As usual, nothing about the cover equals what is in the chapter. We are close... SO CLOSE! But not yet...

As we saw, Doumeki tries to stand at Yashiro's request and is so dizzy Yashiro gets concerned and helps him to his bed.

Doumeki grabs Yashiro's hand and asks him not to leave, and then faints.

Yashiro being the good nurse he is, stays and nurses Doumeki while he sleeps.

Doumeki wakes up, feeling better, and finds Yashiro asleep by the bed.

This sight is a surprise to Doumeki and like always, a tender moment is interrupted.

Tsunakawa calls and tells Doumeki to come see him, and Yashiro wakes up.

Seeing Doumeki's distress, he asks if Tsunakawa called, then apologizes for falling asleep because Doumeki wouldn't let go of his hand and he felt compelled to take care of him. (Sure....)

Doumeki asks why Yashiro came there before (when Kamiya and mama were there). Yashiro pretends he can't remember why, and asks Doumeki if letting mama leave was good idea. Doumeki asks Yashiro if he ever said they were dating.

Doumeki explains that she was a childhood friend and that's all. He says that he was a "tattoo practice table" HAHAHAH!

Yashiro tries to avoid confrontation by saying that he doesn't care who Doumeki sees and he can have sex with anyone.

Doumeki raises his voice and tells Yashiro that even now he's still chasing him and asks if Yashiro is behaving this way because he's "running away." He asks him if it's better if Yashiro hears it from Doumeki's own mouth that he still thinks of him.

Doumeki tells him "Do you really think I'll fall in love with someone other than you?"

Pretty sure we all feel this scene. Doumeki tells Yashiro everything and we see a series of flashbacks of when he came to work for Tsunakawa and when he eventually ran into Yashiro again. He tells him he was jealous and stupid. He wanted to avoid Yashiro until he could stand shoulder to shoulder with him as equals. But he couldn't help it once he'd seen him.

Doumeki touches Yashiro's face and asks if he can see. He asks if it's his fault that this happened 4 years ago.

This exchange needs a real translator to word it right, but it appears that Yashiro tells him that it's not his fault and that Doumeki always blaming himself is too much for Yashiro. (I might be off the mark. He says he's being too self-conscious about it, but I get the feeling that this is the part that Yashiro always "hated" about Doumeki. The part of him that makes him want to "destroy" him.) Doumeki says "To me you are a kind, strong and beautiful person."

Yashiro is annoyed now and doesn't want to listen to this anymore.

Yashiro asks why he is telling him this now, after hiding it for so long. Why tell him now?

Doumeki doesn't answer.

And now it's time to stand on business. Come on, Yashiro!!!! CHASE HIM!!!

That's 64. (SOBBBBBBBBBING!!!!!!!!!!)

Boy oh boy was that DARK! Yes, confessions. Yashiro got all of it at once! But OMG, I don't know what Doumeki is thinking because the face he leaves with is determined!!!

Maybe I wasn't ready after all!!!

I won't go too heavy because the spoilers of what happened are already there. But I have said it so many times before, that the spoiler-folk always leave out important things that we of the fandom NEED to know.

Like, Yashiro has a hot bartender!

From the official teasers we have already learned that Yashiro is messed up by Doumeki's confusing display of affection.

Misumi comes to see Yashiro to talk about what happened. And to tell him to stay away from Doumeki. Yashiro says that Misumi didn't need to visit in person for that, if that's all he came for.

Misumi discusses how Okuyama is proving to be problematic, and if he joins the Kokusekai (I think that's the one; they all sound the same), then it will cause Misumi to lose face with his executive board. When Misumi talks about how Yashiro handled the Yamakawa issue and how he basically lied to Tsunakawa, Yashiro grins.

Yashiro is proud of himself.

Misumi can't be the one to handle the dirty stuff, so he wants Yashiro to do it. He asks Yashiro again if he still doesn't want his own group. Yashiro confirms that he doesn't, so Misumi gives him a side quest to find the gunman and bring him something to appease the executive board.

Yashiro is watching Misumi leave… and realizes that he is just a pet. This scene looks like a parallel to Chapter 1!! (Right before Doumeki saved the day.) Nanahara calls him to say that Kamiya came to the hospital with Doumeki, who has a high fever. When Yashiro asked if he was there with Kageyama, Nanahara replied that Kage got angry and yelled at Kamiya, saying he's not a Yakuza doctor and there are no beds available. So he sent Doumeki home.

Nanahara says he'll do some investigating about Kai and Yashiro says he'll poke around too.

Kamiya takes Doumeki home and is complaining about how heavy Doumeki is and that he should try to walk and help him out. LOL! He sees Izumi-mama standing at Doumeki's door because she heard about the shooting. Kamiya demands she help him with Doumeki. LOL!

They put Doumeki to bed and Kamiya is surprised when Izumi-mama says she hasn't been to Doumeki's apartment before, and he asks her why because aren't they dating?

This is rare sight to see. They start talking about what happened and how Doumeki screwed up by saving Yashiro instead of Tsunakawa.

Kamiya left Doumeki's door open and Yashiro overhears them talking.

Yashiro comes in and Kamiya says he's surprised to see someone like Yashiro at Doumeki's place and Yashiro says he heard from Nanahara that Doumeki had a fever.

Yashiro says he's sorry for intruding and he was going to go home. Kamiya says "Already? I thought you came to say thank you."

Izumi-mama is about to ask Yashiro to stay, but Doumeki wakes up at the sound of Yashiro's voice and bolts up out of bed so fast to stop Yashiro from leaving. Yashiro turns around and sees Doumeki's incredibly troubled face, and the look on Yashiro's face when Doumeki says, "Wait... please don't go home."

Doumeki sinks to the floor, very feverish but refuses to let go of Yashiro.

Izumi-mama collects Kamiya and tells him they are leaving. I love this page because I think Yashiro got what he needed to know about her. Her look and immediate actions say she's known all along, and she gracefully relinquishes Doumeki to Yashiro's care.

In the car, Izumi-mama tells Kamiya that she and Doumeki have never been a thing, and that she always thought there was someone else. But they chose to not tell the truth about their relationship because it was more convenient that way. She doesn't tell Kamiya that she was Doumeki's tattoo artist, we only see her in action. But she decides she's going to close the cabaret club and do something else... I'm thinking... tattoo artist? I wonder if she does pearlings, because Ryuuzaki will be needing some new ones when he gets out of prison and they might make a cute couple.

She is all of us.

Yoneda Kou is slated for the next issue out January 30th, which is YASHIRO'S BIRTHDAY!!!! I hope he gets a lovely chapter with some lovely confessions of love!

CHAPTER 61 SUMMARY

First we have the title page with a gorgeous illustration of Doumeki and Yashiro. Yashiro is leaning on Doumeki's shoulder with his eyes closed and D has his eyes downcast, looking protective.

The text says どうしたら、一緒にいられるー which translates to "What can I do, to be able to stay with you?" There aren't any pronouns or context clues giving away who's thought this might be (which seems to be a trend recently?) so I think this line could be attributed to either D or Y.

The chapter opens seconds after the ending of ch 60. Doumeki has been shot and is kneeling in front of Yashiro. Yashiro has a look of horror on his face as he takes in just how injured D really is. D stands and claims that the bullet just grazed him, clearly a lie considering the immense pain that's apparent on his face. Muraji marches over and grabs D by his collar, berating him for not protecting Tsunakawa. Muraji throws D against the car at which point Tsunakawa steps in to stop the violence. Tsuna goes on to confirm that Yashiro is alright and remarks that if something had happened to Yashiro, Misumi wouldn't have been pleased. Tsuna points out that the police will surely be there soon to respond to the gun fire, so they should disperse. He orders Muraji to stay and deal with Doumeki and the aftermath of the shooting. Tsunakawa gets into his car and says to the underling driving (I can't believe we haven't learned this guy's name yet lol) that they can use this as an excuse to destroy them all (I assume he means Ryuuzu and Okuyamagumi?). He implies that he'll have Okuyama himself get involved.

As they start to drive away, Tsunakawa recalls the sight of Doumeki, covering Yashiro during the shooting and he doesn't look pleased as he remembers. Meanwhile, Doumeki is lying weakly against the car that Muraji had slammed him against. Muraji orders another underling to carry D inside while Yashiro looks on with an inscrutable expression. There's a slight time skip and we're in a car with Yashiro, Nanahara, and Doumeki, who's in the backseat, condition deteriorating. Yashiro orders Nana to drive faster, though he's maintaining his usual cool demeanor. Nana does as he's told. There's a one panel flashback to the scene back at Sakuraikka's mansion. We're shown Yashiro telling the underling carrying Doumeki that it would likely be bad/troublesome to keep an injured person there at the mansion. This was Yashiro's indirect way of getting Doumeki into his care and Nanahara knows it. There's another small time skip and we're in Kageyama's clinic. Nana is carrying a barely conscious Doumeki, his arm flung over Nana's shoulder. As soon as Kageyama realizes who's injured and how seriously he springs into action to care for D.

Some time later, Yashiro is waiting in the hallway smoking a cigarette when Nana approaches and informs him that Sakuraikka will send Kamiya to collect Doumeki later. He also says he needs to leave to deal with something concerning Yamakawa. As he turns to go, he looks over his shoulder at Yashiro, clearly concerned but unable to say anything, as it would overstep his bounds.

Kage exits D's room into the hallway. He's surprised that Y is still there. He tells Y that D is stable and while he lost a lot of blood and tissue, he's going to be alright. Y makes a snarky remark about D not dying and Kage retorts. This leads to a conversation about how D got injured. Kage is aware that D was protecting Y (and not protecting Tsuna) and that led to his injury. Y says that D was an idiot to do such a thing and that surely the matter "isn't over". Kage gives him a knowing stare and says, "Yeah, you're right, it probably isn't." It seems like Kage is clearly alluding to Y and D's entanglement not being over, but Y is referring to D's situation with Tsunakawa and Kage's double meaning apparently goes over his head.

Kage leaves Yashiro and now Yashiro is alone in the hallway, facing the door to D's room. Y seems to steel himself (though still keeping his poker face) and then stands up and enters the room.

He draws back the curtain surrounding D's hospital bed and finds D, apparently asleep, looking so fragile and human. D is covered in Y's shadow as Y looks at him, his poker face falling the slightest to reveal his fatigue. Y begins to reach out his hand to D, but he stops short and turns to leave. D stops him by calling out Y's name and asking, "Aren't you going to ask?" Y says he isn't going to. We see two panels of D's face, one is surprise at Y's response and the second is pained acceptance. (I think we've seen this kind of expression from D a few times before. To me, he seems to make this face when he was expecting Y to take a step toward a closer relationship but then realizes that D must be the one to do it.)

D says that he was returning the favor. Y doesn't understand so D goes on to say that D was protected by Y in the past. Y still doesn't get it so D says that when he first joined Y's group as a yakuza member he understood nothing and because of that, even though D wanted to protect Y, in the end D was protect by Y instead. That's what he was returning by protecting Y during the shooting. Y gives D a perplexed look over his shoulder. He turns to leave once again, beginning to slide open the hospital room door and says that D is mistaken. He says that Tsunakawa won't look favorably on what D has done. Suddenly, D's hand slams down on the door and stops Y from leaving. D has dragged himself from the hospital bed and is standing behind Y, framing him with both arms against the door, his head nearly resting on the back of Y's head. D seems to have lost control of himself and he begins to say something but catches himself and pulls back. (To me, it seems like he was about to say something along the lines of "Well if Tsunakawa is going to throw me away then you should take me" but he stops talking waaay before what he wants to say is made clear.) D withdraws his hands and arms, freeing Y, and apologizes, saying the fever is making him act strange. D tells Y to leave because D's fine now. Y watches D withdraw, sweat from the effort of moving across the room gathering on the back of his neck, his breathing labored. Y doesn't seem quite sure what to make of the interaction.

The last page of the chapter is three panels. In the first, Y has exited D's room and is perched against the door, seeming to have realized something or to be on the verge of understanding. The middle panel shows D, having returned to his hospital bed, sitting pensively. And the last panel is a close up of D's face, his right hand covering most of his face, wearing a truly defeated and exhausted expression.

END OF SUMMARY

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First is that lovely chapter cover page. I wrote about it here, and I assumed that the text on this page was coming from Yashiro's point of view, but it's interesting to think about the text from Doumeki's point of view as well (the reason for that will become clear by the end of the summary). So the text could read "Even though I know [you're / he's / I'm] not [my / your] subordinate anymore...", depending on from whose point of viewing you’re taking it. (Bless Japanese for being able to function perfectly well without the use of pronouns.)

The chapter opens on one of D and Y's trysts that we've heard about. D is doing Y from behind, D's facial expressions are passionate and a bit sad too, Y seems lost in the sex but also distressed. D flips Y around so they're facing each other, D's hands behind Y's knees, holding his legs. Y doesn't protest verbally, but he starts to hide his face from D's view so D pins Y's wrists to the bed.

Just then, Y's phone begins to ring. Y breathlessly asks D to wait as he reaches for his phone, D's hand still around his wrist. D doesn't allow it and kisses Yashiro deeply (forcefully). The phone continues to ring and Y protests, saying that he has to answer. D gazes soberly at Y as he tries to reach for his phone again then kisses Y and grinds into him even harder. Y protests, but D ignores him. The phone continues to ring as D brings Y to completion and again they kiss deeply (forcefully?). Y tells D to take it out and it seems like he listens this time.

When they've finished and D is starting to put his clothes on, Y returns the missed call. It's not clearly stated, but it seems to be Nanahara on the phone (who doesn't think he's speaking to Yashiro because his voice is messed up from sex lol). Y directs Nana to tell Sugimoto to pick something up. He also tells Nana to think about where to release someone (we can deduce that he's talking about Yamakawa, but D doesn't know that).

Y tells D to leave if he already got what he came for. D tells Y that Sakuraikka plans to go after Kai and Ryuuzu to destroy them. Y doesn't seem surprised by that information. D tells Y that he's heard of someone in Y's orbit being attacked (presumably by Ryuuzu). Y confirms that it was his underling and continues to say that Ryuuzu and Doushinkai have been fighting for a while and that he needs to know the extent to which Ryuuzu and Okuyamagumi are entwined. D responds by saying definitively that the only connection between Okuyamagumi and Ryuuzu is Kai. Y looks slightly amused at D's authoritative declaration and asks him incredulously if he knows something. D responds by saying that Sakuraikka will take care of Ryuuzu and that Y has no need to get involved. Y says that it's true that Misumi has directed him to keep the appearance of not being involved. D pauses and asks why Misumi has chosen to share information about the situation with Y, even though Y is no longer fully a member of Doushinkai. Y looks just a bit wistful as he says, "That's the yakuza world. It's his way of collaring me." D seems to be pained by this though he doesn't show it.

Y then asks off handedly why D became a yakuza member, going so far as to get a huge tattoo. D looks truly surprised by the question (to me it looks like he's screaming, "Because of you, dummy!!" in his head lol), but he keeps his cool and says it's because it was the only path for him. D exits Y's place. After D's gone, Y says to himself that D had so many other paths he could have chosen.

The story turns to Kai and Ryuuzu. Nishio is beating the crap out of another of Kai's subordinates who is apologizing futilely for losing Yamakawa. Kai says that no matter if Yamakawa had help escaping or if he ran on his own, he's going to get it. He directs Nishio to set something up before their info gets handed over by Yamakawa, presumably to Sakuraikka.

The story then turns to Sakuraikka. It seems to be morning and Tsunakawa, Muraji, and Doumeki are walking the halls of the Sakuraikka estate. Muraji informs Tsuna that Yashiro suddenly contacted and said he was coming to visit. D looks concerned by this news as Tsuna says that he hasn't heard anything from Misumi about Y's visit. D's concern deepens.

Y (with Nana by his side) meets Tsuna who is accompanied by Muraji and Doumeki. Without any explanation, Y offers up a suitcase of money. Tsuna is confused and asks Y for an explanation. Y nonchalantly says it part of the money they lifted off Yamakawa. Tsuna is very surprised. Y continues to say that he coincidentally ran into Yamakawa (Yashiro, you liar!) and that's how he was able to get the cash.

Tsuna says he thought Yashiro (and Doushinkai) had stepped aside and were no longer involved. Y retorts that there's still money that needs to be accounted for and that he's due his fair share in accordance with the original deal Sakuraikka put forward when they first started working together (see volume 7 ch 42). Tsuna says that if they're operating under the original deal, there's more than enough money in the suitcase to cover what would be owed. Y says that he would feel awkward if he were to keep the money from the Yamakawa situation and not share it.

Tsuna scoffs at the idea that Y would feel awkward about anything and suspects that Misumi has a hand in whatever Y is trying to do. Y encourages Tsuna to just take what he can get, to which Tsuna replies that he wants Yamakawa.

It seems that Yashiro was waiting for this request and he gets a sly smile. With a light grin he tells Tsuna that he allowed Yamakawa to escape from Kai and Sakuraikka in exchange for the business Yamakawa was running. Tsuna is clearly pissed off by this news but he manages to keep it together. Muraji and Doumeki look visibly worried that Tsuna is going to blow up. Y continues to say that as long as he gets money he doesn't really care what happens, even if Yamakawa is captured again.

Tsuna takes a drag of his cigarette with a very annoyed look on his face. Finally Tsuna tells Y to just take the money. Y happily accepts (all according to Y's plan lol).

Later, Tsuna is complaining to Muraji about Y's attitude and the fact that Y made it seem like he was doing Tsuna a favor by bringing the cash (even after Doushinkai had promised to withdraw). Muraji comments that if info from Yamakawa leads Sakuraikka to crush Kai and Ryuuzu then it will also benefit Doushinkai. Muraji remarks that Y is a shrewd (cunning) person.

The scene shifts to Yashiro and Nanahara preparing to leave the Sakuraikka estate. D approaches and grabs Y's wrist and asks why Y didn't tell D about any of this (Yamakawa, the money etc). Y responds that it was D who told Y to withdraw in the first place, then Y gets a mean look in his eye and says, "Oh, those were orders from above, right? Do I have any reason to tell an underling like you something like this? Since when were you and I on equal footing? Don't get the wrong idea, just because we're sleeping together. " For a short moment D looks surprised by Y's words but that quickly fades into a resigned look.

Another of Sakuraikka's members comes to tell Doumeki to get to his post as a guard for a meeting that Tsuna is going to attend. Y and Nana are just exiting the estate as Tsuna, Muraji, and Doumeki also exit. Tsuna makes a comment to Y about how circuitous his methods were (referring to the shrewd way he used Yamakawa). Y pretends to not know what Tsuna is talking about.

Tsuna goes on to say that even though he doesn't like Y much himself Misumi seems to like Y. Tsuna suggests that Y return to Doushinkai full time. Y responds by asking if he and Tsuna can be friends if he rejoined Doushinkai full time. Tsuna takes it as a joke and says that's not his kind of hobby.

Just then, a van screeches up and a masked gunman opens fire on the group. A bullet grazes Tsuna's right arm. Muraji dives to protect Tsuna who's screaming at the gunman. Tsuna's eyes land on Doumeki who is no where near Tsuna (his boss and the man he's sworn to protect) and is instead covering Yashiro (Nana is totally useless wtf, lol).

Yashiro is stunned and confused to see Doumeki protecting him. Tsuna is yelling that D explain himself. Y tells D to let go of him, but D doesn't listen. The gunman drives off. D asks Y if he's injured, Y responds that he's not and that D really needs to get off. D doesn't respond and Y realizes that D has been shot in the left side of his chest.

And then the chapter ENDS.

j;lkasjdfkl;ajsdlf;kja;ls lol

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WOW, what a jam packed chapter. I can't wait for the next one! Yoneda-sensei's name is listed for the next issue so hopefully chapter 61 will be out on July 31st ^^

I'm gonna be totally honest, I feel like the Yakuza plot really takes a lot of inference to understand what's going on... But to me it seems like Yashiro's capture of Yamakawa (and the presumed information he had) has essentially made Doushinkai intrinsically involved in the whole "destroy Ryuuzu" situation. Also Yashiro got some money for himself out of the whole thing - money that, if Sakuraikka had also taken a portion, would have made Sakuraikka look bad because they were the ones who asked Doushinkai to withdraw. So aside from giving Doushinkai a reputation boost by attaching their name to the destruction of a rival group, Yashiro also managed to get back all the money he lost from the Kido thing (you guys remember him?? And the bird? lol) and then some.

But I could be misunderstanding. Yoneda-sensei has a way of making the Yakuza plot crystal clear in hindsight, but while the story is unfolding it's all a little murky lol

I'm wondering if the something Kai ordered Nishio to set up was this drive by shooting or if maybe something else is coming 👀

Also I can't wait to see poor Doumeki in the hospital. That sounds really terrible, but you know what I mean (right? right?).