Translation by Emi (emichansribon@yahoo.com)
Typed by Myaka
 
February 2000 Ribon
45 pages
 
Ai My Maple
(lit. Love my Maple)
by Matsuno Mika
 
Narration: Hibino Momiji, 2nd year of junior high. Right now I'm happily
snowboarding...out of control!
Momiji: No! I don't want to go over there! That's not part of the course-!!
[She skids off course and manages to land safely]
Momiji: I'm saved...(small print) I'm glad it wasn't a cliff.
 
-30 minutes later-
 
[Momiji is still sitting there]
Momiji: Why?  Why doesn't it come out? I'm going to freeze to death here-!
[Momiji is flapping her arms about]
[Someone comes to help her]
Guy: What are you doing?
Momiji: [thinks] Hey! A God send!?
Guy: It won't come out just by flailing about. You've got to dig yourself
out and take the binding off.
Momiji: Dig!? Oh yeah, I could have done that!
(small print) That was stupid of me!
[The guy takes his snowboard off to help Momiji]
[When he comes over to dig her out, she suddenly feels her heart beating
really fast]
Momiji: [thinks] What? [aloud] Thanks... [thinks] What? Why is my heart
beating so much? It's not like me at all. [aloud] Thank you very much.
[Momiji bows a little]
Guy: Hm? Hey, you're Hibino.
Momiji: [thinks] Eh? [aloud] How do you know my name...
[Voice calls the guy]
Voice: Hayashi-!! What are you doing? (small print) We're going to go ahead-!
Guy/Hayashi: Yeah-! (small print) I'm coming. See ya.
[He leaves Momiji]
Momiji: Wait! Hey! [thinks] Hayashi? Hayashi as in *that* Hayashi!?
 
[At school]
A guy (presumebly Hayashi): Sattchan, Yuri chan, good morning! Did you go somewhere
during winter break?
Girls: Hey Hayashi kun-! It's been a while-! We went to the end of the year concert
and that's about it. What about you?
Hayashi: Yeah, I went out quite a lot.
Momiji's monologue: The only Hayashi I know is him- (small print) always surrounded
by girls.
Momiji: [thinks] Oh well, I'll just have to ask him.
Momiji: Hayashi!
Hayashi: Hey Hibino.
Momiji: Were you snowboarding at the Leebon Ski Center during New Year's!?
Hayashi: Yeah, I was.
Momiji: [thinks] So I was right!! [aloud] Thanks for saving me that time~~~!
Thanks so so much~~!
[Momiji shakes his hands]
Momiji: But you were cold to leave straight away even though you met a 
classmate by real coincidence!
Hayashi: Did you go with family?
Momiji: Yup, how about you?
Hayashi: I went with Akira and the others, right?
[Hayashi wakes up Akira who was happily asleep at his desk]
Akira: Uh-?
Momiji: What-!? Fujimi was there too!?
 (Fujimi is Akira's surname)
Hayashi: We often go there. Actually, that place is where Akira used to live
so to him, it's local. (small print) He's really good at snowboarding.
Momiji: Really? Hey, snowboarding's really fun don't you think? I really
love it!
Hayashi: Serious?  You're in to it as well!? Yeah, it's fun huh!!
Momiji's monologue: Hmm...Hayashi seems so friendly with girls and I didn't really 
like him, but he might actually be pretty decent...And it seems really weird that
Fujimi is really good at snowboarding. I've made a great discovery!
[The bell rings]
Momiji: Tell me some more stories later-!
Hayashi: Sure.
[Momiji leaves and Hayashi and Akira don't say a word]
Hayashi: Hey, Akira, it was you who saved Hibino at the ski center right?
Akira: ...mm...
Hayashi: Thought so. She said, "Thanks Hayashi".
Akira: Oh...I was with some local friends so they called me by my old surname.
Hayashi: How are you going to explain it? Are you going to say that before
your parents got divorced, your surname was 'Hayashi'?
Akira: Uh...Nah...Can't be bothered.
 (small print) It doesn't make any difference.
Hayashi: [thinks] What a lazy guy...
 
Momiji's friends: Momiji, you're getting friendly with Fujimi kun and
Hayashi kun lately.
You're so lucky-!
Momiji: Mako chan, you should talk to them too. If you talk to them about snowboarding,
they're easier to talk to.
Mako: It's easier said than done~~! Those two are really popular you know!
Other friends: Momiji, don't you have any awareness around guys? (small print) And you're
like a primary school kid, calling them just by their names!*
 
*Note: Momiji doesn't call them Hayashi kun or Fujimi kun, she just calls them Hayashi
and Fujimi which is somewhat impolite or really friendly and usually only really
good friends call each other without the 'kun', 'chan', 'san' suffixes and that's
called 'yobisute'.
 
Momiji: Well, not really...
[Momiji remembers how she felt at the snowboarding place when "Hayashi" saved her]
[Momiji turns red]
(small print) Friends: She doesn't even have a first love yet, of course she doesn't.
That's true...
Momiji: [thinks] Hang on, does that mean I felt something for Hayashi before!?
No, that can't be right! (small print) And it was only that one time! I'm imagining
things!!
Mako: Hey Momiji, Hayashi kun's okay, but isn't Fujimi kun a bit...scary?
Momiji: Huh?
Mako: Well, he always look scary and he looks like he's angry.
Other firends: He's a bit hard to aproach. He's popular, but everyone just thinks
about him from a distance. He's totally opposite to Hayashi kun.
Momiji: [thinks] Scary? What?
Momiji: What? He's not like that at all!
Momiji: [thinks] I've never once thought of him like that! That's so weird!
 
Hayashi: I think it's better to get a short one at first. You can just get an old
model or one at a special bargain price. (small print) You won't be able to tell
the difference.
Akira: (small print) Yeah, but some new models are cheap depending on the season.
[Momiji looks at Akira]
Momiji: [thinks] I still don't think him as scary!
 [Hayashi notices that Momiji isn't listening]
Hayashi: [whacks Momiji lightly with a magazine] Hey Hibino, we're talking to
you about your snowboard, are you listening?
Momiji: Sorry! (small print) I wasn't listening.
Akira: [takes out a bag of bread] Oops, I've got to eat my food now. I've got
a practice match today.
Momiji: You're in the kendo club?
Akira: Yup.
Momiji: Fujimi, you're always eating bread.
Hayashi: Akira's mum works so she can't make lunches.
Momiji: ......
[Puts her lunch on the table and takes his bread]
Momiji: Here! You won't get any stength from that bread. My lunch is high
in volume and full of stamina! Let's trade!
Akira: Huh? What are you talking about. It's okay, take it back.
Momiji: I have to tell you this is very delicious! It's not my hand-made lunch
(small print) My mum made it!
[Momiji winks at Akira]
Momiji: So you'd better not lose your match! Bye-!
Akira: This is crazy...
Hayashi: Hmm
(Matsuno's note: Hayashi is a bit jelous)
 
[Momiji is running]
Momiji: I had a bit of trouble getting out of practice. I wonder if the
match is still on.
Momiji: [thinks] I have to see the results of my stamina lunch.
(small print) I love cheering and watching matches!
[Momiji is around the corner when she hears a voice]
Voice: Fujimi sempai, are you okay? You can borrow my shoulder to lean on.
[Momiji peeks around the corner]
Momiji: [thinks] It's Fujimi!
Akira: It's okay, really. It's nothing. (small print) See, I'm walking
normally.
Students: But...
Akira: I'll be fine by myself. You'll miss out on club time so go back.
Students: Okay...
[Akira sighs]
Momiji: [thinks] Hm?
[Akira has trouble walking]
Momiji: [thinks] Dear me...
[Akira notices Momiji]
Momiji: [with hands on hips] You're so stubburn! You should have borrowed
their shoulder.
Akira: What are you doing here Hibino?
Momiji: I came to see your game, but I guess I was too late. And? What
happened? Did you win or lose?
Akira: I won.
Momiji: Good (small print) A triumphant win huh.
[Momiji grabs Akira]
Momiji: Then I'll carry you to the medical room!
Akira: !!?
Momiji: Hold on tight!
Akira: [blushing] Hibino!! What are you thinking? Let me go! You idiot!!
Momiji: Shut up, you're injured!! Listen quietly to what I tell you! You
obviously find it hard to walk by yourself.
[Momiji and Akira argue]
 
[At the medical center]
Akira: I didn't think I might have been carried by a girl.
(Matsuno's note: He ended up walking)
Momiji: Hmph! You didn't have to refuse. I have confidence in my strength
(small print) Is it this and this? The nurse isn't here so I'll use it.
Akira: What the...!?
[Momiji manages to tangle herself with the bandage]
Momiji: Maybe my *only* confidence is my strength!
Akira: [sweatdrop] You're only wrapping a bandage. How did it turn into this?
Momiji: I dunno? Umm...
Akira: Okay, don't move! I'll do it! (small print) You're making it worse!
[Momiji feels the same feeling as when "Hayashi" saved her]
[Akira untagles the bandage from her]
[Momiji starts to blush]
Momiji: [thinks] Hey...Oh no, my face...wha? It feels the same as the other time...?
Akira: Here, I finally got it. Hibi-...
[Akira sees Momiji blushing]
[Momiji panics]
Momiji: No...um...This is nothing! It's nothing! Well you see, I've got guy
friends, but when it comes to relationships, I'm totally indifferent to them. I don't
even have a first love yet, so it's like, I'm easily effected. When Hayashi saved me
at the ski center, I felt the same thing too. (small print) I don't like getting used
to this, but not being used to it is bad too...
[Momiji blushes]
Momiji: See if I felt the same way for the same person, it's probably love. Maybe it's fate.
(small print) I'm dreaming though...
Oops, I gotta go back to my club! You'll be okay on your own right?
[Momiji waves, then leaves]
[Akira blushes]
 
[At Momiji's house]
Momiji: [thinks] I was pretty stumped today. I hope Fujimi doesn't think I'm weird.
But anyway, Fujimi's lunch is a bit of a problem...A girl maybe, but a growing boy
can't eat bread everyday.
[Momiji Frowns]
Momiji: [thinks] I know!
Momiji: Mu-m! I have to ask you a favor...
 
[A lunch is put on the table]
Momiji: Here!
Akira: Huh?
Momiji: I made it, so eat it please. This time it's my hand-cooked lunch. It might not
look good, but my mum taught me so it should taste good! From now on, leave your
lunch to me!
Akira: Un...thanks, but I'll be fine to know you care...
Momiji: No, don't excuse yourself like that! (small print) I'll bring lunch
tomorrow and the day after.
Hayashi: Hey, can you make me some?
Momiji: You don't need any! You've always got a nice lunch!
 [Momiji slams her hand on the table]
Momiji: Anyway! You should let me do this much for you. We're friends!
Momiji's monologue: It's totally normal to want to do something for someone.
It's nothing special, right?
Akira: Th...thanks.
Momiji: Good.
Hayashi: No fair, make some for me.
Momiji: No-!
 
Girls: ...Hey look, it's those 3 again.
Oh yeah.
[Hayashi, Momiji and Akira are sitting together]
Girls: Hayashi kun and Fujimi kun are both popular so I would have thought no
one would like a girl between them. But it doesn't seem that way. They look natural.
I wonder why? It's strange huh.
 
[Momiji and Akira are photocopying]
Momiji: Hey Fujimi, when did you move here?
Akira: What is it all of a sudden? I came here in grade 5.
Momiji: I see. So you've been here for less time. Don't you miss your old place?
Akira: Well, I still go there all the time. (small print) To snowboard and stuff.
Momiji: Oh yeah [sweatdrop]
Akira: I like this place, it's fun and convinient, but...sometimes it get stuffy.
When I get tired, I always go to the mountain and I want to be around trees.
Momiji: Trees?
Akira: Don't you know? Sometimes among all the trees in the mountains, there's one
that talks to you.
Momiji: Talks to you!?
Akira: Well, not literally, but you just feel it. Trees like that are usually thick,
healthy ones and when I'm around them I feel better. I feel at ease and it's strange.
[Momiji looks at Akira with sparkly eyes]
Momiji: Wow that's amazing! How come? How come you know!? Maybe I'll know too?
[Akira laughs]
Momiji: Hey! Why are you laughing?
Akira: [smiling] It's just that you reacted the same way as him.
[Momiji feels her heart beating]
Momiji: [thinks] Wow...He's smiling so openly
Momiji: Is 'him' Hayashi?
Akira: Yup. Usually people laugh when they hear this, so I don't talk about this a lot.
Momiji: Then how come you told me about it?
Akira: Um...I dunno...
[Akira ponders]
Momiji's monologue: If anyone saw Fujimi just then, they wouldn't think he was scary.
Because...his smile was very gentle...
 
Hayashi: Akira, I think I'm in deep trouble...
Akira: [snoozing] Uh? About moving up to the senior classes? I didn't know your grades
were seriously that bad...
Hayashi: No that's not it!! I'm talking about Hibino...I think I like her...She's not
even that girly, actually she's pretty boyish and she's not really that cute or
anything, but...I'm attracted to her. What do you think?
Akira: ...Well I don't know how to answer that. I don't know much about stuff like that.
Hayashi: Yeah...okay
Akira: ...but I think it's okay. Hibino's a nice person. Why don't you try?
Hayashi: Thanks Akira.
 
[Momiji is cooking with her mum]
Momiji: I'm having lots of fun making lunch lately. I get so happy just watching him
eating it and it makes me want to make yummier things!
[Momiji's mum laughs]
Momiji: What's so funny, Mum?
Mum: Well, what you just said sounds like a girl who is cooking for her boyfriend!
Momiji: [thinks] What? Huh-!?
 
[At school]
Momiji: Mum made it sound like I like Fujimi! Hm?
[Momiji notices Hayashi by the window]
Momiji: What are you watching, Hayashi?
Hayashi: Umm...Well they're doing something for the committee, but Akira's...
[Akira's standing and a girl looks scared of him]
Hayashi: That girl looks like she wants to say something, but she's too scared to.
Momiji: Oh dear...
[Akira turns around and says, "What?"]
[The girl gets scared away]
Momiji: People are really afraid of him... (small print) I've heard in rumors.
[Momiji is surprised]
Hayashi: He's not really friendly and on top of that, he doesn't say much and only
says what he needs to. He actually spoke to that girl in his own way to try and be
nice...Akira's place was a little messed up at a time and he wasn't in a very good
environment to say what he wanted. He's got a habit of shutting up and holding back
what he wants to say and that can't be good for him.
Momiji: You understand Fujimi really well. I like that. Hayashi, you're a pretty nice
guy! You might be a bit elated, but you're really serious and really kind...
[Hayashi suddenly hugs Momiji]
Momiji: [thinks] What!?
Hayashi: I...I like you, Hibino
Momiji: [thinks] No...no!!
[Momiji pushes Hayashi]
Momiji: Sorry, I...
[Momiji runs away]
Hayashi: Hibino!!
 
Momiji: [thinks] Oh no, I pushed him with all my strength... But I just didn't like it!!
Voice: Hibino!!
[A hand pulls her]
(It's Akira)
Akira: There are stairs in front of you! Were you thinking of falling down?
What are you doing anyway? (small print) running so hard...
Momiji's monologue: Fuji...mi? It's not just me imagining things...Whenever I see
Fujimi, I feel safe. My heart feels hot. I must like Fujimi a lot.
Akira: Hibino?
Momiji: ...I like you, Fujimi...I...
[Akira hits her on the head]
Momiji: Ow!
Akira: Don't say weird things. Come on, let's go.
Momiji: How is it weird? I'm serious! This isn't a joke! Fujimi!
[Akira stops in his tracks and turns around]
Akira: -are you serious? Then I'll tell you this, I don't have feelings more than
friendship for you. Neither now nor ever.
Momiji: [thinks] Fujimi!!
[Akira walks away]
[Hayashi is standing nearby listening]
Momiji: [thinks] What am I going to do... I'm crying...
 
[At school]
Momiji: Fujimi, here!
[Hands him lunch]
Akira: ...I've got bread so it's okay. Like I said before, I really don't need it.
Momiji's monologue: The day after I confessed my feelings to him, he said to me,
"If I can't answer to your feelings, I can't take it".
Momiji: [thinks] He's honest in some ways...Oh well, I'll keep making lunch until he
takes it.
[Momiji sees Hayashi, then turns away]
Momiji's monologue: I just can't...I can't even look at Hayashi anymore.
 
Friends: She's eating two lunches again!
  Momiji~~are you okay eating that much?
Momiji's monologue: What am I going to do? I can't stay like this forever...
I have to do something.
 
Girls: Doing marathons for sports is really boring huh?
 Yeah, hey where's Momiji?
 She's way ahead! She ran at, like, a really fast speed.
 What? Is she okay? She didn't look too well.
 
[Momiji is running]
Momiji: [thinks] I have to get this over and done with.
Momiji's monologue: I promised myself that after this, I'm going to talk to
those two and apologize. I don't want to stay like this anymore!
Momiji: [thinks] ~~but I feel sick! Huh? Everything in front of me...Uh
oh...this looks bad... 
[Momiji is getting dizzy]
 
(Meanwhile the guys are playing baseball and Akira and Hayashi are waiting
for their turn.)
Hayashi: Akira, can I ask you something?
Akira: Hm?
Hayashi: About Hibino...are you holding back just for me?
Akira: What are you...
Hayashi: You're always saying you don't know much about these things, but you
never think seriously about them do you? You've got to be kidding! If that's
the reason you dumped Hibino, then I'm seriously going to get angry.
[Akira is about to say something when there's a commotion]
Momiji's friend: Sir-! Anyone!! Momiji's...Momiji's...
[The two guys rush over, but Akira beats Hayashi to it]
Momiji's monologue: Damn I feel sick...I guess the 2 lunches weren't good. Damn it!
Fujimi, I'm going to make you eat next time!
 
[At the medical center]
Hayashi: Are you awake? How are you feeling?
Momiji: !!
Hayashi: You ate too much, then ran a 5-km marathon at full speed? The things you
do are amazing-.
Momiji: Were you here all this time?
Hayashi: I'm sorry about before. I did a really stupid thing and I'll never
do it again, I promise. But even if you like someone else, I still like you.
Momiji's monologue: Hayashi...it's strange, but maybe it's because I promised to talk
to them, I feel calm. And I can tell him this honestly.
Momiji: Hayashi, I'm sorry, but I like someone else. I like Fujimi, even if it's a
one way street.
Hayashi: Yeah, I see. I can't support you, but good luck.
Momiji: [laughs] You're supporting me now by saying that!
Hayashi: Well, I guess since we're friends now, I'll go. Akira, I'll leave the rest
up to you!
Akira: [behind the privacy curtain] Uh huh.
Momiji: [thinks] What!? He's here!?
Hayashi: Oh oops, I forgot to tell you one thing. About saving you at the ski center,
that was actually...[gets cut short by Momiji]
Momiji: It was Fujimi right? I thought so.
Momiji's monologue: The only person I ever felt something for was Fujimi.
Hayashi: Man, I'm pretty down now. Oh well, I'll tell you something good. Here Hibino!
[Hayashi whispers something to her]
Hayashi: See ya.
[Momiji blushes]
Momiji: [thinks] Wha...What? Really?
(small print)Hayashi: Don't lay a hand on her.
(small print)Akira: I'm not you so I won't.
[Akira switches places with Hayashi]
[They look at each other and Momiji smiles]
(What Hayashi whispered to her) Hayashi: Just then when you fainted, the one who ran
straight to you was Akira.
 
THE END