Original manga volume 4
"Boku-tachi no himitsu"

Well, they weren't kidding when they titled this volume "Our Secrets"! A lot of those are coming out of the woodwork in this book. Unlike the earlier volumes, there are shorter chapters in this book and more of them. So let's begin...

Chapter  Seven: Bokura wa Muteki ni Koi o Suru
This chapter is mostly about Arai and somewhat about Mikimaro. It starts off with Mikimaro wanting to head off after Arai into the wilderness and Arai telling him he's just a kid and can't come. Mikimaro, disgruntled, winds up with Yuusuke, Takagi and Nakamoto (yes, they're a friends unit now...cool ne) and Mikimaro's old camera. Yuusuke wants to take photos, in particular to give to someone called "Mao" whose photo he's received. (More about Mao later...heh). During their conversations, Mikimaro admits that he has feelings for Arai (and there it is...the shounen-ai we've all been waiting for steps out of the closet for all to see..!).Arai turns up to join them at this point, and they have some discussion about the photo club, which Arai used to be a member of. Arai says he quit it, however - for no particular reason...and that's that. Takagi says he's into photography too, and Mikimaro suggests that he and Arai are alike, which makes them both angry - and yell at each other (some more...!!)

Mikimaro gets back the photos and they're all looking at them. There's some old ones mixed in and one is of a smily Arai from their first year at the school and they comment at how different he looks. Discussion turns back to the photo club and Mikimaro finds a photo of someone else - a 'senpai' (ie, older student) called Kawazoe (surname) who used to be the vice captain of the Photo Club. Mikimaro is struck by the odd expression on Arai's face when he sees that picture...and they discuss this guy for a while, although Arai doesn't say very much about it.

Later on, Arai is skipping out of a meeting with his teacher (with an angry Shimizu-sensei behind him!) when he runs into someone. That someone turns out to be Kawazoe whose work has brought him back from New York (apparently that's where he's living now). He's come to see Arai, too - and when I say to see Arai, I mean that in a serious, shounen-ai sense. They slip off and talk for a while, Kawazoe saying how he came specifically because he wanted to see Arai and Arai saying that he was a kid the last time they met but now he's not. Kawazoe tells him that he hopes to see something of him. And there is a kiss. Arai does not push Kawazoe away - in fact, he seems quite happy about the whole incident.

Unfortunately for him it's been overseen by Mikimaro, who is not only extremely jealous and upset, but unsure what to do about his new 'secret'. The next day in class he's distracted (and Yuusuke, being the tactless sod he is) demands to know what's up with him. Someone (I can't remember who) also mentions Kawazoe being back in the area, and asking whether or not Arai has met up with him (it might be Nakamoto...). Arai says that he hasn't seen him at all, which gets Mikimaro gawking at him. At this point Mikimaro (trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, evidently) starts saying how he knows nothing, saw nothing, etc. Then he yells out that he has to get to English class and runs off down the hall with Yuusuke shouting after him and basic confusion from his other friends.

Except Arai, who realises (it's not that hard to realise) what Mikimaro must've seen. He drags the boy off to somewhere and demands to know what he saw. Mikimaro is very apologetic about it, and out of the blue Arai asks him if he likes him. Mikimaro admits he does. Arai asks if he wants to be kissed and Mikimaro says yes. Arai laughs and tells him not to be an idiot. Mikimaro is cross that Arai was joking. But he does a (very unlike Mikimaro) thing and attempts to cut a deal - if Arai kisses him, he won't tell anyone the secret. Arai isn't buying however - he knows that Mikimaro won't tell and he more or less says so. He tells Mikimaro "It's our secret." And Mikimaro...being Mikimaro...agrees.

Meanwhile, Yuusuke's met up with his photo-date - the "girl" who turns out...to be...a boy (snort).

The section ends there - a little bit up in the air somehow...^_^. Considering how much Arai objected to kissing Reiya (because he was a guy) in the previous volume...

Chapter Eight: Natural Hour
This chapter is mostly Nakamoto's - again it's a short chapter, and a bit random.

The boys are having a substitute teacher for two weeks. He happens to be an insane nutjob whose only focus is studying and making the students focus on that, too. He catches Mikimaro reading manga (Graduation Fighter M - hehe) in class, wakes up Yuusuke (who's sleeping in class) and yells at Arai for being late. He also seems to have done something to interfere with Takagi's modelling. It's also interesting that Nakamoto's name is on the list of 'problem students' that the sub teacher receives when he takes Shimizu-sensei's notes...presumably because of who he's begun to associate with ;)

Later he encounters Nakamoto playing the piano, and they talk. It seems they are somewhat acquainted from the past (what a surprise!). The teacher suggests that the reason Nakamoto's name has a check by it is because of his rooming with Arai, and suggests that he should change rooms in order to be able to better concentrate. Nakamoto vetoes this though, saying that he's misunderstood the boys and that it's not like that.

The M guys are quite naturally indignant at this guy who's suddenly walked in and read them the riot act...they're determined to do something about him.

However, Nakamoto says - quite wisely - that they shouldn't do anything rash. Instead he says that this teacher - whose name is Saegusa Chihiro - is a lot like him in many ways - focused only on work. The interesting thing is that Nakamoto says that it's how he was 'before'. He also volunteers to talk to Saegusa and try and make him see things from their point of view. And so he does.

The next day, Nakamoto is feeding his kitties when he's interrupted by Saegusa. Saegusa expresses surprise at the cat companions and Nakamoto explains that he often feeds them. Saegusa asks him to come with him and Nakamoto goes - they wind up at a pier where there are a lot of feral cats...it seems that Saegusa is more on Nakamoto's wavelength than even he imagined! However there is trouble when one of the cats gets too near the edge of the pier and Nakamoto, in trying to protect the animal winds up falling in the water. He can't swim, and Saegusa has to save him.

Meanwhile that dolt Yuusuke and Mikimaro are out with Yuusuke's old camera and they are following Nakamoto and Saegusa. They wind up at Saegusa's home, where Saegusa has taken Nakamoto since the near-drowning. Nakamoto is unconscious and still cold, so Saegusa takes off his own top and (erm) it appears he uses what I call the Yuugi method of body temperature regulation (ie lies on top of him). Guess who's spying through the window with his camera...yeah, Yuusuke. Who immediately jumps to all the wrong conclusions about what he's seen...(what a surprise!).

Unaware of the interest they've generated, Nakamoto wakes up to find himself in a strange place and Saegusa is with him. He remembers the incident and Saegusa and he talk for a while about various things (including the way they are and what happened). They're running late for class, and they head off there together (where Saegusa gets stick from Arai and Takagi for his lateness, and Yuusuke is trying to convince everyone of what he saw - although his crappy old camera has wrecked the photos and nothing can be seen. Nakamoto says that they just talked, nothing else...and that was all.

The section ends here, with much shouting from the classroom!

(For anyone who cares, the kitty that Nakamoto fell in trying to save was fine!)

Chapter Nine: Eien no Michisuu
This chapter's about Mikimaro. He's fed up of everyone treating him like a kid and he wants to change his appearance and his style so he's more like an adult and people will take him seriously. Even though Yuusuke tells him there's no need, he's determined. So he drags Arai out with him to look for a brand new style. Nakamoto also seems to be tagging along - although the reasons for him doing so are unclear. They don't seem to mind him being there, but when Arai asks him why he is, he goes all shy, blushes and makes an excuse then takes off. This sparks the curiosity of the others, who follow him and discover that he's buying a present...

(But it is not revealed who the present is for, although they discuss the idea of it being for some girl...my guess is its for his stepmother Kyouko, but I may be biased by other sources)

Mikimaro, meanwhile, is determined to become 'cooler'. He discusses changing his hair so it's like Arai's, and Arai is not pleased when he finds he's been tricked into coming clothes shopping with his friend. Mikimaro isn't paying much attention to anything Arai says (particularly about how he's fine how he is and part of the reason he gets treated like a kid is because he won't listen to reason!) He insists on buying clothes that are too big for him, just because they happen to be in a cooler style :S

As they're walking along, they see a bill hoarding advertising some of Arai Yoshiki's fashions and featuring Takagi. Mikimaro comments on it and even Arai admits it's cool. But at this point Arai seems to get through to Mikimaro at last, making him realise that it's fine to be the way he is, because it's just part of him. And Mikimaro seems to cheer up - probably because it's Arai telling him so, I guess - and decides that maybe he's not going to change his look after all.

But then he remembers his oversize clothing and Arai says he'll grow into it. In about 20 years time...(!)

Chapter Ten: Kirameku Toki No Tame Ni
This chapter is about Yuusuke. They keep getting simpler to describe :S

The basketball team - of which he is the captain - have lost a game and it's because of a mistake Yuusuke made. Turns out he's not been focusing on practice or even going at all lately, probably because he';s been hanging out with the M boys rather than putting the hours in in the gym. He takes it really hard, shutting himself away in his room and not really responding to the others when they try and prise out of him what's wrong.

The next day he seems to have cheered up, but when he goes to meet with the basketball club it turns out they're livid with him. One of his team-mates - whose name I can't remember, but perhaps he's the guy from the OVA - challenges his commitment and they demand he stand down as captain. Basically they tell him to get lost, because it's his fault the game was lost. (A bit harsh but you get the feeling that the other guy's desire to best Yuusuke is somewhat at the root of it). Yuusuke is gutted, and retreats to his room once more. He doesn't even come out to eat, which makes his friends realise something is badly wrong.

However, Yuusuke's not as weak as all that and although he's been ditched on, he's also determined. He returns to the gym, practicing day after day until he's back to his usual form. Then he demands that the other guy (the one who ousted him) face him one on one in a 'first to three baskets' competition. The stakes are high - Yuusuke says that if he doesn't win, then he'll give up on basketball completely. But if he does - he wants to be reinstated. The challenge is accepted and the boys begin.

However, when it reaches two-two, one of the older members of the team steps in and prevents it going any further. He says that Yuusuke has proven he's back to his best and that he's put in the work - he's the 'old' Yuusuke again and that means they want him back. The other guy doesn't take it so well, although Yuusuke is really happy to be back among the pack.

Meanwhile, Mikimaro and the M boys are discussing the fact that Yuusuke's been off practicing and not hanging with them of late. But (I think it's Nakamoto, maybe it's Arai) points out that Yuusuke's still part of their set-up and it doesn't matter if he's spending some time away.

Chapter Eleven: Memorial Collection Volume 1 (Nyuugakushiki)
This is volume one but there doesn't seem to be a volume 2..heh. Oh well.

This is basically the boys remembering their first day (principally their actual arrival) at the school. (Or in Takagi's case, at his old school. Poor Takagi...).

It begins with Yuusuke tidying his room. This is enough to give anyone palpitations in shock and Mikimaro is no exception *lol* but Yuusuke says that the weather is rubbish and he's got nothing else to do so he might as well do that. (Maybe he's sick. Who knows?)

In the midst of the sorting they find an old picture of Yuusuke from the first year and it sparks discussion about their first days at the Seiryuu Academy. Yuusuke's recollection is first. He's there with his mother and he seems to be trying to avoid her attention *lol*. She's concerned that he makes a good impression because the people and the students associated with this school are very different from the people back home. I think she hopes her son might end up a little more refined than he is - although Mikimaro says quite bluntly that Yuusuke's just the same as ever.

Mikimaro's memory is next. He's brought to school by his mother and he really does not want to be there. There are tears and he begs to be taken home. His mother tells him there's just no way that's going to happen and seems to be despairing of him somewhat. In fact, maybe she would have given in, eventually. However at that moment a car pulls up and someone gets out. He's smartly dressed in something that isn't school uniform and he has a determined, rebellious look on his face. Yes, it's Arai. And Mikimaro is suddenly intrigued enough by his new school fellow to stop his complaining. (It's really been going on that long...LOL)

On a roll now, Mikimaro and Yuusuke head along the hall to Arai and Nakamoto's room to ask what they remember about their first day at the Seiryuu Academy. Nakamoto is surprised and says it wasn't that important a thing for him. He does recollect that he was there alone (he's so CUTE as a first year!) because his father was away working (as he generally seems to be) and he had to find his own feet. The impression is that he was kinda isolated in a sense because everyone else had family with them to say goodbye and he didn't. (Aww...hugs Nakamoto...)

Arai is studiously ignoring this conversation, lounging on his bed and reading what looks like some kind of manga. However Mikimaro isn't taking the hint that he wants to be left alone and pounces on him for his recollections of the first day. He asks why it was Arai didn't wear school uniform that day and Arai says simply that it's a case of his having not been ready yet - nothing important. However we then get a memory flashback for Arai having a yelling match (another one) with his mother about going to the Academy in the first place. He's sneaking out and his mother has caught him, telling him that day is the day he's going to be fitted for his uniform. Arai tells her like hell is he going to pander to his father's bright ideas, and that he's going out. Consequently it seems he won - and no uniform was bought that day. (However he did still get dumped on the Academy, so it wasn't a complete victory!)

At that point, Takagi pokes his head around the door to ask if he can borrow one of Nakamoto's books and he's surprised to see the little gathering of people. He asks what's going on and they explain, though Nakamoto says it's different for Takagi because he was a transfer student and only arrived at the start of that year. Mikimaro then asks Takagi about his first day at his old school (many of the parents are blond haired, so it may be a school in England or it may not, that's unclear), and Takagi remembers being somewhere with his mother (she's very pretty) and being surrounded by the parents of other kids as they enter the school. The other parents are being really unpleasant about him and his mother because he's mixed race and not purely Japanese...and also because the identity of his father is not known...his mother is not married. They make some horrible comments about how their children will have to associate with him. At one point Takagi's mother asks him if something is the matter and even though he's heard all of the things people have said, he tells her no - that he's fine.[Scanlation]

All of this seems to be a memory rather than something he tells the others, because Mikimaro is still trying to get information out of him once the flashback is over. (This in a sense gives a good insight into why Takagi is as enigmatic and solitary as sometimes he is...although he's more and more part of the gang since he's been accepted by the M boys in a way he hasn't been accepted before.).

Takagi then changes the subject back to his original purpose - asking about a book and reminding the others that there are exams tomorrow. This creates major panic - particularly for Yuusuke, who realises by tidying all his books he now doesn't know where anything he needs is - and he had forgotten about the tests in any case. (Yes, that's more like Yuusuke...)

The chapter ends with Mikimaro reflecting that it was fate that they all met up the way they did even though they came from such different worlds and with such different points of view.