First, we are born in the same galaxy.
Born of the same species.
Our lifetimes overlap.
The meetings between humans are so unlikely as to be miraculous.
To laugh, to cry,
and to fall in love...
Everyone is made up of a collection of 1 percent chances.
Thus, I'm dazzled by the fact that there are so many such miracles in this world.
A princess in clown's lipstick kisses you awake from your nap
You dreamers' tickets to your meeting are for a false VIP air force
I don't have time, what time is it? Class starts in five minutes
Don't rush, this is important, I meet you in five minutes
Venus is my neighbor, so why did it sneak up on me
Jesus is sitting right across from me, what do I do?
Here comes his attack, pretending he didn't hear my 'bye-bye'
He shows his shock, this is like a living hell
A wakeup kick for a greeting, my bare feet are always cut up
If you toss the chips in your hand at that girl, you may just sweep her off her feet in three winks
I don't hate you, I just don't like you, I don't know what I'm feeling
Don't wait, this is just a lull, I disappear with you in five minutes
Venus, she's always so lonely, don't look away
Jesus, if you're across from me, please listen
Episode 43 "Ah, what wonderful music"
So, which one of us is more charming to Nino, you or me?
We're gonna find out for sure right here, right now, on this stage.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Wow, Ric plays the violin?
What's he doing with a ribbon around his neck?
Is that okay?
He's the very picture of an artiste.
All right, we'll take turns with one song solos.
The victor will be determined by...
Nino's expression!
It's a battle of who Nino enjoys more!
I'll go first!
This isn't even a fair fight.
Even if all the girls in the world have even haircuts,
your even hair is the most wonderful!
This is my stage, my castle!
My audience!
I'm completely sure they'll love my set list.
And naturally, it's a song Nino loves too!
I love you!
Thank you! And I'll make you so happy!
All right, go ahead, Maestro Ric.
Or are you just gonna forfeit after seeing that?
If you bow down and apologize now, I'll-
How kind.
Even if you were to finally bow down to me,
there's no way I'd forgive you!
What!?
He- He's great!
I thought he was just a hobbyist, but-
The question is Nino's expression, though!
Look at that, Ric!
The poor girl's so bored she fell asleep.
Victory is-
Wrong.
People close their eyes like that when they focus on wonderful music.
Have you ever seen a face so relaxed?
Cute!
Was that a scream?
Episode 44 "Last Song"
I win.
Speaking of which, you're in charge of handling music under the bridge, right?
Wouldn't it be better if I did that?
Or maybe you can give up on Nino.
Isn't it a bit selfish not having a penalty when you lose?
I think you should give up on Nino.
After all, if I take your job,
you'll be nothing but an unemployed leech.
Total victory...
This should quiet him down.
Crack.
Crack?
Leech, leech leech leech leech!
He's completely snapped!?
Leech, leech leech leech leech!
How pitiful...
It's not like that bothers me anymore.
Ric, that's-
Just the howling of a loser.
"The Howling of a Loser"...
Yeah, that's it!
I see.
So there's no second verse?
To that song!
Star's new song "The Howling of a Loser" became popular on the riverbank half a year later.
Episode 45 "You splash my back, I'll splash yours"
I'm looking for work now.
Success in business goes to those able to discern the best-selling product for the market.
And the best-equipped to see this and bring the product to market are the Ichinomiyas.
I get it, father.
But even you wouldn't be able to easily figure out what will sell best under this bridge!
You wouldn't be able to think of a thing, dad!
Ric?
What are you doing there?
Nino?
What, er, um...
Nino, your swimsuit really is... that ...
Is there a problem with that?
No, not at all.
Anyway...
You guys!
So you really are little kids inside!
Anyway, get off of her!
No way! Why are you telling us that, Leechbro?
Leech...
Leechbro, you're a meanie!
Wrong! I'm not a leech!
Now get away from Nino!
We can't! We can't swim!
If we let go, we'll drown!
If you don't try, you'll never learn to swim.
Come on!
Nino, you're teaching them to swim?
Yeah.
I keep showing them how, but they won't try it for themselves...
All right, I'll show you how again.
Nino's unexpectedly helpful.
And teaching by example is really like her.
All right, this is...
Step 1!
You two!
What should...?
And... this is step 2.
Nino...
In this world, there are things you have to explain with words!
I don't get it!
Episode 46 "Ric's Teachings"
So, what have you two learned from Nino so far?
Well, um...
The feelings of the fish...
The heart of the water...
... I see.
So, Nino, when are you going to teach them the flutter kick and when to breathe?
When to breathe?
If you can't breathe, it's fine if you don't, right?
You two.
For today, I'd like you to forget everything Nino just taught you.
Why!?
I don't get it, Ric!
No, it's your body thats impossible to get!
So we're never gonna be able to swim?
C'mon, don't cry.
I'll teach you the basics.
Really?
As long as you can float, that's a start.
Give me your hands.
Now let your legs loose. You'll float.
I'm really floating!
Wow!
All right, now I'll let go of your hands.
You may sink for a moment, but just relax.
Okay!
You guys...
If you want to swim, you have to take off those masks!
Episode 47 "Chance"
Humans being able to swim is a lie!
It's because you're wearing those things!
You can't swim because you're hiding yourselves under those inhuman things!
Come on, take it off!
No way! The guys from the lab will find out that we're here!
Plus, we already knew how to swim without them on!
In fact, if we take our masks off, we can fly!
We can even surpass time and space!
The problem is that we can't anymore!
What's wrong, Ric?
Oh, nothing.
I didn't hear a thing.
I told you, if we take off our masks we have superpowers!
If you say that again, I'll kill you.
Anyway, if you don't want to take the masks off no matter what...
Then you need to use something.
Here.
What's that?
Styrofoam box lids I got from P-ko.
You can use them as kickboards.
Kickboards?
Take those and get in the river.
We're really floating!
Now just do a flutter kick.
This is great!
It's great!
That took way to long.
If I don't find a job soon...
Ric.
Good job.
Wh-what!?
You said you were looking for work, right?
It's great. You taught the Brothers how to swim.
This isn't work at all!
Work is tougher! It takes a lot more effort!
Huh?
Was teaching them to swim actually...fun?
No way
Impossible.
N
No
No w
No wa
No way
N
No
No w
Ric... You're good at teaching people.
You've taught me so much.
That's-
It's true!
Thanks, Ric!
We thought we'd never be able to swim!
You guys...
Hey, maybe the next thing you can teach us is how to transcend time even with our masks on!
We can do it if we just have the right item, right?
I'm looking forward to it!
How about you show me a cat-shaped robot for that one?
I hate talking with those two!
Episode 48 "Polypropylene"
So they really do run the baths.
Leech, leech, leech leech leech leech!
Leech leech leech-oh, it's Leechbro!
Leechbro!
You guys are really persistent.
Did you come to take a bath?
If you don't mind sharing, we can get you right in.
Who would bathe in an oil drum twice?
Plus, you say, sharing, but there's no one in-
Baths are great, aren't they?
Ric encountered a bathing kappa.
Don't wear that thing in the bath!
What? I'm just as naked as I was when I was born.
You're wasting your breath.
If there's something you want to say, why don't you-
What? You've got a cold even though you're bathing?
Yeah, you can tell?
My color may be bad, but I was born that way.
Even if you mix it with a joke, I won't accept it.
Anyway, you can get colds even though you're one of those ?
You don't need to beat around the bush.
Even though I'm a youkai, when it happens it happens.
The human world is especially full of bacteria we have no resistance to.
Red List
Threatened
Sometimes I think I should petition the government for protection as an endangered species.
Critically Endangered
Kappa family
Kappa genus
Or something! Maybe that's a bit to optimistic.
Then again, that's just proof that I'm a threatened species!
Yeah, you really are one of those .
Those
Idiots
No, you really don't have to hide it.
Those
Youkai
You know, the kind of those that should really be pretty obvious right about now.
Those
Total morons
That's it.
Anyway, why don't you take some medicine before it gets worse?
Sure, of course I will.
After all, I have the secret panacea of the kappas.
Secret?
Yeah.
That sounds kind of shady.
It's not shady at all.
I can show you exactly how it's made.
Maybe you want to give it a try?
Made by me.
Decoction of live kappa.
Ahh, I can feel it soak in.
This unique fragrance, like a brand-new vinyl umbrella, again...
It smelled like polypropylene or something to me.
Episode 49 "Hint"
Why's he sneezing like this?
Are you o-
What, are you two coming down with colds too?
Huh?
Honestly!
Now that I think of it, Star sounded really nasal yesterday too.
Him too?
Aren't you the only one that's healthy?
Does this mean that leeches don't catch colds?
The elite don't catch colds.
Every time I get back inside, I gargle all the way up to my sinuses,
take some nutritional supplements,
and make sure I sleep a multiple of 90 minutes.
Camelhair underwear
And I make sure not to get chilly!
Camelhair underwear
Underwear on!
I have no intention of losing to germs!
Wow, you always try your hardest, Ric.
Bro, I'm worried. You should take some fever medicine.
You can't do that.
Your lymphocytes fight the virus. If they can't get hot, they can't fight.
Lymphocytes?
In order to not impede the circulation of your lymphocytes,
you need to drink plenty of water, stay warm, and get some sleep.
So I should go sleep?
That's no good either.
When your body gets tired, it cools itself down.
Sudden changes in body temperature are bad for you.
You should wait two hours before you sleep.
Do you understand?
Uh...
Understood.
You must be amazed at the depth of my knowledge,
but the body is your greatest asset!
Well, that's my reasoning as an elite!
I'd call you a hypochondriac old lady.
Still, that's amazing!
Hey, Ric!
If you know that much, you should be a teacher rather than a leech!
Don't say that.
He's free to be a leech if he wants.
Right?
I see...
I told you, I'm not a leech!
Well, you've got plenty of free time.
Why don't you set up a school?
Come on, I don't have free time!
Plus, I hate having to deal with kids!
Really?
But your teaching style is really easy to follow.
Nino kind of said the same thing...
Thanks...
Wow, it's cold. I can't stay out here like this.
All right let's take his advice and go home.
Sure!
I guess that's a good idea.
Oh, you two. Take this, okay?
It's half-boiled kappa juice.
It's the best for colds.
This should do it in one dose!
It's best fresh-brewed!
You...
You didn't listen to me at all!
They got better later.
Episode 50 "Work Selection"
He recommended that I should be a teacher,
but they're not listening to a thing I say.
What good is a school to them when they don't have a shred of common sense?
Wait...
It's true that there's no point in telling them anything now...
But if I carefully instill a little bit of sense into them...
Star with common sense.
Ric! I wrote a song for you!
A man among men, an elite among elites!
I may be a star, but I'm the one that has to look away!
That's Recruit!
Sister with common sense.
It seems I've been wearing and carrying around the wrong things until now.
From now on, maybe I'll fight Dracula or something.
Whitey with common sense!
Men may not be able to turn into chickens,
but a couple that doesn't see each other for six years may be completely different people!
I'm going to see my wife!
And, common sense for-
A Venusian?
Sorry, I stopped watching Star Wars at episode 1.
Mayor!
What is it, Ric?
About what you were saying before.
I think I will be a teacher.
Really? Do your best.
It'll be fun!
First, the children...
The Brothers are nice and pliable, I'll beat some sense into them first.
UFOs are communications satellites!
Next, the adults!
Fireballs are plasma!
Excellent!
This is how I'll wring every last scrap of lack of common sense out from under this bridge!
Huh?
It feels like I'm overlooking something important with this plan...
What could it be?
Mama, why do those people live here?
Don't bother them!
But why?
Let's just get going!
Oh well!
Common sense can seize up just like that.
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 51 "Arakawa Gag Contest"
Magic: Floating midair!
Sorry
Lame
I'll sing a song!
It's called-
Someone! Help me!
Help me!
Mayor...
The kappa to float away.
There it is! The mayor's schtick!
It's really him .
That's great! One more! One more!
Leech, leech leech leech paper scissors!!
What are you doing?
It's leech-paper-scissors!
The loser leeches off the winner for life!
That's too serious to decide with rock-paper-scissors!
Next time, 7 Bridge!
Illustration: okama