Summer Pockets

How is it this time?

I think his had more pepper.

Darn.

No, I'll keep trying.

Well?

I don't want to make her cry anymore.

I'm going to make sure she's always smiling.

Dad's cooking...

This is how Dad's tasted.

Hooray!

Thanks, Nanami.

Nah, this is only something we could've pulled off together.

Okay, maybe I'll try some of your dad's fried fan too.

Nanami?

It's nostalgic.

How strange...

I've had this somewhere before.

What's happening?

It's okay.

You have me, Nanami.

Thanks.

What is this?

Fried fan.

Fried fan, you say?

Shiroha-chan made it.

Right?

A-Actually, I made it with Nanami.

Oh? You did, did you?

Fried fan, hmm...

This flavor...

Explain yourself!

Shiroha, I told you not to go near the diner.

B-But...

We just wanted to recreate the chao— the fried fan that her father used to make.

Foolishness!

I... I just...

I'm sorry!

Shiroha-chan!

Why would you say such a thing?

Shiroha-chan worked so hard on that so you could have some.

What?

Because you seemed sad too.

How could you be so awful?

All this'll ever do is keep her captive to the past.

That's not a good enough reason!

You're hiding something.

Where is Shiroha-chan's mother?

Shiroha-chan said she went somewhere far away.

Shiroha-chan was so happy when she was at the diner and cooking.

Yet you told me to stay away from it.

Why is that?

Isn't it a place full of good memories of time well spent with her parents?

Not all memories are nice and pretty.

My wife once told me...

"Our lineage has a strange power.

And that power comes at a price."

Power? At a price?

"So we should strive not to depend on our power."

I'd ask her what that meant,

but she'd only laugh and say...

"We should just enjoy the summer."

My daughter said the same thing.

That she wanted me to make sure Shiroha could enjoy her summer break.

And then she vanished.

Shiroha lost her gentle parents.

What can a stubborn old asshole like me do for her?

But I have kept her away from the diner

so she wouldn't be fixated on her parents.

I know I've treated her awful.

But...

And I appreciate what you've done.

She's seemed so happy since you arrived.

Her father was my son-in-law.

He was sickly, but he was a good man.

And my daughter cared for that restless little girl with all her heart.

It's strange, don't you think?

Why am I the only one left?

An old geezer like me...

This summer is too full of sadness.

I don't want anyone to be sad.

Not Kobato-san or Shiroha-chan.

I have to end this.

That's my job.

I get the sense that I have to do it.

But why do I feel this way?

I know that!

I know what I'm about to do.

I... I'm...

These...

These are my memories!

I want to throw paper airplanes without fighting.

Ready and...

Takeoff!

Get this, Umi!

Shiroha says she'll be your mom!

H-Hello.

Oop?

Here we go.

Say cheese.

It's so pretty.

I'm so glad I got to see the fireworks. We kept our promise.

I came to see Mom.

Because Mom's gone now.

Because I never knew her.

So...

So you came to this island?

From the future?

Yeah.

Of course...

I came here from really far away.

To this summer break.

To help the people dear to me.

Thank you very much.

You're worried about me, aren't you?

But I don't mind.

I'd already made up my mind.

Dad?

Mom?

Why?

Why did you leave me?

Dad...

Mom...

A butterfly?

That dream again...

What was it saying?

The parents are volunteering at Shiroha-chan's school?

Yeah.

Tomorrow afternoon.

Here.

Thank you.

But wait... It's summer break right now.

We need lanterns for the Natsudori ritual next week.

There's a class for making them.

The parents usually take part.

I see.

This might be a good opportunity for the two of them to make up.

I want you to go.

Huh? Me?

Th-That won't do! You have to go, Kobato-san.

I'm sure Shiroha-chan wants you there.