「ACROBATICS」

**「ACROBATICS」** is the 3rd episode overall, and the 3rd episode of season 1.

## Characters

* Popee
* Kedamono

## Summary

While performing acrobatics on a barrel, Popee becomes stuck inside. Kedamono tries to help as things get worse.

## Plot

The episode begins on an overcast day as Popee is seen balancing on and performing a handstand on top of a tall, thin and hollow barrel with Kedamono stretching in the background. Kedamono turns around to look at Popee as Popee attempts to flip his legs back under his arms. As he does so, his backside starts sinking into the barrel. Kedamono laughs at his misfortune as Popee plays along, sliding fully into the barrel. Kedamono becomes concerned and runs over, looking into the barrel. Popee's head pops out of the top whilst he sticks his tongue out, scaring Kedamono, who falls backward as Popee laughs about it.

As Kedamono recovers from the scare, a light rain begins to trickle down, which quickly escalates to a downpour. Kedamono covers his head and runs behind a large fence as Popee struggles to get out of the barrel. The thunder roars as Kedamono looks over to Popee, who's miserable and soaking wet in the barrel. Concerned for his friend, Kedamono pulls out an umbrella and props it up in the barrel to shield Popee from the rain. He quickly runs back to the cover of the fence as Popee watches on appreciatively. Kedamono looks back at Popee, who looks much more content, and Kedamono wears a smiling mask as he nods, pleased with having helped out his friend. But, out of nowhere, lightning strikes the barrel, which electrocutes Popee, the umbrella, and the barrel, frying them to a crisp as they topple over. Kedamono, completely shocked, cries behind the fence as the barrel burns with Popee still inside.

The storm unexpectedly begins to clear as the sound of church bells is heard in the background. A mournful Kedamono takes a blue flower over to where Popee lies, believing that his friend had died. He stops short when an electric crackle is heard. Popee opens his eyes whilst Kedamono watches. Suddenly, the barrel shatters into pieces as Popee pops out completely unharmed, triggering Kedamono to run away. Popee stands up slowly and uncomfortably, holding his head in pain. Kedamono watches from behind a ladder as Popee examines himself. Then, Popee begins to buzz and glow with blue electricity. He stares at his hand, which buzzes with electricity and static. He makes a fist as his eyes turn a dark blue and the electricity surrounding his fist flares up. A metal spoon flies over and magnetizes to his fist, surprising Popee and revealing to him that he's gained magnetic powers. Popee starts to attract a metal frying pan to his other fist as Kedamono starts to walk over to Popee. Kedamono is cut off, though, when he's accidentally hit in the back of the head with the frying pan, which knocks him over. Popee goes mad with power and begins laughing maniacally. His eyes twist into blue-and-red spirals, and he flares up with electricity, attracting a variety of metal objects (an umbrella, pots and pans, a golf club, a lamp, etc.). Kedamono, still lying on the ground, looks up as Popee attracts larger metal objects (a folding chair, a large gold dishpan, and a rusty barrel). Ultimately, Popee gets hit by a large, red cargo truck, knocking him across the Zurkus and scattering the objects that were once magnetized to him everywhere.

Kedamono slowly approaches Popee, and he once again begins to mourn the loss of his friend, placing the blue flower on his body and thinking about the time they had spent together (shown in clips from previous episodes as well as the current episode). He cries over Popee's presumed lifeless body before sitting up in revelation. As he replays the truck incident in his mind, he focuses on one specific detail: one of the objects that had magnetized to Popee was a pot containing legs of fried chicken. Kedamono, in a daze, steps over (and on) Popee's body and begins searching for the pot of chicken.

Popee wakes up, dazed, wounded, and bleeding from his nose. He sits up and, as he collects himself, notices Kedamono off to the side, enjoying a pot of fried chicken. Kedamono notices Popee watching him, who looks less than impressed with his friend's lack of care. Still dazed, Popee watches on as Kedamono stands up and begins to slide into the pot of chicken, mirroring Popee sliding into the barrel at the beginning of the episode. The episode ends with Kedamono pulling the lid securely onto the pot as the episode fades out.