English Translation by Yamazaki Masatomo and Karen Duffy © April 1999 ENJOY YOUR YOUTH... Azuki Ryo Ribon Magazine December 1998 Chapter #2 Title: Can You Make A Counterattack, Rika-chan-sensei, 16 years old? The front art illustration is in color: Rika is in a tank top and what looks like boxing shorts, with boxing gloves on looking somewhat determined. The other characters are shown in little boxes around her, including the kangaroos. Sahara has his tongue stuck out defiantly. Page 1 Student: Rika-chan, I can't read your characters on the board. Rika: Hm? Page 2 Student: Isn't this an English Lecture? Rika: Excuse me, that was Swahili. Rika thinks: Today they're just like they were yesterday. Student: Hold it! (The student is confused) Student (boy): Really? Rika-chan understands Swahili? Rika thinks: Who is this guy (Sahara), who pretends like he has perfect behavior (in class)? Page 3 Rika thinks: In front of others, he acts like the ideal student. In class, he's popular with the girls. And yet, there's yesterday's nightmare incident with him. Student: Rika-chaaan, let's play volleyball. Sign: As we all know, she isn't being treated like a teacher. Student: Hey, pay attention, Rika-chan. Page 4 Student: Get the ball! Hurry! Rika: Oh sure, sure! Rika thinks: Did it go off in this direction? Sahara: Looks like fun. Rika: Sa.... Sahara: Cool. During lunch hour, playing volleyball with the students. No regular teacher could keep up. Sounds of Rika getting irked. Page 5 Sahara: Seeee ya. Rika: WAIT!! We meet after 100 years! There's an old saying that goes "We meet here after 100 years" is like saying "It's about time to hurt you". Sign: She can't open her mouth without saying something outdated. Rika: Tell me all the dirty details you left out yesterday. Sahara: What are you talking about? I see! So blackmailing you wasn't sufficient? Rika: STOP BEATING AROUND THE BUSH, SAHARA!! Sahara: You haven't figured it out yet? Page 6 Sahara: The talk about trading answers...well, the ringleader's..me. Rika thinks: Just what I figured. He's a two-faced jerk!! Sahara: For a college graduate you're pretty slow, Rika-chan. Page 7 Sahara: Okami and Watanuki are nothing but my pawns. They have to work pretty hard at it so I pay them periodically. Rika: Why? You've gone too far when you do those kinds of dealings. Sign: Her back is broken. (Means she's VERY shocked. The Japanese analogy is when you're shocked you can't stand up just like having you back broken.) Sahara: It doesn't mean a thing to me. It's just a game. Rika: A GAME?!! Sahara: Because... Page 8 Sahara: ...if I didn't do something like this, school would be a drag. Having been a good student for forever and a day, always taking care of other stupid people, I got sick of it all. Then I decided to use them and get something in return. To watch those people, who are serious about their test results, is funny. Page 9 Rika throws the socker ball right into Sahara's face. Rika: RIKA-CHAN ATTAAAAAACK!!!! Sahara: Wha...?! Rika: Is it really so amusing you adolescent be CROOKED? A good adolescence is... Page 10 Rika's gone idealistic again and the art changes to it's old fashioned style as she imagines it. Rika: ...about laughing, crying, and sweating with your sensei and classmates. Cooperation and love shared with your pals. It would be far more beautiful that way; and you only can experience it once. Sahara: That's a bunch of bull. If you like Show Era 40's adolescence dramas, then do them by yourself. Regardless, I have no intention of stopping the games. If you want to stop me, then just try it. (He's referring to 30 years ago probably because of her language and attitudes.) Page 11 Sahara: Keep this in mind, it's a waste of time to tell my uncle. I have been playing perfect long enough for him not to believe it. Rika thinks: How mortifying. He's patronizing me!! Is it because I'm 16 like him? Come on now, you don't need to be patronizing me just because I'm the same age as you!! I'm going to tear off that good student mask of yours!! Actually, the Japanese way of what Rika says about is Sahara is "pretending to be a cat". I just asked Masatomo why cats. He says cats act nice around people, but beneath it all it's just for themselves. Dogs are different. They really like people. It's a way of talking about two faced people it seems. Page 12 Principal Kagetora: So how's the newcomer doing? Student (girl) Something the matter? Lunch break is over. Rika: Oh, forgive me. Miketani: Yesterday she missed the Teachers' Meeting. Other than that there hasn't been any problem. But during that time, she may have met up with Leo-kun. She doesn't want to discuss the details on that. Kagetora: I see. Rika thinks: Hm...if I only I could find his weakness, I'd be able to wipe off that poker face of his. Beside Rika is a bag with the title of "Kangaroo Biscuits". The Kangaroos are fighting over a biscuit. Rabbit: SHUT UP!! Rika: Guessing it (his weakness) would be impossible. The only time I've seen Sahara-kun upset was when... But then to suddenly see them out of the blue would startle anyone. We see him being run over by the little kangaroos and him going "Waaaa!' Watanuki is seen ghostlike watching Rika from behind. Page 13 Rika: Oh, YOU'RE there, Watanuki-san. Watanuki: You can call me, Jimiko. "Jimi" means not outstanding, not fashionable, not cool...kind of a plain Jane. Rika: Jimiko? Watanuki: That's what everyone else calls me. Rika: Hm. Say, why do you... do what Sahara wants, Jimiko-san? Page 14 Jimiko: To be honest... Rika: Something serious it looks like, but... Jimiko: Several months ago, during an exam, I couldn't remember one of the mass formulas. We see her remembering: "How odd. I studied. I was fully prepared. What can I do? I'm trapped, I can't go on to any of the next problems". Jimiko to Rika: I was devastated. Jimiko remembering: "If only I could even remember a little bit of it, I could go on." Jimiko to Rika: Believe me! The only time that I've EVER been possessed to do something wrong, was then! Rika: I-I see. I see. Jimiko: Even when I copy the storeroom answer sheets, I try not to look at them. Jimiko: But after the exam... Jimiko remembering: Sahara: "I saw what you did." Page 15 Sahara: "Now, I know why you're always been the best in our grade, Watanuki-san." Jimiko: "No, only today! I felt..." Sahara: "Ah, but if you make excuses, would anyone forgive you? Don't let it worry you. I won't tell anyone, providing you do what I want." Rika thinks: That stinker. He's pointing at someone's weakness and taking advantage of it. Just how far would he go? Jimiko: I couldn't afford to make Sahara-kun my enemy. Since then, I've had to listen to him. Page 16 Jimiko: Actually, I don't want to do this sort of stuff. I don't want to do it! Rika: Jimiko-san. Okami: Hey! Oh, so you're here. In a small voice: What a tiny entrance (on the rabbit cage). Rika: Oh, there's the troublemaker and gang leader!! She holds up a tiny blackboard and a piece of chalk as a threat. Okami: Don't DO IT! I'm not going to do a thing. Whaddya mean "gang leader"?! Page 17 Okami: There's a message from Sahara. After tomorrow's lectures, prepare the copies. Rika: What does he mean?! Okami: Tomorrow afternoon will start the trading on those. Page 18 Okami: Sahara told me that you know all about it. But I suggest you don't mess with him. Jimiko: Oh, I have to go now. Rika: Jimiko-san. Rika thinks: Tomorrow? By tomorrow afternoon, I have to come up with something. But what? Page 19 Kagetora: Yo! How is it going, Newcomer? Rika in a small voice: Going too quickly. Rika: Principal, what brings you here? Kagetora: I'm bored so I'm taking a stroll. Rika thinks: You have no idea what your nephew has been doing. Probably, it would be a waste of time to tell him. What a laid back principal. Kagetora: Whenever I see these guys (the kangaroos)... Rika: Huh? What about them? Kagetora: You see, a long time ago, when I traveled to Australia.... Want me to tell you a secret about our Leo-kun? Page 20 Rika: Jimiko-san WAIT! Tell me the location of the exam answers trading! It may be possible to put a stop to Sahara-kun's activities. Jimiko: That just isn't possible. Rika: How can you know that without trying? You want to him to use you like this forever? Page 21 Rika: Let's make him say "uncle". She actually says. 'Why don't we make him say "gyaaaafoooon!"' Which has the same connotations as "Let's make him say "uncle". "Gyafoon" is also an antiquated word. Sign: Next day. Jimiko as remembered by Rika: "The place to meet is behind the school building. A PE storage building, no longer in use now. During the trading, some people keep a look out. And those who are not involved, are not allowed in." Sahara: Has she come yet? Page 22 Sahara: Jimiko, you're late! Everyone's been waiting! Okami: The bitch (Rika) hasn't said a thing. Sahara: Teachers are like that. Okay, we've got answers in every subject. Fine, let's start the negotiations. This time, about this much per subject. He holds up five fingers for 5000 yen. (about $40 some odd) Page 23 Student: 5000! It's more expensive than LAST time! Girl: No compassion! Guy: That's way too much! Student: No way! All: Boo! Boo! Sahara: Fine. If you wanna complain, no one's forcing you to buy them. You guys, are spoiled. The price of being good students doesn't come cheap. Okami has caught the fact that Rika is there uncover, dressed up to look like Jimiko. Okami: Ah! Page 24 Rika's on a vaulting horse and slams a chalk eraser across Sahara's head. Rika: Enough of this! You've gone too far! Student: That's NOT Jimiko?! Student: Eeeh?! Student: RI-RI-RIKA-CHAN?!! Rika: Well now, SO many naughty kids in here! Page 25 Rika: First year, Class C, number 21. Tanaka Hajime. Class E. Number 38, Yamamoto Yukari. Number 39, Watanabe Madoka. Class A, Sato. Class C, Ito. Class D....and on and on. In the end, the rest are omitted to call (there are too many). Individual faces show up as the list is called off and those faces look pretty worried. Title of a notebook: Rika-chan's X files. (In Japan, X Files is very popular.) Rika: WITHOUT MISSING A SINGLE ONE OF YOU, YOU'VE BEEN RECORDED ON A BLACK LIST. A sweat bead rolls down Sahara's face. Sahara thinks: She's memorized all the faces and names of everyone in every class?! Rika: If you 're sick over this (being found out), and you swear to me that you will never do anything as stupid as this again, then I will look the other way. If you don't... She sings: I'll tell... I'll tell... I'll tell the teachers. Kindergarten kids sing the above. Kids: I SWEAR IT!!! Page 26 Rika: Okay! Break up! Okami: I predict something bad coming from this. Sahara sarcastically: How GOOD you look in a school uniform, Rika-chan. Rika: Thank you very much. By the way, those copies are fakes. Page 27 Sahara: You're taking me for a fool, pissing me off, and you can't...(expect not to get payback). Rika: That's my line. COME, MY FRIENDS! Okami thinks: BAD! I left Sahara on his own and ran for it. I'd better get back. Page 28 Okami: Jimiko?! Jimiko stands at the front of the building with a baseball bat and a construction helmit on, looking completely ready for action. Jimiko: She told me not to let anyone in until aftershe was through with Sahara! Sign: Because she lent her uniform to Rika, she's wearing jerseys. Sahara: Wh-Wh-Why are there kangaroos HERE?! Rika: My friends from Australia, Kantarou and Garuko-chan! Heh, heh, heh. The principal told me that when you traveled to Australia long ago... Page 29 Rika: ...you were kidnapped by a giant kangaroo, because it mistook you for it's Joey. Sign: Young principal. Principal calling to the little boy in the kangaroos pouch: Come back by early evening. Rika: Afterwards you lost your memory of those two days when you were lost. For a while after the incident, you peed you pants every time you saw kangaroos on TV. There were so many funny stories told to me about that. Sahara: That fucking, nirvana, old man! I assume "nirvana" is being used the same way that we use "spaced out". Rika: It's unfair, I know. But against a real problem like you... I feel you're in need of severe punishment. Page 30 Kanta and Garuko are in boxing shorts. Rika: Kanta! Garuko! Play with this onii-san. Sahara is speechless. Okami: What's GOING ON in there?! Page 31 Miketani: What's so amusing, Principal? Kagetora: Well, I'm just wondering which of them is going to win the first round. Okami rushes in to where the commotion is, with Jimiko being holding on from behind. Okami: What's the matter, Sahara?! Rika: Regardless, the first round was my win by a KO (knockout)! If you've had enough, then enjoy your youth seriously. Sign: And this is just the beginning of the "bravo school battle" of Usami Rika (16) karen.duffy@bbs.chemek.cc.or.us ---------------------------------------------------------------------------