Intro: Nao and Uehara live together in an apartment to be close to school.  I think Nao's family lives far away, which is why she needs to live in an apartment.  However, people would disapprove if they knew that a high school boy and girl lived alone together, so they try to hide it.  At school, they tell people they're going out since they come to and leave school together.  Uehara is really popular, and all the girls think that Nao is really lucky to be going out with him.  Nao's best friend, Marina, is very interested in guys, she keeps a notebook with vital stats and notes on all the cool guys she meets or knows about ^_^. Uehara seems pretty serious, he's a really good student and a black belt in three martial arts!  He also works part-time at several jobs at once to get money.  However, Nao finds that he actually has a very dry sense of humour (except in relation to food, he considers it serious business)  Nao is an indifferent student, and very easygoing(you might even call her a bit of a pushover).  These two might sound like opposites, but they actually get along really well and even start to have romantic feelings for each other.  First, though, they have to overcome difficulties such as Uehara's past(?) one-sided love for his sister-in-law, Yuri, and their classmate Abe's crush on Nao.  This story is great, with likeable characters and a storyline, sometimes humourous and always fun, that keeps you cheering for Nao and Uehara.  It also seems to be pretty popular, so it might enjoy a long presence in Ribon.

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14
Part 15  Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20  Part 21  Part 22  Part 23  Part 24
For parts after August 1999, go to the Ribon Mascot Comics site, I believe it has up to December right now.

Good Morning Call Gallery(tons of pics!)
Good Morning Call Omake Page
Part 6 (February 1998): Nao and Hisashi(Uehara) are roommates in an apartment.  I don't know the background yet, but last month Nao's friend told her that Nao liked Hisashi, and she thought a lot about it.  Then a girl from Hisashi's class(I think) appeared and told Nao that Hisashi was hers and Nao couldn't have him.  Her name is Nanako, and while she speaks very politely while Hisashi's around, when it's just her and Nao she's quite blunt(I think she uses Kansai-ben).  Nao is astounded at her two-sided personality.  Uehara just seems to think she's a bit pushy, if anything at all.This month, Hisashi's little(or big) sister, Yuri talks to Nao.  Nanako shows up while they're talking and starts talking trash to Nao(I haven't checked exactly what she's saying yet)but Yuri cuts her off with no problems.  Nao quote: "Yuririn-Suteki!!"(Awesome!)  At the end, Hisashi tells Nao something, and she thinks he's going to tell her he's going out with Nanako, but it turns out to be something stupid.  Actually, he tells her that her skirt zipper is undone.
Part 7 (March 1998): Nao suggests that she and Uehara go to school together, but she's late and he leaves without her.  Abe confesses his love to Nao, who says that she's going out with Uehara.  Meanwhile, Uehara is looking for her and her friend tells him that Abe likes her.  Abe is depressed and Nao says somewhere there's a girl who will prefer him to Uehara and leaves. She runs into Uehara, who tells her that he's working after school so she shouldn't make dinner for two.  She says he could have just called from work, and he jokes that he went to so much trouble and then she talks to him like that.  He starts to say Abe, and then when Nao looks happy, he changes it to something else.  The next day, Nao makes sure to get up in time for school, but Uehara says he has a small fever so he's going to the hospital before school.  At school, Nao's friend Mitsuishi is talking to Abe when Nao comes in.  Abe asks Mitsuishi about her and Uehara and Mitsuishi says they hang around together but that's it.
    After school, Abe finds Nao and starts asking her why she said she was going out with Uehara, and Nao brings him to the apartment because everybody's listening.  No thinks it's okay because uehara is at his part-time job.  Abe asks if she lives alone and she says yes, but when Abe sees a guy's shirt lying around she says she actually lived with her older brother.  Abe tells Nao that when she said there's someone who likes him better than Uehara he was really happy, and it was the first time anyone said that.  Nao says she was happy too because it was the first time anyone said they liked her.  She says that really she's not going out with Uehara, and probably he doesn't think of her much, but she likes him.  Abe leaves, and then Uehara comes out of his room!

Part 8 (April 1998): Nao suggests to Uehara that they should act more like a couple, for example going to and from school together and acting lovey-dovey.  Uehara says they don't have to do all that, but they could go to school together.  The next day though, Nao is 3 minutes late, so Uehara leaves without her.  She tells Marina and says she thought that was pretty cold of Uehara to leave, and Marina said so if Nao had woken up 3 minutes earlier, she could have walked with him, and says that if it were her she definitely wouldn't sleep in.  She asks Nao if she really wants to become a real couple with Uehara and Nao says yes, but the current situation is good too.  Marina is fed up with Nao, and when Nao rises to go, a piece of paper falls out of her desk.  It's a love letter!  It's from Abe Jun from Class C, whom Marina has heard of.  She says he's the 'confession king', and he's confessed to and gotten dumped by 14 girls since the start of junior high.  Marina says it's too bad for him that he doesn't know about Nao going out with Uehara, even though it's just pretend.  After school, Uehara comes looking for Nao but she's with Abe.  Marina thinks of a good idea and tells Uehara that Nao was called out by Abe, and that he's the 'confession king'.  She says where Nao is meeting him and then leaves, leaving Uehara to think alone....
    Abe barely starts to speak when Nao rejects him, and when he finds out that she's going out with Uehara, he goes into a depression and says because a guy like that is around, he can't get a girlfriend(because all the girls love Uehara).  Nao says she thinks that everyone has different tastes, and surely there's a girl that will like Abe more than Uehara, which greatly affects Abe.  Nao leaves and heads back to the classroom.  Uehara is waiting for her, and when she asks why, he says he forgot to tell her before that he wouldn't be home for dinner.  Nao says if that's all, he could have just called and told her, and Uehara goes into teasing mode.  Then he starts to ask Nao about Abe, but then when she looks at him, he changes it and says something inconsequential
    The next morning, Nao makes sure to get up early but Uehara is going to the hospital because he has a slight fever, so he can't walk to school with her.  At school, Mi-chan asks Abe(who's in the same class) why he's so depressed, and guesses that he was dumped again.  Then Nao comes to the door to return a textbook to Mi-chan, and Abe asks if she's a friend of his.  Mi-chan agrees, and Abe says he wished he had known sooner, he would have asked if she had a boyfriend.  Mi-chan asks if Nao's the one that dumped Abe, and when Abe says yes, Mi-chan tells him that Nao and Uehara are only pretending to go out.  Abe demands to know why, but Mi-chan can't tell him so after school Abe asks Nao in front of several people why she's pretending to date Uehara.  She quickly whisks him away to the apartment to talk privately, and Abe is surprised that she's living alone.  Then he finds a guy's shirt, and Nao says she actually lives with her brother.  Abe tells Nao that te day before was the first time a girl said that someone might like him better than Uehara, and he was really happy.  He says that he thought that since she had a boyfriend there was no hope, but since it's just pretend... Nao breaks in and says it was the first time that someone had asked her out, and she was really happy too.  She continues, saying that though she and Uehara are only faking being a couple(for reasons she can't explain) she actually does like Uehara for real.  Abe finally accepts defeat and leaves, and Nao is left thinking how fast her heart was still beating, because she said out loud that she liked Uehara.  She thinks that she'll have to prepare herself carefully when she actually confesses to Uehara, or else she might have a heart attack, when she hears a door opening.  She thinks it's a bit early for Uehara to return from his parttime job, and anyways, she would have heard the key in the lock if it was the outside door.  Then she thinks "It can't be...", and slowly turns around...and Uehara is standing in his bedroom doorway looking at her!

Part 9 (May 1998): Nao asks why Uehara's home, and he says he left early.  She asks how long he's been there, and he says since before she came home. She asks if he heard the whole conversation, and he says no, he was sleeping.  She thinks she's saved, when he adds that he DID hear her say that she liked him.  Nao's freaking, when he says, "you were pretending to get him off your back, right?  Don't worry, I didn't think you were serious."  Nao is kind of stunned, but agrees.  The next day at lunch, Nao runs into Abe, who's depressed because of his love life.  She's waiting for Uehara, who's not very friendly to Abe. While the two are eating, Nao tells Uehara about Abe being the King of Confessions, having confessed his love to 14 girls in two and a half years.  Uehara disapproves, mentioning(I think) something about the girl he likes.  Later, Yuri drops in to see Uehara at work, who doesn't look at all thrilled.  Abe is in the bookstore and is pissed off to see Uehara talking to another beautiful woman(he has a bit of a complex about Uehara and his 'power over women').  He slams down a book and asks to buy it, but he doesn't have enough money.  Yuri says she'll lend him some, since he can just give it to Uehara to give to him.  Abe promptly falls for her, and the next day at school finds out that Nao knows her.  She says she's going out with her that afternoon, and invites Abe.  He goes, but is crushed when he finds out she's married to Uehara's brother.  Nao says something about Yuri being the 15th, and Yuri gives him a lecture on being fickle, I think in the process telling him about Uehara and how he liked her(Yuri).  The next day, Uehara and Nao are walking to school together when they run into Abe, who apologizes to Uehara and tries to 'cheer' Uehara up, which confuses him since he's not depressed.
Below: Marina
Part 10 (June 1998): Nao asks Uehara if he wants to go to a Christmas Eve with her(as a friend), but he can't because he's working.  Then she talks to Abe, who says that he also will be alone.  He suggests that they go together and Nao agrees, which doesn't seem to please Uehara very much ^_^.  Then Uehara finds out that he's not working, and tells Nao that he can go.  The next day, she tells her friend and Abe, and her friend tells Abe that now he can't go.  On the day, Nao can't decide what to wear and a nnoys Uehara by asking his opinion of several outfits, but then Nao gets a cold.  Uehara cheers her up by telling her he'll get a cake.  The next day a t school, Abe asks Uehara where Nao is, and when Uehara says she's sick, Abe thinks aloud that maybe he should go make a sick visit.  Uehara tells him not to, and Abe asks why Uehara doesn't like him and Nao being good friends, but decides that he'll leave the sick visit to Uehara.  When Uehara gets home, Nao asks about the cake, but Uehara forgot about it, which astounds Nao, because Uehara NEVER forgets about food.  He says he was thinking of something else on the way home, and Nao says "Thinking about something other than food?!!"  Uehara goes out to buy a cake and looks weird at Nao before he goes, but Nao doesn't notice.  They end off the night by playing video games in front of the TV.  The next day, her friend reminds her that she wanted to go into residence(I think), which means that she'd be moving out from the apartment soon.
Part 11 (July 1998): It's winter break, and Nao has to go to make-up school along with her friend Marina and Abe.  Uehara doesn't because he's a really good student.  Nao is wondering what she should do about residence, since she doesn't really want to leave Uehara, when she finds an apartment catalogue with lots of places marked.  She asks Uehara if he's planning to move, and he says yes!
    Uehara as always is working during the holidays when he sees the landlady.  They chat a bit and the landlady asks if Nao is going into residence.  Uehara says yes, and the landlady says that he'll be lonely without Nao around.  He agrees after a while,and looks pensive :)  When he gets home, Nao is looking at her friend's book ("100 Ways to get Him" or something) and barely manages to hide it in time.  Uehara brought a cake home, and Nao wonders if she should have a piece, since she already ate cake today with Abe.  She decides she will, but the phone rings before she can start.  It's Abe, and after they talk about that day's homework and she says next time she'll buy them both cake after school, she turns around and the cake is all gone!  Uehara ate it all,and is in a bad mood.
    The next day, Nao wakes up(after having a bad dream) and steals into Uehara's room to take the apartment catalogue, but he catches her in the act.  He tells her to give it back, but she won't, and just as she's starting to say why, the doorbell rings.  It's Yuri, and when she sees Nao with the apartment catalogue she yells at Uehara, asking him what he did to make Nao want to move out.  He says it's for him because soon Nao will be moving out, and asks Nao to agree with him.  Nao says actually, she doesn't really care, this apartment is fine, and Uehara stares at her.  During lunch, he says she shoul d have told him, and asks why she's not going into the dorm.  Nao doesn't want to answer(because she likes living with him ; ) and he assumes it's because she doesn't have enough money.  He asks for seconds, and Nao remarks that she's surprised he can eat this much after having the whole cake last night.  Uehara says he did feel a bit sick after, but it was her fault he took the whole thing anyways.  At first, Nao doesn't know what he's talking about, but then thinks she knows what it is.  Uehara gets nervous (he thinks she knows it's because he was jealous of Abe) but she asks if he's noticed that she's gained weight, and Uehara is dumbfounded.
Part 12 (August 1998): Uehara tells Nao he's going to Kuba High School, and Nao is surprised because she thinks that with Uehara's marks, he could get into a better school.  Uehara says he chose it because it's close enough to walk to, and Nao says that she could go to Hiba as well.  Uehara says if she does, they can still commute together, which makes Nao very happy. The next day, Abe tells them that he's going to Kuba too because there's lots of cute girls, and his 15th refusal was his last.  Uehara asks when he got to 15, and makes fun of Abe when Nao says he had a crush on Yuri.  Then Abe says "Who are you to talk!  You liked Yuri too!"  before Nao could stop him, and Uehara quietly asks if Nao knew about him and Yuri too.  After Nao says yes, Uehara leaves without another word.  From then on, Uehara never talked to Nao and everyone in school thought they were having a fight or worse.  Rumours started going around school about Uehara, Nao, and whether it was because of Abe, until finally someone told Uehara that there were rumours about Nao dating both him and Abe(I think).  At the time, Nao was trying to explain to her classmates that it was nothing to worry about, and her friend Marina was about to go demand answers from Uehara when he appears at the door, and says he's come to pick up "Yoshikawa"(Nao).  He takes Nao's bag and they depart, leaving behind several girls to exclaim over how great it was.
    Walking home, Uehara apologizes, saying he didn't know wabout the rumours, and Nao says she's just glad that he's talking to her again, and apologizes for Abe saying those things.  Uehara says it's okay, he was just embarrassed that she knew, it wasn't because he still liked Yuri, which makes Nao stare a bit.  She wants to talk more about it, but Uehara says that the conversation is over, and everything is back to normal...for a while.
    They're just about to eat dinner that night, when Yuri shows up at the door in the pouring rain, looking very emotionless.  She comes in and asks if she can stay for the night.  Nao and Uehara ask what's wrong, and Yuri says that Tatsuya cheated on her, and that she's going to divorce him!
Part 13 (September 1998): Uehara leaves to go talk to his brother, he doesn't know whether to believe it or not.  He'll stay over at his brother's place, so he asks Nao to look after Yuri.  After he leaves, Yuri gets very affectionate, because she was drinking alcohol on the way over, and when she's drunk she turns into a "kiss demon" ^_^.
    The next day at school, Marina is excited over how cool it was when Uehara came to get Nao the day before, saying it 'felt like love', which makes Nao happy.  She thinks that if they look like they're in love now, real love can't be too far away!  She's off in dreamland, when Uehara taps her on the head, because he couldn't get her attention by calling her name.  Marina leaves, and Uehara asks how Yuri was.  Nao says since she was drunk, her mood improved soon.  Uehara asked if she became a kiss demon, and can tell because Nao blushes and mumbles something like, "yeah, she got me on the cheek and stuff, but I tried to guard my mouth..."  Nao asks about his brother, and Uehara says as he expected, it ws just a misunderstanding, and Takuya(his brother) didn't cheat at all.  He says that Yuri is stubborn so it will take a while for her to accept that she was wrong, and apologizes that she'll be a bother to Nao.  Nao says it's okay, but after thinks it' a little sad because she can't see Uehara except at school for a while.
    Meanwhile, Yuri is out on her break and runs into Abe.  She gives him two tickets a movie, because she got them from her work but doesn't need them.  The next day Abe tells Nao and Uehara at lunch that he's going with Yuri, and after Uehara asks Yuri what she's doing, and says that Takuya didn't cheat on her, but Yuri won't listen, so Uehara gets mad and leaves.  Nao is worried and asks if Yuri intends to do anything more than just tea and a movie, but Yuri says it's okay, she'd never do anything with anyone other than Takuya.
    The next day at school, Uehara asks if Yuri feels like going home yet, and Nao says no.  Uehara says that means they won't see each other tomorrow at all then, and Nao realizes that there's no school tomorrow.  They're looking at each other in silence, when Abe bursts on the scene, showing off his new cell phone, which he got so when he shows Yuri she'll tell him her phone number.  He asks for Nao's number, and then says, wait a second, he'll put it on speed dial, and Uehara ignores them, looking a bit peeved.  After lunch, they drop Nao off at her class, and Uehara asks to see Abe's phone.  When he hands it back, he says sorry, he pushed something wrong and all the speed dial was erased^_^.
    When Abe and Yuri are out together, Abe wonders why Nao and Uehara don't really go out together, and tells Yuri that Uehara doesn't like it that he and Nao are good friends, which makes Yuri think...  Then Yuri lets it slip that they live together, because she didn't realize that Abe didn't know already.
    Uehara has just finished one of his part-time jobs, and thinks of what he has to do next, thinking of this job, then that job, and then...
    Nao opens the door that night to find Uehara!  She as why he's there, and he says he was wondering how things were going.  Nao says Yuri still doesn't want to go home, and Uehara starts to say no, he wasn't thinking of Yuri, but stops.  Nao invites him in, but he says if he doesn't hurry, he'll miss dinner.  On the way out, he says that he'll come to pick up Nao for school tomorrow, and she says she'll be ready.  Uehara says no, she won't, and tells her to be ready on time.  After he leaves, Nao wonders why he came, though she was happy to see Uehara's face anyways, and thinks it couldn't have been just to see her.  Outside Uehara is wondering the same thing.
Part 14 (October 1998):  Marina figures out that Yuri is the one that Uehara liked for so long when she meets her, which doesn't make Nao very happy.  Later in school, Uehara is tired because he only got 3 hours of sleep, and Nao says she needs at least 8 hours every night.  Uehara asks when she studies, because he never sees her, and Nao says, well, I never see you study either, you're always working.  Uehara says he always gets A's, so it's okay, and Nao admits she gets B's.  Uehara says she should ask Yuri to help her in English because she's really good.  That night, Yuri and Nao are working on her English when someone calls Yuri.  She gets really upset because it's the woman that she thought Takuya cheated on her with, and says she's going to cheat on Takuya.  She starts to call a guy she knows, but Nao takes the phone away and tells her if she does, she would be betraying not only Takuya, but Uehara.  This stops Yuri in her tracks, and after a long moment she says she's going home.  Nao says she's sorry, and asks if Yuri's mad, but Yuri thanks her and says Nao reminded her of some important things she's forgotten.  The next day, Yuri and Nao are shopping, and Yuri is saying that it was all a big mistake, and she overreacted because the woman was one of Takuya's old girlfriends, and she was worried.  Nao says she understands, and Yuri asks if she worried about her and Uehara, and tells Nao that he doesn't like her anymore, but Nao is still a little depressed.  Yuri says she has a plan.
    When Uehara gets home later that day, he finds Yuri making dinner.  He asks in an annoyed way why she's there, and Yuri says she came to pick up something he forgot.  She says Nao went to buy something, but really she's hiding in her room, listening to their conversation and wondering what Yuri is going to do.  Then she is stunned when Yuri asks Uehara to move back in with her and Takuya.  Uehara asks what this is about, so suddenly, and Yuri says well, don't you have money troubles, and (I think)Uehara says, then lend me some money, and Yuri says, That's not it, it gets lonely in that big house with only the two of us, and Uehara says yeah right, when you were first married it was fine, and Yuri gets mad and says, is living with us that bad?, and Uehara says no, he doesn't care, and then Yuri says smugly, then could it be that you have a reason to want to stay here, and Uehara says, why are you saying it like that Yuri says, do you not want to leave Nao, because you like her?  In her room, Nao is freaking out, when she hears Uehara's response: He agrees with Yuri!  Yuri is surprised that he admitted it so easily, and he says is that why you asked about moving back home, when there's a crash from Nao's room as she drops her shoes.  Uehara is frozen for a moment and realizes what's going on, and Yuri calls out to Nao and says it's okay, she can come out now, and says she'll leave now and let the two of them be all "love-love".  Uehara is still silent and totally blushing, while in her room Nao is ding the same thing, thinking that she's really happy but...  Uehara breaks into her thoughts, knocking on her door, and then she thinks, wait, what if I go out and he says it was just a joke, yeah that's probably it, when Uehara says...I was telling the truth.

From left: Uehara, Abe, Marina, Mi-chan(Uehara looks pretty happy to be with Abe^_^)

Part 15 (November 1998): At school, Marina can't believe that Uehara confessed to Nao, which kind of throws Nao for a second, unil Marina explains that she can't believe the way he confessed, and not that Uehara liking Nao is that weird.  When she finds out that Nao hasn't responded yet, she's shocked again, and says that Uehara thinks it's just a one-sided thing.  Nao says no, probably he can tell me feelings I think, and Marina says I doubt it.  Nao says she thinks she'll wait until Valentine's Day, since it's soon.  Nao is wondering what kind of chocolate to give him, when Marina says she thinks she'll make a confession on Valentine's Day as well.  Nao is so surprised, and asks who, and Marina takes a while to tell her that it's Mi-chan.  She says he confessed on Christmas Eve and said he'd wait until graduation for her answer, but she thinks she's ready now.  Nao notices that Mi-chan hasn't been around lately, and Marina says she doesn't think he's avoiding her, just that he's being considerate because she couldn't pretend everything's normal around him.  She apologizes for keeping it a secret so long, but she wanted to think, and Nao says now that you've thought about it, you know you answer?  and Marina, blushing says yes.  Nao says she's so cute, and Marina blusters a bit.  Then they say that both of them will try hard, now that they're only one step away from happy coupledom.  Abe shows up, and says he's happy because this year, for the first time, he'll get a Valentine from someone other than his family, Nao.  Nao says sorry but she only wants to give one Valentine this year, to Uehara, and Abe is cast into despair until Nao gives up and says she'll give him one.  Marina mentions that Valentine's Day is a Sunday this year, and Nao thinks that it's okay if she and Uehara don't go out, they're at home all day together, that would be great.  They go off to make some homemade chocolate.
    However, when Nao asks Uehara later, he says he has a parttime job all day that Sunday.  He asks her why she wants to know, and she says it's nothing and goes to bed while Uehara looks after her thoughtfully.
    The day before Valentine's at school, Nao gives Abe his chocolate at lunch and he weeps in happiness over it :)  When Uehara comes, he seems a bit sulky that Abe got chocolate from Nao.  Nao realizes she's forgotten the tea at her desk and goes back to get it.  Abe crows over his chocolate, and says probably Uehar a gets lots, and asks how many he got last year-50?  Uehara says no, he only got one from Yuri, which makes Abe pretty happy.
    That night when Uehara gets back from work, he's so bushed he goes straig ht into the bath and tells Nao to get dinner ready,and while he's in there Nao sees a Valentine to him from Rumi, which freaks her out.
    the next day Marina freaks her out even more by telling her that maybe since Uehara doesn't know that Nao likes him back and because of yesterday thinks she likes Abe, he's going to give up and go out with this Rumi girl.  She's just joking, but Nao doesn't realize and worries a lot before Uehara gets home.  When he comes in the door carrying a bag full of chocolates, she's dumbfounded until he tells her that they're just leftovers from the store.  She gets her courage up and gives him her handmade chocolate.  Uehara looks a bit surprised, but then thanks her and says he's happy, and has this really cute smile and Nao is sent into a fit of happiness for a second ^_^  She thinks, okay, this is a good moment, I'll confess, when the phone rings.  It's the landlady(her name is Rumi), and Uehara thanks her for the chocolate yesterday.  When he gets off  the phone, Nao asks if the chocolate in his bag yesterday was just a friendship one, and Uehara says of course, if it was real he'd be scared.  Nao says no, she meant that she thought he was going out with some other girl.  Uehara asks if she didn't believe his confession, and she says no, just that maybe he mistakenly thought that she liked Abe and went to another girl...Uehara says first, he would never make THAT mistake, and that even if Nao liked someone else, he wouldn't change his feelings that fast.  Nao says yeah, he loved Yuri one-sidedly for six years, which kind of throws Uehara off his serious mood for a second.  Nao is just about to confess when Abe rings the doorbell and bursts in, frustrating the two almost-lovers.  He came over just to show them that he got a true-feelings Valentine, and the mood is ruined.  Nao thinks that her feelings were communicated though, probably...

Part 16 (December 1998): Abe is feeling triumphant because he got a real chocolate, and Nao, Marina, and Mi-chan can't believe it.  Mi-chan thinks maybe it's a joke, and Marina even suggests maybe there 's poison in it :)  So they all go to see who this person is, and at first they think it's this old woman.  However, it turns out to be a really cute girl, so Abe finally gets a girlfriend!  He goes on dates with her a lot, and is even thinking about getting a part-time job to keep paying for these dates, and Nao is concerned that he's being used.  She says she's still a little jealous, because she still hasn't been on a date with Uehara.  Marina and Mi-chan have, and act all lovey, which makes Nao a little mor jealous ^_^.  Uehara is at his convenience store part-time job, and meets Tsukasa(Abe's girlfriend).  He's surprised though, because she refers to their relationship as her receiving dates from Abe instead of just dating him. A few days later, Abe shows up at Nao and Uehara's apartment in the morning, asking if he can leave his school clothes there, because he's going on an all-day date.
After the date, Abe looks a little sad, and returns to Nao and Uehara's apartment to get his clothes.  Uehara asks if this was the last date, and Abe says yes.  Tsukasa told him from the start that she was moving to England for three years in a month, and she wanted to have fun with Abe, even if he didn't know anything about her.  At school the next day, all of Abe's male friends were very relieved to hear that he as dumped again(they were horrified that Abe had a girlfriend and they still didn't), even though Abe tried to act cool about it.

Part 17 (January 1999): It's the first day of high school, and Nao is still having dreams about not getting into her school.  She explains that all her friends are going to the same school except Mitsuishi.  She and Abe just made the cutoff, while Marina was okay and Uehara was safe by a long shot.  She thinks that her school uniform is pretty much the same as it was in middle school, which is too bad, but the guy's uniform looks really good on Uehara.  She compliments him, and asks for his opinion on her new outfit, but when he can't think of anything to say after a minute or two, she gives up.  When they get to school and meet Marina, she mentions that there's a lot more girls than guys, and Abe appears to be crying for joy because of it :)  Uehara comes from the class lists and says that Nao is in Class 1 and Marina is next door in Class 2.  However, Uehara is far away in Class 10, which depresses Nao for a bit.  Nao goes to class and meets a girl named Yanai Hiroko who seems nice.  When she finds out what school Nao comes from, she asks if she knows Uehara.  Hiroko asks Nao to interview him for the school newspaper to run for the most popular new student, agrees.  Hiroko says there are about 10 people in the contest, but really the fight is between 3 students- Uehara, someone named Okuda Masamichi and a former classmate of Hiroko's.  They meet the third person, who is a really tall girl named Nozomi.  Nao thinks it's a bit weird that it's a girl, and Hiroko says Nozomi is popular with girls as most guys are.  Nao can kind of understand, because Nozomi is tall, slender, and pretty.  Nozomi says it looks like here, as in middle school, no guy will be able to beat her and all the cute girls will be hers, which Nao thinks sounds a bit funny.  Then Hiroko tells Nozomi that she's not so sure, because her most hated person is here, and Nozomi says Uehara Hisashi?  which makes Nao apprehensive.  Hiroko introduces Nao as an acquaintance of Uehara's, and Nao asks Nozomi why she doesn't like Uehara.
    Nozomi begins the story when she was very little, and loved an older boy.  She couldn't forget him when he went away, but when she saw him 5 years later, he had become fat and ugly.  From then on, she could never like men, only women, because they grew more beautiful as they got older.  She said she once was extremely fond of one girl, Momoyama Mami, who was as cute as a doll, but on Valentine's Day was shocked and dismayed when Mami gave Uehara(who was in the same school) chocolate instead of her.  Nozomi says she never wanted to lay eyes on Uehara again, she hates him so much.  Nao wonders what she would do if she found out she and Uehara were going out, and imagines a scene where Nozomi swears to break them up and cause them as much pain as possible.  Nao thinks that she can't tell her when who should show up but Uehara!  He just wants to tell Nao that he won't be home for dinner, but Nao is petrified, especially with Nozomi staring at them in silence.  Uehara asks why she looks so strange, but Nao denies that anything is wrong.  Uehara goes, leaving Nao to deny that she's good friends with him, and say instead that he was just bringing her a message from his sister.  Nozomi looks skeptical...
    That night, Nao interviews Uehara for the popularity contest.  She's embarrassed at the last question, which is: Is there a girl that you like?  She's blushing, and Uehara looks a little surprised but just answers yes, there is.  Nao writes the answer down and then asks Uehara if they can keep their relationship a secret for a while, and Uehara looks upset and asks why.  When she tells him, he thinks she's being an idiot is still mad.  Nao says this way he'll be more popular, and Uehara says he doesn't care about that.  Nao says the winner gets a year's supply of croque-pan(some bread thing?) and Uehara says, fine, you're selling me away for some croque-pan.  Nao gets angry as well, and says that's not what she's saying at all, and Uehara says she thinks that as long as food is involved, anything's okay with him.  Nao says well isn't it?  and they stare each other down.  Uehara says fine, then we may as well not talk to each other at school at all, and Nao says it doesn't have to be that extreme.  Uehara says no, if you want to pretend to be strangers that's fine, just because Nao is a wimp.  Nao gets really angry then, and agrees, and Uehara says we should go to school separately then, even though you don't know the way, and Nao says I'll be fine, and stomps into her room and slams the door.  Once inside, she realizes what she's done and thinks, I'm such an idiot...

Part 18 (February 1999): The next day at school, her friends make Nao realize that it was her fault, and she should make things up between her and Uehara.  She also sees that Nozomi doesn't hate boys, actually she has a lot of guy friends, and thinks that she's not a bad person after all.  Later, she's having tea with Yuri and Abe, and  Abe tells her that Uehara was jealous of her friendship with him before, and even though Nao says she thought it was just because he didn't like Abe, she feels happy because of it.  Nao and Abe are outside the tea shop waiting for Yuri when some girls from school see and think that Nao is going out with Abe.  When Yuri and Nao get home, Uehara is already there and Yuri teases him about being in a fight with Nao.  Uehara tells her to get home because who knows if his brother might stray again or not, and Yuri tells him the three of them, Nao, Abe, and her, all had fun today, at which Uehara goes into his room and slams the door, saying he's going to sleep.  Nao is worried, but Yuri says it's okay, he's jealous because he loves you, and Nao thinks that the next day she'll tell the truth to Nozomi and be worthy of his love again.
    However, the next day Nozomi is in a bad mood because Uehara won the popularity contest, and Nao thinks she'll wait until later to tell her.  Some girls come and ask Nao if she has a boyfriend and Nao says yes, but the girls say Abe, right?  At lunch Abe is scared of what Uehara will do to him if he finds out, Marina says Uehara wouldn't lose his cool over such a little thing.  Then we see Uehara's classroom, and when a friend of Uehara's tries to tell him about Abe and Nao, it's apparent that Uehara has already heard, and is NOT happy(^_^)  Out in the hall, Nao is trying to tell the girls that her boyfriend is not Abe, but Uehara.  Nozomi appears and says who's Uehara's girlfriend, and Nao says me!  Nozomi says they just broke up, huh, and Nao starts to say, no, we're still together, but Uehara comes around the corner and says it himself!!!

Part 19 (March 1999): After silencing the surprised female students with some cold looks, Uehara takes Nao away for a talk.  He's still mad, because Nao's hiding their relationship gave rise to some annoying rumours, but Nao is happy.  Uehara asks why, and she says because of the way he told everyone, and she thought he was still mad.  Uehara says he is still mad, but can't stay that way for long.  After school, she and Marina are talking about it, and Nao says she's glad that they made up.  Abe is there too, and the girls are surprised to see him carrying beauty products.  Marina says guys shouldn't buy stuff like that, and Abe says nowadays lots of guys do.  He asks Nao if Uehara does, and she says maybe, though she's never seen any.  Abe says he definitely uses them, but just hides them, and Uehara appears behind him(he works in that store) and says he doesn't.  Abe says yeah, right, it's obvious he uses eyebrow pencil, even though he might want to keep it from Nao, and Uehara says no way.  He then tells Nao not to bring Abe along, and Abe says he shouldn't talk to his customers that way.  Uehara says he's not going to sell anything to Abe, and Nao remarks that Uehara is even colder than usual to Abe.  Marina says he must still be angry about the rumours.  Nao gets a call from Yuri, asking if she can come over for dinner because Takuya had to leave on a sudden business trip.  Nao says sure, around 7, and Uehara says that's when he gets off, so Nao tells him to hurry home.  Marina comments after that they look more like a real couple than before.  Marina says she hasn't really changed, but Uehara's face looks more gently than before.  Abe agrees.  Abe asks how long they've been going out, and Nao says they never officially started, it just s ort of happened.  Abe is shocked, and Marina says Mi-chan never officially asked her either but, they both understand each other's feelings, and they go places together on weekends and things like that.  She says Abe probably doesn't understand, and is still a kid.  Abe then tells them a story of when he was 5 years old.  He went to an amusement park with a girl after she invited him.  After, he assumed they were going out but then found out she was going out with someone else.  When he asked her about it, she said it wasn't her fault because Abe never really asked her.  So from then on, he always made sure to ask first, and that's how he became the Confession King.  Nao says usually that approach doesn't work, and Marina says you have to be really good-looking and have a smooth tongue, so Abe couldn't do it.
    At dinner, Nao, Yuri, and Uehara have a conversation about beauty products.  Yuri says if guys look better after using them, she'd rather they did.  Yuri also gives Nao some samples, some of her friends work in the makeup department and give her lots of free stuff.  Nao is really happy, and says she can't normally afford things like this, and Uehara asks how much a certain product is.  Yuri says it's 800Y(around 80$), and another one i s 1200Y(120$).  Uehara is horrified, and asks if you really look better after using them.  Yuri thumps him^_^
    That night, before going to sleep, Yuri asks Nao what Nozomi's reaction was that day, and Nao says nothing has happened yet but she's afraid of going to school tomorrow.  Yuri asks if Nozomi is really that scary, and Nao explains how regularly Nozomi is nice, but whenever Uehara is mentioned her face gets really frightening.  Nao is comforted when Yuri says it's okay, Uehara will be there.
    The next day, Nozomi asks to talk to Nao in private, and brings her up to the roof.  Nao is scared, but tells the truth when Nozomi asks if she and Uehara are really going out.  She 's surprised when Nozomi is happy, and Nozomi says that now that Uehara is taken, half, no, two-thirds of the girls who voted for him will now vote for her instead, and she'll captu re first place.
    At lunch, Nao and Uehara are again eating together, and Uehara, exasperated, is resisting Nao's attempts to act "love-love", even though Nao says he's just embarrassed.  The author says this incident is finished, and the twosome have finally achieved a love-love situation.

Part 20 (April 1999): Nao and Marina are talking after school, and Nao mentions the students she’s seen around that have a different uniform. Marina says they’re in the English Composition Faculty, which is separate from the normal student body.  There are 400 normal students and 40 English Composition students.It’s very elite, and it also includes foreign exchange students. Marina then says when a girl graduates from that faculty, she can sell her uniform for around 500$ because it’s so rare(or something like that, I’m not quite sure about this).  When they get to the school gates, Mi-chan is waiting for them. Though Marina and he want to hang out all together, Nao leaves them alone and heads home.She thinks that she and Uehara never walk home together because he has to rush off to work, and envies Marina and Michan a bit for their loving relationship.  At work, Uehara is invited to a movie by Nanako, but he refuses until she says that another part-timer, Nagai, is also going. When Nagai finds out, he asks Uehara to leave the two of them alone after the movie because he likes Nanako.Uehara thinks he was going to do that anyways. Then Nao appears and asks if he’s done work yet.  Uehara asks if she needs anything, and Nao thinks that this is the kind of thing she means. She says she had something to do nearby, and came to see if they could walk home together. Uehara says he’s almost done, so when Nanako comes backto go to the movie, Uehara’s not there. Nagai says Uehara went off with someone that seemed like a girlfriend, and Nanako wonders who it could be while Nagai drags her off to the movie.  On the way home, Nao says that Uehara is thin. Uehara doesn’t know what she’s talking about, and Nao says she means his affection. She mentions a time at school when they passed each other, and Nao waved but Uehara ignored her.  Uehara says he has bad eyes, and Nao says even so, he should recognize the person he likes. Uehara says he can’t help it, and then the elevator comes. In it is a couple kissing! Nao sees the girl before they get out of the elevator, and she is shocked. It’s the first time she’s ever seen a ‘live’ kiss, and she’s surprised, especially becausethe girl is a high school student. In the elevator, Nao asks Uehara how he can be so calm, and he says he’s used to it. After Nao freaks, he explains that he often sees those two on his way home from work, because the guy lives on the same floor as them. Naoreflects out loud that you often see people kiss in elevators in movies and stuff, since it’s private, and then realizes that she and Uehara are in that situation.  Before the silence gets uncomfortable, Nao says the girl had one of their high school uniforms on. Uehara says it was different, and Nao says she must be in the English Composition Faculty. Uehara is worried, and says they’ll have to go to school separately tomorrow. Nao asks why, and Uehara says it would be bad if the guy saw them leave together in the morning and said something to the girl.  Nao says it‘s probably okay, and they haven’t been discovered yet, and Uehara says her ‘okay’ usually means something’s wrong. Nao is disappointed, and Uehara says though it’s too bad they can’t go to school together anymore, if they’re found out they won’t be able to live together anymore. Nao cheers up, and thinks that just going to school together doesn’t make a couple’s lifestyle, for instance they eat together.   Then Uehara says he doesn’t need a lunch anymore, because he wants to eat at the school cafeteria, and Nao sees their coupleness going down the drain.  The next day at school, Nao talks to Hiro-chan about Uehara. Hiro-chan says though Uehara seems cold, that’s why he’s so cool. At lunch, Nao looks around for Uehara in the caf, but can’t find him. Nozomi invites her to sit with her, and says that even though she hates Uehara, that’s no reason for her to dislike Nao. It turns out that Nozomi is also sitting with the girl from the elevator, and Nao and she recognize each other. She tells Nozomi that Nao lives in the same building as her university student boyfriend, and Nozomi isn’t happy about her still being with that guy.   Later, Nao and her are alone, and Nao asks how old her boyfriend is. He’s 21, and Nao says it must be an adult love. Nao says her relationship with Uehara isn’t that close, and the girl protests, saying that they live together, right?  Nao is struck dumb, and thinks to Uehara that they’ve been discovered...
Part 21 (May 1999):      At the table with Nozomi’s cousin Kaori, Nao denies that she and uehara are living together.  Kaori stops for a second and then agrees, saying that it must be great dating the most popular student.  She asks Nao who confessed first, and Nao says Ueharea did, but she thinks she liked him first.  Kaori asks her long they’ve been going out, and Nao says about 2 months, and then Kaori asks her how long they’ve been living together, and Nao says “Since last summer” before she realizes what she just admitted.  Kaori says her boyfriend Tetsu told her about a middle school couple living on his floor.  Nao tells Kaori that it’s a secret and Kaori says she won’t tell anyone.  She says she has to go and leaves for class.  Nao is relieved, thinking that everything’s okay now and she and Uehara can even walk to school together again.
  However, when she tells Uehara later, he’s not so optimistic, calling her a moron when there‘s no actual guarantee that Kaori won’t tell anyone, and she should have seen through such leading questions.  Nao tells him he should have more faith in people, and Uehara says there’s nothing they can do but trust her anyways, and Nao agrees cheerfully, saying it’s alright.  The next day Nao goes out with Marina, Mi-chan, and Abe, and they agree with Uehara, saying Nao trusts people too easily.  When Nao protests, saying Kaori promised, Mi-chan says there are people who will say that and tell people anyways.  Marina reminds her that Kaori’s not even a friend or anything, so there’s no reason for her to hold back, and Abe says if it was him, he’d tell people(don’t tell him anything^_^).  Nao finally freaks out, saying she hadn’t thought it out like that, she wasjust happy that she and Uehara could return to their ‘love-love’ relationship again.  Marina asks if they’re not ‘love-love’ enough already, and Nao says no, Uehara doesn’t show his feelings much.  When someone asks what Nao wants him to do, Abe demonstrates, saying “I love you, Nao”, bringing on horrified shivers in the other three.  Nao says though it’s scary when Abe says it, it would be great if Uehara said it, and goes off into a daze while Marina and Michan bet on whether or not Uehara would ever say it.  Nao is still in daze, so Marina brings her back by bringing the discussion back to Kaori.  Michan says that since Uehara is so well-known, the rumour would spread fast.  Since they haven’t heard anything around school yet, maybe Kaori isn’t planning on telling anyone.  Nao grabs onto this hope and says surely they can trust her.
     Nao returns home pretty late, and she wonders if Uehara is back yet.  Walking down the hall, she passes a couple, and as they go into the boy’s apartment, Nao hears the girl call him Tetsu.  She remembers that Kaori’s boyfriend is named Tetsu, and looks back, but it’s not Kaori!  Uehara confirms her suspicion that Tetsu is cheating on Kaori, though Nao says the girl could be his sister or just a friend.  Uehara agrees disinterestedly, and Nao walks to her room, thinking that it does seem like cheating, and wonders if she should tell Kaori, or if it would be presumptuous.  She remembers that Nozomi doesn’t like Tetsu, so the next day at school tells her, and asks whether she should tell Kaori.  Nozomi says it doesn’t matter either way, because Kaori already knows.  Nao asks if she means Kaori knows he cheats on her, and Nozomi says yes.  Kaori says that she loves him so it’s okay, and Nao’s mind whirls.  Nozomi says Tetsu’s a real jerk, and that she’s made them break up many times for her cousin’s(Kaori’s) sake, and tried other things, but nothing worked.  Nao says she can’t understand, she could never bear someone who cheated on her.  Nozomi asks her if she told Hiroko that Uehara wasn’t very kind, and Nao agrees.  Nozomi says it’s okay if he’s a little cold, because the time when he came to their class, he didn’t seem to look at anyone but Nao, and Nozomi thought then that Nao was lucky.  Nozomi says that’s his good point, and continues that it’s his ONLY good point, and there’s nothing else special about him, which Nao doesn’t like much.  Nao reflects that it’s true, she doesn’t really have to worry about Uehara two-timing her, and if he liked someone else it would mean that he didn't like her anymore, which wouldn't be nice, but all the same, she has it pretty good.
    That night, Nao is playing a video game when the doorbell rings.  She wonders if Uehara forgot his key, but it’s Kaori.  Her boyfriend isn’t back yet, so she thought she’d come and see Nao’s apartment.  Nao looks at her for a second, and then says she’ll go and get tea.  Making the tea, Nao thinks that Kaori doesn’t seem really sad, and wonders if she doesn’t care about Tetsu enough that his cheating would bother her, but then if she doesn’t really like him why would she continue to go out with such a loser?  She brings out the tea.  While drinking, Nao notices Kaori’s ring, and is impressed when Kaori tells her it’s from Tiffany’s.  Nao thinks she’s got it now, Kaori stays with Tetsu because he’s rich.  Kaori says he gave it to her on her birthday, and it’s her treasure.  Nao feels sorry for her for a second(I think that’s what it is), but then apologizes in her mind.  Kaori asks if Nao wears rings, and Nao says her fingers are fat so she doesn’t buy them herself, and Uehara has never given her any.  Kaori says she can look forward to her birthday then, and Nao pauses again.  She thinks that Kaori really does love her boyfriend, and wonders again why she lets him.  Kaori’s cell phone rings, and it’s Tetsu saying he’s back.  Kaori gets up to leave, and Nao stops her, telling her what she saw.  Sh e says she talk ed with Nozomi and was told that Kaori  knew everything, and asks Kaori if Tetsu’s cheating doesn’t bother her.  Kaori says it does, which confuses Nao, and Nao asks why she doesn’t dump him then.  Kaori says she thinks that as well, but, after all, she loves him, and says she guesses it’s just weakness because she loves him.  Nao just looks at her sadly.

Part 22 (June 1999):  This month's story is pretty light on plot, so I won't go into too much detail.  Actually, the cover says it's 32 pages, but it's actually only 20, so I think maybe the author had to change it at the last moment or something.  Nao and Yuri are out shopping, and they have trouble restraining themselves from buying lots of clothes, Yuri especially.  When they arrive back at the apartment, Uehara can't believe they bought so much.  He and Yuri start arguing about it, and Yuri brings up a certain set of exercise machines she found while cleaning.  Uehara is shocked that she knows, and she makes a crack about it not working very well.  Uehara flips and vows to make her take it back, putting up a chart to do 100 pushups, 100 arm curls, etc. everyday.  Nao thinks that everyone wastes money in one way or another.  Later, she invites Uehara to eat some cake(he's still doing calisthenics).  He thought that Nao was on a diet, and Nao says it's okay, because she just bought a diet drink. So they eat, and the last caption wonders who wastes money the most.  Short huh? :)

Part 23 (July 1999): Nao is trying to convince Uehara to let her make him lunch once a week, and he doesn't understand why she wants to.  He says it's inconvenient for her to get up early and make it, especially since she's not exactly a morning person. He's playing Nintendo(or something) and she's bugging him, so he tells her to stop it, and Nao starts sulking.  She says he is thin after all, and Uehara defensively says he's gained 10 pounds.  That's not what Nao means, and then he says both his dad and brother have thin faces too.  Nao says that's not it either, and wonders aloud if he really does like her.  Uehara doesn't get it, and Nao says when you like someone, you want to be with them as much as possible, and when he's home Uehara just plays video games.  Also, before when he had a milkshake(I think that's what it is) she didn't have one.  Uehara reminds her that she said herself she couldn't have any because she was on a diet, and Nao says he should at least have offered her some of his, and watching someone eat makes you hungry, and...Nao has to shout at Uehara, because he's stopped listening.  Uehara gives up and says fine, she can make lunch once a week, and Nao's mood changes instantaneously.  She happily decides that every Wednesday will be the box lunch day, and Uehara agrees.  He's surprised that she's so happy, and then says casually that tomorrow he doesn't have work so they can walk home from school together.
    The next morning, they meet Kaori as they leave.  Nao waves cheerfully to her, and then realizes what this might mean(she stayed at her boyfriend's place overnight) and is shocked.  Kaori comments on how good Nao and Uehara's relationship is, and mentions that she forgot something at her boyfriend's yesterday and came to get it, so Nao is relieved. As Nao and Uehara walk away, Kaori watches them.
    Outside, they meet up with Abe, who is in a very good mood.  Nao asks why he's there, and Abe says he wants to walk with them once in a while.  He mentions that he saw a really pretty girl enter their building while he was waiting, and Nao says it must have been Kaori.  Nao and Uehara tease Abe about falling in love again, though Abe tries to deny it.
    At school, Nao is super-cheerful, and Hiro-chan asks why.  She can't believe Nao's that happy just because she can walk home with Uehara.  Nao realizes that she forgot to give a CD back to Nozomi, and goes to her classroom to do so.  She's not there, so Nao thinks maybe she's with Kaori.  Reaching Kaori's classroom, she finds Nozomi and gives the CD back, but Kaori seems to be in a really bad mood(she's emitting waves of hostility).  Nozomi says she had a fight with her boyfriend, and Kaori says when she entered his apartment that morning, he was with a girl!  Kaori disgustedly asks why a guy like him picks up girls.  She says he's not really good-looking, he's nice but not sincere, and though he's rich it's his parents' money.  Nao, watching her, questions(in her mind) why Kaori still goes out with him if she thinks all this.  Nozomi tells her she should break up with him, and Kaori agrees, and wonders aloud if there's any good guys around.  She comes up with Uehara, and shocks Nao, but Nozomi says Nao should let her talk, and she doesn't really mean it.  She won't break up with her boyfriend anyways; she'll end up forgiving him.  Nao leaves saying she has to meet someone, and when she lets it slip that it's Uehara gets two identically unfriendly looks.  Walking away, she thinks that it's obvious those two are related to each other.
    In the hall, Abe meets up with Uehara and suggests that he wants to walk home with them as well and visit the apartment, but he's scared off by a glare from Uehara.  When Nao finally arrives, Uehara scolds her for being late but she's so happy about being with him she doesn't even notice.  Kaori and Nozomi watch them leave the school from a window, and Kaori enviously says that you can tell from looking at Nao and Ueahra that they're together because they like each other.  Nozomi comments that that's how couples usually are, and it's just Kaori that's weird.  Kaori says she doesn't want to hear advice from someone who's never even had a boyfriend, and after some electricity between her and Nozomi, Kaori wistfully says she'd like to have love like that, she wants to love someone like that....
 Walking home, Nao asks where Abe is, and Uehara tells her he had something else to do and then sticks out his tongue smugly when Nao's not looking(you might not think it's possible to be smug with your tongue sticking out, but trust me, he is^_^)  Nao recalls that Abe fell in love with Kaori at first sight that morning and speculates on whether it was serious.  Uehara doesn't know, but comments that he doesn't seem to have a chance.  He says that though Abe's choices are always random, he shoots pretty high, and Nao beamingly agrees-until Uehara adds that she was an exception.  Nap quickly recovers when Uehara apologizes and says she's cute, though he tells her not to make so much of it.  Nao notices that the elevator is being slow, and it occurs to her that they'll be alone together on the way up.  Her heart starts pounding, but sneaking a peek at Uehara and finding him as cool as always, she thinks she's overreacting.  She doesn't know if she's relieved or disappointed.
    When the elevator comes, a fat lady rushes in with them and knocks Nao against Uehara.  Nao reluctantly pulls away but Uehara puts his arm around her and keeps her there.  When the lady gets out, she thinks how nice it is to be young and be so affected just by holding someone, and behind her when the door closes, Uehara leans down and kisses Nao!
   The last page shows Abe walking along, thinking that Nao and Uehara are probably being love-love(how right he is!) and being jealous of them.

Part 24 (August 1999): Nao, Yuri, and Abe are out together.  Yuri asks where Uehara is, and Nao explains that he's pretty busy since he started yet another part-time job.  He wants a computer, and so is working a lot.  He didn't even have time to do anything during Golden Week.  Abe can't believe it, and states that if he had a girlfriend he'd want to go on dates with her all the time.   Nao says she doesn't mind, she sees him every day at home, and Yuri and Abe think that something good must have happened for Nao to be so content.  Nao mentions that Uehara is going shopping with their landlady today before work.
    Uehara is carrying the landlady's groceries, and she thanks him.  Over a cool drink, she asks him if things are going well with Nao, and he blushes and agrees(kawaii!!)  She asks if Nao is his first girlfriend, and then asks if she is his first love, and Uehara says no, he was in a one-sided love for a really long time, and having his love returned in a relationship has made him really happy.
    Walking home, Nao suddenly tells Abe and Yuri to hide.  They don't know what's going on, but Nao looks and sees Kaori's boyfriend with a different girl.  She comments on this, and after explains to Abe and Yuri.  Thinking about it later, Abe thinks how unfair it is that such a jerky guy can get lots of girls, while he can't even get one.  He thinks that for such a beautiful person as Kaori to have such a horrible boyfriend is wrong, and decides that he'll save her.
  The next day at lunch when he tells Nao and Uehara, Uehara says even if the one in a million happened and Kaori went out with him, she'd have the same problem with him.  Abe gets defensive, saying once he had a girlfriend he'd be faithful, and tells Uehara not to act so great just because he had a 6-year crush.  This earns him a knock from Uehara, and walking away, is surprised to see Kaori sitting by herself.  He sees tears on her lashes, and coolly walks up and offers her his handkerchief.  He takes off before she can say anything, and thinks that he did it perfectly.  Left behind, Kaori looks at the handkerchief in puzzlement, yawns again, and walks away, thinking how tired she is.^_^
    At Uehara's work, Nanako shows up and finds Nao visiting.  She notices Kaori standing outside, and sees Nao greet her.  Nanako goes home with Nao and warns her that Kaori likes Uehara.  Nao says it's okay, she already has a boyfriend, and Nanako tells her she's too naive, and just because she has a boyfriend doesn't mean she won't try for any other guys.  Nao laughs it off but then remembers Kaori's comment that Uehara was a good guy, and starts worrying.
    The next day at school, Nao asks Nozomi, who also laughs it off, but then remembers Kaori's comment on how she wanted to be a couple like Uehara and Nao too.  Nao keeps worrying, and isn't comforted by Marina, who says even if Kaori does like Uehara, he likes Nao.  Nao says Kaori is Uehara's type, beautiful, older, and sophisticated.  The two of them are interrupted by Kaori calling for Nao.
  Kaori and Nao go to the roof to talk, and Kaori explains that she wants a relationship as good as Uehara's and Nao's, but not Uehara specifically.  Then she tells Nao she's thinking of breaking up with her boyfriend.  She still likes her boyfriend, but she wants to have a more fun relationship, with both people wanting to be with each other only.
    At home that night, Nao tells Uehara about it, saying that Kaori said Nao and Uehara were a good couple.  Nao thinks that she was really happy to hear that, and hopes that Kaori achieves happiness soon as well.  Abe, who has come to visit, is ecstatic about Kaori becoming single.  He says the timing is perfect and he really feels like it could work this time...Behind him, Uehara looks through the still-open door and says he doesn't think so.  Abe spins around and sees Kaori walking with her boyfriend, his arm around her shoulders.  Nao asks Kaori what happened, and Kaori says she thought she'd give it one more try, and that her boyfriend said she was his #1.  Abe can't hold himself back any longer and tells her to stop.  He asks if this is really the way Kaori wants it to be.  Kaori looks at him for a second, and then apologizes, asking who he is.  She's called by her boyfriend and walks away, leaving Abe to mourn his 17th dumping.

To be continued...

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