Marmalade Boy Volume 1, Chapter 2 pages 45-81 Written and illustrated by Yoshizumi Wataru Translation & editing by : Craig Nishida Additional translation by : Paul Hirose Yutaka Sasagawa Matthew Akira Klippenstein Additional editing by: Jeanne Hedge Daniel Lee Last revision : 11-02-95 Comments? Corrections? Suggestions? Please send them to: mboy-trans@soyokaze.biosci.ohio-state.edu --------------------------------------------------- p 45 1 [Exterior view of Touryou school.] interviewer: [off] Good afternoon, everyone! The Broadcast Club brings you the Lunchtime News. Today, we welcome a wonderful guest to the studio. 2 interviewer: [off] The transfer student whose rapid rise in popularity has made him the talk among the girls in school... Year 1, Class B's Matsuura Yuu-kun! [Miki's classmates pause in eating to stare up, off-panel, at the TV.] 3 [The students' pov of the wall-mounted TV. Onscreen, Yuu smiles in front of a mike, with another boy, in glasses, facing him.] Yuu: [TV] Thank you, and hello. I'm Matsuura. girls: [off] KYAAAA! 4 [Miki, with a sandwich in one hand and a can of "Calpis Water" in the other, stares in slight irritation at the TV, off-panel. Sweat trickles down one cheek.] Miki: ......... That idiot... --------------------------------------------------- p 46 [Filler art. Yuu winks.] --------------------------------------------------- p 47 1 [View pans back. Meiko sits beside Miki, and looks up, off-panel. Miki drops her gaze while taking a drink from her can.] Meiko: Hmm. Matsuura-kun looks good on TV, too, doesn't he. Miki: (I'm just gonna ignore that guy. He's no concern of mine...) interviewer: [off] That was a profile of Matsuura-kun. By the way, Matsuura-kun... 2 interviewer: [off] You've been coming to school with someone every morning, and, well... It's being gravely rumored... [Miki gags, causing her drink to explode in her face.] 3 [Exterior shot of a door.] sign: Broadcast Room 4 [The interviewer holds up a large, unflattering photo of Miki, pointing at it with one finger. Yuu looks down at it, not at all perturbed.] Yuu: Ahh. You mean Miki... interviewer: Yes! Koishikawa Miki, from the same Year 1, Class B--this is her, right? What sort of relationship do the two of you have...? --------------------------------------------------- p 48 1 [Yuu portrait.] Yuu FX: Yuu: We're living together. 2 [Cut back to Miki's classroom. The girls are stunned.] interviewer: [off] Ehhhh?!! Wh-what an explosive line! class FX: interviewer: [off] Then, in other words, you're cohabiting... Yuu: [off] No, it's nothing like that... 3 [Royally steamed, Miki bursts through the door to the broadcast studio.] Miki: WAIT A MINUTE!! I'LL EXPLAIN! door FX: Miki FX: 4 [Yuu and the interviewer pause, looking back over their shoulders at Miki. Beyond them, the floor director and cameraman pause and stare. This is Miki's pov.] 5 [Shot of the classroom TV. Glaring, Miki has grabbed a mike and addresses the interviewer. This camera shot is over the interviewer's shoulder, so Miki dominates the TV screen.] Miki: [TV] My parents and his parents are friends, and such being the case, our two families have been living in the same house recently! That's all it is!! Miki FX: interviewer: [TV] Ah... Ahhhh. I see... --------------------------------------------------- p 49 1 [A calm Yuu and a livid Miki square off.] Yuu FX: Yuu: Isn't it a bit different? Miki: It's okay!! If the truth were known to the entire student body, I'd be so embarrassed I couldn't come to school! 2 [The interviewer addresses the camera. Beyond him, Miki does a pratfall in front of Yuu.] interviewer: As you've heard, it seems that their relationship extends to their families. There is a very close relationship between the two... 3 [Wearing eyes of death, Miki clobbers the interviewer on the head. He sprawls over the news desk.] Miki: All I'm saying is that we have the same residence, aren't I! Miki: Don't go dramatizing as you please! 4 [Miki and the interviewer disappear behind a flock of speech bubbles. On the left, Yuu rests his arms behind his head and talks to the floor director.] Miki: [off] The Broadcast Club is always getting out of hand!! What's this?! Showing a picture like thi-i-is! interviewer: [off] Wahhh! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Yuu: Say, can I leave now? I still haven't had lunch... floor director: Sorry. A little bit longer. 5 [Cut back to the classroom's view of the TV. Miki clenches a fist and confronts the panicked interviewer.] interviewer: [TV] Gyaa! Gyaa! 6 [Ginta watches silently. Two other male classmates laugh out loud.] boy 1: [pointing] That Broadcast Club member's face... boy 2: Miki has really got him freaked out. That's funny... --------------------------------------------------- p 50 1 [Ginta drops his gaze.] Ginta: Hmmph... So silly. 2 [Miki portrait.] Miki: Jeez!! Miki: Thanks to you and the Broadcast Club, I humiliated myself! 3 [View pans back to show Yuu walking down the hall beside her.] Yuu: Don't go blaming others... You marched right in on your own, and went berserk on your own, didn't you... Yuu: And I'm the one who's embarrassed. Miki: BECAUSE!! If I didn't go, you would have blurted out everything about us! 4 [A teacher watches the two as they walk away.] Yuu: C'mon, it's okay. Miki: IT'S NOT OKAY!! Namura-sensei: Koishikawa! Matsuura! --------------------------------------------------- p 51 1 Namura-sensei: [beaming] I saw the broadcast!! You caused quite a stir! 2 [The two pause and look back.] Miki: Natchan! 3 Namura-sensei: But that was very amusing. Do it again. Miki: Please stop... 4 [Imploringly, Miki zips towards him and clasps him by the shirtfront. Namura-sensei is taken slightly aback.] Miki: Wait! Natchan, since you're my teacher, you're the only one who knows about my parents' strange behavior... So please, ple-e-ease keep this a secret from the others!! = "teacher-in-charge". In other words, he is Miki's homeroom teacher--the one who deals with the students' personal problems, etc. He's also the one who has all the personal information about each student (address, family composition, and other things), so he'd be the first to know that she's changed addresses, and is living at the same place Yuu is. Furthermore, if Natchan has done a , which is where the teacher visits each student's parents, I'm sure he's found out first-hand.> Miki hands FX: Namura-sensei: Y-yes... I understand. 5 Namura-sensei: You both have many difficulties, but... Do your best. If I'll do, you can have my advice any time. 6 [Miki smiles and waves. Yuu just stares, looking somewhat surprised.] Miki: Okay! Thank you. --------------------------------------------------- p 52 1 [Their pov as Namura-sensei walks away.] 2 Yuu: He's Namura, a teacher? You call him "Natchan?" Miki: [smiling] Yeah. Miki: An awfully nice teacher, and so he's popular. Since he's young, there are a few things about him that are a bit unreliable, but he's my club's adviser... 3 Miki: Come to think of it, which club are you going to join, Yuu? Yuu: Ahhhh... During junior high, I was in the tennis club, too... 4 Miki: [glaring] What!?! You're kidding! Give that one up, please!! Just not my club! Yuu: [sweating] What a rude girl... Even if you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have joined. 5 [Yuu gazes straight ahead, off-panel.] Yuu: I have no intention of taking part in any club activities in high school. Even at my previous school, I didn't join any... 6 [Their view down the hall.] Miki: [off] Huh...? Why not? Yuu: [off] I don't want any constraints on my time. Because there are several things that I want to do. --------------------------------------------------- p 53 1 [Wide-eyed, Miki looks up at him.] Miki: A part-time job, or...? Ah, cramming? 2 Yuu: ......... Something like that. 3 [Miki portrait--she ponders.] Miki: Hmm... narration: If he's planning on going to our college, he doesn't need to take any exams... I wonder if he wants to go to another one. 4 [Yuu looks out the hall window, his face registering surprise.] narration: Well, that's still a story for the future... Yuu: Hey. That building. What is it? 5 [Their view out the window at another building.] Miki: [off] Which one? Ahh... That's the library. ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (2): The heroine's name, "Miki," was taken from Yoshida Miki-san, a model who was active in an old magazine called "MC Sister." = "to-play/have-fun."> In those days, Yoshida-san was Sister's poster model, and she appeared on the cover and "Do! FAMILY" page, and I thought she was terribly cute and I liked her a lot. Her name was cute, too, so I thought that someday I'd want to use it. Only, since the heroine of the previous serial was "Miou," and was a close resemblance, I thought that maybe a name that felt more altogether different would be better, but being that I was thinking about creating a character, and that (Hmm, sure enough, this girl is the image of "Miki," isn't she...) feeling was strong, it turned out like this in the end. -something...> As expected, a mountain of letters came in from readers asking, "Do you like to have 'mi' connected to names?" but (I wrote one with Miyoko as well...) it wasn't for that kind of reason. For the heroine in my next work, I intend to make it so that "mi" won't be attached . --------------------------------------------------- p 54 1 [View from a point outside the window, looking in at the two.] Yuu: Huh? So there's a library building on campus? Yuu: No wonder I was thinking there was no library room. Miki: But all it has are old books, so there are hardly any people who use it. Meiko, who's in the Literary Arts club, seems to go there occasionally... 2 [Miki glances at her wristwatch, and makes patting motions with the other hand.] Miki: Say, you haven't eaten lunch, have you? If you don't hurry up, first bell will ring... 3 Yuu: Ahh... Yuu: It's okay. I'm cutting 5th-period. 4 [Miki looks aghast as Yuu saunters off, down the hall. He casually waves back at her, over his shoulder.] Miki: Huh!?! Yuu: I'll show up for 6th-period P.E. See ya. 5 [She stares one way, and then, upon hearing the school bell, stares in another direction.] Miki: What do you mean, "see ya?" Wait a minute, Yuu... school bell FX: Miki: Ahhhh! 6 [Exterior shot of the library.] school bell FX: --------------------------------------------------- p 55 1 [Interior view of the bank of arched windows inside the library.] 2 [Yuu stands with hands in pockets, looking up.] 3 [View pans in. We see he is smiling softly.] Yuu: It's nice. I like this place! --------------------------------------------------- p 56 1 [Long view of a large gymnasium. We see 2 full basketball courts, side-by- side. Boys and girls do layup drills.] whistle FX: dribbling FX: 2 [Miki looks from side to side.] Miki FX: 3 [Her pov of Yuu, looking off-panel.] narration: Ah, there he is. He came back like he should have. 4 [View of Miki pans back to show her standing next to Meiko. Miki still stares off-panel at Yuu. Two other girls approach and Meiko looks at them.] Miki: (But where could he have gone? I just don't get that guy's behavior...) girl 1: [short hair] Miki! Miki! 5 [View of the four girls.] Miki: Hm? girl 1: Why did you keep silent? That you were living in the same house as Yuu. girl 1: I thought it seemed like you knew him... 6 Miki: Ahh, there's nothing really worth talking about. Even though our parents are friends, it doesn't affect us... girl 1: [off] What are you talking about? Such a waste. girl 2: [off] I'm so jealous. I want to take your place! --------------------------------------------------- p 57 1 Miki: [off] Wha-a-at?! Guys like that are all looks. His personality is weird. girl 2: [off] "Weird" in what way? 2 [Miki stares nervously off to one side, pondering. Meanwhile, the two girls chat between themselves.] Miki: You say, "in what way," but... Miki: I can't come up with a concrete example . girl 1: [to girl 2] He's a nice guy, right? Sweet and... girl 2: [to girl 1] Yeah. He's friendly... 3 [Miki frowns slightly.] narration: That jerk... narration: Despite the fact he's always being mean to me, he wears sheep's clothing in front of the other girls. girl 2: [off] Yesterday, he helped me distribute handouts... And just now, he also... 4 [The four girls stop to look at a commotion.] boys: [off] Over there, Matsuura! Go! 5 [Yuu holds the basketball, surrounded by two defenders.] --------------------------------------------------- p 58 1 [A collage of Yuu-as-awesome-basketball-player portraits.] 2 [Miki watches, wide-eyed.] narration: Ohh... narration: He's pretty good at sports, too. Miki: (I wonder if he's good at tennis, as well.) Ginta: [off] Feh! That showoff! --------------------------------------------------- p 59 1 [The four girls stare in surprise to find a guy standing very near them. It is Ginta, holding a basketball and staring back at us with slitted eyes.] 2 [Sweating, Miki talks to Meiko. Ginta continues to glare off-panel.] Miki: Why is Ginta here? Meiko: It looks like he came to get the ball that rolled here. Ginta: Now, if his grades are good too, I'm gonna get mad! 3 [As Ginta walks away, Meiko says...] Meiko: They wouldn't be bad, would they? They say our entrance exam for transfer students is pretty difficult. Ginta: ......... Ginta: Shit! 4 [The girls' pov of Ginta as he storms off.] Ginta FX: 5 Miki: [blankly] What was that all about? girl 2: [to girl 1] I wonder if types like Yuu are unpopular with guys after all. girl 1: [beaming] That's not it. It's only Ginta. That's him being jealous. 6 girl 1: [off] He's worrying, "Won't Miki be taken away?" [Miki's eyes grow large.] --------------------------------------------------- p 60 1 [View looking across the gymnasium.] Miki: [off] Can't be... That isn't it. I was rejected by Ginta a long, long time ago. girl 1: [off] What...?! 2 [Girl 1 looks back, worried. Beyond her, we see the teacher blowing his whistle and waving this way.] girl 1: Is that true? I'm sorry. I didn't know... whistle FX: sensei: Next, 2nd group! Come on the court. 3 [Miki's pov of girls 1 and 2 as they walk onto the court.] girl 2: [to girl 1] Stupid. That's a well-known story. girl 1: [to girl 2] But they're such good friends. 4 Meiko: Miki... 5 [A view of their shoes as they lean back against the wall.] Miki: Hm? Meiko: ...... I forgot to tell you, but I... Talked about you and Ginta to Matsuura-kun. 6 [Miki looks off-panel at Meiko.] Meiko: [off] Sorry. It slipped out... Did I mess up, after all? 7 Miki: [smiling] That's okay, that's okay. That's something that happened a long, long time ago. I really don't care at all anymore... Meiko: I'm sorry... Miki: It's okay. Please don't worry about it. --------------------------------------------------- p 61 1 [Miki's pov of Ginta, as he holds a basketball and points across court.] narration: About Ginta... narration: Just staring at him made my heart throb. 2 narration: There was a time like that, too, wasn't there... Miki: (Now, I'm quite composed.) 3 [View pans in on Ginta, who holds two basketballs, preparing to toss one.] narration: But, in those days, my head was really filled with Ginta. narration: All day long at school, my eyes would chase after Ginta, and after I returned home, I would recall, many times over, the conversations I had with him that day. 4 narration: How I really really loved him... --------------------------------------------------- p 62 1 [View looking up at tree and sky.] caption: 2 years before. 2 [A cute, young-looking and short-haired Miki stands in junior high uniform. Something catches her attention, off-panel.] 3 [Her pov of Ginta, sitting up on a desk, smiling and waving her way.] Ginta: Miki! Ginta arm FX: Ginta: Did you watch TV yesterday? The finals of the Japan Open! 4 [In her excitement, Miki throws her arms wide.] Miki: I saw it! I saw it! Edberg was so-o-o cool! Ginta: [smiling] I wish I could hit a backhand volley like that... 5 [Three girls, including a younger version of the pigtailed girl #2, stand and watch.] girl 3: [smiling] Those two are such good friends. girl 4: They aren't going out together, are they? 6 [Ginta smiles and points at his own face. Miki laughs.] Ginta: Doesn't my service form look a little like Edberg's? Miki: Huhhh? Which part? girl 3: [off] Yeah, but... Isn't it just a matter of time? --------------------------------------------------- p 63 1 [A younger version of Meiko holds a double-scoop ice cream cone and looks back at us.] Meiko: Ginta... What's so great about him? 2 [View pans back to show the two seated beside each other on a bench outside a Baskin-Robbins. Holding a double-scoop cone of her own, Miki blushes, looking up at the sky and clapping a hand to one cheek. A heart hovers beside her head.] Miki: Huhhh? "What?" you ask. He's quick-tempered and easily gets steamed, and... He's soft-headed and can't resist flattery, and... Meiko: [sweating] Aren't those faults? 3 Miki: [smiling merrily] Anyway, a-a-all of him . [Meiko licks her ice cream and a few of her hairs sproing loose.] Meiko: I see. 4 [Miki looks dreamily off towards the horizon. Meiko looks surprised.] Miki: If I could only stop off someplace like this together with Ginta as well... Meiko: Why don't you confess your feelings? ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (3): When I read fan letters (A lot every month, thank you. I can scarcely write any replies, but I read them all) wrong characters stand out pretty well. From "Yoshizumi" to "Yoshiyuki," and "Wataru" to "Ayumi," and "Miki" to "Miki" and "Miki."* <*Commentary: These are single character changes. The first two examples, are, of course the manga-ka's own family and given names. In the examples given for "Miki," the first character is substituted for another one that also reads as , but these mean either "not yet" or "beauty" rather than the correct character for "light."> Sometimes, there are also people who write "Yoshimizu-sensei." These mistakes are quite common, and they aren't particularly funny, but there are some others that are so funny that I couldn't help but laugh at. A most recent one that was amusing was "Ginta".* <*Commentary: This "Ginta" uses the = "silver" and = "rice-field." The correct "Ginta" uses the characters for "silver" and "big/thick/fat."> It's not a surna-a-ame. or = "field" is usually a character found in surnames. For example, it is found in mine. ^_^> Another immensely popular one was "Konta."* <*Commentary: This one uses the = "root/stamina/foundation" and the correct = "big/thick/fat."> Konta? He's not a fo-o-ox. ". Just like how cats go "", foxes go "". ^_^> I also laughed at the one that said, "please make me your 'deshi'."* (Of course, it's certainly "apprentice.") <*Commentary: usually means "pupil" or "apprentice", and uses the kanji characters for "little brother" plus "child." This person wrote it as "little brother" plus "teacher," a rather lofty way of referring to a mere "apprentice."> --------------------------------------------------- p 64 1 [Miki blushes deeply, looking horrified.] Miki: Wha-a-at!?! I can't do that! I don't have any confidence. 2 Meiko: Why? I definitely think it'll be an "okay". Because you're such good friends. 3 [Miki looks down, stricken, at her ice cream cone. Meiko calmly licks at her own.] Miki: Sure... I don't think I'm disliked, but... Meiko: It's all right. Do it, do it! 4 [Miki tosses up her hands and berates Meiko.] Miki: Don't say it so lightly. Grrrr. Meiko! 5 [Miki ponders, looking unfocused off-panel, and licking her ice cream.] Miki: (Confess my feelings, huh... I don't have that kind of courage.) Miki: (Maybe the love is one-sided.) Miki: (Knowing for sure is what I'm afraid of...) --------------------------------------------------- p 65 1 [Long view of a pair of tennis courts. The tennis team practices.] tennis balls FX: 2 [Tight shot of a pin from the "All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club".] 3 [Miki stares at something held in her hand.] Miki: What's this? 4 [View pans back. Ginta smiles at Miki. Both are in tennis outfits.] Ginta: It's a Wimbledon pin. A London souvenir gift from my cousin. I got two, so I'm giving one to you. Miki: [wide-eyed] Huhhh?! Is this okay...?! 4 [Ginta holds her hands closed over the pin, worriedly looking around. Miki blushes.] Ginta: Keep this a secret from the others!! Because I don't have any more. Ginta: Put it away! Miki heartbeat FX: 5 Miki: O-okay. Miki: Thank you! 6 [Her pov of a smiling Ginta as he walks away.] Ginta: Treasure it! Miki: [off] (Ginta...) --------------------------------------------------- p 66 1 narration: Even though he has lots of other friends in the club... He's giving it to me? Only to me...? 2 [Portrait of a Miki who is moved.] Miki: (Ginta...) (Can I...) (Get my hopes up...?) 3 [On a residential street, Meiko turns about and stares back at us.] Meiko: What...?! Meiko: You sent a love letter?! --------------------------------------------------- p 67 1 [Blushing, Miki grabs her friend and scans about for anyone who might have overheard.] Miki: M-Meiko! Not so loud! Meiko: [wide-eyed] No one's around. Meiko: I see... It's no wonder, Miki. I thought that today, for some reason, you were acting nervous. 2 Miki: [off] I wonder what Ginta thought... Meiko: [off] Something like that! Of course he'd be delighted. 3 Meiko: [beaming] You gathered up your courage just fine, hm. Good job! 4 [Miki portrait. She smiles back.] 5 Miki: [bug-eyed] AH! Oh no! 6 Miki: I forgot to bring my P.E. clothes! I have to go get them. Go on home ahead of me, Meiko. Meiko: That's okay. I'll come with you. 7 Meiko: It's because you're only thinking of Ginta. Miki: [sticking out her tongue] Bleah. --------------------------------------------------- p 68 1 [The sign outside classroom 2-E.] 2 [Both smiling, Miki and Meiko walk down the hallway.] 3 [Miki pauses at the doorway to the classroom, her face registering surprise.] boy: [off] It says, "Ever since first year, I've liked you a lot, Ginta." 4 [Closeup on Miki's eyes, which have gone wide in shock.] boy: [off] What are you going to do, Ginta? You don't care for Miki in particular at all, do you? 5 [Miki's pov of Ginta, seated on a desk, and three boys. One of the boys is holding up an opened letter. Another looks at it over his shoulder.] Ginta: Ahhhh. I definitely get along well with Miki, and talk with her often... Ginta: But it's no different from my male friends, and it isn't like I like her at all. Even though I've received a letter like this, I'm troub... 6 door FX: [off] --------------------------------------------------- p 69 1 [Ginta pauses, eyes grown wide. The other boys stare across the room at Miki, who's framed in the doorway, stunned.] 2 [Ginta leaps off the desk.] Ginta/desk FX: Ginta: M-Miki! 3 [View pans in on Miki. Meiko stands behind her, looking surprised. Miki blushes, and looks shell-shocked.] 4 Ginta: [aghast] I'm sorry! I... --------------------------------------------------- p 70 1 [Miki races away as Meiko and Ginta watch from near the classroom's door.] Meiko: MIKI...! 2 [Miki stands at an intersection, below a pedestrian walk signal. She clasps her schoolbag with both hands.] traffic FX: 3 [View pans in. Her eyes are filled with tears, and they roll down her cheeks.] Miki tears FX: --------------------------------------------------- p 71 1 narration: "An ordinary friend." If that's so, then it can't be helped. But... 2 [She clenches her eyes shut, tears running down her face.] narration: There was no need to pass it around to everyone to read and make a fool out of me! narration: You're the lowest! I misjudged you! 3 [Miki collapses to her knees, her schoolbag in her lap and arms resting on her schoolbag. She buries her face in her arms.] narration: GINTA, YOU STUPID JERK!! --------------------------------------------------- p 72 1 [View looking up over the tops of some school buildings.] 2 [Miki's pov of a concerned Meiko.] Meiko: Huhhh? Miki. You didn't change your hairsty-y-yle. 3 [View pans back. Miki, looking very disheveled, stands at her desk, pulling out some books from her schoolbag. Meiko stands at the side of the desk, wearing a happy expression.] Miki: What's that? Meiko: Because, when your heart's been broken, the usual thing to do is to have your hair cut, isn't it? Miki: ...... What are you saying, so happily. 4 Meiko: [beaming] Because I'm a happy per-r-rson. I've been saved from having my Miki taken away by Ginta. Miki: [sweating] HEY-Y-Y! 5 Meiko: [wide-eyed] I'm only trying to comfort you. Meiko: I'm doing my best to act cheerfully... Miki: [dropping her gaze] Meiko... I'd prefer you comfort me in some other way. 6 [Meiko smiles gently.] Meiko: I thought you'd be absent today... 7 [Miki looks up thoughtfully.] 8 [She sits down, closes her eyes and rests her cheeks in her hands.] Miki: Sure, I wanted to be absent, but... I can't very well not come to school all my life, so what the heck. Meiko: [beaming] Just like Miki... --------------------------------------------------- p 73 1 [Meiko playfully tugs at a tuft of Miki's hair.] Meiko: Say, why don't you cut your hair, after all? For a diversion... Miki: Are you kidding?! If I cut any more, I'll be a monk... 2 [Miki stops in mid-sentence, surprised by what she sees off-panel.] 3 [The entire class stops and stares off-panel.] crowd FX: 4 [Ginta stands at the doorway, hair cropped close and looking glum.] --------------------------------------------------- p 74 1 [Two classmates try to stifle their laughter.] boys: 2 class: [off] Wah ha ha ha ha! Mon-n-nk! dramatic FX: class: [off] What's this, Ginta? That head. You look like a monkey-y-y! Ah ha ha ha ha! 3 [Ginta takes his seat without a word.] Ginta seat FX: 4 [Miki stares wide-eyed.] class FX: [off] classmate: [off] What's this, what's this? classmate: [off] What happened, Ginta...? 5 [Meiko looks off-panel.] Meiko: So he cut it...? I wonder if this is his apology. In his own way... 6 [Miki's pov of Ginta, who sits at his desk and stares straight ahead, stonily.] --------------------------------------------------- p 75 1 [Back to the present. View across the gymnasium.] whistle FX: 2 [Miki closes her eyes.] Miki: (Such memories... It really is an old story...) Miki FX: writing at bottom of panel: While Meiko is playing. 3 [A grey panel.] narration: Back then... Ginta, who dropped his eyes and was clenching his teeth... Seemed like he was more hurt than I, for some reason... 4 narration: After that, the awkward situation with Ginta, where we didn't say a single word to each other, went on for over a year and a half... But one day, Ginta unexpectedly came and spoke to me normally, as though nothing had happened. Ginta: Hey. We'll be in the same class in high school as well! Meiko, too. Ginta: It's class B. 5 narration: And so, even while thinking stuff like "what's with this guy?", I also replied normally, as though nothing had happened... Miki: Really? The high school classes have already been announced? The bulletin board? I'll go and look. 6 [Miki scratches a cheek and looks up at the ceiling, in thought.] narration: And once it turned out like that, the number of conversations quickly grew... Miki: (Somehow, before I really knew it, things were restored to the way they were before...) --------------------------------------------------- p 76 1 narration: Well, I don't have feelings of love towards him... So the fact that our friendship has revived is a welcome thing... girl: [off] KYAAA! MIKI! LOOK OUT!! 2 [Miki turns to look...] Miki: Huh? 3 [...just as an incoming basketball arrives.] ball/Miki's face FX: 4 [Yuu and Ginta turn to look at the commotion.] girls: [off] Kyaaaa! 5 [Several students rush to Miki, who lies on her back, face red and out cold.] girl: MIKI!! --------------------------------------------------- p 77 1 sign: Health Room 2 [Miki's pov from her position lying on the bed of a concerned Meiko, who bends over to look at her.] Meiko: How do you feel? 3 [Miki touches her forehead.] Miki: Hm. Miki: Much better... 4 [View pans back. Miki lies under the covers of a bed.] Meiko: Then I'll go get your clothes and schoolbag, 'kay? Miki: Okay. Thank you... 5 [Miki closes her eyes and lets out a sigh.] door FX: [off] narration: It's because I was lost in my memories... narration: Ahhhh. How pathetic. --------------------------------------------------- p 78 1 [Miki's eyes pop open...] Meiko: [off] Oh, Matsuura-kun. 2 [...and she bolts up in bed. She searches about the room.] narration: Arg!! Yuu?! Miki FX: Yuu: [off] How's Miki? Meiko: [off] She seems much better now. I'm going to go get her clothes and stuff. narration: Oh no, oh no. I bet he'll make fun of me again! 3 imaginary Yuu: [arms crossed] How disgraceful. You doofus. 4 [Sweating, Miki thinks hard...] Miki: There's no way out... 5 [With an irritated look, she closes her eyes and plops her head back down on the pillow. She pulls up the covers to her chin.] narration: Oh jeez. narration: I'll pretend to be asleep! Miki: (Even he wouldn't force a patient to wake up, no matter what. Oh no. Maybe he would... ) imaginary Yuu: Hey, get up! [A kicking leg appears in her thought bubble.] 6 [Yuu pulls aside the curtain to Miki's side of the room.] curtain FX: Yuu: Miki. Yuu: Huh...?! --------------------------------------------------- p 79 1 [View pulls back. Miki pretends to sleep as Yuu stands at her bedside.] Yuu: Miki... Are you asleep? 2 [Closeup of her peaceful face.] 3 [Closeup of Yuu's face as he studies hers.] --------------------------------------------------- p 80 1 [Leaning over her, he places a gentle kiss on her lips.] 2 [He pulls back slightly, pausing to study her face once more.] 3 [Standing, he touches a hand to his own lips, and looks thoughtful.] Yuu: ......... 4 [Pulling the curtain aside, he exits.] curtain FX: 5 door FX: [off] 6 [A white panel.] --------------------------------------------------- p 81 1 [Eyes wide, Miki bolts up in bed.] Miki sit-up FX: 2 [Sweating and face turning red, she claps both hands over her lips.] narration: Wha... Miki dramatic FX: 3 [A swirling panel.] Miki: [off] (Wha-wha-wha--) 4 [Profile of Miki sitting up in bed, hands still clasped over her mouth.] Miki: (WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT JUST NOW-W-W-W!!) ---------------------------------------------------