* * * * * * * Mirai no Utena, volume 1 The Tower of the Future by Hiwatari Saki Hana to Yume Comics 1995 ISBN 4-592-12001-9 Translation by Emily Horner Zen : {I'm sorry, dad. I've come here already. But, dad, I'm already 5 years old!} <> Mirai no Utena Level 1: The heroine is created <> This is a strange world, very different from our own. Gods and men and demons all lived on this world, and balance and order were maintained by dimensional barriers between them. But that was a long time ago. <> The "evil" that came from dimensional ravines gnawed at and eroded the dimensional barriers. Fearing the destruction they would cause, the demons joined them and fought against the gods and men. At the end of the long war, the gods fled the world. The humans living in the world, losing their allies, sought hope from the gods and implored them not to leave. A single god responded, by gouging out one of their eyes. <> "Hope" sank deep into the ground. This power, which the demons could not used, was transformed over a long period of time, and finally it began to come to life. Takeru : All right! Pretty interesting, if I do say so myself. --Takeru! Come eat breakfast, you're going to be late! Takeru : Coming! <> Mother : I asked Dai-chan if he used a word processor to study, and he said he didn't. Takeru : So? People do things differently. Mother : Takeru, are you really studying? Takeru : Sure I am! That's what I was doing just now. Father : Can I have some tea? Mother : Fine. Sometimes I wonder if you do... Takeru : {Now, who should the hero be? Somehow, I think he shouldn't seem like a brave hero right from the start...} That was great! Bye! Takeru : Hey, watcha doing? Sorry, but could you get out of the way? I want to get my bike out. Zen : I--uh--um--I-- Takeru : Are you OK? Zen : Ah! I--um...I'm fine! I'll get out of the way! Takeru : Thanks. Zen : It's all right! Go right ahead! <> Takeru : Say, are you lost? Want me to take you to kindergarten?j Zen : I like you, mister! But I'm not lost. I was just going to the bus stop. Thank you, though! I'll never forget your kindness! [Zen continually calls Takeru 'nii-chan,' which literally means 'big brother' but is often used in Japanese for people you're not necessarily related to. I don't know if 'mister' is the best way to translate it, but it seems to work all right...] Zen : Goodbye! Takeru : 'Bye. {Weird kid...come to think of it, are there any preschools in the neighborhood with that uniform?} Zen : Good luck with your high school exams! <> Takeru : {How did he know that? Was it just a guess? But how should a kid that young know that?} Daigo : Take-chan, can you tutor me in English? Takeru : How do you expect to go into Honami High School, Daigo? Daigo : I just want to go to the same high school as you! Takeru : Don't get your hopes up. It'll be tough even for me. <> Daigo : Then why don't we both give up on it, Take-chan? Takeru : Don't call me that. Daigo : Anyway, you want to be a game scenario writer or a manga writer, don't you? Are you going to have time for that in high school? Takeru : I guess not...but my mother wanted me to go to Honami. Daigo : You're good at drawing. You should draw another hot girl. Takeru : Draw one yourself! The high school open house is Friday of next week. Want to go to Honami? Daigo : Really? Oh...Itou Miyabi. <> Daigo : Why don't you say something to her? Takeru : What for? Daigo : Aren't you guys seeing each other any more? Takeru : Nope. Daigo : Just a natural extinction? Takeru : Something wrong with that? Daigo : No... Takeru : {Natural extinction? It was pretty fun when we started going out in 8th grade, and I was glad when she said she liked me. But for no particular reason, this is how it turns out...I guess you could call it a natural extinction. It sounds bad when Daigo said it, but it's not really such a bad thing. If it's just the result of how we acted honestly towards each other... then that seems okay. Still, maybe it's rude to her... Am I just trying to avoid a confrontation? The truth is, I was never really passionate about her. We were in different classes, and we've both been busy since we started 9th grade, so it was hard to see each other.} <> Takeru : {I started going out with her because I was happy when she said she liked me...but there was never really love there.} Teacher : Continue to translate, Matsuyuki-kun! Takeru : Sorry, I don't have my textbook with me. Teacher : Then borrow mine. Takeru : I don't get it. Teacher : Stand there like that for a while! Takeru : Yes, ma'am... {Damn Daigo...I wrote the translation in the textbook, too!} <> Takeru : {The protagonist isn't a brave hero. The brave hero is someone else. The protagonist is a young warrior who's the brave hero's friend.} <> Takeru : {The brave hero, and the protagonist, who supports him. But then, the brave hero is struck down...} Takeru : {I have a powerful weapon, my imagination.} <> Takeru : {I think that I'll be able to make a living from it one day.} --What are you looking at, Matsuyuki-kun? Takeru : {With his dying breaths, the hero confesses to the protagonist... "I'll tell you the real purpose of this journey. It is to find the existence known as 'Zero' and put it into operation. 'Zero' is the last hope left behind by the gods. It will destroy this world, and create the foundation for a new future. It is this world's starting point."} <> Hero : 'Zero' was sealed deep inside the earth by an evil organization. No one knows its exact location. I give this, the Zero seal, to you. Now, you must face trials and search out items relating to 'Zero.' When you have assembled everything, this will show you the way. Then the world, and all the evil in it, will be destroyed... but afterwards, the world will once again be peaceful. Zero's operation means your death, but I must entrust this mission to you. Will you forgive me for my death? <> Takeru : {Although the young soldier still does not have the courage to accept the hero's death, the Zero seal exalts the birth of a new hero, and leads him to a place only he can see. In front of him, the new hero found a tower, and climbed with shaking hands to the top. When he stood on the tower and wished to see the world...} <> Takeru : {The Zero seal released a beam of light, and showed him a far-away point, giving the young hero a new path to follow. His moist eyes were deep with the color of despair, but at the same time, his duty held him up, and gave him hope. It was on this day that the youth's painful journey truly started.} Mother : Wake up, Takeru! How long did you plan to stay asleep? You were supposed to go to the school open house today! Go and have a look at Honami High School! Takeru : Mom...why do you want me to get into Honami so badly? Mother : Because they teach English so well there! You're lucky to have a father who's half Japanese, but your English is horrible! Mother : You were making good progress until you were five, but now you've forgotten it all! Takeru : Mom... Mother : You should become bilingual. Bilingual! Takeru : Bilingual... Father : Hi, Takeru. Going to look at the high school today? Mother : Oh, dear, that tie doesn't suit you at all. Father : It doesn't? Takeru : {My parents...} <> Takeru : {Because my dad's half British, he can act like this in front of his own son. But I think it's a prejudice of society to assume that someone will be good at English just because his father's half British. My mom's just my mom. If she likes Honami that much, she should go there herself.} 'Bye! Zen : Hi, mister! Takeru : Umm...hey, you're that kid I saw the other day, aren't you? Zen : Yes! Good morning, mister! The weather is beautiful today. I think it's wonderful! <> Takeru : {He's got a very enthusiastic way of talking.} Are you waiting for your bus all by yourself? Zen : Mister, there's dust in your hair! I'll get it! Today's a real special day, and everything has to go just right. Did I say something weird just now? Takeru : Yes. You did. Zen : I'm sorry! Please forget about it! Takeru : Where's your house? What's your name? Zen : I'm Hokuouin Zen! My house is...my house is...nearby. Takeru : But I haven't seen that kind of school uniform around here. Zen : You haven't? Oh, look at this, mister! <> Takeru : You're kind of like that Kobayashi Rin kid, aren't you? Zen : I admire him very much! [Please Save My Earth reference; it's Hiwatari Saki's previous, more famous manga.] Takeru : Do I have bad breath? Zen : No, you don't, but...I didn't mean anything bad by it! But the first impression can be very important...please take it, mister. Zen : Do your best, mister! Takeru : {I don't understand that kid...saying all kinds of weird stuff...} Takeru : {Honami looks like an apartment building from the outside.} Daigo : Look at the sports field, Takeru! It's so small. Takeru : Yeah, it is. Daigo : And the girls' uniforms aren't that cute. --Is that what you're thinking about, Tsukikawa? Takeru : He's right... <> --Looks like there are students from other schools here to look at Honami too. Takeru : {I don't really like it...I'll have to think about it.} --Take your shoes off before entering the auditorium! <> --What, seriously? --But, didn't you say you weren't going to high school, Miya? Takeru : {Hey, she's got a cute voice.} --No way! I'm definitely going to the same school as Yoru-chan! Takeru : {That's her friend's voice... --But do you think you could get in here? Takeru : {That's her voice again!} <> Ichigo : Yoru said your skull had a thickness of 7 centimetres, and 90% of what's in there is water. I didn't say that, Yoru did! <> Seika : Seven centimetres...that's great! Miya : I do not! That's mean, Ichigo-chan! Ichigo : I said I wasn't the one who said it! You are just too sensitive, Miya! It's like your a masochist. Ichigo : "Brother, they hurt my feelings! Miya wants some Chanel!" Seika : Stop that, Ichigo! Miya : It's not as if you're any different, Ichigo! Ichigo : What are you talking about? Miya : Your brother buys you Dior and Laura Ashley! Miya knows! Ichigo : How did you know that? Seika : I wasn't the one who told her, Ichigo. <> Ichigo : I know you wouldn't say that, Seika. It must have been Yoru! Takeru : {I've never been so overwhelmed by a girl. I think that what she's saying and the way she communicates with her friends are great, but...} <> Takeru : {But in all my life, I've never seen such a cute girl.} <> Takeru : {She's so cute. Her lips...her neck...her chest...her legs...} Daigo : Takeru! <> Takeru : {The hem of her skirt...Hey, what's wrong with me? Daigo's calling me!} Daigo : Come on, Takeru! Takeru : {My eyes...how long had I been staring at her? Oh, but the eyes in the back of my head are still staring!} <> Takeru : {I am weird.} <> Mother : I was so surprised when you came home with your face all red. Did you catch a cold? Do you have any appetite? Your fever's pretty high. Takeru : Yeah, I do. Mom... Mother : Yes? Takeru : I am definitely going to Honami. Mother : Did something nice happen? <> Takeru : Yeah...I think so. {That girl's going to Honami.} Mother : That's good. Your enthusiasm is the most important thing! But, Takeru, why don't you try studying English in front of the train station as well? Mother : It will be good for you. Takeru : Why does it have to be English? Mother : It's just your mother's vanity! <> Takeru : {Maybe the hero needs a partner like her...no, he definitely needs her! Absolutely, absolutely needs her!} <> Takeru : {The heroine is created!} <> Takeru : {The hero wants to give up. He wonders why he ever took on this misson. "I need water...I can't go on..."} Ichigo : Here's water! <> Hero : {Water?} Ichigo : If you've got enough strength to drink water, you'll be fine. <> Hero : Who are you? Ichigo : You're the hero the old lady in the village predicted would come, aren't you? It's my fate to travel with you from now on. My name is Ichigo! I've got healing magic. Reona! Hero : {I feel better!} <> Ichigo : You'll be able to stand up now! Takeru : {What a wonderful encounter! A wonderful destiny! The wonderful journey of life!} Mother : Takeru! Takeru! Takeru : What? Mother : Wake up, Takeru. I want to take your temperature. Takeru : {Just a dream...} Mother : What are you going to do about today? Takeru : Today...? Oh, that's right. It's your anniversary. Just go ahead to the Spanish restaurant without me. Mother : Maybe I should stay home instead... Takeru : That's all right. You two have fun. Mother : Your fever's gone down... Takeru : I'm feeling a lot better. Go ahead, mom. I'll just get some pizza. Mother : You will? <> Takeru : {I guess my parents are eating right about now...} <> Takeru : {It's surprising...when I compare her with the idols and girls in commercials on TV, she looks just as good. No, even better! She's so cute!} Takeru : {Maybe I'm in love...Love! I'm in love!} <> Takeru : I've gotta seriously start studying. Takeru : Hello, this is Matsuyuki. Father : Takeru! Takeru : Hi, dad. What is it? Are you going out to eat? Father : Your mother's been seriously hurt in an accident. She's at the hospital in front of the train station. Hurry up! Takeru, are you listening? Father : Takeru! Takeru : Dad, where's mom? How did she get in an accident? Father : She oversteered trying to avoid a kid who ran out into the road, and ran through a guard rail into a concrete wall...! <> Father : I was waiting for her in front of the station. She was late. There was an accident, and when I went over to look, it was your mom's car. The kid was safe; he was crying in his mother's arms. Takeru : What about mom? Will she live? Father : I don't know. She's in surgery now. The doctors can't tell me anything... I told her to use a taxi when she went to the station! She's gotten worse at driving... <> Takeru : Doctor! My wife... --It might be a good idea to call your friends and relatives, just to be safe. <> Takeru : {I'm shaking, and I just can't stop. I don't know what's going to happen...} --Are you her son, Takeru-kun? Takeru : Yes. --Your mother's opened her eyes. She has something she wants to say to you. Go on in. <> Takeru : But, doctor, my dad's still on the phone... --Calm down. She wants to talk to you, not your father. We're here. We'll do everything we can. <> Takeru : {Oh, no...} Mother : Takeru... Takeru : Mom... {I can't believe it's this serious.} Mother : I'm sorry, Takeru. Takeru : Why are you apologizing? It's great that the kid was safe...so you don't need to worry. Mother : No. Takeru : What? <> Mother : Listen closely. I don't have much time. Takeru : What are you saying? You're gonna be fine! Mother : Takeru...your father and I have been keeping a secret from you for a very long time. Mother : You have an older sister. A sister you're connected to by blood. Takeru : You shouldn't joke at a time like this! Mother : I'm sorry for surprising you... Mother : Her name is Hyouju. Written with the characters for "ice tree." She's four years older than you. Before I married your father, he studied in London, and had a child with a woman he knew there. She died some time ago. Now, Hyouju-chan is living alone in London. <> Mother : Your father begged me to take her in, but I could never say yes...until now. It was very hard for me... Mother : I felt sorry for Hyouju-chan, and it wasn't her fault, but still...I couldn't. Since then, I'd been trying to find some time to talk to you. I was going to talk to you after your exams, but then this happened... Takeru : Stop it... Mother : Please, Takeru... Takeru : I'll listen after you get better, so please stop! Mother : Takeru, I have something to ask you. Takeru : I don't want to hear it now! Mother : I want you to let Hyouju-chan live with you. --Doctor, her blood pressure is dropping fast! Mother : Please don't resent your father or me...forgive us... I'll pray for you...I'll watch over you...so that you'll be happy... Takeru : Mom! <> --Start cardiac massage! Takeru : Mom! Mom! Mom! --Get out of the way! <> Takeru : {My mother died right after that. My dad and relatives weren't able to say a word to her. Since then, I've been quiet; haven't talked to anyone.} <> Takeru : {My relatives came and had a wake at our house. My dad's holding up better than I expected. He's been working out funeral arrangements with my aunt and uncle. I can't stop thinking about what my mother said to me.} Takeru : {People have been asking me what she said to me, but I haven't been able to tell them yet. I'm too much in shock...I can't even cry. When I look out in the yard, I feel like the young hero is standing there in the rain...} <> Takeru : {Soaking wet. Like a ghost. How deep were his pain and sadness, when the first hero died? It wasn't like anything like I thought when I was typing on the word processor. No, it was totally different.} <> Takeru : {And when I thought that, suddenly, my eyes started to overflow with tears.} <> Takeru : {My 'Zero seal' is my mother's confession. Her will. I want to know where to go from here. I want someone to tell me the way...but in real life, there's no one to tell me.} <> Takeru : {And that tower doesn't exist, either. 3 am already...I have to take my turn watching the candles.} Father : You can go to sleep. I'm all right. Tatsuko : That's right, Take-chan. I just woke up. I'll change the candles. Oh, you must be hungry. There are onigiri. Eat up. Maybe I should make some tea, Kento-san... Takeru : You're strong, Aunt Tatsuko. Tatsuko : You finally talked! Tatsuko : But why do you say that? Takeru : She was your little sister...but you're still managing to go on. Tatsuko : It's only right that I should support you. After all, I knew your mother for so long, but you could only be with her for fifteen years. And besides, it's just too hard not to do something. Take-chan... Tatsuko : What was the last thing you talked about with your mother? Tell me, all right? <> Takeru : I have a sister, four years older than me, named Hyouju. She wanted me to live with Hyouju, here! Takeru : Why? Why didn't you tell me, dad? <> Takeru : Mom was never happy at all! She was just pretending to be happy, every day...and I never knew, because she didn't tell me! <> Takeru : If someone had told me, I would've hit you, dad! Tatsuko : Take-chan...poor thing... --What's wrong, mom? Tatsuko : It's all right, Futaba. <> Takeru : {The funeral was the next day. I just kept sobbing. My mother went home in a small box. The undertaker left, and my relatives were drinking tea....} <> Takeru : {And Aunt Tatsuko said...} Tatsuko : You aren't actually thinking of taking Hyouju in, are you, Kento-san? Don't think that I'm a bit surprised by what Kimie said to Take-chan. Futaba : Mom, not in front of Take-chan! Tatsuko : It's all right, he wants to know too. Isn't that right, Take-chan? Eru : Let's talk about this some other time. My brother and Takeru-kun must be tired. Tatsuko : Be quiet, Eru-san! My sister Kimie would definitely have been opposed! Even if those were her dying words, you can't just say, 'oh, all right'! Futaba : Mom! Tatsuko : What will you do, Kento-san? Kento : I'll do as my wife wanted. Kento : I'll take in Hyouju. <> Futaba : Mom! Mom! Stop her, Wakaba! Tatsuko : You can cry all you like, I don't care! Kimie was foolish to stick to you just because you're half-British and a bit good looking, until she died! Futaba : Mom, that's too much! Takeru : {I saw my dad crying for the first time in my life... but still, there are some things I can't forgive!} Takeru : I won't accept it. I'm absolutely opposed! I won't do anything to support it! --Take-chan! <> Tatsuko : Well-said, Take-chan! Takeru : {This is a development I had never imagined.} Takeru : {This is how my first fight started, with my father as my enemy.} <> Takeru : {My journey starts right now!} Takeru : I can go get the rest later. {Better leave my bike too.} Zen : Hi, mister! Takeru : You again? Do you want something with me? Zen : No, I just...I... <> Zen : I don't know what to say to make you feel better. Takeru : How do you know anything about this? Zen : When I was passing by before, there was a funeral going on at your house. Takeru : Oh...yeah...my mother died in an accident. Zen : Your mother... Takeru : Why are you crying? Zen : I'm sorry...I know this must be so hard on you...but I... Takeru : You're pretty young, to understand about death. Takeru : {I started crying too...} Zen : Are you leaving, mister? It's only five. It's too early to go to school. Takeru : I'm leaving home. Zen : What? But, where will you go? <> Zen : You're not going to join a gang, are you? Takeru : Don't be ridiculous. Zen : But... (Map is labeled with Takeru's house at the top right, Daigo's house at the bottom, Takeru and Zen standing in the street.) Zen : This is a very close place to run away to, mister. Takeru : Daigo! Are you there? <> Takeru : I'm going in this house. You go home. Zen : Okay! Rikitake : Well, if it isn't Take-chan! Feeling better? Takeru : Rikitake, I'm going to be hanging around here from now on! Rikitake : Oh, so that's how it is. All right, you can use Daigo's room. Takeru : Daigo, I'm coming in! Rikitake : Hmpf. Daigo : I see...you've got a half-sister... Daigo : And that's why you ran away from home. But your dad is really something! Takeru : What? Daigo : Rikitake said that your dad was really cute and popular when he was younger, and on the university campus he was called a "Japanese Richard Gere"! But on the inside, he wasn't the playboy type. Takeru : That's right, he wasn't! <> Takeru : My mother never forgave him! Daigo : I'm sorry. Takeru : {'Japanese Richard Gere'--my mother used to talk happily about that kind of stuff, but now I hate hearing about it.} Takeru : {My mother said he was cute, and had a reputation at the university and in the neighborhood, but he didn't have a loud personality, and he himself was a little bewildered by the gap between his looks and personality. He was the serious type, and sought refuge from the screaming girls who crowded around him. He asked Rikitake to set him up with my mother, and fell in love with her so much that he proposed to her right away.} Takeru : {When she said that, my father always got bright red and told her to cut it out. My mother laughed, and...that's how things always were.} <> Rikitake : Hey, Ken-chan! Kento : What? Takeru's at your place? He wasn't at my house when I came home, so I've been looking and calling everywhere. Rikitake : He's staying at my house for a while. Let's have a drink, Ken-chan. Rikitake : I know this isn't my business, but I'm only saying it because I like you. Children hold up high ideals for their parents, and they get frustrated when they realize the difference between their ideals and reality. Kento : Riki-chan... Kento : So I've really betrayed Takeru's ideals? Rikitake : Yeah, guess so. Kento : Hey, why are you laughing? Rikitake : Are you hungry, Ken-chan? I'll go ask Tsuruko to make you something. Kento : Thanks, Riki-chan. Rikitake : It's nothing. <> Rikitake : Hey, Tsuruko! Make us something to eat! Kento : {"Dear, dinner's ready. Can you call Takeru?"} <> Rikitake : She'll bring something soon. Even Kimie-san couldn't talk about it until her last hours. Kento : I wanted to wait for the right time...but I want to bring Hyouju here as soon as I can. Rikitake : Ken-chan, let me ask you something just to be sure. Do you want to take her in so much because she's Stella's daughter? Kento : No. I really care about Hyouju. I feel bad about Stella, but I couldn't lie to myself. The one I loved was Kimie. Kento : I loved her then, and I still do. Now, and always. Rikitake : Fine, fine. You can stop now. Kento : Why do you always act like that, Riki-chan? What's wrong with saying you love someone, when you do? Even Tsuruko-san is... <> Kento : Oh. Tsuruko-san. Tsuruko : Excuse me... Kento : This is the perfect opportunity, Riki-chan! If you love her, tell her, right now! Rikitake : Are you ordering me to tell her? Kento : Yes, I am! Look at her! She's always doing what you say, and you've never once told her that you love her! Rikitake : That's my own business! <> Ikuma : Good morning. Tsuruko : Good morning, Ikuma. Ikuma : Hey, there's one breakfast too many. Tsuruko : That's for Take-chan. He's been staying here since yesterday. Takeru : Good morning, Tsuruko-san. Tsuruko : Did you sleep well, Take-chan? Takeru : Yes, thank you. I'm sorry for making you go to all this trouble. Tsuruko : That's all right. Takeru : I'm thinking of getting a part-time job. Then I'll be able to pay you back for the food. Tsuruko : Oh, don't be silly! You need to study for your exams to get into Honami! Rikitake : You're going to Honami, Take-chan? Takeru : Yes, my mother wanted me to go there. Rikitake : And you're going to work at the same time, eh? Daigo : Hey, Take-chan! Takeru : Stop calling me that! Daigo : The library's a good place to study, but... Takeru : What? Daigo : You seem to be a lot more serious about this than you were before. Takeru : I've told you why. My mother wanted me to go there. Daigo : And I believed you, until yesterday! Takeru : Why? Daigo : Ichigo-chan! Who's Ichigo, Takeru? Who's Ichigo? Takeru : She's a video game character! Daigo, can't you do something about that pile of dumbbells in the middle of your room? They're really in the way. Daigo : You're changing the subject! Who is she? <> Takeru : {I've been so hard at work studying that my imagination and "The Zero Movement" are completely stalled. Instead, a single oasis keeps floating up in my mind-- Ichigo-chan. The truth is, in the middle of these hard days, I was only happy when I thought of her.} I wonder what Tsuruko-san's making for supper tonight. Daigo : Croquettes, I think. Takeru : Daigo, you're heavy. Starting tomorrow, you're pedaling. Daigo : Takeru, there's somebody in front of your house. Takeru : Aunt Eru! <> Eru : I'm sorry, Takeru-kun. Looks like I got here too early. Takeru : {Aunt Eru is my dad's little sister.} Eru : The kitchen is so dusty. Your father must be eating out a lot. Takeru : Here you go. Eru : Thank you. Is it true you're staying with Rikitake-san? You must not have been home in a while. You should be burning incense for your mother every day. Takeru : I am, when he isn't here. Takeru : So, what are you doing here today? Eru : I'm afraid that there's been a misunderstanding, Takeru-kun. I thought at the funeral that I should tell you what I know. <> Takeru : Is it about Hyouju? Eru : Yes. Takeru : I don't want to hear it! Eru : Why? Takeru : In my memories, in my mind, my parents were the perfect couple. I don't want to hear about my father being unfaithful, I don't want to hear that he had a child with someone else! <> Eru : I think that you really have misunderstood. You can't come to a conclusion unless you analyze all the relevant information. For example--why do you think that Hyouju-chan is four years older than you? You don't know, do you? <> Eru : If you understand why, your impressions will change. Hyouju-chan was born before your father and your mother ever met. It seems obvious, but I have a point, don't I? You want to know more, right? Takeru : But... <> Takeru : I don't know whether my dad liked my mom more than he liked that other woman. Eru : He loved your mother more, Takeru, of course. Takeru : How do you know? Eru : He never even knew Hyouju-chan existed until you were five years old. Hyouju-chan's mother gave birth to her without even saying a word to my brother. So he didn't know anything. <> Eru : She was a British woman named Stella Maxwell, who he met as an exchange student in London. They dated, but broke up when he returned to Japan. At least, that was how my brother saw it. Stella-san saw it differently. Eru : So he returned to Japan, met Kimie-san and fell madly in love with her, and they got together, with Rikitake's help. You were born, and when you were five, he went to London to go to your grandmother's funeral. And that's when he first learned about Hyouju. Because he's very honest, he told Kimie-san about this as soon as he came back to Japan, and asked what he should do. <> Eru : They had a big fight about it, and even talked about getting a divorce, but of course my brother didn't want to. He didn't even hesitate to choose to live in Japan with you and Kimie-san. Isn't that the proof that he loved Kimie-san more than anything? Eru : But the reason that he wanted to take Hyouju in is that Stella had died four years earlier. On top of that, last spring, Hyouju's grandmother, who Hyouju had been living with, also died. He didn't want Hyouju to be living all by herself in London. Rikitake : Hey, Take-chan! Your father's downstairs. Should I just tell him to go home? Takeru : Yeah. Daigo : You should go home! Takeru : I don't want to. Am I bothering you here? Daigo : It's not that, but...come on, your mother's last words were that she wanted you to live together. You're just substituting in going to Honami. Takeru : Shut up. Daigo : I understand how you feel, but it's not as if any of this is Hyouju-san's fault. Takeru : It's really complicated. I can't just say 'all right.' Daigo : So you're going to live by yourself, and your dad's going to trade you for Hyouju-san? Takeru : What? Daigo : He's going to live with Hyouju-san anyway, right? So it will just be more convenient if you move out. And it'll be even better if she's good at cooking. <> Takeru : Are you saying that he'd choose Hyouju instead of me? He'd rather live with Hyouju? Daigo : Calm down, it's just hypothetical. Takeru : But...that might be true! <> Takeru : {Yeah, that might really be it! Neither one of us is going to give in, and nothing's going to change his mind, even my leaving home!} <> Takeru : {The one my dad loved the most was my mother, I can understand that. But the runner-up isn't me, but Hyouju?} <> Takeru : {They say that fathers like daughters better, but...} Aaah! Bob : Ju-Ju? Bob : What are you doing, Ju-Ju? Hyouju : Oh, Bob. Sorry, you startled me. Bob : What's wrong? You look like you've been crying. Hyouju : It's nothing. I was just reading a letter from my father...it's strange, but I really got caught up in it. <> Bob : Your father? A letter from Kento? Ju-Ju, how long are you going to keep waiting, believing these kinds of castles in the air? What's this? "Don't worry, this year I'm trying really hard so that you'll be able to live with me." Yeah, right! Hyouju : No! He even called me. This time, it's for real! <> Bob : Kento's wife died two weeks ago, in an accident. My mom just got the news recently. Good for you, go ahead and go to Japan! But you're going to get treated terribly. Japan is a much more closed and conventional society than you think. <> Bob : Don't imagine that you're just going to become a member of a Japanese family and start making miso soup. You need to throw away this letter, Ju-Ju. Takeru : Morning, dad! Kento : Takeru, you're home! Takeru : Yeah. I've been here for a while, but I didn't want to wake you up. I just made some bread and fried eggs, and tonight I'm making curry. <> Takeru : I've been fine, because I've been eating Tsuruko-san's great cooking, but you've been eating out, haven't you? I thought you were probably getting sick of it. I think I should be able to make curry. I remember the kind of roux mom used to buy. No problem! Kento : Takeru... Kento : Does this mean you're going to accept Hyou-- Takeru : I'm going to expand my repertoire some more, dad, so you don't have to worry about household chores. We can do it together, just the two of us! I'm going to the supermarket after school, so can I have some money? Takeru : {I've finally realized that my mother in heaven wouldn't be happy to see us being stubborn and fighting with each other.} So I'm going to stop fighting, so my dad and I can live together and get along. Daigo : You've just changed what you're fighting about. Takeru : You can make curry with just meat and vegetables, right? Daigo : I don't know. Takeru : {I'm going to make it taste just like mom's!} Zen : Good evening! Takeru : Where are you from, anyway? You seem to show up everywhere. Zen : Please don't pay attention to it! Are you leaving, mister? Takeru : I'm going shopping for supper. Zen : Shopping? I'll come with you. It will be faster if we work together. Takeru : {I think this is where my mom always used to shop...} <> Zen : Are you going to make supper tonight? Takeru : Well, yeah. Zen : Wow! That's amazing! That's great! Takeru : That's a bit much. Zen : What are you making? Takeru : Curry! Zen : Wow! That's so wonderful! Zen : What do you make curry with, mister? Takeru : Meat, I guess... Zen : Here's the meat corner. What kind of meat? Takeru : Chicken...no, beef. Should I put all of it in? Zen : Yes, it'll be better that way. Oh, they have hamburger patties! That would be even more delicious! Takeru : I don't think so. <> Zen : I really like hamburger curry...but that's not really important. Takeru : Next, the vegetables. --That comes to 7986 yen. (About $75) Takeru : {Good think I brought a 10,000 yen bill.) Zen : You bought a lot, mister. Why don't we stop over somewhere? Takeru : Carrying all these groceries? They'll get stolen. Zen : You can put them over here! Takeru : Besides, I'm making curry. I think it's going to take some time, because I've never done it before. Bye, Zen-kun. Zen : Wait, mister! Over there, that road right there! Wait! Hey, mister! <> Zen : I failed again! This isn't going well at all. What'll I do? <> Shia : Oh! <> Shia : You little brat! I noticed you were gone, and here you are! Give me back my orange card. Zen : No, Shia! Shia : You promised that you wouldn't come! <> Shia : Father's waiting for you. You're really going to get in trouble. Zen : You don't understand me at all, Shia! I'm doing this for your own good, and for Kiyu, too! Shia : Liar! Takeru : Ow! I cut myself again! I'm running out of bandages. Takeru : Put in the meat, put in the vegetables, put in the water...and now for the curry roux. All right it's done! Now for a taste test... <> Kento : I'm home, Takeru! It smells good! Kento : You really made curry! Huh? What's wrong? <> Takeru : The flavor's all wrong. I forgot to cook the rice, too. I used the same kind of roux as mom did, but the flavor's wrong. Kento : Let's see...hey, this is really good, Takeru! <> Takeru : I found three kinds of roux in the fridge. Mom didn't use just one kind, she always made a blend. Takeru : I wanted it to taste like mom's. Aren't you scared, dad? We're going to be eating lots of things. Do you think you'll always remember how mom's cooking tasted? Just the curry is so much different... <> Kento : I'll help you out every day. We'll remember your mom's cooking. Takeru : I really want to eat her curry. <> Takeru : You think so too, dad! How can you be so calm? It's like you're trying to forget her faster! Just a little while ago, she was standing there cooking dinner! <> Takeru : I know that it's what mom wanted, and I wanted to make her happy, and I'm sorry for Hyouju, but...I don't want to forget what mom's curry tasted like yet. <> Kento : I understand. <> Kento : I'm sorry, Takeru. Hyouju won't be coming to our house. <> Kento : Come on, Takeru, let's eat this curry. You went to all the trouble of making it. I guess I'd better cook some rice, though!