Maison Ikkoku - (c) Rumiko Takahashi Translated from the Hunter Comics Chinese manga by Andrew Chen, 12/93 Volume 12, part 12 -- "Troublesome Relationship" (Chinese manga vol. 14, part 5) This part corresponds to the end of TV ep. 81, start of ep. 82. Kyoko, Ichinoce, and Mitaka are at the tennis school. Asuna arrives, saying she is there to learn to play tennis. The tension builds as Asuna and Kyoko face each other and talk. Yotsuya watches from outside the fence, and the ladies gossip. Lady Really? So she's the lady that coach was going to marry! Ichinoce That's right! But Mitaka-coach still says he's broken up with her. Lady2 See! She's followed him to the tennis school! Lady3 She likes Mitaka-coach very much. Mitaka Asuna, Asuna Yes? Mitaka Do your parents know you want to learn tennis? Asuna Yes! Asuna They were very much in favor of it. Asuna I want to understand the nature of my future husband's work, so that I'll be able to help out later. (Mitaka turns to stone and crumbles) Mitaka I'm sorry, I'll go to answer the phone. Lady Coach! Lady2 He ran away. Asuna and Kyoko now stand face to face. Lady3 (aside) They're going to declare war... Lady4 (aside) It must be! Asuna [I want her to leave Mitaka.] Asuna [How should I say it?] Asuna [She must be angry...] Silence... Asuna [How should I say it?] Asuna [How...] Kyoko Hi! Asuna uh? Kyoko How is your little dog? Asuna Fine. Thanks to you, they're all fine. Asuna How about your Souichiro? Kyoko Oh! You still remember his name! Asuna It's easy for me to remember names of dogs. Ichinoce (aside) Looks like they're chatting happily. Mitaka on the phone with his uncle. Mitaka Uncle, this is Shun. Uncle What's the matter? Mitaka Is this of your doing? Mitaka What? Mitaka Haven't I already made things clear about the matter of Asuna and myself? Uncle What? What are you talking about? Mitaka There is no relationship between Asuna and me. Uncle What? Uncle Are you dreaming? (*1) Mitaka I've already made things clear to Asuna. Uncle I haven't heard her say it. Mitaka You haven't heard it? Mitaka Oh. Mitaka AAAAAAAA!!! Uncle What's the matter, Mitaka? Mitaka TONIGHT I'LL SEE YOU AT THE KUJOU'S! Mitaka I WANT TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO HER PARENTS! Mitaka slams the receiver on the phone. Uncle What's he so excited about? At the cabaret, Godai is preparing to take care of the kids. Godai Paper diapers are here. Godai Here are paper towels. Godai There's enough milk powder. Godai Today I don't need to go buy anything. Godai That's good. Godai [Kanrinin-san...] Godai [I don't know if anything has happened to her.] Godai envisions Mitaka standing behind Kyoko, holding her. Godai [That bastard Mitaka, he's certainly using his title of 'coach' as an excuse...] Kasumi enters, carrying a baby and leading a small child. Kasumi Oh! It's good that you're here. Kid Department-head! (*2) Godai Kasumi! Godai Why did you come to work this early? Kasumi Go to him, Xiao-lang. Godai Good afternoon, Xiao-lang. Kid Good afternoon. Kasumi He heard that after the summer you... Kasumi are going to leave, so he was feeling sad. Godai Oh! Really? Kasumi Isn't that right? Kid Yes. Kasumi Then Department-head will be your father, okay? Kid Okay. Godai Ha ha... Godai You really love to joke around, Kasumi. Kasumi I want to start following a new life. Godai .... (*3) Kasumi Department-head, do you like children? Godai Children... Godai I like them a lot... Kasumi (moving close to Godai) Deparment-head, actually, I... Godai There are children next to us... The door opens and Master enters. Kasumi makes a quick exit. Kasumi Please take care of Xiao-lang and A-hua. Godai Okay... Master The company's rule number three, have you seen it? Godai No talking with other workers about love. Master As long as you remember it, you're fine. Godai You misunderstood, I didn't... Master Whether or not you did, you have to be careful. Godai .... Godai How can this be happening? Nighttime Narr Kujou's house Voice Anyone home? Uncle Shun! (*4) Shun Uncle... So you came here early? Shun I absolutely will not change what I have decided. Uncle What did you decide? Shun hears laughter from one of the rooms. Shun [What's this?] Shun [Why is it this lively?] Shun [Is it possible...] Shun looks in. Asuna, her parents, and his parents are all there. A's dad Oh! Please come in! S's dad You're late, Shun! S's mom Asuna is really a good girl. Shun F-father, mother... S's dad Shun, You look much healthier now. S's mom Now you can share your courage with her. Shun (to uncle) Hmph! You tricked me! Uncle Ha! Nobody knows more about your character than I do. Uncle [Now we'll see if you can say it.] Uncle [Hehe...] Shun wonders if... Shun This personal matter... Shun I absolutely do not agree to it. Silence. Asuna suddenly pulls out a knife and points it at herself. Shun What! Asuna! Asuna Let me die. Asuna Because you don't want me... Shun Don't do it! Asuna is curled up on the floor. The others weep. Asuna Everyone hates me! A's mom Oohhh... If something was wrong with Asuna we should have discussed it! S's mom You shouldn't act so impulsively! Reality. Mitaka is seated with everyone else. Asuna is serving tea. Shun [If I said it and something like that happened, what would I do?] Godai, Ichinoce, and Yotsuya in #5... Voice What? He's still together with that lady? Voice2 Looks like he still is. Godai So Mitaka was lying again? Ichinoce This... Yotsuya He seemed to be very bitter. Godai [It doesn't matter how, but if he still has a relationship with that lady,] Godai [It gives me an advantage.] Ichinoce Judging the way Mitaka acted, it seems like he was being forced. Godai .... Yotsuya From this perspective, Kanrinin-san has no hope. Next morning. Kyoko is sweeping, Godai comes out. Godai I'm going. Kyoko Be careful! Godai (stops) Uh... Kyoko What's the matter? Godai I will try my best and study hard. Kyoko Huh? Godai Please wait and you'll see, I... Kyoko What are you trying to say? Godai Oh, nothing! I'm going. Kyoko Okay. Work hard! Godai leaves. Ichinoce and Yotsuya watch from an upstairs window. Ichinoce His attitude is careless and casual, Ichinoce but he still wants to chase Kanrinin-san! Godai goes to the cabaret. Kasumi Department-head! Godai Kasumi? Kasumi Come here for a minute. Godai Yes? Kasumi (hugs Godai) You are the only person I can trust. Godai Wait! I... Godai If you do this, I... Kasumi Department-head. The Master charges from around the corner. Master Rule number three! Godai Misunderstanding! This is a misunderstanding! Kasumi slips a letter into Godai's jacket. Kasumi After work, please read this letter. Kasumi runs away. Godai But... Godai .... After work, Godai and the Master are in the back room. Voice I'm tired! Voice2 Let's go eat noodles, okay? The letter: Department head: Please take care of Xiao-lang and A-hua. Kasumi Master I never imagined Kasumi would elope with a customer. Godai What a headache! Kid Daddy! Notes: 1 "shuo meng4 hua4" = "say dream words". Alt. trans: 'Talking in your sleep'. 2 Godai is the head of the child-welfare department at the nursery, so others sometimes address him as 'department head'. 3 Takahashi uses dots (shown as '....') instead of words in some places. In addition, the Chinese translator seems to have added some dots of his/her own. 4 I usually use 'Shun' and 'Mitaka' interchangeably, since his first name in Chinese is 'Mitaka'. With all of the Mitakas together it would have been confusing. (fin)