Last upgrade: 13-Aug'03

Hot Gimmick Extra Chapters Synopsis (manga chapters that appeared as side stories to the main storyline)

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.

Extra Chapter (Sep'2003) [ vol.08 ]

This side story was published between chapters 32 and 33. A little Hatsumi is introduced into her new kindergarten (the company's housing apartment building one). After the day ends, one of the girls offers to walk home with Hatsumi, but one of the other girls tells them not to make friends with Hatsumi because her mom told her not to. The other kids start laughing at her and say her dad is a bad person. Later at night she tells her parents and they have a small fight because her mom is mad the story has reached so far. Hatsumi starts to cry because of their fight and young Shinogu comforts her and tells her it's not her fault. Hatsumi's dad also tells her not to cry because she is an older sister. He tells her that they just arrived here and soon she will be able to make friends. Shinogu then tries to cheer her up and says that he will return from school right away the following day and they will go explore the building. The next day Hatsumi waits for Shinogu. One of the ladies wonders where her mom is and wants to help her get home, but Hatsumi says she will take the stairs. However she eventually loses count and ends up at the very top, where she finds some books and cakes. The floor door opens and another boy with glasses appears. He seems mad at her and wonders who she is and if she is a robber. He tells her that this is his secret place. Hatsumi says she is sorry and starts to leave, but he seems to have a change of heart and stops her. He tells her she should go play with the other kids from her kindergarten group and Hatsumi admits that they aren't her friends. The boy laughs at this but Hatsumi says she is fine by being alone. The boy then smiles and says she can stay with him if she does as he says, and tells her to stay and play with him. Hatsumi is happy and asks what kind of game they should play, and he says "King and servant" (^^;; ). Hatsumi is not very convinced about this and wants to play something else, but he tells her to shut up and go get them drinks... and when she comes back they can eat the cakes together. Hatsumi agrees very fast after the cakes part and says she will go right away. After she goes down the stairs, the boy smiles and looks pretty happy. Hatsumi runs down happily amazed that she got to make friends with someone (even if he is a bit scary) and thinking that perhaps if she manages to have friends like she did in her old place, she won't hate living in this place as much. On her way she meets the nasty girl from the kindergarten along with her even nastier mom and some of the other housewives, who start to abuse her verbally and comment on her family. But the boy suddenly appears and tells them to shut up and go away because Hatsumi is playing with him and they are in the way. Nasty Mom gets really angry because he insulted her, but one of the other women stops her and Nasty Mom realizes he is "that boy", so she changes tactics and tells him that they can all play with her daughter then... The boy tells her that no way he is playing with that ugly girl (he uses a more insulting term... ^^; ). The boy takes Hatsumi away while Nasty Mom and daughter cry their eyes off. Hatsumi asks the boy why they were apologizing to him and why they became so polite. The boy says he doesn't know and tells her that all the adults in the building are always acting the same way and bowing when they see him. He doesn't seem too happy about that, but he tells Hatsumi that she must do as he says too, and tells her to meet him the following day too so they can play more. Hatsumi is amazed at the boy and wonders who he is. During dinner, she tells Shinogu that perhaps she made a friend. They are interrupted by someone ringing their doorbell. Their mother introduces another boy, the son of a friend of their father, Azusa. He will go to the same kindergarten as Hatsumi, so her mother is very happy at this, plus Azusa seems to have made great friends with Hatsumi and Shinogu right away. Next day, the boys laugh at Hatsumi and Azusa's friendly manner, but Nasty Daughter appears and shuts them up. She tells Hatsumi that her mom told her to make friends with her... although who she really wants to be friends with is Azusa *hearts*. After kindergarten, Azusa wonders if they can go play together. Hatsumi thinks that the other boy must be very lonely playing alone, so it will be better if they all play together. She tells Azusa that there is another boy she wants to play with and takes him with her. The glasses boy is waiting at the top of the stairs, smiling widely and with a plate of cookies and two soft drinks. When he hears Hatsumi, he looks up happily, but then sees Azusa with her and freezes. Hatsumi tells him that she has brought a friend with her so they can all play together. Azusa tells Hatsumi he is going to ask his mom for some drinks too and leaves. Hatsumi starts babbling about perhaps inviting her brother too, but stops when she sees the boy's expression. He is looking down, with a heartbroken expression. He tells her that he told her it was his secret place... He tells her that he doesn't want her there anymore and to leave, then pushes her. But he pushes too hard and Hatsumi falls backwards down the stairs, to his horror. When Hatsumi opens her eyes, his expression is hidden by his hair but he seems upset. He tells her that it's her fault for bringing other people... then runs away as he hears Azusa returning. Once behind the door, he starts to shiver, obviously very upset, so much, that he actually faints. The maid eventually finds him and calls him by his name, Ryouki. Days later, it is known that the son of the Tachibanas (company president and thus owners of the place) has passed the entrance exams for the school, so everybody goes to pay them respect. When Hatsumi, Shinogu and their mom arrive, Mrs. Tachibana introduces them to her son... glasses boy Ryouki. Hatsumi is in total shock, and so is Ryouki, although he hides it. Hatsumi thinks that after all, she does hate living there!

All images © Aihara Miki (except backgrounds)