xxxHOLiC 191

Guidelines For Using My Translations

1
xxxHOLiC: Rou
Chapter 191
[Insert text: "So this is... his choice." // Watanuki, who chose to become the new owner of the shop, and Doumeki, who continues to live his ordinary life as hitsuzen guides. All for the sake of the moment when he must make his decision. All for the sake of the future Watanuki wishes for...!!]

2
[Side text: "...Strike me." In the dream, Watanuki learns of the cat's urgent wish. What manner of tune will the bachi he found in the storeroom play, and what will it bring?!]
Customer: This is... / ...a bachi?
Watanuki: Yes.
Customer: May I touch it?
[SFX: shift]
Watanuki: Feel free.

3
Customer: This bachi...

4
Customer: It is black... / ...with a single butterfly in flight...
Watanuki: ...Yes, that's right...
Customer: ...I see...

5
Customer: So you were... / ...in this shop...
Watanuki: Then... you have played that shamisen with that same bachi before?
Customer: Yes. / Rather a long time ago now. // I remember she seemed so very happy... / ...and sang so beautifully that time. // But this bachi did not belong to me.

6
Watanuki: Who did it belong to?
Customer: To another shamisen player. // A very...
[SFX: touch]
Customer: ...yes... / ...very beautiful player... // ...with such kind fingers...

7
Watanuki: And that player...
Customer: We will not meet again... that much is certain.
Watanuki: I... // ...see.
[SFX: twitch]
Watanuki: Is something... // ...the matter with the bachi?
Customer: When exactly... / ...did this item come into your possession?

8
Watanuki: I am sorry to say, I cannot answer that question. / It was during the time of my predecessor.
Customer: I see. // In that case... / Might I ask forgiveness from you?
Watanuki: Ask... // ...forgiveness?

9
[SFX: cha~~~ng]

10-11
[no text just music]

12
[no text just butterfly]

13
[no text just man]

14
[no text just happy]

15
[SFX: ksshhh]

16
Customer: As I thought... it shattered. / I am most sorry.

17
Watanuki: No... / I did tell you that I didn't mind.
Customer: It looks like she knew all along... // ...that this bachi would pass on the next time it was played.
Watanuki: That's why she stopped responding...
Customer: Yes. // She wanted to meet one last time... / ...with that which she most dearly loved. // After all...

18
Customer: All women... // ...desire to be the final companions of the men they love.

19
Customer: Thank you so very much. / It seems her wish has been granted.
Watanuki: All I really did was search through the storeroom of the shop...
Customer: ...When we first discussed this shamisen. // Yes... / When I told you that they use the skin from a cat's underbelly. // You told me then... / ...that she must have been a very beautiful cat, did you not?
Watanuki: ...Yes.
Customer: In all honesty, you are not the kind of person who can truly accept... / ...the stripping of the skin of a cat or dog, even for the sake of a musical instrument. / Am I wrong?
Watanuki: Oh, that's not...

20
Customer: But as I am a shamisen player... // ...you did not wish to bring this to my attention, so as to avoid troubling or saddening me. / Am I correct?
Watanuki: ...You think too highly of me.
[Side text: New owner Watanuki succeeds in granting the cat's wish. He will continue to grant wishes in this shop, and continue to wait... until the day he can meet that woman again!!]
[Bottom text: To be continued next issue - see you in Young Magazine Issue 51, on sale Monday 16th November!]