"My machine, spits fire, baby!" "Good bye, loser dad." "Good bye, dear grandmother." "Good bye, the Big Buddha of Ushiku." "Good bye, the dresses from BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT." "and, good bye, Ichiko." "though it's probably too late to say it now, but if possible," "I'd like to be born in France during the Rococo Era." "Shimotsuma Monogatari" " The End" "But as it is impossible, then perhaps just rewind the time a little, just a little bit is fine." "Rococo, it was what dominated the later part of the 18th Century France, a period of extreme prosperity and extravagance," "appearing after the ultra-solemn Baroque with the most frivolous of artistic expressions." "Rococo, due to its ostentation and decadence, it is discarded and lost in history, and is even hardly mentioned in world history textbooks." "The critics say the art of this period is too coquettish, indolent, gaudy, obscene, pure decadence." "However, life is like diving," "to be submerged in a world of dreams, to drown, that is the soul and essence of Rococo." "Simply for the sake of Aesthetics, wearing one's dress so tight, to the extent of causing respiratory difficulties." "But, that is," "Super Cute such a period is indeed preposterous." "Then again, only caring about feeling good, indulging in sensual pleasures all day and all night," "if a bit wearied, then enjoy the then popular embroidery getting bored of this also, begin again the carnal pleasures." "Getting really sick of that, then take a walk in the countryside." "I am one who loves Rococo, wearing a dress of ruffles, strolling pleasantly in the scenic countryside" "or so I would like to think" "no way!" "dream on!" "Because it is 21 Century, Ibaragi Prefecture, this place is Shimotsuma called countryside, though it is more a farmland." "I live here" "Ah!" "I stepped on Cow dung!" "From Yokone where I live, it takes 30 minutes to walk to Shimotsuma Station, though it'd be faster on a bicycle, but I simply cannot do it, as it won't be attractive." "Lolita can't do as she pleases arbitrarily." "Oh, it's the little Miss from Ryugasaki, not changed a bit, still that jaunty attire" "Where you going?" "Not far, to Tokyo." "To Tokyo?" "What for?" "Dress shopping!" "Why go all the way to Tokyo to buy clothing?" "There, isn't there a Jusco over there?" "Jusco?" "!" "That's a supermarket!" "Don't know anything, do'ya?" "Shimotsuma's Jusco is not some supermarket!" "It has everything, it has all, it's even better than Parco in Tokyo!" "Even this polo shirt, was bought at Jusco for 980 Yen!" "This too, 1500 Yen at Jusco!" "This shirt, 2800 Yen!" "This too, Jusco!" "As is this, Jusco!" "People in this Town, are all nuts.." ""So it eventually comes down to the lack of communication between parents and kids?" "If you wanted to go from Shimotsuma to Tokyo, you'd have to take the aging Jyososen route, to Toride Station." "It only comes twice every hour." ""Communication, I still think it's very important.."" "So then, let's look at my profile before the train comes." ""Please enjoy"" "Where I was born, was not Shimotsuma, and also of course it was not France." "It's a place very much near Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture." "Don't bother me!" "Most of the inhabitants are thugs, more thugs" "Pachinko parlours and all sorts of weird counterfeit shops" "Regardless of the shop they are always "On Sale" to get more business" "Come and have a look!" "cheap!" "cheap!" "super bargains!" "Consumers seemed to be only interested in bargains, too." "Babies are put in jerseys straight after birth, and eventually die in them too." "That's right, this is the Heaven of Jerseys" "I was born in jersey heaven." "In this city, on the streets full of thugs and yakuzas, there was this man." "This young man, with very light eyebrows, is my dad." "Shit, oh shit!" "That was the first meeting between mom and dad." "After this bizarre encounter I was born," "the so-called "getting knocked up before marriage"" "Dad worked his ass off for the family" "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" "I'll just take some commission" "What do you take me for?" "!" "If I lose my pinkie.." "I won't be able to play the piano!" "Piano!" "Piano!" "What fun.." "I want to play the piano!" "Ah!" "Stop!" "Dad was a failure after all." "From Shimotsuma to Toride takes about an hour, from there on the Jyobansen to Ueno about 40 minutes, still a long way to Tokyo." "In spring I entered primary school, mom suddenly left home." "Shortly after, the divorce contract arrived at home." "What the hell are you trying to do!" "But the feeling I have towards mom leaving and dad's cries is only " "So what?" ""Wildlife simply passes away in oblivion"" "Poor me," "I'm an unusually calm, close to being unfeeling sort of child." "That man is truly incorrigible, can't do a thing right, has nothing but bad luck." "Your new dad, is a remarkable man!" "doesn't smoke, doesn't gamble, how does someone like that fall for me?" "It's still a mystery to me.." "Mom's new guy is the doctor who gave birth to me" "Doctor!" "Missus!" "Doctor!" "Missus!" "After that the two of them sprinted down the road of adultery." "I want to live on with loser dad." "Whaaat?" "His parents are dying to see you!" "The spontaneous grand-daughter, their are going mad not being able to see you and embrace you!" "You are lying, right?" "Yeap, I'm lying." "I, first year primary school student, chose to live with loser dad," "I think I scratched too hard, look, take a look perhaps it was because the messy life there was more interesting." "You are like your dad after all." "Without you," "I can't go on living." "Human beings, when facing great happiness, will become very much afraid." "Taking hold of happiness, takes more courage than perseverance of suffering" "Mom, how old are you now?" "33 years old." "I think you can still make it." "For a woman, seize happiness, don't ever let go" "Momoko!" "Being loved by that person, you must become more beautiful!" "Indulge a bit, go to a beauty parlour get a facial, or breast enlargement." "Enter the Takayouri beauty contest, and you must win!" "Why?" "!" "Cos' it's fun!" "After splitting with mom, dad seemed to have awaken from straitened circumstances" "Introduced by the Aniki from before, started pushing counterfeit goods." "Look, have a look, Versach, Versach!" "World famous brand from France!" "only 2000 Yen!" "and this Versach purse, only 1500!" "Look, Look, straight import from France!" "Am I right?" "The dad who didn't even know that Versach was an Italian brand, how was he so successful?" "It's so cheap!" "It's truly worthy of being called "Bargain Kingdom"" "At that time I was a junior high student," "I signed up to the crafts club, and decided to make good embroidery my goal." "Loser dad was getting dizzy with success, and even started introducing new product lines under the Versach label." ""Who'd buy such things anyway", I thought, it was thug's heaven after all.." "At that I was in senior high school, and decided to go Lolita." ""USJ Japan theme park is soon to be opened"" "What the hell is this?" "Fusion, combining two brands together!" "USJ has nothing to do with Versach!" "Shallow, Aniki, you don't understand too well, do you?" "After all I'm making a living in this trade, and am down with what's hot in fashion," "Aniki, amongst youth these days, "double branding" is definitely in!" "You didn't know that, did you?" "Aniki?" "Like putting brand name bags and clothing into a bundle, major banks merging with each other and so on." "Aniki, from now on there will be "double branding" everywhere!" "If you weare this, there will be no stopping the sales!" "You dare to talk to me like that?" "Get the hell out!" "It was after all a counterfeit republic, such ridiculous items became instant hits." "But this caused our family some trouble," "If USJ decided to take legal actions," "Versach won't remain silent either." "The situation's pretty bad." "Pack up and get as far from me as you can." "Therefore loser dad and I moved to grandma's place, that is my grandma's place in Shimotsuma in Ibaragi." "From Ueno on the Yamatesen to Shibuya, then on the Touyokosen to Daikanyama station," "that's where my favourite shop is:" "BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT" "Welcome!" "The summer during year 10 in the Umeda in Osaka, was my first encounter with the western dresses of Baby." "It was a fatal wound," "I didn't want to go home." "these dresses designed by Mr. Isobe Akinori" "I really, really want to get them all." "A student's house got burnt down during a fire, she is the most poverty stricken in our school, ten people in her family, and no one had a bite to eat today," "and because I'm a great friend of hers," "I wanted to do whatever I can for her." "There is a student in our school who has congenital heart disease even though his illness cannot be cured with current technology, and the doctors say he cannot live beyond 15 years old, but there is this one doctor who can cure such an illness." "However this surgical genius, is a quack without a license, and you'd have to donate 100 million Yen each time, otherwise your face will become horrifyingly disfigured," "100 million Yen..." "My good friend's sister's in a karaoke box, and has been kidnapped by a violent criminal gang..." "Miss Ryugasaki, our deepest gratitude for your custom!" "Regardless of how irregular a life-style this is, as long as one is happy, as long as one is content, then it's all fine and dandy." "That's what the spirit of Rococo tells me." "However," "I really am quite decadent." "This is my grandmother," "Momoko-chan can I have 200 Yen?" "Watcha going to buy?" "Chocolate!" "my milk chocolate..." "Grandmother's not senile or anything like that," "She's been working hard since a very young age, and has never been spoiled in her life." "So she's now gone to the other extreme, and behaving like a spoiled child to her granddaughter has become a hobby for her." "Not only this, she really lives up to being my dad's mom, she was a great fighter when young, apparently that's how she lost her left eye" "What kind of bullshit is this?" "Piece of crap, stupid piece of shit..." "Loser dad finally found a suitable job." "Let's not talk about dad for a moment, as our family has become like this, having bought all those dresses, I should do something too." "Versach's dresses, super cheap!" "All unused beauties." "However, all are counterfeits." "Ryugasaki Sama, please leave all Versach things for me, because I really want Versach things" ""For what reason" you must give them to me." "(should be "for whatever reason")" ""For what reason"?" "The writing was terrible, and almost all in hiragana, there was juice stains on the paper as well." "Probably a primary school or Year 7 student?" "I replied to the girl" " Shirayuri Ichiko, it was close, and arranged for her to see the goods." "Can I have 100 Yen?" "To buy?" "Lollies, lollies, green apple flavoured.." "Bad people..." "Where you going?" "Don't leave me alone!" "Female thug?" "!" "Did she get the wrong address?" "She spat?" "!" "Little missy," "I am Shirayuri Ichiko." "Miss Momoko, is she in?" "She's all messed up.." "Hey!" "Yes?" "If possible, pray inform Miss Momoko that I'd like to make her acquaintance." "Now it's off the chart, is this a period drama piece?" "Hey, where is miss Momoko?" "I am Momoko." "That's bullshit!" "How can a junior-high girl have stuff like Versach?" "!" "Tell her to come out!" "She spat again!" "Totally awesome!" "Are these all Versach?" "Yeap, but they are all counterfeits." "Then you - it's all, it's really you?" "Yeap, I am Ryugasaki Momoko." "not junior high, but year 11 student." "Damn, I couldn't tell, it's all your fluttering dress' fault." "But then again, I shouldn't judge by appearance alone.." "That's ok, human beings are superficial creatures." "Is she, is she going to kill me?" "!" "This" "What the heck?" "!" "A fusion between USJ and Versach!" "Great quality!" "I want first a jacket." "I was going to wear the kamikaze suit to a relative's wedding, but my parents said no." "I thought, no one would complain if I wore a Versace Jacket, right?" "but it's so bloody expensive." "Nothing I could have done at the time." "Then I saw your ad, so this is what they call a narrow escape!" "I think I should be the one who'd be saying that.." "This, how much?" "how much?" "Bloody hell, three?" "How about two?" "Is it ok?" "Just "two"?" "But these.." "You want 200,000?" "!" "2000 Yen.." "2000?" "!" "Where on earth can you get new Versach stuff for 2000 Yen?" "But they are counterfeits.." "Even so, Versach is Versach!" "Ok then, 20,000." "That's the way, even 20,000 is a bloody bargain, but since you said 2000, it's even better for me." "Since you gave me these for such a great price," "I'll definitely give all your money back." "If you need to something to get taken care of, just mention the name "Pony Tail" Ichiko." "What's "Pony Tail"?" "It's the name of the toughest female biker gang in Shimotsuma." "Remember it well." "I have neither a strong grip nor strength in my arms, and I'm also slow, can't really play sports." "But, the more fragile a girl is, the more precious she is." "That's the aesthetics of Rococo." "Compared with women needing protection, those who think they are there to protect instead of being protected, are so unattractive." "having toiled and experienced all hardships of life, etc, it's just not cool." "I just don't want to eat anything sour, and only fill my tummy with sweet things." "What the-?" "Pretty.." "So pretty.." "Shut up!" "Pretty.." "That's mountain type seat, limited edition, extra long, 120 CM." "Because it's special, it would've cost 100 grand, but mine is second-hand, so it was pretty cheap." "Like bikes?" "No, not really." "I even got someone to install a Stiller motor." "So you like bikes?" "Like?" "It's more like it allows me to feel like somebody else." "But.. it's only a moped.." "So what?" "!" "Don't tell me that you really wanted to get a motorcycle license, but failed the test?" "So what if I did?" "!" "Whoa!" "This, it still exists!" "My grandma's bike, what's special about it?" "DJ 1R, that is, the legendary dream model released in the 80's by Honda, it lives!" ""one takes another as a friend but the other doesn't think so.."" ""I don't think that sort of relationship can count as friendship." - "Why can't you understand?" "!"" "From then on, that female thug comes to my house often." "I want to ride a real bike," "I talked to dad about a motorcycle the other day, he considered it seriously, after consideration and then said:" ""When you graduate from senior-high I'll get you one"" "It really touched me." "She sure talks a lot to herself." "What do you plan after you graduate?" "Work?" "It's not as if I'd die from working.." "How can you say that?" "!" "There are people starving in this world!" "All of a sudden getting so emotional, for me, why would she say so much to me?" "It's beyond comprehension yet there is nothing I can do." "people are interconnected, such things are such mysteries to me." ""Why don't you understand?" "!"" "Topic "Friends, are they really necessary?"" ""People are solitary animals, one is born, thinks, and dies all alone, to think that one would die if one was alone, if that's the case then I'd rather not be human," "being a dog is fine too." "At least I'd be a lot more independent than those who must rely on others."" "What about friends and lovers?" "and parents, kids?" "what about them?" "Well for me, they are no different to executives, section chiefs, managers, administrators," "There is no other meaning apart from these." "Poor kid, such a poor kid, you are." "How many members are there in the Pony Tail gang?" "7!" "Oh." "Don't tell me you want to join our team?" "!" "No, no, not at all." "First of all, you won't get a license, and your fluttering dress is no good, too." "Our team only do drifting, fighting, gang war, pushing drugs are all out." "You wanna try?" "I said no!" "Also, those whose moral standards are not..." "I said, I won't join!" "Why are you so hesitant?" "!" "It's not hesitation!" "I don't want to be a thug, nor do I want to ride a bike, nor fighting, nor join group activities." "This fluttering dress I won't take off either." "Why?" "I'd be so uncool." "What?" "You've really deified yourself haven't you?" "I'll head butt you!" "As you please." "I'll totally kill you!" "Can you really do it?" "No spitting!" "Within that fluttering dress you've got quite a temperament!" "So you're not going to kill me?" "no, cos I still owe you money." "Talking about owing, owing is idiotic." "What the hell did you say?" "The most important things simply cannot be lent to others, the things can be lent are only trivial things." "Therefore I believe in "borrow-and-don't-return"-ism." "At the same time, when I lend things to others, I also carry the attitude of" ""even if it's not returned it's okay."" "Your dispositions are so bad." "it's twisted." "You definitely have no friends, right?" " Yep" "You are not lonely?" "Not at all." "You are so selfish!" "Still, if you really want to join our team," "I can give you a recommendation." "Whatever, I just don't want to." "So, perhaps I'll be alone like this all my life, some day when I am 80 years old, in a cheap apartment, by myself," "I'll die dressed in BABY, and eventually be discovered by a robot servant." "thinking "So this is what life is like"..." "What kind of bullshit is this "Nobility Forrest"?" ""Nobility Forrest"" "What are you listening to?" "Johann Strauss." "Never heard of that band." "Stop that please." "So where did you get that fluttering dress?" "Daikanyama in Tokyo." "Where did you get yours?" "Jusco!" "It's Jusco again!" "You must know Daikanyama pretty well then?" "Do you know an embroiderer called M.R in Daikanyama?" "They embroider on Kamikaze suits." "That kind of embroidery?" "Our group leader Akimi is getting married, and is going to retire, at the last parade," "I should really do something for her." "A Parade?" "It's the group ride at the last gathering, and give fairwell gifts." "Not fairwell, it's farewell." "Whatever, be it "fair" or "fare", as long as my meaning is clear, they are the same!" "She became really serious after that, and told me a lot of memories of the retiring Akimi." "Slowly.. it took more than an hour." "As it was too long and really boring," "I'll summarise." "Ichiko joined the group when she was in senior-high." "Before high school her family was really strict, she didn't have the courage to become a thug," "and got bullied in school so badly that she couldn't study at all (subtitle: be charming - smile) along with her weak disposition," "became the focus of class pranks." "It was too sad, and she blamed herself." ""Speeding long the road on my own bike, not knowing where to go."" "that person is Akimi San." "What's wrong?" "Why pretend to smile when you are crying?" "You are burdened, as if it hurts badly somewhere," "so crying is not something to be ashamed of." "But a woman cannot cry in front of others, that attracts sympathy." "When you cry, you must find a place alone," "that way, the more tear you shed, the stronger you will become." "At that time, Ichiko seemed to have decided that, she would become strong like Akimi." "Good story, huh?" "So what about that embroiderer in Daikanyama?" "Ah, right, as I was saying, for the sake of all she has done for me," "I want to get a few words embroidered on my kamikaze suit." "What kind of words?" ""Akimi-San, Thank you!"" "So childish, I'm off." "What did you say?" "!" "It is said that in that legendary embroiderer in Daikanyama, there are divinely beautiful and exquisite embroideries." "Have you seen any?" "Of course not!" "Where in Daikanyama?" "No one in the group knows." "Then what about phone orders?" "I just remembered, look for Himiko!" "Himiko?" "The female leader on the street 10 years ago," "She wears a kamikaze suit embroidered with a rising dragon." "Then just go contact Himiko." "That person called Himiko.." "For another hour," "Ichiko made me listen to the legend of Himiko." "This story is even longer, as it has already been made into animation, please enjoy at your leisure." "In the 1990's, those in the group conspiring to overthrow, and destroying each other, gradually became criminal gangs." "Human trash, stop!" "origins unknown, age unknown, with record of 7 incarcerations, this is what the people called her" "Hi-Hi-Himiko!" "On the back of the read kamikaze suit, is a golden rising dragon embroidered by the legendary M.R." "Himiko gradually united all the female gangs in Kanagawa, and especially eliminated anything do to with drugs and prostitution." "I hate most of all dirty things, if I'm not hard-lined then these ladies are finished!" "We are with you!" "Let us follow you!" "Let us join your group!" "Ok, those who want to drift join up!" "I want to" " Me, too!" "and I.." "Let's go!" "Heh, heh, enjoy the taste of dynamite!" "W-We, were forced into prostitution by the violent criminal group, please, save us, we.." "The next day," "Himiko went into the office of the criminal group alone, and destroyed it, with some 20 severely wounded." "However, after this incident, she disappeared, and no one knew anything about her after that." "So there is no way of contacting her?" "Yep." "Then I'm going home." "Ever since when I was little I at times had this feeling, as if my body is drawn towards the sky, so high, as if I can reach anywhere." "My home, the school, the station, all becoming smaller, ahh... arriving in an entirely different world." "Wait, I see a rude ruffian, it's Ichiko." "Ichiko is shouting something at me." "Ichiko, don't bother me anymore." "I'm going to a place not known even to you, a more beautiful world." "Are you listening to me or not?" "Hello?" "What?" "The problem is money." "It is after all the legendary embroiderer." "A woman without a job, 50 grand, maybe 100 grand!" "Still the same topic?" "Not yet old enough for part-time work, and can't borrow from parents.." "I am also poor." "I'm not asking you to give me money!" "Then get up early each day and work at SORP." "Ah, that's the only way!" " You really going to SORP?" "Pachinko!" "Let's go, Momoko!" "Momoko?" "let's go, pachinko, you can't not go!" "Why do I have to go, too?" "Because we are friends!" "This one, please." "The fluttering prince bought a cabbage, thank you!" "From today, this is your friend." "Your friend is this person." "Seeya!" "Good bye, Ichiko." "Good bye, legendary idiot." "However that peace of mind was fleeting," "without a word that thug kidnapped me," "and dragged me into hell on the crossroad of fate." "HEAVEN" " HELL" "Osaka?" "I can't lose!" "you can't make it, completely." "Momoko?" "!" "What's happening?" "You are totally wicked!" "They've gotta be cheating, gotta be cheating!" "Welcome, welcome." "You two!" "I know you are up to no good, what are you using, think I don't know?" "you are still 10 years too young for playing tricks." "What are you babbling about, I'll hit, stinky old man!" "No one has been able to win on that machine, I know very well!" "I'm sorry, but I'll have to conduct a full body search!" "What the hell are you on about, Baldy!" "Let me see!" "Stop!" "You guys back off first." "These two kids didn't do anything." "I've been watching all this time." "Ryuji!" "Ryuji?" "That guy is Ryuji the Unicorn?" "Even if these kids did something, not being able to catch them in the act is your fault, that's the rule of this world." "They are still minors!" "18 years old!" "That one over there, there is no way!" "This one dresses like a kid, all fluttering and all, but is in fact over 30 years old." "What?" "So you only look like minors." "I am in fact 40 years old." "Then you let these two "minors" into the parlour with what intention.." "They must be screwed in the head!" "Ichiko, be quite!" "Watched it, I'll kill you!" "stop bloody dawdling, and have those balls counted!" "How about it?" "Yes, sir." "Thanks, old man!" "Thank you." "That dude was pretty handsome, huh?" "Where?" "somewhere around here?" "70,000?" "!" "Don't kid me!" "Let's halve these." "Why?" "Because.." "I can't take it!" "Why?" "Principles, that's my principle!" "Then, I'll lend them to you." "35,000, here you go." "You've changed after all." "Really?" "However, I'll return them, definitely." "That's your principle, right?" "I say, Ichiko." "(Ichiko means something like a priestess, prophetess)" "You name is really Ichigo, right?" "(Ichigo means strawberry)" "A couple of days ago I called your mobile, it was your mom who answered, said that "Ichigo is taking a bath"" "it really is "Ichigo", I've confirmed it." "Why did you hide it?" "How can I be a thug with a name like that?" "Strawberry!" "Shut up!" "Don't ever use that name!" "Miss Strawberry!" "I'll kill you!" "Darling Little Strawberry!" "That's it, I'm really gonna kill you!" "The rats got to it again?" "Grandma..." "You going out?" "Nope!" "I guess this is my punishment, associating with thugs, and getting carried away with pachinko." "punished by the gods of Rococo." "Stitch it up again." "Grandma.." "If you can stitch it together you'd be great!" "In fact, everyone has a unique talent, your dad's speciality is, failing at everything, filthy all over, and snores well." "But yours is different, though it is yet to be discovered." "but there is definitely some outstanding talent." "Go your own way, different to others, some place only for you, you will find it." "The god of pachinko awaits you!" "Don't touch me, I said I hate it, I'm not going!" "We haven't got enough money yet!" "Stop, let me go!" "Momoko," "We are beyond the point of no return!" "what do you mean?" "Hey!" "Let me try!" "Miss, your understanding of this game is lacking, look, not there, it's here." "Don't touch me!" "The best spot, is here!" "What are you doing, old man!" "And why are you wearing embroidered shoes?" "Me, me?" "Just a lowly gambler." "No way, is that all?" "And therefore you wear embroidered shoes?" "Osaka's song.." "This man, like something out of a comic book, captured the heart of someone." "Human beings, are so incomprehensible." "Hey," "Ichiko, do you have a phobia toward men?" "I'm not afraid of those men!" "You've never dated anyone have you?" "Shut up!" "Never kissed?" "I'm really going to kill you!" "But, someone like you, has fallen for someone, right?" "A unicorn who wears white shoes, and blue jersey shirts," "because he is especially cool when talking to Ichiko." "SO, that's love, right?" "It's love!" "It's love!" "Love" "All say it's love?" "I love, too!" "No.." "You can't.." "Missus!" "I love you!" "Finally," "I decided to go Daikanyama, something I have not done for a long time and took along the Ichiko who swore to find the legendary embroiderer." "what?" "what's wrong with that?" "That character, isn't it.." "Oh, this?" "Go-I-Ken-Mu-Yo (Your opinion is useless)" "Just as I thought.." "What?" "It's the wrong Kanji.." "Our entire team has this embroidered on their suits!" "We'd be laughing stocks, it's so embarrassing!" "Why didn't you tell me earlier!" "Um, excuse me, is that bonnet from our shop?" "Ah, this?" "It was eaten by bugs and" "I really wanted to wear it and so.." "No, no, I was just surprised that's all." "The embroidery is simply exquisite." "Come and have a look, her bonnet, that pattern, she did it herself." "Your are being impolite with the customer, Mr. president." "Ah, please excuse me." "You are.." "President?" "Miss Ryugasaki, a special customer from whom we enjoy the frequent patronage." "So you are Miss Ryugasaki." "President?" "You, you are, BABY's president, and designer Iso, Isobe.." "I am Isobe." "Momoko!" "What did you do to her?" "Me?" "Don't play dumb with me!" "She fainted right before you!" "What did you do?" "What did you shoot out of your eyes?" "Don't be like that, Ichiko." "Momoko!" "It's not like that," "I fainted myself, don't make a scene.." "Momoko!" "I am sorry, I am so sorry!" "Please don't worry about it, it's perfectly fine." "Please just turn this way a bit." "Perfection itself!" "Ah, my God!" "You ok?" "I met my god!" "You're not talking about that old man?" "God touched me!" "That's your god?" "!" "Ichiko!" "Let's go look for that embroiderer called M.R." "You just said that you hated it." "Scratch that, I feel like doing some foolish things now." "Hurry up let's go!" "You say going to look for M.R is foolish?" "!" "Western dress is my teacher, it told me the way of survival," "seeing a beautiful dress, thinking about how I should be in order to match with it, etc spent countless hours brooding over it." "Dresses can give me the answer," ""Perhaps your body is not yet ready for this dress" and so on," ""Even if this dress fits you pretty well, but I feel that the ones that really suit you are completely different"" "and others like these." "Heh, no one understands talks like these, right?" "So, didn't you ask a thing about the embroiderer?" "Whoa!" "Whoa, it was totally awesome!" "What?" "what was?" "I saw!" "The legendary embroidery!" "Mizuno Haru!" "I saw with my own eyes Mizuno Haru!" "it's Mizuno Haru!" "Oh, what did you do just then?" "I told you, I saw Mizuno Haru!" "Then what did he do?" "He bought some seaweed combo meal and oolong tea at the corner store," ""Welcome"" "and asked the clerk to heat the meal up for him." ""Please heat this for me" - "Sure"" "And you stood there the whole time watching?" "Yep!" "You've gotta be kidding me!" "Who do you think we're looking for M.R for?" "It's for your sake!" "Because you said you must find it no matter what, but it is impossible, how can we find it?" "We don't even know if it exists or not!" "It exists!" "Because Himiko She.." "Himiko?" "!" "We don't even know if she exists or not!" "There is zero evidence for her existence." "Legendary embroidery?" "Legendary Himiko?" "Legends, Legends, it's all just rumours, a joke that's not even funny." "It's not like I'm begging you to look for it.." "Here's your money back." "Maybe it's just like you said, it doesn't really exist, some legendary embroiderer." "I give up, so I don't need the money anymore." "then what about the Akimi's retirement parade?" "Well, nothing I can do." "Idiot." "That kind of embroidery, can I do it?" "If possible, then let me do it." "Please?" "Is it really ok?" "Letting me do it?" "What about the size, type, shape and stuff?" "In giving you my kamikaze suit, I've in essence given you my life." "Everything, doesn't matter what, it's all in your hands." "Are you sure?" "Akimi-San, Thank you!" "I know I should say these things directly, but these words are so dull and uncool, so these characters represents my feelings." "I embroidered none-stop, from Monday dusk till Wednesday morning," "forgetting food, sleep, even school." "The balloons need to be bigger, you, there is not enough water, don't you get it?" "This, you really did this?" "It's so awesome," "I've never seen embroidery like it, beautiful, it's so beautiful!" "How can embroidery be this beautiful!" "I, what can I say to you?" "Such fine craftsmanship for me." "I can't help but ask myself:" "Why indeed did I do it for her?" "Looking at that happiness on her face, all of a sudden I felt like crying," "I, who has no feeling even looking at animals dying, what's going on?" "Sleep deprivation?" "Hey, Momoko!" "Are you ok?" "Momoko, Wake up!" "Hey!" "Is she dead?" "No. 19, Miss Asano Hitomi." "No. 20, Miss Saiyonji Midori." "You simply cannot tell that Miss Saiyonji is already 43 years old." "Excellent proportion" "After I fainted I slept like I was dead, so about mom entering the Takayuri contest," "I didn't know a thing." "And now the result, the winner of the contest is," "Contestant No Twenty.." "one, Miss Kuroda Tomomi." "Allright!" "Praise the lord!" "Idiot, that bloody idiot.." "Momoko, wake up, wake up!" "The Gods are watching over us, and severely punished those who have done wrong." "Momoko, don't ever give up!" "What?" "If you made up a bit, you are sure to win!" "In any case, we'd like the assistance of Miss Ryugasaki, and therefore have sent you an e-mail." "BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT, Isobe" "My god.." "The sample is already finished, but the most crucial white rose buds are not there." "We've already finished the blueprint, the threads have been given to them as well, and have requested them to remake it." "But they said that it won't meet the deadline." "It's soo cute!" " Indeed it is cute!" "But," "if it remains as it is, it's just an ordinary women's pyjama, isn't it?" "!" "It won't do, without roses it is nothing!" "Hence," "I remembered the embroidery on your bonnet, and would like to employ your dexterous hands to make the roses." "What?" "No, it won't do, I really can't, really!" "It has to be you!" "Um, I mean, that is to say, that is my opinion in the matter anyway." "Silk ribbon embroidery?" "using ribbons to embroider, making out the pattern of the rose, with a more accentuated dimensionality then ordinary rose bud embroideries." "Adding the foliage and grass of the garden, and then followed by silk flower petals, it might be a very interesting design." "Or adding warm tones of the countryside... it's all up to you!" "Everything is in your hand, it can only be you, you will help, right?" "It can only be.. me?" "It can only be you!" "It can only be you!" "It can only be you!" "It can only be you!" "Hello?" "Ichiko?" "How was the parade?" "Was Akimi-san very happy?" "She didn't stop staring at my embroidery, and said to me" ""That high school student who was crying by the street has finally grown up, you must've been quite determined then."" "it was unbearable.." "Then Akimi-san took us for a last ride, there was a sudden blankness in my head," "and we even let off fireworks." "Akimi-san said "thank you" to me." "And then, a man appeared," "your last ride, let me witness it. too!" "From now onward," "I'll be riding with this guy we weren't too careful," "In fact we already have a bun in the oven." "Awesome, Leader!" "I can't win from Akimi-san, besides, doing so would be betraying her." "So what?" "Even if it's someone else's, as long as you like it, just take it." "Who cares what rules it breaks, as long as you are happy." "People will do things that betray others," "Human beings are such animals." "Betrayal is human." "Really?" "No, it's lie." "Ichiko's first love has ended." "Not even professing it once to the other, wanting to scream to let off her emotions, and yet represses everything in her heart." "Is it not foolish?" "This is Ichiko." "Momoko," "Women, can't cry in front of others." "Yes," "But, there is no one here now." "Ok, it's decided." "Eh?" "I'm shaking." "Eh?" "I'm sweating." "When I separated from mom," "I had said to mom," "when one faces happiness one would suddenly become afraid, grasping happiness needs more courage than putting up with pain." "You, how old are you?" "17 years old." "That's no good." "Facing this sudden great happiness," "I feel very much afraid, even forgot the meaning of happiness." "My happiness is, to wear dresses?" "Or is it to make dresses for someone?" "What's up?" "Your grandma died?" "You busy?" "No, just going to a meeting." "I want to see you." "Huh?" "What did you say?" "I want to see you, Ichiko." "Where are you now?" "Where is this?" "I don't know." "I'll be there, doesn't matter where." "It's the first time, you wanting to see me and all that." "It's great, man, what've you got to worry about?" "Be more decisive already, make him speechless!" "Stop dawdling." "I'm not worrying about that." "Then what?" "I just think that wearing dresses from BABY is indeed happiness, but making it myself makes it completely different." "That's why I was so happy when I got your embroidery for me, doesn't that mean anything to you?" "It's not that." "You've got talent, and there are people recognising that, just what the hell are you worried about?" "If you don't make them, what'd I do if I wanted to wear them?" "You can't just pop down to Jusco and get one you know!" "You can clearly do it!" "Ichiko speaking, no it's not that," "Ah, the meeting?" "I am busy with work.." "Discipline?" "What kind of discipline?" "What's that?" "Ok," "So I'm to be punished under the family discipline?" "behind the empty place behind the Big Buddha of Ushiku, ok." "Two o'clock, tomorrow afternoon." "Discipline?" "What's that?" "It's nothing." "I'll probably be leaving "Pony Tail"." "Why?" "I don't want to drift with 7 people anymore." "What will you do after leaving then?" "Ride by myself." "Attention!" "Draw water!" "Complete!" "Good," "Now distributing rubber plugs." "Thank you, Sir!" "Um," "I've got something to ask you." "Who is it?" "So noisy - oh, it's Momoko." "Stand at attention until I return!" "What do you want?" "Biker gangs wanting discipline, what does that mean?" "Discipline?" "That takes you back, well, it's basically like this it's generally internal actions of particular groups, holding your hands like this, and then tied up with chains, the other end fixed to the back of the bike, and get dragged along." "It's really scary stuff." "And there's more, the more simple ones, burning using cigarette butts, that is using cigarettes, burning a circle, and making sizzling sounds." "It's really painful, and this, pencil in nostrils, put the pencils in your nostril, and then push up, it'll be out here!" "Do you know the paper strips on your face?" "sticking paper strips all over your face, and shouting "I can't do it.."" "Ah, brings back a lot of memories, when I was young." "You can't do it?" "We agreed it was to be today." "I know, I am so sorry." "I gave you the embroidery because it was work." "But I must go see my friend today." "A friend more important than this job?" "Oh!" "It's that girl who head-butted me?" "Yes." "You, do you like making dresses?" "Maybe.." "Ah, no, I like it." "Me, too." "That's why I started this job." "Making dresses became everything for me." "To this job I devoted all my passion, compared with work, things like friends were valueless," "Promises made with friends" "I cancelled casually so I could work." "I always believed that work should be like this." "I am truly sorry." "But, I.." "Therefore I have no friends," "Eh?" "not even one." "Someone I can open my heart to, and talk heartily, not even one." "Hurry up and go," "You should go." "Yes!" "How do I get to the Big Buddha of Ushiku?" "Go down Route 294 and then onto 125, head toward Kasumigaurai, getting to Amisakashita, and turn right, you should be able to see the Buddha." "Grandma," "I don't know what it is but I know you are in a hurry." "Thanks!" "But, I don't know how to ride it." "Ouch, it hurts, what the-?" "Step on the engine and turn this to go." "It's easier than riding a bicycle." "I'm off!" "Good bye, everyone." "Like this, I will disappear from the world, don't know which other world I will end up in." "Forget it, I won't give birth after all." "Who is it?" "Where am I?" "Already a mother," "How can I have thoughts about quitting half-way?" "Mom?" "Persevere a little longer and she will be born, this kid," "you've gotta be happy!" "What are you going on about?" "if you don't give birth to me now.." "Ichigo, Ichigo, she will be.." "It's moving!" "Let me out, don't hold it in, give birth to me!" "Ichigo!" "Still this spirited, this kid." "I think I'm going to give birth!" "Ichigo!" "Miko, this is the kid that hangs out with Ichiko." "Miko, why did "Pony Tail" become like this?" "Why must we merge with Tsuchiana, destroying the smaller groups and taking them under our wing?" "Concealing the facts from our own, and still speaking of "rules"" "Times change!" "Small scale drifting is so boring, there is no going back now." "Unite Ibaragi!" "It's not my idea, it was an order given directly to me by Himiko." "Himiko?" "That's right." "After Himiko called all the bosses from Tsuchiana, and told me "Unify all the female gangs in Ibaragi!"" "Then aren't you all puppets of Himiko?" "Who do you think you are talking to?" "We gather from all over, wasn't it to get away from the so-call "face value" and "common sense"?" "So.." "Now, saying things like "it's decided and you'll do what you're told"," ""it's the rule and therefore must be obeyed" etc, how is this different from the world we escaped from?" "This an order from central command and it must be obeyed!" "Grow up a bit, idiot!" "If you regard yourself as an adult, why not hold you head up high?" "Are you thinking about betraying the leader?" "And fool around with that fluttering friend of yours?" "Not some friend," "that one," "Momoko always relied upon herself, believed in rules made by herself," "compared with you who can't do a thing without a group, you're not even in the same ball park, idiots!" "Stop bullshiting!" "I'm not done yet!" "About the team," "I quit." "I want to be alone, too, just like her." "If you quit then we'll really have to use discipline on you!" "Discipline, discipline, are you still not done?" "!" "What did you say?" "Miko, do you dare to take me on, one on one?" "You think you can beat me?" "Sorry, but I have no intention of losing." "Get up!" "You're joking!" "Go!" "Teach her a lesson!" "Did you hear me?" "Why stand in a circle?" "Anyone got what it takes to fight me one on one?" "Ichigo.." "I said get up!" "Shut it!" "Momoko!" "So you think I'm a just push-over, huh, idiots!" "If possible," "I'd like to be born in France during the Rococo era." "What did Himiko do?" "Give you direct orders to unify Ibaragi?" "Which fake Himiko I don't know, but it's impossible for the real Himiko to give trash like you these kind of orders." "What, what are you talking about?" "Do you know who the real Himiko is?" "The one who gave you orders, can she prove she really is Himiko?" "Only those who know her intimately can prove that." "Yes, that is a matter of course," "I.. am the daughter of Himiko." "Everyone listen up!" "Do you know why Himiko disappeared?" "Because she fell in love." "At that legendary embroidery at Daikanyama you all know so well, it was love at first sight, and fallen in the river of love." "In order to commemorate that event, dad embroidered a rising dragon on the back of mom's kamikaze suit." "The two got married, and no one knows where, apart from me, the daughter." "Since I was a kid, dad taught me how to embroider." "I am the jewel of his existence, what I embroidered... is that!" "That is the work of legendary craftsmanship, compared with the junk on yours, do you even know what the differences are?" "Is it really ok to reveal this, Elder sister?" "Such important matters?" "Being bullied by them like this," "I can no longer keep silence." "You, dare to touch the daughter of Himiko?" "If that's the case then you'll be hunted by all the female gangs." "If anyone dares to lay just one finger on my friend, then Ibaragi won't miss one or two of you too much." "Yes.." "Elder sister, if you please." "This time, I win!" "I was really surprised, you can really tell some lies!" "it was really the spur of the moment, it just all came out." "But I also think it incomprehensible, how I convinced them of such a great lie." "Because you told the truth!" "What?" "That Himiko couldn't have possibly given them any order." "because you knew Miko lied, they naturally believed what you said afterwards." "Eh?" "That story is entirely a lie?" "Of course it's a lie!" "That's because she has never existed!" "Eh?" "!" "Himiko was a character I thought up during high school." "Ha?" "Freely made up how Himiko united and commanded all the biker gangs, and sent the story to a motorcycle magazine publisher." "Who'd thought that it got published, and it spread like wildfire." "She had become a legendary figure." "Wait a moment." "then why did you tell me Himiko wore a kamikaze suit with a embroidery from that shop?" "It was because you didn't seem to have any existence." "Therefore.." "Oh, I still owe you money." "that's ok." "And now I owe you one, too." "In truth, I cannot afford to, it can never be repaid in full." "I owe you way too much." "Here is what happened afterwards," "Firstly, the second day:" "Wonderful, a great sample, it's perfect!" "Mr. Isobe was very happy, and gives me dress design jobs every now and then." "Though we've already talked about working for BABY after graduation," "but I am still hesitant, whether to do fashion design for BABY, or to make plans for my most beloved BABY dresses." "Because I think that way, it won't be easy to realise," "That is, I am still a kid," "Lolita gone Berserk!" "Ichigo at the poster photo shoot for BABY, she is really liked by the photographer, and made her modelling debut." "But here is a secret, during the shoot she smashed two cameras, and head-butted the photographer twice and so on." "It's unimaginable." "Shut the hell up!" "Ichigo is very pretty, the poster is also what everyone talks about, and a lot of people come to Ichigo to do modelling." "But she doesn't seem to be too interested herself, working part-time in a motorbike shop in Tsuchiura." "Till this day she is still riding on the roads of Shimotsuma, by herself." "Finally there is a new chapter in the legend of Himiko, that is," "Himiko actually has a daughter, this daughter followed in her footsteps, in order to unify all the gangs in Japan, fighting all over the nation, and has become a leader of a group of ultra tough girls," "a force in eliminating the local female thugs." "If asked why this girl is so strong, it's because she wears group matching, full of lacing fluttering dress, that is the reason." "My machine, spits fire, baby!"