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ラブひな (Love Hina) Novel Vol. 2Title: ラブひな (Love Hina) Novel Vol. 2
Author: 川崎ヒロユキ (Hiroyuki Kawasaki)
Illustrator: 赤松健 (Ken Akamatsu)
Original Creator: 赤松健 (Ken Akamatsu)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 200pp.
First Printing: 2/15/02
Rating: 3/4

This is one of my oldest novels that I have which I haven't read until now. If it hadn't been for the DVD release, it probably would have stayed unread for another few years. But since the box finishes the story, I decided that it I should finish everything Love Hina, this being the last unread book.

The story takes place between when Keitaro leaves to go abroad and before Kanako comes to Hinata. Again, given that I know the characters and the overall story pretty well, this was a very fast reading. The story is unique to the novel. I don't think that the stories in itself were too interesting, but I won't deny that nostalgia played a part in my enjoyment.

Bonus comes with a two page story at the end detailing Naru's wishes on Christmas Eve hoping that Keitaro would come back soon. After this, there's a little note that says "To Be Continued..." but after more than 3 years and the drama CD detailing the end of the manga, I don't have my hopes up. The bottom corner of the book has a flip-book cartoon. Interesting touch.

Preface. ひなた荘の朝 (Morning at Hinata Apartments): After Keitaro leaves for America following his very brief study at Tokyo University, Naru decides to pack up and sneak out to fly out to where he is. The other girls at Hinata are already prepared as it seems routine and manage to subdue her before she tries to run away.

1. 機械じかけのエロガッパ (Mechanical Pervert): Early December, 2000. Everyone at Hinata seems to be missing Keitaro, especially Naru. Out of reflex, Suu and Sara barge into Keitaro's room to play with him but realize that he's abroad. They come up with an idea.

A few days later, Kitsune, Naru, and Mutsumi talk about how Suu and Sara have been asking them about their memories of Keitaro. That night, as Naru is about to sleep, she sees a Keitaro's silhouette. But as he approaches, Naru realizes that it's a machine. Suu and Sara have created a Mecha-Keitaro. The top half is human-like, the bottom half is turtle-like. Despite the odd physical appearance, its voice is strikingly similar. The next morning as everyone else is asleep, Naru goes and tries to program Mecha-Keitaro to say "I Love You, Naru" because she wants to hear those words. However, before it can finish the utterance, Mitsumi steps in and Naru in her panic, shuts down the machine.

A few days later as Naru is in the hot springs, Mecha-Keitaro appears with Suu following. The robot seems to be trying to repeat the words Naru programmed it with. As soon as she realized what he was going to say, she tries to stop him. In self-defense, Mecha-Keitaro unleases his laser beams on Naru and Suu. It then runs away. Later, they try to lure the machine into a trap with the Hinata girls in bathing suits, but Mecha-Keitaro sees through it and runs away. They then hear that there's a robot on the rampage in the city. Suu warns that they have to deactivate it else it'll explode from all the damage it's taking on from the authorities. Suddenly Naru knows where he's going. It's 12/10 today, but because of the power shutdown, it probably thought today was 10/21, the day that Naru and Keitaro went on a date to the movies. Naru manages to shut it down, although she's a little sad in doing so.

2. 受験剣士のホリディ・ナイト (Holiday Night of the Student Swordswoman): Mid December, 2000. Motoko secretly wants to attend Tokyo University, and it's because she also has a crush on Keitaro. In fact, she even dreams about him. However, she doesn't tell anyone where she wants to attend college because she finds it embarrassing. On top of that, she lacks self confidence and every so often, wants to commit seppu/harikiri.

One night, as she's moping in the streets, her sister Tsuruko shows up. She comes back to Hinata Apartments with Motoko and explains that she was out on a task in the area. She spends a night with Motoko in her room. Being afraid of her sister, Motoko barely gets any sleep. The next morning, after some questioning and to return the favor of letting her stay the night, Tsuruko demonstrates a secret art of the Shinmeiryuu, the exchanging of souls. She performs this Suu and Shinobu, causing them to switch into each other's bodies. She then restores them. Kitsune asks if Motoko can do the same and wants to switch spirits with her. Tsuruko thinks it's a great idea, but Motoko is scared because she doesn't know if she can and knows that if she fails, she'll be punished by Tsuruko.

As the ritual starts, Kitsune suddenly has a pain in her stomach. She has Naru take her place. Motoko does the ritual, but nothing seems to happy. However, to not make Motoko look bad, Naru pretends to be Motoko. After Tsuruko leaves for a few moments to say hi to Haruka, Naru finds out that Motoko and Kitsune really did switch, but they have to be on the pretense that it was Naru to prevent Motoko from being punished. Later, Tsuruko enjoys one last bath in the springs before she leaves. She explains to Kitsune (who is Motoko) that she thinks Mokoto is too serious and should act more her age.

After Tsuruko leaves, the three of them try to find out how to reverse the spell. They find a book that mentions that the two of them have to sleep together in the same bed the night of their switching to reverse it. In the meantime though, in order not to let Shinobu, Suu and the others know, they have to act their persons. Motoko (who is Kitsune) has to try studing with Naru and Shinobu. Kitsune (who is Motoko) lounges around in Kitsune's room and ends up reading a love-themed magazine. Kitsune can't stand the studies and decides to take a night on the town in Motoko's body. Naru and Motoko go looking after her and after finding her, Motoko remembers what her sister said about her and decides to loosen up for the night. They help a cafe run by an acquaintance of Kitsune's and dress up in bunny suits to bring in customers. That night, the two sleep together and wake up in their regular bodies in the morning.


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