Translation blog with a dash of amateur work, focusing on otomedia. I don't own anything I translate except for the translation itself. Please don't repost them!
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hi friends and family and people. it is i, muwi, crying in the club.
All of my longer translations, except for IkeSen drama CD 2 with Ieyasu, Mitsunari and Masamune because I only did it partially, have been copied onto a Wordpress blog for easier reading. It won’t have regular updates, it’s just a database.
https://musewi.wordpress.com/
EDIT 9/2021: Important! I’ve decided that if any of my longer translations get edited, it’ll only be the Wordpress version since it’s too much of a bother to manage both that and the posts on here. Basically, I recommended checking the Wordpress post for the most up-to-date version and (probably) better reading experience. I edit anything I find clunky or can be worded better each time I read it, so… yup. It’s Bustafellows’ fault!!
EDIT: hijacking my own pinned post to also add that Ken ga Kimi is currently being translated by a small team of passionate fans! you can find out more details and follow for updates on their Twitter or blog.
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Dedicated to @gundamwing-ellesmith
As always, Duo is exasperated, and it’s up for him and Quatre to keep the show running smoothly. Awkwardness between the pilots still remain, but the two do their best. I was actually really surprised at the awkward pauses that the script writers put in (good characterization). You can see that they’re not completely buddy-buddy with each other.
I cringed in second hand embarrassment the most when translating Duo’s lines, and had the most difficulty with Trowa’s. Since Trowa’s distinctive lack of unity and coherence in his dialogue makes his messages sound like poems, commenters on Nico Nico have said that he sounds like Snufkin from Moomin.
Wufei, as always, is treated as a joke. Even the other pilots don’t take him seriously. In the other cassette this applies to Heero too (teased relentlessly).
Heero appears to be more of a “boy who didn’t manage to kill adolescence completely”, with all the embarrassment and standoffishness of a normal teenager.
Duo’s womanizing tendencies come out in the open. This tells you a lot about how he was characterized by the creators. Furthermore, like Quatre points out, Duo is implied to be the type that isn’t good at holding down steady, long term relationships that need commitment. Showering their lover with superficial praises and flirting is what he can do, but when push comes to shove he can’t be there emotionally for his lover (possibly clamming up and avoiding the issue). The consequences of this negative characteristic of not being held down by anyone, and his tendency of falling for girls too easily is explored in Frozen Teardrop.
Many Nico Nico users also saw the shadows of what would lead to Frozen Teardrop Quatre in this and the other cassette. Even though Quatre is mostly polite and sociable in these, you can see here and there that he intentionally takes a dig at the other members around him, then uses his personality to deflect any criticism (like “Oh silly, what are you talking about?”). He’s either feigning ignorance, or he really doesn’t realize that he’s naturally acrimonious (maybe due nobody ever calling him out on it, with his coddled upbringing). Also, his constant “Oh, [character name]” can be interpreted as condescending. Maybe he does look down on them unconsciously.
Another ~30 minutes of crack xD Since GW is such a serious stoy, it was fun listening to a much lighter, comical side of the series. The seiyuus enjoyed it a lot too :3
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Replaying Shu's route for the nth time, and I'm really struck by how much Teuta and Shu trust each other. In chapter 2, she could've called anyone, but she chose Shu. While Shu was understandably sus, the minute he heard the words from Teuta about the whole thing regarding Edie, he stopped what he was doing and asked her for the crucial details. He didn't have to. Not to mention, Shu's methods in Chapter 2 were really reminiscent of what happened earlier in the chapter with Crow and Teuta, showing that he was observing her (on some level). And then don't even get me started on Shu's A route. The implicit trust between them is there through like everything - from Shu slowly opening himself up to her, to the whole fiasco with police, and the hitmen. And it's not just his route - Crow's one is another example of this implicit trust, like in the water, and then in the confrontation with Crow over his past. With that being said, it's my personal headcanon that Shu's the most intuitively perceptive of the bunch, and that he (and Crow) can recognize Teuta on a rerun, as soon as they're contacted. What do you think? - Anonymous
Chapter 2 was definitely a swapparoo with the two! Teuta used the coin flip technique and Shu used the trick she did earlier on Crow.
I think that's a super valid headcanon! For me (also based off my super vague memory), I think Shu trusts her the most because he is the only one who has the most believable proof that her time-travel ability is real. Chapter 2 sets that up for him; up until that point only Limbo had experienced and her way of proving it could be brushed off as a super big coincidence. Compare that to what she did for Shu (repeating a really personal line that he only ever said to TWO people), it just feels more irrefutable?
In Shu Side A when she needs to time-travel to get him out, the others just kind of go "uh, okay" at her suggestion. You kind of get the vibe that they think she's kinda crazy and just go along with it (one of them even says that they weren't counting on it to begin with when she fails). Even Mozu, super nice Mozu, doesn't really believe her and he has a more 'letting a child down gently because they're trying to best to help' feel about it. Even in his Bad End, it still feels like he doesn't 100% believe it but just accepts it in the moment.
It doesn't really help that the audience doesn't get an explanation on how it works exactly. Mozu Bad End After Story suggests that as she's time-travelling, the existing timeline continues as normal the entire time she's unconscious. So that probably means that the timelines split/previous timeline is erased (however you want to view it) when she hops back into her body after changing the past.
This seems to all happen in a split/few seconds because there are a few scenes where she explicitly tells the others what she's about to do, and they're like "okay", she closes her eyes, but when she opens them again they don't seem to know what she's doing and it just looks like she closed her eyes randomly for a few seconds ('are you okay?' / 'did you just time travel'?). No wonder she looks like a crazy person.
More gag comics and the last batch of stuff I found. These are by Bkub Okawa, the author of Pop Team Epic. The first one was translated by @80sanime here!
Just a heads up I riffed/was a bit liberal in my translation because a lot of these gags fall kind of flat in English. I still think they fall a bit flat, but they’re cute, so... I’ll leave translation notes to help out.
This one was really hard because I just didn’t know how to translate Kansai dialect!!! But essentially Heero is imagining Duo speaking in a different dialect (think Hattori Heiji from Detective Conan). Common English-language translated equivalents are the British Cockney accent or the American Southern/Texan accent, so just... imagine Duo speaking like that.
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Trowa here is actually saying ‘gabiin’ which is a sound effect that conveys shock or disappointment - you’re not supposed to say it, it’s just a sound.
So the gag is that he just looks at the picture, doesn’t react whatsoever, and then says “Gabiin... I guess.” ...It kinda of works for someone like Trowa to say something like that.
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I have a feeling this references something in the show but I don’t know what it is off the top of my head.
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Referencing Heero’s theme: ‘The Wings of a Boy Who Killed Adolescence’.
Still haven't been able to play Auld Lang Syne due to work, but it sounds like I have to prep myself to deal with a very emotional last part for Bustafellows. Technically, Full Circle landed on a cliffhanger, so I guess that makes sense. In the meantime tho, I'm replaying routes again because I'm a sucker and I like everyone's routes so much. Playing blind, I got Crow first, but I've replayed Shu's route the most tbh. Shu's route is so good as a story. Not to mention, since his route, I went to look up the song he quotes, Yellow Rose of Texas, and it's so interesting. I also didn't realize Calamity Jane is also an irl move too - I don't think the plot is quite the same, based on the synopsis tho. Since there's going to be a season 2, I hope Teuta (in Shu's route) will pick up some of Shu's idiosyncrasies- like using the phrase 'The Yellow Rose of Texas' when she has to force herself to do things, or also giving Shu a "anything you want coupon" too, just for funsies. That being said, what would you like to see them touch on in Season 2? Any particular sort of conflicts or stories you want to see? - Anonymous
I wasn’t very fond of Full Circle - they could have executed it way better. I think Minetaka’s (the writer) strong suit is characterisation and character development and not so much the actual mystery, haha. But Auld Lang Syne was a bit better in my opinion! But still not the best.
omg I’ve replayed Shu’s route the most too LOL I think I finished the game in 40 hours but added on another 40 hours just from me opening the game to replay Shu’s route. The majority of my save files are just various points of his route too. His overall development from Chapter 1 to the end of Side B is probably one of my favorite in all otome I’ve played. The way you can really see/feel the relationship beats from Ch1′s hostility to being neutral about her in Ch2, to him accepting her more at the end of Ch2 when she accepts him for who he is. And then depending on what route you go on, either something like familial care towards her or romantic love??? It’s just so good. I could write a whole essay about how he changes over the course of the game.
**Bustafellows Shu route spoilers for anyone who cares**
I think one of my favourite parts is how he’s all “I don’t expect you to understand me nor do I want to tell you about me” at the start, but then they get close and he opens up to her by telling her about the list - but at this point it’s kind of just his general circumstances, stuff that the other Fixers would probably know about too. The next step is him telling her about himself again but they’re only fond and happy memories and doesn’t elaborate much. And THEN later, the first time he actually completely spills his troubles to her, is when he gives her the lighter and tells her he wants her to help quit smoking?? This coming from the guy who purposefully triggers traumatic memories by smoking? He’s LITERALLY giving her the keys to that? He wants to be? Emotionally close to her? By letting go of his trauma of not wanting to be close to others?? How dare you... do this to me!!!!
**End**
I’m rambling you gotta hold me back LMAO - I didn’t know Yellow Rose of Texas was a real folk song - it’s actually quite nice and has a good melody. I’m super curious how Minetaka stumbled across it. I can really see how he must be a bit of a American-movie buff, both from references like these and just the overall vibe of the game.
I have a lot of faith in Minetaka to write something interesting and cool for Shu, so I don’t really have anything in particular I want to see. Rather, I have stuff I don’t want to see: I don’t wanna see them get married! Specifically, I would be a little angry if Shuteu is the only pair that get married. I would be less mad if it was a shared end between say, Shuteu and like, Limteu or something (I can actually see it for Limteu, at least). Just because I think it would undermine the themes and messages present in Shu’s season 1 route. I don’t really like the ‘mature LI’ route ending with marriage as if marriage is just the default conclusion for romances.
I'm like 5/6ths of the way done through Bustafellows. (I still have to do the final part, Auld Lang Syne.) I wanted to send you this message to thank you for doing some of the Bustafellows Translations! It's nice to read how the characters met and what would happen with the bad end continuations. The group dynamic is so good, and it's got me inspired to want to write a case of my own for them. Thanks again for doing translations! - Anonymous
Ah!! Anon moments captured seconds before emotional trauma!! I hope you enjoy Auld Lang Syne!!
And thank you so much ;w; I always found it sucky that English fandoms never get these tokutens even though they add so much to the story. I know it's because they're from Stellaworth/Animate/whatever which isn't part of the internatinal otome 'culture', but ouuuuuuuughhh man I would LOVE to see all of these bad ends in an English booklet, you know? Nobody would say no to more stories of the boys!
I'm still hoping to find time and energy to finish off Helvetica and Mozu's. They're not my fav love interests, but I feel a little obligated to do it just for their stans.
I'm definitely gonna get my hands on the Stellaworth booklet (which will probably have Limbo and Shu stuff) for Season 2 and translate those too!
Needed to scratch the translation itch - so I found a bunch of cute short gag comic strips of the boys! Sorry for the terrible cleaning for some of them, not my strong suit, unfortunately.
Some background information: these are from the Gundam Info website’s Weekly Gundam News column. I’ve picked out all the Gundam Wing ones, and usually they advertise some cute marketing event or are just funny. Keep in mind that since these comic strips span back to like, 2013, so a lot of these events are super outdated LOL. I’ll try to explain any references as they pop up.
These comic strips were drawn by 小林ミツツグ (who has been doing these for years now!!) and will be listed in ascending order.
Comics under the cut:
Posted: 30th April 2013
You are about to see A LOT OF THESE ‘Golden Week’-themed comics. The running joke is that GW can stand for both Golden Week and Gundam Wing so they really like turning it into a gag.
Golden Week is basically a week off for all major businesses/schools because it has public holidays back-to-back and goes from end of April to early May.
Wufei is sitting in a ‘shoubu-yu’, a type of bath children take on May 5 (Children’s Day) where you put Japanese iris roots and leaves in the water with you. It supposedly wards off illnesses and misfortune. ‘Shoubu’ is also a homophone with ‘duel’, so the bath is meant to give you luck in battle too. Very Wufei of him.
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Posted: 15th Oct 2013
The thing he’s holding is less so a flipbook and more a picture book that is used with storytelling.
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Posted: 30th Apr 2014
See? I told you.
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Posted: 28th Apr 2015
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Posted: 3rd May 2016
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Posted: 2nd May 2017
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Posted: 1st May 2018
Chimaki is a type of sticky rice dumpling wrapped in a bamboo leaf.
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Posted: 7th May 2019
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Posted: 8th Oct 2019
Referencing the line Relena says in the final episode where she tears up Heero’s letter.
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Posted: 9th Oct 2019
I think this is referring to the 40th anniversary Gundam Beyond project?
Mala is a type of spicy and numbing Chinese seasoning. It’s pretty much just Sichuan peppers and other spices.
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Posted: 19th Nov 2019
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Posted: 22nd Sep 2020
Advertising for the Gundam Cafe x Namjatown collaboration. Look that one up - Heero looks goofy with cat ears, haha.
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Posted: 15th Dec 2020
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Posted: 5th Jan 2021
Their drinks include a o-mikuji which is normally a random slip of paper that has your fortune for the year written on it. You typically get them at shrines. If you get a bad fortune, you tie it to a tree or a fence with other bad fortunes. I assume this is like a chocolate version of that or something edible.
The standard ranking of fortunes goes from: great blessing, blessing, small blessing, half-blessing, future blessing, future small blessing, and misfortune.
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Posted: 19th Jan 2021
Quatre here is referencing the scene where Heero punches Duo in the gut.
4DX is a movie experience where the seats move and like, water sprays on you and stuff to immerse you better into the movie. I didn’t know Endless Waltz got a 4DX version? Do they turn up the temperature when Quatre goes to retreive the Gundam when he’s near the sun LMAO??
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I came across this Gundam Wing scan and the content in the pink boxes was so cute I couldn’t pass up on translating them. I’m not sure where this is from but it’s advertising the HD remaster Memorial Box version of GW, specifically Part 3 which contained Endless Waltz. I originally planned to scanlate it but it was too much work and I’m lazy.
Essentially they introduce the boys, what’s usually on their minds, and also has a tip on how to pursue them/win them over/get their attention??? Which I found SUPER amusing because even the magazine is like “uh, good luck lmao”
For example this is Heero’s:
Case: Heero
There’s nothing in his head other than missions, and once he starts working, there is no room for other people. However, he’s become much softer than when he did nothing but fight and follow orders, and can be seen smiling more than before.
Brain analysis: 100% MISSIONS.
How to win him over: It’ll be a difficult time with a tough opponent in Relena. But just keep applying pressure like she does!
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Note: Just wanted to make it clear that all of the percentages are me eyeballing.
Case: Duo
The type of person who prioritises his private life over missions, but he gets the job done. One of his strongest points is his ability to always face forward and take on any foe, like the time he forced his way through the Mariemaia army with only his own body, even without a Gundam.
Brain analysis: 30% missions, 70% private
How to win him over: First, it’s important to get his attention by being friendly. After you get to know each other to some extent, pursue forcefully aggressively! ⭐️
Edit: Found a better adverb lmao
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Case: Trowa
After the war, he returned to the circus and lives a peaceful life. He’s taciturn, but gentle, and he specialises in infiltrating the enemy to strike from within rather than from the front.
Brain analysis: 70% the circus, 30% training
How to win him over: He enjoys his work as a clown, so you should get close to him through his workplace.
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Case: Quatre
Because of his kind nature, which makes him put others before himself, people naturally follow him. However, he also has a stubborn side, and despite other’s objections, he single-handedly carried out the dangerous task of retrieving the Gundam he had sent into the sun.
How to win him over: He often stands above overs in a leadership position, so you’ll be sure to get him if you can talk to him from the same perspective.
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Case: Wufei
Wufei always analyses himself to determine what is right in the world. His thoughts are preoccupied by himself and his beloved machine, Nataku. His love for his Gundam is so deep that he is the only one among the five who did not give it up.
How to win him over: If you treat him seriously and start conversations by talking about Nataku, you’ll have a winning hand.
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I can’t get over the format. With the exception of Quatre, the others just have this “they’re so weird but I mean, they’re getting better/nice/passionate--oh, you’re interested??? uh, okay... good luck i guess...” vibe LMAO I wonder what the ‘private’ section of Duo’s brain includes.... honestly could be anything.
hi sorry for the dumb question, but what is a tokuten?
Not a dumb question at all! It means purchase bonus! For otome games it usually means the extra items you get when buying a whole special set, like keychains and CDs and badges. Sometimes it can be a pre-order bonus.
In other fandoms it can be a special item you get for say, buying a whole set of books from a series or something.
Bustafellows - Short Audio Drama: One Day In New Sieg (4-6)
Yes, these are the ones in the game’s gallery that never got subbed. I got tired of holding out for a translation so here’s my amateur one that probably has mistakes. No major spoilers.
Part 1 for Cases 1-3
**Please don’t move this translation or claim it as your own.***
Case 4
Crow: Hm… this guy knows a lot. Maybe he supervised the last AmeCon?
Crow: Let’s see… the last AmeCon… in San Diego… did you happen to supervise it?
Mozu: Are you chatting with a new business partner?
Crow: Ah! You scared me… you’re back? Wait…! H-how much did you see?!
Mozu: Up to when you said the last AmeCon was in San Diego. Did I see something I shouldn’t have?
Crow: N-no, nothing like that…
Mozu: Did you go to that AmeCon?
Crow: Huh?! Mozu, you’re interested in AmeCon?!
Mozu: It’s about American comics, right? I don’t dislike them. My sister used to read them all the time, so I know a bit.
Crow: Really?! Who do you stan?
Mozu: ‘Stan’? What’s that?
Crow: Your favorite character!
Mozu: I see… probably Catman.
Crow: Ohhhh, him! Totally! I totally get it! Ah, but which Catman, the First version? Or the Origin one?
Mozu: I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what you’re talking about… So you’re familiar with him?
Crow: Yeah. I’m more of a Captain Ginger guy though.
Mozu: Captain Ginger? I think there was a film about him the other day.
Crow: Yeah, that’s the one! The person I was just talking to is also a Captain Ginger stan. He’s called Shiranami. My book I published at the last AmeCon-- w-wait, no! Nothing!
Mozu: Your book? You’ve published a book before?
Crow: No, um, how do I, um, it’s, uh…
Mozu: It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’ve written a few books myself.
Crow: Seriously? W-what kind? …Wow, Mozu’s more legit than I thought.
Mozu: I’ve been so busy with work that I don’t have much time to write, so I’ve only written on some minor subjects.
Crow: I’m actually really into minor genres too! Wow, I didn’t know I could talk to you about this stuff. Okay then, I’ll show you the book that I wrote myself!
Mozu: You will? I think I have one of mine in my room somewhere… I verified a report on a newly created body farm, as well as the anaerobic organisms that grow in the digestive tracts of corpses--
Crow: Wait, wait, wait! A b-body farm!? Not a Catman book?
Mozu: We’re talking about the book I wrote, right? It’s a research book that compares body farm reports from around America with actual autopsy reports…
Crow: Ugh… I knew this was how it was gonna end up…
Mozu: What about you? What kind of book did you write?
Crow: Huh?! Ah, me? I-I didn’t write anything!
Mozu: But you said earlier you did.
Crow: Just forget it! Please!
Mozu: What kind of book is it…
Crow: Just let it go!!
Case 5
Adam: Sorry I’m late!
Luka: So sloooow!
Teuta: Adam’s the last one again today.
Adam: I’m sorry, the meeting took so long…
Luka & Teuta: Hmhmm…
Adam: What’s wrong?
Luka: We saw it on Full Circle… You’re going to make your debut as a singer?!
Teuta: That’s amazing!
Adam: Is that what you’re on about… stop it. I couldn’t say no, so I just accepted it.
Luka: Why would you turn it down? You’re gonna release a CD, do a live, and then… an arena concert!!! You should be more hype about this! You’re gonna do something like that, aren’t you?
Adam: Do I look like the type of guy to do that?
Luka: Okay, fine, maybe that was a bit too much.
Teuta: But there’s gonna be a CD, right? I want your autograph first!
Luka: With a handshake or something?!
Adam: Stop making fun of me…
Teuta: Hehe, sorry. But we’re really excited for you, you know? It’s so cool to see you do so many different things, right?
Luka: Right!
Adam: I don’t know what to say when you put it like that.
Teuta: What kind of song are you singing?
Adam: That’s something you’ll have to wait and see.
Luka: Come on! Just tell us a bit! C’monnn, just hum a little!
Adam: Nope.
Teuta: Just a little! Pleaseee!
Adam: Nope, not even if you make that face at me.
Luka: Hmph. Fine, let’s have a toast anyway.
Teuta: Yeah! Well then, cheers for another great week and congratulations to Adam on his debut as a singer!
Luka: Congrats!
Adam: God, I’m so weak*… thanks, everyone.
(T/N: I have no idea whether he’s referring to himself or to the girls here, someone please let me know so I can fix it!)
Case 6
(If you don’t know who Kirara is, she’s a side character from SideKicks!!, another game from the same developer that’s also set in the same fictional America.)
Carmen: My! What a cute name! Pepedonchino! It’ll sell like hotcakes!
Kirara: Right? Right? Let’s make this a collaboration menu item, and sell it at each other’s shops!
Carmen: Perfect! I love collaborations!
Kirara: Isn’t it? Isn’t it?
Carmen: But is it really hard to make? I’m really BAD at cooking. My restaurant mainly serves dishes that are ordered in.
Kirara: Cooking is Love! There’s no such thing as good or bad cooking! Well, but it’ll be better if it’s easy to make, isn’t it? I’ll put together a recipe later and email it to you.
Carmen: Goodness, you’re so reliable, Kirara!
Kirara: See you later then~ I have someone who stops by every day who’s in the middle of eating right now, so I’ll ask them to try some next time!
Carmen: Alright! See you later!
Alex: You sounded like you were having a lot of fun. Who were you on the phone with?
Carmen: Hehe, I was going to order from this restaurant… but we ended up talking about all sorts of things and ended up with a new menu. This will definitely sell~
Alex: So you say… Is this that Pepedonchino thing you were talking about?
Carmen: That’s right. You know how noodles are all the craze in New Sieg right now? I have a feeling this will be a big hit… We’ll need to make a big splash!
Alex: Miss Carmen? That’s all good and all, but don’t do anything crazy, okay?
Carmen: No way, Alex… I’m the owner of this place! The manager! When do I ever do anything reckless?
Alex: Almost every day… Pepe always has to do something about it.
Carmen: W-well… that’s… sometimes it happens. I know! I should give Pepe a bonus.
Alex: You have to be careful how you make your money. If you have any worries, why not talk to Mister Limbo? He’s a lawyer, after all.
Carmen: If I’m going to give Pepe a bonus, I’ll need to give one to everyone else too… Let’s see… what else…
Alex: Miss Carmen? Are you listening?
Carmen: Y-yes! Yes I am!
Alex: Are you really?
Carmen: I-I am! Really! Ah, that’s right, I better hurry and prepare the food! Busy, busy busy~
Alex: Haah… even though you hardly ever cook anyway…
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Bustafellows - Short Audio Drama: One Day In New Sieg (1-3)
Yes, these are the ones in the game’s gallery that never got subbed. I got tired of holding out for a translation so here’s my amateur one that probably has mistakes. No major spoilers.
Part 2 for Cases 4-6
**Please don’t move this translation or claim it as your own.***
Case 1
Limbo: First, to discredit those specialist witnesses… we find out the past of the forensic scientist in charge…
Valerie: Hello, brother mine! How are we? Your kind and beautiful si--
Limbo: Must’ve dialed the wrong number. And then… I also have to pay that witness to…
Valerie: Hey. Did you just hang up on me?
Limbo: …Did my number get leaked? Man, misdials are so annoying--
Valerie: Who’s annoying, you brat?!
Limbo: V-Valerie?!
Valerie: You hung up on me because you knew it was me, didn’t you?!
Limbo: N-No, I’ve just been busy with work, I can’t even think straight.
Valerie: That’s not a good enough reason for you to ignore my calls!
Limbo: Alright, alright! I’m sorry. What did you need?
Valerie: Hm? What was it again…
Limbo: And then she goes and forgets…
Valerie: That’s because you talked too much. Well? How have things been lately?
Limbo: Normal. Work’s been busy.
Valerie: Your big sister has taken time out of her busy schedule to come see you. Shouldn’t you have something more to say?
Limbo: You didn’t have to come if you were busy…
Valerie: What?
Limbo: I-I said I was sorry!
Valerie: Oh, I remember now! I wanted to ask you for a favor. Carm’s been caught up in some weird investment scheme again. It looks like she’s lost a lot of money.
Limbo: Why hasn’t she learnt yet… Isn’t she a manager?
Valerie: Anyway, I need to go help Carm, okay? Get all her money back. Free of charge, of course. Thanks~
Limbo: W-wait a second! I never said I was doing it!
Valerie: Hm?! You think you have the option of saying no? Look me in the eye. Well? Do you have a choice?
Limbo: …No…
Valerie: Perfect. That’s my cute little brother for you! See you later then, bye~
Limbo: Ugh…
Case 2
Luka: Well? Any reason why you were there?
Shu: I invoke my right to remain silent.
Luka: You know something, don’t you? Hm?
Shu: I invoke my right to remain silent.
Luka: Ugh… fine. I’ll cut you a deal. Who’s your client?
Shu: I invoke…… oh, you wanna keep going on with this conversation? Is Limbo not here yet?
Luka: You’ve been working with Limbo for a while, yeah? I know you’ve been his investigator. And that you’ve been clever enough to evade the law.
Shu: So you’re all caught up then. I didn’t break any laws. I was just doing some research and I happened to be at the crime scene.
Luka: …Do you have any idea how many times you’ve ‘happened to be’ at crime scenes?
Shu: Eh, I don’t really keep count. …Still no lawyer?
Luka: Hey, c’mon! Just help me out here, okay? You’ve got plenty of info, don’t you? Right?
Shu: Who knows? Hey, can I smoke now?
Luka: Of course you can’t. You gotta take it to the smoking area.
Shu: You’re the one who told me not to leave the interrogation room.
Luka: Fine, fine. Okay, here’s what I’ll do. You give me the information about this drug dealer, and I’ll take you out for a smoke.
Shu: Nah.
Luka: Oh, come on! It’s your civic duty to cooperate with this investigation, you know!
Shu: But I’m not even registered in this city.
Luka: Where do you live then?
Shu: Dunno, somewhere?
Luka: What the hell…
Case 3
Helvetica: Hmm… I see…
Sauli: Helvetica? Did you keep you waiting long?
Helvetica: Ah, not really. I didn’t wait that long.
Sauli: …Were you giving scores to women again?
Helvetica: The way you word it makes it sound like I’m assigning a value to them.
Sauli: Am I wrong?
Helvetica: I’m only figuring out how to make men and women look their best and give them an opportunity to do so. Too many people don’t take advantage of the fact that 90% of their first impression is based on their appearance.
Sauli: Your way of thinking hasn’t changed, huh.
Helvetica: People don’t choose to be born. But you can choose how you live. From the outside and the inside. You taught me that, didn’t you, sir?
Sauli: Did I…
Helvetica: Oh, that’s right. What did you want to see me for?
Sauli: Ah, yes. Before I forget…
Helvetica: What is it?
Sauli: There’s a criminal psychology conference at St. Louis. I thought you might want to go. The speakers are quite interesting--
Helvetica: I’m not very interested.
Sauli: Why not?
Helvetica: Haven’t I told you that I’m not interested in psychology before?
Sauli: But this is criminal psychology. What kind of psychology makes people commit crimes…
Helvetica: A person can be changed by the most minute factors. Studying these kinds of uncertainties doesn’t suit me.
Sauli: That’s true, you were never good at this particular field.
Helvetica: I don’t dislike it because I’m not good at it--
Sauli: Have you forgotten your grades from medical school?
Helvetica: It’s just not my specialty, that’s all. Is that all you needed to talk to me about?
Sauli: Oh, one more thing. I got a request for an interview from a reporter from New Sieg Today. I wanted to ask if you knew her… what was her name? I think it was a young woman…
Short story from Bustafellows Stellaworth Tokuten Booklet. No major spoilers.
**Please don’t move this translation or claim it as your own.***
[Thawing]
I opened the door to a weak knock late one evening and found Teuta standing there
‘What’s wrong? It’s so late.’
She quietly entered my room and sat down on the bed. When I followed suit, she gently leaned on me. I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug, I could tell that she wasn’t here ‘looking’ for me. Something had happened for sure.
There are times she wants to be touched, and times she doesn’t. Times where she wants to talk, and times she doesn’t. Even if she doesn’t put it in words or show it on her face, I know her well enough.
‘…What’s up?’
Teuta hugged her knees in silence. I moved back a little and held her from behind as she curled up into a small ball. Holding her in my arms as if she were a child, she rubbed her cheek against me.
‘I had a nightmare.’
‘A nightmare?’
‘Yeah, I have them sometimes…’
As I remained silent, she continued.
‘I dream from way back… about that day. It was night, and I saw blue and red lights on the ceiling. Some police cars were parked outside, and I realized it was their flashing lights…’
‘Mm.’
It was something I could easily imagine. For Teuta, her brother’s death will always be a scar that will never go away. A wound that I could never heal. That was how deeply she loved him. All I could do was hold her as she hurt and watch over her.
‘I still remember what happened. I was so scared I peeked out from the top of the stairs to see the front door. Mom and Dad were talking to the police. Mom started crying, and Dad hugged her.’
‘Mhm…’
“So yeah, that’s the dream I have sometimes…’
I tilted my head a little and looked at her, and how her tears rolled down her face. I held her as tightly as I could— there wasn’t anything I could say to her. Nothing to comfort or heal her with. I knew it, and I was annoyed at myself.
‘...What would you have normally done?’
‘Normally?’
‘What did you do when I wasn’t around?’
‘...Nothing. I’d do nothing. I’d just try not to think about anything, and wait for time to pass. Make my body as small as possible to make it feel like I wasn’t there.’
I imagined what that would look like. I imagined her, making herself as small as possible, just waiting for time to pass. I felt my heart tighten at the thought of her enduring it all alone.
‘’....I’m sorry.’
‘Huh? For what?’
‘I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you then.’
‘You don’t have to apologize…’
‘Just let me.’
I rubbed my cheek against hers, and she gently snuggled up to me. As we held our heads close, I felt her soft hair brush against me.
‘Can I tell you something about myself?’
‘Mhm.’
At my reply, she slipped out of my arms and sat to face me.
‘Did I tell you about the time I had a dog?’
‘Mhm.’
‘You may think he was just a pet, but we were together for almost 20 years. He was like a brother to me. That’s why… it was really hard when he was gone. Sometimes I would think about him, and whenever I did, I did the same thing you did.’
‘The same thing I did?’
‘I’d close my eyes, and imagine a land of ice. Nothing around you, not even the sound of the wind. Just a cold and lonely world. I imagine myself sitting there, hugging my knees, just like you. I keep my body as small as I can and wait for it to go away. My body starts to freeze, but I don’t even feel it anymore. My eyelids freeze shut, to the point where I can’t see anything… and then you can finally put a lid on your feelings of loneliness and helplessness. That’s what I did.’
‘Just… like me…’
She grabbed my hand and pulled it to her cheek. I could feel her soft, warm skin on the back of my hand.
‘But you know, it’s different now. I still think about that stuff every now and then, but now I can hear your voice too… in that land of ice.’
‘My voice?’
‘Yeah, your voice. I don’t feel lonely anymore because… I can hear you call out for me.’
As I spoke, I suddenly felt like I was going to burst into tears. Not out of sadness, but out of joy. I felt a twinge of pain in the back of my nose.
‘That’s also just like me.’
‘...You have a pretty loud voice, after all.’
‘Oh, come on, you don’t have to put it like that.’
As she pouted at me, I pulled her into an embrace, and her face broke into a smile. I fell onto the bed with her in my arms.
‘Limbo?’
‘Hey, you should sleep here tonight.’
‘Huh?’
‘I promise I won't do anything. Not tonight.’
‘W-wait a second—‘
I grabbed her hand when she tried to get up, gently pressing my body to hers.
‘I’ll hold your hand… like this. Until you fall asleep… or until you wake up.’
‘......Alright. Thank you. Then…’
She intertwined her other hand with mine.
‘...I’ll hold your hand like this too. Until you wake up.’
I brought myself close to her and pressed our foreheads together. I could feel her body heat, her breath, and her heartbeat. She gently closed her eyes, and when I saw her relief, every part of me felt so complete. When I’m so close to her that I can feel her warmth, I often feel the urge to hold her even closer. It’s true that that would make me feel complete too. But seeing her sleeping face like this made me feel an incomparable feeling of happiness. Like everything made sense.
I gently brushed my fingers through her hair. What if you hadn’t approached me that day? What if I hadn’t given you my card and just walked by? What if there was a future where you were with someone else? …When I thought about that, I felt my heart grow restless. I want to be there for you when you feel lonely and helpless, when you shrink into yourself and wait for it to go away. I want to be there for you. Just me. Only me.
As I listened to her quiet breathing, my eyelids gradually felt heavier and heavier, as if, little by little, the border between dreams and reality began to blur. Gazing at her peaceful face, slowly, slowly, I fall asleep.
I only have one wish; for you to feel the same way as I do.
