Sket Dance 3

1a
SKET DANCE
Chapter 3
The Ghost of the Incinerator
[insert text: Cast aside your worries! / It's the dancing Sket investigation!!]
[TN: ?? ~_~]
[bottom-right author's name: Shinohara Kenta]

1b
[insert text: Something terrible interrupts these carefree after-school hours...?!]
Bossun: Ah... it's Wednesday today. / Himeko, go throw out the rubbish.
Himeko: No way.
Bossun: The hell? It's your turn today, you know! // Just hurry up and throw it out.
Himeko: My apologies... no way.
Bossun: Hey, hey...! / You know we have to take the rubbish out after school every other day!
Himeko: Switch, I'll give you a hundred yen, you go do it.
[TN: About 80 US cents]
Switch: All right.
Bossun: You're gonna do it?!! How cheap are you?!! // It's not like you to break rules... why won't you just go take it out?
Himeko: *too tiny to read*
Bossun: Hm?
Himeko: NO FREAKIN' WAY.
Bossun: Why...?!!

3
[Title on right: Campus Times]
[Headline at top: Ghost of the Incinerator Sighted!!]
[subheadline beside picture: Photographic Evidence Finally Acquired]
Bossun: Ghost of the Incinerator?!
Himeko: Don't ask me!! Everyone's talking about it right now! // See, it's the front-page headline on the school paper and everything!
Bossun: Ehh?! He's floating in the air!! Is this a real photo of a ghost? // Hm? // So... what about it? Don't tell me you're scared of ghosts and don't want to go near the incinerator? Seriously? // BWAHAHAHAHA!!! Hey, hey, the one and only Onihime is scared of ghosts!!! / Is the girl who'd take on a grizzly scared of a widdle ghostie?!! // No way!! You have a soft side after all - ow! Owowowowwwww!! THAT HURTS - OWOWOWOWWW!!!!
Himeko: I bet you're scared too, right?!! You useless little bastard!! I know you won't even watch horror movies!!!
Bossun: You've gotta be kidding!! I'm not scared of anything!! // All I'm afraid of is phantoms and spirits...
Himeko: THAT'S THE SAME THING!!!

4
Bossun: So what exactly is he supposed to be, this "Ghost of the Incinerator"? // I mean, that's not even our school uniform...
Switch: "The Ghost of the Incinerator" - one of the so-called rumoured Seven Wonders of our school.
Bossun: You know about it?
Switch: Ten years ago, a certain male student succumbed to exam nerves and jumped from the school building. // However, he did not manage to kill himself properly, and wandered off, half-conscious, to throw himself into the incinerator. // They found his body the next morning in front of the incinerator. The bones in both legs were fractured. // Since that day, many people have claimed to witness that same boy putting his legs in order and then rising over the flower bed in front of the incinerator. // The uniform in this picture is our school's uniform from back then.
Bossun: Ehhhh... Well, every school has ghost stories like that. // Heh... that's a pretty good one. // [terrified text]If something like that appeared, I'd just show him my awesome Knuckle Punch![/terrified text]
Himeko: You're shaking like crazy!!!
Bossun: Damn you, Switch, you bastard...!! / How can you even tell a story like that with such a straight face?!! Now I won't be able to go near the incinerator either!!
Himeko: Seriously! How the hell do you tell stories like that?!!
Switch: Apparently, the bones were sticking out of his broken legs.
Himeko/Bossun: AAAAAAAAGH!!! STOP IT!!!!!

5
Switch: Utter nonsense. There is no such thing as ghosts. // I only believe in honest, data-substantiated fact.
Bossun: Shaddup, you damn science nerd!! Who the hell cares what it is that you believe in?!!
Himeko: We believe in freaky stuff that's shown on TV!! Ghosts and stuff are perfectly believable!!
Switch: La, la, I can't he~ar you... (∩°A°)
Bossun: Talking of the incinerator... We can see it out of the window from here...
Himeko: Wait... // Stop that...
Bossun: Like... a ghost could appear from over there right now...
Switch: Please do not worry. The window is not about to open suddenly. // Because ghosts DO NOT EXIST.
Himeko: Why're you raising your voice?!!
Bossun: All right! They don't exist, they don't exist, ghosts don't exist!!
Reiko: YES THEY DO!!!
Himeko: !!!

6
Himeko: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!
Bossun: IT'S HEEEEERE!!!!
Switch: Ah, hello, Yuuki-san.
Bossun: W - w - w - wait... // Huh? // Oh... it's someone you know?
Reiko: I came because I heard an unforgivable conversation... // I was the one who took the photograph in the newspaper. // Ghosts do exist.
Bossun: IT'S COMIIIING!!!
Himeko: DON'T COME IN LIKE THAT!!!
Switch: Yuuki Reiko-san of the Occult Research Club. Class 2-A, Number 31. // She is very knowledgeable in all sorts of suspicious, spiritual things - everything from ESP to magic.

7
Switch: In the past, I have got into vicious disputes with her over whether ghosts exist or not and such.
Himeko: What the hell do you get up to? *sweatdrop*
Bossun: Well, anyway... Did - did you want something? Though I'd really kinda prefer you to leave...
Reiko: Well, I would really like to convince him of the existence of ghosts... // But he's as stubborn as ever, Switch-kun. Still won't put a foot outside scientific territory... // He even laughs at Satan.
Bossun/Himeko: (Scary~~~!!!)
Switch: I really can't be bothered debating with you right now. I don't feel like seeing you completely and flawlessly defeated and grovelling at my feet.
Reiko: YOU BE QUIET!! // Do you wish to invite divine wrath...? / *text too small to read*
Bossun/Himeko: Somebody stop them~~~!!!
Reiko: It was here that I saw it. // The entrance to the incinerator. // Yes... it all happened last Tuesday...
Bossun: Hey... are you starting a flashback?

8
Reiko: I had been reading the school paper's "Seven Wonders Corner", and taking an interest in the ghost story. So I took my camera and went there to try to get a photograph as proof. // And then... // It appeared. // The Ghost of the Incinerator really appeared...!!! // I was scared out of my wits, but even in my terror, I managed to press the shutter!!
Bossun: YOU'RE SCARED TOO?!!
Reiko: And then I took my camera straight to the Newspaper Club. This paper is the result. // This photo is undeniable proof, right? Can you really refute something like this?
Himeko: ..........
Bossun: ..........
Switch: What a pathetic debate... but just for the sake of argument! / Would you be satisfied if I were to bring you incontrovertible proof that this so-called "ghost" does not exist?
Reiko: Hohoho... That does sound interesting. // But can you really do something like that? You Sket-dan people.
Bossun: Hm? Wait a minute... I don't like the way this conversation is going...
Himeko: Not a freakin' chance!! I'm not doing anything like that!! / Anyway, you two stop with the arguing!!

9
Reiko: In that case, I'll make a request of the Sket-dan.
Himeko: No...
Reiko: I would like you to investigate one of the Seven Wonders of the school, namely the "Ghost of the Incinerator".
Himeko: Didn't I say no...?
Switch: We accept.
Bossun/Himeko: HE ACCEPTED...!!!
Bossun: What are you doing deciding all by yourself, damn you?!! / I'm the leader, right?! I'm the main character, right?!
Switch: Ahahahahahahahah.
　　 ∩＿＿＿∩
　　 | ノ　　　　　 ヽ/⌒)
　　/⌒)●　　　● |　|
　 /　/　　( _●_)　 ミ/
　（　　ヽ　|∪|　　／
　 ＼　　　ヽノ　/
　 /　　　　　　/
　|　　　　　　 /
　|　　／＼　＼
　|　/　　　 )　 )
　∪　　　 （　 ＼
　　　　　　 ＼＿)
Himeko: What's with you?!! I'm gonna freakin' destroy that PC of yours!!
Switch: Worry not. I will handle this investigation by myself. // Information-gathering is my specialty.
Reiko: Ahahahahah! Very interesting. / Well then, I'll just go and get some even stronger evidence! This is a battle, Switch-kun!
Switch: Duel!!
Bossun: You two actually get on pretty well, don't you...

10
Otaku: The Ghost of the Incinerator? // Yes, that story's become quite sensationalised recently, hasn't it. / It seems like that article in the school newspaper started it all off, but word-of-mouth has definitely had quite an effect as well.
Himeko: Honestly, why are we tailing Switch?!
Bossun: Well, it's pretty interesting, isn't it... / We don't really know anything about who he associates with, so aren't you interested in finding out how he actually gets all his information? // Oooooh...! It's pretty exciting following our own nakama around!!
Himeko: What?! Why is it getting all tense? It's weirding me out...!
Otaku: Ah, Miss Yuuki Reiko? Yes, I know her. Different field to yours, but she's a real geek like yourself. I get the feeling the two of you are kind of alike. // Just between you and me, she has a very natural face, but it becomes hideous the moment she puts make-up on it. Well, that's the "moe" thing about her, I suppose. // But she also has the whole long-black-hair thing going on... makes me want to get her to do some Goth-Loli cosplay... Hm, definitely with a longish skirt...
Switch: Ah... That was a little too much information. I wasn't asking about "moe" at all.
Himeko: ............... // Wh... what the...? [aside text]"Goth"...?[/aside text]
Bossun: I really hope his friends aren't all like this...

11
Otaku: The Newspaper Club? / Ah, yes, Miss Yuuki did have a friend in the Newspaper Club... a girl called Shimada-san, I believe.
Switch: 2-F, Shimada Takako, a hot-blooded Newspaper Club member who goes crazy for big scoops.
Otaku: Yes, that's the one. / Hmm... For her, I think a nurse costume -
Switch: All right. Thank you very much.
Otaku: By the way, Master Usui... You wouldn't happen to have acquired that item I was asking about...?
Switch: But of course. There is nothing in this world that I cannot find.
Otaku: YEEESSS!! This is it!! / "Futari wa Nervous!" Marriage Blue and Maternity Blue's Ultimate Form Limited Edition figures!! // Ahhhhhhh!! I finally have them!! / You're incredible, Master Usui! // The - the next thing I'd like you to find is "that" one... The "Maid in Japangu <3" custom edition separate volume supplement!
Switch: Understood. And in return, you will continue to collect information within the school...
Otaku: Of course, I will keep my end of our partnership.
[TN: I'm not remotely sure on that line, but it's got to be something like that, so meh.]
Himeko: [Aside text]"Maid"... what the?[/aside text]
Bossun: ...............
[sign on door: "Newspaper Club"]
Takako: Yes, I'm the one in charge of the "Seven Wonders Corner". // My older brother used to attend the school, so I hear these things from him. // Well, it's only a small section, so it doesn't really get much attention. Reiko's the only one who's even shown much interest.
Switch: And it was that same Yuuki-san who took the photograph and brought it to you.

12
Takako: Yes! That was on Monday. / Reiko's always looking for mysterious phenomena, and she's always got her camera with her, so I told her that if anything happened, she should bring the photos to me. // And when I validated the photo she'd taken, she'd really done it! / And so I got it published as the front-page story in the newspaper right away.
Bossun: Hmmm... Looks like that occult-girl was telling the truth about how she took the picture, at any rate...
Takako: By the way... / Usui-kun, you've got quite a reputation around here. This might sound a little strange, but... Well, you're quite good-looking, and really knowledgeable... I think you're a really interesting person.
Switch: Thank you.
Takako: Hey... would you like to come to the Newspaper Club tomorrow and help me with my data collecting?
Switch: No.
Takako: Oh... I see... / Then... when would be good for you?
Switch: In a hundred million years' time.
Himeko: This is entertaining... // ..............Switch seems to be surprisingly popular with the ladies.
[TN: I'm not at all sure that that first line's Himeko's... in fact, it might well be Takako's, in which case I ought to translate it differently... meh.]
Bossun: Uaaagh...!! Nnnggh......!! I have a feeling in the bottom of my heart that I just can't forgive him!! / Dark feelings are bubbling up inside me...!! // I CAN'T FORGIVE HIM FOR BEING SO POPULAR WITH GIRLS!!
[TN: 僕も許す事が出来ないのです。 ~_~]
Takako: Ah... speaking of which... / I heard Yoshi was telling people he'd seen a ghost. // I think I should go and ask him if it was the Ghost of the Incinerator...
Switch: "Yoshi"... would that be Shimizu Yoshie-san?
Takako: No, he's a guy from my class -
Switch: Yoshinari-kun. I see.

13
Yoshinari: Why, yes, I most certainly did observe it. // It was undeniably a spirit that had passed over to the world of the living. / Namely, a ghost.
[TN: He has a freaky, archaic way of speaking, I'm really not doing a good enough job of expressing that in the translation ~_~ Also, his name is a sort of pun on his manner of speech, since he ends all his sentences with "nari".]
Yoshinari: Without making a single sound, he put his legs in order and rose into the air. Immediately afterwards, the twilight was momentarily bathed in light. / I was terribly afraid. I took leave of the place with the greatest speed I could muster.
Himeko: That Yoshi guy really seems pretty spooked...
Bossun: Seriously, what the hell is with his friends?!! / They really are all weirdos!!
Switch: And when exactly was this?
Yoshinari: It was upon a Wednesday, around eveningtime. / I can remember this, as I had gone to take out the rubbish for the Calligraphy Club.
Switch: I see. // Thank you very much.
Bossun: Hm? / What's he doing tapping away... talking to himself? / Freaks me out...
Himeko: No... he must be sending an email, right?
Bossun: Huh? / I just got an email...?
Himeko: Ah! He's looking this way!!
[email:]
u must be bored... (óдò)=3
u know the tailing thing...
i noticed ages ago~ \(^o^)/
[/email]
Bossun: ..................dammit...... *sweatdrop*
Himeko: What's with that face of his... Pisses me off! *sweatdrop*

14
Switch: So, like, the witnesses I was just talking to, ye~ah... Well, it was just Yuuki-san and Yoshinari-kun, bu~t... If you think about how far the rumours have spread, yea~h... There might be more witnesses, right! // ...is what I was going to say.
Bossun: What's with you? Are you a bit pissed off or something?
Himeko: I CAN'T TAKE IT~~!!! IT LOOKS LIKE THERE REALLY IS A GHOST~~!! / Quit it with your stupid duel and hurry up and exorcise it, or I'll wipe you two off the face of the planet!!
Bossun: Why me too?! // It'll be fine! It's all just a misunderstanding! Even Switch being popular with girls, it's all just a big misunderstanding!!
Himeko: Then how d'you explain this photo?!! Why's he floating in the air?! Can YOU do that?!! Let's see you try doing that!!
Bossun: I... I can float! I, I float in class sometimes...
Himeko: GO FLOAT YOUR WHOLE LIFE AWAY!!
[TN: Not entirely sure about all of that, I think there might be a bit of punnage going on... but hey.]
Bossun: Look, why don't you just calm down a little... Just put down the photo and forget about it for a bit... // Hm?

15
Bossun: This photo... // ...............
Himeko: What're you doing, Bossun?
Bossun: Wait a moment.
[Text: Equip]

16
[TN: Oh, g4wd, not another one of these bits where I have to go find lines I've already translated...]
[Text, right to left: Yes... it all happened last Tuesday... // ...it doesn't really get much attention. Reiko's the only one... // Immediately afterwards, the twilight was momentarily bathed in light. // I was scared out of my wits, but even in my terror... // Yes! That was on Monday. / Reiko's always looking for mysterious phenomena... // My older brother used to attend the school, so I hear these things... // ...I got it published as the front-page story in the newspaper... // It was upon a Wednesday, around eveningtime.]
Bossun: Guaahhh!!!
Himeko: Y - you all right?
Bossun: Switch. / Check up on this for me. // I know the identity of the ghost.

17
Switch: What are you doing in a place like this?
Reiko: What am I doing...? I thought if I waited here, the ghost might appear again...
Switch: I see... Then, let us wait together. // The ghost will be appearing soon enough.

18
Takako: So, around when was it that you saw this ghost?
Himeko: It's here!! // The ghost has appeared in front of the incinerator!!
Takako+Yoshinari: !!!

19
Reiko: It - it - it - it - it's here!!!! It's really here!!!
Takako: Aah!
Somebody: The Ghost of the Incinerator!!!
Reiko: It's floating!!!
Takako: No... // No way...

20
Bossun: What do you mean, "no way"?
Takako: !!
Bossun: You wrote the article, don't tell me you don't believe in it? // The ghost's true identity... was you, right? Shimada Takako.
Reiko: Huh?! / Takako's the... what are you talking about?! // Weren't you just floating in the air...?!!
Takako: ........................

21
Bossun: Heheh... // Floating in the air was all just a little magic trick. / It's a bit of a pain, but it's a trick that anybody could pull off. // There's a cut down one leg of the trousers, so I can pull my leg out.
[Label: There's a leg in this side]
Bossun: Seen from directly behind, it looks like both legs are floating in the air. // By the way, Switch did all the research and set up the trick for me last night.
Himeko: You're incredible!
Takako: Hm? Wait a minute... / I don't know anything about this! // Just because you noticed how the magic was done...!!
Bossun: It's not that I noticed how the magic was done. // I noticed the contradiction in the photograph. // In the photograph from the newspaper, the gate to the incinerator is open. / The gate to the incinerator is only opened on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. // In other words, this wasn't taken on a Tuesday - this isn't the photo Yuuki-san took.
Reiko: Huh?! ...So she didn't use my photo after all?
Bossun: Yeah. When you saw the ghost, you were trembling quite a lot. // You probably didn't even notice yourself, but...

22
Bossun: The photo you took back then was all blurry, there was no way anybody could use it. // That's why the following day, Shimada went and took one herself using an automatic timer. // The ghost that Yoshi saw was from that instance. The light he saw was the flash from the camera.
Reiko: ............... // Takako... // You...
Takako: ............... // I'm sorry... / Reiko...!! // I've always wanted so much to be able to write an article that would make the front page... // But my articles always get stuck in a little corner, and nobody ever talks about them... I hated that so much...

23
Takako: But Reiko... you didn't care about any of that, you always paid attention to my Seven Wonders articles. // That was when I thought of it... You love the occult so much, if you saw a real ghost you might just believe in it. // If somebody else had taken a photo of it, it would have credibility, and might be a big enough scoop for me to be able to make the front page... // I didn't think the rumours would go this far, though... // I found out about the trick by accident... and my brother's uniform was right there at home for me to use... so I did it once to try it out. / I didn't really mean to trick anybody to start with, really! // But then Reiko, you believed in it right away, you brought your photo to me... and I somehow got caught up in the whole idea...
Himeko: ...But when you saw the photo, you knew right away you couldn't use it. // So you went and took the second one yourself.
Takako: I went and trampled all over your honest heart, Reiko... / Even though you were my friend... // I... I got too excited about the article, and I didn't even realise what I was doing... // Reiko... // I'm so sorry!!

24
Reiko: I will never forgive you!!
Someone: (Here it comes...!!!)
Reiko: ...is what I feel like saying, but... / It seems like you really didn't have any bad intentions, so... // It's fine. / Let's just forget about the whole thing.
Takako: Reiko!! // Thank you!!
Bossun: Hey, hey... Yuuki-san's a nice person after all! / She's not even scary!
Himeko: If it was me, I'd've beaten her up already.
Bossun: YOU'RE TOO FREAKIN' SCARY!
Reiko: Well... // You're not the only one who got caught up in her own excitement and took things a bit too far.

25
Bossun: Heheh...
Reiko: Switch-kun... this time, it was my loss! // I was beaten by your information-gathering skills and your teamwork. // But some day, I shall make you accept my ideas! // I shall bring you over... to the world of the occult!!!
Switch: Just how I like it. // In that case, I shall continue until I uncover information that proves you wrong once and for all.
Bossun: They really do seem to get on really well...
Himeko: Let's just leave them to it.
[insert text: Science versus occult!! The duel will never end...?!]