Nami's Note: This translation is for any body that wants to read manga.  Don't 
redistribute this translation for your site, commercial use, or anything I consider 
inappropriate.  If you like this story, you could be supporting the author by buying
this manga^-^  "Five!" is copyrighted to Yoshihara Nozomi and Shueisha.


Signs:	        (THINKING)	       [ACTION]	      *****  = change in time or place



Five! Chapter 4


The day of the Aiwa festival

Kouta: I see.  So that onion headed old lady
is a principal of this school and also your mom.

Igarashi Manazuru 45 years old.  Principal of Aiwa.

Noriko: My mom was especially strict with good manners
from the past.  Some day, she wants me to inherit this
school.  So I was strictly disciplined since little.

When Noriko was in Elementary
Monday: Went to a juku(cram school).
Tuesday: Did Ikebana(flower arrangement)
Wednseday: Played Koto(a Japanese instrument)
Thursday: Tea party
Friday: Went to juku
Weekends: Went to a abacus school

Noriko: She hates rock.  There was a time when she broke my CD.

*Flash back*
Noriko's mother: Don't listen to such a loud music!!
If you want music, then listen to this.
*end*

Noriko: I knew she'd stop me if she knew that I was in
a band.  So I thought I'D continue without telling her.
But I didn't think she'd come back the day before a live...

Kirio: It's alright Noriko.  No one
will know if you wear this hat and glasses.

Shikura: That's right.  We'll have to start preparing.
The live will start at three!  There's not much time.

Student: Igarashi san.  You were just called down to the office.

*****

at the office

Noriko: (I wonder what's up.)

Noriko's mother: Noriko san

Noriko: Mother.

Noriko's mother: I've been waiting.
Let's go around the school together.

Noriko: Right now!?

Noriko' mother: That'S right.  It's been a
long 

time since we last had some time together.

*flash back*
Shikura: The live will start at three!
*end*

Noriko: (It's before two.  I still have a little more than an
hour.  I guess it's ok.  When the time comes, I'll sneak out.)

[The clock is ticking.  The time is slowly passing by.]

Noriko's mother: What is that dance.  You're not doing it right!!!

Noriko: (2:45, I got to get going.)

Noriko's mother: Well then.....  Noriko san, let everyone see your dance.

*****

Kirio: Did Noriko return?

Shikura: No.

Kouta: I asked the office.  They
told me her mom took Noriko with her.

Kirio: What!

*****

[Noriko is dancing]

Noriko: (WQhat do I do.....)

Noriko' mother: You've disimproved.....
[Hits Noriko's leg with her fan]

Noriko: Oww!

Noriko's mother: What a silly dance...  You've been skipping
classes while I was gone, haven't you?  What have you been doing?

Noriko: (Gyaa!)

*****

Shikura: The audiences are coming in.

Kouta: what on earth is Igarashi doing.

Atsurou: If we play with all the
windows open, she'll hear us.  Let's go.

*****

Noriko: (There's no time left.  Everyone's waiting!)

Noriko's mother: Noriko san!  Are you listening?

Noriko: Mother, I....

[There's a big sound coming from the gym.]

Noriko: (What!?  From the gym!?)

Kouta: Igarashi!!  What's taking you so long.  Come!

Atsurou: Igarashi, mark an end to this!!

Noriko's mother: What is all this noise!

Noriko: Mother, I'm sorry.  I'm going.

Noriko's mother: Noriko san!?  Wait, where are you going!?

*****

Kirio: Noriko.

Noriko: He he.  Sorry, I'm late.

[They start the live.]

When I was little, I worked, went to class, just like I was told.
The days were dull.  But sometimes, I'd skip a class, go to the roof
top of a mansion in the neighborhood, and sing loud.  It feels so good
and it was fun.  I thought music was something I really wanted to do.

Student: Didn't know the 3 guys in class A was in a band.

Student: What?  Hey, isn't the girl in the uniform....

Student: Igarashi Noriko.

Student: You're kidding, that honor student!?

[Noriko's mom comes in the gym, shocked.]

Atsurou: You're more like yourself when you do music.

Noriko: (He smiled.  Bettsho smiled.)

*Noriko's flash back*
Atsurou: You're more like yourself when you do music.
*end*

Noriko: (You smile with a kind face.)

Now everyone knows that I'm in a band.  My mother will probably
have a talk with me.  But the live is stilllingering on in me.
The excitement and the beating of my heart didn't stop.  But
this beating of my heart may be coming from some where else too.

*****

After the live, in the hall

Kouta: High school culture festivals are great.
Let's go drink somewhere with us five.

Shikura: Hey hey hey.  We're still 15.

Kouta: who cares.

Shikura: No is no!

Mami: .......... Atsurou