Day 5 (continued)

Page 31

Yukio adds that the school should be contacted about Kenshin’s departure on Monday. Futaba wants to return to the scene of the crime (despite Nanoka pointing out that there wasn’t any crime), and suggests contacting Omura-sensei too.

Yukio protests that the article research should have priority for now. He doesn’t want to go all the way back to Kenshin’s house. He wonders what Satsuko is doing, and if Tetsuo is just driving the lonely Satsuko around town aimlessly. He wonders why she didn’t want to join them for karaoke.

Nanoka tells Futaba-chan that they’ll probably find out what happened to Nakamura-kun at school on Monday. Futaba is disappointed, but relents. The three students hire a karaoke booth for an hour.

Yukio asks if Futaba is aware of the potential danger involved in investigating government matters. Futaba belittles his seriousness, telling him that she just wants to have a bit of fun and that she knows that it’s probably all something perfectly innocuous. Yukio wonders if he could ask Satsuko for help in finding out more information about the Nakamura situation.

They enter their karaoke booth, and Futaba starts taking pictures. Yukio suggests that Nanoka should take photos as well. Nanoka takes out Omura-sensei’s camera. Excited, Futaba takes the camera and examines it. There is one photo on its memory card – the portrait photo that Omura took of Nanoka the previous day. Nanoka wonders if that means that Omura is interested in her, then dismisses the thought in embarrassment.

Makie and Shiro are at the beach, discussing Nanoka’s relationship with Kenshin. Shiro mentions Makie’s marriage, which Makie denounces as a ‘mistake’.

Yukio places his drink order as Futaba and Nanoka examine the menu. Futaba is excited, but Nanoka is startled by the exorbitant prices. Futaba has money to pay for herself, having received her allowance that morning. Futaba suggests that paying too much for snacks is a part of the karaoke experience and should be conveyed to the students in Germany and America.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 32

Futaba takes the remote control and starts placing her order. She wants to order French fries and Pocky. Yukio sarcastically comments that if they serve chocolate dip with the fries, they won’t need Pocky. Futaba is excited to hear that Yukio likes eating his fries with chocolate sauce as well. Nanoka orders a drink and asks Yukio if there are any good songs on the playlist.

Yukio says that Futaba should go first. The three students start selecting songs after Futaba orders fries, Pocky and an orange mango fizz bomb. Futaba chooses a large number of songs straight away, causing Nanoka to protest that Yukio should be allowed to pick some songs too.

Neither Yukio nor Nanoka knows what to pick, so Futaba starts by default. She sings ‘Wannabe’, trying to get Nanoka to join in, but Nanoka’s English isn’t fluent enough for her to keep up with the song. She takes a few photos of Futaba singing and dancing instead.

Yukio carefully chooses a J-pop song that he knows isn’t about romance. He doesn’t want to make himself a target for Futaba.

Nanoka starts to enjoy herself as she and Futaba sing a few J-pop songs that Futaba requested. The food arrives and the girls take a break, eating some of the food they ordered, while Yukio sings a J-pop song with a typical ‘do your best in life’ message.

On the beach, Makie asks Shiro if he thinks it would be all right for two women to go out together. In his usual manner, he attempts to avoid giving a definite answer, then says that it would probably depend on the society in which the relationship was taking place.

Nanoka sings a soft, melancholy song.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 33

Yukio chooses a song that all three of them can sing together, which they do, all three of them getting into the swing of things. Futaba suggests finding another song they can all sing together. Their time in the booth is almost up. They take some more photos, and Yukio asks what they’re going to do next. He suggests taking photos of the shrine.

Nanoka decides that it would fun to go to the shrine together, as friends. As they head out of town, Nanoka looks towards the school and fantasises about getting support from Omura-sensei in the staff room. She blanks out while she’s lost in her daydream, and almost walks into a tree.

Futaba is suspicious about Nanoka’s behaviour, and teases Nanoka about her ‘thing’ for Omura-sensei. Yukio retorts that all of the girls in their class seem to have a crush on Omura-sensei. Futaba wonders if she and Nanoka should investigate Omura-sensei’s life to find out if he has a girlfriend. Yukio tells her to stop thinking of such ridiculous ideas, but Futaba is already wondering what sort of woman would be suited to Omura-sensei.

Nanoka looks down at herself and thinks that she’s not a good match for Omura-sensei. She isn’t gorgeous or smart or elegant. Yukio says that Omura-sensei would probably want a grown-up woman. The conversation reminds him of Makie, and he suggests that Makie and Omura-sensei would be a good match.

Futaba talks about a TV drama in which a high school teacher and his student fell in love and became a couple after the girl graduated. But she then agrees that Omura-sensei and Makie seem suited to each other. She gets depressed as she realises how much Omura-sensei seems to have been interacting with Nanoka’s mother lately, and asks Nanoka if the two adults are going to get married.

Yukio continues Futaba’s train of thought, wondering if Omura-sensei appointed Nanoka to the article team as a way of getting closer to her mother, or perhaps vice versa – getting to know Makie in order to get closer to Nanoka.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 34

Futaba is intrigued and enthused by Yukio’s idea.

Nanoka finally snaps and tells them that nothing like that is going on with either her or her mother. She tells them she doesn’t believe all the gossip about Omura-sensei. They have arrived at the shrine, and walk onto the grounds. Yukio wonders why Nanoka seems so sensitive about the topic of Omura-sensei, while Nanoka wonders the same thing. Yukio is curious about the mention of gossip, and Futaba fills him in.

Yukio is surprised to hear that Satsuko was the source of the gossip. He suggests they take some photos of the shrine. Futaba wonders if the gossip is actually true and Omura-sensei did have a relationship with one of his students. Yukio wonders whether Aiko might have been the student in question, then realises that Aiko would have been too young three years ago.

Yukio asks Nanoka if she knows when Aiko moved into town, and Nanoka says that she’s pretty sure that Satsuko and Aiko went to junior high together.

Nanoka and Yukio go into the shrine. Nanoka prays that her family will be brought back together. Yukio prays for his family’s good health, and prays that Satsuko will be allowed to do what she wants in life. He feels a little embarrassed about having admitted he has feelings for Satsuko, even if only to the deity.

Futaba doesn’t have anything she wants to pray for, so she leads the way to the shrine kiosk. Yukio mentions that they haven’t seen any of the tempura and takoyaki stalls that Hiroko talked about. They theorise that the stalls may be on the other side of the shrine, in the park.

Futaba alludes to Yukio being a stalker again, but he’s more tolerant of her now. He thinks she’s crazy but mostly harmless. As the two talk, Nanoka looks at the good-luck charms and is drawn to a romance charm.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 35

She thinks about Omura-sensei and considers buying the charm. However, she reconsiders and puts it back. Omura-sensei would never be interested in her, would he?

Nanoka and Futaba buy fortunes from the machine instead. Futaba’s says that things are going to change in her place of business, confusing her. Nanoka’s says that her hope will come true. Yukio asks how Nanoka’s fortune was.

Nanoka says her fortune is confusing. Futaba reads it and asks what Nanoka was hoping for, then theorises that Nanoka was hoping for romance. Futaba wants to know who Nanoka’s interested in. Nanoka hastily changes the subject, suggesting they take some photos. Yukio hisses at Futaba to be more considerate.

Futaba wonders where Kenshin is. Yukio suggests that maybe Kenshin and his family are dead. Futaba is surprised, and Nanoka plays along, telling Futaba that the men at Kenshin’s house had guns and headsets. Yukio adds that they didn’t leave any traces because they were special killer persocons.

Futaba says she thought persocons were programmed not to hurt humans. She asks Nanoka to remind her to ask Satsuko on Monday. Yukio adds that the persocon looked like Shiro and theorises that persocons can be remote controlled. Futaba immediately wonders if the government might have special devices to take control of persocons and turn them into killing machines.

They take some photos in front of the torii, then they leave the shrine. Looking around at the tranquil scenery, Yukio remarks that it’s hard to believe that anyone would prefer to live in Tokyo. He’s thinking about Satsuko in particular. Nanoka mentions that her father and brother live near Tokyo. She thinks it would be nice to visit them. Yukio agrees that it would be nice to ‘visit’, but he would prefer to live somewhere less polluted and crowded.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 36

Nanoka suggests going to the park to look for the food stalls, but the stalls are closed. Nanoka suggests that they might have done enough for the day. She thinks about the article proposal, which makes her briefly imagine asking Omura-sensei to marry her.

Makie says that she should go sunbathing more often. Shiro reminds her that his skin can convert sunlight into energy, and Makie asks why he didn’t remind her earlier. His recharging uses a lot of electricity.

Yukio asks if Nanoka needs help writing the proposal. Nanoka realises she doesn’t know how long the article is supposed to be. Yukio suggests asking Omura-sensei on Monday. Nanoka asks Futaba to come over tomorrow so they can sort through the photos they’ve taken. Nanoka asks if Yukio wants to come, but he decides not to, wanting to avoid Futaba. Nanoka understands.

The three students split up. Futaba follows Yukio, who is heading south. Nanoka finds herself wandering towards the love hotel district, perhaps hoping to see if Omura-sensei is playing UCFC3 at the love hotel.

Yukio goes into town and arrives at Kawaii Station.

Makie and Shiro have been at the beach for two hours. They go to a nearby shop to buy ice cream.

Nanoka walks past Persocon Paradise and starts to feel nervous about being in this part of town alone. She can’t bring herself to go into the love hotel to look for Omura-sensei, so she heads back home.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 37

The house is still empty when she arrives, leading her to think momentarily about taking some pictures of herself with Omura-sensei’s camera. She decides not to, because Makie and Shiro might return at any moment.

Yukio looks at the rabbit notebook that Satsuko was interested in, but just buys himself a pencil and goes home.

Futaba calls Nanoka to report on what Yukio did after they parted. They confirm that Futaba will be coming over to Nanoka’s place tomorrow after lunch.

Makie and Shiro return home. Nanoka greets them. Makie asks if Kenshin is going to visit tomorrow, and Nanoka tells Makie that Kenshin has moved away. Makie is perplexed and asks if Kenshin ever existed at all.

Nanoka reminds Makie of the photos of Kenshin that they were looking at yesterday. Makie thinks that Nanoka’s short, dramatic romance is funny, and Nanoka finds herself agreeing. Makie is surprised, but also relieved. She doesn’t want Nanoka to go out with men. She hugs Nanoka, telling her that there’s plenty of time.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 38

Nanoka hugs Makie in return. Makie asks if there will be any visitors tomorrow, and Nanoka says that Futaba will be coming over after lunch.

Makie’s thoughts keep drifting to Kuri. She knows she’s playing with fire, but she wants a little indulgence and spice in her life. She says that she might be going out tomorrow, then goes into the kitchen and orders Shiro to help her undress in her bedroom. Nanoka goes into the living area and starts playing a puzzle game on the console.

Shiro notes that Makie’s skin is reddened from the sun, and she asks him to get the phone for her. She wants to call Kuri. She removes the rest of her clothes and asks Shiro what he thinks, when he returns. Shiro doesn’t know what she means, and Makie laughs. Nanoka overhears and gets a little jealous, wondering what Makie and Shiro are up to. Makie sends Shiro out of the bedroom and calls Kuri.

As Shiro comes into the living area, Nanoka asks him if he had fun. Shiro replies that he was glad to be able to tend to Makie’s needs. He then pauses and asks Nanoka what she thinks, the way Makie asked him the same question. Misinterpreting the question, Nanoka responds that it doesn’t matter what she thinks: Shiro belongs to Makie and should do what she wants.

Makie tells Kuri that she got sunburned and asks if Kuri has any lotions that might help. Kuri hesitates and says that she doesn’t have anything specifically for sunburn. She asks Makie if Nanoka might have something suitable.

Still scheming to see Kuri again, Makie says that she will go to the parlour to get some sunburn cream, and asks if Kuri will join her there to help, like yesterday. Kuri hesitates, then says she doesn’t understand what Makie wants. That morning, Makie said she wasn’t ready for something like this.

Shiro accidentally calls Nanoka by her name (with no –san or –sama). Nanoka gets a little upset because she thinks Makie has changed the way he addresses her yet again. She clings to him and tells him she wants to know how he feels.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 39

Makie says she is just asking Kuri to help her, and offers to compensate her for her time. Kuri remembers that she has another appointment tonight. Makie says she wasn’t intending to stay until the evening, then apologises for staying at Kuri’s place unexpectedly last night.

Shiro says that it seems he shouldn’t be calling Nanoka ‘Nanoka-san’. He wants to treat Nanoka in the ‘best way possible’, and suggests asking Makie to amend the way he addresses Nanoka. Nanoka says that Makie would never agree to it, sparking a fresh determination on her part to find a way around Makie’s voice activation codes.

Kuri says she’s just glad that Makie seemed to be able to trust Kuri, then asks if Makie actually does trust her. Makie says that she’s forgotten how to trust, but that it would be nice to be able to trust someone again. Wanting a drink, she leaves her bedroom. She sees Nanoka and Shiro hugging and feels a momentary sting at the thought that Nanoka is in a one-way relationship with the persocon.

Kuri asks if Makie wants to come to Kuri’s apartment at nine o’clock, after Kuri has given her neighbour a massage. However, Makie isn’t patient enough to wait until then. She enters the kitchen and pours herself a drink, telling Kuri that she’ll ask Nanoka to moisturise her back.

Kuri is surprised to hear that Nanoka has a boyfriend, and Makie tells her about Kenshin’s disappearance, saying that Shiro is comforting Nanoka. She asks when the last time Kuri went to the beach was. Kuri thinks that Makie should be comforting Nanoka, not Shiro, but Makie shrugs it off.

Shiro asks if Nanoka is jealous that he spent the day with Makie. Nanoka admits that she thinks it would be nice if she were the priority in Shiro’s life, not Makie. Shiro says that it’s reasonable that he should look after Nanoka, since she’s still a minor.

Uncertainly, Kuri says that they could go to the beach tonight, and Makie agrees, wanting to do something pleasant for a change.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 40

Nanoka gets upset at Shiro’s words, and screams at him before running from the room. Makie hears and asks Shiro what happened.

Nanoka runs upstairs, thinking to herself that it isn’t fair that Makie gets everything her way.

Annoyed at Nanoka’s outburst, Makie tells Shiro to tell Nanoka to behave. Hanging up her call with Kuri, she tells Shiro to ask Nanoka to come downstairs to help moisturise her skin. Shiro does so, but Nanoka refuses, telling Shiro to do it himself. Shiro tries to reason with her, and Nanoka has another emotional outburst.

Wondering what’s taking so long, Makie goes to the bottom of the stairs and overhears Shiro asking if Nanoka has ever tried seeing things from Makie’s point of view. Calming down, Nanoka reminds herself that Shiro is just a persocon. She gathers her things and tells Shiro that she’s going out. Shiro allows her to pass. At the bottom of the stairs, Makie asks Nanoka if helping her mother is too much to ask. Nanoka asks what Makie wants help with, and Makie explains about the moisturiser. Nanoka agrees to help.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 41

Makie chooses not to ask questions because she doesn’t want to quarrel with Nanoka. They go into the bedroom. Makie sits down on a chair and Nanoka starts applying moisturiser to her back. Despite herself, Nanoka is starting to feel less resentful. She asks what Makie will be doing tonight.

Makie says that she and Kuri will be going to the beach. She says that ever since she met Zenzo, she’s felt like a lone wolf. Having a baby to look after disrupted her social life. She advises Nanoka that there will be plenty of time for her to have a boyfriend later. Nanoka thinks that Makie is telling her what to do, and her resentment starts to grow again. Nanoka wants to be free to be in a relationship with whomever she chooses, without interference.

Makie examines Nanoka, who is plainer and less elegant in how she presents herself than Makie was at the same age. Makie made sure to keep Nanoka away from the influence of Makie’s mother, who was the one who had forced that ‘elegance’ onto Makie.

Having finished with the moisturising, Nanoka leaves the room and gets ready to leave the house. Makie asks where she’s going, and Nanoka lies, saying that she has research to do for school. Makie asks if Nanoka wants to take Shiro with her, but Nanoka declines, and leaves.

A little perplexed by Nanoka’s behaviour, Makie goes into the living area to discuss it with Shiro. Shiro hypothesises that Nanoka just needs some time alone, which Makie happily accepts.

Nanoka starts walking, with no real idea where she’s going, while her mind dwells on thoughts about Makie trying to control Nanoka’s relationship with Shiro. Nanoka decides that Makie is jealous and wants Shiro for herself, while also wanting to control and monitor Nanoka. Nanoka decides that she’s going to take control of her love life, whether with Shiro or with someone else.

Yukio has returned to Kawaii Station, berating himself for not being able to purchase a notebook for Satsuko earlier.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 42

Satsuko’s car pulls up in front of the store, and she calls out to Yukio. He tells her that the team members have split up for the day.

Nanoka finds herself drifting towards the love hotel district. She’s feeling nervous and out of place, and rushes into the foyer of the Palais d’Amour. Omura-sensei is there.

Yukio says that he was on his way to the arcade. Satsuko asks if he would like a lift there. Yukio’s mind wanders and he starts to wonder if Satsuko would have sex in her car. He shakes himself out of it and asks if Satsuko would like to come to the arcade, then immediately dismisses the idea. Satsuko agrees, though, in the spirit of having new experiences. She says that she will pay for the games.

Ikuko is also in the love hotel district. She and her companion leave a bar and enter the Palais d’Amour. She thinks she recognises the girl with Omura-sensei, but Nanoka keeps her back to her, and Ikuko continues on her way, choosing a room and then entering the elevator.

Yukio asks if an arcade would really interest Satsuko, then stumbles on his words and admits that he’s a little nervous. When she asks why, he says that things are just going on in his life.

Nanoka is a little shaken by the situation with Ikuko. She realises that girls her age aren’t supposed to be in this kind of place. She tells Omura that there was a situation at home and she just wanted to get away. Omura suggests that they play UCFC3. Nanoka starts enjoying herself and feeling less self-conscious around him. She wonders what sort of girl Omura likes, and remembers the rumours that he was involved with one of his students at his previous school. She dismisses those rumours as jealous slander. Omura brings her a cup of coffee.

Yukio gets in the car. He asks Satsuko why she was restless at home.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 43

Satsuko says that her parents are still out, and Aiko is busy with sports practice.

Nanoka tells Omura that she had a disagreement with Makie. He suggests that perhaps Makie does know best where Nanoka’s relationships are concerned, and Nanoka starts to see things his way.

Yukio and Satsuko get out at the arcade and decide to look around inside.

Nanoka talks some more with Omura-sensei and finds herself at ease with him. She asks him to call her ‘Nanoka-chan’ in private, and he tells her that she can call him on his cell phone at any time. Nanoka impulsively hugs him again, and they part.

Yukio guides Satsuko through the arcade. He shows her the gambling games, and Satsuko is attracted to a Texas hold’em poker game. Yukio thinks that Satsuko would like something cuter, and suggests that the poker game might be a bit plain, but Satsuko is undeterred. She asks if Yukio knows anything about poker, and he admits that his only experience is with strip poker games. They sit down at the machine and Satsuko begins to explain the rules to Yukio. They find the card slot on the machine, and Satsuko asks where they can purchase a card to play.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 44

Satsuko purchases a game card at the booth, and puts 5000 yen on it, startling Yukio. Satsuko explains that she will be paying for Yukio’s games as well, and that there will probably be other games that interest them in the arcade. Yukio says that he doesn’t feel right about it, since he was the one who suggested coming to the arcade.

Makie tells Shiro that he may call Nanoka whatever she wants, and that he should look after her so that Makie doesn’t have to worry. Makie calls Nanoka to find out where she is.

Two boys attempt to hit on Satsuko, but she politely deflects them.

Nanoka says she’s on her way home. Makie says that she’ll still be at home when Nanoka gets back; Makie won’t be leaving until 8.

Yukio and Satsuko return to the hold’em poker game and sit down. Yukio apologises for what Satsuko went through, but she doesn’t think that it’s his fault. Yukio remarks that boys like that make it harder for average boys to approach girls, because of the overall negative impression.

Day 5 (continued)

Page 45

Satsuko says that it would be better to find a girl who didn’t judge people by the members of their peer group. She starts to explain the poker game to Yukio, then suggests they play an open hand so that Yukio can learn the rules.

Yukio gets confused by the terminology and excited by Satsuko’s scent as she leans closer to him to view his cards. His mind and eyes start wandering as he starts thinking back to the strip poker games, but he slowly starts to get used to the game.

Shiro asks Makie about Zenzo in an effort to understand his owners.

Satsuko and Yukio finish playing the game, and Satsuko suggests that Yukio should pick a game for them to play next. He can’t imagine Satsuko sitting astride one of the motorcycle games, so he suggests a car racing game.