Soda Master (ラムネモンキー)

Chan, Kam-Bo, come out here!

Give Minmay back!

Like a summer bug flying into flames.

We won't even dirty our hands fighting you.

Get him!

Keiko, you forgot the steps!

No, it wasn't me! You forgot!

This is definitely being used!

- Hey, you look like Jackie! - Come on, give me a break.

Ms. Kuroe come up with funny background music for this.

The one who ordered Ms. Matilda's murder was Trendy Mochizuki, a consultant.

It seems Mochizuki and Matilda were fighting

over the lost videotape, Number 12.

Why on earth did Ms. Matilda need to die?

The one who holds the key is…

The granddaughter!

- The ghost member. - Who?

The Movie Research Club wasn't just us three. There's another member.

The granddaughter of old lady Kuroe.

The fourth member of the Movie Club.

Didn't I mention it before?

To meet the requirements,

I asked a truant kid to just give us her stamp.

That's the witch's granddaughter.

The witch… You mean that eccentric old lady?

Yes, the most hated person in town.

My parents used to badmouth her a lot, too.

It's no wonder that her granddaughter Keiko,

having been raised by her, was also an eerie kid.

You never knew what she was thinking.

We let her join to fill the numbers.

We had no intention of making the film with her.

So why was she in it?

We were looking for a filming location.

The final duel scene in the enemy's lair! Then Matilda said…

Look, isn't it perfect?

That's old lady Kuroe's house.

Even better then.

Keiko Kuroe can join too. It's more fun if we all do it together.

I think she'll refuse, though.

What a lovely house.

They're tearing down all the old buildings these days.

It certainly had the perfect atmosphere for the enemy's lair.

Just like an evil lair!

This might be good.

It's amazing.

What are you doing?

Keiko, you play the piano?

Amazing.

Wouldn't it be great to have Keiko compose our movie's soundtrack?

We're making a kung fu movie, the music has to be manly.

Something cool that gets you pumped for the fight.

I doubt she can make that.

Wow, she's incredible.

That's not all.

We gave her a role as the villains' henchwoman, on really short notice.

But she learned the moves right away.

Surprisingly, that girl was up for anything.

Maybe she was happy.

To have made friends.

But I think we only spent a few days together.

Isn't your house in that direction?

Keiko Kuroe.

It's dangerous, please stand back.

- Grandma! - Ms. Kuroe!

- It's dangerous! Ms. Kuroe! - Grandma!

Grandma!

In the end, her house burned down completely,

and the old lady died.

I remember saying, "The witch burned to a crisp!"

And got severely scolded by Matilda.

What was the cause?

The old lady's cigarette butt.

Since her house was so cluttered, the fire must have spread quickly.

Keiko Kuroe was taken in by relatives right after that, and transferred schools.

Come watch our movie once it's finished.

We're having a screening on January 6th.

It has your music in it. It will definitely be amazing.

We're making a sequel too.

Come help us again.

Take care.

That's our memory of Keiko Kuroe.

As long as it's not another delusion.

We don't know what happened after that. Not even where she moved to.

We don't know her family circumstances,

but she didn't have parents and lived alone with her grandma.

To lose her grandma like that…

What a tragic life.

I hope she's living happily somewhere.

Yes.

You all have New Year's off, right?

Let's split up and look for her.

No, not you. Go home already.

Yes. You have to face your family, Yuen.

- It's more peaceful when I'm not there. - Even so, go home.

Once we enter the New Year, you'll really lose your timing.

They'll just think I'm a nuisance.

Dads are supposed to be annoying.

Don't worry about it.

If it backfires, you guys take responsibility.

As if we would! Right?

Sorry, I'm late. I'll make dinner right away!

Merry Christmas.

Do you want some cream stew?

The food I bought will go to waste.

Oh, sashimi?

Stew goes well with sashimi, you know?

Yay!

Doing this won't change anything.

Oh, the bath will be ready in a bit.

You're too obvious, it's coming off super annoying.

But…

This is all I can do.

You're so annoying.

You all did well the past year.

Okay. A toast to wrap up the year.

We can't wrap up yet.

We'll be in tomorrow to handle the order error.

I'll handle it.

You guys can head out. Happy New Year.

- Muto. - Yes?

- Happy New Year! - Thank you.

Xuan, I hear you're going back to Vietnam?

I am.

Come back safely.

Of course. Thank you.

Namasu is easy to make and has a New Year feel.

I'm so very grateful to all of you.

Even though I caused so much trouble,

you all continue to come here just the same.

Please continue to support my wife.

Can you go bring me a bowl?

Sure.

Sorry, he insisted he would help…

It's fine.

Excuse me.

Trying to get in my students' good graces…

That's a cowardly trick. I hate it.

All right.

Our deepest apologies!

I'm sorry.

Mr. Fujimaki regrets what he did.

He has turned over a new leaf

and wants to work hard for your sake, Chairman.

Well, I do acknowledge your dedication to your work.

If you don't forget that humble attitude, I'll give you one more chance.

Thank you very much.

This is your last chance, Director.

You should also learn humility...

Thank you so much for today!

We'll visit you again!

- If we don't respect each other… - Please accept this gift!

You surround yourself with yes men, you've gone numb!

What did you…

- What? - You act like a big shot!

- Thank you so much for today! - Yet you know nothing at all!

Your mother is done eating...

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

It's just that my stomach is a little…

I'm feeling better now.

Don't worry.

Excuse me, Mr. Kikuhara.

I'm sorry about Christmas.

For standing you up on our plans.

Don't worry about it.

You had urgent business. I don't blame you.

There was nothing urgent.

I spent the day alone.

Sorry for inviting you.

No!

I was happy you did.

I was so happy, I was on cloud nine…

But it felt like I didn't deserve that happiness.

My husband died less than two years ago.

I felt I shouldn't go…

That it would be wrong.

When is his death anniversary?

February 10th.

Then I'll wait until past that date to ask you out.

Ms. Keiko Kuroe?

We want to find her, no matter what.

We want you to look into the fire too.

The fire?

Keiko Kuroe's house caught fire, and her grandmother died.

It was December 1988.

The day of Michael Jackson's concert.

Right.

Is something wrong?

Aren't you using me like your private detective?

What? No, you're overthinking it.

Woah…

I don't have that much free time.

We are busy at the end of the year. There are lots of things I have to do.

Sorry.

The heck is with him?

Thank you for waiting. Your Ozoni Latte.

Is this… good?

The seasonal Ozoni Latte.

Try a sip.