GAME x RUSH VOLUME 1 Translation

By Mizuho Kusanagi

Translated by Apple

Translation Notes:

-Italics are thoughts, and occasionally, first-person PoV narration.

-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 3-

{Chapter Cover Art: Shot of Yuuki in a cap and…anyway, he looks cool.}

[p80]

(At school. Here we have a shot of a couple of students, a pair of eyeglasses, and in the next page…)

Memori: One week after.

Memori: Somehow, the stalker hasn’t shown his face at all.

Memori: But I can’t let my guard down just yet or I’ll risk making the same mistake again.

Memori: I’m a professional bodyguard.

Memori: You damn stalker

Memori: No matter where you are, I’m gonna catch you!

[p81]

(…We have Memori, with his arm around Kurumi and shiny-shiny sparkles around them as they walk the grounds, passing other students as they did.)

Memori: Watch your step~

Memori: This is just a job, just a job…

Nearby student 1: Lately, this place has been showered with that shiny-shiny aura everyday. That guy…what on earth…? *sweatdrop*

Nearby student 2: Like, we hate it, but we end up seeing it anyway.

Kurumi: M…Memori-kun, what’s going on?

Kurumi: Recently, your smile has increased to around 70%. A nobleman’s smile, that’s what it feels like…

Memori: Hahaha. If I put on glasses and dye my hair brown, it would be perfect. Winter Sonata~

(Apparently, Yuuki was around, and having heard that little sentence…)

Yuuki: APOLOGIZE TO YON-SAMA.

(In case you didn’t know, Winter Sonata is a Korean soap, and the name of the actor playing the part of one of the main characters is…Bae Yon Jun? If I remember correctly. Anyway, he’s ultra-famous here in Japan, and most people here have dubbed him as “Yon-sama.” And in the Winter Sonata series, his hair was slightly dyed brown and he wore glasses. NOT that I’m a fan, mind you. It’s just that he’s a bit of a superstar here, so I know.)

Memori: He’s finally come out, the stalker.

[p82]

Memori: Yuuki! You’re my stalker, aren’t you?

Yuuki: Are you nuts?

Yuuki: Why did I suddenly become a stalker?

Yuuki: Have I done anything to Kurumi-san?

Memori: Even though I told you not to show up, you’re still here. Always, and always constantly here!

Yuuki: I’m just going to school, like I normally do! I’m not trying to pursue you or anything!

Yuuki: So if you stick like that to Kurumi-san, you’ll provoke him, right?

Memori: Rather, the only thing I want is for him to show himself fast.

Memori: But hereafter, so far he’s barely shown himself at all!

Yuuki: Maybe the stalker has his own circumstances, too? Problems, stuff like that? Like a cold?

(All throughout Memori and Yuuki’s conversation, Kurumi’s face has been a little off, and Yuuki, having noticed this…)

Yuuki: Kurumi-san, something wrong? You look a little pale.

Memori: Toono, even if I’m working for free, you don’t need to worry about anything!

Yuuki: Who’s worried?

Kurumi: I’m fine.

[p83]

Memori: You’ve constantly been in low spirits lately.

Memori: It’s because he gave you a scare once…

Kurumi: It’s not that!

Kurumi: It’s…

Kurumi: Not that…

Memori: …

Yuuki: I wonder if I should go home…

Memori: Stop thinking and just go home already!

Yuuki: Memori-san, you’re mean!

Kurumi: Shin-kun.

Kurumi: Umm…

Kurumi: The address that you told me before…

Yuuki: …What about it?

Kurumi: …It’s…nothing…

[p84]

Yuuki: It’ll be all right, Kurumi-san. (He lays a comforting hand on Kurumi’s shoulder.)

Yuuki: Just leave everything up to Memori-chan.

Yuuki: And if you want, you can also count on me~!

(Memori observes this little Yuuki-comforting-Kurumi scene. No, he’s not jealous. Just that…)

Memori: I want to say…

Memori: Don’t be deceived.

Memori: Those are empty, meaningless words

Memori: That smile is a lie.

Memori: So if you’re going to believe, only believe that part

Memori: For he can betray you.

[p85]

Memori: …That’s why you should never ever let your guard down around him.

(In the cafeteria or something like it. Memori is talking either to one of his classmates, or to an RA.)

Memori: Eh? A summon?

Classmate: Aa. Professor Harada said to go and call only you, Fujieda. Something about an upcoming presentation.

Memori: Uh—

Memori: I can’t go there together with her(Kurumi), can I?

Classmate: Oi, oi…don’t go taking your girlfriend along!

Memori: She’s not my girlfriend!

Kurumi: I’ll be fine. There are lots of people here.

Memori: Toono…

Memori: Well, if something happens, give me a call!

Kurumi: Un.

(Memori leaves, and Kurumi starts thinking.)

Kurumi: That person (Ochi/Stalker) really won’t show up.

Kurumi: I’m not sure about that thing about a killer, but what if it’s really…?

(Her cell phone rings.)

Kurumi: Who is it…?

(She opens her phone, and…

[p86]

(…the name “Ochi Tomofumi” is seen on the caller ID. None other than Mr. Stalker himself. Kurumi hesitates for a bit, but finally…)

Kurumi: …Hello?

Stalker: ……It’s been a while.

[p87]

Kurumi: O…Ochi-kun…

Stalker: At long last, you finally answered my call.

Kurumi: What have you been up to until now? So that thing about a killer is just a false rumor after all.

Stalker: I’m sorry. Were you lonely?

Stalker: By the way…that guy who’s always with you, who is he? He’s a bother.

Stalker: Just to make sure he won’t be able to come near you a second time, I’ll kill him.

Kurumi: …!!

Kurumi: Stop it!

Kurumi: If you do something to Memori-kun, I’ll never forgive you!

(Here, a tear falls down Kurumi’s arm. She’s crying.)

Kurumi: I didn’t get to send an email to the killer…

Kurumi: I’m no different from this person.

Kurumi: If I end up getting Memori-kun hurt…

Kurumi: I’LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, OKAY?!?!

(At this point, a hand reaches for her cell phone. Who else but…)

[p88]

Memori: What are you doing making her cry, you twerp!

(A nice shot of him, yey. He’s standing behind Kurumi’s chair, and ooohhh…is that a vein popping on his forehead?)

Kurumi: Me…Memori-kun?

(At this point, it’s Memori who talks to Ochi/Stalker. Since he’s not important, I’ll continue calling him “stalker.”)

Memori: Oh...it’s you...!!

Memori: You’ve come out at last!

Memori: Wha~at? Do stalkers have vacations too?

Stalker: S…Shut up! If you go near my Kurumi-chan again, you know what will happen to you! Got that!?

Memori: And you too! Because you made my client cry, you know what will happen to you! Got that!?

[p89]

(This part would be in the stalker’s…er, point of view. Somewhat.)

Stalker: W…!

Stalker: What the hell…!

Stalker: I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you, okay!?

(A man has started to approach behind him, but he doesn’t notice until…)

Voice: How dangerous. For those words to be coming out so easily from your mouth… Want me to call a real killer?

(A shoulder shot, plus a quarter of a face. It’s easy to guess who this is, actually.)

[p90]

(In Memori’s point of view. Or at least, what he hears over the phone.)

Stalker: UWAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

Memori: …!!

Stalker: Stop! GO AWAYYYYYYYYY!!!!

Memori: What is it!?

Stalker: SAVE MEEEEEE!!!!

Kurumi: (noticing) ?

Memori: Oi! What happened!?

Stalker: …

(No reply, basically. And Memori hears weird sounds in the background over the phone. Puzzling sounds.)

(At this point, there’s a shot of the stalker’s phone. It’s down on the ground.)

Memori: Oi, answer me!

Memori: Oi!

[p91]

Voice: Memori-chan~

(Someone else has picked up the phone. Guess who it is.)

Memori: W...what!?

Memori: You...Yu—

(Yuuki shot in this frame.)

Yuuki: Oops, stop right there! You’d better not say my name if Kurumi-san is there.

Memori: What…you…what did you do…? Ochi…?

Yuuki: He’s fine.

Yuuki: I haven’t killed him just yet.

[p92]

Memori: Haven’t killed him?! What the hell do you mean?!? Why are you going to…?

Yuuki: Just like you, I've received a commission as well.

Memori: From whom!?

Yuuki: …

Yuuki: This guy did something cruel to my client.

(Memori, thinking of Kurumi. I mean, she’s the one being stalked, so if you think about it…)

Memori: No way…!

Yuuki: “I’ll do anything for the sake of my client,” you did say that.

Yuuki: …Didn’t you, Mr. Bodyguard?

[p93]

(Yuuki shot. Ahh, why does he have to look so cool? Ah…)

Yuuki: So if this guy harms the client, his life…

Yuuki: …what will you do with it?

Memori: You see?

Memori: You definitely shouldn’t let your guard down around him

Memori: After all…

(Memori shot. Yey.)

Memori: This guy is a devil…

Memori: Temee…where are you right now!?

[p94]

Memori: Toono, sorry, but…I just need to…

Kurumi: Did…something happen?

Memori: Nah…

Memori: If I don’t go to where that guy is…

Memori: But Toono’s going to be alone again…

Kurumi: It’s all right.

Memori: Eh?

Kurumi: You have somewhere you have to go to, right? So go.

Kurumi: I’ve canceling this bodyguard commission.

Kurumi: Even if Memori-kun isn’t protecting me, I’ll be fine.

[p95]

Memori: No…

Memori: Until we resolve this, you’re still my client.

Memori: Whether or not Toono really gave him a commission to kill…

Memori: Just wait here for me. I’ll end in this quickly and go back.

Memori: If he (stalker) hunted her down as far as that…

Memori: I have to make sure.

[p96]

Memori: The rooftop on the east block. It’s this place.

Memori: No one’s here.

(But something is there. A teddy bear. A very familiar teddy bear…)

Memori: A bomb!?

Memori: …No.

Voice: S...Save me!!

[p97]

(Memori approaches the source of the voice, near the railings.)

Memori: Geh!

Stalker: Y...You!

Stalker: Save me!

(Yuuki didn’t kill him, all right, but instead, tied him up to the railings, so that he was swinging in the air way how many floors up. Scary, but fun.)

Memori: What is this? You don’t have any wounds. What’s the deal with making such a loud shriek?

Stalker: Th…That guy…he tied me up…

Memori: Something like this isn’t any big of a deal. No restraint at all. (Referring to Yuuki)

[Kusanagi-sensei: (Memori) is not bothered by high places.]

Memori: That coming from someone who said earlier that he was going to kill me.

Stalker: I…I won’t say that anymore!

Memori: Will you give up on Toono?

Stalker: H…Hai…

[p98]

(Memori feels sorry for the guy, so he grabs the rope and was about to pull Ochi/Stalker up when…)

Memori: —!!

(A bullet pierces the rope, almost making Ochi fall but Memori is able to grab on to the end in time.)

Memori: Kkh…(struggling sound as he tries not to let the rope slip)

Yuuki: That guy’s pretty heavy.

[p99]

(He’s on the other side of the rooftop. And yes, he was the one who shot the rope.)

Yuuki: Yooo~

Memori: Yuuki…

Memori: Temee…you’re doing this roundabout thing again...

Yuuki: I told you before, I wanted to play with you again.

[p100]

Memori: I don’t have enough free time to accompany you in your games.

Yuuki: Well even if you don’t say that…

Yuuki: I'll show you just how competent you are!

(Yuuki aims the gun and fires it at Memori, but…)

Yuuki: …You didn’t even budge…

Yuuki: As I expected…

Yuuki: This time, I’ll aim it at your hand.

[p101]

Yuuki: …Why don’t you just let go of that rope and run away, Memori-chan?

Memori: …

Memori: No.

Yuuki: Do you intend to die for that guy’s sake?

Yuuki: Are you bodyguards the Heroes of Justice?

Memori: SHUT UP.

Memori: You don’t even know just how much I want to run away right now.

(A somewhat startled-looking Yuuki.)

[p102]

Memori: I don’t know what it is you want me to do, but there’s no such thing as “competence” in my book.

Memori: We’re all cowards, so we’re afraid of people dying.

Memori: But losing people, and fear are things that I’m familiar with. That’s the reason why I do this job.

Memori: If I let go right here, right now, she’ll become a murderer.

Memori: And even if this guy dies, there’s no way Toono can ever be saved.

Memori: She’s definitely going to regret it to the point of death.

Memori: I remember clearly…someone once said it, right?

(A shot of Yuuki, talking to Noe, back in Game 1.)

[p103]

Memori: “A bodyguard’s job is not only to protect.”

Yuuki: …I gotcha. But there’s a job I gotta do too.

(He loads the gun. Or whatever you call that thing you do before you shoot.)

Yuuki: Stop right there!

Memori: …!

Memori: I’ll be shot!

(He braces himself for the gunshot, but instead…)

[p104]

Memori: Ka-sha?

(Supposedly the sound of a camera shooting. Un.^^;;)

Yuuki: Hai, mission accomplished~!

(He’s holding a Polaroid, with a stupid smile on his face. Evil. Anyway, yep, apparently he just took a picture, nothing more.)

Yuuki: I’ve got Ochi-kun’s stupid face right here as proof.

Yuuki: I should inform my client about my fulfillment of this request.

Memori: Ha~a?

Yuuki: But Ochi-kun fainted. How boring! I wanted to bully him a little bit more…

Memori: OI!!

Memori: Wait a second! What do you mean by this!?

Yuuki: And oh yeah. That. Other than the rope, there’s a wire attached under it, so even if you let go, he’s not gonna fall.

(Upon that comment, Memori suddenly lets go of the rope, and his jaw drops. Literally. Like, maybe a foot or so.)

Memori: …!!!

[p105]

(And Ochi doesn’t fall, all right. Instead, he bounces up and down. And that event causes Memori’s eyes to practically fall out of his head.)

Memori: …

Yuuki: …

Memori: Wh…What tHE HEEEELLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!! Ken-nii, SAVE MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

(And so, Memori cries. And spazzes, as the dialogue indicates.)

Yuuki: It’s like in the end, it’s him who I ended up bullying, huh…

(A few minutes later. The two of them on the way down, I think, from the rooftop. It’s some kind of bridge-looking thing. An overpass of sorts? And then it leads down to the school grounds?)

Yuuki: I’ll tell you one thing, though.

Yuuki: Kurumi-san didn’t request for anything like a murder.

Memori: Eh… But you…

Yuuki: “Seeking for help,” was the mail that I got.

Yuuki: That girl’s really something.

Yuuki: “When he's faced with the killer, don’t let Memori-kun be killed,” were the exact words.

[p106]

Memori: …

Yuuki: More than her own safety, all she could think about was protecting you. So the mission turned into something like a bodyguard's.

Yuuki: Well, the thing is, she searched help from a killer, and that made her nervous. And anyway, since I didn’t get any requests to kill anyone, I didn’t kill, so.

Yuuki: But listen to this! Since it was a mission, I wanted to try something, so I did: My stalker prevention attack!

Yuuki: I STALKED OCHI-KUN!!! *stars*

Memori: Hah?

Yuuki: Like, I don’t know if this made him seem like a victim, but!

Yuuki: Standing behind him, peeking at him from the window, lurking near him in the darkness…

(Ahahaha. Nice, Yuuki. Sure enough, shots of him peeking at Ochi from the window, and lurking behind Ochi. Funny-looking shots.xD)

Yuuki: That’s why he couldn’t get out of his house~! Hah, that was fun. Heh, when he sees me, he runs away…

[Kusanagi-sensei: That’s why he didn’t come out for a week.]

Memori: Fu…!

Memori: Oops! Don’t laugh...don’t laugh...! It’s this guy’s fault that I’m…

Memori: (coughs) …

[p107]

Memori: Nn?

Memori: Wait a second…why did you go so far as to drag me in on that cruel plot of yours?

Yuuki: How blunt. Do you think someone else was likely to take this kind of commission only for the sake of playing with you?! Troublesome.

Memori: …You…do you have some kind of grudge against me??? *veins popping*

Yuuki: Haa haa haa!

Memori: Don’t try to trick me!

Yuuki: Actually, if I had thought you were a hypocrite, I would have shot you for real.

Memori: Hey!

Yuuki: But…

Yuuki: When I heard your story, I lost interest (in shooting you).

Yuuki: I’m taking back what I said.

[p108]

Memori: …You’re taking back what you said? What the hell is that, you raccoon.

Memori: Don’t forget…

Memori: This guy’s a killer.

Memori: Yet somehow, for some reason…

Memori: He didn’t seem like a devil to me at that time.

Yuuki: Wait a second! What the…! Why are you tearing that picture apart!?? If I don’t have that, I’m not gonna get paid!

(Memori, with the picture in bits and pieces in his hands. Ahaha. And with his tongue stuck out at Yuuki.)

Memori: Hey, I’m just doing my job here! You think I’m gonna let you get paid?!!

-Game 3 End-

Translated and Edited March 29-30, 2006. Revised April 2, 2006 (since I'm obsessive).