Houkago Hokenshitsu
MIZUSHIRO Setona
Ch 1
.P 5
"Sensei... Is this child a boy? Or is it a girl?"
"...Do you want to know?"
.P 6-7
The Nurse's Office After School
Chapter 1
.P 8
*shhhhhhh* [shower sound]
.P 9
Mashiro: Impossible...
girl: Ah! It's Mashiro-kun.
: Mashiro-kun! 'Morning!
[[Note: 'Mashiro' means 'pure white'. An interesting and no doubt meaningful choice for this character.]]
.P 10
kya! kya!
girl: He's so cool!
Mashiro: *...My stomach hurts...*
sign: Kendo Club Room
Kurosaki: ... Eh?
: You're quiting the Kendo Club?
.P 11
: Is something wrong? This is sudden.
Mashiro: I'm sorry, Kurasaki-sempai.
: It's just... a little- It's for personal reasons.....
Kuro: Do you have some kind of orders from the nurse's office?
: No. It's nothing like that....
: I'm sorry... to be telling you this without warning.
rattle [door opening]
Kuro: Sou. It's rare for you to show your face here in the club room.
Sou: I just came to grab something.
: Don't mind me; please continue.
Kuro: Sure....
*click* [locker opening]
.P 12
Kuro: ...Well, about dropping out- If you say you want to quit, then it can't be helped. As the president, I have to say that it's too bad.
Mashiro: I'm sorry...
Kuro: You're all apologies. If circumstances make it difficult to say anything, don't push yourself to explain.
Sou: .. Is this because of the last tournament?
: Because I beat you so easily in the Ghost Room...?
Mashiro: That's not it!! It has nothing to do with that, and it doesn't concern you at all!!!
Sou: Then why are you getting so worked up?
Mashiro: I'm not worked up at all!!
Kuro: Now, now...
*poing* [coming to attention]
.P 13
Sou: ... There's some ...
: kind of woman's smell.
*blush*
*slap*
Sou: What the hell?
Mashiro: Don't say rude things!!
Sou: It's not like I was talking about "you"...
Mashiro: That's enough, geez!! Get out!! Out!!
*shove shove*
.P 14
*swat/flap*
Kuro: .... You're in the same class now, aren't you? Wouldn't it be best if you learned to get along a bit better...
Mashiro: Not really... We never talk or anything,
: and when I occasionally do think about talking, he only says strangely offensive things... It's impossible.
lockers: Mizuhashi Sou, Ichijou Mashiro
Mashiro: ...Somehow... the number of empty lockers has grown without me noticing.
: And I feel like there were more members....
Kuro: ... Yes......
.P 15
: It's become very lonely.
Girl: Hey, did you hear? It seems that Mizuhashi Sou changed girlfriends again.
: Oh? It's not Matsui-san?
: The rumor is that he cut her off and now she's anorexic...
: Even though Mizuhashi Sou is famous for his beastly behaviour, everyone thinks they'd like to date him...
: And he's cold too, always pushing people away.....
: Mashiro-kun is his exact opposite, isn't he?
: He's kind to everyone, but I haven't heard that he's dated anyone.
: Now that you mention it, that's true. Even though he's hugely popular with the girls. And he's perfectly ideal.
: Now, that silver-tongued boy could say, "Bitch, why don't you go out with me? "...
: Ehhhhh! *kyahaha!*
*rattle*
: Oops! Speak of the devil.....
Mashiro: Hm? What? Me?
Girls: It's nothing~!
Mashiro: What? *Now you have me worried...*
*kyahahahahaha*
.P 16
kyahaha
Mashiro: ...Hey. That desk.
: Did the person who was sitting there leave school?
Girl: That's right.
Mashiro: Really. I know I let her see my notes last week.......
: ......................
: Who was it....?
.P 17
: [......Without me noticing...]
: [They've been disappearing one by one.]
: [And I can't remember anymore who they were.]
.P 18
*dong dong*
: Bye!
: See you tomorrow!
.P 19
Nurse: Ichijou Mashiro-kun.
Ma: ... Yes.
: [Who is she?]
Nurse: I have something important to tell you. Come with me now to the nurse's office.
Ma: ...Yes, ma'm....
: [So she's the nurse?]
: [I don't remember seeing her, but...]
: [Maybe she's new.]
*click click*
: Excuse me... Sensei.
: The nurse's office is that way.
.P 20
Nurse: Today we're going to the one in the basement. Follow me.
Ma: "Basement"...? There's no basement in this school...
: .... Wha...?
: [There is.... one?]
.P 21
: [ I've used this stairwell everyday... But I've never noticed a basement.]
: [ ...Something feels strange......]
*click*
*click*
*click*
*click*
Nurse: Please.
*rattle*
.P 22
Nurse: Have a seat.
Ma: ...Yes, ma'm...
: [Someone is sleeping...]
.P 23
Ma: This is the first time I learned that there is a nurse's office here... I never noticed that stairwell lead to a basement before either.
Nurse: Only the students who are called here know.
: The other students don't know of its existence, and they cannot enter.
Ma: Um, Sensei, what did you have to tell me...?
: Why am I here?
Nurse: Starting next week, you will be coming here to take part in a special class.
: In order to graduate from this school.
.P 24
: "Graduate"?
: But I'm still a freshman?
Nurse: Until you finish the assignment in this class, you cannot graduate. It takes some students a long time.
: And also
: Every person graduates at a different time.
: Our school has no graduation ceremony.
: Everyone comes and leaves when they must. When you pass this class you will go on to graduate.
: ...Here you are.
: ....... Thanks .....
: *smells good.*
.P 25
Nurse: All the people around you have been graduating. You've noticed, haven't you? Little by little, they've been disappearing.
Ma: ...Yes...
: [Oh...]
: [The empty lockers]
: [and desks.]
: [So... that's why.]
: [They've been.... graduating.....]
: So then... Sensei,
: What's the subject of this class....
.P 26
: Sensei? Huh?
: [Someone was sleeping there just now, but...]
: ......... Sensei?
.P 27
*rattle*
: Sensei
*squeak*
*squeak* *squeak*
*squeak* *squeak*
*plop* *squeak*
*plop*
[[Anna, what's better for wet feet? "plop" or "flap"? Change as seems good.]]
.P 28
*squeak*
*plop*
.P 29
*vhooosh*
Ma: [WH-!]
: [What is this?]
: [Where am I?]
Girl: ........Men.......
: I hate men...
.P 30
: I'm going to kill all men.
*shoop*
Ma: Ck!
*crack*
: Ha...
.P 31
*shatter*
: [Wha]
: [...at is... this...]
: [How long has this thing]
: [been around my neck...?]
: [Why?]
: [What's going on? I know I was in the nurse's office.]
: [Right... The nurse's office.]
.P 32
: [NURSE'S OFFICE......!]
: Haa...!
: ...ah...
.P 33
: The nurse's office.....
: What was that just now...?
: ...Sensei!
Girl: She's not here.
Ma: Nu-!
*gasp*
*shoop*
.P 34
*shatter*
*tremble* *tremble* *tremble*
*tremble* *tremble*
*tremble* *tremble*
*crack* *crack*
Ma: Haa...!
: Hurts...!
.P 35
Girl: ________________ What's this........
: It's a girl...! Oh?
*shatter*
*whoosh*
Ma: ........She disappeared.
.P 36
: N-!
*crack*
: NOOOO!
.P 37
: OOOOOO!
*shatter*
: ...ah!..........
: Ha!...
.P 38
: ah.....
: ..It...
: It was a dream....
: I was dreaming... just now...
*flinch*
Nurse: The student who was sleeping there woke up earlier and went home. She was the last child still here from today's lesson .
: You were experiencing the dream together.
.P 39
: That is what this class is.
: Today I gave you a taste of what the lessons will be like.
Ma: Lesson? That?
Nurse: Every student's assignment is different.
: When you solve the problem, you can graduate.
: Your problem is... your own body and soul.
: Your "sex".
.P 40
: From the waist up you are male,
: but from the waist down you are female.
: And recently you had your first menstruation.
: Until now you have lived your life pretending you were completely male,
: but you have come to realize that your other half is tangibly female.
.P 41
: That's why you quit the kendo club.
*bam*
Ma: HOW!?
: How do you know this?
: I've never... I've never talked about my body to anyone,
: so no one should know!
Nurse: I know everything about you. I'm your teacher.
: Don't worry. None of the other students know, and I won't tell anyone.
.P 42
Ma: ...I'm a boy. There's no issue, no nothing... That's what I think, that's what I am. That means there's no problem, right?
Nurse: If that's so, then I wonder why you were earing a girl's uniform in the Dream?
: It's proof that you're wavering.
: You can't decide if you are a boy or a girl.
Ma: I am not wavering! I am a boy!
: I've always wanted to be a boy. To be a colder, stronger man... That's my goal.......!
Nurse: You are simply pretending that you desperately want to be a boy. Isn't that proof that you're not?
.P 43
: Come here to the nurse's room every Thursday.
: Starting next week you will come without fail.
*ta*
*tA* *ta*
[[Note: The following section was dropped from the tankoubon, but I think they're cute, so I'm leaving them in the translation.]]
|| DROP ME A LINE!! ||
To fit with the mood of the new serial I've replaced my work-issued pen-stand with something from Anna Sui. A lovely and dangerous explosion. I'll keep doing my best!
Contact: Setona Mizushiro-Sensei
Princess Henshubu, Akita Shoten
2-10-8 Iidabashi Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-8108 Japan
.P 44
Ma: [.....A dream....]
: [The pain certainly felt real.]
: [I feel sick......]
: [My stomach hurts.]
: [That weird feeling hasn't gone away.]
: ["solve the problem"]
: [What do I do in that dream....?]
: [Fujishima Kureha.]
[[Note: Kureha is written with the kanji for "crimson leaf".]]
: [She's a girl in my class.]
: [She doesn't talk much though....]
.P 45
Kureha: I'm sorry about earlier. ...That must have really hurt.
Ma: ...... No way...........
.P 46
Ma: Earlier.......
: That was.........you?
.P 47
Kureha: Half female....? I've never noticed a thing.
: You've always been... How can I put it? All-together and cool, and tons of girls are always saying how good you are.
Ma: I've never....
: figured out why I was born with this body, but
: .....it's disgusting, isn't it?
Kureha: I don't think that at all... But I was surprised.
Ma: But, um... This is a secret from everyone, so don't tell...
Kureha: I know that! That other thing is my secret too!!
Ma: Right.
: ["Other thing"...]
: Of course......
.P 48
Ma: ...Fujishima-san, why-
Ku: Call me Kureha! <3
Ma: ...... Kureha, why... were you like that in the dream?
: Were you someone else? Because you're not like that... at all.
Ku: How embarrassing..... Very ugly, right?
Ma: You say "ugly"
: I'd say "scary". Very.
Ku: Then I guess the real me is a very scary girl.
: Everyone takes on their true form inside the Dream.
: How we appear in the Dream is symbolic of our true soul.
.P 49
: Almost everyone is warped and extreme. Right now there are four others besides us in that class. You can't guess who anyone is based on outward appearances.
: I think you're the first to appear in something like your true form.
: That must mean that deep down in your heart you're not warped. You can graduate soon, Mashiro-kun!
Ma: "Graduate"... Hey...
: *I'm not getting the point.*
: I was told I had to solve my problem,
: but what am I supposed to do in that dream?
Ku: Let me see...
: You look for the Key.
: And then if you can escape out of the Dream with the Key, you can graduate. You have to do it alone... So everyone is scrambling for the Key.
: *hmm* *hmm* OH! And I should also tell you about the necklace. *Yep!*
.P 50
: That's called the Tama-no-O [The "Thing of Beads"].
: Fear or shock... When your spirit is damaged, a bead breaks.
: When all three are broken, you wake from the Dream and are disqualified. So be careful... Ahh....
: Huh... Am I explaining this well?
Ma: *keys...* *beads...*
: Uh-huh...
: ...Sorry. My brain is over-loaded......
: A scramble for the Key, huh?
: *So...*
: So that means that starting next week I can hack into you?
Ku: I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!! Today... I thought I was the last one left, so I was surprised when you showed up.
: I... hate men... because I'm scared of them.
: But I'm not scared of you anymore, Mashiro-kun. When I realized you were half female it calmed me somehow.
*squeeze*
.P 51
: Let's be good friends! <3
: Well, the girls' dorm is this way! See you tomorrow!
: Good luck!!
Ma: [It must be...]
: [My immagination has gone too far.]
.P 52
: [I'll sleep one night, and that basement will be gone when I go to school.]
: [I'll say, "It really was all just a dream....."]
: [There, see! There's no basement.]
girl: *Morning!*
Ma: [It was a dream.]
Girl: Mashiro-kun, Good morning! <3
Ma: Goo...
.P 53
Ku: Good morning <3
: Mashiro-kun <3
Ma: ......Good morning........
*Let's be good friends!*
Girl: Wait a minute! Why is Kureha suddenly clinging to MAshiro-kun!?
Girl: Something must have happened between those two!
: *Very suspicious-*
: *Since when!*
Ma: [Is this reality...................?]
sign: Nurse's Room
Ma: [I want to talk]
*rattle*
: [to that nurse again.]
: Excuse m... Huh? No one's here.
*thump*
.P 54
*swish*
: Excuse me...
.P 55
Ma: Ah!
*blush*
: [Mizuhashi Sou]
[[Note: Sou's name is written with the kanji for "blue" or "pale".]]
*swish*
Ma: I'm sorry! Sorry! Excuse me!!
*bam bam bam*
*rattle slam*
Girl: *giggle* Did you see his face just now?
: Hey, I think Ichijou Mashiro is a virgin.
*gasp gasp*
*I might never recover...*
Ma: [What was I thinking to make a mistake like that? Of course they're in the wrong for doing something like that in a place like that...]
Nurse: Oh, did you need something in the nurse's office?
Ma: Ah... No. Um... Oh, right!
.P 56
*rattle*
Ma: Um... I was wondering if there was another nurse besides you?
Nurse: No. Only me.
: Why?
Ma: [Then who was she?]
: [That woman who knew everything about me?]
Ku: Mashiro-kun! This way! This way!
Ma: What?
Ku: This is for you.
: Pills to stop the pain. Guaranteed to work!<3
: You seem strong, but...
Ma: Y-yeah...
: Thank you......
: [This is weird...]
.P 57
Girl: Those two are sneaking around together agaaain...!
: Definitely suspicious!!
: Kureha always said, "I'll never go out with a boy"......
*clunk*
*rustle*
*rustle*
note: Sou, you are such a sex-fiend<3
Doing something like that in the nurse's office with a girl you don't even like...
You know doing things like this isn't going to help<3
Or,
are you thinking about what I said before?
.P 58
note: -ing to hel-
Or,
are you thinking about what I said before?
Will you stop paying attention to Ichijou Mashiro?
Sou: ...Big Sister is.... yammering again.
*crumple*
Ma: [Boys are stronger.]
: [Boys are sturdier.]
: [Boys have more freedom.]
: [Boys have fewer week points.]
: [So I know I want to be a boy, and be manly, and be able to do those things.]
: [......But-]
.P 59
: [When I lost to Sou,]
: [that must have been because of my female half.]
: [I tried so hard and got stronger,]
: [but I wavered. The loss in the Ghost Room]
: [is the fault of this body.]
Ku: %Almost everyone is warped and extreme.%
: %That must mean that deep down in your heart you're not warped. %
Ma: [You're wrong.]
: [My body is the most warped of all.]
: [Because I don't become something else. This appearance is the truest ugliness for me.]
.P 60
Ku: %Everyone takes on their true form%
: %inside the Dream.%
Nurse: Today is a lesson day, Ichijou Mashiro.
: Welcome.
.P 61
Ma: [And so, I'll have to try and see if I can become completely and entirely male]
: [inside the Dream.]
: [I won't make the same blunder a second time...]
*click click*
*rattle*
*click click click*
Ma: ...Who else is in this class...?
Nurse: I can't tell you that. I can only answer questions that deal with you.
.P 62
: Because I am your teacher.
*bong*
*bong*
*bong*
.P 63
*shiver shiver*
*shiver*
*clank*
shiver shiver*
*shiver shiver shiver*
*clank*
*clank*
Girl: ...Her dream again..... That girl should just graduate already.
*clank*
: It's gotten boring.....
.P 64
*gasp*
Ma: Where am I!?
*clink*
: "Inside the Dream"?
: .........
Ch 1/END