MERMAID MELODY PICHI PICHI PITCH Text translation, chapter 18. 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. ---------------------- MERMAID MELODY PICHI PICHI PITCH Episode 18 ---------------------- Narration: It's almost Valentine's Day. Hanon: Look, look, Luchia! This cookie--- Luchia: Wa--! It's so cute! Hippo: Excuse me, everyone! Didn't you understand?! I am the great and magnificent sacred guardian beast of the gate of the seal, Hippocampus!! ---------------------- Hanon: We understand. Hippo was a failure. Luchia: That's right. You didn't properly guard the gate of the seal, the way that Aqua Regina told you to. Karen: And that's why there's all this trouble for us right now. Hippo: Uu... Hanon: And of all the--! It was that stupid Sara who actually opened the gate! Hippo: Th-That's why I'm trapped in this penguin body day and night... Rina: Yeah, and what of it? ---------------------- Hippo: [bold sloppy text] WAAAAAAAA! Even Rina-san is being mean to me~~ Nikora: [small text] Oh dear, oh dear. Oven Chime: Ching! Luchia: They're finished! We have to put them in cute Valen- tine's Day wrapping right away. Hippo: Luchia-san? [small text] Who are you giving them to? But Kaito-san is in Hawaii... Hanon: Idiot! Even though we finally got her to cheer up--! Voice: Mailman! Luchia: ---It's from Kaito! ---------------------- Hanon: Did he write something to you? Luchia: Y-Yeah. Luchia: Oh... He won a trophy, even though he's moved so far away, that's amazing... Luchia: AH---! WHAT'S THIS?! Written on Letter: Don't worry! Luchia: ...Honestly. ---------------------- ** Hanon: Tarou-chan! It's a little bit early, but this is your Valentine! It's made from Hanon's feelings. Mitsuki: Houshou-san... Hanon: You should forget that mermaid that once was, and pay more attention to what's right in front of your eyes! In this world, there is definitely a mermaid who is much cuter, and always thinking of Tarou-chan! Written on Music: ---of the Mermaid's Ocean Dedicated to Sara Mitsuki: On the day of the competition, I met the orange mermaid from the Indian Ocean. She had completely changed from what I knew before. Her eyes were so cold... That's why I'm sorry, Houshou-san. ---------------------- Gakuto: So, are you saying that you want a reward? Mimi: No. For Gakuto-sama's sake, we... Gakuto: Hun. That's fine. When you can collect all of the remaining pearls, I will grant you two of the seven oceans of this world. ---------------------- Mimi: We did it, didn't we! Sister Sheshe. But how can we collect all of the remaining pearls...? Sheshe: Don't worry about that, Sister Mimi. Sheshe: Because I have a very good idea! Maria: Those two... Maria: They're done for. ---------------------- Hanon: Why does he love a princess like that, I wonder? I'm the one who loves Tarou-chan more, aren't I? Luchia: If I send the cookies today, do you think that they'll arrive in time for Valentine's Day? Do you think I should send something else too? But that would look desperate, wouldn't it? Both: So what do you think?! ** Hanon: Luchia, were you listening to me at all?! Luchia: What are you saying, Hanon did the same thing! Hanon: You do it all the time--! Luchia: Ah! Karen! [small text] What is she doing over there? Karen: [small text] Shh! ---------------------- Hamasaki: Really, it would have been fine if you had kept the handkerchief. Rina: That's not really true... This is just a small thank- you present. Hamasaki: Eh... These are Rina-chan's homemade cookies?! Rina: No... It was just sort of an lucky chance, my friends and I made some cookies together-- Hamasaki: Oh, really. [small text] How disappointing. Hamasaki: But, these... Would it be a bad thing if I thought of these as Valentine's Day cookies, I wonder? Rina: Eh... Hamasaki: I'm sorry. Was that crossing the line? Well, see you later. Rina: Yeah... Later. ** ---------------------- Girls: We sa~aw, we sa~aw! Rina: YOU GUYS!! How long have you--! Karen: They're doing it, wife-sama! Luchia: Ho ho ho. Lately I'd been suspicious--! Hanon: It's disgusting, isn't it? Rina: It's not like that. Soon we all will have to face Gakuto, so... Luchia: Hanon: Even so... It's all right, isn't it? Even if you fall in love! And that means soaring up high and sinking down low... Right! But you're a girl, that's why. Right, Luchia! Luchia: Yeah! That's right! No matter what sort of time it is, the feeling that you're in love is something that should be treasured. Rina: You guys... ---------------------- Rina: ...Something that should be treasured... Maybe that's true. Karen: So even you girls can some up with a clever saying occassionally. Luchia/Hanon: What do you mean, occasionally?! Rina: But I never said that I liked Hamasaki or anything. Luchia: Because you're stubborn, that's why---! Luchia: <...Kaito...> ---------------------- Luchia: <...What are you doing right now? Surfing, of course?> ---------------------- Luchia: Luchia: ---------------------- Luchia: ** Mimi: Well, well. The pearl is calling its friend, isn't it. Sheshe: We've found you, mermaid princess!! Luchia: ---------------------- Luchia: Kaito...! I came to see you. Kaito: Luchia...! Kaito: After that accident on the boat, I was so afraid of the ocean. But I gradually began to take the surfboard that I had received from my father out to the beach... That's why, to me, surfing lets me believe in the relationship that I had with my parents. It's special to me. Luchia: I see... Then, am I...? ---------------------- Kaito: ! Luchia: "Even though for me, the Kaito that was right in front of my eyes was so precious to me..." Kaito: Luchia?! Luchia: "Why did you leave me? Why didn't you stay by my side and protect me?" Luchia: "Kaito wasn't here, and that's why I..." ---------------------- Kaito: LUCHIA---! Gakuto: Hu hu... Do you bear a grudge against me? But then, why are you running away to such a place like this? Kaito: ...You again. Gakuto: Hun... If she is so precious to you, then why won't you protect her? Luchia: I thought that you would search for me, but instead... ---------------------- Kaito: STOP THIS---!... Gakuto: ! Gakuto: ...That is the other half of what is my power. Kaito: Other half...? Kaito: That's...! What in the world... Gakuto: I am from the same ocean. We have inherited the same blood. ---------------------- Kaito: What...?! Gakuto: My clan, even though we were sealed within the bottom of the ocean, it was still feared that we would become too powerful. Even the birth of twins was not allowed... Gakuto: Gakuto: When we were still young, you were flushed into the ocean. I was left behind. I despise this fate. Kaito: Gakuto: My name is Gakuto. (1) (1) [Written, for the first time, in kanji charac- ters. "Gaku" = music, "to" = constellation.] ---------------------- Gakuto: So that the one that you must love can become yours... The time for revenge has come. ---------------------- Gakuto: My younger twin brother, Kaito. ---------------------- Kaito: <---For the sake of protecting the one that I must love---> ---------------------- Mimi: We made them into a matching set of microphones. The power of the pearls causes such suffering! Sheshe: Well, how is it? How does it feel when the power of your friends' pearls is used against you? We stole them quite brilliantly!! Luchia: BBSisters: It's show time!! Luchia: Kyaaa! ---------------------- ** Luchia: You guys...! Hippocampus: All is well, now that I have arrived. Mimi: What... What is that thing...?! Sheshe: Pay it no mind, just keep singing! Luchia: Those two are using Noel's and the other mermaid's pearls! Karen: What did you say?! We can't let them...! ---------------------- Luchia: An evil power doesn't suit the pearls at all! Hanon: Ocean, you are our precious treasure! Karen: We will take back your original kindness, Rina: And then let you sleep peacefully once again! Mermaids: The mermaid princesses will sing you a lullaby. With a pichi pichi voice, LIVE START!! Sheshe: Na... The pearls are resonating with them... Sheshe: Ah...! Sheshe: No! If Gakuto-sama finds out about this... Let's go back, Mimi! Mimi: Yes, Sister Sheshe! ---------------------- Gakuto: You failed even though you were carrying something like this. Where exactly do you think that you can return to? Mimi: Ah... Ah... Gakuto-sama! Sheshe: It's not what it looks like. This is... Gakuto: I have no interest in such incompetent *things*. (2) (2) [Cool linguistic pun alert. Gakuto refers to the BBSisters as "mono," which can either mean "person" or "thing/object," depending on which kanji character is used to write it. However, in Gakuto's word bubble, "mono" is written in katakana characters, with dash marks for extra emphasis. So from the text, you can't tell which meaning he intends, but his tone of voice should make it perfectly clear.] ** ---------------------- Luchia: The Black Beauty Sisters...! Karen: They turned into oniankou?! (3) (3) ["Oniankou" literally translates as "demon angler." According to Del Rey, the scientific name for these fish is Linophryne Densiramus, which has no common name equivalent in English.] Mermaids: Gakuto: I've shown you something quite ugly, haven't I, princesses? Well, then, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I now invite you to the final concert. ---------------------- Gakuto: To my castle---!! ---------------------- Mitsuki: A storm...? ** Sara: It looks as though the final time has come. Mitsuki: SARA!! ---------------------- [2-page spread] Gakuto: Well, then, I welcome you to the final chapter. ...Oh please do come in, princesses. We've also prepared a very special guest for you. Text: The time for the destined battle---!!