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 24 (Dec'2002) [ vol.06 ]
Flashback to the past: Azusa as a kid has just been transferred to a new school following the move of his mother. The other students talk between themselves how their mothers have forbidden them to make friends with him because his mother is a divorcee on adultery grounds. Time passes and Azusa is still alone at school while other students talk about him. Azusa returns home to her sick mother, and lies to her about how great school is and how many friends he has made. They are living with her mother's brother family, but they don't have much good to say either. All through this he tells himself he is going to be fine. One day, his female cousin puts the move on him but when her father discovers them, she lies and tells it's all Azusa's fault. His uncle yells at him and says that he's just like his mother. Still Azusa tells himself he is going to be allright. He tries to help her mother take her medicine, but she is completely gone and just says that soon "he" is going to come for her because that's what he said... Azusa first thinks she is talking about his father, but then realizes she is talking about someone else. Which brings him to the present as he wakes up. He gets a call from Rina, his manager, but tells her that he has business of his own that day. Hatsumi awakes in her room but is very sleepy because there was so much excitement the day before between the visit to Shinogu's and then all what happened at Ryouki's place. She runs to catch up with Shinogu and her father, but meets Tachibana's family maid, who has come to return something she left behind. Hatsumi calls her by her name, and then wonders how come she knows her name... and then realizes it's because Ryouki said it all the time when ordering her around. Hatsumi doesn't seem too happy, but tells herself she must go look for her brother. Azusa catches up with Hatsumi and says that her brother called him, so he is going now to the meeting place with her father. At a cafe, Shinogu and his father are talking. Shinogu tells him about his new place and how he's paying rent with his part-time job. His father then asks him if he doesn't want to protect his mother and Hatsumi, and Shinogu says he does. But his father says that then how come he is moving to a place that is one hour away from home? His father starts to wonder about Shinogu's real motives for moving out but he interrupts him and says there is something else he wants to talk about, and that he would like to talk about Ryouki. He tells him that Azusa has taken revenge on Hatsumi for what he did and asks him to talk to him, and his father says he wants to apologize to Azusa. Azusa and Hatsumi arrive to the scene. Hatsumi's father asks Azusa how he knew, and he says he read it in his mother's diary; he demands his apology and Mr. Narita complies. Hatsumi is really sad to realize that it was all true about his affair. Azusa leaves the place after Narita apologizes again, even though he is not saying the truth completely. Hatsumi goes after Azusa and wonders at the fact that he seemed to be about to cry back in the cafe. Azusa has a flashback at the moment of true happiness when he returned one day from school and found a postcard from Hatsumi waiting for him. Azusa leaves after saying that even after the apology, he is not feeling any better (contrary to what he had expected to feel).
Part 25 (Jan'2003) [ vol.06 ]
beta version Ryouki helps Hatsumi with her studies and they "agree" on her staying a night over with him if she passes (Hatsumi of course, goes into panic mode...) Random Scenes: [ 01 ] [ 02 ] [ 03 ] [ 04 ]
Part 26 (Feb'2003) [ vol.06 ]
Hatsumi passes from being no.99 in her year to being 64! Yay! Ryouki has won! Hatsumi tries to get out of the "spend the night problem" but is not very successful and Ryouki doesn't really listen to her excuses. ("Spend the/one night over" (usually done in the form of a short trip somewhere) talked between a girl and a boy usually means that they plan on having sex. This is the meaning Hatsumi assumes Ryouki is talking about) Later in home, Akane is getting ready to go to a xmas party. She wonders if Hatsumi and Ryouki have already done "it." Hatsumi is in shock at the idea, but Akane says that Ryouki is really nice to her and is always doing things for her. Akane says that she is different for Ryouki. Hatsumi ponders on this. Even later, as they go out, they see a limousine parked in front of the building, and Ryouki in cool formal dressing appears! His family is going to a Christmas party at a hotel. Hatsumi is very impressed, but then sees him being nice to the family maid, Mariko, and gets mad. Akane sees this. When Ryouki's family returns, Akane is waiting for him, so he tells his mother to go on and that he has to go buy some things. Before she can say a thing, he starts to ask (order) for her help about getting to go with Hatsumi to the first temple visit of the year. Akane says that first he must explain what his relationship with the maid is. He is surprised by this and starts to explain it's the family maid, but Akane interrupts and tells him to explain to Hatsumi because she was worried about it. After that, Akane proceeds to ask... what is the type of girl Subaru likes? And... is there any girl he likes right now? Needless to say, she doesn't get anything from him. At home, Hatsumi's mother is telling her that because their father won't be in home for New Year's Eve, they should go to Shinogu's house for the first visit to the temple. Hatsumi just agrees when Akane runs in and tells their mom that they are passing! She makes up a story about going with other people and whispers to Hatsumi not to be worried, she is helping her to get some time alone with Ryouki! (Poor Hatsumi...) Temple visit time! Ryouki, Subaru, her sister, Akane and Hatsumi (who is still thinking that she is in no way sleeping with Ryouki) have formed a group. It's really crowdy, and Akane sees that Hatsumi and Ryouki are getting nowhere, so she happily drags Subaru's sister away. Ryouki takes Hatsumi's hand. Hand wrestling match ensues. Hatsumi is worried because there are people from the house building around, but Ryouki says that since there is so much people, it's perfectly normal. They encounter another family without any problems arising, and afterwards Ryouki makes some comments about the crowdy atmosphere and laughs nicely. Hatsumi is in shock that he can laugh so cutely! Ryouki tells Subaru that they are leaving, and then says that they must go on for their night together. Hatsumi gets scared and starts to say that she can't because she didn't tell her parents that she would stay over, and... well, she won't go! Ryouki reminds her that she promised, and tells her not to worry because Akane will cover for her. But Hatsumi breaks free of Ryouki's hand and says she doesn't want to go. By now Subaru is really lost, but Ryouki gets mad and accuses her of being selfish and doing things just for her own convenience. Subaru tries to calm him down, but they are interrupted by a call to Ryouki's mobile phone. It turns out to be the maid, Mariko, and something seems to have happened, because Ryouki says he will be there in a moment. Hatsumi seems disheartened at this and stays silent while Ryouki tells them to wait for him. Hatsumi thinks that she is in no way special for Ryouki and also for him to leave now to Mariko (the maid)... it's all for nothing so it's better if she just gives up. Hatsumi keeps this line of thought as she starts to leave the place, thinking that thankfully she didn't sleep with him and thankful about all the things she didn't get to worry about, etc... But eventually and as she starts to cry, she arrives to the conclusion that she hates Ryouki, however her expression is just pure misery. (New Years is the most important holiday in Japan. Traditionally people will go to a temple/shrine on the first day of the year (the earlier, the better) to offer a prayer.)
Part 26 - Side B (Feb'2003) [ vol.06 ]
Flashback to the days before New Year's Eve. Ryouki tells his mom that of course he will be perfectly okay by staying behind alone that night! Yay, thinks Ryouki, he is finally getting to be with Hatsumi! At school, Ryouki keeps a countdown... 2 days for him and Hatsumi to be together! Even if it's just hugging a lot, he thinks, he is having a really good feeling about it. Back to the present, Ryouki arrives at his appartment door to find Mariko waiting there... it was all so she could get him a spare key for his family's vacation house, where he is planning on taking Hatsumi. Ryouki is already daydreaming about Hatsumi asking to be his girlfriend! Mariko smiles as she(?) remembers a young Ryouki's ideas about women being all stupid and just for sex, and how he was told that he would change his mind when he met the right woman. Ryouki sweats and says (Hatsumi) is not that dear to him, but Mariko just sends him away smiling to herself. Ryouki hurries up back, thinking that the only problem now is Hatsumi, and how she decides to do things without bothering to find out about the problems other people go through. However, he meets Hatsumi returning from the temple. He is really surprised and starts to ask her why she is returning when he told her to wait, but then realizes she is crying! Hatsumi says it's nothing, and asks what he is doing. However Ryouki wonders why she says it's nothing and says she was crying. She tries to go away and bids him good bye. Ryouki is in shock! He stops her and wonders what's going on, and she says that she doesn't want to go... Ryouki says she promised! Hatsumi starts to cry and says that he never listens to anything she says even though she tried to tell him... Poor Ryouki is now really in shock, especially when Hatsumi starts babbling about Mariko and he wonders why she is mentioning her now, and the poor man eventually just gives up... he just can't understand what's going on with her! (^^) However he is not inhuman, so he hugs her and she stops crying. He starts to apply what he has learnt about women and asks her if she really doesn't want to go with him that much... he says that he really, really wants to go/be with her (which falls slightly short of the "Ask for it" he is supposed to do but... ). Hatsumi is impressed by his words and expression on his face and looks down, saying that okay... they can go... for a little while... (Ryouki yays internally again!)
Part 27 (Mar'2003) [ vol.06 ]
Akane leaves her friends and finds Subaru, who is still worrying about Hatsumi and Ryouki. Akane tells him that it's okay since they are on a date and the whole "friends group temple visit" was just a cover-up. Subaru doesn't seem to excited about this, so Akane gets a little irked, thinking he really likes Hatsumi. Poor Subaru tries to defend himself but Akane says she knows he hates her. Just then, Akane is surrounded by a group of male friends, but instead of going with them, she excuses herself and stays with a really surprised Subaru. Akane says that him staying alone would be really sad, so she is staying with him... though it's not such a great deal, she adds, to be alone with a girl one hates. Subaru sweats some and says that he doesn't hate her, he just... is scared of her. (^^;;; ) One kick and a discussion on his preferences later, Akane tells him that she likes him so she wants him to go out with her. In that moment, the countdown for the New Year starts. Meanwhile, Hatsumi and Ryouki have traveled by train. Ryouki is back to his normal self and poor Hatsumi thinks she has been fooled by his nice words earlier! (^^) At the hotel where his family has a suite, Hatsumi manages to elude Ryouki's amorous efforts by saying she wants to do the countdown to the New Year, and runs out of the room. Ryouki thinks that's fine, since there are no trains running by that time anyway. However, while Hatsumi is in the corridor, with evil Hatsumi and good Hatsumi fighting it out over Ryouki, she comes across Shinogu! He is having a part-time job there with a friend. Hatsumi simply tells him she is there with "a friend." Unfortunately, shortly after, Shinogu is given a bouquet of flowers to take to the most important client of the place, and the card says "Lyoki (Ryouki) Tachibana"... Poor Shinogu is in shock when he puts two and two together. Hatsumi returns to the suite, bent on telling Ryouki about Shinogu (and how it's way too shameful to even think about doing anything while he is in there), but finds him sleeping in one of the sofas... She insults him a little to find out if he is really sleeping (^^; ), and once she is certain, she covers him with a blanket. She smiles and thinks that she has seen lots of different sides of Ryouki that day, and that when he is asleep, he is not scary at all. She ponders on her feelings towards him, and as the New Year starts, she takes his hand and thinks this coming year she will be less scared of him. At the same moment, Akane also covers Subaru's hand.

Next Chapter...

All images © Aihara Miki (except backgrounds)