Translation: also srs fkn bsns

Not quite accurate, as this ep continues the high-action mode that 11 started, but.  As a translator I’ve, since the beginning of the show, enjoyed more than anything how I can play with the dialog of certain characters to really set the tone, especially the interactions between Kouji and Boss.

Let’s look at a conversation from three different perspectives, first the raw Japanese:

甲「でも　今は早くここから出なくちゃ」
甲「だから　それを。」
ボ「おっと　そうはいかねえ」
ボ「こっちも苦労したんだ」
ボ「 そう簡単には渡せねえな。」
甲「なに！」
ボ「 これが欲しけりゃ俺様の言うことを聞いてもらわにゃ。」
甲「お前の言うことを」
甲「 わかった　何でもお前の言うとおりにする　だから」
ボ「ホントだな？　何でもだな」
甲「 ああ　お前の子分になれって言うならなる　だから」
ボ「 バカ野郎！　誰がそんなことを」
甲「 じゃ…　じゃあ　何を」
ボ「 いいか　無事に熱海に帰れたら俺様と　もう一度　勝負しろ」
甲「 勝負？」
ボ「 そうよ　ケンカだよ」
ボ「 こんなもんと引き替えにお前を子分にしたっておもしれえわけがねえだろ」
ボ「 いいか　真剣勝負だ」
甲「ボス…　わかった　約束する」

Now let’s see what happens if we do that literally:

Ko: But if we don’t get out of here fast—
Ko: So, give me that.
Bo:  Whoops, that can’t happen.
Bo: I/we worked hard too.
Bo: I won’t hand it over so easily.
Ko: What!
Bo:  If you want this, you have to listen to what I say.
Ko: What you say…
Ko: Understood.  I’ll do whatever you say, so—
Bo:  Really?  Anything, right?
Ko:  Yes.  If you say to become your subordinate, I will.  So—
Bo:  Stupid.  Who said that?
Ko:  Then what?
Bo:  If/When we make it back to Atami safely, have another bout with me, OK?
Ko:  A bout?
Bo:  That’s right, a fistfight.
Bo:  Making you my subordinate in exchange for this would not be interesting, would it.
Bo:  A bout for real, OK?
Ko:  Boss…   I understand.  I promise.

Instead, I decided to rough it up a bit, which I’m sure takes away from the whole “when i put on my baggy pants and eat cup noodle it feels like I am actually in grorious Yamato watching this” fansub ethos, but let’s see what I take away (noted inline where particularly egregious) compared to what I give (reader’s judgment.)

Ko: Right now, we’ve got to get out of here fast.
Ko: So give me―
Bo: Nope, can’t do that.
Bo: I busted my ass too.
Bo: I’m not gonna give it to you that easy.
Ko: What!?
Bo: If you want this, you’ve gotta listen to what I say.
Ko: … what you say?
Ko: I get it. I’ll do whatever you say. So―
Bo: Really? Anything?
Ko: Yeah, I’ll be your lackey if you say. So―
Bo: Dumbass! Who said anything about that!?
Ko: Then what do you want?
Bo: Listen up. If we make it back to Atami in one piece, let’s go, you and me, one more time.  (”you” never figuring in the original, except by implication of “let’s” and “with me”.  And, of course, “go” is a lot more vague than “bout”.)
Ko: Go?
Bo: That’s right! We’ll rumble.
Bo: Making you my bitch in swap for this ain’t no fun.  (no distinction between “bitch” and “lackey” in the original Japanese, based solely on Boss’s crudeness and Kouji’s informality)
Bo: No holds barred, got it?  (I guess this is presumably the rules for a serious fight between delinquents, at least)
Ko: Boss…
Ko: Got it. It’s on.  (no trace of a promise here, just acceptance)

I went pretty divergent in the last part, but damn if I didn’t have a lot of fun doing so.  I wonder if it’s the right way to have gone?

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