Morning.
The Shin-Koiwa festival's today. You're going, right?
I'll pass. I have plans with Olga.
Ah...
Looks like the weather's gonna be nice today.
Shin-Shin-Koiwa!
Shin-Shin-Koiwa! Shin-Koiwa!
The prophecy of the Water God...
has arrived!
And this year's Shin-Koiwa Water God Festival Toppuku is...
Shippo Marimo
Yakata Flower...
Shippo Marimo!
Heck yeah!
Our leader!
Blessings!
Really?
It's finally happening!
Here we go! It's time!
This is great!
Good for you, Shippo!
I've wanted to win the blessing ever since I was a kid.
I know, right?
Anyone whose family runs a shop would.
Whoever does their Toppuku duties well
Good Fortune
gets a ton of good fortune for a year, and their business prospers.
Yup, yup.
So he won't have to work?
Probably!
Don't go to the festival with your head up your ass.
No one wants to see a Toppuku that doesn't care.
Yeah. You're right.
I'm going to go pick some flowers.
Flowers?
He's gonna go pee.
Man, I'd love to take his place, though.
You can't, though, right?
Of course not.
The Water God's prophecy is absolute.
The boss is the only one who can do the Toppuku job this year.
We're on the same team, though.
Maybe we'll get some secondhand good fortune.
True!
Maybe the secondhand good fortune will keep bugs away from our flower shop.
Or maybe it'll grow some wild lemongrass and cilantro!
Maybe if the family business does well, I'll get some extra allowance!
That sounds awesome!
Crap! I forgot I was supposed to do deliveries.
Later!
Anyway, break a leg, Toppuku!
Huh?
He hasn't come back from peeing yet.
Stop saying "pee." Say he's using the bathroom.
Okay.
He's taking a while, though.
Maybe he's feeling sick!
Shippo! You all right?
I can't be the Toppuku.
Please don't look for me.
Damn it! The boss ran away!
Why can't he be the Toppuku?
I don't know! You tell me!
Hang on...
If the boss isn't the Toppuku,
Good Fortune
never mind good fortune, we might end up with secondhand misfortune!
That reminds me of something I heard...
Store Closing
The Western food place at the station closed down
Store Closing
because their eldest son rejected the Toppuku role.
That place was so good, especially for the price!
Does that mean our Yakata Flower...
We need to go find Shippo!
Yeah!
I'm sorry, everyone...
Marimo?
Araki.
Is something the matter?
N-No. Nothing, really.
Huh? Boss?
What are you doing out here?
You gotta prep for being the Toppuku by tonight—
Marimo?!
Wait, hey!
Crap! I've done it now!
Shoot.
Shin-Koiwa Park
Marimo.
How did you...
Ah, I see.
That's your power now.
Yeah, that's right.
But why have you come after me?
You aren't fooling me.
Your tail's been down this whole time.
Something's bugging you, for sure.
I want to help you!
The thing is...
Shippo!
Our adorable little Marimo-chan!
Limit-breakingly cute Marimo!
Leader of the cuteness industry!
Nay, god of cuteness!
The cutest of the cute Shiba Inu cuties!
Come out!
Are you even trying to find him?
I thought it might make him so happy he'd pop up drooling.
I don't think he's showing up.
Asshie!
What's wrong?
I'm gonna have to pay for this!
There goes my gig money!
Who cares? Anyway...
I care?!
Have you seen the boss?
Huh? He was at the sports park.
Really?!
Let's go!
Nah, he's long gone.
He kinda ran off.
Is he seriously going to blow off his Toppuku duty?
Huh? What are you talking about?
We don't even know.
Also, doesn't the Toppuku have a lot to do before the festival?
He sure does.
Like cleansing himself in the waters of Water God Shrine.
Of course!
You hate water?
Yeah.
I hate public baths, too.
So how do you recover Dust, then?
Well...
Kiddie Pool
I totally forgot about that.
I wonder if they'll let him cleanse just his feet.
I doubt it.
They use, like, a waterfall's worth of water on you.
Toppuku
As the messenger between this land and the Water God,
you have to be drenched from head to toe.
I get how he feels.
Everyone's got something they don't like.
But still, you know...
It's just one day! Just suck it up!
Just brace yourself, and it's over in an instant!
It says Marimo's over there!
In any case, let's go get him!
Ah. So that's why...
I really am sorry, but I just—
There you are!
Shippo! Resign yourself to your Toppuku—
Take this!
Marimo, her belly!
Nice parry.
But as they say...
When push comes to shove, shove some more!
Let's go!
Get on!
Okay!
Wait, Shippo!
Don't you know how to hold back?
"Hold back"? Is that tasty?
Hey, it's the Toppuku!
Toppuku! Toppuku!
Marimo-chan, want some candy?
Got some sausage for you! Good for you to eat!
Marimo!
It's Marimo!
Marimo!
You sure are popular, Marimo.
Marimo-chan!
Heya, Takara's mom.
Do you have a moment?
I don't, in fact.
What's the matter?
You're as cute as ever.
So fluffy and squishy...
Oh, right! Perfect timing!
Come over here.
Here you go.
This is our new pho!
Give it a try, please.
Oh, I left the green onions off for you, Marimo-chan.
It's good!
This is great.
Takara's dad, you really should have Takara try this, too.
Really?
Really.
Great news!
Thanks for the meal.
There you are!
Hold it!
Rembao! Time-out!
I want you to try something!
Wait, now's not the time!
Great. Now's your chance to—
Do you mind if I take another detour?
Aokaze Winery
Hello.
Hey there. Welcome.
Oh, Toppuku!
What's up?
Well...
Atsushi broke some drink bottles he was delivering because of me.
My apologies.
Oh? Well, well...
Thanks for being considerate.
You came here just for that?
All right, let's go.
Sensei!
Oh, Hikinami. You're here.
Yes.
Oh, I can play that song now.
Give it a listen!
Now's not a good...
Shimomura Instruments
Are you sure about this?
Atsushi's coming.
All clear.
Did you find him?
No.
Hey...
Why not have this guy take his place?
It's too obvious!
He's a dog!
The boss is a dog, too!
Yeah, but...
Shippo has to be the Toppuku.
Yeah...
Aokaze Atsushi
Ramus Parts: Right leg
Tsubakura Takara
Ramus Parts: Shoulders to arms
Misumiya Kirara
Ramus Parts: Trunk and Lower Limbs
Hikinami Kai
Ramus Parts: Skin
Kagari Haruto
Ramus Parts: Arms
Yakata
Oh, we're short on calendula.
Calendula. Got it.
Oh, Marimo-san.
We're making you a Toppuku crown right now.
We'll make you the coolest Toppuku in history.
All right.
Thanks.
You're okay with bugs, huh, Araki-kun?
Yeah.
Tenrou can't deal with them.
Even though we're a flower shop.
Found him!
Marimo!
The festival starts at five, right?
Yeah.
We might be here too early.
Is it okay if I go home, then?
I have such a bad feeling about this...
You there!
You Lamps bastards!
Stop our boss!
Huh? Your boss?
Oh? Looks like you could use some help.
It's all right. Keep going!
Yeah.
Zerong Show
Zerong!
Milky Way
Furry, furry!
Master's performing!
Solo Performance
Oh, man!
Screw them!
Stay away! Stay away!
Stay away!
I'm so scared!
Hey! Fly after them!
I can't deal with heights!
That was exhausting.
I used up a ton of Dust.
What do I do?
Araki!
Haruto!
Sorry, can I have your Dust?
Marimo needs to escape.
Sure.
Take this!
Only me?!
Well, you're the one who needs to escape.
That was my fault.
I didn't make myself clear.
Hm? What's up?
Well, damn. We've completely lost him.
All right, then.
We're going to have to call him in!
You're as beautiful as ever, Saeko-san...
Hey, hey. What's wrong, Miss Kitty-cat?
Dad, please, help me.
What's up?
Marimo?
Roger that.
Run after happiness and you'll catch a cold, as they say.
Shopping District Buddies
Let me know if you see Shippo
He was by the riverbank
He was running toward the station from Billion House
In front of the bath house
Saw him at the main road
By the pharmacy in 1-chome
He was by the riverbank
He was running toward the station from Billion House
In front of the bath house
Saw him at the main road
By the pharmacy in 1-chome
Between Morikizoku and the pachinko parlor
He was running toward the station from Billion House
In front of the bath house
Saw him at the main road
By the pharmacy in 1-chome
Between Morikizoku and the pachinko parlor
Turned the corner at Chuka-kan
In front of the bath house
Saw him at the main road
By the pharmacy in 1-chome
Between Morikizoku and the pachinko parlor
Turned the corner at Chuka-kan
Walked in front of Pan Merry
Saw him at the main road
By the pharmacy in 1-chome
Between Morikizoku and the pachinko parlor
Turned the corner at Chuka-kan
Walked in front of Pan Merry
In front of the arcade downstairs from Mast Restaurant
By the pharmacy in 1-chome
Between Morikizoku and the pachinko parlor
Turned the corner at Chuka-kan
Walked in front of Pan Merry
In front of the arcade downstairs from Mast Restaurant
I think they went into the building in front of the station
You mean, "Run after two hares and you'll catch neither."
What was that?
Gotcha, boss.
A-ha. So that's where Shippo is.
Let's go, Shirayuki!
Gotcha!
They won't find us here.
I think you'll get away with not being the Toppuku.
Marimo?
The Water God Festival is a major annual event for Shin-Koiwa.
The shopping district and the whole town come together to make it happen.
It's something we've all looked forward to every year since we were kids.
I was honored when I was chosen for Toppuku.
Part of me wants to carry out my Toppuku duty and make the festival a success.
But...
I can't do water.
You love this town, huh?
You said you wanted to go to the outside.
Is that weird?
No, I think that's good.
Are you not interested in the outside, Marimo?
Well...
I'm not too interested, personally.
Though, I wouldn't mind going for fun after I've shared my fortune.
Shared your fortune?
The fortune that the Toppuku receives is not for your own sake.
It's for bringing happiness to the people around you.
That's why...
Of course.
That's why this is my chance to repay everyone.
Thanks, Araki.
Found you!
Guys.
Sorry for wasting your time.
Let's go, Marimo!
Yeah.
Come watch me if you like, Araki.
One, two...
See? That kept your face clean and dry, right?
Yup.
Good job finding that thing.
I got it at Milky Way!
One more!
All right!
Shin-Shin-Koiwa, Shin-Koiwa!
We hereby observe this year's Toppuku, Shippo Marimo, in his duties!
I hereby declare the Shin-Koiwa Water God Festival...
open!
Marimo
Unagi Pho
It's so pretty.
Hey, are you sure you didn't want to go to the festival?
Yeah.
Hey, Olga...
I've been...
having weird dreams lately.
Translation: Rei Miyasaka
Timing: Krzysztof Kunc Editing & Typesetting: Elisabeth Crist
Quality Check: SMR Translation Check: Becky Cottrill