I need to get taro,
carrots,
konyaku,
burdock root...
Got it.
How lucky is that?
Are these really that good?
I gotta take a leak!
Oh yeah. Take this!
Episode 4
Met With A Bear And Had A Chat
We actually got some
cole seed cream-sandwiches at the store.
How lucky is that?
Are these really that good?
Men's Room
I gotta take a leak!
Sure.
Oh yeah. Take this!
Oww, oww, oww!
I'm sorry!
I didn't watch where I was going...
You dropped this.
Sent
Good.
It looks like it's not broken.
Thanks.
Cute.
Don't mock me!
No, I meant...
My little brother likes those types of things too.
Thanks for waitin'!
What's wrong, bro?
That was Sakai!
Do you know her?
Do I know the senior Hina Sakai?
She's the only daughter of the owner
of the Sakai Liquor store in downtown Yamabiko!
Her and Tsumugi are two of Hikonan's Venuses!
Tsumugi is one of those warm, loving older-sister types
and Sakai is her perfect opposite: a cool beauty!
With her model long legs and her cold side-glance,
it's every guy's dream to get yelled at by her
and for girls she's the female to give
their Valentine's chocolates to.
A senior.
So she's older than us...
I guess I shouldn't have said that then.
Ever since I was a little girl,
I was the tallest one in class
and always had to stand in the very back.
Nobody's ever called me 'cute' before.
I was sure he was making fun of me.
But he wasn't talking about me.
How embarrassing!
So you guys hold your sports festival around this time?
That's right!
Ui, don't talk with your mouth full!
Since we don't have a lot of students,
we do it together with the junior high.
It gets pretty busy around then.
We also have the Hikonan Race then!
What's that?
Simply put, it's a marathon that goes around the city,
but since that in itself would be pretty boring,
there are a few checkpoints
where you have to complete a task to move on.
And since it's the highlight of the event,
we have prizes for those who place!
Are you representing the Backpipe again this year?
Yeah.
The owner always gives me freebies,
so I've got to give back somehow.
So what does representing a café entail, exactly?
The Hikonan Race is sponsored by the local businesses,
so all runners need to find a local sponsor to enter.
We also get a spot on cable TV
as a point of local interest.
So there's a live TV broadcast, too?
No, no.
We get a tiny spot on the local news, that's it.
Yeah, but the winner gets interviewed!
The winner's interview is a pretty good chance
for some promotion,
so all the business owners
get pretty competitive about it.
I guess there's that,
but I think getting rowdy as a town
is a stronger motivator.
I see.
Oh well,
I guess it's got nothing to do with me.
I'm back!
What's wrong... Sis?
Kazuma?
Yes?
Get ready for your special training!
What?!
You want me to represent Yorozuyo
in the Hikonan Race?!
I asked Ayumu about it
and he told me you worked quite hard
in the tennis club back at your old school.
I don't know if I'd go that far...
You don't have to play it down.
I mean, I saw you after the bath that one time,
and your upper thighs seemed quite firm.
Please stop analyzing underage boys like that!
Let the special training begin!
Ready?
Here we have a cloth saturated with glass cleaning fluid!
And here is a dry cloth for polishing!
Cleaner on, cleaner off.
Cleaner on, cleaner off!
Now you try it.
Cleaner on, cleaner off.
What exactly is this training good for?
It gets the windows clean.
Sis!
Oh, I was just joking around!
The real training starts now.
What are you going to make me do now?
You will heat sand in a Chinese wok and then
you will thrust your hand into it hundreds-
nay- THOUSANDS of times!
By doing so,
your fingertips will become as hard as steel and
you'll be able to a strike blow that can kill instantly!
I'm going on a run.
Kazuma, wait!
Sheesh, he never runs with it.
Hey!
I'm up here!
What are you doing up there?
I was saving this poor kitty that climbed up this tree
and couldn't get back down again.
What kitty?
What were you trying to do to my stuff?!
I wasn't doing anything!
You couldn't help notice my sweet bargains
and you wanted them for yourself!
I don't...
want them.
Then why are you looking down like that?
Is it not because of the guilt you feel in your heart?
Well, the reason for that's...
What? Come out and say it, Kazuma Hoshino!
It's because the inside of your... skirt.
My skirt?
Watch out!
Owww, you're heavy.
What are you trying to do?!
What was I doing?
I was saving you.
I guess...
...thanks.
I would have never guessed that you're Tsumugi's little sister.
Oww!
What are you doing?!
You were thinking something rude just now.
Was I?
It looks like you really got a lot of stuff.
You had errands?
No, these are for Grandpa Gen.
Who's that?
He lives all alone,
so shopping is pretty difficult for him.
So sometimes, I go shop for him.
Why do you do that?
Because.
When someone needs your help,
you give it to them.
Here. Give me the bag.
I knew you've been wanting it this whole time!
Of course I don't!
I just want to carry it for you!
Why would you do that though?
What do you mean, "why?"
Because when someone needs your help,
you give it to them.
Also,
you shouldn't let a girl carry something heavy. Right?
Oh, well...
Then, you can carry half.
Half?
I'm coming.
Huh?
It's a pleasure to meet you.
That was a bit of a shock though,
to see Koyori with such a nice boyfriend!
Don't be stupid, Grandpa Gen!
This guy from the city
pushed Uicchu over in the mountains
and he made Madoka cry.
He's an axis of evil!
So there's no way this guy
would ever be my b-b-b-boy...
boyfriend, ever, ever, ever!
Huh?
Uhmmm...
My name is Gengoro.
Gengoro Yamakawa.
But you can call me Grandpa Gen too, if you like.
That's fine.
So you live here by yourself?
Yes.
My daughter moved out after she got married
and my wife has been gone for three years now.
Oh.
I'm sorry for bringing it up.
You're young, you shouldn't worry about stuff like that!
It's not so bad for an old man to live alone.
But Keita, my grandson, is getting an operation soon.
I do worry about the fact that he's so scared of it.
Is it a complicated operation?
No... well.
The doctor reassures me
that nine out of ten, all goes well.
But he's a child still,
so even a small operation makes you worry.
Koyori, would you visit Keita in the hospital?
I think seeing you would be the best medicine for him.
Of course I will!
You can count on me.
Cute.
Don't mock me!
Maybe that was bad...
Yeah, I mean,
that boy was just saying that I'm cute!
Your attitude was horrible.
That's right.
I guess I should probably apologize.
A Bridge To the Starry Skies
Hoshizora E Kakaru Hashi
You're finally up, sleepyhead!
Good morning.
Just because it's Sunday,
doesn't mean you have to get up at noon!
I'm tired from training for the Hikonan Run!
Ayumu already left a while ago.
Did he go sketching?
No, I think he said he was going to Daigo's.
He did?
Why would Ayumu go over to Daigo's?
I wouldn't have expected you to train
properly for the Hikonan Race.
Well, I figure if I'm in it,
I might as well not embarrass myself.
Are you participating too?
Me?
Nope.
Then what are you doing out here?
My own training for the archery club.
So is that outfit your club's uniform, or what?
Not really. But I'm working out,
so isn't it obvious that I would wear my PE uniform?
So she's fine wearing these clothes outside of school.
I guess we're not in the city anymore.
The country sure is scary!
Here.
Huh?
You must be thirsty.
I mean, having you stare at my drink is unnerving,
so just have some already.
Is that okay?
Sharing the bottle would be like an indirect kiss...
The same place every time!
You're such an idiot.
So... Ui said she was running in the Hikonan Race.
Is she training too?
She's training in her own way.
Here you are.
An extra large portion of the Everything But the Kitchen Sink Ramen.
Will you time me then?
Sure!
On your mark.
Get set.
Go!
Yes?
Look, Keita!
Your grandpa is here to see you!
Grandpa!
And Koyori's here too!
Feeling good, Keita?
If I was, I wouldn't be in the hospital!
Keita!
Is that the way you talk to someone
who came all the way here to see you?
You can feel good even when you're sick!
In fact, you've got to try to feel extra good
when you're sick, to kick the sickness' butt!
That's right, Keita.
She's absolutely right.
Then, once the operation is over,
you'll be feeling fine again! 'K?
So you really think I can get over this
if I try feeling good?
That's right!
There's nothing you can't do when you're feeling good!
Some famous people in the past said the very same thing;
I read it in a textbook!
Then... can you
win the next Hikonan Race, Koyori?
What?
You said you can do anything if you're feeling good.
So you can do it!
Keita, stop being so pushy!
You're putting Koyori on the spot.
But...
All right!
I'm gonna enter the Hikonan Race
and I'm gonna win it!
But... Koyori...
But if I win, you've got to feel better.
Then get the operation done,
and feel even better and better!
So is it a deal?
Yeah!
Okay. Then pinky swear!
Okay!
Cross my heart and hope to die,
stick a needle in my eye!
It's a pinky swear!
Sakai Liquor Store
Another rough month.
I guess I'll cut his allowance down a bit.
Hey! Where's Hina?
What do you need with her?
I was going to ask her to make the delivery.
Well, she's out running.
She's training for the Hikonan Race.
What are you doing here?
They left me here and I'm so lonely!
That's so sad. You're all alone and you're lonely.
Yeah.
Then do you want to come to my house?
Is that okay?
Of course it is.
Ugh, did he hear all of that?
Don't worry.
I'm sure he didn't.
You dropped this.
Th-thanks!
Bye!
What?
Your name is Sakai, right?
Yeah.
I'm really sorry about what happened earlier.
I didn't know you were a senior,
and I shouldn't have said that.
Oh. It was fine.
Okay. I'm glad.
I couldn't apologize again.
I haven't been practicing in a while.
I guess I should do some extra work.
And... start!
I'm sorry, did I startle you?
No, I'm fine.
But maybe... maybe... this isn't how you should
be visiting a sacred temple.
Sorry.
I see.
You're training for the Hikonan Race.
Well, they've done so much for us at Yorozuyo
that when Sis- I mean,
Miss Senka asked me to do it... I really couldn't refuse.
Good luck!
I'll be rooting for you!
Thanks.
I'll try my best so
I can get some good publicity for the Yorozuyo.
Oh and then, if you win the race, you get to participate
as one of the male gods in the Fall Festival.
Male god?
Yes, like the counter-part to a goddess.
I see.
The Fall Festival is based on the Twin Peak legend and...
They place a float at the both ends of the bridge,
as an image of the Twin Peaks, right?
You actually know?
Well, I just repeated what Tsumugi said.
At the beginning of the festival,
the male god receives a
celebratory scroll from a priestess
of our shrine and then proceeds to get
on the float waiting at the bottom.
The goddess similarly receives a scroll from the mayor,
well, right now, the shrine parishioner...
She gets on the float as well
and the two face each other
with the bridge in between.
First the male god recites his scroll,
and then the goddess answers by reciting hers.
So I guess that's in the image of
the echo that's going back and forth.
Yes, but there's actually more to it
than just the Twin Peak legend.
Apparently the other part to it is
that the God of the Mountain descends
into the village and brings his blessing
by being united with a villager.
And the when the longing feelings
of the male god and goddess
finally reach the respective hearts,
a beautiful star bridge will appear in the sky.
A star bridge, huh?
Ayumu, what event comes to mind
when you hear "sports festival"?
Ball rolling, pole toppling...
OH! And ball tossing.
Nice selection, ball pole ball.
All right, now that we've got a good vibe,
let's go to the preview!
Next time on A Bridge to the Starry Skies: Episode 5
Red Bean Soup And Eel & A Wedding Dress
Episode 5
Red Bean Soup And Eel & A Wedding Dress
Ayumu, can you repeat what you said?
Ball rolling, toppling, pole inserting.
Oh no, I messed up.
Thank you for the treat!