But whatever Ichikawa was expecting, handing over the new manga was only a pretense.
These are for him.
The thing is, none of those things seem to be sapping Yamadas enjoyment of their time together.
Yamada wants to go over to meet her, but Ichikawa says not now.
Sensing Ichikawa doesnt want Kana to see him or her, she pulls him into the changing room.
In this restricted space, every smell, every breath, and every bead of sweat is amplified.
Yamada asks when she can meet Kana, and when he says another time, shes relieved.
She wants to know him better, and that means knowing his fam.
Fortunately, Kana passes by without suspecting a thing!
Before he knows it, its gotten dark out; the day went by far faster than he expected.
She apologizes for the day, thinking he must be exhausted being dragged around.
He realizes hes been in his own head so much he hadnt been properly thinking about how she feels.
Thats when he decides to open up and tell her a little about himself.
Yamada can tell, because heistalking about himself to her.
He wraps him in a red scarf, which she claims she was wearing earlier.
They eventually walk into a Christmas garden lined with dazzling lights all around, really heightening their cozy closeness.
But then we hear the sound of a handher handgrasping his.
Its sweaty, just as Ichikawa noticed when he took the bag of manga from her.
When her hand slips out of his, he tenderly re-takes it and holds it tight.
Whatever mistakes he made throughout their day together, this gesture makes up for all of it.
Only its not a dream: its two people who found each other, and like what theyve found.
Yamada only lets go of Ichikawas hand when they arrive at her house.
Ichikawa starts to wish her a Happy New Year, but she shushes him.
If he does, it suggests they wont see each other again until the new year.
She doesnt want that.
This cooler Ichikawa serves as a sounding board for his thoughts about having a chance with Yamada.
Because,duh,shedoes.
