Hurry up and move, I'm not your shade
Bow down, you terrible egoist
That habit must be hot, give me a break, I give up.
Know your place, you annoying cross-dressing creepy pedo.
Why don't you understand that you're just wasting your time? Oh my.
Your life is a lie, is a lie,
why won't you realize how you live is a lie?
Showing off your worthlessness, showing off your worthlessness,
Showing off your worthlessness, you're such a laughingstock
No, no, that's fine, don't apologize
Oh, my, my, what a dull man!
If you want to walk, to walk, to walk, you'd better stay half an inch off the ground
If your foot so much as falls on an ant, you're going to pay
Oh, but isn't it fine? Those terrified eyes, that sudden sensual chill...
It's just for you.
Episode 33 "Can't Hide his Feelings"
What's wrong, Sister!?
You're spraying blood!
Oh, Sister.
How much trouble are you going to cause me?
Maybe you should just get out of my sight.
Ric, we're leaving.
What, we're done already?
Didn't we come to buy eggs and milk?
Mission complete.
Is that all?
I thought we brought the wagon to carry something heavy.
Ric...
It's all up to you.
You're the heavy thing!?
Are you okay, Sister?
You look like you're in pain.
Even she shows some concern?
I'm so worried.
I'm leaving now.
So cute...
What happened there, Sister?
You seemed fine right up until the end.
No, I just don't change my expression.
I was trained not to in order to endure interrogation.
Don't be so blunt with your old stories.
But when I receive a harsh mental shock,
my old wounds from my time as a mercenary open back up.
Don't just tell me old stories one after another!
I guess I kind of understand where you're coming from,
but it's not like the stuff she said last was really that bad.
I wouldn't mind if she called me bo--
Sister, don't tell me you're in love with--
What's that, Sister?
Sister, did you just throw a hand grenade!?
Ric.
Sorry, but you should go on ahead.
Sister! What are you...!?
Sister...
Even if you're so embarrassed that you just want to crawl into a hole...
If there isn't already one, then just live with it!
Episode 34 "Hello in the Vegetable Garden"
After the cake ingredients comes getting some vegetables.
Sister said I could get veggies over here.
A vegetable patch!
Wow, I wonder who--
Hi there.
She doesn't look familiar.
She seems kind of shy, too.
I guess she's probably one of the people who live under the bridge.
Are you...
A ninja, too!?
Don't play dumb!
If you weren't, you'd have slipped on the entrance trap for sure!
On those bananas...
Apology: We sincerely apologize for using an anachronistic joke to illustrate Ric's confusion.
Sorry, but nowadays people don't even slip on these in comedies.
No way!
They're clearly just broken!
Broken?
Usually, as soon as I set foot on one...
What the--
A chain reaction!?
Are you okay!?
You just hit your--
Sorry! I was trying to dodge a stray cat, and my delivery soba--
Behold...
The power that banana peels have on us...
That's too cliched!
Episode 35 "I guess paprika's..."
The girl from the vegetable garden is the very picture of a klutz.
You're such a meanie.
Lying about how they were broken...
A reverse trap! This must be a reverse trap!
Wrong! There's no way I could think of that!
Huh, this voice..
P-ko?
Don't act all familiar with me, you swindler!
Sorry.
Nino! Listen, she--
Nino!
It's been so long.
Yeah, it's been a while. Did you just get back today?
Well, I thought they knew each other, but...
Oh, Ric. This is P-ko.
I'm so happy! It's been so long!
She grows all the vegetables under the bridge.
All of them!? Then this garden really is--
I leave during the winter to find new sprouts.
For some reason, it feels like you'd look good with a golden scarf and a harmonica.
Anyway, who is he, Nino? Someone from outside? I hate him.
He's my lover Ric.
Well, I'm used to not being welcomed.
This... Blighted eggplant of a man!?
Blighted eggplant?
Isn't that going a bit too far?
No, it's not.
A man like this is simply inappropriate for Nino, with hair like the silk of golden corn!
And that's more than enough flattery.
Aww, you shouldn't.
I don't understand what she's like normally, so I can't really get angry.
Oh well, if thats the way it is...
If Nino chose you, there has to be something tasty about you.
Here, as a sign of friendship.
Peppers are my specialty!
P-ko...
Sorry, I hate peppers.
Really?
They're too bitter.
And they're deceptively hollow compared to how they look.
You're such a meanie.
Why are you saying that in front of the peppers!?
It's not like the peppers want to be bitter or anything!
They're just fated to be that way from birth...
Sorry, you're right!
Even I like them chopped up and mixed with hamburger!
What am I even doing?
No... Not like that!
Everything about them...
A karate chop!?
Love it!
I guess paprika's...
Sorry! Sorry I missed, Nino!
I guess paprika will be fine somehow.
Destructively clumsy!
Episode 36 "For your sake"
Sorry Nino, sorry...
It'll be okay.
This is why I hate the people under the bridge.
But she's still a girl.
I have to play along.
Anyway, these are pretty impressive!
You don't normally see tomatoes this big!
What!?
Isn't it obvious? My veggies are the best in the world!
I see...
No matter which one, for each of these veggies...
For example, this tomato for Nino...
I take great care growing them, thinking of the smile on that person's face.
By the way, peppers are my favorite.
I've been growing them for myself,
but from today on I'm going to try to grow peppers you'll want to eat even if you hate them!
She looks like a pro when she says that.
I'm looking forward to it.
I get it. Everything in this garden is to match the taste of someone living under the bridge.
No wonder she has so many kinds...
Huh?
Aren't there a bit too many cucumbers?
What's she staring at?
It's something worth watering, isn't it?
I learned the meaning of the large amount of cucumbers and her gaze not long after that.
Episode 37 "Familia"
A sunny, breezy afternoon.
Today is Stella's welcoming party.
Wow, Sister!
Look at that figure.
You really are a pedo.
Sister, I love you!
Isn't it nice, Stella?
Yeah!
It's nice to see Stella smiling.
Yeah.
Somehow, I guess you could say that these people like parties.
All right, let's have a toast!
Cheers!
All right, now that we've had the toast, I have an announcement to make.
Stella's name seems like it was given to her by Sister, and he's one of us.
Thus, no changes to her name!
You sure!?
Yeah, it's fine. It fits her perfectly.
Plus,
I feel like being lazy.
I've had a few drinks, I want to frolic.
Are you sure that's okay!?
Wouldn't it be sad leaving her the only one without a name!?
Ric...
If you don't want to think of one, I will!
How about Lu Bu or Ma Chao?
We could even throw in Red Hare.
I'm not letting you give her such a manly name.
I thought I'd finally gotten lucky enough to see her surprised...
It's good enough, isn't it? After all, Sister came up with it.
It kept me up for three nights thinking about it.
I had a hard time choosing between the final candidates: Cobra, Hind, and Stella.
I don't get the idea of taking names from military helicopters.
Anyway, Stella it is.
Stella! Introduce yourself again!
Of course!
Pleased to meet you, everyone! I'm named Stella!
I've just moved to Japan and under the bridge, so there's still a lot I don't know,
but I'd like to learn a lot!
Stella's so cute...
Well, I guess looking at her like this...
I'd like to think of everyone under the bridge as my new familia!
I already think of you as a little sister, Stella.
She wants to be godfather!
Episode 38 "Leech"
Dig in, or it's gonna get cold!
Okay!
P-ko, your veggies look as good as ever.
It's more than just skin-deep.
Ooh, there's a whole cucumber corner!
Wow, this's great.
Ric.
Today's main dish is a fish I caught.
Really? Sounds tasty.
Ric, that's it.
All right, let's--
I've been fighting him for two years...
He didn't show up today.
My heart is weak,
so I cannot defeat him.
To fight and die!
I didn't want to know
about those memories.
The river will run wild tonight...
Go ahead, Ric, have as much as you want.
I think I like your usual catch better.
See? Tasty!
You can't say you hate it without even trying it.
Ric, are you going to eat Nino's fish?
You didn't even have any of my cookies at Mass.
Of course. I didn't want to owe you anything.
But Nino and I are lovers.
I can't turn down a favor from her.
No, fishing is my job.
I fish for everyone under the bridge.
It's your job!?
Now that I think of it, Ric, do you have a job?
A job?
Come on, Sister, you mustn't tease him like that.
Maria?
It's okay, Ric. Don't worry.
Leeches like you can just go on living apologizing in the dark corners of this world.
A leech, huh.
Maria, you're pretty harsh.
Well, without love she won't let you start leeching.
That's a wonderful way to think of it.
Really wonderful.
Hey, Ric, I have a question for you.
Is that maybe the face you make when you're pissed off?
Maria calling him a leech was the first thing that made Ric show his rage.
Episode 39 "Gonna kick your ass"
What do we do?
He's not moving.
He looks like some villain...
Fabulous.
Who's that?
The shadow of death...
I've studied leadership since birth.
To never rely on anyone else
I've started a number of businesses this year, and each has been absorbed by one of the Top 10.
Me, the next CEO of the world's number-1 conglomerate?
Where the hell's any leechin' in that?
Calm down, Ric! You're slipping into a Kansai accent!
Yeah, Ric. Don't let it get to you.
I do it because I want to.
You just do whatever you want.
Why are you talking to me like I leech off you!?
You're so lucky to have such a kind girlfriend.
What the hell's that supposed to mean!? I refuse to admit it!
Plus, it's not like Star or Whitey earn their keep either!
They don't do anything as we--
Welcome, Stella!
You're cute, but I like even hair better.
What's that picturesque scene?
How much better, you ask?
Star's a musician.
Whenever there's an event, he handles the music.
What, you didn't just make that up!?
I'm not sure what you mean by that.
What, Ric, does hearing my new single depress you?
I'm, exactly as you might expect, a star!
Yeah, that's gotta be a gag.
I can't refute him.
Look over here, you two!
The Iron Brothers run public baths using oil drums.
That guy over there is a stylist.
Bleaching is simply too rough!
Perhaps we could use this other product?
And she's an aesthetician.
Lately, you've had nice stiff shoulders.
When women do that, they look almost floral.
They pretty much all lend us their services for free.
There certainly are some unique looking people here.
They all do it because they want to, Ric.
They're not pushing themselves.
So next to them, it looks like I'm doing nothing!
Whoops.
Sorry, Ric. I was focusing on my food.
Whitey?
He's this age, has a wife and child, and he's immersed himself in nothing but white lines for six years...
And even he has a job!?
Impossible! Anyone but him!
But--!
Now that you mention it, what was Whitey's job?
Me?
I don't want to hear it!
Well, you see
I don't do anything. Just follow white lines.
Ric, you're just like me.
I always thought we were on the same wavelength.
I'm gonna kick your ass!
Huh? Why?
Episode 40 "Music Battle"
Ric. About our next major export.
I've decided on leeches.
Leeches?
Leeches.
Leeches are it.
Leech, leech, leech, leeeech...
Father? What's wrong, father?
Father!
Father!!
Father!!!
Father...!
A dream?
Why did I dream that?
Leech, leech, leech, leech, leeeech,
Leech, leech, leech, leech, leeeech!
You're nice and lively this morning, Star.
Up early today, Ric?
Thanks to you. I'm kicking you out.
Aww, I just thought of a good melody this morning.
I wanted to sing somewhere up high, so I came here.
A leech wouldn't know anything about that kind of refined emotion, though.
I guess you're right. He just has his cute girlfriend do everything for him.
Anyway, you're in my way. Will you move?
What, are you talking about Nino?
She absolutely won't be coming today.
Because it's my concert.
Here.
I guess I should invite you too.
A scheduled concert!?
You do this!?
Yeah! It's my life's work!
Nino comes every time.
Even though I have to go get her every time.
I guess... How shall I put it?
Girls are weak to musicians.
I guess there's just a profound difference in humanity between musicians and number-crunchers.
It's only a matter of time until she gives up on you, since all you have is your face.
Looks like he doesn't have the balls to put up a fight.
What does Nino see in him, anyway?
Hey, Star.
Men who play music really are impressive, aren't they.
That's why I'm perfect!
Comparing some idiot with a guitar to an elite with the profile of an artist...
It should be obvious which is more charming!
You don't have a shred of innocent charm.
Episode 41 "Wonderful Music"
I studied every kind of music in a gifted program.
To be honest, I can play the shamisen and the piano too.
So, you say men who play music are popular with the ladies.
No wonder I'm so popular!
I wonder what Nino will say when she sees me like this?
Sounds fun.
Then...
It's on!
That day, on the playground
We laughed without a reason
On my journey to pick up the pieces of my love
For some reason I'm always so lonely
I've got to get going, before the sky falls
Everything's in reverse, and I'm searching for you
Even though we're never going to arrive
Standing under the bridge, borne on the waves
We'll always be looking for an answer
Episode 42 "Arakawa Gag Contest"
Here's a pun.
I ran the love letter through the shredder!
Sorry
Nino, if you punch men in the gut, they'll just roll over for you.
First, like this.
Like this?
A punch right in the solar plexus.
Punch!
Next time, 6 Bridge.
6 Bridge!
That's great! Right in the stomach!
Illustration: Jiro Suzuki