Masaya, hurry up and eat.
Okay.
Masaya-kun!
Coming!
You should finish your meal first.
If you just drink the milk, you'll get hungry soon.
I'm going with Akio-san.
See you later!
I'm off!
Good morning, Masaya-kun!
Good morning.
Shall we go?
Okay.
Hurry up.
See you later.
The big first grader
and
the small second grader
"Ouch, ouch, ouch"
the red ogre moaned, as his stomach suddenly began to hurt.
The dwarf unsheathed his needle sword and...
Sensei, Masaya-kun is...
What's wrong, Masaya-kun?
Does your stomach hurt?
Don't push yourself. Should we go see the nurse?
My... stomach...
It hurts, huh, Masaya-kun?
My stomach... is empty.
My!
Masaya, hurry up and eat already. It's almost time for you to go.
You see, Akio-chan has something to do today, so she left already.
That's why you have to go by yourself today.
I'm leaving!
See you later.
Jeez, Masaya.
What's so scary about this slope? Pull yourself together.
But... it's just scary.
Welcome, first graders!
Masaya-kun!
Over here!
Akio-chan...
Now there is a present from the second graders.
When you hear the signal, please stand still, first graders.
Please let me get it from Akio-chan.
Masaya-kun!
Ah, Akio-chan!
This is what I want to give you, Masaya-kun.
Look!
H-here you go.
Your so big although you're a first grader, Masaya-kun. Hang in there!
Thank you.
As I thought, it looks really good.
There's even a nice octopus.
H-here you go.
Alright.
It would be nice if I could grow like a flower.
Time to sleep!
5 years
1st grade
2nd grade
Staff Room
Hey, look over there.
It's really a bellflower.
How nice.
Isn't it pretty?
This flower is called a "bellflower".
Yes, I know. They are my favorite.
There's more of them in the classroom.
I want to see them!
So pretty.
Where did you get so many of them?
Look over there.
I picked them in the forest by that shrine.
The Horus shrine.
The bellflowers are in full bloom.
Are there still some left?
Not a single one, I'm afraid.
That's too bad.
Here.
Here. I'll give these to you.
You really love flowers, right?
I do!
They are the last ones, so take good care of them, okay?
We will.
I have seen this flower before.
Eh, where?
Near a place with a lone cedar tree.
When I was in kindergarten, I saw it when I was riding a bus with my grandpa.
There were lots and lots of these flowers there.
You guys are still too small, so you shouldn't go there, okay?
We could go now, you know.
Let's go to that cedar tree together once we're third graders.
You're right.
Out of the way, out of the way! We are coming!
That was dangerous!
You guys were standing in the way!
You were just going far too fast!
What about it, you little runt?
My height's got nothing to do with it.
Now apologize!
Oh, shut up.
Now you've done it!
Please, you shouldn't fight.
Goodbye, you jerks!
Are you alright? Are you hurt somewhere?
No.
My flower is....
Akio-chan, I'll give you mine.
Akio-chan...
Hang in there, Masaya-kun.
Masaya, hurry up and eat.
Hey, Masaya!
Masaya?
Masaya.
Masa—
Huh, he's not here?
That's strange.
Masaya-kun!
Where are you going?
I'm going to the place with the bellflowers.
Eh? Where do you want to go?
I'll be going now.
I wonder where he's going.
I went to this river with grandpa.
The cedar tree must be over there!
It's raining...
Is Masaya going to be alright?
What's up with him?
I saw him just a bit ago.
He was going to the bellflower place, he said.
Eh, where?
I don't know, either.
Maybe he went all the way to that cedar tree.
Going alone is too dangerous.
I can't just stay here and wait.
Hey, Mariko-chan, can you help me a bit?
I don't have anything for you, sorry.
Do you want to feed them?
Wait a second.
Where do you come from, boy?
I'm coming from the Sakura Apartment Complex.
My, that's quite a long way you've come.
You see, I want to go to the lone cedar tree.
The cedar tree is this way. You just have to follow this road.
It's only a bit farther, good luck on your way.
Yes, thanks!
Also, look out for strangers.
Hang in there, boy!
I'm sure you'll make it.
I'll hang in there.
Where are you headed, boy?
Towards the forest with the lone cedar tree.
That place is still a bit away. Wanna hitch a ride?
But...
With this car, you'll be there in no time.
Look out for strangers.
I will walk.
Are you sure?
Yes.
I see. Alright then, hang in there, boy.
Well then, take care!
Masaya?
Seriously, where did he go?
Mariko-chan, what is it?
You see, Masaya-kun is...
It's the bus to Musashikoganei station.
Musashikoganei Station
It's the bus I rode with grandpa!
Musashikoganei Station
Want to ride with us, boy?
I see.
We're starting.
Ah, it's the tree. Only a bit farther now.
It's scary.
There's not doubt.
That's the one I made.
He must have left it here.
Masaya-kun...
Was that... a dream?
Hang in there, boy.
Masaya-kun, hang in there!
It's a bellflower!
Thank you. But how did you know I was here?
Because of this.
Wait.
I didn't realize I had lost them
Looks like my heart has really grown up.
Now I've really become a second grader.
Thank you, Masaya-kun.
And you have come all this way alone...
Even though I was by myself, I was not alone.
What do you mean?
Here.
The octopus you gave me was by my side the entire time.
Octopus?
It's a bunny.
Ah, it's a bunny!
So it really was a bunny...
Masaya!
You see, I went all the way to the forest with the lone cedar tree.
It was so far away, and I was really a bit scared, but...
Mariko-chan, look.
Wow, amazing!
But you see, you see...
But after walking all the way, it wasn't so scary anymore.
I understand now. There are still so many roads a first grader like me doesn't know about.
Well said.
I'm going.
The end.