Chapter 2: A Carp Unable To Travel Upstream On A Waterfall*
* Similar to the expression, "Like a fish going
upstream."
Translated by : Kaori Hasegawa
Sponsored and brought to you by : Alberto Mazzetto
Proofread by : Mike Chapman and Shampoo
Story and Art by : Masakazu Katsura
<27>
Hiromu: It's been a long time...
Hiromu: It's been a really long time since I've started
liking a girl...
Hiromu: But...
Hiromu: If I know I'll lose in the game, then I shouldn't
play because I don't want to be hurt... Because if
it's now, I can turn back...
Hiromu: I won't go to art class for a while. So I don't see
Shirakawa-san, and I can calm my feelings down... I
will...live just for manga, like I have been until
now...
<28>
Sound: Sha sha.
Shouko: Oh, you're drawing, as usual.
Sound: Piku.
Hiromu: What are you doing. Don't look, Ozawa!! Return to
your class.
Shouko: What are you talking about. You want to be a manga
artist, right.
Then it's a job meant to be seen. Anyway, let me
see.
Hiromu: She is Shouko Ozawa (10th Grade). Like Toshiki,
we've known each other since elementary school, and
she's one of them who knows about my dark past.
I've never once thought of her as a girl.
Shouko: It's between you and me, let me see.
<29>
Shouko: Let me see!
Hiromu: No!!
Hiromu: Ah.
Sound: Sa.
Toshiki: Gee, you're still horrible, your fatal problem is in
your drawings of girls.
If I were a reader, I wouldn't read your comics.
Hiromu: You don't have to be so rude...
Toshiki: Hiromu... This is...who? It's extremely good. Who is
this..
<30>
Sound: Ba.
Hiromu: Wa-.
Toshiki: Did you...start liking...someone?
Toshiki: Right! Right! Is that right!
Toshiki: Good job! A really good job! Your childhood scar has
healed! Let's cook bean rice, bean rice*!!
*It's a meal for special occasions.
Hiromu: You're exaggerating.
Hiromu: he is...really happy for me... I think he's a nice
guy at these times... But...
<31>
Hiromu: But... I'll quit this... I know it's hopeless even
if I start liking her...
Toshiki: What are you saying!! You, who wasn't interested in
girls, started liking some girl.
It's stupid to quit!! And, this is your chance to
improve your drawings of girls!
Shouko: Hey, Toshiki! Aren't you interested in the girl he
started to like?
Toshiki: Um.
Shouko: Let's go see the girl.
Hiromu: No!! What are you talking about!!
Toshiki: Good idea! Good idea!
Sound: Bun.
Toshiki: Do you think she's in this school?
Shouko: No... If that's so, we'd already have known it.
Toshiki: Then, is it the art class!?
<32>
Toshiki: Leave your hands off!
Hiromu: I said no!!
Hiromu: I'm "An uninvited carp traveling upstream on a
waterfall"! I'm trying not to like her. Then, why do
you do this to me.
Shouko: If you want to say it right, it should be "A carp
unable to travel upstream on a waterfall."
Sign: [It means no matter how hard one tries, it's
impossible.]
Toshiki: Why are you stopping?
Toshiki: To like someone is a very important thing, you won't
have so many chances, so you shouldn't stop,
otherwise you'll face the wrath of God.
Sound: Kira.
Hiromu: Your words don't have any power to persuade me.
<33>
Toshiki: I don't care, anyway! You naturally started liking.
It's unnatural to stop!
Hiromu: I'm scared...anymore. I don't want any pain...
Toshiki: H-Hey.
Sound: Da.
Sound: Ja.
<34>
Ayumi: Ah... Hello.
<35>
Sound: Peko.
Ayumi: Ah... Class?
<36>
Shouko: That must...be her...
Toshiki: She looks so much like Reiko Shimada. If she were in
high school, instead of elementary, she would've
looked like her.
Toshiki: I wonder why Hiromu started liking someone who looks
like the one who gave him pain...
Toshiki: But... Because she looks alike, if he can get along
with her, his scar may completely heal.
Shouko: He shouldn't...that girl...
Toshiki: Why, all of a sudden. Is it because she looks like
Shimada.
Shouko: No...
<37>
Shouko: I think you noticed her uniform, but she's a student
at Shinsie High, right.
There is a bad rumor about her...
Toshiki: Rumor?
Shouko: Yeah... I heard it when I went to their school
festival. I was away, but I remembered her because
she looks like Reiko Shimada... It must be her...
Toshiki: What kind of rumor.
Shouko: Well...
<38>
Toshiki: Don't be silly!! It's girls' peculiar nonsensical
talk, isn't it!
Sound: Dan.
Shouko: Wh-What, it has nothing to do with me, don't be
upset with me!
Toshiki: It does have something to do with you! You said he
should stop because of that stupid rumor!!
Shouko: Why are you so upset!
Toshiki: Listen! If you tell it to Hiromu!! I won't forgive
you!
<39>
Toshiki: Stupid. he could lose...this big chance because of
such a stupid rumor.
Right, Hiromu...
Sound: Gatan gatan gatan.
Toshiki: He was going to die even though he was a kid... He's
had pain and pain, he refused every girl, but now he
could actually start liking a girl.
Toshiki: This time, I want to let him succeed.
Toshiki: Otherwise... He won't start seriously liking a girl,
like me...
<40>
Toshiki: Hey! Hiromu!! I brought a good tape!
Hiromu: The dirty tape again!!
Hiromu: Help yourself, I'll be drawing manga!
Toshiki: Well, don't say that.
Toshiki: You need this right now, so watch!!
Sound: Guwa.
Hiromu: Stop!
Hiromu: Uwaaa!!
Sound: Za-.
<41>
Sound: Van.
Hiromu: Ah.
Hiromu: What? What is this?
Toshiki: It's the tape from the junior high sports festival,
you ran in the class relay race.
Toshiki: With your eyes, you can see that you have charm and
have self-confidence!
Toshiki: Oh, see, look at that! Every one of them in the
class was cheering for only you.
Wow, nice going! Gee, if people see the serious part
of you, a guy like me would fall in love with you.
Hiromu: This is a perfect "Drop in the bucket." If I see
this, not only will I lose my self-confidence, but
it depresses me... If I can say, I was the last one
at the time...
Hiromu: But...
Hiromu: I can feel Toshiki's kindness. With this small
brain, he thought to cheer me up... With his
kindness, I'm starting to feel that I will do my
best...
<42>
Toshiki: By the way, Hiromu.
Hiromu: Um?
Toshiki: I think that even if you could be, you can't be
liked with that hair style.
Hiromu: Eh?
Shouko: Ugyahahahahaha. Hi- hi.
Hiromu: You don't have to laugh so much... Toshiki forced me
to cut my hair.
Shouko: S-Sorry, sorry.
Shouko: Fine, fine, looks neat.
Hiromu: Hah.
<43>
Hiromu: Fu...
Hiromu: I don't know why Toshiki became so serious about
another... This way, he would look like an idiot, so
I'll ask her for a date, and save his reputation.
Shouko: Eh?
Hiromu: Um?
Shouko: Ah...
Toshiki: Th-That idiot!!
<44>
Toshiki: Shouko, I need to talk to you!! Come here!!
Hiromu, you go back to the class room!!
Shouko: U.
Sound: Da da da da da da da.
Shouko: Just a second.
Shouko: I haven't told him!!
Toshiki: Are you sure!! You really haven't, right!?
Toshiki: Even though it's a rumor.
Toshiki: If Hiromu hears that...
<45>
Boy: Eh, no kidding. Are you serious!!
Hiromu: What was Toshiki's problem...
Boy: I'm serious. I heard some girl, named Shirakawa from
Shinsei High. See this!
I got her picture from a Shinsei High student.
Hiromu: Um? ...Shirakawa?
Boy: Wow!! She's cute! This girl will really let us sleep
with her.
Boy: Yeah, I heard she sleeps with anyone.
Hiromu: Eh? Eh!?
End of Chapter
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