Chapter 29

Synopsis
Ryuuichi is surprised when he finds a love letter in his locker. His mulling over on how to respond causes him to blunder his way through his daily routine, causing Kotaro to become concerned over his well-being. The confession of love also weighs heavily on the minds of Inomata and Ushimaru.

Long Summary
On a day before Christmas, Ryuuichi opens his shoe locker and finds a decorated love letter in it. Usokawa takes a look and panics, frantically asking if it is a love letter that is potentially from Ushimaru. Ushimaru blushes and shakes her head; she wonders if Inomata might have been the writer. Hayato opens the letter, thinking that it must be a prank because no one uses such old-fashioned methods to confess anymore. Ryuu's face reddens as he tells Hayato not to read it. He figures that it will not be a love letter since he is not popular, causing Hayato and Usokawa to ponder about his obliviousness. He opens the letter, but Inomata appears behind him and scolds him for standing in the way. Usokawa takes the letter and reads it aloud. The writer explained that she is always thinking about Ryuu and really likes him. Ryuu and Inomata, who blushes, are stunned. Usokawa looks at the name on the card and is relieved that Ushimaru is not the author. He asks Ryuu what he will do, but Ryuu is so red and flustered that he begins to stutter. He explains that this is his first time being confessed to. He takes the letter and announces that he will have to think of how he will respond. He leaves for the daycare center, but Hayato points out that he is still wearing his indoor shoes. As Ryuu walks off, he trips. Hayato wonders why Ryuu is so flustered by a girl, saying that women are annoying. Usokawa becomes upset over his statements. Kawata looks at Ushimaru and Inomata, who are both flustered. She touches their shoulders and tell them that they should go somewhere to spend time and pushes them out the building.

At the daycare center, the children point at Ryuu's red face and call him an octopus. Usaida asks if Ryuu has caught another cold, but Ryuu comes up with an excuse, saying that he ran here. Kotaro gets a blanket and covers Ryuu, but Ryuu assures him that he is not sick. Throughout the rest of the day, Ryuu is distracted by the sudden confession: he holds a storybook upside-down, spills baby powder everywhere, and goes outside in his indoor shoes. Ryuu thinks about the love letter, realizing that he has never thought about dating, but feels rather happy to be confessed to.

Saikawa prepares red bean rice, announcing that Ryuu has experienced his first love. Ryuu becomes incredibly flustered and denies this. He tries changing the topic, saying that the rice tastes really good, but the chairwoman asks if he has caught a cold. After his bath, Ryuu tells Kotaro to hurry up and choose a storybook or else he will become too cold and fall ill. Kotaro holds out a picture book, but Ryuu is distracted. When Ryuu breaks from his daze, he asks Kotaro has picked a book yet. Kotaro puts the book behind his back and shakes his head. He then climbs onto Ryuu's lap and tells him that he wants to go to bed without a story. Ryuu tucks Kotaro into bed and goes to do homework.

The next day, Saikawa wishes Ryuu and Kotaro well as they walk off to school. Ryuu had not slept the entire night and resolves to reject the girl. He is thankful for her sincerity, but he would not have time to take care of Kotaro. As he thinks of everything he will say, Kotaro slips from Ryuu's hand and wanders off. Inomata walks to school trying to convince herself that she came early because she wants to study, not to see "that guy." Ushimaru comes to school as well, admitting that she does not have early morning activities but simply feels worried. They meet each other and become flustered. Suddenly, Ryuu grabs onto Inomata's arm. Inomata turns around to see Ryuu panting and exhausted. He nervously asks if she has seen Kotaro, explaining that he had let go of his hand. Inomata says that she had not seen him, and as Ryuu runs off to find him, Inomata and Ushimaru, who knows the area well, decide to help him find Kotaro. They start looking, but Hayato arrives, saying that there is no need to look. Kotaro is at Hayato's feet, holding an orange. Hayato tells Ryuu that he went into someone's yard to pick the fruit for him. Kotaro holds out the orange, calling it a lemon and talks about the chairwoman's medicine. Ryuu remembers all the things that Kotaro did for him because he had thought he was sick. He cries while holding onto Kotaro's hands and telling him not to abandon his brother.

At the school, Ryuu bows to the girl and rejects her. Hayato asks Ryuu if he is sure about rejecting her since he seemed pretty excited. Ryuu becomes flustered but explains that Kotaro is currently his top priority. Kotaro holds onto the "lemon" while Usaida tries to explain that it is an orange, not a lemon. Inomata and Ushimaru sit behind the bushes. After observing Ryuu reject the girl, Ushimaru asks Inomata if this means that they have been rejected too. Inomata becomes flustered but says that it was expected of him to reject him, so she feels relieved. Ushimaru holds Inomata's arm and asks if she can address her as "Inomata-chan." Inomata's face reddens as she tells her not to call her that, but Ushimaru insists.

Later, Inomata comes to the classroom to bring handouts, and Ushimaru excitedly asks if she has come to see her. Ryuu sees that the two have grown quite close.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Usokawa
 * Ushimaru Yuki
 * Kawata Rena
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Inomata Maria
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Saikawa Keigo
 * Morinomiya Youko