Marmalade Boy Volume 7, Chapter 1 pages 2-38 Written and illustrated by Yoshizumi Wataru Translation & editing by : Craig Nishida Additional translation by : Paul Hirose Last revision : 97-10-05 Comments? Corrections? Suggestions? Please send them to: mboy-trans@soyokaze.biosci.ohio-state.edu --------------------------------------------------- p 2 [Portraits of the characters accompany the following captions. The captions for Miki and Yuu run around their portraits, with arrows pointing from one section to the next.] heading: Introducing the Cast of Characters caption: Akizuki Meiko Close friend of Miki. A person of solid character. caption: Koishikawa Miki Likes Yuu Brightly --> Spirited and --> Simple personality. caption: Suou Ginta Miki's classmate. Likes Arimi. caption: Namura-sensei Meiko's former sweetheart. Is in Hiroshima. caption: Matsuura Yuu Miki's boyfriend Shares same house with Miki --> Is cool, but --> ...a bit mean. caption: Suzuki Arimi Ginta's girlfriend. text: The Story up thru (6). [paragraph 1] Miki and Yuu come to live in the same house due to their parents announcing that they're swapping marriage partners. Miki gradually becomes attracted to Yuu, who sometimes displays sweetness despite being mean. [paragraph 2] It seems Yuu has a real father, but, in the end, he isn't able to find him. Miki revealed her feelings to a grieving Yuu. And the two of them share the same feelings towards each other!! (But it's a secret from their parents .) [paragraph 3] Arimi, who was rejected by Yuu and heartbroken, also ended up going out with Ginta. [paragraph 4] With summer break ending soon, Meiko received a literary award for a story called, "City of Wintry Decline." It was a story written at the encouragement of Miwa. Could it be that a new love is flowering? [paragraph 5] But Meiko continued to think about Namura. "I want to see sensei." Miki, trying to grant her dear friend's wish, headed to Hiroshima, where Namura lives. --------------------------------------------------- p 3 1 [Panoramic view of a bullet train traveling right-to-left across our field of view. In the background is majestic Mt Fuji.] bullet train FX: 2 [Miki quietly studies something off-panel.] 3 [It's Meiko, who sits, staring straight ahead.] 4 [Misty view of Meiko.] narration: During the 4 hours to Hiroshima, Meiko hardly said a word. narration: Meiko, whose cheeks were flushed a bit with tension, looked much more beautiful than usual... --------------------------------------------------- p 4-5 [TITLE PAGE] [Double-page title spread. Probably in color in the magazine installment. Miki smiles at us, holding a basket of flowers. TITLE: Marmalade Boy [7] --------------------------------------------------- p 6 1 [Filler art. SD-Miki and SD-Meiko at play, hearts surrounding them.] --------------------------------------------------- p 7 1 [Suzu-chan smiles merrily as she reads a magazine.] Suzu: Sure enough, Meiko-san's so cool. Suzu: To think that she even wrote a story... Awesome! I admire that! magazine banner: Asahi Fiction 2 [View pulls back to show Yuu and Suzu seated at her desk, once again at a tutoring session.] Yuu: Suzu-chan, you really are a fan of Akizuki, hm. Suzu: Yup! A huge fan! I've sorta come to want to see Meiko-san, whom I haven't seen in a while. 3 [A blank panel.] Suzu: [off] Maybe I'll go over to see Meiko-san's place tomorrow . Yuu-sensei, would you tell me her address? Yuu: [off] Sure, but Akizuki is heading to Hiroshima with Miki right now... 4 [Filler art. A sophisticated-looking Miki stands in profile, one hand pushing back her hair.] --------------------------------------------------- p 8 1 Suzu: ......... Suzu: Hiroshima? To see Namura-sensei? 2 Yuu: [surprised look] Eh?! How come you know about Natchan...? Suzu: [off] I heard it from oniichan. 3 [Suzu beams as she explains further to the sweating Yuu.] Suzu: So like, I got him to show me his graduation album, and I checked out how he looks, too . Yuu: Checked out...? Suzu: Namura-sensei isn't gorgeous, but a grown-up guy feels just perfect for Meiko-san! If it's him we're talking about, then he passes . Yuu: Passes...? 4 [A view over the shoulder of a sweating Yuu. Suzu closes her eyes and looks indignant.] Yuu: Aren't you cheering for Satoshi-san? You're cousins! Suzu: No, no! Suzu values her own sense of aesthetics over family sentiments! Yuu: ......... 5 [Suzu's face turns distant and dreamy.] Suzu: Besides... Suzu: Even now, Meiko-san loves Namura-sensei. That's what she was saying. --------------------------------------------------- p 9 1 [Suzu closes her eyes and tilts her head down a bit, as though in prayer.] narration: "There's someone I love." "No matter what I think now, it's hopeless..." Suzu: If things can't go back to the way they were, it would be sad. I hope it all goes well... 2 [Yuu's eyes are also distant.] Yuu: Uh-huh... 3 [View of a in a park-like setting. A handful of people and a deer are also in view.] caption: Miyajima 4 [Tight shot of the lower legs and shoes of a guy.] --------------------------------------------------- p 10 1 [It's Namura.] 2 [Miki smiles and waves.] Miki: Natchan! 3 [Namura smiles in recognition.] Namura: Koishikawa! 4 Namura: It's been a while. You look fine. Miki: Uh-huh. You, too, Natchan... --------------------------------------------------- p 11 1 [View of the sky.] Namura: [off] Have you made progress in your tennis game? Miki: [off] No sweat! I want you to see my terrific net play, too. 2 [She studies him quietly, with a soft smile.] 3 Miki: I'm glad you came. I was really worried. I thought you might not meet me. 4 Miki: Meiko... ...is over there, towards the large . is a Shinto gateway. It's depicted in panel 1 of page 12.> Miki: Please go to her... 5 [Namura looks at Miki, off-panel, his face rather expressionless.] --------------------------------------------------- p 12 1 [Meiko poses for the cover of "Vogue". ^_^ She stands in profile, hair blown back by the wind. The background of this panel looks painted, with soft clouds in the sky and that large in the lake.] 2 [She turns toward our pov.] 3 [View shifts. We look past her at Namura, who stands and looks back at her.] --------------------------------------------------- p 13 1 [Meiko's eyes grow large.] Meiko: ......... Sensei...! 2 [Namura gaze seems to soften.] 3 [Miki sits alone, on a stone bench. She gazes at a spot on the ground in front of her, lost in a daydream.] Miki FX: 4 [We view her from behind, seated and looking out over the lake. Two deer sit nearby.] 5 [Miki profile.] narration: I wonder what'll happen? With those two... --------------------------------------------------- p 14 1 [Miki clasps her hands in front ofher, and clenches her eyes shut.] Miki: (To think they have to separate, even though they're in love... That's just so unbearable.) Miki: (Something like that definitely mustn't happen!!) Miki: (Please, Natchan... Respond to Meiko's feelings... And tell her that you'll start over again once more...!!) 2 [Miki turns to the deer and addresses them. The deer look surprised.] Miki: I'm sure things are going well, right? Right? 3 [The haughty deer avert their faces.] deer FX: deer: (I don't care!) 4 Miki: (So cold... Uncute.) caption: Note: In Miyajima, there are a lot of wild deer. 5 Miki: I'll go and buy some, huh... I have free time. narration: ...... In the store I passed by a little while ago... narration: They were selling "deer food"... --------------------------------------------------- p 15 1 [Meanwhile, back at the ... Namura and Meiko face off.] 2 Namura: [beaming] The story... I read it. Namura: Congratulations. How wonderful. 3 [Meiko looks up at him in surprise...] 4 [...and claps both hands to her mouth, face flushed. She can't meet his look.] Meiko: You read it. I'm a little embarrassed... I'm totally bad at it. Namura: It's nothing like that. 5 [She drops her gaze.] Meiko: ...... You know the character called "Takasugi"? The sweetheart of "Seiko," who's the older sister of the hero. Meiko: You're the model for him, sensei. --------------------------------------------------- p 16 1 [A view of the on the lake.] Meiko: [off] That wasn't my intention at the start, but he steadily came to resemble you... And somehow, in the end, he turned into a strong character of deepest contemplation. Meiko: [off] And so, it seems a lot of myself came out in the way "Seiko" thinks of him. 2 [His pov of the beaming Meiko.] Meiko: You didn't know that you were the model, right? It's a completely different person from your usual image, sensei. Meiko: He's... ...someone who was written in an image of you, sensei, that's mine and that only I know! 3 [Namura's face grows expressionless again.] Namura: ......... Meiko... 4 [Meiko turns her body and gaze away from him.] Meiko: I didn't think I'd have this much fun writing a story. Taking the vague something that was within me and giving it a form was very delightful. Meiko: When it was completed, the indescribable feeling of fulfillment... I can't forget it. --------------------------------------------------- p 17 1 [A profile view of Meiko, bubbles in the background.] Meiko: From now on... ...I want to be able to continue to write stories all the time. If possible, I want to make my way in the future as a novelist. Meiko: Though I know very well that this isn't such a simple world where it appears getting an award once is enough to open a path... 2 Namura: I'm sure it can be done. If it's you. 3 [Meiko turns to look at him over her shoulder.] 4 [View pulls in a closeup on her face.] Meiko: I want to write all the time... Meiko: ...by your side, sensei. --------------------------------------------------- p 18 1 [Namura is taken aback. Meiko stares at him with conviction, face slightly flushed.] 2 [Tight view of his shoes and lower legs.] Namura: Meiko... That's... Meiko: [off] Sensei, you... 3 [His pov as she turns to face him, eyes grown large with emotion.] Meiko: ...told me to search for the path that could restore me to life. And so I found it. Meiko: If it's writing something, I can do that anywhere. Even if I'm not in Tokyo... Even if I don't go to college. Even if I don't get a job. Meiko: Instead of just being *merely* there by your side, sensei... I can go and live, and do what I want to do! --------------------------------------------------- p 19 1 [Namura sweats.] 2 [Her eyes begin to fill with tears.] Meiko: Then, sensei, you... ...said that you had your hands full just trying to look after yourself. 3 [She moves toward him, her hands clasping his shirt. She stares up at his nervous eyes.] Meiko: That you couldn't spare a thought for me... And so you couldn't take me with you. Meiko: But I'll never get in your way. I'll do my best so that I won't become a burden to you, sensei! ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (1): Hello. This comics comes after a half year's time. Although the day I'm writing this is 25 June '95, sometime around the first 10 days of August, when this book will be put on sale, I'll most likely be struggling to write the manuscript for the October issue, Marmalade's final one. Ahhhh. I pray it turns out all right... That's right. "Marmalade," too, is finally greeting its last issue. This comics has come to the point where the upcoming volume 8 is the last. I'll do my best and write it, so by all means, please read it to the end, 'kay! [SD-Yoshizumi Wataru stands with frazzled hair, pen and papers in hand.] Yoshizumi Wataru FX: --------------------------------------------------- p 20 1 [Teary-eyed, she beseeches him.] Meiko: SO, PLEASE... PLEASE LET ME STAY BY YOUR SIDE ONCE MORE!! 2 [Namura hides his emotions behind an expressionless mask.] 3 [A blank panel.] Namura: [off] That's no good. 4 [He averts his gaze and closes his eyes. Meiko is stunned.] --------------------------------------------------- p 21 1 [He turns his back on her. Over his shoulder we see that Meiko is in shock.] Namura: Don't talk like you'll change your entire life just to match me. Namura: I don't want to chain you down. I want you to grow up with freedom! 2 [Tight shot of her boots.] Meiko: But... Meiko: You're the one I love, sensei. 3 [Tears roll down her cheeks in waves.] Meiko: It's too much to bear. Meiko: I love you...!! 4 [View of Namura, facing away.] --------------------------------------------------- p 22 1 [View pulls up. We look down at the two--Meiko with her face buried in her hands and Namura looking aside, hands in his pockets.] 2 [Profile of Meiko as she pulls her hands down from her eyes.] 3 [A blank panel.] Meiko: [off] I understand... I'll go home. Meiko: [off] I won't come to see you anymore... 4 [Meiko's view of the back of Namura.] Meiko: [off] Farewell... 5 [She turns and walks away...] --------------------------------------------------- p 23 1 [...but pauses...] 2 [...and turns to say one last thing...] Meiko: But... I'll surely... Meiko: ...love you for the rest of my life...!! 3 [...which spears Namura. His eyes open.] ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (2): Have you all tried your luck at the "Marmalade" computer game? 2 kinds have come out--for the GameBoy and the Super Famicon, but I prefer the GameBoy one more. If you ask why, it's because Katchan appears. [A tiny drawing of Katchan appears. Smiling, he seems to wiggle his limbs.] Katchan thrashes his limbs about! [A series of 4 tiny drawing of Katchan run right to left. These are rotating views of the little critter.] And then, to rotate!! (^_^) He's so-o-o lovely . Also, in the Super Famicon one, for the seals that are dispelled in the notebook in the game, Katchan's face appears, but his name is given as "Kappa"... Though, sure, that's sorta true... But, "Kappa"... (^_^) With the GameBoy, you choose your actions and words, and depending on whether or not your spell (mini-game) succeeds, the story is changed in various ways. In the cases where your incantation failed, the conversations become amusing. Continued in (3). --------------------------------------------------- p 24 1 [View over Namura's shoulder, his back still turned to her. Meiko has turned and resumed walking away.] 2 [View over Meiko's shoulder. Namura has turned to shout with emotion. Meiko stops, eyes wide.] Namura: MEIKO! 3 [Timidly, she turns to look back over her shoulder. Her eyes are still brimming with tears.] --------------------------------------------------- p 25 1 [She is surprised by his tight embrace.] 2 [View closes in on her stunned face.] --------------------------------------------------- p 26 1 Namura: Why are you... ...so unreasonable like that?! 2 [A view of the .] Namura: [off] Even I have no idea how many times I was about to get on the bullet train to Tokyo. But, that I gave up that idea whenever that happened... 3 [Tight view of shoes and lower legs. Meiko's purse lies on the ground near where they stand.] Namura: ...was for your sake!! Because I was thinking of your happiness... Despite that, why... --------------------------------------------------- p 27 1 [A blank panel.] Namura: [off] ...ARE YOU MAKING ME LOSE CONTROL...?!! 2 [He kisses her.] --------------------------------------------------- p 28 1 [Pulling back slightly, they look into each other's eyes.] 2 Namura: I love you. 3 Namura: Are you sure it's okay if it's just me? Will you follow me...? --------------------------------------------------- p 29 1 [Her face cupped by his hands, Meiko's eyes start brimming with tears again.] Meiko: ......... I'll foll...! 2 [She clenches her eyes shut...] 3 [...and embraces him.] --------------------------------------------------- p 30 1 [Terrorist deer close in on our pov.] deer FX: 2 [Miki waves an empty sack, face flushed and edging away.] Miki: W...! There isn't anymore, I tell you! bag: Deer Food Miki: It's empty! See? Nothing! 3 [The pack of deer stalk her as she tries to back away.] Miki: I tell you it's all done, and yet you're so-o-o persistent! deer: Miki: D-don't come close! I'm scared! 4 [Wincing, she throws up her open palms and runs away.] deer: Miki: OH MY G-O-O-OD! 5 [A blank panel.] Meiko: [off] Miki! What's the matter? 6 [Miki looks back over her shoulder.] --------------------------------------------------- p 31 1 [Miki's view of Namura and Meiko, who stand hand-in-hand.] 2 [Tight shot of their clasped hands.] 3 Miki: [wide-eyed] .........!! Meiko. Natchan. Miki: Then...!! 4 [Namura and Meiko with embarrassed smiles.] 5 [Miki smiles.] ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (3): For example, in the one called, "The Party Becomes Fun Spell," if you succeed, then it ends with you getting by on friendly terms with Yuu, but if you fail, then Ginta, Arimi and Rokutanda come to visit you. (But the way to fail this spell is hard... ) With the GameBoy, you can do it in a rather short time, and you can even begin it from the middle, so I've had a try at it many times, but with the Super Famicon, I've still only done it once. In place of "Miki," I put in my own name, and tried to do it in a pattern where I can get close with Ginta (it's just because I thought that, now, Yuu's with "Miki"...), but with your own character, being called by your real name, "I love you, [ ]!" or whatever, is awfully strange, so I was feeling embarrassed... Continued in (4). --------------------------------------------------- p 32 1 [Miki and Meiko embrace.] deer 1: deer 2: What about the food? 2 [Yuu holds a cordless phone.] Yuu: I see... Yuu: That's great, huh. Summoning the courage to go to Hiroshima. --------------------------------------------------- p 33 1 [Miki sits on her bed in a motel room.] Miki: Yup! Yuu: [phone] Where's Akizuki? Miki: Still out on a date with Natchan. I had the good sense to make it so that the two of them were alone. Was that well done? Yuu: [phone] Ha ha . Well done, well done. 2 [Miki's attention is caught by sounds off-panel.] door FX: [off] Miki: Ah, she came back. Bye! 3 Miki: [beaming] Welcome ba-a-ack. How was it? Your first date in a long while. 4 [Meiko seems strangely subdued.] Meiko: ......... 5 Miki: ? 6 [Miki is aghast.] Miki: MARRIAGE?! --------------------------------------------------- p 34 1 Meiko: I don't want to be separated from him anymore. Meiko: When I graduate from high school, I'm coming to Hiroshima. 2 [View pulls back to show the two seated on Meiko's motel room bed.] Miki: Then, what about college? Meiko: I can always go, so when I settle in, I'll take the entrance exam to Hiroshima University. Meiko: I don't care if I don't go, but sensei tells me that he wants to let me. 3 Miki: [wide-eyed] I see. Marriage... Miki: It's a sudden turn of events... 4 [Meiko smiles gently at her friend.] 5 Meiko: [off] I paid a courtesy visit to sensei's parents just now. --------------------------------------------------- p 35 1 [A distant view of Namura's parents seated across a table from Meiko and Namura.] Meiko: [off] They were awfully surprised, but... ...they listened quietly to our story... Meiko: [off] ...and they understand that we are serious... 2 [Miki's view (profile) of Meiko.] Meiko: And they received me warmly... Both of them were very nice people. 3 Miki: [off] What about your parents, Meiko...? Meiko: [off] I think they'll probably be fiercely opposed to it... 4 [Meiko smiles brightly.] Meiko: But, it's all right. I'll put in the time, keep at it and persuade them! --------------------------------------------------- p 36 1 [Miki portrait.] 2 [Miki drops her gaze, sadly. Meiko turns to look at her, wide-eyed.] Miki: You won't be around, will you, Meiko. I'll be very lonely... 3 [Teary-eyed, Miki smiles at Meiko off-panel.] Miki: But, congratulations. Miki: I'm really glad...! 4 [Also teary-eyed, Meiko smiles back.] Meiko: It's thanks to you, Miki... If you weren't there, Miki, I wouldn't have been able to come as far as Hiroshima... Meiko: Thank you. --------------------------------------------------- p 37 1 [The two girls share a special moment.] 2 [Panel 1 fractures towards panel 2. An exterior shot of the Koishikawa- Matsuura residence. It's daytime.] 3 Miki: [beaming] I'm ho-o-ome! I bought some souvenir gifts! --------------------------------------------------- p 38 1 [Miki stands at the door, dumbfounded, both hands holding bags of stuff. In the foreground, Youji, Chiyako and Jin are busy carrying boxes from one area to another.] Miki: Okonomiyaki and kakizousui and maple leaf... ...manju... Jin/Chiyako/Youji FX: 2 [Yuu, also carrying stuff, pauses to smile at Miki.] Yuu: Oh! Miki. Welcome back! Miki: Yuu! What are you doing? Rearranging the rooms? 3 Yuu: We're clearing out the study room and making it into a guest room. You help, too. Yuu: I hear someone we know will be coming to stay over from next week. 4 [Miki portrait. Eyes wide.] Miki: ......... A guest? --------------------------------------------------- -------------------End of Chapter------------------ --------------------------------------------------- Scorecard: Miki <---> Yuu Meiko <---> Natchan ^ ^ | | | | Kei Satoshi (Miwa) Ginta <---> Arimi Rumi <---> Youji ^ ^ ^ | | | | v v Tsutomu Jin <---> Chiyako (Rokutanda) ---------------------------------------------------