Momono: IT'S THE THIRTEENTH GREAT BATTLE TO BE KING!! AND IT STARTS TODAY!!!
[Momono stands on the walkway of Narutakisou, just in front of the entrance. Tamami, Haibara & Johnny, Asami, and Sayoko are all gathered, listening to her proclamation.]
Momono: The game this time around will be KAKURENBO!! In other words, "HIDE AND SEEK!!" (1)
[The residents look on with varying degrees of interest as Momono continues.]
Momono: As is customary, the winner of this game, for one time only, CAN BE KING!!
[Behind Momono, the outer door slides open, and Shiratori--shoulders slumped, and face pale--enters.]
Momono: Now, everyone--be in high spirits and GO!!
Shiratori: ...
7. Hide & Seek
Momono: The time limit is one hour! If you hide from whoever is "It" during that time, you win! If whoever is "It" finds everyone, he wins!!
[Momono pumps her fist.]
Momono: If more than one person manages to stay hidden, those people are all winners! The losers must do one thing that the winners tell them, no matter what that may be! Now, are there any questions?
Shiratori: Um...
Momono: Yes, Shiratori-kun!
Shiratori: If I don't participate, what happens...?
Momono: In that case, naturally, you immediately lose by forfeit!
Shiratori: [thinking] Just as I thought...
[Box pointing to Shiratori: "Has really gotten used to this"]
Momono: Now, this time, as a special exception, let's have the rookie Shiratori-kun be "It!"
Shiratori: WHAT?!
[Shiratori immediately gets in Momono's face.]
Shiratori: No matter how you look at it, the one who's "It" is at a disadvantage, isn't he?! Besides which, I don’t even know the floorplan of Narutakisou very well yet!
Momono: Exactly! If you're "It," you'll have to walk around inside Narutakisou, right? If you walk around and really look, I think you'll understand well what kind of a place this is.
[Momono holds out a map to him.]
Momono: Here, I drew you a rough sketch. We all think it would be good for you to quickly become familiar with Narutakisou.
Shiratori: ...I'm not going to be fooled by that nice face anymore...! Because of that, all last night...!
Momono: Of...of course not! Fooling you would give the game a bad reputation!! We're acting with the utmost of good will...
Kozue: Ah! Everyone! What are you all gathered here for?
Momono: Ah, Kozue-chan! Good timing!
Shiratori: ...
Momono: We're about to do the usual game.
Kozue: Wow, you're doing it again?
Momono: Kozue-chan, will you play too?
Kozue: Yes, of course!
Shiratori: O-Ooya-san, is that all right?
Kozue: Is what all right?
Shiratori: To use this apartment for hide and seek...
Kozue: Ah! So this time it's hide and seek!! That sounds like fun, doesn't it, Shiratori-san?
Shiratori: ...
[Momono puts her arm around Shiratori's shoulders.]
Momono: Can you betray that smiling face?
[She leans in close.]
Momono: Besides, if you think about it, it's not a bad thing, big man. (2) If you win, you can order this, or that--anything you can think of!
Shiratori: ...
[Momono straightens up and slaps Shiratori's back.]
Momono: Well, anyway, you can't refuse, (3) so let's have fun with it! Fun!
Shiratori: [thinking] If I win, anything I can think of...If I win, anything I can think of...
[Box: "Shiratori-kun's Imagination"]
[Shiratori looks at the other participants, and what they might order him to do...]
[Momono: Standing next to a desk where Shiratori is trying to work, holding three bottles in one hand and a hammer to tap a nearby keg with the other.]
[Tamami: Walking along, with Shiratori trailing behind her...carrying a huge dresser on his back.]
[Haibara: Johnny repeatedly hits Shiratori over the head.]
[Sayoko: She and Shiratori are standing on two chairs, facing each other...with two nooses around their necks.]
[Asami: She and Shiratori are asleep under two cardboard blankets...well, Asami's asleep. Shiratori's shivering.]
[Kozue: Cute animals and flowers.]
Shiratori: [thinking] This game...I absolutely can't lose...!!
[Then, another image comes to mind: Shiratori, in his room, trying to study, while Momono, Tamami, and Haibara go crazy.]
Shiratori: [thinking] No! More importantly--I'll win, and ban all the parties in my room!! [out loud] Momono-san.
Momono: Oh, you're going to do it?
Shiratori: Yes...however, I have a few conditions...
Shiratori: Agreed?
Momono: Eh...
Shiratori: These are the most minimal conditions! AGREED?!
Momono: Ah...yeah...
[That done...]
Momono: Now, then--BATTLE START!!
[Box: "Shiratori Ryuushi (It): 5 Minute Standby"]
Shiratori: ...
[He watches as Momono dashes around a corner, then turns to the rough map she drew for him.]
Shiratori: Now, then...let's put together a plan now, shall we?
[He looks at the map, and slumps down, sitting back against the wall.]
Shiratori: ...it's pretty big...
[Box: "Shiratori Ryuushi (It): Commence Search"]
Shiratori: All right! First, let's hit all the rooms!
[Box: "Time Remaining: 60 Minutes"]
Shiratori: [thinking] The manager's room is locked...which means there's no one inside.
[On to the apartments themselves...]
Shiratori: [thinking] Room 1 is Tamami-chan's room, huh...it's locked, too.
[Next...]
Shiratori: [thinking] Room 2 is my room, but...when I left for school, I locked the door, so no one should have been able to get in...
[He turns the doorknob anyway...and the door opens.]
Shiratori: ... [thinking] WHY IS IT OPEN...?! Even though I locked it properly...!! Wait! That means someone's hiding in here...
[His eyes widen, as he hears...snoring?]
Shiratori: ...
[Yep, it's snoring, all right. Shiratori's futon is rolled out, and the Z's emanate from a form beneath the covers. Shiratori pulls off the covers to reveal...Momono.]
Shiratori: ...Why are you sleeping in someone else's room...?
Momono: Huh?
[Box: "Time Remaining: 56 Minutes--Momono Megumi Secured"]
[Outside, Momono laughs in embarrassment.]
Momono: Yeah...well, today, I was drinking right through to morning, wasn't I? So I didn't get any sleep.
Shiratori: So? Please don't just go and sleep in someone else's room!
[Box: "5 People Remaining"]
Momono: Well, it's too bad you found me, but from here on out, I'll do my best for real!
Shiratori: ...Again, I ask you(4)--please do not interfere!
[On to the next room...]
Shiratori: Room 3 is locked.
Momono: That's because this is my room, right?
[Next...]
Shiratori: Nothing unusual in the washroom...
Momono: Uh-huh.
[Next...]
Shiratori: Men's dressing room: Nothing unusual.
Momono: Yep.
[Next...]
Shiratori: Men's bath: Nothing unusual.
[As Shiratori walks out the door, Momono looks at him pensively.]
Momono: ...Hey, Shiratori-kun.
[He looks back questioningly.]
Momono: Are you going to search the women's dressing room and bath next door? It's embarrassing for a man to see where we're always getting naked, isn't it...AAAH!
[While Momono's talking, Shiratori's moving.]
Shiratori: Women's dressing room and bath: Nothing unusual!
Momono: THAT'S MEAN, SHIRATORI-KUN! To just up and invade the women's bath like that!!
Shiratori: What are you saying?
[Shiratori glares at her over his shoulder.]
Shiratori: This is hide and seek. Searching in every nook and corner is only natural, isn't it? Trying to bewilder me with that kind of chicanery is futile!
Momono: [thinking] WHOA?! Shiratori-kun is unusually serious today...!
Shiratori: Next are the toilets... (5)
[Both toilets are empty.]
Shiratori: No one in the toilets, either...
Momono: Wait, Shiratori-kun! Did you properly check INSIDE the toilets? If...!
Shiratori: Next is the kitchen, huh?
Momono: WHAT--?! [thinking] Is...is he ignoring me?
[She turns away in aggravation.]
Momono: What the HELL! This is BORING!! You could at least play along (6) a little...oh?
[Johnny is flailing frantically in the pond next to a breathing tube.]
Momono: ...
Shiratori: Nothing here, either...
[Momono starts--then jumps in front of Shiratori.]
Momono: WELL! Let's get to the next, shall we? NEXT!
Shiratori: ...?
[He leans to one side--and Momono leans with him, blocking his view.]
Momono: Hey, hey! If you don't hurry, time will run out!
Shiratori: ...
[He steps to the right--and Momono steps with him.]
Momono: Hey, hurry!
[Back to the original position--for both of them.]
Momono: If you don't hurry--
[Step to the left, and Momono follows.]
Momono: There are still five people--
[Lean to the left--and Momono's still blocking his view.]
Momono: --left, aren't there?!
Shiratori: ... [thinking] Suspicious...
Momono: Phew...
Shiratori: Ah, a UFO!
Momono: Eh...
[Then, she catches herself.]
Momono: Now, look, Shiratori-kun. Even if you try something like that, I...
Shiratori: Ah, sake falling from the sky!
Momono: EH? WHERE?!
[She turns away, and...]
Shiratori: Ah, found Haibara-san.
Johnny: Hmph--exposed, huh?
Momono: DAMMIT!!
[Shiratori's eyes narrow.]
Shiratori: "Dammit"?
[And now it's Momono's turn to sweat.]
Momono: Huh? Did I say something like that??
[After a moment, Shiratori turns away.]
Shiratori: Now, then. Next is Room 4, huh?
Momono: Bara-san...
[Box: "4 People Remaining"]
Momono: We've both been found.
Shiratori: ...Hm?
[Sayoko is kneeling in the courtyard--out in the open--holding Tamami's bonsai on top of her head.]
Shiratori: Right.
Momono: Sayo-chan...
Sayoko: ...
[Box: "3 People Remaining"]
[The others trail behind him--Sayoko still holding the bonsai on her head.]
Shiratori: Room 4...
[He turns back to Momono.]
Shiratori: Is this anyone's room?
Momono: As I recall, it's supposed to be unoccupied...
[She laughs darkly.]
Momono: But it's a mystery spot where, for some reason, every once in a while you can hear a voice whispering...
Shiratori: It's locked...Right. Next!
Johnny: He's indifferent today.
Momono: Tell me about it...
[Box: "Time Remaining: 45 Minutes"]
Shiratori: Room 5...is open! Which means that someone is in here...?
Momono: I don't know! It could be a bluff.
Shiratori: [thinking] I came here the day before yesterday... (That was tough...) The Kurosakis live here...
[He glances over at Sayoko.]
Shiratori: [thinking] The mother is here, so...it's very likely that Asami-chan is in this room...Sorry, Asami-chan...
Momono: It's going to be tough to search in here!
Shiratori: ... [thinking] Sorry, but I absolutely CANNOT lose...!
[He walks among the stacks of boxes, looking carefully.]
Shiratori: [thinking] Looking roughly, there are no boxes large enough for someone to get inside... (Even for a girl that small...) That leaves the boxes' shadows...
[As he leans forward between two stacks, a 10-yen coin falls out of his pocket...]
Shiratori: Ah--
[...and, as the metal strikes the floor, a nearby stack of small "Nuru-Nuru Curry" boxes shivers for a moment.]
Shiratori: ...
[Shiratori stares at the now-unmoving stack of boxes and sweats.]
Shiratori: ...Asami-chan...?
Asami: Eh-heh-heh...
[And then the stack of boxes expands, revealing Asami inside them.]
Asami: Too bad!
Shiratori: ?!
Asami: I've been found!
[Shiratori examines the boxes Asami used to hide.]
Shiratori: [thinking] She cut holes in the boxes...Pretty clever!
[Box: "2 People Remaining"]
Shiratori: [thinking] ...I've done well up to now, but--the most formidable enemy is still left...!
[Box: "Time Remaining: 40 Minutes"]
[Shiratori grits his teeth as he thinks of Tamami.]
Shiratori: [thinking] Yes...unless I beat her, victory is unbelievable!!
[Room 6...]
Shiratori: It's locked...
Johnny: This is my room!
Shiratori: [thinking] Or, rather...if I can find even her...
[Room 7...]
Shiratori: Locked.
Momono: If I remember right, this should also be an empty room.
[Storage Room 1...they look around without success...]
Shiratori: [thinking] ...victory is certain...! (9)
[Storage Room 2...]
Shiratori: Locked...
[The courtyard...]
[Under the roof's overhang...]
Shiratori: [thinking] I'll win...!
[The outer court...]
[The back yard...]
Shiratori: [thinking] I'll win, and take back my freedom!!
[The side yards...]
But, still...without finding her...!!
Shiratori: [thinking] Impossible...I searched the entire premises, I'm sure of it...!
[Box: "Time Remaining: 10 Minutes"]
Shiratori: [thinking] But I still haven't found her?! Did she break the rules and go outside? Or is there still someplace I haven't...!
[He looks up, and stiffens.]
Shirator: ...no way. [thinking] ON THE ROOF?!
[Shiratori grabs a ladder and lays it against the side of the house.]
Momono: What are you doing, Shiratori-kun? Getting something like that...
Shiratori: [thinking] No! This is her we're talking about...IT'S LIKELY!!
[He climbs the ladder as the other four watch, and sets foot on the roof.]
Shiratori: [thinking] Now...I have you cornered, Tamami-chan!!
Asami: Somehow, Onii-chan is really cool today...
Johnny: Oi, oi.
Momono: I wonder...he wants to be king that badly?
Shiratori: [thinking] Where is she...
[Shiratori runs along the roof, searching.]
Shiratori: [thinking] Where is she...?!
[His eyes narrow as he looks left and right.]
Shiratori: [thinking] Where is she hiding?!
[And then...]
Shiratori: ...!
Tamami: Ah...
[Tamami is standing high among the trees in the courtyard, holding two leafy branches for camouflage.]
Shiratori: [thinking] I've... [out loud] I FOUND TAMAMI-CHAN!!
Tamami: Ah, darn!
Shiratori: [thinking] I'VE WON!!
[Tamami jumps down from the tree.]
Tamami: I can't believe you found me here...
Momono: He found you?
Shiratori: [thinking] I did it! I did it!
[Box: "Time Remaining: 3 Minutes"]
Shiratori: [thinking] Now, I won't have to suffer anyone's absurd orders! And I can give an order like "Don't come into my room on your own!"
[He weeps for joy.]
Shiratori: [thinking] Just like that! It's a perfect victory--
[Box: "1 Person Remaining"]
Shiratori: Huh? One more person...
[He looks down at the group gathered below.]
Momono: For Tama-chan to be found...
Tamami: I was negligent.
Shiratori: 1...2...3...! [thinking] OOYA-SAN?!
[He pauses.]
Shiratori: [thinking] Ah, but...I can't think Ooya-san would give any cruel orders like that, so this isn't so...NO! If whoever's "It" doesn't find everyone, he loses! Since I've come this far--I'll take the king's authority!!
[And thus, Shiratori takes off again, across the roof...]
Shiratori: [thinking] I'm sorry, Ooya-san...! I...I...I just want to go through my days in peace! (10) I'm sorry!!
[And then the alarm clock rings.]
Momono: Ah, time's up!
[Box: "End Of Contest"]
Momono: And your winner is: Aoba Kozue!
Shiratori: Like...like that...
Momono: At any rate, Kozue-chan certainly hid cleverly, didn't she?
Asami: Really!
Tamami: That's because of my great creation! (11)
Shiratori: Eh...?
Momono: Great creation?
Tamami: Kozue-chan, it's all right now!
[For a moment, nothing happens...then, one of the support pillars--a pillar that, unlike the others, doesn't extend below the walkway--begins to vibrate.]
Kozue: Er, hi!
[The others look on in shock as the four sides fall away, revealing Narutakisou's ooya.]
Momono: WOW!
Tamami: I made this camouflage pillar in case of something like this!
Momono: Camouflage pillar...
Kozue: Hm? Where's Shiratori-san?
Shiratori: [thinking] That's...that's...
Momono: Why didn't you use it yourself?
Tamami: Ah, well, from the start I intended to make Kozue-chan win by being a diversion, (12) so to speak.
Shiratori: [thinking] That's...not fair... (13)
[And with that, he falls forward, tumbling off the roof.]
Momono & Asami: AH!
[Momono and Asami cringe, unwilling to watch...]
Tamami: Oh, brother...
[They look back to see Shiratori lying limply in Tamami's arms.]
Tamami: Please don't force me to be put out like this...he's heavy!
Momono: Ta...Tama-chan...
[Momono breathes a sigh of relief, then laughs loudly.]
Momono: Really--be more careful, Shiratori-kun! I certainly...huh?
[There is dead silence in the courtyard as Tamami releases Shiratori...and he slumps down motionless to the ground.]
Momono: Shiratori-kun...
[She kneels down by him, and reaches down.]
Momono: Wha--wait, SHIRATORI-KUN! ANSWER ME!
[She looks over at Tamami.]
Momono: TAMA-CHAN, DID YOU CATCH HIM PROPERLY?!
Tamami: Probably~
Johnny: "Probably"...
Asami: O-Onii-chan!!
Momono: ...!
Asami: Are you all right, onii-cha...
Momono: He's sleeping.
Asami: Eh...?
Momono: He's sound asleep...
[As if on cue, Shiratori begins to snore.]
Johnny: Oh, yeah. Lately, we've been having a lot of all-night parties...
[Box: "An accurate representation of what he went through:"]
Momono: ...well, for now let's be glad he didn't die! ...huh?
[Kozue is lying facedown on the ground, her face pale and her eyes closed. It appears she fainted without anyone noticing.]
A lot of things happened at this point that I'm forgetting.
[The residents--with the exception of Tamami--look on, trembling with dread as Kozue groans and rises to her knees, holding her head.]
That is to say...
Kozue(?): Ah! Long time no see, everyone!
[Momono, Asami and Sayoko all jump in shock as she speaks. Haibara heaves an unhappy sigh. Tamami just stands there, still smiling.]
Her form changed again...
[Shiratori lies behind the others, blissfully snoring away.]
...while I was out of it...
1 かくれんぼ ("Kakurenbo"): Lit. Hide and seek. In the manga, Momono gives the English name first, then the Japanese equivalent. To preserve the sense of Momono giving the foreign term first, I've reversed their order here, giving the Japanese name first. BACK
2 ダンナ ("Danna"): Master of the house; also "husband" in informal use. (Momono, ever the playful one, is deliberately using a rather rough speech pattern; she may also be insinuating Shiratori would be interested in giving Kozue an order if he wins.) BACK
3 キミに拒否権はない ("Kimi ni kyohiken wa nai"): Lit. "You do not have a right of veto." BACK
4 くれぐれも ("Kuregure mo"): Repeatedly, sincerely, earnestly. BACK
5 Unlike western bathrooms, in Japanese homes the toilet, washroom and bath/shower are normally in different rooms (though, as is the case here, they are also normally right next to each other). BACK
6 相手してくれた ("Aite shite kureta"): Lit. "You were being a partner for me." BACK
7 面目無い ("Menboku nai"): Lit. "There is no face/prestige." BACK
8 おしかった ("Oshikatta"): Past form of "Oshii," here meaning "Almost but not quite." BACK
9 勝利は確定 ("Shouri wa kakutei"): Lit. "Victory is decided." BACK
10 平静な日々を過ごしたい ("Heisei na hibi wo sugoshitai"): Lit. "I want to go through calm days." BACK
11 自信作 ("Jishinsaku"): Lit. "Self-confidence work" ("work" being used here in the sense of a composition) BACK
12 陽動役 ("Youdou yaku"): Lit. "Shaking position." BACK
13 反則 ("Hansoku"): A sports term, meaning a foul play or transgression. BACK