Original subtitles

Maria Watches Over Us

Spreading a blank map wide open Shiroi chizu ookiku hiroge

Let's go hide the treasure box Takara-bako kakushi ni ikou

No need for coats or even hats Kooto nante iranai boushi mo ne

Armed with just mechanical pencil lead Shaapen no shin dake haite

Round and round and round, Kururu kururu ku

Running through kakenukeru

Round and round and round, Kururu kururu ku

Our footprints mark the X ashiato wa batsu-jirushi da yo

Passing through the walls of the school Kousha no kabe tsuki-nuke

We can go anywhere, there will be a path there Dokonimo ikeru soko ni michi ga aru

The pleats of our skirts won't be disturbed Sukaato no hida midare-nai

If it's a secret journey Himitsu no tabi nara

While we were at the amusement park during exam break,

my dear sister became ill and collapsed.

Love Crocheting

I rode home with my dear sister and Kashiwagi-san, who had come with us.

But even now, several days later,

Kashiwagi-san's words still linger in my ears.

Defeating me won't give you victory.

What?

Meaning, if you're jealous of me, you've still got a long way to go.

Don't settle for what you've got now,

and aspire to attain something on a higher level.

The fact that he's telling me such things...

...already puts me so far behind Kashiwagi-san that I'll never catch up.

Even though I want to be of greater help to Sachiko-sama...

Who was that?

An Unexpected Guest

Mother, you didn't call for me...

...did you?

Is something wrong?

I felt like someone called my name just now...

Yes? Fukuzawa residence.

Oh, thank you for all you did the other day.

One moment please.

It's Kashiwagi-san.

Hello?

Oh, Yumi-chan, sorry for calling you out of the blue.

Has something happened?

Uh... Yes. It's actually about Toko.

Toko-chan?

I guess she's not over there by the sound of that.

What about Toko-chan?

It's late and she's not home yet, so the Matsudairas are worried.

What?

The truth is, earlier in the day, the family sort of had a fight.

A slight difference of opinion, if you will,

and it seems she ran out of the house.

So, I'm looking into all of the likely places...

Have you checked with Sachiko-sama's residence?

I'm calling from the Ogasawara estate.

The Matsudairas said they don't want to make a big fuss about this,

so I came here as if I were just dropping by.

Have you told Sachiko-sama about this?

I was planning on letting her know,

but it seems Hasekura-san is visiting with her, so...

Rei-sama?

I'll try some other places.

Thank you.

Has something happened?

One of my underclassmen, someone who Kashiwagi-san also knows well,

is apparently late coming home.

I see. That's worrisome.

Yeah...

Kashiwagi-san is such a nice young man.

If only someone like him would take you for his bride.

Stop that.

Wait, that's not how you should be reacting.

This is where you should go,

"Oh, Mother! What are you saying?! Quit it!"

Right?!

So, to what do I owe this visit today?

Aren't you here because you want to talk to me?

Yoshino's become friendly with an underclassman.

I see.

She's a third-year in middle school.

It's a girl named Nana Arima.

Have you been introduced to her?

No.

It's more like I happened to see them in the midst of all the confusion.

Confusion?

Oh, I went to a match-making meeting. That's when I saw them.

A match-making meeting?!

Oh, but I only learned later that it was a match-making meeting.

I just met with the son of a family friend.

I heard he was having the same surgery as Yoshino,

so I wanted to be encouraging.

How old is he?

10 years old.

I thought it might be something like that.

That's when Yoshino appeared unannounced with a girl named Nana.

I don't care how they met or when...

But why hasn't Yoshino said anything to me?

Rei.

I know.

I'm going to be graduating...

...and Yoshino should find someone to be her little sister.

I just...

Stop.

Sorry.

Why are you so anxious?

I'm thinking of not going to Lillian Women's College.

I thought you submitted an application.

I'll have it withdrawn.

Does Yoshino-chan know about this?

I haven't told her.

Why not?

I'm scared.

I feel like if she asks me why, my resolve might waver...

And your decision is, in part, for Yoshino-chan's sake, isn't it?

I've lived all my life watching Yoshino.

But she doesn't need my protection anymore.

I thought I'd spend the rest of my life by her side,

but I've been left behind.

Still, if I can't let go of her before she leaves the nest,

it will be pitiful.

Thank you for listening.

Is it all right for us to be riding in tandem?

This is in our yard, so it should be fine.

Right.

I'm impressed with your resolve.

I have renewed respect for you.

Me, too.

Well, then...

Rei.

What is it?

I'm going to Lillian Women's College.

I see.

I'm going to remain at Lillian, where Yumi is.

I understand.

What is the matter?

Somehow, I just...

...found that moving.

Places where Toko-chan might go...

I'm back.

Yumi-chan, come here for a second!

Toko-chan!

Good evening, Yumi-sama.

I just happened to run into her on the corner there.

So I invited her to drop by.

A-Anyway, come on in.

Pardon me for the late visit.

It's fine!

I know! We're having dinner soon, so you should join us.

Oh, no, I will be leaving shortly.

Don't be shy.

Wait in Yumi's room until we're ready to eat.

Yes, ma'am.

Here you are.

Do Yoshino-sama and Shimako-sama come here often as well?

No, no one from school has visited since I started high school.

You're the first.

What?

What about Sachiko Onee-sama?

She's come to the front of the house,

but she's never been inside.

Oh, no.

Then I cannot.

Hold on a second, Toko-chan.

To allow me into your room...

...before your dear sister or your close friends is...

It's not about the order with these things, right?

Or are you worried about going into my room...

...when no one else has tested the waters before you?

No.

Then it's fine, right?

Come on, now.

Just find a comfortable seat.

All right.

What a wonderful room.

So, you've already called Noriko-san?

I haven't called anyone yet.

Did Suguru Onii-sama call you?

Or was it Sachiko-sama?

It was Kashiwagi-san.

Sachiko-sama has a guest over, so it seems he hasn't told her yet.

Wasn't it cold out there?

No, because I was walking.

The whole time?

The whole time.

So you walked all the way over here...

Yes.

Did you come to see me?

I was walking deep in thought...

...and before I knew it, I had come a long way.

I looked at the lot number written on the utility pole...

...and it was close to your address,

so I wondered where your place might be.

But it was growing darker by the minute,

so I was about to give up and head home...

...when I ran into Yuki-san.

I see.

But the upshot of it is that she came here.

Poor thing.

Toko-chan's hands were really cold.

Right now, I want to warm her chilled body without saying a word.

I want to let her tired soul rest.

Yumi! Dinner!

Then, shall we go?

Thank you for the meal.

I will be leaving soon.

What? Leaving? Where?

Home.

Thanks to you, I've been able to cool my head nicely...

...and if I don't return home,

my parents will wear years off their lives with worry.

I-I see.

I'll see you home.

Oh, no, I will call a taxi.

Oh, if it's a ride, I've already called for one.

What?

Thank you for everything.

I will come again to thank you properly.

Thank you for the meal.

Come visit us again.

Toko-chan's such a nice girl.

If only a girl like her would become your little sister.

Mother! What are you saying?! Quit it!

Your reaction is clearly different from when I mentioned Kashiwagi-san.

Yumi-chan, I think you might be a bad poker player.

The day after Toko-chan's unexpected visit,

Kashiwagi-san came to thank us.

Toko-chan's mother had taken to her bed due to shock,

so he said he had been asked to represent the Matsudaira family.

What is it?

Do you know why Toko-chan ran away from home?

What if I do know?

Would it be too much to ask for you to tell me?

What did Toko have to say?

I couldn't bring myself to ask her somehow.

But in spite of that, you would still like to know?

That will be up to how you feel.

How I feel?

It's not a matter that I can disclose to just anyone.

But if it's you,

I'll tell you at my own discretion.

Listen to me. It would mean learning Toko's secret.

And you'll be learning it behind Toko's back.

The question is, do you have the resolve to deal with that?

I...

For your own sake and for Toko's sake,

think it over again before you ask me.

But the next time you ask me, I'll answer.

The resolve to deal with it...

What?!

Shh! Keep your voice down!

But you just said...

...that you're inviting Arima Nana-san to today's Christmas party...

And that's why I'm asking for your cooperation.

Cooperation?

In other words, you're saying you want to invite Toko-chan and Kanako-chan, too.

I'm not saying that.

Now, now...

That way, I can get on the bandwagon...

...and say, "In that case, maybe I'll invite a friend, too."

That's how I want to go about it.

What's with that?

No?

Yoshino-san, did you promise Arima Nana-san to become soeurs with her?

Not yet.

But you're still going to bring her?

Nana's asking to be introduced to Rei-chan...

Really...

I haven't seen Toko-chan since that day.

If her friend, Noriko-chan, innocently asks her to come along,

I might be able to see her naturally.

All right, I understand.

I'll help you!

About today's party...

There aren't that many of us,

so I'm thinking I'd like to invite a couple more people.

Do either of you have anyone you'd like to invite?

I don't really...

Can you think of anyone, Noriko?

Not especially.

Then, what about Toko-chan and Kanako-chan?

Oh, that's a good idea.

Noriko-chan, would you try inviting those two?

I do not want to.

What did you just...

I said that I do not want to.

Hey, Noriko-chan!

Why?

Why don't you want to invite them to the party?

I merely do not want to be the one inviting them.

You are the one who brought their names up, Yumi-sama.

Then would it not be logical that you should be the one to invite them?

At any rate, I decline to do this.

I understand.

In that case, I will go.

What?

There is no reason for you to go, Onee-sama!

I wanted Yumi-sama to...

If we absolutely must ask Yumi-san to do this,

then tell us the reason for that.

Wouldn't that also follow the logic that you are so particular about?

I'm sorry, Shimako-san! I'll go!

Oh, then, shall we go together?

Noriko-chan, I'm sorry for asking you to do something so troublesome.

Why did you think to go invite them yourself?

I just had this nebulous thought that Toko-chan ought to be invited.

Nebulous?

Because there tend to be...

...surprisingly important things hiding in those nebulous thoughts.

I'm sorry.

What are you saying sorry for?

The reason things got like this between you and Shimako-san...

I feel like it might be my fault...

So I'm sorry.

Pardon me,

but I still do not understand what you are apologizing to me for.

I'm the one who originally suggested inviting Toko-chan and Kanako-chan to the party.

Basically, I've decided to invite a certain underclassman to the party.

I see...

Oh!

Should I be saying "congratulations" in this case?

We're still far from getting to that stage.

So you see, at any rate, I'm the one to blame for this.

Blame? Please...

But hearing that...

...has softened your resentment towards Yumi-san a little, right?

This is what you really wanted to say, right?

"If you want to invite Toko, you should invite her yourself, Yumi-sama."

"Is that how little Toko means to you, Yumi-sama?"

I do know that this is a problem between the two of them, but...

Yeah, I know. You're friends.

You worry about them, even when they haven't asked you to, right?

Yes.

Today?

Are you unavailable?

I have something to do in the early evening, so...

What about you, Toko-chan?

I...

I am also a bit...

I see. Then...

Oh, but if we could be pardoned for leaving early,

we would love to attend.

Right, Toko-san?

What?

At the Rose Mansion after Mass, correct?

Um...

Is there anything we should bring?

No, though we might want your help before we get the party started.

Of course.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do.

Then we'll see you later.

Yes.

Toko-chan has good friends.

I was thinking the same thing.

"Thank you for the other day."

In that one bow, Toko-chan expressed the sentiments...

...that she would not put into words.

Toko-chan has a bit of a contrary streak.

But she's also serious and extremely sensitive.

That's why she probably always guards her heart with many layers.

So that she can withstand minor attacks here and there.

I'm arbitrarily imagining how Toko-chan must be and thinking I understand her.

But what should I do?

At this rate, I feel like Toko-chan will grow further and further apart from me.

The question is, do you have the resolve to deal with that?

The resolve...

A winterscape where even... Machi no irodori sae doko

...the town's colors seem forlorn somehow to naku samishige na fuyu no keshiki

I think of you, turning your back on me... Senaka mise kaketeitta

...and running off anata o omou

There's a clear square pane... Futari no aida ni wa

...between the two of us toumei na shikakkei

It's misted over right now... Ima wa kasunderu

...with the crystals of sighs tame-iki no kesshou de

Window glass, window glass Mado garasu mado garasu

It's clouded and I can't see you Kumottete anata ga mienai no

Even though I know that you're there Soko ni iru koto wa wakatteiru no ni

Are you smiling? Are you crying? Waratteru naiteru no

I don't even care if you're frowning, let me see you Shikamettsura demo ii kara misete

Wipe the glass from your side, too Sochira no hou kara mo garasu o fuite

Preview

Preview Oh, I feel so nervous.

Preview How should I introduce Nana to everyone at the Christmas party?

Preview Is that such a difficult thing to do?

Preview It would be one thing if I were the one feeling nervous.

Preview What?

Preview After all, for a middle school student,

Preview the Rose Mansion is a distant, unapproachable place.

Preview Even as she says that, it's as though Nana feels no pressure...

Preview ...and I find that both envious and infuriating...

Preview Next time, "The Blank Map to the Future."

Preview Next time, "The Blank Map to the Future." The Blank Map to the Future

Preview Because it's unknown, the future is both scary and fun. The Blank Map to the Future

Preview But I never imagined that such a terrible thing... The Blank Map to the Future

Preview ...would happen to Yumi-san on the day of the party. The Blank Map to the Future

Preview The Blank Map to the Future