While racing in the dark, Appare and Kosame appeared in front of me.
You guys are going to win the Trans-America Wild Race?!
That would be impossible!
Still, Appare touched on a dream of mine that had nearly vanished.
Be careful, you two. This world is not a gentle one!
Who the hell are you?!
There, that's a good boy. Don't waste booze.
H-How did you...?!
Oh, don't pull out your gun if you don't want to die.
Hey, let him go! You trying to get yourself killed?!
Stop! This guy--I mean, this man...
...is Dylan, of the Thousand Three!
Thousand Three?!
Do not call me that.
Much obliged. You saved me.
Get on out of here. This is no place to be bringing a little kid.
Huh? No, this isn't my child--
Wait. Have you seen a man with this tattoo on his neck?
What are you going to do when you find him?
I'm gonna take back what was stolen from us.
Forget it. You'll get killed.
Wait!
Do you know something about him?!
Hey,
you're the guy that was driving that awesome car, right?
You want an autograph?
Don't forget this--
Someday, my car will be driving in front of yours.
Hey, don't be rude to him! He saved us!
--Hmph, do as you will. --Huh?
I didn't save you; I just want to enjoy some good booze.
Ah, hey! Are you okay?!
Dad...!
Get out of here, Hototo!
Dad!
You should eat that.
Where is this?
A storehouse at the harbor. We live here.
What are you doing?
Rebuilding a ship into a car and entering a race.
Huh? Turning a boat into a car?
Oh, you're awake?
Ah, I told you, stop using my sword stand as your trash can!
I'm Kosame. That's Appare. Are you okay, little boy?
Where's your family? Are you alone?
I'm not a little boy.
My name is Hototo. My family is far away.
My mother, my sister, and my brothers.
I came here alone, from far to the east, and far to the north,
to take back what was stolen from us.
What was stolen from you?
Our land, our home, our horses...
...and my father's life.
I don't know what you've been through,
but once you're healed up, you should go back to your family.
What can a child like you do against someone who took your father's life?
Don't treat me like a child, when you're so weak.
I won't forget your kindness in offering me this food and water.
But I do not follow the words of a weakling.
Hey, where do you mean, far to the east and far to the north?
Around here, I think. It was farther to the east long ago.
Until our land was taken.
Tell me something, what's the elevation of these mountains?
--I need to know a route to cross them in a car.
--Well, um... --I need to know a route to cross them in a car.
How steep and broad is the incline?
Are there places along the way where we can resupply?
Also, what about the weather and temperature--
Appare!
Enough, let him rest. You'll aggravate his injuries.
Yeah, okay.
"Episode 3" "Duel"
There isn't much rain in this area.
--It could be hard to obtain water anywhere but this river.
--Get out?! --It could be hard to obtain water anywhere but this river.
Yeah, I'm sorry.
But it's so heartless!
What can I do? Someone came along who wants to rent all the storehouses.
He's some rich lad who came here from Europe.
He said he didn't care what it would cost.
They're unloading his stuff from that huge ship over there.
Hey, where are you going?
To tell him no.
Huh? Tell him no? What are you talking about?!
N-Nice! Way to go, Appare! I'm coming, too!
Take this to my tent. I'd like to check on what's inside right away.
Al, how about some tea? I'm sure everyone is worn out from the long trip.
You're right, Sofia. Thanks.
You sure are fired up.
Of course. I'm going to win this race,
and show everyone that I'm talented enough to take over BNW.
You don't have to do all that. Everyone recognizes how strong you are.
No, not yet they don't.
Automobiles are still only a fledgling part of our family's businesses.
But Dad and my brothers won't even let me, the youngest, take that over.
I'm going to win this race, convince Dad, and put my brothers in their place.
Pardon!
There you are.
Oh, thank you.
So you're saying you want to keep using the storehouse as before?
Yeah.
Aren't the other storehouses enough to house the belongings from your ship?
That is none of your business. I will use as many storehouses as I need.
So get out, right now.
Al...
I'm not just housing my things. I'm tuning and testing my machine;
I also need a break area for my staff, a training space for me,
and a dog run for Alfred.
I'm short on space as it is.
Your machine?
That over there.
The cream of BNW's technology all gathered into--
He seems surprised.
Um, isn't there something you can do? At least leave us a place to sleep.
If you have nowhere to sleep, you can go to a hotel.
We're going to make full use of this place until the Trans-America Wild Race.
You all are entering the race, too?
Yes. I'm Al Lyon. I'm entering the race on behalf of BNW,
one of the Big Three automotive association B.I.G.BOSS's members,
and I'm going to win.
So we're rivals, then.
Huh? You guys are entering the race, too?
Yeah.
Ah! Laymen shouldn't be touching that!
Incredible. This is much more elegant and well-honed
than any other car I've seen before.
Of course it is. There's no better car in all the world.
But the basic design is exactly like the other cars.
Also, it's too elegant. There's room for improvement here.
What do you even know?
I know. Why don't you race my car?
Huh? Your car?
If I win, we get to use the storehouse as we like.
Give me ten days, and I'll turn that into a car that yours can't beat.
That's not a car, it's a broken-down boat!
Interesting. Let's do it.
Huh?
We'll race in ten days. You're free to choose the course, too.
If you win, I'll let you use the storehouse as you like.
On the other hand, what if I win?
You use the storehouse however you like.
No, the storehouse is mine to begin with. That wouldn't be a fair contest.
Then Kosame will commit hara-kiri.
Huh?
What?
I don't want to see him commit hara-kiri. How about instead...
...I'll take your swords?
Huh?!
My noble katanas have been in the Isshiki family for generations.
So we'll win.
I've got it! What if we made the course in the ocean?
No.
Then we're sunk.
You shouldn't be going out so much. Your injuries haven't yet--
What are you doing with those?
I can't keep living off of you guys, when you're so poor.
Did you steal those?
I caught them. Nature will provide everything you need, if you respect it.
You guys have one, too. I'll smoke whatever is left.
That is helpful, but you're just a child.
You don't have to be so considerate toward us--
Okay, none for you, Kosame.
Appare, do you want two?
There, finished.
What is that?
A windup-assisted two-wheeler. I'm going out for a bit.
Hototo, I'd like my fish grilled.
Okay.
Where are you going?
I have to turn this into a car in ten days. I'll need more parts.
Oh, I'll come with you!
Can you look after things here by yourself?
I was right; no food for you, Kosame.
What? The trans-continental race?
Aren't we entering?
Of course we aren't. If we compete in that and wreck our car,
it will threaten the survival of our team.
Besides, our cars aren't tough enough to go across the country.
I see.
Good going, David! Keep that up in tomorrow's race...
Appare...?
Are you sure we can take this stuff?
Yeah.
This place is for parts from wrecked cars that may still be useful.
But nobody oversees it,
and once they need the space, they'll just be disposed of.
Thanks.
That's okay. You helped me, too.
Appare is the one who repaired it. I just watched him.
Kosame insisted I do it. I wanted to soup it up even faster.
Have you driven at all since then?
--No. --What a shame.
This place is a gold mine.
Are you serious about building a car that can beat a BNW in ten days?
Yeah. It's a short-distance race.
A simple objective only calls for a simple machine.
I already have blueprints for it.
What if you lose? The katanas are one thing,
but you'll have nowhere to live, right?
He is a self-centered fellow with no manners, to be sure,
but he isn't a liar, and he doesn't say what he can't back up.
Kosame, help me.
Okay, okay.
I can't believe I doubted him for even a second.
Who's going to carry all of this back?
I'll be back if I need more.
Come on, you're supposed to say "thank you very much."
You can come and watch the race.
It's not possible. You'll never beat a BNW.
That's what everyone thinks. Which is what makes it so interesting.
Hmm? Hey, hold up...
Looks like your injuries are just about healed.
Children sure recover quickly, all right.
The weaker you are, the more you look down on others. Grandpa was right.
I'm not looking down on you. Whatever you might think, children are children--
Hey, watch it!
You seem to be enjoying yourselves.
Mr. Lyon...
Call me Al. Who's he? Your boy?
--No! --No. This is Hototo.
It's a long story, but we're stuck together right now.
Nice to meet you, Hototo. How are you?
Fine.
This is Sofia. She's my...
I am Al's chaperone, to make sure he doesn't do anything crazy.
I was sure you were his older sister.
My mother is a domestic, and served as Al's babysitter, so...
Sofia, let's go. We can tour around Los Angeles as we warm up the...
I'm going to go find us a course. Hototo, come with me.
--Okay. --What is that?!
A windup-assisted two-wheeler.
Can I ride it for a minute?
No.
Don't be so stingy. You can at least let him try it, right?
Yeah, he's right--
Okay, if you win our race, I'll give it to you.
Do you mean it?! Yes!
But in return, if I win, I'll take your car.
That's awfully bold.
Hey, I know! Forget about my katanas, and we'll trade for the storehouse--
You got it.
Huh?
I am 100% going to win this.
Al...
We have an agreement. Don't forget.
They aren't coming.
Yeah. I'm sure he must have backed out. There's no way he could... beat me.
Huh...?
Go faster. We're late.
In the sword world, whoever shows up last wins!
Hototo is beating us. Trade places.
No way! Have you forgotten yesterday's test drive?! I'm not ready to die!
You're exaggerating. And I put a seatbelt in.
Sorry to keep you.
Rather than blame you for being late,
I should compliment you for making it all the way here in that thing.
I'll be taking that. That, and your swords.
I'm prepared for the worst.
A warrior never goes back on his word.
-- You don't get to say that! --Huh?
Do you want me to hold on to them until the race is over?
Xialian...
You came?
Yeah. So you really built it.
Yeah. And I'm gonna win.
I'm honestly surprised. But there's no way this will be a race with that car.
It really isn't possible.
She's right.
You people are birds who cannot fly.
Okay, let's get started. It'll be a waste of time, though.
Appare, on second thought, you drive.
Yeah. I was always planning to.
The starting line is here.
We pass through the gap between those rocks three km ahead, come back here,
and whoever touches this tree first is the winner.
There's no road. The entire wasteland is our track.
Just the way I wanted.
Are you good to go?
--Yeah. --Yeah.
Ready...
--Go! --Go!
I'm not holding back!
It's the least I can do to be polite!
He's fast! So that's a BNW...
Hurry, Appare!
Stop talking, or you'll bite your tongue, Kosame.
This is it! Here we go!
Appare is the sort whose personality changes when he takes the wheel.
Yeah!
No!
Oh, this is good!
Sure enough, they're no match for his speed.
Appare knows that.
Even so, he still intends to win.
Appare, there's a cliff! Go around!
Hold on, Kosame!
Huh?
See for yourself if these birds can't fly!
Wah! We're flying!
We're dead!
You'll get through it!
All right!
What a character! But there aren't any other cliffs you can use for a shortcut.
From here on, it's a contest of speed!
Damn it, it's no use.
Kosame!
When I give the signal, pull the red lever at your feet as hard as you can!
Red lever? You mean this?
We aren't going to lose. The Appare will fly yet again.
Huh? Again?
460 meters to the finish line... 40... 20...
Now! Pull it!
Emergency acceleration booster, engage!
Huh? H-Hey! H-Hold on...!
--Oh... --Oh...
Oww...
I won't be beaten!
Kosame, run!
They won...
Guess it was short after all.
After all? That was premeditated?!
Appare, I'm impressed.
I'm the one who crossed the finish line!
Appare...
You are completely nuts.
There's no way you can make it to the finish like that.
But you still won this one.
You came up with a strategy to let you win,
chose the course, and built your car.
I did nothing but be complacent and rely on my car's performance, and I lost.
Are you sure about this? What about the trans-continental race?
That is my spare second car. I'm still entering the race, of course.
My machine for the big race is even faster.
All right! We got a car!
Sofia, I'm sorry. We're walking back.
Right.
Al!
I'm making a better car for the big race, too.
Race me. Next time, I'll be driving in front of you .
Yeah, and I'll be the one crossing the finish line first.
You can ride this back. It's yours.
No, I lost. I can't very well accept it. I'll walk back.
Okay, I'll take it!
--Huh?! --Huh?!
Ah, there, there, there, there...
See you.
Uh, sure you don't want to go back together in the car?
Yeah.
How far can I go?
It's gonna take a little while to fix this.
Appare, we are entering the big race in the car we got from him, right?
Huh?
I'd like you to take care of this.
Let the world know that this is not the beginning of a new age.
"Next time"
"Episode 4" "Let It Go"