WataMote Chapter 152

Chapter 152
Information
Volume Number	Volume 15
Chapter Title	Because I'm not popular, I'm with (᛫_᛫)
Published	March 7, 2019
Previous Chapter	Chapter 151
Next Chapter	Chapter 153

私がモテないのはどう考えてもお前らが悪い!

Watashi ga Motenai no wa dō Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!

No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys' Fault I’m Not Popular!

Synopsis

Emiri Uchi's friends, the Girl with Long Braid, Kayo (Girl with Black Hair), the Girl with Glasses, Miyazaki, and Natsu, sit on the floor of the hallway having lunch and take a "selfie." The narration over them reads, "Together forever."

In the gymnasium, Hina stands with Katō and talks to Tomoko and Yuri. She remarks that unlike yesterday the next match will be difficult and early. She then asks them if they want to watch softball. Tomoko replies that first she needs to use the toilet.

As Tomoko walks down the hallway, she sees Uchi approaching. Uchi stares ahead; she does not greet nor even look at her. Instead as she passes, Uchi remarks, "I'm waiting for the fourth match." Tomoko stops, watches Uchi continue walking away, and thinks, "Emoji. . . ."

Uchi stands dejected at a table tennis table opposite a smiling unnamed girl. The unnamed judge announces that the Uchi's opponent from class 3-1 has won the final "captain's" match and will advance to the quarter finals with a score of 3 matches to 2.

"WHY?!"

Standing infront of Uchi, with Uchi's back towards the reader, the Girl with Glasses remarks that it was "interesting," while the Girl with Long Braid responds that they did better than she expected. Miyazaki waves at Uchi and congratulates her effort as Kayo holds up a phone to take a picture of Uchi.

A tearful Uchi screams, "Why?!" She starts to protest that if they won one more game, then she repeats "No!" over and over. The Girl with Glasses blushingly apologizes that she never played a lot of table tennis before, while the Girl with Long Braid quips that she is better at tennis. Miyazaki insists that no one should worry since they all did their best, to which the Kayo agrees, but Uchi screams, "No! No! I want to be in the next match!" Kayo reminds that Uchi also lost, but Uchi continues her tantrum: "My opponent was in the Table Tennis Club! It couldn't be helped!" She insists that if they had tried their best, she would have a match with Class 3-5. Kayo retorts that it was Uchi who wanted them to play table tennis when Natsu suggested softball and is playing it by herself. She then asks the stunned and sweating Uchi why she has been recently going over to the other class (3-5) during breaks: "Aren't you being cruel?!"

From a distance, Tomoko observes the conversation. Kayo continues her accusations, noting that even during their field trip, Uchi kept slipping away on her own: "I guess we were so happy we got to be in the same class together, but I guess you don't feel the same way, Ucchii!" As Miyazaki turns Kayo away, and Uchi turns to walk away, Tomoko wonders if "Emoji and the others" had a fight.

WataMote Wikia finds this room very dusty for some reason. . . .

Uchi sits outside against the building wall alone and pensive. As Tomoko observes her from behind a corner, she wonders why she followed "Emoji" since they have only had very light conersations, and she does not know if there is anything she can actually do.

Uchi spies Tomoko watching her and shouts out "Kuroki!" Tomoko wonders how she noticed her. They sit for awhile together in silence. Finally, Uchi confesses that she had a fight with her friends. As Tomoko politely makes listening noises, Uchi explains that she has frequently been visiting Tomoko's Class 3-5, and this seems to be the reason for their fight. She explains that many in Class 3-5 had been in her class for two years, "like Makocchi. . . ." Then she continues "and . . . K . . . Kuroki is there as well!"

"Me?!" Tomoko screams inwardly.

Uchi continues that "both" groups are important friends to her, but perhaps she has only been focusing on one. When Uchi falls silent, Tomoko thinks that even though Uchi has a "simple face (シンプルな顔・simpuru na kao)," she is a very complex person. "Then again," she muses, "girl friendships are always complicated." Tomoko is suprised that Uchi includes her as a friend. She admits inwardly that until now she thought that Uchi and her friends just hung around for appearances, but she now feels that they are actually friends.

Tomoko's thoughts are broken by Miyazaki calling Uchi's name. She stands with the rest of Uchi's friends who all look sad and says that Kayo wants to apologize for what happened before. Uchi stands and Kayo apologies and admits "sometimes I get frustrated and say things." Uchi replies that it is not her fault since she is the same, and Kayo suggests that Uchi has problems which she did not bother to ask about.

"Give me a 'TO!' Give me a 'MO!' Give me a 'KO!'"

While this happens, Tomoko gets up to leave while musing that they all reconciled better than she thought they would, and she does not know how deep nor shallow friendship is in such a girls group. She is halted by Uchi calling her name. Uchi asks her where she is going. Tomoko tries to explain that it is time for the next match, but to her and Uchi's friends' surprise, Uchi insists, "I will also go! I will support you!" Kayo expresses shock at this. As Miyazaki asks "Ucchii," Tomoko thinks the atmosphere has become unsettling, and while she does not know Uchi well, she guesses that Uchi cannot read the mood.

Tomoko responds that Uchi does not have to come, to Uchi's shock. Inwardly, Tomoko decides she will utilize her character growth to read the mood for Uchi. She whispers and stammers that it is fine since Uchi and she are not close friends, and she does not have to come with her. She continues that she really does not like that Uchi visits her class, while inwardly confessing that she feels a bit bad about what she is saying as her left hand shakes. As she tries to put on an innocent smile, she imagines the chibi faces of Uchi saying, "What's this?!"; Miyazaki saying, "Terrible!"; and Kayo saying, "Uchi will stop going to 3-5!" Tomoko rationalizes that by her accepting their hate, the "Emojis" who created the bad mood will reconcile against her. She muses that she always wanted to practice self-sacrifice like the hero of a light novel at least once during high school.

Not Shown: Tomoko's Plan Succeeding

Instead, Uchi stands stunned and speechless, starts to cry, then runs away. Herself stunned, Tomoko watches her run away as she hears one of Uchi's friends ask if something has changed about Uchi recently, and another replies that there is something different about the way she talks and acts. Miyazaki recalls the time when they changed classes. Girl with Long Braid suggests that it is farther back during the second year sports festival, then suggests that she seemed a little changed during the party at the end of their second year. The Girl with Glasses recalls the trip to the university. Miyazaki explains that whenever Uchi seems to behave strangely, "it seems to involve," as they all look at Tomoko standing in front of them in blushing and sweating silence.

A panel of the sky represents a passage of time. Tomoko stands with the wall to her back, Miyazaki and Kayo face her, and the rest stand or sit a bit further away looking at the three. Finally, Miyazaki asks Tomoko how long she has been friends with Uchi. Sweating, Tomoko responds that they really are not friends, and they have only been speaking recently. Kayo asks her how it came that they started speaking recently. Tomoko replies that during the school trip they shared the same room. Natsu asks her what she feels when she looks at Uchi. Inwardly, Tomoko protests that she has only heard from "Emoji" recently," then feels that she cannot reply with "Simple!" She mentions the time Uchi gave her souvenires and chocolate, and muses, "I guess she is kind to everyone." Both Miyazaki and Kayo recall the incident where they asked Uchi if she is giving chocolate to someone, and Uchi replies that there was this "gross (キモ) . . . this person" she is a little interested in.

Sitting next to the Girl with Long Braid, Natsu asks her if, when Uchi said she had a person whom she cares about, the person "is not a boy," and if she was refering to "that person." The Girl with Long Braid asks, "what about it?" then suggests that if it is true then it explains Uchi's strange behavior. The Girl with Glasses whispers to the now sitting Miyazaki and Kayo that it would explain why Uchi has not been hanging out with them much: "I mean, she was visiting the person she likes, right?" Sweating, Kayo protests, "No . . . she likes . . . Kuroki-san's a girl!" The Girl with Glasses explains to the stunned Miyazaki and Kayo that while she is sure that Uchi likes Tomoko as a friend, is not the combination of Uchi and Tomoko "interesting?"

Kayo turns directly to Tomoko and asks her if what she said to Uchi was on purpose out of consideration to them. Tomoko tries to stammer "no," while Kayo retorts that Tomoko was "obvious" and suggests that Uchi "took it hard." She then asks Tomoko that since Uchi knows a bit about her, to try to get along with her better. Miyazaki tells them to wait a moment while she texts Uchi through Line. Girl with Glasses asks Tomoko for her Line, then says, "when Ucchii gets here. . . ."

"U . . . Ucchii! About before, sorry. . . ."

Walking with a tear still in her eye, Uchi receives a text telling her to return. She sheepishly looks around the corner as Tomoko did before. To her shock she sees Tomoko standing with her friends and asks why she is there. Stammering, Tomoko apologizes to "Ucchii" for what happened previously.

Completely stunned with her face deep red and sweating, Uchi wonders why "so sudden?!" For her part, Tomoko inwardly notes that "Glasses" claimed to her that Uchi would like it if she called her by her nickname and wonders if she was wrong. Delighted, the Girl with Glasses exclaims to Uchi that when she was not around they talked about various things with Tomoko. Stunned, Uchi repeats "various?!" Kayo confesses they thought Uchi recently felt upset and chose to spend time and have fun with people from Class 3-5 rather than them. As Uchi begins to protest, a smiling Natsu remarks "but that was wrong, right?!" Miyazaki adds, "Ucchii just wanted to make close friends with Kuroki-san, right?"

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Emiri Uchi
Available at Book・Off!

Uchi stares stunned for a moment with her mouth open and her eyes wide. She even has a nose. She then smiles, blushes, and declares, "No, I thought this was a disgusting (キモ・kimo) person!! Hey, everyone! What a misunderstanding!! Isn't she really disgusting? Disgusting! Disgusting!" Uchi appears, in Tomoko's mind, to be happily surrounded by anime swirls with the words "disgusting" surrounding her.

Oh No She Didn't!!
Oh Yes She Did!

"DISGUSTING (キモい・kimoi)?!!" Tomoko inwardly rages. Thinking that this is the "number one" thing not to say to a person with a negative personality, she explodes with a tear in her eye, "Shut up! I should've been more careful with this Emoji!"

Tomoko runs away, and a surprised Uchi calls "Kuroki!" after her then wonders, "Emoji?" She then stands stunned and sweatingmagain.

She turns to her friends crying and asks "why?!"

Characters

In order of appearance:

• Girl with Long Braid
• Kayo ("Girl with Black Hair")
• Girl with Glasses
• Miyazaki
• Natsu
• Hina Nemoto
• Asuka Katō
• Tomoko Kuroki
• Emiri Uchi
• Uchi's Opponent (unnamed)
• Table Tennis Judge (unnamed)
• Mako Tanaka (mentioned)

Referbacks

• This continues directly after the previous chapter.
• Uchi often has screaming tantrums when she does not get what she wants.
• Coming to the 3-5: From a story standpoint, Uchi appeared to disapper since Chapter 145 when she was stunned to see Tomoko embracing Miyazaki on a train and seemingly stopped stalking Tomoko. Her conversation with Tomoko implies that Uchi has still been visiting Tomoko's class since Chapter 144 when she asked her about One Piece. While their conversations are not shown, Tomoko inwadly implies they were not significant to her.
• The Uchis . . . They're a' Changin': Miyazaki refers to Uchi's tantrum in Chapter 122, while the Girl with the Braid recalls the sports festival in Chapter 88, and Kayo refers to their class trip in Chapters 128 - 130.5, then refers to the second-year closing party in Chapter 120. The trip to the university occured in Chapter 140.
• Souvenirs and Chocolate: Uchi gave them in Chapters 105 and 112 respectively.
• Stay the Night: Tomoko and Uchi shared the room in Chapter 80.

Cultural References

• Line
• "Like?" "Love?" "Lust?" "Inappropriate for Children Under 17?": Japanese has one word for the English "like" and "love": 好き (すき・suki), pronounced with the "u" diminished to give "s-ki." When "boys 'n girls," "boys 'n boys," "girls 'n girls," et cetera speak of having a crush on someone to loving someone they use 好き. The ambiguity in the chapter is intentional. The Fanilators of World Three translate it in the panel seen in the Gallery as "crush." This is not incorrect, but it may make what the Girl in Glasses suggests and Kayo reacts to a bit more explicit, particularly since she uses the word to suggest that "well, of course" Tomoko "likes as a friend" (まあもちろん友達としての好きだと思うけど). There is double entendre involved throughout the chapter, such as the use of "close friendship" (仲良し・なかよし・nakayoshi).
• OreGairu: the main character of this light novel series, Hachiman Hikigaya, is willing to take blame and sacrifice himself for the benefit of his peers. WataMote made a specific reference to the series previously in the Volume 10 Special Edition.

Trivia

• Face Value: The actual title has the emoji in it: モテないし(᛫_᛫)と
• Kanji Matters: Uchi says the kanji "Kuroki" (黒木) but the furigana is "3-5." As in other cases, characters hear the furigana and the kanji makes clear to the reader to what or whom the character is refering.
• "A Girl has a Name": Tomoko still inwardly calls Uchi "Emoji" while addressing her as "Uchi-san." When she apologizes to Uchi, she says, "U-Ucchii," apparently on the not shown suggestion of the Girl with Glasses, whom Tomoko inwardly refers to as "Glasses." Uchi addresses Tomoko with just "Kuroki!" However, Uchi does refer to Mako by her nickname: "Makocchi."

Memorable Moments

• Can We Talk?: Tomoko does not really know why she follows Uchi, but she understands that Uchi has had a fight with her friends and is upset. Uchi finally has a meaningful conversation with Tomoko.
• "Is You is or is You Ain't My Tomoko?": As with the discussion on the meaning of the word 好き as "like," "love," and even "crush," there exists some ambiguity as to whether or not Uchi's friends fully understand what is going on with Uchi. They recognize that Uchi has changed and, in particular, she acts differently when it involves Tomoko. They witness this with Uchi's insistence to go with and cheer Tomoko. The Girl with Glasses appears to understand, then later retreats to insist that "of course," she thinks Uchi is only interested in Tomoko as a "friend (友達・ともだち・tomodachi)," only to immediately admit that the pairing of Uchi with Tomoko is "interesting. Kayo seems to initially retreat from thinking Uchi has a crush on Tomoko, but she then confronts Tomoko with trying to alienate herself from Uchi and bring their group back together against her. She then asks Tomoko to get along with Uchi, while the Girl with Glasses suggests Tomoko use Uchi's nickname. Finally, Miyazaki essentially encourages Tomoko and Uchi to have a "close friendship (仲良し・なかよし・nakayoshi)." Given the suddeness of the revelation, this "back-and-forth" is natural. This all suggests that not only do Uchi's friends not mind if she has a crush on a girl, they will support her. This makes Uchi's panic all the more interesting.
• "Another Girl has a Name": Uchi's friend the "Girl with Black Hair" receives a name. It is written かよ without kanji.
• "Yet Another Girl has a Name": This is first time Tomoko addreses Emiri with her common nickname "Ucchii," as well as her inner nickname "Emoji." Emiri both recognizes and is shocked by Tomoko's "sudden" use of her common nickname; she does not understand the reference for "Emoji."

Quotes

• "I'm waiting for the fourth match." - Uchi to Tomoko
• "I guess we were so happy we got to be in the same class together, but I guess you don't feel the same way, Ucchii!" - Kayo
• "All my friends are really precious to me." - Uchi
• "I've always wanted to try that whole self-sacrificing-to-save-someone thing at least once during high school." - Tomoko
• "Ucchii just wanted to make close friends with Kuroki-san, right?" - Miyazaki

Gallery

Not Shown Good Sportswomanship
"'Second Place?!' 'First LOSER!'"
Note: Uchi does not actually say "Kuroki" as explained in Trivia.

Uchi notices Tomoko watching her.

Shown: A River in Egypt
Yellow: "Person she likes"
Red: "No . . . she likes . . . Kuroki-san's a girl!"

Uchi reacts to Tomoko's response.

Shown: Uchi reacts calmly to Tomoko's apology.

"Face it, it's YOU, Tomoko!"