SESSA TAKUMA! by Kazuma Kodaka Part 1: pp. 3-36 unofficial translation by Katherine ------------------------------------------------------------------- Conventions: regular text: name of speaker and spoken lines italics: thoughts bold: descriptions bold and italics: translation note (in parentheses:) words that are handwritten or not in the talk bubbles An old man, Jii, is leading a cow through a city street. Takuma, a boy in a high school uniform, rides perched on its back. Pedestrians boggle at the sight. Jii: Tokyo is not the same as Hokkaido! .....Honestly! Jii: My heart's going to give out before you get back home, young master. Jii: As Takuma yawns. Are you paying attention, young master? For generations, the Ban household has always produced girls, and you're the first boy! Jii: We've always settled for having the groom change his name, but now you're going to take a wife. Jii: As Takuma waves to passers by. So you can imagine how deeply Madame is worried. Jii: But! Since you're the Ban heir, I'm sure you realize the- Jii: Noticing that Takuma has disappeared. Young master!!!!! (page) Title: Sessa Takuma! Note: "Sessatakuma" normally refers to applying one's self diligently to work or study. The boy's name, Takuma, is spelled with a different character, making it a play on words. (page) (page) The outside of a high school... P.A.: Attention please. Will the high school art club officers from each class P.A.: assemble quickly in the meeting room. P.A.: As an anxious Yuki hurries towards her meeting. Once again, will the art club officers from each class... Yuki stops in puzzlement at the noisy rustling coming from a tree. (page) In a gust of wind, Takuma, with the cow on his shoulders, leaps down out of the tree. Yuki: Kneeling on the ground, disheveled and in shock. ....... Takuma: Patting the cow. Man, he keeps going on and on about the family. Takuma: And all I want is some pasture land and I'd be happy... Takuma: Petting the cow, who is trying to get Takuma's attention. I'm gonna find a cute wife and live on a farm! Takuma: You'll live there too, Mary! (page) Takuma: Mary, what's the matter? The cow and Takuma look down at Yuki, still sprawled on the ground. Yuki: Blushing........ Takuma: Also blushing as he stares at her perfection. I'm gonna live Takuma: on a big farm... Takuma: He imagines them living happily together. The cow sports a "Congratulations on discovering the bride!" banner. with a cute wife!! (page) Takuma: Taking her hand. Come to Hokkaido! Yuki: ...Hokkaido...? Takuma: Yup! We'll live on a big farm! Takuma: Patting the cow. And Mary will live with us, too. Yuki: Um... What are you talking about...? P.A.: Class 1-3 art club officer P.A.: report to the meeting room immediately... Yuki: Running off. I'm in trouble!! Takuma: Ah! Takuma: My bride! Yuki: I'm late! I'm late! (page) Yuki: Entering the meeting room. Sorry I'm late! Ranmaru: Not looking up from his documents. It had better not happen again. Sit down. Yuki: ...Yes, sir. Girl: Your brother's as strict as ever, huh? Yuki: That's because at school he's an upperclassman to me. Yuki: He's always kind... Yuki: I'm proud to have a brother like him. Ranmaru: The next order of business is how to carry out the school beautification campaign... He trails off, hearing screeching from the hall. (page) Ranmaru: Slamming open the door. We're in the middle of a meeting! Stop this commotion! The cow stares him in the face. He falls over backwards in shock. Ranmaru: Wh... wh-wh-wh... Takuma: Appearing from behind the cow. Ah, there you are! Yuki: Ah! It's him again... (page) Takuma: Standing obliviously on the back of the fallen Ranmaru. Man, I've been looking all over for you! I didn't even find out what your name is! Takuma: What's your name? I'm Takuma Ban! Yuki: Y... Yuki. Yuki... Samejima. Takuma: Lifting her up in his arms. Alriiiight! Yuki-chan! Takuma: You're marrying me! Ranmaru: Trying to stand, with both of them on his back. Nnnngaaahh!!!! (page) Ranmaru: Getting to his feet as Enjouji and the others clap. Hey, you jerk! Takuma: Wow, you're a pretty nimble big brother! Ranmaru: You're the one who decided to stand on me, jerk! Ranmaru: Kicking at Takuma, who leaps away, still with Yuki in his arms. Marry her?! You've got to be joking!! Takuma: It's not like I could marry you. Ranmaru: Keep to the subject!! Ranmaru: However many guys come near Yuki, I, Ranmaru Samejima, will... (page) Ranmaru: The cow comes up behind him and flops its head and front hooves on him. not allow... Takuma: What's up, Mary? Takuma: Mary says you're her type. Ranmaru: Under the cow. K--- Kkk.... Ranmaru: Managing to get his hands on Takuma's shoulders. I will only approve of a guy who is worthy of Yuki. That is, a guy who is better than me!! Ranmaru: If you value your life, back off! (page) Student: ...He's mad. ...He's seriously pissed... Other student: Samejima's snapped...! Takuma: So you're saying Takuma: that if I beat you, I can take Yuki? Ranmaru: Smirking confidently. Agreed. Yuki: Alarmed. Oniichan!! Ranmaru: Have no fear, Yuki. Ranmaru: You know how strong I am. (page) Takuma: I'm gonna win, you can count on it! Ranmaru: From under the cow. ...Ha... That's interesting! I am skilled in both kendo and karate, and you think you can beat... me...? Ranmaru: Meet me after school in the kendo dojo!! Ranmaru: With your own rotten eyeballs you shall behold the terror that is Ranmaru Samejima!! Ranmaru: Wa ha ha ha ha ha!! Takuma: ..... Yuki: Crying. Oniichan... My feelings don't matter? Ranmaru: Still with the loving cow on his back. (Get the hell off me you pig-cow!!) (page) Yuki: Later. Packing up her school things. Oniichan is always like that! Yuki: He does what he pleases and doesn't think... Friend: (Samejima-sempai wasn't serious, right?) Yuki: about my feelings at all. Voice: Yukki-chan! Voice: Yukii~~! Takuma appears in the doorway. Friend: Sweatdropping as Yuki looks alarmed. He popped up again. Yuki ignores him. Takuma: Yuki-chan. Takuma: Yukki-chaaan? (page) Takuma: ........ Takuma: Slinging Yuki over his shoulder. Up you go! Yuki: Kyaaaaaa!! Takuma: Going over the window sill. I'm just borrowing her for a moment, okay? Yuki: Stop it! Put me do~~wn! Friend: Borrowing her? Uh, we're on the fourth floor... He jumps out the window with her. (page) Takuma runs down the side of the building. Takuma: Uoryaaaaaaahh! Yuki: Kyaaaaaaaahh! (page) Various students look out the window and boggle in amazement to see them speeding down the outside of the school. Yuki: Kyaaaaaaaahh! (page) They land hard. Girl: Ha... ha. They came down... Other girl: Yoshi-chan, get a grip!! Yuki: As Takuma runs with her over his shoulder. Kyaaah! Kyaaah! He puts her down gently. (page) Takuma: We won't have any interruptions here. Yuki: I- I can't be your bride... Yuki: Kya! He lifts her onto the cow. Takuma: What do you think, Mary? Takuma: Really? An easy delivery?! Yuki: An easy delivery...? (page) Takuma: Yup. It's Mary's intuition. In my family we always put the bride on the cow, Takuma: and see if she'll have an easy time giving birth or not. Takuma: It takes two to make a baby, but it's the woman who has to deliver it. Takuma: As Yuki looks surprised. Guys can't understand the pain of labor, you know? Takuma: So the least we can do is find out before hand if it will be easy or not. Yuki: Impressed by his words and looking sweetly pretty. Takuma: To the cow. Huh? What is it? (page) Takuma: She says your big brother is built for easy delivery too. Yuki: Staring. Takuma: Smacking the cow. Yeah, you're just saying that because you think you two are so compatible. Yuki: (Ah ha ha!) Yuki: Chuckling. This cow likes my brother, doesn't she? Takuma: Taking her hand. That's a pretty face. (page) Takuma: Picking her up. Bring that smile with you Takuma: to Hokkaido now! In the kendo dojo. Enjouji: And now the event you've all been waiting for! Kouei High School's famous Samejima in battle! Enjouji: Yelling excitedly into a microphone. It's a no-holds-barred one-fall match, for first year student Yuki Samejima!! Enjouji: There's no turning back for the reckless challenger of the guy with the sister complex!! Enjouji: The challenge comes from a mysterious country boy who appeared like a comet, (page) Enjouji: As Takuma crouches at the ready. Takuma Ban!!! Enjouji: And making his entrance in a stylish hakama, Enjouji: Ranmaru Samejima!! Enjouji: As boys stuff bets into Ranmaru's box. Come on, place those bets! Place those bets!! Ranmaru: Enough!! Takuma: Big brother, is that a real sword? (page) Ranmaru: Ha... Why don't you find out- Ranmaru: Whipping out the sword. with your own eyes!! Takuma's bandanna and forehead are sliced. Ranmaru: You shall become nothing but rust upon my sword...!! Enjouji: As Yuki looks horrified. Samejima has become a demon warrior!! It's a dangerous situation for Takuma Ban!! (page) Ranmaru: Get ready--!! Ranmaru runs past Takuma, sword flashing in circles. Takuma: Eee! Enjouji: He's bleeding--!! Samejima is seriously slashing at him!! Takuma: Looking in disbelief at all the blood, as Ranmaru turns to slice him again. Huh?! Enjouji: Samejima does not pause an instant! Ranmaru: Slashing as Takuma leaps up out of the way. Uooooooohh!! (page) Enjouji: And he leaps up out of Samejima's grasp!! Takuma: Super special move!! Takuma: From up in the air he flings potatoes down at Ranmaru. Hokkaido Potato Storm!! Ranmaru: Hmph! Pathetic! Are you trying to confuse my eyes with that?! (page) A potato clobbers him in the face and the cow chomps down on the sword, keeping Ranmaru from swinging it. Ranmaru topples backwards. Takuma: That's Grandma's Potato Storm! Enjouji: In the blink of an eye, he pulled it off! Enjouji: As the boys who bet evince despair while Yuki wobbles in lightheaded shock. Pathetic! Samejima, what a pitiful showing! You lose!! Enjouji: Making off with the bets. Thanks, Ran-chan! (I love you! Second best, after cash!) Ranmaru: With the besotted cow perched on his back. Oh? Is that so, Enjouji? And are you the one who let this creature in the dojo?! (page) Takuma: So I won, huh? Takuma: Picking up an alarmed Yuki. Then according to our agreement, I get Yuki! Ranmaru: That's enough!! Ranmaru: Keep your filthy hands off my Yuki!! Ranmaru: She has no interest in a country lout like you!! Takuma: Looking hurt and surprised. ......... (page) Takuma: Yuki, is that true? Yuki: Well... Ranmaru: Of course!! Ranmaru: Now that you understand, run off and disappear somewhere! Yuki: Um... Takuma: But I won the fight! Ranmaru: Still carrying the cow on his back. That didn't count!! Jii: Young master-----!! Jii: I finally found you!! Takuma: Looking glad to see him. Jii! I found what I was looking for, too!! (page) Jii: Hah? And what was that? Noticing Yuki in Takuma's arms. (Oh, what a pretty little girl.) Yuki: (Hello...) Takuma: As Enjouji listens in, obviously scheming to make more money out of the situation. My bride! Jii: Absolutely not!! Jii: This will be the Ban family's first bride! You must think about it more seriously... Yuki: The Ban family's first bride?! Takuma: (Jii, your false teeth are going to fly out.) Jii: Hah, young lady, how did you know that... Takuma: You just said it. Jii: If Madame finds out about this, what will become of me--? (Ah! Ahh! Oh my god!!) Takuma: Jii, you're entertaining as ever. Enjouji: Stirring up Ranmaru. Hey, good thing he turned out to be from such a classy family, right Ran-chan? Ranmaru: Unacceptable!! (page) Takuma: But I've already decided. Jii: Young master! There must be a limit to self-indulgence! Ranmaru: That's right!! And a limit to stupid jokes!! Jii: First of all, a plain-looking girl like that... Ranmaru: What the hell?! He's got the face of an incompetent idiot!! Ranmaru: Yuki takes after me in her beauty, isn't it obvious?! Jii: Hey!! He's a handsome boy! He looks like Junichi Ishida!! Don't pick on him... Note: Ishida is a popular actor. Enjouji: So there we have it... Enjouji: Let's calm down here. Both of them are visions of loveliness, so Enjouji: there's no problem. Enjouji: They'll live happily ever after! The end! (page) Ranmaru: I want a rematch! Let's have a fair fight this time, Takuma Ban!! Enjouji: Yeah, that's good, coming from a guy waving a real sword around. Jii: From somewhere in the back. Hey!! How dare you speak to the young master like that!! Takuma: Didn't we already do that? Ranmaru: It's not settled yet!! The one who's involved is against it!! Takuma: Looking down at Yuki. I... don't want to be the family heir. My dream is to build a farm with pasture land... Takuma: Is that okay with you? Yuki: ...You're just like my brother. Yuki: Smacking him. You do what you please, and you have way too much confidence, and you push people around! (page) Yuki: Pinching his cheeks. I'll decide for myself who I marry, thank you very much! Yuki: Smiling. And when I'm thinking about it, Yuki: I'll give Hokkaido first priority. Takuma: Delighted. .....All..... Takuma: right!!!!!! Ranmaru: Running with his sword, and still in a bovine embrace. I don't approve of this!! I don't approve!! Jii: Young master!! Think of my position... Enjouji: With his microphone again. Things are heating up! Place your bets! Place your bets!!