Marmalade Boy
Volume 6, Chapter 5
pages 143-173
Written and illustrated by Yoshizumi Wataru
Translation & editing by : Craig Nishida
Additional translation by : Paul Hirose
Last revision : 97-10-05
Comments? Corrections? Suggestions? Please send them to:
mboy-trans@soyokaze.biosci.ohio-state.edu
---------------------------------------------------
p 143
1
[Eyes closed, Miki looks irritated.]
Miki: But...
Miki FX: <SULLEN!>
Miki: You weren't able to go after all, huh... On the trip...
2
[View pulls back. Yuu and Miki stand in the classroom, backs against the
window rail. Yuu sweats and forces a smile.]
Yuu: I told you not to say that anymore. I'm sorry. I'm to blame.
Yuu: It couldn't be helped. My boss didn't give me a break from work.
3
Miki: [still looking irked] When you went to Iwate, you suddenly took 5 days
off, too. So you were told you couldn't anymore, weren't you. If only
you hadn't gone on that Iwate trip...
Miki FX: <grumble grumble grumble>
Yuu: [sweating, weakly smiling] That's why I said I'm sorry-y-y.
4
[Filler art. In black blouse and cap, Meiko looks aside. Her earring is a
large cross.]
---------------------------------------------------
p 144
1
[Miki opens her eyes. She raises her right hand, with her little finger
raised in a hook.]
Miki: Well, it's okay. Take me for sure during winter break, okay?
2
[Yuu smiles gently back.]
3
[The two exchange smiles and hook pinkies to seal the promise.]
Yuu: Okay.
4
[A view of the classroom, full of their classmates, chatting and studying.]
Yuu: [off] But... Akizuki is pretty late in getting back, huh. Class is
gonna begin!
Miki: [off] Yeah... What could it be? To be called to the principal's
office...
---------------------------------------------------
p 145
1
Miki: I wonder if it's about... Natchan.
Yuu: Dunno...
2
[Miki gives a start at something she sees off-panel.]
3
[Miki's pov. Meiko enters the class, looking dazed.]
Meiko FX: <feeling dizzy>
4
[Miki rushes to Meiko.]
Miki: MEIKO! The teacher... What did he say?
5
Miki: ...Meiko? Your face is sorta red. Are you all right?
[Meiko claps her hands to her cheeks, but still looks disconcerted.]
Meiko: ...ah. Uh-huh...
6
Meiko: Umm, Miki... Actually...
7
[Tight shot of the TV up on the wall of the classroom. The spectacled boy
who's the usual announcer appears on the screen.]
TV FX: <CLICK!>
announcer: [TV] Special morning news bulletin! It's ultra-big news!!
---------------------------------------------------
p 146
1
[Ginta and two other classmates look up at the TV off-panel.]
announcer: [off, TV] 3-B's Akizuki Meiko-san's story received the Asahi
Literary Award! It's the birth of our high school's first student
writer! It's a wonderful, heart-stirring feat!!
class FX: <buzz...!>
2
[Miki stares up at the TV off-panel, too. Behind her, Meiko is blushing
deeply, both hands clapped to her cheeks.
Meiko: Oh. Oh no <sweat bead>.
Meiko: Where did they get that information from?
3
[The class rushes en masse towards Meiko. Miki stares blankly and wide-eyed
at her friend.]
class FX: <hustle and bustle>
student 1: Meiko!
student 2: Meiko, is it true?!
Miki: A story? If I remember correctly, you specialize in reviews, Meiko...
4
[Still blushing and wide-eyed, Meiko clasps her hands on her chest.]
Meiko: I was encouraged by Miwa-san... That was my first try.
Meiko: I just wanted my work to be reviewed, so that's why I entered! To
think I won a literary award... I can't believe it...
---------------------------------------------------
p 147
1
[Meiko's view of her ecstatic classmates.]
Miki: Meiko...!
Ginta: Aweso-o-ome.
student: You did it, Meiko!
2
[Out in the hall outside classroom 3-B, two students turn to stare at the
noisy room.]
class: [off] Banza-a-ai, banza-a-ai, banza-a-ai!
3
[A panel with a patterned background.]
narration: Meiko's story, "City of Wintry Decline," being an account of the
sibling affection between a junior high boy and his older sister...
narration: ...was highly praised by the literary critics who said, "it has the
fresh feel of profuse expressive strength and detailed construction
that can only come from a teen writer."
---------------------------------------------------
p 148
1
[A newspaper and a magazine are laid open on this panel. Both contain
articles with Meiko's picture in them.]
narration: Because of the aggressive news reporting by the mass media, who
were keeping their eye on "the birth of the beautiful high school
writer," the campus was in turmoil for quite some time.
newspaper section: People
newspaper headline: Asahi Literary Award Winner
Akizuki Meiko-san
magazine caption: Akizuki Meiko-san (17), the high school writer who's the
topic of our story.
narration: Meiko, who doesn't like to stand out too much, turned down nearly
all interviews, but even so, photos of Meiko's beautiful face were
put on display in a number of newspapers and magazines.
2
[Exterior view of the Koishikawa-Matsuura residence.]
3
[With a radiant smile, Miki holds up a copy of the Asahi magazine.]
Miki: Ta-dahhh. Look, look!
magazine banner: Asahi Fiction
Miki: Meiko's story appears in this magazine!
---------------------------------------------------
p 149
1
[Everyone gathers around Jin, who sits on the sofa, holding open the
magazine. Miki stands before them, heart symbols dancing above her.]
Youji: Ohh...
Jin: Amazing, hm. Meiko-chan.
Rumi: She's really beautiful and talented, huh.
Miki: It's so heart-wrenchingly goo-oo-ood. I could have cri-i-ied.
2
[Yuu and Miki sit together on another sofa and exchange critiques.]
Yuu: The way the scenes are portrayed is also cool... The images seem to
appear before your eyes.
Miki: Yeah, that's right. How did that kind of writing occur to her?
3
Youji: That Miki's close friend is such an amazing girl... Somehow, even
we've become happy, huh...
Youji/Rumi/Jin/Chiyako FX: <euphoria>
Rumi: How true...
4
[Turning to leave, Miki smiles back at us.]
Miki: Well, I'm off to work!
Miki: For some reason, I'm proud!
===Sidebar===
FREE TALK (13):
In March, the "Marmalade" movie will be presented to the public. It's in a
triple-header with "DragonBall Z" and "Slam Dunk," and the main attractions
are the 2 productions of Jump, so it's short--a little under 30 minutes--but
it's in wide-screen format, and since it appears it's being kindly done by
Magoshi-san, the film producer, I think the art will be very beautiful, and
I'm very much looking forward to it. Everyone, definitely go and see it,
please! (By the way, I hear that the story is about Yuu seeing Miki by
chance before the Matsuuras and Koishikawas dine together for the first time
at the restaurant...) On top of that, for "Marmalade," there are lots of CDs
appearing (4 at the present time--December '94), a story as well is out from
Cobalt, and a CD book is coming out, too. Together with the original work,
if I can get you to enjoy these, then I'll be so happy.
---------------------------------------------------
p 150
1
[On her way to the front door, Miki looks back at Yuu with a start.]
Yuu: Hey.
Yuu: How is that guy doing?
2
[A blank panel.]
Miki: [off] That guy?
Yuu: [off] That oddball guy at work who fell for you.
3
[She glares up at him. Yuu returns a bored look.]
Miki: Oddball?! Then, what does that make you?!
Yuu: Yup. I'm an oddball, too.
4
[Miki's face flushes and she sweats. Hairs sproing loose.]
Miki: He finished my thought...
Yuu: [off] Did he return to his home like he should?
5
[Miki's expression grows slightly distant as she visualizes Kei.]
Miki: I don't know... I haven't seen him since then.
Miki: It looks like he quit his job. I wonder if I spoke too harshly to him...
---------------------------------------------------
p 151
1
Yuu: [laughing] Ah-ahhh, this is no good.
Yuu: Breaking the heart of a younger man.
2
[Miki's face goes crimson. Behind her, the adults appear.]
Miki: Wha...!
Chiyako/Jin/Rumi: Eh?! What, what?!
Chiyako/Jin/Rumi FX: <jabber jabber>
3
[The four adults huddle in front of Yuu. Yuu, with an index finger raised
as if making a point, appears to be explaining things to them. In the
foreground, Miki pops a vein, sweats and has hairs sproinging loose again.]
Rumi: Miki made a younger man cry?
Youji: She toyed with him?
Rumi/Youji/Chiyako/Jin: <OHHHH...>
Miki: HEYYY!!
Miki: How'd it come out like that?!
4
[Exterior view of the Bobson's sign.]
5
[Standing behind the counter, in her uniform and with arms crossed, Miki
frowns and thinks irritating thoughts.]
Miki: (Jeez. Those guys... <vein popping>)
Miki FX: <mutter mutter>
6
[The sliding front door opens and someone stands there, but we only see his
shoes and lower legs.]
narration: But, really. Kei-kun... I wonder how he's doing?
narration: Maybe I should try going to his apartment once more...
sliding door FX: <rattle>
---------------------------------------------------
p 152
1
[Kei stands inside Bobson's.]
2
[Miki stares back in surprise from behind the counter.]
Miki: .........!
3
Miki: Kei-kun...
Miki: That's your uniform? Did you go back to school?
Kei: Yeah.
4
[She smiles happily.]
Miki: I see... I'm glad!
Miki: I'm so glad...!
5
[Kei smiles softly back.]
---------------------------------------------------
p 153
1
[View of an overhead light fixture.]
Miki: [off] Oh? But even though today is Sunday... ...you have school?
Kei: [off] I was absent for quite a while, so I'm really out of practice...
I'm having lessons on my days off, too.
2
Miki: I see... It's hard, after all, hm.
3
[Kei profile, as he looks back at Miki off-panel.]
4
[Miki looks wide-eyed at what she hears from off-panel.]
Kei: [off] It's your fault that I decided to go back to a life of piano
playing!
5
Kei: The last time, I was treated just like a kid by you. That worked pretty
well.
Kei: To get you to go out with me on equal terms, I thought I'd have to be
more resolved.
===Sidebar===
FREE TALK (14):
Well, finally, on 1/25, I was able to have them publish the "Illustration
Collection" that I've been longing for a-a-all along. I'm *really* happy!!
But, because the prep time was so short, it was awfully difficult. If I'm
troubling them to have them publish it, then I wanted to spend more time on
it and do a lot of things... But y'know, I'm happy just being able to have
them make the beautiful book! The title of the illustration collection is
simply "Marmalade Boy," and lots of "Handsome Girlfriend" illustrations were
put in, too. The planning pages were a collection of rough sketches that I
chose from within my croquis* book (I wanted to put in lots more, but I
regret that we didn't have the space...) and I commented on the work.
<*Commentary: "Croquis" is a French word, meaning a sketch or rough draft.>
In as positive a manner as possible (?) I focused my comments on the parts
that I liked, but words and talk aren't enough, and although, later, when I
looked at those pictures, my feelings had changed a bit from what I had
commented, or turned completely about, I hope I can get you to enjoy it...
Continued in (15) --->
---------------------------------------------------
p 154
1
Kei: Therefore... I won't sulk like a child and will try to do my best once
more.
Kei: Then, when I have the self- confidence, becoming a man who can get you
to choose him... I'll ask you out once more.
2
[Miki is wide-eyed and silent.]
3
[Sweating, she blushes and looks down. Kei winces and sweats.]
Miki: ......... But...
Kei: You want to say something like "even though you tell me a thing like
that, I have Yuu," don't you! That's fine. I understand. But it's okay
if I just go off and think this way on my own, right?!
---------------------------------------------------
p 155
1
[In an inset, she smiles softly...]
2
[...and breaks out in a warm smile.]
Miki: Thank you...
Miki: Do your best on the piano, 'kay. I'm rooting for you...!
3
Kei: [smiling] Okay.
4
[Miki's view of Kei as he smiles and waves from the door before leaving.]
narration: I'm really glad...
narration: Kei-kun... He's fine now...
---------------------------------------------------
p 156
1
[Exterior shot of a "Micky T"! ^_^]
2
[Arimi smiles at the open magazine she holds.]
Arimi: The Asahi Literary Award, huh... How wonderfully gifted...
Akizuki-san.
magazine banner: Asahi Fiction
3
[View pulls back and rotates to a point from above and behind Arimi. She
is seated at a table opposite Ginta.]
Ginta: Have you met Meiko?
Arimi: Mm. Briefly, back at the Cultural Festival.
Arimi: Yuu introduced her to me as Miki's close friend. She's awfully
beautiful, hm.
4
[Ginta drops his gaze, looking distracted.]
Arimi: [off] Then, I'll borrow this, 'kay? When I go home, I'll read it
right away!
Ginta: .........
5
[Arimi notices, with surprise.]
Arimi: ......... Suou-kun?
---------------------------------------------------
p 157
1
[Tight shot of Ginta's eyes, which have become focused with resolve.]
Arimi: [off] What's wro...
...ng.
Ginta FX: <GLARE!>
2
[Looking over the top of Arimi's head we see Ginta rise and shout. Arimi
sweats.]
Ginta: SUZUKI-SAN!!
3
[She reels.]
4
[Calming somewhat, he looks down upon her off-panel.]
Ginta: All along... I've been failing to tell you this... But *today* I
decided I'm going to tell it to you straight.
Ginta: I...
---------------------------------------------------
p 158
1
Ginta: I LOVE YOU, SUZUKI-SAN!
Ginta: I WANT YOU TO GO OUT WITH ME!!
2
[Arimi is wide-eyed.]
3
Arimi: .........
Arimi: I...
4
Arimi: [off] I thought I was already going out with you...
[His face falls.]
---------------------------------------------------
p 159
1
Ginta: [sweating] EH?!
Arimi: Because we call each other up nearly every day, and we date like this
at least once a week, right? Don't you usually call something like
this "going out"?
2
[View of the rest of the fast-food restaurant.]
Ginta: [off] I mean... But... As friends... Is what that is...
Arimi: [off] Come to think of it, I haven't been told clearly that you like
me, hm.
3
[Arimi smiles as Ginta blushes deep red.]
Arimi: But, Suou-kun, it shows in your behavior.
Ginta: .........
Ginta FX: <blush!>
4
[Dreamy Arimi look.]
5
[A blank panel.]
Arimi: [off] I...
---------------------------------------------------
p 160
1
Arimi: [gently smiling] ...like you, too, Suou-kun.
Arimi: A lot.
2
[The table and chair magically disappear to show Arimi seated floating in
midair. She clasps her hands to her chest and closes her eyes.]
Arimi: When I'm with you, Suou-kun... I get warm right here.
3
Ginta: [wide-eyed] Suzuki-san...
---------------------------------------------------
p 161
1
[A bubbly background.]
Arimi: [off] I don't have the intense heart-throbbing like when I was in love
with Yuu. There isn't the excitement, either.
Arimi: But there also isn't the anxiety and despair and the tears.
2
[She opens her eyes, but drops her gaze.]
Arimi: I can feel at ease. Calm.
Arimi: The feeling that I can be a sweet and gentle girl...
3
[Tight shot of Ginta, who remains wide-eyed.]
Arimi: [off] Right now...
...you're incredibly dear to me, Suou-kun.
4
[She beams a smile.]
Arimi: From now on... I think I want to be together with you all the...
---------------------------------------------------
p 162
1
Arimi: ...time...
[On impulse, he leans across the table to kiss her in mid-sentence.]
2
[Pulling back slightly, he looks into her eyes.]
---------------------------------------------------
p 163
1
[Arimi turns her face away, looking a little unhappy. Ginta realizes this
with surprise.]
Arimi: Sometimes, you're...
...strangely pushy, hm, Suou-kun!
Ginta: Ah.
2
Ginta: Sorry. I didn't mean...
3
[She closes her eyes, in apparent unhappiness.]
Arimi: That was my first kiss... I'd wanted to have it in a spot that was a
bit more romantic...
4
[A white panel.]
Ginta: [off] Eh? Your first...? Then, you didn't kiss...
Ginta: [off] ...Matsuura.
5
[A goofy profile view of Ginta, eyes contracted to dots.]
===Sidebar===
FREE TALK (15):
There are people who tell me that "I look forward to the title page drawings,"
but since I'm missing something not definitely knowing which drawings are the
ones I've been able to get everyone to like, I'd like to hear a lot of your
thoughts! Then, a poster in a binder will be included, but this was specially
drawn on both sides. On the front side is a double-shot of Yuu and Ginta.
This one's, like... The editor of Cobalt gave me a "Marmalade" doujinshi,
that he said he came across at Comic Market where he went as part of his job,
but that one was a Yuu and Ginta "gay" one. So, thinking (I see... There are
people out there, too, who are enjoying it in that sort of way, huh...), it's
not the case where I'm doing it for the sake of people like that, but, for
some reason, I ended up drawing it. I don't have much interest in homosexual
people, but since I clearly understood from that book they produced how much
they liked "Marmalade," I was happy and read it with joy. If it's produced
again, I'd like to give them something... And on the poster's reverse side is
Suzu. 1800 yen! A bit expensive? But by all means, please buy one,
'kay?!!!!
Well, please wait for volume 7...
---------------------------------------------------
p 164
1
[He laughs hard in embarrassment.]
Ginta: Ohhhh, I see-e-ee! I assumed...
Ginta: I mean, it's not that I mind at all about your past, but... But I'm
happy, after all!
2
[With a fixed gaze, Arimi quietly asks...]
Arimi: ...... What about you, Suou-kun?
3
[He loses the laugh, eyes contracting to dots.]
Ginta FX: <urkk!>
4
[View of some tables.]
Arimi: [off] Is it your first time?
Ginta: [off] Ah. Um. <sweat bead> I...
Arimi: [off] It's not, huh?!
5
[Sweating and face colored, he drops his gaze, not able to meet her eye.
This is Arimi's pov.]
Ginta: ......... <mumble> Once before, with Miki...
6
[She erupts from her seat to loom over him with an angry look. Ginta sweats.]
Arimi: Wha-a-at!?!
Arimi chair FX: <rattle!>
Ginta: I--! I'm sorry!!
---------------------------------------------------
p 165
1
[Arimi turns aside in her seat, crossing her arms and legs, and closing her
eyes in apparent unhappiness.]
Ginta: I'm sorry, but back then I was...
Arimi: There's nothing to apologize for. That's in the past...
Arimi: But, I find it rather terribly unamusing!
Ginta: Su--! Suzuki-san!
2
[She opens her eyes, looking up at the ceiling.]
3
[She grabs a surprised Ginta by the shoulders and pulls him towards her.]
Arimi FX: <yank!>
4
[Tight shot.]
Arimi/Ginta FX: <KISS!>
5
[They pull back slightly to look in each other's eyes.]
---------------------------------------------------
p 166
1
[A white panel.]
Arimi: [off] Now, it's once with Miki-san, twice with me.
2
Arimi: [gleefully] I'm ahead in the count, so that makes it all right!
Arimi FX: <smile!>
3
[Looking at Ginta from over Arimi's shoulder, we see his eyes get all moist.]
Ginta: .........
4
[They clasp hands over the table.]
---------------------------------------------------
p 167
1
[They slowly draw together for another kiss.]
Arimi: Don't ever again...
...kiss another girl, 'kay?
Ginta: I won't. Ever.
2
[Their lips approach each other's.]
3
Ginta: Only with you, Arimi...
<Commentary: Note that this is the first time he's called her by her given
name.>
---------------------------------------------------
p 168
1
[Miki's pov of a smiling Meiko.]
Meiko: So, things went well for Ginta with Arimi-san.
Meiko: I see... That's great...
2
[View from above shows Miki and Meiko walking together through a neighborhood,
both in school uniforms and carrying their bookbags. Both are laughing.]
Miki: The problem known as Rokutanda-kun, the cousin, still remains... But,
what is he going to do, hm?
Meiko: Ah ha ha!
3
[Smiles lost, Miki sneaks a glance at Meiko, who has turned to look in the
direction they are walking.]
narration: ......... I wonder what's up with Meiko?
4
[A blank panel.]
narration: She said she wrote the story on the advice of Miwa-san...
narration: Little by little, it seems she's beginning to open her heart to
Miwa-san.
5
narration: I wonder...
narration: ...if a new love has begun...
---------------------------------------------------
p 169
1
[Miki's pov of her friend, who seems to be lost in thought.]
2
[A blank panel.]
Meiko: [off] I want to go...
...to Hiroshima.
3
[Miki's eyes grow large.]
Miki: ------!
4
Miki: [sweating] Hiroshima? To see Natchan?
5
[Miki's pov of Meiko in profile, as she closes her eyes and nods her head.]
6
[View pulls up and back. The two stand, Miki turning to face her friend.]
Miki: Meiko...
---------------------------------------------------
p 170
1
[Meiko faces us, with a somewhat sad look.]
Meiko: After sensei...
...thought hard about a lot of things, he came to a conclusion...
...and coldly deserted me on purpose.
Meiko: So that I'd hate sensei. So that I wouldn't be sunk in my thoughts.
2
[Miki looks back with concern.]
Meiko: [off] He did that, thinking only of me. That is something I
understand clearly.
3
Meiko: And so... No matter what I say now, it may already be too late, after
all.
Meiko: I think...
...that it's probably hopeless.
4
[Meiko's eyes widen and tears well in them.]
Meiko: Nevertheless... I want to see him.
---------------------------------------------------
p 171
1
[Meiko collapses in tears. Miki reaches out to her.]
Meiko: No matter what... I want to see him and speak to him once mo-o-ore!!
Miki: Mei......
2
[Miki's expression hardens into one of conviction.]
3
Miki: ALL RIGHT!
Miki: LET'S GO TO HIROSHIMA!!
4
[Eyes wet, Meiko looks up in surprise.]
---------------------------------------------------
p 172
1
Miki: I'll go along with you, too.
Miki: I'll set things up so that you can see Natchan!!
2
[Wide-eyed, Meiko looks back, a bit blankly.]
Meiko: ......... Really...?
3
[A blank panel.]
Meiko: [off] But... I'm awfully happy, but... That would be too much
trouble...
Miki: It's fine, it's fine.
4
[Profile view of a softly smiling Miki.]
Miki: Count on me more, Meiko! You'll feel helpless and forlorn being all
alone, right?
Miki: If I go along with you, it'll be all right! 'Kay? Shall we go together?
---------------------------------------------------
p 173
1
[Meiko smiles, thankfully.]
Meiko: Miki...
2
[Beaming a smile, Miki flashes a "V".]
3
[View of a bullet train at a train station.]
Miki: (TO HIROSHIMA-A-A!!)
caption at bottom: Marmalade Boy [6]/End
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------End of Chapter------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Scorecard:
Miki <---> Yuu Meiko ---> Natchan
^ ^
| |
| |
Kei Satoshi (Miwa)
Ginta <---> Arimi Rumi <---> Youji
^ ^ ^
| | |
| v v
Tsutomu Jin <---> Chiyako
(Rokutanda)
---------------------------------------------------