Kakkun Cafe (カッくんカフェ)

God,

I want to win!

I absolutely refuse to lose.

I don't care what I have to do to win.

God,

please grant this desperate wish of mine. Please.

And, well, in return, if I win... I promise you a golden cross!

Leave it to me.

Oh! God, I'm counting on you!

Now then, we're just one week away from the big showdown,

and no one's willing to predict the outcome yet.

There's Fuku-chan, the elite who flaunts his grades, past achievements, and the wisdom of age.

There's Naka-chan, who won over the housewives with his pretty face and behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

And then there's Kakkun, all muscle and raw vitality.

We apologize for the interruption.

Those three candidates are expected to battle it out in a tight three-way race.

Next up, the news.

What?

The person you asked for is here.

Oh, he's here? Bring him in, quick.

This way, please.

I got your message. As for the “arrangements”...

Leave it to me.

Huh?

If you need more, just say the word.

No doubt about it.

What happened? What's going on?

Hey!

What's this?

Hey, it's got something attached to it!

Ah!

Teacher, about what we talked about the other day...

Fukuda, Ohira, Kakkun, get changed and get to the field.

Yeah!

Yeah...

Oi, Tanaka.

Hey, what's up? Kakkun, wait up!

What? You want to skip practice?

Don't be stupid! This makes three days in a row. Only a month left till the prefectural tournament.

Perfecting our teamwork is everything right now.

I know.

You little...

You little...!

Captain, we're not scrumming with someone who doesn't even want to be here.

Right, Ohira?

Yeah...

Sorry.

Hey, Kakkun...

Captain, forget it.

Just leave a guy like that alone.

Naka, you take Kakkun's position.

Okay.

Get to the practice grounds now!

Aye!

Hello!

Hello?

Is nobody home?

Cap!

Oh, Chikage-kun?

Kakkun's not here?

Yeah, looks like his mom and Akiko-chan are out too.

Hello? Anyone home?

You're worried about Kakkun too, aren't you?

You could say so... I figured I should sit him down and really talk to him.

I'll check around town. See you.

Cap, I'll look somewhere else too.

Chikage-san, do you like Kakkun?

N-No! I just...

Oh, it's fine by me. If you see him, tell him to come to my place.

Okay.

Man, nothing interesting happens these days. Prison sounds more exciting than this.

True. I'm climbing the walls here.

Evening. Delivery from the ice shop.

Oh, leave it in the freezer.

Sure.

Thank you.

Sure.

Hey, student. Hey, schoolboy! You deaf?

What is it?

Oh? I know that face from somewhere.

Ah! He's Kakkun from Yoshida High's rugby team.

What, that crappy Yoshida rugby team? Hold up, you!

Please stop it...

Crappy rugby boy, don't you dare come here!

Crappy, stay clear!

Crappy rugby boy!

What's with that look?

Don't talk crap about the rugby team!

It's crappy because it's crappy. So what?

Please, enough. You'd better leave now.

He's frustrated because they're so crappy!

Crappy, crappy, crappy!

Quit badmouthing the rugby team!

What the hell?!

Get over here, you little...

You brat!

That'll teach you to keep your mouth shut!

Ah! Please stop!

Hey! Come on, what now?

That's 'cause you're a total wimp, pure crap! What's with that face, huh?

Still wanna go at it, you crappy student?!

Ah! That's...

Shit...

Asshole!

L-Let me go!

Y-You've gotta stop!

Oh? You trying to show off? This is getting fun.

Kakkun, hold it in!

Captain...

Wait, Kakkun!

What on earth happened?

The town is already buzzing with rumors of one of our rugby kids fighting the Yakuza.

I'm heading to the school board meeting about it.

Worst case scenario...

we may be suspended from the tournament.

Coach, what'll happen to Kakkun?

This was on my desk this morning.

He went and decided for himself.

Huh?!

Coach, Kakkun's not the kind of guy to act so rashly! Please!

Hold off on processing his withdrawal form.

Let me talk to him one more time.

All right.

I'll hold on to this.

Th-Thank you, Coach.

Your friendship really moves me...

Chikage-chan!

Can't you hear me, Chikage-chan?

Huh? Akiko, Kakkun's kid sister, was hospitalized?

We were on our way to visit her.

She suddenly collapsed a week ago, and her surgery is tomorrow afternoon.

And what's wrong with her?

It's her heart.

Brother... will I get better?

Yeah. You'll be fine by the time the tournament starts.

Then I can go cheer for you?

And you're gonna play, right?

Uh...

Well, anyway, hurry up and get better. I can't wait to practice with your coaching again.

Come on, run faster!

Shut up! You're the coach, huh?! If I run too fast, you won't be able to keep up!

Then I'll run faster!

Stop! Don't push yourself!

I'm not pushing myself!

All right then! Here I go!

There!

Here I go...

Hey, Akiko, you're falling behind! What's wrong, Akiko?

Akiko?

Akiko!

Akiko, hang in there!

Next time, I'll ride a bicycle, and we'll...

I'm sorry for worrying you, big brother.

It's fine. I'm gonna buy you a bike for sure.

So do your best tomorrow in surgery!

He even practiced before our early morning practice.

And he's been doing newspaper deliveries in the mornings and working at the ice shop at night

to buy her that bike...

Kakkun is so caring about his sister...

But he should've told us... He's so reserved.

I sort of get how Kakkun must've felt...

Captain, it's an emergency!

What is it, Naka?

Fuku-chan and Ohira-san dragged Kakkun to the beach to “punish” him.

What?! I-Idiots!

Kakkun! What's with that attitude?! You don't even try to catch the ball!

Uhh... because of you... we, uh, might miss the tournament...

That just means we'll need to beat that stupid out of you!

If you think that'll fix anything, hit me all you want!

What? You punk!

Think about what everyone else is going through!

Why, you...

Hey, stop! Fuku-chan, stop!

Everyone, stop!

Aren't we supposed to be friends?!

Chairman, I'm very sorry.

Kodama-kun, make sure the students show more restraint from now on. Got it?

Yes, sir. We'll be more careful.

Beautiful sunset, isn't it?

Uh...

Kakkun, we're sorry we came down on you without knowing what you were dealing with.

No, it's my—

Say no more. We get it.

You tried to make yourself the villain to pull the team together.

But that was the wrong move.

Yeah, what would you tell your sister?

No... I can't let you all get suspended because of me...

Who cares about one lousy tournament? There'll be plenty more.

One for all, all for one.

Kakkun's worries are the whole team's worries!

You idiot! Rugby? Who cares about rugby?!

Rugby... rugby... dammit!

Hey, guys!

We're cleared to enter the tournament!

Huh? Really?!

The snack bar mama testified and proved you were in the right.

Kodama-sensei, thank you!

Kakkun, hit me.

I misunderstood you.

Hit me.