Sket Dance 50

1
[insert text: Each of the Sket Dance members is separately taking part in the Rock Festival!! Meanwhile, the Student Council...]
[sign: Student Council Executives]
Michiru: This year's Rock Festival certainly looks to be a major event. // There are currently thirteen bands slated to appear... / ...It's an incredible turnout compared to last year.
Agata: Hahahah... / Well, the festival revolves primarily around the second-years, and we have a lot of eccentrics in the second year this time around. // Mind you, going by what's happened before, we could still see numerous bands breaking up and pulling out at the last minute.
Michiru: Even if they did, we'd still have seven or eight groups. That's more than enough to create an atmosphere. / I know we declared that we were planning to participate ourselves, in order to help get the ball rolling, as it were, but it looks like we needn't have bothered. // So what now? Do we continue with this Student Council Band venture? / Frankly, Agata, it's just a pain, don't you think?
Agata: I had a feeling you'd understand, Michiru. / Frankly, it is just a pain. // We're pulling out - and that's an order. / Got it?
Michiru: Ahh... / But surely we can't simply give it up just like that...? // I mean, you did say we were going to do a band...

2
Tsubaki: All right, everyone, it's rehearsal time!! // Everybody to the studio, now!! // We're putting together a new song today!
Michiru: You see...? Some people are actually getting into this...
[sket Dance]
[Chapter 50: Sketchbook]
[insert text: Resound through the whole school!! Play the blazing beat with your soul!!]

3
Bossun: INFLUENZA?! // It's taken out ALL of the Yabasawa Books band members?!! / Seriously?!!
Himeko: Well, Yabasawa-san caught it first... / ...then the bass player, Yumi... / ...then it hit Yoshi, the drummer... / ...and now even Sacchin, the keyboardist, has got it...
Bossun: Wow, those guys all have... impact...
Himeko: Dammit, just how infectious is this Yabasawa virus?!!
Bossun: ............... // But what're you going to do, then? Surely that's a terrible thing to happen at this point?
Himeko: It sure is... it looks like everyone's gotta take it easy for the time being... // So at this critical point, we can't even hold rehearsals... // We're never gonna be able to take part in the festival at this rate!!
Bossun: ...............

4
Bossun: Well, I guess illness is just something you can't help... / At least you didn't get in a fight and break up that way or anything.
Himeko: A fight?
Bossun: Sure, you hear about that happening a lot with newly-formed bands, right? // You know how it is - they give some stupid excuse to sound all cool...
Himeko: Ah! / Switch is back!
Bossun: Hm? What's up with you, then? / How was your rehearsal?
Switch: We have decided to abandon the venture due to artistic differences.
Bossun: ...Speak of the devil, and lo and behold...!!!
Himeko: Huh? Seriously?! You guys have split up, an' all?! / But why?!
Switch: Artistic differences had developed between the individual members.
Bossun: You liar!! / You just wanted to say that, didn't you!!

5
Flashback!Otakura: I really do think that the band name is extremely important. Think of anime characters - it's often the case that you can get an idea of the character simply from the sound of the name, don't you think? Eheh...
Flashback!OtherGuy: Very well put~!☆ So in that case, I suppose we should be thinking about a name that reflects our digital-pop sound? Something refined and symbolic? Yes, we certainly need something that fits us...
Flashback!OtherOtherGuy: Or we could always go for something completely unexpected... Let's see... something like "Tinker☆Bell", or "Pajama Party"... "Chocolate Diary"... "Kurukuru Twinkle"...
Flashback!Switch: This is all very well, but perhaps we could try getting on with the actual rehearsal? // I have achieved a complete mastery of my "finger-drums", but I would actually prefer to play a set of actual drums, so I will need plenty of practice... // I'm rather hoping I can achieve the necessary level of skill in time for the event...
Flashback!Otakura: What, Mr. Usui... Have you suddenly awakened to the spirit of rock'n'roll? / That's not the kind of atmosphere we're going for in our band, you know. // We're really trying to focus on the technological aspect. That's why I think the band-name should be something digital-ish...
Flashback!OtherGuy: Ah, yes - Mr. Otakura! It's high time you showed those two anime that we recorded yesterday!
Flashback!OtherOtherGuy: "Peppermint Gum"... "Angels' Alliance"... "Fancy Boys"... "Soliloquy Of A Strawberry Cake"...

6
Switch: In the end, we did settle on a band name... // ...namely, "CHannel-CHannel". // But that's entirely beside the point. / I went there to rehearse the band's music, but the other members insisted on doing nothing but ramble on about trivialities. As such, seeing that this was going nowhere, I gave it up and left.
Bossun: Oh, yeah, that I can totally see...
Switch: This is why I cannot stand otaku...
Himeko: Yeah, that figures... it's too bad, really. / Oh, and you're an otaku, too.
Bossun: But man, I guess this means in the end I'm the only one entering, huh? // That's terrible, just terrible... I guess you guys just don't cut it in the end, do you, huh...
Himeko: Oh, don't give us that crap! I'm sure something'll happen to your band, an' all!!
Bossun: And your band-names? "Yabasawa Books" and "CHannel-CHannel"? Yeah, they were just too lame anyway, huh...
Himeko: WHAT WAS THAT?!
Switch: What was that?!
Himeko: Well, what's your band called, then, huh?
Bossun: Oh, us? // We've got a dead cool name. I even got them to put "Sket" in it, and everything. // We're the "Sket Bombers".
Himeko: SO LAME. / You've got the lamest name of all of us!!

7
Teacher: No, no, no! // How many times must I tell you this?!! // You must not falter in that section!
Ayano: I... I'm sorry...
Teacher: To be frank... / ...you simply have no talent. // How many people do you think there are in the country in your position, hmm? // You understand? / If you do not excel, then you will amount to nothing!! // Now, this study in Germany could be a way forward... / But this is a lifetime decision, and not one to be made rashly.

8
Ayano: ............... // Right... // That's great, just great! / You're just getting better and better!
Bossun: Oh, no... I'm sure you're just exaggerating... // But I'm real sorry about all this, Sugisaki-san... I'm sure you came here to do your own rehearsing, right? / And all you're doing is sitting there listening to me...
Ayano: Ehehe... Oh, I don't mind. / I do have a tutor who gives me private lessons, after all. // And it's so much more fun watching you improve!
Bossun: Oh, no... you're just flattering me now...

9
Bossun: Hey, by the way... / What made you decide to take up violin, Sugisaki-san? / It's not something many people do...
Ayano: Oh?
Bossun: Yeah... / Were your parents musicians or something?
Ayano: Oh, no... / My parents have never been musically-inclined. // The truth is, I've always been very introverted - as a child, I honestly couldn't do anything by myself. // I always just stayed home, playing by myself... // But then one day, I happened to see a violinist playing on TV... // ...and I think it just touched some kind of chord in me.
Flashback!Ayano: Mommy... I want to try that!
Ayano: I don't really remember myself, but apparently it was the first time I'd ever come out and said I wanted to do something. // My parents were so thrilled about it. // And so they did their research, and got me enrolled in a class. // This was back in my first year of primary school.

10
Ayano: And, well, I've been playing ever since... // Right up to where I am today.
Bossun: ......... // Wow...... // Could I hear you play?
Ayano: Huh?
Bossun: The violin. / Just, you know, play any song you like...
Ayano: Oh... I couldn't! I just...! / It would be too embarrassing! I'm just not good enough!
Bossun: Oh, come on, just how little confidence do you have?!! / I'm the complete amateur sitting here playing bass in front of you, you know?!
Ayano: O - Okay... // Just a little, then...

11
Bossun: Woooow... / That was really something... // I mean, I'm not really big on music or anything... // But man... how to say....! / My heart was just going all "aaaahhh" and stuff...!!
Ayano: Ehehe... / Thank you.
Bossun: It must be amazing to be able to move people like that... / I could never do a thing like that. // So you are going to go to Germany, right? // I mean, with skill like that, you'll have no trouble, I'm sure. / Eheheh...
Ayano: .........

12
Ayano: ...I'm not going. // To Germany. // Yesterday... / I finally decided. // I'm not going to study abroad.
Bossun: B - But why?! // That's such a waste, with talent like you've got!!
Ayano: Oh, I don't have talent... // I've reached the point where I can take up the challenge, but I just don't have the skill to take it any further than that.
Bossun: But you're going there to improve yourself, right? / In that case, it's not even skill or talent that you need. // It's courage.

13
Ayano: That's right... I just don't have the courage to choose to walk a different path from everyone else. // I'm better off just sticking to the normal path.
Bossun: That's all very well and good... // ...but only if that path leads where you really want to go. // But then... // ...going to university... // ...finding employment... / ...and quitting it... // ...even getting married and stuff... // Even if you go down a "normal" path, there'll still be all sorts of points where you have to make big decisions, moving ahead uncertainly, don't you think? // Nobody has absolute confidence right from the beginning. // And living in a world based around talent... / ...well, it might not be the easiest of paths or anything... // But anybody who achieves anything, / I'm sure, // only got there because at some point in their lives... // ...they made some kind of huge decision like this.

14
Bossun: ...Well... // ...That's... just what I think. // ............Not that I'm exactly too confident about it.
Ayano: ......... // Thank you. // And I'm sorry. // But... // I've already made my decision, so...
Bossun: I see. // Then I won't say any more.
Ayano: Bossun-kun... // You're in that club called the Sket-dan, aren't you? // I suppose you're always supporting people with all your heart like that, aren't you.
Bossun: ............ // ...I just don't have anything better to do, that's all.

15
Bossun: But right now, I've got plenty to do! I'm all pumped up for playing in this band! // I've managed to learn to play bass and everything... / You're gonna come and see the show, right?!!
Ayano: Of course! // Ehehe... / I'll be looking forward to it.
[sFX: Onii-chan, phone call for you~!♡]
Bossun: Ahh, sorry, that's my phone.
Ayano: ...That was a ringtone...?
Bossun: Hey. / Oh, our drummer, Keigo. // Rehearsals, right? I'll be right there. // Huh? / What?! // !!! // Wha - ?! // WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!!
Ayano: Huh?! / What's wrong...?

16
Bossun: ...Our guitarits, Seiji, got in an accident and broke his right arm... // It looks like the Sket Bombers won't be able to play in the festival... // I've got nothing to do again...
Himeko: We just kinda ended up doing nothing again all of a sudden... // Dammitall... // This sucks...

17
Himeko: ...So... that Sugisaki-san you were talking about, huh? / That's a real shame... // She's got the talent, but she's just giving up...
Bossun: Yeah. / She just doesn't have enough confidence in herself. // I'm sure if there was just somebody to push her in the right direction, she could really make it...
Himeko: Yeah, I'd really like to help her out... I just don't know what we could really do...
[sFX: grin]
Bossun: You guys have nothing to do, right?

18
Bossun: Let's form a band! / The three of us!
Himeko: Wha?! // Us, a band?! // It's too late for that, surely?!
Switch: ...Let's do it.
Bossun: Come on.
Himeko: All right, then!!
Switch: Let's do it!
Bossun: I have a song in mind... / So let's get rehearsing!!

19
Switch: Bossun. / What should our band name be?
Bossun: Band name, huh... // ...Let's see now...
[Text: Sket Bombers + CHannel-CHannel + Yabasawa Books]
Bossun: ...The Sketchbook.
[insert text: All right! The Sket Band is formed!!]