Penguin Brothers: Chapter 4 by Shiina Ayumi Ribon Mascot Comics/ Shuueisha 2000 Translation by Emily Horner 2001 Question 1: What is "Snake"? Tetta : Snake's trademark is to put snakes in front of where his victims go. Hina : And that's all? That's no big deal. I don't mind snakes at all. <> Tetta : There's one right there. Hina : Ack! Tetta : Even people who don't mind snakes will start being bothered by them, if they're attacked 24 hours a day. Some people have developed neuroses because of it. And besides, that isn't what's so scary about Snake. Hina : I'll go for some after-lunch exercise. Tetta : Listen to what I'm saying! <> --There you are! Listen to us! --Nishizaki-san said to come right away! Hina : I don't want to! --He'll beat us up if we don't go after her! Hina : {Ever since I transferred here, I've been hated by both groups, as "the woman who made the head of the Whites bow and kicked the head of the Blacks."} <> --Is she there? --No, she's too fast for us. Hina : {I caught someone out of the corner of my eye again! Is it Snake? Now the "Grey elimination group" has shown up, and I just don't understand what's going on anymore.} Aaah! Get out of the way, get-- <> Hina : I'm really sorry, are you all right? {She's pretty.} --There you are! Come quietly with us to see Nishizaki-san! Hina : Oh, no! --Shirayuki-san! <> Shirayuki : I'm sorry, but I have a previous engagement with this girl. Could you tell that to Nishizaki-kun? --Yes! --Sorry to disturb you! Hina : Wow, they all just left! Who are you? Shirayuki : Shirayuki Tsugumi, 11th grade. I'm on the student council. Hina : {Student council...I guess that means she's one of the Whites with real power, and the idol of the school.} <> Hina : Why did you save me? Shirayuki : No one ever talks to me honestly, but the majority of the students think that this school is strange, myself included. No one says anything because they're afraid of being bullied. Hina : {She has pretty nails.} Shirayuki : I have a lot of respect for courageous people like you. It might seem selfish for me to say so, but I want you to keep trying. <> Hina : There really are honest people at this school! I feel a lot braver now. I feel like I can hang in there. Tetta : Well, I'm glad about that, but it seems strange that Shirayuki Tsugumi would encourage you. Hina : Why? Tetta : Because the student council thought up this system and put it into action in the first place. Besides, her and Isshiki are like *this*. <> Hina : Are you serious? Tetta : So why would Shirayuki be interested in someone Isshiki might think of as a "special woman"? Hina : I'm not worried about details like that. I'm sure that she's a good person. Tetta : Don't think that way about the student council! Piyoko, you need to remember that you're in a dangerous position. <> Tetta : Hey, what is it? Hina : I caught you! --Eeek! Hina : Are you the one who's been sneaking around behind me? Are you Snake!? <> --No, no! Hina : Then why were you following me? Tetta : She can't talk like that. --Hina-chan, that hurts. I wasn't trying to spy on you. I always meant to talk to you, but I kept missing my chance. You haven't changed at all, Hina-chan. I knew right away that it was you. Hina : Who are you? <> Ruu : I'm Ruu, Usami Ruu. We were in first grade together at Hidaka Elementary. We went home together with Isshiki-kun a lot, remember? Hina : What!? Tetta : So Usa-pyon knows about the time when Isshiki and Piyoko knew each other? I guess if Isshiki is an old friend of yours, it's not so surprising that you have other old friends around here. Piyoko...is this part two of "friends you don't remember"? Hina : {First grade? Usami? Ruu?} <> Ruu : It's all right if you've forgotten me, since I wasn't the type to stand out anyway... Hina : I'm sorry! I really just can't remember! Ruu : I'm fine, Hina-chan, but isn't it cruel not to remember Isshiki-kun? Hina : Why? Ruu : You and Isshiki-kun were engaged to be married! <> Hina : What!? --Here's the report on Mishima Hina. She was born inside this prefecture. At age 5 her parents divorced and she went to live with her mother. After that, her mother and stepfather died, and she went with her uncle, her mother's younger brother. He's a fairly famous artist. <> --Then, she moved around many times, going from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Nishizaki : I don't care about her life history! I just want to know what her connection to Isshiki is. --They were in the same class in first grade. Nishizaki : So they do know each other. --At the time, Isshiki was often absent from school, and the transfer student watched out for him. Nishizaki : Absent? Why, was he bullied? --No, we don't really know the reason. Ruu : Isshiki-kun used to be a really moody kid, and never talked to anybody. And he even stopped coming to school. <> Ruu : But you came to take him to school every morning, and he started opening up his heart to you, and getting a little more talkative. And then you suddenly moved, and Isshiki-kun went back to being dark and moody, though he kept coming to school. He still hardly ever talks to anybody. Tetta : You said they were engaged? Ruu : I don't really know about that. One day, Hina-chan just suddenly said, "We're getting married someday!" <> Tetta : Like that? Ruu : Yeah. You really don't remember, Hina-chan? Hina : Look! A long time ago, I was climbing a tree, and I fell 10 meters (~30 feet?) to the ground. I was unconscious. This is the scar I have from then. <> Hina : The only possibility seems to be that I lost my memories of that time period when I hit my head. Ruu : 10 meters... Tetta : I'm surprised you survived. It is a possibility. It seems strange that you wouldn't remember at all someone you were that deeply involved with. Ruu : Why don't you ask your family? Hina : I'll do that. Ruu : I'm a little sad that you don't remember me, but I'm glad to see you again! You were a really cute kid, stronger and nicer than anybody else. Everyone loved you. It's just like you to choose to be a Grey! <> Ruu : Can we be friends again? Hina : {Friends!} Of course! There are so many things I want to ask you! It's great to see you, Ruu-chan! Ruu : Bye-bye! Hina : I'm so happy! I've made my first friend at this school! Tetta : Hey, I'm your first friend! Hina : I don't need a friend with 5 or 6 holes in his ears. <> Hina : {What is this, red paint? They're getting bolder.} Isshiki : Don't you think you ought to leave this school? <> Hina : Good morning! {Just like "Carrie"!} Isshiki : You don't belong in this school. Is there any meaning to you staying here, if you're put through all this? Hina : There doesn't have to be a meaning. <> Hina : I won't run away because I don't believe that I'm wrong. I'll stay until the very end! That's what I've always done. If I have self-confidence, I'll find other people who understand me. --Morning, Isshiki-kun! --What are you talking about with the transfer student? <> --Is it true that you bowed down in front of Nishizaki-san? --Why don't you show us that again? Isshiki : Don't touch me with your dirty hands! <> --Why, you! --Let's stop. He's as strong as Nishizaki-san. Hina : Don't try to rub it off on me! {If what Ruu-chan said is true, how must he be feeling, now that his former fiancee appeared right in front of him? Does he feel nostalgic, or angry about something?} <> Hina : {He seems like a top student, but he has a violent side too. He protected me, but he also coldly told me to leave. I can't tell what he's thinking at all. Nishizaki, on the other hand, is far too easy to undestand.} Isshiki : Hey. Hina : What? Isshiki : If you absolutely won't leave, I'll give you one more piece of advice. Don't trust all of the people around you. Hina : Who are you talking about? Isshiki : A certain yellow-haired monkey. <> Hina : {Koshiba?} Tetta : Damn! Who took my ham-and-egg special? And my strawberry roll is gone too, dammit! Ruu : Hina-chan, Koshiba-kun, let's eat lunch on the roof together. Hina : Yeah, let's go1 Tetta : {My strawberry roll!} Ruu : Did you try asking your family? Hina : My no-good uncle is missing. <> Hina : He always leaves a note and then vanishes. Hina : What is it, Ruu-chan? Ruu : It's nothing. Hina : Ruu? Ruu : I'm sorry. Let's go. Tetta : If you really don't want to be seen with us, why not leave? <> Tetta : Don't you think it's selfish to only be friendly where it's safe? Ruu : I'm really sorry, I...I'm sorry! Hina : Ruu-chan! Why did you say something so mean? You're being mean to her just because she took your strawberry roll? Tetta : Why would I do that for such a stupid reason? <> Tetta : This may seem cruel, but as long as she wears a uniform, she won't be a real friend! That's what kind of school this is. You've got to understand that. Hina : Don't be stupid! No matter what the situation, a friend is a friend! Tetta : You saw how she was acting just now! <> Tetta : I know you're going to get mad at me, but I'll say this. Don't you think she might be Snake? How do you hurt a girl who isn't scared of snakes or insects or having paint spilled on her? I think... <> Tetta : If she's betrayed by a trusted friend... I've seen a lot of people pretend to be friends and then betray me. Hina : In that case, there's a chance that you could be Snake. <> Tetta : Are you serious? Hina : Pretend to be my friend and then betray me, right? Then you'd be the most effective choice. Tetta : Ha ha. <> Tetta : If you fall into Snake's plans, don't expect me to look out for you. Hina : {Plans?} {Maybe I said too much...but Koshiba said that he might be suspicious of Ruu-chan, and besides, there's what Isshiki said...} <> Hina : {But I really should apologize. Oh, man! How many snakes does this guy have?} --Eek! --A snake! A snake! <> Hina : Why is there one there? --There's one over here too! --There's one in my bag! --Stay away from me! --This is your fault! <> --The snakes are here because of you! --Get out of this school! --The whole class is in trouble because of you! --Go away! Hina : {Question 2: What are Snake's plans?} <> Hina : {Answer: To isolate the Greys. By attacking the people around me, and making them think it's my fault. To make even the people who support me join in and bully me.} --Eek! <> --What is it, Shirayuki? Shirayuki : A snake! --In the student council room? How? Hina : {Question 3: Who is Snake?}