[[Category:Volume Volume 11 Chapters]]
The Girl Fishing in a Puddle (
Summary[]
Rentarou is scouting for date locations when he head to a park where others can run around or relax. He soon sees someone clad in a traveler's costume (similar to Snuffkin from "Moomin") fishing nearby; he wonders where they are fishing as he sees the strange person sitting with their rod in a mere puddle. Rentarou wonders why someone would fish in a puddle if it was for bugs; but the person turns around and immediately "zings" with him, revealing them as one of Rentarou's 100 Soulmates!
The strange female asks how they may help them and Rentarou asks about wonders what they were fishing for; the girl states it's a fascinating question and that her answer is "my own self, in a way." She shows her reflection in the puddle showing that she is the one casting the line and that "it is what it is, no more, no less", further confusing Rentarou. Rentarou believes what they are doing is meaningless but figures they have to to face themselves from time to time, but the girl acts cryptic on whether or not this it true. She soon introduces herself as Uto, a "wandering bard" who travels far and wide bestowing songs to those willing to hear. Considering their harsh lifestyle in this era, Rentarou wonders where she lives and how she eats; Uto states "you can find bread and ham anywhere, if one knows where to look", pointing out a sandwich that she threw on top of a tree branch so no one would steal while she took a nap; which makes sense as a vagabond...except now Uto can't reach it, stating it is now "a gift for the forest" (Rentarou thinks it's just littering). Hoping to make sure she has lunch, Rentarou climbs the tree and gathers Uto's sack; Uto thanks him by offering him a ballad, which he accepts.
The bard pulls out an ocarina, but the music turns out to be terrible; she has no idea how to play the ocarina and her lyrics about her encounter with Rentarou are terrible and make no sense to him! However as Uto continues playing her terrible song about the encounter, Rentarou realizes that she is one of a kind and meant specifically for him with her playing her heart out with her desire as she reveals that she ultimately has fallen in love with him. Rentarou tries to agree the same, but Uto remains as quizzical as ever as he states he would be happy to be with her but also presents the fact he has 18 other girlfriends that he cares about more than life itself; which Uto believes makes him a "love evangelist" (but Rentarou states he's merely "a boyfriend").
Rentarou and Uto spend more time together, eating a sandwich on top of a hill (a playground for the local kids), fishing together as they continue talking and even share kisses as Rentarou talks about the other girlfriends with her. Uto states that she would like to meet Rentarou's other girlfriends which he agrees to, but Uto also states she's still a wandering bard who travels the land; she still loves Rentarou but can't change her way of life. Uto asks Rentarou to swear to never forget her or the moment they had together; while Rentarou wonders if they can be lovers if they're apart with the bard traveling and Rentarou staying in town with the other girls. He ultimately realizes they don't always have to be together; he's lucky to have all the others near him but it was luck that it would happen and that reality isn't convenient, even admitting that Nozawa-sensei can't just make every girlfriend a regular character. Ultimately pushing one's personal ideals isn't love and they need to respect others ideas for what their life is as a form of love. With these thoughts, Rentarou swears he won't forget Uto and that he will be the home she returns home to, no matter how long it takes; if it truly is love, then love will never fade. With that declaration, Uto bids Rentarou farewell until they meet again.
The next day, Rentarou solemnly walks to school swearing he will introduce the other girls to Uto someday...until he suddenly sees Uto also walking to school, wearing the uniform of the middle school under her bard cloak! Uto is surprised to see Rentarou as he makes the realization she's a second-year middle schooler and not a bard as Uto states she's only doing what her heart yearns for. He wondered what the farewell was about as Uto also states "fate is a curious thing and life is fleeting so who knows if two people will meet again after they part!" Rentarou ultimately realizes based on Uto's delusions of being a bard and being a second-year middle-schooler that she isn't a bard but "a Chuuni"! (a delusional girl of that age)
Uto does state this is a reunion as Rentarou laughs that they could be together; while Nozawa-sensei's own problems of her cast continues. (to the point Momiji offers her a massage)
Characters[]
Quote[]
Cover: It's a puddle ♥
Beginning: Daily location scouting.
End: OOF...! ♥♥♥
Next Chapter: We'll be preoccupied with battle preparations, so we're taking the week off. Until we meet again!