Gravitation: Track 3

Welcome back to Yaoi Zowee! We last left off with Shuichi meeting with famous record executive Tohma Seguchi. Seguchi starts out the conversation by saying that he thought he had already told Shuichi that he a friend of Yuki's. Which is simply not true. Track 2 ended with Seguchi telling Shuichi that he wanted to talk to him. This is a confusing way to start the chapter. It would have been better if he had just said that he was a friend of Yuki's. It wouldn't change the coming pages in the slightest and it would be an overall better set up. Regardless, Shuichi is stunned that Seguchi knows Yuki. Unfortunately for Shuichi, Seguchi thought that Shuichi was friends with a guitar player when he wasn't. Losing interest, Seguchi starts leaving. Not wanting him to give up, Maiko encourages Shuichi to chase after him. Shuichi does so, tripping and falling flat on his face in front of Seguchi, though he does manage to give out his personal information in case Seguchi ever wants to contact him. At the least, he's got the word out about him and his band.

The next day, Hiro and Shuichi talk about what happened after the live show since Hiro wasn't around when Shuichi met Seguchi. It turns out that Seguchi is a part of a band called Nittle Grasper (At least...I think it's a band. I'm going to assume it's a band) doing vocals and synthesizer. Soon enough, talk turns towards the subject of Yuki again. Hiro comes right out and says that if Shuichi is spending this much time talking about Yuki he must really like him. Shuichi no longer denies it. Hiro tells Shuichi that Yuki must like him if he went to the live show for him but Shuichi tells him that Yuki already has a woman in his life. Shuichi, depressed by this, asks Hiro...if he'll kiss him?! Woah! Didn't see that coming! Hiro tells him he can for 10K yen (which would be about...128 dollars. Steep prices Hiro). Shuichi lets it go and then says something interesting.

...Have they done this before? Do they do this on a regular basis? That's what the dialogue seems to be implying. Now, in the real world, best friends don't make out with each other for money. As far as I know. But in a yaoi series you usually follow the Golden Rule: Everyone male is gay unless proven otherwise. At first glance I wouldn't say Hiro has feelings for Shuichi or any other man but I'm not discounting the possibility either. Either way, the scene shifts to show a woman with long hair on the roof of a building angry that Yuki cancelled a date with her because of urgent business. This is not the first time this has happened I would guess.

The next day, after school, Shuichi goes to Yuki's apartment again to thank him for coming to the live show and to ask him what's between him and Seguchi. Surprisingly, the woman not only answers the door but also knows exactly who Shuichi is! At first it seems like Yuki is being all buddy buddy with Shuichi because he's lightening up but nope, it's all an act and if Shuichi doesn't play along Yuki will beat the crap out of him. Oh Yuki. Still such a dick. And now to multiple people! He's only doing this to drive this woman away. This woman who is supposed to be his girlfriend. Will this be the last we see of this woman? I have a weird feeling it's not, but who can say for sure. Anyway, Yuki invites Shuichi in. Shuichi tells him he shouldn't be so mean to people and Yuki tells him in return that he should be happy he drove her away. Yuki calls Shuichi out on his feelings (specifically that Shuichi keeps coming back to Yuki because what he has to say is new to him and it's coming from a source of someone who is accomplished in a literary field). Not to mention that he knows Shuichi actually LIKES him! Poor Shuichi tries to explain himself, asking Yuki how his date went. Yuki tells him point blank that he doesn't get involved with guys and calls Shuichi a pervert for his troubles. I can't say I'm surprised but man...Total dick. Then Shuichi is awesome again.

That's right Shuichi! Yell at him! Don't let him walk all over you! Just because he's a successful novelist doesn't mean that he can say whatever he wants. Not surprisingly, Yuki gets pissed at Shuichi mouthing off to him. He tells Shuichi that he went to the live show because he wanted to. Nothing more or less. And then we get our first kiss of the manga!

Aw yeah. Unfortunately it's ruined because Yuki "gets his reason back" and kicks Shuichi out, hoping that their little make out session "satisfied him". What the hell? Who does this?! That's so manipulative! Despite the dickishness (Yuki's such a dick I have to make up new words to describe it!) of Yuki, Shuichi still has feelings for him though he's trying not to admit it to himself. The next day there's a history exam that Shuichi is NOT ready for and freaks out about. While he's taking the exam, he has his hair done up with rubber bands. This is not the first time I've seen guys in anime and manga tie their hair up when they study or take tests. I have no idea why that is. It always stands out to me but it does make me wonder. I mean, their hair isn't in their eyes or anything...whatever.

Right in the middle of the exam, Yuki's girlfriend from earlier bursts in to the classroom demanding to know where Shuichi is. She drags him out of the classroom and into her car and then...Oh wow I didn't see this coming.

...So that answers that then! Don't I feel like an idiot.

Moving right along! She wants to talk to Shuichi about his attempts to "entice" Yuki. She takes Shuichi to a bar and we find out her name is Mika. The bartender knows her familiarly so she's probably a regular here. Tellingly she introduces Shuichi as "Yuki's latest toy". Geez, so Shuichi is just the first in a long line of people that Yuki just plays around with? It's like every page brings a new act of dickery from Yuki! My God! Still, Shuichi tells her that he didn't do anything to entice Yuki and she shouldn't be mad at him. And just to make things stranger and more confusing, Seguchi is meeting Mika at the bar which is apparently closed today. What is going on here? Why are they meeting? Why are they allowed into this bar when it's closed? So Seguchi is Mika's husband and...

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WHAT?! Wait..waitwaitwaitwait WAIT! What the hell is going on here?! How is she Yuki's girlfriend if she's already married to Seguchi? Is she a beard for Yuki? ...Are they actually going out? Neither Mika or Yuki have ever referred to them being in a relationship. Mika says that she's going to give Shuichi a chance to persuade him, asking him how much he'd give to be in a relationship with Yuki. Shuichi tells her he's up for it and Mika says that he's going to help him "persuade my brother". Aha! So she's NOT going out with Yuki at all!

That ends Track 3 and holy crap I am really starting to like this series! Mika's introduction to the series has really added a new dynamic to the story. Now Shuichi has someone on the inside to help him, someone that's not only connected to Yuki to help him pursue a relationship but also to Seguchi to help him further his band career. I already like Mika a lot since she's a very no nonsense woman who isn't afraid to say what's on her mind. I  have no proof of her intentions, but I have a feeling that Mika is a lot like Maiko. She just wants her brother to have a lover in his life. I have a feeling things are really going to start picking up now.

Tune in tomorrow for Gravitation: Track 4! See you then.