On the morning I was born, snow covered the town
Tiny small hands reached for the blue sky
Like a girl next door we'd always known
With one ear, I hear the graduation song
Even alone, I am OK, turning the pages of my own story
I want to blame someone It hurts, no I hate it.
In sadness I cried, and the bud disappeared
Autumn comes, then winter, and I am another year older
You can run far away, but your story never ends.
Grinning from ear to ear, I'm such a coward. I can't stand it.
You may step over me, but I will follow and cling to you
I try to fill the hole in my heart Without a doubt, I can't stand it.
I'm such a coward. I can't stand it. It hurts. No, I hate it.
A-1 is Turkish Blue Enamel.
A-2 is Bronze Enamel. 3 is Brownish Green Enamel.
Okay, they're ready.
Please proceed.
Ah… yes. I'll get right to it.
You seem busy. What other projects are you working on?
Umm…
The extension to Kosouan has been completed,
so I'm working on flower vases for them…
Eh? Kosouan…
You mean the place in Kamakura?
Yes, it was a wonderful shop made out of an old private house
that was moved and remodeled.
You're doing work for some impressive clients, aren't you?
It's all thanks to Rika.
She really introduced me to a lot of people.
Rika must have liked your work an awful lot.
It's all coming right along.
And you are at the peak of your creative efforts, Ayumi.
Yes…
By now Rika must be under Spanish skies…
That's incredible. Doing work for the Valencia Museum of Art…
Yes, it's incredible.
Rika had left for Spain the week before. Takumi did not go with her.
I don't know what happened
between the two of them right before she left.
But I could tell…
His voice, when he answered the phone calls that sometimes came from Rika
was subtly different from before.
It was now interspersed with deeper tones of composure.
Yes, he had been permitted to be kind to her
and receive kindness in return…
Let's see. Well, then, Ayumi, shall we go someplace nice?
Ah, sorry, Leader. You stay home and guard the place.
Someplace nice, you say?
That's right.
Say…
M-Miwako, th-this place is…
Well, now, let's enjoy it to the max!
Huh? Um…
Come on!
Eh, b-but, M-Miwako…
Just as I expected, this is great! A rose and fruit bath.
A p-pineapple just…
We-e-ll then, after we've soaked ourselves nice and warm.
it's time to have our backs scrubbed to get rid of all the grime!
Ye-e-s!
Howdy.
Is this your first time?
We'll make you all smooth.
Relax ple-e-a-se.
Isn't it nice that we came, Ayumi?
Aah, I feel so smooth, Just like shedding a layer of skin.
Now, let's go to the next stop, the next one!
Ayumi, don't you love these dresses, or shall I call them muumuus?
Uh… yes…
All the members at this club go barefoot, without makeup,
all wearing the same muumuu.
It's wonderful here, isn't it? "Viva Health Land. "
Don't you think so?
It's strange, but when I wear this clothing, I feel like laughing.
Don't you? Wearing these floral muumuus,
it would be well-nigh impossible to think of something sad
even if someone told you to.
Miwako…
Now then, let's attack things in order. starting at the beginning.
Shall we start out with some draft beer and edamame?
Here goes!
Uh… yes!
Miwako…
Could it be that…
you are trying to cheer me up?
Ah, Yamada, look.
I thought something smelled good, and sure enough…
Fragrant olive…
Every year, around the time when the streets fill with this fragrance,
we start preparing for the school festival.
The school buildings are lit with orange light.
Amidst the perfume of the fragrant olive,
how many times I walked about the places we might meet,
looking for the back of the person I loved amidst the crowd…
Even for just a few moments,
I wanted to see him and hear his voice.
So long…
My…
They really smell good.
I like these flowers best of all.
Yamada, do you like fragrant olive?
Yes, I like it very much.
Drink up, Ayumi.
Ah…
Come on. eat and drink.
When we're finished, there's the pool and a massage
- and the germanium hot bath! - Yes.
Because today we're going for the full course.
Y-Yes…
Hoi. One down.
Ah, Nomiya, good timing.
Huh?
Is Ayumi there? Why?
Huh? She's sleeping?
I knocked her out for the time being.
With the full course at Health Land.
Hey, Big Sis, what do you mean, you "knocked her out"?
Has something happened?
Well, with Takumi and Rika, I guess, yes.
Was she crying again?
A little. But she's fine. She's sleeping now.
With her beautiful legs sticking out from the covers.
Wearing little more than her underwear.
That I'd like to see…
How honest you are.
Sorry, Big Sister. I'm leaving her in your hands.
Such a cute girl as she is always welcome any time…
Or perhaps I should say that Takumiis really strange.
- Because even being with a girl with - You idiot, Mayama.
- such an amazing body all day long, - What is all this?
- he didn't even budge. - What is going on? I
This girl must've been awfully important to him.
Damn it! That young girl! Why doesn't she call me?
I hadn't heard from her, so I was wondering if
she was doing well, and what do I get but this?!
Give me a break.
What's up with Ayumi? Could it be an SOS?
Are you going over there, Nomiya?
I'm not going! I don't care anymore.
Eeh?
Go ahead and cry by yourself!
N-Nomiya!
Just a bit more, just a little longer.
and I can go back, so until then…
Don't cry by yourself, I'm begging you…
Don't cry in front of anybody else…
Why? Why…?
Following me around and refusing to leave.
The sand from the dunes…
That expression on your face…
And then…
Those words…
Sh-Sh-Sh-Sh-Shinobu!
Hey, why do you just help yourself to someone else's food?!
I'm investing my allowance and all of my pay from my part-time job
into getting my license, so I'm really broke this month!
I was planning on tiding myself over until next month
on the crusts of bread that I bought with my last 100 yen.
Takemoto, I'll give you my steamed sweet bread.
Waah! No, it's fine, Hagu, that's your lunch, isn't it?
It's okay, Takemoto. Go ahead and eat it.
Shinobu!
- Ooh, yuck! Gross! - Huh…?
Now I'm d-i-r-t-y…
Say, Yuta, am I dirty?
Am I so dirty that she has to get all flustered
and scrub herself silly with all that soap like that?
You're dirty, all right.
Putting on these little acts and
eating other people's food without permission…
You're soiled pitch-black.
You're mighty cheeky lately, Yuta!
Is this misplaced anger? …Oh?
Don't raise a ruckus here.
If you interfere with Hagu's work, I'll kill you…
Or shall I say…
Go turn… into…the wind… That I'd like to see…
This is terrible! My money! It's b-blowing away!
Satsumi, Satsue, Satsuko! I'll rescue you!
If you have that much money, why do you eat my food?!
They're all together… You returned to me…
Shinobu.
What on earth is your part time job? You work so much…
But you don't appear to be spending much.
What on earth are you going to do with your earnings?
Nothing in particular.
Oh, sorry, Yuta.
I've got to be going…
Hey, I've been waiting for you, Shinobu.
I've been wanting to show this to you as soon as possible.
It's finally completed.
A flawless system for raising 50 yen a month semi-perpetually
from each child in the world.
What do you think, Shinobu?
Look, Shiroyama is so moved, he's crying.
No, I think Shiroyama is crying for a different reason.
Well, whatever, Enough nonsense.
Shinobu, can you come up with one more by next month?
One more? What's the unit?
- One hundred million. - Impossible.
Shiroyama, compress semi-perpetuity into one year's time,
convert the children into unmarried thirty-year-olds,
and do the trial calculation over again for me, will you?
Leave it to me.
Kaoru.
Have you been sleeping?
I've been sleeping.
How many hours?
Four.
Sleep a little more. Your intuition will be dulled.
One more thing. Don't move in too flamboyant a manner.
Your intuition will get tired.
I really don't want to be hearing that from you.
How much longer?
A little bit longer.
Just…
…one more push…
Yuta, you're too extreme.
Just because you're eager to get your license,
that's no reason to save your living expenses.
Takumi. this is delicious!
I can feel each grain of rice permeating throughout my body!
Ah. Go on and eat. Eat your fill.
But, Yuta, why are you in such a hurry to get your license?
Ah. as for that…
Oh, and another thing, Yuta.
Yes?
If you feel like working with us,
you ought to get an ordinary driver's license while you're still a student.
Yes.
Ah, that's what happened on your trip, huh?
Yes…
I see.
Yes.
All right, today, it's my treat.
Yuta, let's go to the public bath.
I'll buy you your favorite kind of ice cream
at the convenience store on the way back!
Ah, Senpai, I shall truly never forget this benevolence my whole life!
Say, Takumi?
Hmm?
Why are you still living in that apartment?
You're working, so you ought to be able to rent a better place.
Um, well, it's because there's something that I want.
Or shall I say, I want to be ready when the time comes.
When the time comes? What do you mean by that?
Well, I don't know whether it will ever come or not. but
I read in some book when I was a kid
that opportunity will surely knock three times in any person's lifetime.
And since I've become an adult.
I've thought that when such a chance came along
the outcome would almost always depend purely upon
whether or not you have the money to take advantage of it.
Takumi, do you by chance have quite a lot of savings?
Uh-huh.
Am I the only one who's poor?!
You're fine, Yuta. You're still a student.
Senpai, you are prepared for any contingency.
Perhaps it's more a case of…
If something were to happen to the girl I love,
I would want to have enough to be able to say,
"Don't worry about anything. Just rest for a while. "
Takumi.
T-Takumi?
Sorry, Yuta.
Just now, I was too honest - to the point of sounding corny.
I admit it. I'll even say so myself!
No such thing, Takumi - you're the best!
Let's hurry to the bathhouse.
I've got to wash all this corniness away.
Or rather, forget it, Yuta! Forget those corny things I said!
No, Takumi, you're sparkling!
If something were to happen to the girl I love,
I would want to have enough to be able to say,
"Don't worry about anything. Just rest for a while. "
I nodded heartily to what Takumi said at that time.
But. all I did was nod.
In truth. I still…
… did not understand a single thing.
I'm sorry, Ayumi, after we had you come all the way.
I wonder where Miwako has gone to…
It's all right, Mr. Takaido. I'll wait.
# Leader. Leader
# Such a cute dog, with tufts of fur on your hind quarters too.
Say, Leader. I wonder where Miwako has gone.
Health Land was lots of fun.
Drinking beer under the fragrant olive. The fragrant olive…
Ayumi…
If you ever find yourself at a loss for what to do, call me.
If you ever find yourself at a loss…
Ah. welcome back. Miwako…
M-Mister Nomiya…
Oh!
How have you been, Leader?
I see, I see. Then you've been well. I wanted to see you, too.
I wanted to see you too, Ayumi. I'm back.
Was that a s-spinning kick?
I felt as though he had seen through my heart, so I took off.
Actually, I wanted to call you.
There were many things I wanted you to hear.
Things I wanted to ask, too.
Somehow, I really hated myself for thinking those things.
After all, if I thought that way,
then that would make my liking Takumi all along
a lie.
However pitiful or shameful it might appear to others,
this feeling of love for him, that one thing,
was like my cold, bright treasure.
Leader…
God.
I did not want to be saved.
I wanted to keep thinking of Takumi
and keep crying.
And yet, and yet…
… I am very happy that this person has returned. And…
And…
I am in a lot of pain.
Everything would be so much easier
If all these emotions would disappear
Without a word.
We each take our separate roads
And our paths part
We'll never meet again
Meeting is just too sad.
We gather the emotions we miss.
But emotions cool as quickly as they warm
We believe it can't be true
How long will we hold onto these words
How long?
Next time: "We never did make it to the beach"