Chapter 11

This is the fifth chapter of the second volume and the eleventh chapter overall of the More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers manga series written by Yūki Kanamaru.

## Summary

Jirō's day starts off the same as any other day, but he notices that Akari has been calling him by his last name. He wonders if she's angry but brushes it off since, apart from that, she's acting as she normally does.

At school, Jirō searches the internet to confirm his suspicions about Akari being angry. Sadaharu sees this and is surprised that Jirō would have a girlfriend. Jirō admits that his search was pertaining to Akari. Sadaharu also shares how he and his assigned wife also have a lot of misunderstandings and how he wishes that she would just tell him what's bothering her instead of making him try to guess what it is. Jirō goes through all his text messages from Akari and wonders what it is that he did wrong.

Meanwhile, outside, Jirō and Sadaharu see a girl confessing her feelings for Mei and watch Mei gently rejecting her love. They both muse that even though these girls continue to profess their love for Mei and know that they will be rejected, they still go ahead and fall for her.

Back at home, Jirō is still bothered by Akari's slight change in attitude. It's almost 6PM which is the time the standings for the first half of the Marriage Practical would be released. Jirō prepares to take a bath when Akari barges into the bathroom. She excitedly shares the announcement that she and Jirō were at 8th place for the practical and gives him a hug.

After Jirō's bath, Akari dries off his hair. At the same time, Jirō is increasingly anxious because Akari isn't calling him by his first name anymore. He admits that he's still stuck calling her by "Watanabe" because he deems himself unworthy to call her by her first name. He practices saying her name under his breath. Akari isn't able to hear him because of the noise coming from the hair dryer. Jirō continues to test saying her name under his breath. When Akari suddenly turns off the hair dryer, she hears Jirō saying her name.

Jirō jumps, flustered by the sudden silence. He looks at Akari who is now blushing. Jirō wonders if that was why Akari was behaving the way she was all day. He repeatedly calls out her name to test her reaction. Akari is flushed, apparently embarrassed and tells him not to look at her. Jirō gets giddy and gets red in the face.

Akari tells him that she wants him to keep on calling her "Akari" since they're supposed to be a married couple. She then reaches for his hand and leans on him. Just as they interlace their fingers, they hear a beep, indicating an increase in their points.

The following day at school, Mei sees the Marriage Practical standings and finds out that Jirō and Akari are at 8th place. She calls Shiori telling her that she's going to help Shiori get the one she loves.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

Akari Watanabe
Jirō Yakuin
Sadaharu Kamo
Mei Hamano
Unnamed Girldebut
Track & Field VCdebut
Shiori Sakurazaka
## Chapter Notes

* Jirō notices that Akari has started to call him by his last name again and wonders if he's done something wrong. Although Akari is acting as she normally does, Jirō is still put off by her suddenly calling him "Yakuin" instead of "Jirō."
* Akari shows Jirō the news that they just placed 8th on their Marriage Practical.
* Jirō starts repeatedly calling out Akari's first name and is happy to see her reaction.
* Akari blushes as Jirō calls her name. She asks him to always call her "Akari" since they're supposed to be a married couple. They hold hands and they earn more points.
* Mei pledges to Shiori that she'll help her win over the one that she loves.