English Translation by Yamazaki Masatomo and Karen Duffy © April 1999 ENJOY YOUR YOUTH... Azuki Ryo Ribon Magazine February 1999 Chapter 4 Title: Which Will Be Taken - Rika-chan's Hair or Sahara's Lips? The front illustration is in black and white. Rika is holding an ocelot, she has her tongue stuck out mischievously, and her hair is in pig tails. Page 2 Rika thinks: Rika-chan's in a pinch! Rika: Excuse me, could you wait, Everyone? Is this a joke? ALL of you would cut off a girl's hair? Page 3 Okami: Sahara, why don't you let her go? I think she's had enough. Sahara: Leave me be. Because of her, I've been in a world of shit. Girl: Have you seen Sahara-kun? Girl: It's nearly 5 o'clock, Yurizono-san. Yurizono: Oh geez. Sahara: I want there to be a clear winner, otherwise I won't be satisfied. DO IT! Rika pictures in her mind Ikkyu-san, from an anime from about 25 years ago. He was a little monk so his head was shaved off. Rika thinks: ACK! I'm going to end up a baldy?! Page 4 Student: Waaaa! WHAT?! Jimiko shows up with a helmet on, a baseball bat and the rabbits. Rika: Jimiko-san!! The rabbits attack the guys. Rabbits: WAaaaaa! Guys: Kyaaaah! Kyaaaah! Where the hell did those things show up from? Rika: Did you come to save me? A little rabbit is on Jimiko's helmet asking the kangaroo, Kantarou, who is on Rika's helmet, if he's all right. Kanta is crying and saying "yeah". Page 5 The rabbits and boys are making tons of noise. Sahara: Jimikoooooo! Rika: Never mind that. Your enemy is ME! Now that you have to fight me face to face (without your flunkies), what're you going to do? The intercom make the typical noises prior to an announcement. Voice: Emergency report. Emergency report. This is last minute message for all the girls in school!! Rika and Sahara: ?! Page 6 Voice: 1st Year Class B, Sahara Leo, whom you are trying to find is in... Rika thinks: That's the voice of... Voice: ...Class 32, West Wing, Third Floor. Page 7 Okami: Bad News! Run Sahara!! Rika is holding Sahara so he can't move. Rika: This is not like Ink Squid Spaghetti. "Sowa Ika Sumi Spaghetti" = Ink Squid Spaghetti "Sowa ika nai" = Things aren't going to got he way you think they are" The above is simply a play on words. As a die note, Ink Squid Speghetti is a popular Italian dish in Japan. Sahara: Let me go!! Inari: Foooound yooooou. Yurizono: Sahara-kun, you ought to just give in. Kagetora: Huh, nobody knows that I can observe this. From my office, I can see all the classes with surveillance cameras. Miketani: Spying on people is a nasty hobby. By the way, I broke the camera in the nurses office. The teacup says "Muto". Masatomo is wondering is she's a Muto fan. Muto is a Japanese wrestler. Page 8 Rika: There's a only a few minutes to go. Why don't we bring this to a climax? Yurizono to Inari: Go away, Little Girl. Inari: Don't touch an underclassman, you Otsubone-sama! Otsubone-sama is a character from an ancient story. She implying that the girl is actually like an arrogant rich lady. Sahara: Excuse. me... Inari: Don't get so friendly with Sahara-kun. Yurizono: You either. Quit pulling on him there. Sahara: Could you.... Rika thinks: There's been an upset (in the game) but I sort of feel sorry for him. Page 9 Rika thinks: Okami-kun can't help him in front of other people either. Because I'm a teacher, I can't overlook it when a student is being attacked. Rika: JUST A MINUTE! Inari: What's the big idea! Don't interfere with us, Rika-cha....! Rika turns Sahara's face towards her. Sahara: ?! Page 10 Rika puts Garuko up to Sahara-kun lips to force a kiss. Page 11 Rika: GAME! SET! The bell immediately goes off for 5 o'clock. Rika: Sorry participants, game's over! See ya! Girls: There's no way it should have turned out this way! Author: The answer of the quiz is Garuko. We'll announce the winner of the prize. Page 12 Rika laughs: Almost. That was close! By the way, are you okay, Sahara-kun? Could it be that the shock treatment got you over your kangaroo phobia? Sahara passes out. Rika: Kyaaaah, Sahara-kun! Sahara dreams about an incident from his childhood: Lady: "You know that both of Leo-kun's parents are teachers abroad?" Lady: "What a noble job. Then Leo-kun, you must follow their example and be very good, shouldn't you?" Page 13 Girl: "Sahara-kun, would you do Cleaning Duty for me?" Boy: "That disgusting leader duty, why don't we make Sahara do it? He's always playing the goodie two shoes." A class is divided into groups and each group has a Leader. Leader's duty is to take care of the members of the group. Boys: "You just showoff because you're smarter than the rest of us and teacher's pet. Your hair's like a girl's. I'll slice it off for you." Sahara: "Stop! Let go!" His wording is like a girl's would be. A male teacher is within distance to see what's going on. Sahara: Ah! Sensei! I can...! The teacher ignores him, turns his back and walks off. Page 14 Little Sahara, afterwards is by himself, is so frustrated that he kicks a desk. Sahara: I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS CRAP ANYMORE! Sahara wakes up and finds his head laying in Rika's lap. He blushes. Rika: Oh, you've come to now? Page 15 Rika: Thank goodness. You weren't moving at all. I was thinking I should get Miketani-sensei. Don't worry, I told Kanta and Garuko not to come any closer than a meter of you. Hm? Your glasses are undamaged. Now that I think about the game... Page 16 Rika: ...we didn't decide what we'd do if I won. You just gave me your demands and started the game. That's hardly fair. Sahara: WHAT DO YOU WANT?! Rika: Hm... well then..... be my friend. Page 17 Sahara: Huh? Fr-Fr..ien....? Rika: I figure that Sahara-kun just pretends to be nice to others, so you couldn't have any real friends. With me, you don't have to pretend to be the perfect student anymore. I don't mind if we fight now and then. So we're fighting friends. In Japan, if people fight and are friends, people say they have a good relationship. This is because they're able to be open with each other. This is important because the Japanese as a culture are less direct than Western culture people are. Rika: I'll never let you say that school is boring. Rika puts out her hand to shake his, but he slaps it away. Page 18 Sahara: Mind your own business. I don't want to get along with others. Rika: Oh. If a teacher pretends to be on the students' side, they'll just abandon them when trouble occurs. Sahara remembers his childhood and the teacher that didn't help him: Teacher: "If you have any trouble, just let me know". Rika thinks: Abandon? Rika: Sahara-kun... Was there a time when you needed a teacher's help in the past too? Sahara: No-Not particularily. Page 19 Sahara turns fast away from her. Rika thinks: Whoops...didn't work. After the game, I thought it would be like... Rika imagination: Sahara: I lost completely. Now I have a better opinion of you, Teacher. From now on, I'll enjoy my youth seriously. Rika: I'm glad you understand now, Sahara-kun. Let's get you standing up. (Her imaginary Sahara-kun is kneeling.) Now, let's run towards the setting sun together!! Rika thinks: It should've been like that. But reality isn't that simple. Rika sighs. Okami: Waaaah! Page 20 Rika: Jimiko-san, Okami-kun?! Couldn't you have shown up sooner? Thank you for your help, Jimiko-san. Okami is trying to sneak away. Okami in a small voice: I should be going home now. Rika: Thank you too, Okami-kun. When I was surrounded by thugs, you tried to help me, didn't you? Before it could happen, you said what you did to Sahara-kun. Okami: I hate getting violent with girls and kids. By the way, I've never been violent with Jimiko either. Page 21 Rika: I just knew it, you're a true gang leader. How chivalrous! Okami: I told you NOT to call me a gang leader!! Rika: I'm happy because now I know everyone's true face, which I didn't in the beginning. Rika is holding onto Okami like a little girl would in Japan. Okami: Don't attach yourself to me. Page 22 Rika thinks: I want to understand Sahara-kun better. The face of the good student and the face that's a bit evil. Which is the true Sahara-kun and how does he really feel.? Knowing that, I should be able to get along with him somewhat better. Rika gets some books at a bookstore. "The Real Way To Spend Your Youth." "A Journey Into The Minds Of Girls And Boys" "Psychology Of Young Men". Rika: All right! I have all the reference materials I need. Page 23 Rika: It's this late already?! The bookstore that I've come to, is so far off. Kanta, Garuko, I'll sneak you into the Teacher's Dorm for the night. If don't get home early, we'll be bad kids. When I get home, I'll start studying and studying! Rika: ?! Page 24 Sahara is seen by her going into some place called the DEER HOUND. Rika thinks: Sahara-kun, why out so late with those low life looking people? Rika remembers "Tsumikiku's" and "Mirror of Yanus". These were TV shows about bad girls. They came out about 10 to 15 years ago. Note: If you don't know them, ask your mother or older sister. Page 25 Rika thinks: A student is heading for trouble. I can't ignore a student going bad...because I'm a teacher. I guess this is what they call a discotheque. The Japanese now call discotheques "clubs" now ...so again, she's outdated on her words. Rika thinks: If a high school student plays around in a place like this, he or she will end up suspended from school for a while. Guy: This is a "club". (An Author's joke since Rika was thinking it not saying it.) Rika thinks: There he is. Page 26 A girl in tight clothes puts her hands seductively on Sahara. Girl: What's the matter, Leo-kun? Looks like you're in a foul mood. Sahara: Something irked me at school today. Girl: So why don't you quit school? Sahara: That's easier to say than to do. Rika: That bum. He was dodging girls during the kissing game at school, but he actually hangs around with a lot of women outside of school. Girl: Say, won't you give me your phone number this time? Sahara: Nope. Page 27 Rika seems irritated. Rika thinks: That's why he knew what to do in the reference room (She assumes he's experienced with kissing because of these women). This juice is good. Sahara remembers Rika saying: "Will you be my friend?" Sahara thinks: Who the hell does she think she is? Her speech is atrocious (meaning her old-fashioned speech). When I tried to make her cry and started that game, she counter-attacked me. Ah! Pisses me off! A fight goes on behind him between two guys. Guy: You're full of bullshit! Page 28 Rika: What?! Huh?! They're fighting?! Guy: Why don't they do re-runs of "Hokuto no Ken"?! Guy: Who gives a damn?! I'd more interested in "High School Kimengumi"! Guy: I like Juwza of the Clouds. Juwza of the Clouds is a character of "Kokuto no Ken. Sahara splashes his drink on them. The guys yell: Aaaaaaaa! Sahara: When I'm pissed off, don't be making racket near me! If you're gonna fight, go outside to do it, STUUUUPID! Page 29 Guy: HEY! Rika thinks: Don't make the situation worse. Whew, he looks nastier than when he's at school. Guy: What the hell do you think you're doing, Brat?! Stand up, you! Hey! The guy grabs Sahara by the jacket. Rika thinks: Uuuum...Uuuum...I 've got to stop them somehow. Girl: Where's the smoke coming from? Someone: AAaaaaa! Someone: Fire! Guy: What? The fire alarm goes off. Page 30 Kanta and Garuko are burning stuff in a trash can. Rika pushes the fire alarm. Sign: Good boys don't play with fire. Sahara: Wh....what are YOU doing in a place like this? Rika: RUN! Page 31 Rika: If the school finds out about this, you'll get suspended! Or even worse! Before the police get here, HURRY! GO! People begin yelling. Rika: Kanta! Garuko! Hurry!! Rika thinks: What is this? My eyes are spinning. Can't be? Was there something in the juice?! Are those policemen? Policeman: So YOU'RE the one that caused the false alarm. Rika: Uh, well, you know, there's a reason. I don't look like it, but I'm a teacher! Policeman: Oh sure. Let's stop playing games. Page 32 Rika: Huh? Uh-oh. Policeman: Let's see, a minor goofing off at this time of night. What school do you go to? Tell us your name and school. karen.duffy@bbs.chemek.cc.or.us ---------------------------------------------------------------------------