Wow, that's so cute.
A homestay?
That's amazing.
Is that the thing where you stay in a foreigner's house?
Where are you going?
England .........London
England!
England .........London
I'm going to be staying with my mother's friends for about a week.
But, Shino, you can't speak English.
How rude.
I can speak a little.
Like, "hello".
What else?
"Guts pose!"
That's a Japanese word!
I'll pray every day for your safe return.
Thank you.
Apparently, there's a girl about my age in the family.
Really?
It'd be nice if you became friends.
I know.
I wonder what she's like.
Daddy's home.
Thank you.
Shinobu.
Coming.
Welcome, Shinobu.
Nice to meet you.
Thank you for taking care of me.
Hello.
H-Hello.
What beautiful blonde hair!
I look forward to staying with you.
Um...
She's a shy girl.
Oh, it's okay.
You can come right in.
Oh, right.
It's so foreign.
This is the living room.
...the bathroom.
If you have any laundry, let me know.
Okay.
We eat dinner at seven.
This is your room.
Make yourself at home.
I will.
Do you have any questions?
Where is your daughter?
She looks like this doll...
Hello.
Oh, um...
Poppy, go back to your house.
Alice, she wants to be your friend.
Shinobu.
I'm Oomiya Shinobu.
Omi...
You can call me Shinobu.
My name is Alice Cartelet.
She's blonde!
She's a blonde girl!
Wait!
Alice!
Already getting along very well.
Japanese girls are so scary!
I hope you like it.
Thanks for the food.
Shinobu, how is it?
It's delicious.
Aren't you going to eat that dessert?
Nope.
Oh!
Are you expecting any Japanese girls?
Sounds fun!
But I don't speak much Japanese.
I got an idea!
While the Japanese girl is at the homestay,
why don't you be my little sister and stay with me?
No, I am the big sister!
Then I am going for my trip tomorrow.
Karen's family seem to love travelling so much.
Ta-da!
Here, I will give you a funny doll to protect you.
Don't worry.
Maybe we don't speak the same language, but we can...
...communicate as long as we try to listen to each other's heart!
That's a big assumption...
Hey, Poppy!
Come here!
Come on!
Hey!
Good boy, Poppy!
You're so clever, Poppy!
Alice, good morning.
Poppy!
Are you hurt?
No, I'm fine.
Did she apologise?
It wasn't Alice's fault.
I'll go heat up some milk.
Thank you.
Uh, well...
Alice.
Hello.
Thank you for this.
It's very warm.
Thank you...
Thank you?
Yes, thank you.
Aren't you mad at me?
Yes, it's very warm.
I'd like to thank you.
Could you come with me?
Chocolate?
This way.
Here.
It's a gift from Japan.
I actually meant to give it to you yesterday.
My older sister picked it out.
She said foreigners would like it.
Let me see it.
You do this, and...
There.
Oh, you're supposed to put it in your hair.
Thank you, Onee-chan.
Alice, I understand now.
You're supposed to put it in your hair and turn it.
Turn.
I'm sorry I couldn't help.
Shinobu.
Thank you.
You can use them as chopsticks.
Shinobu, are you good at baking?
Mix it well.
Okay.
Hello.
Thank you.
Come here.
I'll take you to the airport tomorrow.
Thank you.
Let's play Hanafuda.
Oh, Hanafuda.
But I don't know the rules.
Hyakunin isshu or Fukuwarai?
Wow!
I've never seen anything like this before.
She wants to know if you're really Japanese.
I'm pure Japanese!
Alice, how is the bath?
It's a cherry blossom scented bath mix.
People over here don't fill their baths very deep, right?
Soak all the way up to your shoulders.
This smells like Japan.
Shinobu, I feel dizzy.
Alice!
Good night.
Hello.
Can I sleep next to you?
Hello.
What is Japan like?
Japan?
It's morning in Japan right now.
It's strange, isn't it?
It's still night here, but the sun is already rising.
It feels like we've been placed on the edge of the world all by ourselves.
I bet Aya-chan would enjoy talking about this.
Oh, Aya-chan is my friend from school.
I hope I go visit Japan someday.
Youko-chan is my friend, too.
I've known Youko-chan since elementary school, and...
Thank you for letting me stay in your home.
Come visit us again.
I will.
Hello.
Thank you.
I'll send you pictures.
Hello!
He-
Hello!
Hello, hello!
Hello!
Japan.
Shinobu, wake up.
You're going to be late.
Okay.
Shinobu.
Shinobu, school!
See you later.
...in Wonderland
Good morning, Shinobu-chan.
Good morning.
G-Good morning.
So, anyway...
Good morning.
You're finally here.
Shino, you're late.
Sorry, I was reading a letter.
A letter?
Whoa, it's air mail.
Is it from the family you stayed with in England?
Yes, it's from Alice.
That's amazing.
All the way from Wonderland, huh?
You mean England.
But it's all written in English, and I can't read it.
I thought you said you were reading it.
Let me see.
It really is in English!
"Dear Shinobu..."
I'm Oomiya Shinobu.
Come on, we're high school students now.
Do that later, you two!
Good morning.
This is the first letter you've received?
Yeah.
I wonder what it says.
Oh, fine.
Let me see that.
I think it says she's coming to Japan.
Probably.
Amazing!
Aya-chan, you can read English?
Does it say when she's coming?
You'd better not let Shino down.
S-Shut up, Youko!
Your school... so happy... uniform...
Happy uniform?
Hey, Shino, your shoes.
Sorry, hold on.
You there, excuse me.
A blonde girl!
Do you know a girl named Shinobu?
What? Shino?
I'm sorry I don't have a recent photo...
But she looks just like this doll.
Hey, excuse you!
Ah, there you are.
Cartelet-san, this way.
Okay.
Please excuse me.
Castanet?
What a fun name.
Thanks for waiting.
It's curious.
Yeah.
That girl was wearing one of our uniforms.
No, I mean, Shino just looks like a wooden doll to me now.
That's what you took from it?!
Good morning.
Good morning, Sensei!
Oomiya-san, you're as energetic as ever.
Yes!
Come in.
She's so cute.
It's that girl.
Alice?
Shinobu!
It's good to see you again.
You really did come.
Yeah, I came to see you.
Alice, your Japanese...
I've been studying.
That's amazing.
But what are you doing here?
Cartelet-san, please introduce yourself first.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Alice Cartelet
Nice to meet you.
My name is Alice Cartelet.
I transferred here from England.
What?
Took you long enough to notice!
I wrote about it in my letter.
It was in English, so...
I thought you might have trouble, so I wrote the second one in romaji.
What?!
Aya.
I look forward to being part of this class.
mondai nanka nani mo nai yo
問題なんか何もないよ
There's nothing wrong
kekkou kekkou ikerumon ne?
ケッコー 結構 いけるもんネ?
Everything is pretty, pretty good
shippai datte egao de saa
失敗だって 笑顔で さぁ
Even if we fail, with you here
kimi to issho norikoete yukou!
キミと一緒 乗り越えて行こう!
I can make it through with a smile
(surii tsuu wan jaanpu!)
(スリー・ツー・ワン ジャーンプ!)
Three Two One Jump!
(uu hai!)
(ウー ハイッ!)
Ooh Yeah!
mabushii asahi atarashii hi ga hajimaru ne
眩しい朝日 新しい日が始まるね
The bright morning sun shines on the beginning of a new day
neboketa kao de “ohayou” no hitokoto kawasu
寝ぼけた顔で 「おはよう」の一言交わす
With sleepy looks on our faces, we say "Good morning" to each other
mainichi no naka ni kira kira shita kakeratachi ga
毎日の中に キラキラした欠片たちが
There are sparkling fragments scattered
mada mada aru no sagashite miyou yo issho ni
まだまだあるの 探してみようよー 一緒に
Through our days, so let's look for them together
chiisana mizutamari mo nayanderu kyou no koto mo
小さな水溜りも 悩んでる今日の事も
The small puddles and the things you worry about today
sei no de tobikoeyou yo egao ga ichiban
せーので飛び越えようよ 笑顔がイチバン
Let's jump over them with a one-two! A smile is the best
(janpu!)
(ジャンプッ!)
Jump!
iei! iei! kitto daijoubu sa
イェイ! イェイ! きっとだいじょうぶさ
Yay! Yay! It will surely be all right
kekkou kekkou tanoshii ne!
ケッコー 結構 楽しいネ!
It's pretty, pretty fun!
gyutto tojita sono me wo saa
ぎゅっと閉じた その目を さぁ
Those eyes you have squeezed shut
hiraku toki da ima
開く 時だ 今
It is time to open them
(uu iei!)
(ウー イエイッ!)
Ooh, yay!
mondai nanka kowakunai yo
問題なんか 恐くないよ
I'm not afraid of problems
Let’s go!! Let’s go!! ikerumon ne?
Let's go!! Let's go!! いけるもんネ?
Let's go!! Let's go!! We can do it!
shippai datte egao de saa
失敗だって 笑顔で さぁ
Even if we fail, with you here
kimi to issho norikoete yukou!
キミと 一緒 乗り越えて行こう!
I can make it through with a smile
(surii tsuu wan goo!)
(スリー・ツー・ワン ゴー!)
Three Two One Go!
I can't believe a foreigner transferred into our school right after we entered high school.
Her hair and eyes look just like a doll's.
arifureta hibi no
Until we recognised
subarashisa ni kizuku made ni
The wonderful things present in ordinary days
I know what you mean.
I wish I could put her in a dress, stick her in a show case,
futari wa tada itazura ni toki wo kasanete sugoshita ne
We were simply passing time in vain
and stare at her all day long.
Just kidding.
Huh?
It was just a joke. Come on, laugh.
I thought you were serious.
maru de sora no you ni
Like the sky
Here, I wrote it out for you.
Thank you.
ookina yume tsumugu koto mo
And having big dreams
Komichi Aya.
michi no hata ni saku na mo nai hana ni wa totemo kanawanai
The nameless flower blooming by the path is something amazing
Nice to meet you.
Inokuma Youko.
"Boar" and "bear" make "Inokuma"!
It's a kind of strong and cool name, right?
namida no hitotsubu ga mizutama no you ni hajikete mo
Even if a single tear falls like a drop of water
I don't taste very good.
Broken Japanese?!
kimi no waraigoe dake wa
Your laughing voice
itsumo boku no soba de kagayaite mieru
Always seems to shine out next to me
That hairpin is cute.
sono mama no iro de
In that colour
Ah, this?
Shinobu gave it to me when she came to stay with us.
You kept it all this time?
Please gimme your voice! kimi to boku ga
Please gimme your voice! The fact that
I thought you were supposed to stab people with hairpins.
Scary...
ima koko ni deaeta koto
We met here and now
Are you a "professional"?
Where are you going to live while you're in Japan?
You came by yourself, right?
chiisana shiawase ga ookina
Is a small bit of happiness
Yes.
At Shinobu's house...
Alice!
ai ni tsutsumareteru
Filled with a lot of love
You're all alone with nowhere to go...
ai suru kimi no tame ni
Just for you, my love
You can come stay with me!
We don't have much, though!
What? That's what I intended...
You make a funny pair.
My name is Alice.
Thank you for letting me stay here.
My mum kept your visit secret from me.
I'm a little shocked.
I didn't say anything because I was hoping to surprise you.
I'm sorry.
Anyway, your Japanese is very good.
You sit very well, too.
I've studied Japan a lot.
I even wore a kimono once.
Sitting like this is difficult,
but the kimono was heavy and hot and hard to wear, too.
They say the twelve layers weigh approximately 10 kg.
I believed I could become a virtuous Japanese woman if I endured it...
You don't need to endure it if it's so painful!
Please take it easy.
Make yourself at home.
Oh, I have something for you.
My, how thoughtful.
I bought these dorayaki at the airport.
Made in Japan?!
When the cherry blossoms were blooming,
an English girl came to stay in our home.
Alice, welcome to Japan!
I have a foreign style room.
We have a ..country style sink.
Do you have a Goemon bath in your bathroom?
No.
We have a ..country style sink.
Everything was western.
This is...
Japan...
Even if I'm Small
See you next time.
Even if I'm Small