Episode 11: NieA Under Seven Bath (Former Half)

The next morning, Mayuko awakens to find that NieA is still absent. This troubles her, but she is even more disturbed to find Kotomi passed out at the kitchen table, empty beer cans scattered around the open ledger before her. Mayuko attempts to awaken her, but stops when she remembers Yoshioka's mention of how he thinks Kotomi is starting to get worn down by the pressure trying to keep the bathhouse afloat while working her job in Tokyo. She also recalls how Kotomi seemed to want to talk to her about the bathhouse the other day, but then stopped herself.

Deep in thought, Mayuko steps outside into the early morning gloom. Then, as if a ray of sunshine cuts through the gathering clouds, she notices that the flowers that Momo Enoshima and Kotomi have been tending have bloomed. This makes her smile� until she glances at her watch and realizes that she is about to be late for her paper route.

Mayuko returns from work as dark clouds begin to gather in the sky above Enohana. Momo Enoshima and Kotomi are standing in front of the bathhouse arrangeing a display of the flowers; Momo thinks the customers will enjoy their beauty. Mayuko asks if either of them have seen NieA. They haven't, and Kotomi is unconcerned�NieA's coming and goings have always been unpredictable and they young alien is probably somewhere around the neighborhood.

Mayuko goes to her room and gets ready for school. The small place, however, seems empty and lonely without NieA's presence and Mayuko continues to be unable to shake her feelings of concern. She is also getting frustrated because when NieA is around she's irritating, but now that she's gone, Mayuko's feeling a bit lonely.

Mayuko heads to the city and runs into Chiaki outside the Ipponmatsu Cram School building. meets up with Chiaki on the way to school. While Chiaki is as cheerful as ever and offers to split a soda with Mayuko�she can't afford to buy one for each of them, as she has already spent most of her allowance for the month. Mayuko is tentative and hesitant, but eventually finds the courage to apologize to Chiaki for her behavior. Chiaki is confused until Mayuko spells out that she is apologizing for breaking her promise regarding the go-con. Chiaki tells her that it was nothing and to underscore that all is forgiven hands Mayuko the rest of the soda.

Chiaki then asks about NieA and if she is still building UFOs. When Mayuko says that NieA "never progresses," Chiaki argues that the fact she is building her own UFOs is a sign of progression� that NieA is part of a "Cosmic Consciousness." Chiaki then goes onto describe NieA as a "goddess of freedom," echoing the sentiment expressed by Genzo a few days back. Although Mayuko's response to Chiaki is similar to the one she gave Genzo�that NieA is merely a source of trouble for her�these exchanges fill her thoughts as she rides the train back toward Enohana. Is there perhaps something to NieA that Mayuko hadn't been appreciating?

Back at the bathhouse, Mayuko pauses at the entrance to the residential area when she overhears a loud conversation between Yoshioka and Kotomi. It seems Kotomi has received an offer from someone interested in buying the bathhouse and the land it sits on. Kotomi says that she would rather not sell because she loves the bathhouse, but things are just not going well. She states that because everyone has worked so hard she feels the bathhouse belongs to all of them and she wants to know their opinions before she takes the next step. Yoshioka says he understands and appredciates Kotomi's thinking, but that he would also be sad if the bathhouse was to close because he has worked there for so long. Momo Enoshima merely says that things change no matter how people feel, so if it has to happen, the bathhouse must close. Kotomi ends the coversation by telling Yoshioka and Momo that it's too early for her to make a firm decision, but that she felt they had a right to know what she is thinking.

Mayuko is saddened and troubled by the possibility of the bathhouse closing, but she too appreciates the pressure that Kotomi has been under. She is also troubled by the fact that she can't think of anything to say or do that might help Kotomi. She goes through her evening routine of making dinner for NieA, taking her evening bath, cleaning the bathhouse, and studying with thoughts of the bathhouse's dim future on her mind. As she starts getting tired and thinking about going to bed, she notices that NieA's dinner remains uneaten and her concern for the little alien resurfaces in her mind.

Yet another day dawns, and NieA is still missing. A half-awake Mayuko is about to head off to her paper route when the sound of Chada's AM 11 PM 7 theme song sends a chill down her spine. After an obligatory inquiery about Mayuko's "jugs," he asks if NieA is at home. Mayuko, with an almost forced casual demeanor tells him that she hasn't been around for a while. He finds this to be unfortunate as he has a message for her. He checks her off on the list he uses when seeing who is going to attend the Alien Meeting and then excuses himself. Then, he pops back up and asks Mayuko about her bowel movements. The girl finally loses her cool and Chada flees under a rain of rocks, gardening implements, and whatever Mayuko can grab to throw at him. Once Chada is out of sight, she realizes that even the aliens don't know what's happened to NieA.

Meanwhile, despite the overcast sky, the mother-ship seems to loom more clearly than ever on the horizon.

The day passes for Mayuko with school and work, but NieA's absence keeps her preoccupied. That night, as she sits and gazes at the abnormally clear mother-ship from the bathhouse roof, Kotomi joins her. After commenting on how large the hole in the roof seems from up here, Kotomi lights a cigarette and asks Mayuko how her studies are going. Mayuko replies they are going fine, despite everything, and then asks Kotomi if the bathhouse will be closing. Kotomi tells her not to worry because nothing has been decided yet�she doesn't want Mayuko to feel any undue stress before her college entrance exams. Mayuko also brings up her concern about NieA, but Kotomi once again states that she is certain NieA will resurface eventually. Kotomi is the third person to mention that she feels NieA leads a wonderfully free life, commenting that it is a life she even envies sometimes.