KIZUNA by Kazuma Kodaka Book 3 Part 8: Love Can Get Messy 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 Title: Love Can Get Messy Note: The title literally means "Love's Big Fuss Over Nothing." (page) A shot of the outside of Enjouji and Ranmaru's apartment... Ranmaru: Fumbling for the clock. Mm... Ranmaru: Lying in bed, looking at the clock in his hand. ...5 a.m.... Ranmaru: Patting the empty pillow beside him. I guess he did say he was working the late shift. Ranmaru: Snuggling under the covers. Back to sleep... Ranmaru: Enjouji works a part time job as a host. (page) Ranmaru: When he has the late shift, he generally comes home the next morning. These peaceful early mornings without his presence Ranmaru: when I can doze off in bed are another kind of happiness.... The doorbell rings as he lies curled up under the covers. Ranmaru: ...... Ranmaru hides under the comforter as the doorbell rings insistently. Ranmaru: .....!!!! Ranmaru: Answering the intercom angrily. Yes...? Enjouji: Ran-chaaaan! Unlock the dooor!! Ranmaru: But when he goes barhopping until morning with his customers, Ranmaru: Opening the door. How many times have I told you to take a key with you when you go out?! Enjouji: Drunk and jolly. Okay!! Ranmaru: when he gets home, (page) Ranmaru: he's almost always completely smashed. Enjouji: Embracing him. I'm hooome! I missed youuu!! Enjouji: Having been whacked over the head. Oww! What was that for?? Ranmaru: Noisy drunk. Ranmaru: Hurry up and change your clothes and go to sleep, you fool! Enjouji: Struggling to remove his shoes. Okaaay! I'll sleeep! (I can't get my shoe off!) Ranmaru: Now thanks to him I'm wide awake! Ranmaru: I can't understand anyone who drinks themselves into that condition! Ranmaru: Stepping into the shower. A host... what kind of work is that for a college student? Ranmaru turns on the water and looks pretty as he showers himself off. (page) Ranmaru: What if he drinks so much he ruins his health... Ranmaru: ...... Ranmaru: Ah well, whatever he does is his own responsibility! Ranmaru: I must be stupid to nag at him like that! Ranmaru comes out of the bath. Ranmaru: Noticing Enjouji's clothes strewn on the floor. Huh? Ranmaru: What's he doing, molting all over the place? (Snake man!) (page) Ranmaru: Shoving open the bedroom door. Hey Enjouji you're such a slob!! Enjouji: In bed, still wearing his shirt. Ran-chaaaan... Ranmaru: What? Take off your shirt at least before you go to bed! Enjouji: Mm... Let's go to bed... Enjouji: Kissing him. Let's sleep together... Ranmaru: Sleep by yourself! Ranmaru: You're so drunk it's pathetic! Enjouji: Ow! Enjouji: As a little box falls on the floor. Come on...! Let's do it! Ranmaru: Hey! Stop that you idiot! (page) Ranmaru: Picking up the box. What's this? Ranmaru: Hey, quit clinging on me! Ranmaru: Staring in shock at the box which reads "Hotel Castle." Ranmaru: Sniffing at the clothes of the insensate Enjouji. He always gets perfume on his clothes, but... Enjouji: Unyaaaann... Ranmaru: But for him to smell of this much make-up... Ranmaru lets Enjouji's shirt fall open, revealing a lipstick kiss on his chest. (page) Ranmaru: On the verge of exploding. Lipstick... Ranmaru: Enjouji... Enjouji: Hmmmmm? Ranmaru: Who did you go with to the place where you got these matches? Tell me the absolute truth! Enjouji: Huh...? Oh, these? Enjouji: It was a love hotel. Next time you can come too! Ranmaru: Beating Enjouji with the pillow. (page) Enjouji: What... are you doing?! Ranmaru flings the matchbox in Enjouji's face and slams the door as he goes out. Enjouji: What was that all about...? Ranmaru: L- love hotel?! How can he say that and look so clueless and innocent?! Ranmaru: What does he think he's doing?! (page) The phone rings and Ranmaru picks it up. Ranmaru: ...Hello... Phone: Ah, hello. Excuse me, but (page) Phone: is Kei-chan there? Phone: Tell him it's Rena; he'll know who it is. Ranmaru: Furious. It's 'Kei-chan' is it?! Ranmaru: There's no one here by that name! He slams down the phone. Ranmaru: Shaking. This isn't happening! This isn't happening! This isn't happening! Enjouji: Emerging from the bedroom. ...Was that phone call for me? Just now? Ranmaru: He acts so brazen about it! (page) Ranmaru: Oh yeah! It was from some girl named "Rena!" She seemed to know you quite well!! Enjouji: What happened? What did she say? Enjouji: She gave you her phone number, right? Enjouji: Thinking. Rena...? Enjouji: Rena... Enjouji: Ah! Enjouji: Oh yeah, from the love hotel- Ranmaru slaps him across the face. Ranmaru: That's plenty! Don't say any more! Enjouji: Oww!!! Enjouji: You just hit me as hard as you could, didn't you?! Ranmaru starts dressing to go out. Enjouji: Hey, Ranmaru... Ranmaru: I'm not going to listen to any excuses! (page) Enjouji: What excuses...? What, you're going out? Ranmaru: That's right. Is there a problem? Ranmaru: If I have to look at your face anymore I'll want to hit you again! Enjouji: Come on, stop sulking just because I didn't take you to the hotel! Enjouji: I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it, okay? Actually, me and Rena- Ranmaru punches Enjouji. Ranmaru: I never imagined he could casually do something like this! (page) Ranmaru: Walking on a bridge across a street. That guy! Ranmaru: A guy... Yeah, Enjouji's a guy. Ranmaru: So there's nothing strange about him liking a girl. Ranmaru: Leaning on the railing. But if he's interested in a girl, how can a guy like me Ranmaru: have a chance of winning? (page) Meanwhile, back at the apartment. Enjouji: Shit! That sobered me right up! Enjouji: Checking in the mirror. He didn't break any teeth, did he...? (Damn, that hurts!) Enjouji: Catching sight of the lipstick kiss in the mirror....... Enjouji: Lip...stick...?! Enjouji: Wh-what's that doing there... Enjouji: Did... Ranmaru see this...? Ranmaru: In flashback. Who did you go with? Ranmaru: She seemed to know you quite well!! Enjouji: In shock. It's a misunderstanding... Enjouji: Calm down! First thing is to call the places Ranmaru's likely to go! (page) Enjouji: Patting down his jacket. My address book is gone!! Enjouji: Did I leave it at Rena's place? No... Enjouji: Could I have dropped it somewhere?! Enjouji: Running out the door with his shirt still unbuttoned. There's no time for worrying! Enjouji: I'll just go and check all the places he might be, one after the other! Ranmaru is still leaning on the railing of the bridge. Voice: You look like you're thinking about suicide. Did someone dump you? (page) Ranmaru and the girl who has been speaking look at each other. Girl: When you're hungry, you just think of bad stuff, right? Ranmaru: .... Girl: I have some onigiri. Want some? Note: Onigiri are rice balls, often shaped into triangles, with anything from tuna salad to pickled plums in the center, and a strip of seaweed wrapped part way around them. Girl: Putting the bag in his hand. Here, you can have 'em. Ranmaru: I... uh... Girl: Looking in the bag. Huh? You don't like the mentaiko kind? But it's good. Do you like tarako or shake? Ranmaru: That's not the point! Ranmaru: What are you doing? You start talking to me, you give me onigiri... Girl: I'm hitting on you, can't you tell? Ranmaru: Holding his onigiri. Huh? (page) Ranmaru: Y-you are? (I didn't realize...) Girl: Yep! Ranmaru: As they stand on the bridge and munch. I guess it's done differently nowadays. Ranmaru: But why are you hitting on me? Girl: You're by yourself right now, aren't you? Ranmaru: Yeah... Girl: It's no fun to eat alone. Food tastes better with two! Ranmaru: Th- that's all...? Girl: Ah! A dog! Come here! Come here! Girl: Want an onigiri? Ranmaru: Sweatdropping. I get the same treatment as a dog? Girl: Giggling. It's so cute! (page) Girl: Are you full now? Yeah? Good, good. The dog licks her face as she laughs. Ranmaru: Smiling. She has a flashy exterior, but she laughs like a little kid. Girl: Okay then... Girl: Where shall we go? A movie? Ranmaru: Uh... Girl: You're so clueless. We're going on a date! Ranmaru: (A date...?) (page) Girl: Taking his hand and leading him down the street. Hey, if you're going to be so gloomy, you'll miss out on life! Let's go! Ranmaru: Uh, wait, let go... Girl: What, you're embarrassed to hold hands? That's funny! Ranmaru: Oh yeah. We're a guy and a girl, Girl: We're playing lovers, just for now! Ranmaru: so even outside, we can hold hands without shame. Girl: Okay? At the Samejima dojo... Enjouji: Hello! Is the Shihan in? Student: I'm afraid he's out right now, but... ah, Shihandai! Note: "Shihan" is the title for the master of a kendo dojo, and "Shihandai" refers to the person who fills in for him. Kurebayashi: Hm? Kurebayashi: Oh, Enjouji. I see you're colorfully dressed as always. (Do you have some business here?) Enjouji: You haven't seen me in ages, and that's the first thing you greet me with, Kurebayashi?! (page) Kurebayashi: Sitting on a bench outside the dojo. Ranmaru-san? No, he hasn't been here. Enjouji: Lighting a cigarette. I thought he might have gone home, but I don't know. Enjouji: If he shows up, page me, okay? Enjouji: Well, sorry to interrupt. Bye. Kurebayashi: Wait. Kurebayashi: What have you done to Ranmaru-san?! If you've done something, you're not getting out of here in one piece. Enjouji: What the hell are you talking about?! I'm the one who got slapped across the face!! Kurebayashi: Slapped?! Kurebayashi: Looking horrified. Surely you didn't take advantage of being his roommate and commit some shameless act... Enjouji: Are you always depressing yourself imagining dirty thoughts?! Kurebayashi: Weeping at the thought. Don't talk like that! He is always pure and refined and beautiful! When I think of him living with a vulgar person like you, it worries me till I can't sleep at night...!! Enjouji: To the students. You must get tired, studying under a weird guy like this. Students: Sweatdropping. Well, now that you mention it... (page) Enjouji: Leaving. Say hi to grampa for me, okay? Kurebayashi: Call him Shihan, you fool! Enjouji: But if he hasn't gone home... Enjouji: At Tamura's place maybe...? Enjouji: He sure didn't lose any time in jumping to conclusions and getting jealous... Enjouji: Jealous? (Now that I think about it, he really made a noisy fuss over it.) Enjouji: I guess thinking that I was cheating on him got him really hot! Ah well, I suppose it can't be helped! Passing kid: Mama, that man is making a funny face! Mom: Shh! (page) The girl and Ranmaru come to an ice cream shop. Girl: Hey! You wanna have some ice cream? Ranmaru: We just ate onigiri -- will it fit? Girl: It doesn't go in the same place! (Which flavor do you want?) Ranmaru: Uh, it doesn't matter... Ranmaru: Tasting his double dip cone. It tastes kind of like toothpaste. Girl: Laughing. It's mint! Haven't you ever had it before? You're an interesting guy. Girl: It's like some foreign prince has come alone to this city. Girl: I wonder if it's really true? Ranmaru: That's a pretty farfetched idea. I'm just not used to this, is all. Girl: I can't go out and eat ice cream with my boyfriend either, so i wanted to try it once. Ranmaru: Boyfriend?! Then a date isn't such a good idea... Girl: Well, I called him my boyfriend, but he's really my patron. He has a wife and kids. I guess you'd call me his lover. Girl: So when we're not together, we do as we please, like this. (page) Ranmaru: ...But... Ranmaru: Isn't it hard, to love someone when it can't be public? Ranmaru: Normally people can hold hands and go out on dates and eat ice cream together, Ranmaru: but if you have a relationship where you can't even do those things... Girl: .... Girl: That's the kind of relationship you have! Ranmaru: Uh, no, I'm not... Girl: It's okay! You're just like me, so you don't need to hide anything! (page) Girl: Well, you know, if you just smother someone with love until you become a burden to them, the relationship isn't going to last, is it? Ranmaru: Choking and sweatdropping. Uh- Girl: I mean, in the kind of relationship that isn't approved of by society. Girl: You gotta be generous enough to let your partner have at least one affair, let them spread their wings a little, right? (Ha ha ha!) Ranmaru: Choking some more. Uhh... Girl: But even if you think that way, you still get jealous, huh? Just imagining the guy I love fooling around with someone else makes me so mad! Girl: After all, when you're in love, those noble-sounding arguments are meaningless. Girl: You want your lover to just look at you and no one else. Ranmaru: ..... Ranmaru: ...Yeah... I know. Girl: You're really in love with that person, huh? (You're cute!) Ranmaru: Blushing. Huh?! (page) Enjouji is at Tamura's apartment. Tamura: Huh? Samejima? Tamura: No, he's not here... Rika-chan: What, he hasn't come home? What happened? Enjouji: Sweatdropping. Oh, nothing really. Sorry to bother you! Tamura: If he shows up, I'll give you a call. Enjouji: Looking exhausted. Yeah, thanks. (This is the fourth place I've checked...) Enjouji: Shit... I've checked every place I can think of... Enjouji: I didn't want to think about it, but the most likely place is... At another apartment. Enjouji rings the doorbell repeatedly, trying to get an answer. Occupant: Opening the door. Quit making all that racket! I don't want the newspaper! (page) The occupant is revealed to be Kai. Kai: Huh? Kai: Oh, it's you. Enjouji: Looking possessed. Gimme! Kai: Give you what? Enjouji: Ranmaru! Ranmaru! I know he's here! Enjouji: Hand him over quick! Hand him over now! Hand him over right away!! Kai: Whacking Enjouji in the head with his motorcycle helmet. What the hell are you talking about, you idiot? (page) Kai: What happened to him? Enjouji: If he's not here, fine. Sorry to intrude. (See you.) Kai: Locking an arm around Enjouji's neck. You've done some stupid thing again and made Sempai mad, haven't you? And now he's run away from home, right? Huh? Enjouji: Sweatdropping profusely. ...... Back at Enjouji's apartment. Kai: An affair with a woman?!? Enjouji: Unlocking the door. It's a misunderstanding! You think I'd cheat on him?! Kai: Then why'd you do something to make him think that, moron? Enjouji: Opening the door. Ah, he's not back yet... Kai: Now what Sempai needs is a singleminded lover like me! Aw, poor thing! Hurry and come home! (I'll comfort you!) Enjouji: Babble on about your little dream world, kid! (page) Back to Ranmaru and the girl. Girl: Oh! I forgot something! Girl: Entering a phone booth. Sorry, can you wait a minute? Ranmaru: Sure. Girl: Dialing. Girl: Hello? Kei-chan? It's Rena. Enjouji: You fucking idiot!!! Enjouji: As Kai plugs his ears. You've caused a huge misunderstanding and now I'm really screwed!! Enjouji: As Rena holds the phone away from her ear looking angry. How are you going to fix this mess, Renaaa?! (page) Rena: Here I am being nice and calling you, and who the hell do you think you are, asshole?! Rena: You left your address book at my bar, didn't you?! Enjouji: Uh...?! Rena: I guess you don't need it, right? Fine! Rena: I'm hanging up! Enjouji: Wait! Wait! Please wait, Rena-chaaan! Rena: Hmph. Idiot. Rena: Listen, I gave you a box of matches, right? Yeah, the 2 Chome love hotel, you know where it is, right? Rena: That's where I am now, so get your ass over here right away; I won't be here long. Enjouji: That's not the important thing right now. Yesterday you left a lipstick kiss on my chest, didn't you?! Rena: Huh? Oh, that? What, you had a fight with your sweetie over that? Enjouji: That's right! I've been left! Rena: You dope! Why didn't you just explain a cross-dresser kissed you as a joke? Enjouji: Shooing away the eavesdropping Kai. I didn't have time to explain anything! Well, I'll introduce you some time. You can explain what really happened. Rena: Okay! Rena: To Ranmaru. Sorry to keep you waiting. Rena: I have to go meet a customer now. (Sorry, I was the one who picked you up and all...) Ranmaru: Huh? Rena: I don't look the type, but I work nights at a club. (I'm really a low-life kind of girl.) Ranmaru: Smiling. I see. Rena: Oh yeah! My daddy runs a hotel right near here! Rena: Why don't you have a look at it? It's a nice hotel! Rena: Rent a room there if you have a chance, okay? Rena: I'm meeting my customer right outside the hotel, so let's go! Ranmaru: Ah, no, that's all right... Rena: Come on, come on! (page) Back at Enjouji's apartment. Enjouji: Kai! You stay here. If Ranmaru comes back, do anything you can to make him stay! Kai: All right!! Enjouji: But! If you try anything with Ranmaru like last time, I won't hesitate to kill you! Kai: Sticking his tongue out. Whatever are you speaking of? I am a gentleman! I wouldn't force myself on him and make him cry! Enjouji: Smacking Kai. I'll be back! Kai: Owww... (Shit!) Kai: I can't let a chance like this get away! Kai: Running down the hall. Sempai's room!! Kai: Leaping on the bed and hugging the pillow. It has Sempai's sweet smell! Kai: Huh? Kai: Holding a long, straight black hair. Kai: Lighting the hair on fire. It's his fault I've become such a bitter person. (Let it burn.) Sign: Hotel Castle. Ranmaru: Uh... Ranmaru: You're really... meeting someone here...? Rena: Yep! This is daddy's love hotel. Do you like it? (page) Ranmaru: Turning away. Sorry, I've gotta go. Rena: What? Why?! Ranmaru: I don't want to be here. Ranmaru: This love hotel... Ranmaru: Looking unwell. Last night, Enjouji came here and...!! Ranmaru: Sorry...! Rena: Wait, I'm not asking you to go in or anything! Okay? You don't like places like this, do you? I'm sorry I was so insensitive... Ranmaru: It's not that. Ranmaru: My lover had matches from this hotel... Rena: Your lover...? Ranmaru: Running away. I'm really sorry! Goodbye! Rena: Hey! Wait! (page) Enjouji: Rena! Rena: Ah! Kei-chan! Ranmaru: ...Kei...? Enjouji: Out of breath. Rena, what do you have to meet me in front of the hotel for? Rena: Annoyed. We both know where it is? Ranmaru: Looking back at her. Rena...san? Rena: Yeah. That's right. Enjouji: Huh? (page) Enjouji: Ranmaru?! Rena: ? Ranmaru and Enjouji stare at each other...