Since I was reposting another volume 14 story, here's a revised and corrected version of my translation of an earlier story in the volume. In this story, the Hawaiimaniac principal gives a crash course in swimming to Akane, the quintessential "hammer girl". Funny that there's a swimming story and an Xmas story in the same volume. This time I'm including romaji for all the lines, so the mistakes that slipped thru will be all the more glaring. ^_) Happy holidays! Ranma 1/2, volume 14 part 4-5 English translation by Theresa Martin Note: I capitalized many of the principal's Japlish words, to emphasize his funny mixed speech. "Hammer" is an expression for someone who cannot swim at all. In previous episodes, Akane has shown that she swims like a proverbial hammer. PART 4 "Tokkun! HANMA- GA-RU" "Crash course! HAMMER GIRL" p. 54 Cicadas chirp in the heat as it approaches 4 o'clock. Voice: Bai-baai. Bye-by--e. Akane stands alone on a diving block at the side of the pool. Akane: Huu. Sigh. In a flashback, the swimming teacher addresses the girls. Teacher: Raishuu wa suiei no TESUTO desu. Next week, there will be a swimming test. Girls: GE--- Akane looks at her reflection. Akane: (thinking) KURASU de oyogenai no wa watashi dake...... Doushiyou... I was the only one in class who couldn't swim... What should I do... p. 55 The principal comes running. Principal: MISU Akane Tendou! Hayamatte wa ikemase--n!! MISS Akane Tendou! Don't do anything ra---sh! Akane: (looking back) E? A, kouchou-sensei... (looking back) Eh? Ah, Mr. Principal... The principal's outstretched hands shove Akane off the diving block. Splash! Akane gurgles and flails her arms frantically. Principal: O- MAI GAT...... Osokatta de~su. OH MY GOD... I was too la~te. p. 56 At the side of the pool, Akane is on all fours, one hand around a lifesaver the principal has thrown. Akane: Ge-ho geho geho geho. Cough cough cough cough. Principal: Inochi o somatsu ni shite wa NO- GU-DO ne. Throwing away your life is NO GOOD. Principal: Doushite minage nado shimashita ka? Why did you throw yourself into the water? Akane: Anta ga tsuki-otoshita n ja nai no. You pushed me in, didn't you! The wind blows through the trees. Principal: (suddenly realizing) OH! MISU Akane, YU- wa oyogenai no desu ka!? OH! MISS Akane, YOU can't swim!? Akane wrings her skirt. Principal: (weeping into a hanky) O-kinodoku de-su. That's too ba--d. Akane: N? Principal: Waga Fuurinkan Koukou ni wa, oyogenai seito wa shinkyuu sasenai to iu...... At our Fuurinkan High School, non-swimming pupils are not allowed to be promoted... Principal: (sniffing into his hanky) Zankoku-na kousoku ga aru no de-su. What a cruel restrictio--n. Akane: (picking up a bench) Sono kousoku... That restriction... p. 57 Akane whacks the principal on the head with the bench. Akane: Tatta ima omoitsuita n deshou? Did it only just now occur to you? Principal: OH! (pounding fist in hand) Meian ga hiramekimashita-. OH! A bright idea just flashed. [This "meian" means "good idea", but with other kanji could mean "light and darkness"] The principal claps his hand on Akane's shoulder. Principal: (laughing) Watashi ga suiei no tokkun o shite agemasho-. I'll give you a crash course in swimming. Akane: E''? The town by evening. Somewhere, a dog barks. Ranma: (eating) Kouchou no tokkun......? A crash course from the principal...? p. 58 The Tendou household is eating dinner. Kasumi: Maa yokatta wa ne, Akane. Oh, that's great, Akane. Souun: (laughing) Kotoshi koso KANAZUCHI henjou da na. THIS year, they'd send back a hammer. Ranma: Oi, masaka... No way... Ranma: OK shita no ka!? Is this OK with you!? Akane: Datte, dooshite mo oyogeru you ni naritai n da mon. But, after all, I want to be able to swim. Later that evening, Akane stands on the balcony looking at the stars. Akane: (hands clasped) Natsu ga kuru tabi ni watashi wa...... Every time the summer comes, I... The milky way. Akane: Mijime datta. am miserable. Akane dreams of running through the shallows in a swimsuit, an inner tube around one arm. Akane: Umi ya PU-RU de, tatoe atarashii mizugi o mi ni tsukete-ite mo...... At the sea or the pool, even if I put on a new bathing suit... p. 59 Akane: (cracking her knuckles) Munashii dake...... it's all in vain... Ranma: Wakaru ze, omae no kimochi..... I know how you feel... Akane turns, startled. Ranma is hanging upside-down from a beam behind her. Akane: Ranma...... Ranma: Tashika ni atarashii mizugi o kite mo...... Certainly, even putting on a new bathing suit... Ranma: zundou ja naa...... you've got no waist... Akane stomps Ranma's face into the floor. Then, with a sweeping gesture, she points at a brightly shining star. Akane: (with flames in her eyes) Watashi wa ano hoshi ni chikau! I swear by that star! p. 60 Akane stands on Ranma's back, exclaiming into a microphone. Akane: Kotoshi koso oyogeru you ni natte miseru. Ishi ni kajiri-tsuite demo-! THIS year, I'll show you I've become a swimmer! Even if I have to gnaw a rock! [idiom: By any means!] Ranma: Omoi... Heavy... Akane: To iu wake dakara Ranma. Zet--tai ni jama shinaide yo-! So that's why, Ranma. Don't even think of interfering. The high school. 8:00. Caption: N de yokuasa. Next morning. The boys are running and clamoring. Boy: Nanii, Tendou Akane ga suiei no tokkun!? Wha--t, Tendou Akane's taking a crash course in swimming!? Boy: Mizugi da mizugi da. Bathing suit, bathing suit. Boy: Mi ni iko- ze. Let's go see. p. 61 Murmuring students stare at Akane, legs shuddering, with a boulder strapped to her back. As Akane mounts the diving block, a fin breaking the surface of the water moves toward her. Principal: (musically) PU-RU ni ohairinasa-i. Ple--ase enter the pool. Akane: Anta ne~. Why yo~u. Ranma sits on the fence watching. Ranma: Sugee-, hontou ni ishi ni kajiri-tsuiteru ze-. Wow, that's really gnawing a rock. [another Takahashi pun] p. 62 A shark noisily leaps out of the water, causing a commotion among the students. Akane: Are wa nani yo, are wa. What's that, there. Principal: OH! Muchi-na GA-RU de-su. OH! Ignorant GIRL. The principal points to an illustration. Scale: 7 m (METORU) 7 m (meters) Explanation: AOZAME (NEZUMIZAME ka) Sekaijuu no dankai ni seisoku. Niku wa kamaboko ya hanpen nado no zairyou ni naru. (shoku) BLUE SHARK (GRAY SHARK FAMILY) Inhabits primarily the warm waters of the world. Its meat is used to make boiled fish paste, minced and steamed fish, etc. (food seal) Akane: Nande PU-RU ni iru no ka-, tte kiite n no yo--. Why is it in the pool, I was asking! Akane starts walking away. Akane: AHO-rashii. Kaeru-! This is stupid. I'm going home! Principal: Omachinasa-i! Ple--ase wait! p. 63 Principal: Anata wa isshou KANAZUCHI GA-RU de ii no desu ka-!? Do you want to be a HAMMER GIRL your whole life!? Akane stops, stricken with fear. Principal: Honba HAWAI no hitobito wa mina, ishi o seoi SAME ni owarenagara, honkakuteki SUIMA- no tokkun o suru no de-su. All true Hawaiian people, carrying a rock on their back chased by a shark, take the earnest SWIMMER crash cou--rse. Boy: Doko kara so-yu- DETARAME o...... Where did he get that wild story... Akane: Sugoi... HAWAI no hito-tte sugoi!! Wow... Hawaiians are incredible!! In the background, the boys fall down in surprise at Akane's credulity. Akane: (tearing up) Kouchou-sensei. Mr. Principal. Principal: (clasping Akane's hand) Wakatte-kuremashita, MISU Akane. You understand, MISS Akane. Akane kicks the principal, boulder in his arms, into the pool. Akane: Tehon o misete-mi-. Show me a good example. p. 64 Splash! Everyone silently stares at the bubbles rising to the surface. Voice: Uite......... konai na. He's not rising to the surface... Hiroshi: Moshi ya oborete... Perhaps he drowned... They watch. One after another, the boys walk away clamorously. Hiroshi: Kaeru ka. Let's leave. Akane: (thinking) Ta- taihen-. T- terrible. p. 65 Akane sinks underwater, holding her nose. Akane: (thinking) Tasukenakucha-. I must save him. The boys turn and gape. Ranma: (thinking) BAKA-, KANAZUCHI no kuse ni Wow... Hawaiians are incredible!! In the background, the boys fall down in surprise at Akane's credulity. Akane: (tearing up) Kouchou-sensei. Mr. Principal. Principal: (clasping Akane's hand) Wakatte-kuremashita, MISU Akane. You understand, MISS Akane. Akane kicks the principal, boulder in his arms, into the pool. Akane: Tehon o misete-mi-. Show me a good example. p. 64 Splash! Everyone silently stares at the bubbles rising to the surface. Voice: Uite......... konai na. He's not rising to the surface... Hiroshi: Moshi ya oborete... Perhaps he drowned... They watch. One after another, the boys walk away clamorously. Hiroshi: Kaeru ka. Let's leave. Akane: (thinking) Ta- taihen-. T- terrible. p. 65 Akane sinks underwater, holding her nose. Akane: (thinking) Tasukenakucha-. I must save him. The boys turn and gape. Ranma: (thinking) BAKA-, KANAZUCHI no kuse ni...... Stupid, even though she's a hammer... Akane burbles as she discovers the principal underwater breathing from a scuba tank. They surface. Akane gurgles and flails her arms frantically. Principal: (grinning) MISU Akane, Tsuite-kite kureru to shinjite-imashita-. MISS Akane, I believed you would come for me. p. 66 The shark closes in on the principal and Akane. Akane: Ga-bo gabo gabo gabo!! [= drowning coughs] Principal: Tokkun kaishi de-su. The crash course commence--s. The students watch with rapt attention. Boys: Abunai-, SAME ga... Look out, a shark... Girls: (screaming) Akane-. At the last moment, Ranma kicks the shark's snout aside. Principal: OH! p. 67 The shark floats belly-up. Ranma is standing on its belly. Ranma: Mattaku, damatte-mitereba... Jeez, if I stood by... Principal: (giving Ranma the finger) Gadde~mu, Saotome Ranma. GODDA~MN Saotome Ranma. Akane is holding onto a fin, catching her breath. Akane: (thinking) Ranma...... Principal: (pointing at Ranma) Tokkun no jama wa yurushimase-n! You are no--t allowed to obstruct my crash course! Ranma: Konna kuddaranee tokkun de... This crash course is worthless... Ranma: Kono KANAZUCHI onna ga oyogeru yo- ni naru wake ne- daro-! because this hammer girl will ne--ver be able to swim! p. 68 The principal and Ranma argue around Akane. Principal: NO! MISU Akane kanarazu GUREITO-na SUIMA- ni narema-su. MISS Akane wi--ll become a GREAT SWIMMER. Ranma: Zet--tai ni oyogenee-. She will ne--ver swim. Principal: Oyogemasu oyogemasu oyogema-su. Can swim, can swim, ca--n swim. Ranma: Oyogenee oyogenee oyogenee-. Can't swim, can't swim, ca--n't swim. Akane sweeps Ranma's feet off the shark's belly. Splash! Akane: (coughing, away from the shark) Kouchou-sensei adaji gabubarimazu-. Mr. Principal, I'm dringing wader. Principal: (laughing) NEBA- GIBU APPU. Tokkun saikai de-su! NEVER GIVE UP. The crash course resu--mes! Ranma (girl): zettai zettai zet--tai muda da----. Absolutely, absolutely, abso--lutely u--seless. PART 5 "Mizu no naka no konjou" "Willpower in the water" p. 70 Students watch the principal with one foot on a diving block resuming his lesson with Akane. Principal: MISU Akane, GUREITO SUIMA- tokkun. (with one finger raised) RESSUN WAN! MISS Akane, GREAT SWIMMER crash course. (with one finger raised) LESSON ONE! Principal: Nazukete SUWAN PROJEKUTO de-su. Called the SWAN PROJE--CT. Akane imagines graceful swans. Akane: (hands clasped) SUWAN... Ano yuuga-na hakuchou no you ni, Oyogeru you ni naru n desu ne!! Swan... Like an elegant swan, I'll be able to swim!! Ranma reclines atop the fence and watches boredly. Ranma (girl): (thinking) Naru wake ne- daro. Sujiganeiri no KANAZUCHI onna ga...... She'll never become one. She's a hammer girl to the core... p. 71 The principal picks up a suitcase and hands it to Akane. Principal: Sate koko ni, Now here, Principal: Watashi ga yonabe-shite tsukutta SUIMA- yousei SU-TSU ga arima-su. I worked all night on this SWIMMER education SU--IT. Akane: Kore o watashi no tame ni...? This, just for me...? Principal: (pointing at Akane) Kore o chakusou sureba, anata mo kyuukara SUWAN no nakamairi de-su. I had this idea, you and the project joining the swa--ns. The other students look surprised. Ranma sits up on the fence. Akane envisions herself doing ballet in a crown and a feathery swimsuit. Akane: Kouchou-sensei... Mr. Principal... p. 72 The students gape. Student: Oo- kokkore wa...... Oh! Th-this is... The students make a great stir. Akane is wearing a ridiculous white bird suit. It has an opening for her face under the beak. Akane: (red-faced and shuddering) Kore no doko ga... How is this... The principal gets a right wing to the jaw. Akane: SUWAN da-. a SWAN--. Principal: OUCH! Akane cries with her head in her wings. The principal runs back and reaches for Akane's shoulder. Akane: BAKA ni shite-. I look stupid. Principal: NO! Gokai desu, MISU Akane! NO! You misunderstand, MISS Akane! p. 73 A tearful Akane turns and slaps the principal's hand away. Akane: Nani yo, hanashite-. What, let go. Akane looks surprised. Akane: (thinking) Haa. Huh. There are many scratches on the principal's fingertips. Akane: (thinking) Yubi ga kizudarake. His fingers are covered with scars. Akane imagines a sewing principal pricking his finger with the needle, Akane: Konna ni naru made ganbatta no? You persisted until you were like this? Principal: (imagined) OUCH! Principal: Wakatte-kuremashita ka? You understand? Student: Isshou kenmei tsukutte ARE ka...? With all his might... For that...? The principal roughly shoves Akane into the pool. Principal: RETTSU BIGIN. LET'S BEGIN. Splash! Ranma sits atop the fence looking on. p. 74 Akane splashes frantically. Akane: Ga-bo gabo gabo gabo. Glub glub glub glub. Hiroshi: Oi, doko ga SUIMA- yousei SU-TSU da? Hey, how is this a SWIMMER education SUIT? Daisuke: Shikkari oboretoru ja nai ka. She's definitely drowning, isn't she. The principal pulls out a remote control and presses a button. Principal: SUITCHI AN de-su. SWITCH ON--. Electricity courses through the legs of the bird suit. Akane: N!? Akane's legs start kicking back and forth quickly. Akane: A, ashi ga katte ni... Ah, my feet, by themselves... p. 75 Daisuke: So, sou ka-. Ikken yuuga ni komen ni ukabu hakuchou mo, suimenka de wa hisshi de mizu o kaite-iru-. So, so that's it. a swan floats gracefully on the lake surface at first glance, but under the surface, it's desperately paddling. Principal: YES! Ima no MISU Akane wa, SUWAN sono mono na no de-su. YES! Now MISS Akane does like that SWAN--. Akane has flipped upside-down, her legs kicking in the air. Student: Suijou de... On the surface... Hiroshi: kaitoru zo... She went under... Akane holds her breath tightly. Akane: (thinking) Ku-iki ga... Can't breathe... Underwater, Ranma pulls out her cheeks and sticks out her tongue at Akane. Akane releases her breath in a gasp. p. 76 Ranma is sitting by the side of the pool with lumps on her head. Ranma (girl): Tasuke ni itte yatta no ni. Even though I rescued you. Akane is kneeling, out of her bird suit. Akane: (hitting Ranma on the head) Dattara sunao ni tasuken ka-. Ge-ho geho geho. If you'd rescued me more gently. Cough cough cough. Ranma (girl): Ma, tonikaku, Well, anyhow, Ranma leans over and pat-pats down on Akane's shoulder. Ranma (girl): Kore de AKIRAME ga tsuita daro? After that, have you given up? Akane: Madamada-. Not yet. Akane: Kouchou-sensei, tsugi no tokkun onegaishimasu! Mr. Principal, the next crash course please! Principal: (happily) OH! yoku itte-kuremashita, MISU Akane. OH! I'm glad you said that, MISS Akane. Principal: GUREITO SUIMA- tokkun! (with two fingers raised) RESSUN TSU-. MA-MEIDO PUROJEKUTO de-su. GREAT SWIMMER crash course! (with two fingers raised) LESSON TWO. MERMAID PROJE--CT. Hiroshi: Hoo. The boys watch. p. 77 The principal roughly shoves Akane, wearing a mermaid-tail, into the pool. Principal: RETTSU BIGIN. LET'S BEGIN. The principal presses a button on the remote control. Principal: SUITCHI AN de-su. SWITCH ON--. The tail starts kicking. Akane swishes across the surface, flailing her arms. Akane: Ga-bo gabo gabo gabo. Glub glub glub glub. Ranma knees the principal in the back of the head. Ranma (girl): Oi. Hey. Ranma (girl): SUWAN PUROJEKUTO to doko ga chigau n da? How is this different from the SWAN PROJECT? Principal: saigo made gorannasa-i. Ple--ase watch until the end. A fishing hook flies out on its line... p. 78 ....and hooks the back of Akane's suit. The principal pulls back on the rod with effort. Principal: (gnashing his teeth) Kore de zettai, oboremase-n. anshin-shite oyogina-sai. This time for sure, you will no--t drown. Relax and swim ple--ase. Akane: Hai-. Yes. Akane swims. Akane: Nuooo. The line goes taut. p. 79 The principal is pulled in. Principal: OH NO! With a painful impact, a head-sized chunk of concrete is broken off from the side of the pool, with the principal floating beside it. Some boys survey the damage. Boy: U''----n. Hmmmmm. Boy: Mugoi. How brutal. Some students look at the bubbling surface. Student: Ha-. Student: Gyoei ga mien! I don't see a fish shadow! Ranma (girl): (running) Akane!! Ranma swims to Akane underwater. Akane gurgles unconsciously, with her tail still kicking. p. 80 There is a cheer as Akane opens her eyes. She is lying on a bed of towels, with everyone gathered around her. Principal: Ki ga tsukimashita ka, MISU Akane. Are you awake, MISS Akane. Principal: AIMU SO-RI-... I'M SORRY... Akane: Kouchou-sensei...? Mr. Principal...? The principal shakes his head, tears falling from his eyes. Akane sits up. Principal: Watashi wa muryouku de-su. Tatta hitori no GA-RU no negai mo, kanaete-ageraremasen deshita-. I'm inca--pable. Just one GIRL's request, and I can't grant it for her. Ranma (girl): (thinking) Kouchou no yarou, honki de tokkun-shiteta no ka. That jerk principal, did he take the crash course that seriously. p. 81 The principal bows his head and weeps. Akane: .................. Akane smiles at the principal. Akane: Mou ii n desu, kouchou-sensei. Komarasete gomennasai. It's all right, Mr. Principal. I'm sorry I embarrassed you. Akane stands up. Everybody is looking at her. Principal: MISU Akane... MISS Akane... Akane: Oyogenaku tatta... fune no ue de kurasu wake ja nai shi... So I can't swim... I can live on a ship, can't I... Akane: Tsunami ga kitatte daijoubu! Yama no ue made hashiru wa. Kyakuryoku ni wa jishin aru n da. Even if a tidal wave comes, it's all right! I'll run to the mountain tops. I'm confident in my ability to walk. Girl: Aa, Akane. Jibun de mo nani itte n da ka wakaranai n ja...? Ah, Akane. Don't you know what you're saying...? p. 82 Akane runs away from the pool. Akane: Arigatou gozaimashita. Thank you very much. The principal reaches out helplessly. Principal: .................. Akane cries as she runs. Akane: (thinking) Oyogitakatta. I wanted to swim. Ranma somersaults in front of Akane, running down the stairs from the pool. Ranma (girl): Hontou ni kore de ii no ka? Akane. Is that really all right? Akane. p. 83 Akane: De... demo... Bu... but... Ranma (girl): Kono konjounashi!! Maketa manma nigedasu ki ka!? You have no guts!! You want to run away completely defeated!? The other students show up behind Akane, tearful too. Hiroshi: Sou da, akirameru na. That's right, don't give up. Girl: Atashi-tachi mo kyouryoku-suru wa. We'll cooperate, too. Boys: Ore mo ore mo. Me too, me too. Akane: (turning around with tears in her eyes) Minna... Everyone... The principal and students smile hopefully at Akane, with a glowing sunrise behind. Bold white kanji is superimposed on the rising sun. Principal: MISU Akane. MISS Akane. Sun: Seishun. The springtime of life. [youth, adolescence, coming of age, etc.] The crying principal smiles with gleaming teeth. Principal: RESSUN SURI- de-su. LESSON THREE--. Akane: Hai! Yes! p. 84 Sun glistens off the sweating principal's grim face. Principal: To iu wake de, MISU Akane no tame ni, donna KANAZUCHI GA-RU de mo, oyogeru hisaku o youi shimashita-. Because of this, for you MISS Akane, no matter what kind of HAMMER GIRL you are, I came prepared with a secret plan for swimming. The intently watching students gulp. Akane: So, sonna sugoi hisaku ga...!? Th- that great secret plan...!? The principal holds out an inflatable ring. The other students fall down with surprise. Principal: Kore o tsukainasa-i. Put this in the water ple--ase. Akane, with the ring around her waist, is head down gurgling in the water with her legs kicking in the air. Ranma stands next to her in the water. The students stare. The principal slaps his forehead and waves his hand toward the scene. Ranma (girl): Oi, UKIWA de mo DAME na no ka...!? Hey, Even with the float, you're hopeless...!? Principal: O- MAI GAT, GIBU APPU de-su. OH MY GOD, I GIVE UP. Hiroshi: kore wa... This is... Student: kotoshi wa muri da na. This year is asking too much.