My goodness, look at the time.
Yuka, your mom will be worried.
It's okay. I told Mom where I'd be.
What took ya so long?
Please leave.
I've already told you that I'm not doing it.
We'll be leaving as soon as we get those illustrations.
That's not...
What the hell is this? What about our illustrations?
If it's that series you're referring to,
last time I submitted my work to the publisher,
I made it very clear there would be no more.
The series ain't finished by a long shot.
Stop it!
Don't you be getting any stupid ideas, got it?
Let go of her! If you don't leave her alone, you'll be sorry!
You little brat!
Stop it! You have no business hurting a child!
I'm warning you, better start working on the next one.
Hello.
Yes, that's right.
What's that?
Look here, playing pranks on a grown-up will get you a spanking!
Goodbye!
What was that?
Wants me to beat up three grown-ups for five hundred yen.
Five hundred yen?
Judging by the voice, I'd say it was a girl in the third or fourth grade.
Anyhow, what's going on with kids these days? I'm telling you.
A prank?
Hello, Saeba speaking.
You again?
Big brother here is busy.
Give me a call in ten years or so
after you've grown up into a beautiful young lady.
But it's a beautiful lady I want you to help!
No kidding? A beautiful lady?
It's true! If you don't get here soon, she'll die!
What? Where are you now?
What's wrong?
Hey!
I promised that little girl I'd meet her.
Keep up the good work!
Good work?
No way, he can't be serious!
Hurry! Hurry!
You're not putting me on, are you?
I don't have time for that!
I'm just a kid. I'm not able to protect her from those bad guys.
So I'm asking you, please.
She lives on the seventh floor.
Saori Murakoshi?
She doesn't answer the door! Maybe she's already dead!
What?!
Don't!
Who are you?
Don't be in such a hurry to die! You're too young, what a waste!
I'll just hold on to this knife.
But how am I supposed to cut these strings?
What? How do things like this happen?
Me, die?
Yuka, how could you?
But you were so depressed yesterday.
And you didn't look so good this morning either.
I see. I'm sorry I made you worry.
It's true I'm going to quit doing my books,
but I'm definitely not going to die.
But you can't quit! I'm your biggest fan!
Look's like there's more to this.
There sure is!
Tell Mr. Saeba the whole story. I'm sure he can help.
It wouldn't do to trample on the feelings of this tender young child.
I know. She's really pretty, isn't she?
Yuka!
Oh, yeah! You tricked me, didn't you?!
Too late! Too late!
But half of it was kind of true.
You...
Is this your sister?
No, she's the daughter of this building's super.
She comes to play in my apartment almost every day.
That's right!
Mr. Saeba, help her, please.
Well...
Darn, I'll be late for cram school!
Mr. Saeba?!
Go on. I'll protect your friend for you.
Really?
You bet. Want to make a promise?
No one makes promises that way anymore,
but I believe you so I'll make a promise.
Cross your heart and hope to die!
Okay, cross my heart and hope to die!
It's done!
Great!
Now you can do your next book without worrying.
Okay, I have to go to cram school!
I'll pay you like I promised after you take care of the bad guys, okay?
Okay.
Okay, I'm going!
Watch for cars!
I know!
Oh, good luck with your book. And please guard her!
She's pretty so don't go trying anything with her!
Yuka!
Shall we go outside?
Mutsumi Kurowada? Is that your pen name?
No, that's the name of the publishing company's president.
But aren't you the one who wrote this book?
That's my book.
The publisher told me the first book by a new author doesn't sell well,
so he said he'd release it under his own name.
I was stupid.
I've faced the fact that my choice of publisher was regrettable.
And you're going to leave the city and go home?
I've run out of time. I only have one month left.
Why do you say one month?
I just couldn't let go of my dream to be an author of children's books.
So I convinced my mother and brother to give me three years in Tokyo.
I promised them if a book with my name on it wasn't published by then,
I would leave the city and come home.
I have exactly one month to that day left.
The name may not be yours, but this is your book, right?
It's not good enough.
Why?
It's meaningless without my name!
It can't be called my book!
My family wouldn't believe me, just as you doubted me just now.
But there's a little girl who believes in you.
Can you just destroy Yuka's dream?
Don't you think your brother and mother share your dream?
You still have one month, don't you?
Why not do the best you can in that time?
Saeba...
Do whatever it takes to make her complete it.
That series of hers is leaping off the shelf.
I'll be damned if I let that gold mine slip through my fingers.
We'll make her do it, even if we have to give her a spanking.
Saeba, you really don't have to do that.
Oh, it's nothing, nothing.
You should be concentrating on your work and nothing else.
But...
Okay, drink this cinnamon tea to get that mind sharp.
I'm sorry for making a gentleman like you serve me.
Here...
Saeba!
I'm sorry. Did you burn yourself?
No, no, no problem. I'm fine.
Afternoon!
Dirty old man!
Please, wait a second...
It's not what you think, Yuka.
I spilled tea on Mr. Saeba's trousers, and was helping him.
Right, right.
Oh, is that all?
Next time knock before you come in, okay?
This is from Mom. It's a snack for you.
Well, thank you. Give your mother my thanks.
Okay, see you!
Goodnight, Yuka.
Good luck on your book.
Mr. Saeba, take good care of her.
Goodnight!
You guys are just like close sisters.
She's such a gentle and sweet child.
Right...
Everything's okay now.
Okay, I'll be watching outside.
Hello?
How many pages have ya finished?
We've discussed this already.
Now, I know ya got something done for us.
As I said...
You're just a beginner. You're way too young to go refusing us!
Hey, you listening?!
Hello? What's that? I couldn't hear you.
Well? Has she done any work?
There was some okama on the line.
Idiot!
Honest!
Anyway, go out there and keep an eye on her building.
Damn! She just won't cooperate, will she?
If you get another threatening call like that, let me know.
I'll be right downstairs.
Wait!
Please, stay here with me!
You got it. I'll make some more of my special cinnamon tea.
Yes! Please!
She's having a hard time.
She was up all night after all.
She's stayed inside the whole time. It's not good for her at all.
You're right. She still has time.
It's Sunday. Why don't we take her out for a change of Scenery?
Good idea! You're sharp, Ryo!
Do I have to keep carrying this stuff?
Yep.
Really? Three more pages and you're done?
I'll try hard tonight.
Well, I'll just have to make some more of that good old cinnamon tea.
Tasty!
Having fun, ain't ya?
Are you that okama?
That's right!
It's them, the bad guys!
Oh, you don't say?
Stay out of this if you don't wanna get hurt!
How savage...
What's that?!
All right! You're strong!
My word but he's weak!
Son-of-a...
This is a place where nice people come.
What did you say?!
I'm saying you guys don't belong here.
My, how pitiful!
This ain't over!
Hey! You just going to leave your buddy?
I can't believe those guys are in a business that makes dreams for kids.
You're... you're really strong, aren't you?
Okay, let's enjoy our food.
No looking! Turn around!
Yuka!
Thanks for protecting her. Here's what I promised.
Okay, let's eat! Let's eat!
This means more to me than any fortune.
Brother!
Come on! Come on!
I'm done. It's finished.
Yuka, Saeba, it's finished!
All right!
Congratulations!
By the way, do you have any possible publishers in mind?
Yes, among the publishers I visited a while back,
there's one that continues to show interest in me.
Is that right? Let's go there first thing tomorrow morning.
Right!
These are good! I hope you'll allow us to publish it for you.
Really?! Thank you so much!
Using her real name, correct?
Of course, under the name Saori Murakoshi.
A girl named Saori Murakoshi paid you a visit, didn't she?
Who are you?
That envelope!
Yes, Miss Murakoshi left this with me just a while ago.
What?! Hand it over!
No!
Our publishing company has sole rights to her work!
I want you to forget you ever talked to that girl. Got it?
How was that, Mr. Saeba?
Good job. Your performance was first-rate.
Well, I hope you'll take care of her book.
Leave it to me.
As a fellow publisher,
I was already displeased with their business practices.
What is this?! Blank sheets of paper!
You've been played for fools, haven't you?
Looks like we're going to have to play tough now.
Looks like it's time for me to step in.
Had I known it would come to this,
I would have requested your assistance at the outset, Sensei.
Please accept this.
So, this fellow, is he good?
He's one tough customer.
Please be on your guard, Sensei.
I mean, for you it'll be, one, two, three, he's out, no problem, Sensei.
Right?
Of course!
I must say having asked for your help makes me feel so much better.
Having a worthy opponent gives me that much more motivation.
Who is it?
A worthy opponent, you say? I wonder who that could be?
Boss, that's the guy I was talking about!
Is that so? You pulled the fast one with the illustrations?
You got it!
Did seeing those clean, white sheets of paper do you some good inside?
Son-of-a...
You...
Sensei!
I have no quarrel with you personally,
but I am honor-bound to fulfill my duty.
Goodness, you sound like someone who just stepped out of a samurai movie.
It would appear you and I share the same profession,
but don't you think you talk a bit too much?
Go! Just a little more! Keep at him, Sensei!
Oops! Look out!
Look, you're all out of breath. Why don't we take a break?
I had thought to hurt you a little bit and let you go,
but I've changed my mind.
Die!
Looks like the tables have turned.
You don't mean...
A .357 Magnum Python?
You're well-informed.
Meet Ryo Saeba, also known as City Hunter.
You're him? City Hunter?
Sensei, what's wrong? A gun is nothing to you!
Okay, what will it be?
Your employer is calling you over there.
You can't mess with City Hunter in this town and expect to live.
Sensei, what are you saying? I've paid you a lot of...
Take your money!
Is that okay?
Yeah, hope you live a long life.
Stay back!
Okay, you're going to make me a promise
to never bother Saori Murakoshi again.
How much?
How much would it take to make you forget about Saori Murakoshi?
I'm not interested in your deals.
There's only one way.
Okay, I won't bother her again!
If you're lying, next time I'll send you on a tour of Hell.
You...
Looks like you still don't appreciate your situation here.
There had better be no next time.
Can't take anymore...
Three days left. I wonder if the book will be ready in time?
Sister!
Yuka! Saeba!
See? I told you she'd be here.
What's up? Doing okay?
Brother has a present for you.
For me?
Here you go.
This is my book, with my name, and so quickly too.
I understand they stayed up all night getting it done.
It's hot off the presses. I bet you it's still warm.
Yes, it sure is.
Mr. Saeba, what can I possibly say to thank you?
Don't mention it. I've already received thanks enough.
See you!
Going already?
Yuka, you kept me so busy, I'm exhausted.
I'm going home and sleep.
Kids just aren't my style somehow.
But I think I'll keep this all the same.
What's that? Someone's in love with you? Is she beautiful?
What's your problem?
Shinji's life is in danger
because of the fortune he'll inherit from his missing uncle.
A man? I'll not allow it!
The culprit is his aunt. Come on, please help him!
Is this aunt beautiful?
I hear she's not bad.
Introduce me okay?!
If you do, I'll allow your relationship with Shinji
even if you are both guys!
What was that?
Get wild and tough