Princess Jellyfish (海月姫 〜くらげひめ〜)

Look at that one, honey! The long, flowing tentacles...

It's like the snow-white lace on

the dress of a princess, isn't it?

Tell ya what, Tsukimi. When you grow up and get married,

I'll make you a dress just like these jellyfish.

When I was little... There was a jellyfish aquarium that

my mom used to take me to visit.

I'm sorry, does that sound weird?

When she saw the fluttering frills on the jellyfish that

looked like a princess's dress, Mom told me...

That's not weird, Mom. I would love a jellyfish wedding dress!

They're so... pretty!

"When they grow up... All little girls can

blossom into beautiful princesses."

What? Dreaded Shibuya?!

Have you gone mad? Shibuya, on a weekend?!

And you would risk going there alone?

Oh, the horror! One time, when I went there...

But still you insist on taking this perilous journey, hah?!

Then live, Tsukimi! Please! Come back to us alive!

Hi, Mom. Well, you were right.

It's been six months already since I moved to

Tokyo to try and make it as an illustrator.

Here, in this sprawling spectacle of a metropolis,

there are lots of princesses.

But... I'm sorry, Mom. That's where the bad news comes in.

I'm not sure where I went wrong, but somewhere along the way,

instead of becoming a beautiful princess...

Ho-Home... I'll just go home.

Somehow, I just ended up being a freak.

Tsukimi has returned to us!

Tsukimi Kurashita, age eighteen!

I have returned from Shibuya alive and well!

Lady Tsukimi! Thank goodness you're home safe!

Yeah so... Before I could even make it to

the photo exhibit at that "Parco" place,

I was hit with dizziness, heart palpitations,

and shortness of breath, forcing humbling and tearful retreat.

That happened to me too...

Ohhh! So even your great love of jellyfish could not guide you

through that maelstrom of madness!

You were right. I should have just gone on a weekday.

The crowd at the station was especially huge.

I had the same problem when I--

It's always been a traffic hub. In the Sixties,

the old Tamagawa streetcars were packed.

Cool.

They carried me to the station office one time

when I was swooning from anemia.

Don't know whether it's even worth

giving it another shot tomorrow.

You reckless lover of adventure!

I wouldn't do it, Tsukimi. In fact, you were

lucky to make it back alive this time.

So Mom... Even though I didn't manage to blossom into

a beautiful princess...

I do have a really fun life here in Tokyo.

It wasn't a total loss though.

I did manage to get the things you all requested.

Oh! Joy!

Let's see... This is what you were askin' about, right Banba?

Mmm... yeah.

I made some new friends online, and about three months ago,

they invited me to move into

their communal apartment building.

I've been living here ever since.

All the residents are so nice. Very considerate of each other.

And I'm happy to report they're all a lot like me!

Okay, here you go, Mayaya,

straight from Aki-habara Station.

Three Kingdoms Mini-Figures, Akihabara-style!

I didn't open any of 'em.

Yep, they're all freaks.

Shee-AH-ho DOON! Shee-AH-ho Yu-WAN! Tsao Tsao!

Welcome to the Nunnery, honored warriors!

Kingdom of Wei in the house!

We've all got our own different interests.

But like me, they're all otaku to the core.

I'm so sorry! It got all crumpled in the crowd.

And of course... None of us have boyfriends.

Wish I could see his rumply hair!

So we came up with a slightly tongue-in-cheek nickname for us.

We call ourselves...

The Sisterhood.

Another email from someone who wants to

live here at Ama-mizu-kan.

I wish they'd stop. Yes, there's a vacancy,

but "if we don't know ya, someone's gotta vouch for ya."

There've been a lot of these, huh?

I guess the Sisterhood community is

bigger than I realized.

And it's such a hassle to have to turn down every single one.

Maybe we should settle on some rules to post for applicants.

Times like this call for one thing.

We must consult Ms. Mejiro!

Good plan! Why don't you take care of

writing the note this time, Mayaya?

I accept! Whoosh!

"More and more people are asking to live here.

We'd like to post clear and simple application requirements

on the community home page, but..."

Sure. This'll work nicely.

Most honored Ms. Mejiro! We humbly request your wisdom!

Did I... see a bike courier here this morning?

Yes... She just made her deadline,

so she's most likely relaxing today.

So, do you think she might come out of her room?

She's anthropophobic and nocturnal...

And as a best-selling manga artist who

was called "the Grand Dame of Boys' Love,"

her extremely rare days off are devoted to sleeping.

Yeah, I know, it's just I'd like to at least see her sometime.

Iriomote wildcats.

What?!

Sightings of both are just as rare. Mother made me

acting building superintendent five years ago,

and even I've only seen her

barely a handful of times since then.

Here it comes!

That's our Ms. Mejiro!

The last time my mom was able to take me someplace...

it was to that same quiet little jellyfish aquarium by the sea...

in our hometown of Kagoshima.

The snow-white jellyfish we gazed at together were the

most beautiful things my young eyes had ever seen,

and I was completely enchanted by them.

Look, Mom! This one's a Flower Hat Jelly!

See all the pretty colors?

This is a Spotted Jelly!

The book says that's cuz it looks like a Spotted Octopus!

Wow! You've become quite the expert, Tsukimi...

Yup! Oh! And check this out! When you write out the

kanji for "jellyfish," it's spelled "sea" and "moon."

But if you flip that to "moon" and "sea," it spells "Tsukimi!"

Fess up, Mom! Did you name me after a jellyfish?

Even I'm not silly enough to name you after a jellyfish!

You know this story! I named you "Tsukimi" because you were

born by the sea on a night when the moon was

at its most beautiful.

Oh yeah, forgot!

So on those really lonely days... those days when

I miss her the most... I always go visit Clara.

Hi, Clara! How've you been?

Guess it's been a couple days! Dang, you've got it good.

Wish I could float around with you.

Oh... Hey, you've got a new frie--

Is that... Is that a Moon Jelly?

No! This is bad! I read if you put a Spotted Jelly

and a Moon Jelly in the same tank together,

the Spotted one will weaken and die!

The shopkeeper must not know! I have to te--

It's...!

It's... one of the Stylish! And it's a boy!

We're doomed! I couldn't talk to a Stylish boy even if

we were the last two people on Earth! But...

Tsukimi! Please help me!

Clara?

Please Tsukimi! You have to help me!

Clara!

Please hurry! I'm freakin' dyin' over here!

Cuh-lara!

Tsukimi!

Claraaaaa!

Tsu-ki-mi!

Clara!

She stood up! She stood up! Clara stood up! Clara stood up!

Yeah, what? Can't you see we're like, closed... and stuff?

Over uh... Over--tank--over--there...

Yeah?

In-in-the-Sp-Spotted Jelly, w-w-with the tank,