That day...
Leech, leech leech leech leech!
What is this?
All the important parts are taped over with some weird song!
Why did I even risk the bridge to steal this tape from Ko?
Hello.
It's me.
Aren't you taking rather a long time?
I told you to check out my son's lover.
Of course. I'm trying my hardest.
But there's no information on her at all.
I'm terribly sorry.
I'm working under the assumption that she's an illegal immigrant.
I'll contact you as soon as I find out anything at all.
Of course. Goodbye.
The father's as foolish as the son.
I'd better hurry.
It would be inconvenient if someone else were to research her.
I've got to find out about her before anyone else.
Yo.
You look busy.
I like hard-working women.
Don't move.
Who are you!?
How did you get in here!?
The girl in that photo is under my protection.
Flies like you buzzing around her get my attention.
I'll warn you once.
Don't bother that girl.
If you do... You'll be killed.
What just happened?
Come on, everyone's watching Cosmos vs. Alien
Their battles are always marvelous
He commands a fleet, but he's really been an alien since before he was born
The distance between "micro" and "macro" is so important
At least when it comes to misunderstandings in space treaties
If it's this or be the second coming of Adam and Eve
Everyone's probably better off how they are now
Come on, take a closer look
Come on, be a little more eager
Come on, let's hold hands gently
Come on, put a smile on
Talk and talk, gossip up a storm
But soon it's more than just a joke
Cross the mountains, cross the valleys
Get to the planet he lives on
Come on, everyone's watching the captain, the queen, and the ace
Yes, the missile counterbarrage is ready
But the man aiming has really been an alien since before he was born
Now, the cosmos is space
It's just one wide sweep
The cosmos's sugary taste
It's just one sweet
Just a pinch of magic when you're together with her
Just a pinch of sugar and you can have her
Episode 144 "Decryption"
Hey, Nino.
Mayor?
What are you doing out so late?
I have something to give you.
What? Cookies?
Nope.
This came in today.
Nino. It's almost time.
Therefore, I'd like to discuss our future operations.
These charts should explain it.
The key to improving our Hong Kong subsidiary's sales
is to utilize our shoe and slipper-based production lines,
successfully transition to carpeting, increasing our Venusian sales,
while also gradually raising our Japanese table...
Wait, what the heck are you doing, Nino!?
What's going on? You never used to do weird pointless things like this!
Wait, that's wrong. Nothing Nino does is meaningless.
She has to have some kind of reason for this.
And I've got to figure it out!
She put her shoe on my head?
Shoes... That's what she walks with...
So she's stepping on me!?
Maybe she's taking after Maria!?
Hey, Ric...
What is this? No wonder she's having a hard time saying whatever it is...
But if that's how she's going to show her love...
To be honest...
I'll endure it!
I'll enjoy being trod on!
My parents got in touch with me...
Huh? Your parents?
I see...
Why did that kind of disappoint me!?
Ric's realization about the depths of his own psyche had more of an impact on him than Nino's words.
Episode 145 "Everything suddenly"
Wait, Nino! Your parents!?
It finally sunk in.
Yes.
Can you come to my room?
I want to talk to you about the things on those cassettes that I couldn't before.
Got it. I'll be right there.
Takai. Shimazaki. Can we cut the meeting off here?
Of course! No problem!
All right. That's it for today, then.
It still makes me tear up a little...
I'm his secretary, after all!
Shimazaki! Let's go get a drink!
Sometimes when you want to let it all out...
She's gone.
I can't go...
Contacted by her parents...
This is the moment I've been waiting for!
If the bug still worked I wouldn't have to take this risk, but—!
Since that day, I've avoided everything he's tried...
I'll kill you.
It's okay. It's just a bluff.
There's no way he'd actually kill me,
Look out!
That's the deathtrap Sister and Maria have been working on!
Death!? They're really going to kill me!?
Get a hold of yourself!
You mustn't relinquish your pride!
This is Maria's trap designed to just make you want to die.
You're better off just thinking it was a nightmare.
No! I need to go after Ko!
Oh, wait! Aren't you Ric's secretary Shimazaki?
I'm glad I wore my suit today.
This is Ko's employee...
Mr. Shirai.
What an honor that you remember my name.
It's dangerous to walk around here alone.
Shall I escort you back?
No, I still have a few more things to do here.
I see. Please, take care.
Of course.
What am I blushing about? He's just a pretty face.
That kind of guy isn't good at anything but work.
Wait, why is he pushing a line marker? Don't tell me he's—
Is he marking a safe path out for me without even saying so!?
What a man!
My prince on a white line!
Shimazaki led herself into a love trap.
Episode 146 "Confession"
Episode 146
Confession
So, uh, Nino.
What did you want to talk about?
Well, uh...
This is too damn scary!
I've got to stay calm and composed, but sitting here waiting like this
Sick Bay
is making me more and more nervous!
It's like getting a flu shot!
To be honest, I kind of...
Kind of told you a lie.
That's...
I mean, I already knew that...
Has she been worried about it this whole time?
So, Nino, you think that the lie's driven us apart?
Come on, you know that wouldn't happen.
No matter how hard I think about it, I don't understand.
What should I do now?
I can't figure it out by myself.
So can you listen to me?
I want to give you my heart.
Yes, of course!
As soon as I said that, the Mayor's words echoed in my head.
Human hearts break under that kind of weight.
No problem.
I'd already realized that lie anyway.
I...
I have to leave this riverbank...
Even before you arrived under the bridge, I knew I'd have to leave.
Leave?
What sound will my free-falling heart make...
when it shatters in those depths?
What do you mean, leave?
A kind, friendly, ordinary eighth-grader
What... What if?
Aoi Yuuki
If you were told that magic would make any of your wishes come true,
what would you do?
If you leave the riverbank, where would you even go!?
The sound my falling, uncaught heart makes as it strikes the depths...
SILENT
I'm going home.
Going home? But where?
Some people can hear it.
SILENT
The silent noise a TV makes when it's on.
SILENT
Why, where else?
Venus.
Definitely hearing voices.
Episode 147 "Decision"
Right now, with the aftereffects of the Caspeoze nebula's expansion,
even a Mormay-class rocket could get me home.
Of course, Fandonel's gravity well means I can't warp.
Oh well... As long as I use cryogenic sleep it's no problem.
Ahh... Hearing some sort of message...
SILENT
So, is that what you weren't able to tell me before?
Yeah...
Even though I knew we'd have to part before I asked you to be my lover...
I don't want to leave you. That's what I don't understand.
Even though I knew I should tell you right away, I didn't want our time together to end.
I'm sorry for being so selfish.
Nino...
What do I do? Nino is lost in her worries...
Venus? Really?
If you don't want to go, you don't have to, right?
I want to go home.
I want to see Mom and Dad.
But I want to be with you, too. I want to be with everyone from the riverbank.
Nino! Don't cry!
I was crying?
Hold onto yourself! You're the only one who can stop Nino crying right now!
You're a man, so man up!
Nino!
So, Recruit!
Will you come with me to Venus?
I promise I'll make you happy there!
Nino...
How gentlemanly...
Ric thought that this might be the one.
Episode 148 "Dream Life on Venus"
Venus? Really? Me?
Of course! I'm sure my parents will just love you!
An invitation from your parents? I'm overjoyed, but Venus?
Once we leave, we may never come back. Think it over first.
She's serious...
I have to be serious, too.
Even if this Venus she talks about is somewhere on Earth...
No...
If Nino says Venus, I have to seriously contemplate moving to Venus!
We're here, Ric.
So this is Venus. I'd better brace myself.
Oh, so that's our new neighbor?
Wow, he has a torso!
And no tentacles! How mysterious!
Hey, so you're Ric?
Just gonna tell you now, I'm not letting some slacker have—
What a wonderful expression!
We need to welcome you properly! I'm glad you're here!
A dad with lots of arms.
Of course, that's how I'd handle it.
Wait, if we're talking "welcomes"...
Nino welcomes people...
Like this!
So her parents are probably even worse!
It'll be a close encounter of the third kind!
That's right. Never mind being from different places, we're from different planets.
I'm sure our tastes differ quite a bit.
Dinner's ready, everyone!
Oh my, Ric! You even cook?
Are Earthlings all this perfect?
What's wrong?
Isn't this miso soup a bit strong?
I'm sorry! Do you not like it that way?
I'm sorry, I'm from Kanto so...
Well, I suppose there's no getting around that.
But you'd better use firm tofu.
What's wrong, Ric? Don't force yourself.
No, I'll do it! I can do it!
I'll try my hardest to get your parents to like my miso soup!
Does that mean your coming with me?
Yes.
But somehow, this whole sequence has been backwards!
It seems that the maiden veiled in white's dreams are about to come true.
Episode 149 "Marriage? ... And"
So... So you're really coming with me to Venus!?
Yeah.
Er, Nino? Is this how you show joy?
Wait, does this mean...
Does this mean we're getting married?
About a size 7, probably?
What are you talking about, types of rocket?
What, you want to find out more about them?
Nah, I'm talking about something—
What, Star!? How long have you been standing there!?
There.
I got her!
What the hell are you doing to my Nino's ring finger, you damn starfish!?
Neener-neener! First-come, first-served!
Looks like I have an invitation to Venus from her parents too!
You were eavesdropping!?
I just overheard!
Nino was calling out to me!
Really, Star?
You're coming too?
Of course, Nino!
I'll perform my encore, "Give me <3 your daughter", for your parents!
Really?
Wait... Nino...
We wanna go too!
Bring us along, Nino!
A vacation to Venus? That sounds great! I'm coming too!
I wonder if there's white lines on Venus.
Hey, wait, when did you all get here!?
My romantic vacation is turning into a neighborhood trip!
Everyone...
This way I won't have to leave anyone!
Yay! Yay!
If you keep encouraging it like that, it'll grow roots!
You're really happy, aren't you, Nino?
Oh well, I guess if Nino's that happy about it...
Another one!?
Didn't you go back to work!?
Thanks to you, I reached a new peak.
So what, you want to come to Venus too!?
Of course not!
I don't think the human body can take Venusian conditions,
and I'm afraid of unknown pathogens.
I can't even believe your courage!
It looks like you've thought more about the practical issues involved than I have.
But is she really going back to Venus?
I regret that I won't be able to finish my new project, "Document of Venus"!
What's in that notebook?
You were just drawing—
I'm going back to Venus!
Nino!
I knew it!
The art is just all moe for the storyboards!
It's easier to draw quick!
Of course the actual manuscripts I turn in will be gekiga style!
No, that's not why I'm making this face.
This is nothing but a stalker's diary!
Are you following Nino around again!?
I'm not a stalker! This was a sneaking mission!
I even used scuba gear underwater!
Why don't you go talk with Sister about your emergency missions?
Oh man, now they're all....
But...
I'm glad that that's Nino's secret.
I've never been particular about where I live.
So there's nothing to worry about.
Come over here, Ric!
Let's listen to Nino talk about Venus!
Venus is really cool!
Let's go.
Yeah, I need to go back over this scene.
Next time I should bring a spare oxygen tank on my dive.
The hour of air I brought last time wasn't enough.
Looking back at the end of my journey,
as the days I long for pass
I see you wrapped in your red coat,
playing without waiting for winter
Farewell, mazelike days , I'd thank you if I realized days
Oh, oh, goodbye days
Looking forward at the beginning of my journey,
I take a deep breath so I won't have to stop
We're both swimming upstream toward tomorrow,
Swaying side to side like fish
Pain? No thank you days, sadness? No thank you days
Oh, oh goodbye days
Episode 150 "Arakawa Gag Contest"
We have a riddle!
Huh? That's a bit understated.
What does a sudden regime change
have to do with Watson, the receptionist at the lab?
Well...
I know, I know!
They're both shocking!
Get it? Watson? Watt? Am I right?
Watt? Shocking?
Man, you're a total dick.
You don't go and give away the punchline.
Sorry, it just came to me all of a sudden.
Wait, that ain't it.
Brothers! Give us the real answer!
What does a sudden regime change
have to do with Watson, the receptionist at the lab?
Well...
For both of them, heads rolled!
Miss Maria. Have you seen Ko?
Oh, if it isn't Mr. Takai. Your boy's room is as empty as your follicles now.
Next time, 7 Bridge×2.
Ko!
Illustration: Makoto Tsuchibayashi
Watch again next time, too!