Bakuman 128

I have had Mago 149 done for a while, but there's just one line I'm still mulling over... I will post it when I am done mulling over it :|



01
b1a: There are still 15 more minutes before the new year party starts
b1b: Let's go say hi to the other authors
b2: Yeah
a1: Fun, yet painful... Joyous, yet trying... Another year as mangaka begins!!
b3: Ashirogi-senseiiiiii, it's BLEACH a long time! (TN: There is a pun here - "ohisashiburi" means "long time no see", and Eiji says "ohisashiburiichi", where "buriichi" is how the Japanese say "Bleach")

b4: "PCP" has been getting more and more interesting, I might just lose my spot
b5: Yeah, it pains me to say it but it's good
b6: Ah, thank you so much

a2: Page 128 Portraits and Jeering

b7: Even though it had Nakai-san on board, that manga that tried to imitate "PCP" couldn't even hold a candle to it, you know?
b8: Eh!? Nakai-san?
b9: I knew it! So Nakai-san really was the chief assistant for "Yuuigi~", huh?
b10: Eh? Seriously?

b11: Those backgrounds and finishing touches were "100% Nakai-san"
b12: ...

a3: ... So he's returned... As an assistant... Well, even if he intends to start from scratch, that's...

02
b1: Niizuma-shishou, are you really sure it's Nakai-san?
b2: Eh!? It wasn't? Wasn't it "100% Nakai-san"?
b3: Nanamine-kun has already left, but you can check with his editor, Kosugi-san
b4: I saw him over there just a moment ago...

b5a: Ummm, is that so?
b5b: Now that you mention it, Nanamine-kun did call him "Nakai-sensei"...
b5c: I'm not really sure myself, though...
b6: ...

b7: Well, as long as he's working hard as an assistant
b8a: ...
b8b: It's great that Nakai-san is back...

b9: No, he's been fired by Nanamine-kun
b10a: Eh
b10b: Fired!?

b11: Why did he get fired?
b12: With regards to that, I don't really...
b13: So what's he up to now?
b14: ... I don't know

b15a: Soooo troublesome
b15b: If he hasn't changed his cellphone number, then...
s1a: *pi*
s1b: *pi*

03
board: Internet & Comics
s1: *bububu*

b1: Fukuda...
b2: Nakai-san?
b3: I have nothing to say to you

b4: Eh
s2: *pu*

b5: He hung up...
b6: He didn't even say where he was or what he was doing?

b7: Doesn't look like it ended on a good note... Knowing Nakai-san, he'd have been blowing his own horn about it if he was doing anything...
b8: ...

b9: Are you guys talking about Nakai-kun?
b10: Do you know anything about his status, Aida-san?

04
b1a: He called me this afternoon to ask if there were any vacancies for assistants...
b1b: After his incident with Aoki-kun, how he quit working for Takahama-kun without notice, and this time, the problems with Nanamine-kun...
b1c: I rejected him outright and said that I didn't want him involved with Shueisha's authors anymore
b2: I told him that with his skills, he could become a lecturer at a polytechnic, but he said he'd already failed at two interviews...
b3: ...

b4: That means he still wants to work as an assistant, right...?

b5: Seems so... He has what it takes, but he simply causes too many problems...
b6: ...

b7: ... Saikou, we have Katou-san working for us. It's impossible for us to employ Nakai-san
b8a: !
b8b: Yeah... I know...

b9: ...

b10: Without further ado, I declare the 2016 New Year's Party...

05
x1: The next day

b1: I can't get Nakai-san out of my head after all...
b2: Maybe he returned to the countryside after being fired by Nanamine-kun?

b3a: You just left Akita! You mean you're going back just like that!?
b3b: Since you worked as an assistant, doesn't that mean you've still got that desire within you!?
b4: Even if you say all that to me...

b5: I want Nakai-san to continue drawing manga...

b6: ... Yeaah... Well, if he could go back to feeling the way he did when he was drawing "hideout door"...

b7: Hang on, I'm gonna try giving Nanamine-kun a ring
b8: Eh... Nanamine-kun...? Don't bother
s1a: *pi*
s1b: *pi*

b9: Because only Nanamine-kun...

b10: It's Mashiro
b11: ... Hello...

06
b1: If you're asking about Nakai-san, then he's busking on the streets near Shibuya's Hachikou Exit drawing portraits or something (TN: Hachikou Exit refers to either one of two exits from the Shibuya Station where the statue of the loyal dog Hachikou stands)
b2a: One of my assistants saw him
b2b: Well, I think the job might just suit him, you know?

b3: He draws them on colored paper and sells them at 500 yen a pop...
b4: ...

s1: *pi*

b5: ... So he's drawing portraits... I guess you could say he's using his talents, in a sense
b6: That's true...

b7: ...

s2a: *pi*
s2b: *pi*

b8: Who're you calling this time?
b9: Fukuda-san
b10: I told you not to bother... Saikou, you and Fukuda are being too nosy
s3 *pururu...*

b11: Fukuda-san, it's Mashiro
b12: Eh!? Portraits!? What the hell!?

07
sign on board next to Nakai: (on the paper) Portraits ¥500 per piece (written directly on the wood) I'll draw it in 5 minutes flat

sign on board: Portraits ¥500 per piece

b1a: Portraits?
b1b: Looks interesting
b2: Uncle, draw me

b3: Sure, just take a seat over there. It's 500 yen per person

b4: Ehhhh, but we want you to draw all three of us together

b5: In that case, how does 1000 yen for one with all three of you in it sound?
b6: Ehh that's expensive! 600 yen!

a1: Fufu... This way, I get to meet girls, too...
b7: Alright, I'll draw one for 600 yen

08
b1: Woooow

b2: It's fab, uncle, thanks!

a1: Yeah... This ain't so bad
a2: On the contrary, this is what really...

a3: ...

b3: I... If you're just here to jeer at me, go home

09
b1: This time, my manga's going to become an anime

b2a: ...
b2b: Yeah, I know

b3a: I'm thinking of expanding my staff by one or two people
b3b: I want someone skilled
b4: !

b5: If you want to start over again
b6: You can work for me

b7: ...

a1: From just now...

b8: Oi, you listenin' to me!?

b9a: Hey there
b9b: What's the matter?

10
b1: Uncle, you're really good at this, so I was thinking of having you draw me alone this time
b2: Eh...

b3: Sure, sure, have a seat

b4: Ah... But you have a customer...
b5: This guy isn't a customer
b6: Oi

b7: Fukuda-kun

b8: Just leave me alone already

b9: ...

11
b1: Even when someone tells you "Hachikou Exit", it's not really helpful since they're two of them
b2a: Ah
b2b: Fukuda-san

b3: So you came after all, Fukuda-san
b4: Right back at you...

b5: So? Couldn't find him after all?
b6: Nope, over there

b7: Ehhh, you drew manga for Jump? Cooool!
b8: Well, kinda, I guess
b9: What kind of manga?
b10: Fufu... Fantasy
b11a: Ah, I love fantasy too
b11b: I think I'll get along just great with you, Uncle
b12: Eh, really? Fufu...
b13: ...

b14: Hey, uncle, would you be willing to come to my place to draw a picture of me?
b15: Eh
b16: I want something more manga-style and full-body this time

b17: ...
b18: That girl's kinda pushing it, isn't she?

b19: It'll be fine! I live alone after all
b20: You can, like, use me as a model for something you can't draw outdoors

12
b1: Is that really alright?
b2: Yeah
b3: !

b4: ...

b5: Wha... What the hell are you doing, Nakai-san...
b6: I can't believe you're actually following her...
b7: ...

b8: I thought there was a chance that he might have returned with his passion reignited, but this is a complete downer
b9: ... Yeah

b10: This is stupid... I'm going home

b11: Saikou, we should do the same

b12: Nakai-san

13
a1: ... Mashiro-kun...

b1: What on earth are you doing!? What happened to manga!?
b2: Please! Go back to drawing manga!

b3: Let's go

b4: Who are those people?
b5: Never mind. It's nothing...

b6: Give it up, Saikou... That's the kind of person he is
b7a: If things go well with that girl, that's what Nakai-san would call having had a good life
b7b: Though I don't think it's gonna go well...
b8: ...

14
b1: Here, this is my house

b2: It's so amazing that I'm having my portrait drawn by a pro mangaka! Don't forget to autograph it!
b3: Ufufu, leave it to me

b4: Please excuse my intrusion (TN: This is a normal phrase used when entering a person's house)

b5: Kyahahaha

b6: ?
above both girls on the right: Haha
above girl on left: Aha

b7: I win! Aki, Moe, 1000 yen, please!
below b7: Ahaha
b8: Ahaha Uncle, your lewdness has been uncovered! Fat perv, you're so disgusting and unattractive! Ahaha
between b8 and b9: Hahaha
b9: Why did you have to come? I bet that you wouldn't!
below b9: Hee hee

15
b1: Ah
b2: What's the matter, uncle?
b3: We'll play with you a little even if you don't leave
b4: Uuuncleee
b5: Dammit! Daaaaammmmiiiiiit!!
b6: They took me for a fool! They took me for a fool!

b7: Oooh...

a1: I... What the hell am I...

16
b1: DHAMMMIIIIDDD!!!
b2: What's the matter, Onii-san? Why're you so worked up?

b3: Shut uuuuuppp! You think I'm gonna trust you cuz you're a woman!?
b4: So you got dumped? Poor thing... I'll hear you out

b5: I'm tellin' ya ta shut the hell up!
b6: Kyaaa

b7a: I'm sorry, sir, you're bothering the rest of the customers
b7b: Please come with us

b8: What the hell, you bastard

b9: ...

b10a: This don't even cut it! What the hell do ya think ya doin'?
b10b: HUH!?
b11: Eek... Th... This is a rip-off!

17
b1: Don't let me see that ugly face of yours ever again
b2: Got it!?
b3: I got it...

b4a: Da...
b4b: Dammit...

b5: Is that for real, Hiramaru-san?
b6: It is, it is
b7: You're joking
b8: Oh my, at a time like this...

b9: A visitor?

b10: Hello

b11: Aokiiiiiiii, get out heeeeere, you hear meeeee!?

18
b1a : Aokiiiiii
b1b: All this is your fault! Get out heeeeeeere!

b2: Nakai-san!?
b3: Eh... Nakai!?

b4: I toldja to get out heeeeeere

b5: He... He's drunk...
b6: What did you say!? Yuri-tan, it's dangerous! You musn't go out at all costs!

b7: The police! Call the police!!
b8: It's not that serious...

b9: It isn't, but at the rate things are going...

b10: I know! I'll go there now! Buy me some time till I get there!
b11: O... Okay...

b12: I... I understand. I'll go downstairs right away... But I was just in the bath so I need some time to get ready...

b13: Just got out of the bath? Uhehe... That's great. Hurry it up

19
b1: What are you up to, Nakai!

b2: ... Hiramaru...!
b3: I'm here to save Yuri-tan...

b4: If we called the police in, it'd affect your future! That's why I'm here!!

b5: Th... That woman said she was gonna come out! Did she trick me...?
b6: Even you, Aokiii!? Dammit! Imma send ya flyin'!
b7: I won't let you!
b8: I won't let you lay even a finger on Yuri-tan!

b9: ...
a1: Escalating into an unexpected tacklefest!! (TN: Actually the word used was 肉弾戦 which means a kind of warfare where soldiers will fling their bodies at their enemies. But that was too long :|)