Chapter 10

Page 1
chapter title page
Panel 1
Kazuki curled up on a couch reading a book.

Panel 2
Satchiko stretched out on her bed reading the same book.

Page 2
Panel 1
An exterior shot of Satchiko's dormitory

VOICE (SATCHIKO)
(aside) Summer break flew by so quickly.

(aside) I'm not sure I'm ready to return to school.

Panel 2
Satchiko is making her bed.

SATCHIKO
(aside) Kaori was sad to come back so soon.

Panel 3
Kaori is carrying an armful of garment bags toward the closet.

VOICE (SATCHIKO)
(aside) Toshi kept her hopping all break with all of his costume ideas.

Page 3
Panel 1
Satchiko plops down on her bed, notebook in hand.

SATCHIKO
(aside) I guess I'm lucky in that respect. Kazuki has asked me if I'd write a story for Hidori. All I need for that is this little notebook.

Panel 2
A shot of Satchiko writing and Kaori folding clothes.

SFX: knocking

Panel 3
The girls look at each other.

Panel 4
Kaori opens the door. No one is there.

VOICE (SATCHIKO)
Oh! What's this?

Page 4
Panel 1
Kaori is still standing by the door. Satchiko is kneeling, picking something up. We can't see what it is.

Panel 2
We see Satchiko's hands. One is holding a notebook. The other is holding an action doll that strongly resembles Hidori.

Panel 3
Satchiko hugs both items, grinning brightly.

Panel 4
Kaori looks at Satchiko unamused.

KAORI
What is it?

Page 5
Panel 1
Satchiko has opened the notebook and discovered a note.

SATCHIKO
I think I know.

Panel 2
Satchiko unfolds the note and is reading it.

VOICE (KAORI)
Well?

Panel 3
Satchiko hands the note to Kaori and is considering the doll again.

SFX: Satchiko laughing

Panel 4
Kaori is still holding the note, but she's looking toward the doll.

KAORI
I bet he's got a dozen of those.

Page 6
Panel 1
Satchiko places the doll on her desk. She's trying to get him to stand with no luck.

SATCHIKO
I don't know. I never thought to ask him.

Panel 2
Kaori has cleared off her bed and is now sitting on it flipping through a magazine.

KAORI
Too bad you're a Tana fan.

VOICE (SATCHIKO)
And Kazuki knows that!

Panel 3
Satchiko is sitting on her bed writing in the same notebook from earlier. The notebook Kazuki gave her is clearly sitting on her pillow.

SATCHIKO
He just doesn't think I've given Hidori a fair chance.

Panel 4
Kaori has swiped the doll from Satchiko's desk.

KAORI
This is his favorite one?

VOICE (SATCHIKO)
That's what the note said.

Page 7
Panel 1
Kaori is still playing with the figurine.

KAORI
It doesn't look much like Hidori, does it?

I wonder how he got it in here.

Panel 2
Satchiko is still writing.

SATCHIKO
That's a great question. He's supposed to be out of town this weekend.

Panel 3
Satchiko looks up, a questioning look on her face.

SATCHIKO
What do you think? "Pretentious" or "arrogant"?

VOICE (KAORI)
I think you should just write a love letter to Tana.

Panel 4
Satchiko blushes.

SATCHIKO
I can't do that! Just because we joke about that doesn't mean Kazuki will be amused by it!

Page 8
Panel 1
Kaori grins mischievously.

KAORI
Toshi says they joke about it all the time.

Panel 2
Satchiko looks uncertain.

VOICE (KAORI)
Trust me! Kazuki will get a kick out of it!

Panel 3
Satchiko looks toward the notebook Kazuki gave her.

SATCHIKO
(aside) I don't know about this.

Page 9
Panel 1
Satchiko is writing in the notebook Kazuki gave her.

SATCHIKO
(aside) I hope he doesn't hate me after this.

Panel 2
Kaori is sitting in the hallway talking on the phone.

Panel 3
Close-up of the phone to Kaori's ear. We see the lower half of her profile and can make out the buttons on the phone.

KAORI
Yeah, I think she's working on it right now!

Of course, she's certain he's going to hate it!

Panel 4
The closed phone in Kaori's hand.

KAORI
(aside) He'll just have to convince her he likes it.

Page 10
Panel 1
Toshiyuki is looking at his closed phone in amusement.

VOICE (KAZUKI)
Who was that?

Panel 2
Toshiyuki shaking his head.

Panel 3
Kazuki is sitting on a hotel bed beside a window. He's holding one of his knees to his chest and looking out the window.

KAZUKI
And how is Kaori?

Panel 4
Toshiyuki is trying, unsuccessfully, to look hurt.

TOSHIYUKI
What makes you think I was talking to Kaori?

Panel 5
Kazuki shoots Toshiyuki a knowing glare.

VOICE (TOSHIYUKI)
Heh.

Page 11
Panel 1
Kazuki is staring out the window again.

VOICE (TOSHIYUKI)
Why do you always do that?

KAZUKI
Do what?

Panel 2
Toshiyuki is sitting beside Kazuki, staring out the window, too.

TOSHIYUKI
Stare out the window like this.

Panel 3
Kazuki looks away, blushing lightly.

VOICE (TOSHIYUKI)
You miss Satchan, don't you?

Panel 4
Kazuki is still looking away, but we're zoomed out enough to see Toshiyuki looking on in concern.

TOSHIYUKI
That does it! The next time I talk to Kaori, I'll make you talk to Satchiko!

Panel 5
Toshiyuki is standing beside the bed.

TOSHIYUKI
She's writing you a story, you know?

Panel 6
Kazuki nods.

Page 12
Panel 1
Toshiyuki is standing in the doorway.

TOSHIYUKI
Are you sure you don't want to come with me?

VOICE (KAZUKI)
I'm sure.

Panel 2
The door closing behind Toshiyuki.

VOICE (TOSHIYUKI)
Even though last time netted you a new friend? Or because the last time netted you a new friend?

Panel 3
Kazuki returns to looking out the window.

KAZUKI
(aside) A new friend? Is that all she is?

Page 13
Panel 1
A starry sky fills the top two thirds of the page. A mostly dark cityscape fills the bottom third.

VOICE (KAZUKI)
(aside) I wonder if she's looking at these same stars right now.

(aside)I'd give...

(aside)...just about anything...

(aside)...to hear her voice right now.

(Author's note: These three stagger across the page, but I don't feel like tweaking the HTML.)

Page 14
Panel 1
A dreamy image of Satchiko asleep, holding the flower.

Panel 2
Kazuki looks toward the bear on his bed.

KAZUKI
(aside) I should call her tomorrow.

Panel 3
Kazuki slips into bed and holds the bear.

KAZUKI
(aside) Sweet dreams, Satchan.

Page 15
Panel 1
Toshiyuki is hanging out with a group of people.

Panel 2
Toshiyuki returns to the room.

Panel 3
Toshiyuki looking over at Kazuki curled up around the bear.

TOSHIYUKI
(aside) Sweet dreams, Zuki-chan.

Page 16
Panel 1
Kaori is running toward the right edge of the page. She has the notebook Kazuki gave Satchiko under her arm and a finger to her lips.

KAORI
Shh! Don't tell Satchiko!