xxxHOLiC 192

Guidelines For Using My Translations

1
xxxHOLiC
Chapter 192
[Side text: The woman speaks of feelings, of resolution, and...]
Customer: I said before, did I not? // When one cannot see, things become easier to understand.
Watanuki: ......
Customer: As a cat is born into the world as a cat... / ...doubtless she never even dreamed that she might become a shamisen. // However, / it was in this form that she first came before me. // As such, // I have poured all of my resolution as a player of the shamisen into playing her.

2
[Side text: The love that this woman feels for "her", she now plays through the medium of words. This gentle timbre resonates powerfully in Watanuki's heart!!]
Customer: Even if it may be that I am merely interpreting matters in a way convenient to myself... // ...and she herself does not truly appreciate it in the slightest.
Watanuki: ...This shamisen... / ...sought its most dearly beloved not as a cat, but as a shamisen. / I believe that to be the answer. // That must be... / ...why the music that you and this shamisen make together is so beautiful.

3
Customer: Thank you. // ...I see that you too have something to which you have dedicated your entire self.
Watanuki: ...Indeed I do. // I have made my decision.

4
Customer: That must be why your voice too is beautiful.
Watanuki: Now you really are speaking too highly of me.
Customer: Now, then. / Since my wish has been granted, I suppose I must express my thanks. // I believe this shop requires some manner of "price"?
Watanuki: ...Yes.
[SFX: touch]

5
Customer: Would she herself... // ...be sufficient?
Watanuki: Eh?
Customer: Or would that not be enough?
Watanuki: No, I mean... / Surely that shamisen is very precious to you...!
Customer: Is that not the very reason why it might serve as an appropriate price?

6
Watanuki: It is too much.
Customer: In that case...
[SFX: clink]
Customer: Perhaps I could take this?
Watanuki: But that's...
Customer: It may be broken, but it is still precious. / To me, at least.

7
Customer: Besides which... // I daresay she... / ...no longer wishes to sing for anyone but him.

8
Watanuki: ...Very well.
[SFX: step]
Mokona: Drinking out here already on your own? That's not fair!

9
Watanuki: Sure it is. / I prepared the sake myself, it's only natural for me to drink it on my own.
[SFX: patter patter]
Mokona: It's not fair that you went to prepare sake and didn't bother to get any for anyone else!
Watanuki: [aside]...come again?[/aside] / Here you go.
[SFX: place]
Mokona: You really are a hero~~~! // [aside]MORE JUSTICE!![/aside]
Watanuki: [aside]yes, yes...[/aside]
[SFX: pour~~ // ka-thump ka-thump]
Mokona: [aside]pour it right up to the brim of the glass![/aside]
Watanuki: [aside]and how do you plan on drinking it then?[/aside]
Mokona: [aside]I'll bring my mouth to it![/aside]

10
[SFX: superfull~]
[SFX: sip sip sip...]
Mokona: I spotted a new addition... / ...in the storeroom.
Watanuki: Mm-hm.
Mokona: The price?
Watanuki: That's right.
Mokona: ...Was it the right value?
Watanuki: Nothing in particular happened when I decided to accept it...
[SFX: blow]
Watanuki: ...so I suppose so.

11
Mokona: Prices have to be exactly the right value. / You can't take more or less than is necessary. // Yuuko always used to say that.
Watanuki: So I hear.
Mokona: That didn't stop you from taking too little from your customers all the time when you started out, and getting injured as a result. / In order to account for the difference.
Watanuki: I didn't do that because I wanted to. / These days, I make sure to use this eye and the power that rests in my bloodline to check if a price is appropriate before accepting it.

12
Mokona: ...You'd still grant the wish, though. Even if it wasn't enough.
Watanuki: Nah, that's not true. How many years do you think I've been running this shop for now?
Mokona: It doesn't matter how many years pass. You're still who you are. / There are things that change, and things that don't. // That's why everyone's always worried. / About you hurting yourself again.
Watanuki: There really wasn't any problem this time. / Really - does it look like I'm injured at all?
Mokona: Even if it worked out this time, that doesn't mean it will next time. / You said the same thing that time you almost died.
Watanuki: Almost dying is one thing. Dying is another.

13
Watanuki: I made a promise that I would stay here granting wishes. / A promise with Yuuko-san. // I promised to wait here in this shop until we meet again. / So you see... // I won't die.

14
[SFX: blow]
Watanuki: ...I wonder where Syaoran-kun and the others are about now.
Mokona: Last time I had contact with them in my dreams, they were in a country called Piffle. // It's a place they've been before.
Watanuki: I guess we don't need to worry about them...
Mokona: Yup. / Apparently they're getting a new arm made for that black ninja guy.
Watanuki: That's nice to hear.
[SFX: touch]

15
Watanuki: That blue earring you wear...
Mokona: You don't have to worry about that. / The Mokona who's with Syaoran and the others is wearing it. // Mokona and Mokona are the same... // ...so we don't need a price to share things with each other. // And the memories stored inside that earring... / ...will be sure to lead them to all the people... / ...they want to meet.
Watanuki: ...I see.

16
Mokona: Syaoran is worried, too. / About you. // If he comes to the shop, he'll be mad with you!
[SFX: boing // boing]
[SFX: shift]
Watanuki: Ahahah. // Tell you what, I'll make some snacks. / Something special.
Mokona: Special?!
Watanuki: I'll use the tai I've been saving.
Mokona: Saving?! That makes it like three times as good!! // [aside]three times the awesome![/aside]
Watanuki: [aside]surely that's when things are red.[/aside]
[TN: Gundam reference ~~ Apparently there's a running joke of some sort that something being red makes it automatically three times as good, based on the Red Comet from the original Gundam famously going at "three times the normal speed".]
Watanuki: Don't tell Doumeki. / I'm sure he'll show up later.

17
Mokona: I won't! It's all for us~! // [aside]yahoooo~~~![/aside] // And we can have six times the sake! // [aside]aahhhhhh~~![/aside]
Watanuki: Six times now?!
Mokona: ...... // We're all here. // Whether we're by your side, or far away, we're all here. // That's why... // ...even if you're on your own, you're never alone. // ...Watanuki.
[Side text: Wishing leads to feelings, believing leads to love... though he lives in an endless moment, Watanuki's bonds make sure he is never truly alone!!]
[Bottom text: To be continued next issue - see you in Young Magazine Issue 52, on sale Saturday 21st November!]