WataMote Chapter 54

Chapter 54
Information
Volume Number	Volume 6
Chapter Title	Because I'm Not Popular, I Won't Change
Published	February 10, 2014
Previous Chapter	Chapter 53
Next Chapter	Chapter 55

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

The cover depicts high school age Yū happily running while dragging along Tomoko and Kotomi while all are dressed in their middle school uniforms. The narration asks: "Are the bonds of friendship everlasting?"

On her way out of the school, Tomoko runs into Kotomi and they have an awkward moment of silence. Hina with passes by with Akane and calls out a goodbye to Tomoko while Akane looks suspiciously. Tomoko stammers an embarrassed reply then looks with a meek smile at Kotomi, who concludes that Tomoko is gloating. Kotomi turns to leave and Tomoko, who happens to be going the same way, follows closely. Kotomi stops to demand why Tomoko is following her since it is quicker for Tomoko to return by train. Smugly, Tomoko declares that, "Unlike you Komi-something-san," she is meeting a friend.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks!"

They take the same bus and Tomoko strategically sits behind Kotomi to annoy her. She recognizes the book Kotomi is reading and spoils the ending for her. Just as Kotomi is about to snipe back, a boy from her class leaves a library book with her, despite her protests that he bring it back to the library himself, and then gets off the bus. A stunned Tomoko stares at her and then asks if she is "satisfied now." She tearfully claims that the confused Kotomi thinks she is superior because she can talk to a boy casually. Tomoko then claims that her "popularity" only comes from her being a librarian. Then both leave the bus at the same stop, and Tomoko continues to harangue Kotomi that she has "charisma" and will meet a friend from middle school unlike Kotomi. Nevertheless, Tomoko storms off clearly upset. The still confused Kotomi wonders how Tomoko could be her crush's sister, but she then thinks on the words, "a friend from middle school."

Curious about whom Tomoko is meeting, Kotomi follows her to a café and sees Tomoko sitting happily with a girl inside. Looking at the girl from behind, Kotomi muses that the girl looks different from they way she remembered. The girl, Yū, stands excusing herself to use the bathroom but sees Kotomi, who does not recognize her. Yū recognizes Kotomi.

The three sit together with Yū smiling and Tomoko and Kotomi at first silent and sweating. While Kotomi answers Yū's many questions, Tomoko inwardly seethes in jealousy. Suddenly, Yū turns to Tomoko and asks why she never mentioned she attends the same high school as Kotomi. Tomoko admits they they only just found out, but a delighted Yū takes their hands and looks forward to all three of them talking together as they did in the past. She then remembers she needs to use the bathroom, leaving Tomoko and Kotomi alone for a moment.

Tomoko immediately demands Kotomi leave; Kotomi refuses. Tomoko declares that since Yū did not contact Kotomi, she does not want to be Kotomi's friend, while Kotomi protests her phone number changed. Kotomi retorts that if Tomoko was not Yū's friend and Tomoki's sister she would never talk to her. Tomoko returns that Kotomi is "gross" for having a crush on someone's younger brother. She wonders why Kotomi would have a crush on an "ugly and boring guy who just tries to act cool" and who she implies could be homosexual or lusting after his own sister, which provokes Kotomi to grab Tomoko by her shirt collar. As Kotomi threatens Tomoko to never disrespect her brother, Yū returns and witnesses them.

All three sit nervously for a moment.

Inwardly, Tomoko and Kotomi blame the other for their behavior in front of Yū. Yū nervously asks them if they can go to another place. She takes them to an arcade. She reminds them both that they use to have fun playing in that arcade. Tomoko promptly destroys an irritated Kotomi in one game. Yū reminds Kotomi that she was always good at trivia games, and Kotomi takes the opportunity to note that "unlike a certain slacker" she did not have the time to play games all day, which Tomoko notices. Kotomi beats them both easily. Kotomi takes the opportunity to ridicule Tomoko for only being able to answer anime and video game questions. In response, Tomoko "invites" her to play a shooting game and easily beats her. Kotomi tries to explain that her "specialty" lie in puzzle games "that require you to use your brain."

Later as they walk together, Yū happily remarks they had fun and should do it again together during the summer break. Tomoko and Kotomi, while looking at one another, sheepishly agree. Yū declares this a promise. When she leaves, Tomoko and Kotomi promptly separate. As Tomoko walks home, she receives a text from Yū asking her to get along with Kotomi.

The next day, Kotomi sees Tomoko at her school locker then looks at her phone. She nervously greets Tomoko who stammers back a greeting. While Tomoko recalls that, once, they talked together, she mentions that the day before was fun. Kotomi agrees, thinking that she never really wanted to get along with Tomoko: "But we just ended up trying to get along back then too."

Characters

In order of appearance:

• Tomoko Kuroki
• Kotomi Komiyama
• Hina Nemoto
• Akane Okada
• Male Classmate (unnamed)
• Yū Naruse
• Tomoki Kuroki (mentioned)

Referbacks

• The three go to ClubMega, the arcade Tomoko and Yū went to in chapter 3.
• Kotomi apologizes to Yū for going home right after graduation. Her reasons were shown during her flashback in chapter 47.

Trivia

• Okada seems surprised that Hina calls out to Tomoko.
• "A Girl Does Not have a Name!": Tomoko calls Kotomi by “Komi-something-san,” a reference to how Tomoko views her as forgettable despite hanging out during middle school. This is the name Tomoko will continue to use in the future.
• Yū and Kotomi lost touch because she got a new number after middle school.
• Kotomi would not recognize Yū since Yū cut and dyed her hair and obtained contact lenses when she entered her high school.
• Tomoko claims it is gross for a girl to like someone younger.
• Tomoko claims that her brother might be a "Siscon" which is a manga or anime character attracted to his sister.
• Tomoko believes that she would lose against Kotomi in a fist fight.
• This chapter's name is the same as chapter 100.

Cultural References

• Tomoko says, “Snape dies at the end,” which is a reference to a character in the Harry Potter books.
• Kotomi uses the “side grip” technique to hold her gun at the arcade. This technique actually makes aiming more difficult, and it is just used for aesthetic purposes. It was especially popular in hip-hop culture and gang cultures due to its use in videos and movies.

Memorial Moments

• Tomoko has someone who greets her at school; she still has problems responding.
• Tomoko spoils Kotomi's book.
• Yū senses what is going on and cares about her friends.

Quotes

• "Damn that bitch, getting all cocky just because dome popular girl talked to her?! What's with that smug face? Are you implying that you're better than me?!" – Kotomi Komiyama
• "How is something like that Tomoki-kun's sister?" – Kotomi
• "Damn that bitch. She doesn't play fair. I wouldn't ever lose to her in a battle of wits, so she resorts to violence! And she even made me apologize to her fucking shit fuck!" – Tomoko Kuroki

Gallery

Tomoko is "delighted" as Yū and Kotomi renew their friendship.

What . . . Tomoko and Kotomi got here is "failure to communicate."