Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 28

An invasion of Otokojuku has been averted for the moment, but now their fate is tied to a match with Date and the Kantou Gougakuren in the deadly "Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu"...but how much should Momo and his allies be worried?

Chp. 28: The Kyosatsu Tower

27.
Akashi: Is it true that you’re fighting Gougakuren in a “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” on Fuji?
Momotarou: Yes, we’re leaving this afternoon.
Akashi: Do you know? What this “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”, one of Otokojuku’s greatest specialties, is about?
Momotarou: No, nothing.
Akashi: Well if you knew, then you wouldn’t have that cool expression.
Akashi: Come with me, there’s a thing I want you to see. Behind the school.
Momotarou: ………………

28.
Akashi: Here it is………
Akashi: Do you know what this tower is?
Akashi: This is the “Kyora Daiyon Kyousatsu” Battle-Fallen Memorial Tower
Tower: Kyora Daiyon Kyousatsu (partially covered) BATTLE-FALLEN MEMORIAL TOWER
Momotarou: !!

29.
Akashi: Don’t you hear them: the screams from hell…!! This tower enshrines the brave men killed in action in a “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” in the 300-year history of Otokojuku.
Togashi: ……………………
(TN: Not going to list all the names)
Akashi: You’ll have regret you don’t end things in this world. At most, don’t get your name engraved as an inscription on the tower.
Momotarou: Fufufu, thanks senpai.

30.
Toramaru: I see you’re nice and have power!! Wahhahaha, I’m Toramaru Ryuuji.
Togashi: You’re eating well. That’s your third serving.
Matsuo: He’s not unreasonable. He had been imprisoned in the Gokukaibou for a half-year.
Tazawa: He’s really lively.

31.
Togashi: But the, Momo has chosen him as a member for the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”…why then? Aren’t we deceived only by his body?
Toramaru: Hey, I want tea. Get it, school cap.
Togashi: Wh…what makes this newcomer so self-important---! He won’t have it when he sees an opponent, hey---!!
Toramaru: My tea.
Togashi: Gufu!!
Togashi: Wh…what is he doing---!!
Tazawa: St…stop it, Togashi. He’s worked up from his long life in isolation---!!
Toramaru: Not really, I’m always like this.
Onihige: Hey—what’s with the yelling---!! We’re setting off: everyone gather in front of the school gate---!!

32.
Onihige: Is everyone here----!!
First-Years: Uo—ssu!!
Onihige: Today, we finally head to the sacred Mt. Fuji to celebrate Otokojuku’s greatest specialty: the “Kyora Daiyon Kyousatsu”!! Regarding that, we will be in accordance to the 300-year ancient right of Otokojuku and hold a final farewell ceremony before we set off.
Onihige: Sakura that bloom are also sakura that fall…shouldn’t we send them off with a smile? These four heroes from our Otokojuku!!
(TN: The expression Onihige mentions is common of that of the ancient bushido style of pre-war Japan, believing in the transcience and temporary nature of life akin to the cherry-blossoms, or “sakura”, which bloom in brilliant glory but are fragile enough to fall just as easily)
Hidemaro: Huh—That Onihige is crying.
Matsuo: Is this really the tears from the eyes of a demon?
Tazawa: Whatever it is, I feel sick.

33.
Onihige: THESE FOUR HEROES OF THE “KYOURA DAIYON KYOUSATSU”!!
Toramaru: Well, does it suit me?
Matsuo: Wh…what is that…………!?
Student: Com…pletely white Gakuran…………!!
(TN: The “gakuran” is a traditional male student uniform in Japan, completely solid in one color (usually black), derived actually from the Western military-style uniforms of the mid-late 1800s such as from Prussia. The name is actually derived from “gaku” or “school” and the “ran” in reference to the Western influence, considering that the “ran” translates to “Holland” which is one of the most notable early Western partners of the Japanese in the 1600s and 1700s)

34.
Onihige: OTOKOJUKU BYAKUSENRAN. They’re Otokojuku’s traditionally historical Gakuran, permitted in being worn only by those who become warriors going to their death.
Toramaru: Fufufu, what are you saying? In a word, we’re wearing this for our deaths?
Onihige: This is called the “Battle Omen Forecasting Board”………It’s used for forecast the destiny of a war.
(TN: I did interpret it but “Battle Omen Forecasting Board” is in Japanese “Ikusa Kicchou Senshinban”, which actually fully translates into “Battle Forecasting Needle Board for Lucky Omens”)
Onihige: In the Sengoku Period, the admired uncommon commander Takeda Shingen invented this from a hint of China’s spiritual divination. As you see, there’s only 99 “Victories”, with only one with “Death”.
Caption: Bibliography: “Inquiry of Sengoku Military Commanders”, Minmei Publishing

35.
Onihige: Fuffufu, we’ve got a 1/100 probability. It would be a strange measurement to get “Death”.
Onihige: This too is for my affection thinking of you four of my dear students.
Togashi: Big help. This is really ridiculous.
Onihige: N~~
Caption: SHI (DEATH)
Onihige: !!
Togashi: Th…that’s…………
Toramaru: Wahhaha, what a masterpiece.
Onihige: D…don’t worry about that---! Hahhaha, this is merely superstitious. Now, get on the bus and we’ll head out---!!
Student: It may be stupid, but did he say to not worry about it?

36.
Matsuo: I can see Mt. Fuji.
Tazawa: It’s eerie on how enormous Fuji at night is.

37.
Onihige: Now, everybody off---!!
Student 1: What are we doing here?
Student 2: Oh—it’s cold out.
Student 3: What terrible fog. I can’t see around here.
Student: He…hey, look there.
Tazawa: N—N!?
First-Years: AAH--!!

38.
Momotarou: This is……!!
Togashi: What is this temple? It’s like monsters live here……………!!

39.
Onihige: Hougokuin at the foot of Mt. Fuji………a historical temple that holds a thousand years of history. It’s unforgivable for those other than the four taking part in the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” to go inside this temple.
(TN: “Hougokuin” = “Temple of Imprisoned Wealth”)
Onihige: Otokojuku’s famous “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”…administering this in authority has been entrusted since ancient times to the monks of this temple---! Due to its terror, they’ve become the transporters to war by being a neutral third to the end.
Onihige: I request you, open the gate---!
Onihige: Four brave warriors from Otokojuku have been captured to join the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”----!!
Tazawa: Ooh, the…gate is opening---!!

40.
Shura Oshou: We’ve been waiting for you. I am Shura Oshou, head priest of Hougokuin, who governs the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” with integrity.
(TN: I don’t know if it’s a name or a title, but “Shura Oshou” literally means “Carnage Buddhist Priest”)

41.
Shura Oshou: Now, come inside, four brave warriors of Otokojuku.
Togashi: Well, let’s go in.
Toramaru: This victory will be easy.
Student: Hey, what exactly is this “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”---!!
Matsuo: Rip up those Gougakuren---!!
Tazawa: What’s wrong, Hidemaro?
Hidemaro: ……………………

42.
Hidemaro: It’s something I don’t understand……………But, of those four, I feel…we won’t see any of them ever again.
Hidemaro: MOMO! TOGASHI! J!!
Student 1: You...idiot, what are you saying? Don’t say such omens----!!
Hidemaro: TORAMARU---!! EVERYONE, LIVE AND COME BACK---!!

43.
Shura Oshou: Fuohhoho, the last “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” that we held was not long after the war, thirty years ago………actually, everyone on both teams died back then.
(TN: Considering that the chapter was still in 1985, that would make it in 1955)
Shura Oshou: You don’t integrally think that you will see with your eyes again living in this world? It’s all within the thoughts of Buddha.
Togashi: This is a bad-humored old man.
Shura Oshou: Please look ahead. Your competition opponents are already here.
Togashi: HUH!!

44.
Date: LET ME INTRODUCE THE GOUGAKUREN SANMENKEN
Momotarou: Sanmenken……!?
Toramaru: I heard monkeys and idiots love high places, but it’s true.

45.
Date: HIEN!!
Date: RAIDEN!!
Date: GEKKOU!!
Shura Oshou: So then now, we will release the seal for the secret journey of the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”!!

TN: It's easy for me to say this, but Toramaru is already stealing the show with just two chapters of appearance so far! His confrontations and silly one-liners amidst these serious (but not quite) scenarios is really showing that he is part of the cast even if he hasn't been too much a part of it for very long, and that's a good thing in a weird series like this. The chapter for the most part though was further setting up the match that is beginning, from more silly sobbing moments by Onihige (yeah, he likes them) and their dire predictions of death...to their arrival and their meeting of the Gougakuren Sanmenken. And trust me: the Sanmenken now look and feel way different than they do further down the line, but those three are sort of characters that may grow on us...even if so far they look like weirdoes. (heck, the future popular idol character Hien looks scary in his first appearance...) But with the formalities done, the "Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu" can start in earnest next time!