I'm going!
Come back safely!
It's been two years since Itsuka came to Ryokushou.
Lately, it doesn't seem like she's been going to the station to look for her father.
I wonder if it's because she's started looking toward the future...
Itsuka-chan! Morning!
or if it's because she's given up.
Morning!
For Pedestrians and Cyclists
It's warm today, isn't it?
Well, it is March already.
Oh, yeah. Itsuka-chan, your birthday's this month, right?
Y-Yeah.
Here.
Exclusively for Nagomu-san 3/26 Going Somewhere Together Ticket
March twenty-sixth?
Let me just say that if you lose it, it becomes invalid, okay?
Okay. It's a promise.
If you're lying, I'll make you swallow a thousand yokan.
That'd be rough.
Recipe for Happiness
Red Sea Bream for a Spring Dawn
Narrow Window
Early Wins
Take Friends
Itsuka's Birthday
At the end of this month, on the twenty-sixth...
That's Itsuka-chan's birthday, right?
We'll have to make lots of chicken karaage this year, too.
What will we do about the cake?
Yes... I wonder if the same as last year will be all right.
What do children these days like?
Um...
About the cake...
What about making it out of wagashi?
That sounds good!
When I worked at Hachiten, we got some orders for those.
Then, shall we brainstorm together?
Y-Yes, sir!
What are you doing?
It's almost here.
Exclusively for Nagomu-san 3/26 Going Somewhere Together Ticket
At last, the time for me to use this has come!
What is that?
I've been thinking and thinking about where I'll take her!
Apparently, Itsuka gave it to him for his birthday.
He said it's a "Going Somewhere Together Ticket."
Every morning I look at this and think, "Is this a dream?"
Nagomu-san...
Is it all right if I find this off-putting?
What's going on? Everyone's all together.
If you're happy, that's the most important thing.
Dad, what're you doing?
There's a hanami festival coming up at the Nonoguchi Jinja, right?
I'm checking the sweets that are meant for the tea party.
Really? Oh, there's sakura mochi in the order, too.
Speaking of which, how was it while you were in Tokyo?
Was it all Choumeiji-style?
Um... Well, there were Choumeiji-style ones, too.
In the Kanto area, they're made of an wrapped in a thin skin cooked in a pan.
A temple called Choumeiji used to sell them at their gate.
I think that's where the name came from.
In the Kansai area, an is wrapped in steamed doumyoji rice flour,
named in honor of Doumyouji Temple.
We don't see the Choumeiji-style much around here,
but lots of places in Tokyo sold both kinds.
Really...
But you seem to be staying nicely within your comfort zone.
Spring's Arrival
Like this Spring's Arrival, for example.
If you added gold leaf to make it look like
sunlight was striking it, that would be nice, right?
Gold leaf...
Don't just say things as they come to you!
If you carelessly use gold leaf and ruin the balance of the piece, it'll only look crass!
Yes, sir...
Try saying that after you've gained some knowledge and experience!
Yes, I will.
Gramps, wouldn't it be better to make the color of this darker?
It's making the white of the jouyo manju seem dingy.
He's always been so impudent...
Nightingale
Budding Crimson
Flowing
Welcome!
Have you finished the next round of prep work?
The manju are done steaming!
Masa-san, take care of the next batch for me!
Yes, sir!
I've made some extra boxes!
What about the inventory check?
Finished!
Good. Now, drain off the bitterness.
Yes, sir.
Itsuka, what are you doing?
Um, I was going to take a bath, and I saw that the workshop lights were on.
Oh, Nagomu is cooking an.
Cooking an?
I thought it would be a while off yet,
but Otousan just isn't good at restraining himself.
What?
He came home saying stupid stuff about how he'd inherit the shop from me.
I'll run him ragged doing chores for a full three years!
He said all of that, and yet...
Starting a few days ago, I saw him staring at the calendar.
I wondered what he was doing.
But today happens to be a Day of Future Harvests, so we can expect good luck.
Day of Future Harvests?
A single grain of unhulled rice can grow into many times that amount.
So this is a day that can bring great returns in the future.
The exact dates change every year, though.
Starting a new job, opening a store, planting seeds,
spending or investing money... It's a day they say is good for that sort of thing.
So his face can look like that, too.
When he first came back, he was unreliable, but...
I guess it has been a year since then.
Come now. Go take your bath.
Yes, I will.
You're asking what Itsuka-chan and I talk about?
Normal stuff.
And what is that "normal stuff"?
What do the dads in this world talk about with their daughters? Dreams? Wishes?
Wouldn't it be things like school and friends?
What are you guys talking about in secret?
Just work assignments and going out drinking together again! Stuff like that!
That's right! That's right!
If you slack off too much, the master's fists are going to come flying.
Yes, you're right.
Oh, Itsuka!
About tomorrow...
Tomorrow?
Um, well...
Don't oversleep.
It wasn't a dream!
He's so easy to read!
We have to travel as efficiently as possible, right?
Today, for personal reasons, we will be closed. Ryokushou
Good morning.
Morning.
Happy birthday.
Thank you!
A present arrived from your mother.
It says it's from London. I wonder what it could be.
Oh my!
How lovely. It suits you very well.
Where's Nagomu-san?
Nagomu? He's probably still sleeping, isn't he?
Lately he's been working until late at night. Maybe he's tired.
Hey. Happy birthday, Itsuka.
Thank you.
So you were awake. How will you be going?
We'll drive. I just went and got gas.
Once Itsuka's finished breakfast, we can take our time and head out.
Be careful, though it seems like the weather will be nice.
Yes, we will.
Itsuka...
A little spending money. Take it with you.
It's okay. I'll pay for everything.
If you get fed up, use that and come back home.
You're saying that so I can hear it?
Come home quickly. We'll get the cake and chicken karaage ready.
All right.
Where are we going?
Somewhere I invited you to before.
Do you mean Hirakata Park?
That's right. Back then you were against the idea, but...
How about Hirakata Park?
They've got a ride called Pachanga that's really popular!
To think the day would come that we'd be going together like this...
Please keep looking ahead of us! Look!
Yes. That's good.
Thank you!
For Itsuka's birthday present, I made her a cell phone strap.
Oh my. How nice!
This is from all the employees. It's a children's makeup set.
Makeup? Saki-kun, you seem quite knowledgeable about that.
Huh? Oh, um, well...
Nagomu-san and Itsuka-chan should be getting there soon, right?
Yes, I think so.
Itsuka!
What's wrong?
I-It's nothing!
I'm so glad we made it here without any problems!
Made it here?
I mean! You know! It's the first time I've driven you anywhere,
and I was not freaked out at all!
So that's why you replied in broken sentences when I spoke to you.
Well, I'm glad we arrived safely.
Uh-oh. When she's like this, things fall apart fast.
So, if we're going to talk about school first,
I did run a simulation in my head before I slept.
then I'll ask what's popular these days and...
But I fell asleep right away.
No! I still have my book of secrets.
Itsuka.
What should we ride first?
Hmm, let's see...
Is someone there?
No!
Oh, Nagomu-san, have you been here before?
Back in high school. I came with friends and our senpais.
How about you, Itsuka? Have you been here before?
No, I haven't.
Really? Then I'm glad I brought you.
Then, what should we ride first?
Well, let's see...
Here it comes!
I asked Saki-kun to pick out the ones Itsuka might like!
Hmmmm
If Itsuka says...
I want to ride Pachanga!
Then...
I've drawn everything out on the map so that we can get there as quickly as possible!
Huh?
What?
What? When was the last time I checked it?
This morning? Where?
In bed.
And I folded them up together...
Gloom
He's so easy to read.
Nagomu-san...
You're trying way too hard to be considerate. It's weird.
It's making me uncomfortable.
But today is all about you, Itsuka.
I will go home, you know.
Right. Understood.
Nagomu-san, you can just be the way you always are.
Let's go.
Yes, ma'am.
Okay! Where should we go next?
Nagomu-san, how about your stomach?
Huh?
My stomach noticed when you asked... What should we eat?
Where should we go?
Now that I've told him he can just be the way he always is,
I can't also tell him to calm down a little.
The look on your face is a little stiff.
What was that, after secretly taking someone's picture?
Hey! People might misunderstand!
It's for your mother. She asked me to show her pictures.
I wish you were kinda playing around more.
When I'm with someone who plays around as much as you, that's impossible!
Excuse me!
Yes?
Would you take a picture for me?
What?
To commemorate this! Now, come on! Pose!
If the father could please move a little more toward the center...
"Father"!
He isn't my father!
I-I'm so sorry! He's so young that I did think I might be mistaken.
Father, huh?
Please don't be so happy about it.
Do we really look like that?
Please deny it!
Um, is it all right to take the picture?
It's just about time.
Are you sure you don't want to buy souvenirs?
Yes.
In that case...
I'll call and tell them we're coming back. Just a minute, okay?
Oh, Mom? Yeah, it's me.
Mama?
There you are!
Mama! Mama!
I'm so sorry I let go of your hand!
I was talking, so I wasn't paying attention!
I'm so glad! Is she all right?
Nagomu-san?
Where are you?
Nagomu-san?
Did he head toward the parking lot?
No. It's probably better if I don't move around too much.
After a little while, I'll go to the information center.
And if I need it, I have the spending money the old man gave me.
Even alone, I'll be able to do something about this.
Yeah. Got i—
Itsuka?
Oh, Mom, sorry. Yeah. We should be back around then.
He was so close. I was the one who looked away.
Okay, bye.
What's wrong?
Nothing's wrong.
Well, not that I mind.
Just don't stretch my clothes out, okay?
Man, that was fun. Wasn't it, Itsuka?
Yes.
Taiyaki
There's a taiyaki vendor.
When I came here before, Papa bought me some.
I don't know if it's the same stall or not, though.
Wow, really?
Huh? I, um...
I mean, yes, I came before, but I was little, so I forgot—
Should we buy some? I mean, since we're here and everything.
Welcome!
Excuse me. Can I have two with anko?
Thank you! That'll be 240 yen.
Here you go.
Thanks.
Here, Itsuka.
How nice! You came to play here with your father, huh?
Oh, she's gonna deny it again, right?
Thank you.
Huh?
Itsuka, are you all right with...?
Every single time is too much trouble.
For today, it's fine.
I see.
Well, let's hurry home. Everyone's waiting.
Yes.
Traditional Confectionery
Ryokushou
It's from Nagomu.
What did he say?
It seems they enjoyed their outing.
I'm so glad.
That's a relief.
Well, then, I suppose I should start frying up the chicken karaage.
I'll help!
S-So will I!
I'm back!
They're back.
What a feast!
Wow!
There's a cake, too.
Itsuka Happy Birthday
That's amazing! A wagashi cake!
Thank you so much!
Well, now, everyone must be hungry.
Let's get started.
Happy birthday!
Th-Thank you.
You've got a heap of presents there!
Here. This is from me.
You can open it now.
Oh! How cute!
It really is!
Thank you, Nagomu-san.
What's this? I thought I was your father today!
Father?
What?
The thing is, people mistook me for her dad, and Itsuka said it was okay!
Just for today, understand?
But there's only a little bit of today left!
Give me an extension!
No!
Come, Itsuka.
Forget about Nagomu. Eat whatever you like.
And you, Nagomu? What will you drink?
Itsuka Happy Birthday
Oh, I guess I'll have a beer.
Make it a low-malt happoushu instead.
Aw, c'mon!
What are you doing?
Nothing in particular.
I sent pictures from today to your mother.
Oh, thanks.
And about your father...
It's only that now isn't the time. I'm sure that one day you'll see him again.
How did you...
Of course I know.
You were looking for your father at Hirakata Park, too, right?
And... the first time I met you, too, I guess.
Still...
For now, if you can relax and feel safe here, that's enough, right?
Nagomu-san, you still don't understand me.
It's because I feel safe that I can wait here.
Well, that's true.
I still have a lot of training to do.
Traditional Confectionery
Ryokushou