Chapter 36

Synopsis
A friendly suggestion from Usaida excites Kotaro into wanting to grow his very own strawberries. With help from Ryuuichi and Chuukichi, Kotaro's little gardening project goes underway on a plot of the chairwoman's land.

Long Summary
Ryuu tells Kotaro that they can read a picture book since they have finished cleaning, and Kotaro holds out a book about a strawberry before Ryuu can even finish his sentence. Usaida appears behind him, asking what they are doing. He is disappointed to see that Ryuu did not flinch. Kotaro is sad to see that his alone time with Ryuu has ended. Usaida apologizes for interrupting his time and hands the two a bag full of cherry tomatoes, informing Ryuu and Kotaro that he had grown them in his garden. Ryuu is surprised to see that Usaida has a garden, considering that he lives in an apartment and seems to slack a lot. Usaida explains that he rents a plot of land to grow vegetables and other crops. He receives free sprouts from his father, a farmer in the countryside. Ryuu figures that it must be quite difficult to grow vegetables. Usaida looks at Kotaro's picture book about strawberries and tells them that it is time to harvest strawberries and that they can ask the chairwoman for a small plot of land. Ryuu asks Kotaro if he would like to ask the chairwoman for a place to grow strawberries, and Kotaro's eyes sparkle with excitement. Taka shows up and starts eating the cherry tomatoes, saying that he will grow strawberries too. Hayato hits Taka and Ryuu consoles him as he cries. Taka says that he wants to grow strawberries too. Ryuu suggests that Hayato buy sprouts at the supermarket, but Hayato refuses, saying that they will die. Taka bawls, but Hayato insists that the strawberries will only die. Hayato holds up a book about rangers and asks who it belongs to in order to distract Taka, who falls for the ruse. Ryuu figures that Kotaro would not forget about the strawberries.

A few days later, Kotaro holds a shovel as he tells Ryuu that he wants to plant strawberries. Ryuu decides that the two should go to the chairwoman and ask for permission. At the moment, she is busy with papers, but grants them permission to use some land. Ryuu takes Kotaro to go buy strawberry sprouts, but there are too many options to choose from. Just then, Chuukichi with his brothers Kichi and Suekichi greet the two. The Nezu brothers explain that they grow their own vegetables in order to cut down expenses. Kichi and Suekichi say that they want a cow, falsely believing that a cow produces meat everyday. Ryuu asks Chuukichi if he can teach him about the different types of strawberries, to which Chuukichi complies. Chuukichi identifies several different types of strawberries, overwhelming and surprising Ryuu, who compliments for his extensive knowledge. Ryuu suggests to Kotaro that they choose the kind that is meant for homes, but Kotaro holds a packet with wild strawberry seeds. Chuukichi reasons that they sprout in only one to two weeks and are resistant to diseases, so they may be the best choice. He pats Kotaro's head, telling him that there is a saying that growing strawberries will bring luck and instructs him to take care of them well. As they all leave the supermarket, Chuukichi says that it is mainly love luck that growing strawberries brings.

Ryuu flattens some soil and pours the seeds into Kotaro's hands for him to plant them. However, when Kotaro puts his hand over the pot, the seeds do not fall. Ryuu checks Kotaro's hands and sees that the seeds have stuck onto Kotaro's sweaty palms. As Ryuu wipes Kotaro's hands, he explains that he does not need to be so excited that he sweats. Over the course of a few weeks, the two care after their plants. Kotaro helps water them and check on them. Saikawa even puts a ribbon the pot as an accessory. Finally, the strawberries sprout, and Ryuu plans to go buy fertilizer so that they can grow more. Kotaro looks at his strawberries with sparkling eyes.

The chairwoman decides to move the seedlings from the pot to the garden. Later, Ryuu and Kotaro return with fertilizer to see the chairwoman tending to a part of the garden. She explains that she is clearing the plot of lsand for them to plant their seedlings, but Ryuu stays silent as he starts sweating. He nervously informs her that the sprouts in that plot of land were the strawberry sprouts. The chairwoman is stunned as she stares back at Ryuu. Kotaro drops his spade as he remembers planting and tending to the strawberries. The chairwoman bows her head, asking for forgiveness, but Ryuu says that she does not have to worry since they failed to inform her. He tells Kotaro that they still have the seeds, but Kotaro starts to cry. Ryuu rolls up his sleeves and digs through the bag of seedlings that the chairwoman had dug up, determined to pick out the seedlings and plant them again. Ryuu assures the chairwoman that she does not need to apologize and tells Kotaro that he will replant the seedlings. Saikawa appears, saying that he will help find the seedlings as well. The four dig through the bag until it is dark.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Usaida Yoshihito
 * Taka Kamitani
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Morinomiya Youko
 * Chuukichi Nezu
 * Suekichi Nezu
 * Kichi Nezu
 * Saikawa Keigo