Ah Itoshi no Banchou-sama 17

*Only for use by Evil Flowers

tl by JinHea

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- Aa Itoshi no Banchou-sama
- chapter 17

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Arrow: Souji’s tiny / 153cm
- Kondou Isami (High School 3rd year) / Aries / Type O (not B) [text below “Aries”] 189cm
- The taboo on Bakumatsu’s been lifted, huh… with that in mind, I immediately drew Shinsengumi. [NB. Bakumatsu – a period in Japan’s history] / Souji became quite popular despite having appeared in only a few panels… It looks like writing “sick” on the mask was a good move (laugh). Thank you for comebacks like “Quite realistic (smile)”. On a side note, I was completely fascinated by the Shinsengumi during my primary and middle school years. I gathered materials and did lots of research on them back then... / The result of all that research – I fell head over heels for Takasugi Shinsaku (of Shinsengumi)… / Those were the days.

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Box: Starting today…
Box: the big event(?) for us Toku High 1st years, [linked] Ski Classroom, has begun. [text cutting box] This time the story’s focus is on Katou.
Guys at back: Ohh—

- That’s a lotta snow! [aside] awesome!
Box: We’re spending 2 days in this snow-covered world… you know, like the winter version of a school’s seaside excursion?

Box: Banchou’s never skied before (I’ve done it a few times), and it seems like she’s looking forward to this.
Text beside box: Everyone, do you like skiing?
Text below box: She kidding?
2 columns of text on crowd – both say: She kidding?
Text at bottom: She’s being serious.

Box: I hope she’s able to have fun on this trip… that’s my wish, but…
Mirai: Banchou, let’s be sure to make a snowman…

- A quick story / Haruhi-chan
- The school she goes to, Oooku Girls High, is a private school with its own affiliated middle school and primary school.
- She has no breasts. / (what am I saying)

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- Red—!
Katou: Eh?
Box: The future seems filled with complications all of a sudden.

Katou: Again!? [aside] You okay?
Souka: I’m sorry! Um… I got too excited over the snow.
Souka aside: it’s nothing
Text at panel bottom: liar

Box: She’s been like this since we boarded the Shinkansen.
SFX: badump badump
Souka: Was the neighbouring seat on the Shinkansen always this close!?
SFX: badump badump
Box on Souka: Seating was decided beforehand by drawing lots.
Arrow text: Leaned over so he could look out the window.

Box: Actually, she’s been like this since quite some time ago.
- Quite frequently, too.
SFX: fluster fluster

Souka: I’m not used to being this close to him! [aside] Uugh I haven’t matured at all since last year.
SFX: hmmm
Mirai: Whatever. Have an orange and pull yourself together.
Arrow: Mirai

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Text on Katou: Thank you. It’s yummy—
Katou: Did I do something to Banchou?
SFX: smirk smirk
Shun’s book: Yukionna [NB. snow lady]
- Indeed—
- I wonder—

Katou: Should I have gotten an answer out of her then? [linked] But she was so scared…

- Maybe she doesn’t like me?
Souka: Here, Katou-kun, have an orange.
- …and then she turns around all friendly-like.

- …and now she’s all weird again.
Katou: Just what on earth…
Souka: Our hands touched!
SFX: kya~~

- One moment I think she’s scared of me, next she gives me a scarf, then she makes me all anxious…
- Up until a little while ago, she’d been her normal self around me, but…
Box: For some reason, recently…

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- It feels like there’s a distance between Banchou and me that I can’t figure out.
- Arrived at their hotel.

Teacher: Okay! Well then, please check in and put your bags away.
- Then we’ll have lunch. Afterwards, everyone will go skiing!
Arrow to big hotel: Girl
Arrow to little hotel: Boys
Teacher: Souka-chan will stay in the hotel on the right. [linked] All the boys will be in the one on the left.
Text on head: That hotel on the left is ooold!
- What’s with the discrimination against us guys?!

- Kinda late asking this now, but why is Banchou the only one in a different hotel!?
Teacher: You think we can have a girl spend 2 nights under the same roof with a pack of wild beasts?! [linked] And wild beasts that had nothing but lascivious fantasies the moment they heard the word hotel, at that!!
- Whassat?
- How rude!
- Though you’re completely right!!

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- All else aside, that is one tightly guarded room.
Arrow: teachers surround the girl
Paper title: Sanada City Hotel
Room outline: Teacher / Souka / Teacher // Teacher / Teacher / Teacher
Katou: They don’t trust us one bit…
Asteriks: fact

Souka: Sensei, are those the ski fields?
- On their way to the hotel.
Teacher: That’s right.

Teacher: That reminds me. Souka-chan, it’s your first time skiing, right?
SFX: Gya—
SFX: Waa—
SFX: roll roll
Souka: Yes, it is.

Souka: Sensei, do you like ski…
SFX: wait—!
SFX: gya—
SFX: rowll
Sensei: Is she kidding?

Author’s side panel: Chapter 17 / “Banchou and the Ski Classroom”
Text: I drew a story about skiing even though I’ve never done it myself… I do like to skate though. / But really, to have never been to the sea, gone skiing, or done the New Year’s first shrine visit! Even I wonder what kind of life I’m living. I usually just spend most of the day sitting cross-legged in a corner of the room. (There’s your reason, me!) / I’m sorry. I lied. I usually sit in the center of the room. I sit cross-legged in the center of the room. (There’s your reason, me!) / The room allocations for the Ski Classroom held by my younger brother’s school really was like this. I remember me and mom laughing our heads off when he showed us the printout…

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- You guys— Run for your lives—
SFX: rowll
- You’ll be squashed flat—!!

- A snowball!!?

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SFX: crash
- Gya—!

Katou: What is it!?
Aside: What happened?
Teacher: A snowball rolled over here… [aside] that scared me— [linked] Huh? Where’s Souka-chan!?

- Our buddy fell over on the ski fields and things just got out of hand!
Aside: There’s someone in that thing? / Whoa, a retro miracle!
- He became a snowball and flattened a girl!
Katou: Flattened…!

Katou: Banchou! [aside] You there!?
SFX: bam

SFX: gape

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SFX: sparkle sparkle sparkle

SFX: crish

SFX: gyaaaaa
Text beside Reichi: He’s on top o’ her!
Text beside Mirai: Even kissed her cheek!

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SFX: grab

SFX: pull
Souka: Wah!
Katou: Are you hurt?

Katou: Bastard…
Aside: What’re you up to?!

- I k…

- K-k-k-k-kissed h-h-h-herrrr…
Outlined SFX: shakka shakka
SFX: gape
Aside: Did he get hurt somewhere?

- I’m sorryyyyy!
SFX: rise

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[Note to editor: if possible please don’t clean up Sasuke’s sentences, that way the contrast between the speech of Sasuke-without-skis and Sasuke-with-skis can be felt. But feel free to make them more colloquial!]
- I’ll take responsibility! Please gimme your hand in marriage—!!

- Wha-

- What’d you sayyy—?!
Aside: No way in hell!
SFX: boom
Box: Another day of chaos and mayhem

Box on hat: Afterwards
Sasuke: My name’s Sasuke.
Box: Sanada High School / Shirakawa Sasuke (2nd year)
Sasuke: I’m a 2nd year at Sanada High School o’er yonder.

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Sasuke: I’m only 17, but… I intend to resolve this scandal! You’re quite sure I don’t hafta take responsibility?
Arrow: kept following them
Box: Lunch is over, and it’s now time to ski
Mirai aside: Oh, it’s no problem. She already has a husbfft—
Katou: “Scandal”? Aren’t you going overboard with this?
Souka: It’s alright now. [linked] It was just a little bump against my cheek, anyway.

Sasuke: “Just”, she says…! [linked] Tokyo people really do have a different attitude!
SFX: shakka shakka
Katou: Not Tokyo. Kanagawa.
Box: Calls the entire Kantou region Tokyo.

Souka: That aside, Sasuke-kun, I must apologize for using your hand as a cushion when I fell.
Souka aside: Is it hurt?
Sasuke: [aside] Eh? [normal text] It’s no big deal! I’m totally fine!

Souka: I’m glad neither of us were injured. [linked] Isn’t that great? [aside] right?

Text on shoulder: Yeah—!
Text on right of bubble: Awed.
Sasuke: You’re such a kind person—
Sasuke aside: Hirayama-san, was it?

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Sasuke: How can I not apologize after sullying the soft flesh of such a lovely lady!
Aside: You came to ski, right?
Sasuke: At least allow me to teach you to ski!
Souka: Eeh!?

Katou: But we already have an instructor along with us…
Instructor: To be honest, if Sasuke says he’ll teach you then that’s 100 times better.

- The guy’s a skiing monster. [linked] He hasn’t lost a skiing match since he was a kid. He’s also the national ski champion.
Aside: He’ll be an Olympic athlete in the future!

- Sanada High is a famous skiing school, and he’s that school’s number 1! [linked] He’s the hero of Sanada Town! Even the landlord dotes on him!
Mirai: [aside] Ehh— [normal text] But didn’t he just fall over on the ski fields?

- Sasuke’s a ditz normally, but… [linked] once he puts on skis…
SFX: kachak

SFX: fwoosh

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- His entire personality changes.
SFX: sparkle sparkle sparkle sparkle
Sasuke: Now then, to begin with the basics…

- Who—!!?
Sasuke: Eh? I’m Sasuke.
Text on Reichi: Point is, he straightens up and has perfect posture once he puts on skis.
- He got taller!?
- He’s speaking all proper now!
- He’s gotten kinda manly!?

- What kind of transformation is this… (Once again, we’ve run into a weirdo)
Aside: Lessee, take his skis off—
Sasuke aside: Ah~~ stoppit~~
SFX: phew
Souka: Still, I’m glad they’re not bringing up marriage anymore.

- After all, I really do want to treasure that memory…
- …y
- Hey

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Katou aside: He—y, you listening?
Katou: What’re you gonna do? Will you really let that guy teach…
Text on Souka: Super close proximity

Souka: Gya—
SFX: pu—sh
Aside: He’ll see my memories!

SFX: plop
Aside: The one that did the pushing fell over.

Souka: [aside] Oh! [normal text] U-um, I’m sorry!! [linked] I was s-s-startled…!
Aside: I forgot, people can’t see into each others’ minds…

Arrow text: In shock over being pushed. Quite understandable.
Souka aside: Sorry.
Katou: No… it’s okay… but…
Katou aside: Unlike that time in Hakone, this time I didn’t do anything…
Shun: Goodness me.

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- I wonder, are we close?

- Or far apart?
SFX: pu--sh

- I can’t seem to figure out this distance between Banchou and me—
SFX: shwoo

- I just don’t understand! [aside] Which is it?

Mirai: Yuu-chan’s really dedicated himself to skiing.
Aside: Like he’s trying to forget something unpleasant.
Reichi: Wow— He’s good—
SFX: vrmm—
Sasuke: [aside] Whoa—! [normal text] He’s probably good enough to compete in tournaments—
Text beside Sasuke’s nose: Transformed

Sasuke: Compared to him, Hirayama-san is…
- transformed

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Souka: Gya—
SFX: plop

Souka: Gya—
SFX: roll roll—

Souka: Gyau
SFX: poof
Mirai aside: O… Ooh…

SFX: huff— huff—
Souka: I ju… just can’t do it.

Shun: You suck.
Aside: I’m not gonna help you up.
Katou/Sasuke: Blunt!

Souka: Yup— [aside] I suck at it.
SFX: rise
Souka: But it’s really fun!

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Mirai aside: Banchou, let’s make a snowman! (skiing’s too dangerous)
Aside: They said we can make it over there!
Katou: Fun… huh.

- “I hope she’s able to have fun on this trip…”
Katou: Ah well, it’s good she’s having fun.

SFX: sigh—
Katou aside: No more brooding. Guess I should join them.
Sasuke: To say it’s fun despite falling over and over…
Sasuke: [aside] all the while smiling [normal text] What an adorable girl…

- Seeing her smile…
Souka asides: Katou-kuuun! / Look—

- I…

SFX: shakka shakka

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Box: Night

SFX: clatter
Aside: Done bathing

Box: School excursion game
Text beside box: ~with a 6th grade feel~
Mirai: Who do you like? [linked] Group 2’s Miyake, right~~?
Reichi: I-I do not! Moooron!
Katou: What’re you guys doing?
Aside: Are you idiots? / And who’s Miyake?

Mirai: Well, we’re booored!
Aside: We can’t go out cuz of the snow.
Katou: Be quiet already. I’m sleeping.
SFX: zzz
Reichi: Ehh!? But it’s only 9! [aside] How come?

Shun: Yuu-chan’s in a bad mood.
Mirai: [aside] I see! [normal text] If you’re that hung up on that guy kissing her cheek, how about a midnight tryst?
Aside: Souka-tan is waiting for you [star]
Text above Souka: Ehee—
Katou: As if!

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Katou: I’m not jealous or anything! Besides, it was an accident. [linked] I AM irritated though.
Mirai: Is he?
Reichi aside: He is.
Mirai aside: honest guy

Katou: It’s not like that…
- I don’t understand this distance.

- Because I don’t understand it…
- I’ve gradually lost sight of how to interact with her.

- Even though…
- I want to be by your side…

Katou: What should I do~~
Katou aside: I mean, she either runs away or freezes up. Just what did I do to her?
Reichi aside: The troubles come out
Mirai aside: You okay?
Shun: Yuu-chan.

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Shun: For some reason, [linked] the guy in question is outside with Banchou.
Katou: Hahh!?

Katou: !? What’re they do…
Reichi: Why a tux?

Sasuke: I’m sorry for calling you out here in the cold.
Souka: No problem. What did you want to discuss…?
Sasuke: It… it’s…

Sasuke: Here!
SFX: rustle

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Souka: Huh? Wha…!?
Aside: A bouquet?
Sasuke: I really would like to take responsibility for today’s kiss!

- Huh…?
Sasuke: Hirayama-san, your cheerfulness and kindness soothes my heart. [linked] Wh-what I’m trying to say is…

Sasuke: [aside] I… [normal text] I’ve fallen in love with you!!

- Ehhhh—!!?

- Here I am…
SFX: crik

SFX: clatter
Reichi: Yuu-chan!? [aside] It’s cold!

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Aside: waah—!
Asterisk: 2nd floor
SFX: leap
- Here I am carefully assessing the distance between me and her for fear of being pushed away, but you…

Entire SFX: boof
- Wahh—!

Katou: Wait a minute!
- Don’t you approach her so casually!!

Souka: Ka…Katou-kun!
Sasuke: Eh? Where’d you... Ah! You were watching from up there!? [aside] Gya—
how embarrassing!

Katou: I’ll escort you back.
SFX: tug
Souka: Eh? Wah…!
Sasuke: Wait!

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Sasuke: Wait up a sec! I’m in the middle of confessing to the Tokyo girl! [linked] I specially wore a tux for this…
- Why would you choose to wear a tux?!
Aside: And I already said it’s Kanagawa!
Text along panel bottom: Tokyo equals posh  must be posh  Europe equals posh, therefore, this outfit

Sasuke: What right do you have to interfere?
- What right?

- I have none.
- He’s a good guy, most likely. (though a little weird)

- But, unlike the time with Mitsuhide…
- I am no longer calm enough to think…
- “the choice is up to Banchou”…

Katou: Not good. [linked] My mind’s all muddled…

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- By doubt and uncertainty…
- and jealousy…

- Incomprehensible things drive me to make foolish moves…

- Ahh… somehow…

Souka: U-um, Katou-kun…

- grip
- I’m...

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- …just like Banchou.

Katou: Now…

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Katou: I have to take responsibility too.
Katou aside: so I do have the right
Arrow: frozen

SFX:gyaaaaa
Aside: you lech—
Aside 2: Yuuji-sama’s on a rampage—
Box: Increasing number of Toku High students.
SFX: gape

Sasuke: T…

Sasuke: T-t-t-to do such a thing before m-m-m-marriage!
Sasuke aside: and it was no accident!
Split SFX: eeyaaaaaaaa
Yuuji aside: This guy’s freaking too
Yuuji SFX: gape
Sasuke: Wh-what IS this guy—!!

Sasuke: If that’s the case…
Aside: hup hup
Sasuke: If that’s the case…

SFX: kachak

SFX: flap

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Sasuke: I shall eliminate you—!!
SFX: jab
Text below elbow: ski outfit
Katou: Hahh!?

Sasuke: Come to the ski fields again tomorrow! We’ll compete in alpine skiing, with Hirayama-san as the stakes! [linked] I cannot have this cute girl stay by you any longer!
Katou: Wh…

Sasuke: Or are you running away? [linked] Hmph! That’s Tokyo people for you! They’re all talk and no walk!
Aside: The absolute worst! So spineless!

Aside: Running away—!?

Box: And so…

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- it turned into a competition.
Crowd aside: I’m sorry…
Teacher: What have you done?

Teacher: They even have posters made! Everyone’s in an uproar!
Paper: Tokyo vs Sanada / It’s a skiing match!
Katou aside: sorry…

SFX: Eeeeee
Aside: He ain’t running away!
Aside 2: Go forth, Yuuji—!
Box: Toku High students worked up after hearing “you running away?”

Teacher: A skiing competition with a skiing champion! Exactly how do you intend to win?
Aside: You even got Souka involved!
Katou: Well, I’ll do something.
Teacher: “Do something”? You—

Katou: I’m the one who made a thoughtless move and got him mad. [linked] That the competition is in his field of expertise also can’t be helped. [aside] I’ll put my all into doing something.
Aside: He’s totally calm.
Aside 2: He’s keeping a cool head.

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Shun: Incidentally, he’s won a ski tournament before.
Shun aside: But that was in primary school.
Box: While on a school trip during 5th grade, he made a last minute entry into the local tournament and got first place.
- Skiing, too?
- He really is a sports monster.

Mirai: But Banchou, the one at the heart of all this…

Bold SFX: rummmble
Box: [asterisk] Katou
Smaller SFX: gyaaaaa
Mirai: is really glowering at Yuu-chan.

Katou: I slipped up! To think I completely ignored Banchou’s feelings and did something like that…!!
SFX: aaah…
Katou aside: How on earth should I apologize?
Crowd aside: He wasn’t calm at all.
Shun: Oh well, you know. It’s not good if you worry too much. [aside] An unprecedented level of worry and a spectacular outburst from you. That’s a first.

Souka: So… so mean…

Katou: Banchou…

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Souka: The many things that happened between me and Katou-kun… [linked] are all precious memories.

- I want to treasure that memory.

- But I don’t like…
- this.
Souka: D-doing something like that just for the sake of standing your ground [linked] and provoking a fight…

Katou: Ban…
Souka: Why did you pick a fight with Sasuke-kun? [linked] He was kind enough to give me flowers…

Souka: And just when I was going to ask just what it was he’d fallen in love with—!

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Aside: with— with— with— (echoes)

SFX: collapse
- Way too dense! (she’s a natural)
Souka aside: Eh!?
Text on figure: corpses

Katou: Truly formidable. [aside] in many ways
Katou: Sasuke, you’ll have to tell her again or it won’t sink in.
Souka: Eh? [linked] Huh? You guys?
- If you don’t spell it all out for Banchou, she won’t get it.
- I understand that very well, yet I…

- let these feelings remain as insubstantial thought.

- “I’m just like Banchou.”
- My incomprehensible actions…
- are probably what put all this distance between me and Banchou.

- That’s why…
Katou: I’ll win.

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Souka: Eh?
SFX: rise
Katou: I’ll win the match. [linked] And then…

Katou: I’ll tell you everything.

Souka: Everything?
Katou: Why I picked a fight with him, why I did what I did… [linked] what I’m thinking, what I want to do…
Katou: I’ll tell you everything.
Aside: Ehh!?
Aside 2: A confession announcement!!? [NB. A more loose tl is “Annoucing his intention to confess!!?” – whichever is more apt]

- Even if she rejects me, it’s probably best I get it all out in the open.
- No way am I gonna lose.
- Because I want to crush this shameful jealousy.

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- Then, after I crush it…
Katou: I apologize… [linked] for giving your cheek a fright. [aside] sorry

Souka: Katou-ku…?
Katou: Wait just a little more, until tomorrow…

- I want to overcome all the distance…
- and be the one closest to her.

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Box: Next day

SFX: chatter chatter
Banner: [small font] It’s [large font] Tokyo vs Sanada
Store sign on right: Kansai Oden
Store sign on left: Udon

Shun: Why’d they turn it into a festival?
Souka SFX: wow—
Banner: vs Sa
- It’s cuz Sasuke’s this town’s skiing representative! [linked] For someone from Tokyo to challenge him is a huge deal!

- Your side is awfully spirited as well.
Souka: Uh…yeah. [aside] so they are
Crowd aside: Yu-u-ji! Yu-u-ji!

Souka: Katou-kun was practicing until late… [linked] I wonder if he’s okay? He couldn’t have gotten enough sleep…
Text at top of panel: The Toku High students ran all over the ski fields.
SFX: uwoooh
Shun: He should be okay.

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Shun: He has a different focus, after all.

Souka: Katou-kun…

- “I’ll tell you everything.”

Souka: What’s he going to tell me?
SFX: badump badump
Souka: I don’t know, but…

- I want him to win.
- By the way, for Sasuke fight over a girl… [linked] will it be okay?
- You mean with the Sanada family? Why would they have anything to do with this?
Aside: That girl’s just a friend.

Souka: The Sanada family?
Souka aside: So they’re fighting over a girl? That’s a surprise—
Box: Clueless
Shun aside: How oblivious can you be?
- The family of Sanada Town’s landlord. [linked] He’s also the mayor.

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- Like we told you yesterday, [linked] even the landlord dotes on Sasuke.

- So not only is he well acquainted with the Sanada family’s only daughter, but they’re also good friends. [aside] She’s a real heiress.
Souka: Wow—
Aside: We’re just concerned about their relationship!

- Her name’s Yukimura-chan.
Souka: Yukimura-chan. [aside] what a cute name
Bold SFX: hurrah hurrah
Arrow: presenter (yesterday’s instructor)
Presenter asides: I’ll explain / the rules—
Souka: Ah! It’s starting.

SFX: bzzt bzzt

Yukimura: Hmm… what’s going on—?
Yukimura: Sasuke said he’s having a match so I came along, and what do I see?

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Text on flower: Flowers…
SFX: bwoof
Yukimura: So handsome… [heart]
Attendant aside: Please refrain from making the flowers bloom.
Attendant: Yukimura-sama, [linked] please return to the car. [aside] You’ll catch cold.

- If and when I win this match…

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- About fan letters

- To everyone who sends me letters, drawings, New Year’s cards, Valentine’s gifts, Christmas presents… I thank you… thank you all from the bottom of my heart for everything…! I read each and every letter with great care.
- As for frequent senders, I’m already quite adept at figuring out who they’re from by the handwriting and the envelope. Some people also send me photo stickers, so I bought a special book to stick them in. And when I receive music recommendations from people, I go and either rent or buy the music to enjoy at leisure.

- I’ll answer some frequently asked questions.
Figure: Ask away!
Arrow: muscle
- Which discipline did your little brother study at technical school?
- Chemistry. I borrowed his textbooks, notes and printouts from then to use as reference materials.
- Which character is the most popular?
- Every single character is loved, for which I am very grateful… although // Mirai  Primary&Middle Schoolers / ShunShun  Middle&High Schoolers // Reichi  Young women in their 20s / Katou  Housewives // …each character appeals to different demographics. // A range of people, from primary schoolers to young women, also say they like Katou. Mature housewives only like Katou, though.
- Thank you very much!

Figure: And that’s a wrap!
- If page count allows, I reckon I’ll do a Q&A session like this again. Please continue to support me.