10. A Gathering of Artists
[At Shiratori's school...]
Shirogane-sensei: Just because you're doing a picture book doesn't mean you can draw half-heartedly. In addition to understanding the fundamentals, it's important for you to stretch your own personalities.
[Shirogane-sensei claps her hands.]
Shirogane-sensei: Therefore, for the next project, you will do rough sketches of the human body! You'll use colored pencils. The deadline is tomorrow!
[The students look at each other as she continues.]
Shirogane-sensei: You may use your fellow classmates as models, and so forth. Please make them as realistic as possible!
[She heads to the door.]
Shirogane-sensei: Now, then, that's all for today's class!
[And then she's gone. As the students begin to talk amongst themselves...]
Shirogane-sensei: I sincerely hope none of you forget!
[Then she's gone for real.]
Ponytailed Boy: Hey, Shiratori!
[Shiratori's friends come up to him.]
Ponytailed Boy: Let's do this project together!
Shiratori: Ah...sure, sounds good.
Ponytailed Boy: All right! Then, let's go to your place!!
Shiratori: Eh?! Why?!
Ponytailed Boy: We're interested in where you're living, that's why!!
Short- and Long-Haired Girls: Exactly!
Shiratori: ...well, all right...
[And so, they head out...]
Ponytailed Boy: Still...is there really an apartment among all these tall buildings?
Shiratori: That's what I thought the first time I came here, but...ah, here we are.
[They pause to take in Narutakisou. It looks as out of place as ever.]
Ponytailed Boy: ...Here...?
[And in they go...]
Short-Haired Girl: Wow...this is quite a place!
Shiratori: You think so?
Momono: Huh?
[The resident drunk is dressed up for once, in a business suit with mini-skirt, with her hair pulled back. She looks up from a magazine she's writing in as Shiratori enters.]
Momono: What's this? Visitors?
Shiratori: Ah...yes, from scho--
Ponytailed Boy: OOOOOOH! A BEAUTIFUL ONEE-SAN!!
[He sprints forward and grabs Momono's hand.]
Ponytailed Boy: I WON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER! PLEASE, TELL ME YOUR NAME!!
[Momono looks at Shiratori as Short-Haired Girl hits Ponytailed Boy over the head.]
Momono: ...What's with this kid?
Shiratori: Er...well...
[They enter the courtyard.]
Momono: I see...You're all working on your projects, huh? (How diligent...)
Ponytailed Boy: Exactly!! Please--please model for us!!!
Momono: [laughing] Eh? What should I do, I wonder...?
Short- and Long-Haired Girls: ...hn?
[Sayoko lies facedown in the courtyard, a chair kicked to one side and a broken noose around her neck.]
Short-Haired Girl: Shi...SHIRATORI-KUN, BIG TROUBLE!!
Long-Haired Girl: THERE'S A DEAD PERSON OVER THERE!!
Shiratori: Eh...?
[He looks over.]
Shiratori: Ah, Kurosaki-san? Don't worry, that's part of her daily routine.
Short-Haired Girl: D...daily routine...
[Just then, Sayoko pushes herself up to her hands and knees.]
Short- and Long-Haired Girls: !!
Shiratori: See? She's fine.
Ponytailed Boy: Oh?
[His eyes fly wide open.]
Ponytailed Boy: OOOOOOH?! ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL ONEE-SAN!!!
Sayoko: ...?
[He rushes over, and seizes Sayoko's hand.]
Ponytailed Boy: I WON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER! PLEASE, TELL ME YOUR NAME!!
Sayoko: ...
Momono: So in the end, anyone works for that kid?
Shiratori: Er...well...
[Shiratori's room...]
Shiratori: ...Now, then.
[The four students are seated around Shiratori's table...well, three of them are seated. Ponytailed Boy is slumped over the table, with a large lump on the back of his head. The two girls are looking around the room.]
Shiratori: Let's get this finished, shall we?
Short-Haired Girl: Yeah.
Momono: Yeah, do your best!!
[Momono and Sayoko are kneeling in one corner. Momono has her arm raised, and Sayoko is copying her.]
Shiratori: Why are you two here too?
Momono: Ah, you don't have to worry about us!
Shiratori: Even if you tell me not to worry about you...
[Then he notices that the girls have moved to his bookcase.]
Short-Haired Girl: No dirty books.
Long-Haired Girl: Boooring!
Shiratori: YOU TWO, TOO!
Short-Haired Girl: [laughing] Sorry...we'll get to it eventually, I promise...
Momono: That's the spirit!!
Shiratori: Can we please be serious, here...
[There's a knock at the door.]
Voice: Onii-chan!
[Shiratori goes to open the door.]
Shiratori: Ah, Asami-chan.
Asami: A letter came for you!
Shiratori: Ah, thank you.
Asami: By the way, do you know where Mom is?
Shiratori: Er...well...
[He looks into his room, and Asami follows his gaze--spotting Sayoko, who's now cowering behind Momono.]
Asami: Ah!
Sayoko: ...
Asami: So this is where you were? I'm not mad about you breaking the dish anymore, so come home...
Sayoko: Really...?
[Then Asami notices the others.]
Asami: ...huh? By the way, who are these people?
Short-Haired Girl: Good afternoon!
[The girls move over to Asami and begin patting her on the head.]
Short-Haired Girl: We're Shiratori-kun's friends from school.
Long-Haired Girl: Yoroshiku! [thinking] She's so cute...
[Momono looks over at Ponytailed Boy.]
Momono: Oh? You're not going to go over like last time?
Ponytailed Boy: Eh?
[He pumps his fist, fire in his eyes.]
Ponytailed Boy: I have no interest in a chestless kid! (1)
Asami: [thinking] CHESTLESS KID?!
Momono: If you did, you'd be a dirtbag.
Short-Haired Girl: You don't have to worry about what that idiot says.
Long-Haired Girl: You're cute, Asami-chan!
Asami: Oh, yeah! Momono-san, a letter came for you, too.
Momono: Oh, really?
Asami: Here, it's another air-mail--
Momono: ?! GIMME!!
[She snatches the letter out of Asami's hand, rushes over to a corner of the room, tears the envelope open, and begins to read.]
Shiratori: ...? Who's that letter from?
Asami: I don't know, but...Momono-san always looks forward to those air-mail letters.
[After Momono finishes the letter, she folds it once, then clutches it to her chest and sighs dreamily, staring off into space. The others stare at her in turn (with Ponytailed Boy sporting a new lump on his head).]
It's the same Momono-san, but...
Shiratori: ...
Asami: A long-distance relationship, huh?
...holding unseen emotions...
[Suddenly, Shiratori comes back to himself.]
Shiratori: Ack! We need to hurry up and work on the project!!
Short-Haired Girl: Yeah...
[She looks around the table.]
Short-Haired Girl: So, who'll model first?
Momono: ALL RIGHT!!
[Everyone looks over at her outburst. She's standing tall, both arms raised, while Sayoko stands next to her, mimicking her every action.]
Momono: IT'S THE FIRST NARUTAKISOU ARTISTS' TOURNAMENT!!
Short-Haired Girl: Eh...?
Momono: THE SUPERIOR ARTIST WILL RECEIVE AN EXTRAVAGANT LITTLE GIFT (?) (2) AS A PRESENT!! YEAH!
Sayoko: Yeah...
Momono: I'M FEELING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW, SO LET'S START THE BATTLE!! OF COURSE, WE'LL PITCH IN AND HELP!
Long-Haired Girl: Wh...what...?
[Shiratori sighs heavily.]
Shiratori: [thinking] It's started again...
Momono: DO YOUR BEST, YOUNG DREAMERS!!
[And then--to Shiratori's horror--Momono and Sayoko begin to take off their tops.]
Momono: Well, then! Are the preparations OK?
Short-Haired Girl: UWAA?!
Shiratori: WH...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
Momono: Eh?
[She laughs.]
Momono: There's a fee for any more service than this!
Shiratori: Th...that's not what I mea--OW?!
[Ponytailed Boy punches Shiratori aside.]
Ponytailed Boy: IT'S OK!! IT'S ALL OK!!
[He pumps his fist madly, as steam shoots from both nostrils.]
Ponytailed Boy: THIS IS ART! THAT MEANS NOTHING IS EMBARRASSING!! NOW, PLEASE--GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT ALL OFF!!!
[Behind him, Short-Haired Girl clutches a baseball bat driven through with nails...she winds up...]
Momono: ...Er...for now, should we leave our clothes on like this?
[Short-Haired Girl tosses the bloodied bat away.]
Short-Haired Girl: Yes. Now, if you could take a normal pose...?
[Momono and Sayoko put their hands up behind their heads.]
Momono: How's this?
Short-Haired Girl: We aren't doing gravure photographs. If you could do a more normal pose--
Ponytailed Boy: IT'S OK! IT'S SUPER OK!!
[Short-Haired Girl retrieves the bat...]
Momono: Eh? I thought it was a nice pose!
Short-Haired Girl: Please pose normally--normally!
[Momono turns to Sayoko.]
Momono: Even if she says to do it normally...what should we do, Sayo-chan?
Sayoko: ...
[Then, suddenly, Sayoko falls over on her side.]
Momono: ...oh?
Sayoko: ...
[Everyone stares at her...and stares...and stares...]
Sayoko: ...hurry, draw me...
Short-Haired Girl: [thinking] THAT'S A POSE?!
[Momono bursts out laughing.]
Momono: No, no, Sayo-chan, that's no good!
[Short-Haired Girl turns to Shiratori.]
Short-Haired Girl: ...It's a little late to say it, but there's nothing but bizarre people here, huh...
[Shiratori laughs nervously.]
Momono: ...so, what should we do?
Short-Haired Girl: [sighs] Anything's fine, just please pose...
[In the end, Momono takes a seat on a box, while Sayoko kneels next to her.]
Momono: Well? Are you done?
Shiratori: Yes, for the time being...
Ponytailed Boy: I'm OK too!
Long-Haired Girl: Me too!
Short-Haired Girl: Yeah.
Momono: All right, then! It's grading time!!
-Entry Number 1: Shiratori-
[A straightforward distance sketch. The proportions are right, and he captured most of the details competently.]
[Momono: 9]
[Sayoko: 8]
Momono: Oh! Just what I'd expect from an art student!! That's really good!!
-Entry Number 2: Short-Haired Girl-
[A close-in shot, leaving the box out of the drawing. The heads are oversized, Sayoko is smiling (?!) and the shading is kind of clumsy.]
[Momono: 4]
[Sayoko: 2]
Momono: Er...well...how can I say--avante-gard, right? There might be meaning to your talent...
-Entry Number 3: Long-Haired Girl-
[Close-in shot of the heads. Flowers dot the background, while someone who's apparently supposed to be Momono--but looks more like a handsome young man--tenderly cups the chin of someone who's apparently supposed to be Sayoko, who looks up at...him?...with her hands clasped.]
[Momono: 6]
[Sayoko: 7]
Momono: It's good, but...there was no point in us being models, was there...
-Entry Number 4: Ponytailed Boy-
[Rather than portray Momono and Sayoko's pose, this picture instead focuses exclusively on a couple of elements--Momono's "extensive breasts" and Sayoko's "bare legs" (both helpfully labeled).]
[Momono: 3]
[Sayoko: 1]
Momono: ...Are you okay with that? (As a human being, I mean.)
Other 3 students: [thinking] He's definitely going to get punished tomorrow...
Momono: All right! So right now, Shiratori-kun is in the lead!! The second match will happen after we change models!! (I'm tired, after all~)
Sayoko: (After all~...)
Shiratori: Eh...?
Momono: In other words, wait a little bit, okay? We'll bring in our replacements soon!
Shiratori: Replacements...?
[And then, Momono and Sayoko are out the door.]
Asami: ...huh?
[Asami heads up the walkway, a handful of grass in each hand.]
[Box: "Went to get today's dinner (grass)"]
Asami: Momono-san, Mom--are you done modeling already?
Momono: Oh, good timing!
[Momono pats Asami on the head...then grabs her, and throws her over her shoulder as Sayoko waves "hello."]
Momono: One person, secured!
Asami: Wha...what's going on?
[And the three take off...]
Tamami: Well, then~! It's your turn, Kozue-chan!
Kozue: Hmm...
[Kozue and Tamami are playing cards in her room. Tamami is winning.]
Kozue: But I don't have a card I can play...Pass 2...
Tamami: Oh, really~
[Kozue pouts.]
Kozue: You're holding on to the 6 of hearts, aren't you...
Tamami: Am I, I wonder? [thinking] Troubled Kozue-chan is also lovely~
[Just then, there's a knock at the door.]
Momono: Hey!
Kozue: Yes?
[Tamami scowls.]
Tamami: [thinking] Clouds cover the moon, the wind blows away the flowers... (3)
[A few minutes later...]
Momono: Thanks for waiting!!
Kozue: H...hello.
[Momono and Sayoko show off the new models: Asami, Kozue, Tamami, and Haibara.]
[Box pointing to Haibara: "Extra"]
Shiratori: Ko...Kozue-chan?
Short-Haired Girl: Ah! From the other day...
Ponytailed Boy: OH!
Momono: It feels like a star performer has made her appearance~?
[Well, one person is ignoring the star...]
Long-Haired Girl: Asami-chan, you've come again, huh?
Asami: Yeah...
[Ponytailed Boy rushes forward and grabs Kozue's hand.]
Ponytailed Boy: It's been so long! (4)
Shiratori: Hey, wait...
Ponytailed Boy: That you would model for us--I'm moved!!
Kozue: Ye...yes...
Long-Haired Girl: [still focused on Asami] You're absolutely cute!
Voice: Ah...again...again...
[The others look over...]
Tamami: Again you're ignoring me?
Ponytailed Boy, Short- and Long-Haired Girls: HOEH?!
[...and Shiratori's classmates panic.]
Ponytailed Boy: [whispering] Wh...WHY IS SHE HERE?!
Shiratori: Ah...Tamami-chan also lives here.
[Ponytailed Boy grabs Shiratori by the collar and begins shaking him roughly.]
Ponytailed Boy: [whispering] SAY THINGS LIKE THAT SOONER!!
Tamami: Well...
[Ponytailed Boy looks over--and shrinks back, as Tamami suddenly looms menacingly overhead.]
Tamami: Please draw me well, okay?
Ponytailed Boy: Of...of course!! [thinking] Why me...?!
Momono: All right, then, Tama-chan and that guy are a combination!
Shiratori: Combination?
Tamami: Yoroshiku~
Ponytailed Boy: [thinking] It's been decided?!
Momono: After that, Asami-chan and Glasses-chan.
Long-Haired Girl: Yoroshiku!
Asami: Uh...uh-huh...
Momono: Bara-san and that girl.
Johnny: Draw me well, got it?!
Short-Haired Girl: [thinking] Why...?
Momono: And finally, Kozue-chan and Shiratori-kun!
Shiratori and Kozue: Ah...
Shiratori: Yo...yoroshiku...
Kozue: Ah...yes...
Momono: And, START!
[Momono waves from where she and Sayoko sit back against the wall.]
Momono: Oh, us? We're the Laid-Back Team!
[Box: "Somehow or other partitioned off before anyone noticed"]
Kozue: Um...what should I do?
Shiratori: Ah...for the time being, if you could sit over there and not move, that would be great.
Kozue: W-well, then...
[Shiratori readies his sketch pad.]
Shiratori: [thinking] I never would have expected this development...I'm a little happy, but...
[He pauses and looks at Kozue--kneeling upright, hands in her lap, a small smile on her face.]
Shiratori: [thinking] But...facing each other like this is kind of embarrassing...
[And then, naturally, Momono decides to intervene.]
Momono: Hey, hey--that's no good, Kozue-chan!
Kozue: Eh...?
[Momono grabs Kozue's arms and begins manipulating her like a large doll.]
Momono: Here, here--like this!
Kozue: Like...this?
[The result: Kozue is still kneeling, but her legs are splayed apart. She's leaning back slightly, chest thrust out, supporting herself with one arm while the other reaches up and over her back. Her cheeks are a little red, and she has a distressed pout on her face.]
Kozue: ...
Shiratori: AH--
[Shiratori's eyes go wide, and his face goes red.]
Momono: Yes, yes! That's great!!
[Shiratori waves his arms frantically.]
Shiratori: Y-y-y-you don't have to pose like that!!
Kozue: Eh...? Is that so?
[Momono puts her hands on her hips and pouts.]
Momono: Oh, come on--you're going to be stingy with my posing, too?
Shiratori: Momono-san, please don't teach her perverted poses!!
[Time passes...]
Shiratori: ...
[Kozue has returned to her original pose, and Shiratori is now hard at work.]
Kozue: ...
Shiratori: ... [thinking] Ugh...it's so quiet...the air is heavy...
Kozue: Um...
[Shiratori starts.]
Shiratori: ...eh? Wh-what is it?
Kozue: When you're done drawing...is it all right if I see it?
Shiratori: Ah...yes, of course...!
Kozue: Really? I'm looking forward to it!
Shiratori: Ah... [thinking] That reminds me...when I first came here, I said I'd show her some of my drawings--but I haven't even shown her one yet...
[He refocuses on his sketch pad.]
Shiratori: ... [thinking] ...All right, then...! I'll do my best and draw a good sketch...!!
Short-Haired Girl: Oji-san, now that I really look at you, you're quite masculine, aren't you?
Johnny: Something like that!
[Long-Haired Girl holds Asami in the air and beams.]
Long-Haired Girl: You're so cute!
Asami: Don't you have to draw me?
[In a corner, Tamami looms while Ponytailed Boy cowers and weeps.]
Tamami: It's like the Titanic, isn't it?
Ponytailed Boy: Ugh...
And then...
Shiratori: ...All right, that should do it!
[He hands over the sketch.]
Kozue: ...Wow...
[In the background, the others are wrapping up as well.]
Short-Haired Girl: Done!
Ponytailed Boy: [shivering] At last, I can go home...
[Shiratori looks over Kozue's shoulder.]
Shiratori: How...how is it...?
Kozue: ...It's fantastic...Looking at it, I feel a sense of relief...it has that kind of warmth to it, doesn't it...
[She pauses for a moment.]
Kozue: Shiratori-san, your pictures have had that same warmth since back then...
Shiratori: Eh...?
Kozue: It was painful, back then, and sad...but your pictures, and conversation--for me, they were salvation...they helped me more than words can say...
Shiratori: ...
As usual...
Kozue: ...Shiratori-san, your pictures--then, and now--they're filled with that warmth...
...I just can't remember anything from back then...
Kozue: Shiratori-san, do your best, and surely...without fail, please become a picture book author! I'm sure that there are many people like me back then, who can be saved by your pictures! I'll be supporting you as a fan!
...but for this, and for the sake of Kozue-chan, whom I'm drawing for...
Shiratori: Right! I'll do my best!
...it was inevitable that I would once again decide to give it my all.
Momono: Oh...?
[Momono suddenly draws back, as if blinded.]
Momono: UOUH?! C...Captain--an indistinguishable high energy field is forming in front of us!!
Tamami: Those two are completely in their own world, aren't they~
Short-Haired Girl: Well, then--shall we go home?
Long-Haired Girl: Yeah...
[Just then, the door opens, and Sayoko steps through...holding a tray in one hand, filled with several cups. She stares mournfully at the group.]
Sayoko: ...You're already leaving...?
[The group stares back.]
Sayoko: Even though I went to the trouble of making coffee...Even though I went to the trouble of making coffee...
Short- & Long-Haired Girls: ...
Sayoko: Even though I...
Short-Haired Girl: W-well, maybe I'll have a little...just one cup...
[Sayoko breaks out in as wide a smile as we've seen from her (that is to say, a very small one).]
Sayoko: ...Really...? Then...
[She forward...and as she does so, she trips...]
Sayoko: AH.
[And as she trips, the cups fly forward off the tray, spilling hot coffee all over Shiratori's table...and all over the completed sketches on top of it. Only Shiratori's sketch pad--still in Kozue's hands--is spared.]
Sayoko: ...
And thus...
[The four art students stare at the table in mute horror.]
Sayoko: ...Ah...
On this day, we all did our projects in my room...
Sayoko: ...I guess I really shouldn't do things I'm not used to...
...for the first and last time.
1 ツルペタ ("Tsurupeta"): I HATE katakana. :P Okay, my nearest guess here is that this is a combination of 弦 ("tsuru," meaning "string") and 蔕 ("heta," meaning "stem") with both words being used for their association with straightness and thinness (read: lack of curves). BACK
2 豪華粗品（？） ("Gouka soshina (?)"): Lit. "Splendorous low-grade goods" (hence the question mark afterward). In Japanese culture, it's customary to downplay any gifts that you give, so as to not make the recipient feel obliged to get you something extravagant in return (though s/he WILL get you something--it's a social duty). That seems to be conflicting here with Momono's hyping the contest by hyping the prize. (I suspect this is deliberate on Kojima's part, poking fun at both conventions.) BACK
3 月に叢雲花に風です ("Tsuki ni murakumo hana ni kaze desu"): Lit. "They are cloud masses toward the moon, wind towards flowers." I'm assuming there's an idiom/metaphor of some sort at work here. BACK
4 いつぞやはどうも ("Itsuzoya wa doumo"): Lit. "As for some time ago, it's been very." (It doesn't translate well...or I don't translate well. Same difference. :P) BACK