Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 81

Only one stage remains in the Daiishin Paaren Seiha...but to get there, the First-Years first have to get to the top of a massive tower...and did I mention the giant metal ball careening down the same tower ready to squash them!?

Chp. 81: Destroy the Core!

90.
First-Year 1: Wh…what’s that!? A massive iron ball is rolling down from the summit---!!
First-Year 2: Ru…run or all of us will get squashed----!!

91.
First-Years: Uwaaa, it’s really fast---!!
First-Year 1: Ho…how about if we cling to the side wall by running to the side---!!
First-Year 2: N…no: the iron ball isn’t leaving an opening along the edge of the path---!!
First-Year 3: Even if we could do that, it’ll crush our fingers and end up falling head-long to the bottom!!

92.
First-Year 1: So as is, the only thing we can do is run to the base with all our power.
First-Year 2: How could you say that: it’s 5-6 km to the bottom; do you really think we’ll get that far---!!
First-Year 3: If that’s it, then we’ll be fine with doing anything---!!
First-Year: Gue!!
First-Year: Uwaaa---!!
First-Years: Tsu…Tsubakiyama---!!
(TN: Yeah, Tsubakiyama was in the BG all this time and had always been there, but bad memories of his chapter never made me address his name when he spoke)

93.
Momotarou: Keep going, everyone!!
First-Years: R…right!!
Tsubakiyama: Mo…Momo---!!
First-Years: Nuaa!! They’re pushing it to a stop---!!

94.
First-Years: Uooo---!!
First-Year 1: E…endure this: strain through your power with as much of yourself as possible----!!
First-Year 2: Ri—ght, stand firm on this---!!
First-Years: Kuaa---!!

95.
First-Year 1: N…no good--!! This iron ball is really heavy!! At this rate, we can’t bare with this forever!!
First-Year 2: But we might be able to move this to the other side by climbing over the ball with a human ladder!!
First-Year 3: Well, wouldn’t we have done that if we could!!
First-Year 1: Momo, Date, Gekkou, you three go ahead!!
First-Year 2: Right, all of you still must go further!!
First-Year 3: Leave it to us here---!!
Momotarou: ……………We can’t do that. If the power of us three wasn’t here, the rest of you can only die.
First-Year 1: Uh…this is what Wan Taaren said: an ordeal to get to the 4th battleground.
First-Year 2: Well this is real good……………

96.
First-Years: !!
Gekkou: Leave this to me here………
First-Years: Ge…Gekkou……!!
First-Years: UO!!

97.
First-Year 1: Th…that body seems so light……!!
First-Year 2: Bu…but what will he do by going up there…!!
First-Year 1: Wh…what is he doing? I don’t know what it is but he has to hurry---!!
First-Year 2: We…we’re at our limit already---!!

98.
Gekkou: That’ll be fine…………!!

99.
First-Year 1: Wh…what is he thinking? What’ll be fine, Gekkou!!
First-Year 2: Is he thinking of destroying that huge iron ball with his fist---!!
Momotarou: No………somehow that hit now is for making some mark.
Gekkou: When I next give the signal, all of you will let go of the iron ball and run past it at full speed. At full speed………….!!
First-Year 1: Wh…what does he mean!? We’ll still be chased down by the ball!!
First-Year 2: I…I’ve already used up my physical strength; I can’t even run ten meters!!
First-Year 3: We’ll all be going to that world as pancakes---!!
Momotarou: Stop that: we’re doing as Gekkou said here. Just believe in him.
First-Year 1: ……………………
First-Year 2: R…right, we…get it. If we do as Momo said
First-Year 3: Well, at this rate, it’s a matter of time before our strength runs out.

100.
Gekkou: GO!!
First-Years: Dorya---!! This is desperate---!!

101.
First-Years: UOO---!!
Gekkou: Muu!!
Gekkou: HAA--!!

102.
First-Year 1: WH…WHAT---!!
First-Year 2: That Gekkou is standing in the way of that iron ball alone----!!

103.
First-Years: GE…GEKKOU---!!

104.
First-Years: !!

105.
Gekkou: CHAKU-KE: KAKUSAIKOU!!
(TN: “Chaku-ke” = “Walk School”; “Kakusaikou” = “Core Smashing Hole”)

106.
First-Year 1: Wha……!!
Hidemaro: He…smashed the iron ball with one blow of his fist…!!
Gekkou: It’s not that big a deal: with the iron ball relinquishing a navel, the power of the fist was doubled using the speed of the rolling ball…
Commentary:
All materials that exist in the world consist due to a combination of molecules. Even within them, minerals possess a unique construction; by presenting an impact to the weakest point of cohesive power in the collection of molecules, it’s extremely easy to cause a chain reaction within the molecular space, destroying the object. This point that should be called “the object’s navel” is scientifically called the “Prutzfon Point”. For example, it is possible for diamonds, which possess the greatest hardness on Earth, to be instantly pulverized with a blow from a chisel if the Prutzfon Point is ascertained. However, discovering that point in an object is next to impossible and even a cutter of the aforementioned diamond must study for close to thirty years for it.
-From “A Theory of the Structure of the Molecular Core”, Minmei Publishing
(TN: Considering this is another weird Minmei entry, there was no real way to translate “Prutzfon”, so I ended up doing so as best as I could without literally romanizing it)

107.
Gekkou: Let’s go.
First-Years: ……………………
Date: Fufu, as expected of Gekkou, who is admired as the strongest man of the Sanmenken. Even I’d be in danger if I fought him.
Momotarou: We’re finally at the final battle…………!!
First-Year 1: Amazing, Gekkou!! With you teaming with Momo, we’re not afraid of Jaki or any opponent---!!
First-Year 2: We’ll be at the summit soon---!!

TN: After the infamy of the last chapter and realizing that Date has to do everything (and that Toramaru gets to...knock himself out so Date can keep going), this was the type of chapter I needed to ignore my former problems with this series and get back to what makes it so cool. As generic as they may seem sometimes, the chapter does seem to emphasize the entire cameraderie that exists within the First-Year class, whether with Momo and his allies or just all the ordinary students in the class! While I sort of wished there were some other characters there to take part in this sequence (and that I finally get Tsubakiyama's name for the first time in forever...yeesh did I hate his chapter), they would have taken away from what should be a good collective moment, in some ways moreso for the "common student" than even Tazawa's bridge earlier in the arc. But of course, Gekkou stole the chapter with his ball-destroying technique...who knew brass knuckles came with one giant protruding spike for this!? (but then again...it's Otokojuku) I do sort of wonder, though, why Date would say "I don't want to fight Gekkou" after hogging up the whole last fight, but...I guess it's needed hype for the upcoming fight with Jaki and Eikei...

BTW: Am I the only one who sort of imagined the title at first as "Shoot the Core!"? I mean, I should have made it as such...but it's just a giant strike, not some video game...