Hey, Kino.
Hmm?
What do we do now?
Good question...
Let's sing.
That's mean. Who on earth would do such a mean thing?
Amidst a Crimson Sea
Country of Adults
I met the traveler named Kino when I still lived
in the country where I was born.
I was eleven.
Honestly, I don't remember what I was called at the time.
I vaguely remember that it was the name of some flower,
and changing the spelling turned it into some really mean insults.
I was often teased that way.
Hi there.
Good afternoon, young lady.
Good afternoon.
My name's Kino.
I travel from place to place.
Is there a hotel in this city?
A cheap one with a shower would be nice.
If you know of one, could you tell me?
My family runs one.
Father, Mother, we have a guest.
Welcome, traveler.
Welcome.
Well, let me show to your room.
If you would.
Thank you.
Hey, good morning.
What are you doing?
Repairing this motorrad.
I asked them to sell it to me,
but they said they didn't need money since it was old trash to them.
So they gave it to me.
It can be fixed?
I'll fix it.
Hey.
Mind if I watch up close?
Go ahead.
This guy looks just like the one I used to travel with.
Give me another day and he'll be happily moving around again.
Motorrads can move around?
Well, not on their own, to be precise.
They have to forge a pact with someone who'll ride them.
What's a pact?
In this case, it's a promise to help each other out.
How do you help each other?
Well, I can't go as fast as a motorrad by myself.
You're pretty skinny, yeah.
Motorrads can go fast,
but without someone to straddle them and maintain balance, they'll fall over.
Yeah.
So if I get on the motorrad, I can keep it balanced.
I handle the balance, and the motorrad handles the speed.
That makes traveling easier and more fun.
So that's the pact you make to help each other out?
That's right.
So once this guy comes to, I'll need to ask him what he thinks about it.
You can talk to motorrads?
Of course you can.
Why don't we think of a name for him before he comes to?
Any names you like?
What was your old friend called?
Hermes.
Then we should go with that.
You think so?
Okay, let's do that.
This is good. Thank you.
What is your profession, Kino?
What do you mean?
You're an adult, right?
Well, more so than you are, at least.
All adults have to do some kind of job, right?
Well, I guess that's true.
Then what do you do?
Well...
If I had to say, my occupation is traveling.
You mean going to various places?
Yeah, that's right.
Is it ever hard?
Sometimes.
But it's far more fun than it is hard.
Then it's not a job.
Jobs are supposed to be hard.
They're not fun.
So if you have fun doing it, then traveling isn't a job.
Is that so?
That's why tomorrow...
The day after tomorrow!
The day after tomorrow, I'm getting my surgery.
What surgery?
The one to become an adult.
And what kind of surgery is that?
If you don't mind, would you tell me?
You children are allowed to do as you please.
However, once you're adults, you won't be afforded such freedom.
Because you will have jobs to do.
But rest assured.
Once you turn twelve, we will perform surgery on you.
We'll open up your heads and remove the child from you.
Then you'll become adults overnight.
You'll be fine adults, capable of doing all things properly, even things you hate.
The week before your twelfth birthday is called the "final week."
During that time, adults don't speak to you,
and you can spend your time however you like.
Oh, and you also get to eat one of these special candies every day.
I see.
But that's rather violent.
Huh? How is it violent?
Thanks to the surgery, all children can become proper adults.
I don't know what you mean by "proper adult."
Is a "proper adult" someone who can do things they hate?
Is life any fun if you're constantly doing something you hate?
I don't understand that at all.
Earlier you said you were more adult than I am.
So are you an adult?
No, I'm pretty different from what you call an adult.
Then you're a child?
No, I'm not what you'd call a child, either.
Then what are you, Kino?
Me?
I'm Kino.
A man named Kino.
That's all, I suppose.
And I travel.
You do what you like?
Yeah, I like traveling.
That's why I travel.
Of course, I can't live off just that,
so I sell herbs and things that I find along the way.
But basically, I just travel.
I do what I want to do.
You do what you want to do?
What do you like doing most?
I like to sing!
I like singing, too.
I often sing during my travels.
Come on, let's go wherever we may.
Just like the birds, wherever we may.
Over rivers and beyond hills,
something is always waiting for us.
Pretty bad, huh?
Yeah, really bad!
I never seem to get any better at it, but I have fun while I'm singing.
I'll give you some flowers.
Some lovely, colorful flowers.
So that you might be happy.
So that you might smile.
You're good!
I'm surprised!
You're the best singer I've heard yet.
Thank you.
If you like singing, then why not become a singer?
Huh? I can't become a singer.
Why not?
Because my parents aren't singers.
Adults have children so they can inherit their jobs, right?
It's always been that way.
I see.
That must be the way of your country.
Kino's Journey
Starting tomorrow, your daughter will be one of us adults.
Congratulations!
Congrats!
It's an adult's precious duty to raise their children.
You two have proven yourselves to be fine adults.
Thank you very much.
Father, Mother.
What is it?
Say what you'd like, dear.
Yes. It's your final week, so even our guests won't mind.
It's tomorrow, right?
Yes, it is.
Well... I don't want to have the surgery to make me an adult.
Is there any other way I can become an adult?
Is there a way I can stay who I am and become an adult?
You fool!
How could you say that?!
You sinful creature!
A-Are you i-insulting the surgery that has made all of us such fine adults?!
Are you insulting us adults?!
Apologize to everyone!
Apologize to your father!
To everyone!
Tell every adult in this country that you're sorry!
Tell them you apologize for having such foolish thoughts!
Tell them everything you just said was a mistake!
Right now!
I can't believe this craziness!
You must have raised her wrong!
That's right!
Just what do you think our great surgery is for?!
M-My apologies!
Honestly, this child...
You've shamed us both with your crazy talk!
It's that's filthy traveler!
He's the one who put such foolish thoughts in your head!
Hey, you!
You there, you filthy traveling bastard!
Yeah, you! You! You!
You wanderer!
You put the idea in my daughter's head to mock adults!
People like you are the reason for all that's wrong with this world!
Take responsibility! Take responsibility, you bastard!
What is this?
Don't "what is this" me!
Apologize!
Apologize? For what, may I ask?
That's enough now.
Y-Yes, sir.
Traveler, every country and every household has its own rules.
Do you understand?
Yes, I do.
Our country has its own rules, as well.
This is not a matter that you can have any effect on.
Am I wrong?
No, you're right.
I was just planning to leave, actually.
I feel like I might get murdered if I stay here much longer.
It's rude to think we would murder you.
You followed all the proper procedures when you entered our country.
We will guarantee your safety until you pass back through our gates.
We're a country of adults, after all.
You're leaving already?
It's my personal policy to only stay in a country for three days.
It's enough to give me a feel for the country,
and staying any longer cuts into the time I can spend seeing other countries.
Farewell.
Take care.
Huh?
Why are you holding a kitchen knife?
I'll make an exception and tell you.
It's for disposing of this girl here.
What did you say?
We're disposing of her.
This girl has rejected our great surgery
and rebelled against her parents, her superiors.
Children are always, at all times, property of their parents.
Parents make children,
so they naturally have the right to dispose of any faulty product.
You're a failure.
Oh, no!
This man leapt in front of me, so the knife meant to stab my child stabbed him instead.
How do we pass judgment on a situation like this?
Indeed, the traveler suddenly leapt in front you, so it was no fault of your own.
It was an accident.
A very unfortunate accident.
You have committed no crime.
What do you think, everyone?
Seems that way to me.
No doubt here.
I-I thought so!
Thanks.
Have you ever ridden a bicycle?
Yes.
If you stay here, you'll die, right?
Yeah, but I'd rather die than live and have the surgery.
They're the same, really.
Hmm... Do you want to die?
If possible, I don't want to die.
Option three, then.
What's that?
First, climb onto the seat of the motorrad behind you.
Grip the handlebars in both hands.
Then twist the right grip forward and lean forward as you do.
After that, just think of it as a fast, heavy bicycle.
And when I do that,
what happens?
You escape!
You're good at this! Keep it up!
It's more stable if you squeeze the tank with your thighs.
Then follow my instructions to shift gears.
Country of Adults
Hey, I think that's far enough now, don't you?
That's mean. Who on earth would do such a mean thing?
Kino...
Hey! This is cruel, you know!
What?
If you don't mind, I'd like you to stand me up at once.
Oh, it was you.
"Oh"? Of course it was!
Who else is there?
Yeah. Sorry.
I don't need an apology. I want you to stand me up.
I'll tell you how to do it.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
That was dangerous.
Yeah.
Thanks for saving me.
It went both ways.
Who knows what they would've done to me if I was left there?
You saved me by riding me away, Kino.
Hey, what did you just call me?
Hmm? Kino.
Why?
That's what you just said when I asked you your name.
Is it not?
I'm... Kino.
I'm Kino.
Nice name, right?
Yeah, I like it.
By the way, what about my name?
Do I have one?
You're Hermes.
Hermes.
It's the name of old Kino's friend.
Hmm... Hermes, huh?
It's not bad, I guess.
Hermes.
Hermes, huh?
So, what do we do now?
I'll give you some flowers.
Some lovely, colorful flowers.
Amidst a Crimson Sea
So that you might be happy.
So that you might smile.
Encore! I want another two or three songs!
That, or...
Or what?
Stand me up.
All right. A few more, then.
Fluttering, drifting...
What do we do now?
Same thing we always do.
Let's go somewhere.
Yeah. Let's do that.
Seriously, I wish you'd stand me up already, Kino.
Fields of Sheep
Fields of Sheep.