The Chrysalis and the King 10

Title: Sweet Apple [Unrelated One-shot from Sanagi to Ousama (The Chrysalis and the King)]
Volume: 2 (of 2)
Chapter: 10
Mangaka: Natsumi Rin
Translated by: Oceansportrait
Translation Completed: December 20, 2006

Pg 1:
Long Time No See! Two One-Shots!

<Sweet Apple>
This was my first one-shot. I remember I had a tough time finishing this. [SL: Oh no~]
I had absolutely no time, and I made the story through Image Character Formation --> Title --> The Story,
which is the opposite of how I usually do it (right now, I do it The Story---> Title ---> Image Character Formation)
At first, I wanted to go for a bitter-love kind of story, but that didn't work out, so
it ended up becoming completely different from how I originally imagined it...Well, I guess life's unpredictable like that.
My editor told me again and again that "Girls should be charming!" but I ended up drawing a character who's a bit on the stupid side...
I wonder why...[SL: If a girl like her existed in real life, I don't think I'd like her very much!]

[Mari: Kya! I did it again! [SL: Ooopsies!]
Risa: (In a way, I guess she's pretty good. [SL: Since it is connected and all])]
[words beside Risa read "Risa-pon"]

<Shounen B>
...Since in Sweet Apple, the girls had the main focus with the guy being a bit on the plain side,
I decided to make up for it in this story. As you probably noticed, even in the title it mentions "Shounen" [Young Boy] (Laughs)
It's my first time drawing a main guy character who's younger than the main girl character, but it was pretty easy drawing him.
I guess characters with strong personalities are easier to draw.

Pg 2:
Risa: Mari---! I can't believe you!!
[sign reads "Cooking Room"]
Risa: Who in the world these days mixes up salt with sugar?!
Mari: B-But I swear I didn't mess up this time--[SL: I did everything you told me!]
//snap//
[SL: Mari: Whaaa--!]
Risa: Don't try to make excuses!
Risa: As your punishment, you have to clean all the dishes. Got it?!
//glomp//
[SL: Mari: Uuu...this IS pretty bad...]

Pg 3:
Girl: Risa-senpai, take a look at this! We don't remember making any mistakes either but ours came out bad too!
Girl #2: I think someone accidentally put in salt in the sugar container.
[box reads "Sugar"]
Risa: What?! [SL: No way!]
Risa: Bleh! You're right!
Risa: Who did this?!
[box reads "Sugar"]
//raises hand//
[box reads "Sugar"]
Risa: MARI---!!!!! [SL on left: //pissed off//]
//crack crack//
//smash//
Mari: (As you can see, I'm an idiot...)
//clank clank//

Pg 4:
Mari: (and I'm a klutz on top of that.)
//squee squee//
Mari: (Even though I'm in a Cooking Club, I've never managed to make anything tasty in my life.)
Mari: (I always double-check, so why does this always happen--)
Keito: Hey, hey, what's with all the yelling?
Keito: I could hear you from outside!
Mari: (Ah...!)

Pg 5:
Mari: (It's Keito-kun... [SL: Yay!])
Risa: All the pies were ruined thanks to her. Can you blame me for being pissed?
//blush//
Keito: All of them? What happened?
Risa: Well, let's just say...it was because of SOMEONE's lack of common sense...
//stab//
Keito: [SL: Oh.] Mari, you again?
Mari: (Keito-kun's in the same class as me,
and sometimes he sneaks out from soccer practice to come here...)
Mari: (If the apple pie we made today turned out great...
I was planning on asking him if he'd like a slice...)

Pg 6:
Mari: (Is it just me or does he always catch me at the worst times?)
Risa: Ah, Keito.
//sob//
//squee//
Risa: If you want, you can have some of the apples on that table over there. [SL: We have lots, so knock yourself out.]
Keito: Hey, thanks.
Risa: We're going to go.
Take care of Mari for us, won't ya?
[SL: Girl: Bye!]
Keito: Eh..?
Keito: I noticed she's always pretty mean to you.
Mari: (Does this mean it's just the two of us...? [SL: Haha, what am I being all nervous for?])
Keito: Are you guys really friends? [SL: It's like you're in different levels on a hierarchy or something.]
Mari: She runs this club so she just feels responsible in making sure everything goes okay.
Mari: And I'm always the one to make the mistakes, so I'm not really surprised she acts the way she does--
//forced laugh//
[SL: Mari: In class though she's really nice!]
//chuckles//

Pg 7:
Keito: Mari!
//swish//
//slap//
Keito: Nice catch!
Mari: (Eh?)
Mari: (Eh?!)

Pg 8:
//slide//
//crunch//
Mari: (EHHH..?!)


Pg 9:
//pat pat//
Mari: (W-What
was that just now..?!)
//thump thump thump//
Mari: (It was probably nothing...[SL: He just wanted to cheer me up because I looked depressed. That's all.]
Mari: (Still...)

Pg 10:
Mari: (I can't seem to...
get what he did out of my mind...)
[SL: Girl: 'Morning!
Girl #2: Hey!]
//thump thump thump//
Mari: (I'm definitely going to try talking to him today!)
Mari: ("Hey Keito-kun!")
//grip//
Mari: (Okay! Let's do it!)
//clatter clatter//

Pg 11:
Mari: (Ah...)
Risa: Hey Mari! 'Morning!
Mari: G-G-Good Morning!!
//step step step//
[SL: Risa: Why are you walking so weird?]
Mari: (Geez...I got myself pumped up for nothing...)
//thud//

Pg 12:
Mari: (Even after all this time, I still don't have the courage to go up to him and talk to him)
//mumbles//
Mari: I wish I could talk to him like that...
[SL: Risa: Haha, what are you going to do about it?]
Mari: (Risa...
is friendly, and smart, and she's good at everything...)
[SL: Risa: Okay, got it!]
Mari: (If only I had a little more confidence in myself...)
//sigh//
Risa: Mari--!
Risa: Are you free
Risa: this Saturday and Sunday?

Pg 13:
Risa: The soccer team's going to hold a training camp at school right before the big game!
Risa: You know how they're not exactly the best of the best? They don't have enough managers either..
so they asked me if I could come and set up lunch for them.
Risa: Wanna come too?
Mari: Really!? I can come?
Mari: (Eh?)
Risa: Yup! I won't be able to get anything done by myself anyway!
Risa: Just think of this
Risa: as a great way to make up for what happened last time!
//smile//

Pg 14:
Mari: Yeah!
Mari: (Yeah! This time for sure---
I won't mess up! I'll give it my best shot!)
Risa: I'm going to go and buy the rest of the stuff we need, okay?
[sign reads "Cooking Room"]
[SL: Risa: I'm leaving things to you!]
Mari: Okay!
Mari: So one container has enough rice for five people.
Mari: Okay, check!
Next is putting the water in--
[SL: Mari: Making a list and checking it twice!]

Pg 15:
//thump thump thump thump//
//splash//
Keito: You look pretty serious about this.
//THUMP//
Mari: (Keito-kun! [SL: When did he get here..])
Mari: Y-Yeah, I can be a bit out of it sometimes. [SL: So I have to make sure to concentrate so I won't screw up!]
Keito: Haha, really?
Mari: If this doesn't come out perfect I'm planning on harakiri. [Harakiri=This is what the Samurai did when they were disgraced. Cutting open their stomach is a very painful way to die XD]
//completely serious//
Keito: What?!
[SL: Keito: It's not that big of a deal...]

Pg 16:
Mari: I'm going to give it my best.
Mari: (Because,
I want to be of some use to you.)
Mari: I don't want to screw up today.
//chuckle//
//slide//
Mari: (I'm always messing things up.
So I want this to be a chance)

Pg 17:
Mari: (for me to build up my self confidence. Even if it's just a little bit.)
Guy: Whoa! This looks amazing!
Guy: Let's eat!
Risa: Eat up, you guys!
//noise noise//
[SL: Guy: This is amazing!
Guy: Let's eat!]
Guy: You're really good at cooking, Risa-chan.
Guy: Wanna marry me~?
Risa: Wait, are you proposing to me?!
[sign reads "A bunch of idiots"]
Mari: (I'm so glad it turned out okay...)
//a little relieved//
//crumple//
Guy: Hey, the riceballs for this one row looks kinda weird.
///HAHAHA//
Guy #2: Yeah, you're right! [SL: You can't even tell if it's supposed to be a ball or a triangle!"]
//blush//

Pg 18:
//hahaha//
Mari: (I guess it's going to be a while before I can brag about my cooking skills...[SL: H-Haha...]
//slide//
Mari: (Eh?!)
[SL: Keito: Check the afternoon schedule for me, would ya?]
[SL: Guy: 'Kay!]
Mari: (H-He probably didn't even realize what he was grabbing.)
Mari: (But he could probably tell from the way it looks that I made it...)
//thump thump thump//

Pg 19:
Mari: (I'm so happy...)
(I'm so happy--!)
Mari: I feel like crying...

Pg 20:
Mari: I'm so happy, I could cry...
//whistle//
[SL: Guy: Gather around!]
//rustle rustle//
[SL: Guy: Everyone do a quick warmup,
and in ten minutes---]

Pg 21:
Mari: Good luck...
Mari: on the big game today...
Mari: ("Keito-kuunnnn!
Good lucckkk!")
//mouth mouth//
Mari: (It only takes...)
Mari: (How long will it take,
before I can...)
Mari: (a little bit of will power...)
//clash//
Guy: Hey, Hey Keito.
You like that girl you invited to the training camp, don't you?
Keito: Huh?

Pg 22:
Keito: W-What are you saying--
Guy: Haha! I knew it!
Guy: You're turning bright red! //AHAHAHAHA//
Guy: Yeah, well I don't blame you. Her cooking's out of this world!
//thump//
Mari: (Risa...?)
Keito: [SL: C-Cut it out!] I don't---
[SL: Guy: Don't try to deny it!]
Guy: Aww, you don't have to be embarrassed!

Pg 23:
Guy: You two looked pretty good together.
Keito: [SL: Shut up!] It's not like that...
//dash//
Mari: (They're talking about Risa---!)
Keito: I---
Mari: (To be honest,
I was scared all this time.)
Mari: (Because I thought maybe...
just maybe...they're...)

Pg 24:
Mari: (From the very beginning,
there was no room for me in his heart.)
//crash//
Girl: Are you okay, Mari-senpai?!
Risa: Geez, and this is HOW any plates you've broken so far?
Mari: I think...
I might quit this club...
Mari: (No matter what I do...)

Pg 25:
Risa: Mari..?
Mari: (I'll never be able to...)
Risa: What's wrong? You've been acting odd lately.
Risa: Did something happen?

Pg 26:
Mari: A guy from the soccer team...
Mari: was saying how you and Keito looked good together.
Risa: HAH? What are you saying---? [SL: Don't they have better things to be doing with their time than talking about us?]
Mari: I think so too.
[Mangaka's Message

I always love receiving letters from readers, but this time around, since the story was a bit
on the serious side, I received letters that were a bit more on the serious side too, so I was very happy.
Everyone talked about their feelings and their thoughts about the story...
I still haven't been able to get through my feelings perfectly through my stories,
and I often look back thinking "Oh, I should have done it THIS way..."
But to think the readers really did look beyond the story into the deeper meaning...it makes me want to cry.
These letters are my treasures.
Thank you for the bottom of my heart.
I'll try my best to write back to you all, but if I can't reply to all of you, I'm very sorry.
I'll try my best though. I was really happy receiving them!]

Pg 27:
Mari: You're popular with the guys...
Mari: (No...)
Mari: So Keito-kun probably likes you too...
Mari: (What am I...)
Mari: What about you, Risa?
Mari: What do you think about Keito?
Mari: (I can't stop---)
Risa: I like him.

Pg 28:
Risa: Oh, so Keito-kun likes me, huh?
Risa: Maybe I should go out with him then.
Risa: I guess I'll wait for the right time
Risa: to tell him I feel the same way.
//smile//
//stab//

Pg 29:
//creak//
Mari: (Am I an idiot or what?
Why did I tell her?)
Mari: (I couldn't have been
more straight out with her---)
//slam//
Mari: (I'm such an idiot...)
Keito: Hey, Mari?

Pg 30:
Keito: Mari?
Keito: What's wrong?
Keito: Mari!
Keito: Hey! Wait! What's with you?
Mari: It's nothing! Just leave me alone!
Keito: There's no way I could do that---
Mari: (No...)

Pg 31:
Mari: (I don't...)
Mari: (want him to see me like this...)
Mari: I just messed up like I always do, that's all.
Keito: Mari!
//wince//
Mari: Keito!
Mari: What happened to your leg...
[SL: Keito: I'm such a loser]
Keito: I just sprained it a little.
While the game was still going, I slammed right into a player from the other team right in front of the goal post.
Keito: Maybe I was just being stupid...

Pg 32:
Keito: there's no way we can win against a strong team like theirs..
Keito: but...there was just something keeping me back from giving up...
//stab//
Mari: You're...giving it your best shot...
//pat//
Keito: Yeah well, I'm not the only one. You are too!

Pg 33:
Keito: You're always giving it your best.
Keito: I can tell just by watching you, that you try more than others.
Keito: Watching you...made me think...[SL: how I shouldn't give up..]
Mari: (Ah...)
Keito: Anyway, I better go.
Mari: (No, I...)
[SL: Keito: I have to go and watch the game!]
Mari: (No, I...)

Pg 34:
Mari: Keito-kun...
Mari: (I...)
Mari: ...Kei...
to-kun....
Mari: (was always trying to run away...)
Mari: (I always made excuses for myself...
telling myself there's no way I could win against someone like Risa...)
Mari: (I...
didn't have enough courage from the very beginning...)

Pg 35:
Mari: (even though...
I'd realized my love for you since that day...)
Mari: (There's no way I could give up on you...)
//school chime//

Pg 36:
[SL: Girl: See ya!]
Mari: Risa!
Mari: I want to do a match against you!
Risa: Hah? [SL: A match?]

Pg 37:
Mari: Whoever makes the better apple pie, gives it to Keito-kun and tells him she likes him!
Mari: What do you think?
//swish//
Risa: Okay, fine.
Mari: (Even if I have no chance of winning..)
[sign reads "Cooking Room"]

Pg 38:
Mari: (Even if they already like each other...)
[book reads "Apple Pie"]
Mari: (I don't want things end like this...
with me doing nothing...)

Pg 39:
//ring//
//sparkle sparkle//
//crumble//
[arrow at top reads "Risa"]
[arrow beneath it reads "Mari"]
Mari: (No matter how you look at it, she--)
Risa: Look's like it's my win.

Pg 40:
Mari: You're amazing. [SL: Yup!]
//rustle//
Mari: There's no way I could measure up to you...
Mari: (With this, I have to give up on him...)
Mari: (I have to give up on him...)
//tear//
Mari: In my mind, I always knew...

Pg 41:
Mari: but....it's just no use...I...
Mari: I...like Keito-kun!
//sob sob//
//sigh//
Risa: What am I going to do with you, Mari?

Pg 42:
//slice//
Risa: Here!
Risa: Eat this and cheer up!
Mari: W-What are you doing?! That's supposed to be for---
Risa: I wasn't planning on giving him this from the very beginning.
[SL: Risa: I'm going to have a slice too!]
Mari: Eh?

Pg 43:
Risa: I told him I liked him a long time ago.
//crunch//
Risa: And he already gave me the no-go.
//WHATTTT--?!//
[SL:
Mari: When did she--
Risa: HAHAHAHA
Risa: So there's nothing for you to worry about!]
Risa: So there's no way Keito could like me---
[SL: Risa: He doesn't mind being friends with me though.]
Risa: And anyway, it just pissed me off to see how
you always had your eyes on him but never tried actually TALKING to him.
Risa: When you started saying stuff like how I looked good together with him,
I don't know, I guess I just snapped. [SL: Since I DID like him a long time ago..]

Pg 44:
//chuckles//
Risa: I just wanted to tease you a bit.
Mari: (Ah...)
Risa: But I guess you should be fine now.
Risa: If you have the courage to face me like this,
Risa: then you'll be able to tell Keito how you really feel.

Pg 45:
Risa: Good luck.
Mari: (Risa...)
//tear//
Mari: This is delicious...
Mari: It's...amazing...
Mari: It's so good....
//sob sob//
Mari: ...delicious...!

Pg 46:
Mari: (The apple pie Risa gave me,
tasted
sweet and full of kindness...)
//pat pat//
[SL: Risa: Come on now!]
Mari: (My courage...
is building up...)
//clatter//
Keito: Oh, Mari?
Keito: You're alone today?
[SL: Keito: Don't you have Cooking Club?]

Pg 47:
Mari: Keito-kun!
Mari: Well I'm just doing a little extra lesson for myself!
Keito: An extra lesson?
Mari: Yup!
Mari: I made up my mind,
Mari: that I'm going to make an apple pie better than Risa one day!
Mari: When that day comes...
Mari: will you eat a slice for me?

Pg 48:
Mari: I'm going to build up my self confidence bit by bit...
so that when that time comes, I'll be able to tell you that I like you.
Mari: Will you wait for me until then?
Keito: You..like me..?
Mari: Yeah! So I'm going to give it my best shot!
Keito: What you just said right now...[SL: Was...]
//explosion//
[SL: Ala Old Music]

Pg 49:
Mari: (Could I be more of an idiot?! [SL: What am I saying--?!])
//AHAHAHA//
Keito: You didn't even realize what you're saying..?!
Keito: I've been waiting a long time already,
Keito: for you to give me a slice.
//crunch//
//chuckles//
Keito: Just don't take too long, okay?

Pg 50:
Mari: Okay!
Mari: (This time...)
(I feel like I can definitely...
make an apple pie as amazing as Risa's...)
THE END

Pg 51:

THANKS A BUNCH!

[SL:
Hahaha...
I was thinking how great it'd be if I had enough free pages,
to draw about this guy. But since there isn't, I guess I'll have to be satisfied with this!
Maybe one day!]