anko719

Anko 719 "Destination: Yukkuri Yutopia"

Mister tells his pet Reimu that if she goes on a journey by herself and finds Yutopia, she and her little sister and Mister can all become happy. He gives her a backpack containing manju, a bottle of juice, her badge, and Mister's hand-drawn map to "Yutopia". Proud that she's come of age as an adult, Reimu boldly sets out on her journey.

After going a short way, she stops for a snack but has to give up her food to a hungry neighborhood cat. Then, some children on their way home from school kick her around. However, the old man at the neighborhood drugstore knows her, and he revives her with a vitamin drink. She gives him her badge in return. Reimu successfully crosses the street at a crosswalk. Next, Reimu must pass through the park, but she is attacked by strays. Marisa and her family mock Reimu for claiming to be a pet yukkuri even though she doesn't have a badge, and Marisa badly beats Reimu.

Meanwhile, Reimu's little sister misses her, so that night, she sneaks out of the house and follows the trail of Reimu's scent. She finds Reimu wounded in the park and kills all the bad strays--Reimu's "little sister" is actually Mister's pet dog. The dog licks Reimu comfortingly, but Reimu is already too badly injured, and she dies looking up at the stars, telling her little sister about her experiences on her journey.

And then... the video playback ends and we cut to the studio, where the host congratulates Mister on having the yukkuri who's made it the farthest in the history of the "Destination: Yukkuri Yutopia" TV show--often, the yukkuris get crushed in their own front doors or are unable to get downstairs. Mister says he spent a full year training Reimu for the show. Unfortunately, since she didn't reach the final goal, Mister doesn't win the 5,000,000 yen prize, but he does get 500,000 yen for setting a new record. NOTE: This reminds me of a game show in Japan where preschool-aged children had to complete three errands around a shopping plaza all by themselves within a time limit. Of course, the children weren't physically harmed, they were just presented with distractions like costumed heroes and free cake and stuff.

Illustration: post #14017