* * * * * * *
Mirai no Utena, volume 1
The Tower of the Future
by Hiwatari Saki
Hana to Yume Comics 1995
ISBN 4-592-12001-9
Translation by Emily Horner
Zen : {I'm sorry, dad. I've come here already. But, dad, I'm
already 5 years old!}
<>
Mirai no Utena
Level 1: The heroine is created
<>
This is a strange world, very different from our own. Gods and men
and demons all lived on this world, and balance and order were
maintained by dimensional barriers between them. But
that was a long time ago.
<>
The "evil" that came from dimensional ravines gnawed at and eroded
the dimensional barriers. Fearing the destruction they would cause,
the demons joined them and fought against the gods and men. At the
end of the long war, the gods fled the world. The humans living in
the world, losing their allies, sought hope from the gods and
implored them not to leave. A single god responded, by gouging out
one of their eyes.
<>
"Hope" sank deep into the ground. This power, which the demons could
not used, was transformed over a long period of time, and finally
it began to come to life.
Takeru : All right! Pretty interesting, if I do say so myself.
--Takeru! Come eat breakfast, you're going to be late!
Takeru : Coming!
<>
Mother : I asked Dai-chan if he used a word processor to study,
and he said he didn't.
Takeru : So? People do things differently.
Mother : Takeru, are you really studying?
Takeru : Sure I am! That's what I was doing just now.
Father : Can I have some tea?
Mother : Fine.
Sometimes I wonder if you do...
Takeru : {Now, who should the hero be? Somehow, I think he
shouldn't seem like a brave hero right from the start...}
That was great! Bye!
Takeru : Hey, watcha doing? Sorry, but could you get out of the
way? I want to get my bike out.
Zen : I--uh--um--I--
Takeru : Are you OK?
Zen : Ah! I--um...I'm fine! I'll get out of the way!
Takeru : Thanks.
Zen : It's all right! Go right ahead!
<>
Takeru : Say, are you lost? Want me to take you to kindergarten?j
Zen : I like you, mister! But I'm not lost. I was just going
to the bus stop. Thank you, though! I'll never forget
your kindness!
[Zen continually calls Takeru 'nii-chan,' which literally
means 'big brother' but is often used in Japanese for
people you're not necessarily related to. I don't know
if 'mister' is the best way to translate it, but it
seems to work all right...]
Zen : Goodbye!
Takeru : 'Bye.
{Weird kid...come to think of it, are there any
preschools in the neighborhood with that uniform?}
Zen : Good luck with your high school exams!
<>
Takeru : {How did he know that? Was it just a guess? But how
should a kid that young know that?}
Daigo : Take-chan, can you tutor me in English?
Takeru : How do you expect to go into Honami High School, Daigo?
Daigo : I just want to go to the same high school as you!
Takeru : Don't get your hopes up. It'll be tough even for me.
<>
Daigo : Then why don't we both give up on it, Take-chan?
Takeru : Don't call me that.
Daigo : Anyway, you want to be a game scenario writer or a
manga writer, don't you? Are you going to have time for
that in high school?
Takeru : I guess not...but my mother wanted me to go to Honami.
Daigo : You're good at drawing. You should draw another hot
girl.
Takeru : Draw one yourself!
The high school open house is Friday of next week.
Want to go to Honami?
Daigo : Really?
Oh...Itou Miyabi.
<>
Daigo : Why don't you say something to her?
Takeru : What for?
Daigo : Aren't you guys seeing each other any more?
Takeru : Nope.
Daigo : Just a natural extinction?
Takeru : Something wrong with that?
Daigo : No...
Takeru : {Natural extinction? It was pretty fun when we started
going out in 8th grade, and I was glad when she said
she liked me. But for no particular reason, this is
how it turns out...I guess you could call it a
natural extinction. It sounds bad when Daigo said it,
but it's not really such a bad thing. If it's just the
result of how we acted honestly towards each other...
then that seems okay. Still, maybe it's rude to her...
Am I just trying to avoid a confrontation?
The truth is, I was never really passionate about her.
We were in different classes, and we've both been busy
since we started 9th grade, so it was hard to see each
other.}
<>
Takeru : {I started going out with her because I was happy when
she said she liked me...but there was never really love
there.}
Teacher : Continue to translate, Matsuyuki-kun!
Takeru : Sorry, I don't have my textbook with me.
Teacher : Then borrow mine.
Takeru : I don't get it.
Teacher : Stand there like that for a while!
Takeru : Yes, ma'am...
{Damn Daigo...I wrote the translation in the textbook,
too!}
<>
Takeru : {The protagonist isn't a brave hero. The brave hero is
someone else. The protagonist is a young warrior who's
the brave hero's friend.}
<>
Takeru : {The brave hero, and the protagonist, who supports him.
But then, the brave hero is struck down...}
Takeru : {I have a powerful weapon, my imagination.}
<>
Takeru : {I think that I'll be able to make a living from it one
day.}
--What are you looking at, Matsuyuki-kun?
Takeru : {With his dying breaths, the hero confesses to the
protagonist...
"I'll tell you the real purpose of this journey. It is
to find the existence known as 'Zero' and put it into
operation. 'Zero' is the last hope left behind by the
gods. It will destroy this world, and create the
foundation for a new future. It is this world's
starting point."}
<>
Hero : 'Zero' was sealed deep inside the earth by an evil
organization. No one knows its exact location. I give
this, the Zero seal, to you. Now, you must face trials
and search out items relating to 'Zero.' When you have
assembled everything, this will show you the way. Then
the world, and all the evil in it, will be destroyed...
but afterwards, the world will once again be peaceful.
Zero's operation means your death, but I must entrust
this mission to you. Will you forgive me for my death?
<>
Takeru : {Although the young soldier still does not have the
courage to accept the hero's death, the Zero seal
exalts the birth of a new hero, and leads him to a
place only he can see. In front of him, the new hero
found a tower, and climbed with shaking hands to the
top. When he stood on the tower and wished to see the
world...}
<>
Takeru : {The Zero seal released a beam of light, and showed him
a far-away point, giving the young hero a new path to
follow. His moist eyes were deep with the color of
despair, but at the same time, his duty held him up,
and gave him hope. It was on this day that the youth's
painful journey truly started.}
Mother : Wake up, Takeru! How long did you plan to stay asleep?
You were supposed to go to the school open house today!
Go and have a look at Honami High School!
Takeru : Mom...why do you want me to get into Honami so badly?
Mother : Because they teach English so well there! You're lucky
to have a father who's half Japanese, but your English
is horrible!
Mother : You were making good progress until you were five, but
now you've forgotten it all!
Takeru : Mom...
Mother : You should become bilingual. Bilingual!
Takeru : Bilingual...
Father : Hi, Takeru. Going to look at the high school today?
Mother : Oh, dear, that tie doesn't suit you at all.
Father : It doesn't?
Takeru : {My parents...}
<>
Takeru : {Because my dad's half British, he can act like this in
front of his own son. But I think it's a prejudice of
society to assume that someone will be good at English
just because his father's half British. My mom's just
my mom. If she likes Honami that much, she should go
there herself.}
'Bye!
Zen : Hi, mister!
Takeru : Umm...hey, you're that kid I saw the other day, aren't
you?
Zen : Yes! Good morning, mister! The weather is beautiful
today. I think it's wonderful!
<>
Takeru : {He's got a very enthusiastic way of talking.}
Are you waiting for your bus all by yourself?
Zen : Mister, there's dust in your hair! I'll get it!
Today's a real special day, and everything has to go
just right.
Did I say something weird just now?
Takeru : Yes. You did.
Zen : I'm sorry! Please forget about it!
Takeru : Where's your house? What's your name?
Zen : I'm Hokuouin Zen! My house is...my house is...nearby.
Takeru : But I haven't seen that kind of school uniform around
here.
Zen : You haven't?
Oh, look at this, mister!
<>
Takeru : You're kind of like that Kobayashi Rin kid, aren't you?
Zen : I admire him very much!
[Please Save My Earth reference; it's Hiwatari Saki's previous, more
famous manga.]
Takeru : Do I have bad breath?
Zen : No, you don't, but...I didn't mean anything bad by it!
But the first impression can be very important...please
take it, mister.
Zen : Do your best, mister!
Takeru : {I don't understand that kid...saying all kinds of weird
stuff...}
Takeru : {Honami looks like an apartment building from the
outside.}
Daigo : Look at the sports field, Takeru! It's so small.
Takeru : Yeah, it is.
Daigo : And the girls' uniforms aren't that cute.
--Is that what you're thinking about, Tsukikawa?
Takeru : He's right...
<>
--Looks like there are students from other schools here to
look at Honami too.
Takeru : {I don't really like it...I'll have to think about it.}
--Take your shoes off before entering the auditorium!
<>
--What, seriously?
--But, didn't you say you weren't going to high school,
Miya?
Takeru : {Hey, she's got a cute voice.}
--No way! I'm definitely going to the same school as
Yoru-chan!
Takeru : {That's her friend's voice...
--But do you think you could get in here?
Takeru : {That's her voice again!}
<>
Ichigo : Yoru said your skull had a thickness of 7 centimetres,
and 90% of what's in there is water. I didn't say that,
Yoru did!
<>
Seika : Seven centimetres...that's great!
Miya : I do not! That's mean, Ichigo-chan!
Ichigo : I said I wasn't the one who said it! You are just too
sensitive, Miya! It's like your a masochist.
Ichigo : "Brother, they hurt my feelings! Miya wants some Chanel!"
Seika : Stop that, Ichigo!
Miya : It's not as if you're any different, Ichigo!
Ichigo : What are you talking about?
Miya : Your brother buys you Dior and Laura Ashley! Miya knows!
Ichigo : How did you know that?
Seika : I wasn't the one who told her, Ichigo.
<>
Ichigo : I know you wouldn't say that, Seika. It must have been
Yoru!
Takeru : {I've never been so overwhelmed by a girl. I think that
what she's saying and the way she communicates with her
friends are great, but...}
<>
Takeru : {But in all my life, I've never seen such a cute girl.}
<>
Takeru : {She's so cute. Her lips...her neck...her chest...her
legs...}
Daigo : Takeru!
<>
Takeru : {The hem of her skirt...Hey, what's wrong with me?
Daigo's calling me!}
Daigo : Come on, Takeru!
Takeru : {My eyes...how long had I been staring at her? Oh, but
the eyes in the back of my head are still staring!}
<>
Takeru : {I am weird.}
<>
Mother : I was so surprised when you came home with your face all
red. Did you catch a cold? Do you have any appetite?
Your fever's pretty high.
Takeru : Yeah, I do. Mom...
Mother : Yes?
Takeru : I am definitely going to Honami.
Mother : Did something nice happen?
<>
Takeru : Yeah...I think so.
{That girl's going to Honami.}
Mother : That's good. Your enthusiasm is the most important thing!
But, Takeru, why don't you try studying English in
front of the train station as well?
Mother : It will be good for you.
Takeru : Why does it have to be English?
Mother : It's just your mother's vanity!
<>
Takeru : {Maybe the hero needs a partner like her...no, he
definitely needs her! Absolutely, absolutely needs her!}
<>
Takeru : {The heroine is created!}
<>
Takeru : {The hero wants to give up. He wonders why he ever took
on this misson.
"I need water...I can't go on..."}
Ichigo : Here's water!
<>
Hero : {Water?}
Ichigo : If you've got enough strength to drink water, you'll be
fine.
<>
Hero : Who are you?
Ichigo : You're the hero the old lady in the village predicted
would come, aren't you? It's my fate to travel with you
from now on. My name is Ichigo! I've got healing magic.
Reona!
Hero : {I feel better!}
<>
Ichigo : You'll be able to stand up now!
Takeru : {What a wonderful encounter! A wonderful destiny! The
wonderful journey of life!}
Mother : Takeru! Takeru!
Takeru : What?
Mother : Wake up, Takeru. I want to take your temperature.
Takeru : {Just a dream...}
Mother : What are you going to do about today?
Takeru : Today...? Oh, that's right. It's your anniversary. Just
go ahead to the Spanish restaurant without me.
Mother : Maybe I should stay home instead...
Takeru : That's all right. You two have fun.
Mother : Your fever's gone down...
Takeru : I'm feeling a lot better. Go ahead, mom. I'll just get
some pizza.
Mother : You will?
<>
Takeru : {I guess my parents are eating right about now...}
<>
Takeru : {It's surprising...when I compare her with the idols and
girls in commercials on TV, she looks just as good.
No, even better! She's so cute!}
Takeru : {Maybe I'm in love...Love! I'm in love!}
<>
Takeru : I've gotta seriously start studying.
Takeru : Hello, this is Matsuyuki.
Father : Takeru!
Takeru : Hi, dad. What is it? Are you going out to eat?
Father : Your mother's been seriously hurt in an accident. She's
at the hospital in front of the train station. Hurry up!
Takeru, are you listening?
Father : Takeru!
Takeru : Dad, where's mom? How did she get in an accident?
Father : She oversteered trying to avoid a kid who ran out into
the road, and ran through a guard rail into a concrete
wall...!
<>
Father : I was waiting for her in front of the station. She was
late. There was an accident, and when I went over to
look, it was your mom's car. The kid was safe; he was
crying in his mother's arms.
Takeru : What about mom? Will she live?
Father : I don't know. She's in surgery now. The doctors can't
tell me anything...
I told her to use a taxi when she went to the station!
She's gotten worse at driving...
<>
Takeru : Doctor! My wife...
--It might be a good idea to call your friends and
relatives, just to be safe.
<>
Takeru : {I'm shaking, and I just can't stop. I don't know what's
going to happen...}
--Are you her son, Takeru-kun?
Takeru : Yes.
--Your mother's opened her eyes. She has something she
wants to say to you. Go on in.
<>
Takeru : But, doctor, my dad's still on the phone...
--Calm down. She wants to talk to you, not your father.
We're here. We'll do everything we can.
<>
Takeru : {Oh, no...}
Mother : Takeru...
Takeru : Mom...
{I can't believe it's this serious.}
Mother : I'm sorry, Takeru.
Takeru : Why are you apologizing? It's great that the kid was
safe...so you don't need to worry.
Mother : No.
Takeru : What?
<>
Mother : Listen closely. I don't have much time.
Takeru : What are you saying? You're gonna be fine!
Mother : Takeru...your father and I have been keeping a secret
from you for a very long time.
Mother : You have an older sister. A sister you're connected to
by blood.
Takeru : You shouldn't joke at a time like this!
Mother : I'm sorry for surprising you...
Mother : Her name is Hyouju. Written with the characters for "ice
tree." She's four years older than you. Before I married
your father, he studied in London, and had a child with
a woman he knew there. She died some time ago. Now,
Hyouju-chan is living alone in London.
<>
Mother : Your father begged me to take her in, but I could never
say yes...until now. It was very hard for me...
Mother : I felt sorry for Hyouju-chan, and it wasn't her fault,
but still...I couldn't. Since then, I'd been trying to
find some time to talk to you. I was going to talk to you
after your exams, but then this happened...
Takeru : Stop it...
Mother : Please, Takeru...
Takeru : I'll listen after you get better, so please stop!
Mother : Takeru, I have something to ask you.
Takeru : I don't want to hear it now!
Mother : I want you to let Hyouju-chan live with you.
--Doctor, her blood pressure is dropping fast!
Mother : Please don't resent your father or me...forgive us...
I'll pray for you...I'll watch over you...so that you'll
be happy...
Takeru : Mom!
<>
--Start cardiac massage!
Takeru : Mom! Mom! Mom!
--Get out of the way!
<>
Takeru : {My mother died right after that. My dad and relatives
weren't able to say a word to her. Since then, I've
been quiet; haven't talked to anyone.}
<>
Takeru : {My relatives came and had a wake at our house. My dad's
holding up better than I expected. He's been working out
funeral arrangements with my aunt and uncle. I can't
stop thinking about what my mother said to me.}
Takeru : {People have been asking me what she said to me, but I
haven't been able to tell them yet. I'm too much in
shock...I can't even cry. When I look out in the yard,
I feel like the young hero is standing there in the
rain...}
<>
Takeru : {Soaking wet. Like a ghost. How deep were his pain and
sadness, when the first hero died? It wasn't like
anything like I thought when I was typing on the word
processor. No, it was totally different.}
<>
Takeru : {And when I thought that, suddenly, my eyes started to
overflow with tears.}
<>
Takeru : {My 'Zero seal' is my mother's confession. Her will. I
want to know where to go from here. I want someone to
tell me the way...but in real life, there's no one to
tell me.}
<>
Takeru : {And that tower doesn't exist, either.
3 am already...I have to take my turn watching the
candles.}
Father : You can go to sleep. I'm all right.
Tatsuko : That's right, Take-chan. I just woke up. I'll change the
candles.
Oh, you must be hungry. There are onigiri. Eat up.
Maybe I should make some tea, Kento-san...
Takeru : You're strong, Aunt Tatsuko.
Tatsuko : You finally talked!
Tatsuko : But why do you say that?
Takeru : She was your little sister...but you're still managing
to go on.
Tatsuko : It's only right that I should support you. After all,
I knew your mother for so long, but you could only be
with her for fifteen years. And besides, it's just too
hard not to do something. Take-chan...
Tatsuko : What was the last thing you talked about with your
mother? Tell me, all right?
<>
Takeru : I have a sister, four years older than me, named Hyouju.
She wanted me to live with Hyouju, here!
Takeru : Why? Why didn't you tell me, dad?
<>
Takeru : Mom was never happy at all! She was just pretending to be
happy, every day...and I never knew, because she didn't
tell me!
<>
Takeru : If someone had told me, I would've hit you, dad!
Tatsuko : Take-chan...poor thing...
--What's wrong, mom?
Tatsuko : It's all right, Futaba.
<>
Takeru : {The funeral was the next day. I just kept sobbing.
My mother went home in a small box. The undertaker left,
and my relatives were drinking tea....}
<>
Takeru : {And Aunt Tatsuko said...}
Tatsuko : You aren't actually thinking of taking Hyouju in, are
you, Kento-san?
Don't think that I'm a bit surprised by what Kimie said
to Take-chan.
Futaba : Mom, not in front of Take-chan!
Tatsuko : It's all right, he wants to know too. Isn't that right,
Take-chan?
Eru : Let's talk about this some other time. My brother and
Takeru-kun must be tired.
Tatsuko : Be quiet, Eru-san! My sister Kimie would definitely have
been opposed! Even if those were her dying words, you
can't just say, 'oh, all right'!
Futaba : Mom!
Tatsuko : What will you do, Kento-san?
Kento : I'll do as my wife wanted.
Kento : I'll take in Hyouju.
<>
Futaba : Mom! Mom! Stop her, Wakaba!
Tatsuko : You can cry all you like, I don't care!
Kimie was foolish to stick to you just because you're
half-British and a bit good looking, until she died!
Futaba : Mom, that's too much!
Takeru : {I saw my dad crying for the first time in my life...
but still, there are some things I can't forgive!}
Takeru : I won't accept it. I'm absolutely opposed! I won't do
anything to support it!
--Take-chan!
<>
Tatsuko : Well-said, Take-chan!
Takeru : {This is a development I had never imagined.}
Takeru : {This is how my first fight started, with my father as my
enemy.}
<>
Takeru : {My journey starts right now!}
Takeru : I can go get the rest later. {Better leave my bike too.}
Zen : Hi, mister!
Takeru : You again? Do you want something with me?
Zen : No, I just...I...
<>
Zen : I don't know what to say to make you feel better.
Takeru : How do you know anything about this?
Zen : When I was passing by before, there was a funeral going
on at your house.
Takeru : Oh...yeah...my mother died in an accident.
Zen : Your mother...
Takeru : Why are you crying?
Zen : I'm sorry...I know this must be so hard on you...but I...
Takeru : You're pretty young, to understand about death.
Takeru : {I started crying too...}
Zen : Are you leaving, mister? It's only five. It's too early
to go to school.
Takeru : I'm leaving home.
Zen : What? But, where will you go?
<>
Zen : You're not going to join a gang, are you?
Takeru : Don't be ridiculous.
Zen : But...