This Love Triangle Romantic Comedy has a Duty To be Happy by Yatsu Taa Original Japanese Title: kono sankaku kankei rabukome ha shiawase ni naru gimu ga aru TL by boke ### TL notes indicated by hash tags like this: ### ### Page numbers indicated by —XX for example, page one is: —01 ### Panel numbers indicated by -X for example, panel one is: -1 ### sfx- means the following is a sound effect. ### hw- means the following is handwritten text. ### Unless otherwise noted, panel and text balloon flow is from upper right to lower left. ### This TL indexes on file number in case the page numbers don’t match. ### Sometimes my comments are snark or color, so feel free to ignore those. —01 -1 This Love Triangle Romantic Comedy has a Duty To be Happy [Art] Yatsu Taa [Story] Haruna Chihiro [Character Design] Tatsubuta —02 —1 Yatsu Taa ### there are several ways to romanize Japanese. The author uses Yatu, but standard romanization practice is to use Hepburn which would be Yatsu. It’s my first serialization. It my first comic adaptation. And my first manga… Even after becoming an adult, there are all sort of first experiences, so every day is pun! ###this is my attempt at translating a untranslatable pun —03 -1 Tenma-kun, have some! -2 What’s with this? —05 This Love Triangle Romantic Comedy has a Duty To be Happy [Art] Yatsu Taa [Story] Haruna Chihiro [Character Design] Tatsubuta —06 -1 Contents Chapter 1 The Forbidden Journal Chapter 2 The Various Circumstances of Their Love Chapter 3 Fine Play Chapter 4 Gap Moe Chapter 5 The Love Confession Big Plan Chapter 6 The Results of the Big Plan Afterword Extra —07 -1 April. Not only the season of dancing cherry blossoms but beginnings and endings. -2 However… -3 sfx- Tap Tap sfx- Yaawn -4 For me it is just a depressing word signifying the start of a new semester. sfx- Glance Yashiro Tenma —08 -1 ‘Sup, Yashiro-kun. Hayami Souda -2 Dude! We totally scored! sfx- Clamor Clamor Clamor Scored? It’s pretty much the same faces as when we were in year one… -3 Oh, come on! -5 sfx- Huuuh? I can’t believe you. Are you even a guy? sfx- What? -6 Look, speak of the devil… -7 Hwah? —09 -1 Whoooaah! -2 Beam -3 sfx- Oh yus… And she is the one of the reasons class five is the place to be! —10 -1 Hayami-kun! Mornin’, Tsubaki-san. -2 A social beast sfx- Spaced out sfx- Kya Kya -3 Such a delicate face… and so fair… hw- Thanks for helping out with the student council this year too! -5 sfx- Th-thump Hayami-kun, is this your friend? Hnngh?! —11 -1 I’m Yashiro… Yashiro Tenma. Nice to meet you. -2 Nice to meet you too! I”m Tsubaki Reira. Tsubaki Reira -3 Y-yeah, nice to meet you! -4 That’s weird. Normally you don’t seem to have much interest in girls. -5 Can you not insinuate that I’m infatuated or something? hw- Sorry, my bad -6 sfx- Sliiide —12 -2 sfx- Blush Rinka-chan! —13 -1 Is she a model or something? Aaaand there’s reason number two! -2 Rinka-chan! Good morning! -3 sfx- Bump We did it! Same class again this year! Totes. Makes me happy too. -4 Neeheehee —14 -1 Hmm? Is it my imagination, or… Is she headed my way? sfx- Whish -2 Hey! You! -3 Flinch -4 What are you all staring for? You got business with me?! —15 -1 N-no… Sumeragi Rinka If not, then how ‘bout you just stare out the window? Hyess… -2 She’s another reason? You have to be shitting me. ###bold and italicize “she’s” Ahaha Well, just take a look around. -3 Rinka-sama! Soo cool! Why wasn’t it me?! sfx- Grit -4 Just what the hell’s going on here? So yes! She’s scary as hell. —16 -1 But! That’s what makes her cool! sfx- Bam -2 Settle down. Don’t get so worked up. We’re all friends in our new class starting today. Naw, I think you don’t get worked up enough. According to Souta, they’ve been old friends for ten years. —17 -1 Pretty and charming, a lovely flower that attracts all the butterflies. Rinka-chaan! You’re always so fired up, Reira. -2 sfx- Tsun hw- Rumor has it she plays guitar and sings in a band Totally rocking a punk image, she’s got legions of crazed fans. What you’d call a yankee. -3 With both of them in class five, we’ve got both the sugar and the spice. I’d be fine with just the sugar, tho… -4 But, it wasn’t like I was going to get either, and new semester got off to a normal start. —18 -1 What elective did you take? Modern lit. It’s in the 3rd year’s classrooms, so it’s far. sfx- Chatter Chatter Chatter -2 What’s this…? -3 Whoever sat in my desk the period before must have forgotten this. -4 If their name’s in it, I can return it. -5 sfx- Flip Who was Machiavelli again? -6 Huh? -7 It’s a yuri novel! They just swapped the cover! —19 -1 What’s wrong? -2 Wha? sfx- Whud -3 What are you hiding? -4 Nothing! Nooothing! -5 Oh, right… Souta, you have class in this room, right? Yup. I’m in a different seat, though. So I got it east. Why? Who normally sits in my seat? -6 Oh, that usually is… —20 -1 Her, I think. -2 Sumeragi… Rinka! -3 How ‘bout I ask her directly?! sfx- Whish -4 No no no! Don’t bother! It’s not a big deal! -5 Nnn… -6 I don’t have any intention of harshing on what she likes… but I sure as hell can image that… —21 -1 sfx- Yo! Hey, is this yours? -2 You think I’d read something like that?! You tryin’ to make a fool outta me?! hw- I’m shooo shooorry! It would go down like this! -3 You ok? -4 It’d be dangerous to get any kind of reaction out of her, so I’ll just check things out first. That’s right, I’m scared! What of it? -5 Siiigh This is a pain in the butt… ###not yet, it’s not BL… Well, whoever it is, I hope they come to get it soon. —22 -1 After school. sfx- Shoomph -2 Silence Huff Huff Hnyaaah sfx- Shake Shake Shake -3 Where is it? -4 Lost something? Well, you’ve got your wallet at least. Want me to help look? Reira! —23 -1 N-n-n-noo! You think I lost something? As if! I’m fine! Just drop it! -2 Are you sure? sfx- Wha-dump -3 Rinka-chan? -4 Yeah, it’s gotta be yours. And she’s totally freaking out about it. —24 -1 I’m not gonna say anything, so hurry up and notice that you sat in my desk last! sfx- Flop Hurry up and come over! So I can… -2 Hey after ethics class, did I leave something in your desk? And then I would say… Ah, yes there was. Is this yours? and that would be that, right? sfx- C’mon! —25 -2 Hah?! No! Not that way! It’s not in lost and found! sfx- Wipe sfx- Whoosh -4 I wonder what’s going on? -5 Yeah, she’s totally sugar. So nice… —26 -1 Siiigh -2 No one’s around, right? Why am I even doing this…? -3 But really? Her? A yuri novel? -4 Sigh, Just forget it. I absolutely want nothing to do with someone like that. -5 I’ll just put it back. sfx- Shwip —27 -1 Hm? -2 There was paper slipped inside. -3 That was close. Hm, what’s this? —28 -1 Tsubaki Raira, My beloved, Diary #392 The XX day of XX. This morning Raira had a different scent. “I changed my shampoo!” She seemed really happy about it, but I had noticed before she said anything. Because I’m always listening I don’t want to let a single word she says slip away. The XX day of XX. Raira gave me some essential oil. It’s lavender. “I love this. I put a drop in my a bath. Ehehe…” We’ll be doing the same marriage sexual she’ll certainly love me If not, then she’s tempting me I can’t imagine it, right? so please say that Th-this is…! —29 -1 that’s different (I need to keep it calm here). I mean, she’s just so sweet to everyone. But I’m the one who knows that the best. She never hurts anyone, and loves everyone without question in a pure way. Sometimes I’m bad, and my heart wants that all to myself. I hate how shallow I am. If possible, I want to hold her body in my arms soon, and plant a kiss on the the nape of her neck as a symbol of making her my own. —30 -1 Shove -2 Slam -3 Sliiide -4 Don’t let this be the thing That blows my life -5 Inside out! hw- Hurry up and forget what you saw! —32 -1 Actually, I also… Yashiro-kun observation diary hw- That night’s dream -2 Hnngh —33 -1 Chapter 2 The Various Circumstances of Their Love —34 -1 Yo! I’m Yashiro Tenma, 2nd year high schooler! Rinka-chaan! Let’s eat lunch together! -2 I’ve got something to do today. Both of the most popular students are in my class. sfx- Glance Glance -3 But that has nothing to do with me! After all, I’m a mob! I normie! You’re Yashiro Tenma, right? Yeah? -4 I need to talk to you. Why don’t you come with me. sfx- Murmur Murmur —35 -1 Media Room In here. Hey! Wait a…! sfx- Click -2 It should have nothing to do with me, but…! What the heck do you want?! sfx- Lemme out! -3 sfx- Whiiish Yaaaah! -4 Don’t hit my face! —36 -2 You found this and put it in my desk, right? And it would have nothing to do with me if I hadn’t found her yuri novel! -3 Sigh. I was fucking careless. I ended up leaving this in some sweaty virgin’s desk. You thought I wouldn’t catch on? Your trembling gave you away. -4 Whaa? So it wasn’t Machiavelli after all? -5 sfx- Graaa! Don’t you fuck with me! Sorry! —37 -1 The reason you didn’t come to me directly, is because you have some ulterior motive. I’m right, yeah? -2 Hah? -3 Gah, that’s right! I totally thought this was going to be a giant pain! sfx- So there! -4 Listen, we’re just classmates. We’re not even friends! I don’t give a shit about your interests! -5 So rest easy, I won’t say anything to anyone. I promise! Oh? That’s good. -5 Ok, I’m outta here. -6 Let me just ask one thing… —38 -1 Was there something stuck in that book? -2 Something… stuck in there…? I didn’t see anything. -3 Just chill. Don’t leave a weird pause. You don’t know anything about the diary. -4 Why are you lying? —39 -1 Why are you lying? -2 The was a loose page in there. sfx- Shake Shake -3 I’m sure it was in there. Right? -4 So why? -5 Why are you lying? -6 I’m sorry. -7 It’s not like I wanted to see it. —40 -1 Wha? -2 sfx- Drip Drip I’m sorry mother… Reira… -3 I’m going to be a bad girl for a moment… -4 Ok! Start wherever! Come and get it! —41 -1 Boom -4 I see… sfx- Shhhff -5 So I have to go to you? Hey! sfx- Snap Snap —42 -1 Wait wait wait! Are you really gonna strip down?! sfx- Hey! -2 You’re going to force me to do what you want, right?! What the hell? -4 sfx- Ziiip sfx- Gah! Will you please just stop! —43 -3 Shwip -4 Whud —45 -1 Oww… Sorry… are you ok? -2 Can you not assume I’m here to assault you? -3 Can you stop counting the cracks in the ceiling?! -4 Mama! You’re faking! —45 -1 It’s not like I’m afraid! I get it. Stop shedding feathers. -2 Even if my body is defiled, my heart is only for Raira… Seriously, can you chill the fuck out? -4 It’s not like you even know what I’m going through! sfx- Smack —46 -1 Why is it so bad that I fell in love with Raira?! sfx- Waaah -2 Stab Stab -3 Listen… -4 I’m not weirded out. You haven’t don’t anything wrong. I’m sorry I ended up seeing your diary. Really. I’m sorry. —47 -1 If it’ll make you happy, look, I’ll do anything. Just stop crying. -2 Shoof -3 I see. —48 -1 The put the broken pieces of my heart back together! Look, I said I’m sorry! —49 -1 Siiigh -2 I’m beat. sfx- Plod Plod -3 And I didn’t get to eat lunch… sfx- Gruuumble -4 And so, after that…. Um… —50 -1 You alive? Can I go? -2 And you’ve totally been flashing your panties all this time. sfx- Snap -3 Sigh. What? -4 I can’t believe some normie like you finds out my deepest secret. Do you know how bitchy you sound? -5 Wait… times like this you gotta think positive. sfx- Snap What are you getting all excited about? —51 -2 I’m saying it’s good you were the one to find out. -3 You won’t say anything, right? Nothing about me, right? -4 Yeah… —52 -1 Ok! So no problem! You sure change in a heartbeat! -2 I never would have thought that someone born with all those advantages would ever have love troubles. -3 But look… -4 She hasn’t rejected you at all. -5 What? Ah, you mean Reira? —53 -1 That’s right. I love her so, so much that my head just about pops. -2 Wait a minute… She’s actually kind sweet. -3 But if anyone were to make her sad, I’d never forgive them. And in the one in a million chance she gets hurt, I’d kill them and sink the body in Tokyo bay. Hey, you sure went there fast. I take back what I just said. —54 -1 Sorry. You must have experienced what it’s like to go crazy in love, right? -2 Nope. -3 Wha? You lying to me again?! Everyone’s got somebody they like! Tell me! Look, I’m telling you, I don’t. Really. -4 Oh, I’m so sorry. Can you stop with the pity? —55 -1 Ok, I’m going now. sfx- Nab -2 Hey Just because no one’s loved you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love someone. -3 Twitch That was the last thing she said to me. But she was just trying to mess with me. —56 -1 What an arrogant bitch. -2 Hey, that last quiz totally sucked. sfx- Thwap -3 I know that’s never going to happen to me. That’s why I never hope for it to begin with. -4 And it’s not like you know what I’m feeling either. I mean, I really… —57 -2 Tsubaki-san….? —59 -1 That’s… Tsubaki-san? Chapter 3 Fine Play —60 -1 Where do you live? Come hang out with us? What’s your Line ID? -2 Sorry, I’m running errands for my club, so… -3 sfx- Shudder They’re hitting on her —61 -1 Ok, so how about after that? -2 That must be heavy, I’ll carry it for you. -3 Hey, I’ll call us an Uber -4 But dude, you’ve got such pretty blonde hair! Are you mixed? Where were you born? Like, you some English beauty? -5 Whoa Gulp sfx- Gyahaha —62 -1 Hey, sorry to but in… —63 -1 You seem to be making her uncomfortable. sfx- Shiver Shiver Shiver -2 Hwa? -4 I get it, Tsubaki-san. Having someone like me show up must make you uncomfortable. Yashiro-kun… What? You her boyfriend or something? No… —64 -1 So? What? sfx- Pissed It’s just… -2 Well… sfx- Ahahah -3 Hahahaha sfx- Kaw Kaw Kaw —65 -1 Psht. Sorry we got interrupted. Let’s go somewhere else. -2 Stop it! sfx- Grab -3 Sorry, but normally, I would have totally pretended not to see this, even if it was Tsubaki-san. —66 -1 But now, I gotta. You guys know what you’re getting into? -2 You know what happens if you touch her? sfx- Shudder -3 You went and did it. -4 Of course. I told you that I’d kill anyone who hurt her. —67 -1 But you know I’m not even done. You know that, right? -2 W-wait, please… -3 Anyone who hurts her… and anyone who failed to protect her… -4 Is gonna get killed! —68 -1 Tokyo bay’s cold in April! You gotta believe she’s serious! -3 Let’s split. Yeah. This dude’s nuts… —69 -2 Whew -3 Yussss! I’m still alive! -4 Yashiro-kun… sxf- Jolt —70 -1 Y-yes? -2 Huh? -3 Tsubaki-san is… —71 -1 sfx- Stare Looking at me…? —72 -2 Za-ping! -3 Is she ok? -4 That must have been awful. sfx- Haaah -5 T-ta… —73 -1 sfx- Whoosh Take care going home! -2 She must totally think I’m a weirdo! -3 Huff Huff -4 Huff Haa… -5 But I have no regrets. I mean… -6 Those three punks… And me! And Sumeragi! I save all of our lives! —74 -1 The next day. Whoa. You look tired. You always are in energy conservation mode, so should have more stamina. -2 You, uh… are observant, huh? -3 Wow, so stiff! sfx- Rub Rub sfx- Aaaah -4 I know you’re tired, but can I ask one thing? -5 Sure! Shoot, my best bud! —75 -1 Just why is Tsubaki-san smiling and waving at you? Uh, she’s waving at you, dude. Nope, it’s all you. -2 Good morning, Yashiro-kun! sfx- Gettin’ Close! Y-yes! -3 Um… That thing yesterday was kinda intense. Uh… hw- Yesterday? hw- I can’t believe she had to see me like that -4 I can’t thank you enough. —76 -1 And… um… -2 You were so cool, Yashiro-kun! hw- Hwah? -3 And you’re soo nice! -4 sfx- Blush You suddenly popped up and saved me, then just went off and disappeared! It’s nothing you need to thank me over. —77 -1 I want to get to know you better! Would that be okay? W-what’s with this? Stop it already! -2 sfx- Th’ Hell? If you do this to me, then… -3 I’ll gonna fall for you! sfx- Thunk —78 -2 Haaaa Heeeee Haaaah -3 Sfx- Shake Shake Shake -4 Glare —80 -1 hw- Seo-kun That was so scary! Defining trait: timid —82 -1 The bell’s rung. -2 Get to your seats before I smack you upside the head. sfx- Chatter Chatter -3 Ok, so the first topic for our oh so fun homeroom is… Year —83 -1 This. School Year Student Representative -2 Whoever’s interested, raise your hand. -3 What? sfx- Silence -4 What up? Why don’t you want to do it? Being class president? You’ll be leader of this mob. Getting all sorts of tasks dumped on you? It’s like winning the bad luck lottery. So no surprise about the reaction she’s getting. -5 Um, Aizawa-sensei? —84 -1 Um… If no one else wants to do it, I’ll volunteer. -2 You’ve got aspirations, Tsubaki. I wouldn’t have expected it. Of course, it’s not like she want to run the class with an iron fist… -3 It’s that she’s sweet and self sacrificing. It’s more that she’s a saint. —85 -1 School Year Student Representative Class Representative Tsubaki Ok, so then Tsubaki is Class Rep. -2 Then I’d like a boy for Assistant Class Rep. -2 I’ll do it! I’m down with that! That’d be me! -4 Oooohyaah! Come on, bring it! ### I like this teacher’s energy sfx- Grr Whap Nyar sfx- Whatevs —86 -1 Um, if I can put in my two cents… I would really like… sfx- Fwip -2 For Yashiro-kun to be Assistant Class Representative. I would really like Yashiro-kun to be… —87 -1 Tsubaki has one vote. How about it, Yashiro? Ah, Tsubaki-san is smiling and looking at me… -2 But that’s not the only thing here… Uh… well, if you ask me, that’s… -3 No fucking way! Tsubaki-san’s esteem - UP Normal life sfx- Whang I just wanna live out my normie life! -4 sfx- Ok, ok Then I’ll add my vote for Yashiro-kun sfx- Spt -5 Mwah -6 Two votes seals it! Yashiro it is. —88 -1 What about my right of refusal? hw- I’m busy, so… Ok, for the rest of it, you two decide. sfx- Yes, ma’am! hw- I need a smoke! Sensei! hw- I need my nicotine! -2 Yashiro-kun! -3 M-my body just won’t move. Yashiro-kuun! -4 I wanna run like hell. sfx- Yashiro-kuun -5 Yoink —89 -1 Sorry, Reira… He really seems like he feels like crap. -2 So it doesn’t look like he’ll be able to help you. -3 Huh? -4 I knew it… —90 -1 That’s awful! Someone needs to take him to the nurse’s office! Sumeragi-san, you don’t have to do that! It’s totally fine. I’ll take you there. I’ll go with you. It’s Yashiro we’re talking about, so he’ll be fine. -2 We may be a while, so don’t worry about us! Thanks for helping! I may never see you again! Goodbye, Tsubaki-san! Goodbye, everyone! sfx- Whoosh —91 -1 Just If you need the nurse, please go to teacher’s room. -2 What In -3 The Hell Was -4 That, Yashiro?! -92 -1 Ow, Get off, that place really hurts! sfx- Shove Shove -2 I’ll make it so you’ll never ejaculate again! What did you do to Reiraaa?! Just stop it! I didn’t do anything weird at all! Stuff just happened! -3 I’m telling you that you damn well spill the beans! I know! I get it! I’ll explain! —93 -1 Make it fast. I’m known for having a short temper. sfx- Creak sfx- Smush -2 Not this… -3 Come on, don’t make things worse for me! hw- You called? sfx- Aaugh -4 Tsubaki-san got hit on by weird dudes yesterday and was in trouble! —94 -1 No fucking way. You’re telling me you got rid of them? ###bold and italicize “you” You’re complaining now? -2 So that’s what it was. Ah, yeah. -3 I don’t have anything more to say. -4 So say something already! —95 -1 Thank you. —96 -1 Thank you for protecting Reira. -2 Oh, you’re so fucking unfair. sfx- Th-thump -3 She’ll thank you if she’s moved. If she thinks she’s done bad by you, she’ll apologize. It’s just normal stuff, but when she does it, it’ll get anyone, regardless of gender, worked up. -4 Is this what they call gap moe? But, more importantly… —97 -1 Doesn’t Tsubaki-san seem overly prone to falling in love? Ah, I’ve driven away all the creeps that come on to her, so she’s got no resistance. -4 You get it right? For whatever reason, she sure attracts the scumbags. -5 Ah-choo! -6 Ah. Got it. —98 -1 That first day in class, she was trying to protect Tsubaki-san. -2 But, that means… -3 Don’t you think you’re being over protective? Is it really for Tsubaki-san’s benefit? —99 -1 I know. -2 I know I’m weird. -3 I know this day was bound to come. This day? -4 That she would start being interested in someone besides me. That she’d go on and leave me behind. —100 -1 I mean, I’m not even on the starting line with others. -2 Sigh… I can’t give her a smile and hang out with her normally. -3 Yup Tsun -4 If you have any kind of self awareness, wake the hell up! -5 Can’t you at least be a little more friendly with her? sfx- Heh —101 -1 That would totally thrash my image now, wouldn’t it? sfx- Ohohoho It’d be weird, right? If I were to suddenly change my character all the sudden. -2 It’s a little disappointing you give a shit that much about your character. You do you, I’ll do me. It’s not like you have any pride to fight for in any case. hw- You have a point there… -3 You’re a total pain. Doesn’t your frustration boil over like that? Look, you… —102 -1 Don’t give me lip. -2 Aaand she’s back. -3 Sliiide Oh? Is someone there? Sorry I wasn’t here! —103 -1 Huh? -2 S… -3 Sorry to have interrupted you! sfx- Yaargh -4 Hey! Wait! It’s not like that! -5 sfx- Slam Senseiiii! —104 -2 Could school get any more exhausting? -3 I managed to square things with Sensei. -4 But everyone’s staring at me in class now. Souta-kuuun… -5 Tomorrow’s Saturday. Nothing bad’s going to happen. Give it the weekend. Everyone will forget and I can get back to my normal life. It’ll all be ok… —105 -1 Huff -2 Nyeheheh Snort -3 Scribble Scribble -4 Ohhhhh… Reira was soo cute today! Especially at 5th period PE! She turned and smiled at me -5 Doesn’t your frustration boil over like that? -6 Pause —106 -2 He’s right. It’s been that way from the start. Keeping it all inside has been bad for me. I’ve been pushing it down and it’s made me a bitch. -3 So I need to make use of this. —107 -1 And… -2 I need someone to help me. sfx- Snork —109 -1 Chapter 5 The Love Confession Big Plan sfx- Chirp Cheep What a beautiful morning. And no school today, either. —110 -3 Ok, first thing is laundry, then breakfast. -4 What’s in the fridge? Hmm… sfx- Huuulp… Hullk… Bleeech… -5 Pant Pant —111 -1 The eggs are about to expire, so… Heeey! -2 You’re blowing me off, Tenma! -3 I’ve seen you do this over twenty times now. -4 C’mon! Be a little more shocked! At least give me mouth to mouth! -5 I was shocked the first time! I called the ambulance, remember? —112 -1 Whyyyy?! Why won’t anyone take me home for the night?! Yashiro Nagisa So you didn’t hook up with anyone at the drinking party, and then drowned your sorrows in booze all night long. This is my older sister. The shocking thing is that we’re related. -2 I mean, I’m pretty damn easy, right? -3 Look, can you put on some clothes? This is a public space. It’s all good. No one’s here. -4 My dad went to the US for work about a month ago. —113 -1 Dad will be too lonely all by himself, so I’m going too. -2 You have your big sister, so you’ll be ok, Tenma! -3 sfx- Dooom hw- See ya! -4 Tenma, big sis is hungry… Like I care! —114 -1 sfx- Ding Dong Sis, can you get that? -2 Yes? -3 Who is it? Ka-chak -4 Huh? —115 -2 Uh, this isn’t Shibuya. ###Shibuya is a trendy area of Tokyo Sorry, what do mean by that? -3 And you look great too! Can you not stare! sfx- Blush sfx- Snort —116 -1 How do you know where I live anyway?! hw- Have a nice day off! I asked your friend. The one who’s always smiling. Souta! -2 I’ll listen to whatever you want on Monday, so can you leave? Unlike you, I live a real life and am busy. sfx- Ka-chak -3 Hey! What are you doing, onee-san? What’s up, Tenma? -5 Huh? Shibuya? Well, you can tell we’re related. —117 -1 Nice to meet you. I’m Sumekugi Rinka. Tenma’s always helping me out at school. This isn’t much, but please accept it. -3 hw- Just who are you? How polite. -4 Nab -6 Just when did you start dating such a smoking hot girlfriend? We’re not dating! I didn’t ask for this, she just came over! So there’s a possibility, right? Go for it! sfx- Kya Kya Kya —118 -2 Your room’s cleaner that I would have thought. Can it. -3 Let her in! Gotta be polite! Can you shut up?! She started this, but having the both of us in my room? Really? -4 So? What’s on your mind? hw- Have some I’m confessing. -5 I’m confessing to Reira. —119 -1 I see. -2 That’s great, right? -3 Beam -4 Honestly, I’m surprised at how fast she came to this conclusion. Thanks to what you said, I decide to make a move. And with that, our freaky relationship will now come to an end. —120 -1 I’ve thought up a plan. Now I can return to my life. -2 And your role too. My role? -3 Yeah. What I need to you to at first… Wait! Just wait a sec! -4 Why are you assuming I’d help you? Why? You said you’d do anything, right? Hnnnng -5 We bound together by destiny! It’s not like it’s my destiny! -6 Okay, let’s get down to business. —121 -1 My Plan! hw- My creation! My Big Plan to Confess to Tsubaki Reika Wow. Clever. -2 So confessing out of the blue may be weird… So it’d be best for me to work my way into that “more than friends” state. That’s the hard part, right? -3 And that’s where you come in. sfx- Twitch I need to your help Reira focus her attention on me. -4 And do it in away that totally doesn’t destroy my image and is completely natural too! If I could do things that smoothly, I wouldn’t have to worry about getting a girlfriend or nailing employment interviews. My future would be assured! sfx- Ahahaha —122 -1 sfx- Yep Yep Your plan’s BS, I’m telling you. -2 Look, Reika’s into you way more than normal, so it’ll work. I hate to admit it, though. -3 Grr Well, I guess I can hear you out. -4 So this is the plan. sfx- Fwip —123 -1 It’s just a matter of time before Reira invites you to have lunch with her. When that happens, you invite me. hw- Let’s eat together hw- I guess I have to That way I get dragged in without having to destroy my character. -2 Is it really ok for the three of use to have lunch together, Sumeragi-san? sfx- Kya sfx- Whoa sfx- Kiss No that’s not good at all, so part way through, you complain that your stomach hurts and leave us. -3 But, uh, isn’t your drawing of me a little too basic? hw- See ya hw- My tummy hurts -4 sfx- Rinka-chan sfx- Say aah sfx- Oh, you. And then we’ll be alone, right? Super simple. —124 -1 sfx- Drool sfx- Ehehe Ehehe If we keep repeating this, then Reira will definitely be mine… -2 Y’know, maybe she knows even less about love than me. -3 No, that’s not it. She’s so different from me. -4 To not cheer her love on when she’s totally this leading character type? That’s just… -5 Sigh. Got it. —125 -1 I’ll take you where ever you want to go. …I don’t want to see that even in my dreams. -2 You sure changed your tune fast. -3 hw- But sorry to drag you into this Is it because you fell for me? -4 Don’t worry, I go for more mature and lady like women. sfx- Twitch Twitch —126 -1 Well, good. I’m glad things are decided. Hey! My phone! -2 Here. My contact. Mistress -3 As camouflage, your name will be Jiro ### It’s a common male name, but also used for dogs -4 Yeah, yeah. Ok, so can you leave now? I really am busy. Yeah, sounds good. -5 It must be tough for you with your parents working overseas. Just how do you know that? You’re a stalker! —127 -1 Okay… -2 Flump -3 Hey! Just don’t yank the door open! sfx- Owww (sniff) -5 Seriously! What the hell are you doing?! —128 -1 Well, I have to keep an eye on things as the big sister. -2 Ufufu Your sister is fun. I’m jealous of how close you are. sfx- Moved -3 I see. Rinka-chan, feel free to consider me your big sister too. sfx- Meow Meow Meow What the hell are you two doing? —129 -1 Ruuumble -2 But hey, isn’t my breakfast ready? Feel free to take my sister home, Sumeragi-san. -3 Oh, right! Rinka-chan, how about you stay and eat with me? Or you sure? You bet! -4 Actually, I haven’t eaten anything this morning either. sfx- Mrow —130 -1 Thanks for the meal! -2 I can’t believe I’m cooking for some stranger. -3 Chompf Chompf -4 It’s good. -5 Even if you don’t get hired anywhere, you could still make it as somebody’s wife. Well, if someone would have you. Geez, thanks. —131 -4 Can it get any weirder than this? —132 -1 Well… -2 It’s not as bad as I thought. -3 Ah! -4 The laundry! sfx- Kaw Kaw —134 -1 Rinka-chan, I love you. Meow! Sumeragi-san’s recently started to draw. Heheheheh —135 -1 Chapter 6 The Results of the Big Plan Yashiro-kun? Ahh, that dude with no drive? The one with no goals or ambition? What a joke. Girl A, from his 2nd year of middle school. Q: What is your impression of Yashiro Tenma? Yashiro? Mmm, he could both hit and field a little. I guess I would say he was an all arounder? But not like he could become a jack of all trades or something. Gyahaha His coach from his elementary baseball team. —136 -1 Monday. I feel like I didn’t get a day off at all. Wonder why. -3 Good day, Yashiro Tenma. -4 Crap. sfx- Tsun She’s definitely the reason why. —137 -1 Ah, Good morn… -2 sfx- Shove sfx- Crik Hey! Don’t look at me! Look straight ahead! Keep your voice low! -3 That way… It’ll look like we just happen to be going the same way. -4 Yeah, sure. —138 -1 Ok, let’s go over the plan. Oh, come on. -2 Yesterday she had me check the plan over and over, totally blowing up my phone! hw- What. The. Hell? sfx- Bling Bling Bling Bling -3 There’s nothing more I hate in this world more that being unprepared. She hates uncertainty. —139 -1 Tsubaki-san’s not a robot. She’s not just going to do what you want. hw- Rinka-chan. I love you It’s ok. She’s so pure and naive. And that’s what so cute about her. That’s what I love. -2 Look, I’ve already heard you brag about her more than twenty times already. I still haven’t told you everything, like how we’ve been friends since grade Enough already! Argh! -3 Just what would you call this? You go on ahead. At this rate people will start to think we’re close and that would suck. It’s not like we’re just acquaintances, but we’re not friends either. Ah, right. —140 -1 We’re co-conspirators. -2 I can’t believe it! Yashiro?! -3 Right. Can’t be that gloomer. -4 But he’s been acting kinda weird lately. -5 Sliiide -6 Just what the hell’s going on? —141 -1 Yashiro, tell us what’s going on! -2 Miura Hasegawa Nakamura -3 You weren’t supposed to be like this! -4 You betrayed us! -5 You pretended to be a loser like us, but behind the scenes you been workin’ it?! -6 Can you just stop for a second?! I’m sorry. —142 -1 Tsabaki-san! I need to talk with Yashiro-kun, so can you let me through? -2 Good morning. Of course. Please, go ahead! Tsubaki-san touched me! -3 She’s blindingly cute as always. sfx- Fidget Fidget Um, so… well… -4 sfx- Mm-hm. That old expression about getting tired of beauty after three days is total BS. Yashiro-kun, are you going out with Rinka-chan? —143 -1 Hah? -2 Sliiide -4 Silence -5 What? —144 -1 Oh, Rinka! You thought you could hide it from us. How far have you gotten? sfx- Wow You need to be telling us, girl! -2 You’re going out with Yashiro-kun, right? —145 -1 sfx- Quiver Quiver What are you saying? Do you have a death wish?! -2 No… sfx- Oh Actually this might work out… -3 If she snaps and goes on a rampage… Then at least all this confusion will get cleared up! Sumera ###name tag - it’s a play on godzilla -4 Ok! Sumera, unleash yourself! sfx- Haaah —146 -1 sfx- Pssshht Weak point: Being unprepared. -2 Yeah, you can’t plan for this, huh? —147 -1 Of course, no one’s going to listen to me. ###bold and italicize “me” I’m telling you it’s not like that! -2 hw- Okay… Sumeragi-san, how about you answer this one. -3 No, actually how about you don’t. sfx- Raaaage sfx- Grit —148 -1 And even talking to Tsubaki-san… So it’s true! -2 She’s my best friend, so please take care of her! -2 No, that’s not… You’re the one Sumeragi loves! ###bold and italicize “you’re” -3 But it’s not like I can out her like that. sfx- Ding Dong —149 -1 And so the big plan went up in flames. I’ve seen her like that once before. -2 Rummage -4 You alive? -5 Burning in hell. —150 -1 Looks like everyone believes we’re going out. What a fucking disaster. Sorry. We should have been more careful. That one’s on me. I got ahead of myself, and didn’t pay attention. Got ahead of yourself? —151 -2 Sigh -3 I finally stepped out of fantasy into the real world. And I could have gotten closer to her all this time. Go ahead and laugh. -4 Clench -5 I’m not laughing. —152 -1 Things have just started. It’s not time to get all down in the dumps. Are you trying to cheer me up? -2 I’ll find a way to do something about it. Just watch. You really changed, huh? -3 Heh —153 -1 Lunchtime. Ok, what now? -2 First things first. I have to find a way to kill this rumor. -3 And that has to start with Tsubaki-san. It might be good to use this to… …kun… shiro-kun… -4 Yashiro-kuuun! sfx- Waugh -5 sfx- Sniff Sniff Sniff Nngh… Tsubaki-san! hw- What’s the matter? —154 -1 I’m sorry! You’re both such good friends and I was wrong and I made such a mess of things! hw- Soz, my bad hw- Me too -2 What’s going on here? Ah, sure. -3 And so… -4 I explained thing to everyone. Is that ok? Souta?! —155 -1 Is that ok? Are you nuts? Thank you, man! Seriously! -2 Well, this is the kind of thing you really hate, right? -3 sfx- Hug hw- Haha, it’s too hot for this sfx- Pat Pat sfx- Clap Clap Clap -4 So, Yashiro-kun… -5 What is it, my best bud? —156 -1 I’m your best friend so you can come talk to me anytime! -2 You’re getting off on this, aren’t you? -3 Well, of course! I mean, I never thought you’d fall in love! -4 Hyaaaaa -5 Whew Yashiro-kun… —157 -1 Will you have lunch with me? If it’s ok, I’d like to be friends with you. -2 Wha? The plan’s back on track? Crazy! -3 Do you have other plans? N-no! Let’s totally eat together! -4 But I wanna invite one more person. —158 -1 Stare -2 hw- Aw, c’mere, you cutie… Rinka-chan! -3 sfx- Trot Trot Right! We should also have lunch with Rinka-chan! —159 -1 Wha? Well, I dunno… The music club’s got this meeting, and I kind want to hit that up… sfx- Bam -3 Shit! Are you stupid or what?! Sumeragiiiiii! sfx- Hai-yah! sfx- Whippity Whap Ow! What’s with you? -4 You really mean to cut out? Well, my character has to hate it first, before… Your character?! -5 Shaddup! I always wanna be the independent lone wolf type! I… —160 -1 I’m actually really lonely! Wha? -2 I haven’t been able to talk to you at all recently, Rinka. It’s like you’ve been avoiding me… sfx- Slump -3 Dooong Just how is it she can pull off reactions like that? -4 It’s not like I’m avoiding you! It’s just that… I’m the kind that sometimes just really wants to go drink black coffee. It’s a sensitive time for me! sfx- Hmph Hmph —161 -1 Fine! Ok! -2 We’ll eat lunch together! -3 Really? Yaaay! sfx- Huuuug -4 Yashiro-kun, I’ve never seen you smile like that. sfx- Creeping closer Have you learned to muffle your footsteps somehow? -5 I’m getting to see all sorts of new sides to you since we started our second year. -6 You really do seem to be getting your kicks over this. —162 -1 Well, whatever. The confusion’s all cleared up. Case close. Good job, everybody. -2 By the way, shouldn’t you be going? -3 Yashiro! sfx- Jolt -4 Get a move on. Right! —163 -1 Okay! Have a good time! -2 sfx- Gulp -3 Having a fun lunch with the school’s two idols! sfx- Th-thump Th-thump -4 Yeah, fun is not exactly how I’d describe this. Lunchtime! La dee dah! After all the Big Plan to Confess to Tsubaki Reira is back on! —164 -1 Whud Yay! Tsubaki-san loves to eat! —165 -1 Yay! We made it to Vol 1! Artist Afterword Yatsu Taa —166 -1 Creator Support Corner [Story] Haruna Chihiro-sensei To tell the truth, getting this made into manga leaves me with complicated feelings. A work with swords and magic would have great visual appeal, but this is just a love comedy. Well, even so, there’s not much love or comedy either. Maybe I should have written in more panty flash scenes… I am regretting that now. But once the pages were completed, I screamed, “getting a manga adaptation rocks!’’ It was enough to make me really happy. I’d like to express my appreciation to Yatsu Taa-sensei. [Character Design] Tatsubuta-sensei Congratulations to Yatsu Taa-sensei for completing volume one! Every time a chapter was released, I read it immediately. Just when I would think I was overwhelmed by how cute Reira-chan was, I’d be swept away at how crazy Rinka-chan was, or how poor Tenma-kun was being jerked around. The background characters all have strong personalities, and it’s always fun to read a new chapter. It’s awesome. I think I’ll go back and re-read the manga from chapter 1! —169 -1 Extra This is something that actually happened to me back in spring of my 2nd year. Miura’s Ghost Story ###box -2 That looks heavy. I’ll carry that for you. When I was walking down the hallway, I saw Hayami Souta, a popular guy in our class. -3 For whatever reason, I was just watching him. -4 And before he realized it, something slipped out from under his arm. Editor’s note: This is Yatsu Taa’s delusion -5 It was a single notebook, which I intended to give back to him. I picked it up, but I froze when I saw the cover. —170 -1 Huh? Everything about Yashiro Tenma Vol 03 -2 Ah -3 Just what was written in that notebook? I have no way knowing what will happen to me I tell anyone!