Short Program 8

Short Program, Volume 1, Chapter 8 (pp. 247~266)


<247>
What in the World
Part 1


<248>
=—Danger.
[x3]CLANK

=I might really fall for her if this goes on.
BEEE—P

=A full 3 years since we became pen-pals...
[x2]GATHUCK

=I don't know her face, and I don't know her voice—
=My imagination continues to grow.

=Dangerous!
=Very dangerous!
[bubble]MOO


<249>
BUUUP

=I got my earnestness from my father.
[cow]Happy New Year's

[x2]GATHUCK
=I need to make sure before I go on any further.
[letter]Mr. Keiichi Kataoka

=Besides, I've got entrance exams ahead.
=I can't concentrate with all this going on.

=If she's ugly, it's over.//If she's cute, I keep serializing—
=Hey, a UFO...

=I got my honesty from my mother.
=Dear dear!
YA—Y

P.S.//I'm using my winter vacation to go skiing in Asakura from the 3rd~5th. I'm staying in a cute little lodge called "Windmill of Dreams." LUV


<250>
BEEE—P

PSSST—

VRRR—


<251>
=Oh—//It's snowing it's snowing!

ZWUUSH

=Whoa—!

THUD

=It's snowing it's snowing!

=PHEW—


<252>
=Hi,//Sup sup...

=What was that?

[sign]Windmill of Dreams


<253>
=Welcome!

=Oh, hello.//I'm Yamada from Tokyo.
=I made my reservation with a fake name, of course—

=She doesn't know my face or voice, either.

BLAH
BLAH

=AUGH!
=GUFFAW!

=Worst comes to worst, I may need to pretend to be a passerby...


<254>
=Welcome to the Windmill of Dreams!
WHAAP

=Is this everyone, Auntie?
=Yep.

=All right,//Everyone gather 'round!

=What is it—?
=What's up?

[x2]THUD

=Right right,//Have a seat somewhere!


<255>
=Uno.//Dos.
=Tres...
[x2]RABBLE

=—Total 6 girls...
=And one of them is...

=—Well,//Meeting in a tiny lodge like this first thing of the year is a little stroke of fate!
=Plus, all the other customers went home yesterday,//And all of you have just arrived today!

=As the saying goes,//Everybody's friends when you're in the mountains!
Pipe down the volume

=—Anyways,//Here's the plan: we all go 'round introducing ourselves!//Got it!?

=Her name is Satomi Nishijima.

=—Well,//Sink or swim!?
=Right,//Let's start with you...


<256>
=Huh...?

=Don't give a damn about dudes.

=—Oh,//I am Maxim AGF.
=I've come from Planet Lipton.

=I'm surprised at how cold The Earth is.
=Nice to meet you all.

=Very nice!

=Name could've used a bit more thought,
=But I'll take it!
[bubble]Ah
[bubble]Loud

=That's right!//There's no need to bring mundane reality into this world of snow!
=Doesn't everyone think so!?


<257>
=Some from the city,//Some from the country.

=Some brainy,//Some droputs.

=Some rich,//Some who aren't.

=But this is a different world!//Let's forget about all of that!

=Forget real names,//Be what you've always wanted to be!
=Go ahead and lie!//You can act like anything you want!
[bubble]Huh?


<258>
=I see,//You're suggesting a masked ball of sorts?

=Exactly!
MY

=He is an alien here.//No matter what anyone else may say!

=No trying to find out anyone's true identity!//And don't let anything slip yourselves!
=Alright!?

=Not alright...

=Sounds like fun!
=Yeah!
=Great
[bubble]Umm...

=Alright,//Good!


<259>
=I'm a supermodel.//I live in a mansion in Roppongi!
[girl bubble]HYUK
[boy bubble]WHA—

=I'm livin' the flight attendant life!
=I spend half the year in foreign countries!

=Wait...

Boxer

DJ

Comedian

Film director

Dancer


<260>
=Hey—

Copy editor
Racer
Designer

=And—,//I am a best-selling author!

=Not! An unpopular manga artist!//Okay? Make no mistake!
=Please, guys!

=—Well,//That concludes...

=Oh, excuse me!//You were still left weren't you—

=I'm a private detective.


<261>
=Gotta be kidding me,
=Damn!

=Masked ball my ass!

=I'm the only one that really needs a mask—Gosh!

=...Well,
=This doesn't look promising!
ZWUSH

=Mr. Detective—!
UCK

=How 'bout a game of cards?


<262>
=I fold!
=Me too!

=Here goes...

=Ah...
=Huh?

=N-No//Nothing...

=What's your name?

=Full house.
=Huh?

=The director wins again!//You're really good—
=Beginner's luck.


<263>
=I knew it...

=Huh?

=Ah,//Nothing...

=Oh, do you wanna join in?
=Uh...
=She's the shoujo manga artist!

=Am I right!?
=Y-
=Yes.

=Oh,//You can take my chips if you'd like.
=No I'm alright.

=I like watching...

=What's your name?


<264>
=Hello!
GWUSH
=Hello...


<265>
=Ack!
SWIP

=Consciousness—
=The time between naps

=Yup! Get 'em jokester!
=Hi-yah—!


<266>
=Chips,//Borrowing 10 more!

=This'll raise me the funds for my next masterpiece.
[bubble]Hah-hah..

[bubble]*mumble mumble...*

=Straight!
=Four of a kind!

=...I knew it.

To be continued

What in the World, Part 1 (END)