Chapter 21: Senpai* 
                 *Means an elder person. 
 
 
  Translated by                   : Kaori Hasegawa 
                                    <khasegawa@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu> 
 
  Sponsored and brought to you by : Alberto Mazzetto 
                                    <Alberto@advanced.fido.de> 


  Story and Art by                : Masakazu Katsura 
 
 
 <70> 
         Sign:   [Spring] 
        Youta:   That dream-like event is a fact, and Ai-chan 
                 disappearing is a fact, too. 
                 The cut on my cheek is proof of it.

 
 <71> 
        Youta:   I can't struggle against the facts. So I'll start 
                 everything with this morning, not wasting the days 
                 I spent with Ai-chan, to catch my dreams, like she 
                 wished. 
        Sound:   Za. 
        Youta:   I'll make a wonderful start. Ai-chan must be 
                 somewhere. 
                 I'll meet her some day, so I won't be laughed at by 
                 her. 
 
 <72> 
         Sign:   [Homeroom Assignment. Junior Class A. Junior Class 
                 B.] 
                 [First Assembly] 
 
 <73> 
        Moemi:   Long time no see. 
      Takashi:   I heard Youta couldn't be promoted to a Junior. 
        Moemi:   Yeah, I know. I heard it. 
 
 <74> 
      Takashi:   How has he been? 
        Moemi:   I don't know. 
      Takashi:   Why not. 
                 But you. About him. 
        Moemi:   I thought I might, too. I found out Moteuchi-kun 
                 likes Ai-chan, so. I held myself back, not 
                 knowing. 
 
 <75> 
        Moemi:   I bet Ai-chan isn't his sister. 
      Takashi:   I know it. 
                 I've known him since we were kids. So I know he 
                 doesn't have a sister. --But he. 
                 He. 
                 He. 
        Moemi:   I! I was shocked by what you said at the hamburger 
                 shop. So. 
                 I remembered your phone number. 
      Takashi:   You're stupid, too. 
 
 <76> 
        Sound:   Buwa. 
       Nobuko:   Wa. 
                 I hate this!! Why are the skirts at this school so 
                 short!? 
         Sign:   [Nobuko Nizaki (New Student)] 
 
 <77> 
         Girl:   Give up, we already entered this school. 
       Nobuko:   Listen! Our classroom is in the old wooden building. 
                 It's horrible. 
                 And, there's a person who flunked out. And, a person 
                 who doesn't come to school from the 
                 first day. So many bad people in my class! 
         Girl:   Then why did you take an examination here? 
       Nobuko:   Because. 
         Girl:   I know. No-chin's reason to come to this school is 
                 unpure. 
       Nobuko:   Stop calling me No-chin. 
                 Hey! Did you see them!? Those two!! The coupling of 
                 a handsome boy and a beautiful girl is 
                 somehow, great. 
         Girl:   What do you mean great. 
 
 <78> 
      Takashi:   Youta. 
 
 <79> 
        Youta:   Hi. 
 
 <80> 
      Takashi:   He looks different. 
        Moemi:   Moteuchi-kun. 
 
 <81> 
       Nobuko:   Senpai! 
                 Moteuchi-senpai! 
 
 <82> 
       Nobuko:   You're kidding! The same class!? 
                 You're the one who flunked. 
        Youta:   Yep. 
        Sound:   Gara. 
       Nobuko:   But. this is luck. 
          Boy:   That's the one who flunked. 
          Boy:   He looks normal. 
        Sound:   Zawa zawa. 
                 Kui. 
 
 <83> 
        Youta:   What? 
       Nobuko:   It's not a good environment. Let's get out of here. 
                 Oh yeah! Take me to the top of the building, where 
                 the monster is at! 
                 Wow, it looks scary close-up! 
                 The principal said it's the Saint Monster, which 
                 protects the school, but it's rare for a school, 
                 isn't it? 
        Youta:   I think so. 
                 It might protect the school, but not us. 
                 If it protected us too, then nobody would have to be 
                 hurt. 
 
 <84> 
       Nobuko:   Somehow you're different from the other boys in this 
                 grade. 
        Youta:   Eh? How? 
       Nobuko:   You look grown up. Very calm. 
        Youta:   It's not like that. 
                 I'm just pushing myself. 
       Nobuko:   What?. 
                 By the way, Senpai! You don't remember me at all, do 
                 you? 
        Youta:   Sorry. Not at all. 
 
 <85> 
       Nobuko:   Ooops, that's what I thought. It's a little sad. 
                 But I guess it's possible, because you quit the art 
                 club right after I joined it. 
        Youta:   Oh. 
       Nobuko:   You taught me how to draw with charcoal in the art 
                 club, when I was in junior high. 
                 Um, the wind isn't blowing. 
        Youta:   Eh? Yeah. 
                 The first assembly will start pretty soon. Shall we 
                 go? 
       Nobuko:   Senpai! 
 
 <86> 
       Nobuko:   Do you have someone you like right now? 
        Youta:   Eh? 
       Nobuko:   I see, you do. 
                 But, I won't give up, Senpai. Because you're here, I 
                 entered this school. 
 
 <87> 
        Youta:   .I'm called Motenai. You must like the odd ones. 
       Nobuko:   .Maybe so. Hehe. 
                 But you're very neat now! I'll beat them up if they 
                 call you Motenai!!