Marmalade Boy Volume 2, Chapter 2 pages 47-83 Written and illustrated by Yoshizumi Wataru Translation & editing by : Craig Nishida Additional translation by : Paul Hirose Yutaka Sasagawa Matthew Akira Klippenstein Additional editing by: Jeanne Hedge Thomas Mattman Last revision : 12-23-95 Comments? Corrections? Suggestions? Please send them to: mboy-trans@soyokaze.biosci.ohio-state.edu --------------------------------------------------- p 47 1 [Yuu's pov of Namura-sensei and Meiko in an embrace.] 2 Yuu: ......... --------------------------------------------------- p 48 1 [Meiko rests her cheek against Namura's shoulder.] public address: [off] Namura-sensei, Namura-sensei. Telephone call. 2 [Meiko's eyes pop open.] public address: Please come immediately to the English Department faculty room. I repeat... 3 [Namura-sensei looks up, breaking away slightly from Meiko.] Namura-sensei: Phone call, huh... 4 [Meiko portrait.] 5 [Namura smiles.] Namura-sensei: I'll be right back. 6 [View of one of the windows.] door FX: [off] --------------------------------------------------- p 49 1 [Yuu takes the opportunity to get up off the floor, where he was seated. Around the end of the bookcase, Meiko stands, about 30 feet away.] narration: I'll get out of here now. Yuu FX: 2 [He looks nervously back over his shoulder as he approaches a window.] narration: So as not to make a sound... 3 [He pulls up on the window, to slide it open...] window FX: [His eyes goggle.] 4 [Whirling at the sound, Meiko looks a bit stricken.] Meiko: WHO...?! IS SOMEONE THERE?! 5 [Yuu closes his eyes wearily, and slaps a palm to his forehead.] --------------------------------------------------- p 50 1 [A blank panel.] Yuu: [off] I didn't mean to spy, but... 2 [Yuu walks out from the aisle, into Meiko's view. This is her pov. His eyes remain closed, and he puts his hands in his pants pockets.] Yuu: I accidentally... 3 [Meiko claps a hand to her mouth and blushes fiercely.] Meiko: ......!! 4 [With an airy toss of one hand, he strolls right past her.] Yuu: Next time, be more careful about checking whether anyone is around. Bye. Meiko: Ah... 5 Meiko: W-- WAIT!! [Yuu starts to look back over his shoulder.] --------------------------------------------------- p 51 1 Meiko: Please! Meiko: anyone else about this. 2 Yuu: I won't tell. 3 [Startled by his reply, she stops cold. Her eyes have grown large.] 4 [Her gaze drops slightly, and unfocuses.] Meiko: I... I see... Meiko: I'm sorry. Meiko: You wouldn't tell... 5 [Yuu portrait--our pov is looking over Meiko's shoulder at him.] 6 [Tight shot of Yuu's shoes and ankles.] Yuu: Can I ask just one thing? --------------------------------------------------- p 52 1 Yuu: Does Miki... Know about this? 2 [Meiko cannot meet his gaze.] 3 [She stares at the floor, sadly.] Meiko: ...... I haven't told her. 4 [Yuu's gaze also drops, and he, too, looks a bit sad.] Yuu: I see. 5 [He whirls abruptly and strolls away.] 6 [Meiko watches him leave.] --------------------------------------------------- p 53 1 [View from behind Meiko as she stands and watches Yuu walk away.] ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (2): It seems like I'm being persistent, but this is a series on gardening. (Being from Tokyo, I'm starved for nature.) The other day, I bought a can of flower seeds called, "Paint With Flowers." Pink's in the pink packet, and yellow's in yellow, and inasmuch as the seeds of 10 different kinds of same-colored flowers were mixed, it was awfully pretty. Since they were so pretty, sure enough, I bought a can and gave it as a present to Yazawa Ai, who had also wanted to plant flowers. But it was an import, so there are hardly any explanations written and I don't quite know how to grow them... It would be nice if Ai-chan goes ahead and tries, and tells me how, but...(^_^). Then I also bought a cultivation set of forget-me-nots. It's for fall planting, so I can't start that yet... But this time, I'll raise them over-protectively with the grea-a-atest of care, and I want to make the flowers bloom magnificently. small print at bottom: The seeds of the balloon vine have a heart-shaped pattern and they're pretty. They were given to me before by a fan. Around what month do you plant these, I wonder. --------------------------------------------------- p 54 1 [Exterior shot of Touryou school.] interviewer: [off] Sorry to have kept you waiting. It's time for the Lunchtime News! 2 [Shot of the television mounted high on a classroom wall.] interviewer: [TV] This week we'll be doing a special on the upcoming school festival--PR messages from every group. 3 [Students pause in eating to look up at the TV, off-panel.] interviewer: [TV, off] The first batter up today is by the class of 3-A... 4 [Miki and Meiko sit side-by-side at their desks, which have been pulled close together. Miki holds a drink carton and smiles at Meiko.] Miki: The Literary Arts club is taking part, too, isn't it. What are you doing? carton: Strawberry Meiko: The same as we did in junior high. A simple display and a spot sale of doujinshi . What about the tennis team? --------------------------------------------------- p 55 1 Miki: We're, like... interviewer: [TV, off] Then, continuing on, from the boys' tennis team, which is playing in its annual traditional invitational match... [Miki's attention is caught.] 2 [Yuu smiles and waves, right up there on the TV screen.] interviewer: [TV] ...is 1-B's Matsuura Yuu-kun, presenting us with the PR message. TV camera-change FX: Yuu: [TV] Hello-o-o. 3 [Miki doubles over, pounding her chest to clear her windpipe of strawberry drink. Meiko looks up at the TV, off-panel.] Miki: 4 [Ginta also stares up and off-panel, inadvertently dropping his cute octopus-looking sausage.] 5 [View of the TV.] interviewer: [TV] You're not a regular team member, are you, Matsuura-kun. It's said that you're taking part in doubles as a backup, and... Yuu: [TV, smiling] Yes. Events have sort of turned out that way. 6 interviewer: [TV, off] There's also a rumor of a triangle relationship with your partner Suou-kun over Koishikawa-san... But, are those the facts? Yuu: [TV, off] Ah ha ha ha! That's... A no-comment. [The entire class stares, wide-eyed.] class: OHHHH! He's not denying it! --------------------------------------------------- p 56 1 [Yuu smiles and flashes a victory sign to all his viewers.] Yuu: [TV] Anyway... Since a bigger gallery would fire us up, please, everyone, come and watch. Yuu: Please root for us!! 2 [Miki's face has become unreadable, but it is certainly shaded and colored strangely. Meiko forces a smile and waves her open palms at Miki, placatingly. Around them, two girls talk to each other, and two boys inspect Ginta, who sits collapsed at his desk with his face buried in his arms.] girl 1: [to girl 2] It's a triangle relationship, he said. girl 2: [to girl 1] Just as I thought... Miki FX: Meiko: C-calm down, Miki. Meiko: Stay cool, stay cool. boy 1: [pointing at Ginta] This one's dying in a fit of indignation!! caption with arrow: Ginta ---> 3 [Humming to himself, Yuu enters the classroom.] door FX: 4 [Ginta, face flushed and glaring, leaps to his feet.] boy 2: Ah... Ginta chair FX: Ginta: MATSUURA-A-A!! 5 Ginta: What's with that broadcast just now-w-w?! [Yuu looks aside, scratching his cheek.] Yuu: But they asked me to appear. It's my nature that I can't refuse when asked... --------------------------------------------------- p 57 1 Ginta: [off] What's with the triangle relationship... I mean, anyway... Advertising like that. What will you do when a horde of annoying rank amateurs comes to watch?! Ginta: [off] Just people who don't even know the rules. Like, your fans and stuff! Yuu: [off] Eh? But isn't it better to have lots of support? 2 Ginta: [glaring] For me... If anything, I can concentrate better with a small gallery! Ginta: With plenty of people you get distracted... 3 [With a blank look, Yuu casually points at Ginta, off-panel.] Yuu: Ahhhh. You're the type that crumbles under pressure? Yuu FX: 4 [A sweating Yuu races off with a glaring Ginta in hot pursuit.] Ginta: YOU ASSHO-O-OLE!! That's what I'm worried about! Yuu/Ginta running FX: 5 [Seated at her desk, Miki, looking weary, watches them, off-panel.] Miki: (What are they playing...?) 6 [Exterior shot of a school building.] school bell FX: --------------------------------------------------- p 58 1 [Miki turns to look over her shoulder at a voice calling her from back down the hall. It's Yuu.] Yuu: [smiling] Wait up, Miki! I'm going home, too. 2 [Miki averts her face in a huff.] Miki FX: 3 [Yuu portrait.] 4 [Yuu trails her, a bit wide-eyed.] Yuu: What's with the "hmmph?" Does this have to do with the lunchtime broadcast? Miki: Of course! Spoken of being in a triangle relationship in a broadcast to the entire school... 5 Miki: When something like that happens, deny it completely!! Yuu: C'mon, it's nothing. Let them say what they like... 6 [Miki turns to study Yuu, off-panel. She blushes a bit.] Miki: ~~~~~~ narration: So calmly... Miki: (How detestable... Grr...) 7 [Miki notices Ginta walking in the other direction to her left. Yuu walks to her right, not paying any attention. Wide-eyed, Ginta spots her, too.] Miki/Ginta: Ah! --------------------------------------------------- p 59 1 [She smiles and waves.] Miki: Bye-bye, Ginta. 2 Ginta: See ya. 3 [Yuu turns to face Ginta, mimicking Miki's smile and wave. Miki turns to watch this display.] Yuu FX: Yuu: Bye-bye, Ginta . 4 Ginta FX: Ginta: ......... 5 [Miki and Yuu continue on. Miki has dropped her gaze. Ginta has stopped to watch the two walk away.] 6 [A white panel.] narration: With Ginta... narration: Somehow, I've felt awkward since that time. (I don't like situations like this...) narration: But then, with Yuu... 7 [Filler art. Miki stands in shirt and slacks, hands in her pockets. She looks at us, askance.] --------------------------------------------------- p 60 1 [Miki and Yuu walk through the neighborhood, still on the way home from school. Miki studies Yuu as she walks, while Yuu stares straight ahead.] narration: To all appearances, things are just as they always were. narration: But, there's been a small change within me. 2 [Tighter shot of Miki.] narration: Maybe I'm realizing... ...that I like him. narration: I'm a bit conscious of him. 3 [Her pov of Yuu.] narration: What does Yuu... narration: ...think about me? 4 [Miki drops her gaze, eyes closed. She visualizes a beaming Yuu at the amusement park (chapter 1.4, p 145).] Yuu: [flashback] It's obviously because I like you. Miki: (I can't trust someone like that, can I... ) Yuu: [off] ...tional match? 5 [Miki looks up in surprise at Yuu. Yuu is looking at her.] Miki: Huh? Yuu: Don't the girls have an invitational match? --------------------------------------------------- p 61 1 Miki: [off] Ahhhh. The girls team runs an oden* shop. That's an annual custom, too. Afterwards we cheer on the guys. Yuu: [off] Hmm... <*Commentary (TM/YS): is basically various things cooked in a flavourful broth. It's wonderful warming food on a cold or rainy winter's evening. I think some of the ingredients are (chinese radish), eggs, (fishsticks), or (sea weed/kelp), and either and (both are fishpaste) and maybe (devil`s root?) all in a soup broth... And as mentioned, (Japanese mustard) goes well with the oden. (edited from the MI Guidebook)> 2 [Smiling, Miki opens and looks in her schoolbag.] Miki: Oh, that's right. latch FX: 3 [She holds out a ticket to him. Yuu stares down at it, wide-eyed.] Miki: I'll give you a ticket so come and eat. Here you go. Yuu: Ah... Uh-huh... 4 [His pov. She looks back, registering slight surprise.] Miki: You don't like oden? Yuu: [off] No, it isn't that... 5 [Yuu opens and shows the contents of his schoolbag. It is crammed full of such tickets. Several fall to the ground. Miki's eyes goggle at the sight. Yuu looks rather nonchalant.] Yuu: I sorta got tickets from several girls who said to come and eat... tickets FX: Yuu: I wonder if I can eat this much... tickets: Crepes Okonomiyaki Yakisoba is mainly flour, eggs, and cabbage. Most everything else depends on where you're from, and what you like. The word comes from , as in , which is "liking" or "preference". So really, anything is fair game. (Add'l comment (CN): Called "Japanese pizza" by some, only 'cause it's cooked flat like a pizza, but on a hot griddle.)> is noodles with sauce (no soup). Again, ingredients vary greatly, but usually it has vegetables, and some kind of meat, poultry, or seafood (I imagine pork is the most common). (Add'l comment (CN): Called "Japanese chow mein" by some...)> 6 Miki: You got all that from girls? Yuu: Of course. Yuu: It would be weird if a guy gave me any. 7 [Miki grits her teeth and stares at him. Somehow, I imagine one of her eyes twitching...] Miki: ...... I see! --------------------------------------------------- p 62 1 [Irritated, Miki stomps off, still holding the ticket in her hand. Yuu is startled.] Miki: Then, you won't need this, hm. You won't be able to eat THAT huge amount, right?! Yuu: Eh? 2 [He follows her.] Yuu: That's okay. I'll take it. Miki: You don't have to force yourself! Even though I offered it to you, I don't want it to get wasted... 3 Yuu: I'll definitely go, I tell you! Yuu: Miki! 4 [Yuu portrait.] 5 [Tight shot of one of his shoes. Looks like he's running.] 6 [A white panel.] Yuu FX: [off] --------------------------------------------------- p 63 1 [Yuu has stopped her by throwing his arm across her path, resting it against a wall. He looks serious. Miki stares up at him, in surprise.] Yuu: Give it to me! Yuu: I'll definitely go. 2 [Miki portrait.] 3 [She holds up the ticket in her hand and studies it.] Miki: If you waste it... Miki: I won't forgive you! 4 [Tight shot of their hands as Yuu takes the ticket from her.] ticket: Oden Shop--Smash 5 [Dreamy Yuu portrait.] Yuu: Thank you. --------------------------------------------------- p 64 1 [Dreamy Miki portrait.] narration: How weak I get... ...towards this smiling face of Yuu's. 2 [Another dreamy Yuu portrait.] narration: Sure enough, maybe right now... Yuu is the one... narration: I love... --------------------------------------------------- p 65 1 [A large vertical sign rests next to the entrance to Touryou school.] sign: The 18th Touryou Festival 2 [Several booths stand side-by-side. Most are large enough to contain several tables and chairs for customers to sit and eat inside. Students either man the booths, or sit and eat, or walk outside.] sign: Oden Shop--SMASH entrance sign: Oden sidewalk sign: Delicious Oden 250 Juice 120 sign: [far booth] Okonomiyaki 3 [With a wide smile, Miki yells out an order to the cooks off-panel. She wears a large apron over her school uniform and holds a tray under one arm. Behind her, another girl serves a table. The place looks busy.] Miki: Two oden, please! And two Oolong tea, too! voice: [off] Oka-a-ay. Miki apron: Oden Shop--Smash wall signs: Oden 250 yen Juice 120 Oolong tea 120 yen waitress: Sorry to have kept you waiting. 4 [Filler art. Meiko smiles in a dress and a hat.] --------------------------------------------------- p 66 1 [School coat unbuttoned, Yuu enters, smiling.] Yuu: Hey, Miki. I came to eat!! 2 [Miki, carrying a tray, turns, also smiling.] Miki: Yuu! 3 Yuu: What's this? The waitresses aren't wearing tennis outfits? Yuu FX: Miki: Again, such a silly... 4 [Miki sees something else off-panel, that has caused her eyes to widen.] Miki: ...thing... 5 [A dreamy portrait of Arimi, in a pretty dress and a pleasant smile.] Arimi: Hello. 6 [The two girls face each other. Miki sweats; Arimi continues to smile softly. Oblivious to Miki's reaction, Yuu hooks a thumb over his shoulder, pointing that way.] Miki: A-Arimi-san... Yuu: She said she came to have fun. I ran into her over there. --------------------------------------------------- p 67 1 [Arimi smiles brightly.] Arimi: Thank you very much for the treat the other day. 2 [Miki tries to match it, but she sweats while doing so.] Miki: Sure... 3 [Miki's pov of Yuu and Arimi, seated side-by-side at a table and chatting.] 4 [Miki stands with eyes shrunk to dots. Apparently, her back is to Yuu and Arimi. But two other girls surround her, glancing back over Miki's shoulder and trying to attract Miki's attention.] girl 3: Hey, hey! What's this?! That super-cute girl! Miki: Yuu's classmate from junior high... girl 4: They look really clo-o-ose! Is it okay? To leave things like this, Miki... 5 Miki: I-it's no concern of mine! Miki FX: 6 [What Miki sees... Arimi holds an open program in her hand, and appears to be enjoying herself immensely. Yuu looks over at the program.] Arimi: Say, this movie looks like it's fun. Arimi: Let's go see it together. pamphlet: The 18th Touryou Festival Yuu: Yeah. Okay. 7 [Miki demonstrates that jealousy is an ugly thing...] Miki FX: --------------------------------------------------- p 68 1 [A panel of swirls.] narration: What? That Yuu! narration: Sure, you certainly did stop by to eat like you promised... But there was no need to bring Arimi-san (of all people) along!! 2 [With a deadly glare, Miki glowers off-panel. Flames seem to engulf her. The two girls who were near her now cower together in the background.] Miki: (YUU, YOU IDIOT!!) Miki FX: girl 4: Miki's burning... 3 [Yuu and Arimi are still seated and eating.] Yuu: Oh, that's right. I can't hang out with you this afternoon. I have to play in a tennis match... Arimi: I know. That's why I came to cheer for you. 4 [Yuu's eyes retract to dots.] Yuu: Eh? How come you know? Arimi: Your opponents are from Sakaki school, aren't they? That's my high school. I heard it from a team member. 5 Yuu: [beaming] Ohh, I see... Yuu: Come to think of it, I haven't asked what the name of the opposing school is. Yuu: Eh...? --------------------------------------------------- p 69 1 [Yuu leaps to his feet, aghast.] Yuu: *YOUR* HIGH SCHOOL?! Could that possibly mean... Yuu chair FX: 2 Arimi: Right. Arimi: *He's* here. 3 [Yuu looks stricken.] Yuu: ~~~~~~ 4 [Miki heading off to another table, watches, off-panel.] Miki: ? Miki: (What's he making a fuss about?) 5 [Ginta stands next to the chain-link fence that surrounds the tennis court. He doesn't look pleased.] Ginta: Matsuura! What are you doing? Hurry up and change. Ginta: The guys from the other team are already here!! 6 [Ginta confronts Yuu, who is still in school uniform, and flanked by Arimi and Miki. Yuu has dropped his gaze, both hands in his pants pockets.] Yuu: How depressing... Ginta: What are you talking about, this late! Yuu: Actually, there's a guy on the opposing team, who I'd rather not deal with... --------------------------------------------------- p 70 1 [Tight shot of Yuu, who looks aside and sweats.] Yuu: He was a classmate during junior high... But even though we were both on the tennis team, he couldn't defeat me even once, so he considers me his enemy. Yuu: On top of that, in 3rd year, I went out with a girl on whom he had an unrequited crush for a long time, so he resents me even more... 2 Ginta: You had a girlfriend? [Yuu points to the girl to his right. Said girl beams a smile at Ginta.] Yuu: Yeah. This girl. Yuu: Though we've since broken up... Arimi: I'm Suzuki Arimi. 3 Ginta: Ah, pleased to meet you. I'm Suou. [Ginta visualizes Miki and Arimi walking off together, from the other day.] Ginta: (Huh? Back then...) 4 [Yuu drops his gaze and lets out a sigh.] Yuu: Anyway, it's unpleasant, so I really don't want to meet him... 5 [Ginta stares off to one side, thinking.] Ginta: ...... Ginta: His name... Wouldn't happen to be... 6 [The two raise index fingers simultaneously, and turn to each other.] Yuu/Ginta: ROKUTANDA TSUTOMU. --------------------------------------------------- p 71 1 Yuu: [blankly] Eh? You know him, Suou? The "Guy Who I Definitely Don't Want to Lose to," perhaps... Tsutomu: [off] It's been a while, Matsuura. 2 [Tsutomu portrait.] Tsutomu: I've wanted to meet you! 3 [Yuu wearily slaps a palm to his forehead. Ginta looks back behind him at the source of the voice.] Yuu: (He's appeared...) Yuu: I didn't want to meet you. Ginta: Tsutomu! 4 Tsutomu: I heard a rumor that you were Ginta's partner, so I've been waiting very eagerly for this day! Tsutomu: I'll take the two of you and beat you both at the same time! --------------------------------------------------- p 72 1 [Yuu tries to put on a cheerful face, but it looks very forced. Arimi's cute face appears as she peeks out from behind Yuu's shoulder.] Yuu: As always, you're full of fight, hmm... Yuu: Ahh, how oppressive. Arimi FX: 2 Tsutomu: [smiling] Ahh... Arimi! Tsutomu: You came to cheer me on?! 3 [Peering from behind Yuu's arm, she sticks out her tongue at Tsutomu. Tsutomu sweats.] Arimi: Not you. I'm cheering for Yuu. Tsutomu: Wha! Tsutomu: WHAT'S THAT?! DIDN'T YOU SPLIT UP... Arimi: It's nothing to do with you, is it! 4 [Hands on her hips, Arimi glares off-panel.] Arimi: I've been telling you since elementary school. You're out of the question! Give up already!! 5 [Tsutomu's face falls.] Tsutomu: Arimi-i-i... 6 [Ginta is beside himself with laughter...] Ginta: BWA HA HA HA HA! --------------------------------------------------- p 73 1 [Ginta points at Tsutomu, who, in turn, screams at Ginta with face flushed.] Ginta: C'mon-n-n... What a persistent guy. Ahhhh. How disgraceful! Tsutomu: Shut up, shut up! 2 [Lightning crackles across this black panel.] Tsutomu: [off] You can talk big like that now, but wait till later!! Ginta: [off] That's my line!! 3 [Yuu, flanked by a wide-eyed Miki and a peering Arimi, smiles broadly and nervously.] Yuu: ...... Uhh... Sorry to interrupt you hotheads, but... Yuu: So, how are you two connected? 4 [Yuu's pov. Tsutomu and Ginta turn and glare back at us.] Tsutomu/Ginta: We're cousins! --------------------------------------------------- p 74 1 [Ginta drops his gaze in irritation. Yuu watches him, wide-eyed.] Ginta: We're the same age, so we've been compared at just about anything, and we've been rivals since we were kids. Yuu: Cousins, huh. Come to think of it, you're alike... 2 [Tsutomu and Ginta seem to double in size and loom over the cringing Yuu.] Tsutomu/Ginta: IN WHAT WAY?! 3 [Yuu smiles and waves both open hands, placatingly.] Yuu: (In the way you flare up on your own, and disturb everyone around you...) Yuu: No, just joking, just joking. You're not alike. 4 [Miki stops and ponders.] narration: Hmmmm? Ginta's cousin, who has an unrequited love for Arimi-san...hmm... Miki: (Small world...) 5 [She addresses Tsutomu, who turns to look at her.] Miki: AH! Maybe you're the cousin that went to Wimbledon before. Are you the person that bought the pin for me? 6 Tsutomu: ...... So, you're that girl Ginta gave the pin to? 7 [Miki leans back a bit, sweating under the stare of Tsutomu.] Miki: Huh? Miki: Uh-huh... --------------------------------------------------- p 75 1 [Tsutomu points at Miki, who cringes a bit.] Tsutomu: I SEE-E-EE. You're the one over whom Ginta goofed, and it ended up in a rejection even though you both had feelings for each other, huh!! 2 [Miki blushes furiously. Arimi studies her.] Miki: Wha... 3 [Ginta's face is likewise colored, though he's more angry than embarrassed.] Ginta: TSUTOMU!! 4 [Miki looks around, stunned to find a crowd of students behind her. crowd FX: girl: Huhhh? What sort of thing? girl: What? What? boy: What's the matter? 5 [Our pov from amongst that crowd. Miki spins to look us over, face in abject horror.] narration: W-- Without me noticing, so many people... voice 1: [off] It's about that love letter incident during junior high, right? Miki: Ah. Umm... voice 2: [off] It was true that they were both in love back then, after a-a-all. voice 3: [off] How come it turned out that way? voice 4: [off] She's going out with Matsuura now, isn't she? Miki: Y--! You're wr... --------------------------------------------------- p 76 1 [She aims an evil eye at Ginta, who reacts by flinching and sweating.] Miki FX: Ginta FX: 2 [His pov of her angry glare.] Miki: GINTA, YOU BLABBERMOUTH!! Miki: I HATE YOU! 3 [Miki turns and runs away from the staring crowd.] Miki FX: 4 Ginta FX: Word hanging over Ginta's head: HATE 5 [Ginta collapses to the ground, on his hands and knees. Yuu stares, while Tsutomu goes delirious with laughter.] Ginta FX: Tsutomu: Bwa ha ha ha ha ha! Tsutomu: She hates you-u-u! --------------------------------------------------- p 77 1 [Ginta stares over at the maniacal laughter.] narration: You ... narration: Mind your own business! Tsutomu: [off] Bwa ha ha ha ha! 2 [Leaping to his feet, a glaring and flushed Ginta points a finger at Tsutomu in defiance.] Ginta: SHUT UP!! At least the both of us had feelings for each other. Which is wa-a-ay better than you, who isn't cared for at all!! Ginta FX: Tsutomu: Wh-what was tha-a-at?! 3 [Sweating, Yuu turns aside a weary gaze.] Ginta/Tsutomu FX: [off] Yuu: (How stupid... I can't be hanging out with them.) 4 Tsutomu: It's no use arguing... We'll settle this in the match! Tsutomu FX: 5 Ginta FX: Ginta: That's exactly what I want! --------------------------------------------------- p 78 1 [Tsutomu casts a pointing finger at the back of Yuu, who walks away, waving a hand to one side.] Tsutomu: *This time* I'll settle it with you as well, Matsuura!! Tsutomu arm FX: Yuu: Ahh. Yes, yes. Why not do as you please? Yuu: (I'm going to change my clothes...) 2 [Two tennis rackets settle to the ground. (They've spun it on end to decide who gets to serve or pick their side of the court.)] tennis racket FX: 3 [Tsutomu and his partner stare back at us.] Tsutomu: It's smooth. We'll serve. 4 [Ginta hooks a thumb over his shoulder, pointing that way.] Ginta: Then we'll take this side of the court. 5 [Ginta registers surprise to hear...] Tsutomu: A mere match isn't enough to settle our fight. --------------------------------------------------- p 79 1 Tsutomu: You or me... The side that loses has to get on the ground and bow to the other. Tsutomu: How does that sound? 2 Ginta: ......... Ginta: I have a better idea! 3 [Ginta holds his racket ready, and stares back with conviction.] Ginta: The losing side... ...become monks! narration box: [arrow pointing at Ginta] The only thing that occurs to Ginta when a penalty is mentioned. 4 [The crowd of Touryou faithful watch with some consternation. The girls, especially, seem worried.] crowd FX: 5 [Tsutomu ponders. Behind him, tiny portraits of shaven Tsutomus float in the air.] 6 [But he replies suavely...] Tsutomu: All right, I guess... I accept! 7 [Tsutomu and Ginta's attention is diverted off to the side...] girls: [off] KYAAA! --------------------------------------------------- p 80 1 [Yuu makes his entrance in his designer tennis wear. He waves to his fans.] girls: [off] 2 [Tsutomu and Ginta sweat and squint off-panel.] 3 [A few of Ginta's hairs pop loose, and he sweats as he watches Yuu affect a pose. A large heart floats above Yuu's head.] Ginta: What's this? What's with that totally cool look?! Yuu: Oh, do I look cool? Thank you. Ginta: You don't play tennis in those clothes!! 4 [Pov shifts. Ginta confronts Yuu with a glare.] Yuu: [off] Even one's clothes is an important element to enjoying tennis, right? Ginta: What do you mean, "enjoy"... It's a serious match, today!! --------------------------------------------------- p 81 1 [Yuu turns his back on Ginta and nonchalantly walks away. Ginta screams at his retreating back.] Ginta: Do you understand, Matsuura?! Yuu: I don't care about the match. Let's just get it over with and go home. 2 [His loyal legion of female fans gush their enthusiasm.] girls: Kyaa! Kyaa! Yuu-u-u! 3 [Tsutomu watches with distaste.] narration: Jeez... Why is that guy so popular with girls? Tsutomu: How annoying... 4 [Tsutomu's pov of a smiling Arimi, who cheers on her hero from beyond the fence.] Arimi: Do your best, Yuu-u-u . 5 [Tsutomu stares with a frigid face.] Tsutomu FX: 6 Tsutomu: [off] Ginta! [Surprised, Ginta looks back over his shoulder.] 7 [Ginta's pov of Tsutomu, who stands with hands on hips.] Tsutomu: A double's pair are one and the same. Tsutomu: We'll get each other's partners to join in the bet we made just now! --------------------------------------------------- p 82 1 [His partner looks stricken. Tsutomu looks back over his shoulder at him.] Tsutomu's partner: EHHHH?! Rokutanda!! Not me! Tsutomu: Don't worry! Tsutomu: We're gonna win!! narration: We'll make the both of them shave their heads!! 2 [Ginta stops and ponders.] Ginta: (Include Matsuura in the bet...?) narration: Perhaps that's okay. narration: It's that guy we're talking about, so maybe he's only thinking, "this match doesn't matter to me, so let's hurry up and finish it." caption: [arrow pointing at narration box above] Shrewd ---> narration: But he'll probably play with true seriousness if his hair depends upon it... 3 Ginta: All right. Then, we'll do it like that. Tsutomu: It's settled!! 4 [Yuu looks blankly at Ginta's retreating back.] Yuu: Eh...? Wait a minute. A bet, you say? Ginta: The losing side shaves their heads. 5 [Yuu is horrified.] --------------------------------------------------- p 83 1 Yuu: YOU'RE JOKING, RI-I-IGHT?! [Ginta flips a tennis ball over his shoulder at Yuu.] Ginta: Here. Ball. Ginta: You have 5 minutes to warm up! 2 [Wide-eyed, Yuu considers the implications. Apparently, he doesn't wish to be an Andre Agassi...] Yuu: (Sh--) Yuu: (Shave my head...?!) Yuu: (Pretty harsh joke...) 3 [View looking up at the top of the chain-link fence and some surrounding trees.] umpire: [off] The best-of-3-set match... Sakaki serving. Play! crowd: [off] WAHHH! --------------------------------------------------- -------------------End of Chapter------------------ --------------------------------------------------- Scorecard: Rumi <---> Youji Miki <---> Yuu ^ ^ ^ ^ | | | | v v v Jin <---> Chiyako Ginta Arimi ^ | Meiko <---> Natchan Tsutomu ---------------------------------------------------