Yuuko! Stop fooling around! Bring it here!
OK.
We have to sun it while the clouds aren't covering the sun.
Doll Set With Clothes
Ah! I used to play with this treasure ten years ago!
It brings back memories!
Oh! How cute!
Don't open it!
What? Why not?
There are important memories in it.
Hey, what's in there? Hey!
That's a secret!
On the 9th and 10th of this month, the Sensouji temple in Asakusa is holding a Houzuki market.
The temple festival...
Aw, man! We're cleaning the house on a Saturday, and he won't even lift a finger.
I can't believe Mom fell in love with him.
I heard he's was a real romantic when he was younger.
No way! Was he really like that back then?
I find that a bit hard to believe.
You dummy. Love comes and goes, like a fever.
Like a fever?
Yep. After time passes, you'll forget about your love, just like a fever goes away.
Not everyone's like that.
No, all guys are like that.
They are only concerned about what happens between their girlfriends and them.
Hiroshi-kun will act differently once he's married.
He's not like that!
Time and distance weaken love.
Love Letter
You've done a good job cleaning up the house.
Yes.
Everyone tidied up while we were cleaning the futons this afternoon.
I see.
You should have woken me up.
I'd have given you a hand.
We did. You slept like a log.
Yuuko!
It's true! He wouldn't budge!
Aren't you going to finish your dinner?
I'm done.
What's wrong with her?
Did something happen?
Good question.
You dummy. Love comes and goes, like a fever.
Time and distance weaken love.
That's not true.
Taka-chan's doing quite well with her long-distance relationship.
Love doesn't cool off like a fever, does it?
Right, Taka-chan?
I'm not so sure.
What's wrong? Did something happen?
Shibazaki sent this to me.
Shibazaki
May I open it?
Sure.
That's all he sent?
Yeah. There was no letter or anything. Just that photo.
Why did he send that to me?
W-Well...
D-Don't worry about it!
I don't think she's his girlfriend! He won't send a photo if she is.
I think he sent it to me because he wants to break up.
Oh... I see.
What?
O-Oh, don't be silly!
Why don't you call and ask him?
I can't ask him that.
G-Good point.
Long-distance relationships aren't easy.
Yeah.
I wouldn't understand, because I've never been far from Hiroshi-kun.
I envy you. You're still getting along with your first love.
Still, I've heard that some first loves don't work out.
What?
If they're together for too long, they'll probably get tired of each other.
Oh, I wasn't talking about you and Hiroshi.
I was talking about generalities!
Yeah.
Will he get tired of me?
Although, I've been going home with Hiroshi-kun less frequently lately.
Hey, Hiroshi-kun!
Hiroshi-kun!
I'm busy, Yuuko. You can see that.
Don't interrupt my training.
He's got a point, but he didn't have to be so rude.
What's wrong? Did something happen at school?
Y-Yeah.
Tell me about it.
Taka-chan's long-distance relationship with Shibazaki-kun isn't going too well.
Well, actually...
If Hiroshi-kun goes to a different high school, I won't be able to see him very often.
You should be able to see him anytime you want, even if he goes to a different high school.
Shibazaki-kun's in Kyoto, but Hiroshi-kun is right next door.
Y-Yeah...
But first loves don't usually work out.
Not necessarily.
There was a girl I knew. She was just about your age...
Yeah?
That girl had a boy that she was good friends with.
He was very kind, a very hard worker, and a little clumsy...
Don't forget about us after you transfer!
I could never forget you.
Write to us often, OK?
What's wrong?
She transferred to another school.
Everyone in her class came to see her off, except for...
Express
...her childhood friend...
He didn't come, did he?
Acchan!
Accchan! Accchan!
Yacchan!
Take care Acchan!
Acchan! Acchan!
Yacchan!
Take care Acchan!
Yacchan! Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Take care Acchan!
Thank you, Yac-chan!
Thank you!
Take care!
She could never forget the boy who ran through the fields.
The image was etched into her mind for all eternity.
She would always remember it.
What happened then?
Well...
Shall I pour some tea?
What happened to them after that?
Is that the end of her story?
I suppose so.
Legend has it that he wrote a letter to her every week while they were students.
I bet they were romantic love letters!
I suppose so.
Salutations. How're you?
We dissected a frog this week.
Did you know that a frog's nervous system can be stimulated with electricity?
We dissected a frog this week.
Did you know that a frog's nervous system can be stimulated with electricity? Someone in my group
It was as though he sent her his daily journals.
Is that all?
Even so, they made her incredibly happy.
He kept sending her letters until he graduated from high school.
He was busy when he went to university, and the letters suddenly stopped.
One day in July, after she graduated...
It's too early for me to get married.
Don't be silly!
You should get married before you're over the hill!
You really think so?
Yes. That's how it works.
The marriage meeting passed without incident, and she thought about the very idea of arranged marriages.
That settles it. He's the son of a hospital director.
He's handsome and tall.
You'll never get a chance like this again!
On the way home, she saw a mirage outside the window.
A mirage?
Yes. An old memory resurfaced.
Take care Acchan!
S-Stop the car!
Her childhood friend had come to Tokyo all of a sudden.
He visited her house.
He heard about the arranged marriage meeting from her younger sister.
He chased after her.
What happened to them after that?
They started going out.
Apparently, they went to the Houzuki market.
And then?
Would you like to see his love letters?
What?
Oh, this box...
May I open it?
Go ahead.
Are these...
Yes.
Atsuko-sama
Remembering about your father running through the field affirms the feelings I had back then.
You've got many years ahead of you, Yuuko.
Think of all the things you'll experience.
Even so, no matter how much time passes, no matter how far apart you are,
the wonderful memories you have now will continue to shine and never fade.
Yeah.
You shouldn't worry about the future.
Try to make the most of the present.
The present?
Yes.
You should make memories that will be precious to you.
Well, I should get dinner started.
What? It's his younger sister?!
That's right.
Shibazaki called me last night.
He was in such a hurry that he forgot to include the letter.
He wanted to get her a birthday present.
He wanted my help, and that's why he sent me the picture of his sister.
Oh, is that all?
I don't have as many memories with Shibazaki as you with Naganuma-kun, but our relationship is pretty solid.
There's nothing to worry about.
Geez, I was worried about you because you were depressed.
You made us worry over nothing!
Sorry.
Hey! Yuuko!
Maruyama Botanical Gardens West Side
Hiroshi-kun!
What about practice?
We're taking the day off after a long time.
I see.
Um, I'm sorry, Yuuko.
I've been getting ready for the tournament, so I haven't been able to talk with you lately.
I got a bit cranky.
Oh, it's not a big deal.
I've got many wonderful memories with you.
Good luck with your training!
T-Thanks.
It's a lot warmer these days.
Yeah.
Would you like a beer?
Y-You're acting very strange.
What is it?
Do you want a present?
I hope you'll stay healthy for the rest of your life, Dad.
You're not your usual self today.
What's wrong, Yuuko?
Memories made when you're young become lifelong treasures.
I need to make some with you.
I'm not going to die yet!
That's not what I meant!
Hiroshi-kun.
I hope we can make lots of precious memories together.
Next Episode Report
Cool Weather in Kyoto
Alas, a sigh.
I wish I didn't have to go to school.
I'm still alive, despite my protests.
The sky stretches out forever.
There are countless stars in the sky.
And I'm still here.
When I look up at the sky again, I feel better.
Next time: Dreams and Reality.
Dreams and Reality
Please look forward to it!