Jun & Karou Chapter 16

JUN & KAROU CHAPTER 16

JUN AND KAROU, PURE AND FRAGRANT

CHAPTER 16, AND THE CONCLUSION, OF THE MANGA

It is New Year's Day.

"Karou....Karou.....", comes a voice from somewhere in her bedroom. Karou (+F) is asleep, sitting on the floor and slouched over a low table.

"You're still sleeping, and I'm ready to go. You stayed up late last night for New Year's Eve partying, didn't you ?", comes the voice again.

Karou pries open one eye. It is Jun (+M). Yeah, he would be the one to enter her bedroom and wake her up ! 'What a croc' ! I have to get up now !

Sleepwalking to the bathroom, and 'dragging her butt on the ground', Karou gets ready for the day's activities. She dresses, quickly washes and blow-dries her hair, puts on light makeup and lipstick; all the time Jun is patiently waiting. Downstairs, she puts on a winter coat, and the two of them head on out the door.

"So cold out.....", mumbles Karou.

Both are silent as they walk side-by-side toward the Buddhist Shrine and Temple. New Year's Day celebrations and customs are about to begin. After a while, a shout is heard behind the two, as arms go around both of them in a real bear hug. It is Hana ! After she separates from the two, Jun shows Hana a postcard, with the holiday activities listed on the back. On the front is *one of Hana's paintings*" ! "Look Hana, one of your paintings was selected for this year's holiday postcard, mailed out to everyone !", announces Jun. Hana breaks loose with as series of squeals and joyful girly noises. She confesses that she got into the company contest just by chance, and just 'under the wire' for the deadline to submit. Karou congratulates Hana on her notoriety. Hana is asked where she is going ? To grandpa's house. Hana wishes the two a "Happy New Year" !

At the Shrine, Jun and Karou go to the information booth set up for the holiday visitors. The male schoolmate that is manning the booth greets the two friends with a "Happy New Year" ! Jun thanks him, and asks him if he is helping out at the temple ? He is ! It is the busiest time of the season, after all ! The schoolmate asks Jun if he wants to buy a trinket ? Not right now, maybe later today. Jun asks what kinds of trinkets they have ? Several kinds, including one that says that you are either married, or soon to get married ! Jun nonchalantly asks Karou if she wants one of those ? Nah...! Jun silently thinks to himself that if Karou does not want that one, then he is not going to get a marriage one, either. Karou intently looks at Jun, commenting that he absolutely wanted the marriage one now, didn't he. Jun fudges, and replies that he was only going to get one as a souvenir, either for himself, or for you, Karou. Unexpectedly, Karou turns to face Jun, and silently buries her face on his chest. Puzzled at her behavior, Jun merely states that it is not necessary that we get the marriage trinket right now. After a while, Karou returns to walking with Jun.

The two friends continue to walk the grounds of the Shrine and Temple. They come upon three boys in the same class as the two. One of the boys, upon seeing Karou and Jun, remarks that you two must really get along with one another. Why, there hasn't been a time when I have seen you two apart. You are always hanging around together ! Karou and Jun profoundly stare at one another, then turn to look at the three boys. Karou only offers, "Yeah ! You got that right !"

At the Temple area, the two begin to go through the ceremonies for the New Year. They take turns ringing the bell. Both offer silent prayers together. When finished with the prayers, Jun asks Karou what she prayed for ? Not saying ! The ceremonies continue, with Jun at one point mentioning to Karou that we should do this part together, meaning at the same time. This they do. Both obtain small scrolls of paper, wherein one is supposed to inticate what they expect of the coming New Year. Jun and Karou do theirs together, then ask one another what they wrote down ? Let's show each other at once. Joyious or troublesome for the New Year. 3...2...1...Look ! Both said that the comeing New Year would be troublesome. Both have a hearty laugh ! Then it is suggest that the two of them hang their thoughts on the tree in the Temple, as is the custom, so that everyone can see their troublesome thoughts !

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(The End of Chapter 16 and the End of the Manga)