AKATSUKI VS Crazy:B | Abroad and Memory 7-10
Abroad and Memory 7
A slum… I had a feeling, but you suspected it too, right?
I do not want to say it, but… the atmosphere here is like day and night compared to the main streets we were just on.
Fewer people are around, and there are people sitting on the pavement. I wouldn’t call this a safe area by any means.
We came here to understand the music better, didn’t we?
If you think it through, I bet that means this might be the kinda place Taki spent his time in when he lived in America.
The place where Taki spent time in America, huh…?
Back when we were in Okinawa, I’d heard about it when Majimun… Taki’s grandfather, and I got to talking.21 But he’d only told me a little.
However, we do not know the Ibuki who lived in "Amerika".
… I certainly did want to know more about that Ibuki, but…
Even so, I never could have anticipated that he would have taken us to a “su-ramu”.
Yeah… I’m starting to get a little worried.
Taki... What kind of day-to-day life did that guy lead here in America?
It’s been about five minutes and he wanted us to wait here… or has it been ten minutes? I really wish he’d hurry up and come back, but…—
Hey, Hasumi… Watch where you’re goin’!
? What are you talking abou— Oomph..
S—Sorry…! I bumped into you…
… (Starts yelling in English) !22
Please give me a moment, I need my translation app…
… (Continues yelling in English) !
(Kh, I don’t know what he’s saying, but he seems to have gotten quite worked up.)
(... I may have bumped into him, but it wasn’t very hard. With a physique like that, I can’t see how he might have gotten hurt!?)
Hey, you. He said he was sorry. Are you gonna let it go or what?
… Tch, but if I can’t say it in English, he’s not gonna get what I’m sayin’. The language barrier is such a hassle.
Umm. I swear I had a phrase written down on a “no-to ca-rudo”, on the off chance we were to get accosted by a scoundrel.
There it is…! “Get away from that man!”
… Kiryu-dono. That man keeps on saying rather unreasonable things.
I think he realized we could not speak English and was attempting to intimidate us.
That’s amazing, Kanzaki. You can understand what he’s sayin’?
Roughly. Speaking is very hard, but “ri-su-nin-gu” I can sort of manage…
…— (Yelling in English) !
If he’s tryin’ to intimidate us, we don’t gotta take him so seriously, but…
We have to wait for Ibuki, so we can’t exactly leave where we are.
… Everyone is starting to look at us. Perhaps I should subdue this man before this escalates into something bigger…?
Sorry to keep you waiting~ Hasumi-san! It took me a while to find the person I was looking for… Hm?
I’ve never seen you before~ Are you the new guy?
Taki. Who is that man you’ve brought over with you?
Hmm, it looks like he’s talking to that large man from just now.
Oh, this old guy’s sorta like the big kahuna of this place. He keeps an eye on things and runs this whole area~
I relied on him on all sortsa things back when I was here, too~
Hm? It seems that large man is apologizing to us.
He had never seen you around before, so it looks like he was trying to scare you off a little…?
We’re still sorta by the edge of the slum, so sometimes normal people will make a wrong turn and wander in by mistake~
It’d be unsafe for them if they wandered too deep, y’know~?
You saved us, Taki. If you weren’t here, it probably would’ve grown into an even bigger scene.
Well, I think that the fault lies with Ibuki in the first placet— he’s the one who brought us here in the first place…
Now, now, it’s all fine now, isn’t it? It didn’t turn into anything serious, y’know.
… Anyways, are we gonna get to the explanation part soon, Taki?
What exactly is your plan, bringing us to a place like this?
Well you said it yourself, didn’t you, Hasumi-san? You wanted to know where my musicality came from.
And if you wanna know the answer to that… then this place is a must~
Mm… From what I heard, they’ve been hanging out over here recently…
We’ve been walking for quite a while, but is this really okay? You just said going in too deep into the alleys would be unsafe…
Well, that’s ‘cuz people’ve got their own turf, even in a place like this~? What I meant was stepping onto someone else’s turf without their permission.
But we’ve got permission, so it’s fine~ I’m fairly well-known ‘round this place too, so~
Mmm. I truly cannot comprehend anything of this world of yours.
Turf…? Like the kinds delinquents go and hang out in?
Ah, we finally found it~ You could hear the upbeat rhythm all the way from here~♪
There’s some guys dancing over there. And some are playing the guitar too…
Over there… Are they street dancing?
Bingo! That’s Hasumi-san for you~
Music lovers and dance-enthusiasts alike from this slum gather here nearly everyday~
I used to join in all the time way back when~ I’d dance however my heart desired to whatever music they’d play.
The arrangements I used to hear street dancing are just so familiar to my ears, y’know~?
Nyahaha, those were the days~ Whenever I sit down and compose, this place comes to mind a lot of the time~
It kinda feels like I’ve finally come back home~
… Hm, so what you mean to say, Ibuki… is in order to better understand the culture of this country, we should watch this “su-to-reet dancing.”
What are you talking about, Souma-san? It’d be such a waste to just watch and call it a day~!
Here, go tell everyone we’re gonna join in too~♪
Hey now, you sure that’s cool? We may have gotten permission, but we’re still outsiders.
The people dancing over there don’t care about small stuff like that, y’know~
If there’s melody and dance, anyone can jump right in.
This is a place so free that they even accepted an oni like me~ There’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of~♪
(A place so free that even he was accepted…?)
Still, even if ya say so…
Understood. When in Rome, do as the Romans do… Everything is an experience to learn from.
In order to deepen my understanding of the song, and to defeat “Ku-rei-ji Bii,” I shall give it everything I can…! Off I go—!
Hey, Kanzaki!
It’s no use. Guess I’ll give it a shot...
Nyahaha. That’s Souma-san for you~♪
…
Sorry, Taki. I had a bit of the wrong idea about this place.
Huh? What do you mean?
You brought us here with you, and I went and decided it was just some unsafe place.
… Hasumi-san, it’s not like I can blame you for thinking like that~ It’s true that this area isn’t very safe, after all~?
Fights and disputes with fellow vagrants23 are a commonplace thing here. I used to always run around trying to figure out how to resolve those sorts of problems too.
But it’s not like the people who live here are all bad people or anything~
If you’re someone who just couldn’t cut it out in normal society, this place will accept you.
This place is a refuge for outcasts24 like us~
… A refuge for “outcasts like us”?
(It isn’t some place pushed to the outskirts of states, away from the eyes of everyone else.)
(It’s a place where people giving their all to live in the present can gather and coexist together.)
So this is the place you were brought up in. It seems just as precious a place of belonging to you as Okinawa is.
A precious place of belonging huh…
…
? … What’s the matter, Taki?
No, it’s nothing~
Hey, let’s go join in and dance too, Hasumi-san!
It doesn’t matter where— as long as there’s music and dancing, anywhere’s a stage, y’know~♪
… That’s right.
Abroad and Memory 8
Is this where we are staying?
That’s right. It seems it’s been arranged for us by NiceP for MM.
Idols who are participating in MM are either using pre-arranged lodging, or...
It seems like if the timing allows for it, they are allowed to return to the MEGASPHERE and stay in the residential district.
Well, duh, we’re gonna stay at the fancy-schamncy hotel~ right~♪
Who would go back all the way to the MEGASPHERE?
There’s some people who can’t sleep anywhere but their own bed, aren’t there?
Well, we’re probably gonna be usin’ the Star House a lot from here on out, so we might as well live it up here while we’re at it.
I’ll go get us checked in right away. Just wait here for a moment.
Hey, can I go take a quick peek around the lobby?
Sure. Just make sure not to bother the other guests.
Heard you loud and clear~♪ Looks like there’s some kind of shop over there~
That Taki. He’s breaking out into a jog… Did he really understand you “loud and clear”?
Haha. He’s got tons of energy, even after workin’ up a good sweat in the slum.
Mhm. I feel like it may be a groundless worry, but I’m still worried he’s going to start up some trouble…
I shall go chaperone Ibuki just to be sure.
That guy. Ever since we came to America, he’s been in high spirits nonstop.
He’s probably happy he’s gotten to return to the place he grew up in, huh?
Yes. America is like a second home to him. It might be just as profound of a place to his soul as Okinawa is.
However, Taki constantly takes me by surprise. Not only did he move to America at an age far younger than any of us, but…
I can’t believe he grew up in the slums. The fact he acts mature for his age may be because of that kind of upbringing.
It was the same with Itsuki too, it’s really remindin’ me that livin’ overseas is harder than I could ever imagine.
The language barrier sure is a huge part of that, huh. Even in Japan, where we should be able to understand each other, we still have misunderstandings, don’t we?
… Misunderstandings, huh.
He said those slums were a place for outsiders like them, and he said it was the place his music fundamentals were formed.
That place holds so much enormity within him. That much I could understand, so I don’t intend on meddling with his relationship with it.
But… When I think about him growing up in the slums, I imagine it’s because he might have been treated as an outcast everywhere else.
… That’s…
I can only guess, but… I imagine he wasn’t accepted anywhere, whether it be school or his own family, and Taki ended up settling in a slum instead.
… No matter how mature he acts, no matter how nonchalant he acts, he’s still just a high school first-year.
Taki brings new wind into AKATSUKI,25 and I think of him as a reliable comrade, but…
I’m the leader of AKATSUKI, and I don’t know a single thing about him.
Ibuki Taki’s life up until now, the feelings he carries within him…
A thought flashed in my mind. The thought that I have been merely using that guy’s potential, saying it’s for the sake of AKATSUKI, all without truly knowing anything about him.
… You’re wrong to say you’re “usin’ him”.
Sure, you’re the one who brought him to us at the start, but… I’m sure Taki joinin’ AKATSUKI was a decision he made as well.
You’re tryin’ to say you’re anxious about carryin’ on together with AKATSUKI without knowin’ about his past or knowin’ about the things he agonizes over, arentcha?
You don’t gotta know everything all at once. What’s the rush?
It’s like when Taki suddenly vanished and we went all the way to Okinawa to go get him.26 It’s okay if he shares his troubles with us lil’ by lil’.
Of course, you shouldn’t try to force it outta him, but…
I think the fact you’re tryin’ to face him so seriously will oughta speak loud and clear to him, y’know?
… Actually, ya chose to battle in America with exactly all that in mind, didn’t ya?
If possible, yes, but taking on Crazy:B in a rematch is one of my objectives too.
Ahh, well that’s good then.
If we could all just know everything about everyone the second we meet ‘em, life would be a helluva lot easier, huh.
Maybe me sayin’ “Take your time,” makes it sound like I’ve got the patience of a saint, but how ‘bout we at least take things one step at a time?
Approachin’ everythin’ Taki’s gone through livin’ his life up until now… You can think about what you can do for him after that.
You’re not wrong.
I’m sorry to bring you into this conversation.
It’s somethin’ important, isn’t it? For AKATSUKI, and for you, Danna.
… Oh, looks like our room keys are ready. Let’s get on to our rooms so we can kick back and relax.
No, we should have dinner first. Eating too late at night isn’t good for you.
Well, let’s go get Kanzaki and Taki.
Hey, what are we gonna do!? If things keep up at this rate, we’re not even gonna be able to make our live!!
Oukawa, please stay calm. We don’t know for sure yet that we won’t be able to return—
How am I supposed to stay calm!? Things have gone south all thanks to some dimwit…!
… It’s just as Kohaku-chan said. I won’t make any excuses.
Ah, shit. This is all my fault…!
(Sigh) We were havin’ such a great time enjoyin’ some sightseein’ in America and everythin’…
Who’d have thought we’d have to sleep outside for the night~!
Abroad and Memory 9
... HiMERU-han, we got the meetin’ time right, didn’t we?
— Indeed. And this is the correct road near the casino.
I guess he could be late, it’s Rinne-kun we’re talking about, right?
I dunno much about casinos, but aren’t you basically glued to your seat if you’re on a roll with pachinko or something?27
I suppose that may be a possibility, if he’s playing on slot machines.
... Still. Even if that were the case, it feels a little strange that he hasn’t contacted us.
Yeah, I mean, this is Rinne-han. If he was runnin’ late ‘cause he was struck a jackpot, he’d probably be blowin’ our phones up braggin’ about it.
And yet we’ve received no attempt of that whatsoever. The only other explanation HiMERU can come up with is that he’s lost his phone.
...— Oh, pardon me.
What’s wrong, HiMERU-kun?
...? Oh, nothing at all.
Maybe he got his ass whooped at the casino so bad, he can’t even bear to show his face? As if he even has any face left to save from us, though.
It’d be his own money he went bankrupt on, and he’d only have himself to blame.
...
What’s up, HiMERU-han? You’ve had that look on yer face quite a lot today.
Do you maybe think Rinne-han might’ve gotten himself mixed up in serious trouble?
— Whether or not we’re concerned aside, it would be beneficial to always keep that possibility in mind.
Amagi himself said it, didn’t he? Who knows what could happen when you travel to another country.
If anything were to go wrong, we all would have to go around bowing our heads in apology to all those involved.
That does sound like somethin’ that’d happen to us... I just hope that if we do get ourselves into hot water, it’d be the kinda situation we could all laugh off in the end.
You’re all overthinking it. All it is is that he lost big at the casino and can’t get bring himself to face us~
Nah, “losing big” wouldn’t do that to ‘im, he’d have to lose it all. It’s gotta be a loss so big, it’d send him spirallin’ into debt.
And then ‘cause he doesn’t have enough cash to pay it off, some scary guys drag him right outta the casino.
And once they get him back in their hideout, then it gets serious, and he gets forced into real life-and-death gamblin’. Y’know, the kind where you put your organs and stuff on the line...♪
... (Sigh) Where did you even learn these things, Oukawa?
It made me think of this one hit drama that’s everywhere lately— all that stuff happens in it!
Now, I dunno ‘bout all that, but... That might be a good taste of medicine for Rinne-kun, doing whatever he wants all the time!
Actually, can you even lose so much at a casino that they strip you down of everythin’ you got on ya?
— Well, it appears so.
? What do ya mean appears... Ah.
Whoa... There’s a guy basically nude sittin’ over there…! At this time of year?
Wait, do ya think that means they mighta lost big at the casino?!
So it really can happen, huh? And here I thought it was total fiction… Huh?
— Is it just HiMERU’s imagination, or... Is that naked man waving at us?
Hm? ... And the headband he’s wearin’ looks strangely familiar, too.
Heee~y! Didja guys come to pick me up? ♪
...
...
...
Maaan, there’s really nothin’ better than your own comrades from your unit!
I’ve gotta admit, even someone like me really learned their lesson this time ‘round. I was doin’ just great ‘til halfway, when things suddenly went south!
All my chips just, boom, gone in an instant...
— Hmm. It looks like Amagi isn’t around here.
D’ya think he mighta already gone back to the hotel, HiMERU-han?
Ahh~, I bet he did! He’s gotta be chowin’ down on something yummy at the hotel restaurant~... Ouch!
Don’t you jerks ignore me! The leader of Crazy:B—Amagi Rinne-kun is standin’ right in front of ya!
HiMERU simply can’t bear to look. Not at the pathetic sight of his leader nearly naked.
Same here. I can’t bear the thought of someone thinkin’ I’m in the same unit as this guy.
Gyahaha! Give it up, you guys, this right here is a reality ya cannot deny!
A~ny~ways~... Please, guys, I’m beggin’ ya! Just lend me a lil’ more! I swear, I just need one more go at it— next time’s gonna be the time I strike the jackpot!
You’re like this and ya still haven’t given up on gamblin’ at the casino?!
— Ah shoot, the request was just so ridiculous I ended up acknowledging his existence...
... (Sigh) It seems we’ll just have to give in, then.
Amagi. HiMERU will ask you again—What is with that get-up?
Couldn’t tell? I blew every last penny I had at the casino, and when I staked my clothes on just one more bet, I lost those too! And here’s the sorry state it’s left me in.
I can’t believe this. To think ya were that much of an utter dimwit...
Seriously, this time you’ve floored even me.
HiMERU can feel a headache coming on.
Well, these things happen when ya gamble, I guess. I suppose ya can count this as a learnin’ experience too... Ahh, a-choo.
(Sigh) ... Shiina. HiMERU believes you packed a spare change of clothes in your carry-on, no?
Ah~, you’re right, I did. Anyhow, Rinne-kun, you’re absolutely unbearable to look at right now, so go get changed.
Hold on a sec. Before ya do, can I take a picture?
Abroad and Memory 10
... In any case, HiMERU understands the situation now.
While it appears there has been an accident, we have all been able to reconvene safely.
Let’s consider this misfortune a learning experience and head on back to the hotel NiceP has prepared for us.
Yeah, let’s. It’s gettin’ pretty late, after all. An’ I heard that the streets ain’t all that safe overseas, too.
Ah, I’m down to turn in. Can’t place any bets if I don’t got the capital to do it, after all!
Enough, Rinne-kun, it’s about time you stopped thinkin’ about gambling.
... Riiight. So I have a favor to ask of ya, Merumeru...
This is about the traveling fare to the hotel, no? HiMERU doubts you have the money for that anymore.
Oh yeah, so about that~ ... Sorry, HiMERU-kun.
... Now, why are you apologizing, Shiina? Don’t tell me, could it be that...
Nahaha. So, I ended up splurgin’ a little on ingredients and the like as souvenirs...
Do ya mind coverin’ the fare for me?
...
Gyahaha! I thought ya were tuggin’ around some insane luggage, but talk about reckless behavior!
You can’t laugh at me, Rinne-kun! At least this is money spent meaningfully!
(Sigh) ... HiMERU is so stunned he cannot find words.
—You two, please quiet down for now. Alright, HiMERU and Oukawa will cover the expenses and...
Umm, so... HiMERU-han...
What is it, Oukawa? You’re speaking in a strange tone of... voice.
No, please stop there. HiMERU doesn’t want to hear it. Please do not come any closer.
Don’tcha shut me out like that... I just got somethin’ to speak to ya ‘bout real quick!
— And HiMERU is insisting he does not want to be spoken to about it!
Sooo, I’m in the same boat as Niki-han~... I guess I went a lil’ too overboard with buyin’ souvenirs~?
Do you not hear HiMERU’s pleas for you to stop?! HiMERU will cut ties with you, right here and now!
Now don't be so cruel! You’re just always so reliable, HiMERU-han ♪
That’s right! You’re always so cool, HiMERU-kun! You’re the sexy one for a reason!
O’ God, O’ Buddha, O’ HiMERU! Please bestow your blessings unto the penniless~ ♪
H-HiMERU cannot believe this. Does not a single one of you even have common sense...!?
Amagi and Shiina would be one thing, but to think even Oukawa as well...
I know I did somethin’ wrong, ‘kay? But bein’ overseas and all... I just couldn’t help but get carried away, y’know?
— Please, that is enough. HiMERU has revised his perceptions of all of you.
Pull another stunt like this again, and HiMERU will no longer hesitate to leave you all behind. Please bear that in mind.
(Sigh) Why must HiMERU suffer so...?
... Hm?
What’s wrong, HiMERU-kun?
...HiMERU... can’t find his wallet.
Damn... Countin’ on the MEGASPHERE to come pick us up really was a long shot. Apparently they’re somewhere over in Europe right now.
Kohaku-chan... Guess we’re gonna have to accept it, and start bracin’ ourselves for a night out in the open air.
Yup. And we can’t count on a certain Merumeru, either. It’ll be a better use of our time to find ourselves a safe place to sleep.
Don’t be ridiculous. We’re overseas. In America. At night. This is a whole different ballgame than sleepin’ out in the open air in Japan.
— It can’t exactly be said that sleeping outside in another country is safe. We should probably rule out sleeping out on the streets as an option.
Ah, HiMERU-kun’s come back to life!
— HiMERU was so ashamed of himself he was in a bit of shock...
There’s absolutely no chance that HiMERU dropped his wallet. In this case, it was likely stolen at some point...
The only thing that comes to mind is when that man bumped into him while we were going to pick up Amagi.
It caught HiMERU completely off guard. To think something like this happened...
Leavin’ aside HiMERU-han as he mutters... ... I seriously don’t got a clue what to do.
We can’t even get a hold of management staff. We’re seriously gonna have to sleep out on the streets at this rate.
That, or I guess we can stay up all night at a restaurant or somethin’, huh.
HiMERU would prefer we avoid pulling all-nighters, as it’d affect our physical condition, though...
(But... Right now, what Shiina said is the most probably the most realistic option.)
(That said, Amagi and Shiina aside, HiMERU does not want Oukawa to have to push himself.)
(Is there anywhere, anywhere else we can stay...?)
(— There is a place. The place where “I” once resided. If, by any chance, it’s still standing...)
(Murmuring) ... Is it worth checking?
... Everyone, could you come with HiMERU for a moment?
Translation Notes
- ↑ AKATSUKI meet Majimun, Ibuki's grandfather, in The Legend of KAGETSU, staying the night at his orphanage when they go to retrieve Ibuki.
- ↑ In the original, these lines are just "…ーッ!", but given AKATSUKI's description of the interaction, it seems like the American is yelling or intimidating them in English.
- ↑ The word used here is 浮浪者 (ふろうしゃ).
- ↑ The word used here is 外れ者 (はずれ者).
- ↑ Ibuki's new tagline after he joins AKATSUKI is "胸に新風、吹き込むイブキ" (Ibuki, blowing a new wind into your soul).
- ↑ This happens in the Legend of KAGETSU, when Ibuki lies to AKATSUKI and claims to want to quit their practices; in reality, he hides his real troubles (protecting his grandfather and orphanage) to keep them from danger.
- ↑ Likely referring to pachinko kakuhen (確変) system, where your machine can enter a "Fever Mode" that dramatically increases your chance at a jackpot. Once entering kakuhen mode, pachinko players will want to stay in the mode as long as possible to increase their ball count. Players will often enter kakuhen mode after winning.