Hold Me Close

I hope it lands here.

Hello.

One please.

Hello!

Would you like some fresh squid?

I still have other places to visit.

But I promise I will be back later to buy.

Promise.

Sugoi!

Sugoi.

Sugoi!

Sugoi.

I bet he's Filipino.

How did you know?

He points at things with his lips.

Ohayou!

- Ohayou! - Three, please.

Three, give her three.

This should be fine.

Closing now? I need seven squids, please.

A thousand yen.

Hey!

- Please leave. - What, why?

Please, go home.

We're already closed.

Please leave.

You guys are crazy!

- Lynlyn! Are you okay? - You okay?

How should I cook these spare squid we have?

I'm good with just grilling it.

Again?

Let's try something new.

Ow, that hurt!

Hey, cut it out!

You should be thankful, you get to eat every day.

What?

Isn't that the guy from earlier?

The one who said he'll come back to buy?

Bro, do you need help?

I thought you guys were Japanese.

Let's help him out.

It's okay, I'm fine.

Um…

I was supposed to come back to buy squid,

but it seems you guys closed up.

Yobuko morning market is only until noon.

There's a reason it's called "morning market."

Fair enough.

Is he with you guys?

They're the rude bastards who refused to sell me squid!

Who do you think you are?

Leave this man alone! He didn't do anything!

- Huh? - Let's go.

Leave her alone!

- Stop! - Stop it!

Stop it, Botbot, Tantan!

That's enough!

- Please, stop! - Lynlyn!

Please stop!

What?

Beer.

Beer!

Let's buy beer!

Beer!

Let's buy beer!

Let's meet at the bridge. The bridge, okay?

We're going to buy beer!

Let's buy beer!

There he is!

They're gone!

They're finally gone!

Turns out, they're not from here.

They're from Kitakyushu.

Is that far from here?

It is.

Do these things often happen here in Karatsu?

Not really. Honestly, it's peaceful here.

That's good.

I really don't like trouble.

I just moved here. Since…

Lynlyn! Lynlyn!

He rescued us from those drunk guys earlier.

He baited them with free beer.

At least they left.

Thank you.

I'm Lynlyn, by the way.

These are my siblings.

Botbot. Tantan.

And I'm Woody.

Wait.

The drunk person earlier said he was offended

while he was buying squid.

He's a bad person.

How come?

We know, we've been here for so long.

Botbot, give him some squid.

Wow.

Thank you.

Thank you!

Right. What about the things you bought?

Will you take them home?

No, you can have them.

I just bought those stuff to experience the morning market.

If so, we'll go ahead.

Leaving so soon?

Let's go.

Excuse me.

This is a lot!

Ohayou gozaimasu!

Where are your siblings?

Tantan and Botbot are fishing for squid.

Your squid is really tasty!

Promise…

Let me buy more.

How many?

Ten.

You can finish all of that?

Of course.

Three in the morning, four at lunchtime, then three again in the evening.

How long have you been in Karatsu?

Less than a week.

There's still a lot you haven't seen here.

Yeah, I guess.

Maybe you can…

show me around?

What's in it for me? I've seen everything here.

And I got things to do, can't you see?

What if I buy everything in one go?

Even this.

There's an observation deck nearby.

You can see the entire city of Karatsu from there.

Sounds exciting.

Are you avoiding me?

I'm not.

I'm not avoiding you.

Let's go up there.

What's that river?

That's Matsuura river.

What about this stretch of land filled with trees?

Niji-no-Matsubara.

It was built 400 years ago to block the strong winds coming from the sea.

Wow!

Let's go!

There's nothing there.

- Just want to take a look-- - It's ugly!

Okay.

You know more about this place than I do.

As long as I can explore with you,

I'm happy.

You seem too happy.

Nothing, it's just…

I'm just happy that I met you, and Tantan, and Botbot.

You've only known me for two days.

My siblings, for just a day.

Exactly!

But you've been so kind to me.

Right?

I haven't had luck when it comes to places I chose to live.

Where did you live before?

Before Karatsu…

in Bangkok.

Before Bangkok, in Cebu.

Before Cebu, in L.A.

Before L.A., Jakarta.

Before Jakarta, Madrid.

Before Madrid, in Miami--

Why do you keep moving? Are you trying to escape?

I just haven't found my "perfect home."

I hope Karatsu is the one.

Let's go.

What's wrong?

You act like you don't like me, but you entertain my advances.

You randomly touch me, my hands, on the cheeks.

Just tell me if you like me, or not.

We've only known each other for two days.

What kind of question is that?

Sorry.

- I just don't know-- - I have a special ability.

I can sense whether a person will bring pain or joy into my life.

And can you sense if it's immediately, or in the future?

That, I don't know.

It could be tomorrow.

Next year.

Even after 50 years.

That's why your siblings get tense when there are other people around.

What do you sense from me?

Nothing.

Nothing, as in absolutely nothing?

No joy, no pain, no…

You won't have any significance in my life.

Just neutral.

That's a serious accusation.

What accusation? At least you're not negative.

The only reason I keep you around,

is because you won't do anything wrong.

Let's try again.

- Did I consent? - Sorry.

Sorry.

Shall we?

Nope.