Natsumi's Firefly (夏美のホタル)

The man of the hour's here...!

Grab a seat over there.

- Fill up his glass...! - The guest of honour has arrived!

Please raise your glasses, everyone.

Let us drink to Iida Makoto

The winner of the 2015 Tokyo Photo Grand Prix!

Can I say that again? The winner!

Cheers!

- Guys, cheers! - Cheers!

- Cheers! - Cheers!

I wish I'm half as good as he is.

What's lacking?

Salt?

What?

Not enough salt.

- Thirsty? - Yeah.

Have you decided what to submit?

Not yet.

- How about you, Shingo? - Nope.

- Here. - Thanks.

Natsumi.

I might move back home. What do you think?

I mean...

maybe I'm not cut out for this.

Photography requires talent.

And my family has been brewing sake for 200 years.

I can't let the business close down in my generation.

Brewing sake isn't so bad.

Are you really fine with that?

Hey.

Hey.

Natsumi?

"Natsumi's Firefly"

Where are they?

Hello?

- Welcome. - Hello.

Do you have bread?

Over there.

Wow...

I'll have this.

- That will be 350 yen. - All right.

That's some camera you got.

Is it good?

Well... there are better cameras that would give you more beautiful pictures.

Then why are you using this camera?

How should I put it?

This camera gives depth to photos.

That's what I like.

Sounds like this is more than just a hobby.

I study photography.

- I see. You're a student. - Yes, I am.

And somehow you ended up in this remote part of the world.

Good morning, Jizo!

Good morning.

- Good morning! - Good morning.

- Can you give me a while? - Sure.

Your first customer in weeks. What a rare sight!

You talk too much.

Jiro, today's the last day of school!

Oh, it's summer vacation.

Yes, but we'll still go to the pool! Don't forget that!

Okay!

- Bye! - See you!

Be careful!

Good morning!

Hi!

Is Jizo your real name?

No, I don't know why they call me that.

Because you're the local kids' protector?

Nothing of the sort.

Is that yours?

Yes. People don't expect me to have a ride like that.

Not many women do.

I love my motorcycle.

What's your name?

Kawai Natsumi.

I was born in the height of a beautiful summer, and hence my name.

I see.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

It's a cool motorcycle.

Thanks.

I've seen guys on bike like that, riding through here.

Is that right?

Thanks.

Wait.

Why don't you come in and rest?

No, I'm fine. Thanks.

Have some watermelon.

Okay, I'll just have a little.

Eat up. We have more than we can finish.

Thank you. I won't stand on ceremony then.

Are you going to teach photography next time?

That'd be nice.

That sounds all right.

I'm tucking in!

It's delicious!

Are there fireflies around here?

- Fireflies? - Yes.

I'm not sure.

We haven't seen any recently.

Why do you ask? Are you here to photograph fireflies?

Yes. I camped on the other side of the river and looked all night...

but I couldn't find any.

- All night? - Yes.

I took breaks in the tent though.

That's dangerous. The river could overflow.

You can stay here if you want.

Good idea. We have an empty room in the back.

- I appreciate it but I'm OK. - Are you sure?

Camping is fun and it's the best way to see fireflies.

I'll be careful.

This is really good!

I won't stay here but may I have another slice?

Help yourself.

"Take General Store"

All right.

I caught a dragonfly!

I caught a dragonfly!

Stop parroting me!

There she is!

There she is!

What a cool tent!

- It's so cool. - What are you doing here?

Sorry to impose.

- Sorry to impose. - Please come in.

We were looking all over for you.

Mr Jizo said he knows where you can find the fireflies.

What?

There's a stream behind Take General Store.

- Really? - Yes.

Come on.

- Come on! - OK.

My son had an accident at a construction site.

Fireflies! Come out!

Come out!

Kids, you're spooking the fireflies.

When I was a kid, they were everywhere.

Sorry, we dragged you out here for nothing.

When I was a kid, my dad brought me here to see fireflies.

Is that why you're here?

Sort of.

Dad, where are they?

Look!

Wow! There are so many of them!

Over there!

Look, over there.

There are more there.

So your father is...

I missed him so I came here...

hoping to photograph the fireflies.

Well, I got some great scenery shots, so it's not a wasted trip.

It's a firefly!

A firefly!

- Where is it? - Look, there's a firefly over there!

You're right, it's really a firefly!

It's so pretty!

So many fireflies!

Yeah, five fireflies.

A hundred of them!

There used to be thousands of them.

Really?

If only these were real fireflies.

- Here. - Thank you.

Here, all set.

We'll try upstream tomorrow.

It's OK.

I got a nice photo of the firefly we saw.

No, that won't do.

Thank you for the food.

Looks delicious.

This is so good!

- Eat your fill! - I will.

There's something...

I want to ask of you.

May I bunk here for a while?

Is the food that good?

The food is great and also...

I want to take more photos of you.

Us?

No! I'd make a terrible model!

- You'll be fine. - No way!

No, I can't!

You too, Keizo.

Oh, no. I'd feel self-conscious.

One more thing.

I'd really like to take a bath.

You know what?

Our bath is heated by wood fire. It makes the water softer.

Wow! I never knew that.

Not tonight though, it's been out of use.

I'll clean the tub tomorrow.

- Thank you! - Oh, that's right.

Come with me.

This way.

I'll make your bed here.

Thank you. Please let me do that.

One, two!

Here we go.

Good morning!