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earth_colors) wrote2013-07-20 03:18 am
earth_colors) wrote2013-07-20 03:18 am
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Amachan: Week 16 (Episode Guide)
Week 16. "My Mom has a history 2"
"You're not Yui-chan's partner anymore. You're GMT's Amano Aki!"
Ep. 91. Aki meets with Yui at the Ama Cafe. As expected, Yui is not at all friendly to her. Aki tries to tell her to continue becoming an Idol in Tokyo but Yui just says that it cannot happen anymore. "It's not that I have given up, I've lost interest." It appears Yui is trying to end her friendship with Aki by saying all the things that could possibly hurt Aki the most: that being an Idol is lame; that compared to Yui's life, Aki is having a carefree life in Tokyo; and that Yui wishes to forget her past of being an Idol and being Miss KitaTetsu. In tears, Aki argues back, saying she bore the difficulties in Tokyo because she was waiting for her all this time. Feeling hurt, Aki didn't mean to spill out, "Your mother is not coming back" upsetting Yui. Aki takes it back but she tearfully shouts that she may not know how unhappy Yui is, but she cannot stand it if Yui will dismiss their happy memories together in Kitasanriku. She stomps out of the cafe, leaving a crying Yui behind (It seems her plan to end their friendship is too much for her to take either).
At Bar Rias, the older Adachi is having drinks with the regulars and talks about recovering from his illness. He apologizes to the others for causing such inconvenience, especially regarding Yui. He also admits he knows his wife has left. "It's okay if she can't do anything, what a foolish wife!" he says sadly, but still manages to show a smile.
"You're not Yui-chan's partner anymore. You're GMT's Amano Aki!"
Ep. 91. Aki meets with Yui at the Ama Cafe. As expected, Yui is not at all friendly to her. Aki tries to tell her to continue becoming an Idol in Tokyo but Yui just says that it cannot happen anymore. "It's not that I have given up, I've lost interest." It appears Yui is trying to end her friendship with Aki by saying all the things that could possibly hurt Aki the most: that being an Idol is lame; that compared to Yui's life, Aki is having a carefree life in Tokyo; and that Yui wishes to forget her past of being an Idol and being Miss KitaTetsu. In tears, Aki argues back, saying she bore the difficulties in Tokyo because she was waiting for her all this time. Feeling hurt, Aki didn't mean to spill out, "Your mother is not coming back" upsetting Yui. Aki takes it back but she tearfully shouts that she may not know how unhappy Yui is, but she cannot stand it if Yui will dismiss their happy memories together in Kitasanriku. She stomps out of the cafe, leaving a crying Yui behind (It seems her plan to end their friendship is too much for her to take either).
At Bar Rias, the older Adachi is having drinks with the regulars and talks about recovering from his illness. He apologizes to the others for causing such inconvenience, especially regarding Yui. He also admits he knows his wife has left. "It's okay if she can't do anything, what a foolish wife!" he says sadly, but still manages to show a smile.
After a while, Hiroshi and his dad have left. The guys are still at the bar, drunk and still feeling melancholy. They talk about Yui, and how frustrating and helpless everyone is regarding her situation...
Outside the bar, Yui also looks morose, sitting on one of the benches inside the station. Haruko sees her and asks what is wrong. A red-eyed Yui tells Haruko that she had hurt Aki. She whimpers in Haruko's arms but does not say anything beyond that.
Meanwhile, Aki tries to go back to the party at her home. However, she stops at the door. She does not feel like going back inside and so she steps inside Natsu's workshed to be alone.
Ep. 92. The next day, all the warm family and friendly hometown atmosphere in Kitasanriku have made Eren decide to go back to Okinawa. Aki and Natsu see her off at the train station where she receives her plane ticket from Kurihara and Yoshida.
Aki comes back to her house and sees everyone all busy putting up a new plasma TV and a hard disc recorder. Her grandpa says he bought them all so he could record the episode of "Expectant Lawyer" that's going be shown that night. "Oh, right!" Aki remembers. On that night, the episode where she will appear is going to be shown. Haruko sets Aki aside and asks her about why Yui was crying last night. But Aki only tells her, "I said some mean things that hurt her feelings. Please tell her I'm sorry." Haruko is more confused, since it seems both girls are saying they had hurt each other's feelings. Aki goes to the 80s room but Haruko follows her there shortly. Not really wanting to force Aki to open up, Haruko casually tries to make Aki tell her about Tokyo and showbiz life instead. Aki says there's not much to say and instead asks Haruko about Futomaki. Haruko says she was just a waitress and he was just a regular customer at the coffee shop who had given her all sorts of advice regarding idol stuff. Haruko regales to her on how they met at the coffee shop. Aki asks her if they had some sort of relationship. Haruko just laughs at the idea. "Why ask such a thing?" Aki answers she was feeling suspicious and that maybe something happened between them, that's why Aki couldn't get a break. "I gotta stop! Just because things don't go my way, I shouldn't blame it onto others. It's my fault, it's my ability issue..." Aki goes off downstairs, not explaining anything more, making Haruko even more worried.
Haruko sets Aki aside and asks her about why Yui was crying last night. But Aki only tells her, "I said some mean things that hurt her feelings. Please tell her I'm sorry." Haruko is more confused, since it seems both girls are saying they had hurt each other's feelings. Aki goes to the 80s room but Haruko follows her there shortly. Not really wanting to force Aki to open up, Haruko casually tries to make Aki tell her about Tokyo and showbiz life instead. Aki says there's not much to say and instead asks Haruko about Futomaki. Haruko says she was just a waitress and he was just a regular customer at the coffee shop who had given her all sorts of advice regarding idol stuff. Haruko regales to her on how they met at the coffee shop. Aki asks her if they had some sort of relationship. Haruko just laughs at the idea. "Why ask such a thing?" Aki answers she was feeling suspicious and that maybe something happened between them, that's why Aki couldn't get a break. "I gotta stop! Just because things don't go my way, I shouldn't blame it onto others. It's my fault, it's my ability issue..." Aki goes off downstairs, not explaining anything more, making Haruko even more worried. Night comes, and another New Year party is ongoing at the Amano house. They are also anticipating the broadcast of Aki's acting debut. However, when the scene starts, Aki shows up for an instant, and then, it was cut off abruptly. "That was it?" Aki realizes her scene had been cut out. Feeling embarrassed, she tells the others that was all there is to it. At Bar Rias, Yui, Yoshida, Isono and Ben are also watching the drama, and wondering where Aki was. Yui senses something was not right about it...
At Bar Rias, Yui, Yoshida, Isono and Ben are also watching the drama, and wondering where Aki was. Yui senses something was not right about it... Later, Aki talks with Mizuguchi on the phone about her deleted scene. He reassures her that such things often happen and she shouldn't feel bad about it. He tries to ask her when will she get back to Tokyo but Aki hangs up on him. She steps outside the house, and sits alone on the porch. Haruko watches her daughter, with a concerned look on her face...
Ep. 93. In Tokyo, Arima Megu who had fallen down the Hole, moves into the GMT dorm. Apparently, she was told that Aki had quit and that Megu will stay in Aki's room. The former Center begins to move Aki's things out. The GMT girls panic. Shiori asks the other equally clueless members: "When will Aki come home?"
Back in Kitasanriku, Daikichi comes in the Tourism Office bearing big news. "Aki is working at the Ama Cafe!" They all go to the Cafe to watch Aki back to working as a waitress there. Optimistic, the guys think that Aki is there to stay, and that maybe Yui will also be back to being Miss KitaTetsu once again.
At Bar Rias that night, Haruko tells Yui, "Aki didn't mind it. She says, she had hurt you." She also says Aki seems really down, and had probably suffered a setback while in Tokyo. "I hope you can cheer her up." Meanwhile, Aki and Hiroshi are cleaning up at the Cafe. Hiroshi tells Aki that Yui had always been determined to go to Tokyo, if only their mother hadn't run away. Aki has also been receiving calls from Mizuguchi but refuses to answer them.
Meanwhile, Aki and Hiroshi are cleaning up at the Cafe. Hiroshi tells Aki that Yui had always been determined to go to Tokyo, if only their mother hadn't run away. Aki has also been receiving calls from Mizuguchi but refuses to answer them. The next morning, Aki is in the workshed, seeking advice from her Grandpa. She says she does not want to go back to Tokyo anymore. Chubee also says he has been feeling dejected lately since some fishing boats have refused to accept him on board. Aki: "Reality is so hard..." Chubee: "Yeah. For both of us, if we take a step forward, it'll work out but to make the first step is so hard." Then, their conversation gets interrupted as a pissed Mizuguchi bursts inside the workshed. "Why! Why don't you answer your phone!" he asks Aki. The GMT manager had apparently traveled all the way from Tokyo to fetch Aki. But Aki refuses to go, saying there are many other cute girls that could take her place. "You just want a head count! While you're here, go and take Yui. You wanted the cuter one, right?" Mizuguchi insists that she read her voice messages. Aki is surprised to see that she has 16 voice mails. She listens to Mizuguchi's messages, telling her she is needed. "You're not Yui-chan's partner anymore. You're GMT's Amano Aki." The other members also left messages, imploring her to come back. Taneichi, Suzuka Hiromi and Anbe also tell her they expect her to be back soon. Touched, it looks like the messages have convinced Aki to go back. However, Yui suddenly shows up. Aki, not wanting to deal with her, goes in the workshed and locks herself inside. Mizuguchi who thought he has gotten through to Aki, wonders what went wrong...
"Why! Why don't you answer your phone!" he asks Aki. The GMT manager had apparently traveled all the way from Tokyo to fetch Aki. But Aki refuses to go, saying there are many other cute girls that could take her place. "You just want a head count! While you're here, go and take Yui. You wanted the cuter one, right?" Mizuguchi insists that she read her voice messages. Aki is surprised to see that she has 16 voice mails. She listens to Mizuguchi's messages, telling her she is needed. "You're not Yui-chan's partner anymore. You're GMT's Amano Aki." The other members also left messages, imploring her to come back. Taneichi, Suzuka Hiromi and Anbe also tell her they expect her to be back soon. Touched, it looks like the messages have convinced Aki to go back. However, Yui suddenly shows up. Aki, not wanting to deal with her, goes in the workshed and locks herself inside. Mizuguchi who thought he has gotten through to Aki, wonders what went wrong... 
"Of course I have pride! If I didn't, I would've given up a long time ago!"
Ep. 94. Mizuguchi realizes that the Yankii girl who appeared is actually Yui. "Eh? What happened to your eyebrows?" (lol)
Later, Aki thinks it is useless to keep running away from Yui and lets her inside the shed. Yui begins by saying sorry, and did not really mean to hurt Aki. Aki also apologizes to her, and admits her motivation is lost, and there is no point to going back to Tokyo since she only went to Tokyo for Yui to begin with. Yui tells her to try becoming an Idol for herself, to sing and dance for herself. "It's not that I've lost interest, I've given up. Instead, I will be watching you... Don't come back again unless you do it well." Aki nods. This time, Yui asks Aki for her autograph...
Later, their friendship renewed, the two girls are seen, laughing and riding their bikes together like old times.
Meanwhile, Mizuguchi is inside the Amano house, talking with Haruko and Natsu. Haruko explains to him that Yui changed her looks to deny her past self or else... "She wouldn't be able face the current situation and overcome." Mizuguchi tells them how his opinion of Aki has changed ("If you look closely, she's... actually cute") and that he's determined to make her an Idol. He leaves immediately, however, since he has to catch a train back to Tokyo.
The next day, Aki goes back to Tokyo. She says hasty goodbyes to everyone and rides the train. Inside her bag, she finds a letter from her mom. It is the continuation of her story from before. In it, Haruko says that in 1985, Futomaki came to the coffee shop and whisked her away for some important request...
1985: Inside a taxi cab en route to a recording studio, Futomaki lets her listen to a cassette recording. It was that of an upcoming idol named Suzuka Hiromi. She was singing a very out-of-tune "Shiosai no Memory," the theme song of her debut movie with the same name. Futomaki was tasked to find a ghost singer for Suzuka, and he wonders if Haruko could do it. Haruko couldn't find a reason to say no...
Ep. 95. Aki's eyes widen as the contents of her mother's letter sink in, not believing what she is reading... The letter says, Futomaki had paid the cab driver, Kurokawa Masamune, hush money and threatened him in Kansai dialect not to tell anyone about what he and Haruko had discussed. Inside the studio, Haruko sang the song wonderfully, much to the delight -and relief- of the staff and Futomaki.
Aki arrives in Ueno in a daze over this sudden revelation. Inside the Tokyo Edo Theater, she is greeted warmly by the GMT girls except for Futomaki and Arima Megu.
She also meets up with Suzuka Hiromi, to tell her she wishes to continue being her assistant. Suzuka feels happy about that considering the actress knows she has been acting quite troublesome to her young assistant. But the truth is Aki really wants to know more about her Mom's story, and Suzuka, and Futomaki's side as well...
Continuing on with the letter... Haruko reveals that the song as well as the movie went on to become major hits. She felt happy at first that the song had reached No. 1 in music programs and the charts. In the beginning, Suzuka refuses to go on these live music shows to sing...
However, one day, a troubled Futomaki tells Haruko: "Suzuka insists she wants to sing the song live..."
However, one day, a troubled Futomaki tells Haruko: "Suzuka insists she wants to sing the song live..."
Ep. 96. Haruko tells Aki in her letter that she herself sang during those times that Suzuka went on TV to sing "live." She did it by hiding inside a sound booth and watching Suzuka's lips through a monitor. Futomaki and his cohorts managed to fool the audience and Suzuka with that...
Young Haruko has been paid a lot for her ghost singing (in music programs and for Suzuka's other singles), and still continues to work as a waitress. It went on for some time, and Haruko is by then, feeling frustrated, having already turned 20. She demands Futomaki to give her a break into the idol business. But he says he had already given her demo tape to the company president. She was rejected, saying "You sound too much like Suzuka Hiromi." Haruko goes ballistic, "Of course I sound like her, because IT WAS ME SINGING IN THE FIRST PLACE!" Futomaki tries to calm her down, saying that it was not the right time. "We are having financial difficulties right now," he explains to her. "No matter how hard we try, my company will put pressure on everything. You'll be crushed." He manages to convince a tired and reluctant Haruko...
Haruko's letter is making Aki feel agitated. She could not sleep, worried that she will end up the same fate as Young Haruko's. She tries to get reassurance from a sleepy Mizuguchi who says he'll do everything to make her debut come true.
However, Haruko's story still haunts her...
1990 has come. And Haruko no longer works as a waitress but is still a ghost singer. She tells Futomaki that she's going home to Kitasanriku. He tries to plead with her. Haruko demands she be allowed to sing "Shiosai no Memory" as an original single, because she considers it as "hers" to begin with. (Haruko in her letter claims she knows that cannot happen. She only wanted Futomaki to acknowledge her frustration) Of course, Futomaki says it's out of the question. "Don't you have any pride?" For Haruko, hearing those words was the last straw. She stands up and shouts: "Of course I have pride! If I didn't, I would've given up a long time ago! I do have a pride... That's why, I can't end like this!"
She leaves behind a disappointed Futomaki. Outside, she takes her luggage and hails a cab. She asks the driver to take her to Ueno Station. She had ridden that cab before but she doesn't know it. But for the cab driver, Kurokawa Masamune, it was the second time he has seen Amano Haruko...