Thread by @slug_hypmic

DH/BAT+ chapter 3 released today in Japanese!
Summary thread below:
- Adaptation of Aikata(s) Back Again cont.
- Mute #hypspoiler to avoid.
- Please refrain from posting images out of courtesy for the JPN fandom.

For those who would like a refresher of where we left off:

https://twitter.com/slug_hypmic/status/1593048635528577025

The chapter begins with Sasara on the set at his TV studio wrapping up a video shoot. He notices a crowd trying to stop an older gentleman from coming in, but this older gentleman isn’t one to be stopped. Much to Sasara’s horror, it turns out to be Rei. #hypspoiler

Rei appears to be drunk and also smoking like a chimney. Sasara yells at him for smelling like booze and smoking inside, but Rei just laughs it off. He’s not a big fan of following the rules. (Sasara chalks this up to a drunken ramble.) #hypspoiler

Then Rei gets serious, taking off his glasses. He asks Sasara if Sasara actually wants to win the DRB, and when Sasara says, “Duh, that goes without saying,” Rei asks why. Sasara clenches his fists and then announces, “Because I want to reach the top with Roshou!” #hypspoiler

Rei thinks that’s a p. good reason, but Sasara’s bound to lose at the rate he’s going. When pressed why, Rei lights up another cigarette and gives a hint: it has to do with the Sasara/Roshou relationship and, consequently, Sasara’s life as a whole. #hypspoiler

If Sasara thinks back to when he was once a young, rambunctious scamp, he’ll figure out what Rei means. Then Rei leaves, despite Sasara begging him for answers, and says the lesson’s only any good if Sasara figures it out himself. Sasara is stumped. #hypspoiler

Thus, he decides to take a trip to Tsuutenkaku Tower (the place where he and Roshou first connected) in order to think. As he turns Rei’s words over in his mind, he thinks back to his childhood but comes up with nothing apart from his parents’ constant fighting. #hypspoiler

Honestly, what with how they fought…sure, he was sad when they divorced, but it also came as kind of a relief. It made him realize how easily relationships could fall apart, and ever since then, he’s only formed shallow ones at best. #hypspoiler

That is, until Roshou came along. He was the first person Sasara had ever considered forming a more serious bond with. As he recalls their interactions, it hits him just then how he always made their victories about himself. “I’LL take you to the top”, etc. #hypspoiler

The thought shakes him. Just then, he hears footsteps behind him and turns to see…Roshou? Roshou is just as surprised to find him there, but then the two laugh sheepishly. Roshou admits he was thinking back to the day they got together as a comedy group. #hypspoiler

Sasara asks why Roshou’s here, and Roshou says it’s because Sasara taught him that this is a good place to come up and think. Sasara admits he was just considering going to see Roshou, and Roshou agrees it was a lucky coincidence they bumped into each other instead. #hypspoiler

After a pause, Sasara brings up the day Roshou split up the group. Even if he hadn’t, Sasara says, their working relationship probably would have been done for soon anyway. Roshou doesn’t respond to that and instead starts talking about his past. #hypspoiler

The constant pressure from his mother depressed him unbearably until he became (Roshou says ruefully) a total punk, as he’s told Sasara before. Roshou realized, eventually, that he was waiting for Sasara to put that same pressure on him. #hypspoiler

Sasara apologizes for making him feel that way. He goes on to say that he really DOES think Roshou has incredible, unique talent but he just…just…couldn’t trust anyone but himself. That’s why he never let Roshou—or anyone else, really—handle things. #hypspoiler

He completely ruined Roshou’s chance to grow. And at that point, Sasara isn’t even worthy of being Roshou’s friend!

Roshou sighs and then yells, “How dumb are you?” No one’s “unworthy” of making friends! #hypspoiler

And if Sasara can’t trust Roshou, then Roshou needs to MAKE himself more trustworthy. Roshou clenches his fist and then, placing his hands on Sasara’s shoulders, yells that he just wants them to treat each other as equals! #hypspoiler

He begs Sasara to battle him so he can prove he has what it takes. Sasara agrees, and the two break out their mics. Roshou goes first. He says that this battle’s for himself, not Sasara. Sasara’s got a lot more going for him than Roshou does, but look at a graph. #hypspoiler

What happens to exponential functions as x goes to infinity? That’s right, the answer’s not zero! It’s INFINITE possibility! Just like Roshou!

The rap knocks Sasara down, and now it’s his turn. #hypspoiler

Sasara knows he has flaws too, but those don’t stop him. You don’t get a dress rehearsal in life—this stuff is live! If you take your time dawdling, you’ll be old before you know it, so Roshou needs to hurry up and start coming after Sasara already. #hypspoiler

Roshou is knocked back too, but he won’t let that stop him. He raps some more mathy analogies about the face that he still has a chance to prove that he can beat Sasara. Sasara, not to be outdone, rap-jokes that Roshou’s lessons have put him to sleep. #hypspoiler

But Roshou can’t make good on his words, and there’s no way he’s beating Sasara!

This knocks Roshou down. He tries to will himself to stand so that he can be equal with Sasara and finally lurches to his feet only…to fall unconscious a moment later. #hypspoiler

Sasara, who’s almost just as exhausted, falls down too and laughs. He won, but boy was it a tough battle!

When Roshou comes to, he feels discouraged as he’s lost AGAIN. Sasara gloats for a moment before, more sincerely, thanking Roshou. #hypspoiler

R: For what?
S: For taking that battle seriously. This is the first time in my life I’ve ever voluntarily fought competed with you and given it everything I have.
Sasara turns to Roshou with an extended hand and a delighted grin. #hypspoiler

S: This feels new and fantastic. Let’s do that again sometime!
Roshou grins back, grabs Sasara’s hand in a handshake, and agrees.

When the two head back down the tower, guess who they find waiting for them? If you said Rei, you’re right! #hypspoiler

Sasara and Roshou come up to him and bow. (Rei jokes, “What’re you looking down for? You boys dropped some cash or something?”) They say that his advice was helpful, and they’re grateful that he talked to them. #hypspoiler

Rei looks proud and then says he has no idea what they’re talking about. Sasara and Rei are momentarily taken aback before sharing a giggle. Then, as all three fist bump, DH promises to win their upcoming battles and make it to the finals. #hypspoiler

The chapter ends there to be continued on January 17th! If my assumption is correct, it’ll be time for the BAT boys to have the spotlight.