Red Data Girl - Series 1 & 2

My First Familiar - 3

An American Girl in Japan

Red Data Girl: My First Familiar
By Noriko Ogiwara
A Translation

Translation Notes:

There's a lot of conversation in this week's piece. Not all of it was well marked as to who was saying what in the original, so that's reflected in the translation. It's mostly in the beginning when Izumiko is talking with her friends. I guess the author didn't think it was important enough to differentiate them.

Red Data Girl: My First Familiar
Chapter 1: Izumiko
Part 2 (1 of 2)

Izumiko had just arrived at school. She peered Ayumi and Haruna who were staring at her in astonishment.

"You cut your hair,"

"I just cut my bangs a little,"

All this attention was embarrassing, but Izumiko smiled self-consciously all the same. Her expression seemed to say, "I did it!"

"I told you, you could change little by little!"

Her hair was still in its usual braids, so Izumiko couldn't say she'd been transformed just yet. Still, she thought the eyebrow length bangs she had cut by herself were at least a fresh look.

She smoothed her bangs down with her hand and modestly asked, "It doesn't look strange, does it?"

"No. It's not strange at all. But your image is completely different now."

"Compared to your old style, it's very modern. I think it's nice."

Ayumi and Haruna voiced their approval.

"But Izumiko, your hair is way more frizzy than I thought it was. You're like a Japanese doll,"

This had been surprising to Izumiko as well. The ends of her bangs were going everywhere. She had been expecting her new style to sit nicely and flat against her head. Up until now, when she had washed her hair, it had always been straight. It seemed like that had been due to the weight of its length.

"Actually, I really wanted a hairstyle like yours, Haruna,"

Izumiko wanted her hair to look like her friend's, shoulder length and straight. She was looking forward to making ponytails and all sorts of other styles. However, she knew that there was no way she could do that without a hairdresser. For the time being, she would have to make do what she had cut herself.

Haruna smiled happily.

"You have a good eye, Izumiko. If you can come out this weekend, I'll bring you to the salon where I get my hair cut."

"I'll ask Mr. Nonomura if he can drive me on Saturday," Izumiko said. Her tone made it clear that her mind was already made up to go. "I've never asked him to drive me anywhere before, but I think he'll agree."

"If you can make it on Saturday, will you come and cheer for us at the basketball game that day? Then you could go to the salon afterward. That way, we can all go together," Ayumi proposed brightly.

Both Ayumi and Haruna were members of the basketball club. They were preparing for a game that weekend. As the club president, Ayumi was especially enthusiastic about the event.

Izumiko nodded. "I'll talk to him about it,"

"Wow, this is great. I like your tone, Izumiko,"

I'm becoming a normal girl. Izumiko thought. She had to keep trying her best.

I'm not going to some school in Tokyo.

She couldn't even think of attending a school without friends who understood her like Ayumi and Haruna did. It had taken eight years, but she was finally able to speak to them without any reservations.