Bakuman 28

Bakuman 28

Note: Sorry, I was pretty careless for this chapter and there may have been a few confusing and awkward-sounding bits, but here's the corrected translation.

Title: Help and Conditions

Side text: Combination revived! Once again, a strategy meeting!

Frame 1:

Mashiro: I paired up once again with Shujin, who coincidentally tried to write the same kind of manga. He wanted to see what I'd been thinking of, so we headed for the studio.

Takagi:
Geez, it’s been awhile

Frame 2:
Mashiro: Here

Frame 3:
On the page:
Title
[undecided]

Main character – Investigation by Trickery
To catch the criminal by traps
To uncover the truth

Design plan

Takagi:
Ooo, I see, interesting

But this’ll be tough…

Frame 4:
Takagi:
You wrote a little bit of the name right? Show me

Frame 5:
Takagi:
Show me it already

Mashiro:
I’ve really only written just a bit

Pg. 2

Frame 1:
Top right: Hospital

Bottom left: That’s as far as you go.

Frame 2:
Takagi:
Make him think that the victim is still alive, have him come back to finish the job, and then trap him. //
It’s overused, but it’s the basics to the sleight of hand. You’ve definitely got the idea of it.

I also like how you start the main character off in the middle of the action.

Frame 3:

Takagi:
This… could we add masquerading character to this?

Frame 4:
Takagi:
It’s a manga and he’s a con-artist, adding that much should be alright, right?

Frame 5:
Takagi:
In other words, disguising himself as the victim and showing the perpetrator he’s alive, then tricking him the same way.

Frame 6:
Mashiro:
I see! Transformation eh? // Yeah, having a special skill or two would be good. It fits the main character too, so that’ll be much more interesting!

Miyoshi:
You guys really do work best together!

Pg. 3

Frame 1:
Takagi:
And, if we can write the rest...

Mashiro:
Yeah... we need a trap that’ll shock the readers, // as long as we can do that-

Frame 2:
Takagi:
-it’ll get really awesome!

Frame 3:
Takagi:
This’ll work! I want to write about this protagonist more than any other before. To be honest, I’ve been wanting to do a mystery too.

Let’s bet it on this. With this, we’ll definitely get serialized.

Frame 4:
Takagi:
But half a year eh… // Our goal’s to write over five chapters of this name in half a year… // Hmm…

Frame 5:
Takagi:
Saiko, half a year’s the limit right?

Mashiro:
Eh? Do you want more time?

Frame 6:
Takagi:
Nah, I’ll do it // but really…

Pg. 4

Frame 1:
Takagi:
About a week after I told Hattori-san I’d be writing mystery names, he sent six cardboard boxes full of mystery novels and DVDs to my place.

Mailman:
Sign here please

Mashiro:
Six boxes?!

Miyoshi:
Six boxes in that tiny room…?

Frame 2:
Takagi:
He included a letter too...

Letter:
It can’t be helped that this is all I can provide for the data, but I did what I could!
At the least, study this much!
-Hattori

Takagi:
…is what he wrote // I really believe Hattori-san was serious about the two year plan

Frame 3:
Takagi:
Just skimming over all that would take about three months… // Although it certainly would be good to look them over.

*Paki*
T/L Note: *opening can*

Frame 4:
Takagi:
That’s why I was honestly thinking that it might be better to spare some more time.

Mashiro:
Want to try splitting it between us?

Frame 5:
Miyoshi:
I’ve decided!

Mashiro & Takagi:
Huh?!

Pg. 5

Frame 1:

Mashiro & Takagi:
What all of a sudden?

Miyoshi:
I’ve changed my dream!!

Frame 2:
Takagi:
That was fast // Are you going to give up already?

Miyoshi:
Well, a five for grades in writing is good but I have a two. Writing a cellphone novel all by myself would be impossible right?

Takagi:
You sure are slow to notice that.

Frame 3:
Miyoshi:
So, my dream is the success of Takagi and Mashiro!

Takagi:
Wha?

Frame 4:
Miyoshi:
No go?

Takagi:
I don’t even get what you mean…

Frame 5:
Miyoshi:
What I mean is // I’ll gather together the main points to all those novels and DVDs for Takagi // Even if I only get 2’s, I can do that much

Frame 6:
Miyoshi:
It's what I’m wishing for the most right now… Now that I think about it, when you and Mashiro succeed, Mashiro and Miho will be bound together.

And… if possible…

Pg. 6
Frame 1:
Miyoshi:
Could we also get married?

Frame 2:
Takagi:
By “we”, you’re referring to me and you?

Miyoshi:
Who else!!

Takagi:
More importantly, I just got proposed to, didn’t I?

Frame 3:
Miyoshi:
You said you loved me!

Takagi:
Whaa? I may have said I liked you, but did I really say I love you?

Miyoshi:
It’s the same! You kissed me too!

Takagi:
Y-You, don’t reveal that in front of Saiko!

Frame 4:
Miyoshi:
If you didn’t make it as a mangaka, would you still marry me?

Frame 5:
Takagi:
…in the first place, I haven’t even thought as far as marriage.

…if I said that, she’d cry wouldn’t she…

Frame 6:
Takagi:
Well… certainly if we’re talking about marriage, it’d be after we make it as mangakas, otherwise I wouldn’t want to. I’ve no interesting in becoming a chain.

Pg. 7

Frame 1:

Miyoshi:
That’s why helping out at least would be fine, right? //
I want to become Takagi and Mashiro and Miho’s strength. I’ll do anything. I’ll even make food for you here at the studio.

Mashiro:
But novels and movies have moods to them, so we should…

Takagi:
Nah, we don’t have the time either. If she’ll sift through for ideas it’d really help

Frame 3:
Miyoshi:
Why not! Why do you always try and make me the odd one out?!

Mashiro:
Eh?

Frame 4:
Miyoshi:
Is your dream only with Miho?

Takagi and I have our dreams now too // Letting me help wouldn’t hurt!

Frame 5:
Mashiro:
Miyoshi

Frame 6:
Mashiro:
Thanks, please help

Pg. 8

Frame 1:
Miyoshi:
Thank goodness

Takagi:
Don’t cry!

Miyoshi:
If I talk properly with Mashiro-kun, he understands!

Frame 2:
Takagi:
So, Miyoshi, bring the boxes from my house over

Miyoshi:
No, aren’t you going to carry them?

Takagi:
Ah, so that’s how it is.

Mashiro:
With this, we also gained Miyoshi’s help, and we aimed at over five chapters in half a year for the name we were going to serialize.

Frame 4:
Miyoshi:
Takagi~! I spent today reading and putting together three scripts during class!

Takagi:
Thanks

Frame 5:
Miyoshi:
Ah! I forgot my bag, wait a bit for me too

Mashiro:
Miyoshi’s really going at it. She’s already finished 2/3 hasn’t she?

Frame 6:
Girl:
Excuse me… //
Takagi-kun, are you dating class 3’s Miyoshi-san?

Takagi:
Let alone dating, apparently we’re going to get married.

Pg. 9
Frame 1:
Girl:
Is he serious?

Mashiro:
Yeah, I have a fiancé too, isn’t it normal?

Frame 2:
Girl:
Freaky!

Mashiro & Takagi:
Haha

Frame 3:
Miyoshi:
Mashiro //
Tomorrow’s November 5th, what day could it be?

Mashiro:
Azuki’s birthday

Frame 4:
Mashiro:
Even if you hadn’t asked, I’d have messaged her “Congrats”

Miyoshi:
As expected, simply that

Mashiro:
Love comes in a variety of forms-dattebayo

Note: -dattebayo is from Naruto, it’s not normal Japanese, so I was kinda surprised to see it

Frame 5:
Mashiro:
No Christmas nor Valentines eh // Until spring break it’ll be nothing but working on the name

Miyoshi:
Whaaa? Giving you a present would be fine right?

Takagi:
Yeah, just no dates

Frame 6:
Miyoshi:
Ah! That’s right, Miho’s releasing a CD next.

Takagi:
Eh?!

Pg. 10

Frame 1:
Miyoshi:
“Sacred Beauties” is popular, and she ended up working at it for the year, didn’t she?

Note: "Sacred Beauties" is translated from "Sei Bijo" originally

*scritch*
Note: writing sounds

*scratch*
Note: writing sounds

Takagi:
I don’t know about “didn’t she”…

Mashiro:
I heard from her through e-mail

Frame 2:
Miyoshi:
The next cool ED will feature the top 3 most popular singing //
And to top it off, Miho will be the center

And because it’ll show her singing, she said not to let Mashiro watch the TV.

Frame 3:
Mashiro:
Why do I have to be stopped?

Takagi:
More importantly, why’d you go and reveal again that she’d told us to stop him.

Miyoshi:
Because she’s being selfish isn’t she?

Frame 4:
Takagi:

Anyhow, Azuki’s really following the path of an idol seiyuu

Seiyuu = voice actor

Frame 5:
Mashiro:
Why Azuki tried to stop us from watching soon became clear as it aired.

TV:
So in love~!

Takagi:
Uwa-! Your singing’s a little too bad isn’t it Miho-chan?!

Miyoshi:
Ahaha! She definitely hasn’t been to karaoke! My stomach hurts!

Mashiro:
As if it were my own matter, somehow, I started feeling really embarrassed

Pg. 11
Frame 1:
TV:
Sad I can’t meet you~!

Frame 2:
Takagi:
All things aside… isn’t that skirt too short? // It makes the heart race

Frame 3:
Miyoshi:
Even if you look, she’s properly wearing a pair under it! // How stupid!

Takagi:
Even if I understand that…

Frame 4:

Miyoshi:
Ah! As expected, Mashiro’s shocked? // To think she’s being watched by anime otaku, I’m also a little…

Mashiro:
Nope, I was just thinking that while I can see how hard she’s trying, she can’t see herself

Miyoshi:
Send her pictures then // Whaa? Miho says to “stop him” and you say “it’s embarrassing”, what’s with you two?

Mashiro:
But it’s embarrassing isn’t it?

Frame 5:
Mashiro:
Well, Azuki's steadily becoming a popular seiyuu // Let’s also work hard

Miyoshi:
Yeah!

Takagi:
Shut up Miyoshi, it’s already two past midnight!

Pg. 12

Frame 1:
Mashiro:
As we entered December, as expected Shujin and I received respective calls from Hattori-san.

Takagi:
Right // I’ll work hard, but for a work of two years, I thought I should finish reading and watching the novels and DVDs you sent me // I’ll be done soon

Frame 2:
Takagi:
Miyoshi’s watching the DVD, so I think he completely believes me.

Mashiro:
Miyoshi, cut the TV

Frame 3:
Mashiro:
Yes // I really haven’t be able to make any names // but I’ll keep working at it

Frame 4:
Takagi:
Hattori-san thinks it’s going just as he planned

Mashiro:
Yes, the fourth chapter is finished!

Frame 5:
Mashiro:
Like this, until spring break, we finished eight chapters

Done!

If you look at this, even Hattori-san will agree to present it at the serialization meeting

Pg. 13

Frame 1:
Mashiro:
And on April 1st, we brought in the finished name

Frame 2:
Hattori:
I didn’t hear anything about you both coming from Takagi-kun…

Since when have you guys gotten back together?

Takagi:
Sorry, a month after being told by you to work on it for two years

Frame 3:
Hattori:
I see… I’ve been had…

No, it's proof that you guys really do fit well as a team

Frame 4:
Hattori:
Eight chapters for serialization eh…

Takagi & Mashiro:
Yes

Frame 5:
Hattori:
I’ll have a look for myself

Pg. 14

Frame 2:
Mashiro:
How is it?

Frame 3:
Hattori:
It’s definitely interesting

Frame 4:
Hattori:
I really feel like I’ve been had…

Frame 5:
There’s no chance you’ll wait till you’re out of highschool?

Mashiro:
No chance

Frame 7:
Mashiro:
If you think it’s done well, please present it too at the next serialization meeting.

Pg. 15

Frame 1:
Hattori:
How many times do I have to tell you that there’s nothing good about doing a series while you’re still in highschool

Mashiro:
Isn’t Nizuma-san doing it too? Alone!

Frame 3:
Hattori:
…I understand, but I have two conditions

Mashiro:
Conditions?!

Frame 4:
Hattori:
First, get a good result with a oneshot of this in the next Gold Future Cup

Mashiro:
Isn’t the Gold Future Cup in the summer?

Frame 5:
Hattori:
Second, at the same time, until the Gold Future Cup comes out, write and bring in a 19-paged chapter in every two weeks.

Takagi:
One every two weeks… Even though serialization hasn’t been decided yet?!

Hattori:
Yes // Usually it’d be one per week, but with Gold Future Jump and no assistants, I won’t increase your load. I’ll present this name at the next meeting.

Pg. 16

Frame 1:
Takagi:
No matter what, that’s asking too much

Mashiro:
We’ll do it!

Frame 2:
*tap*
Hattori:
Not just a script // You’ll be presenting it like this in full once every two weeks

Frame 3:
Hattori:
With each one you bring in, we’ll schedule the next meeting

Mashiro:
We’re rehearsing for serializing…

Frame 4:
Takagi:
No-Normally would you do that much?

Hattori:
No, we don’t, but I want you do that much

Frame 5:
Hattori:
If you don’t do at least that much, you can’t draw while going to highschool. //
Unfortunately I think you guys are different from Nizuma-kun. Making battle-type and mystery-type mangas is completely different.

Writing one every two weeks will definitely help when you get serialized. // Even if it doesn’t get serialized, that hard work won’t be wasted.

Pg. 17
Frame 1:
Mashiro:
Thank you very much!

Frame 2:
Mashiro:
I didn’t know you’d put so much thought into this for us.

We’ll do it. We’ll show you we can do it.

Frame 3:
Mashiro:
And we’ll definitely get that serialization!!

Hattori:
Alright! As long as you meet the conditions, even if you’re still in highschool, I’ll have you guys serialized // If you do that much, the upper guys can’t say no to you. // Above all else, this work is interesting!!

Frame 5:
Mashiro:
It seems we’ll finally get it presented at the serialization meeting eh

Takagi:
Before that, we’ll have to write the oneshot and draw one chapter every two weeks
// We did eight in half a year, so I don’t think we can’t, but do you really think it’s ok?

Mashiro:
That’s why I said I’d do it even if I die

Takagi:
You did… we’ve come this far, let’s get it done, even by willpower

Pg. 18

Frame 1:
Fukuda:
Oh

Mashiro:
Ah, Fukuda-san

Takagi:
Fukuda Shinta eh

Frame 2:
Takagi:
N-Nice to meet you, I’m Takagi

Fukuda:
You too

Frame 3:
Fukuda:
How unexpected, had a meeting?

Mashiro:
Yes, how about you?

Frame 4:
Fukuda:
The oneshot just earlier took seventh, and Yuujirou-san gave his usual, not good enough so polish it once more speech, and told me to draw one for the Gold Future Cup //
Geez //
That meeting

Mashiro & Takagi:
Gold Future Cup!

Frame 5:
Mashiro:
W-We were also told that before our serialization, we need to write one for the Gold Future Cup.

Fukuda:
So the Gold Future Cup will decide it?

Mashiro:
No, it’s not 100%, but our manager told us that with this level, we’d definitely pass.

Pg. 19

Frame 1:
Fukuda:
Yuujirou also said because it would definitely pass… // There’s like four or five frames right? Will it really pass…?

Well, I’ll have it pass, but if it fails, I’ll kill him

Frame 2:
Fukuda:
I lost in Akamaru, but this time I’ll definitely not lose to Ashirogimuto

Frame 3:
Mashiro & Takagi:
We won’t lose either!

Fukuda:
Yeah, if not, it wouldn’t be interesting

Frame 4:
Fukuda:
Let’s fight as great as we can // And the won to win will be the closest to serializing

That way there’s no complaints

Mashiro & Takagi:
Yes!

Frame 5:
Mashiro:
Yeah, that’s how it is! First off is the top of the Gold Future Cup

Takagi:
Yeah, we’ll definitely take it!

*Slanted text*
To get serialized in Jump, they aim for the #1 oneshot!!

Bottom right:
Next, A Rival for the Gold Future Cup
One after another!! Cover pages in color!!