Just Before The End Of The World by Hakamada Mada ### Five chapters in total, all the translations are in this file. Page numbers jump around chapter to chapter. TL by boke ### TL notes indicated by hash tags like this: ### ### Page numbers indicated by — for example, page one is: —1 ### Panel numbers indicated by - for example, panel one is: -1 ### Unless otherwise noted, panel and text balloon flow is from upper right to lower left. ###CHAPTER 1 —04 -1 New Serialization! ### in circles Just Before The End Of The World —05 -1 Hakamada Mada —06 -1 In the year 20XX, The world will fall into ruin… The crystal ball has foretold it! Fortune Teller: Shark of the Raging Waves (Age unknown) Um, Can you not tell fortunes in our cafe…? -2 Wha…? -3 N-no way! What should I do?! Excuuuuse me? Our part timer here, Shinon-chan, she’s a bit naive, so can you stop with the… ### her name is actually Shino, but it’s explained later that she uses “Shinon” when she’s working in the cafe. -4 There’s just one thing for you to do… Have you decided on your order?! -5 While the world still exists, you must open your heart to the one you love. —08 -2 Now that I’m aware of it, the net is overflowing with predictions about the end of the world… -3 Scary… I wonder if the world’s really going to end in 20XX… -4 Shino-san, the pasta’s ready. You still reading that book about urban legends? ### Sachiko using the more formal suffix -san. Mm-nn. I’m on Twitter. -5 Please don’t go believing that fake news on the net. Ok, Let’s have some drinks tonight. —09 -1 Sachiko-san’s always so level headed. She’s so cool. -2 It smells soo good! Thank you! Thank you! I get to eat such yummy pasta on my day off! I’ve got nothing but gratitude for you! -3 But you seem a little down compared to normal. Is the strain of the job getting to you? I’ll tell my sister. Ahaha My body’s holding up fine! -4 It’s not that… —10 -1 “While the world still exists, you must open your heart to the one you love.” I’m just so consumed by that. I just get to thinking about what am I going to do if the world ends, and then I get sad… -2 Well, Prophesies are running rampant right now, huh? -3 I wonder if everyone’s going to die. Everyone at Cafe La Belle Vie as well. —11 -1 And you, Sachiko-san… You drunk already? -2 The world didn’t end it 1999, right? It’s fine. -3 What’s that…? So you don’t know about Nostradamus’s big prediction? Must be nice to be young… -4 Shino-san, you always keep things interesting, hm? —12 -1 Sachiko-san’s a bit older than I am. She’s a cook over in the city. -2 Welcome! -3 Hello, is Ten-cho in? ### Ten-cho is the owner/manager/proprietor —13 -1 I have something to give her… -3 Ah, Onee-chan! You came. Thanks. T-ten-cho’s older sister…? -4 Oh right, Onee-chan, Let me introduce you. This is Sasayama Shino-chan. She’s a part-timer here. H-hello! Nice to meet you! -5 Thank you for supporting my imooto, Mariko. I’m the older sister, Sachiko. ###imooto is younger sister. R-right… That’s right. How’s that thing going, Onee-chan? —14 -1 You’re looking for a roommate, right? Shino-chan said she’s been looking for a place closer to work. -2 At that moment, I had a feeling I’ve never felt before. ###upper right Something I’d never experienced. ###upper left Hey, Shino-chan, you said you were worried about living alone. If so, then how about with my onee-san? It really was… —15 -1 As soon as I saw her… Bang! Right through the heart. Puh… I was defenseless in the enemy camp. -2 Please! Hey! Give it some thought, ok? Living together is serious business, ok? -4 Sasayama-san, you’re pretty interesting, hm? —16 -1 By carefully choosing my words, By not revealing anything, I was able to persuade her. And we’ve been roommates comfortably for a year and a half. -2 The pasta is delicious. Ahhh, this is the best. I could eat this forever. Some snacks? ###handwritten I’m happy to hear it. -3 Sachiko-san, you’re older than me, but you always use polite language with me, huh? -4 So we can continue to have a good roommate relationship, see? It’s important to have respect for each other and a healthy distance. -5 Erg It hurts to hear that each and every time… sfx- Bam This is Sachiko-san’s stock phrase. —17 -1 I’m desperately trying to keep up appearances, But it’s been a year and a half with no progress. -2 I got this wine from work. Oh, really? I see. Since I took someone’s shift for them. -3 Is Sachiko-san getting a little drunk? She’s a bit more talkative than normal, it seems… It’s delicious. Has a nice mouth feel, easy to drink too much. -4 Cute. So cute. I love her so much. -5 I love her face. I love her profile. I love her complexion (tho I’ve never touched it…) I wanna give her more to drink. Wanna get her drunk… —18 -1 I wanna take her. -2 Nope. Take that back. I’m sorry. Right. What’s important is the proper distance. -3 It’s ok, Shino-san. You don’t have to look so worried. The world’s not going to end. —19 -1 You think so? Even if the world doesn’t end, There are lots of ways that people suddenly stop seeing each other. -2 Sachiko-san, what I’m really afraid of is… -3 That if I tell you how I really feel, This life of mine will crumble away. In six months, this place could even get renovated… —20 -1 If the world does end, I want to tell her my feelings. -2 But if I do, Sachiko-san will certainly distance herself from me… Since we’re both women… -3 Hey, Sachiko-san… -4 If… the world really does end, what would you do? —21 -1 I would live my daily life like usual. -2 This wine was delicious, hm? -3 When the world ends, I want to drink this sparkling wine again… —22 -1 Do I spend my last day like this? Just like normal, without doing anything? Or do I go right for the trauma? Say what I need to say and go down swinging? She’s a lightweight ###handwritten -2 I don’t know. ### CHAPTER 2 —138 -1 ### skipping the recap page. —139 -1 Just Before The End Of The World Chapter two ### in bubbles Hakamada Meru —140 -1 My name is Sasayama Shino. But I go by Shinon while I’m working. Here’s your coffee, thanks for waiting. Regular customer. 25 years old. Male. ###box Ah, um… Shinon-chan! -2 Shinon-chan, are you seeing anyone right now? E-eh!? Ah, well… -3 I have someone! —141 -1 Wha! -2 I kneeeeew it! You do have someone! So you’ve got a boyfriend, Shino-chan! N-n-no, I don’t! I have someone I’m interested in! -3 It’s one sided! And so, you’ll excuse me! sfx- Whssh -4 I’m sorry, but our part timer, Shinon-chan, is not looking for boyfriends at the moment. Would you like to order something? If you have some cake or something it’ll lift your spirits. sfx- Shhhh —142 -1 I’m Mariko, the proprietor of Cafe Belle Vie. It was my parent’s, but I have taken it over. -2 No one can deny that our part-timer, Shino-chan is cute and charming. I’ll read back your order ### handwritten -3 Hey, hey, You got a boyfriend? Eh? -4 I have someone I like! —143 -1 Let’s just give it a try. Go out with me? Whaaa? -2 I’m working right now, so you’ll excuse me! sfx- Bow “Try it out”? Seriously? -3 When we don’t know when the world is going to end? -4 I’ve got no time for shit like that. -5 Good evening… —144 -1 I came for a cup of coffee! -3 sxf- Blush W-welcome, Sachiko-san! —145 -1 And she’s so easy to read. Th-th-this way, if you please. -2 Onee-chan! Welcome! Ah, Mariko. I’ve got a favor to ask. -3 Mom’s calling all the time is getting to me. Can you say something to her? -4 She’s just so annoying, telling me to get a boyfriend. —146 -2 Clatter -3 sfx- Sploosh Gyaa! Please excuse me! -4 You ok, Shino-chan? I-I’m sorry! -5 Crap! Crap! This sucks! -6 Sachiko-san’s gonna get a boyfriend…! Well, mom’s just worried about you, okay? —147 -1 S-sorry to keep you waiting. sfx- Shiver Shake -2 Here’s your coffee! sfx- Slop -3 Aaaah -4 I’m sorry! I’ll bring a fresh one! Right! Shino-san, it’s ok. Really. -5 B-b-b-but… sfx- Snicker —148 -1 Shino-san, you’re an interesting character. -3 Thanks for everything. It was delicious. Ah, Onee-chan, you going home? -4 Ah, that’s right. Onee-chan, I have a favor to ask too. —149 -1 Recently there’s been male customers waiting outside for Shino-chan and stuff. sfx- Whisper She’s been troubled by it. -2 Oh, really? Well, Shino-san’s cute, so she’s got a lot of fans, huh? -3 Right, right. So, I’m a bit worried about Shino-chan, see? -4 Since you’re roommates, can you go home with her? —150 -1 Wha… -2 Going home together!? Going home with Sachiko-san ever day!? -3 Boss! You’re a goddess! Yeah, I see. That worries me too… Ah, I thought of a good plan. —151 -1 We can just pretend we’re lovers, right? -2 Wha…? -3 Oh, did I say something too weird…? Ah, um… That’s…! —152 -1 Shino-san, let’s do it. My restaurant’s close, and our schedules are similar. -2 And for me, I can fake having a lover to deal with my mom. I see. As long as it works for you, Onee-chan. -3 Ok, it’s time for last order, right? I’ll be waiting. -4 Right! —153 -1 Could I be dreaming? Sorry to keep you waiting! -2 It’s true, huh? I can see the people waiting for you to go home. Ah, that’s the “try it out” guy. -3 Ugh… -4 How about this? —154 Uwwaaaaah -2 I couldn’t care if the world ends right now. No! I can’t! It’s too much! I-I’m… so happy! ###CHAPTER 3 —20 ###skipping the recap —21 -1 Hakamada Mera Just Before The End Of The World Chapter 3 ###in circles —22 -1 Ah, The chill in Sachiko-san’s fingertips disappeared in a heartbeat, as the heat from my body moved into hers. -3 Sachiko-san, is your mother insisting that you get married? She sure is. -4 I’m already 32, after all. —23 -1 Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’ve heard your age, Sachiko-san. -2 Oh, right. I learned your age when you moved in, though, Shino-san. I’m older than you thought, huh? -3 N-not at all! Um… um, um… -4 Sachiko-san, since you are so pretty… —24 -1 Ahaha I got a compliment! Love it! -2 Crap, I let slip that I think she’s pretty without thinking… -3 Honestly, I wish I didn’t have to watch what I say. I love everything about her. But yeah, she doesn’t take me seriously. Age has nothing to do with it. I couldn’t care less about our gender. -4 If I don’t open up my heart, my real feelings won’t reach her. —25 -1 Should I tell her what I feel now? No, wait… -2 Right now, I’m just riding high on playing lovers. -3 Somehow it feels it’d be a mistake to think she’d be accepting. -4 Glance -5 Should be ok now. —26 -1 Slip -2 Ah… —27 -1 I do get why my mother is worried, though. She worries because I’m divorced, I guess. -2 Eh…? -3 Sachiko-san, you were married? Yes, that’s right. But we’re completely separated now. -4 Whaaaaaaa —28 -1 Ah, so that’s why… -2 I’ll get the bath ready, hm? Ah, thank you. Please go in first. She had a place big enough to need a roommate. ###no bubble -4 It’s important to have respect for each other and a healthy distance. So we can continue to have a good roommate relationship. —29 -1 Getting married then divorced, she must have had some hard times. It’d only be natural for her to end up feeling like it’s all a big pain. And in this place! In this place! -2 When I think that Sachiko-san and some faceless guy were doing it here…! sfx- Waaaah ### sfx continues top to bottom I’m useless, just too useless… -3 Thanks for waiting. Huh? Shino-san… -4 What are you doing? Yoga? —30 -2 Just what is this feeling? -3 Sachiko-san. In love with a guy. Taking the next step. Getting her marriage registered… —31 -1 I was too full of myself. -2 Got carried away. -3 Not even being able to tell her how I feel after a year and a half. It was a mistake to think I was the one closest to her. —32 -1 Nice ’n warm -2 We have beer. -3 And I was given some snacks from the restaurant. Whoa! -4 Looks so good. Oh, she waited for me to get out of the bath. -5 Um… Maybe I’m out of line for asking, but… —33 -1 Why did you get divorced? -2 Sorry. It just got me curious. -3 Fufu Well, I… -4 I learned that it’s impossible for me to live with someone. —34 -1 I guess I went along with things by getting married… I didn’t really want to do it in the first place. I caused my partner a fair bit of trouble. -2 I hope that’ll never happen to you, Shino-san. -3 Right now things are just so comfortable. My life is really good, see? -4 Um… But you’re living with me right now, right? —35 -1 Ah… You’re right. -3 Does that mean my existence doesn’t even count? Ah… Y’know… -4 Living with you, Shino-san, isn’t hard in the slightest. —36 -1 Ding dong -2 Who could that be at this hour? -3 No way… -4 Sachikoooo! Please hear me out! It’s my ex. ###CHAPTER 4 —86 ### skipping the recap —87 -1 Chapter 4 ###in circles Just Before The End Of The World Hakamada Mera —88 -2 I beg you! I lost my apartment key, so can you let me in? I mean, it was our little love nest to begin with, right? Hya… Her ex! -3 You lost your key? That’s awful. -4 Does Sachiko-san still have feelings for her ex? -5 I’m just a renter, I don’t have any rights here. Sachiko-san, are you going to let him in here? —89 -1 No fucking way. -3 I’m living with my lover. sfx- Bam! —90 -1 Let me put it to you straight. I bought this place. I’m the one on the deed. I paid you the settlement. I-I know you did, but…! -2 C-come on, Sachiko! Don’t be like that! sfx- Beep I hope you’re happy too. -3 sfx- Swish -4 Sorry. -5 In trying to protect you, I ended up using our pretense of being lovers for my own gain. —91 -1 N-no! It’s fine! Please feel free to use me as much as you want! -2 I welcome any situation where we’re lovers! -4 Hehe —92 -1 Wh-why… Why are you so cute? You really are interesting, Shino-san. -3 Well, I just couldn’t get to where I needed to, and I caused my ex all sorts of problems. When my mom was sick a number of years ago, she got really concerned that I was still single. -4 I thought I could ease her mind by getting married. Oh, really? -5 You really keep your mom in mind. -6 It’s not that. -7 I just always thought I wouldn’t get caught up in the world’s ways of being happy. —93 -1 I thought it would be nice if I could find happiness on my own terms. But my mom never seemed to be able to see my happiness. -2 And so, I ended up forcing a marriage and got someone else caught up in it. -3 Ah, I must be getting drunk. sfx- Shhhhhh -5 Let me make it up to you next time, Shino-san! Wha? No! You don’t have to do that! —94 -1 I don’t need thanks. I don’t need “situations”. I want to really be lovers with you! But I can’t say that! -2 Ok, it’s about time for me to head to bed. sfx- Wheoooo -2 Ah, right. It’s already this late. G-good night! -4 So many out of the ordinary things happened today that I’m tired. I can’t believe he’d come to the house. -5 Well, we had a good enough time in our own way back then. —95 -1 Mm, I give up. -2 Nn… -3 Eh… eh? Since when… have you been there, Shino-san? —96 -1 Our rules as roommates… We wouldn’t go into each other’s rooms, right? -3 Eh…? Sh-shino-san… —97 -1 I have always, always, wanted to do this with you, Sachiko-san… -2 R-really…? Ah -3 Shino-san…! —98 -1 sfx- Hah ### Repeated …it was a dream. -2 W-what the hell? —99 -1 Because we’re pretending to be lovers? -2 sfx- Burnt Good morning! -4 I made breakfast. If you’d like, please have some. sfx- Burnt Th-thanks… -5 I have an early shift toady, so I’m heading out. sfx- Clatter Ah, ah, right. I work late, so what are we going to do about getting you home? —100 -1 It’s ok! Since I finish up early, it’ll be light out. sfx- Glance sfx- Whish -3 Ok, I’m going… sfx- Wham Wah! -4 The wind’s crazy! sfx- Whoeeeoo -5 Slam —101 -1 It’s an out of season typhoon, and it’s expected to keep up it’s ferocious winds though the morning. I wasn’t paying attention. But things did seem a bit unusual outside… -2 Due to the winds, shaking may be encountered between 5 and 6 on the Shino seismic scale. Within the metro area it’s been confirmed that 20 people have been injured. Nationwide, blackouts are occurring. Service on the Shinkansen has been stopped due to the typhoon’s effects. -3 Lots of sirens going off too. You better stay home. I’ll call in for you. I can’t get through to Mariko’s cell phone. -4 What’s with this? It’s like… It’s like the end of the world or something, huh? —102 -1 Sfx- Roooaaar It is just as if it’s like that. ### bold or italicize “is” -2 Like the end of the world… Should I tell her? In case of injuries Emergency broadcast In case of disaster ###on phone inner to outer -3 “Will you be my lover”? Or something like that. -4 Shino-san, if the world was ending, What would you do? ###CHAPTER 5 —42 ###skipping the recap —43 -1 Just Before The End Of The World Final Chapter ###in circles Hakamada Mera —44 -1 “If the world was ending, what would you do?” -2 I… -3 I… would open my heart To the the person I love! —45 -1 sfx- Th-thump ###repeated. Same for panel 2 -3 I see. -4 Sachiko-san, you said you you would live your daily life like usual, right? -5 sfx- Rattle Rattle sfx- Roooaaar -6 …I might not be be able to do that. -7 I wouldn’t do anything. Wha? —46 -1 Wouldn’t be able to do anything. -2 Burnt -3 Thank you for the food. -4 Just single-mindedly focus on my regrets. -5 Cry. Rage in confusion. Pretty good ###handwritten -6 Say that I shouldn’t have cared about what others think. -7 Just cry and fall on the floor saying “I shouldn’t have been afraid.” —47 -1 Sachiko-san’s real feelings. …yeah, I can see that. -2 It makes me a little bit happy. Happy that I could hear that. -3 I wanted to have my own restaurant. -4 Oh, really? -5 Outside it’s storming. sfx- Rooooaaaaar —48 -1 The world… That’s right! Let’s do it! Is going to end soon. -2 Since we find ourselves in in this situation, let’s drink this. Ah, but work… It’s ok. I’ll tell Mariko I instructed you to stay home. Oh, I see… ###handwritten -3 So Mariko-san took over your parent’s cafe, huh? Yep. -4 Come to think of it, I don’t even know what Cafe La Belle Vie means… Ah… Yeah, it’s… -5 “A Beautiful Life”. -6 Sachiko-san’s parents opened that cafe… —49 -1 For the two of them to have a beautiful life. -2 They had hope in their future. That’s wonderful. Even if they had hardships, they could take each other’s hands. -3 They could believe they had the strength to overcome things. -4 That’s so nice… -6 Sachiko-san, what would you name your restaurant? Let’s have some cheese too ###handwritten Chee ###package -7 Mm… Let’s see… -8 “Sachiko’s Place”, or something? —50 -1 Boooom -2 Eh -3 That moment It was like lightning had struck. The shock ran through everything. sfx- Ba-boooom —51 -1 Hah What… Is this…? The screen turned black and white. I am unsteady on my feet. Hah -2 Am I shaking? Is the earth shaking? -3 When did I start staring at the ceiling…? There’s so much blood… Wha…? -4 Huh? This means… I’ve fallen over? Crackers ###box —52 -1 Huh? So this… -2 Nice to meet you. No way… My life’s flashing before my eyes? -4 Hey! Shino-san! Hang in there! Sachiko-san. -6 She’s saying something… But… —53 -1 I can’t hear. Her eyes are wet. ###both parts of right box Ah, she’s so beautiful. ###both parts of left box -3 So that’s what it meant by the world ending… -4 That I would be the one to go. Sachiko-san… -5 I… —54 -1 I have always loved you. -2 I love you. I love you so much. I love you, Sachiko-san. Love. -3 I wish I could have heard her voice at the end. I wonder what she’s saying…? -4 Shino-san! Hang in there! I… —55 -1 I couldn’t stand having it named “Sachiko’s Place”! Wha? Really? That? So that’s why… -2 That’s why… And so… -3 The curtains fall on my world. Don’t die…! —4 They didn’t fall. Whew, I’m so glad! -2 It’s awesome that both of you are ok! -3 In our city, you were the only injury, Shino-san. N-no way! -4 You couldn’t hear for a while due to your ears ringing from the explosion. When this huge, unseasonal typhoon landed, —57 -1 One room in the office building next door was hit and hundreds of fragments sprayed out. Some of the sparks were a direct hit on the air conditioner outside your apartment and caused it to explode. -2 You got cut on the forehead by one of the glass shards, Shino-chan. Sorry to have worried you… -3 But I’m so happy everyone is ok! I’m sorry my phone lost signal… ###handwritten But it’s a relief to have a roommate when there's a disaster or some kind of trouble, huh? -4 Ah, about that. I have something to say, Mariko. We’re not roommates. Seems like we might be living together. -5 Eh? Living together? —58 -1 It’s “A Beautiful Life”, see? ### I suspect that this is Sachiko telling Shino what she would name her restaurant, in addition to adding to the gravity of the moment, but that’s just a guess. -3 Living… same sex? Development…? Living… Living together? ### this is Japanese word play that does not translate well. Sachiko tells Mariko that they are not roommates 同居 “doukyo” but living together as lovers 同棲 “dousei”. Mariko, after hearing that, starts trying out other homophones before she figures it out. 同性 this “dousei” means same-sex. 動静 this “dousei” means conditions or development. -5 Whaaaa!?