Hey, Takeda!
What's with the gloomy face?
Somebody stole my lunch.
What? You too?
You mean...?
Everybody in my class lost their lunch, too.
Who the hell did this?
Welcome to the Twilight Zone.
Tanaka, what are you doing out here?
That's the spirit! Go, Tanabe!
The real battle hasn't begun yet!
That rice with red beans looks yummy!
Our lunch!
Damn it! Don't stop!
If you chicken out now, you'll never beat him!
Out-eat him to submission!
You will conquer him!
Eat! Eat! Eat!
Hold it right there, you two!
Damn it, bastards! How dare you steal and eat someone else's lunch!
KINOSHITA/TAKEDA
You self-centered jerks!
Tanabe has his jumbo gyoza challenge at stake!
Can't you be a little more helpful?
Jumbo...?
Gyoza...?
Anybody who eats up a jumbo gyoza gets 3,000 yen in cash and no bill.
Is that correct?
Just as advertised. Try and eat it if you can.
It's more jumbo than I heard.
This is your chance to quit.
I'll let you off with a 5,000 yen charge for the material cost.
Really? What should I do?
Who said anything about quitting?
But...
You idiot! The word 'impossible' doesn't exist in your book!
He's right. You're the superhuman Tanabe.
Eat your way to triumph!
Right!
All right, then. You've got 30 minutes to do it.
Aye, aye!
Go!
Grace!
Look, man. It'll take 30 years if you keep nibbling like that!
Take bigger bites and wolf it down.
Go for it, man!
Don't stop!
Go! Go! Tanabe!
Hip, hip, hurrah!
He did it!
See that, old man? Don't ever underestimate Inachu's Tanabe!
All right! He got a free meal!
For him it's free, but you have to pay for what you ate.
Your jumbo gyoza was a bust!
This is a riot!
Well, you really outdid yourself this time.
Yep, that was awesome! To think you had such a talent.
You're embarrassing me.
Frankly, you've always been just a useless dunce in my mind.
But seeing you today made me realize...
...you're my dream lover number 1!
Oh, my!
What a sensational confession!
Listen, you might wanna ask him out tonight. Who knows, you could lay him.
Stop it. I'm pretty nauseous as it is.
Holy shit! What's this?
My eyes!
What, is this a new assault tactic? Where are you? Shit!
Pinching my nose doesn't help!
I can't help it. I ate so much gyoza.
Screw me!
- What a stinker! - Barf!
I feel sick. Let's hurry home.
You're such a nasty hazard to the environment.
God, I still feel so sick.
Someone! Someone please help!
Kaoru!
Mommy!
Oh, my god! A child is drowning!
GAWKER'S CURIOSITY
Guys! Don't just stand there, looking excited. I'm too full to move.
You're the nearest to the river!
That's because you guys stepped back!
Go, Tanabe! If you rescue the kid, that'll make this a double crown day!
What if that kid grows up to be a famous singer?
This is too good a chance!
I was drowning.
Water went through my nose down to my throat...
...and was blocking my lungs.
But then, a powerful hand grabbed my body...
...and thrust me toward the sky.
Let me introduce you all to my lifesaver.
That's why it has to be you.
You guys!
Please help!
Unreal! A person's life is on the line, y'know.
Never mind.
Kaoru!
Thank you, mister.
Don't mention it. Quick, let's get out of here.
P-U!
Hey, come to think of it, I don't know how to swim.
Look, Tanabe's drowning this time.
Shoot, I forgot he can't swim.
He'll probably get hitched on something.
I love your fuzzy optimism!
- Mommy! - Thank God!
I don't see him.
We've been walking for 10 minutes.
He must've really wanted to play in the water.
What's up?
Pumpkin!
There he is!
Man, he's heavy!
I can't believe he managed to drown in these shallow waters!
C'mon, Tanabe!
Enough fooling around. Wake up already.
Wait a second.
He's not breathing.
What? You're kidding!
Wake up, Tanabe! Don't die!
Ummm... er... what to do in this case?
I can't do it. There's no way in hell.
I can't consummate my first kiss with Tanabe, anybody but him.
If only he hadn't eaten the jumbo gyoza...
No, I'll confess honestly.
In truth, I couldn't do it, whether he'd eaten the gyoza or not!
If I were to kiss Tanabe now, God knows what those two would say.
Oh, no! This can't be! I put myself in the closest proximity to his lips!
All right. I'd better beat them to it.
- Izawa, why don't you... - I can't!
- But... - I can't!
Bastard! He's got the preemptive tantrum to his advantage.
The superb timing, the perfect inflection... He's got the gift!
Extraordinary man.
He's your best friend!
If you don't do it, it'll haunt you later on!
Tanaka...
Another casualty bites the dust.
Hey, guys, what are you doing here?
Hello, Kyoko.
Listen to what happened...
What's the matter with Tanabe?
Holy shit! He's not breathing!
We don't know what to do!
Mommy, tell me what to do!
Idiots! Call an ambulance! An ambulance!
Why didn't we think of that?
That's so convenient!
Those guys are unbelievable.
Oh, hello. Hello? What? What's that?
The weather forecast for the Kanto region as updated at noon today:
Sunny skies are predicted for the area tomorrow.
What's wrong? Tell them what's going on.
It's no good. They keep saying "sunny skies tomorrow."
That must be a code. They're testing us.
Let me.
Ambulance is in the balance in our parlance!
There is a low pressure system over Okinawa, heading east by northeast.
It's not working. I don't know the code!
What should we do now?
How did I get here? What happened to me?
You know, you might want to pick your friends more carefully.
Thus ended Tanabe's misadventure.
Good afternoon!
I came to hang out with you guys.
Oh? Where is everybody?
They're practicing outdoors today.
Outdoor practice? Can I take part in it, too?
I guess so. Don't be a jockstrap to you-know-who, though.
Jockstrap? My goodness!
What does that mean?
Being a needy hanger-on.
I'm nothing like that.
THE GUYS OF THE PING-PONG CLUB
When did you take these?
"Instructor and me"...?
Hey!
This is nothing! Banish it from your memory! O.K.?
No need to cover it up.
No...
But what the hell do you see in Izawa anyway?
Well, that's a tough question.
He's somewhat kind...
...and rather handsome if you look closely...
...very purposeful...
...funny and shy at the same time.
True, his hairdo is weird but...
It's hopeless. She's a goner.
And, does Izawa know how you feel about him?
Not at all! I can't even say his real name.
Izawa of all people, huh? I don't get it.
More sake, barkeep!
I hate my stupid boss!
Barkeep, I want some love! Love!
Look, guys. We're ready for a marathon.
I want love!
Here I am!
Hi there, Kamiya. Are you helping us out?
Yes. Allow me to time the run.
Hey, Kamiya!
Yes, sir.
How about a drink?
Oh, no thanks. Come run with us, Instructor.
That's stupid. There's no love in a marathon.
Love? I suppose there might be some love in a marathon.
Such a naive little kid!
If running fills the void in one's heart...
...there'd be no need for alcohol in this world.
Hit me, barkeep! Keep it coming!
Instructor.
That's Hojo!
Her hair...!
Sawada!
Hojo, I'm in love with you!
Aren't you running after her?
A girl gets a haircut.
It's a pregnant gesture.
You have to pursue love to get love.
Thanks, barkeep!
Hell, I'll keep myself company.
Say, where is Instructor going?
To the broad that dumped him long ago. The miserable bastard.
Excuse me.
What's with the huffy nostrils?
You're Izawa from the ping-pong club.
What? You remembered my name?!
I AM OVERJOYED!
Your hairdo is a dead giveaway.
Is that right?
So, is that your girlfriend?
Nice to meet you!
Oh, no, she's not...
Stop that nice-to-meet-you crap! What are you doing here?
I meant nothing by it, sir.
Get outta here!
She's one of the Kinoshita fan club. A groupie, so to speak.
You didn't have to knock me down, dummy!
So you have something to say or what?
What? Yes... well... I, er...
I was just wondering what made you get a haircut.
Well, you know... Do I look weird?
Oh, no! Far from weird! You look super!
Yeah, you look just like the early Masako Mori.
Send this to the far end of Japan.
Anyway, this thing you got here is really something.
It seems to cry out, "I'm gonna go harpoon myself someplace!"
You're so mean, Akiko. "Harpoon myself"? That's terrible!
I detect a sense of piercing enthusiasm in his head.
Cut it out!
Bye, Izawa. Don't take it personally.
She's a horrible woman! I despise insensitive women like her!
Shut up!
Deep down in your heart, you, too, think my hairdo is weird, don't you?
Oh, no, I...
My God! He's really hurt.
It's true that I can't exactly call your hairdo fabulous.
But that hairdo is your philosophical statement.
You don't need to change that. Definitely not!
I had a chat with Hojo.
For a first-time conversation, it was pretty extensive!
I feel bashfully giddy! And that's not all!
I AM SUPER HAPPY! She even remembered my name!
Tonight will definitely be a sleepless night.
My oh my, he's a wild thing! My oh my, he's a wild thing!
My oh my, this is a milestone! My oh my, this is a milestone!
Wait up, Kinoshita!
Fool.
I knew it!
Hojo and that rugby boy broke up, huh?
Apparently.
There's a chance for me yet!
Tell me, old man.
What do you think of a guy who changes his style for a woman he loves?
I don't personally care for the type.
But in this day and age...
...that much flexibility may save a man some headaches.
Nice advice. Quick-thinking brains.
Quick-dissolving too.
Okay, fellas, listen up.
Today I must deliver sad news to you.
The fact is, I've decided to retire my hairstyle as of this day.
It was a tough decision. I chewed over it like hell.
But this was the only solution, the only way to reach her...
Bor-r-ring!
Let's get started on our practice.
Ouch!
Takeda! This is my hair we're talking about!
I'm proposing to chop off my second most important thing next to life!
Give a haircutting ceremony, damn it!
Get snipped at a barber, you egomaniac!
That's no good! You gotta give me a ceremony!
What do you think?
Oh, why not.
Let us now commence the haircutting ceremony.
Are you ready, Mr. Izawa?
Sure, go ahead.
- Izawa! - Good-bye, Hiromi!
Miss Kamiya, you'll sever the top.
What?
Are you sure about this?
I'm sure! Do it!
Instructor, you love her that much?
All right then.
Here I go!
Next!
Now, Miss Iwashita, your turn.
Sure thing.
Please don't shave too high.
Trust me.
Thanks, Kyoko.
No problem. Keep the change.
Next, will Mr. Takeda do the honor?
Right.
Remember, not too high.
O.K.
All right. Mr. Kinoshita goes next.
Mr. Tanabe is next.
O.K. That does it. Izawa, you can open your eyes now.
Hey, not bad! Very refreshing!
Right Don't you think so?
We styled it just right. Don't touch it.
So much for my concern. You guys are pretty good at this.
Kamiya, what do you think?
What?
Peace!
Groovy? That's great!
My darling Rie!
We're compatible in mind and body!
His mother's detached "What's that?" Led Izawa to discover...
...his truly unique hairdo.