The Big Five in the character book, English translation
So I got into the mood of making these translations again, and figured I could also do those for the rest of the Big 5 (Gakushuu's part is already done.) The rest of them are here in one go as they all had only one page each. There isn't really much new info at all (except maybe about Seo's ears), but whatever. ^^ The usual drill, let me know if you spot mistakes etc etc etc
Araki Teppei - the newscaster virtuoso
Head of the broadcasting club
“If you can’t see this, you will be left behind in the society, you know?”
Thorns hidden beneath the gentle appearance
Although he looks like a good-natured honors student, he is an unconsciously bullying type whose words have thorns growing around them. Despite that, perhaps because of the influence of his journalist father, he is a compassionate person who wants to work in the mass media in the future to protect socially vulnerable people.
Images:
“E class’s Kimura is just standing there! You look uncool if you don’t at least swing the bat!”
“I’m sorry but we’ve forgotten the E class's copies. Please memorize it all before you go.”
The heavy atmosphere at the school assembly became instantly cheerful after Araki’s tasteful/conceited joke. [the joke is described as 小粋 in Japanese. This has two meanings: 1) stylish; smart; chic; tasteful, and 2) conceited; cheeky. Pick your favorite?]
In front of the mic, Araki! The prodigy of hosting
Araki graps the mic everywhere, whether it’s about a school assembly or providing live commentary at a sports festival, and never lets go of it. His smooth delivery and flowing style has been dubbed “the Araki style” and he seems to have many fans and secret admirers.
Matsui-sensei's behind the scenes data
His father is a head journalist for a major newspaper, and Araki is fully carrying on that pride and information power. He has a gentle manner, but is consistently cold toward those who are inferior to him or oppose him. [I assume "information power" refers to the ability to use it, but I'm not quite sure how to translate that. Information power is what it literally says.]
Sakakibara Ren - the undercut hair virtuoso
Secretary of the student council
“So, let’s study until beautiful words fill your arteries”
[...I genuinely would rather say fill your heart, but arteries is what it says]
A playboy for women with both intelligence and beauty
With beautiful features and elegant and noble refinement, he is one of the popular elite who has overwhelming support from Kunugigaoka’s female students. His scholarly ability is also top class, just below Asano Gakushuu, and it seems that the usually stingy heaven has bestowed him not just one but two or three gifts.
A hair style and language sense beyond ordinary understanding
However, heaven did not give him everything, and this gap is seen in his eccentric hairstyle and long-winded theatrical elocution. About 70-80% of his conversation consists of adjectives that are not really necessary, making it pointlessly long. Still, it’s very popular among some girls.
Images:
“If you only criticize, you will overlook things, Koyama. Even in a garbage dump like this, there is a crane.”
“In this school, grades are everything. Those who are lower have no right to speak to those above them.”
Sakakibara shows an abnormal obsession with cuticles. If you’re not an ikemen, you’ll be arrested.
[Cuticles. I don't know. Again, that’s what it says.]
Matsui-sensei's behind the scenes data
Because his family is wealthy it has made several donations to Kunugigaoka academyy, and his status within the school is high in terms of academic ability, financial power, and popularity among the opposite sex. Because of this lack of inferiority, he is one of the few people who can talk to Asano on relatively equal terms. As for the number of girls he has been with, he surpasses Maehara and ranks first in the school.
Koyama Natsuhiko - the demon of memorization virtuoso
Head of the biology club
“Cram like your life depends on it!! For middle and high school science, memorization alone is enough!!”
Academic ability stronger than communication skills
Because of his appearance and quite twisted personality, Koyama had very few friends. As a reaction to that he single-mindedly devoted himself to studying, and that resulted with him becoming one of the five virtuosos and a respected figure in the school. “It’s fine even if I don’t have communication skills,” he thinks.
The splendid metamorphosis of a spring-colored papillon
When Koyama was in the first year of middle school, a hooligan in the same class made fun of him and used him as an errand boy. Using that frustration as nourishment, the repulsive Koyama grew rapidly and became one of the five virtuosos. Consequently, he is very harsh towards the E class.
[The character book doesn't specify who Koyama's bully was, but it's generally thought to have been Terasaka. It's been too long since I read the manga, I don't remember if it was explicitly mentioned there... but in that following image about throwing stones, he seems to be talking to Terasaka. That would certainly explain why Koyama hates 3E so much.]
Image:
Koyama: Don’t talk back, impertinent girl. Besides, your glasses make you look unsophisticated Kishishishi huh, Araki Araki: He... hey Koyama...
For some reason, when he gets excited, people around him get down. Why is that?
Images:
Koyama: I’m looking forward to it~ The day when I’ll throw stones at you who fell into the E class.
Araki: It seems that last time was just a fluke after all. Asano Gakushuu Total score: 493 points Overall rank: 1st
Matsui-sensei's behind the scenes data
Until the second year of middle school, he was a gloomy and dreary bookworm, but with Asano Gakushuu’s advice, “with your strengths, you can look down to people and be impressive”, the strong ego hidden within him blossomed.
Seo Tomoya - the LA accent virtuoso
Student council chairman
“Hmph, with that kind of grammar, you’d be a laughingstock in LA where I lived.”
Proud returnee child
Among the extremely strong-willed and individualist virtuosos, he stands out for an especially arrogant attitude and abusive language, adhering to the school’s caste system. He is proud to have lived a year in LA because of his father’s work. He is a little self-conscious about the fact that his ears are placed a little lower than those of an average person.
A too early separation ~ Looking for a good match instead of good marks
The magical title of a virtuoso made even Koyama popular. The same was true for Seo, but there’s a rumor of a loss of effect because of his way too quick separation with Tsuchiya. However, that was only temporary gossip, and now he seems to be getting well along with another female student.
Images:
Seo: Saying stuff like that... didn’t you yesterday come here with Maehara? Tsuchiya: Th-that’s not how it is! This is the first time with you, Seo.
Seo: Is that some dangerous drug? He was taking something suspicious with his lunch.
Seo talks to the exchange student Kevin with overly confident native pronunciation. Assuredly so.
Image: Don’t think everyone can go abroad!!!
Matsui-sensei's behind the scenes data
Even within the A class, he has an exceptionally arrogant personality, and since his grades are also top-class, his nature is unpleasant. He broke up with Tsuchiya Kaho after that incident, and even though they are now distant, they keep on rushing to each other to throw insults at one another – a relationship that is in a way a very close one.
(masterlist of my translations)
