Hanasaku Iroha
Mum,
I'm actually not your child.
Your friend, an ailing jazz singer,
conceived me with an American soldier at the port.
But the thing is, I don't have any female friends.
Heck, that's not something a child would confess to her mother.
Well, I tried.
Say, Ohana. Do you know how babies are made?
Compared to the cabbage patch theory, I prefer the stork one.
I agree.
Digging up babies from a garden just isn't right.
Crap, must be a deadline reminder call!
Get it! Get it!
Quickly!
But, my hands are wet...
Hello, Matsumae residence here.
Oh, hi.
It's your boyfriend.
Sorry about that!
I've been so busy.
The editors are being so mean to me.
Are you coming over today?
What? If you need to talk, then at least do it over a drink.
There will be dinner.
Episode 1
16 years old, spring, still but a flower bud
No, Ohana is.
Kou-chan, I have a question for ya.
Hm?
How do you get the corn out?
You know how the corn gets stuck at the bottom of the canned soup, right?
You look really ridiculous like that.
Can't geh dem out...!
Why don't you pour some water in or something?
You weirdo.
That would completely ruin the taste.
It'd be the same as throwing the corn away.
Well, you could dump the water and corn into another cup,
and eat only the corn with chopsticks...
I thought you were just being crude,
but that's actually a nicely thought out idea.
Leave it be.
Kou-chan~ Kou-chan~ Kou-chan is so patient~
What are you going to choose for your second year electives?
I haven't decided yet.
What are you going to do after graduation?
I don't want to decide yet.
You really are just so happy-go-lucky, huh?
If you keep this up, you'll ruin yourself.
Ruin myself... I kind of like the sound of that.
Sounds dramatic.
Huh?
What boring scenery.
A mere fraction of the sky is visible, blocked by the buildings.
Riding on a crowded train. Through the city dyed orange by the sunset. A transient escape.
Wow, that actually sounds pretty cool.
But, it isn't at all.
By way of one or another, I'm actually quite realistic.
Given the role model I live with.
Yeah, your mother sure is amazing, in a lot of ways.
So, even if I don't decide what I want to do now,
I will probably still find a job, get married at the age of 26,
and buy a plot in the cemetery in District 3 when I get old.
My father tells me that the plots over there are quite expensive, you know.
If you could afford one, then that's-
And you're out! See you!
Hey!
Have any plans for spring break?
Nope!
N-Never mind!
This is the only time of the day I like.
The lights flicker on and off, showing me the way.
If only they'd lead to the future, then I'd wish to become more wonderful, unlike the way I am now.
I'm home.
Wha-
You're finally here, Ohana!
What's going on?
This person, you see,
has fallen into debt.
We're skipping town?!
Well, you see, he gave them our address.
Sorry about that.
So, when are we running away?
Tonight.
We should do it while the opportunity is still good.
Though, there's nothing good about it really.
Oh, you!
Whose fault do you think this is?
What is with all this drama...
I can feel a nosebleed coming!
You and that sensitive nose of yours.
But, this might be a chance for me to change myself.
So, where to? North or south?
Huh?
Why are you asking?
If we're going somewhere cold, I'll need to buy something to keep me warm.
But, if it's somewhere warm, then maybe I should buy a one-piece swimsuit.
There are no parents who'd run away together with their child.
I guess cases in which they run away together are quite rare...
Here.
Kissui Inn
That's it for the day. You can go.
Okay!
Hey!
You've got to be kidding me...
Seems like I'm headed to my grandma's place by myself.
I'll be going to the high school there too.
I...
O-Ohana!
Don't be so depressed!
What kind of expression is that?
Huh?
My mum doesn't get along with my grandma so I don't know anything about her, but
having to suddenly live at an inn sure sounds dramatic!
I personally think that skipping town would have been more fun though...
Kou-chan?
I'm the kind of guy who'd get the corn by flooding it with water.
Yeah, that was a pretty novel idea.
Just because I was the one who got along with you best...
I thought that someday for sure I'd be able to-
But, I was mistaken. I realized how wrong I was now.
I thought that you'd come to realize my feelings if I was always close to you.
Sorry, Kou-chan. Could you be a bit more clearer and say that-
I'll say it. I like you.
I've always liked you, Matsumae Ohana!
Wha-
I... Ah... I... Wha...
W-Wait a minute. You said you like me... What does that-
Just go...
Just go already!
Kou-chan, wait-
I let Kou-chan leave before I did.
The scenery from the window resembles that of my heart.
To begin with, I wasn't expecting anything.
I wanted to change who I am.
But, looking at Kou-chan's different face...
He never came to see me off in the end...
Have some candy.
Thank you very much!
I've always wanted to, if only just once, meet a nice old lady who would offer me candy.
Really?
Delicious!
This is the first time I've ever seen such a vast ocean view.
Oh my, is that so?
Somehow, my mood was like that of a tunnel,
but upon getting out of the tunnel in the end, I was still really excited.
How could this be? What an amazing setting!
This feels like a movie!
Ew.
These don't fit very well.
And I just arrived at an inn that feels like it's taken out of a fairy tale too.
Yes, it really was a fairy tale.
A beautiful girl extended her hand out to me.
Then...
Die.
She told me to go die!
Ah, um, that wasn't what I was expecting, so
could you say that again please?
Die.
You can't do that Mi-chan! Telling someone you don't know to die all of a sudden...
E-Excuse me...
S-Sorry...
Those were the wild garlic that Minchi had been growing.
Wild garlic? Minchi?
You can eat them.
Minchi with wild garlic?
Just wild garlic.
Minchi!
You must be Ohana.
Could you be... my grandma?
Catch.
Could she be another nice old lady who's going to give me candy?
Here.
Do you understand?
From now on, you are an employee of this establishment.
An employee? Not as your granddaughter?
You're the daughter from some woman I don't know.
Such a granddaughter is no different from a dog or cat.
I will have you work and earn your keep.
Ah, could it be you're training me to be the next owner-
Not at all, you'll be doing nothing but chores.
Um, nyaa what?
You can do what you like once you finish high school.
You will be paid for your work.
In that regard...
In that regard?
Any blunders will be deducted from your pay.
Be thankful that I'm feeding you and giving you a place to stay in this day and age.
If only she was a candy giving grandmother...
Will you be here soon?
You will?
Got it.
Eh?
Hello?
Satsuki-neesan-
So you're Ohana-chan.
My, how nice to meet you-
Could you get off me please?
Ah, sorry sorry.
The more I look at you, the more obvious the resemblance is.
Those evil eyes which are always looking for ways to screw me over.
That mouth and those sharp teeth which are always looking out to bite me.
Could you be my mother's younger brother?
Yeah, I may just have my revenge on you for all those years of grudge piling up.
Just kidding.
Hey, are you Ohana-chan?
Y-Yes.
I have so many things I want to ask you!
What's Satsuki-san like?
I've heard she's quite a loose woman.
Does she walk around revealing herself in the house too?
Um...
Ah, I'm Tomoe, the head waitress.
I'm your senpai I suppose.
In exchange for teaching you various things here and there,
you'll have to teach me some things too.
S-Sure.
What a nice car.
She's apparently some business management consultant.
Enishi-san can't help but be all over her. What a sloppy guy.
Is Satsuki-san sloppy like him too?
In regards to her lower body or something.
Well...
That's Mr. Beans.
He's in charge of upkeep and maintenance however.
Is he called that because he's small?
It's because his name is Denroku.
That's our assistant chef, Tohru-chan.
And the one at the back is our head chef, Ren-san.
A crew cut?!
They're busy doing prep right now, so I'll introduce them to you later.
Next is...
Ohana-chan, you're 16, right?
Yes.
In that case-
All right, I'll go check up on it now.
Oh, you two came at just the right time.
The girl who told me to go die.
Oh, you know each other?
No, not really.
Thanks for the good work.
That makes things easier for me then.
Minko-chan and Nako-chan.
Since you three are all the same age,
help me give her a tour around the place.
Thanks!
H-Hi.
I'll leave the rest to you then, Nako.
Eh?
She sure makes it clear that she doesn't like me.
I was expecting her to say something like, "that's not true,"
to cover for her friend, but...
Th-That over there is the high school.
Minchi and I are students there.
Huh? Where?
Oh, so you two work here part-time?
I do... Minchi lives here.
Now that you mention it, there was a uniform hanging in my room.
I wonder if we're roommates.
I'm not sure...
That uniform was really cute, wasn't it?
Ah...
The colours were quite unique too.
I see...
Should we head back now?
This isn't quite what I was hoping for.
But then again, it's not like I had a clear image of what I was expecting...
What the heck is wrong with you?!
Why did you peel this so thick?
I'm sorry.
Have you ever considered the feelings of the farmers who grew these?
I'm sorry.
And have you ever thought about your grandma's feelings,
when she makes meals with these?
My grandmother doesn't live with me...
Then use your imagination or something, stupid.
I'm sorry.
Excuse me...
Oh, you're the landlady's granddaughter.
I think you're being too harsh...
Yelling at a child all the time won't help them grow, you know.
Huh- What are you-
Shut up! This has nothing to do with you!
Forget it.
If you have the time to move your mouth, then move your hands and work instead.
I'm sorry.
You, would you mind letting us do our own thing in the kitchen?
We have our own way of doing things here.
I'm so tired.
My life sure has taken an odd turn, but
for the time being, there's nowhere else to go.
I wonder if she's still working.
Kou-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
From: Satsuki
Good luck Ohana-chan!
Good luck, huh?
You say that like it's so easy.
It'd be somewhat awkward for me to contact Kou-chan right now.
The dramatic life I had yearned for...
...turned out to be a bit lonely and smells like mould.
M-My back...
Wow.
She went to sleep even later than I did,
and still got up earlier than me.
There's no way anyone could have slept well on that mouldy bed.
Here... we go.
All right.
New here?
Ah, yes.
Pleased to make your acquaintance.
What on earth?!
Dear!
My sincerest apologies, this was inexcusable.
Don't be like that, please raise your head.
Right?
Yeah, it was just a futon falling.
Ohana!
I-I'm really sorry. I didn't notice-
"My sincerest apologies!"
M-My sincerest apolo–gies!
It's not like anyone was hurt or anything.
Don't worry about it.
Now, if you'll excuse us.
Um...
Come.
Tomoe, bring Minko as well.
Y-Yes, ma'am!
Minko's futon was completely flattened,
so I wanted to air it out for her.
At the front of the inn, where customers pass through?
Y-Yes.
It was too dark at the back,
and I thought it'd be better in the sun, so-
When you're running an inn, the customer's needs must always come first.
Your own needs should come second or third.
No.
You should never have the time to tend to yourself.
What about it?
I agree that customers are important,
but I also think it's important to reward those who work hard.
Excuse me.
Minko, come here.
Ah, yes, ma'am.
This girl inconvenienced a customer because she wanted to hang up your futon.
You should be old enough to take care of your own surroundings.
I'm sorry.
G-Grandma!
Do not call me that.
Landlady, am I not the one at fault here?
You're being unreasonable!
What do you think would happen if I had slapped a customer instead?
It'd be far worse than just "unreasonable," right?
And that's exactly what you did.
Everything here should should revolve around our customers.
If you can't even accept such a basic principle, then you have no right to be here.
I understand.
But...
Please slap me, too.
A hard worker was unreasonably slapped,
and customers were inconvenienced all because of me.
That's what I hate the most!
Th-Thank you very much!
I-I'm really sorry!
It was my fault.
I don't really care.
The landlady is just so unbelievable, isn't she?
There's seriously something wrong with what she sai-
You're the one who's unbelievable.
Do you even understand what it means to work at an inn?
More like, do you even know what work means?
Well, I mean, it's not like I came here for work...
Ah, and-
You know what,
just go die.
Once again, she ended up telling me to go die.
She sure is working hard.
Ah, hello?
Enishi here.
I didn't come here because I wanted to work.
Yet...
namida no ame ga hou tataku
The rain of tears fall onto the path,
tabi ni utsukushiku
making the journey beautiful.
It was difficult,
and it was agonizing.
kudaranai ruuru kara namida sezu naiteita
Set unto unreasonable rules, unable to hold back my tears I cried.
kouyate sugita mirai chizu
Passing just like that, the map to the future...
surihete kokoro wo ume takute
Wanting to fill my worn out heart,
atsumeta iranai mono bakari
I gathered nothing but useless things I did not want.
bye bye ano itoshii hibi wa
Bye bye to those lovely days,
modori wa shinai kara
because they won't be coming back.
hiraite yuku chiisana tojita kokoro ga
It's opening up, my small closed up heart...
yoru no sumi de shizuka ni
...quietly in the recess of the night.
irozuide motto fukabu yasashiku
More colourful, deeper, and kinder,
asa no hikari ukede
letting the day's light cover me.
namida no ame ga hou tataku
The rain of tears fall onto the path,
tabi ni utsukushiku
making the journey beautiful.
Call the landlady!
I have to pay no matter what.
You don't have any friends, do you?
Let's call the police.
I'm so frustrated with you two-
Stop talking!
Really, just what do I want to do?
Revenge is best served on a dish
Episode 2