Sket Dance 49

[TN: Usually, when I'm behind on something, I wait until I'm back up-to-date to post my translations in batch. I find it a useful motivation tactic. However with Sket Dance recently, that was getting a little ridiculous. I'm going to be on holiday (probably with no internet) for the next week, and I was trying to get fully up-to-date on Sket Dance before I left, but I didn't quite manage. But I'm posting what I have done anyway. I'll get up-to-date properly in the end! Honest!]

1
[insert text: Playing a guitar... Himeko?! When did this become a music manga?!]
Bossun: ............
Himeko: Okay, sorry, sorry... / Yeah, I was being noisy...

2
Bossun: I was just asking, have you read this week's One Piece?!!
[insert text: One Piece is cool, isn't it...]
[TN: Yes.]
Himeko: Where did THAT come from?!!!
[sket Dance]
[Chapter 49: Kaimei Rock Festival]
Bossun: ...Man, you're making a racket... all "jakajakajakajaka"... / What are you even doing anyway?!!
Himeko: I'm pretty good, right? I kinda learned to play a little a long time ago~!♪
Bossun: Oh, quit it already!! / Why'd you want to play guitar all of a sudden anyway?! Planning on starting some crazy one-woman show?!
Himeko: Like hell I am! // It's a band! A band, okay?! // I've been asked to join a band!
Bossun/Himeko: ......
Bossun: Huh? / You? In a band? And what're you going to do in this band?
Himeko: Huh? Don't tell me... you actually don't know?
Bossun: Don't know what?
Himeko: The festival, of course! // It's a big school event, ya know!

3
Himeko: And its name... the "Kaimei Rock Festival"!! // The Kaimei Rock Festival... Originally started by the previous Principal, it is a unique school event traditionally held here at Kaimei Academy. // Bands formed of volunteers from the students get together and hold a live musical contest - and the members of the winning band go down in history as heroes and stuff!
Bossun: Huh... / I didn't know we had an event like that.
Himeko: Well, last year they couldn't get together enough bands, so it ended up getting cancelled. / But this year, it looks like there are plenty of bands planning to take part in the contest!
Bossun: ...So... / You're going to be in this festival?
Himeko: Sure am.
Bossun: Playing the guitar?
Himeko: Sure will.
Bossun: Seriously?! Who even asked you to, anyway?
Himeko: Yabasawa-san.
Bossun: Yabasawa-san?

4
Himeko: Yeah, you know, she's real good at singing, right? So she said she wanted to try singing vocals for a band. / She knew I could play a bit of guitar, so she came and asked me to help her out.
Bossun: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! // That's just totally and fundamentally wrong!! Besides, surely it's choir-type songs that Yabasawa-san's good at singing, right? She can't sing in a rock band with a voice like that!!
Himeko: But she said she wanted to give it a shot, so...
Bossun: Jeez, how much of a go-getter is that girl...?
Himeko: By the way, since Yabasawa-san's family run a bookstore, the band name's gonna be "Yabasawa Books".
Bossun: Okay, enough pictures of Yabasawa-san! Did she just hog four frames in a row?! What's with that?! // Anyway, what's wrong with you, going off and doing a thing like that on your own? // Trying to leave me out?
Himeko: Well, it's not like I can help it, can I? We're a girl band. / An' anyway, you can't play any instruments.
Bossun: Well, I guess you're right. / But me and Switch will be there on the day to cheer you on, so give it your best shot!
Himeko: Come to think of it, Switch was saying he'd been asked to join a band as well...
Bossun: Whaaa?!! // What? / How did HE end up in a band, then?! // Who was it that invited him?!

5
Himeko: Otakura-kun.
Bossun: Otakura-kun? / Oh, come off it already with the ridiculous casting! // Anyway, since when can Switch play any kind of musical instrument?!!
[sFX: lots of percussion noises ~_~]
Bossun: He's doing some kind of "drum master" thing!!
Switch: Hey there, baby.
Bossun: Don't you "baby" me!! What's up with that computer of yours today, huh?!
Himeko: It was making drum noises, right? What's with that?
Switch: I call this "Finger-Drumming".
Bossun: Finger Drumming...?
Switch: I have taken audio samples of various drums and assigned them to the different keys on the keyboard. / I can play the drums simply by typing.
Himeko: Huh, that's really kinda cool!!

6
Himeko: Yeah, I get it... 'cause Switch, you're the best when it comes to typing! / And that drumming back there did sound pretty good!
Switch: Thank you, Budokan.
Himeko: Who're you callin' "Budokan"...? // So what, you're gonna join Otakura-kun's band with those Finger Drums of yours?
Switch: That is my intention, but to tell the truth, since I have been working on these Finger Drums, I have developed something of an interest in the real thing. // I have actually even recently been secretly practising with real drums.
Himeko: Hey, good for you! You're awakening to the spirit of rock! // All right, let's have ourselves a little jam session! My guitar and your drums! / Give me a simple 8-beat!
Switch: Okay, my bitches.
Himeko: ...Do you want me to beat your face in? // Whew!

7
Himeko: Bossu~~~~n!!!
Bossun: No... I'm really sorry for not being able to play any musical instruments or anything...
Himeko: Bossu~~n!!!
Bossun: Actually, I'm just sorry for being alive in the first place...
Himeko: We're sorry! We're sorry! Don't get all sulky!! // C'mon, I'll teach you how to play guitar! / Let's do it together, yeah? Hm?
Bossun: Aahh...
Himeko: See, you hold it like this...
Bossun: Like this?
Switch: ...Is he really the main character...?
[Text: Ten minutes later...]
Bossun: ...So this is the F-chord...
Himeko: You're incredible!! // I mean, seriously, there's a limit to natural talent!! / How did you pick that up so easily?!!
Bossun: Huh? Really? You think I'm good?
Himeko: Yeah! You're really pulling it off there! // With guitar, you have to play chords, so it's kinda tough... / ...but if you took up bass, that's a little easier - you've got some real natural rhythm, you could pick it up in no time!
Bossun: Seriously?! / Maybe I should take up bass then!! // You think I could make it for the Rock Festival? / Think I might get scouted?!
Himeko: Yeah, like hell you could!! No gettin' ahead of yourself!! It ain't that easy!!
Switch: Ah, the carrot and the stick at work...

8
[Text: Three days later...]
Bossun: Whaaa?!! // Y... You want me to play bass for you?!
Guy: Yeah...
Bossun/Himeko: ...............
Guy: I mean, you've been practising bass in here for the last two, three days, right? I've been hearing your work from outside, and I was deeply impressed by the progress you're making! / For a beginner, you're incredible! // Me, I'm trying to put together a band for the festival, but I haven't been able to find a bassist anywhere... do you think you could handle it?
Bossun: Ohhh... well, you know...
Himeko: He really is a total beginner, ya know.
Guy: You're the only hope I have! // It will take a lot of practice to begin with, but I'm sure you'll be able to play it in no time! // I'm sure you can pull this off!!
Bossun/Himeko: .........
Bossun: L... / Leave it to me, baby.

9
Bossun: Heheheh... How d'you like like me now? Pretty cool, aren't I?
Himeko: Can't deny that... where'd you get that bass, anyway?
Bossun: One of the members had a brother with an old one that he didn't need, and he gave it to me, just like that~~!♪
Himeko: Oh, stop that!!
Bossun: Once I've decided I'll do something, I'm deadly serious about it. / So of course, I'm aiming to win this festival!
Himeko: Same goes for me. I'm not gonna lose to you!
Switch: This may be the first time we have had to compete against one another.

10
Bossun: All right! Looks like we're all rivals for now!! / Oh, yeah!! We're gonna kick the stuffing out of your pathetic little bands, baby~!!
Himeko: We can do it, everybody!!!
Switch: That's right... can you hear us, up on the second level?!
Himeko: You tryin' to be an idol?!!

11
Bossun: AAAAGH, SHUT UP~~!!! // Give it a rest already, with the strumming and the banging!!! / How can I practice like this, huh?!!
Himeko: Yeah, well, you're not exactly quiet yourself!!
Switch: And all your yelling at one another is even louder still. / But frankly, I think the idea of all of us practising individually in the same room was flawed from the start. // We would be better off in a more conducive environment...
Bossun: Stop tapping that damn keyboard!!! // Ugh, I can't handle you guys any more. / I can't concentrate on achieving true rock with the two of you around.
Himeko: What was that?! Pretty fine words coming from a little amateur rocker like you!
Bossun: I just can't channel my emotions into a cool groove like this!
Himeko: Oh, stop spoutin' that pretentious shit!! / You tryin' to sound cool by usin' words you just learned?! / And what're you tryin' to say, anyway, huh...?!
Bossun: That does it. I'm getting out of here. / I just can't feel the beat while I'm hanging around in this place.
Himeko: That's right, you go run off somewhere! Then we might get a little peace around here!
Bossun: I mean to cast off everything that ties us together, so that I can achieve true freedom!
Himeko: Sure, you do that, see if I care!
Bossun: I'm gonna flee on a stolen bicycle!
Himeko: Just hurry up an' get out!! / Ain't nobody stoppin' you!!

12
[sign: Music Room]
Bossun: Whew! // So that's "The Pillows" that our band are going to cover... // I only decided to give them a listen because we're gonna be playing their stuff... / ...but they're actually pretty damn cool... // Still, for a beginner like me, this stuff is trouble... I may be full of raw talent or whatever, but I'm still not that good just yet... / I try and try to play along with the song, but it just doesn't work... // Let's see...

13
Bossun: Hm?
Ayano: Ah... / I'm sorry. // But wow... / You must have been concentrating so hard you couldn't even hear me... // I'm not interrupting, am I?
Bossun: Oh... no... / Not really... // But hey, what were you saying just now? / Sounded like you were saying "chewing gum" or something...
Ayano: Oh... // Heheh... I was just saying your guitar might need a little tuning, that's all.
Bossun: Tuning? / Oh, you mean the strings need sorting out?
Ayano: It sounded like your first and third strings were a little out. // Could I have a look at them?

14
Ayano: Right! Try playing it now!
Bossun: O - Okay... // It's perfect... // Nice!! Thanks for that! So my strings were out, were they... I see...
Ayano: Eheh... / Are you entering the Rock Festival, then? / It looks like it's going to be pretty big this year.
Bossun: Yeah. / You sure know a lot about music. // That's a violin, right? // ......... / Wait... // A violin...?

15
Bossun: I see...! / So you must be Sugisaki Ayano, then...!
Ayano: Oh? // How did you know...? About me...
Bossun: Of course I've heard of you! You're famous, right? Switch was telling me how you were on TV and everything! / About the genius vionilini... violinili...st... who goes to our school!
Ayano: That wasn't quite right, but thank you. // But I'm really not a genius or anything. / There are many, many people out there just as good as me... // But what about you? I can hardly believe you've only been playing the bass for three days! // I think you're more talented than I am!
Bossun: Oh, no... I mean, yeah, maybe, but...
Ayano: ...You can't even deny it...
Bossun: Oh, yeah, Sugisaki-san, I heard you're going to study abroad in Germany, right? / That must be amazing... // When are you going?
Ayano: ............ // Yeah...

16
Ayano: The thing is, I'm still not sure... // ...whether I want to study abroad or not... // I mean, I do love my music, and there's nothing I'd like more than to be able to keep pursuing it for my whole life... // ...but... / ...it all just seems a little too unrealistic... / ...I can't shake the feeling that it's just a crazy dream... so I'm finding it hard to take that step. // I feel like the only people who can really achieve incredible dreams like that are the really special ones... the ones who were born under a lucky star, set aside from all the rest... // Me, I'm just an ordinary person; all I have going for me is perseverance and hard work... I don't feel like those kind of dreams are within my reach... // Well, you know... // I guess it could just be that I'm scared, really...
Bossun: ......... // You really don't have much confidence in yourself, do you...

17
Bossun: Well, it's not like I can exactly identify with your situation... // ...but I can at least understand why you feel scared. // I mean, we're talking about setting yourself apart from the world... // But, well, if you just sit there and don't do anything, then your chances are zero, right? // You're the only one who can grant your own dreams, you know!
Ayano: ......Uh-huh. // You're right, of course. // Thank you. / I'll try to be more positive about this. // The truth is, I have to make my final decision about studying abroad very soon... / But I feel a lot better about it now... eheheh...
Bossun: Final decision, huh... // That kind of thing can be pretty scary.
Ayano: Yeah... // It is.

18
Ayano: But anyway, enough of all that!! You were in the middle of practising, weren't you?! / Come on, carry on! // Rock music isn't exactly my area, but I do at least understand the essentials of sound and rhythm! // I'd like to see what you can do!
Bossun: Ah... ahhhh... / R - Really?
Ayano: Yes, really! // Come on, try and play along with the CD! / I'm not going to go easy on you, so watch out! // That's right! // Try and watch your tempo there! // That's good, you're doing well!
Bossun: Man, I can't believe I actually got you to teach me... / Thanks for that, really.
Ayano: Oh, no, I was the one intruding, surely...
Bossun: Oh, no! / I feel like I've really managed to improve a lot today now!

19
Ayano: Well, you'll be back practising in here again tomorrow, right? Eheheh... / I'll drop by again as well. // Make sure you practice at home as well! / Bye, now!
Bossun: Yeah... // Man... / That classical stuff's really something too... // Hey there, ladies and gentlemen! / I have returned~!
Himeko: What?! // What did you say?!! // Right... // Huh? What's so awful?! // Hold on a minute, Yabasawa-san!! / Yabasawa-san!! // No way......
Bossun: ............?!
[insert text: Something's gone wrong?!]