Umibozu
you know what i came here for. so i won't ask for more. i wanna be with you, if only for one night, to the one who's in your arms, to hold you tight, i wanna be with you. there's nothing more to say. there's nothing more than i want to feel this way. - "i wanna be with you" by mandy moore
UMIBOZU means "sea goblin"They thought they didn't share anything in common except for the fact their height complexes make it impossible for them to find a significant other, but alas, there's hope! Both are rare fans of the obscure singer called, Umibozu, which plays a very significant role in their relationship. Since they're both immensely hyper when they talk about Umibozu, the instantly get along, and are happy to be in eachother's company, since it's hard to find a fan of Umibozu!
The event I am about to explain is what triggers something in Risa - and she becomes quite confused with her feelings concerning Otani. It all begins in the wintertime, when both couples Nakao/Nobu and Chiharu/Suzuki want to spend Christmas with one another, leaving Otani and Risa by themselves, with no date for Christmas. Since both are avid fans of Umibozu, Otani offers Risa a ticket to their live on Christmas! Though she is excited, the fineprint reads: For lovers. This makes the two bite eachother's heads off, once again, trying to shake off the "lovers" ideal from everyone who thinks so (they were spotted at the summer festival holding hands, and since then, they're been suspected). Both deny the fact they might fall in love, no matter how much Nobu presses it on them. Prior to this, they walked home once and did a compatibility machine, which rated them a 100% good match (it rated the other couples much, much lower than Risa and Otani), so since then, Nobu had been teasing them.
During their walk home, they run into Otani's ex-girlfriend, who looks alot like Chiharu, and at first, Risa confuses her for Chiharu. Turns out, her name is Kanzaki, and it's Otani's ex from middle school. They have a brief meeting before she runs off, but right after, Risa begins to tease him and ask him all kinds of questions about her. Since she couldn't get it out of Otani, Risa asks Nakao about them. Nakao explains that Kanzaki was the basketball team's manager, and Kanzaki and Otani had been dating for a long time (say, 2 years?). After class, Risa asks Otani why he and his girlfriend "broke up", and he explains that she had fallen for some six foot tall handsome guy. Risa feels really bad for him now.
After school, Kanzaki is waiting for Otani right outside of the school, and Risa instantly recognizes her. Kanzaki asks Risa about Otani, who tells her that he has club activities. Then..
"The junior high basketball team wants to have a party on Christmas, and if he has the time, we hope he has the time and can attend.."Risa agrees to relay the message, but wears a forlorn look, thinking, "The girls that Otani likes are completely different from how I am.. cute, gentle, shy.." -- Then it comes to Risa: The party is the same day as the Umibozu concert that she and Otani were going to go to!
Being the good friend Risa is (maybe a little jealous?) relays the message to Otani, who seems a little surprised, and it seems like he's actually going to attend! Risa has this... perky grin, thinking "Yes! I get to spend Christmas alone!" - But in fact, she has no idea how lonely she's going to feel. With her friends all going out with their "significant others", she's going to end up spending Christmas alone, and that, to her, doesn't seem like "anything" (a big deal).. not until she actually attends the concert, alone, that very Christmas night.
So, as expected, she ends up going alone, and also ends up hurting herself, and ripping her stockings. She's bleeding on the ground, and just when she thinks someone is out to help her, she is asked to take pictures of a silly couple. During that, she begins to get envious. Risa begins to wonder how the others are doing - and if they're having a better time than she is. When her thoughts drift to Otani, she feels even more alone.
Just then, Otani's voice can be heard in the crowd. Is it really..? Otani shows up, and Risa confronts him, "What about your ex-girlfriend?!" He simply answers:"After Otani makes up with his ex, are we still going to walk home together after school? Otani will be too busy with his girlfriend, so he won't have any time to listen to me anymore. Winter break is almost here. And i'd just be the third wheel, impeding their relationship, my leg hurts, and the concert is almost starting. Whom will I have to share this experience with? Or whom can I talk about it with? It seems like Otani is the only one I know who likes the band! Whenever I think about it, it makes me feel so lonely!"
"I can find her some other time. Because, I had a date with you first, right? I thought about it, and I can't go back on another promise, and I don't want to owe anything."
Risa begins to cry, repeating that he's stupid, asking why he's so stupid. He's shocked that she's crying, but afterwards, she repeats, "It hurts.. it hurts.." -- Which is referring to her knee, but could also refer to the fact she's feeling lonely. This is when it begins, when he takes her hand to take her to the drug store to disinfect the wound:
The streets filled the joyful scent of Christmas, even if we are the all "Hanjin-Kyojin", something just might develop.
