1. Long ago, there was a bird.Copy !req
2. One day,
the bird fell asleep while flying,Copy !req
3. and a tragedy occurred.Copy !req
4. It crashed into a long rock
protruding from the ground.Copy !req
5. The bird had a disease that would make it
turn to stone upon crashing into a rock,Copy !req
6. and it remained there, stuck,
as eons passed by.Copy !req
7. In some eras, it was an object of worship,Copy !req
8. while in others,
it was used as a drying rack.Copy !req
9. While its use changed over the eras,Copy !req
10. it became rooted to the area.Copy !req
11. And now, in present day...Copy !req
12. This is the story of a cityCopy !req
13. that has nothing to do with that bird.Copy !req
14. Hello, dear my friendsCopy !req
15. I remember the daysCopy !req
16. We spent talking about our dreamsCopy !req
17. It's hard to become an adultCopy !req
18. Let's go find the thingCopy !req
19. That we kept hiddenCopy !req
20. Hey!Copy !req
21. Throw away your cluttered mindCopy !req
22. Swim in the cloudsCopy !req
23. Raise your head and run out, rightCopy !req
24. The rain has stoppedCopy !req
25. Sing alongCopy !req
26. Hold handsCopy !req
27. I laugh tooCopy !req
28. You laugh tooCopy !req
29. I'm sure like thisCopy !req
30. We'll meet againCopy !req
31. CLOSEDCopy !req
32. Big Bro, what's your star sign again?Copy !req
33. Capricorn.Copy !req
34. Yikes. Let me read you your horoscope.Copy !req
35. - This week for Capricorns—
- Wait!Copy !req
36. Don't lead with "yikes"!Copy !req
37. Okay.Copy !req
38. - Then let me try again.
- Try again?Copy !req
39. So, the ranking for Capricorns is...Copy !req
40. You don't have to say it!Copy !req
41. I don't believe in that stuff anyway!Copy !req
42. Fine.Copy !req
43. WEEKLY CITY MAGAZINECopy !req
44. Okay, just tell me the lucky item!Copy !req
45. CHAPTER
"MAKABE FAMILY"Copy !req
46. WESTERN CUISINE MAKABECopy !req
47. Is this really what it is?Copy !req
48. Yeah. Says so right here. Miniskirt.Copy !req
49. I see.Copy !req
50. - So, did it work?
- What?Copy !req
51. Has this lucky item granted me luck now?Copy !req
52. Who knows?Copy !req
53. Well, I guess it has...Copy !req
54. Yes, I've looked at it.
It must have worked.Copy !req
55. - All right!
- Wear it.Copy !req
56. Wear it, Tatewaku.Copy !req
57. Dad!Copy !req
58. That's exactly what I was afraid of!Copy !req
59. Then what are you going to do?Copy !req
60. I'll keep it with me all day
and never let it leave my side!Copy !req
61. What are you laughing at?Copy !req
62. Sorry, sorry.Copy !req
63. Listen, Tatewaku.Copy !req
64. If the lucky item had been curry rice,
what would you have done?Copy !req
65. Would you just look at it all day?Copy !req
66. Would you keep it on you all day
and never let it leave your side?Copy !req
67. You wouldn't, would you?
Tatewaku, curry is something you eat.Copy !req
68. And a skirtCopy !req
69. is something you wear.Copy !req
70. You said you wanted to play
in the next soccer match, right?Copy !req
71. If the new part-time kid comes,
you can go to the match.Copy !req
72. But there is no guarantee
that kid will come.Copy !req
73. So take the risk, Tatewaku.Copy !req
74. For your own luck!Copy !req
75. So, what are you going to do?Copy !req
76. What? What are you laughing about?
It's my lucky item!Copy !req
77. Don't take pictures!Copy !req
78. - For Mom.
- For Ecchan.Copy !req
79. Don't send it to people!Copy !req
80. Don't keep it as a memory!Copy !req
81. Where were you even
keeping that microphone?Copy !req
82. Someone, help me!Copy !req
83. STAFF ONLYCopy !req
84. Wait, where'd they go?
When did they stop chasing me?Copy !req
85. CITY SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOLCopy !req
86. Matsuri, if you could have
only one special power, what would it be?Copy !req
87. CHAPTER
"FRIENDS"Copy !req
88. The ability to have money
come out of my hands nonstop!Copy !req
89. So greedy!Copy !req
90. Well, what about you, Ecchan?Copy !req
91. Me?Copy !req
92. The ability to turn all of that money
into counterfeit bills.Copy !req
93. No fair! I'll get caught!Copy !req
94. I won't let you take over the world
that easily.Copy !req
95. But Ecchan, that ability...Copy !req
96. It'd be useless unless I was around.Copy !req
97. So, you've finally noticed, Matsuri.Copy !req
98. Who are you?Copy !req
99. Good evening. I'm Ecchan.Copy !req
100. Oh, good. It's just you, Ecchan.Copy !req
101. Without you, my abilities won't manifest.Copy !req
102. So the reason I chose that ability...Copy !req
103. - Do you know it?
- I have no idea.Copy !req
104. Think about it a little.Copy !req
105. The thing I really want isn't an ability.Copy !req
106. That's right.Copy !req
107. Matsuri.Copy !req
108. It's you.Copy !req
109. Ecchan!Copy !req
110. Marry me—Copy !req
111. Rejection toss!Copy !req
112. No sweat!Copy !req
113. That's the Ecchan I know!Copy !req
114. Not joining a clubCopy !req
115. and watching sumo every day
has served you well.Copy !req
116. That's not true! I'm in the go home club!Copy !req
117. I'm the go home club champion!Copy !req
118. If you're the champion, what am I?Copy !req
119. You're a go home club champion too!Copy !req
120. Two champions!Copy !req
121. Then shall we defend our titles today too?Copy !req
122. We'll defend our titles
and leave our mark on history!Copy !req
123. ARASHIMA TEMPLECopy !req
124. We're almost at the farewell intersection.Copy !req
125. Fifty yen. Let's get some juice.Copy !req
126. Matsuri, what are you doing?Copy !req
127. Imagining money coming out of my hands.Copy !req
128. Stop it, Ecchan!
Don't send out those vibrations!Copy !req
129. SWEET OLIVE MANORCopy !req
130. I don't think I can go on any longer.Copy !req
131. Please give me a break.Copy !req
132. Come on, Sensei, you can do it!Copy !req
133. Mr. Editor, I've gotten this far
with nothing but bummer material,Copy !req
134. but now...Copy !req
135. I'm all out of ideas.Copy !req
136. RESUME
MIDORI NAGUMOCopy !req
137. WESTERN CUISINE MAKABECopy !req
138. Hello!Copy !req
139. All right, then.Copy !req
140. You're really going at it, huh?Copy !req
141. Oh, you came at just the right time.Copy !req
142. Take this over there.Copy !req
143. Okay, okay.Copy !req
144. Here, take this—Copy !req
145. First player, giant pawn.Copy !req
146. Second player, medium-sized gold.Copy !req
147. Ten seconds.Copy !req
148. CHAPTER
"CRISPY NOODLES"Copy !req
149. One, two, three, four, five, six...Copy !req
150. It went in—Copy !req
151. Please! Pretend you didn't see!Copy !req
152. What? There's no way
you can cover that up!Copy !req
153. It went straight in!Copy !req
154. Then what would you do?Copy !req
155. Run away! Ouch!Copy !req
156. The owner can't just run away!Copy !req
157. Then all we can do is apologize! Ouch!Copy !req
158. - You bastard!
- How naive can you be?Copy !req
159. If I apologize, he'll yell at me!Copy !req
160. That's so obvious, it woke me right up.Copy !req
161. Here, come here.Copy !req
162. I can't say this out loud,Copy !req
163. but there's no choice but to trick him.Copy !req
164. - Since I can't say it out loud...
- He went on and on about his strategy,Copy !req
165. but my ears were so fuzzy
that I was incapable of doing anything...Copy !req
166. SOCopy !req
167. OTTER PERIGNONCopy !req
168. I bought the famous one!Copy !req
169. All right, did you get the receipt?Copy !req
170. - It's in your wallet.
- Great work.Copy !req
171. So, are you ready?Copy !req
172. IN CHARGE OF CRISPY NOODLESCopy !req
173. IN CHARGE OF THE WINE AND BAGCopy !req
174. Things are getting interesting!Copy !req
175. Here we go.Copy !req
176. "THIS IS ON THE HOUSE."Copy !req
177. - Sorry!
- I am terribly sorry!Copy !req
178. - So sorry!
- Sorry!Copy !req
179. Goodness, I have no words of apology!Copy !req
180. What a delight!Copy !req
181. I knew it was the right choice
to build in a microphone.Copy !req
182. SIZZLE
CRACKLECopy !req
183. SIZZLE
CRACKLECopy !req
184. KABOOM!Copy !req
185. CHAPTER
"DR. ADATARA"Copy !req
186. No, no, both of you.Copy !req
187. Please, lift your heads.Copy !req
188. The reason the cork hit my forehead
and that I got all wetCopy !req
189. is because you were kind enough
to offer me free champagne.Copy !req
190. It's left a dent...Copy !req
191. Your thoughtfulness is most delightful.Copy !req
192. It is only a small gesture,
but allow me to give this to you.Copy !req
193. A Consideration Award.Copy !req
194. This person hasn't noticed
the crispy noodles.Copy !req
195. I delivered the food.Copy !req
196. Why are you bowing down like that?Copy !req
197. You really came! Thank you so much!Copy !req
198. You totally looked like
the kind of person who wouldn't show up,Copy !req
199. - so I was super worried.
- Hey!Copy !req
200. As embarrassing as it is,Copy !req
201. this is all thanks to
wearing the miniskirt!Copy !req
202. Well then, I'm going to continue
my homework in my room—Copy !req
203. Hot! It's hot!Copy !req
204. BOOM!Copy !req
205. Why are there crispy noodles in my bag?Copy !req
206. So it was just Tatewaku's bag all along?Copy !req
207. Good for you!Copy !req
208. It's not good at all!Copy !req
209. How the heck did two crispy noodles
even fit in my bag?Copy !req
210. - Don't you understand, Tatewaku?
- How the heck could I understand?Copy !req
211. For a brief moment, you wore a skirt.Copy !req
212. But you quickly returned to wearing pants.Copy !req
213. In other words, that's how it goes.Copy !req
214. This was destined to happenCopy !req
215. because you're not wearing
your lucky item.Copy !req
216. That's what you think!
I'm still wearing them!Copy !req
217. I feel like I've seen
this course of events before.Copy !req
218. Don't just go straight back to work!Copy !req
219. Don't just go straight to eating!Copy !req
220. Don't just go straight
to taking the staff meal home!Copy !req
221. If you're going to mess with me,
then mess with me!Copy !req
222. What the heck is this horoscope?Copy !req
223. What part of this
is supposed to be a lucky item?Copy !req
224. SAUCECopy !req
225. BOOM!Copy !req
226. That place is smoking again.Copy !req
227. CHAPTER
"WAKO IZUMI"Copy !req
228. Oh, no!Copy !req
229. Oh, no, no, no...Copy !req
230. No, no, no...Copy !req
231. I think... This is...Copy !req
232. totally one of those
"lost my point card" situations!Copy !req
233. I don't have a clue
where I could've lost it,Copy !req
234. so I'll sniff some Kaimei ink
and calm myself down a bit.Copy !req
235. Maybe it's because of
this gentle, nostalgic scent,Copy !req
236. but I find myself
reflecting on my life so far.Copy !req
237. WAKO IZUMICopy !req
238. These utterly average,
unremarkable 20 yearsCopy !req
239. are a bit depressing even to me.Copy !req
240. At times like this,Copy !req
241. I touch the gills on the underside
of my beloved shiitake mushrooms to relax!Copy !req
242. Academically speaking,
it may have the same effect as warm milk.Copy !req
243. On a whim, I decide to stroke the surface
of the shiitake mushroom too,Copy !req
244. and am immediately captivated
by its indescribable velvet-like texture.Copy !req
245. Perhaps this fluttering feeling
could take me somewhere interesting,Copy !req
246. away from this ordinary daily life.Copy !req
247. Just thinking about it
makes my heart race.Copy !req
248. To calm my overflowing emotions,Copy !req
249. I touch the putty eraser
I always keep in my pocketCopy !req
250. and knead it at a steady pace.Copy !req
251. Every part of the shiitake mushroom
is precious.Copy !req
252. Whatever the case may be,
I am grateful for this encounter.Copy !req
253. Paru paru paru, point paru paru.Copy !req
254. On a whim, I decide to chant a blessing,
hoping that my point card will appear.Copy !req
255. "I'll make your wish come true."Copy !req
256. Oh, God!Copy !req
257. With such things running through my mind,Copy !req
258. I get a good feeling
that everything will just work out,Copy !req
259. so I quickly start walking
towards the police box.Copy !req
260. THE OFFICER IS CURRENTLY AWAYCopy !req
261. Reality is truly a cruel thing.Copy !req
262. Excuse me.Copy !req
263. Are you looking for this?Copy !req
264. MAKABE STAMP CARDCopy !req
265. This is it, this is it!Copy !req
266. It's been found all of a sudden!Copy !req
267. Thank you, Mr. Officer!Copy !req
268. That god I made yesterday
really does have power.Copy !req
269. I return to my roomCopy !req
270. and give the Papico packed into the tip
as an offering to the god.Copy !req
271. The bit of Papico stuck at the tip,
which I eat just before it melts,Copy !req
272. is exceptionally delicious.Copy !req
273. The main part is also delicious.Copy !req
274. What if I add another layer of happiness
to my current state of happiness?Copy !req
275. Could it be that I'll become
dangerously happy?Copy !req
276. I stretch the putty eraser,Copy !req
277. creating the fluffy spots that appear
just before it breaks,Copy !req
278. and begin tapping them gently.Copy !req
279. The mystery of this cotton-like substance
being formed from a hard putty eraser.Copy !req
280. The bliss of crushing it all by myself.Copy !req
281. This is truly the bestest, the greatest,
the happiest time of all.Copy !req
282. However, this happiness
is a different flavor,Copy !req
283. which makes me realize that there are
all kinds of different happinesses.Copy !req
284. MR. BUMMER
REALITY IS TRULY A CRUEL THINGCopy !req
285. KAMABOKO ONICopy !req
286. A joke...Copy !req
287. Anything...Copy !req
288. A bummer joke...Copy !req
289. We do have one ultimate trump card.Copy !req
290. I'm going to say it!Copy !req
291. This week will be the final chapter.Copy !req
292. What?Copy !req
293. Idea received.Copy !req
294. CHAPTER
"ROOM 203"Copy !req
295. Hey.Copy !req
296. Sorry!Copy !req
297. Were you doing some sexy stuff?Copy !req
298. No way!Copy !req
299. I was taking a photo of broccoli!Copy !req
300. Why did you come barging in here, anyway?Copy !req
301. Well, you know,
I got extra of the staff meal.Copy !req
302. You'll have some too, right, Niikura?Copy !req
303. Thanks for the food.Copy !req
304. What's with that smirk on your face?Copy !req
305. All right, that'll be a thousand yen!Copy !req
306. Schemer!Copy !req
307. Speaking of, how was your part-time job?Copy !req
308. CHAPTERCopy !req
309. Well, listen to this.Copy !req
310. Two servings of crispy noodles
went straight in like, "whoosh!"Copy !req
311. Wow, sounds like a busy day.Copy !req
312. Something like that.Copy !req
313. Niikura, what did you do?Copy !req
314. I went to university.Copy !req
315. You should go too, Nagumo. To university.Copy !req
316. Like "whoosh"?Copy !req
317. Like whoosh!Copy !req
318. By the way, what were you doing
with that broccoli earlier?Copy !req
319. You want to know?Copy !req
320. MITAKE CAMERA
X MONTH ISSUECopy !req
321. The magazine I bought this morning.Copy !req
322. Here, take a look at this!Copy !req
323. MICHAEL J. NIIKURA (AGE 18)Copy !req
324. - Yes. Me!
- Amazing!Copy !req
325. Seriously?Copy !req
326. - How much did you get for it?
- Nothing. Zero yen.Copy !req
327. - Worthless.
- Hey!Copy !req
328. If you get the grand prize, it's 100,000.
100,000!Copy !req
329. That's the dream, isn't it?Copy !req
330. That's enough to cover two months' rent.Copy !req
331. Show me the one that won the grand prize.Copy !req
332. WAKO IZUMI (AGE 20)Copy !req
333. No way!Copy !req
334. Niikura, do they accept pictures
taken with a cell phone?Copy !req
335. Yeah, I don't think it's a problem.Copy !req
336. Seriously? We can get it, the 100,000 yen!Copy !req
337. Niikura, Niikura,
what do you take your pictures with?Copy !req
338. I use a normal square camera.Copy !req
339. No fair!Copy !req
340. All right, lend that to me!Copy !req
341. - Well, if it's for you...
- All right!Copy !req
342. However!Copy !req
343. Please wait until the end of the month.Copy !req
344. Once I get paid,
I can use the money I've saved...Copy !req
345. and buy a DSLR!Copy !req
346. I worked super hard and saved up!Copy !req
347. Until then, I'll take a bunch of picturesCopy !req
348. - and submit them all!
- That's amazing.Copy !req
349. Niikura, it seems like
you already know the thing you want to do.Copy !req
350. Where's this coming from all of a sudden?Copy !req
351. The thing that'll be your thing
throughout your college days.Copy !req
352. You've already found it.Copy !req
353. It's just a bit of a shock.Copy !req
354. Do you want to become a photographer
in the future, then?Copy !req
355. Well, if I could, that'd be great, but...Copy !req
356. What's this all about?Copy !req
357. Nagumo, don't you have a thing?
Something you want to do.Copy !req
358. I mean, sure I do.Copy !req
359. I'll help you too.
Let's find it together...Copy !req
360. Wait, you do?Copy !req
361. Then what was that whole spiel earlier?Copy !req
362. What do you mean, "spiel"?Copy !req
363. So, what is it? The thing you want to do.Copy !req
364. Something fun.Copy !req
365. Well, then I guess
you should do something fun.Copy !req
366. But there are so many things
that I can't choose just one.Copy !req
367. But if I'm gonna do something,
I wanna do the most fun thing of all!Copy !req
368. Pu...Copy !req
369. So pure!Copy !req
370. "DREAM"Copy !req
371. The season that was vagueCopy !req
372. Melts without a careCopy !req
373. In just five minutes on foot
Down the sweltering streetCopy !req
374. Whether it's a dream or reality
I can't tellCopy !req
375. Oversleeping and ending up in a pinchCopy !req
376. Endlessly chasing all things I wantCopy !req
377. Feeling embarrassed or being stubbornCopy !req
378. They say now's the best time to eat themCopy !req
379. Pretending to be the same as alwaysCopy !req
380. It's a summerCopy !req
381. That's different from last yearCopy !req
382. Annoying, but still, it's funCopy !req
383. You're still youCopy !req
384. In this town on the edge
Where everyone's the sameCopy !req
385. I want to be with you today tooCopy !req
386. Beyond the roofCopy !req
387. The sun is hidingCopy !req
388. Ah, summer is leavingCopy !req