TomoTsuku pg 281-300

pg. 281 - Heroic spirit rising
>There, there, don't cry.
>Pain, pain, go away~!
SFX: *Waaaaah*

>Young man...
>Let me tell you something.
SFX: *Appear...*
>Wh-... Who are you?

>There is a set 'amount of pain' in the world... The pain your mother just sent away from you is going to damage someone else in the world...
SFX: *Whisper...*

>M-...Mom! You don't have to do that for me!
>This 'pain' is mine to beeeeeaaaaaar!!
>P-... Please don't teach my son strange things!

pg. 282 - Humanity evolved
>He looks serious. I wonder what he's thinking about...

>If only he looked that focused all the time...

pg. 283 - I read your character!
[TN: this part references this kind of test question:
https://iwiz-chie.c.yimg.jp/im_siggoeK_GujPrFpXKlNA51CsLg---x320-y320-exp5m-n1/d/iwiz-chie/que-13185581033
where several characters need to be replaced with the words they represent. The original uses kana for the characters to be replaced, but I changed them to 'A', 'B', 'C' etc. in hopes of it being more familiar]

>That cunning bastard wouldn't just give the answer away from the start...

>That means... I can go with my tried and true 'C's and 'D's for the most part...
>Throw some 'B's in there for variety...

>And deliberately leave in a single 'A'!!
SFX: *Srcth!*

>-And that's how
>I can make multiple letter choice questions into a fun battle of wits against the teacher.
>Just study.

pg. 284 - A memory each time you eat
>I follow the 'put lemon on karaage' school! [another "controversial" food-related dispute. Some people believe karaage goes with lemon, others think it's heresy.]

>And they say 'Your first kiss tastes like lemon'!
>Which means...

>If you have your first kiss while eating karaage it will create the ultimate harmony in your mouth!!
>That poor girl!!

>But it would fulfill both appetites...
>Absolutely not! Keep them separate, you hear me!?
>Are you his mom...?

pg. 285 - Love-starved man
>Yakiniku
SFX: *Sizzle*

>...Do you think chewing beef tongue in your mouth is like french kissing...?

>Beef tongue goes well with lemon too, so it would even work with the first kiss tastes like lemon thing...
>...Do you want your first to be with a cow...?

>I'll take any creature that's willing to love me at this point.
>You've been scaring me lately, dude...

pg. 286 - Embezzlement is a Hero's privilege
>Momotarou took back the treasure the oni had stolen from the nearby village
[flag] Japan
>and went home to where the old man and the old woman were waiting, and the three of them lived happily ever after.

>Give it back to the townsfolk!!
[book]Momota-

>He risked his life to fight the oni, so he deserves some compensation, right...?
>But... The old man and the old woman didn't have to risk anything, and they suddenly get to live like kings!!

>Well... Maybe they worked hard to raise Momotarou...?
>It says "he grew up in no time at all" right here! Did they even have to spend anything to raise him!?
>Those nitpicky, immature complaints...
>She's becoming more and more of an otaku...

pg. 287 - Don't try this at home
>I've been saving up money to go on a trip.
>Heeh? Where are you thinking of going?

>I want to visit all of the famous power spots across Japan.
>I did not expect to hear that.

>I have my own reasons, I assure you.
>In all these sacred lands, overflowing with mystical energy...

>If I roll gacha there I get the feeling I'm going to get good rolls.
>You're going to get punished.

pg. 288 - Fanatic
SFX: *Bustle* *Bustle*
[signs, left to right] Akumu, Karaoke Boe~, Book store - Print Addiction - -drugs

>...That is why, in order for humanity to change on a fundamental level,
>we require the guidance of a great leader!

>Oh no...
>Why did I have to get stopped by some weird person on my day off...

>Does this 'great leader' have braided sidelocks by any chance?
SFX: *Nu-*
>UWAAAAAH!?

pg. 289 - The ultimate choice
>I... I don't know who you are, but thank you so much...
>I just thought you looked like might need some help.

>Well, how about you treat me to lunch as thanks?
>Eh-... O-... Okay...

>Then, let's go to this family restaurant.
>...All right...

>I'm not sure if this is any better than putting up with that strange conversation...

pg. 290 - Not from you [original, 'omaiu', is an abbreviation of 'omae ga iuu na', which means 'you're the last person I want to hear that from']
[upper sign] Family restaurant - Nuclear Family
[lower sign] New menu - Stranger bowl
>All right, I'll have the chicken doria and unlimited refills!
>And a mango parfait for desert!

>...You were in real trouble back there.
>With people like that, you have to be blunt and tell them you're interested!
>Yes... You're right...

>If you don't, they'll take advantage of your kindness and suck you dry, you know?
>Yes...

>You keep saying yes...
>If you just agree with everyone without thinking, you're going to end up buying lunch for people like me!
>You're the one who asked me to...

pg. 291 - Right back at you
>Are you like this at school too?
>...I suppose. I always accept what people ask me to do...
>Lately I've discovered a new interest so I might not be completely the same but... I'm still hopeless...

>...Wait, what am I saying to someone I just met...? I'm sorry, please forget what I just said.
>You remind me of myself back in the day.

>I used to be like that, always being used by others.
>But I had a friend to rescue me.
>Even though we went to different schools, both made new friends and both have separate lives... We don't see each other as often as we used to.

>...Wait, what am I saying to someone I just met...? I'm sorry, please forget what I just said.
>P-... Please don't copy me!

pg. 292 - Misuse of preservatives
>...But I think that's nice.
>That you had such a great friendship...

>Don't you have any? Friends, I mean...
>I get along with everyone in my class.
>But there is a girl I'd like to form a deeper friendship with...

>...Take a look at this.
SFX: *Rustle*
>? What is it?

>This is my prized possession, what saved me three years ago... The cookies my friend gave me.
SFX: *Swft*
>Wooow, three years...
>Th-...TH-TH-TH-THREE YEARS AGO!?

pg. 293 - A well-meant gift
>You have no idea how much getting these cookies from her saved my heart...
SFX: *Sniff* *Sniff*
>That's fine but don't you think bringing those old cookies into a restaurant is a bad idea!?

>Even if we're at different schools, she still supports my heart...
>Are you listening?

>You have someone you're interested in, right?
>So you can become closer to her...

>I'll give you these cookies.
[small]As a good luck charm
>I... I DON'T WANT THEEEEEEM!!
>I know you mean well but that's just trash!!

pg. 294 - Capable Part-timer Makihara Mitsuko
>Um...
>You said you don't see your friend much anymore...
>...Don't you miss her?

>It's the days spent with your friends, influencing each other,
SFX: *Appear*
>that make you who you are today...

>If you remember that your friends are with you, in who you are and what you do...
>Even if you miss them, that will give you courage.

>Here are your orders.
>One chicken doria.

>Th-... The waitress wrapped up the conversation...!?

pg. 295 - Do you want some candy? [original title is 'I'll give you sweets', but this conveys the nuance better, I think]
>You carry sweets with you?
>Yeah. These make it easy to start a conversation with people I haven't ever spoken to.

>Sweet things make people less anxious... And are conversation starters; a way to get closer to people!
>You've got communication skills that Otonashi could stand to learn from...

SFX: *PIRIRIRIRIRIRIRI*

>Wai-...! No-...! Miss, I wasn't after you!!
SFX: *Run*
>Don't chase her, Makihara! Even if that's not what you meant it looks really bad!!

pg. 296 - Jumping youth
>"If I were God, I would make youth the end of a man's life." - Anatole France [I could not find any reference to this quote]

>...Man, that's why he was a prized novelist... He said some deep stuff...
>Life ending at youth, huh...

>...That's cicadas!

>The old man's jealous of cicadas!
SFX: *Kya* *Kya*
>The old man's jealous of cicadas!
>Are we really spending our youth right...?

pg. 297 - Grooming
>When brushing an animal, a hormone called oxytocin is secreted which gives a sense of relief and euphoria.
[small]Oooooh...

SFX: *Rub*

>Wh-... What!?
SFX: *Rustle* *Rustle*
>Not quite... It feels like a rubbing a pan scourer...

>Uuuugh, yeah, nah, this sucks... The more I rub it the worse I feel...
SFX: *Rustle* *Rustle*
>Then stop it!

pg. 298 - Clash
>O-... Otonashi-san!
>Would you like to go into town with me next weekend?

>Terasawa-san! Of course, I'd be happy to...
>Oooi, Misuzu! You've got nothing to do this weekend, right? Wanna go out?

>Ah...?
>Hm...?

>I'm the one who asked first. ...I get priority, don't I?
SFX: *Rumble*
>No, no, no, no, no, no, no... I've been with her for a lot longer than you...

pg. 299 - Brought it upon yourself
>Guys...? Could you calm down...?
>Let's have Otonashi-san decide who she hangs out with this weekend!
>Gladly!

>Oi, Sugisakiii~! Didn't you say you'd come shopping with us this weekend~?
SFX: *Peek*
[side] Forgot

>...Well, then! Sugisaki-kun!
>Have fun with your friends! We'll be very busy going around Anikimeito*!
[below]*Anime shop

>You're going to Anikimeito too, Terasawa? That's a coincidence.
>That's where we're going too.
>Ngheh-...!?

pg. 300 - Complete agreement
>If we're all going to the same place... Why don't all 5 of us go together?
>Oh- Good idea. The more the merrier!
>Wha-...!

>Then it's decided! All 5 of us are going out!!
SFX: *Yaaaaay*
>Eh-... Wai-...

>...Well...
>If that's fine with you, Misuzu/Otonashi-san...