#midnight tezuka

[snaileo]

ya hes normal hes ok

[bagelarts]

⚠️ Midnight Ending Spoilers!!!!! Below cut!!! ⚠️

you guys were not kidding that ending lives up to the hype. BAFFLING. COMPELS ME. I LOVE YOU MAYA

I'd usually ramble in the tags, but spoilers, so I'll ramble here instead. People probably see Maya as a trans woman the same way Kei is a canon trans man, and I support and agree with them!! Personally, however, I'm inclined to headcanon Maya as bigender, I think! Both a woman and a man at the same time.

They say that Midnight will forget his past life and grow into her new identity as Maya, but I feel you can't forget so easily. While she accepts her new life in a woman's body-- Mari's body-- there's still that brain that has spent the past 20-something years being a man. It wasn't a gradual transition, it was very sudden, like gender whiplash.

It's still a transfeminine narrative, but it's important to me that Maya is both Midnight and Mari, hence: bigender. Two, together, as one.

[astroboyart]

Source: Apple (Official YouTube channel)

On March 6, 2024, Apple released a live action short film based on Osamu Tezuka's manga, Midnight.

The film is largely based on Act 25 (Chapter 25) of the manga.

The film was directed by Takashi Miike.

In the film, a mysterious taxi driver (Midnight) lends a hand to Kaede, a young girl chased by assassins.

Osamu Tezuka's Midnight manga ran in two parts: Part 1 ran from May 2, 1986 to June 12, 1987, and Part 2 ran from July 10, 1987 to September 18, 1987.

[artistmitchy]

I need to get better at drawing cars; it's always something I've struggled with. 😵‍

[dustystripe]

Ahh to be an English speaking boy (me) and his favourite untranslated manga (Midnight by Osamu Tezuka)… (first one is my art, second is the cover of the manga for context lmao)

[don-dake]

《ミッドナイト》 (1986) | 手塚治虫

[kafa1010]

03.10.2024

[tigirl-and-co]

Sometimes thinking about how full of love Astro is makes my heart hurt. Like genuinely almost crying. It is so important to remember that he would love you. No matter who you are he would love you.

If you are so full of self loathing you cannot get out of bed, imagine seeing him look at you sadly bc he simply cannot understand. He wants you to feel better!

He remembers feeling inadequate- of course he does! Finding out the only person he cared about could not love him for who he is was the impetus for the greatest change of his life! That's why he would love you for who you are. He knows how much it hurts to believe otherwise.

Goddddd I love him so much!!! The baby boy of all time

[p2ii]

speak of the devil

[macmanx]

Director Takashi Miike brings to life “Midnight,” a manga by Osamu Tezuka. All shot on iPhone 15 Pro. A mysterious taxi driver lends a hand to Kaede, a young girl chased by assassins.

[jahntv]

The Making Of ‚Midnight‘.

[snaileo]

Money! Money! Money! was the first Blackjack chapter I read... I was so shocked to see a human Uran and was really confused cause she was referred to as a different name but on one panel was sill called Uran??

Yeah, it can be confusing - it's a nod to the Tezuka Star System meta of all the characters being actors playing roles. So its simply a fourth wall breaking joke, since Uran is her original appearance. It is indeed Uran - she's just called Kasumi this time around, and is human.

Happens a lot in Tezuka stories. Such as Marine Express where Ochan is Ochan, he's just simply named Dr. Narzenkopf (iirc)

Theres a story in Midnight where human Atom and Uran appear, and they're adults. I don't recall that we had ever gotten Uran's name in this, but Atom is named Kanda.

[astroboyart]

Source: VivaErManga (X / Twitter)

The cover art for Volume 5 of Team Phoenix, featuring Uran with various Tezuka Star System characters in the background including Atom, Black Jack, Sapphire, Shunsaku Ban, Magma, Hyakkimaru, Shinya Mito (from Midnight), Leo (Kimba), Sharaku, and Atlas among other characters.

Volume 5 will be Team Phoenix's final volume.

No release date is known at this time.

[don-dake]

手塚治虫の未発表原稿を公開へ　晩年の漫画 「ミッドナイト」 原型

Previously unreleased early renditions of one of Osamu Tezuka's twilight manga series, 「Midnight」, to be released soon in June! (16 June 2023 to be exact!)

The collection, titled ‘Midnight: Lost Episodes’ (pub. by Rittorsha), consists of 11 chapters that will also include Black Jack's last appearance in 「Midnight」! Priced at ４，９５０円.

(Does that mean there will be a reprint and new publishing of the whole Midnight collection soon? One can hope! 😌)

[kafa1010]

03.10.2023

[spicykaraage]

Operation Big New Year’s Comedy! - Story Translation

[Prologue]

Kenya: HAPPYYYY NEW YEARRRR!!

Tezuka: Happy New Year.

Tachibana: Here’s to another great year.

Kenya: …You don’t look that excited. You call those high fives?

Tachibana: I didn’t see it coming… That’s why it was just a normal one.

Tezuka: We can try doing it over again, I won’t mind.

Kenya: No thanks. And the heck was that just now? You trying to be funny?

Irie: Fufu.

Kenya: …Hm?

Irie: Ah, sorry. That was just so funny, I couldn’t help it.

Tokugawa: We were right by you all, so we heard everything.

Irie: There’s not many people here this morning, so it wasn’t hard to listen in.

Tezuka: Most everyone is probably still asleep. We don’t have practice today, after all.

Tokugawa: Last night… it was New Year’s Eve, so I’m sure most of the players had stayed up late.

Zaizen: Everyone stayed up for some reason after watching this singing show on the lobby TV.

Kenya: Wh—Zaizen. Why are you joining in now?

Zaizen: I came to the dining hall and you were being really loud—I mean lively.

Kenya: Hey I caught that, nice try.

Zaizen: Oh. By the way, Happy New Year.

Kenya: Trying to change the subject now?

Tachibana: Heh… You guys can really go back and forth.

Irie: They sure can. It’s so funny you can’t help but listen.

Tokugawa: Indeed, it could pass off as manzai, depending on how you listen to it.

Tezuka: Ah, it seems we interrupted you. Please, continue.

Zaizen: Nah, I’ll pass. Nothing even started, anyway…

Kenya: Huh, so that’s it.

Zaizen: ?

Kenya: It felt like there was something missing for New Year’s. And I found it.

Zaizen: Oh, yeah? Welp, I’m gonna go get breakfast.

Kenya: It’s something really important too! That’s right, what we’re missing for New Year’s is—

Kenya: Comedy! So listen up, we’re gonna set up “Operation Big New Year’s Comedy”!

Zaizen: Welp, I’m gonna go get breakfast.

Kenya:

YOU’RE DOING IT ON PURPOSE, AREN’T YOU!?

AREN’T YOU!?

AREN’T YOU!?

[Episode 1]

Kenya: Fortune comes in by a merry gate… So we’ll start the year off with some laughs…

Kenya: Which means we’re gonna make everyone laugh like crazy today. I call it “Operation Big New Year’s Comedy”!

Zaizen: Have no idea what you mean by “we”.

Ishida: You can really feel his eagerness to make others laugh.

Yuuji: I don’t care about the details. You win once you make ‘em laugh.

Koharu: Laughter is right up Shitenhoji’s alley. We’ve got this!

Zaizen: Uh guys, shouldn’t we care a little about the details?

Shiraishi: Just out of curiosity, what gave you this idea?

Kenya: I went to go get breakfast this morning and there was just complete silence in the dining hall, it felt gloomy…

Kenya: There wasn’t enough laughter, in my opinion.

Koharu: I get you. It’s times like those where the first thing you should do is make them laugh.

Zaizen: No, you really shouldn’t.

Yuuji: Shut up, Zaizen. If Koharu says so, then it’s true.

Shiraishi: But I’m pretty sure most people slept in this morning. It looks like Kin-chan and Chitose aren’t up yet either.

Ishida: Kintarou-han was trying his best not to sleep until he heard the clock strike midnight last night.

Yuuji: He kept nodding off in front of the TV too.

Kenya: Let’s make a pledge!

Shiraishi: Wha?

Kenya: We, the members of Shitenhoji, shall pledge to make everyone at the camp laugh like crazy for the rest of today!

Zaizen: That’s literally what you said at the beginning…

Kenya: Nice retort. Keep that up!

Zaizen: I’m not doing manzai with you.

Koharu: Well then, let’s start making plans right away. When it comes to comedy, we can’t miss the show.

Yuuji: Since it’s New Year’s, let’s put on some snazzy kimonos.

Ishida: New Year’s… Then how about a game of fukuwarai?

Kenya: That’s fun and all, but when it comes to New Year’s, it’s time to jump some rope.

Shiraishi: Huh, really?

Kenya: You were supposed to come up with a retort, Shiraishi…

Zaizen: You’re getting too excited over this, senpais…

Zaizen: …I’ll just keep my camera ready for now. Maybe I can use this for a post…

[Episode 2]

Tokugawa: Apologies for asking you to accompany me with training so early this New Year’s morning.

Oni: That’s alright. I’ve been itching for a workout anyway.

Oni: Rest is important, but not being active at all isn’t good either—

Tokugawa: …? I hear voices coming from the courts.

Oni: Guess there’s others who had the same idea as us.

Tokugawa: It sounds more like cheering at a game than it does practicing…

—

*pang!*

Kenya: Here it comes, Zaizen!

Zaizen: I know, I can see it…

*pang!*

Zaizen: Apple! [“Ringo”]

—

Audience: Ahahaha!

Oni & Tokugawa: ?

Tokugawa: It would appear they’re playing doubles in hanetsuki…

—

Oishi: You’ve got this, Tezuka!

Tezuka: Leave it to me.

*pang!*

Tezuka: Gorilla!

Oishi: Pfft…

Oishi: Whoops, not the time to be laughing.

Tezuka: No, that would be the correct response.

*pang!*

Kenya: L-Laaaaa!

Audience: Out!

Audience: Hahaha!

Zaizen: Kenya-san… What even was that.

Kenya: The shiritori, shuttlecock and laughter all came at me at once, I got overwhelmed…

[If you read the Wikipedia link about the game and now understand the rules: Zaizen said “apple,” which is “ringo” in Japanese, then Tezuka chose to say “gorilla.” Therefore, Kenya tried to come up with a word that started with “la.”]

Kenya: Plus, you said “gorilla” with a straight face when anyone else would’ve laughed over it. Why don’t you try using a better expression?

Tezuka: And what expression would that be?

Oishi: Pfft…

—

Oni: Heh… Shiritori with hanetsuki, what a strange idea.

Tokugawa: Come to think of it, the middle schoolers… They did discuss trying out a new form of comedy this morning.

Tokugawa: So I suppose this is a result of that.

Oni: A new form of comedy?

Zaizen: Not a new form, it’s called “Operation Big New Year’s Comedy”. Well, not that it matters, I guess.

Kenya: Hey guys, it looks like the high schoolers are gonna join in on Operation Big New Year’s Comedy!

Oni & Tokugawa: Huh…

[Episode 3]

Tachibana & Ibu: …

Sengoku & Akutsu: …

Sengoku: Not good. I think I’m just about out of luck.

Akutsu: Huh?

Tachibana: Alright, now it’s your guys’ turn. Let’s do this.

Ibu: …Oh. I have the shuttlecock.

Sengoku: Ngh…

Tachibana: …? You almost laughed there, was something funny?

Ibu: I feel like anything we say is gonna make him laugh at this point.

Akutsu: Sengoku you bastard, if you laugh I’m gonna break your head open.

Sengoku: Mmgh…

Tachibana: …And now he almost laughed from looking. He better be careful.

—

Kamio: …

Zaizen: No one’s laughed over “Niramekko Hanetsuki” yet. What’s the deal?

Kamio: Because whoever laughs, loses.

Zaizen: Yeah, if you’re the ones hitting the shuttlecock, I’m talking about the audience.

Kamio: The point is to stare each other down until someone laughs. And laughter is contagious, so…

—

Sengoku: …Hh!

*pang!*

Ibu: Huh…

*pang!*

Akutsu: Rah!

*pang!*

Tachibana: Hah…!

*pang!*

—

Zaizen: …Wow. It’s more like “Operation Big New Year’s Monotony” up in here.

Kamio: Pffft…!

Kamio: Ahahaha!

Kamio: Jeez, you can’t just say something like that out loud…!

—

Tachibana: …

Tachibana: Sorry, I let one slip.

Ibu: Huh. But I didn’t even hear it…

Tachibana: I just didn’t let my voice out, it doesn’t change the fact that I laughed.

Sengoku: Ahahaha, thank god! I’m so glad I can laugh as much as I want now~!!

Akutsu: Tch… Why’d I even get involved.

Tachibana: When we invited you to play hanetsuki, you immediately took us up on it.

Akutsu: You didn’t say a word about niramekko.

Ibu: But I don’t think Tachibana-san did anything wrong just now, if anything it’s all Kamio’s fault… I mean, everyone was trying their best to hold out, and there Kamio…

—

Kamio: Crap, now Shinji’s really staring me down…

Zaizen: You did say laughter is contagious. Now everyone’s having a real hoot since they’ve been holding it back.

Zaizen: …Well anyhow, I wonder where my senpais went.

[Episode 4]

Koharu: Are you ready, Yuu-kun~♡

Yuuji: Let’s do it, Koharuuu♡

Koharu & Yuuji: Our New Year’s comedy show “Tennis Comedy”, is now live!

Tezuka: Is it not called “Comedy Tennis”?

Koharu: Oh my, that was a cool remark! How thrilling~

Yuuji: Koharu you cheater, I’ll kill you!

Koharu: Today’s focus is comedy itself. Therefore it’s “Tennis Comedy”.

Tezuka: I see, so it’s comedy that uses tennis and not the other way around.

Koharu: Ufu, that’s right♡

Yuuji: Koharuu, don’t ignore me!

Kenya: Hm? Heyy, Zaizen.

Zaizen: Where’d you guys go? People were going crazy over Niramekko Hanetsuki.

Kenya: Oh yeah? Show me the video later then.

Kenya: We’re all about to go grab some more stuff we can use for comedy. Like stuffed animals.

Zaizen: What’re you gonna use stuffed animals for?

Yuuji: Heh… Just wait and see.

Zaizen: I don’t even really care to be honest.

Yuuji: You should!

Tezuka: …That was a good retort. The daily interactions of Shitenhoji are quite amusing.

Koharu: Right? This is how we function on a regular basis.

Zaizen: No, this is not how we function.

Kenya: Enough with the attitude. I think it’s about time we get to it, Zaizen.

Zaizen: I’m too busy getting stuff on video.

Kenya: At least let me finish!

Kenya: Our long-awaited “Hikaru-Kenya” combo’s gonna spring into action.

Zaizen: “Long-awaited”, well you’re gonna be waiting even longer.

Tezuka: Very amusing. If you need someone to record, I’d be able to do it.

Zaizen: What…

Tezuka: I apologize if the video goes out of focus from me laughing.

Yuuji: Haha. Would you look at that, you made a good joke there!

Tezuka: I didn’t mean that as a joke…

Kenya: Alright, let’s go, Zaizen!

Zaizen: Jeez, feels like I’ve been stripped of my role and forced into it…

[Episode 5]

Byoudouin: What is that.

Kimijima: It’s tennis… I believe? He is holding some kind of racket.

Tanegashima: No, no. You should be focusing on the one holding the racket.

—

Tokugawa: Hah!

Audience: Hahaha!

—

Tanegashima: Whoa, they’re cracking up over it.

Kimijima: That thing he’s holding, is that… a koi…?

Tanegashima: It’s New Year’s, so it would be a tai. Y’know, like “medetai”.

Kimijima: Ahh!

Byoudouin: Not “ahh”. Who gives a crap if it’s a koi or tai, what the hell is going on here.

Kimijima: If I had to venture a guess: Whatever he’s doing, it does appear to be a form of tennis.

Tanegashima: And Tokugawa’s taking on two middle schoolers by himself. They’re just playing for fun, so there’s no need to intervene.

Byoudouin: I know that it’s just for fun. And I wasn’t planning on doing anything.

Tanegashima: Well yeah, but you’re looking mighty grouchy. Oh, but that’s always the case☆

Byoudouin: …

Tanegashima: Yeesh, being ignored sure does hurt…

—

Tokugawa: Hm? That’s…

Tokugawa: Members of the First String. Quite the audience we have now.

Minami: Um, thank you for playing against us.

Higashikata: It was amazing how you returned all our shots when it was two against one.

Tokugawa: Thank you for the match as well. It must’ve been challenging for you two to play wearing those wigs.

Higashikata: Haha, they were long so they kept falling in our faces and blocked our view a couple times.

Minami: It was probably easier for us compared to you having to carry that big stuffed animal…

Tokugawa: It was difficult keeping my balance. My hand was occupied, and the stuffed animal was quite heavy…

Tanegashima: Can you not look so serious when you talk about it? This is supposed to be comedy, right?

Kimijima: I heard about it. This “Operation Big New Year’s Comedy”.

Tokugawa: Yes. Right now what we’re doing is Tennis Comedy, where you always have a comedic item while playing tennis.

Tanegashima: Starting the New Year off with seeing you make people laugh, I feel like I’ve witnessed something too sacred.

Minami: Would you guys like to try it too? We have a lot of comedy items for it.

Higashikata: Oh, maybe not though since it could cause problems for your publicity and all that…

Kimijima: Fufu, thank you for your concern. It’s simply for fun, so there won’t be any problems.

Tokugawa: Um.

Byoudouin: What.

Tokugawa: You can have this tai stuffed animal if you want.

Byoudouin: …No.

[Episode 6]

Kenya: I’m beat…

Zaizen: This Tennis Comedy match… or whatever you call it, I dunno, but thank you very much.

Tezuka: Thank you. That was a good match.

Tachibana: …He’s looking pretty upset right there, is he gonna be okay?

Zaizen: Not my problem.

Kenya: Yes it is! I already know you’re upset over it too.

Kenya: Hikaru-Kenya was a complete bust… Those daimyo wigs were so last century…

Zaizen: Wasn’t our opponent too strong too? Also putting on two sets of gag glasses was overkill.

Tezuka: I see. It appears we had selected the most optimal comedy items.

Tachibana: As soon as Tezuka put the gag glasses over his own, I was certain it would work.

Fuji & Chitose: Gag glasses?

Tezuka: …Hm? So you two have come.

Fuji: Yuuta and I were on the phone with our family and it ended up being a long conversation…

Chitose: It’s New Year’s, so I took a stroll to enjoy the New Year’s air.

Tachibana: You do that a lot, New Year’s aside…

Fuji: So is it true that you played tennis wearing gag glasses, Tezuka?

Tezuka: And a toy racket. You actually just missed it.

Kenya: He had the whole court howling over him!

Zaizen: You say it like you’re the one who did it…

Fuji & Chitose: …

Fuji: One more time. Can you do it again right here and now, Tezuka?

Chitose: Just need one photo—

Tezuka: No.

Tachibana: Sorry, but the show’s over. And we’ve returned the gag glasses.

Fuji & Chitose: Pretty please?

Tachibana: Well you two are strangely in sync today.

Tezuka: Why don’t you try and team up?

Kenya: Sync… Maybe it’s because me and Zaizen weren’t breathing in sync today…

Kenya: Everyone, please look forward to Hikaru-Kenya’s new activities…

Zaizen: H…

Kenya: Oh, did you just laugh? You thought that was funny?

Zaizen: …I was just holding back a sneeze.

[Episode 7]

Amane: “The heck was that.��

Kurobane: Yeah, it’s not working.

Amane: Whoa… A retort for a retort, nice one Bane-san.

Kaidoh: You’re supposed to shout “the heck was that” when you swipe a card…

Kirihara: This is “Comedy Karuta”, so you have to do the shouting properly.

Kirihara: Alrighty then, I’ll read the next one. A dog walks and runs into a cat!

Kaidoh: …“Heck was that.”

Kurobane: That was too quiet. Shouldn’t you put more effort into the retort?

Kaidoh: No… The rule is to say it when swiping a card, it doesn’t mean it’s a retort.

Kirihara: Oh, I get it. You’re embarrassed aren’t you, Kaidoh~

Kaidoh: Shut up. I’m not embarrassed.

Amane: Speaking of retorts, Bane-san’s great at them. Show ‘em how it’s done.

Kurobane: It’s hard when you put me on the spot.

Kirihara: Here, take over the reading please. I’ll give it a go!

Kirihara: “The heck was that!” That was good, right?

Zaizen: Absolutely not.

Kirihara: Huh? Why’re you here and what’s that look for, Zaizen?

Zaizen: I heard some chuckles around here, so I wanted to see what was going on…

Kurobane: Chuckles, huh… That was a good retort, wasn’t it?

Amane: Shitenhoji’s the best when it comes to comedy. How about you teach us.

Kaidoh: Yeah.

Kaidoh: If you’re gonna criticize, then show us how to make a perfect retort.

Zaizen: Kenya-san. It’s your turn.

Kenya: Hm? You called?

Zaizen: Merry Christmas.

Kenya: Oh, Merry Christmas.

Kenya: Wh—THE HECK WAS THAT!!

Kaidoh & Amane: Ohh…

Kenya: ???

[Episode 8]

Tachibana: It’s surprisingly difficult to play karuta while trying to say a retort.

Ibu: It required us to do different actions at once.

Ibu: Like, we had to find and swipe the card they were reading aloud, and then say a retort as we took the card.

Kamio: Plus I struggled to get “the heck was that” out right away.

Tachibana: Therefore, we’d like to be taught how to make a real retort.

Kenya: What the heck.

Kamio & Ibu: Ohh…

Kenya: That wasn’t me showing you how. Why are you asking me?

Kamio: We heard from Kirihara and the others that you showed them how…

Ibu: Those two from Rokkaku said they learned a lot from you.

Kenya: What the heck…

Tachibana: Wow.

Kenya: Again, this isn’t me showing you how.

Shiraishi: Heh… Boy, what’s with all the funny business over here?

Kenya: I’m not trying to be funny here.

Shiraishi: WHAT THE HECK!

Kenya: Wha…

Kamio & Ibu: ?

Tachibana: Was that you trying to make a retort…?

Shiraishi: Trying to start the joke, actually. But it being a retort’s fine too.

Ibu: I didn’t realize you can decide when it’s considered a retort…

Kamio: I mean, the timing of it makes it hard to tell…

Kenya: Nah, you don’t need to take it to heart. Shiraishi just has a unique sense of humor…

Shiraishi: Huh, do I?

Kenya: Do you even need to ask that.

???: Heh…

Kenya: Hm? I heard someone laugh behind me…

Tokugawa: …

Kenya: …Uhm, were you just laughing?

Tokugawa: Yes. That was very funny.

Shiraishi: Yeah.

Kenya: Not “yeah”! Why do you find this entertaining?

Tachibana & Tokugawa: …Heh.

Kamio: Haha!

Ibu: Your retorts are incredible… There really is some funny business going on here…

[Episode 9]

Tokugawa: I’m tired from laughing so much.

Oni: Heh, well that’s a good thing isn’t it?

Tokugawa: I had originally intended to do nothing more than some light exercise.

Oni: But comedy’s pretty hard too, isn’t it. I think we got a lot more exercise than we bargained for.

Kintarou: Why didn’t anyone wake me up!?

Oni: Hm? You’ve been sleeping this whole time?

Kintarou: I didn’t know till now~

Ryoma: Happy New Year.

Tokugawa: Happy New Year… It’s almost noon now, though.

Ryoma: Well, it is a holiday, isn’t it.

Kintarou: Hey hey, why’s everyone laughing? I mean, aren’t we supposed to be playing tennis?

Ryoma: I heard they were up to some funny business at the tennis courts…

Tezuka: It’s Operation Big New Year’s Comedy.

Ryoma: Huh.

Tachibana: Yo, you joining in now? Then you’ll want to grab some things from there.

Ryoma: …What’s this stuff.

Kintarou: Oh, gag glasses. This is stuff Koharu uses for comedy.

Tezuka: You can wear those. It’s your turn for the spotlight.

Kintarou: Koshimae, we’re in the spotlight!

Kintarou: We’re gonna make everyone laugh their butts off!

Tachibana: Heh… Leave it to someone from Shitenhoji to get with the program right away.

Ryoma: I don’t get what any of this is.

Tachibana: Well, you’ll understand once you actually try it. Right, senpai?

Tokugawa: Right. That tai stuffed animal elicited a good response.

Ryoma: ?

Tezuka: No, that may be too much for Echizen.

Tokugawa: Would it be? Now that you mention it, it is a bit too big for Echizen-kun.

Ryoma: …Why are you guys basically saying I’m not gonna be good enough…

Ryoma: Okay, what is this that I’m gonna join in on…

[Episode 10]

Kintarou: How do you like that!!

Audience: Hahaha!

—

Zaizen: Tooyama’s doing good. Starting the New Year with a bang…

Kenya: We can’t lose to Koharu, Yuuji or anyone else. Hikaru-Kenya will get its revenge.

Zaizen: Huh, still on about that.

Kenya: It’s far from over. Now pick your comedy items.

Kenya: I don’t think you’ve laughed enough either. The point of Operation Big New Year’s Comedy is for us to have fun too.

Zaizen: I’m having fun in my own way.

Kenya: But you haven’t laughed at all.

Zaizen: What, have you been watching me this whole time?

Zaizen: By the way Kenya-san, I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while now.

Kenya: Hm?

Zaizen: Your jersey pants are on backwards.

Kenya: Huhhhh!?

*clatter!*

Zaizen: Whoa, easy with the goods…

Kenya: …

Zaizen: You’ve made a mess of everything now. It’s not gonna be fun later if you damaged something.

Kenya: …My pants aren’t on backwards.

Zaizen: It was a joke. Really caught you off guard, huh?

Kenya: You…

Zaizen: Pff…

Zaizen: I didn’t think you’d take it so seriously. On the contrary, I thought you’d just pay it no mind.

Kenya: You said it with such a straight face—

Kenya: Well, whatever. I got to see you laugh, at least.

Zaizen: Huh?

—

Kintarou: Kenya, Zaizen! Come do Tennis Comedy.

Kintarou: I’ve been hitting the ball with a harisen, so you guys find a funny racket to use too!

—

Kenya: Haha, nice! We’ll be right there.

Kenya: For our racquets, we’ll use… kokeshis. Alright, let’s go!

Zaizen: Good luck out there.

Kenya: Well, Zaizen…

Kenya:

YOU’LL NEED THAT GOOD LUCK TOO!

TOO!

TOO!

[Epilogue]

Several days later—

Tezuka: Looks like the New Year’s festivities end today.

Tachibana: It was nice having zoni instead of miso soup though. Sad to see this is it for the New Year’s spirit.

Kenya: Jeez you guys, you’re still in the New Year’s spirit? You’re making it feel like summer vacation.

Zaizen: …

Kenya: Hey, were you gonna make a retort just now? Why’d you look away?

Zaizen: You studying me all the time is so annoy—you know what, just ignore that.

Kenya: …You wanna run that first part by me again?

Tokugawa: Heh…

Tokugawa: Same as always. Is it always like this for you two at Shitenhoji?

Zaizen: I’m not a part of this.

Kenya: He said “you two”.

Tezuka: …The tempo of this conversation is excellent. So this is you “getting into it”?

Tachibana: I know this isn’t supposed to be a bit, but it does sound like manzai.

Tokugawa: In fact, I believe everyone’s become more interested in it since New Year’s Day.

Tokugawa: Irie-san has been asking me to come up with retorts here and there, but I’m unable to give good responses…

Zaizen: I don’t think retorting is something you can just do when you’re asked.

Tachibana: Anyway, this is the last night we can eat New Year’s cuisine. Shall we get to it?

Kenya: Oh, yeah. Speaking of New Year’s cuisine…

Kenya: Shall we try something new out? Operation Big New Year’s Gluttony!

Zaizen: Why—

Zaizen: …Crap. I almost made a retort.

Kenya: So it is on purpose!

Tezuka: Nice retort.

Kenya: Thank you!

Tachibana & Tokugawa: Heh…

Zaizen: …

Kenya: What’re you smiling over—

Kenya: Mm? Was that a smile just now?

Zaizen: Dunno. Maybe you just imagined it?

[STORY END]