Short Program 11

Short Program, Volume 2, Chapter 11 (pp. 42~70)


<42>
Marking Wakaba


<43>
BATHUMP

VRRRRR...


<44>
[sign]Moriyama Detective Agency

=Hey,//Just in time.//We got a job.

=Was that the client just now?

=Yep, been a while since we had a tasty job like this.//Double commission and unlimited work expenses,

=Is it dangerous?

=—Wouldn't be tasty if it were.
=It's just a conduct investigation.


<45>
=Of this girl.

=Of this girl?

=Love at first sight. The client's only son.//Just by walking past her at the station a couple times.

=But that's where Mr. Big Company President gets cautious.//Imagine if his precious son gets hooked on a naughty girl who's looking to get a fortune.
=A proper investigation must take place before any relationship is established.

=They don't even have her name, after all.

=—I see.


<46>
=Hey—ya.
GACHUK

=Here Dad,//The layout for the poster.

=Ohh—//Very nice.
[poster]Privacy Guaranteed!//Moriyama Detective Agency//Genzo Moriyama

=Well well.
=You were always good at drawing, weren't you Wakaba?

=New job?
=Huh?
=Oh,//Yeah.
[file]Top Secret

=Misaki-kun will be away on business till next Monday.

=Till... Monday.


<47>
=Okay.

=Right then,//Work hard.

=Seeya—
PATHUMP

=Work hard.

=According to the client,//College girls these days could be up to just about anything.
=They might even be leading an alternate life that even their friends and family aren't aware of.

=But don't report to me no matter what comes up.//Hand the results directly over to the client.

=I wish to remain playing the idiot father who has total faith in his own child.
=Then why'd you take this job?

='Cause if we don't take it, then somebody else will.


<48>
=Listen! Take this seriously. It's still work.//Don't hesitate. Mark her closely!


<49>
=Wow—//So Wakaba's father's is a detective, huh?


<50>
=That's really cool—

=There's a slight misunderstanding here...

=No no, we know.//Like the Michinoku Hot Springs Gourmet Murder Mystery.//Or the Tatsunami Couchette Express Walkoff Homerun.
=Hold up.

=The Japanese police do excellent work!//Nowadays, detectives only solve murders in TV shows and movies!

=Stop being silly,//Just take a dump and go to bed!

PUFF—

=What was that?
=Impression of my Dad.

=Wow, nice.//Great impression.


<51>
=Hey, Wakaba.//Is it true that Kishikawa-kun from K University asked you out?

=Hey hey.//Who spilled the guts.
=Hah-hah...//But you turned him down, right?//What a waste—//Kishikawa-kun's so handsome.

=Why why?//Is there someone you like?//Hey hey, Wakaba.
[x2]BLAH
=You'd better not be dating behind our backs!
[x2]YADDA
=Arrgh, get off my case!//Are you all gossip reporters or something!?

=Shaddup!
BAM

=You'd better stop or else I'm gonna start crying—
=Boohoo—

=Hey,//It's Professor Kitami!
=Now that was a good cry.//—Well then, let's open up to page 473 thousand in the textbook.
[x2]*scratch*

=Wow, nice.//Great impression.
TEE HEE


<52>
=Hup.

=Don't hesitate!
=Mark her closely!


<53>
=Yes sir!
SWUP

FLASH

=...Ah.

[bubble]BEEP


<54>
[x2]KACHUK

VROO—M


<55>
KACHUK

=No way... Right?


<56>
VROOM

[bubble]DING DO—NG

[bubble]GACHUK


<57>
[bubble]*chirp chirp*

=Hey hey, Wakaba.//What're you doing on Eve?

=Eve?

=Yup, Sunday—

=Sunday... Huh.

=I can't be with the person I like,//—Unfortunately.
=Hey—//So there is someone.

=Who? Who is it!?
=Now now,//In due time.


<58>
=Oh yeah,//Sunday is Christmas Eve... Huh.


<59>
[23]Sat.
[24]Sun.
[25]Mon. Christmas

[x3]SHUFF

POP

FZZ—T


<61>
[x3]SHUFF


<62>
=I want to quit.

=Please don't say that, Wakaba-chan.
=It's hard,//I can't...

=Just for tonight.

=Last time.//And I'll never bother you again, I promise.
=...Please.

=...Alright.


<63>
=Aha! I knew it!

=Exactly as I suspected!

=You see, Seitarou!? Don't be fooled by her looks.//You were about to embarrass the Akaoka Family!

=Let's go, Seitarou!//C'mon!
=BOOHOO—

BATHUMP

=Oh well.//This was a special case, after all.


<64>
=I wouldn't have said yes to a son like that anyways, you know.//No matter how rich he is.

=Oh,//Right.
GACHUK
=Hey—ya.

=Yo!//Work go well?
=Y-//Yeah.

=Here,//Merry Christmas.

=One for me too?
=I got a little extra money from my part-time job.

=I didn't get you anything.
=Don't worry, you haven't gotten your paycheck yet, right?

=I know,//Just gimme your hat.
=It's way dirty.


<65>
=Look good?

=Seeya—
PATHUMP

=Hey hey,//This watch looks pretty expensive.
=What kinda part-time job was that?

VROOM

VROOO—M


<66>
VROOM


<67>
[x4]THUD

=Yes yes. Who is it?
[bubble]GACHUK

BAM
=Whoa!


<68>
=Wakaba-chan, screentone and touch-ups on this one, alright?
=Nooo—//Please hold on—//This page is still...

=Ah, express delivery?

BAM

VRRR..

POP


<69>
=Merry Christmas.


<70>
=Wow, nice.//Great impression.

=Huh?

=Great! 1 page 4-color, 28 pages letterpress,//All done!
=Thanks a lot, Wakaba-chan!

[bubble]ZZZ—

Marking Wakaba (END)