#case 10

Our chapter begins with a flashback from Minato’s childhood. He overhears and sees his mother, who is all dressed up prepared to go out, talking to her husband on the phone. She is upset that he is once again not coming home on time/is late, but tells him she understands since it’s work and that can’t be helped sometimes. She keeps telling him “It’s okay, don’t worry. I’ll be waiting for you. Good luck with work. It’s okay, it’s fine...” while grasping onto her clothes tightly.

Back to the present, Minato is woken up from this dream by the cafe staff member. Minato is told it’s 6:30pm, 4.5 hours after he was supposed to meet up with Shizuma. Visibly annoyed and unable to smoke in the cafe to calm down, he orders a parfait and a cup of coffee.

While eating his food, he curses at Shizuma, saying Shizuma’s got some nerve to break his promise and not make it for the house tour after suggesting and persuading Minato to live together and getting him (Minato) all excited for it.

When he’s about to give up on the idea of living with Shizuma, Minato overhears the couple behind him. The man apologises to the woman for being late as his train was delayed. She tells him she thought he wouldn’t be coming to meet her, but now that he’s there, she excitedly tells him they should hurry to the movie theatre.

Minato, who is still annoyed, relaxes a little and becomes more visibly upset, wondering what his “liar” of a boyfriend is doing. Knowing Shizuma wouldn’t break his promise and be late for no reason (especially since he works at the clinic and has crazy work hours), Minato still can’t help but feel a bit down. He then looks up if there have been any traffic accidents near by, worried that Shizuma might have gotten into an accident.

As he frantically scrolls through the news, Minato continues to remember what happened to his mother (see Therapy Game for that info), and sighs, knowing Shizuma wouldn’t disappear like his mother did. He then blames his dream AND Shizuma (who broke his promise) for his current feelings. Minato thinks to himself that he’s in a good place now and doesn’t want all these memories coming back to haunt him again.

The cafe owner approaches Minato again, asking if he’s waiting for his girlfriend and if he’d like another cup of coffee while he waits. Looking at the now closed real estate agency, he refuses and says he’ll be leaving.

We change scenes to Shizuma’s workplace where he’s now giving an update on Hana-chan’s operation to her owners. In short, the 2nd and 3rd puppies couldn’t be delivered naturally, so Hana-chan had to have a caesarean. It was successful and she’s now still a little loopy on the anaesthetic. She can produce her own milk, feed her babies, and can be discharged in 3 days. Overjoyed, the owners thanks Shizuma profusely, even though he tells them it was because of Onodera.

As Shizuma goes to the locker room to change out of his scrubs, he is very relieved that the surgery went well, but he also realises he’s super late for his appointment with Minato, afraid that Minato will give up on the idea all together. He is afraid to check his phone.

Onodera then enters the room and thanks Shizuma for working outside of his work hours, saying she couldn’t have done it without him. She also thanks Shizuma for showing her a how to interact with people since he was able to calm the owners down and help them. Shizuma, being very humble and modest, said he stepped out of line speaking like that as he only wanted to change their minds about Onodera performing the surgery.

Onodera goes on say that she lacks the ability to converse and interact with humans as she just doesn’t have the skills for social interaction, which then affects her ability to help her animal patients despite having the medical skills and qualifications to do so.

She continues to talk about how people can’t “read” what she’s thinking or feeling and that she wouldn’t have been a vet if it wasn’t a request from her father, but is interupted when the microwave isn’t working. She apologises to Shizuma for a downer of a conversation, but he tells her that he made the right choice working with her. He goes on the tell her that he’s been able to help out at the clinic now and for her to use him more.

Shizuma gives her a bit of a pep talk, telling her that she’s got her awkward and unfriendly colleagues as well as Shizuma by her side if people won’t trust in her abilities and work. He also says compared to her colleagues, he finds Onodera to be more adorable/endearing.

Shizuma fixes the microwave--the button just needed to be pushed a little harder. Just as he does that, Onodera’s brother comes in and apologises for being late. Shizuma informs him of everything that’s happened, and Onodera praises Shizuma, telling her brother to let him help out more. Shizuma is surprised by this sudden praise, and Onodera’s brother is thankful for the extra set of hands to help him out!

During this conversation, Onodera called Shizuma “Iijima-sensei” once again, but this time Shizuma corrects her, telling her that the first step to building a good relationship with others is to remember their name. Shizuma then excuses himself and leaves.

Onodera and her brother talk. We find out that Onodera’s brother is Shizuma’s professor and seems to have placed Shizuma at her clinic since he is a “go-getting” and very motivated student, the type Onodera doesn’t seem to get on with. However, things seemed to have worked out this time and Onodera’s brother is glad he introduced Shizuma to her. Their scene ends with her brother telling her that she should see their father, and that she’d probably be told off for her hair again. She tells him he’s spoiled the mood.

We then see Shizuma walking the streets in the rain, checking his phone. Surprised that Minato hasn’t contacted him, he fears Minato is infuriated with him. As he tries to call Minato, he thinks to himself and isn’t surprised that Minato would be mad, especially since he persuaded Minato into living together. Wondering if Minato is at the cafe or has gone home, Shizuma is adament on seeing Minato today, even if Minato doesn’t want to see him. Just as Shizuma thinks that, Minato picks up the phone and responds to Shizuma with just a simple “what.”

Frantically trying to find out where Minato is, Shizuma bumps into a pedestrian and apologises profusely while Minato is still on the call. Minato tells Shizuma not to worry and that hurrying to see him wouldn’t change anything anyway since the real estate agency is already closed. Shizuma keeps asking Minato where he is because Shizuma still wants to see him. Minato keeps telling him not to hurry. Just as Shizuma reaches the parking lot to go to his car, we see that Minato is already waiting for him there.

Minato, with his nose a little red and looking slightly annoyed, tells a very surprised Shizuma that he is very late.

Completely flabbergasted, Shizuma asks Minato why he’s waiting at his (Shizuma’s) car since he though Minato would have gone home already. Minato tells him that he wouldn’t be able to sleep if he didn’t get to hit Shizuma, but then proceeds to sneeze. Worried, Shizuma cups his palm on Minato’s cold face and asks how long he’s been waiting in the rain. Shizuma also tells Minato that he could’ve waited at the cafe or the hospital instead. Minato, shifting his gaze away from Shizuma, tells him he’s being too noisy and that guys who break their promises are the worst. Minato holds onto Shizuma’s hand and closes his eyes. Seeing and hearing this, Shizuma embraces Minato under his (Minato’s) umbrella.

Shizuma agrees with what Minato said and apologises for breaking his promise, saying “it must’ve been cold (waiting for me in the rain).” Minato then falls deeper into the embrace, saying it’s (now) warm. He then says he’s relieved that Shizuma is alive (after having worried earlier in the chapter). Since the rain drowned out what Minato was saying, Shizuma doesn’t hear it and asks him to repeat what he said. Minato looks at Shizuma and smiles, saying it’s wasn’t anything important anyway, and that it’s okay.

And that’s it for this chapter! It wrapped up really nicely! AHHHHHH my feelings! There’s something about resolutions in the rain that really get me right in the heart. 🥰😭

I hope you enjoyed the manga panels integrated in the summary--I think it helps visualise the story a little better. Let me know what you think about this! 😊

Again, THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR! 💜 📢  As always, please support Hinohara-sensei by purchasing her books and CDs! 📢 Just another reminder that this issue did have a Therapy Game Mini Drama CD, and might I just say, it was very adorable! Worth purchasing, I promise!

There won’t be a new chapter in the next issue of Dear+ BUT there will be a special interview with the cast regarding the release of the Therapy Game+ Play More Drama CD! 🎉 🎉