Mishounen Produce Chapter 15

HI all Mishounen Produce fans,

We have waited long for Mishounen Produce. It was a about a 2 months' wait as the mangaka took a break. Chapter 15 continues from Chapter 14 which ended with a cliffhanger. Kousei and Kako were out on a date and they saw a huge poster of Kako with Tomoe at a shopping mall. Let's pick up from there.

Kako and Tomoe stared at the huge poster that was hanging from the walls of a shopping mall. Kako is shocked. She comments:"That poster.... Isn't that me?!"

Scene switches to Kako recollecting the past. She remembers about Kousei and herself as childhood friends. They were from a very remote village and they were the only children in that village. She remembers being emersed in her comics even then and Kousei would come around and ask her out to play.

She thinks to herself that she is so much in love with Kousei and she cannot stop her feelings. Their relationship has only recently progressed from childhood friends to being mutually in love with each other.

Scene switches to Kousei in assignment having his photo taken. The editor is swooning as he stares at Kousei. He expresses to Kako that Kousei is looking very good. Kako sighs, looking stressed...

The editor wonders why Kako seems worried and is sighing... Kako is surprised that she has expressed out her internal turmoil outwardly. She thinks to herself that since they found out about the poster, Kousei has been in a difficult mood. Kako tries to be as professional as possible and not to think about the incident. She follows Kousei after the photo-taking session and expresses to him that he has been working hard. Kousei ignores her... Kako is jusrt by Kousei's response, she thinks about the poster and wonders how did the photo taken during the interview turned out to like that.

Kousei breaks the silence and asks her:"When did you take that photo? I am surprised you have kept things from me. I thought you are mine."

(Kousei is possessive!!!)

Kako blushes hearing Kousei saying that she is his. At the same time, she tries to explain about the poster. They are interrupted by 2 ladies. The 2 ladies:"Isn't this a coincidence to meet you here!" Both Kako and Kousei stare at them and cannot recognise them. The 2 ladies are upset that they cannot recognise them. They explain that they are the popular idols and actresses. Moreover they are in the same class with Kako. Kako cannot help but comments that they are noisy as usual.

One of them walks up to Kako and says that she is the same as ever, looking like a country bumpkin. She further says that Kako and Kousei look like an odd and mismatched couple. Kako thinks to herself that she is a country bumpkin and Kousei is this star but she tells herself to ignore her comments as Kousei accepts her as such.

Suddenly her phone rings. Tomoe Senpai is on the other line. Kousei overhears Kako greeting him over the phone...

Tomoe asks Kako whether she has seen the poster. Kako exclaims that she has seen it and is about to ask Tomoe to explain what happened. Kousei takes the phone away and speaks to Tomoe. He asks Tomoe to explain what had happened and how did he force Kako to have her photo taken...

Scene switches to Bright Productions Co. Ltd. Tomoe, Kousei and Kako are sitting down and talking.

Tomoe says to Kousei:"You said that I've forced her and made her have her photo taken, didn't you know that Kako has joined our production company?"

Both Kousei and Kako are rendered speechless upon hearing that.

Kousei looks at Kako, apparently still in shock. Kako fumbles and tries to explain herself. "I have been wanting to find time to talk to you about this. I came over to Bright Productions with the intention to understudy to be a manager. Tomoe Senpai after asking Kousei to join, out of convenience asked me to join too."

Kousei comments that it seems like many things has happened without his knowledge.

Tomoe looks on at their interaction...

Kousei asks Kako:" As a manager, you need to have your photo taken and made it into a poster? You look forward to doing such a job?"

Kako turns to Tomoe and replies:" I understand what I should do." Kako tries to reject Tomoe's offer for her to join the company.

Kousei looks at Tomoe and says:" About joining Bright Productions, I reject and Kako rejects joining your company too."

Tomoe observes that they seemed to have a close relationship. However, Kako has already signed a contract and she cannot resign. Moreover, her contract with Bright Productions is not as a manager but an artist/performer.

Both Kako and Kousei look at the contract. Kako asks why is the word "manager" struck off and is replaced by the word "artist/performer"?

Tomoe smiles at them and tells Kako that she has told him she could do anything. He has taken it to mean that she is willing to do anything so he took the liberty to change manager to artist/performer.

Both Kako and Kousei are shock.

With his back turned to Kako, Kousei asks Kako whether she had said such things to Tomoe. Kako replies that she did but she didn't know things would turn out this way. Kousei says that he believes her as he doesn't think she would suit being an artist/performer...

Kousei looks at Kako and asks her:" Isn't it right? You are not suitable for such job, so you don't have to do such a job."

Kako agrees weakly...

Tomoe, hearing that comments that Kousei should not have stopped Kako. He should have supported a girl who wants to look beautiful to do so. If it were him, he would have done so. Tomoe turns to Kako and tells her that she has an assignment today.

With that, Kako is dragged away to prepare for her assignment.

With Tomoe and Kousei being left alone. Tomoe tells Kousei:" In general, when you see a girl who wants to be beautiful, you should encourage her. Generally speaking."

Kousei replies:"But when she is someone I love, I don't like her to be taken away by some strange man."

Tomoe:"Then join the company so that you can keep a look out for her." "You can no longer hide this secret princess."

Kako is thinking that Kousei has never once commented that she is beautiful.

In the make-up room, Kako remembers that as a young child she has approached Kousei when she put on a new dress and asked him whether she looked beautiful. He would replied that she is being childish and turned his head away promptly. The make-up artist encourages her to change her looks so that Kousei can see her differently and win his approval.

Kako thinks about having Kousei seeing her differently and saying that she is beautiful to her. Kako cannot imagine Kousei saying that she is beautiful. She has no confidence...

Meanwhile, Kousei cannot locate Kako...

Tomoe turns up at the make up room and encourages Kako. He tells her that because she has her head down, she does not realise her potential.

The 2 ladies, Kako and Kousei met earlier turn up at Bright Productions to catch a glimpse of Tomoe. They are surprised to see the transformed Kako.

Kako apologises to Kousei for keeping her meeting Tomoe and joining Bright Productions a secret from him. She tells him that as Kousei is working hard to be an accomplish star in Japan, she wants to work hard too so that she can be a suitable partner to him...

She asks him whether he thinks she is suitable. With a pained look, Kousei touches her face and tells her that she is not suitable...

Kousei goes on to tell her that she is being too naive (same word as childish but I believe the meaning Kousei is trying to get across is naive). This is the exact word Kousei said to her when they were younger when Kako asked about how she looked in her new dress.

With tears in her eyes, Kako turns and runs away.

She runs past Tomoe and tells him that she wants to be an artist/performer. In her mind, she tells herself that she wants to be closer to Kousei.

That ends chapter 15. I am a Kousei fan. Although he is not apt at expressing his feelings to Kako, I believe he loves her and is trying to protect her. He knows that she is not suitable to be in the limelight and has been trying to shelter her. I believe that he has been working hard to be an accomplished star/performer so that he can help fulfill her dreams. If only, he has expressed himself more clearly to her...

Tomoe, on the other hand, is milking the situation to his advantage. I am still not clear about his intent. To get Kousei to Bright Productions, or because he is interested in Kako...

What do you think?

Shiro no Eden Chapter 6

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.