Ghost Cat Anzu (化け猫あんずちゃん)

WELCOME TO IKETERU! TOWN OF ETERNAL SUMMER IN MINAMI-IZU

IKETERU STATION

Karin, I need to go poop.

- This place? - Yeah.

It's a temple.

I wonder if they're still alive.

How many years has it been?

Maybe 20 years?

- Sure this is alright? - Yeah, it'll be fine.

I'm back!

Hello, can I help you?

I'm back. It's me.

- Tetsuya. Recognize me? - Hm?

Oh right, this is my daughter, Karin.

You got married?

Quite some time ago.

What grade are you in, Karin?

I'm in 5th grade.

A 5th grader...

Sorry to ask, but can we stay here a while?

I suppose that's okay, but don't you have a job?

Well... I do this and that...

Where's your wife?

She died three years ago.

Hello?

Yeah, thank you, thank you, thank you. Okay, okay, okay.

Okay, at 2 p.m., right? Okay, okay. Alrighty meow. Got it.

Where're you from?

Haven't seen you around.

You can't just come in here.

She was worried about you till the very end... you stupid idiot.

I'd... like you to lend me some money.

What's it for?

A loan shark.

I was about to be killed and narrowly escaped.

- I'll pay you back pronto. Please. - What the heck have you gotten into?

Come on, what's it even matter?

So, how much?

- One million yen would be plenty. - Get outta here.

Huh?

Asking for money as soon as you get back? Leave at once.

Just 500,000 then. Please, I beg you.

Leave!

Never show your face again!

Karin! Karin...

Hang here for now. I'll go repay that loan and be right back for you.

Now, be a good girl. See you.

What?!

Tetsuya, do you have any money?

It'll be alright.

It's never been alright before.

Hold on a sec.

This is all I've got.

Sorry.

I'll be back by the anniversary of Mom's death.

Let's visit her grave together, okay?

That goes without saying.

See you.

You big dummy!

Have a drink.

That sounds great. Thank you.

The idea of leaving behind a cutie like you... That idiot.

Karin, if you have any troubles, don't hesitate to tell me.

Okay, I won't.

You're a good girl, aren't you?

Yeah, I get that a lot.

- I'm off to work, Your Reverence. - Take care.

Anzu...

This girl here is Karin. She's Tetsuya's daughter.

She'll be staying a while, so look after her.

Alrighty meow. Pleased to meet you.

Grandpa, what's with that cat?

Oh, Anzu? He's our pet cat.

But he's strange, you know? He talks like a human.

Well, Anzu is a ghost cat, after all.

GHOST CAT ANZU

We named that cat Anzu.

We raised him with great care...

But, the strange thing was

Anzu never died no matter how much time passed.

Even after 10 - then 20 - years passed, he was still perfectly healthy.

After 30 years had gone by, somehow or other

he had become a ghost cat.

You're a bit tight here.

O-ouch.

- Sensei, I've let the tea cool. - Okay.

So, Mr. Tsurumaki, the 30-minute course?

- Yes, please. - Got it.

That's the spot, huh?

Yes, right there, Sensei.

You sure do know my pressure points.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Take care.

It's the ghost cat of Sousei-ji Temple.

We should say hi to him sometime.

Die. Die.

Die!

Karin, do you want to head out and play for a bit?

I'm alright. I'm used to being alone.

I see.

Besides, I don't have any money at all...

Inoue...

It's Anzu.

- Yo! - Yo!

Who are you guys?

I'm Inoue, a 5th grader at Iketeru Elementary!

I'm Hayashi!

Um, so...

What do you want?

Want something to drink?

How about a coffee?

- You paying? - Yeah!

So, the two of us made this delinquent group called "The Contrarians"...

Would you consider joining us?

We defy society, you see...

Can't say I'm interested.

Yo, Karin!

Wh-Who's that?!

Bro, please fill us in!

Karin, huh?

Oh my god, she's an angel.

Go talk to her.

No way, I can't!

CAFÉ LINDON

Go ahead and drink up. It's on me.

Hey... can you tell me about that ghost cat?

I also wanna know about this town.

You on that motorbike! Pull over on the left!

Hello there. You were speeding quite fast.

Please show me your license.

I forgot it at home.

Really?

Really, I don't have one.

That won't do!

Your name?

Hachiko.

You're Anzu, aren't you? The adopted child of Sousei-ji Temple.

I've heard of you.

Alright, get in the squad car.

- Why? - For a traffic violation.

Seeing as I'm not human, I thought I didn't need a license.

Not gonna fly! How old are you?

I'm 37.

Get a license before riding, okay? You can get one from age 16.

Looks like a little dirt got on it...

Once it's cooked, it'll be fine.

I hear you got caught riding without a license, Anzu.

Yeah, I'm in a real fix meow.

Just use a bicycle.

Sounds like a big pain.

You'll have to put up with it.

You're not gonna eat, Karin?

The squid's delicious. Try some.

I'm getting an inkling you don't care for squid.

Hey now! You can't be peeing there!

Say, Anzu... Interested in a part-time job?

What is it?

There's been an increase in cormorants,

and they eat all the sweetfish that get released.

Would you drive away the cormorants?

Your Reverence, that won't do.

What won't?

I may live like humans do, but if anything,

I'm more of an ally to the birds and beasts.

I see, that makes sense.

Guess I'll turn them down, then.

Though, I hear they pay 3,000 yen a day.

Huh? 3,000 yen!

No sign of wildlife here.

Let's head over there.

Hey, actually, is it okay if I head home?

Huh? We're talking about 3,000 yen here. You sure?

Oh, here they come.

Wow, there's a ton of them!

Ah, they're devouring the sweetfish!

That's not working. Karin, get the bottle rocket.

Yeah, yeah.

Ignition!

Fire!

They flew away!

Yay! Yay!

We did it!

We got them!

Yay!

I studied so much I wound up stupid, you see.

That right?

The 3,000 yen.

What?

If I hand it over, you'll spend it all. I'll hold onto the rest for you.

What the heck?

I was asked to look after you.

Give it back.

- Give it back! - No can do.

- Give it here! - Not happening.

Nope, nope, nope.

Give it to me!

How high are you gonna climb?!

Darn cat!

This sucks.