Hot Gimmick manga synopsis.

These synopsis are done by Zahara Medina and can't be used anywhere else without her consent. As she is just a student of Japanese, there are bound to be mistakes. If you spot any mistake, please report it to me, thanks! :) (comments are also appreciated....)
Please remember to support your favorite authors by buying the Japanese tankoubon or official translations.

Note: B/w scans are from the magazine, where the print is in low quality paper and different ink colors so it sometimes scans pretty bad and leaves lots of noise in the picture. The tankoubon quality is, of course, much better (perfect, that is).

Note 2: Ryouki is the direct katakana reading used for the kanji in his name, but the romanization of it seems to be Lyoki. I'm using Ryouki because it's easier for the reader.

Part 5 (Apr'2001) [ vol.02 ]
Back in early school days, a little Hatsumi gets pushed by an angry little Ryouki because she performed poorly in some school drills and their group's average performance wasn't as good. He starts reprimanding her until a young Azusa stops him and they both start a fight. Some of the boys tease Hatsumi because of Azusa going to her rescue and later on Hatsumi wants to thank him for helping her... but before she can, he is called by other boys... and we jump forward in time to when she wanted to tell Azusa that she isn't going out with Ryouki... but she just never got around to utter the words. Hatsumi wakes up from her dream and is mad at herself that she hasn't changed since she was a kid. As she prepares to go out, her brother spots her and they talk for some moments. Hatsumi decides to try her best at everything (and internally decides to stop the "slave" crap), and as she leaves she tells her brother that he likes him a lot. After the door is closed, he looks to a side and sighs thinking about what she just said, "I like you a lot!" As she goes out of the appartment building, Azusa's father begs her to go give something to Azusa at his workplace. Meanwhile at his school, Ryouki talks with some classmate and says that even though he doesn't have a girlfriend, he has a "slave" (following some rumors about him and a girl). When Hatsumi arrives at the model studio where Azusa is working, she runs into some really pretty girls, some of which she recognizes from TV commercials. She asks them if they know where Azusa is, but they think she is just a fangirl. As they prepare to abuse her, Azusa asks what their problem is with "his girlfriend." The girls are shocked and he takes Hatsumi to an empty room. She gives the papers to him and asks about the "girlfriend" part... He says he just said it like that to give a more lasting impression on the girls. Hatsumi is very disappointed. Azusa asks her if she is Ryouki's girlfriend and she denies it strongly, tries to explain, fails, tries to tell him she likes him, fails and runs for her life (^^; ). But he stops her, hugs her and kisses her! Meanwhile, Ryouki calls her home and learns from Akane that Hatsumi is not there. At Azusa's workplace, Hatsumi and Azusa hug and Hatsumi thinks this is her real first kiss, because the other one (with Ryouki) was just a lie... But Azusa has a strange look on his face. (Zahara's note-- Nooo! Nooo! Go back to Ryouki! Azusa is too "good boy!" ^^;;;)
Part 6 (May'2001) [ vol.02 ]
Azusa takes Hatsumi home. Next morning, as she goes to school, she gets kicked (literally ^^; ) by Ryouki, who is a little mad about her not being home when he called the day before. However Azusa comes to her rescue and tells him not to mess with another's girlfriend, which sends everybody present into shock, including Ryouki. Ryouki has a rather bad day, confronting anybody in his path. After school, he sees Azusa with another girl. Meanwhile, Akane and Hatsumi return home and Akane notices Hatsumi is not very cheerful. They meet Ryouki and his friends, and while Akane introduces herself and is very flirtish, Ryouki is thoughtful, remembering Azusa with the other girl and Azusa with Hatsumi. He tells her to go with the guys and her sis, who want to hang around and leaves. His friends start talking and they comment they saw Azusa with another girl, but right before she can ask for more information, Ryouki appears again and takes Hatsumi away. Hatsumi tries to ask Ryouki about Azusa and worries about Akane being left alone with the other guys, but he keeps on telling her to shut up. They board a rather full train and Hatsumi ends up pushed against the doors, with Ryouki looming over her (and protecting her from the people pushing from behind). Then he puts her arms around her and hugs her after looking at her face. She is shocked and tells him to let her go, but he doesn't want to. After a moment he does let her go, but then takes her out of the train saying they have to go out there. She confronts him and tells him that she doesn't give a damn about the famous secret and that she is tired of that "slave" thing between them. He is slightly surprised at her outburst, but does end up telling her about seeing Azusa and another girl. She says she is stopping being his "slave" and thinks he hates Ryouki a lot. Ryouki tries to stop her with a worried/scared expression on his face, but she repeats her vow of not being his slave anymore and runs away.
Part 7 (Jun'2001) [ vol.02 ]
Hatsumi is scared that now that she turned her back on Ryouki, he may tell his mother about Akane's secret and they will be thrown out of the appartment. However, she is surprised when Ryouki's mother comes, and nothing happens. On her way out, she meets Azusa and Akane. Azusa seems to ignore Hatsumi a little as Akane discusses with Hatsumi. Later when they are alone, Azusa gives Hatsumi a keitai (mobile phone), so they can stay in contact. Hatsumi is very happy. As Azusa goes into the elevator, he meets Ryouki, who says Hatsumi is his and to stay aside. Azusa coolly tells him that he has some plans and can't let anybody interfere... but that when he is done, Ryouki can do whatever he wants. Ryouki is left wondering what the hell that meant. Ryouki talks to Hatsumi and tries to warn her about Azusa saying weird things. Of course Hatsumi doesn't care about what Ryouki says and tries to walk away. Ryouki stops her and cages her against the entrance of the house... Hatsumi mentally calls for Azusa to help her, but it's Hatsumi's papa who appears and interrupts them! Ryouki is very surprised and Hatsumi is in shock. Her father drags her away and tells Ryouki to stay away from Hatsumi... he is very angry about Hatsumi being involved with a guy and orders her to stay in her room for the whole day. (^^;;;; ) Hatsumi calls Azusa and he kind of manipulates Hatsumi so she ends up agreeing on going to their first date, even against her father's wishes. After a very happy Hatsumi hangs up, Azusa smiles in a weird way and thinks that things have started... (Fishy -_-;; ) (Thanks to Steph for her help with translating some of the dialogue!)
Part 8 (Jul'2001) [ vol.02 ]
Hatsumi agrees on meeting Azusa against her father's prohibition. Akane agrees on helping her thinking that she is dating Ryouki. Hatsumi meets Azusa and they go to a pub. Everybody seems to know Azusa there and Hatsumi feels out of place between all these adults. Azusa goes to the bar and orders a drink, then slips a pill into it and says he is sorry... Back to Hatsumi, he gives her the drink and they cheer while some of Azusa's male friends start to talk with her as well. Hatsumi starts to feel the pill's effect and feels drowsy, so Azusa and his friends tell her they are taking her away. However, Hatsumi's brother who happens to have a job at the club sees this and takes Hatsumi with him. Azusa has a weird expression after this... Hatsumi's brother puts her in a taxi and after she leaves, damns Azusa. Back in home, Hatsumi can't find her keys and is afraid to ring the doorbell because that would awake her father... She is also pretty drowsy by now. She goes up the stairs and finds Ryouki smoking, she tries to run away and almost falls down the stairs, but he catches her in time. They argue a little and Hatsumi finally falls asleep on Ryouki's shoulders... His heart skips a couple of beats and he bends down to kiss her but can't make himself do it... He wonders what is wrong with him and tells himself that she is just a "slave." Still, he hugs her and starts to kiss her neck and down! Meanwhile Hatsumi thinks it's warm and nice... and she can't open her eyes because she feels so sleepy...
Part 9 (Aug'2001) [ vol.02 ]
Hatsumi dreams of being in bed with cool, nice Azusa just to wake up and find Ryouki fondling her breasts! (^^; ) Ryouki manages to stop her before she screams their heads off, and when she has recovered from the initial shock, he tries to continue petting with her. Hatsumi tries to stop him... kind of... not very enthusiastically... until Ryouki wants to take off her bra. Hatsumi says that she can't do that, and that she only wants Azusa to see that. When hearing that, Ryouki's expression changes and he hugs her... just to have a Subaru and her sister interrupt them. Hatsumi is very ashamed and panicky and tries to hide what they were doing, but the girl teases her about making out with Ryouki in the stairs and notices she has a kiss mark on the top of her breast... poor Hatsumi wants to die! Unfortunately, her scream of horror wakes up the whole building... (^^; ) Her father is quite mad at Hatsumi, but in the middle of his spanking, Azusa calls through the interphone and tells Hatsumi's father it's his fault... For some reason, Hatsumi's father looks slightly weird (scared and worried? ) when hearing him and Azusa says that it's been some time since they last talked, at Azusa's mother's funeral. Hatsumi is very surprised to hear that about Azusa's mom, but her father doesn't want to talk to her about it, and goes away. Meanwhile, Shinogu (Hatsumi's brother) comes back home from his part-time job and meets Azusa on the way. He talks with Azusa about the club incident, but Azusa looks very sure of himself and ends up telling Shinogu that after all, he and Hatsumi aren't really brother and sister. Azusa realizes that Shinogu knows, but wonders aloud with a slightly evil look on his face if Hatsumi knows. Shinogu is very worried now and tells him that they haven't tell her because it would be too much. Azusa coolly replies that things will end soon because Hatsumi is the most valuable tool for his revenge... The following day, Hatsumi finds Subaru and the girl, Asahi, in the local flea market. They think she is involved with Ryouki, but she denies that and says she is with Azusa. Hatsumi sees her mom and tries to talk to her about Azusa's mom, but gets diverted by some of the other matrons, who want to talk to her about... Azusa. They comment about Azusa's transfer due to a divorce and that the cause of the divorce was that his mother had an extra-marital affair. Even worse! The man she had an affair with lived in this same building! Azusa's mother was very beautiful... Hatsumi asks what happened with Azusa's mother (which she remembers from when she was little). They say that she returned to her parent's house but they wonder if it's ok for Hatsumi to know these things... Suddenly Ryouki's mother appears and sends the matrons away. Hatsumi is still wondering about this when her keitai goes off, she has an email from Azusa! Hatsumi asks Subaru and Asahi to please say nothing about her getting an email from Azusa. Shinogu appears asking for Hatsumi, but Asahi lies about her whereabouts. Meanwhile, Hatsumi sneaks out and goes to the train station, Azusa wants to see her at the studio. However, to her surprise Ryouki appears. He tells her to come with him... and also (in a rather heart-stopping way) that this is no longer a "practice" and that this time he is going to bed with her... and he is not going to let her escape!

Next Chapter...

All images © Aihara Miki (except backgrounds)