Serialization/Movie

The Night is Short, Walk on Girl (夜は短し歩けよ乙女, Yoru wa Mijikashi Aruke yo Otome) is a romantic comedy movie adaptation directed by Masaaki Yuasa and written by Makoto Ueda of the 2007 novel written by Tomihiko Morimi. It is the spiritual sequel of The Tatami Galaxy, featuring many of the same characters and major setting of Kyoto University, but having largely different plot-lines.

Summary
A bold young woman and her college classmate have an incredible adventure as they explore Kyoto night scene.

Exploring Shijo Kiya
Amid a wedding party, Kurokami no Otome enjoys a drink and overhears her friends ordering non-alcoholic beverages. Another person orders a Bireley and when asked what Otome wants, she politely asks for a Bireley as well. While drinking her beverage, Otome hears about Naoko-san and her heavily inebriated husband Akagawa-senpai. From Otome's inner-monologue, she confesses that the thought of plunging into the adult world allured her and across from where she's seated. Her Senpai and his colleague the Executive Head sit at a table together and Executive Head points out that Senpai never tires looking at Otome's table. Senpai is quick to denounce it to Executive Head, however, internally, he admits that he's head over heels for her. A series of "Odd Chances" play out where he just so happened to be where she was at by chance. It was all part of his Seen, Every-time Everywhere or SEE strategy. Executive Head easily reads Senpai like a book, much to his dismay, and Senpai details his background as the #1 most handsome man in the Kyoto University. Furthermore, he enjoys using his beautiful looks by cross dressing and tricking the men on campus to fall in love with him. Another man speaks out who urges Senpai to follow his heart and ask Otome out. His name was Don Underwear, a fellow college student who fell in love with a woman and until he finds and confesses to her, he refuses to change his underwear. 6 months have passed since this encounter, so he has since earned the sobriquet Don Underwear. Arguing against that notion, Senpai proclaims that he'll doing on his own terms and will strike when the iron is hot. To that, Don Underwears considers it unromantic.

Outside of the wedding reception, a man associated with Naoko who was holding Akagawa a passed out drunk Akagawa, announces they're going for a bar hop. If any of the attendees are interested they're to follow them. While this is announced, Senpai seeks out Otome, but she's on an excursion to find a glorious alcohol.



Eventually, Otome ends up in a bar where all of the drinks are 200 yen. She first orders a Pina Colada, and as it's prepared, Otome notes her love for cocktail drinks. Sequentially finishing her drink, she orders five more drinks. Noting her love for cocktails are so great, she claims that she could swim in an ocean of rum.

Noticing how well Otome drinks, a man orders her an Acapulco. He goes onto explain the backgrounds, of Rum and Brandy, but then informs her of a legendary alcohol called Fake Denki Bran. Curious to know more about it, the man elaborates the backstory of the Denki Brand to Otome. Taking another drink, the man details that he stood his daughter up on an important day of hers and advises Otome to never give up, which she agrees to do, but knocks him out for groping her.

Meanwhile, Senpai is searching for Otome and is approached by a hostess man who tries to hook him up with some lovely ladies, but he's kidnapped by two men in blacks suits.

Back to Otome, the old man whose name is Toudou-san, falls backward and drops pictures of his erotic collection. A man named Seitarou Higuchi and Ryouko Hanuki then warn Otome about Toudou as he's one of the shady characters of the night. Enjoying a drink together, they explain Toudou's backstory and compliment Otome for the punch that she gave Toudou. Otome goes onto explain that her mother taught her the punch which is called the "Friendship Punch". A flashback of when Otome's mother taught her the move is then shown. Impressed by Otome's style, they invite Otome to enjoy the night with them and she happily agrees. The lady has the bartender put their drinks on Toudou's tab.

Outside of the bar Higuchi finds a pair of black pants and claims it must be from the loan shark named Ri Haku. Hanuki explains Ri Haku's backstory while, Higuchi puts the pants on and details that Ri Haku has in his possession a collection of Fake Denki Bran alcohol.

As the trio break into an unknown place, Senpai is shown out on the streets again without any pants. From a 2nd story bar, Toudou-san signals Senpai offering to help him if he joins him in drowning his sorrows.

Returning to the trio, Hanuki helps them crash a party for the Rhetoric Club. It's there that Otome and Higuchi meet a man named Kosaka who imposes the argument of "Whom one should marry the one they love or the one they don't". Otome gives no answer and Kosaka answers that it's the man you don't love. His reason is that it transcends all logic and goes on a tirade about it. Hanuki appears before them and details that Kosaka was dumped by his lover right before he was scheduled to go to London which the party is centered around. As it turns out, the name of his lover was Naoko-san. Just then the MC of the party announces the dance of the "Sophists" shall begin. Most of the party goers start to partake in the dance and intrigued by it, Otome joins in on it too.

From there, the trio head to another bar where a bunch of old fogies gather. The head of the party is a man celebrating his 60th birthday and whose son was recently married. Noting the tepidness of the party, the head claims to Hanuki that nobody is enjoying the Akadama Punch that he brought. Therefore, Hanuki has Higuchi perform a trick, but it gets a cold reception. It's then that the old fogies notice Otome's watch and see how slow it's going. Hanuki and Higuchi then show off their watches which moves faster. Compared to the old fogie's watches, their watches were moving at a rapid pace. The party head is then surprised that Otome managed to finish off many bottles of Akadama Punch and she then performs the dance of the "Sophists". The party attendees recognize the dance and all start to dancing it as well remembering the good old days of their youth. Once the dance is over, the old fogies all contribute pouring some of the punch into Otome's huge glass while claiming she can defeat the drinking champion Ri Haku. Apparently if someone defeats him in a drinking contest, he'll grant the winner any wish they desire.

Meanwhile, Senpai still pants-less listens to Toudou's drunken and lamentful tirade of how an incident in the 1980's caused him to lose his Koi fish factory. During this tirade, a member that Toudou is a part of called the Bedchamber Investigation Team arrives and asks him how long until Ri Haku comes and takes his erotic pictures for himself. Toudou answers any minute and the member claims he'll contact the other members of the group and they'll give the pictures a "farewell" party. Appreciative of this, Toudou ropes Senpai into it as well, much to his dismay.



Unbeknownst to Senpai, Otome was just outside and is then called over by the party head. This leads her and her new acquaintances to go bar hoping while chanting Ri Haku to "come out" and soon meet up with Kosaka and his Rhetoric Club. They then meet Naoko and her husband who turns out to be the party head's son. Elsewhere, the Bedchamber Investigation Team lament over Toudou losing his erotic art and overhear a ruckus to which they deduce is Ri Haku being challenged to a drinking contest. They all then give their opinions on what Ri Haku looks like which are various depictions of monsters. At that moment Kosaka arrives into the room with the party head in tail while doing the dance of the "Sophists" and vomits on the erotic art.

Because of this, Toudou tries to kill himself by jumping off the 2-story building they were in, but is stopped by a member of the Bedchamber Investigation Team. Outside of the place, Otome's group now joined by Naoko dragging along her passed out husband witness Toudou trying to kill himself and reveals that he's her father. Upon seeing Naoko, Kosaka tries to court her into falling in love with him with his infallible rhetoric, but she flatly rejects it.

Drinking Contest


At that moment, Ri Haku arrives at the scene on his Three-Story Ferry to collect Toudou's erotic art. However, since the art was ruined, Ri Haku's men proceed to capture Toudou, but are stopped by Otome who challenges him to a drinking contest and he politely agrees to it. Otome along with everyone she countered that night, all head onto the ferry, and into the banquet hall. All, however, except Senpai who still has no pants. Within the banquet hall, Otome sits at the table Ri Haku is seated at where several bottles of Fake Denki Bran is placed at the center. If Otome wins Toudou's debt is exempt, but if she loses it'll be doubled, to which, Otome still tacitly agrees. The party head acts as the judge of the contest and it begins. Immediately Otome is enamored by it's refined taste, but Ri Haku thinks nothing of it. This leads to a debate on the virtue and immorality, whereas, Otome relishes the virtue, while Ri Haku is transfixed on the immorality.

Ultimately, Ri Haku becomes to flush to continue and concedes defeat making Otome the winner. Everyone there then celebrates Otome's victory and later just as Senpai tries to retrieve his underwear hanging outside the top of the ferry, it sets off. This causes Senpai to fall off, but thankfully, he lands safely on his feet on the ground below, only to punched into the Kamo River by Otome for unintentionally exposing himself to her.

Looking for Ratatatam


To Otome's observation, she notices that everyone sitting by the Kamo River were couples. Also, seeing Hanuki sneezing and shivering because of the cold night, Otome places her jacket around Hanuki. Just then a flyer to used book market floats down the river and causes Otome to have an epiphany of all of the books that she's read in her life, especially one called Ratatatam. The story was a about a small white train and it inspires Otome to go another excursion to find it.

Meanwhile, Senpai awakens in the School Festival Executive Office now wearing a new pair of pants. He's informed of the location by the Executive Head and it's background. At that place, all of the students there are monitored and as it turns out Otome is also a person being monitored as well. One of the Executive Head's subordinates reports that Otome is now on an excursion to find a book that she had as a child called Ratatatam. Where the book is expected to appear is at a Used Book Market, to which, if Senpai were to get his hands on the book, he'd win over Otome's heart.



Coincidentally, Otome is at the market where she notes the place is like an ocean of books and she is a fish in search of the one book that she's in search of. Senpai, also arrives at the market noting how hot it is, and his disdain for used books. This leads into an inner tirade of his disdain for used books until young boy bumps into him causing his ice cream to stick onto the private area of his pants. A minor scuffle between the two occurs until Senpai spots Otome in the distance whom is focused on the books for sale and cogitates the eloquence of finding books. To Otome's dismay, she's unable to find the book Ratatatam anywhere, and a stall owner details how a "shady old man" collects all of the books and sells them at his underground auction.

Elsewhere, Senpai cleans off the ice cream off his pants by a brook, only to get more ice cream on his underwear by the boy from before. This leads to him being pinned as a pedophile molester. Thankfully, Toudou arrives at the scene stating how Senpai has gotten himself into another unfortunate situation. On the other hand, Otome runs into Higuchi and Hanuki who sit by an ice kotatsu. Curiously, Otome asks if Higuchi has read all of the books surrounding him, contrary to that, he's selling all of them for profit. After getting a text from someone, Higuchi goes to rendezvous with an acquaintance. Otome then notices Don Underwear and is introduced to him by Hanuki. Don Underwear then explains his tale of meeting his beloved and how he earned his unflattering sobriquet.

Back to Senpai, he's roped into attending the underground auction held in a large red tent by Toudou as quid pro quo for helping him out before. Waiting pensively outside of the auction are the members of the Bedchamber Investigation Team and Higuchi. When the gatekeeper allows the group into the auction, Senpai follows them all inside. At the center of the auction, they're greeted by Ri Haku who sits on top of a throne by a boiling hot pot. Whomever lasts the longest while eating the contents of the torrid hot pot, will be granted a book of their choice. As it turns out, one of the books in Ri Haku's possession is Ratatatam, which astonishes Senpai and resolves him to be able to get win it. However, this endeavor proves to be too much for him and the members of the Bedchamber Investigation Team as the food from the pot is too spicy.

Returning to Otome who catches the mischievous young boy in the act of trying to tear off the removing the price tag from a book. He, however, argues that he's doing it for a good cause. The boy then elaborates how all books inspire people which in a manner of speaking connects them all. Otome then asks who the boy is and he answers that he's the God of the Used Book Market. He goes onto explains what his duties entails and then asks for Otome's help with something.

The unorthodox "Underground Auction" continues and the members of the Bedchamber Investigation Team all pass out leaving Higuchi and Senpai remaining. They get into a hallucinogenic battle with each other, while outside Otome pulls on a loose thread causing the tent the auction is being held to collapse. It's then revealed that Higuchi has fainted making Senpai the winner of the auction. The joy to his victory is ephemeral, as the tent's cloth shreds into bird like pieces and the God of the Used Book Market appears to punish Ri Haku for him mistreating books. The books in question all fly into the air and into the market where they'll all be waiting to be properly purchased. Cursing the used book god for his actions, Ri Haku then sneezes. Senpai's prize, the Ratatatam also tries to fly away into the market, but he stubbornly grips it tightly as it drags him away. Otome, witnesses Senpai being dragged away and is then approached by the used book god, who thanks her for her help. Although Higuchi is apathetically unhappy about his misfortune, Otome promises to buy him some yakisoba for him, and then notices that Hanuki is overwhelmed by a cold.

The Codger of Monte Cristo


Just then a guerilla theater is set-up by Otome and Higuchi. What plays out is Chapter 47 of a play and at the end of it, the Executive Head and his cronies arrive to stop and arrest the theater troupe for violation of school regulations. Higuchi suggests Otome go on her way as he watches over Hanuki promising to meet her at the School Festival.

Elsewhere, Senpai is shown knocked out while still holding the Ratatatam book as Otome goes on another excursion to the School Festival. It's at the festival that Senpai has the Ratatatam book for sale, but it is solely reserved for his "beloved". His stall, however, is quickly disassembled and stolen by the guerilla theater group who flee the scene as the Executive Head and his cronies arrive at the scene. Senpai demanding answers as to what's going on, the Executive Head has Senpai follow him back to his HQ as he explains the details to the Guerilla Theater. Because of the nature of the play could tarnish the school's reputation, the Executive Head vows to stop it and detain all of whom are a part of it.

At the festival, Otome partakes in a shooting stall and wins a large red koi backpack. She wears the backpack proudly attracting attention from everyone who she walks by. Soon, Otome meets up with Higuchi and Don Underwear who sit by a warm kotatsu enjoying a hot pot. They briefly chat until the Executive Head's cronies chase them away. From there, Otome is roped into playing the new Princess Daruma, to which, she accepts it as fate. Right as the scene to the play ends, the Executive Head accompanied by Senpai and his cronies once again try to arrest everyone involved in the guerilla theater, but are held back by the audience.

Furious, about their perpetual failure to stop the antics of the guerilla theater, the Executive Head chastises his cronies. One of them, details that the script now used is fresh, which gives the Executive Head the idea if they capture the author, the play would be ruined. A couple of cronies who are a chimpanzee and a parrot that acts as the chimpanzee's translator, informs the Executive Head that from an intercepted text message the final scene is near. Furthermore, it's revealed that the quick footed kotatsu locations are revealed to be markers of where the play would be performed at next. Also, the Executive Head deduces that the script to the play is written in the process of where the kotatsu is located at and Higuchi and Don Underwear are revealed to be the culprits. Agitated by this revelation, the Executive Head demands that Don Underwear be caught at all costs.

Out on the run, Otome is informed by the director Kazuko about the final scene of the play. One of the crew members then reveals that the final scene was leaked and that the Executive Head and his cronies will stop at nothing to try and stop it.

Upon learning of the details to the final scene of the play, Senpai rushes to the location of the final scene to make sure it's him and not Don Underwear who is kissed by Otome. Chasing after the kotatsu, Senpai pulls off the Executive Head's pants and underwear and then throws them into a barrel bonfire. Reaching the final location where Higuchi is enjoying a hot pot, Senpai demands to know where Don Underwear is. However, Higuchi informs the love struck Senpai that the play is being performed just across from their location.

Just then, the final part to the play starts where Don Underwear finally makes his appearance. During it, Senpai crashes it by knocking Don Underwear off the stage. Performing an improvised scene together, Senpai and Otome nearly kiss, until Senpai falls through a trapdoor allowing Don Underwear to once again take the stage. In another twist, the real Princess Daruma appears, starts singing, and also reveals that she's really the Executive Head. Don Underwear now despondent over this, Kazuko watching the scene play out from sitting on top of a ladder starts to sing about her love for Don Underwear. However, Don Underwear refuses to acknowledge her feelings as his heart belongs to the "Princess". The Executive Head breaks into song and "accepts" Don Underwear's feelings and as the two proceed to kiss, Kazuko hesitantly tries to signal the stage crew to drop the curtain. All while this is happening, Senpai climbs up from beneath the stage and opens the trapdoor causing the Executive Head to fall through it. Then out of nowhere, a bunch of koi fish fall out of the sky and land on top of Don Underwear and Kazuko's heads. The unexpected scene causes Don Underwear to break into song about his newfound love of Kazuko who is sequentially lead onto the stage where the two sing and embrace each other.

Ri Haku Cold
Senpai now has a cold and now spends his time alone in his room. On the other hand, Otome is busy making Tamagozake for Hanuki in her apartment. Along with Higuchi, they talk about the cold epidemic all around town. It's by Higuchi's suggestion that the Junpero Ri Haku's possession could help with the cold epidemic.

Afterward, Otome runs into Don Underwear at a convince store where he stands idle with a very high fever and holding a liter of cola. Confessing that he's finally wearing a new pair of underwear and that he was going to visit Kazuko to make her a cold remedy with the cola. On Otome's insistence, she follows Don Underwear to Kazuko's apartment where she helps out making the cola cold remedy after Don Underwear passes out on Kazuko's couch. Otome also makes some Tamagozake as well for Kazuko.

Later, Otome brings some Tamagozake and the cola cold remedy to the Executive Head's apartment, where it's filled with get well gifts because of his performance at the stage play. Concerned for his fellow Bedchamber Investigation Team member Toudou, the Executive Head requests that Otome visit him and deliver a box of apples for him. For her troubles, the Executive Head offers her to chose a hat from a basket; all of which were gifts to him. The Executive Head then states how natural Otome and Senpai were during the play, which causes her to reflect on how she's missed many a note on romantic relationships. Senpai also contemplates on that notion in his apartment as well.

At Toudou's home, Otome visits Toudou and delivers to him what the Executive Head asked. Appreciating Otome's action and Toudou details that he passed his cold to his daughter, whom, in turn, passed it onto her husband and in-laws. Toudou also details that he meet her Senpai at the used book market who was in search of the Ratatatam book and how he got his cold from Ri Haku.



By the subway exit, Otome bumps into Hanuki who is now wearing a mask and appears to be better. She states her concern about how the streets of the town are barren with not a soul in sight, and how Higuchi also caught the cold. In Higuchi's apartment, Higuchi goes on a tirade on how he caught Ri Haku's cold and details where the man's house is at to Otome.



Determined to see Ri Haku, Otome visits Ri Haku's ferry home that now looks like a dilapidated mess. Ri Haku, now bedridden, recounts how his checkered adolescent life molded him to the dour and lonley person he today as Otome prepares for him some Tamagozake for him. Otome then cheers Ri Haku up stating that he's not alone and that he has several connections with many people all across the town. She goes onto eloquently stating that his actions have unintentionally connected him with many people all across the town and that everything that had occurred that night was because of him. Moved by Otome's speech, Ri Haku tearfully thanks her, which revitalizes him, and he offers her to enjoy more Fake Denki Bran with him, and she happily accepts. However, at that moment, a tornado that's a manifestation of Ri Haku's cold virus blows strongly by the ferry. So to help combat it, Otome now with some Junpero sets off to deliver it to everyone affected by the Ri Haku's cold.

Meanwhile, Senpai contemplates his life from his apartment and internally in his mind, representatives of various aspects of him debate on how to proceed with Senpai's feelings with Otome. Eventually, Senpai gets a text from the Executive Head informing him that Otome is on her way to him.

Otome Visits Everyone
Otome, starts to visit everyone affected by Ri Haku's cold giving them some Junpero that helps cure their sickness. In doing so, she receives a small token of thanks from each person she visits.

Inside Senpai's mind, all of the representatives of various aspects of him act frantically with how Otome is heading closer and closer to his location. Right when they try and perform a "shut down", the apparitions known as Johnny infiltrates the debate floor and usurp control of it.

Outside of an imaginary setting of Senpai's house, Otome arrives and is chased by the many apparitions of Senpai's mind. She manages to hold them off with all of the gifts that were given to her by delivering the Junpero, bottles of Junpero, and hand to hand combat. Lead by an updraft to Senpai's location who was being forced to jumped by his apparitions of himself, Johnny shoots Otome down. As Otome falls, Senpai rescues her managing to float in the air with the power of his love for Otome.

Waking up in his room with Otome by his side, Otome pours Senpai some Tamagozake, and then finds the Ratatatam book in his room. The book was the same copy that she owned as a child and Senpai allows her to have it, which she's grateful for. Senpai then offers to take her to a local used book store and she agrees to it, but also details that she seems to have a cold.

Later, Senpai and Otome meet at a coffee shop before they go to the book store, and talk about how they spent their time that night.