Original subtitles

Kenja no Ai

The Sage's Love

timed and translated by: thebluepanda

- They're here. - Right.

Alright, put this on.

Be a good boy, okay.

Mayu-chan!

Hey, don't run.

Naomi.

- Miya-san, long time no see. - Hey, there.

Sorry for interrupting your summer break.

I got free time from Obon and company's holiday.

That's what we aimed for.

How luxurious, spending your summer break in Europe.

We have budget for research.

But since half of it is private travel, we also have to pay some amount.

Of course, my company has the same policy.

I had Naomi right after we got married,

we haven't spent time for honeymoon.

So, you appointed me as baby-sitter and go on honeymoon?

Well, I don't have anyone other than Mayu-chan that I can ask.

Anyway, Naomi likes Mayu-chan so very much.

That's a mutual feeling.

Mutual feeling?

Means that Mayu-chan also likes Naomi very much.

Now, he got embarrassed.

Then, come in and have some tea.

Sorry, we have to rush to Narita for the flight.

I see.

Sorry for the trouble.

I will also go on vacation today.

Then, it will be you and Mayu-chan's sleepover.

I'm jealous.

We give back those words to both of you.

- Then, let's walk you out. - Please do.

See you.

We're going.

- Are you sure you're okay? - About what?

Like always, you never think of yourself.

Now, now, I should get ready for my own trip.

Where will you stay, again?

Tsubaki in Yugawara.

I went there almost every year.

Say hi to Obaa-sama from me.

- How long is it? - Four days and three nights.

It's just the two of us.

- Just two of us? - Yes.

Let's see,

wanna go against the rules?

Against the rules?

Since it's only two of us, let's do something against the rules.

It's picnic.

Alright, thank you.

Let's eat!

Huh? Where's the chopsticks?

We eat with these.

Delicious.

Everyone eat like this in Mayu-chan's house?

I always wanted to try it. Forget all manners, kind of thing.

But, you know,

precisely because we put some manner, doing this once in awhile is fun.

I see.

Keep it a secret from Papa and Mama.

I understand.

It's hot.

Here.

There you go.

Stop it, I'm not a kid anymore.

This raspberry sauce tasted good.

I should have order the same one.

Want some?

Don't do that, what a bad manner.

You're right.

Precisely because we put some manner,

let loose once in a while, became fun.

Right?

A man takes in a girl,

and nurture her to be the woman that he desires.

It was the story of Chijin no Ai, written by Tanizaki Junichiro.

The girl is manipulative,

and started to make a lot of unexpected turns,

but the protagonist man was tied down with his obsession,

lets everything slip, and become her slave instead.

The girl in the story,

is named, Naomi.

The one who give him the name Naomi,

is none other than myself.

Be his godmother.

Give this boy a name.

What about... Naomi?

Naomi?

That was,

the name I gave to the most precious person my best friend ever have.

The day my long, long revenge started.

It's been twenty years from that moment.

Then,

in a small cottage room on our trip,

my revenge,

is finally completed.

I will be yours, only for today.

But you will be,

mine, forever.

I will raise you to be the ideal man,

then, I'll make you mine.

"Once I put this red shoes,"

"I can't stop dancing, no matter what I do."

"Please, this leg..."

Naomi, are you listening?

Then, what did he said again?

I quit.

- It's heavy, right? - It's not heavy.

I said it's okay! Mayu-chan's leg isn't heavy!

You know,

when I got bigger,

I will give Mayu-chan a red shoes as present.

Really? Thank you.

But, when Naomi became an adult,

I might be a grandma, already.

I don't want that!

If I'm an old grandma, red shoes might not fit me.

I'll kill you if you become a granny!

I'm kidding.

I'll wait, hurry and be an adult.

My relationship with Naomi,

is one of a kind.

It's something special.

- Thank you for the souvenir. - Yup.

Naomi, let's go home.

You don't want to?

What about Mayu-chan?

Mayu-chan's house is here.

You can come and play again sometime, Nao.

Should we let him stay for another night?

You can't spoil him.

- Naomi, let's go home. - I don't want to!

A real man should knows when to let go.

If you act so immature,

Mayu-chan will hate you.

I won't entrust Naomi to you again.

Mayu-chan will take him from me.

Just kidding.

Please help me again, if you have time.

Then someday, I'll take him away for real.

You read Tanizaki's novel?

Chijin no Ai, right?

30 years ago

Mama is worry.

She said it's too soon for you to read it.

Mayuko,

as for Papa,

it doesn't matter what kind of book Mayuko wants to read.

Even, for example,

it's something that can't be accepted by society,

I will let Mayuko read it.

Really?

In the first place, no book is written with bad intentions.

Well, there are some boring ones.

Is Tanizaki's interesting?

I'm sure there are parts that you can't get?

One day, you'll understand.

You'll gradually understands more about books and movies.

That will be the happiest moment.

It makes us realize that we grew-up,

that we changed.

No book is written with bad intentions.

Sounds like Shogo-san.

Right?

I ended up following his step and became an editor.

I'm sure he's happy.

My mother doesn't like it.

She preferred I became a teacher like her.

How's Miya-san doing?

I haven't seen her for awhile.

- She wants to move out. - Eh?

That house is indeed getting rusty.

But to renovate it, we will need around 10 millions yen.

That's expensive.

She said it's better to leave it like this,

and move to a mansion.

That's regrettable.

Well, if that's what she wants, I can't do anything about it.

Then, I'll take my leave.

Sorry, you get to leave empty-handed.

Make sure you have something good, next time.

I'll do my best for you.

Not for your readers?

Writers will do their best for the sake of someone in front of them.

Mayu-chan.

- Yes? - What about that villa in Yatsugatake?

I think we will sell that one, too.

That is Shogo-san's favorite place.

Why not use it?

My father is gone.

Both I and my mother don't really like the place.

It's been long, but I went there once,

there's a bunch of cats living there.

Cats?

It looks abandoned and scary.

By the way,

your favorite writer... Tanizaki?

Yes.

I heard he had an obsession over cat.

- A real cat? - Yes.

That was an amazing attachment.

(It should be about another novel of Tanizaki Junichiro; A Cat, a Man and Two Women or Neko to Shōzō to Futari no Onna originally published in 1936)

Do you think, that is also,

a form of love?

I don't have that kind of hobby.

Really?

Don't you ever thought of something you love as the most beautiful thing?

Either it's cat,

or a lover.

Is your next project something like that?

Don't you want it?

Having an obsession.

I'd have to say no.

- Better off living a normal life. - I see.

What the hell. Watch your step, stupid!

What are you looking at? Come on, apologize!

- You're quite drunk. - Did you hear me?!

What a waste, you're really beautiful.

Shall we talk?

What's your name?

It's... Kaoru.

Kaoru-chan, I see.

U-um...

- You are... - Interested in a part-time job?

I want it...

I want it.

I want it. Let's buy Mayu-chan's house.

- It's not that simple. - Is it expensive?

- If you want a house around that area then... - I'm not.

I want that house.

Then, what will you do to this one?

Sell it?

We can rent it.

But in the first place, we bought this house because you want it.

Yes, but that house is special.

I want it.

Here comes the egoistic side.

That doll,

was once belongs to Mayu-chan.

I remember that.

Shogo-san bought it for Mayu-chan when he went to a conference abroad,

but you kept asking her to give it to you.

This doll,

was looking really beautiful when it placed in Mayu-chan's house.

But it didn't look like that in my house.

Even in this house, too.

So you want to buy a house for that doll?

I know you want that house, too.

You must have lots and lots of memories in it.

If you don't do anything, that Shogo-san's house will disappear.

I can't stand the thought that I will never see the house again.

Why...

do you like that house so much?

Because I think it's beautiful.

From the first day I moved in their neighborhood, until now.

Please, please, please.

Even Mayu-chan,

might like that idea, you know?

I still think it won't be that simple.

Why?

So, you said if you and I bought that house,

Mayu-chan won't be happy?

I guess you're right.

She's someone you like from way before,

and now, she's even working together with you.

Of course, you don't want to make her feel uncomfortable.

I've been thinking about it, but,

why don't you get a job or a hobby?

You have too much free time, so you keep having those negative thought.

- Are you serious? - Yeah.

At first, I thought I'd say yes so Yuri will stop nagging,

but then I kinda like the idea myself.

And why is that?

Nostalgia's sake?

Well, I never heard that you have an intention to sell it so I don't know if I can buy it, so...

How is it?

Then you will have two houses?

Yeah, of course I can't sell our current house.

Yuri-chan,

was giving all her thought in your current house, before.

She said she always admire Mayu-chan's house.

Why don't you consider it?

You're right.

I'd better give a serious thought about it.

- I'm sure my father will like it too. - Then, shall we proceed?

I'll discuss it with my mother. Please wait for her to decide.

- Is it good? - Yeah.

Nao-chan...

you got sunburn.

Don't call me that, it creeps me out.

Been swimming a lot, lately?

Yeah.

You were going with a girl, weren't you?

How nice of you youngsters.

Stop saying such a boring joke.

Every parents will think like that, eventually.

While remembering your young self?

That's right. Is it bad to remember our past?

Even someone like me had experience youth, you know?

That was fun.

Every year, we went to Mayu-chan's villa.

In Yatsugatake,

they have a summer villa.

Because Mayu-chan's family is pretty rich.

Unlike us who were struggling to get here, she's born rich.

You know, that woman,

from she was born,

she is surrounded by all the beautiful and expensive things.

That's the kind of person she is.

I wonder if she still has it...

That villa.

Of course.

Let's ask Mayu-chan to take us there, next time.

- How carefree. - It'll be fine.

How many years has it been?

It was the last summer break on our junior high, so...

It's been almost 30 years since the last time.

I think Mayu-chan hasn't been there for a long time, too.

Why?

Mayu-chan's Papa,

was a really great person.

Both Mayu-chan and I were really love him.

26 years ago

Papa, we're going to the river.

- There are few steep steps, be careful. - Got it.

- Yuri-chan, hurry up. - Oh, okay!

Let's go.

Why?

Why can't we?

Miya-san changed her mind.

Mayu-chan's Mama?

She's getting old, she changes her minds a lot.

So you just gave up?

I can't force her to agree.

You can at least trying to convince her.

Well...

What about Mayu-chan?

What did Mayu-chan say?

Anyway, that's how it is. Just give up.

Bye.

Oba-chama.

Yuri-chan.

Is Naomi-kun doing fine?

Yes, thanks for your concern.

You know, Oba-chama,

I have something to discuss with you, today.

What is it? Don't be so formal.

I heard it from Ryoichi.

Is it true that you want to leave this house?

That's true.

I have to start thinking about what will I do to this house.

I'm already this old,

maintaining the whole house is hard.

You're right.

What did Mayu-chan said?

Mayuko said it's up to me.

So, she will agree to your decision?

Yes.

The truth is, I want to sell this house the way it is.

I consulted some people about it.

But, they say it's hard.

The location is inconvenient.

To find people who will treasure it and willing to live here,

is not going to be that easy, it seems?

What if...

I said that Ryoichi and I have the intention to maintain this house for you?

Eh?

Ryoichi said,

he can't let this house end up being taken away by some unknown from real estate agency.

I see.

Because this is a very important place that reminds him of Oji-sama.

Yuri-chan, is that true?

Yes.

Thank you.

I don't have any reason to refuse.

Mayu-chan.

Hey,

I brought champagne.

Let's drink it.

Splendid.

What's wrong?

It's been so long since I saw you.

I was busy.

Some author made a fuss about their quota.

I'm sorry.

What's wrong with you, Naomi? Be a little more cheerful.

Like a sunflower?

That's impossible.

Because we haven't seen each other?

What a kid.

I am a kid, in Mayu-chan's point of view.

What if I said I want to be with you forever?

What will you do if I want us to get married?

- Naomi, come on. - I always think about it.

- What can I do to make Mayu-chan understands how I feel. - I do understand.

You lie.

I don't have anyone that I love more than Naomi.

Mayu-chan, aren't you always think about something else?

I don't know what it is, but...

somehow, I know...

that it held you captivated.

Captivated?

By what?

I said, I don't know.

- Whatever it is, it's not me. - There's nothing like...

Stop lying!

But, you know,

even Naomi's feelings will change one day.

It definitely won't.

Love is something that fade with time.

That's why, we should be able to remind ourselves.

I won't have any normal relationship with Naomi.

I want us to be one of a kind.

What do you mean?

I want us to be different.

Here it is.

I have a present for Naomi.

Come in.

Kaoru-chan.

He is Naomi.

She's my present.

Naomi, be gentle with her.

Bye.

What is this?

You want us to end?

This is a start.

But, if Naomi wants to end it, I can't say anything.

I'm sorry.

But, it's fine.

I knew that would happen.

Good morning.

You're doing a good job, Chief Assistant.

Looks like it.

I met Chief in the elevator.

He said we need to have a meeting.

Got it.

Welcome.

Yes, literature department.

Eh?

Oh, I see.

For now, ask him to wait in the meeting room.

Here she is.

Assistant Chief, Sawa-san is heading to the meeting room.

Eh? I don't remember any appointment with him.

Takanaka, hurry and go.

We can't let him wait.

The meeting room 1 is empty, right?

Yes.

Excuse me.

Yuri-chan...

Mayu-chan's company is really big.

Why so sudden?

Mayu-chan graduated from a first class university, right?

You lead a completely different life from some girls college graduates like me.

Intense play?

- It's nothing like that. - Mayu-chan is single, right?

You're still pretty active, I see.

Stop that.

Being husband and wife,

he never saw me as a woman anymore.

Yuri-chan, I'm in the middle of a meeting.

Yesterday,

I met Mayu-chan's mother. I even went all the way to your house.

Really?

She must be happy.

Oba-chama looks young.

She doesn't changed a bit.

That's not true.

She's quite aged by now, my mother.

But her head is still working properly, I'm sure?

The things Mayu-chan said,

she never forget even the littlest part of it.

Let's take a walk outside. This is not the right place to talk.

Mayu-chan?

Do you hate me?

Why you ask?

If you don't hate me,

why would you bully me like this, I wonder.

Bully you?

Mayu-chan.

You don't want me to buy your house, do you?

Do you?

I don't want anyone to buy that house.

I am... unlike my mother,

I feel like it's better to let that house empty forever.

It'll be more beautiful.

I don't get you.

I see.

Of course you don't.

Because something like that happened?

- Let's go. - Okay.

- Whoa, it feels good. - It's cold.

- You see a fish? - Ah, there, there. See?

Oh, that's Shogo-san!

Hey, Shogo-san!

Catch a big fish for us!

What about that Yatsugatake villa?

Yuri...

It's just a villa, right?

You never use it again, anyway.

That villa,

give it to me.

Yuri-chan?

I'm sorry to disturb your work.

I'm afraid of thunder.

Well, don't just stand there, come on in.

You can sleep here, if you want.

I will do some more work,

and sleep at the living room's sofa.

No!

It's okay.

Even though this house seems old,

it'll be fine during storm.

Come on, go to bed. Come.

This is bad.

I'm scared.

It's nice to be Mayu-chan.

I would love to have Shogo-san as my Papa.

Yuri-chan, come on.

- Let go. - No one is ever love me!

Shogo-san.

Shogo-san.

Mayu-chan...

It's not Shogo-san's fault.

Everything, everything is Yuri's fault.

No!

Mayu-chan, what's wrong? Are you okay?

I have to go back for the meeting.

Hey, you face is pale. Why don't you take a short break?

I'll be fine.

Hey, Mayu-chan,

Am I...

ever do something that makes Mayu-chan hates me?

There's so much of it, I don't know anymore.

It's just my guess, but...

Is it about Ryoichi?

That was a long time ago.

You're right.

- I really need to get back. - Okay.

Then,

think again about the house and villa, for me.

Hey, Mayu-chan?

Today,

Naomi came home in the morning, all wrecked.

He even got his hand injured. Around here.

I asked if he had a fight, but...

He didn't say anything to reply.

Is that so?

Everyone is keeping their distance from me.

That's what becoming an adult, means.

You're right.

See you.

Thank you.

The day when we came back from Yatsugatake,

I... could no longer see my father in the eye.

Mayuko? Mayuko!

- Mama? - Wake up, and come to the backyard.

The backyard?

Shogo-san.

From our visit to the villa,

around a week later, in the morning,

my father,

ended his life out of guilty.