Sket Dance 59

1
[insert text: The past... Betrayed by her friend, how will Himeko react...?!]
[Text: I was always a good fighter. // As a kid, sometimes I went too far, but in the end I learned moderation. // By the time I first entered middle school, nobody really picked fights with me any more. // My memories of that night aren't too clear. // All I really remember is the sensation of losing control... // ...and how that hockey stick... // ...felt so strangely comfortable in my hands.]
Himeko: *pant*
[Text: More than anything else...]
Himeko: *pant* // *pant*
[Text: Right then, I was like...]
Himeko: *pant*

2
Himeko: *pant* // *pant* // *pant* // *pant*
[Text: Yes... / Exactly like...]

3
Arisa: Aahh... Aahhhh...! // Aahhh... // Aaaahhh.... / D... // D... // Demon... // You're a... demon!! // DEMON!!!
[sket Dance]
[Chapter 59: Ogress (3)]
[insert text: The girl's bitter cry... It tears through the dark, through their friendship, and through Himeko's heart...]

4
[Text: The story spread in no time at all.]
People: Look... it's that Onizuka-san... // They're saying she took out Nanba... // Seriously? Whoa... // All on her own... she took out ten... no, I think it was twenty of them... // She's that strong?! // You don't want to get too close to her. // So... is it actually true, that story...? // Uh-huh. I asked Aa-chan exactly what happened. // Sensei... is it really true? // Well... it would seem so...
[bubbleSFX: turn]
People: Aahhh! // (R - Run for it! // Ahhh! She's gonna kill us!)

5
[sign: Student Counselling]
[Text: I... // ...was alone.]

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GirlA: If you're not gonna quit it, then I've gotta ask. // Is it true that you even beat up Aa-chan herself?
Himeko: ............ // If that's what Aa-chan's sayin'... // ...then it's true.
GirlA: Why?! // What the hell are you playing at?!!

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Delinquent: Is it you? // The one who took out Nanba...

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Delinquents: The hell... you're just some ordinary kid. // Who the hell was it said she was some huge girl like a gorilla?! // Hell, this is gonna be just too easy! // We just have to take this brat out, and this place belongs to Takenoshita-san! // Hahah. / Well, here goes nothing.
Himeko: Every damn one of you...
Delinquent: What was that?!
Himeko: Every damn one of you.........!!

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[Text: After that, people from all over started picking fights with me. // I couldn't be bothered to open my mouth... // ...I took the bait every single time... // ...and I swung my stick. // Rumour led to rumour... // ...and those days of fighting just went on and on. // Over time, rumour turned to legend... // ...and though I don't know exactly when... // ...or who it was who coined it... // ...everyone ended up calling me the same thing.]

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[Text: The Demon Princess... the "Onihime". // Nobody dared come near me any more.]

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[Text: In the winter of third year... / ...I made up my mind to take my exams, and enter some other high school. // Somewhere, anywhere, far away. // Somewhere... where nobody knew the name "Onihime". // Friends? // I didn't need 'em.]

12
Guy1: Have you heard the rumours about the "Onihime"?
Guy2: Onihime?
Guy1: Yeah... she's a girl our age. / Word is she went crazy wild back in middle school. // I don't know for sure what high school she entered, but rumour has it she came here.
Guy2: Whoa... that's scary stuff! / What kind of girl is she, then?!
Guy1: Well, I only heard this from a friend; I don't know what she looks like or anything... // I heard something about her having a face like a gorilla...
Guy2: That's just too scary...!!
Himeko: (So the Onihime rumours have reached even here... // Even though I came all this way... // But at least it looks like they don't know my face. // I can make it. // I'll just keep low for these three years... // Keep to myself, not cause any fuss...)
Flashback!Arisa: You see, I don't like to stand out.
Himeko: (......... // That should be enough...)

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Teacher: All right, we're starting the sports test! // First of all, throwing softballs! / You first, Onizuka.
Himeko: I've just gotta throw this, right?
People: Whoahh!!

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Girls: You're incredible, Onizuka-san! // Do you play some kind of sport? // .........
[sign: Class 1-B]
Chiaki: Onizuka-san! // Please... // ...would you join the softball club?

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Himeko: Huh? // (This girl's... our class rep...)
Chiaki: Takahashi Chiaki. // Your throw back there was simply magnificent!!
Himeko: Th - Thanks...
Chiaki: You see, the softball club's short on members; we don't even have any second-years. / We've only just got enough first years to make up the numbers. // They've ended up making me the new captain after the summer... // So, with a strong throw like that, I thought you might want to join up... // Well?
Himeko: No way.
Chiaki: Whaa?! // C - Couldn't you at least... think it over...?
Himeko: Shaddup. // I don't join clubs, and I don't need friends. // So just stay away from me, okay?!

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Chiaki: D... // Don't say such terrible things!! // Your little cool act isn't going to fly with me. / As your class representative... // I refuse to allow you to isolate yourself like this!

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Chiaki: I'll be your first friend. / [aside]heheheh...[/aside]
Flashback!Arisa: I'm the one who's doing you the favour of being your friend, you know!!
Himeko: I said I don't NEED any!!
Chiaki: Ah - !
Himeko: (I'm through... // ...with friends.)
[Text: But she wouldn't give in. She just kept acting all friendly.]

18
Himeko: (What's your problem...? // Just give it up already... // Stop tryin' to talk to me... // Just let me be alone...) // Hm? // (It's my Poppman hat... what's that doin' in my bag...? // It must've been on my desk and I put it in there with my gym stuff... // That sure takes me back...)
Bossun: Ahhh!!
Himeko: !
Bossun: C - C - Could that possibly be a limited-edition Poppman item?!! // The one and only full-size Popp Capp?!

19
Bossun: D - Do you like Poppman? // C - C - C'mon! Let me have a look! I missed out on getting one of those!!
Himeko: (.........Are people never gonna leave me alone...?)
[insert text: He finally appears... BOSSUN!!]
[bottom text: Next issue, Bossun's presence slowly changes Himeko's heart...?!]