Sket Dance 25

1
Sket Dance
Chapter 25: Gachinko Vivage Battle
[insert text: Their minds are as one! // Everybody's swapping clothes...?!]
[TN: The "Vivage" is pronounced with three syllables, not with a soft "g" like I keep finding myself wanting to read it ~_~ My best guess is that it's shortened from "viva games" or something along those lines.]

2
[insert text: Some kind of confidential meeting within the school...?!]
[sign: Principal's Office]
Karamatsu: Hahahah! / My, oh my! That manga certainly does seem to have been a hit! // "We're The Student Council-Dance!!", was it called? Hahahah!
Soujirou: Well, that's not quite right...
Karamatsu: A manga based on you guys, selling like wildfire... / As your principal, it certainly makes me proud!
[box: Principal: Karamatsu Genzaburou]
Soujirou: Yes... / I see.
Karamatsu: But, yes... it's because of that manga that this opportunity has arisen...

3
Michiru: Pachinko Beverly Bottle?!
Soujirou: No, no. // It's the "Gachinko Vivage Battle". // You've heard of Vivage City, right? The website - it distributes free mobile-phone games and the like. / Well, this is a kind of public event that they've organised. // It's a huge competition, themed around the minigames they're famous for, but pitting living competitors against one another. / Apparently it's a team contest, five men to a team.
Michiru: And why are we supposed to take part in this?

4
Soujirou: Well, you know that manga that was made based on us? Well, apparently Vivage City are hosting a game based on that manga. / Now, they want to run a special magazine feature - it's all a publicity thing.
[bubble: "We're The Student Council!" Now it's a game!!]
Soujirou: So what they want is for the five of us, the original models for the characters, to participate in this event so that they can base their article around it. // Just the sort of stupid idea that those idiot Weekly Shonen Jump editors would think up.
Michiru: Huh? Why are you suddenly talking like that? // Are you possessed or something? // Either way, this certainly is a rare sight! I wouldn't have thought you the type to take up a challenge like this, Agata...
Soujirou: Well, it was an express request from the principal. Apparently he's friends with one of the editors involved. // Besides, I don't know... // Things have been getting a little boring recently.
Michiru: Hahah... Well, I'm certainly up for it // It would be an honour to be featured in such a major magazine! // Finally, the day has come when my face will be seen by girls all around the country!
Mimori: I'm fine with it, too! // Incidentally, exactly how much money would it take to win the competition?
Michiru: N - No, Mimorin! We can't go around bribing people like that!

5
Soujirou: And you, Daisy? / I know you're not exactly keen on this kind of thing...
Daisy: You don't have to guilt me into this. // You are the President; I will do as you wish. // Just tell me to do it, and I shall.
Soujirou: In that case... do it.
Daisy: Understood.
Tsubaki: Just one moment!! // I do not approve of this! // We exist for the sole purpose of the betterment of this school! / We do not have the time to waste on idle contests!

6
Michiru: ...And Tsubaki's complaining as usual. / Just when everybody was fine with the whole thing...
Tsubaki: I - I am merely - !!
Soujirou: Well, I suspected Tsubaki might raise a complaint of that sort. // But don't forget, the principal himself asked us to do this. / So what do you say? // After all, I do let you deal with the running of this Council... it wouldn't be right of me to start making random exceptions. // Tsubaki... / It's your decision.
Tsubaki: In that case... / We shall not take part.
Michiru: Ahhh! / You're such a spoilsport, you know, Tsubaki-chan!
Soujirou: Very well... I'll go and apologise to the principal.
Tsubaki: Sorry to trouble you.
Soujirou: No, don't worry about it. I'll just call you Mr. Be More Considerate from now on.
Tsubaki: Wha...?!

7
Bossun: Pachinko Beverly Bottle?!
Yabasawa: No, no, that's not it! // It's the "Gachinko Vivage Battle"!
Himeko: ...............
Bossun: ...I'm not sure I get it, but... basically, you wanna enter this competition thing, right? // So, go on, then...?
Yabasawa: No, no, no!! // It's a team activity, I can't do it on my own!
Bossun: Well, why don't you just forget about it? It's just some stupid physical competition thing, right? / Doesn't sound too interesting, really... // Besides, since when were you really the aggressive sort?
Yabasawa: Well... to tell the truth, I'm not, really... / It's not so much that I'm interested in the contest itself...

8
Yabasawa: ...It's the prize that I really want. // The winner gets 1000 VivaGold, and a set of exclusive avatar elements! / Isn't it just awful?
Bossun: .............................. / What? // A thousand AwfulGold? // Exclusive African elephants? // Yabasawa Golden Armed Elbow?
Yabasawa: What the heck?!! No, no, no!! // Vivage City is an SNS site! / VivaGold is a special currency you can use on the site... // And an avatar is the character you use to represent yourself!
Bossun: ............... / What's she going on about...?
Himeko: I can't tell what the hell she's sayin'... // Look, we don't know anythin' about all that stuff.
Switch: Allow me to explain. // Vivage City!! It is a popular website, distributing games for mobile phones, and allowing its users to write diaries, exchange messages, and generally participate in an active online community. // Within this online society, there is a special currency known as VivaGold, which can be used to purchase different "parts" for one's "avatar".
Bossun: ...Switch gets on your nerves, but he does come in useful at times like these...

9
Switch: The "avatar" is a two-dimensional character used as an online representation of oneself. / One can use the various available "parts" to design it according to one's wishes. // Some of these "parts" are available only for a fee, which is where the VivaGold comes in. // Let me show you an example; I have an account on Vivage City myself.
Himeko: You do all sorts of crazy stuff like this, huh?
Bossun: Why don't you tell us about these things, anyway?! / Hell, we never do anything but sit around and play cards!!
Switch: Please observe.
Bossun: Whoooooa!!
[Above picture: Porunga-san]
Bossun: It looks just like you!! / So this is what it's about!
Himeko: But why the hell're you called "Porunga"?!! / Wouldn't it be simpler just to call yourself "Switch"?!
Switch: Porunga is my name within Vivage City. // Thanks to my impressive sweep of highscores, some users think of me as a God.
[Message:]
heyas ^_^
pleased to meet yall, i'm porunga.
i'm lookin for friends who are into gaming, anime and science~!☆
but don't bother if you're an occult geek.
[/Message]
Bossun: ...You're practically a different person online, you know that?

10
Yabasawa: Me too! I made my avatar so it looks like me! / Wanna take a look? // See, here!
Bossun: Whoooooooooooa!!! // That's crazy!!!
Himeko: It really does look like her!! / But something's kinda... wrong!!
Yabasawa: I - I know! There's something wrong, right? // What is it? What have I got wrong?!
Switch: The figure, perhaps?lululululululul
Himeko: It - it's gotta be the eyes! The eyes!!
Bossun: The eyes? She's wearing glasses! / .........The mouth!! Is that it...?!
Yabasawa: That's right... / The mouth, it just isn't right... / But I just can't find a mouth in the standard parts that fits...
Himeko: Of - of course... the mouth...
Bossun: The mouth... / Yeah... that's right...
Yabasawa: But then I looked at the prize-parts from the event... / There are lots of exclusive parts that nobody but the winner can get... // ...And one of those...

11
Yabasawa: ...was a mouth like this!
Bossun: Ahh!! // It's Yabasawa-san's mouth!!!
Himeko: A "3", it's a "3"!! A mouth like a "3"!!
Yabasawa: A mouth like a "3"?! / Well... the point is, it matches, right?
Bossun: It's totally the same!!! / Hell, nobody has a mouth like this but you and Matsuko Deluxe!!
Yabasawa: I've been holding it in, but I've just gotta say it... / It's SOOOO AWFUL!!!
Bossun: So if you just put this mouth on your avatar, it'll look just like you, right? Go on, then!
Yabasawa: No... like I said... were you even listening? // That's just a sample, okay? / The only way to use it is to win the contest!
Bossun: Oh, right! So you want to get this mouth like a "3", and that's why you want to enter the contest! / So... go on, then...?
Yabasawa: I told you!! I can't enter the contest on my own!!
Bossun: So...?
Yabasawa: Ugh!! // You're awful!!! / You just aren't paying attention at all!!

12
Bossun: Y - You want us to enter the contest with you?! // For that mouth?! The mouth like a "3"? For the "3"?!
Yabasawa: S - stop calling it a "3"! It's kinda awful, okay?
Bossun: ..."Awful"?
Yabasawa: The contest is open to teams of five people! / So we'd need to find just one more person... // But if we looked hard enough... do you think?
Bossun: Aaaaaaghhhhhh! This is crazy~~~~!! For a thing like that......?!
[TN: The words "a thing like that" have "a mouth like a '3'" in furigana, in brackets, next to them ~_~]
Himeko: B - But surely one little avatar part isn't such a big deal...?
Yabasawa: B... But... // Knowing it's right there, I can't stop thinking about it!!
Bossun: Yeah... / I know that feeling...
Switch: Bossun... / Just a thought, but I happened to run into the Student Council President in the corridor on my way here...
Bossun: Huh?

13
Flashback!Soujirou: ...So yeah, basically, it looks like we're going to be doing this tournament thing. // Hahahah... / Man, this is going to be a pain in the ass... // Well, right now I'm not feeling all that motivated, but if a group like the Sket-dan decided to enter, it could get pretty interesting, don't you think? // Well... / I guess it's not my place. // See you, then.
Switch: So essentially, it would appear that the Student Council are planning to take part in this contest as well.
Bossun: ............

14
Bossun: WHAT DID YOU SAY? // They're gonna get a magazine feature?! // You mean they're gonna get even more freakin' famous?! // They're just gonna get even more over on us?! // Well, that's different, then!!! // Let's do this thing!!!
Yabasawa: Huh? // What?
Bossun: Those Student Council bastards have been getting all the glory around here!! // Let's give 'em a Gachinko Vivage Battle!!! // It's time to wipe that smug look off their faces!!!
Himeko: Yeah!!!
Yabasawa: Huh? What about my prize...?

15
Soujirou: Hm? / I've got an email...
[Message:]
(From:) Sender Anonymous
(Subject:) it's usui from the sket-dan! *^^*
heya! got a little somethin you might like to know~!
looks like the sket-dan are gonna be enterin that gachinko-vivage-battle too!☆
this could be interesting, huh?~ (-__-*)
[/Message]
Soujirou: Hey, Tsubaki. / I just got an email from that glasses-guy from the Sket-dan. // ...Come to think of it, how does he know my address...? // It's about that contest. // It looks like the Sket-dan are going to be taking part too.

16
Tsubaki: WHAT DID YOU SAY? // Well, that's different, then. // An activity like this could do us some good once in a while.
Soujirou: Aha...!
Tsubaki: Let us enter this tournament. // For the sake of defeatin - for the sake of the article!!
Michiru: Ohhhh? // What's come over him all of a sudden?
Soujirou: Hahahah! // The Sket-dan, huh... / Now, this could be interesting.

17
Soujirou: Well, you heard him. Got that, everyone? // If we're doing this thing, we're going for the top prize. // And that's an order.
Tsubaki: Yes, sir!!!
Bossun: Okay, guys!! Winning or losing isn't important here!! / All that matters here is that we BEAT THOSE STUDENT COUNCIL BASTARDS!!!
Himeko: YEAH!!!
Yabasawa: Hey!! / What about my avatar?!! The number-3 mouth?!
Bossun: We're gonna beat them so hard their mouths'll look like the number 3!!
Yabasawa: Hey... Haven't you forgotten about something?!! / Oh, this is awfu -
[box: And so...]

18-19
[Text: Student Council Executives VS Sket-dan... // The all-out showdown has begun!!!]
[Names: Agata Soujirou // Tsubaki Sasuke // Unyuu Mimori // Shinba Michiru // Asahina Kikuno // Fujisaki Yuusuke // Onizuka Hime // Usui Kazuyoshi // Yabasawa Moe // Sket Machine I]
[insert text: It's an all-out Gachinko battle with the Student Council!!]
[TN: "Gachinko", incidentally, is a term for a serious match, originally from sumo, and currently a Japanese pro-wrestling term, equivalent to the English "shoot", for combat that is genuine rather than staged. At least, that's what I gather from scanning a couple of English and Japanese Wikipedia articles.]