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As some of you may know, there's an OVA out detailing the events in the first novel. I'm translating it purely out of curiosity... This is Chinese -> English, so there may be discrepancies with the original Japanese.
Synopsis: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclo ... p?id=10519
And yes, I know I should be doing Baccano!, but having a bit of a Japanese overload atm with my other translation work.
Enjoy the preview (I hope I'm putting this in the right forum):
Spoiler! :
Chapter 1 The Oath of the Bond from the Previous Life
Normally, what would you think when you've been called to the back of
the gym after school?
If the caller is a close friend, it's probably to tell some kind of
secret, right? But if the caller is a male and, on top of that, not a
close friend, it could be a signal of danger and violence.
Then, suppose the caller is a girl, what then?
In particular, if you were suddenly called out by a girl you've never
met before, what would you think?
Probably no guy would consider this a dangerous situation; in contrast,
the majority of guys would instead hurry there excitely with great
anticipation, right?
Jyuuzawa Jyuu never really bothered to think about this, because the
letter placed in his shoe cupboard had only specified the time and
location, and---
"There is something I would like to talk to you about."
Just this simple sentence.
The writing was elegant, giving the impression that it might be the
penmanship of a girl, but that was all there was to it.
Further, even if the letter was written by a girl, the person waiting
there then did not necessarily have to be a girl.
Although there was no problem with ignoring it, Jyuu was free after
classes, so he still headed in the direction of the specified gym. From
experience, when he was being called out in this manner, eight or nine
times out of ten there'd be a large crowd of people waiting there, and
they chose an isolated location precisely because it'd convenient to do
what they wanted! Besides, it was not the first time this kind of
situation had happened.
Jyuu felt that if a challenge was delivered right to his doorstep, he'd
give them what they asked for- this was only course of action for a
delinquent.
If there was something he had to worry about, it would probably be
things like how many opponents are there and what kind of weapons they
have!
But Jyuu guessed wrongly.
The large tree standing behind the gym was an over 200-year old sakura
tree, and was here long before this school was established. By now, all
the sakura flowers had already fallen from the branches, so it was
likely that not a single person would care about it until next year,
when it blossoms?
And, waiting under the tree for him was a girl.
Looking from a distance, Jyuu had no recollection of that girl
whatsoever.
Then, could it be... that?
Even Jyuu realised the meaning of being called out in such a manner by
a girl, but he immediately dismissed the notion, feeling it was far too
stupid.
It was far too stupid for a girl to have feelings about this, no,
rather, for him to think of this girl in that manner. But, it was
possible that he had dismissed the notion too soon.
He carefully surveyed the surroundings; there was no one besides the
girl. Seems like she wasn't being used as bait, with others hiding to
watch the drama ensuing from the prank.
No matter what, Jyuu decided to chat first with that girl.
When she noticed Jyuu coming, the girl pulled herself erect, as though
she were a little nervous, then walked over to Jyuu. The girl was a
full two heads shorter than the tall Jyuu, and her build was also
fairly slender.
She had beautiful jet-black hair, but her fringe was unusually long,
making it impossible to tell her expressions. From the colour of the
scarf of her uniform, one could tell she, like Jyuu, was a year two
student at the private Sakuragiri Senior High.
Standing face-to-face with her, Jyuu scoured his memories hard but
still could not draw any recollections of her.
Ask for her name first.
"You..."
"You must be Jyuuzawa Jyuu-sama?"
"...Yeah, that's me."
Jyuu felt a little awkward hearing such a respectful manner of address
from the girl.
Jyuuzawa Jyuu-sama?
Why call me '-sama'?
This girl continued speaking to Jyuu, who had
"I have been waiting for you for a long time."
"Ah, really..."
"I've always wanted to see you."
"Uh, just who..."
He hadn't finished, but the girl suddenly knelt before him.
As far as Jyuu was aware, this action was typically taken when one
wasn't feeling well.
Maybe she was so nervous it made her feel ill?
Just as Jyuu was considering whether or not to pat her pack to comfort
her a little, the girl maintained her kneeling position, lifted her
head and said,
"My body is your property, my heart is your slave. My King, Jyuuzawa
Juu-sama, I hereby pledge my eternal allegiance to you."
Then, the girl lowered her face to the speechless Jyuuzawa's feet, and touched her lips to the tip of his shoe.
Normally, what would you think when you've been called to the back of
the gym after school?
If the caller is a close friend, it's probably to tell some kind of
secret, right? But if the caller is a male and, on top of that, not a
close friend, it could be a signal of danger and violence.
Then, suppose the caller is a girl, what then?
In particular, if you were suddenly called out by a girl you've never
met before, what would you think?
Probably no guy would consider this a dangerous situation; in contrast,
the majority of guys would instead hurry there excitely with great
anticipation, right?
Jyuuzawa Jyuu never really bothered to think about this, because the
letter placed in his shoe cupboard had only specified the time and
location, and---
"There is something I would like to talk to you about."
Just this simple sentence.
The writing was elegant, giving the impression that it might be the
penmanship of a girl, but that was all there was to it.
Further, even if the letter was written by a girl, the person waiting
there then did not necessarily have to be a girl.
Although there was no problem with ignoring it, Jyuu was free after
classes, so he still headed in the direction of the specified gym. From
experience, when he was being called out in this manner, eight or nine
times out of ten there'd be a large crowd of people waiting there, and
they chose an isolated location precisely because it'd convenient to do
what they wanted! Besides, it was not the first time this kind of
situation had happened.
Jyuu felt that if a challenge was delivered right to his doorstep, he'd
give them what they asked for- this was only course of action for a
delinquent.
If there was something he had to worry about, it would probably be
things like how many opponents are there and what kind of weapons they
have!
But Jyuu guessed wrongly.
The large tree standing behind the gym was an over 200-year old sakura
tree, and was here long before this school was established. By now, all
the sakura flowers had already fallen from the branches, so it was
likely that not a single person would care about it until next year,
when it blossoms?
And, waiting under the tree for him was a girl.
Looking from a distance, Jyuu had no recollection of that girl
whatsoever.
Then, could it be... that?
Even Jyuu realised the meaning of being called out in such a manner by
a girl, but he immediately dismissed the notion, feeling it was far too
stupid.
It was far too stupid for a girl to have feelings about this, no,
rather, for him to think of this girl in that manner. But, it was
possible that he had dismissed the notion too soon.
He carefully surveyed the surroundings; there was no one besides the
girl. Seems like she wasn't being used as bait, with others hiding to
watch the drama ensuing from the prank.
No matter what, Jyuu decided to chat first with that girl.
When she noticed Jyuu coming, the girl pulled herself erect, as though
she were a little nervous, then walked over to Jyuu. The girl was a
full two heads shorter than the tall Jyuu, and her build was also
fairly slender.
She had beautiful jet-black hair, but her fringe was unusually long,
making it impossible to tell her expressions. From the colour of the
scarf of her uniform, one could tell she, like Jyuu, was a year two
student at the private Sakuragiri Senior High.
Standing face-to-face with her, Jyuu scoured his memories hard but
still could not draw any recollections of her.
Ask for her name first.
"You..."
"You must be Jyuuzawa Jyuu-sama?"
"...Yeah, that's me."
Jyuu felt a little awkward hearing such a respectful manner of address
from the girl.
Jyuuzawa Jyuu-sama?
Why call me '-sama'?
This girl continued speaking to Jyuu, who had
"I have been waiting for you for a long time."
"Ah, really..."
"I've always wanted to see you."
"Uh, just who..."
He hadn't finished, but the girl suddenly knelt before him.
As far as Jyuu was aware, this action was typically taken when one
wasn't feeling well.
Maybe she was so nervous it made her feel ill?
Just as Jyuu was considering whether or not to pat her pack to comfort
her a little, the girl maintained her kneeling position, lifted her
head and said,
"My body is your property, my heart is your slave. My King, Jyuuzawa
Juu-sama, I hereby pledge my eternal allegiance to you."
Then, the girl lowered her face to the speechless Jyuuzawa's feet, and touched her lips to the tip of his shoe.