Bakuman 122

In light of certain developments, I'd just like to warn people, especially the international groups who use my translation, that this may be the last chapter of Bakuman that I am translating. I haven't decided yet... Will probably put up an announcement if I do really stop with the full reasons.

By the way, it's definitely not because I dislike Bakuman or anything of the sort (obviously, as I mod the section ._.), in case anyone's wondering XD



01
a1: ☆The stage for battle is set!! Crush the haughty author!! Center Color for the orthodox outbreak of war!!
a2: Page 122 Psychological Warfare and Catchphrases
a3: Excuse us for cutting you down!!
a4: The decisive moment of battle!!
a5: ☆TV Anime "Bakuman." is on air on Saturday 6pm on NHK Educational TV

02
b1: We'll get you canceled in 10 weeks!
a1: Their prides clash over the phone!!
b2a: You shouldn't be too conceited when you've barely been serialized for a year
b2b: The series that'll be forced into cancellation once my serialization starts will be "PCP"
b3: All we can do over the phone is quarrel... We're like elementary school kids having a fight...
b4: You're right. We'll know the true victor with the results
s1: pi
b5: ......

03
b1: Sorry for suddenly getting so heated up...
b2: But looking at Nanamine-kun's methods, we have to, no matter what...
b3a: You're right...
b3b: However, his is a method that will explode in his face even if you left him alone... I, too, don't want to acknowledge it as a method a professional should be using
b4: Well, now that you've said all that, if he doesn't mend his ways then you'd better crush him good, huh?
b5: Hattori-san
b6: ......
b7a: Of course, I'll speak to Kosugi and see if he can try and make Nanamine-kun mend his ways
b7b: But more importantly, it's not a bad thing to battle it out with the manga themselves. If things are too dirty or against the rules, I'll step in
b7c: But right now, Nanamine-kun is quite the formidable opponent
b7d: His serialization name looked interesting at first glance, too
b8: ! What do you mean, at first glance?
b9: Perhaps it's because he's taking ideas from 50 different people... So he's including too many ideas and making the story and characters inconsistent and shaky
b10: You mean they're getting influenced too much by the different ideas, right?
b11: Because he tries to include the interesting ideas no matter what, huh......
b12: Well, even so, it's an interesting manga. Possibly because the plus point of the richness of the ideas outweighs the minus point of the inconsistency

04
a1: ☆JC "Bakuman." Volume 12 goes on sale 4th March!! Hiramaru takes the cover!!
b1: Hattori-san, please do not say anything more than that
b2: I think it'd be unfair if we knew any more about Nanamine's story......
b3a: Ah, so that's what you were thinking
b3b: Well, I wasn't planning on telling you any of the nitty gritty stuff either
b3a: ...... The school setting, the way they edge on being unorthodox, the use of psychology
b3b: It's indubitable that the more the literary styles clash, the easier it is to face off
b4: Nanamine-kun may change his story from the first chapter on
b5: If he does that, he loses. It's like running away
b6: I don't mean that. I mean he might change it into something that deals more damage to "PCP"
b7: ...... I see. I wouldn't put it past Nanamine-kun
b8: Just what will he do...
b9: But if his manga becomes boring as a result, then there'd be no meaning in that
b10: ......
b11: More than just being a battle between the contents of the manga, this is a psychological war between the authors, huh...

05
b1: So it's possible that it might clash even more with the content of "PCP"... That could happen...
b2: ...... His first chapter's going to get the lead color and more than 50 pages, so it's gonna be hard to beat that
b3: Quit being a scaredy-cat. We said we'd get him canceled in 10 weeks, so we've got to nip him in the bud
b4: You do have a point......
b5: Exactly. So, while we're at it, what should we do about it......?
b6: In the end, it's most important to make "PCP" interesting, huh?
b7: Yeah
b8: You're right
b9: It's most important to write it solidly
b10: Yes. I'll write a solid story without inconsistencies
b11: If he makes the stories clash, then the tables will just turn on him

06
s1~s3b: tap
screen: Here it is! A battle with Ashirogi Muto | Great | Awesome | Ohhh | Things are getting interesting | Crush 'em! | They sure are impudent, thinking they can meet us head-on | Ashirogi Muto's death is certain
b1: !
screen: I'm stepping down | Eh? What do you mean, stepping down? | Even as a joke, you can't be serious about picking a fight with a senpai mangaka. I said I'd help to make this manga more interesting, but if it's going to turn out this way, then I quit. | kk34's got cold feet! What a loser | I don't really like this either... Bye | Eh, at least wait a little till Nana-chan gets here | I think k and n will be allowed to go | don't say such useless stuff at a time like this, jj
b2: ......
s4a: tap
s4b: tap
b3a: It's no problem at all if we're less 2 people
b3b: This is not the time for internal discord. Those who wish to quit, please do

07
b1: Now, the question is, what card do we play next?
s1~s2: tap
screen: Write a "PCP" story that is more interesting than the original "PCP" | No way that's gonna get past the editorial division | I don't mean as-is, I mean make the content similar enough but not so similar it gets rejected | There's no way we can make it like that with what we have. The two manga are intrinsically similar, so if we just give it a power-up, that'd be enough | I agree. Let's modify the name we have now and add in some of "PCP"'s signature psychological warfare
s3~s4: tap
screen: No, the first chapter is fine as it is. Let's wage war from the second chapter! | Oh! ta1-san, our resident experienced editor! What do you mean? | What's important is not losing with the second chapter. I expect that if Ashirogi are going to set anything up, it'll be from the second chapter | They are after all the creators of "TRAP" and "PCP", huh? They're bound to do something
a1: Let's wage war from the second chapter!
b2: Waging war from the second chapter, huh......
s5: tap
b3: I've heard many rumors that even if the first chapter is good, the true battle begins from the second chapter onwards......
s6: tap
b4: ......
b5: I see......

08
b1: Kosugi, you're still here?
b2: They're not cutting me any slack on the other pages of the magazine even after I got a serialization
b3: Yoshida-san went home already?
b4: He's sleeping on the sofa in the meeting room
b5: About that serialization, I've heard everything from Ashirogi-kun
b6: Eh?
b7a: It's okay to use that method as long as it turns out a popular series
b7b: Is that what you're thinking?
b8: ......... No
b9: That's all I needed to know
b10a: It's not the editorial division's style to butt in between editors and their charges and dictate would they should do
b10b: But knowing all that and still passing it around at the serialization meeting means that your responsibility is greater still. You have to build up your relationship with the author on your own
b11: .....
b12: Umm

09
b1: Wha... What is required of an editor isn't the ability to create manga, is it?
b2: You're right. Of course, having it may well be a plus. But that's not it. The one who needs it is the mangaka himself
b3: Yes
b4: Kosugi, what do you think is most important for an editor to have?
b5: ...
b6: ...
b7a: I think it's the ability to see through a manga
b7b: Whether a manga is interesting or not, which parts are interesting, which parts are no good...
b8: I thought I'd read my fair share of manga. I did my own research... And even did my homework
b9: I want to run a three-legged race, working hand-in-hand with the author to reach a common goal... But he... Whenever I speak to Nanamine-kun, I feel like I'm just denying my own self...
b10: ......

10
b1: Kosugi, have faith in yourself
b2: Excuse me?
b3: You're not wrong
b4a: The problem lies with Nanamine-kun. That conceit is common among young mangaka
b4b: Even so, it's not like anything will happen by just saying, "he's in the wrong"......
b5: It is true that he has talent...
b6: Yes.....
b7: All the best! You've still got some work left to do, don't you?
b8: ....
b9: Yes..... Thank you very much!
b10: Let Hiramaru-kun be an assistant?
b11: I beg you... We're in a real pinch
b12a: ......
b12b: Hiramaru-kun of all people... Okaaaay, I'll ask him...
s1a~s1b: pi
a1: pururururu
a2: pururururu...
b13: I, Hiramaru Kazuya, can no longer go on...... If I'm still alive, I'll listen to your message so please leave one after the beep---
b14: !
a3: He couldn't have!
b15: HIRAMARUUUUUU
b16: !?

11
b1: Hiramaru! Hiramaru-kun..... Are you aliiiiiive!?
b2: Hiramaru-kun!
b3: MY HIRAMARU-KUUUUUN!
b4: Ugh.....
b5: Don't be reckless, Hiramaru-kuuuuuuuunn
b6: Th... That's.......
b7: Yoshida-shi's voice.....
b8: Hiramaru-kuuuuuun!!
b9: Pull yourself together! Close your gas tap and open your windows and doors!
b10: Yo... Yoshida-shi... I... I can no longer go on~
b11: I got dumped by Yuuko-rin.....
b12a: What are you talking about! It's not Yuuko-rin, it's Yuri-tan, isn't it!
b12b: Besides, you weren't dumped! How could you be!
b13: Yuri-tan doesn't have enough assistants for her new serialization [aoki bubble: Would it be possible to ask Hiramaru-sensei to help? I'd want him to come over immediately...... But I'm worried that it might hurt him to lower himself to the status of an assistant.....] that's what she discussed with Yamahisa!
b14: .....

12
b1a: I'll do it!
b2: ! .....
b1b: Isn't that just the most brilliant finale?
b1c: Yuri-tan gets a serialization, and I............... Become Yuri-tan's assistant
b1d: LIFE IS WONDERFUUUUUUL!
b1e: What are you dilly-dallying for? Let's go!
b2: Now?
a1: I knew I shouldn't have done that... But... He might have killed himself over that misunderstanding..........
b3: As you know, all the assistants over at Aoki-sensei's are girls
b4: Ohhhh
b5: The workplace is Aoki-sensei's room! You're just helping for today...
b6: IT'S A HAREEEEEEM ♡
b7a: Hey! Don't you be acting like that over there!
b7b: Listen up, if you cause any trouble there I'll drag you out in a heartbeat
b8: Leave it to me!

13
x1: The next day, Monday
b1: I've fixed the names for the second and third chapters. Wanna see?
b2: He fixed them again...?
b3: Of course, I'll be right over
b4: I've rented a workplace and I'll tell you the address, so head over here
b5: This apartment, huh.........?
b6: Hello
b7: Thank you
b8: This is quite an elegant apartment, huh?
b9a: There are many among those who're willing to work as assistants who have other jobs...
b9b: There could be up to 8 people in here at any time between 8 and 11pm
b10: So I need a big place.....
b11: Ah, this is the room for the assistants to use

[v]14
b1: ...... I see
b2: Once it becomes a big hit, the room rent won't be a problem at all
b3: I work in this room. Have a look at the name
b4: How is it? Give me your comments, 51st person
b5: .....
b6: If you'll let me speak as your editor, I feel that this crammed too full
b7: Rejected
b8: Thanks
b9: .....
b10: I'll call you when I've done the manuscript
b11: .........

15
sign: Aoki
b1: Hiramaru-san, you're sensei's boyfriend, aren't you?
b2: Eh? Eh? Boyfriend? Did Yuri-tan say that?
b3: Wah! Yuri-tan and Kazu-tan, huh! I'm so jealous~~
b4: She didn't say so out loud, but she did say, "He's a guy but he's someone special to me whom I trust. Is that alright?"..... Her face was all red!
b5: Hiramaru-san, what do you like about sensei?
b6: Her face
b7a: Eh
b7b: Her face.....?
b8: She's beautiful..... It's been my dream to fawn over and behave like a spoiled child with beautiful woman who's younger than me
b9: Hirmaru-san, you'd better not breathe a word of that to sensei......
b10: Eh? Why?
b11: You've got to praise her inner beauty....
b12: Inner beauty... I see
b13: Such as?
b14: Her kindness, her humility despite being so smart...
b15: Ah! I see... That was really helpful
s1: scratch scratch
b16: Hey, don't note that down on the manuscript!
b17: I don't mind you chit-chatting, but it looks like there are some people not even moving their hands, hmm?
b18: Wah, Sensei. Sorry
b19a: I'm sorry, Yuri-ta...
b19b: I mean, Sensei!

16
b1: Akito-san, it really is amazing that you had this many amassed
b2: These haven't been made into proper stories yet, they're just drafts
paper: "White Christmas ni Suru zo Daisakusen" draft (TN: The Great 'We'll make this a White Christmas' Operation)
b3: I'm guessing this one
b4a: Proposal Daisakusen, huh........ (TN: Proposal Daisakusen is a popular Japanese drama)
b4b: I think that one's interesting, too
b4c: But I thought it'd be too early to do that when they were still elementary school kids, and was going to at least wait till they were in middle school
b5: Which one? Let me see
b6: What if we changed "proposal" to "confession"?
b7: Maybe it's just because they're just outlines, but they all seem interesting.....
text next to Kaya: Ah...
b8: I see, changing it to "confession", huh.... I can't say it would be a waste, so I guess this is it.....
b9: Let's polish this up and start the battle with issue #45
b10: No, it's too late to start when Nanamine-kun's serialization begins. If we're going with a 4-chapter arc, then the most exciting chapter will be the third. So let's meet his with our third chapter [bottom, from left: first chapter, second chapter, third chapter, fourth chapter]
b11: I see, just what I was expecting from Akito-san!
b12: ........

17
b1: Shuujin, it might be better to make that most interesting chapter meet his second chapter
b2a: !
b2b: Waging war from the second chapter, huh......
b3: Indeed... If we really want to crush him........
b4a: Kawaguchi Tarou
b4b: Niizuma Eiji
b4c: No, all the mangaka we've competed against... The mangaka who are serialized right now
b4d: I'm sure none of them would approve of his methods. There's no meaning if one succeeds using those methods
b5: It's not because of what I said earlier about it being hard to win against a first chapter. To a new serialization, the greatest damage we can deal is to make the second chapter fall as much as possible in rankings compared to the first
x1: first chapter
x2: second chapter
b6: Exactly! We'll make the peak of our arc clash with his second chapter!
b7: Yeah
b8a: Thank goodness
b8b: Actually, if we were going to pit our third chapter against his first, then by our schedule I'd need to draw that next week. I've got an extra week to work with now
b9: Ah, I see... Even so, it's gotta be tough. Will you be okay? Don't push yourself too much! It's okay even if we just continue to draw the arc we'd plan to earlier
b10: No, this one is more interesting, let's go with this one!
b11: Alright!

18
x1: 18th September
b1: I've done the manuscript for the first chapter. Come get it
b2: Eh? Already? There's still a lot of time before the deadline
b3: I've got extra pages in the magazine until the third chapter, so it's better to finish them as fast as possible, right? Come get it already
b4: I understand... You're right. Is 7pm okay for you?
b5: Yes, please come
b6a: How is it?
b6b: It beats out Ashirogi Muto, doesn't it?
b7: .........
b8: If you'll allow me to speak as the 51st person, it loses to them
b9: Hm?
b10: How so?
b11: ...... The ability of the individual
b12a: ... In other words, you're saying that "this is inferior to Ashirogi's 2-man team because it takes ideas from 50 people"?
b12b: But what I'm asking about is the work in itself. You don't need to bring up such frivolous arguments
b13: It's not a frivolous argument. The ability of the individual...
b14: Especially.....

19
b1: The artwork
b2a: Ashirogi-kun wins in the artwork department. That's what most people say, isn't it? The difference in the artwork of the characters isn't so great
b2b: But the backgrounds, in particular... The gap of the pathway, the balance between the characters and the backgrounds are bad..... Nanamine-kun, you yourself are no good at backgrounds so you can't pick out what's off about them
b3: You are right
b4: But that isn't a problem with my skill or lack thereof
b5a: I can't possibly strike an overall balance if I just used the whole bunch of assistants I gathered
b5b: So I'll just select one talented assistant from among them to be in charge of all the backgrounds
b6a: It's not like I'm cutting corners with the first chapter, but the war begins with the second chapter...
b6b: I discussed with the rest about how to power it up further.... And that's the conclusion we reached
b7: And so I prepared a secret weapon.....
b8: Secret weapon?

20
b1a: All my buddies helped ask around
b1b: The rumors spread around the internet like wildfire, and I found one much faster than I expected
b1c: A Super Assistant
b1d: He's in the next room with a number of other assistants. Wanna meet him?
b2: .........
b3: ........... No, it's okay. I'll be taking the manuscript
b4: Well, all the best with chapter two. Thanks for your hard work
b5: .....
b6: Ohh what amazing technique!
b7: How could you have drawn this without a reference!
b8a: Yeah
b8b: I can draw any thing and any place from any angle without a reference image
b8c: Speed lines, spiky flashes, tone flashes... When it comes to speed, I won't lose to anyone
b9: Ehhh, amaaaaazing! If that's the truth then you've really got my respect~~
a1: These words... Have we heard them somewhere before!?