I'm back.
Welcome back, Onee-chan.
Thank you for your tutoring job.
Dinner is almost ready, so please wait a bit.
Ok.
What's for dinner tonight?
Today's dinner is mushroom and potato stew over rice.
Let's dig in!
Delicious.
I'm fine as long as Asu is happy and healthy.
My heart is at peace as long as Asu is smiling.
But... I sometimes cannot understand Asu's true feelings.
I regret not being able to see when she's sad.
When that happens I always think,
"When can I become an adult like Mother?"
Mother went to heaven the year she gave birth to Asu.
Father left a huge debt after gambling and is now missing,
leaving only the two of us.
The place we live in is
a beaten up 40 year old apartment with one room.
This is our home.
But, when spring comes...
A Day of Perfume, Asu, and Open House
This shirt is too childish.
This one... and this one too.
Hmmm... Open house, eh?
Ah, my mother came. How about you, Kyo-chan?
My father will come.
Rise. Bow.
Father isn't here yet...
Ok. Who knows the answer to this question?
(Me! Me! Me!)
Still not here...
(Why don't we have everyone read the answer?)
(Taro's last poem...)
He must be a little late. He must come.
Father... why didn't you come?
You promised me...
That time,
when it's obvious all the parents were there, I felt lonely.
I was also thinking about Mother in heaven.
And cried the whole night.
I don't want Asu to have the same painful memory.
I'll go in place of Mother, but first I have to find suitable clothes first.
But... I don't have any suitable clothes.
Onee-chan...
What are you doing?
Sorry, I woke you up.
What were you doing with so many clothes out, Onee-chan?
Asu's open house.
Eh?
You've never told me about this, so I never went.
This year I must make it.
Um... Onee-chan.
It's all right if you don't go.
Eh?
It's all right if you don't go.
Eh!? You don't want your sister to go?
Ah, that's not it.
Because it's not a holiday, doesn't Onee-chan have school?
Ah, that's right.
Thank you, Onee-chan. But it's all right if you don't go.
So you don't have to worry about it.
Anyway, if you don't get some sleep, you'll be tired tomorrow for the newspaper run.
Ok?
Ok...
Even though you say it's for your sister's sake to go to school...
The other kids' parents will be there, right?
Maybe she's embarrassed that someone from middle school like me is going...
If I wear some clothes that will make me look more adult-like then it'll be fine...
This... this is...
Asu!
Onee-chan, welcome back.
I... I found a wallet in front of our apartment.
Wallet?
What should we do?
What... should we do?
Calm down, Onee-chan.
Is there a name or the address of the owner inside?
There's... so much cash.
Yeah...
With this much money...
This month's rent... the food bills... and on top of those, we'll be able to eat our favorite cake.
We would also be able to buy Onee-chan some casual clothes!
That's right... with this much money...
I can buy the mature clothes that I need to go to Asu's open house.
No, no!
The person who lost this wallet is probably very sad.
Let's bring it over to the police department.
Doesn't Onee-chan have newspaper runs to do? Let me go.
Are you going to be all right?
Yes.
Are you really going to be all right?
I'll be fine.
Onee-chan is too worrisome.
Because you have so much money on you...
Don't go off with someone suspicious.
Ok!
You there, wait!
Are you the little sister back at the apartment?
Ah, the neighbor Onee-san!
Hel-
I dropped that wallet. Can you return it to me?
How suspicious...
Even though it's someone I know... but she seems so suspicious, this Onee-san.
Inside the wallet there's an ID Card, right? The name should be Saegusa Ranko.
It's true!
It's great that I've found the wallet's owner!
Little girl, from up close you're quite a cute one.
Let me thank you for this. Follow me.
Eh?
(By adding everyday's receipts as math practice, my grades improve.)
(Little bars of leftover soap can be combined into a big one to use when washing our backs.)
The ice cream parfait I wanted to eat for so long...
along with the strawberry shortcake, and the pudding a la mode!
Here, don't be shy, eat up.
Ah... Ok.
Don't go off with someone suspicious.
What's wrong? You don't like sweets?
Onee-chan said don't take something... no, from someone we don't know well.
It's probably because of my sunglasses,
that I look a little suspicious.
Well then...
Ah!
She looks like a nice person.
I... I'm digging in!
Onee-chan wanted to eat the cake too...
Hey,
you're still not eating?
Um... can I bring this cake home?
I want to share half with my sister.
The cake?
Yes.
You can eat a whole one yourself!
You just don't have to tell your Onee-chan.
All this... by myself...
We can also eat Asu's favorite cake!
If you switch me with my sister, I'm sure she'll do the same.
Excuse me! Hey!
Thank you.
You're welcome.
I've noticed from before.
Yes?
You guys... it's only you and your sister living together in that apartment, right?
Yes.
How about your parents?
Father's somewhere else.
Mother's... not here anymore.
Sorry, asking such a strange question.
It's just that I was a little curious.
Not at all.
As long as Onee-chan's here, we're fine.
I see...
Yes.
But...
Sometimes I think, "Why don't I have a mother?"
Even though it's just a thought...
Let's dig in!
Delicious!
The neighbor Onee-san is a good person.
After we finish this I have to go thank her.
Yes. I'm going too.
Asu's already thanked her, so that's fine.
Besides, the dinner plates aren't put away yet.
Um... fine.
Ok.
Thank you.
Asu said the cake was very delicious.
Oh my, from up close you look pretty cute too.
Eh?
From now on, we'll get along better.
Ah, ok.
Then, later.
Compared to that same person who yelled at us for being too loud...
she seemed like a completely different person.
Wow, if only I can be that mature,
then Asu won't feel uneasy when I go to her open house.
Um...
Yes?
This request might seem a little strange,
Yes?
do you have any suits that I can borrow?
Suits?
I do have some... but what are you going to do with them?
I want to go to my sister's open house,
in place of Mother.
But I need to wear something more formal.
Please.
Sometimes I think, "Why don't I have a mother?"
If that's so, then I'll lend you however many suits you want!
Ah, thank you!
Here, come in.
Ok. Excuse me.
For a school open house... I don't think you should wear something too revealing.
A mountain of garbage...
It's a little messy, but don't mind it.
Pink... no, will blue be better?
I wonder what Saegusa-san does...?
Hmm. Yes.
This one.
How does this look?
It's great!
It fits you well... you look very mature.
Really?
Yes. Really. Just have a little more confidence.
And then, put on a little perfume.
Ok. Complete.
Thank you.
I'll wash the clothes and return them afterwards.
You don't have to worry about that.
Tomorrow I'll help put some makeup on you.
How's this?
What... what's wrong, Onee-chan?
I borrowed this from our neighbor.
Along with makeup?
Yes!
This way I can go in place of Mother.
Onee-chan...
Yes?
Please... don't try too hard to come to the open house.
Eh?
Asu...
I'm not trying too hard...
Ah, oh no, we have to go to the bath.
Onee-chan, let's go take a bath.
Ah, ok...
Please... don't try too hard to come to the open house.
It seems like I still can't do it...
Aww... I've changed back to my normal face.
That's great.
It's the same old smell of Onee-chan.
Eh?
Onee-chan... isn't anyone else.
Onee-chan is Onee-chan.
Just this fact is enough.
The normal Onee-chan...
Ok. I understand.
In order to not let Asu experience that same lonely and painful memory,
I wanted to dress up formally and act as Mother at Asu's open house.
But...
I feel like it's probably because I don't want to feel embarrassed.
That's why I wanted to dress up like an adult in order to go.
Looking at Asu's face,
it seems like she's really trying hard to fight back her loneliness.
Asu-chan, who are you looking for?
No... no one.
There's no way... she'll come.
It's time for class.
For today's class, your parents will be observing you.
(Kanji practice - Autumn)
Just be like normal and it'll be fine.
Huh?
Oh my... what's going on? A middle school student?
If Asu wishes for me to remain like myself,
then there should be nothing to be embarrassed of, right?
Well then, starting from page 94, we'll have Yamada-san read it out loud.
Ah, yes!
(Taro's last poem...)
(Everyone's the same as always... they're happy when they're happy.)
(They're sad when they're sad.)
I'm looking at you with care.
I feel that, if I didn't respect Asu's true feelings, I will regret it.
That's why I came here as myself to see Asu.
To protect Asu.
If this can make Asu at ease,
then I feel that I have fulfilled Mother's promise.
Right? Mother...
Onee-chan, how about school?
Hehe. I left early.
Eh!?
Onee-chan...
What?
Thank you.
Eh?
Really...
Huh?
I really... wanted you to come.
I knew that already.
Ah!
Geez.
Ok. When Onee-chan's open house comes, I'm going too.
Eh? That's a little...
Eh? Why can't I?
Asu! What should we do?
Owner-san told us to leave the apartment immediately!
Onee-chan! Where can we go?
Binbou Shimai Monogatari
A day of the Apartment, Sakura Trees, and Moving
Please watch it!