Kizuna Book 4 Part 16 translation KIZUNA by Kazuma Kodaka Book 4 Part 16: pp. 160-186 unofficial translation by Katherine Conventions: regular text: name of speaker and spoken lines italics: thoughts bold: descriptions (in parentheses): spoken words that are hand-written or not in the talk bubbles Tashiro is talking on his cell phone while he gets a beer out of a fridge that is stocked with beer and more beer. Tashiro: Botchan is fine. Tashiro: That apartment isn't safe, so we're at my place now... Yes. Tashiro: How are things in Osaka? Masa: Three shots were fired at our office. The house is unharmed so far. Masa: Right now the office and the house are both crawling with police. (page) Masa: As police photograph the bullet holes. Well, we'll have to keep a low profile for awhile. Masa: ...And another thing, we now have a pretty good guess who the enemy is. Masa: That man Tsuneya, who double-crossed Shouryuukai and was throwing his weight around in Kantou... Masa: The man who tried to kill the oldest son of the Sagano family. We hired you to do some work regarding him? Tashiro: The target I took care of? Masa: It's a battle to avenge him. (page) Masa: At the present time someone who was under Tsuneya is spreading amphetamines around Tokyo and using our name to do it. Masa: They're dirtying our name and making the money to restart their kumi at the same time, and they're being blatant about it. Masa: They really hate us, so I don't think this is over with only a few shots being fired... Masa: Their next targets are bound to be the ones who gave the order to have Tsuneya killed, and the one who carried out the order. Tashiro: You, and the Sagano boss... and myself. Masa: ...Yes, that's right. (page) Masa: We'll try to lay Tsuneya's ghost to rest here before the police do. You'll probably be in danger too, but I'm counting on you to protect Bon. Tashiro: I understand. Tashiro: Would you like to talk to him? Kai is sitting on the floor wrapped in a blanket listening to the conversation. Tashiro: ...Oh? All right then, good-bye. (page) Tashiro looks down at the unresponsive Kai. Tashiro: With a hand on Kai's head. I bet you're hungry, aren't you? Wait a little bit more and I'll... Kai: ...What did Masa say...? Tashiro: Shots were fired at the office. The house is fine, though. Kai: Is Masa okay?! Tashiro: Araki-san is fine, too. (page) Kai: Masa's in more danger than I am! The shots weren't meant to hit anyone, yeah, but- Tashiro: Shhh. Kai: The next ones will be for real!! Tashiro: It's all right. Calm down. Kai: Masa's the one who should be in hiding!! Kai: Being embraced by Tashiro. Masa's the one who's in danger! Tashiro: Araki-san is surrounded by people who will protect him. Tashiro: It's all right. (page) Tashiro: When you're hungry you think of bad things. I'll fix us something. You should eat and then get some sleep. Tashiro: Still with his arms around Kai. Hmmm. Holding you feels nice, but... Kai: !! Tashiro: You need to put on some more weight. Kai: Leaping out of Tashiro's arms and hugging himself protectively. Get away from me, homo! Tashiro: Ah, I believe that's discrimination! Tashiro: Well, it's good that you have some energy left. Tashiro: You looked so down, I thought I'd comfort you with a little loving. Kai: No thanks! Tashiro: Going off to the kitchen. Ah well, too bad. (What shall I make...?) Kai: Could be my life's not in danger so much as my chastity! (page) Tashiro: Holding up a tiny rectangle. Oh yeah, I want you to have this. Tashiro: It's a radio transmitter. I want you to wear it, as a precaution. (Fasten it to the underside of your collar, say.) Kai: Looking at it. ....... Kai: Fastening it onto his collar. Hey, am I the only one with a bodyguard? Tashiro: Fixing his hair into a ponytail. I may be good, but I doubt I'm good enough to protect two or three people at the same time. Kai: ...Sempai might be in danger... Kai: I'd better call him later... (page) At college, Enjouji is talking on a cell phone. Enjouji: Then there's no reason to worry about Kai, is there? Masa: Right. And we'll be providing bodyguards for you and Samejima-san as well, so... Enjouji: Ah, thanks, but we can't take you up on that. Masa: The boss himself has asked us to make the arrangements. Enjouji: Araki-san, please don't take this the wrong way. Enjouji: We'd like to live a normal life as much as possible. If dad worries about me every time there's something going on with the kumi, then I'll really turn into a yakuza son. (page) Enjouji: As Masa sits listening at his desk. And for the sake of my roommate too, Enjouji: We'd like to separate ourselves from the kumi as much as possible. Enjouji: As things stand now, I'm fine, and I'm taking plenty of precautions. Please tell dad I appreciate his concern, but that's all I can accept from him. Masa: I understand. We'll do everything in our power to make sure that no harm comes to you. So for now please be cautious. Enjouji: And if I see Kai wandering around outside I'll be sure to grab him and hide him away. Masa: Thank you. Enjouji hangs up. (page) Enjouji: I expect the kumi to be getting in trouble, but Kai...? He was doing something suspicious in Shinjuku. What could he be up to...? Ranmaru: Walking towards him. Enjouji. Enjouji: Ah, are you ready to go? Ranmaru: Yeah. Did you get ahold of Araki-san? Enjouji: I just hung up. Enjouji: He says Kai's left his apartment and is staying at his bodyguard's place. Ranmaru: Bodyguard? Ranmaru: They're going all out... Enjouji: It's okay. There's nothing to worry about! (page) Enjouji: Well, shall we go home? Ranmaru: Smiling at him. ...Yeah... ...But there's something I can't see that's making me feel uneasy. Ranmaru: Even now a storm could be heading straight for us... Enjouji: Oh, I forgot to ask you. Ranmaru: Hm? Enjouji: You know, about when you went back home. Enjouji: You started talking to me about it, remember? Ranmaru: ...Yeah... Um... (page) Enjouji: It's okay, tell me when you're ready. Enjouji: There are things you want to think about by yourself, right, Ran-chan? There's no hurry. Ranmaru: ...... Enjouji: Just be sure to discuss it with me before you get completely stressed about it. Ranmaru: Smiling. ...Okay. Enjouji: Looking closely at his hands. Hmmm.... Ranmaru: Wh- what? Enjouji: Your fingers are more slender than they used to be, aren't they? Ranmaru: Looking at them. My fingers? I don't know... I never paid that much attention to them... (page) Ranmaru: There's been no lasting damage to them so I think they're fine, but... Ranmaru: Is there something about them that worries you...? Enjouji: No, not really. Ranmaru: Running after him. You just smiled, didn't you? What? Tell me straight out! Enjouji: Ah, I was just thinking it's nice they're so slender and pretty, that's all! (page) At Tashiro's place. Tashiro: Okay, I'm going out to buy some things. Tashiro: You just be good and get some sleep, all right? Kai: Yeah, yeah. Tashiro: One 'yeah' is more polite! Kai: Whatever! The door closes. Kai: ...... Kai lunges for his phone inside his bag. Ranmaru: Answering the phone. Yes, this is Samejima... (page) Ranmaru: Sagano?! Oh, I'm glad to hear from you. I was worried! Kai: Really? That makes me so happy! Kai: Yeah, I'm okay. I'm completely fine. Kai: Is that idiot around? Kai: At work? Then could you give him a message for me? Kai: Because I think he spends more time hanging around Shinjuku than you do... Kai: There's some guys using my name selling drugs around Shinjuku and Shibuya. So please tell him if he sees someone who looks like me, don't go chasing after him. Kai: Yeah, that's right. I can't go outside for the time being, so if he sees "me" outside, it's definitely an impostor. (page) Kai: Honestly, I'd like to go out and catch the guy myself, but... the cops and Masa both told me not go outside, so... Ranmaru: Looking concerned. O-okay, I understand. Kai: I'll give you my phone number just in case you need it. Ranmaru: Writing the number down. Yeah, if anything happens I'll give you a call. Ranmaru: Oh, and Sagano, one more thing... Ranmaru: Enjouji and myself are both praying for your safety. ...Don't forget that. Kai: Looking surprised. ....... Kai: ...Right. (page) Ranmaru: Hanging up. ...... Ranmaru: Frowning at the phone. It's no use. I'm trying not to think about it, but I can't keep down this feeling of premonition. Ranmaru: Hurry home, Enjouji. At a jewelry store. Store clerk: Sorry to keep you waiting, Enjouji-sama. Store clerk: Presenting a case with two rings in it. These are the items that you selected, right? (page) Enjouji: Picking up a ring. Yes, this is it, this is it! Enjouji: Could you just put one of them in a box for me? Store clerk: Yes, sir! Store clerk: If the size isn't right, we'll be glad to adjust it. It's really best for the lady to come to the store in person, but... Enjouji: Oh no, I want to present it as a surprise.... So I'll bring it back if it needs to be fixed. Store clerk: I'm sure she will be quite surprised! Enjouji: (Ha ha ha) Actually it's a he... Enjouji: The trick to presenting it is to get the timing right. (page) Enjouji: The mood is important after all... Enjouji: I better take my time and plan strategy. Enjouji: Looking out the store window and seeing the fake Kai. Huh? Enjouji: !! Enjouji: Sorry, I'm in a hurry, so just give it to me like that! Store clerk: What? Are you sure? (page) He hurries out of the store. Enjouji: Shit, here I thought he was being reasonable and staying out of sight... That idiot! Enjouji: Kai! (page) Fake Kai: That guy again?! Enjouji: As the fake Kai takes off running. Ah, Hey!! The fake Kai runs into an alley. Enjouji follows "him" and grabs "his" arm. (page) Enjouji: Sneaking around and... Enjouji: Pinning "him" to the ground with a knee in "his" back. ...running away from me!! Stupid! Fake Kai: Kyaaah! Enjouji: Kyaaah? The wig falls off. (page) Enjouji: Seeing that the alarmed fake Kai is an impostor. !? Enjouji: Who... are you?! Enjouji: As a guy comes up behind him with a big stick in his hand. What the hell's going on...!? (page) Enjouji looks up as the guy whacks him over the head with the stick. Enjouji: Damn... So that's it... Enjouji: As hat guy and bandanna guy look smugly down at him. These are the real drug dealers, posing as Kai... (page) Enjouji collapses in the alley. Enjouji: His hand, wearing the ring, twitches. Shit... This is ridiculous... Enjouji: Today... Enjouji: Losing consciousness. I was gonna... give him... the... ring... (page) Ranmaru: Hurry home... Ranmaru: Enjouji... Enjouji lies still.