Chapter 97

Synopsis
Kotaro is separated from Ryuuichi during another exam period, but he wants to help him without interrupting his hard work. Kotaro works hard to learn to write his own name as he motivates his older brother.

Long Summary
Kotaro, who is still wearing his pajamas, stands dejectedly outside Ryuu's door. Saikawa kneels behind him, holding construction paper and crayons, and asks Kotaro if he would like to practice writing his name or draw. Kotaro looks at Saikawa with a depressed face. It turns out that it is once again exam season for Ryuu, and he must spend time alone studying. Ryuu apologizes to Saikawa for burdening him, but he is quite motivated to do well because of Kotaro. Kotaro is also determined to learn, and Saikawa prepares to write something so that Kotaro can copy it and learn the characters. Saikawa swiftly writes his own name and instructs Kotaro to try writing it, but the chairwoman scolds Saikawa for teaching him his own name first. Saikawa apologizes and writes the chairwoman's name, but she scolds him yet again, telling him to teach Kotaro how to write his own name. Saikawa obeys and writes Kotaro's name at the top of the paper. He then goes to make tea and milk, and Kotaro concentrates as he writes on the paper. Kotaro shows the chairwoman what he has written, but she sees that he has written Ryuu's name yet again. She pats his head, saying that it is written well. Kotaro becomes depressed as he thinks about his brother. The chairwoman sees that he is downcast and instructs Saikawa to prepare refreshments for Ryuu. She then turns to Kotaro and tells him to take a break and bring the snacks to his brother with Saikawa, much to Kotaro's joy. Saikawa knocks on Ryuu's door as Kotaro holds his piece of paper, but there is no response. Saikawa knocks again, but the two only hear silence. He excuses himself as he enters the room, and he and Kotaro see that Ryuu's so concentrated on his work that he doesn't notice their presence. Saikawa puts his finger to his lips as he tells Kotaro that they will leave the refreshments here so that they do not disturb Ryuu's studies. The two leave the refreshments there, and Saikawa leaves a note for Ryuu to help himself to the drinks and crackers. He holds Kotaro as they leave and tells him that Ryuu is working hard. Kotaro sits down to eat his own crackers and drinks milk while telling the chairwoman that Ryuu is working hard. Looking at his crackers, an idea begins to form in Kotaro's head. In his room, Ryuu stretches and notices the refreshments and piece of paper. He laughs as he sees that Kotaro has written his name again. The next day, Ryuu apologizes for leaving the daycare center to Saikawa and turns to Kotaro, expecting to see a depressed look on his face. However, he sees that Kotaro is smiling, and Ryuu feels embarrassed that it is usually he who is lonely during the exam period. Kotaro excitedly stares at his brother, who walks towards his class. At the classroom, Ryuu finds himself backed into a wall by a hungry Usokawa, to the alarm of Ebizawa and Saginuma. Having overslept and skipped breakfast, Usokawa was drawn to a delectable smell Ryuu is giving off. He demands that Ryuu share whatever food he has brought with him, while Saginuma tells him to go to the cafeteria like a normal person. Ryuu denies having brought any food with him, but Usokawa insists that his nose says otherwise and fishes through Ryuu's pockets. As it turns out, the pockets were indeed stuffed with animal crackers. Usokawa is surprised and disgusted to see that Ryuu stores food in his pockets while Ebizawa and Saginuma note that Ryuu himself is rather unbothered by the unsanitary placement of the crackers. Ryuu wonders where the pocket crackers came from, as he certainly did not put them there. He figures that Kotaro must have put them in his pocket.

Hayato enters the room and tells Ryuu that he has to start noticing when things are being placed in his pocket. He calls him a blockhead while Ryuu says his morning greetings. Usokawa says that he smells something refreshing on Hayato. Saginuma calls him a dog for having sniffed food on two students in a row. Hayato puts his hand in his pocket and, sure enough, there is a sticky and gooey candy within. Taka had tried the candy but could not handle the peppermint flavor. Hayato angrily crushes the candy, but Ryuu reminds him to keep his composure. Saginuma references a song about crushing cookies in one's pockets. Usokawa recalls trying to do as that song instructed, but ended up disappointed.

Ryuu starts eating the crackers anyways, much to Usokawa's surprise. He explains that they were a gift from Kotaro, and that any cookies made by Saikawa were bound to taste good no matter what. Intrigued, Saginuma and Usokawa ask to try one while Ushimaru blushes as she thinks about how kind Ryuu is. Their teacher soon arrives and tells them that they shouldn't be eating snacks in plain sight. Ryuu reminds himself to tell Kotaro that putting snacks in his pocket is quite troublesome. At the daycare center, Ryuu informs Kotaro that while he appreciates the gesture, he shouldn't put crackers in his pocket again. Hayato hits Taka as he scolds him for using his pocket as a garbage bin. The only part of Ryuu's words Kotaro understands is that he shouldn't have done what he did, and he kneels in the corner in shame. Ryuu has no luck trying to convince Kotaro that he appreciates his intentions. Saikawa explains that when the two saw him passionately studying, they felt touched, and Kotaro wanted to help Ryuu in a way that wouldn't hinder his studies. Ryuu looks at the disheartened Kotaro and tells Usaida that he needs a favor. Ryuu excuses himself to go study more and drags Hayato along with him, reminding him that his mother might threaten to destroy his baseball DVD again. Ryuu also calls out to Kotaro before he leaves, and Kotaro, who is tearing up, looks back to his brother. Usaida then holds up Kotaro's jacket and asks him what is in his pocket. Kotaro rummages through his pocket to find a piece of paper. Saikawa reads what is one the piece of paper and tells Kotaro that Ryuu is thanking him for the cookies. Kotaro is able to recognize Ryuu's name, and he pats his pocket closed. Taka finds that he has something in his pocket as well, and excitedly tells Saikawa to read it for him. Saikawa opens the piece of paper to see the word "idiot" written on it, but explains to Taka that Hayato has written that Taka is cheerful and adorable.

Throughout the week, Kotaro puts different things in Ryuu's pocket, such as an acorn and a beach ball, to encourage him. Ryuu is glad that Kotaro understood that food shouldn't go in there. The day of the exam, Ryuu finds a piece of paper with both his and Kotaro's names written on it. Ryuu smiles, determined to do well on his exams as the teacher instructs everyone to clear their desks.

Characters In Order of Appearance

 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Saikawa Keigo
 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Morinomiya Youko
 * Usokawa
 * Saginuma
 * Ebizawa
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Ushimaru Yuki
 * Takuma Mamizuka
 * Kazuma Mamizuka
 * Taka Kamitani
 * Kirin Kumatsuka
 * Usaida Yoshihito
 * Midori Sawatari