“High School Boys and the Train to School” is the 18th chapter of the manga.
Cover Page[]
Hidenori and Yoshitake are laughing at and annoying Tadakuni (probably with reference to his infamous cross-dressing).
Detailed Summary[]
On the morning train to school, Hidenori sees a particular girl every day, and spends his trip thinking about how to approach her. He’s taken an interest in her, not just because he sees her every day, but because there is a hair growing out of a mole on her neck. He finds it repulsive and wants to point it out to her, but cannot muster such courage. When she walks out of the train, he curses himself on failing for the umpteenth time.
The source of Hidenori's woes
Later, after school that day, he seeks advice from a fellow student about this issue. The student tells him not to do it, even if he strongly feels like doing so, because the girl won't understand it's an act of kindness. He walks off, leaving Hidenori to think some more. The next morning, yet again on the train and standing behind the girl, he continues to wrestle with his desire to tell her about the hair.
He considers the consequences of him being labelled a creep by her (because it isn't like he had no ulterior motive at all), but the urge is too strong and he crosses the train car to stand right next to her. At this moment, though, his courage fails him yet again and he loses his composure. In his mind, he begs Yoshitake to save him, while admitting defeat. He also considers switching trains henceforth to avoid this encounter.
Hidenori finally steps across
Just then, he pauses, as he finds something odd. The mole hair is very prominent, but still hasn’t been removed by the girl. He wonders if it might be because nobody is willing to point it out for her. That perhaps it is proof of her not having many friends. As he considers this, the train reaches the girl's station, and she steps out. She takes a few steps forward on the platform and the train doors close, when a voice calls out ‘Wait!’.
She turns around to find Hidenori, who has joined her on the platform and allowed his train to leave. He thinks to himself that as he's already taken the jump, and that the issue is not just about him anymore, he might as well get it over with regardless of the outcome. He points out the mole hair to the girl straight away, and she cringes, startled, before covering her neck.
Hidenori stares nervously at her, but is surprised to hear the girl chuckle. She merely laughs it off, and thanks him with a bright smile before leaving. A silent Hidenori is then shown standing alone on the platform. He thinks to himself that he was foolish to have worried over something so trivial.
Characters[]
In order of appearance: