---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------* Penguin Brothers Chapter 5 by Shiina Ayumi Ribon Mascot Comics/ Shuueisha 2000 Translation by Emily Horner 2001 Hina : {Who is Snake? Ruu--"Can we be friends again?" Tetta--"Don't you think she might be Snake?" Isshiki--"Don't trust Koshiba." I don't know who's my ally and who's my enemy any more.} --Get out of here! <> --Get out! Get out! Get out! Hina : {It's no use. No matter what I say, they won't listen.} Nishizaki : Hey, don't you think you're attacking the wrong person? <> --Nishizaki-san! Nishizaki : Who took these snakes to school? It wasn't her. --But it's her fault that... Nishizaki : That's what they want you to think! Hina : Question: Why did you just protect me? <> Nishizaki : Don't misunderstand me, transfer student. You're important to me because you're Isshiki's weak point. I've got to be the one who gets to torment you. That's how it is, Snake! You're watching from somewhere, aren't you? Next time you get in my way, I won't let you off so easy! Hina : Just who the hell do you think you are? <> Nishizaki : Don't act like you're so great! Hina : You don't have the guts to act strong except when you're with your lackies! Nishizaki : I'll strip you naked and hang you from the roof! Hina : Go ahead and do it, if you can! --Wow, that girl did it not once but twice! Nishizaki : Don't stare at me! <> Hina : {So this is why Koshiba was trying to warn me about Snake. What should I do? I can't counter-attack unless I know who Snake really is. I guess that it's not Nishizaki.} Ruu-chan! Ruu : Hina-chan! I'm sorry, Hina-chan. Hina : It's all right. It really doesn't bother me. <> Hina : I should be more careful, since you'll get bullied if you get friendly with Greys. Ruu : How can you be so strong, Hina-chan? I'm pathetic. I think there's something wrong with this school, and I want to wear my own clothes to school, but...I wish I were as brave as you. Hina : You're fine just the way you are, Ruu-chan. You don't have to make yourself feel bad. <> Hina : People might say a lot of bad things to you because of me. Do you still want to be my friend? Ruu : In elementary school, I was bullied, and you protected me. Will you help me again if I get in a pinch? Hina : Leave it to me! I'll protect you, Ruu-chan! <> Tetta : {I need to try looking at this from another direction.} Hina : My dead mother told me, when you're lost, close your eyes and open your heart. The eyes of your heart can see who you can trust, among the people around you. Tetta : So? What about me? <> Hina : I'm sorry. You're the first true friend I've had since I started school. I wouldn't have been able to keep going if there hadn't been one person I could talk to. I'm glad that you were there for me. <> Tetta : For someone as cool-headed as you, you can be pretty cute sometimes. Hina : Koshiba, Ruu-chan's not the culprit. She's not a liar. Tetta : All right. If you say that, Piyoko, I'll believe it too. Hina : By the way, what are you doing? Tetta : I'm trying to use this data to find out who Snake is. <> Hina : Can you do that? Tetta : There aren't that many people who can handle a lot of snakes. I'll be able to pull something from the data. It's just a matter of him leaving the proof. Hina : What's that doing in your book bag? Tetta : There was one there too. Watch out. They're going to come indiscriminately. They're going to target people you've talked to just a little bit, classmates, even teachers. Isshiki'll probably get hit, too. Hina : But--Ruu-chan! <> Hina : Ruu-chan! Where's Ruu-chan? --She just went to the bathroom. Hina : Ruu-chan! <> Tetta : What is all this? This is awful. Hey, wake up! Open your eyes! Ruu : Eeeeeeek! The snakes, the snakes! <> Ruu : Don't come near me! Tetta : It's all right. They're gone now. Hina : Take care of Ruu-chan, Koshiba. Tetta : Hey, where are you going? Hina : I'm sorry. <> Ruu : Hina-chan? Hina : {Now they've gone too far!} Hina : {I won't let them get away with this.} Tetta : Are you all right? Ruu : Yeah. Tetta : Do you know who did this to you? Ruu : I'm not sure. I was suddenly pushed into a stall, and there were snakes in the water and the buckets...and I fainted. Tetta : That's too bad. This is the first time they've shown themselves. Ruu : But... Ruu : I think that it was a girl. Kousuke : There have been a lot of reports of bullying and extortion towards Whites. The Blacks have been getting cocky since you bowed to their leader. The person in charge of our class said that it was a problem between the students, and we have to solve it ourselves. That doesn't sound like something a teacher would say. This is your fault, Isshiki. What are you going to do about it? <> Kousuke : Hey, Isshiki! Shirayuki : All Isshiki did was protect that transfer student. He didn't do anything wrong. I think it's just as much the fault of people who sit around complaining, and not trying to think of a solution. Kousuke : {Bitch!} Shirayuki : Now, about the next general assembly... Hina : Come out, Snake! <> Kousuke : What was that? Hina : Come out, you coward! Tetta : Piyoko? Hina : I challenge you to a fight, fair and square, at any time! --That voice... --The transfer student's taken over the broadcast room! --Sounds fun! Let's go see what's going on. <> Kousuke : What is that transfer student doing? Isshiki : {Idiot.} Shirayuki : Don't go. If you go, things will only get noisier. Think about your position! Isshiki : Don't touch me! <> Shirayuki : He touched her before. He touched her. You're throwing away your pride! --Open up. Come out of there right now. <> Hina : Which one of you is Snake? --Aaah! --She's completely gone crazy! <> Hina : Say who you are! --If you think you won't be punished for this... Hina : Shut up! Don't start acting like a teacher now! Bullying goes on all the time, and you pretend not to see it! --You'll be expelled if you continue making a scene. Hina : Do you think I'd be a Grey if I was scared of being expelled? Hina : Ow! Isshiki : Calm down. You're not a child. I'll take responsibility and take care of this, so you can return to the staff room. --But... Isshiki : Go back to the staff room. --If you say so. <> Hina : That hurt! How dare you hit a girl in the face? I won't let you get in my way! Isshiki : I told you to calm down. Tell me what happened. <> Hina : I couldn't protect her. I promised that I'd protect her, and I couldn't. I couldn't protect Ruu-chan... <> Tetta : No matter how much she was bullied, she never cried, until now. Ruu : Hina-chan... Nishizaki : Oh, she started crying. Isshiki-kun, have pity on her and tell her who Snake is. <> Nishizaki : You know, right? Snake doesn't like Greys, but... you, Isshiki.