Chapter 19

Synopsis
Kotaro becomes enraptured at the first sight of Kirin's photographed Hinamatsuri dolls. Though Ryuuichi can't buy them as they have no sisters, Kotaro is still able to enjoy the ones the chairwoman displayed during her girlhood.

Long Summary
Kirin proudly shows a photo of her in front of a display of dolls that was taken during the celebration of Hinamatsuri, a Japanese doll festival for girls. She is so excited that she eagerly holds up the photo to Ryuuichi's face, although Ryuu tells her that he cannot see the dolls if she holds the photo so close to his face. Yayoi tells Kirin to calm down. He shows Kotaro the dolls and explains that they are displayed in a girl's house to pray for her future happiness. Ryuu has never displayed them in his house as his household only has boys. Ryuu notices Kotaro's excitement when he listens to Kirin show which dolls represent her parents and which doll represents herself, and Yayoi sarcastically says that Kirin might as well describe herself as a goddess. Ryuu tells Kotaro that he cannot buy the dolls for him, no matter how intrigued he is, as he is not a girl. Kotaro continues to keenly stare at the dolls as the other children enter the room.

Kotaro even takes home the photo, and Saikawa explains that he has prepared red bean rice for the occasion that Kotaro has experienced his first love, misunderstanding Kotaro's curiosity for the dolls for a romantic interest in Kirin. Saikawa assures that he will prepare red bean rice for Ryuu's first love as well, causing Ryuu to panic and wonder how Saikawa knows he has not experienced his first love yet. The chairwoman comes to tell them to hurry up and prepare dinner. She takes a look at the photo and tells Saikawa to take out the ornamental dolls from the storage. Ryuu and Kotaro's eyes immediately sparkle with excitement. Ryuu thinks that the chairwoman is very nice to them but also wonders why Kotaro is so interested in the dolls; Ryuu believes the dolls are rather creepy.

When Saikawa opens the display, Ryuu wonders why there are dolls, as the chairwoman does not have any dolls. She responds by saying that they are hers, making Ryuu panic because he forgot that the chairwoman was a young girl once. Saikawa says that the chairwoman was second to no one in terms of cuteness when she was young. Saikawa shows a photo of the chairwoman as a child sitting in front of the dolls. In the photo, she is frowning and her eyebrows are furrowed. Kotaro points to her hair and calls it fluffy. The chairwoman recalls the time that she was called awkward for creasing her brows and pouting on such a special occasion. Saikawa finishes setting up the display, and Kotaro is completely mesmerized. The chairwoman envisions her younger self looking at the dolls with the same excitement.

The chairwoman says that there are no broken parts, so they are free to stare at the dolls as long as they want. As she turns around, however, there is a clattering noise. Kotaro had moved a block and a doll's head had cracked off the body. Ryuu immediately apologizes, blaming himself for not looking after Kotaro. The chairwoman scolds him not for the broken doll but for letting Kotaro stand on such a dangerously high ledge. Kotaro starts crying, saying that he dropped "baba's" doll. The chairwoman wonders what he means by this, and Ryuu remembers Kirin pointing out that her father's doll sat at the top and that Kotaro was intrigued because each doll represented someone. Kotaro proceeds to point to each doll and name who they stood for. He even gives Pii-chan, the daycare's pet chick, a representative doll. Saikawa decides to take a photo to commemorate the occasion. Ryuu still feels bad for breaking the doll, but the chairwoman says that it can easily be fixed with glue. As they take the picture, the doll's head falls onto Kotaro's head and stays glued onto his hair. Ryuu panics, but the chairwoman begins laughing aloud. Even Saikawa chuckles, as he had captured the exact moment the doll fell onto his head. Ryuu tells Kotaro to stop turning his head since he is being laughed at, but Kotaro simply smiles.

Ryuu shows the photo to Usaida, who laughs at the picture for so long that his stomach starts to hurt.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Kirin Kumatsuka
 * One of the chicks
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Yayoi Kumatsuka
 * Satoru Kumatsuka (mentioned)
 * Saikawa Keigo
 * Morinomiya Youko
 * Usaida Yoshihito (briefly)