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 10 Christmas Carol
- Yes. I'm a little stuck right now.
- I'm home. - Yes. I'm a little stuck right now.
- I'm home.
I can't quite remember the knack.
No, not quite ready to be announced...
- I'm sorry.
- Uh, it was cold out.
Oh, yes, right.
No, I feel uncomfortable at events like that.
Yes.
Goodbye.
Hi.
Hey.
Work?
Yeah.
Go ahead. You can read it.
Thank you!
Maggie-chan, I'm going to read it before you.
Don't tell me what's in it.
Oh, Pierre Kurata-sensei's new series.
Sumiregawa Nenene-san What's this?
A prank?
It looks like an invitation to something.
Too absurd for that.
Doesn't say what it's for, and only a part of the map is on here.
And there's no postmark.
I get things like this sometimes.
Some weirdo putting strange things directly in my mailbox.
To the trash can.
What are you doing?
Let's keep it just in case.
Why?
Don't you find it intriguing?
No, I don't.
But it's like a quiz. It's fun, isn't it?
Not really.
To begin with, why would I accept an invitation for Christmas Day?
You already have plans?
No, I don't.
That's sad.
That's none of your business.
This one is a real invitation.
To what?
The 10th Best New Teen Writer Award Winner Announcement!!
An award party for new writers.
Why are you invited?
Because I made my debut as a writer by winning this award.
This one's also on Christmas Day. How can they be so thoughtless?
But you don't have any plans.
Shush. I just don't feel like going.
Why not?
I won't have anyone to talk to.
Most of the guests are writers...
and some of them have a keen sense of rivalry.
The food is terrific, but...
I have to pay proper respect to veteran writers...
and overall, it's just uncomfortable.
You want to go?
Yes! Yes!
I guess we could, for a change.
Oh, I'm so glad you came.
Well, just for a change.
Since I haven't written much recently...
- Nee-san, look. - I feel kinda bad.
- Isn't that Nakamizo Ringo-sensei? - Nonsense. Please have a good time.
That's right.
- Is it OK to ask for autographs.
- Where's the food? Food! - Is it OK to ask for autographs.
- Where's the food? Food!
- Sorry. They said they wanted to come.
- Come on! Let's go! - Sorry. They said they wanted to come.
- The people here are all writers? - Oh, no, it's not a problem.
- I'm in heaven! - Hey, is it OK to eat now?
- Can I have a picture taken with her?
- Yeah. Go for it. - Can I have a picture taken with her?
Don't be a nuisance to other people, OK?
I see you're quite used to handling them now.
The four of you look like sisters.
Um, yeah...
Oh, by the way...
Lee-san!
Takiura-sensei is here.
Oh, yes.
Go ahead. I'll just hang around.
I'm sorry.
I'll be right back.
Sumiregawa-sensei!
It's been a long time.
The previous winner of the Best New Writer Award...
Nishizono Haruhi, is here.
Hello.
Sensei, you've forgotten to say the phrase...
"the author of Dream, Have You Found It? The third installment...
of the widely acclaimed series which is now on sale".
Oh no! A mistake.
Oh, this is my staff team.
Oh.
- I'm her manager. I'm her assistant.
- I'm her coordinator. I'm her supporter. I thought, in this day and age, a writer should promote herself.
And as part of the promotion effort...
I'll be making a TV appearance on the 18th of next month in...
"Oops! Late at Night" starting at 2:25 am.
Oh no, I feel embarrassed now.
Um, I see...
Oh, please, Sensei.
No matter how much more famous I become...
please don't feel shy about giving me advice.
Goodbye!
Ah, Pierre Kurata-sensei!
Amazing...
I'm Nagai Aoi.
I'm...
feeling very nervous...
being given... such a big award.
I hope... to be able to...
keep writing entertaining novels...
for many years to come.
Sumiregawa-san.
Komuro-sensei.
It's been a long time.
It's a surprise to see you here.
Umm...
You haven't released anything for quite a while.
I thought you'd retired.
I'm having a little writer's block.
When we chose you 10 years ago...
I was sure that you had talent.
But I think you're under some sort of delusion now.
- I believe that a pro should be producing work constantly.
- Hey, look at that. - I believe that a pro should be producing work constantly.
Huh? What is it?
It's not necessarily bad to be hung up on something.
The 1st Award Winner Nenene Sumiregawa It's not necessarily bad to be hung up on something.
But it's not acceptable to use it as an excuse for not being able to write.
I know your popularity is deep-rooted...
and your books have been best-sellers in the past.
But if you're counting on that...
you're putting the noose around your own neck.
Stop it, please.
Oh, excuse me.
Who are you?
I'm her assigned editor.
Komuro-sensei...
As her editor, I've watched Sumiregawa-sensei closely.
I believe I know how much she's been struggling.
And you want to brag about that?
What an annoyance to the readers.
I know.
But she's suffered a great deal because she couldn't find a way to write.
And still, she's never given up.
Her struggle itself shouldn't matter to the readers.
But I don't think we should scoff at her.
After all, we're fellow colleagues.
Lee-san, can I have a word?
I'm deeply sorry about that, Sensei.
What's his problem?
- Sumiregawa-sensei, I'm very sorry.
- Now, everybody! There's still food left. - Sumiregawa-sensei, I'm very sorry.
- Let's have some more fun. - Sure...
- Let's have some more fun. - Incidentally, we have a favor to ask...
That was wrong, Lee-san. Go outside and cool down.
Yes.
I'm sorry.
You were great in there.
Thanks.
What made you stand up for Nenene like that?
Many reasons.
It's my job. There are readers waiting.
Also, I like making books.
But I guess...
mainly because I want to read her novels.
Hmm.
What's that?
Let's have a word from the first award winner, Sumiregawa Nenene-sensei.
Um, I'm Sumiregawa.
Being given this award lead to my debut as a writer.
It was a wonderful experience...
which taught me I could express myself by writing novels.
Writing expanded my world.
Through my novels...
I met many people and learned many things.
To be honest, it's sometimes very difficult to write.
But the reason I've never stopped...
I've never given up because...
it's the only thing I can do.
Because I know...
this is the only thing that enables me to face the world.
For the past few years, I had my back turned on the world.
But now, in order to face it again, I'm writing a new novel.
I promise that I will complete and release it for you to read.
I'd like to thank this award for teaching me to write...
and for letting me experience the joy and suffering of writing.
And I'd also like to thank the people who have watched over me.
Bravo!
For me?
Merry Christmas.
May I?
It's nothing really.
Thank you.
You've given up smoking, right?
Yes.
And you won't smoke again until I've released a new novel.
How did you know?
Haruhi-san's editor told me.
Oh.
Just you wait.
You'll need it sometime soon.
Yes.
Now I know for sure. I really don't like parties.
Why not? Your speech was great.
It was very moving.
Sumiregawa Nenene-san
You know, Sensei?
What do you think about attending another party?
Party?
A much smaller one, though.
Place: Nenene-sensei's apartment
Why did you go to this much trouble?
We wanted to surprise you.
We put a lot of time into this.
What?
Wow.
Sit down. Sit down.
Oh, OK.
A birthday?
Whose?
Ours.
What?
The three of you?
Yes.
Will you celebrate it with us?
Besides, we don't have anyone else to invite.
Sure...
But do you all really share the same birthday?
Well, it's a long story.
I want to hear it.
It's OK.
All right, then.
It was Christmas Eve, two years ago, when we first met.
Hello.
Are you from Dokusensha?
No.
You're my partner for this mission, then?
I'm Maggie.
I'm Michelle.
Nice to work with you, for the night.
Nice to work with you.
You're tall.
I'm reading that book, too.
See.
What a coincidence.
Do you like books?
Yes.
Are you a Paper Master, too?
Yes.
"Too"?
So am I. What kind of skills...?
Ah, yes.
Let's go.
Yes.
Trespassing Strictly Prohibited
Even though it's abandoned...
I feel bad about sneaking into a church.
But it's for books.
Forgotten books need rescuing.
Yes?
You're a serious person.
I'm sorry.
You don't have to apologize.
Where's the entrance to the basement storage?
Underneath the Virgin Mary statue.
That's a handy skill you have.
Let's go.
Yes.
It doesn't look like there's any trap.
Impressive.
Rare books from before the first World War.
Let's get them out.
Hold on.
These are fake.
Fake?
They smell too new.
This room was supposed to be sealed before the war...
but these books are made of alkaline paper produced after the war.
Who?
Someone working for the British Library or a collector, I don't know.
Dokusensha wasn't certain about this, either.
That's why they used us.
If the books are authentic, all is well.
But even if we're caught or set up, they can just cut us loose.
So we've been deceived?
We've been used.
Don't take it so hard. We'll just report the facts as they are.
We're not responsible for this.
But...
I feel empty...
What was it that I came here for?
Are you guys Santas? Or thieves?
If you're Santas, give me a present.
If you're thieves...
let me join you.
A kid?
I'm Anita.
Which are you?
Santas or thieves?
If one or the other, we're more like thieves.
Then let me join you.
I'm so little I can get into small places no problem.
You want to become a thief?
Not really.
But that's about the only way to keep myself alive.
What do you mean?
Just as I said.
I have no food, my parents are dead...
I ran away from my foster parents...
and the nights are freezing cold.
It's Christmas Eve, right? So I was praying.
Then I heard your voices.
God must have brought you to me.
We can't.
Why not?
Stealing is a bad thing.
Your future will be ruined.
I don't really have...
a future.
Don't worry. I'm not gonna call the police.
If I did, they'd kick me out of here, too.
But if you can't help me...
just go away.
I don't wanna be alone...
God is...
useless.
What do you have to do to make happy memories for Christmas?
Like normal people do...
Come on! Hurry up!
Unbelievable.
Here I am starving...
yet it's Christmas outside.
Where are the miracles happening?
Merry Christmas.
For me?
Yes. It's a very good story.
A good story won't fill my stomach.
I know. I'll take care of that.
Why don't we live together, Anita?
Merry Christmas.
It's a good story.
A good story won't warm my body.
I'll do something about that.
Why don't we become sisters?
A hard task is daunting for a single person...
surmountable for two, but for three people it's a breeze!
Let's help each other from now on!
The day we were born as three sisters...
is today.
That's why we'd like you to celebrate with us.
Anita?
I didn't cry!
Come on! You make me sound like a complete child.
You sure did. You cried.
My clothes were stained.
That's a lie! Lie, lie, lie! Don't believe them, Nenene!
What kind of laugh is that?!
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