Duel in the Rain I (雨中の決闘 I Uchū no Kettō I) is the 42nd chapter of the Shakugan no Shana manga series.
Yūji decided to stop worrying for the time being. Shana asked Chigusa about the meaning of kisses.
Summary[]
Shana happy during the training.
After Shana had left that night, Yūji had thought about his promise to her a month ago to become stronger. He had been determined to no longer rely on or trouble Shana, but in the conversation just then, he had wanted her to stay with him forever due to his agelessness. Yūji couldn't hold back that feeling of relying on Shana that was in his chest, and thinking of Lamies, wondered if it was because of his own inexperience. Though Yūji had worries, Shana was in a good mood the next day after their training left Yūji beaten up. Yūji thought it was best to stop worrying about it.
After having a bath, Shana went to the kitchen to help set the table for breakfast. Chigusa noticed Shana wearing the Misaki Municipal High School summer uniform, as it was now summer, and complimented her. Shana thought that Chigusa may have the answers she sought, and asked her what meaning kisses have, after researching and finding no answer. Alastor freaked out at the question, but managed to keep quiet. She explained to Chigusa that someone had told Yūji to kiss her when uncertain to understand everything, leading Alastor to silently curse Lamies. While Chigusa made sure that it wasn't Yūji who had said strange things to her, Alastor prayed for a sensible answer. Shana had read library books, but hadn't learnt anything from them, and didn't know how a kiss would help Yūji. Chigusa asked if she had read literature, and Shana replied that she hadn't and had only memorized some important books because Alastor had told her literature was useless for analysis and thought because they had individual opinions. Chigusa understood that Alastor was Shana's fatherlike figure who lived far away. She acknowledged that Shana might not understand kisses because of her limited readings, as they would have had facts and theories, whereas what Shana wanted to know was something uncertain, with no definitive answer, and which had to do with emotions.
Shana knew it was a sign of affection like handshakes or hugs, and could do such things with Alastor, but she became embarrassed when Chigusa asked if she could do so with Yūji. Alastor thought Chigusa's question was thoughtless and uncharacteristic of her. Shana's embarrassment was the key to Chigusa's answer. She said that a kiss on the cheek and one on the lips had different meanings. As Chigusa said that the kiss mentioned to Yūji was referring to one on the lips, Alastor got more agitated. Shana was uncomfortable with Yūji kissing her, which Chigusa was happy to hear, saying she shouldn't kiss Alastor either. Chigusa told Shana what she believed a kiss on the lips meant; a vow between two people that they can come close to and trust each other, a resolution which expresses a powerful and uncontrollable feeling. She said that Shana shouldn't do so until she found someone worthy, guessed Yūji's uncertainty was to do with getting Shana's approval, and stated that she should stop him if he tried to kiss her over that. Chigusa advised Shana to beat Yūji away if she didn't approve of making a vow with him. Shana was satisfied with Chigusa's answer. Chigusa warned Shana to not overestimate Yūji and sell herself cheaply, saying that Shana had high value. She suggested making hurdles for Yūji so that he would be worthy of making a vow with, and if he gave up, it would mean his feelings were weak. Alastor was confused at the outcome of the talk and blamed Yūji for everything. Yūji had finished his bath and had come over. Chigusa tried to get him to compliment Shana on her new uniform, but he was slow at noticing and only pointed it out, irritating the two.
Sorath was in an alleyway and was discovered by a gang of thugs. They surrounded him, referring to a previous encounter with a blonde foreigner. The leader of the gang grabbed Sorath, angered by the previous foreigner, and began to kick Sorath in the gut as he lay on the floor. He was told to stop by Tiriel, who had appeared behind them. The thugs took a liking to Tiriel, who ignored them and scolded Sorath for leaving her Cradle Garden. Sorath told Tiriel that he was hungry, his inhuman voice startling the thugs. Tiriel called out to someone named Sydonay for not protecting Sorath. Sydonay, a tough-looking man, suddenly appeared, scaring the thugs.
Characters[]
* denotes if the character debuts in this chapter
- Shana
- Yūji Sakai
- Lamies (visualization)
- Chigusa Sakai
- Alastor
- Sorath
- Margery Daw (mentioned)
- Tiriel
- Sydonay*
Locations[]
Quotes[]
- Yūji (thinking): "Why did I do that...? I couldn't control my feelings. Even now there's an uncontrollable ache in my chest... like a spring about to be released... Is this another effect of the Reiji Maigo? Or... is this, my inexperience...?"
- Alastor (thinking): "...Th, That's right! Damn you, "Spiral Organ". Saying needless things and then leaving!!"
- Chigusa: "Shana-chan, this is what I believe. A kiss on the lips is like a "vow". It's an act where you vow... to let someone come closer to all of yourself, and to entrust all of yourself to them. It's different from something you would do with people close to you. It's a form of resolution which expresses a stronger, uncontrollable feeling."
- Chigusa: "Women are allowed to beat away men who try to do things like that because they're uncertain. Shana-chan, if you don't approve of Yū-chan as a man you can make a vow like that with, don't hesitate to beat him away."
- Chigusa (to Shana): "Don't overestimate Yū-chan too much. Be careful not to sell yourself cheaply. You're extremely valuable. I guarantee it."
- Alastor (thinking): "Is this resolved? Is this alright? Anyway! This is all Yūji Sakai's fault!!"
- Thug leader (to Sorath): "You know, I never want to see blonde hair again. Whose permission did you get to show your face to me? Huh!! Foreigners shouldn't walk in this town thinking they're so good. I'll beat the hell out of you to make up for that other blonde!"
- Tiriel (to the thugs): "Stop that, you beetles!"
Trivia[]
- Yūji recalled his promise with Shana to get stronger, in chapter 30.
- Yūji thought about Lamies when considering if he was inexperienced, alluding to when Lamies had said so when Yūji had tried to thank him, in chapter 29.
- Shana referred to Lamies' statement to Yūji about kissing her, which was made in chapter 40.
- The thugs referred to when they were previously beaten up by Margery, in chapter 22.