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Oujisama wo Sagase! 3
Search for the Prince! Part 3
Koko wa Greenwood Tankoubon 7, ep. 6, pp. 181-204
(Mostly) Translated by Imo-girl (asato@stanfordalumni.org)
Last Update: 9/4/02
Please do not link directly to this translation. Thanks!
My fifteenth translation. This one was somewhat painful. Corrections are welcome and probably necessary!
The story thus far: Mitsuru and Nitta Mieko starred together in a TV ad. For some reason, Mitsuru is afraid Shou
will be angry with him for doing the commercial. Shun and Hasukawa are trying to figure out Mitsuru's weak spot. They think it has something to do with girls. Meanwhile, Nitta Mieko's manager, Ootani-san, has been hitting on Shinobu's older brother, Akira. Rokujou Noriko, the woman Akira abandoned when he was disowned, is trying to come to terms with her feelings for Akira -- and for Shinobu.
Warning: Not everything on each page is translated. Also, my translation style is definitely becoming less literal
than it was in the past.
As always, thoughts are in (), my comments and descriptions are in [] and page breaks are marked by (*).
Noriko acts as the narrator for much -- but not all -- of this chapter.
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Narr: Since when? I've forgotten.
Narr: I always knew I was supposed to marry someone from Uncle Tezuka's place.
Narr: My father often took me to the Tezukas' for that reason.
Narr: So. . .
[Pic of young Akira looking over Noriko's shoulder as she sketches some flowers.]
Narr: "Well, I guess it'll be okay if it's Akira-kun," I thought.
[Cut to the studio.]
Studio guy: Nitta-san! You're up!
Ootani: Well, Mieko, do your best!
Mieko: All right. . .
Ootani: [To herself] Well - meanwhile, I'll. . .
(*)
[Ootani leaves the studio]
Ootani: (My prince awaits. [Heart])
Fangirls' voices: Eh?! That's a prince?!
[Mitsuru's three fangirls are sitting in a café with Shun and Hasukawa.]
Fangirl 1: Kya ha ha ha! Ikeda-sempai a prince?! What a good use for him!
Fangirl 2: [To fangirl 3] Stop making that horrible face.
Fangirl 3: [Scowling] Those princes in fairy tales may have money and status, but they're all just weirdos who
like to kiss dead bodies and stuff!
Fangirl 1: Aren't they resourceful guys who come to rescue Sleeping Beauty?
Fangirl 3: That reminds me of that lame guy in the Little Mermaid!
Fangirl 2: Oh! I know the *worst* prince story! He's in "Blue Eyes."
(*)
Story: "Blue Eyes." Once upon a time, there lived a girl called Blue Eyes. She was noticed by the prince and the
two of them were happily engaged to be married. However, on their wedding day, the prince fell in "forgetting grass" and was made to forget his "most important person." He forgot Blue Eyes and wandered off somewhere. Blue Eyes went in search of her prince and found him mired in a swamp. She called out to him to get him to come to her, but with every step in the swamp he said things like "I'm tired" and "My legs are so heavy," and he wasn't able to get himself out. Meanwhile, a swamp spirit grabbed him by the wrists, so Blue Eyes took the prince's sword and cut his hands off. She took him back with her and they were married.
Fangirls: That's the WORST!
Hasukawa: [Aside to Shun] Hey. Shun. . .
Shun: Hm?
Hasukawa: These three girls. . . You're paying for them, right?
Shun: Eh? Why me?
Hasukawa: You're the one who said "Let's ask those girls while Mitsuru-sempai's out," right?
[Inset of Mitsuru: I'm going out for a while.]
[Inset of fangirls outside Greenwood: Excuse me! Please get Ikeda-sempai!]
[Arrow pointing to Greenwood's gate: They can't come past this point.]
Shun: What are you talking about?! You're the one who wanted to know Mitsuru-sempai's weak spot, Suka-chan!
I was just helping you out. . .
Hasukawa: I never said I intended to treat them!
(*)
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Fangirl 2: What are you two mumbling about?
Hasukawa: [Sweatdrop] Uh! Nothing!
[It's raining.]
Rain FX: ZAAA
[Cut to Akira at the studio.]
Ootani's voice: He-ey! Akira-san!
Akira: Ootani-san.
Ootani: Ho ho ho. Good afternoon! I had a job not far from here, so. . .
Studio guy 1: [Aside to studio guy 2] She's been coming here a lot recently.
Studio guy 2: [Aside to studio guy 1] Why's a manager interested in a studio man?
Ootani: Hey - Are you free this evening?
Akira: Y- eah. . .
Ootani: I hear there's a really great restaurant not far from here. . .
Ootani: How about it? We could go together. . .
(*)
Akira: Yeah. No. . . I mean -
Ootani: Fine! I understand! Don't say anything!
Ootani: If you don't eat good food, your body will become sick, so leave it up to me!
[Imo-girl: Ootani is offering to pay.]
Ootani: (This is an investment! I must make him remember his wonderful former daily life. In this situation pretty
soon he'll worry about the future.)
Ootani: Okay, Akira-san? Okay? Okay?
Noriko: It's terribly unfortunate, but he promised to spend this evening with me. Isn't that so, Akira-kun?
[Imo-girl: Throughout their conversation Noriko uses really formal/polite language. It serves to show up Ootani's
more low-class way of speaking. Naughty Noriko!]
(*)
Akira: No- Noriko!
Ootani: Oh! Akira-san, who is-?
Noriko: Ara! Where *are* my manners? I'm his fiancee. My name is Rokujou. Akira-kun, who is this person?
Ootani: (FIANCEE?!)
Volcano erupting FX: Dooccoo
Akira: Noriko. . . You. . .
(*)
Noriko: [Insincerely to Ootani] Oh! You must be his co-worker! Akira-kun is always so very obliged to you!
Ootani: N- no. I'm. . .
Noriko: Working with a camera has been Akira-kun's dream since he was a child! Thank you so very much!
Ootani: Oh, not at all! Same here! Uh. Oh my, look at the time!
Ootani: Akira-san! I'm leaving!
Door slamming FX: BATAN!
[Ootani speeds away in her car.]
Ootani: (What ambition to be a cameraman? Isn't it just a hobby before he goes back home?)
Ootani: (He hates his stuck up fiancee.)
Ootani: (Dammit! Even though he's supposed to be rich he wants to play at being a salaried worker.)
Ootani: (That evil man! How dare he play around with this woman's heart!)
Ootani: (I'm cursed!)
Ootani: But, don't give up, Yuki!
Nasu Yukie: Hold the steering wheel!
(*)
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Ootani: Where's my Prince?!
[Back at the studio.]
Akira: . . . Noriko. Why'd you come here?
Noriko: [Dropping the act.] When do you get off work?
Narr: That's right. The princess was already tired of waiting.
[Back at the café. . .]
Hasukawa: (But. . . How do I start asking about Mitsuru-sempai's weaknesses?)
Arrow pointing at Shun: He's adapting.
(*)
Fangirls: What'd you say?! Who told you that?!
Hasukawa: (Mitsuru-sempai's friends are scary!)
Fangirl 1: [Checking her watch] Ah!
Fangirl 2: Yeah.
Fangirl 1: Isn't sempai coming back soon?
Fangirl 2: Oh, that's right! Let's go look!
Hasukawa: Uh! Wait! Wait!
Standing FX: GATA
Hasukawa: Nah. I don't think he's coming back yet. Uh huh.
Hasukawa: (I haven't asked them anything yet!)
Fangirl: Hey, where's Ikeda-sempai going?
Hasukawa: Eh? Uh.
Hasukawa: (That reminds me. I wonder where he's going.)
[Station sign: Uguisudani]
Shou's voice: If you're coming this far. . .
(*)
[Shou's standing outside the station talking to Mitsuru.]
Shou: . . . Why couldn't you just come home instead of calling me out in the rain?
[Back at the café.]
Fangirl's voice: Oh! Even though we came especially to meet him! And it's pouring rain, too!
Fangirl: I wonder where he's going?
Fangirl 1: It's no good since he entered the dorms.
Hasukawa: (I forgot! That reminds me!)
Hasukawa: Um. I wonder why Mitsuru-sempai is living in a dorm. Even though his house is nearby - why's he in
the dorms? Do you know?
(*)
Fangirls: You guys don't know?
Fangirl 1: Are you *really* his friends?
Hasukawa: No. We're his kouhai. . .
[The fangirls exchange a look.]
Fangirl 3: I'm not telling. Not that it's a secret or anything. . .
Fangirl 1: Shall we go?
Fangirl : It's low to use Mitsuru-sempai's acquaintances to find out things you don't know. [Translation?] All of
*us* know.
Fangirl 3: If he hasn't told you. . .
Fangirl 3: Then he doesn't really trust you guys, does he?
Fangirls: See ya! We'll leave you the bill! Bye bye!
[Hasukawa is stunned.]
Realization FX: GAN
(*)
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[In Greenwood. . .]
Boy 1: [Looking out the window] It's really coming down out there. Damn.
[Shinobu stands at his window looking out at the rain.]
Rain FX: ZA~
Shun's voice: Suka-chan!
Running FX: Dota dota
[Shinobu turns slightly toward the sound.]
Shun: Don't! Shinobu-sempai has no reason to tell us the truth!
Hasukawa: I'm going to get it out of him!
Hasukawa: (I should have known! *That* must be Mitsuru-sempai's weak spot!)
Shun: "Get it out of him"? He's really aggressive recently. . .
Hasukawa: (He hid it from me therefore I have to find out, right?)
(*)
Hasukawa: (He doesn't trust me!)
Hasukawa: [Bursting into 211] Shinobu-sempai!
Shinobu: He was adopted.
Shun: [Uncomfortable] Look-
Shinobu: On the day his little brother, Masato, was born. . .
Shinobu: He was abandoned on the temple grounds as a two week old infant and Masato's parents took him in.
He was told that ever since he was little.
(*)
Mitsuru's voice: In my second year of middle school, there was something called a "Boyfriend Contest" in the
girls' magazine. My friends sent in my picture. The magazine called my house to say they were printing it. That made Shou really angry. "It's absolutely forbidden" he insisted. He was crying. "What'll you do if people claiming to be your real parents appear? Will you become *their* child?" he said.
Shinobu: His family didn't say anything, but the problem of who would inherit. . . His house is prime Tokyo real
estate. It seems that the interests of his relatives and the parishioners of the temple are in a bit of disagreement, too.
Shinobu: If he is there he is the oldest son. Even if there are only two weeks difference between them.
Hasukawa: If Mitsuru-sempai is there. . .
[Cut to Uguisudani Station.]
Shou's voice: "Talk" you said. This is about your commercial, isn't it?
(*)
Shou: Anyway, you came here thinking I'd be mad again, didn't you?
Shou: You think people stay kids forever? Didn't we have this conversation when we were 12?
Mitsuru: [Hopeful] Shou - then. . .
Shou: I just realized something.
Mitsuru: Ara [Sweatdrop]
Shou: A baby abandoned two weeks after being born suddenly turning 17, putting on make up and being on TV
probably won't be recognized.
Shou: I thought my heart would stop when I saw you on TV.
Mitsuru: Shou. . . your doubts still haven't cleared up.
(*)
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Shou: I won't believe that you're really coming home after graduation until it happens. Even if I hear from your
mouth that you have no intention of leaving home.
[Cut to room 211.]
Shinobu: "This really is the story of the god of the forsaken. - Well, in my case it's Buddha," he said.
Shinobu: [To Hasukawa] The subject never came up before. It's not something to brag about.
Shinobu: It's hard to believe, Hasukawa. That someone who was told "you're not needed" as soon as he was
born. . .
(*)
Shinobu: Somehow could be so strong.
[Cut to restaurant.]
Noriko's voice: I heard you were there from Shinobu-kun.
Noriko: You've changed a lot. I didn't recognize you.
Noriko: When I heard you were at the studio, I was surprised. You were serious when you said you were going to
be a cameraman.
Akira: Yeah. I thought I could become an assistant there.
[Akira is scratching the table.]
(*)
Noriko: Is that so. . .
Narr: That habit. . .
Narr: Long ago, he did that a lot, even though Uncle often scolded him.
Akira: Noriko, you've finished college already?
Noriko: I get work making pictures. It's just a continuation of my hobby, but -
Akira: Is that so? It's what you wanted to do.
Noriko: Yes.
Noriko: That's why this is so much fun.
Akira: Noriko. You're probably angry. . . but, it couldn't be helped.
(*)
Akira: I was powerless. I didn't know if I'd be any good at my job or not. I couldn't carry you off. If you were still at
home, you wouldn't have to face hardship. I thought it was for your sake.
Akira: It's fine to forget me. Please be happy.
[Noriko remembers Shinobu smiling at her.]
Noriko: So. Well then, goodbye.
Akira: Noriko.
Noriko standing FX: Gata
Noriko: Akira-kun. I --
(*)
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Noriko: I'm glad there isn't really a prince who's going to save me.
Narr: One day, tired of waiting, the slightly angry princess climbed down the tower by herself using her own hair.
While walking, the princess found the lost prince. However, the prince was mired in a swamp. The princess called to him, but after one step he said "My legs are so heavy," "I'm tired," and so forth. He couldn't make any progress. So, while the princess called out to him countless times, the prince somehow struggled toward her. [Princess: Gambare! Fight-o!]
(*)
Narr: At that point, a swamp spirit grabbed the prince by his wrists. No matter what she did, the princess couldn't
make those hands let go. [Prince: It's no good. I can't take any more.]
Narr: Because there was no other way, the princess (was going to cut off) the prince's hands.
Narr: Then, the princess came to her senses.
Narr: "Why do I have to do such a thing?" [Princess: Wrong. Something is wrong.]
[Noriko puts down a suitcase.]
Suitcase FX: Goto
Narr: So then. . . [The princess looks at her long braid in one hand and the sword in the other.]
Sword slicing FX: Kachan!
[Noriko opens the door to her apartment.]
Narr: Shinobu-kun.
(*)
Narr: The one who saved you. . . What kind of person was it?
[Cut to Noriko's apartment building]
Shinobu's voice: She moved?
Landlord: Yes, a full month ago.
Landlord: She didn't leave a forwarding address.
Narr: In the rainy season Rokujou Noriko disappeared.
Shinobu: (Even if she does this kind of thing, if she works, she'll soon be found.)
(*)
[Noriko has cut her hair short.]
Narr: Then, just at that time. . .
[Cut to 211.]
Hasukawa: [Relaying the news] A boy. Born safely.
All: Congratulations!
Shinobu: Are you truly happy, Hasukawa?
Narr: . . . A prince was born to the Hasukawa family.
Hasukawa: Yes!
Mitsuru: Really? Is that so?
[Mitsuru claps Hasukawa on the shoulder.]
Clapping FX: Pon
Mitsuru: [Smiling] That's good . . . "Uncle"!
Oujisama wo Sagase! ~ Owari
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