Hapi Mari Novel: Update 10

Thank you to my readers for waiting so patiently. To be honest I'm really stressed these days about a lot of things...things like finding a full time job, and a bit depressed that no matter how hard I try, I'm still unable to score one. Failed interview one after the other for ones that I want, and having a terrible time to keep commuting 4 hours each day for this one...Heck, even my younger brother has an internship and is faster on the way to building a meaningful career than I am...it's just really shitty. Life isn't the way I thought it to be...and it's hard to have my hopes crushed again and again.  Needless to say, I've been feeling quite down...which is why I really didn't have the mood to translate Hapi Mari.  I really appreciate those who keep visiting, but at the same time, I ask for others to please be more polite.  Yes, the Dear Brother summaries are not entirely exciting, but you don't have to read if you don't want to.  I love translating for an audience, but at the same time the blog is an extension of myself and what I want to do. It's for you for the stories that don't get picked up by English scanlators right away, but it's also for me.  And I hope to keep it that way.  I'll promise to try though to make more often updates and eventually finish it.  So, picking up from where I left off last time...

Hokuto contrived to affect a grimace, but I urged him on our way to our private beach. Honestly there isn't any part of this island that isn't private, but according to the hotel, they cordon off a part of the beach especially for guests to designate it as private. When we arrived, there was no other person in sight, nothing but us walking among the sparkling white sands.  Everywhere you looked there were only the endless skies and ocean, the boundary so hazy between the two you can lose yourself.

"Isn't it a relief there's no one?" I laugh as I reach my hand out for his.

"Are we really doing this?  Holding hands while we walk along the beach?" Hokuto frowns.

"You said you would do it, didn't you?  Don't grumble about it now."

I reach out once again, and he reluctantly takes my hand.

"It's not like we're a love-struck couple in high school."

"No matter how old you get, it's a girl's dream."

"You're not a girl anymore," he jabs. I promptly kick him on the shin.

Hapi Mari Novel: Update 9

Usually I would prefer not to post something so little...but I understand that you guys have been asking for it quite often.  I'm still waiting for people to volunteer to help out since I won't be able to make timely updates, so I hope this post won't be construed as a promise for more and soon.  

He narrows his gaze.  I wonder if it’s because the necklace doesn’t suit me?  Inside I do think that a two carat diamond is way beyond my means.

“The clothes do make the man.”

“Eh?  What do you mean?”

Is he angry?  Or is he just finding a roundabout way to diss me?

“I’m praising you so be honest and don’t hide your happiness.”

“Then praise me more honestly.”

I am…really happy even with such a twisted way of praising me…

“I won’t show my fishing harvests (chouka) to those who aren’t honest.”

“Choukaa?”

Hapi Mari novel: Update 8

Not a terribly long update, but I figured it would be better for me to post it first instead of keeping it stuck in my computer for ages.  I had originally wanted to make sure it covered at least one chapter...but I guess it's not happening for a while since I'm stuck reading about IP valuation books for my next interview.  

Chirp, chirp, chirp—Ah, I can hear the twitters of the birds outside.  Is it already morning…?  I rub my half-closed eyes as I sluggishly get up.  The rays from the sun are so bright that they almost hurt my sleepy eyes.  Just what you would expect of the tropics.  I yawn and look at the neighboring bed to find it empty.  The sheets are messy, so Hokuto must have slept there last night.  The beds may have been twin-sized, but they were very wide.  I really wanted to sleep together with him.  I wonder where he went?  Perhaps the living room?  I move to get off the bed when I notice something out of place.

“..Eh?”

It’s my clothes.  Why am I wearing a bathrobe?  I’m sure this is the one the villa provided us with.  It’s amazingly comfortable, but why don’t I remember changing into it?  Wasn’t I wearing the new dress Hokuto bought for me…?  I begin to dig through my murky memories when I suddenly realize…I don’t remember any of it.  None of what happened after dinner…did I possibly…?

I run to the bathroom to look in the mirror.  Kyaa, my face!  My makeup has completely disintegrated, and I don’t know whether it’s because I rubbed my eyes earlier, but my mascara has turned runny and I look like a panda.  I knew it.  I didn’t take off my makeup nor showered before sleeping last night.  I remember all the events until drinking that delicious wine, so I must have been quite pissed after that.  Hnn?  That must mean Hokuto carried me back here and changed me out of the dress after.  I open my bathrobe to find that I’m wearing different underwear as well.

“Oh my god!”

I can’t believe I fell asleep in the middle of such a romantic evening!  And he even had to change my underwear for me!  Oh Hokuto, I wish you had slapped me awake instead of going all the way to do something so embarrassing.  I hate myself.  I instantly pale when his grumpy expression floats up to mind.  Did he get so exasperated by me that he went off somewhere by himself?

“Hokuto?!”

Hapi Mari novel: Update 7

Surprise post!!  This only covers Hokuto's point of view, as the next chapter will be way longer than this.  I hope you have fun reading!


“Geez, what a troublesome wife you are,” I mutter as I lay Chiwa down on the canopy bed.  Chiwa looks as angelic as a child, breathing softly as she sleeps.  Does she usually pass out like this after drinking?  I take the small bottle of bourbon from the minibar and sit down on the neighboring bed.  As I down the drink, I look at Chiwa with an unexplained sense of reproach.  The streams of moonlight that steal into the room illuminate her openly outstretched limbs.  Her disheveled hair caresses her delicate collarbone and tangles with the necklace I gave her, flowing down to her gently rising and falling chest.  Her skin is tinged the lightest of pinks, her lips barely parted.  Whenever the curtains of the canopy ripple back and forth, her appearance wavers as if she was nothing but an apparition.

Hapi Mari novel: Update 6

After enjoying ourselves at the pool and taking an afternoon nap, we got ready for an early dinner.  It was possible for us to have dinner outside the villa, but we were persuaded by the staff to dine inside the hotel restaurant because of its spectacular view.  Since it was supposed to be a chic place, I changed into the classy dress Hokuto bought for me earlier that day.  I feel that I’ve become quite the lady when my dress flutters in the wind making the shades of pink and white lap and blend together.  Being the killjoy as usual, Hokuto says,

“You look like you slimmed down from exercising in the pool.”

“Don’t say things that ruin the mood.”

Hapi Mari novel: Update 5

The villa we were escorted to lies in the deepest parts of the island.  Surrounded by the tropic lush greens, the two story building is constructed similarly to the entrance, with wooden pillars and stone steps.  It looks like a polished abode out of a tourism magazine.  I run up the steps and open the door, where a spacious interior welcomes me.  A table set rests in the middle of the vaulted open living room, decorated with a distinctive table cloth and a vase of sophisticated flowers. 

Hapi Mari Novel: Update 4

The place that Hokuto brings me to is an avenue that cuts through the heart of the island.  Designer shops line both sides of the road, making me feel as if I were in Beverly Hills.  There seems to be a lot of foreign tourists milling about.  While walking with Hokuto, I looked about my surroundings, only to find them devoid of local flavour.  The palm trees that set off against the blue skies seem exotic, but the ambience and names of the shops are those that I often see in Japan.  Though having said that, they are not shops that I frequent.  Seeing how I don't enter the shops, Hokuto gazes down at me curiously.

"What's wrong?"

Hapi Mari novel: Update 3

Phew, this is a refreshing change from the current storyline.  At least, that's how I feel.  No mysterious Mamiya family secrets, no strangely clothed men roaming the streets to stab Chiwa or Hokuto, just a dazzling day spent on a touristy island somewhere for vacation...anyways, on with the story!

Hokuto!

I'm so preplexed by his appearance I've momentarily gone mute.  Am I seeing a hallucination because of the heat?  Or is it because of the uneasiness of being by myself?  I rub my eyes and pinch my cheeks once more.

Once I've confirmed that the man before me still hasn't disappeared yet, I meekly call out.

"Hokuto...?"

"Who else would it be!  Don't tell me you don't recognize your husband's face!"

"How mean."

The horrible attitude towards his wife.  No doubt, it's Hokuto alright.  But...

"Why are you here, Hokuto?"

"Why are you here?"

Hapi Mari novel: Update 2!

Without waiting for my reply, he untied the ribbon with his long fingers.  Resting inside the Christmas wrapping is a simple leather cellphone strap.  Everything Hokuto owns is outrageously expensive, so I figured that I'm relatively limited to what I can give.  However I don't think this is a bad gift.  It's not, right?  Or is it?

"Oh, it's nice."

At his words, I finally sigh in relief.  It took me quite a while to find this.  Hokuto isn't the type to call or send messages frequently, but I hope he will think of me when he sees the strap hanging on his phone.  And it'll be nice too if he calls me more because of this.  I suppose you can say I have an ulterior motive.

"I haven't picked out your present yet..."

"Nope, it's all right.  It'll count if you say you love me," I half-joke, expecting him to ignore me.

"I love you," Hokuto says in a serious voice, causing me to drop the fork I had just picked up.  My heart skipped a beat, and I'm faintly aware that my face is turning red.  Unwavering, Hokuto looks deep into my eyes and repeats, "I love you, Chiwa."

Hapi Mari novel: Update 1 1/2!

In contrast to myself, Hokuto is, as usual, in business attire.  He's dressed in a custom-tailored suit with an expensive necktie, his smart black hair neatly parted to the right.  With a defined nose bridge set between immaculate eyebrows and eyes so cold that they look almost cruel, he's undisputably a handsome man.  But handsome isn't entirely the correct word.  He projects more of a flawless mature image.  Hokuto brushes the paper bits off his hair and briskly goes to his room.

"I'm going to change."

"...Then should I change as well?"

Absently, I sigh at his blunt attitude.  Upon hearing it, Hokuto stops and turns around.

"Why?"

"Well..."

"You dressed up for me, right?  If so, you can't change out of it without my permission."

Hapi Mari novel: Translation teaser (Update 1)

Written by Takase Yunoka           
Originally by Enjouji Maki


"No way, it's this late already?"

 Looking at the clock in the kitchen, I hurriedly took off my favorite apron.  Hokuto's going to be back soon.  Even though it's Sunday, he has to work from morning to evening.  But tonight he can finally have dinner at home.  He's always so busy.  Ahh...my apologies.  My name is Mamiya Chiwa, and I'm a super ordinary OL (office lady).  I've been married for two years now.

Hokuto is my beloved husband.  He's five years older than me, and is the president of Mamiya Business Affairs of the Mamiya Group, one of Japan's leading companies.  Before I switched jobs, I worked in the same company, so I know of his talent better than others.  Ever since he became president, company performance has been skyrocketing.  He's even been published in financial editorials.  So how did I get married to such a person?  Like a Cinderella story, he fell in love with me at first sight....not.  There were actually some special circumstances that brought us together.