All sorts of people live on the banks of the Arakawa.
Of course there's the usual suspects.
And although the plot doesn't really involve them,
there are people who appear at the edge of the screen from time to time.
These people each have their own thoughts, their own lives.
Therefore...
Today we've narrowed the focus down to these three.
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 101 "Last Samurai"
Nino has a habit of sleepwalking up to my room.
It's gotten me a bit curious about something.
Nino, is there anything we can do about your bed head?
I guess if I turn the hose on it.
That's one gutsy case of bed head.
My morning fishing takes care of any styling I need.
Long hair must be tough to manage.
Would it be easier shorter?
Well... Oh, right!
If you having trouble with it, why not try it shorter?
Oh, that's right! Maybe I can have him take it all off!
Don't cut it!
Oh, Star.
You goddamn stalker!
Your timing's too convenient!
I just saw Nino go into some animal's den.
That's my job as her secret guardian knight!
I guess I should get a treatment, too.
Lately, the stress has been ruining my cuticles.
Where the hell did you wriggle in from!?
Let's all go to the salon together, then.
Sure!
Come on, Nino! Don't cut it!
What do two guys in masks need a haircut for, anyway?
You should come too, Ric.
Your hair's getting a bit long.
Yeah, it's making you twice as annoying.
No! I have a private beautician!
Let's all go.
I'm not going.
We're going together.
Noooo!
If you're talking about salons,
it must be—
Hey!
Welcome!
Hey, Last Samurai!
Nino just needs a treatment!
So he finally shows up...
And after I've tried so hard to avoid you for the last 12 Bridges!
Episode 102 "Haircut"
Looks like you've got a real crowd today.
Ooh, ooh, give me a cute cut again!
I've only got a pipe chair, I hope that's no problem.
I've been seeing him out of the corner of my eye,
but up until now I've tried my hardest to avoid actually meeting him...
I can't give up yet!
Even if we're in contact as a frisseur and his client...
You know, my humble self has been curious about you for a while.
It's almost impossible to believe that marvelous black hair isn't a wig.
Do you use blue—
No, do you use samurai blue?
Not at all.
He's even correcting things he's said to add samurai jokes!
Last Samurai, I'd like a cut.
I want my tips to be like young corn, and my bangs like a cherry tomato!
Of course, I want the whole cut to give the impression of a cucumber!
As you command!
At least he's gone away for now.
Hey, Ric, isn't this the first time you've met Last Samurai?
You're acting really shy.
Of course I am!
He's a frisseur with a freakin' topknot!
If I just tell him to make me look good, he'll give me one too!
What's wrong with you?
Hey, Last Samurai! This guy's afraid you're gonna give him a topknot!
Hey—
I shall do no such thing!
A topknot wouldn't even look good—
Wait, that's not what I meant!
Maybe it would work...
Shall we try it?
What, is he trying to make me worry!?
It's not like it's impossible.
Leave it a little shaggy...
I guess he isn't the kind of person to force topknots on people.
He's more normal than I expected.
M'lord Ric, are you nervous?
Yeah, a bit.
Then shall I try an impression?
An impression?
Here goes. Ryoma Sakamoto.
"My shoulders are stiff."
How's that?
He's using Ryoma's everyday life!?
Isn't that a bit anachronistic?
I get it, but come on.
Oh, a generation gap?
Anyway, shall we get started?
There's a lot of customers today, after all.
M'lord Sister's here as well.
Sorry to impose.
If Sister's here, nothing improper should—
All right.
I'll start on you now, Sister.
Okay, Ric, we should leave.
Yeah. hurry up!
Wait, how did you—
All right, Sister, how would you li—
Got you!
Sorry, I fidgeted again. It was by reflex.
M'lord Sister, it's dangerous to move like that.
How the hell did you dodge that!?
Episode 103 "Billy and Jacqueline"
There isn't a single normal person under this bridge, is there!
Hey, those two are... who, Billy and Jacqueline?
"I love you". It's "I love you".
She's teaching him to talk?
I guess he's supposed to be a parrot.
I suppose as long as he doesn't say anything he shouldn't, he might be the cutest—
Come on, Billy. "I love you."
Jeez, shut up.
I'm done living life by borrowing other people's words.
The "Billy" in my name is from "rockabilly".
But... But I'm scared...
Quit yer cryin'!
But, our forbidden love—!
Forbidden
Forbidden love!? That's too deep for under the bridge!
It's scary! What— What if—
What if my 30,000 larvae and 10,000 drones at the hive find out!
... Well.
You never talk about your feelings, either...
You could at least parrot me when I do!
Just say "I love you, Jacqueline"....
A man never lies.
If I just parroted you, I'd be lying.
Wait, it's not my place to say anything, but he's being way too distant.
"I love you"?
Don't make me laugh.
A beat-up old word like that ain't even gonna show 1/100 of my feelings.
You could add up all the men in your hive and they still wouldn't match what I feel.
Billy!
Shut up!
'Tis love.
It's beautiful.
Okay, I really don't want to get involved.
Episode 104 "Arakawa Dreamland"
That amusement park was fun!
We'll go back sometime.
Hey, you guys. Pay attention in class!
Amusement parks sound great.
I wanna go to one.
That's right, the Metal Brothers lived in a lab before they came to the riverbank.
Come on, don't get distracted by the amusement park. Do your work.
C'mon!
I'll take you to one tomorrow.
Ric!
It'll be a field trip.
You...
You're just taking us to the 'dreamland' of the laboratory!
We'll never leave the riverbank!
Which way do you want it!?
I wanna go to an amusement park!
We're leaving here over my dead body!
Fine, whatever!
I'll build an amusement park here!
Is that good enough?
Really?
You can do that?
I make the impossible possible!
Just hold on a week!
I'll build a great one!
Okay, first I'll have Takai handle the planning.
I'm done, Ko!
Mysterious Beauty Ko Land
Your dreamland awaits!
Sound Romance
~Room of Ko's Sighs~
I love you. I love you!
Pulse-pounding!
Freefall in Ko's lap
No, that won't work. I can already tell what'll happen.
Well, guess I've gotta do it myself.
What goes in an amusement park, anyway?
Amusement park, amusement park...
I've never been to an amusement park!
That's right...
Dad never took me anywhere to play...
That was fun!
Whatever! Even if I've never been to one, I'll use my skills and my enthusiasm to make something happen!
Three days later...
Hey, Ric.
What is it? Sorry, I'm busy, can you come back—
I've got a present for you.
C'mon in!
Full of
Fun
Kapachan Land
The Screamer
3D Theater
Merry-go-Round
Wait, is this—
I heard about the amusement park.
I'm impressed, Ric.
I never thought you'd be so thoughtful.
We all made an amusement park.
It's open now. You should take Stella and the kids.
Wait—
It's a teacher's job to lead his students.
C'mon, hurry up!
Honestly, this saved my bacon.
No matter what you say about the denizens of the Arakawa, they're nice guys.
Kapachan Land
Wow, all this in three days!?
Hey, you're late!
The dreamland has been waiting!
All right, meet Kapachan Land's #1 mascot!
Wow, there's even a mascot?
Over there!
This is a lot better than I—
Welcome.
I hope you go home today with your cheeks stuffed full of shiri-kodama!
Why are you wearing a suit over a suit!?
Stop it! Don't talk about the youkai inside the suit in front of the kids!
I'm just a squirrel that carries dreams, nuts, and shiri-kodama in the lump on his back!
Episode 105 "Attraction"
Hey, you two. Beat the crap out of him.
That's what boys are supposed to do to men in fursuits.
Really, Ric?
All right!
Man, I'm already having my doubts and we're only at the entrance.
Look, Ric!
Wow, that's impressive.
It's amazing!
Hello there, Stella. Would you like a ride?
Us too!
Ric, why don't you ride that white horse?
What, you want me to ride the merry-go-round?
It sounds kind of embarrassing, but...
Okay, just for a little bit.
This one's incredible. Splendidly realistic.
Even the finest details are—
Now, gallop!
It's real livestock!
I hope you don't mind me going over budget.
Don't smile so much when you say that!
Why did I let my guard down so much!?
This is an amusement park run by the denizens of the Arakawa!
3D Theater
The Kappa Strikes Back
A 3-D theater?
Be careful, kids! Relax for a moment, and—!
All right, Ric, here's your 3-D glasses.
Okay...
A 3-D theater. I guess that can't be too dangerous.
Oh, the cast is Nino and the guys!
Wow, it looks like it's really coming out of the screen!
The plot's a complete ripoff, but I feel like I'm really there.
The sound is overwhelming.
I'm amazed that they put together this serious of a 3-D—
Wow, it's like the bullets are really flying at us!
Amazing!
Sister looks so 3-D!
You there in the audience! It's dangerous to stand!
Is this supposed to be realistic!?
Realism is the selling point of a 3-D theater.
You have to sell the fantasy first!
What do you think an amusement park is supposed to be!?
Come on, when I was a kid we didn't have amusement parks.
All I had for fun back then was dad bringing me to rivers near human villages.
It really got me into shiri-kodama collecting.
That sounds great. My squad leader used to take me up to the front lines and...
I don't want to see that kind of blood splattered Sunset on Third Street.
What do you mean, 'eh'!?
Anyway, I can't bring kids to a defective amusement park like this!
We're leaving!
No way!
I want to play more!
Hey, Ric. You still have tickets left for The Screamer.
The Screamer
No matter how you look at it, that sounds the worst!
No it isn't.
It's not that bad, Ric. Plus, Sister spent a lot of time working on it.
I wanna ride!
Come on, Ric!
It'll be fine.
Quit being stingy and let the kids ride, Ric.
Well, I guess it was a lot of work putting a roller coaster up.
Fine, okay.
All right!
But you'd better be sure to put your seat belts on tight!
Okay!
On the other hand...
That's it!
Putting a roller coaster together in three days, just for the three of them...
I wanna go first!
Welcome.
All right, tighten your belt and your handcuffs.
It may hurt a little too,
but you'll definitely scream!
He's too scared to even talk!
It was an iron maiden coaster.
Episode 106 "An Unforgettable Parade"
None of them really understand amusement parks, do they.
Are they really happy with doing that?
Everywhere's an amusement park to them, I guess.
Ric.
Look what I got, Ric!
Mine's red!
Mine is blue!
That's nice. Did you have fun?
Huh?
What's this feeling?
Yeah!
It was great!
That was fun!
I see.
That's nice.
Drink.
Huh.
What is it, Ric?
I just remembered a day when I went out and played with my dad.
I don't know why I forgot something as unusual as that.
Tell me about that memory.
Well...
It was just on the roof of a department store, but just once...
Just once, Dad took me there.
After riding the merry-go-round, we sat on a bench, drinking a soda.
That sounds really happy.
Yeah.
Let's make more memories.
Together... And with everyone.
Ric! Look, the parade's starting!
Hurry up, Ric!
Okay!
I wonder when they'll reminisce about today?
I know I will sometime. This day I shared with Nino and everyone.
Wow, it's bright lighting yourself up.
We have to, the girls took all the light bulbs.
Remember it? I'll never get it out of my subconscious!
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 107 "Treasure"
The treasure's still safe.
No signs of intruders.
Episode 108
Sinking in a muddy flow.
Drifting in a stream.
My scattering emotions.
My somehow unsatisfying daily life.
Swept along, their edges wear off, they become smooth.
They become fragments like the pieces of a puzzle.
These lovely fragments.
These beautiful fragments.
I'm sure...
To you...
These fragments are what bind me.
Illustration: Hikaru Nakamura