This is fine?
I can take you to the dorm.
Oh, I want to stop by somewhere first.
Thank you so much for everything.
No, thank you!
I'll call you the next time we need help.
You'd still ask me, even after I made that huge mistake?
You got so depressed afterwards.
I'm sure you'll be really careful next time.
Don't beat yourself up for making one mistake, okay?
See you!
I wish I'd been born into your family.
Caution: Cow Crossing
I haven't seen him in almost a month.
Pig Pen
I wonder how he's doing.
Hello!
Pork Bowl's turned into a pig!
He's always been a pig, Hachiken-kun!
But he's gotten so fat and flabby in just a month...
Pigs sure grow fast.
Stop calling pigs fat and flabby!
The body fat percentage of pigs is about 15%.
In comparison,
men average about 10-20%,
Average Human Male
and women average about 20-30%!
Average Human Female
I'm a bigger pig than pigs themselves...
I'm sorry I called you a pig, Pork Bowl...
Wait, which one's Pork Bowl?
Oh, there he is...
He hasn't changed.
Man... Why are you so considerate?
This pig doesn't eat enough.
At this rate,
he'll be rated off-grade for being too light.
Off-grade?
Pork carcasses are evaluated
and graded super premium, premium, medium, standard, or off-grade.
The pig's grade determines its sell price.
Off-grade carcasses will only fetch a mediocre price.
Hachiken-kun?
C'mon, eat.
Episode 9 Hachiken Hesitates over Pork Bowl
We're back!
We've returned!
Hey, Aikawa.
Been a while!
Oh, did you get a tan?
I was working the whole time.
After a month, everyone looks different.
Aikawa, Hachiken, welcome back.
Thanks.
Who's that?
Did we have any girls like that?
It's been a while.
Tama-chan, you've lost a lot of weight!
The summer heat got to me.
Tamako?!
It's more like a transformation than weight loss...
Yo!
Hachiken, Aikawa, long time no see!
Who're you?
It's Tokiwa!
What's one plus one?
Three!
It's Tokiwa, all right.
What's with the mohawk?
Is that chicken respect?
Wha? Tokiwa?
Is that Tokiwa?
Everyone seems surprised by my transformation.
So this is what they mean by summer break transformation.
He's the first one I've seen. I didn't know it existed.
Shut up! Girls should stay quiet—
Wh-Wh-Wh-Who is that hottie?!
Huh? Which one?
That one! That girl!
She's about Tamako's height, with the same hair color!
Well...
Oh, been a while, Komaba.
Oh, Tamako!
You lost weight.
Was the baseball club training non-stop?
Yeah, it was either training or away games.
Did you grow more muscle?
I guess you haven't changed that much, huh?
Okay!
Excuse me.
Oh, Sensei, sorry to bother you.
I'd like to talk to you about something.
8/22 (Thu) Opening Ceremony
All right, everyone's here.
Looks like everyone had a safe break.
Actually, some of you look like you had too much fun.
Tokiwa.
Stand up.
Belongings! Accessories! Clothes! Hair!
That's a counted yakuman!
I'm going to bring you up at the staff meeting for disciplinary action.
What?!
I warned all of you before break not to get too excited and carried away.
You'd better be prepared for disciplinary action.
Um...
You're not gonna suspend me, right?
Suspension would be too good for the likes of you.
Library Recreation Room
Stress and Development
How's Tokiwa?
He's still tearfully cutting his hair in the bathroom.
What you lookin' at?
Well, I want to get Pork Bowl a little bit fatter,
so I'm trying to find a good way to do that.
I think Tomoizawa's family runs a pig farm.
Hey, Tomoizawa!
Yeah?
Hachiken wants to fatten up Pork Bowl.
He's the only one who's not eating well...
A-ha.
So you want to know a secret strategy to finish
a pig before it's shipped out?
Y-Yeah. Is there one?
We use liquid feed!
Liquid feed?
Dairy Science
Hey, bad news!
They decided on the disciplinary action for Tokiwa!
What's it going to be?
Don't tell me he's suspended!
Man, I knew it.
You're lucky it's just one week of forced labor.
Damn it... I only went outta line a little bit.
Way outta line.
They won't let you graduate if you don't stop.
You're already failing tests, anyway.
Uh... Crap!
Huh?
Why are you here?
It isn't forced labor, is it?
Uh, I asked the teachers to let me
take care of Pork Bowl until it's time to send him off.
I see.
You've always liked him.
Wait, why're you choosing to increase your practicum hours?
If you take care of him until the very end,
it'll be even harder for you when it's time.
Yeah.
But if I don't do something now,
I think I'll regret it.
I thought I might figure something out...
Oh! Then maybe you can stand in for me on my forced labor duty.
Oh, come on...
You are shameless.
You should be stuck with forced labor till you graduate!
What're you doing?
Oh, I heard they eat more when you mix the feed with water.
Oh, really?
It's time-consuming,
but they do it to fatten up the pigs before sending them off.
Here's my special blend!
Hachiken?
Sorry.
It's three in the morning.
There's something I have to do before my club duties!
All right, eat up!
You guys are big enough!
Fine!
You'll get your turn, so wait, pigs!
Oh, good morning!
How long have you been here?!
Oh, crap!
The horses!
I'll be back later!
Pigs, horses...
He's really drinking in Ezonoo life, huh?
Why is he doing all this?
Because he named the pig, of course.
But I too used to name cows as a kid.
Now that I think about it,
I used to cry when they got taken away, too.
Basically, we just got used to it.
When'd you start knowing the difference
between animals as pets and animals as food?
Cafeteria
I'm starving...
Huh?!
Hachiken Yuugo
Crap, I forgot I had cleaning duty!
I'm gonna get detention chores!
Oh, I took care of it for you.
Huh?
You didn't come back for cleaning duty, right?
I did it for you.
Beppu-sama...
Just do it for me when it's my turn.
I'm going ahead.
Good job!
Isn't he getting more run down every day?
I'm surprised he can keep getting up at 3 AM.
It's been more than a week already.
His weight's kind of going the opposite direction of the pigs.
Hey.
Stop it, Pork Bowl.
Huh?
Oh, this one's Pork Bowl.
Are you...
...the same as the others now?
Oh, you're 90 kilos now!
So you gained nine kilos in one week.
That means more than a kilo per day.
Pigs are amazing!
They say pigs gain a kilo per three kilos consumed.
The liquid feed seems to have worked.
What about his grade?
He won't quite make it to premium grade,
but medium grade should be a cinch.
They're almost ready for send-off.
We eat pork all the time...
Is it because I know him that I feel conflicted about it?
Can I eat him?
H-H-Hey!
You okay?
I just slid off. I'm fine!
Hachiken-kun, you should stop for the day.
What?
I can't let you ride a horse when you are lost in your thoughts
and are unable to focus.
It's dangerous,
and it's being rude to the horse.
Sorry.
Hachiken's kind of down.
Yeah, he is.
I wonder if something happened over the summer.
He was working at your place over the break, right?
Yes, he was.
Did something happen between you two?
Nothing at all.
Hachiken's such a wuss!
And you're so cold!
Huh?! What do you mean, Senpai?!
Good job!
You, too.
Aki, are you going to the festival this weekend?
Festival?
It's at Midorigaoka Park.
There will be a lot of stalls.
I'm not sure...
Good job.
You, too.
Hachiken, want to come to a festival, too?
Festival?
Yeah!
Let's go create a beautiful summer memory
despite our grey and dreary agricultural high school life!
A summer memory...
Lost
Deer (Dead)
Bear (Dead)
Bro
Spilt Milk
Wait, what?
Did I say something wrong?
Hachiken-kun, let's all go to the festival for a change of pace!
Okay?
Ooezo Summer Festival
Yeah!
What should I eat first?
Hachiken, you earned some money from working, right?
Buy me something!
What?!
Oh? Hachi, you rich now?
I can't!
I can't spend it here.
Why?
Cheapskate!
Boo!
Come on!
Didn't you guys work?
Of course!
I helped out a ton at home and got an allowance!
But I spent it all on fashion...
The way he spends money is unfortunate...
The Ezonoo brats are back this year!
They're still growing, and they're starving from work!
Damn beasts...
Just watch, we'll fill you all up!
You know the drill.
Our motto is, "leave no food uneaten."
Yeah!
Octopus dumplings, obliterated!
Sold Out
Yakisoba, obliterated!
Sold Out
Okonomiyaki, obliterated!
Sold Out
Targeted eradication of all the carbs!
No consideration for other customers, those Ezonoo demons!
Hey!
How dare you guys eat like that?!
Inada-senpai, from the food processing department!
Oh? Looks like Ezonoo has someone with a conscience.
Right on! Tell them to think of the other customers, too!
Don't just eat carbs!
Eat everything, but maintain a balanced diet!
Roger!
Yakitori, obliterated!
Apple candy, obliterated!
Curry, obliterated!
Chocolate-covered bananas, obliterated!
The food stalls are sure looking grim.
I'm glad I decided not to do food this year.
Here.
Yay!
Man... Everyone sure eats a ton.
Yeah, even though there will be dinner back at the dorm.
Feeling better?
You were kind of down,
so I thought you might feel better if you had something good to eat.
Thanks.
You're doing a lot for Pork Bowl, aren't you?
I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can.
But... for some reason, I'm even more hesitant than before.
Pork Bowl's a farm animal who's raised to be eaten.
I knew all that from the start.
But I'm still struggling to come to terms with it all,
and it's almost time to send him off.
It's kind of frustrating.
Oh, but I'm okay!
See? Today, I'm better now that you invited me to come out.
We have an announcement for everyone here.
We have a whole roasted pig in the middle of the park.
Please have a taste.
Awesome!
I know!
Maybe I won't be conflicted if I become a vegetarian!
Want a beef kebab?
Yum!
Right?
I can't become a vegetarian...
Oh, a whole roasted pig!
Sure smells awesome.
There's always room for that!
Hachiken, you're not gonna have any roasted pig?
Don't need.
What's with the long face?
How can I eat when I'm conflicted about Pork Bowl?
You're still conflicted?
You said you might figure something out if you took care of him.
I'm even more confused now...
What do you mean?
Well, he dug into the food and got all fat, but he'll get turned into meat.
Makes me wonder why he was even born.
Man, what to do?
You're the smartest one here!
Don't ask us!
He's still tied up in knots over that pig?
He should just change gears already.
He's just the type to take things seriously.
Then he'll have a tough time getting through this school.
Really?
He could just pretend to deal with it, to get himself through school.
But instead, he takes it seriously
and is honest about it with the people around him.
I noticed it during the pizza thing, too,
but when someone's serious about what he does,
people just naturally flock to him.
By having a foreign body like Hachiken
thrown into a lot full of indoctrinated sheep,
atypical discussions are taking place.
The flock evolves when they are joined by someone with different values.
The dairy science first-years are turning into an interesting lot.
There's an ice festival at this park in winter.
Yeah?
The ice sculptures are really beautiful.
Let's come again with everyone.
Good idea! Let's do that.
I'll come, too.
You'll get kicked out before winter.
Shut up!
Oh.
Bro?!
Hey, Yuugo, Mikage-chan!
What're you doing here?!
Helping out a stall. Food's free, too.
So Ezonoo students are here, huh?
No wonder I'm getting sent out to buy more food.
Why're you here...
I'm happy for you!
You seem to be having a great time with all your friends.
I'm working at the yakisoba stall over there.
Come eat.
I'll give you guys a small discount.
Whoa!
Really?!
Hachiken's brother is really generous!
I said small!
You guys aren't coming?
There won't be anything left!
Oh, no!
Nobody eat that!
We won!
We defeated Ezonoo!
Sorry, guys!
I think it takes a certain genius to make horrible yakisoba...
Aw, you flatter me.
Ooezo Agricultural High School Dormitory for Future Agriculture Managers
It's time for breakfast.
All students, please report to the dining hall.
Cafeteria
Oh, I smell curry!
We have great curry here.
Yeah, seriously.
Huh?
What?
No, nothing surprises me anymore.
Thanks for the food!
Yum!
Curry's got to be pork curry!
No, I prefer chicken.
Idiot, beef is best!
Nah, pork.
A lot of us prefer pork!
We use pork in our sukiyaki, too.
Man, I want pork.
Like a pork bowl!
Yum...
This story is a work of fiction. The people and groups are fictitious, but the themes relating to food and life are firmly based in reality. Visiting the places and facilities used as models can be dangerous and may result it contracting diseases from the animals. Please enjoy this story as a work of fiction.