Neighborhood Story

Mama, why...? (1x43)

: 14, 1996

Mikako continues to speculate on the rationale for Ruriko's actions much to Kuro's agony before realizing that even the easy-going Ruriko will promptly extinguish her for delivering the searing reproof her conduct demands especially after having tried to drown away her troubles with alcohol at Hiroaki's bar. Instead of voting with her feet against Ruriko, Mikako decides upon an asymmetrical school-home commute pattern where she takes her sweet time getting home from school. After P-chan compares notes with her over their mothers, Mikako decides to egress at another station and wander around the area -- only to be reminded of when her family government was a cohesive unit before stumbling onto Risa's workplace. The deus ex machina that ultimately gets Mikako back on track is Risa's uncanny sixth sense for the carnage of clumsy family government; a few phone calls and a heap of junk food purchases later, the party that follows reminds Mikako that she can always count on her friends in Akindo.