Original Concept EIICHI KAMAGATA
Original Story / Screenplay HIDEYUKI KURATA
Original Character Design TARAKU UON
Character Design / Animation Director MASASHI ISHIHAMA
Production Design NORIYUKI ZINGUZI
Art Director EASTER ｷ YATUKUMI Art Conception HIROSHI IZUMI Color Coordinator MAYUMI TANAHASHI
Director of Cinematography KAZUNARI NISHIDA Editing MASANORI SAKAMOTO
Sound Effects MINORU YAMADA Sound Mixer YASUSHI NAGURA
Recording Director HIROMI KIKUTA Music Director TAKASHI KODAMA
Music TAKU IWASAKI
Producer TOMONORI OCHIKOSHI
Animation Producer YUJI MATSUKURA
Director KOJI MASUNARI
Animation Produced by J.C. STAFF
Produced by ANIPLEX INC.
Episode 6 The Right Stuff Mumble... mumble...
Mumble!
Happy Milk
"Midnight Liberation Zone" by Nenene Sumiregawa
Morning. Good morning.
Mornin'.
What is it?
He shouldn't read and walk...
Oh.
Did he love books that much?
I don't think that was why...
Let's go!
Ninomiya Kinjiro educated himself by reading books...
while he was helping his family with chores.
So they put up statues of him...
encouraging people to emulate his attitude toward learning.
Oh.
My sisters read and walk a lot, too.
But it's dangerous, you know?
Don't tell me you do it, too.
Sometimes...
Oh, but only when I have a newly released novel I like or something.
Still, why can't you just read it at home?
Why does everyone like books so much?
Nothing good comes out of reading books.
You think so?
What?
Stop babbling.
You're the one who's always noisy!
But I'm not now.
So unfair!
You...
What?
Nothing!
Weirdo.
Be seated. Let's begin class.
Rise!
Good morning.
I'll warm your breakfast right away.
Just give me some coffee.
Thank you.
No problem.
Carry me.
Carry me over there.
Oh, you're being such a baby. Carry me over there.
Oh, you're being such a baby.
Nee-san!
Carry me.
Do it now, or I'll smooch you.
Excuse...
me!
Ah, this is nice.
Here you are.
Thanks.
Where's shorty?
Oh, school.
Yes.
She's fitting in pretty well without much trouble, it seems.
Yes.
We're having a Parent's Day on Friday next week.
What? I'm already getting excited, since I get to meet your families!
Friday? I'm already getting excited, since I get to meet your families!
Oh, man. I'm already getting excited, since I get to meet your families!
What's a Parent's Day?
But Sensei, we won't be having English class. What's a Parent's Day?
But Sensei, we won't be having English class. You have someone from your family come to attend class.
Oooops. Oh, no.
We'll be having...
- So my excitement is all for naught? Japanese class.
- So my excitement is all for naught? - Notice: Parent Day
We'll be reading book reports out loud.
- Maybe I'll talk to other teachers. - Notice: Parent Day We'll be reading book reports out loud.
- Maybe I'll talk to other teachers. - Notice: Parent Day
Oh, sorry.
I'll unlock it right now.
Some costume you got on.
Are you in the Drama Club or something?
LIBRARY
What happened?
You won't have a problem. You like books.
Sorry.
Well, you don't have to apologize...
Is Sumiregawa-sensei coming?
Huh?
To Parent's Day?
Well, but it's supposed to be a family member, right?
And she isn't?
She's just letting us live in her apartment.
Oh.
It's OK.
And my sisters won't have to know about it, either.
What?
Why?
I have a feeling that they'd cause trouble if they come to school.
It'd be embarrassing.
I'd like to meet your sisters.
You would just get annoyed.
Anita-chan!
Yeah?
Um... Well...
What is it?
Today... Now...
Can I come to your home?
Huh?
I'm home!
Hey, mind your manners.
We have a guest.
A guest?
Hello.
Hello...
This is Hisami-chan, a friend from school.
Nee-san!
Oh, what's going on, Maggie-chan?
Are you happy about something? Should I leave?
Don't worry about them.
A friend!? Don't worry about them.
Welcome!
Nice to meet you!
Stay as long as you like.
Do you like bathes hot?
Or lukewarm?
Lukewarm...
Out of the way!
Here you are.
Thank you.
Wow, where were you hiding this?
Sensei brought it home.
She says it's a special cake. They make only 50 of them a day.
Sis...
Don't worry.
She has a heart as big as an ocean!
Good, this is really good. She has a heart as big as an ocean!
But she gets mad as a storm sometimes.
Well, we'll take our chances.
Um, is she home?
Yes.
Hisa-chan is a fan of hers.
Oh!
Oh, my!
Hisa-chan!
You must become our sister!
But... You must become our sister!
Don't take her seriously.
She's very fond of cute boys and girls.
I wish I could introduce you to her, but she has just gone to bed.
I have an order not to wake her up...
even if oil gushes from the mountain behind this apartment.
There's no mountain here!
It's dangerous to see Sensei now.
It seems that inspiration for the new novel finally came to her...
so I'd like to leave her undisturbed.
Ah, yes.
I look forward to her new novel as well.
Ah, how sweet!
I always wanted a demure sister like you!
Too bad you ended up with me.
Um, well, um...
OK, OK.
Let's go.
If you stay here, she'll force you...
Anita-chan's being stingy. Into becoming our sister.
This is Nenene's room.
Knock! Or you will DIE! Nenene
This is...
If you open the door without permission, books will come flying at you.
This side of the room is Mi-nee's.
Lots of books.
Sorry, they get in the way, I know.
It's OK. It looks fun.
I'm sorry. My sisters are weird.
No, they aren't.
They're very fun to be with.
You think?
That's why I'm worried.
I'll be embarrassed if they behave inappropriately.
Besides, I don't know how to write a book report.
Why don't you just read a book you like...
and write down whatever comes to your mind.
I don't have a book I like.
It's OK.
Anyway, the teacher's bound to call on the kids...
whose families are there to watch.
Hey, want to listen to some tapes? I have some Frog songs-kun.
Frog-kun Rock'n'Roll
Which one do you like?
Yeah, they treated me to dinner...
Yeah, OK.
I'm sorry for having come to your home uninvited.
You're welcome anytime.
If you like, I'll prepare a room for you.
See you tomorrow at school.
Yeah, at school.
Ah, thank you.
Walk her safely home.
Even if it costs me my life.
Shall we?
Yes.
Welcome back.
How did it go?
Couldn't find it.
Oh.
And that Paper Master girl?
Didn't see her.
Carpenter-san isn't mad at me, is he?
No he isn't.
But Mr. Carpenter has expectations of you.
So you must meet those expectations.
What is it?
I want a school uniform.
It's about time you stopped doing this.
I can't keep waiting forever.
It's almost here, you know...
What's going on?
They're looking for books to write reports on.
Ah, excuse me.
Please fill out the cards.
Oh, OK.
Yeah, we forgot.
Excuse me! Where can I find Nishizono Haruhi's
Excuse me! Where can I find Nishizono Haruhi's...
"First Love, Now It's Begun"?
We don't have it...
What? What do you mean?
Is this some sort of dark plot?
Or unfounded censorship?
There was no request for it...
Then I request it now!
Get one million copies by tomorrow night!
What are you going to do with so many?
Besides, you already have so many at home, rotting away!
They're not rotting away! How rude!
Then show us the inside of your house!
Maybe I will!
Um...
Ah, we met in Jinbo-cho, right?
In that strange, underground bookstore.
Or was it someone else?
Hi.
I didn't know you were a student here.
I'm Anita.
I'm Junior.
Junior...
Half Japanese?
Something like that.
SHUEISHA
So how are things these days with the three sisters?
They ate my cake.
They did, did they? Please feel free to scold them.
I already hit them.
Well, here are this week's letters.
Thanks.
And this is for you.
Sensei!
I only have the plot right now...
for the new novel...
Well, bit by bit...
I just started...
I've been waiting for this, all this time!
It's not that big of a deal.
Yes it is!
I am a fan of yours!
Sumiregawa-sensei! Fancy running into you!
Uh, well, uh...
How are you? Nishizono-sensei.
Another meeting?
Uh, yes...
Really, writing is such a busy occupation...
doesn't it make you feel fed up?
Oh, but will you be attending that thing on Friday?
That thing?
Yes, the Parent's Day.
My sister told me that she and the girl...
you live with are in the same class.
Why didn't she tell us...?
Nee-san...
Book Reports
She doesn't like books...
I would've come up with as many book reports as she wanted...
Look...
Why doesn't she like books?
Don't you have to look for a book?
I will later.
I'd rather be talking to you.
Do you go to that bookstore often?
No way.
I was trying to find someone I know.
Someone you know?
That person must really love books.
No ordinary people know about that store.
Really?
Then you like books too?
Someone just sent me there on an errand.
I don't particularly like books.
Neither do I.
They remind me of sad and scary things...
things I don't want to remember...
If you don't like books, why...?
No, never mind.
The oldest memory Anita-chan has is about books.
Piles and piles of books burning, flames, cries and...
a dark figure standing in the midst...
To Anita, books are a symbol of fear.
She goes about everyday life acting tough...
but that's the image etched deep in her mind.
What happened?
We don't know.
It was before we met her.
Before you met?
Yes. We're not real sisters.
We're sisters in law.
Although, closer than any blood relations...
we love Anita as our real sister.
I can find out if I ask Hisa-chan.
Wait here for a sec.
Hey, what's the title of the book?
Anita-chan.
Oh, there you are.
Yeah, I was tidying up the books.
Did you see a boy?
Huh?
No, I didn't.
That's weird...
What is?
Oh, nothing.
Did everyone get their books?
Yeah.
Anita-chan.
Um...
Why don't you get a book as well?
No thanks, I'll stay home on Parent's Day.
That's not right.
Nobody's coming for me, so why bother?
You can't do that!
I...
I won't have anyone coming for me, either.
My mom and dad are not home, so...
But I will read a book, and I will write a report.
Maybe the teacher won't pick me to read it, but I'll write it anyway.
That's how you thank books.
Remember you said that nothing good comes out of reading books?
But I don't think that's true.
Books cheered me up...
so many times.
Until I met you, books were the only friends I had.
People are all different. It's the same with books.
Unless you look, you won't find the one that's precious to you!
Why do you want me to read books so badly?
Because I like you just as much as I like books.
I want you to be friends with them.
I think you'll find books that are like your sisters.
Happy Milk
"Midnight Liberation Zone" by Sumiregawa Nenene
Natsume!
You came!
The up-and-coming...
How can she do that? writer whose work "First Love, Now It's Begun"...
by my sister Nishizono Haruhi has hit the best-seller list!
How about you? By my sister Nishizono Haruhi has hit the best-seller list!
No one will come. I didn't tell them.
Anita-chan!
But I did write a book report.
You did?
Oh! Ya-hoo!
Why?! Why are they here?!
How did they know?
Sumiregawa-sensei is watching over you, too!
Hey... Sumiregawa-sensei is watching over you, too!
Rise!
Better try not to embarrass yourselves.
Bow.
Be seated.
Um, well then, let's have a few of you read your reports first...
and then we'll exchange opinions.
First...
Anita King-san.
Yay!
It's too early for that, Nee-san...
Good luck.
Yeah...
You can do it, Anita-chan.
Uh, "My Thoughts on Midnight Liberation Zone"
by Anita King, Jr. High First Grade, Class 2.
I read this book because...
Taisetsu ni shiteta mono wa
Itsumo koboreochiteyuku
Demo kimi to no omoide dake wa
Kono mune no oku ni tsuyoku aru
Suzushikunattekita umi
Hashaideta hutari no kage
Kimi no sukoshi yakesugita hada to
Shizundeku yuuhi ni toketa
Kono te o zutto hanasanai mama
Otona ni natte iketara ii no ni
Hizashi no naka de oikaketa
Kimi no sugata sagashite
Koi ga owaru yokan shite
Yorisottayone