Mintna Bokura (We are Mint) Chapter 20 Translation by Dimitri Ashling All rights held by the authoress, Wataru Yoshizumi. Special thanks again to Masatomo (for checking my translations), and Karen Duffy (for showing me this story in the 1st place) Page 2 Noel: ...I'm sorry. If I could have come out and talked, I would have been happy. I didn't know what to do, Karin already knows. But no matter what, I'm really against my old friend Daisuke seeing me in these clothes.... Sasa: I wonder if it would have been better to say something. I thought it was better to say nothing, so I kept quiet, but.. Maria: It'll be fine! It was a simple misunderstanding. If I talk to him about it, he'll understand! I'm seeing him on Sunday, so I'll explain clearly then. Don't worry about it! Noel: Is that so? Will it really be OK? Hmm? Wait a minute, Today is... Page 3 Hey! Today's the 30th, isn't it? Sasa: Huh? Yeah.. Noel: Maria! Today is Daisuke's birthday!! Page 4 Maria (thinking): BIRTHDAY!? (talking): .... So that was it... (thinking): That's why when he heard the plans for today, he got angry like that... Sasa: Don't you know your boyfriend's birthday? That's bad. Noel: That's right, that's bad. Sasa: That's bad, isn't it? Noel: Yeah, really bad. Maria: I got it! Don't say bad, you two!! Page 5 Sasa & Noel (white flags): We're sorry... Maria: Oh, but what am I gonna do!? Now, Daisuke's thinking I didn't know his birthday at all. Earlier, I said I'd be meeting a girl friend, but that was a lie. I ended up meeting a guy. I'm the worst girl...? AAAAAAAHHHHH......!!! Noel: Maria, calm down!! You said if you explain clearly, we don't need to worry. That's not hard for Daisuke to understand! Maria: B..but what about his birthday... Page 6 Noel: Give him a present on Sunday! Get it right away!! Maria: I see. A present... So, I'll make him cookies! Those Earl Grey ones! Since I made those before, I've got confidence in making them again. Yoshiaki said they were delicious! Noel: Yeah, that's great! Handmade cookies from your heart! (thinking): I thought they tasted strange, though. Sasa: Heh...Making the same thing you made for your last guy? That's somehow... Noel: Sasa, you're giving us grief!! Sasa: Oh, sorry... Noel: It'll be fine! Handmade cookies will work! Maria:Am I thoughtless? Page 7 Noel: Oh, Maria's squatting down. What are you gonna do, Sasa!! Sasa: What am I gonna do? Noel: Maria, be strong! Maria! (Maria and Daisuke at a cafe) Page 8 Maria: The truth is Kanako cancelled all of a sudden. We really had gone with Noel that time. I'm not lying, please believe me. Daisuke: ...yeah. I understand. Maria: (Ah). Oh, and I heard from Noel that it was your birthday. I'm sorry, I didn't know. I made some chocolate chip cookies as a present for you! (She changed the kind, just in case) Daisuke: Oh... thank you. Maria: ...If you had told me about your birthday, I would have been happy to hear it. Page 9 Daisuke: I had a club meeting on my birthday last year. After we were done, all of us 7th graders went to a karaoke club and sang. At that time, you and I were together several times and talked. That was lots of fun. But you didn't remember that.... Page 10 Maria: ...Ah. So that was it. Last year at about this time. Sorry, I have a bad memory... Daisuke: When Kanako cancelled for the 30th, why didn't you get in touch with me? Maria: I was thinking about today. I thought it would be fine if we talked about it on Sunday. Page 11 Daisuke: If it had been me, I would have gotten in touch right away. We see each other some days, but I want to see you every day... But that's not the way you are. After all, you don't have a special liking for me. Maria: That's not... Daisuke: It's OK, cause I knew that. You have no reason to start not liking Yoshiaki. I know that you can't see me as more than a friend. But I thought just dating would be enough. If we could just see each other, that would be fine. Maybe that would rapidly turn into love... Page 12 But our dates have always been a one-way street. When you've been with me, you aren't enjoying it. Other than that... it's been trying. Asking you to date was selfish of me. But let's end this. Page 13 Maria: Wa.. wait! I'm sorry...I'll do my very best... Daisuke: Doing your best won't turn into love. That's OK, you don't have to try anymore. Thank you for the cookies. I'll eat them with care. Page 14 (Maria's shocked) Page 15 (Sasa sees Maria) Sasa: Hi. Are you going home now, too? Maria: Yeah... Page 16 Sasa: Oh, yeah. You just had that date. Did you explain it to him clearly? Maria: He dumped me. Sasa: Oh, I see.. WHAT!? (Sees Maria, who's crying an awful lot) Maria: (sniff) Sasa: H hey! Just a minute... Page 17 Maria: He said I didn't take a special liking to him. I couldn't deny that. I clearly loved him, but I couldn't tell him that... Page 18 It was futile cause he was serious with me. I was being vague. I made him have hope. That cut him like a knife. It really hurt. But, somehow in my mind. I feel relieved. I hate that!! Oh, I hate myself so much!! Page 19 You thought "What a foolish girl" or something, didn't you? Sasa: ...nah not like that... Maria: I think you're lying. Say the truth! Page 20 Sasa:...Well a little Maria: !! (Wah) I thought you were mean!! Page 21 Sniff... (Arrow): She feels a little better now. Maria:!? (Ding) It's night already!? When did that happen!! (Stands up) Sasa: Going home? Maria: Uh.. yeah...(sweatbead) Sasa: See ya. Page 22 Maria:.... (thinking): He waited for me. Till my spirit returned... Um... Thanks for staying by me! Sasa: Sure. Page 23 Maria (thinking): He's not experienced with girls, but he's unexpectedly nice... Page 24 (Lunchroom at school) Noel:... Say... Chris: What is it, Honey? Noel: Can't you go away! It's hard to eat while you're repeatedly staring at me. Chris: Don't worry, Honey. It makes me feel better if I see you eating. Page 25 Sasa: It looks like I'm in the way. I'll go eat somewhere else. (thinking): If he's around, he makes the food taste bad... Noel: That's mean, running away by yourself!! (Don't forsake me.) Chris: He knows how I feel, and yet he left the 2 of us alone together! That guy doesn't love you, Honey!! Or does that mean he has some leeway in his self-confidence!? Oh, what a disgusting guy!! (Noel's ignoring Chris) Page 26 Soon, we'll have the school festival, Honey. I want you to see me and my band live soon. Honey, are you going to take part? Noel: My class has a tea & sweets shop... Chris: Sweets don't fit my image... (Cream Anmitsu, Oshiroko, Odango) (Note: Cream Anmitsu=Cream, Sweet Beans, Jello, Fruits & Syrup) (Oshiroko=Rice cake in sweet beans.) (Odango=dumpling.) But for you, I'll certainly go and eat sweets with you. Noel: Don't come. (Nobody cares about your image.) Chris: I like your coldness.. Is it on purpose? What a bad girl. Noel: Are you stupid! Page 27 Listen, Chris! You say you're goodwilled, but you're being cruel to me. There are so many girls around you that don't like you!! You just don't know, but... Listen when someone's talking to you!! Girls: Eek... Chris... Chris: Huh? What is it, Honey? Noel: Oh, nothing!! Chris: Are you jealous? Those fools, they're just ordinary fans of mine. You're special. Page 28 (Noel thinks of tipping the table over) Noel (thinking): I really don't like that guy!! Not at all!! Oh, Maria! I forgot to listen to you but you saw Daisuke yesterday,right? Did you make up? Maria: Ah... Page 29 He understood but... He dumped me. But it was my fault. I'm sorry, Noel. He's a good friend of yours. Noel: Aren't you lying!? Daisuke dumped you? Maria: Didn't you hear from Sasa? Noel: Huh. What about Sasa? Maria: Ah... We met by chance going home last night. He listened to what I had to say. Page 30 (Bing Bong) I'll talk more about it later. Let's go back to class. (Notices Sasa)Ah. Thanks for yesterday. Sasa: Sure. Noel:...... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coments, corrections and suggestions are welcome, contact Dimitri Ashling at: pokota@teleport.com Find more Mintna Bokura translations at: http://www.swb.de/~zahara/yo/yo.html Thank-you! ^^ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------