Hi All,
Shiro no Eden is going to be the new series I am summarising. Quite interesting storyline (enough complications to have the story turning out differently). Mashiro, the female lead of the story is an insecure and sheltered child. She feels unloved at home. Mom remarried and her current family consists of Mum, Step dad and Step brother. Mashiro craves for mum to tell her she loves her and hugs her but instead mum tells her to be a good girl. Mashiro tries her best to be a good girl so as to win mum's love. Her step dad, who heads a cram school, doesn't seem to express affection towards her and appears to be a strict disciplinarian. Her step brother seems to ignore her and says curt words to her. However, unknown to Mashiro, her step brother seemed to like her but in a bid to control his feelings towards her, he treats her badly. To get better grades so that her family will approve of her, Mashiro spends most of her time studying. Thus, she is a loner and no one tries to include her into their social circle.
When Mashiro was young, she met Ai (male lead, I think) who gave a her a magic candy when he saw her crying. He told her that if she wished upon this candy her wishes will be fulfilled. She met him again and realised that he is teaching in a cram school. He reminded her that studying should be fun and enjoyable. Seeing how the people in the cram school interact and have fun, Mashiro badly wants to join them. Finally, she convinced her stepdad to let her go on condition that she pays for the cram school fees and keeps her grades up.
In Chapter 4, Mashiro realises that she loves Ai. Ai, on the other hand, thinks that he is not deserving of being loved (hmmm... I wonder why).
I'm starting with Chapter 6. Translated chapters 1-4 are available at Otakuworks.com. I'm missing Chapter 5. Hopefully, story gets clearer when Chapter 5 turns up. ok let's start with what I have...
Title for this Chapter is "Ai's Sudden Change. Mashiro being exposed to darkness and temptation."
At the side of the page, a caption:"Ai, the wizard of Oz, the Woodcutter of a Tinplate. The Woodcutter of a Tinplate has no heart."The chapter begins with Mashiro at the door in Ai's room. Ai tells her to come to him. Ai with her head lowered remain standing at the door. She wonders how she should answer him. She doesn't understand.
Ai:" What an idiot." As he puts on his pants, he chides her for not taking the opportunity to run out. He tells her that since she came here on her own, if something happened, she cannot complain.
Mashiro:"I...because I understood..."
Mashiro is thinking of that day, the reason Ai refused her bluntly.Ai:"So."
Mashiro:" I..., even if a teacher does anything, I wouldn't dislike it!"
Ai stretches out his hand. Mashiro closes her eyes. Ai leans threateningly towards her. Closing her eyes, Mashiro exclaims that Ai has not be having things his way.
Mashiro opens her eyes and looks at Ai and Ai returns her look. He tells her it is because women are liars. Mashiro is surprised to get that answer. Ai pushes her out of the door and tells her again to leave and go home.Mashiro asks what happened that he felt such hatred. She wonders whether he being alone wishes for some change. Ai said no. In reality, he had been alone.
Looking at her with a sad smile, he tells her that he is sure that nothing can as it is an impossible habit to break. With that he closes the door at her.Next scene switches to the school trip. Mashiro and her class are on the train going on a school excursion.
During the trip, Mashiro looks sad and in deep thoughts as she thinks about her conversation with Ai. Some of the girls notice her keeping to herself begin to talk about her always doing that.
Sakki (Ai's younger brother) notices her and stands up to talk to her. Suddenly, Kayo pushes Sakki away (Kayo likes Sakki and does not like it that Sakki notices Mashiro). She tells Mashiro to make an effort to socialise with the class and be more inclusive. Mashiro disagrees and replies that she is making an effort. Kayo is shocked and tells Mashiro that her attitude is bad. Another friend steps in to explain that Kayo is trying to help her to mix with others more. Mashiro tries to explain that she has something on her mind... Kayo shouts at her and asks her what it is...
Blushing, Mashiro confesses that she sort of like Takano Sensei... The girls are surprised and ask for details. The girls crowded around Mashiro.
One of them expresses that they thought she cares only for her studies. The class teacher notices that Mashiro is being surrounded by a group of girls and is looking happy. He walks up to them and tells Mashiro that it is good that she is mixing well with the classmates and she seems happy doing so. Mashiro, with tears in her eyes, expresses that she is extremely happy. She thinks that things has begun to change for her... She thinks it must be the working of the magic spell cast by Takano Sensei...
Mashiro is at the temple, writing her wish. She sighs. Sakki notes and comments that she is still sighing.
Sakki tells Mashiro that his brother has a history of problems with women as they will start to demand more from him. He does what he likes and is difficult to influence. Sakki tells Mashiro that he doesn't want to see her get wounded in the process.Sakki leaves Mashiro and she picks up an amulet and writes her wish on it.
Mashiro rejoins her classmates. She notices that Kayo puts an enmusubi (a love knot; it is like a talisman intended to help ensure love) into her purse.Scene switches back to Sakki. He looks for Mashiro's anmulet. He flips it to see the wish she has written on it. It says:" Wishing that the Wizard will be able to change."
Suddenly, Kayo realises that she has lost her purse. They are supposed to meet their teacher at the designated place. However, Kayo wants to go search for her purse. Mashiro decides to help her despite Kayo's protests.
Mashiro smiles at Kayo and tells her that it is better for two to look for it than Kayo doing it alone. Kayo remains ungrateful towards her for extending her help.It starts to rain. Kayo is thinking of giving up but Mashiro insists in persisting as she knows that there is something important to Kayo that is in the purse (the enmusubi). Kayo is somewhat touched at Mashiro's concern.
Mashiro jumps into a huge drain... Kayo asks whether Mashiro is ok...
Mashiro finds the purse and hands it to Kayo. Kayo opens up her purse to check on the enmusubi. She tears and holds it in her palm...
Scene switches back to the two girls back with the teacher.The teacher gives them a scolding for missing the meeting time and making the class wait for them...
Later on in the bath, Kayo thank Mashiro for being sensitive to her needs and come to her help. Mashiro tears when she was being appreciated.
Mashiro makes a phone call to Ai. Sakki who happens to walk past thinks that she is calling home but is surprised to overhear her talking to his brother instead. Mashiro tells Ai over the phone that he had said about somehow being lonely is something that happens. She wants him to know that during those times when he feels lonely, she can be with him.Ai wonders what she is talking about and hangs up on her.
Sakki is surprised by what Mashiro says to Ai.
This is an interesting chapter. I wonder what prompted Ai's detached reaction towards women in general and in particular towards Mashiro. I wonder what is the story behind his behaviour. I wonder whether Sakki likes Mashiro and what role he will play. I like it too that Mashiro is beginning to like herself more and finding friends at the same time.
