The Wallflower (ヤマトナデシコ七変化)

Good evening, everyone.

I'm the manager of the boarding house. Self-appointed, though.

I'm going to go settle this.

I was able to feel that way because of you.

Kyohei has also changed since meeting Sunako-chan.

I went to that hill. The Hill of Courage.

Why are you talking about the one thing I don't want to remember?

I don't want you to see your mother anymore.

Okaasan.

Pickles are the best!

He seems more energetic than normal.

He had a fun meal with his mom yesterday...

- Ranmaru, are you gonna eat your salmon? - Take it.

I'm taking it. Thanks.

What's wrong, Ranmaru? You seem down.

It's nothing.

Delicious.

Salmon, Salmon, a bear caught you...

I'm taking a water.

Um...

Last night...

Did something happen after your mom went home?

What? You saw that?

I'm sorry.

It turns out she doesn't want to see my face.

Don't make that face. Okay?

I have to go back to the drawing board, that's all.

Right? Back to the beginning.

Oh yeah, don't tell the others. They'll just be annoying.

Pickles come from the river...

The children of salmon...

This place is called the Hill of Courage.

Kyohei, the world is vast.

Africa, America, China...

We're all under the same sky.

Somehow, that gives you courage, right?

You start to feel like you can be positive for just a little longer...

Kyohei.

There's trouble.

Tamao-chan...

Huh?

I'll become more mature.

Huh?

What's the rush?

They fought last night.

Although I knew that you had a different public face...

...I was upset over a simple kiss...

A kiss?

I will become a suitably mature lady for you, Ranmaru-sama.

Sorry, but you should forget what we talked about last night.

After thinking it over, I realized I could never decide on one girl.

That would be hard for you too, right?

I'm fine.

It's nothing for me to have 2 or 3 girls at time.

It's true...

It'd be nothing for me too.

- I love married women. - That's fine.

I've dated over a 100 girls.

I don't care.

You don't?

You're a brute, Ranmaru.

We're home!

We're back. And we have souvenirs.

Obachan...

Honey, welcome home.

Ranmaru?

Let me introduce you. This is my common-law wife and son.

What do you think you're doing?

Oh, um, well, you see...

Ow.

The only man who can call me "Honey" is my Darling!

- Ranmaru-sama, are you okay? - She's pretty angry...

Of course she is.

That was an over-reaction though.

She's not usually that serious...

Now that you mention it...

Mama...

...was proposed to.

She met 10 men in a week, all really rich...

10?

But, she got less enthusiastic after meeting each one.

Why?

I think... she doesn't want anyone but Papa.

My papa...

What kind of person was he?

Ranmaru-sama?

Ranmaru-sama?

Feelings don't disappear that easily, do they?

I can't fall in love again.

I miss you...

What do you want?

I've missed you, Honey.

What?

Don't you see? It's me.

Atsushi.

What? Ojisan's ghost possessed him?

Nice to meet you. I'm Mine's husband Atsushi.

No way... Another ghost?

But, just now...

Stop that this instant, it's in bad taste.

Your ears that I love so much...

Honey, your ears that I love so much...

How do you know? That was one of Darling's habits...

Honey, I was always with you.

You've worked so hard by yourself...

Are you really Darling?

Seriously?

Ojichan...

It's been a long time, hasn't it, Sunako-chan?

Oh, yes. Is Chiro well?

- Chiro? - What's "Chiro?"

It was a pet turtle I had.

That turtle we bought you at the fair?

He died last year.

It died, huh? The poor thing.

How does Ranmaru know about that?

That means... he's the real thing?

Ojichan...

Well... it seems like something that could happen in this house.

You're Papa?

You believe me now?

Darling...

Come here, you two.

Papa!

Darling.

- I wanted to see you. - I wanted to see you too.

Why did you die?

I'm sorry, Mushroom.

Mushroom?

Darling used to call Takeru that.

That's right.

Are you sure about this, Ranmaru?

- Wake up. - Don't.

Please. I know it's just for right now.

Just for a little while...

Let him stay like this, okay?

Papa.

I'm in charge of the class pet at school.

What do you think we have, Papa? Try and guess.

What could it be?

What do you think?

A camel, perhaps?

- We couldn't have one of those at school. - That's right.

Takeru seems really happy...

It's the first time he's been with both parents...

When I get home from my trip, let's go out to eat together.

Next time, let's eat with your father, the 3 of us.

The other day, I went to that hill.

What?

The Hill of Courage. We used to go there together.

I never wanted to remember that place again.

Did something happen between Kyohei and his mom last night?

I think Kyohei's been acting a little weird since this morning...

I think so too.

Don't say anything to them.

Nothing...

Nothing happened.

Really?

Sunako-chan.

- You know something, don't you? - I...I...I...

Huh? He's not dazzling?

P-Please forgive me!

You're making a big deal out of nothing.

If it bothers you that much, you should've asked me directly.

When you were a baby, Takeru...

...you used to cry and cry when Darling left for work. It was tough.

I loved Papa a lot, didn't I?

I also loved you lot, Mushroom.

Now, let's go to sleep.

Good night, Papa, Mama.

Good night.

That's what happened.

What's your mother's condition now?

No clue.

You haven't tried calling the hospital?

From now on...

I just want to erase...

...my existence, for her.

But...

What should I do?

What's wrong, Ojisan?

You surprised me.

I'm not.

I'm Ranmaru.

What?

You lied?

Shh. Your voice is too loud.

What's going on, Ranmaru?

At first, I was just desperate.

I thought I had to make her give up on me.

You're a terrible man.

She had that reaction to a kiss.

If she knew everything about me, she'd die of shock.

In short, you're scared of her hating you.

That's right.

Then what was that, "Your ears that I love," thing?

Obachan got drunk and talked about it once. That "Mushroom" thing too.

What about Chiro?

That was coincidence.

You...