GAME x RUSH VOLUME 1 Translation
By Mizuho Kusanagi
Translated by Apple
Translation Notes:
-Italics are thoughts
-Small fonts are dialogue outside the bubble or in small (written) script, not printed.
-[Bracketed] numbers are page numbers, written here as a guide in reading the manga.
-[Bracketed] words/phrases are those that appear in the manga, written in boxes (not bubbles), and occasionally Kusanagi-sensei’s remarks.
-(Words in Parenthesis) are my descriptions and/or side comments, added here to eliminate confusion (and to make you laugh…maybe).
-Game 2-
{Chapter Cover Art: Memori taking off his jacket. He’s got a really girly face…}
[p50]
(Shot: Japan, supposedly. Lots of buildings. And in the second frame we have the building where the Fujieda office is.)
The fact that Japan was once called a superpower country where one can feel safe is a thing of the past.
Year after year it deteriorates, the peace and order situation. Crimes have continued to increase, as well as the number of terrorists.
To eliminate this unrest, and to protect everyone’s hearts and bodies, tough nice guy bodyguards have emerged.
Enshrined in danger, we await for you to reach out both of your shaking hands to us.
(Excuse my stupid translation. The Japanese sounds better than this, I swear.)
Memori: KEN-NII!!
…In any case,
This is the bodyguard dispatchment company: Fujieda BG Office, and this is the signboard daughter (mistake), Fujieda Memori (19).
(Shot of Memori holding a…paper with his face on it. Bwahaha. Wtf?!?)
Memori: What the hell is this flier!?
[p51]
And this is the King Chairman, Fujieda Kenjuu (29).
(Shot of Kenjuu with a cigarette in his mouth, and reading the newspaper. Himiko is standing behind him.)
Kenjuu: Ah…! You! Don’t tear that off, it’s a publicity poster—
Himiko: I made that~
The office’s only girl, Koutari Himiko (28).
Memori: Don’t just put my face in an advertisement without asking me!
Kenjuu: Recently, we haven’t had any clients, ya know. If we put your face in the ad, they’ll definitely show up!
Memori: You’re deceiving people! Quick sticking my picture in your posters! Do you want me to get sniped at?
[Kusanagi-sensei: Because they’re short-handed, the company generally depends on Memori for its income.]
Memori: If I don’t have a job here, then let me go to school.
Kenjuu: Che.
Himiko: This is troublesome~
Himiko: Won’t you stay here (in the office) for me? We won’t have any bodyguards here if you go~ Someone who can rescue me is here, but…
Kenjuu: Recruiting people to attend the bodyguard training school, eh?
Memori: It’s all right. If a job comes in, you can call me, so I’m gonna go home.
Memori: A new bodyguard won’t be necessary.
[p52]
Kenjuu: …
Himiko: He’s been in low spirits lately, Memori-kun.
Kenjuu: Nn…
(Shot of Memori’s back as he leaves, with his trench coat fluttering behind him.)
Kenjuu: Recently, he’s been like that all the time.
Memori: E~to…glasses, glasses… (he’s stooping near his desk drawer and looking for the missing glasses, but instead he finds…a gun)
Memori: Damn.
Memori: So I brought it here like this.
[p53]
Memori: A few days ago, there was this guy who said he wanted to be a bodyguard.
Memori: That guy was a killer
Memori: I tested him
Memori: He pulled out a clever performance even as he managed the job
Memori: It’s nothing special
Memori: Just that I felt a little safe at that time
Memori: I...
Memori: If it’s him, then I might be able to get used to having a companion
Memori: But it was all just a delusion.
(Memori standing in front of a bulletin board. He’s wearing a coat, a muffler, and a hat. Apparently it’s winter?)
Memori: I haven’t been in the school cafeteria for a long time as well. My class standing is in trouble—
Memori: Anyway, for now, I’ll eat.
Memori: It’s just around noon, so…
Memori: Ah—!
(Holding his wallet, and a coin slips from his fingers, and falls towards…)
Memori: Gyah! My 500 yen—!!
[p54]
(…the floor, but a hand picks it up. None other than…)
Memori: Ah.
Memori: Thanks…
Yuuki: Nah, it’s…
(I like this shot. Yuuki is about to hand Memori his 500 yen, and Memori was about to take it, but I guess since they recognized each other, there’s this weird look on both of their faces.)
[p55]
Memori: Y…Yuuki!
Yuuki: Memori-cha…
Memori: Why are you here…?
Memori: You…don’t tell me…again…!
(Just as Memori was about to take his money, Yuuki snatches his hand away.)
Memori: AH!
Memori: Temee! What are you doing? Give it back!!
Yuuki: But it’s your fault that I don’t have any money—
(Yey, how cute. Yuuki with his tongue sticking out.)
[p56]
Memori: HAA!?
(Memori with fangs.xD)
Yuuki: You interfered with my job recently, so I have no money.
Memori: How the hell could I have known!? Serves you right, you idiot! Why are you here!? Are you stalking me this time?!?
(Memori with really big teeth, and very angry. Like, angry enough to eat Yuuki…maybe.)
Yuuki: Ooh, hey! Don’t go biting my head off!
Yuuki: Take a look at this uniform. I’m a student of the High School Division of Takatou University.
(Yes, uniform. He’s wearing the typical black long-sleeved HS uniform we often see in manga and anime. It’s the basic boy’s uniform.)
[Sign Plate: The university and HS division are in the same area.]
Yuuki: The students (in the HS division) only come here to eat, and even me. I have a life too.
Yuuki: I’m not always working all-year-round, you know. I have free time too.
Memori: You want me to report you now, right here…?
Yuuki: If you’re going to catch me, then you’ve caught me already.
Yuuki: Get it?
(A pair of hands slither around Memori’s neck. And cling on to him…like, tightly.)
Memori: Temee, you really want me to…!
(I think he thought it was Yuuki, but it’s not. Unfortunately.xD)
Someone: ME~MO~RI~KU~N *heart*
[p57]
Memori: Wha—!!
[Big Letters: Reflex Movement]
(Memori is allergic to human touch, so his impulse had been to crush the hands that had slithered around his neck. The hands happened to belong to a girl, who is now…)
Girl: Kyah! It hurts it hurts it hurts—
(Down on the floor, and in pain. Memori is really strong.)
Girl: You’ve really done it, Fujieda Memori~! Are you listening?
[Sign Plate: Toono Kurumi, Memori’s classmate]
Memori: Sorry, Toono. You rode on my back.
Classmate: Wahahahaha! You’re the bad one, Kurumi. Memori has a natural tendency to refuse being touched, so…how long has he been that way?
Kurumi: Mou~! I thought sometimes you did come to school, but you never show your face to the circle. Is it such a bad thing if I let you hear my voice once in a while?
Yuuki: Everyone, are you all Memori-chan’s friends from the circle?
Memori: Geh—
[p58]
Kurumi: Ara, Memori-kun. You’re friends with a student from the high school division! How cool *heart*
Yuuki: Yuuki Shin, nice to meet you.
Memori: No!! This kind of person isn’t my f…
[Sign: Already a part of the group]
(Despite Memori’s objection, Yuuki is now talking to his clubmates.)
Yuuki: What kind of circle are you guys?
Clubmate: An expedition circle, ya know.
Memori: Onore, Yuuki Shin…
(I had misgivings about how to translate "onore" to English without making it sound stupid, so I left it alone. It basically means something like "idiot" only laden with a touch of personal grudge, if you get what I mean.)
Clubmate: We go camping, explore caves…usually we have to force Memori to come, though.
Yuuki: Hahaha! That’s just like Memori-chan~!
Kurumi: Nee, Memori-kun
Kurumi: I have a favor to ask. Hear me out for a second, okay?
Memori: Temee…why are you eating katsudon? What happened to my money?!?
(Apparently he’s not listening to Kurumi, but rather glaring at Yuuki and yelling at him.)
Yuuki: Oh come on~! You’re older than me, so this is your treat!
Kurumi: … (Has witnessed the Yuuki/Memori mini-argument scene. But since she needed to talk to Memori, she grabs Memori’s face and forces him to…)
Kurumi: Look at me.
Memori: What the—
Kurumi: JA~N!
Kurumi: THIS!
(Ahaha. Apparently, Kurumi has gotten a hold of one of Ken-nii’s fliers.)
Yuuki and Memori: !!
(And Yuuki sprayed what he was eating.)
[p59]
Memori: Wha-wha-wha…
Kurumi: Just recently, when I was on my way to invite you to karaoke, your brother gave it to me.*heart* Since you weren’t around.
Yuuki: Gyahahaha!! What is this?? It’s too funny!!! Oniisan, you’re the best!
(Somehow, he got his hands on the flier, and is now laughing like a nut.)
Memori: THAT STUPID BROTHER~~!!!
Yuuki: Hi— Hi— Save me~~! (Apparently laughing too much)
(Later. The three of them are now sitting in the cafeteria. Memori has apparently finished his lunch, and so has Yuuki.)
Kurumi: I didn’t know you were doing this kind of job, Memori-kun.
Memori: Why would I tell anyone? This job is too conspicuous.
[Note: The other circle members have left already.]
Yuuki: Memori-chan’s conspicuous enough as it is.
Kurumi: Shin-kun, are you also a bodyguard?
Yuuki: U~n. Memori-chan gave me a test, but…
Yuuki: I failed.
Memori: …
Memori: Hmph.
[p60]
Memori: So? The favor you wanted to ask, what is it? I’m busy, so make it brief.
Kurumi: Mou~ you’re so cold!
Kurumi: The truth is…
Memori: You’re being stalked?
Kurumi: Un. I’ve seen him in class, and we’ve talked a few times. I gave him my mail address, but I didn’t make a big deal out of it. Right after that, he wouldn’t stop sending persistent emails, and calling me…
Kurumi: When I told him to stop, the next time around he went to my house, and waited for me to come home and ambushed me!
Kurumi: I’m scared already.
Memori: So then, if I’m not mistaken…You want me to be your bodyguard to…?
Kurumi: Exactly!
Kurumi: When I saw this flier, that’s what I thought! If it’s you, you’ll definitely protect me.
Memori: I’m only saying this to make sure, but…if you’re going to be my client, you know how it goes, right?
(He’s talking about the payment.)
Kurumi: Um, about that…since you know me and we’re friends*heart*
[p61]
Memori: This world isn’t as easy as you might think.
Kurumi: Oh come on~! Your friend is in trouble here~!
Yuuki: Want me to do it?
Memori: …!
Kurumi: Eh, really!?
Yuuki: If it means accompanying you when you walk out in the middle of the night and stuff like that, then okay.
Memori: (Stands up suddenly) NO WAY!!!
Kurumi: Eh?
Memori: (grudgingly)…Fine. I’ll make an exception in this case. But! You can’t tell anyone about me doing this sort of job.
Kurumi: Yatta! Thanks*heart*
Memori: Well I have a class, so you can wait for me in the club room.
Kurumi: Un. I’ll be together with everyone in the circle.
Memori: … (Looking at Yuuki. More like glaring, actually. Like, hard enough for Yuuki to notice and…)
Yuuki: …Maybe I should get going, too.
Kurumi: Bye bye, Shin-kun.
[p62]
(Yuuki pretends to leave, but actually he was just waiting for Memori to step out of the cafeteria, so that he can…)
Yuuki: Kurumi-san!
Kurumi: Kyaaah~!
Yuuki: Sorry, sorry. I have this great idea.
Kurumi: Idea?
Yuuki: Other than hiring a bodyguard, there’s another way you can get rid of your stalker.
Kurumi: Eh? What? What?
Yuuki: Hire a killer.
Kurumi: …Eh?
[p63]
Kurumi: Fu, yada~ What is that? A killer to kill for me?
Kurumi: It’s like a comic book~!
Yuuki: No, actually, I know this secret address where you can commission a killer…
Yuuki: If you send a mail to his address, he’ll get rid of that stalker for you before you know it.
Kurumi: (giggling) What an outrageous lie~
Yuuki: Well, that’s his way of protecting. I think it might be a rumor, though…
(Shows Yuuki’s hands handing a slip of paper to Kurumi.)
Yuuki: Anyway, if you go to this site, you can send a mail. You only have to write it in once.
Yuuki: Keep this a secret from everyone. Whatever we do, this is still a killer we’re talking about here.
Kurumi: Hai, hai.
(Yuuki leaves. Kurumi watches him leave.)
Kurumi: What a strange kid…
[p64]
[Tiny print: After school]
Memori: …So why are you here, too?
Yuuki: This isn’t my fault, Memori-chan. Kurumi-san picked me up.
Kurumi: Oh come on! Since I’m treating dinner, everyone should go.
Memori: Don’t come near this guy, Toono!
(Memori grabs Kurumi and holds her close to him.)
[Kusanagi-sensei: Just a slight movement, but violent]
Yuuki: That kind of behavior will definitely make me get wrong ideas (about you two). You’ve softly turned on the switch, ne.
(Remember the switch in Game 1?)
Kurumi: What is Memori-kun doing? Even though he hates being hugged.
Kurumi: Ah, is my family’s restaurant all right?
Kurumi: I’m just going to the bathroom. You two go and sit down.
[p65]
(Memori and Yuuki alone.)
Memori: …
Memori: …Oi
Yuuki: Maa, maa, maa. Anyway, let’s sit down.
(Yuuki and Memori sitting on one of the booths in the restaurant. And talking seriously.)
Memori: What kind of scheme are you plotting this time?
Yuuki: I just came here to eat...?
Memori: Liar. Even more than that stalker, I can’t let my guard down with you here.
Yuuki: Hahaha.
Memori: …Why do you insist on going near me?
Memori: What in the hell are you thinking about?
Memori: I just don’t know.
Yuuki: Well, if you put it that way…
Yuuki: I wanted to see you do your job…
[p66]
Yuuki: The environment you were raised in, the one you live in
Yuuki: And the job that you chose. I wanted to see it.
(That’s a nice, sad-looking shot of Yuuki.)
Memori: …
Memori: What are you getting at?
Memori: I didn’t especially choose this job.
Memori: Before I realized it, I was just doing it. It’s the only thing I can really do…
Memori: It’s not that big of a deal.
Yuuki: …Fuun.
[p67]
Yuuki: So that’s it.
(Aha. This time, Yuuki smiling softly. How cute.)
(Memori notices a strange-looking guy enter the restaurant.)
Memori: …?
(Kurumi in the bathroom, washing her face, and everything else that girls do in the bathroom.)
Kurumi: Nn—like this
Kurumi: I wonder if my hair looks strange…
Kurumi: From here on, I’ll be with Memori-kun for a while, so I suppose I can loosen up a little…
(You spoke too soon, Kurumi. Someone’s in the bathroom with you. Who else but…)
[p68]
Stalker: Who…
Stalker: …Are they?
(He looks nuts, btw.)
Kurumi: Ochi-kun…
Kurumi: No! What?!?
Kurumi: To follow me even here...
Stalker: Who are they?? You seem to be getting along really well with them.
Stalker: You're always like that…
Stalker: You led me on, didn’t you?
[p69]
Kurumi: No, you’re wrong…!
Stalker: Why are you doing this? Recently you’ve been ignoring my mails, haven’t you?
Kurumi: Don’t come near me…!
Stalker: Even though before
Stalker: You used to answer them so quickly…
(He raises his hands to Kurumi’s face, and…)
Kurumi: KYAAAAAAAHHH!
Memori and Yuuki: …!!
(Memori jumps off the chair, and raises towards where Kurumi is.)
Memori: TOONO!!
(A man bumps into him. The same man he noticed in the restaurant earlier, and the same man who was with Kurumi in the bathroom. Yep, the stalker. Memori glances as the man runs...)
[p70]
(...But before he can do anything, Yuuki runs off, and chases after the man.)
[p71]
Memori: Yuuki…!?
Memori: —Tch.
Memori: If I leave this place now...
(He finds Kurumi on the bathroom floor, very scared.)
Memori: Toono…
[p72]
Kurumi: …Ah
Kurumi: Ah…
Kurumi: Memo...ri-kun.
Memori: I failed.
Memori: I watched Yuuki too closely, so much that I let my guard down right here. (He means Kurumi)
Memori: Even though this is a job!!
Memori: I’m a failure as a bodyguard…
Kurumi: I’ve had enough of this…
Kurumi: Why me…?
(Memori wraps one arm around Kurumi.)
Memori: I’m sorry…
Memory: I’m sorry, Toono.
[p73]
Someone shouting: Kyaaaah! He got cut!
(Memori hears this shout, and…)
Memori: Him…he couldn’t have…!!
(Yuuki, fighting it out with the stalker…somewhat. He’s got a cut on his right hand)
Yuuki: Ahh, that was close!
Stalker: H…how’s that? If you get close to my Kurumi-chan, I’ll kill you!
Yuuki: The one in danger here is you.
Yuuki: If I can get my hands on something like a knife, that would be my time to counterattack.
Yuuki: This cut on the side is a bit troublesome.
Yuuki: After all, I just wanted to play with Memori-chan.
[p74]
Yuuki: Yo~!
(Yuuki swings his leg at the stalker, kicking him…buuut not really. He just swings his leg.)
Stalker: Uwahh~!
Stalker: Tch…!
(And the stalker leaves.)
(Memori has apparently seen everything.)
Memori: He’s the one who got cut.
Memori: …
Kurumi: Shin-kun…
Yuuki: Kurumi-san, are you all right?
Memori: This guy…what the hell is he thinking?
[p75]
Memori: Why did you chase after him?
Yuuki: Eh? Well, it all happened so fast…
Memori: Even though you got cut, you didn’t fight back. And that kick was a threat, wasn’t it?
Yuuki: If I fought back for real, there’d be trouble, right?
Kurumi: Eh!? You were cut? That guy did that?
Yuuki: Un, but it doesn’t particularly hurt. Just a small cut.
Memori: Yeah. This guy hasn’t got any nerves, so don’t worry.
Yuuki: Memori-san, what exactly do you mean by that…
Memori: Here.
(He hands Yuuki something. A bottle of…)
Yuuki: Nn?
Yuuki: Disinfectant liquid?
(There’s one interesting frame here after the close shot of the disinfectant bottle. It’s a shot of Yuuki, with two flowers in the background and a strange expression on his face. I don’t know how to interpret this, but it’s funny…somewhat.)
Yuuki: …Hee~ So that’s how it is, huh?
Memori: Come off it. Half of it is sarcasm.
[p76]
Yuuki: So what the hell are you saying?! And what about the other half?
Memori: You backed me up on your own volition, is why.
Memori: I don’t want to owe you any favors.
(Memori’s face, looking, well, serious.)
Yuuki: …
Memori: I don’t intend to mess up next time around, so you don’t have to come tomorrow.
Yuuki: …Haai.
(Yuuki’s face together with the disinfectant. His face has this…somewhat dark expression.)
Memori: Well then, I’m grateful.
***
(In front of Kurumi’s house.)
Memori: Ja na, Toono. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Until then, don’t go outside alone.
Memori: Also, don’t answer the phone.
Kurumi: Un…
[p77]
Memori: I’ll do something about this somehow, so for now, go get a good night’s sleep.
Kurumi: Un.
Kurumi: Thank you…
Kurumi: Memori-kun said that, but
Kurumi: I’m scared
Kurumi: That person
Kurumi: He’s even worse than before
Kurumi: Today, he wounded Shin-kun
Kurumi: If I get stabbed, what will I do?
Kurumi: Or what if Memori-kun…!!
(This is Kurumi recalling Yuuki’s earlier words)
Yuuki: If you send a mail to that address, the killer will get rid of your stalker before you know it.
Kurumi: No way…
(Kurumi takes the earlier paper that Yuuki gave him.)
Kurumi: But…what if...
[p78]
(In Yuuki’s room. He’s using Memori’s disinfectant.)
Yuuki: Honestly, if it was me too, I wonder…
Yuuki: Nn?
Yuuki: A mail…hm.
Yuuki: The game has begun, huh?
-End Game 2-
Translated and Edited March 29, 2006.