fmp odbd ch02b [b-t], Light Novel, Full Metal Panic, 1. The End of Day by Day
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Full Metal Panic!
The End of Day by Day
Chapter Two, Part B
March 21, 2004
Translator’s Forward:
First off, we would like to apologize for the mistypes and
problems that occurred in the last release (chapter 2a). There were
problems with the release, and as a result, all proofreading ended up
lost. Sorry. We hope not to make the same mistake again (but hey, no
one’s perfect).
Second, I want to clear up some stuff. I received an email from
someone asking if there were any plans to translate or summarize
previous books in order to clear up plotlines and characters that were
not introduced in the anime or manga. As of right now, there are no
plans for either, but I think there is enough exposition in these
novels to help answer questions that the readers may have.
Thanks again, and enjoy!
"Really...!!"
Kaname was still mad on the way home.
"We took you because you said to... why do you always have to
blow up like that!?"
"I'm ashamed of myself," Sousuke said dejectedly, following after
her.
After the incident at the shop, he had joined Kaname in
apologizing to the barber who told them "I'm sorry, but could you go
somewhere else? No-no, of course you don't need to pay," and acting as
if he were handling someone in the mob, he kicked them out.
Afterwards, Kyouko had said "Guess it can't be helped," and laughing,
parted with them on the way home.
"But it was too dangerous to be helpless in a situation with a
stranger who had a sharp object," Sousuke explained.
"Oh, I see. Then in that case, don't say 'Let's go to the
barber.’ You were getting a haircut- didn't you imagine that's how it
would have been from the start? Would you have hurt that barber, who
had done nothing wrong, if he had made one false step? Why don't you
get a grip and stop thinking that everyone's an enemy or an assassin!"
"I can't do that," he stated firmly. "There are enemies out
there. That's a fact. It's not strange that they would come to attack
you."
"That's..." Kaname started but faltered.
If he had not pointed this out, it seems she would have
forgotten. It was true, she was a target. All because she was one of
the "Whispered", whose reason for existing she didn't know.
"Protecting you is my first priority here," he stated clearly,
and Kaname no longer felt the urge to criticize him.
"But... nothing's happened since then," she said in an almost
whining voice.
"I know, but I can't let my guard down."
"For heaven's sake..."
Since the incident on the field trip, there hadn't been one
instance where these so-called "enemies" had directly targeted her, or
set up any other kinds of traps. At least, not to her knowledge. She
had been caught up in some dangerous situations since then, but those
were merely "in the wrong place at the wrong time" scenarios.
Here in Tokyo, every day was peaceful. Well, her life might be a
little noisier than a normal high school student's thanks to Sousuke's
antics.
Were there really enemies out there...? It wasn't just Sousuke
and Mithril making more of a fuss than necessary...?
Kaname's doubts were only natural.
Unconsciously, the two slackened their pace.
The residential area was very quiet now that it was dusk. Autumn
was deepening, and the air was growing chillier. The evening quickly
cooled down from the setting sun.
"Half-a-year has already passed..."
She meant since Sousuke first appeared in front of her in the
spring. It would be six months soon.
"It's gone by quickly, hasn't it?"
"It has."
"But you haven't improved at all, Sousuke."
"Really?"
"Really," she said with a chuckle, and Sousuke cocked his head a
little in confusion. In the end, his hair was uncut, wet and ruffled
up. He looked somewhat dispirited, reminding her of a tired stray dog.
He looked pretty bad. Leaving him like this would almost be
irresponsible.
"Hey..." she said suddenly, after thinking for a minute.
"What?"
"Why don't you stop by my place? Then I could finish giving you
a haircut."
Her proposal was very unexpected to him. In rare fashion,
Sousuke's eyes widened and blinked a few times in surprise.
"Do you not want to?"
"No, it's not that. It's just..."
"Are you worried that I'll attack you?" she asked, and he shook
his head instantly.
"It's nothing like that," he denied insistently, feeling happy
that she would do it for him. "I'm not worried- you're an exception."
Even though Kaname's apartment was big enough for a family to
live in, the bathroom was small and cramped.
Mocking the way the barber spoke, Kaname said "Alright, Sir, if
you would please sit down," carrying a chair into the bathroom.
Sousuke complied willingly, and Kaname wrapped a towel and vinyl sheet
around his neck. She had already finished changing and was now wearing
a light T-shirt and jeans.
"You doing okay?"
"Yes, there's no problem."
"O-kay then, let's do this. Heh heh heh heh..." she said with a
mischievous smile, taking the scissors in her hand. Sousuke then
became uneasy for an entirely different reason other than enemies or
assassins.
"Chidori, have you... do you have experience cutting hair?" he
asked.
"Nope," she answered frankly, "but I've played around with
Kyouko's hair before. This is my first time cutting, though."
"..."
"Don't worry. It's better than you cutting your own hair, at
least."
"Please don't cut my ears off."
"Okay, I'll try not to if at all possible," and with a laugh, she
pinched up some of his hair and cut. Then again. She was a little
hesitant to start out with, but then gradually got into a rhythm,
snipping here and there.
"Hey, Sousuke..." Kaname said without stopping, "Did you miss
school the other day because you had a job?"
"Yes."
"Did you have to fight again?"
"Yes... what about it?"
"Nothing. Did you get hurt?"
"Just some light scratches. It's not a problem."
"I see..."
For a while, she was silent as she continued cutting his hair.
She would look at his head in the mirror, occasionally muttering
"mmm..." to herself. She would then make a difficult face and go back
in with the scissors. The cut hair had fallen off of the vinyl sheet
and was scattered all over the place.
"Well, I..." Kaname uttered finally, "I heard from Tessa that
you're not the only one protecting me."
This was the first time she had brought up the subject. She had
probably been thinking about it ever since their conversation on the
way home.
"I see."
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]