Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 43

The Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu is over with the end of Date and the Sanmenken, but somehow Momotarou isn't quite pleased with the results! But as he prepares to finish his job...a greater force may be preventing him from doing so!

Chp. 43: The Devil Third-Years
(TN: As I mentioned back in vol. 1, the “Third-Years” are mentioned by the epithet “Enma”, which is a Japanese term for the “ruler of Hades” or “the Devil”)

123.
Rinkai: Showa 61 (1986), Butsumetsu, on the sacred Mt. Fuji. The “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”: Otokojuku vs. Kanto Gougakuren.
(TN: First of all, it feels weird that an arc that began in 1985 suddenly ends in 1986, but the year had already changed by this point so I guess they probably were trying to keep it consistent. Secondly, the term “Butsumetsu” is one of several terms used to classify the luck of a day: due to “Butsumetsu” standing for “the death of Buddha”, any day with that classification is considered “unlucky”)
Rinkai: Deaths: Otokojuku Side: J, Togashi Genji, Toramaru Ryuuji. As for Kanto Gougakuren, the Sanmenken: Raiden, Hien, Gekkou.
(TN: Not going to translate the bubbles here since it’s a flashback0
Rinkai: The finals: the 4th Evil, Choukyokutaisoukafun-kan: Gougakuren president Date Omito, dead.
Rinkai: Therefore, the contest is………!!

124.-125.
Rinkai: Won by Tsurugi Momotarou, head of the First-Years of Otokojuku--!!

126.
Fuukai: It has been truly ascertain by witnesses Fuukai and Rinkai, priests of the Hougokuin.
Rinkai: This is your Clear-Victory Scroll for the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”. This is clear proof you are the champion of the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”.
(TN: I probably am just getting wishy-washy on the Japanese terms and concepts for things that really aren’t with a true meaning. In this case, “Clear-Victory Scroll” is “Shoushoukan” in Japanese.)
Fuukai: Now carefully take this.
Rinkai: Congratulations.
Momotarou: How ridiculous……………
(TN: I couldn’t really find a meaning for “Medete” but considering what’s coming and some of the inferences I could make, I made it as such)
Fuukai: ………!?

127.
Fuukai: UH!!
Fuukai: Wh…what………!!
Momotarou: Don’t kid with me! Getting this scrap of paper won’t bring back my three dead allies.

128.
Momotarou: Ugu………
Fuukai: Well, let’s go. Your body should be brought to the ground immediately; it could be fatal if you don’t get treatment.
Momotarou: I’ve been in contact with my allies down there. Their “Great Chime Yell” has truly reached my body and heart…
Fuukai: Wh…what are you doing………………
Momotarou: Fufufu: J, Togashi, Toramaru……we’ll always be together. It won’t just be you together in that lonely place.

129.
Hidemaro: It…went out: Date’s Lifespan Candle………
Tazawa: Mo…Momo’s still lit……………
Matsuo: The match is over…………!!

130.
Matsuo: UOO---!!
Matsuo: M…Momo won---!!
Tazawa: Hi…Hidemaro, put down the school flag---!!
First-Year: Our thoughts reached him---!!
Shura Oshou: Fuohhoho, the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” is finally concluded. However, that Tsurugi Momotarou is the only one who’s still alive; will he descend the mountain or not………
Edajima: Fuffufu, he’s that type………well, he’ll refuse, but he will certainly descend.
Edajima: Though they didn’t see the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”, the will of “one other” is on the move.

131.
Shura Oshou: The will of one other………!? But…but it…can’t be………!?
Matsuo: Wahhahaha, we’re already so happy, really happy.
Matsuo: Ge!!
Matsuo: Oww……!!
Matsuo: Wh…what are those………!!

132.
First-Year: Th…these are coffins…………
Tazawa: We…didn’t see those…whose are they…!?
Tazawa: L…LOOK………!!
Coffins: J / TOGASHI / TORAMARU
First-Years: So…then, inside are…………!?
First-Years: Hu…hurry, o…open them--!! Uoo!!
Edajima: Fuffufu, they’ve actually done it.

133.
Fuukai: How disappointing.
Rinkai: There’s rarely a youth like him…
Momotarou: Fufufu, the night is fading. It’s quiet…the wind is dying, the night storm from earlier wasn’t to be.
Momotarou: I can die in peace right here……I’m so shy around all of you.
Momotarou: Right………J, Togashi, Toramaru……………
Momotarou: !!

134.-135.
Momotarou: HUH!!

136.
“Shadow Being”: That’s as far as you go, Tsurugi Momotarou! You can’t die here and now.
“Shadow Being”: We’ve learned the whole story of the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”.
Momotarou: …………………!!
“Shadow Being”: All of the actions by all of you.
“Shadow Being”: And he made a decision. To revive you!
Momotarou: H…he………!? Who…exactly are you……
“Shadow Being”: You don’t know yet?

137.
“Third-Year”: WE’RE THE OTOKOJUKU THIRD-YEARS! AND THAT GENTLEMAN IS THE ALMIGHTY GOVERNOR OF OTOKOJUKU: THE HEAD OF THE THIRD-YEARS!!
Momotarou: !!
Momotarou: Otokojuku Third-Years…!!
“Third-Year”: Don’t forget: even facing the Gougakuren opponents in the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”, you haven’t faced the true hell in Otokojuku.
“Third-Year”: You should descend to the ground. We don’t want you to die now.
Momotarou: Wh…what……!!
“Third-Year”: Fuffufu, do you understand? We’re saving your lives……………

138.
First-Years: WHA……!! TH…THOSE ARE………!!

139.
Matsuo: So…so then are they dead…………But, what’s going on? They’re perfectly treated.
Matsuo: …………………!! They’re…alive!!

140.
First-Years: They’re not dead!! J, Togashi and Toramaru are alive---!!
First-Years: Mo…Momo---!! Yahoo---!!

141.
Momotarou: You idiots……………why do you look like that…………!!
Toramaru: Heh, someone healed us.
Togashi: You didn’t see it……
J: Momo………we won…………….
Edajima: Well, those three are conscious!! We’re lingering. We should quickly take them to a hospital without stop---!!
Edajima: Fuffufu, the Otokojuku Third-Years are finally on the move? Thinking about it, it could be fun to see who dies!!

TN: I actually really should have done this alongside the end of Date and the last of the Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu last time considering that this is in actuality the end of the arc. The final results are announced and we find out the final fates of Momo and the other First-Years due to their trials and tribulations. To tell the truth, until the Third-Years showed up, Momo really did seem like he was willing to essentially die instead of descending Mt. Fuji. Though he won, he couldn't keep going without J, Togashi and Toramaru and thought that everything he did, even for Otokojuku, was for nothing except everyone else getting killed. It's almost depressing to think about it: a main character in a shonen manga literally deciding to just die at the top of the mountain instead of telling others of his exploits by returning...but Momo just didn't have it in him. But of course, with the mysterious arrival of the Third-Years who found interest in him and his friends enough to keep them alive...yeah, some would say it is "shonen logic" but in a way it's a kindness leading to a greater cruelty. The "head" of the Third-Years probably wants to test or finish Momo and the others himself instead of letting Date take the credit...they did enough in the Kyousatsu to let them take notice so in the end, it worked out and everyone was reunited! (well that...and Togashi already stated he's going to outlive the cockroaches so the Third-Years are helping him in that regard). And thus...a new arc begins with the new, closer enemy on the move...next time!