We start with a parody of the opening to “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” with Cherry in the Alfred Hitchcock role of presenter and narrator. He introduces us to the tale of Tsuyuko, a girl in Ataru’s class, cursed to be followed by rain wherever she goes.
Ataru agrees to go on a date with her, despite her protests that the rain that follows her will make him gloomy. Ataru knows better though and even when he gets continuously soaked during their date, his libido remains undampened.
Cherry meanwhile believes Tsuyuko to be an Amefurashi, and along with Lum confronts her with his evidence. However he turns out to be incorrect, and Tsuyuko’s father explains the situation in flashback.
As a young boy he befriended an Amefurashi, and when his family moved away the Amefurashi cursed him for breaking his promise to stay friends forever. The only way to break the curse is for Tsuyuko to make a close friend, so the Amefurashi steps up its efforts to torment Ataru.
After a week Ataru is looking very sickly so Cherry suggests they go confront the Amefurashi. The follow her to her camp (which turned out to be right next Cherry’s tent!), but before they get the chance to confront her Tsuyuko’s dad bursts in and apologises. Then the pair of them play in the rain for 7 days and nights, until the Amefurashi is placated and the curse lifted.
But now Tsuyuko’s dad is left in the same position the Amefurashi was, and he is left wailing and demanding that she come back and play some more!
Another great script, the ending is genuinely touching in a slightly demented way and there’s some really nicely written misdirection gags in here.
Tsuyuko’s dad strikes me as being some kind of caricature, but I’m not sure of who.
Animation-wise, it’s not great. Generally it’s fair, but there’s a scene or two where proportions seem to slip.
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Another Kazunori Ito script, and the weird mystery nature of story seems something he’s interested in given his later works like Twilight Q & .hack. There’s a number of these “mystery” episodes in UY, and it’ll be interesting to see if he’s writing them.
Kozima Tamiko directs & storyboards, and Asami Endo is the animation director.
The dad in this looks EXACTLY like Ryuu-chan’s dad.