xxxHolic, chapter 148
Note about chapter 136
Due to the recent (178-179) events in Tsubasa, I believe a note is in order here. As some of you might know, it's common practice in Japanese to use the name of the person you're talking to instead of an actual second person pronoun. Unlike in English (and Portuguese), it doesn't give that strange "third-person" feeling. I usually translate this as "
, " (which seems to be rare usage in Japanese, by the way). In page 7 of chapter 136, Watanuki asks Sakura whether the "everyone" that she wants to live includes her, and he uses this way of speaking. And Sakura says "yes" in page 8. Despite all the cuteness in Sakura's lines throughout the chapter, it's possible that the bit in pages 7-8 actually means this:
Watanuki: And does that include you?
Sakura: Yes, that includes Sakura.
(T/N: Both italicized words written as "Sakura-chan" in the original text.)
Now that I finally got my hands on the raws, here's the translation.
Chapter 148
-01- (splash: Kohane)
"I won't behave in a way that makes someone cry
anymore."
Watanuki's determination is devoted to Kohane, who lives in the darkness of her solitude!!
Can those feelings, that strong heart turn on the light in Kohane's eyes!?
-02-
Side text: Even though she's being featured in the spirit program on TV, Kohane became unable to demonstrate her spiritual abilities. The persistently deepening antagonism with the mother...
Kohane-haha: Why are we in such a cramped dressing room!
And we were in a bigger one before, too!
SFX: su (T/N: Slow movement.)
Kohane-haha: To make things worse, no one comes to greet us!
Not to mention the director, the AD too! (T/N: I'm guessing that "AD" stands for "assistant director", but I'm not really sure.)
SFX: ga- (T/N: Strong squeeze.)
Kohane-haha: What are you drinking!?
Kohane-haha: You're not putting impure things in your mouth again, are you!
Furthermore, what are we to do if you lose your powers!!
-03-
Kohane: ... It's water.
Kohane-haha: You're not lying, are you!
SFX: ji (T/N: Stare.)
SFX: ba- (T/N: Impact sound, but probably here for dramatic effect.)
-04-
Kohane: Mom.
Kohane-haha: Wh-... What?
Kohane: Once you said to me,
back when dad left,
Kohane: "Don't lie."
Kohane-haha: Work, business trip -- lies, nothing but lies!
You were at that woman's place all the time, right!
Kohane-chichi: And you, in your delusions of Kohane's appearing on TV, didn't stay home either, did you!
Kohane-haha: But it's for that child's benefit!! (T/N: Actually, the feeling here is more like, "You can't condemn me because I'm looking out for our daughter!" than an excuse.)
-05-
Kohane-chichi: Don't you mean for your own benefit!!
Kohane-haha: Wanting to take you away, the nerve!
No doubt it's because of the performance fee!!
Kohane-haha: The house, the money savings, you,
I absolutely won't hand them over!
-06-
Kohane-haha: Watch me!
Kohane-haha: 'Cause I'll make you regret this for sure!
Kohane: Dad already left.
Kohane: I won't see him again, will I?
-07-
Kohane-haha: It'll be great for you to appear in TV and get more famous, Kohane!
Kohane-haha: Get more and more famous, and I'll get rich!
Kohane-haha: It'll be great that they see that,
Kohane-haha: and die of regret!
Kohane: I wonder if it'll
turn out that way.
Kohane-haha: It will!
-08-
Kohane-haha: If we always hope for it to turn out like this, then it surely will!
Kohane: But,
mother, earlier...
Kohane-haha: What!?
Kohane: ......
Kohane-haha: From now on we'll work even harder on your promotion!
Kohane-haha: So that you can appear in even more programs and events!
So that we can have them pay fees!!!
-09-
Kohane-haha: So, please promise me!
Kohane-haha: You alone, Kohane, don't lie to me!!
Kohane: ...... Yeah.
-10-
Kohane: Do you think I lie?
Kohane: ... Hey, mom.
SFX: ha- (T/N: Surprised.)
Voice: Excuse--- me!
It's Kohane-san's turn---!
SFX: kon kon (T/N: Coughing.)
Kohane-haha: I-
I'm going right away!
Kohane-haha: Hurry up! (T/N: What the heck is up with the keigo verb?)
SFX: gacha (T/N: Door opening, I think.)
SFX: pata pata pata (T/N: Footsteps.)
-11-
Kohane: Ever since then,
Kohane: mom,
you don't call me by my name.
-12-
Side text: Continuing to be robbed of precious things, finally Kohane has lost even her name!! Can Watanuki's determination shine upon her darkness!?
Dammit, Kohane's parents should be arrested or something. Who the heck leaves a small child with a psycho-bitch?
Page 2: Of course no one's going to come by to greet you, psycho-bitch. ¬¬ Does she have any idea of how horribly she's behaving?
Page 5: The note attached to the chair seems to be saying 粗衣-something, but if there's any significance to it, I don't know. Anyone with practical knowledge of Japanese life to help with this one?
Page 7: The psycho-bitch explicitly says "they" in this page. I wonder if she's talking generally, or whether there's anyone else involved, like her in-laws for example.
Page 10: Who -is- psycho-bitch talking to in that last bubble of hers? She's looking at Kohane, and by the looks of it she was the one who left the room, as opposed to someone's walking in. But why the keigo verb to Kohane? And why is -she- leaving the room if Kohane is the one who's going to appear in the show?