So he's quitting more out of family pressure than anything else. I wonder if Yuuzi will ever show up in the manga? I think it depends on how big of a part Hiro will play in the story. If anything, it would be part of his character arc. Shuichi asks him if he's really okay with quitting guitar and he just says that he's sorry. The scene shifts after this to Maiko and...some guy with glasses. Oh wait! They mentioned this guy way back in the first chapter! When Maiko was saying that Shuichi should get a girlfriend and he said that Maiko only wanted him to have a girlfriend because she was in a relationship and thought he should be too. They never gave a name, just showed a picture of a guy with glasses, so I'm assuming this is him. Regardless, he's the student president and he tells Maiko that Hiro is resigning from being this year's graduation representative. Huh. I didn't know he was in the first place. Does this mean he doesn't intend to graduate anymore? Is it related to the talk he had with Shuichi?
Speaking of Shuichi, when he gets to school he's accosted by a group of students who are angry at him for taking away the entertainment for graduation. Apparently Bad Luck was going to play as a sort of farewell concert since Hiro doesn't intend to keep playing guitar. Hiro complains they're all being too loud and Shuichi loses his temper, yelling that if Hiro was so unhappy playing guitar he should have quit a long time ago, calling him less than worthless. Wow Shuichi...Hiro responds as well as you'd expect.
Hiro yells at Shuichi to just leave him alone, saying that Shuichi is being selfish. Shuichi responds by punching Hiro right back in the face, refusing to leave him alone. They trade blows and insults until the teacher arrives in the classroom, holding Shuichi back. Shuichi yells that he though that they were best friends and that Hiro is always running away. The teacher tells him to stop hitting Hiro since his appearance is important for the entrance exams that are coming up. Shuichi is still angry while Hiro apologizes again, understanding now why Shuichi is so upset about him giving up guitar.
After school, Shuichi goes to Yuki's place, unable to go home with his face in the condition it's in from the fight. Yuki is reticent about letting Shuichi come inside but once he starts sniffling Yuki relents and lets him come inside. Shuichi tells him about what happened and Yuki tells him not to worry. People fight all the time. Shuichi tries to raise doubts but Yuki is annoyed by all the noise, especially since he has a deadline coming up in fifty hours.Shuichi apologizes and Yuki offers him a drink. Shuichi refuses and they both sit on the couch, Yuki telling him that if he wants anything, he just as to ask. They're silent, but it's clear to both of them what Shuichi wants. Yuki begins a countdown for him to ask and Shuichi finally says he wants a kiss. They start making out but Shuichi collapses on top of Yuki, raising his all his doubts, worried about Hiro, wanting him to keep playing guitar but not wanting to get in the way of his parent's expectations. Yuki tells him to settle down and says that he's not a bad guy. He then tells Shuichi he's "considerably amazing" since the way Shuichi likes people goes beyond gender. This shocks Shuichi as much as the audience since Yuki almost never says anything nice to Shuichi's face. Of course, promptly after that, this happens.
Shuichi tries to get Yuki to a more comfortable position rather than on the floor, but he can't move him. He also mentions that seeing Yuki sleeping is "not cute" but he's not fooling anyone. Your blush gives you away Shuichi Shindo! So he decides to just hold Yuki's head on his lap as he thinks about Hiro. Shuichi has been so focused on pursuing his dream so recklessly if he's been neglecting Hiro's thoughts on the matter. What if he really does want to become a doctor and as a consequence of that he has to stop playing guitar? It's not necessarily wrong and it's a bit selfish of Shuichi to keep him tied to the band if he can't be.
The next day, while walking, Hiro runs into, surprise surprise, his brother! From now on, every time a name is mentioned, I'm going to assume the character will show up within the chapter or in the next chapter. It always seems to happen.
Hiro was actually on the way back from taking a test (the entrance exams I assume) and he says he didn't do a very good job. His brother mentions that everyone believes he'll pass eventually so he shouldn't worry. Hiro, however, is convinced that he'll fail no matter what his brother says because he nearly fell asleep during the test. Yuuzi tells him not to worry about it, that whatever happens, happens. He's not exactly having the best luck via work either, having failed another audition (he's an actor). Hiro tells him that their parents are going to be disappointed in him for still working freelance at age 23. Yuuzi tells him he doesn't care. It's his life and he's going to live it the way he wants to. Okay, I love this guy already. I feel the exact same way! Listen to your awesome brother Hiro! Hiro knows that he's not like his brother, though there's something about his carefree demeanor that reminds him of someone. Do you know who he means? I'll give you a hint: It's Shuichi. Because, duh.
Hiro asks Yuuzi how he knows he's happy with is life and Yuuzi replies because he likes the things he does. Therefore he's happy. He knows that his dreams won't come true unless he puts in the effort to make them come true. And thus we come to find out why Hiro keeps running away and why he's not doing as well as he should be: He lacks self confidence. Because of this he ended up throwing away his friendship with Shuichi but now that he's realized this, as Shuichi has realized his own shortcomings, surely now they will get back together in the band, right? God I hope so.
In the next scene, graduation is here! The student president (does he have a name? If he does I can't remember and I don't really care at this point in time. I'll remember it if he becomes important later on) asks Maiko if Shuichi and Hiro have made up yet and she responds "No, not even close". Damn! On the bright side (though it is somewhat bitter given the circumstances) Hiro has apparently done very well on his exams. During the ceremony, Hiro gives the closing speech. Shuichi is determined to apologize to Hiro for what's happened because he's such a good friend, even if they are going their separate ways. Hiro then shocks the audience by saying that not only did he fail the exams (WHAT?!) he's going to devote himself to being Shuichi's sole guitarist (WHAT, WHAT?!). Shuichi storms out of the assembly and Hiro catches up with him, apologizing again.
And so, Hiro and Shuichi perform on stage again, horrifying Hiro's mother. Mika tells her to settle down and congratulates her. She doesn't get why but all is revealed as Sakano is there as well, offering Shuichi and Hiro the chance to make a CD. Hell. Yeah.
I loved this chapter. It had some great character development, gave the plot another kick in the pants, and gave Hiro some screen time after being largely absent the last few chapters. I've also noticed that the artwork is improving which is a definite plus. However, I'm still worried about when the transition is going to be made between the way Shuichi looks now and the pink haired effeminate boy he'll eventually become. I try not to think about it.
Tune in tomorrow for Gravitation: Track 7! See you then.
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