Original subtitles

Found it.

What a throwback...

Does Natsu live here?

I don't know. He might've moved out already.

Wanna ring his doorbell?

Oh no...

I'm starting to get nervous.

Mommy?

I almost forgot.

What?

The croquettes are on sale now.

They'll run out!

They will. Hurry!

Let's come visit another day.

At least until you remember how to get here yourself.

Will Natsu be here next time?

Let's practice coming here,

so you can visit Natsu whenever you want,

even when Mommy is gone, okay?

Okay.

- Croquettes. - Croquettes!

- Croquettes? - Croquettes!

[Where Does the Sea Begin]

I'm going to make croquettes, so sit tight, okay?

You can make croquettes at home?

You can.

Your mommy made them too, didn't she?

We bought them at the supermarket, when they were on sale.

Putting them in the toaster oven makes them really crispy!

Right. I guess we didn't technically ask what your favorite home-cooked meal was.

I've never had homemade croquettes. I can't wait!

Then I hope I'll do you proud.

Is there anything I can do to help?

Oh, then...

[Uterine Cancer]

It tastes like it's from the store. I love it!

Thank you.

Sorry, it's from the office.

No worries.

Have you enjoyed spending time with Natsu?

Yup.

That's good to hear.

I'm sorry I'm keeping Natsu all to myself.

Already aware of that sort of stuff, huh? Impressive.

Because you love Natsu, too.

You're right. I do love him.

Yet here I am, holding myself back from seeing him.

Was Mommy "holding back", too?

Huh?

Why did Mommy and Natsu leave each other?

Mommy also never dated Tsuno.

But they were friends.

I see.

Is it because of me?

I don't think so.

Adults are just bad at romance, that's all.

You too?

Me especially.

I'll pass. I'm only an acquaintance, after all.

I reckon Mizuki would be frustrated to hear you haven't visited yet.

She wouldn't.

Tsuno. We appreciated your support,

and I personally feel guilty for the way I brushed you aside

when things were still a chaotic mess.

I'm only able to reflect now, because things have finally begun to settle on our end.

If you still feel at odds with yourself, I won't push.

But please come visit her grave, once you feel ready.

I will send you the address.

Thank you.

Are you free to stay until we bury her ashes?

Yes, of course.

Tsuno says he will not be joining us.

I think he's trying to be considerate of me.

Oh, no.

He doesn't spare you so much a thought.

It's because he was close to Mizuki.

What is it about Mommy?

We'll be interring her ashes, dear.

Your mommy will be placed in her grave.

She's not in a grave now?

No. She's right here, see?

Then she should stay here forever.

People who pass on must go to their graves.

Is Mizuki saying something to you?

No. She can't talk.

Bones don't talk.

Right.

When you turn into bones, does the pain go away?

Yeah.

No more pain.

No more medicine, too?

Yeah.

No more medicine.

Good.

Curious about this?

Dad gave it to me.

Cute, right?

Is it better to have more than a photo?

Like, from an emotional standpoint.

Well...

I took her with me to school.

And my entrance exams, too.

I have her come with me whenever I feel like I need moral support.

Like a lucky charm of sorts.

Can this be fixed?

Don't worry, I'll fix it.

Thanks for showing me.

Yeah!

[The Bear and the Bobcat]

My name is Nagumo.

I'm excited to join the team.

It's nice to meet you all.

The pleasure is all ours. Welcome to the team.

Now here's to another smooth running day.

- Right. - Yes, ma'am.

- I'll be waiting downstairs. - Thank you.

Excuse me...

I'm Tsuno. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you as well.

Sorry...

Oh, no. Sorry.

No worries.

You dropped this.

Oh, thank you.

It's my kid's.

You have a child?

Yes. A three-month-old daughter.

No husband, though.

Tsuno.

I'll handle that for you.

Go take your break.

Thank you.

- Picking her up? - Yes.

- Will you make it? - If I run.

- See you! - See you.

I forgot my lunch box...

My name is Umi.

I'm one years old.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you, too.

So you really are a mother.

I really am.

And this is my daughter.

It must be tough, raising such a young child on your own.

Don't push yourself, alright?

I am.

Everyone says that.

"Looks tough".

"Good luck".

"Don't push yourself".

But I need to. Or else both of us will die.

I'm sorry. That was inconsiderate of me to say.

No, I took out my frustrations on you.

I'm sorry.

Excuse me.

I, erm...

I have no child, or girlfriend.

- Okay? - And I spend all my time at home, reading.

Even my days off are spent with my nose in a book.

It's not as if raising a child is my hobby.

Sorry, I didn't mean it as a way of replacing my past time, but...

I'm really starting to reach my limit.

I gave birth to her on my own, due to various circumstances.

So I don't want to rely on my parents.

But doing this alone, is just...

Would you find it easier to rely on an outsider?

I don't know those circumstances of yours.

And I won't pry into them either.

Then...

In that case...

I'll send you the address to my place, and her preschool.

Oh...

Okay.

Umi. This is Mr. Tsuno.

Maybe that's too formal.

Meet Tsuno.

Come on, say hi.

Give him a shake.

Shake!

Shake.

Hey!

- Have a good one. - Thank you.

- Bye bye! - Say bye.

Run!

- I'm home! - Welcome back.

Thank you for getting her.

How's the leak?

I got it fixed.

The plumber had it done in an instant. It really had me worried!

I don't blame you.

- There. - Hi, Umi.

Thank you.

Would you like to stop in for a bit?

Sure.

Come on in. It's tight, but make yourself comfortable.

Thank you.

Tsuno. Don't read into my question, but...

Yes?

Are you currently seeing anyone?

No.

Is that so.

Are you?

No, of course not.

But if you ever are, you're free to go.

Huh?

If you ever begin seeing someone, tell me.

I won't come to rely on you.

Alright.

See you soon.

Thank you.

Are you two finally dating?

Nope.

Thought so.

Even now, I'm taking advantage of his feelings.

I'm the very worst there is.

Don't worry about it. He's doing this because he wants to.

Is he?

He is.

He's not looking for anything in return.

I suppose.

Besides, Umi looks like she's enjoying herself, too.

I'm sorry. She passed out,

and created an absolute mess.

It's alright, she was being a good girl.

[Abortion Consent Form]

[Patient: Mizuki Nagumo] [Partner: Natsu Tsukioka]

Oh, that's...

Did he force you to sign?

Did you run away from him?

Hold on.

You're letting your imagination run far too wild.

I had originally intended to do so, that's all.

Does this man know you didn't?

You sound so hostile to a complete stranger.

He thought that you had -

I chose not to tell him.

- Umi, wake up. - You should let him know.

He could... I don't know, send funds to help?

You're already working so hard.

This man is living his life, without knowing a thing -

And you know nothing either.

You know nothing about Umi's father.

So please, don't speak ill of him like you do.

I'm sorry.

Umi, wake up.

Why did you visit the clinic?

Was everything okay?

Right.

I suppose you'd be curious.

I should probably tell them about it, too.

Huh?

Where's Umi?

Tsuno's taking care of her.

Why? You should've brought her over.

I came here just to tell you something.

What is it?

Oh, are you seeing someone?

Is it Tsuno?

It looks like I'm not okay.

You're not okay, how?

Umi hasn't been taking naps at preschool. Her teacher was worried.

But it seems like she still plays with her friends.

I thought the only thing in life you had no say over,

was whether or not you'd be born.

Yeah.

I'll leave Umi's report from her teachers here for you.

Whenever I argue with my mother,

she always shifts the topic

to be about my birth.

But I never asked to be born into this world.

So I'd always stop listening around then, to save my sanity.

Umi didn't ask for it either. To give birth or not was all my choice.

I wish I could've given her a say in the matter.

Too bad that just isn't possible.

There was a store on the first floor. They had a large selection, too.

Want me to go grab you something?

But there's one more thing in life we have no say over.

I could get you a pudding, or maybe a cup of jelly.

And that's when we die.

We have no say over our birth, or death.

As I am now...

I can sort of understand why people choose suicide.

I don't want to die, but I understand.

Because they're choosing that end themselves.

Then you should rethink your choice.

Get the necessary treatment.

You might recover.

I want to see Umi.

It's far more likely that I won't recover, even with the treatment.

Rather than stay here, and prolong my life for a moment longer...

I'd prefer to prioritize my time spent with Umi instead.

Sorry.

What do you want?

Pudding?

Or jelly?

Yogurt.

Mandarin yogurt.

Okay.

And if they don't have mandarin yogurt?

Then I don't need anything.

They didn't have mandarin yogurt.

So you bought me mandarins, and yogurt?

Because they had those.

I didn't even consider that an option.

Umi will always be my first priority.

Yeah.

I'll do everything I can, for Umi's sake.

I'll try,

but I think my body will fail on me at times.

So when it does, I'd appreciate your help.

Yeah.

I know you've already helped us plenty...

But please, continue to help her.

Yeah.

Sorry.

Yeah.

Want some?

I do.

Should we call an ambulance?

She says she's fine.

It's nothing they can help with.

This one?

Mommy?

Umi...

Sorry, Umi.

Your mommy still has a bit of work to finish, okay?

How about we read a book together while she wraps up.

Is she hurting again?

Did she take her medicine?

Will she get better?

[1st Grade Class of 2024 Parent and Guardian Meeting]

I think that's about it for things you need to know.

I know you'll probably coddle her when I'm gone.

Just don't baby her, okay?

Are there things not related to Umi I should know?

No, you don't need to handle those.

It's nothing you could help with anyway.

Alright.

Although, I suppose knowing Umi will be left in good hands

is plenty reassuring already.

Yeah.

What is it?

Tell me anything, okay?

There's no need to hold back, not now.

Now that I've settled everything with Umi,

and laid my worries to rest...

the fear is starting to settle in.

I'm dying.

And now I'm terrified.

I thought I could pass on without worry.

I thought it would be simple.

But suddenly, I...

[Akane Nagumo]

Hello?

Pardon me.

I'll help.

I know my way around Umi's belongings.

Don't touch that.

We'll manage, as family.

Thank you.

Tsukioka.

Sorry, I should've asked...

It's fine, really.

Please be ready to leave by 9:30.

Alright.

Before we leave, could I ask you a favor?

I'll be borrowing your mother for a bit.

Wait here, okay?

The first time I went to meet Yamato,

I didn't bring Natsu along.

Yamato was seven years old.

I see.

He ignored me, like I wasn't even there.

It was a total rejection.

That's how our family began.

We didn't always get along, the way we do now.

You must be jealous of Mizuki.

I wouldn't exactly call myself jealous...

I was.

I thought it was unfair that she was dead.

Of course, that's not something I should say aloud.

But I feel like it's something I can tell you, especially now.

I envy her.

I know.

I think her life must have been difficult alone.

And dealing with her illness, too.

Yes.

Still...

every time I hear something new about her,

I can't help but feel envious.

It's like every bit of her has become a beautiful memory.

I hate myself for having that thought, though.

I know.

I understand.

I really do.

But I could manage.

Because I had Natsu.

Which is exactly why I worry for you, Yayoi.

Our circumstances are not similar at all.

You have no one to rely on, like I did.

I worry that your life ahead

will become a path filled with turmoil.

Tired?

No...

Here, for you.

A necklace?

Mizuki.

Mommy?

I was given some.

Before she was put in the grave.

She's in here?

Yeah.

Mommy's tiny.

Don't let it get caught anywhere, okay?

I won't.

Hello?

Are you still out?

No, I just got back.

We just wrapped up as well.

Umi invited you to come visit the grave with us...

If you wouldn't mind?

Of course I don't mind.

Let's all go.

Yayoi.

Yeah?

Mommy is over there.

Go on.

Tsuno!

Tsuno hasn't visited Mizuki

since the funeral.

I wonder if he was trying to be considerate.

Ms. Nagumo said he just needed time to process things.

Especially because they were close.

I see.

I understand.

I envy him.

I knew nothing,

while he knew next to everything.

He said he was suffering more.

And I envy him for it.

I felt like my sadness...

was nothing in comparison to his grief.

It'll be okay.

You have Umi here for you.

Right.

Natsu! Yayoi!

Let's go.

Yeah.

Our bus is that way.

I'll walk you to the station.

No, it's fine.

I'll be walking to the station as well.

Besides, you have Umi.

If you insist...

See you, Umi.

- Bye bye! - Bye bye.

Bye bye.

Ready?

How long have you two been seeing each other?

About three years now.

I hear she attempted to visit Tsukioka this past spring.

Mizuki?

She took Umi with her.

- But... - She left without seeing him.

She made it to his place,

but saw him leaving with another woman.

That's what deterred her from allowing them to meet.

Of course, that was ultimately all Nagumo's decision.

You did no wrong to her.

That's just the sort of person Nagumo is.

I wouldn't want you to act as a stand-in without knowing the full story,

so I'm telling you now.

Thank you.

Please don't hesitate to tell me anything else of that matter.

If I may ask, why are you trying so hard? You almost seem desperate.

Because I want to become a mother.

How admirable.

A woman's resolve to raise a child sure is something else.

Does gender have anything to do with it?

Why are more expectations placed on women

as soon as children are even mentioned?

Sorry.

I was only speaking from assumption.

The word "maternal" is used all the time, but why not "paternal"?

They expect mothers to give unconditional love.

But parenting isn't a one-sided gig.

Tsuno, do you have a recommendation for the shelf?

I think you should make the choice,

it's a matter of maternity, after all.

Maternity?

I mean, this shelf is for Mother's Day.

No I mean, what is "maternity"?

Come again?

Is maternity, "unconditional love"?

If I had to put it into words, I suppose so.

I'm sorry if I offended you...

There are plenty of mothers out there, incapable of loving their child.

But "maternity", huh?

Should maternity really be associated with unconditional love?

Sorry, did I put you off?

No, you're entirely right.

I suppose "maternity" is just an all-encompassing, useful word for describing parental love.

Sorry.

Did I put you off?

I thought he had chosen someone who's the exact opposite,

and that had irked me.

But now I see you have your similarities.

That's irksome in it's own way, though.

I don't think we're similar at all.

You wouldn't know.

You can't know. You've never met her before.

I suppose.

Yesterday, Tsukioka called me.

He asked me to go visit Mizuki's grave.

He said Mizuki probably wanted to see me, too.

He's all Mizuki this, Mizuki that... He needs to ease up already.

Agreed.

Umi knows how to reach me.

So if anything happens, don't hestitate to give me a call.

There won't be any need.

Don't leave yourself to make decisions on your own...

like Nagumo did.

Well then, I parked my bike over there.

Right.

Natsu!

What did I say about knocking?

Read a book to me.

I'm not as good as Tsuno.

I know. That's okay.

Alright then.

Come here.

Ready?

"The Bear and the Bobcat".

"One morning, the bear was crying."

I'd like to tell you about my birth father.

Tsukioka is considerate.

Yet it's stopping him from expressing himself.

You're so responsible, I'm starting to doubt we're related.

I envy them. Their parent-child journey has only just begun.

Your personality seems to be suffocating you.

I want us to live together.

Were you shocked by the lack of emotional reunion?

Everyone seems to be grieving

much more than I am.

But they're considerate.

That's why I can't express myself, even though I'm grieving too.