Homunculus Volume 10

p01

Waiter: Welcome, Mr. Nakoshi.

Nakoshi: Hello.

Waiter: Is this the wine you desired?

Nakoshi: Yes.

Waiter: Excuse me.

p02

Nakoshi: Hey!

Manabu: Yeah?!

Nakoshi: Let's at least make a toast.

p03

Nakoshi: Cheers!

p04

Manabu: pfhuuuu

Nakoshi: Woah!

p05

Manabu: Ah...

p06

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p10

Nakoshi: That's where everything started. // I was unable to enter that pitch black park, / nor return back to this hotel. // You contacted me // when I was in that car,

p11

Nakoshi: and because you put a hole in my skull, / everything turned out like this.

p12

Manabu: I knew it... split-ends...

Nakoshi: Huh?

Manabu: Mister Nakoshi, // why did you choose this wig~~~?

Nakoshi: WHAT?

Manabu: Just look at it! / It's just full of split-ends!

p13

Manabu: That's why everyone is looking at me... / Couldn't you have picked one without as many split-ends?! // Honestly... // You have no taste~~~

Nakoshi: Why do you // avoid people "looking at you" so much?

Manabu: Huh?

p14

Manabu: Why else?! Look at how you dressed me up! // And these split-ends...

Nakoshi: No one is looking at your split-ends // and no one is looking down on you. // Face them. // Our "eyes" are the only thing that connects us to the outside world.

p15

Nakoshi: You should never look away.

p16

Manabu: Mr. Nakoshi... // Are you talking to yourself? // Aren't you the one // who always tries to avoid other people's eyes?

p17

Waiter: Excuse me.

p18

Waiter: How is the wine?

Manabu: Fa... // Fa...

p19

Manabu: Fabulous.

p20

Waiter: Splendid.

Manabu: Just Fab♪

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Manabu: Thank you.

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Manabu: You won't find it there, // Mr. Nakoshi. // Your reflection.

p26

Manabu: Your reflection is right in front of you. // Inside the face of the person that you made wear makeup.

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Manabu: You're capable of being honest, right? // So tell me what it is you see. // Inside the mirror, inside this face.

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Manabu: Misssster Nakoshi. // Wasn't it yo~~~~u / who was just telling me you shouldn't run away from people's "eyes"?

p31

Manabu: Did you see your face before you had plastic surgery or something? // Mr. Nakoshi. // Why did you have it done anyway? // What happened to you?

p32

Nakoshi: ...an't ember...

Manabu: Pardon?

Nakoshi: I can't remember...

Manabu: Eh?

Nakoshi: I can't remember... / what my face looked like.

p33

Manabu: EHHH?!? // Well // you can remember by looking at an old photo or something.

Nakoshi: I trashed every picture I had before the surgery.

p34

Manabu: Are you serious? // You really can't remember what your own face looked like?

Nakoshi: Yeah... // Even memories of me when I was a kid has me with a younger version of this face...

Manabu: Quite some work you had done there...

p35

Manabu: Mr. Nakoshi, // I'm dying to know what trauma you went through. // It was obviously something so bad that you'd want to suppress it, // want to forget your own face.

Nakoshi: I really don't know...

p36

Manabu: People are so interestin~~~g♪ // Oh, wait. No, it's just you who's interesting Mr. Nakoshi.

p37
manabu: So we're clear? // Mr. Nakoshi. // You saw my homunculus... // went to the extent of dressing me up as a girl, and treating me to dinner, // I guess you were trying to substitute me for a mirror or something,

p38
but in the end, it's you who doesn't understand yourself. // Of course you don't. // Homunculi are just your one sided illusions. // Your egotistic delusions that have nothing to do with other people.

p39
So in short, // you and I have nothing in common! // You were forced into living in your car, and you're just seeing delusions from your mental stress and fatigue.

Nakoshi: This homunculus... // has nothing to do... // with you...?

p40
manabu: Right, it's 100% purely your distortions.

Nakoshi: Then... what about that...

manabu: Huh? // What was that?

Nakoshi: Then... // the... // what about the guppy?

manabu: Excuse me?

p41
Nakoshi: Why do you have a guppy as a pet?

manabu: Uhh... // Why are you bring that up now?

Nakoshi: Oh, // well, you owned one before... // right?

manabu: No I haven't. // That was my first one.

p42
Nakoshi: You're lying...

manabu: I'm lying?

Nakoshi: I've never owned one either... Hmmm then what's with that homunculus...?

manabu: What are you going on about?

Nakoshi: !//

manabu: What about it? // You keep talking about a guppy....

Nakoshi: ・・・・・・・・//

p43
Nakoshi: There was a guppy, // inside your homunculus.

p44
manabu: What in the world... is this?

p45
manabu: That's what I'm saying, a guppy...

manabu: Well you never mentioned it.

Nakoshi: Ah... Yeah... // I hid it...

manabu: You hid it? // Honestly, // you're just keep lying, don't you~~~!!

Nakoshi: For... // forgive me...

p46
manabu: And you say it as if that guppy has everything to do with me...

Nakoshi: Well... it was inside your homunculus.

manabu: Are you listening?! // I said // that it's // nothing but your illusions!! // What does it matter if I own a guppy?!

p47
Nakoshi: There... // there's no reason for that...

manabu: Actually, you probably saw me owning a guppy // and lied again, stretching the truth even more!

Nakoshi: Now that's... // going to far...

manabu: Not to mention I just told you // that the homunculus that you are seeing // have nothing to do with me!

p48
Thus there is no relation between me and that guppy!

Nakoshi: But... I've never owned one either...

manabu: Ah!

p49

Mr. Nakoshi, // could it be you've forgotten?

Nakoshi: Huh?

manabu: That's it! // You've forgotten! // I get it now.

Nakoshi: ?//

manabu: You've forgotten // that you used to own a guppy!

Nakoshi: !?//

p50
manabu: And something happened // between you and it.

Nakoshi: That's absurd.

manabu: You've just forgotten it. // Just like you did with that face of yours.

Nakoshi: !?//

p51
manabu: You've suppressed that memory and forgot it.

Nakoshi: ... // I doubt that...

manabu: Mr. Nakoshi, why don't do some soul searching?

Nakoshi: ・・・・・・・//

p52
manabu: Let's grow up from blaming people saying you see homunculi and the sort. // It's about time to confront yourself.

Nakoshi: I... // owned a guppy...?

p53

manabu: *phweew* // Burp // Excuse me.

p54

Burp // I get it~~~

Nakoshi: !//

p55

manabu: You hid talking about the guppy // from me~~~.

Nakoshi: ?//

manabu: So that means this homunculus, // has to be of you.

Nakoshi: !!/

manabu: Guppy being the hidden keyword that proves this.

Nakoshi: ・・・・・?//

p56

manabu: The guppy being the symbol of your desire to look cool, // desire to look nice. // You wanted to be like a guppy and so you had surgery or you tell me, // Mr. Used to be ugly♪.
p57

So how was it? // After the surgery. // Did the world change?

p58

Nakoshi: ... Shut up...

manabu: Well, didn't it?

p59

manabu: Money, women, possessions, // the world around you just glowed, didn't it. // Just like the treatment is different // for a girl that is pretty and one who isn't... // appearance // does that.

Nakoshi: ・・・・・・・//

p60
manabu: However, living a lie took away the feel of living, // so you gave up the money, women, possessions and even though you ran away to the middle of the hotel and park you still couldn't find that feeling. // Crawling up like a little baby, // sleeping with your thumb in your mouth and thinking // "But I want my old self back" ♪

p61
If that happens... // going back to how you were... // Maybe the real you still exists.

Nakoshi: !//

p62
manabu: Although... // just like the guppy... // you can't remember // how you looked, // or what you did.

Nakoshi: ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・//

p63
manabu: What exactly happened... // before that surgery...?

Nakoshi: !!//

p64

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manabu: *burrp* // *BELCH* // I... // have an idea~~~~.

Nakoshi: !?//

p66
Wha... // what do you know...?!

manabu: Fufufu. // *burp* // Excuse me...

p67
We----ll isn't it easy enough to figure out?

Nakoshi: !?・・・・・//

p68
manabu: Before the surgery... // you were like this glass, an invisible man. // Grew up in a strict family environment that didn't allow you to assert yourself.

Nakoshi: ?//

manabu: Yeah, // that's gotta be it♪

Nakoshi: His voice... // sounds like a woman's..?

p69
manabu: And here, // this face indicates // your father was exceptionally strict. // This glass case represents how your father // did whatever he wanted, and tried to take over you.
Nakoshi: I...

p70
I thought I told you that I didn't have a father...!

manabu: Right right♪

p71
And the guppy inside here, // is a symbol of yourself! // The yearn to look nice! // the desire for change...

Nakoshi: ・・・・//

manabu: You've just forgotten that important guppy // Fufu...

Nakoshi: ... Still, // I've never owned a guppy.

p72
manabu: Something must have happened that relates to the words "guppy" and "father". // Some trauma that you've forced out. // *burp* // Oh my... // Excuse me. // Yeah, // the "father"... // must have done something // to block out the guppy.

p73 Maybe he... // threw it away? Killed it even...?

Nakoshi: What's with this guy...


p74
manabu: Mr. Nakoshi♪ // Do you think maybe your pet guppy // was killed by your father?

p75
Nakoshi: He's... // He's carelessly talking about himself!

p76
manabu: That's gotta be it, I'm sure of it. // Fufufu.

p77
Nakoshi: *cover*

p78

Nakoshi: The once invisible man... // is now visible.

p79
I can see him...

p80
Nakoshi: What's this smell...

p81
Hm...? Where's it coming from? // From below...

manabu: I hate these split ends...

p82
Can't we do something about them?

Nakoshi: *scrape* // Is it his feet...?

p83
*sniff* // That reeks!!

p84

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That's it... // His feet....

p89

Unlike his feet, // mine... // lack smell, weight, warmth. // They've lost all life to them...

p90

The bottoms of my feet were the only things left... // that had any life to them...
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manabu: Waaah. // What's the matter, Mr. Nakoshi?

p93

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Mr Nakoshi... // Ah hah! I was right on the money so now you feel like you just want to run away from the world?

p95
Nakoshi: Shut up...

manabu:
Huh?

Nakoshi: Yoar feet be reeking up the place... (Speaking like a hick again)

manabu: Excuse me?

p96
Nakoshi: So what if you got feet that smell, feel weight, have warmth. (still hick - need to hickify)

manabu: What's the matter... // Nakoshiwoshy?

Nakoshi: Don't you be all high and mighty just cause you got life in dem feet. (still hick)

manabu: Oh my oh my // what's wrong with this boy...

p97
Hey now... // you're scaring me so // come on, look at me. // Wasn't it you who said // we should look each other in the eyes?

p98
Nakoshi: I'm not the only one that was lying to myself... // You weren't living until just now!! (still hick)

manabu: What?

p99
Nakoshi: Liar!

p100
manabu: *erm*... // *burp* // *phew*

p101

Oh... Excuse me... // How embarrassing. // Excuse me while I go to the rest room.

p102

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Which one... // Going into the ladies room would be a crime...

p105

foreigner: oh!// Lady's room is that way.// You're cute.//

manabu: ・・・・・//

p106
・・・・//

p107
Hmm... // Umpgh... // *burp*

p108
・・・・// !//

p109
*Bel...* // *Belc...* // *..lch*

p110

*burp*

p111

EHHHHHH!!!!

p112

Huh...? // Maybe I'm drunk... // I do feel better though~~~~ // But wait... // What is this feeling...?

p113

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lady: *stare* // What's that dog looking at?

p115
manabu: Lala♪ Lala♪

p116

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So irresponsible.

p118

Man. // Woman. // Man. // Woman.

p119

Man. // Woman. // Man. // Woman.

p120

*flip* (going through pictures)

p121

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p124
Nakoshi: *sniiiiiiiif* // It don't smell...

p125

Nuttin(hick) // Bed time.

p126

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p130
*Blink*

p131

*sneeze* // It's cold. // Heat... Heat... // *bam*

p132
*rumble*

p133

p134

*blink* // Hm? // *rumble* // It's no good. // I can't *feel* the car... (feel as in, like he could before, understand it by just touching it)

p135
ojisan: Oh, it's the car guy!

Nakoshi: Hey, // Nice to see you Ken.

ojisan: Morning.

p136

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manabu: Going back to how you were... // Maybe the real you still exists.

Nakoshi: How did I look...? // Before I got this face... // What in the hell happened...?

p139

I can't remember. // I guess the only thing that's not different, // are my eyeballs...

p140

It's not just my face that's different... // but other places too... // Just how distorted must I get?!

p141

That reminds me... // I wonder if his has still yet to change...?

p142

p143
man:
How is it? // Father.

p144

Isn't it beautiful?

dad: ・・・・・//

p145

When was it that you wanted that ultrasound machine?

man: Oh, whenever is fine. // Whenever you can. // Actually, // I may not even need it.

dad: !?// ・・・・・//

p146
man: More importantly, // what do you think? // Isn't Siesta cute?

p147
dad: Si... // Siesta...?

man: Right, // it's his name.♪

dad: ・・・・・・・・・・//

man: Don't you just love it.

p148
dad: ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・。//
man: !?//

p149

Whoopsy.

dad: !// ・・・・
man:
Wait?

p150

This is my album.

p151

Ahaha // this brings back memories.

p152

Wait... // who's this?

dad: That's... // you.

p153
man: What!? // Weren't all the pictures before elementary school lost? // Ehh?? // What's this?? // Why do you have it??

p154

p155
dad: Sorry...

man: Why are you apologizing?

p156

Wait... // We owned a // guppy??

p157

I...

dad: Siesta...

p158

I wanted to say sorry about... Siesta...

p158

Si...

man: Siesta...?

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Si... // Siesta...

p183
dad: Manabu... // I killed him...

p184

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I'm sorry... // Manabu...

p186

I really am...

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Nakoshi: There must be the real you // before you changed your face. // Something must have happened... // Before the surgery... // What was it...?

p192

The only clue I have // to help remembering my face, // and my memories are the...

p193

homunculi.

p194

p195

Who's the one... // the one that can prove I lived... // the one that knows my face?

p196

Where's the person that knows the real me? // What in the hell happened to me // before my surgery...?? // What happened??

p197
otoko: What are you looking at!!

Nakoshi: !!// Sorry.

otoko: Sheesh...

p198

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p201