Cyborg Grampa-G 21

It's one thing when video games become a fact of life in the late 1980s...but a video game-based play? Kei is about to realize the bizarre truth as G-chan ends up...well, getting involved somehow or another.

Chapter 21: Kei the Hero is Cool!

69.
Teacher: We—ll, by rule of class majority, the class choice for the play contest will be the adventure tale “Dragon Question”.
(TN: “Dragon Question” is an obvious reference to the “Dragon Quest” series, which was first introduced on the Famicom/NES from 1986 by video game company Enix and, aside from “Final Fantasy”, one of the most popular RPG series in history)
Kei: Dragon Question—what’s that?
Boy: Don’t you know--? It’s a popular game for the Famicom currently. It’s an adventure where a hero saves a princess from a great demon king.
Kei: Wh—at, that’s boring—
Teacher: The theme of the play will be changed a bit from the Famicom, but it will be sort of similar to the arts epics of the other classes—we’ll make an amusing work which our class won’t take too seriously.
(TN: The teacher actually mentions “won’t take too seriously” as “Kata no Koranai” or “our shoulders won’t be still”)
Kei: So then, it’ll be hard action where we smash a criminal group--! That’ll be cool!!
Boy 2: Kaizou-kun, this play contest will instantly be show to all the students in the school! We fifth graders can’t show that off to the school underclassment!

70.
Kei: What, say that again Drudge Hazedon!
(TN: "Hazedon" appears to be in reference to an anime series from 1972-1973 about a heroic "koi carp" who wants to be the best fish in the sea)
Student: Te…teacher--!
Teacher: Hey!
Teacher: You’ve really been heated a lot.
Kei: But—teacher! I act up half the time!
Teacher: You do…then don’t! I’ll take your glasses too.
Kei: O—w~~
Girl 1: That Kaizou is rude.
Girl 2: Yes…
Boy: So then, next up I think we’ll decide on our cast.
Girl 1: I think our princess should be Wakana Aoba.
Students: Agreed. Agreed.
Teacher: So, will you do it Aoba?
Aoba: Ye…yes.

71.
Kei: WH…WHAAAAT!? THE PRINCESS WILL BE CLASS IDOL WAKANA AOBA---!?
Boy: So, I think we’ll choose our lead hero. Who wants to do it……
Boys: M—E, ME ME M—E ME!!
Teacher: Yes, so then we got many interested…we’ll choose it by lottery………
G: What is this Dragon Question!! I can’t get any further at all!!
Gantetsu: Shi shi shi
G: What, Gantetsu, something wrong! So then, maybe you should do this!
Gantetsu: Shi~~!?

72.
Kei: I GOT IT—
G: Hyo.
Eiichi: What’s with the loud voice, Kei?
Kei: Our school’s having a play contest.
Kei: THEY CHOSE THE LEAD FOR OUR PLAY---!! I’M THE HERO!!
Eiichi: Wh…what, is that true---!?
Ai: Was it by lottery?
Kei: DANG
Eiichi: However it occurred, I’m happy you’re the lead. So what is this role!
Kei: This adventure called “Dragon Question” involves saving a princes from a great demon king. That’s just like me—
G: If this is Dragon Qu
estion, then I’ll join in too--!!
Kei: Wh…what’s with that appearance----!?

73.
Kei: It’s no use for you to be in the school play, regardless of how you look!
Gantetsu: ?
G: What? And just when I finally could use my transforming Gantetsu Sword!
Gantetsu: Shi~~!?
G: Practice the play with me--!
Kei: I’ll protect Wakana-chan from the great demon king!!
Voice: Kaizou-kun, you have to do it—since you are the lead.
Kei: I get it, I get it—
Kei: Even if I could say it…
Kei: Uo!?

74.
Kei: She’s dazzling…she’s too dazzling…Wakana-chan is unusually…hmph…
Girl: Do it right!
Kei: Ah, aah…
Kei: So then, pr…princess…
Kei: I…I CAN’T LOOK IN HER EYES. I CAN’T THINK OR SPEAK EITHER! NO GOOD~~I’M WEAK IN FRONT OF WAKANA-CHAN!
Aoba: ?
Kei: So, let’s start with an action scene first.
Boy: You’re the lead, be serious!
Kei: So I say we start with an action scene!
Boy: Could you be more selfish--!!
Kei: If that’s your special field, then you have feelings left for her!
Boy: What—
Aoba: Someone call teacher, they’re fighting again—

75.
Boy: Shouldn’t you talk to her about this?
Kei: I…I should. I get wound up when standing in front of Wakana-chan…
Boy: Wha—you’ve got that weakness too?
Voice: I don’t want to do the show with Kaizou-kun…
Kei: What…
Kei: !?
Aoba: Kaizou-kun is reckless…
Girl: I’m scared of him.
Kei: If I were to do the play, then it would be with a much nicer person…

76.
G: What’s wrong, Kei? Today is the day you appear in the play.
Kei: My stomach hurts about doing that.
G: Hyohoho—you’ll pay for that with me as the lead!
Eiichi: Quiet down, G-chan!
G: Then, I’ll go to school in his place and appear in the play! (I’m lea—ving)
Eiichi: G-chan!
Kei: I’m going.
Ai: ?
G: Possibly he’s going to do something!?
Eiichi: Whatever it is, he has a problem!
Voice: Hey—don’t mock us 6th graders--!
Kei: Shut up—I’m not in a good mood--!!
6th grader: Guwa
Kei: How’s that? Remember that.
6th grader: Uuuh.
Girl: Ka..Kaizou-kun…

77.
Aoba: ……
Kei: WHAA--!! Wakana-chan sa…saw that!?
Aoba: Kaizou-kun, why are you so violent?
Kei: Wa…Wakana-chan!!
Girl: Th…thank you, Kaizou-kun. You saved my little brother from the 6th graders.
Kei: Wha—Wakana-chan hates me again---!! I’m such an idiot---!!
Girl: Kaizou-kun?
G: Of course, is that why? Shall I get busy for my cute grandson!

78.
Announcer: Next in the class play contest will be Dragon Question by class 5-3!
Sign: CLASS PLAY CONTEST
Narrator: Long ago, a young man took a long, long journey to save the princess who was taken away by the great demon king.
Audience: Gahaha, what is he—that’s the lead—
Boy 1: What’s wrong, Kaizou! You were so spirited in getting the lead!
Boy 2: We can’t have a play with this!

79.
Girl: So then, he’s changed a bit from when he saved my little brother from the 6th grader.
Aoba: Huh?
Aoba: Is that it, Kaizou-kun…I spoke so badly…
Boy: Hey, Kaizou, get serious--! Walk much more emboldened.
Boy: Kaizou you dummy—you’re ruining the play--!!
Boy 2: Hey, it’s horrible—
Boy 2: My costume for the great demon king of hell is gone!! Someone took it as a prank!!
Boy: What~~~!?
Boy: What’s happening to the play—I don’t know anymore---!!
Girl: Ah.
Audience: Wh…what? The lights have suddenly gone out!

80.
G: Hyo—hyo hyo hyo hyo!! I won’t give you the princess—
G: I’M THE GREAT DEMON KING OF HELL----!!!
Aoba: Kyaa---!?
G: Hyohyohyohyohyoo---!
Boy 1: Wh…who’s that!?
Boy 2: I should be the great demon king!!
Kei: What, that you G-chan?
G: Hyo!? I’m…not G-chan! I’m the great demon king!

81.
G: I’ve come from hell to eat this princess---! Hyo hyo hyo---!!
Aoba: Ah…
Aoba: No~~~
Kei: Ah—hey, gramps, what are you doing to Wakana-chan!
G: Hyo hyo hyo~~~HYO HYO HYO HYO~~~~!!
Audience: Wh…what’s happening……this is a tad strange.
Teacher: Hey! You’re not of this school. What are you?
Gantetsu: Shi shi…
Kei: Gantetsu!?

82.
G: I should have told you. I’m the Great Demon King of Hell—
Kei: Idiot—don’t throw out fire!
Boy 1: Wha—fire’s coming out--!! Wakana-chan is seriously in dan—ger
Aoba: A—H, SAVE ME---!! I’M SCARED—HE’S GOING TO EAT ME----!!
Kei: Gramps~~you’re irresponsible—If you don’t let Wakana-chan go, I’ll beat you even if you’re a gramps!!
Kei: Toorya—
G: Hyo—
Kei: Wa, this fake sword won’t work after all!
Caption: G-chan’s booger

83.
G: Know of my magic---!!
Kei: Wa!?
Audience: Uwa—he’s flying—and he throws fire, he really is the great demon king--!!
G: Gantetsu, raise me a bit--!!
Kei: DAMN YOU—YOU’VE FINALLY LOST IT, F**KING GRAMPS! ANYONE WHO TORMENTS WAKANA-CHAN CAN NOT BE FORGIVEN!!
Aoba: Kaizou-kun………
G: Hyo hyo hyo. This is the end of all of you too---!!
Kei: Ku…
Kei: RIGHT, GANTETSU!!
G: I’ll be taking her---!!

84.
Aoba: Save me, Kaizou-ku---n!!
Kei: Transform, Gantetsu!!
Gantetsu: Shi!?
Gantetsu: ?
Kei: GANTETSU SWORD!!
G: Hyo—You captured my Gantetsu!
Boys: Kaizou…Kei!!
Kei: Please, Gantetsu! If you can slash that F**king gramps with a metal poop…
(TN: "Metal Poop" is actually in reference to the "metakuso", a special badge that was released in connection with 70s Weekly Shonen Jump manga "Toilet Hakase" by Kazuyoshi Torii)

85.
Kei: I’ll give you some dog food later!
Gantetsu: SHI--!!!
G: KEI YOU…CAN YOU DO THIS!!
G: HYO----!!??
Kei: HEISEI GANTETSU SLASH!!!

86.
G: Hyo—
Kei: Hehe—you dese—rved that, gramps--…because of your weird behavior to Wakana-chan.
Boy: What was that now?
Aoba: Kaizou-kun.
Kei: Eh?
Aoba: I misunderstood you until now…I’m sorry.
Kei: Eh!?
Kei: N…no—it’s cool—it’s cool—

87.
Kei: It’s cool—it’s cool—no…
Aoba: Thank you, Kaizou-kun.
Announcer: Th…that’s…the end of 5-3’s play……
Boy: I didn’t really get it, but it was amazing.
Classmates: When will we appear…
G: How was our real performance, Gantetsu! It was hard to play evil. Kei and that girl should become good friends.
Gantetsu: Shi shi shi.
Kei: HEY—GRAMPS, YOU ACTED WEIRD TO WAKANA-CHAN!!
G: Hyo—
Kei: You finally were evil! I’ll beat you!!
G: Well didn’t you know that I said that was an act--!!
Gantetsu: Shi shi shi!

88.
CYBORG HUNTER Z
Let’s play with this equpiment set.
Caption: Cyborg Hunter Protector
-There are also equipment options on Pg. 108 too.

TN: It's sort of strange: I sort of knew Bo-bobo was going to have weird cultural references to things that no modern kid of the early 2000s would probably remember...but in a weird way, I had no idea that G-chan was going to throw two in the same chapter! Trust me, I probably don't think either are in context, but I tried to make them work and already sort of figure neither to...besides, it's hard to say that anyone in the US really knows that much about "Toilet Hakase" aside from those who really look into Jump stuff. Other than that, as weird as it was to have a 'play' based on Dragon Quest (or a slight derivative knockoff), this was a fun chapter. But hey...anything after the circus one would be. (then again I liked G, Q and Gantetsu in that one, just not the annoying main plot)