Original subtitles

Where is it?

Where on earth is it?

I think love is about holding a sword.

A serious game between a man and a woman.

I'm sure you learn how far you can cut someone in love.

Without a sword, you won't know when to bleed

and you won't know how to heal a wound.

How impressive.

And yet, there's really no sign of it at all.

Kids these days don't fall in love, do they?

My daughter also has absolutely no desire to do so.

It means she's never had a boyfriend since she was born.

So your daughter also has the same issue?

I'm sure she's beautiful and cute.

No, no, not as much as I am.

- Please cut that one. - All right.

Excuse me.

I'm no suspicious man.

Just wanna ask you something.

Yes?

Do you know of any apartments called Angel Forest Tower around here?

Yes. Cross here and take a right turn...

So it is a famous place.

I live there.

I gave birth to her early, and she is now 20 years old.

I want my daughter to fall in love.

I think there is a part of someone that can only grow by falling in love.

And more importantly,

isn't it unfortunate to have been born into this world

without being able to fall in love?

Keep looking for someone, hurting them and getting hurt,

and getting to know them.

People who can't get through out of it are weak.

Matsuyama-san, are you listening?

Yes Ma'am.

Sorry.

No low angle please, preferably diagonally from right above.

All right.

Don't you know her? Minase Aoi.

She is the queen of romance novelist.

I guess youngsters these days don't know her.

You know, "I Hear The Sound of Dreams" or "We'll Meet Tomorrow", perhaps?

It used to dominate the world.

- What about now? - I'm not sure...

Owacon: owatta content, means "finished content" Basically it's like "behind the times" or "no longer needed"

- Owacon? - You're being too frank.

- Wait, isn't it right here? - I'm going to stop by a minimarket.

I never thought I'd be this worried.

What if my daughter has begun dating a shabby guy since she's little,

what if she falls for a strange man?

And yet, not a single man has come near her.

Now I'm worried about the opposite.

She'll never have a boyfriend at this rate.

Even though you're a love-pro.

Me, a pro?

I mean, you've written so many romance novels.

You must be greatly in love and so popular.

Aw, I'm flattered.

Matsuyama-san has been working with my mom for 20 years long.

She is her editor-in-charge.

However, at the time of recession, her company Saneisha Publishing was looking for early retirees,

and she took it.

Today is her last day.

- Mr. Editor-in-chief, it's been a while. - I apologize for coming after a long time.

Sensei! As expected from the queen of romance novelist, you live in a stylish house.

- Huh? - What is it?

Yokan: Japanese sweet bean jelly

Isn't that Tatsuya yokan in your hand?

You didn't like it?

I like it, but isn't yokan from Tatsuya something you use to apologize?

You've got a good eye...

Please continue with the interview for now.

We'll talk later.

But Sensei, if you say that and your daughter gets a boyfriend,

won't you miss her?

Nah, I'm more afraid that she'll stay in this house

and become a parasite single.

You know that?

Yes, someone who has never married and has never left home.

Exactly! What if she stays in this house

when she turns 30, 40, or even 50?

She doesn't have a boyfriend, she doesn't get married, she's a horror story!

Well, says the woman who screwed up her marriage.

- Damn you... - I'm back.

Welcome home. How do you greet our guests?

Hello everyone, welcome to Denny's.

She is making a pun of "Uso" (means just kidding in this context) with "Kotsume KawaUSO" (small-clawed otter)

Nah just kidding. The small-clawed otter is just kidding.

[ This is the small-clawed otter! ]

Wait, we met just now...

This guy called you an owacon.

- No that's you... - Sora-chan, welcome home.

Where did you go today?

This daughter of yours

went to the Tokyo Big Sight to buy some erotic mangas.

A big pile of it.

My daughter,

doesn't have

a boyfriend!!

Brought to you by: rid aoinousagi @ d-addicts / twitter @waterhyacinth_

It's done!

Sanmayaki with white bean paste version!

The Suzuran shopping street here

has been flourished for over 300 years since the Edo period.

It has a long history.

In the middle of this Suzuran shopping street,

there is a public bathhouse, Suzuran Onsen,

and next to it is the long-established taiyaki shop, Odaya,

where Gon-chan is the fourth generation heir.

This is Gon-chan.

How is it?

Well...

One more bite!

Try another bite.

This is Shunichiro-san, Gon-chan's dad.

Excuse me.

The recent tapioca hit has pushed Odaya

to develop a new product, and it's not taiyaki,

[ saury-shaped taiyaki ]

but sanmayaki.

Welcome! We have a super yummy taiyaki!

Filled with red bean paste and various kind of paste..

...just kidding. We have everything!

W-wait... you don't want it?

Our red bean paste is good, you know?

Yes, I know,

but there's too much of it.

It came as a shock to him,

who'd never doubted that the more bean paste there was,

the better it was for the world,

that it was all in the tail.

Thus, came the idea to make sanmayaki cake with less red bean paste.

So this is sanmayaki.

I don't like too much of red bean paste, so the old shop Odaya developed this for me.

She's lying.

Look, if there's a little bit of red bean paste in it,

it's weird, like saury guts.

That's why they're currently in the middle of making white bean paste, right, Sora?

- Your pleasure. - That's not how you use it.

- Can I have some? - Your pleasure.

Let's put an end to red bean paste.

- Please accept this. - Sora is here, can we really start it?

Tatsuya's yokan is kneaded with apologies.

The weight of that yokan is proportional to the depth of sin.

The azuki beans simmered in a pot with apologies.

What are you saying, mom?

I'm scared. I'm scared of what you'll apologize for.

I apologize for saying this, but...

If that's the case, then don't say anything at all.

Oh, excuse me for a moment.

'Ssup!

You're in Nishiazabu now?

Who are you, by the way?

I feel like I'm in the middle of a storm right now,

and there's no time to introduce myself...

Not now.

Not the right time.

I'm really sorry.

Sorry am, sorry am... just kidding.

I've been in the industry for a while now, and I've been told that I'm an expert.

I'm sorry about this, Aoi-san.

Wait a minute. Don't say it, Sora is here.

- How about your part-time job? - After this one.

Your serialization in Raphael Magazine will come to an end next month.

It will be discontinued.

Gaa~n.

We're terribly sorry.

I guess my Showa soul won't have anymore job in this era.

Wait. My serialization in Raphael is Umbilical Cord, right?

You're going to publish a Season 2

and make it into series and a movie...

Look! It says "Season 1" right here.

Well, I guess we're done after Season 1.

Well, that book... This book didn't sell well.

It didn't sell as well as I thought it would.

Wrap it up.

Wrap it up in an oblaat,

your way of talking!

The most helpful advice may be difficult to listen to.

But here's the thing.

Romance novelist Minase Aoi is not suitable for a mystery novel.

I tried my best to write it using a brain I didn't have.

And since the first season didn't sell well at all,

the movie company was reluctant to hire actors,

directors, or even rats.

Who's gonna do it?

Who's gonna have a serialization in Raphael after me?

I was able to find a pretty good one.

WHO?!

The handsome celebrity Nakagawa Tomorowo.

Sora-chan knows him, right?

I don't.

Well, she's an otaku so 2D characters are her only interest.

She can't even tell how many Arashi members there are.

5 members.

Too bad, there are 6 members.

Aoi-san, there are 5 members.

Well, Nakagawa Tomorowo is second only to Arashi.

He's the one who called me earlier.

I heard that he had an idea for a new serialization, so I'll go to Nishiazabu...

- Hang on. - He's drinking at Bar Oshinobi...

- Wait a minute. - It's good to be young.

This line refers to Kimura Takuya's "Cho matteyo!" in Love Generation (1997) drama

Wait a damn minute! Huh? I've become Kimutaku.

Wait. He's an actor, right? That Nakagawa-something guy.

Yes. He got his breakthrough in the morning drama "Kankan Deri (Scorching Heat)"

He can just stay as an actor! He's only got pretty face!

It's not about whether he can write or not.

- Aoi-san. - The thing is...

He can write quite well.

Moreover he has a fan base, so we can expect a good number of copies to sell.

Now, if you'll excuse me...

Oh, I forgot about him.

I'd forgotten how little his presence is.

Since Matsuyama will be retiring early,

this is the man who will be your editor now.

I'm Tachibana.

Tachibana Soseki?

His name, Soseki, is taken from Japanese novelist Natsume Soseki and his brother's name is taken from Japanese novelist Mori Ogai

Soseki is your name?

Yes, my brother's name is Ogai.

- He must be joking. - No, he's telling the truth.

His father is a literature buff, but

apparently he's just a high school teacher.

I thought "just" was superfluous.

In many ways, it's also about compliance.

- So he'll be my editor from now on? - Yes.

I found out that no matter how hard I worked, women couldn't become great...

and that I would be used by stupid men younger than me,

so I took early retirement and moved to IKEA near my home to become the store manager.

There is too much information to process.

But even so, Minase-sensei, we've taken the utmost care

in selecting our company's most handsome man as your new editor.

Handsome?

Isn't he just covering his eyes with hair?

I mean, all the young hot guys these days

have hair covering their eyes, but are they really hot?

You know, something like...

Beep~ you got a red card!

Mom, this is terrestrial broadcast, not Hulu.

Well, I think Tachibana is pretty handsome.

See, if he lined up with me, you'll know it.

Look.

Camera, please don't get too close.

Please zoom out.

He's 6 feet tall. I'm only like 5.5 feet.

Konishi-kun, your belly's showing!

My mom calls editor-in-chief "Konishi-kun"

because she's known him for quite a long time.

I don't really get it, but it seems that the person who found my mom's talent

is editor-in-chief Konishi.

Her work may have been cut, but the sky keeps expanding.

Thank you very much!

I guess I made a mistake.

Our sanmayaki isn't selling well.

I made 10 baking molds, though.

We're just getting started.

You think so?

We've got some customers coming in, and we'll take some rest after that.

All right.

I think we should move out of that house.

Hmm...

I don't think she can pay the loan anymore.

Hmm...

Is it really that bad? Your mom doesn't get anymore job?

Maybe she'll say she's going to work here one day.

No, no, no. We can't use her here!

No way. She can barely do anything.

She'll break the plates because she's so careless.

What? Love story?

Yes.

Am I going to write another love story?

That's right. You are Minase Aoi, the queen of romance novelist, after all.

But if I wrote a mystery

because that was a little more of a thing,

it would have been even worse, I guess.

If it's a romance, does that mean I can write a new book?

Yes, our company is responsible for this.

I think there are many fans who are waiting

for your romance novel.

But I can't do it anymore.

Romance is... impossible.

I don't even have that kind of partner.

Come hug me.

I've detached the vital organs.

Thank you very much!

Aoi-chan.

You'll choke if you eat it that fast.

Shunichiro-san...

Would you hire me? At 5,000 yen per hour.

I wouldn't hire you even if it's for 50 yen.

Hey, dad.

The Longevity Home across the street said

they wanted to put taiyaki in for a snack, but we have only 40 of them...

- What? - Ouch! It hurts! I'm hurt!

- What? You're here? - You stepped on my eye!

I'm going blind!

You can no longer see my handsomeness, I guess?

I'm off to the Hana Cafe to deliver 10 taiyaki.

- Oh, good job! - Good job!

- What's wrong with you? - I can't lift my right shoulder lately.

That's frozen shoulder!

You're getting old.

Sora-chan, you can call it a day after you're done delivering to Hana Cafe.

All right! But the bike...

- Mom, take the bike home. - Aye.

- Mom, what do you want to eat tonight? - How about yakiniku?

- From Hamada? - Hamada sounds great!

- But what about the curry from yesterday? - Freeze it.

- I'll freeze it when I'm home. - Aye.

Put the potatoes away.

Her bike saddle is too high.

I have to lower the saddle. It's a pain in the ass.

Your legs are too short.

Gon-chan, can you lower the saddle?

Hey, this looks a bit rusty. Take a better care of it.

Gon-chan and my mom

are childhood friends who grew up together in this Suzuran shopping street,.

For some reason, they're both single.

Gon-chan is a little older than her.

But they went to the same calligraphy class.

That was Gon-chan's best work yet.

When the teacher comes checking,

he's pretty sure he'd get a compliment!

What the heck are you doing!

My mom was about to spray the ink from the inkstone,

when her hand slipped and the inkstone fell on his chin.

You can still see the inkstone mark from that time under his chin.

I can't lift it.

I heard you got cut from your job.

Yeah, not so good lately.

Just like electronics, if one thing goes wrong,

many things will rattle.

I guess this is the end of Minase Aoi.

Do you want to come marry me?

What? Really?!

- Will you take me? - Wait, seriously?

Are you in that much trouble? Enough to marry yourself off to me?

We don't have to have sex or anything, do we? We're too old for that.

Hey, cut that out!

If that's the case, don't go to Hamada and go eat your curry from yesterday.

The beef tongue costs 1,800 yen there.

Well, it's worth the price, though.

- The loan is tough. - Why don't you move out?

- I can't, for some reason. - Seriously.

It's for Sora-chan, huh.

- Here it is. - Thank you always.

You get taiyaki as snack in such a stylish cafe.

Well, that's just how it is.

Oh, yeah, we got a new product. Do you want to take one?

It's called soypeccino.

- Can I? - Yeah.

The cafe here and the honey shop next to it.

Both of them together used to be a house.

Yeah, our family house.

My family had a long-established photo studio called Minase Photo Studio,

which was used to take pictures of the imperial family.

My grandma and my grandpa

sold the photo studio when the land went up.

This area was a prime location in the city center, so they got a lot of money,

then both of them moved to Switzerland, which was their dream.

They live there, taking pictures of the mountains.

At that time, my young mother, who was a rookie novelist,

was thrown out of the house,

but she hit a jackpot.

And as a symbol of success,

she bought a newly built tower mansion

across the Suzuran shopping street.

The title of her novel at that time was

"Scent The Sky"

Sounds lovely, isn't it?

How does the sky scent?

Hey.

Are you okay?

And then, fate struck.

It's all spilled out.

Take this, if you don't mind. It's a soy latte.

W-what... that one?

What about your wound?

I'm fine.

I live around here, so it's a short walk.

- I see. - Okay then.

- Thanks. - Hey, wait!

- What? - Your glasses.

It's crooked.

Does it get crooked just now?

Well... I think you had it crooked for quite a while.

Here, give it a try.

- Woah... - Easier to see, right?

Are you an optician?

Not exactly.

It's paradise.

Truly.

I can't wait to have a beer after the bath.

Must be nice.

Hey, Gon.

You're not getting a wife?

- At this time? - You're not with Aoi-chan?

Well. I don't think so.

Nope. Not in the future.

Nothing will happen forever and ever?

Nothing even happened long long ago!

Once upon a time, forever and ever, not a moment in a long life!

Huh~ That's so sad!

Well, she's Aoi, you know.

I wonder why people eat too much yakiniku.

You can eat as much as you want.

I didn't think I'd go from loin to ribs

to rumen to beef tongue again.

- Who? - Nori from Chibi Maruko.

I should have gone to cold noodles or bibimbap. Sigh.

- Mom, this is bad. - Was it bad, the yakiniku?

No, Hamada is always good,

the best in this Suzuran shopping street!

- You're right. - It's not that.

The bad one isn't yakiniku, but our finances, dear mother!

We don't have time for this drinking and eating out.

Whenever you have a hard time writing, you turn to food.

You went to Hamada, Aroma Fresca, Au Miladot, Calanque,

Kokoro, Mugwort... do you know how much it costs?

- You also went there, didn't you? - Okay, listen up.

The Engel's law is now exceeding your income.

Even your clothes hanging there are Prada, right?

- You mail-ordered it again, didn't you? - No, it's not.

- That's Gucci. - Both are expensive, right?

Look at you, you're wearing one of those toga knitwear, right?

It's the one that Nagano Mei wore in "Kohaku."

- Ah, I remember now! - What? Tell me quick.

Today, on my way home from Comiket, I went to a minimarket

and bought some Milk & Violet ice cream.

Really?! Which flavors?

A limited edition of Amaou strawberry and mascarpone blend flavor,

also known as "Amamasu", the other one is green tea flavor.

- The limited edition. I'll take that! - No! That's mine!

Amamasu is mine!

Yeay! I got it!

- How dare you?! - I bought it!

You've had three of it!

- I want to eat more! - Nooo!

Here we go! Rock-paper-scissors!

- Can I have some? - No.

- Just a small bite. - No way.

- Is it good? - Very much.

You're so mean.

Your motherhood is something that nurturing parents give over to their children.

Mom, I'll say it again.

You got ice cream around here.

Our finances are in trouble!

Wait, why is it there?

I thought today would be the day we'd talk.

Look. These are this month's deposits and withdrawals.

Take a look.

I am a single mother with a daughter.

I knew I had to properly

raise this little, fluffy baby.

In my way, in my own way.

She grew up fast.

And before I knew it, she became my system support.

She was taking care of this house for me,

and even managing our finance.

Sometimes she's a little sloppy.

A single mother with a daughter.

We are partners in surviving the world.

Well, you've got a lot of good pictures of yourself on display.

- Did you say something? - I didn't. You're hallucinating things.

Okay, mom, listen up. Isn't it tough to pay the loan here?

I haven't paid a dime for it, though.

You're a college student, so that's just normal.

But... would you rather quit college and work?

Just kidding.

It's a shame that income from Kodansha, Marukawa Shoten, and Chugakukan

were cut off.

Marukawa Shoten is a parody of Kadokawa Shoten Chugakukan is a parody of Shogakukan, both and Kodansha are publishing companies in Japan

Wait, why does only Kodansha remain the same?

We need to move! Mom, we gotta move out!

Calm down.

- I have an idea. - What kind?

Sell the Umbilical Cord book!

I'll find a publisher that will let me continue the serialization!

And make it a best seller like Harry Potter!

Saneisha is a parody of Shueisha

Then I'm going to turn the tables on Konishi and his company Saneisha that cut me off!

You're good. Can I ask you to turn around a little bit?

Alright.

Wow, you're super good!

Are we done yet?

Parody of Men's Non-no fashion and lifestyle magazine.

This guy is a Mennon exclusive!

- Oh, really? - Sorry but that's the truth.

Damn you... that's a lie.

You could be a model anywhere.

Can I ask for one more shoot, please?

Hmm... okay!

I'm nice to pretty girls.

Aw, you're flattering me.

Could you pose around here, please?

- Look, isn't that Irino? - Yeah, it's him!

Looks like he's in the middle of photoshoot.

- Ow, sorry. - Irino!

Irino-kun, you're going to the seminar's drinking party today, right?

- What? Is that today? - Of course we're coming!

- You girls are also coming, right? - I'm asking Irino.

- You're so mean. - I'm feeling a bit dull.

Outgoing... bright personality.

I am the top of the top introverted person at this full-of-flashy-folks university.

They are different beings from me, we're different beings, totally different beings.

If you recite it three times, that's a prayer for nirvana to come.

You're also coming, right?

To Keynesian seminar drinking party.

I don't think I'll come...

The professor said he wouldn't give us credit unless we all attended.

Isn't that some kind of harassment?

I'm joking.

But we're all in. I'm the organizer. So please come!

7 p.m. at Ikkyu. See you there!

Konishi-san.

- It's about Minase-san. - Have you heard from her?

- She got any ideas for a romance novel? - Not at all.

Is she trying to escape?

From our company, Saneisha.

What for? You're good-looking. Don't let her get away, okay?

Hey, where are we going?

- Good work. - Same to you.

I won't run away!

You're flirty.

No, nevermind that. Why are you here?!

I got hired part-time.

I'm sure they're hiring good visuals. Because, look, I'm this pretty.

Well, yeah, you're pretty.

Because I want to stay by your side forever.

Don't use that reason!

Yes. Is it difficult? Could you somehow find a way?

I'm already working on the next installment of Umbilical Cord.

This is quite interesting, because it is set in autumn and winter.

And then... wait.

You're going to a meeting?

Wait. There is Gen-san!

Editor-in-chief Gen-san, who was a great help to me in the past.

What department is he in now?

What? He is retired?

It's fine then. Thank you.

It's from Iwatani Shoten!

Thank you very much for submitting us your serialization!

We've come to the conclusion that it will be difficult for us

to publish Umbilical Cord...

Enough. I'm gonna sleep.

I thought about it so much...

So much that I could go on for about 10 seasons.

It got cut off.

Huh. Am I crying?

Hello.

Hello. This is Tachibana from Saneisha.

- Oh, Ogai. You don't live up to your name. - I'm Soseki.

- Ogai is my brother. - You siblings don't live up to your names.

My brother is a Nobel laureate.

No way! Is he Murakami Haruki?!

That's a lie. Murakami Haruki didn't win the Nobel Prize either.

Are you okay? Did something happen?

Nope, there's nothing.

What's with your nasal voice?

My voice has always been like this. Plus I have rhinitis.

I see.

Anyway, did you come up with any romance novel ideas?

- I'm currently thinking about it. - I see.

About Umbilical Cord...

What is it?

There are two more chapters left

for your serialization in Raphael.

Konishi asked you to finish it in two more chapters.

I think I can make it last for another 40 chapters.

I've already come with a plot.

Minase-san, you're so diligent.

Every time I read one of your novels, I always thought of you as a person who takes her work very seriously.

Very well. Two more chapters to go, right?

I'll properly finish it.

I feel sick.

- Hikaru, I've invited Minase-san to join us. - Minase who?

You mean that gloomy, introverted girl? She doesn't seem to fit in.

Tanaka, man, take a closer look. She's pretty good-looking, right?

Isn't she an otaku?

A fujoshi... or something?

Did she hear it?

What are you drinking?

- Smells bad! - But it tastes good, right?

- How can you drink something like this? - It's good, you know.

- It smells like cilantro! - What? Let me try.

What's the matter?

Don't make fun of me.

I don't. I just thought that was cute of you.

What are you saying?!

I'll take my leave now. I've got animes to watch.

Well, no one's coming after me.

I can't write.

Even a single word.

You know what?

I got edamame thrown at me today.

Lol. What happened?

Who did that?

- My classmate. - A girl?

- Yeah. - That's adolescence for you.

What did you do?

Nothing.

She threw edamame at you while you didn't do anything.

- Must be a love confession. - No way.

You wanna stay over tonight?

Can I?

Welcome.

I found this on my way home from uni and it's not bad place to live.

Minamijujo... you want me to leave this place and move there?

It's easy to get to the city center,

and my uni is only a short train ride away on the Nanboku Line.

I can't believe you looked for this on your own.

I only found it and gave it to you.

You don't trust your mom?

Did you get a deal for Umbilical Cord with any other publishers?

- I didn't. - Then give it a thought.

- I bet onions and potatoes are cheap there. - But they don't have Hamada there!

If you keep saying that, we're going to run out of money.

It's only you who want to live in Minato Ward.

Well, that may be the case.

And you only set your eyes on Prada and Vuitton.

This house will be consumed by your idealism.

Because if I don't wear Prada or Louis Vuitton,

I feel like so outdated.

I feel like Minase Aoi era is coming to an end.

How am I supposed to raise you if I'm unable to write?

Who do you think I am suffering like this for?

Huh? Don't blame others for your inability to write.

What kind of language is that?

Do you think you can say that to your parent?

Had you gone to a public university,

our finances would have been a little easier.

Sorry I'm not as competent as you.

Even if I fail the national exam, I should've at least gotten into a private uni like Waseda.

That's what you think, right?

What? I never think so.

Yes, you do. You said you wanted me to go there because it's the university you went to.

I just recommended it out of good intention.

Anyway, I don't remember asking you

to write for the sake of me.

You only wrote and became famous for yourself.

What are you talking about?

Don't you know who has raised you this far?

There it is, your ultimate weapon.

You're tacky! A complete lame!

If you have a problem, get out of here! This is my home.

Get out of this house of mine I bought on my own!

I'll get out without you telling me.

If you're going to say that as a mother,

say it in a more motherly way!

What do you mean by that?

Mom, how many of my homeroom teachers can you name?

From my grade school through high school graduation, how many can you name?

Hirano-sensei!

Hirano-sensei, your homeroom teacher in middle school!

I am done with you!

Hey, dad, Kenta used custard cream for sanmayaki...

Oh, sorry! My bad!

But I can't tell if you crawl in there like a cat...

Are you crying?

I have to write.

Here you go.

It's warm.

Just like your mom.

Gon-chan you're cheesy.

Yeah, I'm pretty cheesy.

Hey, Gon-chan.

The only homeroom teacher my mom remembered

was a handsome teacher named Hirano-sensei.

She likes pretty guys, you know.

The only reason your mom doesn't sell that house is you.

Me?

You can see Zojirushi from your room, right?

Yeah, the cute elephant.

That's a well-designed piece.

Everytime you were crying when you're little, she would hold you in her arms

and showed you that elephant, then you stopped crying.

Yeah, I've heard it quite often.

It took dad's place because he wasn't there.

She said it's our guardian angel.

You like it, don't you?

So much that I use it as my phone wallpaper.

Are you really?

It actually still comforts me

even now.

When I couldn't make the first team of the brass band in high school

and when I failed the national university entrance exam,

I beheld it.

It makes me feel a little better.

It's kinda lame so I kept it a secret.

I guess she knew it.

Old habits die hard, you know.

There's something comforting about it.

It is your guardian angel, after all.

What is important to you

is even more important to your mom.

She should have told me.

Look.

There are some things even she can't say.

We might think she says whatever on her mind.

Well, she'd spit out most of it though.

But she keeps the important ones.

Your mom

is always rooting for you.

Gon-chan, do you have some oshiruko for mom?

Mom.

What happened?!

Mom! Mom! What happened?

What's wrong?

I was looking at this.

Me, you, and the elephant.

You drew it when you were in middle school, I think.

What happens, dear?

Tell me~

In this place,

in this house,

the 3-year-old you, even the 9-year-old you,

are all here.

- What are you doing? - We're moving over to Minamijujo, right?

- I took a memorial pic. - No, mom!

Minase Aoi should not move to Minamijujo!

Let's put an end to this.

No Prada, Vuitton, or Marni anymore.

Parody of Uniqlo

Change it to Unisilo! They even come in 4XL size!

Your waist size is increasing, and it's still going to.

I know but I've only got two more chapters of Umbilical Cord to go,

and I can't even write a word I'm about to break my hand.

When I take my eyes off you for a moment, you lose confidence at an incredible rate.

Say, mom, what are you gonna do in Minamijujo?

A supermarket cashier, maybe.

Say, if a customer has a total of 878 yen

and they paid 1003 yen, how much is the change?

It should be 200...

You have no choice but to write. You were born to it.

A lot of people are waiting for your work.

But when I finish Umbilical Cord in two more chapters

and write a romance novel after that, I'm out of luck.

What? Romance novel?

Yeah. I thought I've told you.

He said they would publish my book if it was a romance novel.

But I can no longer write one.

I don't know what love is anymore.

- I'll help you. - How?

I will fall in love!

I'll fall in love with someone so you can write about it!

You? Out of all people?

A fujoshi otaku, falling in love?

Wouldn't it be interesting if a fujoshi otaku fell in love?

That could be.

And I'm more than happy

that you're willing to do it!

I thought you'd never have a boyfriend

and end up reading bloody comics

or guys making out with each other.

That's BL.

I have always been worried about you.

That much?

I'll write a romance novel! Let's write it!

Yeay! And you're gonna fall in love!

Hurray!

What's wrong?

I can't lift my right hand lately. I got frozen shoulder.

But if you think about it, if the heroine is an otaku,

it might become LN.

- LN? - Light novel.

The one youngsters read, not like the one I write.

So these things are possible.

After all, falling in love is a must.

If only I can remember that feeling once more, I can write...

It's nice to have a crush, but your shoulders are terribly stiff.

You got frozen shoulders? I can't treat it.

- I'll get another therapist to finish it. - The director?

The director has retired just recently.

I'll call him for you.

Sensei, please come here.

Pardon me.

A young man?

The scapula and humerus

are attached around here.

Ah, yes. Scapula and humerus.

Sorry, it might hurt a little.

All right. Please try to get up.

Try lifting your right hand.

Okay.

Oh, I can lift it! Higher than before!

Amazing!

How about... raising it a bit higher.

It works!

I will now take the payment.

If you have time, please stop by again.

- The treatment hasn't completed yet. - Sure.

I'm sure you're busy with your work.

I read your Umbilical Cord serialization in Raphael Magazine.

I'm your fan. I've got all of your books. Please Wait!

Sensei! Are you okay?

- I'm so sorry. - Sensei, you're so tall...

- I'm sorry. - Please be careful.

I got nervous. That's so lame.

He's... hot!

Thus, began the battle

between the mom and her daughter.

Translation: rid

aoinousagi @ d-addicts

twitter @waterhyacinth_