When I awoke from my sleep,
I found myself alone, standing on an open page...
No matter where I look, I can't see.
There's no path, nor exit.
That's when I heard the sound...
THE PRICE OF STRING BEANS IS BONKERS. I BOUGHT SOME FOR MAKIO-CHAN, BUT I'M ABOUT TO GO BEAN BANKRUPT OVER HERE.
The sound of your voice calling my name.
So I walked, with these fumbling words of mine...
It may not be in perfect rhythm—Oh.
But when I hum this tune, I hope you listen.
The soaring sound of the world softening itself...
Asa.
Asa!
Sorry! Was I too loud?
Can you do Justin Bieber?
What?!
I don't know how.
Come on. Please?
Ba—
Okay, today I'm making chicken katsu and sesame...
Wait, that's for tomorrow.
Today's side will have tofu.
Oh, and veggies.
Sounds good.
The ding went off.
Makio-chan, why do you call the microwave the "ding"?
Shush, you.
Your phone.
It's ringing.
I know.
So go answer it like a real adult.
What a drag...
Hello, Kodai speaking.
Oh, yes.
Yes, thank you for the other day.
I've been healthier ever since you came.
Yeah?
Then hire me.
Make your own living.
What if I throw in cleaning?
Things are fine the way they are.
This is plenty.
Can I sleep?
Go ahead and take the bed.
I'm fine here.
You can keep the lights on.
Mmhmm.
The tapping of her keyboard.
Sometimes it stops, followed by furious mashing.
The rustling of paper.
And deep sighs.
The sight of curtains left open.
And the bright nightlife peeking through.
Buried between the mountains of books...
I'm here alone.
What was that for?
Just snapping a beauty's profile.
You idiot.
Here I am, alone.
Sleeping next to the throne of a queen from a strange land.
These nights are my favorite.
JOURNAL WITH WITCH
EPISODE 1 OVERFLOW
It's another beautiful day nationwide.
But do be mindful of the dry air.
Now for the news.
Last night, an accident occurred at the Otsuki Parking Area of the Chuo Expressway,
where a truck struck a parked passenger car.
According to the police, its occupants were Hajime Takumi and Minori Kodai.
They were taken to the hospital but passed away.
Their daughter was not in the vehicle at the time...
Makio.
Don't you have anything to say?
I'm only saying this, as your big sister, because you're so hopeless.
Caution: We have come to a sudden stop. Attention, please—
Attention all passengers.
We've received a request to make an emergency stop.
Once we confirm it is safe to do so, we will resume operations.
There you are, Makio.
Sorry to wake you so early.
Have you confirmed it?
Confirmed what?
You know, the bodies.
I couldn't do something so scary.
They told me they're doing an autopsy.
We had no choice in the matter.
They're making us wait in this dreary place.
Makio-chan...?
Yeah, that's right. This is your Aunt Makio,
your mom's younger sister.
I doubt you'd remember. You haven't seen each other in forever.
Well then, I'm off to handle the paperwork.
Can you take her in for a while?
What? I'll get a hotel. I don't even own a futon.
Have a heart for goodness's sake.
We can't just leave her on her own.
So I'm counting on you.
I'm Makio.
U-Um...
Oh. I'm Asa Takumi.
Asa. Right.
We should get something to eat.
Yeah, something to eat...
Does that sound good?
Yeah.
Here.
Thanks for the food...
Let me know if you want more.
Eat as much as you'd like.
Yeah, okay.
Want another drink?
Uh, thank... you?
We still have time.
You can get some sleep.
Are you sad?
Not sure how you feel?
That doesn't make you weird.
You can be sad if the time ever comes.
What about you, Makio-chan? Are you sad?
Unfortunately, I don't feel sad at all.
I hated my sister.
I feel sorry for your sake.
I'm sad in that respect.
A journal...
It might help to start keeping a journal.
About the things people say to you...
Or the things that they don't.
About whatever you feel or don't feel.
You can keep it all in your journal.
Even if you never open it again,
one day, it'll be your guiding light.
The only journal I'd ever kept was one to track the growth of morning glories.
When I told her so, she replied:
"An observation diary of morning glories?"
"That has to be much more fun later in life, as an adult."
A journal...
Yesterday, Dad and Mom were in the car when...
JOURNAL WITH WITCH
But she's not even Minori-chan's real daughter, right?
About the things people say to me...
No, I think they're blood relatives.
You think?
Well, that's what I heard.
Or what they don't say.
So no one from his side is even here?
I understood exactly what she meant.
Not a soul. No family or relatives.
But I'm only living off my pension.
Kyoko-san, you of all people can't say that.
Really, I do feel bad, but...
Did you hear about the dry air advisory from Houston to tuna?
Sure did. It's that oven system.
My special talent: hear only gibberish and not what they're saying...
Activate.
Is that a hula hoop from Shimanto?
Or a straw rope?
Except I can't journal like this.
Asa?
Asa.
Water...
Asa!
Morning.
We... should eat.
Yeah, we should eat.
Why say it twice?
Let me help.
Yeah, all right.
Um...
Do these need washing?
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
Two slices, two...
Um, is there anything else?
Er, let's see...
The cabbage in the fridge needs to be chopped.
Okay.
Like three or four leaves.
Okay...
Have a seat.
Okay.
Thank you for the food.
Wait, is that why you eat the sausages separate?
You could have told me.
Sorry.
Hey, are you actually like...
super shy?
No! Actually, yes.
L-Listen, everything I said yesterday was complete caprice...
Huh?! Then you mean—
No, that came out wrong. All wrong.
It's true that I couldn't let things stand.
But I was completely overlooking the fact that I'm not
the kind of person who can share their space with another human being.
What?!
This is on me, I know.
But could you not go "What?!" like that?
It's hurtful.
Huh?
I mean, I'm just surprised adults get hurt feelings too.
I'm sorry.
I doubt my sister ever showed flaws like that.
Makio-chan, why did you hate her?
My mom, I mean.
Don't go asking people to speak ill of others.
I only told you because it didn't seem fair otherwise.
What a weird person...
A journal?
You're really going to keep one?
You said it'd help.
Oh, right.
Then go ahead and rip out the used pages.
Thanks.
Really weird.
I started living with someone weird today.
And that's because...
A desert.
Dry sand for as far as you can see.
There's nothing here.
This place is...
empty.
Oh, dinner?
If you're getting groceries, I'll come.
When keeping a journal...
You don't have to write anything you don't want to.
Write only what you want in that moment.
It doesn't have to be true either.
Even though it's a journal?
Even though it's a journal.
No one can scold you for it.
Leave out anything that's too hard to write about.
I tried... I tried to write something, but...
No Dad. No Mom.
They're both gone.
It's like...
I'm out in the open. In empty space.
Like I got hurled out into the desert.
It gives me the chills.
Asa.
I want water.
Asa.
If only I could have...
A basin full of water...
Asa!
Why is she yelling like that?
Oh, you must be so sad. Poor thing.
D-Do you know the kanji for "basin"?
I deeply despised your mother.
I'm sick to find that my hatred for her still persists even after her passing.
So I'm sorry to say,
but I feel nothing more for you than I would any child I might pass out on the street.
Regardless, a girl like you...
A fifteen-year-old child...
shouldn't be exposed to this wretchedness.
You're deserving of much more beautiful things in life.
You can sleep over there.
My place is never clean.
And I'm usually in a bad mood.
I can't even guarantee that I'll love you.
But I promise you this.
I will never trample on your feelings.
On that day, this woman...
If you can accept that, come stay with me tomorrow, the next day,
and every day after that!
I won't let these people pass you around!
With eyes like a wolf astray from its pack...
She saved me from a life of loneliness.
And to answer your question,
the kanji for basin is written as "water" inside "mortar" with "plate" underneath.
BASIN (TARAI)
She even knew the kanji for basin.
Goodness, Makio-san...
I'm coming.
I'm coming to stay with you!
Let's go. This dried-up sushi isn't worth eating.
We're getting real sushi.
There's no one here.
There's nothing to be found...
within this vast desert I'm in.
Do adults find themselves here too?
Will I be able to find my way out?
Nothing.
I'm all by myself.
Just me.
I'm...
I get it.
This is what they call...
loneliness.
Loneliness?
I found myself cast into an unfamiliar desert.
There, I witnessed the queen of a strange land
sitting upon her throne in complete solitude.