Chobits is serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine (katakana = yangu magajin).
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Chobits
Chapter 4
Manga by CLAMP
Translation by Kristin Olson [not for profit!]
Key:
() = hand-written text (not printed)
** = action/description
[] = clarification
{} = translator's editorial comments
pg. 185
Cover page: Chii naked in bed. {But mostly covered....} ^_^;
pg. 186
The table in Hideki's apartment is laid out with a meal of sorts: rice, pickles, and instant natto.
{If you don't know what natto is, you're better off that way.} Hideki looks vaguely disgruntled as
he eats--until his companion speaks.
Chii: Chii.
He blinks at the persocon sitting perkily next to the rice cooker. For a moment, they both smile
cheerily. Then memory assaults Hideki with a vengeance.
Hideki: NO! This is NOT playtime.
Chii: (Chi---?)
pg. 187
Hideki [thinking]: Considering that we never did figure out what kind of persocon Chii is, or
what I ought to do....
[Flashback]
Shinbo: (UWAAAAAAAAAA) What is she, a custom-built machine!? Loaded with a killer CPU?
He clings to Sumomo as Hideki recoils in alarm.
Hideki: Custom-built? (You... you can build them yourself!? Persocon!?)
Shinbo: I've never seen a type like this, and I have no clue what's inside her. She's gotta be
custom-built.
He doubles over, weeping.
Hideki: So, um... what do you think... (I should do?) (Shinbo-san?)
Shinbo: ASK SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS ABOUT CUSTOM-BUILT MACHINES!
pg. 188
Shinbo: (UWAAAAAAAA, SUMOMO----) *sobbing*
Hideki: *sigh* This is all getting kind of out of hand--
Chii: ? ? ?
She bumps her nose against his and looks him in the eye.
Chii: Chii?
Hideki: *dropping his natto* BUT DAMN, SHE'S CUTE--!! [thinking] With her being so cute, if on
top of that she'd do stuff for me, wouldn't that be, like, the peak of happiness?! (And don't get
all worked up again just 'cuz I said "peak".) [aloud] ALL RIGHT! For the sake of being able to
do stuff with Chii, I'll keep at it!
He stirs his natto wildly in renewed enthusiasm, then pauses as he hears a sound behind him.
Hideki: Huuuhh?
Chii has managed to get natto all over her; it is dripping suggestively down her face and throat.
pg. 189
Hideki: AUGH!
He doubles over as if in pain, hands going straight to his lap.
Hideki: (UWAA, UWAA!) WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME THIS MORNING----!!? (That's natto, dammit! Natto!)
Chii promptly bends over in exactly the same pose. <--(mimic)
Chii: Chii?
Apparently he recovers, and he and Chii head downstairs and out of the building.
Hideki: Anyway, I guess we'll have to go see the guy Shinbo was telling me about. Let's go, Chii.
Chii: Chii.
pg. 190
Outside the building, a dark-haired woman is sweeping. Seeing her, Hideki stops in his tracks.
Hideki: Oh, Hibiya-san.
Hibiya: Hello, Motosuwa-san.
Hideki [thinking]: The landlady of this apartment complex, Hibiya Chitose-san. Since she's the
owner, she lives here too. I think she's like 27 or something. Apparently she's been married and
divorced once already, but she's really pretty.
Hibiya: Hmm? *looking at Chii* And who is.....
Hideki blushes and stammers.
Hideki: Uh--um, she--she's a persocon!
Hibiya: Well, what a cute persocon.
pg. 191
Hibiya: What's her name?
Hideki: Ch-- "Chii".
Hibiya: *smiling* Chii-chan, right?
Chii smiles up at her. Then the landlady notices her shirt.
Hibiya: (Oh, my.) Chii-chan, aren't those clothes a bit big for you?
Chii bends over slightly to look at herself, causing the low neck of her t-shirt to fall open even
more.
Hideki: *panicking* OH! UM! See, I just found her! So I haven't bought clothes for her yet!
(It's not that I was trying to--)
pg. 192
Hideki [thinking]: Hibiya-san might misunderstand this--! (She's gonna think I'm intentionally
dressing Chii in clothes that will show off her chest--!!)
Hibiya: Have fun, Motosuwa-san, Chii-chan.
Chii: Chi--
Hideki flees in shame.
Hideki [thinking]: And on top of that, she found out that I named my persocon--! (WHY'D I ANSWER
SO DAMN PROMPTLY!!? (I'm such an IDIOT!)
Chii: Chi--
They head down the street, following a map hand-drawn by Shinbo.
Hideki: (It's lucky we can get there by foot, huh.) Hmm. Should be around here somewhere--
pg. 193
They stop in front of an enormous gated estate.
Hideki: ....SO THIS IS IT---!?
He walks up to the bell on the gate and rings it, looking nauseated.
Hideki: Makes you wanna puke--- (I really can't stand rich people.)
Intercom: This is Kokubunji.
Hideki: Um--I'm Motosuwa. Um, is Minoru-san available?
pg. 194
Intercom: Yes, he is. Please come in.
The gates open, and Hideki and Chii approach the house. The doors open before them, and standing
in the entry hallway are four female figures, rather scantily clad as maids.
Hideki: UWAA!! (Those are quite the outfits--)
pg. 195
Voice: Don't have a nosebleed over a bunch of persocon.
A young boy comes walking down the stairs. His eyes and hair are dark, and he looks expressionlessly
at Hideki. {...Imagine one of the 3-Leaf triplets after a haircut and a few depressants.}
Boy: Motosuwa Hideki-san?
Hideki: Uh, yeah. And you're....
Boy: *nodding his head* Kokubunji Minoru. Nice to meet you.
Hideki: Shi-Shinbo said he'd introduce me to somebody who knew a lot about custom-built persocon....
(You can't be older than....)
Minoru: I'm in seventh grade. Your point is?
pg. 196
Minoru: Anyway, no use in standing around. Are you coming in?
He turns to lead the way, and the four persocon maids immediately pounce on Hideki.
Minoru: Don't get too excited over my persocon. (Well, I guess it's okay, as long as you don't get
them dirty.)
Hideki: HEY--WAIT--YOU!
Chii, after carefully observing the other persocon, starts to join in the fray.
Hideki: WAIT A MINUTE!
pg. 197
Minoru turns and notices Chii.
Minoru: Is this the one? The mystery persocon Shinbo-san was talking about?
He kneels in front of Chii, who has sat down, and peers at her.
Minoru: Functioning without an OS?
pg. 198
Minoru: This one... could be a "chobits".
Chii looks back at him with wide eyes.
To be continued in the next issue.
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