Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 57

Forcing J aside due to a major disadvantage, Raiden appeared to have made easy work of Henshouki...until his merciful act threw him in grave danger! How long can the Sanmenken fighter keep going...or will he finally leave the horrific opponent to J?

Vol. 7: Red Rain
Chp. 57: Goodbye, Friend

8.
Henshouki: Wahhahaha, that idiot completely fell for it!! Live or die! In the midst of this battle of the Daiishin Paaren Seiha, where you bet your life, those who show sympathy for one who begs for their life are behaving foolishly!!
Raiden: Nuu……!!
Togashi: Raiden--!!
Toramaru: A**hole---!! Guys who pull that like that Henshouki show filthy behavior!!

9.
Date: ………………That’s not it; it’s as he said.
Toramaru: Wh…what is it, Date, you’re--!!
Date: Don’t you get it yet? This Daiishin Paaren Seiha…do those Third-Years think that this is a friendship battle with the First-Years? A fight whether to live or die isn’t dirty or spongy.
(TN: Date does actually describe the tournament as “spongy”: one of the describing words is “hechima”, which is Japanese for “loofah” or a type of cleaning sponge)
Date: ………But from here will be a sight to see. When that Raiden is angry, it will come to that…
J: Switch, hand over the Shaenban, Raiden.
Raiden: I decline. I can’t speak selfishly but that demonic were-man…whatever happens; he alone will fall by my hands…
(TN: This is such a bizarre pun that really needs to be explained. Raiden refers to Henshouki as “Chikujinki”, most likely as his name as opposed to his term. Though that name on its own means nothing, “translating” the kanji akin to many of the weird terms in this series becomes “animal-man demon”, with some translation in Chinese being made as “wereman”. Considering that “Henshouki” can be literally translating as “flying bat demon”, making Raiden describe him as “demonic were-man” works best instead of just calling him “Chikujinki”, even if it doesn’t really connect to well with connecting towards “Henshouki”)

10.
Henshouki: Fuffufu, no matter how many vitals I hit, can you keep fighting with your wounds? I expected this of Daioujou-ryuu…To show respect for your spirit, I’ll be sending you to hell with an interesting item.
Toramaru: Wh…what’s that………!?
Togashi: The feathers of that pinwheel have blades attached……

11.
Henshouki: NANCHOUJI KYOUTAIKEN: TOSATSU FUUSHAKEN!!
(TN: “Tosatsu Fuushaken” = “Slaughtering Pinwheel Fist”)
Matsuo: Wh…what---! The pinwheel is spinning with the speed of his fist!!
Tazawa: If that hits, it will tear up muscle and bone---!!

12.
Henshouki: Chii!!
Henshouki: Fu………you really are a beast…
Henshouki: Die as you should, death-escaper---!!
(TN: This really seems strange but basically, Henshouki first says “iikagen ni shineya”, which is “die properly”, then he follows it with “kutabari zokonai”, which seems to be a variation of “shi ni zokonai”, which is “escaping death”. Considering the opposites he mentions, it sounds like Henshouki is telling Raiden, the “death escaper”, to “properly die”)
Toramaru: Raiden--!!

13.
Henshouki: Na!!
Raiden: Choiya---!!
Henshouki: !!

14.
Raiden: Ha---!!
Henshouki: Guge!!
Toramaru: Phew, he’s strong, really great; that oldie Raiden!
Togashi: Though he’s wounded that much, Henshouki’s no match for him!
Date: Fuffufu, I expected that from Raiden.
Raiden: The crime of dishonoring a fight of men by trampling of human sympathy is serious. You won’t be begging again, you will die.

15.
Raiden: DAIOUJOU-RYUU: HISHOU KAKUSOKU KAIKEN!!
(TN: “Hishou Kakusoku Kaiken” = “Flying Crane-Leg Rotating Fist”)
Henshouki: Hi!!
Raiden: !!
Raiden: Guu!!
Togashi: Wh…what’s wrong with that Raiden--!!
J: ……………!!

16.
Henshouki: Fufufu, so it’s finally effective? That was close.
Raiden: Gugu………
Raiden: Nuuu, ho…how cowardly are you………your blades earlier were poisoned………
Toramaru: Wh…what--! Poisoned--!!
Momotarou: ………………!!
Henshouki: Fuffufu, does it hurt? It’s a powerful poison. You won’t be able to move any of your arms or legs. Now we’ll have some fun.

17.
Henshouki: It’s over, die---!!
Raiden: Guaa---!!
J: Raiden!!
J: RAIDEN--!!

18.
Tazawa: Did…he kill him………Th…that Raiden has……!!

19.
Henshouki: Fuffufu, just as you’ve seen with your partner, next is your turn. I regret that you won’t be taking your Shaenban before he dies.
Henshouki: Fufu, sensing your concern, I’ll be killing you from behind.
Henshouki: Don’t think badly of it…
J: You really are a coward………………Whatever happens, I won’t be able to come back.
Henshouki: Uwahhaha, whoever you call, what could they do---!!
Toramaru: J--!!
Togashi: J can’t move; he’ll be hurt by this!!

20.
Henshouki: !!
Henshouki: HUH!!

21.
J: Raiden……!!
Henshouki: He…can still go while having that many poison and wounds………!!
Raiden: I’m sorry, J………This is my fault…It seems like this is my limit…
Raiden: You must win this…………don’t worry about the badness of your foothold…………think of being in a square ring…

22.
Raiden: It’s strange…we’ve had a short fellowship, but I feel that you’re a really old friend.
J: Why did you save me…don’t leave it hidden now…If you didn’t save me, then you may have ended up not dying…
Raiden: Goodbye…friend…
J: Raiden……!!
Caption: OTOKOJUKU FIRST-YEAR, SANMENKEN RAIDEN: DEATH IN COMBAT………IN THE DAIISHIN PAAREN SEIHA’S JIKAN HYAKUCHUURIN FIGHT

23.
Henshouki: Fufufu, what an idiot. Well he regretfully saved you from being killed by me………
J: Don’t say any more…………badmouthing my friend is unforgivable…
J: Now I will seal your filthy mouth forever………
Henshouki: Fu, how could you lose your mind…it’s better to comfort your mutual sorrow in hell.
Henshouki: TENBIN SHOUHA---!!

24.
Henshouki: …………!! My Tenbin Shouha has been shattered right in front of his fist!!
J: Do you think you can use on me that level of fist now………!!
Henshouki: Wh…what…………!!
J: Raiden, please watch. This is a requiem for you!!

25.
J: MACH PUNCH---!!

TN: Sniff...Raiden really gave his all against a dirty, filthy opponent...but an angry-enough Mach Punch can easily heal all wounds! Either way, both of the First-Year side were impressive in this chapter and...while it's bad when Raiden "died" last time when an enemy, the way his death was handled now he's an ally is way more sympathetic and powerful in it's own way. Aside from the way the battle went, you can sort of consider this chapter a weird turning point for the series...and you have Henshouki to thank! Prior to this chapter, most of the battle techniques and abilities that we've seen have been strange deviations on classical martial arts, whether be swordsmanship, kenpo or even boxing. (not really counting the bizarre battle scenarios like "rugby" or like Dino's Chinju Corridor thing) But the moment Henshouki uses a knife-bladed pinwheel...is the moment it all changes. You may think that it just feels like a defacto sawblade in how it was used, but the fact that his weapon was a silly thing like a pinwheel made dangerous...is just a taste of the crazy, unpredictable battle styles that are just starting to emerge! Besides...if they can make a pinwheel "serious weaponry", who knows what else could show up! (then again...don't worry about it with the next couple chapters, just keep it in mind for later)