I'll be the one
I guess you were lost when I met you
Still there were tears in your eyes
So out of trust and I knew
No more than mysteries and lies
There you were, wild and free
Reachin' out like you needed me
A helping hand to make it right
I am holding you all through the night
I'll be the one. I'll be the one
Who will make all your sorrows undone
I'll be the light. I'll be the light
When you feel like there's nowhere to run
I'll be the one
I'll be the light
Where you can run
To make it alright
HANADA JIRO
I'm Hanada Ichiro.
A man with nine stitches at the age of nine.
Move it.
That hurts! What the hell are you doing, Fugly?!
I'm combing my hair and you're in the way.
You don't have hair, so it's not like you need a mirror, right?
And either way, the spot in front of the mirror is always a lady's territory.
Remember that.
What's a lady?
A lady is what you call an elegant woman or a beautiful girl.
You don't even know that?
You really are a complete idiot.
I'm going to bestow upon you the judgment of the heavens-
Ichiro-chan!
Oh, it's just you, Gran'ma Yoshikawa...
If you appear suddenly like that, it'll scare people
Have you had breakfast already?
Isn't it too early to be visiting people's homes?
I think so too, but I wanted to ask you about Chiro's-
It really is not my fault that chiro died!
Shut up. What are you talking about?
Gran'ma Yoshikawa's come over to scold me about Chiro.
No, Ichiro-chan. That's not it.
There's no one there.
Huh?
I can't keep up with your stupidity.
G-Gran'ma Yoshikawa, could it be that you're...
It's embarrassing.
Well, I was quite old so... I kinda just...
Huh?! You kinda just died?!
Ichiro! You shouldn't even say such things as a joke!
But she really died and is here as a ghost!
You said it again! I'm gonna tell Mom on you.
Whatcha gonna do about this? She's gonna tattle to Mom now.
Stop coming to me just 'cause you died.
Actually, I came here to leave Chiro's pup to you.
That little one is going to be all alone now, so could you please look after him?
What are you talking about?
I can't even look after myself.
How could I possibly look after something that small?
Is there no way I can change your mind?
Don't ask a child to take care of another child.
Is there really...
no way you'll change your mind?
Ichiro!
Mom!
Don't "Mom" me.
Why are you doing stupid things so early in the morning?!
Geez. There're things you really should never say.
Yeah. This is no laughing matter, Ichiro.
Gran'ma Yoshikawa could really die at any moment.
I'm not kidding. She really died.
Ichiro said it again!
And she's become a ghost and come to ask me to take care of Chiro's kid.
Come where?
She's right next to you, Gran'pa.
Ichiro!
Did you see the serious look on Gran'pa's face just now?
Geez. Gran'pa, you take these things too seriously.
Gran'pa's arm is full of goosebumps!
It's proof that his skin is still alive, huh?
Hanada-san! Hanada-san!
Coming!
Coming, coming.
Hanada-san! Actually...
Gran'ma Yoshikawa passed away?
I-Is that for real?
See?
Did you really see it? Gran'ma Yoshikawa's ghost?
Yeah, I did.
Liar!
I'm not lying!
You're lying! Tell me that it's a lie!
That hurts! Stop that!
Good morning. What's wrong, Hanada?
Y... Yamazaki-sensei...
A sibling fight so early in the morning?
Ah... G-Good morning.
How dare you do that to me, dammit!
Hey there. Fighting is fine, but keep it in limits.
Ouch.
How dare you make me show an embarrassing
face in front of Yamazaki-sensei!
Your face is always an embarrassment.
I want to die.
Don't you dare die!
Geez, everyone comes to me after they're dead to make me do things for them...
but it won't work that way!
But it was a peaceful death, she was 88 years old...
She was found this morning by the group of...
old buddies she usually went weed-pulling with.
Gran'ma lived all alone.
While she seems to have some distant relatives,
her only real family is that little one her dog Chiro left behind.
I wonder what'll happen to the little one...
It would be nice if someone took him in...
Say, what do you think?
Huh?
About what Ichiro was saying...
That has to be a coincidence.
A lie that turned into the truth, I guess...
Gran'ma, isn't it your funeral today?
Is it okay to be in a place like this when they're having your funeral service?
It's fine. They're probably cremating me right about now.
It's not like i particularly want to see myself being burnt.
And this is much more important after all.
You're planning on doing that again, right?
How shameful for an adult to be threatening someone...
who's being a good boy and sitting at home.
But you're very mistaken if you think that doing...
something like that will make me listen to you.
Listen Gran'ma.
I don't have these nine stitches on my head for nothing-
Ichiro-chan!
I got it. I'll ask Dad when he comes home.
Oh? Really?
Thank you, Ichiro-chan. I really owe you.
It's gonna be really hard finding someone to take that pup in.
The only place we really cannot let it go to is the Hanada household, right?
Yeah, that little pup wouldn't stay alive for a whole day with Ichiro.
More importantly,
the Hanadas are dirt poor after all...
Having to take care of an extra dog would bring them all to ruin.
What was that... ?
Stop that, dear.
Screw you!
My home gives shelter to a hundred mice!
Nice one! That's true!
Right?
I should have stayed home.
Me too.
Hey Ichiro, Daddy's home! Bring out the booze.
Hey Ichiro, go bring that pup over here tomorrow!
Eh?
No matter what they say, he's gonna be a part of the Hanada conglomerate!
Note: The Ichi [ 一 ] in Ichiro's [ 一郎 ] name means "number one" The Ji [ 二 ] in Jiro [ 二郎 ] means "next" or "second".
And his name will be... Hanada Jiro!
He'll be the second son of the Hanada family
Hey, midget!
He's not here, I-chan.
Look harder.
Oh, that dog's not here anymore.
What?
After the funeral, some relatives took it away so that it wouldn't cause trouble for anyone.
Where did they take him?
God knows.
TONARIMACHI ANIMAL HEALTH CARE CENTER
I-chan, are you done yet?
The health care center?
That's right. We have to go quickly...
or he might be put to sleep.
What's "putting to sleep"? Does it hurt?
No, it doesn't hurt. It means to peacefully lead one to death.
Oh, it doesn't hurt. Geez, you scared me.
This is no time to be feeling relieved!
It doesn't change the fact that he'll die!
Come on Ichiro-chan, don't waste time!
I'm not wasting time! You can't move until the stuff that needs to come out comes out, right?
You're complaining too much to a person taking a dump.
But while we're doing this, he might get an injection!
Injection?
But injection hurt!
Either way, we can't let him die like this!
Chiro gave up her life in order to give birth to that pup.
Ichiro-chan, you should know that best, right?
Looks like you understand.
Then let's get to the health care center immediately.
Whoa! I was just about to thoughtlessly agree with you.
What?!
You've gotta be kidding me! Why don't you go yourself, Gran'ma?!
Hey I-chan, you still not done?
They can't see me as a ghost, so they can't help me!
So, Ichiro-chan!
I'm not going! I hate injections!
What are you talking about?! Aren't you a boy?!
Go yourself then.
But they can't see ghosts!
Hey, who are you talking to?
What's with the noise?!
Hey, you guys!
Oh, he's been surrounded!
We really should keep him separate. He's too small.
All right, let's do that.
What was that just now?
Like I'm going to fall for that again!
It won't be a problem if I can't see you.
In that case, I don't have a choice.
I-chan, what happened?!
He's not here!
Did you fall in again, I-chan?!
I-chan!
Why am I inside a cage?!
Wasn't I just in the toilet?!
Damn that old hag Yoshikawa!
Just 'cause i don't listen to you doesn't mean that- what?
What's with you guys?!
What the hell is the matter today?!
What's the problem this time?
Geez, what a kid.
Why the hell were you in there?
That's what I'd like to know!
And how dare you give me a bump on the head?!
Didn't you come to the health care center for a reason?
Oh? This is the health care center?
I see... What a forceful old hag.
Yeah, I have business in the health care center.
But there's no way I'm letting you give me an injection!
We won't give you a bloody injection.
Really?
Really, really?
Really, really!
So, why did you come here for?
I came to pick up a dog.
His name is Hanada Jiro.
He's a litttle one that looks like he's wearing a little black hat with ears.
Oh, that's your dog?
So you haven't put him to sleep yet?
Did I make it in time?
Oh, you didn't have to worry.
We don't put 'em to sleep unless they're stray or it's something unavoidable.
What?! Damn, that old hag tricked me.
But that dog is no longer here.
Something suddenly swept the pup away.
I can't be sure, but it kinda looked like a black dog...
Oh, that was probably Chiro!
Hey! Wait!
We can't possibly let you go without teaching you the correct way to take care of a dog!
What?!
TONARIMACHI ANIMAL HEALTH CARE CENTER
How to Take Care of Dogs. Revised Edition
I get surrounded by dogs.
I take a fist to my head.
I get preached to. I have to take a class.
It's all that old hag Yoshikawa's fault.
Oh yeah, and I sucked on my own crap too.
Damn you, you old stinkin' old hag!
Oh, sorry about that, Ichiro-chan. Looks like we just kinda missed each other.
And just how are you planning on making this up to me, Gran'ma?
Oh, what do you have there, Ichiro-chan?
The old man at the health care center gave it to me.
Isn't that great, Ichiro-chan?!
You're really pissing me off.
Ichiro!
You idiot! Where the hell have you been?!
Souta-kun's been loooking for you!
Anyone would worry if you suddenly disappeared from the toilet!
You idiot!
How cute.
I see... You found the little pup, I-chan.
That's right, make it fly!
Here.
Looks like he's a pretty smart dog.
He's a really good dog. Right, Mom?
Yeah, he obeys you almost like he can understand what you're saying.
Are you really that smart, Jiro-kun?
All right! Then how about I make you a doghouse.
Since he's still small, we should just keep him inside the entryway of the house.
We should also make a toilet next to it.
What? We're going to make a toilet inside the house?!
When?
I'll make it right away.
Leave it to me. Your Daddy's a carpenter after all.
See! This here is the TV rendered useless after Ichiro broke it.
I take out the insides, and it transformes into a beautiful room for little Jiro.
So, when you said "toilet", you meant...
Tada!
Rise Crackers.
Souka.
Oh, it's the empty Souka rice crackers can!
That was truly some quick work!
Where's the carpentry in that?!
Stop laughing and make a real one!
Ichiro-chan, we'll be leaving Jiro with you.
Thank you
Geez, why now?
If I go to the toilet, I can't help but remember Gran'ma's scary face.
It wasn't me!
No one but you would do something like this!
You probably woke up in the middle of the night and did it, right?
That's Jiro's toilet, right?
How could Jiro possibly make something that big?!
Of course he could! He eats a lot!
Stop it already.
Don't talk about shit when people are eating breakfast.
You suck!
It really wasn't me!
Let me see...
I can tell immediately whether it's a human's or a dog's, just by looking.
This is... !
Damn it! It's all that old hag Yoshikawa's fault!
Gran'pa! Gran'pa!
Ichiro!
How daree you place the blame on a dead person!
It's the truth!
What are you doing, Gran'pa?!
Gran'pa?
NO! THIS SUCKS!
Gran'pa, hang in there!
Don't pretend you're sorry
I know you're not
You know you got the power
To make me weak inside
Girl you leave me breathless
But it's okay 'cause
You are my survival
Now hear me say
I can't imagine
Life without your love
Even forever don't seem like long enough
'Cause everytime I breathe I take you in
And my heart beats again
Baby I can't help it
You keep me drowning in your love
Everytime I try to rise above
I'm swept away by love
Baby I can't help it
You keep me drowning in your love
The long-awaited summer vacation!
All right, let's play!
I went to go fishing at the river right away,
but there's some weird guy constantly staring at me there.
Hey, you're a ghost, aren't you?
It's useless asking me to help you.
'Cause I'm busy playing.
What?
Don't look at me with such envious eyes.
Ichiro!
THE HOUSE WHERE SUNFLOWERS BLOOM
Help my mother!