Maison Ikkoku - (c) Rumiko Takahashi Translated from the Hunter Comics Chinese manga by Andrew Chen, 11/93 Volume 8, part 3 -- "Face of the Darkness" (Chinese manga vol. 9, part 6) At the Souichiro family house. Kyoko and Godai arrive at the front door. Kyoko Is anyone home? Otonashi Oh! You're here! Godai I came along too... Otonashi Godai-oniisan, look! (*1) Ikuko How does it look? Ikuko It's my new uniform. Narr Ikuko tested into her first choice girls high school. Narr Today they will celebrate. Otonashi Godai, it's all because of your outstanding efforts. Godai No! It's because Ikuko is smart. Ikuko Right! Kyoko Uh... Otonashi Ikuko, since you're dressed up, go pay respect to our ancestors. Ikuko What? Ikuko Such a burden... Otonashi This child! You must report your success to our ancestors. Kyoko Ikuko, I also want to offer incense for uncle. Let's go in together... Ikuko Okay... Narr Ikuko is already grown-up. Narr Otonashi house's worship room. (*2) Narr Seen for the first time. Kyoko and Ikuko enter the room and kneel before the butsudan. Godai sits with Otonashi in the adjacent room, paying attention to Kyoko. Otonashi Feel at home. Godai Thank you. Narr [Looking at her face from the side...] Narr [It seems like she's saying something to her husband's picture...] Godai [Picture? ....] (*3) Godai [Gee...] Godai [I still haven't seen a picture of her husband.] Godai [....] Godai [Is there's one in the worship room.] Godai [She's in the way, so I can't see.] Godai [Move over just a little bit...] Kyoko (to Ikuko) Are you finished? Ikuko Yes. (stands up) Godai [Move over again...] Godai [Move over again...] Voice Godai. Otonashi Godai. Otonashi Godai! Godai Uh, what? Otonashi Oh, nothing... Godai What's the matter? Otonashi To show my thanks to you... (walks away) Godai [What are they saying to each other while standing over there?] Ikuko Uh... Otonashi An informal show of respect for you... Otonashi Godai... (holding a small box) Godai Yes? Kyoko and Ikuko come out. Otonashi How are your neighbors? Godai Nothing! Godai Ikuko looks nice in her uniform... Godai So-- so... Otonashi What? Ikuko (happily) Really? Ikuko Then I'll always wear it! Kyoko You can't do that. Go and change clothes. Ikuko sits with Otonashi, Kyoko closes the door to the worship room. Godai [You didn't have to close it...] Kyoko I'll go help in the kitchen. (leaves) Dinnertime. Voice1 Congratulations. Voice2 Thank you! Mother It's sad your father itn't here today. Ikuko That doesn't matter. Actually, he already gave me a gift. Otonashi (pouring for Godai) Have some more. Ikuko But, studying at a girls high school is really no fun. Kyoko It wasn't easy for you to test in! Ikuko You can't get a boyfriend. Kyoko What's your reason for going to high school? Mother Your aunt also attended a girls high school. Ikuko And because of that she married a strange person like uncle. Kyoko How rude! Kyoko Ikuko is still a child. She still doesn't understand how to appreciate men. Mother Father, was Souichiro really that good? Otonashi No... that's only what Kyoko says. Kyoko [This family is really something!!] Narr [It's been almost four years since Souichiro passed away.] Narr [This family will always...] Narr [Talk and secretly make fun of him.] Kyoko (looks at watch) Wow! It's already this late. Godai... Godai We should say goodbye. Ikuko Are you leaving? Kyoko Yes... Mother It's very late. Why don't you stay here? Kyoko But... Otonashi Right! Godai can stay here too. Godai Uh... Godai Together. Godai This... Godai dreams... he and Kyoko are laying next to each other. Kyoko No, we can't! Godai It doesn't matter! (He makes a move, and they're rustling under the covers) Kyoko Stop! Godai It's okay... Godai It doesn't matter. Otonashi Godai agrees. Mother What's with him? Ikuko He's often like this. Otonashi Godai can sleep with me. Mother Kyoko can sleep with me. Godai [Sleep with this old man...] Godai [It would obviously be this way...] Mother Godai Mother Here is a robe for you. Godai Thank you. Godai wears it. Otonashi Oh yes. What wonderful memories. Godai Huh? Otonashi Kyoko made it for Souichiro. Godai Oh? Otonashi The sleeves are different sizes. Godai That's true... Flashback Kyoko I'm sorry. I'll fix everything. Souichiro That's not necessary. Kyoko You don't need to force yourself to wear it. Souichiro I'm not! Otonashi Turns out he always wore it like this... Godai Oh... Godai [If... If Kyoko had made this for me...] Otonashi The way you're wearing it, it's as if Souichiro has come back! Godai (gulp...) Did Souichiro look like me? Otonashi What? Otonashi Not at all. Godai (gulp...) They go to sleep. Godai lays down, thinking. Godai [....] Godai [What kind of person was he?] Godai [At least it seems like he captured Kyoko's feelings.] Godai [This robe... Now that I've seen it, I'm jealous.] In the other room. Kyoko What? You let Godai wear it? Mother Yes! Mother His still isn't dry... Did I do something wrong? Kyoko No... Kyoko I'm just embarassed. I made it so sloppily. Mother Souichiro was very happy to wear it. Kyoko Right. I was also very pleased. So, I never fixed it. Kyoko He was extremely considerate. Everyone is asleep. Godai wakes up and goes downstairs to the bathroom. Godai [I drank too much beer...] Godai [....] Godai [The worship room...] Godai [But I'd only see the picture, and I still wouldn't know his personality...] Godai [Hmmm...] Godai [What exactly did Kyoko like about him?] Godai [Some people say girls prefer to choose who loves them...] Godai [... and not choose who they love...] Godai [On the subject of love... I wish this happened to me (*4)] Godai [The picture of the one Kyoko loves...] Godai [Hey!] Godai [If it isn't far, I...] Godai quietly makes his way to the butsudan. Godai [I don't have any evil intentions.] Godai [I only want to take a peek at him.] Godai [....] Godai picks up a picture, but... Godai [It's too dark. I can't see anything.] Godai [The lights... It's too dark!] Just as he's about to turn on the switch, someone passes outside. Godai [....] Godai [I can't turn on the lights.] Godai [Right!] Godai [Light the candles!] Godai [Where are the matches?] (feels around) Godai [I found them!] Godai [What's this?] Godai [There's only one left...] Godai [Darn...] He tries to strike it. Godai Calm and steady... Godai Relax... Godai What! It broke... Godai [Seems like someone doesn't approve of me doing this.] He sneaks into the kitchen. Godai [Sneaking into their kitchen in the middle of the night...] Godai [How embarassing!] Godai [I hope I won't be discovered...] Godai [Matches... where would they be?] Godai [None here...] Godai [Hmmm...] Godai knocks over some dishes, and does amazing acrobatics to catch them without making noise. The sky begins to brighten... Godai [Wow. It's already becoming bright outside.] Godai [Now it'll be easy to find them.] Godai [Darn...] Godai [None here either...] Godai [If it's this bright...] Godai [Then I can see it!] Godai [Right!!] Godai races back to the worship room. Otonashi is inside. Godai Hey! Otonashi Good morning, Godai! Come in! Godai You wake up very early... Otonashi Yes. Did you also come to light incense? Godai looks over Otonashi's shoulder, and sees the picture. It's an old lady, not Souichiro! Godai Who is this one? Otonashi A relative. Godai Hmmm... Looks like you don't have Souichiro's picture... Otonashi Really? Kyoko comes to the door, holding a framed picture. Kyoko Father! Otonashi Good morning. Kyoko Hurry up and take Souichiro's picture frame to be repaired. It's been like this for a long time... Otonashi (to Godai) I'm sorry. A long time ago it fell during an earthquake. Otonashi Huh? Godai, are you okay? Notes (1) "ge ge" = "oniisan" = "elder brother" (2) Traditional Japanese houses will have a "butsudan", a place where one puts a figurine of Buddha, tablets showing the names of deceased family members, and pictures of them. Often, this is a cabinet or shelf. The Otonashis have reserved an entire room for the butsudan. I don't know the exact term for this room, so I'll call it "worship room". (3) It is actually called "yi2 xiang", or "lost image", meaning it is the picture of a deceased person. (4) Godai uses a saying that I can't completely decipher. (fin)