01x01 - Replacement

[bunniefuu]

JANUARY 2020, NISAYAMA

Hikaru!

Hey! Did you find him?

Hikaru!

It's no use.

We can't keep searching like this.

Let's retreat for now!

Right…

Yoshiki…

Hikaru!

Hikaru?

Hikaru!

Damn it!

Unuki-sama…

I need somebody. Anybody…

Hikaru!

JULY 2020, KUBITACHI VILLAGE

Hey, granny. Can we get some ice cream?

Ah, it's nice and cool in here.

Wait, that's all they got?

That "ice cream" sign lied to us.

All they got is Papicco.

And what's with that spelling?
"Ice-Cold Ice Creem"?

That damn Mr. Hara,
making us run in this inferno.

Why's he gotta "toture" us like that?

Hikaru.

You gotta work on your pronunciation.

Try again. It's "t*rture."

Rhymes with "scorcher."

Oh, right. "t*rture"…

"t*rture," yeah?

Got it.

Ya know,

you really went missing
on that mountain for a whole week.

And you don't remember a thing?

Nope, not at all.

It's been half a year
and you still can't recall?

How long are you gonna keep
nagging me about that?

-You know how worried we all were?
-Cut it out!

Were you lonely without me?

No, not really.

Lies. I bet you cried like a baby.

"Don't leave me alone, Hikaru!"

Don't get c*ck.

Not again!

You think you can pick on me
just 'cause I'm little.

SCHOOL BUS STOP

Hey, can I ask you something strange?

What, you wanna confess your love for me?

Hell nah.

Ya see,

something's been on my mind
for quite a while now.

I gotta know.

I've been thinking about this
ever since you went missing and came back.

You're…

You're not Hikaru, are you?

Huh?

How did you…

I thought I copied him perfectly.

I'm beggin' ya.

Don't tell anyone.

This is my first time living as a human.

It's been so fun going to school
and eating ice cream for the first time.

This body and personality ain't mine, but…

I like you a whole lot.

So please.

I don't…

wanna k*ll you.

Hikaru's gone. That ain't gonna change.

So, even if he's a fake,

I want him to stay.

I won't tell anyone.

Hikaru…

Nice to meet ya.

THE SUMMER HIKARU DIED

So, what're you gonna do
once you get outta Kibogayama High?

Haven't really thought about it.

I'll probably take over
Grandpa's shiitake mushroom farm.

What about you, Yoshiki?

I haven't thought about it either.

You're a smart cookie.

You should ditch this village
and go to college in Tokyo.

Lemme guess, you don't wanna leave me?

-Lame.
-Shut up and die already.

Even if you find
a hot girlfriend in Tokyo,

I'm always gonna be
hangin' around your place.

So you'll never be able to take her home.

Like I could get a girlfriend.

Lighten up.

You always get pissy
when we talk about this stuff.

You'd find a girlfriend easily.

Hikaru.

Hey, Yoshiki. What's up?

About this weekend…

I got plans that day.
I'm heading to the mountains.

The mountains? What for?

Can't tell ya.

It's a secret!

-Get up, Yoshiki!
-It was a dream.

-Breakfast is ready!
-Of when he was alive…

The last thing I saw
was his Mr. Hara impression?

That's so dumb.

Yoshiki! It's time to eat!

-We got plenty.
-I appreciate it.

EPISODE ONE: REPLACEMENT

Mornin', Yoshiki.

What were you doing up so late?
Your lights were on all night.

Thanks for breakfast.

Good morning.

We now bring you
today's national weather report.

Compared to years past,
this summer's going to be a hot one.

Is Kaoru still asleep?

…from the Sea of Japan to the northeast.

Low atmospheric pressure
approaching Hokkaido.

Hikaru's here!

Be right there!

Meanwhile, in eastern and western Japan,

the sun is shining bright
due to higher pressure.

Better cut those bangs
before they get in your eyes.

Hey, Yoshiki. Mornin'.

Ya… Ya gotta hear this.

-This mornin', Mama…
-Who cares?

Ain't got time for this.

We gotta go,

or we'll be late.

Yeah. Don't wanna get chewed out by Hara.

I'm fine with this.

So yeah, Mama bought us a watermelon.

And we devoured it.

Man, it was tasty!

I don't care what you are.

It's better than not having you here.

Way better.

Hello?

Yes, hello there.

My company sent me here.

My name is Tanaka.

KIBOGAYAMA HIGH SCHOOL

Without a sound

Keep dreaming that dream

And secretly

Keep seeking what you seek

Even if that glow from the past

Fails to reignite

Toward the future

This pounding in my heart…

Anything shady in here?

Yep, right there.

Mommy…

Mommy…

Loads of potential. I can feel it.

I'm beat!
Why a choir performance, of all things?

To make up for canceling
last year's culture festival, apparently.

I kinda like singing.

But you weren't even singing.
You were just staring at the paper.

I was curious
about the meaning of those lyrics.

Hey, where y'all going?

Next period ain't science.
We got study hall instead.

We're watchin' a movie in class.

A movie?!

-Again?
-For the millionth time?

Right?

No, not a sliver of it
had anything to do with that thing.

Is that so? How disappointing.

You'd think this company
would've learned a thing or two by now.

I mean, after hundreds of years searching…

I can't believe we're still in business.

Enough complaining about our company.

Someone might alert the executives.

Okay, whatever.

But trust me, I'll be fine.
I take my job seriously.

Well,

I guess that thing
won't be so easy to find.

THE SUMMER HIKARU DIED

THE SUMMER HIKARU DIED

What do you think you're doing?!

Shut your trap, you lowly woman.

-You're nothing.
-This movie sucks.

I could replace you just like that.

He's sobbing?!

That poor woman…

Dude, what're you cryin' for?

We've watched this five times.

I know, it's stored in my memory.

But it's my first time seeing it.

-See ya later.
-Jeez, it's hot.

I don't wanna go to club.

Hey…

Where's my key?

Did you check your bag?

Keeping up with practice at home?

Where'd it go?

Let's get outta here!

Whoa, girl!

Found it!

It was in
my Classical Literature B textbook.

-Ready?
-Okay!

Good for you.

Come on, let's go.

DARUMA STREET SHOPPING ARCADE

We used to eat this sometimes, right?

Yeah.

It's so good! Holy sh*t, that's crispy!

I already knew how it tastes, but still!

YAMAZAKI'S MEATS AND MORE
MENCHI-KATSU, KARAAGE

Keep it down.

Ain't it weird, though?

You remember it, yet it's still new.

I can recall the memories perfectly,
but not the actual experiences.

I was never alive to begin with,

so it's my first time
actually bein' somebody.

What are you, a ghost?

I dunno, really.

A ghost?

Nah, that don't feel right.

I'm a sick monster, though.
That's for sure.

Oh, it's Mince.

Looks like he's gotten even fatter.
It's all that meat the butcher gives him.

Whoa, you're right.

That cat's a little speedster, huh?

Anywhere else in town you wanna go?

Oh, you're gonna hang out with me?

Aw shucks, Yoshiki…

You're too nice to me, ya know that?

Always have been.

I'm not being nice.

I'm just too easy on people.

Most of all myself.

Ya lost me there,

but I still think you're nice,
even to someone like me.

Ah, I'm a taiyaki

I'm a taiyaki

You changed the filling
to chunky red bean paste, eh?

In that case, I think I'll…

Where we goin' next?

Hi, Mr. Dragonfly.

It's a darter, a red dragonfly.

Not very red yet, though.

A red dragonfly?

In the summer?

Yeah. The ones in the fall
are autumn darters.

This is a summer darter.

What's the difference?

I don't feel like explaining it.

The summer and autumn varieties

look the same,
but they're different dragonflies.

Huh, guess that's why they call you Emil.

What is this thing, anyway?

It looks just like Hikaru, but it ain't.

It's something different.

Wait up!

What gives?

Yoshiki?

-This is messed up.
-Hey!

And so am I for going along with it.

I'm scared. I'm so scared!

It doesn't make any sense!
Why is this happening?!

I don't get it! I'm goin' nuts!

But even if he's a fake,

I want him to stay.

Oh, by the way.

Lemme drop by later.

I wanna read more Master + Master.

Is that cool?

Fine by me.

How far did you read?

Ron just left the island!

So you've only read the very beginning?

Fine.

You can read it at my house.

Oh, but I'm missing volume three.

I'll fill in the blanks somehow.

Though I still don't get
how you got 11 copies of volume one.

Oh, why…

Nonuki-sama's come down from the mountain!

Whoa, what? Loco-Loco-sama?

Don't get involved, dude.

This kinda stuff freaks me out.

Yeah, freaky.

Stay away! Begone!

Let's go,

Hikaru.

Hey.

So, Hikaru…

really is dead, ain't he?

Yeah.

His body's warm,
and it's still got a pulse, but…

he's dead, all right.

Does that mean you--

I didn't!

When I found him,
he was already at death's door.

I swear.

Here's what I remember.

I was wandering through the mountains

for a really long time, ya see.

I couldn't really feel anything.

I always felt like some sorta robot.

But then,

I found Hikaru on the verge of death.

Then, next thing I knew,
I just kinda ended up like this.

See ya tomorrow, Yoshiki.

Hey.

Do you like me?

Huh? What?

Yeah, I do.

I like you a lot.

He's never said that before.

Never, not even once.

Then do me a favor
and never leave me again, okay?

The first semester
is almost over, you know!

She stayed home again today!

Are you really okay with that?

You're her mother.
If you're okay with it, then so am I.

That's beside the point!

Do you care about Kaoru at all?

Stay away! Stay away!

Ms. Matsuura.

-Got a delivery for you.
-I ain't openin' up!

-Of course I care. I'm her father.
-Then why don't you…

Ms. Matsuura?

All you think about is yourself.
You don't even care about our kids!

Just being the breadwinner isn't enough!

Ms. Matsuura.

Ms. Matsuura.

Hmm, is no one home?

A delivery at this hour? No way in hell!

I know you're in there!

Ms. Matsuura!

Ms. Matsuura!

Ms. Matsuura!

You… You ain't comin' in this house!

Ms. Matsuura. Ms. Matsuura!

Ms. Matsuura.

I'm already inside.

Good night, Hikaru.

Yes, it's her.

It's definitely my mother.

Why…

I'm next…

Nonuki-sama's coming to get me…

I knew it. Indo's ritual was a failure.

What's our next step, Takeda?

Why, certainly.

I'll go straight there
first thing in the morning.

Mr. Takeda,
I'll do everything in my power to help.

I'd rather not visit
that gloomy Kubitachi Village, though.

Then again,

those villagers don't know
what they've got on their hands.

That thing won't be
as easily dealt with as they think.