news_jpop | Pink and Gray Chapter 1 Translation

chibi-hime.livejournal.com posting in

I've decided to take on the challenge to translate Shige's book into English. Of course, I'm still hoping that the publishers would make an official translation, but I'm many fans would want a glimpse now ^_^

Thank you for all the kind comments!

Request!! I hope to move my translations on to it's own community. Since I haven't done anything with LJ in a while, I'm a little lost on customizing. Can someone kindly make me a layout using the book cover as a header? Please leave me a message if you can help me out!

Chapter One: 27 Years Old. Black Coffee

The show is starting. Suddenly, his　photograph came on the screen. His facial expression in it, is strangely neutral and you can see that he's exhausted.

The picture was taken two years ago, on the first Sunday in June. If nothing special is going on, this documentary program always starts at 11 o'clock. I always watch this program and the next one after another but just for today, I was going to skip it. Because this time, it was a special on Rengo Shiraki. Nevertheless, in the end, I watched it.

It's always like this.

The hint of light rain left it a bit stuffy inside the room. The sound of the violins from the opening theme song seem to be resounding off the moisture. At last, I no longer can look away from the screen. In the lower right hand side of the picture that appeared on the screen, there was his name, Rengo Shiraki, written in his own handwriting. It was definitely "Gocchi's" handwriting because the bottom half of the kanji for "go" 「吾」 wasn't a square 「口」 but a circle 「〇」. The other characters were filled with his mannerisms, too. I wish it was different. But at the same time, I think I'm glad he is still the same. In other words, the thoughts in my head are complicated and lacking any organization.

Soon a commercial came on and my hand fell to the TV's remote control. I touch the numbered buttons restlessly. However, I can't push any of them. There are always laughable variety programs being broadcasted, so I can change the channel. But I can't. Somewhere out there, I probably still believe he's there. That "Rengo Shiraki" is an extension of "Gocchi" and that I'm still part of his life. If I watch today's program, the answer will reveal itself.

It's already been 4 or 5 years since he started his activities. But I think he should be categorized with the class of young handsome actors. In the past you can't get established if your only true strength is being a flashy actor. This movie is already a hot topic. With Rengo Shiraki's role as a band singer, there is going to be a CD debut along with this movie. Unbelievable. This guy, who wouldn't sing vocal at the school's culture day festival, is going to sing.

Soon, the show is starting. A low male voice narration overlaps with a scene from his filming set and you can see him. His thin smile that is mixed sometimes with a fake one, without even trying. His non-arrogant face and soft brown hair. The crinkle in the corner of his eyes.

For the next 10minutes, I watched the show. Unintentionally, I let the images and sounds washed over me. Like water constantly leaking from a faucet, I let the images pass over me.

The water from the faucet completely stopped when they started showing his childhood photos one by one. In all, they had time to show 4 pictures. The first one was a baby photo from when he was 4 years old. A little boy clutching what is likely one of his parent's glasses with both hands while looking off to the side. This is the first time I've seen this picture. Something from a time before I met him. The second one is a picture from his elementary school days. This is also my first time seeing this but it's nostalgic to see his innocent side. The reddish brown background was the wall of the apartment building we used to live in. The third picture. Junior high school's entrance ceremony.* I was the one who took the picture. Next, the fourth picture. I also have possession of this. It was a photo of the two of us after our band did a musical performance at the high school culture day festival. I had my arm wrapped around Gocchi's shoulder, mouth widely open and making a peace sign. He also was making a small piece sign with his hand lower than his chest and his eyes were crinkled with embarrassed laughter. Both our school uniform shirts were audaciously in disorder. In order to prevent it from getting in our way during our performance, we had unbuttoned it and the necktie was askew. So our neckties were poorly formed in the shape for the letter い. There was a very distinct grainy light that is characteristic of the nostalgic instant film cameras.

The picture I have is the same as the one shown on the TV screen. However, they were overwhelmingly different.

The one on TV only showed the left side of the picture where he was. I was completely edited out and the composite is centered on his face. Only my arm firmly around his shoulders can be seen and my right hand with the peace sign was somehow lost. So then his necktie was separated from mine, making a "shi" 「し」 shape.

It was only a brief few seconds.

However, in that time for the first time, I clearly felt that the relationship between us is now extinct. That fact was broadcasted and I felt completely disappointed.

Be it Rengo Shiraki or Gocchi, I could be arrogant and say that I was the only who help create him. But that is not the case. He had recreated himself with his own power. So the unneeded me has been completely excluded.

Immediately after, the narration told the story of his upbringing and I wasn't even involved one little bit. I wasn't the only one. Ishikawa was too. As well as his family.

From this point on, the memory of the broadcast's subject once again became vague.

Before I knew it, the ending song came on. Again with the violins. I expected the melody to be more elegant than the opening, but it was actually the reverse. The acceleration of the beat pounded my ears.

That was the only salvation.

Then came the ending filler. On the way home by taxi, a staff member he was close with asked, "Did you have a piercing before?"

He moved his neck a little, glanced briefly at the staff member and touched his right earlobe once.

"Once, when I was in high school."

"You don't have a piercing now?"

"Isn't it cooler to have a piercing hole than an earring?" he asked with an exhausted look on his face, while looking into the distance. The bright white light from a car passing by in the opposite direction lit up his face.

This bit of news conveyed to me that he was still Gocchi.

At the end of the program, I took a drink of the coffee that I had forgotten about. It has become lukewarm, sour and gross. I went to the sink with my mug and poured away next to the things that my mother was washing.

"Suzuki-kun** is amazing, isn't he?"

At one time, I had wished for his success even more than anyone.

"He really have become a great guy," I replied.

On the other hand, I also wish for him frustration and his downfall.

These opposing sentiments are separated like oil and water. But there is no doubt that these dynamics are within me. These feelings are probably not going to emulsify into one though.

"I also want a son like him."

It is probably a well-know truth that he is really a charming person. There is no doubt that I tried to find the words to represent what this means. Because he ran up the hierarchy of the show business world at such a young age and now he can stop near the top.

Returning back to the living room, I zapped at the TV a few times with the remote. As it turns off, my mother called out, "You don't have to turn it off." Just as I set the remote down, she quickly snatched it up again. As I head to my room, behind me, I hear a "pon~tsu" sound as the TV turns on again and it emits a burst of ill-mannered laughter.

*

Rengo Shiraki---- about him. The me who was the only one who was by his side in the past cannot bear to write this in such a sneaky manner. Those who are his fans will surely condemn me.

Still, I am writing this. Eternally, I will be dragging around these shackles that won't come off、but if I am to live, I need to do this.

Notes:
* In Japan, every school has an assembly to start the year in April. Parents are invited and speeches are made. Nothing too exciting.
** His mother is referring to Rengo. Remember that in the character descriptions, Shingo Suzuki changed his name to Rengo Shiraki once he debuted.

Notes:
- Please do not repost with out permission and credit. I will go into more detail about this later (When in doubt, just ask in the comments!)
- Comments and feedback is always appreciated!
- I will be constantly revising this to make it flow better in English, so please check back for updates. If there is something that doesn't make sense, please let me know!

[Edit 1]: I added a little bit more, since I'm sneaking in some translating at work.

[EDIT 2]: I've completed the first chapter!! Thank you so much for a lovely comments, I will reply back to as many as I can.

I thought I'd add a little about me, in case you're wondering about the accuracy of my translations:

I started taking Japanese in undergraduate school where I double majored in Psychology and Japanese. I also did a semester abroad in Osaka. My last year was dedicated to studying translating. After graduation, I moved to Japan and lived there for 4 years. Currently, I am in graduate school for psychology. So that means the speed of my translations will heavily depend on my class work load (I thank you in advance for your patience!). I decided to take on this project because I need to practice/study kanji for the JLPT test. I hope to translate a little piece everyday, but it will depend on how busy I get. I love NEWS, but I used to make fun of them because there were 9 members (true story!). My favorite song of theirs is SNOW EXPRESS. Hmmm... That's all!

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu~Thank you for your time.