Original subtitles

Hello?

"Please take care of this child."

What?

What?

This "Uncle Shoji" that your mom left you with doesn’t

live here. Do you understand?

I have nothing to do with this.

Please take that child and leave.

-Do you have no heart? -How much do you want?

If that’s how you want to settle it--

We don’t need money, idiot!

This is ridiculous!

I was a fool for bringing him. We don’t want you anyway! Let’s go.

What’s your name?

-Akira. -Akira Igarashi?

Yeah.

How old are you?

Six years old.

Kindergarten?

First grade.

By the time Zen was born, his father was gone.

And his mother died in an accident when he was one year old.

Ever since then, he was raised in an orphanage.

Taro was the only son of a family that owned

a big hospital in Osaka.

But he was charged with assault. In order to protect their reputation,

his parents sent him away to Tokyo.

Ken

was abandoned by his parents after they got divorced.

He was then taken in by a relative.

But apparently, he grew up feeling ashamed and out of place.

So basically,

all three of them never experienced parental love.

Do you seriously think his mother will come?

I probably won't be able to do anything,

but I can at least stay by his side.

So I…

I will wait with him for his mother.

Hey, Akira.

You're lucky

to have been found by Zen.

You really are lucky.

Just like us.

All right!

The four of us will live together starting today.

Morning.

Wake up, Akira!

Akira!

Hey, it's morning.

Come on.

What are you doing?

Let go. Come on!

Oh!

Huh? Oh!

Ready…

Cleaning is pink, and cooking is yellow. The worst one is laundry, which is blue.

When you get laundry duty, you'll feel blue all day.

Green means you get a break. Let's see yours first, Akira.

Is it pink?

-Is it yellow? -Is it blue?

It's green. I get a break.

Huh?

-Cleaning! -Cooking!

Laundry!

What the heck!

There was no point in adding green!

And I got laundry again!

This is stupid. Zen, wash his sheets.

-Are you serious? -Wash them twice.

Why?

Let's trade.

Who's the one who wet the bed?

ZEN, TARO, KEN, AKIRA LAUNDRY, CLEANING, COOKING, BREAK

Crap! I'm late!

Move it, Taro!

-Which one? -Who cares? Move!

-I forgot gloves! Gloves! -Zen!

-Which one? Pick one! -Either!

Fine, this one!

-What's with that attitude? -They're the same!

I forgot to shut off the gas valve!

Do it for me!

-Do it for me. -Do it…

Akira, can you stay at home by yourself?

He can. He's not a kid!

-He is a kid. -Then take him to your store.

Zen, you take him.

-Wait a minute. -You took him in.

-You agreed! -Ken!

Don't be ridiculous! Zen!

Let's draw lots again!

Stay away from me.

Good morning, Taro.

Good morning.

Someone you know?

I don't know him either. See you.

What do you think?

It looks very good on you.

I'm envious of your husband.

-Really? -Of course.

This color was a good choice.

I agree.

I'm glad I had this made here.

Thank you very much.

One moment.

Hey!

Is something wrong?

What is going on?

I am terribly sorry.

-I didn't cheat on you. -You liar.

You were having tea with the fruit seller.

There's no way I would cheat on you with the fruit seller.

All right, I'll get going.

I get in trouble when I waste too much time.

Wait, Ken.

Aren't you worried about us?

Huh?

You two make the best couple.

Even if the human race goes extinct, your love would be indestructible.

Ken…

As they say, the more you fight, the closer you are.

Bye!

MEXICAN DELIVERY SABOTENA

I'm back. Boss.

You got the order wrong again.

What a troublemaker.

I should be calling you that.

-No, it's you, stupid. -Stupid?

Akira!

Why are you here?

He said he passes the baton to you.

Passes the baton?

Two for 700 yen.

Thank you.

Hey, Franky!

Sorry about that.

-You're late! -There are so many left.

-They don't sell. -Sell them better!

I'll take this as payment.

Don't eat it!

-Zen. -Misaki.

-I heard you found a man. -Yeah.

I can't believe you're dating a guy you arrested.

Shut up. I have a delivery for you.

Huh?

Akira?

Ken says he passes the baton to you.

Passes the baton?

I'm back.

"I'm back", my ass.

-What were you doing all this time? -Hey.

Hey, Harry! How many times do I have to tell you

to not put other hoodies

on top of my hoodies?

Jeez!

Who? Who is that?

Akira.

Hello.

I'm Harry.

I manage this store.

What's wrong? I'm not scary.

How should I say this…

Let's see…

I am a daddy lion. Roar!

-Dance. And he is a baby lion. Roar! -Roar!

We have the same hair, see?

-Harry, you copied me. -Hey…

Bathroom!

Jeez!

Hyuga.

I had some business at Omotesando Police Station,

so I stopped by.

I see.

I'm sorry for troubling you the other day.

I'm looking after him.

Akira, was it?

Remember me?

The person at the police station.

That's right. I'm a police officer.

If he bullies you, call me right away.

I will arrest him.

Arrest?

Anything but that, please.

You don't have school?

School?

Oh!

I am looking after him.

That had completely slipped my mind.

Oh.

Akira…

-Hey! -Wait!

-I win. -I was first!

What are you doing?

Well, she started running all of a sudden.

You started running first.

-What? You did. -No!

Oh! More importantly, Ken!

You can't just pass Akira to me.

Tell that to Taro.

Kids aren't compatible with my lifestyle.

There's something more important.

-Attending school! -School?

-To learn what? -Not me! Akira!

Akira?

Akira, you go to Keio Elementary School, right?

You're an elementary school kid.

You go to school during the day?

He never told us.

He shouldn't have to tell you.

Shut up!

Akira, you can go to school starting tomorrow.

Okay.

-You like school? -I do.

I see. I liked school too.

What do you enjoy the most?

-Studying. -I see.

That's what makes us different.

Wow, you're pretty amazing.

You took a train to school?

-Yeah. -I see.

Want a ride?

Yes.

So, Mr. Maeda is…

Yes. Here on his father's behalf.

I'm here on his mother's behalf.

Um, don't worry.

She's only here on her behalf.

Hey, what's that supposed to mean?

I understand the situation.

However, we have unfortunately already

removed Igarashi from our school.

What?

Igarashi hasn't attended school since the end of the second semester.

And his tuition for this semester hasn't been paid.

Oh.

-Then I'll do something about that. -We have

concluded that receiving tuition

for the next school year would be impossible.

-How much is it? -A total of about 1.2 million.

1.2 million?

Mr. Maeda, what is your occupation?

Are you asking if I can pay 1.2 million?

Yes, of course.

But at our school,

we also give the family environment strong consideration.

What's that supposed to mean?

So we're not fit for this school because I'm not his real parent?

I hate to say this to you,

but there are many parents out there

who want to enroll their children no matter how much they have to pay.

So you don't bother with people who have no money?

We are not a charity, after all.

I have money.

What will you do, Zen?

This is ridiculous!

No need to bow your head to a guy like this, Akira.

I'll find a better school for you.

Going to this school

will teach you to only care about making money.

Schools are supposed

to teach you something more important.

We'll quit this stupid school right now!

If the Board of Education approves,

can Akira transfer to a public school?

Yes.

Tuition for a public school is cheaper than a private school, right?

-Well, yes. -That's good.

What are your plans regarding the environment

in which Akira will be studying?

Are you talking about Akira's desk?

Among other things.

Bam! That is Akira's desk.

STUDY HARD

I will make sure he studies well, so don't worry. Right, Akira?

I can study again!

Yes, and make friends.

I, Zen Maeda, will take care of everything.

Thank you very much.

That's settled.

Starting tomorrow, he'll be a student at Harajuku Elementary School.

You have to get squeaky-clean for tomorrow.

The girls won't like you if you're dirty.

-Where are we going? -The bathhouse. Where else?

Bathhouse?

You don't know what a bathhouse is?

We don't have a bath at home, do we?

So we go to a bathhouse and use a huge bath.

Oh, a Jacuzzi.

CLOSED FOR TODAY

There's nothing better than being the first one in the bath.

We're the last customers though.

Why are you just standing there?

Are you that impressed?

What are you doing? Come here.

Jeez…

Up we go.

It's hot!

That's why it feels good.

What a baby.

Want to try too?

I can't stick my face in the water.

Can it be that he can't swim?

What? Come on!

-How uncool. -Come on! Seriously?

-Where's the shampoo cap? -We don't have that.

Okay, close your eyes.

There.

There.

Drink this.

Where's the straw?

Straw?

You want to drink that with a straw?

Jeez, what a spoiled rich kid.

After taking a bath, you're supposed to chug milk like this. Look.

Delicious!

-How's that, Akira? -You try too.

No!

Spread your legs shoulder-width apart.

Keep your left hand on your hip.

Chug it all with your head held high.

-Isn't it good? -Yeah.

Don't forget that fundamental stance.

-You don't want to embarrass yourself. -You idiots.

Don't teach children stupid stuff like that.

Since when have you been there, old hag?

I bet you were looking at us naked.

-As if, you fool. -What did you say?

I'm letting you use it for free, so hurry up and clean it.

Yes, yes! We're doing it now.

We'll show you.

-What an annoying old hag. -We'll turn this place around.

Also, since you added another person, clean the entrance too.

What!

Want to pay?

-We'll do it. -We will.

HARAJUKU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

I am Akira Kuwabara, the head teacher of this grade.

I am Akira's guardian.

-I also went to-- -Akira Igarashi.

What a coincidence. My name is Akira too.

By the way,

who is his homeroom teacher?

Sorry, she's running a bit late.

-His teacher is a lady? -We'd prefer a young and pretty lady.

No way! We can choose?

Won't they charge a reservation fee?

Unfortunately, you cannot choose.

Of course!

-What are you saying? -How embarrassing.

Sorry I'm late!

-Oh! -Oh!

-Huh? -Nozomi!

-Nozomi? -What's going on?

-You know each other? -No way!

AKIRA IGARASHI

Quiet, everyone.

He will be learning with all of you starting today.

This is Akira Igarashi.

Yay!

Why don't you introduce yourself to everyone?

Um…

Um…

You can do it.

What's wrong?

-You can do it. -Why is he looking down?

I guess you're a little nervous, since you just transferred.

Everyone, please be his friend.

Okay!

Igarashi,

can you play soccer?

-Do you have a sword? -You're not eating your flan?

-I'll take it then. -Hey, I wanted his flan!

I'll take this.

-Stop it, you guys. -Stop it.

Nozomi, you're his teacher?

That's right. What kind of coincidence is this?

It's not that surprising. Their house is right by that school.

There are only two first-year classes, right?

I'm so unlucky!

Akira, you have it tough both inside and outside of home.

-What do you mean? -Bang!

Here they are.

Good evening, Ms. Nozomi.

I didn't know you were a teacher.

You didn't? She's a parental leave sub.

What? You're an English teacher?

-I knew you'd say that. -She's not?

"Parental leave" as in when you have a baby.

What?

It moved.

What are you saying?

I am not pregnant!

I substitute for teachers who are!

-We know! -You're so gullible.

So, how was our Akira?

-What? -Did he say "hi" in a loud voice?

-Did he hit on girls? -Did he scowl at anyone?

What are you teaching him?

Whatever. How was he?

Of course, he can't fit in from his first day.

Huh?

Akira,

to be popular, you have to leave a good first impression.

I told you to ask girls for their numbers, didn't I?

If someone annoys you,

you have to punch them.

Will you stop it? Unbelievable!

Akira, do you have the envelope I gave you today?

What envelope?

What's that?

Thank you.

Please pay this month's school lunch fee.

-School lunch fee? -It's not free?

It's 4,500 yen per month.

-So expensive! -We have to pay that?

Of course! You're his guardian.

Put it on the tab.

We're not some shady bar. We can't do that.

We put everything on their tab.

That was so rude!

You shouldn't have said that!

-Apologize! -Kneel on the ground.

Apologize right here. Take off your jacket.

Take that off.

Who do you guys think you are?

You're in no place to say that.

That's right.

Hurry up and pay your tab here and the school lunch fee.

We'll pay once we're rich.

-No! -Jeez!

Can't we just ignore this bill?

Hey! Who in their right mind evades the school lunch fee?

We can't help it.

We have love, but we don't have money.

Love?

-What? -Huh?

What? Did I just say something really embarrassing?

-You gave me goosebumps. -So embarrassing.

How embarrassing!

No!

Don't try to change the subject like that!

No! I'm so embarrassed!

-Yu! -You're both embarrassing.

Taro!

Okay, who knows the answer?

Class is over!

It's over!

Recess is 20 minutes!

Your brown schoolbag is cool.

Why is your schoolbag brown?

What's this logo?

Hey, why is yours different from everyone else's?

You can't get a new one?

Is this schoolbag from your old school?

What school was that?

Where did you live?

How annoying.

Did the stock price fall?

I only earned 8 million yen.

Bam, bam, three peace!

Hey!

The homeroom teacher is waiting.

You're so tiny, I couldn't see you there. Why did you want to meet up?

I'm still on the clock.

-Want a drink? -No, I'm leaving right away.

If it's about the lunch fee, can you wait?

It's not about the lunch fee…

Hey, what are you doing!

Oh, we kissed indirectly!

-Kissed? -Drink it.

-What are you doing! -An indirect kiss.

You're so stupid! You brat!

-Did you call me a brat? -You are a brat.

No need to get so mad.

Wait…

Don't tell me…

You have never kissed a guy before?

What?

Is there something wrong with that?

Seriously?

What?

Today, I wanted to talk about schoolbags.

Akira already has a schoolbag.

That's from his old school.

He's the odd one out. I know it's not my place to say this, but buy him a new one.

That's impossible! I can barely pay for his lunch fee.

-He doesn't even have gym clothes. -Who has money for that?

Do something about it! That's your job!

Look, having a different schoolbag is better

to show personality. It's good to stand out.

First of all, the thought of having to be exactly the same

as everyone is sickening.

You don't get it.

Akira hasn't made any friends yet.

Seriously?

On his first day, he couldn't even introduce himself.

He can't seem to fit in, even when other kids talk to him.

What's he doing at school then?

Studying the whole time.

Akira

isn't the type who can proactively put himself out there.

The fact that his schoolbag is different from others

makes it even harder for him to fit in.

So, he needs to start out by having

the same things and same clothes as others to fit in.

That's why I'm telling you to buy him a schoolbag.

You might not understand, since you've always lived here,

but new kids at school attract unwanted attention.

It's not the same as "standing out" as you know it.

Can't you think about Akira's feelings even for a second?

I can't believe you call yourself his guardian. Stupid!

"Stupid"?

Damn it!

You only have one layer left.

No more chops, okay? No chops.

Final serve!

-I'm home. -You're late, Zen.

That's cheating! That's not fair.

Zen, it's your fault…

-Hey, are you listening? Zen! -Akira.

Do you have fun at school?

School isn't fun?

-Do I have to go? -What's wrong, Zen?

You don't want to go?

Why don't you want to go?

Is it because your schoolbag is different?

What about his schoolbag?

Is it?

My schoolbag is different from everybody else's.

So I don't want to go to school.

All you need is a matching bag?

Don't spoil him.

If you don't want to go, just quit school then.

Who said you can wear your clothes?

But he should be able to enjoy school.

Tomorrow's Sunday. He'll change his mind by Monday.

Come on, let's play.

-Don't put your clothes back on! -Fine.

Take off your underwear too.

Here!

There!

NO PARKING

Oh, Zen.

-Sorry to bother you on your day off. -What's wrong?

Your kid is in middle school, right?

-Zen! -I'm in a hurry. See you later!

Auntie!

Oh, Zen! Long time no see.

Hey…

What do you think?

All right, I've got to buy this.

We will see next week.

Things are getting exciting.

-Um, are you listening, Yu? -Huh?

After all that I said, I haven't received any answer.

It's Sunday, and he's left Akira all alone.

The shop is open on Sunday.

Zen has weekdays off.

Even still, that man just doesn't understand.

Why are you upset?

I asked him to buy Akira a new schoolbag.

They don't have money, so it can't be helped.

But still…

Excuse me. I want to try this on.

Excuse me.

Hey, Zen! Help the customer.

Yes. On my way.

-Yes. -About this…

So I yelled at him.

He's no good at all.

You think so?

-Huh? -He may appear to be no good,

but I'm sure he's thinking about Akira in his own way.

Why don't you try dropping Akira off at 3 Peace?

Nozomi, if you had called, I would've picked you up.

Hot, hot…

That's hot.

Don't burn yourself.

-Akira, clean this up. -Akira!

If you're going to bring someone, bring Yu over.

Why'd you bring the country bumpkin?

Um, where is the other one?

Zen? He's probably butting into people's business again.

Forget him. Let's eat this up before he gets home.

-Nozomi, you can eat too. -Don't mind me.

Move this.

Akira!

There he is.

Oh…

Why are you here?

I was just dropping Akira off.

Is that so? Akira!

This is what you wanted, right?

I had to run around to find this.

It's used, but I fixed it to look brand-new.

Here.

Good for you, Akira.

Then you don't need your old one, right?

Stop!

Why?

Because Mom bought this for me.

That…

That was something your mom made?

AI.

For Akira Igarashi, huh?

Akira.

You want to go to school with that schoolbag, don't you?

You want to use the schoolbag that your mom bought you, right?

What the heck? Then just say that from the beginning.

Then take that starting tomorrow.

Akira,

I'm sorry.

I misunderstood you.

I thought you couldn't fit in because your schoolbag was different.

But what's the reason then?

Why aren't you trying to make friends?

You have no intention of making friends.

Huh?

It's not that he can't. He doesn't want to.

Seriously?

No wonder school isn't fun.

At your former prep school, it was probably okay to only focus on studying.

Everybody was like that, right?

But you know, Akira,

I don't think school is just a place to study.

School is a place

to make lots of friends and play.

Lunch and recess were the only reasons I went to school.

You're lonely, aren't you?

If you're lonely, make friends!

Take this schoolbag that your mom bought you

and show it off to everyone in class.

Your dad and mom gave you the name Akira Igarashi,

so make sure everyone remembers it.

Unless you do that,

you'll stay lonely forever.

That's right, Akira.

After my parents kicked me out of Osaka,

I started at a new school over here all alone.

But you know, I never once longed to go back to Osaka.

Do you know why? Because I made friends.

I even went

to school one hour before class every day

just to play.

After school,

I kept playing until the sun went down.

It never felt good being at my relative's house,

but I had the best time of my life with my friends.

Friends are important.

You won't be lonely if you have friends.

Be brave, Akira.

Be brave and make friends.

You have what it takes.

You came to our house all alone after all.

You became friends with us, didn't you?

-Good morning. -Good morning.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Good morning!

This would be worth…

1,000 yen, at most.

1,000 yen? Aren't you missing one more zero?

I mean, it's pretty banged up, senpai.

Aren't you the one who's banged up?

I give up!

All right! It's 10,000 yen.

That took forever.

That was record speed.

The school lunch fee is 4,500 yen, so…

We have 5,500 left. That's not much.

I'm counting on you!

Can you somehow make it work?

I'd love to do that for you, but…

Did you know a new restaurant opened in Aoyama?

I haven't gone yet.

You leave me with no choice. I'll mark it down to 5,500 yen.

Thank you.

-Oh! -Oh!

NO OUTSIDE SHOES

The lunch fee.

Also,

give this to Akira.

-This is… -Thanks.

-Hey! -Hmm?

I was the one who didn't know anything about Akira.

I'm sorry!

I don't care about who is right.

It means nothing unless Akira changes.

So make sure to give that to him.

-You're late! You're late! -You're late!

I'm sorry!

Here, Akira.

AKIRA IGARASHI

My name…

Your dad and mom gave you the name Akira Igarashi,

so make sure everyone remembers it.

Friends are important.

You won't be lonely if you have friends.

Be brave, Akira.

Akira.

AKIRA IGARASHI

My name is Akira Igarashi.

My name is Akira Igarashi.

Nice to meet you.

Yay!

Teacher, you're out!

Akira looks like he's having fun.

He's smiling because I sold the schoolbag for 10,000 yen.

Excuse me? He's smiling because I haggled over the price of his clothes.

It's because I repaired the schoolbag.

-It's because of me. -It's because of me.

Now, now… All's well that ends well. More importantly, what should we do?

I'm hungry. Let's go eat.

We should eat something nourishing once in a while.

-All right! -Let's go.

Yeah!

Thank you for the food.

Thank you for the food.

Thank you for the food.

Hey, why are you guys eating the school lunch too?

Zen, you paid the lunch fee, right?

I did!

You're not students.

School lunch is delicious.

I haven't had meat sauce in ages.

Brats nowadays eat fancy stuff, huh?

Are you listening to me?

You're not going to eat that? I'll take it.

Jeez!

Who is he?

-Zen. -What about him?

Taro.

And what about him?

Ken.

He said our names.

-He did. -He said our names.

You remember our names?

-He remembered! -This is great!

-We did it! -Let's celebrate!

-This is moving. -Awesome!

Wait a minute!

Why are you speaking informally to me?

-He was! -He was!

Hey!

You didn't use any honorifics!

That's right! You're even below Ken.

Why only Taro?

Quiet, you three!

Shut up!

What's your problem!

Show me more respect.

Use honorifics.

It's a success.

What brings you here all of a sudden?

That's how you greet me after all this time?

I try to visit you once in a while, so I don't forget what you look like.

I was very close to forgetting what you look like.

Are Maeda and the others still coming here?

Yes.

They come every day. There's been an addition to their group.

-That kid? -Oh, right.

You found Akira for us when he went missing, huh? Thanks.

I can't turn down my little sister's request.

Are you working today?

More or less.

Do you have time?

Have some coffee.

Sure.

What's this?

-It's mine. -Don't be stingy.

According to your palm lines, you two will drive men crazy.

-You little devils. -Read my palm too!

Go, go! Move out of the way.

-I'm next! -Hey!

It doesn't matter!

It's a dog-eat-dog world!

Dog-eat-dog!

Akira, drink your milk.

Oh, that's right!

Everyone, our Akira will show you

the correct way to drink milk.

Watch closely!

-Your attention, please! -All right!

Watch! Watch!

Yeah!

-Next is Ms. Nozomi's turn! -Go!

Why do I have to do that?

Ms. Nozomi!

-Ms. Nozomi! -All of you!

-Ms. Nozomi! -Please stop!

Ready…

Go!

I win!

Subtitle translation by: Kiko Morita