Fruits Basket chapter 20

Translated by Linnie-san

 

{Translator’s note: I don’t really get the inside joke in the Ultra-Special Thing of No Importance. It seems Aki refers to Akito, and I know the Mabudachi trio consists of Shigure, Hatori, and Ayame, but it’s still a bit of a mystery for me. Thoughts are in parenthesis, narrations are in brackets, actions and sounds are in asterisks, and my notes are in these squiggly brackets.}

 

p. 40

  

(There was something I wanted.

Something that I became aware of my desire for in that dark room.)

 

-

 

Momiji: We didn’t know about it either.

 

-

 

Ultra-Special Thing of no Importance. 2

 

Aki Aki. Poisonous Aki.  Me and the Mabudachi Aki (laughs). It’s an inside joke.  “Loving” and “hateful” people alike probably want to slap that cynical smile of Akito’s.  Yes… poison.  Actually, I had planned on having him appear on the scene during the first volume.  Now that I think about it, I decided it would be a reckless thing to do (laughs).  Everything is developing at a dragging pace…

 

p. 41

 

Momiji: We heard about it a little while ago from Sensei in the assembly hall for the school entrance ceremony. He said that Akito suddenly left on his own. {t.n. Sensei = Teacher. He is referring to Shigure.} 

 

p. 42

 

Momiji: So… He’ll probably arrive at the school later than everyone else. 

Yuki and Kyou: ……

Momiji: I thought it would be better to tell you guys…, in case you want to especially avoid him. ……

 

p. 43

 

Students in the hallway laughing: ha ha ha ha

 

p. 44

 

Akito: ………

Touru: Ah…… Aki…… to…… san…?

Akito: ……… That’s right, Honda Touru-san.

 

p. 45

 

Touru: !! P, pleasure to meet you!!

Touru thinking: (It’s the real Akito-san!! Wh, why is Akito at this school? Was it alright for me to greet him so poorly. It’s surprising, he’s young. On top of that, he’s beautiful enough to rival Yuki-kun… Ah! And, this is the person who hurt Hatori-san’s eye.)

Akito: hmmm

 

p. 46

 

Akito: Just like a little girl, you seem kind.  I’m glad that you look like such a nice person.  Most of all, you look really cute!

Touru: Ah! No! That’s,

Akito: Ha ha ha. Don’t be nervous. Really, you’re cute. I’m sorry I didn’t greet you when you were at the main house too. I’m rather the shy type...  Were you offended?

Touru: N, No, not at all!!

Akito: That’s a relief… Then I’ll formally introduce myself.  I’m Akito, the head of the Souma family. Pleasure to meet you.

Touru: Ah! The pleasure is mine. Please give me your kind regards from now on!!

{t. n.: This is a conventional way to politely greet someone for the first time in Japanese. It does not translate into English very smoothly.}

 

p. 47

 

Touru thinking: (? ? F, for some reason, he’s more gentle than the image I had of him in my mind…)

Akito: I would definitely like to get to know you better from now on…  Please regard Yuki and the others well too…

Yuki: Akito……

 

p. 48

 

Touru: !

Akito: Ah……… Yuki!!  I wanted to see you Yuki!

Yuki: What…

Akito: Somehow, I feel like I haven’t seen you for a long time.

Yuki: What are you doing…?

Akito: You look older. And you’ve grown taller-

Yuki: What did you do to Honda-san!?

 

p. 49

 

Akito: …… Nothing…… I only introduced myself.  Right Touru-san? I only introduced myself right!?

Touru: Ah, um, right!

Yuki: ……

Akito: Say, Yuki. More important than that, there’s something I really want to ask you about.

 

p. 50

 

Akito: Why did you skip out on New Year?  Why would you do such a thing?  Although I’ve been very lenient lately, you do such a thing and deeply wound me.  I wonder if I should discipline you just one more time,

 

p. 51

 

Akito: in that room exclusively for you, one more time, for one whole day, to correct your attitude.

 

p. 52

 

Yuki: …………!

Touru: …… Ex, excuse me. We have to get back…… to the classroom soon…… Or

 

p. 53

 

Touru: we’ll get in trouble……

Akito: … Is that so. Excuse me, I also must go back to Shigure and the others soon.  They’re probably worried.  Yuki, I hope you have fun going through your high school days… I would be happy if you came to see me soon……

 

p. 54

 

Akito: …

Touru thinking: (……… Just now,)

 

p. 55

 

Touru thinking: (I completely interrupted him…That was so blunt…  It was because Yuki-kun was really frightened.  I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but… … That’s right. That person is probably a frightening…… person. A person whose smile never reaches the eyes one little bit.)

Touru: ……

Touru thinking: (That’s probably called “animosity.” I… Perhaps he hates me for some reason…?)

 

p. 56

 

Touru thinking: (But,)

Yuki: Honda-san.

Touru: Yes!!

Yuki: Akito… really didn’t say something…, something strange to you?

Touru: Ah! No, he didn’t! He really only introduced himself…

Yuki: ……… Oh……

 

p. 57

 

Touru thinking: (But right now, the reason why Akito-san hates me is not the most important thing.)

Touru: Yuki-kun!! Let’s play a game!!

Yuki: Eh…?

Touru: As soon as school is over.  I was saying that, since it’s been a while, let’s do something fun with Uo-chan and the others.  It’s a special occasion, so let’s play a game together with everyone!!

Yuki: Uh… sure…

Touru thinking: (He was so frightened by Akito-san.  How Yuki is feeling,)

 

p. 58

 

Touru thinking: (I want to do something to cheer him up.)

 

Everyone: Rocks, papers, scissors, go!!

Kyou: … Why me. What’s more, badminton.

Uo:  Men don’t complain about little things!  I have to wear a mask!!  I’m suffering!

Kyou: Then don’t do it!!

Yuki: Well? How should we divide into groups?  What are the rules?

Uo: Huh…?  There are none.

Yuki: Huh?

 

p. 59

 

Hana: In badminton, rules are unnecessary…  Strike with all you strength, and strike back with all you strength.  As for the challenge, the first person to collapse is the loser…

Haru: Fine. That’s easy to understand.

Kyou: It’s too easy to understand!

Uo: Oh, shut up already! Hurry up and get to your own station! {t.n.: she uses the word for a military station here.}

Yuki: Station?

Touru: It’s a station!

Uo: This isn’t a game. Let’s go, Prince!! Let’s beat that redhead.

Kyou: What was that, Yankee!?

Yuki: Uh…… right…

Touru: Let’s go! Ready…, start!

 

p. 60

 

Shigure: He called Touru-kun ugly. In the car on the way back he said, “She’s awfully ugly isn’t she.  It’s horrible.  She seems stupid too.  Since she’s a woman of that standard, I feel relieved. Yuki will certainly return to me.  Because even now he is frightened when he sees me.  That proves he can’t forget about me.”

 

p. 61

 

Shigure: … To come out from being imprisoned in a dark room for a long, long time, and being mentally abused to that extent,

 

-flashback

 

Yuki: Get me out. Get me out of here.

 

-

 

Shigure: …… he has wounds that he’ll never be able to forget, doesn’t he…

Hatori:  But, Akito doesn’t understand.

 

p. 62

 

Hatori: If people who wound others exist, those who live to tend those wounds surely also exist.  That gives them considerable courage. 

Shigure: Besides, about that, Touru-kun is cute, isn’t she.  It’s intoxicating.

Hatori: … The way you say it seems criminal.

 

-

 

Yuki thinking: (There was something I wanted.)

 

p. 63

 

Yuki thinking: (Something that I became aware of my desire for.  Parents who would embrace me, a home I would want to return to, a place where everyone is smiling, and everyone won’t go away.  My own warm place,)

 

p. 64

 

Yuki thinking: (with warm people,)

 

p. 65

 

Yuki thinking: (really does exist.)

 

Touru: The sun has already set this much.  When your having fun, the days go by in the time it takes to say “Ah” don’t they… {t.n.: A saying similar to “Time flies by in the blink of an eye when you’re having fun.”}

 

p. 66

 

Hana: Well then, see you tomorrow Touru-kun…

*everyone except Hana is catching their breath*

Kyou: Hey…… Why is she the only one……  who’s not worn out……?

Haru: Well, I’m going back home too.  The car that came to pick me up must be tired of waiting too.

Momiji: *makes a cute noise*

Touru: Are, are you… going back home…?

Haru: …Honda-san,

Touru: Uh… yes…?

Haru: I was worried, but he seems alright, Yuki does. ……  Thank you.

 

p. 67

 

Touru narration: [… Mother, today I met the head of the Souma family. For some reason, I thought he was a really exceptional person.  I wonder if he is also a member of the Zodiac… To be honest, I also felt a bit frightened.]

Yuki: Well, we should also go back home.

 

p. 68

 

Touru: Right!!

Touru narration: [But as long as we’re together, those kind of feelings will, before I know it, fly to the other side of the stars.]

Touru: What would you like to have for dinner?

Yuki: Leeks.

Kyou: Hey!