Harumi shows Kira some pictures from the races, telling her how cool Rei was (except for his little karaoke exhibition the night before. -_-;;), and about the scout/expert man who was sitting behind them in the stands (he'd skipped out on some European race just to see Rei do his thing at the Suzuka8).

Kira gets a phone call from some mysterious person named Takemura. He goes to some other famous school for rich kids, and he saw her painting at the art exhibition. He asks her if her model was Kashino Rei, and as soon as he finds out it was indeed Rei and that he goes to her school, he thanks her and hangs up, leaving her very confused.

Kyoko passes Kira on the street and they have a chat. Kyoko's really thankful to Rei, because his racing at the Suzuka8 seemed to help Akitaka let go a little of not being able to continue racing. Kyoko says now Akitaka seems to be more open and happy because Rei can fulfill his racing dreams for him. She also says that she'll soon be quitting racing, because she wants to support Akitaka as his wife. (versus as another racer...does this make sense?) Kyoko hopes that Kira can also be a support for Rei to lean on, because as a racer he'll need it.

For the class activity (like at a festival type thing), Rei, Kira, Tatsuya, and Harumi's class has already decided what they want to do...I think it's an auction type thing....but they need stuff to auction. Someone suggests that the winning bidder get to ride on Rei's motorcycle ;). He refuses. Then they suggest that the winner get to be Rei's master for a day. ^_^ Kira's a pushover, so they decide it (Rei is aghast that Kira should so heartlessly abandon him ^_^;;) It seems that this semester, due to seating changes, Rei and Tatsuya sit way across the room from Kira and Harumi. Kira thinks that despite this, she feels a lot closer to Rei than she did when they were still sitting next to one another. :)

On the day of the activities, a bunch of girls go chasing after Rei. It seems Rei's popularity has increased due to his sudden fame as a motorcycle racer after the Suzuka8. Harumi tells Kira that she should start worrying about the competition, but Kira just says she's only worried about Rei's physical health (because of all this racing). She thinks about what Kyoko said about her being Rei's support...she thinks that she wants to always stay by Rei's side, but asks herself whether she's capable enough...

People search for Rei as the class activity is to begin and they need him to be there so people can bid on him. ^_- Rei, meanwhile, is with Tatsuya and some of their friends at the basketball courts. It seems they're having this competition where if you make 3 shots, you can get a mini tetris; four shots, an air max (eh?); and five shots, a heart necklace from Tiffany. (oooh....@_@...) The guys mostly suck, and then Rei decides to try his luck. As Kira and Harumi are off watching their class's auction, Rei's shooting hoops. Rei gets four in consecutively, and Tatsuya cheers for him and his new air max :). Rei, however, picks up the ball to shoot again, saying he doesn't want the air max--he wants Tiffany. (hmm..i wonder for whooommm? waahha) As he's shooting, the auction ends when some girl bids 100,000 yen. She's this girl with long dark curly hair (in case you're wondering, which you should be, she's the girl from the end of the previous volume who was staring at the painting of Rei and crying. ooh, significant ne?). She doesn't have 100,000 yen in cash on her, but she gives them her Cartier watch, saying it's probably worth 100,000 yen. She asks to see Rei.

Rei makes his fifth shot in! As he's high-fiving the other guys, he's surprised by a slap across the face by the winner of the auction. She then holds onto him and cries, saying she's missed him. Kira watches in surprise. Meanwhile, the elusive Takemura shows up. It seems he and the girl (her name is Shiori) went to middle school with Rei, and haven't seen him in two years. Takemura tells Rei he'd asked Kira about where Rei was going to school now, and Rei introduces him and Shiori to her. Shiori thanks Kira for painting Rei so well. Just then the guy comes along with Rei's newly won Tiffany necklace. Shiori says that she bought it, along with Rei, in the auction (seems the auction guy'd got carried away and said that the necklace that Rei won went with Rei to whoever). Tatsuya calls out, saying that Rei'd purposely gotten the necklace just for Kira, but Kira just says she's not really interested in that kind of thing, so it's okay. Rei watches her, then gives the necklace to Shiori. (::jen scowls::)

The four of them--Kira, Rei, Shiori, and Takemura--go off to drink some coffee or whatever. Rei, Shiori, and Takemura talk about their middle school days (Rei used to be captain of the basketball team), and Kira feels really left out. She begins to wonder why she's even there, when Rei takes her hand as he speaks. She feels reassured by this, but notices Shiori giving her this....stare? glare? Anyway, she feels uncomfortable.

Shiori suddenly complains of dizziness, and Rei suggests she and Takemura go home, as the strain of all the activities that day has probably worn her out. She freaks, though, and says she doesn't want to be separated from him, as it's taken so much time and trouble for her to get to see him again. Rei tells her not to be such a spoiled brat...but Kira, watching the three of them, suggests that Rei send Shiori home. Takemura says he'll go home alone, as he lives in the opposite direction from Shiori, so Rei and Shiori get a taxi together. Rei tells Kira he'll be right back as soon as he takes Shiori home.

Takemura tells Kira he's sorry for disrupting their vacation day, and also that he noticed she gave up the necklace to Shiori purposely, so that Rei wouldn't be put into an awkward position/situation. Takemura says that when he saw her painting, he knew that Kira must be Rei's girlfriend.

In the taxi, Shiori says she feels better and suddenly wants to go somewhere fun. She suggests..er...this place (in Chinese, it's Pao Tai, so I guess that's what I'll call it until somebody can tell me what the Japanese name is). Before Rei can respond, she tells the taxi driver to change destinations.

Takemura and Kira are chatting. Takemura says Shiori isn't mean, but she's very self-centered; and because she's so cute, she's always been spoiled by everyone around her. Kira asks whether Shiori used to be Rei's girlfriend. She remembers the way Shiori thanked her for painting Rei so well, and thinks that the way Shiori said it basically implied "thanks for painting *my* Rei so well."

Shiori and Rei have reached Pao Tai, and Shiori's feeling just fine. (::jen hisses::) Rei comments that Shiori hasn't changed at all; she's still selfish, wanting her own way...Shiori insists that she really was feeling horrible just a moment ago, and also that these qualities of hers were what Rei used to like about her (he used to say they were cute or something). She says she likes him still--and that no matter what, even if Sei were still alive, she would still like Rei.

Takemura recalls Rei in middle school; how at Sei's death, Rei had been expected to be able to bear it, but had ended up staying in the hospital to be treated. When he didn't come back to school after vacation, Shiori almost went crazy. Kira lets slip something about how if Sei hadn't been bullied, he would never have committed suicide and they wouldn't have had to be separated (I take it she means Rei & Shiori). Takemura is surprised, and says that Sei didn't commit suicide because he was bullied--he was bullied a bit, but not enough to justify such drastic measures (plus, people were too afraid of Rei's wrath to bully Sei too much). It seems that Sei had been dating Shiori first, and then Rei had taken Shiori from him. Soon after that, Sei had jumped from the school roof. When the authorities came, Rei had told them that he'd pushed Sei. Of course this hadn't been true, and Shiori, who'd been at the scene, denied it. However, why Sei would want to commit suicide was a mystery, so lots of people speculated about it and came up with the conclusion that it was because Rei stole Shiori from Sei.

Shiori's balanced on a rock looking at the waves. Rei tells her she'll fall, but she doesn't listen--and slips. Rei catches her in time, and she hugs him. Meanwhile, Kira doubts whether Sei would really kill himself over Shiori.

To illustrate Sei's personality, Takemura recalls an incident where Sei had tried to protect another kid who was being bullied by some delinquents. Takemura says that though Sei was weak compared to Rei, he had a lot of strong qualities (this is very rough translation) like his patience and principles. The delinquents had turned on Sei. Unable to stand by and watch Sei be bullied, Takemura had told Rei about the situation. Rei had ended up going to the art room and pretending to be Sei--then when the delinquents had come to get money from him, he'd stabbed one of them in the leg with his drawing pencil and beat the whole group of them up till Sei had come and made him stop. Takemura refuses to believe Rei killed Sei, if only because they had always been very close to one another. This is why he had always wondered why Sei had really committed suicide, and why Rei had said he'd pushed Sei.

The class is out karaoke-ing :). Tatsuya and Harumi wonder what's keeping Rei so long, and whether Kira will be okay waiting for Rei (she's waiting alone for him by his motorcycle).

Rei sends Shiori home. She asks him when they'll meet again (he doesn't know) and whether he'll put her Tiffany necklace (it's Kira's!!! hrmph) on for her (he does). As he's working on the clasp, she tells him not to be in such a hurry or he'll break the clasp. She asks him whether he's really that eager to get back to Kira. She says he and Kira will never make it, because Kira so easily gave him up to her (like after she'd glared at Kira, Kira had submitted) and if it'd been her in that situation, she would definitely not have given up so easily. She says that no matter what people say or think about her, she'd have stayed by the person she likes. Rei doesn't respond. As soon as she says goodbye to Rei and goes into her house, he turns and takes off running.

As Kira waits for Rei, she remembers what Takemura had said to her. Sei and Rei moved back from LA during middle school; they'd been twins and so good-looking that they'd immediately gotten people's attention. Rei'd been popular with all the guys, while Sei, because he was the nice quiet one, had become popular with the girls. Since Sei and Takemura were both in the art club, they'd become pretty good friends. Shiori was very popular and cute, so when she and Sei and Rei hung out, they were always the center of attention. Those had been happy days, up till something happened between Sei and Rei, and Rei had started going out with Shiori. Kira wonders about what had happened, and thinks she's stupid because all she ever does is sit and wait.

Tatsuya shows up to find Kira still sitting by herself waiting. He's worried about her, since it's getting late, and tells her she should try to get her own way once in a while and not be so understanding and mature about everything. (since she's just patiently waiting for Rei, and had given up so much to Shiori that day) Kira responds that she's not understanding or mature; that she's just frightened that Rei will not like her. Tatsuya hugs her....just as Rei shows up.

At first Tatsuya starts to explain--then he changes his mind and tells Rei that he hasn't really given up on Kira, and so if Rei keeps being selfish, he won't mind stealing her away from him. He says the class is at the karaoke place, and if they want they can join up with them, and leaves.

Kira tries to explain what had happened to Rei, but Rei says it's okay since he knows Tatsuya isn't really the type who would steal someone else's girlfriend, unlike some other people... He tells Kira that in middle school, Shiori had been going out with Sei, not him. They had been going out, but had never even held hands--it had been a "spiritual" love. Sei had been very into that kind of thing, but Shiori had always questioned why Sei never even kissed her. So Rei stole Shiori away from Sei; he said that Shiori didn't care which twin it was, since they looked alike and sounded alike, and Rei had been without restraints physical relationship-wise (like an animal). Kira doesn't believe him, saying that he was actually very serious about Shiori--that once he likes someone, he won't care who he's fighting against for her. She says that she saw the way he looked at Tatsuya when he'd caught them hugging. Rei, after a pause, agrees.

Rei suggests they go karaoke with everyone else. Kira remembers Tatsuya's words about her having her own way, so she asks Rei to spend a few minutes alone with her. He responds that that's so stuffy/depressing. He's just kidding, but it's enough to make Kira start to cry. And whenever Kira cries, Rei feels horrible.

Harumi asks Tatsuya what happened to Kira and Rei. Tatsuya says to let them do whatever they want.

Next day--
Harumi tells Kira that even though Rei and that Shiori girl have already broken up, she should still be careful about keeping Rei to herself. Kira responds that she doesn't think it's such a simple thing as that--that if things actually got to that point, no matter how much she cried or yelled it wouldn't matter to Rei.

Shiori shows up at their school to wait for Rei at the gate. Harumi yells at her to go away since Rei already has Kira. She's about to go fight Shiori (who says that since Harumi's so worked up about it, that must mean that Rei and Kira's relationship isn't going too well) when Kira holds her back to stop her. Shiori notices the bracelet that Rei gave Kira, and remembers that she'd asked Rei for it in middle school and he'd refused her. She goes after Kira, yelling for her to take the bracelet off. Kira pushes Shiori away desperately, and Shiori ends up falling against some planter edge and scratching her forehead. Rei shows up, and Shiori tries to blame Kira, saying that she deliberately pushed her into the planter because she's so hateful and jealous. Rei slaps Shiori (go Rei!!) and tells her to go home, as her presence is annoying, after she apologizes to Kira. Shiori walks off slowly, crying. Kira feels worried, and turns to see Shiori cross a street in the path of an oncoming car. Rei jumps in and saves Shiori, but injures his hand. Shiori, crying, says that without Rei she doesn't care whether she lives or dies.

In the hospital, as Rei gets his hand treated, Kira washes his jacket. She goes out to the waiting area and talks to Shiori, who begs her to give Rei back to her. Shiori says that she's had to endure so much waiting for the time when she would be able to see Rei again, and that if Sei hadn't died, she and Rei might still be together... Kira watches her cry, and feels horrible...she tells Shiori that she doesn't own Rei, she has no right to control him and that who he likes is his choice. Shiori, hearing this, tells Kira that she resembles Sei, because Sei said something similar to her when she told him she liked Rei. Shiori cries, remembering that Sei had said he forgave her, and yet chose to die--and asks Kira not to choose death like Sei did, or something might happen to Rei and he'd leave her once again.

Rei tells Kira he won't see Shiori anymore, and for her not to worry--though he thinks it's probably not possible for her. Kira holds his hand, and wonders why both of them have so many wounds [from the past]...

Harumi and Kira are talking about Shiori and Rei when they overhear some underclassmen girls talking about how Rei and his old gf are probably going to get back together again, and that Kira is just like a convenience store. (like, she's just very....convenient. ^_^;; how else can i describe it? like...she's good for doing stuff like cooking and cleaning and she's nice to have around, but not particularly attractive or whatever.) Harumi gets majorly pissed off and starts beating on the girls until Tatsuya stops her.
Shiori, meanwhile, is at home, refusing to get out of bed and respond to her mother. She remembers the first time she saw Rei and Sei at school.
Tatsuya has a talk with Rei on the roof, finding out about Rei's brother committing suicide. He tells Rei that Kira had told him about Rei having a brother, and that she'd been so worried about Rei's nerve problem, etc etc. Rei comments on Kira confiding in Tatsuya so much; Tatsuya says it's just because she thinks he's a nice person so she comes to him for advice. He says he's used to taking care of people because he's got younger siblings at home. Rei says Tatsuya's younger brother is lucky to have an older brother like him, while Rei's brother was unlucky to have Rei who not only didn't protect him, but also stole his girlfriend...Rei says that he would never be able to be happy with Shiori...

Rei finds Kira in a classroom.
(...okay, I know I said I wouldn't do translations, but I think certain key scenes in the manga series just have to be translated because describing them in passive voice just doesn't cut it. okay? okay.)
Rei: I heard you're a convenience store? So no matter what I say, you should listen/do it, right?
[pause]
Kira: Yes...as long as you say something, I'll listen.
[Rei stares. Then takes Kira's hands in his, leaning down towards her.]
Rei: Then I beg of you...please don't hate me.
[closes his eyes]
Rei: Even though I'm not gentle like Tatsuya, and do wild things, don't have a good reputation with women...but...
[ok, that was a very rough trans]
[Kira's eyes widen]
Rei: I still want you to stay by my side...

Kira and Rei are going to go out somewhere together, when they see Takemura waiting at the school gate. He says there's something up with Shiori, as she hasn't been coming to school and her mother says she doesn't really eat and just stays in her room. She keeps calling Rei's name, so Takemura decided to come and try to bring Rei to see her. Rei refuses, saying he has his own life to live and doesn't want to be dragged around by someone else. Kira tries to make he reconsider, but he just says he hates the way Shiori's always acting selfish, like a spoiled little kid who doesn't want to go to school and fakes sickness, and that he's wasted too much time worrying about this affair already. Kira says that Rei's actually very worried about Shiori, but is running away from the problem because he doesn't want to worry her. She says it won't work this way, and she doesn't want to hold him back. Rei remembers Sei saying some similar things, and yells at her not to talk like Sei. This hits Kira pretty hard, as Shiori compared her to Sei, and she cries out that she isn't Sei, and runs away.

Rei calls Kira up and apologizes...he didn't mean to say she's like Sei. He says he just feels really peaceful and comfortable when she's nearby, that's all. Kira tells him not the run away from reality, but if he needs her, she wants to stay by his side.

Harumi and Tatsuya want Rei and Kira to go out with them the next weekend to have some fun. Rei can't, because that Sunday is the anniversary of Sei's death and he's going to go visit Sei's grave for the first time. Kira asks if she can go with him. They end up going together, Kira buying flowers for Sei on the way. Rei tells her more about the day of Sei's death--how he doesn't remember much from that time anymore. Seems he's repressed a lot of his memories. Even his saying that he pushed Sei--he doesn't really remember saying it anymore. Kira is startled that Sei's death has hit him so hard that he has repressed his memories of it.

At the grave, there are lots of lilies. Rei says his father probably sent them. Kira thinks this is very thoughtful of him, but Rei just says it's because his father cares a lot about "face." (like..the way he's presented to the public) Kira doesn't understand why Rei hates his father so much; Rei says it's the other way around--his father hates him. He recalls his mother telling him so when he was little--

Mother: Your father is a cold-hearted person, very scary, and he hates kids. Don't get near him, or you'll have a miserable time.
Rei: Does father really hate us?
Mother: Yes. So you must not believe whatever your father tells you. Don't depend on him.
[Rei and Sei look at each other.]
Mother: The only one Sei can depend on is Rei, and the only person Rei can see as family is Sei. In the future, I won't be able to protect you two anymore...
Rei: Don't worry, mother! Sei still has me! I'll protect Sei.
[Mother smiles.]
Mother: You're more and more like your father, Rei...really...you're exactly like your father.
Kira: Kashino? Did your father do something horrible to you?
Rei: No, nothing...
Kira: Then why did your mother say that?
Rei: Why...? Why did my mother always paint my father as such a bad person? And then every time she saw my face, she always repeated that sentence...she always said I was so much like my father, with a very happy expression on her face. My mother was always like this...always saying a lot of confusing things. Why did I believe everything she said? Why did I come to hate my father so? I always wanted to figure things out, but every time I tried to think about it, I'd get cold sweat and nausea, so the doctor told me not to push myself...

Rei tells Kira that it's not Shiori's problem...it's because he's reached his limit. He doesn't want to push himself to remember all his past, doesn't want to think too much about it. And yet he doesn't want to run away from it. Shiori overhears him, (she's come with flowers also, with Takemura) and yells at him--she was always so angry that he and Sei cared so much for each other--she was jealous. Though he said he liked her, he was always watching Sei's countenance. That's why she'd told Sei to "disappear." That if only there were just one of them, instead of the both of them, her life would be easier. Sei had fulfilled her wish--but Rei just went on caring even more about Sei afterwards. Shiori feels that it's punishment on her--all of it's punishment on her for saying such a horrible thing to Sei. She runs away. Rei tries to give chase, but his wound reopens.

Rei goes off to look for Shiori while Kira and Takemura wait for him at the shrine. Takemura's having a hard time accepting that what Shiori said to Sei is the reason for his suicide. Takemura thinks that because Rei is so important to Sei, he would know that suicide would hurt Rei a lot, so he probably wouldn't have suicided because of Shiori. Rei runs around in the rain looking for Shiori. He returns to Kira and Takemura as the rain stops (i'm hoping that was rain and not just sweat or something), and then suddenly thinks of the school roof--where Sei jumped. He also suddenly remembers something else--and says, with conviction, that it wasn't Shiori's fault that Sei died.

They go to the school building and find Shiori huddled on the roof. She was planning to jump, but got too scared looking down. Rei hugs her, and tells her that it wasn't her fault Sei died--that it was because they'd found out that their father wasn't their biological father--that they were the illegitimate children of another man.

End Volume 4.

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