Chika, bringing cake into the room, finds Nobue, wearing a Perspectiveless Gingham apron and skirt as part of her outfit, holding Miu in her lap and calling her name. She cries as she starts to say that Miu is... is... "She's dead..." Chika finishes. And then Miu sneezes, covering her nose.
Episode 7: Determined Dead!
(The episode picture, which shares a page with the panel of Miu sneezing, depicts Matsuri sitting spread-legged on the grass. She's wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with collar, black jacket, diagonally-striped tie, knee-length skirt, black pants, and sneakers. There's a black hat besides her in her hand. John is lying on her head and wearing a little black hat. There's a striped... canvas chair beside her?)
Nobue and Chika look at each other, Chika being unimpressed with their game. Nobue, pretending that the sneeze did not completely blow (sorry) the game, continues behaving as though Miu were dead. Chika tells her to stop it, but Nobue goes on asserting it. Chika says there are some things you shouldn't joke about.
Nobue demonstrates by slapping Miu and says that she doesn't respond. Chika just sees Miu laughing. Chika sets the tray down and tries to tell her to cut it out again, but Nobue claims she's not breathing, before pinching her nose and covering her mouth. Chika, picking up a manga, tries to say that's enough. Soon enough, Miu starts indicating with her hand that she needs to breathe, which Nobue interprets as her giving up the last of her ghost, which Chika doubts.
Nobue says she won't even respond to severe tickling. She reminisces about how ticklish Miu was when she "was" alive, but claims that's all a memory... and pokes Miu's side, making her convulse. Nobue notes the response. Chika asks that if they won't stop, can they at least take it elsewhere? Nobue ignores her and decides to try and recreate the "phenomenon". (Doot dooo, doo doo-doo!) Chika notes Nobue's evil smirk, but gives up. Nobue starts tickling Miu under her arms (kocho kocho :) ), causing Miu to laugh and pound the floor and yell for her to stop. She also starts crying, which is noticed by one of them; I'm not sure who. The other conjectures that it's because the first is always picking on her. Nobue gives her a break, and Chika asks what she was trying to accomplish.
The sisters start eating their cake, and Nobue notes the two extras. Chika explains that one is for Miu while the other is for Mats(uri), who's coming over later. Nobue decides that the cake should be hers, as Miu would've wanted it that way. Chika suggests they split it. Nobue is fine with that as long as she gets the strawberry, but Chika is wondering who died and left Nobue in charge. (Ah ha... ha.) Miu hears them plotting to divide her cake, and crawls closer. Nobue replies that it's her duty, as the older sister, to take charge. Chika asks if it isn't her duty to take care of her baby sister by letting her have the strawberry. Then they notice her, and she stops. Nobue (I think; no pointer on the speech bubble, even though it might actually have helped) notes that the body moved about 8 feet (2.44m) closer. Chika (again, not sure, because of how the pointers on speech bubbles sometimes point "through" somebody who's not saying the words) points out that she's too close to the space heater. Miu quickly feels the heat, and starts rolling away in pain... right into a shelf. Nobue "conjectures" that only her brain is dead. Chika says it would explain the way she's moving around.
Nobue sees Miu lying on her belly, and applies one final test: she lifts Miu's skirt. (Um, close-up much?) Chika is kinda disturbed by Nobue's actions. Nobue explains that if she's really dead, she won't react to it. Miu doesn't react. Nobue, who's been playing that Miu's dead this entire time, begins to wonder. Chika, however, lets on that Miu doesn't care if people see her panties, dead or no, and asks if Nobue does. Nobue suddenly gets shading, though not the same thing as in the intro comic. Nobue declares that no one sees her panties, given that she's of marriageable age. Chika asks who said they wanted to, and why she broke into a fighting stance. And why her face is red and sweaty.
Just then, the TV announces the afternoon "Toon Zone". Miu startles Nobue by getting up suddenly. She goes over to the TV and sits in front of it. A little too close, as Chika observes. Chika had thought she was mad about something, but no, she was just bored. Nobue correctly predicts the arrival of Matsuri. Chika goes to welcome her. She opens the door, sporting an adorably cheerful smile. Until she notices... "Miu is... she's..." Matsuri is horrified, but Chika is more "Aw man, not this again..."
Episode dividers!
Nobue. Winter. Yeah. Light-colored long coat, black shirt, dark skirt, black knee socks and shoes.
Chika. She's facing left. Light-colored jacket, white... sweater or possibly shirt, black skirt, black/dark socks with thin stripes, black shoes. She's holding a black cap to her belly.
Next time: Episode 8!
