Stay well, Nike.
Sure. You guys, too.
Take care of the kid!
Both of you come back and see us again some time.
We'll definitely be back again!
Father. It's okay, I see you.
You really need to get grandma to—
Kara-nee! That's enough.
You see, it's okay now.
That's unusual; the morning sun's out.
Since I'm leaving for the Sun Kingdom today,
is the sun telling me to come home?
But, there's still something I have to do.
The kid? He went to see the sluice gates with Kitora.
Huh?!
I was shocked, too.
When he learned Kitora was an engineer, they were like peas in a pod.
They got all excited talking incomprehensible jargon to each other.
I wanted to ask him to come with me because I feel anxious,
but I guess I'm acting like a child.
Forgive me, Nike-sama.
Your grandmother doesn't want to see anyone.
Just a few words! Can't you at least let me say goodbye?
Forgive me.
Nike!
Hey, Nike!
Livi... what? I thought you went to the sluice gates.
We've gone and returned.
But what are you...
Grandma?
She wouldn't let me in.
I guess I'll have to leave without seeing her...
What can you do, you know?
Don't be a fool.
She's indulging herself by saying she doesn't want to see you.
Are you the sort of person
to go along quietly with that kind of self-indulgence?
You're right.
Thanks, Livi. I'm going.
I'll go and tell Grandma everything I want to say!
Hold this!
Hey!
You don't have to come along with me!
What are you saying? When you look as anxious as you do...
There's no convincing him.
Don't you think you're being overly stubborn?
When the favored child leaves the nest, one cannot simply remain ca—
Yes, yes.
Favored child? Please.
Of all the children I raised, the most troublesome was Nike.
She never knew her limits. She was reckless.
She always choose the path that would hurt her the most.
Yet she also cried often.
Obstinacy and inferiority complex incarnate.
You were supposed to jump!
I did jump! You're the one who forced your way through!
I'm not looking for a battle of wits—
Grandma!
Wait!
Grandma! Listen to me!
Please!
You can stay there if you want. Just listen.
I'm leaving with Livi today.
This is more of my own will than when I first left the Principality.
I think what you're worried about is reasonable,
because living in the outside world is
probably more dangerous than I thought.
If I stay in the Principality,
I can live a peaceful life with all of you forever.
But Grandma, you told me something, back when I couldn't call the rain.
"Take pride in what you do."
"The things that shake you color who you are."
"That will be your truth."
Ever since I met Livi, I've grown to love singing,
and living, more than ever before.
He's shaken me and given me color.
That's why...
I want to keep living with him.
That is my truth.
Please... stay well.
For everything you've done for me,
thank you so much.
Hey, old woman.
I think I can picture your expression right now.
"Oh, why did I run away?"
"I might not ever hold her again!"
Quit being so stubborn already.
If you're going to miss her, just say so!
Get out of here, obnoxious brat!
Oh, is that it? Why don't you drop dead, then?!
Though I understand at least a little of how you feel.
The person I want to see...
I can never see again.
Homecoming
I guess the old woman didn't come, after all.
It's okay now, Livi.
I don't have any regrets anymore.
Listen... about your grandma.
The truth is— Nike?
What?
Hey... is this...
Yeah.
No question.
Grandma!
Farewell Rain.
Such a warm rain, isn't it.
I've never seen it before.
"Farewell Rain?"
I heard it's a song for people leaving this country.
What is she singing?
The old language.
"You who leave this cliff... beloved child..."
I will pray for you from here.
"For your light... your happiness..."
When you lose your way... when you travel into night...
May the song and the rain guide you!
No!
Don't blow!
A little longer...
Just a little longer...
Grandma!
Cry away. It's clear to me, too.
This wind. This air.
It's mourning its loss of you.
Acknowledge that.
You're so fortunate.
You stupid bastard!
Oh?
Oh, welcome back! You're quite early.
You can you explain this, can't you?!
E-Explain what?
Bard's
Flower Garden
Why is the court full of girls?!
Bard's
Castle
Let me go, Nike! It will be the death penalty for him this time!
So mean! I would've had it all cleaned up in three days.
You liar!
Majesty! Prince Bard hasn't done anything wrong!
That's right!
He's actually been doing very well!
Jaina?
It's true that we watched his degradations of public morality...
...and talked about what a louse he was behind the scene....
...but he is bearing all of the country's most important affairs.
The number of women is evidence of the burden the
Prime Minister bore.
Regardless...
...there is a great deal we need you to do...
...Sun King.
Majesty! Princess Nike!
Change your dress immediately!
There are ambassadors from over ten countries waiting for you!
Bard's
Style of Entertaining
What?!
As long as they were here, I thought we could deal with them all at once.
Give me a break!
But I worked so hard to double the audiences!
Princess Nike, you've put on weight!
We'll help, too!
You stand back!
Sunya, don't be mad!
So scary!
What's wrong?
Nothing is wrong!
Just because she got snubbed...
...she doesn't have to take it out on us.
Yeah!
What was that?!
Sorry!
Idiot.
Bard's fault, huh?
Majesty, to the audience chamber at once!
We're going to get as much done as we can today!
Serves you right!
You bastard!
Save the anger for later!
He won't be sleeping tonight, I guess.
It's all because he went along with my selfish request.
Sorry, Livi.
It's backlash from being together for so long, I guess?
I want to see him
I'm not going anywhere! Untie me!
About Erad Canyon,
it would expedite things if I went there personally, wouldn't it?
That might be best.
I'm not changing the tariffs on the iron ore. Can you get them to accept that?
I will try.
Livi-chan!
Princess Nike!
You have another urgent audience today!
Let us help!
Huh?
Huh? H-Huh?
Is this the longest we've ever been apart?
It's so strange.
As king, he feels so far away.
It's not like something has changed.
What's changed is...
Me...
Nike-chan!
B-Bard!
What'cha spacin' out about?
What are you grinning about?! This is all your fault!
That's so mean!
I delayed the work to try to give the senior statesmen a workout!
It's like no one understands.
Whatever.
So what's with the "I'm so lonely by myself" pose?
When you were on your trip... did you do it?
You can tell your older brother.
They didn't do it.
How can this be?
What's going on here?
Does our King still have no interest in that?
In that case...
...shall we use our power...
...to see it done?
Sorry to hear it.
It's stupid, right?
I envy Livi.
It's not stupid to cry because you love someone so much.
It just shows how badly you've fallen for them.
To have met someone who makes you feel that way...
To have found a world that doesn't feel complete when you're by yourself...
It's fine. Loneliness like that doesn't make you weaker.
It's power, to take you somewhere larger and even more free.
Princess Nike...
She must be lonely.
Allow me to resolve this!
Really?!
It's perfect!
For Livi?
Yes, I'm so busy, and I'm understaffed!
Would you help me, Princess Nike?
Oh, so busy!
I don't know what to do with myself!
I'm supposed to bring Livi his meal.
Jaina asked.
His Majesty is on a tour of inspection right now.
I-I see. Never mind, then.
I am to join him immediately.
Is there something else you need?
How is he? He must be tired, I guess.
Oh... I suppose he is.
I guess he would be. It's tiring by yourself.
Doing everything by yourself...
Shall I pass on a message to him?
N-No, thank you. Nothing at all.
What?
Hi-yah!
What useless men you are!
Really stupid!
Sob, sob!
I always want to see him.
I want to be somewhere I can hear his voice. I want to touch him.
But when I can't have that... it hurts... so much.
The sadness born today
Soars high into the sky
The sky awakens and stirs the wind
My chest trembles
I want to protect you
I want to touch destiny
The tears you have shed... the hole in your chest
I want to fill it with happiness
It's a tender rain
May this song that I sing
Reach you wherever you are
No matter how far apart we may be
I believe that it'll reach you
Singing in the rain
The drops of the rain
Will shine beautifully
And when the sadness is all washed away
The world will come to life again
Please come, the tender rain
Come, tender rain
Livi taught me before.
If you slip out the backyard, you come to this place.
I'll come here with him next time.
I'm not afraid of the times I can't see him.
When I feel pain in my chest, my song grows...
The scenery feels closer.
The next time I see you...
I will, once again...
Fall in love--
Fall in love.
I got back first thing in the morning.
I didn't tell Neil and the others, of course.
Everyone must be in a panic about now.
How did you know I was here?
Intuition.
That's some amazing intuition.
I wanted to see you.
It was painful... not seeing you.
It's the thing I hate most.
Same here.
The rain, the wind, the sun...
you bring them all with you.
Every time our eyes meet.
You bring the world to me.
Original Story Shiina Dai
Serialized in Hakusensha's "Hana to Yume" Comics