Re:BIRTH－The Lunatic Taker－ 18

[Scanlation with this translation reserved for Muda]

Re:BIRTH
Chapter 18
Nikaidou Ran


p.01
Box: Saint Rosetta Girls’ School

Girl: Look, look! Over there!
Girl: !


p.02-03
Girl: It’s the third year, Nikaidou-senpai.
The strongest Taker, Nikaidou Ran, appears——!!
Chapter 18: Nikaidou Ran

Ran: Et toi, alors, qu’est-ce que tu fais dans la vie, maintenant?
Ran: Th-then... w-what... do... you... do for... a l-living... now?
Ran: Bien, tu vois, je travaille. Je suis secré taire à l’institut francais.

Ran: W-well, th-this... job... as y-you can... see. I-I’m... a s-secretary... of th-the French Ins...titute.


p.04
Teacher: P-perfect. You’re magnificent as usual.

Girl: That wasn’t at a level you can get to through studying. It’s completely like it’s her native tongue.
It’s really mysterious... even though she stutters in Japanese...
Girl: She was also at the top of the grade in the last all-subject test.

Girl: That’s the lady of the leading Japanese corporation for you.
Girl: She lives in a different world from us. I wonder what she usually spends her time doing.


p.05

Audience: The painful feeling in her fingers that resonates from the strings...
Audience: It’s almost as if we’re being shown her passionate interior itself.

Audience: There’s no doubt she’ll win this time as well.
Audience: She’s one of the great talents who will support the artistic world in Japan from now on, to say the least.


p.06

Maid: The president is home.

Gramps: You’re back, Ran?


p.07
Ran: I...

Ran: I-m... h-home... g-grand...father.

Gramps: I heard about you winning the music competition. Even though it may simply be a hobby...
Gramps: Since you’ve won, I might as well praise you.

Gramps: You are an individual befitting our Nikaidou family.
You must always be at the top in every aspect...
Gramps: You are a person who won’t be crushed by that kind of destiny.

Gramps: Yes, unlike that Kyouji...


p.08
Gramps: I have high expectations of you.
Gramps: Keep up that diligence.


p.09

Ran! Nii-san’s going to do his best!
I’ll meet Grandfather’s expectations for sure!

Onii-sama!!
Onii-sama!!

Onii-samaaaa!!!!


p.10
Onii...
Sama...


p.11
[none]


p.12
Boy: Geez... It started raining so suddenly...!

Boy: !

Boy: What’s up... with you...?


p.13
Boy: You’re just sitting there again?
Boy: And you’re drenched.

Boy: Why didn’t you go in?
My little sisters should have been here...

Ran: B-because... i-it seemed like... it was... b-before you got... home.
Kenta: You’re polite about the weirdest things, really...

Sis1: It’s nii-chan~
Sis2: Kenta nii-chan~!!
Kenta: Have you guys been behaving?

Sis1: Oh, it’s Ran-chan.
Sis2: You were here too, Ran?


p.14
Kenta: What’re you scowling for? I bought this properly with money I worked for. Don’t worry!

Kenta: Anyway, come in. I’m making hot pot. Doesn’t it taste better when you eat in a larger group~?


p.15
Ayaka: I think the same as before. Joining Life Inc. is the most rational and safest method to survive.

Reiji: You’re saying a company that does business with life points, which are equivalent to people’s lives... is safe?
It’s not strange to think that they must be plotting something bad, right?

Ayaka: In any case, I intend to follow you if you deny them...

Ayaka: But you’ll keep the promise, won’t you?
Reiji: Promise?

Ayaka: If you don’t find some kind of safety measure, whether it be an organization or whatever...


p.16
Ayaka: We were going to have Natsuhi-chan leave, right?

Reiji: Nee-san... there’s no need to go that far...
Ayaka: It’s not like I’m saying this out of contempt.

Ayaka: I won’t oppose accepting Natsuhi,
Ayaka [top left]: But must ensure our safety for that.
Ayaka: Isn’t it very commonsensical?
Reiji: ......

Reiji...


p.17

That’s right. It shouldn’t even have to be mentioned...
Even though it’s a problem that their lives depend on... I’m causing a lot of trouble for them...

If, by me staying here...
There’s an irrevocable result for Reiji...

Nooo!!
I don’t want to leave this place...!!


p.18
I never want to go to a place like that...!!
Where I don’t even have a mom!

It’s okay. You’re just going for a little bit, right?
If you want to return, you can come back whenever you want, Natsuhi.

Really...? Is it really okay if I come back?
Will you wait for me, Reiji?

I’m okay at any time,
Since I’ll always be waiting here in Japan.


p.19

Unfortunately, there’s... no possibility for your father to regain consciousness.
However, even though he’s in a brain dead state... he certainly is alive...

Maintaining that... will be very costly.
We need you to make a decision... since medical costs are high here in America.

I hear you’re going to Japan? And leaving Frank behind?
What is it? Are you planning to force the living corpse on us, your relatives, just because he’s not your biological father?

You’re going to Japan in order to earn money for the hospital bills? Hah, what an excuse!
That’s why I didn’t like you from the beginning! You little girl of that Asian...!!

That’s right! I’m running!! So what!!?
This country! And you people!! ...And that father, I’m sick of it all!!
W-what are you saying...!?
You really are like a demon...!


p.20
You’re going back to a country you’ve been away from for 10 years!?
What can you do there when you don’t have anywhere to return to!? Hmm?

I do...

I also...!!
Have a place... to return to...!!


p.21
Reiji: Natsuhi, do you have a second?
Natsuhi: ?

Reiji: I’m sorry, we were kind of talking just by ourselves... don’t take too much offense...
Natsuhi: ......

Natsuhi: Reiji, it’s all right now.
......!?
Natsuhi: I’ll look for an apartment after all.

Natsuhi: It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to keep up with you lovey-dovey siblings~
The third wheel will be making her exit here.
Reiji: Whaa?

Reiji: What happened all of a sudden?
I’ve talked to Nee-san, too, you know?
Natsuhi: ......


p.22
Reiji: If we decide to join the company,
...!?
Reiji: You’ll join too, of course, right?

Natsuhi: Join? You mean that company? Life Inc.?
Reiji: That’s right.

Natsuhi: But, Reiji... Didn’t you not want to join it...?
Reiji: This isn’t a problem that should be decided upon with my personal policies and such. I think that what Nee-san’s saying basically makes sense.

I knew it... because of me...
He’s trying too hard...


p.23
Natsuhi: Nah, it’s all right.

Natsuhi: I’ll leave. I thought it over, and I’ve been causing you a lot of trouble.
Reiji: Trouble? How!?

Natsuhi: Isn’t this you and Ayaka nee-san’s place?
Natsuhi: I’m the one who rudely came in uninvited!

Reiji: Could it be...
Reiji: You’ve forgotten... your promise with me?

Natsuhi: Promise?
Reiji: That’s right.


p.24
Reiji: When you were going to America, didn’t we promise? You can come back at any time...
Reiji: Isn’t that why you came to our house right away when you returned to Japan?

No way...
Natsuhi: Reiji...

Natsuhi: You... remembered that...?
Reiji: Yeah, and that it’s a secret only between us.

Natsuhi: Isn’t it stupid...? Even though it was just mindless babble when we were kids...
Reiji: What, it may have been that way for you, but to me it was a proper promise...!!


p.25
Reiji: Huh? Huuh!? N-Natsuhi...? What’s wrong all of a sudden?
Reiji: Why’d you suddenly start crying?

Reiji: W-Wha? Did I make a mistake somewhere?
Reiji: C-come one, stop crying, alright? Alright?

Reiji: Yes, I understand. Have a nice day.


p.26

Natsuhi: What happened? What did they say?
Natsuhi: When are we going to go there?
Reiji: The thing is...

Reiji: There... seems to be an interview.
Natsuhi/Ayaka: Come again?


p.27
Kyouka: They seem to want to join.
Ryuusuke: That’s good.

Kyouka: Is it all right, though? Saying something harsh like having to do an interview, even though they decided to join...
Wouldn’t it be bad if they changed their minds?
Ryuusuke: It’s the opposite, in fact.

Ryuusuke: Humans are creatures that don’t expect much of what’s inside treasure boxes that are opened with ease.
We can get them to rely on us more if we show them this much strictness.
Kyouka: ......

Kyouka: At any rate, I made the date in one week as per your directions.
Ryuusuke: Good work.


p.28

Reiji: So then all three of us are going to join the company. That’s all right with you, right, Nee-san?

Ayaka: Sure. Just one thing, though...

Ayaka: Until we formally join in one week, could I hold on to Natsuhi-chan’s sorcery device?

Reiji: Nee-san! Are you still...!!
Natsuhi: Okay, that’s fine.


p.29
Reiji: Fine? You...!
Natsuhi: I’m fine with it. It’s not like Nee-san’s going to do something to me.

Natsuhi: Harming me would mean betraying Reiji’s trust.
Ayaka: ......
Natsuhi: As long as Reiji is on my side, Ayaka nee-san won’t ever lay a finger on me, right?

Reiji mutter: What is this... this suffocating atmosphere...

Reiji: Seriously, when did it get so twisted between these two...?
Box: You’re the cause...
Reiji: I have to get them to make up somehow...!

Reiji: !

Reiji: Oh, that’s right...!
Natsuhi: ?
Ayaka: Where are you going? You still have food left, don’t you?


p.30
Reiji: Here they are!
Ayaka: The pool?
Reiji: These! They’re the free passes to the municipal indoor pool that recently got renovated!!

Reiji: How about it? Why don’t all we go together?
Reiji: See, don’t you remember? The three of us have a lot of fun at the pool back then, didn’t we?

Ayaka: In this kind of situation, even if you suggest the pool...
Reiji: It’s because it’s this kind of situation! We have a week until the interview, so isn’t a change of pace necessary?

Natsuhi: If Ayaka nee-san declines, the two of us should go.
Ayaka: !

Natsuhi: That pool, how nostalgic... It’d be nice for the two of us to return to the past.
Reiji: Well, but then... the purpose...


p.31
Ayaka: It’s dangerous with just the two of you. Natsuhi-chan doesn’t have her sorcery device, either.
Reiji: ......
Natsuhi: I’ll be fine~! I’ll have Reiji protect me~ right?

Ayaka: Really, you’re still such kids...

Ayaka: You’d probably be worried about your luggage, too...

Ayaka: There’s no helping it. I’ll go along with you.
Ayaka: Don’t mind me and have lo~ts of fun.

Natsuhi: Demon hag...
Reiji mutter: Scary...
Reiji mutter: Why in the world...


p.32
Natsuhi: It’s really been a while since we’ve been here.
Reiji: It’s become very gorgeous since it’s been renovated, though.

It’s my first time seeing Nee-san... with a swimsuit like that.
Is it new...?


p.33
Natsuhi: Reiji~

Natsuhi: Wow, what? It’s become really beautiful~! It’s worth coming to swim~

Reiji: N-Natsuhi... that swimsuit...
Natsuhi: Hm? This is the one I wore in America.

Ayaka: ......
Guy mutter: W-what a beauty...
Guy mutter: Is she a model?


p.34
Natsuhi: Whoa~! The ceiling’s made of glass~
Natsuhi: You can directly enjoy the sunlight, huh... It might be just right for tanning.

Natsuhi: Oh~? Ayaka nee-san, you have an unexpectedly daring one. Are you pretty fired up about this, perhaps?
Ayaka: ......
Ayaka: No... that’s... not true...

Natsuhi: That so? You should be a bit more considerate from now on, just like that!
The basics aren’t bad, okay~?
Ayaka: ............

Natsuhi: !

Natsuhi: Reiji, come here please~
Reiji: Huh? What’s up?

Natsuhi: I want to tan. Rub oil on me.
Natsuhi mutter: This, this
Reiji: W-what? Oil!?

Natsuhi: What’re you panicking for? You saw me naked as childhood friends more than enough back then, right?
Reiji: Oh, that’s... well...


p.35
Natsuhi: M’kay~ I’ll leave it to you~ rub it in all the nooks and crannies, too~

Th-this is... the first time...
I touch the body of a girl other than my family...


p.36
Natsuhi: Get my armpits as well. I want to tan it nicely.
Reiji: Y-yeah... hang on a sec.

Natsuhi: Heeheehee! That tickles~

Natsuhi: You can rub it more boldly. Make sure to get the lower parts~

Natsuhi: !


p.37
Natsuhi: W-what? Why...!
Natsuhi: I-is this going too far...?

Natsuhi: ......!?


p.38-39
W-what is it, so suddenly...!?
Reiji...

I didn’t even think you’d be this bold...!!
A-and... you don’t look it, but...

A-ah...!
Th-that’s...!!

W-what should I do... Should I be stopping him...!?
But I’m the one who baited him... If I embarrass him now...!!


p.40
Natsuhi: Y-you’re surprisingly... manly... to think you had this kind of side to you...
Natsuhi: You’re quite good with your hands, aren’t you...?

Ayaka: Really? I’m happy that you’re praising me.
Should I stop already?
Natsuhi: No... you can keep going... a little...

Natsuhi mutter: Huh...!?

Natsuhi: A-Ayaka nee-san!? What’re you doiiiiing!!!?
Reiji: ......
Ayaka: I was rubbing oil, as you can see.


p.41
Natsuhi: W-what part of this was rubbing oil!?
What are you touching someone’s breasts without asking for~!? It’s disgusting!!
Ayaka: Oh, but I was just rubbing it in the nooks and crannies like you asked.

Ayaka: In fact, I’d even like you to be grateful. Wasn’t it pleasurable for you, like a dog in heat...?

Natsuhi: Oh... really...?

Natsuhi: Then... I have to repay the favor...
Natsuhi: Come over here, Ayaka nee-san. This time I’ll rub it on for you.
Ayaka: I’m going to decline. I have sensitive skin and I don’t want to get sunburned.

Natsuhi: Don’t turn me down on your own! Stop complaining and get over here!!!
Ayaka: I-I’m telling you I don’t want to, aren’t I!?

Ayaka: Eeeek!!
Ayaka: Nooo! Stop iiiit!!


p.42
Natsuhi: I’m saying I’ll make you feel good with the way you do things! Relax! You!!
Ayaka: Don’t assume I’m like you!! I hate tanning!!

Natsuhi: Shut up and strip! You demon hag!!
Ayaka: H-hag!? You’re finally showing your true colors!!
People mutter: Yay~ it’s a fight~


p.43
Box: One week later

Ayaka: Reiji, you’re going to be late! You still haven’t finished getting ready?
Reiji: Oh... just a little bit longer.

Reiji: This... it’s pretty hard to tie...

Ayaka: Here, I’ll do it for you.
Reiji: Oh, sorry...

Natsuhi: Reiji~ are you ready?
Reiji: Yup! We’re leaving now!!


p.44
Reiji: Well then,

Reiji: Let’s go!
Reiji: To Life Inc.!