Anyway... just don't worry about it.
Okay.
Kobato.
Yes?
If you leave the window open like that, you'll catch a cold.
But I'm...
I'm cold!
I'm sorry!
It's rather cold outside, isn't it?
Yeah, February has only begun, after all.
Speaking of which, at the convenience store, I saw a ton of magazines featuring chocolate.
I bet eating chocolate would warm you right up!
That's because it's almost Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day?
How do I do this again?
The simplest things in life
end up being the most difficult.
I just want to smile when I'm happy
and sing a song whenever I please.
I was told, "Someday, your dream will come true."
But when exactly will that be?
I can't wait that long!
I spread my arms
on the count of one two three
and gather all the light in the world.
Tell me,
isn't there something I can do?
Even if someone hurts my feelings,
I'll keep running toward the light.
Even if I trip, fall, and cry my eyes out, I still believe.
Although it may seem silly...
I believe in tomorrow.
Production The Kobato Protection Group
...The Traveler.
Fujimoto!
February 14 is Valentine's Day, isn't it?
What about it?
Let's do it! A Valentine's party here at Yomogi Nursery!
Why at the nursery?
You can't hold Valentine's parties at nurseries?
I'm sure they do in some places, but in Japan, Valentine's Day is a day for giving chocolate, is it not?
Right! That's what was written in the magazines!
So let's do that here!
Will the girls give it to the boys?
Huh?
Valentine's Day is a day where girls give chocolate to the guys they like.
What? So that's the purpose of Valentine's Day?
Well, it's supposedly the opposite nowadays.
You really don't know anything, do you?
To the person they like...
What?
Let's try holding a Valentine's party!
Lately, Miss Sayaka's been looking worried again...
It looks like she's having a really difficult time, but she's trying so hard to hide it.
I thought that a Valentine's party might cheer her up, even a little...
But it's impossible.
We just don't have the money for it.
That's okay!
W-We can get supplies from Tirol!
I went there this morning and asked them if I could have some ingredients!
They said it's fine as long as we work for it!
Calm down a second.
O-Okay...
So you're saying that in exchange for helping out at Tirol,
the nursery will be able to get supplies for making chocolate?
Yes, yes!
Did I... do something wrong?
It's really busy at work, so it might be hard for me to help out at Tirol...
I've also taken on some late night construction work...
I'll take care of the work at Tirol!
The manager said that it'll be okay as long as I work there from today until Valentine's Day!
But...
Don't worry!
For the sake of Valentine's Day, I'll do my best!
Work, work, let's go!
Good luck.
Kobato wants to celebrate Valentine's Day here?
Yeah.
She's such a nice girl.
Thank you for waiting!
Thank you.
Thank you very much!
Good work.
Thanks for working so hard!
I'll be working even harder!
I'd love it, but it's about time to close for today.
Huh? It's already this late?
Is there anything else I could help out with?
There are only two days left until Valentine's Day. You've already done your share!
Could you bring in the signboard from outside?
Yes! I'm on it!
Hey, that hurts!
We landed funny again, didn't we?
At least we didn't land in the sea this time, right?
You nearly killed us!
Ioryogi?
A girl!
There are humans in this world!
Hey!
We don't know if this is a world where white, meat bun-like things can speak!
Ioryogi?
Um... this person's name is Kurogane.
I'm Fai, and this is Syaoran.
And that makes this one...
Huh?
W-What is it?
No, nothing.
Oh, it's okay.
Mokona, it's all right for you to speak.
This girl won't be surprised, right?
Nope! Ioryogi is also a speaking stuffed animal, after all!
Ioryogi?
Hey, Kobato!
How long do you plan on lollygagging around for?
The manager's gonna be worried—
Ioryogi!
So you're called Ioryogi!
I'm Mokona.
It's nice to meet you!
Ah, it's you! The one from the amusement park!
So all of you are traveling?
Yeah.
The four of you?
Three people and one Mokona!
One Mokona?
It's how you count Mokona!
Which means that... Ioryogi, you would be one Ioryogi!
Of course not!
Wow, Mr. Kuro's and Ioryogi's voices really do sound alike!
No, we don't!
You do.
Yeah, really.
The Kurogane of this world is little and blue!
What the hell, you meat bun!
You! Don't think you can get away!
Then you've come here as part of your travels?
Yeah.
I've read about traveling in a book!
It's when you stop at all sorts of different places, right?
Have you already decided where you're going to stay?
No, not yet.
It'd be nice if we had somewhere to stay, but...
We don't have any of this world's currency, after all.
You... don't have any money?
The money we have now probably won't work here.
That's difficult, isn't it?
Well, we don't have a girl with us, so camping out is fine.
Mokona's the only girl in the group.
How do you tell?
By color?
By cuteness.
If you're in a pinch...
Why don't you stay over at my place?
I knew it.
But...
It's okay! I have a room!
But I only have one futon...
But if we all huddle together and sleep...
Ah, but there are bigger people here too...
Oh, but if split up the part that you lay on and the part that you cover yourself with!
One futon is for one person?
No, I sleep with Ioryogi.
Then, in that case—
Really, it's okay!
Then we'll take you up on that, um...
Kobato Hanato.
Thank you, Kobato.
Hey, you guys...
No matter what happens, Ioryogi will protect you, right?
You...
Alrighty then, let's all go to Kobato's place!
Go!
Let's go!
Is this really okay?
I'm sure he has some sort of plan in mind.
Kuro-tan, why are you frowning?
Huh?
Ah, wrong one!
I take that back. That idiot probably isn't thinking of anything.
I'm going to be late!
The nursery's on break, but I need to be at Tirol this morning or else!
We tried to wake you up many times.
You were sleeping so soundly!
Who you sleep with doesn't matter at all, does it?
I'm sorry! I need to leave now, but please feel free to use the room as you please!
Kobato, you're going to a pastry shop, right?
Yes! To help out.
To... get ingredients for making chocolate on Valentine's Day, was it?
Yup!
Then we'll help out too!
That's a good idea! So we can repay you for letting us stay over.
Then who should go to the store...
Syaoran, why don't you go with her?
You're good at cooking, and Mr. Kuro working in a pastry shop is a bit...
I refuse!
Kuro-tan and I will find another job in order to earn some money.
And you, Mokona?
I'll stay here with Ioryogi!
Why?
Because I just feel so close to you!
I'm not feeling it at all!
All right then. Let's leave it at that. Everyone, do your best!
Yay!
Ioryogi, you too!
Do your best to play with someone just like you!
We're not alike!
But Ioryogi, you're jealous of Mokona's cuteness!
No way!
Yumi, who's that boy?
I think he's a friend of Kobato's, or something like that.
Mokona's good at pretending to be a stuffed animal!
Quit talking!
Wow, you're amazing! Syaoran, you're really talented!
Once you get used to it, it's easy enough.
No matter how many times I practice, I just can't manage to wrap them up prettily...
Don't try to put everything in at once. Try it like this, one at a time.
One at a time...
I did it!
I told you, no singing!
Syaoran, you've all been traveling for a long time, right?
Yeah. But it's not a journey with a specific destination in mind.
Oh?
It's a journey wherein continuously traveling itself is the goal.
Um... then you haven't yet decided on the destination?
It's rather hard to decide.
We don't even know how long we can stay in one place and all.
But...
there's someone waiting.
Someone waiting?
She's always been waiting for me, even though I'm unsure when I can return again.
I...
There's a place I want to go to.
A place that I want to arrive at no matter what...
Is that because there's meaning in traveling to that place?
Or is it because if you go to that place, you'll be able to meet with the person you've longed to see?
The person I've longed to see...
The person I want to meet...
We sure worked a lot, didn't we?
You just sat there!
Right, as Signboard Mokona!
You just sat there!
What on Earth is that?!
Welcome back!
How was working at the pastry shop?
We're back!
Syaoran is very talented and even the manager praised him over and over!
Oh, I'm not...
Though, the manager also said that he was wearing rather unusual clothing.
Oh, the clothes got you? They were a problem for us too!
People asked us if we were cosplaying!
Things got complicated because you kept asking if such outfits would be considered as cosplay in this world!
Here you go.
It's only from one day of work so it's not a lot...
Are you sure? Is this okay?
Of course. It'd make me very happy if you'd take it.
As payment for letting us stay here and all!
Thank you so much!
I'll use it for Yomogi Nursery!
Already?
Is something wrong?
When this earring shines, we have no choice but to travel on to the next world.
Thank you for letting us stay here.
We were only here for two days, but it was a lot of fun!
Thanks for everything.
Oh no, I'm sorry I wasn't able to really help you out very much...
Hey, about Kobato...
Right?
But she seems to be rather unsure about things.
Wow, that's such a pretty glow!
Isn't it? It's Mokona's favorite!
People from other worlds can't do more than simply watch over her,
but please include us in that as well.
Take care of her.
You don't need to tell me that.
It'd be great if you could get there, to the place you want to go to.
Thank you.
Those people were...
From a different world.
There are more worlds than just this human one, after all.
There's the heavenly world, the underworld, the spirit world... and probably even more than that.
I hope that their next world will be the one where their precious person is waiting.
Sign: Valentine's Party Yay!
They all look like they're having a great time.
Yeah.
Kobato really worked hard for this, didn't she?
Well... yeah, I guess so.
Kobato, that's a funny looking shape!
What? What is it?
It was supposed to be a star, but...
You sure it's not a starfish?
Huh? Do you think it's a starfish?
And not just chocolate... she gave me money too.
She even prepared the wrapping paper and cards to go along with the chocolate.
I hope she's not working herself too hard...
Hey, Yoshio, who are you giving your chocolate to?
To my mommy and daddy, and to my little sister!
I'm giving it to my mommy too! And... I can give one to you too, Kobato.
Thank you!
You have to give your best chocolate to the person you like best on Valentine's Day, after all!
Kobato, who are you giving your best chocolate to?
Me?
She better be saving some for me too!
What is it?
Kobato...
There really isn't much time left.
Your smile falls in that space
between the things I've lost and the things I've gained.
It seems as if I could reach it, but I can't.
It's not as if I can fly...
Even though I only wanted to make you smile...
What purpose do they serve, these useless wings of mine?
All I can do is smile by your side.
I wonder if it's okay to only warm your heart
when, at the very least, I want to envelop you in warmth.
Have you noticed? I want to embrace you with my wings.
And now, I am able to smile.
Next
The Footsteps of Spring.