Red Data Girl - Series 1 & 2

The First Makeup - 5

Red Data Girl: The First Makeup
By Noriko Ogiwara
A Translation

Notes on this week’s translation:

There’s some discussion of places in Japan this week, so here’s a map of the Japanese prefectures if you’re interested. Nara is in the Kansei Region. Nagano is in the Chubu region. 
There are a lot of mountains in Nagano. Personally, I can’t say if there are more in Izumiko’s area of Nara than there are in Nagano, but I think Izumiko is referring less to the physical mountains and more to how isolated her area is.

Red Data Girl: The First Makeup
By Noriko Ogiwara
Chapter 1: Mayura 
Part 3 (1 of 2)

There was a brand new laptop and two cellphones on Mayura’s desk and it appeared as if she used all of them. Mayura was surprised when Izumiko commented on it.

“Isn’t it normal to have this many? We’re technically not allowed to use cellphones on campus, so I use the computer to message my friends. Still, I don’t think there’s anyone at school who doesn’t have a cellphone. Using them in public spaces is just discouraged. The school rules are decided on by the student government after all. You don’t have a laptop?”

Izumiko shook her head, embarrassed.

“I’m not very good at using computers so I usually don’t even touch them. Oh, but Dad said he’s sending me a new one.”

“You don’t use computers? That’s weird. Where did you go to middle school?”

As Izumiko answered, Mayura pulled and picked at the fuzz and dust on her clothes. It was a pointless task that Izumiko never did herself, but she understood why Mayura might.

Mayura nodded. 

“Ah, you came from Nara Prefecture. The old capital’s an amazing place, isn’t it?”

“I live in Nara prefecture but my home’s closer to Wakayama prefecture than the actual city of Nara.

“So you’re in the Yoshino area?”

“No. A lot more south than that. We really are in the mountains. It’s the middle of nowhere.”

Izumiko’s voice became quieter.

“That’s why coming here to Tokyo and getting used to everyone… I’m really nervous.”

“I live in the middle of nowhere in the mountains too. I’m from Nagano.”

“I don’t think Nagano’s really that far out of the way. You’re closer to Tokyo at least.”

“I told you already. You wouldn’t know. You’ve never been to Nagano.”

Mayura smiled brightly. Contrary to what the other girl insisted, Izumiko could only see a city dweller when she looked at Mayura. At the very least, her fashion sense was definitely different from Izumiko’s.

Mayura didn’t have a lot of clothes with her but she certainly had more than Izumiko had brought. Izumiko had watched in fascination as Mayura took each piece of clothing from her suitcase and put it away.

“Did you know?“ Mayura said eventually, "You can pull a curtain around the beds. There’s a curtain rod on the ceiling for one.”

“Really? Speaking of beds, I chose the bottom bunk before you got here and I wanted to ask if that was okay.”

“I’m fine with the top or bottom,” Mayura answered simply. “The curtain is surprisingly useful though. Even if you room with someone you like, you can still get into fights. There are times when you’re upset with each other or don’t want to see the other or whatever too. It really makes a difference just to be able to pull something around your bed. I think it’s essential for being on good terms with someone for a long time.”