Chapter 54

Synopsis
Kichi has a falling out with Suekichi over a girl. While Hayato tries to help Kichi to stop feeling sorry for himself, Ryuuichi realizes that both Nezu twins wish to restore their bond.

Long Summary
Someone knocks on the daycare center's doors, so Ryuu opens the door while Kirin calls out Kyouko's name, thinking that she has come to play again. However, Ryuu sees that one of the Nezu twins, not Kyouko, as at the door. He asks if he is Suekichi or Kichi, to which the Nezu twin exclaims that he is not Suekichi. He hugs Ryuu as Suekichi appears behind him and yells at him, telling him that they are supposed to be playing soccer. Kichi hides behind Ryuu, telling Ryuu to say that he is not here. Kotaro holds out his hands, wanting a hug from Ryuu as well. Suekichi hugs onto Ryuu to catch his brother, but Kichi runs around Ryuu while still holding onto him. Kirin and Taka also join in, causing Ryuu and the children to fall. Ryuu asks if everyone is alright. Suekichi yells at his brother, saying that he has caused all of this trouble. Kichi slaps his hand away as he grabs onto Ryuu, shouting that he will never play soccer with Suekichi again. Suekichi yells back and runs out the room. Ryuu asks Kichi if he is alright when Takuma and Kazuma start crying after seeing that the twins are fighting. Kichi then admits that he likes a girl named Risuzuki Kurumi, a cute girl in his class. She had said that Suekichi is good at soccer and good-looking and would like to marry Suekichi when she grows up. Kichi asks Ryuu if he understands his feelings since he, in Kichi's opinion, is not as cool as Chuukichi. Ryuu admits that he is not as cool or popular as Chuukichi or Hayato. Kotaro hugs Ryuu as Ryuu realizes that he is quite popular with Kotaro. Taka tells Kichi that the most handsome person is his brother, but Kichi retaliates, insisting that Chuukichi is better-looking. Hayato hits Taka as Taka yells back, telling him to shut up and stop yelling. Ryuu asks Taka if he is still willing to praise his brother depsite being treated this way. He explains to Hayato why they are all crying and what had happened.

After hearing what had happened, Hayato glares and scoffs at the fact that this all happened because of a girl. Kichi, still crying, says that they are twins, but Suekichi is always better than him at everything they do. Hayato brings them all outside and holds out a baseball bat, announcing that he will simply have to practice until he becomes better than his brother. Usaida informs Hayato that they play soccer, not baseball, which frustrates Hayato. Hayato scoffs and leaves, but returns with a classmate who is also on the soccer team. The soccer player helps Kichi with passing drills and waves goodbye after he has finished teaching. Kichi sits on the ground and cries, saying that he cannot do it. Hayato raises his fist at him, saying that he is giving up too quickly. Ryuu holds him back, telling him that even if he wants to hit him, he will have to endure it. Hayato tells Kichi that he should learn from Kotaro, who is aimlessly kicking at the ball, but persistently kicking at it nonetheless. Hayato reasons that although he does not know what Kotaro is practicing, Kotaro does not give up. Hayato then instructs Kichi to watch him kick the ball. He kicks the ball with incredible strength, and the ball flies right into the net, shocking Usaida, who was standing in front of it. Kichi marvels at how cool he is as Taka brags that that is his brother. Hayato picks up the ball and tells Kichi to try as well. The children tug at Ryuu's shirt as Ryuu thinks to himself that he would also be quite depressed if he and Hayato were twins. The children tell Ryuu that they want to play hide-and-seek. Ryuu looks over at the bushes and trees and sees Suekichi watching them. Ryuu goes to Kichi, suggesting that he apologize to Suekichi before practicing. He figures that Kichi really just wants to play soccer with his brother, which Kichi affirms. Ryuu points in the direction that Suekichi ran in and tells Kichi to chase after him. Before Kichi runs off, he tells Ryuu to wait for them because he wants the two to practice together.

Suekichi runs away, upset after hearing that Kichi does not want to play soccer with him. He bumps into Yagi, who asks why he is here. Yagi sees that he is crying and believes that he is Kichi, but then realizes that the twin is Suekichi since Suekichi tends to kick him a lot. Suekichi hits Yagi, saying that Kichi is not a crybaby and is always strong. Kichi throws a soccer ball at Yagi's face, demanding that he get away from Suekichi. A few female students surround Yagi, asking if he is alright since his nose is bleeding. Yagi assures them that his nosebleed is not from the soccer ball. Kichi runs towards Suekichi, who pushes him away, thinking that Kichi hates him. Kichi tears up as he grabs onto his brother, apologizing and saying that he does not hate him. Yagi sends a picture of the twins crying to Chuukichi, who is in the library. Kichi holds onto Suekichi's hand, saying that he will practice until he is better than him so that Kurumi will like him too. As the twins make their way back to Ryuu and the others, Suekichi exclaims that he does not want to marry Kurumi because she is annoying. Kichi yells that Kurumi is cute, and the boys bicker over Kurumi.

The twins practice their soccer together and with the other children. Ryuu thinks that if he and Kotaro were closer in age, they would also compete. However, Usaida thinks that Kotaro would still hug onto Ryuu and cling to him. Usaida assures Ryuu by saying that the twins think he is very cool. The twins pull Ryuu over to play soccer with them as Ryuu thinks to himself that everyone likes to be considered cool, and that that is just part of being a boy.

Chuukichi grabs onto Yagi, asking what he did to his brothers; Yagi breaks into a nervous sweat and insists that he did not do anything.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Kichi Nezu
 * Kirin Kumatsuka
 * Takuma Mamizuka
 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Suekichi Nezu
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Usaida Yoshihito
 * Taka Kamitani
 * Risuzuki Kurumi (mentioned)
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Yagi Tomoya
 * Chuukichi Nezu