translation struggles that no one cares about (pt 3): the less ranty, just kinda emo one
!!! SPOILERS FOR EP 5 OF UTSUKUSHII KARE !!!!
I think we all can agree that it’s heartbreaking, and I suspect most people who’ve consumed Japanese media are familiar with how final the word “sayōnara” is in Japanese.
But there’s an extra dimension to it if you’ve read the book.
At one point reasonably early into the university year - before meeting Kiyoi again - Koyama and Hira are in the Photography Club’s room with the other members of the club.
Koyama just talked Hira into having dinner together because of the vegetables his parents sent him (bonus info: Koyama’s parents are farmers, and in the book Koyama lives on his own, not with his brother. He invites Hira over to his place, not Hira’s). The commercial with Kiyoi is shown in the TV in the club, and Koyama recognizes Kiyoi. They’ve already had the conversation about a beautiful person whom Hira had taken photos of, even if Koyama still doesn’t know the name. He knows his face though: It turns out Kiyoi usually works with Koyama’s brother, and Koyama has a free magazine with Kiyoi’s face and name in it listed as an “actor”:
“On the page is Kiyoi’s picture and name with the word “actor” listed next to it.
While Hira was celebrating the tiny victory of making friends for the first time, Kiyoi has already gone even farther ahead.
The feeling in Hira’s chest is the same as it was back in high school.
Commercials and magazines.
Even though Hira really tried to avoid seeing Kiyoi, this happens. The feelings well up and out of Hira like drops of water from a tilted bottle.
Hira lifts his head in surprise: ,,I can’t. It’s your brother’s, isn’t it?”
,,It’s just a free magazine. And anyway, you really seem to like this Kiyoi guy.”
Koyama laughs teasingly. Somehow it’s really hard to tell him that Kiyoi is that person.
Instead Hira brushes it off with a vague denial, and they’re interrupted by another first year: ,,Guys, we’re going out for a barbecue. Are you coming?”
,,Ah, no, we’re having vegetable teppanyaki,” Koyama answers, and the others grumble something about herbivores.
,,Okay, just remember to lock up then.”
,,Sure, we will, see you,” Koyama and Hira wave at the others. ,,Farewell,” Hira says.
After the others leave, Koyama turns his head to Hira and catches his eyes.
,,I noticed it before as well, but you have a funny way of saying bye. Usually people don’t really say “farewell”, do they? Normally it’s “bye” or “see you”, right? But you never say that.”
Koyama asks if he has something against the words, and the memory of Kiyoi forces itself onto Hira’s mind.
The cold words that felt like Hira was being thrown away, and the kiss that felt like a knife to his chest, telling him it’s over.
The memory hurt enough that maybe Hira had just subconsciously been avoiding those words.
,,I don’t have a reason per say, but “bye” and “see you” feel too final and too sad.”
Koyama looks puzzled at the way Hira makes it sound like he’s simply stating a common fact.
,,If you ask me, I think “farewell” sounds a lot sadder, though,” Koyama says. ,,”Bye” and “See you” are just short versions of “see you tomorrow” or “see you later”. Those mean that we’ll definitely see one another again.”
Knowing how the writers of the show have taken a lot of the important lines directly (word by word) from the book, I couldn’t help but think about this when I watched this scene :C
Tl;dr: Koyama’s choice of words makes it very clear that the friendship is over.
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