xxxHOLiC 149

1
xxxHOLiC
Chapter 149
Doumeki: ...Here, huh...
Watanuki: Himawari-chan looked into it for us. // Kohane-chan is doing a live broadcast today from this building.
Doumeki: What're you gonna do?
Watanuki: I just want Kohane-chan never to forget that I'm here. // Though there may be nothing I can actually do just be being here.
Doumeki: I'd say that's enough.

2
[side text: Hidden resolve in his heart, Watanuki arrives at the TV station before the filming. Can he save Kohane from her silent sorrows?!]
Watanuki: ...There's the reception desk... // We have to ask them where Kohane-chan is...
[sFX: stop]
Doumeki: What?
Watanuki: ...I might not be able to get them to say.
Doumeki: Huh?
Watanuki: Doumeki, could you do it instead?
Doumeki: ...I'd say you'd have a better chance than me... // Hell, you're the one who's always going on about how cold and blunt I am.

3
Watanuki: Yeah. / And brazen, to boot. // But I'd still like you to go.
[sFX: turn]

4
Watanuki: Even if I am human... to that person there at the reception desk, I may not even exist.

5
People: Whoa, whoa... / We're actually gonna use that kid? // Call her a medium? She's just a lousy failure!
[sFX: grate]
Doumeki: In the interests of security, they're not telling us which room's hers. // Only employees of the studio are allowed inside. // Apparently, they've been getting a lot of nasty phone calls and emails about her show.

6
Doumeki: Let's go.
Watanuki: Go where?
Doumeki: I got a look at a plan of the building. // There's a side entrance.
Watanuki: Let's go, then.
Somebody: We're going on-air!
Mother: You've got to get it right this time round! // You can see them with that eye of yours, right?!

7
Mother: Ugh, it's all that student's fault, isn't it?! // Even though I took all that care to make sure you were sheltered from all that filth entirely!!
Kohane: Kimihiro-kun isn't filthy.
Mother: Saying his name like that... what are you...?!
Kohane: He's clean, and he's kind, too.

8
Medium: I'm telling you, I just won't do it! / I can't be seen on-air with a little fraud like that!
Somebody: No, listen... / We're just drawing a kind of contrast! // The real thing, and the fake! // We need you to go out there so we can show just how superior you are!

9
Medium: Well, you'd better make this the last time! / And get rid of that stage mother of hers, as well! / The self-important old swine...
Somebody: Of course, of course! / We were always going to get rid of them if she doesn't show us some proper results this time.
Medium: I've read about her in a magazine... / I'm not surprised her husband ran out on her.
Kohane: ...Mother...
Mother: Why to we have to sit here and take this kind of abuse?!!

10-11
Mother: I don't care if it's a lie or whatever! // Just give them what they want!

12
Kohane: ......I see. // ...All right.

13
[sFX: ka-chunk]
Somebody: If Kohane-san would come to the set now, please!
[sFX: sweep]
Kohane: ...I'll put an end to this.
Watanuki: So there's a security guard... / ...figures...
Doumeki: They'll know over at the studio if you go in there.
Watanuki: ...Just how far did she "look into this"?
Doumeki: The thing is... / Kunogi's father actually works at this station.

14
[side text: Hitsuzen brings the three together... destiny has intervened!! What will those unflinching feelings, that unflinching resolve, bring to Kohane...?!]
Watanuki: Some coincidence...... / ...or not, I suppose. // If this is "hitsuzen", then that just means I really have to get to her... / To Kohane-chan... // Kohane-chan!