translation blog

I could do that, yes!

Hello everyone! I set up a ko-fi so that those who wish to support my translation efforts can do so even if there’s nothing they are able to commission. I’ve put a button in my description as well, so you can reach it from there!

As of right now I work mostly for free, which is difficult to sustain. Donations are greatly appreciated! And the more donations I get, the more often I will be able to translate things.

No problem, thank you for your support!! 💕

As of right now, it’s still up in the air. I would have to obtain a copy of the novel of course, and depending on how long it is it might take some time. Though if I do get a copy of the novel, I will most definitely translate at least some of it if not all.

“TV Animation Free! Novelize” short preview 5 (image from: https://twitter.com/KA_esuma/status/878166571822104577)

I smell mackerel.

I’m sure I picked up the smell of mackerel by the side of the pool at this training camp facility.

Captain Mikoshiba said it’s just the smell of the mackerel curry we’re having for lunch, but rationally speaking, there’s no way the smell of the mackerel curry could have drifted all the way into the closed poolroom from the kitchen.

What I smelled was something different. No, it wasn’t a smell. It was a presence. Yes, that guy’s presence. Haru’s presence.

Ahh, how irritating. Thinking of Haru makes my heart pound noisily, and I can’t think properly. But there’s no way he’s anywhere near here now.

This isn’t in the town of Iwatobi, nor is it Samezuka High. We’re on a training camp island miles away from Iwatobi. But somehow, I feel his presence. I can smell him. Was it a phantom odor? Am I that much of a slave to him?

I saw him at prefecturals. I bumped into him at the sports shop, and that’s when I’d said it.

“You swim for me.”

You only swim free? That doesn’t matter. I won’t allow you to be free. You will swim for me. So I can become stronger, so I can go out into the world.

I shouldn’t be thinking of anything but my training until the day of prefecturals. And yet, why does the smell of mackerel mess with my head like this? I don’t understand. It’s extremely irritating.

As I stand here, worrying myself into a headache, Nitori comes up and starts talking to me nonchalantly. “Matsuoka-senpai, do you like mackerel?”

“Shut up.” I spit, and dive into the water.

The lukewarm water of the indoor pool envelops me.

Lukewarm. That’s not it. What I’m looking for is something much, much hotter. The pool water is the boiling hot roar of a demon. In that heat, I will thoroughly burn Haru to nothing. I will evaporate every last drop of water, and make him look like dinosaur bones buried in the desert.

I will not lose to Haru. Dolphins eat mackerel, and sharks eat dolphins. They’re destined to be torn to shreds.

“TV Animation Free! Novelize” short preview 4 translation (image from: https://twitter.com/KA_esuma/status/877814573784383490)

I told him no, dammit.

Waves of regret wash over me as my body sinks heavily to the bottom of the pool.

Am I going to die here, in the Samezuka indoor pool during a joint practice?

The shouts of “Rei-chan!” from the side of the pool get gradually further and further away. My consciousness feels like it could disappear at any moment.

They say you’re supposed to see a light at times like this. The theory of the light. When you’re close to death, all your brain cells become active, and as a result of all those synapses firing all at once, you see a bright light. I suppose it won’t be long before I see that light too.

That aside, if I’m going to die here, I wish I could have died a bit more beautifully. Why did I have to be wearing nothing but a speedo, of all things! Not beautiful.

Now that I think about it, my very first memory that I can remember was of something not beautiful as well.

It was a gross looking cheeseburger from a fast food place. When I saw that the burger looked completely different from the picture on the menu, little me, not even old enough to enter kindergarten, finally asked my mother why the cheeseburger was so ugly.

In those days, my mother often said to me, “Rei, you’re very argumentative, aren’t you?”

Even as a child, that was vexing.

Why is it wrong to be argumentative? What’s wrong with thinking about the reasons you think certain things, and why you like and dislike certain matters, and debating them? In this world, everyone is too vague. They often decide to do things for no reason, or because  “I said so,” or “thats just the way it is.” I could never understand that.

For example, the colors they use to denote gender.

On toilet signs, it’s always blue for boys and red for girls.

In the past, it seems even backpack colors were black for boys and red for girls. It’s absurd. Why can’t boys have red? Why can’t girls have black?

“TV Animation Free! Novelization” short preview 3 translation (image from: https://twitter.com/KA_esuma/status/877458128433848320)

The first time I saw Haru-chan swimming, I was still in the lowest years of elementary school, but I remember thinking, “Theres a mermaid in the swimming club!” Haru-chan’s swimming was just that pretty, even little elementary school me could see he looked just like mermaids I’d seen in foreign cartoons, swimming freely.

That day, I had been so excited, I told my older sister about it when I went home. “There was a boy at the swim club who looked just like a mermaid!”

My sister looked at me coldly. “That’s stupid. Mermaids are girls.” She said, looking a bit smug.

“Then, what are boy mermaids called?” I asked, but my sister seemed stumped, and couldn’t give me an answer.

“What? Big sister doesn’t even know?” I said, looking at my sister coldy as revenge for making fun of me before.

I guess that was too much for her, because the next day, she declared, “Male mermaids are called mermen!” looking proud, as if she’d looked it up in a dictionary. But I thought merman was kind of weird. I think the word mermaid fits Haru-chan much much better. Plus, I don’t think it matters whether Haru-chan is a boy or a girl. Haru-chan is Haru-chan. He isn’t a boy or a girl, he’s a mermaid.

That Haru-chan stands before me now.

He silently carves a little wooden figure of Iwatobi’s town mascot, Iwatobi-chan.

In the fairy tales, the mermaid’s voice was stolen in exchange for legs to walk on land. Haru-chan was never one to talk much, but it seems he talks less and less since becoming a high school student. It seems his personality has changed a bit too. He’s more… mischievous. That is, I don’t think elementary school Haru-chan would make a load of Iwatobi-chans out of wood as a present for new club members. But then, that doesn’t really matter, it’s just a little detail. Haru-chan is Haru-chan. The parts deep inside Haru-chan never really changed. I love past Haru-chan and current Haru-chan just the same.

As I watch Haru-chan carve in silence, smile on my face, Mako-chan arrives late.

“TV Animation Free! Novelize” short preview 2 translation (image from: https://twitter.com/KA_esuma/status/877099605690769408)

Whenever I would talk to someone about Matsuoka Rin, the first thing that would come to mind was his smiling face. That blinding smile he would have when he said, “I’ll show you a sight you’ve never seen before.”

I think about it sometimes, even now: what if I had never ran into him at the railroad tracks during winter break in my first year of middle school? If for example that day, I had dashed across the tracks just before the light had started to flash. Or if I had stopped at a convenience store along the way to read a magazine for a while. No, if I hadn’t even decided to go out that day, and stayed home to read a book. I wouldn’t have ran into Rin, I wouldn’t have raced him at the Iwatobi SC, I wouldn’t have won and hurt him, and I wouldn’t have separated myself from my new middle school friends by quitting swimming.

Or maybe.

Maybe running into Rin that day was a fate I wouldn’t be able to run from. No matter what road I took, no matter what detours, even if I’d stayed at home. Perhaps guided by some unseen force, we’d end up meeting by fate at somewhere other than those train tracks, no matter what.

That Matsuoka Rin returned.

Makoto, Nagisa and I had snuck into the soon to be demolished Iwatobi SC in order to dig up the Medley Relay trophy that we had buried four years ago. There, we saw him.

I had been sure when I saw the letters under the cherry blossom tree at Iwatobi Elementary yesterday, but I had no idea we’d be meeting again this quickly.

If our meeting during the winter of my first year of middle school was fate, then meeting Rin again at the ruins of the old Iwatobi SC at night must have been fate as well. The same Iwatobi SC from the day of the breakdown, now in a state of ruin. The two of us are bound together hand and foot by fate.

The Matsuoka Rin that returned from Australia was not the same Rin I swam the relay with in elementary school, nor was it the same Rin I raced against in the winter of my first year of middle school. He wore a fierce aura, seeming almost like a completely different person.

I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t had a hunch. It’s because I had this feeling that I’d put a swimsuit on under my clothes. Even though there was no way the old Iwatobi SC pool was full of water, and the race with Rin had to be postponed.

But Rin had definitely said, “Let’s race, Haru.”

This was not the same Rin who cried, “I’ll quit swimming” nor was it the same smiling Rin who said “Let’s swim the Medley Relay together!” It was neither of those Rins.

“TV Animation Free! Novelize” short preview translation (Image from: https://twitter.com/KA_esuma/status/876742262742327296)

I saw Rin in a dream for the first time in a while.

In my dream, Rin looked exactly as he did back in Elementary school when I saw him last. But now somehow, He was entering his second year of high school this spring, as I am, and for some reason he was in my class as well, though I didn’t think that was especially weird or miraculous. Of course, that’s common in dreams.

Wearing the Iwatobi High School uniform, he turned to look at me and smiled with that same smile from when we were young. “Hey, Makoto, are you gonna do the relay again?”

I gave a noncommittal laugh and turned toward Haru. We were on the roof of the school during lunch break. Haru had said nothing the entire time, eating his shioyaki mackerel bentou in silence.

I stared intently at Haru, but I could not tell what he was thinking. Usually I can tell what’s going on in his head just by looking at him, so the fact that I could not read him was alarming to me.

When I hesitated to answer, Rin said, “Haru says he’ll do it, right?”

Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed Haru’s arm, causing Haru to stop eating and look at him.

“I—“ Haru began to say, but Rin stood up quickly, pulling Haru with him, and not waiting for a response.

“Alright, Let’s go, Haru!”

The aluminum bentou box fell from Haru’s hands and landed with a clang, flipping over on the concrete of the roof.

“Wait, Haru!!” I stood up as well.

I looked and saw that the roof was now flooded with water, and Haru and Rin were swimming ahead without me. I tried to swim after them, but I struggled in the water, and my arms and legs wouldn’t move. “Wait, Haru! Haru!!!”

That was when I woke up. It was a normal Iwatobi morning, on the second floor of the Tachibana household. My room.

Spring break ended yesterday, which means a new term starts today.

The mornings and evenings were still fairly cold, but my pajama T-shirt was drenched with sweat.

“Big brother, what’s wrong?”

“Breakfast is already finished!”

Christmas Event SR Honoka Kousaka Side story translation - “Christmas Party” (requested by @rinchansanmatsuoka)

Oh? What are you doing here?

Me? I’m preparing for the Christmas party!

There’s not much time left before Christmas, so I have to work hard!

Why am I preparing all by myself, you say? Ehehe...I’m glad you asked. ✩

You know the live show μ’s is doing on the 25th?

We have to practice on the 24th, but since it’s Christmas Eve, I wanted to create some lasting memories with everyone, so I thought I’d throw a party.

I’ve been preparing it in secret so I could surprise everyone and make them say “Whoa!”

Don’t you think it’s a great plan?

Eh? You’re going to help me prepare?! Thank you!!

I want to apologize for being inactive. I have been very busy with college, as well as dealing with personal health issues and haven’t had the time or energy to translate anything for a while.

I’m hoping to start this blog back up again soon. There are a collection of short requests in my inbox that I hope to get through in the next few weeks. I apologize to those who made requests during my time out and didn’t receive their translations in a timely manner.

Thank you to those who continued to follow this blog despite my inactivity.

Tanabata (Star Festival) Event SR Dia Kurosawa Side story translation - “Not just by wishing on a star” (requested by @rinchansanmatsuoka)

My Tanabata* wish? Hmm, lets see...

I heard that originally, the Tanabata was for wishing for the improvement of theatre arts. Were you aware of that?

I think I’d quite like for Aqours and Uranohoshi Girls School to be known across the country.

If Aqours was just an ordinary school idol group with no special characteristics......I feel that it would be hard for us to become popular.

For that reason, I think it will be good to wish that we can all improve as school idols in our singing and dancing.

B.U.T! In order for us to properly improve, hard work is an absolute necessity.

You can’t get everything you want just from wishing on a star. Don’t you think so?

Now, whether or not Ruby properly understands this...... is what worries me.

I must go make sure she isn’t off wishing for something ridiculous.

If she is wishing for something strange...... I will need to make sure she improves perfectly as a school idol by increasing her morning training. ♡

Initial Set SR Sakurauchi Riko Side story translation - “Parting day” (requested by @rinchansanmatsuoka

Oh......Hello. Are you heading home now?

I was saying goodbye just now...

That is, to this uniform. This isn’t the Uranohoshi girls school uniform, it’s the uniform that I wore back when I went to Otonokizaka High School.

It occurred to me that I won’t be able to wear this uniform anymore...so I decided to wear it one last time. What do you think?

I feel a little embarrassed, and a little sad...it’s complicated.

I’m told it’s the same uniform μ’s wore, but when I went to Otonokizaka, I had no interest in that sort of thing, so its kind of a waste...

But now I’ve made friends at Uranohoshi, and accomplished the same goals as everyone else. 

I surprised myself with how quickly I made such close friends, but I’m really happy.

So there’s no need to worry...... It’s alright if I say goodbye to the me that went to Otonokizaka! 

Seven Lucky Gods SR Nishikino Maki Side story translation - “Benzaiten’s Origins” (requested by @rinchansanmatsuoka)

It seems we did a seven lucky gods theme for our outfits this time but...... to go as far as to make clothing based off of the gods feels kind of blasphemous...

And why am I Benzaiten?* Nothing against the goddess of moneymaking, but just because my family’s rich......

Eh? Benzaiten originally had nothing to do with that? 

Really? You might be right......I’m going to go check the library. 

I had no idea... it really is like you said, Benzaiten’s origins are totally different. 

Saraswati, the goddess of art and wisdom......

You know, Kotori always looks really happy listening to the songs I make. This is kind of embarrassing now.

If Kotori knows all that stuff about Benzaiten’s origins, then what I said before is rude to both her and Benzaiten, probably...

I need to broaden my knowledge a bit more... even if it was a misinterpretation, it still wasn’t good of me to do...

Hey, how about you come with me to the library after this? I want to check out a book today.

Tanabata (Star Festival) Event SR Ruby Kurosawa Side story translation - “A wish I can’t tell anyone”

-peek...fidget fidget...-

Ok......it looks like nobody’s here......

I want to become like big sis, I want to become like big sis, I want to become like big sis......

I want to wake up one day and be like big sis, I want to wake up one day and......

Eek!! O-O-Oh!? I thought I was the only one in here!!

......Did you hear me just now? ......You didn’t, right?

Ah~ I’m glad......

I was just writing my Tanabata wish! I’m praying to Orihime and Hikoboshi for it to come true!*

My wish is a secret! I pray for the same thing every year, but it hasn’t come true yet......

Ehehe...... but if it comes true someday, I’ll tell you what it was! ♡

Ninja Set SR Nozomi Tojo Sidestory translation - “Swift Shuriken!” (requested by @rinchansanmatsuoka)

A ninja experience event at an amusement park! Some people have really great ideas, huh~!

Maybe I should talk like a ninja today too? Just kidding~!

What kind of things would you like to experience as a ninja?

As for me, I’d really love to throw a Shuriken and impale my enemies in one swift blow!

Ah, but running around in the dark, and being able to walk around on water sounds fun too......

and on top of that, throwing smoke and running away is super sneaky!! and feels really cool......

Ah...!! What if I don’t get to experience all that in just one day?

This is bad! We don’t have time to stand around talking! I’ve got to go get changed!

—

Ehehe, This ninja outfit makes things a bit more exciting, huh? ♡

Dancer Set SR Maki Nishikino Sidestory translation - “Definitely someday...” (requested by @rinchansanmatsuoka)

Oh, you’re already here? It’s almost time for rehearsal, so I changed clothes.

What? It looks like I got lost in some country’s royal court? Geez...... What does that mean? Is that supposed to be a compliment?

Well, dancers are part of the royal court, I guess? In places like Arabia, they dance for the entertainment of nobles and royalty, right? At least, that’s how I imagine it.

Hm? My feelings about this outfit?

Let’s see...All of us in μ’s made these accessories together. 

Usually Kotori makes all the clothes by herself, doesn’t she? But, just this time was different. 

Because of that, I feel like these outfits feel special to everyone. Of course I feel the same.

Eh? Which parts did I make? ......right here, this part that’s attached to the clothing. 

It was my first time doing something like this, so I had to redo it a bunch of times...Don’t look at me so intently, it’s embarrassing!