Kimi ni Todoke Manga Chapter 001

Chapter Info
Manga Volume	Volume 01
Related Episode(s)	Episode 02
Chronology
Previous Chapter 00	Next Chapter 02

Seating Change (席替え Sekigae) is Chapter 1 of Kimi ni Todoke. It was first published in the January 2006 issue of Bessatsu Margaret magazine.

Summary

Extra colored page

On her way to school one rainy morning, Sawako Kuronuma finds a white puppy in a box.

Previously, Sawako had admitted she was attracted to Kazehaya in front of the class on the last day before summer vacation. And now gossip about this incident has been spreading throughout the school.

Sawako still tries to say "good morning" to people, but they continue to run from her. Apparently Sawako is soaked because she left her umbrella to cover the puppy she found earlier. Then her fellow classmate, Shota Kazehaya, enters the classroom. He's also wet, and even dirty with mud. Sawako is impressed with how everyone gathers around him, thinking "He's so pleasant even when he's all wet!" Kazehaya greets her and notes that's she's soaked. He asks if she has any spare clothes, but she doesn't. Kazehaya interrupts Ayane Yano's and Chizuru Yoshida's talk to ask if Yoshida has her P.E. uniform. Yoshida retrieves her uniform from her locker and tosses it to Sawako, but Yano warns her that that uniform's been there since the last term. Regardless, Sawako is grateful and begins to tear up. Kazehaya also gives Sawako his towel so that she can dry herself.

While Sawako changes in the bathroom, Kazehaya changes shirts in the classroom. Some of the other students think that Kazehaya is being considerate to Sawako because he feels bad about turning her down, but he dismisses the idea. Kazehaya remembers that after he asked to see Sawako during summer vacation, that Sawako asked if that was because he would be going to the summer lectures. Sawako also told him that she admires him and respects him, which results in Kazehaya believing that her attraction wasn't about love but about respect. He feels embarrassed for thinking that she liked him. In the present, he still feels embarrassed for "not getting it."

Sawako, also under the belief that Kazehaya doesn't like her in that way, leaves drinks on the desks of Yoshida, Yano, and Kazehaya. He asks Sawako if the drink is from her, and tells her that she should've said "thank you" directly to him instead. He notices that Sawako has another milk in her hand and Sawako tells him it's for a dog. Kazehaya reveals that the reason he was wet and dirty earlier was because he had been playing with a stray dog that he found. Sawako asks if it was by the river.

After school, the two of them then head out to see the puppy again, and Kazehaya realizes that Sawako left her umbrella there. He asks her if he can take the dog. Just then, the puppy growls at Sawako, but she doesn't mind because animals are usually afraid of her so she's used to it. Kazehaya says that he's heard that dogs will be friendly with their owner's friends, and tries to show the puppy that he is friends with her. Sawako is touched that Kazehaya considers them friends, and admits to him that she wants to be friends with everyone. Kazehaya shows his support and says she'll be all right. He then heads home with the puppy in his arms, and Sawako wonders why she doesn't feel a barrier between herself and Kazehaya.

The next day at school, Sawako brings a bag full of cookies as a thank you, but worries about when to give them and if they'll eat it. Kazehaya greets her but notes that since 1st period is math, that they'll be in separate classes. He also says the dog's fine but he hasn't named him yet. As everyone goes to their classes, Sawako hears someone hesitate to sit in her desk because they think they'll be cursed. Sawako tries to explain that she doesn't have such abilities, but the other students have cleared away from her desk.

The teacher announces that they'll be changing seats in 6th period homeroom and tells them to handle it themselves because he's not feeling well. The students whisper among themselves that the teacher got sick over the summer because of "Sadako", and then mention that the student who teased Kazehaya broke his leg and that the boy next to Sawako is getting poor grades. The students draw paper slips with numbers to determine the seats, and most of the class hopes to not sit next to Sadako. Overhearing a student complain about their seat, Sawako offers to trade, but then everyone begins to freak out about sitting next to her.

However, someone calls out for the seat number next to Sawako to trade with him - it's Kazehaya. Yano returns her paper slip and sits in front of Sawako. Yoshida turns down the chance to draw a slip and tries to sit behind Sawako, but that seat is already taken by Ryu Sanada. Yoshida tells him to move but he doesn't want to because he wants to sit by the window in the back. Yoshida then sits in front of Kazehaya. Sawako speaks up about the cookies she made, and Kazehaya and the girls say they're really good. Sawako tells them that from the bottom of her heart that she's happy to sit with them.

On the way home, Kazehaya catches up to Sawako on his bike and chats with her before heading home and waving goodbye with a smile. Some other students notice that the two have been together a lot recently and wonder if Kazehaya really turned her down.

Characters in Order of Appearance

• Maru*
• Sawako Kuronuma
• Shota Kazehaya
• Chizuru Yoshida
• Ayane Yano
• Yoshiyuki Arai
• Ryu Sanada*

*indicates this character's first appearance

Quotes

• 風早くんに言われると… 本当にそんな気になるから不思議　...風早くんはいつもこんな感じ　壁がないんだ　誰に対しても　...だからみんなすきになるの風早くんのことを　人と犬の… 一緒かな　私もみんなとの間にあるぶ厚い壁を壊していきたい ちょっとずつでも　Kazehaya-kun ni iiwareru to... hontou ni sonna ki ni naru kara fushigi ...Kazehaya-kun wa itsumo konna kanji Kabe ga nain da Dare ni taishitemo ...Dakara minna suki ni naru no Kazehaya-kun no koto o Hito to inu mo... issho ka na Watashi mo minna to no aida ni aru buatsui kabe o kowashiteikitai chottozutsu de mo
  • "When Kazehaya-kun says something... I really believe it's true. How Strange. Kazehaya-kun is always like this. There's no barrier with him... no matter who he's dealing with. That's why everyone likes Kazehaya-kun. Is it the same for people and dogs? I want to take down this barrier that's between everyone and me... if even just little by little." — Sawako's thoughts after Kazehaya says they're friends [official translation]

Notes

• In the original magazine publication in Bessatsu Margaret, cover pages will come with editor's notes or taglines about the chapter, as well as announcements and advertisements. These notes, taglines, and ads are removed when the chapters are compiled into and released as volumes.
  • Center left, pink and white text under the title: "BIG new series full of excitement!!"
  • Lower left corner, white and orange text: an advertisement to apply to a raffle for a special hand towel (available to the first 100 people)
  • Upper right corner, pink and black text: "At the height of youth! A dazzling colorful true-to-life love story begins!!"
  • Lower right corner: Karuho Shiina's name, and under that in small text is an advertisement for all 6 volumes of Shiina's previous work Crazy For You

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