KIZUNA by Kazuma Kodaka Book 1 Part 4: Song of Pure Love and Autumn Rain unofficial translation by Katherine ------------------------------------------------------------------- Conventions: regular text: name of speaker, and spoken lines italics: thoughts (in parentheses): spoken words that are hand-written or not in the talk bubbles bold: descriptions bold and italics: translation note View of the outside of an elementary school. Kai: When I was in second grade, something happened that I can't ever forget. Teacher: Are we all listening? This is an important note, Teacher: so make sure you give it to your parents, okay? Kai: Looking at the note. My dad, being the yakuza boss that he was, Class: Okay!!! Kai: was not about to participate in any "honest" event like Parent's Day. (page) Title: Song of Pure Love and Autumn Rain Note: The title in romanized Japanese is "Naniwa: Jyunjyou Koi Shigure." "Naniwa" refers to a type of ballad popular in the olden days. Perhaps it is meant to evoke the image of Osaka here, since naniwabushi songs originated in that area of Japan; also, "Naniwa," written with different kanji, was the ancient name of Osaka. "Shigure" means both autumn rain and falling tears, but since there is lots of autumn rain and not many tears in this chapter, the rain definition seemed more appropriate. Also, "Purity, Love, and Autumn Rain" might be a more literal translation. (page) Child: Out of frame. Bye-byyye! Kumi-chan: Waving as she goes out the school gate. Bye-byyye! Kai: Leaning against a wall. Masa... What are you doing...? Kumi-chan: Surprised to see him. What...? Kai-kun, what's wrong? Kumi-chan: Onii-chan isn't coming today? Note: She refers to Masa figuratively as "Onii-chan" or big brother. Kai: My classmate, Kumi-chan. Kumi-chan: As Kai does not respond. ...... (page) Kumi-chan: Grabbing his hand. Well then, let's go part way together. Kai: Sweatdropping. Uh, but if I wait a little bit more, he might come... Kumi-chan: You don't wanna walk home with me?! Kai: As Kumi-chan, singing happily, drags him bodily along. Little girls are very, very strong. At the Sagano house. Kanbu: You idiot! Note: "Kanbu" is a title for the person who heads the main office. Masa: Out of frame. Kanbu! It's not his fault, sir! Kyousuke: A... Aniki... Note: "Aniki" is a masculine-sounding term for older brother. (page) Masa: Sweating. I didn't teach him well enough how we do things here. Masa: Please overlook his mistake! If there was some way you could not tell the boss... Kanbu: ...Well then, how do you intend to clean up this mess of yours? I'll report that to the boss. Masa: ...! Kyousuke: M... Masa has nothing to do with this! Kyousuke: Holding a knife to his hand. A... Accept my finger... Masa: Kyousuke! Kyousuke and Masa: Turning at the rattling sound of a door sliding open. ! (page) Kai stares wide-eyed at the scene. Masa: Sweatdropping. B... Bon... Masa: Flinging himself in front of the door. Ha ha ha! Nothing's going on! We were just playing around... Kai: Looking blank. ....... Kanbu: (Idiot! Hide that!) Kyousuke: (S-sorry!!) Kai: Looks displeased, turns, and runs out. Masa: Uh... (page) Masa: Is he mad about something? Kanbu: Did Bon come home by himself? Masa: No sir, I always go to mee... Masa: Looks horrified as he realizes. Kyousuke: Aniki...? Kanbu: Masa... You... Masa: Running after Kai. Waah! Bon! Please, wait a second! Kyousuke: My finger. Clutching it lovingly. Kanbu: Sweatdropping. That one's not overly reliable either... Masa: On his knees as Kai sits at his desk ignoring him. Bon! I'm sorry!! You're right to be mad. I let you down!! (page) Masa: Hey, look what I have! The Nakanoshima caramel bun guy gave it to me! Masa: I know you like caramel buns! Kai: I don't want it. Kai: With his back to Masa. I don't love you! Masa: Crushed and sweatdropping. Masa: Putting his hand on the desk. Bon, do you have to be so... Masa: Picking up the piece of paper his hand had rested upon. ...Parent's Day? Kai: Alarmed. ! Kai grabs it out of Masa's hand. (page) Kai: Crumpling it up. It's got nothing to do with my family. Masa: ...... Masa: ...Do you think... Masa: ...would it be okay if I went...? Masa: Taking hold of Kai's shoulders and turning him around excitedly. It says "family members," right? So couldn't I go as like, a big brother? Huh? Masa: Let's do that! Masa: Holding up his little finger. It's a promise! Let's do "yubikiri genman!" Note: This is the Japanese equivalent of "Cross your heart and hope to die." Here "yubikiri" refers to crossing the pinkies. It's obviously supposed to remind readers of another meaning of "yubikiri," cutting off a finger. Kodaka makes a nice contrast in this chapter between the brutal yakuza custom and the innocent children's gesture. (page) Kai: Suspiciously. ...Masa, I bet you're gonna break the promise. Masa: Th-this time I swear! I'll go if it kills me! Masa: Okay? Linking his little finger with Kai's. Masa: Shaking fingers with a doubtful-looking Kai. Yubikiri genman! If I lie, I'll swallow a thousand needles! Masa: Now that it's decided, I have to get some clothes ready to wear for next week, right? (Here's your caramel bun!) Masa: Leaning his head cheerfully back in the door. Bon! Masa: You don't have to bother getting a thousand needles ready, okay? (page) Kai: Munching darkly on his bun. He won't come this time either, I bet. The crumpled note catches his eye. He looks at it, then smoothes it out and tapes it up. He looks up at it with a smile. Kai: Holding up his little finger happily. That's a big promise you made, Masa. (page) Kyousuke and Masa are working at their okonomiyaki stand. Kyousuke: Thanks! Come again! Masa: Kyousuke. Kyousuke: Yeah? Masa: That suit you have... You know, that Armajiro or whatever it's called... Kyousuke: Armani? Masa: Please! Loan it to me! Just for one day... Kyousuke: No. Kyousuke: It's your own fault. Just because you gambled away all your money for the month... (Thanks! And a hundred yen's your change.) Masa: I'm not asking you to give it to me, am I?? Just for one day! One day! Kyousuke: No way. (page) Masa: Out of the picture, amid the sound of things breaking and flying. Kyousuke! Why's your finger still attached to your hand?! Tell me that!! Kyousuke: Aaaaah!! Narration: Parent's Day arrived... Masa: Straightening his tie in the mirror. I don't get it. This suit's supposed to be really expensive, Masa: but it doesn't seem any different from an ordinary suit. Kyousuke: Bandaged, he holds up the mirror with a tear in his eye. My Armani... Kai: Out of the picture. Bye!! Masa: Looking down at him from the second story window. Bon! Kai: Happy and excited, holding up his pinkie. You promised! (page) Masa: Waving fondly. Kyousuke, you know, little fingers are good to have. (See you!) Kyousuke: Huh? Masa: Looks like it might rain. Masa: I hope he took an umbrella. In Kai's classroom. Girl: Who's coming from your house, Hisae-chan? Hisae: My mom! Boy: Sweatdropping. My mom said she's gonna wear a kimono and she's been making a huge deal out of it all morning. Other boy: It's rough on both of you, huh. Kumi-chan: Kai-kun! Kumi-chan: Who's coming from your house, Kai-kun? Kumi-chan: Your dad? Your mom? (page) Kai: M... my "brother." Kumi-chan: Really?! That handsome onii-chan?? Girls: All of a flutter, as Kai looks a little alarmed at their reaction. Kai's onii-chan is coming, he says! Kai: Little girls are too grown up for their own good. Kai: I wish 5th period would hurry up and get here! Masa: Fixing his tie proudly. Alright, I'm all set!! Masa: Any way you look at me, I'm a respectable parent! Yakuza guy: Bursting in. Masa! There's big trouble! Yakuza guy: Some kogumi thugs are trashing our food stand! Note: "Kogumi" refers to the minor yakuza gangs that are subordinate to the Sagano organization. Kyousuke is being beaten up amid lots of crashing noises. Thug: You're pathetic! Are you sure you're really Sagano-gumi? Thug: Grabbing him by the shirt. It's not over yet, not by a long shot! Masa: Out of the picture. Hey! Kyousuke! What are you playing around for? (page) Masa: Well if it isn't the Imagawa gang's absolute lowest scum! Kyousuke: Aniki! Masa: Let's go over there where we won't bother the respectable folks, and I'll hear what you have to say. Thug: My fists'll do all my talking for me. Kicking over a bucket of water on Masa's leg. Kyousuke: M... My... Masa: Shaking his leg off and looking displeased. ...... (page) Masa: You have a lot of spirit... Masa: It's just a little misplaced, is all. Thug: What the hell...? Masa: Here's a little educational guidance!! Cracking him over the head with his umbrella. Thug: Waah! Kyousuke: Weeping and unable to watch. My Armani...! (page) In the classroom. Parents line the back wall. Teacher: Alright, boys and girls, let's not be looking behind us all the time. Teacher: Okay, this division problem is... Kai: Peeking behind him. Kai: Masa... Kai: You lied to me. (page) Masa: If you have a problem with me, you come to Sagano-gumi any time! Masa: Tell that bastard Imagawa to quit sneaking around and show his face!! Thugs: Fleeing. Waahh! Sagano guy: Brilliant, Masa! I love you! Kyousuke: Still weeping. My... My... Masa: Hmph. Why do I have to waste my time dealing with trash like that? Masa: Time...? Sagano guy: Ah, Aniki, you were going out somewhere, weren't you? Masa: ...Sh... (page) Masa: SHIT!!!!!! Guy going by on bike: ? Masa: Hey, loan me that bike! Bike guy: Huh? Bike guy: Running after Masa who is riding off on the bike. H-hey wait!! Masa: Kyousuke! Pay him! Sagano guy: As bike guy holds out his hand. Kyousuke-saan? Kyousuke: Further weeping. Masa: Pedaling furiously with the umbrella in his mouth. Back in the classroom. Teacher: Okay, who knows the answer? Kids: (Me! Me!) Girl: Whispering. Kumi-chan, Kai-kun's "brother" still isn't here. Kumi-chan looks sympathetically at Kai. Teacher: Alright, Matsumoto-kun. Matsumoto: Hai! Matusumoto: Standing up. Um... He is drowned out by a crashing noise. Masa: Out of the picture, amid more commotion. Shit!! Damn worthless bike! (page) Masa: As Kai turns around with tears brimming in his eyes. Excuse me! Masa: I'm sorry I'm late. Everyone stares at Masa, wet and out of breath in the doorway. Teacher: Flustered. Th-that's quite alright... (page) Kumi-chan: Whispering. Kai-kun! Kumi-chan: Onii-chan finally got here! Kumi-chan: I bet you're happy! Kai: Smiling. ...Yeah. The dismissal bell rings. Kids: Bye! Masa: Bon! Kids: (Bye-bye!) (page) Masa: The umbrella's broken and I look terrible, but Masa: shall we go home together? Kai: Running to him. You don't look terrible! Masa: Holding his arms out. (Come here!) Kai: You were the coolest one today! Kai: Masa... Touching his chin. Kai: I love you! Kissing him on the mouth. Masa: Blushing and pushing him away in alarm. B... Bon! What-? Kai: That's what you do to people you love, right? Masa: (Well... Yeah, but...) Kai: I saw it on TV! Masa: Um.... (TV, huh.) Kai: Masa, you don't like me?? Masa: What are you talking about? You're number one! As if you didn't know it. Masa: Even if the sun comes up in the west, Masa: Masa loves Bon more than anyone! (page) Kai: Hugging him and kissing his chin. I love Masa best! Kai: Masa, aren't you gonna kiss me back? Masa: Sweatdropping. Uh... No, you already did it, so that's fine. Kai: When people love each other, they get married and stuff, right? Masa: Well, you're a boy, so you have to have a bride... Kai: Then you can be my bride. Then it's okay, right? Masa: Ha? In the present. Rain pours down on the Sagano home. Kai: I love you. Scene of a sliding shouji door. Yakuza underling: Out of the picture. H-hey, don't push! A banging noise. Other underling: (Shhh!) You guys are too noisy! Kai is lying on his bed listening with his eyes closed to the men talking on the other side of his door. Yakuza underling: I guess he's mad 'cause he was dragged back home from Tokyo. Other underling: H-hey, his heart's been broken! Let's be a little quiet here, okay? Another underling: You mean, by that Tokyo sempai of his? Underling: Poor Bon... Other underling: ..... Masa: Out of the picture. What's all this racket?! Break it up, guys! Kai: Playing aimlessly with his hair. Aah... Kai: I planned on not coming back here... Kai: But that stupid Masa went and brought me home... (page) Masa: You don't have to worry. Underling: K-Kanbu... Masa: You guys go on back. He goes into Kai's room and the men disobediently resume their positions outside the door. Masa: Shaking a bag in front of Kai's face. Kai: You think you can put me in a good mood with a caramel bun? (I'm a college student already, you know?) Masa: Smiling. ...No, that wasn't really my intention. (page) Kai: Turning to gaze out the window. Rainy days like this... bring back memories... Flashback to young Kai riding on Masa's shoulders under the umbrella. Masa: Next time, do that for someone you like lots better than Masa. Kai: I won't like anyone more than Masa! So that makes it okay, right? Returning to the present. Kai: Masa. Masa: Yes? Kai: Kissing him. Kai: I'm sorry, Masa. I kissed Samejima-sempai, too. Masa: ..... (page) Kai: I still only kiss people I love. Masa: Smiling with his eyes closed. I see. Kai: Let's split this caramel bun, okay? Underling: (I can't hear real good what they're talking about.) Other underling: Cupping his ear to the door. (Tsk...)