[opening theme song playing]
KOTARO LIVES ALONE
GOURMET?!/DODGER KOTARO
[doorbell ringing]
Can I help you?
Huh?
Pleased to meet you, madam.
I am currently attending Shimizu Kindergarten.
I represent the Star class.
My name is Kotaro Sato.
I thank you for the invitation.
You must be Sir Kakeru's mother.
Please accept this small offering.
-Oh, thank you so much. You're too sweet. -[whimsical music playing]
I'll take this for her, but I'm not actually Kakeru's mother.
Hmm?
[Kakeru] Kotaro! You're here.
Hurry up and get in here!
[Kotaro] Aye. Please pardon me, ma'am.
[Kakeru] What're you doing?
That's Ms. Yoshida's job. Leave it there. Let's go!
Come on!
[door closes]
Are you Ms. Yoshida?
I sure am. I work here as the housekeeper.
And I keep an eye on Kakeru while his parents are at work.
[Kakeru] Ms. Yoshida, where are the snacks?
And don't forget to put those toys away!
[Yoshida] Coming!
KAKERU'S ROOM
[Kakeru] Ta-da!
-[twinkling] -Th… this is the legendary…
[gasps] He looks just like I thought.
You didn't tell me you were a fan of Tonosaman too!
[giggles]
[gulping]
[yells]
Yoshida, towel!
[Yoshida] Coming!
I need another cup of juice now too.
[Yoshida] Of course.
[Kakeru] And my game controller needs to be charged.
[Yoshida] Okay.
A FEW DAYS LATER
[birds chirping]
-Kotaro, are we there yet? -[upbeat music playing]
I feel like we've been walking forever.
We are almost there.
Fine, but give me a piggyback ride.
No, sir. You need to do this all on your own.
At last, we have arrived.
[Kakeru] Okay. So now what?
Now you learn to fend for yourself by catching a fish.
What? But I don't know the first thing about fishing!
We can make fishing rods using chopsticks and string.
What? Y-you do it for me.
I-I can't make rod.
You must! It is time to grow up!
[Kakeru] Uh…
[water sloshing]
You've got a bite! Pull it in!
[yelling]
[water splashes]
[screaming] What do I do? What do I do?
Cease your screaming! Just grab the crayfish by it's back!
[whimpering]
[gasps] Ow! He's got me!
-Kotaro, help me! He's got me! -Sir Kakeru!
You must stop relying so heavily on others.
[moaning]
[Kotaro] This is not a bad haul for your first time out.
What are we gonna do with them?
Cook them for our lunch.
[yells] I'm not eating those! That's gross!
Crayfish happen to be a delicacy enjoyed all over the world.
They are rich in protein and have essential vitamins for growth.
How come you know so much stuff?
I have experience.
What?
We must make sure they are properly cleaned before eating them.
[water sloshing]
For the sake of time,
I have some pre-washed ones ready to go.
This is just like a cooking show.
Let me think.
Since this is only your first time,
perhaps miso soup would be a good idea.
Why can't we eat them without any cooking? [gasps]
Promise me you will never attempt to eat them raw.
[Kakeru] Uh… uh, sure. I-I promise.
I don't understand why we're doing this.
Let's go to the store and buy something.
Or we can ask Ms. Yoshida or my mom to make us something to eat.
You are entirely missing the point, my friend.
For we, as children, are inherently quite weak.
We lack the basic knowledge needed to survive on our own.
Imagine you were alone. No adults. What would you do?
-[dramatic music playing] -[Kakeru sighs]
But I don't ever want to be all alone.
[shakily] I couldn't do it.
But you can do it!
You can learn to be strong and fend for yourself!
[gasps]
Yeah!
That's why we went fishing for crayfish!
[bubbling]
[Kakeru] Your house is pretty quiet.
Guess you're home alone a lot. Yeah?
Call me if you're ever lonely.
I'll go catch some crayfish with you!
[Kotaro] I would be forever in your debt.
[birds chirping]
[indistinct chatter]
Uh…
What's up with the tissues?
[congestedly] Nothing. Pay these tissues no mind.
We were playing dodgeball on the yard today,
and he wasn't clear on the dodging part of the game.
That sounds about right.
[congestedly] I must learn to master this game.
Therefore, I have a favor to ask of you.
[bird calling]
[Kotaro] Now, Sir Karino.
I need you to instruct me in mastering the art of catching a dodgeball.
[Karino] Why me?
[whimsical music playing]
[Karino] Fine. Get ready for it.
Aye. I am ready.
[grunts]
[Kotaro grunts]
[Karino] Uh…
Am I mistaken,
or are you taking it easy on me?
[Karino] Uh, I don't think this is a good idea.
-[ball thudding] -[Kotaro grunting]
This isn't working.
Maybe we should stop, yeah?
Do you have any words of advice for me?
Huh?
Uh, advice?
My old baseball coach used to say,
"Catching a ball is like having a conversation."
"It's all in the eye contact."
It never really made much sense to me.
Let's practice something else, like throwing.
What's wrong?
[Kotaro grunts]
What the… Was that the best you got?
I am not a thrower.
I specialize in catching.
[Karino] You don't know what you're saying.
-[boy] Okay. Get ready for it! -[kids clamoring]
[grunts]
-[Kotaro grunts] -[boy yells]
Kotaro, you have to dodge!
Don't you know the rules?
[boy] Uh…
[ball thuds]
[boy 2] Hey. Don't do that…
[teacher] I'm starting to think Kotaro doesn't understand dodgeball.
-[footsteps running] -[ball thuds]
[Kotaro] I have failed you.
I could not catch a single ball.
I know what that means.
More training this afternoon.
[Kotaro] I am thwarted.
Uh, no big deal.
Do you need to catch it?
I mean, you could just try to get out of the way. Right?
Unacceptable.
Huh?
[Kotaro] To dodge a ball thrown by a friend
is to ignore that friend entirely.
What?
[bird calling]
[emotional music playing]
[inaudible]
[Kotaro] If throwing a ball is like having a conversation,
imagine the pain of throwing the ball to someone
who has no intention of catching it.
[Karino] I get it.
And it may be painful to try,
but if you don't, you'll never know what might have happened.
Look, I wasn't there,
but if you really made the effort, I'm sure it was received.
Even if it wasn't always returned. Got it?
[kids clamoring]
[boy] Get ready for it!
[grunts]
Hey! Kotaro caught it!
-[girl] Come on! Throw! -I really did it.
[boy 2] Whoa. He caught it. Hurry! Get out of the way!
[Kotaro strains]
[grunts]
That was way too easy to catch!
I can do this all day!
Indeed.
That was an excellent catch!
What? You're not supposed to be happy about that.
[boy 3] Whose side are you on anyway?
[Kotaro] I am on everyone's side, of course!
-[kids clamoring] -[footsteps running]
[Kotaro] Hanbe, my friend.
I wonder if you know when your birthday is.
He's just a cat. He doesn't know when his birthday is.
And what's up with the crown?
You trying out a new look or something?
We celebrated a birthday party in class today.
The whole class got crowns.
[Karino] Oh.
The party wasn't for you. Was it?
Indeed. 'Twas.
Did you say it's Kotaro's birthday?
-What? Today is Kotaro's birthday? -[whimsical music playing]
[Mizuki] Okay. We have to have a party for him.
[Isamu] Let's do it!
My kindergarten class already threw a party for me.
[Mizuki] That doesn't mean we can't throw one for you too.
Yeah. Celebrate as many times as you want.
A birthday party is a celebration?
Yep. A celebration of you
to show you just how thankful we are that you were born.
Interesting.
I thought a birthday party was simply about blowing out candles
and eating lots of cake.
Well, he's not wrong about that.
I understand now.
It never occurred to me that me being born was a good thing.
[gasps]
[Kotaro] If a birthday party is a celebration of life,
we have much to prepare.
[bottle crackling]
Did you know practicing daily by breathing into a plastic bottle
can help double your lung capacity?
That makes sense, but what are you practicing for?
Simply, to ensure all of the wishes one makes come true,
one must blow out all of their candles in a single breath.
Yeah?
But there won't be that many candles.
-You should be able-- -[Kotaro] Then there's the song.
-Huh? -[Kotaro clears throat]
[Kotaro singing off-key] ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
-[Karino] Whoa. You are tone-deaf. -[Kotaro] ♪ Happy birthday ♪
-[whistle blows] -[Kotaro grunting]
-[whistle blows] -[kids gasping]
-[whistle blows] -[Karino panting]
-[whistle blows] -[Kotaro breathing rapidly]
[beeping]
[Kotaro] Hmm.
Is this a sufficient number of candles?
[upbeat music playing]
[Mizuki] Ta-da!
[Kotaro] Wow.
That's astonishing.
[Mizuki] Now all we need are the candles.
-Did you bring matches? -[Karino] I got 'em.
[Mizuki] Oh, I almost forgot.
I got these too. Now we all have to wear them.
[Isamu] Oh, good call. They're perfect!
[Mizuki laughs]
-I'm so great! -[Isamu laughs]
Okay. I think we're ready!
-[Isamu chuckles] -[Mizuki] Huh?
[Karino] He left?
[Mizuki] And the cake's gone.
[Karino] "My deepest apologies,
but I must borrow the cake for a short while."
-Uh… -Why would he want to borrow the cake?
It is only fair that all of my friends get to celebrate.
Ready?
Welcome to your very own surprise birthday party.
I was not positive about your ages,
so I brought as many candles as I could.
Right. Then let the party begin.
I apologize that I only have one cake to offer,
but we can all share.
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday dear ♪
♪ Sir Hanbe, Sir Kanbe ♪
♪ Sir Sakon, Sir Kojuro ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
[inhales deeply]
[thud]
I did it all in one breath.
[breathing heavily]
[dramatic music playing]
Today we celebrate all of your birthdays.
A party to honor each of you
because I am glad you were born.
Hmm?
Ah, I see.
I'm glad that I can make all of you this happy.
The guest of honor is late.
[Takuya] Kotaro!
Here's the plan. We're running away!
Running away?
[Takuya] I can't take it anymore!
No matter what I do, my mom keeps nagging.
"Get out of bed already!" "Don't forget to flush!"
"Make sure you take out the trash!"
I've had it, so I'm running away!
Excuse me, Takuya.
What does one do when they are "running away"?
Huh?
-Uh… -[lively music playing]
We'll go as far as we want.
And we'll be the ones in charge.
We'll get into trouble and stay up late!
I think that you should not take your family for granted.
Oh, you don't get it.
They're taking us for granted.
If we run away, they'll see how important we are.
If you say so.
-[cashier] Okay. That'll be 740 yen. -[cash register beeps]
That'll show them.
My mom would never let me buy this many snacks.
This is so cool!
[straining]
Huh?
Here you are, dear madam.
Wait. You don't have a candy-buying limit?
-No. -You're lucky.
You get to eat as much as you want.
Plus, you've got all that extra money to spend too.
Takuya, sir.
So far we've only been to the park and the convenience store.
I thought running away entailed going much further.
I guess I don't know how far you're supposed to go.
It's my first time running away.
Does it not involve riding on a train?
We're not supposed to.
My mom says it's not safe for kids to ride a train all alone.
[Kotaro] What happened to "getting into trouble"?
[bag rustling]
[Takuya whispering] I can't believe we're out this late.
Take that, Mom.
Are you not permitted to play at night?
You mean at your house you get to stay up and play as long as you want to?
[Kotaro] It has never been an issue.
-Man, you are so lucky, Kotaro. -[bag rustling]
[crickets chirping]
Takuya, sir.
You should not…
[lively music stops]
…envy my life.
It is not something I would wish for.
You don't even know how lucky you are.
Seriously, you just don't get it, Kotaro.
Ugh. Forget it. It's late.
I don't really wanna sleep in the park tonight.
How about we just go to my house then?
Sorry for causing you trouble today.
I guess I was scared to run away by myself.
On the bright side,
I bet your mom and dad are super worried.
You know, 'cause you were out so late at night.
-Worried? -[Takuya] Sure.
The whole reason we ran away was to make our parents worry about us.
The more they worry, the more they realize how important we are.
Now your folks will fell that way too.
[melancholy music playing]
[grunts]
Kotaro,
where are your parents?
My parents are away doing very important ninja training.
So, there is no one here to worry about me when I am late.
Uh… [sighs]
Sorry, Kotaro.
I think I'm gonna go home.
Uh, I'm really sorry!
[footsteps receding]
[Kotaro] There is no one to worry for me.
Therefore,
it will never be possible for me to run away.
-[grunts] Hey, you! -[Kotaro gasps]
Where the heck have you been? Do you know how worried we all were?
I went to the bathhouse three times looking for you! [breathing heavily]
Sir Karino…
Apologies! I did not mean to worry you!
[Karino] I think he really means it.
Well, as long as you're sorry, I guess it's fine.
[Kotaro] However, Sir Karino,
it occurs to me that I did not make plans to go to the bathhouse--
[Karino] Don't even…
[gasping]
Behold! My magical ability!
Oh, again! That was amazing!
You really do have psychic abilities!
Whoo!
Another great show.
And, as always, I've brought you this week's allowance.
-As always, I am grateful. -[emotional music playing]
Please accept this along with my gratitude.
Another donation from a generous person?
Uh, yes, it is! You are correct.
Understood.
[sighs]
[Ayano] Made it through another week.
[Tonosaman theme song playing]
♪ Tonosaman ♪
-[Ayano cheering] -[Kotaro vocalizing]
Lady Kobayashi, are these performances enjoyable?
Of course they are! I look forward to our visits!
You're the best!
Whoo!
Then please tell me,
Why do you always appear uncomfortable and nervous whenever you are here?
Wha… wha… what are you saying?
I would like nothing more than for you to be able to relax,
so that I may converse with the real you.
I fear there is something that you are not telling me.
No. That's not the case. I promise!
I'm just an anxious person, I guess. [chuckles nervously]
No.
He can't find out.
I can't let him know that the money is from his mother's insurance,
no matter what!
-[doorbell rings] -[Ayano gasps]
Huh? Who could that be?
-[sighs] -[door opens]
I have a package for Mr. Karino, your neighbor.
He doesn't seem to be home, so can I leave it here with you?
I will accept this package on behalf of Sir Karino.
[man] Great! I'll leave it here. Thanks!
What is it?
Lady Kobayashi, may I interest you in a beverage?
Huh? What? Is that a beer?
Yes. Please feel free to have as many as you would like.
The perfect ratio of foam to beer.
But wait a minute. Where did you even get this?
[Kotaro] Do not worry yourself about trivial things.
[Ayano] Uh, but…
[marker squeaking]
[Ayano laughing obnoxiously]
[whimsical music playing]
[Ayano laughing] Look at this!
I haven't laughed like this in such a long time!
-[Ayano continues laughing] -[beer can opens]
[gulping]
[exhales sharply]
Another one bites the dust!
Man, I gotta tell you,
I thought you were an alien when I first met you.
Just 'cause you're so mature and polite for a kindergartner.
Well, I guess you really are just a weird little kid after all.
I mean, psychic spoon is clearly a toy.
And music shows? Kid, you are tone-deaf!
[laughing obnoxiously]
[Kotaro] Indeed.
I am happy to see that you are feeling free to be your true self.
Oh, yay! I love dancing! [singing indistinctly]
Now that you're comfortable,
I would ask that you tell me where that money really comes from.
-[music stops] -[Ayano's singing stops]
[Ayano chuckles drunkenly]
[Ayano] Are you sure you wanna know?
[inhales deeply]
Well, it comes from…
an extremely kind and generous benefactor!
That's the truth. I swear.
[Ayano crying] Forgive me.
That's really the truth.
Sorry, sorry.
Truly.
-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. -No need for tears, dear lady..
-Deepest apologies. -[Ayano] I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. [crying] I'm sorry.
I'm so… [exhales]
-[rustling] -[snoring]
[footsteps approaching]
I sincerely appreciate your efforts
to protect my feelings.
Hey. Did they deliver my package here? Uh…
[crying] It's permanent marker!
I hope you learned a lesson about drinking.
Who the heck is that? And why is her shirt off?
[Kotaro] Lady Kobayashi, I look forward to seeing you next week.
[Ayano sobbing]
[woman] It was our first PTA meeting.
He did not make a good first impression at all.
[whimsical music playing]
Uh… [sighs]
That's Kotaro Sato's guardian?
He dressed like a slob
and showed no interest in anything that was said at the meeting.
-His lack of motivation was obvious. -[yawning]
[woman] He made no effort at all!
[woman] Hi, honey! How was school?
Man, I am beat.
Has the manga been keeping you up?
[girl] Yeah. We got to… -[woman] Hey.
Did you see Kotaro's guardian,
that guy who looked like he was in the yakuza,
and that girl who looked like she was a hostess at the entrance ceremony?
[woman 2] Yeah. I saw them. He's always wearing a gray sweatsuit.
[woman] He's not the real father, is he?
That poor kid's family life must be a mess.
None of them are his actual parents.
[woman 2] That explains why he's such a strange kid.
Poor Kotaro.
[woman] Yeah, seriously.
[woman 3] This is going to be a long year.
[insects chittering]
Today we only have one agenda item.
The summer festival, which will be taking place at Shimizu kindergarten.
It's come to our attention that even if the teachers help in hosting the booths,
we still don't have enough people to run the festival.
We're asking for your help to set up the day before
and clean up the day after the festival.
Uh…
They won't even look at me.
Of course no one's going to go out of their way to volunteer to help.
[chuckles nervously]
[woman] They have so much to do already. Kids, work, and home life.
I can relate.
[chuckles nervously]
Maybe we can rethink some of the--
Hang on. I can take care of some of this stuff.
-Uh? -[all gasping]
I know it's asking for several people to help out,
but I'm pretty sure I can handle this by myself.
[all] Huh?
Are you sure you don't mind?
You don't want help?
Yeah. I'm not all that worried about it.
Okay. Well, thank you!
I know the kids will be so excited.
I think you might have just saved the whole festival.
It's no big deal.
I kinda just figured that's what I'm supposed to do as a guardian
Oh.
-[festival music playing] -[indistinct chatter]
Who wants some cotton candy?
What's this?
-[Mizuki giggles] -[Kotaro] Lady Mizuki!
-[Isamu laughing] -[Kotaro] And Sir Tamaru!
Even the convenience store clerk.
And that's Sir Karino's editor!
This is so cool, Kotaro.
-Do you know everyone here? -Mm-hmm.
-[woman] That's how he pulled it off. -So, what should we do first?
[grunts, exhales]
-[woman] Mr. Karino. -Hmm?
Thanks for your help. Thought you might need this.
Oh, thank you.
-You know… -Hmm?
To be honest, I was pretty surprised that you volunteered.
It didn't really seem like you.
Can I be honest?
This was a lot of work, and I'm actually regretting this decision.
[chuckles nervously]
Yeah. I can understand that.
[woman] Huh?
[inaudible]
[Karino] Then again…
Look at how happy he is.
[inaudible]
Mr. Karino, I… I just have to tell you
I think it's really sweet how much Kotaro's happiness matters to all of you.
You do so much for him.
As a parent, I find that very moving.
-[Karino] Sure, but… -Huh?
…at the end of the day, none of us are his parents.
Wouldn't he be happier if they were, you know, here with him?
[woman] Oh.
Sir Karino! Thank you for all of your work today!
Don't worry about it.
Just get back out there and try to have fun with the rest of the kids. Okay?
Aye!
[woman] I don't know exactly what their situation is,
but I think Kotaro is lucky
to have someone like Karino as his guardian.
[music ends]
[ending theme song playing]
[music fades] song playing]