Inside the Tsutsukakushi Home (Japanese: 筒隠さんの家の中 Tsutsukakushi-san no Ie no Naka) is the eleventh episode of the anime series of The "Hentai" Prince and the Stony Cat. It first aired in Japan on June 22, 2013.
Plot
Youto and Tsukiko find themselves in the same playground, but the rain has stopped, and the atmosphere feels strangely different. As they explore their surroundings, they encounter a group of children running past, including a younger Ponta and Mai. Tsukiko shows Youto to a bulletin board, where election posters for the town mayor are displayed, except the date displayed is from ten years past — the cat god seems to have granted her wish in an unbelievable way.
Youto falls into panic, but Tsukiko, staying exceedingly calm, reminds him that since the cat god can grant any wish, they should be able to return at any point. Seeing this as an opportunity to confirm Tsukushi's memories and prove that she has met Youto in the past, Tsukiko decides to search for her mother. On their bus ride, the vehicle brakes sharply. Youto manages to support a nearby child as she stumbles, who turn out to be a young Azuki Azusa. Her mother apologizes and tells "A-chan" to thank Youto, and Azusa does so, addressing him as "onii-chan." Her cuteness brings a bright smile to Youto's face, while Tsukiko grows jealous.
They get off the bus near the preschool where Tsukiko's mother works. There, Tsukiko spots a lone boy laying on its wall, who she recognizes as a six-year-old Yokodera Youto, much to her excitement. After Tsukiko's introduction, the six-year-old Youto greets the sixteen-year-old Youto, brimming with energy.
As the young Youto compliments Tsukiko's beauty, she becomes increasingly enamored, to the point where she lifts her shirt and wraps young Youto's head underneath. She passionately lectures the boy to never gain any weird interests or turn into a pervert, prompting an innocent response, promising to grow up to be someone cool like the big brother in front of him.
Tsukiko asks the boy if he's waiting for his mom, but he answers that he's instead waiting for a "Tsutsukakushi Tsukasa" who is a teacher at the preschool, a name that immediately jumps out to both Youto and Tsukiko. They are then greeted by the person in question — far from being a warm and maternal figure, Tsukasa exudes a sharp, rebellious energy. She has what looks to be a cigarette in her mouth, unkempt hair, and tattered clothing, and speaks with a sharp tongue, addressing the little Youto as "shitty brat."
The young Youto asks to join Tsukasa at her home. She insists that she has no obligation and even claims that she hates children, especially Youto. Just as he's about to give up however, she changes her mind, though emphasizing that it's just for this once. In order to confirm Tsukushi's memories, Tsukiko also greets Tsukasa. Avoiding to reveal their true identities, Tsukiko introduces herself and Youto as step-siblings "Kikko Y Azukiella" and "Toyo T Azukiella." Before she can make a request, the young Youto goes a step further and invites them to join their dinner. Tsukasa appears annoyed and scolds the little Youto, only to once again changes her mind at the last moment.
The Tsutsukakushi household is wildly different from the one they know, cluttered with scattered items and covered in spider webs. Their dinner only consists of ready-made convenience store meals, but Tsukiko swiftly devours them regardless. Tsukasa goes on to reiterate how much of a bother this causes her, all while offering her remaining food to Tsukiko at the same time. When the young Youto also asks for seconds, she scolds him again but spoils him regardless with ice cream.
Little Youto invites Youto and Tsukiko to stay the night, saying that Tsukasa-san is always lonely. Tsukasa's response is the same — scolding and protests followed by an immediate change of mind, disguised with a hasty excuse. Afterwards, Tsukasa briefly coughs and says that she's tired. She heads to bed after leaving them some breakfast, also bought from the convenience store.
Seeing the food, Tsukiko comments that she expected Tsukasa to be a better mother. The little Youto however asserts she's a good person — she just doesn't care about what she eats because she lives alone, a statement that surprises both Tsukiko and Youto. He adds that Tsukasa is always alone and lonely, which is why he tries keep her company as much as he can.
Taking a bath, Youto ponders Tsukushi's memories as well as his own, since he doesn't remember meeting Tsukasa when he was young. After the bath, he encounters little Youto outside Tsukiko's room, claiming that he's on guard duty for "onee-chan." Youto carries on and walks in regardless, finding Tsukiko in the middle of changing. Panicked, Youto immediately hurls little Youto out of the room, saying it's to protect Tsukiko's chastity and the boy's innocence. However, Tsukiko knocks him out on the spot and dumps him outside as well.
When he wakes up, Youto encounters giant hedgehog, only to realize it's Tsukasa in her costume pajamas, who couldn't fall asleep. Youto takes the opportunity to ask her about her family. Tsukasa says that there used to be a lot more people living here, including her two daughters, who loved her until her husband suddenly passed away and some complicated events took place. She proceeds to blames herself for ruining everything in the end.
Tsukasa reveals that her daughters are currently living in Italy with their grandparents, though mentions that something might happen tomorrow. Returning to her room, Tsukasa is seen taking medication while she operates a sewing machine, with fashion magazines laying on the table.
The next morning, Youto, little Youto, and Tsukiko share some convenience store breakfast, while Tsukasa seems to be sleeping in. Tsukiko mentions that Tsukasa is supposed to have something important to do today, and little Youto adds that she was also going to measure his height. He shows Tsukiko and Youto to a pillar carved with height markings, an effort by Tsukasa to document the little Youto's growth. This contradicts Tsukushi's words from the future, who instead claimed that this exact pillar was where her mother measured her height.
At this point, a car horn sounds outside, as a visitor has apparently arrived. Outside, Youto finds a little girl approaching, munching on a steamed bun — Tsukiko from ten years ago. She hands Youto a hotel flier before a young Tsukushi appears, calling her back to the car.
Tsukushi commands them to bring out the owner of the house, asserting that she has a right to know why she "broke her promise." She goes on to elaborate that they had flown across the seas to come here to discuss their future, yet she did not come to see them at their hotel, which she takes as a statement of ignorance and indifference towards her daughters. Youto's attempts to make up excuses for Tsukasa are quickly shut down as she continues to blab on in big words.
As she speaks, Youto notices a tendency for her to trip on foreign words. Youto makes her repeat some difficult words after him, causing her to bite her tongue. However, as Youto pats her head, the little Youto's expression turns grim, muttering that Tsukushi acts all tough while being soft on herself. Hearing this, Tsukushi slaps Youto's hands aside and begins badmouthing him. This confuses Youto as she seemed to enjoy it a moment ago, an observation echoed by little Youto.
Frustrated, Tsukushi begins throwing rocks at the Youtos. Youto asks if her mother never taught her to not throw rocks at people, but the girl vehemently asserts that she has no mother — the woman who "threw away" her children has no right to be called that. Little Youto tries to defend Tsukasa, only to make Tsukushi even angrier.
As she continues throwing rocks, one of the rocks strikes Tsukasa in the head as she steps out of the house along with Tsukiko. Despite the blow, Tsukasa smiles softly and reaches out to her daughter, remarking on how much she has grown. However, Tsukushi slaps her hand away and says she doesn't know her. She then abruptly turns and runs back into the car, declaring that she doesn't want to see her ever again.
As the car drives off, Tsukasa lets out a soft sigh and murmurs that it's only natural. Suddenly, Tsukiko confronts her mother, bluntly stating that she is a failure. She reasons that a mother should love her daughters, and if she does, she should chase after them no matter what they say, and tell them so herself. Little Youto begs them not to fight, and Tsukiko apologizes for going too far, but Tsukasa says that it's fine.
Returning to the banquet hall, Tsukasa downs many cans of beer and forces little Youto to try on girl's clothing with his hair now styled like a girl's. As she drinks, she vents about her husband's parents, who labeled her a punk just because she dated their son in high school. Their disapproval eventually led to the couple eloping. Meanwhile, Tsukiko has accidentally gotten drunk from the alcohol fumes. Mistaking Youto for his young counterpart, she believes he has grown up to be a fine man. She pushes Youto down on the tatami mat, snuggles inside his jersey, sniffs him from under his clothes, before emerging out Youto's collar. Youto tries to bring her back to her senses, but to no avail as she begins falling asleep, her incoherent words fading.
When Tsukiko wakes up, the sun is already setting. Youto, who had removed her from his jersey after she fell asleep, has also dozed off. Walking through the halls, she hears the sound of her mother coughing. Following the sound, finds Tsukasa at her sewing machine. She asks if she wanted to give these clothes as gifts to her daughters, realizing that last night, she had also pulled an all-nighter sewing. Tsukasa though dismisses the idea, saying it's only to pass the time.
Sitting down, Tsukiko asks Tsukasa why she let her daughters go if she loved them so much. Tsukasa reveals that they were only supposed to stay in Italy for a short while, but the authorities wouldn't let her on a plane, and after a complicated series of events, their Italian grandparents began pushing for full custody.
At this moment, Youto, having just woken up, passes by and begins listening to the conversation. Tsukasa continues, explaining that although she thought daughters might be better off with their grandparents, she couldn't bring herself to let go, and has become a mess since. Tsukiko insists that her daughters still love her, but Tsukasa, taking another sip of her beer, says that even if they did, they won't anymore after today.
Concerned, Tsukiko tells her she's drinking too much, prompting a remark that everything Tsukiko says sounds like it's coming from her daughter. Tsukiko responds that if that's the case, she should listen to her, assuring her that she can change things, even now. However, Tsukasa coughs as she replies that it's too late, and that she's running out of time — before suddenly collapsing. Youto urgently rushes to her aid, finding her burning with a fever.
Characters
Trivia
Deviations from Source Material
- In the light novel, after being transported to the past, Youto and Tsukiko first head to Youto's house, but find the nameplate reading "Higuchi" instead of "Yokodera." In the anime, this part was omitted.[1]
- In the light novel, Youto and Tsukiko only encounter a young Ponta. The young Mai is exclusive to the anime.[1]
- Tsukiko wrapping the little Youto's head under her shirt is an anime-exclusive scene. In the light novel, she instead rubs little Youto's head and compares the smells of the two Youtos' hair.[1]
- In the light novel, Youto's coversations with Tsukasa and little Youto are much longer. These were trimmed down significantly in the anime, and parts of these conversations were reallocated to Tsukiko when she finds her mother sewing, which is also an anime-exclusive scene.[1][2]
- In the light novel, little Tsukushi is the only one visiting the Tsutsukakushi household, and little Tsukiko does not appear until later.[1][2]
- In the light novel, Tsukiko gets drunk from licking some beer accidentally sprayed on her face, not from breathing in the fumes.[2]
- In the light novel, Tsukasa buys the children's clothes shown on the fashion magazine instead of making them herself.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Light Novel Volume 5 Chapter 3 — Inside the Tsutsukakushi Home
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Light Novel Volume 5 Chapter 4 — Inside Yokodera-kun's Heart
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