Jun. 2nd, 2013 03:14 pm
Amachan: Week 9 Episode Guide
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earth_colorsWeek 9 "My big heartbreak"
"Be careful with the people around you... Some of them might be a scout..."
Episode Summaries:
Ep. 49. "I'm so stupppiiddd~!!" Aki whizzes by so fast on her bike she heads straight into the sea and falls. Natsu the Narrator: "The water temperature on this day was 7 degrees Celsius." Later, Aki can't stop crying and is soaking wet inside the Co-op. Tamako says Aki probably thinks she can fly in the sky on her bike like "ET." Natsu comes in worriedly, asking what happened. "Leave me alone!" Aki says, sobbing.
Later at home, Haruko learns about it. "She got dumped? But they just went on a date." Natsu says Aki has a fever but will get well once she sleeps it off. Haruko wants to check up on her but Natsu insists she be left alone. But Haruko says she's worried how Aki could handle this since Aki had originally been a gloomy child in Tokyo. Upstairs, Aki tears off the posters she wrote from the top of the bed ("I will pass! I will go on a date!"). She hides under the covers as she hears her mom coming up to her room. "Aki, how are you?" Haruko asks. "Are you hungry? Call me when you want to talk about it." At the station, Daikichi informs Yui that Aki is sick and has a cold. Yui: "I see so that's why she hasn't answered my messages." Daikichi: "You better take care of yourself, too. The Parlor Train event is just a week away." Then he adds, "Well, I don't think you'd jump into the sea anyway..." Yui: "WHAT?!" At the shop, Haruko informs Misuzu, Takuma, and Ben about Aki's heartbreak. "Please don't tell anyone about it." The door opens and an excited Hiroshi comes in. "Is it true Aki got dumped?" "Eh? That was fast! And you look thrilled about it." Hiroshi: "Daikichi-san emailed (cc'd) it to me." At home, Aki, who seems to be in a dazed state, gets up and goes to the front porch in her pajamas. Natsu: "Where are you going in such light clothing?" Natsu gets a blanket to cover her shoulders but Aki throws it off and goes outside where there is snow. Natsu brings her back and puts the blanket on her shoulders again. Yet, Aki does the same thing, and Natsu brings her back again twice (seriously, I was crying for her and at the same time laughing at this scene) "That's Jackson Browne, you know!" Tamako says, referring to the famous cloak routine at the end of Browne's concerts. But no one at the Co-op know what she's talking about. The Amas surmise that her heartbreak must have been really severe. "More likely, Taneichi whom we thought was a good young man could be a sly fox after all..." At the station, Yui asks Taneichi if he knows why Aki did not go to school. Taneichi: "Heard she has a cold." Yui: "You know why?" Taneichi: "She jumped in the sea." Yui: "And you know why?" Taneichi: "Youth?" Yui: "That's NOT WHY!" Meanwhile the guys at the shop are watching them from the window but could not really hear. Daikichi thinks everything will be ok now that Yui is going to fight for her best friend. "I wonder about that," Hiroshi says, doubtfully. "I don't think she's doing it for the sake their friendship." Ben: "But Yui-chan is a good girl." Takuma: "I agree with Adachi-kun. I think those who are aiming to be in the entertainment world will not get angry for someone. I don't think they want to waste their energies like that." Back to Yui and Taneichi... Yui asks him why he said she and him are going steady. "That was just a reservation...or something like an advance notice! We are going steady starting next week!" Taneichi: "Why can't it be THIS week?" Yui: "We can't! Why can't you just wait one week?!" Taneichi: "Knowing I'll have a girlfriend one week later, I can't date Amano. I can't betray a dear kohai like that." Yui: "In the end, you did betray your kohai anyway. At home, Haruko finds Aki alone brooding beside the open hearth. "You ok? Have you eaten?" Aki: "Just crackers and rice porridge." Haruko says she'll fix her some yakisoba. Then she notices something. "If Hiroshi-kun is Stove-san, you don't leave the hearth so you're 'Hearth-chan'." Aki lets out a giggle. "There, you smiled at last!" Aki goes back to frowning. At the station, Hiroshi tries to confront Taneichi, pulling the tall youth to a corner. "As her manager... No, as her first fan... No, as a man... No, as her manager after all, let me say this... No one makes Aki-chan cry." But Taneichi only says, "It's none of your business, Onii-san," and leaves. Hiroshi: "Onii-san?" (lol) Back at home, Aki eats her yakisoba. Haruko tells her to get well soon because the parlor train event is just a week away. But Aki says she does not feel like doing it anymore. She finally begins to tell Haruko what happened. "I confessed to Taneichi-senpai. I asked that we become a couple through a long-distance relationship. And then... he said there's a girl that he likes. For a long time now, even before I met him. There's already a girl that he loves. And that... they're already in a relationship..." Haruko: "Who is it?" Then Haruko notices Yui is at the door, listening. "...Yui-chan." Aki, not yet aware that Yui is there, says, "Yeah. That's why I don't want to ride the parlor train." Haruko points towards the door, and it is then Aki sees her friend.
Ep. 50. As soon as she sees Yui, Aki gets up and locks herself inside Natsu's workshop. Yui knocks on the door. "Aki-chan, I'm sorry! We're not really going steady! It was just a misunderstanding with Taneichi-senpai! But I didn't want it to be awkward between us..." Haruko says to Yui that she does not have to apologize that Taneichi chose her instead of Aki. "It wasn't your fault. It's okay... somehow there's no one who doesn't go through a broken heart." Haruko invites Yui inside for some yakisoba. Yui explains about what happened. "I'm a person who doesn't need such a boyfriend. Got so annoyed seeing Aki-chan so flighty. Maybe I felt a bit jealous... I said, 'Why not me? Why Aki-chan?'... He does look cool. And... He said he's going to Tokyo..." Haruko understands. "Ah! You wanted a boyfriend who lives in Tokyo... But you know, somehow, I think Aki has changed. Has become more assertive compared to before." Meanwhile, Aki is frustrated and hungry inside the workshop. Yui leaves wishing her speedy recovery. Aki goes back to school but refuses to talk or be with Yui. At the shop, Natsu has told Daikichi that Aki will not be participating in the parlor train event anymore. "JEHHH~!" Daikichi says all the tickets have been sold out and the event had cost around 10 miilion already. So he asks for an emergency meeting. This emergency meeting turns out to be an interrogation of Taneichi, asking him to go and date Aki. Taneichi: "I can't. I can't lie about my feelings." The men laugh sarcastically. Yoshida: "DON'T OUR FEELINGS MEAN ANYTHING, TOO!!!" (lol) Daikichi tells him the parlor train event is at stake. Shiori gives a rundown of the the 15 million yen worth of losses the town will incur if that happens. "So let us ask you again... whom do you love, Aki-chan or Yui-chan?" Taneichi: "Yui!" They even ask her to pretend to like Aki for 4 to 5 days just so she can be able to do the event but still Taneichi refuses. The men are about to give up when Yui comes in with her father. Yui says she will do it alone if she must. "So please don't cancel the event." Isao also apologizes this time on his knees for what happened. He was after all, the one who thought of the parlor train. "If the event is cancelled, and KitaTetsu will be scrapped, I will take responsibility and resign as a member of the prefectural assembly!" So at the shop, Yui resumes her practice. Yayoi loses her temper because Yui is too expressionless. "Are you a mannequin?!" Isao and his wife asks Yayoi to take it easy on her. Yoshie: "She has always been praised since she was small..." Yayoi: "Shut up! Stay out of this!... Yui, put more emotion to the song!" Outside, Aki stops to listen but she does not go inside. Takuma comes out and talks to her. "You got dumped?" Aki scowls at him. Takuma: "Don't look at me like that. Can't help hearing about it since everyone here talks about you and Yui-chan. I saw a video of you getting the sea urchin. Impressive~." Aki lights up and cheerfully talks about that day. "I'll be doing that again next summer so you should come, too, Jaguchi-san(1)." Takuma: "You almost got it. It's Mizuguchi(2)... I better get out of the jaguchi." Aki laughs. He asks her where from Tokyo she originally is from. "Setagaya," Aki, hearing the word 'Tokyo', goes back to being sourly. "...I don't wanna talk about Tokyo. There's a stupid guy who's going to Tokyo. I hope he gets attacked by pigeons at Senso-ji Temple(3) and die!" Takuma: "To whom are you targeting this verbal assault?" Just then, Taneichi is passing by. He and Aki look at each other and Takuma gets up to leave them alone. Taneichi asks her if she's fine already as Yui's singing voice is heard from inside the shop. He tries to give Aki his address in Tokyo but Aki hurries up and leaves. At home, Aki goes straight to her room without saying anything, worrying Haruko. She doubts whether Aki has really changed into a stronger person.
(1. Jaguchi = faucet)
(2. The 'mizu' in 'Mizuguchi' means water)
(3. Senso-ji = temple in Asakusa, Tokyo)
Ep. 51. Haruko brings Aki breakfast the next morning. Aki is hungry but does not want to admit it, and refuses the food. She gets caught by her mom getting the food anyway. "I said I don't need it!" There are only two days left before the event. News has spread that Aki is sick and will not take part anymore. The person they got to replace Aki is just some Toshi-chan*-look alike. Backlash has started. One-third of the guests are cancelling their tickets or wants a refund. Even those in the waiting list are backing out. Daikichi says even if the event is pushing through, "it's just no good without Aki-chan." Hiroshi and Yui try to talk to Haruko to help out in persuading Aki to sing. But Haruko says rather than that, it would be better if Yui try to reconcile with Aki so the two will sing happily. Yui visits Aki at her home to tell her to do the parlor train. "It's time we have a heart-to-heart talk." But Aki keeps running away, unable to face her. Outside, Natsu tells Haruko not to interfere and to just wait. Inside, Yui finally gets to talk to Aki, saying she feels frustrated. "Until I met you, I never wanted to lose to a girl my age. But then, you're so interesting and it was fun being with you. But... people all around are just going "Aki-chan, Aki-chan", kinda gave me an inferiority complex... Sorry, I'm so narrow-minded. Same about Taneichi-senpai. Just thinking of you having a boyfriend made me sick to my stomach..." Aki: "So, you don't love Taneichi-senpai?" Yui: "I really don't know." Aki: "I really liked him. Even now." Yui: "I'm sorry. That's why I tried to tell him no. But... having a boyfriend in Tokyo sounds nice. Wishing I have a long-distance relationship with a boyfriend in Tokyo. No, no no! Still, no way! In short, I can't!" Aki says it feels like she has woken up from a dream. People have been fussing over her, inflating her ego. She feels dumb not to realize that a guy like Taneichi would choose Yui over her. "I finally woke up. Nothing has changed. I guess I'm still a plain, gloomy girl who lacks ambition...what was the other one? Mom said it a long time ago..." Haruko hearing it, bursts in says: "You SHOULD forget such a thing! I don't think of you as plain anymore! You're a lively girl who has ambition and coordination!" Aki: "Oh, 'coordination!' That's the other one!" Haruko: "Anyway.. it's normal to get mad when someone takes her man! Jealousy and envy are normal feelings of high school girls! You should compete more with Yui-chan! Fight! Get the man back, send her down to hell!...Both of you haven't changed! You're cute, foolish kids!" Then, Haruko tells Yui to stay for dinner. Before she leaves, Yui asks Aki what she will do with the parlor train event. Aki does not answer. Yui: "If you don't wanna do it, then don't force yourself. But do come to school." The guys at the Tourism Office are working overtime. Hiroshi had invited Taneichi to help them out with the painting of some kind of huge mural. It was already morning when they were done. It turns out to be the billboard display with a chibi drawing of Aki and Yui, and was put up outside as the third billboard display at the Tourism Building. Aki and Yui sees it on their way to school. It made Aki decide to push through with the parlor train event. "Let's do it! I wanna sing!" In school, it's the graduation day of Taneichi, and Aki watches him and his class say goodbye to Isono-sensei. Taneichi sees her, and Aki almost runs away but she stops. She congratulates him instead. He says, "Work hard for one more year," and holds out his hand to shake hers. Aki notices his hand is dirty with paint (from last night's painting activity). Nevertheless, they do shake hands and things are fine between them. At the station, Yui overhears Takuma on the phone with someone. Takuma: "Yes, yes... Tomorrow starting at 9 am, they've supposedly reserved one seat... Please tell Futomaki-san, too... Cameras from one local program will be there. I will also record it with my camera... Well, the characters of the two are okay. The problem is the singing. The singing skills... Who has the potential? It's fifty-fifty at the moment. Well~... the mother is very protective of her, the one with an accent. The one doing the Ama-san..."
(*Toshihiko Tahara = singer/dancer, former Johnny's idol)
Ep. 52. Big day at KitaTetsu. The 25th anniversary of the Railway gets underway as fans eagerly await the event. The show's TV host, Fukuda Moe (playing as herself) is there covering it. It is two hours before the departure of the parlor train. The camera shows pre-recorded footages of the Amas making 300 unidonburi for the event. It also shows Aki, saying that this event will be her 'graduation' and that she will go back to being an Ama, and an ordinary high school girl. It is already two hours before the event. But at the Tourism Office, director Ikeda is fuming mad because Yui hasn't shown up yet. She hasn't called up either. Backtracking to what happened yesterday afternoon: After Yui overhears Takuma on the phone, she rushes to the Tourism Office, to use the internet. She quickly searches for 'Futomaki-san,' and the net of course came up with futomaki* dishes. She tries again and it gave her info on Aramaki Taichi, a famous producer whose nickname is 'Futomaki-san'. Hiroshi recalls that Yui had looked for 'futomaki' on the internet yesterday. "Wonder if she went on a journey to look for the ultimate futomaki?" "Could she possibly be obsessed with food that much?" Ikeda flares up. "That is not important right now! Where did Yui-chan go? If she's not here, the program will not be complete!" Aki says they practiced at the snack bar yesterday and wished each other 'good luck tomorrow.' "Then, we both rode the 7:30 train home." Hiroshi: "Did you notice anything unusual?" Aki: "Hmmm... Oh!" "What?!" Aki: "We decided on our "Shiosai no Memory" pose!" And she shows them how it goes. "There's nothing unusual about that!" The gate at the train station has opened and the fans run inside the new parlor train, hoping to get the best seats. Back at the Tourism Office, Congressman Adachi Isao and his wife apologize for their daughter but believe she would never be this irresponsible. Daikichi comes in, acting like he is going out of his mind, laughing at the predicament. Meanwhile, the Toshi-chan-look alike is getting ready to replace Yui, irritating Yoshida ("What're you saying? Can't understand you at all!"). Later, at past 9, Aki is already dressed in Ama clothes. But Yui is still missing. Finally, she gets a call from Yui. Yui: "I'm sorry... Aki-chan, when you're surprised, don't say 'Jejeh.' Be careful not to let the people around hear you. Some of them might be a scout. Not sure but there's a person who might be a scout from an entertainment office. I heard him yesterday on the phone. He was talking about the two of us... that our singing skills are a problem." Aki: "Who was it?" Yui: "Ben-san... his disciple, Mizuguchi-san is there, right?... Oh, My tummy hurts, I can't do this..." Aki goes out of the shop and into the Trainmaster's office so she could continue talking to Yui alone on the phone. Aki calms her down, and reassures her. "Remember, the other day when you got angry? You said, 'Not to make memories, and to be serious about it.' But for me, these are my precious memories. Because today is our last. I want to ride on the train and sing with you. These would make a great memory, right? So let's do it!" Then, Yui, feeling better, finally comes out of her hiding place which was just the nearby toilet. She is all dressed up and ready to go. Finally, both girls run towards the venue, 29 minutes late. Nevertheless, the fans are happy, and the two start the program. Aki: "This is Miss KitaTetsu, Yui-chan!" Yui: "She is Aki-chan of the Ama!" Both: "Together we are... Shiosai no Memory~!...(Cheers)... All aboarrrd~!" As the parlor train leaves, Haruko gives her daughter the thumbs up sign. She watches the train leave, with the crying Toshi-chan look-alike left behind.
(*Futomaki = thick rolls of rice and other ingredients wrapped with nori or seaweed)
Ep. 53. The fan gathering is ongoing. Yui and Aki are serving food at the banquet. Surprisingly, not just male fans have come, but teen girls as well and parents who brought along their small kids. It's proof that the two girls are admired by a wide range of people. Back home, after making 300 bowls of unidonburi, the Amas are all worn out and have fallen asleep. They get up fast for they have to go to the station so they can catch the second round trip show of Aki and Yui. The parlor train stops at Hatano Station where everyone goes down to have a bathroom break and take souvenir photos. The two girls put on their show costumes. Aki says Yui looks fine in her dress. Aki asks if she looks ok wearing the huge ribbon, "Does this make me look like an idol?" Both Yui and Hiroshi could not say anything ("What's with you, brother and sister?"). They get back on the train. The audience take part in a Jankenpon competition, auctioning of KitaTetsu goods, and a Karaoke contest. Then, finally, they get to sing "Shiosai no Memory." Back at the shop, there were so many people that Haruko is starting to panic. She calls on Takuma to help her with the dishes. Daikichi comes in to say the booth has run out of misanga bracelets. He calls up Natsu on the phone to possibly make 50 more. The Amas are about to leave for the station to watch the show but Daikichi pleads with them. "Please! They're willing to pay extra. 400 yen more per piece." The ladies said fine, and stayed to make more bracelets. The second show/round trip had started at noon and ended at 3 pm. It was deemed more successful than the first, closing the curtain on KitaTetsu's 25th Anniversary on a happy note. However, the Amas are upset because they missed the show and are demanding that there should be a special trip for them. "We started working at 4:30 making unidonburi, and wove 50 misangas after that! Put the train back on its track!" One of the elderly folks, Suzuki-bappa is crying because she, too had missed both shows. Aki and Yui join in on the clamor, and Daikichi relents. The parlor train gets ready for another special round trip, this time with friends and loved ones on board. Takuma is left behind at the shop filming the dancing Toshi-chan-look alike, and realizes that everyone has left already. He goes to catch the ride. Taneichi also manages to come on time to ride the train before they leave with Aki prompting him to hurry on up. Hiroshi videotapes everyone on board, singing and laughing. But Natsu has fallen asleep since she missed her afternoon nap. Yui and Aki are asked to sing before it gets dark. Yui sees Mizuguchi recording the two of them using his camcorder. She says to Aki, "This is the last time we'll sing together, right?" and Aki nods. The two girls sing. Afterwards, the train has a stop-over. They go down to have a break. Aki asks her grandma what she thinks of the song but Natsu says she was asleep and missed it. "Go ask your mom." Haruko says it was the best ever. Taneichi gets a moment alone with Aki to bid her goodbye. "I'll be riding from around the Miyako area and catch the Shinkansen from Sendai... I'll be back for the Obon Festival*. You'll be diving by then, right?" Aki and Taneichi say goodbye to each other by singing "Nambu Diver." While Taneichi and Aki are singing, Yui is watching them from the train (Wonder what she's feeling?). Takuma tells Yui, "Good job with the song" and goes back inside the train. Taneichi says "Good luck" to Aki and she goes back to the train, still belting out their diver song. They both wave to each other as the train departs. Everyone on board spend the last hour singing and laughing as they head back to the station.
(*Obon Festival = honoring the spirits of one's ancestors; takes place every summer)
Ep. 54. It's already spring-time in Kitansanriku, and a new school year has started. Aki is now a senior in high school. Thanks to the success of the opening day of the parlor train, Yui and Aki by now are the most popular high school girls in Iwate. Aki looks up at their billboard, seemingly happy recalling those times with Yui. Fans are still going to the station. They are told they can still see Yui every Saturday at the station. But with Aki... As Daikichi had promised Haruko, Aki's PR activities for the train have stopped and she's back to being a normal high school girl. However... At the Diving Department, Isono is nervous to be having more girls enroll in his class. "I've never taught with girls in front of me!" Aki: "I'm a girl!" Isono: "I don't think of you as a girl!" Isono, boosting up his confidence, comes in his class but the girls are more interested in Aki. "Here she is!" One of the girls trick her into saying "Jejeh" by pretending there's a cockroach. "Wow! She said it!" "It's true! She does say it. Funny!" Meanwhile Yui is signing autographs at the station. She sees Takuma from a distance recording her with his camcorder. Yui goes to Aki's house and have her read out loud the magazine article featuring Aramaki Taichi. "Aramaki Taichi, managing director of talent agency, 'Heartfull.' He is responsible for launching into the international scene last year the idol group called Ameyoko Jogakuen with a debut song he wrote himself, "Teary Eyed September" which had a record sales of 600,000... Second single, and B track, 'Karamawari(1) October'... 'Chilly November' is also the theme song of a drama..." Yui: "Are you going to read everything?" Aki: "Eh?" Yui: "Why do you think Mizuguchi-san spoke of Futomaki's name?" Aki: "I dunno." Yui: "Because HE'S A SCOUT!" Aki: "Scout?" Yui: "He's an employee from the office of Aramaki Taichi and he has come to scout us." Aki says she can't believe it, "He's just an amber otaku, a disciple of Ben-san." Yui says it's possible that he was using Ben-san to get near them. Yui does an imitation of Takuma on the phone. Aki: "It is suspicious!" Yui: "Right? What will you do?" Aki: "Nothing." She says even if it's true, she has retired from being an idol anyway, and that she'll go back to being an Ama. Yui says, "Don't you think it's a waste?" Aki: "Well, I'm not originally interested in show business but..." Yui: "What?" Aki: "It was fun!" The two reminisce those times by singing together. Tamako: "It was a memory of the 'Shiosai no memory' wasn't it?" Aki: "Eh?" Tamako: "Never mind. Eat some mamebu." Aki is at the Co-op, where all the Amas are having a drinking party slash meeting. Takuma is there, too. Katsue is calling for a meeting because she's expecting many visitors to arrive this coming summer and they should be ready for it. "Thanks to Aki's TV appearances, we've been receiving as many as 20 calls a day for reservations!" Tamako: "A travel agency is even arranging a tour set called "Ama, Kitatetsu, Mamebu, Amber, Happoshu(2) and I." Rokuro: "Maybe not 'amber' but the rest is true. Natsu-bappa! We must invest our money in this Ama attraction!" Natsu says the money they get from the uni (500 yen per piece) should be for the future of the Ama. However, they also point out that a large part of the money goes to the Fishing Co-op (200 yen) and the Tourism Association (200 yen) leaving them only 100 yen. "We don't like risking our lives for just 100 yen! It's illegal! Illegal!" The Amas, already drunk, protest loudly to Rokuro about it (Tamako whispers to Aki that the Amas show off their true colors when they're drunk). Natsu asks Aki what she thinks about it. Aki suggests that while they're diving for uni, maybe the guests should have a place where they can relax and buy something while they're waiting. Natsu: "How about a beachside clubhouse?" Aki: "It's a good idea but it will be opened during summers only. How about a cafe?... They can view the sea from there even during winters. Good idea, isn't it? An Ama Cafe!" The Amas unanimously agree. So the ladies go to the Tourism Office the next day with their proposal. Of course, Sugawara points out that such a thing would cost money. The Amas say with the money the Tourism Association and KitaTetsu earned using Aki and Yui's popularity, at least half of it should go to the Ama Club. "And you made money, too with our Misangas!" Natsu: "If you don't give an answer by summer, we will not dive this year!" And so the Ama-sans stage a strike until they get their demand. At the shop, Yui comes in looking for Aki. Haruko says they're at the Tourism Office. Takuma who is also there says the Amas are planning to have an Ama Cafe. Yui remembers what he said on the phone regarding "the mom is protective of her... the one with an accent." Meanwhile, some of Yui's fans are staring at her from the window. Haruko says it must be hard being popular. Yui: "But it's only for now." Haruko: "Only now?" Yui, in a gloomy voice but loud enough for Takuma to hear, says, "It is a remote town, plus being a real high school girl. My popularity is inclusive of scarcity value, too. When I get to Tokyo, there'll be many girls with the same level as I have." Haruko: "What's wrong, Yui-chan." Yui: "Nothing." Suddenly she couldn't take it anymore and confronts Takuma, startling both him and Haruko. "What is that all about!? Hiding the other day, taking pictures sneakily, talking to us outta the blue!! ...What's the purpose of all that?" Natsu the Narrator: "Mizuguchi Takuma, a 32 year old Virgo. Whether this man has control of Aki and Yui's fates, no one knows yet for sure."
(1. Karamawari = pointless, roundabout pursuit of an unreachable goal)
(2. Happoshu = low-malt, beer-like beverage)
Next: Week 10
Previous: Week 8 (Part 1)
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
"Be careful with the people around you... Some of them might be a scout..."
Episode Summaries:
Ep. 49. "I'm so stupppiiddd~!!" Aki whizzes by so fast on her bike she heads straight into the sea and falls. Natsu the Narrator: "The water temperature on this day was 7 degrees Celsius." Later, Aki can't stop crying and is soaking wet inside the Co-op. Tamako says Aki probably thinks she can fly in the sky on her bike like "ET." Natsu comes in worriedly, asking what happened. "Leave me alone!" Aki says, sobbing.
Later at home, Haruko learns about it. "She got dumped? But they just went on a date." Natsu says Aki has a fever but will get well once she sleeps it off. Haruko wants to check up on her but Natsu insists she be left alone. But Haruko says she's worried how Aki could handle this since Aki had originally been a gloomy child in Tokyo. Upstairs, Aki tears off the posters she wrote from the top of the bed ("I will pass! I will go on a date!"). She hides under the covers as she hears her mom coming up to her room. "Aki, how are you?" Haruko asks. "Are you hungry? Call me when you want to talk about it." At the station, Daikichi informs Yui that Aki is sick and has a cold. Yui: "I see so that's why she hasn't answered my messages." Daikichi: "You better take care of yourself, too. The Parlor Train event is just a week away." Then he adds, "Well, I don't think you'd jump into the sea anyway..." Yui: "WHAT?!" At the shop, Haruko informs Misuzu, Takuma, and Ben about Aki's heartbreak. "Please don't tell anyone about it." The door opens and an excited Hiroshi comes in. "Is it true Aki got dumped?" "Eh? That was fast! And you look thrilled about it." Hiroshi: "Daikichi-san emailed (cc'd) it to me." At home, Aki, who seems to be in a dazed state, gets up and goes to the front porch in her pajamas. Natsu: "Where are you going in such light clothing?" Natsu gets a blanket to cover her shoulders but Aki throws it off and goes outside where there is snow. Natsu brings her back and puts the blanket on her shoulders again. Yet, Aki does the same thing, and Natsu brings her back again twice (seriously, I was crying for her and at the same time laughing at this scene) "That's Jackson Browne, you know!" Tamako says, referring to the famous cloak routine at the end of Browne's concerts. But no one at the Co-op know what she's talking about. The Amas surmise that her heartbreak must have been really severe. "More likely, Taneichi whom we thought was a good young man could be a sly fox after all..." At the station, Yui asks Taneichi if he knows why Aki did not go to school. Taneichi: "Heard she has a cold." Yui: "You know why?" Taneichi: "She jumped in the sea." Yui: "And you know why?" Taneichi: "Youth?" Yui: "That's NOT WHY!" Meanwhile the guys at the shop are watching them from the window but could not really hear. Daikichi thinks everything will be ok now that Yui is going to fight for her best friend. "I wonder about that," Hiroshi says, doubtfully. "I don't think she's doing it for the sake their friendship." Ben: "But Yui-chan is a good girl." Takuma: "I agree with Adachi-kun. I think those who are aiming to be in the entertainment world will not get angry for someone. I don't think they want to waste their energies like that." Back to Yui and Taneichi... Yui asks him why he said she and him are going steady. "That was just a reservation...or something like an advance notice! We are going steady starting next week!" Taneichi: "Why can't it be THIS week?" Yui: "We can't! Why can't you just wait one week?!" Taneichi: "Knowing I'll have a girlfriend one week later, I can't date Amano. I can't betray a dear kohai like that." Yui: "In the end, you did betray your kohai anyway. At home, Haruko finds Aki alone brooding beside the open hearth. "You ok? Have you eaten?" Aki: "Just crackers and rice porridge." Haruko says she'll fix her some yakisoba. Then she notices something. "If Hiroshi-kun is Stove-san, you don't leave the hearth so you're 'Hearth-chan'." Aki lets out a giggle. "There, you smiled at last!" Aki goes back to frowning. At the station, Hiroshi tries to confront Taneichi, pulling the tall youth to a corner. "As her manager... No, as her first fan... No, as a man... No, as her manager after all, let me say this... No one makes Aki-chan cry." But Taneichi only says, "It's none of your business, Onii-san," and leaves. Hiroshi: "Onii-san?" (lol) Back at home, Aki eats her yakisoba. Haruko tells her to get well soon because the parlor train event is just a week away. But Aki says she does not feel like doing it anymore. She finally begins to tell Haruko what happened. "I confessed to Taneichi-senpai. I asked that we become a couple through a long-distance relationship. And then... he said there's a girl that he likes. For a long time now, even before I met him. There's already a girl that he loves. And that... they're already in a relationship..." Haruko: "Who is it?" Then Haruko notices Yui is at the door, listening. "...Yui-chan." Aki, not yet aware that Yui is there, says, "Yeah. That's why I don't want to ride the parlor train." Haruko points towards the door, and it is then Aki sees her friend.Ep. 50. As soon as she sees Yui, Aki gets up and locks herself inside Natsu's workshop. Yui knocks on the door. "Aki-chan, I'm sorry! We're not really going steady! It was just a misunderstanding with Taneichi-senpai! But I didn't want it to be awkward between us..." Haruko says to Yui that she does not have to apologize that Taneichi chose her instead of Aki. "It wasn't your fault. It's okay... somehow there's no one who doesn't go through a broken heart." Haruko invites Yui inside for some yakisoba. Yui explains about what happened. "I'm a person who doesn't need such a boyfriend. Got so annoyed seeing Aki-chan so flighty. Maybe I felt a bit jealous... I said, 'Why not me? Why Aki-chan?'... He does look cool. And... He said he's going to Tokyo..." Haruko understands. "Ah! You wanted a boyfriend who lives in Tokyo... But you know, somehow, I think Aki has changed. Has become more assertive compared to before." Meanwhile, Aki is frustrated and hungry inside the workshop. Yui leaves wishing her speedy recovery.
Aki goes back to school but refuses to talk or be with Yui. At the shop, Natsu has told Daikichi that Aki will not be participating in the parlor train event anymore. "JEHHH~!" Daikichi says all the tickets have been sold out and the event had cost around 10 miilion already. So he asks for an emergency meeting. This emergency meeting turns out to be an interrogation of Taneichi, asking him to go and date Aki. Taneichi: "I can't. I can't lie about my feelings." The men laugh sarcastically. Yoshida: "DON'T OUR FEELINGS MEAN ANYTHING, TOO!!!" (lol) Daikichi tells him the parlor train event is at stake. Shiori gives a rundown of the the 15 million yen worth of losses the town will incur if that happens. "So let us ask you again... whom do you love, Aki-chan or Yui-chan?" Taneichi: "Yui!" They even ask her to pretend to like Aki for 4 to 5 days just so she can be able to do the event but still Taneichi refuses. The men are about to give up when Yui comes in with her father. Yui says she will do it alone if she must. "So please don't cancel the event." Isao also apologizes this time on his knees for what happened. He was after all, the one who thought of the parlor train. "If the event is cancelled, and KitaTetsu will be scrapped, I will take responsibility and resign as a member of the prefectural assembly!" So at the shop, Yui resumes her practice. Yayoi loses her temper because Yui is too expressionless. "Are you a mannequin?!" Isao and his wife asks Yayoi to take it easy on her. Yoshie: "She has always been praised since she was small..." Yayoi: "Shut up! Stay out of this!... Yui, put more emotion to the song!" Outside, Aki stops to listen but she does not go inside. Takuma comes out and talks to her. "You got dumped?" Aki scowls at him. Takuma: "Don't look at me like that. Can't help hearing about it since everyone here talks about you and Yui-chan. I saw a video of you getting the sea urchin. Impressive~." Aki lights up and cheerfully talks about that day. "I'll be doing that again next summer so you should come, too, Jaguchi-san(1)." Takuma: "You almost got it. It's Mizuguchi(2)... I better get out of the jaguchi." Aki laughs. He asks her where from Tokyo she originally is from. "Setagaya," Aki, hearing the word 'Tokyo', goes back to being sourly. "...I don't wanna talk about Tokyo. There's a stupid guy who's going to Tokyo. I hope he gets attacked by pigeons at Senso-ji Temple(3) and die!" Takuma: "To whom are you targeting this verbal assault?" Just then, Taneichi is passing by. He and Aki look at each other and Takuma gets up to leave them alone. Taneichi asks her if she's fine already as Yui's singing voice is heard from inside the shop. He tries to give Aki his address in Tokyo but Aki hurries up and leaves. At home, Aki goes straight to her room without saying anything, worrying Haruko. She doubts whether Aki has really changed into a stronger person.(1. Jaguchi = faucet)
(2. The 'mizu' in 'Mizuguchi' means water)
(3. Senso-ji = temple in Asakusa, Tokyo)
Ep. 51. Haruko brings Aki breakfast the next morning. Aki is hungry but does not want to admit it, and refuses the food. She gets caught by her mom getting the food anyway. "I said I don't need it!"
There are only two days left before the event. News has spread that Aki is sick and will not take part anymore. The person they got to replace Aki is just some Toshi-chan*-look alike. Backlash has started. One-third of the guests are cancelling their tickets or wants a refund. Even those in the waiting list are backing out. Daikichi says even if the event is pushing through, "it's just no good without Aki-chan." Hiroshi and Yui try to talk to Haruko to help out in persuading Aki to sing. But Haruko says rather than that, it would be better if Yui try to reconcile with Aki so the two will sing happily. Yui visits Aki at her home to tell her to do the parlor train. "It's time we have a heart-to-heart talk." But Aki keeps running away, unable to face her. Outside, Natsu tells Haruko not to interfere and to just wait. Inside, Yui finally gets to talk to Aki, saying she feels frustrated. "Until I met you, I never wanted to lose to a girl my age. But then, you're so interesting and it was fun being with you. But... people all around are just going "Aki-chan, Aki-chan", kinda gave me an inferiority complex... Sorry, I'm so narrow-minded. Same about Taneichi-senpai. Just thinking of you having a boyfriend made me sick to my stomach..." Aki: "So, you don't love Taneichi-senpai?" Yui: "I really don't know." Aki: "I really liked him. Even now." Yui: "I'm sorry. That's why I tried to tell him no. But... having a boyfriend in Tokyo sounds nice. Wishing I have a long-distance relationship with a boyfriend in Tokyo. No, no no! Still, no way! In short, I can't!" Aki says it feels like she has woken up from a dream. People have been fussing over her, inflating her ego. She feels dumb not to realize that a guy like Taneichi would choose Yui over her. "I finally woke up. Nothing has changed. I guess I'm still a plain, gloomy girl who lacks ambition...what was the other one? Mom said it a long time ago..." Haruko hearing it, bursts in says: "You SHOULD forget such a thing! I don't think of you as plain anymore! You're a lively girl who has ambition and coordination!" Aki: "Oh, 'coordination!' That's the other one!" Haruko: "Anyway.. it's normal to get mad when someone takes her man! Jealousy and envy are normal feelings of high school girls! You should compete more with Yui-chan! Fight! Get the man back, send her down to hell!...Both of you haven't changed! You're cute, foolish kids!" Then, Haruko tells Yui to stay for dinner. Before she leaves, Yui asks Aki what she will do with the parlor train event. Aki does not answer. Yui: "If you don't wanna do it, then don't force yourself. But do come to school." The guys at the Tourism Office are working overtime. Hiroshi had invited Taneichi to help them out with the painting of some kind of huge mural. It was already morning when they were done. It turns out to be the billboard display with a chibi drawing of Aki and Yui, and was put up outside as the third billboard display at the Tourism Building. Aki and Yui sees it on their way to school. It made Aki decide to push through with the parlor train event. "Let's do it! I wanna sing!" In school, it's the graduation day of Taneichi, and Aki watches him and his class say goodbye to Isono-sensei. Taneichi sees her, and Aki almost runs away but she stops. She congratulates him instead. He says, "Work hard for one more year," and holds out his hand to shake hers. Aki notices his hand is dirty with paint (from last night's painting activity). Nevertheless, they do shake hands and things are fine between them. At the station, Yui overhears Takuma on the phone with someone. Takuma: "Yes, yes... Tomorrow starting at 9 am, they've supposedly reserved one seat... Please tell Futomaki-san, too... Cameras from one local program will be there. I will also record it with my camera... Well, the characters of the two are okay. The problem is the singing. The singing skills... Who has the potential? It's fifty-fifty at the moment. Well~... the mother is very protective of her, the one with an accent. The one doing the Ama-san..."(*Toshihiko Tahara = singer/dancer, former Johnny's idol)
Ep. 52. Big day at KitaTetsu. The 25th anniversary of the Railway gets underway as fans eagerly await the event. The show's TV host, Fukuda Moe (playing as herself) is there covering it. It is two hours before the departure of the parlor train. The camera shows pre-recorded footages of the Amas making 300 unidonburi for the event. It also shows Aki, saying that this event will be her 'graduation' and that she will go back to being an Ama, and an ordinary high school girl.
It is already two hours before the event. But at the Tourism Office, director Ikeda is fuming mad because Yui hasn't shown up yet. She hasn't called up either. Backtracking to what happened yesterday afternoon: After Yui overhears Takuma on the phone, she rushes to the Tourism Office, to use the internet. She quickly searches for 'Futomaki-san,' and the net of course came up with futomaki* dishes. She tries again and it gave her info on Aramaki Taichi, a famous producer whose nickname is 'Futomaki-san'. Hiroshi recalls that Yui had looked for 'futomaki' on the internet yesterday. "Wonder if she went on a journey to look for the ultimate futomaki?" "Could she possibly be obsessed with food that much?" Ikeda flares up. "That is not important right now! Where did Yui-chan go? If she's not here, the program will not be complete!" Aki says they practiced at the snack bar yesterday and wished each other 'good luck tomorrow.' "Then, we both rode the 7:30 train home." Hiroshi: "Did you notice anything unusual?" Aki: "Hmmm... Oh!" "What?!" Aki: "We decided on our "Shiosai no Memory" pose!" And she shows them how it goes. "There's nothing unusual about that!" The gate at the train station has opened and the fans run inside the new parlor train, hoping to get the best seats. Back at the Tourism Office, Congressman Adachi Isao and his wife apologize for their daughter but believe she would never be this irresponsible. Daikichi comes in, acting like he is going out of his mind, laughing at the predicament. Meanwhile, the Toshi-chan-look alike is getting ready to replace Yui, irritating Yoshida ("What're you saying? Can't understand you at all!"). Later, at past 9, Aki is already dressed in Ama clothes. But Yui is still missing. Finally, she gets a call from Yui. Yui: "I'm sorry... Aki-chan, when you're surprised, don't say 'Jejeh.' Be careful not to let the people around hear you. Some of them might be a scout. Not sure but there's a person who might be a scout from an entertainment office. I heard him yesterday on the phone. He was talking about the two of us... that our singing skills are a problem." Aki: "Who was it?" Yui: "Ben-san... his disciple, Mizuguchi-san is there, right?... Oh, My tummy hurts, I can't do this..." Aki goes out of the shop and into the Trainmaster's office so she could continue talking to Yui alone on the phone. Aki calms her down, and reassures her. "Remember, the other day when you got angry? You said, 'Not to make memories, and to be serious about it.' But for me, these are my precious memories. Because today is our last. I want to ride on the train and sing with you. These would make a great memory, right? So let's do it!" Then, Yui, feeling better, finally comes out of her hiding place which was just the nearby toilet. She is all dressed up and ready to go. Finally, both girls run towards the venue, 29 minutes late. Nevertheless, the fans are happy, and the two start the program. Aki: "This is Miss KitaTetsu, Yui-chan!" Yui: "She is Aki-chan of the Ama!" Both: "Together we are... Shiosai no Memory~!...(Cheers)... All aboarrrd~!" As the parlor train leaves, Haruko gives her daughter the thumbs up sign. She watches the train leave, with the crying Toshi-chan look-alike left behind.(*Futomaki = thick rolls of rice and other ingredients wrapped with nori or seaweed)
Ep. 53. The fan gathering is ongoing. Yui and Aki are serving food at the banquet. Surprisingly, not just male fans have come, but teen girls as well and parents who brought along their small kids. It's proof that the two girls are admired by a wide range of people.
Back home, after making 300 bowls of unidonburi, the Amas are all worn out and have fallen asleep. They get up fast for they have to go to the station so they can catch the second round trip show of Aki and Yui. The parlor train stops at Hatano Station where everyone goes down to have a bathroom break and take souvenir photos. The two girls put on their show costumes. Aki says Yui looks fine in her dress. Aki asks if she looks ok wearing the huge ribbon, "Does this make me look like an idol?" Both Yui and Hiroshi could not say anything ("What's with you, brother and sister?"). They get back on the train. The audience take part in a Jankenpon competition, auctioning of KitaTetsu goods, and a Karaoke contest. Then, finally, they get to sing "Shiosai no Memory." Back at the shop, there were so many people that Haruko is starting to panic. She calls on Takuma to help her with the dishes. Daikichi comes in to say the booth has run out of misanga bracelets. He calls up Natsu on the phone to possibly make 50 more. The Amas are about to leave for the station to watch the show but Daikichi pleads with them. "Please! They're willing to pay extra. 400 yen more per piece." The ladies said fine, and stayed to make more bracelets. The second show/round trip had started at noon and ended at 3 pm. It was deemed more successful than the first, closing the curtain on KitaTetsu's 25th Anniversary on a happy note. However, the Amas are upset because they missed the show and are demanding that there should be a special trip for them. "We started working at 4:30 making unidonburi, and wove 50 misangas after that! Put the train back on its track!" One of the elderly folks, Suzuki-bappa is crying because she, too had missed both shows. Aki and Yui join in on the clamor, and Daikichi relents. The parlor train gets ready for another special round trip, this time with friends and loved ones on board. Takuma is left behind at the shop filming the dancing Toshi-chan-look alike, and realizes that everyone has left already. He goes to catch the ride. Taneichi also manages to come on time to ride the train before they leave with Aki prompting him to hurry on up. Hiroshi videotapes everyone on board, singing and laughing. But Natsu has fallen asleep since she missed her afternoon nap. Yui and Aki are asked to sing before it gets dark. Yui sees Mizuguchi recording the two of them using his camcorder. She says to Aki, "This is the last time we'll sing together, right?" and Aki nods. The two girls sing. Afterwards, the train has a stop-over. They go down to have a break. Aki asks her grandma what she thinks of the song but Natsu says she was asleep and missed it. "Go ask your mom." Haruko says it was the best ever. Taneichi gets a moment alone with Aki to bid her goodbye. "I'll be riding from around the Miyako area and catch the Shinkansen from Sendai... I'll be back for the Obon Festival*. You'll be diving by then, right?" Aki and Taneichi say goodbye to each other by singing "Nambu Diver." While Taneichi and Aki are singing, Yui is watching them from the train (Wonder what she's feeling?). Takuma tells Yui, "Good job with the song" and goes back inside the train. Taneichi says "Good luck" to Aki and she goes back to the train, still belting out their diver song. They both wave to each other as the train departs. Everyone on board spend the last hour singing and laughing as they head back to the station.(*Obon Festival = honoring the spirits of one's ancestors; takes place every summer)
Ep. 54. It's already spring-time in Kitansanriku, and a new school year has started. Aki is now a senior in high school. Thanks to the success of the opening day of the parlor train, Yui and Aki by now are the most popular high school girls in Iwate. Aki looks up at their billboard, seemingly happy recalling those times with Yui.
Fans are still going to the station. They are told they can still see Yui every Saturday at the station. But with Aki... As Daikichi had promised Haruko, Aki's PR activities for the train have stopped and she's back to being a normal high school girl. However... At the Diving Department, Isono is nervous to be having more girls enroll in his class. "I've never taught with girls in front of me!" Aki: "I'm a girl!" Isono: "I don't think of you as a girl!" Isono, boosting up his confidence, comes in his class but the girls are more interested in Aki. "Here she is!" One of the girls trick her into saying "Jejeh" by pretending there's a cockroach. "Wow! She said it!" "It's true! She does say it. Funny!" Meanwhile Yui is signing autographs at the station. She sees Takuma from a distance recording her with his camcorder. Yui goes to Aki's house and have her read out loud the magazine article featuring Aramaki Taichi. "Aramaki Taichi, managing director of talent agency, 'Heartfull.' He is responsible for launching into the international scene last year the idol group called Ameyoko Jogakuen with a debut song he wrote himself, "Teary Eyed September" which had a record sales of 600,000... Second single, and B track, 'Karamawari(1) October'... 'Chilly November' is also the theme song of a drama..." Yui: "Are you going to read everything?" Aki: "Eh?" Yui: "Why do you think Mizuguchi-san spoke of Futomaki's name?" Aki: "I dunno." Yui: "Because HE'S A SCOUT!" Aki: "Scout?" Yui: "He's an employee from the office of Aramaki Taichi and he has come to scout us." Aki says she can't believe it, "He's just an amber otaku, a disciple of Ben-san." Yui says it's possible that he was using Ben-san to get near them. Yui does an imitation of Takuma on the phone. Aki: "It is suspicious!" Yui: "Right? What will you do?" Aki: "Nothing." She says even if it's true, she has retired from being an idol anyway, and that she'll go back to being an Ama. Yui says, "Don't you think it's a waste?" Aki: "Well, I'm not originally interested in show business but..." Yui: "What?" Aki: "It was fun!" The two reminisce those times by singing together. Tamako: "It was a memory of the 'Shiosai no memory' wasn't it?" Aki: "Eh?" Tamako: "Never mind. Eat some mamebu." Aki is at the Co-op, where all the Amas are having a drinking party slash meeting. Takuma is there, too. Katsue is calling for a meeting because she's expecting many visitors to arrive this coming summer and they should be ready for it. "Thanks to Aki's TV appearances, we've been receiving as many as 20 calls a day for reservations!" Tamako: "A travel agency is even arranging a tour set called "Ama, Kitatetsu, Mamebu, Amber, Happoshu(2) and I." Rokuro: "Maybe not 'amber' but the rest is true. Natsu-bappa! We must invest our money in this Ama attraction!" Natsu says the money they get from the uni (500 yen per piece) should be for the future of the Ama. However, they also point out that a large part of the money goes to the Fishing Co-op (200 yen) and the Tourism Association (200 yen) leaving them only 100 yen. "We don't like risking our lives for just 100 yen! It's illegal! Illegal!" The Amas, already drunk, protest loudly to Rokuro about it (Tamako whispers to Aki that the Amas show off their true colors when they're drunk). Natsu asks Aki what she thinks about it. Aki suggests that while they're diving for uni, maybe the guests should have a place where they can relax and buy something while they're waiting. Natsu: "How about a beachside clubhouse?" Aki: "It's a good idea but it will be opened during summers only. How about a cafe?... They can view the sea from there even during winters. Good idea, isn't it? An Ama Cafe!" The Amas unanimously agree. So the ladies go to the Tourism Office the next day with their proposal. Of course, Sugawara points out that such a thing would cost money. The Amas say with the money the Tourism Association and KitaTetsu earned using Aki and Yui's popularity, at least half of it should go to the Ama Club. "And you made money, too with our Misangas!" Natsu: "If you don't give an answer by summer, we will not dive this year!" And so the Ama-sans stage a strike until they get their demand. At the shop, Yui comes in looking for Aki. Haruko says they're at the Tourism Office. Takuma who is also there says the Amas are planning to have an Ama Cafe. Yui remembers what he said on the phone regarding "the mom is protective of her... the one with an accent." Meanwhile, some of Yui's fans are staring at her from the window. Haruko says it must be hard being popular. Yui: "But it's only for now." Haruko: "Only now?" Yui, in a gloomy voice but loud enough for Takuma to hear, says, "It is a remote town, plus being a real high school girl. My popularity is inclusive of scarcity value, too. When I get to Tokyo, there'll be many girls with the same level as I have." Haruko: "What's wrong, Yui-chan." Yui: "Nothing." Suddenly she couldn't take it anymore and confronts Takuma, startling both him and Haruko. "What is that all about!? Hiding the other day, taking pictures sneakily, talking to us outta the blue!! ...What's the purpose of all that?" Natsu the Narrator: "Mizuguchi Takuma, a 32 year old Virgo. Whether this man has control of Aki and Yui's fates, no one knows yet for sure."(1. Karamawari = pointless, roundabout pursuit of an unreachable goal)
(2. Happoshu = low-malt, beer-like beverage)
Next: Week 10
Previous: Week 8 (Part 1)
Episode Index: Link
Character Guide: Link
