on) I tried making a new song
Hello! This is Neon!
Thank you for always listening.
Today, I hope you'll listen to my new song,
"Bloom in Many Layers."
on) I tried making a new song
Will I be able to say it right?
Will I be able to tell you?
Honest words would be the best, but...
Get more popular!
Your mask is so cute
Liked and subscribed
I feel healed
If I wrote it in the sky
Thanks for uploading
It's so easy to listen to
I want you to get more popular
Would you smile?
Even though there's nothing good about me
Recipe for Happiness
Echoing Through the Hydrangea
Mittsu, do you have work again today?
Hm? Yes.
You make your own lunches and you help out at home. You're amazing!
No, this is just what I always do.
Oh, right! Look!
He's from the place you work at, right?
Y-Yes.
I heard he played in a band in Tokyo.
Wow! Really?
Thank you!
Make sure they appreciate you when they eat you!
Isn't it about time to get used to saying goodbye to the sweets?
That's right.
What will you do once you get the point where you can make sweets yourself?
Nagomu-san, please use this.
Mitsuru-chan...
It's still brand new.
Thank you.
I'll wash it and return it.
I'm so sorry! They're my little brother's!
The pattern's similar, so I grabbed them by mistake!
Well... I'm glad they were brand new.
What's wrong?
He's worn them more than a few times.
Let's not say anything.
Traditional Confectionery
Ryokushou
Welcome!
Oak Leaf Mochi
Noblewoman's Raiment
Secret Letter
Oh, these are cute!
Lovely, aren't they? They're original to our shop.
Can we have two matching ones, please?
Thank you!
Don't forget to wash your hands and mouth!
I'll help!
Thanks.
Thank you for helping me study the other day.
I got 100 on the test!
Oh! Congratulations! I'm glad I could help!
Let's do something fun together next time.
Yes, let's!
What are you looking at? You're being creepy.
Excuse me!
Coming!
I was just thinking... Itsuka doesn't ever look me in the eye.
Well, anyone would hate being stared at like that.
Hello.
Otsurusan, you're off today, aren't you?
Hello!
Hi!
Hello.
I thought I'd buy my grandchildren something sweet to eat today.
I see. Please, come this way. We have an open table toward the back.
Is it good?
Yeah!
Oh! You've got anko on your cheek.
Mitarashi Heaven Bomber!
Koume!
Young master, I'm so sorry!
Oh, it's fine.
Mitarashi Heaven Bomber is an anime character's attack, right?
Mitarashi Heaven...
Yeah!
Bomber!
All clean.
Thank you!
Thank you.
Mitsuru-chan, you're really good with children.
I've got four younger siblings, so I'm used to it.
Wow.
Nagomu! You haven't finished cleaning up yet!
Coming.
I'm so glad.
They like it.
I saw you on social media and came to listen! It's so good!! I like both the singing and the song You have such a good voice
Thank you for today.
Mitsuru-chan...
Here. The anniversary of your grandmother's death is coming up, isn't it?
She loved higashi sweets made from wasanbon. Go ahead and give her some.
Traditional Confectionery Ryokushou
Thank you so much!
Your grandmother was so very good to us.
And now we've even got you helping us, Mitsuru-chan.
Thank you.
No, it's nothing.
I love working here.
And people really like the souvenirs you make for us!
We sold several more today.
That makes me so happy!
I'll make some more and bring them.
I'm using my favorite one here.
I like that.
I wish I had one. A chestnut manju.
Oh, speaking of which...
This is you, isn't it, Nagomu-san?
Th-This is...
This is definitely from that time we were selling in front of the station!
When did they take that?
You're the one who went to get your picture taken, aren't you?
Wh-What is it?
Nothing!
It's nothing. Nothing at all...
Mitsuru-chan is in her second year of high school, right?
Isn't it hard for her to work part-time every day?
She said she wants to take care of her university tuition herself.
She really is so responsible.
And she must be such a help to her parents.
She even helps Itsuka with her studies sometimes.
Such a good young lady.
Yes.
I can help with studying, too!
Traditional Confectionery
Ryokushou
Okay! I guess I won't!
I'm so glad. I managed to make it to the discount sale at the supermarket.
I'm home!
Hey, Big Sis, welcome home!
Welcome home!
'Come home!
Welcome home.
Here.
You went grocery shopping for me?
Milk and yogurt were on sale.
Grandpa, Grandma, these are from your beloved Ryokushou.
They look like wisteria blossoms. They're so pretty!
Higashi sweets made of wasanbon, you see...
They just crumble and melt away in your mouth, don't they?
That's what I like about them.
And they aren't too sweet. I could eat so many of them.
You see? Even as I said it, it's already disappeared.
If I work at Ryokushou, couldn't you eat as much as you wanted?
Traditional Confectionery Ryokushou
Oh, what a sneaky way of thinking. Who do you take after?
Don't you worry about that.
You should go do what you love to do.
What I love to do...
Big Brother hit me!
I knocked into you a little is all.
Weren't you all just laughing and playing together?
But he...
Shut up!
Oh, dear. I can't give nice things to children who fight.
Huh? What is it?
What is it?
Grandpa and Grandma are done with these, so...
These are those sugar candies!
I love these!
We haven't had dinner yet, so just one each, okay?
It melted!
It's so good!
It's so sweet!
One more! One more!
No.
I said just one, didn't I?
You can have more tomorrow.
Aw...
In that case, sing us something when we go to sleep!
I like your singing voice, Big Sis!
All right.
Will I be able to say it right?
Will I be able to tell you?
Honest words would be the best, but...
Welcome home.
Thanks.
Are all the kids asleep?
Mitsuru's put them to bed for me.
I see.
I rely on her for everything. She's so responsible.
Yes, she is.
She'll keep going like this, find a good job...
Eventually find a good partner...
And make herself a happy family. That's what I hope, anyway.
After Grandpa and Grandma died...
I wanted to help my parents, who were both working,
so I helped around the house...
looked after my little brothers...
and tried not to ask for anything for myself or to cause any trouble.
I know.
Just a little more... I want to do what I love just a little more.
Will I be able to say it right?
Wow. She gets some good sound out of that.
Will I be able to tell you?
She seems like she's still in high school.
Um, the bath is free if...
Honest words would be the best, but...
What are you doing?
The bath is free if you want it.
If I wrote it in the sky
What? Thank you!
I was told to tell you, so I did.
would you smile?
Guitar?
Oh, this? It's a video of an amateur giving a performance.
Even though there's nothing good about me
It's a good song. And it seems like she's got quite a few fans.
The stray cat I saw earlier
What's wrong?
I think it was crying at the bus stop
I was just thinking it's been a while since I heard a guitar.
I played it just the other day when we were selling manju.
That's different.
It didn't work for you, huh?
That's the feeling I got
Huh? This is Mitsuru-chan.
But it isn't enough yet...
What?
to make me bloom in many layers
This.
It's Mitsuru-chan's phone strap.
So I'll just sing
Look! In the comments.
The chord doesn't matter
I bought a strap like that one at Ryokushou What's Ryokushou? Maybe she lives near Ryokushou? Somebody blitz them Don't blitz them
Seriously?
Traditional Confectionery
Ryokushou
What?
We have no one by that name here!
Oh, this is so perplexing.
What is all this? We've had several calls like that since this morning.
Just take the phone off the hook for a while!
We can't do that. What will we do if a customer calls?
There's another one.
Welcome!
Oh, Mitsuru-chan. You're early today. Is something wrong?
That's what I said! There is no one named Neon here!
Neon-chan, I tried calling! The person answering calls at Ryokushou is scary lol You're all such children Stream the blitzing Stop phone-blitzing It's a nuisance
It can't be...
Please stop
Stop phone-blitzing It's a nuisance Try calling There are people who really called? The proprietress? is super scary Let's talk about the music
What do I do?
How'd this happen?
I was so careful!
If Mom and the others find out...
They'll be so disappointed in me.
Mitsuru-chan!
Itsuka-chan...
So it really was you, Mitsuru-chan?
Yes.
You've been playing music, then? When did you start?
In middle school.
A friend started playing guitar, and she let me play, too.
I just plucked the strings a little...
And I felt like my heart began to unfurl.
I always hold myself back, but...
I felt like, through music, I'd be able to express all kinds of emotions.
My friend stopped playing.
But a year ago, I bought myself a guitar with the money I'd earned.
I wrote some music.
And once I did, I wanted someone to hear it.
I recorded myself in secret at a karaoke place...
Uploaded it to the internet...
And when I got likes and comments, it started being fun.
Oh, yeah. I get it. I do.
But...
It's all over.
I'll quit working here.
What?
I'll quit music, too.
I'm causing problems for the shop.
I'll take down all my songs and make it like they never existed.
You shouldn't do that!
You shouldn't give up!
You looked like you were having so much fun!
Quitting your job at our shop... Quitting uploading...
I can understand that.
It's scary to have people you don't know messing with you, after all.
But...
Why would you quit music?
I haven't said anything to my parents.
You can't tell them?
They trust me because they think I'm diligent and responsible.
I just can't open up and confide in them!
Mom and Dad are so busy. I just...
Th-This is no time for me to be doing whatever I want.
I just feel like this might be the right time.
This isn't what you call the "right time."
The real "right time"...
is when you've played in a band for ten years and never been very popular!
Your band mates leave you, and you realize you're all alone.
And just when a big hole's been poked in your heart...
You decide to go back to your parents' place! That's the "right time"!
What an uncool example.
What?
If you've already decided to give up, why not use that courage for something else?
Okay.
Why don't we head out for a while?
I beg of you! Please allow Mitsuru-chan to do what she wants to do!
N-N-N-Nagomu-san!
Wait a moment, please.
This conversation is all too sudden.
I am ashamed to ask this of you, but...
When I said I had something I wanted to do and left home,
my parents didn't say anything. They just let me go.
They let me do as I liked, and I'm truly grateful to them for that.
In the end, I did give up that dream,
but I have no regrets about the decision I made.
So, won't you give that to Mitsuru-chan, too?
Mitsuru-chan's music...
I really like it!
Mitsuru-chan...
You can do this! Say it like you do in your music!
Tell her your feelings!
Yes.
Thank you, Itsuka-chan, Nagomu-san.
Still...
To think you'd go barging into someone else's house.
Huh? Was that bad?
But, well... It might have been good for Mitsuru-chan's sake.
I hope it all turns out okay.
Traditional Confectionery
Ryokushou
Good morning!
Morning!
Off to school?
Yes.
That's a pleasant smile. Were you able to talk with your father after that, too?
I came to give a report about that.
After that, that night...
When I told them I want to keep playing music,
and I want to work in a field that involves music...
Honestly! Why didn't you say something sooner?
It makes us feel lonely!
...is what they said as they scolded me.
After that, my whole family started a watch party of my videos...
What's with the mask?
Did you make it?
I experienced an impressive amount of pleasurable embarrassment.
Man, that's rough.
But everyone said they liked my songs!
That's really great.
Yes!
I've been checking online, but...
It looks like everyone's gotten bored with hunting down your real identity.
Neon - I tried making a new song
Instead of that...
They say that my mom is funny on the phone.
I've told you, there is no such person here!
More importantly, do you like wagashi?
Do you eat anko at all?
This old lady wants young people to eat more wagashi, you see!
Oak Leaf Mochi
Noblewoman's Raiment
Secret Letter
And it seems there have been some kids who really did come to buy wagashi.
I subscribed to the channel I listen to this every day when I go to sleep This is perfect for your voice Neon. I really like it.
It might be good promotion for our shop.
U-Um...
I-I... I watched videos of your band, Nagomu-san!
Huh? Really?
And... I like your music, too, Nagomu-san.
Thank you! Makes me feel sort of embarrassed.
And here...
While I was at it, I made a chestnut manju phone strap, so...
I can have it? Thank you!
Oh, right. Wait just a sec.
Here you go.
As a thank you.
They're broken, so we can't sell them.
Thank you so much!
Itsuka-chan! Morning!
Good morning.
Let's go part of the way together!
Okay!
I'm going now!
Be careful!
You seem happy.
Oh, right.
Shall we eat these together?
Wasanbon higashi sweets?
Yes.
Nagomu-san is a good person, isn't he?
He's warm-hearted and treats everyone kindly.
He does... does he?
It crumbles and melts in your mouth, right?
I really feel like I'll be able to write the best song I've ever written.
For Pedestrians and Cyclists
Mitsuru-chan...
Hm?
You should probably think it over a little more.
Huh? Think about what?
Well... How can I put it...
What is this tiny, strange little doll?
Huh? It's really cool, isn't it?
Let's make it the Ryokushou mascot!
Never!
Next Time
"A Summer Night's Accompaniment"
I like European sweets.
Bye-bye.
I got turned down.
Itsuka-chan's father is missing, isn't he?
I learned how to hypnotize people.
Papa?!