Chapter 59: I Got Exposed

**I Got Exposed** is the fifty-ninth Chapter of *Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu*.

## Summary

It is time for cooking practice in Home Economics class, and Yamada is trying unsuccessfully to break an egg. Hara asks Ichikawa what he did over Winter Break while the others bicker about the correct utensils to use while cooking pancakes. He replies that he went to Akita, and that's where he hurt his arm. She mutters something about Akita dogs, and he remembers the incident with the Charm, and pulls it out of his pocket to show her. Yamada then comes and takes the seat beside him, saying the others chased her away for her inability to get anything done. Hara switches gears, asking Yamada what she did for the break, and she says she went to Aoyama with Miku, spent Christmas Eve with Ichikawa, had a family dinner on Christmas, went to Serina's for New Year's Eve, and met up with Ichikawa for the First Shrine Visit, as well as going to his place, and finally went to "Dezney" with the girls on the 4th. Hara hones on in the two mentions of Ichikawa, and tries to process what she's just said, and Ichikawa panics over what connections she's making in her head. Yamada asks Hara the same question, and she admits that she also went to a shrine with Kanzaki, and together the girls create a soft and warm atmosphere that Ichikawa basks in.

Yamada asks for more details about the shrine visit, and Hara talks about how she had an awkward interaction with Kanzaki where he grew out his hair and had overlong sideburns. She asks for advice on what she should say in scenarios like this, but Yamada has no answer, and Hara says her feelings won't change based off that, but that seeing him like that made her lose her confidence. Yamada ruminates on the idea of what she would do if the boy she likes did something that didn't suit him, and looks over at Ichikawa. She loses her nerve and announces that she doesn't have anyone like that, so she wouldn't know what to say, which Hara doesn't buy.

The teacher addresses the class, telling everyone to keep their bangs inside their bandanas. Yamada helps Ichikawa with his hair, taking into his account to leave out just a few strands. Several of the other kids look at him strangely, and though Yamada tries to retain her composure, she eventually laughs, saying he looks weird. Hara takes comfort in getting an answer to her previous question. The other kids bring around their largely crumbling and burnt remains of pancakes. Yamada begins to take a bite, and Adachi declares that she has one of his pieces, to which Ichikawa reaches out and bites it off of her fork, making up a bunch of fake praise for Adachi's cooking, which makes him bashful. Hara initially refuses her part of the pancake, saying she's still dieting, but Kanzaki says everyone likes her as she is, and she doesn't need to feel pressured. She aggressively stuffs a bite in her mouth, saying, in that case, for him to never grow out his sideburns again, causing him to clamp his hands to his ears, and for Ichikawa to declare the problem solved.

After school, Yamada tells Hara goodbye, but Hara stops her and comments on the Akita Charm on her bag, calling it cute. Ichikawa panics, feeling as though he's been exposed, though Hara says "good for you" while looking at him. Outside the classroom, Yamada and Hara exchange LINE contacts, with Yamada saying they should hang out sometime. Hara is excited at the prospect, and begins to propose a double date, but stops just short of asking.

* A bonus page is Ichikawa's thoughts as Yamada adjusts his bandana, saying that with this he looks like a powerful character, the most important thing to him.

## Trivia

Ichikawa's discomfort at the thought of having his bangs completely hidden may tie into his and Yamada's previous interaction where they share having wide foreheads.