Mangahelpers Translationshttps://mangahelpers.com/translators/rss2009-08-10T19:01:59+00:00/favicon.icoMangaHelpers Adminsadmin@mangahelpers.comhttps://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/15050[English] [Translation] Short Program 27 by Meriken2009-08-10T19:01:59+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 27 (pp. 37~60)
<37> Where the Wind Blows
<38> [banner]Happy New Year
=Here and there,
=With that New Year's feeling still in the air,
FLAP FLAP
=Apparently, the new year has already begun. [bubble]COUGH
<39> GARUCK [bubble]COUGH
=Is this oil stove finally done for? =It's served out its natural life span.
[x2]KNOCK =Come in.
=Good morning.
=Yo.
=Here,//I got the things you asked for. =Thanks.
<40> =Michiko, gimme a ride if you're heading home. =Sure.
=Alright, Shohei. I'll be back in the evening. [x2]CLANK =Righto.
=Hey,//Look where that kite is hanging.
=I knew something was wrong with the TV.
=That guy is my classmate from high school. =Brr.
=The girl is his childhood friend and classmate from preschool to middle school.//They're currently attending the same college in Tokyo, BATHUMP
=This is their winter visit back home. VRR—
<41> =She shows up pretty much every single day when he's staying over at my place. =Go watch the store for a minute, Shohei. =Righto.
=Shinn-chan slept over at your place again? =Yeah.
=It's the new year. He should be with his parents for once. =I told him that, too...
=Welcome. [sign right]TAHARA [sign left]FRUITS
WHIRR—
<42> =Hey ya,//I got you a little present.
=It still looks new. =It is.//My mom bought it for my room over the holidays.
=It's alright.//No one's ever gonna use it if it sits there anyways.
=Your old man's gonna yell at you again. =Don't worry.//I got the fight over with before I came here.
=They should be having a fun time trashing me behind my back right about now.
WHIRR—
<43> =When did the new mother move into Shinn's house?
=Umm—//I think it's going to be 3 years this spring.
RRR..
=Doesn't seem like he really dislikes her. =He's just being shy.
=And also,//He can strengthen the relationship and lessen the age gap between the novice couple by becoming the common source of worry among the two of them. =—I've got a hunch that's what he's trying to pull off.
<44> =That sort of understanding doesn't come about very easily.
=I've known him a long time.
=Before this turns into trash-talk...//I'm not asleep, just so you know.
VRR—
=You couldn't move because you stepped on the glob of super glue that happened to be on the sidewalk?
<45> =That was your excuse for being late?
=What. Why are you looking at me so suspiciously?//Demon-face believed me, didn't he? =Yeah.//You even had those knife marks on the sole of your shoe.
=You introduced me to a lot of strange excuses back when we were in high school.
=Well, I always came ready with 10 or 20 of 'em depending on the situation and the teacher I was up against.
=Hey,//We're outta cigarettes.
=Want me to go buy some? =No, I'll go.//They moved the vending machine to a different spot.
=Get some beer too. =Righto.
<46> =HUFF. [x2]CLONK
WHIRR—
[x2]WOOF
[x3]CLONK
<47> =Hey hey! Who's that cute girl over there!? =Dunno...
Michiko—!
<48> GLUB..
GACHUK
=Man, that was slow.//How far did you go?
=We were in huge trouble just now.//I plugged in the water boiler and the whole room went dark. =Couldn't find any flashlights, couldn't find the circuit panel... We were all over the place, and—
=You did better during high school. =Huh?
<49> =Alright,//Day after tomorrow, around six o'clock.
=You get the cake ready. =Got it. [bubble]CLANK//CLANK
=Cake?
=You wanna eat cake? =Idiot.//It's your birthday, isn't it?
=—Oh yeah,//That's right.
=I go back before your birthday each year, so I figured— =Just for a change.
=It's great having a friend, isn't it. =Why,//Thank you.
<50> =Alright, guess I'll be going to sleep.
=Oh my,//What a nice-looking girl.
=I'm turning the light off.
<51> [x2]=BEEP
=BBT [bubble]Oops
TRRRR...
<52> =Shinn,//It's for you.
=Ah. =Ahh—!
=Ah?//Train station?
=Now?//Really? =Alright, I'll be there.
=Man, what a bother. GACHUK =Who was that girl just now?
=I told her I was going back to Tokyo tomorrow, but she says she can't wait. =It's tough being such a lady-killer.
<53> =I'm gonna go pick her up. =Let her sleep over tonight, okay? =Wha!?
=H-Hey!//You're gonna bring her here!? BATHUMP
=But it's almost—//Hey! =Shinn!
WHIRR—
=Cancelled?
=Huh?
<54> =Oh, yeah!//It's cancelled! =No birthday party tonight!
=Oh,//But... =Gimme an excuse, Shinn! Quick!
=What about Shinn-chan?
=Parents' house!
=Anyways, there's your reason. =What kind of a reason is that?
VRR—
<55> =Shohei,//There was a cake and a present left in front of the door.
=Hello there— =Huh? Where's Michiko?
=You son of a... =Welcome.
=Is she the person I met in Shibuya? =Yep,//The one we ran into during our date.
=Shinn-chan's childhood friend who likes Shohei-san, right?
<56> =Pretend you didn't hear that, Shohei. =Hear what?
=She was supposed to tell you herself on the day of your birthday.
=Oh,//I didn't realize that. =Yeah, thanks for spoiling it, stupid!//I had to work so hard this past year... =Wait...
=Staying in this dirty little room all the time so it'd be easier for her to show up... =What the...
=It's a rarity these days.//A girl who needs so much help just to—
=So that means... =Oh,//No wonder it's so cold, the stove isn't even on. =Hey,//Hold up!
<57> BLICK
=Maaa—n.//See? I told you. =You can't turn on all the electric appliances in this room at the same time during the evening.
=Oh, I got it.//I know where the circuit panel is. FLAP FLAP
=Look, Shohei. WHIRR..
=I already told Michiko you're definitely gonna say yes.
=A lot of guys have confessed to her,//But this is the first time she's ever confessed to someone.
=Got that, Shohei!?
<58> =If you make Michiko cry, I'm gonna—
=Hey,//Is it okay if I turn on the TV?
=We turned off the pot and the kotatsu so it should be alright.//—But this house doesn't get good reception. [note]Kotatsu; A low table covered with a blanket and a built-in heat source. Pictured in frame two of this page.
<59> Crystal Clear
=It's not that bad. =Oh.
=Huh?//Isn't this a rerun of the New Year's show? =Yeah, it is.
=I've seen this,//Already. =Well I haven't seen it.
SCREECH
<60> =A new year,
=—Has begun.
=Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday. [TV]Happy New Year =This thing is...//Boring. =Shaddup!
Where the Wind Blows (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/15000[English] [Translation] Short Program 35 by Meriken2009-08-09T04:43:32+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 35 (pp. 273~300)
=This would've made the front pages if they knew what was really going on...
<277> =Okay, all set!//Thanks a lot, Azusa-chan!
=Azusa Satomi, age 18. =Yay!
=Sometimes a teen model,//Sometimes a movie star—
=Sometimes,//The official cheerleader of the Tokyo Onions. ZWISHH..
=—And =Other times...
<278> =Tokyo—
[x2]BOOMCHUK
[sign top]Tokyo Onions//Kamisagi Dorm
=Alright, next!//Keita Hirayama, you got your first win recently. You do something! [bubble] =Kamisagi Dorm (bachelor dorm) senior resident, Tetsugoro Ishioka, age 43.
=Huh?
=Keita Hirayama, age 18— =By that,//You mean...?
=Idiot! You think you can be a professional ballplayer without knowing any party tricks!?//Do something!
<279> =Alright, guess I'll do some teammate impersonations... =Sometimes a rookie high schooler for the Tokyo Onions.
=Pitcher, Shimobara. =Sometimes a classmate of Azusa Satomi—
=Sometimes a childhood friend of Azusa Satomi— =Catcher, Ahe.
=Clean-up hitter, Hagajima.
=Shortstop, Ishioka.
[x2]SCRATCH
=What the hell.//Is that me making an error? =HA HA HA!//Yeah yeah!//That's awesome!
=—And other times,//I'm Azusa Satomi while Azusa Satomi is Keita Hirayama...
<280> =Hah!//That's nothing to get worked up about—
=I'll show you a real party trick.//I'll make it across the balcony with two beer bottles stacked on my head! OHH—
=—So basically,//Keita Hirayama the professional baseball player is actually Azusa Satomi...
=While Azusa is playing baseball,//I have to cross-dress, and... THUD
=Isn't he...//The starter for the Sllowars game tomorrow? [x2]SCRATCH
=Tsuyoshi Entenka, age 18. Rookie high schooler. 1st-round draft pick.
<281> KERPLU—NK
=Hey Hirayama,//What was her name again? Our official cheerleader who happens to be your classmate.
=Are you talking about...//Azusa Satomi?
=Yeah yeah. =Didn't she say her father coached the high school baseball team?
=Did he go to Aseda University by any chance? =—Yes, =I believe he did. [reference]Waseda University; Aseda=Sweat field
=I knew it!
=So...//What about her?
=I've seen her pitching before!//Around 10 years ago— =Huh?
<282> =That girl's father is an alum of my college baseball team.//He kept asking me take a look at his daughter's pitching.
=Think she was only in 2nd or 3rd grade, but...//Yeah, she was ridiculously good. =The boys didn't stand a chance.
=This is coming from a professional ballplayer,//That girl was a straight-up prodigy.
=Did she end up quitting baseball—? =—Yes. =Before middle school... =Aside from those special training sessions with her old man...
=What a shame.//Wonder what she would be like now if she kept playing.
=A rookie high schooler, with a win in her pro debut. =Dunno...
KERPLU—NK
<283> =Hirayama!//The manager's on the phone! GARUCK
=Yessi—r. SPLASH
=The next day— ZWISH—
=RING//RING =RING RI—NG
<284> =RING//RING [screen]Call From//Supermarket K =RING RI—NG [reference]See end of Chapter 1.
=PIP
=What do you want? =—Photo shoot?//Went pretty well.
=Tomorrow's starter?//Who?
=Keita Hirayama?
=Wha!
=I thought it was 6 days off before the next start!
=Well, you see... Entenka was supposed to be the starter, but he injured himself. =The 3 veterans have to stay on rotation,//And Mr. Torimitsu's been having diarrhea since yesterday.
<285> =You're coming back sometime today, aren't you?
=Haven't you ever heard of a weather forecast!? SWII—SH =Huh?
=There's a typhoon closing in on Okinawa,//So they're delaying all the flights till tomorrow morning! [banner]Mensore; "Welcome" in the Okinawan language.
=A typhoon!?//This time of year!? =Don't dwell on the little details!
=A night game, maybe.//But there's no way I'll make it back in time for a day game! =Uck! [x2]SPLASH
<286> =W-What should I do...? =That's my line!//Besides, how did Entenka get injured in the first place!?
=He fell off the balcony with 2 beer bottles on his head, and... =What the heck?
=Anyways, you've got to turn it down! =I can't,//I already...
=Then you fall off the balcony too! [bubble]PIP
=BEE—P//BEE—P =BEE—P
=—Gosh,//Geez...
ZWII—SH
<287> =The Kuluton Sllowars home field,
=Gugu Stadium— [sign]Meiji Gugu Stadium [reference]Meiji Jingu Stadium; home of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
[2]Ahe [1]Hirayama
<288> WHOP
=Are you sure 4-days rest was enough...?//He's not throwing well at all. =Hah-hah! This is normal for him.
=He doesn't turn on the heat until he's up on the mound.//That's when he get into serious mode.
WHOP
=Keita Hirayama in serious mode, aka//...Keita Hirayama.
=—So,//What happened was...
<289> WHOOSH
WHOP =Steeerike out!
=Amazing! That's already the 5th strikeout!
=The Sllowars lineup can't seem to get the timing right,//Against this rookie high schooler!
<290> =M-Manager...//Are you sure this data is correct?
=His fastball is supposed to be over 90mph on average,//But he's throwing about 20mph slower with the exact same delivery.
[x2]SWUSH
=You see, this is my best teammate impersonation,//Mr. Ishioka...
TOSS
BLOP =Over to the veteran shortstop, Ishioka!
WHAP =Inning over!
<291> =Outstanding! Keita Hirayama,//Has pitched a perfect game over 3 innings!
=Perfect...?
=That's sandlot pitching! =Damn it—!//That little squirt...
FLAP FLAP..
=Hirayama...//You sure you don't wanna get into serious mode already!? [x2]=Perfect
<292> =Serious mode!
WHACK
=H-//Homerun! WHOA
=H-//Huh?
<293> TOSS
CRINK
=There's another huge shot! WAHH
=Foul!//Foul! =So close!//Missed it by a few inches!
=Hi-//Hirayama—!
=A-//Azusa...! =EE—K!
<294> SPLASH
=Wh-What's going on here!?//It's suddenly looking like a bucketful of rain is being poured over Gugu Stadium! [from right]WAH—//AHH—//WAH—//EE—K//AHH—
=The referees have called a timeout, and are directing the players back to their dugouts.
=This is a tremendous downpour!
<295> =According to the local weather bureau,//The rainfall is being caused by the typhoon which suddenly veered off course from Okinawa!
[sign]Locker Room
=Phew,//I'm saved...
=Hirayama, looks like this rain is just a one-time thing.//Be prepared! =Huh?
=No wa—y...
=Here,//Hurry up and get changed! =Right right.
<296> =A-//Azusa!
=H-How'd you get here!? =They said it on the announcement.//I made it back in time thanks to the typhoon changing course all of a sudden.
=Gosh, looks like I made it in the nick of time!
=Thanks...
=Why do you have scrapes all over your body?
=Oh,//These?
=I tried falling off the balcony a few times,//—But, you know. I was always pretty flexible, right? =So I only managed to get scrapes. [bubble]...Sorry
<297> =...Idiot.
FLASH
=Just look at that! Whatever happened to that weather from before?//The sun is now shining over Gugu Stadium.
=The game is restarting!
=Alright!//Crush that sandlot pitcher!
<298> [x2]BLAM
=Yer out!
=Now he's throwing 93mph with the same exact delivery as before,//Manager...
=Wh-//What the heck is going on...
<299> =Now I remember!
[x2]SWISH
=That habit that Hirayama has—
<300> =The girl prodigy from 10 years ago had the same exact habit.
Idol A: Chapter 3 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/14944[English] [Translation] Short Program 34 by Meriken2009-08-07T05:08:22+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 34 (pp. 245~272)
<245> Idol A: Chapter 2
=The 2006 Tokyo Onions Official Cheerleader's Pageant,//The winner is—!
=Entry No. 7—! =Miss Azusa Satomi—!
=That's so cheap...//Azusa Satomi the teen idol competing in a pageant...?//Foregone conclusion... =This is unfair! GWARR
=—Entry No. 13 Miss Fujimi Ichihara has also been selected for a special award. [bubble]Meow?
<246&247> Idol A: Chapter 2 2006 Tokyo Onions Official Cheerleader
[bubble]Meow? Team Mascot Onitan
<248> =The Tokyo Onions.
=The team makes its home in the Nerima Dome (aka The Big Onion)//They are the self-proclaimed leaders of the Japanese baseball world.//Caution: Absolutely no satire is intended.
=Backed with money and popularity, they've always done whatever the hell they feel like,//But their popularity has been on the wane these past few years, and low TV ratings have started to make them panic... =He said there's no satire intended! =Stand back!//You mere editor! [reference]Yomiuri Giants owner Tsuneo Watanabe's controversial remark towards Atsuya Furuta, who was the head of the Japanese Baseball Players Union at the time. The remark triggered the first players strike in the country's history.
=Anyways, this Tokyo Onions team drafted a high school rookie in the 4th round of last year's player draft. =The man's name was—
<249> =Keita Hirayama, age 18.//PItcher (Asamidai High) [x2]TAP
=Hirayama!//Hurry up and get in the bullpen!
=Don't get hasty please.//I'll pull through when it counts.
=Hey!//What's up with that attitude!? =Now hold up!//Pitching coach.
=That rookie has pulled through when it counts.//That's why we didn't assign him to the farm team.//Let him do what he wants. Feels like we finally managed to get a hold of a big fish.
=But manager, this is exactly why— =Hey look,//It's Sato-Azu!
<250> =Hello—//Everyone!
=OHHH—//It's Sato-Azu! =She's so cute!
=Please do your best!
=Oka—y!
=Man, aren't you so glad you play for the Onions?//I mean, we're gonna get to see Sato-Azu everyday from now on. =Yeah, totally.
=Huh?//Where's Hirayama?
<251> [x2]SCRAMBLE
=Hurry hurry!//Hirayama-kun.
BATHUMP
=You're late!//What the heck were you doing!?
=My bad.//There was an interview that I just couldn't turn down...
=Didn't you promise you would concentrate//On being the Onions official cheerleader till the end of the season?
=Well, it was Young Sunday.//Obligations, ya know... =Azusa Satomi, age 17.
<252> =She's no longer any old "photogravure" model. She a pop icon to men of all ages.
=I'm a childhood friend and classmate of hers...
=—Not only that, =Here,//Wig.
=When we switch clothes and hairdos, we look so similar, even our parents can't tell us apart!
=Hey,//No peeking!
=—The only difference is...
ZBLAM
<253> =Our natural talent for baseball.
=Ohh—!
=During high school, Azusa switched places with me and led a no-name high school all the way to the North Tokyo tournament finals. BLAM
=—So the deal is,//The Keita Hirayama who was drafted is really Azusa Satomi, and... =Looking good!
=You're definitely gonna make a good pitcher.
=Your butt looks especially nice.
<254> GONK
=Oh, I'm sorry manager.//Are you alright? [sign]Sato-Azu Fan Club =Ohh—Sato-Azu-chan! =Fine fine,//I'm totally fine!
=Keita Hirayama is Azusa Satomi while Azusa is playing baseball. BLAM
=No one's gonna believe a ridiculous story like this, are they... =Sato-Azu's agent, Okamoto (age 32). =Don't worry,//Young Sunday readers are very forgiving.
=Yo,//Hirayama.
<255> =I heard you went to the same high school as Sato-Azu.//Introduce me to her. =The tournament-winning pitcher at the Koshien last summer. The 1st-round draft pick, Tsuyoshi Entenka (age 18). Yokonaga High.
=I wouldn't if I were you.//Appearances can be very deceiving.
=Hah-hah!//Worried about the competition!?//I don't blame you.//After all, I'm THE Tsuyoshi Entenka!//The handsome hero of the Koshien tournament!
ZZT.. [bubble]Any naughty children?
=She also went to the same high school. Want me to introduce her?
[bubble]It's me//Onitan
<256> =Oh.//Hey,//Wait up Hirayama.
=Anyways,
=The marketing move was a huge success— [black box]Onions [headline]Sato-Azu's Camp Diary
[title]2nd Grade Class 3//Class Compositions [bottom]Nantara Elementary School
I want to be a professional baseball player no matter what.//Azusa Satomi
<257> =The dream... Please! Just one year
=Of the girl I like...
<258> =March—
=The preseason begins.
[1]Hirayama
<259> BWHAP
=Incredible pitching!//By the rookie out of high school, Keita Hirayama! =The Sllowars has gotten only 3 hits!//One of which was a homerun by Aoiwa!
<260> =What do you think, Azusa-chan...?
=Azusa-chan? =Huh...? =Oh,//Right right.
=What do you think?//Hirayama-kun is your childhood friend, and he's been pitching very well so far. =Well, you see...//It's not like I really know him that well...
=—But,//I'm really surprised.//I never thought he would be this good...
=A rookie straight out of high school... =And besides...
=—Besides? =Oh,//Well... =...It's actually a girl. =He's up against all these top players.
<261> =Ida is on second with an infield hit and a sacrifice bunt,
=But a strikeout off Aoiwa, who hit a homerun earlier today, has made it two outs!
=On the mound is Keita Hirayama,//He's still maintaing his composure—
GRACK
=Jammed him again!//Slow roller to short!
<262> =—Alright!
=Oh no—! =It rolls straight through the legs of the veteran, Ishioka!
=Tie game! It's a tie game!
=An uncharacteristic error for the mustache man Ishioka. [x2]SCRATCH
=Oh!//Looks like they're going to the bullpen.
<263> =A solid performance by Hirayama.//The crowd gives him a huge ovation as he returns to the dugout. [x4]CLAP
=—Taking over on the mound is,//Yet another rookie out of high school, the 1st round draft pick, Entenka!
[bubble]Howdy
<264> =He's out!
=The Onions have won!//4-2!
=Today's win goes to—//Entenka, who pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings after taking over for Hirayama! [bubble]Thanks
=Alright...//Let's head over to the field, Azusa-chan. =Huh?
<265> =—Also,//The winning pitcher of today's game will be receiving... =A congratulatory kiss from Tokyo Onions official cheerleader Satomi Azusa! OHH—
=OHH—!
=Huh? =Why are you acting so surprised?//You're the one that came up with this before the game.
=Huh?
<266> =Hey hey,//Does that mean...
=If I hadn't made that error,//You would've been—? =I wouldn't have let him hit it over to you if I'd known about this, Mr. Ishioka.
=Hah-hah-hah! =You little—!
=Alright!//Let's have Mr. Entenka come up to the stage—!
=We're ready, Azusa-chan. YEAHHH—
=Why are you making me do this!?
<267> =We're ready! [bubble]HEE
=D- =Damn it—!
OHH—
=Man, I wish I were him—!
<268> =Hurry hurry, Azusa-chan! =People are gonna see us!
BATHUMP
=Good work. =Wha! =What the heck was that about!?
=Just another marketing move for the team. =C'mon,//Hurry up.
<269> =Well well,//Today was the best day of my life.
[x3]GARGLE
=Did that make you jealous, Hirayama? [x2]SPIT
=First, it was a preseason game but I got my first win in the pros. =Then, I got a kiss from Sato-Azu!
=I declare this to be my official day of commemoration! =—And,//Tomorrow is the Dolls' Festival.
<270> =Whaat?
=Oh,//Tomorrow is the Dolls' Festival... =—Right?
=March—
=...2nd!?
<271> =We're gonna be stopping by the agency, Azusa-chan. VRR—
=The boss said there's a truckload of birthday presents//Waiting for you—
=Birthday presents, huh...
=I was so close...
=Huh? =What was that?
=Nothing...
<272> =Azusa Satomi, age 18— VRR—
=The idol seeks to become an ace.
[label]Ishioka MORON
=Hey!//Who did this to my locker!? [graffiti right]MORON [graffiti left]STUPID MUSTACHE
Idol A: Chapter 2 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/14796[English] [Translation] Short Program 33 by Meriken2009-08-04T23:25:42+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 33 (pp. 213~244)
<213> Idol A: Chapter 1 [x3]=One more!
=—Now!//Just one more out to complete a second consecutive no-hitter!
=On the mound is Asamidai High School senior, ace pitcher Keita Hirayama!
=The kick—
=He throws!
<214&215> Idol A: Chapter 1
<216> WHAM
=Azusa Satomi, age 17.
=With her popularity rising rapidly among teenagers, =She's now a teen idol, with offers flooding in from every teen magazine in existence.
=—And,
=Her classmate and childhood friend...
=—This dude.
<217> =Keita Hirayama, age 17. =Ace pitcher and clean-up hitter for the Asamidai High School baseball team.//The new hero who suddenly appeared in this summer's regional tournament.
=E-Excuse me...//You're Miss Azusa Satomi, aren't you? =UCK
=Oh, I'm a huge fan!//Can you take a picture with me?//Oh, and an autograph, too!
=No, look...//You see... =I'm Keita Hirayama, age 17, and...
=Game, set, and match!//A second consecutive no-hitter!
<218> =Hey,//Where'd she go? =Oh?
=You're so great, Keita-kun!//You're the best! GUFFAW =Thank you, thank you.
=Oh, coach...//I'm gonna go run to the bathroom first. =Right, hurry up.
[sign]Locker Room
=C'mon, hurry!//Your agent was looking for you. BATHUMP =—Gosh!//I can't believe they made so many errors in the second half.
<219> =Can't help it.//Our baseball isn't all that— =Hey! =Don't look!
=Oh,//My bad.
=Wig! =Right right!
=—Alright, =Take care of the rest.
BATHUMP
=Oh,//It's Azusa-chan! =Hey guys!//Congrats on making it to the Final 8!//Good luck with your next game!
=Are you going to work now? =—Yep, I'm flying to Okinawa.//Off I go—!
<220> =Man,//She's so cute.
=Hey, I always thought Azusa-chan looks kinda like Hirayama...//Now that you mention it... =Guffaw!
=They don't look alike at all!//Don't you dare mention that slut and Hirayama-kun in the same breath! =Asamidai High baseball team manager, Fujimi Ichihara (age 17).
=Hoo hoo hoo...
=Scrolling back half a year...
=Join the baseball team?
<221> =Asamidai High baseball team head coach, Yuichi Satomi (age 45). =—That's right. =Father of teen idol Azusa Satomi.
=Try changing into those clothes over there.
=—Hey wait!//This is a girl's school uniform! =You should've noticed beforehand.
=—And,//The wig...
=OHHH—
=What's so OHHH— about this? =Well well,//I always thought you two looked alike when you were little,//But at this age...//And to this extent!
=—Alright, it's a deal! =What is?
<222> =The father was obsessed with baseball.
=—And,
WHAM
=His daughter was born with natural talent. Satomi Azusa (In 8th grade)
=90 mph...? =And plenty of it...
=There's no way we'll make it through the regional tournament with our current team!//We need Azusa's pitching!//—And, now that she's a senior, this is our last chance!//To make it to the Koshien!
=—But, girls can't participate in the tournament... =Exactly!
<223> =C-//Could it be—!? =Yes it could!
=It would be a huge scandal if they found out!//They might even disband the team! =I've already considered that. Please! =This is my dream!//—And Azusa's dream! =Please!
=I've never really felt it,//But other people say I'm a pretty unlucky guy. =...Very well.
=OHHH—! So you'll do it!?//For our dream—! =—Yes,//For Azusa's dream.
<226> =Wow, that was amazing, Keita! =Your picture's all over the front page!
=I never imagined you'd have so much baseball talent.//Guess you inherited these strong legs of mine. I placed 30th in the school marathon, after all.//What are you talking about!//It must be the springs and kicking power that got me to 6th place in the town swimming competition! =Father BLAH BLAH =Mother
=You should know better.//It's your own son...
[sign]Meiji Jingu Stadium
WAAA—H
WHAM
<227> =Steeerike!//Yer out!
=That's my son.//My son—! =Hoo-hoo...
=We were only childhood friends till middle school.//These days, I hardly ever get a chance to talk to her...
=—And especially now that she's a popular teen idol.//I can't just go up and talk to her because of the fanatics in the Sato-Azu school fan club.
=You should know better.//...Idiot dudes. [x2]RUN AWAY
WHAM
WAHHH—
<229> BOP...
BOP
BOP
=What's wrong, Hirayama...?//Looks like you're having a bad day today. =Hah-hah...
=What the hell are you doing...!?//They'll catch on if you don't stick to jogging! =Oh, well...//I just started feeling like I could hit it...
=Here goes—!
CRI—NK
=Whoa.
=Alright,//That's it. =Whoa.
<230> =North Tokyo Tournament Semifinals—
=Batting 4th, the pitcher—//Hirayama-kun!
=Wow!//Listen to those fangirls in the stands! KYAHHH—
RWARRR—
=—Oh?//Sounds like a stray cat has snuck into the Asamidai dugout... [bubble]Meow?
=Top of the 2nd, up to bat is the team's powerhouse...//The star of this tournament, Keita Hirayama!
<231> WHOA
=Oh!
=Azu!//—Oh, I mean... =Hi-//Hirayama!
=A bean ball!
=Around the left knee, I suppose!?//The coach is helping him back to the dugout!
=Keita Hirayama has been pitching for Asamidai this entire tournament—//An injury here would be devastating!
<232> RUMBLE RUMBLE...
BLAM
BLAM
<233> BLAM
=A 1-hit shutout!//Asamidai High School advances to the finals! =No way...
=What!?//When!?
=Oww...
=He told me he wanted one at-bat in front of a huge crowd...//And he threatened to spill the guts on the switching, so...
=—Remember, yesterday...?//I got a pretty good hit in practice, didn't I?
=Impeccable timing, as usual...
<234> =Alright,//Take care of the rest. BATHUMP
=Hey,//Did you go in knowing they were planning something...?
=I've also heard some bad rumors about those two...
=Huh!?//Then they purposely—!?
GATHUCK GONK THUD [bubble]ACK
=Just an unlucky guy, huh...
=—No,
=I'm definitely not an unlucky guy.
<235> =At any rate, I'm childhood friends with my idol.
=—Plus...
=Weren't you going to wash that uniform, dear? =—Yeah,//Just let me just sniff it a little more... [x2]SNIFF
=...Hmm.
=Well, either way...//If you make it big in the Koshien, it'll even things out a little bit. =And that dream I once gave up...//The "Marrying Azusa-chan into the Hirayama Family Project" might actually come to fruition. [bubble]HOO
=A high school baseball star,//And a super-popular teen idol... [bubble]Ohh— =Now that would make a nice match!
=Wouldn't be a match, would it?//Not when it's really the same person...
<236> [bubble]CLICK//CLICK
=Are you okay, Azusa-chan...? =Huh?
=You seem a little tired...
=Oh,//Not at all... =I'm totally fine!
=Throwing 100 pitches, day after day, under the scorching sun— [bubble]CLICK [bubble]CLICK//CLICK
=1-days rest... =Will it be enough for our ace?
=—And... [x2]RABBLE
<237> =Hey,//Hey,//Did you hear, Keita-kun...?
=I heard that idol-slut tripped on the stairs and fractured her leg. =Serves her right.//And she's making a huge fuss about it by wrapping her leg up,//She's so pathetic.
=You didn't even complain when you got hit so hard by that bean ball.
=—Yeah...
=She's a good-for-nothing girl.//Arrogant and selfish... =Can't say a word of appreciation even when she wants to...
=—Yeah yeah!//I knew you were different from all those other guys, Keita-kun!//Isn't it incredible how a stupid girl like that could be so popular—!?
=Hah-hah...//Isn't "stupid girl" going a bit too far? =I don't think so.
<238> =They must be editing those photos like crazy.//There's no way she's really that cute.//—Actually, she's kinda ugly if you look closely.
=Right.//Let's go, Hirayama. =Yes sir.
=The tournament final—
WAHHH—
<239> [bubble]BZZ...
<240> =Too bad you couldn't make it,//...To the Koshien.
BZZ... =Not really—
=That was my Dad's dream.
=I just wanted a shot at really doing my best against boys in a real game. =Now I can really buckle down and concentrate on my work.
=Wig! =Oh,//Right right.
<241> =I heard there's gonna be a couple interviews afterwards, =So just say whatever you think would sound right.
=See ya...
BATHUMP
=Going to the Koshien was... =Her Dad's dream?
=Azusa-cha—n!//Hurry hurry!
=Oka—y.
<242> BATHUMP
VRR—
=Anyhoo, summer is over—
=—And,
=Autumn...
=Azusa Satomi has become more than just a teen idol.//With TV appearances and a movie deal, she's on the fast track to becoming a huge star.
<243> =And now she's gone even farther away from me than before...
PAT
=3 professional baseball teams are saying they want to pick Keita Hirayama in this year's draft.
=Huh?
<244> [cover title]2nd Grade Class 3//Class Compositions [cover bottom]Nantara Elementary School
[bubble]CLIP//CLIP [bubble]CLIP
Class 3//Dreams for the Future
=I'm definitely not an unlucky guy. [x2]WUSH
=Keita's hair//Should be about this long, huh...?
=At any rate, I'm childhood friends with my idol.
I want to be a professional baseball player no matter what.//Azusa Satomi
=Plus... [one of the letters of the name crossed out and rewritten; terrible handwriting]=Supermarket person//Keita Hirayama
Idol A: Chapter 1 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/14729[English] [Translation] Short Program 26 by Meriken2009-08-02T03:28:25+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 26 (pp. 7~36)
=The naked beauty outdoor hot-springs closed-room serial murder mystery!
=The housekeeper was asleep! SNORE~
=This month, this night, under this full moon— =A forgotten deadline from 20 years past, returns to life!
=What horrible truths lie in store for us in this episode—!?
<11> =Are you stupid?
=A naked beauty outdoor hot-springs closed-room serial murder mystery?
=You won't find any beauties bathing with their clothes on, so you don't even need to mention that.//And besides, it's already a huge mystery how an outdoor hot-springs turned into a closed room in the first place.
=You won't write anything worthwhile if you stay out here thinking you're on vacation.//This is what happens when I don't keep an eye on you. =Get back to your room and concentrate.
<12> =Kohei Taguchi (age 26)
=Hurry—!
CLONK
=Pen name Ichiro Shinkiba. Profession: Writer—
=Willing to do all kinds of writing from fiction to non-fiction, but rarely gets a chance to step up to the plate.//Popular works—None, of course. WHOOSH
<13> =Currently writing the script for a 2-hour drama, thanks to an introduction from a friendly TV producer.
=This is the TV producer's summer house—
=And this is the producer's younger sister, Chiaki Shinjo (age 19) =Oh.
=Yo,//Where were you?
=Her guy friend— =...Dunno his name.
BOOF
<14> =Do your work, okay. =I don't get paid either if it isn't done by the time my brother comes back.
VRRRR.. =Alright, sir.//Good luck.
=—I'm just filling in for someone else, of course.//Plus, I only have 3 days to get the whole thing done... =Apparently, she's supposed to be the warden while I'm locked up in this house.
=Hmph.
<15> =Where's Chiaki?
=Oh,//She went driving in a convertible with a guy wearing sunglasses just now. =Oh, shoot.//Must be Yasu.
=Oh, I'm Toshiaki Okishima.//I run a fishing boat with my old man out in the ocean over there. =Here's a little souvenir. =Oh, really.
=I've been hanging out with Chiaki ever since she started coming to this summer house when she was little.//Well, same goes for Yasu, I guess.
=Did you know?//That guy with the sunglasses is the only son of that huge hotel in front of the train station. =Oh, really.
=No point if she's not here.//Guess I'll head home. =Bye bye.
<16> =I heard you're a novelist.
=Oh,//Well, =Yeah,//Sorta...
=Alright,//Say hi to Chiaki for me. BLAM!
VROOM
=Now that the introductions are out of the way... =Right,//Back to work.
SCREECH
=Okay, bye. BATHUMP =See ya.
<17> =Gee—z,//My hair's all crumbly. =Feels yucky.
=I'm gonna take a bath. PATHUMP
=This summer house also has a hot springs in it. ZWISH—
WHOOSH
BATHUMP
VRRRR..
<18> KERPLU—NK
=Beauties don't bathe with their clothes on,//—Huh. [x2]SCRATCH
Z-ZWISH...
=Huh?
=Let's see...
=Here it is.
<19> PSS—T =Oh.
=AAA—CK!
WHOO—SH
=What the hell is that stuff!?//I can't stop crying! [x2]SPLASH =Anti-pervert spray.
=Well, many different situations can come to mind,//Living under the same roof for a whole 3 days.
=By the way, a guard from the security company will come flying over if I press this button.
=Ohh,//Is that so!
<20> =Hey,//You've only gotten this far? =Don't read it without permission!
=Isn't this,//A tad too forced?
=You haven't watched this series? It's even stupider than that.
=Oh— =So you want to write stupid stuff, huh.
=I've only gotten this far 'cause I don't know how to write stupid stuff! =Then why don't you just write what you want to write.
=I'm not in a position to do that.
=You don't have confidence? =I've got nothing to fall back on.
<21> =Wow—So you're willing to write something that you think is stupid and boring,//As long as it gets your name out there, huh.
=Who cares!
THUCK THUCK THUCK...
BEEP BEE—P
=Chiaki—//The ship's free today. Wanna go out to the ocean for a while? =Okay.
VROO—M
<22> =Warden my ass.//All she does is hang out with guys.
=She seemed so nice and shy when I first met her,//Just 4 years, and she turns into that.
ROLL
[label]Perverts Be Gone
=He—y,//You forgot your little weapon here—! =You sure you don't need it when you're out alone with a guy in the middle of the ocean—?
BOOP BOO—P
<23> VROOM
[bubble]CH-//CH- [bubble]CHIRP
=My,//What's this?
=I came up with an interesting story-line,//But I'm coming up short on the number of sex scenes. =Mr. Shinjo told me to include at least four of 'em.
<24> =I was wondering what was giving you so much trouble...//That's so idiotic.
=Hey, where are you going?
=There's a limit to human concentration.//Let me take a breather. =Fine,//You have 30 minutes!
CLONK
=7pm tomorrow.//—Got it? You better not screw up.
=I got it.//I'll get that novelist guy outta there for you.
<25> =You better not screw up either.//Chiaki's pretty sharp, you know.
=Idiot, I've got her trust.//Unlike you. =If I wanna trick her, she's gonna be tricked.
=I'm looking forward to this.
=Likewise.
CLANG =Thank you very mu—ch.
CLACK
=Please don't sleep here, mister. =I'm awake.
<26> =He's not my boyfriend.//Neither of them are.
=Just friends.//Good friends that I've been playing with every since I was little.
=They're not little anymore.
=I'm just saying you shouldn't trust guys too much.
=Especially guys around that age. 80% of the time, their heads are filled with— =You're the one who's thinking about sex scenes all day long! =They aren't like that!
=This is my job!
=I'm not going to let you bad-mouth those two.
<27> =They're really nice guys.
=Yeah,//Whatever.
=Like I care!
SQUISH
ZZT...
<28> DING DO—NG
=Tomorrow—
=Oh, hey mister.//Wanna go night-fishing? =...7pm.
=Go for it.//He's making you a kind offer. =There's a limit to your concentration, right?
=Alright!
=I'll go out to sea, you'll see what you're in for. VRR—
<29> =Gosh, when did she start being like that.//She used to be such a nice, honest girl.
=I love reading novels.
=I'm rooting for you.
SCREECH..
=Oh,//I think I forgot something... VRRR... =Can't let you do that.
=Can't let you go back now.
<30> GONK
[x2]SCRATCH
=PSS—T =AAA—CK
BATHUMP
[x3]CLONK
<31> VRRR..
Z-ZWISH...
=What!?//He got away!?
=M-My bad...
=You idiot—!
<32> =Hey,//How long do I have to keep this blindfold on?
=O-//Ohh, =Just a bit longer.
CLONK
=—Okay.//You can take it off. [x3]CLONK
=Your present has arrived. =Huh?
BLAM
FLASH
<33> [x2]POP
[banner]Happy Birthday//Chiaki Shinjo age 20//Special Guest//Chiaki's First Crush
[banner]Special Guest//Chiaki's First Crush
=But man,//Chisato's such a jerk.
<34> =She turned us down without batting an eyelash,//But when it's time for her to confess, she has no idea what to do.
=We had a pretty hard time confessing to her, too.
=Can't help it. She's been thinking about him for the past 4 years.//That novelist.
=Anyways, just seemed like Chiaki would never make a move//If we just left 'em alone.
=We're good guys,//Aren't we. =—You got that right.
Z-ZWISH..
=I read your script.//—You're almost there.
<35> =Don't worry about getting paid.//I'll have it finished by morning.
=—But, I didn't find any sex scenes.
=I don't care if it gets rejected.//Getting my name out with a stupid story won't give me any confidence in myself.
=It might not mean much coming from me, but...
=It was good.//—Really good.
=It was,//—Really. GREAK..
Z-ZWISH...
<36> =—Right, do over. BWHAP
=The story was good, =—But you gotta have the sex scenes.//The sex scenes are everything. =You gotta include at least five of 'em even if it screws up the story.
=Don't make me say the same thing year after year. =Later, Chiaki.
BATHUMP
=Got that?//At least five of them. DAH
Clogs and Diamonds (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/14561[English] [Translation] Short Program 31 by Meriken2009-07-28T16:19:03+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 31 (pp. 143~194)
<143> White Summer
=Nimbus clouds in the shining blue sky— FLAP FLAP FLAP..
=We're at the Koshien Stadium, where the opening ceremony has just been concluded.//We're now waiting for the first game of the tournament to begin! =We're about to witness 2 weeks of hotly contested battles!//At the 84th National High School Baseball Championships—! [x3]WA—
<144&145> White Summer Original Story by Buronson
<146> =—Now,//The starting lineup has sprung out of both dugouts. [x2]WA— =We're almost—!
VROOM
WHACK
<147> =You guys,//Fucking smell—! TH-TH-THUD
=Give us some fun, alright!?//Some fun—! WHACK
VROOM
=*tsk*
[sign]Please Do Not Enter the Lawn
GLOP
<149> =Hya-hoo—! [x3]BRIP
BWHOOSH
GRINK
<150> =Mr. Mikami—!
=Mr. Kakiuchi's started a huge brawl over in the park—! =What—!?//Didn't he say he was going out to do some questioning—!?
=That's his excuse to go out for a nap, sir! [sign]Police Station
BZZ—T...
CLACK CLACK..
<151> =Uh ohh—//He did it again...
=UCK...
=Look, Mr. Mikami!//It's the idiot son from Kogure Construction Co!
<152> =Idiot!//Mind your own business—!
=Uck!
=H-Hey, you'd better watch yourself,//My old man runs an honest business up front, but—
=He actually bosses around those idiots acting all high and mighty with their gold pins, right...? [note]Reference to the gold pins worn by high-ranking members of a crime syndicate.
=Today's your unlucky day.
=Kakiuchi!
<153> WHACK
=That,//Must've broken a rib or two...
BZZ—
=Why does Mr. Kakiuchi get so intense when he's dealing with mobsters? =How should I know.
<154> [x2]GONK
=ZZ—//ZZT =ZZZT...
=BEE—P =Bottom of the 3rd, Gunma Prefecture representative Numakawa Tech has gotten runners on base, but has yet to score— =ZZZ—
=Oh yeah...
=It's that time of year, huh...
WA—
<155> Unheralded Nozawa High advances to the prefectural finals! Koshien veteran Matsukaze Academy aims to make their 15th Koshien appearance!
With the local residents cheering them on, will Nozawa High manage to make it to the Koshien for the very first time!? [banner]Good Luck! Nozawa High School
=Nozawa Prefectural High School wasn't even an underdog before the start of the tournament!//But here they are, one out away from making their first ever Koshien appearance! [x5]WA— =The team doesn't boast any players of exceptional ability!//But if we had to name one, it would be these two—
=The pitcher, Tetsu Ichimura!
=And the catcher, Goro Kakiuchi!
=This duo has been the crux of the good teamwork,//That has led Nozawa High to victory in all the close games leading up to this one!
=J-//Just one more...
=W-We're really gonna make it with just one more out, right?//Ami?
=We'll be fine as long as No. 20 stays on the bench,//—I think.
<158> =Did you hear that, Goro?//The Koshien.
=Y-Yeah. =Good thing we didn't give up on baseball, huh? Tetsu...
WHAP
=Loosen up.//And don't forget about that runner on second. =Right!
=C'mon!//Tetsu! Goro!
[x2]WA—
<159> GRINK
=A roller!
=The third baseman charges in!
<160> =Oh no—!//An odd bounce!
=The shortstop is covering third!//The ball rolls into the wide-open gap!
WA—
=The tying runner rounds third!
=Uck!
=The pitcher, Ichimura, picks up the ball—//And throws home!
<161> SWOOSH
=That's reckless base running, stupid!
WHAP
<162> =Second!
<163> WA—
GRACK
<164> *waves*
<165> =Sorry. *waves*
=—Not that again.
=Just forget about it.//We get to spend our last summer in high school playing around on the beach.
=We would've spent the rest of the summer dripping in sweat if we'd gone to the Koshien,//—Right?
=It would be easier on me...
=If you just gave me a good whack in the face instead of being nice.
<166> =He—y, what're you guys doing?//Let's swim!
=You're going to Tokyo,//...Tet-chan? *waves*
=—Yeah, =I'd have to live the simple life if I stayed here.
<167> =My mother raised me all by herself, so I gotta stop making her worry.//Make it big in Tokyo.
=That reminds me, you even got scouted by a talent agent when we went to Tokyo last year.//Tetsu's gonna do fine!//He'll succeed no matter what he does!//—Right, Ami?
=Even if he's guaranteed a life-long spot on the bench, huh...
=Don't get anxious, Tetsu.
='Cause I'll drop an easy catch if I don't loosen up—Right?
=Right...
<168> =Thanks...//It was really fun hanging out with you guys. =Even in a small town like this...
[poster]Attention!!//Zero mortgage//Immediate loans!//*No credit check//*No questions asked//*No pesky collectors//Snowballing Finance//Open all year
=Make it big, huh...
RIP
<169> =WA— [sign]BAR//KUSAMA
=WA— =You always watch that stuff this time of year, huh.//—No. 20.
=Look,//Can you stop calling me No. 20 already? =Koji's my name, you know.
=Yessir. =WA— =—Gosh,//I know you didn't really have a crush on me.
=Hey,//Who did you really like out of the three of us? =CRINK =That again?//You stop asking and I'll stop saying it—No. 20!
<170> =Anyways...//Is it true that something's weird is going on with Tet-chan in Tokyo?
=He didn't come back when his mother died 2 years ago...
=—Yeah,//Goro told me Tetsu's been working for a finance company in Tokyo for the past couple years, but... =—It's one of those shady outfits.
=So that's why,//Goro-chan...
<171> =You guys are the scum of the earth!
=—Well then,
=I'm off to the field, I guess. =Teach 'em well,//Bumbling coach!
=WA—
=Another hot day, isn't it.//Where do you want to eat lunch? =BZZ—T
SCREECH.
<172> CHUK
BATHUMP
=Mr. Kakiuchi... Was it?
=The owner of Kogure Construction Co.—!!
=I was just at the hospital to see my son.//They said it would take 3 months for him to fully recover.
=Isn't there anything you would like to say to his father?
<173> =If the son is stupid, the parent is stupid.
=You better educate your kid better if you want him to take your place someday. =That is, if your company doesn't get destroyed first.
=Oh,//That reminds me.
=That arcade we raided and busted up the other day,//Wouldn't happen to have anything to do with your organization, would it?
=Of course not.
<174> =CRINK//He hits it! This one's big!
=Right fielder's backing up! =It's over his head!
=This one's gonna be extra bases!
=Third!
=Oops. SWISH
=BWA-HAH-HAH!
<175> =As expected, No. 20!//You still can't run a fielding drill, huh! Poor bastard!
=T-Tetsu!
=Give it.//I'll do it for you.
=You came back!? [x2]WHOOSH =Yeah.
=I went and stabbed a couple people.
=Huh!?
<176> =Hey!//Hurry up and walk!
=More gangsters from Kogure's place, huh. =Yeah.
=Some detectives from Tokyo are here to talk to you, sir.
=Tetsu!?
=—Yes,//He was involved in a stabbing 4 days ago in Shinjuku.//One of the victims is already dead.
<177> =For a while, there were traces showing he was still hiding in Tokyo.//But it seems like he just got up and disappeared yesterday,//—So, we decided to take a look into his hometown...
=I heard you're a childhood friend of his, Detective Kakiuchi. =Is there anything you can tell us...?
=Tetsu...
=TRRR...
=Oh, excuse me.
=Hey Ami,//What's up?
<178> [sign]Closed
=GARUCK
=Ami, there's a detective over from Tokyo.//Watch the entrance for me.
=You're looking well, Goro.
<179> =You idiot!//Why!? =Why'd you go and stab someone!?
=A lot of things,//Tend to go wrong when money's involved.
GATHUCK
=Goro!
=Listen, Tetsu!//I despise the guys who dragged you down this dirty path, =But I can't forgive you for falling for it either!
=Why'd you come back!?//Hometown's the first place they go to look for fugitives! =Don't you get it!?
<180> =Goro-chan,//There's a police car out front!
=As a friend, I'd prefer to let you get the credit, but...
CHUK
=Sorry,//I can't afford to get caught right now.
=Tetsu, you—!
=I've still gotta take care of some unfinished business...
<181> =Tet-chan...
=Ami, you made the right choice by not picking me or Goro.
=Right, Hiroshi? =Tetsu!
=Live long.
=Tetsu! [x2]SCRAMBLE
<182> [x3]*sirens*
=The victim is a foreigner.//Haven't seen him around. He must be from out of town. =Looks like he's still breathing...
[x2]*sirens* =—Yeah.
<183> =We've found a witness.
=Going by the description, that Tetsu Ichimura fellow seems to be the culprit...
=That idiot...!
*waves*
<184> *waves*
=Tetsu!
<185> =Why didn't you leave town immediately!? =Even if the victim was here to kill you, this wouldn't have happened if you'd hurried up and gotten out of town!
=Things happen. =All kinds of things...
=One little mistake trips you up.
=Then that mistake brings in a whole nother mistake, and the whole thing gets out of hand.
=No wonder,//It's just the usual pattern for you, isn't it. CHUK
<186&187> *waves*
=You can't shoot me. =You owe me big-time from our last summer in high school.
=Tetsu!
*sirens*
=Well, I'll be going now.
=See ya, Goro.
BANG
<188> =Tetsu! WHAP
SCREECH
<189> =That's a strike,//...Goro.
=Tetsu! What are you—!?
<190> =He wasn't here to kill Tetsu...
=The foreigner that Tetsu shot, =Was sent here to kill you, Goro.
=The victim got desperate and started talking,//And the detective from Tokyo checked it out for us.
=Kogure sent in a request to one of his partner syndicates in Tokyo.//Asking them to send in a man who could kill someone and not get caught—
<191> =Tetsu was part of that syndicate in Tokyo,//So...
=—So Tetsu found out, and...
=That's why Tet-chan, =Came back...
*waves*
<192> =We got a warrant for Kogure's arrest.
=Congrats, sir.//This'll make the town a little bit cleaner.
=It would be easier on me...
=If you just gave me a good whack in the face instead of being nice.
[bubble]BZZ—T//BZZ—T
<193> *waves*
=Sucker!//It's all 'cause you made that error! =Shaddup!//You're the one who walked all those runners!
=S-//Stop it!
=Please stop...
<194> =You don't play baseball just to win...
[bubble]BZZ—T//BZZ—T
=For your friends... =Friends to last you a life-time...
White Summer (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/14496[English] [Translation] Short Program 28 by Meriken2009-07-26T19:01:07+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 28 (pp. 61~88)
<61> The Angel's Hammer
<62> It was pure coincidence...
=—And it was the first time in 30 years. [sign]Largehill
=—But one glance was all it took for me to realize it was him.
=I didn't give my name right away—
=Because I missed my chance— =And because it was him, yet also somebody completely different.
<64> =Oh my,//That's a really old photograph.
=This is Toshimichi, the guy we've been talking about.
=He moved to Tokyo with his family during 6th grade,//We kept in touch through letters up until he graduated from a famous high school and entered a top-notch university, but—
=Well, we were pretty busy ourselves with families and jobs...
=Yeah, and it's been 30 years too.
=Then all of a sudden, he sends us a letter last month saying he wants to get together again.//Man, that really brought back memories.
<65> =And now he's inviting the 4 of us to an all-expenses paid trip to Tokyo.//Can you imagine that? In this economy!
=Well, he was always pushy and big-hearted, even when we were kids. =Yeah,//I remember him being smart and good at sports.
=—Totally.//He was cool and macho, and we all looked up to him even though we were all the same age.
=This is Tet-chan?
=Yep. =—So,//This must be Yama-chan.
=You guys haven't changed at all. =Oh shaddup!
=Who's this?
<66> =Can't tell, right! =Is it someone I know?
=Well, I don't blame you.//You don't see people change that much when they grow up.
=You got that right.//The pip-squeak ended up becoming the biggest dog in the pack.
=No way...
=Yes way!//The most successful guy in our class—
=He was the closest to Toshimichi,//Wasn't he—
=Yeah...
<67> GWHOOOSH
=May I take a cigarette...?
[sign]Largehill
=Huh?
=Oh, =Sure,//Please.
<68> =Thanks.
=We were going to get together on Saturday...
=I just happened to be in Tokyo on business—
=I knew his address from the letter he sent, but I was looking forward to seeing him with everyone else, so I'd decided to wait until Saturday.
=That's a nice suit you're wearing. =Huh?
=—Oh,//It's nothing, really.
<69> =No need to be modest. A suit like that is worth showing off. =I may not look it, but I've got an eye for those kinds of things.
=What's your trade? =Oh,//I run a small company out in the countryside...
=You're quite reserved for a proprietor. CLINK..
=Is your home nearby? =His address was...
=It's not much of a home, really.//Just a tiny apartment out back...
=—But,//My address is in Den-en-chofu. [note]Den-en-chofu; Luxury suburb in Southern Tokyo.
=I have my letters forwarded from the post office. =With the address I had six months ago...
<70> =My company fell apart,//My wife and kids left,//My house was seized... =Those pesky debt collectors are all I have left.
=Alright! Off to the next bar. =Oh c'mon—//I don't wanna hang out with a guy drinking his head off 'cause he got dumped by a girl!
=Shaddup!//You call yourself a friend!? CLANG
=Hey hey, is it snowing outside?//For real? It's the end of March!
=Dumped by a girl, dumped by sunshine,//And now I'm gonna be dumped by my friend, huh... =Alright, fine!//I'll hang around! Just stop complaining!
=Friends... Huh.
<74> =Actually, I'm getting together with my friends from elementary school.//This Saturday. For the first time in 30 years... =Umm.
=Oh,//No... =Nothing...
=I was born and raised on this small island in the Sea of Japan.
=My father was originally a well-to-do guy who grew up in Tokyo.
=Apparently, he went over to the island right after he got married. He wanted to get in touch with nature, but—//He always left things up in the air. =—We wound up coming back to Tokyo right after I graduated elementary school.
<75> =—Well, it was partly because my grandfather in Tokyo died, and our family got the inheritance.
=You mind if I smoke? =Oh,//Please.
CLICK
=Cruel, isn't it?//All because my parents felt like it.
=I loved that place.//That island. Those friends...
Don't worry, Toshi-chan! You won't lose to the guys in Tokyo! Yeah, of course not! No one's smarter than Toshi! Toshi's a genius!
<76> =It was a shock switching schools...
=All my classmates had been going to cram schools since they were little.//They were solving equations that I'd never even seen before.
=My grades were so bad,//I felt like the guys who'd been rooting for me were being laughed at, too. =—It was painful.
[letter title]Summer Greetings [letter]Yoo-hoo, you guys doing alright?//The guys in Tokyo are no big deal. You guys are faster at running and [bubble]way[/bubble] better at swimming too.//Seeya. [box]Toshi
=At first, I just didn't want to make them worry...
<77> =—But, [letter]School is boring. The sports teams are so bad it's ridiculous. I guess it's supposed to be a famous school or something, but I'm a scholar and a soldier! Just wait and see!
[box]Update on my college application [letter]I got into my 1st and 2nd choices,//But not my safety.//—This is why,//Life is so interesting. [bubble]HA HA
=Eventually...//I just ended up becoming a liar.
=I want to seem them again. One last time before the end.//The only guys I care about... The only guys I can call my friends...
=The end?
=I won't die.//I'm just gonna disappear!
=I don't care. As long as they remember me.
=Remember the "me" who hasn't wasted the past 30 years of his life...
<78> =There was this one pip-squeak named Shinta.
=We were the same age, but he was like my cute little brother.//Always following me around like a little duckling...
=He counted on me for everything,//And I felt like I could do anything if he asked me to.
=—Oh,//Well... =Something urgent came up, and...//I can't make it on Saturday anymore.
=—Yeah.//It's urgent... =—Yeah,//I can't.
=Say hi to Toshi-chan for me.//—Yeah. =Alright,//I will. =Bye...
<81> GASHUCK
=Come to think of it,//I can't go see the guys looking like this...
<82> =Can you just accept this as a stroke of fate,//And switch clothes with me? =You can leave the wallet inside...
=Don't cry!//I'm not gonna kill you.
=Sorry 'bout this...
<83> =Don't cry!//How old do you think you are!
=I've been a crybaby ever since I was a kid...
=It's a little big,//But not by much...
=My name is written on the inside.
=No one's gonna check,
=A spot//...Like this.
<87> Don't you wish spring would never come—?
You won't have to go to Tokyo if spring never comes...
You can stay here forever, —Right, Toshi-chan?
<88> The Angel's Hammer (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/14363[English] [Translation] Short Program 30 by Meriken2009-07-24T05:13:40+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 30 (pp. 119~142)
<119> Memory Off: Part 2
<120> Characters so far: The college applicant The girl with amnesia The news reporter —That's all.
[x2]JUCK
[sign]Toshino
=BEE-//BEEP
<121> =Well?//How's your fever?
=97 °F.
=That was a quick recovery. =Must have something to do with the page limit.
=Here's the paper. =Oh,//Thanks.
=And the New Year's letters. =Looks like you only got advertisements.
=That's because we're in mourning. The grandfather on my Dad's side passed away last year. =And your family still went to Hawaii?
=Well,//They had a karaoke party the night of the funeral.
<122> ZZT..
THUD
WHUP
=What's wrong? =Hmm.
=No,//Nothing... FLAP FLAP..
<123> [headline]Murder in Yomogi Park
=A man shot to death in the bushes.
=Time of death, approximately 10pm to 12am. =Skillfully carried out,//Possibly the work of a professional killer!?
=A professional killer? =Hah-hah,//A girl like that?
<124> =Maybe she's a killing machine trained from birth by some sort of secret organization...
=Idiotic,//Why would a killing machine show up at my house. WHAP
=Maybe because you know something about the secret organization... =How the heck would I know that!? =I haven't even been outside these past couple days.
=I went to the video store the day before yesterday, but—
[bag]Rental Videos
=...No way.
<125> =I'm terribly sorry. =Oh no, it was my fault.
=Thank you, thank you.
=That guy was holding videos too... [x2]SHUFF
=—I knew it. =This isn't the anime I rented!
=So this is the tape about the secret organization...?
[bubble]GASHUCK
WHIRR...
<126> DRIP DRIP
=BLICK [button left]PLAY [button right]STOP
=I might've missed something important.//Lemme rewind it and have a re—al good look. WHIRR...
=Ahh—//Ahh—
=Is this the sort of thing a college applicant should be watching this time of day?
=Besides, I really think it'd be easier to explain things if I went with you.//Right? Let's go tomorrow. =And it's gonna get dark pretty soon.
=It's still 3 o'clock. [bubble]PIP Time for the 3 o'clock news
[bubble]PIP
=I don't think the police want to be bothered on New Year's Day.
=—But,//What about your studies?
=Hey, I know!//You can help me study!//You're probably smarter than me.
=Done deal!//Let's do it. =Okay?
<129> =This one's wrong. =And this one. =And that one.
=Are you sure you can't remember anything about yourself...?//I guess this stuff gets stored in a different part of the brain...
=Here,//Look.
=See the bump? =Oh, yeah.
=I must've tripped or hit my head somewhere while I was walking around,//And it made me lose my memory. =A young girl walking around on her own at midnight? On New Year's Eve?
=It looks easy on TV shows though. All they have to do is hit their head again, and voilà! Everything's back to normal! =I wonder what "normal" is... =—Yeah.
<130> =—But why would I be carrying around a knife...?
=Or a gun,//Or a stungun...
=Now I remember!
SWOOP =Whoa.
=I was baking rice cakes!
<131> TOO—T
PLIP
<132> [x2]TICK
SNORE—
=That one's//wrong.
=Don't give up//...Hajime.
[bubble]SNORE—
=I don't care if she's a murderer anymore...
<133> =January 2nd, 2000—
DRIP DRIP
[bubble]CH-//CHIRP
[bubble]CHIRP
WHUP =Good morning.
=You were studying?//This whole time?
=You kept cheering me on in your sleep, so...//Yeah.
<134> =I'll go get the paper.
=Oh.
=I think the newspaper's on holiday, [bubble]BWOOP//BWOOP =For today—
[x3]BWOOP
=—Uck! They're headed for my house.
<135> =Oh. =Uh. =Don't know her name! =He-//He—y!
GACHUK
THUD
=Oh.
=A-Are you okay!?
=Uh,//Yes.
<136> =There's a door out back.//Hurry!
=Your answer? =I know!//I'll handle the rest!
=Okay,//Then on my birthday— BATHUMP =Just go!
=My birthday?
[x3]BWOOP
SCREECH [x2]BATHUMP
<137> =Do you live in this house? =Uh,//Yes.
=You've heard about the murder in Yomogi Park, haven't you! =Uh,//Yes.
=Where's the gun!? =Huh? =So it was real.
=You'd better not be hiding anything! =Uh,//Look... =We arrested the culprit last night, and he says he left it on your doorstep on New Year's Eve.
=Huh?
=You arrested//...The culprit? =Where's the gun!?
<138> =Why didn't you tell us immediately!? =Don't be so judgmental, Yamada-kun.
=The gun was buried,//In the snow—
="To Mr. Hajime Toshino..."//A letter for you, maybe? =Huh?
=Thank you for your cooperation!//—Have a nice day!
[x3]BWOOP
[letter]To Mr. Hajime Toshino
<139> =Manami Nonomura? [letter]Manami Nonomura
[x2]BOOM-CHUK [sign]Nonomura
=Well well,//What a happy day! =Forget about all that B2K computer crap! GAH-HAH-HAH =It's Y2K, mister.
=By the way, big brother.//I haven't seen Manami-chan around. Where is she? WEE~ =Hmm?
<140> =Ohh—//That's right, I remember! =She went to confess to the guy she likes on New Year's Eve. =On New Year's Eve?
=Yeah,//She said she didn't wanna regret it in case the whole B2K thing happened. =Dude, it's Y2K. [bubble]HICK
=Isn't it dangerous?//Letting a girl go off on her own at night—
=Don't worry!//She takes Aikido classes. =Plus, I gave her a knife and a stungun just in case.
=—But,//Today's already the 2nd of January. GAH-HAH-HAH =2nd, 3rd—Who gives a damn!//It's all part of the holidays! =C'mon, drink up!
=According to this letter... BOOM-CHUK BOOM-CHUK
<141> =Apparently, she saw me on the bus about 2 months ago and took a liking to me, but—
=That was right around the time when I was in the hole, and really had to buckle down and start studying for my entrance exams...
=My phenomenal last-minute concentration prevented me from noticing,//That such a cute girl was on the lookout for me.
=—And,//Page 6 of the previous chapter. THUD =Happy New Year!
=The Environmental Crisis, =The Population Crisis, =The Food Crisis,
<142> =The Educational Crisis, =Dino Crisis... =With all these crises at hand,
=There's only 1 more year to go until the dawn of the 21st century...
=—By the way, her birthday is on January 3rd. [calendar title]January: Toshino Family Weekly Schedule [top row]Father//Mother//Hajime//Sister [row1]Sat.//Hawaii//Hawaii//Studying//Hawaii [row2]Sun. [row3]Mon.//Date [row4]Tue.//Golf//Karaoke//Studying//Movie [row5]Thu.//Party//Pachinko//Date [circle]THE END
Memory Off: Part 2 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/14228[English] [Translation] Short Program 29 by Meriken2009-07-19T02:56:00+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 29 (pp. 91~118)
<91> Memory Off: Part 1
BO—NG
=The old year passes, and the new year begins...
[sign]Toshino
[book title]The Monkey's Guide to Getting into College
<92&93> Memory Off: Part 1
<94> =BOO—M//B-BOO—M =BOO—M
[x3]TICK
=Happy New Year! VRR... =Oh, Mrs. Shimizu.//Making your new year's visit to the shrine already? POP =Oh my,//It's chilly tonight, isn't it. [x2]RATTLE =Hey, Mr. Tanaka.//Happy New Year to you too. [x2]SCRAMBLE
<95> [bubble]RABBLE RABBLE//RIFFRAFF RIFFRAFF
=Look,//Toshino-san's place still has their light on. =Toshino-san's place
=I thought they went on a game show//And won a free family vacation to Hawaii over the holidays. =—Yes,//Hajime-chan's alone doing some extra studying.
=Ohh—//I didn't know Hajime-chan was applying for college! =Hajime-chan
=He seemed pretty carefree, though. =Hah-hah,//He always leaves things to the last minute.
=Yes, during preschool, he got locked inside the classroom while he was getting ready to go home,//And in elementary school, he got left behind on the roof and stayed the night. =He even missed a school field trip because he was taking a morning shower.
<96> =Hey hey,//You make it sound like he's just a... THUD =Happy New Year!
=Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday!
BATHUMP
=—But,//Hajime-chan really gets going once he's in the hole, doesn't he. =Oh, absolutely! =He's got great comeback skills.//Wakanohana can retire with a clear conscience. [note]Wakanohana; Famous sumo champion.
=Looks like the sumo industry is all set for the 21st century. HAH YEEHAW YEEHAW =What the heck?
<97> [bag]Rental Videos
=A quick look at those anime videos wouldn't—
GRIT...
=—No.//Just one last push. GRIP [bandanna]Victory =2000 A.D.—
=The Environmental Crisis, =The Population Crisis, =The Food Crisis,
=The Educational Crisis, =Time Crisis 2... =Even with all these crises at hand,
=Mankind is about to enter the 21st century...
<98> =—Or something.
=*snore* [bandanna]Defeat
=DING-DONG—
[bandanna]Awakening
=DING-DONG—
=A visitor? =This late...? =Who is it?
=Who is it?
=Huh?
<99> =Who am I? =Where am I? =Who are you?
DING-DONG—
<100> =Who is it? =Look...
=Hey,//What's this?
=Look, I'm gonna have to call the police,
GACHUK =If you don't—
[bubble]CLA—NK
<101> =Would you like some tea...?
SWOO—P
=Who am I!? CHUK =Oh,//L-Look!
=I really don't remember seeing you before,//It's probably the first time we've every met.
<102> =Then why am I here? =You're the one that rang the doorbell!
=I was just standing in front of the door to this house.
=What about before? =I don't know!//I have no recollection of anything before that!
=What about that gun?
=Is it real?
=—It//Looks real...
<103> =Maybe if I shoot it... =Don't point it over here!
=Let's just calm down and think for a sec.
=You really can't remember//Your name, your age, or where you came from? =That's what I've been telling you this whole time.
=Oh yeah, Check the stuff you're wearing.//You might have an ID card or something in your coat pocket.
=Oh,//Good idea.
WHIP
<104> =My name's not written on that.
=...You're right. =I found a wallet, but...//There's nothing in it besides money.
=—And,//A handkerchief and a pack of tissues. =Girls usually carry around a cell phone or a card or something, don't they?
=What about this? BZZT
=A stungun... I guess?
=What do you use it for? =Dunno...//Depends on the person.
<105> =No name on the coat...
=Hey hey.
=There might be a name written on my underwear— =Oh,//Right. =Kids in elementary school usually—
=—I mean,//You don't look like you're in elementary school... =Huh?
=Why do I have a knife hanging here—?
<106> =Hey,//There's nothing written on the back?
=...Nothing's written there. =Ohh—//That equation I just memorized got completely...
=Ohh—//What should I do? =What should I do...
=Well, anyways. It's a bit late tonight.//We can go talk to the police tomorrow.
=Really...? =The police don't take New Year's Day off.
=No, I mean...
<107> =A gun,//A knife, and... =A stungun...
=Isn't this a bit weird? =No kidding.
=Does this mean I'm... =Fuj*ko Mine? [note]Fujiko Mine; Female thief from Lupin the 3rd. =Probably not.
=I'm//...Kinda scared.
=Don't worry.//This thing looks totally fake— =Never seen a real one though...
=Oh.
=Did you remember something?
<108> =You,//Got this problem wrong.
=Oh,//And this one. =And this one.
=Alright,//That's enough! =It's late tonight, okay? =Come.//Come.
=You can use my sister's bed.//The door locks from the inside, so you don't have to worry. =Okay,//Good night.
PATHUMP [note]Imoto; Japanese word for "younger sister."
=Phew—
=I'm starting to feel woozy... =What the heck is going on so early in the year!?//...Gosh.
<110> =A thousand years for the crane, tens of thousands for the tortoise.//3 years for peaches and chestnuts. 8 years for the persimmon. =40 years for Shounen Sunday.
=You've learned too much,//Hajime Toshino.
=About what?
=You can watch the New Year's sunrise from the great beyond.
<111> =No way.
BLAM
TI—NG
<112> =So white...
=Pure whiteness, =Everywhere I look...
=So this is the great beyond, huh.
=This is real heaven for a manga artist.
We're paying you by the page, thief—! =So quiet... =I hear nothing.
<113> =ZZT...
BOO—M
<114> *whoosh*
=Are you okay? =Sounded like a pretty bad nightmare.
=A cold?
=Looks like it. BZZ—T [bubble]Thanks
=Hey,//What time is it? =PIP
=It's twelve o'clock. Time for the daytime news. =Whaat—?
<115> =I tried making some stew with the stuff in the refrigerator. =Why,//Thank you.
=—First, here's an update on last night's snowstorm.
=—So?//You remember anything? =Nope. The Kanto region has already been—
=Oh yeah,//We have to go the police.
=It's okay. I can go by myself later.
=No way. //No one's going to believe a story like that.
=You believed me,//Didn't you?
<116> =Well,//Either way, it's a snowstorm out.//No transportation. =No point in getting hasty.
=You wouldn't want to be left alone in this condition, right?
=And it looks like your family isn't coming back till the 3rd. =—Yes,//They went on a game show and won a free trip to Hawaii... [calendar title]January: Toshino Family Weekly Schedule [top row]Father//Mother//Hajime//Sister [row1]Sat.//Hawaii//Hawaii//Studying//Hawaii [row2]Sun. [row3]Mon. [row4]Tue.//Golf//Karaoke//Movie [row5]Thu.//Party//Pachinko//Date
=Oh yeah,//Where's your medicine cabinet? =Oh.
=Let's see...
*whoosh* =Are you okay?
<117> =I'm totally fine, but... =Lend me your shoulder.
=Sounds like,//Something's going on in Yomogi Park.
=You really don't know anything about me?
=I'm not lying.
=Okay.
=You really don't know, huh.
<118> =Here,//Watch the stairs. =Oh,//Thanks.
=—Next up is,//Our follow-up on the murder that occurred in Yomogi Park late last night.
=The victim died on the scene after being shot in the temple—//The police believe this was the work of a professional killer, =And are searching for witnesses in the surrounding area.
=We'll be bringing you the New Years news from around the country. Right after the break.
Memory Off: Part 1 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/14144[English] [Translation] Short Program 36 by Meriken2009-07-16T14:03:28+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 36 (pp. 301~304)
<301> The Runaway God
=The Summer of 1963— [x3]BZZ—T
=That apartment building near the Kami-Igusa Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Rail Line. HO—NK
[sign]The Adachi Brothers of Gunma Prefecture Cometh!
=...God wasn't home. [sign]Hinji Nagahima [note]Hinji Nagahima; Alias of manga artist Shinji Nagashima.
=According to some of his later works, our visit coincided with the times when//He was going out to Shinjuku every single night. =Leaving his wife and children behind in Asagaya for some of the busiest nights of his life.
<302> =That day, my older brother (Tsutomu) and I departed Gunma in the early morning.//We stopped at a park in Shinjuku, and lunched on the rice balls that our mother had made us.
=Using the addresses on the telephone poles as our guide, [bubble]BZZT =We visited the Tokyo Top Co. (A rental manga publisher) and the homes of several manga artists living in the area.
=No appointments, of course.
=—Even still,//The people at the Tokyo Top Co. answered our questions courteously, and they even served us drinks. =They ordered sushi for us at the home we visited in Tanashi,//And we received original manuscripts of several professional artists as souvenirs—
=All for two brothers in 7th and 10th grade,//Making a sudden visit from the Gunma countryside. =—My,//Those were good times.
=—And,
=Several days later, we received a letter from God, coupled with several of his original manuscripts.
<303> =Mr. Nagashima's works were too mature for me back then (7th grade),//And I wasn't quite as absorbed in them as my brother was. =But his beautiful artwork stood apart from all the other rental manga, and I frequently copied his drawings.
=Despite my apparent immunity, I wound up catching the Nagashima fever when I entered high school and came across "Futen" in COM magazine.
=I scrounged through his older works with a newfound vigor,//And finally managed to join the ranks of the Nagashima worshippers as the last crop of the rental manga generation.
=—And incredibly enough, =Thanks to my brother, who had been working in Tokyo, =I was promised an apprenticeship in God's studio after I graduated high school.
=—But,
=During my senior year of high school, God abandoned all of his work and ran off overseas. HO~NK =I panicked, and scurried around looking for a job. Fortunately for me, Mr. Isami Ishii was generous enough to take me in.
=I later received these words of encouragement from God. =That was probably the luckiest thing that every happened to you as a manga artist. [bubble]Great choice, Isami-chan!
=—Yeah, I guess so.
<304> =I last saw him on August 14th, 2004.
=My brother had passed away in June of that year,//And he came to offer a stick of incense even though he was in the middle of dialysis treatment.
=I really appreciate his telling nostalgic stories from his rental manga years in front of my brother.
=My brother must've been itching to get in on that conversation.
=He told me, =I've been drawing up some oil paintings just for fun. =Come and take a look sometime. =At that meeting, but...
=—In the end,//He ran away from me again...
[headline]Creator of Futen, and other lyric manga//Author Shinji Nagashima passes away
Dreaming up works of poetry//And wishing upon a single love —May he rest in peace.
The Runaway God (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/14143[English] [Translation] Short Program 37 by Meriken2009-07-16T14:03:04+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 37 (pp. 309~312)
<309> Short Mail =With all the emails flying around in our 21st century,//Here's a little something on love letters. [x3]=CHIRP
[x2]BOW
<310> =CH-//CHIRP
=CAW...
[x2]=BOW
<311> [bubble]PLOP
CAW—
=SPLISH—
[x2]=CHIRP
<312> BATHUMP [sign]Tanaka
[letter boy]To Mr. Shota Tanaka [letter girl]To Ms. Masami Nishihara
=—The End.
Short Mail (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/13986[English] [Translation] Short Program 32 by Meriken2009-07-11T15:27:15+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 3, Chapter 32, (pp. 195~210)
<195> The Square Ocean
=No TV, =No telephones.
=No deadlines.
=No Shogakukan Manga Award celebration party.
=High up in the mountains...
<196> [bubble]PLIT
=It's nice weather, Kenta—!//Why don't you come on out! [x2]BARK
=Easy for you to say,//I can't walk without my crutch!
=Remember what mister Matsuno said?//Your leg's already healed. =Once you feel like walking again, you'll—
<197> =You can't trust a crummy old doctor like that.//Nobody's even sure whether he has a medical license! GARUCK
=It hurts when I stand up.//And besides, where do you expect me to go!? =There's nothing but snow around here!
=I hate the mountains!
=I guess you want to force me to walk and help you out with your work, but—//You're not fooling me!
=I didn't ask to get injured, you know! WHAP
=Kenta's father forced Kenta to climb up a tree, and Kenta injured his leg when he slipped and fell off. SHUCK..
<198> =But one day—
SPLAT
GARUCK
SHINE
=Go get it!//Rokubei! BARK
<199> AHCHOO!
=Brr—//Cold. =Man, this is a nippy planet.
=BA-BUMBA BUM BUM//AHH-VIVA AHN AHN
=Phew—//You're a lifesaver! [x2]BOIL =Thanks a lot, dude.
=Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Colonel Doremi from Planet Pampers.//Suddenly lost control of my ship, you see... =Quite a scare, really!
=Why,//Thank you.
<200> =Gonna borrow one of these. GREAK...
[x2]THACK THOCK
=Hup! WHOMP QUACK
=There! All better. [x2]QUACK
=—Now then,//In return for saving me, I shall grant you one wish. [bubble]Standard practice
=But it's against the rules to wish for more wishes. TWEE—T =Anything I want?
=Alien no lie! HAO
=Okay! Then I wanna see the ocean!
<201> =Piece o' cake. [x2]SHUFF
=Make a boat out of that branch and float it down the river out back.//That screen will display the view from the boat.
=All rivers lead to the ocean.//You'll be able to see the sprawling ocean even from these mountains!
=Thanks, Doraemon. =Easy there.
=This is our little secret, okay?//That device will stop working if you tell anyone else. RRR...
=Farewell!
[bubble]BARK?
<202> SPLISHH—
=It's working!
<203> =Whoa! =Awesome!
GONK
RAHHH
=Hey early bird!//It's not spring yet, stupid—!
=You're still awake, Kenta—?//Hurry up and go to bed!
<204> [x2]SHUFF
[bubble]SNORE~
<205> =Dad! [bubble]MMM
=What's wrong, Kenta?
=That device will stop working if you tell anyone else.
=...Nothing,//Good night. =Right,//Good night.
WHOO—SH
<206> [x2]RATTLE
[bubble]Hmm..?
=Kenta!? BWHUP
[x2]BARK
<207> [x2]BARK
[x3]=HUFF
[x2]BARK
=Kenta—!
<208> BARK [x3]=HUFF
<209> [bubble]CH-CHIRP..
[bubble]HUFF
<210> =This is a story I wrote before my debut. Kenta—!
=I wrote this version purely out of nostalgia, trying to remember as much as I could from that manuscript I lost.
BLOP
=Happy 30th anniversary, Shounen Sunday.//—I've taken this opportunity to reflect upon my own past, but...
=Dad—! ZUP
QUACK =—Well, go easy on me.
The End
The Square Ocean (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/13802[English] [Translation] Short Program 25 by Meriken2009-07-04T13:11:46+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 25 (pp. 279~282)
<279> Walk-off game
=It ain't over till it's over.
=That summer—With a 1-run lead in the bottom of the 9th, =Runners on first and second...
=As the guy whose only trait was having a cannon for an arm, I wore number 15, and went in as a defensive substitute.
=—And, as the the guy whose only trait was having a cannon for an arm, I caught up to the ball, bobbled it...
=And had to go chasing that white pill across the Koshien outfield with my legs, which had clocked in at 13.5 seconds in the 100 meter dash.
<280> =I knew I had to come up with an excuse, but my mind was completely blank.
=I caught up to the ball right under the 120 mark. The numbers looked faded through my tears. I threw back to home plate—
=The throw traveled like an arrow. Only fitting for the guy whose only trait was having a cannon for an arm.
=By the time the ball had made it into the catcher's mitt, with 2 bounces, and no cut-off...
=The tying runner had keeled over. 3 meters in front of home plate.//With the game-winning runner standing right behind him.
=Not fully grasping the situation,//I was still searching desperately for an excuse, somewhere in my completely blank mind.
=—It's always been that way.
<281> =Getting into college, getting a job—All those important crossroads of life...
=I'd always emerged victorious after giving up.
=—So when word got out that Eriko was getting married, I stayed put. [sign]STOP
=My opponent was Miyamoto, my former classmate. The sarcastic asshole who always viewed me as his rival. In everything.
=The wedding is today, at 1:00pm...//I raced my car over to the church.
SCREECH =I was going to turn the game around at the last second, of course.
=I'm the Dustin Hoffman of defensive substitute outfielders who made it to the Koshien finals.
<282> [bubble]OH =Game, Set, and Match!
Freebie
WHACK =Now that's a sitty shot!
[bubble]PLOP
Walk-off Game (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/13801[English] [Translation] Short Program 24 by Meriken2009-07-04T13:10:40+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 24 (pp. 255~274)
<255> The Way Home: Part 2
<256> =Cram school was supposed to start at 4:00 that day.
HO—NK
=—But by the time I realized that, I'd already gotten on the train, and the doors had already closed after I'd left my house at noon.
=I thought about heading back home...
=But I remembered how Mom had given me extra allowance for getting good marks on that last test, [x2]TH-THUNK =So I decided to head over to the arcade in the department store.
<257> [x4]TH-THUNK
GA-THUNK
ZZT..
YA~WN
PWOO—P
<259> [bubble]ZZZ—
BLAP
<260> Showa 34th (1959) October 27th
Showa 34th
=I didn't really panic.
=Of course, I'd never been in this situation before.//But it happens all the time in TV and manga. =I knew words like "time slip" and "time trip."
=—And I also knew, that the protagonist almost always manages to return to his own time.
=So, I didn't really panic. GONK
<261> =The one thing that did worry me a little bit, was whether I'd get back before 4:00. So I'd still make it in time for cram school.
BONK
=I've got my textbooks, =My telephone card, and my wallet...
<262> =Haven't seen you around.//Where you from?
=A pretty distant place. =They might look like kids, but they're really all old guys.
=Wanna play baseball with us?
=Baseball? =That!?
=I've got a uniform and a Mizuno glove and everything. =Oh,//No thanks.
=Excuse me.
=I knew telephone cards wouldn't do any good. =But... [sign]Uemura Bakery
<265> =—I just didn't have anything better to do... =Stop slacking, Shige!
=I wasn't trying to make friends,
=And... =Alright, Take!//Go get the potatoes.
=I certainly wasn't going for the hot potatoes after we were done raking. [bubble]GRR~
<266> =He's going back to get them from his house? =No, stupid.//He's getting them from the field.
=—Oh,//So Take-chan's place is a farm, huh. =It's a fish store.
=Ohh—
=I decided not to press the issue...
=Yama-chan— =I got them—
<267> =They're not eating the stones too, are they...? [x2]PFF—T
=Here, Kazuhiro!
=Hot!
=Put 'em in your pocket. They'll get nice and warm soon.
[x2]=Hot
<268> WHOOSH..
=I just didn't have anything better to do...
<269> =Whoa! =W-//Watch out—!
=Here we go—! SWING
=WHOAA—
TAP
<270> =Yama-chan—
=Yo—!
=Woo—It's cold—!
=I put my hands in my pocket, and the stones were nice and warm.
<271> =They're gonna build a huge factory right here.
=My Dad told me,//There's gonna be a department store in that lot over there, with an amusement park on the roof.
[x2]FLAP
<272> =Isn't the old man with the picture cards gonna show up soon!?
=Not yet. =Really? I thought he'd be here by now.
=When does he usually show up? =I dunno when exactly, but sometime soon.
<273> [x2]SCRAMBLE
CLING CLONG CLANG CLONG—
<274> =The only thing in my pocket was a cold little rock.
The Way Home: Part 2 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/13737[English] [Translation] Short Program 23 by Meriken2009-07-02T14:16:11+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 23 (pp. 234~255)
<234> The Way Home: Part 1
<235> =Back in the day, it was real dark at night, wasn't it?
=That's why I think ghosts and spirits really did exist back then. =—But the humans chased the ghosts away with their science and their lights,//Just like they cut down the forests, and upset the animals.
=Maybe if people could actually see them, the environmental groups could've stepped up and tried to protect them...
=—But, I guess they're ghosts because no one's sure whether they really exist.
<236> =He—y, pissy-pants.
=Shouta was out in the mountains for too long,//And it got dark on the way home. =Gen-chan!//You promised not to tell anyone—!
=He got to the guardian statue over by that cedar tree but he was too scared to move.
=Shouta's mom and dad came looking for him with flashlights, =But he thought the lights were ghost eyeballs and he pissed his pants!
=He—y,//Pissy— WHACK
=Shouta's still little. He's got a right to piss his pants once in a while.//You're the one that should be ashamed, breaking a promise like that.
<237> =Alright, let's run over to Sanmon Lake! =Yeah—!
[x2]BZZ—T
=Hold up, =Let's wait for Shouta.
=We should hide, Masao.
<238> =Alright,//But don't make him cry. We're just gonna surprise him. =We know. =Count his footsteps.//12 rings on the stone stairs, and we go out on 1-2-3.
=He's coming!
[x3]CLACK
[x4]CLACK
CLACK
<239> =Huh?
<241> HO—NNK
<242> [advertisement]Rough Volume 10 in stores now! [x2]GONK
<243> WHIRR—
=Tet-chan!
=Tet-chan! Tet-chan! =Mommy—!
=What's wrong?
=This weird kid is following me. =We're going to Sanmon Lake, right—Tet-chan?
<244> =Hey, where did you come from? =Our son's name is Yutaro.//You're thinking of someone else.
=Tet-chan...
=Okay,//Now go home. GACHUK
=What was that about? =Some strange-looking child. =He was barefoot, and he looked really dirty—
=He was chasing Yutaro, calling him Tet-chan. =Hey hey.//You're saying he thought I was Yutaro?
=Ohh—//Right.//Your nickname was Tet-chan, wasn't it.
=—And?//Did the kid do something?
<245> =No,//He just wanted to go to Sanmon Lake. =Sanmon Lake?
=They got rid of that place a long time ago.//Made it into a parking lot.
=Time for cram school, Yutaro. =Oka—y.
<246> Closed to All Vehicles
*construction noises*
=Hey kid!//You got a problem with construction work? UCK
<247> TAP TAP TAP..
=You don't see that too often these days. =See what, Masao?
=A kid that's scared of adults.
=Ohh,//Yeah—Back when we were kids, there were a ton of scary old men in our neighborhood. =That geezer down at Maruko and Takinoya's old man.
=—Yeah,//They gave out pretty good whacks, didn't they.
<248> =Masao-chan— =Toshi-chan—
=Gen-chan— =Tet-chan—
[bubble]ZZT
W-WHOOSH..
<249> [bubble]W-WHOOSH..
=It's the cedar tree.
<251> [bubble]W-WHOOSH..
<252> =Ma!//Pa—!!
<253> =Oww...
=What the hell, Gen!
CHUK
=What's wrong—!?
=Oh,//No... =Nothing...
<254> =Back in the day, it was real dark at night, wasn't it? =That's why I think...
The Way Home: Part 1 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/13342[English] [Translation] Short Program 22 by Meriken2009-06-18T13:44:05+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 22 (pp. 205~233)
<205> Spring Passes
<206> SCREECH
=A rugby game?
=Hah, like anyone would want to see that.
BATHUMP
=Hey, Kenji—!
<207> [x2]WA—
<208> =Kenji—Wait—!
=—Geez.
=It's Uehara. =That bastard—!
=Don't.
<209> =Who's playing who? =My old school against Onrin Tech... WA—
=Old school? =Tatekura High... WA—
=Wow—//So you're pretty smart, huh?
<210> =Let's say there's a pair of girl's gym shorts, and a girl's handkerchief.
=Huh?
=You know,//—Hypothetically. =Which is worse, stealing the shorts or the handkerchief?
=Who cares. =It's the gym shorts, right? 'Cause it's more perverted?
=It's the same.//Theft is theft.
=R-//Really?
<211> =Dude,//Hypothetical my ass!
=It's Tomomi Sakamoto's, isn't it!?
=I happened to stop by they girls volleyball clubhouse,//The door happened to be open,//And the place happened to be empty,//So I happened to... =That's enough coincidences for one day,//Mister.
=...You're right. Theft is theft.//Then maybe I... [x2]SNIFF =Should've stolen the gym shorts instead?
=How bad is this? =You a first-timer?
=O-Of course I am! I've never ever stolen anything up until— =Very well. I forgive you, Kitayama.
=But gimme half. =Whoa!//Stop!
<212> =ACHOO—!
=Hey, isn't it a bit chilly? =You should've dressed warmer.
<213> =I'll be waiting in the car, okay?
=You were still around?
=I was going back and forth taking care of things. =—But today's my last day.
=4 years in Tokyo away from your parents...//Hope you have a nice time.
<214> WA—
=They're getting crushed. =Yeah...
=They'll probably never make it to the nationals again.//Our rugby team...
<215> =Did you know,
=I got a love letter from Kitayama-kun?
=You know how to spell "soy sauce?" =Shaddup!
=I know.
=It was the first time I got a real love letter,
=So it took me three days to write a reply.
<216> =Kenji!
=Gimme a ride! =I can't.
=Everyone's counting on you to be the next big rugby star.//Just imagine what would happen if I got you in an accident.
=C'mon, just over to my house!//Please, I'm in a hurry! =What for?
=TA-DAH
=The reply!//From Sakamoto—! =Did you read it?
=No way! I can't read it here!//I gotta get back to my room, lock the door, and calm myself down first! =Please Kenji!
<217> =Alright, fine.
=Here,//You wear the helmet. =What about you?
=I'd rather die than get you injured. =Hey, don't say that.
=Too slow!//The passes are too damn slow! =Geez, what the hell are they doing!?
=Does your arm still hurt?
=...Nah.
<219> =You alright, Tetsu!?
=Yup!
<220> =My reply... WA—
=Kitayama-kun's mother, =Said you read it for him...
=Yeah...
<221> =Read it for me,//...Kenji.
=Don't be so... Solemn.
=You free on Sunday? =Huh?
<222> =She says okay, playboy.
="There's loads of stuff we need to talk about,"//"So let's meet next Sunday, 9:00 am at the park fountain next to the station." =—Got that?
=9:00 in the morning, huh...//Saturday... I've got a game.
=That's not good...//I usually can't wake up early... The day after a game.
=Don't worry.//No matter how tired you are, you won't get any sleep the night before your first date.
=...You've got a point.
<223> =Kitayama-kun's mother thanked me. WA—
=She told me,//My letter let him to go in peace...
<224> TWEE—T
=Alright!//Well done!
=Don't cry. =It's up to you guys now.
<225> =He was the kindest, most easygoing guy there ever was...
=But there was one time Kitayama really got angry and whacked me in the face.
=Do you know why?
=No...
=Because I talked trash about you.
<226> =Good luck.
=Thanks...
<227> =Are you done, Kenji?
=Okay,//Let's go driving.
=Kenji?
=Kenji!
<228> TWEE—T
[sign]Tatekura Private High School
<229> =My name is Tomomi Sakamoto.//I'm from Sakuragi junior-high.
I like Uehara-kun.
I'm sorry
<230> =She says okay.
Good luck...
<231> HO—NK
<232> HO—NK
Spring Passes (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/13256[English] [Translation] Short Program 21 by Meriken2009-06-15T01:43:42+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 21 (pp. 175~204)
<175> Spring Call
=The cherry blossoms bloom in March—
ACHOO
=But it's spring in name only...
=I think it's nice.
<176&177> Spring Call
<178> =—Very nice.
=Really?
=Yeah.
=His phone rings twice, =In the darkened theater—//Then the curtain falls.
=A phone call at midnight.//One ring means "No." Two rings mean "Yes."//That's her answer. =—Right, but...
=Do you think I should make it a more obvious happy ending?
<179> =Don't worry, everyone will get it. =There you are, Nao-chan.//I've been looking everywhere for you.
=Akahori,//I finished my script. Can you take a look?
=Guess I didn't tell you.
=Huh? =I'm writing our next script. As the club head.//The other members asked me to.
=Look, I did the best I could fixing up the last one,//But it still ended up kinda dull.
=From a director's standpoint,//Your stories just don't have enough excitement.
<180> =Our next performance is gonna be at the freshmen welcome session in April, so we wanna make it flashy.//As the club head, I have a lot of work head of me,//But all the other members insisted.
=Well,//That's the deal. TOSS
=—Anyways,//Nao-chan...
=Oh yeah, Shinjo,//If you're free, can you go help out the underclassmen get the stage ready? =They're in the art room.
=Oh,//Alright.
[x2]THACK THOCK
<181> THACK THOCK
[sign]Art Room
=Umm,//Excuse us.
=Sorry, but would you mind getting us some cold drinks?//Two of 'em.
=Sure thing.//Do you care what kind? =N-//Not really...
=Yeah—!//I win!
=That'll be 500 yen. =Damn it!
=Man, that is unreal. =I told you, he's a real nice guy.
=He's beyond nice. =Who actually goes out and buys drinks for underclassmen!?
=I'm gonna go break a sweat at uncle's place first.
=You're really sticking to it,//Aren't you. =Later—
<183> =Okay, see you tomorrow. =Bye.
GRAB
=AHHHH—!
<184> =Hey, stop! DASH
WHACK
=Uck!
=You alright, Nao-chan?
=Akahori-kun!
<185> GLUCK
=Yo!//What's up, pal.
=Hitting me wasn't part of the deal.
<186> =Heh-heh, my bad.//Just went with the flow, you know.
=You sure it's gonna work?
=At the very least, it'll make it easier for me to ask her out on a date.//She'll feel guilty about turning me down after I saved her. =Hee-hee. =You sure it's that simple?
=Drama's always best when you keep it simple. TOSS
=The script for our next performance.//Take a good look, you might learn something.
=I got the entire thing done yesterday.//Yeah, I'm just overflowing with talent these days.//Hah-hah-hah! [title]"Grab My Neck Tightly!"//(Working title)//Written by Tomio Akahori
<187> =The heroine is assaulted by evil karate practitioners,//So the genius martial artist trains for a week under the guidance of the heroine's old man, and beats up the bad guys. =10 days later, he becomes the national karate champion, which gets him 20 million yen and a luxury sedan.//He then goes driving around Shounan with the heroine—
=An action drama with real kick, I'd say! =Hah-hah-hah! =It's sure is simple.
=The heroine will be Nao Tanimura, of course.//And as the club head, I will obviously be playing the hero.
=Don't worry, I'll remember to give you a part.//You played a pretty good pervert today—! =Hah-hah-hah!
=Just to be sure,//You don't like Tanimura or anything, do you? =Nope.
=You're really sticking to it, aren't you. =Later—
<189> =Sakamoto, those tiles...? =Oh,//Not to worry. I'll make them easier to break.
=Well,//I could break them anyways...
=Hey,//Nao-chan.
=There's a couple spots I want to go over with you later.//At the coffee shop, just the two of us. =Okay.
<190> =Oh,//You're not going to uncle's place today, Kohei? =Yeah,//He's getting new floorboards so he's closed for 3 days.
=It was getting pretty run-down wasn't it,//That old— DING DO—NG
=Ye—s?//Oh, it's the lady from next door.
[x2]TREMBLE
<191> =It's idiotic but it's kind of funny,//Don't you think? =Huh?
=I guess Shinjo-kun's story with the two rings at the end was a bit too subtle after all.
=I guess so.
=I always thought Akahori-kun was just brash and overconfident,//But maybe he really is talented.
=...Yeah.
=Shinjo,//C'mere a sec.
<192> =Hey, Nao.//Don't you think this story is really stupid!?
=They should've let Shinjo-kun write it.//That last play would've been really good if Akahori-kun hadn't made those silly edits. [bubble]YEAH
=It's not Akahori-kun's fault.
=He shouldn't have let him edit it.
=He always does whatever Akahori-kun says...
=Huh?//What's that? =Nothing—
<193> =Alright, listen up.//Before tomorrow's run-through, I'm gonna ask you for your input as a scriptwriter. =So you tell everyone you think there should be a love scene between me and Nao.//Make it real convincing.
=A love scene?
=I was planning on including one from the start.//But it would look bad if I wrote it on my own, right? =That's why I need someone else to suggest it.
=The lights will go down right before the kiss—//But of course I'm not gonna stop there.
=Nao wouldn't dare to run off during a performance. =It's the perfect plan!
=I'm counting on you, pal!
<194> =What's up?//You're not gonna tell me you have a crush on Nao, are you? =It's not that...//My hand won't stop shaking.
=Are you sick? =Oh,//It stopped.
=Where are you going, Kouhei?//Uncle's place is under construction, right? =Oh,//Right.
AWOOO—
<195> =Oh, Shinjo-san—//Do you know where the club head is? =Buzz off.
=Huh?
=Huh?
=What? =Oh,//N-Nothing...
=—So anyways,//We're going to be doing our run-through of the play today.
<196> =You look a little pale, Shinjo-kun...
=Huh? =Oh,//Really?
=I'm fine...
WHIRR..
=—But before that,//I'd like to get everyone's input on the script.
=Don't hold back, feel free to mention anything you've noticed.
=Well—The whole story's a little stupid, and— THUD =How about you, Shinjo?
<197> =As the club scriptwriter,//Is there any part that you think could use some improvement?
=Hmm? [x2]HUFF
=Oh,//Wait a sec.
=H-Hey, Where you going!?//I'm asking you for your input! =I'll be right back.
=I'm just gonna go break a little sweat. =You've got an idea, right!?//Like adding a certain scene.//Hmm!?
<198> =Hey, wait up!//I told you not to hold back, alright!?
=I just wanna hear your honest thoughts.
=You're right. =Huh?
=Just like you said,//I've had a crush on Tanimura, =Ever since I first met her.
=Huh?
<199> =Got a problem with that? =Wh-//What are you talking about...?
=I'm asking you about the script, and— =Hah-hah-hah!
=Fuck it!//Forget about this thing! BRIP
=You can't fix something that's this bad! CRACK =Ah.
=Beating up the bad guys after a week?//National champion in 10 days?
=Yeah right!//What do you think karate is!?
<200> GRACK
=20 million yen!?//A luxury sedan!? CRACK =This isn't a freaking golf tournament, alright!?
THUCK [x2]CRASH
PHEW—
=H-//Huh?
<201> =G-Get outta here!//You're fired!
HO—NK
=Dammit, he broke all the rigged tiles! CLINK..
=Actually, they weren't rigged yet...
=Oh yeah!//I've got an idea!//How about we add a love scene at the end—!? =Hey,//I think that sounds like a great idea!
=Yo, Kohei—//You can come practice tomorrow, alright—!? [bubble]CLANK//CLONK [sign]Karate Dojo
=You used to be so quick-tempered when you were little.//Uncle really changed you, didn't he?
=Guess I was trying too hard to suppress my true feelings...
<203> [sign]Shinjo
=Uck.
TING..
=Uck.
=Uck?
<204> =The cherry blossoms bloom in March—
Hirose High School Drama Club Freshmen Welcome Session Performance "Spring Call"
Written and Directed by: Kohei Shinjo Starring: Nao Tanimura Daisuke Mikami Yosuke Shirai Yuta Arito
Tomio Akahori (Passerby) etc.
=...Spring.
=Hey, listen.//Let's add a love scene.//Between the heroine and the passerby. =That sounds like a great idea,//Right? =Right?
Spring Call (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/13136[English] [Translation] Short Program 20 by Meriken2009-06-11T01:11:05+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 20, (pp. 151~174)
<151> Abase the Ace!: Part 2
<152> CONK
=Hey hey,//No heading the ball! This isn't soccer! =Oww— =Use that glove I bought you.
=Here goes, Atsuki!
=Wa-//Wait!
CONK
=One more! =T-//Timeout!
CONK
<153> [bubble]CHIRP//CHIRP
TOSS
GRUCK
<154> [headline]4th Consecutive Loss for Defending Champions Seifu Cats
[article]New foreign import Hitalot (Seifu) hitless in 19 at-bats!
=In 8 years...
=Hmph! =I never trusted that guy in the first place. BWHAP
=They don't even need a fortuneteller.//They should be winning anyways considering how good their roster and finances are.
<155> =And what pisses me off most,//Is that the man who nurtured the pitching staff with the No. 1 ERA among all 12 professional teams, pitching coach Kageyama,//Was fired just 'cause of that stupid fortune teller! =Hi-Yah! BWHAP
=Did you see that—? =What the heck was that? [bubble]HEE
=Got a problem?//He got it right to you, didn't he!? =Huh? =Oh,//Y-Yeah...
[x2]GACHUK
=Hey,//At-kun. =What's up?
<158> =Oh—Sketchy guy from next door.//The bike handle got a little bent... =Now now, let me take a look.
CRI—NK
=To center! =Yeah—!
=Geez, what's so fun about baseball anyways?
=Well, all 9 players have their unique role in throwing, hitting, and fielding! =And the strategy behind each and every pitch makes it—!
<159> CRA—CK
=...Yeah, it's a mystery to me. GACHUK
=Sure, I see how kids might wanna play it, =But it's a scam when grown men play a game like that to make loads of money.
=N-Nonsense!
=Only a handful of the most talented individuals can become professional ballplayers!//Being able to play in the professional ranks for over 10 years is the chance equivalent to winning the lottery!
=Pre-war, post-war, and through years of poverty,//Baseball has brought passion, joy, and excitement to so many people!
=—I mean,
=...Yeah, it's really stupid.
<160> WHOP—
=He—y!
=Not again...
=Wait just a second!
=Listen,//Raise your left leg this way,//Arm goes that way—
=Like,//This?
BLAT
<161> =Hey—I got it farther last time. =You're a pretty crummy coach.//Geez. =Wha!?
=The pitching staff with the No. 1 ERA among all 12 professional teams was—
=No, I mean,//You see...
=Your raised leg should step approximately this far.//Keep your knees loose so your hip doesn't lock in.
=Keep your arm nice and flexible...//No! Wrong!
=Leg like this!//Arm like that!
=No!
<162> =Darn...//My coaching instincts got the best of me.
=But still, =It's unusual to find a kid with that little talent.
=How's the game going? [bubble]PIP
=Seifu's new foreign import, Hitalot//Has once again struck out with runners in scoring position! WA—
=Not again...//Lose today, and we're out of first place. =C'mon guys. GLUB
<163> =How is your work going, Kageyama-kun? =Shut up,//Leave me alone.
=I don't want to sound like a broken record, but the future of the Seifu Cats hangs in the balance.//Understood!?
=Sure, I understand... =But shouldn't you be worrying more about that foreign import of yours?
=Heh-heh-heh... Not to worry, just wait and see. =He'll start looking like a new man after his 40th at-bat.
<164> =Ohh— =Anyways, I bring good news.
=I had a vision of you becoming the manager of the Seifu Cats next year.//A crystal clear vision. BBT
=I haven't told anyone about this yet,//But my prophecies are never wrong. =Just something for you to look forward to.
=Well then, I bid you farewell, Kageyama-kun.
[x3]CLACK
TH-TH-THUD
GACHUK
<165> =Are you alright?
BWHUP
=Well then, I bid you farewell, Ichiro-kun. =It's Kageyama.
=Yes I know, Nomo-kun.
=There's just something about him,//That I don't trust.
<166> I'm gonna be the manager next year? Yeah sure, maybe when pigs fly!
PLOP
=Over here, Moritaka-kun—!
BLOP [bubble]BWHIP
=What're you doing?
<167> =Shut up! The sketchy guy who moved in next door taught me to throw like this!
=Wha.
=H-Hey, what do you mean I taught you!//That's not what I showed you at all!
=Listen!//Leg like this, arm like that.
=No look,//Like this and that.
=No!//Didn't you hear anything I said!? =This and that!
=Gee, he really is a sketchy guy.
<168> =Phwee—//Darn it.//My coaching habits got the best of me again.
[x4]BIP
=Is that Kageyama the fired pitching coach? =Yes sir!
=Please rest assured! I haven't even allowed him to touch a baseball. =Forget about it. Just get back here.
=Huh? =Forget about that kid!
<169> =Oh, but...//What about the fortune teller's— =That quack has nothing to do with us any more!
=Huh?
=Our company's suffered tremendous losses this past week because of that idiot! GACHUK =Hey Matsui-kun, how are you?
=My name is Tsuzuki! =Yes I know, Matsuzaka-kun. =Buy this stock next. I guarantee it'll make you a profit.
=Get him out of my sight! =Now now, Agent Smith.//Let's not be violent!
=Did you catch that? Just forget about it!//GACHUNK!
<170> =I had a vision of you becoming the manager of the Seifu Cats next year. A crystal clear vision.
=—Darn.//I knew it!
PLO—CK
PLO—CK
=No!//You're doing it wrong! =Leg like this,//Arm like that, right!?
<171> =It's gone—! WA—
=A grand slam in his 40th at-bat!//Hitalot of the Seifu Cats has finally done it!
=He'll start looking like a new man after his 40th at-bat.
=It's gone!//He's done it again—!
=Hitalot has homered in 2 consecutive at-bats!
<172> Seifu Manager Sonoyama Resigns!
Final Season as Manager! Long-time manager can't beat old age. Will take leave due to health problems—
=Me?
=A manager?
=That's right! We crossed off all the candidates on that quack fortune teller's list,//And you were the only one left.
Pigs flew.
<173> BWHAP
=Wow—! =When'd all this happen!?
=One month doing exactly what that sketchy guy told me—
=I don't know why,//But when an adult tries so hard to teach you something, you just gotta do it.
=Yeah! =Now that's a man!
<174> =By the way, why did that guy suddenly disappear without saying goodbye? =Dunno...
=—But, I feel like I'll run into him again someday.
=As long as I play baseball,//Then someday...
In 8 years...
Abase the Ace: Part 2 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12790[English] [Translation] Short Program 19 by Meriken2009-05-31T13:19:47+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 19 (pp. 127~150)
<127> Abase the Ace! (Part 1)
=Listen! The fate of our beloved Seifu Cats hangs in the balance! =So take this job seriously!
=Atsuki Moritaka, age 10. Sakuraba Elementary 4th grader—
=Do not allow this child to play baseball! =No matter what!
<128&129> Abase the Ace!: Part 1
<130> [sign]Moritaka
=I'm o—ff.
=Hey At-kun//Nice to see you. GRUCK
=Oh—//Hello, sketchy guy who recently moved next door.
=Hey now,//I'm not a sketchy guy, alright.
<131> =You wear sunglasses all the time, you never go to work,//And you just came out of a garbage can. I say you're pretty sketchy.
=Well you see, I'm actually a manga scriptwriter. =I do all my work at night, so I need to wear sunglasses during the day because it's too bright outside.
=And the best ideas are often found in unexpected places like this. [bubble]HAH-HA =Wow—
=—So, where are you headed? =To play in the park with some friends.
=Playing baseball, by any chance?
=Nope, it's soccer.
=Oh, okay.//That's great!//Yeah, totally. Soccer's the sport of the future! CLAP
<132> =You might even turn pro if you start early. =I'm just playing for fun.
=Oh c'mon! Think about it, okay? =Have fu—n!
=Man,//He really is sketchy.
=Mom, the newspaper's missing the baseball section again.
=How should I know—? =That's weird. It's been like this every day these past few weeks.
=You already saw the results on TV, didn't you? =That's not the point.
<133> =You think maybe Atsuki's collecting them? =At-kun's into baseball at all.
=No no,//You never know. =He's my son, after all.
=And I was the semi-semi-semi-semi finalist in the Koshien regionals 18 years ago.//Hah-hah-hah!
=You were the one who played catch with him in preschool and told him he had absolutely no talent. =No no,//It's been quite a while since then.
=Alright, I'll go buy him a glove tomorrow.
=We'll start up that nice father-son tradition thing again!//Hah-hah-hah!
<134> BWIP
CCT..
=Steerike yer out! BWII—SH WHAP
<135> =5-0, Hilltop Doors!
=Wow,//Another shutout for Miho-chan. WA—
=At-ku—n!//Wait up, let's walk home together.
=Hoot hoot—! =What're you hooting at.
WHOO—SH
<136> =Come root for me sometime. =I'm not into baseball.
=Trauma from preschool?
=You told me you went to the hospital when your dad hit you in the face with a baseball. =Old idiot doesn't know when to go easy.
=Hum, you're such a sissy.//All you did was get hit in the face once. =It was 3 times.
=Look,//I've got scrapes everywhere. =See? THUMP
=That's not something to brag about!//Just 'cause you're a little cuter than the other girls doesn't mean you can do all that and still get a guy to marry you. =A woman's life doesn't have to be about marriage.
<137> =Always gettin' dirty and hittin' some cleanup—//—Or not. [bubble]HICK
=Ah, Mr. Moritaka.//Good evening.
=Oh—//Good evening, sketchy guy who recently moved next door.
<138> =Speak for yourself. [bubble]HICK =What's the matter?
=What've you got in your hand there?
=Ah—//This is a baseball glove, mister. CLAP =Ohh—//What a coincidence!
=You see, I just happened to be looking for one to use as material for my new manga script!//I'm in a hurry, but all the stores were closed so I was wondering what I should do!
=Scriptwriters don't draw anything. So you don't actually need to have one in front of you. [bubble]HICK
=You shouldn't be noticing details like that while you're drunk. =Please! Sell it to me!
<139? =Well—I dunno—
=How about for 20,000 yen? =There!//Sold!
[sign]Moritaka
=I'm ho—me. BATHUMP
=Oh? Dear,//Didn't you say something about buying a glove for At-kun this morning? [bubble]HI—CK
=A 9,800 yen glove for 20,000...//TEE-HEE. =Secret savings.
<140> AWOO—H
[bubble]CLAP//CLAP
=The premier franchise of Japanese professional baseball. The Seifu Cats—
=The secret behind the team's 10 consecutive Japan Series wins is the presence of a so-called "shadow owner."//This individual has more say in the team's management than anyone else.
<141> =He goes by the name, Itella Fortune—
=He may have a cheap sounding name,//But his predictions are amazingly accurate.
=Anticipated draft deals.//Recruitment of star players from overseas.//Hugely successful trade decisions. =—Have all come as a result of this man's foresight.
=And according to him— =It's coming in 8 years...
<142> =In 8 years, the emergence of one man will signal an end to the Seifu Cats dynasty!
=Drafted straight out of high school, this pitcher will secure hall of fame credentials in only 8 seasons, =And continue to break records throughout his career. [headlines]20 strikeouts//No hitter
=—And no matter how hard we try, this pitcher will never play for the Seifu Cats!
Our only choice then—
=Is to prevent him from becoming serious about baseball until after he enters junior-high!
=That way, he will never fulfill his destiny of becoming an ace pitcher,//And the Seifu Cats will continue to reign supreme!
<143> =Two and a half years left until he enters junior-high!//Use any means necessary!
=Understood!? Fired pitching coach Kageyama!
=Understood. Fired pitching coach Kageyama will falafel his mission no matter—
=You mean fulfill! =Why thank you.
[x2]CLAP
[x2]WOOF
<144> Sakuraba Elementary School
=Now! For today's gym class we're going to use
=Bats and gloves to play—
CLACK
<145> =What's this!?
[letter]If you don't want your wife to see this picture of you having an affair,//DO NOT PLAY BASEBALL!
=UCK.
=Teacher! =Ah.
=Bats and gloves to play...
=Some kendo.
<146> DING-DONG— CLANG-CLONG—
PLOP
=Moritaka-ku—n, over here!
=You can run over and hand it to me if you don't think you can throw far enough—
=Don't you dare make fun of a man.
<147> [bubble]AH
HI—
[bubble]YA SLIP
SPLAT
=Moron,//You're raising the wrong foot. WHAP
<148> That's the pitcher who's going to secure hall of fame credentials in only 8 seasons?
=Shaddup!//I got it to you, so don't complain!
=Geez, and he calls himself a man.
=—But, I'm surprised he got it all the way over. =He was pretty far away.
=Hmm—
<149> =Heavy bookshelves—//Michio Watanabe— [bubble]HICK [bubble]What the heck?
=Is that,//Another baseball glove?
=I'm desperately in need of another one for my script. =What? No way—
=How about for 25,000— =There!//Sold!
[sign]Moritaka
=He—y,//Atsuki.
<150> =Wanna watch the game together? =No, not really.
=Hey, c'mon now. CLICK
=Huh? ZWU—SH =The baseball channel's the only one that's messed up.
=I have to keep this up for another two and a half years—!? [bubble]BOOHOO—
Abase the Ace!: Part 1 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12700[English] [Translation] Short Program 18 by Meriken2009-05-28T20:26:08+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 18 (123~126)
<123> 4 on the Richter Scale
[title]Oops, I Made a "Sunday" [lower right]Shougaku Kanko
TURN
<124> TURN
[bubble]BLICK
TURN
TURN
<125> WHAP
HO—NK
=WHAP [picture]END =And that's how it went...
4 on the Richter Scale (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12656[English] [Translation] Short Program 17 by Meriken2009-05-26T12:31:29+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 17 (pp. 117~120)
<117> [5x4P] Chapter 5: Departing Bird, Buys Time With Tea
=Tokushima Prefecture's Editor Academy has a huge 10-0 lead!
=Gunma Prefecture's Author High still remains hitless!//Things really aren't looking up for them! WA—
=Either way, this is the final inning of the tournament!
<118> =Pizza Toast and Ice Tea please—
=Jun-chan, store's closed tomorrow—You got any plans? =No,//Not really.
=Oh,//Really. =You're free then. [bubble]Hmm—
RRRR...
=Hello, 5x4P speaking.
=Another hit!//There's run number 11! WA—
GACHUK [sign]Employees Only
=Ah,//owner.
<119> =Jun-chan, I just happened to come across 2 tickets for the dinner theater at the Hotel Great Luxury,//Wanna come with me?
=AHH—//Awesome! =I've always wanted to try out French food at the Great Luxury!
=But are you sure—?//It's expensive, right? =Oh no no.
=Then let's meet around 2:00,//Maybe hang out, watch a movie beforehand... [bubble]HEE =Okay!
=I'll keep this on so that strangers won't try and ask me out.//The "Storeowner's Lover" name-tag (See Chapter 1)
=HEE
=What's this, Jun-chan?
<120> =Oh, that's right.//You've got a phone call from your wife.
=Haven't we,//Done this joke before? =See Chapter 2.
=AHHH—//12-run deficit, with 2 outs and nobody on base, Oshima is being walked yet again! WA—
=What is Author High thinking!? =Look, I told you! This author is totally clueless!
With the end of the Koshien//Comes the arrival, of an Autumn-colored wind... =What the heck is he talking about, Mr. Kawai!?//How should I know!
[5x4P] (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12655[English] [Translation] Short Program 16 by Meriken2009-05-26T12:31:03+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 16 (pp. 113~116)
=Mommy's talented, unlike Daddy.//A lot of people want Mommy's talent.
=Mommy's a chosen person.
=What's wrong?//You like cream soda, don't you?
=Cream soda wasn't the only thing I liked.
=Mommy and Daddy have to be here. Then the cream soda. =You're going to hurt adults saying things like that.
=Ball four!//Author High's finally gotten a runner with one out in the inning. WA—
<115> =Daddy, let's go home. =Wait,//After this inning is over.
=Hup!//There's a 1-6-3 double play!
SCRIT
CLANK =Welcome.
=Oh,//I'll clean it up right away. =It's alright.
=Keep it this way...
<116> =Ma'am, it's time—
=Cancel my schedule for the rest of the day. =N-No way!//We have an important—!!
=I've already broken my most important promise.
WA—
=What'll we do if we can't find it, Daddy? =Don't worry.
=It's definitely at that store—https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12654[English] [Translation] Short Program 15 by Meriken2009-05-26T12:30:41+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 15 (pp. 109~112)
<109> [5x4P] Chapter 3: Hey There Customer
=Gunma Prefecture's Author High vs. Tokushima Prefecture's Editor Academy!//6th inning of the summer Koshien tournament final—
=Up to bat is Editor Academy, they have a 2-0 lead.
RIP
[x2]SQUISH
<110> =With one out and nobody on base, the batter is #1 tournament prospect, Oshima-kun— [bubble]URR—GH =Uh-oh,//The catcher's standing up again! [x2]WA—
=Author High is avoiding this showdown!
<111> =Did you see that, Mr. Kawai!?//There's only 4 pages, but he used up such a big frame to show one pitch of an intentional walk— WA—
=Is that allowed? =Allowed? Listen—
=He's making a fool of the public!
=ACK! [x2]SQUISH
URR—GH
=He's a manga person.
=Everyone says a manga person gets fat checks and loads of royalties but, =They have no vacations.//No day or night.
<112> =They have no time to follow the Koshien Tournament, or kick back with a beer and enjoy the game.
=There's no beginning or end,//It's not a job where you go home at the end of the day.
=A work can only be created through a lonesome struggle with the inner self.
=It's a hard life, isn't it. =Yes...
=A hard life indeed...
=There's no cutting corners in this line of work. URR—GH
=Is this really allowed, Mr. Kawai!? =Allowed? Listen—//He's making a fool of us! WA—https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12653[English] [Translation] Short Program 14 by Meriken2009-05-26T12:30:09+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 14 (pp. 105~108)
<105> [5x4P] Chapter 2: Care For A Refill?
=Perfect. [sign]Open CLANK
=Thought the man who entered the store...
=He hated stores with too much air-conditioning. =Coffee,//Dark as you can make it.
=The sound of the aluminum bat coming from the TV set reminded him of the season he left behind when he came through those doors... CLANK
<106> =The man decided he liked this store.
=Especially the way it was teasing him...
CLACK =You know her from somewhere?
=Long ago...
=I met her in a sweet dream... PAPOOP
=Sir,//You're thinking of the wrong manga.
=Excuse me,//I'm off to the restroom.
<107> GATHUCK..
=I don't think I need to remind you,//But don't say anything stupid.
=What's with Mr. Clueless over there?
=Mr. Clueless is the only heir to a huge fortune.//Plus, the old man's good as dead. Won't last more than 2 years.//And I'm gonna be Mrs. Clueless next month. =For real?//That guy doesn't know about you?
=You really think a clueless guy like that could figure me out?
=Here, hush money.//I'll invite you to the wedding, okay? =Yeah right.//Invite all the guys you've dated and you could fill up the Tokyo Dome.
RRR...
=Hello,//5x4P.
<108> =Excuse me. GLUCK..
=Calling a Mr. Shirai, Mr. Shirai.//There's a phone call for you if you're here.
=Don't need a mike for a small store like this, do you? =Well,//Sometimes the customer is in the bathroom, right?
=Even the customer in the bathroom can hear if you use this.//There's speakers in the bathroom, too.
=I think it was on this whole time.
GACHUK
WA— =WHA—CK.//He hits it, that's a big one!!https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12652[English] [Translation] Short Program 13 by Meriken2009-05-26T12:29:13+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 13 (pp. 101~104)
<101> [5x4P] Chapter 1: Tea for Buyin' Time
[x2]BU—ZZ
=The only Kanto region team yet to win a championships, Gunma Prefecture's, Author High— [door]Open
=In this Koshien final, pitchers of both teams have started out well, and the score is 0-0 after the 3rd.
<102> =Another customer asked me for your name, Jun-chan.//Maybe I should just get you a name-tag, huh? =Sure thing. WA—
=Write "Storeowner's Lover" on it, please.
=Hey now—
=You're my sweet lemonade. CLINK
=You're not my cup of tea.
=Outside!//Ball one—!!
=Here's your American Coffee.
=Hey,//That guy—
=Hm? =You don't recognize him?//That face of his.
<103> =You know, the one that's always on sit-coms and stuff, but you never really notice he's there or anything.
=I don't remember an actor like that. =Uhh—//Not sit-coms, huh...
=—But see, look at the stingy way he's smoking that cigarette,//I've totally seen that before.
=Maybe he's some kinda critic or some kinda preservation leader or something. =Yeah—//Maybe.
=Here Jun-chan, your name-tag.
[tag]Storeowner's Lover
=Oh my,//You're such a jokester. [bubble]TOSS
<104> =He's running wild!//Got greedy for second base, and he's out!
=Oh— =What's wrong, Sachiko?
=Now I remember.
=That guy over there,//He's my dad— =Oh—
=Our relationship is crumble cake. =Please no-yogurt smoothie.
=Oh—Here's an intentional walk!//A walk for Editor Academy's clean-up hitter, Oshima— =Author High is avoiding this showdown! WA—
=Can't help it, right? Mr. Kawai?//—Nope! Unforgivable! Editor Academy is furious. =But the author's got his own reasons...
=Lemme tell you, this author's totally clueless. [x2]BU—ZZhttps://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12651[English] [Translation] Short Program 12 by Meriken2009-05-26T12:28:44+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 12 (pp. 71~100)
<71> Stopover
=Allow me to introduce myself. HONK
=Wataru Matsumura, age 16— [x2]TH-THUCK
=I can't bend spoons by rubbing them//And I don't have a special one-hit kill, either.
=And of course, I've never thrown a wicked fastball. =I'm not really sure what's so normal about all this, but, [x2]TH-THUCK
=—Well, anyways, you can think of me as a normal 1st-year high schooler you could find just about anywhere.
=Hey,//It's the ocean.
<72&73> Stopover
=HOOO—NK
=Kimihama, Kimihama.
=—And if I look like an ordinary 1st-year high schooler taking a trip to the beach during his summer vacation, =I'm not.
<74> =My destination lies further ahead.
=Where the classmate who moved away during 1st-year junior-high lives,
=My—
DASH
=My bag!
ZZ..
ZWUSH
<75> =Allow me to repeat myself.
=I'm not taking a trip to the beach during my summer vacation.
=My destination lies further ahead.
CHING
THUD
<76> =Oops,//Sorry. [x2]=Whoa!
=Matsumura?
=Komiya?
=What in the world are you doing here? =You too.
=Oh,//Money, money. [x2]ZWUSH
=How much was it? =Huh?
<77> =Uhh...
[sign above]Yakisoba Lunch//800 yen [sign below]Okonomiyaki
=One more 500 yen coin...//'Round here by any chance?
=Oh—//Here it is. =HUH//Really!?
=What're you doin'? =You found everything you dropped, right? [x2]ZWUSH
=Oh,//Right.
<78> =Bag got stolen? [sign]Albatross
=Hah-hah-hah. =What's so funny about that!
=You were probably staring off into space, as usual. =Keiko Komiya—//We went to the same elementary and junior-high, but were only in the same class together once.
=Whaddya mean "as usual."//You don't even know me that well. =Did you tell the police?
=Yeah. =Your house?
=There's no one there right now. =Everyone's on a family vacation to Hokkaido. I got my share of the money and—
=Came to swim at the beach by yourself? =Listen—//I wasn't planning on getting off here, okay!
<79> =Where were you headed?
ZUP..
=None of your business.
=—So,//How're you gonna get home with no money? =Oh,//Yeah.
=I was gonna borrow some from the police,//But they don't really buy the whole story about not being able to contact my parents!
=You know I'm not the type of guy that would try and gyp anybody, right? =Thought you just said I don't even know you that well.
=Please! Lend me some money.//20,000—No wait, 15,000. =I wouldn't be working here if I had that much money to lend.
<80> =Okay. =Then,//Here's the deal.
=Hey kiddo.
=That's you. CONK =Ah.
=Kakigouri//Strawberry and lemon, okay?
=—So the deal is,//This is a beach house operated by Keiko Komiya's aunt. ZZZT...
<81> =One day's work would suffice to buy a ticket to head back home, but... =I've come this far, and I can't turn back.
=My destination is— =Wonder if Sakura-san's doing well.
=Huh?
=You know, the pretty girl who moved away during junior-high.
=O-Oh, Asami Sakura, right? =The first girl I ever fell in love with. WUUSH—
=Didn't she move somewhere 'round here? =Oh,//That right? WUUSH—
=Hey guys, you can take a break now. =Oka—y.
<82> [x2]SWUSH//SWUSH
=What're you lookin' at?
=There's a butterfly caught in a spider's web.
=Scared of spiders? =Nope.
=Okay, then set it free. =Why?
='Cause it's sad. =You think so?
=The spider could've been waiting on a meal for days, and finally caught something to eat.
=Don't girls usual root for the butterfly? =You think so?
<83> =Poor thing! You've got to help it, Matsumura-kun!
=Okay, then what if it got caught while it was still a caterpillar? =Hum?
=...Might have some second thoughts.
=So they're all born the same, but you're only gonna help it once its beautiful.
=Normal people don't think about that kinda stuff.
=Hey—
=It's your fault if the spider starves to death. =Yeah yeah.
ZZT..
<84> =Let's take a swim. =In these clothes?
=Oh yeah—//What're you gonna do about clothes?
=Whaddya mean. Every last piece of my underwear was stolen. =I gotta stay this way till I get my paycheck. =Hey hey.
=How do I look? =You'd better pay me back.
<85> =That scar,//Is it from Rinkan Academy...? =Yeah.
=I was alone playing in the woods and a sharp branch went straight into my leg.//Man, it hurt! Lotta blood, too.
=I walked outta the woods all hazy, and just happened to see Asami Sakura.//And then I just fainted. =When I woke up, I was on the hospital bed and Sakura was looking at me all worried.
=I asked the doctor later and he said it was a good thing I got help immediately.//She totally saved my life—
=Your life... Huh. =I'm serious!//None of the teachers were nearby, and I heard it took a pretty long time to get to the hospital.
=...But,//Thanks to this thing, I got pretty friendly with Sakura and— [bubble]COUGH =Then she moved away.//Tough luck.
<86> =Moron,//That was in elementary school. =Tough luck indeed.
=—I thought I'd forget as time went by.
=—But my memories of Sakura never went away, just like the scar on my leg never went away.
=I just had to see her again.//Even if it meant skipping the trip to Hokkaido. =Even—If my stuff got stolen and I had to work to get back.
=That's first love for a normal 1st-year high schooler you can find just about anywhere, isn't it?
<87> ZZT..
=AHHHHH—
=Hey, what's wrong? =I'm bleeding—!
=Oh my.//That's nothing, just disinfect it with some salt water. =EEK— [x2]SPLASH
MOMMYYY—
=That was pretty mean.
=He's fine if he's got the energy to run that quickly.
<88> =Oh yeah, wasn't your dad a doctor or something?
=They're too nice to make a lotta money from it, though.
=What're you lookin' at, pervert! SPLASH
=Hey,//Idiot, I wasn't looking! =I was just like, wow—You have a mole there, huh?
=Everybody's got a mole or two, don't they.
<89> [x2]SWUSH//SWUSH
[sign]Let's beware!//Dark alleys and editors!
<90> =Komiya—!
=Look! That spider's still alive.
<91> MOMMY—
<92> =Here,//Underwear money and bathing suit money. =Makes me not wanna touch it when you say it like that.
=Fine,//I'll keep it. SWAP =Yup, underwear money.//Thanks!
=I'll walk you over to the station. =Why thank you.
[x4]SWUSH
<93> [x2]SWUSH
[poster]Mr. Matsumura who was robbed at the train station on August 10th. Your bag has been returned//(The wallet, too)
=Sorry. ='Bout what?
=I knew.//They already had the bag.
=Huh?
<94> =It was fun hangin' out,//...So I didn't tell you.
=Sorry.
=Oh, no problem...//Actually made some money.
=I'll be praying for it to work out.
='Bout what?
=Seeya.
BEE—P
<95> [x2]TH-THUNK
SNORE—
=Hatta!?
=Huh?
=Matsumura?//What're you doing here? =You too!
=Hey—!//You're going to see Asami Sakura, aren't you!? =Sakura?
=Oh yeah, you got notes and stuff from Sakura when you were out with appendicitis,//She was nice to you, so you're trying to— =Hey, wait a sec!
<96> =Keiko Komiya was the one who took notes for me. =Huh?
=You think Asami Sakura's nice!? =Yeah right! That girl's a total faker.
=She goes "I'll do it" in front of the teacher,//But then afterwards she's like "Komiya-san has better handwriting so I asked her—" =She's always been like that.
=Even in elementary school, she went and picked up a stray puppy and was like "Poor thing, we should all take care of it—"//She totally forgets about it, and once it grew up, she wouldn't go near it 'cause its "Scary—" TH-THUNK
=She pretty much fainted when it bit her on the finger and she started bleeding a little.
Lotta blood, too.
<97> =That time—There was one other...
=Sit tight, Matsumura.
=She was pretty-looking so I guess all the guys liked her,//But I heard all the girls hated her. =Komiya had a lotta friends, so if she hadn't hung out with her, Sakura would've just been a total outcast.
<98> =We haven't gotten to a station called Kimihama yet, have we? =Huh?
=Well,//I was just having a little nap, so...
=Heard Komiya's working at a beach house 'round there. =I just had to see her again.//So I skipped out on the family trip to Okinawa, and I'm goin' there to ask her out.
=Hmm—
=So, this Kimihama station— =Ah. =Two more stops.//I think—
=Mikami, Mikami.
=Where you goin'? =Just the bathroom.
<99> =Please stand clear of the closing doors.//Next stop, Lower Mikami, Lower Mikami. HONK
GATHUNK
[x3]TH-THUNK
<100> =Keiko Komiya.//We went to the same elementary and junior-high, but were only in the same class together once—
=The scar on my leg always reminds me,
=She's the first girl I ever fell in love with. HONK
=Is Kimihama Station coming soon, granny? =Yes yes,//It's very good weather today, isn't it— [x2]TH-THUNK
Stopover (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12603[English] [Translation] Short Program 11 by Meriken2009-05-24T12:45:54+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 11 (pp. 42~70)
<42> Marking Wakaba
<43> BATHUMP
VRRRRR...
<44> [sign]Moriyama Detective Agency
=Hey,//Just in time.//We got a job.
=Was that the client just now?
=Yep, been a while since we had a tasty job like this.//Double commission and unlimited work expenses,
=Is it dangerous?
=—Wouldn't be tasty if it were. =It's just a conduct investigation.
<45> =Of this girl.
=Of this girl?
=Love at first sight. The client's only son.//Just by walking past her at the station a couple times.
=But that's where Mr. Big Company President gets cautious.//Imagine if his precious son gets hooked on a naughty girl who's looking to get a fortune. =A proper investigation must take place before any relationship is established.
=Well well. =You were always good at drawing, weren't you Wakaba?
=New job? =Huh? =Oh,//Yeah. [file]Top Secret
=Misaki-kun will be away on business till next Monday.
=Till... Monday.
<47> =Okay.
=Right then,//Work hard.
=Seeya— PATHUMP
=Work hard.
=According to the client,//College girls these days could be up to just about anything. =They might even be leading an alternate life that even their friends and family aren't aware of.
=But don't report to me no matter what comes up.//Hand the results directly over to the client.
=I wish to remain playing the idiot father who has total faith in his own child. =Then why'd you take this job?
='Cause if we don't take it, then somebody else will.
<48> =Listen! Take this seriously. It's still work.//Don't hesitate. Mark her closely!
<49> =Wow—//So Wakaba's father's is a detective, huh?
<50> =That's really cool—
=There's a slight misunderstanding here...
=No no, we know.//Like the Michinoku Hot Springs Gourmet Murder Mystery.//Or the Tatsunami Couchette Express Walkoff Homerun. =Hold up.
=The Japanese police do excellent work!//Nowadays, detectives only solve murders in TV shows and movies!
=Stop being silly,//Just take a dump and go to bed!
PUFF—
=What was that? =Impression of my Dad.
=Wow, nice.//Great impression.
<51> =Hey, Wakaba.//Is it true that Kishikawa-kun from K University asked you out?
=Hey hey.//Who spilled the guts. =Hah-hah...//But you turned him down, right?//What a waste—//Kishikawa-kun's so handsome.
=Why why?//Is there someone you like?//Hey hey, Wakaba. [x2]BLAH =You'd better not be dating behind our backs! [x2]YADDA =Arrgh, get off my case!//Are you all gossip reporters or something!?
=Shaddup! BAM
=You'd better stop or else I'm gonna start crying— =Boohoo—
=Hey,//It's Professor Kitami! =Now that was a good cry.//—Well then, let's open up to page 473 thousand in the textbook. [x2]*scratch*
=Wow, nice.//Great impression. TEE HEE
<52> =Hup.
=Don't hesitate! =Mark her closely!
<53> =Yes sir! SWUP
FLASH
=...Ah.
[bubble]BEEP
<54> [x2]KACHUK
VROO—M
<55> KACHUK
=No way... Right?
<56> VROOM
[bubble]DING DO—NG
[bubble]GACHUK
<57> [bubble]*chirp chirp*
=Hey hey, Wakaba.//What're you doing on Eve?
=Eve?
=Yup, Sunday—
=Sunday... Huh.
=I can't be with the person I like,//—Unfortunately. =Hey—//So there is someone.
=Who? Who is it!? =Now now,//In due time.
<58> =Oh yeah,//Sunday is Christmas Eve... Huh.
<59> [23]Sat. [24]Sun. [25]Mon. Christmas
[x3]SHUFF
POP
FZZ—T
<61> [x3]SHUFF
<62> =I want to quit.
=Please don't say that, Wakaba-chan. =It's hard,//I can't...
=Just for tonight.
=Last time.//And I'll never bother you again, I promise. =...Please.
=...Alright.
<63> =Aha! I knew it!
=Exactly as I suspected!
=You see, Seitarou!? Don't be fooled by her looks.//You were about to embarrass the Akaoka Family!
=Let's go, Seitarou!//C'mon! =BOOHOO—
BATHUMP
=Oh well.//This was a special case, after all.
<64> =I wouldn't have said yes to a son like that anyways, you know.//No matter how rich he is.
=Oh,//Right. GACHUK =Hey—ya.
=Yo!//Work go well? =Y-//Yeah.
=Here,//Merry Christmas.
=One for me too? =I got a little extra money from my part-time job.
=I didn't get you anything. =Don't worry, you haven't gotten your paycheck yet, right?
Marking Wakaba (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12602[English] [Translation] Short Program 10 by Meriken2009-05-24T12:45:23+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 2, Chapter 10 (pp. 7~41)
<7> GWUU—SH
=Oops.
<8&9> Before Spring Comes...
<10> =Snow?
=No wonder it's so cold.
BAM
=—Well Father. =Watch and be amazed by Wakaba's work during your absence—
=Whoa—! VROOM
SCREECH
=Yeah yeah. =R for Reverse, D for Drive,//I know I know.
<11> [sign]Moriyama Detective Agency
=Your homework assignment during my absence. Track this man.
=You seem disgruntled. [bubble]AH =Well, I would prefer to take on a slightly more dangerous-looking assignment—
<12> =A locked room mystery.//A series of mysterious murders.//A decapitated body of a beautiful girl, even though you can't tell 'cause there's no head. =Yeah, that's more like it.
=Quit dreamin'!
=The Japanese police do excellent work!//Nowadays, detectives only solve murders in TV shows and movies!
=Anyways, stick to this man and don't leave his side until I get back! =Every waking moment of the day, understood!?
=K—ay.
<13> =I've rented a room across the street from his apartment.
=Spend the nights there—
=I'll give you double the usual.//But stick to this man at all times!//Understood!? =Yeah yeah.
=But gee,
=I don't see any drama happening with this fellow.
<14> =You alone, miss?
<15> =Huh? =How about a ride in my old-model Prelude?
=Oh,//I'm working, so don't disturb me.
=Oh c'mon,//You don't need to make such an obvious excuse just 'cause I'm so handsome— GRIP
WHACK
<16> [bubble]EEK—
=—Oh, just a magazine editor who can't get any action. =Whaaat!?
=Am I wrong? =Exactly as you say sir.
=Wh-Who's he? =I don't know.
=Oh,//Dang it!
VROO—M
<17> SPLASH
VRRR—
=Stick to him at all times! =Yeah yeah.
=Looks like he's done for the day.
=—Then I shall follow suit. FLASH [bubble]*yawn*
<18> =Hey, what's this. =Some late-night house cleaning!?
=What is he...
—Blood!?
=Did he get a nose bleed while he was asleep? =Maybe he wants to get some action.
<19> =Oh my.
=He may not look it, but he's got good taste.//I totally wanted to see this movie— =It's a deductible expense, anyways.
DUM DUM DUM BOOM BOOM BOOM [sign]No Smoking
DA-DUM—
<20> =Don't make a sound. =Uck!
=W-What!? =You're comin' with us.
=But it was just getting to the good part— =Hey, mister.
GACHUK
=What are you doing!?//Who are you guys!?
=Right, let's go. =Yup.
<21> =Oh. =Hey. VRRR—
HE—Y
=They don't look like magazine editors, do they. RRR...
=Huh?
=Ah.
<22> [sign]Akao Hardware Store
Thank you very much—
=Does he have a carpentering hobby?
=But who where those men from yesterday...?
=And what of the man with the sunglasses—?
=Actually, he was kinda cute...
=Hup,//Time for work.
<23> =Uck!
=You're not gettin' away this time. =C'mon!
=HICK! THUCK
=Wha!?
<24> WHACK =Uck!
=Sunglasses—
=Oh.
=Huh?
=We'll be back—!
<25> =Detective!?
=Shh—
=You helped me out, so I just thought I'd owe you an explanation.//Don't tell anyone, okay? =Okay.
=Well, danger is second-nature to a detective.//Stuff like that happens all the time.//So don't make a big fuss about it.
=Wow— =Wow—
=That's awesome—I love reading detective novels and stuff.//Is there anything I can do to help!? Please, let me help out. =—Geez,//Freakin' amateurs.
<26> =Wait, there is one thing. =What's that?
=Go buy me some warm Oolong Tea and a pork bun.//With your money. =Wha—?
WHIRR—
=Brrr, cold.
=Wish those spring flowers would start coming in.
<27> =Guess I'd better find a love seedling or two, or else//It's going to be another empty spring for me—
=No no,//Can't choose a man just on his looks.
=But getting desperate would be rude. TRRR...
=Hello, Ms. Wakaba!?//It's Yamada.
=Oh, I'm not desperate just yet— =Huh?
<28> =So I thought about it and came up with a deduction of my own.//That guy across the street is definitely suspicious!
=—Geez,//Freakin' amateurs.
=Please, just hear me out! =Yeah yeah.
=I think that guy already knows everything.//About you tailing him and keeping watch on his room— =Oh— =—And?
=—So you see, he did something before he learned about all that! =Like what?
=I don't know!//But he thinks you saw him! =And he's eliminating witnesses!
<29> =Listen,//Take it easy on the novels.
=What part of him makes you suspect,
=That he would need to kill someone for—
=...Doing,
=Something...
[x2]GWIISH
<30> =I know a good way to make sure! =Huh?
=Exit the room immediately and take off with your car! =At this point, he's the one watching you.//If I deduced correctly, that guy will definitely come chasing after you!
=No way...
BAM
VROOM
<31> =Ahh—//He's after mee—
SCREEECH
<32> BE-BEEEEP
=Oh,//Sorry 'bout that. VRRR..
=Huh!
<33> =See, I was right, wasn't I!? =Yeah.
=Hold on a sec. Lemme find out who requested this guy's investigation.
TRRR...
=Hello! KACHUK
=Oh, Dad!
<34> =Wakaba! What are you doing at there!?//I called the apartment and you didn't answer, so I thought maybe—!
=That's not important,//I'm in big trouble right now!
=What about your work, Dad?//When are you coming back? =My work here is done,//I'll be back tomorrow afternoon.
=Forget about that, Wakaba. Hurry back to that apartment! =Look—
=Don't leave that man's side!
=I see you've completed your assignment.
<35> =Wh-Who are you!? =You're going to hand that report to us.//In exchange for your adorable little daughter.
=We can't have you release something like that to the public. =Don't you dare try anything with Wakaba!
=Then we shall—
KONK
<36> =Huck! WHACK
[x2]=Hello!?
<37> =Not to worry,//I made it in the nick of time.
=You were supposed to keep watch on me more carefully,//Miss Detective.
=Ah.
<38> =Bodyguard!?//That person—?
=Didn't I tell you?//Stick to him and don't leave his side.
=This case was indeed very dangerous. [headline]Bigwig Nabbed
=There was a good chance you would be taken hostage. =—But it was a job I couldn't turn down.
<39> =So you wouldn't be worried about me, and to keep you from snooping around.//Two birds with one stone.
=Then,//What about—!?
=Just a little something extra.//I ordered him to engage in suspicious activities now and then so you wouldn't get bored. HAH-HAH-HAH =What an obnoxious thing to do!
=So he was keeping watch on me this whole time, huh? =He's also a first-rate investigator. [paper]Wakaba Moriyama//Report
=He says you should eat more nutritious foods, even if it is during a stakeout.
BAM =And when you're changing, keep the curtains more—
<40> VRR—
=Huh.
<41> =Hey—//That movie's not here anymore—
=Dang,//I missed out on the second half. =That was totally gonna be the best part!
=I wonder,//Did their love remain unrequited?
=Or did they... VRR—
Before Spring Comes... (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12482[English] [Translation] Short Program 9 by Meriken2009-05-20T17:34:40+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 1, Chapter 9 (pp. 267~284)
<267> What in the World Part 2
<268> =Clairvoyance!?
=Yep!//100% when it comes to numbers!
=Seriously...?
=Even in that card game,//I knew exactly what was coming up!
=Well then— =—But, it doesn't do me any good...
=Huh...?
=I tell anyone, =And it always turn out wrong...
=When I just watch, I'm always 100% right...//Even lottery tickets. I know exactly what the winner is...//But if I buy one or tell anyone else, I'm always wrong.
=My—How jolly! =A masked ball in the snowy mountains—This is great!
=I'll write a short story about all this! =Let's see, in two parts of—//20 pages and 18 pages!
=It's bound to be a best-seller!//GUFFAW [bubble]Moron//Needs more pages =Are you okay?//Your stomach...
=Huh? =Stomach!
=Oh,//Yes...
=I'm not asking her to be this cute or anything...
<277> =Just plain...//—No,//Even that face... PHEW
=If only the kindness and sensitivity were real... =We need more,//More beer—! =Hurry up, you old hag!
GUFFAW =Damn it...//I gotta get drunk—! =Here you go. =Oh,//Thanks...
=Hey,//Whoa... =What's wrong with me? SOB
=Dang...
<278> =You dropped this. =Huh?
=Lottery ticket... =Was it no good?
=Oh, no... =I don't know yet...
=Hmm... Guess I did buy this...//Forgot all about it—
=...Yeah,//Maybe after I dream a little more... =Huh?
=Oh, =Just some jibba-jabba!
=Show me the ticket number! =Huh?
<279> =—Here.
=Oh,//I'm not gonna say anything—
=Clairvoyance goes wrong if she tells anyone...
=Hey—None for you, Keiichi-san! =You've still got entrance exams! [bubble]YEP
<280> [x2]BWOOP
[x2]THUD
[bubble]Hi
=Have you seen this man anywhere!?
=There he is—! =Huh!! [bubble]Drink up
[x2]ZWUSH
=Keiichi...
=OOPS
<281> =P-Please save me, good people of Earth!!//I have an important mission—!
BATHUMP
[x2]BWOOP
=Not to worry—//We'll be sure to keep The Earth safe!//Hah-hah!
=You've got quite a poor disguise for a detective!
SWUP
=Ah.
=The one who knit it knows best— =Last year's birthday gift!
<282> =Thanks for wearing it. [x2]shuff
Absolute deadline!
=Yes, it's my handwriting!//The flight attendant asked me.
=DA-DUM—!
<283> =Hey, look!//The ambulance went up the mountain. =Hospital must be up there, I guess...
=Alright!//Now I can really start studying for those entrance exams—!
=Remember your application number?
=Yeah. =No. 2407
=2407...
=Don't worry! You'll get in! =Really!?
<284> =Ah...
[x2]BWOOP The End
=I-I wasn't//Not one frame...! =Well,//That's it for now [x2]THUP
What in the World, Part 2 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12481[English] [Translation] Short Program 8 by Meriken2009-05-20T17:25:00+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 1, Chapter 8 (pp. 247~266)
<247> What in the World Part 1
<248> =—Danger. [x3]CLANK
=I might really fall for her if this goes on. BEEE—P
=A full 3 years since we became pen-pals... [x2]GATHUCK
=I don't know her face, and I don't know her voice— =My imagination continues to grow.
=Dangerous! =Very dangerous! [bubble]MOO
<249> BUUUP
=I got my earnestness from my father. [cow]Happy New Year's
[x2]GATHUCK =I need to make sure before I go on any further. [letter]Mr. Keiichi Kataoka
=Besides, I've got entrance exams ahead. =I can't concentrate with all this going on.
=If she's ugly, it's over.//If she's cute, I keep serializing— =Hey, a UFO...
=I got my honesty from my mother. =Dear dear! YA—Y
P.S.//I'm using my winter vacation to go skiing in Asakura from the 3rd~5th. I'm staying in a cute little lodge called "Windmill of Dreams." LUV
<250> BEEE—P
PSSST—
VRRR—
<251> =Oh—//It's snowing it's snowing!
ZWUUSH
=Whoa—!
THUD
=It's snowing it's snowing!
=PHEW—
<252> =Hi,//Sup sup...
=What was that?
[sign]Windmill of Dreams
<253> =Welcome!
=Oh, hello.//I'm Yamada from Tokyo. =I made my reservation with a fake name, of course—
=She doesn't know my face or voice, either.
BLAH BLAH
=AUGH! =GUFFAW!
=Worst comes to worst, I may need to pretend to be a passerby...
<254> =Welcome to the Windmill of Dreams! WHAAP
=Is this everyone, Auntie? =Yep.
=All right,//Everyone gather 'round!
=What is it—? =What's up?
[x2]THUD
=Right right,//Have a seat somewhere!
<255> =Uno.//Dos. =Tres... [x2]RABBLE
=—Total 6 girls... =And one of them is...
=—Well,//Meeting in a tiny lodge like this first thing of the year is a little stroke of fate! =Plus, all the other customers went home yesterday,//And all of you have just arrived today!
=As the saying goes,//Everybody's friends when you're in the mountains! Pipe down the volume
=—Anyways,//Here's the plan: we all go 'round introducing ourselves!//Got it!?
=Her name is Satomi Nishijima.
=—Well,//Sink or swim!? =Right,//Let's start with you...
<256> =Huh...?
=Don't give a damn about dudes.
=—Oh,//I am Maxim AGF. =I've come from Planet Lipton.
=I'm surprised at how cold The Earth is. =Nice to meet you all.
=Very nice!
=Name could've used a bit more thought, =But I'll take it! [bubble]Ah [bubble]Loud
=That's right!//There's no need to bring mundane reality into this world of snow! =Doesn't everyone think so!?
<257> =Some from the city,//Some from the country.
=Some brainy,//Some droputs.
=Some rich,//Some who aren't.
=But this is a different world!//Let's forget about all of that!
=Forget real names,//Be what you've always wanted to be! =Go ahead and lie!//You can act like anything you want! [bubble]Huh?
<258> =I see,//You're suggesting a masked ball of sorts?
=Exactly! MY
=He is an alien here.//No matter what anyone else may say!
=No trying to find out anyone's true identity!//And don't let anything slip yourselves! =Alright!?
=Not alright...
=Sounds like fun! =Yeah! =Great [bubble]Umm...
=Alright,//Good!
<259> =I'm a supermodel.//I live in a mansion in Roppongi! [girl bubble]HYUK [boy bubble]WHA—
=I'm livin' the flight attendant life! =I spend half the year in foreign countries!
=Wait...
Boxer
DJ
Comedian
Film director
Dancer
<260> =Hey—
Copy editor Racer Designer
=And—,//I am a best-selling author!
=Not! An unpopular manga artist!//Okay? Make no mistake! =Please, guys!
=—Well,//That concludes...
=Oh, excuse me!//You were still left weren't you—
=I'm a private detective.
<261> =Gotta be kidding me, =Damn!
=Masked ball my ass!
=I'm the only one that really needs a mask—Gosh!
=...Well, =This doesn't look promising! ZWUSH
=Mr. Detective—! UCK
=How 'bout a game of cards?
<262> =I fold! =Me too!
=Here goes...
=Ah... =Huh?
=N-No//Nothing...
=What's your name?
=Full house. =Huh?
=The director wins again!//You're really good— =Beginner's luck.
<263> =I knew it...
=Huh?
=Ah,//Nothing...
=Oh, do you wanna join in? =Uh... =She's the shoujo manga artist!
=Am I right!? =Y- =Yes.
=Oh,//You can take my chips if you'd like. =No I'm alright.
=I like watching...
=What's your name?
<264> =Hello! GWUSH =Hello...
<265> =Ack! SWIP
=Consciousness— =The time between naps
=Yup! Get 'em jokester! =Hi-yah—!
<266> =Chips,//Borrowing 10 more!
=This'll raise me the funds for my next masterpiece. [bubble]Hah-hah..
[bubble]*mumble mumble...*
=Straight! =Four of a kind!
=...I knew it.
To be continued
What in the World, Part 1 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12447[English] [Translation] Short Program 7 by Meriken2009-05-19T14:20:13+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 1, Chapter 7 (pp. 203~246)
<203> AH
=It's a shoujo manga. =Oh. [sign]Ciao
<204&205> Purple
<206> =A little shout-out to the fans.
AH
<207> =He—y,//The paper's not here.
=Oh,//Did you get it Haruna? =Uh-uh. [x2]GARGLE
GULP
CLACK
=Rokuichi!
=Get outta the way.
<208> =I knew it.
ROLL
SLAP
<209> =Murasaki.
=I've been lookin' for ya.
<210> SWUSH
=That little...
CRUCK
=Don't worry,//I'm just here for your answer. =My answer?
=Join our gang. =We need you.
=No way,//I'm not fighting with chicks.
=Idiot.//We're not counting on you to fight.
<211> =It'll be easier for us to go recruiting if you join our gang. =You seem to be awfully popular with the girls.
=Aota-san told me the same thing. =What!?
=Did you...!?
=Not to worry,//I turned it down.
=I don't want to be a tool in your little political struggles.//No favorites. =Neutral. =You both freak me out.
=Let's go, Akashi-san.
=Listen!//Don't think I'll let you get away if you join Aota's gang. =Yessiree.
<212> =Why we even botherin' with that guy? =Yeah, she's right.
=Girls who join just 'cause of him won't do us any good. =True dat.
=They don't even stop to take a good look in the mirror,//Air-headed hoes//All the bitches who go crazy over him.
=Huh?
=Oh,//Now I get it...
<213> =Hello Ms. Class President. =Don't you look beautiful today—
=Aota-san, you shouldn't be wearing sneakers in school.
<214> =Huh? CHEW
=Sneakers? =Th-Those—
BWUSH =Ah!
=My—//What a cute little pair of panties. [bubble]TEE-HEE =A-And throw away your gum!
=Sure thing.
=Hey Yamada—Maybe I should try out some strawberry underwear tomorrow, huh. [bubble]TEE-HEE =Indeed.
<215> =Gosh!//Teasing people all day like that! BAM
=School would be so much more peaceful it it weren't for them! [bubble]URRGH
=It's 'cause you're pretty, Minako. =They don't even bother with me 'cause I'm such a klutz.
=So glad I'm not pretty. =Don't be happy! [x2]THUP
=They're still making fun of both of us.
=Oh, =Right.
<216> [x2]WA—
<217> Murasaki-kun... [bubble]HA
=Ah.
<218> =What's wrong, Komiya?
=Ah. =A cat fell,//From the roof.
=Don't worry.//Cats land on their feet no matter what, okay—
=—Well,//I suppose it would be a different story for a cat like you. HAHAHA [bubble]HMPH
=—Oh. *lurch*
It's a cat like me...
<219> =I wish I were a cat...
=URRGH—
<220> PLOP
TAP TAP
=Boo hoo—//Meanie— =Geez.
<221> =Ack! =He looked at me. WHUP
=Maybe I should try and give him a wave...
=Ack!
=I'll wave my hair.
<222> =Whoa. =He liked it.
=All right. [x2]BWUSH
=Oops.
=Oops,//I went too far...
=Boo hoo— =What's wrong, Haruna?
<223> =Oh well.
=A girl like me is just gonna have to live and die with one-sided relationships.
[x3]RABBLE
[blackboard]Michio Makihara
[sign]Mitsuru Adachi (Sensei)'s One-Frame Manga Lesson =Just 'cause you're running low on ideas doesn't mean it's okay to use a typical story hook like the "transfer student."
<224> =All the guys at this school//Seem really well-behaved—
=They're too well-behaved. =The red oni and blue oni reign supreme, thanks to them [note]Oni; Western equivalent: ogre
=Red oni and blue oni?
=The two gangs at this school.//Both their leaders are girls. =Wow—
<225> =Girl bullies are the worst.//They're jealous, persistent, and never let go of grudges. =Gosh!!
=So a beautiful, intelligent, lady would be a prime target for them.
<226> =W-What is this!?
=I don't know.//Mikami-kun had it.
=Why you—! =I-I didn't take that photo.//I just bought it.
=Bought it—!? =500 yen per photo from Aota's gang—
=What did you say!? =Hey,//It wasn't just me. A lot of the other guys were there too.
=Minako—//Akashi's gang is auctioning off your gym shorts!
=All right, 1000 yen! =We got 1200 yen!
<227> =You guys! =Whoops. [poster]New shipment!//Beautiful Class President's used gym shorts
=Heh-heh-heh. D-DASH
=Do something about it.
=Me?
=Yeah! Both of them like you, Murasaki-kun.//So if you tell them—
=Just ignore them.
<228> =There's bullies in every school.//But here—
=It isn't so bad.//They still come to school.//They match up pretty evenly. =At least it hasn't turned into a dictatorship.
=They're just trying to have some fun. =You'll just be giving them more ammo if you get angry.
=Hey, Minako.//What'd you talk about? =Hey.
<229> =I had a crush on Murasaki-kun, didn't I? =Huh?
=—But,//That was only up until yesterday.
=What a coward.//I hate that guy!
=Oh, =Great. =My biggest rival is gone.
=Ikeda-kun, remember 'bout tomorrow— =Tomorrow? PAT
=Oh come on, you've gotta write it down.//It's Haruna Komiya's birthday, right? =Huh?
<230> =I'll be waiting for my present, Kudo-kun. [bubble]UCK PAT
=Mikami-kun.
=Mikami-kun bought 3 pictures of Minako in her underwear! =All right all right.//Tomorrow is a wonderful occasion. =I'll get you something, dammit.
=Very well. =You may go.
=I never have any trouble talking to any of the other guys, but— =Hmph.
=—Huh!?
<231> [sign]Tennis club
=Mina—
=Okay,//See ya.
=Oh, Haruna//Birthday's tomorrow, right? =Don't worry, I bought you a present already. =Good for you!//You're an awesome friend.
<232> =My,//What a load of presents!
=You're a popular one, aren't you. =Heh-heh.
=Am I being too greedy...?
<233> =Minako—!
=M-//Minako! =What's wrong?
=That transfer student— =Makihara-kun, or something? =Yeah.
=He called out red oni and blue oni,//By himself, in the yard—
=No way!
=You did what!?
<234> =You told him you would go out with him if he got rid of them!?
=What were you thinking! He's not a Momotaro or anything! [note]Momotaro; Hero of Japanese folklore, slayer of oni
=But I didn't think he would actually—
=Blue oni has a first degree black belt in karate!//Red oni has a second degree black belt in judo!
=W-//What should we do?
<235> THUDDD =Ahh—!
WHUCK
THUCK
=Ack!
=N-Not my face!//I'm still a girl!
=BPPT WHAP
<236> =Yo.
=Be over soon.
=AAAH—!
CRUSH
ZZT
<237> =You said you'd go out with me if I did this.
=You're gonna keep your promise, Ms. President.
=W-What should we do, Haruna?//He's the real bad guy. =...Y-Yeah.
=Now...
<238> =This is pretty bad—
=M-Mura...
=So there were still some leftovers.
=You red?//Or blue?
<239> =I'm purple. [note]Recall the character's name is Murasaki (村崎). "Purple" in Japanese is also murasaki (むらさき).
=Not too shabby.
=Huh—!?
=Uck! THUCK
<240> =Ah!
=Guess it's been a while. [bubble]OW
=Wup. BWISH
=Nice try.//I got 20:20 vision in both eyes.
=So you were just trying to cover for your ugly face.
=Wha!? WHACK
<241> =I'm not interested in your eyesight.//They were just getting in the way.
=Huh! WHAP
<242> THUD
<243> =I hated Murasaki-kun, didn't I?
=—But,//That was only up until yesterday.
=Hey,//No fair.
=Can you go call the nurse? =Okay!
=Don't tell anyone I forgot to dot the "i" in birthday.
<244> =Huh?
CLACK
The "i" in birthday...
<245> =Move, Rokuichi! [bubble]*whimper*
=C-Could it be—
Ms. Haruna Komiya
Junichi Murasaki
=I-It was...
<246> =Rokuichi!
[card left]Ms. Haruna Komiya//Junichi Murasaki [card right]Unfortunately, I don't know you well enough to buy you a gift, so I sent a card.//For your birthday next year however, I would like to buy you a gift, so//Best regards! [bubble pointing to "birthday" contains the word with no dot on the "i"]
Purple (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12446[English] [Translation] Short Program 6 by Meriken2009-05-19T14:18:32+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 1, Chapter 6 (pp. 167~201)
<167> Plus 1
<168> =Buy food,//Write manga,//Start manga. =This page starts the new manga— CLUNK
<169> =I'm ba—ck. [sign]Ichinose
=Hup. =Yup,//Thanks a bunch!
=Here's the change. =Thanks.
=Phew,//That was heavy.
=Oh, Chisato-chan.//The repairman is upstairs.
<170> =Oh, hello.//Thanks for coming by.
<171> =This one time, I pressed the power button,//And it just kept making this weird noise =It's been like that for a month.
CHIK CHIK..
=Can you fix it?
=You wanted to have it fixed, right? =Huh?
=Yes.
CLICK CLICK
<172> =When'd you buy this stereo?
=Huh?
=Oh,//Umm—Sometime around October, I think. =Then it hasn't been a year yet.
=Right. BADUU—M
[x2]BOOM [x2]CHUK
=It's fixed. =Oh, yes.//Thank you very much! BOOMCHUK
<173> =Where's your warranty?
=Huh?
=Oh,//Warranty. =Umm—//I think it was...
=Umm— =Um. =Hey come on.
=I gotta head over to the next place.
=I'm sorry.
BADUU—M
=Huh?
<174> =Ichinose...
=Oh,//How much will it be?
=I can't find my warranty, so...
=I'll let you off this time 'cause you're my classmate.
<175> =Oh, but...
=See ya.
=Imai-kun!
=Excuse me. =Oh,//Thanks for coming.
=PHEW
<176> =Oh,//Just a sec.
<177> =Chisato-chan—
=You didn't come to my concert last night? =Oh, I'm sorry//Something came up at home...
=That's too bad—You were the one I was really hoping to see there.
=Stop kidding around, Sugimoto-kun.
=I'm serious.
=I'll bring the tape over to your house sometime.//Our band's pretty sweet, ya know.
=Sugimoto-kun— =Hi—
<178> =Imai-kun.
=Thanks a lot for coming over yesterday.
=You should clean the speakers once in a while.//They'll last longer.
=Mornin' Chisato! =Oh,//Morning.
=Hey,//Was that Imai-kun? =Huh? =Yeah.
<179> =But my, what a pity. =What do you mean?
=I mean, he's just as smart and athletic as Sugimoto-kun,//But he's not nearly as popular with girls.
=He's kinda cold, and doesn't talk much. =So he comes off really dark.
=Ichiro Imai, nickname Imaichi. How fitting. =Hah-hah. [note]Imaichi; "missing something"
=On the other hand, Sugimoto-kun—
=Speaking of Sugimoto-kun,//Chisato. =What.
=Whaddya mean what!//Everyone knows Sugimoto-kun likes you!
=—But you never seem to make up your mind//So the other girls don't know when to give up! =Exactly!
<180> BUZZZ...
=Oops,//Gotta go gotta go. =Hey wait.//No running away!
[x2]SCRUB
=My my,//Aren't you a hard worker. [bubble]HEH-HEH
<181> Kinda cold...
=Chisato-chan—//You're friend's here to see you— =Oka—y.
=Sugimoto-kun.
<182> =As promised.//The tape from our concert the other night.
=Where's your stereo? =Oh.//In my room—
=I'll see you up there— =Hey, wait.
GYAWIIING
=See,//Right there!//My guitar riff. =Um,//Yeah.
GWUUNG GWUN TWIING GWING VWUNG
=Isn't the volume a bit high?
=You can't get the feel unless you have it like this.
<183> GYAWIIING WIING [x2]CHUK [x2]BOOM
=Umm, I really think we're bothering the neighbors.//Our walls are like paper. =Chisato-chan.
=I think it's about time I got a straight answer.
<184> =Stop!
THUMP
BEEEEE—P
<185> =What's wrong!?//What's that noise!? *scramble scramble*
=Ah, sorry mom.//The stereo just broke drown...
=Oh.//Don't scare me like that!
TAP TAP..
=Chisato-chan.
PLICK
BEEEEE—P
<186> =Okay okay!
=Don't worry//I'll get Imaichi to fix it up for you. =He'll do it for free if I ask him.
=Well, I'll be going now.
=Bye— PATHUMP
CHIRP CHIRP...
<187> =Imai.
<188> =Ichinose's stereo got kinda messed up.//Can you go take a look at it?
=I'm not takin' no for an answer.
=Fine.//I owe you money, after all. =There you go.
<189> =You don't have to keep watch on me.//I'm not gonna snoop around.
=Oh,//I wasn't trying to...
=I'll go downstairs if I'm being a distraction. =You're not a distraction!
=Huh?
=It's your room. Do whatever you want.
<190> =...Yeah.
=No good,//The parts are all screwed up.
=What'd you do to it? =Oh//I just bumped into it...
=This might take a while, okay?
=Okay.
=Sugimoto...
=Huh?
=He come here often?
<191> =N-No,//Why? =Then I'll give this back to him. =His wallet.
=Huh? CLICK
=I'll be back when I get the new parts.
=Ah.
=PATHUMP
<192> =Found it.
=Hey, thanks. =Where was it? =Girls bathroom.
=Girls bathroom?
=Oh, anyways,//You get the stereo fixed? =Yeah,//Somehow...
<193> =That's good.//Would've been my fault if it totally broke.
=Your fault?
=Yeah.//Can't believe I screwed up like that.
=I tried to kiss her in her room//And she kinda resisted me.
=She's a strange one all right.
=Not tryin' to brag or anything//But I've never had a girl refuse me before.
=Dang,//That totally ended my win streak.
<194> =Don't worry, I got it next time.//I just needed to be a little more patient.
=Stereo was in pretty bad shape,//For just a little bit of resistance
=Hum?
=How much do I owe you again? =3000 yen.
=There. =Hey,//There's no rush.
<195> =Now I won't have to hold back. =Huh?
WHACK
GASHINK
=You'll get the receipt for the stereo parts later.//See ya.
<196> =I'm ba—ck.
=My—All together, I see.
=Hello—
=Oh Chisato-chan,//The repairman stopped by and fixed up the stereo. =Huh?
=Did you pay him?
=He didn't mention anything.
<197> CHIRP CHIRP...
=Hey! What's up Chisato,//You look down. =Oh.
=Hey,//Let's put on some music.
=Huh? =What's this tape...?
=Doesn't matter—//As long as it works. =Fine fine.
<198> [bubble]PI =—So yeah,//About that— =Uh-huh.
=AH—//AH—
=AHEM
=The stereo's all fixed.//The payment will be made by the culprit, so not to worry.
=If anything funny goes on again//Grab a speaker and give out a good whack
<199> =I would be happy to take care of any resulting damages.
=I've heard that voice somewhere. =Who is this, Chisato? =Quiet!
=Oh—//And...
=This... Is a coincidence, but.
=There's a picture of Ichinose on my desk, too...
=Hey!//I wasn't snooping around!//It's your fault for leaving it out like that.
[top]Lifetime Warranty [middle]Imaichi Electronics [bottom]Only valid for Chisato Ichinose [stamp]Imai
Plus 1 (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12325[English] [Translation] Short Program 5 by Meriken2009-05-15T13:05:39+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 1, Chapter 5 (pp. 127~166)
<127> [box]Melons =Whoaaa!
=Hip, =Hop.
=Wait!//You bastard— GWISH
<128&129> Change
<130> [bubble]SHUCK
=Hum.
=*spit* =Here I am.
=Y-//You brat—!
=I'll bash you're head in!
<131> =Whoa. =Hi. TAP
CRACK
<132> =Oh.
=Hah-hah.
=Wah-hah-hah!
=Hah.
<133> THUD
VROOM
<134> =Oh, =Hi there.
=He—y. VRR...
<135> =Remember these? [bubble]GUSH
=These aren't real men.//They had one girl surrounded and they were all teasing her. [bubble]You!
=Couldn't even work up the guts to talk to her if they were alone.
=Destruction of evidence— GONK [bubble]SHUP
[typeset as one big bubble]=I was gonna go apologize after I finished beating them up! TH-TH-THUD
<136> =You wouldn't need editors if an apology fixed everything.
=Alright fine, I'll pay for it!
=Hah.//A kid in grade school doesn't have that kinda cash. [bubble]Hey, get up =Who're you calling a grade schooler!?
=I'll be 14 next month! =Yeah right. Your voice hasn't even changed. [bubble]Melon fee
[typeset as one bubble]=Not even close. =I told you'd I'd pay the damages! =WHOA VROOM
<137> =That hurt.//You didn't need to hit me.
=Your scooter's working okay. [typeset as one]=That's why that face of yours is still okay.
=What an ill-mannered employee.
=Haven't learned about corporate heirs in school yet?
=Ohh,//Right right. =It was in the history textbook.//But I never imagined one would look like this. =Hey!
=Wait,//Why're you riding on back!? =Don't worry! You're going in the right direction so far.
<138> =—But,//Mr. President, your supermarket is that way. =I'm getting some coffee!
=Oh, thanks. =Whaat!?
[sign]Coffee Time
SCREECH
<139> =Get off.
=Oh, well. I'll be going now.
=Hey. =Not to worry.//I will definitely pay you back for those melons.
=What's with the change of attitude? =C'mon, I don't mind buying you some coffee.
=Oh, no.//It's against school regulations. =Yup. =Yup.
=Weirdo.
[bubble]CLANG
<140> =Hi there, Minato-kun.
=Hi.
=Oh,//Over here Minato-chan.
=Uh—Lettuce, cucumbers, and lemon. =What else was there, Et-chan? [bubble]He—y
=You can do that stuff over the phone.//I didn't come all the way to take your orders.
=He's right, owner.
<141> =Oh, sorry.//We're just about running low, so I couldn't help it. [bubble]HEE
=What would you like, sir? =Hot coffee.
[letter]To Minato Akatsuki
=What's this? =Ah,//I don't need an answer right now...
=A love letter...? =Huh? =Ah,//Yes.
=Then I've got my answer already. =Look for someone else. [bubble]Here
<142> WAHHH—
=—Geez.//That's what I hate about girls.
=Sob sob, tear tear.//They just think it's cute to cry. =Hah,//Makes me sick.
=Ah, Master Minato.//I'll carry your bag.
=Where'd you get my name? =Just now, from Madame President.
<143> =Anyways,//That was no way to refuse her. =Huh?
=Men need to be thoughtful.//At least tell her you want to think it over.
=Think over what? =My answer's not gonna change.
=It wouldn't hurt to let her dream a little bit,//Would it?
=Yes or no.//This or that. =Hope and anxiety— =Worrying.//That's how women enjoy making themselves into damsels in distress—
=You seem to know this stuff awfully well.
<144> =—That's what I hate about women.
=Look, I hate not being honest.
=When I say I want to think it over.//It means I'm really gonna think! =Got it!?
=Hmm,//That was quite manly, too—
[sign left]Market & Grocery [sign right]Akatsuki Store
<145> =Mom,//What's with that guy? =Oh, =That Kei-chan?
=You hired a brat like that!? =Wouldn't call it hiring.//It's free labor.
=Told me,//Just say nothing and let me help out for 2 hours until you close shop. =A brat like that won't even get anything done!
=Don't be stupid.//Works harder than you do. Thanks for stopping by!
=And besides,
=What?
<146> =It's cute {heart} =What the hell is wrong,//With this woman's mind.
[bubble]Hup
=BFFFT
=What the hell is this!?
<147> =There's a dead fly in the bottom of the coffee!//This a secret ingredient or something!? =Huh?
=How much are you making me pay for drinking this!?//Huh!? =Oh, sorry.//No need to pay.
=Damn straight.//I'll have you pay my medical bills if my stomach goes bad!//You've gotta be kidding me! =Hey!//Wait!
=Huh? =Oh, no.//I'm terribly sorry.
=Hah! CLANG
=Why'd you stop me, owner?//Falling for an old trick like that! =How would anyone not notice a fly till they drank the whole thing down!
<148> =That asshole put it in himself! =Oh, =You saw him?
=Who needs to see anything! It's totally obvious!
=Then there's no proof.//We do get flies here once in a while.
=Owner! =I don't want any trouble, okay?//It's been 3 years since I quit my office job and thing are just starting to pick up.
=Owner, a call from the landlord. =Oh,//Thanks.
Ah yes Definitely by tomorrow
=No wonder no one's married him. =He's a good person, though.
<149> =Arrrrgh!
CRICK
=Oww. =Moron! What're you doing!?
=Hurt your hip?
WHUP
=Not to worry. =See?
=Look at those thin arms!//You don't need to try so hard.
<150> =I'll carry this stuff,//You go clean up the empty bins in the back or something.
=What? =Heh-heh.
=Looks like I'm still a long ways off,//From my melon debts.
=Is your hip really okay? =Hup.
<151> =You're free tomorrow, right Etsuko-san?//Let's go see a movie! =Hey hey.//You're trying to pick up an older woman?
=Only by a year and 10 months.
=Not tomorrow. I have plans.
=Plans?//What plans?
=Oh, look.//It's a rainbow, Minato-kun.
<152> =He—y, Kei!//C'mere a sec.
<153> =You're late. =Phwee—
=Ahh—//So tired. =—And?
=Be a man.//You've got no chance.
=What does that mean.
=What I just said.
<154> =Just tell me everything you saw! =—Gosh!//You're such a sore loser.
=The girl from that cafe, =Is dating the owner.
=Yeah yeah. =Save the jokes for later.
=I'm serious.//I even saw them kissing in the park.
=Look, dude. Do you even know what that owner's like?//If you're gonna lie, at least try and think of a better one. =I'm about to get angry.//Really.
=What're you looking at?
=You're not observant enough.//You've never taken a glance at her ring finger?//The wedding band that the owner gave her is—
=Then just wait and see. In three months, =You'll be seeing them at their wedding.
=Ohh—//So you got all that from just following them. =Quite a talent.
=Look, it's pathetic.//Having someone else spy for you... =You're not being a man!
=You asshole!//I knew you weren't actually following them!//Spewing crap from that mouth of yours! [bubble]OW
=Fine, you don't have to believe me!//Just keep clinging to that little bit of hope and worry your ass off! =Like a rotten woman! =Why you...!
<156> GONK
<157> =Yo, girlie! Sit down and serve me my beer.//Make some amends and I'll forget all about that fly in the coffee.
=Ah! =Yo! [bubble]HEH =Oh,//Customers.
<158> CLANG
=Bastards!
=Hey! Wait up, bro! =Asshole!
=Take him outside. =Heh-heh. =Let go!
CLUCK
<159> =W-Watch it.//You could've stuck me in the head with that thing! =Oh, don't worry.//I've got another one right here.
=What's up,//Ya little wimp! =Can't do anything without your little weapons, huh—?
=Think so—? GLOT
WHAM
<160> CONK
=I don't think so.
=No fly in your beer this time? =Ah,//Nope.
=Thank you very much— CLANG
TRRR...
=Owner, it's the landlord. =Ah.
<161> [x2]*bow*
<162> =What do you think happened?//To Kei-chan...?
=Probably got fed up and took off.
=Without even saying anything? =Not the type for that.
<163> =Owner.
=Hm? MUNCH
=Refill. CLACK =Sure thing.
CLANG
=Oh? Kei-chan.
<164> =Oh my. You're dressy today.//What happened? You never wear a skirt outside of school. =Shaddup.
=You had me worried.//So you're my little sister after all.
=Coffee. =Gotcha.
<165> =Picture of my sis from 5 years ago...
=Can't promise I'll be like her in 5 years. =But I've got a chance, right?
<166> =I'll try hard, so...
=Go out with me.
=Let me think it over.
Change (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12309[English] [Translation] Short Program 4 by Meriken2009-05-15T02:21:04+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 1, Chapter 4 (pp. 99~126)
<99> Takeoff
<100> =Yo, don't worry about it.
=Hey—This coffee cup's all black on the bottom. SWUU—SH
=Won't kill anyone.
=Forget about it, come on. =Hey—Hold on a sec.
DING—DONG—
<101> Yeah—
CHUK
=Hey, Nishizaki. =It's me.
=I can tell. You're the only guy I know who's this big.
=Can I take a look at your TV? =Hum.
<102> =This is Nagashima. Pal from college. He's kinda big, but don't worry. You'll get used to it.
=Oh, she's Kaori-san. =Hey, remember I told you?
=—Oh, the college student you met at the grocery store who stayed up all night caring for you when you caught a cold.
<103> =She's much prettier than you mentioned.
=Hah-hah...
BAM
[x2]*scratch*
=Different girlfriend... Huh? =Don't you know what a wink means—?
=Sorry. =Yeah, I know you didn't do it on purpose.
<104> =—And, what about the TV? =Oh, right right.
=PIP
=You don't wanna buy one?
=Not really—There's usually nothing I want to watch.
=—And that's all for the Women's 800 meter dash.
=Want a beer? =Nope, can't drink alcohol.
<105> =At all?
=I can drink a little bit, =I just don't think it tastes any good.
=It's not about the taste. =When you get our age, sometimes you just gotta drink, right?
=Not really—I haven't had anything sad to drink about, =Or happy enough to toast over.
=You're a sa—d man. PSST
=Huh? =Why?
=Yeah yeah. GULP..
<106> [x2]WA— =I didn't know you had a thing for track.
=Not track... =Just this girl...
=The women's high jump final—Up next is, =North Asakura High School 3rd-year, Satomi Nakata.
<107> =Hey hey, you're too old for this kinda thing. I've seen her. She's all over the sports magazines and stuff.
=We're from the same neighborhood.
=Oh— =So you actually know her.
WA
=Last year's champion, Nakata. Clears 1.83m on her first attempt. WA—
=Cute.
<108> =I heard this from her mom. She's always had this strange little habit, even when she was just a kid.
=She puts conditions on everything she does, this girl—
=Like, she won't eat rice cake on new year's unless it snows, or won't cross the road until a hearse passes.
=Or won't get out of the kotatsu until the cat yawns.
=Anyways, she never broke any of her conditions, no matter how hard people tried to convince her. WA—
=That's not little. She sounds pretty screwed up if you ask me.
=But I think that's what's brought her this far...
<109> =—And,
=What's she got to do with you?
=Height. =Height?
=Her record jump during her first year of junior-high was the same as my height in my first year of high school.
=Huh?
=That's not all. The next year she improved her record to match how I much I grew. =Exactly, not even a centimer off.
<110> =Isn't that kinda cool? I started saying hello to her on the street after that.
=Saying hello...? =...That's it?
=Yeah, that's it.
=—And, did she jump your height in her third year of junior-high, too?
WA—
=The day of the track meet. I ran into her after she'd gotten back.
=I tried to say hello, and...
<111> =—So, I thought she'd messed up her jump...
=But then afterwards, I heard that she won with a new tournament record.
=So they were tears of joy.
=No... =Those were... Definitely...
=—And, was the tournament record the same was your height that time?
<112> =Ah, no. =Guess I just grew too much that year.
=—Well, what about after? =I came moved here for college, so I haven't seen her at all.
=Idiotic. So just two useless coincidences, huh.
=That's what I thought too.
=My height kept growing even after I came over here, and I just assumed there wouldn't be a third time...
=—But, after she won the championship in last year's nationals, she raised the bar to 1.92m on her last jump!
<113> =That's exactly how tall I was last year! Isn't that cool?
=She didn't make it. =But, it just made me happy.
=Jolly man. BLICK
=You sure you don't want a beer? =Yeah.
=—And, how tall are you now?
=1.97m.
=Whoa wait, You're this old and you're still growing 5cm a year?
<114> =The Japanese record for the women's high jump is 1.95m.
=Hear that? 1.95m is the Japanese record. PSHUCK
=You keep growing even if you just sit around like an idiot, but do you even realize how hard they have to work for a single centimeter?
=I don't know what you're hoping for, but it's impossible. =If this kinda thing continues, it won't be another coincidence. It'll be a miracle.
=I know.
<115> WA
[x3]WA—
=But man, she really is cute.
=She must be really popular with guys.
=No kidding. When you're that good, even the ugly ones get attention. =She's got the looks. She's already a star.
<116> [x3]WA— =She makes it!
=After a disappointing finish at the inter-high school tournament,//Satomi Nakata has renewed her personal record to clinch her second consecutive national title!
<117> =Close call. If only you'd stopped growing last year.
=It's not my fault that I keep growing.
=—And now, she's looking to improve her record. WA—
=The bar is raised to—
WA—
<118> =A miracle. WA—
=Idiot...
=You should've known these weren't coincidences.
<119> =Your height.
[x2]WA— =1.96m would be enough to get the Japanese record. =So why's she going for an extra centimeter?
=She's always been trying to jump your height.
<120> =No way—How would she know my exact height when I haven't even see her for—
=It's 1.97m.
=What's up, mom? You called just to ask me something like that?
=And the year before... I think.
=—But, why?
=You said so yourself.
<121> =She's got a strange little habit.
<124> WA—
<125> WA—
GLUB
=Nishizaki.
=Pass me a beer.
PSHUCK
<126> =Two days later, I received a love letter from her.
=She had written it =Three years ago. [letter]Satomi Nakata
Takeoff (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12287[English] [Translation] Short Program 3 by Meriken2009-05-14T17:39:53+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 1, Chapter 3 (pp. 75~98)
<75> Short Program
<77> =Here,//You go.
=Oh,//Thanks.
=Sorry for making you wait.//The restroom was really crowded. =Well, it's Sunday.
<78> =It's been exactly a month.
=Since I first saw you.
=—Yeah.
=That time...
<79> =Ah!
=What are you doing!?
=Can't you tell!? =You know you want to!
=Come on Naomi!//We're not in Shonen Big Comics anymore! =S-//Stop it!
=Heh-heh!
CRACK
<80> =What's wrong, Morimura-san!? =Are you all right!? =What!?//What was that sound!? [x2]RABBLE
=I was surprised too.//I mean, I happen to glance out the window, and I see that.
=I wasn't exactly sure what to do. =But it didn't seem like you were his girlfriend.
=Hmph. Never.//He's garbage.
=We went to the same school during junior-high.//And he was the captain of the soccer team during high school, so he was actually kind of popular.
<83> =We happened to see each other last year and he told me,//"I shouldn't have dumped you if I'd know you would grow up to be this pretty—" Gosh.
=What a snob.
=I did ask him out on a date once. =—But I never wanted to see him again afterwards.//Really.
=I can't believe I was attracted to a guy like that, even for a short time.
=I heard he's dating three different girls right now. =Yeah, I've heard about those kinds of guys.
=I've never,//Had any luck with good guys.
<84> =All the guys that I've fallen for...//They were all total losers, now that I stop to think about it.
=All the guys...?//How many?
=Two...
=Pressure's on the third.
<85> =—But you know, it's strange.
=I'd never seen you before.//Even though we lived across the street facing each other.
=I keep the curtains closed a lot...
[bubble]CLICK
=Okay,//One more.
CLICK
<86> =—Oh, and speaking of photos...//Thanks for yesterday. =I was really in a bind that time.
=Ohh,//That kid next door's little treasure—
=Liar—!
=I'm not lying. I really saw Kiyohara. =We shook hands and took a photo together.
=Then why don't you show us that photo!? =I-I don't have it right now.
<87> =There. You see? =Last time you said you got an autograph from Mitsuru Adachi, but you never actually showed it to us.
=Th-That was because...//Mom thought it was graffitti and threw it into the garbage...
=Liar—!//Liar—!
=I'm not a liar—!//I gave the picture to my neighbor—
=She said she was a huge fan of Kiyohara...//And she's really nice and pretty, so I...
=Then let's have her show us. =S-She's not home right now.
=Ya hear that!? He's lying to us again. =Hah!
<88> =Liar—!//Liar—!
HEY!!
=Ken-chan isn't a liar! =Hey,//It's my neighbor.
=Hmph!//Then show us some evidence. =Fine. *sob—*
=You stay right here. =I'll bring it downstairs.
<89> What's wrong—? Hurry up—!
=J-Just a sec, okay!?
<90> [x2]KNOCK
=Check behind the bookshelf.
=That was a strange coincidence, too.
<91> =The night before,//You left the window open, so the wind—
=I couldn't tell what picture it was...//But I guessed that was what you were looking for...
=You saved me that time, too...//Ken-chan would've hated me forever...
<92> =I've had bad luck with guys,//But I guess I've been pretty lucky on everything else.
=Right after I moved into that room,//I went to sleep with the bath running.
=Then the phone rang...//The person hung up, =But it saved me from setting the room on fire.
=Ahh!
=—But, who was calling that time?//It's almost like they were watching me from somewhere and called just to wake me up...
<93> =Probably just a prank call...//I think.
=I guess.
=How big is your room?
=11 square meters.
=Oh,//Mine too.
=What's the rent? =23,000 yen.
=What!?//Mine is 36,000!
=But yours has a bath, though.
<94> =Oh yeah.
=But that bath is really small, you know. =And it looks yucky.
=Yeah,//Those red tiles against that green bathtub,//That's pretty yucky. =Right?
=Gosh, that green tub is so...
<95> =Alright then,//Let's finish off with that one. =Oh,//Sure.
=Well, at least your kitchen's neat.//Plus, you've got that water boiler.
=Did you get all the plates and everything yourself?
=Yep.
=Even that kettle that looks like a birdie? =Yep.
=Wow...
<96> =Is the toilet on the left side of your bathroom? =Yep.
=Right,//That's what I thought.
=Can I come over to your room sometime?
=...Sure.
<98> [handwritten sign]GOODBYE
Short Program (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12286[English] [Translation] Short Program 2 by Meriken2009-05-14T17:38:43+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 1, Chapter 2 (pp. 43~74)
<43> The Intersection
<44> TUP-TUP-TUP...
TUP-TUP-TUP...
<45> STOPS
=Spot on!
<46> =What? =These shoes I bought today.
=Got your part-time check, huh...
=See ya, Katsuaki!
=Don't push yourself. It's bad for your health.
<47> =Take-chan is the type who can't say "no" to anyone... =No way!
=I'm getting my pay next week. I'll pay you right back! =Why do you need 10,000 yen to go on a date!?
=That's, =HEE =For when the time comes! GRR..
=Fortunately, you don't have a girlfriend, so... =Whaddya mean fortunately?
=Please!//I'll return it next week! I promise... =Kay?
<48> [x2]SWUSH
[bubble]BLEH
[x2]CLACK
=Anything to drink? =Coffee.
<49> =You know him?
=Yeah, that's Yamane-san.//He's an alumni from our cheering section.
=You don't need that face anymore, right?
=Hup. =Why didn't you say hi or something if he's your senior?
=That wouldn't be the end of it...
=He's no good?
<50> =He works for a "travel agency..." =Ohh,//Boy!
=Well, thanks for this— =This?
=He—y!
=I promise I'll give it back next week! =W-Wait!//Damn it Katsuaki! VROO—
=There's 15,000 yen in there—! =Oh,//Cool. GU—SH
<51> =Well, I shall make sure to return with 15,000 yen...//Farewell!
=*sigh...*
=—But,//Oh well...
=I got these shoes I wanted...
=And besides...
<52> I just imagine I'm on a date with her every day, and it never cost me anything...
=Arrrrrgh! [x2]WHACK
=How come you're always like that!?//Oh well...//Next time... =That kinda attitude is what's keeping you from ever having a girlfriend!
=Yeah, it's all because of this attitude.//It's not because I'm unpopular!
=I've even got proof.//Yamada's girlfriend Et-chan and Sachiko dating Sakamoto both said— =In hindsight,//I actually had a crush on you during junior-high, Takechi-kun! =But it didn't seem like it would work out, so I gave up!
<53> =Arrrrrgh! =Are you still in grade school!? Satisfying yourself with imaginary dates like this!!
=All right, I've decided!//I'm gonna talk to her! =This time I'm gonna spit my true feelings!
=Tomorrow, usual time, usual place, I'm gonna tell her I like her!
=You watch and see!
FLASH
VROO—M
<54> =Wait a sec...
=—Yeah, =Even if she says yes, I don't have the money to take her out on a date!
=That would be pretty lame...
=—Which means I have to wait for Katsuaki to pay me back...
=—Yeah, =Guess that'll have to do...
=Besides, tomorrow is a bit sudden for all this...
=I made up my mind today, so...//For now...
=—Yeah, =That'll do.
<56> =Alright! =Now that I've gotten my money back from that idiot—
=Yo,//Take-chan! =This idiot...
=Order anything you want!//My treat. =Hah-hah... =Oh really...
<57> *mumble mumble*
=Well? How's it taste Take-chan...?//The beef curry I'm treating you to. =Yeah yeah.
=Oh, Yuki-chan.//Just wait a sec, okay?
=Where you going, Katsuaki?
=Poop!
<58> =You and Katsuki-kun always hung out together during junior-high, didn't you? =Huh?
=You really are best friends, aren't you.
=Well... =Not at all—!
=Oh,//Did I every tell you? =I had a crush on you during junor-high. BFFT
=Oh,//Really...?
=Yeah,//And I haven't told Katsuaki-kun, but actually, I still— =Huh!?
CLANG =Welcome—
<59> =—Anyways, the preliminaries of the summer Koshien,
=Meisei Academy continues its struggles, =But manages to make it to the finals...
=Lemon tea.
=Where they battle Nitta's Sumi-High...
<60> =Ohh Takechi-kun {heart} =Huh...
=One!//Two!//Three!
=Hah-hah... =I win again!
=—and then, =—you know?//Tee-hee...//Isn't that great?
=Oh Takechi-kun— =What are you taking your sweet time for? Hurry your ass back Katsuaki—!
<61> =Thanks for coming—! CLANG
<62> =Hey,//Sorry 'bout that.
=Gosh! What took you so long!? =Poop. I told you.
=But you guys looked like you were havin' a good time. =If I didn't know better, I'd think you guys were dating! [bubble]IRK
=Whaat!? HEE HEE =Oh please!//You're getting too worried, Katsuaki!
=See ya, Take-chan.//I'll treat you again sometime!
<64> KACHUK
<65> =K-Katsuaki! =Whoa, =What's up!?
<66> =She got the wrong idea!//It's all your fault! =Wha?
=Every day at the same time since I first saw her—//And on that exact street, too!//Your poop took too long!//Moron!
=You left me alone with your girlfriend,//And she saw us//And thought I was dating...
=Wha?
=—Hold on...
=...That means... =Wha?
=Huh?
<67> =—Does that mean,
=She came to this street every single day just to see me—?
*wobble...* =Take-chan?
=Oh no—!//It's happening all over again!
=I wanna go clear things up,//But I don't even know have a name or an address! [bubble]Ahhhhh
=An overnight trip to Ikatsu Hot Springs? =Yup.//15,000 yen per person. [bubble]Spot on!
=Wha? =H-Hey it's wasn't just you!//Here, look... =See?
=I didn't have enough money so I even took out a loan from my parents! [bubble]HMPH =Who told you they wanted a vacation!?
<69> =I didn't wanna go either!//But Yamane-san asked me to! =That doesn't mean you have to buy one for me too!
=You're only saying that 'cause you don't know how Yamane-san//"Asks" things!
[x2]BWOOP =Saw that? That was probably one of the guys that refused. =Dude, look...
=Gimme his number!//I'm getting my money back! =I wouldn't do that.//It's for your own safety.
=Just tell me!
<70> =You're ready to die? =Yeah,//I'm not scared of anything now!
TRRRR... =KACHUK//—Hello, this is Yamane. =You've got a Ginjiro-san there, right?
=Yes,//Please hold on.
=—Man, you've gotta be kidding me!
=Yo...
=Y-Yes,//About this Ikatsu Hot Springs overnight trip... =The one that costs 15,000 yen,//Am I right?
<71> =H-Hello?
=Who the hell are you?
=Uh,//M-My is Haruhiko Takechi. =Y-You know...//That Katsuaki Sugiyama guy? =The one who's tickets he also ordered—?
=—Oh, Katsu's pal, huh.//Don't worry, this isn't a scam. =Yes,//Right...
=W-Well, you see!
=...What?
<72> =Am I to understand that we will be commencing at 9:00 am? =My ass you are!
=Thank you...
KACHUK
[bubble]HAH
<73> =Hey Misato, =You really coming to this hot springs trip...?
=Yeah,//I just feel like going somewhere... =It's okay if it's with you, right big bro?
=Not one of my best ideas, though... =The place is pretty crummy.//Rooms are filthy.
=I don't care.//You're paying for me anyways, big bro.
<74> =Oh well...
=Dunno what happened,//But you haven't looked too happy these past few days... =But maybe this'll cheer you up.
=Dear God, I have given up on that 15,000 yen. =But please,//Please let me see that girl again...
=Watch out Take-chan—! The light's changing—!
The Intersection (END)https://mangahelpers.com/t/meriken/releases/12285[English] [Translation] Short Program 1 by Meriken2009-05-14T17:38:11+00:00Merikenadmin@mangahelpers.comShort Program, Volume 1, Chapter 1 (pp. 7~42)
<7> Recent Times
<8> WU—SH
[x2]PLIT
<9> =Sugii.
=Yo, it's been awhile. =You been doing well?
=Hey, that's a nice sweater you got there. Hand-knitted, huh?
=Did your girlfriend make it for you? =Moron! Did you forget Sugii's hobby is knitting?
=Oh, right right. Yeah, you were kinda weird. =You're one to talk. You sang "Mary had a Little Lamb" with farts at the farewell party.
<10> =—So?//how many guys said they're coming today?
=Pretty much the entire class.
=Wow—//Guess everyone's got time to kill. =There actually isn't much to do around New Year's.
=That asshole teacher isn't coming too, is he? =Don't worry. Teach got transferred to some mountain in Hokkaido last spring. [sign]Happy New Year//1987
=Just us students. =Very good. Very good. PLIP
=But man, it's cold— =Yeah. This might turn into snow.
<11> =Wassup. =Yo.
=Please sign in over here— [sign]Booked today for//(Class of 1983)//Kitamachi Junior-High Class 3//Class Reunion
=Man, it's pretty dumb weather.//—Oh hey, you're Yamamoto. =Sign your name on the register.//And please pay your membership fee—! =Hey, where'd you go for high school again?
=Akashi, pay your membership fee, man. =Oh Hattori-kun, how are you— =Yoshimura, you bastard, give me back that record you borrowed.//Sachiko—Over here, over here. =Akashi, membership fee!
<12> =Yo! Liquor store's son. Well, how's business these days?
=Not good compared to that cram school you're attending Yo
=Oh, Asako—//It's been so long. =Hey hey//You hear about Kudo's older brother?
=Why, you look even prettier now—//When'd you get back?
=—and that's what she said.//Isn't that funny?
=Hey!//Grocery store's son.
Hey hey, did you hear about Kudo's older brother?
<13> =Hello.
=Oh my,//Is that Sugii-kun?
=He grew a lot, didn't he?//He only came up to your shoulder during junior-high. =You're exaggerating.
=Was I 7 cm taller?
=6.8
<14> SHWICK
=Hey hey,//What's that car out there!?
SCRICK
=He—y!//If it isn't Higashi, our class superstar!
Toshio...
BATHUMP
<15> =Attends a top university, lives in a mansion in Aoyama,//Plays rugby, plus he's got that car.
=He was always popular in junior-high.//But four years later, he's in a whole different league!
=Yo.
<16> =Sugii—
=Catch!
=Hey, I never realized this was your house.//I always walk by here, but I never noticed— =Ready to run?
=Huh? Thief!
<17> Wait—!
=Don't drop any.//I'll give you half.
=I don't get it.
=Huh? =They ones you steal—//They always taste better than the ones in the store. =CRUNCH
=Hmm—
=I don't get it. =...Me neither.
<18> =Hey Higashi-kun,//how long are you going to stay over? =I haven't really decided.
=Let me ride in your Mercedes once.//Oh, me too. =Please?//C'mon!
=Yeah yeah.
=They ever looked in a mirror?//They really think they're fit to ride shotgun on a Mercedes? =True dat.
=Eat up, Sugii.//You're gonna waste that 5000-yen membership fee.
=Yamashita,//You went to the same high school as Higashi, right? =Yeah.
<19> =And Asako Takazawa— =Yep,//Same school.
=Those two... =Were going out, right?
=That's what a lot of people thought. [x2]MUNCH
=Takazawa had a lot of fans in high school too.//But yeah, Higashi sort of kept all the guys away.
=Kazuhiko.
=We're gonna go grab some lunch. Come with us. [sign]3rd Year Class 3
=Huh?//Why? =I'm not hungry.
=She says she doesn't want everyone to think we're going out.
<20> =That's not why.//It'll be more fun with three people.
=Right? C'mon.//Higashi-kun's treat. =Uck.
=Oh yeah...
=You and Higashi were pretty good pals in junior-high,//But you probably haven't see each other at all after that, huh?
=Yeah...
=It happens...//When you go to different schools...
<21> [sign]Happy New Year [toilet paper]Shut up!
=What're you drinking?
=Oh,//It's cola. [bubble]*tsk* =Still a kid, huh?
=—But, it looks like you did get a lot taller.
=Yeah. =I finally got about average after I started high-school.
=It seems I grow up a couple years behind everyone else. =What a nuisance.
=Huh?
<22> =Hey Yoshida,//Mitsuhashi.
=I heard you guys are dating, right?
=You guys make a good couple.//Send me a wedding invitation, all right? =Oh...//We're not that far...
=Oh,//That reminds me.
=I think I remember getting a love letter from Mitsuhashi during junior-high— =Sorry 'bout not responding—
=You're too old for that stuff.//Here, have some beer.
<23> =I don't think you act old enough. =Hmm?
=4 years... Huh.
=You were cool. =You really were...
<24> =Even without a nice resume and a sweet car.
=Hah,//Still posing as always.
=Man, was I fooled by that one.
=That's gotta be the most boring girl anyone could date.//She's just a looker. =—Well,//There's tons of good-looking girls in Tokyo.
<25> =Can you believe it?//A girl in this day and age, bawling her head off over a kiss.
=Plus, she's gotta be back home by 7:00. What a joke. [x2]PLUCK
=You're drunk.
=You have no idea, do you!
=Yeah, you're right.//I had no idea you were such a bad drunk. =She was brought up well, huh? That little lady.
HUFF
=Wanna know,//Exactly how well?
<26> =The true identity of the girl headed home at 7:00—? =Huh? =Toshio.
=What a freakin' joke.//One hell of a lady she is!
=That girl's mother—
=Was a mistress.
=She won't tell me much,//But I heard he's a pretty famous politician. My father. =We just tell everyone he's dead, though.
<27> =But why are you telling...//Me...?
=Ahh—//I feel so much better now.
=I had to tell somebody. =Keeping secrets like this just isn't good for health.//Puts too much weight on your chest.
=—But, girls talk too much,//And Sugii-kun seemed like the only one I could trust for something like this.
GRASH
<28> =All right, bring it on!//I'll fight you.
=Who do you think you are, asshole!
=You really think you can beat me!?
=Huh!?
<29> =Try messing with Kazuhiko again.//I won't let you off let off this easy next time!
=Cut it, Higashi!
=Let go!//I'm gonna bust this asshole!
=You're drunk.//Go cool your head off outside. =Come//Come
<30> =Hey,//Look. =There.
=Snow...
=See?//I told you so. =It really is cold today.
=Huh?//That's it?
=Yeah, well. It's my first time knitting. =—But,//You won't make it in time for Christmas at that pace.
<31> =Huh?
=Good.
=Barely, but we made it.//You're meeting with Toshio at 5:00, right? =Huh?
=Don't worry,//I'm not gonna tell him I helped you.
<32> =It's warm. =Whoa,//It's snowing.
=Thanks... =I'll treasure it.
=You mean—//Make him treasure it, right?
=The snow falls— =But you don't come—
=The snow falls— CLANG
<33> RABBLE
=Cola...
=Gimme some.
<34> =Have you ever thought about why,//We never saw each other during high school?
=Well, we went to different schools.//And we don't live that close either. =I was avoiding you.
=How else would I never run into you in a tiny place like this.
=I didn't wanna see your face.
=You're the only person,//I've ever felt envious of...
=Envious?//Of...//Me?
<35> =A little slow, aren't you.//You know there's only one reason I would ever envy you.
=You really do grow up slower.//You're still just a little brat.
=Oww.
=Are you all right?
=Hah, only 'cause I was drunk.//Otherwise, I'd never have keeled over from a punch like that.
=Right. You're on the rugby team.
=Yeah...//Being this popular is kind of a drag.
=...But...
<36> =The only one I ever really liked,//Was Takazawa.
=Guess I need more time to really forget about her.
=Toshio...
=For now,//I'll just try and keep myself from getting slugged in the next reunion.
<37> CLANG
=Whoa—//It stuck, it stuck! =Okay now,//Second round!
<38> =Sugii-kun, you're not gonna stay for the second round?
=Oh,//I've got stuff to do.
=I see...
=Well,//See you again. =Yeah.
<39> =Thanks...//I'll treasure it.
=You know there's only one reason for I would ever envy you.
THUD
SHUCK
<41> [sign]Parsley
TI-TING =Welcome.
=Oh. =My,//you went with that sweater on?
=Yeah,//Everyone complimented it. =Heh-heh.
=Good good.
<42> =—Well?//What are you gonna knit for me next? =A cardigan to celebrate our first date.