Hatsukoi to Marbles: 10 Promises (はつ恋とビー玉 ～10の約束～)

-Takeru. -Hm?

Since we were kids... I've always...

liked...

liked...

What?

Takeru and I were neighbors growing up in Tennouzu.

I like... I like...

Takeru was was one year older than me.

-I like the aquarium, do you? -Adults just like to drag their kids there.

Then let's go when we're older.

You can invite me when we're older.

I screwed up.

That's right, Takeru was my first crush.

Even now, Takeru is my treasured long-time friend.

What was that?

And now the time has finally come...

TWO MONTHS EARLIER

Mom, I got a job offer from the company I wanted.

Yes, thank you.

I'll call you when I'm on my way home. Yes.

I got hired!

I got hired...

I'LL SEE YOU AT THE FUREAI BRIDGE TONIGHT!

-You scared me! -Long time, no see!

Long time, no see. What did you want to tell me?

Can we get dinner first?

Dinner? We can't talk here?

-I'd prefer to talk over dinner. -You're dressed for a job interview...

Your job search must not be going well.

So you need my advice.

Yes, that's it!

You're such a keen observer, Takeru. Amazing.

Hang on, have you become sexier lately!?

I don't need that.

There's something I still have to do before I leave Shinagawa.

Was art college fun?

I dunno...

Is working at the design firm fun?

-You're full of questions. -Just catching up.

Ever since we were kids, you only eat the shrimp.

But you only eat the avocado!

You never stop liking the things that you like.

The things... You're right.

Hm? What?

Anyway...

-Do you have a girlfriend, Takeru? -What! No.

Well then...

Go on a date with me.

A date?

-Want to make a clay ball together? -Of course not!

Do you even know what a date is?

I'm not a child anymore!

I'm about to turn 22 years old.

Do you remember our birthday promise?

Promise?

Here.

What's this?

A goldfish.

-You remembered... -Happy ninth birthday.

Thank you!

Wow, it really is a goldfish. It sparkles in the light.

Don't cry.

-But... -I'll give you another present next year.

Every year until we're grown up?

When I turn ten, and eleven, and every year after?

Okay, I will.

So don't cry.

It doesn't have to be a goldfish?

I'm happy to get anything as a birthday present.

-Got it. -It's a promise.

Right?

A promise... I kinda remember...

And thus Takeru and I began my birthday date.

Right?

-Seriously...? -It's a birthday promise.

I guess I made a promise...

Fine, what present do you want?

I don't want a present, I want a date.

What! Then this counts as a date.

No, I want ten dates!

-Ten? Ten!? -You gave me presents until I was twelve.

-I gave you presents? -You don't remember!?

Happy tenth birthday!

-A potato! -And potatoes for my 11th and 12th birthdays.

That leaves 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and I'll soon turn 22.

So ten?

Is ten potatoes okay?

Ten dates is too much!

Aren't you busy job hunting?

Yeah, but I need a break now and again--

But you don't need me for that.

You promised.

Hey, hey! Fine, I'll do it!

I'll hang out with you. I know how exhausting job hunting can be.

I might be able to give you some pointers.

And this counts as the first date.

-Thanks for my 13th birthday present! -Yeah, congrats.

I already know where I want to go for our next date. The aquarium.

The aquarium?

-I like the aquarium, do you? -You can invite me when we're older.

Let's go when we're grown up then.

Right? Let's go to the aquarium!

It's decided.

What's up.

-Good morning! -Good morning.

Sorry.

The stingray looked at me!

-I want to ride a sea turtle! -You're so loud, it's bothering people.

-A goldfish! -What!?

Fooled you! Look, fish!

Fish at an aquarium? Shocking.

Takeru! Takeru!

You like the clownfish?

I like the fish, but I mainly like the sea anemone.

Sea anemone!?

-That's unusual. -Really?

Isn't it soothing watching it's tentacles wiggle around?

And the fact that something so cute is also poisonous, just adds to it's allure.

You haven't changed a bit.

It's reassuring actually.

What...

-You said something just now? -Did I?

What?

Hurry up!

Look, a dolphin!

Let's take a picture!

Now's our chance!

Thank you for my 14th birthday present.

-You weren't kidding!? -Where should we go for my 15th birthday?

So, our second date? Oh, I guess our third.

Yes. Takeru, where do you want to go for our third date?

-What! -Right?

I look forward to seeing what Takeru picks!

In that picture, rain falls from the sky, giving birth to new life.

The repetition in the drawing represents the cycle of life.

Fascinating, right?

What I love about graffiti art is how hard the artist works

to put what they want to say into their art.

That whale for example. If you look closely, it says "Shinagawa".

The possibilities for art are literally endless.

Are you listening?

Yeah, the wall over there is cool too.

You get it!

What they've done there is amazing.

Art that melds with the enviroment is great.

By the way, happy 15th birthday.

Thank you. Your explanation was quite educational.

I know.

-What? -You still make that self-satisfied face.

-What? Don't say that. -It's a compliment.

I was thinking how great it is to develop a skill you can be proud of.

In junior high, you cried when you lost the drawing competition.

-You've worked hard since then. -Hang on!

How'd you know that? We weren't talking then.

I tried to talk to you in junior high, and in high school.

But...

You know too much about me.

-You must be madly in love with me. -Love!?

I'm just joking, silly.

I...

Takeru, I do l--

Takeru?

It's been a long time.

It has...

Is this your little sister?

I'm...

She's my girlfriend.

My new girlfriend.

What? But I...

-You wouldn't answer any of my phone calls. -That's because...

We've got a good thing going.

Sorry.

Takeru...

Sorry.

I know Takeru so well that he can't hide his feelings from me.

Takeru... likes that girl.

-It's been awhile. -I have a new girlfriend.

Sorry.

Takeru, you must be worn out after working all day.

It's okay.

Excuse me, would you mind taking our picture?

No problem.

Thank you so much.

Here we go. Why don't you two stand closer together?

You seem tense. Smile, smile!

Here we go...

Hey, Takeru...

Who was that girl the other day...?

My girlfriend...

She got a job in Osaka.

I wanted to make time to go see her...

But I also was just hired.

Then she said...

She was seeing someone else.

Because she was lonely.

Like that's supposed to make it easier.

So I decided to cut off contact with her.

But it's hard to let go.

She probably just wanted you to feel jealous.

When you get farther apart...