Original subtitles

Am I cute?

You're interesting.

Just call me cute.

But I can't deny the truth.

Every time I look, you're making a new face.

You said that camera was your father's?

Yeah.

My previous father's. I don't remember much about him.

Huh?

My parents got a divorce when I was three.

I haven't seen him since.

I see.

Hey.

I'd like to give it a go.

Here.

How does this work?

You look through this viewfinder, and half-press the button here.

- Half-press? - Just press it lightly -

I got it.

Why did you even ask?

I even heard the snap!

Let's check out my shot.

We can't, this is a film camera.

What? But I want to see it now.

- Let me see my shot. - I can't, not now.

- Oh well. - You gave in easy.

Say cheese!

Bit on a seed?

Here, spit it out.

I swallowed it.

You'll get a sprout in your stomach.

- A sprout? - Yeah, a sprout.

And then, a whole watermelon will grow in your stomach.

Just kidding.

I see a sprout already.

- No you don't! - Yes, I do.

Don't get my floor all sticky, you two.

- We won't. - We won't.

Come in.

Your laundry.

Thank you.

Mrs. Nagumo...

Yes?

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

Thank you for having me this past week.

The pleasure was ours.

Put those in the fridge as soon as you get back, alright?

Will do, thank you.

[Where Does the Sea Begin]

Welcome. [Nitta Photo Studio]

Your photos.

Here's more.

That was quick.

Why, what's the occasion?

They're blurry.

The weather for Eastern Japan is as follows.

We'll be seeing bright sunshine all week...

Morning.

Good morning.

Enjoy your vacation?

Yes. I had fun.

Yeah?

That's good to hear.

Will you and your family be going somewhere for the summer as well?

The plan is to visit our in-laws on both sides of the family.

Is that because your daughter wishes to see her grandparents?

That, too.

But it's more our parents want to see her.

They're all "bring us our granddaughter" and whatnot.

Hello.

I apologize for reaching out without prior notice.

I asked my mother for your number.

Natsu?

Yes.

You been doing alright?

Yes.

What?

Nothing, just looking.

You can take a photo.

Of you, doing your homework?

Natsu did. He says he "finds it interesting".

Does he now?

But I think I can relate.

I'll cook tonight.

Yay. What's on the menu?

You should try making croquettes,

they're surprisingly a pretty big pain to make.

I want to cook something nutritious.

Something that accounts for vitamins and stuff...

You should try cooking something that appeases a kid's palette.

But she's not a picky eater.

Isn't that amazing?

Mizuki must have been feeding her well.

I bet.

Yayoi?

There, all done.

Do I look cute?

Very cute.

It's like she's going off on a date.

I do wonder why he's bringing Umi along though.

He needs the moral support.

And no one's a better candidate than your own child.

He wants to officially recognize her as his child.

Yeah.

I bet he does.

I support his decision.

Yes.

As do I.

I do, but...

It's not an interesting outcome?

I envy them.

Their parent-child journey has only just begun.

There he is.

Oh, was I wrong?

Are you not Natsu?

Or are you?

I am.

So I was right.

Don't look at me like I'm some stranger.

I'm sorry.

Who's this kid?

Can you introduce yourself?

Hello. My name is Umi Nagumo.

Hello. The name's Mizoe.

And? Who is she?

My daughter.

I see.

Man, Yukiko could've reached out about news like this.

So? When'd you get married?

I'm not married.

Divorced?

I'm not divorced either.

A circumstantial marriage, then?

No.

Her mother -

Never mind, don't want to know.

It's none of my business. I don't need the complicated run down.

Can't stand the drama, you know?

So, what?

- What do you mean, what? - An iced coffee, please.

Coming right up.

You haven't reached out in twenty-some years. There has to be a catch, right?

I found out about this child...

My daughter, rather recently.

Two months ago, in fact.

I see.

Her experience made me realize...

I ought to see my father as well.

Okay.

Huh? That's all?

Yes.

Really now.

Then are we done here? Since we've met and all.

There are several things I've wanted to ask you.

Sure. Lay it on me.

Was photography your hobby?

Photography?

Huh?

My hobbies include fishing, betting against horses, and sometimes mahjong.

Pachinko's not my thing, though.

I see.

You do any of those?

No.

Are you seriously my son?

What else did you want to ask?

Except,

no asking if I loved you or whatever.

Men aren't the ones giving birth, so you might not even be my kid.

Heck, this kid might not be yours either.

What'd you say your name was?

- Umi. - Umi?

What a strange name.

The mother must've been an odd gal, huh?

- Hello? - Using the phone while we're talking? Now that's bad manners.

You're setting a bad example for the kiddo.

Here.

Sorry.

It's fine.

Your friend?

My brother.

Oh, right. The kid from her remarriage -

My brother.

Could you wait with Yamato?

I'll be okay.

Go on.

Come on.

Seriously, why'd she remarry a guy with a kid? A real mystery.

Hold on.

You said you found out about yours two months ago, yeah?

Are you for real?

You know that kid isn't yours.

Women are like that.

It's straight unfair, that's what it is.

They get to give birth, they get the kid.

Sorry for the ruckus.

Sorry.

Everything's alright here.

How old are you now?

Still acting like a rebellious teen?

My partner from college...

gave birth to a child, after we broke up.

That girl is the child.

I see.

That girl's mother...

passed away due to health complications, two months ago.

I found out she had a child...

at her funeral.

Woah.

Although I may not have raised her...

She is, without a doubt, my child.

- Sure. - And I know you didn't raise me.

But I just wanted to meet my father.

I had no involvement in your life.

But parents by blood...

will always think of their child.

They'll continue to love their kids,

no matter how far apart they are.

Is that what you were expecting from me?

Then too bad for you, kiddo.

Parents who aren't there for you, aren't anything special.

Sorry for crushing your hopes.

That was Natsu's daddy.

Yeah.

He wasn't anything like yours.

All dads are different.

I mean, "Dad" is practically just a nickname.

None of them are the same.

Yamato.

That was fast.

Everything okay?

Yeah.

Thanks.

Sorry about that.

Scary.

Yeah, that must have been scary. I'm sorry.

You're making a scary face.

Are you mad?

I'm not.

Welcome...

No way.

Long time no see.

I thought you were Tsukioka, with the height and all.

Tsukioka?

Natsu.

Right, that's his last name now.

He stops by to get films developed sometimes.

I just met him.

Really?

He said he wanted to see me.

Did he now?

Yayoi.

Oh...

Sorry to call you over.

It's fine, I wasn't busy.

I just felt like I shouldn't leave him alone with Umi...

Tsukioka looks... mad.

You told me of your experience with your parents. So I knew.

Yeah.

I was prepared not to expect anything, just because he was my father. And yet...

That's just how it is.

Sometimes, when I go to visit home,

part of me still hopes it'll work out.

Aren't you going to try again?

It's not easy giving up when you were only let down once, right?

Yayoi!

Hello, Umi.

I came to join.

Watch me do a flip on the bar.

You can do that?

Show me.

Oh, hold on.

I see you're wearing something nice there.

Here, let me take it off. It might get -

Don't.

I mean...

This is Mommy.

Her ashes.

It was so cute, I thought it was just a necklace.

I'm sorry for touching without asking.

It's okay.

You must be happy.

Now you two can be together forever.

Yup!

- Be careful then. - I will.

How considerate of you.

Here are your films.

Someone came asking about whether fishing, betting on horses, or mahjong was an ideal bonding activity.

He visited?

He used to drag me along all the time, especially to the race track.

Said he'd wanted to come with his son, but he was just a baby.

He's visited every day

since the day you saw him.

He comes asking if you've stopped by.

I told him he should just call, but you know...

I see.

Were you shocked?

He must've been far from your ideals.

And no emotional reunion, too.

That's not it.

It was just...

I had a misconception about him.

He said...

He said photography wasn't a hobby of his.

You didn't hear him out, did you?

You both suck at expressing yourselves.

Like father, like son.

I told him fishing was the best for having a heart-to-heart.

So off he went, to fish and wait...

Here.

Hey.

Go get yourself a pole.

No thanks.

What?

Then was there more you wanted to ask?

I heard you were waiting here.

You don't ever change, eh?

Always sticking to my back.

Now that was an interesting sight.

You'd stick to me, even though I was only leaving to take a piss.

It was all so interesting.

What was?

Observing a kid.

Every day, you'd be different.

Always making different faces, those three years I knew you.

Other kids looked the same every day, but you?

Different every time.

You'd laugh when our eyes met,

and next thing I knew, you'd be walking.

I thought, "what an interesting creature I'm observing here".

Mom said you never helped with raising me.

I never said raising you was interesting.

And she's right, I barely helped.

Unbelievable...

You were changing every day,

and I thought I ought to record it, for posterity's sake.

So, I thought I'd give photography a shot.

Except the camera I was recommended was a film camera.

What an absolute time, and money sink.

I would've sufficed with a digital camera.

Yeah, that's the one.

Even an absolute amateur could get artsy shots with that thing.

I had no use for it though, if I wasn't seeing you again.

And since you seemed eager to have it when I asked, I gave it up.

I'd never give a three-year-old a camera this expensive, if it was my "hobby".

This spot's no good. The fish ain't biting.

Here.

I can't believe you willingly became a father on such short notice.

It wasn't a sudden choice.

I spent time with her.

And I thought hard about it, too.

If I were in your shoes,

I'd never.

- You're a fine man. - I'm not.

You're so responsible,

I'm starting to doubt we're related.

I'm completely irresponsible, though.

You definitely don't get your modesty from me either.

My first thought...

was that this was complicating my life.

I thought she had aborted the child.

So part of me was relieved to hear she was alive.

But that only freed me of my own guilt.

Yeah, definitely sounds complicated.

I've been seeing someone for three years now.

I was even thinking about marriage.

Oof, that's rough.

Really, everything just...

culminated at the worst possible time.

Sounds like it.

Some people...

have come to blame me for my ignorance.

Sure, but you're a victim, too.

Everyone seems to be grieving much more than I am.

If anything, they probably are.

I wonder.

They're grieving, but they're considerate.

And that's why I can't express myself.

I can't tell them these things.

I can't get mad, or be selfish.

I can't allow myself to act like I'm grieving more than they are.

But I am grieving.

We didn't break up on bad terms.

Yet we never met since, and then I learn she's died.

She died, without telling me about the child, or her health.

She told me nothing, and now she's gone.

This is a good spot.

Everyone being considerate of you

while preaching about grief, sounds tough.

If you ever feel suffocated

by those considerate folk, reach out.

If you thought I was so interesting...

why didn't you try to work things out with Mom?

I'd picked you up for the first time in a while,

and made a small comment about how heavy you'd gotten.

I thought you had.

Except, then Yukiko started bawling at me.

Why?

Apparently, the doctors told her you weren't gaining weight.

She was so anxious for your health,

and it seemed like my comment was the last straw.

"If something is interesting and nothing more, it's a hobby."

"If you're engaging with an activity for your own enjoyment, it's a hobby."

"You're treating this child like you're fishing, and horse racing."

That's when I got it.

She was right, I was only interested.

I felt no actual responsibility.

I wasn't ever worried for you.

I was only an observer, from behind my lens.

Don't follow me,

I just need to take a piss.

Hey, one thing I'll give you credit for.

Huh?

You didn't kick that chair in front of the kid. Nice job holding that in.

That's the sort of control mere interest wouldn't give you, eh?

But no more kicking around chairs, whether the kid's there or not.

You're not some brat anymore.

If you ever need to be brutally honest, reach out.

Welcome home.

Yeah.

You've got great timing.

I found us some good beer. Let's share a can.

Sure.

Welcome home.

I'm back.

This one. Ever had it before?

No, never.

Dear, that's the expensive stuff!

I know, I know.

Mom, Dad.

Yeah?

I'm thinking of officially recognizing Umi.

I plan to become her father.

I see.

Sounds good.

Roger that.

What're we talking about?

He's going to become Umi's dad.

Really?

Congrats.

Yeah.

That's all.

Here, drink up.

Thank you.

It's good.

- Right? - Yeah.

- Can I have a glass too? - Sure.

Hey, now.

No crowding the kitchen, you three!

I've already told your grandparents,

and they've given me their approval, so...

Yeah?

I'll finally begin as your father, Umi.

But you are my daddy.

I am, yes.

But according to our family register, we're strangers right now.

And I want to add your name to mine.

I want others to see us as father and daughter as well.

If you do, can we live together?

If we wanted to live together,

it's technically not necessary, but...

Yeah.

I do want us to live together.

Do you?

I can be with you, even when you have work?

Yeah.

On Saturdays and Sundays, too?

Yup.

Let us discuss the further specifics at a later date.

I'm sure you must coordinate time with the office as well.

Yes.

Oh, right.

Come.

Right.

From Mizuki.

What?

[To Natsu]

I wasn't keeping this as some, big secret.

I was told to give this to you, once you had decided to formally become her father.

[To Natsu]

Hey.

- What's up? - Sorry, I know it's late.

No worries.

I thought I should hand this to you, sooner rather than later.

Here. [To Natsu's Lover]

It's from Mizuki. [To Natsu's Lover]

Am I allowed to take this?

That's what the address says.

I've told Umi about formally becoming her father.

Yeah.

Let's sit down and talk about this another day, okay?

We'll need to decide what we want to do.

Yeah.

[To Natsu's Lover]

Huh?

I'd like this book, please.

Are you here alone?

Yes.

Do you have a bit of time to talk?

I told you Umi knew my number, didn't I?

I thought asking her for your contact information would be a bit odd.

Confronting me directly isn't any better.

Fair point.

Your personality seems to be suffocating you.

It is.

So?

I received a letter Mizuki wrote.

The one addressed to his lover?

You know about the contents of the letter?

No, not the contents.

What a terrifying letter.

I wonder what she wrote about.

What do you think she wrote about?

Why not read it and find out?

If the letter is addressed to Umi's to-be-mother,

I'm not quite sure if I should be reading it.

Tsukioka is...

considerate.

Nothing wrong with that.

Yet sometimes he looks incredibly sad.

He lost his former girlfriend.

Of course he's sad to a degree.

That's exactly why I can't tell him anything.

I reckon Tsukioka is in a similar boat.

He's considerate, and treats me with overbearing kindness...

because I look like I'm struggling.

Yet that same kindness...

is stopping him from expressing himself.

[To Natsu]

[Next Episode]

- Would you be happy if I really became your mother? - Yup.

She's the reason you decided not to let them meet.

I choose Umi, over Natsu himself.

You feel suffocated when it's the three of us, right?

Is she really busy with work tonight?

Maybe she's cheating on you.

I don't think she's busy.

Are you sure about this?

You might not see him again.

I'd be happy if you were to become her mother.

At times, I even thought your help would make it easier.

Could you give me a moment?

I don't know what it is I want to do.