Love Witch Extra
By Takeuchi Naoko.
As appeared in Nakayoshi, September 2002.
Translation by Kurozuki (manga@kurozuki.com). Version 1.0, September 2002.
Text: In this world, there are women gifted with wondrous
powers by the Goddess.
Ruri: A familiar smell... Light...
A dream? Oh... My head hurts.
Oh!
Ruri (mind): The glass I like! The souvenir Mom brought me from
Venetia! It's falling! No!
The glass returned!?
Ruri: It couldn't be. That was close! Amazing luck!
Girl: Ruri! Want to stop somewhere on the way home? We'll
all treat you.
Ruri: I'm going straight home today. Some other time.
Ruri (mind): I'm Ichiyanagi Ruri. Today I'm 13.
Ruri: Oh! That girl is there again. That girl who's often
alone at the park across the street lately. I wonder
if she's from the new apartment complex next door.
Wow, her smiling face is like honey.
Little girl: Bye-bye, Sis!
Ruri: Bye-bye.
Ruri (mind): She's so loud from across the street. Small and
friendly... Maybe that's what it would feel like to
have a little sister.
Ruri: Oh, I wonder if Mom will be late today as well, even
though it's my long-awaited birthday.
Mom!?
Mom: Welcome home.
Ruri: What are you doing home so early?
Mom: I bought you a cake. Since it's your birthday, I came
home early.
Ruri: Wow, that's a cute cake!
Mom: A present came from your dad. (Express delivery.)
Box label: Usagi Express
Ruri: An assortment of dictionaries!? I can't believe this!
Ruri (mind): Mom and Dad divorced three years ago (I don't know
why), and now I live with Mom, just the two of us.
Mom: So you're 13 now. Time sure flies.
Cheers.
Ruri (mind): Mom is pretty and resourceful. She manages a small
talent agency. They have so many rising stars, she's
even busy on weekends and is hardly ever home. There
must be something up for her to come home this early.
Ruri: So, what's your present?
Mom: Do you want it?
Ruri: Of course.
A perfume bottle? An antique?
Mom: When I was 13, I received one from your grandma just
like this. That's a witch's perfume bottle.
Ruri: A witch's?
Mom: I'll tell you the secret I hold. My family lineage.
Women who use the arts, grant wishes, and have
wondrous powers. The witch lineage. So if I told you
you're the spawn of a witch as well, would you
believe me?
Ruri: What?
Mom: To be precise, that's if you're able to open the cap
on that bottle during the rite.
Ruri: The cap? You're right, it won't open. This rite you
mention...
Mom: The initiation in which women of the witch lineage
take part when they turn 13. The rite to determine
whether you will become a witch.
Ruri: Wh- What do I do?
Mom: Hold that bottle like this. Close your eyes, focus,
clear your mind and your heart, and whisper softly,
"I sacrifice my beloved." Then chant, "Open."
Ruri: The cap won't open.
Mom: That's your bottle, Ruri. It can't be opened by
anyone but you.
Ruri: What will happen if it opens?
Mom: You will invoke the wondrous power gifted from the
Goddess. The power to give people happiness and
sorrow.
Ruri: Mom, are you drunk?
Mom: No. I'm not getting drunk. Sorry, this rite is made
up. If there were such a power, it would be a
frightening power. It wouldn't be a good thing. I
want to send you on a peaceful life.
That's your grandma's. You can wear it as a charm.
(Now, let's have some cake.)
Ruri (mind): Really, I knew. On the day three years ago, when my
parents separated and decided to move away, I saw it.
Mom: Open.
Ruri (mind): That time, too, Mom and the wine were crying into the
Baccarat glass I like. Overflowing with a sweet scent.
The wine bottle and perfume bottle were floating in
the air. Psychokinesis. Psychic power. Is a witch
someone with psychic powers?
Mom: If I told you you're the spawn of a witch as well,
would you believe me?
Ruri (mind): That reminds me, the glass this morning!
Move. Move!
Ruri: Hmph. This isn't working.
Mom: That's if you're able to open the cap on that bottle
during the rite.
Ruri: Open!
Maybe I don't have the ability. And maybe the glass
this morning was just my imagination.
Ruri: Oh!
Ruri (mind): That girl is here again.
Ruri: Hello.
Girl: Oh! Sis!
Ruri: Are you playing by yourself?
Girl: Yes. I love the park!
Ruri (mind): I don't really like the park. I'm kind of scared of
it.
Ruri: Are you watching the house, even though you're so
small? It's dangerous to be at the park by yourself.
Why don't I play with you.
Girl: Sure! I want to go to your house!
Ruri: What!?
Girl: Wow, that's amazing! What is it?
Ruri: A birthday cake. Haven't you ever seen one? Do you
want some?
Girl: I haven't! I do!
Ruri: Umm, what's your name?
Girl: Don't have one.
Ruri: What? Name. Your name. You're always called something
by your mom and dad, right?
Girl: I had a mom and dad, but now I don't. So now I'm
never called a name.
Ruri (mind): She doesn't have a mom and dad? Is she staying with
someone who's not a parent now? Is it possible to
forget your name?
That smiling face like honey she has whenever I see
her.
Ruri: Momo-chan. Because you always wear pink clothes, and
you swell up like a peach. Momo-chan. How's that for
a nickname?
[Note: 'momo' means 'peach'.]
Girl: Momo-chan! That's my name!
Ruri: What!? Seriously!?
Momo: Seriously.
Ruri: I got it right?
Momo: Got it right!
Ruri: No way, seriously?
Momo: Seriously, it's Momo-chan.
Ruri: Then I'll give this to you as a present. Yep, the
pink ribbon looks good on you.
Momo: Thanks. I love you, Sis!
I'm going to stay here for a long time! I've decided!
Ruri: What!?
W- Wait a minute.
Momo: Oh, that's pretty! What is it?
Ruri: Hold on!
This is a precious thing my mom gave me for my
birthday! It's a witch's perfume bottle.
Momo: Witch?
Ruri: It's a secret. My mom is a witch. So I'll be a witch
someday, too.
Momo: I'm going to be a witch too!
Ruri: You can't be one, Momo-chan.
Momo: How come?
Ruri: How come, well...
Momo: Oh! It glittered!
That's pretty. What is it?
Ruri: Oh, this? This is a bead bracelet my grandma made for
me. Isn't it pretty? My mom and I have a pair. I
really like it. We wear them together as charms.
Momo: Do you love your mom the most?
Ruri: Yeah. I admire her in a way.
Momo: Hmm.
I want this!
Ruri: Hey! Stop, give it back!
Ruri (mind): Uh oh, I made her mad.
Ruri: Sorry, Momo-chan, but this...
Momo: Oh! A bird? I'm going home!
Ruri: Momo-chan!? Wait!
Look out!
Ruri (mind): I told her Mom's story. Maybe I screwed up. Big mistake.
Ruri: No way! You're going to be home on Sunday?
Mom: I was able to take a vacation after a long time.
Want to go somewhere together?
Ruri: I'd like to try the rite.
Mom: No!!
Oh, sorry. I'm a bit irritable from work.
Ruri: She startled me. What was that?
Mom: Shall we go shopping? I'll buy you clothes.
Ruri: Really? It's a deal!
Ruri (mind): Well, fine. We'll talk about the rite some other
time. It's been a very long time since I've gone out
with Mom!
Ruri: Work?
Mom: An audition suddenly came up for the leading part in
a movie. I've got some pull, so it looks like we may
be able to get the part!
Ruri: But...
Mom: Ruri, I'll lend you my credit card, go by yourself.
No flashy clothes!
Ruri: Mom, you always decide that for yourself. You've
never once been home on the weekend. Dad was the one
at home. I didn't want the divorce or the new house,
but you just decided...
Ruri (mind): No, I'm not going to stop.
Ruri: You don't care about your child.
Ruri (mind): Mom...?
Ruri: Why is she crying? I'm the one who wants to cry. I
was looking forward to... She doesn't know how lonely
I feel! Stupid Mom! I'll go out and spend like mad
with her card!
Mom: No!!
Ruri (mind): Fine. I'll do it myself. I don't know...
Ruri: I sacrifice my beloved.
Ruri (mind): What will happen...
Ruri: Open.
Ruri (mind): It's floating!? This scent...
Dad!? Mom!?
Mom: Ruri!
Ruri (mind): What!? This memory...
Ruri: See you later!
Mom: Ruri! Stop!! Don't run!
Ruri!! Momo!!
-
Ruri: Where's Momo?
Mom: Momo's... gone to heaven.
Ruri: No... No, it can't be. I don't believe it! This is a
dream! I'm going to go where Momo is!!
Mom: Ruri...! I'll make you forget her. I'll make you
forget everything. So please, don't talk like that.
Mom: Ruri, your bracelet... Oh no... Did you remember?
Ruri (mind): How could I forget something so important? Momo was
the name of my sister. She died four years ago. My
little sister...
Mom: Ruri!
Ruri (mind): The reason I was afraid of the park is that Momo...
Momo died on the street in front of it.
Momo: Oh! Sis!
Ruri: Momo-chan?
Momo: Sis!
Ruri: Momo-chan, stop! Don't come over here! Hurry, go
back!
Ruri (mind): No! I killed Momo. Go back!!
Ruri: Open!!
Ruri (mind): Go back!
Mom: Ruri, look out!
Ruri (mind): Mom...!? That was Mom?
Momo: Sis!
Ruri: Momo. You're Momo, right? You weren't dead. You were
alive, weren't you? I'm sorry, Momo. I was so happy
Mom and Dad had come to meet us together. I was
filled with feelings because of that. The hand I was
holding you with loosened. It's my fault you...
Mom: It's because I used my power. This cursed power...
Mom: Open!!
Mom: Using my incomplete power, I pulled you to me with
all my might, Ruri. You were holding on to Momo
tightly, but because of me you lost your balance,
and...
Momo: No. I jumped out myself. At the time, I knew you were
going to die, Sis. But I didn't want that. I shoved
you like this, and died in your place.
You know, I came to say that I want to see you again.
I'm happy. I came to tell you that.
Oh! I'm being called. I have to go back. Bye-bye,
Mom, Sis. I love you!
Ruri: The light... Momo...?
-
Momo: Ouch! Where is this? Where's my mother?
Woman: Ako-chan!?
Momo: Mom! Dad!
-
Ruri (mind): That girl wasn't named Momo. She had a mom and dad at
home, and didn't know me at all.
Ruri: I was scared when my body flew. I thought my heart
might have stopped. But I'm glad you saved me. You
used all your energy to save me. Thank you, Mom.
Say, did you break up with Dad because you don't love
him?
Mom: He's still someone I love.
Ruri: I'm glad. Do you believe what Momo said?
Mom: Of course. I believe her.
Ruri (mind): After that, Mom and Dad made up and things returned
to normal. Ten months later, I had a sister again.
You know, I'm going to be a witch. What about you,
little witch baby?
The end.
How was this month's "Sister Witch" by Naoko-sama? We're in preparations for resuming "Love Witch" as well. Look forward to it!