Just once, long ago, my father came to Parents' Day.
Dreams
Ko
would like to be like my father
Dreams, by Ko Ichinomiya.
In the future, I would like to become a powerful man like my father.
We had been assigned to write an essay about our dreams for the future.
For once, I was able to write like a normal student.
I ask you to lend me your great strength for just a little longer!
When we've succeeded, I will then be able to join my father, Zeon!
I ask you to lend me your great strength for just a little longer!
When we've succeeded, I will then be able to join my father, Zeon!
I ask you to lend me your great strength for just a little longer!
When we've succeeded, I will then be able to join my father, Zeon!
I ask you to lend me your great strength for just a little longer!
When we've succeeded, I will then be able to join my father, Zeon!
I ask you to lend me your great strength for just a little longer!
Essay
On the drive home, Dad said:
There's no way that you can understand the kind of person I am.
You can't discern anything about so deep of a topic.
Do it over.
Thinking back on it now,
that day,
I didn't even want to talk about my dreams.
No.
That's why,
for probably the first and the last time,
I showed my father a little resistance.
I probably could still find that essay, if I looked.
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 62 "Lie"
In Ric's familiar room, two unfamiliar figures appear.
Employees of a company Ric manages outside the bridge.
His secretary Takai, and Takai's assistant Shimazaki.
Kou.
When I spotted you from the bridge yesterday, I had wondered what exactly you were doing,
but I had no idea that this was going on!
Why couldn't you have told us what was occuring sooner?
Please, find some way for us to help too!
With this...
This business of using the Arakawa to generate more power than even a nuclear plant could provide!
Ric told his secretary a big lie.
So you want us to pretend to be employees so it really looks like you've started a business.
Yeah. You guys look nice and normal.
At least, the closest to normal.
Still, starting a company under the bridge?
How do you plan on getting them to buy that?
It doesn't matter! I just can't let them find out the real reason I'm here.
You don't ask people to do things all that often.
I'm not just asking favors.
Of course, you'll get to keep the designer suit.
Oh my, Ric.
Do you really think I went along with this for just one suit?
How rude.
Did you just expect that I'd agree?
But it's a Dol & Gabba!
It cost around three million yen!
Come on.
You could offer me dozens of suits, and it still wouldn't be enough.
Anyway, maybe if you showed me that there really was no one lower than you?
Me
Carnivores
Me
Carnivores
Herbivores
Carnivores
Herbivores
Plants
Microbes
Recruit
Let me teach you just how that's supposed to look.
The President is late.
I can't wait. Let's go see what's happening.
When we met with him yesterday, I was amazed that he'd set up a business in a place like this.
But what's even more amazing is Ko's charisma that draws people to him no matter where he is!
Thriving business
He must truly have been born to higher station...
I told you, not like that!
Get your face right down in the dirt!
Tell he how much you'd rather be a worm!
I'd rather be a—
Ko?
I was just showing them how to really seal a deal!
That one made me sweat.
Episode 63 "Employees Under the Bridge"
I thought I told you to wait...
I'm sorry, sir.
Anyway, these are your staff?
She's Maria.
I hope they click!
Oh, what a nice suit!
Maria!
It fits you so well!
What great fashion sense!
Really?
To be honest, I'm kind of a connoisseur of suits my—
Hold still.
Don't move the mirror.
Mirr...?
Next! Next!
Pleased to meet you. I'm Franz.
A foreigner, I see.
Okay, Sister should do it.
He's a linguist.
He can speak six languages.
How rude of me, I almost didn't give you my business card.
What are you doing!?
No, what are you doing!?
Put that crazy lighter away!
It's a lighter?
Oh, it's just paper?
Of course it is!
Anyway, why don't you give me an example of a project you've worked on?
Dammit, Takai, you always ask the awkward questions...
An example?
But there's been so many...
Great dodge.
Plus, war...
War never changes.
War...?
That's enough from you!
They all have such... Personality.
That's how it works nowadays!
I'm screwed...
There's no way he's going to go along with things like this...
Ko.
Who's this last person?
That's right! I still have Whitey!
Me?
No, never mind!
Stay away!
But why, Ko?
He seems a fine humble man.
Introduce him.
No, really, it's fine!
I can't sweep anything else under the rug!
If Whitey says something about "following the white lines" or a "White Cornish"...
President...
That's enough! You can leave now!
Very well. I apologize for interrupting.
If you're that dissatisfied with him, perhaps you'd consider transferring him to the main office?
Seriously!?
Whitey, parentheses real name Toru Shirai, was formerly a salaryman at a major corporation.
Episode 64 "Secretary"
I'm glad to see he at least has someone like you!
Don't even mention it.
At least that looks like it belongs in an office.
Thanks, Whitey!
Anyway, enough talk about the business.
Let's move on, and discuss what's been happening at the main office between the three of us.
Hey guys, what's up!?
This looks like fun!
Yeah!
Let us join in!
Just the people I absolutely didn't want to meet.
Please, introduce them.
Yo! Who's the baldy?
I'm the ma—
Cute, isn't he?
He's our mascot.
Kappower.
Oh, so that's why he's wearing a costume.
What? I'm not wearing anyth—
Attitude sure is popular with the kids nowadays.
And who's the young lady?
This is Nino, Nino, uhh, Ms. Niino!
Yeah, Ms. Niino, my secretary!
A secretary?
So the same as me. then.
Play along, okay?
So you're Ms. Niino?
This is just my own worry speaking,
but the role of secretary is a vital and demanding task.
It requires a firm sense of responsibility, a much endurance, and great care.
And most importantly, the willingness to devote your body and soul to Ko!
Ms. Nino, have you—
Women with short hair are the best.
Perhaps I should try cutting my hair short for you, Star?
Are you even listening!?
Sorry, Takai!
What!?
What's up?
I was asking whether you're prepared to swear loyalty to Ko!
Nope.
What!?
Ko, why do you have someone like this—
Nino!
Come on, just pretend you're my secretary until he goes away!
I don't want to.
Nino!
I don't care about the circumstances, I'm your lover!
Ni—
Lover?
Um, that's nice and everything, but for now...
I don't want to!
Don't worry, President.
I'm sure Mr. Takai won't have any problems with you having a lover.
Lover?
Mr. Takai?
Lover?
Someone more important to you than me!?
It's not like that, Takai!
This is—!
You haven't come to the office at all lately, and—
I'm so jealous!
What? What?
He freaked even the bridge-dwellers out.
Episode 65 "A deep relationship"
Honeyclean
Two toothbrushes, lined up cozily by the window.
That smells great.
Earl Grey today?
Matching monogrammed teacups.
Such a luxurious breakfast.
Your cooking really is the best.
Four days after my two secretaries came to check things under the bridge out...
Anyway, about how long are you going to—
Oh no, Ko!
You've got a grain of rice on your cheek.
Thanks, Takai.
No need to thank me.
Takai, and only Takai, was still at my place.
I didn't think they were so close that they could live together.
It's more than that, Nino.
I think they're more than just friends.
I think they're butt buddies!
Butt buddies? That sounds pleasant.
Yeah, Nino! Let's try calling Ric Fa*!
Oh, is this a new nickname for him instead of Leech?
Hey, I'm coming in, Ric, uh, Fa—
What are you doing? Hold on a second!
No way!
Reciprocal cavity checks are a morning tradition at the Ichinomiya household.
Episode 66 "My First..."
All right, no cavities.
Pearly white teeth are vital for the elite.
Cavities!?
Are you okay?
Oh, Nino, you were there?
Yes, always.
Cavity Check Notebook
Why don't I check you for cavities, too?
Ko, that's a secret to be shown only to employees.
Cavity Check Notebook
Oh, right.
Plus. since Ms. Niino and you are lovers, in terms of things you'd do in the morning...
Isn't a kiss more normal?
What are you doing, just coming out and saying that in front of Nino!?
Yeah, Baldy! What the hell are you talking about!?
Did I say something strange?
Nino didn't even know about dates until just now!
What's a date? Sounds ominous.
See! She's already completely forgotten!
Anyway, there's no way I could do that to Nino!
Like I'd even let you!
It's just as I feared.
What's wrong?
Nothing. Don't worry about it,.
He'd distracted me up until now, but taking a close look,
this is more "playing house" than "love". .
Ko is a genius in the business world,
Anne of Avonlea
but in matters of love he's on a middle-school level.
And then Ms. Niino is practically a grade schooler.
There's no way they're... active.
So...
There's something wrong here, Ko!
You can't call yourselves lovers acting like that!
This is how I can split them up!
That's...
That's exactly right!
What, Star!?
If you two were really lovers, you'd be trying to make out all the time!
If you can't even kiss each other once, oh man, I'll be honest.
You're not in love at all!
Great job, Baldy. I see where you're going with this.
I know Ko. No matter how hard we press him, there's no way he'll kiss her.
Plus, this situation totally proves they're not a couple!
Why do I have to kiss her in front of you guys?
Because you're lovers?
That's strange.
I'd think that, if you were lovers, you'd—
We're lovers!
Ric...
Nino, we can talk about it later!
Hey.
I'm in the middle of a serious conversation right—
How do kisses work, anyway?
As a greeting between lovers?
Ric, age 21, had his first kiss.
Episode 67 "Alone"
Come on, Ric, that's enough.
What, are you hungry now?
Want a dragonfly or something?
Ko...
You're making a very funny face.
Really?
He's normally like this.
I see.
I first began to serve Ko ten years ago...
You must be tired from so much overtime. Sign this and leave it for me tomorrow. — Yoko
I had just divorced my wife.
She'd finally run out of love for me and my inability to think of anything but work.
I was worn down and withered like a dead tree.
And then...
You're lucky, Takai.
Marriage is a foolish contract.
You're lucky you were able to dissolve it.
From now on, you can live for yourself.
People are strongest alone.
Just as he said, Ko was always alone both at home and school.
As I read his emailed instructions which poured in without a break,
to me he became...
Ko.
Huh? Wh, what!?
You're going all wobbly and wibbly!
Put simply, you're making a funny face.
What do you mean "hahaha"? What's so fun—
What a funny face!
Takai?
You're crying.
Ms. Niino.
Please don't ever leave his side.
Of course. We're lovers.
What's this, all of a sudden?
I'll be taking my leave now.
What, you're going back?
I thought I could save Ko from his loneliness.
I thought I could become like a father to him.
But I can't beat motherly love.
That's...
Just looking at him makes it obvious how he feels about Nino.
Star. Cheer u—
I'm a starfish.
Star! Get a hold of yourse—
I...
I'm a starfish!
Star!
That day, a traumatized species of marine life was born.
Episode 68 "Bluebird"
It seems like the man from Ric's company have gone home.
Yeah.
I'd heard he seemed kind of depressed for some reason.
Huh, I just remembered...
Man, this sucks.
Can't do a thing about it, though.
What if you get pregnant!?
Oh man, I hope you're not pregnant!
He seems pretty energetic, though.
Yup.
Did he eat something funny?
Dunno.
He's been like that since we kissed.
Just from a kiss?
He's weird.
Really?
You too.
I was amazed when you said you'd found a lover.
Really?
Yeah.
In order to compose myself,
for the week before I met Ric I kept him under 24-hour surveillance to prepare myself.
If he had made even one false move, I'd planned on letting my finger slip on the trigger.
Between the eyes?
Of course not. Just in the right leg.
If he were the kind of man to hurt you, I don't think the Mayor would have even given him a name.
He's a bit of an egoist,
but that keeps him on the straight and narrow.
And it brings a smile to your face.
On the other hand, this is the first time I've seen him quite that excited.
Shall we leave him alone for now?
Yeah.
I feel like I can fly!
I can be a bird!
Bluebird!
Yes, a bird.
A bird for two seconds.
The current's too strong! Save me!
That's too bad, Ric.
Maybe you weren't flapping hard enough?
Like your beak, for example.
I don't need that kind of advice!
That's all for the presentation.
We're going to continue secret observation.
Good work, Shimazaki.
I told him so many times not to rely on anyone, not to believe in anyone.
I didn't know how far he'd fallen, but...
I won't let him drag my family name, Ichinomiya, through the mud.
Still...
By the way, Shimazaki.
The other secretary. Takai, was it? What's he doing now?
He's preparing the documents.
I see. I've heard he's a very useful man.
Look at this.
It's Takai.
He's been like this lately.
Shimazaki.
He's still been getting his work done, but basically, he's spent all his time alone—
Shimazaki!
Yes?
You don't need to show me any more pictures of him. Ever.
Papa is a father too.
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 69 "Arakawa Gag Contest"
What's that?
Looks like a pickled radish.
It's gotta be rotten by now.
I'm a starfish!
A starfish!
It's finally done!
What a marvelous house!
Wrong, it's a lime kiln! A dream dome where we can make white powder whenever we want!
You know, I've been wondering for a while. Where does Whitey live?
Right by it, see?
Next time, 9 Bridge.
I knew it!
Illustration: Renjuro Kindaichi