(Kondo) Nice to meet you. My name is Kondo.
Ah, welcome. Umm, actually due to unforeseen circumstances
I was wondering if it would be possible for
him to stay here instead of me?
Oh, well, it makes no difference to us. But why all of a sudden?
We were both staying at the same place up until now.
Just recently we decided to stay
at different places, but we've come across
a problem because of his height. (Meiko) His height?
(Kondo) He hits his head on the transom. (the wooden bar above sliding doors in a Japanese house.)
It appears that the transom is some sort of old family inheritance,
so every time it looks like he's going to bump into it with his head
the husband gets so worried that he feels like his heart is going to stop.
(Daigo) That would be terrible if he fainted.
Because of this I think your house would be better if it's ok...
It's not ok!
Our transom is important to us too!
~Theme: "Ame Nochi Hallelujah" by Yuzu~
Week Two: Meeting Yuu for the First Time Episode 9
Suddenly, unexpectedly, or inevitably?
We don’t notice when it begins.
Things don’t always go as expected.
When that happens, all we can do is grin.
As the raindrops fall one by one, the colors of the town change,
and without an umbrella, I can sing to the rainy sky above.
I love you for who you are.
Please look up and let the light shine on your face.
So that the river of tears can return to the ocean.
Hallelujah! Everyone’s heart will make it through difficult times to the brighter days ahead.
Why does it have to be Tsutenkaku?
Meiko!
(Kuma) Here you go. Thank you very much.
(Daigo) This is our housekeeper Kuma.
I look forward to having you with us. I look forward to being here.
...and this is our only daughter, Meiko.
...it's a pleasure. I look forward to being here.
(Daigo) She's currently a fifth year student at an all girls' high school.
So, you write "Nishikado" like "west" and "gate"? (Nishi = west, kado=gate)
Yes. My first name is Yuutaro. "Yuu" as in "yuukyuu" (meaning eternity) And then "Taro" is just the typical spelling.
So, what are you studying at Teidai (Teikoku University) I'm studying architecture.
Oh really? Architecture.
I'm studying the architectural design of reinforced concrete.
Um.."the rainforest's complete?" No, I said "reinforced concrete."
To put it in easy terms, it's putting iron bars together and then building a frame out of wood around it.
then pouring concrete into the middle of it
In other words, the construction of man-made stone work.
In comparison to wooden or brick structures,
it's by far much better in terms of being fire and earthquake resistant.
Furthermore, reinforced concrete is quite amazing
not only because it's strong against disasters,
but it also has much more freedom in its design.
What I mean to say is, with reinforced concrete construction,
you can create buildings that combine both strength and beauty.
Ah, so that's why you are going to Teidai. Yes.
Oh, that's great. Just great...
Oh, what about food? Osaka food is pretty different than food here...
Ah yes, it's different, but...
for me, really anything is good.
That's good to hear. He's just like you.
Hold on, what's your problem? Nothing...
Are you embarrassed?
I'm not embarrassed! It's not like that at all!
She may be tall and act like a child,
but she's a good kid. So please get along with her if you can.
Hold on a sec...
Well, I have a restaurant to run.
Oh, Meiko. Can you please give Nishikado-san a tour of the house?
Huh?
Hold up.
Sorry to trouble you.
The restaurant starts here,
and if you have to use the well to get water, it's in the corner over there.
It seems that the layout of everything is pretty good. Hmm...
...and for meals everyone eats together here.
Breakfast is usually around 6.
For dinner, we usually get things made from the restaurant,
but sometimes Kuma does some cooking for us too.
If you're going to be late, please let us know so we can put aside a plate for you.
Is something wrong? Umm...don't you ever eat by yourself instead of everyone together?
Oh, well, things are usually busy because of the restaurant so, that's why we just make a few
big dishes and share them together. It was grandmother who wanted to do it this way to save time and energy.
Really? It sounds like fun.
I'm not too sure about that, but...
...and this would be your room.
It's a really nice room, and gets lots of sunlight.
It was my grandmother's room before she passed away.
Oh, is that right? I'm sorry to hear that.
Thank you very much for allowing me to use it.
Oh, can I give these to you to pass along to your parents?
Hey, can you please quit the act?
Act?
Like pretending today is the first time you've met me.
You've met me before, right? At the cafe in Ginza.
Cafe?
Oh! Oh yeah! You're the one who was screaming so loud and was swinging around that spoon, weren't ya?
You forgot?
Ah, sorry, my brain tends to forget such trivial things.
Trivial things? Yeah, what happened at the cafe was no big deal.
You know, swinging that spoon around like that.
That's a little bit rude, don't you think?
Saying things like you don't remember people that you meet...
Rude...?
Rude...rude.
What the heck kinda pose is that?
So, you're telling me that it's better not to let go
of mistakes and things like that? ...huh?
Like when someone stops by a cafe after school,
and carries on so loud about stuff people couldn't care less about
while waving around a spoon and flinging whipped cream?
These are the kinda things that should be seared in my memory?
You mean stuff like that? That's not what I mean...
Well then, I guess there's no reason for me to remember it.
Yeah, that's right.
Yeah, but... But what?
But...
In that case, I guess we're better off saying that today we met for the first time.
Sorry to bother you!
Teru, gimme the food for dinner. What are you so mad about?
Don't worry about it, just give it to me.
It won't be for a while yet. Dad said today
we're all eating together. Like a welcome party for Nishikado-san.
Well then, I'll just take my food. Huh?
I'm not going to eat with everyone else.
...because I have homework to do!
English subtitles provided by Kimigayo Subs.
Chef lost his patience with Teru again.
He asked Teru "Show me how you sharpen a knife"
And Teru said, "How can I sharpen it?" Chef was like "I just showed you how to do it!!"
Hey, how is it? Is it good or not?
How's my stew?!
Chef. What?
It's the best!
Of course it is. Just the broth alone takes 8 hours to make!
As long as you have the broth, you can use left over veggies, or whatever
you want, and it'll still taste delicious!
How do you make it? Oh? Are you interested?
I'm very interested. Like what you have to do to make something like this.
If you ask him something like that, be prepared for a long story.
You're one to talk!
You should be the one listening to how I make it!
Are you ready? Controlling the temperature is what's important for this stew.
You have to give it time and let everything simmer.
Only then can the flavors come together.
After that, you combine it with the flavor of the tomatoes,
and you get the taste you have before you. I see...
So, it's because of the glutamic acid (natural MSG)? That's it. (Glutamic acid is called glutamicsan in Japanese).
It's thanks to Mr. Glutamic that we have such a stew. (Daigo confuses the term glutamicsan with a person's name "Glutamic-san").
Is your homework all finished? Not yet.
Won't you come eat? Everyone's having a good time.
I'm fine. I just came to mix the rice bran.
Thanks for waiting. Sorry for the trouble.
Here you are. (Tama) And some beer as well.
Thank you very much.
Meiko, get in here and have some of my stew.
Gimme back my jam! Give it back!
(Genta) See ya later!
I wonder what Gen-chan is up to these days.
~Music~
It's no good this year either...
That's a strawberry plant, isn't it?
It's hard isn't it? to grow strawberries.
Yeah, it is.
Is it your hobby? That's not it.
Strawberries are special to me. They're memorable.
Memorable?
Memories of my childhood friend... Well, I say "childhood"...
but he moved away a long time ago.
But even if we met again somewhere
he probably wouldn't notice me.
That's not true, is it.
Well, just like me at the cafe, you forgot all about me.
But I'm sure he remembers something like that.
Hmm..I dunno. There's no way he could forget,
a girl tackling him and screaming "Give me my jam back!"
Together, you stole the strawberries that were an offering and got lickings by your mother.
How do you know about all of that?
Dad! When she was eight,
she tried to catch carps in the moat outside Edo castle...
Chef, we've heard this story a million times.
Dad! Don't say such embarrassing things about me!
Don't run your mouth off about my childhood like that!
You always make me the butt of your jokes when you're drunk!
Huh? What did you catch today?
What?
Before long now... instead catching something you eat,
go out and catch a good guy. At least one would be nice! Huh?
Koi thief. "Koi" means carp, but I think she's trying to catch the other kind of "koi" (love).
What are you talking about?
Ah hah! I get it now!! Good one Tama-chan!
What?
I don't get it. (Iku) Nice one!
What do you mean. "Koi" means carp, but...
Enough already, what are you talking about?!
(Tora) And so things kept spinning for Meiko in the spring of her 17th year.
To be continued...