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Encoded by Winterbird
You sure start cleaning early.
If I don't do a little at a time...
there's too much to do at the end.
You clean up every single day.
I can't believe there's anything left to clean.
Manager, any other stuff to burn? The fire's dying out.
This is the last of it. Careful, it's heavy.
Mom, the yams are about done.
Okay.
Is it something of deep significance?
Whatever you can find out is fine.
I need to identify it.
I'll try too, but I thought you could help me.
Is it too much trouble?
Trouble?! Of course not!
It's just that, I'm not sure I could find anything out.
I want to...
I want to find out anything I can.
Even if it turns out to be just an ordinary rock.
I don't think I could do it myself.
You're the only person I can ask, Godai.
Is it too much to ask?
I'll do it.
You will?!
I'll do what I can.
May I?
Paleozoic.
Ordovician flavor.
Y-You can tell?!
Don't be silly.
I just wanted to say that.
KINDAI BOOKSTORE
NATURAL SCIENCES
Found you!
Hi.
Were you here all this time?
I was waiting until now at the comics section.
What were you looking at?
Oh, nothing.
Christmas is right around the corner.
Yeah.
Godai, are you short of cash?
Huh?
Is that why we met today at the bookstore?
No, it's not that. There was something I wanted to look up.
So that's it!
Oh!
They're lovely.
But so expensive.
They're stones, too.
Stones? No, I want that one over there.
The cat design.
I'm not asking for it...
as a Christmas present or anything.
You'll be joining us of course, won't you, Godai?
For Godai, that depends on the manager's answer.
That's right.
My... So matter-of-fact.
The manager already said she'd be there.
Mr. Mitaka, too.
The night is Christmas Eve.
Passions rise to the tune of Christmas carols.
The flames of romance burn bright at Chachamaru!
You don't want to miss that, do you, Godai?
Join us!
Okay! It's all set!
W-Wait...
What for?
How much will it cost?
The party fee, the manager's present and Kozue.
These, I've absolutely got to cover.
Any way I look at it, I'm short of cash.
Silly! If such a great job existed, I'd do it myself.
You'd actually work, Sakamoto?!
Christmas through New Year's costs money.
It sure does.
I promised my girl I'd take her to Saipan.
Saipan?!
There's only one way to make quick money. Work two jobs.
What's wrong, Godai? Sore stomach?
I hate you!
Huh?
You make me sick!
Just one week!
I'm Galactic Warrior Big Bang!
What the heck did you think you were doing?!
You're both fired!
Will this be a gift?
Yes.
I'd like these wrapped separately.
Would you like cards for them?
No.
What color ribbon shall I use?
Green for the brooch and red for the bracelet.
Thank you for waiting.
I'll take this, too.
I'll save money by skipping the dryer.
Manager!
Wait up! I'll be right there!
You can?!
Sakamoto has a friend who does geologic surveys.
If we take it to him maybe we can find out.
Don't get your hopes too high, though.
I wouldn't know what to say if we can't find out.
I'd never...
Either way, we'll know before the party.
I hope so.
Young Godai.
Let's party, Godai.
The manager's wearing a thong bikini!
I don't think he's faking it.
Looks like he wore himself out working.
So much for our drinking party.
Oh well, guess we'll have to skip it today.
How boring. Makes me sad.
In the name of love He works himself to the bone
And sleeps like a log. How cute...
So cute.
Cute, isn't he? Too many syllables.
See you!
Godai!
Yes?
Will you be going to the Otonashi residence today?
Yes. It's my last tutoring session this year.
I'll be there myself later.
Then we'll see each other there.
That's right. Don't forget about the rock.
I kept thinking about it all last night.
It'd really be nice if we could find out.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep you.
Weren't you in a hurry?
That's all right. Oh, I almost forgot.
Hi there, Godai! A date with Kozue?
I'm going to see Sakamoto!
I see. THEN you're going on a date!
Mrs. Ichinose!
See you later! 'Bye!
He's running away!
Chachamaru at seven. Don't be late now!
Doesn't look valuable or anything.
It's probably just an ordinary rock.
Don't these rice-sized specks suggest something significant?
You mean these?
I've got it!
R-Really?
This is a rice rock!
Dummy!
I'll hold on to it.
Will you know by the end of the day?
Let's see...
Meet me here at 6:30.
6:30? That'll give me enough time.
Okay, see you then.
Sakamoto!
Don't even think of losing, breaking or even...
eating that rock!
No way!
The night was Christmas Eve.
Under a sky filled with stars,
a large shooting star...
three wise men followed it from the east towards Bethelem...
Kozue...
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you, too.
COUPON GOOD FOR ONE SWEATER
I did my best to knit it, but I couldn't finish. Sorry.
It'll be just a little longer.
It's so cute!
Like it?
Very much.
Well, I've got to get goIng.
You'll be coming to tonight's party, won't you, Coach?
Sorry. I already made other plans.
I'll be at the year-end party, though.
It's Christmas Eve! Who's your date?!
Wasn't it your turn today, Yuko?
No, it's Tamiko's, right?
Huh? I thought it was Hideyo's.
Come now, ladies.
Who is it?
Someone you don't know.
He's serious!
Lucky girl!
She doesn't realize it yet. See you.
Then again...
TO MS. OTONASHI
That Mitaka doesn't miss a thing.
A bit too obvious, though.
Doesn't bother me.
Merry had a little lamb named Christmas.
You're early.
I quit work early to come here.
Do you really have a job?
That is a secret.
Akemi... A job for you.
Put this up outside.
CLOSED TODAY FOR PRIVATE PARTY
Hi Akemi!
You're both early.
We've been waiting anxiously all afternoon.
So we decided we may as well wait at Chachamaru.
Hi!
Will it snow tonight?
Did you find what you were looking for?
There aren't many books with pictures.
Strange how it is.
I'd almost forgotten all about it...
but now it's all I can think about.
Perhaps it would've been better not to remember.
It's better to forget.
No. I couldn't do that.
Okay, that's all for today.
I'm done!
Ikuko, I have a reward for you.
It's Christmas.
Here.
What is it? Can I open it?
Sure.
Thanks! I'll put it on my school bag.
I had trouble choosing what to get you.
I just remembered something funny.
Huh?
It's about a present uncle gave to auntie.
That Soichiro gave?
Right.
It was a rock, about so big...
with odd speckles.
I think that was the first and last present he ever gave to her.
A rock is sure a weird gift, even from a geology teacher!
Uh-huh...
I uh...
Yes?
About that rock.
Yes?
No, never mind. Forget it.
Ms. Otonashi!
Oh...!
Going somewhere?
No car today, Coach Mitaka?
Oh, I forgot. You'll be drinking.
You're on your way to Chachamaru, right? Let's go together.
Wait. Aren't you coming, Godai?
I'm going to pick up the rock. Go on ahead.
Missed my chance again.
Wow! Snow!
It's snowing! It's snowing!
Look Mommy, snow!
Owwee!
--I'm so sorry. --It's all right.
Be more careful. Apologize to the man.
It looks more like Christmas now.
I had a slight mishap.
I'll be a little late but I'll be there!
Please let the manager know.
Next: "Cruel to be Kind! Thoughts of Love, at Christmas-Time"
I hate Christmas!