Birthday Gifts

As autumn approaches, Sana asks Hayama if his birthday is near (since his name is Akito; made up of two kanjis meaning autumn and person). He tells her it's on October the twelfth, and Sana replies that they should arrange a party. He declines, telling her that every year, he visits his mother's grave. Sana, remembering that his birthday was also his mother's deathday, was tremendously shocked, and in an effort to change this, suggests a middle birthday. The name speaks for itself; it's a party right in the middle of two people's birthdays. Trace to the middle of October 12th and March 7th, and guess what? You've got December 24th; aka Christmas Eve.

Hayama was okay with the idea; until he learns that they need to exchange presents. It's strange thing to do for someone like Hayama, giving anyone a present - but to a girl? And to top it off, the girl he likes? It's easy to see why he's a bit pessimistic about the notion. He pushes it off though, thinking that it won't be for a while... but days zip by and before you know it, December 12th arrives, which leaves Hayama with less than two weeks to give Sana a present. Dragging Tsuyoshi shopping with him, he shows us that even the seemingly coldest people could get weak in the knees when faced with these kinds of situations; he runs off in embarassment when a store clerk asks him teasingly if he's looking to get a present for his girlfriend (aww, Hayama xD). After several more (failed) attempts at other stores, the boys decide to take a break, leaving poor Hayama more clueless than ever before.

Either way, he turns up at the party with no present; but like Tsuyoshi predicted, Sana really couldn't care less about things like these. "I'm glad that you were confused, so that'll be my present!" she laughs jokingly.

As the party goes on, Sana and her friends encounter a lone dog in her backyard. Sana comes running back with a bag full of dog treats. As she tries to feed it, her friends shout and scream at her, to leave him alone, warning her that it's dangerous to feed strays. Sana pays no attention to them, and watches as the dog finally accepts the treat. Hayama, observing her from afar, tells Tsuyoshi that this was how Sana treats him.

As each guest takes their leave, Misako takes notice of someone outside the window. "Maybe it could be Hayama-kun," she ponders, and Sana runs outside to see him making a little snowman, telling her that it was her present. He recalls what Tsuyoshi had told him - that Sana is a (really) dense person who needs Hayama to tell her clearly about his feelings to actually understand. He attempts to actually tell her; but he's at an absolute loss of words. Instead, he does the only thing that comes to his mind - with their gazes transfixed, he pulls her close and gives her yet another kiss. As they seprate, he looks down and flees the scene, leaving a very confused Sana behind (shows you just how dense she is).

The third term began with Hayama avoiding and ignoring Sana whenever he could. Not long after, Sana's patience runs out and she stomps over to him, asking him directly if he liked her; to which Hayama stuffs his face into a pile of sand in exasperation. She asks him again, but you can understand - it's sort of hard for a guy, especially someone like Hayama, to announce his love for a girl in front of a bunch of people. And so he ends up lying. "I don't like you at all, idiot!" He shouts, and marches off. Sana being Sana, takes his words as truth and declares him a "kiss monster."

Meanwhile, Naozumi persuades her to reconsider a movie role that she had previously turned down because of its overseas location; a role as a ghost temptress. Sana, torn apart by the uniqueness of the role and her original resolve to lead a life as a normal schoolgirl (at least for a while), is completely mixed up on what to do. As a distraction, she takes her dogs out for a walk, and guess who she passes by - no one else but Hayama, who claimed he was out training for karate. As she joins him in his jog, she asks him how he would feel if she started working frequently again. "...Are you dying?" he asks in reply.

Sana, remembering her role, makes up her mind to accept the job offer, chuckling lightly. She reminds him that back then, Hayama had told her that he wanted to die... to which he replies a clueless, "I did?" Quietly, she asks him if there are still times when he feels that way. At this, his hesitation was only marginal, and he quickly shakes his head. He had gained the will to live because he now has reasons to; friends, karate, an actual family, and of course, Sana herself. She looks at him in a mix of wonder and amazement; and then her lips part into a huge grin.

Another chapter in Sana and Akito's story has closed; after this, the tone of Kodocha starts to get a bit more serious, as the two start middle school and Sana takes her leave to work overseas for awhile. They will encounter new friends and enemies alike, and experience more turbulent times than they'd like to experience, which I think everyone else encounters as they grow up and mature. The priorities in their lives (Sana especially) will shift greatly, and even though many new worries lie in store for the two, they will experience them together. /end cheesy conclusion