Quick Recap: Ida and Aoki spend Christmas together selling cakes. Aoki is frustrated with Ida because it doesn’t seem like they’re actually dating. Ida takes too much pleasure in teasing Aoki. Ida realizes that he likes teasing Aoki because he thinks Aoki is cute when he does it. Ida comes to the realization that he likes Aoki back.
Chapter 18. Aoki has decided that he wants to go to college except his grades are dismal to say the least. He is sent to cram school to prepare. There, he meets his tutor Okano. There’s one problem. Okano seems more interested in his love life than actually tutoring him. Okano asks Aoki if he wants to hold “her” hand and go further with “her”. To be honest, Aoki hasn’t thought that far. All he knows is that if Ida doesn’t feel the same way, he’d be miserable.
At lunch, the roof is taken by another couple. Aoki decides that Okano might be right about making the first move and Ida might be waiting. He gathers courage and touches Ida’s hand. Ida pulls his hand back in shock. Aoki decides to play it off like he was grabbing his tea and accidentally brushed Ida’s hand.
Trying to put the incident out of his mind, Aoki throws himself into studying. He actually raises his grades quite a bit. However, Okano senses trouble in the love department. He tells Aoki to work hard at his relationship with “her.” At the end of cram school, Aoki runs into Ida. Aoki notices that Ida has been hiding his hands. Aoki mentions the hand holding and that he won’t try it again. On cue, Ida grabs Aoki’s hand and puts it in his pocket. Aoki is shocked, but he realizes that he has a hand warmer in his pocket. They clear up their misunderstanding. Aoki tells Ida that he thought he “grossed him out,” but instead, Ida grabs his hand and holds it.
Ida tells Aoki he wants to take it slow. Just as they are holding hands on the bridge, Okano sees them and realizes that there is not a “her,” but a “him.”
Chapter 19. Aoki and Ida talk while waiting on the train. Ida tells Aoki he worries too much and that they should clear up their misunderstandings by talking. At cram school, Okano’s prejudice shines through. He promised to take Aoki for ramen, but he cancels. Back at school, Ida senses something is wrong. He reminds Aoki to talk to him. When he tells his friends about Okano, they tell Aoki that it is a big deal that someone is treating him that way.
That evening, Ida and Aoki make plans to eat ramen together. Ida calls Aoki and tells him to go to the restaurant because he will be late. On the way, an older man asks Aoki directions to a hotel. Aoki walks him to the hotel. The older man tries to give him money, but Aoki refuses. Seeing the whole thing go down, Okano grabs Aoki and then lectures him about selling his body. Aoki tells Okano he was just giving directions. Okano spits out if that is what he was doing on the bridge. Aoki yells at Okano and calls him prejudice.
Okano realizes that he needs to man up and accept that everyone has their own preferences. He offers to buy Aoki and Ida ramen. Okano ends up getting drunk and Ida carries him.
Chapter 20. Hashimoto is talking to Aoki on the phone. She expresses that she is glad things worked out. Then, she asked for details on the hand holding and they ended up talking about romance the rest of the night.
Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Hashimoto decides that she is going to make cupcakes because Aida pointed them out. She hides the cupcake in his desk, but he doesn’t see it. Another girl tries to feed Aida a piece of cake, and he refuses saying he didn’t like homemade things. Hashimoto overhears Aida and is upset. During a tennis match with Aida, Hashimoto goes all out and is obviously upset. She accuses Aida of leading her on and always being too casual when she is trying her hardest. Aida admits that the only reason that he told the other girl he didn’t like homemade things is because he only wanted Hashimoto’s cupcakes.
Meanwhile, Ida gives Aoki a bar of chocolate. Aoki is beyond happy, but he realizes he didn’t get Ida anything. Ida replies that he only went to the convenience store hinting it was nothing special. However, Aoki disagrees and says it is the thought that counts.
Chapter 21. It’s going to be Ida’s birthday. Aoki wants to do something special for Ida so he gets a part-time job. He is being trained by a girl named Saionji. She’s pretty gung-ho, and Aoki does his best to keep up. The manager asks Aoki how things are working out with Saionji. Aoki tells the boss that she is doing a great job and he is learning a lot. Saionji overhears him. She goes out of her way to make him notes on how to keep up with her on the job. Aoki is pretty happy. Ida, on the other hand, seems suspicious of Saionji.
The volleyball club wants to take Ida out for his birthday. He decides he wants to go get sushi and ends up at Aoki’s job. The volleyball club makes comments that it looks like Aoki is smitten with Saionji. This leads Ida to think that Aoki is nice and that he would get along with anyone. Ida ends up getting a stomachache and tells Aoki. Saionji lets Aoki off work early to get medicine for Ida and walk home with him. As Aoki gives him the medicine, Ida mentions he feels better now that he can talk to Aoki. Aoki figures out that Ida has been feeling left out. He tells Ida that he plans on quitting soon.
THOUGHTS
Oh no! Enter drama. Saionji must have a crush on Aoki. It’s cute how Ida is discovering new feelings. He is feeling uneasy because he can sense the easy-going interactions with Saionji. I was also very pleased that Ida held Aoki’s hand. How sweet was that? I am very happy with how mature Ida is about everything. Thankfully, Aoki is seeming less and less annoying to me. He is slowly gaining confidence thanks to Ida.
Filthy Casual for Life 
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