mbarker | Saturday's Rakugo (Feb. 23)

Whoops. Forgot to finish up last week's story. Let's see. On Friday, we were left with Kiyomi on the phone, saying hello, yes . . . and looking around the table at the other students, Ako, and the new student, Yusuke, who seemed to duck.

So Saturday's episode replayed that hello, yes, and Yusuke ducking. And then Kiyomi hung up the phone, sat down, and told everyone it was a mistaken phone call. Then the phone rings again, and Soso jumps up and answers it. "Yes, this is Soso. Who is this? Oh. I'll have that person call you later." And he hangs up the phone, and sits down. Glares at Yusuke, and says, "That was your mother."

Kosojyaku said, "But you said your parents were dead." Yusuke smiles. Sogen says something. And then Soso yells, "What does this mean?"

Shiso stands up and walks into the kitchen. He opens the counter doors, says, "Yappari" (That's what I thought) and grabs something. He walks back to the table, showing the whiskey bottle and cigarettes he had picked up. When Kosojyaku asks how he knew that, he says "I did it too. And he just likes to lie."

Yusuke finally manages to tell them that he knew if Soso asked his parents, they would say he could not do rakugo. So he made up a story of them being dead.

Shiso comments, "You could have hidden the cigarettes and booze in your room. But you like to push it to the edge, right? It's more fun seeing just how much you can get away with?"

Sogen looks stunned, and says, "You really are Teppou Yusuke, aren't you?"

What about your sister? That was a lie.
What about helping the old lady. Lie.
What about the cat? Lie.

Are you trying to sabotage us, with these lies? No. I lie, because it's fun, and that causes sabotage.

Shiso smiles and says, "Damaseru is fun, right?" (trick, cheat, decieve) And Yusuke smiles, yes.

Yusuke looks at them all, and says, "What's wrong with that? The world of rakugo is all lies, isn't it?"

Soso shakes his head, and says, "No. The story of Teppou Yusuke is fun, but I can't forgive this. All these lies!"

Ako pipes up, "He's not the only one who's lying."

Sogen says, "But wait, all his talk about watching rakugo, is that a lie?"
Yusuke smiles, and says, "That's the truth."
Kosojyaku answers, "No, that has to be the truth, he knows so much about us."
Sogen "So which parts are the truth?"

Soso explodes. "I don't care. You're expelled." And Yusuke bows, "I understand. Thank you for everything."

Kiyomi interrupts the silence. "Wait. Please let him stay."

Soso, "What? He lies. Why would you want him?"

Kiyomi, "I'm his okamisan . . . and he's amusing. I think the teacher would keep him, he's amusing. And he adds spice to the school. So you teach him, and I'll be okami."

Soso looks at Yusuke. "Do you really want to stay? Talk to your parents."

So Yusuke lies, and lies, but . . . we'll keep him!

Couple more little scenes on Saturday. First, Soso is in the garden, and Kiyomi asks him if he is still thinking about Yusuke. He says yes, but at least he'll talk to parents. And there's a card in the mail. From an old lady in Senri, thanking them for student, talking about great teacher, good rakugo. Soso starts to smile, then thinks, and says, "Lies, right?" Kiyomi, "No, I think it's real." Soso, "Nah, lies, I think." Having a habitual liar around sure makes reality fray.

Second, Kiyomi walking into the garden, and Ako at the gate. Kiyomi, "Sorry about all the fuss. I wondered about meeting you." Ako, "I'm going home. Get married." Kiyomi, "What? Who?" Ako, "Oh, anybody." Kiyomi, "Huh?" And Ako, "It's all lies. Because of you, my life is a wreck."

To be continued! (Just to make sure we come back on Monday, I guess.)