Okuyasu can't read?

DISCLAIMER: chapter is inspired by Hey Arnold: Oskar Can't Read episode.

fed up with the troubles of being illiterate, Okuyasu asks Josuke and Koichi for help to learn how to read.

At lunch time at Café Deux Magots, the Duwang gang are having lunch at their local cafe shop. Okuyasu is humming while eating a grilled chicken sandwich.

(Okuyasu munching and humming loudly)

Rohan drops his utensils on the table, "Okuyasu! for crying out loud, will you please stop with the damn humming."

"what humming?" Okuyasu questioned

"the humming that you're doing." Rohan glares and crosses his arms.

"He can't help it, Rohan. that's just the way he eats." Kiwi added

Rohan rolls his eyes, "fine. at least pass the salt."

Okuyasu sees both shakers on the table but grabs the pepper instead of salt.

Koichi raised an eyebrow, "Um, that's pepper, Okuyasu."

"oh, sorry. I guess I'm tired from the sandwich I ate." said Okuyasu

"What an idiot." Rohan palm slapped his face in disbelief

Later that same day, A mailman asks Okuyasu to sign the paper but he makes up an excuse saying he's busy. Hours after that, at Tonio's restaurant, Tonio asks Okuyasu to read the recipe while he cooks, Okuyasu says the onion (which is far from him) prevents him from seeing the words.

The next day at Budogaoka high, Josuke and Koichi see Okuyasu at the lockers struggling to open a container.

"Hey Okuyasu." Koichi greeted

"Oh, good. Josuke. Koichi. Could one of you help me open this jar of aspirin. my headache is killing me."

Josuke takes the container and reads the label on it, "Um, Okuyasu. this isn't aspirin. this is scum free fish bowl cleaner tablets."

Okuyasu scratches his head in confusion, "huh? I thought I grabbed the bottle of aspirin before I left this morning."

Josuke and Koichi gave each other nervous looks. "Okuyasu. don't take this personal, but you don't know how to read, do you?"

Okuyasu chuckles nervously, "what are you talking about, Josuke? Of course I know how to read. I can read like anybody else- okay, so it's true, I never really learned how to read that well, no biggie."

"it's okay, Okuyasu. you can still learn." Koichi added

"Nah, don't worry about it, Koichi. To be honest, I don't even need reading to become the successful person that I am today."

"you're only sixteen in high school, Okuyasu." said Josuke

Okuyasu crossed his arms, "what's your point?"

"my point is if you want to learn how to read you could do lots of things and you wouldn't have to keep making excuses when people ask you to pass the salt."

"yeah, you do have a point there, Josuke. In fact, you always make good points. Okay, I'll do it. But one thing, can we keep this secret between us three, I don't want anyone else to know that I can't read."

"YOU CAN'T READ?!" a cackling voice said

The trio turned around and saw Tobias and crew standing nearby the lockers laughing.

(laughing uncontrollably) "it's unbelievable." "I knew he was an idiot from the start!"

Okuyasu approaches them, "who said that I can't read?"

"You did just now, Nijimura. You said that you can't read. I bet you're too dumb to learn!" (laughing)

Koichi comes to Okuyasu's defense, "he is not dumb, Tobias. Okuyasu can read and he will learn how to read."

Tobias smirks and crosses his arms, "Oh is that so? well alright then. let's make this deal a sweet one. If you can read by the end of this month, I'll let you have my trading card collection . If not, then you'll be my personal assistant for the entire month."

Okuyasu firmly grasps Tobias's hand, "Okay it's a bet!"

"Be ready to wipe the dirt off my shoes, Sophomore." Tobias and his crew walks away laughing

"Don't listen to him, Okuyasu. you'll be reading in no time." said Koichi

Okuyasu points his index fingers together, "yeah, but I was wondering if you guys could..."

Josuke finished his sentence, "help you read? Of course. That's why we are here."

For the next few days, we get a montage of Josuke and Koichi helping Okuyasu learn how to read. First, Koichi teaches him the alphabet.

" A B C D E F G..."

" H I C K N 2 P...yay, I'm reading."

Next, Josuke shows him a pictogram of animals, objects etc. "pony? jellyfish? coconut?"

Josuke holds up the flash card with the image revealed to be a cat as he gives Okuyasu an unusual blank stare. Later, Koichi gives Okuyasu a spelling book worksheets to do on his own.

The next day at the Higashikata residence, Josuke and Koichi reviewed the spelling worksheets.

"Wow! this looks great, Okuyasu." Koichi rejoiced

Okuyasu leans back in his chair, "Yeah. I'm getting the hang of this reading stuff. I think I'm ready to show Tobias and his crew that I can read. I'm gonna read the first page of this book then I'll win the bet."

Josuke takes the book from Okuyasu and reads the title of it, " 'A tale of two cities'? Are you sure?"

Okuyasu waves his hand, "Oh sure, I can read it easily."

In the main plaza, Okuyasu sees a little boy on the swing set in the park.

"hey kid. I need you to do me a favor. I want you to read the first page of this book again and again until I can memorize it."

the boy crossed his arms, "what's in for me?"

Later, Okuyasu gives some ice cream to coerce the boy to read him the book. The next day at Budogaoka high, at the school's swimming pool, Okuyasu reads 'A Tale of Two Cities' in front of the group.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us"

"You did it, Okuyasu!" Koichi cheered

Kiwi hugs her boyfriend, "Oki pooh, I'm so proud of you."

Koichi runs up and hugs him, "I knew you could do it all along."

"so Mr. High Roller, I think you're supposed to be my personal assistant now." said Okuyasu adding a smirk

"I can't believe it, Okuyasu knows how to read."

Tobias switched the 'A tale of two cities book' with the 'War and peace' book, "yeah before we start exchanging the bet, I just wanna clarify one thing now that you're a professional reader and all. let's hear you read it one more time."

"Oh sure Tobias, no problem. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times-"

"I thought so. you can't read at all!"

Okuyasu crosses his arms, "what the hell are you talking about?"

"I switched the books, you dumb ass. you memorized the first page of 'A tale of two cities' , didn't you?"

"did you, Okuyasu?" asked Kiwi

"well, well maybe I did but-"

(Kiwi sobs)

"You were cheating the whole time, weren't you? I thought you wanted to learn." said Josuke

"don't waste your time anymore, Jojo. He'll never learn. He's an idiotic loser anyway. Come on guys, let's go waste our time somewhere else."

The group walked away leaving a disappointed Okuyasu by himself. Later that night, a saddened Okuyasu sits on the steps in front of his house.

Fed up with being illiterate, Okuyasu knocks on the Higashikata's front door as Josuke answers it.

"I want to read."

Josuke crossed his arms, "Okuyasu, you said that before but you didn't mean it."

"I'm serious this time, Josuke. I want to read so I can be able to sign my name and pass the salt without making any excuses. Or without Tobias and his crew clowning me about not being able to read. I want to read, Josuke. Please help me."

Josuke smiles in response. The next day, we get another montage of Josuke and Koichi teaching Okuyasu how to read by doing spelling worksheets, reading grade school books and reading pictogram cards.

At Budogaoka public library

"But I want to read more." said Okuyasu

"You will. All you have to do is go there and start reading." Josuke said

"Aw, come on Josuke. come in there with me. Please?"

"I told you I can't. I have to do something for my mom. You'll be alright in there. I'll see you later."

"Come on, Josuke. those books are too hard." (sighs in exasperation)

Inside, Okuyasu sits at a desk and reads one of the books trying to pronounce a difficult word.

"Hy-hypo chal chal-Aw dammit! I can't read these books, they're too hard!"

An hour later, Okuyasu reads a children's book called 'Peggy Long-stockings' for the kids at the library. Later that same day, Josuke and Koichi are outside of Okuyasu's house.

"Josuke, are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Koichi

"It's the only way we know for sure that he can officially read. Trust me, I got this."

Josuke cautiously escorts Okuyasu, who's blindfolded to the car. Minutes later, inside the car, the trio head across town to an unknown neighborhood.

"okay, Okuyasu. This is your final test. We're taking you to the other side of the city to a neighborhood you don't know. Then, I'll give you a map and some written directions showing you how to get back home. all you have to do is read the directions and the map to get back home. If you can do that, It means you pass. It means you can read. You can do it, Okuyasu. we'll see you back at the house."

Okuyasu removes his blindfold, "wait, Josuke. What if I–"

"good luck!" (tires screeching) The car drives away creating a cloud of dust

(sighs in exasperation) Okuyasu looks down at the map and reads the directions on the notepad, "First, take po…Post street…street east."

He looks around and sees Post street up ahead. "Okay, Po…Post street east. Okay!"

"Then, turn left on Fff…Fi…Fiv…Fifth…Avenue. Fifth Avenue. okay, cool. this is already a piece of cake. I'll be home in no time."

(tires squealing) (shouting, horns honking)

Back at the Higashikata's residence

Tobias crosses his arms, "He can't read, Jojo!"

"He can read. He'll make it back. I know he will." said Josuke

"Trust me, you'll get a phone call around 2am in the morning" (mimicking Okuyasu): 'I'm lost. I'm cold and scared. Come get me.'

A worried Kiwi continuously looks out the window waiting for Okuyasu. Meanwhile, inside the underground train station, Okuyasu continues reading the directions.

"Take the un…underground train to…Mori..Morioh…nor…nor…north."

he looks at the train schedule and gets on the train but unfortunately, the schedule reads Morioh North indicating right and Morioh South indicating left.

As night falls, Okuyasu gets lost in the train station where he arrives in skid row, a dimly lit and dark street. He looks around and sees a closed gated fence with a 'This property is condemned. No exit' sign.

(sighs in exasperation) "Made a mistake again. Took the wrong damn train. Maybe Tobias was right. I'm just an idiot who can't even learn how to read."

He sits down and sees a tiny brown and white kitty. "Hey, what are you doing here, little fella? Are you lost like me?"

He picks up the kitten and pets it, "You remind me of a cat I used to have when I was a kid. Chocolate fur with white spots. Just like the book I used to read called 'The Unique Kitten'.

"Just like the book I can read. That's it! If I can read that book, then I can read the street signs." Okuyasu takes the kitten with him and goes back to the train station.

Back at the Higashikata's residence, The others are sitting around in the living room waiting for Okuyasu to come back.

Kiwi nervously paces herself back and forth, "that's it. I'm going out there to look for him."

Koichi looks out the window, "Look!"

They look outside as Okuyasu returns home and surprises the others that he can now read well.

"I can read!"

Kiwi runs out and hugs him, "Oki pooh, I'm so proud of you!"

"You did it Okuaysu!" Koichi cheered

Tobias smirks, "guess I was wrong, Nijimura. you've had it in you all along."

"Thanks, Tobias. oh and since you lost the bet, I won't be needing your trading cards anymore. I have something else in mind instead."

"Really? Like what?" Tobias raised an eyebrow

The next day at Higashikata's house, in the backyard. The trio are relaxing on lawn chairs.

Okuyasu sips on a glass of lemonade, (slurping) "Ahh, now this is the life."

(sing-song voice) "Oh Tobias." He rings the bell as Tobias walks out wearing a server's uniform.

"Yes, your majesty."

"We need another refill of lemonade, please."