I'll point out here that the art seems significantly different.
Shopping
Osaka is talking to someone on the phone. It's Chiyo, inviting her, and "everyone" else, on this year's trip to her summer home. Osaka'll go.
Next is Yomi. The trip is next week. Chiyo says there'll be a (Bon) festival there, so she says to bring a summer kimono.
The swim team is taking a break that week, so Kagura is able to go.
Kaorin's got Astronomy Club camp then, so sadly, she won't be able to make it. Chiyo says she'll invite her again next time.
Chiyo seems extra-insistent that Sakaki come. We don't hear her answer, but we can assume.
Now Tomo. She hears that Chiyo is going to her summer home again, and thinks she's just bragging, and planning on spending a nice bourgeois summer all by herself, but wants to go, as well. Chiyo says that's why she called, so that's fine.
She thinks that's all, but then she gets a call. It's Yukari, acting like she's the one setting up the plan. "Don't be late"? I suppose Chiyo might oversleep, but those are long odds. After Yukari hangs up, Chiyo is left to wonder how she knew about it...
Chiyo is riding her bicycle when she encounters Osaka. Osaka asks where she's going. Chiyo's going shopping to prepare for their trip. Osaka thinks that sounds like a good idea, so asks to come along. Chiyo is okay with it, and offers to let her ride. Osaka sits side-saddle on the rear rack. They set off unstably, and Chiyo ends up ramming a pole. Osaka offers to drive, so Chiyo sits straddling the bicycle, and holds on. Same result. They decide it's not safe to ride that way, so Chiyo walks the bicycle.
At the shopping center, they run into Tomo, who's there to buy a "super-cool" swimsuit for the trip. Osaka asks what kind. Tomo thinks one-pieces are nice, but she's going with a "real sexy" bikini, and for the color... She then notices that Osaka has accepted tissue packs that are being handed out. Tomo says you don't have to take them. Osaka and Chiyo feel they're diffucult to refuse. Tomo says you have to ignore them and keep from making eye contact. She turns around again and sees that Osaka has a whole pile in her arms. Tomo says she told her not to take any. Osaka says they were all so polite. Tomo wonders how many they're going to accept, and says they're never going to use it all. She turns around and sees Osaka "giving it away now?!" to a collection box. They part ways once Tomo's path diverges toward the swimsuits. The other two head for outdoor goods.
Osaka is having trouble knowing when to step on the escalator. Chiyo rides up easily. She rushes around and rides down, asking if Osaka is okay. Osaka rides up as she does so. She identifies it as an escalator.
Chiyo stretches to reach the elevator button for the 9th floor. They're on it because they're easy to get on. Osaka nearly calls it an escalator, but then gets the right word. She sometimes gets mixed up as to which is which. Chiyo says "Oh... really...?" Osaka says she does know which is which, and warns Chiyo not to make fun of her. She then calls the box-shaped one an escalator, but that's where she gets mixed up. Chiyo calls the box-shaped one an elevator. Osaka irritatedly says she knows that.
Meeting Up
The day of the trip arrives, and Chiyo is in bed. Awww! Her case and bag are packed already. Her clock goes off, waking her up. She opens the curtains and finds the weather perfect. She figures she'd better get ready before people start arriving, so she's tying her pigtails. One is tied up when the bell rings. She apparently ties the other up before going to open the door. It's Sakaki, who's an hour early. She obviously did that so she can wait with Tadakichi-san for an hour before they have to leave.
Outside, while she's waiting, we see Yomi "finally" make it. Osaka didn't get lost this time. The teachers arrive, and Kurosawa asks if everyone's there. Tomo and Kagura are yet to arrive. Sakaki sighs with bliss.
Tomo and Kagura arrive together, Tomo announcing that they're here and not late. They are welcomed by Chiyo. Kagura thinks her house is something else, guessing you'd call it a mansion. Tomo says it's awesome. Kagura doesn't know why she's acting so proud about it. (I can only think that it's because she's known the girl who lives there for a year longer.)
Osaka notices that Kagura's gone totally tan. It's because she's on the swim team. Osaka thinks it makes her look like someone who plays it loose, like a playgirl or something. Kagura seems less than pleased that she looks like that. Chiyo thinks that may be the case, as there was a group of boys who looked like that and played outside all the time. Osaka informs her that it's a different kind of playing.
Tomo then notices their ride for this year. Yukari compliments her on her thoughtfulness in getting a car ready that could fit everyone. Chiyo asked her father to rent it. Kurosawa calls Yukari over. Yomi recognizes it as a countermeasure for the Yukarimobile. Tomo says Yukari is clueless. Kagura asks about the Yukarimobile. Tomo explains that Chiyo "rode in it last year and was deeply psychologically scarred for life." Kagura asks if it was that bad. Chiyo claim that "nyow" she's completely fine, but shakes like a cute little leaf anyway. Kagura notices the "nyow". She asks if Yukari speeds. Still shaking, Chiyo says that there are times she goes too fast, and other times, incredibly slowly; she also doesn't check her side mirrors, or behind, and Chiyo gets the feeling she doesn't see traffic lights or pedestrians. Kagura figures that means that Yukari is no good at it. Yomi and Tomo agree.
At this, Yukari energetically announces that she's driving, and tells everyone to get on board. Tomo and Yomi say "What?!" and Chiyo has a Color Failure, sliding across a splotchy gradient navy background. As Yukari opens the driver's-side door, Chiyo approaches with her arms outstretched. She reaches Yukari, and pushes her away from the door.
Elsewhere, the Astronomy Club is waiting to be taken to camp. Kaorin is still lamenting club activities keeping her from being at the beach with Sakaki. Kimura says that he's there; Kaorin asks why on earth he is.
The main group makes the drive there. Chiyo announces their arrival. Kagura doesn't think it's bad at all. Tomo again acts like it's a point of pride for her, which Kagura questions.
The chapter dividers feature crying Karion, which is, for once, appropriate, and Sakaki in profile.
The ocean!
Chiyo is about to open the door. For some reason, she makes the remark that if she were to lose that key, they wouldn't be able to get inside. She quickly learns that you don't say such things around Tomo, as she swipes the key and throws it into a tree. it falls into some distant grass.
(Beat)
Tomo: I did it. Yomi: BUT WHAT THE HELL FOR?!?
The students and one of the teachers (you can guess who's not helping by now, right?) search the grass for it. Tomo thinks when you hear things like that, it makes you want to do them. Yomi thinks she still shouldn't have. Osaka doesn't see it. Chiyo complains about the mosquitoes. Yukari wonders why nobody has found it yet. Kurosawa tells her she should be helping, too. Tomo thinks it would be totally hilarious if she found the key and threw it again. Yomi emphatically does not.
Chiyo eventually finds the key, and exclaims as much, holding it up. Yomi calls Sakaki, who restrains Tomo, then she tells Chiyo to unlock the door. Chiyo rushes off to do so. Tomo complains about being taken on 3-to-1, but Yomi yells at her to shut up. Chiyo unlocks the door, but is worried about the rest of the trip.
They all set their bags down. Kagura remarks that it's nice inside, too. Tomo remarks that it feels especially good to be inside after all that hard work. Yomi wants her to keep her mouth shut. Chiyo figures that they should get a little rest, then go out to the ocean. All agree.
This time, there are a lot of people at the beach, probably because they had the same plans: go to the beach, then go to the festival that evening. Some young adults hit a beach ball back and forth, children float in swim rings, and other young adults splash each other. Our little group stands together. This year, Yukari and Chiyo join Osaka in the ranks of the one-pieced, while the others wear bikinis. Tomo, wearing one colored like a watermelon, says that it's the ocean, and says that just like last year, that means watermelon smashing. And this time, Chiyo says, they remembered to bring a bat. Tomo boasts that, with her lethal right hand, the despicable watermelon will be—
(sound of watermelon breaking)
Kagura moves her blindfold, and says she did it; it split right in half. Tomo asks what she's done. She pushes the watermelon back together, but it falls apart. She whines that she was going to smash it. Kagura chides her not to cry.
Yomi's going for some jusu, so she asks if anyone else wants anything. Chiyo asks for cola. Yukari wants beer, but Kurosawa tells her not to ask for that. (Partially because of how Yukari handles drinks, I'm sure, but also because it'd be making an underage girl buy it. Japan's limit isn't that much under ours.) Swim-ringed Osaka raises her hand and says wants orange juice. (Wow, actual juice.) Sakaki wants oolong tea. Yomi goes, without Yukari giving an alternate drink. We watch Osaka drift out to sea, not lowering her arm. After a few seconds, it fades to her being way out there, still not having lowered her arm. (Man, my arm would be tired long ago.) Yomi returns with drinks, and asks who wanted the orange juice. An arrow indicates the answer.
Yukari asks if the raw ham with the melon is a tie-in product. Kurosawa answers that it's better than sweet-and-sour pork with pineapple. Yukari concurs. (I'll take pineapple alone over either.)
Sakaki sculpts in the sand. Chiyo approaches, and asks what she's making. It's a Neco Coneco. She asks if the ears are a little too small. Just then, Osaka slides to shore, destroying the sculpture. Yomi calls to her, asking if the orange juice was hers. That's right, Osaka says, getting up and going for it. Sakaki is horrified, and apologizes to the sand.
Capture Operation
Evening comes. Nighttime, Tomo says, is the right time to party. They'll drink and sing. Chiyo reminds her of the festival. Tomo is excited by the Goldfish Scooping Game. She decides she'll catch them all and release them to the sea. Sakaki realizes that that would (kill them, though she doesn't manage to say it).
It's time to get kimonos on. Osaka asks Kurosawa how you put them on. Kurosawa is caught off guard by the question, since it was directed at her. Chiyo and Sakaki reveal that they know how. Kurosawa sheepishly asks them to teach the rest. Yukari calls her useless for needing a kid to teach her. Kurosawa retorts that she doesn't know either. Yomi thinks it's a little unexpected. Tomo agrees, thinking that while it wasn't too odd that Yukari wouldn't know how, she figured "Nyamo" could hack it. Yukari uses this opportunity to contrast this with her ability to put ties on other people. The students are interested in hearing about that. Back when Nyamo was "all lovey-dovey", Yukari was her practice dummy for knotting and straightening neckties. Nyamo says it was a long time ago. Yukari reveals that the fruits of those sessions were never put to good use, but she moved on to a new ambition. We don't find out what it is, however, as Kurosawa pushes her away and reminds her of something that happened "that summer" three years ago. Yukari threatens to tell them about something Nyamo hid in her closet four years ago. Tomo says they're hitting at each other's old wounds.
With everyone ready, they head for the festival, all in kimonos and some carrying uchiwa fans. (The background music is reminiscent of Trepak from The Nutcracker.) Kagura hasn't worn one in a really long time. Chiyo asks if the one she's wearing is new, then. It is, as when she asked her parents if they had any, her dad got real happy and went and bought one. Tomo asks if she did that thing where you pull the obi and twirl around, which she calls the "Oh please, little lady" game. There's an Imagine Spot with Chiyo playing it.
Kagura didn't, but that's what Tomo did when she got hers. Kagura wonders what sort of family...
We get a look at the booths. There's fried noodles, chocolate bananas (salivates)... Tomo, would you round out the list? Takoyaki, fried squid, and candy apples. She's going to eat everything she can, and even try the lot drawing you can never win, and the useless yo-yo-balloon fishing game. Yomi tells her not to try to do it all just because she sees it.
Chiyo and Osaka wander over to the turtle-scooping game. It's 300 yen per try. Chiyo wonders what to do. Osaka points out that if you think about it rash'n'ly, you don't really need turtles. But they are cute.
Sakaki spots a Neco Coneco as a prize at the shooting gallery, and just about puts her money down before being told that it's 10 shots for 200 yen. Looking serious, she picks up the rifle and sights along it. The end of the barrel gleams. Kagura sees her aiming, and starts cheering her on. Her first shot is too far left; the next, too far right. The third shot knocks it off. The lady operating the booth congratulates her, and hands her her prize.
Sakaki: (a little horrified) Huh?
Kagura: You hunter, you! You crazy sniper!
Sakaki: (thinking, hoping) It's not dead, it's not dead!
The Adult World
Back at the summer home, Yomi, Osaka, Kagura, and Tomo are apparently playing 1000 Blank White Cards
(or, more likely, a normal card game that could be anything from daihinmin to Old Maid, but is left undefined because it's just not that important) when Kurosawa tells them it's time to get ready for bed. Tomo figures the night's still young. Yomi explains that you go to bed early and get up early, the day will feel longer, and you'll feel more like you've profited. Tomo thinks "four-eyes" has a point, but they also say that getting to stay up late is the best part of travel. But then, she sees Chiyo nodding off, and gets mad because she thinks Chiyo is plotting to sleep early so she alone can profit from it. Yomi points out that she's 11. Tomo runs off and gets a stool, which she places in front of Chiyo so that when her head dips too low, she'll hit it on the stool. It works, and Chiyo falls backwards, then sits up in pain. Tomo points and laughs, while Kagura observes that she's mean.
Kurosawa again tries to get everyone to go to sleep. Yukari asks what's wrong with letting them have one day of freedom. Tomo approves. Nyamo relents, so Tomo cheers and proposes a toast. Yukari swipes it, as she's not allowed to have it. Yukari wonders where she got it, and supposes she'll "have to" dispose of it all herself. Kurosawa swipes it from her, but that's okay, because she brought a bottle of sake, despite being one of the two people out of eight who could legally drink it. Kurosawa tells her she shouldn't do that, and thinks to herself, that if she let's Yukari drink it all, it'll be a big mess, so she decides to drink it herself. She takes the bottle, too.
We hear a "Cheers!", and then see a number of cans littering the floor. Most are Asabi (Asahi), but one is a grapefruit-flavored Panta (Fanta). There are also snacks, including Rocky (Pocky) and some others that are probably only familiar to native Japanese people or connoisseurs of Japanese snacks. The others are uncertainly watching Kurosawa drink. She asks who cares about guys, and what's wrong with being single. Yukari remarks that it's gotten to her. Tomo thinks it seems like fun, in its own way. Kagura is unsure. Osaka wonders if she's okay. Chiyo doesn't think so. Nyamo slams the bottle on the table and says to shut up, and that she's an adult. Tomo asks her if adult relationships are all pervy 'n' stuff. Nyamo says they're pervy and then some. Tomo asks her to elaborate. Nyamo begins her example.
My second favorite music in the game plays. We don't hear her talking, but we see hand gestures from behind, and Yomi, Tomo, and Kagura leaning in.
A shot of the daytime sky from inside, where a windchime tinkles.
More of Nyamo. She makes a fist as part of her explanation.
A large, decorative paper lantern with "Kaminarimon" written in kanji on it.
She talks, and waves her finger.
A shot of Earth, with North Africa and the Middle East visible. The sun rises in the north.
Chiyo runs through grass with Tadakichi-san.
Sakaki can't look. Osaka is watching. Chiyo asks Osaka what that meant, to which Osaka just shushes her and tells her she'll understand when she's grown up.
The next day, Kurosawa finishes coming down the stairs, wondering why her head hurts. She encounters Sakaki and giyes her a morning greeting, but Sakaki just blushes and goes elsewhere. Chiyo greets her with brush and cup in hand, and asks if she's all right. Kurosawa wonders what she means. Chiyo also has a question. It's muted, and replaced by the music from before. As she talks, Kurosawa's irises dilate with distress. She wants it explained. Kurosawa asks here where she heard about all that. Yukari tells Kurosawa that it was from her. Yomi, Tomo, Osaka, and Kagura come in, and give a respectful greeting. Yomi wanted to thank her for last night. Tomo thought it was extremely educational. Osaka really admires her. Kagura can't thank her coach enough. Kurosawa asks what that's all about, and specifically calls on Yukari, who only chuckles. Kurosawa asks what she did last night, and begs to be told.
Next time: Episode 15!
