Safety in the household For traffic safety
Episode 12
A Starry Bridge in the Night Sky
What?
I'm playing the male god for the festival?!
W-Why do I have to do that?
What do you mean, "why?"
Because the person who wins the Hikonan race
is the person who plays the male god in the festival.
Did nobody tell you?
No.
Anyway, Koyori won the race.
Koyori may be a tomboy, but she's still a girl.
There's no way she can play the role of the male god.
I guess not.
That's why the role
is played by the first place male, which is you.
It's a great honor to represent all the males of Yamabiko,
so do your best.
Right...
Is it really okay
for an outsider to play such an important role?
What are you talking about?
If anything, that makes it better.
Of course the festival
does celebrate the story of the Twin Peaks,
but it's also about the Heavenly Messenger.
By accepting new blood from outside, the village is blessed.
Which is why a boy like yourself,
coming in from the outside
to sow his fresh seed,
perfectly fits the role of the male god of this tradition.
Isn't it a little too early for talk like this?
What does she mean by "seed"?
Well, uh...
Ayumu, what I meant by "seed" is...
Sis!
Wow, lucky!
You get to play the god in the festival!
Is it that great?
Hello!
The goddess is played by Tsumugi.
You know, with her boing-boing, bouncy...
Do you think about anything else?
So, are you going to use
this chance to confess your feelings?
Why do I have to confess anything?!
Come on!
It's pretty much accepted now
that during the Calling of the Names,
the person playing the god
may confess his feelings to the person
playing the goddess.
Really?
Tsumugi's a good example,
but the role of the goddess always
goes to the most beautiful girl in the village.
Which is why they say
they started the Hikonan Race to begin with.
Guys would compete in droves
to secure the right to play the god and then confess
to the goddess.
Back in our grandparents' time,
people did get together after having
confessed at the festival.
There's also this belief that
any year where the confessions leads
to a couple will be a bumper year for crops.
Okay, but why do I have to confess to Tsumugi?
Good morning!
What are you guys talking about?
What's this about Tsumugi?
It's nothing.
Good morning...
G-Good morning...
Juniors
God, my mom sure does talk a lot.
What are you going to do today, bro?
Wanna all go to the Back Pipe?
I can't. I've got archery.
I can't either.
I've got a costume fitting for the festival at the temple today.
So I guess the same goes for you, too, Ui.
Yeah.
Oh well.
I guess I'll just go home alone by my lonesome.
If you're lonely, I'll keep you company.
It seems like the impending festival's made you all soft
so I'll instill some discipline into you!
Me, myself, and you are going to have
a parent-teacher-student talk!
I sure wasn't expecting
to play the role of the male god.
Yeah. I bet it was a shock.
Uh...
What is it?
You first.
Oh, it's n-nothing.
You're not talking.
When did you get here?
You could've said something!
What's wrong?
If you don't hurry up, you'll be late.
Wow!
That looks pretty good on you!
You certainly look 30% more manly.
Thanks.
Why don't I get a quick picture of that?
Huh?
I don't mind if you take some pictures,
but why are you here anyway?
It's for coverage!
As the official ears of Yamabiko,
I couldn't possibly let such a juicy story go!
Just so you know,
I would never even think of
selling Tsumugi's goddess pictures
to the high-school boys for loads of cash.
I'm sorry I kept you waiting.
Wow, you look so beautiful!
Thank you, Kasane.
Hina and Nakatsugawa,
you look very maidenly as well.
Thanks for waiting.
The tea is ready now.
I'm sorry;
I'm making you work even when you're a guest.
It's no problem at all.
I bet your shoulders are stiff.
You're not used to those clothes.
It wasn't that bad.
Where's Nakatsugawa?
She went to the bathroom.
She said she had to go all through the fitting...
She could've just said something.
I'm going to the bathroom too.
Aren't you playing the Heavenly Messenger this year?
Yes.
It's hard. I've got dance practice for it every day.
Don't you have a costume fitting too?
Sure, but it's not right now.
I can't wait to see you in your outfit!
That reminds me!
Can I take a picture of you by the front shrine?
Why not?
You have to get the costume fitted anyway.
Then it's settled.
Huh?
After we finish our tea,
get changed and we'll go to the front shrine!
Ui?
Tsumugi?
Mind if we have a little chat here?
Did you and Kazuma get into a fight?
Then what's wrong?
I feel like there's something strange between you two.
It's just...
I'm sorry.
You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to.
I suddenly understood.
What?
Until now, I always thought of Kazu as an older brother,
so it was fun being with him.
It made me feel
safe and warm and fuzzy inside.
But...
But then I realized my older brother is my older brother
and Kazu isn't really my brother and then...
It was like
I couldn't really act normal around him anymore.
Just looking at him makes my chest hurt.
Just thinking about him
when I'm home alone makes my face warm.
Ui, that means you're in love.
But I'm not!
I'm definitely not!
Just because my heart starts
beating fast when I think of him doesn't mean
I'm in l-l-love or anything like that, it's just...
It's... it's actually... completely different...
I mean...
Ui and Tsumugi are taking a while.
I wonder if something's going on?
Hoshino, why don't you tell Ui that she's cute?
What is that supposed to mean?
When you looked at her before,
you thought she was cute,
but you didn't say anything.
Why?
That time when my dad came to take me home,
you told him what I wanted to say, but couldn't.
I was so happy then.
Though later I realized
that if you want to tell someone something,
you really need to tell them yourself.
I wanted to apologize for that misunderstanding
we had when we first met
for such a long time.
When I was finally able to say it,
it made me feel really good.
If there's something you want to say,
I think you should go and say it.
Sakai...
Ui, that means you're in love.
Love?
I don't know. I just don't...
I don't know anything about love!
That's your third yawn.
What's wrong with you?
I was up late last night.
Are you going to be okay?
You've got rehearsal for the festival after school today.
Yeah.
I'll take a nap during lunch.
I'll be fine.
Okay, now I'll quickly go over the plan for the real event.
I'll explain the little details as we get to them,
but for now, I want you all to just have
an idea of the big picture.
First, Madoka will become the Heavenly Messenger
and do her dance at the front shrine.
The male god, who has been waiting
at the bottom of the stairs,
will receive the scroll from the Heavenly Messenger.
The male god will then descend the stone stairs
and get into the cart that's waiting for him.
The goddess will change
in one of the rooms in the community center,
then she should stand-by with the maidens.
You've already played the role of a maiden,
so you about this part, right?
Yes.
We'll notify you once the male god has left his cart
and then you and the maidens
can time your own exit with
the cart from the front of the community center
Once the carts are facing each other with the bridge between them,
you'll hear the signal from the big drum,
and that starts the ceremony of calling one another.
The male god then reads aloud
the scroll given to him by the Heavenly Messenger
and the goddess reads the oath given to her
by the shrine parishioner.
Isn't it true that the scroll is written
anew by the person playing the Heavenly Messenger?
Yes.
It's written with ink that was
prepared with the morning dew of that day.
So I guess you know
how to write all those curly characters!
Uh... I have a question.
Yes, Kazuma?
By curly characters, she means cursive script, right?
I can't read things like that at all...
Don't worry.
Both the scroll and oath will have the pronunciations
Dedicate this wish
written next to the characters.
Oh, that's fine then.
No worries then?
Yeah, I just have to read what's there.
Just because you're reading don't take this task lightly.
Even if you're just reading it,
you have to put your whole soul into it,
when you face the goddess,
then the words will become the truth.
You have to put your whole soul into it.
Then the words will become the truth.
Then here I go shake shake.
Turn once... and then...
Hello?
Tsumugi?
Huh?
Feigning illness?
A Bridge To the Starry Skies
Hoshizora E Kakaru Hashi
Yamabiko Community Center
Goddess Waiting Room
They said that it's almost time,
so you guys should go to the dressing room and change.
All right.
Okay. Then let's go!
Tsumugi, what's wrong?
I suddenly have this terrible pain in my stomach.
We need to call a doctor!
Or better yet, an ambulance!!
It's not that bad, Ui.
I think it'll go away if I go lay down a bit.
But...
But the role of the goddess for the festival...
You can't do anything in this state!
I think you should ask someone to play the role for you.
Ui, would you do it for me?
Huh?
I can't just step in and play the goddess!
You've been rehearsing with me all along.
I'm sure you know exactly what to do.
Just do it like we practiced.
Please...
But then we'll be short one maiden.
That shouldn't be a problem.
We've got someone to play a maiden right here.
Huh?
You don't mean me?!
But I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't!
Kasane, you've been covering our rehearsals
in your reports all along.
I'm sure you've got it all down.
I guess so, but...
This is an emergency.
Will you do it, or would you do it?
You've got two choices, so pick one.
It would be an honor to do it!
Snap out of it!
I love Ui.
Even if you're just reading it,
you have to put your whole soul into it,
when you face the goddess.
Then the words will become the truth.
If there's something you want to say,
then you should go and say it.
I love Ui.
I'm not saying it was always like that,
but I started to notice that
whenever we were together,
it was, how should I say it?
I mean...
Anyway...
I love you!
Ui! Your answer?
We can't hear you! Say it louder!
I love him too...
Louder, Ui!
I love you too!
I love you,
I love you so much!!!
We've got plenty of food and drink left,
so let me know if anything's missing.
I'm sorry,
we're just a bunch of bottomless pits
when it comes to drinking.
What are you talking about?
On the day of the festival,
those who can serve sake are the lucky ones.
However, if you get drunk and do bad things,
I won't show any mercy.
It was quite something to see them confess
at the ceremony of calling one another.
Takes me back to the time when you did it.
Too bad she didn't feel the same!
Gen, can you just drop it?
Gimme another!
Mother... dearest...
it seems like you've had quite a lot...
I'm not sure if more would be...
Are you trying to lecture me?!
When it's the trouble I have with you that's making me
drink so much to begin with?
Got it?
I understand completely!
If ya do, then gimme another!
Yes, ma'am!
Wow, so you're an artist?
Maybe you could draw me next time.
You know, I look pretty good without my clothes on.
Ayumu, Ayumu, Ayumu, Ayumu!!!
Koyori, what's that?
Not bad, huh?
I won it at the ring toss!
Yeah, it's really cute.
No, that's... no!
This is so good!
I thought you had a stomach ache!
Oh, did I?
I guess we got rejected.
I guess so.
What am I saying, I never got rejected... I mean...
I guess it's fine.
Wow!
You can really see it tonight:
A starry bridge in the night sky.
Yeah.
So beautiful!
You're right.
You really are.