Shiki Novel Translations 2.2.1

[sinnesspiel]

1

Nao's results that were requested from the Tajima National Health Institute ASAP were delivered to Toshio's hand the following day just before noon. The rain from the night before had lifted. Again, the sunlight poured in, downright annoyingly.

Bringing in the results and the coffee, Ritsuko looked over the waiting room that had become piled with books in such a short time and sighed. Answering Ritsuko's question as to whether the room could be cleaned with a retort to do as she pleased, Toshio looked over the results. He laid them side by side with the simple examination results performed at the hospital yesterday.

It was the same as Megumi's case. All types of blood cells were decreased, as were her hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Clear signs of anemia. More specifically normocytic normochromic anemia. However, serum bilirubin and LDH levels were normal. With all other values normal, there appeared to be no irregular functioning of the liver or kidney. The results of the Coombs tests were negative. While it was negative, there was no abnormal hemolysis. The same as Megumi. It didn't look like there was anything that could be it besides anemia.

(Is it really simple anemia, or is it...)

Last night, he put the peripheral blood smears and the bone marrow sample under a microscope. The blood smear showed an increased reticulocyte count, as well as nucleated red blood cells. Hyperplasia was occurring in the bone marrow but while Toshio was no hematology specialist he found nothing amiss in its form. There was nothing that could be thought of as abnormal other than the blood production levels. Rather, it'd be better to think of it as a release of young red blood cells due to an expenditure of a large quantity of red blood cells.

(If that's the case)

Was it lost to internal bleeding, or was it quickly destroyed by hemolysis?

(It isn't internal bleeding...)

Neither through palpations nor x-rays were there particular signs of internal bleeding. It didn't look like there was really any swelling of any internal organs either.

(But, I can't think of it as hemolysis either.)

The Coombs tests came back negative. It wasn't autoimmune hemolysis, and looking at the images of the blood smear, it wasn't hemolysis stemming from irregular cell shapes either. With serum bilirubin and LDH levels normal, it really couldn't be thought of as hemolysis.

No matter how many times he thought about it, the more he thought on it , the more each possibility was thoroughly denied. What shouldn't have been happening was happening. Something was strange.

Deep in thought as Toshio was, for a while he didn't realize that Ritsuko who was sorting the mountains of books had asked him something.

"---Doctor, are you listening?"

"Nn? Aa?"

Ritsuko's expression faintly clouded. "Is she that bad, Nao-san?"

"Nah. That's not what it is. I just get the feeling the results have a kinda mismatch with common sense. ---So what about what, now?"

Ritsuko forced a smile. "It wasn't important. I just said it seems that the mountains are crumbling in here and there, aren't they?"

"Heeh?"

"Before, Sagawa-san from Naka-Sotoba had come, for treatment. At the Sagawa Ojii-chan's place, which is built facing the western mountain cliff, that cliff gave out and mud came pouring into the house, he said. He was lamenting how hard it was to clean up."

"Damn---it'd have been just as well if the mud swallowed the whole house and was done with it."

"Ojii-chan was saying the same himself. The main room was a field of mud but it should have just finished the job, he said. After all, if the whole thing collapses in, it might turn into a crisis."

"You said it."

"The northern mountains might be giving too. I heard noises last night you know. As if exposes were being used, 'boom', like."

"....The northern mountain?"

Yes, Ritsuko nodded. Ritsuko's house was in Kami-Sotoba. Near the base of the northern mountain.

"I think it was the northern mountain. Going by the noises, I wonder if it wasn't a major landslide? But, as the northern mountain is the temple's territory, there wouldn't be anybody there, would there."

That's true, Toshio murmured. Would it be good to let Seishin know? As he thought that, Ritsuko piled up the last book on top of the low table. "I've inserted blank memo sheets into the pages they were open to so you can find where you were again, so don't worry."

Thanks, Toshio said with a forced smile, then calling out to Ritsuko as she made to step out. "Sorry again, Ricchan. Could you call the construction firm and ask about Nao-san's condition for me? It's fine if it's the family rather than her. Anyway, ask how she is, let them know that if she needs a re-examination, even this evening is fine, so be sure to come."

Ritsuko's brows furrowed. "Is it that serious....?"

"It's not for sure it's that bad, I told you that right? The results seem to defy reason in a weird way. I thought we should try re-analyzing her one more time."

Is that so, Ritsuko said, sounding unsatisfied with the explanation. He called out once again to stop Ritsuko who was leaving, holding the tray.

"That's right, Ricchan. One more thing. After the break, before the front desk opens could you call everyone together?"

"Yes?"

"I was thinking we'd add some appointments into the schedule. Not for all the patients, by any means. Just the patients I specify are fine."

"Uhm.... starting tomorrow, is it?"

Toshio nodded. He'd give more precise details when everyone was gathered, so he dismissed, but Ritsuko's expression was somewhat unsettled.

She must be suspicious, Toshio thought. But that's fine, he said to himself. The hospital staff was on the front lines. Sooner or later, they'd notice the unusual circumstances, and furthermore, since they couldn't help but be on the front lines facing the threat, he couldn't leave it hushed up forever.



"What do you think this is about?" Ritsuko asked Yasuyo. Yasuyo looked to Kiyomi, exchanging glances, then gravely nodding.

".....I knew it. I thought something was strange."

That's right, Kiyomi said with a sigh. "I got the feeling he's being clearly protective over the young wife of the Yasumoris, too."

What do you mean? Satoko and Yuki both tilted their heads. Yasuyo resolutely folded her arms.

"What I mean is, aren't there too many dead around? Yuki-chan, you two might not have noticed but, since this August, it's been unusual."

"Has it?"

"It wouldn't be impossible to think that. After all, the patients never came in, all that comes in are notices of their death. And on top of that, early in the mornings. Before we've even come in to work."

Kiyomi nodded. "In Kami-Sotoba, somebody under forty died, didn't they? And then the three in Yamairi."

Aa, Yuki and Satoko nodded.

"And after that, in Shimo-Sotoba, a high school student. From there, Giichi-san, and the mother of the first death."

Eh, Yuki's eyes were wide. "Seven people? Since August began?"

"That's just it. I was sure it was something suspicious. Death does tend to come in mysterious patterns but, no matter how you think about it, these are too many in a row."

"Do you think something's happening?"

Listening to the two of them, Ritsuko nodded as if thoroughly understanding what the older nurses were saying.

"I wonder if it isn't an epidemic. At least, the Junior Doctor may be suspecting it. Patients may be coming in with that from here on, and those patients he would want to give preferential examinations."

"Then, Nao-san is also...."

"The way he's so vigilant on her, he may suspect it."

Yuki and Satoko exchanged worried looks.

"Uhm... I wonder if we'll be all right?"

"Who knows? But, if it's dangerous, the Junior Doctor would tell us wouldn't he? That he isn't saying anything may mean he has no positive proof yet, but for the time being the hospital's all right, isn't it? That person is, even if only in matters like this, a precise and proper doctor."

Kiyomi breathed another sigh. "Either way, it'd be better to use disinfectant and be sure to wear gloves at all times. We have to at least be aware of that much."

Yasuyo nodded. "There's a disease we don't know anything about going around after all. ....It'll be good if it's not too unusual of one, but."

Comments

8D

[(Anonymous)]

If I hadn't studied medicine I'd be made thoroughly confused by all this medi-babble. I didn't even know what acute and chronic meant before Uni! (also, there are new things I've learned from Shiki. There are also a few of things I first knew from Shiki, and when I got to learn about them further at Uni I was delighted: 'ooohh so it's like that!')

Also: I especially like it when Toshio mentions about Seishin in his chapters, even when Seishin's nowhere in them. I didn't get as much of that luxury from Seishin's end thus far.

[sinnesspiel]

Now we, too, can diagnose a vampire epidemic! Thanks, Science!



Really? I thought we'd had more of that from Seishin. He thought about Toshio when remembering the circumstances of Megumi's death before his second meeting with Sunako, and also thought on the way Hiroko regarded him at the services.

8D

[(Anonymous)]

Because you said that, I decided to do some investigation. In case I was forgetting something too.

2.4: when Seishin goes to the bookstore and finds medical books, thinking 'that must be Toshio's order'
3.5: does Seishin contacting Toshio from Yamairi counts?
8.3: which you mentioned. But it feels to me that Seishin's blaming Toshio, thinking 'if only Toshio hadn't made such mistake...' or along the line of. And when Seishin makes a conclusion that the Shimizus are blaming Toshio from what they tell Seishin, it doesn't seem to me that he's particularly empathizing with Toshio, he's only making a conclusion in an indifferent way: 'oh, they're blaming Toshio'. (well, though maybe that's just how it seems at the outside because Seishin's intentionally putting on an air of indifference because he's at the service at the moment)

So far, Seishin usually thinks of Toshio with some sort of annoyance and it kinda puts me off. While Toshio usually thinks of Seishin in a rather fond way, well, it does seem to me like that.

1.4: it's Toshio's first chapter and he already mentions Seishin. (Though yes, I think that's only to tell us readers that this is Ozaki Toshio, Seishin's osananajimi)
4.2: Toshio thinking that he likes the temple's incense. (well, he doesn't particularly think about Seishin so I don't really think this counts?)
2.1.5: 'he's an idealist you know.' but yes, this doesn't actually count.
2.2.1 when they talk about the kitayama.

That being said, the temple is held in a quite special place in Toshio's heart, it seems. I wonder if at the end of Shiki Toshio's actually looking at the temple's direction, because even in the novel it says 'kitayama'. I now have a time, maybe I should try translating that part... (it mentions osananajimi too, but maybe that's only to refer to the people who are in the pickup car with him)

[sinnesspiel]

The only one of the three Seishin expressed annoyance during was after Toshio stepped out of the autopsy. Though, Toshio is directly on the scene, so we'd not count it in a list of scenes where they think of each other unprompted or nearly unprompted.

2.4 Not sure I'd call this unprompted. Seeing medical texts and thinking of the only doctor you know, hell, the only doctor in town, is pretty par for the course.
3.5 We could count it, even though it's not shown from Seishin's side. The fact that he calls the doctor rather than the police, even if the doctor is the secondary town ruler along with him, seems rather personal, especially given that he's decidedly too flustered to think straight as a town leader.
8.3 I'd say it counts since he contemplates Toshio's competence on a personal level, not just as a doctor who would, like anyone, make all kinds of careless mistakes. "It's by no means Toshio's fault, but really, isn't it kind of his fault?" It's a complicated sentiment that's not annoyance but I don't think we can classify as wholly positive either. It is what it is.

1.4 Not sure I'd call this unprompted. His mom is being bitchy about rank, and was happy that one of the two houses above them HAD been gone. With the other house being Seishin's, and with the focus being on her moodiness over the middle house being rebuilt, that seems about as directly prompted as the book-doctor thing.
4.2 I'd say it counts. He's not thinking about the temple and its incense as a place/smell of worship, he's thinking about how he was there a lot and got used to it as a kid; childhood temple time was clearly Seishin time.
2.1.5. No count; if he DIDN'T think about him in this case, given he's enacting a plan to keep secrets from everyone including Seishin, he'd be a complete idiot. He literally just came out of a meeting at his place where he avoided discussing this stuff because he wanted to keep it a secret from him. He may throw it out like an afterthought, but he's been playing at doubting an epidemic around Seishin all this time to excuse keeping it under wraps, even though he admits with Ishida he's more or less sure it's one. Toshio's a manipulative, conniving piece of shit in some ways. Or a Magnificent Bastard depending how positively you view him.
2.2.1 Not sure if it counts as unprompted. The temple owns the entire northern mountain and it sounds like there was a major landslide (or an explosion). Nobody else is going to go there, they said. Telling the property owner seems about in line with Officer Takami going to warn the Kirishikis about the landslides: common decency for anyone with a sense of duty.

This leaves us at 2:1 in favor of Seishin, but also consider that we have more Seishin chapters than Toshio chapters (5:4 ratio) and a lot more introspective chapters from Seishin, whereas most of the doc's are him doing something to move the plot, thinking about the plot, etc.


I'm going to avoid translating ahead because I know if I just pick out the juiciest parts to me, I'll end up not doing the "dull" parts. I do read ahead because who wouldn't? But I don't let myself get bogged down in nailing down a solid translation until I'm at it officially.

If there's a specific line in question, feel free to bounce it off me either by pasting from the text edition, telling me which page it's on in the 2-volume version if you have it, or telling me which sub-chapter it's in. I assume in the 5-volume version, each 'book' is a part. Like, book 1 is Crows, Book 2 is From the Abyss I Have Cried, etc. So something in the second sub-chapter of the third chapter of the last book would be 5.3.2.

8D

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, but what I meant from 1.4 is when Toshio says 'If I lost that many clients Seishin will be raking it in.' That's unprompted and in a fond way. I love that scene~

That being said, I'm wondering if Toshio/Seishin's the case where people don't think much of them because they're used to them being the way they are, and it's been proven harmless since they were children. Doesn't mean things cannot develop, but I wonder if traditional people know which direction to think about? Whereas strangers tend to think of them as actually curious, I think that includes us readers.


Seishin usually shows annoyance towards Toshio in the 'prompted' scenes, or if Toshio's present in them. For example, the 'Toshio knows Seishin will resent it if he goes through all the trouble of buying the magazine which has Seishin's essay in it and puts it in the hospital's waiting room' scene and in the one I translated back then from the second volume, about Seishin feeling a bit annoyed (I suppose? It said bitter smile though) when Toshio visits the temple and then they have the shiki discussion in Seishin's room, saying 'this room is the same as usual I see!' They still kinda puts me off. Is it possible to feel annoyed about your crush so often? But Seishin and Toshio resemble a couple who've been married for a long time more than teenagers or newlyweds whose feelings are still raw and burning. (?)

I'm rather curious about what would become of Shiki if Toshio's the one being protagonist because we'd have more direct access to his thoughts. Will it be as enjoyable to me though, I wonder.

Ahh I also remember the scene when Toshio first directly meets Chizuru in the novel. It's much different from the manga and anime; Chizuru sneaking into Toshio's room when he's already resting for the night and at first Toshio is all 'Seishin?' but even Seishin is not that sneaky (at least he'd tap at the window and ask for permission (well I believe it's what he means by not being that sneaky, but some parts of the passage are still making me confused))

I have the word document of two-monster volumes edition, so I can copy-paste if I wish to ask about something!~ yay

[sinnesspiel]

Forced/bitter/wry smile is used a lot in this series. In that particular case with Seishin it was because of the topic, you know, fatal epidemic and all. I also got the feeling Seishin was actually more comfortable with the room that hadn't changed than he was annoyed; worst he felt there, I thought when reading, was the guilt about it being downstairs now because Takae hates him. Otherwise, I agree, Seishin does seem to be exasperated with Toshio a decent amount of the time. As for your question as to whether you can be so annoyed with your crush so often, there's a phrase that goes: "The more you love someone, the more you want to kill them." ...Ironically Sunako will say something along those lines to Seishin next time they meet, but it's not quite the same thing. Sometimes people who annoy you just annoy you and you don't love them at all... I just happen to favor pairs with high tension and annoyance factors. But most pairs I like are also not canon, as negative emotions are really a pretty poor relaitonship foundation... even if they are interesting.

8D

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think it's possible that Seishin hates Toshio without even an ounce of affection though, as Toshio is pretty much the only person he actively seeks the company of since they were children. Like Toshio about him, Seishin also understands a lot about Toshio and I think the exasperation are only limited to trivial things? He feels annoyed because Toshio does something which he knows will annoy him, pretty much the only person he uses a little bit of sarcasm with ('he isn't from the parish families, not that I know all of the kids of the parish either'). Him showing annoyance when he knows Toshio is intentionally (but jokingly) picking on him, now that I think about it, I think that's understandable. I don't think Seishin has shown annoyance when Toshio is being serious, even when he yells at him when he's all distressed with the epidemic because Seishin gets that he's distressed.

The same goes to Toshio. Toshio may find some aspects of him unacceptable, makes him all but yell at him, but they never bring him to actually dislike Seishin. (I think? Waiting for later translations from you) If he were to go by his personal feelings, he won't hunt Seishin down even when he actively sides with the Shiki (implied in the novel!car scene). ((Considering how people usually act, these aspects of them tell so much I think. Romantic or not, I think they must really like each other. But that's kinda no news.))