MERMAID MELODY PICHI PICHI PITCH Text translation, chapter 01. Original story by Yokote Michiko Manga artwork by Hanamori Pink Translation by Kotetsu, not to be redistributed without permission! Archived at http://www.boukenshin.net/pitch/ Translator's Notes: This is my first time translating a manga, and I'm not yet a very advanced student of Japanese, hence, there are bound to be mistakes. I tried my best to faithfully translate as much as I could, but there were parts where characters spoke using slang words that weren't in any of my dictionaries. Still, I think I got the gist of what I didn't understand. I didn't bother to translate sound effects, nor the words appearing on every sign, nor all of the [small text] words in the story. For purists, I know, this is a tragedy. But I chose to go for expediency, which means that I've translated only dialogue and *most* of the [small text] passages, at least the ones particularly cute and/or important to the story. I am also not entirely faithful to the punctuation in the original. Mainly, there are places where I have added punctuation, since the original Japanese dialogue consisted of long, convoluted constructions, which would not make sense in English without the addition of punctuation. Terms of address (like "Onee-chan," which means "Older Sister") and meaningless exclamations (like "Kyaa!") have also been left untranslated. ---------------------- Translation Key! This is spoken speech. [small text] comes before a translation of those tiny, scribbly words sometimes found floating inside or outside a word bubble. ** denotes a panel in which nothing is said. (1) is footnote #1. (2) is footnote #2, etc. Footnotes come immediately after the passages that they refer to. Pages are separated by a dotted line. ---------------------- Prologue: The seven mermaid princesses of the seven pearls, born for the sake of protecting the seven oceans. I(1) sing my songs, for the sake of conveying love. My pearl shines, for the sake of illuminating the ocean... For those reasons, never forget, the sound of the waves, or the warmth of the sea. Someday, recall those feelings-- (1)[Read as "watashi," (or "I"), but written with the characters for "mermaid princess."] ---------------------- MERMAID MELODY PICHI PICHI PITCH Episode 1 ---------------------- Narration: Today is the grand opening of "Pearl Waters." We, the beautiful sisters, will (with luck) be a smashing success! Luchia: Thank you for visiting! Nikora: Thanks for all of your help, Luchia. Shall we go take a bath as well? Luchia: Okay, onee-chan. Narration: But actually, we are... ---------------------- Luchia: Onee-chan is so good at singing! ** Hippo: Those two are always, always... Hippo: You two! Things like clothes should be put properly in a basket-- Luchia: KYAA, PERVERT! Narration: ...Mermaids! ---------------------- Luchia: Sneaking a peek isn't allowed. Hippo: What are you doing?! Luchia: Sorry. Luchia: As an apology, I'll sing you one song. Nikora and Hippo: Ha-- ---------------------- Nikora: Kyaa! Stop it! Hippo: Those awful sound waves-- Hippo: Really, what are you thinking? A mermaid without a pearl is a terrible singer! [small text] Open your eyes to that fact, please. Hippo: That's the whole reason that we came to the human world, in order to search for your pearl! Hippo: The radar broke... Luchia: Hippo's radar can't find anything anyway. Hippo: But it's the first time it's had that sort of strong reaction! [small text] How rude! ---------------------- Nikora: Surely this time, there's no mistake. Nikora: That pearl is part of a mermaid's spirit. In order to become an adult mermaid, a mermaid absolutely needs that pearl. Nikora: ...Well, it's okay, just go to sleep now. Luchia: Okaaay... ** Hippo: Is it all right? To not tell the truth to Luchia-san... ---------------------- Nikora: The ocean world has recently become strange. Therefore, at all costs, we need to have Luchia-san's pearl... Nikora: There was a chance to tell her, but Luchia-san is still too childish, so... Luchia: ---------------------- Narration: That was seven years ago. Young Luchia: Uwaa! So that's a boat, huh. Young Luchia: Young Luchia: ** ---------------------- People Screaming: Kyaaa! Young Luchia: The boat--! ** ** ** ---------------------- Young Luchia: ** Boy: U... Boy: Who are you...? Luchia: ---------------------- Luchia: A morning walk on the beach feels so good--! Luchia: Eh- Luchia: Uwaa! ---------------------- ** ** ** ** ---------------------- Luchia: Haven't I... met you... before? ** Boy: Is that a pick-up line? Luchia: No, no, I mean--- U---! Boy: [small text] Luchia: ---------------------- Boy: Well, it's all right, but... Since you have an interest in me, come again on Sunday. There'll be a surfing tournament. I'll be waiting for you. Luchia: I am NOT interested in you! Luchia: Uwaa... Boy: No way... Shadowy Person: ... ** Teacher: Let's introduce the new student. ---------------------- Luchia: I'm Nanami Luchia(2). Pleased to meet you! (2)[written with the characters for "seven oceans"] Teacher: Your seat is over there. [small text] You can look off the textbook of the person sitting next to you. Luchia: Boy: Yo! Classmates: An acquaintance of Kaito-kun? Boy (Kaito): What a coincidence! Luchia: Y-Yes... Classmates: How does he know her already? Next to him, how lucky-- ---------------------- Classmates: Lucky... Luchia: Kaito: You'll come on Sunday, won't you? Luchia: Ah... Um... Yeah... Kaito: You should come. Classmates: Jealous... Luchia: Hanon: Nanami-san, do you know Kaito-kun? Hanon: I'm Houshou Hanon. Call me Hanon, Luchia! [small text] May I call you that? Luchia: Okay! ---------------------- Hanon: Should we go cheer at the surfing tournament? You like Kaito, don't you? Luchia: I-It's n-not like that! Hanon: All right! Hanon will teach you the way to win a boy's heart. After school, while shopping, we'll look for your cheerleading swimsuit. Luchia: ---------------------- Luchia: [small text] Awesome! Hanon: [small text] Ah, you're so cute! Luchia: Hanon: Luchia! I found a good swimsuit. Luchia: Which one? Which one? Hanon: Here. Luchia: No way! Boys will see me too, won't they?! [small text] Hanon: Of course. This bikini was made for showing off. Hanon: Ah, that's-- Hanon: A cute pendant, isn't it? ---------------------- Nikora: Luchia!! Nikora: You were goofing off in a place like this, weren't you! Hurry up and come home, and help with the baths! Luchia: Ah! [small text] I forgot! Hanon: She's your older sister?! Luchia: Okay. When she gets angry, it's scary. I have to go home now. [small text] Sorry! Hanon: Okay. Bye-bye! Hippo: What were you thinking, Luchia-san?! ---------------------- Hippo: Going to the ocean like that! If you'd gotten soaked with water, the humans would have panicked!(3) It's completely forbidden! Because we still have to search for your pearl! (3)[Note: A reference to the fact that when she's soaked with water, she turns into a mermaid. We see this happen in the next chapter.] Luchia: That's exactly why--! Luchia: Because the ocean is the ocean! Hippo can come, too. We can keep it a secret from Onee-chan. Hippo: ! Hippo: ... Narration: ---Sunday. ---------------------- Luchia: Kyaa! Hippo: Hanon: Luchia, hurry up! Luchia: B... But... My swimsuit is... Hanon: It's fiiine, it's fiiine. Luchia: GYAAAAA! ---------------------- ** People: [small text] Waa... Boy: You girls are cute, aren't you? Let's play together-- Luchia: Hey, stop that! ** ---------------------- Luchia: Boys: Single boy: Was that rude? I'm sorry. Kaito: You look cute in that swimsuit. Luchia: Kaito: But a more indecent swimsuit would have been more to my liking. Luchia: ! ---------------------- Luchia: PERVERT!! Announcement: Contestants, please gather together. Kaito: I'll show you what a stylish surfer I am! [small text] Ahaha... Luchia: Kaito: ** ** Voice: I found it... I found it... ---------------------- Voice: That thing born of the ocean... That thing that will rule the ocean... Mustn't let it go free... Announcer: Backsight ripping! Aerial! Announcer: Amazing! Amazing! Number 28, Doumoto Kaito!! ---------------------- Luchia: Boy: As expected of Kaito!! Awesome-- Kaito: ...A wave? ** Kaito: Uwaa...! ---------------------- Announcer: Ooh, he fell beneath the wave. Luchia: ...?! Announcer: He's not coming up?! Lifeguards!! Luchia: ** ** ---------------------- Announcer: Hurry up, hurry up, evacuate the beach! Luchia: Luchia: Hanon: Luchia!! Where are you going?! Hippo: Na? It's reacting to two pearls...? ---------------------- Luchia: ** Luchia: ---------------------- Luchia: Luchia: Kya!... ** Luchia: ---------------------- Luchia: Kaito!! ---------------------- Luchia: Who are you?! Give him back!! Monster: Are you the owner of this pearl? Monster: I was waiting for you... To make you and this pearl ours!! Luchia: ! Luchia: Kyaa! Luchia: What are you doing?! Luchia: Kaito: ---------------------- Kaito: Monster: Ua-- ** Monster: Wh-What are you doing?! Kaito: Catch it! ---------------------- ** Luchia: ---------------------- Luchia: Luchia: Monster: Uuu-- Luchia: I sing my songs, for the sake of conveying love. My pearl shines, for the sake of illuminating the ocean... ---------------------- Luchia: With a pichi pichi voice, LIVE START!(4) (4) [And now, it's time for an explanation of what "pichi pichi" actually means. It means some- thing along the lines of "blooming with health and beauty."] Monster: You impudent little... ---------------------- ** Luchia: LOVE SHOWER PITCH!! ---------------------- Monster: What?! The waves stopped... Monster: Next time won't be like this! Luchia: Would you like an encore? Luchia: ---------------------- ** ** Luchia: Luchia: ---------------------- ** Kaito: I thought so. It's you... Luchia: Luchia: ... Kaito: You saved me again... Luchia: No... it was thanks to you... Luchia: Kaito: You were crying when we met before, too... ---------------------- [2 page spread] Luchia: At last, we can meet again... Luchia: Kaito?! ---------------------- Hanon: That's you, isn't it... Luchia.