Hanasaku Iroha: Blossoms for Tomorrow (花咲くいろは)

Hanasaku Iroha

Mom,

I'm not actually your child.

Your friend, an ailing jazz singer,

had a child with an American soldier who arrived at port.

First of all, I don't have female friends.

Secondly, that's not something a child confesses to their mother.

Was worth a shot.

Little miss Ohana, do you know how babies are made?

I prefer the stork theory over the cabbage patch theory.

Same here.

Digging up babies from a cabbage patch sounds quite deranged.

Crap, a deadline reminder call!

Quick! Get it!

Me?

Just do it!

But my hands are wet!

Hello, Matsumae residence.

Oh, hi.

It's your boyfriend.

What?

Sorry, honey!

I've been so busy!

The editors are being so mean to me!

Are you coming over tonight?

What? If we need to talk, let's do it over a drink.

There will be dinner.

Episode 1: It's Spring, I'm 16, and I'm Still a Bud

Made by Ohana.

Ko, I've got a question.

Yeah?

How do you eat the corn kernels in canned soup?

They always get stuck to the bottom.

You look so ridiculous right now.

Can'h geh 'em ouh...!

Why don't you just pour some water in the can?

You weirdo!

That would ruin the taste!

The corn's as good as gone.

Well, you could dump the water into another cup,

and just eat the corn with chopsticks.

Here I thought your plan was lazy and crude,

but it's actually quite patient and elaborate.

Hush.

Ko's so patient! Ko's so patient!

Have you chosen your junior year electives yet?

Nope.

What career will you pursue after graduation?

Don't wanna decide yet.

You really play everything by ear, don't you.

Keep that up, and you'll ruin yourself.

"Ruin myself," huh? I like it.

Sounds dramatic.

Excuse me?

What boring scenery.

A mere fraction of sky is visible;

the rest blocked by tall buildings.

A transient escape on a packed train,

as the sunset dyes the city vermillion.

Hey, that sounds pretty cool.

But it isn't.

I may not act like it, but I'm actually pretty pragmatic.

I don't live with the greatest role model.

Yeah, your mom is quite the woman.

So, even if I don't decide on what to do right away,

I think I'll end up finding a stable job,

getting married around age 26,

then buying a plot at the cemetery in block 3 once I get old.

My dad told me gravestones there can be pretty pricey.

If you can afford one, you should be fine—

You lose! Later!

Hey!

Got any plans for spring break?

Nope!

Never mind!

I do like this time of day, though.

Lights flicker on, one by one,

illuminating my path.

I hope they also light the way to my future.

And I hope that, at the end of that path,

I'll have changed for the better.

I'm home.

What the heck?!

Great! You're finally home!

What's going on?

Listen.

He's fallen into debt.

So you're doing a moonlight flit?!

Well you see, he gave them our address!

Yeah, sorry about that.

And when are you running away?

Tonight.

Strike while the iron's hot!

Though there's nothing hot about this.

Oh, shut up!

This is all your fault, you know!

It's like I'm living in a soap opera.

I feel a nosebleed coming!

That sensitive nose of yours.

But maybe this is a chance for me to reinvent myself.

So, are we fleeing north or south?

Huh?

Why?

Well, if we're going somewhere cold,

I'll need to buy some more warm clothes.

But if we're going somewhere warm, then maybe I should get a sundress?

What kind of parent runs away with their kid?

What kind of parent runs away without their kid?

Here.

Kissuisou

You're free to go!

Okay!

Hey!

Are you serious?!

Yeah. I'm going to my grandma's by myself.

I'll be going to school there, too.

I...

O-Ohana!

Don't look so pessimistic!

What kind of face is that?

Huh?

Since Grandma and Mom are on bad terms,

I don't know a single thing about her.

But doesn't living in a hot spring inn sound dramatic?

Though, personally, I think a moonlight flit would've been more fun.

Ko?

I'm the kind of guy who reaches the corn by flooding it with water.

Yeah, that was pretty original.

I do things in a roundabout way.

So as your best friend, I figured someday you'd...

Guess not.

I can see now that I was wrong.

I thought if we were always together, you'd figure out how I feel about you.

Sorry, Ko, could you be a bit clearer—

I'll say it now: I like you!

What?

I've always liked you, Ohana Matsumae!

Huh?

What?

I... I...

W-Wait, you like me? What does that—

Just go.

What?

Get out of here!

Hang on, Ko—

He left before I did.

The scenery outside reflects the feelings in my heart.

I never expected anything from Mom in the first place,

and I've always wanted to be someone else.

But after seeing a different side of Ko...

He didn't come to see me off.

Care for a piece of candy?

Yes, thank you!

I've always wanted to meet an elderly woman who gives out candy!

Really, now?

This is so yummy!

Wow!

I've never seen such a vast ocean before!

That so?

With the way I was feeling,

I was actually content being in the tunnel.

But now that we're out, I can't help feeling excited!

Wow!

Kissuisou

Amazing!

What a grand stage!

It's like I'm in a movie!

Weeds...

You don't belong here.

You're ruining the image of my fairy-tale perfect hot spring inn.

Yes, it really was a fairy tale.

A pretty girl reached out her hand to me and...

Die.

...told me to die!

Sorry, you surprised me.

Could you repeat that?

Die.

Stop that, Minchi!

You can't go around wishing death on a complete stranger!

U-Umm...

I-I apologize.

Those are actually wild rocamboles Minchi's been growing.

Rocamboles?

Minchi?

They're edible.

Rocampoes? Minchi?

Rocamboles!

Mi-Minchi!

You must be Ohana.

Are you my grandmother?

Catch.

Another elderly lady who hands out candy?

Here.

Huh?

Hanasaku Iroha

Listen up.

As of today, you are an employee of this establishment.

An employee?

Not your granddaughter?

You're the daughter of the girl I disowned.