Chapter 18: The Glass Staircase Translated by : Kaori Hasegawa Sponsored and brought to you by : Alberto Mazzetto Story and Art by : Masakazu Katsura <6> Sound: Ba ba ba ba ba. Youta: Wh-what can I do!! <7> Sound: Syu---n syun syun. Youta: Many shafts of light. Is she being sucked into the VCR!? Is she returning to the VCR like this!! Wait!! Sound: Bachi. Youta: U. <8> Sound: Do. Youta: Gu. Sound: Gi gi gi gi gi. Ai: Yo.ta. You. ta. Youta. Sound: Gaba. Youta: Ai is on the screen. This proves that Ai was sucked back into the tape!! <9> Sound: Fu. Ai: It's goodbye. Youta. I was going to play for only three months at first, but we could be together longer than that, so it's okay, right. I had fun, even though it was a short time. Youta: Wait! I still need you!! Don't disappear!! Don't disappear, please! Ai!! <11> Sound: Su-- Fu. Youta: H-hey. really disappeared. Ai. did you disappear. Stupid!! Let me in!! Let me in here!! I want Ai back!! Give Ai back to me!! Hey!! Sound: Ban ban ban. Ban. <12> Gokuraku: I'm weak with that pure tear. Youta: Gokuraku's old man!! Give me Ai back!! Ai.! Gokuraku: Do you want her back no matter what? Youta: Of course!! Let me in here right now!! Gokuraku: Well, don't talk so loud. You have to give up since this already happened. But because of that tear, I'll give you a chance. But I won't give you any help. Take her back by yourself. Youta: That's what I wish for!! Let me in here right now! Gokuraku: Don't rush so. Gee. Today's young people are. Close your eyes and put your hands on the television screen. Youta: Okay. Sound: Baooo. <13> Sound: Dosa. Muku. Youta: What? What? Am I here? It wasn't so difficult. Gokuraku: You're a special case. This is the only and last time. Youta: Then, where is Ai!! <14> Youta: A glass staircase.? Gokuraku: We're in the tape whose theme is love, therefore, what you are looking at comes from your image of love. each person sees something different. <15> Youta: I don't care if it's difficult. Anyway, Ai-chan is up there!! Sound: Da. Gokuraku: Hey, I haven't finished. Gee, young people are hasty and troublesome. Sound: Oaki. Youta: Dammit. This is so weak. Ha, this is exactly like my image of love. So. Since I'm already rejected by girls, I have a fear of love and weakness. That's what created this "Glass Staircase". I can go up since my love never succeeds. Sound: Pakiki. Meki. <16> Youta: Haa. Haa. Haa. Sound: Paki paki. Youta: Haa haa. My feet hurt. shit. This piece of glass got stuck in my foot. My stomach hurts, too. Shit. I have to go to Ai-chan. Sound: Gasya. Gaku. Youta: Ooops! I can't even stay on. And there is a river of electricity, too. I would lose my life. <17> Youta: There's still more to the top. Zee zee zee zee. Sound: Pishi. Gaku gaku gaku. Youta: Zee zee. Sound: Do. Youta: U. .Good. . I'm lucky this part is thicker. Zee zee zee. Sound: Gaku. Moemi: Why don't you. quit now?. <18> Youta: Mo- Moemi-chan!! Why are you here!? Moemi: The strange old man brought me here. Youta: Why did you come. Moemi: Because I heard Moteuchi-kun. Youta: You like Takashi, so. You should just think about him. Moemi: .I realized clearly when I saw Moteuchi-kun having a hard time. The one I like is Moteuchi-kun. <19> Youta: Eh!? Moemi: So let's go back to the real world? Please. Sound: Doki doki doki doki doki. Youta: Does Moemi-chan. me!? Is it. all that happens now. all my dreams. Sound: Piki. Youta: No, my feet hurt so much, this isn't a dream. Moemi-chan really. about me. But-- Okay. Moemi: Moteuchi-kun Youta: --but, I want to take Ai-chan back no matter what. So, would you go home alone first. Moemi: Eh? <20> Sound: Gasya-n. Moemi: Moteuchi-kun. <21> Youta: Shit. What's going on. I'm feeling so much pain, so it must be real. Now, I can't go back. Sound: Gi gi gi. Youta: Gua!! If I climb to the top of this, under so much pain, what if Ai-chan isn't there. Yes!! I have to go there anyway!! The answer is at the top of here!! <22> Youta: Zee zee zee. Finally. Takashi!! Takashi: What are you doing, Moteuchi. Ai-chan isn't here. See!? That's why seriously loving someone is a waste. Look back. <23> Youta: What!? What about the staircase!? What was I doing.!? Takashi: Do you understand? Even though you worked hard for the moment of emotion, It's just a waste. When you wake from it, there is only pain. Let's go back. Youta: Takashi. Takashi: Um? Youta: That's right. I have cuts and pain all over, but I could come here. The energy flows from my body if I like somebody. To love is not a waste. <24> Takashi: Ha. you're horrible. Sound: Su-- Youta: Takashi!. What's going on. What's going on here!! Gokuraku: This place is what it is, the place you cannot understand. The friends you saw along the way were illusions that your weak mind created. they were you own questions asking you to run away. Good job, you could get here without taking the easy way. If could be proof that you feelings toward Ai are serious. Youta: And! Where is Ai-chan!? Gokuraku: Ai is in the back. Sound: Da. Gokuraku: Wait!! <25> Gokuraku: He's gone. Gee, this you person is. Ai is over there, but it's not so easy to get her out. Youta: Ai!! Ai: Yo. Youta.