Hell Teacher Nube 215

Once, Nube was in love with a human female teacher, until a yukionna returned to his life and changed everything. But though matters seem resolved, the teacher still has some unresolved issued about what she feels...

#215: The Counterattacking Ritsuko-sensei!!

51.
Ritsuko: You can't go. Nueno-sensei...I...you...
Nube: ...Ritsuko-sensei...th...thank you.
Nube: But...I like Yukime. I'll save her even in exchange of my life...
Narrator: --For Ritsuko-sensei and Nube, that was the final separation...however...
(TN: For the most part outside some movement of words, it was similar to what happened in #110...)

52.
(Title page...so why is that yukionna so scared about what's happening here...I mean, they were supposed to be the main couple until she came along so...)

53.
Narrator: Doumori Elementary's Winter Ski School: this year, they've come to the mountains of Shinshuu, which also serves as a hot springs trip.
(TN: Shinshuu refers to the old Japanese province now known as Nagano prefecture. Coincidentally (or not), this was the same exact period in February, 1998 as the Winter Olympic games which were being held in Nagano...so my guess is that this [and the next couple] of chapters are both a major storyline...and just to bring Nagano into focus with the Olympics there)
SFX: Zaza--
Hiroshi: Hyo---Nube is cool---!
Katsuya: This year he's snowboarding?
(TN: Another bizarre [but not really] coincidence about this: the Nagano Olympics were the very first Olympics to have competitive snowboarding)
Kyouko: It's because that teacher is good with "just" his reflexes.
Miki: But in a dress shirt?
(TN: The term used by Miki wasn't "dress shirt" but "Y-shirt", which is based on the collar and button construction of the shirt)

54.
Ritsuko: ...Nueno-sensei...
Board: Itai Opthamology
SFX: Zuza----
Ritsuko: ...
Hiroshi: What's with that sliding. (Boo boo)
Kyouko: Quit that, embarrasment of the school!
Nube: Really? It did slide well but
Nube: Well, shall I be skiing? (Here we go)
Caption: Sotoba (It's from a gravesite)
(TN: A "sotoba" is a wooden grave marker usually erected during a funeral to provide informationof who is buried in a certain location)
Voices: Can't you quit this? You're cursed!

55.
Miki: Properly buy some ski supplies!
Hiroshi: You're embarrasing!
Kyouko: You're a poor man! Don't be by our side!
Nube: Hey hey~~~
Hiroshi: Uwa~~~
Kyouko: A urinal~~you're kidding~~
SFX: Zazaza~~~
Students: Wa--kya--hi--
Ritsuko: Nueno-sensei...you genuinly bring your heart to your students to this extent. You ultimately are...
Sign: Minshuku Shinshuu
(TN: As a reminder, a "minshuku" is a small-scale ryoukan, a lodging that usually has much simpler food and found in areas which are so small that they can't afford to have a larger lodging within it)
Ishikawa: Well--leading these students is tiring--
Principal: How--about it, Nueno-kun, a glass of this. You can give the beer charge later but
Nube: Stingy.

56.
Principal: By the way, your woman didn't come with this time. Hey, it's that yukionna called Yukime.
Nube: Naturally, because this is a school function.
Nube: If I brought her with to a snowy mountain like this, she'd be powered up because she's a yukionna and would end up freezing me with just looking at other ski girls.
Ritsuko: ...
Ishikawa: N? The students are noisy. (And yet it's past lights-out time)
SFX: Wa--wa--
Nube: I'll look a bit at it.
Nube: Hey!
SFX: Gara
Students Wa--wa--wa--

57.
Nube: Sleep quietly. (Haa haa...)
Nube: I'm released at last. Shall I go to the bath?
Hiroshi: Let's go too.
Miki: Let's scare him in the bath.
Nube: Hyo--this is a good hot spring.
Nube: With this, if I had a pretty girl and hot sake, then it would be the greatest but
SFX: Basha basha
Voice: Nueno-sensei
Nube: Yes yes.

58.
Nube: !!
SFX: Zabu---n
Nube: Did...did you come in, Ritsuko-sensei!!
SFX: Saba
Ritsuko: Ye...yes...
Hiroshi: Hey, look.
Miki: This seems to have become interesting.
Ritsuko: U...um...Nueno-sensei, it's been an extremely long time the two of us have talked like this.
Nube: Ri...right.
Nube: ...
Ritsuko: ...
Ritsuko: Nueno-sensei, I...still like

59.
Ritsuko: You.
SFX: Buhaa
Nube: N...no, that's what it is, um, uh...are you saying this wastefully...I'm terribly grateful but...I have, um...
SFX: Ata futa ota jita
Ritsuko: I understand...you've already earnestly decided on Yukime-san. I...even so, I've waited...to return your feelings. Though you think I'm an insistant woman...it's because...I like you, teacher.
Nube: Ritsuko-sensei...
Nube: I'm sorry, Ritsuko-sensei! I should have said this much sooner but...

60.
Nube: Ritsuko-sensei, you...are the splitting image of my honorable Minako-sensei, who I admired when I was young.
(TN: Nube refers to Minako-sensei as "honorable" because the title he refers to her as is "onshi", which is "honorable teacher")
Nube: That woman lost her life for me...even now, where she's become just a soul, she assists in sealing the Oni within the Oni no Te. Generaly speaking, she was kind and brave...and a magnificent person.
Nube: Thinking of it now, I...
Caption: Taken at first site
(TN: The term used for the caption is "hitomebore", which is a less-strong version of "love at first sight", better translated as "taken at first sight")
Nube: Ritsuko-sensei, in you...I may have seen the shadow of Minako-sensei.
Nube: --But I've realized that you...and Minako-sensei...

61.
Nube: !?
SFX: Boro boro boro
Ritsuko: You're mean!
SFX: Zaba
Nube: No wa~~
Miki: A~~ww, he made her cry again. He's a genius at making women cry~~~that man.
Nube: Please hold on, Ritsuko-sensei.
Kyouko: He doesnt understand at all a woman's heart.
Nube: Please hold on! No, what I intended was...
SFX: Dota bata
Principal: Hey, what's the mat--ter, Ritsuko-sensei?
Ritsuko: Uwaaa~~~h

62.
Nube: Pl...please wait, Ritsuko-sensei! It's dangerous if you come to get lost in the snowy mountains.
Ritsuko: In short, you made those motions because of my splitting image.
Nube: Yes, ah, no...well
Ritsuko: Biee~~~
Caption: Acceleration!
Nube: Aah, wait...
Ritsuko: Ah
SFX: Zuru
Sign: Danger!! A cliff
Nube: !!
Nube: Ritsuko-sensei
SFX: Zaza---
SFX: Dosaa

63.
Ritsuko: Owow...n
Nube: !
Sign: Doumafuu
(TN: I couldn''t find a real usage of this, but it literally translates into "Cave Demon Seal")
Ritsuko: What's wrong...?
Nube: This pattern...it can't be...
Nube: The period is Sengoku Period, 1500 AD...hm~~m, I can't read the detailed explanation.
Nube: Inside it becomes a cave...there are stairs.
SFX: Giiii...

64.
Nube: ...It's extremely deep...it seems to continue to the bottom of the earth...it can't be...I didn't think it would be in this place but
Ritsuko: What?
Nube: A ritual impliment for suppressing the power of the Oni...the "Gyokirin".
Nube: If I had it, then I could seal the Oni with just my power alone...in short...I could release the soul of Minako-sensei from the Oni no Te.
Ritsuko: Eh!?

65.
Nube: Mu...it's suddenly become spacious...
Ritsuko: Hi...teacher!!
SFX: Ooooooh... | Picha picha...

66.
Ritsuko: Is...is that the Gyokirin...?
Nube: It's a tad diffferent in form from those I've seen up to now but...is this the original? But that youkai is...
Voice 1: He...hey, don't push.
Voice 2: Gya! We're slipping!
SFX: Dotabata
Nube: ?
Nube: Ge!
SFX: Goro goro (Thunder thunder)
SFX: Dongara Dosha---n
Nube: You...you all--I put my foot down to sleep quietly---but---!
Hiroshi: So...sorry.
Kyouko: It's...no good when you shout at us...
Ritsuko: Kyaaa!
SFX: Shaa---
Nube: No! We've been noticed...

67.
SFX: Guaaa~~~
Nube: Namu Daiji Daihi Kyuugu Kyuunan!
Nube: Ha!
SFX: Zubaa

68.
SFX: Dogaa | Baki baki baki baki
Hiroshi: You did it! Nube!
Miki: It was weak, merely show.
Nube: ...
SFX: Shuuu | Para para...
Nube: This Gyokirin...why was it here? What exactly was that youkai...
Hiroshi: What, is that the fake that was at Doumori Temple? It's simple...and it's color is filthy
Kyouko: But indeed it's old and feels real.
Nube: Seems so...at any rate, I can only test it and see. Since I've obtained it at great pains.

69.
Ritsuko: I too...want to see Nueno-sensei's honorable teacher that's the splitting image of me...
Nube: Ye...yes.
Nube: Minako-sensei...I've kept you waiting. Finally...the time were I could save you has...
SFX: Kachi

70.
SFX: Kaaaa | Dokun...dokun...
Nube: Amazing...I understand that the Oni's power is going to be sealed with this strong spiritual power.
SFX: Bari bari bari bari
Ritsuko: Hi
Nube: Ku
SFX: Shuuu... | Pari...pari...
Nube: I did it. I can control...the Oni no Te!

71.
Nube: Well, Minako-sensei, enough. You're free. Please come out!
Ritsuko: You're kidding...she's truly exactly like me...

72.
MINAKO-SENSEI
Hair - Chrome Orange (Bright Orange); Cadmium Orange (Strong Orange)
Ribbon - Antwerp Blue (Strong Blue)
Skirt - Burnt Umber (Strong Light Brown)

TN: I really don't want to get into the cliffhanger regarding Minako-sensei's release and what this means mostly because the arc is somewhat crux around her and what happens next. It is peculiar and interesting that Ritsuko-sensei finally meets her "doppelganger" though, but there's a lot more in store for those two coming up, even with Nube finally with a working Gyokirin to seal the Oni no Te on his own.

Therefore, I sort of need to concentrate on the main purpose of this chapter (aside from advertising the Nagano Games running at that very moment): the unresolved feelings and interaction between Nube and Ritsuko-sensei. Prior to this chapter, it really had been a long time since the two of them were alone together...considering the last time they nearly were, Yukime decided to get all bitchy and nearly freeze all the men in Doumori as revenge. (yeesh I hated that sub-plot involving her revival) They sort of nearly did in Vol. 14, but that was more Ritsuko-sensei seeming to come to terms with the whole relationship and deal with finally overcoming a lot of her supernatural fears she had up to that point. (well that and Nube was mostly sick so she really had no choice) This chapter sort of does feel like a further turning point in Nube finally confirming to himself and us why he may have been interested in Ritsuko-sensei possibly...but somehow the whole thing feels a tad creepy and strange based on what happened afterwards. The first problem in my head is simply this: was Ritsuko-sensei always going to have this connection with Minako-sensei in the original story concept? Was the plan always going to have Minako-sensei be an orange-haired version of Ritsuko-sensei and thus have Nube "fall for her" because of that, whether it be reincarnation or just trying to cope? If it was...it suddenly makes the whole relationship all the more creepy. I get Nube wanting to respect and care for his teacher, but to find the first woman who looks like her in nearly every way and go out with her...let alone the whole implication of whether or not Nube wanted Minako-sensei in that way even in his youth after the whole chapter about complexes a few back! It sort of makes the whole thing more disturbing than interesting if that was the original plan from the start: sure Ritsuko is nothing like Minako, (outside both having long hair and huge busts) but you have to worry about Nube if he is so obsessed with his teacher that he falls for the first woman that looks like her. And then aside from that thought there is this: if the plan involved this Ritsuko/Minako connection was always there, was this going to proceed as the explanation and the whole relationship before the yukionna got involved? Remember: Yukime was never part of the original plan for the series; she was introduced as a one-shot character, got good feedback from the writers and the readers, then slowly made her way into the primary female after somewhat of a fight with Ritsuko. The addition of Yukime makes me feel somehow that perhaps the concept of what could have been was amazingly avoided...but what if Yukime wasn't around? What if Yukime just had one appearance (and maybe a cameo as part of the "plethora of youkai") and Ritsuko remained the main female of the series? How would this whole concept of Nube and Ritsuko have ended up? Would Minako-sensei still matter as part of the equation as Nube finally revealed this time around? Could things have somehow gone in a completely different direction or moved in a different way than it ended up doing due to the arrival and rising stardom of that yukionna? Well aside from luckily her not showing up and freezing everyone around them (though knowing Yukime she probably is going to screw it up regardless seeing it's a snowy mountain with just the two of them...) it does make one wonder and question what could have been...or if this arc goes the way it has so far, what could be. Ritsuko isn't out of the equation and with Minako around, I somehow think this is just going to get weirder before it gets better.