Seto and Utsumi (セトウツミ)

Setoutsumi

Story 1: Seto and Utsumi.

Ah...

Tests start tomorrow.

And it's only May, but it's already hot.

Isn't this long?

Isn't this fry too long?

I mean... do potatoes even grow this big?!

Who knows.

Still, it's hot.

I need to head to prep. school soon.

You've got it rough, even though we're sophomores.

- You're lucky. - Hm?

- You're not going to college, are you? - Well, it's not that I'm not going...

Worried you're not going to get in?

I hate that about you.

What?

You look down on people...

...thinking that we're all stupid.

That's not subjectively true.

No, it's objectively written all over your face.

It's like Naruyama told you the other day.

Your face pisses me off!

I don't want to be told anything about my face.

I'm telling you, it's written all over your face!

You're looking down on people.

You think so?

- See? You're laughing. - I'm not laughing.

This is how my face normally is.

Wait... Try to look sympathetic.

- You're laughing. - You try it then.

It's the same as mine!

Look, I can't just do it on the spot. It's impossible!

- It was your idea! - Alright, let me tell you something.

And I want you to put on a sympathetic face.

Okay.

I have a cat named Mi-nyan.

...Well, she suddenly became ill.

So, we took her to the vet, and he said...

...she has very little time left to live.

He told me to feed her whatever she wanted.

Then... my mom went crazy.

She bought some expensive cat food.

She fed her better than me.

My old man wasn't happy about it.

"What the hell. She's going to die", he said.

And this was...

...about...two years ago.

Because of that...

...they're getting divorced.

You're smiling more than before!

The ending was so unexpected. I thought for sure that the cat was going to die.

They're really getting divorced though.

That old man, he's been there for a while!

I feel like he's up to no good.

Go check him out.

Take a look at his face.

What if he's a wanted criminal?

Just be natural about it.

Woah, woah, woah, stretching?

That's anything but natural.

Well, it looks like he's just a regular old man.

How old?

I'm guessing 30s to 50s.

That sounds like skeletal remains!

I can't imagine what it's like to be that old.

I guess someday we'll end up like him.

Somehow, I don't think so.

Huh?

We're not the same as him.

Yeah, you're right.

I don't feel the same as when I was a kid.

What was it like to be a meter tall?

Wait.

I think I'm taller than you now. Stand up.

No, you can't be.

We're closer than last year.

No way.

Who's going to check?

Let's ask that old man.

Hell no.

His arms are a bit long.

What were we talking about?

Ah, right. When we were kids.

Yeah. I had a lot of fun when I was a kid.

I think... elementary school was the best.

Then there was the summer festivals and Christmas...

...I remember having so much fun year after year.

It's like "Huh? Did I really do all of that?"

Doesn't it scare you to think...

...that there'll probably never be a better time than that?

You really think so?

Eh?

Don't we simply grow up and have fun as adults?

Ah, no, that scares me! You're scaring me too!

No, it's because when I get old and sick...

I won't be able to have fun and then I'll just die. That scares me the most!

It's only because you're forgetting about the bad things.

Even in elementary school, a lot of horrible things happened.

But we didn't have any annoying seniors. Like Naruyama.

There were, but...

...I never met anyone like Naruyama, who's really aggressive.

- Really? - Yeah.

Well, that guy...

...when he graduates next year, I'll be really happy.

What do you think he's going to do after that?

No, there's no future for him.

Surprisingly, guys like him can end up being successful from out of nowhere.

You know, I've heard something like that before.

I wonder why.

You think it's confidence?

Maybe.

In school, they can get used to being pushy and use it to their advantage.

Yeah!

With networking at their disposal, they can get all kinds of things done.

Yeah, yeah!

Come on, you don't need to agree so loudly.

But the thing is...

...somehow...for a guy like me who always half-asses everything...

...I feel like I'm gonna stay this way my whole life.

It's kind of depressing.

Well, I feel like I'm the same.

I haven't really achieved anything.

I had a wisdom tooth pulled.

Huh?

Well...

...the other day...

...I-I had a wisdom tooth pulled out...

This is the second time you've told me.

- Am I supposed to say something nice? - Alright, stop.

- Am I? - Yeah.

It's emba- It's embarrassing.

It's Miss Kashimura.

What a cutie.

Her family runs a temple, right?

I would love to see her in a robe.

You think she's single?

Who knows.

Go ask her.

No way.

Come on, I'll give you a banana!

Why a banana just for that?

You know...

...I'm studying Buddhism terms so I can get close to her.

What ones do you know?

Like worldly desires.

Like enlightenment leads to serenity.

Like reincarnation.

Like all things are causes of sufferings.

Alright, you know more than me! I get it!

Maybe I'll skip prep. school.

Won't your old folks complain?

Probably.

They say that I should play with the kids from there.

Yeah... so they can rub off on you.

Ah... The synergy effect, huh?

I'm starving.

Earlier, you said that you didn't want a hamburger.

Nah, I'd rather have something with rice.

Ah... You're a 'rice' guy, huh?

Yeah.

Eh?

Are you upset about this synergy stuff?

And this is how you take it out on me? Rice.

You're looking down on me!

Right?!

You think I'm stupid!

That 'sympathetic' face again!

I thought that I'd give it another go.

Naruyama, Naruyama!

Huh?

Good day!

Oh...

You're a lot taller now.

Maybe.

Is your mom well?

Yeah.

Here... Give this to her.

This month is the last time.

Don't spend it!

I know!

I said that I'd support you until you're 18, right?

But if you run into any problems, you can tell me.

Dad...

What is it?

Thanks for everything.

Yeah.

Now you look sympathetic.

So do you.

Story 2: Carrot and stick.

Man, that surprised the hell out of me!

I never thought that could happen!

Yeah?

I know that you want to me ask what you're talking about. Stop it.

You want to know?

You want to tell me.

The truth is...

...suddenly...

...I got Kashimura's number!

Come on, don't give me that tension as your response!