Chapter 56.5

Synopsis
Two stories about Kotaro's strawberries and Hiroyuki and Nekota.

Kotaro and Strawberries
Ryuu and Kotaro excitedly look at the strawberry plants, which have already started to bear fruit. Kotaro's eyes sparkle as he looks at his brother and the strawberries. Ryuu informs him that they still have to wait until they are big and red to eat them. Saikawa suddenly appears behind Ryuu, stunning him. He holds a net to catch bugs and vows to protect the strawberries from pests until they are harvested. The chairwoman, who has been plucking weeds, sarcastically asks Saikawa if he will watch over them 24/7 and scolds him for saying things that he cannot do. Saikawa responds that he does not make promises he cannot keep, and that he is willing to stay awake for Kotaro's sake. Ryuu panics, and the glances over at Saikawa. He thinks to himself that even though it might have been a joke, he feels as though Saikawa would actually be willing to do it. Saikawa looks at Ryuu and Kotaro and politely requests leave from work to protect the strawberries, but the chairwoman turns him down. Ryuu wonders if Saikawa was seriously contemplating leaving work to take care of the strawberries.

Kotaro walks over to Saikawa and tugs on his pant leg, declaring that he will protect the strawberries. Then he moves over to one of the strawberry sprouts and gets on all fours, shielding the strawberries. Ryuu is stunned to see Kotaro in an "incubating pose." Saikawa applauds him for his creative idea, causing the chairwoman to scold him once more. Ryuu picks him up, telling him that constant watch over the strawberries is not necessary. Kotaro puts on a hat as he stares at the strawberries. Ryuu and the chairwoman continue plucking weeds, and thinks to himself that because Kotaro is showing so much care for the fruits, they will surely be delicious. Meanwhile, Kotaro blocks a stray cat from touching the strawberries, so the chairwoman puts a vinyl encasing over them.

During harvest, Kotaro gives Ryuu a strawberry and asks if they are good, but after Ryuu and the chairwoman try some strawberries, they realize that they are not quite sweet, but rather bland, much to Kotaro's dismay. Saikawa consoles Kotaro by telling him that they can make delicious strawberry jam. He and Kotaro begin to mass harvest the strawberries to make jam.

Characters In Order of Appearance

 * Kashima Kotaro
 * Kashima Ryuuichi
 * Saikawa Keigo
 * Morinomiya Youko

Nekota-san and Inui-senpai
Hiroyuki returns to the classroom to find his cell phone, but he sees Nekota crying. Hiroyuki calls her face scary since her black mascara is running down her cheeks, but Nekota angrily tells him to be quiet, as she has just been two-timed. He calls her an idiot for spending time with people like that. He claims that if he were in love, he would never even lay eyes on another woman, and Nekota, who has stopped crying, looks at him for a moment. Hiroyuki then immediately becomes flustered and asks Nekota to deliver his phone to the lost-and-found, where Yukari is. Nekota balls her fist, but decides to deliver the phone anyway, and she sees the type of woman Inui fancies when Yukari greets her.

Characters In Order of Appearance

 * Inui Hiroyuki
 * Nekota
 * Sawatari Yukari