Bakuman 123

[Scanlation with this translation reserved for MRI scans]
[haha... I wish I had time to actually check this over myself, but there were severe time constraints.]

Bakuman
Chapter 123
Pizza and Tea


p.01
Nakai: “I’m starting to admire you” is purely just admiring.
You won’t “like” me, right?
SFX: munch x2 [supposed to be less crunchy and more... sticky. Chew? :/]
AssistF: Ahaha, Nakai-san, you’re so funny. Our ages are far enough apart to be parent and child. [You’re old enough to be my father. (but sounds too scathing)]

AssistM: At any rate, your skills are amazing. We should have had you in charge of the 1st chapter, too.


The air of a veteran...!?
It [ital]was[/ital] only two days ago when Nanami-kun called me.
Well, now that I'm here, the manuscripts for the second chapter onwards will get much better.
SFX: munch munch
Page 123: Pizza and Tea

Nakai-san, you're so dependable~~
Fufu...
SFX: munch x2

Alright, I’ll be looking forward to working from now on.
Whoa, we stayed for too long even though we finished the first chapter. It’s ‘cause you're so funny, Nakai-san.

......


p.02
Box: Two days ago

Sign: Nakai

Mom: You, how long are you gonna stay like that without working or getting married?
SFX: [uhhh, crisp?]
SFX: [uhhh, crumble?]

Nakai: Shut uuup.
Find someone for a miai, then.

Mom: Who’d come to marry with a man who don’t even work? [yes, I left it with bad grammer]
Nakai: I said shut uuup!
I’m thinking of my future in my own way!
Mom: Lies!

Nakai: Jeez, I can’t deal with this!

Mom: You going to drink again? You don’t even got any money!

Nakai: Fuck!

Nakai: Hey pops, gimme a whole bottle!


p.03
Nakai: It’s over for me~~ I wanna die~~
Pops: Taku-chan, leave it at that... you’re going to start rampaging next...
Nakai: Shut up~~ pops...

SFX: Vrrr
Nakai: Who’s that, the old hag? [refers to mom. He says “my/my house’s hag]

SFX: beep
Phone: Is this Nakai-sensei!?
Nakai: Hm?
Phone: You’re Takurou Nakai-sensei who had “hideout door” serialized in “Jump,” right!?
Nakai: Yeah... what’s it to you?

Phone: Whoaaaa, I’m touched!! Oh, nice to meet you. I’m Tooru Nanamine, a fledgling mangaka who will be serialized in the next “Jump”
Nakai: Jump............

Phone: The city does suite you, indeed! I believe you should work hard in Tokyo and enjoy the city life
As a chief assistant while living in the large apartment I rented in Daikanyama
Nakai: Chief...

Phone: I’m doing this in a bit of an unusual way. We’re set up so 14 assistants take turns and come in [to work]
I was wondering if we could borrow your strength, Nakai-sensei
Nakai: M...my strength? .........
Phone: Yes! I need someone with enough skill and recognition to take charge of this large group of 14. I tried searching all over, but I believe you are the only one.
I’ve hired the other 14 with cheap wages, but I will give you special treatment befitting the chief
Nakai: Special treatment? ............ A large apartment in Daikanyama? ............
Phone: Yes.

Nakai: .........


p.04
Phone: They even say that Niidzuma-sensei is where he is today because of you, Nakai-sensei [change to Niizuma if you want]
It’s a complete waste for a person such as yourself to be separated from the front line now!
Nakai: ............You said 14 assistants, but are there any women in there?

Phone: Yes, 5 of them are women
Nakai: !

Nakai: Not bad at all

SFX: knock knock

Nanamine: Is it comfortable?
Nakai: ......... Can I really use all of this other than your room?

Nanamine: Of course! On the contrary, I’d rather you be here on nights where there’s no one else. Bring some friends or a girlfriend over and have fun.
Rent, energy bills, food expenses, I’ll handle them all. If you’re unsatisfied with your assistant pay, I could even increase that...
Nakai: .........

Nanamine: It will definitely become a popular series that spans a long time.
However, I just have one condition for you, Nakai-san.
Nakai: !

Nanamine: Kou Aoki’s new series that starts one issue earlier, “Kami-sama ga kureta...” [God gave me...]
And Ashirogimuto’s “PCP”— do a job that won’t lose to these.


p.05
Kou Aoki... Ashirogimuto...

Nakai: Fu... [heh] they can’t match up to me.

Nanamine: Oh, that’s true, isn’t it
Nakai: They’re both authors I helped out. I drew for Kou Aoki’s work and helped Ashirogimuto out with all sorts of things when I was an assistant.

Nanamine: As expected of you, sensei... I apologize for being rude.
It’s not an exaggeration to say you have the skills to match up to any serialized author.

Nakai: ......... And... that woman... I have a debt to settle with that Kou Aoki.........

Nanamine: !......... That’s great.

Nanamine: Please tell me if there’s any assistant you don’t like. I’ll fire them right away. Please tell them to do it in any way it’ll be easier for you.
Nakai: Then for now is it okay to order pizza again?

Nanamine: Feel free

So that’s the reason for how good this treatment is. Well, if he himself says it’s okay, it should...............

Nanamine: I thought the pizza delivery job was over, but now it’s appeasing this pizza-loving old man............ [ossan (ojisan) not quite old man >.>]


p.06
Sign: Aoki

SFX: tap
Aoki: Okay, chapter 1 is finished.
Thanks for your hard work.

Girls: Thank you~~
Mutter: We’re done~!!

Girl: Hiramaru-san, is helping with this really all you’re doing?
Hiramaru: I want to be stay here, but~

Girl2: Please stay~~ it’s more fun if you do
Girl: Right~~?

Hiramaru: Huh?
Really?
Hiramaru: Maybe I should work here~~

Aoki: Hiramaru-san, oh no you can’t~
I had you come since we just didn’t have enough people.
We’ve already found someone else, so please work hard on getting your work serialized

It’s no good~~
Hiramaru: Oh... Sure

Girl: All right, we’ll be excusing ourselves now
Girl2: You two can take your time here~~


p.07
Aoki: Huh, oh no, not both of you...
Girls: Wow, sensei’s blushing, so cute

Aoki: You’ll be going home soon too, right, Hiramaru-san?

Hiramaru: No, if I am allowed, I shall stay for even one second longer

Aoki: Geez~~ Hiramaru-san

Girls: Sensei’s blushing even harder
“Geez”, she says

Girls: We’re tired, so we’ll be going home~ [I twisted this around because of the pun >.>]
Please get even more “tired”, senseis~~
Aoki: Oh... Wai...
Hiramaru: What are you guys saying~~

SFX: shut

Aoki: ......

Hiramaru: ......

Aoki: Perhaps just tea
Hiramaru: Yes

Hiramaru: So then aren’t we just tea friends? .........
Hiramaru: I think I’ll be able to write a good manga.........
Aoki: ?


p.08
Box: October 9 Thursday

Ed: Yeah
The third chapter of this arc is funny
It’s a good idea to pit this against the second chapter of [Yuuigi na Gakuen...] [meaningful school].
Shuujin: We even said so much to Nanamine-kun

Ed: Nanamine-kun, too, but Aoki-kun’s new series is unexpectedly interesting [funny]
Here’s issue 44 for release on Monday
Guys: Thank you

Shuujin: Umm...... that new series and the first chapter of our arc are together
Saikou: Uh huh [yup]

Bubble: What’re you doing to my master?
Bubble 2: I’m telling you to switch with me [possibly “switch him with me”, the Japanese language is very vague]
Saikou?: It’s so refreshing~~
Shuujin?: It’s not just that. There’s also a battle element in it. Aoki-san’s works are becoming more and more shounen...
Bubble 3: Hey
Bubble 4: Shut [cut off]

Shuujin: It’s much better than the oneshot...
We’re saved by how although the setting’s a bit similar, the literary [manga] style isn’t............
Saikou: Yeah. Nanamine-kun’s the one who’s overlapping more [with us/ours]......
How will it go next week... and the week after...... what plan Nanamine-kun will use...


p.09
Nanamine: Whoa
Nanamine: Like I thought, this is awesome! With this, I shouldn’t even chip in at all

Bubble: The third floor—
Bubble 2: Wow

Nakai: Please leave it to me

Nanamine: I will, then

AssistF: Nakai-san, may I have a moment?
Nakai: Hm? What? What do you need help on?

AssistF: It’s right here. There’s no borderline between the tone and inking
Nakai: Yeah, in this case, put the ink and gradient tone together so it looks good...... heck, I’ll just do this for you

AssistF: Thank you~

AssistM: Excuse me Nakai-san,
Where Nanamine-sensei marked the inking are unclear here, too
Nakai: Then think about how much you should ink it on your own and make a draft and bring it to me!
Mutter: Tch...

AssistM: .........
AssistM: That fatty, there’s clearly a difference in how he treats guys and girls
AssistM: It’d be better if it was between guys and girls. His attitude’s completely different between cute girls and those who aren’t
AssistM: He’s the worst...... [Despicable]


p.10
Sign: Nanamine

Nanamine: Nakai’s doing a better job than I thought
Nanamine: Chapter 2 will be done soon as well, but the level of the manuscript will be greatly higher [notably upgraded/of a significantly higher level]
SFX: tap tap

SuGi: Whoa, awesome
Ashi-K: Nakai-san is epic after all
LL: The background’s definite [sure to be solid, something like that >.>], as an assistant he’s super first class [top notch?]
boss: But his people suck~ regrettable [so close/how close/what a waste]
take: How about a meeting for the fourth chapter
right: One way is to use the 1st chapter’s survey in the 4th chapter to
nobuo: Especially the result of the question on the back of the survey

Noob: The second chapter’s done with this, right?
Nakai: Uh huh [Yup], sure. Good work

Noob: Thanks for your work.........
Nakai: Now, maybe I'll order some pizza

Nakai: For toppings, I'll have corn, bacon, and shrimp, and then...

Nakai: .........
Nakai: Oh, he was saying it was 4860 yen

Nakai: Tch, [Dang,] not enough

SFX: knock knock

Nakai: What,
Is he not here?


p.11
Nanamine: Yes, the question, “what developments do you desire from now on?” on the survey; I think it’s okay to leave just this numbered.
Nanamine: Please keep the ideas coming, including for future developments.

Nakai: What’s he doing?

Nakai: !

zebu3: Yes, we should go to chapter 10 while showing characters
nobuo: I don’t think we have to devote another chapter to the conclusion
boss: That’s the thing we should determine after the survey results
e231: At any rate, it was decided that we’ll be resolving chapter 1 until chapter 10
mo: Depending on the idea for “that” which this will revolve around, it doesn’t have to be the 1st chapter’s conclusion
take: I second that. First, who’s idea for “that” to use
pai: Wait, I got another idea we might be able to use
*uGi: oh, say it, pai-san

Nakai: .........
He’s consulting with others.........
He’s getting others to come up with ideas for the manga...

Nakai: Ah

Nanamine: Y... you scared me.
Please give a knock, at least.........
Nakai: No, but I did......... I didn’t have enough money for the pizza

Nanamine: Pizza again.........
Nanamine: Here


p.12

Nanamine: What’s wrong?

Nakai: ......
Nanamine: ......

Nanamine: ..................Well, if you’ve seen this much...
I’ll only tell you, Nakai-san.
Nanamine: I’m making my work even more enjoyable by having dozens of people come up with ideas like this. There’s no mistake with this

[same text as earlier]

No, this is wrong...
Everyone working one-on-one and undergoing hardships [suffer doesn’t fit right] with their editor...
Isn’t manga something you make that way...?


p.13
SFX: ding dong
Nanamine: It seems the pizza’s here

Nakai: Yeah... the way manga’s made has changed~
No, you’re moving forward, Nanamine-kun

Nanamine: Right?

Nakai: ......

Nakai: .........
Please don’t give up your dreams
Thank you for “hideout door”
It’s not ending like this, is it?

Nakai: .........


p.14
Box: October 16 Sunday

Shuujin: Yes, I understand, thank you very much

Shuujin: Real thing for “Kami-sama ga kureta...” [God gave me] chapter 1 is 1st place,
“PCP” is 4th
Kaya: Aoki-san’s amazing! Her oneshot was in 2nd for the Love Fest, right~~? I have to call and congratulate her.
Saikou: If the 1st chapter of this “PCP” arc is in 4th then we can definitely do it with the 3rd chapter in two weeks!

Shuujin: Yeah. First there’s how many votes the 1st chapter of “Yuuigi~” [meaningful] does next week, but
Box: Chapter 2
Box: Chapter 3
Issue 46
Saikou: The real contest [match/battle (but kinda overlaps with battle manga)] is issue 46 which the 2nd chapter of “Yuuigi~” [meaningful] and the 3rd chapter of our arc are on.

Kaya: The 1st chapter of “Yuuigi~” [meaningful] seems like it’ll take 1st place.........
It seemed pretty good when I read the preview we got yesterday............

Shuujin: Well, it’ll probably get 1st. It won’t be worth it [There’s no competition] if it doesn’t
Saikou: Well, it [ital]was[/ital] enjoyable

Kaya: What’s with the “well”?

Saikou: Hattori-san said it too, but there’s too many ideas in it and I felt it was getting a little too cluttered
Shuujin: !.........It’s true I feel like it doesn’t come together nicely......
Kaya: Ohh~


p.15
Box: October 20 Tuesday Issue 45 early results

Jump
Square
Jump [mostly cut off]

Ed: Huh? “Yuuigi~” [meaningful] is in 2nd
The oneshot “Kinchou to sore ni~” [nervousness and (not too sure about this, since I dunno what the continuation’s like, please refer to previous chapters probably >.<)] was in 1st place, so I thought it would definitely get 1st
Kosugi: ......

Kosugi: Nanamine-kun has his manuscript for the 3rd chapter finished so I'll go get it [pick it up]

Ed: ?
Wh...why did Kosugi suddenly brighten up even though it was in 2nd, when he was gloomy the whole time?

Hattori: 2nd is amazing

Ed: Well, yeah, but—

Sign: Nanamine

Kosugi: 2nd place in early results
Nanamine: 2nd!?


p.16
Kosugi: There’s quite a gap with the 1st place.
There’s no way it’ll get in 1st in the real thing. In fact, it could be 3rd or lower.

Nanamine: .........

Nanamine: Wasn’t “Kami-sama ga kureta” [God gave me] was in 1st in both the early results and real thing?
Kosugi: That’s right.

Why...
That sucky manga was in 1st... and I’m in 2nd...
The readers are way too bad at judging manga

Kosugi: You stuffed too many of the 50 people’s ideas
Because of that the story’s all over the place [a mess]
Nanamine: .........

Kosugi: It’s not too late, even now. Could you please let me handle the final decisions on the name?
I had thought the 1st chapter was completely overstuffed.

Nanamine: .........

Nanamine: What are you getting carried away for?


p.17
Nanamine: You only think there were too many ideas because you knew my ways

Nanamine: Looking at it another way, that’s the only thing you can point out!
It’s 2nd place, that’s a good rank, no? Isn’t it strange to thing an editor would talk about that as if it was a failure?

Nanamine: It wasn’t in 1st because
It’s level was too high and the readers couldn’t understand it!

! .........Wh...what is he...

Nanamine: The people I work with [he uses nakama] who come up with ideas for me have perused [poured over/read through a lot of] manga
It’s not limited to “Jump”: from works said to be enjoyable, from those aimed at children, to seinen, and even shoujo!
This chapter 1 was well-received by people who even write their reviews on the internet!


p.18
Nanamine: If you think about it, the average age of my helpers [again, nakama] is way higher than “Jump” readership. It was too difficult. [complicated/complex] It was also disputative.
Something that appeals to the senses more simply... Yes, show more with art.
Nanamine: The art quality will be higher for the 2nd chapter onwards. Then just have to lower it to the low level of the average Joe.

Kosugi: Lower the level.........?

Kosugi: Y...you’re wrong
Kosugi: Don’t blame you not doing well on the readers, the fault is in your way of doing...

Nanamine: Please take the manuscript and go back, as the 51st person you’re giving your opinions too much

Nanamine: Kosugi-san, you agreed with me as well to try it my way...

Kosugi: .........

SFX: shut..

p.19
Nanamine: .........

Nanamine: It’s 1st place on the early results.

SFX: tap tap

nobu: There it is~
take20: Whoa~
boss: yay
jj: Naturally, since the oneshot was in 1st place.
emo: It feels great no matter how many times we get it
sara: Our way was not mistaken
SUGI: Let’s all work together and speed through!
nobuo: Don’t rush it... the contest [match/battle] starts from the 2nd chapter
tama: We have real survey before all that, too

Box: Sunday
Shuujin: Real thing, “Yuuigi~” [meaningful] chapter 1... 2nd place...
“PCP,” 2nd chapter of the arc... 4th.
Kaya: With this, “PCP” will go a lot higher next week like we want, right?
Saikou: I [ital]do[/ital] think it’ll be fine......

Miyoshi: Huh? What? You [ital]think[/ital] so?............ [What do you mean, think?]

Saikou: I was surprised when I saw the preview I got yesterday.
The quality of the art for the 2nd chapter of “Yuuigi~” [meaningful] suddenly got better...

Shuujin: That’s right, but why all of a sudden......... it’s like something else entirely.
Miyoshi: Whaa......

wolf: 1st place in the real thing, after all
u-pan: I suppose it really was obvious
nobu: With a 100 vote gap, indisputably the best
kenchan: Jump is no big deal after all
boss: We’re just awesome
take: We can’t relax just because chapter 1 was in 1st place
It’s okay...

The art will be considerably better starting from the 2nd chapter
I also dropped the story to the level of the readers from the 4th...
I’ll shoot “PCP” down with this!
On to the battle with chapter 2!!