Original subtitles

Hello?

Hello?

Can we talk now?

Sure. What's up?

Um…

I'm sorry.

We should break up.

Huh?

W-What?

What's going on? This is so sudden.

I'm sorry.

That's what I wanted to tell you.

Hold on.

What do you mean?

Did something happen?

No.

We're just from different worlds.

We can't even meet without worrying about being seen.

Then let's meet.

Let's meet and talk right now.

I…

I can't do this anymore.

When you talked about me on TV,

it honestly bothered me.

What?

You never told me that.

Is that how you felt?

I see.

I guess I misunderstood.

Sorry. I got carried away by myself.

I get it.

Let's break up.

Goodbye.

S&X

-That's a huge blow. -Yeah, it is.

-This is bad. -Morning.

What's gonna happen to the show? This time--

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

RUMORED SEX THERAPIST'S FAMILY SCANDAL

Ichinose.

Since the article came out,

some media outlets have even tried to interview students about your lectures.

Right.

I'm sorry for causing trouble.

I've asked Professor Kurusu not to invite you back to lecture.

I understand.

Excuse me.

Why did you choose to work in sex therapy?

Isn't it too much for you to bear?

Well, it is pretty sensational.

His father, a surgeon, used a scalpel to cut off

his mother's lover's "bleep."

Of course, this incident has nothing to do with you, Ichinose.

But you understand how viewers will see it, don't you?

Yes.

After all, you did say something that would draw attention.

I'm sorry

for carelessly making our relationship public.

"Carelessly"?

You mean you ignored the script on a whim?

Seriously?

I thought you had more resolve than that.

Well…

For your sake too, Yumi,

let's take a break from the show.

You can go see him.

He must be having a hard time. Go support him.

About that…

We already…

broke up.

I see.

SHIMOTORI CLINIC

Okay. Take care.

Doctor.

Your 4:30 p.m. client has canceled too.

Oh…

Okay. Got it.

You could've hired someone to quit for you but you came, huh?

I wanted to tell you in person.

So, what are you going to do after leaving nursing?

Oh. You haven't decided yet?

You know, Saikawa…

You were burned out from work

and said you were quitting this hospital and nursing.

Do you know why I recommended Shimotori Clinic back then?

It wasn't just because the job would be easier.

You have a way of brightening the mood

and you never pressure people.

I thought those were exactly the qualities a psychiatric nurse needs.

That's why I wanted you to keep at it.

If anything,

I thought Dr. Shimotori needed you.

Well…

After that article, I suppose I can't blame you.

I won't try to stop you again.

Not me, anyway.

Come in.

Sorry. I told her you were coming.

Here.

Thanks.

It must be nice being a student.

They're so radiant and full of life.

Or maybe not.

They probably have problems of their own.

Oh, man.

There goes our big break!

Everyone's canceling on us.

His parents' scandal has nothing to do with him.

It's not like he's gonna cut it off.

That's not funny.

I went to Dr. Shimotori for therapy once.

Oh, I mean…

Whenever I'd do the deed with my girlfriend,

she'd always tell me to go shower first afterward.

At first I thought she was being considerate,

but something felt off.

I secretly took a peek once and saw her touching herself.

I was super bummed.

I thought, "Man, I guess sex with me isn't enough for her."

So I talked to Dr. Shimotori,

and he listened so intently.

He told me it's important to talk about what feels good

and what you want your partner to do.

So I went home and talked to my girlfriend.

Turns out we'd both been making all the wrong assumptions.

Even though we're both women, our bodies and what feels good

are completely different.

It's only natural that we're different, but I'd never realized it.

Is that what you came to say?

Didn't you come to stop me?

I've already made up my mind.

I'm sorry.

Thanks for the drink.

No good, huh?

Shirohebi Slope in Sendagi, Bunkyo Ward.

Twenty steps on the upper tier, ten on the middle, and eight on the lower.

Students at a nearby middle school use these stairs on their way to school.

The upper tier has white handrails,

and they have been freshly repainted.

Excuse me!

Yes?

When you say, "They have been freshly repainted,"

could you put a little more feeling into it?

Yes. I'll try.

Let's take it from the top.

Okay.

Hey.

Working late, huh?

You too.

Heading home now?

Yes. You too?

Yeah.

I had a lot going on today, so I took the car.

I'll drive you.

Huh?

Thank you for the ride. You can just drop me off at the station.

It's late. I'll take you home.

No.

The reporters might still be there.

If they catch us together,

it'll cause trouble for you too.

They've already taken photos. One more won't matter.

Besides, if it's with you,

I don't mind if they photograph us.

Wanna hit the beach right now?

Huh? Why?

I heard you broke up. The beach is perfect for that.

What are you saying? That's so cliché.

Oh. You smiled a little.

Wanna go?

No. I'm not going.

Let's go eat crab Come on, crack a coy smile

I said I'm not going.

Let's not overthink it

Please just take me to the station.

Aw.

That's too bad.

Jeez.

Anyway, cheer up.

You'll be okay.

Something like this won't bring you down.

I'm sorry.

Yes!

So this is the view from over here.

Just changing seats makes the room feel different, doesn't it?

What brings you in today?

I can't get it up.

I never told my girlfriend I worked here.

She found out, and things got awkward.

We worked it out, but…

She asked me, "Is that how you saw sex with me too?"

So I got it into my head that I had to act like I didn't.

Oh. W-Wait a sec.

Hm? What's wrong?

No. Wait…

Huh?

-Wait. -What?

No. Um…

The harder I tried to act normal,

the more awkward I became.

I kept worrying whether I'd be able to get it up.

And that only made it worse.

I didn't believe you when you said everyone has concerns about sex.

But maybe it's true.

I never imagined I'd stop getting turned on by sex.

What are you doing?

Oh. There it is.

If you don't mind, would you like to go out for a bit?

Drawing helps you relax, doesn't it?

Um…

What's this for?

Are you familiar with the autonomic nervous system?

Huh?

Yeah.

The sympathetic nervous system kicks in when you're tense or excited,

and the parasympathetic nervous system takes over when you're relaxed.

Right?

That's right.

Erections are actually controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system.

Huh?

In other words, you get an erection because you're relaxed, not excited.

"Relaxed"?

So the reason you can't get it up

isn't because you're not turned on.

You're so focused on doing it right that you get tense,

and your sympathetic nervous system takes over.

If anything, it's because you tried so hard.

I see.

But is that something you can control?

For starters, I recommend foreplay that helps you relax.

Foreplay that helps me relax?

A lot of men try too hard to do intense foreplay like in porn,

putting their sympathetic nervous system into overdrive.

Not only can that hurt their partner,

but it can also backfire completely.

The real purpose of foreplay is to help you both relax.

That way, your body naturally gets ready for sex.

But how do you do that?

For example,

you can sit facing each other

and gently rub each other's backs.

Like this.

What's this?

A drawing of foreplay.

Here's the face.

Just by holding each other like this, you can--

Oh! Amabie!

It's an Amabie, right?

It's not an Amabie.

This part goes like this.

No way.

I don't understand it at all!

You should stop using drawings to explain things.

You'll confuse your clients.

I'm back.

Welcome back.

I'll take that.

Saikawa.

Could you organize the client files?

Oh, and I think it's time to bring out the humidifier.

No rush though.

Huh?

What? Did I say something weird?

Oh, no…

I'll do it.

Client files and…

Humidifier.

Thanks.

I hope

that someday

we can truly connect with each other

when we make love.

Yes.

Okay. We'll cancel your appointment.

Take care.

Hello.

-You don't have an appointment. -Could you fit me in?

From the looks of it, you don't seem too busy.

Right?

How can you come back here after writing that article?

It's my job.

Hello, Doctor.

Hello.

It's okay, Natsume.

Humans are strange, aren't they?

Normally, if you experienced something so horrific,

you'd choose a career as far removed from it as possible.

But not you, Doctor.

You deliberately chose a job that deals with sex.

Mr. Kitano.

How have things been with Wakako since then?

Have you talked--

Wait. Don't tell me…

Did that incident awaken something in you?

Like a sexual fetish?

So you chose a job where you can peek into other people's sex lives.

I see.

Do you enjoy poking at people's wounds?

-Saikawa. -I'm offended.

In a way, we're in the same business.

You and me.

Huh?

You dig up people's misfortunes

and make a living off them.

He's nothing like you!

You have no idea how many people he's helped.

I've seen it firsthand.

-Stop it. -No! This is frustrating!

I used to think the same thing.

That being a sex therapist was kind of shady.

So I couldn't tell anyone.

Not even my girlfriend.

But do you know how many people keep their sexual problems to themselves?

I realized how precious it is to have someone who truly listens

without judging or laughing at you.

-I see. -Even someone like you…

-Saikawa. -He still takes you seriously!

That's enough, Saikawa!

You're in front of a client.

Please watch your language.

Sorry.

My apologies.

No. It's fine.

Let's begin.

You were so cool.

Please stop.

"No! This is frustrating!"

Seriously, stop it.

Hey, why did you become a nurse?

Where did that come from?

Well, I've never asked before.

I didn't know your family runs a hospital either.

At first, I wanted to be a soccer player.

Really?

But in high school, I got seriously injured and gave it up.

When I had surgery at the hospital--

Oh, I know!

You fell for a nurse.

No, that's not it.

Well, I guess you're not too far off.

My older brother was the smart one in the family.

He's taken over the family hospital.

I was no good at studying.

I was pretty much the family disappointment.

When I couldn't play soccer anymore

and hit rock bottom,

the only person who encouraged me was a nurse.

That's when I realized how amazing nurses are.

I admired them.

Even if I couldn't be a doctor, I thought I'd make my parents proud as a nurse.

But they said it'd be a disgrace to have a nurse in a family of doctors.

They were totally against it.

That's tough.

After that, I was over it.

So I ignored them

and ended up becoming a nurse on impulse.

So that's what happened.

Even after becoming a nurse, I was still unsure of myself.

I had no confidence.

But that's changed now, right?

Sorry. I gotta go.

Huh? Did you forget something?

No.

I've made up my mind.

I'm gonna call my brother.

I'll tell him I decided to work at Shimotori Clinic.

I never properly told him before.

Yeah? That's great.

The doctor needs me after all.

Good luck.

Good luck!

I said something terrible to him.

I told him,

"I hope that someday we can truly connect when we make love."

I…

unknowingly touched the one wound he never wanted anyone to touch.

I think he knew that article was coming out,

so he broke up with me.

He told a clumsy lie to keep me away from the incident.

Ugh. This is so frustrating.

Thinking, "He must've felt this way when he did that"

or "I don't deserve to do that"…

Oh. This isn't me speaking as a therapist.

It's just my personal opinion.

Okay.

Being considerate can be a beautiful thing.

But if you truly love him,

you have to step in prepared to get hurt, and even to hurt him.

Otherwise, you'll never grow any closer.

What happened that day

involved you too, didn't it?

"Seventeen years ago, on September 23rd."

"At a small shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture,

the annual lantern festival was being held."

Huh?

I want you to tell me…

what happened to you

on the day of the festival.

Tell me everything.

It's just as the article said.

I want to hear your excuse.

I waited…

until the festival was over.

You stood me up.

Then you transferred schools, and I never saw you again.

Why did you never come?

Even as an adult, I kept thinking about it.

You kept me waiting for 17 years.

At least

let me hear your excuse.

That day…

I went there too.

To the shrine.

But then…

DAD

…my father called.

-Hello? -His voice sounded desperate.

What?

He said my mother was gone…

Okay.

…and told me to hurry home.

My father said we were going to look for my mother.

But it seemed like he already knew where she was.

We're here.

Whose house is this?

Can we really just go in?

Ichito.

Take a good look.

Stop.

Stop…

Please, stop!

My mother was always

kind and devoted to our family.

I thought

we were an ideal family.

The reason I became a sex therapist…

is because I hate sex.

I saw something meant to express love…

destroy people's lives.

When I first studied sexology in medical school,

I thought, "Oh,

sex could be understood logically," and I felt relieved.

I thought if I could treat it as knowledge rather than emotion,

I could make sense of my aversion.

But…

I still…

Where… are your parents now?

My father went to prison.

I don't know where he went after he was released.

My mother…

is apparently in a care facility.

"Apparently"?

I haven't seen her at all.

My father's family took me in.

And ever since…

Why…

did my father go that far?

Why

did my mother betray us?

I still don't know.

She seemed so happy.

Let's go see her.

What?

I'll go with you.

If you don't see her,

you'll never understand

your mother.

Subtitle translation by: Yuki Asami