01x23 - The Courage to Live

[bunniefuu]

You people are such a weak race!

Doesn't this country have any strong men?

Make this more exciting!

Here are your gum and chocolate.

Pick them up, nipponese.

Forgive me. This is all I could make.

S'only because Kamogawa isn't earning enough.

Shut up and eat, freeloader!

I'm choking!

Here's some water!

Thank yew.

God, what're you doing?!

So I was meaning to ask you:

Where did you come from?

I know it's not Tokyo.

Oh, was I not supposed to pry?

No...

Hey, what's wrong?

W-What the hell?

My hand's gone numb.

What's... happening to me?

Yuki-san, did you...

come from Hiroshima?

I didn't want you to know.

I came to Tokyo looking for the strength to live.

Back when I lived there, I kept remembering that event.

I spent my days with my head held low.

I don't know what's happening to me or when it'll happen.

So I thought if I could come to the newly revived Tokyo and mingle with the people...

I wanted to feel alive.

I wanted hope.

Look, you don't have to say anything.

I saw you two fight when I arrived in Tokyo.

Seeing you two persevere gave me the strength I needed.

It gave me the courage to live.

I was really glad I had the chance to live with you two.

I had fun watching you two fight and train together.

You two always make me happy.

So I wanted to be your pillar of support.

I didn't want you to know.

I didn't want to be pitied or be seen in a different light.

I wanted... I wanted to spend...

what little time I have left living this life.

Nothing will change.

I didn't ask anything. I didn't hear anything.

My home is your home, if that's what you want.

Nothing will change.

She sure is brave.

If I were her, would I act anywhere near as cheerful?

She's a strong woman.

Good morning!

And what a good morning it is!

Yeah.

I still have a lot to learn.

Where's Nekota-san?

I haven't seen him since last night.

Lazy bum!

I'm back!

Welcome home—

What happened? You're covered in bruises!

Yuki-san, I got yew a present.

A-A blouse? Are you sure?

But I thought...

You're supposed to be dead broke!
Where did you steal that?

Here!

Yew ain't gonna call me a freeloader no more!

A tricycle cab?

That's cool!

So this is how you earn your money?

So why all the bruises?

Are yew all right, sir?

There was nothing around here to crash into!

That's it, I'm going to walk!

And I'm not paying!

I'm sorry.

I'm pedaling straight, aren't I?

So why do I keep getting into accidents?

Anyway, I need to get paid so I can get Yuki-san a present!

A-Another blouse?

Can I have it?

Of course yew can.

Now, why are yew wearing the same blouse I just bought for yew?

You were the one who gave me it!

You must love this dress enough to buy a second one.

I gave that to her?

Impossible! I don't remember doing that!

Again?!

This numbness just comes and goes.

I'm starting to lose my balance...

I get headaches...

Is this only temporary?

But, I know for a fact that...

little by little...

my nerves are getting damaged!

Ever since that fight...

No, who cares about the cause!

What the hell's... happening to me?

What's... going to happen to me?

Okay, that's three minutes!

Goddammit! I didn't even hit him once!

Yew aren't committed enough.

Good, I'm perfectly fine.

It was only temporary.

Screw this! I'm going to work!

Now then...

Oh, um, Yuki-san!

Yes?

I've done been to a bunch of places on my cab.

I'll show yew if yer willing to hop on!

I'll give yew a tour of Tokyo!

I'd love to!

Please, stop!

Do you always drive like this?!

No wonder you get into accidents!

My apologies.

Guess I got carried away.

Tokyo is so amazing!

It's so busy and prosperous!

I also get surprised, being a country boy myself.

Where did you come from?

Nowhere worth mentioning.

Except maybe for its unspoiled wilderness.

It sounds like a nice place.

M-Maybe one day I'll get to show yew...

where I was born!

That GI.

That wasn't enough. Give me a real fight.

Let's go.

I hate seeing those fights. All he does is pick on the weak.

There are no hopes or dreams to be had.

I don't want to see yew looking down.

Yew wanna see...

a fight that'll fill yew with strength?

Y-You can't! It's too risky!

Don't tell Kamogawa.

He'll probably be against it anyway.

He wants all the glory for himself.

Kamogawa.

Huh?

Oh, it's you, Dankichi.

He took out another Japanese man.

This makes six he's sent to the hospital.

Doesn't that include you?

Aren't you even bothered by it?

Got nothing to do with me, is all.

Whoever wants to fight him is free to do it.

Makes no sense complaining about losing a fight you had no chance of winning.

So you're turning a blind eye claiming they had no chance?

Where the hell is your Japanese spirit?

I don't believe in it.

Boxing is divided into weight classes.

The matches are fair if you fight someone sharing your weight and stature.

That's why I question whether it's simply the lack of spirit or skills.

That GI is larger than any of us.

He's not someone you should test your boxing skills on.

Okay, you win.

You're right on all accounts.

Thought I could rile you into fighting him, but you won't bite.

Sorry.

You and Nekota were the only ones with a real chance.

Actually, he's already beaten both of us at a dark street corner.

What?

That GI's boxing was based on cold logic.

My chin agrees with you.

He goes after your weak spots like a damn machine.

If there's anyone who has a chance against him...

...it'd be Nekota!

I hate to admit it,

but he's by far the best fighter among the three of us.

Maybe it's because he was raised deep in the mountains,

but his instincts are similar to a wild animal's.

If anything can throw that fighting machine out of whack,

it'll definitely be his animal instincts!

But don't tell Nekota any of this.

That guy would definitely jump at the chance.

Even if he could throw that machine off kilter, winning would still be next to impossible.

If a man takes a punch from someone a lot bigger than him,

it will damage him all too easy.

I want him around as my rival so we can improve each other.

And besides...

The three of us are living together due to the circumstances.

And it's not as bad as I thought.

Just say you're having a blast.

What's the matter, driver? Are you okay?

What happened?

Oh, my driver suddenly vomited...

It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!

It feels like my head is splitting!

Hey, he's having convulsions!

Someone call a doctor!

Don't!

Don't... call a doctor!

sh*t!

It's happening more and more frequently!

And it's... getting more severe!

Goddammit... Goddammit... Goddammit!

Welcome back!

Uh, yeah.

Isn't Kamogawa home yet?

No.

Then I guess I'll eat without him.

This is fantastic!

It's just a sweet potato.

So, isn't Kamogawa home yet?

No...

Okay, I see. Gonna take him a while.

Oh, nothing!

‘Kay.

This has happened before.

He'd say the same thing over again.

Nekota-san can be a scatterbrain.

But...

I'm home.

Welcome back!

Yer late! I was about to eat everything!

Can't believe how bustling this place has gotten.

But yew like the activity.

Screw you! It gets in the way of my training!

I-I'm in your way?

What's yer problem?!

Get lost if yew don't like it!

This is my house!

Yuki-san's about to cry!

I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

g*dd*mn this!

Yeah, this ain't so bad.

If I could, I'd stop time...

What's wrong?

The sunflowers.

Oh, right. Summer's about to end.

Feels kind of sad losing these showy flowers.

But these flowers leave behind a lot of seeds.

They'll come back and cheer us up again.

I wish...

I can see them next year.

You will!

Bet on it!

Don't act so damn dejected!

You're only gonna make a guy glum by saying that!

Someone... will be sad?

You must know by now.

You see him every day. Nekota has feelings—

Please stop!

I'm...

I'm going to repeat your words,

but have you noticed by now?

How I... feel about you.

I...

You better go inside.

This isn't good for your health.

sh*t! Why did I let it get to me?!

What was I even about to say?!

You know damn well how Nekota feels!

You want to betray him, you jackass?!

Forget about your feelings!

Weren't you also steeling your mind?

Don't you dare betray Nekota!

He's your best friend!

Welcome back, Kamo—

There's something I need to tell yew.

Wh... What is it?

I laid all the groundwork in secret.

But I really need yew to see this.

Tomorrow...

I'm fighting that GI!

I'm going to win.

My fight is going to give yew strength, and I'm going to win.

Nekota-san...

But... it's gonna be my last fight.

After this match, I'm going to retire.

I'll have no reason to stay here,

so I was thinking I'd go back to the mountains.

Wi...

Will yew come with me? Will yew follow me back home?!

The air's good, and yew'll really love it!

It's just the right place for yew to rest up!

I'm sure yew'll recover from...

You knew about my disease?

I want to know yer answer!

After the match!

Nekota-san!

I can't even... tape my own hand right.

My headaches and numbness are coming regularly now!

I'm...

I'm scared!

He scares me!

I ain't afraid of his punches.

But...

I'm afraid I won't make something happen!

Please! Just this one match...

Let me fight this one match!

Please!

I don't want her to keep her head down!

I want to give her strength!

She's... just like a sunflower!

Yuki-san...

Yuki-san, Yuki-san...

Yuki-san!

Nekota's fighting that GI?!

First I've heard about it!

He told me to keep it a secret.

That dithering idiot!

I don't care what happens to him!

But...

Something's wrong with Nekota-san!

That's right!

But...

No.

He's definitely punch drunk.

Now that I think about it, it all makes sense.

But he dodged all of your punches during practice.

It comes and goes like a switch. A switch in his brain!

It's time, Nekota! Let's go!

Just a little longer.

Just a little longer and it'll be over!

Please!

Hurry up and be done with!

Let's go, Nekota! You got a fight!

I got a fight.

And it's about to start.

The boxing match is about to begin.

That crazy dumbass!

He's going in the ring knowing about both his and Yuki-san's condition!

You're a man's man, Nekota!

But!

If you're really punch drunk, you're putting your life on the line!

He's here!

It's Nekota!

I believe in you!

Hey, look at his shorts!

It's the number of japanese I've put on the ground.

Just a little souvenir for when I go stateside.

Hurry up. I need yew here.

I'm only fighting for a set amount of time.

I promise to teach him a lesson within that timeframe.

So hurry.

This is the last time yew get to see me fight!

Nekota!

Nekota!

Nekota-san?!

So yew came?