Natsume Yuujin Chou 79

[001]
Title: Natsume's Book of Friends
Text: Mega Hit! // A Strange Story about Ayakashi Contracts 45P
Vert.txt: Washed away // Rocking on the mysterious waves // of the pond is…?

[002]
Nishimura: Damn, // why the mountains for this year’s study trip…!? I wanted to go to the ocean!

Friend: We could go fishing in the river in our spare time, if you’d like to?
Nishimura: NO! I’m tired of mountain rivers!! // I want to light fireworks on the beach! Don’t you agree, Natsume!?

Natsume: It seems you can light fireworks in the garden, if you ask permission first.
Nishimura: That’s not what this is about!

[003]
Box: The annual 3-day study trip for our school // is a fun and relaxing trip, where we spend cleanup time tidying the mountain area. // Our group was entrusted with cleaning the area around this old, but pretty shrine.

Friend: I wonder what’s enshrined here in this mountain.
Nishimura: Hm? Oh, that? Just take a look inside // Natsume, Tanuma, you too!
Tanuma: Eh?

Tanuma: Natsume, will you be all right…?
SFX: whispering
Natsume: Yeah, it looks well-kept and you don't feel anything strange, do you?
Tanuma: No.

Natsume: …excuse me…

[004]
Natsume: Masks…
Nishimura: Can you see the masks? Apparently this place is called the “Mound of the Four Faces”.

Box: I see, that explains why there are four masks…
Friend: Mound of the Four Faces?
Tanuma: Even though there are only three masks?

Natsume: Eh?
Nishimura: That’s right.

Nishimura: Even though there are only three masks, they call it the Mound of the Four Faces // Pretty interesting, don’t you think?
Natsume: So I’m the only one who can see the fourth mask…? // In that case

[005]
Natsume: One of them is an Ayakashi?

Nishimura: I don’t know the details, but my brothers told me that long ago the kami of this mountain used to live around here. // Unfortunately she retired to a place further up on the mountain, but her four attendants stayed behind // to protect her and the mountain from below.
Tanuma: Really?

Tanuma: Sounds romantic.
Natsume: You think?
Tanuma: Yes.
Friend: They don’t look dangerous, but they do give me the creeps. Don’t you think so too, Natsume?
Natsume: !

Natsume: I suppose. // They definitely are a little creepy, // but if it’s an Ayakashi that protects the Kami of this place.

Natsume: It’ll be fine as long as we leave it alone.

Teacher: Cleanup time is over! Everyone gather!
Students: Yes!

[006]
Nishimura: Are you kidding me!? Nomiya-sensei, why can’t we have dinner with the girls!?
Nomiya: Because the dining rooms in this old building and the newer one, where the girls are staying, are both too small to hold all of you.
Boys: EH!?

Nishimura: Really,… why did we even come here!?
SFX: sob
Friend: Hey, speak for yourself!
Natsume: Cheer up, Nishimura! I’ll give you my pudding.
Tanumu: Look, it started raining.

Tanuma: Those are some thick clouds… it probably won’t stop for a while.
SFX: vssshh (heavy rain)
Box: Tanuma’s prediction was right.

Someone: This is bad! // The river is going to overflow!
Box: The teachers decided we should all move to the newer building to spend the night there.

Box: Since the old building lies very close to the river, it already has a raised floor. // Despite that, it appears the flood water still grazed the underside of the floor.

Someone: Hey, the sky cleared up! // Looks like it never rained at all!

[007]
Teacher: I heard the water has gone down, but // you still shouldn’t get too close to the river! // All right, it’s time for self-studying!

Teacher: I'll be in the night-keeper's room!
Students: OK.

SFX: spit

Natsume: NYANKO-SENSEI!!

Natsume: Hey, you! // Nyanko-sensei!
SFX: rustle
Teacher: (All right, time for a break!)
Nyanko: Yo, Natsume.
Natsume: What are you doing here!? How did you even get here?
Nyanko: How do you think? I hid in your bag.

[008]
Natsume: So that’s why my bag was so heavy!! But when I opened it when I arrived, you…
Nyanko: I slipped out on the way. // I’m looking for the sake waterfall that is said to be around here, but due to the rain I haven’t found it yet. Be good and help me find it!
Natsume: I came here to study! Make sure no one else sees you, sensei!
Nyanko: Hm?

Natsume: Because it would be humiliating to admit I accidently brought my pet cat on a study trip!
Nyanko: After all this time… you still care about such little things… // ………

SFX: woosh

Natsume: …what’s wrong, sensei…? // … // the river?

SFX: creak

SFX: creak

SFX: creak...

Natsume: It’s a little boat, but after the rain of last night…

[009]
SFX: creak

SFX: creak

SFX: creak

SFX: creak

[010]
Nyanko: Idiot, don’t look!
Natsume: !
SFX: jerk

SFX: creak

SFX: ...creak...
Natsume: The woman quietly passed us in her boat. Not even once lifting her head from the water.

Box: She probably wasn’t human…
Nishimura: Ah, there he is! Hey, Natsume!
SFX: startle

Friend: It’s dangerous to go that close to… // Oh? Natsume, that cat…
Natsume: Eh? Ah! This…
Nyanko: ……
SFX: quick

Nyanko: (Tch!) This is such a pain!
SFX: cough // Poof

Nishimura: …oh? I thought he looked like you pet cat, but… // now that I look again…
Natsume: !
SFX: Plop

[011]
Nishimura: ……a wild boar?
Natsume: Ah, no, it’s just a homeless cat, and…
Nishimura: A cat!? So there exists another of these big-headed cats.

Nishimura: You really like these cats, don’t you Natsume? (Right? Right?)
Natsume: Ye, yes…

Natsume: (Sigh…)

Tanuma: …I see,… so that wild board tiger cat is actually Nyanko-sensei…? // Leaving him behind was too mortifying, huh…………….?
Natsume: …you can laugh about it, Tanuma…

Natsume: However, // that ayakashi in the little boat… // It felt like she was just drifting along the river's current.

Natsume: I probably should let it go…
Teacher: Hey, Natsume! // Could you hand me those papers?

[012]
Natsume: Yes, sen…

Teacher: I’m sorry.

Natsume: WAAH!
SFX: jolt
Tanuma: Natsume?
Natsume: Eh?

Teacher: What’s wrong? Are you all right?

Natsume: … // …yes.

Natsume: That mask, it’s…

[013]
Box: It’s one of the masks I saw in the Mound of the Four Faces.

Natsume: (Guh…)

Natsume: Err, Nomiya-sensei, // are you feeling all right? No headaches or heavy limbs…?
Teacher: Hm? No?
Natsume: I see…

Natsume: No one else can see it…

Box: Am I the only one // who can see that mask?
Student: (Sensei, is this the correct value?)
Teacher: (Oh? You need to use another formula.)

Nyanko: Hmm.

[014]
Nyanko: If Tanuma can’t feel anything, it’s only small fry. Just leave it be.
Natsume: But it wouldn’t possess a human without reason, right? It feels a little weird.

Nyanko: The act of possession itself is a bit eerie, but this one is virtually the same in power as the small fry that can’t possess anyone.

Natsume: Virtually the same, // huh…?

Nyanko: Well, if it really bothers you, why don’t you show me that mask.
Natsume: Eh, thank…
Nyanko: You have more free time than I thought!!
Natsume: ……

SFX: Stealthily

Natsume: I wonder where Nomiya-sensei is.

[015]
Natsume: At this time, probably the night-keeper's room…?
SFX: ...woosh

Natsume: Sensei, did you hear that too?

SFX: woosh...

Natsume: !
Nyanko: Water!?

SFX: splash

Natsume: …wow, the water came all the way up here… // Is it because of yesterday’s flooding? But why is it still here…?

[016]
Natsume: …I have to inform the teachers…

SFX: ...woosh

SFX: woosh

Natsume: What is this feeling?
Box: From the end of the hall.

Natsume: It sounds like a river.
SFX: woosh...

Natsume: Is that making the noise…?

SFX: startle
Tanuma: Natsume, // what’s wrong?
Natsume: Ta.. Tanuma!

Natsume: Somehow all this water… maybe it’s a leak or the flooding…

[017]
Tanuma: Hm? // What are you talking about?
Natsume: Eh, wha, Tanuma!
SFX: slap

Tanuma: Hm? …what do you see, Natsume…?
SFX: woosh...

Natsume: Ah, well. // There is water…
SFX: pull

Tanuma: Water?
Natsume: Well, not just water, // it’s more like a river…
SFX: woosh...

Natsume: The river…

Natsume: is slowly getting closer.
SFX: woosh
Box: This
Natsume: Should I be scared? // Will we be fine?

[018]
Natsume: Right, this sensation.

Natsume: The unknown is scary.

Box: Tanuma took a look at the end of the hallway, but // he didn’t find anything suspicious. // Along the hall were just bedrooms and a storeroom. // Inside the rooms he couldn’t find anything strange either. // And the hall ended with a wall.

Natsume: Through the window it was possible to see the river and the places it flooded last night.

Natsume: Thanks, everything’s normal?
Tanuma: Yes, I didn’t sense anything.
Natsume: I see… so I’m the only one who can see this…
Tanuma: Probably.

[019]
Nyanko: But Natsume, it would be better // if you’d stayed clear of this river. // What you can’t see can’t hurt you, but // what you can see could get you caught up in the flow.

Nyanko: That’s what a “flow” does.

Natsume: That’s right, I understand.

[020]
Tanuma: Then you could be caught in it too, sensei! // Come, let’s get away from here.
SFX: sudden

Tanuma: Come now, quickly!
Natsume: Ah, yes…

SFX: Bump
Natsume: Ah, // I’m sorry…

XXX: No, it’s my fault too.

[021]
Natsume: A mask!? // Wait…!
Teacher: Hey, I’m about to call the roll.

Natsume: (Ah!)

Natsume: WAH! Sensei, the mask!?
Teacher: Huh!? What’s wrong, Natsume?

Natsume: The mask moved to that student!?

Natsume: What is it up to!?

Natsume: ……

SFX: woosh...
Natsume: And that water

Natsume: Maybe it has something to do with the woman in that little boat…?
XXX: …me!

[022]
Nishimura: Natsume!
Natsume: Ah!

Nishimura: You all right? // You don’t look well.

Natsume: Thanks, I’m fine. // At this rate, // I only make people worry about me.

Box: I’m the only one who can see it. // I have to make sure no one else gets caught up in something strange.

Nishimura: (All right, let’s grab some food!)

Natsume: Why is that mask moving around?

Natsume: I’m sure I saw it in the Mound of the Four Faces, so why…

[023]
Natsume: What should we get for dinner, Natsume…
Natsume: Yes, I think…

SFX: ba-dump

Natsume: Hey! // Get away from him!
Kid: …? // Natsume?

Natsume: Don’t you dare hurt my friend!

[024]
Nishimura: Na… // Natsume?

Nishimura: What’s wrong…?
SFX: slow

Mask: I’m very sorry to trouble you.

Natsume: It disappeared. // Did it move to someone else!??
Friends: Na.. // Natsume…?

SFX: sudden

Natsume: “I’m very sorry to trouble you” // ……

[025]
Friends: Hey, Natsume!
SFX: run

SFX: pant

SFX: woosh

SFX: woosh

SFX: woosh
Natsume: The river, it’s longer than before…
SFX: creak

SFX: step
Natsume: Just now!

[026]
Natsume: It sounds like there is a little boat in the back.

SFX: thud

SFX: pant // rustle

Nyanko: Where are you going, Natsume?
Natsume: The Mound of the Four Faces. // …I don’t think that mask is up to something evil, but…

Natsume: I hope that Mound can give me some answers.

Natsume: Someone is here…

[027]
Man: Hey, hey. // You are one of the students staying at the inn down here? // Last night must have been scary? I seems the water flooded all the way up there.
Natsume: Yes,… are you familiar with this place?
Man: Haha, I’m the priest of a nearby shrine. This shrine was also put under my care. // Because of all the rain, I got a little worried, but… the shrine looks fine.

Natsume: …nothing… // unusual…?
Man: Yes? …ah, you mean there are only 3 masks? Yes, the names a little weird. // But I’ve taken a liking to it.

Natsume: …err,… do you happen to know anything about those masks? I’m… just interested. // I mean, why are there only three masks…?// For example… what about the little boat, and that woman in it…?

Man: Hm? // I see……

[028]
Man: Long ago a female kami lived here, she was protected by her four attendants, but // one day she fell in love with a human. // But human lives are fleeting and he left this world.

Man: Heart-broken, clutching the hair ornament he gave her, she confined herself on the top of the mountain. // It appears her four attendants stayed behind to protect her and the mountain.

Man: But as time passed, these four started to lose their power too. // They felt sorry for their master that even they would leave her, // so it is said the attendants carved their faces into masks and hung them in the shrine before they disappeared.

[029]
Natsume: So, those three masks are...
Man: Three of them disappeared from this world. // But only three.

Man: Seeing that there are only three masks in the Mound of the Four Faces means there is still some hope left in this world.

Man: There is still one left // to protect this mountain and its Kami.

[030]
Natsume: The four attendants that protect this mountain's Kami. // Three disappeared,

Natsume: one is left.

Box: Somehow…

Natsume: I think I understand it now.

Natsume: The little boat that came down the river.

Natsume: The woman who didn't lift her face from the water. // That was...

Natsume: She is looking for something…
SFX: woooosh

[031]
Friend: Natsume! Where did you go?

Natsume: Nishimura, // I’m sorry for the weird stuff I sai…
Nishimura: You're hopeless, don't freak out over a bug!
Natsume: …eh.

Nishimura: But well, thanks for worrying about me.

Box: It seems that Tanuma convinced them I freaked out over // a huge bug sticking to Nishimura.

Nishimura: Let’s get dinner!// Tomorrow will be the last day!

Natsume: That night I had a dream.

[032]
SFX: Woosh

Mask: …way // Away.

Mask: Carried away. // I’m so sorry. // Somewhere. // Carried away. // The mountain's Kami. // I’m very sorry. // Somewhere. // Carried away… // Mountain's // Kami // important

[033]
Natsume: Yes.
SFX: creak
SFX: creak

Natsume: Yes,… in the distance // I can hear the little boat.

Nyanko: Hey, Natsume! // It’s still dark, what are we doing here?
Natsume: Help me look!

Nyanko: What for?
Natsume: I’m not really sure.
Nyanko: WHAT!?

[034]
Natsume: I think that heavy rain washed something away. It was important to this mountain's Kami.// It should be somewhere around here.
SFX: thud thud

Natsume: I think that mask moved around the teachers and students hoping to find it. // This mountain's Kami’s……

Natsume: Something important to the broken-hearted Kami.

Nyanko: Hm.
SFX: poof

[035]
Nyanko: I’ll search the area over there. // You take care of the area below.
Natsume: Sensei.

Nyanko: Let’s get this over with, I want to sleep!!

SFX: grab grab

SFX: rustle

SFX: glitter

SFX: crunch

SFX: poof
Natsume: Found it.

[036]
Natsume: The hair pin... // That mask, // this is what he was looking for.
SFX: creak

SFX: creak
Natsume: For the sake of this mountain's Kami…

Natsume: Having lost her beloved hair pin, // never looking up from the water to find it.
SFX: creak

[037]
SFX: gulp...
Natsume: Is this what you’re looking for?

Natsume: Your attendant // was looking for this.

SFX: slow...

[038]
-

[039]
Kami: Still // looking after me?

[040]
-

[041]
SFX: Woosh

Box: When I returned to the inn, the river had disappeared. // It probably had been an illusion that allowed the Kami to extend her search area. // That’s how I cleared the case of the mysterious little boat.

Natsume: I wonder if she returned to the top of the mountain.

[042]
Nyanko: Probably. // She retrieved her hair pin, so I don't think she'll come down for a while.
Natsume: ......

Nyanko: But well, // she realized her loyal attendants are still looking after her.

Natsume: Yeah.

Natsume: Three attendants who lost their power as time passed, // and the remaining one, who will probably lose its last bit of power soon.

Natsume: Although it possessed a human body, it didn't control them to move around. // And the words spoken to me in my dream sounded weak.

[043]
Box: Even so
Natsume: It’s still here.

Natsume: It is still // here for her.

Nishimura: Finally! // We’re finally going home! // You’ll have to say goodbye to the wild boar cat!
SFX: tight
Friend: Nishimura, get here! Let’s clean up!
Nishimura: I’ll be right there!

[044]
Tanuma: Natsume?
Natsume: Yeah,… hey, Tanuma,… // How many masks do you see?
Tanuma: Hm?

Tanuma: Hm………

Tanuma: Only three.

Natsume: I see.

[045]
Natsume: Take care.

Student: (Yay!)
Student: All right!
Teacher: Right, everyone gather! // We’re going home!
Students: (Hey! // Be quiet! // Yay!)

Box: The mysterious Mound of the Four Faces.

Natsume: I’m sure there will forever be three masks.