Hell Teacher Nube 70

The problem with the supernatural is you never know when to expect it...let alone why! Sometimes the strangest of phenomenons may end up screwing with interpersonal relations...such as Kyouko's relationship with Hiroshi!

#70: Onbu-Obake

27.
SFX: Wao—n
Bully: If we do this; then that guy will insignificantly piss that.
SFX: Za za
Glasses Bully: Hihihi, that will be great.
Caption: Doumori High Delinquent Trio (Refer to Comic Vol. 6, now on sale with rave reviews!!)
“Voice”: I will ride you…
Bully: ? Someone say that?
Glasses Bully: No, it was nothing.
“Voice”: I will ride you…
Bully: Hahaa! You’re the guys of Teiken High of the next town. If you’re going to ride me then do it!
(TN: Teiken High is in reference to the high school of fellow WSJ series “Rokudenashi BLUES” by Masanori Morita [which was running in the magazine the same time as Nube and ran between 1988-1997] This is the main high school of the series, which is attended by main character Maeda Taison)
SFX: Dosa

28.
Bully: Uwaaa!?
Onbu-Obake: I will ride you…I will ride you…
Caption:
Onbu-Obake: Called Pariyon (Obusaru), Paroogitsune or Oppashoishi by area. On a dark night road, it clings to you with superhuman strength; and then…
(TN: Considering we’ll probably be finding more out in the Youkai Encyclopedia, all I can really offer right now is this: the key word that is part of the youkai’s name is “onbu”, which is an expression for “carrying on your back”, akin to carrying a baby on your back. Thus by adding the “obake” as in “monster”, it literally translates into “the monster carried on your back”)

29.
Bully: Hiii—what, this isn’t human---
SFX: Hii—
Bullies: Awawa…
Bully: Ah, hold on, don’t go leaving me—
Bullies: Run away—
SFX: Zushi!
Bully: Gue
SFX: Zuzuzu…zuzuzuzu…
Bully: Aga…ga, it’s rapidly getting heavier.
Bully: Gueeee~~
Bully: Kyaaaa!
SFX: Baki | Bokiboki | Gusha

30.
SFX: Chun chun
Miki: Well ultimately that high schooler broke three ribs and was hospitalized! There wasn’t even tire-tracks for it to be a hit-and-run…it was unknown in origin! It was on this route to school…it’s already the 3rd person!
Katsuya: Oh, there’s Nube.
Hiroshi: Really is. What is he doing…with that scene in the early morning.
Hiroshi: Nube!
Nube: I can’t: if they knew, the rumors would become larger. Pretend to not know, pretend to not know.
Nube: Gya
SFX: Dongara kasha—
Sign: Under construction
Hiroshi: A—ah, he was finally going to tell us and yet
Katsuya: I thought he knew.

31.
Hiroshi: Something happen, Nube?...
Miki: Perhaps this is about the incident last night!?
Nube: Th…this was nothing, this was nothing.
Nube: N?
Sign: Jinmenishi (Human-Face Stone)
Nube: Mumumu…
Miki: Wh—at, he’s in a stare-down with a stone…?
(TN: The meaning isn’t exactly “stare-down”; it’s actually in Japanese “niramekko”, which is a game where two people have a stare-down, usually in a means to break the other’s concentration and make them laugh)
Hiroshi: He’s mostly eccentric.
Voice: Good morning.
Hiroshi: Eeh!? Kyouko!?
(TN: Cutest SD-Kyouko face…ever)

32.
Kyouko: What—everyone, you’re so surprised…
Hiroshi: But…your ambiance is completely different…
Miki: There’s something like she’s suddenly precocious…
(TN: I’m not sure if I really used the right meaning here but basically the Japanese word “otonabita” is “to be precocious” or “to act older at a younger age”)
Kyouko: Aah, it’s caused by this barrette.
Miki: Wow! It seems expensive! There are jewels in it too!
Hiroshi: She’s going to school with that thing?
Kyouko: I got this from my older male cousin who is studying abroad in France; he’s an extremely nice guy…
“Caption”: I offer this to Mademoiselle Kyouko…
Miki: Ah—I met him once long ago! He’s an extremely handsome older man.
Katsuya: Fellow cousins can get married.
(TN: This whole panel is a massive mess honestly and I sort of dreaded working on it considering how lacking it is on context and how words have multiple meanings. But I guess I’ll work through all the problems and someone else could sort it out ultimately.
-The first problem is the part where Kyouko goes “Itoko-oniisan”. At a glance, “itoko” has a meaning of “cousin”, where it could be used for any cousin to someone: older or younger, male or female, itoko is “cousin” in all cases. However, “Itoko” is also a name, usually for a female due to the “ko” ending, thus it could also be “Itoko’s big brother”.
-Second is the “oniisan” that Kyouko ends up using here: honestly it could literally stand for “big brother”, but it could also be in reference to an older male, such as if this is an older male cousin.
-Strangely though, it is probably Katsuya’s line that ends up finally deciphering what Kyouko may be saying: his line “itoko doushi” does mean “fellow cousins” or “compadre cousins”, which as stated “can get married”. There is a strange feeling it could be “fellow Itoko” if Itoko is still a girl and he’s talking about her as opposed to Kyouko’s “cousin”

Somehow I ended up solving it as such: Katsuya’s line is trying to peeve Hiroshi off, thus “itoko doushi” is “fellow cousins”. Thus moving from there, I can figure that the “oniisan” isn’t literally an “older brother” but referring to an older male cousin thus leading to Katsuya’s line. I made a few adjustments…but as I said prior, please double and triple check this line because it could still be wrong and taken by one of many other meanings)
Hiroshi: Strange, that thing doesn’t suit you--!
Kyouko: Ri…right? If Hiroshi said it was cute prior, then I’ll let it go but…
Hiroshi: Do…don’t talk stupidly—
Hiroshi: It doesn’t suit—you; what’s it being worn by an ugly woman like you--!
Kyouko: What did you say!?
Katsuya: Hey…isn’t that dangerous--?
Miki: This is amusing—

33.
Kyouko: In other words, this is jealousy!! Ah—the jealousy of an indecent man!
Hiroshi: Don’t say that; who’s being jealous…
Hiroshi: It’s weird! What is this thing!
SFX: Ba!
Kyouko: Ah!
SFX: Poto
SFX: Buoo…
Kyouko: Aah—
Kyouko: You dummy, what have you done—
Miki: Kya—this is amusing; what will come of this, what will come of this!?
Hiroshi: Uwa—hold on—

34.
Hiroshi: Haa haa, it’s stopped at last.
Hiroshi: Ah…
Hiroshi: Not there!
Miki: A—ah, it ended up falling off part-way. Don’t—you know, don’t—you know.
Hiroshi: I…I’m sorry…
Kyouko: I hate you!
SFX: Pan!

35.
Sign: Library
Nube: As I thought: that stone is a Dousojin and it’s been in that place since ancient times…
*Dousojin…a guardian deity that is on the roadside, protecting traveling people and prevents plagues from entering the town.
(TN: A tad more for the record: “Dousojin” literally translates into “street-pioneer god” and are minor “kami” who protect travelers. Usually they are shaped like a happy married couple.)
Book: Local History (1)
Nube: Has a curse arisen due to what seems to be the eeriness of that stone with the road’s construction…? No, but…
Kyouko: OK, now a commercial. Everyone, buy this. (heart)
Hiroshi: Best regards!
Caption:
JUMP COMICS
HELL TEACHER
NUBE
VOL. 1-8 NOW ON SALE WITH RAVE REVIEWS
THE PASSWORDS ARE…
FRIENDSHIP, EFFORT…TERROR
(TN: Yeah…it does feel rather sudden we have an ad for…well, this very manga in this volume [especially since Kyouko is wearing a different outfit than the one for this chapter] Though one rather notable thing here: the “passwords” are a slight parody of the three ‘concepts’ of WSJ I went into back in vol. 8: while “Friendship” and “Effort” are kept, note how “Victory” is replaced with “Terror”…well even if they don’t always win, there’s always a good freaky thing happening so it’s not that bound by the Jump code…well it is but pretend it isn’t)

36.
Nube: So then…I will need to investigate a bit more…
Hiroshi: Hey, improve your mood. I’ll be looking for it after school.
Kyouko: I don’t know you! Don’t come near me; I don’t want to see you near me or even your face!
Nube: We’ve decided at a staff meeting earlier that you can’t travel on the Doumori Highway for your trip home today.
Hiroshi: Ge; what!?
Nube: Somehow there have been many suspicious points with those incidents…until the police investigation is finished, you are prohibited from entering.
Hiroshi: That’s…so I can’t go to search for the barrette?

37.
Kyouko: Hmph!
SFX: RRR…
Nube: Hello, Doumori Elementary…ah, Hiroshi-kun’s father. Hiroshi-kun? No, he went home long ago but
Mr. Tateno: Did he? Then, he’s somewhere with his girlfriend Kyouko-chan…well~~he’s witty and knowing as well, that lady-killer!
Nube: Th…that would be a problem. (He’s your own son!)

38.
Kyouko: Nube!
Kyouko: What, that Hiroshi may have gone down Doumori Highway?
Nube: I got a phone call from Hiroshi’s father; he didn’t have any idea of his whereabouts…
Nube: This is bad…this may be the act of a youkai. Hiroshi’s in danger!
Kyouko: Eeh!?
Hiroshi: S—t—where did it fall to?
Voice: I will ride you…

39.
Onbu-Obake: I will ride you…
Hiroshi: Wh…what?
Onbu-Obake: I will ride you…
SFX: Gori
Onbu-Obake: I will ride you…
SFX: Zushin!
SFX: Zushin!
Onbu-Obake: I will ride you…I will ride you…
SFX: Zuzuzu…zuzuzu…
Hiroshi: Ah…ah…ah…
SFX: Zuzuzuzu

40.
Onbu-Obake: I will ride you.

41.
Hiroshi Uaa
Onbu-Obake: I will ride you…I will ride you…
SFX: Zushin! Zushin!
Hiroshi: Uwawawawa: do…don’t come—
SFX: Ba
Hiroshi: Hii!
SFX: Kuru
Hiroshi: !!

42.
Onbu-Obake: I will ride you~~
SFX: Zushi
Hiroshi: Hii
SFX: Don
Hiroshi: Gyaaa
SFX: Zun zun zun
Hiroshi: Ah…ah…it’s rapidly getting heavier…
Hiroshi: Teacher, save me—

43.
SFX: Bari bari bari bari bari bari
Kyouko: Hiroshi!
Nube: No good! It won’t let go!
Nube: It’s come to this…
Nube: Go!!
SFX: Gui

44.
SFX: Gacha—n
Couple: !?
SFX: Gorogorogoro Dosu—n
Kyouko: Hiroshi!!!
Nube: Pardon me for the window!
Man: My sanma.
(TN: “Sanma” is Japanese for a Pacific Saury that is typically part of Japanese cuisine)
Kyouko: Hiroshi, hold on Hiroshi…
SFX: Paa…

45.
Kyouko: !?
SFX: Jara jara jara
Hiroshi: Money!?
Nube: Onbu-Obake’s trae form is a Dousojin—a god who dwells on roads…due to this, it can’t leave to outside the road. Therefore, it has wanted to be transported to some other place since the start of the road construction…
Nube: Since it’s been ignored without being noticed by the construction company, it has been seeking rescue by passers-by.
Hiroshi: Its form vanished because it was carried outside the road…
Hiroshi: These are valuables that fell to the road…it’s an expression of gratitude…
Hiroshi: Ah

46.
Hiroshi: Kyouko, I’ve got it: here!
Kyouko: Enough! You’ve been rash due to that thing, Hiroshi…
Kyouko: Dummy…what’s really important to me wasn’t that thing…
Kyouko: It was you…
SFX: Doki doki doki doki doki doki doki doki doki doki
Annotation: Hiroshi and Kyouko are still grade schoolers in 5th Grade…
Nube: Y…you two have rapidly become audacious~~~
SFX: Ba!

47.
Nube: I’ve talked to the construction company about moving the Dousojin to another place without breaking it. It will properly stand in a small shrine and be enshrined there.
Kyouko: That’s good.
Nube: The money will be given to a police box. 10% I give to you in gratitude.
Hiroshi: We’ve done it!
Hiroshi: Alright, I’ll buy you the thing that suits you the best!
Kyouko: Really!?
Narrator: However, Hiroshi’s sense of style was a tad strange.
Hiroshi & Miki: Oh—it suits, it suits
Kyouko: Do…does it? (to herself) Later, I’ll punish you.
(TN: Kyouko’s last line is obviously in reference to her “outfit”: at the end of her introductory speech per episode, Sailor Moon concludes with “Tsuki no Kawatte, Oshioki yo”…the “oshioki yo”, which Kyouko says here, is the “I’ll punish you” that she exactly states)

48.
RETURN OF THE GREAT YOUKAI ENCYCLOPEDIA

#8: Onbu-Obake

When you walk on a road at night, some heavy thing suddenly leans onto your back. This “Onbu-Obake” has legends that resemble this here or there throughout Japan.

The true identity of this monster diverges by region in being a stone spirit or an object that is the disguise of a fox or tanuki. In brief, Onbu-Obake doesn’t have a specific youkai name and is said to merely be a general term object that lumps together youkai who rides on the back. With this sort of meaning, the “Konaki-Jiji”, which is well known, is best to be thought of as a kind of Onbu-Obake as well.

Because of this reason, naturally if there are good youkai, there are bad youkai as well among the Onbu-Obake. In folklore, an honest old man carried an Onbu-Obake to his home and when he got home, it changed into the form of treasures of gold and silver, but a greedy old man who did the same thing conversely was trapped in turpentine. It casually was a good Onbu-Obake meeting the honest old man. He had good luck. Like this, since there is completely a circumstance of luck for people meeting an Onbu-Obake of such a personality like this, I think people who don’t have it would be safer to run if they meet an Onbu-Obake.
(TN: We’re going to find out a bit more about it in a later chapter, but “Konaki-Jiji” is an infamous youkai that appears like a baby at first but is in actually an old man. [thus the translation of it’s name into “baby-crying old man”] Like the Onbu-Obake in this chapter, it ultimately grows heavier until crushing the person carrying it after changing back into its old-man form)

TN: A little commentary music, if you please?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhW4m9XByVE

(Kyouko's going to kill me before this is over with but Hiroshi is right...well it was this or "Otome no Policy" but everyone knows this)

It feels rather strange that we have two different storylines going on at the same time in this chapter and that they would end up coming together in such a bizarre way. The main story really wasn't about Onbu-Obake: that felt more of a B-storyline that strangely ended up having the resolution in a way no one really expected. (yeah it was important but more because Nube was worried about the statue and how the construction was affecting it) For the most part, this chapter was more or less a Kyouko/Hiroshi story that sort of continued the latest "feelings" that have emerged since last volume. I did think Kyouko was a tad fickle about the whole connection she had with the barrette though between how the chapter started and how it was at the end. At the start, she seemed more interested in the material and just seemed to lash out at Hiroshi because he ended up ruining something she actually had of value. Yet all of a sudden, when Hiroshi actually decides to pursue finding the barrette and has the showdown with Onbu-Obake, she suddenly doesn't care much for the barrette anymore and just shows her worry for Hiroshi for the whole ordeal. Love is a really messy thing if you think about it: she was so upset for half the volume, then just seems to switch to her Hiroshi-mode the moment he actually goes to try and find something she herself was making a big deal about mere hours earlier. Sure it was dangerous out and he could have gotten hurt, but Kyouko didn't make it any easier on him considering how she reacted when he screwed up. He just wanted to redeem himself and somehow then she finally realized that Hiroshi could get hurt due to the youkai/god...I think that's the problems with females sometimes but at least Hiroshi got her in a Sailor Moon outfit for all the difficulty.

BTW: manga should throw advertisements of themselves in more often...that was strange but hilarious in how it just broke up the narrative.