March Comes in Like a Lion (３月のライオン)

Passing Time

Let's see, 135 over 80.

Not bad, Someji.

All right.

That's what I'm talking about.

Your blood pressure has gone down quite a bit.

But I'm going to give you more medicine. Keep taking it.

Sure thing. Lay it on me!

About three months' worth.

SAKUMA, MD Internal Medicine Pediatrics

Idiot, I can't give you that much.

Three weeks' worth. Come back again next month for more.

Feh. All right, fine. Guess I'll see you then.

But you really have changed, Someji.

A long time ago, you were like, "I'm not counting on any doctor!"

You used to say, "I'll live how I want to, and die whenever!"

Well, my wife and daughter left me with three little ones.

For them, I'm all they have.

Come hell or high water, I have to stay alive until all three of them are married off.

No way can I let them stand in front of that gold leaf folding screen alone.

Someji...

But still...

With Momo, it'd help me out if she got married as soon as possible.

HMMM

The youngest, huh? How old is she again?

SQUEEE

MUD BALLS

PRESCHOOLER

She's still in preschool.

If she got married just after 20, I'd be...

in my mid-90s?!

I'm sorry, Someji.

I can't look after you for that long.

Five more days until the entrance exam.

I'm so nervous!

GROAN

ARGH

AOWWW

MEOWWW

The anxiety is spreading

Got hooked in, and crying as well

You've done everything you could.

Even your weakest area, proof problems, you got up to an average score of 80 or higher.

So you'll be fine.

Now we should just review everything thoroughly.

And if there's anything you're still unsure of, we'll practice it again with a worksheet.

Oh, that's right.

Takahashi said

he's going to a private school in Kouchi, Shikoku, thanks to a recommendation, huh?

Huh?

Hina, you didn't...

In Shikoku?

When I saw her surprised face, which looked like that of a young child,

It felt like I had...

broken a small egg.

I'd heard he was going to the high school affiliated with Meitei University.

That's what he said before.

So...

Shikoku?

That's so far away.

I thought she already knew about it.

I wish I'd never said anything.

What the hell am I doing?

With the exam just days away...

And she worked so hard for this, too.

I made her feel so terrible.

But she only feels this way because...

it's Takahashi, after all.

Oh, Hina, are you out grocery shopping? That's wonderful.

Hello, Mrs. Yamada.

TSUKUDANI

It hasn't changed since I was a kid.

My town.

YAMADA STORE

The scenery of the neighborhood...

Drink Milk to Be Healthy Takahashi Milk

And at the edge of the shopping district...

Hokkaido Milk Pudding

I smell curry.

I see. Takahashi's family is having curry for dinner tonight.

I bet he'll be happy about that.

After all, Takahashi loves curry.

Kawamoto, your curry is awesome!

Shikoku, huh?

That's far from here.

And Chiho in Iwate is far from here.

Mom, Grandma...

and Dad, too.

It's always like that.

I take it for granted that tomorrow will come like it always does...

and that I'll always be able to see everyone.

But then I get a surprise.

Just like this, time after time...

Kiriyama, are you sure you don't mind?

It's fine. I'll stay here until you get back, Akari.

Besides, you helped me so much last year.

I'm sorry. There's suddenly a party at my aunt's pub.

Momo's going to stay over at Grandpa's place!

I'll come back as soon as I can.

Okay.

What should I do?

The entrance exam is the day after tomorrow and I'm like this.

You'll be fine. You studied plenty.

Now you just need to rest up and recuperate as much as possible.

What'll I do if the fever doesn't go down?

What if...

I forget everything I've learned?

You won't forget.

It'll be okay.

In a little while, you can have some porridge, and then let's take some medicine.

Until then, get some sleep.

Okay.

Well, it's easier to sleep if it's dark, so I'll close the door.

Okay.

Call me if you need anything.

I'll be right next door.

Okay.

And by the morning of the exam,

her fever had dropped considerably, to just over 37 degrees.

Hina! Kiriyama has come to pick you up!

What, Rei?

You didn't have to go to the trouble. I'll be okay!

Well, it's my day off anyway.

From school?

Well, you and the other exam-takers will be there, so we don't have class today.

Oh, that's right.

Hina, good luck!

See you later!

Be careful of the snow. Don't fail—

EEK

I-I mean, don't trip.

Right! See you later!

During the time I had the fever,

I kept thinking about all the people I had lost...

and the tears wouldn't stop.

I'll hold your bag.

That's okay. I've got it.

The sidewalk's iced up, so it could be dangerous. Here.

Thanks.

Kiriyama, you're kind of like a mother.

What?

I feel like someone told me that before.

But...

But that's right. Rei suddenly appeared before me.

Mom, Grandma, please watch over Hina.

CRESCENT MOON

Good luck, Hina.

Hina! Are you all right?!

You fell—

No, um, I mean...

I'm fine! I-I just tripped!

That's right.

Not everyone has gone far away.

Not everyone has disappeared.

I mustn't ever forget that.

Passing Time

Spring Comes