This is what happens when you get so many ideas for posts. You end up finishing nothing. Or at least, it takes you days and weeks to finish at least one of the posts, due to the lack of focus. On top of that, if you get sidetracked by a spur-of-the-moment excitement / fangirling, you end up finishing another post instead. *points to self, and this post .___.*

I happened to read the 2nd spinoff manga chapter of Honey and Clover just yesterday, and thought that it might be a good idea to share about this sweet little chapter. It’s been more than a year since the first spin-off story was released. That story focused mainly on the marriage of Yamada’s brother, and just featured this little scene Nomiya’s heroic deed of eating and even praising Yamada’s horrendous Akane-esque cooking. This time around, Umino Chika allowed us to see more of Yamada and Nomiya’s relationship :3

Despite not being overly fangirl-gaga over H&C, I remember this inkling desire I had to see Yamada and Mayama end up together, which was obviously impossible with Mayama’s unshaken love for Rika. I sympathize with both Yamada and Rika, but the former character grew on me on a far greater scale.

This is probably why I’ve eventually grown to support Yamada x Nomiya, happy as I am that she finally found someone who will love her truly, madly, deeply. As such, it was to my delight that this spin-off story focused on the relationship between these two, considering how little we see of them in the entire series. Here’s to hoping that the later spin-off stories will focus on the other characters, particularly Hagu, Morita and Takemoto

On to the story~

It was a usual day in the Fujiwara Design office, where rumors of the smooth-sailing relationship of Mayama and Rika is the current hot topic. Miwako, Yamazaki and Nomiya were too engrossed with the discussion to notice Yamada’s presence, who came to their office to deliver some stuff. It goes without saying that she heard the Mayama x Rika ラブラブstories.

Yamada leaves the office accompanied by Nomiya, still dazed in thoughts of Mayama, who hasn’t shown himself to neither Hagu, Hanamoto-sensei or her for the past months(? this is just a speculation, since I’m not sure how much time passed since the last spin-off chapter). Nomiya explains how work has been difficult for Mayama as of late, since he’s been taking care of business affairs in Japan in the absence of their company president Rika, who is still in Spain. Nomiya finds it weird that he’s defending Mayama’s side of the story like he’s his lawyer or something

Yamada gets into a sort-of panic after having realized that she’s having her Mayama love blues again, when she’s actually [semi] going-out with Nomiya now. She tries to divert the topic, but Nomiya knows her too well, and spares her the trouble of monologuing. He monologues in her behalf, to make the scene shoujo manga-esque

（Nomiya monologue for Yamada): Gawd, what am I doing! I keep on babbling about Mayama as though I’m still hang-up on him. I can’t go on like this… if Nomiya-san finds out about this…

（Nomiya monologue for Yamada): To think that I’m sort-of going-out with Ninomiya now…

(loool xDD)

Yamada refrains Nomiya from reading her mind, which goes to say that what he said is all true (that she’s still hung-up on him). A moment of awkward silence passes, before Yamada frantically denies what Nomiya said about her “thoughts”. Despite feeling hurt that Yamada still hasn’t completely gotten over Mayama, Nomiya certainly understands her situation. There are still shards from her past love which still affects her from time to time, and is still on the verge of moving on.

Nomiya assures that there’s nothing wrong with it (although there is), gives her the usual pat on the head and smiles at the sight of her ever-lucid expressive face which outright shows her emotions. And then he once again monologues in behalf of Yamada lol.

（Nomiya monologue for Yamada): What am I to do… Nomiya’s gonna think that I’m such a troublesome woman…

Yamada gets all frantic again, but Nomiya tells her that he’s simply saying what’s written all over her face.

Yamazaki and Miwako watch the couple from afar, remarking how Nomiya is giving his all without being hasty when it comes to Yamada. Yamazaki looks back at the time he asked Nomiya what he likes most about Yamada. Nomiya’s. “The transparency of her emotions, lucidly written all over her face”, according to Nomiya. That same night at the bar, Nomiya confides how he finds Mayama similar to his past forsaken self. But then Yamada comes along, loving this man who wears the suit of youth he tried so hard to get rid of. Nomiya found this an assurance, that Yamada would be the kind of person who can accept that past self of his. Someone who can fully embrace him for who he really is.

Sunday comes and Nomiya accompanies Yamada in her pottery work, where they talk about Hagu and Hanamoto-sensei. From Yamada, we learn about the steady progress of Hagu’s rehabilitation. She even made a dove clay sculpture for Yamada, as part of her ongoing rehab. The need for a bigger artist studio and storehouse compelled Hagu and Hanamoto-sensei to move out to Nagano. While on the topic of Nagoya, Nomiya suggests they visit his hometown there, where they can build a noborigama kiln (multi-chamber climbing kiln used for glazed pottery) along the slope of his grandpa’s mountain. Yamada couldn’t contain her excitement at the mention of noborigama, more so when Nomiya talked about the good soil they have, with the presence of fellow potters in the area.

Nomiya also suggests inviting Hagu to their house, where she and Yamada can have some quality [pottery] bonding time (which will also be good for Hagu’s rehab). Yamada can even bring her parents along, where they can relax in the nearby onsen, if she wants. Or better yet, they can already arrange plans for building their own house, according to Nomiya. It would actually make things tad convenient for Yamada, both in her pottery work and spending time with her friends.

Upon realizing the meaning of his words, Yamada finds herself in a temporary state of shock, losing all faculties to think and speak. Nomiya just laughs at Yamada’s bewildered expression, telling her that he’s never gonna get tired of looking at her. Nomiya may have passed that last suggestion as a joke, but he’s most likely serious about that. :3

*plays Waltz for BGM effect *

UPDATE: ok, I made some booboo in my summary, but I believe you guys were wise enough to decipher some of the gibberish English I had earlier in this post of mine lol.

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