Sket Dance 55

1
[insert text: Who do we have here...? Why, it's that "Romantic Bomber"...!!]
Roman: *pant* // *pant*
Someone: Oh - Roman-chan!
Roman: (My name is Sa -) // ! // Ahh! // Aaahhh!!
Someone: Are - you okay?
Roman: (Saotome Roman...)
Someone: (She looks... depressed...!!!)

2
Bossun: Ahhh... where is it? // I mean, a manga manuscript isn't exactly small...
Roman: I'm so sorry to put you through all this trouble...
Switch: There's just one page left to find, right?
Himeko: Here it is! This is it, right?
Bossun: Ahh - good work, Himeko!!
Roman: Thank goodness~! Thank you so much! / I was afraid I'd have to draw it all out again, after I'd just finished as well...
Himeko: So what is it, then? I thought I caught a glimpse of somethin' pretty good in there... // You gonna submit it to somewhere or something?
Roman: Oh, no - that's not what this manga is for at all. // You see, recently, a first-year joined up with the Manga Club.
Bossun/Himeko: ?
Roman: She's my first real kouhai, so I was really happy... // But she still doesn't really know much about how to draw manga and everything... // So I was wondering what I could do for her, you know, as her senpai... / ...when it came to me!

3
Sket Dance
Chapter 55: Hetappi Manga Kenkyuujo Romantic
[insert text: Sorry, Murata-sensei!]
Roman: "Hetappi Manga Kenkyuujo Romantic"!
[TN: A blatant parody of the manga "Hetappi Manga Kenkyuujo Returns" by Murata Yuusuke, which started earlier this year in Jump. (Which is, incidentally, itself a remake of the 1982-84 manga "Toriyama Akira no Hetappi Manga Kenkyuujo".) For the record, "Kenkyuujo" translates as "Laboratory", "Institute", etc.]
[Text:]
Saotome Roman no
Hetappi
Manga Kenkyuujo Romantic
[/Text]
RomanSensei: I'll teach you how to draw shoujo manga~!☆
Himeko: What, YOU'RE doin' it?!!!
Roman: Since you're here, I'd like to hear all your opinions on it! // Could you take a look, so that I can make sure it really makes manga techniques clear enough for beginners?
Himeko: Roman writin' a manga tutorial, huh...
Bossun: I have a bad feeling about this...
Roman: It starts off introducing Heta-P-kun, a student who decides to try to become a manga-ka!
Bossun: Well, let's just try and not make too many nasty remarks...
Himeko: Yeah, we should try an' hold it in...

4
[Label: Roman-sensei]
[Text: STEP 0]
[Text: Let's Become A Manga-ka!]
[Label: Heta-P-kun]
RomanSensei: My name is Saotome Roman! // I'm a popular Manga-ka!
Monster: Graaaar! You're cute, so I'll attack you~!
RomanSensei: Aaahhh! A monster in broad daylight!!
[bubble: At that moment, a young boy happened to be walking by!!]
Heta-P: Oh, no! A girl is being attacked by a monster in broad daylight!! // I have to phone the police!
RomanSensei: Help meee! // There's only one thing for it... // Take this... G-Pen!
Monster: [aside]Save meee~![/aside]
Heta-P: Are you all right?
Roman: I'm okay!
Heta-P: By the way, what was that you just used?
Roman: Oh, this is called a G-Pen! It's one of the pens used for drawing manga!
Heta-P: Wow... a G-Pen... // (A manga-ka...!)

5
Heta-P: Maybe I could become one, too...!
Himeko: WHAT THE HELL?!!! // Seriously, WHAT?!! What the HECK?!! // How the hell does that suddenly make him want to be a manga-ka?!! It's got nothin' to do with anything!!
Roman: I just thought he should have a reason behind wanting to become a manga-ka, so I came up with this...
Himeko: How the heck is this a "reason"?!! // All that happened was Roman-sensei stabbin' a monster with a G-Pen!!
Bossun: Now, now...
Roman: So after this, Heta-P-kun begins having manga lessons! / I was trying to make something similar to Murata-sensei's "Hetappi Manga Kenkyuujo Returns", that's running in Jump at the moment.
Bossun: "Similar", she says...
Himeko: Is this girl actually serious...?
Switch: Still, pictures and style aside, Roman's knowledge when it comes to manga is impressive.
Bossun: Hmm... // Well, I can't deny that.
Himeko: Yeah, we're total amateurs, so we should at least keep readin' and see if we learn anythin'...
RomanSensei: On the next page, you'll find a simple guide to the tools you'll need to draw a good manga!
Bossun: Let's see...
RomanSensei: Let's all learn together~!☆

6
Bossun/Himeko: WHAT THE HECK?!!
[Text: STEP 1]
[Text: The Tools You'll Need]
[Pen nibs: There are all sorts of types, including the G-Pen and the Maru-Pen!]
[Penholders: There are plenty of different types, so pick the one that suits you!]
[ink: There are many types.]
[Mechanical pencil: There really are all sorts of these. Choose whatever you're most comfortable with.]
[Eraser: There are quite a variety of types. Why don't you try them all!]
[Correction fluid: Misnon is the most popular brand. // However, there are many other types.]
[screentone: There are many different types.]
[Calligraphy pen: There are a surprising number of different types! Different thicknesses have different uses.]
[utility knife: There aren't that many types, but there are still quite a few.]
[Tea: Can't draw manga without some of this~~~~!♡]
[Label: Roman-sensei]
RomanSensei: There are all sorts of different types of equipment for drawing manga! Let's study them carefully together!
HetaKoita: Yes, Sensei!
[Label: Heta-Koita-kun]

7
Himeko: I can't read this!! / What's with all the useless screentone everywhere?!!
Roman: Well, I just hate to leave blank space, so when a manuscript seems just too white in places, I can't help filling it up with tone...
Bossun: What, so you're just a total amateur talking like a pro or something?!! // And what happened to the student character?! // Where did Heta-P-kun go, huh?!!
Roman: Oh, his dreams were crushed, so he went off to Tokyo.
Bossun: That's just depressing!!! // ...Not to mention that it hardly actually says anything besides "there are all sorts of types" for everything...
Himeko: It's true... this ain't no "introduction"...
Switch: The pictures are also a little dubious.
Bossun: Roman, what is this, exactly?
Roman: Oh, that's drawing ink.
Bossun: Drawing ink...?
Roman: Yes, it's a kind of water-based pigment ink. When painting, it's helpful to use water-resistant inks, as they won't dissolve in the water. However, they have the disadvantage that an eraser can cause them to fade a little.
Bossun: Huh... / She really does seem to have the knowledge, if nothing else...
Himeko: Yeah, she knows plenty, an' all, but still...
Roman: But of course I would have to say that the most important tool of all for drawing manga is the pen itself!
Bossun: Ah... / What's with that triumphant look...?
Roman: Different manufacturers and different models all have an effect on the pen's performance! / So let's take a look!

8
Roman: This is a G-Pen. // This is a Maru-Pen. // This is a chrome Kabura-Pen. // And this is an aluminium one. // Here's a School-Pen...
Bossun: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA!! I'm not getting any of this!!
Himeko: So those are pens, are they...? I thought they were bugs or somethin'...
Roman: Oh, I can show you a real one if you like! // This is a G-Pen! // Have you ever used one of these, my Prince?
Bossun: Yeah, back when you made me do your assistant-work...
Himeko: Oh, yeah, that "Melancholic Rendezvous" thing...
Roman: Ah! // Sorry - if anybody doesn't know what we were talking about there, you should read the bonus chapter from Sket Dance Volume 3!
[TN: Dammit, Roman, I'm having enough trouble catching up on the MAIN chapters!]
Bosun: Oh, come on, don't start talking to the readers!! // That's enough of that!!
Roman: Himeko-chan, why don't you have a try? / Here.
Himeko: Huh~? Really~? // I should warn you, I'm pretty good at this kinda stuff!
Bossun: You know, I always wonder... where does that confidence of yours even come from? / These pens are tricky little things, you know...

9
Himeko: You're right! / It's all scratchy and stuff... / And the end comes apart, too... what's with this thing?!
Roman: That's right! // Dip pens are difficult to use until you get used to them!
Switch: Usually the issue lies in applying too much force.
Bossun: You should start off touching the pen softly to the paper, and gradually adjust the pressure from there.
Himeko: You're just spoutin' back exactly what Murata-sensei says... / You've been readin' the real Hetappi Manga Kenkyuujo Returns, haven't ya. / Don't preach it like you've mastered it yourselves...
Roman: It's also important to make sure you're holding the pen correctly. // If you're holding it in an unusual way, your fingers can end up applying pressure from odd directions, so it becomes difficult to draw lines accurately. // And you need to position yourself correctly. It can sometimes be the case that you can't draw a straight line because you're not facing the paper at the right angle. / Problems can emerge not just from inexperience and from the tools, but also from habits that you pick up before you learn to use them properly, so be careful. // Don't apply too much force... / Hold the pen properly... // ...and don't forget... / ...you have to untense your shoulders and face the manuscript head-on... // Like this.
Himeko: She can't do it either!!! // I knew this would happen!! / I just knew that this would happen!!
Switch: ...And yet you still let the tension build up for the beautiful payoff.
Bossun: Okay, okay, enough! Let's just move on!

10
[Text: STEP 2]
[Text: Drawing Faces]
HetaKoita: Hmmmmmmmmm... // Roman-sensei~! // I doesn't knows how to draw everybody's faces propperlys~!
Bossun: Huh? / Did he just start talking Momotan-speak?!
Himeko: What, are ya just tryin' to force "character" on him?!!
RomanSensei: Koita... / Is something the matter?
Himeko: Not you too!!
HetaKoita: Yeah, I'm just useless, I can't even figure out how to draw faces.
RomanSensei: Truly it would seem you are useless. / Thusly, I shall teach you the proper methods.
Himeko: Oh, come oh, have SOME consistency!!
Bossun: You haven't even settled on the characters properly!!
RomanSensei: When you start to draw a face, it helps if you first draw out a set of guidelines. // Like an oval with a cross through it. // Using those guidelines, you can make your face point in all sorts of directions. // And then you just have to use them as your guide to place the actual features! // Just... / ...like this!
Himeko: Like I said, you can't freakin' draw!!!

11
RomanSensei: And like this!
[Label: Facing right]
Himeko: That ain't facin' right at all!!
Bossun: Try using the damn guides~~~~~~!!
RomanSensei: You can draw them from all sorts of angles.
Himeko: Whoa, whoa... / This is just... ugh!! Creeps me out!
Bossun: This is like a Picasso or something!!
Roman: Eheh!☆ Thank you......
Himeko: No, no! That was NOT a compliment!!
RomanSensei: Now all that's left is positioning the individual elements! // For instance... / Take this hair... // ...these eyes... // ...nose... // ...mouth... // ...accessories... // ...put them all together and...... // There we go!
Bossun: IT'S ME!!! // What am I doing there?!! / This is just weird!!
Himeko: How'd you get that from those parts, anyway?! Where did the glasses an' stuff go?!!
Switch: No... // Bossun isn't like that.

12
Switch: He's like this.
Himeko: Ahhh~~! It's Switch's Bossun~~~~!!
Bossun: What're you guys playing at?!! Stop embarrassing me!!!
Roman/Switch: (I will not lose!!!)
Bossun: Whaaaat?!!!
[Text: STEP 3]
[Text: Creating Characters]
HetaKoita: Roman-sense~i... // I get how to draw faces now, but... // I just don't know how to come up with characters~! / Do I really just have no talent~?!! // Do I just have no talent?!!!
Himeko: Ugh, this guy's annoying!!
RomanSensei: Well then, let's take a look at how to go about thinking up central protagonists! // Protagonists can roughly be split into two types... // The "admirable"... / ...and the "sympathetic"!

13
RomanSensei: "Admirable" characters make the reader think "I want to be like him!" or "He's so cool...!" // Most shonen manga protagonists fall into this category. / In shojo manga, this is the type of character the heroine is likely to fall for. // "Sympathetic" characters, on the other hand... // These types of characters allow the reader to empathise with them, to identify with them.
Bossun: Huh?! // Where did you get those pictures from?!!
RomanSensei: You don't often see them as stars in shonen manga, since they're, well, a little too ordinary, too plain.
HetaKoita: I see~~
Himeko: Ah, crap... / Ah, crap...!!!
Bossun: Hey... / S - Stop saying stuff like that...!!!
RomanSensei: You don't often see them, since they're a little too ordinary, too plain.
HetaKoita: I see~~
Bossun: WHY DID YOU SAY IT TWICE?!!!
Himeko: C'mon, seriously - give him a break!
Switch: I wouldn't say Bossun counts as a character the readers identify with, mind.
RomanSensei: Now, in shojo manga, the majority of heroines fall into this category. // It makes it easier for the readers to imagine "What if I were in this situation...?", to transpose the romance onto themselves.
HetaKoita: So for example...?
RomanSensei: Let's see if we can come up with a sympathetic character of our own!
[box: My name's Hanada Yamako!]
[TN: An obvious play on "Yamada Hanako", the standard "generic female name".]

14
[box: I'm seventeen!]
Himeko: HUH?!
[box: I'm just an ordinary girl who goes to a private school for monsters!]
Yamako: [aside]morning~![/aside]
Monster: [aside]gege~[/aside]
Himeko: What's normal about that?!!!
Monster: [aside]gege~ // ugege~[/aside]
Yamako: Gege uge gegege ugege~
Monster: [aside]gege gegege uge~ // gegege~ // ugegege~[/aside]
Yamako: (I wonder if a wonderful Prince will ever appear for me~♡)
Monster: [aside]gege~ ugege~[/aside]
Himeko: WHO CAN SYMPATHISE WITH THAT~~~~?!!! // What the hell kind of story is this anyway?!!!
Bossun: Why's she going to a private school for monsters?!! They're all, well, monsters!!
Roman: Monsters can fall in love just like anyone else!
Himeko: We can't even tell what they're sayin'!! How's anyone meant to sympathise with that?!!

15
Roman: Finally, let's talk about storylines!
[Text: STEP 4]
[Text: How To Write Stories]
Himeko: Okay, seriously, what's goin' ON in these title frames?!
HetaKoita: Aaaaaagh, it's no good!! I can't write a story to save my life!! // I'm just a pile of trash... I should just go and die somewhere!!!
[TN: Soul Eater fans - remind you of anyone?]
Bossun: ............
RomanSensei: Koita-kun! / There's no need to die! // Just try raising your head a little. // The sky is always brimming with the light of hope! // Koita-kun... // There's no need for you to die!
Himeko: Do you really need this weird drama?!!
RomanSensei: In a shojo manga, the story is all about "situations"! / If you can come up with situations and characters that a girl can yearn for, all you have to do is play to the emotions!
[box: Teacher and student]
RomanSensei: But to make sure that people actually read it, you need to start it off in a way that will catch people's interest!
[box: A secret date with an idol boyfriend?!]
Bossun: Yeah, it always sounds great as you introduce it, but...
RomanSensei: For instance...

16
Marika: Ahhh~~~! / [aside]I'm late, I'm la~~~te!![/aside] // *pant* // *pant*
Himeko: SO OLD-FASHIONED!!! // Can you not draw anything else?!!
Roman: No, no - look closer! // This time, she has a slice of toast in her mouth!
Himeko: Like I said, SO old-fashioned!!!
Teacher: Okay, everyone~~! // I'd like to introduce a new transfer student.
Mariko: My name's Satonaka Mariko.
Bossun: She's a transfer student?!!
Himeko: What's she doin' showing up late?!!!
Teacher: Let's see, you can sit... over there, behind Yamamoto.
Mariko: (Ahh...)

17
Mariko: (Akira...)
Bossun: She knows him?!!
Himeko: Well, that was unexpected!!
Mariko: (So you were alive...)
Bossun: Whaat?!! She thought Akira was dead?!!
Himeko: What's with this serious story?!!!
Akira: (Back then... After I fell from the cliff, I was saved by the people from the village.)
Himeko: It's turning into a conversation!!!
Bossun: What are you, psychics?!!!
Mariko: (Hah... so that's what happened... I'll just have to make sure I choke the life out of you properly next time.)
Himeko: What, you're the one who killed him?!!
Mariko: (...With my "Lover Soul", that is...!!)
Bossun: What's THAT?!!!! // Oh, come on, this is totally a shonen manga!!!
Roman: It's important to make a real impact to begin with! Don't worry, Mariko and Akira will end up falling in love...
Himeko: How the hell's that work?!! / Look at her, she's out to murder the guy!!

18
Roman: Well, thank you for everything today! // I think I'll take this manga as-is, and make it into a booklet to give to my kouhai, Fumi-chan.
Bossun: Yeah... okay...
Himeko: You really think she should leave it like that? I mean, that thing has some real "impact"... we don't want it givin' her kouhai any weird ideas, right? // I mean, it could end up makin' her drawing worse...
Bossun: Nah, nah... // It's not gonna do anything like that. // No matter what the quality, Roman drew this manga for the sake of her friend, you know? // The effort alone makes it worthwhile.
Roman: Uh-huh... I wonder how Fumi-chan will react when I show her...! / I hope it won't just be a bother...
[TN: Awwwwww. Roman is too cute in that frame >_<]
Roman: Well, bye now!
Bossun: As long as she gets her feelings across, that's enough.

19
Fumi: ...So, the thing is... // I was just so happy that Roman-senpai did all that for me... // I read through the "Hetappi Manga Kenkyuujo" booklet she gave me over and over again... // But... well, this manga seems to have had a profound impact... // I think its influence was... well, too strong... // And now my drawing has become terrible... / ...and it just won't go back to normal... // So, well... Fujisaki-senpai, I've heard that you're very good at drawing! // Please could you teach me to draw?!
Bossun: ...............
Roman: Look forward to Bossun's "Hetappi Manga Kenkyuujo" in the next issue~!☆
Bossun: Yeah, like hell!!
Himeko: You're finishin' up the chapter like that again?!!
[insert text: Fumi-chan, just go read the original manga!]