Maison Ikkoku -- (c) Rumiko Takahashi Translated from the Hunter Comics Chinese manga by Andrew Chen, 10/93 Revised 12/93 Volume 12, part 10 (Chinese vol. 15, section 1) It's morning. Kyoko, Ichinoce, and Souichiro-san are outside Ikkoku-kan. Godai comes out. Godai I'm going out. Ichinoce Oh? Ichinoce Why are you going to work this early today? Godai I switched to the day shift. Ichinoce .... (*1) Ichinoce (to Kyoko) Do drinking-places need to attract customers in the daytime? Kyoko Huh? Godai I'm going to the nursery! Godai Good bye! Kyoko .... Ichinoce Did he find a new job? Kyoko Actually... working at the nursery is pretty good. Ichinoce So he's not going to the cabaret any more! Kyoko That kind of environment is no good. Later, at the tennis courts, Ichinoce and Mitaka talk while Kyoko practices. Mitaka What? Ichinoce It's true! Ichinoce He really worked hard to attract guests. Mitaka Hmph! Mitaka So, Kyoko-- Ichinoce She's still taking care of him. Mitaka Hmph! Kyoko Phew! Mitaka Kyoko. Kyoko Yes? Mitaka You have to think about your own future. Kyoko Huh? Kyoko What? Mitaka Don't hang around with that poor kid any more. Mitaka He's not appropriate for you, doesn't match you at all. Kyoko What are you saying? Mitaka You'd better be pretending, or do you really not understand? Mitaka Women like you... Man Mitaka-coach! Telephone! Mitaka Kyoko, Kyoko Go answer the phone. Mitaka Don't change the subject! Kyoko But... Ichinoce If he's saying it this clearly, must have already broken his relationship with the lady they arranged. Mitaka I'll be right back. (goes inside) Lady Looks like they're still together! (the gossip spreads) Ichinoce How can males be this half-hearted? Mitaka (answers phone) Uncle? Now what do you want!? Mitaka Today? Uncle At four o'clock, go to the Kujou residence. Mitaka So, you're still this tyrannical. Mitaka Yes. (click) Mitaka .... Asuna [Today... no matter what happens, I have to make things clear to her.] Mitaka [I can't let Kyoko] Mitaka [be with that futureless, pennyless kid.] Godai runs to work, at the Cabaret. When he arrives, Mitaka is waiting outside for him. Godai Mitaka? Mitaka There's something I want to tell you. Mitaka I absolutely will not let Kyoko suffer with a poor kid like you. Godai Why are you following me around? Mitaka I see no hope in your future. Although it doesn't matter to me, Mitaka I can't let Kyoko suffer by being with you. Godai How do you know I won't stand out above others? Mitaka Can you? Godai This summer I will pass the nurses' examination. (*2) Mitaka Really? Mitaka The way you are now... Mitaka Can you really do it? Godai I am trying, even at this moment. Mitaka I see! Then if you don't pass, you'll continue to beckon guests. Master (comes out, with baby on his back) Godai, What are you doing standing in the doorway? Mitaka I'll leave you now. (gets into car) Mitaka Unless you... Mitaka Pass the exam, otherwise I don't believe you have any hope. Mitaka Good bye. (drives away) Godai Grrr... Godai YOU WAIT AND SEE! Master Hey! Don't yell so loud. (baby cries) Godai Uh- Godai Whose child is this? Master Mine. My lady ran away. Master She'll probably come back in a few days. Godai Oh. (they go in) Master (entering children's room) Where's the nurse? Lady The nurse isn't coming today. Lady She called a moment ago and said-- Lady2 She sprained her hip, so she can't come. Master What? She can't come? (baby still crying) Godai Is its diaper wet? Master Eh? Godai takes picks up the baby. Master Is it wet? Godai Okay... Quiet, and we'll change you... Godai (to lady) Do we have paper diapers? Godai (changing diaper) Be quiet. It must be very uncomfortable. Godai There! Nice and clean... Lady Let's put some baby powder on him. Master Wow. Lady You're very skillful. Master Starting now, you will help me take care of the little kids. Godai What? Mitaka, driving to the Kujous. Mitaka [Yes.] Mitaka [Because of Godai, I have absolutely decided.] Mitaka [Today I have to say it.] Mitaka thinks... Asuna (shocked) You cancelled the marriage? Mitaka I don't dislike you, not at all. Asuna Then, why-- Mitaka I don't want to make a woman to have a miserable life with another man. Mitaka Only I can save her. Asuna Oh! Asuna How magnificent! Mitaka Will you forgive me? Mitaka [Yes.] Mitaka [It is decided to be this way.] He arrives, and walks inside. Mitaka [Take a deep breath.] Mitaka I'm here! Shun's uncle comes out. Uncle Shun, come in quickly! They enter. Mitaka Uncle, how can you be this reckless in someone else's home? Uncle It's fine! Be quiet. Mitaka What is happening today? Uncle Today is the day we choose the date for your engagment. Mitaka .... Mitaka Engagement? Uncle Ha! Aren't you happy? These kinds of things are happy events. Mitaka HAPPY?! Uncle Asuna has been waiting for you. Asuna .... Mitaka Uh... Mitaka Hello. Asuna Welcome. Mother Mitaka, you've come! Mitaka Aunt! (*2) Uncle Now everyone is here in person. Uncle We will arrange the exact date for your engagement. Uncle You two go chat in the garden. Uncle First, I should see her parents. Mother Right, you should. Shun and Asuna go out to the garden. Mitaka .... Mitaka [Today, I must...] Mitaka [I must make things clear to her.] Mitaka Spring is almost here. Asuna Yes... Mitaka Asuna-- Asuna Yes? Mitaka .... Mitaka Although I don't want to hurt you... Mitaka I hope you can calmly and fairly listen to me. Mitaka I... Mitaka I cannot marry you. I'm very sorry. Asuna looks at him with a very sad expression, speechless. Mitaka I really shouldn't have waited until now to say this. Mitaka Because I didn't know they wanted to have us engaged... Mitaka Asuna? Asuna faints and falls backward. Mitaka catches her. Mitaka Asuna, are you all right? Mitaka Wake up! Mitaka Are you feeling okay? Mitaka Don't get so emotional. Asuna cries. Mitaka Actually, a lady as beautiful as you can definitely find a better man. Asuna I-I... (sob) Mitaka Yes? Asuna I'll go... become a nun. Mitaka How can you think like this? Asuna Do you hate me? Mitaka I don't dislike you at all. Mitaka It's only because-- Asuna You don't hate me? Mitaka Absolutely not. Asuna Then I understand. Mitaka Do you really understand? Asuna Yes. Asuna is sitting on the ground, surrounded by the dogs. Rays of sunlight are beaming down on her. Mitaka is kneeling next to her. Mitaka [I'm so lucky...] Asuna He doesn't dislike me. At the cabaret... Lady Godai, please change this kid's diaper for me. Lady2 If you don't pass the nurse's exam, just come here and work! Master Today you don't need to go and beckon guests. Stay here and take care of the kids! Godai Stop blabbering! (*4) Notes: 1 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. 2 Godai's profession is actually something between 'caretaker', 'kindergarden-teacher', and 'nurse'. I switch between the terms. 3 Shun calls her 'aunt', a respectful way of addressing an older woman. 4 "Wu ya jiao4" = 'crow-call' = useless talk. (fin)