MERMAID MELODY PICHI PICHI PITCH
Text translation, chapter 17.
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.
<This is thought.>
[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.

----------------------

MERMAID MELODY PICHI PICHI PITCH
Episode 17

----------------------

Luchia:		<Kaito gave me a ring...!>

----------------------

Luchia:		<But...>

Luchia:		<"I wasn't their real son.">
		<What is he thinking right now?>
		<Kaito...>

----------------------

**

Hippo:		It's strange!  Luchia-san went to bed without eating again
		tonight!
		[small text] Even though we had friend shrimp!

Hanon:		That's true... It's probably because of Kaito-kun.

Hanon:		It might be because she revealed her identity...

Hanon:		...Or not, of course.  She hasn't turned into foam yet!

Hippo:		That's awful!  You were teasing me, weren't you!

Hanon:		But right now, only Luchia can resolve her own feelings.
		<That's true.  And I also---...>

----------------------

**

Hippo:		...Luchia-san...

**

Karen:		Eeeh?!  So, you're saying that that woman is a princess?!

Rina:		It's a possibility.  Because we haven't found the Princess
		of the Indian Ocean yet.  After the Indian Ocean kingdom was
		destroyed, the princess disappeared, and now her whereabouts
		are unknown.  That was just after the storm eight years ago...

Hanon:		Was that the storm in which Luchia and Kaito first met...?

----------------------

Nikora:		That's correct.  All contact between our kingdoms was cut off
		after that storm.

Hanon:		Nikora-san!!

Karen:		But if that's true, then we won't be able to gather all seven
		of the princesses together...

Hanon:		And then Aqua Regina-sama won't...!

Rina:		Even if it's a trap, this is the only clue that we have to 
		go on.  We have to go.  You understand.

Hanon:		But Luchia wants to be with Kaito-kun!  And I...

Nikora:		Hanon-sama.  Do not forget the mission of the princesses.

Hanon:		But if that woman is the Princess of the Indian Ocean, then
		why is she on Gakuto's side?!
		<"Not to mention you mermaid princesses, who foolishly love 
		 humans.">

----------------------

Hanon:		<So then, certainly, the mermaid that Sensei remembers is the
		 Princess of the Indian Ocean---?>

Mitsuki:	<That was you.>

[music title] 	Remembrance of the Mermaid's Ocean
		Dedicated to Sara

Mitsuki:	<I won't ask you to forgive me, or to understand.>
		<But even so, inside my heart, there is only you alone---...>

----------------------

Sara:		......

**

Narration:	Eight years ago.  The Indian Ocean Kingdom castle.

Sara:		...Mitsuki...

Sara:		Why didn't Mitsuki come?  Even though he promised me that he
		would come to take me...

Mitsuki:	"Sara, let's run away together."

----------------------

Servant:	Sara-sama... Please forget about that human.

Sara:		<Baaya...?!> (1)
		(1) ["Baaya" = often used to address a nursemaid.]

Baaya:		"Please never see Sara-sama again."

Mitsuki:	"What are you..."

Baaya:		"Please!  She is a princess, you must understand...!"

Sara:		...All I wanted was to become happy with Mitsuki...
		I never wanted to be born as a princess!!

Baaya:		Sara-sama!  You mustn't---!

----------------------

Sara:		Uu...

Baaya:		Sara-sama...!  The Princess of the South Pacific Ocean, 
		Coco-sama, is worried about you...

Coco:		Sara.

Sara:		Coco...

Sara:		<I... did such a terrible thing!  And I'm supposed to 
		 be a princess...>
		<This sort of mistake can never be undone...!!>

Baaya:		Sara-sama!  Where are you going?!

Sara:		<Since I can't protect my most precious ocean--->

----------------------

Sara:		<Since I can't even be loved by that person...>
		<---It would be best if I just disappeared forever--->

Sara:		Where is this place...?
		<This might be the place that they say that Aqua Regina sealed...>

**

Sara:		<I am no longer a princess.  I am no longer anything...!>

----------------------

Sara:		<And then, from that time onward, I threw everything away---...>

Baaya:		Sara-sama, your body is---!

Coco:		Sara... why?

Sara:		You're looking at me with pity in your eyes, Coco.
		But I threw it all away!  Love, and hope, it's all just a fraud.

Coco:		Sara... You poor girl.

----------------------

Sara:		Are you saying that you pity me?  But since you do not follow
		*him*, I'm the one who should truly pity you.

Gakuto:		Hu hu...

Coco:		Sara!  I care about you...!

Sara:		You're obnoxious.  We'll do to your precious kingdom the same
		thing that was done to mine.

Coco:		[sound effects] KYAAAAAAA!

----------------------

Sara:		......

Gakuto:		Is something wrong, Princess?  You don't seem happy.

Sara:		Leave me alone!  You can't do anything, Prince.

**

Gakuto:		...Sara...

Gakuto:		I promise you this. I will dedicate myself entirely to your wish.  
		Yes... You may also do whatever you like with that key to the seal, 
		it's all right.  

Sara:		Eh?

Gakuto:		As long as I can see a smile return to your face, everything
		will be fine...

Sara:		...Gakuto...

----------------------

Rina:		So Luchia's been in her room all this time?

Hanon:		Yeah... We haven't seen her at all.

Rina:		Is that so...

Rina:		<And on top of that, what was that light that protected Luchia
		 that time...?>
		<Now that I think about it, wasn't Kaito also at that church...?>

Hanon:		You're not saying "I won't forgive that Kaito!" or getting
		angry at all.  If it's true love, then EVEN RINA can change, huh?

Rina:		NA!

Hanon:		So what sort of guy did you fall for?

Rina:		I'm going home!

Rina:		...By the way!  On New Year's Eve tomorrow, you and Luchia
		should both come to the shrine!

Hanon:		Rina...!

----------------------

Rina:		Honestly, that Hanon!
		[small text] Like I could ever really fall in love.

Rina:		It's him...

Rina:		......

Rina:		Hey!  Kaito.

----------------------

Narration:	Awami Shrine

Luchia:		Just like always, there are a lot of people, aren't there?
		[small text] Wa---!

Hanon:		Hey, hey, let's make lots of wishes with those candles!

Luchia:		O-Okay...
		<Last year too, we came to pray just like this...>

Hanon:		Wha-at are you worrying about?!
		[small text] It doesn't suit you at all!

Luchia:		Shut up, Hanon.

----------------------

Rina:		Yo, you two!  This year I prepared special large candles
		just for your sake.

Luchia:		Rina...!

Rina:		That'll be five hundred yen, please.

Hanon:		Eh!  Even though the other candles are only one hundred
		yen?!

Rina:		There's a dance starting now.  I'll dance and pray for
		your wishes.

Hanon:		If it's true love, then EVEN RINA can become a nice person.

Luchia:		Is that really true?

Rina:		And I'm saying that you're wrong!

Hanon:		If something happens, just ask me for advice, okay, Rina?

Rina:		[small text] Hanon!!

----------------------

Rina:		Honestly!  She's so...

Boy:		You're the one called "Rina-chan," aren't you?

Rina:		...I'm sorry, but this isn't the place for pick-up lines--

Rina:		Ah!

Boy:		Calling it a "pick-up line" is too harsh.  But it looks
		like you remember me now.

Rina:		Ah...  Your handkerchief!  I always think I'm going to 
		return it, but today I had to wear these clothes, so...

Boy:		Oh, is that right?  That's fine.  
		[small text] I'll just give it to you.

Rina:		But...

Boy:		I'm called Hamasaki.  Thank goodness you're smiling today.

Rina:		Eh...

----------------------

**

Luchia:		<Please, make this year be a good year for Kaito.>
		<And, from this point on, please let us always be 
		 together---...>

**

Kaito:		How long do you intend to be doing that?

Luchia:		Kaito!

----------------------

Hanon:		Oh, you're good, Rina.

Rina:		I didn't really...

Karen:		You two were plotting something like this all along, 
		weren't you.

Hanon:		Karen...
		[small text] It's all right, isn't it?  Just a little bit.

Karen:		But it's a bitter love.  A mermaid princess and a human, 
		someday, absolutely, their parting will come...

Hanon:		That's all right!  As soon as we defeat Gakuto, I'm 
		definitely coming back here!

Karen:		Is that so...

Hanon:		This song...  The Black Beauty Sisters?!

----------------------

Luchia:		<Kaito... Even though last year, I was so mortified that 
		 you might have seen your name on my candle,>
		<This year, for some reason, I think that I want you to 
		 see it.>

Kaito:		...Luchia.

Luchia:		Y-YES!!

Kaito:		Ku ku.  What are you all uptight about?!

Luchia:		I-I'm just...

----------------------

**

Kaito:		I'm going to a surfing convention in Hawaii.

Luchia:		Eh?!  That's awesome!

Kaito:		<I wasn't my parents' real son...>
		<But surfing is the only thing that lets me feel like I'm
		 truly myself.>

Kaito:		<That, and...>

Luchia:		Kaito?

----------------------

Kaito:		I think I'm going to stay there for a little while.

Luchia:		Eh...?

----------------------

Luchia:		"For a little while," you say.  From when...?

Kaito:		Tomorrow.

Luchia:		<No... All of a sudden...>
		Is... Is that so...

**

**

----------------------
[2-page spread]

Kaito:		I love you, Luchia.

----------------------
[2-page spread]

Luchia:		...Kaito...?

**

----------------------
[2-page spread]

**

----------------------

Luchia:		<Kaito...>
		<Kaito!!>
		<Even though I love you so much...>
		<Even though I want to be close to you forever...>
		<Being with you, right now, like this, somehow... it's 
		 horrible!!!>

----------------------

**

Luchia:		<...But I am a princess.  Everyone in the ocean is waiting 
		 for me.>
		<That's why right now is...>

Kaito:		See you later...

**

Luchia:		...Right.

Luchia:		<...But,>

Luchia:		<When we meet again, I will tell you that I was the mermaid
		 from that time...>
		<No matter what, even if I turn into foam...>

----------------------

Mermaids:	You're an obnoxious New Year's act!
		Let's do it - a singing battle!

BBSisters:	Oh, we're so scared...  IT'S SHOW TIME!!!

Hanon:		Ugh, what an awful song!

BBSisters:	Ho ho ho!
		Take that!

A Mermaid?:	KAREN!!

----------------------

Karen:		The key...!

Mimi:		What?!  This music is making my head hurt!

Sheshe:		Uu...

Karen:		It's such a profound, sacred melody...

Hanon:		What is this song?!

----------------------

**

Sheshe:		It's no good!  Let's retreat, Mimi!!

Mimi:		Yes, Sister Sheshe!

----------------------

Gakuto:		Hu hu...  I knew it, you have finally awakened that key...
		It seems as though my princess truly was impatient.

Mermaids:	GAKUTO!!

**

----------------------

Gakuto:		But once the sealed gate has opened even one time, 
		without the power of Aqua Regina, it can never be closed
		again.
		No matter how many times that key plays its sorrowful
		music.
		However, even I must respect that key which, for tens 
		of thousands of years, has kept my Panthalassa clan 
		sealed away...

----------------------

Gakuto:		I will invite you all to the final dance party.

Karen:		...The key!

Voice:		At last... You have returned to me.  Key of the Seal!

----------------------

Voice:		I am the sacred guardian beast of the gate of the seal,
		Hippocampus. (1)
		(1) [A hippocampus is a creature from Greek mythology 
		     with the head, torso, and front legs of a horse, but 
		     with a fish tail for the lower part of its body. 
		     Poseidon's chariot is said to have been drawn by a 
		     hippocampus.]

Voice:		Hanon-sama, Rina-sama, Karen-sama.

Hanon:		That's... Hippo?!

----------------------

Luchia:		Kaito...

Luchia:		<"I love you, Luchia.">
		<I believe in you!>


</end chapter 17>