After the Storm Page #3

You gotta swing at it! Swing!

Don't worry.

He was trying to draw a walk.

Her boyfriend already bought him a glove.

A Mizuno.

- Go for it.

- Again.

Yes! Now it's your turn.

My turn?

Okay, watch me.

Swing with your hips.

Go for it.

Watch my hips.

- Wow!

- Yeah!

As a pinch hitter,

you have to swing the bat.

You can't lose that chance.

You'll try harder next time, right?

I was trying to draw a walk.

You can't be a hero

if you get on base like that.

I don't need to be a hero.

You don't?

Your table's ready, sir.

Shall we?

Shingo, who's your hero?

Who do you admire?

Grandma.

She's very wise.

You can't list a relative as the person

you admire on those entrance exams.

Really?

Bathroom?

You know where it is?

I'm fine.

Do you two visit his grandma often?

Yes, sometimes.

Do you still have to?

No, but Shingo's so fond of her.

Look at you.

You've gotten bigger down there.

What are you doing here?

Is that your mom's new boyfriend?

Yeah.

What's he like?

He has a loud voice.

- That must be embarrassing.

- Yeah.

Is she marrying him?

I don't know.

Ask her soon.

I have to go.

Okay. See you on Sunday.

Do you have the money?

No problem. Don't you worry.

It's not good for Shingo either.

I'm sorry to be so blunt...

but he shouldn't spend time

with such an untrustworthy man.

But he used to be a novelist.

It's just that, right now, he's...

I read his award-winning novel.

Got it on Amazon.

Really? What did you think?

I won't say it was a waste of my time.

But I just didn't get

what he was trying to say.

I don't suppose you would.

You think so, too?

I thought so.

He touched his head.

He's laughing.

He sure is.

Get lost.

Weren't you better off

not knowing about the other guy?

Why did she have to choose

a guy like that?

I'm sorry. I asked you here,

and now I made you wait.

I just got here.

Thanks for that steak dinner,

even though I was of no help.

The steak was too fatty.

No, it was delicious.

Listen, I'm wondering if you'd like

to write the story for a manga.

A manga?

The rising star manga artist, Ishijima,

has been hired to illustrate it.

It's a manga series about gambling

for our Comic Punch series.

He asked me to introduce him

to a gambling expert

Sure, I'm a gambling expert.

What do you think? We could pay you well.

Would my name be on it?

If you don't want your name on it,

you can use a pen name

so it won't harm your career.

Actually,

I'm in a rush to finish my new novel.

Hasn't your colleague told you?

I see.

In that case,

I'd rather read your new work.

Sorry for losing faith in you.

DAMAGED RICE CAKES

50 YEN EACH

Thank you.

Thank you.

RICE CAKES:

Did you read my e-mail?

You said you wouldn't do this.

I know,

but I really feel like I can write again.

I've already quit the detective agency.

Don't you dare write about us again.

You're invading our privacy.

My freedom of expression.

Listen to me.

Our family memories

aren't your private property.

Why don't you just give up?

It's been 15 years

since you won that Shimada Shinsuke Award.

You said that on purpose, Sis.

It was the Shimao Toshio Award.

Not even close.

I'd remember it right

if you'd won that famous Akutagawa Prize.

Why did you give Mom money

when you're broke?

She was so excited, she called to me.

But now you want to borrow money from me?

I don't want her to worry over money,

given what Dad put her through.

Dad came here, too.

One month before he died.

He stood there, just like you.

Please loan me some money."

Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

You hate being likened to Dad.

I do, but my situation is different.

No, it is not.

You're exactly like Dad.

If Dad had worked hard all his life,

Mom could have moved

out of that housing complex years ago.

Probably.

She'd be living in a huge house

in a fancy neighborhood.

That's right.

Her longtime, unfulfilled dream.

When we lived in Nerima,

Mom used to roll up

the bank passbook and seal in her stocking

and hide them

in the bottom of the rice jar.

But Dad found them anyway

and dug them out.

There were grains of rice

on the kitchen floor.

Mom flew into such a panic.

And after she got rid of the rice jar?

The space above the closet.

With his bad legs,

Dad couldn't reach that high.

What?

Right, right.

Of all his pieces, Beethoven

was most satisfied with this one.

Upon hearing this composition,

Schubert is said to have reflected,

After this, what music can we write?"

I saw that scene in a film, right?

With that actor who died.

Hoffman something or other.

I don't watch films.

Professor, didn't Beethoven write this

the year before he died?

That's right. He was 56.

In today's world,

he'd be considered elderly, like us.

When he was writing this...

His daughter.

She plays the violin.

Apparently, she quit.

We're still far too young to be elderly.

I feel younger already.

I wish there was a program like this

on television.

I'd watch it every week.

When I was younger, I got an offer

from the education channel.

Wow! How amazing.

But I thought that would be disrespectful

to the gods of music.

- So I turned them down.

- What a shame.

But we're thrilled to have you

all to ourselves.

See you next time.

Look.

Oh, yes.

See you next week.

CALPIS:

There's no way a guy like that

can make Noriko happy.

We'll start investigating tomorrow.

Please, I'm depending on you.

We'll be in touch.

Machida, do you want

to work this case alone?

Go for it, young man.

It's a standard background check.

If you need help, take Manami.

Fantastic.

You're on a job, man.

They're already divorced. She should

be able to date whoever she wants.

Why envy the future?

There's a guy like him sitting here.

What are you talking about?

I'm not jealous.

Really? What is it, then?

Responsibility.

No, you're still besotted with her.

Do you even know what besotted" means?

I do.

How do you write it?

It's written like this.

- One line too many.

- No, there's not.

You see, men only realize they're in love

after they've lost their beloved.

Shinoda here

probably hugs his ex-wife's picture

and cries himself to sleep.

Maybe you do, too, boss.

- One for each ex-wife.

- See?

I'd rather hug you, Manami.

No, thanks.

Why am I out looking for a lost cat?

You loved them that much?

Of course. They're my family.

What?

But you never even mentioned them

before you got divorced.

That's not true.

Let it go. If she remarries,

you won't have to pay child support.

But then I won't be able

to see my son anymore.

When he wants to see you,

he'll come to you.

He will?

Yes.

No matter who tries to stop him.

You saw yours?

Yes, when I turned 20.

I can't wait that long.

He's dating his tutor?

Probably.

I took this high school's entrance exam.

I didn't pass.

Still pissed?

What did you want to be in high school?

I forget.

- Ask me.

- How about you?

A civil servant.

So conventional.

I didn't want to turn out like Dad.

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