Golden Time [Light Novel]

[rpapo]

Originally Posted by amrul

I still could not find scans for the 6th volume

They're easy to buy on Amazon JP. The books cost about US$7.00 apiece, but the shipping can be expensive.

See http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4048915576

[blade82]

it'll be great amrul if you could help rpapo with the translation

[amrul]

Originally Posted by rpapo

They're easy to buy on Amazon JP. The books cost about US$7.00 apiece, but the shipping can be expensive.

See http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4048915576

Thanks for the link. Yes, it's the shipping that makes me reconsider getting the book. I will have to wait until I get the chance to go to Japan myself, or ask my friends there to buy it for me when they are planning to come back .

Originally Posted by blade82

it'll be great amrul if you could help rpapo with the translation

Yes it'll be great, but I'm not confident with my translation skills (both languages are not my native language, but practise makes perfect) and I don't have the time for now.

[l.kostas]

Originally Posted by rpapo

So, I will indulge in a little bit of educated speculation of my own:

Spoiler for Banri's accident:

(1) I am guessing that Banri got knocked off the bridge by accident by somebody who bumped into him while jogging or bicycle riding. He didn't notice them coming because he had his ear-buds in and the volume turned up.

Spoiler for Banri's accident- bridge:

It is a pedestrian bridge next to an electric train station close to my house. They put those iron bars there so that bike owners don't get any ideas...

[rpapo]

Nice try, but that is not the bridge in question. Look here and here. Though the author has said she has taken some liberties in her portrayal of both Shizuoka and of Tokyo, so some divergence from reality is possible. For instance,

Spoiler:

near the end of book 2, Banri's Ghost clearly states that he had gone to the bridge quite early in the morning to wait for Linda. How early is early? The second link above states that the bridge is closed before 8:30am.

[csuree]

I have the liberty of supposing the outrageous theory (well that sounded stupid ) that the culprit behind Banri's accident is Linda herself.
possible evidences:
-1: He was waiting for her. Anybody else would have ignored Banri even if he listens to music(a total stranger would not go near another stranger just to push him off). Linda probably wanted to play a prank on him and it went terribly wrong.
-2: Because he did not drown, the person who caused the "accident", jumped after him to save him.
-3: If I were guilty of doing this, I too would have tried to distance myself from him, so I would not be reminded of my crime every time I look at him.

Well it is only speculation, but I think it is reasonable.

[amrul]

Originally Posted by rpapo

Nice try, but that is not the bridge in question. Look here and here. Though the author has said she has taken some liberties in her portrayal of both Shizuoka and of Tokyo, so some divergence from reality is possible. For instance,

Spoiler:

near the end of book 2, Banri's Ghost clearly states that he had gone to the bridge quite early in the morning to wait for Linda. How early is early? The second link above states that the bridge is closed before 8:30am.

For somebody to inadvertently push him over, I think it doesn't make sense. The bridge itself is 2.7 metres wide. Even a mid-size saloon car can pass without having him off the bridge (provided the car goes slowly, and of course the real bridge doesn't allow cars to go over it)

Originally Posted by csuree

I have the liberty of supposing the outrageous theory (well that sounded stupid ) that the culprit behind Banri's accident is Linda herself.
possible evidences:
-1: He was waiting for her. Anybody else would have ignored Banri even if he listens to music(a total stranger would not go near another stranger just to push him off). Linda probably wanted to play a prank on him and it went terribly wrong.
-2: Because he did not drown, the person who caused the "accident", jumped after him to save him.
-3: If I were guilty of doing this, I too would have tried to distance myself from him, so I would not be reminded of my crime every time I look at him.

Well it is only speculation, but I think it is reasonable.

Well he is waiting for her answer. But she arrive a bit later from the promised time (see chapter 4 v2 or last part of the manga chapter 20).

Point 3 doesn't really make sense . If she really is the culprit, she would not have to approach him while in college.

One thing that feels off is that how the mangaka picture the bridge. I always have the impression that the railings are high enough for one to lean on it, and in the story I always imagine that Banri was leaning on it while waiting. In fact, from the picture the railing is so low that if you suddenly lose balance while walking, jogging, or cycling, you could easily end up on the rocks or in the river.

Chapter 4 of the novel did not really describe what happened precisely, so it's still a mystery. He just suddenly felt that the earphone got pulled back and that's it, off the bridge. Probably it will be revealed later. So far the prologue in volume 5 only reveals his recuperation process and encounter with linda (which makes him decide to go to college in tokyo).

Reminds me of the second volume of Kara no Kyoukai, where Shiki wanted to kill Kokuto, but suddenly the scene changes and she ended up in hospital for two years (it was revealed anyway as the story progressed).

[rpapo]

Well, I don't think we'll get many spoilers for a while from my translation . . . the two of them are too busy being lovey-dovey right now. 8-)

[vg166]

Originally Posted by rpapo

Well, I don't think we'll get many spoilers for a while from my translation . . . the two of them are too busy being lovey-dovey right now. 8-)

Thanks for the translation of the LNs and yeah, so far it looks like Banri and Kouko are quite the couple. I'm more on the Banri/Linda side but since most of the characters have issues, I see craziness happening no matter who goes with weho.

I wonder if Linda was the one who first saw Banri after he got knocked off the bridge?

[omimon]

So I just started reading the manga. Does the light novel and manga differ? I keep hearing about Banri's ghost but I don't see him in the manga.

[setsuna86]

Originally Posted by omimon

So I just started reading the manga. Does the light novel and manga differ? I keep hearing about Banri's ghost but I don't see him in the manga.

It's in the manga. you should clearly look.

[rpapo]

Originally Posted by setsuna86

It's in the manga. you should clearly look.

From what I've seen, Banri's Ghost is only hinted at in the manga. He's strongly suggested in chapter 6, both in the description of how Banri lost his memory, and then in their conversation about a "guardian angel".

Also, look at the start of chapter 7.

[amrul]

Originally Posted by omimon

So I just started reading the manga. Does the light novel and manga differ?

From my point of view, the storyline is pretty much the same, except small differences in the details, like some part is skipped in the manga. But it doesn't really change the story substantially.

But one thing that I really notice (and enjoyed very much) is the approach in the manga. The mangaka improvised quite a lot, from imaginary illustrations (the novel only provided descriptions), to humorous approach. So most parts that seems very quite serious in the novel, are made to be funny in the manga (I laughed very hard at some point )

So, if you like a rather humorous approach, the manga is more suitable. The light novel provides very detailed descriptions, and quite less humor (more on the serious side).

As for me, I read both

[AdventSleeper]

I'm a bit late to jump on this one.

Just finished volume one, and do expect the eventual love triangle. It's gonna tear me apart deciding which pairing I will support...

[rickiminato]

in the novels
kouko have feelings for banri?

[bulukan]

Originally Posted by rickiminato

in the novels
kouko have feelings for banri?

they are dating

[rickiminato]

volume in which they start dating?

[rpapo]

Originally Posted by rickiminato

volume in which they start dating?

I have translated the first and second volumes, and just under 40% of the third volume so far. A lightning summary of their relationship:

Spoiler:

He confesses to her near the end of volume 1.
She turns him down at the start of volume 2, but they become "best friends".
She confesses to him near the end of volume 2.
As of volume 3 they are dating.
What precisely happens to their relationship in volumes 4-6 I cannot say for certain.

[amrul]

Originally Posted by rickiminato

volume in which they start dating?

Originally Posted by rpapo

I have translated the first and second volumes, and just under 40% of the third volume so far. A lightning summary of their relationship:

Spoiler:

He confesses to her near the end of volume 1.
She turns him down at the start of volume 2, but they become "best friends".
She confesses to him near the end of volume 2.
As of volume 3 they are dating.
What precisely happens to their relationship in volumes 4-6 I cannot say for certain.

As the progress of the relationship up to volume 5...

Spoiler:

They started dating as of the end of volume 2, but not that firm. Minor conflict happens, especially since kouko realized banri's past relationship with linda (last 2 chapters of volume 4). However, she didn't back up and still stays with banri. So the relationship levels up (they started to call each other using first names).

as for volume 6 and 7, I think something happened to the relationship (unsure whether it's good or bad). But that has to wait 'till the translation is available, or at least until I get my hands on the book.

[finalfury]

Are there any developments with Chinami later in the series?
From what my gut is telling me, she feels like a "wild card" character, and I also think for some strange reason that she might be interested in Banri or Kouko.
Edit: This is a very well written story and many thanks to rpapo for translating this.