Let's Read Yotsuba&!!!

Chapter 16: Yotsuba & Asagi

(The chapter page has Asagi half-leaning half-sitting against the woman's car, and Yotsuba sitting on the bumper.)

Yotsuba and Ena are in the street, playing badminton without a net. Ena announces its coming, and hits it. Yotsuba swings for it... and misses. She laughs about it, at least. She says it's hard.

Some music plays, and there's an announcement that it's 6 o'clock, and time for all good little boys and girls to go home. Since it's that time, Ena claims victory. Yotsuba notices that Asagi hasn't come back yet, and is therefore maybe not a good girl. Ena asks if she wanted to see Asagi for something. What does she want? A souvenir! Ena points out that she didn't go on a trip or anything... It seems that Yotsuba feels that if you go there in a car, it's special enough for a souvenir, so she asked for one. Ena asked if she actually said she'd buy one, and Yotsuba says that Asagi said "Oh, sure!" (If she did, it wasn't recorded last chapter.) Ena wonders if Asagi will really buy one.

Evening comes, and with it, dinner. Curry is part of the meal, and Yotsuba says it's the best meal in the world. Her daddy agrees, or claims to. Yotsuba eats, but she's watching the window as she eats. She hears a car pass, and looks out the window to check, but it's the wrong car. Koiwai asks if she's waiting for something. Indeed, she's waiting for Asagi, who she believes is getting her a souvenir. Koiwai tells her not to be so blatant about it. This causes her to recall the "really hard" word, "tact". (Is it particularly hard in Japanese?) Koiwai says that's it, but doesn't seem to think the word should be that hard for a five-year old.

After dinner, Yotsuba hears a car, which she immediately runs to the window to see. It's Asagi! She and her friend get out of the car, and she suggests doing something in front of the entrance. Yotsuba meets her, and asks what Asagi brought her, and if she bought a souvenir. Asagi just says, "Huh?" Yotsuba's smile fades, and she turns and leaves, disheartened. It seems Ena's doubtfulness was justified...

But wait...

Asagi calls Yotsuba, and asks her to identify a package she has in her hands. She looks... and looks... and LOOKS...

"FIREWORKS!"

Asagi says they're going to set them off together. Yotsuba wants to get Ena and Fuuka but first she has to tell her daddy and then she gets overly excited and confused and Asagi tells her to calm down.

So Asagi and friend, Ena, and Yotsuba are near the house entrance. (Within the walled area.) Fuuka comes out and greets Torako. (Well, at least I'm not liveblogging the Azumanga Daioh manga, where poor Yomi goes ages (well, months) without being named.) She warns Torako that the fireworks will explode if she smokes while they're setting them off. Torako isn't sure. Yotsuba asks about the name. Asagi thinks it's great. Yotsuba wonders if that's a tora as in "tiger". It is, and Yotsuba relates how she saw one eat a baby deer on TV. Torako apologizes for it.

Fuuka sets out a candle on which to light fireworks. Asagi holds up the assortment to Yotsuba and asks which one she wants to try first. Yotsuba figures the sparklers should go last, and selects... something that seems to function like what we would call a sparkler over here. Mrs. Ayase comes out and notes how unusual it is that Asagi bought them, especially considering that she's broke. Asagi says that Torako kindly split the cost with her. Torako points out she was forced to. Asagi relates that Yotsuba gave her a four-leaf clover. This reminds Mrs. Ayase of when a 5-year-old Asagi gave her one...

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! LI'L ASAGI'S SO CUUUUUUUTE! (melts)

Anyway, in this memory, Asagi showed her mother a four-leaf clover. (Mrs. Ayase wore her hair a little longer then.) Since they (supposedly) bring good luck to the bearer, she gave it to her mother, but she declined, instead asking her to find a five-leaf clover. She claimed that they give you good luck with money. So Asagi went looking, and of course, was unable to find one...

In the present, Mrs. Ayase wonders, since Asagi was such a sweet child, how she became a bad seed. Asagi, blushing, denies the latter characterization: "I'm am not!" Torako thinks, but doesn't say, that the mother has problems, herself.

Yotsuba calls Torako over to show her... a roman candle going off on the hood of her car! Torako is concerned about it burning the car, but Yotsuba says that cars are made of metal, and therefore can't burn. Which, as Torako says, isn't the point. The older Ayase sisters seem to enjoy the sight, but Ena isn't sure. Torako is really unsure. When the "New Dragon" burns out, Torako tells her to use the smaller ones.

Koiwai thanks Mrs. Ayase from above. She says "No problem." Yotsuba notices him, and tells him fireworks are fun. He's glad to hear it, and asks her if she's bothering anyone. Yotsuba says she isn't. Torako sweatdrops. Yotsuba and Fuuka twirl... if they don't call them "sparklers", then what are they? for him. He emits plus signs.

They're out of regular fireworks, so next, they set to using up what they call sparklers.

So what do they call sparklers? Well, it looks sort of like a string that you hold one end of and light the other, and it sparkles as it burns. The trick is that it's very sensitive to movement, and if you move, the end falls off and it stops. I don't know if you can't just light it again, but there you go. We watch Yotsuba and Ena. Yotsuba's falls off relatively soon, so Ena advises her not to move one millimeter.

When they're all done, Asagi asks Yotsuba if it was fun, to which Yotsuba replies that it was super fun.

Torako then brings up that there's one left. Fuuka reads it. "Snakes"? They squat in a circle, light them, and watch.

On the chapter divider, Yotsuba holds and looks at her "treasure": the roman candle from earlier.

Next time: Chapter 17!

edited 18th Jun '10 12:56:51 PM by Nyperold

Chapter 17: Yotsuba & Flowers

(The chapter image is of Fuuka riding her bicycle furiously.)

Fuuka and Yotsuba and playing badminton without a defined net, either actual or simulated. Fuuka hits the birdie, and Yotsuba leans too far back on one leg and falls on her back. The birdie lands on her forehead.

Yotsuba asks what that was as she serves. Fuuka hits it back, asking, "What was what?" The birdie hits Yotsuba in the forehead, knocking her down. Fuuka apologizes, asking if she's okay. Yotsuba just laughs after a second. She sits up, noting the "special training" to be hard.

Fuuka is called from the gate. It's her mother, asking her to buy flowers for the altar. Fuuka agrees. Yotsuba is still swinging her racquet. Fuuka declares Yotsuba's training over for the day. Yotsuba thanks her, and wants to go shopping, too. Fuuka invites her along.

So now, both are riding on the bike. Yotsuba asks if they're going to buy flowers. Fuuka says yes, and that they're for her dead grandparents. Yotsuba doesn't understand; Fuuka said she was going to her grandmother's house! Fuuka explains that this is her other grandmother, and that every family has two. Yotsuba is surprised at this, and Fuuka remembers that she only knows the one of hers. Fuuka tries to explain about moms and dads having moms and dads, and differentiates between her own grandmothers by saying that the one she's visiting is her mom's mother, and the one the flowers are for is her dad's mother. She asks if Yotsuba understands...

...and Yotsuba sees a bus. Yotsuba likes buses! ...but thinks they'e expensive. Fuuka asks how old she is. Yotsuba thinks she's six. (We'll learn differently in the future, but for our purposes here, it makes little difference.) Fuuka points out that little kids can ride for free. She says they'll ride together next time. She notices that the bicycle doesn't feel like it has as much of a load as it did... she looks around... and sees Yotsuba on the bus! After watching the bus pull away, she pedals after it, much as depicted on the chapter page. The bus comes to a stop, and Yotsuba disembarks. Fuuka catches up, and Yotsuba tells the "ze"ing teen that she rode the bus. Fuuka asks if it was fun, which it was. And she saw Jumbo! Fuuka asks where, and Yotsuba points in that direction. Fuuka tells her that even though the bus is free (to children), you shouldn't ride without an adult. Yotsuba at least reacts as though she understood.

Then Yotsuba spots a flower shop. Fuuka says they can buy from there. Then she sees the name. "Flower... Jumbo?" (fu-ra-wa- ja-n-bo) They enter, Yotsuba first, and Yotsuba points out Jumbo! He's arranging flowers into a basket. Then he spots Yotsuba running up to the counter, and asks what brings her there. Yotsuba asks what he's doing there, and Jumbo asks what she thinks he's doing. After some consideration, she guesses "cooking". Jumbo makes a buzzer noise. Fuuka responds: "You're a florist?!" Jumbo makes a bell noise, and says she's correct. Yotsuba tells her not to say, as she's still guessing. She goes to try it again. After some consideration, she then gives the correct answer, and Jumbo does the bell sound again. Fuuka asks if he owns the store. It's his dad's, and he's back.

He comes in with a removal of his hat and an "Irashai!" Jumbo says she's not a customer. Fuuka tells him not to say it like that. (Huh? It doesn't matter how he says it; it's not true.) The elder Takeda gets the impression that she's his ne girlfriend, and remarks how she's prettier than his old one, and about how his getting dumped may have been a good thing. He then notices that she's young, and asks if he's breaking any laws. Jumbo says he's got it wrong.

Then they notice Yotsuba sticking flowers in that hard foam. The elder Takeda identifies her as Yotsuba. She asks who he is, and he says he's Jumbo's dad. Yotsuba is surprised even he has one, and says she does, too! Just regular size, though. He asks if Koiwai's doing okay, and she says he's great, and that he did his Boxerman dance today. Mr. Takeda is confused; Fuuka is merely shocked, but she's seen him as Boxerman before. He didn't dance that time, though. (See volume 1, chapter 7.)

Jumbo changes the subject by asking what brought her there. In fact, she came to by flowers. He says to take her time and look around. So, Yotsuba does. The Takedas talk about changing the water, and not putting them in the keeper. Jumbo asks what kind of flowers they need. They're for the altar, Fuuka says. Fuuka asks about the keeper. It keeps the flowers cold so they don't bloom right away. She looks at the flowers in the keeper, and sees... Yotsuba! Fuuka freaks. Once Yotsuba is out, she says it was cool, but Fuuka tells her she shouldn't go in there.

Some flowers catch Yotsuba's eye. But not just some flowers, "SUNFLOWERS!" Mr. Takeda asks if she likes sunflowers. She loves 'em! He likes them, too, saying nothing beats them. They agree that they're pretty, and Mr. Takeda tells his son that the innocent eyes of a child can tell. Fuuka is wowed by the sunflowers, as well.

Jumbo shows Fuuka an arrangement, and asks if he should add lotus. She asks how that would be in terms of price. He says it would be a little more expensive, so she declines, causing him to observe that she knows what she's doing.

Yotsuba observes Fuuka paying for the arrangement, looks at some sunflowers, then digs around in her bag... and finds something. She asks Jumbo for a sunflower..."With 10 yen?!" (About a dime.) Mr. Takeda, as a gesture of his liking of Yotsuba, decides to sell her anything she wants in a certain area, all for 10 yen. (The plan is to get rid of the ones that won't last long, anyway.) Some of these are roses, which he tells Fuuka to give to Asagi. Fuuka tells him to give them to Yotsuba, as Fuuka won't even be home. Besides which, Asagi has a boyfriend. Jumbo is shocked, and lets roses fall from his hands. Fuuka then is unsure... did they break up? Jumbo it desperate for her to remember, but she's not sure, so he calls her useless.

He has Yotsuba take the roses, and, after asking about it, a box, too. Fuuka asks if roses aren't expensive, and Jumbo replies that they're on sale because his dad idiotically ordered too many. Mr. Takeda objects. Yotsuba gives her 10 yen.

Fuuka tosses her altar flowers in the front basket. We get a closeup of some roses as one of them does that small talk thing where you rehash new information in the form of a question: specifically, about Jumbo being a florist, and the other answers affirmatively. Now we see sunflowers (and a man looking startled) as one asks if the other knew; she didn't.

Next page, we see what he's startled at, and what's caught the attention of a few people: Yotsuba has an enormous bouquet strapped to her back. Fuuka seems to be blushing a bit from the attention. She says the flower shop was fun, and offers to take her again sometime, and Yotsuba agrees.

YOTSUBA&!

The last page shows Koiwai meeting Yotsuba, on all fours, still carrying the flowers on her back as Fuuka helps steady them.

Next time: Chapter 18!

Chapter 18: Yotsuba & the Bon Festival

(The chapter image has Fuuka looking serious as she adjust her ring-style halo. She's wearing a white dress with a traditionally-shaped heart on the chest; it has wings on the back. And she's wearing high-tops with a heart in a circle on the left side of the left heel; presumably, there's one on the right side of the right heel. She's holding a professional-looking bow, and has a quiver of arrows strapped to her side. On the other side, a heart-shaped container of some sort is strapped to her. She also has these things on her hands, wrists, and forearms, which might have something to do with the bow aspect of it, but I wouldn't know.)

Koiwai is typing away. Then he looks over. There's a vase of flowers in the corner. There's also a notebook computer, which he might be looking at, but he also notices the flowers, commenting that they're nice. Yotsuba climbs into his lap and messes with the mouse a bit. She looks at the flowers and comments that they're pretty. Koiwai agrees, but...

There are flowers on the TV, on either side of it, they very nearly cover the table...

Koiwai says they have too many. Yotsuba takes a couple, has him sit, and puts them in his hair.

Koiwai decides to have her share them with other people, especially giving a bunch to the neighbors. He dubs her the "Flower Cupid". BAN! (The sound effect, not the action.) Well, she's cuter than renditions of mythological Cupid. Her outfit suggests "Holland" to me, but that might not be what it should suggest. (Certainly, I'm not talking about modern streetwear, but traditional costume.) There are wings on the back. Koiwai also thinks she's cute, comparing her to the little match girl. Yotsuba asks if that's someone who sets fires in their house, confusing Koiwai. At any rate, he figures she should take chrysanthemums, since it's the day of the Bon Festival, but there seem not to be any. Yotsuba asks about it, and Koiwai explains that it's the day when dead grandparents come back. Yotsuba seems to not understand either what he said or how it's possible. Koiwai tells her to take off, and she rogers that.

She goes over, but when she reaches the double doors, she finds them locked... both of them, in fact. She calls for them to opening up, and when that doesn't seem to work, combines it with knocking a few times. Confused, she adds, "Please?" Aww... seems the "magic word" isn't quite so magical. I suspect "o-pe-n se-sa-mi" wouldn't have worked, either.

Then she remembers what Fuuka told her last chapter: that they were going to their grandma's. (Mrs. Ayase's mother, that is.) She leaves via the gate, saying "Oh, man, Oh, man!"

So now she has a conundrum: who to give flowers too? She decides to go where there are a lot of people... like the cake shop! Mercredi, here she comes!

She sings a sing about how the tulips have bloomed, but realizes she's not carrying tulips, and sings that that was a lie, and the tulips haven't bloomed. (Cake and a lie being mentioned so close together... hmmmm...)

She spots a police officer standing next to a car, making marks on the pavement with chalk in an extending chalk-holder thingy. She's made this cross shape by the tire... I guess showing where the tire was by showing its midpoint and alignment. Under its arms, she's written "10 40". She sees Yotsuba drawing a flower, and nicely explains that she's not drawing a picture, just showing that the car is bad. Yotsuba realizes that she's a police lady, and is suitably impressed. She asks if the car is bad, and the officer says it is, so she rustles in her bag a bit and tells her to look. She pulls out her squirt gun and holds it beside her face. She puts it away, and asks, "You follow me?" The officer seems disturbed, or at least confused, by this. Then she realizes, and gives the officer a flower. The officer thanks her. Yotsuba says she's going, and tells her to keep working hard. Yotsuba leaves, and after a few seconds, the officer looks at the flower and says, "I'll do my best." I'd say a day was just made!

Near a kiosk, or at least a place called "Kiosk", she finds quite a few people... one of whom is one of those people who hands out tissues. She approaches him, and he gives her one. She thanks him. After observing him, she decides to approach her flower distribution using the same model. So, a woman gets a pack of tissues from the man, and a flower from her... to the woman's confusion. She gives a man a flower, and he asks what she's supposed to be. "I'm the Flower Cupid!" The man walks off. The tissue dude asks her if she's the Flower Cupid. "Yup!" she says, and gives him a flower. He thanks her, and she continues with her business, as the tissue man wonders if that's what a Flower Cupid does.

After a while, she notices that the flowers are almost gone. She also has a more negative realization, and starts making noises. The tissue guy asks what's wrong. She says she's hungry, and going home. He compliments her work, and she leaves him with a cheery "Bye-bye!" The swinging of her basket shows us that she is, in fact, down to two.

As she passes the park, she notices an older woman sitting on a bench, so she sits there too, and looks at her. They greet each other, and Yotsuba asks her if she's still alive. She's surprised until she remembers the traditional belief regarding the day. She notices the wings on Yotsuba's back, that make her look like an angel. Yotsuba calls herself Yotsuba, the Flower Cupid, which would mean that she really is an angel. She gives the woman a flower. "Oh, my thank you!" Little missing punctuation, there, but oh well. An elderly man comes over and asks who the girl is, so the woman tells him what she told her. Yotsuba gives the man a flower and is thanked. Then she stares at the man, giving the woman the idea to tell her that the man has come back from heaven. Yotsuba is understandably impressed, so she asks the man what it's like. He tells her about the blooming flowers and delicious food, the latter of which reminds her that she's still hungry. The man notices her belly noises, and she decides that she has to get home. She says her goodbyes. The man tells her to be careful on her way home, and she returns the caution, confusing him. The woman laughs; she knows what Yotsuba is thinking.

Yotsuba announces her arrival home, and her perceived hunger level. Koiwai tells her he's making it. (He still has the two flowers in his hair.) She looks around... blooming flowers... delicious food cooking...

"This is heaven, isn't it?"

Koiwai asks what's gotten into her head.

The last page shows Yotsuba lying on her back, having eaten, and still semi-surrounded by flowers, and blissfully saying: "Heaven..."

Next time: Chapter 19!

edited 18th Jul '10 8:00:56 PM by Nyperold

Chapter 19: The Elephant

(The chapter image is of Yotsuba riding an elephant calf.)

Yotsuba, clad in pajamas, points out something, and asks about it. Koiwai explains it by pretending to bite her head. She understands from this that the thing is scary. Koiwai intensifies the modifier, and says it'll eat her right up. She's impressed by this. (She also has toothmarks in her forehead, which I never noticed until writing this entry.)

The book she's looking at is an animal encyclopedia. It appears to be written in English. Yotsuba points out another one, a leopard. Koiwai explains that one the same way. She gets onto her belly and looks the book over some more, preparing to ask about another animal, when Koiwai has a thought. He has an important announcement! Yotsuba goes from her belly to an attentive kneeling position. Koiwai announces that they're going to the zoo tomorrow, a little not far from them. Koiwai recalls that she probably hasn't been to the zoo, and asks if she knows what they are. She knows the principle, which he finds amazing. She asks if they have lions and polar bears; he doesn't think they have anything that big, and wonders if she likes polar bears. He does think they have an elephant. (I thought those were bigger than lions and polar bears, unless they're elephant calves...)

Koiwai sets the plan: they'll pack a picnic lunch... (PICNIC LUNCH!) ...ride the bus... (BUS!) ...and go see the elephant! (BRROOOWR!) So, given that they're going to do that, they need to get to sleep. Yeah, right. Yotsuba spends time awake, getting more and more excited. She wants to go now, but Koiwai tells her to go to bed. She does, but "The zoo." runs through her head.

The next day, they're off the bus. (Ridden with an adult she knows, this time!) Yotsuba it wearing her hat, and her "Kodomo Usagi" (Rabbit Child?) shirt, as well as her other, more average clothing. She's bearing a backpack. The zoo they're visiting is Ajisai Animal Park. She runs up to the admissions counter and tells her father to "pay this lady!" Beyond, she shouts that it's a zoo. Koiwai admits that he wasn't looking forward to going, but that he's getting excited.

Yotsuba points out some animals, and they race to the pen... of goats, as Koiwai says. He's eaten them before, which Yotsuba questions. Koiwai spots food for the goats. You pay 100 yen, and get a cup of carrots. Koiwai does the former while Yotsuba does the latter. She approaches the pen... only to find a wall of goats looking hungrily at the treats. Koiwai "translates" for them. Yotsuba spots a baby, and decides to try to feed it... only an older goat snatches the carrot. She punches it for that.

Moving on from the greedy goats, Koiwai points out a guinea pig petting area. They go there. Koiwai asks if it's okay to touch them; Yotsuba already is. Good thing it's okay; they can even hold them, so they do. Yotsuba asks the keeper their names, so he names them Moruko, Morumi, Morue, and Moruyo. Koiwai can tell he made them up. Yotsuba asks about "the black one", but it's poop. Koiwai asks if it's a female, and if it's easy to tell. They're all female, it turns out (I'd assume at least "Moruko" was); if they put males and females together, they'd start breeding. The males, they give most away to schools of primary education... and hospitals. After all, they are guinea pigs!

Next, the owl. The similarity between Yotsuba's eyes in the center panel of this page and the owl's eyes is uncanny. Koiwai claims that it's staring at her because she's popular. She circles the owl... only to find that it can turn its head! She raises her arms and one leg with a "HYA!", but the owl can do that, too. Yotsuba clings to daddy.

Now they see a raccoon, a ... chipmunk? and some deer.

They're almost to the elephant now. Koiwai says he'll be big. Yotsuba asks if he'll be as big as a cow. Koiwai points it out. You can already tell it's big off in the distance. She goes up to the pen.

"IT'S

HUGE!"

Yotsuba exclaims about it's size, saying that even the term "Jumbo" is inadequate to express it. She identifies its trunk as its nose. (A nearby patron appears to be taking a picture of her.) It raises its trunk a bit, causing Yotsuba to wonder what's going on.

"Hello there... Yotsuba."

Yotsuba asks her dad what he's saying. He claims the elephant is saying it, and he's translating.

"I am... an elephant from Africa."

Yotsuba notices a nearby sign.

"I-N-D-I-A."

Koiwai does the wise thing and owns up to having made that up. (The phrase or the whole "I can translate elephant" thing? It's unclear.) He asks her if she can tell what it's saying. She claims it's hungry and wants to eat its picnic lunch; Koiwai thinks she's projecting. They go under a tree to eat while they watch the elephant. While they eat, Yotsuba sees it poop. "It's huge!" Koiwai says she doesn't have to say that.

The last page has the elephant remarking about the heat, and Yotsuba agreeing.

Next time: Chapter 20!

Chapter 20: Yotsuba & The Fireworks Show?

(The chapter image is of Asagi in a yukata with leaves, berries, and dragonflies as a motif. Behind her is something with a railing.)

At the Ayase household, a still-sleepy Asagi issues a "'Morning" to the occupants of the kitchen. Her mother greets her and asks if she wants toast. After a moment's consideration, Asagi gives a "Yeah." Ena is already having hers. She gets a carton of milk, and sets it on the table... right before being greeted by a man reading a paper.

"WHO ARE YOU?!" Asagi yells in shock.

Ena tells her that he's their dad, of course. Asagi remembers, but points out that she forgets because he doesn't make much of an impression, a remark which he takes with good humor. Mrs. Ayase notes that her attitude is worsening, and wonders who she takes after. He points out that she's just how Mrs. Ayase was when she was young. As if to prove his point, both women glare and say, "How rude!" He guesses Ena takes after him, and smiles lovingly at his youngest.

Then Fuuka comes in, obviously not quite awake, but awake enough to give a greeting and slight smile. Mr. Ayase greets her, and Asagi assures her that it's alright; he's their dad. Mrs. Ayase notes this in light of his hard work the day before. Mr. Ayase wonders what he did. Mrs. Ayase reminds him that he drove all the way from her mother's house. He remembers, and notes that he's tired.

This gives Ena an idea. She recalls that he still has a massage coupon from Father's Day, and tells him to use it. Asagi asks her if she made it, which she did. Their dad shows it to them. In the ADV Manga version, Asagi is impressed at the detail, wondering if she needed to make it so, and Fuuka pointed out that "the only need she should be worried about is kneading his shoulders!" (Obviously, it's different in the original.) This prompts Asagi to put her hand around Fuuka's mouth and squeeze. Mr. Ayase, on the other hand, appreciates the humor, and notes that she always says such clever things. (In the original, he says something about how it would win a cushion.) To Asagi's chagrin, he relates Fuuka's pun to his wife.

Fuuka asks Ena how she made it. She printed it using the school computer, and used a potato stamp to put her name on it. Mr. Ayase has decided to use his last one the day Ena gets married. Asagi notes that it's a pretty long-term plan. Fuuka calls him sentimental. Ena urges him to use it, since he can always make more. She decides that the next one she makes will have an expiration date. Fuuka asks for the TV listings.

Ena looks at the calendar and notes that since they've come back from her grandma's house, it feels like vacation is half over. Fuuka agrees. Asagi still has time. Mrs. Ayase wonders why colleges have such long vacations, even though they're so expensive.

Ena takes another look at the calendar, and realizes: the fireworks show is tomorrow.

Next door, Yotsuba asks about the fireworks show. Jumbo explains that there's going to be a bunch of them. Koiwai asks if he doesn't have to work today. He says he got time off for Bon. Yotsuba says she's going to be in the fireworks show. Koiwai realizes that this will be her first one, and wonders what she means by "be in". He asks if she knows what one is. She thinks it's something where everyone does fireworks, and "you" choose who does the best job. She pantomimes a nice routine, and while they understand what she means, she clearly doesn't know what one is. Mr. Koiwai explains that you watch a fireworks show, but don't actually participate. Yotsuba is disappointed, but Jumbo explains that they're huge, and that they shoot up into the sky and explode. Yotsuba pictures one person holding, like, a roman candle. Mr. Koiwai emphasizes the plural, so Yotsuba pictures nine people holding them, and moving them in a circle.

Then Yotsuba realizes that she saw it on TV. Jumbo says that's it, and also says that they'll have booths with cotton candy, candied apples and stuff. This adds to Yotsuba's excitement. She asks if they'll be better than the ones they did before. Mr. Koiwai asks is she meant the ones they set off in the street (see chapter 16), and says they'll be a lot better than that. Jumbo didn't know they did that, and says they should've called him. Yotsuba says Asagi was there. "! CALL ME!"

Yotsuba adds that Asagi bought them for her. This strikes Jumbo as being especially kind. Then he shoots a laser from his eye. Then he suggests that Yotsuba repay her kindness with pretty fireworks, because it would make her happy. Koiwai's expression tells us he sees right through him. Yotsuba agrees with Jumbo, because fireworks are pretty. Jumbo agrees that they are, and starts to say that Asagi is even moreso, but can't get the rest of it out. In his mirth over his inability, he accidentally backhands Yotsuba, knocking her into a wall! This upsets her, and he apologizes profusely, offering to make it up to her by buying her booth food. She also wants to catch goldfish, so he agrees to that. She also wants to do it more than three times, which her dad explains is the usual limit he sets. Jumbo agrees to four or even five times. This satisfies her.

They can't wait to see the fireworks. Jumbo gets her to go invite Asagi, ostensibly as thanks. Once she's gone, Koiwai gives him a look. Jumbo tells him to save it.

At the Ayase home, Mrs. Ayase announces Yotsuba's arrival. She wastes no time in finding Asagi. But before she can make the invitation, she's greeted by an unfamiliar person. She looks and sees a man having his back pounded by Ena. Yotsuba asks who he is: friend or foe. Asagi immediately answers "Foe! Get him!" Yotsuba starts for him, but Ena contradicts Asagi. She says he's her dad. And Fuuka and Asagi's, too. Way to And Zoidberg your sisters, kid. Yotsuba tells him his daughters help her so much, and thanks him for everything. Whoa. He's apparently impressed by her politeness, as well. He finds out that she's friends with them, and says she can come over every day. She says she does.

Asagi gets the conversation back on track by asking Yotsuba if she wanted to talk to her about something. Yotsuba makes her invitation, but Asagi already said she'd go with Torako. After some assurance that Asagi will still be seeing them, Yotsuba is relieved. Mr. Ayase asks if she'd take Fuuka and Ena, but Fuuka says she'll be going with a friend as well, and Ena has plans to watch them from Miura's. But... they look so small from there, that Ena is willing to change those plans, if it's okay with her father. Yotsuba demonstrates how great the fireworks show is (as well as her persistent misperception of what it is) by waving her arms around. Mr. Ayase enjoyed the spectacle, but Asagi wonders what she just did. Ena is allowed to go, and to call Miura and have her come, too. Yotsuba can't wait!

Back at the Koiwai home, Jumbo's head is set against a sparkly background, sporting Blush Stickers. Jumbo makes sure of what Yotsuba said; she reiterates that Asagi says she's going to the fireworks show. He picks up Yotsuba and twirls her around as he wonders what to wear tomorrow. Koiwai asks if he's sure the flowers should just be left in water.

Next time: Chapter 21!