Soda Master (2026) s01e11 Episode Script

What?
You called, and here I am! Ta-da!
Yo, it's been a while.
Long time, no see.
You doing well?
I guess.
You have all toughened up, I see.
And you are?
I'm the chaperone.
Thank you for taking care of my students.
They're a handful, aren't they?
Yes…
What year is it now?
It's 2026.
Then, Nostradamus was wrong.
Have you made an Astro Boy or Doraemon?
Can you travel to Jupiter?
We haven't gotten that far yet.
Surely, the maglev train
is finished by now.
Even that is still being worked on…
No way!
What was mankind doing
for nearly 40 years?
But everyone is working hard.
Really?
So, you guys.
Did you keep your promise?
You don't remember?
Oh, well.
Close your eyes.
I'll bring back your memories.
Did you see it?
Yes.
The promise…
Do you remember it?
We didn't keep it…
1988, TANBE CITY
AUGUST 21S
TANBE STATION MESSAGE BOARD
Thank you for your help.
No to redevelopment!
We are angry!
We are angry!
Our fury is the fury of…
Don't be so stiff, Mr. Yoshii!
The fighting is behind us!
-Ta-da.
-What?!
SEPTEMBER 1S
-Who cares!
-It hurts!
-Are you okay?
-So nice to be full of energy.
Michiru Miyashita, filling in for
Mrs. Koda while she's on maternity leave.
SEPTEMBER 14TH
TANBE MIDDLE SCHOOL
MOVIE RESEARCH CLUB
Okay, I'll take the shot.
Okay, say cheese!
Our plan looks 30 years ahead,
and will transform the town
into a 21st-century city.
Corruption is inherent in these projects.
So citizens must keep a sharp eye out.
I see.
Your brother wanted to be a reporter?
It's okay. Go.
SEPTEMBER 28TH
I can't overlook anything that disturbs
the order of the school.
It doesn't have to be alcohol.
You can get stronger
through another drink.
RAMUNE MONKEY
SODA MASTER
Now! You're annoying me!
OCTOBER 29TH
I'm going to shoot!
NOVEMBER 5TH
NOVEMBER 10TH
What?
NOVEMBER 26TH
Our boss will visit you in person.
He'll make you an exceptional offer.
If even then you aren't satisfied,
then we…
I am prepared to use any means necessary.
And…
I have men who will help carry them out.
Give it to the teacher.
If something happens to me,
give it to the teacher.
DECEMBER 7TH
-Interested?
-Wow! Michael Jackson!
-Tokyo Dome!
-Are--
Let's put his moves into our action movie!
DECEMBER 9TH
-Grandma!
-Ms. Kuroe!
-It's dangerous! Ms. Kuroe!
-Grandma!
Grandma!
DECEMBER 13TH
I'm begging you!
He's my senior, a trustworthy reporter.
I'm glad you didn't hand it over
to the police.
I will definitely expose Kagami.
DECEMBER 17TH
What do you mean?
What I mean is
this tape alone isn't enough.
There's nothing that can be done.
Right, Yoshii?
It's from Mr. Kagami.
Take it and forget everything.
Not just this copy,
I'll take the original tape too.
DECEMBER 18TH
-Hey, I said let go!
-Miss, which take do you think is better?
Miss?
Your back.
DECEMBER 19TH
Hand over the tape.
Are you okay?
Thirteen tapes in total.
DECEMBER 24TH
But Number 12 is missing.
It should be right--
How much will it take to satisfy you?
Just how greedy can you be?
DECEMBER 25TH
Can you hear me?
-Turning!
-Can you hear me?
Find the tape, get it at all costs!
Hand over the tape by New Year's Eve.
Or you'll end up just like old lady Kuroe.
It's all the old lady's fault.
Don't be a hero!
If something happens to you,
Yuta and the others will be sad.
Tomorrow, at noon.
I'll bring it here.
Thank goodness.
Are Yuta and the others
making their movie?
They're scouring for filming locations.
They are?
What? So we have no one to help us?
DECEMBER 31S
I can do the job with no loose ends.
-Where are you going?
-A post-offer trip.
To Hawaii.
I'm going to surf and scuba dive.
You got into a newspaper company?
I decided on a trading firm.
Tazawa & Co.
So, is the hit called off?
She handed over a fake.
I can't show something like this
to Mr. Kagami.
What a foolish woman.
We'll get it done.
LOOK UP AND DO YOUR BEST!
Man, it's cold.
TANBE CENTRAL SHOPPING STREE
One, two!
Why? She handed over the tape, right?
Apparently, she handed over a fake.
She must have changed her mind.
JANUARY 6TH, 1989
SCREENING CANCELLED
MOVIE RESEARCH CLUB
It's no use searching.
The rumor is she was killed.
They say she was sunk in the swamp.
Are you still looking for that teacher?
MARCH 5TH
You're in ninth grade.
You don't have time for this.
BUILDING A KIND TOWN
I am also thinking
about quitting the city hall.
What?
Matilda went to another world.
MARCH 24TH
Yes.
Right.
That's what happened.
I've decided to plead guilty
to all charges at tomorrow's trial.
I'll go to prison.
I'll cut ties with the company,
and testify about Mr. Kagami's corruption.
The police's real target is Kagami.
If I testify,
it will set things in motion.
It will create a big stir.
It will cause a lot of trouble
for you guys too.
I'm sorry for being so selfish.
We should get a divorce,
just like you wanted to at first.
Okay.
Let's tell Aya together
once her exams are over.
YUTA YOSHII / EMI YOSHII
Please comment!
Mr. Yoshii, please comment!
Mr. Yoshii, can you comment?
A word, please!
Mr. Yoshii!
So you admit it was bribery?
I know this is returning kindness
with betrayal.
And I apologize.
Thank you for everything.
Yoshii.
What happened?
RESIGNATION LETTER
You ratted me out
to the prosecution, didn't you?
Manager, you were framed.
Someone sold you out behind the scenes.
I'm sorry.
You did well.
Keep it up.
The company is full of enemies.
It will be hard, but there will always be
someone who will be your ally.
Don't you ever give up.
It's so sudden
that even I don't quite understand,
but the Chairman called,
he said he couldn't fund the project
anymore due to internal reasons.
The project is canceled for now.
We'd gotten so far,
I didn't think this could happen.
I see. Got it.
"Got it"?
Don't accept it so easily.
If I step down,
I think the movie can be made.
The Chairman wants to make it.
Just keep preparing.
I recommend Takeuchi as my successor.
He took over for me and directed
High School Swindler.
It was pretty good.
Are you okay with that?
Make it a great movie.
I told you, I'm not going!
Where do you intend to take me?
-Please wear this…
-It hurts!
It hurts, stop it!
-I was just trying to take her for a walk.
-Mother.
You have to walk, you know.
I won't be fooled.
This person is a bad one.
Got it? No matter what, I will never talk!
Go away!
What are you talking about?
Kisuke.
What happened to Ms. Mishima?
Why isn't she coming?
She's not coming anymore.
Why?
I don't want this!
-Ms. Shoko!
-Mother!
Just now, Councilman Rokuro Kagami
was arrested on suspicion of bribery.
Mr. Kagami has left his home.
He is heading toward the police vehicle,
surrounded by investigators.
His expression remains unfazed…
They did it.
After this, Mr. Kagami will be transported
to the MPD headquarters.
On the details of the case,
the Metropolitan Police…
Kids these days are so talented.
That's because
they have better mentors now.
I heard that you also got investigated.
I'm sorry for causing trouble.
Don't worry about me.
Mr. Kagami is an old man,
and yet you would send him to jail.
You're a cruel man.
Right…
While we're both in there,
I'll take care of him.
Tell him that.
This is from that time.
That kid is a good pitcher.
The catcher is good too.
Kento…
Can I ask you one thing?
I…
I thought Matilda's disappearance
was our fault, for some reason.
But I remembered recently.
I think you're the one who told me…
Why?
She handed over the tape, right?
Apparently, she handed over a fake.
She must have changed her mind.
-Yuta!
-Kento!
Did you see Ms. Miyashita today?
-Did you tell her anything?
-What?
If anything happens to Ms. Miyashita,
it's your fault!
So you remember that?
I was also running away.
I shifted the blame onto you guys.
I just handed in my resignation letter.
I'm going to start over too.
I brought them.
The bones and the pen too.
I'm glad you haven't cremated them yet.
Tsurumi has decided to investigate
Matilda's case independently.
Kagami was only arrested for bribery.
No one has been charged in Matilda's case.
Yet the culprit, Hachiro,
is still at large.
This can't be over yet.
Even if I'm alone,
I'll do as much as I can.
At the very least,
I will hunt down Hachiro.
At that time, these remains
might be necessary.
Please keep them safe
a little longer, until then.
Okay.
Don't do anything crazy.
Yes!
Excuse me.
He has become quite dependable.
I can't believe he used to be a blockhead.
He was inspired by all of you.
"I'll keep the bones safe,"
is what I would like to say, but…
You're taking a special vacation.
I'll keep them.
The rats at your place will gnaw on them.
Kam-Bo, can you do it?
Kam-Bo!
Shouldn't we just cremate the bones?
What? Why?
We don't even know whose they are.
DNA testing is evolving year after year.
Eventually, we'll know
they are Matilda's bones.
They aren't, though.
What? They totally are her bones!
No, they aren't.
From what we know, these must be hers!
They were found in the swamp.
Along with Matilda's pen.
I buried them.
-No way!
-Come on, now!
What?
I buried the bones and the pen.
Can't you hear me?
I can hear you, but it's not sinking in.
What? You're joking, right?
What do you mean, Kam-Bo?
I got sick two years ago.
I told you that, right?
I thought I might die.
When I was organizing my things,
I found a photo of our Movie Club,
and I suddenly remembered Matilda.
We never did find her.
"I got to finish this before I die."
I had that powerful urge.
Fortunately, the surgery went well,
but it might recur,
and at this age,
I could drop dead at any time.
So I decided to do it.
Together with you two.
You could have just asked us!
Right.
If I had asked,
you guys wouldn't have done it.
You're both busy, and you'd forgotten
about those days anyway.
You wouldn't have gone along
with something this stupid.
So you buried the bones?
Just to make it news
and get the two of them interested?
Then…
Then… Hang on…
These…
Whose bones are these?
-I don't know.
-What?
-I bought them on an overseas site.
-Bought them?
There was a shady site
selling human bones,
and I thought, "This has to be a scam."
But they actually came
when I ordered them.
I was surprised too.
The same pen was being sold online too.
I just had to do it!
Oh, wow…
The bones…
I think they're just
super realistic replicas.
The police haven't done a good job, huh!
I can't believe it.
I feel like this might be
some kind of crime.
What a stupid thing you've done.
If the police had investigated properly,
you could have been charged with a crime!
It’s fine, really.
What does it matter anyway?
Thanks to these bones,
you guys finally got motivated.
We were able to draw out
Hachiro's confession,
and we uncovered the truth
behind the Matilda incident.
For five months,
I got to go on an adventure with you guys.
I don't regret a single thing.
Sorry, I'm a bit weirded out.
You are a psychopath.
If we don't bury these,
I feel like divine punishment
will fall upon us.
-Yeah.
-Totally.
Whoever you are,
we are sorry for misusing your remains.
Thanks to you, we were able to solve
the mystery of our mentor's death.
Please, rest in peace.
If you're going to resent someone,
let it be Mr. Kam-Bo.
This should help them
pass on to the next life.
I have a feeling
they weren't Buddhist, though.
Please tell me.
What?
That promise you made
to Ms. Matilda that you didn't keep…
You remember it, right?
I remember.
And the reason I thought
it was all our fault too.
-Let's use a wider angle.
-No, this is enough.
No, we've only filmed this side.
-I want to film this side too!
-Calm down.
Let's try all the angles.
Matilda!
When I called Yoshii's house,
Clark said you would be here.
I thought this would be
a good filming location.
Yes.
You found a good place.
-All right, the real shoot is tomorrow.
-Let's take New Year's off!
We have mochi-pounding
at the shrine tonight.
We'll be sleep-deprived.
Doesn't matter. We'll go without sleeping.
You should come too, Miss.
Be our cameraman.
Is something wrong?
Miss.
Can I ask you something?
The protagonist of Soda Master
knows the enemy is stronger than him,
yet he fights anyway, right?
You guys…
Would you do the same in reality?
-Yes.
-Obviously.
Really?
Even though you may get killed?
I would still fight.
If I ran away, I would live the rest
of my life feeling terrible.
That's right.
I don't want to live a tainted life.
You would do the same, right, Miss?
Will you promise me?
Promise what?
That you won't lose it.
You will become adults soon.
There will be many unpleasant things.
Even dirty or unfair things.
You may even have to take part in them.
But,
if just in a corner of your heart,
promise me you won't lose
who you are right now.
Also make sure you finish the movie.
Promise me.
Okay.
You should take a good look at this town.
Everyone is being evicted, right?
Miss, what will happen to you?
You'll be here next term, right?
You'll teach us next year?
I was just a temporary hire.
I'll be gone before you know it.
Where will you go after you quit school?
Who knows?
I’m not really cut out
to be a teacher anyway,
so I'm going back to my own world.
Where is that?
Far beyond the moon.
Nebula M78.
Near Iscandar, maybe?
Don't worry. It won't be sad.
You’ll forget about me soon enough anyway.
See you.
Keep our promise.
I see.
We totally failed to keep it.
But we've reclaimed a bit of it,
so maybe she'll forgive us?
There's nothing we can do
about the movie now.
Let's hope she overlooks it.
Right?
I'm stopping by the university.
I'm taking the train home.
I think I'll wander around for a bit.
Then, shall we part ways here?
We probably won't be gathering
at Gandhara anymore.
It’s gross being all clingy
with you guys anyway.
Thanks, everyone.
For going along with my crazy antics.
Kam-Bo, take care of your health.
Right.
Hakuba, you put up with us
troublesome old men.
Thanks. Come here.
I should be the one thanking you.
I gained so much from you and Ms. Matilda.
Even a dream.
A dream?
Maybe being a school teacher
wouldn't be so bad.
I'm pretty good at handling
Middle Schooler Syndrome.
Okay.
Well, then.
Yeah.
Take care.
Goodbye.
You're going the same way?
I'm going over there.
I'm going this way.
I'll go straight.
Then I will go back
and visit some graves, I guess.
See you.
The Tokyo District Court
has sentenced Yuta Yoshii,
former Sales Manager at Tazawa Group,
to one year and five months in prison
for the crime of bribery.
Mr. Yoshii…
How are things, Tsurumi?
Any hopes of arresting Hachiro?
It all goes much deeper than I imagined.
Hideaki Tago, also known as Hachiro.
The more I dig into him, the more
the higher-ups tell me to stop.
It's like he's completely "untouchable."
If you probe too much,
maybe you'll be in danger.
Even so, I have to do it.
We're no longer in an era
where power can silence people.
I will corner Hachiro.
Congratulations!
Thanks!
With this, Aya goes
to her first-choice university,
and your dad goes to prison.
A new chapter in life for each of you.
Congratulations to you both!
Jail certainly wasn't my first choice…
Yeah.
Aya.
You see, your mom and I…
Back when we were students,
we worked part-time at the same pub.
Pubs have a lot of troublesome customers.
Your dad would always step in,
and make the situation worse.
Because when he knows he isn't wrong,
he never backs down.
Since then,
I thought he was pretty great.
But gradually, my feelings drifted away
the more he climbed the corporate ladder.
To be honest,
I hated these last few years.
But lately, he's back to the way
he was during those pub days.
It turns out
I also have something
I gained with my own hands.
Once he gets out of jail,
I'll cook something and wait for him!
Tell him that yourself.
Why make me the middleman?
It's gross.
I'll have a beer,
pork cutlet, and ramen, please.
What was that?
What? I mean, it's Ken Takakura!
Don't you know The Yellow Handkerchief?
Ken's famous line.
It's no exaggeration to say
I'm going to jail just to do that scene.
You've gotten a bit better.
But you're still no match for us.
We'll bathe in your blood!
The more soda I drink,
the stronger I become.
Soda Fist!
SATSUKI ONODERA
We’re in the final stages
of casting right now.
Who do you think would be good
to play the son?
The Chairman said
he still wants you to direct.
I started this movie with you, after all.
This one.
No, it must be this one!
No, this one!
-This one!
-We just can't agree!
Another thing, about Yuna Yabusame!
-I told you, we won't use your girlfriend!
-She’s not my girl…
Ms. Mishima.
Why don't you ask for me anymore?
Did I mess something up?
Huh? I thought,
if you were going to leave me,
I should just leave you first.
Why would I leave you?
I thought you received orders to do that…
Sorry if I misunderstood.
Will you come to my house again?
Yes.
And…
Can I…
ask you out to dinner next time?
Yes.
Mom…
Mom, what's wrong?
Ms. Shoko. Where are you going?
Swimming practice.
Here she goes again.
I have to practice.
I can't afford to fail.
Are you entering a swimming competition?
It's nothing like that.
I've been given a major role.
I also have to check the arrangements
with Mr. Yoshii and Mr. Fujimaki.
What are you talking about?
What arrangements?
Ms. Miyashita!
I can't tell anyone.
Not even the children.
Can I have those towels?
Sure.
Hey, aren't you being too lazy?
Come on, it's fine!
What's wrong, Kam-Bo?
Yuen, come to my place.
I’m on bail until today,
I’ll be in custody starting tomorrow.
Come over right now. Pick up Chan too.
What do you want?
We just had such a clean break.
Can you continue the story
you were telling earlier?
Look! It's Mr. Yoshii and Mr. Fujimaki!
Yuen's father and Chan's father.
They said they came
to check the arrangements.
-What are you saying, Kam-Bo?
-Right?
Mr. Masao Yoshii…
And…
Mr. Tsutomu Fujimaki.
What? Oh, right.
Hello, Ms. Shoko. I'm Fujimaki,
from the construction firm.
You too.
Hello, I'm Yoshii from the City Hall.
Let's confirm the arrangements.
Hello, keep up the good work.
Excuse me.
I hear you have been
quite stubbornly investigating me!
Didn't your superiors tell you to stop?
Doesn't matter.
I'm going to catch you.
Why go that far?
You'll get taken out!
If a cop abandons justice, it's all over!
Is that right?
Young people these days
are quite impressive!
What's your department and rank?
Come on, you three confirm
the arrangements.
I won't listen.
I see. Ms. Shoko,
you forgot the arrangements, didn't you?
Right?
You forgot.
That’s a problem, Ms. Shoko.
I remember.
If you remember, then say them.
Look, you forgot!
I remember.
I just have to spin it around, right?
Yes! Spin it around!
What am I going on about?
Ms. Shoko.
Let's go step by step.
First is what?
First…
That guy will do this and that, right?
That guy?
The idiot.
What are you talking about?
I'm saying, are you interested
in joining Public Security?
Public Security?
You assume a false identity,
infiltrate a criminal organization,
and dismantle it.
You have to throw away your real life,
but it’s worth doing.
Are you kidding me?
I'm scouting you.
I was about your age
when I did my first job.
With the one called Hakuro-kai.
What if Ms. Miyashita
doesn't hand the tape over?
She will be killed.
If it comes to that,
I'll use my last resort.
-Last resort?
-I know it's for the mission, but…
Not being able to stop
old lady Kuroe's death
will haunt me forever.
This time, I want to save her.
So you will let her live?
Even if you do that,
they will find her eventually.
Damn it!
That's why I'm asking for your help.
This is a secret between the five of us.
Ms. Shoko.
Back in your student days,
you were a swimmer,
and you were especially good at diving.
Right?
First,
Hachiro will give laxatives to the people
from the Hakuro-kai.
They all got the runs, it seems.
What? So we have no one to help us?
I know our target is a woman,
but you can't do it
with that leg, Mr. Torikai.
I can do the job with no loose ends.
We'll explain the plan to the teacher too.
You told me you would show me
your breasts someday.
Right?
I can't have you dying on me.
Borrow diving equipment from Mr. Yoshii.
TANBE CENTRAL SHOPPING STREE
Take her to the swamp.
Alright!
Spin it around.
Let them know with a signal.
Heave-ho!
Heave-ho!
Heave-ho!
One, two!
Let's go.
Ms. Shoko!
Ms. Shoko!
Hurry up!
One, two!
Miss!
-Miss!
-Ms. Miyashita!
This is bad!
Miss!
-Miss!
-Hang in there!
You called, and here I am…
Ta-da…
-Are you alright?
-Thank goodness!
Finally,
give her the new ID prepared by Mr. Tago,
and that's it.
See?
I remember the arrangements perfectly.
But we must never tell anyone about this.
It's a secret we need to keep forever.
That's what she said. Can you believe it?
That’s a bit too far-fetched.
There's no way my parents
could do something so grand.
My mother is always saying things
that make no sense.
She can't distinguish
between reality and delusion.
Right.
There’s no way that idiot Hachiro
could be like that.
What’s wrong, Hakuba?
Why can't you believe it?
From my point of view,
I have heard plenty
of more implausible stories.
It was 1988!
It had Jason, a witch, zombies,
a secret society,
and a poison gas factory!
That 1988!
It’s entirely possible!
If you guys don't believe it, who will?
I believe it.
It must be true.
The promise.
-Aren't you going to fulfill it?
-Our promise?
I want to see your movie.
Let's go, Yuen.
-Kam-Bo.
-Okay.
Guess we have no choice!
Here!
I found this in storage.
Huh?
Woah, this is…
Are we really doing this?
It's so weird, us suddenly
becoming old men for the climax.
Hey, that actually makes it
more interesting.
We're so lame, it's amazing!
If we told them we can now make movies
with such a small device,
I bet those boys would be shocked.
-No rehearsal, huh?
-If we're doing it, let's do it right.
Yuen.
Show me your beautiful kick.
I can't lift it up anymore.
Kam-Bo. You can still do
Mantis Fist, right?
Yes. I'm always ready!
I practice Mantis Fist every day.
-Hakuba, you ready?
-Anytime.
Okay.
For now, action!
Rolling!
Ramune Monkey Soda Master,
continuation of Number 12,
Scene 26, Take One.
Ready, start!
Seems you’ve improved a bit.
But you are no match for us.
I'll bathe in your blood!
Bring it!
Memories are memories, not facts.
Especially for otakus with Middle Schooler
Syndrome and a delusion complex.
Perhaps these days of adventure
with these three middle-aged men
are all just my delusion,
and someday they’ll pop and disappear.
Like the bubbles in a soda.
The more soda I drink, the stronger I get.
Soda Fist!
Because, after all, don't we all
suffer from Middle Schooler Syndrome?
Ready? Take that!
Alright.
I'm infiltrating a gang in Kawasaki.
You're still doing that at your age?
I would hate a life like that.
It's fun.
I don't want to be called an idiot.
This is funny, isn't it?
Sorry, I have to prepare dinner.
Help me out!
What?
Okay…
SHIROKURO
MATI
Ouch.
This is tough.
Oh, no. I'm going to barf.
Let me rest a little.
At this rate, we'll never finish filming.
It hurts…
Subtitle translation by: Quang N.N.