Marmalade Boy Volume 5, Chapter 3 pages 81-119 Written and illustrated by Yoshizumi Wataru Translation & editing by : Craig Nishida Additional translation by : Paul Hirose Yutaka Sasagawa Additional editing by: Chris Rijk Jeanne Hedge Last revision : 10-20-96 Comments? Corrections? Suggestions? Please send them to: mboy-trans@soyokaze.biosci.ohio-state.edu --------------------------------------------------- p 81 1 [Smiling, Miki holds a guy's hand--presumably Yuu's, although the rest of his body is off-panel.] narration: Y'know, Yuu... narration: Yesterday, I dreamed of you. narration: I don't remember the details too well... narration: But, just as always, you smiled at me with your same smile. narration: I hope I can also see you in my dreams again today... --------------------------------------------------- p 82 1 [Filler art. Miki dressed in cap, coat and blouse. She wears a choker with a cross. One of her more mature looks.] --------------------------------------------------- p 83 1 [View of the sign at a main gate. A school building lies beyond it.] sign: Sakaki High School 2 [A tennis ball strikes the pavement at high velocity.] tennis ball FX: 3 [In tennis whites and sweater, Miki looks cross-court with bright eyes and a racket in her hand. Her breath comes out in puffs.] 4 [Behind the chainlink fence, Ginta and others smile their approval.] Ginta: Wah! umpire: [off] Game, set and match won by Touryou. The score is 6-4, 6-2! 5 [Filler art. A closeup of the scene--with Yuu hugging Miki from behind, and Miki in her Bobson's uniform--from chapter 5.5, p 177.] --------------------------------------------------- p 84 1 [Miki exits the court, embarrassed and pleased, hand behind her head and racket under the other arm. Ginta is there to meet her.] Ginta: You did it. It was an overwhelming victory! Miki: Eh heh heh. My service game was in good form today. Miki: Is it your turn yet, Ginta? 2 [Isolated shot of their ankles and shoes as they face each other.] Ginta: Yeah. Do you want something to drink? I can get you one, while I'm at it. Miki: Ah, thank you. Please. 3 Miki: [off] Apple or orange juice! Something not carbonated, okay?! Ginta: [smiling] Sure. 4 [Ginta turns to leave, but a voice off-panel freezes him. His eyes grow large.] Tsutomu: [off] HOLD I-I-IT, GINTA! 5 [Ginta sweats and grimaces over his shoulder at his cousin, who glares threateningly at him.] Tsutomu: Where are you going? Thinking of running away?! Did you find out that I was your opponent and get frightened?! caption with arrow pointing at Tsutomu: Rokutanda ---> Ginta: I'm only going to buy some juice. Ginta: What a constant pest. 6 [He walks alongside a school building, searching.] Ginta: (Let's see... Where are the vending machines...?) --------------------------------------------------- p 85 1 [A voice from off-panel freezes him.] Arimi: [off] Suou-kun? 2 [His view of Arimi, who stands in her PE uniform with a sweater over it.] 3 [Her view of Ginta.] Ginta: Suzuki-san! 4 [View pulls back. Arimi stands with her hands in her sweater pockets.] Arimi: How come you're at my school? Ahh, a practice match? Ginta: Yeah. Could it be you're taking part in a club activity? 5 Arimi: That's right. The track-and-field team. Arimi: Sprints. Ginta: Ohhhh?! Ginta: That's sorta surprising... --------------------------------------------------- p 86 1 [Smiling, Ginta hooks a thumb back the way he came. Arimi drops her eyes.] Ginta: Ah, today we're together with the girls' team too, so Miki's here as well! Wanna come? Arimi: I'll pass. Rokutanda's there, too, isn't he? Ginta: That's true... 2 [Ginta smiles, and looks a bit embarrassed.] Arimi: [off] You seem well. Ginta: Ahh, sorta. Ginta: How about you? 3 [Arimi portrait. Her face becomes clouded and wistful.] Arimi: ......... 4 [Ginta loses the smile and stares wide-eyed.] --------------------------------------------------- p 87 1 [View of sky and branches.] 2 [View looking down upon the two. They've taken seats on the steps at the building entrance. The juice vending machines are nearby.] Ginta: When they first started going out regularly... I... Ginta: ...contrary to expectations, felt sorta refreshed. 3 [Both stare at the ground ahead of them.] Ginta: When the circumstances were uncertain, I very much wanted Miki... I was terribly jealous of Matsuura, and every day was really painful... 4 [Arimi turns to look at him off-panel.] Ginta: [off] Now that it's been decided like this, I'd say my feelings have settled down. Unexpectedly, I've given up completely. 5 [With a half-smile, he drops his gaze.] Ginta: Now, even if I see the two of them, I don't feel jealous. Well, a bit envious, but... Ginta: I think I can manage to be a good friend to Miki from now on. --------------------------------------------------- p 88 1 [Arimi drops her gaze.] Arimi: I... I see... Arimi: Maybe there is that feeling of "being refreshed..." Arimi: Now, I don't feel jealous of Miki-san either. 2 [Ginta's pov as Arimi raises her face again, with a forlorn expression.] Arimi: But it's hopeless for me. Completely hopeless... Arimi: That I hadn't been able to get Yuu to like me... ...makes me feel sad even now, and I can't help it... 3 [View of Ginta's sympathetic expression, as he watches her off-panel.] 4 [His face changes to wide-eyed surprise as he sees something else off-panel.] --------------------------------------------------- p 89 1 [View pulls back. He's staring at his right hand, which has taken on a life of its own. An arrow points at it. It is inches away from resting on Arimi's opposite shoulder. Arimi is gazing sadly at the ground, so she doesn't notice what's happening.] Ginta: (Wha--) Ginta: (What's with this hand!?!) 2 [A panel of swirled greys and whites.] narration: What is it I'm intending to do?! narration: When I see Suzuki-san's expression of despair... narration: ...my hand... narration: ...my hand, on it's own...!! 3-5 [In a series of insets, we see shots of Ginta or his hand, as he wrestles with its urges. His face flushes from the effort.] Ginta heartbeat FX: --------------------------------------------------- p 90 1 [From off to Ginta's left, off-panel, comes a loud shout. Ginta does a pratfall so huge that only his right shoe extends up into the view of the panel. Arimi looks over with a cute, wide-eyed expression of surprise.] Tsutomu: [off] GINTA-A-A, WHERE ARE YOU-U-U?! 2 [View from behind them as Ginta raises a sweating head in view. Arimi is still staring at him in wonder.] Arimi: What's with the pratfall? Arimi: You were only being called. Ginta: N-- No, it's nothing... 3 [Their view of Miki and Tsutomu. Tsutomu is livid and he points a finger of accusation.] Miki: Ginta, it's your turn now... Ah. Tsutomu: AAAAH! 4 [Popping a vein, he confronts the wide-eyed and sweating Ginta. Behind them, Arimi has spun about and is walking off. She, too, is sweating.] Tsutomu: What are you doing? Alone with Arimi in a place like this! Ginta: Wh-what? Nothing, really... Arimi FX: 5 [Arimi notices Miki is staring at her with an unsure expression on her face. Off-panel comes the voices of the two arguing cousins.] Tsutomu: [off] Stay away! Stay away from her-r-r! Ginta: [off] I'm already away from her, aren't I? 6 Arimi FX: 7 [Reassured and relieved, Miki smiles back.] --------------------------------------------------- p 91 1 Miki: U-- Umm... 2 [View of three pretty-boys. If you weren't sure before, now you KNOW you're in a shoujo manga. ^_^ All are dressed in the coats and ties of Sakaki High.] Murai: Aa-chan! Murai: What's wrong? Coach is getting tired of waiting. 3 [Arimi smiles softly back at the three, who are off-panel. Miki, Ginta and Tsutomu can only stare blankly.] Arimi: It's nothing. I'm coming now. 4 [Tsutomu shouts and holds out a palm to stop her.] Tsutomu: Arimi, w--! 5 [The three pretty boys get in his face. Tsutomu tilts back on his heels and sweats.] Murai/Imai/Tomishige FX: Murai: What's this, Rokutanda? Are you still hanging around Aa-chan? Tsutomu: Oo. Imai: You never learn, hm?! --------------------------------------------------- p 92 1 [The three's pov of Tsutomu as he's shoved backwards by the two hands that appear from either side of the panel.] Imai: You and Aa-chan don't match. shove FX: shove FX: Tsutomu: Wah. Tsutomu: Wah! Murai: Give it up now! 2 [Arimi is escorted away by the three smiling guys.] Murai: Well, shall we go? Murai: We'll leave that idiot alone. Imai: Aren't you cold? Arimi: Nope, I'm fine. 3 [Tsutomu's, Ginta's and Miki's pov of Arimi and her escorts as they walk away.] 4 [Tsutomu still sits on the ground, glaring.] Tsutomu: Damn it... 5 [Wide-eyed, Ginta and Miki sweat and stare blankly off-panel.] Ginta: ......... Ginta: Pretty amazing... Miki: Wha-- What are they? That group of three gorgeous guys? --------------------------------------------------- p 93 1 Tsutomu: [off] It's Arimi's fan club... Miki: [off] Fan club?! 2 [A dream-like montage of portraits of the three pretty-boys.] Tsutomu: [off] The tall one's Murai-san. In glasses and curly hair is Imai-san. Looking like he's from a Johnnie's pop group is Tomishige-san. Tsutomu: [off] All three are in 3rd-year, and rank as the top 3 in popularity among the girls at my school. But they don't even go and get any girlfriends, and, calling themselves a fan club, they follow her around! 3 [Tsutomu boils with rage.] Tsutomu: At long last, Arimi gave up on Matsuura, but... When I think about how she might get together with one of them, I get really worried... Tsutomu: What is this Aa-chan bit?! that Tsutomu says is a reference to a cartoon "Punch", perhaps something akin to the British political cartoon, "Punch". This is a bit of speculation, however.> --------------------------------------------------- p 94 1 [Tsutomu's view of a wide-eyed Miki and an unsympathetic Ginta.] Miki: The top 3 are her fan club... Arimi-san is ama-a-azing! Ginta: Either way, there's no hope for you, right? Really, it would be better if you gave up on... 2 [A glaring Tsutomu leaps into Ginta's face. Ginta remains blase.] Tsutomu: WHA-A-AT?! You jerk, you're saying that just because you yourself are brokenhearted! Ginta: But, to put it bluntly, doesn't she dislike you? Suzuki-san's attitude towards you is awfully cold. 3 [Ginta's pov of Tsutomu, who rages on.] Tsutomu: YOU'RE WRONG! Arimi probably doesn't want to raise my expectations, so she's purposely sticking to a chilly attitude! Tsutomu: It's not that she dislikes me! 4 [Inset. Miki and Ginta sweat, their eyes contracting to dots.] Miki/Ginta: (I wonder if that's so...) 5 [Tight shot of Tsutomu's ankles and shoes.] Tsutomu: Sure... Sure, I've tried to give her up many times... --------------------------------------------------- p 95 1 narration: But... 2 [In a flashback, Tsutomu (in his Sakaki coat) approaches Arimi (in her school uniform) from behind. Arimi turns at the sound of her name.] Tsutomu: Arimi! Arimi: What? Arimi: If it's about a date, I won't go out with you! 3 [Tsutomu drops his gaze.] Tsutomu: I've decided... I'm giving up on you now. 4 [Arimi is wide-eyed...] Tsutomu: [off] I'll find another girl to love... 5 [...and breaks out in a huge smile.] Arimi: Really?! I'm gla-a-ad! You finally understood me! Arimi FX: 6 [In an inset, Tsutomu's face becomes flushed, and he's struck by what he sees off-panel.] Tsutomu: 7 [Filler art. What the heck is this??? It's a little rabbit, shaking a couple of maracas...] --------------------------------------------------- p 96 1 [A montage of Arimi pics...] narration: Just as a normal friend, Arimi smiles at me, too. [Arimi greets Tsutomu with a smile... Tsutomu is flustered and tongue-tied.] Arimi: [top] Good morning, Rokutanda. Tsutomu: [top] G--! Good... [Tsutomu's view of a cute Arimi, holding up pencil and pad.] Arimi: [bottom right] Let me copy what the test will cover, Rokutanda-a-a. narration: Treats me with kindness. [Arimi beams at us.] Arimi: [bottom left] Rokutanda-a-a. narration: And so-o-o... 2 [Turning to walk away, Arimi looks back over her shoulder at a red-faced Tsutomu.] Arimi: What's the matter? 3 [He locks her in a hug.] Tsutomu FX: Tsutomu: I LOVE YOU AFTER ALL, ARIMI-I-I! 4 [Recovering her poise, she socks him one. Tsutomu flies back, blood jetting out of his nose.] Arimi punch FX: --------------------------------------------------- p 97 1 [She storms off. Tsutomu, crying, reaches out a hand towards her, to stop her.] Arimi: If that's the way it is, then don't come near me anymore! Arimi: Tsutomu: A-- Arimi-i-i... 2 [Back to the present. Tsutomu has dropped his gaze while narrating this tale.] Tsutomu: From elementary school up to now, this pattern has been repeated... 3 [Facial portraits of Miki and Ginta, both wearing dubious expressions.] Miki/Ginta: ......... 4 Tsutomu: [off] Even I want to escape this sort of pain. It's like being in a maze with no exit. But... 5 [Shedding tears, Tsutomu turns and bemoans his fate. Ginta and Miki walk away.] Tsutomu: I can't give her up after a-a-all. Why is she so cute? Arimi-i-i! Ginta: Let's go! Ginta: We'll leave this idiot alone. Miki: Yeah... 6 [Filler art. Now a cat takes up the maracas.] --------------------------------------------------- p 98 1 [Ginta grins.] Ginta: 2 [View pulls up and back. Ginta and Miki are dressed in Touryou uniforms again, walking alongside the chainlink fence, carrying their duffel bags.] Miki: You're in a good mood, Ginta. Ginta: Of course. With this one, I've beaten Tsutomu 3 straight times! That guy is no longer a match for me! 3 [In an inset, a teary-eyed Tsutomu glares back over his shoulder.] Tsutomu: Shi-i-it... 4 [A sound captures Miki's and Ginta's attention. They turn to look off-panel.] starter's pistol: [off] 5 [Their view of Arimi, in a tanktop. She pumps her arms as she runs.] --------------------------------------------------- p 99 1 [A frontal view of Arimi in midstride.] 2 [Ginta stares in silence. Miki is wide-eyed.] Miki: Wow... She's fast! Miki: Cool. 3 [Arimi bends over and catches her breath. The coach comes striding up to her, a stopwatch and clipboard in hand.] coach: 12.4 seconds! Arimi FX: coach: That's great, Suzuki-san. Your personal best. --------------------------------------------------- p 100 1 coach: Jeez, although you were a "ghost member" who was only wild about playing around, you're still this fast. If you had been serious from the start, you could have generated an even more amazing record, but... Ahh, what a waste! Arimi: [smiling and embarrassed] Ah ha ha. 2 coach: But why did you suddenly get the urge to do things seriously? 3 Arimi: Well... It's a change of pace. Arimi: I thought that maybe if I run, then I can forget about a lot of things... 4 Arimi: [off] Anyway, from now on I'll be doing things properly. coach: [off] Really-y-y? I'm depending on you, now... 5 [Arimi beams a sunny smile.] Arimi: Really, really. coach: [off] I'm not so sure. --------------------------------------------------- p 101 1 [Must be a genetic thing, as Tsutomu's cousin's heart does a little flip. Ginta stares off-panel.] Ginta heartbeat FX: 2 [He turns to see that Miki is staring hard at him. He becomes a little flustered.] Miki FX: Ginta: Ginta: Wha-- What is it?! 3 [Miki is calm, while Ginta grows wildly flustered.] Miki: Weren't you being charmed by her just now? Ginta: I--! Idiot! Why would I?!! I was only...! Miki: Only...? 4 [He visualizes Arimi's smiling face from the page before, his eyes staring at nothing in particular.] Ginta: Only... narration: That an innocent smile like that... narration: ...would be way better than her usual prim look... narration: ...was all that I was thinking... --------------------------------------------------- p 102 1 [Sweating and eyes dropped, he cuffs Miki on the side of her head.] Ginta: It's nothing! Ginta hand FX: Miki: Ow! 2 [Eyes tearing, Miki glares at Ginta as he walks away. He sticks his tongue at her.] Miki: That hu-u-urt! You whacked me for real just no-o-ow! Ginta FX: Ginta: You got a problem with that?! 3 [Pondering, Miki stares at Ginta off-panel.] 4 [Night falls over the Koishikawa-Matsuura residence.] 5 [Yuu and Miki sit on the sofa and talk. Note the issue of "Cute" on the coffee table...] Miki: ...and so that's it. Ginta denied it, but he seems awfully concerned about Arimi-san. Yuu: Hmm. --------------------------------------------------- p 103 1 [Yuu smiles gently at her off-panel.] Miki: [off] I wonder if he's beginning to like her...? Yuu: You feel sad? 2 [Isolated shot of a mug, the "Cute" magazine, and a platter of cookies on the coffee table. Note how each cookie touches at least 2 other cookies, thus symbolizing the tangle of romantic triangles and quadrangles in this story. Note that there are no oranges present. ^_- Also note how the issue of "Cute" appears to be creeping closer to the "Yuu" cookie, thus foreshadowing the events to come... ^_^] Miki: [off] Uh-uh... It's strange, but... Right now it isn't anything like that. 3 [Miki touches the fingers of one hand to her chin, and ponders.] Miki: Maybe it's because you're telling me that right now I'm your number one. Miki: Right now, I think that even if Meiko finds a boyfriend, I won't feel sad... 4 [They both break out in smiles. Miki sweats a bit, too.] Yuu: You calculating girl. Miki: Miki: That's so true... 5 [To Miki's surprise, Yuu puts an arm around her shoulder and pulls her towards his side.] 6 [More weird filler art. A SD-Miki in straw hat and flower-print dress strums on a ukulele.] --------------------------------------------------- p 104 1 [Yuu closes his eyes. A dreamy smile plays across Miki's face.] narration: Once he opened his heart to me, Yuu's been awfully gentle. narration: I'm quite pampered, and he quickly wants to come in contact with me. (Of course, I don't mind.) 2 [View closes in on her face as she closes her eyes.] narration: The warmth of Yuu's body... narration: ...is very pleasant... 3 [View pulls back. She opens her eyes, but they are dots. Yuu is looking down at her and tweaking her cheek.] Yuu FX: 4 [Yuu's face breaks out in laughter as she wheels on him, faced flushed and arm raised to swat him.] Miki: What?! Grrrr! narration: Though, as usual, there are these kinds of practical jokes . --------------------------------------------------- p 105 1 [Tight shot. He catches her upraised arm by the wrist.] Miki: Grr. You're... ......... 2 [View pulls back. Miki simply stares wide-eyed up at him.] 3 [The scene becomes bubbly as their lips approach for a kiss.] --------------------------------------------------- p 106 1 door FX: [off] Chiyako/Rumi: [off] We're home! [Sweating, the two spin away from each other.] Miki/Yuu FX: 2 [The two moms, both dressed for work, enter the room. Rumi notices something amiss off-panel.] Chiyako/Rumi FX: Chiyako: [smiling] We ran into each other at the station and came home together. Chiyako: Wasn't that unusual? Rumi: Jin and Youji still haven't come home? Huh? 3 [Their view of the two kids. Yuu, still sweating, sits on the sofa, but has turned his face completely away from Miki, and has his arms crossed. Quite unnatural-looking. However, all eyes are trained on Miki, who sits sprawled on the floor with her arms resting against the seat of the sofa. She looks up at us with a forced smile.] Rumi: [off] What are you doing, Miki? Falling from the sofa... Miki: Nahhh. Ha ha... Welcome ho-o-ome. Miki: I did it so quickly... 4 [Rumi smiles brightly, raising an index finger.] Rumi: Say. Listen for a sec! I have some awfully big news. --------------------------------------------------- p 107 1 Rumi: [off] Yuu-kun. Won't you be my company's commercial model? [Yuu turns to look blankly off-panel.] 2 [Rumi puts on her best beseeching smile, and claps her hands before her.] Yuu: [sweating] Huh? When you say "your company," Rumi-san, you mean your cosmetics... Rumi: Yup! Rumi: Look, I'm in the publicity department, right? 3 [View of Chiyako and Miki as they listen and take it in.] Rumi: [off] There was talk that they wanted to use a fresh, unsullied model in a product launch commercial... ...so I showed them Yuu-kun's picture and everyone liked it a lot! 4 [Yuu grimaces and sweats.] Yuu: Doing that without asking... I'm not interested in becoming some public entertainer?! --------------------------------------------------- p 108 1 Rumi: [off] Don't think of this as anything that big. Just this once is all right. Though I think it's a nice part-time job. 'Kay? Won't you give it a try? 2 [From behind Rumi, Chiyako smiles. Rumi swivels her head to smile at both Chiyako and Miki, who's off-panel.] Chiyako: That's great, Yuu! Give it a try! Rumi: [looking back] Sure! Rumi: [looking forward] You think it's a good idea, too, don't you, Miki?! 3 [Tight shot of Miki's face.] Miki: YUP! Miki: Yuu's commercial! I wanna see it! 4 [Their view of Yuu, who sweats under all the attention.] Chiyako: [off] Do it, Yuu! Rumi: [off] That's right, Yuu-kun! 5 [A white panel.] Yuu: [off] If it means that much... Then I can think it over and see, but... 6 [The three females toss up their arms in victory and joy. Yuu, who we view from behind, watches and sweats.] Rumi/Chiyako/Miki: KYAAAA! Yuu: Hey!! I still haven't completely decided! Yuu: Shi-i-it. They're not listening. --------------------------------------------------- p 109 1 [Crossing her arms, Rumi smiles and drops her gaze. Chiyako clasps her hands together and gushes.] Rumi: I was thinking there's no way we won't make the most of those good looks... Chiyako: That my son would be performing in a commercial is something to be proud of . It'll be fun. 2 Miki: [wide-eyed] So like, what kind of commercial is it? Rumi: [off] Perfume. Miki: Wowww! 3 Rumi: [beaming] And, y'know, the co-star is great, too. Rumi: It's Sakuma Suzu-chan. She's a pretty model whose popularity is zooming right now! 4 [Miki's face loses the smile.] 5 [Sweating, she holds up that issue of "CUTE" that was lying on the table, and points to the cover.] Miki: Sakuma Suzu... Could she be the one who's been appearing a lot in magazines lately? This girl? Rumi: [brightly] Yeah, that's right. Her!! --------------------------------------------------- p 110 1 [Tight shot of the magazine cover. An exceedingly cute girl with long, straight hair, wearing a cap, smiles softly back at us.] Chiyako: [off] Wowww. She's cute. magazine: [right side] * Special Fashion Edition PINK COORDINATES * SPECIAL CLOSEUP magazine: [left side] * Fashion Catalog Hats and Shoes for the Start Rumi: Isn't she?! Hey, take a look at this, too, Yuu-kun. 2 [Sweating, Miki's face is a mask of worry.] Yuu: [off] It seems like I've seen this face somewhere... Rumi: [off] Because she's being promoted right now, right? 3 [While Yuu and the two women study the magazine cover, Miki stands off to one side.] Miki: (You're kidding...) Miki: (Appearing together with such a cute girl?!) --------------------------------------------------- p 111 1 [Miki's pov of her smiling friend.] Meiko: It's all ri-i-ight. 2 [View looking down upon the two, as they walk to school through a residential neighborhood.] Meiko: Even Arimi-san is awfully cute, but Matsuura-kun chose you for a girlfriend instead. Have more confidence in yourself! Miki: Yeah... But I'm nervous. 3 [Meiko's view of Miki, who stands in profile, lost in thought.] Miki: I'm very happy right now, which makes me even more fearful of having that happiness shattered. I'm thinking, "I wonder how long this happiness will last?" Miki: I can't plunge myself 100% into feeling happy... 4 [The two continue to walk side-by-side through the neighborhood. Miki studies the ground in front of her. Meiko forces a smile.] Miki: I'm always around 10% nervous. Meiko: Uh-huh. I understand, but... --------------------------------------------------- p 112 1 [View of the nice houses around them. This is not your everyday Tokyo neighborhood...] Meiko: [off] When you both declare your feelings, this is what it becomes... It's not all "happiness" and "joy". Meiko: [off] When you're alone, you feel sadder... And you're nervous... And you come to know a lot of other feelings, too, hm...? Miki: [off] Uh-huh... 2 [Miki considers.] 3 [Meiko portrait.] Miki: [off] Meiko... Before, weren't you saying that you "wouldn't marry at all"? 4 Miki: Isn't that because you grew up watching your parents, who used to be in love, but are now cold towards each other? Miki: If it was with Natchan, did you want to marry? Did you think you could be in love forever...? --------------------------------------------------- p 113 1 [Wistfully, Meiko pictures a smiling Natchan.] 2 Meiko: [off] That that love would last all my life... It's not that I ever had reason to think that. 3 [With a wide and merry grin, Meiko turns towards Miki. Miki sweats.] Meiko: And the truth is, it was shattered, right? Meiko: Miki: ......... 4 [Meiko loses the smile and drops her gaze.] Meiko: If, after I married and gave birth to a child, the love grew cold... Then it would make that child have the same experience as me. Meiko: And I didn't want that to happen, so that's why I decided that I wouldn't marry at all. But, back then... --------------------------------------------------- p 114 1 [Flashback pic of Natchan's and Meiko's tearful parting at the bullet train station. The two embrace.] 2 [Profile of Meiko, who is lost in her thoughts.] Meiko: ...instead of logic, instead of thinking about anything in the future... Meiko: ...I just wanted us to remain together. I didn't want to part from him... 2 [Miki watches her friend with sad eyes.] 3 narration: Meiko's feelings really touched me. --------------------------------------------------- p 115 1 [Full-page panel. The two walk in silence together, each consumed by their own thoughts.] narration: Even now, her feelings that Natchan... narration: That Natchan is the only one she loves... narration: ...were made known to a painful extent. --------------------------------------------------- p 116 1 [Exterior view of a well-to-do home.] 2 [Over a guy's shoulder, with his head cut off by the edge of the panel, we see the April 1994 issue of "Cute" again.] guy: Yup. This cover... Your picture came out really cute. 3 [Suzu-chan portrait, surrounded by flowers. She smiles.] Suzu: Really? Thank you, oniichan. 4 [View of 2 other issues of "Cute". The one on top, featuring a profile pic of Suzu-chan, is the March 1994 issue. The one below it also seems to feature Suzu-chan on its cover.] Suzu: [off] Say, compared to last month's cover, which one's cute? "oniichan": [off] Hmm... Well... I can't decide... --------------------------------------------------- p 117 1 [Suzu rests her chin in her hand and smiles contentedly at the voice off-panel.] "oniichan": [off] Both are awfully cute. After all, Suzu, you're the cousin of whom I'm proud... Suzu: Tee hee! 2 [View pulls back, but the guy's head is cut off by the top of the panel. Suzu sits on the floor at the living room table. Across from her is the guy, who sits on a small couch, with arms and legs crossed.] "oniichan/cousin": Suzu. Are you doing a movie or a drama? You're getting a lot of offers like that coming your way, aren't you. 3 [Holding a teddy bear to her chest, she looks back at us, blankly.] Suzu: I'm not doing them. Suzu: I don't have any interest in acting. 4 [View looking up at the walls and ceiling. This is an atypically-designed room.] Suzu: [off] I like wearing beautiful clothes and having my picture taken... That's why I like being a model. "oniichan/cousin": [off] Hmm... Somehow, that's a waste, huh. Suzu: [off] It's okay! --------------------------------------------------- p 118 1 [She remembers something, with a bright smile, and reaches into her handbag.] Suzu: Oh, that's right, oniichan. Suzu: I'll show you something cool! 2 "oniichan/cousin": [off] Something cool? Suzu: [off] Well... It's a picture of a very beautiful guy! 3 [With a smile she leans over and shows him a picture.] Suzu: I'm appearing with this boy in the next commercial. He's beautiful, isn't he? 4 [Tight shot of a picture of Yuu held in "oniichan's" hand. The date stamped on the picture is 2 Jan 1994. Yuu is wearing a coat and standing outdoors with bare-branched trees in the background.] 5 [A grayed-out image of "oniichan" in profile. He sweats as he looks at the picture in his hand.] "oniichan/cousin": YUU?! "oniichan/cousin": This is Yuu... --------------------------------------------------- p 119 1 [Cute Suzu-chan looks up blankly.] Suzu: ......... You know him, oniichan? 2 [Finally, a portrait of the guy talking to Suzu... He smiles gently. His is a familiar face...] Miwa: Yup. I know him very well. --------------------------------------------------- -------------------End of Chapter------------------ --------------------------------------------------- Scorecard: Miki <---> Yuu Satoshi (Miwa) | | v Ginta <-?-> Arimi Meiko ---> Natchan ^ | | Tsutomu Rumi <---> Youji (Rokutanda) ^ ^ | | v v Jin <---> Chiyako ---------------------------------------------------