Last upgrade: 25-Feb'04

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 37 (Mar'2004)
Akane is all stressed out because St.Valentin is coming up and she is stuck studying for exams. She does however manage to buy some chocolates for Subaru on the way back from school with her friends. Afterwards, she meets Subaru, who is at the gacchapon machines (machines that dispense random plastic balls for 200 yen, and inside there are small figures or other items, depending on the machine), depressed because he is just getting normal items (as opposed to rare). Akane admonishes him for being there are and wonders if he is trying to get Gundams, but he is actually trying to get a series of cute little fluffy teddy bear mascots. Akane is very happy when he gives it to her and tells him that there is a rumor going around that says that after you get 10 of the rare ones, you can make a wish and it will come true. Subaru thinks that kind of sounds like Dragon Ball (^^; ). Akane also says that she would like one as a good luck charm. Akane thinks that even though they can now talk normally, they haven't even hold hands once. Akane wonders if this is a one-sided relationship. When they arrive at the building they meet Shinogu's friend Kazama, who has come to help Akane with her studies in the place of Shinogu, who is very busy at the cafe. Besides, he says, he really likes Akane *heart mark*. Subaru's expression is priceless. Akane jokes with him that if it's so then he will go easier with her. They say goodbye to Subaru and go up to her place. Subaru looks worried. While studying, Akane asks Kazama about guys and relationships from the guy's point of view. Kazama advices her that if pushing doesn't work (with Subaru) then maybe she should pull back and see how that goes. Later on, Subaru leaves because he needs one more gacchapon to finish the collection. He sees Akane in very good spirits saying goodbye to Kazama. Akane notices Subaru before he can slip away, and happily starts to ask where he is going and if she can go with him, but then remembers Kazama's words and decides to leave. Akane thinks she is doing great, but Subaru's face is not very happy. Akane tells herself that she must be patient and try her best at her new "plan" so she can finally get some sign from Subaru's side. As the days pass, she stops seeing Subaru even though she really, really wants to see him. But she tells herself that this is all for their "physical love" sake and that she must be patient. When she arrives home one day, she finds a gacchapon ball in front of her door... it's a rare teddy bear! Akane tells herself she should wait, but wants to see him too much and goes to his apartment. Subaru opens the door and Akane happily thanks him for the bear and wonders if it's really okay for her to keep it (since it's rare). She takes his hand and internally censors herself for doing it since she wanted Subaru to be the one to start holding her hand, but she then thinks she doesn't care anymore if he could just hug her back... But Subaru pulls his hand back. Akane tries to apologize but Subaru cuts in and brokenly tells her that it's fine that she is a girl who likes to hold hands with men and such and he doesn't know if she means it when she does it with him but that girls who do those things so easily... he doesn't like that type of girl. Subaru puts up his arms preparing for Akane's usual kicking when he says something like that, but Akane just smiles sadly and says she understands and she won't do it anymore. She says she is sorry and then leaves, leaving behind the teddy bear and Subaru, who is obviously regretting his words. At home, Hatsumi hears Akane entering the house and running to her room. She goes to check in on her and finds her unwrapping the chocolate she bought for Subaru and eating it. Akane starts to babble about how delicious the chocos are and asks Hatsumi to eat some but eventually breaks down in tears. She thinks she had no idea Subaru felt that way. Akane tells Hatsumi she is envious of her because the first person Hatsumi went out with was someone like Ryouki. She says she made Subaru hate her. The doorbell rings and Akane tells Hatsumi that if it's Subaru she won't come out. But Hatsumi says from the door that she is going out for a moment and when Akane looks up, Subaru is in the hallway carrying a big bag. He tells her that he actually got all these and gives her the bag. Akane realizes it's a lot of the teddy bears and that they are all rare! Subaru says that it's ten for wishing Akane has no problem in passing the exams, another ten for Akane passes the exams in a good way, another ten for Akane really passing the exams, another ten for Akane really, really passing the exams and... the last set is ten for Akane to forgive him for the horrible things he said to her. He tells Akane that maybe he was jealous of Kazama and is really sorry... but Akane just kisses him on the mouth! They both blush very much and Akane says that it wasn't a kiss, it was Valentine choco! Subaru agrees that it did taste to choco and Akane asks if he wants more... Subaru says yes. (^^) Akane thinks that she might not be able to have a relationship like Hatsumi's, but that it's fine because her own relationship is more than enough.
Part 38 (Apr'2004)
Synopsis by animecat. Ryouki is very upset with Hatsumi because she was at work so late and now they have no time to spend together. Hatsumi tries to explain that work was very busy but he says that next time he will come and pick her up to make sure she doesn't stay late! Hatsumi goes home because it is late. When Ryouki goes into his apartment he is surprised to find Shinogu there. Shinogu talks with him outside and tells him he is trying to find information about Azusa's mother, Miho. Shinogu suspects there is something wrong about what his father told them and he wants to learn the truth for Hatsumi's sake. After Shinogu leaves, the Tachibana's maid appears and admits she heard what they were talking about. She tells Ryouki the name Shinogu mentioned is the same name as the woman Ryouki's father has told her he would always love. The next day Ryouki goes to see his father and confronts him. His father admits that he was the one who had the affair with Azusa's mother and she is the reason he once told a young Ryouki that he could never love him or his mother. Meanwhile, Hatsumi is at work waiting for Ryouki to pick her up and she gets worried when he doesn't come. Hatsumi goes to look for Ryouki at his apartment but he isn't there. The maid is happy to see her worried about Ryouki and asks Hatsumi if she likes him. Hatsumi admits she does. The maid asks her to please always stay with Ryouki. Hatsumi asks her for Ryouki's cell phone number. Ryouki is walking home thinking about what his father told him when his cell phone rings. It's Hatsumi! She tells Ryouki she has been looking for him and a moment later he sees Hatsumi waiting for him in front of the apartment building. She looks very, very happy and relieved to see him. Ryouki notices that Hatsumi has a cell phone and she explains that she bought it so he would be able to call her and not get so upset with her anymore.
Part 39 (May'2004)
(synopsis unavailable for the moment)
Part 40 (Jun'2004)
(synopsis unavailable for the moment)
Part 41 (Jul'2004)
(synopsis unavailable for the moment)

Next Chapter...

All images © Aihara Miki (except backgrounds)