Bored...
Anything interesting to talk about?
Um...
I read a book a while ago.
What was it called?
Well, I forgot the title.
Tell me what kind of story it was.
Yes.
It was the tale of a man in love with scientific technology.
A robot birthed by the pinnacle of science-
Tetsujin 28-0!
One who plotted to use a robot birthed by the pinnacle of science-
Giant Hobo!
A genius scientist, planning to use a robot birthed by the pinnacle of science-
Maybe-ginger Z!
as a replacement for his lost son,
created an advanced artificial human possessing
weapons, amazing physical abilities, and emotions.
But this robot's body did not grow as a human's does.
Astro Roy!
The robot, built by the scientist's grandson from plans he'd left behind,
had a phrase he would always say.
By George, I've got it!
Let's go back, Kanako.
I did what I had to.
Yayoi...
There was a purpose to these bodies of ours. A very important one.
Now that I've done what I had to, I've never been so happy.
So I'm fine.
No matter what happens to us, I'm fine.
I see. Yes, I understand.
We're going back.
Yes.
No matter how many years pass, the warmth of summer never changes.
So, whenever this season comes around, I remember the summer of my thirteenth year,
my days as a young boy, when I knew nothing at all.
Even now, it remains unchanged within me.
She really will get better, right?
We ethereal spirits require a special energy, which you might call "existence."
Existence?
Yayoi and I have maintained ourselves this long by exchanging our little remaining power.
If I return the power of existence that I took from her...
Arashi-san...
Where am I?
How did I...
Everybody...
Arashi-san!
Hajime-chan?
I'm so glad... I'm so glad you're back...
Come on... What's wrong, Hajime-chan?
You're safe now.
Fushimi-san? Yamazaki-san?
Everyone, sorry for the trouble we caused.
Our desire to protect ourselves ended up hurting you.
So we must accept the punishment for that.
No way.
Just now, we used almost all the power of existence we had.
Don't worry.
We've made our peace.
Right, Yayoi?
Right.
No! Wait!
Thank you for everything, Hajime-chan.
Wait!
Goodbye.
Both of you, don't do this!
Hajime-chan!
Jun!
Our existence returned.
Why?
You see,
I have Hajime-chan, a person I connected with.
When we connect with someone in this era, it seems that our wavering existence comes back.
What?
I don't know if it's from forcing us to consider existence,
or if, perhaps, we touch the power of life.
Then if we...
If you find someone you can connect with,
you won't disappear.
Let Your Body Ride on the Flow of Time Master
Jeez, what a mess.
If you weren't hiding in a mansion, but went out and met people, you would've learned this...
You can't do anything careless while trying to protect a girl in a wheelchair.
It's all good. Everything worked out.
I see. Yayoi-chan and Yamazaki-san, you both became ethereal spirits that day.
Yes, the next thing I knew, I was like this.
I had no idea there were others like Arashi and myself.
What happened to us is sad, but I'm happy we met again.
Yes.
I'm truly happy to meet you and Arashi-san again!
Let's work together going forward.
But, we need to find you two a partner to connect with.
Don't worry. For now, he's going to give us energy.
Huh? Hey, the hell I will-
You don't have any other work, right?
I'll hire you for this and for work at the mansion-
No way!
I'm not working with you...
What?
Didn't you want to become a courageous person, who would risk their life to save someone?
Like Arashi-san?
How the hell did you...
Is the Arashi who saved my dad's life...
You wouldn't abandon an old friend of hers, would you?
OK, that's settled.
Wait!
Not yet.
We've caused trouble for you all, and we owe you for helping us.
We must apologize and also pay you back.
Don't worry about it.
That's not good enough.
Anything-name it!
Then how about this?
Um, this is...
Paying us back.
You're going to be a waitress here.
No way!
Why do we have to-
You said "anything."
That's pretty cute, Kanako!
You actually look kind of hot, Kanako!
It's cute, Yamazaki-san!
This is great!
I guess if she puts on cute clothes, she actually looks like a woman.
Well, you know what they say, the clothes make the woman!
Seriously, that spooky woman being a nice, cheerful waitress...
What the hell was that for?!
Make fun of my girls, and you pay.
I think that's going too far, though!
I am Fushimi Yayoi.
Nice to meet you all.
A new girl?
You're pretty.
I love how this place has so many kind, gentle girls. You don't see it much anymore, Sensei!
Exactly what I was after.
Welcome!
Youko?
My shoot was nearby, so I came in to say "hi."
W-Wait... The fact that I'm a model is a secret here.
Don't worry. I know.
Hello.
I'm Himekawa Youko,
Kamigamo Jun's girlfriend.
Silly Jun won't tell me anything about his job.
I was lonely, so I came to see what it's like.
Think of this as practice.
It's your chance to be a total guy.
Salt, please.
Unforgivable!
You're cheating on Kaya-san?
Um, well...
Only you know that I'm a girl.
Trick him somehow!
How awful!
Jun has been engaging in trysts with a young lass, despite already having me!
I believed in you.
But I knew nothing... Nothing, as you toyed with my pure emotions!
That's not what I meant!
Give me the salt.
How terrible! You were being a cheat?
Youko!
I hate you!
I'm going to kill you, and then die myself!
Salt, I said. Salt!
A man should never make a girl cry!
I'm going to beat the crap out of you!
Don't believe them, idiot!
And Youko, stop interfering with my job and go home!
What? I'm a customer. What's wrong with that?
They seem to be fighting over something.
Fools in love...
Ignore them.
But they helped us. And as friends, we can't just ignore them.
Yayoi!
Um...
Yes?
I'm sorry to interrupt,
but I think you should be more openhearted and calm in your dealings with gentlemen.
Huh?
Especially when you deal with a lover,
fighting and worsening things will prevent you from reaching an acceptable solution.
Please contain your anger.
You're wrong.
If you repress anger just 'cause you're a girl, unhappiness will build, wrecking the relationship.
And love is more fun when you can express yourself!
What?!
Keeping quiet only means you'll cry later.
And bitching him out is the only way to make the guy improve.
Anyway, iced coffee.
And salt for me, too.
OK!
Here you are.
S-Salt...
Kanako, calm down!
You don't need to suck up to a brat like this!
But she's a customer.
Girls who don't consider those around them make me angry.
You're the one not considering people around them!
Jeez... Yayoi-san's OK, but Kanako's one violent woman.
She's lived through some tough times.
Arashi-san...
But meeting old acquaintances makes me remember the past.
Sometimes, you act like an old woman.
Cold!
I'm sorry, Hajime-chan.
I just thought, sometimes, you act younger than you are.
I guess it really bugs you, huh?
That's cold!
Watch where you're throwing that!
Cold!
My, you're certainly energetic.
I'm sorry.
Come inside! I'll dry you off!
My, you're...
It's good to see you again.
Dreams open up the night...
I'm really sorry.
I'll dry it right away.
Don't worry about it so much.
I'm done with work for the day.
You're really careless. This happened because you were messing around.
Kaya-san, do you know that guy?
It looks like he knows Arashi-san.
I thought that maybe he was another ghost from the same era...
No, I don't remember him.
I see.
Which means he's from our time?
Um, so...
You know me?
I'm sorry.
I must have startled you earlier.
I've met you before.
Met me?
I'm Yamashiro Takeshi.
Do you remember that name?
Yamashiro Takeshi?
Fool.
Rush yourself, and you lose the real target.
Hey, that's kind of nice.
Even if she was born long ago, she's got a 16-year-old's body.
That's the time for love...
Arashiyama-sempai
in love?
That's kind of rare to see.
Just talking about love is embarrassing?
She's coming back.
So, whaddya think?
Seems like you were having a nice chat.
He says he knows me.
That's Arashiyama-sempai! She was famously popular, even at the girl's school.
But I don't remember him.
You don't think it's an excuse to pick you up?
My, how shameless.
Such friendly talk with a guy you don't know.
So, what are you going to do?
Well, you see...
He invited me on a date.
A-And did you accept?
I had no reason to refuse.
Shameless hussy!
Yayoi, don't listen anymore!
Are you sure it's OK to meet people from this era carelessly?
If people find out who we are, it'll be bad.
But, um, how to put it?
I can't ignore him.
Well, Hajime-chan?
I'm pretty cute, huh?
You can't say I look old now, can you?
Hmph, it doesn't help at all.
Where are you going?
To clean the toilets.
You're going in that kimono?
I would've given you what I wear for dates.
What you wear for dates?
Something really sexy...
Including underwear.
I think this is probably for the best.
You set, Arashi-san?
Yes! Let's go.
I'm worried.
How wonderful, Arashiyama-sempai!
A beautiful love that bridges time...
I'm so envious.
Slattern!
Yayoi, don't end up like that.
Where's Hajime-chan?
He said he was going shopping.
On his bike?
Yeah, a bike...
This is the first day I can enjoy the local sights in a long time.
Anywhere you want to go?
Do you remember the place where we met?
Yes, of course.
Then let's go there, if that's all right.
That's fine. I wanted to take you there myself.
What am I trying to do here?
It doesn't matter.
This is between men!
And I ain't losing this fight, asshole!
I'll do whatever it takes!
This is where you met me?
I went into the night sea here.
No way.
Something pushed you too far, and...
No, just too many people here during the day.
Stuff was bothering me, and I decided I wanted a swim.
So I went into the sea, clothes still on.
But the waves were stronger than I'd thought.
I realized the danger and tried to turn back, but the waves pulled me further and further out.
I tried calling for help, but no one was there.
The black sea was the only thing around me.
The cold waves sapped my strength.
I thought I was a goner.
But then she saved me.
I don't remember how, but the next thing I knew, I was being lectured back on the beach.
She looked exactly like you.
This girl, ten years ago...
I know, ten years ago, it wasn't you.
But you looked so much like her, I had to say something.
I see.
I'm sorry.
No.
It was an interesting story.
I'm back.
Welcome back, Arashiyama-sempai!
So, how'd it go?
It was fun!
We went for a drive, and then to the sea, and we ate, and he brought me back.
Nice, sempai! You're really getting far!
Foul strumpet...
Yayoi, make sure you don't do that.
Is that all?
He didn't do anything weird?
No, he was a good guy.
That's why I said I'd lend you my date clothes.
What happened to you, Hajime-chan?
Those wounds...
Hajime has thrown off the woman of his past and been reborn.
Shut up!
Don't talk to me!
Don't cry. Half the world's population is female-
I'm not crying. And I don't care.
A man's gotta know when to give up.
He seems like a nice guy, huh?
I'll give up, but I'll still help you go through time.
I don't leave things halfway done.
Don't worry about it.
Hey, Hajime-chan.
I found out something when I was with him.
I had never met him.
But in his past, I saved him.
So I figured it out...
He's somebody I saved in the future.
I wanted to find out more,
but the only way would be spending time with him directly and feeling it out.
Oh, so that's why you went on a date with him?
Boring.
Sorry to worry you, Hajime-chan.
I knew it the whole time!
I believed in you, Arashi-san!
Idiot.
I want to save him.
Will you go with me, Hajime-chan?
If you insist!
Bastard's causing trouble for us.
Let's go, Arashi-san!
Yeah!
That was quite the commotion.
Yeah, but it all ended well.
I'm glad he's safe.
Yamashiro-san and us, too...
When we're all together, it's like we've gone back to that time.
It's just as it was in the past.
Yes. It's like this place alone has gone back in time.
Yeah, but it was Hajime-chan who brought us all together.
Arashi-san!
The master says she's having a welcome party!
Wow, that's nice of her.
She just wants a reason to drink and party.
That sounds like her.
It's possible that a boy can grow up in a single summer...
Arashi-san, hurry!
It's cute how he's the only one who doesn't know.
Yeah, I'm coming!
How are you, Yayoi?
I'm very good, Kanako.
I see. I'm happy to hear that.
I read another fascinating book.
My, what was it called?
Well... Oh, I've forgotten the title.
Will you tell me what kind of story it was?
Yes, gladly.
It was a story that crossed time.
It was the story of a girl who meets a boy, after sixty years have passed.
The girl invites the boy on a dramatic adventure...
My, what a wonderful, heartwarming story.
The narrator in this story had a phrase he would always say.
What was it? Tell me.
No matter how many years pass, the warmth of summer never changes.
So, whenever this season comes around, I remember the summer of my thirteenth year,
my days as a young boy, when I knew nothing at all.
Even now, it remains unchanged within me.
When you think of summer-
You think of snow cones!
Eat them too fast and you'll get a brain freeze.
That goes away if you drink water.
Fin
Old women know lots of stuff!
The hell you say?
Get up bright and early tomorrow!
Illustration by Mako Aboshi