Star Children 1

If you want to scanlate this, contact me first.

Yeah, I'm a sucker for such stories. Couldn't stop myself from translating this. Although I really hope that another translator picks this up, because I actually don't really have the time. T_T

11
---Year 2076
Thirteen days are left to the first in history manned probe to Jupiter
The Jupiter shuttle "Jupitneer" that is to play the leading part in this is currently moored at the docking port
//On the farthest tip of the space side of the space elevator

STAR CHILDREN
New series
People entrust their future to space...
The last new series of the year takes place 65 years in the future!
Liftoff with the full 63 pages!

12-13
The oath sworn together --- to touch down on Jupiter!!
The hot-blooded astronaut manga!

STAR CHILDREN
#1 On Your Mark
First serialization of a young colt overflowing with wisdom!
Kida Masashi

14

15
p1
New series Star Children // Kida Masashi
The story begins four color pages ago!

p1/2
The Jupitneer 11 have already assembled over there, right?

p3
No
//The crew members currently have their last free time before the launch date

p4
They are scheduled to reassemble at the station in the geostationary orbit 5 days before launch

p5
Yuuto!!
Hey, Yuuto!

p6
So, the only Japanese member Amami Kousei-san isn't there either?
Correct
!!

16
p1

p2
Ah ah, it got injured
Such a thick skull

p3
That hurt!!
What are you doing, you violent teacher!!

p4
People who ignore class and watch TV
Should be punished, obviously

p5
I object to violence!!
Yuuto, it's your fault
Give it up

17
p1

p2
...Geez
She just doesn't get it, that violent teacher!!

p3
The awesomeness of the first manned probe of Jupiter!!

p4
...
Huh!?

p5
But there have been plenty of unmanned Jupiter probes
Is this really something so awesome?

p6
It is awesome!!
What's more, there's one Japanese crew member selected from among all the astronauts in the world...

18
p1
He is Amami Kousei!!
That's right, me!!

p2

p3
Aren't I amazing!!?

p4
Kousei!!!
Long time no see, Yuuto!
Eh! He's the real one!?

p5

19
p1

p2
Ohhhh, thank you very much!!
Is that an autograph?

p3
So you and Amami-san know each other, Yuuto

p4
Yuuto's father is like my astronaut teacher

p5
I often came to their house to visit ever since I was little
Heeh~~~

p6
More importantly, what are you doing here, Kousei?
What about the Jupitneer!?

20
p1
It's alright
I'll be going back on the tomorrow evening space elevator flight

p2
Is that really alright?
It's the first manned flight to Jupiter after all

p3
Actually, about that

p4
They were wondering on TV
If it's really necessary to use that much money to go to Jupiter?

p5
Like I've been telling you...

p6
Mmmg
The reason for going to Jupiter, huh...
//True, they do say a lot of things

21
p1
Like going there for resources. But that's not all
Helium-3 that's required for fusion can be found on the Moon, as well as tritium

p2
But here's the opposite question!!

p3
How long do you think we'll be able to live on this planet?

p4
How long...?
Forever, won't we?

p5
Forever is impossible

p6
If we look in the near future, the population continues to increase, and the degradation of our environment won't stop
If we take the long term view, the Earth might become uninhabitable to humans due to solar activity
//Or maybe an unstoppable meteor will come crashing down

22
p1
In order for mankind as a species to survive in the future
We must also think of moving to a different planet so that we can be prepared for something we don't know about yet

p2
And in order to achieve that, we must first go *there*
There's meaning in someone simply going to Jupiter and coming back!!

p3

p4
...Well
//That's what the Jupitneer's captain said, but I don't really get it
You don't get it, stupid Kousei!!?

23
p1
Yuuto, you little brat, you kicked me!!?
Shut up, idiot Kousei!!
I'm a part of the Jupitneer 11!!
Like I care!!

p2
Umm
Are you scared?

p3
They said on TV that the probability of success of this mission is 50%
64% at best

p4
What are you talking about!!?
He'll be the first person to ever go to Jupiter!!

p5
There's no way he's scared
Right, Kousei!!?

p6
I am scared

24
p1
I'm going to a place no one has gone before and I don't know if I'll be able to return
That scares me

p2/3

p4
Just kidding~~~
There's no way I'd be scared!!

p5
Th- That's right, Amami-san!!
Because you've been picked from among the world's astronauts, a member of the Jupitneer 11!!

p6
We'll be cheering for you as well!!

25
p1
Subaru Daichi, Nozomi, Yuuto
tl note: The meaning of the family name is the Pleiades constellation, and of the given names -- earth, hope, and space man

p2
Mmmm
Tasty!!

p3
As always, your cooking is the best, Nozomi-san
Thank you. I made lots just for you, Kousei-kun, so eat plenty

p4
Che
So you knew Kousei was coming, mom!?

p5
I didn't tell you, Yuuto?
You did not!!

p6
//!!
//Kousei, that's mine!!
But you're not eating it at all
I was saving it for later!!

26
p1

p2
Yeah~~~ I'm stuffed

p3

p4
Are you still mad that I ate your karaage?
I'm not!!

p5

p6
Kousei, why did you say *something like that* back then?

p7
Something like that?

27
p1
That you're scared of going to Jupiter

p2
That was a joke...
You're lying!!

p3

p4
...Well
It's true that I'm scared

p5
Why is that!!?
It's not like you at all, Kousei!!

p6
Not like me?

p7
Whatever difficult mission it may be
You always laugh, say "piece of cake", and head off...

28
p1
I wanted to become like that kind of Kousei
And decided to become an astronaut

p2

p3
...I see
So that's how it is

p4
In that case...
Give up on becoming an astronaut

p5
Eh!?

29
p1
The space is a world of emptiness
It's a world of death where humans cannot survive

p2
One little mistake can send you flying to the edges of the universe
People have died just from brushing lightly against garbage strewn around from the past space exploration

p3
Of the astronauts from my class, three are dead already

p4
I-
I'm not scared of that!!

p5

30
p1
Yuuto, have you told your parents
That you want to be an astronaut?

p2
!!

p3
...
D- Dad is against it

p4
...I haven't yet
Told mom

p5
Why?

p6
But if dad is against it
It's obvious mom would be against it too

p7
So I'll become an astronaut on my own!!

31
p1
After I graduate from middle school, I'll go to the Core Space Academy!!
At Core, the school pays for your tuition...

p2
But Yuuto
Core requires permission from the parents in order to enroll

p3

p4
...Huh

p5/6

32
p1
Say, Kousei
//Is going to Jupiter really that dangerous?
I wonder about that
//I don't know either

p2

p3
Then let's make a promise
//Kousei, you'll go to Jupiter, complete the mission successfully, and return
And then I

33
p1
I'll become an astronaut!!
I'll become and astronaut, and when you're coming back from Jupiter
//I'll fly out to meet you!!

p2

p3
I'll make it work out one way or another
But isn't it impossible for you, Yuuto?
!!

p4
You said it!! "One way or another", you said it!!
//Then I'll manage it one way or another as well!!
What kind of logic is that?

p5
It's a promise, Kousei, the sign of our promise!!
How was that?
Like this, just like this!!

34
p1
Thank you for you hospitality

p2
Kousei-kun, bring us some kind of a souvenir from Jupiter
Alright, then I'll bring the Shoemaker-Levy comet

p3
Kousei, don't forget our promise!!
Heh

p4
Promise?
Wow, you have such a bed head
Uh... err

p5
Ah!
//Kousei-kun, the time!
Whoa, crap!

p6
Yuuto
//Be a good boy and listen to what Nozomi-san tells you
Don't treat me like a kid!!

p7
Ah, by the way!!
I'll go all the way to the space elevator to watch on the day you launch!!

35
p1
See you
I'll go for a quick trip to Jupiter

p2

p3
The area of the Pacific Ocean on the equator around Kiribati

36-37
p1
Space Elevator Earth Port

p2
Hah~~~
It's really amazing

p3
I know, right!!
//Look at this!!
The total length of the space elevator is around 100 thousand km, and it's the biggest man-made structure ever
//It's stabilized by the Earth's gravity and the centrifugal force caused by the Earth's rotation

p4
As soon as the Jupitneer currently moored at the docking port breaks off its connection, the centrifugal force
Will give it the required escape velocity without any fuel expenditure

38
p1
But it might get bad if it falls down
Besides, I'm acrophobic, so it's no good for me

p2
It'll be alright, I mean...
It's fine, I'm not interested in space

p3
Che!
//What do you mean, not interested
Even though dad is an astronaut, are you alright saying that?

p4
Dad is dad
And I am me!!

p5
Come on, let's go already
Or there won't be any space left for us

p5
...
//Stupid mom
Yuuto, no supper for you tonight
Wait, forget I said that!!

39
p1/2
...And then, in 2055
The space infrastructure for this international space elevator was completed
//And today, in 2076, the time has come for mankind to once again take "a giant leap"
To the new land that we call Jupiter

p3
But it won't end here

p4
It's but the first step toward broadening the human intelligence toward the space beyond
So many people...

p5/6
Yuuto, can you see?
Right now
//The 11 chosen astronauts
Yuuto!?

p7
The Jupitneer 11 will set off for Jupiter!!

40
p1
It's the Jupitneer!!
In order to move forward into the future together with everyone

p2
Please wish them all a good journey
Kousei is inside that ship...

p3
This was the speech from the Core Inc CEO John Shepard
clap x9

p4
One minute

41
p1
30 seconds

p2
10 seconds

p3/4/5/6/7

42
p1
0
Liftoff!!

p2
The Jupitneer has cleanly separated from the docking port!!

p3

43
p1
To Jupiter...

p2
---Ahhh

p3
Just looking at the picture isn't enough
I have to go to the real space...

p4
Wait for me, Kousei!!

44
I'll be sure to fly out to meet you!!
Goooo-------!!!

45
p1/2
---2 years later
Like I said yesterday, those who haven't submitted their carer aspirations
Turn them in!

p3/4

p5
I'm home
Welcome back

p6

p7
...Listen, mom
Hmm?

46
p1
"Dad is against it"
"It's obvious mom would be against it too"

p2
What is it, Yuuto?

p3
Uh...
Nothing...

p4
I'll go to the public viewing of the arrival to Jupiter now

p5
Okay
Have fun

p6

47
p1/2
What are you going to do, Yuuto?
//You're the only one who hasn't handed in their career aspirations yet
Weren't you going to Core Space?

p3
Ah, that's right!!
You parents are against it

p4
...
W- Well, don't be so pessimistic

p5
Maybe they'll change their minds after they see the Jupitneer's arrival!!
After all, someone they know went there!!

p6
...Yeah

p7

48
p1

p2
This image is from the Jupiter Exploration Satellite
Ohhh!!
Awesome!!
Please be aware that there's a time lag in transmissions from Jupiter

p3
Once the Jupitneer has transferred to the orbit around Jupiter
An arrival message is expected from the crew members

p4
//Th... is Jupi... eer
Ah!
//We have audio!!

49
p1

p2
183 seconds to engine halt
System check

p3

p4
Engine No. 3 temperature is rising
That piece of junk again!!

p5
Sen~ro~ wa tsuzuku~ yo~

p6
Do~ko~ made mo
What the hell is that!?
No~ wo koe yama ko~e~

50
p1
Tani koe~te~
It's a song!!
Hey, who is it!? The audio is going to Earth already!!
tl note: These are Japanese lyrics of "I've Been Working on the Railroad" If you care to listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWGQ-82Rjh0

p2
...That voice

p3
Captain, it's Kousei!!
//Since he's the top batter for the arrival message
That idiot!! The Jupitneer 11's black sheep!!

p4
Wahahahaha!

p5
Kousei~~~
Kyahahaha, he really did it

p6
Make him stop... uh, no
//Whatever!! Let him start the message just like that!!
Kousei, the captain told you to begin!!

51
p1
Geez, at least let me get my heart ready
//Baldy captain
I can hear you, Mister Amami!!

p2
Eh~~~ Ahem!
//Hello, everyone on Earth
The weather on Jupiter is cloudy all over

p3
From here, Earth looks merely as one of a multitude of stars

p4
We've been traveling through space for about two years
Bzzz
//Space is a dangerous place

p5
We never know when something might happen in space
Did something flash just now?
Eh, what!? A UFO!?
No, behind the Jupitneer...
There are also times when something happens and we have no ways of coping with it

p6
...But
//Bzz bzzzz...

52-53

54
p1
Kyaaa-----!!!
Hey, what was that!?
It exploded!!
Was that an accident!?

p2
Err... We are very sorry
//The video is presently...
Eh... Uh, yes, go to commercial...
//Eh, right now!?

p3
Wh- What happened!?
What's going on, Yuuto!?

p4
I- I don't know

p5
...But
//The moment the video broke off...
No matter how I look at it, I can't think of anything but an engine explosion...

55
p1

p2
Th- That
That can't be!!
//...I mean

p3
Kousei...!

p4
We are trying to confirm the present situation
Please stay tuned

p5/6
Bzz----
//Bzzzz
...---
//Ah!!
//Has the video come back?
!!

56
p1
Alright, I hope this connected

p2/3

p4
It broke off in the middle just now
//Sorry about that
The situation has gotten somewhat bad

57
p1
I'm sorry
But I'll be the only one to deliver the message from the crew

p2
H- Hey, what is he talking about?
This is not the time for messages or anything?!

p3
Err... How far did I get last time?
Someone should stop him...
It's impossible, he's on Jupiter!!

p4
That's right
I said that space is dangerous

p5
It's true that space is dangerous
//Humans can't live in space
...But

58
p1
That's precisely why

p2
There's value in what we astronauts do

p3
In space, there are many places that no one has gone to yet
And new discoveries to be made

p4
I want to... go farther into space

p5
The possibilities of space are limitless

p6
That's why I...
No

59
p1
We won't give up!!

p2
Well, the situation might be a little bad
//But it's alright!!
I've undergone intensive training just for such eventualities

p3
...Oh, there's one thing I forgot to say
There's something I noticed when I came to Jupiter...

60
p1
click

p2/3

p4
Wh- What's going on...?
Eh err...

p5
I- Is he alright?
D- Don't ask me!!

p6
Ah...
//We've just received information
According to the announcement from Core Inc which operates the Jupitneer

63
p1
The signal from the Jupitneer was lost while it was in orbit around Jupiter
The current status of the crew is unknown
//The situation and the root cause are being investigated

p2

p3
I repeat
//The Jupitneer
Then the video just now was really...

p4
Did something terrible happen?
What's going on, Yuuto?

p5
Yuuto!?

62
p1/2/3/4/5

p6
Yuuto
The teacher said to hand in career aspirations at once...

p7
You still haven't written anything?

p8

63
p1
...I'm scared

p2
Something like that happened to the Juptneer... to Kousei...
I didn't think...

p3
Now I finally understand
What Kousei told me...

p4

p5
Did you see it yesterday!?
That was amazing, just like a movie

p6
I wonder what's going on with the Jupitneer~~~
//If something exploded like that in space...

64
p1
An expert on the internet said
That the mission failed!! The lives of the crew are beyond hope

p2

p3
...But you know
He was amazing, that Amami Kousei

p4
He was smiling in that kind of a situation
If it were me, I'd be crying my eyes out
Idiot
//Don't compare yourself to him

p5
In the end, only people who don't feel fear even in such times
Would be chosen for the Jupitneer crew

65
p1
It's not true!!

p2

p3
I... It's
//...

p4
Uh...!
Hey, Yuuto!!

66
p1
Shit...!
Why did I argue so self-importantly with him...?

p2
"Kousei, why did you say something like that back then?"
"That you're scared of going to Jupiter"
"In the end, only people who don't feel fear even in such times..."

p3
Isn't that the same as me in the past!?
That astronauts don't feel fear...

p4
...But Kousei was different, he was way ahead

p5
Even though he was scared... He sent that message without yielding to his fear...
...Moreover, that was

67
p1
"Kousei, you'll go to Jupiter, complete the mission successfully, and return"
"It's a promise"
That was the sign of the promise!!

p2
...And yet
What am I doing!!?

p3

p4
Yuuto!?

p5
Why aren't you at school!?
Mom!!

p6
Kousei... I've made my decision

68-69
p1
I am
Going to space!!

p2

p3
What do you mean?

p4
I want to enroll in Core Space and become an astronaut!!

p5
You know that your father
Is against you becoming an astronaut, right?

p6
...Yes, I know
And that you're against it too...

p7

70
p1
After you saw...
//The accident with Kousei-kun's Jupitneer
Aren't you scared?

p2
I am

p3
...But
//I can't just watch anymore!!

p4
If I only watch
I can't go out to save Kousei!!

p5/6

71
p1
Alright
Do it

p2
Eh!!?

p3
It seems you're misunderstanding something, Yuuto
I've never said that I'm against you becoming an astronaut

p4
But since you came out and said it, even though you'd never said anything *until now*
It means that you've decided after thinking it through, doesn't it?

p5
U- Until now...
Mom, you knew?

p6
Of course I did!
I'm your mother and an astronaut's wife!!

72
p1
Do it!!
If you don't, you'll regret it!!!

p2
I'll do something about your father...

p3
However!!

p4
Since you decided this yourself, from now on it's all your responsibility

p5
Get ready for it!!

p6
Yes!!

73
p1
---Year 2079, April
You haven't forgotten anything?
Hmm~~~ Probably

p2
The luggage you sent off earlier has arrived to the school?
It should

p3
You don't seem too sure~~~
Are you really alright?
I'm fine

p4
When you come back, bring a souvenir
//Sweet potatoes
If I remember

p5
...So
When I are you coming back next time?

p6

74
p1
When I become an astronaut!!

p2
Good!
Go on!!

p3

p4
I'm going!!
nb: The first step toward Jupiter is finally made---. Next time, Yuuto heads to Core---.

right: Next chapter is also special 42 pages!!