Maison Ikkoku Manga vol. 1, Part 1: What are these neighbors? Translated by David Mou and Bryce Yan. Godai: I'm leaving! I am leaving! People: Hold on! Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Godai: Let me go. If I stay here, my whole life will be ruined. Yotsuya: Calm down. Ichinose: Quiet! Why all the ruckus in the morning? Yotsuya: Well, Godai--kun says he's leaving. Ichinose: Again? This is the third time this month. The results of the mock exam were bad, huh? Godai: It's all because of this disgusting environment. Yotsuya: You are just plain stupid. Why blame it on the environment. Godai: I'm not stupid. I just have bad luck. Ichinose: What a pointless conversation! Akemi: So noisy, I can't get to sleep. Godai: What the...?! Ichinose: Akemi--san, don't you have any shame?! Akemi: This is how he repays us for our kindness toward him. And I had hoped that he'd be my boyfriend. Godai: That's not true. Please don't stop me, I'm going to inform the manager. Akemi: Is he serious...? Kyoko: Excuse me... Is this Ikkokukan$^1$? footnote {Ikkokukan} = Apartment Ikkoku. In Japanese Ikkoku means {one moment} Akemi: Yeah, so... Ichinose: Why? Godai: ... Kyoko: Starting from today, I will be the manager of this apartment. My name is Otonashi Kyoko. Ichinose: You...the manager? Kyoko: Yes. Akemi: What happened to the old man (ex-manager)? Kyoko: Well... ``I am tired of this...'' was the only phrase he said before he left for the country side. Ichinose: ... Yotsuya: Godai--kun, don't you have anything to say to the manager? Godai: Huh? Ichinose: If you are leaving, you have to say it in advance. Yotsuya: That is correct. Godai: Who says I'm leaving? Akemi: But... Ichinose: ... Godai: People around here like joking. Kyoko: So I see. Tomorrow I shall move into the manager's room... Please excuse me for today. Godai: Yes, we will eagerly await your honorable arrival. Akemi: Really! There's no need to kneel! Ichinose: She looks so young. Can she manage? Godai: Hmm...nice. Akemi: Aaah. I'm going back to sleep. Godai: Well, back to studying. Ichinose: Don't make any more disturbances. I'm gonna watch a soap opera. Yotsuya: Back to fun and games. Akemi: Godai--kun, no peeking! Godai: Yotsuya--san. Please don't come into my room. Before I study I have to fix that hole, so I can concentrate. Hmm...Take that. Yotsuya: Excuse me. Long time no see. Ah, she's sound asleep. Yeah, Godai--kun, this is very interesting. Godai: You... Why can't you use the door? Yotsuya: Ah, I see... I see everything! Godai: What? E-everything!? Yotsuya: Yes. Godai: What's this? Isn't this the same thing we saw in the hallway? Yotsuya: Well, peeking is more erotic. Godai: Please get out! I have a mock exam on the morning of the day after tomorrow. Yotsuya: Argh! Godai: What is it? Did you see anything special? Yotsuya: What are you talking about? I just remembered what I came here for. I am not here for peeking. Godai: A welcome party for the manager? Yotsuya: Well, people living here have nothing else to do anyway. Godai: You are the only one who has nothing else to do. What do you do anyway? Yotsuya: You are not coming then. Godai: Who is not coming? Yotsuya: I just don't understand you. Godai: But I gotta leave in the middle of the party. I have a mock exam the day after. {The next day...} Worker: This is the last one. Kyoko: Good morning. Godai: Guud murnin. Is there anything I can do for you? Kyoko: No, please go back to your studying. You must pass your exams. Ganbatte kudasai ne! footnote {Ganbatte kudasai ne} = An expression to be frequently used by Kyoko to mean {work hard}. Godai will become almost dependent on this phrase as a pick-me-up in the morning.} Godai: ... Ichinose: Go on! If you don't hurry, you will be late. Kentaro: Bye bye. Hey, a doggie. Ichinose: Your dog? Kyoko: Its name is Souichiro. Kentaro: Strange name. Akemi: Hey, excuse me. Kyoko: Yes. Hmm...you are... Akemi: Akemi from Room \#6.\ Sorry to bother you so soon but I just didn't get along with the previous manager. Kyoko: You mean Godai--san is peeking again? Akemi: Day after day, I can't stand it. Hey, open up, ronin$^3$! footnote {Ronin} = A person who is neither in college nor employed. Ronins are dropouts of the intensively competitive educational system in Japan. The word {ronin} has a negative connotation. Godai: What's up!? Kyoko: Excuse me. Godai: Yes. Akemi: Get out of the way! Godai: Hey...what? Kyoko: We'd like to take a look at your room for a little while. Godai: Hey, please wait, please wait. Akemi: A ronin only looks decent from the outside. Godai: Be quiet. Akemi: Kanrinin--san$^4$, this is the peeping hole in question. footnote {Kanrinin--san} = Ms. Manager (kanrinin = manager). This is how everyone addresses Kyoko. We feel it necessary to keep this in. Godai: Hey! Don't come in, you fool! Kyoko: Where. Where. H-here it is... Akemi: Oh, shit! You can see everything. Godai: It's not my doing! Akemi: What do you mean it's not your doing! You ``hentai''$^5$ ronin. footnote {Hentai} = perverted.} Godai: Look at this wall before you say anything further. Kyoko: No! Isn't your neighbor Yotsuya--san? Godai: That's right. Wouldn't have guessed it, would you? Kyoko: You peek at men, too? Godai: Stop joking around! Kyoko: Just kidding. Godai: How many times do I have to say this? I'm innocent. I'm innocent. Kyoko: Excuse me. Hand me a nail please... Godai: Sure. Kyoko: Don't mind me. Please go back to your studying. Godai: But... Kyoko: Don't you have a mock exam {\sl (moshi)} tomorrow? Godai: Huh? Kyoko: The mock exam {\sl (moshi)}... Godai: What...what about your waist (koshi) Kyoko: Don't you have a {\bf MOCK EXAM} {\sl (MOSHI)}? Yotsuya: You! How dare you peep at woman's lower body in the closet! Don't get any funny ideas. Godai: What the...! Ichinose: Yotsuya--san, don't speak like that in front of a child. Akemi: Wow, you've fixed the hole. Thank you. Godai: Oh... wait... What are you doing? Yotsuya: What, haven't I told you? The welcoming party for Kanrinin--san. You have a bad memory. Godai: Why, why does it have to be in this room??? Ichinose: This room has the least furniture. Akemi: The other rooms won't fit. Godai: Tomorrow, I have a... Akemi: Mock exam. We know. Yotsuya: You can leave anytime. There's no problem. Kyoko: Well...would we distract the ronin... Yotsuya: It doesn't matter. The outcome will be the same anyhow. Godai: Don't be so quick to judge! Yotsuya: Well, now to the arrival of the new Kanrinin--san. Ichinose & Yotsuya: & Kanpai! (A toast) Kyoko: Thanks. Godai: This is great. Akemi: Drink, drink, drink more. Kentaro: Mom, stop. It's embarrassing. Kyoko: Guess we are distracting him... Akemi: No problem. No problem. All this ruckus will give him a perfect excuse to fail. He who can blame his own failures on other people is a happy man indeed. Kyoko: Ronin--san. Godai: I am going to bed. Kyoko: Ronin--san. Godai: Ronin, ronin. Please stop calling me that. Kyoko: Oops! Akemi: Da da daa... Amano iwato--- Amano iwato --- $^6$ footnote {Amano iwato} = A Japanese legend in which the sun goddess hides in a cave and later comes out to extinguish darkness. Kyoko: We hurt his feelings. We really hurt his feelings. Yotsuya: Alright. To mend Godai's broken heart, let us sing together! Kyoko: Come on, everybody, joking has its limits. Yotsuya: He is taking it pretty well today. Akemi: Usually he'll come out within 5 minutes. Kyoko: He is hurt. The things you say hurt his feelings. Akemi: Kanrinin--san, what are you doing? Kyoko: Huh!? Yotsuya: That is degrading! Aaah! Kanrinin--san has stripped! Akemi: Kyeahh, Kanrinin--san's body is so beautiful. I am jealous. Kyoko: eh? eh? Kentaro Stop. This is embarrassing. Yotsuya: This is the kind of man that he is. Akemi: Only a fool would sympathize with him. Godai: Damn, I was set up. Kyoko: I can't stand it. Souichiro--san, it was hectic last night. & I am not confident that I can get along with the tenants Godai: Let go. I have to jump and kill myself. Yotsuya: Please calm down. Akemi: You are just late for your mock exam. Ichinose: If you are going to jump, do so from a tall building. You're just trying to gain sympathy. {End of Part 1}