Dandelion (2026) s01e02 Episode Script

1
[low rumbling]
[man 1] I swear to you!
I won't drink a drop of booze
until my squad hits our quota!
-[funky music playing]
-[man 2] What incredible resolve.
-I'm tearing up already.
-[man 3] We'll hit the quota.
We're gonna make you proud, Captain!
-[men] Yeah!
-[yawning] Huh?
Let's split up and check the spots
where spirits are likely to appear.
For example,
a spot like…
-Let's just cover everywhere.
-[woman and man] Yes, ma'am!
[funky music continues]
We'll scour this world from end to end!
No resting or chitchat!
-Let's fire up and move!
-[men] Yes, sir!
[running footsteps receding]
Huh? What the hell are you peeping at?
Hmm.
Relax. I was just thinking
we should work together.
What do ya say?
Sorry, but we don't have the time
to babysit another squad.
[groans]
What's up Plum Squad?
-[gun clicks]
-[Tetsuo] Huh?
Keep talking if you wanna
see what heaven's like.
Jeez, man, what the hell?
Aren't we supposed to help
each other in tough times?
-[roars] Dah! Get outta my way!
-[Tetsuo] We can't afford to fall behind!
-[music ends]
-You guys are all psychopaths!
[grunts]
Chief, did you see that?
I thought teamwork was
Send-Off Department's motto!
All of our salaries
are based on performance now.
Everyone's feeling the pressure lately.
[echoing] Squads who perform poorly
will not receive payment.
This is not good.
If a small-fry squad like us
can't get any help, we're done for.
We've gotta find enough spirits somehow.
[Misaki] Tetsu!
-[up-tempo music playing]
-You found one?
Look! I beat my own record!
Try doing some real work for once!
-[music ends]
-Hey, don't get yourself worked up, Tetsu.
You wanna watch this together?
[Tetsuo] Hmm?
-[crowd roaring]
-[wrestlers grunting]
[wrestler 1 bellows] Ah!
Get him, Destino! Use your finisher!
Adrenaline!
Noradrenaline!
-Serotonin! Serotonin! Dopamine!
-[referee] One! Two! Three!
-[bell rings]
-[Tetsuo squeals] Woo-hoo!
Man, is pro wrestling great or what?
They've got another match playing
live tonight at the Kanrakuen.
-Do you wanna go?
-[Tetsuo laughs]
-I guess nothing changes you.
-Hmm?
Eh. I guess I was just thinking.
Things have been tough here
and in the world below.
-[film projector whirring]
-[Tetsuo] Back in the day, it was simple.
Everyone's lives were hard.
And when they died, they passed
straight to the afterlife with no regrets.
-[whirring stops]
-Things are so complicated now.
There are so many souls
who keep moping around after they die.
[sighs] And our captain,
she can't help but get involved.
-[game bleeping]
-Says she can't just walk away.
I think that's a good thing.
In fact, that's what I kinda like
about you guys.
[Tetsuo] Really? So you understand!
Man, it's good to have
at least one friend!
[device buzzing]
Hmm.
Hey, what's going on?
Yeah? A spirit?
Got it. I'll be right there.
You found a spirit?
Yeah.
All right. Let's roll, pal!
-I'm afraid I can't do that.
-Huh?
Uh… come on, we're buddies, right?
Being buddies is one thing.
This is another.
[Tetsuo] You gotta be kidding me! Come on!
[man] Don't take it personally.
We're desperate to hit our quota too.
Okay. See you at Kanrakuen.
Like hell I'm going with you!
You good-for-nothing two-faced traitor!
[groans] Forget it. I'm done.
[grunts]
This is all such a pain in the ass.
[Misaki] Tetsu.
-Huh?
-[whistle blares]
[Misaki, gruffly] The game isn't over
until the moment you give up.
Yeah, and look who's talking.
-You can't even quit your video game.
-[game bleeping]
[sighs]
I can't deal with any of you today.
-Hmm?
-[rhythmic pop music playing]
[Tetsuo] What's this?
[low squeak]
[Tetsuo] A plushie?
[low squeaking]
-[Tetsuo laughing] Oh, nice and squishy!
-Oh?
-[squelches, groans]
-[Misaki] Yeah, feels like a marshmallow.
[bleeping]
[honking sounds] Hey!
Handle me with a little more respect!
This thing just talked to us!
A talking plushie?
I am not a plushie.
I am Navigation AI, Prototype Mini.
[Tetsuo] Huh?
[Mini] Figures.
They told me you'd be stupid.
[Tetsuo] Excuse me?
[Mini] I'll put it simply for you.
I'm a miniature prototype
of an angel robot,
so you can call me Mini Proto, all right?
An angel robot!
How stylish!
Robot, hobbit, whatever the hell you are.
So what do you want?
[Mini] I have been sent here to accompany
lazy angels like you
and train you in the basics
of helping spirits pass on.
Train us?
That's mighty big talk
for a little white bun like you.
[Mini] Ugh! How rude!
-Take that! Take that!
-Come on, you can do it! Almost there.
-[Mini] Take that!
-[Misaki laughs]
Why'd they make your arms short?
-[Mini] Take that!
-[Misaki and Tetsuo laughing]
-[Mini] Fine, whatever.
-[Tetsuo] Oh, it's sulking.
[Mini] So you don't need my help then?
[Tetsuo] Nope. Don't need it. Off you go.
[Mini scoffs]
What a shame.
I came all this way
to share some juicy spirit info.
[Tetsuo] Hold on! Spirit?
Where is it? Tell me!
[Mini] Oh! But I thought
you didn't need my help, right?
No, no, we do. Of course we do.
You should've led with that.
Now how about a head rub?
How's this?
[Mini yells] Ah!
Stop playing with my body already!
[growling]
You'll be following my orders. Understood?
It's nookie time! And I'm your Ryo Saeba!
-We're on like Aja Kong!
-[bell dings]
[Mini] Are we even allowed
to say that? [grunts]
-Anyway, locating the spirit.
-[whirring]
X-coordinate: 11,573 meters.
Y-coordinate: 22,694 meters.
-Heading north at six kilometers per hour.
-[jaunty music playing]
[chuckles] We're heading there right away.
Huh? What? Heading where?
[Mini] You seriously
can't read coordinates?
The rumor was right after all.
You're just an idiot in a suit.
[snarls]
-[music stops]
-[chimes ringing]
[musical whirring]
All right now, follow me!
[jaunty music resumes]
[Misaki] Come on, pedal harder.
[Tetsuo] Why don't you pedal for once?
[Misaki] I'd do it once,
but not right now.
Hey, you! It's not fair that you can fly!
[Mini] Move it! We're losing daylight!
[music intensifies]
Damn it! Would you wait up?
[brakes squeak]
[Mini] Hmm. Should be around here.
[Tetsuo] There! I see him!
[Misaki] MU 97-03.
Tamesuke Naito.
Robot was spot-on.
That's very impressive.
[Mini whirs, chuckles]
Never underestimate
the latest heavenly technology.
All right, we'll approach him
from three sides.
Move quietly. Don't let him notice.
Once he's surrounded, we'll all…
W, w, w, w, wait!
[grunting] Those idiots!
Huh?
[music fades]
-Who the hell are you guys?
-Take it easy.
We don't mean you any harm.
Not at all.
We'll be guiding you to the afterlife.
[Tetsuo] So just stay calm,
and it'll be over quick.
Here's some friendly advice.
Run while you can.
Oh!
You wanna fight?
Sounds fun.
-[grunts]
-[blow thuds]
[gasping]
[groaning]
[gasps] Tetsu! Are you all right?
[Tetsuo coughs, laughs] Not a bad punch.
[gasping for air] You must've been
a pro boxer when you were alive.
But I've been hit harder than that.
Compared to Inoki's slap, this is noth…
[dull thud]
[Misaki] Ding-ding-ding! Tanba is down!
Knockout!
[running footsteps receding]
[hoarsely] Ow! Ow! That hurts!
[Mini] I told you not to do
anything on your own!
If you had followed my orders
and worked efficiently,
that spirit would've passed on by now.
How am I supposed to move around
if I have to plan out every detail?
Sorry. Not our style.
We act by feeling, not thinking.
[Mini] You should be thinking
your actions!
-If you just worked more efficiently--
-Come on.
-Save the lecture for when we're all done.
-[Mini grunting]
[Misaki] We need to find
that spirit first.
[Tetsuo] Yeah, let's go.
That's the "efficient" way, right?
[Mini continues grunting]
[whirring] Damn it!
[bleeping] They're even bigger idiots
than I thought.
Still, I wonder
why that spirit's trying to run.
It must realize
it's too late to struggle now.
[pings] Huh?
-[riders screaming]
-[device buzzing]
[Tetsuo] You found it?
What?
-[rock music playing]
-[Tetsuo] The zoo?
[Mini] The spirit is currently near
the elephant enclosure.
Listen up. We'll split in two.
[Tetsuo] Roger that.
Captain, we'll come from both sides.
[Misaki] Got it.
-[Tetsuo] Hey.
-Huh?
Found ya.
So, it's you again. [grunts]
-[grunting]
-[Tetsuo] Close one.
I've already seen through
all your punches.
Fast learner.
[groans]
[grunts]
It's no use! Captain!
He's headed your way!
Huh?
What?
-[elephant trumpeting]
-[breathy tone]
One quick strike to the face,
then I'll grab its trunk
while it's still dazed.
[Tetsuo] Wrong target, damn it!
-Oh?
-He got away again!
[Mini whirs] What are you doing?! [snarls]
-[growls]
-Look at that!
Who knew elephant poops
were so… el-enormous?
-[Tetsuo] Shitty pun.
-[Mini] Really?
-Look!
-[Mini] Poop jokes?
-[Tetsuo] Stop saying poop.
-[Misaki] That's a mammoth dump!
Damn, these guys are persistent.
What should I do? Oh?
[man 1 sobbing]
[man 2] It's gone. I'm sorry.
Roo Takeshiba.
You did your best, buddy.
[distorted whirring]
Hmm?
-[steel drum pings]
-[two quiet bleeps]
[Mini] Huh? The spirit signal
just disappeared.
[Tetsuo] What good are you,
you piece of junk?
[Misaki] Not so reliable
when it really counts, huh?
You two are the last people
I need to hear that from!
[man 1 yells] Ah! Roo Takeshiba's
come back to life!
[Tetsuo, Mini and Misaki] Huh?
[Tamesuke] Incredible!
My body feels light as a feather!
-[Tamesuke humming melody]
-[Tetsuo] Whoa!
[man 1 squealing] Ha! Roo Takeshiba!
[Mini] Come back to life?
No way. Did he possess a dead animal?
[whirs] This is bad.
We have to go after him!
[whirs, grunts]
-Damn, he's really bouncing.
-[Mini] After him…
-That's at least eight meters per jump.
-That thing was solid.
He's built like Mirko.
[Mini bellows] Quit chatting and move it!
I'm not sure if you know this,
but we can't actually touch
any physical bodies.
How do you suggest we deal with this?
[Mini huffs] Take one of these pills
and your body will be corporeal
for three hours.
You'll be able to touch things
in the living world.
Hmm? One pill does that? For real?
[Mini] Hmm!
It's a groundbreaking invention
that took a huge budget
and a lot of time to develop.
It took the combined wisdom
of the whole Netherworld to complete.
-It's a miracle--
-[Tetsuo] Get back here, kangaroo!
[Mini groans] Morons!
I'll crush them.
-[jaunty, rhythmic music playing]
-You've got such nice biceps.
That's right. Ain't nothing gonna hurt you
with these babies around.
That's so sweet.
-[Tamesuke] Outta my way!
-[couple] Huh?
-[man grunts, gurgles]
-[woman screams]
[man] What a beautiful day.
This little break is
the only peace in my life--
-[Tamesuke] Coming through!
-[man gagging]
[Tamesuke laughing]
I could get used to this. [chuckles]
Huh?
You're not getting away this time.
That's enough trouble out of you.
Time to surrender quietly.
[Tamesuke scoffs]
Stand aside or you'll get hurt.
Bring it on.
Call it a revenge match.
-[Tamesuke] Eat this!
-[bell dings]
[music stops]
[high-pitched whimpering]
So I guess that must be
the famous kangaroo kick.
[Mini] This is no time to be impressed!
[Tamesuke] Huh.
[Tetsuo's whimpering continues]
That was one a heck of a kick.
[Mini] Would you hurry up
and do something?!
[Tetsuo gasps] You're crazy.
Can't you see what I'm dealing with?
If that escaped spirit causes
any major damage to the human world,
the Dandelion Squad will be disbanded
under Article 17
of the Code of the Netherworld. [whirs]
[Tetsuo] What?
-[upbeat music playing]
-[Misaki laughs]
You won't have to worry
about quotas anymore, right?
That's not funny! This is really bad!
[grunts]
[bellowing] Ah!
[Tamesuke] Tiger Mask!
-Are you fired up?
-[Tetsuo grunting] This is hopeless.
His physical ability is on another level.
Damn it! What can we do?
[Mini] This is what you get
for not listening to me
and doing things inefficiently.
I'm sorry, but you're done for.
-[Misaki] Not quite yet.
-[Tetsuo gasps]
I've got a pretty good read
on his moves now.
Also, there's this thing
I've always wanted to try.
[Tamesuke panting] Gotta hurry.
I need to get there fast.
Huh?
What the hell? Move!
[groans]
[yells] Ah!
[laughs]
You like that?!
[Misaki] I knew you had
one hell of a jump.
-[Tamesuke] Huh? [whimpers]
-[tense music playing]
[Tamesuke] What are you…
I've always wanted
to take a ride on a kangaroo.
-[Tamesuke grunts] Don't you mess with me!
-[Misaki giggling]
-Hey, get off! [grunting]
-[Misaki continues giggling]
-More, more!
-[Tamesuke] How about this?
[Misaki] Still not enough!
It can't end like this!
It can't! It just can't end like this!
-[music ends]
-[Misaki] Hmm!
-[bell rings]
-[whooshing]
Oh…
Oh…
[Mini whirs]
Did we get him?
Hey, hey, hold up.
Why is his spirit a kangaroo too?
The spirit took on the shape of the body.
This can happen
when the body and the spirit
match too well.
-[Tamesuke] Damn it. Let me go.
-No use.
This girl here beat
Mas Oyama's spirit in arm wrestling.
[Mini clicks] Enough!
Just make him pass on already!
[Tetsuo] I know.
Time to give it up.
-[Tamesuke sobbing]
-[splashing]
Just give me a little longer.
I can't pass on like this.
[Mini grunts] What are you doing?
Don't waste any more time!
-[Misaki] Now, now.
-[Mini grunts]
We've come all this way.
Let's at least hear him out. Okay?
[Tetsuo groans] Guess we have to.
[Mini bleeps] Huh?! Are you nuts?!
[warbles] After all the trouble he caused,
you're still indulging him?
-[continues sobbing]
-[Mini] Absolutely not!
If it's come to this, I've got no choice.
I'll make him pass on all by myself!
[whirring]
[Misaki] Back hug.
[Mini grunting] What are you doing?
Let me go!
Struggling won't help.
She also once pinned
the spirit of Jumbo Tsuruta.
Shuwatch!
[Tetsuo] All right, then.
Let's hear it. Your final confession.
Well… if you insist.
[clears throat] I was born
on a hot and humid summer afternoon.
You're starting from there?
[dog howls and barks in distance]
[Tamesuke] And with that,
I left my brawling days behind me
and became a professional boxer.
Sounds like he's finally
getting to the point.
This is so boring,
I might just pass on myself.
Of course,
things didn't go so smoothly for me.
I couldn't win
for a long time after my debut.
-[poignant piano music playing]
-Still, I trained hard.
I devoted my entire life
to the art of boxing.
Then, just when I finally got
a chance at a title match,
I had an accident.
[Mini growls] Surely,
you've said enough by now.
It's time to pass on.
[Tetsuo sobbing]
I get it!
I totally get how you feel, man!
[Tamesuke] Th… thanks, I guess.
So you're saying your biggest regret is
not being allowed… [sniffles]
…to fight in the sacred ring of true men!
[Tamesuke] No, um, I'm not done talking.
[screams]
You are a passionate soul!
I'm moved to my core!
You're great! You're awesome, man!
I know you're burning up inside.
I can feel it!
I can help you.
Just leave everything to me.
That's our Tetsu!
He's got the biggest heart
in the Send-Off Department.
[Tamesuke] Um…
[Mini groans] This is
nowhere near being done, is it?
[woman over PA]
All matches for today have ended.
Please make your way to the nearest exit.
What a damn shame.
Tetsu never showed up.
[Tetsuo huffing]
He's the most fired up guy here.
[Mini groans] Just do whatever you want.
[laughs] That's the fighting spirit!
Um, actually…
[Tetsuo] Don't hold back!
This is the ring
you were meant to stand in!
No grudges,
just an all-out fight!
[dings]
-How do ya like Boomerang Telios!
-[rock music playing]
[both grunting]
[groaning] Not done yet!
[Mini] Do we really have push it this far?
It's just one spirit.
Yeah, that's right.
It is just one spirit.
-He lived a dull life full of failures.
-[grunting]
Let him spend his final moments
the way he wants. It won't do any harm.
[Mini scoffs]
[both grunting]
[grunting]
[Misaki] Look at his face,
full of satisfaction.
[roaring]
[bellowing]
[Tetsuo yells] Ah!
Holy shit!
[music fades]
-[groans]
-[bell dings]
Are you satisfied now?
Yeah. Gotta hand it to you, bro.
This was the most fun match I've ever had.
I can't believe this was
the best match of my life.
Ironic, huh?
No matter how hard I trained,
nothing could take the place
of real talent.
[Tetsuo] And now,
you can move on without any regrets.
To be honest,
I was already sick of boxing.
[bleeps chirping]
[Tetsuo] What?!
Then why didn't you say so earlier?!
[Tamesuke] Because you guys just kept
pushing the story along.
[Tetsuo] Oh, great.
So I got beaten up for nothing.
Well… there is…
one place I really wanna go.
-And that's… the hotel.
-[buzz of traffic]
-[ethereal music playing]
-[women chatting]
[Tamesuke] Oh yeah!
Beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful!
I wanna burn this sight
into my eyes forever.
My whole life was just harsh training.
Not a single good thing happened.
I just wanted to be a champion,
just once and be fawned over
by gorgeous women.
That was the only real regret I had.
So he was just a secret perv.
It's pretty common
with these self-disciplined types.
You'd be surprised.
[Mini] Ridiculous.
[Tamesuke trembling] Oh.
This is what I dreamed of.
Beautiful girls!
Beautiful girls as far as the eye can see!
[laughing]
[laughing hysterically]
Girls! Girls! Girls!
[cackling]
[music fades]
[Tetsuo] Well, I guess
that's just how people are.
[Misaki] Maybe through
that fight with you,
his soul was finally able
to strip off its underwear.
-That's another happy ending!
-That's another happy ending!
[Mini] Happy ending my butt!
Useless! Useless!
Useless! Useless! Useless!
This is why we never hit our quota!
Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora!
Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora!
Don't be such a downer!
All's well that ends well!
[pops, whistles]
-[Misaki and Tetsuo] Oops.
-[pops]
[Misaki and Tetsuo scream]
[whooshing]
[grunts] Uh!
-[pop music playing]
-What just happened?
Who are you?
Masaki Kyoga.
I've been assigned
to the Send-Off Department as of today.
[Tetsuo] Another one?
Kyogas must be on clearance, huh?
Are you also related
to this chairlift-to-the-gourd thing?
It's called the chairman of the board!
Daigoro Kyoga is my father.
He has three sons,
and I am the youngest of the three.
And they sent
a thoroughbred like you out in the field?
Well, I suppose that's
what you do with the youngest son.
[Misaki] Looks like Kyoga played
his weakest card first.
[grunts] You shut your face!
[Misaki] So anyway, why were you stuffed
in that cramped little thing?
It's simple.
I wanted to see how capable you were,
so I disguised myself
to better observe the two of you.
Man, you're humorless.
-And now you're using your big boy voice.
-[Kyoga] Listen to me, you morons!
[huffs] The both of you
are very inefficient to an extreme degree!
You wasted the entire day
doing useless nonsense.
[Tetsuo] Well, excuse us,
Mr. High‑and‑Mighty.
From now on, I will be your supervisor.
It will be my job to keep
your behavior in check.
[Tetsuo] Oh, you're very annoying.
Therefore, I will be drilling you
in the proper spirit-escorting practices,
so prepare yourselves.
Yeah, yeah. Whatever.
See you around.
[Kyoga] Not so fast!
The job's not over yet.
There's more.
A little mission debrief.
-Huh?
-Huh?
[distant car horns honking]
Compared to other squads,
your performance time is terrible.
I've made a list of things
we need to cut down on.
-First is time.
-I'm wiped out, man.
[Kyoga] Second is time.
Maybe we could sneak out
while he's distracted.
-Yeah, it's worth a shot.
-[Misaki] Here we go--
-[Kyoga] Stay! We aren't done!
-[Misaki] Busted.
-[Kyoga] The most important practices--
-[Tetsuo murmurs]
-[Kyoga] Be quiet!
-[Misaki] "Be quiet!"
-[Kyoga] Get in range!
-"Get in range!"
[Kyoga] Remain unnoticed by the target!
-[tense piano music playing]
-[Isobe] Freeze!
Don't resist. It's time to pass on.
[woman] We just met.
Is this goodbye already?
[gasps softly]
[grunts]
[Isobe] Hmm?
I don't like it rough.
Be gentle with me.
[Isobe grunts, shudders]
SNACK MIKA
[dance-pop music playing]
[lyrics in Japanese]
[song fades]