Cosmopolitan City
Kagura is walking past the station when she sees someone struggling to get his bag and suitcase up a flight of the station's stairs. She offers assistance, but only manages to get his
attention, at which point, she sees he's a foreigner.
Dub Version:
Rewinding for subtitles:
I'd like to know how, exactly, she got her intent to help across, but she manages, as we see her carrying the bag and him carrying the case up the last few steps. (I might have pointed to the bag, then to myself, then to the case, then to him, then up the stairs.) On the English audio track, he thanks her in Spanish, but on the Japanese track: "I really appreciate it. That herped me a rot thanks!" Sigh. I wonder if I can get a job occasionally providing an American English adult male voice for Japanese language tracks... Anyway, Kagura gives him a thumb-up in his face, accompanied by a "Yaaay!" on the Japanese track or my preferred "Yahooooooo!" on the English track. All the extras are looking at her.
She leaves the station, and notes that it was embarrassing. Then she hears the voice of Yukari saying that she saw her. Yukari says she did a good job, yahoooo. Kagura wasn't able to tell what language it was that he spoke. (Yeah, he really didn't say much until after the fact. Maybe the "What?" would've given her a clue that he was a native speaker of Engrish, though.) Yukari says that if Kagura paid better attention in class, she'd be able to do it. Kagura asks what she would have done, so Yukari looks around and sees someone weighed down by two bags, which he sets down. She rushes over to him and flails her arms for six seconds before dashing off, as he's German (and therefore, she wouldn't be able to communicate). Kagura yells, asking her if she's going to run away. One wonders if she ended up helping him...
In class, she's told Sakaki (and anyone who happens to be in earshot) about the above and is laughing, then says it was pretty rough. Tomo is reminded of something by her story, i.e. how stupid Kagura is. She didn't know Kagura's conversation skills were so lame, but guesses her chest gets in the way. Kagura says her chest is irrelevant, and asks Tomo if she could perform under pressure. Tomo figures she could at least do as well as Kagura. Kagura decides to quiz her, and Tomo agrees to it. Kagura asks what IT stands for... and finds herself having to turn Tomo's head back around. Tomo explains that it's like e-mail and homepages, but that's not what Kagura was asking. After a few seconds, Tomo holds up a thumb and says, "Don't worry about it!" Kagura determines that Tomo can't answer. Tomo asks if that means Kagura knows; Kagura was asking because she doesn't know. They growl at each other for a few seconds before Tomo calls on Yomi to answer the question. She fumbles around with it for a bit before coming up with "Internet Technique?" This sounds plausible, but Chiyo steps up and says it stands for "Information Technology", translated as "Jouhou Gijutsu". She remarks, however, that this knowledge is probably not a good gauge of one's communication skills. Kagura asks her where she learns about such things. Chiyo is unable to answer.
On another day, Sakaki is walking to school, and Kagura goes to her. They walk together.
Showdown
Kagura talks about wanting a mountain bike, including the little decisions she'll have to make when it comes to it. Sakaki then notices some blooming flowers. Kagura guesses that it's a hibiscus, but Sakaki says it's a pomegranate flower. Kagura says she doesn't know flowers, except sunflowers and morning glories. She calls another flower a lily, but Sakaki says they're gardenias. Kagura calls another flower violets, but Sakaki identifies then as azaleas. Kagura asks who cares about flowers, and starts to get back on th etopic of mountain bikes... but then has a thought. She asks if that was a contest about naming flowers. Sakaki says it wasn't, so they move on.
At school, at lunch, Kagura wants to compete with Sakaki in speed-eating lunch. Kagura starts eating, but Sakaki continues at a normal pace after a few seconds of stunned staring. Kagura asks why she's eating so slowly. Sakaki swallows and responds that you should chew your food thoroughly when eating. (Well, it makes more sense than chewing your food thoroughly when you're not eating...)
At P.E., there's a pile of gloves and a pair of bats, sort of evocative of chopsticks and food. Nice! Minamo has them split into teams. So now Kagura is considering this a competition between her and Sakaki. At the plate is Kagura, and Sakaki's at bat. Obviously, Kaorin is cheering Sakaki on. Osaka wants her to hit a home run, but realizes she doesn't know how many points that is. (Correct answer: One for her, and one for every person on base. Kagura gets ready to pitch, and fire appears in a balloon beside her. She pitches, and Sakaki hits it for a fly ball to right. Unfortunately, that's where Chiyo is. Sakaki's waiting to see what happens before she even tries to run. The ball hits Chiyo on the head, and Sakaki and Kagura run to her. Kagura sounds nearly distraught.
The chapter dividers feature a crying Kaorin and a close-up of Sakaki in profile.
You Didn't Have To Hit Him
Tomo is excited, as it's Measuring Day. She's going in with spirit. Chihiro wonders why she's so energetic. Yomi doesn't know.
Tomo's had her measurements taken, and she's grown 3 cm in the chest area, or so she says out loud in the hallway where a couple of visible boys can surely hear. Chihiro is happy for her, but points out that she doesn't have to say it in public. Tomo remarks that she still has Sakaki to beat, and has to work hard. Sakaki flees the scene, blushing.
Kagura exits the room, and is asked how it went by Mr. Kimura. Kagura walks off, saying it's none of his business. Then Osaka comes out, and Kimura says he'd better get to class.
Tomo comes up behind Yomi and remarks that her turn is coming up, and asks if it doesn't make her nervous, considering how much she dreads preparing for it. Yomi denies preparing for it, but her middle sounds off. Tomo remarks on her skipping of breakfast, which is a given, anyway.
In the classroom, Kagura is looking at a magazine or catalog of mountain bikes. She sees one she thinks is nice. She turns the page and sees a purple one she thinks is nice, as well, but Sakaki's attention is grabbed by the Neco Coneco on the page across from it. Kagura says she saved up her New Year's allowance
and has done part-time jobs, so she has the money, but is having trouble deciding which one she wants most. She pulls out a pen and starts doodling on the picture of the Neco Coneco, much to Sakaki's chagrin. Kagura mentions color and shape as examples of decisions she'll have to make. She remarks about the expense of the ones she looks nice as she adds scars to the cats' left cheeks and eyepatches to their right eyes. She also says she can't see herself getting a cheap one. The larger cat has bandages in an "X" (they're purrpendicular!) and is saying "Nya". Sakaki asks what she's doing, and Kagura says it's nothing, but decides it looks cool, and continues doodling.
Sakaki walks in normal clothes when she hears a sound like a hinge needing oiled. (Do cats really sound like that?) She sees a cat walking in her direction. It has Blank White Eyes and a beartrap grin. She remembers it, and yet has enough optimism — or perhaps masochism — to try again. But just about as soon as she starts to begin to reach out her hand, it leaps forward and headbutts her in the solar plexus. Sakaki is brought to her knees, her arms over the struck area. It approaches again and leaps, latching onto her right hand! Sakaki screams. It's finally swatted off by Kagura, who hits him on the head a few times while scolding it about biting people. It runs off. Sakaki rises, and Kagura as if she's okay. She is. Kagura says that kind of cat needs discipline. "You just gotta hit 'em and make 'em understand." Sakaki believes they'll listen if you talk. (I think cats in fiction can be positively malicious. Also, if one is in the process of biting me, I'm not going to pull out much in the way of stops to get it to stop.) Kagura doesn't think so.
Covered In Cats
In her room, Sakaki daydreams of rolling hills punctuated with flowers, and meowing kittens lying around and frolicking in the sunshine. They look as she stands there (in her school's winter uniform), and stand facing her with Blank White Eyes, and open their mouths, baring their teeth and hissing. She shakes her head with a gentle smile, and one by one, they close their mouths, then resume mewing. She brings her hands up to her chest and folds them, then opens them. The entire kindle of kittens runs up to her, she bends down, and begins petting them two at a time.
A falling magazine breaks her reverie, and she picks it up and looks at it. After flipping a few pages, she comes across a photo captioned "A Road Where Cats Gather". She closes it, and now she's on a bicycle, a determined look on her face. Chiyo sees her while walking Tadakichi-san, and calls to her. Sakaki stops, and Chiyo asks if she's going somewhere. She answers, seemingly curtly, in the affirmative. This, combined with her expression, seems to have given Chiyo the impression that she's angry or something. Chiyo gives a "See you later", which Sakaki returns before taking off.
Kagura is standing on a bridge over the highway (it has a banner reading "Kind To Your Heart") when she sees Sakaki on her bicycle below. She's impressed by her energy. In a residential area, she passes her turn slightly before turning around and making a right turn. She continues on her way until she sees the alley that is her destination. She gets her breath, then looks down it. It looks empty. She takes her bicycle down it. Fade to Black.
Kagura has encountered Chiyo, who apparently told her what happened. Kagura tells Chiyo what she saw. The clicking of turning bicycle wheels and the sight of Sakaki alerts Kagura to her presence, so she greets her. Chiyo welcomes her back and almost completes it ("Okaerinasa-") before gasping, because whatever happened has necessitated the use of bandages on her head, cheeks, hands, and forearms, and put her left arm in a sling. "All at once," ("Ise,") Sakaki says cryptically, leaving Chiyo twitchy and both she and Kagura agape.
Don't Run Away
She sees the cat on the wall, and walks past it before trying again. The usual outcome is not averted. Kagura approaches, and asks what she's doing. Looks like the "A Cat's Biting My Hand" dance to me! Kagura goes to smack the cat, but Sakaki's flailing attaches the cat to Kagura's face. It lets go of Sakaki's hand. Kagura removes the cat, and tosses it aside. Kagura asks her if she's always bitten, or just when she's around. She speculates that Sakaki's hand smells like fish. Sakaki takes a whiff. Kagura takes it upon herself to scare off any cats that come near. Sakaki doesn't seem to like that idea, and besides, Kagura's going beyond that to scaring cats that are minding their own businesses. Finally, Sakaki puts a hand on Kagura's shoulder. Kagura turns and asks if something's wrong. Sakaki says she can't keep running away; she has to face it, and overcome it. Kagura seems to understand, and looks around for a cat. Spotting one, she points Sakaki in its direction. Sakaki approaches, gets on one knee, and reaches for it, and is promptly bitten. Fighting the pain, Sakaki reaches with her other hand, and begins petting the cat with it. Kagura approaches and asks her if she's okay, and asks herself if she's... okay with that.
Elsewhere, on another occasion, Kaorin and an unnamed girl with braided hair are walking together. Apparently, the braided girl says that whatever she was talking about was a surprise for her. Kaorin sees Sakaki in the arcade. The two approach her, and Sakaki hides something when Kaorin says her name. Kaorin finds out that she likes to play games, but assumes she's into combat tournament games and high-speed racing games. Sakaki says sort of. Kaorin wants her to teach her sometime. We can see that she's hiding stuffed cats. Sakaki says "Sure," and they leave. Sakaki brings out her cats.
"A," says the drawn-on Neco Coneco.
Next time: Episode 12!
