"Nakano (work phone)"
Hmm? She's not picking up...
"Mitaka"
Mitaka?
Hello?
Nakano! Sorry! That team is in trouble again!
Again?
When does your vacation end? When are you coming back to work?!
All right. I'll go back to Tokyo tomorrow,
and be back to work the day after.
Seriously?! You're the best! We're screwed without you!
Mitaka!
Okay, sorry--
Thank you so much!
I guess I'll head back.
You're not forgetting anything?
No...
Still not picking up?
I guess Senko isn't good with technology...
Who's that? Your girlfriend?
What?!
N-No, well...
What?
What indeed...
What's with him?
Okay, give my best to Dad.
All right.
Thanks for coming home.
Here's a gift to take back. Fried tofu.
"Episode 12: Still..."
I ended up coming back without getting in touch with Senko.
I wonder if showing up suddenly will surprise her.
I'm back!
Senko?
She didn't see them, huh?
Where did she go?
"Takayama Fried Tofu"
I wonder if she went to the supermarket in the next town over.
The bento box? Oh, maybe...
"Koenji"
Senko? No, she hasn't been by.
Oh.
She's not home?
No, she isn't.
Did you guys get in a fight or anything?
No!
Did we...?
Ooh?
No, we didn't!
I didn't think so. Who could get in a fight with cute little Senko?
If someone did, I'd let 'em have it!
Right...
Later.
Now that you mention it, I did see her go out yesterday.
Huh? Yesterday?
She had something wrapped in cloth and her umbrella.
"Just a bit," she said.
"Just a bit," huh?
She stared back into the room while she was standing just outside.
I asked her if something was wrong
and she just said, "Mm," and shook her head.
But I felt like she had a kind of lonely look on her face,
or that something was just, you know, different.
Another thing that's different-- Shiro hasn't come by the past two days.
Shiro, too?
Yeah, today is the last episode of Little Yoko, Inari Girl,
and Shiro was like, "Mm! I'm definitely watching that," but...
Now that you mention it, Senko was looking forward to it, too.
Right?
I wonder what happened to them.
"Real Yoko fans watch it when it first airs!"
That's what you said, didn't you, Shiro?!
So I think she'll be back.
I see.
Delicious! Yes! Sen, your cooking is the best!
I could it eat it every day!
Okay, all done.
"The Fox's Cherry Blossoms" Well, I've got enough fried tofu and saké to last a while now, so...
You're leaving already?
Mm. Though there's something I need to ask Lady Sora before that.
What?!
Lady Sora...
I know what you mean to ask me, Sen. It is that thing, is it not?
That thing?
How adorable.
Why? Why is it still growing?
You are unable to completely rid him of the darkness--
And it preoccupies you.
Mm.
Indeed, it has been a whole year since you began caring for him.
So you must see what it means...
What it means?
Sen, you cannot rid him of that darkness, can you?
Lady Sora...
And so, there is no longer a need for you to go there, no?
What? But the last episode of Little Yoko is about to st--
The last episode of Little Yoko is about to start.
Little Yoko, Inari Girl!
"Little Yoko, Inari Girl" Little Yoko, Inari Girl!
--Whee, whee, wheeeee! --It's starting, Shiro!
Little Yoko, Inari Girl!
Mr. Tanukiman! You just don't know when to quit!
This time, it's goodbye for sure!
I've done it!
Huh?
What is that?
It's a comet! If it hits, Earth will be wiped out!
Wha--?
What?!
Whee, whee, wheeeee!
Here I go!
Wait!
But this means you'll...
Go!
Yoko...
Little Yoko has saved the world!
But what happened to her?!
Little Yoko...
I didn't want to say goodbye like this!
Goodbye?
No... It can't be...
Something bad may happen. Take care.
No way...
It's fine. I'm always watching over you!
When they do bloom, shall we go cherry blossom viewing together?
Senko...
"Inari Shrine"
Senko!
Don't tell me I'm never going to see you again!
Senko!
"The Helpful Fox Senko-san"
Eep...
Are you okay?
Sen.
You have long wanted to return the kindness that man showed you,
and you feel that, at last, you can. I completely understand.
And yet, whatever the outcome, a sad parting awaits you.
Are you willing to suffer like that again?
Master! Master!
No... I still haven't done anything for you...
Sen...
Let it go.
Lady Sora. I understand.
It will likely happen as you say.
Still...
I'm going to keep helping him, as much as I can!
Even if it's selfish of me!
And if I don't accept that?
Everything ends eventually.
Still...
I'm still going to pamper him to his heart's content!
Sen!
Is this what she meant by something bad?
You said you wanted to go cherry blossom viewing...
We could have gone to that supermarket any time...
Mm? You're back already?
Senko...
What happened?
You're all wet! Are you okay?
And look, your feet are dirty.
I thought I'd never see you again.
Why is that?
You haven't been answering the phone since yesterday...
Eep?! I'm sorry. I had to visit the other world for a bit.
The other world?
We were running low on fried tofu and saké,
so I brought some back.
And I thought I'd come scout out the blossoms for our viewing...
I never expected to see you here!
Our viewing...
How about it? The two of us together...
When you find blossoms in full bloom, you simply must drink!
It seems she is resolved. They should be fine, then.
You wanted to see that for yourself?
I look forward to seeing what happens with them.
Thank you very much. Wait, hang on a second!
I mean, we stand out. I think we'll get reported or something.
Reported?
The rain has just stopped, and there's a little girl
with fox ears in a nearly deserted park gulping down saké.
Who's little?
It's fine. Naturally, I've prepared for this.
I've put up a magic barrier around us.
A magic barrier?
Only people that know me will notice me.
I didn't know you could do that.
This way nobody can bother us, and we have VIP seats for viewing!
I see.
Don't be shy, now!
You're right. Okay then...
Delicious!
This sacred saké does contain my spiritual energy, after all.
And...
Here! There are snacks that pair with the drinks and food as well!
Take your pick!
Wow! Thank you!
Mm!
Mm! That's delicious!
It's the first bonito of the season-- it goes well with saké!
Okay!
Here, you have some, too.
You know how to please!
You always hold your saké well.
"Tipsy..."
Do I?
What? Are you... drunk?
Whoa, when did that happen?
I'm in the mood for drink today, too!
Is that a problem?
No, it's not...
Good.
Then you'll be responsible for making sure I pamper you.
Hey, that's a little close!
Wait, isn't this just what you've been doing the whole time?
I'm going to pamper you even more!
We came out here for cherry blossom viewing--
Let's make sure we enjoy that.
What are you saying? Laying your head down here is part of that! Look!
Not a bad view, is it?
This really is a VIP seat.
What is it?
I remembered.
Senko, you've been watching over me ever since I was a child.
Have I now?
I don't really know what to say here, but...
Thank you for everything.
I'm not quite sure what you're talking about,
but there is one thing I can say.
I'm doing this because I want to. There is nothing to thank me for.
Come now, you're still not being pampered enough.
--Wha-- Hang on! --Here, relax those shoulders.
You just take your time and relax here.
How often do you get to fall asleep admiring cherry blossoms?
That's true...
Wait, I've got to go to work tomorrow,
I need to go home and get to sleep!
You still don't know how to be pampered properly, do you?
I'm sorry.
It's fine.
That's just part of what makes you so lovely.
You must take care not to wear yourself down...
Just relax...
And if you keep getting better at letting yourself be pampered...
Keep getting better?
"Zzz..."
And now you're sleeping!
That's what happens with drunks!
Ugh, come on! Senko! You can't sleep here! Let's go back!
Mm...
The old me would never even consider staying here like this.
Just a little longer...
Huh? Senko?
You found her!
Yeah!
You found a feast, too!
Let's eat!
This is so good!
Mm-hmm!
Delicious!
Hey, I want to watch the last episode of Little Yoko.
Nice! I brought it with me!
Mm, nice one, Jasuko!
Yay!
Yoko! Come back!
Oof!
Coins?! Could it be...
What's that?!
Yoko?!
Whee! I'm back!
Yes! She came back!
Yeah! It makes me cry every time!
What a lovely night.
Yeah, it is.
Senko...
Let's stick together.
Mm!
Welcome home! You've had a long day, haven't you?