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 <i>perfectly</i> ideal.

: Now, that silver-tongued boy could say, "Bitch, why don't you go out with me? <heart>"...

: 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 <i>graduate</i> 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 <i>know</i> 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

: <i>That</i> 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 <i>never</i> 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 <i>not</i> 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 <i>was</i> 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 <i>your</i> teacher.

*bong*

*bong*

*bong*

.P 63

*shiver shiver*

*shiver*

*clank*

shiver shiver*

*shiver shiver shiver*

*clank*

*clank*

Girl: ...<i>Her</i> 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