Maison Ikkoku - (c) Rumiko Takahashi Translated from the Hunter Comics Chinese manga by Andrew Chen, 10/93 Volume 8, part 5 (Hunter Chinese manga vol. 9, part 8) A young man and his mother are in a taxi. Voice The baggage is probably already there. Boy It didn't have to be such a luxurious place. Mother For testing into university, this is a gift to you from your mother. Mother It's in a seven-storied building, wonderful view, three rooms. Mother I asked your aunt's friend's wife to help find it. Mother Everything was handled by your aunt. Today is also the first time I'm seeing it. Driver We're here. The boy and his mother step out of the cab... Boy Huh--- ... and gaze upon Ikkoku-kan. Mother HERE?! Mother Driver, it seems like you drove us to the wrong place. Driver It can't be wrong. Driver This is where it's drawn on your map. Mother How strange! Mother The map that they gave me can't be wrong. Boy [What a filthy apartment-house!] Boy [Can people possibly live here?] Kyoko comes running out. Kyoko I've been waiting for you. Kyoko Mrs. Nikaido? Boy .... Kyoko I'm the manager of Ikkoku-kan. Mother Ikkoku-kan? Mother Excuse me, please let me use your phone. Kyoko Go ahead! She goes inside to make a call. Kyoko Your mother seems like she's angry. Boy Yes she is. Boy Is there a place called Independence House around here? Kyoko Independence... (*1) Kyoko Yes, there is. It's in front of the train station. Kyoko Seven storied building, wonderful view, three room... Kyoko Why are you asking this? Boy Never mind. Mother (on phone) It's not Independence House? Mother No... Mother What? Mother Ikkoku-kan? Ichinoce and Akemi listen in. Mother You people are not trustworthy! Mother This is a broken-down wooden building. Mother You made a mistake! Mother How can I let my son live in this impoverished, broken-down building? Mother I'll ask them immediately. Mother Good bye. Angrily, she walks toward the door. She is stampeded by a crowd of workmen. Man Furniture store! Man2 Appliances! Man3 Telephone company! Man4 Movers! Mother Wait! Wait! There's been a mistake! Outside Kyoko So, they made a mistake! Boy That's what I said. Boy She has always trusted other people, now is she suffering because of their mistakes? Boy My mother's way of thinking is too simple. I'm very sorry. Kyoko This is unfortunate. Kyoko When they heard a new person wanted to move in, they were all excited. Boy Is that so? Yotsuya appears out of nowhere. Yotsuya That's correct. Yotsuya After seeing your baggage, I slowly became unable to let you leave. Kyoko Yotsuya!! Akemi and Ichinoce come out. Akemi Why is it so noisy? Akemi This is really something. Boy I'm sorry. Ichinoce What in the world is going on? Yotsuya (to Akemi) They came to the wrong place. Akemi The baggage has all been moved in. Ichinoce (to Kyoko) Actually, room number two is vacant. Kyoko I can't do that. Yotsuya What!? What are you attempting to do? Kyoko Attempting? I am responsible for attempting to sweep. Yotsuya (to the boy) I hope you will stay. Boy Uh... uh... Boy Uh-- Kyoko Yes? Boy Do you also live here? Kyoko Yes. Boy Wow! Boy Then I'm ready to learn! (*2) He goes inside, to his new room. Boy (to the movers) Everything's moved in, right? Mother Wait! Nozomu! Nikaido I want to live here. Mother What did you say?! Mother Mother does not approve of you living in this broken-down building... Mother If you do this, how can I show my face to other people? This kind of place, if you let relatives know about it they'd break their teeth laughing. There aren't any suites! If there's an earthquake, you'll be crushed to death! Ichinoce How can you speak such nonsense? Yotsuya Are your words the truth? Nikaido Thank you for helping me unpack. Yotsuya (hiding something in his clothes) Don't mention it. Nikaido, his mother, and Kyoko are standing outside. Mother They are too low-class for you. Nikaido But we've already arranged it with other people... Mother If you don't like living here, tell your mother anytime. Next time, I'll find a good apartment-house for you. Kyoko (smile) .... Mother (to Kyoko) Also... Kyoko Yes? Mother I ask you to please take care of my child. He still doesn't understand things, and even says he wants to live in this kind of place. If there are any problems, please contact me immediately.... Mother ... and at any time I'll tell him to move. Can you help me do this? Nikaido Mother! Nikaido That's enough. He escorts her to the street, and she leaves. Nikaido Phew! Nikaido Sorry about that! My mother can be very impolite... Kyoko Not at all! Nikaido You're not angry? Kyoko Nope. Nikaido You have a very kind heart. Kyoko No, it's natural for a mother to be concerned about her child. Nikaido You can't judge the value of most things from the outside. Kyoko Right. Nikaido The people inside are also very interesting. Kyoko Right. If you don't understand something, ask me... Kyoko .... Kyoko Or ask Godai in room five. Nikaido Godai? Kyoko Right. He's at work now. Yes, he's very ordinary. Nikaido I see... Nikaido has started unpacking. He's sitting in his room, smoking a cigarette. Nikaido [At any rate...] Nikaido [When I'm moved in, things will be fine.] Nikaido [What mother said was right.] Nikaido [The building is falling apart.] Nikaido And furthermore, Nikaido The inside is really old and broken-down too. Nikaido The people who live here all seem to be very poor... Nikaido ... but the manager is so beautiful. He notices three people sitting next to him, listening quietly. Nikaido When did you come in? Yotsuya You even dare to say that everyone who lives here is poor... Yotsuya These subjects concerning honor, it would be best for you if you didn't speak recklessly about them. Ichinoce What honor are you talking about? Akemi So Kyoko's beauty made you decide to live here. Nikaido Well... Nikaido I... I just think that she's very cute... Yotsuya If you decide to stay because of this, it would be a very uncommon occurrence. Ichinoce I don't agree. Yotsuya I am room four's Yotsuya. Ichinoce Number one's Ichinoce. Akemi Room six's Akemi. Nikaido I'm Nozomu Nikaido. Nikaido Tell me, what is the manager's name? Ichinoce Kyoko. How old are you? Nikaido Wow! Beautiful Kyoko! Eighteen. Ichinoce Student? Nikaido Yes. The manager... how old is she? Ichinoce Am I the manager? Nikaido You're Mrs. Ichinoce. Ichinoce Why are you looking at me? Akemi Because you're not cute. Yotsuya Please excuse him for being a small child. Nikaido What-- Nikaido Don't say bad things about people behind their backs... Akemi You're here with us! Ichinoce We all live together in harmony. Yotsuya If there is anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me. Nikaido Could you tell me where city hall is? Nikaido I want to go update my records. Yotsuya I'll draw a map for you. With map in hand, Nikaido leaves for city hall. Nikaido recalls: Kyoko Talk to me or room five's Godai. Because he's an ordinary person. Nikaido [There's nothing strange at all about the other people.] Nikaido [They're only a little less-refined.] Nikaido looks at a store's sign and walks on. Nikaido [It's a really long way...] He notices the same sign. Nikaido [Huh?] Nikaido [I'm back to starting point. Did I make a wrong turn?] Nikaido [I definitely followed what's drawn on the map...] Nikaido [I've been going around in circles.] Nikaido [How can this be?] Nikaido [Might as well keep going! Only five hundred more meters.] Nikaido [Maybe...] He arrives at the Chachamaru. The master is sweeping outside. Nikaido Excuse me... Master Yes? Master City hall? That way (points), then... Nikaido Oh. Master But, it's almost five. You won't make it. Nikaido Yeah. Nikaido Can you tell me how to get to Ikkoku-kan? Master Ikkoku-kan? Nikaido Yup. I just moved in today. Master Uh, I see... Ikkoku-kan... Nikaido returns to Ikkoku-kan. The front door is locked. Yotsuya appears from an upstairs window. Nikaido What's going on? Yotsuya It's no use! It's locked from inside. Nikaido Deliberately? Yotsuya Correct. Nikaido So what? Yotsuya Aren't you angry? Nikaido Yes. I don't like these kinds of childish jokes... Yotsuya Quite a tolerant child. Yotsuya throws down a rope. Yotsuya To thank you for your compliments, I will let you in. Yotsuya Use this rope and climb up. Nikaido Okay. Nikaido Thank you for your good will. He pulls the rope, and a bucket of water comes flying down. Yotsuya You have now become smarter. Nikaido (with a sly look) .... Voice (from inside) Yotsuya! Stop! You lose! Nikaido, come in. Nikaido [He's really immature.] He opens the door. A wet rag falls on his head and soaks him. Nikaido .... Ichinoce He walked into a trap this easily... Akemi That's right. Ichinoce He must be angry. Akemi He will go home crying. Nikaido [Hmmph.] Narr [smile.] Ichinoce He's smiling! Akemi This is really unexpected. Kyoko enters with a bag of groceries. Kyoko Why are you standing here? She notices that Nikaido is soggy. Kyoko WHAT?! Kyoko YOU PEOPLE! Nikaido Kyoko, forget about it. Kyoko But... NIkaido I don't get angry about these kinds of small things. Nikaido I patiently work toward my goals. Kyoko Oh... Kyoko Nikaido, you're really great. Ichinoce A young man who can't be beat... Akemi He's a broad-minded and generous man. Nighttime. The residents are having a party in Godai's room. Godai Why did you choose to have the welcoming party in my room? Yotsuya The scenery is better here. Ichinoce What? How come the guest of honor isn't here? Kyoko He's on the phone right now. How many times are you going to ask? Nikaido in his room, calling his mother. Nikaido Mother, it doesn't matter. Nikaido I like it here. They are having a welcoming party for me right now. Nikaido For now, I won't move. Nikaido Absolutely. In Godai's room. Kyoko You people can not pick on him. He's a good and honest child. Ichinoce Honest? Yotsuya People are not as they seem. Room number two. Nikaido [That's right!] Nikaido [I can't leave like this.] Nikaido [I...] Nikaido [... have to get him back...] Notes: (1) In Japanese the two names sound very similar. They were expecting 'Independence House', or 'rikkoku-kan'. (2) More literally, "continue to instruct/teach". It sounds a bit strange here. (fin)