Shodo Girls: Watashitachi no Koshien

Shikoku-chuo High School, Ehime Prefecture

Leave me alone!

Please reconsider!

I already thought about it over and over and over!

Oh, don't say that! We had so much fun!

What fun?

We're having a great time, aren't we?

Hey!

I'm fine with it

if she wants to quit.

Don't say that! It's more fun with everyone together!

Fine, ignore me!

Do you seriously enjoy their company?

We're just becoming friends!

I can't!

Bye.

Hey!

Do you know how many people have quit already?!

Five.

No eating during club hours!

But I need to eat to have energy.

Don't you boys want more girls in the club too?

We don't really care...

Right.

Especially not if they are like you...

Excuse me?

Nothing.

I'm fine with the way things are.

Calligraphy is about challenging yourself.

All you need is...

"Ko"?

Ko for kojin (self).

Ko for kodoku (alone).

If you want to hang out with friends, go find another club.

Satoko! Wait!

I said let's stop by the convenience store!

Did you?

You forgot already?!

It's so cold!

Shodo Girls!! Our Tournament

This is our last year.

So?

I just want us to win a competition as a group, you know?

I just need one award!

Something to show for our 3 years of hard work.

Just win awards by yourself, Kana.

You know I can't win anything by myself.

You haven't tried.

I know without trying!

I'm not talented like you, Satoko.

I know what's going to happen.

So as part of the calligraphy club at Shikoku-chuo,

I want a "We did it! Look at this! I worked hard!"

kind of recognition.

Do you get it now?

I get it. I get it but...

that just means every one of us have to work hard, right?

I guess, yeah...

Then let's just keep working hard, yeah?

Shoot! I have to go home!

Bye!

She's got a point though...

The things I love are...

Clear blue skies.

The road leading to the sea.

The sound as I pedal my bike.

The smoke stacks that you can see anywhere from the city.

And the sound of paper making I hear every day on my way to and from school.

And our town's very own deity that protects our slow, quiet way of life.

Handmade Washi Takada Paper Factory

Sato?

Takada!

Are you okay?!

Yeah...

What's up? I already delivered calligraphy papers to your place.

I know. Thanks as always.

I should thank you.

If you can, try to find more use for it.

It's hard to find people willing to use my grandpa's papers.

But they're such good quality!

My dad loves them,

says the thickness and the way the ink flows on the paper is unrivaled!

I know, right?

Average people just don't get it.

Tomoya!

If you're back, help me out.

Coming.

See ya.

I told you, use your hips to scoop up more water.

- Thank you very much! - Thank you very much!

- Good bye! - Good bye!

Have a safe trip home!

- Okay! - Okay!

Welcome back.

Thanks, I'm home.

This year set a new record

for the number of new students.

A grand total of one.

Maybe because Dad's too strict.

Naw, he's always been like that.

It's due to the recession and the shrinking birthrate.

It's finally the end, I feel.

I'm hungry.

Oh, Dad said he wanted to talk to you.

I'm home.

Sit down.

Are you submitting this to the exhibit?

Yes.

Rewrite it.

Okay.

Morning!

- Good Morning. - Morning.

You're early today. Morning practice?

Yeah.

So, I thought of an idea.

What?

Of how to win as a group.

Forget about that already.

What was that?

Thief!!

As the substitute for Mrs. Takahashi on maternity leave, he will be teaching science.

This is Mr. Ikezawa Hiroto.

It will be a short time, but I would like Mr. Ikezawa to--

What's that?

He got attacked.

By whom?

By the calligraphy club.

Why?

I'm not sure either.

This is all your fault, Satoko.

You thought he was a thief!

He was holding our club fees! Anyone would think so!

You're so impulsive, Kana.

Speak for yourself!

No chatting allowed!

And Mr. Ikezawa will also be the new advisor for the calligraphy club.

Nice to meet you all.

Are you serious?

This sucks!

What a sad club, with only 8 members.

It's actually 7.

What?

But...

Never mind.

So were you the one who wrote that?

Yes...

I knew it.

About what?

Such a boring handwriting!

You're pissing me off.

He's holding a grudge about the ink incident!

Just let this one go!

Um... Mr. Ikezawa!

There's a calligraphy exhibit coming up.

Could you please help us?

Why?

I mean because you are our advisor.

Can't do.

What?

I appreciate the request but

an advisor needs a certain level of maturity.

I, on the other hand, get mistaken for a thief.

He's holding a grudge...

And people like me get ink dumped on him.

He's holding a huge grudge!

It's far too scary for me to be teaching others...

Oh.

There's still a stain here.

Can I go wash it off? I doubt it'll come off though.

Go ahead.

I'll leave the rest to you.

He's definitely holding a grudge.

And it took so long to find an advisor...

He's only temporary anyways.

But the exhibit is just around the corner!

Let's just go apologize until he forgives us.

I don't wanna.

Sa~to~ko~!

I don't want a teacher who doesn't want to teach.

Anyways, he looks like such an immature guy!

Who even wants him!

What?

You're just upset he said you're boring.

No, I'm not!

You are upset!

H-Hey!!

Don't stop so quickly!

What?

Oh...

That's Mio.

Let's go in!

Hey Satoko...

What?

Did you know Mio...

I don't care about people who quit.

Sorry, but

with the exhibit so close,

I've got too many problems already.

Thank you so much.

Mio.