When Hikaru was on the Earth [Light Novel]

[Hell_ping]

This might be the best LN fanTL I can offer (full credits to the editors for improving the vocabulary in this book to a point where it's beyond the level used in the original itself, bestnumber?8721, ambientqualia etc)

Spoiler for Text:

Uwaa…why are they all girls?

Koremitsu Akagi looked around the funeral, dumbfounded.

The combination of a high-class blazer and a black shirt composed the uniform of Koremitsu’s school, Heian Academy. There were also other uniforms like one-piece and sailor uniforms, vests, bolero jackets with ribbons - so many that it was shocking, the girls in attendance wearing all kinds of distinct outfit.

That was not all.

There was a female university student in stylish black attire, screaming.

“Hikaru! Hikaru!”

A sorrowful woman stood alongside the student, carrying an air of scholarship about her secretarial appearance, and she covered her face with a handkerchief as her shoulders quivered uncontrollably. Behind stood an opulent lady awash in tears, her eyes fixing the ground. Together in the crowd was a young girl who seemed to be a primary school student, and she was no exception as her eyes were swollen red, filled with tears.

Koremitsu used the school’s bulletin board to check the funeral’s date beforehand. However, he soon regretted coming along at all.

Among the weeping girls stood a high schooler with messy red hair, his back bent, glowering sharp eyes and a frown, making him look an obtrusive sight to be seen.

Those attending the funeral would occasionally glance suspiciously at Koremitsu Akagi.

Even the fellow girls of Heian Academy uniform were alarmed, wondering why the markedly infamous freshman was in attendance.

In spite of their discomfort, none of them dared to ask why he had come. They bit their lips and pretended to look at something asquint, averting their eyes uncomfortably to walk away.

Even if anyone were to ask Koremitsu the obvious, he himself couldn’t supply an answer.

Really, why must I come to the funeral of this bastard who lived such an abundant life, when I never even talked to him much?

Hikaru Mikado’s portrait was placed above some white sandalwood incense at the front of the hall, the space filled with mourners.

Hikaru’s corpse lay among the crowd like an angel, with a smile on his face and adornment from tulips, lilies, and carnations.

He had a slender face, the nose delicate and lips plump; his skin was an immaculate white and each of his irises possessed a crystalline transparency. These qualities lent themselves to an effeminate purity and sweetness in Hikaru Mikado’s resting body.

When they first met, Koremitsu wondered why a girl would be wearing a boy’s uniform at school.

This was thought only before Koremitsu learned that this very affable boy with unique voice was known to others as the ‘Imperial Prince’ of the school.

He was not simply the school’s ‘Prince’, but its ‘Imperial Prince’, a title befitting the elegance of ‘Your Hikaru’ much better. Female middle school graduates and newly-enrolled high schoolers were chatting dreamily about Hikaru Mikado in this vein, and that was how Koremitsu learned of Hikaru’s place in Heian.

All the same, he was extremely popular, and many girls even started liking him when he was a student in the affiliated kindergarten.

Even in this school full of rich peers, his family background and wealth were considered outstanding. Despite this, he showed the same abundant affections and tenderness to every last girl.

“As expected, that guy is some handsome dude I have no affinity with whatsoever.”

That was what Koremitsu thought before meeting Hikaru.

But, for some reason, Hikaru Mikado called out to Koremitsu with a grin when they met for the first time.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

Koremitsu felt there was something wrong with Hikaru’s statement back then.

He came to question whether he heard things wrongly after Koremitsu was told of Hikaru’s death before those words made sense to him.

It was said that Hikaru drowned in a flood caused by heavy rain while staying at a resort in Shinshu, during the Golden Week.

Even though they had merely exchanged a few words, the fact that Hikaru died at the young age of 15 was a huge shock to Koremitsu, making him aware once again of how life was not permanent - how fleeting it was. He recalled his father’s death, and felt bitter in his heart.

Koremitsu harboured such complicated, incomprehensible feelings as he went to Hikaru’s funeral under the soft rains.

Koremitsu sat on the pipe chairs indoors with forlorn expression, vacantly staring at the funeral leader surrounded by women’s anguished sobbing.

Hikaru was a beautiful child.



He was such a kind child.



He really had such a refreshing smile.

His was vice was so nice.



And he had such delicate fingers - like a gifted artist’s.



He was a little stubborn, but I can’t bring myself to hate him for it.



He was scared of loneliness, but that made him adorable.



He was a child who looked like he could carry all the happiness in the world.



He was a child who seemed to be enveloped by light.

Everyone present was mourning and weeping for this young man and his premature death.

The funerary songs of remembrance fell upon Koremitsu’s ears.

He really understood too little about this deceased person, and it was difficult for Koremitsu to understand the mourners’ feelings.

He was awash in waves of sadness, feeling annoyance, guilt, and unease.

At this moment, he noticed a woman sitting in a seat reserved for relatives.

She appeared young.

She was probably in her early twenties or so.

Her body was so frail-looking that she seemed like a flower about to snap at any time, and she was neither wearing a one-piece nor black kimono. Her hair was tied back.

The moment she entered Koremitsu’s vision, he held his breath from the sheer impact of what he saw.

Mikado…?

At that moment, he had the wrong impression that Hikaru Mikado himself was sitting before him.

She bore a shocking resemblance to Hikaru.

Her smooth, silky hair looked golden under the light; she had milky white skin, a subtle yet elegant nose, lips like petals and a slender neck.

Is she Hikaru’s older sister…?

The woman slowly smiled.

Those tears continued rolling down her delicate face, but the ends of her lips curled up a little.

It was a tranquil, pleasing smile.

Hers was a smile that did not fit a funeral scene. Koremitsu stood in front of the sandalwood incense, his nostrils heavy with its smell, and he gazed at her half-mesmerized.

Why…is she smiling?

She’s smiling so beautifully, so—happily.

Why, at his funeral…?

This woman who looked like Hikaru’s sister showed a smile that lasted for such a brief moment it felt like an illusion.

Koremitsu was so rapt by the display that he was beginning to space out. Before he could, a sharp voice in the crowd interrupted his thoughts.

“HE’S JUST A DAMN IDIOT!”

Startled, he glanced over in direction of the voice.

A girl wearing Heian Academy uniform was standing in front of Hikaru’s mourning post.

Her long, black hair was left behind her head, tied with black ribbon. She gave off a childish vibe, looking quite the refined princess. As she clenched her fists she could not help but shudder, her large eyes almost appeared to emit an aura of furious contempt as she angrily stared at Hikaru’s smiling portrait.

She let out scathing words from contrastingly quivered lips.

“YOU’RE REALLY AN IDIOT FOR DROWNING IN A RIVER LIKE THAT! THAT’S SO EMBARRASSING! I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE STABBED TO DEATH BY A WOMAN! IT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO MUCH OF A PLAYBOY THAT KARMA STRUCK BACK!”

“Don’t do this, Aoi.”

Instantaneously, a taller girl wearing the same uniform walked over. She grabbed her by the shoulder, clearly wanting to take her outside.

Prompted by the suggestive hand, “Aoi” lifted her head to see Hikaru’s portrait again.

The side of her pallid, stiff face caused Koremitsu’s heart to skip a beat.

It was a face mixed with anger, anguish and bitterness. A dangerous expression—

The young girl howled in disdain.


“YOU LIAR!”


Koremitsu felt like his heart was stabbed by a sharp spear.

In fact, he even felt a sharp pang to his heart.

(Whoa there…what kind of carnage is this?)

The place fell silent for a moment to regain its relative clamor moments later.

Folks started murmuring about what had just happened to one another.

Liar—

Koremitsu’s mind was still thinking about her begrudging tone and her angry, yet pained expression.

Liar.

Liar.

Mikado’s innocent face was right before her, but what could still have caused him to be told off like that?

“Liar.” The word painfully lashed echos in Koremitsu’s ears.

Even though Hikaru was dead, she continued to vent her frustration on him. What kind of relation did she share with him?

Exactly what kind of lie did Hikaru tell?

Well…it has nothing to do with me anyway…

The prayer recital started, and the place became thick in solemn atmosphere.

The woman who looked so very similar to Hikaru, still sitting in the chair designated for family members, kept her head lowered.

The girl with the black ribbon who had been lambasting Hikaru started to fade away from Koremitsu’s mind.

When it was his turn to offer incense, he held onto the sandalwood, closed his eyes and lowered his head.

What exactly did he mean when he said ‘There’s something I want to ask of you’?

However, there was a question that he just couldn’t get his mind off of.

Of course, it was impossible for Hikaru’s corpse in the coffin to give the answer.

Once the funeral ended, he left the place, but it was still raining outside, and the weather was dark and humid.

It’s so troublesome to carry an umbrella around…

He stepped on the wet ground as he walked out.



—Mr. Akagi.



It seemed that someone called his name.

He stopped in his tracks, and looked back.



…Maybe I’m just hearing things.



There were two girls in uniforms behind him, their shoulders cringing, their bodies shivering as they were rooted to the ground.

Koremitsu felt very bitter in his heart as he saw this, and he arched his back as he stepped forward.

Why is it that such an uncouth person came along to visit Mr. Hikaru’s funeral?

He could not help but click his tongue the moment he heard the whispers behind him.

[Von Himmel]

I didn't comment on it when I read the manga chapter, but is that girl who looks like Hikaru going to be one of main heroine?

Anyway, thanks for the translation

[Hell_ping]

Originally Posted by Von Himmel

I didn't comment on it when I read the manga chapter, but is that girl who looks like Hikaru going to be one of main heroine?

Anyway, thanks for the translation

She doesn't appear until the 6th volume here...

Spoiler for Text:

There were people in this world who were easily misunderstood.



The fifteen years of misfortune Koremitsu Akagi suffered was primarily due to his appearance.

He looked like he was brooding all the time, his eyes were often lowered and yielded an air of arrogance and derision, the mouth curled downward with unhappiness.

He had a stiff face that hinted of nothing amicable. His appearance was ominous - a sharp complexion, an arched spine, his scraggy body, and unkempt red-brown hair made him appear as if a complete delinquent.

He recalled the full course of misunderstandings with regards to himself when he was young.

When he was in kindergarten, people were scared of Koremitsu’s savage expression and would back away from him; during his entrance ceremony in primary school, the girl sitting beside him suddenly started to cry, and the other children started to cry after seeing that as well, causing quite a ruckus.

For some reason, it ended up with Koremitsu being accused of bullying the girl, and the mothers would teach their children not to play with him. With that, Koremitsu lived a lonely life.

During middle school, he got tangled with the upperclassmen hanging around on the empty space in the school compound, and in the process of getting away from them, he inadvertently got called the king of fighting, the king of delinquents and other names, and was viewed as a dangerous person. Because of this, he could not make a single friend in middle school.

And then, there was that unforgettable graduation ceremony.

While his classmates who were crying as they parted ways, Koremitsu was isolated by them, left along at the wilting sakura trees as he thought,

(I can’t let this continue.)

Once he entered high school, he had to make friends so that he would not let himself be called the Red Devil, the man of disaster, the savage-looking wild dog and such.

That was what he decided.

However, on the day before the entrance ceremony, he got hit by a truck at a cross junction with lots of traffic, and unexpectedly, had to spend a month in the hospital to recuperate.

After the accident, Koremitsu’s aunt, who was also his guardian, went into an uproar,

“Why do you get involved in one trouble after another! It’s a miracle that you managed to pass the exam of an outstanding famed private school here, and yet you decide to excuse yourself from the ceremony by being in hospital? Even primary school kids don’t get run over at a traffic light of a cross junction!”

And went on a frenzy.

Afterwards, Koremitsu was finally released from the grim life of hospitalization, and it was time for a memorable moment where he could enter school for the first time.

He had a crutch tucked under his right armpit, his left hand in a cast, and his head with a bandaged around as he walked down the long courtyard corridor.



“Damn it…where the heck is the staff room?”



He wanted to ask for directions, but everyone frantically parted aside, and unknowingly, he entered a place where no one was around.

In this large courtyard, there were beautiful trees that were neatly arranged, stones of all shapes and sizes, and even lakes and ponds.

Heian Academy was a famous school that had an integrated program from its affiliated kindergarten to its university, and they spent a lot of fortune building the courtyard.

During the previous winter, he came to this school for an entrance exam, and was sincerely amazed by how well maintained the toilets and the courtyard were. He thought that since he could enter such a prestigious school, he would not have to face those upperclassmen who would go crazy without warning and pull out the knives from their modified uniforms, and that he could look forward to getting along with his classmates.

However, people backed off from him when he entered this school for the first time, and even got lost—

(Damn it…everyone’s judging each other based on appearance. They’re saying my parents got me into this school through Mafia connections - that I fought some sort of delinquent army from another school and nearly killed them all, and that I was hospitalized as a result. Hey, I can hear your vilification! If you want to badmouth me like that, do it somewhere I can’t hear it, okay!? I deserve to be treated with the bare minimum of manners, do you hear me!?)

Sulkily, he proceeded down the corridor, his crutch sounding a tap with each start forward to accentuate his gait.

There seemed to be someone standing in the shadow of a pillar in front of him.

The person was simply standing there, and looked like he was simply leaning on the pillar. He was wearing a blazer and slacks—is he a guy?

The morning sunlight that shone into the atrium lit this soft hair, seemingly radiating off a golden glow.

Why was such a person standing at this place so early in the morning?

Anyway, he got saved.

He wanted to approach the other person to ask where the office was, but the person turned his face over here.

(Huh…a girl?)

The boy had an overly delicate looking face, and Koremitsu immediately felt confused, wondering why a girl would be wearing a boy’s uniform

(No, that’s a guy…right?)

The person’s clear eyes narrowed, and a smile splayed across his very sincere-looking face. His fine lips then started to move.

“Mr Akagi.”

He let out a sweet voice.

It felt like this voice itself had a fragrance to it, and it reached the ears softly and gently, spreading deep inside the ears. At this moment, Koremitsu stopped in his tracks.

“You’re the first year Mr Koremitsu Akagi. This is the first time you’re stepping into the school, right?”

“…How do you know my name?”

As Koremitsu remained wary, Hikaru spoke with a clear tone,

“Any unbelievable freshmen would become the talk around here. It’s said that you fought against a delinquent army, beat 10 opponents to near death, became the 27th gang leader and the legendary king of the delinquents. It’s also said that the injuries you sustained were marks of honor from battle, right?”

There was no one who dared to approach Koremitsu and talk, let alone someone who did not fear him, facing him head on and showing a refreshing smile.

That was why Koremitsu felt somewhat puzzled instead of being outraged over being called a gang leader.

For some reason, he felt he could really talk with someone called a gang leader so nonchalantly…

For someone who looked like a girl, he sure has guts, huh? Or is he just slow? Or is he planning something?

He told Hikaru the truth, that his delinquent-like face was something he was born with, that the injuries were a result of him being knocked down by a truck, that there were really no gang leaders around, and that he was not a delinquent.

“Then why did you block the truck with your body?”

But the boy suddenly raised this remark.

“…A coincidence.”

“That’s some amazing coincidence.”

“It can’t be helped. It was just that coincidental.”

“Hmm, but I don’t think a truck is something you could run into coincidentally.”

“…”

He really didn’t want to talk about the incident.

To Koremitsu, who was not used to having others talk to him, the way this boy spoke to him so naturally caused him to feel butterflies in his stomach.

The manner in which the boy looked back at him was like he was staring at a rare animal on exhibition, and it felt repulsive.

“…Where’s the staff room?”

Koremitsu suddenly spoke up to interrupt this topic, but the other person did not seem to mind,

“Head straight down, and at the end, turn left, go up the stairs, and onto the second level.”

And he even guided Koremitsu.

“Oh, I see.”

The sound of the pine crutch rang again, and as they were to pass by each other, Koremitsu got called up again.

“Mr Akagi, I forgot my Classics textbook today. Can you please lend me yours?”

Huh?

Koremitsu stopped thinking for a moment.

''Why ask me to lend a textbook all of a sudden?''

Koremitsu turned around, and saw the other person staring right at him with his clear eyes.

“…Our class doesn’t have Classics today.”

He answered as he tried to guess the other person’s intention.

“Eh, that’s too bad.”

He mused as he gave a meaningful smile,

“Then, I’ll come over to your class to borrow your textbook then, Mr Akagi. There’s something I want to ask of you then.”

''Something you want to ask of me? What is it?''

It escalated from a simple textbook borrowing request to a personal favor request, and this suspicious change caused him to frown.

“I’m Hikaru Mikado of Class 1. See you next time.”

He waved his arm widely and walked off to the courtyard.

The image of that dazzling smile, a smile he thought brilliant as the sun, etched itself deeply into Koremitsu's mind.

“Kyah! Your Hikaru!” “Good morning, Master Hikaru!” the girls’ jubilant yells could be heard from the other side of a forest.

Koremitsu could only look stunned as he listened to the screams fade in the distance.

That was one week ago.

A week later.

Koremitsu, who had his cast and crutch removed, saw the girls crying and wailing as he entered school, and heard the news that “Your Hikaru has died.”

[Athena]

I discovered this novel a while ago. I love it so far.

BTW, the "Aoi" in the thread title is not necessary, I think.

[Hell_ping]

Oh btw, I finished up the first chapter. 8 more to go.

Chapter 2 is already completed, but I left half of it to the editors because this is 70 pages long.

[Seitsuki]

...wait, Ping sempai has his own blog? Is this some sort of concurrent thing?

[Von Himmel]

>an update

Bless you teh_ping ;-;

Can't wait for the next chapter since that's supposed to be where the translated manga left off(?)

[Hell_ping]

Originally Posted by Seitsuki

...wait, Ping sempai has his own blog? Is this some sort of concurrent thing?

Just a place where I don't have to deal with the admin myself.

Schedule for Hikaru:

Hikaru 1 - Aoi to be completed on 9th August 2013
Hikaru 2 - Yuugao to be completed on 7th October 2013
Hikaru 3 - Waka Murasaki to be completed on 23th November 2013
Hikaru 4 - Oborozukiyo to be completed on 31st December 2013
Hikaru 5 - Suetsumuhana to be completed on 26th January 2014
Hikaru 6 - Asagao to be completed on 12th March 2014
Hikaru 7 - Utsusemi to be completed on 10 April 2014
Hikaru 8 - Hanachirusato to be completed on 15th June 2014.

Unedited for the time being:

Spoiler for Chapter 2:

After much experimentation, Koremitsu and Hikaru found that it was possible for Koremitsu to maintain a certain distance from Hikaru in more open spaces. However, they could only be distanced a maximum of three meters from one another. In cramped spaces like a porta potty, they would be forced together in proximity - if Koremitsu did not move, Hikaru would be unable to leave the space.

What kind of joke is this? Now we have to stick together just to use the toilet?

The occasional couple of friendly girls might have held hands before going into separate stalls, but sharing the same lavatory was downright unseemly. It was more of an issue for Koremitsu and Hikaru, who were more of acquaintances than anything else, to share a washroom.

Koremitsu’s face felt like it was seething with fire as he recalled the uncomfortable feeling of facing Hikaru and urinating.

There was nothing more troublesome to Koremitsu than Hikaru’s presence. He had to finish his request as soon as possible and send him to Heaven.

The next morning, he walked into school with this steadfast determination.

“This is my first time riding in a bus full of people.”

Hikaru poked his head out playfully from a gap in the mass of humanity on board, as the many passengers inside packed like a can of sardines. There seemed nothing more supernatural than the sight of his face overlapping others’ in such a crowded setting.

He was not concerned about Koremitsu, who had been looking away from him deliberately, and continued to mutter to himself once they each got off the tram and walked to school.

“I used to be a gardening rep, and we’re to bury seeds like Dahlia and Lemon Grass this May. What activity are you involved in, Koremitsu?”

Unknowingly, Hikaru started to call him ‘Koremitsu’ instead of ‘Mr Akagi’.

Just when Koremitsu was about to complain about Hikaru being overly familiar with him,

“That’s because we are ‘designated’ as friends from now on. It will be distant of me to call you Mr Akagi now, right? You can call me Hikaru too, Koremitsu.”

The latter replied immediately,

“So, what did you do? Your joined a martial art club, right? Was it boxing or kung fu?”

“I was the pet raising committee member in elementary school. At that time, I took care of turkeys and rabbits.”

While frowning, Koremitsu gave a slightly subtle answer.

“I see. So you liked animals.”

“Turkeys are delicious when baked.”

“That red-nosed is really cute. Just like a Red Spider Lily.”

Hikaru did not mind as he continued this conversation that did not seem like one.

Had this carefree prince really realized that he had died?

Koremitsu held back from throwing a tantrum at him as he passed through the dignified looking school gate.

Heian Academy was a school that had all facilities from an affiliated kindergarten to a university. The middle school and high school had different gates, but they were located in the same campus area.

As Koremitsu took his shoes from the locker and started changing into them,

“Ah.”

Hikaru let out this voice.

There was a school news report with a photo of Hikaru when he was alive pinned on the notice board on the corridor.

There were pieces of colored paper stuck beside them, with the words of mourning written on them.

“Farewell.”

“I loved you most.”

“I definitely won’t forget you.”

“Your Hikaru, you were once our youth.”

Even till this point, there were still girls crowding over there, red-eyed as they wrote their messages on it.

Amongst them, there was a girl who was crying as she read the messages. While she covered her face with both hands, her good friend beside her comforted her despite being teary-eyed too.

Koremitsu felt his entire body being tied down to the ground.

(I say, even though you don’t have friends, aren’t a lot of people sad over your death here?)

His body felt a sharp cutting pain, and his chest was blazing with heat.

He thought that Hikaru would shed even a tear, but a gentle voice rang beside him.

“You are like a Daisy swaying in the spring breeze. Please don’t cry, tears don’t fit you.”

Unexpectedly, that Hikaru would approach this crying girl and reach his hands to her back.

And then, he embraced this girl like a fragile item in a seemingly experienced manner, (However, his arms were already entrenched within the girl’s body), and muttered in her ears.

“Do you know what does the Daisy represent in terms of flower language? It means to be ‘cheerful’. Here, smile, show me that cheerful smiling face of yours.”

At that moment, Koremitsu was at a loss of words.

What exactly was going on?

Hikaru slowly closed his eyes and let out sweetness from between his lips. As he let out this bewitching voice that could melt a spine, there seemed to be a glow radiating around him.

“…Oi.”

While Koremitsu looked on with a frozen expression, Hikaru again approached another girl, held (?) her trembling little hand and passionately brought his lips to her ears.

“Over here, you who are like a Blue Cornflower, please pull yourself together. Cornflowers represent ‘happiness’ here. Aren’t you normally bubbly and radiating with hope?”

And so, he floated around and appeared amidst the girls who were crying, stroked their hair(?) and held their hands(?).

“To you, who is like a Buttercup in the wild, you look cute when you smile. Ah, the one who’s like a Snowdrop there, the same goes for you as well. If you cry like that, your beautiful eyes will melt if you cry like that. Will you stop crying if I kiss you?”

He held the face full of large rolling teardrops with both hands as he approached with a gentle expression. At this point, Koremitsu could not take it any longer as he freaked out and yelled.

“STOP IT RIGHT THERE, YOU BIG PERVERT!!”

Hikaru was taken aback as he looked over at Koremitsu.

Koremitsu stormed furiously at Hikaru.

“What love messages are you spouting there!? Think of your own predicament here! This isn’t the time to talk about such squirmy things behind other people’s backs here! Are you an idiot!?”

Hikaru did not seem accepting of Koremitsu’s frustration as he argued back.

“To me, I can’t imagine myself leaving a crying girl alone like that. If you see a wilting flower, won’t you not feed it with water and fertilizer and take care of it well with all your strength?”

“Like that has anything to do with me! I was a pet feeder! I wasn’t a gardening rep!”

“Then, if you see a wounded cat, you should cradle it gently and treat its wounds, right?”

“Of course not. Stray cats will just lick their own wounds.”

“There are some wounds that can’t be treated just by yourself…hey, Koremitsu, the others are looking at us here.”

The moment Hikaru pointed this out, Koremitsu froze.

Of course, there was no way anyone else could hear this person’s voice.

He looked around with a stiff expression, and found that there was an empty space of 2m radius formed around him unknowingly.

The girls stopped crying as they cringed with horrified expressions. The moment their eyes met Koremitsu’s, their shoulders jerked, and they looked away.

(Don’t I look like some dangerous guy who’ll yell without warning on the corridor?)

He had originally decided to act decently so that he would not be nicknamed anything embarrassing like ‘The Red Devil’. Would it not be ruined now?

“Ah…erm…”

He wanted to salvage this situation somehow, but he could only give off cold sweat, and was unable to say anything.

Slowly, his face was burning up.

This is bad. Is my face red now?

“I…I’m not talking to you guys—at all!”

He snarled with a flustered expression and hurriedly left the scene.

“Don’t mind, Koremitsu. Your reputation won’t be shaken just by entering the school and yelling on the corridor out of a sudden. Besides, you’re the 27th king of delinquents who single-handedly beat up an army of delinquents here. There is no worse reputation than this now, so please relax.”

(What kind of consolation is this here!?)

He swore in his heart not to speak to Hikaru in front of anyone again.

Due to the shame and regret, his expression felt 3 times scarier than usual, and his eyes looked 10 times sharper than usual. He reached the classroom, opened the back door, and found a petite girl standing in front of him, nearly passing out in the process.

“Hah…good, good morning…Akagi.”

This plain-looking bespectacled girl had a short twisted braid behind her head, and she was the class representative. Koremitsu did not know her name, and the other classmates called her ‘rep’ too.

He remembered the first day he stepped into this school after that hospitalization.



“I heard that he’s the legendary delinquent…”

“Students from other schools came looking for trouble with him during Middle School, and there was a bloody incident…”

“He beat 10 people to near death.”

There were all sorts of various rumors.

He was avoided by his classmates who believed these rumors that kept getting ridiculous, and she was the only person who went to talk to him.

But even so,

“We-well…I’m the class representative…pl-please take care of me, Akagi. If, if there’s anything you don’t know, you may ask me.”

Her face was extremely tense, and she was so nervous that her greeting voice was shrill as she. “Thanks. Where’s the canteen?” but just as Koremitsu was about to answer back,

“Th-the-then, in that case, I’ll make my move.”

The class rep added on and darted back to her seat like an escaping rabbit.

He saw her with her hands clasped together; shuddering at her table, obviously praying in her heart that he would not talk to her. If he actually asked her back then, she would have probably screamed and hid herself under the table.



Even though it ended up this way, she still fulfilled her responsibility as a class rep, and whenever her eyes met Koremitsu, she would greet him “Good, good morning.” Or “Good, goodbye.”

Normally, she would walk away immediately afterwards, but this time, she remained where she was, and did not leave as she asked tentatively.

“Akagi…you attended Lord Hikaru’s funeral yesterday, didn’t you…are you familiar with him?”

It seemed that she too was present at that time.

He wanted to answer that they were not really on close terms, but beside him, Hikaru nagged, saying that they were designated as friends.

“We are close friends here, Koremitsu.”

Since when are we close friends here!?

There has to be a limit to your brazenness here! Just when he was about to yell out, he immediately gritted his teeth and frowned.

That was a close call. I nearly shocked everyone again.

The next moment however, the class rep jumped like a hare again.

“So-sor-sorry for asking you in such an interrogative manner. It’s fine, you don’t have to answer here!”

Her face turned face and she ran off. (Um... What?)

He looked angry when he gritted his teeth and frowned, and it was no wonder that she was terrified. He saw her return to her own seat, and her short braid was trembling as she continued to pray like the last time.

“A girl like her who gets shy easily is really as cute as a plum blossom changing colors.”

Hikaru said with a relaxed expression.

(No, that’s not being shy. She… looks terrified no matter how I see it.)

Koremitsu wondered that if he were to think about anything enthusiastically like Hikaru, he would probably die with a smile too. At this point, he felt envious and yet a complicated feeling of not wanting this experience to befall on him as he threw his bag onto his table.

Koremitsu’s seat was at the closest seat to the corridor at the last row.

He glanced slightly at the seat opposite the narrow aisle. The girl seated at that seat did not look happy this morning as she pouted and frowned as she fondled her cellphone.

She sent messages by moving her fingers quickly in a sliding manner.

She was always using her phone, whether it was before school or during the breaks.

Her bright tea-colored long hair slid down her slender shoulders, covering her temples and nestling upon her ears. However, her fingers did not stop. Her fierce looking eyes were pointing up more than before, and she looked thoroughly engrossed as she stared at the screen of the phone.

She completely ignored this savage looking delinquent beside her.

It was one thing for Koremitsu to be troubled by how everyone was fearful of him, but it was not interesting for her to completely ignore him. She did not even make a glance at him, let alone greet him. One would wonder what her problem was.

This girl sat beside the frustrated Koremitsu was still minding her own business as if nothing had happened. She had a strong-willed heart that matched her utter fearlessness.

(No, I guess this person here is also mistaken to have a violent personality because she’s born with fierce-looking eyes and left alone as a result. This is why she’s been using her phone to spend the time. She’s probably someone very lonely.)

The moment he had this thought, the fire in his belly seemed to have subsided.

But to Hikaru beside him, it seemed that no matter how that girl did not care about anything around her, no matter how she ignored Koremitsu’s presence, these were all points of attractiveness.

“A girl that’s thoroughly focused on doing something is just like a crimson Hibiscus. Is she sending a message to her boyfriend?”

While Hikaru was trying to peep on the contents of the phone,

“Oi, stop it.”

Koremitsu warned him softly.

The moment he said that, the girl beside him stopped her fingers that were typing at the keys, and turned to glare at Koremitsu.

Her eyes were giving off a sharp glint, like a cat not willing to be approached

He wanted to explain that he was not talking to her, but he did not say so.

In the end, he ended up glaring at her, something he did not want to do.

A male classmate yapped away loudly as he sprinted to the classroom door.

“Oi! The delinquent king suddenly went crazy at the shoe lockers! It seemed that he yelled at the sobbing girls leaving their messages at Lord Hikaru’s notice board, “WHAT ARE YOU CRYING ABOUT, YOU BUNCH OF LEWD FEMALE DOGS! I CAN LICK YOU ALL UP IF YOU REALLY WANT HIM THAT MUCH!” that’s really barbaric, satanic—ack!”

He probably let out the ‘ack!’ at the end was because he sensed the killing intent radiating from Koremitsu’s body.

At that moment, he was soaked in cold sweat, at a loss of what to do.

“No…er-erm…the delinquent king here doesn’t refer to our master delinquent in this class…i-it’s from another class…well, erm, about that…I’M REALLY SORRY!”

The boy knelt down on the podium to beg for forgiveness, and his pale-faced classmates witnessed this scene.

(I’m the delinquent king no matter what now? What are you apologizing for, you idiot bastard!?)

While Koremitsu’s heart sank into despair, the culprit Hikaru said with amazement as he gave a look of lamentation,

“Wow, this is the first time I’m seeing someone kneeling down for forgiveness. It sure has an unforgettable impact to me. I’ll definitely do this to a girl next time.”
While the commotion was processing, the girl sitting next to Koremitsu continued to frown as she sent her messages.

[Von Himmel]

That's a pretty tight (and quick) schedule. oh and will this be uploaded to BT later or will you just do it in your blog?

[Hell_ping]

Originally Posted by Von Himmel

That's a pretty tight (and quick) schedule. oh and will this be uploaded to BT later or will you just do it in your blog?

Think of it in SAO terms. The blog is for the 'beaters' while BT is for the normal players. My plan is that when I translate one chapter, the chapter before that will be uploaded onto BT. Yeah, it'll be on BT in the end, but there are impatient people after all.

...Hanachirusato will only come out this August, and I'm already planning one year in advance...

[ZeKeR]

still.... the poor guy's like Kodaka.... only to a gimped level.

[Shorya]

@Teh_Ping:

Thanks for taking the series for translations. *^▁^*

The first time I read it was from your "Translation of the day" and found it quite an interesting read but sadly it was left untouched in the teaser novel. From then on I was wondering if anyone will ever translate this series?
But then saw that chapter 2 is translated and even whole first volume too, I was like ↖(^▽^)↗ (Though it seems like it needs editing before being published at BT)

BTW whenever I read that "Mystery Text" it reminds me that's from the POV from the person who's responsible for Hikaru's death or rather murder (The later half portion especially since he/she's the last one who saw Hikaru dying), and the possible person seems to be his sister *the person who looks the same like hikaru and was noticed by Akagi crying yet smiling on Hikaru's funeral* (and then there's that forbidden love thing too)
The other possibile person is that red haired sempai *sorry forgot her name* who claimed to be hikaru's lover (which could also relate with that forbidden love which none will accept, since he already had a fiance *Aoi* and all)
*+* BTW these are my assumption based on short summaries from here and there *+*

[Von Himmel]

But then saw that chapter 2 is translated and even whole first volume too,

H-huh it's already finished? Where can I find it? can't seem to find it in his blog orz

[Hell_ping]

We moved servers: http://hereticlnt.blogspot.sg/ and this blog will be used for hosting ePubs and stuff, and also a little 'fansub' group (amazingly, I'm trying to hire willing translators, especially for Magdala and Oregairu). Editors are also welcomed to join, but do understand that I only have vacancies for a few 'side projects', and we certainly need proofreaders.

Right now, the later chapters are currently being edited, still another 235 pages of JP equivalent text for the editors to go through with. (And I cool down with Unicorn while the editors continue to slog away at the text)

Also, I'm working on the manga with the original manga FTL team that worked on it. Completed up till chapter 5 till now, and I think I can go through with 1-2 chapters updates per week. Just another 10 chapters to go, and it's easy for me since I can copy my translation from the volume of Aoi.

Hopefully, I can work on Yugao starting July 15.

[Athena]

Ping working on mangas? Oh.

BTW, who's your favorite char so far?

[Hell_ping]

Originally Posted by Athena

Ping working on mangas? Oh.

BTW, who's your favorite char so far?

As I explained so eloquently on Facebook, it's a death sentence for a translator to reveal his favorite girl, especially one in a harem. (The most I went for IS is that the number of letters in the girl's given name is a prime number). If you ask me what's my favorite volume though, it's Asagao.

Well, we got preview stories here (unedited):

V1C3 http://pastebin.com/SnThtteF
V1C4 http://pastebin.com/XKEdkufP
V1C5 http://pastebin.com/TxQaiHK2
V1C6: http://pastebin.com/qxfeeNkK
V1C7: http://pastebin.com/Jp3PYtfN
Footnote: http://pastebin.com/ZyRYcDyj

There are still 3 unreleased chapters though.

[Hell_ping]

Btw, I'm still keeping translations for this series alive.

[Hell_ping]

Chapter 2 of the manga's out: http://www.batoto.net/read/_/185402/...aynslele-scans

[Kirito]

Really great chapter, and I'm totally enjoying the LN. I'm really enjoying the chemistry between Koremitsu and Hikaru, quite the loveable duo. One to play the tsukkomi while the other the boke (Koremitsu = tsukkomi, Hikaru = boke) at some instances. It's nice that Koremitsu and Hikaru's friendship is progressing nicely, and we get a little glimpse at make Koremitsu's character a bit more "welcoming" despite the two's indifferences. That's a good thing since it will likely encourage more of a "social growth" to make up for the inexperience in that subtext.

I can't wait to see Honoka get more in the spotlight in the manga because I really like her in the novel. The love expert with no love experience herself, and has deadly killer legs I might add. Best girl so far, but could change as the story progresses.

On that note: Keep up the great work Teh_Ping, and take your time with what you have plans with this project. I'm caught up with the BT chapters, and can't wait for the next chapter.

[kan-chan]

I've read the first translated chapters and I find it very interesting, but i'll wait more chapters/volumes before say if it's so good as it seems