Episode 05: “I don’t have to be your number one”
BRIEF SUMMARY: Hagu wins an award for her painting, saying that she considers Morita as the artist who influenced her work. Takemoto notes that Mayama has been doing his best working at Fujiwara Design, Yamada is attending grad school, Morita is working hard in New York. Time has moved on for everyone, but it seems not for him since he saw Hagu by the pond on their first meeting. As if on cue, he finds someone by the pond who turns out to be Kazuo, who introduces himself to Hagu and Yamada as Takemoto’s dad.
Kazuo gives them daruma dolls as souvenirs. It turns out that Kazuo brought a bunch of Takemoto’s stuff from home since he wants Takemoto to sort it out as they are moving to a new house which is smaller than the one they have. They haul the stuff to the gym where they sort it out. Takemoto is later called up to Shuuji’s office. Shuuji asks him of his job plans after graduating and tells him that one of his friends asked him to refer any good students for his business and offers Takemoto this opportunity and that it’s not exactly related nor far-related from architecture. Takemoto apologizes, saying that he didn’t enroll into university because he was interested in architecture. He only did because his mom married Kazuo and used university as a reason to leave home, that’s why he feels ashamed when he meets people who have natural skills for the arts. Shuuji says the original intention doesn’t really matter as long as you use that as a reason to stop moving forward. Meanwhile, while sorting through Takemoto’s stuff, Yamada finds an old essay written by a young Takemoto about his dad and reads it out loud. It’s a very nice and touching essay, but apparently it wasn’t about Kazuo who turns out to be Takemoto’s stepfather. Kazuo later notes that he also has another agenda in coming to Tokyo. He noticed that his wife hasn’t been smiling much lately so he plans on bringing back that smile with his video camera. Much later, Mayama and Takemoto continue to sort out through the latter’s stuff which are now hauled into the apartment’s yard. Mayama says Takemoto has always been someone who keeps a safe distance because he’s afraid to fall and wonders why he hasn’t taken advantage of Morita’s absence to pursue Hagu. Takemoto says it would be selfish of him to do so and unfair for Morita.
The next day at Fujiwara, Mayama brings the daruma and gives it to Miwako who is more than happy to have it. Miwako shows him a magazine with an article about Morita in New York, surprising Mayama. Kazuo enlists Hagu and Takemoto’s help in recording some funny (or so he thinks) skits for his wife. Meanwhile, Miwako and Yamada head to Harada Design to deliver ceramics and introduces Yamada to Rika. While looking around the office, Yamada notices a countdown clock on Rika’s computer. Back at Fujiwara, Mayama shows Yamada the magazine with Morita in it. While looking through it, she notices that Mayama has the same countdown clock as Rikas’. Curious and suspicious, she asks what it’s for. Mayama says it’s 1 hour left before the Earth disappears, earning a “baka!” remark from her. Yamada walks home with a gloomy mood. She looks at her watch and notices that the hour is almost up, then runs back to the office seemingly curious about the countdown. She finds Mayama is still there as they both hear the alarm go off, the same as the one in Rika’s. In despair, she runs out in tears not noticing that she passed by Nomiya, who curiously stares after her.
At university, Hagu notices the light is still on at the pottery room and finds Yamada working on a piece. She sees Yamada’s daruma and notices that an eye has been drawn. Yamada says that she has something she wishes to forget about. Hagu sees the magazine article with Morita and is inspired to paint some more. Meanwhile in New York, Morita’s attention is caught by a newly arrived painting. He is moved by it and is surprised to see that it’s made by Hagu. Smiling about it, he looks up at the video screen and sees an Hagu’s interview. Kazuo and Takemoto drop by the batting place. While hitting some baseball, Kazuo asks out of the blue if Takemoto hates him. Takemoto is unable to answer this but it seems Kazuo isn’t really looking for an answer. Back in the apartment, Takemoto is sorting his stuff while Mayama joins Kazuo for a drink. Takemoto overhears them talking about how Kazuo met Takemoto’s mom. Kazuo notes that he realized there was no point in comparing himself to someone else and that he is who is is and this made him feel better. He is aware that Takemoto’s dad will always be number 1 to his wife and Takemoto but he doesn’t mind being any number as long as he is able to stay by Takemoto and his wife’s side. Hearing this made Takemoto realize that his dream didn’t disappear when Kazuo came but it was just an excuse. He didn’t have a dream and avoided it by blaming it on Kazuo as he was the one who made his dream for his mom come true, making Takemoto shed some tears.
At Fujiwara, Yamada is arranging her ceramics. Nomiya sarcastically notes that she has good taste in accessories, pointing out a tag on her shirt that’s poking out. Yamada is annoyed by this and tries to reach it to no avail. Nomiya removes this for her, asking if she would be willing to teach him ceramics sometime, to Yamada’s surprise. Meanwhile, Kazuo says goodbye to Takemoto. As he watches the video they took, he is surprised to find that Takemoto recorded a message for his mom, apologizing for not being able to come home and asking Kazuo to take good care of her, adding that he would practice to be able to call him dad someday. Upon hearing this, Kazuo can’t help but cry in joy. The group is having a sukiyaki meal while playing “Daruma-san fell down.” To their surprise, Morita appears.
~end of episode
IMPRESSION: Eh, Takemoto yet again turns out to be a perv in this version yet again. O_O I wonder why they always decide to make fun of his character? Heh. I’d like to remark again that I think Takizawa Saori’s casting as Miwako is really spot on. She’s doing a really good job with it too!
I really didn’t quite get the countdown clock part. I suppose Mayama knew Miwako brought Yamada to Rika’s office and eventually noticed that Yamada may have seen it at Rika’s since she got curious about it. Eh, well, whatever. Kazuo’s involvement with Takemoto’s story seemed bigger here than the anime, but I think the significance was the same, maybe even a tad more touching here with the “dad” video message and “I don’t mind being any number” parts. Being a fan of the pair, I totally liked the Nomiya x Yamada moment. 😉
On a totally unrelated note to the story, I really love Yamada’s clothes in this episode, especially the purple one and the white shirt with the tag! ^_^
Some quotable quotes:
- Shuuji: “It doesn’t matter what the original intention was, but you can’t use that as a reason to stop yourself from moving forward.”
- Kazuo: “There’s no point comparing yourself to someone else. No one will be able to replace that person. I am who I am, and when I thought about it, that made me feel better. I realized that for Yuuta, his dad is still number one, and for Mitsu, her late husband is still number one, and I know it. But I don’t mind being any other number as long as I can stay by Yuuta and Mitsu’s side.” (or something to that effect =P)
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I can’t seem to remember that Takemoto’s dad had a big part in the anime or did I just miss that? But it’s quite interesting ^^
Nope, you didn’t miss it. =D He didn’t have such a big part in the anime, I think it was just 1 episode when Takemoto got hospitalized.
I’ve never seen the H&C anime, but I read the manga…Kazuo had a fairly big part in one manga chapter pretty early on…So maybe the drama is thinking more in lines with the manga than the anime.
I was particularly pleased to hear that in Episode 2 or 3 of the drama, there is a Morita/Hagu kiss! Is this a real kiss, or a kiss on the cheek? Japanese movies, drama, and anime often leave me wanting a little more physical affection to be shown…
@negaigoto: Ah, I see. Thanks! I haven’t read the manga so my comparisons are mostly from the anime. =)
It was a kiss to the lips, more of a smack I think. You can check out my summary for episode 2 for a bit more of the details, if you like. ^_^