My name is Ichijou Hotaru.
I'm in fifth grade.
Grade 8 Class 1
+ Grade 1 + Grade 7
+ Grade 9 + Grade 5
I used to go to school in Tokyo,
but my parents had to move, so I transferred to this school.
And it seems,
when I begin life in a new place,
my school environment changes, too.
The first change is:
These are the only students in the whole school.
Just five of us.
The second is:
There are elementary and middle school students mixed into one class.
The third is:
Since we're in different grades,
we mostly study on our own in class.
That's probably why our teacher is...
...sleeping.
Why is this cat square?
sakana ni natte sora wa umi
魚になって空は海
We become fish and the sky is the sea
tonderu you ni oyoideru
飛んでるように泳いでる
Where we swim like we were flying
ano yama wo hitotsu koetara miete kuru
あの山をヒトツ越えたら見えてくる
You can see if you just pass over the mountains
massugu ni nobita azemichi ni
真っ直ぐに伸びたあぜ道に
On a footpath stretching between the rice fields
dareka no chiccha na wasuremono
だれかの小っちゃな忘れ物
Somebody has forgotten something:
katappo ni natta kutsu ga shimesu wa hare
片っぽになったクツが示すは晴れ
The lone shoe means fine weather
yuruyaka ni tsuzuiteku hibi wa kotae nado nai
ゆるやかに続いてく日々は答えなどない
There's no answer in the laid-back days we spend
kisetsu ga mizu wo somete nanairo ni hikaru yo
季節が水を染めて七色に光るよ
The season colours the water, shining in many colours,
ikitsugi shitara kieta
息継ぎしたら消えた
Disappearing when we have a breather
taema naku furisosoideru waraigoe ga tooku de
絶え間なく降り注いでる笑い声が遠くで
The laughter which surrounds us without a pause
utau you ni hibiiteru
歌うように響いてる
Echoes far away like a song
Episode 2
We Went to the Candy Store
Now, I'll introduce the other students at this school.
I finished my worksheet!
This is the first grader, Renge-chan.
I can't figure this one out at all...
This is the seventh grader, Natsumi-senpai.
And this is Natsumi-senpai's older sister,
the eighth grader, Komari-senpai.
Nee-chan, do you understand this question?
If you do, can you do it for me?
Why should I?
And this is the ninth grader, Suguru-senpai.
He's Natsumi-senpai and Komari-senpai's brother.
Do I take this to the teacher when I'm done?
Yeah.
After you turn it in, you can start lunch break.
Okay, I'll take it!
The teacher, Miyauchi-sensei, is Renge-chan's sister.
Nee-nee, I'm done!
Oh, you're done, huh?
There!
Break time!
It's no use.
I just don't get it.
I'm gonna miss lunch break at this rate.
I'm done for...
As long as I'm done, I should take my break.
So can I start my break now?
What are you talking about?
Well, if you admit that you're finished as a human being,
I can't stop you.
But you should think long and hard about that before you act.
"Think long and hard", she says...
Anyone want to go play ball?
I do!
You haven't thought about anything.
Hey!
No running in the hall!
Okay.
Honestly...
Komari-senpai's nickname is Koma-chan.
That nickname was taken...
...not from her name,
but from her size.
TL note: Komai means small.
At first, I just thought of her as a small senpai.
Oh, Hotaru, what's our next class?
I think it's art.
But now I think she's so cute, I can't stand it!
Senpai's looking at me!
I just want to pet that little head.
I bet it's so soft...
She has her hand on her cheek...
Does she have a toothache?
Aww, what are you doing, Koma-chan?
We set that trap to drop the eraser on Sensei.
The eraser's sitting right on top of her head.
Your hair's white now, Koma-chan.
Don't call me Koma-chan!
Why are you more mad about that than about the eraser?
I'm your older sister!
I'm the oldest one here!
Call me Onee-san!
Okay, I get it.
Relax.
Chop.
Why are you hitting me?!
I'm not the one who did something dumb!
Apologise to your big sister!
For the eraser, too! On your knees!
'Cause even if you are my older sister, you don't look it.
Apologising for the eraser comes second?
Come on, both of you, calm down.
Natsumi-senpai, you shouldn't pick on Koma-chan-senpai so much.
I wasn't trying to pick on Koma-chan...
Koma-chan, fight!
Don't call me Koma-chan!
Koma-ch-
I mean, Senpai... I'll get the chalk out of your hair.
Huh?
Would this be petting her head?
Don't rub chalk into my Koma-chan!
Y-You're mistaken!
On Duty:
Koshigaya (younger)
Man, that was terrible.
Candy...
Stare.
Lucky.
You have candy.
You sniffed it out fast...
Huh?
What's up?
I found candy.
The new milk cola flavour.
You hyenas...
You shouldn't bring candy to school, Koma-chan.
I told you, don't call me Koma-chan!
I bought it at the candy store yesterday and forgot to take it out of my bag.
I'm in eighth grade now, you know.
I've gotta keep up with the trends, as a grown woman.
What good does it do to keep up with candy store trends?
Who cares about that?
I want candy!
Oh!
Me, too!
What?!
No way!
Not after what you said before!
Huh?
I didn't do it on purpose.
Yeah! Yeah!
That's right!
Before I'd give this to you guys...
Hotaru, I'll give it to you.
What? But...
Are you sure?
Yeah!
Here!
Hey! Give me some!
Give me some!
Shut up!
Gimme! Gimme!
Candy! I want candy!
Senpai gave me something for the first time!
It's just candy...
But I'm so happy!
Why does this make me so happy?
I won't eat this.
I'll keep it in my desk drawer.
Ren-chon, Ren-chon...
Let's nail Koma-chan by turning on the waterworks.
Then maybe she'll give us candy.
What?!
Koma-chan, Koma-chan.
Don't call me Koma-ch-
We've known each other for a long time, haven't we?
What's all this?!
It was so much fun...
...when we wrote those cool words on your forehead while you were asleep.
It wasn't fun for me!
And I gave you a bite of my pudding yesterday.
Just one bite!
Besides, that pudding was mine!
One bite of pudding is the same size as a piece of candy!
I guess that's true.
I love simple-minded girls.
Yay! Candy! Yay! Candy!
Hotaru, they're being a pain, so could I have the candy ba-
B-But...
I... I was so happy to get candy from you...
Er, well, it's not like we wanted it that bad...
U-Um... Hotaru-sama?
We can't beat those waterworks.
Go ahead and keep it.
Yay! Yay!
I don't really get how, but I just got candy!
I never thought something so wonderful could happen!
Hooray for candy!
I hope this feeling will reach Senpai someday!
Was it a good idea to give her candy if she has a toothache?
Hotarun has a toothache?
I don't know.
Hotaru.
Yes?
Phone call from your friend.
My friend?
Who's "my friend"?
Hello?
Hello, Hotaru?
It's me, Komari.
S-Sorry!
It's the first time you've called me,
and I was so surprised I dropped the phone.
Did you need something?
No, it's nothing important,
but I'm close to your house,
and thought I'd call to see if you wanted to hang out. Yeah.
I do! I do! Yes!
Okay, I'll be around the phone booth near your place.
Got it!
See you soon, then.
Okay!
Uh, you can hang up first.
I'm going to hang out with Senpai...
What am I gonna do?!
I have to fix my hair!
And I should at least wear lipstick...
Mum! Do you have any nice clothes?
What about the ones you just bought?
I want something more grown-up!
Geez...
I bought this grown-up dress,
and Natsumi and Renge don't even care.
They're both useless.
S-Sorry!
Sorry to keep you waiting!
So, where should we...?
I-Is something wrong?
W-Who is this lady?!
Um, I still don't know this town very well,
so I'd appreciate it if you could show me around...
W-Wait, you mean you're from out of town?
Yes... From Tokyo.
I get it.
She's here from Tokyo, and she's lost?
Um, where would you like to go?
W-Well, I...
I'd like to visit the candy store.
You came all the way from Tokyo and you pick a candy store?!
W-We can't?
Uh, no, I didn't mean that!
T-Then let's hurry!
U-Um...
I have to wait for Hotaru so I can show her around...
I'll have to handle this like a grown-up.
Uh, I'm sorry, but I'm actually...
Is something wrong?
Uh...
Like a grown-up... Like a grown-up...
Um...
My mum and sister told me not to go anywhere with strangers!
D-Damn it!
That wasn't grown-up at all!
I agree with that...
But can we just go to the candy store now?
Huh?
U-Um...
I...
I'm supposed to be waiting for someone...
W-Wait a second...
I ended up coming with her.
This is weird.
I thought I told her no.
What the heck went wrong?
Um...
Where is the candy store, again?
Um, well...
If you go straight down this road, there's a tunnel.
Once you go through that, it'll be right in front of you.
A tunnel?
Is it safe for people to walk through it?
Oh, it's a small one that only locals use.
Oh...
I-Is this it?
Yes.
But it's pitch dark, even during the day.
If you're scared, there's a longer way around.
Of course, you want to go back, right?
If a ghost were to show up-
What?!
How can she have such a relaxed smile in a scary tunnel like this?
Is this...
...what they call a grown-up's composure?
A candy store with Senpai...
Is that it over there?
The candy store!
I've never been to a real candy store before!
Really?
What should we buy?
Uh, I don't have very much money...
Let me buy you something.
To thank you for showing me the way.
O-Okay...
There's so much...
...candy!
Welcome.
H-Hello.
Hi.
Hey.
Let's see... What should I get?
Flag: Shaved Ice
Shaved ice already?
Hey, is shaved ice all right?
Uh, sure.
Then, two shaved ices, please.
What flavour would you like?
Condensed Milk
Green
Tea
&
Red
Bean
Strawberry
Lemon
Green tea and red bean.
Green tea and red bean?!
Got it.
Green
Tea
&
Bean
Red
7
yen
That's expensive!
I'll be paying with...
...a 10,000 yen bill.
10,000 yen?!
Is this...?
Is this what they call...
...grown-up shopping?!
I'm glad I saved my New Year's money!
Maybe it's a little too early in the season for shaved ice?
Oh, no.
It's warm today, anyway.
The green tea is bitter...
Do grown-ups always eat stuff like this?
I got carried away and bought the bitter kind to show off to Senpai...
But even the bitter kind is good if I'm with Senpai!
It looks delicious, but it's bitter.
It's bitter, but it looks delicious.
I guess you can't be a grown-up if you can't eat bitter stuff?
It's so nice and peaceful.
I never lived anywhere but in Tokyo before,
so I was really worried about coming here.
But it's a nice place.
I see...
I guess grown-ups have a lot on their minds.
Thank you for everything today.
Oh, no, I should thank you.
Well, goodbye.
So that's... a grown woman...
Sh-Sh-Sh-
She's so cool!
So that's what happened.
I think that's the kind of grown-up I'll try to become.
Yeah?
So, who was she, anyway?
I forgot to ask her name.
King General
Oh... Hotaru!
Hotaru, phone for you.
Okay!
Hello, Hotaru?
I'm sorry about today!
I'm really sorry!
Huh?
That's all for today
taiyou ga shizumisouna non
太陽が沈みそうなのん
The sun seems to feel down
sunda kawa nozoite
澄んだ川 覗いて
Peeking into the clear river,
chiisana sakana mitsuketa
小さな魚みつけた
We found a little fish
namae mo shiranai hana wo tsunde
名前も知らない花を摘んで
Picking flowers which we don't even know the name of,
choppiri
ちょっぴり
Just a little bit,
mizu no nioi
水の匂い
It smells like water
a, arette hakubishin?
あ、あれってハクビシン?
Hey, is that a civet?
tanuki nanon
タヌキなのんっ
It's a raccoon dog!
araiguma desho
アライグマでしょ
I think it's a raccoon
itachi desu yo
イタチですよ
No, it's a weasel
doubutsu ni eshaku suru odanhodou
動物に会釈する横断歩道
We greet animals at the pedestrian crossing
sora to jimen wa to oku hito to hito wa chikaku
空と地面は遠く 人と人は近く
The sky and the earth are far apart, but people are close to each other
hosoi suiro wo hasande
細い水路を 挟んで
Right on the other side of a narrow ditch
mushi no koe karutetto
虫の声カルテット
There's an orchestra of bug sounds
mainichi ga jiyuukenkyuu hiraketa shikai de
毎日が自由研究 ひらけた視界で
Every day we're doing a research project in our widening horizons
doko wo mite mo
どこをみても
Wherever we look
azayaka na midori moyou
鮮やかな緑模様
There are vivid green patterns
nonbiri to utau kara nonki na kaze ga fuita
のんびりと歌うから のんきな風が吹いた
As we sing in a carefree manner, a carefree wind blowing blew for us
Time for a fun, fun class outing!
Yeah. I'm laughing, all right.
Rice balls made by Senpai...
Of course I'm not scared!
Because your behaviour is always so poor!
We're running away!
Episode 3
I Ran Away from Home with My Sister
Please Watch Again