Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 53

Momo and the first-years' confrontation of Jaki has been thrown for the loop with the announcement of the Daiishin Paaren Seiha...and the arrival of Date and the Sanmenken as part of their team! But what further trouble awaits within this ritual?

Chp. 53: The Challenge to Jaki

119.
Toramaru: GEKKOU!!
Toramaru: HIEN!!
Toramaru: RAIDEN!!
Toramaru: And you’re………!?
Momotarou: DATE--!!

120.
(Title Page)

121.
Toramaru: What’s going on………!! Weren’t all of you dead back then…………!!
Date: Fuffufu, these people healed us, same as you. We were saved thanks to the warm Buddhist heart of the Otokojuku Third-Years.
(TN: Date does actually make a reference to a term of “Hodokegokoro”, which is the “Buddhist heart” concept)

122.
Edajima: The quartet of Date Omito and the Sanmenken hold a special case today and are enrolled as First-Years at Otokojuku. These eight will be fighting in Otokojuku’s ultimate ceremony: the Daiishin Paaren Seiha.
Toramaru: Wh…what---!!
Date: That’s how it is. Nice to be here.
Toramaru: ……………!!
Jaki: Giving a response of the ultimate impossibility, I’m grateful. Then again, what is it that you’re thinking?
Jaki: Do you think that there is a chance that I will lose the Paaren Seiha and end my ruling order that has crossed ten years at Otokojuku…

123.
Edajima: The details of the Paaren Seiha is a matter for later. My business ends here.
J: …………………….
Toramaru: So then though the lives of the eight of us in the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” were saved, it was part of your agenda for this Daiishin Paaren Seiha sports match?
Date: Fuffufu, congratulations to you…this sports match of the Paaren Seiha is thought of as a sports tournament for the Otokojuku Third-Years. Come back when you wash your face.
Toramaru: Wh…what are you doing saying that you---!!
J: Let it go, Toramaru.
Jaki: Fuffufu, this isn’t the time to break your camaraderie. I will announce the representing Third-Years in the Daiishin Paaren Seiha.

124.
Voice: WE’VE WAITED FOR THIS, HEAD--!!
Jaki: DOKUGANTETSU!!
Jaki: HENSHOUKI!!
Jaki: BARON DINO!!

125.
Toramaru: What, aren’t those three the guardians of the Chinju Corridor?
Henshouki: We present our pleasure, head. Please include the three of us among the eight in the Daiishin Paaren Seiha.
Jaki: Do you think you are qualified? Didn’t you end up unprepared from how you were in the Chinju Corridor?
Henshouki: You’re right to be angry, however, be kind to us for then. The three of us truly have cleaned up our dishonor.
Dokugantetsu: And this is our proof.

126.
Toramrau: What are those? They’ve tattooed one-eyed Daruma on their arms?
(TN: In Japanese culture, a “daruma” is a special good-luck doll typically sold with neither eyes colored in. One who buys one makes a wish and fills in one of the eyes of the Daruma; when the wish or desire comes true, the other eye is filled in)
Date: Fuffufu, they’re “Touchintou”. Their tenacity hasn’t been fragmented.
(TN: “Touchintou” is read with katakana: the kanji used translates into “Demon Daruma Tattoo”)

127.
Commentary:
Touchintou: its origin is associated to Eishouchin, the greatest martial artist of China’s Tang Dynasty, who had fought and was defeated in a previous match by the kenpou fighter Enson of Hebei. Looking forward to certain victory in his next match, he engraved a tattoo of a demonic Daruma and filled in just one eye; when he fought Enson again three years later, he won magnificently and added the other eye. And before they were aware, this custom was spread among warriors and soldiers, with those who never filled in both eyes scorned in being called “hetanmono”.
-From “China’s Three-Thousand Years of Military Wars”, Eigaku House
(TN: “Hetanmono” isn’t a proper word and approximately translates into “Men of One Pain”)
Jaki: A second disgrace will be unforgivable. I will exempt you for your enthusiasm and permit your participation.
Henshouki: We’re gratefully blessed!
Henshouki: We will truly do so with these Touchintou…

128.
Jaki: Next, the “Shitennou” of the Otokojuku Third-Years!!
(TN: “Shitennou” is usually used in many places as a term to stand for “Four Heavenly Kings”. However in Otokojuku’s case, the “shi” is replaced with the kanji for “death”, therefore they’re the “Deadly Heavenly Kings”)
Momotarou: The Shitennou………!?
Mohawk: Jaki isn’t being cautious. Fuffufu, so he’s going to use the Shitennou in the Paaren Seiha with the 1sts……
Toramaru: What? Where are those Shitennou? Heh, they’re really embarrassed by their naming and won’t show up.
Togashi: !!
Togashi: A…above, Tora…!!
Toramaru: What are you saying, Togashi? Are people planning to fall from the ceiling…!!

129.
Toramaru: Wa!!

130.
Date: Fuffufu, what eerie guys.
Toramaru: Are they to complete the eight for the Third-Year side………

131.
Jaki: RASETSU!!
Jaki: MANJIMARU!!
Jaki: SENKUU!!
Jaki: EIKEI!!
Jaki: Now next, in accordance to etiquette, we will hold the Daiishin Paaren Seiha Shakuseki Rod ceremony.
(TN: “Shakuseki Rod” or “Shakusekibou” = “Miraculous Red Rod”)
Toramaru: Shakuseki Rod ceremony………!?

132.
Sign: PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE
Edajima: Fufufu, he’s as sharp as we knew, that Jaki…………he splendidly read my stomach.
(TN: Yes, Edajima didn’t say he “read his mind” or “his heart” but “his stomach”)
Onihige: Principal, please have second thoughts again!!
Hikouboshi: Whatever your thinking, I can’t even anticipate Momo’s eight winning against Jaki’s third-years!!
Onihige: Taking the position of a teacher, I can’t stand watching the students that I teach die ahead of myself. So…somehow, I’ve decided to stop the Daiishin Paaren Seiha…………
Edajima: Tea.

133.
Edajima: Daigouin Jaki: that man uses the Paaren Seiha, which should be a fighting tournament essentially, to display his power and protect his position. Thus, they saved the lives of Momo’s group, who won the Daiyon Kyousatsu this year, and nominated them for the Daiishin Paaren Seiha.
Edajima: In this fight, he plans to display his overwhelming power and kill Momo and his eight. It’s the excuse of being strong if their prey is strong.
Edajima: However, as made by the name, Otokojuku’s Daiishin Paaren Seiha is a fight that pushes life to the limit by 8-vs.-8: a team contest, so to say. Many can win alone, but if the team loses, then those eight can only wait for their death.
Edajima: It’s a battle of combining powers. Momo’s side has a chance to win too.
Onihige: ………………………

134.
Commentary:
Shakuseki Rod…used as the occasion of a duel ceremony for Mongolians, winning its fame with the equestrian tribes from about a thousand years ago. Scorching a bronze rod, both parties grasp onto it, acknowledging their mutual fighting spirits.
-From “The Equestrians’ Counterattack”, Eigaku House
Jaki: This is the Daiishin Paaren Seiha’s Shakuseki Rod ceremony. If you can take this iron rod burning in scorching heat, then we will establish our Daiishin Paaren Seiha fight.
Toramaru: Wh…what………!?
Jaki: Well, will you do it? If you timidly don’t take this, then you will admit your defeat.

135.
(No comment needed)

136.
Momotarou: This is my answer: your ten year reign will be brought to an end by us.
Jaki: ………I’ve truly ascertained that………!!

137.
Jaki: AND SO THE DAIISHIN PAAREN SEIHA IS ESTABLISHED!! THE TIME WILL BE THREE DAYS FROM NOW, AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING!! WE WILL SET OUT ON THE JOURNEY OF DEATH!!
(TN: The term for “2:00 in the Morning” is the antiquated “Ushi no Koku” or “The Time of the Cow”)

TN: It's sort of hard to believe in the incredible confidence, both in Momo and particularly in Edajima, that Jaki and the Third-Years reign of Otokojuku could end just with a victory in the Paaren Seiha. Well OK, maybe not Momo considering that this match will definitely be one where he can finally settle differences with the (so-far) invincible Third-Year head, but all Edajima has to see whether or not the First-Years can win is just what we've seen, particularly with the "Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu". We know the First-Years and Date's team (well OK, mostly just Date at this point) have some capabilities, but with the Chinju Corridor guards finally wishing to take back revenge for their previous failure (particularly with Dokugantetsu and Henshouki previously hinting at this when facing the First-Year) and the arrival of this series version of the "Shitennou", the First-Years have their work cut out for them! But then again...considering how Momo bent and destroyed a burning bronze rod, we should just leave it all in their hands...