Gintama 293

And now...courtesy of a guest translator, we get to pick on Yamazaki for a while...

Gintama by Hideaki Sorachi

Lesson 293: Think About Balance in Your Meals
Edits by Kewl0210

1.
Top Caption: Careful in the front!!
Lower Caption 1: JC Vol. 32 On Sale With Rave Reviews!
Lower Caption 2: Advance Sales for the Movie on Sale With Rave Reviews!! Details on the Official Home Page!!

Yamazaki: Ah, I’m sorry.
Woman: N…no, that should be me.
Woman: These shopping bags……I’m sorry, weren’t there eggs in there?
Yamazaki: Its fine, I don’t have important things inside. | Please, you really shouldn’t worry about it.
Woman: Ah, please hold on
Woman: Here’s this too.
Yamazaki: ……Ah, I’m sorry.
Woman: ……Um…

2.
Woman: DO YOU LIKE ANPAN?
(TN: Considering that this is going to be a major factor in this chapter, it’s best I explain it now: “anpan” is a roll filled with anko, a red bean paste)
Caption: Shinsengumi’s Yamazaki’s work this time is!?
Yamazaki: I DON’T LIKE THEM—
Yamazaki: Anpan with milk: | this is my etiquette for stakeouts.

3.
Yamazaki: I don’t eat anything else until my stakeout is over.| These are offerings that I sacrifice to the myriad of gods.
Yamazaki: Even if I hate them, there’s nothing I can do because the God of stakeouts loves anpan and milk. | This is according to every detective drama ever made.
Yamazaki: My seething desires for curry, katsudon, yakiniku... I suppress them all as prayer for a successful stakeout. | So today I eat anpan as well.
(TN: Quick note: “katsudon” = “breaded pork on rice”; “yakiniku” = “Korean BBQ”)
Curtains: NO – N – BE – E
(TN: Slight pun: “Nonbee”, the name of the shop, is Japanese for “heavy drinker”)
Voice: The usual method is to avoid contact with your stakeout target.
Hijikata: Yamazaki, you, is this even an inspection?
Yamazaki: ...Haven't you seen? | Lying in wait on stakeout is a good practice.
Yamazaki: But if you have so much free time, maybe it would've been a better idea for you to be sitting here, vice-cheif.
Hijikata: You sure are on edge. Are you eating just anpan, as usual?

4.
Hijikata: A stakeout is a battle of strength. | It doesn’t get credit or anything, but you won’t have strength if you don’t eat edibles.
Ramen Woman: Meal Delive—ry
Hijikata: Oh, come right in.
Box: RAMEN KITA-SAN
Yamazaki: Hey, please don’t do too much, vice-captain.
Yamazaki: Please don't think I'm naive because of a little prayer; because I've never failed a stakeout once I've gotten going. I really don't need it, so I don't really want to eat things like ramen.…well, there’s nothing I can do if you say that by all means. | I can’t defy the vice-chief’s orders.
Yamazaki: ………
Hijikata: Eh? What’s that…?
Yamazaki: ……No | it was nothing.
Hijikata: Hey…what kind of woman is she? | Narasaki Sachi?
Yamazaki: Nothing particular...she's typical, nice girl but...| in the few five days that I've watched her,| she's an ordinary, nice poster-girl of a sake shop.
Yamazaki: I ALMOST CAN’T THINK OF HER AS THE OLDER SISTER OF A FIENDISH TERRORIST.

5.
Hijikata: Is that so? Sougo being no exception, siblings can grow up with one of them being bad and the other one level-headed.
(TN: Hijikata is referring to Mitsuba Okita, Sougo’s elder sister…please read the Mitsuba arc in vol. 15-16 if you don’t know what she’s like)
Yamazaki: …Um, vice-chief…you’re too close but
Hijikata: Regarding Donbee: well…it seems he’s in a frantic state, running around here and there.
Hijikata: He made off with the organizations’ loans.| That man now is being aimed after not just by us but from his colleagues as well. | The only place he can run to anymore is here.
Yamazaki: I kinda feel bad about the idea of using the sister as bait for the brother...|So would you feel better about it if we just forgot about the little brother?
Hijikata: Like I said, it's not just us chasing after Donbee. | So if those rounins use her as bait for him as well...
Yamazaki: ………!!
Hijikata: We'll do the dirty work of rounding up the whole group by using the sister as bait.
Hijikata: Yamazaki, | you’re informed of your mission: | PROTECT THAT WOMAN…

6.
Yamazaki: Yamazaki Sagaru’s Inspection Report: | I’ve reached a week of living on anpan.
Yamazaki: I’ve randomly come to yearn for the taste of miso soup, but as usual the girl hasn’t moved.
Yamazaki: Narasaki Sachi, the female owner of the sake shop “Nonbee”. | The rumor of the neighborhood is that she seems like devoted daughter, | protecting and managing her father’s shop as the sole female laborer since bereaving | her father four years ago.
Yamazaki: OOn the other hand, her little brother Donbee has long been well known as a bad person even in the public eye. | He's gone from one place to another with the shop's money since when his father was alive. And it seems after his sister took over the shop he hit her up for money as well.
Yamazaki: The little brother has caused his devoted daughter of a sister great pain and is now getting her involved in danger once again. | And now this organization is aiming for both of them: sister and brother.
Yamazaki: My mission is to watch over the female from the shadows, protecting her along with reporting of the movement of the organization.
Yamazaki: She will be protected on the name of Yamazaki Sagaru, Shinsengumi Inspector. | I’m newly determined to eat anpan today as well

7.
Yamazaki: 8th day living on anpan.
Yamazaki: When I went to the supermarket yesterday, I heard workers whispering things like "Anpanman is here!! He really came here!" from far away, but as usual the girl hasn't moved.
(TN: Anpanman is in reference to the popular manga/anime character known by many children)
Yamazaki: Her days are so routine it's as though she's a machine. | 7:00 AM: she scatters water in front of the shop. | 6:00 PM: she raised the shop’s sign curtain.
(TN: “Sign curtain” is “noren” in Japanese, which is in reference to the curtain used at the front of a sign in a shop)
Yamazaki: And 12:00 AM: she removes the sign curtain and goes to bed.
Yamazaki: Occasionally, when I peep for go out for a purchase, I see the same things repeating. | The customers of the shop are just close friends of the neighborhood; no one else goes in or out and it never changes, but it's peaceful every day.
Yamazaki: What I see more than anything are the smiling faces people show her when they leave.
Old Woman: Good morning, Sachi-chan.
Sachi: Good morning, m'am, how are your hips feeling today?
Yamazaki: Everyone adores her and she adores everyone too. | I hope that she continues to have these peaceful days.
Yamazaki: I think about these things forgetting her situation. | I’ll be eating anpan today as well.

8.
Yamazaki: 12th day living on anpan.
Yamazaki: If I think about it, I really haven't talked to anyone in a long time. The last words I've spoken were "No, it's fine to put them in the same bag." three days ago, but as usual the girl hasn't moved.
Yamazaki: Today she sprinkles a smiling face to people, the same as she always does. She never changes; I who was relieved for the day dozed off for a moment.
Yamazaki:The moment I woke up, I had worried that she was looking here, but it was my imagination. I'll eat anpan today, too, to tighten my loosened focus. | But, I have half of them left.
Yamazaki: 15th day living on anpan.
Yamazaki: When I had gone to the convenience story yesterday, I heard the workers whispering things like "'It's fine to put them in the same bag.' is here. I'll bet you he just buys milk and anpan again, definitely together.", but as usual the girl didn't move.
Yamazaki: Today as today is, she sprinkles her smiling face to people. | I was worried her smiling face looked this way but I'm sure it was at the neighbor who was drying laundry.
Yamazaki: I had suddenly thought: what will truly happen if we continue to have peaceful days where nothing happens as is? | What will happen to me if her younger brother had already run off to a completely different place?
Yamazaki: It's really as if I'm wishing for misfortune to befall her. To shake off those wicked thoughts I'll eat anpan today, too. | AND THEN I'LL VOMIT IT ALL UP.

9.
Yamazaki: 20th day living on anpan.
Yamazaki: Though there really isn't anyone to talk to, I was delighted when I had established a conversation after a long time when I shouted out "Aaa" and the person next door shouted "Shut up!" and pounded on the wall, but as usual the girl hasn't moved.
Yamazaki: Day after day, she smiles and smiles without even getting weary. | How exactly can she be so delighted?
Yamazaki: Day after day she just raises and lowers the sign curtains, | and yet I should feel her as having interesting affairs that are much more varied in excitement in this world. For example: when will her good-for-nothing sibling be chased by that organization and take refuge here?
Yamazaki: While I’m thinking of that, I’ll be | throwing anpan on the wall today as well.
Yamazaki: 22nd day living on anpan.
Neighbor: SHUT UP--!!
Yamazaki: Raising and lowering the sign curtain as usual. She hasn’t moved.
Yamazaki: Enough already. You can read the air of the situation, right? | When's the brother gonna come!!? When am I gonna be freed from this anpan curse!?

10.
Yamazaki: LITTLE BROTHEEEER!! COME QUICKLYYY!! FREE ME FROM THIS ENDLESS ANPAAAN!! | ALONG WITH THIS WISH, I’LL BE SPARKING ANPAN TOWARDS THE SKY TODAY AS WELL!!
Yamazaki: 23RD DAY LIVING ON ANPAN.
Yamazaki: SPARKING TOWARDS THE WORKER AT THE SUPERMARKET!!
Yamazaki: 24TH DAY LIVING ON ANPAN.
Yamazaki: SPARKING TOWARDS THE WORKER AT THE CONVENIENCE STORE!!
Yamazaki: 25TH DAY LIVING ON ANPAN.
Yamazaki: SPARKING TOWARDS THE VICE-CHIEF!!

11.
Yamazaki: 28th day living on anpan.
Yamazaki: When I awoke, my body was covered in blood for some reason. I don't have any memories of the past few days here. What exactly had happened to my body? In contrast to my transformation, the girl still hasn't moved.
Yamazaki: It’s the same as always: at 7:00 AM, she scatters anpan in front of the shop; 6:00 PM, she raises the shop’s anpan. And then at Anpan AM, she anpans the anpan and anpans.
Yamazaki: With anpan, anpan anpans the anpan some anpan to anpan. | Anpan anpan anpan anpan anpan anpan anpan anpan.
Yamazaki: 30TH DAY LIVING ON ANPAN

12.
(TN: Just write “anpan” over and over ad-nauseum until the entire page is filled…that will essentially get the point across considering that…well, Yamazaki’s finally gone off the deep end)

13.
Yamazaki: 31st day living on anpan.
Yamazaki: I regained consciousness, having become covered in anko and standing perfectly still in a place I’ve never seen before…it seems I was wandering around like I was sleepwalking for several days.
Yamazaki: I'm at my limit. I can't take this anymore. | What do I know about a mission and s**t? | What do I know about that sign-curtain-raising-and-lowering woman?
Yamazaki: I hate everything now. I don't give a damn about anything! | I went towards my room so I could get dressed.
Yamazaki: But in there was

14.
Letter:
Mr. “Opposite-From-Me”:
You’ll ruin your health
With just anpan.
I’ve made nikujaga for you.
If you’re alright, then please eat this.

Thank you for always watching
Over me.
-From “Nonbee”

(TN: “Nikujaga” is a “meat-and-potato stew”, a dish of meat, potatoes and onions stewed in soy sauce)

Yamazaki: I | couldn't stop crying.
Yamazaki: I didn’t know since when she had noticed me. I didn't know how much she knew.
Yamazaki: The only thing that was clear | was that I wasn’t qualified to say thank you to that woman.
Yamazaki: Because of my good-for-nothing prayer, I tried to abandoned her.

15.
Yamazaki: On that day, I rebelled against the God of stakeouts. | So I could protect that woman.
Yamazaki: 3rd day living on nikujaga.
Sign: Ooedo
Yamazaki: As I woke up, a ceiling I didn’t recognize spread out in front of my eyes.
Yamazaki: And | the disgusting face of the vice-chief.

Yamazaki: Vice-chief, where am I?
Hijikata: The hospital.
Yamazaki: ? Eh? What happened to me? !! WHERE’S SACHI-SAN!? AND SACHI-SAN’S LITTLE BROTHER!? WHAT HAPPENED!!
Hijikata: ………

16.
Hijikata: SHE RAN AWAY. THE SIBLINGS CAME TOGETHER AND TOOK THE MONEY.
Hijikata: Yamazaki…we’ve been put on by that woman.
Yamazaki: The pillaging of the funds from the organization was a conspiracy thought up by the brother and sister. | The brother wasn't coming to ask for money from the store; he moved based on his big sister's directions and came around to the store for the money that they cheated people out for their crime.
Yamazaki: Without delay, the big sister, who realized my existence, wasn’t doing anything, |fully showing a play over this month so she could deceive me. | That woman bet her life so she could pursue this play.
Yamazaki: And when I had become completely exhausted, the hand she extended towards me| had poison in it.
Hijikata: She did a terrible thing, that woman. | No matter how far it took, she hid her unmarked face in make-up until it came to the day she begged for.
Hijikata: Well, she perfectly took the duty as the bait as expected. | We hauled in all of the company that prowled around that woman: we caught them at the place the hoodlum duo escaped from.
Hijikata: We were able to move freely because you were there.
Yamazaki: ………
Ramen Woman: MEAL DELIVERY

17.
Hijikata: Yamazaki, | you’ve done well.
Yamazaki: ......Vice-chief...could you stop acting so unlike yourself... | perhaps you're comforting me?
Hijikata: I don't feel sad. | Even I'm familiar with being deceived by a woman and failing missions.
Yamazaki: It’s just, | if I wanted to lose
Yamazaki: I WANTED TO LOSE | BY MY OWN RULE.
Hijikata: At any rate, shouldn’t you be eating your ramen now?
Yamazaki: .........Is it all right? | I know it's a bother.

18.
Donbee: But you did well, sis. | When they're dealing with my big sis, both the Shinsengumi and the Joui rounin can't win.
Donbee: The two of us can have fun for a while with this much money. | What are you going to use it on?
Sachi: You idiot, if we live drawing attention it'll make it hard to move. | Money isn't a thing for playing: it's a thing that's used for making more money.
Donbee: Really, you love making money big sis; suitably saving it up in secret for me…
Donbee: What’s wrong, big sis?
Sachi: Nothing... I just felt like I was being watched just now.
Sachi: Somehow, since we came to this town I've been sensing someone's glance.
Donbee: Hey, hey, did you go crazy after hanging around that Shinsengumi stakeout bungler!? GYAHAHAHA
Sachi: Ow.
Yamazaki: Ah, I’m sorry.
Donbee: WATCH OUT, WERE YOU LOOKING WHERE YOU WERE WALKING, YOU FOOL!! ARE YOU ALRIGHT, BIG SIS!!
Yamazaki: I’m really sorry; I was hurrying to a festival.
Donbee: A FESTIVAL!? WHERE CAN YOU HAVE A FESTIVAL WITH THOSE SORTSA THINGS!!? HUH!!
Package: ANPAN

19.
Yamazaki: I can have one.| THE YAMAZAKI WINTER BREAD FESTIVAL.
Yamazaki: 63rd day of the Yamazaki Bread Festival
Sachi: U…uh....do…you rea…lly………like…an…pan?
Yamazaki: I DON’T LIKE IT AT ALL—
Yamazaki: I eat anpan today as well.
Caption: The man Yamazaki, he's no fool!
Gintama: …Lesson 293/End

TN: Well, I doubt too many people really care but, unfortunately, Bomber D. Ruffi had another ker-plowie with his computer today so I translated this Gintama chapter in his place. I guess there is a bit that probably can be said about what just happened but...yeah, Yamazaki really goes off the deep end easily, doesn't he. I probably could say a whole lot about how insane and brilliant and hilarious this chapter was but I think I'll just leave it short and sweet as is for the time being. I hope I didn't screw up too badly...and I'm sort of happy this was a one-shot as opposed to last time. (when essentially I translated a chapter mid-arc)