Faster than a Kiss, Chapter 35 translation

I am a fan of shojo manga and one that I've been reading lately is Faster than a Kiss. There is a cool scanslation group working on this, but since scanslation takes so much effort (scan, clean, translate, edit, who knows what else), I decided to post a translation for any fans out there who are following it on Lala every month.

The raws are kindly provided by yuukuzuri-chan every month. The link for this chapter is here.

Without further ado, I present to you:

Faster Than A Kiss, Chapter 35
A confrontation between brothers?

Fumino (narration): My wounded hand recovered completely after 10 days. Thanks to the *extremely warm* nursing of my husband-who-is-also-my-teacher, I am improving favorably.

[Open/Close hand]

Fumino (thoughts): Complete recovery!

Fumino (narration): And so, it begins… Mid-term exams season is here!

Kazuma: I'll distribute the table of contents noooow! These exams will be important for your future. I also included a mock exam, so please study carefully!

Fumino (thoughts): I'll prove myself! I won't only regain the ground I lost during the week that my hand was hurt… I'll even surpass it!
Kazuma: Good, Kaji-san! That's the spirit!
Fumino (thoughts): Don't say it in such a disappointing way!

Outside the classroom Fumino looks for Meg.

Fumino: Meg-chan, Meg-chan!
Meg: What?
Fumino: Do you have free time tomorrow? Would you like to go together and study at the library?
Meg: NO! I really don't care about grades… (It doesn't matter if my grades are bad)
Shouma listens to Meg's statement and gets really mad.
Shouma: Those are inexcusable words. What did you really come to Japan for? If you don't feel like going back to America, at the very least graduate!
Meg: Shouma, shut up! (You're so noisy) Aah, leave me alone!
Fumino: Well, then, Shouma should come too…
Shouma: And what do I get out of it? (What possible advantage is there for me?)
Fumino: You're right, I'm very sorry.
Shouma fixes his gaze on Fumino and doesn't say anything for several seconds.
Fumino: Mh?
Shouma seems flustered and drags Meg away.
Shouma: It's nothing! Let's go back, Meg!
Meg: Fumino! Email me the place where to meet at the library!
Fumino: Ah, yes! Thank you! (Then, to herself) Well, let's work hard!

Shouma and Meg talk as they walk away.
Meg: Shouma, your face is red.
Shouma: It's because it's hot today.
Meg: That's not it. It's because you talked to Fumino, isn't it?
Shouma: What are you saying? (What nonsense are you saying?)
Meg: As I thought, this is very irritating. Since you are not self-aware at all, I'll tell you. You like Fumino, don't you?

(One week until exams start)

Kazuma, Fumino and Teppei are back at their home, discussing the arrangements for the following day.

Kazuma: So, you'll be studying for your tests at the library?
Fumino: Yes, so tomorrow the house will be empty for the whole day. Sensei always prepares the exams in the smaller room, right? Tomorrow you'll be able to use the living room. Please take your time and do it leisurely.
Kazuma: Thank you, how considerate. What will you do about Teppei?
Fumino: I'll take him with me to the library. There's a 'Picture Book Corner'.
Teppei: Picture books? Picture books? (excitedly)
Fumino: Can you wait for me like a good boy, Teppei?
Teppei: I'll waiiit!
Kazuma: Oh, how nice (for you two)! I'll be so lonely!

Kazuma pulls Fumino into his lap.

Kazuma: To make up for tomorrow, let's be lovey-dovey tonight, to our heart's content! For this reason, Fumino-san's seat is here, on my lap!
Fumino: Wooh! But my hand is healed already, so I don't need you to feed me?!
Kazuma: In that case, won't you please feed ME? Come on, try with some of that beef stew.

Fumino feeds him.
Kazuma: (Chomp) Mmh, it turned out delicious! I'm glad.
She then tries some herself with the same chopsticks.
Fumino: You're right, it's really good.
Kazuma: Ah! An indirect kiss! (since she used the same chopsticks to feed him and to eat herself)

Upon hearing this, Fumino starts to choke on her food.
Teppei: Should I serve some tea?
Kazuma: Yes, thank you!

Kazuma: Oh, I can't take it! Fumino-san, you are so cuuuute.
Fumino: Aah, enough! (blushing madly)
Kazuma gently caresses her cheek.
Kazuma: I wonder, when shall we be able to kiss properly?

Fumino (narration): Is sensei waiting for me to graduate from High School? If that is the case, all the more reason for me to become a little bit more appropriate for sensei until that time. I'll do whatever I can with all my strength!

Meg and Shouma are waiting for Fumino outside the library.

Shouma: You're late!
Fumino (to Meg): What's with his face?
Shouma: You're the one who invited me here!
Fumino: Eh? Ah! Thanks for coming!

[Flashback to the conversation between Meg and Shouma]

Shouma: LIKE? Who likes whom?
Meg: YOU like FUMINO.
Shouma: That's not true, you idiot!
Shouma: I see. Since you dare suggest such a thing, I will go with you to the library tomorrow, and there I will show you, Meg, THAT I ABSOLUTELY HATE THAT WOMAN!
Meg (to herself): So, Shouma doesn't understand yet… that the opposite of 'like' is 'indifference'. While 'dislike' is very close to 'like'.

[Back to the present, in the library]

Fumino: Hey, Meg-chan. About this tag-question…
Meg: (repeats phonetically Fumino's words) That's a delicious sounding Japanese expression…
Fumino: Ah… Meg-chan, don't tell me that you don't know English grammar…
Fumino: Then, Shouma-ku…
Shouma (in English): NO. Don't think that I will explain your lessons so easily. If you have any questions, you'll have to make them in English. If you get all the answers right on this exercise book, I'll answer your questions.
Fumino: Shouma-kun! You really don't have the intention of teaching me anything, do you?!
Shouma: Shut up!
Shouma (thoughts): Aggh! Scared of her? In love with her? ME? With this woman? It's impossible, isn't it? Completely stupid! Mainly because she's already my brother's bride. There's no chance for me to…
Shouma: Eh? No, that's not the reason… What am I saying? That it would be different if she weren't married? And in the first place, I have never accepted her as my brother's wife!

Meg: Oh, Teppei-kun, you can read, right?
Teppei: No, I just look at the pictures!
Meg: Really? Well, then I will read them to you! It'll be Japanese practice for me! Well then, we're off to the Picture Book Corner! - This also counts as studying, right? -
Teppei: OK!
Fumino: Oh, sorry Meg!
Shouma: WHA…?! Hey, Meg!
Meg (in English): Shut up! Will you run away?
Shouma (to himself): Who said anything about running away?! And what does she think she's doing? Didn't she say that she liked me? Even if I like another woman…

Shouma notices what he just thought and becomes visibly upset.

Shouma: But I just said that I don't! (It's not like that!)
Fumino (in English): Hey, Shoma! Mr. Shoma! Marking Please… (please grade my exercises)
Shouma (to himself): Get a grip and calm down. What the hell did I come here for? I just came to make fun of this stupid woman, right? She'll get 0 marks at best…

She gets 80 marks.
Fumino: Ugh, how disappointinnng. Still 20 points…
Shouma (surprised): Heeee. You're really studying hard.
Fumino: Eh?
Shouma: That exercise book is really quite hard. I didn't think you'd get that many marks… Oops, I said it in Japanese.
Fumino: Hehe, I'm happy! Next time I'll work hard to get full marks!

Shouma (thoughts): She's violent, sarcastic and opinionated…
Shouma: I'll go look for a reference book.
Fumino: Yes! Take care! (literally itterasshai, which is the greeting the Japanese use for someone who's leaving his house and will return later).

Shouma (thoughts): That problematic woman just disturbs and wanders aimlessly around my own brother. Up until now, I was supposed to be irritated by that fact, but… "Take care!" Those are the words that she tells my brother every morning…
I definitely don't want to say out loud… this burning feeling.

Meg: The prince exited the thorny forest… and kissed the sleeping princess. Then… When he did this, the curse of the witch disappeared and the princess woke up from her 100-year long sleep. The two of them married and lived happily ever after. Happy end! Just like Kazuma and Fumino, right? They wake up kissing every day, right? They're all lovey-dovey...
Teppei: No! They don't kiss!
Meg: Unbelievable… So they really haven't done anything, eh? Is Kazuma waiting until Fumino graduates?
Teppei: I don't understand very well but… just the other day Kazuma said 'When will I be able to kiss Buncha?'
Meg: My God...

Shouma (thoughts): Eh? Platonic? So those two… really haven't done anything yet?!

[Meanwhile Kazuma is at home preparing the exams for his students]
Kazuma: Eh? The weather suddenly turned bad… Did those two take an umbrella with them? Should I go pick them up?

Shouma returns to where Fumino is waiting, but she has fallen asleep.

Shouma (thoughts): I cannot tell anyone about this feeling that struggles and rages with nowhere to go…

Shouma: You'll catch a cold, Fumino-san.

Shouma (thoughts): My older brother's "lover". His adored "sleeping princess".

Meg and Teppei return, singing a nursery rhyme, and they see Shouma over Fumino.

[Thunder]

Fumino: [Suprised] Ha? Eh? Shouma-ku… Just now… Eh?
Shouma: What would you do if I told you that I kissed you?

Fumino recalls Kazuma's words: "When will I be able to kiss you properly?"

Meanwhile, at the vending machine corner, Meg is crying while hugging Teppei and talking to herself out loud.
Teppei: Meg-chan, what's wrong? Does your tummy hurt?
Meg (in English): NO! Sorry. I can't do anything more, since I already confessed to him that I like him… I planned on watching over him but… after all it's really painful.

Kazuma and Shouma meet outside the library.

Kazuma: Shouma?
Shouma: Hello, brother. I was with your princess up until just a while ago.
Kazuma (coldly): I'm sorry but I cannot lend you my umbrella, since I only brought one with me.
Shouma: I'm perfectly fine without it.

Fumino's cell shows that Kazuma sent her a message, telling her that he's coming to pick them up to the library and to wait at the entrance.

Fumino (narration): Even if that isn't my 'first', it won't change my 'first' with sensei…

Kazuma: Fumino-san! It suddenly started to rain…

Fumino (narration): And still, after all…

Fumino breaks down crying and jumps into Kazuma's arms.
Kazuma: Fumino-san?
Fumino: Ah! Im'sorr…! What am I thinking, doing such a thing in plain view?

Fumino tries to get out of his arms but he restrains her and holds her tightly.

Kazuma: It's OK. The rain and the umbrella will hide us. Nobody's watching us. It's alright.

Fumino (thoughts): I like sensei. Sensei is the best. I only have eyes for sensei. I won't look back.

Fumino: That's right! More important than that is the exam, the exam!

Kazuma: Hey, Teppei-kun. Fumino-san is behaving a little strangely. Did anything happen?
Teppei: Eh? Well, Buncha studied with Meg and Shou-kun, and then…
Kazuma: Yes?
Teppei: Shou-kun kissed Buncha. Is it OK to kiss even if you're not married?

Fumino (narration): And so, with all of its ups and downs it begins, the summer of my third year in high school.

The next day, at the Sunflower kindergarten.

Emiri: Kissing with someone you're not married to? That's a crime called adultery! (the consultation room of a young girl with superficial knowledge about relationships).
Teppei: EEEH?
Ryuu: Just what are you two talking about?