Sket Dance 66

1
[Insert text: Himeko tries a little palm-reading... will it work?!]
Himeko: Your life-line's all over the place......... // I predict you'll die tomorrow.
Bossun: WHAT KIND OF PREDICTION IS THAT?!! // You know what? Forget it. I hate fortune-telling and stuff anyway! / Lines on your hand, blood types... like that has anything to do with anything!
Himeko: Wait up! // Let me just look a little more! What about your head line?
Bossun: Just get off me already!
Himeko: Just a bit -
Bossun: Stop it, I said!
Himeko: Let me see - !
Bossun: Get off!!
Himeko: Whoa, your fate line's short!!
Bossun: Shaddup already!!!

2
Himeko: ...You just touched my chest!!
Bossun: Huh? // I did not.
Himeko: Yes, you did!!!
Bossun: I did not. I just brushed against it.
Himeko: What's that face supposed to mean?!! // How can you act like that after you just touched a girl's chest?!! / What are you, a monk?!!
Bossun: Hmm? Ah, come off it. I'm not gonna get all excited just 'cause I touched your chest!
Himeko: WHAT WAS THAT?!! // JUST HOW INSENSITIVE ARE YOU?!! // I'M A GIRL, YOU KNOW -
Bossun: OH, LIKE I CARE, YOU DUMMY
Himeko: WHAT WAS THAT?! OH, THERE'S RUDE AND THEN THERE'S -
Bossun: DU~~~MMY! DU~~~MMY!
[TN: ...and if the rest of those bubbles are actually decipherable, well, they're beyond me, that's for sure. ~_~]

3
Sket Dance
Chapter 66: It's Group Date Time
[Insert text: Ahhh... stop fighting, you guys!]
Bossun: Ahhhhh, I'm bored... // I think I'll head off. Switch, let's go to the arcade or something.
Himeko: Whoa, whoa, leavin' this early? What if a client shows up after you leave, huh?
Bossun: Switch, tell her "Like a client's just gonna show up like that!" for me.
Switch: Like a client's just gonna show up like that.
Seiji: Bossun, are you in here? I have a favour to ask...
Bossun: THERE ACTUALLY IS?!!

4
Bossun: A group date?
Seiji: That's right!
[Box: Former Sket Bombers guitarist / Igarashi Seiji]
Seiji: The idea is to have three guys and three girls, and I was thinking of asking the two of you to come along...... / How about it?
Bossun: ...............
Seiji: Well, I say a "group date", but all we're going to do is go to a family restaurant and have a bit of a chat with these three girls. // The thing is, one of them is a girl I really like...... // I tried asking her out, and she said it would probably be easier to start off in a group, so we should both bring a couple of friends. // Back when we were doing that band together, I thought you were a pretty funny guy, Bossun. / And Switch-kun, too, I hear you're very unique, and quite popular, so I thought you might be a good candidate, too. // I mean, it could be a chance for the two of you to meet some girls too, right?

5
Bossun: Sounds like it could be pretty fun. Why not, yeah? // Might be nice to have a pleasant conversation without anybody butting in with lame comments for once... // With some cute girls...
Himeko: Sure, you go do that. // I'm not gonna stop you, you know? // It'll be a cold day in Hades the day you two actually manage to entertain any girls, but it is a request from a client, so go for it. / You two go have fun screwing up.
Bossun: Wha - ?! // Like hell I'm gonna screw up! // Let's do this thing, Seiji! / Those girls aren't gonna know what hit them!
Seiji: So you'll do it? Thank you!
Bossun: Ahhh, I'm getting kind of nervous already! / Maybe I don't want to do this after all...
Switch: Oh, I know what you mean.
Seiji: (Can they not feel the pure malice focused on them from behind......?)

6
ShopAssistants: How can I help you~?
Himeko: ............... // (I can't believe I'm doing this...)

7
Girl1: All right, then, shall we all introduce ourselves~? // Yeah?
Himeko: (Ahh...)
Tomoko: Okay...
Himeko: (They're actually all really cute...!)
Onoda: Sure thing.
Himeko: (...Okay... // I take that back! There is an, ah... odd one out...!)
Seiji: Sounds fair.
Bossun: Well, shall we start with the guys, then?
Himeko: (Hmm? Bossun seems surprisingly calm... // Is he actually used to this sort of thing? // ......No... // His lips are stickin' out! // He's gonna crack any minute now!!)
Seiji: I'm Igarashi Seiji. // I play guitar for a band.
Switch: Usui Kazuyoshi. Nickname, Switch. // Please, pay my unusual manner of speech no mind.

8
Bossun: Ablhbhbhblblhbhlhblhblhlbhlbhlbh...
Himeko: (I can't even tell what the heck he's tryin' ta say!! / He really has cracked completely!!)
Seiji: Ehhm... Have we all got those names down okay, then?
Bossun: (Eh? I'm going crazy with nerves...!! // It's not like I'm that bad at talking to girls or anything...... // I talk to the girls in my class enough and stuff... // I must just be overreacting to the idea of a "group date"... // Don't think about it! This is just a client's request!)
Seiji: Shall we start off with a toast, then? / Not that we have any alcohol, but... / [aside]hahaha...[/aside]
Bossun: (Seiji's taking control... he knows how to handle this. // I just have to make sure everybody has a good time! // As long as nothing unexpected happens, this should be a breeze!)
Tomoko: Sorry... / Before we do that...
Onoda: What is it, Tomoko?
Tomoko: I came here today with the intention to make a straight-out confession. // Seiji... I really do like you!

9
Bossun: (And here comes the unexpected!!!)
Seiji: I - I really like you too!
Bossun: (Aaaaagh!!)
Seiji: Would you go out with me?
Tomoko: I'd love to!!
Bossun: (What's this?!! What's going on?!!)
Himeko: (What the hell...?)
Bossun: W - W - W - Wait a minute! / Wait, wait, wait!! // What the heck's going on here?! You're not just gonna leave, are you?!
Onoda: Huh? No way... Tomoko, are you leaving?
Seiji: Thank you, Bossun! // It looks like things worked out!
Bossun: But I didn't even do anything!
Seiji: Well, we'll just be going then...
Bossun: Whaaat?!

10
Seiji: I'm sorry! It would be awkward if things just ended right here, so you handle the rest, okay?
Bossun: Wha - ?! No, no, that's not right, that's not right!!
Seiji: See you!
Bossun: Hey...... wait a minute! He~~~~~~y!!
Himeko: (Gah... this is terrible... // It can't get much worse than this...!! // What're you gonna do?!! // Bossun...!!)
Bossun: Ehmmmmmm... well, then... / San'yuutei Kouraku.
[TN: A Japanese comedian. He's the host in the pink kimono.]
Himeko: (IMITATIONS?!!)

11
Himeko: (What?! Seriously?! He's setting himself up for disaster!!)
Bossun: (Gotta make sure they have a good time...)
Himeko: (Give it up already, Bossun! You're gonna crash and burn!!!)
Bossun: (Gotta make sure they have a good time...)
Himeko: (Not good! He's pushing forward with a sense of duty...!!)
Bossun: And next to the idiot in the yellow kimono we have... in the pink kimono, it's Ko~uraku!
Himeko: (...It's perfect! // Wha?! It's completely perfect! What is this guy?!!)
Bossun: An old pond - Hurry up and jump in - My old wife / I'm Kouraku.
[TN: Yes, it's a haiku. Well, a senryu based on a haiku. No, I'm not going to make it a haiku in English. Yes, it is Kouraku to a tee, though don't ask me if it's an actual quote.]
Himeko: It's Kouraku!! Kouraku to a tee!! Even that face he pulls after he's finished! // Bossun, were you always hiding this incredible talent?!!)
Bossun: Eheheh... // H... How was it?
Himeko: (It was perfect!! You've done it, Bossun!!)
Girl1: Eh~, I don't know...
Onoda: I don't know...
Himeko: (WHADDAYA MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?!! // He was the spitting image, dammitall!! / Bossun, you're not in the wrong here!!)
Bossun: Ehm, okay, here's another one... / Dokumamushi Sandayuu.
Himeko: (Ahh...)
Bossun: Old hag, get yer hands off me! Go live to a ripe old age with that filthy face of yours, old hag!
[TN: Don't look at me. I don't know a damn thing about this Dokumamushi Sandayuu guy ~_~ Incidentally, if anyone cares, that's the goddamn line that basically delayed me from finishing this translation for weeks. Yes, I know nobody cares, but it was irritating me, okay?! >_<]
Girl1: I dunno...
Onoda: I dunno...
Himeko: (OH, COME ON~~~~~~~~~!!)

12
Girl1: Hey, by the way... Usui-kun, why are you only talking through that computer?
Bossun: (Aha... // Right - here goes nothing! // Make it a good one, Switch!!)
Switch: Because I am a robot.
Bossun: (Pfft...)
Himeko: (The hell is that!! // No, actually, I jabbed at that one without thinking, but that could actually work pretty good, Switch! / It's kinda weird, but that just makes it all the better to get 'em laughing! Nice work!)
Bossun: (All right! Now all the girls have to do is react to that, and we've got ourselves a conversation going!)
Girl1: Huh. / Go figure. Kinda cool.
Onoda: Yeah.

13
Bossun: ..................
Himeko: [tiny text...] / ...ction... // ...in' reaction... // ...a fuckin' reaction... // (GIVE A FUCKIN' REACTION...!!! // What's WRONG with these girls?!!! They actually let that one go?!! // It's just not right!! I can't bear it! You're not in the wrong here, okay, Switch?!!)
Bossun: Aghh... this is no good...! I'm so used to conversations with Himeko that I keep expecting there to be some kind of comeback... // Without any comebacks, there's just no conversation...!!)

14
Bossun: (Why the heck are we still sitting around here in this awkward situation, anyway? / Aahhh... I want to go home... // Hm... I've got an email.)
[Phone:]
Inbox
Usui Kazuyoshi
Same here, lol!
(#^ω^)
[/Phone]
Bossun: (Ah... he's reading my mind...)
Onoda: So, hey, you two... do you do any kind of clubs or anything?
Bossun: Hm? / Clubs?
Himeko: (Ahh - good question, crooked-face-girl!)
Bossun: That's a very good question, crooked-face-girl! / Ah... I mean,
Himeko: (Don't call her the same thing as me!)
Bossun: Onoda-san. // We run a club that helps people out when they're in trouble! // We solve any problems that crop up in the school... // And yet... // The three of us are the biggest "problem children" you're likely to find! // That's right... / They call us...

15
Bossun: The HITODENASHI GROUP.
[TN: "Hitodenashi" is basically "lowlife". Not that I think it's that important... it's just a pun on "Rokudenashi Blues", an old Jump boxing manga.]
Himeko: (Pfft...! // Crap... I went and laughed... / This guy's face just cracks me up every time...!! // The guy's on fire today, he really is!!)
Girl1: Oh...? Isn't that a weird sort of name? // I don't really get it. // Did I show you the new stuff I put on my mobile yesterday?
Onoda: New stuff you put on your mobile yesterday?
Bossun: (H... Himeko......!! // Help...!)

16
Himeko: FUCKIN' // REACT ALREADY~~~~~!!!!
Girl1: Huh?!! Wh - wh - wh... what?!!
Bossun: H... Himeko?!! // What are you doing here...?
Himeko: ALL RIGHT!! // FIRST OF ALL, DON'T SAY THAT LIKE IT'S "ROKUDENASHI BLUES" OR SOMETHIN'!!!

17
Himeko: Crooked-face-girl!
Onoda: Yes?
Himeko: [aside]What, ya ANSWER to that?![/aside] // Do you think this guy here looks like he's actually a robot?!
Onoda: Nope, he doesn't~!
Himeko: Damn right he don't! // And that's the point where you go "If you're a robot in the first place, why the hell are you carryin' around a goddamn EXTERNAL COMPUTER to do your talkin'?!!"
Onoda: Right!!
Himeko: An' San'yuutei Kouraku...?! // San'yuutei freakin' Kouraku?!!
Bossun: Huh?!
Himeko: Okay, FIRST of all, ya gotta say SOMETHIN' about that obscure imitation choice!! // Then you can let it go as just a one-off specialty, and REALLY give it to him when he brings out the SECOND one!! // I don't CARE if it's even any good or not, ya gotta at least take the comeback ATTITUDE! Ya don't just let it all GO!! Ya don't just SIT there and watch 'em talk just smilin' an' noddin' the whole goddamn time!! // There's gotta be interaction, one-liners, comebacks, back-an'-forth! Get the conversation rollin'! You're torturin' these guys to the point where I can't freakin' watch it any more!

18
Himeko: All these guys are doin' is sittin' here an' tryin' ta entertain you!! Throw 'em a bone already, would ya?!!! // Hell, it pisses me off in the first place the way you're sittin' there like you're the ones here ta be entertained!! If you're gonna come on a group date, then you can damn well bring somethin' more to the table than just your nice clothes, all right?!!! // Wheeeew... // I'm done.
Bossun: Hime-neesamaaa!!!

19
Bossun: Maaaaan~! / That sure was something!
Himeko: You think you might try appreciatin' me a little more now?
Bossun: Ohh yes.
Switch: Yeppity.
Himeko: ............... // .........So... // What're you gonna do the next time someone comes along with a request like that one?
Bossun: ............... // Hmmmmmmm... // ! // Get you to come along too!
Himeko: The hell is that!
Bossun: Huh?! Was that the right place for a comeback?! / I thought it was a good idea...!
Switch: ...And Mr. Insensitive strikes again.
[TN: You really can't do without the straight man.]
[Bottom text: Next issue, we're all going crazy for that game...?!]