Yup, perfect!
We have arriving flight information.
I gave him my flight info. I can't believe that boy!
I guess I have no choice but to get there on my own!
Arrive at Haneda Airport 12:35 PM. Arrival gate 2. Pick me up at the airport. - Mom.
What the hell is going on?
I've been doing this for the last two hours, but it's not getting clean at all!
This isn't good...
I can't let my mom see my apartment like this!
She might even figure out that I'm a hikikomori!
What can I do? What can I do?
Oh, yeah! I can borrow Yamazaki's room, and...
Mom, this is my room!
Tatsuhiro...
Do you read stuff like this?
That's not gonna work!
That would just result in a different kind of misunderstanding!
Don't tell me it's Mom.
She's here already?!
Wh-Who is it?
It's me!
Mi-Misaki!
Good morning, Sato!
Have you memorized my family tree?
Sorry, but I don't have time to talk about that right now.
What?
Huh?! Is that...
What's wrong?
TATSUHIRO SATO
It wasn't her.
Whoa...
What a mess!
Are you going to let your mom see your apartment like this?
That's why I was cleaning!
You're in my way, so you need to go!
Do you want me to help you?
Huh?
I might as well, since I'm supposed to be your girlfriend today anyway.
Okay, just put the trash in this bag.
Sure.
What the hell is she thinking?
If this is just an act, why would she come into some guys room and start helping him clean up?!
So, you read stuff like this, huh, Sato?
That's my research material, for making a game!
It's not that I want to read it, I'm obligated to!
You're obligated, huh?
Hey, around what time is your mother going to arrive?
Huh?
Now that you mention it... When is she arriving anyway?
Oh, damn, is that Mom?!
What do we do? It's not clean at all!
Now that it's come to this, we have to play our last chip!
We have to initiate Mission: Toss Everything Up On My Bed!
What?
Anyway, just throw everything on my bed!
Okay!
Wait a second! I'm busy right now!
I'm sorry! Wait just a little longer!
Good, I guess it looks all right now.
I just have to camouflage that with this blanket, and it's good to go!
me up at the airport.
Mom
Mom...
Hey, wait a minute!
Sato?!
What happened, Sato?!
M-My bad!
I had no idea... I'm mean, yeah, you're busy all right.
Ya-Yamazaki!
I redid your business cards. I'll put them right here, okay?
Okay, enjoy!
H-Hey, Yamazaki! Wait!
It's a misunderstanding! You're misunderstanding this!
Then again, maybe it isn't a misunderstanding after all.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...
We have to do it all over again!
More importantly, Sato, did you see this?
It's a fax from your mother.
Huh?
"Pick me up"?!
Don't tell me that now!
But you received this fax yesterday.
You just didn't realize it.
Anyway, I'm going to take everything that I don't want my mother to see
and leave it there for the time being!
And I want to you to somehow clear a space big enough for three people to sit down, Misaki!
Okay...
Oh, Tatsuhiro!
M-Mom!
What are you doing?
Oh, I was just...
They're research materials.
So, you read stuff like this, huh?
Just wait right here for a sec.
Hey, Sato, can I throw this doll away?
My mother is here.
She's outside the door.
I'm gonna try to buy some time,
so while I'm doing that, I want you to clean up as big of an area as possible!
Okay!
I'm just gonna say hi to her real quick. It'll be fine.
Actually, last night I kind of started rearranging my apartment so it's kinda messy, you know.
I wasn't really planning on seeing your apartment anyway.
What?
It's a single guy's apartment,
so I expect there's no place to even step anyway.
Besides, if I see it, I'm gonna want to start cleaning it up.
So, you don't have to show it to me.
So, I did all that for nothing?!
More importantly, I'm starving!
Let's go have lunch!
Hurry up and go change.
Okay...
Hey, Tatsuhiro.
Huh?
She's in there, right?
Huh?
The girlfriend you were talking about!
No need to clean anymore.
She said we're going to go have lunch together.
Really?
Does that mean I'm included too?!
Of course!
Supposedly we're a couple, remember?
Thanks for waiting.
Um, she's, you know...
my girlfriend.
Well...
It's very nice to meet you! I'm Misaki Nakahara!
I'm very pleased to meet you.
You're so cute!
I'm so happy for you, Tatsuhiro! She's almost too good for you!
I'm Tatsuhiro's mother, Shizue.
It's wonderful to meet you, Misaki!
Nice to meet you too!
What do you think about this place? I think the price is reasonable too.
Wow, it looks like a nice restaurant.
I see that they let you pick three things for your lunch combo.
I brought the business cards that Yamazaki made for me.
The company's phone number is actually Yamazaki's home number.
So, even if Mom calls the number, I'm sure Yamazaki will lie for me.
Hello, this is Y.S. Company, soon to make its mark in the business world!
I'm counting on you, Yamazaki.
I should be able to take care of the rest as long as she doesn't mess anything up.
Chinatown
This is delicious!
I was right to let Misaki pick the restaurant!
It's not like that at all. I just looked it up in the guidebook.
You know, I can't believe a cute girl like her will be my daughter-in-law!
I'm just really happy!
What do you mean "my daughter-in-law"?!
Huh?
But I thought you two were dating with the intention of getting married in the future.
Isn't that right, Misaki?
Y-Yes.
Th-That's true, but...
You two aren't lying about this by any chance, are you?
N-Not at all!
It's not a lie!
We wouldn't mind getting married tomorrow if we had to!
Y-Yes!
So, Misaki,
this means that you've seen the birth mark on Tatsuhiro's back and everything then?
Sato...
Misaki...
Tell me what you like about Tatsuhiro!
What made you decide that you want to marry him?
Well, what made me decide?
Sato is cool and handsome. He's got a good job, and...
He knows a lot about computers and stuff, and...
Also there are other things.
Let's see...
Where are you going, Tatsuhiro?
To the bathroom.
This is not good.
At this rate, it's just the matter of time until she finds out.
I'd better shift the conversation to something more work-related.
Hello, this is Y.S. Company, soon to make its mark in the business world!
Dumbass! It's me!
Oh, it's you, Sato.
I think my mother will call over there soon.
I'm sorry, but please continue to stand by.
I know.
Try to hurry it up, okay?
Yeah...
Tatsuhiro Sato
Y.S. Company Limited
What the hell am I doing?
Oh yeah, I've noticed that you don't call Tatsuhiro by his first name, huh?
What?
You've been calling him "Sato,"
but I wonder if that's just how it is with young people these days?
Or are you holding back because I'm here?
That's because...
This whole thing is a lie, isn't it?
About you being his girlfriend and his company?
That's not true at all!
I am his girlfriend, and...
Oh, about his company, actually he's writing scripts for them, and...
I know these things,
because I lived with him for eighteen years.
You've been going along with this little play because he asked you to, right, Misaki?
That's...
But look at how he's acting after all you've done.
I can tell he's been frustrated the whole time.
I bet he can't stand the fact that he's been lying.
Though one might not expect it of him, he's had a strong sense of justice since he was little.
I'm envious of Sato for having such a nice mother like you.
On the other hand, I...
Misaki?
I'm a piece of shit!
Tacchan! Tell me, was it really you who broke it?
When I was in elementary school, I'd often make mischief and get yelled at by Mom.
So, even back then I'd blame things on others and make all kinds of excuses.
My son didn't do it!
That moment, my entire body froze up from guilt.
I didn't tell her the truth until after that guy left my house.
But even so, she was like...
Do you want to go apologize to him together?
At that moment, I promised myself that I'd never lie to my mom again.
But...
My, I'm so stuffed!
I got to talk to Misaki today too, so I'm pretty content!
Um, Mom? I, err, to tell you the truth...
All right, I guess a mean ol' mother-in-law should leave you two alone, huh?
I'm supposed to meet my friends after this.
Misaki...
Yes?
He's the biggest knucklehead, but please take care of him for me!
Yes!
Mom...
Since you guys came all the way out here, why don't you have a date?
Tatsuhiro, hang in there, all right?
See you later, Misaki!
Hey! Wait!
Jeez, "hang in there" my ass...
This is pathetic! The play is over! I'm going home.
Don't you wanna do as your mother told us?
Let's go talk a walk around here together.
If we do that, I think positive things will come out of it.
Your mother is great, Sato.
Think so?
Yeah...
I think she's just normal.
Normal, huh?
Then I'm a failure.
I can't even reach the normal level.
Hey...
She's actually, surprisingly...
What?
Don't hang all over me.
People might be watching, you know.
But...
Huh?
Is this a date hotspot? When did we get here?!
In this place, we look more normal if we do this.
R-Really?
Hey, hey.
Don't you think we're heading in the wrong direction?!
Look at what they're doing in public!
Sa-Sato...
Huh?
Sato...
Huh?
Rouge?!
Did she do that for me?!
They look so soft...
Misaki...
I can't!
I can't stop!
He-Hello?
How much longer are you gonna make me wait, Sato?!
It's been two hours since then!
What happened to the phone call from your mother?!
I've been standing by without even going to the convenience store! Do you understand?!
Sorry! Things happened and the plan got canceled.
No, but I'll explain the details when I get back.
Good grief!
You're not gonna fool me with these sweet buns, you know that, right?
My whole day was shot because of you, Sato!
But it's pretty good.
Oh man, what a day...
Bow!
Episode 08
Welcome to Chinatown!
Bow wow!
There's no summer without summer Comic Market!
Do you want to go watch the fireworks?
I might not mind a trap like this.
Next episode, "Welcome to the Summer Day!"
Next Episode
Welcome to a Summer Day!