Original subtitles

Step Jun, Step Jun, Step Jun

Come on, come on, come on

Step

J

u

n

Hai!

I sensed you on a secret frequency

and was captivated by your radiance

And seeing you with my million-bit vision

The circuits of my heart

Ah, they're going wild!

The forces of love move me as they will

So I've embraced the mystery

If it's for the sake of the one you love

Why, there's nothing you couldn't do!

Oh, the heartful, heartful mechanic

the slightest movements of a pure heart

The heartful, heartful mechanic

makes true your dream-colored heartbeats

Step Jun, Step Jun, Step Jun!

Your hot desire! Come on, come on, input!

It was a rainy evening on the verge of summer's end.

We met with a strange encounter,

one which arrived so silently one could scarcely notice.

You're all alone as well, huh...

Spooked by a Spectre

Ah...

Can't slack off even during summer vacation, huh.

Oh, that's right...

And there it is.

This was from...

Right.

It was on the day I went to school to grab something I forgot.

Suddenly, I heard something at the end of the hall.

Curious, I went to see what it was.

I saw something sparkling, and I decided to pick it up...

But then suddenly the jingling bell went silent.

Overcome by fear, I gripped the key tight and fled!

I mean, there's been rumors that the end of the hall is haunted...

...That's right.

Ah jeepers, that's just a rumor!

Yep, just a goofy old rumor.

Rush Rush Ultra, at your service.

Huh? What the heck's that thing?

For pete's sake, don't startle me like that!

Fear circuit overloaded!

Eee! Here comes the cat!

H-Hey, you mind chasing him off?

Your allergic reaction to Pochi really is something else.

But you can relax, that sound just now wasn't Pochi.

So it wasn't a cat?

Well, it was a cat, but it must be a nearby stray.

Kichinosuke, it was you ringing that bell just now, right...?

It's over there...

It must be from downstairs!

Follow me, Kichinosuke!

On my way!

Ah!

Now how did that cat get inside?

I thought that you were a stray, but just look at that pretty bell!

Okay, you head off back home now, okay?

Absolutely not! This isn't where you live!

It does seem sort of mean...

Yay! A kitty!

What's going on out here?

C'mon over here, lil' kitty.

It looks like that cat doesn't want to leave here.

It's so cute!

Got a lost kitty on our hands, huh?

Hey, chuckin' it out into this downpour is pretty darn mean.

Howzabout we let it crash here for the night?

Howdy Pochi, good timin'.

Got yourself a roommate for the night! You two be friends now.

Look at Pochi, gettin' all red in the face.

This calico here is a fella, though.

Hey Jun, it'll be fine, right?

S-Sure.

Heck no!!!

No way!!!

We don't need two stinkin' cats! Get it out of here!

No waaaaay!!!

Just the reaction I'd expect from a cat hater.

No, that's not why!

Yeah, nice try.

Now aren't you the cutest kitty?

- So cute! - Okay, let's all head for bed!

But it's really not 'cause I hate cats.

So where are you from?

I'm from Higo

And where is Higo?

It's in Kumamoto

Where's Kumamo --

...Let's play!

I don't remember seeing you around here. What's your name?

Mike.

- Where do you live? - Over there!

W-Wait, over there...?

Come on over!

N-No, I don't think so..

Come on over.

Come on over...

W-Wait, that's the stuffed animal I threw away!

- Good morning, Daddy. - Mornin'.

You sure got yourself a long face today.

Well, I had quite the bad dream last night, I'd have to say.

Had a nightmare, huh?

So here's the thing...

It was about a ghost!

Huh? You had a dream about a ghost?

Sure did.

It was like it wanted to spirit me away somewhere.

I knew you'd see something!

What are you talking about, Kichinosuke?

Saw it with my own eyes last night!

- Saw it when I peeked in your room... - You saw what?

That cat from yesterday --

Wh-What's wrong, Kichinosuke?

Kichinosuke!

N-Never mind, didn't see a darn thing!

- Oh, for... - Hey, hold it!

That's right, we should turn this cat over to the police box right away.

Hey! What do you think you're doing?

Doesn't wanna be taken to the police box, it looks like.

Kichinosuke, go get it back, all right?

No way! Look what it's doing!

"Come here, come here"...?

Ah! My Pipi-con!

Jun, stop! That's a ghost!

Zero!

Yo! Out for a jog?

No, I'm not!

But perfect timing! Look over there!

Look at what?

Huh? Just a stray cat, ain't it?

Yes, but that stray cat stole my Pipi-con!

Please Zero, can you get it back?

I'll give you the best lunch you ever had as a reward!

Heh! Okay!

Oh, thank you so much!

Jun! Let's go!

We trapped it. This hallway's a dead end.

- S-Stop! - Why?

Th-This is where...

Hey! What's the matter?

Zero! I'm getting really scared...

Ain't nothin' here! C'mon, let's go.

Ah, there you are.

You're gonna get me lunch! Stay still, now...

Z-Zero...

Yep, just like that...

The heck you screamin' for?

Thought this area was plenty noisy for summer break!

Knew I'd find some troublemakers!

Ol' man, you got us pegged wrong!

We were just chasin' after a cat is all.

Enough with the sass-mouth!

Ohata Sensei's gonna sort the both of you out but good!

I knew hidin' in wait here for five hours would pay off!

Chasing after a cat, you say?

This cat grabbed some toy of yours and made off like a bandit?

Yes.

Enough with the nonsense!

The only things a cat will bother to steal are fish and soba noodles!

Still, this didn't seem to be a normal cat!

Oh really! Mind filling me in on why this cat was so different?

Well, how should I put this...

It was calling out to us!

It was like it wanted to lead us somewhere.

Drop the act.

You two stashed something behind the door at the end, correct?

Door?

You mean there's a door at the end of the hallway?

Here...

This does seem to be the key to that door we lost some time ago.

But why do you...?

I found it in that hallway!

Found it?

Sensei, what's behind that door at the end of the hall?

That cat was trying to draw us towards that door there!

Z-Zip it!

You listen here.

Get it? We're living in an age where space shuttles are soaring through the sky!

And in an age like that, we aren't going to have weirdo cats running around!

Be that as it may, if we consider that it may be possible...

Well...

It'd be a demon cat.

Demon cat?!

Now that's a joke-and-a-half!

If demon cats are real, you can fry me as karaage and gobble me up!

Well, that puts a bow on it, I'd say.

I'll take it you two are going to straighten up and fly right.

Finally done, eh? Awright, time for some lunch!

Okay then, right away if you could!

Sure!

So Jun, who did ya call?

Your grandmother!

- So she's gonna come here? - Yes.

She's been around for a while, after all, so she might know something.

Sheesh, still hung up on that whole thing, huh.

There's absolutely something going on!

Plus, I haven't got the Pipi-con back yet either.

Your lunch has arrived!

Ooh, just what I was waitin' for!

Hey Jun, it's starting to rain.

Oh, it is?

It's really coming down.

- Ohata Sensei! - Hmm?

Mighta been a germ of truth to that whole cat talk earlier.

Oh? And what do you mean by that?

Some lil' lady just dropped by lookin' for her cat!

She handed this over as an apology for causin' so much fuss.

Oh? And what's this.

Who knows?

Sure odd to see a gal in a kimono this day and age!

But she sure was a cutie-pie, what with that bell ringin' with every step.

Oh?

A ringing bell, you say.

Agh! My head as karaage?!

Quite the likeness, I gotta say!

Wh-Who would dare pulling off a stunt like this?

Outrageous! Just outrageous!

Oh goodness, going to all the trouble of serving me a wonderful lunch?

Oh no, I'm happy to!

I suppose I have that mysterious cat to thank for such a fine feast.

Yes, and that's exactly what I wanted to ask about.

I figured that was the motivation for the invitation.

Anyways, I'd like to hear all the details of this so-called calico cat.

Bizarre... just utterly bizarre.

The obvious culprit would be Nonomiya, who I just scolded earlier...

But this is too ridiculous, even for her.

Damn it...

Okay, who's the punk trying to mess with me?

That's when we got caught by the caretaker, who dragged us off to Ohata Sensei!

I see.

If what you're saying is true, this is quite the pickle indeed.

Ooh! Pickle, pickle!

Why's it a pickle?

Long ago, there was a great samurai residence in the area by the school.

And it was the location of a rather peculiar tale.

The head of the household was known to be a violent type who loved his sake.

One day, he had been drinking ever since dawn broke.

That was when his daughter's cat dropped by for a visit.

It had worked up an appetite, you see.

And it started to gobble down the master's dinner!

Naturally, this did little to curry the master's favor.

Despite this, the cat came back for more.

He drew his fearsome sword to deal with the cat once and for all.

That was when his daughter returned home.

She quickly rushed in to stop him...

Alas...

The master ended up striking down his own daughter instead.

The cat continued to gobble down the food, now mixed with the daughter's blood.

Not that it understood what it was doing, but it had tasted the blood of humans...

And any cat who tastes the blood of man will fall to the devil.

Really?

That's right.

But later on that evening was when things really hit the fan.

His mind warped from shock, the master continued drinking mindlessly.

And then...

Suddenly, he could spot the silhouette of his daughter through the paper door.

In disbelief, the master drew close and took a peek inside...

That was when he spotted his supposedly dead daughter furiously gobbling away!

Knowing he had been cursed, the master torched his own domicile to the ground.

Quite the heartbreaking turn for the girl, though.

Later, a monk built a cat grave there in hope of breaking that curse.

And then after that the school was built!

Yes!

Never seen any cat grave kickin' around the school, though.

I'm sure the ghost was leading you to it, all the way behind that hallway's dead end.

S-So it really is a demon cat?

Yes, it appears that it is!

But then why was it trying to summon us?

I think we best leave that for later!

For now, we should be worried about the current holder of the key, Ohata Sensei.

Let's play...

Wh-What did you say?

It-It's a fried head!

Let's hurry, Jun!

Let's play.

"Let's play..."?

Would you like to play?

Hey, do you want to play?

With me, that is!

You want... to play?

Yeah!

Okay. Let's play!

Where'd she run off to?

Kagome, kagome

The bird is inside its cage

When, oh when, will it ever come out

In the darkness before daybreak

A crane and a turtle slipped and fell

Who is that behind me now?

Thank you.

Well, you should head home now.

We all have to go home sometime!

Here!

Goodbye...

Goodbye.

This is a cat grave?

So this is where it was...

You were waiting here all that time.

For someone to come...

Afterwards, our final summer break of middle school drew to an uneventful close,

and the carefree days of summer disappeared without a trace.

But one event stood in stark contrast,

which was the exciting tale behind the discovery of the cat grave,

which would always live on in the deepest parts of our hearts.

So, that something you made?

Yes!

It seemed rather lonely out here, after all.

Think you might've gone overboard a tad?

It might be a little too noisy, after all.

I have to wonder about that.

Thank you!

We're at the amusement park

On a date, eating ice cream

My crocodile tears are shining

in the illumination of the shuttle loop

But because of his warm kindness

I flash my practiced smile

But it's all a dream, isn't it?

Reality: 100% Hopeless Crush

Looks: Beep Beep Beep... 100

Sports: Beep Beep Beep... 100

Popularity: Beep Beep Beep... 120

That would be his data

Looks: Beep Beep Beep... 30

Sports: Beep Beep Beep... 20

Popularity: Beep Beep Beep... 10

And that would be my data...

*computer beeping*

360 degrees of rivals, wherever I go

*computer beeping*

Tonight's projected chance of love... 0!

Brought to you by MaruChanSubs!

Our fun summer break is over,

and it's time for a new semester with Zero!

But, is this actually happening?

They're saying that Zero's left school!

He's running off to England without saying a word to anyone!

You're kidding me!!!

Suddenly, there's a call from Zero...

Hai! Step Jun!

"A Fall Without Zero!"

The Heartful Mechanic!

A Fall Without Zero