Original subtitles

- She was taken? - Yeah.

- He took her? - That's right.

She's not coming back?

- No one said anything about that. - I'm sorry.

Anyway, she left this note.

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

Take care! I'll be in touch.

She told her to take care is so worrying.

Why do you say things like that?

I've been thinking about what to do if she doesn't come back.

He is a scam! Or a ghost?

Ichinose Fuga, you're so cunning.

Don't worry, hopefully she will be back.

Why "hopefully"?

Why do you say "hopefully," not "absolutely"?

Say "absolutely" now.

Hello.

I knew you were here, mom.

Hey!

This is souvenirs from Okinawa.

- Okinawa? - Sora, you've been to Okinawa?

Sata andagi and Shisa.

Your souvenir is home, he is decorating it now.

Decorate? By who? Decorate what?

Yep. It's about right.

My daughter,

doesn't have

a boyfriend!!

Brought to you by: rid (twitter @waterhyacinth_)

Four days in Okinawa?

Yep. I took a balloon ride.

He said there is a place in Okinawa where I could ride one.

And then we spent the rest time for a Soki Soba tour.

Why didn't you call me?

You'd probably ask me to come home.

You're still mad at Ichinose-san.

Aren't you, too?

Yeah, but he's kind of interesting.

Welcome home.

We're back.

Not bad!

Isn't it?

See?

Well.

I'm not sure about this.

You will gradually understand the charms of driftwood.

It's time to go now, leaving you without outsiders.

Where to?

Are you leaving?

I found a nice place to stay.

That toy store across from the soba shop?

Yeah, you know what a yo-yo is?

Yo-yo? This kind of thing?

So he won Aunt Obayashi over with that.

You're very good.

Is this place okay?

Why not? This is my ideal room.

At first, he was asked to decorate Wataru-sensei's clinic.

He wanted to use driftwood to give it an Asian look.

This is so great.

He even got a part-time job.

Soccer ball?

I bet the rent is cheap.

This would be 1,100 yen.

That's a lot of life skills.

Right? What's more...

He's allowed to park his car in Hikawa Shrine's precinct

and even started selling driftwood.

And that is selling pretty well.

Honestly I've never seen anyone like him before.

Even in Okinawa, he can get a lot of free stuff from people.

For real?

He got a big decorating job for a resort hotel.

I felt like he had the power to live.

I'm incapable of such kind of thing.

So are kids nowadays.

Would kids nowadays say that?

Yeah, I'm also one of them.

I felt a slightly different wind.

Until now.

I thought maybe I should keep an eye on him.

Leaving the fact that he is your father?

It's just kind of fate that he is my father.

He might thought, "She's the daughter of Minase Aoi."

Well, let's put aside the blood ties.

- What do you mean? - You have a unique way of thinking.

- You seemed astounded. - That's a compliment.

It's more of a compliment.

By the way, are we really sending this to JUMP?

Oh, right. Look at this.

- Why don't we submit it? - There is a newcomer's award.

- Newcomer's award? - This is it.

Hi there.

Aoi-chan, it's unusual to see you here.

I couldn't write and it felt good for a change of pace.

Aoi-san.

Minase Aoi-san.

Why don't you come up here?

Minase! Aoi-san!

Please stop it! Everyone is looking!

What is it? I can't hear you.

Aoi-san!

You're here.

This is Ryugu sake from Okinawa.

Wanna have a sip?

What do you want?

You chase me all the way down here, and then you stay.

What do you want?

What do you think it is?

Hey, I made simmered daikon and squid.

Please try it.

Oh, looks good.

This is your chopsticks, Aoi-chan.

- No, I am just... - I heard you know each other?

You know, she used to be a customer of mine.

After that, Sora-chan became my customer.

Kanae-san, please join us.

No, no. I prefer to be alone, it's easier for me.

I eat alone downstairs while watching TV.

But, Aoi-chan, this is how he'll stay.

He is like a bodyguard, it makes me at ease.

I'll protect you from anything.

Also from the bad guys.

Kanae-san is beautiful, that's why.

I feel bad that I was flattered over a daikon dish.

- I'm telling you the truth! - Really?

See?

Obayashi Kanae-san has long been famous

for her beauty in this Suzuran shopping street.

You are also beautiful.

- Delicious. - I know, right?

This is the so-called utopian sake

that has been aged for 20 years, Awamori sake.

This is something you can't normally get.

I'm gonna try Auntie's dish a bite.

Delicious, isn't it?

I'll be heading home after this.

Would you like to try this?

It's boring to play alone.

I won't do it.

If we play this and I win,

will you quickly return to Ouse Island?

Fine with me.

Keep your words.

Okay, it's a match.

Here you go again,

trying to pull out a dangerous-looking piece from the middle like that.

That's how you used to be.

This is my victory.

Then I guess I'll stay here a little longer.

Why?

Why did you lie to me about not remembering?

Why did you lie to me?

Why did you lie to me?

I'm sorry.

Back then...

Long time no see. I'm Aoi.

Sora's eyes...

are just like Suzu's.

It was like Suzu was there.

I just couldn't tell I remembered you.

I lied on the spur of the moment.

I was also confused

by your sudden visit.

To be honest, I was surprised.

Is there such a thing in the world?

I'm really sorry.

Suzu supported me.

I had no idea...

you were raising her child.

We've become best friends.

Suzu-san and I.

We were two people holding the same wound.

We were two people

who couldn't forget who you were.

That's because you're a terrible man.

You also had many other women.

You may be a rotten jerk to those around you.

I am, indeed.

But there was so much more of you.

That's what love is all about.

I don't know why I fall in love with you.

That's why...

Neither Suzu-san nor I

wanted to deny that we had fallen in love with you.

I think that's why she gave birth to Sora.

I...

didn't tell Suzu-san, but I had this one thought.

Why Suzu-san could have your child

and I couldn't have yours.

It was frustrating.

That is how much...

I loved you.

Of course, that was a long time ago.

It's strange how a story so long ago can bring tears to your eyes.

But... why?

Why weren't you there for her?

Why didn't you stay by Suzu-san's side?

Can you imagine how painful it must be for a woman to have a child alone, do you understand?

Not to mention, she had illnes!

Fuga-san!

Can I hit you?

Please do.

I'm taking Suzu-san's place.

Sorry but...

I have a favor to ask.

- You hit him? - More like, a slap?

- My hand still hurts. - Is he okay?

- What? Him? - No.

But he didn't know that Suzu-san

was pregnant or had a child, right?

Well, the child is me though.

- He doesn't know. - There's no helping it then?

It's inevitable.

He can't just ditch a woman he's dating.

But he remembered it, right?

About you and Suzu-san.

He did.

Thank goodness.

I'm glad he remembered both of my mom.

Aren't you too soft on him?

Did you get brainwashed?

This handsome guy looks like Uchiha Itachi from Naruto.

We could all get struck.

Mom, I wanna go again.

If you, Ichinose-san, and I were to visit her,

I think Suzu Mama in heaven,

up in the sky, will be relieved.

- What a nice weather. - It's cold.

Want something to warm you up?

- Do you want to go to the hot springs? - Where? Hakone?

No, Suzuran Onsen.

Nice!

This is paradise.

You sounded like a grandma.

You also want to say it, right? Admit it.

This is paradise.

It feels better when you say it.

I feel like I've done my job.

Taking you and Fuga-san to her grave

might have been my biggest duty.

Yeah, it might be.

Work is the major task in life.

I guess life has its work cut out for it.

Something we need to work out.

Hey!

Why don't you two beauties finish soon?

Okay, we're gonna go up.

Hey.

I wanted to try something like this once.

Chit-chatting between the men's and women's bathrooms.

Let's have a toast.

Cheers!

This looks good.

A new work by Minase-sensei, "The Midsummer Sky is a Dream."

I also like the cover art. It's refreshing.

It looks like a gust of wind.

Yes, it makes me happy too.

I guess this is a relief for Minase Aoi.

She seems to have a lot of things going on,

but maybe that's also a good stimulus for her.

Did you provoke her?

I guess I'm not strong enough to.

Whatever. You did a good job.

Now you can go to New York.

It's a promotion.

You're transferring to Saneisha in New York.

Sell our comics out there.

Overseas copyright business.

But that's just the front.

Yube Yuzuru-sensei lives in New York now.

Soseki once took the blame for Yube Yuzuru's plagiarism scandal upon himself,

and was transferred from comic department to be my mom's editor.

He said he doesn't want anyone unless it's you.

He wants you to be his editor again.

- No way. - Listen.

Yube-sensei's Isekai Wonder is currently a big hit.

Even JUMP seems to fall behind this one.

The editorial department of Shonen UP also says so.

Am I going to go back to comic department again?

I don't want to let you go either.

Because you're adorable.

You kinda creep me out.

Think about it calmly.

Now Saneisha have manga and anime.

If that billboard magazine said they wanted you,

what can I do?

Use your power for the good of our company.

We talked about you in Okinawa.

- You're talking about me? - Yep.

Because he wanted to know what kind of mom you are.

I heard many amusing stories.

To take one, Sora's middle school graduation ceremony.

Everyone was holding back from crying,

and just when it was time to start crying,

there was a sob from behind.

Yes, you were the first to cry.

That made it impossible for everyone to cry.

That was my bad.

Also! There's this one thing happened.

Sora, you've been drinking too much.

No, I can still drink.

We can have another drink at my place.

I want to drink that stuff you bought in Okinawa, citrus depressa sake!

That's still in my car.

Then let's go get it!

You're a real drunk.

I had something I wanted to do when I was little.

Mom on the left, dad on the right,

we hold hands and you lift me up!

- Would you like to try? - What, now?

- I'm already this big. - I'll take the challenge.

Hey, mom! Hold me tighter.

- Do it. - Ready, set!

Great! We did it.

Oh, the three of them?

Yeah, just like parents and daughter.

Well, they are indeed, though.

So that is Ichinose Fuga.

I think I put it in the crate there.

Here?

Photos of Okinawa?

- Photos of the sky? - Yes.

Sora? You?

Nope, the blue sky.

Are you taking pictures of sky everyday?

Well, yes.

Huh? This is a picture of me you took the other day.

That's unfair.

It stopped on March 14th.

Why did you stop taking pictures of the sky after you took my picture?

Because you don't need to take one anymore?

Because you met "the real" Sora.

Did you actually know about Sora?

Is that why you were taking pictures of the sky?

Everyday, so you won't forget about her.

More like...

I couldn't forget her.

You mean me?

Because I'm named Sora, is that why you take pictures of sky?

Could it be that bag is full of sky photograph?

Really? That's gross! Sickening.

Sorry, Dad.

Ah, none.

None of the lizard is true!

The small-clawed otter is just kidding!

Impossinile crocodile! The snail can't take this!

- Sora, what are you talking about? - I just remembered something!

Excuse me, I have to go now!

Who is it?

Hello?

I accidentally called him Dad.

My dad.

Can you at least say "Hello"?

You see my name on the incoming call, right?

I don't live for you, you know.

I'm not a damsel in distress

holding a cell phone,

waiting to hear when you'll call me back.

More importantly! I called him "Dad"!

- Him who? - Ichinose Fuga!

He was taking pictures of the sky, I mean the actual sky up there.

He was taking it the whole time I was gone.

That's sweet.

No, but it's a bit like a stalker.

I couldn't help but say, "Gross, sickening!"

That's awful.

And then I blurted out "Sorry, Dad." What's going on in my head!

That's what I think is going to happen.

Deep down, deep down, deep down there in your heart

you're so touched that you wanted to call him "Dad." Am I right?

- No, that's wrong! - I'm wrong, eh.

Maybe the general idea is right,

but it seems a bit different.

What's wrong with getting the gist of it right.

It doesn't matter if it's a bit different.

I'm about to eat the hellishly hot Dan Dan noodles.

I'll be off the phone in one minute.

Cup noodles are cooked in 2 minutes and 47 seconds, right?

That's right.

The seconds for cup noodles are non-negotiable.

Eat it. The hellishly hot Dan Dan noodles.

But I still have 50 seconds left.

Get you some chopsticks and water. Bye.

Huh? Wait... wait... wait...

That Ichinose-san...

didn't know about you, right?

- What? - About your existence.

Indeed.

Suzu-san, my birth mother.

I'm sure he didn't know that Suzu-san was pregnant

or that she gave birth to me.

Then why is he taking pictures of the sky?

I mean the actual sky.

- I know. - Isn't that weird?

Doesn't that mean he knew you existed?

That means he knew your name, too.

What is going on here?

You knew that Sora exists, didn't you?

Since the day she was born

you've been taking pictures of the sky every day?

Sort of.

But how did you know about Sora?

I received a letter from Suzu 20 years ago.

It was after she gave birth to Sora.

Replying her is correct.

I wrote her a letter asking if she wanted to start over.

The answer was no.

She didn't want to start over with me.

"I just gave birth to a girl, your child."

"I named her Sora."

"I'm going to live with a new man."

That was what the letter said.

A new man?

She found someone she love, and she started a new family with him.

"That person accepted Sora and me."

There was no such person.

I believed that was why

Suzu had started a new family.

So I was surprised

when you came with Sora.

Why would she lie about that?

To avoid scandal?

Because you had just gotten a big job.

So she backed off?

Ichinose-san, after receiving that letter from Suzu-san,

you've been taking pictures of the sky every day.

Is it gross?

But she just...

called you "Dad."

A letter?

A letter from Suzu Mama?

How did you feel when you heard that, Mom?

What do you mean?

What did you think?

I figured that between the two of them, without my knowledge,

the letter had gone back and forth one way or another.

I guess I was a little shocked.

But I guess she didn't want to tell me.

She thought if she told you, you'd go away.

What? Why?

Because the letter came to her, not to you.

That means he loved Suzu-san more.

You're putting salt on my wound.

Sorry.

But if she told you, you'd get mad.

Because you're jealous? You might go away.

You might say, "Why don't you just go with Ichinose?"

I think I'd say that.

I thought it would be better for you

to be raised by your real parents

leaving aside my jealousy and anger.

But Suzu-san didn't think so.

She figured it would be better to leave me in your hands than Ichinose-san's,

who seemed to be hiding behind clouds and have full of women.

Before she died.

I was trusted like that.

Now, could I have raised you properly?

Leave it to me.

I've grown up to be a good girl.

Long time no see.

Long time no see.

What? You look like you've seen a ghost.

I have my feet down, look.

Why would you lie about that?

Oh, that's the first thing you say?

I'm sorry.

I'm really sorry.

Lie?

Oh, you mean about that?

Let me at least tell you that I have a new man.

I've had a terrible time with you.

It was parental love that told me to give birth to Sora.

If I had to say, it's a woman's stubbornness.

It means I left your child in this world.

Then why didn't you start over with me?

Because you can't be trusted.

But I'm glad you're doing well.

Me too.

Hey.

It's hard to reach you from above the clouds.

Please take care of everything.

Promise me.

My mom is too nice.

She is a good person.

What I'm worried is...

What is it?

Mom gave up her own marriage

for me, didn't she?

I think she's given up trying to have a baby of her own.

You don't understand! She isn't that smart.

Wait. Does she actually think about that?

No. Gon went to France

a year after Sora was born, right?

I've been watching over Aoi-chan here since then.

Let me tell you something.

Hey, Sora-chan.

That is, you know, a groundless fear.

I mean, it's a useless worry.

Aoi-chan's good looks made her popular,

and she is so loving you.

That's why she said, "If you marry me,

you'll have this cute little thing with you."

"It's like you're getting a diamond and an emerald together."

"You won't get this lucky chance anywhere else."

She used to say such an awful lot of sweet talk.

She is strong.

She was very popular

with doctors and bureaucrats.

There's something about the story of her popularity that irritates me.

Gon-chan, are we talking about this now?

Aren't we talking about me?

Oh, sorry.

There's nothing for you to worry about.

Aoi-chan is comfortable being alone with you.

That's why she didn't get married, that's all.

- Shunichiro-san, may I ask one more thing? - Hey, ask me something, too.

One question remains.

Why did the late Suzu Mama... I mean Suzu-san

tell Ichinose Fuga by letter that I was born?

If she didn't want to get in the way of his upcoming big work,

shouldn't she have kept me out of it?

If something happened to Aoi-chan after Suzu-san died,

I think she'll leave you

with one more place to turn to.

It would be easier for a child to survive with two parents than with one.

The more things you protect, the better.

I think that's why she let Ichinose Fuga know that he had a daughter.

Well, he might be able to help you at some point in the future.

Please don't tell my mom that.

Sora-chan.

I'm sure Aoi-chan has noticed, either.

"The Midsummer Sky is a Dream" has been very well received.

The results of the reader survey are in.

The reader survey, huh.

What's the matter?

Why?

Your voice sounds gloomy, easy to tell.

Could that be it?

I looked online.

I told you not to do that.

Please stop egosurfing on your own.

Even if there are a hundred compliments, if there's one disparaging comment,

that's the one that sticks in my mind.

What did it say?

It's said I'm outdated.

Aoi-san.

In those days, you produced several books

that were explosive hits, selling over one million copies.

Like "Scent the Sky" and "The Falling Down Tears."

Well, yeah.

Aoi-san.

Only writers who have lived through a certain period

and are deeply remembered by the public

can become obsolete.

In my opinion, the only thing that determines

whether a writer is truly outdated

is whether they able to write a new work of art.

You have no big names, and no rusty feelings.

And you have your own momentum.

When I see you like that...

I think that the times will grow old before we do.

I am so glad that you're my editor.

- I wanna talk about that... - Oh, sorry!

There's a three-star restaurant in Suzuran shopping street

that's opening a bakery where they bake fresh cream bread at 5 o'clock!

So, sorry.

Sigh. I'm losing to a bread.

I see. You, Ichinose-san, and your mom

visited the grave of your birth mother.

I'm so glad.

I asked him to decorate my clinic on purpose.

Hoping that he will be able to stay in Suzuran street.

Why?

I thought he should spend some time with you.

I lost both my parents

when I was very young, and that was my regret.

I felt like I wanted to talk with my parents more.

I wondered if...

you would feel the same way if Ichinose-san was no longer here.

It's a good chance.

So why don't you spend more time together.

Wataru-sensei.

Because Mana-chan doesn't have a Switch.

Yes, you need to have a Switch to play.

- You can't play with us. - Bye!

The Fourth World from the Right.

- The title? - Yes.

It means that the world we live in is one of many worlds.

Doesn't sound like a JUMP manga.

I guess so.

Okay, I'll think about it again.

By the way, the panel layout here.

I can't tell what's drawn on it because it's so badly drawn.

Sorry.

You can talk back to me there.

Otherwise, it'll look like I really said something terrible.

You're right.

Anyway, aren't you hungry?

Super hungry!

Ichinose-san.

I stopped when the timer went off.

Okay.

I'm making rafute with Awamori.

I'm making Okinawan food with him.

- Aoi-chan, how about you join us? - But I bought this.

That's a popular bakery, isn't it?

You know, the one next to Cafe Tomoshibi.

Yes, it is.

Then you can have that for breakfast tomorrow.

Hear that? Come on, Aoi-chan.

Yum! Delicious!

Glad you liked it.

You've always been a good cook, haven't you?

You only boiled water, though.

How could you go out with a woman like that? I thought you'd forgotten about it.

No.

Aoi-san, you were like a sunflower.

Sunflowers in summer.

Well, I'm a heavy, dark person by nature.

Like the underground side in Shimokita.

If I were a thick, printed, unsuccessful literary magazine,

the week I spent with you

would be the colored pages of my life.

- Colored art pages? - Yes.

But I'd get tired if I had to read an entire book of color pages.

It'd be restless.

- Do you want to play Jenga? - Sounds good!

What do you want to bet?

Well, what do we got?

"Scent the Sky"

"We'll meet tomorrow"

What?

"One-sided Farewell"

"The Tearful Evening"

I've read all your works.

They were all beautiful.

I've fallen in love with many men since then.

After you left me.

But I couldn't really love any of them.

You were so beautiful on the stage,

and I loved you so much off the stage.

I'm just a driftwood peddler now.

You're still the same, aren't you?

There is only one of you in the world.

Take this.

Give me the small one.

Really?

Yum.

Delicious.

Look!

You're going to do it today, aren't you?

Stop it guys.

You're cute if I look closely.

Let me touch you!

Get off her!

What the heck are you doing?

Hey, stop it!

Shut the fuck up!

Hey! What are you guys doing?

I'm calling the cops!

- Oh, crap! - Let's go.

- You okay? - You guys okay?

They're just a bunch of bad boys from around here who hangs out all the time. Go home now.

Sorry, it's not quite safe around here.

It's not like the kind of place where you live.

Glasses.

My glasses.

It's cracked. The frame, too.

I'm very nearsighted, so I can't see without it.

I'll put it away. Where's the spare?

I have one at home.

I'm going home today.

I'll send you home.

It's dangerous.

- Wait. - What?

Didn't you say that two people holding hands means lover?

We're in a state of emergency.

Your glasses broke.

I see.

- It's red light. - I know.

It's blurry, though.

You don't wear contact lenses?

I'm afraid to put something in my eyes.

Oh, well, understandable.

It's snowing.

Beautiful.

Is Sora seeing this snow, too?

Aoi-san.

Supposing that... we...

Would you like us to start over?

More like...

Would you like to us to get started?

What are you doing?

Scent the snow.

It's your mom's novel.

"Scent the Sky"

I can scent the snow.

What is it like?

Doesn't it smell like peppermint?

Isn't that sting?

It's green now.

Well, there's nobody passing, though.

Someday.

Someday.

We're in our second year of college.

This April, when we're in our third year

and started job hunting, we'd stop drawing manga.

Why do you say that when we're about to submit ours to JUMP?

I know.

I mean.

I'm talking about what-ifs in our third year.

Then, when we graduate from college

and start working as adults,

the moments when we draw manga like this,

and I would always call you for help...

are not going to happen anymore.

That's not true.

We won't change.

We will change.

Everything...

will remain the same.

What is it?

I scent Hikaru.

What even?

Am I smelly?

You scent like grass.

A nostalgic scent.

How romantic.

I'll remember this scent.

Someday I'll remember this day,

this moment, fondly.

I thought so.

We didn't start walking when the next green light came.

LAST EPISODE

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