Hell Teacher Nube 133

Emotions are difficult, especially in determining differences between "love" and "lust". When a youkai who releases inhibitions gets loose at the school, it may awaken something good (or dangerous) in an often-forgotten wallflower...

#133: The Seductive Youkai: Spirit Pawci

39.
Sign: Staff Office
Principal: He—y, it’s an express delivery from Hiraizumi-sensei who transferred to Hokkaido.
Sign: Sort and tidy up!
Ritsuko: Well, are those potatoes?
(TN: While not one of the biggest producers in the world, Hokkaido is known for 60% of Japan’s total growth acreage of potatoes, typically varieties such as “Danshaku-Imo” and the “May Queen”, as well as the more recent and notable “Kitaakari” potato)
Ootsuki: That many of those can’t be eaten by just us.
Ishikawa: Could we use those for cooking practice?
SFX: Dara----…
Ritsuko: …No, let’s give all of them to Nueno-sensei…
Nube: This is great—there are ten days left this month and I’ve used up my month’s salary, so this is how I’m going to survive…
Principal: Um, Nueno-kun, what do you use your salary for each month?
Nube: Mu!

40.
Nube: !!
“Spirit”: Uhu—h, aha—n

41.
Nube: Pawci! That’s…a dangerous spirit…
(TN: Though the youkai in Japanese is pronounced “Pa-u-chi”, it is written in Ainu as “Pawci” though it can also be written, like in Japanese, as “Pauchi”. The full name of the youkai is “Pawci-Kamuy”, with the last part in reference to the “Kamuy”, the spiritual or divine beings in Ainu myth. While one aspect of its will be referred to here and in the Weird File, it is also notable that Pawci is also found to be the Kamuy of insanity, stomachaches, seizures, food poisoning, and frenzied dancing, the last of which has been said to wipe away villages)
Nube: Especially…in a grade school…
SFX: Pashi
SFX: Pashi | Pyon (boing)
SFX: Suru
Ritsuko: !
SFX: Gacha
Ritsuko: Ah
SFX: Soku soku…
Ritsuko: Ah…ah…ah…I have some extremely indecent feeling…
SFX: Nugi! (Strip!)
Caption Box:
Pawci: A spirit that inhabits Hokkaido. If possessed by this, you gain an indecent feeling unrelated to your will that is extremely bawdy. Its, so you say, a demon of indecency.
(TN: I really didn’t know whether or not to translate it, but considering that there is no real youkai by that name, I ended up translating the term “Inma”, which was used for Pawci’s description, into the “demon of indecency” above)

42.
Nube: …This isn’t the case to be delighted!
SFX: Supako—n! | Pyo—n
Nube: This is bad…if that prowls around in the school…
Ritsuko: Tsu…I’m naked again…
Voice: Hey, please tell us the truth.
Matsui: Gufufu…actually, I like Kushima-kun of class 4.
Girl: I do like Kazama-kun of class 2, ultimately.
Miki: I have Kazama-kun of class 2, Yamashita-kun of class 4, Inoue-kun of class 6, Shimoda-kun of class 1…ah, even if you don’t ask Kyouko, you’ll know.
(TN: Subtle much, Miki?)
Voice: Hey, and Noro-chan?

43.
Noriko: I…I…don’t have anyone I like…
Caption: *Noro-chan, or Nakajima Noriko, is the most docile of Nube’s class.
Miki: That’s right, you’re no-go Noro-chan.
(TN: Miki makes a weird pun here: she actually does say “Noro-chan”, but emphasizes the word “noro”, which emphasizes on the Japanese words “noroi”, which is “slow” or “dullard”, or the slow onomatopoeia “noronoro”, which is “slow” or “sluggish”. I could have just made it “slow Noro-chan”, but to keep Miki’s pun on her name, I made it the silly “no-go Noro”)
Miki: It’s as I’ve thought! That’s why you’re always being drawn by the author with a random face in the rear with your minor role. A character who isn’t in love doesn’t have charm. (Ahaha…)
(TN: Yeah, this is sort of a 4th-wall breaking moment but what Miki is saying is typically correct: a lot of times minor characters that don’t ever have focus or notability in a manga generally are the ones seen in the back or in crowd shots to fill in spaces)
Noriko: Eh, eh?
Caption: In the rear
Miki: --Even so…we’ve come to be 5th graders and she doesn’t even have one kid that she likes.
Kyouko: She’s lying; I’m certain there is one.
Matsui: That’s right.
SFX: Ga—n…
Caption: Random face
Noriko: There isn’t really a person that I like…is that strange?
Sign: Library
Noriko: I’m returning this.
Sign: Please protect (can’t read the rest)
Boy: Ah, hold on, hold on.

44.
“Glasses Boy”: U…um.
Kameyama: I’m Kaneyama of class 5. You’re Nakajima of class 3. Can’t you come home together with me, because I want to introduce you to many interesting books.
Noriko: Ah, don’t fuss over me in particular about that.
SFX: Ga—n, rejected…
Noriko: Shouldn’t I might as well be invited by someone?
Kaneyama: I’ll die.
Noriko: …This isn’t the best of circumstances…
Voices: Sayonara—bye-by—e.
SFX: Bun! Bun!
Nube: Urya--! Orya--! Namu

45.
Nube: You lewd thing---! I’ll put an end to you! You awful brute---!
SFX: Ga | Bashan
Noriko: What was that? (to herself) Is this because it’s spring?
SFX: Hi~~~
SFX: Suu!
Noriko: Somehow…my body is burning hot…is this a fever…I’ll hurry home.

46.
Caption: The next day
SFX: Gara
Noriko: Hey, good morni—ng. This is satisfied, enchanting, va-va-va-vo—om Noro-chan he—re.
(TN: The last part of Noro-chan’s “nickname” here was “jajajajan”, which is linked to a Japanese expression of “Jajauma”, which is a term used for either a “restive horse” or an “unmanageable woman”, which…well, considering her current state of mind, is an understatement)
SFX: Kune kune (wriggle wriggle) | Dodododododo

47.
SFX: Douppi Doppi Doddoddo
Noriko: Aa~~h, I can’t get off this backpack~~Such a problem for Noriko~~~Can someone take—it—off (heart)
SFX: Kune kune
Kyouko: Hey, Noro-chan, what’s wrong with you!? Is your head conjested?
Miki: Hold on, Kyouko: here’s where you leave it to me.
Miki: Aa~~h, my backpack is entangled on too and I can’t get it off~~ (to herself) Hmph: the heroine of Nube is me.
Caption: Naked for some reason
Miki: Someone take—it—off.
SFX: Chira

48.
SFX: Doka
Hiroshi: Oh, I’ll do it.
Katsuya: No, me.
Kaneda: Me—
Boys: Uooooh
Noriko: Aah, hurry.
Miki: Just a moment! In spite of you being Noro-chan, do you think it’s fine in standing out like that!?
Noriko: Is that fine? Because from today, I’m the heroine of this manga.
Miki: Ki—what’s that~~~!?
Kyouko: Stop that, Noro-chan, don’t do what’s unreasonable.
Noriko: A~~ra, no way. Those minor characters are screaming something with small drawn lettering in the rear. (O~~hohoho…)
Miki: Eeh!?
Kyouko: Aah, we unawaringly…
(TN: Noriko brings up another factor here that is rather typical with manga but hardly ever is brought up: while characters speaking regular dialogue get regular text bubbles with typed words within them, minor characters generally get “drawn lettering” or “kakimoji” alongside their small appearances)
Hiroshi: That’s right: it hadn’t stood out with Noro-chan, but she is cute.
Katsuya: That’s right: she has enough qualities to be idol of the class.
Miki: Eeh!?

49.
Noriko: Right: until now, for some reason, I couldn’t behave without hesitation as I’m doing like this. The me until yesterday was the false me. On my way home yesterday, I awoke like I was struck by lightning for some reason. From today
Noriko: I am 5-3 Super Idol Nakajima Noriko. (small text) For some reason I’m in a gravure-style pose.
(TN: Noriko is referring here to “gravure” as in “gravure idols”, Japanese idols who appear in many male publications as models, generally in provocative poses but never fully nude)
SFX: Kira—n | Dokki—n!
Noriko: Well, boys, shall we play?
SFX: Yanya yanya
Miki: It’s…beyond our power…
Kyouko: Her chest is huge…
Shizuka: A Noro-chan who isn’t going to be far away…she isn’t a similar minor character…
Noriko: Ah, that’s right. Just a moment everyone. (to herself) I have one other book to return to the library…

50.
Noriko: Ufu—n…aha—n…
SFX: Furi furi kune kune
Noriko: I’m returning th—is.
Kaneyama: He…hey.
SFX: Doki
Noriko: Eh…ah…ah…sorry for declining…yesterday.
SFX: Doki doki doki doki
Noriko: Eh…? Eh…? What’s this beating heart…!?
Kaneyama: Ye….yeah, that’s.
SFX: Doki doki
Noriko: This boy is a face I meet here every day and yet…

51.
Noriko: Ah…if it’s fine, then can we go home together today…
SFX: Doki doki
Kaneyama: Eh, really!?
SFX: Doki doki doki
Noriko: Right…this is…
Nube: A—ah, I’m still having a bad time that was caused by Pawci yesterday…even so, where exactly is that Pawci thing hiding…
SFX: Gara
Noriko: An an, I’ve forgotten my textbook. Can I bor~~row it from someone?

52.
Nube: Noriko, you’re possessed by a bad spirit. Well, come here and I’ll return you to normal.
Noriko: Eeh?
Miki: Hahahahaha, that’s how it is after all. You’ve been deceiving us---!
Kyouko: Nube, hurry and exorcise her! We’re going to hold down her arms and legs!
Nube: Well, come.
Noriko: No!
SFX: Ba
Miki: Hold on! Don’t run away!
SFX: Dododododo

53.
Nube: Noriko!
Miki: Noro-chan! Get on o—ut!
Noriko: ……
Caption: After school
Noriko: I’m sorry—still on?
Kaneyama: Yeyes, completely.
Noriko: This beating heart, I’m certain it’s caused by that bad spirit spoken by Nube. If he exorcises this spirit, then this feeling will disappear. I want to have this my entire life…

54.
Miki: We’ve found her.
Kyouko: Hold on, contact Nube!
Noriko: I’m a shy dullard. That’s why…if I get exorcised, I won’t ever again…be like this.
Sign: Takoyaki
Noriko: I’m certain…I won’t have this feeling of happiness…
Noriko: Hey, I’m tired. How about we relax for a bit.
Kaneyama: E…eh, yeah.
Noriko: This feeling…

55.
SFX: Doki doki doki
SFX: Doki doki doki doki
Noriko: Kyaa!
SFX: Bari bari bari bari
Nube: Byakue Reibakuju!

56.
Nube: You prankster!
Nube: I’m sealing you up and sending you back to the wilderness of Hokkaido!
SFX: Supo | Ha
Caption: Her chest has returned to normal.
Noriko: Noo~~this is embarrassing—
SFX: Suzaza!
Kaneyama: Eh?
Miki: Too bad. This girl was possessed by an evil spirit and had become strange. Please give up on her.
Kaneyama: Eh, eeh?
Nube: How’s that, Noriko? You won’t come to have that strange heart-beating or those unpleasant feelings again.

57.
Caption: The next day
Noriko: I won’t…..come to have that feeling ever again…
Noriko: Here, I’m returning this…

58.
NUBE’S WEIRD FILES

#20: Pawci

A fairy introduced in Ainu legend. Its form is of a small being like a koro-pok-guru and it can also change into a woman with a nude figure. It’s a demon of indecency that makes humans have lewd feelings without meaning; it is said that the fickleness of humans are the act of Pawci.

Its dwelling is the river bank called the Susurampet of Heaven. It is there that both men and women go around dancing completely nude. It tempts young men and women when it descends occasionally to this world and adds them to it’s dancing ring. Therefore, if you see a person who is dancing naked in the middle of the mountains or in a field where no one is around, you can think that this person is possessed by Pawci.

(TN: A couple things:
1. The “koro-pok-guru”, also known as the “koropokkuru” or “koropokkur”, are a race of small people in the folklore of Ainu who live “below the leaves of the butterbur plant” (thus the meaning for their name) Long ago, the legends say, the Ainu and the koro-pok-guru lived in harmony, but it ended when, ironically, a young beautiful koro-pok-guru woman was taken by a man, making her enraged and cutting off the two races. Hiroyuki Takei’s “Shaman King” is probably another manga you can read to better understand their usage or existence.
2. The “Susurampet” (Pronounced “Shu-shu-ra-n-pe-tsu”, also can be “su-su-ran-pe”) of Heaven (known in Japanese as “Tengoku no Susurampet” is also known as the Willow-Soul River (“Susu” = “Willow”, “Ram” = “Soul”, “Pet” = “River”) in Pikun Kando, the “High Heaven” of Ainu myth.)

TN: Well, it took my nearly forever to get to this chapter, mostly because of some of my circumstances in translating (and some of the content in it)...but let me admit this: this probably has to be one of my favorite Nube chapters in the entire series. In a way, this one chapter literally pretty much has everything that the series is known for in one neat, extremely crazy, slightly sexy but ultimately heart-warming package. The main crux behind why this chapter is so special and so crucial is all based around Noriko, who makes a massive breakthrough and sort of uses this chapter to become a major spotlight for the rest of the series. The dilemma that she faces regarding not really being interested in sex-appeal or in the stuff Miki and the other girls are into is one easily sympathizable, especially in a society that sort of obsesses in pairing up between people at the earliest possible age. Some just don't really get into the love thing until much later...if not at all, so seeing her question her own feelings in the midst of other priorities is quite natural. Of course, the crux of how everything nearly goes crazy is Pawci...but of course, we sort of knew Noro-chan had it in her before the youkai took control (remember she's always been cute and...well, last chapter when Miki makes that comment on her bust being close to her own in size...even if Pawci did make it even bigger...I can really sympathize with Kyouko about now), but what it did unleash was merely both sides of the equation regarding the feelings that she wished for. On one hand, it sort of allowed for her to ease into realizing she did like Kaneyama and that she did have actual interests of love and in the opposite sex. But at the same time, she likewised turned into an over-sexualized girl who used her body to her advantage like she was outdoing Miki! (and trust me, an outdone Miki is one that really shouldn't be messed with) Some could probably say that most of Noro-chan's "sexy" actions probably wouldn't be used outside giving her fanservice (great fanservice mind you), but I think it was important in that it sort of allowed Noro-chan to ease into the aspect of what could be real emotions and feelings of love with her heart and mind open to the aspect instead of just shuttering it for other things. It's tough to say that Pawci actually did awaken it, but it in a way allowed for Noro-chan to accept it better than she would have in her usual shy self, leading to the conflict near the end of her not wanting to be exorcised so that she would be able to keep the true feelings within her alongside the sexualized ones she gave to her own class. Of course, Noro-chan as a super-sexy, super-busty idol was epic in itself, not just because of who she is typically and how she ends up outdoing the master (and yeah...this is sort of what I meant before by "keep notice of the relationship of two characters"...since the relationship between Noro-chan and Miki is essentially forever changed thanks to this chapter), but in that she also uses this to the advantage of making fun of manga conventions about the relationship and usage of major and minor characters! So many manga have characters that seem great or cute or interesting that are in the background yet never really get the notice or focus of the mangaka to actually develop or gain popularity or support like those the manga typically or actually does do so. Probably one of the good things about an ensemble series like Nube is that it does allow for these characters to occasionally take the spotlight...and while you could argue that Noro-chan was getting rather notable and even had a chapter to herself prior to this one, the way where she both takes part in and ultimately mocks and punishes the main characters for her typical treatment when possessed by Pawci just makes the whole thing all the more epic. (though you do have to get some sympathy to Shizuka: she's more a typical "minor/just there" character than Noriko typically is...she'll get her day soon enough but we'll get to that in a later volume) As for the ending...well, with all the insanity and chaos, the whole scene with Noro-chan just going about her typical day after the Pawci incident and her meeting with Kaneyama with no dialogue in the final panel just sort of perfectly capsulizes the whole moral and meaning of the chapter: she had it in her all this time, but thanks to what she had been through she's more comfortable about it. Pawci did cause a lot of chaos, but it did allow Noro-chan to open up, which is probably one of the complex but brilliant aspects that make this probably one of my favorite chapters of the series. (well alongside all the posing Noro-chan scenes and Ritsuko's malfunction at the start...yeah, there really is little to say about Nube himself this time because he was mostly just some bumbling idiot trying to find and catch Pawci)