Joey Sakamoto is the fifth episode of the Sunny Apple+ series.
Synopsis[]
Sunny and Suzie flee Kyoto with Mixxy to take refuge at her family's farm.
Summary[]
Suzie has a dream where she watches a children's play adapted from the story of Momotaro, in which her son Zen played the main role. Masa arrived after the play was over, and when Suzie asked him why he was absent, he answered that there was an issue at work that needed a big cleanup. Suzie then notices that Masa is drunk, and they argue about it and other things until the children start returning to their parents. Once Zen comes running toward Suzie, calling her mama, the two ready themselves to embrace the other.
Called out by Mixxy, Suzie awakens from her dream, who informs her they've arrived at their stop. At the station, Mixxy had planned for them to use the bus that goes to their farm, but it was out of service, and to make matters worse, there was no reception around the area. Just then, Suzie bumps into a scary-looking man with a black eye, and his presence unnerves the group, especially Suzie. After he leaves, Suzie suggests they hike it, but Sunny suggests they consider their options; hence, Suzie asks what it suggests, and Sunny claims it'll activate its tire wheels.
Meanwhile, Noriko visits a friend's house whose grandson is having a party. Initially, Noriko asks if she has seen her device, but understanding that her friend is preoccupied with the party, she leaves.
Back to Suzie's group: As they continue onward, Suzie has flashbacks of Masa, and during one of them, she briefly flashes on Hime, which causes her to freak out. Basing her outburst on something in the area, Mixxy downplays it as nothing, and they head forward. As they do, Sunny mentions that after thinking about it, she believes that Masa's father was in the plane crash.
When Suzie has to pee, Sunny and Suzie talk about Sunny's mistrust of Mixxy, which Suzie brushes off. After Suzie is finished with her business, Mixxy mentions how old Suzie's underwear is, and Suzie claims they're lucky because they belonged to a female economist she once knew. Sunny then asks why she was wearing them, which upsets Suzie. She walks away upsettedly, and Mixxy rebukes it, noting Suzie lost her son recently. Sunny apologizes and grows upset as Mixxy holds onto Suzie's arm as they walk together.
That night, Noriko visited Suzie's home, hoping to finish the shogi game she was playing with Sunny, but they were nowhere to be found.
Switching back to Suzie's side, Suzie and Mixxy sit on a log and have a heart-to-heart about Mixxy's father, who died while she was in middle school. Close by, Sunny finds a baby bird in need and decides to take care of it and name it Joey. When Suzie and Mixxy learn about it, Suzie gets into an argument with Suzie about keeping it. Once Suzie leaves, Mixxy assures it that there's an incubator on the farm and that Suzie doesn't always mean what she says.
At her home, Noriko morns at the alter of her deceased husband.
Returning to Suzie's side, Mixxy and Suzie pee, and the man from the station is nearby, alarming them; however, he seemingly doesn't notice them and leaves them be. From there, an argument between Mixxy and Sunny occurs, and amid it, Mixxy admits they're lost. However, Suzie consoles the distraught Mixxy, much to Sunny's disapproval.
As they continue, they locate an old abandoned temple where Sunny sleeps. Mixxy and Suzie then have a heart-to-heart about trees' connection to fungus. Suzie falls asleep after this and has a dream about Zen, asking where Masa is. As he leaves carrying his suitcase, Suzie uses her device to contact Masa.
The next morning, Suzie awakens to Sunny talking to Joey. They argue about Joey, and the sounds of footsteps alarm them all. While it wasn't from the man from the station, it was actually a bear. Mixxy starts singing as a way to scare it away, and Suzie joins her, which eventually scares it away.
By dawn, the group reaches Mixxy's family farm, and as they enjoy breakfast together, Suzie learns that Joey has sadly passed away. She visits Sunny, who admits that it wanted to learn how it is to be a mother, which starts a heart-to-heart between Suzie and Sunny about Zen and Masa.
Afterward, Joey's funeral is held, and Suzie has flashbacks of Zen during it. Meanwhile, Noriko goes into Masa's room, where she lies on his bed and uses her device to contact someone under the alias "Do not answer."
Back to Suzie's side, seeing Suzie and Mixxy hold hands makes Sunny recall a memory of Masa taking it somewhere. Suzie and Sunny briefly talk about this in bed. Suzie has a dream about being in bed with Masa and asks him where he was at, as Zen was scared in his absence. Masa downplays it and apologizes.
Waking up from her dream, Suzie is alarmed that Sunny is gone, and she finds a note with a prosthetic finger where Sunny was at.
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