Marmalade Boy Volume 7, Chapter 1 pages 2-38 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 2 heading: Introducing the Cast of Characters caption: Akizuki Meiko Close friend of Miki. A person of solid character. caption: Koishikawa Miki Likes Yuu Brightly --> Spirited and --> Simple personality. caption: Suou Ginta Miki's classmate. Likes Arimi. caption: Namura-sensei Meiko's former sweetheart. Is in Hiroshima. caption: Matsuura Yuu Miki's boyfriend Shares same house with Miki --> Is cool, but --> ...a bit mean. caption: Suzuki Arimi Ginta's girlfriend. text: The Story up thru (6). [paragraph 1] Miki and Yuu come to live in the same house due to their parents announcing that they're swapping marriage partners. Miki gradually becomes attracted to Yuu, who sometimes displays sweetness despite being mean. [paragraph 2] It seems Yuu has a real father, but, in the end, he isn't able to find him. Miki revealed her feelings to a grieving Yuu. And the two of them share the same feelings towards each other!! (But it's a secret from their parents .) [paragraph 3] Arimi, who was rejected by Yuu and heartbroken, also ended up going out with Ginta. [paragraph 4] With summer break ending soon, Meiko received a literary award for a story called, "City of Wintry Decline." It was a story written at the encouragement of Miwa. Could it be that a new love is flowering? [paragraph 5] But Meiko continued to think about Namura. "I want to see sensei." Miki, trying to grant her dear friend's wish, headed to Hiroshima, where Namura lives. --------------------------------------------------- p 3 1 bullet train FX: 2 3 4 narration: During the 4 hours to Hiroshima, Meiko hardly said a word. narration: Meiko, whose cheeks were flushed a bit with tension, looked much more beautiful than usual... --------------------------------------------------- p 4-5 TITLE: Marmalade Boy [7] --------------------------------------------------- p 6 1 --------------------------------------------------- p 7 1 Suzu: Sure enough, Meiko-san's so cool. Suzu: To think that she even wrote a story... Awesome! I admire that! magazine banner: Asahi Fiction 2 Yuu: Suzu-chan, you really are a fan of Akizuki, hm. Suzu: Yup! A huge fan! I've sorta come to want to see Meiko-san, whom I haven't seen in a while. 3 Suzu: Maybe I'll go over to see Meiko-san's place tomorrow . Yuu-sensei, would you tell me her address? Yuu: Sure, but Akizuki is heading to Hiroshima with Miki right now... 4 --------------------------------------------------- p 8 1 Suzu: ......... Suzu: Hiroshima? To see Namura-sensei? 2 Yuu: Eh?! How come you know about Natchan...? Suzu: I heard it from oniichan. 3 Suzu: So like, I got him to show me his graduation album, and I checked out how he looks, too . Yuu: Checked out...? Suzu: Namura-sensei isn't gorgeous, but a grown-up guy feels just perfect for Meiko-san! If it's him we're talking about, then he passes . Yuu: Passes...? 4 Yuu: Aren't you cheering for Satoshi-san? You're cousins! Suzu: No, no! Suzu values her own sense of aesthetics over family sentiments! Yuu: ......... 5 Suzu: Besides... Suzu: Even now, Meiko-san loves Namura-sensei. That's what she was saying. --------------------------------------------------- p 9 1 narration: "There's someone I love." "No matter what I think now, it's hopeless..." Suzu: If things can't go back to the way they were, it would be sad. I hope it all goes well... 2 Yuu: Uh-huh... 3 caption: Miyajima 4 --------------------------------------------------- p 10 1 2 Miki: Natchan! 3 Namura: Koishikawa! 4 Namura: It's been a while. You look fine. Miki: Uh-huh. You, too, Natchan... --------------------------------------------------- p 11 1 Namura: Have you made progress in your tennis game? Miki: No sweat! I want you to see my terrific net play, too. 2 3 Miki: I'm glad you came. I was really worried. I thought you might not meet me. 4 Miki: Meiko... ...is over there, towards the large . is a Shinto gateway. It's depicted in panel 1 of page 12.> Miki: Please go to her... 5 --------------------------------------------------- p 12 1 2 3 --------------------------------------------------- p 13 1 Meiko: ......... Sensei...! 2 3 Miki FX: 4 5 narration: I wonder what'll happen? With those two... --------------------------------------------------- p 14 1 Miki: (To think they have to separate, even though they're in love... That's just so unbearable.) Miki: (Something like that definitely mustn't happen!!) Miki: (Please, Natchan... Respond to Meiko's feelings... And tell her that you'll start over again once more...!!) 2 Miki: I'm sure things are going well, right? Right? 3 deer FX: deer: (I don't care!) 4 Miki: (So cold... Uncute.) caption: Note: In Miyajima, there are a lot of wild deer. 5 Miki: I'll go and buy some, huh... I have free time. narration: ...... In the store I passed by a little while ago... narration: They were selling "deer food"... --------------------------------------------------- p 15 1 2 Namura: The story... I read it. Namura: Congratulations. How wonderful. 3 4 Meiko: You read it. I'm a little embarrassed... I'm totally bad at it. Namura: It's nothing like that. 5 Meiko: ...... You know the character called "Takasugi"? The sweetheart of "Seiko," who's the older sister of the hero. Meiko: You're the model for him, sensei. --------------------------------------------------- p 16 1 Meiko: That wasn't my intention at the start, but he steadily came to resemble you... And somehow, in the end, he turned into a strong character of deepest contemplation. Meiko: And so, it seems a lot of myself came out in the way "Seiko" thinks of him. 2 Meiko: You didn't know that you were the model, right? It's a completely different person from your usual image, sensei. Meiko: He's... ...someone who was written in an image of you, sensei, that's mine and that only I know! 3 Namura: ......... Meiko... 4 Meiko: I didn't think I'd have this much fun writing a story. Taking the vague something that was within me and giving it a form was very delightful. Meiko: When it was completed, the indescribable feeling of fulfillment... I can't forget it. --------------------------------------------------- p 17 1 Meiko: From now on... ...I want to be able to continue to write stories all the time. If possible, I want to make my way in the future as a novelist. Meiko: Though I know very well that this isn't such a simple world where it appears getting an award once is enough to open a path... 2 Namura: I'm sure it can be done. If it's you. 3 4 Meiko: I want to write all the time... Meiko: ...by your side, sensei. --------------------------------------------------- p 18 1 2 Namura: Meiko... That's... Meiko: Sensei, you... 3 Meiko: ...told me to search for the path that could restore me to life. And so I found it. Meiko: If it's writing something, I can do that anywhere. Even if I'm not in Tokyo... Even if I don't go to college. Even if I don't get a job. Meiko: Instead of just being *merely* there by your side, sensei... I can go and live, and do what I want to do! --------------------------------------------------- p 19 1 2 Meiko: Then, sensei, you... ...said that you had your hands full just trying to look after yourself. 3 Meiko: That you couldn't spare a thought for me... And so you couldn't take me with you. Meiko: But I'll never get in your way. I'll do my best so that I won't become a burden to you, sensei! ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (1): Hello. This comics comes after a half year's time. Although the day I'm writing this is 25 June '95, sometime around the first 10 days of August, when this book will be put on sale, I'll most likely be struggling to write the manuscript for the October issue, Marmalade's final one. Ahhhh. I pray it turns out all right... That's right. "Marmalade," too, is finally greeting its last issue. This comics has come to the point where the upcoming volume 8 is the last. I'll do my best and write it, so by all means, please read it to the end, 'kay! Yoshizumi Wataru FX: --------------------------------------------------- p 20 1 Meiko: SO, PLEASE... PLEASE LET ME STAY BY YOUR SIDE ONCE MORE!! 2 3 Namura: That's no good. 4 --------------------------------------------------- p 21 1 Namura: Don't talk like you'll change your entire life just to match me. Namura: I don't want to chain you down. I want you to grow up with freedom! 2 Meiko: But... Meiko: You're the one I love, sensei. 3 Meiko: It's too much to bear. Meiko: I love you...!! 4 --------------------------------------------------- p 22 1 2 3 Meiko: I understand... I'll go home. Meiko: I won't come to see you anymore... 4 Meiko: Farewell... 5 --------------------------------------------------- p 23 1 2 Meiko: But... I'll surely... Meiko: ...love you for the rest of my life...!! 3 ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (2): Have you all tried your luck at the "Marmalade" computer game? 2 kinds have come out--for the GameBoy and the Super Famicon, but I prefer the GameBoy one more. If you ask why, it's because Katchan appears. Katchan thrashes his limbs about! And then, to rotate!! (^_^) He's so-o-o lovely . Also, in the Super Famicon one, for the seals that are dispelled in the notebook in the game, Katchan's face appears, but his name is given as "Kappa"... Though, sure, that's sorta true... But, "Kappa"... (^_^) With the GameBoy, you choose your actions and words, and depending on whether or not your spell (mini-game) succeeds, the story is changed in various ways. In the cases where your incantation failed, the conversations become amusing. Continued in (3). --------------------------------------------------- p 24 1 2 Namura: MEIKO! 3 --------------------------------------------------- p 25 1 2 --------------------------------------------------- p 26 1 Namura: Why are you... ...so unreasonable like that?! 2 Namura: Even I have no idea how many times I was about to get on the bullet train to Tokyo. But, that I gave up that idea whenever that happened... 3 Namura: ...was for your sake!! Because I was thinking of your happiness... Despite that, why... --------------------------------------------------- p 27 1 Namura: ...ARE YOU MAKING ME LOSE CONTROL...?!! 2 --------------------------------------------------- p 28 1 2 Namura: I love you. 3 Namura: Are you sure it's okay if it's just me? Will you follow me...? --------------------------------------------------- p 29 1 Meiko: ......... I'll foll...! 2 3 --------------------------------------------------- p 30 1 deer FX: 2 Miki: W...! There isn't anymore, I tell you! bag: Deer Food Miki: It's empty! See? Nothing! 3 Miki: I tell you it's all done, and yet you're so-o-o persistent! deer: Miki: D-don't come close! I'm scared! 4 deer: Miki: OH MY G-O-O-OD! 5 Meiko: Miki! What's the matter? 6 --------------------------------------------------- p 31 1 2 3 Miki: .........!! Meiko. Natchan. Miki: Then...!! 4 5 ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (3): For example, in the one called, "The Party Becomes Fun Spell," if you succeed, then it ends with you getting by on friendly terms with Yuu, but if you fail, then Ginta, Arimi and Rokutanda come to visit you. (But the way to fail this spell is hard... ) With the GameBoy, you can do it in a rather short time, and you can even begin it from the middle, so I've had a try at it many times, but with the Super Famicon, I've still only done it once. In place of "Miki," I put in my own name, and tried to do it in a pattern where I can get close with Ginta (it's just because I thought that, now, Yuu's with "Miki"...), but with your own character, being called by your real name, "I love you, !" or whatever, is awfully strange, so I was feeling embarrassed... Continued in (4). --------------------------------------------------- p 32 1 deer 1: deer 2: What about the food? 2 Yuu: I see... Yuu: That's great, huh. Summoning the courage to go to Hiroshima. --------------------------------------------------- p 33 1 Miki: Yup! Yuu: Where's Akizuki? Miki: Still out on a date with Natchan. I had the good sense to make it so that the two of them were alone. Was that well done? Yuu: Ha ha . Well done, well done. 2 door FX: Miki: Ah, she came back. Bye! 3 Miki: Welcome ba-a-ack. How was it? Your first date in a long while. 4 Meiko: ......... 5 Miki: ? 6 Miki: MARRIAGE?! --------------------------------------------------- p 34 1 Meiko: I don't want to be separated from him anymore. Meiko: When I graduate from high school, I'm coming to Hiroshima. 2 Miki: Then, what about college? Meiko: I can always go, so when I settle in, I'll take the entrance exam to Hiroshima University. Meiko: I don't care if I don't go, but sensei tells me that he wants to let me. 3 Miki: I see. Marriage... Miki: It's a sudden turn of events... 4 5 Meiko: I paid a courtesy visit to sensei's parents just now. --------------------------------------------------- p 35 1 Meiko: They were awfully surprised, but... ...they listened quietly to our story... Meiko: ...and they understand that we are serious... 2 Meiko: And they received me warmly... Both of them were very nice people. 3 Miki: What about your parents, Meiko...? Meiko: I think they'll probably be fiercely opposed to it... 4 Meiko: But, it's all right. I'll put in the time, keep at it and persuade them! --------------------------------------------------- p 36 1 2 Miki: You won't be around, will you, Meiko. I'll be very lonely... 3 Miki: But, congratulations. Miki: I'm really glad...! 4 Meiko: It's thanks to you, Miki... If you weren't there, Miki, I wouldn't have been able to come as far as Hiroshima... Meiko: Thank you. --------------------------------------------------- p 37 1 2 3 Miki: I'm ho-o-ome! I bought some souvenir gifts! --------------------------------------------------- p 38 1 Miki: Okonomiyaki and kakizousui and maple leaf... ...manju... Jin/Chiyako/Youji FX: 2 Yuu: Oh! Miki. Welcome back! Miki: Yuu! What are you doing? Rearranging the rooms? 3 Yuu: We're clearing out the study room and making it into a guest room. You help, too. Yuu: I hear someone we know will be coming to stay over from next week. 4 Miki: ......... A guest? --------------------------------------------------- -------------------End of Chapter------------------ --------------------------------------------------- Scorecard: Miki <---> Yuu Meiko <---> Natchan ^ ^ | | | | Kei Satoshi (Miwa) Ginta <---> Arimi Rumi <---> Youji ^ ^ ^ | | | | v v Tsutomu Jin <---> Chiyako (Rokutanda) ---------------------------------------------------