Sket Dance 62

1
Sket Dance
Chapter 62: Ogress (6)
[insert text: How will they react to Himeko's confession...?!]
Himeko: I'm the... // ...Onihime. // So now you know. / So just head on home now, please. // And you mustn't ever... // ...involve yourselves with me again.

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Chiaki: No way.
Himeko: Whaa?!
Chiaki: Well, why?! / So what if you're the Onihime?! I know you're not a bad person, Onizuka-san!
Himeko: L... Listen, okay?! // I'm just not like you guys! All I'm good for is terrifyin' people!
Chiaki: Well, you don't scare me!!!
Bossun: Hahahah!
Himeko: Ngh...
Bossun: Are you going to try and push people away until you're all on your own again? // Hiding the fact that you're the Onihime... / ...and living like that until the day you graduate?

3
Himeko: ...That's right.
Bossun: Huh. / Well, I'm not having any of it! I'm gonna tell the whole damn school that you're the Onihime!
Himeko: What?!! / Why would ya do a thing like that...?! / Just leave me alone!
Bossun: And then... // I'll make sure every last one of them accepts you!!!
Himeko: .........!! // Th... There's no way you could pull that off. // They'd all just be too scared to even come near me.
Bossun: Well, you're not going anywhere near them right now, so where's the difference?
Himeko: .........

4
Himeko: You just don't get it, do you. // Listen, okay? // I've hurt... / ...one hell of a lot of people. // Sure, I never beat the shit out of anyone unprovoked... // ...but still... // ...that doesn't change the fact that I hurt 'em all. // Even today... // All I do is make enemies, / cause conflict... // You don't want to have anythin' to do with me. // I'm better off on my own. // So please, just... get outta here.
Bossun: .........

5
Bossun: You've hurt a hell of a lot of people, huh? // So what, are you telling me you haven't been hurt at all? // There are plenty of guys out there who just don't understand anything unless you beat it into them. // And, well... // There aren't that many people out there who have the strength to stand up to those kind of guys. // I'd say it's a good thing you have that strength.
Himeko: Nobody's ever... // ...said that to me before...

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Bossun: What do you say... to putting that strength to good use?
Himeko: ? // "Good use"?
Bossun: There's something I've wanted to do since I joined this school. // I want to start a club. / A club to help people. // Helping out people in the school who are worried, or in trouble. I was just thinking about looking for some other members to start it with. // I think you'd be perfect. / How about it? Would you do that with me?!
Himeko: A... // A club?

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Himeko: D... Don't be so stupid! Why the hell would I do that?! / Just give it up already! You don't have to go out of your way to -
Bossun: I'm not!! // I need you for this!!! // To deal with all kinds of problems, I'm going to need all kinds of power. // Please, lend me yours! // I need that crazy powerful strength you've got!

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Himeko: (Need......?)
Chiaki: Go on, why not, Onizuka-san?! // Really, I would've liked you to join the softball club, but I think this suits you better!
Bossun: Yeah. // This is your place.
Himeko: (My place...)
Flashback: Go away... // Onihime...
[Text: My hero was a TV character. // And with that ridiculous-looking... // ...red, horned cap on his head...]

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[Text: Dripping with sweat... // ...he appeared before me.]
Flashback!Bossun: I would NEVER betray a friend!! // Would you do that with me?!
[Text: Even though I was a demon...]
Bossun: Hm? // Hey...
[Text: That hero...]
Bossun: Ahh...? // I - Is something wrong?
Chiaki: Onizuka-san?
[Text: ...came to rescue me.]

10
Himeko: Stop staring, you dumbass...! // Uaaahh... / *sniff* // Uaaahhhh...!
Bossun: You... haven't cried for a long time. / Have you?
Chiaki: It must be nice, huh, Onizuka-san? // Finally finding a place to cry...

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Chiaki: Go on, now!
Bossun: Whaaa?! // Me? // Don't push me forward like that! // Look - hey - my shoulders aren't that big and stuff -
Chiaki: Go on, now!
Bossun: I said stop pushing me! / Hey - !
Himeko: Aaahhhhh... / Waaaaa~~~~~~~~~~~~~~hhh! // Waaaaaaa~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~hhhhh! // Uaaahhhhh... // Waaaahhhhhhhhhhh~~!

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Himeko: Hey... why did you come in that Poppman hat, anyway?
Bossun: Hm? // Oh... // Well, y'know... it kind of gets me all pumped up... // Since I was going to help someone, I just kinda, y'know... / Is it weird?
Himeko: ............ // Nah, it's not weird. I think it suits you.
Bossun: Huh?! // Really?
Himeko: Really. You look just like Poppman.

13
Bossun: Ahhh... R - Really? You mean it? / Takahashi-san - do you think this hat suits me?
Chiaki: Yes... it really does.
Bossun: Oh, you liar!! What's with that creepy face?!! // Look, c'mon! You're not fooling me, okay?! I thought it was a little weird myself too, you know!
Himeko: It really does suit you. I think you should just keep on wearin' it.
Bossun: Seriously?! Where the heck did that come from?!
Himeko: A "Sket-dan", huh...
Chiaki: Is there something wrong with wearing it all the time? It could be a sort of trademark for your little club, couldn't it?
Himeko: That's right. / Our school ain't too strict with its regulations... even the Student Council seems to be all laid-back types.
Chiaki: Uh-huh. It really does suit you - you should go for it!
Bossun: S - Seriously?! I mean, if you keep saying that, I might actually do it, you know?! / I might actually believe you, you know?!

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Himeko: C'mon... let's go.
Bossun: Wahe~~~~~~~y!! This seesaw is awesome~~~~~~~~~~~!!
Himeko: Aghh!! / When did you...?!! // What're you two playin' at over there, huh?!! You better let me join in~~~~~~~~~~!!!
Bossun: Whooooooaaahhh... Y - You can stop now, Switch...!!
Arisa: Hime-chan?
Himeko: Hm?

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Himeko: ..................... // A... // Aa-chan?!
Bossun: Hmmm? What's up, Himeko?
Himeko: Aa-chan... is it really you?
Bossun: Aa-chan...?

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Himeko: ...This can't be a coincidence. // What're you here for?
Arisa: ............... // ......I... // I'm so sorry!! // I'm really sorry, Hime-chan!! // I... I did such a horrible thing to you...!! // It's been so hard to live with it... // Ever since then... / The guilt has been killing me!

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Arisa: I... was bullied, back in primary school... / ...and I was so scared that it would happen again... I ended up like that... // But after... that night... I got rid of Kyouko and the others right away. // I've come back here to the school any number of times now... but I never thought I could actually meet you here today... / I've just wanted so much to apologise to you... // Not that I expect you to forgive me or anything...
Bossun: Himeko...
Himeko: Quiet. // Aa-chan...

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Himeko: ...You finally worked up some courage. // Thanks for coming. / It must've been tough on you. // I've had to toughen up, an' all. // But now... I've found some good friends. // I'm doin' fine, so don't you worry about me. // I forgive you. // It's all right now. // It's okay.

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[box: A chill had come into the wind. // Bossun did a drawn-out cheer... // ...and though the autumn wind was cold against my skin... // ...in my heart... // ...all I could feel was the fresh, gentle caress... // ...of a fragrant summer breeze... // ...softly sweeping by.]
[insert text: Two became three... As for what brought that balmy summer breeze to all three of them... that's yet another story...]
[bottom text: Next issue, it's back to the present! And Switch reveals a surprising new skill?!]