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I’m always delighted to get official versions of good works like this (or rather, I’m always delighted when good works get official versions), and I’m really, really delighted to support mangaka doing such good work when I can (even though I’m given to understand that creators don’t actually get much direct monetary benefit from sales of translations).
BUT, it seems like nearly every official translation of anything flattens out one or more of my favorite lines from the scanlation. We’ve already discussed the “love > like” examples—in my mind Kase will always tell Yamada, “I’ve been in love with you for the longest time,” no matter what the translation says.
In this volume, it’s when Mikawacchi and Kase are shopping for Yamada’s birthday present and Kase says that she loses confidence around Mikawa. I loved the response:
“I am quite well-informed on the ways of Yamada!”
“The ways of Yamada” suggests how, to people who know her, Yamada is such a loveable oddball, where:
“I do know a lot more about Yamada, after all!” is completely flavorless and pedestrian.
So I’m glad the official translations exist, but I’m also very grateful for the work of the translators here.