Nezu Kuji
Suekichi, where's Kichi?
He went to ask Dad a huge favor.
Dad, you big jerk!
I'm leaving and never coming back!
School Babysitters
Kotaro, you can follow the ants if you want,
but don't leave the grounds by yourself.
Nii-chan.
What is it?
Kotaro! I can't walk when you pull me like that!
I'll follow you, I promise.
Did you find a cat or—
Nezu-kun?
Mousie.
I guess not...
But it sure looks like him.
Hey... Are you trapped there?
Don't worry. I'll pull you out now.
Give me your hands.
And if you need something here, I'll gladly hear you out.
N-No way!
I don't have anything to say to you, and I'm not going home.
So I'm fine staying here! Leave me alone!
Hit... Nii-chan...
Massive Shock
Kotaro, please. It's not the end of the world.
It didn't hurt at all.
But he really does look just like him...
Are you Nezu-kun's brother or something?
I see! Nice to meet you.
You know my brother, Chukichi?
Yeah, we go to the same school.
Did something happen at home?
You said you didn't need to come out...
If you don't want to talk, I can't make you.
I'm gonna keep doing my laundry over there.
If you want to come out, just call me.
Onii-chan, you're so rich that you live in a house like this,
but you do your own laundry?
Um, I guess the chairwoman is rich, yeah,
but we're basically just freeloaders here...
And anyway, even rich people do laundry,
I'm sure... or maybe... they don't?
Anyway... Kotaro, you wait here.
I should probably call Nezu-kun.
Nezu
No matches found
I don't have his number, though...
H-Hey, you...
Run away, quick!
Darn it... Hurry!
Hello there, Kotaro-kun.
You're looking plump and cu... so cute today.
Hey, cut that out!
Take your hands off that child right now, or I'll call the police!
Th-This isn't exactly police-worthy...
Oh, sorry.
I'm sure you want to smoosh his cheeks, too.
If you'll just wait your turn...
Don't act like we're the same!
Yagi-kun, have a tissue.
Thanks, Kashima.
Anyway, I didn't know you two were close.
I knew Yagi-kun's number,
so I called him, hoping I could get Nezu-kun's number.
But I never thought you'd come here with him!
I would never be close with someone like him!
I happened to run into her on the way, so I invited her.
Since I know Inomata-san loves little kids, just like I do.
I told you, I'm not like you!
That said, I do love little kids! Something wrong with that?!
I'm glad Inomata-san has a friend.
What were you thinking, calling a person like this to your house?
Just so we're clear, that's the only reason I'm here!
Oh, I see. You were worried about us...
Well, Nezu-kun seems to be at work,
so Yagi-kun said he'd come instead...
Work? But our school forbids taking part-time jobs.
He got permission.
The job is to earn money for his family.
He comes from a family of eight, with lots of brothers.
Still, he always manages to be #2 in his year.
I wonder when he has time to study...
Chukichi-niichan does his housework and his job
and studies hard to earn his scholarship!
He's really cool!
That really is impressive.
But Inomata-san, you're also amazing, being at the top of the class.
Shut up!
Studying is all I do. Of course I succeed at it!
I think it's pretty impressive, myself...
After all, I don't work, and I don't have any friends to hang out with!
Anyway... Are you Suekichi? Or Kichi?
You're in second grade, right? But you're still so little and cute...
Kichi! And I'm in third grade!
After all, Chukichi never lets me get close!
Darn it... It's not fair! Why'd you call a guy like this here when I can't move?!
S-Sorry...
Don't touch me! Nii-chan, Nii-chan!
That's quite enough.
Don't touch me!
You...
And you, too!
You claim you won't go home, but what's your reason for that?
Something so silly you won't talk about it?
It's true that your big brother is amazing.
It's incredible that he does all that, and he's still #2 at our school.
Yet you're here, barging into other people's properties and running away from home?
I-Inomata-san...
How spoiled do you have to be to run away from home and make trouble for everyone?
Hey...
I just thought... if I'd been born into a family like this...
I-I might get to have video games... so I just wanted to peek in!
Video games? You ran away from home because someone wouldn't buy you a game?
Inomata-san, wait just a minute.
I'm sure Kichi-kun has a reason he really wants that game.
That's right! Kids have their own things that are important to them!
Suekichi...
Another one...
It's that weird pervert.
You didn't do anything to Kichi, did you?
I just tousled his hair, that's all.
You jerk! I'm telling my brother on you!
Maybe games don't matter much to adults,
but Kichi's the only kid in his class who doesn't have that one!
He's been really patient about it all this time.
But then Kichi's best friend wouldn't shut up about how he just had to get it.
Even though he knows we're poor! He's such a huge jerk!
Y-Yu-kun isn't a jerk.
He's always inviting me everywhere.
I... I love my family...
I just hate being poor!
Kichi...
I see. Boy, that takes me back.
H-Hey! How can you be laughing at a time like this?
Even I have a better sense of the social graces than that!
Well, when we were in elementary school, there was a game that everyone was into.
I w-wouldn't know.
Chukichi was about the only one who didn't have that game.
Chu-kun, you can borrow mine.
And what do you think he said then?
I don't care. If I want it, I'll make it myself.
I don't want it right now.
M-Make it?
Amazing, huh?
The game? The system, too?
Yeah.
Can you make one right away?
I dunno.
After I learn how to make it, I'll need to get the parts,
so it might take a few years.
Once you make it, can I play it?
Well... I won't make it unless I decide I want it.
I know no one will buy stuff for me,
so I made up my mind that when I want something, I'll make it myself.
It had a huge impact on someone like me,
a kid who just had things bought whenever I wanted them.
That was the first time I ever thought someone else was really cool.
I can't make games.
Right.
But I think part of what makes your big brother so cool
is that he comes from a household where nothing is bought for him.
So it's not all bad, is it?
Chukichi-niichan is cool.
He's cool because he works so hard at everything.
Onii-chan, I'm ready to come out. Pull me.
Heave-ho!
You okay? Does it hurt anywhere?
I-I'm fine...
Thanks.
Why did I have to have you pull me out?!
Upsy-daisy!
Let me go!
Suekichi, let's go home.
Onee-chan, I'm gonna study how to make video games, like Nii-chan!
Y-You can't make video games just by studying them.
Nezu-kun!
I'm sorry my brother made trouble for you today, Kashima.
I know it isn't much, but please take it.
Inomata-san, too.
Hey, it was no problem. Are you sure about this?
Yes.
Why for me, too?
They seem to have taken to you.
N-Nii-chan, I'm sorry for worrying you.
It's okay, as long as you learned something.
Anyway, here.
It's the game you wanted.
D-Did you make it?
Tomoya, what did you tell them?
I just related some old stories.
I didn't make it.
I promised to take over shifts for a guy at my job, and he sold it to me cheap.
Suekichi told me the situation, and Dad gave me the money.
When we get home, you'd better say you're sorry and thank him.
Are you sure I can have it? I mean, you...
It's fine. I don't know what this idiot Tomoya's been telling you, but...
Ow!
Half of what I said back then was bluffing.
Take that and go have fun with your friends.
So, Chukichi, you really did want to play the game with m—
In exchange, you need to take over some of my chores at home.
And let Suekichi and the others borrow it, okay?
Okay!
I'm glad it worked out.
Manju.
Inomata-san, I appreciate what you did, too.
I-I didn't do anything!
Earlier today, I saw two rear ends growing from the hedge in front of the mansion.
It was a truly mysterious sight.
Give it back! Give it back! Give it back! Give it back!
Ryu-chan, you won't be coming here for lunch today?
Sorry, I really need to finish my 4th period chemistry report during lunch break.
Oh, Hebihara in chemistry?
He sure loves to waste students' break times.
Such a bully.
Usaida-san, if you don't like it, you should stop bullying people, too...
Anyway, I need to be going, but take care of things here.
See you later!
Good luck.
See you after class, Kotaro.
Well, it's a bit early, but let's have lunch—
Oh, boy. Look at this.
Ryu-chan forgot to take his lunch.
This big one is Ryu-chan's, right?
Sorry, I can't give it to you guys.
Well, I'm sure he'll notice and come for it soon enough.
And if he doesn't, maybe I'll eat it...
What, Kotaro-kun? What's with the sparkly eyes?
Oh, you want to take Ryu-chan his lunch?
I'll go, too!
Me, too!
Fine, fine.
Just eat your own lunches for now.
Let's eat!
Well, then...
Okay, go on. Deliver it to Ryu-chan.
I wrote Ryu-chan's name and class on this.
If you get lost, just ask someone.
Kashima Ryuichi
Here, put it around your neck.
Take care!
He was so happy about it.
But even if he's not leaving the school,
I'm a little worried about him going by himself...
Isn't that...
I expect he got full enjoyment out of his summer vacation with Yukari-chan...
And now he's eating a special lunch she prepared for him...
Okay, I need to stop brooding over this, and forget about h—
Hey, caught one!
Dumb! He's so dumb!
He's dumb!
Dumb...
Hey, who's this tiny little guy?
Whose kid is he?
Did he come from the daycare room?
Maybe we should call a teacher.
Yeah!
Hey, hold it, ladies!
Look at that lunch he's carrying so carefully.
Could this be...
His first errand?!
Hey, kid!
I'll lead you up the stairs!
Just don't give up!
What floor? What floor are you going to?
I'll happily carry you, even to the roof!
I go to Nii-chan by myself.
I'm sorry! I shouldn't have interfered!
He wants to do it himself!
He's given me the courage to face college entrance exams.
Okay, good luck, little errand boy!
No, no, no!
You gotta take him!
Also, how did I end up looking after a kid going on an errand?!
If you accept, I'll give you this picture.
Yeah, it was that damn sleepy guy.
But he told me to meddle as little as possible...
Freaking hell, I wanna meddle!
He just now made it up the first step?
It's dangerous, though, so put the lunch down!
Oh, it looks like I forgot my lunch.
And don't talk with your mouth full, Kamitani.
I can't understand you.
I definitely had it this morning.
It must be in the daycare room.
If I hurry back to get it, I can eat and do the report...
U-Um, Kashima-kun!
If you forgot your lunch, you can eat mine!
I'm on a diet right now!
Hey, that's okay.
Dieting isn't healthy.
But...
I'll just go get mine and—
That's right, Kashima! No worries!
You can have some of my lunch!
I won't let you eat Ushimaru-san's lunch all by yourself!
We're friends, aren't we?
A token of our friendship!
Better eat it all!
Whoa... Where'd all this come from?
Isn't it nice to have such caring classmates?
Kamitani...
Maybe I should have told Ryu-chan that Kotaro was bringing his lunch.
Ah, but Ryu-chan's so studious, he's probably turned his phone off.
In that case, whatever!
H-He finally made it up half of the stairs!
So he's all "share happiness, share happiness"...
Sorry! But what's a kid doing here?
Helper Mask
Here.
Don't worry. Nothing came out.
Here, it's safe now.
Okay, now I just walk away naturally, like an anonymous passer-by, and it's done.
Mask man, thank 'ou.
Oh, if I must!
I don't personally remember a time when I couldn't climb stairs easily...
There's a kid coming up here, so stick to the side!
But I probably never would have worked this hard at anything.
Fundamentals of Chemistry
All done!
I've got heartburn.
Did you finish, Kamitani?
I gave up.
Hey, Kashima!
This little guy is here to see you.
Kotaro?
What's wrong, Kotaro?
Nii-chan. Lunch.
Did you come to bring that for me?
All by yourself?
But a boxed lunch after all that... Kashima must already be full...
Shut your trap.
Just for a little while... Forgive me for lying.
Thank you, Kotaro.
I was just feeling really hungry.
You saved me.
I mean, I do feel this happy.
To not eat the lunch would be the real lie.
Let's eat our lunch together over there.
Kashima, you...
After you ate all that...
Let me call you Onii-chan!
Your stomach must be at its limit...
Don't kill yourself from overeating.
I'll give you a proper burial!
Well, Yuki, it looks like your real rival is that little brother.
Good luck!
No, no! I really am on a diet!
Kotaro, say "ahh."
Delicious, huh?
Great job on your first errand, Kotaro!
Good for him. What a great big brother.
Feel free to use this.
Oh, thanks.
Wait, who the hell are you?!
I was also quite moved.
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In the middle of the night, I suddenly realized...
There's a sticker I've never seen before on your back!