Bakuman 126

Hey everyone! I came back from vacation and now I'm all ready to translate again! :) I love those temp overlords that njt enlisted help from, don't you? ^^ I've been talking to some of them on IRC and stuff and they're really nice people! I think Tamotsu-kun is hilarious! Kusako-chan and Chieko-chan are such sweeties. I'll be sad to see them go :(



01
b1: WHAAAAAT!? You're doing the same story in the same issue!?
b2a: Yup. We purposely told Nanamine-kun what material we were going to use for "PCP" in the double issue
b2b: This is a challenge from Nanamine-kun himself, so there's no way we can lose
a1: Appalled at the taboo move!!

a2: Page 126 Analysis and Results

b3: Nanamine-kun has 50 people giving him ideas, right? You sure you'll be alright!?
b4: 120% sure. I'm sure we won't lose
b5: 120%? Unpreparedness is one's greatest enemy, you know, Shuujin...

b6: This isn't unpreparedness, this comes from analysis
b7: Akito-san, you're so cool! Please explain your analysis!
s1: ton

b8: When I heard about Nanamine-kun's methods, for a moment, I actually thought to myself that it might be a good method to use...
b9: NO WAY!
b10: (big sfx in b10: PUH...) Eh, you thought it was a good method...?

b11: Unlike Saikou, I'm not one to nitpick about whether a method is one a pro should use or not. Rather, I'm the kind of person who will first think about the methodology
b12a: ... I see...
b12b: And?

02
b1: The issue #5 and #6 double issue goes on sale on the 4th of January next year, but we need to submit the manuscript for issue #7 by the end of this year as well, so the deadline for the double issue is 18th December

screen: In that case, we should use up to the 10th to finish the name | That should be enough time | A story where a student is made to be elected student council president despite overwhelmingly unfavorable circumstances... That's all you know, right? Nanamine-sensei?

b2: Yes, since it's Ashirogi, I think it's probably not going to be something like revealing the dirty secrets of the other candidates to hinder them

screen: But the fact that it's such a normal set-up is what makes it so hard | Yeah, we're centering our story on theirs, after all | It's hard, but that's precisely why we all need to come up with ideas, right? | What about something like having him give a really moving election speech and about the events that form the backbone of what made the speech so moving? | A solid manifesto, something no-one would ever think of | A direct approach is good, but we need a huge plot twist somewhere | It's definitely something Ashirogi could pull off | A win that is indeed magnificent and cool, huh

a1: ... As I thought, it's better with this number of people... All those idiotic half-assed jokers and whiners are gone now. Even with "Shinjitsu no Kyoushitsu", it was 5 people including myself... 50 people was overdoing it...
a2: Everyone is seriously putting their heads together on this. We can do this
a3: We fell behind from chapter three onwards, but with this #5/6 combined issue... We'll turn the tables on "PCP" with chapter eleven in one shot

03
b1: Put simply, "too many captains will steer the boat up a mountain" (TN: This is the literal translation, but in normal idiomatic English, this is "too many soups spoil the broth")

a1: Captains...!!

b2: ... Whatever does he mean?
small text directly below b2: Why a boat?
b3: I'm not sure myself...

b4: In simpler terms, "When you have too many people giving directions, you lose that sense of unity and end up going off course," I suppose?
b5: Ah, I see

b6a: ... Umm
b6b: What does that really mean, in even simpler terms?
b7: ... I told you I was going to touch on that now

b8a: "Shinjitsu no Kyoushitsu" was undoubtedly interesting
b8b: Even the one-shot, "Kinchou to Sore ni Tomonau Kitai" was number one on the questionnaires, so it must have been pretty good, right?
b9: But when it was serialized, it was only good up to the second chapter. It's already down at fifteenth place now... There's no way we'd lose

b10: Geez... So all you were trying to say was that there was no way "PCP", which is consistently in the top 5, could lose to something ranked at number fifteen?
b11: No, that's not it

04
b1: Gathering dozens of people and choosing only the best of the ideas they come up with to compile into a single series
b2: Think about it - just how much skill do you need to do that?
b3a: ?
b3b: How much?
b4: ...

b5: Well, if it were me, it'd probably be impossible...

b6: Me too... More importantly, there's no one who does that in a weekly publication

b7: It doesn't matter how talented, intuitive and trustworthy those dozens of people are
b8: You're never going to be able to control 50 people you gathered on the internet

b9a: Most likely, Nanamine-kun is feeling the strain from doing that, too
b9b: "Shinjitsu no Kyoushitsu"... From the time he submitted that to when he wrote the one-shot, he had a lot of extra time and emotional composure, so he could handle it
b9c: But the first chapter, which was supposed to have clinched first place, came in second. From that moment forth, he wasn't able to relax as much, and he began to focus on choosing not ideas that would benefit his series, but rather "ideas that would overlap more with 'PCP'"
b10: Even if the first chapter had taken the top spot, it would all still have crumbled beneath him eventually...

b11: Hattori-san said so too, didn't he...

05
b1: A method that will explode in his face even if we left him alone...
b2a: Even if such a method actually worked, his advisors would be doing all this for free and yet need to put as much effort into thinking about the story as the guy whose name gets published on the magazine
b2b: Even so, it's usually not easy to take the lead and control all of them

For text in background of panel 2, refer to this image for numbering of strips. (----) indicates cut off P.S.: most of this is made up if I couldn't find the original translation or there's just too little to make anything of it ._.
1 - Again...
2 - Around the ---- show character
3 - --- is okay | --- right?
4 - Who's the idiot?
5 - -- 23 people now
6 - -- More importantly
7 - Interesting --- become
8 - I guess I was just trying to waste some time and have some fun, you know?
9 - I agree. First, whose idea for "that" should we use?
10 - Let's keep working together like this!
11 - I'm leaving
12 - --- Wondering if it might be good to flip the roles of the protagonist and the heroine. What do you think?
13 - Don't think you're so great
14 - My idea we decided on didn't end up getting used
15 - --- very least, let's discuss this
16 - --- them ---

b3a: 50 people he gathered off the internet
b3b: Nanamine-kun said they were people who knew their stuff and whom he'd handpicked

b4: But they were merely people who read "Shinjitsu no Kyoushitsu" and left comments saying it was interesting
b5a: There might have been a good number of them willing to cooperate at the start, but along the way there would have been those who grew tired of it all
b5b: And thus, internal discord was sown... People left... They don't receive any reward, they aren't held responsible, and their faces aren't even known. It's easy to raise complaints or just quit
b5c: As long as the ideas seemed novel and exorbitant, they'd think it was good

b6: ... How do you know so much? Those are just your assumptions, right?
b7: I'm telling you that that's what the series has become. It tried to hard to put all those ideas on show and was too conscious about "PCP"!

b8: What I'm saying is that Nanamine-kun lacks the ability to independently select only the ideas that should be used
b9: And in the first place, that's just impossible!

06
b1: For a while now, it's been looking like only the same few people have been contributing...

screen: What do you mean same few people? We only have 14 left and only 6 of us are even here | It's better without those guys who weren't serious and were just playing around | Honestly speaking, those who've seen through everything, too...

b2: Seen through?

screen: Those who look at the reviews on the internet and realize it's not popular and decide to stop...

a1: This is bad...

b3a: ...
b3b: It's alright, we're still in the single digits for the rankings. Please trust me

b4: Sorry for changing the topic, let's think of some more ideas
screen: Maybe he can get popular by beating up a teacher all the students hate (it can be a fixed game) | Maybe she can hide her face all the way until voting day and then she'll reveal that she's a super hot chick | Are you being serious about this? | I am. With just the male votes, she'd have half the votes already | We'd better not do anything too extravagant...
b5a: ... I don't mind, so just share whatever ideas you have in mind
b5b: I'll decide which to use later

07
x1: 30th November
b1: Alright
b2: The winds are in your favor!

b3: The circumstances are for you, but this time, you sure churned out the name fast

b4a: I wanted to get to the manuscript stage faster than usual and spend more time on the art
b4b: And just like Hattori-san told us...

b5: We'll show him the difference between us

x2: 5th December
b6: In that case, that's it for the discussion for the double issue. I'll base the manuscript on what we discussed
screen: It's perfect | It's going to be the best chapter we ever did | Nanamine-sensei, we'll leave the rest to you | Sensei, please work hard
b7a: Of course
b7b: Well definitely beat "PCP"!

08
x1: 11th December, Friday

s1: *crunch*
s2: *crunch*

a1: It's at this placing in the table of contents at its eighth chapter...
a2: No matter how you look at it, you can't say it's drawing any votes in the questionnaires at all...

b1: The editor's here!

b2a: Chapter eight was sixteenth on the real rankings...
b2b: From the fourth chapter onwards, it's always been in the double digits... Thirteenth, fifteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, sixteenth... There's no way out
b3: And that's exactly why I'm telling you I'll turn the tables with the eleventh chapter, okay?

09
a1: This is terrible... It's en route to cancellation

a2: What will happen to my life if it gets canceled? Naturally, my special treatment will come to an end... I can't return to the countryside any more... I'm going to become homeless...

b1: Ah, thank you for your hard work today
b2: Eh? There was still someone around...?

b3: ...

b4: Yuki-chan, wanna go for dinner together?
b5a: Oh no, I wouldn't want them to look at me and say, "that girl has such an uncool dad," you know?
b5b: Ahaha

b6: ...

a3: Ah, no... More importantly, I have to think of a way to protect my current lifestyle...

a4: ! Those guys in that computer...!
a5: If those guys would think up a more interesting story... That's right... The art is totally fine...

a6: But Nanamine-kun has a lock on the computer when he's out... How can I...

10
x1: 29th December, final meeting of the year
b1: Here, the double issue that goes on sale on the 4th
b2: Ohh! The issue with the ultimate showdown

b3: One would assume that no voter would vote for both series in the questionnaire if they both had the same story in that same issue
b4: That's right, if they vote at all, they'll pick one - just the more interesting one, I would think...

b5: Maybe because I heard Shuujin's analysis, but I see "Yuuigi" in the same way as Shuujin put it

b6: Takagi-kun's analysis? I wanna hear it too
b7: Eh... It's kinda long

b8: Put simply, if Nanamine-kun's method went well under the weekly publication system, then all his advisors would be wise, hardworking angels while Nanamine-kun would be god...

b9: You're saying something really good... No... I don't really get it

next to Nanamine: *smile*
next to b10: God, huh...
b10: ...

11
b1a: What, we're having another secret meeting...?
b1b: We've been having more of those than real meetings
x1: Internet Handle boss

screen: From the double issue #5/6, we've been in the double digits on the table of contents! | Seriously! That's bad... | Nanamine was really lying to us about the rankings after all | We don't know about that. Maybe it was something they did to him after they heard the rumors about him taking ideas from the internet | No, I'm telling you it just isn't interesting. Honestly, "PCP" is way more interesting | Yeah, I know, right? Nanamine-kun sucks at choosing ideas | It's true that he's been way too hung up over "PCP", "PCP" | Well, since he's taking ideas from people on the internet, that just means he wasn't a good author to begin with

b2a: I joined in because I thought it was kinda interesting, but I ended up seriously sharing the ideas I had
b2b: If he's really lying to us about the rankings, then that's unforgivable. If we find evidence that he's lying, I'm outta here
b3: How many of us are there officially, again?
x2: Internet Handle SUGI

screen: We have 9 people at both the official and secret meetings... The secret meetings have higher attendance though. 8 of us are here now (lol) | But for "Shinjitsu no Kyoushitsu", it was 5 people including Liarmine (TN: They call him "Usomine" instead of "Nanamine", where uso = lie) | The original 4 left real quick when the others came flooding in, saying something like "it's getting crazy in here" (lol) | This isn't going anywhere | You guys, think up some more good ideas! (lol) | Well, this is someone else's manga, and I don't really care about rankings | boss-san, you're so mean (lol)

screen: I don't really care much about the rankings, either. I find significance in the fact that I've participated in the creation of something in "Jump" | Whenever I see Nanamine Tooru-kun credited as the mangaka, I find it funny | Well, all of us remaining do. If we had any sense of responsibility, we'd have quit already (lol) | I really want to know the results of the upcoming ultimate showdown | I wonder if Liarmine-kun will tell us the real ranking... | Tell the "truth", dammit, the "truth"! Bam | I predict it'll go from dead last to second! Bam | Is it that bad? (lol)

b4: You guys are really too much (lol)
s1a: *clack*
s1b: *clack*
x3: Internet Handle nobuo

12
x1: And so came the day of the results of the double issue #5/6, 8th January, Friday

b1: How are things going to pan out until the results are released...
b2: Ehh!? Shuujin...
b3: And you were talking so big too!
b4: Ah, no, I think I'm fine

screen: It's not so bad waiting for the results with everyone, huh... | It'll be alright, Nanamine-sensei!
b5: Fufu...

b6a: The results won't be by phone, but I'll know them when my editor arrives at around 8pm to collect the manuscript
b6b: In an hour or so, I'll be logging off but I promise to be back with good news

b7: Until then, let's discuss ideas for the next chapter
b8: ...

b9: They're doing it

b10: While the editor is here collecting the manuscript...
s1: *gata gata*

13
b1: Just a little will do... Just enough that it can't be fixed without opening it...

b2: Alright! That looks about right

b3: Nanamine-kun, sorry, but the copier broke down...
b4: Eh?

b5a: I need to photocopy something before the editor arrives
b5b: But then a paper jam happened... And Nanamine-kun is good with machines, right?
b6: ...

b7: Guess I don't have a choice

b8a: !
b8b: This is really bad... How many damn pieces are jammed in here?

14
b1: Listen up everyone, please don't speak for a while

screen: Who are you?

b2a: I told you not to speak, didn't I...
b2b: I'm Nanamine-kun's assistant

b3a: We've been sixteenth for two consecutive weeks...
b3b: It wouldn't be weird for us to be canceled any time now...
b4: Please get your act together, I need you guys to work hard

screen: Assistant! | Could you be Nakai-san!? (lol) | Sixteenth for two consecutive weeks? | You're kidding, right? | I knew it, Nanamine was lying...

b5: That's right, I'm Nakai...
b6a: That's all, I'm deleting all this
b6b: In any case, please write some interesting chapters

screen: Nanamine... He's really the lowest of the low... I don't care about the results for this week, I'm gone | Me too... Bye, Liarmine-sensei | Oi, if this keeps up I may be the last one... Then I'm going too... | Shucks, me too | What the... | Oi | Eh? No-one around? | ... Well, me too, then...

b7: Eh
b8a: Wai...
b8b: I just said not to talk

15
b1: What are you doing, bastard?
b2a: Ah, no...
b2b: I just thought I couldn't let things go down like this
b3: Scram
b4: !

screen: Oi | Eh? No-one around? | ... Well, me too, then...

b5: Oi, somebody! Anybody there!?
b6: Crap...

16
b1: !
b2a: ...
b2b: DAMMIT

b3a: Lo... Looks like the editor's here, huh?
b3b: I'll leave, then

b4: Happy New Year
b5: Ha... Happy New Year

b6: Where's sensei?
b7: He's in his room as always... Anyway, I'll be going...
b8: ?

b9: It's rare for him to leave his door ajar
b10: Nanamine-kun, I'm coming in
b11: !?

17
b1: What's wrong?
b2: Rankings...
b3: What was this week's ranking?
b4: If it's good...
b5: You've been utterly defeated
b6: Huh?

18
b1: Nineteenth
b2: !!
b3: Ni... Nineteenth
b4: ... And... "PCP"?

b5a: "PCP" was in third...
b5b: It used to be that "those who voted for 'Yuuigi~' normally voted for 'PCP' as well"
b6: But now, it's become "not a single person who voted for 'PCP' voted for 'Yuuigi~'"

b7: Vote count "PCP" 240, "Yuuigi~" 41

19
b1: Are you okay?
b2: Fuh
b3: FUHAHAHAHAHAHA
b4: HAHAHAHAHAHA
a1: A nauseatingly hollow laugh...