Japanese to English translator specializing in video games, manga, anime, and pop culture

Member since Jul '21

Working languages:

Japanese to English

Soren Wang
JP>EN multimedia localisation specialist

Oxford, England, United Kingdom

Local time: 16:13 BST (GMT+1)

Native in: English

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Translation, Transcreation, Software localization, Subtitling, Editing/proofreading, MT post-editing

Specializes in:
Games / Video Games / Gaming / Casino	Slang
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings	Philosophy
Linguistics	Education / Pedagogy

PRO-level points: 4, Questions answered: 1

PayPal, Wire transfer

Sample translations submitted: 3

Japanese to English: Transcreation of manga chapter General field: Other Detailed field: Photography/Imaging (& Graphic Arts)
Source text - Japanese https://mega.nz/folder/7qJT2QQa#iBpZLvsCi1fHbSagxTQjVg	Translation - English https://mega.nz/folder/PmgXHQgL#fDyH_ZajoR6XJqwaI_908A
Japanese to English: Visual novel snippet Detailed field: Games / Video Games / Gaming / Casino
Source text - Japanese そして、いよいよ試合当日。マダラ、ハチモクと並んで観戦席に座りながら、私は今朝の鈴懸の様子を思い返した。鈴懸は、いつも通り笑顔で控室に向かって行ったけれど……。＠%name% （ちょっと元気がなかった気がするな……）＠%name% （やっぱりまだ、この間のこと気にしているのかな）当然だけれど、気になった。妖怪退治を幕府に訴えに行くと聞いて、鈴懸はあんなにも寂しそうにしていたのだから。＠%name% （……あれ以降、何かあったかな）といっても、鈴懸本人に聞くわけにはいかないから……。＠%name% あの……ふたりとも、鈴懸のこと少し聞きたいんだけれど……。またマダラに怒られるかな、と思いつつ、私は思いきって聞いてみることにした。＠%name% 宴会の日以降、何かあった？＠ハチモク何かって？＠%name% その……。鈴懸、元気ないみたいだったから。長屋の人たちとまた、何かあったかなって……。＠マダラああ、あのことか。んーまぁ確かに、妖怪への文句は相変わらずよく聞くわね。＠%name% それで、元気なかったんだ……。＠ハチモクでも、元気ないっていうか、ずっと考え込んでるって感じかなぁ。何かまた、やらかさないといいんだけど。＠%name% ……そっか……。＠マダラあれでも、だいぶ元気になったとは思うけどね。ま、良かったら後で鈴懸と遊んでやってよ。アンタといると、元気出るみたいだから。＠%name% え……？＠%name% （マダラに、こんなこと言って貰えるなんて……）この間言われたことと比べると、信じられないぐらい前進している気がする。＠%name% うん！　任せて！その時、大きな歓声と共に、鈴懸が試合会場に姿を現した。＠浪人 ……あんたか。話題になってる医者侍って奴は。＠鈴懸話題に、なってる……？＠浪人なんだ、知らなかったのか。お前さん、かなり今じゃ有名だぜ。＠浪人強そうに見えないのに、どんどんと試合を勝ち進んでるってな。＠浪人ま、俺としちゃ、覇気も何もねぇし拍子抜けだが。＠浪人とにかく、少しは楽しませてくれよな。＠鈴懸 ……うん。挑発を受けて、僅かに鈴懸の目に鋭いものが宿る。＠審判 ――では、はじめ！先に動いたのは、浪人の男のほうだった。＠鈴懸っ！互いの刀が、勢いよく交り合う。二度、三度と打ちあい、少し間合いを取っては、再び打ちあう。＠浪人ふん。なんだ大したことないじゃねぇか。＠鈴懸く……。間を開けずに、上から、下から、浪人が刀を振るう。鈴懸は、眉をひそめて、振り降ろされる刀を弾き返す一方だ。＠浪人んだよ。攻めてこないのか？なら、こっちから行くぜっ！＠鈴懸っ！浪人が勢いを付けて刀を振るい、その切っ先が鈴懸の頬を軽く裂く。その直後、僅かに鈴懸の足元が乱れた。＠鈴懸っ。歯を食いしばって、鈴懸が均衡を保とうとする。けれど。＠浪人貰ったっ！鈴懸が体勢を整えるよりも先に、浪人の刃が、鈴懸に迫った。＠鈴懸 ――っ！浪人の刀は、鈴懸を傷つけるはずだった。が――。＠浪人な、んだと……。受け止める側だったはずの鈴懸は、返す刀で浪人の刀を打ち砕いていた。折れた刃の先が地面に突き刺さり、辺りに破片が散らばる。浪人は、刃のない刀を握りしめたまま、呆然と鈴懸のことを見ていた。＠鈴懸 …………。しばらく、動く者はいなかった。誰もが声をなくして、動かないふたりを見つめている。＠審判 ――しょ、勝者鈴懸！会場に響き渡った審判の声に、ようやく全員我に返った。それを合図に、割れんばかりの歓声がわっと上がる。鈴懸は、黙ったまま刀を鞘に収めた。	Translation - English It was finally match day again. Sitting beside Madara and Hachimoku in the spectator stands, I thought back to how Suzukake had seemed this morning. He had gone to the competitors’ waiting room with a smile on his face, as always... ＠%name% (But I feel like he’s been a bit down lately...) ＠%name% (I wonder if he still cares about what happened the other day?) It went without saying, but I was worried. He had looked so unhappy when he heard that the residents would appeal to the shogunate about exterminating the yokai. ＠%name% (...Did something happen since then?) Having said that, I couldn’t ask Suzukake himself that. So... ＠%name% Um... You guys? I’d like to ask you something about Suzukake... I did think I ran the risk of making Madara snappish with me again, but I decided to try anyway. ＠%name% Did anything happen since the dinner? ＠Hachimoku What d'you mean? ＠%name% Um... Suzukake didn’t seem to be doing well, so... I’m wondering if the tenement residents said anything else... ＠Madara Oh, that. Mm... Well, he heard a lot of complaints about yokai again, as usual. ＠%name% So that made him upset... ＠Hachimoku But, I feel it’s less like he’s upset and more like he’s always stewing on somethin’. Hope he doesn’t do anything brash again. ＠%name% ...Right... ＠Madara Even with that, I do think he’s feeling a lot better. Well, you can always spend some time with him later if you want. He does seem livelier when he's with you. ＠%name% Huh...? ＠%name% (I...can’t believe she said that to me...) Compared to what she had told me the other day, I felt like I was making incredible progress. ＠%name% Right! I’ll take care of it! Then, with a roaring cheer, Suzukake stepped onto the tournament grounds. ＠Ronin ...It's you, huh? Doctor Samurai guy—the talk o' the town. ＠Suzukake I am...? ＠Ronin What? You didn't know? You're pretty famous now, y’know. ＠Ronin The one that don’t look like all that much, but who's winning more and more of these here fights. ＠Ronin Well, not that I think you got drive or anythin’ special going on, so. A bit disappointed. ＠Ronin But anyway. How's about you show me a good time? ＠Suzukake ...Right. Something in Suzukake’s eye slightly sharpened at the provocation. @Referee —Begin! The ronin made the first move. ＠Suzukake —! Their weapons clashed vigorously. They would strike each other two, three times, pause a beat, then go at it all over again. ＠Ronin Hmph. You ain’t all that special. ＠Suzukake Ngh... The ronin swung his sword—from on high, from down low—without stopping. Suzukake furrowed his brow, parrying each blow the ronin piled onto him. ＠Ronin What? Not gonna fight back? S’my turn, then—! ＠Suzukake —! The ronin lunged with enough force for the tip of his blade to graze Suzukake’s cheek. Suzukake’s footing went slightly erratic right after. ＠Suzukake ...Hngh. Clenching his jaw, he tried to stay balanced. But— ＠Ronin Gotcha—! The ronin’s blade closed in on him before he could fix his stance. ＠Suzukake ...! He should have been wounded by the ronin's blade. But instead— ＠Ronin ...What...the...? Suzukake, who was supposed to have blocked his sword, had shattered the metal altogether. The tip of the broken blade lodged into the dirt. Steel shards scattered onto the ground. The ronin, still clutching his bladeless sword, looked to Suzukake in a daze. ＠Suzukake ...... For a while, not a soul moved. The fighters stood unmoving as everyone stared at them in total silence. @Referee ...Th-the winner is—Suzukake! The referee’s voice echoed within the grounds, snapping everyone out of their reverie. As if on cue, the crowd erupted into cheers. Suzukake sheathed his sword in silence.
Japanese to English: Hakuoki SSL - Friends route ending Detailed field: Games / Video Games / Gaming / Casino
Source text - Japanese バレンタインが終わってもうすぐ２月が終わろうとする頃。私のクラスでは、ちょっとした異変が起こっていた。 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「井吹君、今日も休みなのかな」実は、井吹君が学校を休んで１週間が経っている。学校には体調不良で休んでいるって連絡があったらしいけど。もしかして大きな病気だったりするのかな。お見舞いとか行ったほうがいいかな。様子を聞こうとメールを送ってみたけど、返事はまったく来ない。普段からあまり返事をくれないから、あまり気にしていなかったけど、さすがにちょっと心配かも。そんな中――。さすがに１週間もすると、色々と噂もささやかれ始めていた。クラスメイトＡ「……井吹って　もしかして登校拒否とか？」クラスメイトＢ「井吹に限ってそんなことはないだろ」クラスメイトＡ「でもさ、　あいつ上級生とか他のクラスの奴に　絡まれること多いし」クラスメイトＢ「ああ、あれか。クリスマスのときに　理事長の息子ってばれちゃったし」クラスメイトＡ「普段からぶっきらぼうだから、　誤解されやすいし　余計な反感買っちまうんだろうな」クラスメイトＢ「実はさ、他のクラスの奴から　休んでるはずの井吹を駅前で見たって　話を聞いたんだけど、本当かもな……」クラスの中でささやかれる噂話が、聞くつもりはなかったけど耳に入ってしまう。私自身も見たり聞いたりしたことはあったけど、噂になるほどだったんだ……。井吹君、本当にどうしてるんだろう。さすがにちょっと心配になったので、その日の学校の帰りに様子を見に行くことにした。井吹君の家……つまり、芹沢さんの家に向かって歩いていると、道の前方に見慣れた人影を見つけた。 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「原田先生！　どこに行くんですか？」原田　左之助「なんだ、雪村か。　ちょっと龍之介の様子を見に行こうと　思ってな」「なんだ、#Name[1]か。　ちょっと龍之介の様子を見に行こうと　思ってな」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「私も同じです。もしよければ　ご一緒してもいいですか？」原田　左之助「ああ、そいつは構わねえが……」そういった原田先生は、すこし思案顔で私に聞いてきた。原田　左之助「ここ最近、龍之介から　連絡があったりしたか？」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「実は……何度か連絡してみたんですが、　電話は出ないし、メールの返事も　ありません」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「でも、体調が悪くて休んでるって　連絡があったんですよね？」原田　左之助「ああ。芹沢さんの家の人から　そういう連絡はあった」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「……１週間って長いですよね。　ちょっと心配です」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「それに……実はクラスでも　噂になってるんです」原田　左之助「その噂は俺のとこにも届いている。　クリスマスの件と外で見たって話だろ」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「はい……」原田　左之助「おまえは何も心配しなくていい。　ちょっとへそを曲げてるだけだろうさ」そうだといいんだけど……。とにかく私たちは芹沢さんの家に向かうことにした。私と原田先生が芹沢さんの家を訪ねると、ちょうど庭のほうから芹沢さんの声が聞こえてきた。そのまま玄関から庭のほうを訪ねてみると、ちょうど芹沢さんと鉢合わせとなった。芹沢　鴨「こんなところで何をしている？」原田　左之助「……芹沢さんか。ちょうど良かった。　ちょっと、龍之介のことで訪ねてきた」原田　左之助「学校を休んで１週間だ。　体調が悪いって連絡はあったが、　さすがに心配でな」芹沢　鴨「ほう……あの馬鹿犬は　仮病でも使っているのか」原田　左之助「……仮病、だと？　どういうことだ？」芹沢　鴨「俺も知らんな。なにせ１週間前に　家を飛び出していきおったからな」原田　左之助「芹沢さん……あんたのところの事情に　口を挟むつもりはねえが、　いったい何があったんだ？」芹沢　鴨「ふむ……俺のやり方が気に入らんなら、　出て行けと言ったまでだ」芹沢　鴨「まさか本当に出て行くとは　思わなかったがな」原田　左之助「そりゃ売り言葉に買い言葉って　やつだろう。　そんなこともわからねえのかよ」原田　左之助「それで、あいつが出て行って、　あんたは何してたんだ？　捜したのか？」芹沢　鴨「自ら出て行った者を、　何故捜す必要がある？」原田　左之助「あいつはまだ未成年だ。　あんたにだって、あいつを保護し、　養う努めがあるはずだろ！」芹沢　鴨「……自らしたいことをはっきり言えず、　ただ文句を吠えるだけの犬に　育てた覚えはない」芹沢　鴨「原田。明日になったら　奴の退学処理をしておけ」原田　左之助「ちょっと、待ってくれ！　どうしてそうなる！？」芹沢　鴨「学校とは自ら学びに行くものだ。　それを無断で休むくらいならば、　いっそ辞めたほうがよかろう」原田　左之助「芹沢さん！」芹沢さんは、原田先生の声を無視してそのまま家から出て行ってしまう。そして用意してあった車に乗り込むとどこかに出かけてしまった。 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「退学って…… 　そんなことはないですよね？」原田　左之助「まずいな……。今日中に見つけて　芹沢さんのところに連れて行かねえと、　本当に退学になるかもしれねえ」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「私、平助君たちに連絡して、　井吹君を捜してきます！」原田　左之助「すまねえが、頼めるか。　俺の方も土方さんに連絡しておく」原田　左之助「頼む。いてくれよ、龍之介」私と原田先生は、井吹君を見たという駅に向かって走り始めた。駅前で原田先生と別れて、井吹君を捜し始めてしばらくすると。藤堂　平助「千鶴！　龍之介いたか？」「#Name[2]！　龍之介いたか？」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「平助君！　ううん、まだ見つからないの」藤堂　平助「そうか……あいつ、学校を休んでると　思ったら、家出してたのかよ」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「でも、ちゃんと訳があるんだと思う」藤堂　平助「わかってるって。　芹沢さんが相手じゃ家も出たくなるさ」藤堂　平助「今、総司も一君も捜してくれてる。　見つかったらすぐに連絡が　あるはずだから、心配するな」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「うん……」藤堂　平助「それにしても水くせえよな。　一言言ってくれれば、　オレんちに泊めてやったのに……」藤堂　平助「とにかく、捜そうぜ！」平助君に励まされて、井吹君捜しを続けることにした。その後、平助君とも別れた私は、駅前を中心に捜し始めていた。平助君たちは、もう少し離れたところを捜してくれているらしい。井吹君、どこにいるんだろう……。こんなに寒いのに、夜とかどうしてるんだろう……。立ち止まって暗くなった夜空と明かりのついた街並みを見ていると……。？？？「あの、　この段ボールってもらっていいか？」目の前のお店から、なんだか聞き慣れた声が聞こえてきた。？？？「助かったぜ……。　今日のねぐらは新品で豪華だな。　二重にして新聞で隙間を埋めれば……」その声の主が店から出てくるところで、ちょうど鉢合わせしてしまった。 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「井吹君……？」井吹　龍之介「……雪村？」「……#Name[1]？」目が合った瞬間、井吹君が真横を向き、段ボールを投げ捨てて逃げ出した。 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「待って！　井吹君！」井吹　龍之介「俺のことはほっといてくれ！」あっという間に井吹君の背が小さくなっていく。全力で走る井吹君に私じゃ追いつかない。 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「はぁはぁ……待ってよ、井吹君！」そうだ！みんなに電話……電話しないと。走りながら、ごそごそと携帯を出して、電話をかけようとする。焦っているのと井吹君を追いかけるのと、走りながらの作業とかいろいろ重なって上手く携帯の操作もできない。どうしよう。井吹君が見えなくなっていっちゃう。そんなときだった。沖田　総司「お手柄だね。後は僕に任せて。　千鶴ちゃんは先生たちに連絡して」「お手柄だね。後は僕に任せて。　君は先生たちに連絡して」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「沖田……先輩！？」私の横を、沖田先輩が一言声を残して駆け去っていく。私は言われたとおり、その場に立ち止まって、携帯で原田先生に電話をしていると、沖田先輩が瞬く間に井吹君の背後に追いついたみたいだった。沖田　総司「ずいぶんと面倒をかけてくれるよね。　さっさと捕まってくれないかな」井吹　龍之介「頼む！　見逃してくれ！」沖田　総司「見逃すって……人聞きが悪いなぁ。　なんか僕が悪者みたいじゃない」井吹　龍之介「俺は、絶対に芹沢さんのところには　戻らないぞ！」そう叫んだ井吹君が、沖田先輩から逃げ出した。だけど、逃げ出す井吹君の前に新たな人影が現れる。斎藤　一「往生際が悪いぞ、井吹。　大人しく捕まれ」井吹　龍之介「捕まれって、俺は何もしてないぞ！」斎藤　一「いや、あんたは無断で学校を休み、　さらには家出を企てていると聞いた」井吹　龍之介「無断じゃない！　ちゃんと体調不良だって言ってあるぞ」斎藤先輩と沖田先輩に挟まれた井吹君は、横道に入って逃げ始めた。そして、井吹君が逃げる先に選んだのは初詣に行った神社だった。２人の先輩に追われながら井吹君がその境内に飛び込んだときだった。藤堂　平助「龍之介！　大人しくお縄につけ！」井吹　龍之介「お縄って何だよ！」藤堂　平助「逃げようったって無駄だからな！」斎藤　一「大人しくしろ。　さして悪いようにはしない」沖田　総司「ねえ。もし逃げるつもりなら…… 　どうなるかわかってるよね？」３人の先輩に囲まれた井吹君は、ようやく観念したのか、その場にへたりこんだ。井吹　龍之介「う、うう……わ、わかった……」こうして、井吹君は先輩たちの手によって捕まっ…… 保護されたのだった。その後、土方先生と原田先生が合流して、井吹君の話を聞くことになった。私と原田先生が聞いたとおり、芹沢さんと言い合いになった結果、売り言葉に買い言葉で飛び出したらしい。 ……井吹君らしいとは思うけど。原田　左之助「で、芹沢さんには何て言ったんだ？」井吹　龍之介「もう一度、剣道がしたいって……。　だが、許してもらえなかった」井吹　龍之介「その後、殴られて叩かれて、　気がついたら飛び出してた……」藤堂　平助「芹沢さん、ひでえな……」井吹　龍之介「だろ？　俺は悪くない！」沖田　総司「あのさ。剣道を自分でやめるって　言ったんだよね？」沖田　総司「芹沢さんに、二度とやるなって言われて　約束したんでしょ？」井吹　龍之介「あ、ああ……確かにそうだが…… 　って！？　なんで、それを知ってるんだ！」藤堂　平助「悪い。正月のとき、聞いちまった」斎藤　一「立ち聞きも悪いと思ったが、　声をかけられる雰囲気でも　なかったのでな」そ、そうだったんだ。あのとき、みんながまだお汁粉を食べてなくて不思議だったけど……それより。 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「あの、井吹君。　ごめんなさい、　実は私も聞いてしまって……」土方　歳三「声をかけようとして　こいつを黙らせたのは俺だ。　文句があるなら俺に言え」井吹　龍之介「なんだよ、みんな、聞いてたのか……」沖田　総司「でも、強くなりたくてやってたんでしょ。　別にいいんじゃない？」沖田　総司「試衛館ならそんなことは関係ないけど。　強ければそれでいいし」斎藤　一「総司はこう言っているが少し違う。　力を出し切った結果、　勝敗がつくならそれでいい」藤堂　平助「みんなでやってりゃ楽しいしな。　それで強くなれるなら一石二鳥だろ？」楽しそうに話している３人を、井吹君が呆然と見つめていた。やがて――。井吹　龍之介「沖田先輩だって強くて陰口言われるだろ？　気にならないのか？」沖田　総司「別に。言いたい人には　言わせておけばいいし」井吹　龍之介「自分の力が本当の実力じゃなくて　みんなに騙されてると知ったら？」斎藤　一「そのときは、　本当の実力をつければいい」井吹　龍之介「相手が……俺のことじゃなくて、　芹沢さんのことばかり言ってきたら……」藤堂　平助「そういうことは、直接、　芹沢さんに言ってもらえばいいじゃん」３人の先輩たちの言葉に、井吹君が苦笑を漏らしながら答える。井吹　龍之介「……ははっ。先輩たちと一緒だと　剣道も楽しいかもな……」井吹　龍之介「でも、自分で言ったんだ。　もう二度と剣道はしないって……」井吹　龍之介「芹沢さんに言われたんだ。　男が自分の言葉を取り消すのかって」井吹　龍之介「そんなこともできないから、　俺はいつまでたっても……」そう言いながら井吹君の顔が曇ってうつむきかけた。土方　歳三「取り消しゃいいじゃねえか。　間違いだって気づいたら、　何度だって取り消せばいい」土方　歳三「ただな。自分から言い出したことを　取り消すなら、それ相応の態度が必要だ」土方　歳三「自分の非を認め、その間違いを　相手にも伝えるけじめが必要だ」土方　歳三「おまえはそれをしたのか？」井吹　龍之介「…………」原田　左之助「芹沢さんが言ってたぜ。　文句を言うだけじゃダメだってな」原田　左之助「もう一度、ちゃんと話してみろよ。　今なら何をしなきゃならないか、　わかるだろう？」土方先生と原田先生の言葉を聞いた井吹君が、ゆっくりと顔を上げる。井吹　龍之介「ああ……わかる。　ちゃんと芹沢さんに謝るよ」井吹　龍之介「みんな……俺なんかのために悪かったな。　その……ありがとう」先生方だけでなく、周りのみんなに顔を向けて井吹君がはっきりと口にした。先輩たちの、そして先生方の言葉が井吹君の心に届いたんだと思う。本当に良かったね、井吹君。でも、それ以上に……。井吹君を助けてくれたみんなの姿が素敵だった。何かあった仲間を助けるために必死になってくれる人たち。私は薄桜学園に入学したことを…… ここの生徒になったことをとても誇らしく思うのだった。そして、私たちは井吹君と共に芹沢さんの家に来ていた。井吹君は、今回のことをちゃんと芹沢さんに謝るらしい。さすがにその場にまでいるつもりはないけれど、何となくの流れでここまで送ってきたのだった。私たちが芹沢さんの家の門をくぐると、庭のほうから大きな声が聞こえてきた。近藤　勇「芹沢さん。井吹君のことは、　考え直してはもらえませんか」芹沢　鴨「ふん。退学を取り消し、　学校に通わせたとしても何も変わらぬ。　時間の無駄だ」近藤　勇「そこで俺に提案があります。　今一度、試衛館を復活させて　もらえないでしょうか」芹沢　鴨「あのボロ道場を復活させて何をする？」近藤　勇「我が校に、いや、今の世だからこそ　試衛館の教えが必要だと思うからです」近藤　勇「【誇り高き武士であれ】　今こそ、この教えを井吹君に　いや、今の若者に教えたいのです」近藤　勇「試衛館では、武士であることを　剣の道を究めることで、学びます」近藤　勇「剣の道とは、礼節と信義を尊び、　誠をつくして心身を鍛えるもの」近藤　勇「そして同じ道を歩む者同士が　互いに切磋琢磨し合い高め合う…… 　それが試衛館の教えです」近藤　勇「俺に……いや、試衛館に井吹君を　預けてはくれませんか。　お願いします！」そう言うと、近藤先生は深々と頭を下げた。芹沢　鴨「…………」それをじっと見つめていた芹沢さんは、近藤先生が顔を上げると静かに語りかけた。芹沢　鴨「未熟な者が前に進むためには、　先達が道を切り開き、　導いてやらねばならん」芹沢　鴨「だが今の若者は、その道が　あって当然のものだと思っている」芹沢　鴨「何も考えず、ただ大人が決めたレールを　歩むだけで良いはずがなかろう」芹沢　鴨「近藤君。試衛館の教えは、　今の世には古臭く見える」芹沢　鴨「だが、今の世に忘れられている何かが　そこには在るのかもしれんな……」近藤　勇「では……井吹君のことは、　任せてもらえるのですか」芹沢　鴨「それとこれとは話は別だ」芹沢　鴨「退学のことも、　すでに原田から伝わっているはず」芹沢　鴨「あいつが考え、あいつが決めることだ。　それまでは、余計な手出しは無用」それまで私たちと一緒にいた井吹君が、２人に向かって駆けだした。井吹　龍之介「せ……芹沢さん！」芹沢　鴨「なんだ、犬。まだ俺に何か用か？」井吹　龍之介「芹沢さん……俺が勝手に剣道をやめて、　二度としないと約束したことも　わかってる」井吹　龍之介「でも、今ならわかるんだ。　芹沢さんの話もろくに聞かず、　売り言葉に買い言葉で決めて……」そう言うと、井吹君は芹沢さんに向かって姿勢を正し、上半身を傾け始めた。井吹　龍之介「すいませんでした！お願いします！　もう一度、　俺に剣道をやらせてください！！」芹沢　鴨「剣道か……。強くなりたいからか？　あのときの仕返しをするためか？」井吹　龍之介「いいや。俺は、この人たちと　もう一度やってみたいんだ」井吹　龍之介「そうすれば、何が本当に強いとか　勝つとか負けるとか…… 　それがわかるような気がする」井吹　龍之介「お願いします！　俺は、もう一度、剣道がしたいです！」芹沢　鴨「おまえが自分から頭を下げて、　そう言い出すのは初めてだったな」芹沢さんの意外な声音が井吹君に顔を上げさせた。芹沢さんはそんな井吹君から視線を逸らすように話を続ける。芹沢　鴨「近藤君。結果を出せるのなら、　あの道場を　もう一度開けてやってもいい」土方　歳三「芹沢さん。試衛館の教えは結果じゃねえ。　勝ち負けの問題じゃねえって、　今、近藤さんが言っただろ」芹沢　鴨「俺は勝ち負けとは言ってない。　あれが薄桜学園に必要なものか……」芹沢　鴨「今の世に必要な道場か…… 　その結果を見せてみろ」近藤　勇「はい、もちろんです」沖田　総司「当然、僕が見せてあげますよ」藤堂　平助「待った待った！　オレが見せてやるって！」斎藤　一「俺もその一助になります」原田　左之助「もちろん、そのバックアップは　俺がしてやるぜ」井吹　龍之介「みんな……」近藤先生を筆頭に、みんながそれぞれ声を上げる。それを目の当たりにした芹沢さんが、小さなため息をついてから、井吹君に向き直った。芹沢　鴨「龍之介、退学届は取り消しておこう。　好きにしろ」井吹　龍之介「あ……ああ、ありがとう、芹沢さん」井吹君の言葉を何とも言えない顔で受け取った芹沢さんは、すぐに背を向けて母屋に消えてしまった。藤堂　平助「良かったなーー、龍之介！」平助君が嬉しそうに井吹君に駆け寄っていく。笑顔の原田先生と近藤先生も、つられるように駆け寄った。土方先生はやれやれといった顔でため息をつき、斎藤先輩は、なにやら嬉しそうにみんなの輪を見つめている。そして、相変わらずだけど――。沖田先輩はにやにやしながら写真を撮っていた。そんな私は、嬉しそうにしているみんなのことを見つめているのだった――。それから、井吹君がちゃんと学校に来るようになった。クラスメイトＡ「学校休んでなにしてたんだよ？」井吹　龍之介「ふふっ……聞いて驚くな。　大人になるための修行だ」クラスメイトＢ「聞いたぜ。駅前で段ボールにくるまって　１週間過ごしたらしいじゃないか。　さすが大人の修行だな」井吹　龍之介「う、うるせーー！　資金不足だったんだよ！」こんな感じで、休んでいたことすらもネタにされながらクラスにも溶け込んでいた。こういうとき、男子ってちょっとうらやましいなとか思ってしまう。そして、すぐに春休みになったある日のこと。今日は、閉鎖されていた試衛館が再び門を開ける日だった。藤堂　平助「ふぁ～～。せっかく春休みだって　いうのに、なんでこんな朝早くから　学校に行かなきゃならないんだよ」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「だって、今日は試衛館が開く日なんだから　ちゃんと行かないと」藤堂　平助「行ったら行ったで、掃除とかやらされるに　決まってるしさ」藤堂　平助「こういうときは、ちょろっと遅れて　行ったほうがいいんだって」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「ダメだよ、平助君。　ほら……沖田先輩だって」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「沖田先輩。おはようございます！」沖田　総司「おはよう、千鶴ちゃん。　試衛館に来てくれる気になったんだね」「おはよう、#Name[2]ちゃん。　試衛館に来てくれる気になったんだね」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「あ……はい。私も決めました」藤堂　平助「え？　どういうこと？　行くだけじゃないのか？」沖田　総司「もちろん、試衛館の……というより　僕専用のマネージャーだよね」藤堂　平助「聞いてねえよ、そんな話！」沖田　総司「試衛館のマネージャーってことは、　強い者をケアして当然でしょ」 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「待ってください！　マネージャーの話は受けましたが、　そんな話は聞いてないです……」藤堂　平助「ほらみろ！　こういうことは……お！」沖田先輩に文句を言おうとしてた平助君が、何かを見つけたように駆けだした。藤堂　平助「龍之介！　道場に行くんだろ？　一緒に行こうぜ！」井吹　龍之介「な、何するんだ！　べ、別に、　道場に行くなんて言ってないだろ」藤堂　平助「じゃあ、なんで春休みなのに　制服着て学校に向かってるんだよ」井吹　龍之介「それは…… 　学校にちょっと用事があるだけだ」沖田　総司「へえ……。剣道をやらせてくださいって、　頭を下げていたのは誰だったかな」沖田　総司「うん。あのとき写真もよく撮れているよ。　見る？」井吹　龍之介「うわぁぁぁあああ！！　　そんなもの撮ってるな！」藤堂　平助「まあまあ、試衛館が今日から使えるから、　楽しみなんだよな」井吹　龍之介「そんなこと言ってないだろ！」沖田　総司「じゃあ、新入りはとろとろ歩いてないで、　さっさと行って掃除でもしてなよ」井吹　龍之介「え？　新入りって、俺？」藤堂　平助「おう。あったりまえだろ。　オレ、試衛館の後輩って初めてだから　しごくの楽しみだぜ！」井吹　龍之介「ま、待ってくれ。新入りで後輩って　俺しかいないのか！？」何かと言い訳しようとする井吹君を平助君と沖田先輩が左右から挟んでしまう。逃げ場を失った井吹君は、文句を言いながらも２人に連れられて学校に向かうのだった。晴れ渡る青空の下。校内に咲き誇る桜の花びらが風に舞っているなか。門の戒めを解かれ看板が出ている試衛館の前には、近藤先生と原田先生、永倉先生の姿が。そのすぐ横には山南先生と斎藤先輩、山崎先輩。井上さん、島田さんの姿まであった。 #Name[1]　#Name[2] 「皆さん、おはようございます！」井吹　龍之介「……来たぜ」私の朝の挨拶を遮るかのように井吹君が皆さんの前に一歩踏み出す。それを待ち構えていたかのように皆さんがたも一歩ずつ前に踏み出した。近藤　勇「来てくれて嬉しいぞ、井吹君」原田　左之助「待ってたぜ。　俺も少しばかり汗を流そうと思ってな」永倉　新八「今日から俺がビシバシ鍛えてやるぜ、　龍之介！」山南　敬助「歓迎しますよ。井吹君」斎藤　一「今まで教わったことは、　ほぼ役に立たぬ。全て忘れろ。　そして、俺が一から鍛えよう」山崎　烝「怪我をしても大丈夫だ。安心しろ」皆さんの後ろにいる井上さんと島田さんも笑顔で井吹君を迎えている。そして皆さんの真ん中から土方先生が姿を現した。土方　歳三「新入りだろうが　芹沢さんの関係者だろうが、　特別扱いはしねえ。……いいな？」井吹　龍之介「……ああ。望むところだ！」春一番の風が吹くこの日。薄桜学園に試衛館が復活した日だった。	Translation - English It was after Valentine's Day had passed, around the end of February. Something slightly strange happened in my class. ∴ #Name[2] #Name[1] "I guess Ibuki's absent again today." Actually, Ibuki hadn't been to school for a week. ∴ I heard that the school had been contacted and was told that he was resting for health reasons. Maybe he came down with something really serious. ∴ Maybe I should visit and see how he was doing. I tried texting him when I heard the news, but he didn't reply at all. He didn't reply all that much usually anyway, so I hadn't worried about it before, but now the radio silence was gnawing at me a bit. Meanwhile― As expected, whispers of multiple rumors started spreading within a week. Classmate A "...D'you think Ibuki's playing hooky or something?" Classmate B "No, it can't be. This is Ibuki we're talking about." Classmate A "But, y'know, he's pretty involved with a couple of guys from other classes in the year above ours." ∴ Classmate B "Ohh, right. They found out he was the chairman's son around Christmas and all." Classmate A "Yeah, he's a pretty tactless dude, so it's easy for him to cause misunderstandings and piss off people off without meaning to." Classmate B "Actually, I heard that someone saw him with some guys from other classes in front of the station when he's supposed to be resting. Maybe that did happen..." I didn't want to listen to all the gossip going around, but I overheard them all the same. ∴ I myself had seen and heard some stuff about it, but they were only rumors... ∴ What was really happening with Ibuki? It wasn't any surprise that I'd gotten a little worried, so I decided I'd go and check up on him while heading back from school today. I made my way towards Ibuki's house...in other words, Mr. Serizawa's house, and spotted someone familiar walking ahead of me on the pavement. #Name[2] #Name[1] "Mr. Harada! Where are you going?" Sanosuke Harada "Oh, it's you, Yukimura. I thought I'd go and see how Ryuunosuke's doing." ∴ "Oh, it's you, #Name[1]. I thought I'd go and see how Ryuunosuke's doing." ∴ #Name[2] #Name[1] "Same here. Maybe we could go there together then?" ∴ Sanosuke Harada "Sure, I don't mind. But..." Having said that, Mr. Harada looked a little worried as he asked me something. Sanosuke Harada "Have you heard from him at all lately?" ∴ #Name[2] #Name[1] "Actually...I tried contacting him over and over, but my calls wouldn't go through and he hasn't responded to my texts either." #Name[2] #Name[1] "But if he's in a bad way and resting at home, then he should've gotten them, right?" Sanosuke Harada "Yeah. Some of Mr. Serizawa's people at home called telling us the same thing." #Name[2] #Name[1] "...A week is a long time. I'm a little worried." ∴ #Name[2] #Name[1] "Also...there've been a couple of rumors going around class, actually." Sanosuke Harada "Yeah, even I've heard them. You're talking about what happened at Christmas, right?" #Name[2] #Name[1] "Yes..." Sanosuke Harada "You don't have to worry about a thing. They just got it a little twisted, that's all." I hoped that was the case... At any rate, we arrived in front of Mr. Serizawa's home. ∴ As Mr. Harada and I passed through the gate, we heard Mr. Serizawa's voice coming from the garden. As we went to see what was going on, we bumped into Mr. Serizawa. Kamo Serizawa "What are you doing here?" Sanosuke Harada "...Mr. Serizawa. Perfect timing. We came to see Ryuunosuke." Sanosuke Harada "He's been out of school for a week. We were told that he was in bad condition, but I'm still worried, as you might imagine." Kamo Serizawa "Well, now... That dumb mutt's even pretending to be ill now, is he?" Sanosuke Harada "...Pretending to be? What do you mean by that?" Kamo Serizawa "I don't know either. At any rate, it's been a week since he went and left the house." Sanosuke Harada "Mr. Serizawa... I don't mean to pry, but what in the world happened?" ∴ Kamo Serizawa "Hmm... I told him to get out if he didn't like the way I did things." Kamo Serizawa "I didn't imagine that he would actually do so." ∴ Sanosuke Harada "This is just him getting back at you for what you said. You didn't catch onto even that much?" ∴ Sanosuke Harada "Also, what have you been doing since he left? Have you looked for him?" ∴ Kamo Serizawa "Why would I search for someone who left of their own accord?" Sanosuke Harada "He's still a minor. And you're his guardian. You're supposed to try and provide for him!" ∴ Kamo Serizawa "...I don't recall raising a mongrel who only barks out his grievances and never clearly says what he wants." Kamo Serizawa "Harada. Deal with his expulsion tomorrow." ∴ Sanosuke Harada "Hold on, wait just a moment! Why's it come to that!?" Kamo Serizawa "School is where you go to learn. If he's on unpermitted leave, then the sooner he quits, the better." Sanosuke Harada "Mr. Serizawa!" He ignored Mr. Harada and walked past us out of the front gate. Then he got into a car prepared for him and drove off somewhere. #Name[2] #Name[1] "Ibuki won't... he won't really be expelled, right?" Sanosuke Harada "This is bad... If we can't find him and bring him back to Mr. Serizawa's by today, he might actually be." #Name[2] #Name[1] "I'll call Heisuke and ask him to help us search for Ibuki!" Sanosuke Harada "Sorry, yeah, that'd be a great help. I'll call Hijikata on my end as well." Sanosuke Harada "Please. Come back, Ryuunosuke." Mr. Harada and I started running towards the station where Ibuki was last seen. ∴ I split up with Mr. Harada in front of the station and searched for Ibuki for a while, before... Heisuke Toudou "Chizuru! Did you find Ryuunosuke?" "#Name[2]! Did you find Ryuunosuke?" #Name[2] #Name[1] "Heisuke! No, we haven't yet." ∴ Heisuke Toudou "Right... I thought he was just absent, but he actually ran away from home?" #Name[2] #Name[1] "I think he does have a good reason, though." Heisuke Toudou "Yeah, you're tellin' me. Anyone would if they had Mr. Serizawa as a housemate." Heisuke Toudou "Souji and Saitou are looking for him now, too. They'll call as soon as they find him, so don't worry." #Name[2] #Name[1] "Okay..." Heisuke Toudou "Still, though, he's a standoffish one. If he said the word, I would've let him stay at my place, no problem..." Heisuke Toudou "Anyway, let's search for him!" After Heisuke gave me some encouragement, we decided to keep searching for Ibuki. After that I parted ways with him, and started searching in front of the station. It seemed that Heisuke and the others were looking somewhere slightly further away. Where could Ibuki be...? What was he doing out at night when it was this cold...? I stopped and looked over the cityscape lights as the sky had gone dark, before... ??? "Um, could you give me some of this cardboard?" ∴ I heard a familiar voice from the store in front of me. ??? "Man, I'm saved... My crib tonight's going to be brand-spanking-new. If I fold over this newspaper and stuff it into the cracks, then..." I bumped into him just as he was coming out of the store. #Name[2] #Name[1] "Ibuki...?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "...Yukimura?" "...#Name[1]?" The moment our eyes met, Ibuki looked around me, then threw away his cardboard and fled. #Name[2] #Name[1] "Wait! Ibuki!" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Leave me alone!" In the blink of an eye, his figure had shrunk into a pinprick in the distance. I couldn't catch up, even while running full-tilt. #Name[2] #Name[1] "Haah, haah... wait, Ibuki!" Oh, right! I had to... I had to phone everyone. I fished out my cell phone to call them. ∴ My fingers were clumsy, though, as I was still panicking and chasing after Ibuki. ∴ What should I do? I'd lose sight of Ibuki at this rate. That was when it happened. Souji Okita "Good effort, but you can leave the rest to me. Make sure you call the teachers, Chizuru." "Good effort, but you can leave the rest to me. Make sure you call the teachers." #Name[2] #Name[1] "O-Okita...!?" Okita appeared beside me, leaving me with that one phrase before he ran off. I stopped on the spot and called Mr. Harada like he'd told me. ∴ It looked like Okita had caught up to Ibuki in a split-second. Souji Okita "You've been kicking up quite a bit of trouble. I suppose I ought to wrangle you in around now." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Please! Just let me go!" Souji Okita "Let you go...? Man, you're giving me a bad rep. Kinda makin' me seem like the bad guy here." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "I'm never going back to Mr. Serizawa's place!" ∴ Ibuki yelled that out before running away from Okita. ∴ But then someone else blocked his way. ∴ Hajime Saitou "You don't know when to give up, Ibuki. Come quietly and turn yourself in." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Turn myself in? I haven't even done anything!" Hajime Saitou "Not so. I heard you skipped school without permission, and you even planned to leave home." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "It wasn't without permission! I told 'em I was sick and everything!" Saitou and Okita cornered Ibuki, but then he ducked into a byway and ran. Then, he ran to the shrine where we'd paid our first respects of the year. It was when Saitou and Okita were chasing him down and Ibuki burst into the shrine grounds. Heisuke Toudou "Surrender, man! We got policeman's rope to tie you up!" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Why the hell do you have policeman's rope!?" Heisuke Toudou "There's no use in running!" Hajime Saitou "Stay still. Don't do anything stupid." ∴ Souji Okita "Hey. If you still feel like running... You know how it's gonna turn out, don't you?" The three boys surrounded Ibuki. He seemed to finally resign himself. and sunk to his feet where he stood. Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Ugh, nghhh... I-I understand..." That was how, by my seniors' hand, Ibuki was arreste―... I mean, that was how he was taken into custody. After that, Mr. Hijikata and Mr. Harada met up with us and we listened to Ibuki's story. Just like Mr. Harada and I had heard earlier, after his argument with Mr. Serizawa, Ibuki decided to take him up on his suggestion and run away. ...It sounded like something he would do. Sanosuke Harada "So, what did you say to Mr. Serizawa?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "I said I wanted to do kendo again... But he wouldn't let me." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "After that, he started beating me, and before I knew it I was running out of the house." Heisuke Toudou "Man, Mr. Serizawa's just awful..." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Right? I didn't do anything wrong!" Souji Okita "Uh, just checking. You were the one who said you wanted to quit kendo, right?" Souji Okita "You also promised Mr. Serizawa you wouldn't do it again either, yeah?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "A-Ahh... That's true, but... Huh!? Wait, how do you know that!?" ∴ Heisuke Toudou "Sorry. We overheard during New Year's." Hajime Saitou "I did think eavesdropping on you was in poor taste, but you weren't particularly quiet." ∴ O-Oh, so that was what had happened. I did think it was strange that they still hadn't eaten any red-bean soup at the time...but anyway. #Name[2] #Name[1] "Um, Ibuki. I'm sorry. I actually heard as well..." ∴ ∴ Toshizou Hijikata "I shut her up just as she was about to yell out to you. If you got any complaints, you can take them up with me." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "What the hell. So you all heard...?" Souji Okita "But, you were doing all that 'cause you wanted to be stronger. Isn't that alright, then?" Souji Okita "Not that this has anything to do with Shiei Hall. If you get stronger, then that's what matters." Hajime Saitou "Souji isn't completely right. As long as you give your best effort, it doesn't matter if you win or lose." Heisuke Toudou "Plus, it'd fun to practice together. If you manage to get good as well, that's two birds with one stone, right?" Ibuki looked dumbfounded, staring at the three of them looking like they were having a fun, casual chat. Eventually― Ryuunosuke Ibuki "But people badmouth you behind your back over how good you are, don't they, Okita? Doesn't that bother you?" Souji Okita "Not really. People can say what they want." ∴ Ryuunosuke Ibuki "What if you learn that everyone's been tricked, thinking you don't have any real capability on your own merits?" Hajime Saitou "That's when you should demonstrate your true strength." ∴ Ryuunosuke Ibuki "What if the obstacle...isn't me, but the fact that people only focus on Mr. Serizawa..." Heisuke Toudou "If that sort of thing happens, you can just ask Mr. Serizawa to say something, right?" Ibuki let out a bitter smile at what the three of them were saying as he responded. Ryuunosuke Ibuki "...Hahah. It might be fun doing kendo with you guys..." ∴ Ryuunosuke Ibuki "But, I was the one who said it. That I'd never do kendo again..." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Mr. Serizawa said stuff like 'What kind of man goes back on his word?'" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "If I can't even keep my promises, then I'll always just be..." Ibuki hung his head low as he mumbled. ∴ Toshizou Hijikata "What's wrong with taking back what you said? If you realize you messed up, you should take it back as many times as you need to." Toshizou Hijikata "But here's the thing. If you take things back, you need to have the right attitude about it." Toshizou Hijikata "You need to make the distinction between owning up to your mistake and telling the other person about it." Toshizou Hijikata "Have you done that?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "......" Sanosuke Harada "Mr. Serizawa was saying as much earlier. You can't just complain." Sanosuke Harada "Try talking to him properly one more time. You know what you have to say to him now, don't you?" Having heard Mr. Hijikata and Mr. Harada speak, Ibuki slowly raised his head. ∴ Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Yeah... I do. I'll apologize to him properly." ∴ Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Sorry, everyone...for making you do all this for my sake. And, uh... Thank you." Ibuki declared this not only to the teachers, but also to all of us standing around him. ∴ I believed that our teachers' and seniors' words had reached his heart. I was so happy for Ibuki. But, beyond that... Everyone was absolutely wonderful for helping him out. They were people who'd been desperate to do all they could to help a friend in need. I was so proud...that I decided to become a student of Hakuo Academy. ∴ Then, we went with Ibuki back to Mr. Serizawa's home. It seemed that Ibuki was going to give him a proper apology this time. Obviously, we weren't meaning to be there when it happened, but with the way things went, we ended up accompanying Ibuki all the way there. We passed through the gate to Mr. Serizawa's house before we heard a loud voice coming from the garden. Isami Kondou "Mr. Serizawa. Won't you reconsider about Ibuki?" ∴ Kamo Serizawa "Hmph. Even if you came all the way from school to try and cancel his expulsion, nothing will change. You're wasting your time." Isami Kondou "I have a suggestion regarding that. Why don't you have Shiei Hall restored once more?" Kamo Serizawa "What would reviving that derelict dojo accomplish?" Isami Kondou "Because I believe our school...no, society as we know it needs its teachings." Isami Kondou "'Be a proud warrior.' Now, more than ever, I want to impart that teaching upon Ibuki. No, not just him. I want to teach all our current charges that as well." Isami Kondou "I want them to become warriors by learning the way of the blade at Shiei Hall." Isami Kondou "A swordsmanship that prizes propriety and loyalty, devoted to sincerity and to training one's mind and body." Isami Kondou "People sharing a path and learning from one another, building their character from it... Those are the teachings of Shiei Hall." Isami Kondou "Couldn't you leave Ibuki in my... No, in the care of Shiei Hall? Please!" ∴ Mr. Kondou bowed deeply after saying that. ∴ Kamo Serizawa "......" Mr. Serizawa stared hard at him. When Mr. Kondou lifted his head, Mr. Serizawa addressed him quietly. ∴ Kamo Serizawa "Seniors have to cut a path to guide the inexperienced." ∴ ∴ Kamo Serizawa "But I believe that today's youth naturally merge onto that path now." Kamo Serizawa "It is impossible for them to do well by merely mindlessly following the rules set by adults." Kamo Serizawa "Kondou. Shiei Hall's teachings reek of antiquity in our modern society." Kamo Serizawa "However, there might be something to it that this modern society of ours has forgotten..." Isami Kondou "So...will you entrust Ibuki to me, then?" ∴ Kamo Serizawa "That is a different story altogether." Kamo Serizawa "I've already relayed the issue of Ibuki's expulsion to Harada." Kamo Serizawa "This is what that boy decided to do. To that end, any unsolicited meddling is futile." Ibuki, who had been with us until then, ran up to the two of them. Ryuunosuke Ibuki "M―... Mr. Serizawa!" Kamo Serizawa "What, dog? You still want something from me?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Mr. Serizawa... I know I promised you that I wouldn't do kendo again and that I quit of my own accord." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "But now I understand. I didn't listen to you well enough and decided to just get back at you for what you said." Saying that, he faced Mr. Serizawa, straightened his posture, and bowed. ∴ Ryuunosuke Ibuki "I'm very sorry! Please! Let me do kendo again!!" ∴ ∴ Kamo Serizawa "Kendo, eh...? Because you want to grow stronger? Because you want to get back at me for back then?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "No. I want to try it again with these guys." ∴ Ryuunosuke Ibuki "I feel that, if I do that, I'll really learn... what it means to truly be strong, to win, and to lose." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Please! I'd like to do kendo once more!" ∴ Kamo Serizawa "This is the first time you've lowered your head and said all of that out loud." Mr. Serizawa's unusual tone had Ibuki lifting his head. ∴ He looked away from Ibuki and kept speaking. ∴ Kamo Serizawa "Kondou. If you can give me results, you can try opening up that dojo once more." ∴ Toshizou Hijikata "Mr. Serizawa. Shiei Hall's teachings aren't about results. Kondou just said that it's not about winning or losing." Kamo Serizawa "I'm not talking about winning or losing. Are his teachings what Hakuo Academy needs..." Kamo Serizawa "Or what our world as we know it needs...? Show me results that answer that." Isami Kondou "Yes, of course." Souji Okita "Obviously, I'll be the one to show you." Heisuke Toudou "Hold up, hold up! I'm gonna be the one to show him!" Hajime Saitou "I will also provide my assistance on this." Sanosuke Harada "I'll serve as back-up, of course." ∴ Ryuunosuke Ibuki "You guys..." People started speaking up one after the other, following Mr. Kondou's lead. Mr. Serizawa let out a small sigh at the sight of that unfolding before him, and then turned to Ibuki. Kamo Serizawa "Ryuunosuke, I will cancel your expulsion. Do as you please." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Oh... Okay. Thank you, Mr. Serizawa." He accepted what Ibuki had to say with an indescribable look on his face, before he swiftly turned his back on us and vanished into the manor. Heisuke Toudou "Hell yeah, Ryuunosuke!" Heisuke rushed over to Ibuki, looking positively ecstatic. Mr. Harada and Mr. Kondou were drawn in, too, as they rushed over with smiles on their faces. Mr. Hijikata let out a sigh with a face that practically said 'good grief.' Saitou looked pleased in his own way, watching as everyone formed a ring around Ibuki. Then, though it came as no surprise to anyone― Okita was grinning with mischief while he took a picture of the whole scene. And I watched everyone looking so happy, being all together― ∴ After that, Ibuki came to school again. ∴ Classmate A "What happened? Why'd you miss out on school?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Hehe... Don't be too shocked when you hear. I trained so I could become a proper adult." Classmate B "Yeah, I heard. You rolled up some cardboard in front of the station and spent a week there, didn't you? That's some real intense training." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Sh-Shut up...! I didn't have enough money on me!" That was pretty much how the rest of the class welcomed Ibuki back from his absence, joking about the whole situation. I ended up feeling kind of jealous of boys at times like these. ∴ Then, spring break came in a flash. That was when it happened. It was the day that Shiei Hall, which had been shut down for so long, was being reopened. Heisuke Toudou "Maaan! It's finally spring break. Why do we gotta get up and go to school so early?" ∴ #Name[2] #Name[1] "I mean, we have to. They're opening Shiei Hall today." ∴ Heisuke Toudou "Let's say I did go ― they're obviously gonna make me do all the sweeping or something." Heisuke Toudou "It's times like these where you oughta arrive fashionably late." #Name[2] #Name[1] "I don't think so, Heisuke. Oh, look... It's Okita." #Name[2] #Name[1] "Good morning, Okita!" Souji Okita "Morning, Chizuru. Seems like you're up for joining us in Shiei Hall, then." "Morning, #Name[2]. Seems like you're up for joining us in Shiei Hall, then." #Name[2] #Name[1] "Oh... Yes. I made my decision." Heisuke Toudou "Huh? What d'you mean? You're not just visiting?" Souji Okita "Of course, she's now Shiei Hall's...or, really, my personal manager." Heisuke Toudou "I didn't hear about this!" Souji Okita "Of course the job of being Shiei Hall's manager would be left in a competent person's care." #Name[2] #Name[1] "Hold on a moment! I accepted the position of being the manager, but I didn't hear about that..." ∴ Heisuke Toudou "Look, see! This sort of thing's just... Oh!" Just as he was about to complain more to Okita, Heisuke looked like he'd spotted someone and ran off. Heisuke Toudou "Ryuunosuke! You heading to the dojo? Let's go there together!" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "W-What're you doing!? I-It's not like I said anything about heading there." ∴ Heisuke Toudou "Right, then why're you wearing your uniform and heading to school even though it's the holidays?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "That's 'cause...I just have some stuff to take care of at school." Souji Okita "Really, now...? I wonder who it was that bowed their head and asked, 'please, let me do kendo again.'" Souji Okita "Yeah. I took a pretty good picture of that, too. Wanna see?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Uwaaaarrrghhh! Don't take photos of stuff like that!" Heisuke Toudou "Aw, c'mon, we'll be able to use Shiei Hall from now on, so we can all look forward to that." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "I told you I never said anything about that!" Souji Okita "You know, a rookie shouldn't be dragging his feet like this. Hurry and go clean up." Ryuunosuke Ibuki "Huh? Rookie? You mean me?" Heisuke Toudou "Uh-huh. Of course you are. This is the first time I've had any junior below me in Shiei Hall, so I'm super excited!" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "H-Hold up. I'm not gonna be the only rookie there, am I!?" Heisuke and Okita bracketed Ibuki on both sides as he tried to make excuses one way or another. Without anywhere left to run, Ibuki kept complaining as the two of them brought him along, and we all headed to school. Beneath the cloudless, blue skies... The wind sent petals from cherry blossoms in full bloom dancing across the school grounds. In front of the unwrapped sign board on Shiei Hall were... ∴ Mr. Kondou, Mr. Harada, and Mr. Nagakura. Standing right next to them were Mr. Sannan, Saitou, and Yamazaki. Even Mr. Inoue and Mr. Shimada were there. #Name[2] #Name[1] "Good morning, everyone!" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "...You came." Ibuki took a step towards everyone, interrupting our greetings to each other. Then, as if they were all waiting for him, everyone took a step towards him as well. Isami Kondou "I'm happy you came, Ibuki." Sanosuke Harada "We were waiting for you. I thought I was about to break out into a sweat here." Shinpachi Nagakura "I'll be training you with no holds barred from now on, Ryuunosuke!" Keisuke Sannan "Welcome back, Ibuki." Hajime Saitou "What you've learned up until now is useless. Forget everything you've learnt. I will train you from the ground up." Susumu Yamazaki "You'll be fine even if you get injured. Rest assured." Even Mr. Inoue and Mr. Shimada, who were standing behind everyone, smiled at Ibuki's return. Then, Mr. Hijikata appeared at the center of the crowd. ∴ Toshizou Hijikata "Doesn't matter that you're a rookie or that you're Mr. Serizawa's kid. You're not getting any special treatment here. ...Got it?" Ryuunosuke Ibuki "...Yeah. That's just what I wanted!" The first gust of the spring wind blew that day. On the day that Shiei Hall was restored to Hakuo Academy.

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Bio

Born and raised in Hong Kong, I started teaching myself Japanese from my love of anime and manga. After self-learning for six years and independently translating for nearly four, I'm dedicating myself to attaining JLPT certification and preparing to become a freelance Japanese-to-English translator.

I'm a creative writer and have an affinity for Japanese visual novels, which numbers among the non-profit translation projects I've taken over the years.

Keywords: japanese, localization, video games, games, manga, anime, pop culture

Profile last updated
Aug 2, 2021

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