Hell Teacher Nube 161

She's one of the quietest, most unassuming members of Nube's class, staying unnoticed with nothing but books to keep her company. But a series of events may turn this glasses-wearing girl into the one who has to save the day!

#161: Many Youshin Transformations: Ayumi-chan’s Great Adventure
(TN: The title of this chapter begins with, what’s in Japanese, “Youshin Shichihenge”. First of all, the kanji that is used for the title of the chapter has two readings: “Henge” and “Henka”. “Henge” usually has a meaning of “apparition” or “monster”, while “Henka” has a meaning of “transformation”. While the former is the reading that was used, the latter seems to apply better for the chapter and for the abilities that are tied to Ayumi’s Youshin abilities. Secondly: the “shichi” in the title obviously has a translation of “seven”, but in many cases “seven” is used as a number that infers “multiple” or “many”, not merely being just “seven”. Thus since I really didn’t feel it made sense to have the title as “seven youshin transformations”, I ended up adjusting it to “many youshin transformations”. While I don’t know if what I did was right, I tried to make it make sense according to the chapter and the contents.)

47.
Caption: --5 Years Ago
Sign: Doumori Hospital
Nube: I am Nueno Meisuke; I’m a teacher egg who is studying at university so I can become a teacher. There is spiritual ability in you. Even so it’s a strong power to the extent that you can become a first-rate spiritualist too but…
Nube: If you train this power, then you can commute to school just like anyone.
“Girl”: Really!?
Nube: Yes.
Narrator: And so—

48.
Narrator: This girl now…is in Nube’s class.

49.
SFX: Ki—n ko—n ka—n ko—n
Hiroshi: Yawn—it’s over, it’s over, that borin—class is over.
Katsuya: I feel like I’ve returned alive from hell.
Kyouko: Let’s play dodgeball, let’s play!!
Nube: …My class was boring like that?
Kyouko: Ayumi-chan, can’t you play together with us occasionally?
Ayumi: Eh, y…yes. It’s because I’m poor in my motion…
Voice 1: That Ayumi, she’s bad—at socializing with.
Voice 2: That girl is quiet.
Voice 3: She’s serious and always just reading books.
SFX: Bata bata bata

50.
Nube: Ayumi…are you fine in not going out together with everyone…
Ayumi: ……
Ayumi: It’s fine…because my jutsu still isn’t perfected…if I expose my true identity, I can’t go here…
Nube: Right…
Nube: Then, today I’ll be going to the hospital together with you. Let’s continue practicing the jutsu.
Ayumi: Yes!
Sign: Doumori Hospital
Ayumi: I’ll return to my body.
SFX: Shuuu…

51.
Caption:
Youshin Jutsu: A “Youshin” clone close to an entity that is made by kneading together ki. It is different from an erethral body (Inshin) that emerges through erethral body separation: it can be seen by the eyes and be dispatched to be active as a normal human. However, proper talent and training is needed as an extremely advanced art.
(TN: As explained in a previous chapter, “Youshin Jutsu” literally translates into “Yang Soul”, with “Inshin”, also known as the “erethral body”, stands for “Yin Soul”)
Narrator: Ayumi attends school as a Youshin. (Consult Manga Vol. 10)
Ayumi: Keho keho (Cough, cough) It’s painful to return to my body…
Nube: Ayumi-kun, isn’t that you shouldn’t be going to school until you’ve perfected the jutsu…as is now, you can’t play with all your strength with your friends even if you go to their school…
Ayumi: I can’t have that.
Ayumi: I enjoy every day. Even if I don’t play together with them, I have the same class work as everyone and the same school lunch as everyone and can do regular activities. I am happy with just that.

52.
Ayumi: You’ve given me this great power, teacher. I’m extremely grateful.
Ayumi: (to herself) But…so I can live as a normal grade schooler…I can’t expose my true identity. That’s why I act quiet as like I don’t stand out as much as possible; not doing so will…
Ayumi: Ara?
Kyouko: Ah, Ayumi-chan.
Ayumi: What’s the matter?
Hiroshi: Katsuya said he saw this criminal in the picture. He’s a robbing murderer.
Katsuya: I’m serious: he stopped his car under Doumori Bridge this morning.
Voice: What will you do if you made a mistake?
Voice 2: At any rate, let’s go confirm it.
Page: Robbing Murderer

53.
Voice: Come with us too, Ayumi-chan.
Ayumi: Eh, but…
Voice: It’s easy to confirm with a large number of people.
Katsuya: Here, it’s.
Kyouko: I can’t see him well.
Hiroshi: Shh, turn this way.
Kyouko: I…it’s certainly him!
Miki: Yes--! An ample reward!!
Hiroshi: Alright, we’ll quickly notify the police!

54.
Ayumi: Then, I’ll go.
Kyouko: We ask that of you, Ayumi-chan.
Miki: Kukuku, how much will the reward be?
Hiroshi: I’ll buy—Buyo Buyo 2.
(TN: The “Buyo Buyo 2” is an obvious parody of the “Puyo Puyo” series, which we’ve talked about back in vol. 18, with “buyobuyo” being Japanese for “soft and flabby”)
Katsuya: Dummy, get FF.
(TN: While Katsuya’s “FF” comment refers probably to Final Fantasy, most likely “Final Fantasy 7” as we spoke about in the same chapter as “Puyo Puyo”)
SFX: Jari
Robber: What are all—of you doing?
SFX: Gashi
Ayumi: U—m, the phone is…
SFX: Kyaaaaa!!
Ayumi: Ah!
Robber: This brat---!!

55.
Robber: For doing your mocking behavior, you’re coming in here!
Hiroshi: Stop—let her go—
Kyouko: No~~
Ayumi: Ah…ah…ah…what do I do…I won’t be in time if I call for a person!
Ayumi: !! (to herself) That’s right!
Ayumi: This body is a Youshin…if I strongly have it in mind…
Narrator:
Youshin are beings like clay in kneading their ki…their form is created with the power of the user’s thoughts.
(TN: The narration ends up referring to Ayumi as a “jutsusha” or “art-user”, but I just shortened it here to “user”)
SFX: Shuuu…
Narrator: Thus if they practice, they can change their figure just as they think of it, even in height, age and garments…
Ayumi: Please hold on!

56.
Ayumi: I’m police; please release those children! (to herself) So…somehow it’s like I’m the main character of a witch-girl anime…I want to be an ordinary grade schooler and yet…
(TN: Ayumi’s comment here infers to her transformation ability being similar to many female leads of various shoujo anime, generally involving a witch-girl or a girl who has a unique ability to transform into another guise to accomplish something, such as “Cutey Honey” or “Magical Princess Minky Momo” or “Hime-chan’s Ribbon” as are a few examples of such)
Robber: What are you? Is that pistol a toy?
Ayumi: Eh (to herself) N…no, it’s because I don’t know well the shape of a pistol…
SFX: Henyo~~
Robber: Die—
SFX: Zuba

57.
Hiroshi: U…Uwaa~~murderer~~!!
Robber: Shut it! If you make noise, I’ll kill you all too! Quickly get into the car!
Ayumi: Th…that was surprising: if I were a flesh-and-blood human, I would have died.
SFX: Shuuu | Muku | Batan! | Buroro
Ayumi: Huh.
Ayumi: Hold it!
SFX: Ga
Ayumi: Noo~~~o
SFX: Gunyo~~~
SFX: Burorororo…
Ayumi: Haa haa haa
Robber: N?
Ayumi: Kusun…with this, it’s like I’m a youkai…I want to be an ordinary grade schooler and yet~~~

58.
SFX: Kiki—
Ayumi: Here is the harbor warehouse…if I don’t give a tip to this quickly…
Robber: Hey! Get out! If we’re surrounded by police, all—of you will be my hostages and I’ll get away.
SFX: Shuuu…
Robber: ?
Ayumi: Fue.
Robber: Get in quickly!
SFX: Don!
Kyouko: Kyaa!
Hiroshi: Stop being reckless!

59.
Robber: Don’t stand up and spit that to me!
SFX: Doga Baki
Ayumi: Cruel…if I don’t save them quickly…
SFX: Pon
Ayumi: Nube-sensei!
Nube: Are Hiroshi and the others inside…
Nube: I’ve chased after you since I was told you haven’t returned even though its night but…s**t. If I wait for the police to come, my valuable students will be half-killed!!
Ayumi: Teacher! I’ll attract the attention of the criminal. While I do, save everyone!
Nube: Eh? But…

60.
Ayumi: This power I’ve been given with great pain by teacher…It seems I have to use it not just for myself but for everyone. I can’t be silent and watch being exposed to the eyes of my friends in danger.
Ayumi: Here I go!
SFX: Shuuu…
Nube: He…hey!
Ayumi: But…what will I do to attract the caution of the criminal…? If I don’t…transform into some strong being…
Ayumi: Strength from when I’m seen…a form that stands out…
SFX: Goto
Robber: Who is that!

61.
Ayumi: Sometimes I’m a cute policewoman. Sometimes the trunk of an automobile. And again at other times, I’m a drum can. But my true identity is!
Ayumi: Reinouryoku Super Gal Youshin Kamen X: In the name of Nube, I’ll punish you!
Nube: Ayumi…
(TN: Alright, a few things to point out:
-First of all, the name given here translates into “Spiritually-Powered Super Gal Youshin Mask X”, but since she’s making fun/homaging various magical girls at this point, I kept her title in Japanese.
-Second, Ayumi does something we’ve seen in this series prior: the “…ni kawatte, oshikoki shimasu (yo)”, the “I’ll punish you in the name of…” bit that was the trademark bit of Sailor Moon. I didn’t really go into it much here since we’ve seen it before.
-On the other hand, the introductory speech that Ayumi gives is an homage to the grandmother of magical girl manga/anime: Go Nagai’s “Cutey Honey”, originally created in 1973. Before going into battle, she usually shows off to the enemy she has deceived in that story/ episode the guises she took before finally being able to take them down in a sequence akin to the first part of Ayumi’s introduction with the “sometimes I’m…” bit. In truth, though, this may not have been the only Cutey Honey homage in the chapter: Ayumi’s earlier transformation involved her “losing her clothing”, akin to Honey when she changes disguises; while the original version of the story had her usually take one of “seven different guises”, which could be the real explanation behind the “seven youshin transformations” bit in the start of the chapter.)

62.
Ayumi: Too—
SFX: Ba
Robber: Wha! What are~~you~~! A cosplayer~~!?
Nube: Everyone!
Miki: Nube!
Kyouko: Wh…who is that person!?
Hiroshi: An acquaintance!?
Nube: N…no, what can I say…
Robber: You amateur—
SFX: Zuba zuba zuba
Ayumi: Kya~~

63.
Ayumi: N…no—though I understand I can’t get hurt even if I get cut since I’m a Youshin…I really am scared!!
Robber: Stubborn woman; I’ll finish you off.
Robber: Die—
Robber: Ge!! What are you, a monster—
SFX: Gunyo—
Ayumi: A monster, you say--!? Excuse me~!! I’m an ordinary grade schooler!!
SFX: Bakii

64.
Nube: Wasn’t this just to be pulling attention…?
Hiroshi: Amazing!
Kyouko: Cool—
SFX: Wa—wa—
Ayumi: I’m sorry…I just became flared up and defeated him…
Nube: OK. You’ve done well.
Miki: Amazing, great, you’re like a heroine of justice!
Hiroshi: You’ve protected the peace of Doumori town.
Kyouko: Please give your auto—graph!
Ayumi: Fa…farewell.
Nube: Ayumi…
Ayumi: Haa haa, that was embarrassing…I was some heroine of justice…though
Ayumi: I feel…a wee-bit good…

65.
Hiroshi: She absolutely resembles her.
Kyouko: That person from yesterday was?
Katsuya: It can’t be!
Miki: But…perhaps…
Kyouko: Hey, Ayumi-chan, can’t you play dodgeball together with us?
Ayumi: Eh? Uh, well, I’m sorry. I’m poor in my motion…
Voice 1: They’re different after all. Ayumi-chan is a quiet, humble girl.
SFX: Gaya gaya gaya
Voice 2: That’s right. We were crude. Whoever it was, we made a mistake.
Voice 3: What’s the meaning of this, hey!!
Narrator: This girl is…even now living as an ordinary grade schooler in peace.

TN: This is a chapter I really think I wanted to like from how it was built up and done. I really like Ayumi, as I mentioned during her first appearance, and the way she is used here was a lot of fun, sort of parodying a lot of heroine tales of both the east and west and making her into a great force of good protecting the "usual suspects of the class". The way that she manipulates her Youshin ability was always clever to allow for her to try and be "normal" even with her disability (which we'll never really know how or why she has it) and I did really love her transformations and the way she built up to the big "hero moment" near the end while crying out that she just wants to be normal. The biggest problem that sort of almost breaks the chapter, though, isn't Ayumi but more the scenario by which she's able to show off her Youshin power. Somehow the idea that a crook would be found and he would just be tracked down and attempted to be taken down by Hiroshi and the others just feels so "out of nowhere" considering what we've seen. Sure spiritual matters is one thing, but to have them go after a real criminal just felt rather abrupt and out of nowhere for this series. Sometimes I don't mind when real problems end up getting tied to the youkai situations (see some of the earlier ones where it happened), but here it was just more or less a means to drive the plot and allow for Ayumi to show off. I loved that it did allow for Ayumi to show off, but it did feel so roundabout that it nearly threw off the chapter and prevented it from feeling like a regular Nube chapter. But hey, I like Ayumi and what she does here so I will sort of let it slide this time...

Edit: a bizarre coincidence I just have to bring up thanks to some stuff I've been doing: another "Ayumi Kinoshita" actually did emerge and performed hero duties in the real world several years after this chapter...of course in that case, she was Dekayellow on "Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger" and had a few other anime roles as well including in "Tsubasa - Resevoir Chronicle" and "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds"...so I guess Ayumi became a hero after all...well inspired/sort of became one. (now all of a sudden I see her with Makoto...never mind)