Skip Beat Chapter 163
September 3, 2010
translation by unrelatedwaffle [at] gmail
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Please do not use this translation without permission. I have found my translations for other things posted on random sites or used in unauthorized scanlations, and I put a lot of effort into these as a volunteer because I love manga lovers. Please enjoy them, that’s what they’re here for, not for you to claim as your own.

unrelatedwaffle’s manga translation key:

Dialogue is listed by page number-panel number [000-00]. The page corresponds to actual page numbers and not file numbers when page numbers are available.
Line breaks indicate a new speech bubble.
Text in italics indicates thoughts/internal monologue.
Text in italics after a speaker’s name also in italics and preceded by tilde ~ are flashback/memory sequences (example: ~Tanaka: That was back in the day. . .)
Text in [square brackets] indicates asides/handwritten text.
Sound effects are in ALL CAPS.

[001-1] Caption: Acting brings forth something

that is both me and not me!

The Magnificent Show-Biz Challenge
Skip Beat!
Act 163 Violent Mission Phase 7.5
Nakamura Yoshiki Hit Manga Skip Beat Volumes 1~25 now on sale!

[002-1] Chiori: --I’m looking for an immortal butterfly.

[002-2] Chiori: Just as the name implies, it’s a butterfly that will never die.

[002-3] Chiori: Its transparent wings

don’t sparkle or glare.

It quietly lives,

[002-4] Chiori: deceiving our human eyes.

[003-1] Chiori: Sometimes it turns a passionate crimson,

sometimes a frozen, clear blue.

Sometimes it’s a dull, earthy color that no one could call beautiful.

Its wings change depending on the time and place,

so that the lucky people who have borne witness to it

know not

that they have all seen the same butterfly.

[003-2] Chiori: No one knows its true form.

They don’t know it exists.

[003-3] Chiori: When they cease to be dazzled by its phantasmagoric wings and accept the

butterfly’s “real self,”

the name they don’t know, the name I replace with “immortal butterfly,”

echoes in their minds:

“Fairy.”

[004-1] Chiori: I’m still searching.

[004-2] Chiori: in this fairy-tale world of celebrity,

for someone who can breathe life into the “role,” and change their form over

and over.

[004-3] Chiori: The one called “actor,”

the immortal butterfly,

[004-4] Chiori: the human

[005-1] Chiori: with transparent wings.

[005-3] Chiori: I. . .

[005-4] Chiori: may have found her.

Mr. D, master of my heart,

father of the victor,

[006-1] Chiori: I’ve found the “immortal butterfly” you’ve been searching for.

SOUND KYAA KYAA

KYAA KYAA

[006-2] SOUND KYAA KYAA

[006-3] Chiori: . . .

SOUND LIFT

Chiori: . . .Hm. . .?

[006-5] Chiori: . . .Is that. . .

[006-6] Chiori: a Dark Moon shoot going on?
That’s Tsuruga Ren over there, isn’t it?

[That’s why these girls are going crazy.]

SOUND KYAA KYAA KYAA

Kyoko: Ah. . .

[007-1] Kyoko: I think so.

There’s a car chase in the last story arc, so I wonder if it that’s not what they’re

filming.

Chiori: Hmmm. . .

. . .Wait. . .what?

There’s a scene like that in the last arc of “Tsukigomori”?

[I watched the original over and over as a kid, but I don’t remember that.]

[007-2] Kyoko: No, this was written specifically for Dark Moon.

The story’s been different from the original from about halfway through.

Chiori: [Ah,]

I see.

Caption: [Gets annoyed by contemporary dramas, so she doesn’t watch them.]

[007-3] Chiori: Is Tsuruga-san doing the driving himself?

Kyoko: Unfortunately. . .

He’s the kind of person who has to do every last bit himself. . .

[007-4] Girls: [Ah!]

Ahhhhh!!

[007-5] Girls: I can’t see him anymore!!
[How disappointing!]

Didn’t he get back in the car?

Kyoko: . . .

Chiori: . . .

[008-1] Chiori: We should get going.

SOUND TURN

Chiori: We’re not like these girls who are camped out here.

Kyoko: Ah. . .

[008-2] Chiori: I couldn’t stand it if he associated me with those squealing idiots.

[We’re both actors, after all. You’ve got to be kidding me!!]

SOUND STEP STEP

Kyoko: . . .!

[Ehh. . .!?!?]

Ah. . .! Could it be, Amamiya-san. . .

SOUND GONG

[008-3] Kyoko: has the same contempt for Tsuruga-san as she does for other actors. . .!?

SOUND STEP STEP STEP

[008-4] Kyoko: . . .

[008-5] Girls: [There’s a drama shoot and Tsuruga Ren is there, I heard!]

[No way!]

SOUND FLAPPA FLAPPA

SOUND GLANCE. . .

[009-1] Kyoko: Uh. . .

[009-2] Kyoko: Um, Amamiya-san. . .!

[009-3] Yashiro: When did he say we were supposed to be on set?

[009-4] Yashiro: Director Ogata, that is.

Ren: It seems they need a little more time to set up the traffic.

[009-5] Ren: He said the supervisor told him “About 30 minutes,

I think?”

Yashiro: Thirty minutes. . .that’s a long time. . .

We only have a permit to film on this street for two hours, don’t we?

[010-1] Yashiro: After we get out there and get set up and rehearse. . .

It might have to be done in one take. . .

[010-2] Ren: That’s true.

[010-3] Ren: [Well,]

I’ll do my best.

Yashiro: . . .

. . .Why don’t you just leave it to the stuntman. . .?

[010-4] Ren: No.

Yashiro: . . .Just because the practice went well doesn’t mean it’ll go well, you know?

And you’re about to do the B.J, part. If you get injured. . .

Ren: I told you, I’ll be fine.

You sure are a worrywart, Yashiro-san.

[010-5] Ren: I only have to drive in reverse in the wrong lane at 100 kilometers per hour,

drift into Noriyuki’s car, which has Mitsuki in it, and cause a little crash.

[Heh.]

Caption: [“Only” have to go 100 km/hr, drift, and cause a “little” crash.]

[011-1] Yashiro: . . .This guy. . .

[Perhaps he used to be like this. . .]

Ren: Besides, ever since I saw that this scene was in the last script,

I’ve been practicing on my own in secret.

[011-2] Yashiro: HAH!?

Practicing!?

Where the hell have you been doing that!?

[He’s a Tokyo Drifter!!]

[011-3] Yashiro: And the last script just came out!!

[How much have you been practicing that you can be that confident!?]

[012-1] Ren: Well,

I’ve been visualizing all that.

Yashiro: [In other words]

it’s only been in your imagination!?

[Who are you, Kyoko-chan!?]

Caption: [No, no, that confidence is

more and more dangerous!!]

[012-2] SOUND SLIDE

Helper: Ah!

Tsuruga-kun!

Can I have a word?

[012-3] Ren: Yes? Has there been a change?

Helper: Ah,

no. . .

[012-4] Helper: This isn’t about work.

[Um. . .]

You have a visitor.

Ren: . . .?

[014-2] Voice: EH?

[015-1] Cast: [Ehhhhhh!?]

Kyoko-chan? Is that really you!?

Cast2: [Whoooooa!]

I never would have recognized you!!

Cast: What’s with that getup?

Kyoko: Ah,

I’m in another drama right now.

[015-2] Kyoko: This is my costume for it.

[I’m a charismatic high school girl.]

Cast2: No, no. . .I’m not just talking about the costume. . .

Cast: You look so different depending on the role you’re playing!

[015-3] Cast2: You look about twice as grown up as you do normally!

[And twice as beautiful!]

Kyoko: [Ehhh!?]

Really? I’m so happy!!

Kijima: . . .

Can you imagine a grown-up Kyoko-chan?

[And twice as grown up, at that.]

Omose: . . .Eh?

Hmm. . .

[I don’t know. . .]

[015-4] Omose: When I think about how she is normally, it’s kind of hard. . .

Kijima: . . .Right?

[015-5] Kijima: . . .And they also said “beautiful”. . .?

[That girl. . .?]

[An average girl without strong or weak points.]

SOUND BUBBLE BUBBLE

Caption: [Curious]

SOUND BUBBLE BUBBLE

[016-1] Kijima: How pretty is she?

SOUND KATAK

TWITCH

[016-2] Ren: Is Box “R” filming around here, too?

[016-3] Kyoko: Yes.

[Actually,]

It’s over there, at the culture park. . .

Ren: I see.

Well then,

[016-4] Ren: Shall we go?

SOUND CRUNCH CRUNCH

Capiton: [3 seconds]

Helper: Eh?

Kyoko: Heh!?

Helper: T. . .Teleportation!?

Caption: [And yet, elegantly.]

Kyoko: Ehhh!?

[017-1] Yashiro: . . .Wh. . .what’s with him all of a sudden. . .?
[It’s like he spirited her away.]

[017-2] Yashiro: What in the w-

Kijima: What the hell? I just missed ‘em.

Tsuruga-kun walks way too fast, don’t you think?

[Big animals like him usually move slower than that.]

Yashiro: !!??

Kijima!? When did he appear!?

[017-3] SOUND GASP

Yashiro: . . .Wait, could it be?

That trick of Ren’s was because of him!?

[017-4] Yashiro: He didn’t want Kijima to see Kyoko-chan!?

Kijima: . . .Twice as adult and twice as beautiful. . .

What kind of remodeling did they have to do on her. . .?

[017-5] Kijima: Why am I filled with curiosity. . .?
[I want to see this. . .I really want to see this. . .]

SOUND UNEASY

SCRITCH SCRITCH

Yashiro: Bingo!!

[017-6] Yashiro: Kijima has never had an interest in Kyoko-chan before!!
[Kijima has risen!! (Uh, from his seat.) This is definitely a problem!!]

If he was carelessly allowed to see her he’d be more and more interested in her!!

[018-1] Yashiro: . . .Ren,

[018-2] Yashiro: honestly, I’m a little surprised.

[018-3] Yashiro: When in the world did you realize

that Kijima’s interest had been piqued. . .!?

[Was it your eyes!? Did your eyes become awakened like an acorn barnacle!?]*

*Translator’s Note: I’m not really sure what about acorn barnacles makes them a good simile for

enlightenment. Can someone acorn barnacle me and tell me why?

Caption: [Shudder]

Kyoko: U. . .Um. . .

Tsuruga-san.

[018-4] Kyoko: Is it really okay for you to leave the set?

SOUND CRUNCH CRUNCH

CRUNCH CRUNCH

Ren: It’s okay. We had to wait for a while longer anyhow.

[018-5] Kyoko: . . .Well, that’s good, then. . .

[020-1] Ren: . . .It looks good.

[020-2] Kyoko: Eh. . .?

[020-3] SOUND TNK

[020-4] Ren: . . . Princess Rosa. . .

[020-5] Ren: On Natsu.

Kyoko: . . .!

[020-6] Kyoko: I think so, too!!

[I did make it myself!!]

I was a little worried that something as painfully beautiful as Princess Rosa-

sama wouldn’t suit Natsu as played by me, but. . .

She looks better than I would have guessed!

[Lots of people have said she’s pretty!]

Caption: [Princess Rosa.]

[021-1] Caption: [Excitement Voltage]

SOUND RISE RISE

Kyoko: And so,

I’ve been thinking. . .

[021-2] Ren: Mm-hmm.

Kyoko: At least 80% of the reason people have been saying that Natsu looks “adult” and

“beautiful. . .”

[021-3] Kyoko: must be because of Princess Rosa’s magic!!

[And the other 20% is thanks to the magic items from Moko-san*!!]

Ren: Ahaha.

That’s not true.

SOUND BLUNTLY

Caption: [*She’s been buying more of them by herself, with a broken heart.]

[021-4] SOUND FWOOMP

Ren: I’ll confess,

I was a little surprised, myself.

[021-5] Ren: You looked completely different from how you have normally or as “Mio.”

Kyoko: [. . .Well. . .]

[. . .That’s why I said. . .]

It’s because of Princess Rosa and Moko-san. . .

[021-6] Ren: I think 80% of the reason you can transform into your role that way is drawn

from your own ability.

[022-2] Ren: . . .You’re really. . .

[023-1] Ren: very

Kyoko: Oh yeah, Tsuruga-san.

[023-2] Ren: . . .

Caption: [Ren’s discarded words]

Kyoko: You’re doing the stunts

[023-3] Kyoko: for the chase scene yourself, aren’t you. . .?
Ren: . . .Eh. . .?

[023-4] Ren: Ah. . .yeah.

I was planning on it. . .

Kyoko: . . .I see. . .I knew it. . .

[023-5] Kyoko: I knew you’d never use a stuntman.

I knew that, but. . .

[023-6] Ren: Were you worried about me, perhaps?

Kyoko: . . .Well. . .it’s not just driving fast, is it?

[024-1] Kyoko: When I saw there was this kind of scene in the last script,

I thought I should prepare some sort of protective charm for you.

Caption: [Handmade, of course.]

Kyoko: But I decided against it. . .

Ren: Ehh?

[Is that so?]

That’s too bad.

[024-2] Ren: I would have liked to get it.

Kyoko: No!!

SOUND BRISTLE

[024-3] Ren: [“No,” she says. . .]

. . .So merciless. . .

[It kind of hurts. . .]

Kyoko: After all,

[024-4] Kyoko: when you give someone a protective charm, it means you think they’re about to

do something really dangerous, right?

[Talismans exist because evil causes disasters, right!?]

[024-5] Kyoko: . . .And you don’t need a protective charm,

do you?

[025-1] Kyoko: Because you won’t

let yourself get put in danger. . .

Ren: . . .

[025-2] Ren: . . .That’s true. . .

[Heh. . .]

[025-3] Kyoko: . . .

. . .Um. . .

. . .Having said that. . .

[025-4] Kyoko: Please, be careful,

at least. . .

[025-5] Ren: I will.

I won’t let myself get put in danger.

Kyoko: [Relieved. . .]

Yeah. . .

[026-1] Chiori: Kyoko-san!

Kyoko: . . .Ahhh.

[026-2] Kyoko: . . .Sorry. . .that’s all I wanted to say.

[I’d better get going. . .]

Thank you for escorting me here.

Ren: Oh, no,

[Yeah.]

[It’s okay.]

It was nothing.

[026-3] Ren: Good luck with your shoot, too!

Kyoko: Thank you!

[026-4] Kyoko: Excuse me.

SOUND BOW

[026-7] ~Kyoko: . . .And you don’t need a protective charm, do you?

[026-8] ~Kyoko: Because you won’t

let yourself get put in danger. . .

[027-1] Ren: . . .!

. . .What about that forced reasoning. . .!

SOUND SHAKE SHAKE

CRUNCH CRUNCH

Ren: Instead of worrying and giving a protective charm like a normal person,

she gets all caught up in wondering what she should do.

My expression was about to soften and my hand to shoot out in spite of myself.

Caption: [Your face did soften.]

[027-2] ~Kyoko: After all,

when you give someone a protective charm, it means you think they’re about to

do something really dangerous, right?

[027-3] Ren: . . .Indeed.

[027-4] Ren: The boss gave her to me as a “protective charm,”

under some sort of pretext.

[Maybe it was to make sure I eat. Or to make sure I eat.]

[Or to make sure I eat. Or maybe to make sure I eat.]

SOUND CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH

[027-5] ~Lory: That girl. . .

is a talisman.

[028-1] ~Lory: When you’re unable to move under your own power,

[028-2] ~Lory: she’ll pull you along.

[028-3] ~Lory: A protective charm.

[028-4] ~Lory: The strongest one possible.

[028-5] Ren: . . .

--Back then,

[028-6] Ren: when I heard about the plan to keep me fed and keep Cain Heel’s identity a

secret,

I thought he was making a little too much of a fuss.

But since he makes too much of a fuss about everything, I didn’t really pay it any

mind. . .

[029-1] ~Kyoko: It means you think they’re about to do something really dangerous, right?

[029-2] Ren: . . .It couldn’t be. . .

did the boss have. . .

[029-3] Ren: some other “pretext”. . .?

Kyoko: . . .Ah. . .!

[029-5] Girl: What’s wrong?

[029-6] SOUND SLIP

[030-1] Kyoko: . . .It came off. . .

To Be Continued in Issue 21, October 5^th!