Episode 1: Fooly Cooly
School was excruciatingly slow, that day. Naota just sat in the darkened back corner of the classroom, almost forgotten by the rest of the class. He found that if he was quiet enough, people tended to leave him alone. For most of the class, he counted the swirling rings on the wooden surface of his desk, as he usually did. After he tired of that, he stared at the clock. When class was dismissed, he stuffed his papers sloppily into his bag, pulled on his bookbag and walked out of the classroom, without so much as a glance toward the teacher.
His teacher had approached him on several occasions about his lack of participation in class. He spent most of the conferences ignoring her and when forced, only giving compliant answers. That was how he lived, now. He avoided contact, and with force, to the easy, compliant way out. It saved time and energy.
Naota headed home, alone. It wasn't like it bothered him. Even if he was with someone, he doubted he'd talk to them.
Naota: (thinking) People are so stupid. They never make any sense. I hate people.
That night, Naota sat at his desk, staring deeply out of the window. His mind was filled with thoughts, but as he turned to go to his bed, he only spoke one, simple phrase;
Naota: They're not coming back...
Naota awoke to the sound of his dad calling from downstairs.
Kamon: Nao, telephone!
Naota was about to stand when the words struck him. Telephone? Who would be calling him? It wasn't like he talked to anyone enough to give them merit to call (it wasn't like he talked to anyone, period). Curiously, Naota headed downstairs and picked up the receiver his father had placed down on the living room table. Slowly, Naota put it to his ear.
Naota: Hello?
A female voiced replied.
???: Is this Nandaba Naota?
Naota: Uh, yeah... That'd be me...
For some odd reason, Naota was sure he had heard that voice before. It was vaguely familiar, but he failed to place it, so he surrendered and waited for a response.
???: Hi. This is Lieutenant Kitsurubami from the Special Space Immigrations Office. I don't know if you remember or not...
Naota: (thinking) Nope... doesn't ring a bell...
Kitsurubami: (continuing) ... I've got a few questions I'd like to ask you ... about the incident with the extraterrestrial you know as Haruko.
Naota: Okay...
Kitsurubami: I was wondering if you'd be willing to meet me...
Naota: Okay... I get out of school around four or so...
Kitsurubami: I'll be there to pick you up, tomorrow, okay?
Naota: I guess...
Kitsurubami: And Naota...
Naota: Yeah?
Kitsurubami: Let's keep this between us, okay?
Naota: Yeah ... sure...
Kitsurubami: Okay, then. Good-bye.
Naota: Yeah.
With that, Kitsurubami hung up. For about five minutes, Naota just stood there, holding the receiver. Slowly, he hung up the phone and headed back to his room.
Naota: (thinking) That was... weird... "Kitsurubami...?" Now that I think about it... That name does sort of sound familiar...
(shrugging it off) Oh well...
Naota went back up to his room and climbed back into bed. He found his mind unable to wander, still stapled to the phone call he had received.
---------------------
RIDE ON SHOOTING STAR
ORANGE no SLIDE utsusu sora
SPONGE no PRIDE burasakete
SPIDER
kike totta sono yokan wa
kakusanakuta tte ii n da
iro no tsuita yume mitai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
GRUNGE no HAMSTER otona bite
REVENGE no LOBSTER hiki tsurete
SNIPER
fuchi totta sono sekai ni
nani ga mieru tte iu n da
nerau mae ni sawaritai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kimi o sagashite kindanshôjô chû
uso o tsuita
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
---------------------
Haruko: I understand the need for an immersing plot, but is the whole angst thing really necessary? Giant robot anime can be so dramatic. And the need for a movie release was practically nonexistent. By the 24th episode, I just wanted it to be over! Oh, well. They can't all be gems! Next on Fooly Cooly; Episode 2: Veija/Nueva Cara
School was excruciatingly slow, that day. Naota just sat in the darkened back corner of the classroom, almost forgotten by the rest of the class. He found that if he was quiet enough, people tended to leave him alone. For most of the class, he counted the swirling rings on the wooden surface of his desk, as he usually did. After he tired of that, he stared at the clock. When class was dismissed, he stuffed his papers sloppily into his bag, pulled on his bookbag and walked out of the classroom, without so much as a glance toward the teacher.
His teacher had approached him on several occasions about his lack of participation in class. He spent most of the conferences ignoring her and when forced, only giving compliant answers. That was how he lived, now. He avoided contact, and with force, to the easy, compliant way out. It saved time and energy.
Naota headed home, alone. It wasn't like it bothered him. Even if he was with someone, he doubted he'd talk to them.
Naota: (thinking) People are so stupid. They never make any sense. I hate people.
That night, Naota sat at his desk, staring deeply out of the window. His mind was filled with thoughts, but as he turned to go to his bed, he only spoke one, simple phrase;
Naota: They're not coming back...
Naota awoke to the sound of his dad calling from downstairs.
Kamon: Nao, telephone!
Naota was about to stand when the words struck him. Telephone? Who would be calling him? It wasn't like he talked to anyone enough to give them merit to call (it wasn't like he talked to anyone, period). Curiously, Naota headed downstairs and picked up the receiver his father had placed down on the living room table. Slowly, Naota put it to his ear.
Naota: Hello?
A female voiced replied.
???: Is this Nandaba Naota?
Naota: Uh, yeah... That'd be me...
For some odd reason, Naota was sure he had heard that voice before. It was vaguely familiar, but he failed to place it, so he surrendered and waited for a response.
???: Hi. This is Lieutenant Kitsurubami from the Special Space Immigrations Office. I don't know if you remember or not...
Naota: (thinking) Nope... doesn't ring a bell...
Kitsurubami: (continuing) ... I've got a few questions I'd like to ask you ... about the incident with the extraterrestrial you know as Haruko.
Naota: Okay...
Kitsurubami: I was wondering if you'd be willing to meet me...
Naota: Okay... I get out of school around four or so...
Kitsurubami: I'll be there to pick you up, tomorrow, okay?
Naota: I guess...
Kitsurubami: And Naota...
Naota: Yeah?
Kitsurubami: Let's keep this between us, okay?
Naota: Yeah ... sure...
Kitsurubami: Okay, then. Good-bye.
Naota: Yeah.
With that, Kitsurubami hung up. For about five minutes, Naota just stood there, holding the receiver. Slowly, he hung up the phone and headed back to his room.
Naota: (thinking) That was... weird... "Kitsurubami...?" Now that I think about it... That name does sort of sound familiar...
(shrugging it off) Oh well...
Naota went back up to his room and climbed back into bed. He found his mind unable to wander, still stapled to the phone call he had received.
---------------------
RIDE ON SHOOTING STAR
ORANGE no SLIDE utsusu sora
SPONGE no PRIDE burasakete
SPIDER
kike totta sono yokan wa
kakusanakuta tte ii n da
iro no tsuita yume mitai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
GRUNGE no HAMSTER otona bite
REVENGE no LOBSTER hiki tsurete
SNIPER
fuchi totta sono sekai ni
nani ga mieru tte iu n da
nerau mae ni sawaritai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kimi o sagashite kindanshôjô chû
uso o tsuita
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
---------------------
Haruko: I understand the need for an immersing plot, but is the whole angst thing really necessary? Giant robot anime can be so dramatic. And the need for a movie release was practically nonexistent. By the 24th episode, I just wanted it to be over! Oh, well. They can't all be gems! Next on Fooly Cooly; Episode 2: Veija/Nueva Cara