Koi no Kotoba

# Notes

## Owlman (*fukurouman*)

Owlman uses an archaic speech pattern, ending lines with "のじゃ！ (*no jya*)".
Not being the easiest thing to write or read in English (and seeing as it was likely intentionally half-assed in Japanese as well), I simply made liberal use of "You hear!" and upped the formality of its words.

## Yearning & Love (*koi* & *ai*)

"It's a manga about drowning in yearning, without attaining love". - Afterword
These two words come from "恋 (*koi*)" and "愛 (*ai*)".
A search online would explain more, but here's a good one I found: you may love a person with *koi*, but *ai* would mean you love even the negative aspects of that person.

## Let's move on(wards). (*ai ni ikou*)
"Mere yearning is no longer enough."
"Let's move onwards. (*ai ni ikou*)"
"...You can't stay by my side."
"Let's move on. (*ai ni ikou*)" - Chapter 12

Translating wordplay from Japanese is rarely easy.
"あい (*ai*)" in the initial line gives no hint to what *ai* it refers to, while the second "会い (*ai*)" means to meet.
These were thus interpreted into these:
"Let's move onwards. (*from yearning, to love*)"
"Let's move on. (*from this doomed yearning*)".
Since this was actually the chapter's title, I actually had to decide on this before chapter 1 was even out, without any ability to change it after...
I hope that nuance was conveyed, even if just a little.

A literal translation may be closer to the below:
"Yearning is now at an end."
"Let's move on to love."
"...You can't stay by my side."
"Let's go meet (your family)."

## Yearning & Wish & Hope (*koi*)

"This is a yearning. (*kore ha koi da*)"
"This is a wish. (*kore ha koi da*)"
"And thus, this is a hope." - Chapter 13

More wordplay.
The initial "こい (*koi*)" naturally refers to the usual *yearning* while the second "乞い (*koi*)" refers to a *request* (adapted to *wish*) which leads on to *hope*.
I just went with words similar enough in meaning, warping it gradually.
With the *koi* in *Koi no Kotoba* being "こい" as well, it could actually refer to more than the official title of "Words of love"...

## Random

**Nanakida** I guess it doesn't matter very much, but her name could actually be Nanakita too. The exact reading was never mentioned anywhere...

**Fancy typesetting / redrawing** I'm just going to mention pages that required more attention to detail because I can! 9, 85, 86, 100, 156-157, 192-193.

**You're so slow!!! (p.44)** For anyone curious, the original was "*o so i*". I tried to match the mouth movements. Doubt I succeeded.

**Should I do it with my mouth? (p.74)** This line would've been less awkward if it was more direct or vulgar... But it had to remain vague as a chapter title.

**Owlman dolls (afterword)** They're on page 101 if you're wondering.

**Satomi-san (afterword)** Full (pen)name: Satomi Yoshitaka (さとみよしたか). If you're interested.

**School girls** Man, they can be scary.