KIZUNA by Kazuma Kodaka Book 3 Part 7: Sorrowful Rapunzel unofficial translation by Katherine ------------------------------------------------------------------- Conventions: regular text: name of speaker, and spoken lines italics: thoughts (in parentheses): spoken words that are hand-written or not in the talk bubbles bold: descriptions bold and italics: translation note Ranmaru and Enjouji are sleeping. Enjouji rolls over and flops an arm over Ranmaru. Ranmaru: Sweating. Ah... ...nn... Ranmaru: It's HOT! Enjouji: Hmm...? What are you talking about? (page) (page) Title: Sorrowful Rapunzel (page) (page) Enjouji: Turning on the air conditioner. If you're hot, why don't you just turn the air on? Ranmaru: Turning it off again. Enjouji: ........ Enjouji: Are you hot or cold? Which is it?? Ranmaru: I'm hot because you come snuggling up like that. Ranmaru: Don't be winding yourself around me first thing in the morning. Enjouji: Did you start your period or somethi- Ranmaru whacks him in the head with an elbow. Ranmaru: If you want to know why I'm in a bad mood, Ranmaru: search your own heart. (page) Enjouji: Feeling his chest. .....? Ranmaru: Though I'm sure you won't figure it out... Enjouji: ...Your thighs... Ranmaru: My thighs? Enjouji: Seeing you wearing nothing but a shirt is more than I can stand... Petting Ranmaru. Ranmaru: I know it's weird to be getting upset at this late stage, Slamming the door behind him, leaving Enjouji scuffed and bandaged on the bed. Ranmaru: but once it started bothering me, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Ranmaru: And that's what's to blame for last night, when I...!! Begin flashback... Ranmaru: Enjouji, the bath's free. Enjouji: Okay. (page) Ranmaru: Toweling his hair. Hey, Ranmaru: Have you seen the remote for the air conditioner? Enjouji: Isn't it over there somewhere? Looking at Ranmaru's shorts-clad bottom. (Oh!) Ranmaru: Oh yeah, here it is. Ranmaru: Walking and gazing at the remote. Um... Enjouji: Crawling on the floor to get a good view of Ranmaru's rear. Ohhh... Ranmaru: Plops down in front of the air conditioner and turns it on. Ranmaru: Ah... That feels good... (I'm in heaven...) Enjouji is creeping up behind him. Enjouji: Grabbing the startled Ranmaru. Let's do something that feels even better!! Ranmaru: Gah!! (page) Ranmaru: Stop it! It's too hot! Enjouji: Mm, you smell good... Ranmaru: Being kissed by Enjouji. N-uhh... Ranmaru: Uhh... Ranmaru: Frowning as Enjouji's hair touches his face. His hair... Ranmaru: Trying to push him away. It's driving me CRAZY! Ranmaru: And once I start thinking that, Ranmaru: Enjouji kisses Ranmaru and his hair drapes on Ranmaru's bare shoulder. It bugs me Ranmaru: and it BUGS ME!! (page) Enjouji: On top of Ranmaru. ....!! Ranmaru: !? Ranmaru: I couldn't believe it!! Enjouji: Sighing in tired contentment. Ranmaru: Looking angry and frustrated. I didn't come!! Ranmaru: There he lay with something about his sleeping face that really annoyed me, and I thought Ranmaru: I'd chop off that hair, but then I stopped at the last instant. Ranmaru: When I asked him why he's grown it long, Enjouji: So I don't have to pay someone to cut it. Ranmaru: was his reply. Ranmaru: Back to the present, thinking while starting the washing machine. It would be easy to tell him to get it cut. But... Ranmaru: That seems like I'm forcing my own preferences on him, and I don't like to do that. (page) Ranmaru: But, knowing him, if I told him the reason... Enjouji: Merrily pulling off Ranmaru's clothes. See? I tied it back, so there's no problem, right? Enjouji: Let's do it! Let's do it! Ranmaru: ...I can picture what would follow. Ranmaru: Chopping veggies. He always had short hair in jr. high, I remember... It looked good on him. Ranmaru: I liked his short hair... (page) Enjouji: Hugging him from behind, his hair draping over Ranmaru's neck and shoulder. What's for breakfast? Ranmaru: Spinning around with the knife. WAAAAAH!! Ranmaru whacks off some of Enjouji's hair and slices his cheek. They stare at each other in shock. Ranmaru: Ah- (page) Enjouji: ...Hey... Ranmaru: Sweatdropping. I- Enjouji: What the hell are you doing?! Look, I'm bleeding!! Ranmaru: I'm sorry! I forgot I had a knife in my hand... Ranmaru: Let's put some antiseptic on it before we do anything else! Enjouji: Being bandaged. Ow- Ranmaru: Almost done...! Ranmaru: Enjouji... Ranmaru: I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention, and I... Enjouji reaches a hand towards him. (page) Ranmaru: He's going to hit me?! Enjouji: Cupping his cheek. No, not that cheek. Don't be stupid. Enjouji: What kind of a face is that?? Enjouji: You're worrying about it too much. Enjouji: I'd rather this happen than have you cut your finger or something. Ranmaru: ...But... Enjouji: It's no big deal. It'll heal. Enjouji: Examining his hair. But I guess I have to get this cut... Ranmaru: You're going to cut it? Ranmaru: I see... you're going to cut it... Ranmaru: Looking evil. Shall I cut it for you? Enjouji: Huh?! (page) Ranmaru cuts Enjouji's hair out on the balcony. Enjouji: Hey... Ranmaru: Hmm? Enjouji: Do you have time? What about class? Ranmaru: Oh, it's fine! I have plenty of time! Enjouji: Sweatdropping. Why does he seem so happy? Ranmaru: Snipping. Ah-! Enjouji: What? Ranmaru: Looking at a big chunk of hair he just cut off. Nothing! Everything's fine! Ranmaru: Keep calm... Just cut it a little at a time... A little at a time... Ranmaru: Ah-! Lots of hair falls down around the alarmed Enjouji. Enjouji: Hey... Ranmaru: Also looking alarmed. I- I said it was fine! Ranmaru: Don't you trust me?! (page) Ranmaru continues snipping. His hands begin to shake. He runs away, and comes back with a cap. Enjouji: Ran-chan?! Enjouji: Getting the cap pushed down on his head. What... Ranmaru shoves some money in his hand. (page) Ranmaru: Go to a hair stylist. Enjouji: Huh...? Ranmaru: I have to go to school now! Enjouji: What are you talking about? Let me look in the mirror. Ranmaru: Desperately blocking what is presumably the bathroom door. I- I'm telling you to hurry up and go! Ranmaru: Still blocking the door. .......... Enjouji: ...What are you trying to hide...? Ranmaru: Shoving him out. Just shut up and go!! Enjouji: Walking down the street. He seemed so confident when he offered to cut it... (page) Hair stylist: Welcome... Oh! Hair stylist: Enjouji-kun! Haven't seen you in a while. You want a cut? Enjouji: Um, yeah, just a bit. Enjouji: Taking off his hat as the hair stylists boggle. I think it's a little uneven, so I'd like you to even it up for me. Hair stylist: Uneven... Other hair stylist: ....... Hair stylist: What on earth happened to you? Other hair stylist: Suppressing laughter. Enjouji: Huh? Enjouji: What's so- Sees himself in the mirror. Enjouji: ...funny... (page) Enjouji: Wh- Enjouji: What the hell is this?!?! Meanwhile Ranmaru is sitting in his lecture class worrying. Ranmaru: I can almost hear how he's going to yell... Ranmaru: He'll be mad, won't he...? Most people would be... Voice from under the desk: Sempai! Samejima sempai! (page) Kai: Emerging from under the desk. That idiot's not with you today? Ranmaru: S... Kai: Eh he he... Ranmaru claps a hand over his mouth as Kai contentedly takes a seat beside him. Ranmaru: Hey, Sagano, since when did you... Kai: That's why I like college, 'cause you can do stuff like this. Kai: So? You're all alone today, aren't you? Ranmaru: No... He's coming later... (page) Kai: Really? Damn. Ranmaru: I should have gone with him. Ranmaru: Picturing Enjouji with a fuzzy buzz cut. Visions of weird haircuts are taking over my mind. Enjouji: (I'm a chick, baby!) Ranmaru: Nooo! I'm scared! Kai: Sempai, let's have lunch together, okay? Ranmaru: Not listening to Kai. ...I bet he'll be mad... Kai: He'd get mad just because we ate lunch together?! Kai: What a loser. Ranmaru: But if you look at what started all this, he's to blame too. Kai: If he wants to get mad, let's let him. Ranmaru: Yeah, you're right... Kai: Then it's decided! I'll meet you at noon in front of the main gate. Ranmaru: Sweatdropping. Huh...? (page) Enjouji: Walking to school. Ah, shit. I can feel the wind blowing through it. Enjouji: That idiot Ranmaru...! He hacked it to pieces! Hair stylist: In flashback. It will end up pretty short; is that all right? Enjouji: That's okay. Just do whatever you can to make it look decent. Enjouji: Back to the present. He put me through a lot of embarrassment. Enjouji: Spotting a guy and girl walking together. Ah! Hey, Tamura! Tamura: Turning around. Huh? Enjouji: Have you seen Ran- I mean, Samejima? Tamura: E... Rika-chan: Enjouji-kun?! Tamura: Enjouji?! You... Your hair... Rika-chan: No way!! You got it cut?! Enjouji: Oh, this? Is it weird? (page) Rika-chan: No, it looks good. Enjouji: Really? Thanks! Rika-chan: I've got it! Your girlfriend told you to get it cut! In summer it makes people hot just looking at all that long hair. Enjouji: No, it got cut. Tamura: It got cut?! What were you up to?! Enjouji: Never hug someone from behind when they're holding a kitchen knife. (That's when I got this cut on my face, too.) Tamura: Scary! Rika-chan: That's not ordinary behavior... What did you do to bring that on?! Enjouji: I have no idea. Rika-chan: Number one: you were cheating. Enjouji: Nope! Tamura: Number two: you changed your style of sex. Enjouji: Thinking. No. But we do use a lot of different positions... (page) Tamura: Did you skip right to the good part without following the proper order? (If I squeeze her boobs without any lead-in she slaps me across the face.) Enjouji: Then what do you do, put your hands together and say "itadakimasu"? Translation Note: It's customary to say "itadakimasu" with your hands together before enjoying a meal. Rika-chan: Stop it! I don't want to hear this! Rika-chan: But, Enjouji-kun, Rika-chan: you should have a serious talk with her. Rika-chan: If you go out with someone for a long time without making the effort to listen to what she has to say, she's bound to think you're just after her body! Rika-chan: Girls are very sensitive to a guy's attitude, you know. Tamura: Sweatdropping. Uh oh. Enjouji: He's not a girl, but Ranmaru's definitely trying to tell me something. Enjouji: Thanks, Rika-chan! Rika-chan: No problem! Enjouji: We'll have a good talk! See you! Rika-chan: Waving to him as he leaves. He looks even better this way! (Tee hee!) Tamura: Guys are sensitive to girls' attitudes too you know! (page) In the cafeteria. Kai: Sempai. Ranmaru: What? Kai: You think I'm a poor student, don't you? Ranmaru: No, I don't. Kai: Then screw this cafeteria, let's go somewhere nice! Ranmaru: What are you talking about? It's cheap and it tastes good. What's the problem? Ranmaru: And I'm sure your father sends you your money. Kai: Embarrassed. It's not from my dad. Masa puts it in my account. It's not like I ask him to... Ranmaru: It's the same thing. You should think more about budgeting your money. You're getting everything from your tuition to your apartment for free... Enjouji: Dropping his book bag on Kai's head. Ranmaru's right. You're spoiled. Kai: Hey, quit it! ...Huh? Ranmaru: Afraid to look up at Enjouji's hair. .....!! Kai: That's quite the cool look. Ranmaru: C... Cool look?! Enjouji: I had to go get it cut because of what SOMEBODY did. (page) Enjouji: Ruffling Kai's hair. Right, Ranmaru? Kai: Stop that! Hey! Ranmaru: Staring at Enjouji. ... Enjouji: Hey Kai, don't you have an afternoon lecture to go to? Ranmaru: Still transfixed, staring at Enjouji. ........... Kai: Wh... What are you talking about? Enjouji: Shouldn't you get going? It's just about to start. Kai: Nah, it doesn't matter. I'll go another day... Enjouji: You're skipping? Well, I'll just have to inform Araki-san about that. Kai: Why do you have to pick on every little thing?! Enjouji: He politely asked us to look out for you, so we really should keep him informed. Enjouji: You know, people shouldn't have to ask you to act like an adult, right Kai-kun? You are an adult, aren't you? Kai: Shit! You're so annoying!! (page) Kai: Whatever! Kai: Kissing Ranmaru on the cheek. Unfortunately, I gotta go. See you tomorrow, Sempai! Enjouji: Ah! Ranmaru: Now even more in shock. ...Okay... Enjouji: Fucking brat! Kai: Nagging asshole! Kai makes his exit. Ranmaru and Enjouji make eye contact. Enjouji: Oh, I wanted to talk to you. Can we go somewhere else? Ranmaru: Turns bright red. Enjouji: Huh...? (page) Ranmaru: Getting up. Enjouji: Wait... Ranmaru: Making a run for it. Enjouji: What are you running away for? Enjouji: Hey, wait up! Enjouji: Grabbing his shoulder. Ranmaru! Enjouji: Removing his hand as he notices people staring. Oops. Enjouji: Let's go up on the roof so we won't attract attention. Ranmaru: ...... On the roof. Enjouji: Well? Enjouji: Why did you run away? Have I done something? (page) Ranmaru: I'm not... running away... Enjouji: All right, I'll change the question. Enjouji: Why were you in such a bad mood this morning? Enjouji: I've thought about it over and over, and I can't think of anything I've done. Enjouji: It's worrying me, you know? Ranmaru: I can't tell him that! I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to strike out at you at all... I can't tell him something so embarrassing. Ranmaru: And I feel bad that I messed up your hair like that... Enjouji: What'll I do with you? Enjouji: Lifting Ranmaru's chin. Hey. Hey. Enjouji leans in and gives Ranmaru a little kiss. (page) Ranmaru: ........ Ranmaru: I cut off your hair and I... Enjouji: Hm? Ranmaru: I was glad inside. Even though I hurt you. Ranmaru: I wanted to see you with short hair. And with your hair long... Well... Enjouji: ?! Ranmaru: It drapes all over my body and it... it bothers me... Ranmaru: Last night... I wasn't able to concentrate... Enjouji: You couldn't concentrate?! You mean you didn't come?! Enjouji: Before I went in, I took care of you in front didn't I?! Ranmaru: Smacking him across the face. Don't talk so loud about stuff like that! Idiot! Have you no sense of shame?! Enjouji: I thought we needed to be clear on the facts... (page) Enjouji: You should have talked to me about it. (Ow...) Ranmaru: How could I tell you that?! Enjouji: That's not what I mean. Enjouji: If you asked me to cut my hair, I'd have been glad to do it for you. Enjouji: You need to tell me what to do more. Be more selfish. Enjouji: Otherwise it's like I'm the one who's always making you do stuff. Enjouji: ...Do you like my hair like this? Ranmaru: It gently brushes my cheek. ...I like it... Ranmaru: Enjouji with short hair... Ranmaru: Remembering their first meeting. It reminds me of that time when the cherry blossoms were at their peak... (page) Enjouji: When we first met, hm? (That brings back memories...) Ranmaru: Yeah. Our first year of jr. high school. Ranmaru: Remembering their first kiss. We went to the kendo dojo at my house and... Ranmaru: That was the first time we pressed our lips together. Ranmaru: Enjouji's bangs touched my face just as his lips touched mine. Ranmaru: Kissing him. ...We'll continue this... Ranmaru: After we get home. Enjouji: I was afraid you'd say that. Ranmaru: (You were probably going to go ahead right here, weren't you?) Enjouji: (Yeah, well, the lower half of me's ready...) (page) Back at the apartment. Ranmaru: I'm not very good with words... Ranmaru: Drying his hair with a towel as Enjouji watches TV. Hey! (You're sitting right in front of the screen again!) Ranmaru kisses Enjouji. Ranmaru: It seems that you prefer the charms of the TV, hmm, Enjouji? (After I went to the trouble of coming out of the bathroom wearing only a robe...) Enjouji: I like your charms better! (Kiss me on the mouth again!) Ranmaru: Sitting on his lap and kissing him. Then I forgive you. Ranmaru: I tried keeping it in, and I tried sulking, Ranmaru: But with one kiss it all comes undone. Ranmaru: He wraps me up in his gentle warmth. Ranmaru: As Enjouji kisses his neck. It feels so good, Ranmaru: I want to do it over and over again. (page) Ranmaru: Wait... a second, Kei... Enjouji: What?! We've gotten this far and now you want to call it quits?? Ranmaru: N- no, let's go to the bed. We'll probably end up falling asleep here... Enjouji: Yeah, you're right. I don't want you to catch cold... Enjouji: (Hurry up, hurry up! I'm suffering here! Come over here!) Ranmaru: Idiot... Ranmaru switches off the light and lets his bathrobe slide off. Enjouji watches, speechless, his heart pounding. (page) Ranmaru kneels on the bed. Enjouji grabs his arm and flips him onto his back, kissing him. Ranmaru: N-! Ranmaru: Hey, ...Kei... Ranmaru: I want it... right away... Enjouji: Really? Is that okay?! I'm more than ready, but... Ranmaru: ...Yeah... Ranmaru: Yesterday was... not real satisfying, so... Enjouji: Right! Leave it to me! Enjouji: Oiling his fingers and inserting them. Ranmaru: Ah...! Enjouji: It doesn't hurt? (I used plenty, but...) Ranmaru: Mm... Enjouji: Well then... if it hurts, let me know. (page) Ranmaru: Ah... Ranmaru: Aa-! Ranmaru: Kei...! Ranmaru: A- Ah... Ranmaru: M... more... Ke...i...! Ranmaru: Ii... Ah! Kei! Ranmaru: Ah...! Ranmaru: Ha...! Ranmaru: ....Ah... Ranmaru: Playing with Enjouji's hair as Enjouji lies on the pillow with his eyes closed. We have a lot of memories with your long hair. But now... (page) Enjouji is Rapunzel in the tower, and Ranmaru is climbing up his hair. Ranmaru: Just like in the fairy tale, your long hair has been part of what got me up here, Ranmaru: But now, so no one else can come close to you, Ranmaru: I cut it off, and now the two of us can begin creating new memories. Next morning. Enjouji is scrubbing dishes while Ranmaru relaxes with a book and a cool drink. Ranmaru: You were the one who told me to be more selfish. When you're done there, you need to go shopping. Enjouji: (I don't think this is exactly what I meant.) ? ? Ranmaru: Make sure you don't forget rice and toilet paper. Meanwhile Kai is on the phone to Masa. Masa: Periodical reports from Enjouji-san? No, I can't recall anything like that. Kai: I should have known!! (He just made it up! That loser!)