Kimagure Orange Road
"The Suspicious Flickering Light Beam!"
Volume 3, Story 9
WB Volume 2, Story 10
Written and illustrated by Izumi Matsumoto

Translation by Craig H. Nishida
Compilation by Spencer C. Hastings
Editing and Additional help by : Paul Hirose
                                 Craig Nishida
                                 Spencer Hastings
                                 Jay Harvey
                                 Ramon Galindo
                                 Peter Norby

Last revision : 9-19-94

NOTE: [WBp#'s are printed first, Normal manga pages in parenthesis()]
NOTE: Translation is done from the WB manga. So there may be a few
extra's to those of you not having them.
Example: (The subtitles on page 201(179) are only in the WB'S!)
____________________________________________________________
p 201 (179)--TITLE PAGE

[Madoka stands, hand on hip, other hand toys with her hair which is
 tied up on top; her midriff is bare, thus the subtitles.]

MAIN TITLE (at top)
  The Suspicious Flickering
  Light Beam!

SUB-TITLE (at bottom)
  With Hair Up and Spirits High!
  I Want to Feel the Nuance on My Sensitive Skin...
---------------------------------------------------
p 202 (180)

1
[Exterior shot of ABCB.]
phone FX:  <ring ring>
2
Madoka:  Yes, this is ABCB.
3
[Madoka listens to whomever is on the other end of the phone.]
4
Madoka:  Shuu-chan!
5
Madoka: [smiling]  It's been a long time, huh?  [pause]  Yeah, fine!
6
[Madoka glances at the clock, which reads 9:40.]
Madoka:  Work?  ...yeah.  I'm done soon.
---------------------------------------------------
p 203 (181)

1
Madoka:  WHAT?  TONIGHT?!
2
[Master looks on, curious.]
3
Madoka FX:  <peek!>
Master FX:  <ahem>
4
Madoka: [writing on a pad]  Yeah...  I've got it.  The record store in front
        of the station.  I'll be there.  Bye.
5
[On the streets at night, Madoka looks about.]
6
[From behind, we watch her walk away, past some night spots.]
sign #1:  Kitty Cat Lounge
sign #2:  A.H. "Hat-chan"
sign #3:  Tracy Snack Bar
sign #4:  A.M. "Mitsuru-kun"
sign #5:  Tremolo <something>
sign #6:  Music Woman Pub & Restaurant
sign #7:  White Water Bar
sign #8:  A.G. <a name>-chan
sign #9:  Seventh Heaven
<The "white water" referred to in sign #7 is literally the "white water
 left after washing rice".  Not too unusual if you consider what sake is
 made from.>
---------------------------------------------------
p 204 (182)

1
[Exterior shot of ABCB.]
narration:  The next day...
Master: [off]  Welcome!
2
[Kyousuke sits at the counter and looks about.]
3
Master:  What can I get you today?
Kyousuke:  Oh, I'll have an ice cafe.
4
Kyousuke: [looking about again]  Uh...
5
[Master studies him.]
6
Master: [smiling]  Sorry, she's not here!  Some important business came up,
        and so she's taking a break from work.
7
Kyousuke:  Oh...
narration:  I got hold of some movie tickets so I thought I'd invite her...
---------------------------------------------------
p 205 (183)

1
[Kyousuke spies a piece of paper on the counter.]
2
Kyousuke: (That's Ayukawa's handwriting!)  (Hmm, let me see...)

3
[Closeup of the paper.]
memo:  Shuu-chan; 10:30 PM; front of station; in front of record store
4
[Kyousuke's eyes grow wide.]
5
Kyousuke: (Shuu-chan?!)  (Who might that be?)
6
Kyousuke: [still staring at the paper]  (Since she wrote "chan", they must be
          pretty close.)
7
Kyousuke:  (So she's meeting this guy in front of the record store?)
           (And this late...  Who in the world might "Shuu-chan" be?)
---------------------------------------------------
p 206 (184)

1
[Master sets down Kyousuke's order...]
drink FX: <plop>
2
[...and notices what Kyousuke is reading.]
Master FX:   <peek!>
Kyousuke FX:  <Ah!>
3
Kyousuke: [setting it down]  (Oh no, oh no!)
memo FX:  <flutter!>
4
Kyousuke: (Again, as usual, my worries run away with me...  It's a bad habit
          of mine!)
5
[Kyousuke sips his drink.]
narration:  Hey!  This is nothing to get worried about.  Right, Kyousuke?!
6
[Portrait of Madoka.]
narration:  It's Ayukawa.  It must certainly be a legitimate errand!
narration:  That's what this "Shuu-chan" is all about...
7
[Kyousuke looks up at the ceiling, in thought.]
8
[Exterior night shot of ABCB.]
narration:  But I don't really know everything about Ayukawa...
---------------------------------------------------
p 207 (185)

1
[Madoka stands and unties her ABCB apron.]
narration:  And again, the next day...
Madoka:  Oh!
2
Madoka: You came yesterday.
Kyousuke: [embarrassed]  Ha ha!
narration:  Ayukawa's here!
3
narration:  All right!  Today indeed...!
Kyousuke:  I have two movie tickets.  If tomorrow's okay...
4
[Madoka looks at him.]
5
Madoka: [small (apologetic) smile]  I'm sorry.  I have to run a little errand
        tomorrow.
6
Kyousuke:  Oh.
Master:  Ayukawa-kun, it's almost time.
7
Madoka:  Oh you're right.  I'm sorry about this, Master.  Well, I'll be going!
Madoka: [waving]  Bye, Kasuga-kun.
---------------------------------------------------
p 208 (186)

1
[Kyousuke sits stunned.]
door FX:  <rattle>
[Master touches him on the shoulder.]
touch FX: <tap>
2
Master:  Worried?
Kyousuke: [blushing]  Eh!  N-no.  Not really...
3
Kyousuke:  But...  What in the world is going on?
4
[Master thinks about it.]
5
[Shot of the ABCB wall.]
Master: [off]  Well.  I didn't hear what kind of errand, but ever since that
        phone call (on the evening of) the day before yesterday...
6
Kyousuke:  Ah!
narration:  Telephone...
7
[Kyousuke visualizes Madoka waving and leaving ABCB.  Overlaid on this is
 the memo.]
memo:  Shuu-chan; 10:30 PM; front of station; in front of record store
narration:  Ayukawa was called by that "Shuu-chan" guy in that memo?!  I guess
            I was right.  But what in the world is this all about...
---------------------------------------------------
p 209 (187)

1
[Exterior night shot of Komatsu's home.]
narration:  That day my worries gradually grew...
sign:  Komatsu
2
[Inside, Kyousuke tries to do the homework, but Komatsu flashes him a
 centerfold pinup.]
narration:  ...I spent the night at Komatsu's house in order to cram and
            finish up the summer vacation homework.
3
[Daylight.  And Kyousuke walks home, through a rather questionable
 neighborhood...]
Kyousuke:  Yawn!
narration:  The next morning.
sign #1:  Mahjong
<Cultural note (PN):  Mahjong is originally a Chinese game played with a set
 of 144 cards, or tiles.  The tiles fall under three suits of 4 sets of tiles
 numbered 1-9 as well as 4 each of the 4 winds (North, East, South and West)
 and 3 'dragons' (Red, Green, and White).  There are also 4 seasons and 4
 flowers used for scoring/bonuses.  Gameplay consists of 4 players who each
 start with 13 tiles and draw and discard tiles in turn.  The object of the
 game is to get certain winning combinations of tiles before anyone else does.
 How much you win depends on the bonus tiles, your position, the wind
 (basically what round it is) and what combination of tiles you have.  Games
 are most often held in gambling parlors and are fast-paced.>
sign #2:  Dirty Bookstore
sign #3:  Pachinko
<Cultural note (SH/CN):  Pachinko is a game of sorts played in Japan.  Called
 the Japanese version of pinball, it really bears little resemblance.
 Pachinko is played on a vertical field.  You shoot little metal balls to the
 top and they fall by gravity off and around various metal pins.  The point is
 getting the balls to fall into the hole in the middle of the field. Those
 that do pile up in a tray, earning you more balls to shoot.  The balls in the
 tray can be redeemed for money (although one usually collects small grocery
 items as winnings).  Pachinko parlors are a common sight in Japan.>
sidewalk sign:  Kabuki
<Cultural note: Kabuki are Japanese stage plays.>
4
Kyousuke: [looking around at the signs]  (Come to think of it, this is where
          that record store is...)
          (...it's in a rather indecent neighborhood.)
sign #1:  Super-Extreme MASSAGE
sign #2:  Dirty Videos
sign #3:  Super-Perverted Books "Adults Only"
sign #4:  Perverted Tea House, 2 floors (up)
sign #5:  Crows too
<I don't know what the heck this last one means...  Sounds rather kinky?>
5
[Kyousuke walks down the street.  From behind him, comes a voice...]
Madoka: [off]  <sigh>  Looks like it's morning already.
sign:  Large servings
6
[Kyousuke turns to look.]
narration:  That voice just now?!
---------------------------------------------------
p 210 (188)

1
[Shot of Madoka and Shuu leaving a building.]
2
[Shot of Kyousuke in shock.]
narration:  A-AYUKAWA!!
3
[Kyousuke zips around the corner of a building.]
narration:  Who's that guy next to her...?!
Kyousuke FX:  <zip!>
4
Shuu:  Shall we get something to eat?
5
Madoka:  That's okay.  Right now I'm going home and straight to bed.
Madoka:  Yawn!
6
[They walk past the alley in which Kyousuke is hiding.]
Shuu:  Whew!  It's already morning, and we're only now going home!
Kyousuke:  "!"
---------------------------------------------------
p 211 (189)

1
[Shuu tries to stifle a yawn.]
Madoka:  A-ha!  Shuu-chan, you have a sleepy face.
2
Shuu: [smiling]  You have a pretty sleepy face, too!
Madoka: [smiling]  I put you through an exhausting time!*
<*Cultural note and commentary:  This phrase is difficult to translate into
 English.  Madoka here says "o-tsukare-sama deshita!" said by one after
 a long day, and is almost-but-not-quite an apology or offer of thanks
 to another for putting him through such a long day.>
<Translation note:  The significance of this conversation, which comes
 up in Kyousuke's flashbacks later on, is that Madoka and Shuu are using
 a very informal mode of speech.  Clearly, they are well-acquainted with
 each other.>
3
[Kyousuke watches as Madoka and Shuu walk away.]
sign #1: [partial view]  ...Perverted
sign #2:  Cabaret
sign #3:  Obscene
sign #4:  <something>
4
[Kyousuke is stunned.]
5
narration:  I felt like I'd been hit on the head with a hammer...
6
narration:  After all, that man--that so-called "Shuu-chan" guy --looks to be
            around college age.
narration:  Also, their relationship allows him to address Ayukawa
            informally...
<lit., ...allows him to call her by her informal name; i.e., without an
honorific like -san or even -kun.>
---------------------------------------------------
p 212 (190)

1
[Kyousuke looks up at the business signs.]
narration:  And...
2
[Shot down the street.]
sign #1:  Come-Along Tea House
sign #2:  Indecent Bookstore
sign #3: [partial]  Studi<o>...  Stage...
narration:  They came from down that way...
3
[Tilted shot down the street.]
narration:  Oh!  I don't understand any more!
sign #1:  Best Humble Tea House
sign #2:  Student Reading Room
4
[Madoka portrait.]
narration:  Ayukawa...!!
5
[Kyousuke stands and stares down the street.]
narration:  What in the world is this all about?!
sign #1:  <something>  [Note: in Japanese, "...doeji">
sign #2:  Intensely Perverted Videos
sign #3:  Dirty Bookstore
---------------------------------------------------
p 213 (191)

1
[Exterior shot of a movie theatre and associated billboards/posters.]
Hikaru: [off]  SEMPAI!!
sign #1: [partial]  Shibu...  <Name of theater is mostly blocked by the
         speech bubble.  Possibly, we're back at "Shibuya" Plaza...  See
         "I'm Not a Child!", chapter 3.6.>
billboard sign:  Love Comedy "I'm Sorry"
small billboard sign:  Love Comedy "I'm Sorry" Road Show
left poster:  Coming Soon to a Theater Near You
<Sorry.  For some reason I can't figure out the characters under the right
 poster...>
2
[A hand jars Kyousuke to his senses.]
Hikaru: [off]  SEMPAI!!
3
[Hikaru and Kyousuke sit in their theatre seats.]
Kyousuke:  A-ah!  What is it?
Hikaru:  ..........
4
Hikaru:  Sempai, you're looking very pale and unwell.
5
Kyousuke:  Eh?!  I-I see.
6
narration:  Well, that makes a lot of sense--after seeing a scene like
            that...!
---------------------------------------------------
p 214 (192)

1
Hikaru:  But...  Thank you very much.
2
Hikaru: [brightly]  To be invited by you...  I've wanted to see this movie.
3
[Kyousuke watches her.]
4
Kyousuke:  Aren't you hungry?  Shall we get something to eat?
Hikaru: [happily]  Wow, Sempai!  You're so generous today!
5
narration: "Shall we get something to eat...?!"
Kyousuke:  Ah!
6
[Shot of Kyousuke covering his ears as flash-bubbles appear around him.]
Flashback #1:  Shall we get something to eat?
Flashback #2:  That's okay.  Right now I'm going home and straight to bed.
Flashback #3:  A-ha!  Shuu-chan, you have a sleepy face.
Flashback #4:  You have a pretty sleepy face, too!
7
Kyousuke:  ENOUGH ALREADY!!
---------------------------------------------------
p 215 (193)

1
[Outside on the street, Kyousuke, hands on ears, comes to his senses.
 Hikaru looks at him in surprise.]
sign: [view of left side of same billboard seen in panel 213-1]
      Screen-Projection
      Road... <Show>
2
Hikaru:  Something happened after all?
Kyousuke: [embarrassed]  N-nothing, nothing!
3
[Hikaru looks on with concern.]
4
Hikaru: [brightly, grabbing his arm]  Well, today I was thinking of taking
        you to a nice place.
5
Hikaru: [resting her head on his shoulder]  Would you do that with me?
narration:  Usually, Hikaru-chan sticks so close that I shrink back...
6
Kyousuke: [small smile]  ...yeah.
narration:  ...but today, for some reason, it feels nice...
7
[They walk off down the street, Hikaru clinging to his arm.]
narration:  Today, I think I want to spend the entire day with Hikaru-chan!
---------------------------------------------------
p 216 (194)

1
[Exterior shot of "Mersey Beat" nightclub.]
2
[Inside the lobby, they stand and Kyousuke looks around him.]
Kyousuke:  Live spot?!  <i.e., a nightclub featuring live music>
Hikaru:  Sempai, you like rock music! <right?>
3
Kyousuke:  ...yeah.
sign (top):  Today's Presen...
sign (bottom):  Apple T...
narration:  But...  Now I don't feel like listening to rock music.
4
Hikaru: [looking worried]  I don't know what happened, but you're in poor
        spirits!
5
[Kyousuke looks at her in surprise.]
6
Hikaru:  When I see you like this, even I become sad.
Kyousuke:  Hikaru-chan!
marquee sign:    <untranslated>       "Ikugashi" Band
                  Monty Python         The Doors
                 "Ratoruzu"           "Aasharutakkaa" Band
---------------------------------------------------
p 217 (195)

1
Hikaru: [brightly]  I'm sure listening to this kind of sound will put you
        back on top of the world!
2
[Kyousuke looks at her, wide-eyed...]
3
[...and smiles.]
narration:  Thanks, Hikaru-chan!
narration:  That's so nice.
4
Hikaru: [starting to walk off]  Actually, in here...
        ...is a secret!  A secret!
5
Hikaru: [running towards the entrance to the nightclub proper]  Sempaaai.
        Hurry, hurry. It's already started!
6
[The two enter.]
rock music FX:  <gyaaaaan>
Hikaru: [in glee; hands to ears]  Heyyy!  They're playing!  They're playing!
---------------------------------------------------
p 218 (196)

1
[This panel is splashed across the tops of pages 218-219.  The band,
 including Madoka on keyboards and Shuu on lead guitar stands onstage.
 The female vocalist, as we later find out, is Yukari.  The bass player
 (Shige) and drummer (Mitsuru) round out the band.]
2
[Kyousuke stands in amazement.]
3
[His pov of Madoka at keyboards.]
4
narration:  Wh-what...
5
[Another view of Madoka performing.]
---------------------------------------------------
p 219 (197)

1
[This panel is splashed across the tops of pages 218-219...  See description
 above.]
2
[Kyousuke is speechless.]
3
[Another view of Madoka.]
narration:  Ayukawa...?!
4
Hikaru: [waving]  Madoka-saaan!
5
Madoka FX:  <smile!>
6
[Kyousuke stands and stares.]
narration:  Ayukawa's in a rock band?!
narration:  Wh-what in the world is this?
---------------------------------------------------
p 220 (198)

1
[The band ends their number and Shuu takes to the microphone.]
Shuu:  Hey, I'd like to introduce a new member.
2
[Kyousuke visualizes the conversation overheard on the street.]
narration:  H-him!
Shuu flashback:  You have a pretty sleepy face, too!
3
Shuu:  Ken-chan on keyboards is injured, so filling in for him is...
4
[Isolated shot of Madoka standing at keyboards.]
Shuu: [off]  ...Madoka-kun!
crowd: [off]  Wah!  Soooo cute!
5
[Madoka facial portrait.]
6
[Kyousuke looks on.]
narration:  Ayukawa...
7
Shuu:  Because she only practiced overnight <lit., "salted overnight"> on
       the stage in front of the station, and on the way here, we ask for
       your courtesy!
crowd: [off]  She's cute, so we forgive her.  Wah!
8
Shuu:  I also went through that grueling crash-course training, didn't get
       much sleep, and practiced on the way here too, so out of consideration
       for my cuteness, I need your forgiveness!
crowd:  Wah ha ha.  We don't forgive men!!
FX:  <ba-dump!>
<possibly a drum FX at the end of Shuu's joke...>
---------------------------------------------------
p 221 (199)

1
[Madoka gives us a wink and a thumbs-up.]
2
[Kyousuke smiles.]
narration:  Wh-what's this?!  That's what it was?!?
3
[Shot of part of the audience.]
4
[Kyousuke glares, his eyes flashing.]
narration:  But...
Shuu: [off]  For our second song!
5
[Shuu looks over to Madoka as the band begins to play.]
narration:  ...that familiar way they behaved...
6
narration:  What in the world sort of relationship might he have with
            Ayukawa?!
---------------------------------------------------