Saki 198: Awe

Continuing with the series of younger versions of random characters, in this chapter's title page we have... Shino! (back during her elementary school days). Also, judging by the kimono, I'd say that's Uta in the background. Otherwise, it's hard to say.

As for the title, I think the most accurate translation is "awe" although it could also be called "fear". But fear of something grand and sublime like God or a very important and powerful person. It's not the same word that would be used to describe "fear of spiders" or "fear of ghosts", for example.

The horror begins!
Saki ch198 (Mega)
Saki ch198 (Mediafire)

I'd like to add a few additional chapter's notes but to reduce the risk of spoilers I'll put them after the break.


Chapter's notes

- The two girls on page 10 are, as you may have already guessed, Rune and Shiori, former students at Shiraitodai and two of the original members of Teru's team. What's a little more obscure is that they seem to be wearing the uniform of the Heartbeats, Hayari's pro team as shown in her Pro Mahjong Card.

- A curious detail is that in the Achiga-hen anime, episode 2, Harue receives an offer from Hayari to join her team, which Harue rejects in order to become Achiga's coach. That was in the winter, about half a year before the current Interhigh. Since Shiori is only one grade above Teru, she must have graduated this spring, which makes it entirely possible that she filled the position that Harue didn't.

- To add a little more info on Teru's win on page 13. Teru's hand has tanyao and toitoi. If Teru had won from Yuuki, her hand value would be 3 han 30 fu, 5800 points (7000 with the bonus). Teru's previous win is 1600 all, 4800 in total, so 5800 is already enough to fulfill her point-increasing condition. By winning with tsumo, Teru's hand value becomes 3 han 34 fu (rounded up to 40 fu), 2600 all (3000 all with the bonus) which makes 7800 (9000) points total. In other words, too much.

- The gigigi sound on page 15. Looking back at the Achiga-hen manga, chapter 13, page 16, after the vanguard's match of semifinals, Awai comments that Teru didn't use "that gigigi thing" ('whu-whu-whee' in the translation). "But I will do it in the finals" replies Teru. Since we don't know what kind of sound is that supposed to be, I just left the original "gigigi" in the translation.