Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari (Poco's Udon World)

Tawara Noodles

What...

are you?

Souta!

A tanuki...

You're a tanuki...

Even for a tanuki,

I'm sure being alone for so very long

must be quite a sad thing...

No way. A shapeshifting tanuki? There's no way!

Poco's Udon World

Episode 2: "Kotoden"

Surely it's gone by now, right?

The shapeshifting tanuki!

H-Huh?!

H-Hey, what are you—

Hold it right there!

Ya varmint!

In that instant,

Granny had the eyes of a hunter.

Tsk! Got away from me, it did.

Something wrong, ma'am?

Oh, there's been a tanuki showin' up a lot these days.

In fact, I was on my way here when I caught it tearin' up the field.

Huh?

So I chased after the varmint.

Thought I'd make me some tanuki soup.

T-Tanuki soup?

Anyhow...

Here y'are. Shoyumame.

I made up a batch.

Have a little if ya like.

Udon

Thank you very much.

It's safe to come out now.

They chase you because you're damaging

their fields, you know.

Gurgle

Is that its stomach?!

All right.

If you're hungry, you can come to my place.

Souta!

Souta...

Huh?

You're a boy?!

Souta!

Bean! Bean!

That's right. Beans.

This dish is called "shoyumame."

Say "ahh."

It's salty-sweet and good.

Good.

Hey, now! Don't eat with your fingers...

Hey, now! Rinko! Souta!

Don't eat with your fingers.

Mom's shoyumame

tasted more like candy...

Souta. Souta.

Souta. Souta.

Souta. Souta.

Huh?

All gone.

What?!

You ate all of that?!

I went and let him in the house...

But it's not as if I'm staying here forever.

Not to mention the house itself will be...

Don't cry.

You're a boy, aren't you?

There, there. Good boy, good boy.

Look at your clothes. They're all dirty.

Here goes!

What is this stuff? It's lathering so much!

You look like a different creature!

Wow! You're all soft now.

Fluffy... Shiny...

And golden...

Fluffy...

Souta!

But from now on,

don't show your ears and tail in front of anyone but me, okay?

You don't want to be chased around like before, do you?

Good. Okay, it'll be our promise.

Pwomise?

That's right. A promise.

Promise you won't let your ears and tail show outside.

Pwomise.

Promise.

Pwomise, pwomise,

pwomise!

Pwomise, pwomise!

Oh, I know.

If you think you can keep your promise,

shall we go to town to buy you clothes?

Hayashida Dental

Now we get on the Kotoden.

Hey, that's not safe.

No one's in there.

Here comes the train.

It's okay. There's nothing to be afraid of.

See? That was no problem.

Whoa!

The most fearsome life form came from the edge of space!

A Children's Show: Together with Gaogao-chan

The scar on his back is the mark of a champion! The hit show "Gaogao Exercises" broadcasts every day, too!

It has air conditioning?!

It didn't have that back when I was in school...

Hey! Don't run!

It's not just the air conditioning.

The outside of the train cars

didn't look like that.

They used to be...

Emergency Exit

orange and cream-colored.

Hot...

Nakajima 17 years old

Souta 17 years old

So hot...

It's too dang hot today.

Hey, ain't that girl in your class?

Didn't ya say...

ya thought she was cute?

Manabe-san, right—

Idiot! I never said that!

Why don't ya wave to her?

Huh?!

But we've hardly spoken...

G'wan, 'fore the train comes.

All right!

Lucky you.

And all thanks to me.

Huh?

Huh?

What?

Wha...

Don't cry, man.

I'm not.

This is... sweat...

I didn't need to remember that.

After I just told someone not to cry...

I wonder if she got married

and has a child now, just like that...

Hey, take off your shoes.

I guess I'm kind of like a parent myself now.

Yeah, it goes by fast, huh?

Sky.

Rice fields.

Mountains.

Houses.

Greenery.

Relaxing scenery, isn't it?

Really? This is the one you want?

But that's a lion!

But isn't that weird, in food chain terms?

Souta's Mental Food Chain Diagram

Lions

Carnivores

Omnivores, Herbivores

Tanuki

Plants, Bugs

Seems strong

Are you sure?

Gaogao-cha'!

Well, I guess it doesn't matter...

There, there. That's a good boy.

Hey! Nozomi!

For pity's sake, what the heck are you doin'?

He's a crybaby!

What are you sayin'? Tell him you're sorry!

I'm so sorry about this. Is he okay?

He's not hurt, is he?

Ah, no. I think he's fine...

Are you okay?

I'm sorry, sweetie.

It hurt, didn't it—

Ah... Huh?

Y-Yes?

Tawara-kun?

You're Tawara-kun, right?

Huh? Huh?!

M-Manabe-san?