Manga Synopsis:
Chapters: (vol.01)
[01] [02] [03]

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Part 1 (Jan'2001)
Winter vacations start for Makoto Shiraishi, 15, and when she returns home from the last day of school, she find a strange, young, good-looking guy standing in front of the door. As she tries to walk into her house, the guy seems to recognize her and hugs her happily while he calls out her name! Makoto is schoked and starts screaming and calling him pervert until her mother appears and tells her that the guy is Shin-chan, a neighbour who used to play with her when they were both little! Makoto is even more shocked at this. Later, her mother shows them some photos of them when they where little. Makoto gets a little mad at the things Shin remembers and says she's going to study. However, her mother asks Shin to help Makoto with her English since he can speak it very well. Makoto tries to discourage him, saying that he is probably having to take the same exams as her, but he tells her that he is already in high school. Makoto doesn't understand this because they are the same age, so he explains that while he was in America, he passed on grades so now he is in second year of Japanese high school. He tried looking at Makoto's English lessons, but she doesn't like it. He realices that she is still mad at something that happened in the past and so he runs to his room and gives her a small teddy bear she used to play with, which makes her laugh at his worries. She is happy he gave it to her. Makoto and Shin go visit some temples and Makoto is very impressed with Shin's English knowledge. As they walk around together, a guy calls to Makoto. He is Ken, and he recognizes Shin as well, they both seem very happy to meet again. The next day, Ken takes some friends over to Makoto's house and they all (plus Shin) go out to the beach to have some fireworks to celebrate the New Year. The girls are all very taken with Shin. Makoto is a little forgotten, but Shin goes to her as she is starting a firework. He tells her that it's the first time he sees such a pretty firework... The countdown starts and there are big fireworks. Both Shin and Makoto congratulate each other on the New Year as he watches the sky and she watches him, thinking she is very happy.
Part 2 (Feb'2001)
It's New Years day and the family along with Shin-chan go to the temple. Shin-chan is very impressed with Makoto's kimono and while trying to access the front of the temple to throw in some coins and pray, Shin-chan takes Makoto's hand so they don't get separated with all the people. Makoto has to remind Shin-chan of some things and thinks to herself that he looks just like a foreigner. (^^) While walking around after praying, Shin-chan and Makoto stumble upon two of her female classmates. They seem interested in Shin-chan and Makoto's parents lets them go away with her friends. While having some coffee together, the two girls and Shin-chan joke about him not having a girlfriend and them wanting to be his girlfriends, which makes Makoto very upset. After coffee, they decide to go karaoke. Makoto wants to go home, but Shin-chan convinces her to go too, as he has never been to karaoke before. All the while Shin-chan is very nice to the two girls, and Makoto starts to feel a little bad. At the karaoke place, Shin-chan and one of the girls sing together while Makoto feels more and more forgotten and out of place. She doesn't want to stay there watching him anymore, so she decides to leave... spilling some juice on her kimono in her hurry. Shin-chan wants to help clean it with one of the hand towels, but Makoto just ignores him and leaves. He follows her, however and they both return home together as Makoto realices she likes him a lot. At home, her mother is mad because of the stain in the kimono, but Shin-chan tells her it was all his fault and Makoto is very surprised at this. Later during dinner time, one of the girls calls Shin-chan and asks him to go skating the following day. Makoto overhears this and leaves the room so when he asks her if she wants to come along, he only gets a door slamming as response (^^; ) Shin-chan is worried about this, so he goes to talk with her. But Makoto is mad and they both fight until he tells her that he likes her and that was one of the reasons why he wanted to come back from America... Makoto admits that she liked him too and after hugging her happily, he tells her that he will cancel the skating plans so they can go out in a date! However, she thinks, she totally forgot that he had to return home (USA)....
Part 3 (Feb'2001)
Makoto and Shin-chan go out on their date. As Makoto is ordering copies of a photo film, she learns that Shin-chan is returning to US the following day! She is depressed about that, but Shin-chan tries to cheer her up and tells her he will be back for summer. While in a bookstore, Makoto sees a book about recomendations/advice on studing abroad. As they look through it, they realize that even though Makoto is only in middle school, she can still apply to study abroad (the only problem would be her English level). At home, Makoto shows the book to her father and tells him she wants to study abroad. However her father doesn't put attention and tells her to stop talking about silly things and instead concentrate on her upcoming examinations (to enter high school). Makoto insists she really means it, but her mother cuts her off and reminds her that the following day she starts with her extra classes. Makoto thought she would be going to bid farewell to Shin-chan, but her mother says that she doesn't need to because she and Makoto's little brother will instead. Makoto is left speechless. (Note: most Japanese students attend extra classes aside normal school to help them pass important exams like the one to enter the University of their choice, or high school) Later Shin-chan goes to Makoto's room and tries to cheer her up. During the night, Makoto goes to the room her brother shares with Shin-chan and asks if it's ok to sleep there... well, of course he is not going to refuse! Makoto lies down near Shin-chan on his futon and he starts to make wishes, he wishes to be with her and for days to pass very fast until he can be with her again, etc... As he says this, Makoto starts to cry and begs him not to leave, but she kisses her and hugs her and tells her they will always be together... Next morning before leaving for class, she gives the teddy bear to him. He doesn't look ver encouraged himself as he watches her go. However, while in class, Makoto can't help thinking and thinking about him, so she leaves and goes to see him off after all! He is extremely pleased to see her and hugs her hard to her surprise. She asks him not to forget her and after he leaves, Makoto's mother tells her that she will try to persuade her father about the studing abroad business! Time passes and Makoto and Shinchan write emails to each other. Makoto tells him that his father has finally agreeded on her going to the US during summer and she is trying hard to be able to go study abroad. When the time comes for her to leave for US, her father is very worried and giving her all sort of advice (^^; )... but she says it'll be ok, because she'll be with Shin-chan! ^^ --The End--

All images © Ueda Rinko, Shueisha (except backgrounds).