Area no Kishi 23

Chapter 23: Blockheads

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A new dialogue = new panel

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Kakeru:

Whoa … Wah! (Or replaced it with any noises with indications that he is losing his balance)

Everyone:

What’s wrong, Aizawa- san? Your footworks are messy.

//

Kakeru:

Damn it …

Pant! X4

//

Mako:

Let it go in!

The Keeper:

That’s what you think!

//

The Keeper:

That’s better.

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Everyone:

!!

//

Kakeru:

Huh?

Mako:

Oh …

//

//

Everyone:

…

Striker:

Pant! X4

It went in …

//

Mako:

You did great, First- year!

Other teammates:

That a powerful strike!

Striker:

Wah …

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Commentator:

The red team scores …

Player:

Damn!

Background:

Pant … x4

//

Kakeru:

It isn’t finished yet!

//

Araki:

…

//

Iwaki:

1 – 0 …

//

//

Iwaki:

…

//

Sempai:

First year, the first half is ending soon. We have to even up the score line. Let’s hurry …

Kakeru:

Yes … Hino- sempai!

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Kakeru’s narrations:

This is too energy draining … (It means exhausting but I replaced it with energy draining since the direct translation would mean ‘it takes too much hardwork’ that doesn’t make sense in English here.)

//


Kakeru’s narrations:

Your feet are bounded by the sands … (It means that the sands are causing him to stumble here but rephrasing it in English sounds so wrong.)

It’s an uphill distance to run from the shoreline towards the goal …

//

Iwaki:

There is 3 minutes left to the first half …

Background:

In spite of that …

//

Kakeru’s narration:

Even if it is exhausting to the point of death … but …

I could just feel that I can continued playing on …

//

Teammate 13:

Junpei!

Teammate 2:

Okay!

//

Mako:

Harikawa! Mark Junpei! Do allow him to bring the ball any nearer to the goal!

Teammate:

Leave it to me!

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Teammate 2:

Darn …

//

Teammate 2:

!

//

Teammate 2:

Give it a chase if you think you have what it takes!

//

Mako:

You’re doing it hasty without any much thought.

This is so unlikely of you in any bit, Junpei.

//

Mako:

This should be the cursed method by Coach Koudou …

//

Commentator:

What?

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Commentator:

A diving header!

//

//



The Keeper:

…

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Mako:

…

Kakeru:

I scored, didn’t I?

//

Mako:

Why you …

//

Eleven:

Kakeru, nice header!

//

Araki:

…

Commentator:

1 – 1! The first half has ended. We’re into the resting time!

//

//

Mako:

Nana, I want one too.

Eleven:

Got ya, Mako- sempai.

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Kakeru:

… Hmm?

//

Eleven:

Are you still surviving, Kakeru?

Kakeru:

I’m overworked …

//

//

Mako:

Your legs are having cramps. Rest it before the second half starts.

Kakeru:

Hah … Yes.

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Eleven:

This is so unsightly … Your sempais are playing vigorously. And yet, both of you first- years are at this condition.

Kakeru:

This can’t be help.

Eleven:

This is for you, Matoba.

Firstyear:

Hah, thank you!

//


Kakeru:

This is the first time we have undergo such tough training. I used to think that beach football is just child’s play.

Eleven:

Running on the sands is tiring. I believed this training would strengthen your leg’s power.

Background:

Revitalizes

//

Iwaki:

This is different from the school recognized Enoshima High SC,

Since we are unable to utilize the pitch, we will have to practice under different conditions.

//

First year:

Even though it is exhausting, nonetheless it is interesting.

Eleven:

Matoba- kun

//

First year:

It is because we are playing on the sand, we won’t hurt ourselves even when we fall. Once we are used to it, we would begin to move, jump …

We also learn doing overhead kicks during our elementary days …

//

Eleven:

I feel that this is Coach Iwaki’s final purpose.



Kakeru and First year:

Huh?

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Eleven:

The coach did mention it earlier that modern Japanese youths’ level of skill standards is pretty high. But once they hit middle school, it dropped drastically, resulting in dropping out of the Worlds.

There is one saying though, that is soil of the field, in which the school clubs did their training on.

//

Kakeru:

How’s that so?

Eleven:

Hmm.

//

Eleven’s explanation:

In the process of growing up, we will tend to panic when attempting to perform a few daring movements on a hard surface.

The chances of us injuring ourselves will increase, isn’t it?

//

Eleven’s explanation:

On the contrary in South America or Europe footballing nations, at this age whether if they are up against a tough opponent or undergoing training,

All will be done on the grass patch. I feel that this will make a remarkable difference.

//

Kakeru:

So this is what is going on …


Eleven:

However playing on the beach will be less terrifying than playing on the grass patch.

First year:

Oh!

//

Kakeru:

Indeed after listening what you said, the sempais have no worries pulling reckless moves.

Even Matoba did the overhead kick in the end.

You did the diving header yourself earlier.

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Eleven:

In other to do away with the fears you have in playing football,

The coach has deliberately decided to hold the training on the beach instead.

//

Eleven:

It can be said that Coach Iwaki …

Is indeed an unbelievable guy.

//

Sempai:

Baka, this is the obvious.

Kakeru:

Hino- sempai.

//



Sempai:

Do you know something? Enoshima High did win the provincial tournament once.

Kakeru:

I know that.

Eleven:

I saw the records, it was 10 years ago.

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Sempai:

The records only show it as Enoshima High’s football club, but the ones that actually did it was Enoshima High’s FC.

And at that time, the leader, who wore the number 10, is our Coach Iwaki.

//

First year, Kakeru and Eleven:

…

//

Sempai’s explanation:

In order to oppose the never- yielding SC, that person found another football club – Enoshima High FC.

Together with people that shared his ideals, they defeated the school’s recognized football club and secured the school’s representative spot. It is later that they are known as Kanagawa’s only worthy opponent.

//

Sempai’s explanation:

Coach Iwaki is indeed an unbelievable guy.

Kakeru:

…

//
Mako:

Oi …

Eleven:

This is shameful …

Kakeru:

…

//

Sempai:

Even though he behaves weirdly, many of us deeply respect him from the bottom of our heart.

We are only making fun of him on the surface.

Kakeru:

…

//

Sempai2:

However in reality, things are never that carefree.

Kakeru:

Bayashi- sempai.

//

Sempai2:

After that incident, our FC has never won against SC again.

And before Coach Iwaki came in, we are almost disbanded.

//

Sempai1:

But now things are different!

Last year Iwaki sensei became the coach, there are lots of people who are attracted to his ideals decided to enroll into Enoshima High.

//

Sempai2:

In most of middle school’s soccer clubs, football clubs within the county and the Japanese youth squad,

He has tried his best to persuade them over.

Background:

I was one of those that got persuade.

//

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Sempai:

There are people like Mako and Junpei that have been rejected by SC and have to join us. Even though our headcount isn’t that impressive, our battle strength is not much inferior from SC.

We do have a chance.

//

Sempai:

Hey, Aizawa and Matoba.

Let’s give those SC bastards a shock of their lives!

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//

//

//

Araki:

…

//
Mako:

Hey stop hiding in one corner and peep, Araki …

Araki:

I’m only here to see Nana’s swimsuit.

Mako:

Ho ho, you are not being true to yourself …

//

Araki:

Hah, the swimsuit fell off.

Mako:

Quick peep!

Araki:

The idiot is watching …

Mako:

…

//

Mako:

You dumb pig! If you want to return to us, just spill the beans! Hah…?

Araki:

Ugh … I’ve lost.

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Mako:

You’re really being mindful of Kakeru.



Araki

…

//

Mako:

He is Aizawa Suguru’s younger brother, right? That is why you …

Araki:

This has nothing to do with me.

//

Mako:

Is that so …

Araki:

…

//

Mako:

You have seen it and what do you think about Kakeru?

Only middle school level! He will never survive the high school’s environment.

//

Mako

That’s rubbish.

I feel that he is overflowing with talent.

//

Araki:

… He has a fatal flaw.



Mako:

Flaw?

//

Araki:

That’s right …

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Mako:

…

//

Araki:

… Speaking of which, to a forward this is indeed a major flaw. If it is discovered by the opponent, he is done for.

…

//

Araki:

However,

His senses within the penalty area are acute.

//

Araki:

That itself cannot be achieved through training, only talent. Suguru once mentioned it.

//

Mako:

… a half assed genius … just like you.

//


Araki:

Stop spouting nonsense.

Mako:

Hey, Araki.

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Mako:

You need to return to FC.

Even though Kakeru has the weakness that you have mentioned,

//

Mako:

With your passes,

He would able to maximize his potential, isn’t it?

Araki:

…

//

Mako:

It doesn’t matter if it is Kakeru, you, me or any other people, we could all be half- assed.

It’s okay even if we are not perfect. Isn’t working together and unraveled your opponent’s weakness the best part of football!

//

Araki:

I’ve already retired and have no reason no return.

//

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Mako:

This is rubbish, if you have got over it …

//

Mako:

Why are you still wearing your football sneakers?

//

Mako:

…

Mako’s thoughts:

Araki, do you still remember the first time when I met you, you said that …

//

Mako’s thoughts:

In order for your feet to get used to the sneaker, you need to wear it all the time.

And when it is time for the competition, you will change the stubs.

//

Mako’s thoughts:

After I saw your match,

I was moved.

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Kakeru:

Mako, I’m alright now. Look here, the cramps are healed.

Mako:

Oh.

//

Kakeru:

Matoba, let us compete to see who will score the most in the second half.

First year:

I will never lose to you.

Sempai2:

Oi oi, I never allow both of you to score any more.

Mako:

…

//

Kakeru:

It is not just running. I want to wear these as often as I can in order for my feet to get used.

And until the time for the match, I will change the sneaker stubs.

//

Mako:

…

//

Mako’s thoughts:

A person, who has repeated the same words as you have, joined

That person needs your passes …

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Mako:

Come back …

Let me witness once again … your magic- like football.

//

Mako:

Araki Ryuuichi

Araki:

…

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Continue onto Chapter 24: Misunderstanding