World Masterpiece Theater
Wakakusa no Shoutaijou
Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari
kigi no sukima kara hirogaru sora
From the gap in the trees reaches to the sky
aoi kazami tori
a blue weather cock
kimi wa ano yoru to onaji fuku de
You, in the same clothes as that night
boku wo mukae ni kiteta
come to take me back
Nanbyaku no kotoba yori mitsumereba
Rather than a thousand words just a gaze
subete ga wakaru ne
makes it all clear
wakakusa no shoutaijou
An invitation from the green grass
kanashimi norikoe wakakusa no shoutaijou
overcomes sadness an invitation from the green grass
kimi ha dare yori no utsukushii
You are most beautiful than anyone else
Papa Came Back!!
I don't really like studying that much.
But starting tomorrow, it's summer vacation
so school today was really fun.
Well, this completes all the studies for this semester.
Which means, it's the summer vacation at last.
I'm going to my grandma's home.
Teacher, is it true that you're quitting school?
Ohh! So the rumours are already spreading, huh?
So you are?
Yes. That's right.
I'll have to go join in the war.
But to be honest, I want to study with all of you, the next autumn semester too.
But after a lot of thinking, I decided to join the army.
Just like Amy's father.
My brother has joined the army as well.
Oh, that's right.
I'll be transferring to Washington shortly.
That was dangerous, Jo!!
It's a letter from father.
Woow!! It's been such a long time, isn't it!?
I'm going to show it to mother.
I'm coming too!!
Hey, where is mother right now?
At Mrs. Spencer's shop.
Excuse me.
What do you think? Aren't 8-10 needles a bit to many?
They're alright.
If you tighten it too much, it'll be uncomfortable.
This is just fine mother.
Really, Jo!!
It's a letter from father.
Here, read it quick.
That's really beautiful, Meg.
You think so?
Mother, what's written in it?
He's returning.
Wow, awesome!!
When? When is he returning!?
Ah, yes. He might return today.
What did you say?
We can't just idle around here, right mother?
Why so suddenly? Did something happen?
That's not it.
This letter was sent 15 days ago.
Looks like it's been going here and there for a while.
That's right. It's difficult to receive letters these days.
Especially, the ones sent from the battle fields.
Huh, Amy? Why are you here?
I followed after Jo here. I wanted to know what's in the letter.
Now you know, right?
You father will be coming back in a day or two.
But he'll go back to the war again, won't he?
That's right.
The southern part isn't content with things yet.
Come one, hurry back home.
You shouldn't wander around after school's over.
Can't I stay to see Meg's dress?
It's so beautiful!
Oh well, it can't be helped. Just for a little while, okay?
I want one too.
You're getting in the way of Mrs. Spencer, Amy.
Okay. Try turning around.
Yes.
Mother, I want a dress like that too.
It's still about 5 years too early for you to go to a ball.
By the way, Jo, since this is a good chance, should we make one for you too?
Huh? I haven't been invited to the party this time.
But soon, you'll be invited to some too.
That's right, Jo.
You're already 15 years old so you should act a bit more like a lady.
Even if I put on a beautiful dress , I don't think I'll change.
Anyway, Mrs. Spencer, I'd like to make a dress for Jo too.
Yes. I understand.
No matter what, being the youngest child is boring.
I have 3 sisters.
The one buying in the shop, Meg.
The tomboy, Jo.
The kind, Elizabeth.
Everyone calls her Beth.
Papa's coming back.
Really!!?
Ahh, I wonder if father will buy me nice clothes.
It's been an year, isn't it? Since he last came back.
If we go to the supermarket, we'll be able to buy pretty dresses, isn't it?
Huh? What was that?
Nothing.
Hannah, father is coming back.
Master is?
Since he'll be tired when he comes back, mother said to keep dinner ready.
Just when exactly is he coming back?
It wasn't mentioned properly in the letter whether it will be today, tomorrow or the day after.
Is that so.
If that's the case, it doesn't matter when he comes back.
I'll be prepared to make Master's favourite dish, Roasted Beef.
There, do you see that?
The storm the other day did that.
That needs to be fixed quickly, isn't it?
This building's been existing since the time this town was established.
Let's make the bazaar this time a success and gather a fair amount of money (for the repairs).
I'm sure there must be many more parts (of the building) that need fixing too.
Thank you.
That's dangerous! Watch yourself!
I did it again.
Why do I fall in the same place every time?
Huh?
If only you'd watch where you're going!
Well, I was just wondering if father was back yet.
Oh, no!
You've prepared a share for father too, right?
No!
Wow, that looks delicious!
Looks like father won't be coming back today.
Oh, why do you say so?
I can just somehow feel it.
I'll bet on him coming back today.
That's improper, Jo!
What are you quarreling about?
Hey, what do you think, mother?
About what?
About whether father will come back today or not.
It wasn't really clear from the letter.
But what do you think?
I,...
too, want him to come back home as quickly as possible.
Ah! Huh? He's back!!
You idiot.
If it's father, he'd just come inside without ringing the bell.
You have a guest.
Oh, yeah! I forgot!
What's the matter?
It must be my school teacher Mr. Satton.
But why would Mr. Satton be here?
Did you misbehave at school?
No, I didn't!
He just wanted to tell you that he's leaving.
Leaving?
Teacher's joining in the war.
Oh, no!
Why don't you go see him, Meg?
Why would I?
Maybe, Mr. Satton wants to really see you.
Amy...!
You chatted with each other for a long time at Micchi's party, didn't you?
It wasn't just the two of us. There were many other people there too.
It looked like he was very much interested in you.
Seriously, you...
You're so precocious.
But, Teacher always keeps asking me about you.
Like, "Is your sister doing well?", "What is she doing now?"
Come one! Hurry up! Else Teacher will leave!
Meg?
Why don't you see him once?
Like father, Mr. Satton will be fighting for the cause of liberation.
See? Come on!!
And that's why, this time I won't be able to help with anything.
Oh, no. It's okay.
Please take care of yourself.
Yes.
Excuse me.
I just heard, Mr. Satton.
I'm going after all.
I hope you'll be back safely and be with us the next year.
I'll be doing similar to your father.
Then, please be well.
You too.
Uh, if the war ends and I come back home safely, I'd really like to talk to you again, Meg.
Yes.
So then, good bye.
Good bye, Madam.
Good bye.
Excuse me.
Sorry for being late, Hannah.
Oh, no.
Meg, I love you!
Jo! Even you're teasing me!?
But...
But what?
It's hard to send off a dear friend going to war.
They might even die there, you know.
That's true.
I'd be very happy if your father returned without any injuries.
Just thinking about the painful fact that he'll go back to war-
Then it's fine, if I don't return to war at all, isn't it?
Father!!!
So then, let me look at your faces carefully.
I'm back, Mary. I'm back, girls.
Dear, your arm!?
Oh, it's nothing serious.
An enemy shell blasted near me.
A tiny piece pierced through, that's all.
Really, it's nothing serious.
Did you go to the hospital?
Just for a day.
But thanks to this injury, I took a sick leave and came back to meet everyone.
So, ironically, I must thank the enemy's shell piece!
Are you well, Mary?
Dear.
Welcome home, Papa.
Being in my own home surrounded by my kind family is true happiness.
If father doesn't need to go back to joining in the war, then we'd be truly happy as well.
Unfortunately, the war hasn't ended yet, Jo.
But, won't you atleast stay here until your arm is healed completely?
Even if I'm unable to move my arm any more, there still are things I must do.
Even when father was not home, I'd think about you every day.
And prayed for your safety to God.
Thank you Beth. If it was you, I believe you'd do just that.
I would too, father.
Yes, I'll believe you too, Amy.
But, you would still forget to pray sometimes, isn't it?
Uh... sometimes...
You four have grown up so much during this past year. I'm very happy.
And surely, you have been making an effort (to help out) as well.
Mother must have had it tough too.
By the way, for all this time, because you couldn't return, the kids have been so supportive of me.
I am very thankful to all of them.
That's good to hear.
I'm happy that you're praising us mother. But aren't you praising us a bit too much?
We are making an effort to help out, but our selfish side isn't getting fixed.
We keep on doing a lot of things as we please.
Isn't that right, Amy?
Huh? Why is it "isn't that right, Amy?"
I wonder why.
You're just deciding by yourself that it's my selfishness.
I'm just saying that we all have that trait.
Then why you did you say only my name when you said, "Isn't that right, Amy?"
So then, nothing comes to your mind, does it?
No.
Today, too, when I saw Meg and you getting new dresses, I too wished I'd get one.
But I immediately gave up after I was told no.
Every time, I only get hand-me-downs from Meg, Jo or Beth.
I wear them without any complaints.
Meg and Jo got new dresses, eh?
Meg has been invited to the Evans' party.
Ho!
It's almost time for Jo too.
Jo, then it'd be better if you acted a bit more lady like.
I think so too.
To tell the truth, Jo is almost a boy.
Rather than being a boy, I'm happy just to be myself.
But still, Jo...
Father, I don't want to be like your ordinary girls.
Right now, I'm writing a novel. I want to become a novelist in the future.
Oh! That surprised me.
Mary, did you know about this?
Yes. Jo has the talent.
Jo wrote a play for last year's Christmas party, and the girls performed it.
It was very entertaining. Wasn't it Hannah?
Yes. It truly was very entertaining.
Then, I hope I can see your new work.
Will you come back for Christmas?
I want to.
Amy.
Yes.
Do you want new clothes?
Um...
I'll buy some for you.
Thank you, father!!!
I'm so happy!!!
Beth, let's buy some for you too.
I don't really want any.
Oh, come on. Meg and Jo got new ones made too.
Okay.
Father.
Hm?
I just have one wish.
Okay. Tell me.
Take us for a picnic.
Picnic?
When our whole family had gone for a picnic a long time back, it was so much fun.
I see. Beth hasn't gone out for a long time, hasn't she?
Yes.
It's okay to be bashful, but that shyness is the real problem.
Yes. I wish to fix it.
Alright. Let's all go for a picnic tomorrow.
Yay!! Hurray!!
It hurts!!!
That feels good!
Wow, look!
A baby pony.
Yup, just like you.
Shut up!
Ohh! Now this is a delicious looking pie.
It's an apple pie.
Hannah woke up early to make one.
Alright! I'll cut it now.
Cut it properly.
Hey now, Amy. If you keep staring like that, my hands will go all shaky.
Wait!
There.
Ahh, wait, cut more on the right-
No! Cut straight! No! Ah it's spreading! Hey, that piece is bigger!
No, you're making a mess!
No! No! Cut on the right! And then next to it!
Alright! All done!
Awww! It's a complete mess!
Sorry, sorry.
Amy, you can have the biggest piece.
Hurray! Thank you for the food!
Thanks for cutting it.
Mmm, it's delicious!
It's been a while since I saw such a scenery.
I wish the war would end soon.
But this is a war we must win no matter what.
I got one. That's the wrong one.
See?
Me too!
No!! I can't find one!! Boo!!
You can have this one.
Thank you.
Oh, no!
Hup!
Nice view!
Hm? What's that?
Jo!!
Seriously!
Are you alright, Jo?
Yes.
That aside father, I saw some soldiers, on the opposite side of the river.
What? Soldiers!?
Everyone, hurry back to the carriage at once.
Dear.
The people over their look like the ones from the rebel army.
Can't be!
Though I can't say for sure until I go a bit further.
If it's so, I'll have to report this.
You all hurry to the carriage.
Dear, please be careful.
Mm.
Don't worry.
I'm coming too.
Jo!!
Jo!
Don't worry. Besides, two is better than one.
And you can't really use your arm right now.
Okay.
Dear!
We'll be alright. Don't worry.
They're rebels indeed.
They entered from the back route, didn't they?
They're scouts.
The main army will be here soon.
And we finally got to go for a picnic, but it was ruined.
But that was a shock. For rebel soldiers to be come this close by.
I wonder if war will start in our town too?
Father returned to join in the war. It was as if the Sun had disappeared from our home.
Amongst all this, we picked up a muddy cat from the street. It's a lot of work!
Huh? What's the cat's name?
Next, on Ai no Wakakusa Monogatari,
Milky Ann Has Been Found.
Till next time!
Yuuhi to Kaze to Melody
oboeteru? ano koro
Do you remember? The time
itsudatte isshou datta ne
we were always together
kaeri michi mujaki ni te wo tsunaide ha
holding our hands innocently on our way back home
aruita watashitachi
as we walked.
kawatta to dare ka ga mayu wo hisomete
When you changed, you frowned
anata no koto hanashite ita wa shinpai... dakara
so I wanted to talk about you, because I was worried.
kin ni iro ni moeru sougen wo
The meadows burn a fiery golden
melody ni shite kaze ni tobosu
and become a melody and lighten
nee watashi no kono kimochi
Please, let my feelings
todoi te todoi te ne 'cause I love you
reach you, 'cause I love you.
Credits: Raw: from Nyaa.si website Translation, Timing and Typesetting: asckj1