Ep 9. Tomorrow's Tomorrow Is in the Present

Makoto and her cousin Kei are visiting the local farmer's market. As they peruse the various stalls, Makoto notes how the summer produce is starting to come in, and Kei teases her about over-romanticizing the rustic life. They stop at a booth selling unusual herbs and vegetables, where they get into a friendly debate with the vendor over the merits of various kinds of peppers. Makoto, feeling inspired, asks if the vendor has any seeds she could buy. The woman obliges, tossing her a packet of an unusual and rare plant that she says will bloom in a week's time.

Back at home, Makoto excitedly shows her seeds to her sister Akane, who is less than impressed. Akane is in the middle of practicing some serious magic, and she's a little annoyed that Makoto keeps interrupting her with her mundane interests. Makoto tries to impress Akane by telling her about the special plant, but Akane is still mostly absorbed in her own work. Kei chimes in, teasing Akane for not being more excited about her sister's interests. Both of them try to cajole Akane into taking a break, but she stubbornly refuses.

The next day, Makoto plants her seeds and watches with anticipation as they begin to grow. In the meantime, Kei is trying to figure out how to spend his time in the rural area, and eventually decides to visit a nearby shrine. He spends some time admiring the architecture and taking photos, but eventually feels a little aimless and bored. As he starts to leave, he sees a group of kids playing a game near the shrine. They're all wearing retro-looking clothes and having a great time, and Kei is curious about what they're doing. He talks to them and finds out that they're rehearsing for a play about a local folk tale. The kids are all enthusiastic and excited about their project, and Kei finds himself drawn in by their passion.

Back at the house, Makoto is anxiously watching her plant, which seems to be taking longer to bloom than she expected. She's so preoccupied with her project that she doesn't notice when Akane finally finishes her magic and comes to check on her. Akane, seeing how focused Makoto is, decides to take a break from her own work and help her sister out. She does some magic on the plant, which finally causes it to bloom. Makoto is thrilled, but she's also grateful for Akane's help.

The episode ends with Makoto thanking Akane for her assistance and promising to be a little more respectful of her sister's work in the future. Kei returns from the shrine, energized by the kids' enthusiasm for their project. He and Makoto talk about their respective experiences, and both of them reflect on how there's something special about throwing yourself into a passion project. The episode ends with the three of them enjoying the warm summer evening and feeling content in each other's company.