachie then remembers Igarashi's invitation and tells Kou that she will think about it.

A little bit later, Kou is on the phone ordering an additional train ticket for the return trip to Oosaka. Igarashi approached with a cold blank look in his eyes (very SCARY). "So this is your power?" he asks Kou. Kou explains that he used his credit card, but he doesn't have to say that to Igarashi. Kou rubs it in by continuing, "Indeed, even with that keepsake kimono you can't do anything. You can't go against me (implying the difference in their rank)." Then Kou asks, "When you aren't allowed to go, will you ask her not to go?" Kou looks quite serious. Igarashi is frozen in shock -- the kid has read the situation well. Kou then goes and grabs Sachie to tell his father that she is coming with them to Oosaka. Igarashi excuses himself from dinner to get away from the scene. Sachie follows. She wants to explain the circumstances, but Igarashi is looking at her with cold eyes. She stammers a little as she tries to explain and then Igarashi turns, grabs her by the wrist with one hand and corners her against a wall, blocking her escape with his other arm. He's taken a very agressive stance. He then says, "But it remains that you that you don't want to go, but ..." "Igarashi-san" Sachie says. "But what if I said 'don't go,' would you stay here?" Igarashi asks. The narration reads, overlayed in three parts over the scene, "If I wish to extend my hand."


End of Chapter

Source URL: https://aminefairy.blogspot.com/search/label/Kou
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Summary: Arakure (Wild Ones), Vol 3, Chp 15

This chapter leaves off directly where the last chapter ended with Sachie and Igarashi surprised to learned that the brat, named Kou, they encountered earlier is the son of a visiting gang head. The kid makes some comment about Sachie's unsexy panties from when he flipped her skirt up earlier. Sachie starts roughly lecturing the kid while the rest of the yakuza, in fear, try to calm her down. The kid threatens to tell Sachie's grandfather that she was rude to him, so Sachie stops her rant and tries to be nice to the boy. Enter the boy's father and Sachie grandfather. The father says to the boy, "Where have you been aimlessly wandering around? I take my eye off of you for one sec9ond and you disappear. You could have at least called, what were you thinking?" Kou's father is all up in Kou's grill -- so to speak. Sachie is very pleased because an adult has come to discipline Kou. But Kou, being the manipulative brat that he is, gets all teary and lies about being lost and not wanting to disturb his father while he was working. The father forgives him and Raizo sympathizes and calls Kou a good boy. Kou turns and gives Sachie a sh*t-eating grin (little prick!).

Some time passes and Sachie and company are walking into the main house. Sachie is uneasy as she thinks about the two nights she will have to endure with this brat. Igarashi holds her hand and tells her it's all right because he will protect her. Sachie resolves to do her best. Kou basically runs Sachie all around the house being mean to her the entire time. He wants to play a video game, he wants something to drink, and so on. Igarashi gets pissed and pulls the kid aside to ask him if he's having fun yet. The other yakuza break up the confrontation.

Off to the store to buy the ingredients for some meals. Kou reveals that he's never eaten with his father because his father is too busy. The look on the boy's face reminds Sachie of the sad,but smiling look on the face of her first love (Igarashi, but she hasn't connected the dots yet). Sachie decides that she going to help bring father and son together through food, but Igarashi warns her to stay out of other family's business. Sachie continues to talk about the pleasing effects of food. There are some nice drawings of Igarashi looking very sweet and handsome as he listens to Sachie. She then tells Igarashi that the boy reminds her of her of the boy who sends her the New Years Cards, so she just can't leave Kou alone. Igarashi is shocked and then blushes furiously as Sachie leaves the room to give Kou a snack.

When delivering the snacks she suggests to Kou that he help her prepare dinner and that she will get his father to eat with them. Kou gets mad and slaps the tray out of Sachie's hand saying that it will never happen. Sachie has now had it with Kou and says to the boy, "Do you think I'm going to forgive you this time?" She then unloads on the kid about how selfish he is. In the middle of her tongue lashing, Kou's father comes in and startles Sachie. "Oh, crap!" Sachie thinks, but she doesn't apologize. Rather stands up for her actions and then braces herself for a bitch slap. However, the father doesn't slap her, rather he says that for standing up to Kou and scolding him she would make a good wife. Kou is stunned in a good way. Igarashi is stunned in a bad way and knits his eyebrows in confusion.


End of Chapter
End of Volume 3

Source URL: https://aminefairy.blogspot.com/search/label/Kou
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