Monogatari (化物語)

It was April 29th,

the first day of Golden Week.

So now, my stepfather's new wife is my mom,

and her new husband is my dad.

So you mean that your current parents aren't your real parents?

Aren't they supposed to not tell you that kind of thing?

They were frank with me. I heard about it before I even started school.

It was like I was just a nuisance.

Even if they wanted to give me up for adoption, they had to keep up appearances.

That's why I decided to be a good girl.

Being a "good girl" is just being normal, right?

I'd be looked at with prejudice because of my complicated family life, right?

I decided I wasn't going to let that affect me.

Hanekawa...

What are you going to do, Araragi-kun?

It's finally Golden Week. Aren't you going to study?

It's finally Golden Week, so why do I have to study?

I go for walks on my days off, since I don't want to be at home.

The thought of spending all day at home... It makes me shiver.

So I go for walks on my days off.

I feel you think too hard about it.

Hey, what's up with your face?

Promise you won't tell anyone?

I promise.

My dad hit me this morning.

He hit you?

That's...!

Come on, think about it, Araragi-kun.

If a kid you didn't know started acting all familiar with you,

don't you think you'd be angry or get rough?

Come on!

Should you really be justifying it!?

You shouldn't forgive that kind of thing!

It's fine. He only did it once.

Plus, you promised me.

You promised me that you wouldn't tell anyone.

But...

I can't keep that kind of promise.

Please, Araragi-kun!

Don't tell anyone about this!

I'll do anything for you if you keep it secret!

Please!

Fine, I understand.

Huh?

Will you help out?

Koyomi onii-chan, I've been waiting!

Hey, Sengoku!

What are you doing here?

Um, Koyomi onii-chan...

I wanted to thank you again.

You should go thank Kanbaru instead.

Kanbaru came through here already, right?

But before I was able to call out to her, she took off faster than the eye could see.

I'm sure that she was just in a hurry to get somewhere.

Like a delivery worker.

Why are you referring to the special attack of Prince Yamato from Bikkuriman!?

It's hard to understand and it takes too long to explain!

I didn't think anyone would find it funny either.

You're always so funny, Koyomi onii-chan.

But what should I do?

What's wrong?

I had other things to talk to her about too.

Really?

I'll do that for you.

I've got to thank her, too.

It'd make me feel bad.

Don't say that. It's nothing.

Leave it to me.

Really? Can you do it for me?

Here!

I made her clothes nice and clean, so give them to her if you don't mind, okay?

Sure.

Yeah, sure.

That's right, Sengoku.

Mind if I ask you something?

What would you like to know?

It's not a big deal. I'm just curious about Shinobu.

Shinobu?

Remember how after dealing with the Snake Constrictor yesterday,

we went and stayed overnight at an abandoned night school since it was so late?

She was the cute little blonde there.

Did she tell you anything while I was gone?

Nope.

I see.

She's a vampire, right?

Yeah.

Well, she's more like a pseudo-vampire now.

So she's the one who turned you into a vampire?

It's not her fault. It's mine.

Besides, it's wrong to blame the oddities.

That's just how they are.

They have their reasons.

That's all there is.

I see.

Oh well, don't trouble yourself with it.

You should go back to your everyday life.

Well, come see me if anything happens.

If you're really in trouble, you'll get help faster going to Oshino.

R-Really?

Well, he did warn me about it.

We can't just keep relying on him.

If we leave everything to Doraemon's secret gadgets, we'll be just like Nobita.

That's right.

Oshino-san's charm was really just like one of Doraemon's secret gadgets.

They're like the genius helmet and the craft glove!

Why are you referring to the minor stuff that only shows up in the movies?

Use the take-copter or the anywhere door as examples!

You're really good at references, Koyomi onii-chan.

What is it?

What do you mean?

When I do it with you, it feels like you're judging me as a man.

Nah, it's nothing.

By the way, Koyomi onii-chan.

What?

I was wondering about Shinobu.

Shinobu?

She kept staring at me.

Her eyes are completely different when she looks at you or Oshino-san

than when she looks at me or Kanbaru-san.

You mean she looks at men and women differently?

I'm pretty sensitive, so I noticed.

Is that you, Araragi-kun?

What are you doing there?

Umm...

Oh, Hanekawa. This is the girl I was talking about yesterday.

S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-Sorry!

That kind of stings, Araragi-kun.

Umm. She's Sengoku Nadeko, my sister's friend whom I was telling you about yesterday.

Oh, that's right, Araragi-kun. Umm...

What happened to the snake after that?

It's been dealt with for now.

Oshino ended up helping us out again.

I don't really get what happened, but I guess you it got cleared up quickly.

Yeah, I guess.

She was pretty cute.

That's your middle school's uniform, right?

You really do know everything.

I don't know everything, I just happen to know this.

By the way, Araragi-kun.

What?

Didn't you say that you were doing something today?

Don't tell me it was to talk with a cute middle scho-

That's not it.

It was about Senjougahara.

I didn't tell you because I was embarrassed.

Senjougahara-san, eh?

I'll tell you some interesting gossip.

What? It sounds pretty dull, but I'll listen.

Senjougahara has been acting funny ever since she got friendly with you.

You're a bad influence on Senjougahara.

That kind of thing.

Hoshina-sensei asked me about it earlier.

"Hanekawa, do you know anything about this?"

I don't really understand why you two are into each other.

But I'm sure that people will keep on saying that kind of thing.

Yeah, they will.

And it'll be tough.

You have to prove that it's not like that.

Senjougahara-san won't like it if you ruin her reputation by having people say she's no good as she's hooked up with you.

Yeah, you're right.

But I stood up for you. I told him "no way."

Really? Thanks.

But do you really think that?

That there's no way?

Yeah, of course!

I don't lie.

You're the only person I've ever heard say that who isn't lying.

Oh?

I'm sure a lot of people do.

It's the other way around. I think Senjougahara-san is improving.

I don't know whether it's because she's feeling better or it's because of you.

You've got to support this change in her.

You sure don't talk like a high schooler.

Really? I think it's normal.

Oh.

By the way, I wonder if Hanekawa has anyone like that.

She's kind to everyone, but I wonder if there's someone special.

Hey, Hanekawa.

What?

What is it, Araragi-kun?

Well, umm...

How about Doraemon's secret gadgets?

Ow!

Hey, are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

But...!

You worry too much.

Hanekawa, don't tell me...

It's happening again, like it did during Golden Week?

Golden Week. The nine days between April 29th and May 7th.

Hey, Hanekawa!

It hurts!

Hanekawa!

Hanekawa!

She was charmed by a cat.

A meddlesome cat.

Meddlesome cat?

Yes. Perhaps a whitecat.

No, it's usually a meddlesome cat.

A tailless cat.