Original subtitles

What? You're not taking it?

I'm waiting for the clouds to disappear.

Which clouds?

That one.

How could you not get bored?

It's only sky, you know.

I'm wondering what the sky is going to look like today.

Does the sky even have a face?

If you mean facial expressions,

even I know a little bit about that.

My daughter,

doesn't have

a boyfriend!!

Brought to you by: rid (twitter @waterhyacinth_)

Is that what Sora said?

Yeah, she wants to meet Ichinose Fuga.

What is she gonna do then?

She said something like giving him an iron fist or so.

That's none of your business, no need to worry.

But I don't know his whereabouts anyway.

- Hello. - Welcome.

Wataru-sensei, what is that you're holding?

Apparently Ouse Island is a fictional island. Ouse (逢瀬) means rendezvous/tryst. The actual location of island shown in episode 7&8 is at Misakimachi, Koajiro, Kanagawa Prefecture

A driftwood, souvenir from Ouse Island.

Driftwood from a mysterious old man?

Yeah, you could say I was forced.

So I bought it.

Somehow, it seemed to fit the Japanese atmosphere of Odaya.

Here you go.

They have such a thing at Ouse Island, huh.

You do scuba diving, right?

Yeah. I tried to forget reality for a while.

- Reality? - Uh, well...

I don't know if I should say this here,

but lately, Sora-san doesn't seem very interested in me.

Why do you look gloomy?

Well, she's been through a lot.

Could it be that you haven't heard anything from her?

Nothing.

She doesn't want to tell me, I guess.

That's not it.

She can't quite tell you.

It's probably not something she should tell others.

But I miss her.

I'm just trying to be her boyfriend.

How lame. I'm so lame.

It's upsetting when men slowly become lame and desperate like this.

Not all men, but me.

Oh, by the way.

What about the girl you promised with at the rabbit hutch?

Am I being insensitive?

I've got my Taiyaki wrapped up.

I'll take my leave now, the afternoon visitors are waiting.

Is that so? Thanks for the driftwood. Such a fine piece.

You said it was pricey.

I heard that the price isn't right, I was overcharged.

But I'm glad you like it.

Thank you very much.

Shunichiro-san, why did you say that?

Well, Sora-chan is into Hikaru-kun, and it's so obvious to everyone, right?

No, Sora-chan is inexperienced in love,

so it's possible that she doesn't realize her feeling for Hikaru-kun.

Whose hand would she want to grab in the dark place with a bad foothold?

Who does she want to hang on to?

Chances are, she doesn't think it's love.

Chances are, she is in love with whoever she wants to be with in the bright and sunny Hawaiian ocean.

Why would she be with a man in the Hawaiian ocean?

How could you come up with that?

But driftwood.

I don't know how anyone can make a living by selling that.

What's going on?

You aren't forced to tell me.

I'll tell you.

Because you are my boyfriend.

My mom isn't my biological mother,

she only someone who raised me.

My biological mother died soon after I was born,

leaving me with a faraway dad I've yet to see.

I don't want to call him dad.

I have a biological father who abandoned

my birth mother and my foster mother.

You never knew about that?

Never. I found out by chance.

My mind was so full of it,

so if I've been cold to you, I'm sorry.

Don't be.

Are you okay? Did you have anyone to talk to?

Yeah, I talked to my classmate, Irino.

I see.

I mean, we used to draw manga together, and it just happened by chances.

I don't think so.

I wish I was there for you, if there was anything I could do.

I am...

sorry.

But you see, there is nothing between us.

We're just friends, no love in between.

Is that so?

Yes! Besides, Irino has a girlfriend who looks like a model.

She has a high waistline.

I heard her name is Kokoro-chan.

He doesn't get fired up unless the woman is taller than him.

He also says such nonsense thing.

More importantly, I'm thinking of finding my father.

Somehow.

My father, who abandoned my birth mother and my foster mother, isn't he evil?

I want to give him iron fist.

This is his picture from when he was young.

- Can I take a look? - Uh, sure.

- There's no hidden code. - No, wait.

"Ichinose Fuga."

I don't want to Google it myself because I feel like I'm losing.

What are you talking about.

The result is out.

"Forever With You", I've heard it somewhere.

Old blockbuster dramas.

Ichinose Fuga got his big break with this.

I know him! My mother used to watch this one.

Why are you trying to make yourself look young?

Are you going to mount it?

But I haven't seen him since then.

Yeah, for some reason he disappeared at his career peak.

Is he retired?

Nobody knows what he is doing now.

Most likely... definitely him.

He has changed a lot, but this is the driftwood guy I met in Ouse Island.

Driftwood?

You found him?

Wataru-sensei found him picking up driftwood in Ouse Island.

I don't really get it

but the point is, you found Ichinose Fuga?

Yep. But that was his stage name, not his real name.

Well, I suppose so. Are you going to see him?

Now that I've found him, I'm going to.

I'm now packing stuff while on the phone.

Man, I wasn't treated well.

This driftwood was sold by Ichinose Fuga?

Such trickery place has been around for quite a while.

So...

I decided to visit him.

Seriously?

Sora wouldn't listen to me.

You know, Wataru-sensei sounds jealous.

Because I told you about this whole thing,

but I didn't tell him any.

He got it wrong.

Yeah.

You have girlfriend who looks like model with a high waistline.

Kokoro-chan?

Yeah, I have her and we're being lovey dovey as usual.

It's unthinkable to be with someone who acts like little sister like you.

But you know, a boyfriend, or sweetheart?

I guess having a boyfriend means he can get jealous like this.

And then I said, "Sorry I was cold to you" like a good girl.

Don't do that. It's irritating being told so by an otaku.

You're an otaku yourself.

So... do you mind if I take a short break from our manga meeting?

I don't mind. You're meeting Ichinose Fuga, right?

Thank you very much.

It's a good thing Wataru-sensei asked him where he lives.

It's not like he lives there.

- What do you mean? - He's a nomad.

I heard he lives from place to place.

At any rate, I've asked his residence at this island.

His residence?

She went to see him, huh.

She went to see her ex.

Why are you giving off such vibes?

This place?

Ring the bell.

Are you out of your mind?

Should I?

You said you wanted to see him.

Hold on a second.

Do I look good?

Your makeup is vanishing.

I'll go fix it!

What can I do for you?

Ichinose-san!

Long time no see. I'm Aoi.

Um...

I'm Aoi. Minase Aoi.

Don't you remember me?

Sorry, please excuse me for a moment.

Mom!

You okay?

"Mom"?

You two are mother and daughter?

We are.

Came to see me?

Are you from Tokyo?

Yes.

Would you like to come inside?

Please have some.

Delicious.

That is Ashitaba tea from the mountain behind.

I...

am gonna explore around.

I've been in love with you for a week.

I was only 23 years old, just starting to grow up.

A week?

For you, it was a week to be forgotten,

but for me...

it was a week that I still remember vividly.

After a week,

you disappeared into thin air, and I looked for you.

And then...

I met Suzu-san.

I was just one of many women to you.

But...

Suzu-san.

You remember Hoshino Suzu-san, don't you?

Hoshino Suzu...

You don't even remember her?

Deadass...

"Deadass"?

It means "Seriously?", that's how my daughter says it.

So do I.

Hoshino Suzu-san, do you really not remember her?

She was an actress at the same troupe as you.

I'm not sure if I've ever met anyone like that.

After all, it was from 20 years ago.

When I was still acting in the theater.

Suzu-san has passed away.

That girl is your daughter with Suzu-san.

Her name is Sora.

Soon after giving birth to her,

Suzu-san died of a heart condition.

Then I took her in and raised her.

You did?

Yes.

I don't remember. Please forgive me.

I'm sorry to bother you at a time like this,

but I'm a writer and I have a deadline today.

Do you mind if I do my work here?

Feel free to.

Go ahead.

Are you okay?

Did you find something?

It's a rock crab.

Found a good piece.

I'm gonna clean this up.

The weak spots are rotting away, and they'll peel right off.

A solid core driftwood is a good one.

Don't you feel lonely...

Don't you feel lonely living alone in a place like this?

I am lonely.

How long?

How long does it take for a solid core to remain?

Let me think... Two to three years?

Maybe longer.

By the forces of nature like hitting the rocks, being battered by the waves,

and hitting the beach over times,

that is how the driftwood is strengthened.

It grows stronger as it travels.

You need to be hit and battered...

to be strong.

Let me try.

Go ahead.

Aoi-san, are you listening to me? Hello?

I'm sorry.

The manuscript is due today at 4 p.m.

Okay, I'll properly finish it.

- I'm sorry to bother you at a time like this. - Don't be.

"The Midsummer Sky is a Dream" will be serialized.

I have to do my best here.

It was taken from Ibuse Masuji's fiction novel "The Salamander" which was released in 1981

I want to start out with something like, "The Salamander felt sad!"

What do you mean...

Ibuse Masuji, don't you know him?

Of course I know.

I want to get one sentence out with a punch.

I see. It's possible that he shouted "I did it!"

when he came up with the idea.

He might be.

By the way, how are things going there?

Ichinose Fuga has forgotten about me.

- What? Really? - Pretty much.

He even tried to pretend to know nothing about Suzu-san.

The week I thought we were destined for love...

was just another week of nothing to him.

Monday through Sunday, 7 days a week.

I'm sure he had many other women.

To expand his acting skill.

He was an actor, indeed.

I heard it from my mom.

Why did you quit showbiz at your career peak?

You mean as an actor?

Yes.

It became dull when I get popular.

I heard the sound of "Boom, it's over!"

I've been swayed by numbers, whether they're selling or not.

My schedules were rife from morning till night.

My manager surrounds me like the satellite does to a planet.

I bought a big house and got stuck there.

To top it all off, the lines written in the script felt crippled.

Why do I have to say something I never thought of?

I'm not a robot.

I'm astonished at how you could decide to become an actor.

I'm sorry.

Don't be. You are right.

Sora-san, are you a college student?

I am, currently.

You're about to start.

Take this.

Let's go fishing for dinner.

If you do well, you can catch a largescale blackfish.

- Hey, let's get something to eat. - I want to eat something sweet.

Hey.

Nose hair guy.

You're still at it?

Why are they following us?

They wanna eat taiyaki here.

- What would your order be? - Taiyaki and yakisoba.

Okay.

- I'd like to try this sanmayaki. - Right away!

Thank you.

Just so you know.

I'm not giving up on Sora-chan.

Huh?

Don't give me that.

What would your order be?

- Sanmayaki. - Sanmayaki.

You're kindred spirits.

- We are not! - We are not!

O-okay.

Just so you know.

I have nothing to do with Sora.

You just called her "Sora."

Hello?

Sora-chan, you're so popular!

Right now, Hikaru-kun and Wataru-sensei are at Odaya,

fighting over you!

No way.

I don't think it makes any sense for you to declare war on me.

Love is about two people, right?

This is between two people in a locked room, and no third party is allowed in there.

Wow, you're on another level.

If you like her, just tell her so.

You think so?

Oh well, it is shameful to admit that I'm not really used to relationships.

While treating the elderly at my clinic,

I've unknowingly reached this age.

Sorry, I've been listening to you for a while now.

- Don't eavesdrop. - I could hear you.

There's nothing between Minase Sora and this guy.

They've never even held hands with each other.

I have held her hand.

You're winning then! A complete victory!

Don't worry.

Your friend?

- It seems like I'm being popular. - Sorry?

Nope.

You are cute, after all.

I'm an otaku, you know.

Otaku or not doesn't matter, cuteness is absolute.

Ichinose-san, you were popular, right?

Not at all. I'm not popular.

You made my birth mother and my foster mother knock over.

You can't sugarcoat your words, I see.

Did it get caught?

You're right! It did!

- Huh? - Is this your first time fishing, by any chance?

Yes. Raw fish! The raw fish is coming, right?

Pull the reels backwards.

- Roll it tighter. - Like this?

Roll it up more.

I went to ask if you had Wi-Fi.

- Wi-Fi? - The Internet.

I can't send my manuscript without an Internet connection.

- What's the Internet? - No use asking him, Mom.

He lives like a caveman, fishing in the sea.

I'm just kidding.

Go ahead.

Ow! The fish!

They are very much alive.

Wow.

Your job seems tough.

Pretty much.

But it will all set once I finished and sent it off.

Take your time.

Now I'm going to start preparing dinner.

Dinner?

I'll pitch the tent and sleep outside. You two can stay here.

We're staying... here?

What a small world.

Ten fingers moving in a radius of 10 cm.

I'll pick up driftwood from all over the world.

Each one has a different shape.

Each one has a different history.

A history that flowed.

You see!

My mom's job is different from picking up driftwood.

The world is not small.

In my mom's little head, maybe.

There might not even be that much brain in there.

But the world created from it is so big, so infinite.

It makes all kinds of people happy.

She has grown into a fine girl.

It's a good start.

She's inspired from Ibuse Masuji's "The Salamander."

"When my mom died two weeks ago, I still couldn't cried."

- Meaning? - I don't know.

A writer's head is unique.

It must have a unique way of connecting.

Well, now Lemon Page is going to get Minase Aoi's name out with a bang.

Most likely.

I hope this will bring Minase Aoi back.

Let's drink to cheer ourselves up!

Come out with me sometime, Soseki-chan.

You have a pretty face if I look closely.

Your face reminds me of that guy.

That one guy in my class who was always

left behind because he couldn't drink milk.

- I wonder how that guy Takeshi is doing? - I'm sorry.

I have other things to do.

You're just going to go home and watch Hulu or something anyway.

How could you come up with that?

It's a grown-up thing. Sense the atmosphere.

Well whatever.

- Tayama! Let's go for a drink. - Yes, sir.

Welcome!

- Are you still open? - Come on in.

Here you go.

- Heading home from Aoi's place? - No.

Oh, right. She is at Ouse Island now.

I just happened to be around here.

Why? There are a lot of shops around here,

so why come to our place?

- Am I bothering you? - Oh, not at all.

My business is serving customer, why would I be bothered?

The customer is our king.

Wait, did you come to see your ex, Sally-chan?

She went with Shunichiro-san, well he's my dad,

to Suzuran Onsen next to our shop.

I think they'll be back later for something to eat and drink.

They are being so lovey dovey.

Did I just put salt on it? Did I put salt in your wound? Sorry!

She doesn't concern me anymore, as long as she's happy.

Sorry. My sense of delicacy ran out.

As Aoi often says, "I was born with no sense of delicacy."

I seem to disturb you eating.

No, um...

Please join me.

Can I?

I think the reason I came here

was because I wanted to be in a place where I can meet people I knew.

I have no favorite place.

Is that so?

It's tough to be alone in winter.

- Kenta. - Sir?

Bring me a sake cup.

Marshmallows?

Yeah. People do it when they go camping, right?

Well, I only ever saw it on TV.

- You pitch up a tent? - Yep.

It's Ichinose-san who's staying here, though.

We grilled the fish we caught and ate them.

We also had Chinese cabbage and pork mille-feuille hot pot.

Ichinose-san bought all the ingredients.

We also picked up some clams and grilled them with soy sauce and butter.

Very mouth-watering.

Now we'll have tea after dinner.

The stars are beautiful.

What is Ichinose Fuga like?

I don't know, he is strange.

Did you give him the iron fist?

Somehow...

I feel like I'm not on his league.

He looks like a whale shark in an aquarium.

By the way.

Why do you keep calling me?

What?

I mean, don't you usually call your boyfriend in these situations?

Am I bothering you?

Well...

It's not that you're bothering me or anything.

I'm free anyway.

I shouldn't tell you this, but I met Wataru-sensei today.

You're spilling it now.

Well, I'm still keeping it under wraps.

We ran into each other at Odaya.

Okay, so?

You held hands with him, didn't you?

When you hold hands, it means you're lovers.

What? You're unusually pure.

You like Wataru-sensei, don't you?

Then go call him.

- What? - Bye.

H-hey...

What's with him?

Man, I'm so immature.

There's hot water over here.

You seem to get along pretty well.

With Sora.

She's a city girl, so she has never fished before.

Ichinose-san!

- The bonfire is going out. - Coming.

- You see that? - Yes.

That's the driftwood Ichinose Fuga picked up.

- He is a nasty guy. - Nasty?

He was selling that fishy driftwood out.

I think it's more sincere to make and sell Taiyaki.

Indeed, we only need flour. Flour and red bean paste.

She knows that very well.

She is too good-natured.

You're talking about Aoi-san?

She'd been ditched by a man, raised Sora, his child,

and now that Sora wanted to see her dad, Aoi took her to see him.

I think Aoi-san also wanted to meet Ichinose-san.

Say what?

Because she said she was so in love with him.

I fell in love.

Unlike any other love I had ever fallen with,

it was an overwhelming love, like being struck by lightning.

I heard she was forgotten, though.

What? He forgot about her?

She said so on the phone.

You look overjoyed.

You know, she is like an idol.

It happened when she's around 20 years old.

She has always been a smart woman with pretty face

and good personality, without being overbearing.

She went to a good high school,

got into a good college, then she wrote a novel and suddenly make her debut.

She didn't have much of a background.

Just like the idol who was approached in Harajuku.

Before we knew it, she was lifted up and the ladder was taken off.

No... it wasn't taken off.

But she couldn't get down,

and then she was unknowingly being forced to wear pointe shoes.

Like a ballerina who has to dance until she dies.

Instead of going through such hardships,

she could've just married me, come to Odaya and bake taiyaki.

Do you still love Aoi-san?

I believe you do.

You'll never get tired of it.

Everyone's face is so beauti...

Everyone's face is so beauti...ful.

You're right.

Soseki? Soseki, wake up.

Let him sleep, he can go home in the morning.

You drink even though you can't.

Sora-chan.

I thought you were wrong.

Imagine.

Try reaching out in the dark.

Wait a minute, you sounded weird.

- Sally, where are you? - Oda-ya.

Soseki can't drink, but he did anyway. and he fell asleep now.

Soseki?

He never wakes up once he's asleep.

I can smell the nostalgic scent of my ex.

Sally what are you doing?

I'm comparing.

Inside Shunichiro-san's heart and Soseki's heart.

Which one makes me feel safer, which one does I belong to.

Why compare now? I thought you'd made up your mind.

Because there's no time for love.

Let the time return.

I'll jump over it with no hesitation.

I don't get it.

How cool to be mature.

His heart is no longer the same.

Just like a bird...

resting its wings in its old nest.

You have chosen Shunichiro-san, right?

I feel a bit nervous.

Because Shunichiro-san is upstairs.

Playtime for the grown-ups should be moderate.

Sora-chan.

Try reaching out in the dark.

Your hand touches someone's shoulder and you feel safe.

That is someone you need the most.

Is that what love is all about?

Well, I only tell you what's in my mind right now. Just take it with a pinch of salt.

Roger that.

Sally.

Be happy.

Same to you.

I used to love your left-handedness.

Don't change it.

I can't even.

That man is my father.

My father.

Can't sleep?

Yeah.

Wanna have a sip?

- Delicious. - Really? Glad you liked it.

This is shochu from this island.

What do you usually drink, Sora-san?

I don't drink that much. Only Limoncello.

What is that?

It's a lemon liquor, tastes good.

I don't think that is for me.

I'm not good with sweets.

How can you tell it tastes sweet?

Lemoncello sounds sugary.

It's "Li", Limoncello.

Don't you feel cold?

No.

It feels good to stay outside.

Can I ask you a follow-up to what you said earlier?

What was it again?

The reason you quit acting at your career peak, and what happened afterwards...

You pick up driftwoods?

Let me think...

I had gained a lot of things,

so now I decided to throw away a lot of things.

I threw my money away, donated it.

I left my house.

I threw it all away.

I decided to only pick up the driftwood.

I'm joking.

I started picking up driftwood around 10 years ago.

I've done a lot of things by then.

- A lot of things? - Yes.

Working at a guest house on a southern island.

Singing a song.

- A song? - Yes, on the street.

Like a street musician.

I've done everything I can.

I've been all over the place.

How can you live like that?

Sora-san.

We can live without money.

All we need is someone.

- Someone? - That's right.

Someone who can help you.

Someone you want to help.

Give-and-take.

I've wandered to many places and met many people.

But never I get starved.

I wake up in the morning, go to work.

When night comes, I eat some good meals and go to sleep.

Do you ever aspire to anything?

A dream, perhaps?

My dream was to be an actor.

But it was over when I was 33 years old.

Now that it's happened.

And I was constrained.

I left my home.

And moved from place to place.

I can live anywhere.

I've made the whole world my home.

- Make the world your home? - Yes.

Like the migratory birds.

Migratory birds, with their tiny bodies

can fly half the distance of the earth far in a year.

The whole world is a home for migratory birds.

That's great.

Goodness.

Are you kindred spirits because you're blood related?

I'm beat... Will I ever be able to leave her?

I need to sleep.

It's midnight.

Do you know this song?

No.

The title is "Will You Dance?"

Good song.

Would you like to dance?

- Let's dance. - No, no, no.

I can't. I have never danced since I was born.

If so, let's dance for the first time in your life.

No, I can't.

The stars are beautiful.

How nice.

What are you drawing?

Mom.

I'm so happy!

Can you find Zo-san?

- It tastes OK today. - Really?

Delish!

- Mom, come on! - I'm sorry!

I forgot the camera!

Princess! I offer you the treasure you wished for.

Tiffany! Harry Winston! Bvlgari!

I offer you clothes, bags, shoes.

Just like Licca-chan doll,

you can dress yourself up and down forever.

Prada! Gucci! Margiela!

Saint Laurent! Celine! Bottega!

What I am offering here is

a villa located in New Zealand,

Gold Coast, Switzerland, and Hawaii.

And I will give you one of the oldest castles in Europe.

Princess! I have an author-signed Kanako's Life as an Assassin comic book.

And inside this treasure box, I have a collection of Chainsaw Man artbook

and a full color painted collection of the limited edition EDENS ZERO figure that sold out in a flash at Comiket.

There is more!

An adhesive plaster with Hataraku Saibou exclusive design, in collaboration with Village Vanguard.

Of course, I also have your favorite character, the white blood cell, in hand.

Sora, no!

Go for the real estate!

I offer you...

all kind of Milk & Violet variants.

I have a flavor that lasts over times,

that is called Passionate Violet.

What does it taste like?

I have to go back to the moon, so

I can't accept any of your proposals.

Are you going back to the moon?

I was picked up by you from the glowing bamboo in the Sea of Trees to begin with.

No, I didn't. That's a lie.

It doesn't matter, I will go away (to the moon).

Normally you would say, I will come closer (to the moon).

Bye, Mom.

Didn't Princess Kaguya go home in an ox cart?

Why does this feel like Arabian Nights?

Thank you for everything.

Wait...!

I was dreaming.

It was a dream.

Mom, I decided to go on a trip for a while with Fuga.

Take care! I'll be in touch.

She was taken.

ko-fi.com/aoinousagi

Translation: rid

aoinousagi @ d-addicts

twitter @waterhyacinth_

Special thanks to: Zemus / MagicStar / NSBC