My Female Friend Comes Home to Me Every Now and Again 1 by Agu Page 1 うたこ Utako あきら Akira 「あきちゃん」 "Aki-chan" 「うた」「うたこ」 "Uta" "Utako" 安定できない オンナ (24) 定職なし、常に国から国へと移動。 30まで生きればジューブン。 楽しければいい。バイ Can't settle down female, 24 No steady job, constantly traveling from country to country. Would be fine just living to 30. Just wants to have fun. Bi. 安定を愛すオンナ (32) 彼氏持ち、そろそろ入籍。 ザー 働きすぎ。休めない。 常にクマある。人生はルーティーンさえあればOK。 Loves stability female, 32 Has a boyfriend, will get married sooner or later. Workaholic. Can't take a break. Constantly has circles under her eyes. Happy as long as her life follows a routine. Page 2 Top Panel Bubble ?分発急行 発車いたします ??? Minutes till express departure [all these are typical station announcements and are fragmented] SFX ピ "beep" Middle Panel SFX カッ カッ "clack clack" Bottom Right Panel Upper Bubble ご乗車ありが Thank you for Lower Bubble っぎは riding with Bottom Center Panel SFX カッ カッ "clack clack" Bottom Left Panel SFX ぐ "grip" Page 3 Top Panel SFX バアン "slam" Right Bubble せんぱーいっ 例の案件の 資料なんですけどー Sempaiii! Asy, about the materials for that case we're looking at― Center Bubbles 東さんなら 帰ったよ Azuma-san went home. 定時で Right on time. Left Bubble えっ うそぉ! Huh? No way! Bottom Right Panel Writing どう どう Whoa there Upper Bubble え~~~ S社のプレゼン 見てもらいた かったのにぃ Uggggh. I wanted her to look at this presentation for me. Upper Left Bubble まぁまぁ それ来週でも 間に合うでしょ There there. That can wait till Monday, it'll still be on time. Lower Bubble てか珍しいスね 東さんが慌てて 帰ってのなんて Hey, it's like, weird, right? For Azuma-san to hurry home like that? Bottom Left Panel Bubbles アレっスかね Gotta be, like 記念日とか an anniversary or something. [No clue how this is gonna fit. Any other way to say "anniversary"? Or even to refer to that kind of event?] Page 4 Top Panel Text やっと ルーティーンが できてきた32歳 At age 32, I've found my routine at last. Middle Panel Right Text 入社して8年以上の 会社もやっとなんだか 身についてきて I've been at the same company for 8 years and finally learned everything. Left Text タイトなスケジュールも 上から目線な担当者にも 慣れてきた I've gotten used to the tight schedule and my condescending boss. Bottom Right Panels SFX どさ "thud" Box そんな 安定した私の 毎日も But my stable, everyday life SFX キュ "yank" Bottom Left Panel Text 年に数回 完璧に乱される ことがある is thrown into chaos a few times a year. SFX ガチャ "click" Page 5 Top Panel Bubbles あーきーちゃん Aaakiii-chan, ただいま! I'm home! Middle Panel Bubble うたこ Utako! Box この子の おかげで All thanks to her. Bottom Right Panel Right Bubble つくの 早くない!? You're here early! SFX パタパタ "walk" Left Bubbles そー フライト30文 早くついて Yeah. The flight got in 30 minutes early. 一本早いバス 乗ってきちゃった I made the earlier bus. [any other way to say early? I don't like all this repetition] Bottom Left Panel SFX あた ふた "flustered" Bubbles どっ Wh― どうしよう まだ全然片付いて なくて What do I do? I haven't cleaned at all. Page 6 Top Panel Right Buble あきちゃーん Aki-chaaan. Center Bubbles 今トイレから 掃除してたんだけど I'd just started cleaning the toilet... 最近残業続きで 家居る時間 あまりなくて Lately I've had back-to-back overtime, so I've barely been home. SFX ばた ばた "bustle" Center Left Bubble あきちゃ Aki-ch― Far Left Bubble やっぱり一回 外でてもらってた ほうが… I should've had you meet me somewhere else this time― Middle Panel Bubble あきちゃん! Aki-chan! SFX は "gasp" Bottom Right Panel Bubbles あきちゃんの トイレは Aki-chan, is your toilet 地面に掘った 穴ですか a hole in the ground? Bottom Left Panels Right Bubble … ウォシュレット です It's a washlet. Left Bubble そっか、 なら So. In that case... Page 7 Top Panels Upper Right Bubbles 私にとっては ゼータクすぎる トイレです it's far too luxurious for me. はい 掃除やめやめー Okay, stop cleaning. わたし あとで やる I'll do it later Lower Right Bubble で So, Left Bubble おかえりは? welcome me home? Bottom Right Panel Bubbles 渡り鳥 My bird 私の of passage. Bottom Left Panels SFX ガタガタ "clatter" すー "reach" Page 8 Top Right Panel Right Bubbles わーい Yay! 半年ぶりの あきちゃんだ! It's been half a year! Left Bubbles 「私の」 とか I say "my", 思ってるのは 私だけだな but only I think that. Top Left Panel SFX スー "sniff" Middle Left Panel Upper Right Bubble …吸わなくても いいでしょ ... Do you have to smoke? Left Bubble こうしないと 日本に帰ってきた かんじしないの I don't feel like I'm back in Japan unless I do. Lower Bubble なにそれ… What the heck? Bottom Panel Upper Bubble 今日はやく 帰れたの? You managed to get home early today? Lower Bubble だって急に うたが帰国するって いうから… Well, you suddenly told me you were coming back, so... Box 時々ふらりと 帰ってくる この24歳に What can you say about a 32 year old woman Page 9 Top Right Panel Box ルーティーンを崩される32歳 なんているのかどうか whose ordered life is thrown into chaos by this 24-year-old showing up? Bubbles あきちゃんの冷蔵庫 毎回バターと期限切れの ジャムしかないから I stopped at the market by the bus stop since you never have anything in your fridge バス停近くのスーパー 寄ってきたんだけどー except butter and expired jam. Top Left Panel Bubble さーどーで しょーかっ Well, let's see what you've got. Text …いや ... No, Bottom Panel Bubble …大当たり ... Called it. Text 崩させてるんだ I *let her* throw my life into chaos. [italicize "let her"] Page 10 Top Right Panel Bubble 焼けたね うた Uta, looks like it's done. Top Left Panel Right Bubble 今度は どこ行ってたの? Where'd you go this time? Left Bubbles えーっとねー Hmm, well, フライトは カトマンズからで the flight was out of Kathmandu. Middle Panel Right Bubbles それまでは 中東通ってー Before that I went through the Middle East. あっ そうそう Oh, that's right. Center Bubble 生まれてはじめて イラン行ったよ I went to Iran for the first time in my life. Left Bubble え… すごいね Huh? Wow. Upper Bottom Right Panel Bubble 普段全く 連絡取れないから 幻かと思っちゃう Since I usually have no way to contact you, I start to wonder if you're just a figment of my imagination. Lower Bottom Right Panel Bubble 生きてますよぉ~ 失礼な! I'm real, and alive. So rude! Bottom Left Panel Upper Bubbles あきちゃんところは 変わんないね Your place hasn't changed a bit. いつもの心地いい 無造作な感じとか Always has that nice, casual vibe. Lower Right Bubble … 汚いってこと? ... You mean, it's a mess? Left Bubble ぎゃー ちがうちがう Gah, that's not what I said. Page 11 Upper Top Right Panel Box 数年前うたこと 出会ってから私は 数週間単位で 彼女を家に泊め Ever since I met Utako a few years back, I put her up in my place a few weeks at a time. Lower Top Right Panel Box またどこかを 目指して 飛び立っていく 彼女を見送る Then I see her off again as she flies away again, heading out somewhere. Top Left Panel Text ただそれだけの 友人関係 That's the extent of our friendship. Middle Panel Text このマンション 一室という 小さな籠から A window that takes me out of this tiny cage Bottom Panel Text 外へと 連れて行ってくれる 窓 of a one-room condo. Bubble イランの前に あきちゃんのこと 知りたい Before we get to Iran, I want to hear about you. Page 12 Top Right Panel Right Bubble 最近どんな モンスター クライアントと 戦ってるの? What kind of monster clients have you been battling? Left Bubble モンスターって あなたね… "Monster", you say...? Upper Top Left Panel Bubble ちょっと前まで 少し落ち着いてた んだけど Up until a little while ago, things had calmed down a bit. Lower Top Left Panel SFX チ "tch" Right Bubble 自分でも 言ってるじゃん モンスター(笑) You're the one who called them monsters first, haha Writing 東さん よろしくねが 多い More and more, I hear, "Azuma-san, I'll leave it to you" Left Bubble これがまた Sランクの モンスターを ハントさせられてて… And then they force me to hunt an S-Rank monster once again... Bottom Panel Right Bubble 一番最近のは マツ○とスター・○ォーズの ○ャバ・ザ・ハットを 足して2で割った みたいな担当者で… The latest is my manager who's like a cross between Matsuko and Jaba the Hut... Writing メール? 見えないです ちゃんと送りました An email? I can't see it. Are you sure you sent it? Upper Left Bubble あはは なんだそれ 全然ピンとこない Ahaha! What the heck, I can't picture that at all. Lower Left Bubble それチームの 千田くんにも 言われて、 That's what Senda-kun from my team says about her. [Note: probably Matsuko Deluxe, a Japanese media commenter and columnist.] Page 13 Top Panel Bubble …それで? ... What else? Middle Panel Bubbles …あ ... Oh. 話せてくれてる She's letting me talk. Text 私が甘やかしているようで I think I'm taking care of her, Bottom Right Panel Text 本当は 私のほうが、 but in truth, she's the one who― SFX ウー ウー "vrrr vrrr" Bubble …あ ... Oh. Upper Bottom Left Panel Phone 慎二くん Shinji-kun LIMEオーディオ LIME Audio SFX ウー "vrrr" Lower Bottom Left Panel SFX ウッ "vrt―" Upper Bubble …いーの? 出なくて ... Don't you have to get that? Lower Bubble うん No. Page 14 Top Right Panel Bubbles いいの It's fine. 今は For now. Lower Top Left Panel Right Bubble …そーだ そーだ ... That's right! Left Bubble 忘れる前に これ! Before I forget! Bottom Right Panel SFX ズモモモモモ "menace" Right Bubble ハイッ Here. Upper Left Bubble ネパールのからの お土産です♥ It's a charm from Nepal♥ Lower Left Bubble でた… There it is... Bottom Left Panel SFX うわあ "woah" Upper Bubbles ありがと…あの Thanks... 確認なんだけど 毎回どんどん 派手になっていかない? Umm, just checking, but aren't these getting gaudier and gaudier every time? Lower Bubbles 派手なほど 魔除け効果 ありそうじゃん The more extreme, the more effective they are against evil spirits, don't you think? だし、あきちゃん そう言いながら 絶対会社のデスクに 飾ってくれるっしょ And whatever you say, you're totally going to put it on your desk at work, aren't you? Page 15 Top Right Panel Bubbles …はは ... Haha. 飾るよ Yeah, I will. Top Left Panel Bubbles …なんか ... Now that I've eaten, ご飯食べたら タバコ吸いたく なってきた I kinda want to have a smoke. Middle Panel SFX ガタ "clatter" Left Bubble ベランダ 借りてもい? Mind if I use your balconey? Bottom Right Panel Right Bubbles あ Oh, うん… sure... SFX ウー "vrrr" Bottom Center Panel SFX ウー "vrrr" ガララ "slide" Bubble 出てあげなよ Go ahead and answer it. Bottom Left Panel Bubble え? Huh? SFX ウー "vrrr" Page 16 Upper Bubble 電話 Your phone. Middle Bubble 彼氏さんでしょ It's your boyfriend, right? Lower Bubble …うん ... Yeah. SFX カチ "click" ボ "fwoosh" ふ "haaah" Page 17 Right Bubble …なーんだ ... What the hell. Upper Left Bubble ないじゃん Some charm... Lower Left Bubble 魔除け効果なんて it didn't work at all. SFX どん "stare" Page 18 Top Right Panel Bubble …なんか This... Top Left Panel Upper Bubble 東さんと トーン違いません? doesn't fit her at all. Writing ふえた… They're multiplying Lower Bubble みんな 私のデスクで 何やってるの… What're you all doing at my desk...? Bottom Right Panels Writing さあ 仕事 しよー Well, let's get to work Upper Bubble せんぱぁい なんか危ない 集会とか呼ばれて ません?! Sempaiii, are you getting dragged into some weird cult!? Lower Bubble ないない Not at all. Bottom Left Panel Bubble 友達からの お土産だから… It's just a souvenir from a friend. Page 19 Top Panel Bubbles 「友達」って… "A friend," あれ huh? Middle Panel Right Writing にあわなーい It really doesn't suit you はたらこうね 三木さん Let's get to work, Miki-san Bubble どう見ても マーキングだろ That's totally some territorial shit. /Looks more like someone marking their territory. [The word used here is "marking" (the English word spelled out phonetically), which refers to the way animals mark objects and places they consider their own (think dogs pissing on things). I'm pretty sure the idea is that he thinks Utako's giving her all this crap so that other people will see she's taken. See here for an illustration https://woman.mynavi.jp/article/150127-15/ I don't know how to best convey that.] Left Writing ジュンさーん 今日の打ち合わせ オンラインでしたっけ Jun-san, was the briefing gonna be online today? Bottom Panel SFX クシュン "achoo" Page 20 ・バリキャリ ・照れ屋 ・キレイ好き(でも片付ける時間なし)(よって散らかる) ・物静か ・母性(?) ・Career woman ・Shy ・Likes it clean (but she has no time to clean so her place is a mess) ・Quiet ・Motherly (?) あきら(32) Akira (32) オーバーワーク様 When she's overworked ホクロエロい Sexy beauty spots Page 21 ピアス多い Lots of piercings うたこ(24) Utako (24) プカア "puff" ・ガサツ<-BUTバックパッカーなので生活能力 高 ・ビッチ ・軽い ・自由 ・マイペース ・ぺらぺらしてる ・Rough-mannered <-But as a backpacker, she's good at taking care of herself ・Slutty ・Easy ・Free-spirited ・Self-confident ・Talkative END