Chapter 52

Synopsis
The Babysitting Club's plans to have a hanami with the children and their families goes awry. Not only is the weather too cold and windy on the appointed day, but there is a flu going around that is affecting almost every household.

Long Summary
Ryuuichi reads a book to Kotaro and Kirin as Umi and Yayoi suggest that they all have a hanami (a cherry blossom viewing) before spring break ends, and they plan to prepare food and drinks for them all to enjoy. Shizuka, who controls a wild Taka, decides to bring sake. Ryuu explains to Kotaro that they will be able to see the pink flowers on the trees. Kirin also explains that they will eat dango with "Mr. Moon" and "Mr. Rabbit," but Ryuu points out that she is thinking of tsukimi (moon viewing). Kirin tears up as she hears that there is no "Mr. Rabbit," but Ryuu assures her that there will be singing and dancing and they will have lots of fun.

Umi tells the children that everyone will be eating and having fun under a sakura tree. She promises that there will be a lot of rabbit-shaped apples and crab and octopus-shaped sausages. Usaida plans to save a spot for them and assigns Ryuu to be in charge of singing and dancing. Ryuu becomes embarrassed, saying that he was only coming up with examples earlier. Kirin and Taka eagerly announce that they can sing while Takuma and Kazuma offer to dance. Kotaro smiles at his brother, and Ryuu says that it will be fun to go with everybody for hanami.

On the day of hanami, Ryuu and Kotaro look outside to see very strong winds, and the news channel that is broadcasting warns of cold temperatures and strong winds. Ryuu's phone rings, and he picks up to hear Yayoi. Yayoi informs him that Kirin has come down with a cold. On the other line, Satoru, who is also sick, tries to comfort Kirin, who calls for her mother. Yayoi tells Satoru to go to sleep and apologizes to Ryuu that they will not be able to take part in hanami. Ryuu turns to Kotaro and begins to explain that Kirin is sick, but he is interrupted by another call. This time, Umi tells Ryuu Takuma and Kazuma are sick. Kousuke tries to dress Takuma and Kazuma so they can go to sleep, but they happily prance around, cheerily declaring that Kirin is also sick. After a bit, Yukari calls Ryuu and says that she and her husband have a cold. Ryuu receives yet another phone call, but before Usaida can answer that he is also down with a cold, Ryuu guesses that he is sick. Shizuka, also ill, tells Ryuu that they will have to postpone until everyone recovers.

Ryuu informs Kotaro that there will be no hanami today, much to Kotaro's dismay. Ryuu looks at Kotaro's dejected demeanor and thinks about the sakuramochi that was addressed to him and Kotaro. He suggests that he and Kotaro go for a short walk together, and Kotaro's eyes light up with excitement. On their walk, Ryuu looks at all the people attempting to settle down for a picnic, only to give up and decide to go inside. Ryuu asks Kotaro if he is cold, but Kotaro is too excited to see the flowers. He points at the flowers, and Ryuu notes that the falling petals whirling in the air is a beautiful sight to see. However, he also notices that people's trash is flying in the air. He asks Kotaro if he is alright after a bout of wind hurls plastic bags and cups at them. He turns to see Inomata, who is hit in the face by a flying plastic bag, complaining about hurling trash on a day for hanami.

Ryuu explains to Inomata that their hanami with the other members of the Babysitting Club got postponed, so they decided to go on a walk together. Ryuu asks why Inomata is outside, and she becomes flustered. She shouts that she needed a reference book and turns around to leave. Ryuu calls her back and invites her to join him and the others for hanami. She sternly looks at him and declines, assuming that he is asking her out of pity. She blushes as she announces that Ushimaru has already invited her anyways. As she leaves, she yells at Ryuu to stay inside instead of coming outside into the cold weather. Ryuu holds Kotaro and suggests that they go inside since the wind is becoming stronger. He pictures the babysitting club having a picnic outside and realizes that he will have to be patient for hanami. Ryuu sets down Kotaro, who runs towards the petals and flowers on the ground. Ryuu asks if Kotaro wants to bring them back to the chairwoman, but Kotaro plans to give them to the other children and their families.

Kirin sniffles as she tells her mother that she wants to for hanami, and Yayoi assures her that she can go when her fever is down. Just then, Yayoi hears the doorbell ring, and she opens the door to see Ryuu and Kotaro. Kotaro and Kirin look at the pretty flowers together while Satoru looks upon Kotaro with jealousy, as Kirin is very happy to see Kotaro. The two also stop by the Mamizuka household, where Takuma and Kazuma dance around when they see the flowers. Afterwards, Yutaka shows Yukari and Midori the flowers that Ryuu and Kotaro dropped off. Usaida wakes up due to his ringtone and sees a message from Ryuu telling him that he left something at his doorstep. Usaida opens the door to find flowers and some sakuramochi. A drowsy Hayato, who was sleeping, carries Taka over to open the door, and Ryuu and Kotaro eat sakuramochi with Hayato and Taka. Shizuka, wearing a mask, happily accepts a flower from Kotaro.

On the day that the hanami was postponed to, Ryuu and Kotaro fall ill. The chairwoman scolds them for going outside in the cold weather and demands if they are idiots. Saikawa assures the two that she is simply very worried about them and urges them to take care of themselves. Ryuu sees a message postponing hanami yet again and tells a smiling Kotaro that they will have to wait longer. The chairwoman asks why Kotaro is so happy even though he is sick in bed with Ryuu.

When the day that hanami came, however, everyone gathered and had an amazing time together. The children and parents have a picnic while they greet Ushimaru and Inomata, who have arrived to join them.

Characters In Order of Appearance

 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Kirin Kumatsuka
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Umi Mamizuka
 * Yayoi Kumatsuka
 * Shizuka Kamitani
 * Taka Kamitani
 * Usaida Yoshihito
 * Takuma Mamizuka
 * Kazuma Mamizuka
 * Satoru Kumatsuka
 * Kousuke Mamizuka
 * Yukari Sawatari
 * Midori Sawatari
 * Yukata Sawatari
 * Inomata Maria
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Ushimaru Yuki