Ice Revolution 9

Guidelines For Using My Translations

1
[Side text: It's time to train like never before!!]
Masaki: (Kaoru's gone off to Canada... // It's kind of lonely without him, but this is no time for me to be dwelling on that. // To keep the promise I made with him... // ...and for my own sake, too... // ...I'm gonna make it!) // To the Japan Junior Championships!

2
Ice Revolution
act 9: With Me
[Insert text: Those huge eyes stare off into a brightly shining future...!!]

3
Saionji: ...Wha...?!

4
Saionji: (A... A layback spin?!) // [aside]ah... she fell over.[/aside]
Masaki: Owwwwww...
Saaya: [aside]hmph[.aside]
Masaki: ............... // I'll catch up to you in no time, you wait and see!

5
Saionji: Whoa, whoa, whoa! / I only just taught you how to perform a two-foot spin!
Masaki: Oh - Coach!
Saionji: Suddenly bringing this thing into the rink...
[Book: *Super Hot-Blooded* / FIGURE SKATING TRAINING GUIDE / Are you prepared for this?!]
Saionji: ...and attempting moves way beyond your level is only going to get you injured!
Masaki: Hahah... maybe so. // But you know... // ...passing that 6-kyu test is going to be crazy hard, right? // So a little thing like this is nothing!

6
Saionji: (She has a point... this is Masaki, after all... // She performed a double-Axel on her very first day... // ...and put on a stunning performance at the Ice Show... // My attempts to place limits on her constant attempts to stretch herself may actually be a mistake.)

7
Saionji: Some skaters put in consistent work from an early age and still give up in the end without ever managing to pass. // That's just how high the bar is set when it comes to 6-kyu. // What's more, once you fail a Badge Test*, you have to wait weeks before you get the chance to try again. // And considering that applications for the Juniors have to be made before the first of September, you can't afford to fail even once.
[Note: * Badge Test: Beginning with Shokyu, then 1-kyu, continuing up to the top level of 8-kyu. A series of examinations in which the candidate must perform a variety of techniques before a panel of judges, who will then give a passing or failing grade.]
[TN: This is the same as the note from last chapter. It's fixed now, but I originally translated it wrong, because it was accompanied last chapter by a diagram that was incorrect. The diagram implied that 2-kyu follows Shokyu, but as is made clear a little later in this chapter, Shokyu is followed by 1-kyu, which was missing completely from the diagram. I wonder if they'll fix this in the volume release...]
Saionji: Do you understand what this meant?
Masaki: Yeah! // It means I've gotta pass, no matter what!!

8
Saionji: ...Very well. // Then first of all, / I'll teach you the basic toe loop.
Masaki: You're the best, Coach~~~~~~~!!
Saionji: Guaaahhh!

9
[no text just montage]

10
Saionji: Now, listen up. // Badge Tests have to be taken by starting at the bottom and working up one at a time. // Jumping ahead it not permitted.
Masaki: Osu!
Saionji: From Shokyu all the way through to 6-kyu, you'll have to take a total of seven tests.
Masaki: Seven tests.
Saionji: You can take a maximum of two tests together at any one time... // ...so for the tests at the end of May, I'm going to enter you for both Shokyu and 1-kyu!
Masaki: (Two tests at once...!!)
Saionji: Getting a little scared now, are we?
Masaki: Huh~~~~~? // Don't be stupid! / C'mon, Coach - back to work!
[Text: And so...]

11
[Box: The day of the Shokyu/1-kyu Badge Tests]
Masaki: Whew............ // (Once they've finished laying out the ice... // ...it's finally going to start...)

12
Masaki: (The Badge Test!!)
Saionji: Uh, loosen up... // You don't need to get as nervous as all that!
Masaki: B... But... if I fail even a single one of these, then that's it...
Saionji: The Shokyu test is basically there to make figure skating accessible for everyone, from young kids right through to the elderly. // Anyone can pass this one!
Masaki: But...
SomeGuy: Everyone taking the Shokyu test, please step out onto the rink!
Saionji: Go for it!

13
Masaki: (Even kids like this are taking it...? // Must be nice for them... they look so relaxed... // Not like me... I've got the fate of my whole life riding on this test...)
Examiner: Now then, we will begin with compulsory figures: the fore outside circle. // The order will be Kinashi-san, then Tatsukawa-san, and finally Oosawa-san.

14
Examiner: Now then, Kinashi-san, if you could begin.
Kinashi: Oka~y!
Masaki: (W... We have to skate in this dead silent atmosphere...? And those old guys are staring like crazy the whole time and checking every detail... do they have to be so obvious about it...?!)
Examiner: Oosawa-san, your turn.
Masaki: R... Right!

15
Masaki: (Breathe nice and slowly...)
Saionji: (Good. // She's certainly nervous... // But she's skating very smoothly nonetheless.)

16
[Box: Forward Stroke // Spiral]
Masaki: (Ahh... this is kinda embarrassing...)
Examiner: Next, let's see you do a three-jump (forward-facing half-rotation).
Masaki: (If I put too much force into the jump, I'll end up overdoing the rotation... // I have to hold it back...) // Hup!
Examiners: [aside]oh, my...[/aside] // (That's high...)

17
Examiner: That concludes our testing for today!
Masaki: (Please... Please let me pass the test! // If I fail, it's over... it's all over...!)
Examiner: Well, then......
Masaki: (God... Buddha... // Ooyama Masutatsu-sama...!! / (God of Karate))
Examiner: Kinashi-san, Tatsukawa-san... // ...and Oosawa-san...

18
Examiner: All of you pass the Shokyu test. // And Oosawa-san, you pass the 1-kyu test as well.
Masaki: .........
Girls: [aside]yay~! we did it~![/aside]
Masaki: ALL RIIIIIIIIIGHT~~~~!! // Heheh... look at these cute badges I got! // I was really worried whether I was gonna make it there, but in the end, it was all A-okay and no problemo!
Saionji: Too old-fashioned...!
Masaki: I guess I'm just a genius, huh~~?! // Ahh!

19
Saionji: You don't have time to relax.
Masaki: Wh... What's this?
Saionji: The set song for the 2-kyu test. You'd better start getting yourself familiar with it! // The badge tests come around once every month. The next ones will be here before you know it.
Masaki: O - Osu! // (Mmmmmm~~~~~~ / I was going to hold on until the autumn, but... // I'm just so happy right now I can't help myself!)
[Phone:]
Compose Mail
Morning~! At least, I think it's morning there? A quick report! I just passed my badge tests for Shokyu and 1-kyu. That's one step closer to the Juniors!
[/Phone]

20
[Phone: Sending]
Masaki: (I hope this makes it... // ...all the way to him in Canada!)

21
[Phone: New Mail: 1 / Kaoru]
Masaki: Ehehe...
[Text: Congratulations on passing your Shokyu and 1-kyu tests! // It's been a lot of pressure for me coming over here, what with the different foods and different language... // But hearing how you're moving forward encourages me to do my best as well. // Keep up the good work! I'll be rooting for you!]
Masaki: Kaoru~~~~~!♡

22
[Text: Shokyu, 1-kyu... // 2-kyu, 3-kyu... // Things are going great! // I'm learning to do more and more! // Having more and more fun skating! // Ahhh...]

23
[Text: More! // I just want to skate more!!]

24
Masaki: *pant* // *pant* // *pant*...
Saionji: Your leg is clearly too low! You're supposed to be keeping it above 90 degrees to the ice!
Masaki: Osu...
Saionji: From 4-kyu upwards, the judges really start scrutinising the execution of your techniques! // Right! Next up, the loop!
Masaki: Unghh! // *pant* // Not again... // *pant*
Saionji: (She can perform the top-difficulty Axel... // ...but she has difficulty with the loop?)
[Box: 4-kyu Test]
Examiner: Next up, Oosawa-san. If you would.

25
Saionji: (That loop again...)
Examiners: .........
Masaki: (Shit!)

26
Saionji: (She has trouble with the Lutz, as well...)
Masaki: (Dammitall! // Who the hell came up with this crazy-complicated jump?!)
Examiner: ............ // Oosawa-san... // Hmmmmmmm...

27
Yui: Masaki, you've lost weight...
Masaki: Be hard not to, with all that... // I just about managed to scrape myself the 5-kyu, but...
Yui: But that's great! That's an incredible achievement, right?!
Masaki: .........Yeah, but... // It was a seriously close thing... // I really wasn't feeling it... // Even Coach said a harsher judge might've failed me...

28
Yui: Oh, come on! You passed in the end, didn't you?! Show some confidence! // There's just the 6-kyu test to go, right?! Give it everything you've got!
Masaki: Y... Yeah... // (Confidence, huh... I know I had it when I started out... but now... // It's not good enough... with results like these... // I don't even feel worthy of emailing Kaoru!)
Saionji: No! // You have to time your steps with the music better!
Masaki: R... Right!

29
Masaki: (...2 // 3... // 4... // Right, that's five turns! // Next up, uh... step into a... // ...double flip!)

30
Saionji: ......... // ! // Are you all right? // Hey... where are you going? // Masaki... // [aside]damn... I think I got a little too into it...[/aside]

31
Masaki: Unghh......... // (Up to about the 3-kyu level... // ...it felt like I was learning more every day... it was fun; the skating was just taking me over. // But that was because I could do it... and now that I can't...) // ...it hurts...

32
Masaki: Wh... What do you want?
Saaya: ......You know... // I failed the 6-kyu test, once.
Masaki: Huh?! You?! // Even though you're that good?!
Saaya: ............And when I did, this is what I thought. // There are times when no matter how much you practice, you can't seem to achieve. // There are times when your body just won't seem to move how you want it to, and you feel sick with yourself. // To be honest, I thought about quitting figure skating altogether...
Masaki: (...............The same way I'm feeling now...) // ...So what made you carry on?

33
Saaya: Why do you think? // Because I love skating, of course! // Pulling off a brilliant performance out there, with the crowd going wild all around... // When you've tasted that moment once, you just can't let it slip away. // Don't you think so?

34
Masaki: I do! // COACH!!
Saionji: Buaghh!

35
Masaki: Bring it on already! There's no time to waste!
Saionji: [aside]owww... hot~~~![/aside] / Is that really your line...?
Masaki: (She's right... // Nothing can beat that feeling! // I'll do whatever it takes to stand out there and feel that again! // I'm not going to let some stupid little test... // ...stand in the way of that!!)

36
Masaki: Eh? // Nagoya?! // Why do we have to go all the way there?
Saionji: Well, I figure if you don't get in every last minute of training you possibly can, you're not going to make the 6-kyu. / And the very last badge tests before we have to send off your application are taking place in Nagoya this year! // You're into your summer holidays now, so you'd better be ready for the hardest training you've ever known!
Masaki: Bring it on!
Saaya: .........
Masaki: Whooooooa~~~!

37
Masaki: There's so many people~~~~~~!
Saionji: Now, different rinks keep their ice at different thicknesses and temperatures. / Skating in a new rink takes a little getting used to, so you get out there and get a feel for the local ice!
Masaki: Right! // Whoa~~~~~~~ / He's right... this does feel different from skating at Tokiwa... // Hm...

38
Masaki: (Whoooa... awesome! That's the "Figure-Skating Kingdom" for you... this place has some real talent!)
Girls: That was beautiful, Mika~! // I want to learn to skate like that someday~!
Mika: Oh, stop that, please. This is nothing special.
Girls: Always with the modesty~! You're right on track to win the Japan Junior Championships again this year~!
Masaki: [aside]wha - ?![/aside] // (Win... the Juniors?!)

39
Mika: Why so sure? // There are no absolutes in the competitive world, so we can never be certain.
Girls: Aahhhhh, just listen to her! That's the Mika quality all right~! // That Saaya will probably be entering the Juniors this year, as well... / ...so we can't get lazy, that's for sure!
Masaki: (Oh, of course! She used to skate here at Nagoya...!)
Mika: What does she have to do with anything?

40
Mika: Running away over a minor wound like that...! // She's nothing but a useless little loser! / No performance she puts on can be worth watching!
Girls: Ahaha...
Masaki: Oi. // That's not a comment I can let slide.
Mika: ...And who might you be?
Masaki: She isn't running away from anything. // She's fighting with everything she's got.
Mika: ......Your point? // That should be true of any skater... or do you disagree?

41
Girl: H - Hey, Mika...
LittleGirl: Owww!
Guy: A - Aahh...! // I can't stop!
Masaki: !!
Mika: Wha - ?

42
Guy: I... // I'm so sorry! Are you all right?!
Masaki: Owww...

43
LittleGirl: Thank you, Onee-chan...
Masaki: [aside]"Onee-chan"!♪[/aside] // Heheh...... Don't sweat it!
Mika: Hmph.
Saionji: Whoa, whoa, what are you playing at right before your test?!
Masaki: I'm fine, I'm fine! // ............
Examiner: We will now begin the 6-kyu test. // Oosawa-san, if you could start us off with a double Axel.
Masaki: All right! That's my speciality!

44
[no text just ohhhh crap]

45
Masaki: Nghh... // (You're kidding me...? // The... pain...)
[Bottom text: This concludes Ice Revolution's serialisation in this magazine. A continuation will be posted on the website at the end of July, and finally Volume 3 will conclude the series on 4th November with all-new material.]
[TN: T__________T]

46
[Insert text: These feelings // will never fade... // This passion // that you gave me // is mine alone.]
[Top-middle text: The joy of the Ice Show... Her separation with Kaoru... Her passion for figure skating recovered, the next stage that awaits Masaki is... the Japan Junior Championships!!]
[Right-hand text: With over sixty pages of new material, Volume 3, concluding the series, goes on sale Wednesday 4th November!!]
[TN: Bah. Why do the good series have to get cut short.]