WataMote Chapter 209-2

Chapter 209-2
Information
Volume Number	23
Chapter Title	Because I'm Not Popular, It's Baseball Time. Part Two
Published	October 12, 2022
Previous Chapter	Chapter 209-1
Next Chapter	Chapter 210-1

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

Miho stands at home plate smiling with her bat raised over her head. Behind her, Yuri crouches as the catcher, and a bespectacled Hikari stands as the umpire. Standing in front of then, Tomoko instructs that that is enough staging and to "take it from here." She continues that she wants to shoot a normal baseball scene.

In a mini montage, Miho, nonchalantly, makes contact, Shizuku squeals and covers her head in fear as the ball lands behind her, then Emiri bunts, Hina fields the bunt, but she then bounces the ball to Kotomi who is fielding first base, with Emiri already standing there.

Kaho Kusunoki next stands in the batter's box to watch, with Hikari, a high ball pass head-high to Hikari's right. Yuri does not react. In the next panel, both Hikari and Kaho watch a ball pass Yuri's right. Chibi Tomoko suggests, "Yuri-chan, try to catch a little." Chibi Kotomi observes that she is a "G"-grade catcher. As Yuri chases a bouncing ball to the backstop, Emiri slides into home. Asuka hits a ball; Masaki effortlessly fields it. Meanwhile, Yuri tries again to bring her bat down on a ball to the Shocked Chibi Tomoko's scream of, "She hit it?"

The scoreboard shows the Student Council scored three, three, and four runs in the first three innings respectively to no runs for the club. Bespectacled Chibi Kotomi declares it a terrible game. Chibi Tomoko insists that while true for reality it is fine for the movie. Looking at her phone, she turns to Yuri, who is standing next to Mako who is listening to Kaho, and remarks that she has enough baseball scenes and can call it a night. She then asks Yuri if she can bother her for a moment. Over a view of wildflowers, Tomoko tells her to pick wildflowers. Yuri asks if she is telling her to go to the toilet. Tomoko replies that she would not give her that notion all of a sudden. Facing Tomoko directly, Yuri replies that "Director Tomoko" would do that, as in order her to pee in public! Tomoko insists that she is not directing her for the film, and she is simply asking her to pick flowers. Behind her, Shizuku eagerly offers to help.

Sweating a bit, Shizuku watches Yuri rip wildflowers up by the roots. With a view of the backstop, Tomoko's voice announces that today "Kusunoki-san and Uchi-san" are finished filming. The next panel reveals Tomoko presenting Emiri with a bouquet as she formally thanks her for her efforts. Emiri sheepishly asks, "I'm already finished?" Behind her, Asuka presents a bouquet to Kaho, and behind her Fūka and Hina applaud. Some distance away, Kotomi watches and complains that while this is a common scene in film making, it is not necessary. [Happy – Ed.] Chibi Miho asks if they can have a wrap celebration. Somewhat Sheepish Chibi Fūka replies that it is still morning and nothing will be open. Happy Chibi Hina declares that since she ate nothing that morning she is up for it.

Shown: "Umpire Dōjinshi"
WataMote Wiki does not judge. . . .

The scene shifts to the outside of a café then inside. Fūka sits chatting next to Miho in one both with Yuri across from them. In the directly adjacent booth, Tomoko is squeezed between Emiri and Shizuku. Kaho, Asuka, and Hina sit across from them. Kaho thanks the server who is bringing them their drinks. Miho remarks to Fūka that this is the first time she has had elegant coffee after a baseball game. Fūka agrees, but Miho reminds her that she is drinking a cream soda. An excited Shizuku notes that Tomoko takes her coffee without sugar. Kotomi shows video on her phone to Hikari as she explains how umpires make calls. Hikari assures her that she will never umpire again, but Kotomi promises to send her some umpire dōjinshi. Hikari ask who other than her would buy it. Mako sits between Masaki and Yuri, who are both eating toast. One her phone she has a close up of Masaki, and she remarks that it is a good shot. Masaki thinks it is too up close.

Shown: Yuri-Chan Nom! Nom! Nom!

Asuka turns to Kaho and thanks her for coming. Kaho responds that it is a great break from her studies. She then turns to Emiri and remarks that her Class 3-4's festival preparations must be nearly done. Emiri replies that "Nagi and Co's" designed it, and the boys built it. Asuka then asks Fūka if her class is fine. She replies to her, Hina, and Shizuku that her class is doing a haunted house. Over a view of Yuri diligently munching on toast, [Happy – Ed.] Chibi Miho remarks to Chibi Fūka that she is helping her underclassmans' band and asks her how it is going. Chibi Fūka replies that since this time it is only singing it is not a problem, since, unlike a musical instrument, it requires no practice.

Hina asks Shizuku what the first-years are doing; Shizuku cheerfully replies that they will do a "Korean Maid Café," and it was Tomoko's idea. Chibi Shizuku then confesses that she really is not involved. Chibi Hina replies that that often happens, and Tomoko was not involved in their first-year Cultural Festival. Chibi Tomoko is sheepishly surprised that she saw that.

Chibi Fūka notices that Yuri is finished eating. She happily asks her if she is still hungry. Yuri mutters that she is fine, and Chibi Tomoko notes that with nothing to do she ate all of the "water and food." Fūka presses the buzzer for the waiter as she announces that she will get toast for the both of them. Full Chibi Yuri tries to decline by saying she is full. She turns to Mako and asks Mako if a little more food would be good. Mako declines and asks everyone where they plan to go around during the Cultural Festival.

Shown: "Glasses-chan"
Also Shown: "Slant-Eyed Woman"
Also Also Shown: "Pig"

Kotomi confesses that she plans to watch "Tomoko-kun's performance" the maximum amount of times. This elicits a happy surprised "E?!" from Miho. Disappointed Chibi Masaki remarks as a question, "That guy's doing something on stage?" Concerned Chibi Kotomi inwardly swears. Chibi Yuri announces that she knew that. Miho happily excitedly asks who is "Tomoki-kun." Yuri matter-of-factly explains that he is Tomoko's younger brother and he knows a lot of people. Fūka repeats "Kuroki has a younger brother," but Miho happily excitedly and repeatedly slaps the table as she declares, ""Kuro-chan's younger brother!! I'm really excited!!"

While holding her coffee cup, Kotomi looks warily at Miho. Inwardly, she complains that it is already saturated with "female pigs," and now there are more. She then laments that "Slant-Eyed Women" are erotic characters. For her part, Miho happily slyly asks Kotomi if she is in love with Tomoki. This elicits an "E?!" from Kotomi. As a deeply blushing chibi, Kotomi tries to stammer a denial, but Super Happy Enthusiastic Chibi Miho™ happily declares, "That's awesome!!" and suggest that the two just go to the festival together: "Come to 3-6 and I'll assist you!!" While this happens, Masaki stares ahead in silence, and Mako regards her with a slight smile. Meanwhile, she and Yuri push a new plate of toast back and forth between each other.

With the arteries in her face pulsing, Tomoko listens to Kotomi desperately try to decline Miho's offer. Miho [happily – Ed.] deems Tomoko's expression "scary." She asks Tomoko if she does not want "Glasses-chan" to date her brother when they are friends. Tomoko denies that they are. Asuka claims the she understands how "Tomo-chan" feels: "I, too, if suddenly knew Fūka and my older brother were dating, I'd puke." Irritated Chibi Fūka remarks, "suddenly a stray bullet. . . ."

While Tomoko achieves a blend of blushing, anger, and desperation, Emiri thinks that "Kuroki" becomes jealous when people fall in love with "that failure (of grossness)." She then offers, "That failu . . . Kuroki's younger brother! He's seriously gross, huh!!" Angry Chibi Tomoko demands, "What the Hell all of a sudden?!!"

Shown: "Emoji Face"

Mako and Yuri continue their hand fight pushing the toast back and forth. Next to them, Hina blushes, smiles, and pours more coffee. She thinks that everyone becoming noisy makes her think of a school festival. Incensed Chibi Kotomi screams, "You're the gross one, Emoji Face, huh?!"

Concerned Chibi Hikari and Amused Chibi Kaho both think that they guess it is good they are not talking about the movie.

Mako wonders if Masaki will go around with her friends.

Characters

In order of appearance

• Miho Narita
• Yuri Tamura
• Hikari Itō
• Tomoko Kuroki
• Shizuku Hirasawa
• Emiri Uchi
• Hina Nemoto
• Kotomi Komiyama
• Asuka Katō
• Kaho Kusunoki
• Masaki Yoshida
• Fūka Sasaki
• Mako Tanaka
• Nagi Ōtonari (mentioned)
• Tomoki Kuroki (mentioned)

Referbacks

• "I Take My Coffee Black Sugarless, Like My Men": From the Credit Where Credit is Due Department, reddit user USSMurderHobo researched and created a montage of some of Tomoko's experience with coffee, particularly coffee without sugar.
• Picking Flowers: Since Chapter 150, Yuri has not learned not to pull up plants with the roots when she picks some flowers.
• "In Her Cups": apparently Shiki and Koharu, under the stern but bored direction of Sachi, fixed the ride such that no one noticed it was damaged.
• Corpse Party: Emiri mentioned that one of the ideas for Class 3-4 was a haunted house.
• "Fūka Sasaki, an idol among underclassmen": it has been seen many times how popular Fūka is among her underclass peers, like in Chapter 166, where she ended up cheerleading for the baseball game after she was asked to, or in Chapter 192-2, where Miho mentioned how Fūka is highly requested by both dance and music clubs
• "Senpai's the one who came up with the idea": In Chapter 192-1, Shizuku mentioned Tomoko how she wanted her class to do a maid cafe, and after a bit of peculiar advice by senpai's part and other changes, her class chose for doing a Korean maid cafe. However, as told by the same Shizuku in Chapter 202-1, she hasn't actually gotten involved in the project.
• "Flashbacks of Vietnam": As seen in Chapter 20, when it's true Tomoko has never been the most enthusiastic to help in any arrangement for school festival, it's also true that she was also left outside from any participation, even the littlest one like cutting some flyers; which extended to the actual school festival in Chapter 21, where Tomoko only wandered around school seeing the events before Yū arrived. According this chapter, Nemo was aware Tomoko didn't do anything during the festival.
• "Yuri Tamura, the asocial eater": Being her an introvert girl, Yuri tends to avoid any unnecessary conversation, especially when she's in a group of unfamiliarized people to her, preferring instead to eat silently, thing that happened in Chapter 160.
• "The bottomless appetite of a gorilla...": It's not few the times where it's been seen how Fūka eats too much, either in Chapter 174, during cram school camp where she ordered too much breakfast; or in Chapter 193, where she dragged Tomoko and Co. to a ramen stand that served large portions of ramen, which caused a big indigestion to most of them. Seemingly, Fūka is oblivious to how others don't share the same enthusiasm for eating as her.
• "I'm just gonna watch Tomoki-kun's play as much as possible": Kotomi was informed by Akari that Tomoki was going to play the lead role for his class in school festival in Chapter 204-1, after which, she passed from barging in and doing unrequested suggestions like in Chapter 204-3, to looking the rehearsals from afar as in Chapter 205.
• Slut Shaming: Kotomi fears and imagines that other girls will seduce Tomoki. Tomoko knows this, and she teases in Chapter 83 her that another girl has sex with him in their home's entrance way. She recently in Chapter 208 cheerfully suggests including Tomoki will cause Kotomi's mind to explode. Kotomi takes Shizuku picture in Chapter 142 and declares that she wanted to preserve a picture of a "talking pig." She infamously publicly accuses Masaki Chapter 134 of seducing Tomoki in the cafeteria then inviting him to grope her.
• Your Face: As described in her main page, Emiri's "simple" face reminds others of an emoji. Until now, Tomoko has exclusively inwardly referred to her as "Emoji," and only when insulted in the complicated Chapter 152 does she refer to Emiri as "this emoji!" This is the first time someone has directly told her that she has an "Emoji Face (絵文字顔)."
• "I swear god if you say that again, I'll kill you": It's not a secret that Tomoko shows a big disdain to the idea of Kotomi dating her little brother, which was openly expressed towards Yū in Chapter 93.
• "We're not friends": It's become almost a trope others assume Tomoko and Kotomi are friends, which any of them have had to deny, as seen in Chapter 133.
• "You're a failure of a gross loser, Tomoki-kun": In Chapter 163, after Kayo suggested Emiri to check on Tomoko's little brother to see if she was interested in him, Emiri determined he was as a failure of a gross loser. Now, why the sudden interest in him again?

Cultural References

• Flowers for Algernon: find reference to the frequent presentation of flowers to actresses when they complete filming and even voice acting roles.
• Water Music: WataMote Wiki confesses missing the reference which made Yuri's interpretation of Tomoko's direction seem forced. From The Credit Where Credit is Due Department, two reddit contributors ftx777x and bazzett explain the euphemism "picking flowers" for "going to pee" with linked examples. This is similar to the venerable English euphemism where women excuse themselves to "go powder our noses." This has simplified over the decades to become "go take a powder."
• "In Your Eyes!": while in English the term is a derogatory and racist slur used against Asians, this is not Kotomi's intention. Like other WataGirls and "Kids These Days,"™ Kotomi notices personal appearances, and the use of this term, in Japanese, is not intended to be racist. Kotomi inwardly demeans Miho as she demeans any other girl on the planet who could possibly wander into Tomoki's sphere of influence. For her part, Miho uses a common Japanese nickname which is also derogatory in English and, for that reason, is often translated when it lacks an honorific as "Four Eyes." Under no circumstances thus far is Miho a "Mean Girl" – Sachi-chan would deny her application! – and she means it playfully. That written, Emiri previously called Kotomi "Glasses" when jealous of Tomoko paying attention to her, and Masaki refers to her as "Crazy Glasses."

Trivia

• The Master Race: Curiously, while she stands in the batter's box for a right-handed batter, and she swings the bat as a right handed, Miho holds the bat as a left hander. This could be a simple mistake on the part of the Artist or another indication that these WataGirls™ do not know the elements of the game. Asuka holds the bat properly for a right-handed batter.
• Siphon Coffee Maker: the ones used by the WataGirls are a variation of what is depicted in this review.

Memorable Moments

• "My, My Jealousy!": unpacking the pontifications in the Cultural References, Miho is ever intrigued by the romantic connections between those she knows, even superficially. While Kotomi automatically sees any girl to be a potential threat to her crush, and imagines them all as sluts who will throw themselves sexually at Tomoki – a fear Tomoko exploits – she "doth protest too much" in that she is perhaps jealous that she cannot approach Tomoki the way she imagines that others can.
• "The Emoji Still doth Protest too Much, Methinks": Emiri perhaps unwittingly reveals what she means by "gross/disgusting/キモい" by suggesting Tomoki is based on Kotomi's revealed crush on him. Naturally Tomoko and the rest do not seem to connect that Emiri has been calling Tomoko that for over a year.

Quotes

• "Yuri-chan, try to catch a little." – Tomoko Kuroki
• "What a terrible game!" – Kotomi Komiyama
• "Go pick flowers around there." – Tomoko
  • "You mean go to the bathroom?" – Yuri Tamura
  • "No. I'm not giving you that notion all of a sudden." – Tomoko
• "I know they do this a lot in behind-the-scenes-featurettes, but we really don't need a ceremony like this" – Kotomi
• "Later I'll bring umpire dōjinshi from home." – Kotomi
  • "Who else than you [Koto] would buy that?" – Hikari Itõ
• "This was well filmed" – Mako Tanaka
  • "Aren't you zooming in a little too much" – Masaki Yoshida
• "How typical of a gloomer to run out of food and drink because they've got nothing else to do!" – Tomoko about Yuri
• "Kuro-chan's younger brother!! I'm really excited!!" – Miho Narita
• "Even though we are saturated with female pigs, we still get more of them." – Kotomi
• "And, hey, does Glasses-chan like Kuro-chan's brother?" – Miho
• "I, too, if suddenly knew Fūka and my older brother were dating, I'd puke." – Asuka Katō
  • "Well, that stray bullet came out of nowhere" – Fūka
• "Kuroki becomes jealous with someone falls in love with that failure (of grossness)." – Emiri Uchi
• "That failu . . . Kuroki's younger brother! He's seriously gross, huh!!" – Emiri
  • "What the Hell all of a sudden?!!" – Tomoko
• "You're the gross one, Emoji Face, huh?!" – Kotomi
  • "'Emoji Face?!'" – Emiri
• "Seeing everyone get all worked up makes this really feel like a school festival" – Hina Nemoto

Gallery

Original Art from Nico Tanigawa Twitter

Not Shown: Hitting .400

Shown: Super Happy Enthusiastic Chibi Miho-chan™

A Mojo and Her Coffee: created by reddit user USSMurderHobo and originally posted to reddit.