Original subtitles

STAIRS

FUKUOKA, 2022

-Kuramoto. -Yes?

Can you take a look at this?

Is this okay?

This should be fine.

Did you make sure to push it all the way in?

Yeah, I did.

Then you're good to go.

-Thank you very much. -Hey, Kura!

Yes?

YAGI EXPRESS

Look, does the fan belt look off to you?

Looks a bit loose.

I'll try adjusting it for you later.

-Oh, really? -Doesn't look like you need to replace it,

at least for now.

You're right.

What did Kana say?

I told her like you said, but…

not yet, I don't think.

I'm sorry.

I haven't touched a single drop of alcohol.

Right now…

I've quit drinking,

and it's just work, work,

and more work.

That's true.

Nothing huge.

I just want to see her.

I mean, it doesn't have to be just the two of us right away.

You can come along, as her mother.

That's true.

I'll make sure to let Kana know.

Thank you very much.

Well, I should get going.

Oh, you don't have to.

It's fine, it's fine.

See you later.

Thank you.

-Cheers. -This will be good.

You really enjoy drinking beer.

So good…

What would you like?

Water, please.

Certainly.

-Hello. -Ah, Boss.

Hello.

Kura, do you have a second?

Yes.

So, uh,

about getting your driver position back…

I tried talking to Headquarters…

but as I figured…

it's still looking complicated.

Since it was a drunk driving accident,

and well,

to be blunt,

the victim passed away,

so even though I want to help you…

Yes.

It's to be expected.

Still, thank you for looking out for me.

How's your health been lately?

Let's see…

I exercise, I dunk my face in ice water,

and it seems I'm managing the stress of staying sober pretty well.

I see, I see.

Oh, and those flashbacks

you mentioned last time? Are you still having them?

No, I'm fine now with those.

I see, I see.

I'm also still sending money to the deceased's family every month

and doing everything I can.

I see.

Kura, you really are a very responsible person.

No, no…

-That reminds me… -Huh?

I might be able to see my wife again.

Really? That's great.

Well, Kura, now that is good news.

What's wrong? Don’t be so reserved. Smile. You're happy, right?

Kuramoto! Are you coming tonight?

Tonight?

It's payday, and we were thinking of going out for a few beers.

Sorry, I'll pass tonight.

Okay.

PERSIMMONS I SAW TODAY

A BIT EARLY FOR THEM, RIGHT?

-Welcome. -Welcome.

I'm sorry.

She said she doesn't want to come after all.

I see.

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

See you then…

Um…

I…

was looking for something and happened to come across this.

Oh.

Kana printed them.

FIRST SUNNY DAY IN A WHILE, FELT GREAT!

YAY! I WON A MILLION YEN IN THE LOTTERY!!!

You both have great smiles.

If you don't mind, could you give it to Kana?

Are you sure?

It was hers originally.

I see.

Well, thank you.

Kana hasn't been doing very well lately.

Yes?

Seeing this might make her feel a little better.

-Is she under the weather? -No, it's not that.

You know how her mood swings are, right?

Right now, it's a bit of a bad time for her.

I see…

I'll see you then.

I really am sorry about today.

No…

Thank you very much.

Yes?

A beer.

Yes, certainly.

Actually…

How much is the beer again?

A glass of beer is 340 yen.

I see.

Then, make it another coffee instead.

Certainly.

Not drinking?

Um…

Come on, I've been working with you guys for a while now.

My name's Tada.

Tada…

Sorry, you caught me off guard…

No, no, it's fine.

Of course, you can't be drinking on the job, huh?

I can't really…

drink alcohol…

Ah, don't worry, don't worry.

Thank you for waiting.

-One coffee. -Okay.

-Hot. -Okay.

With milk.

Certainly.

Thank you.

Do you come here often?

I guess so…

I mean…

It's close by, so sometimes…

I see, I see.

Can I call you Kura?

-Excuse me? -Your name, can I call you Kura?

Yes. Of course, it's okay.

Kura, you know, you used to be a driver, right?

What?

Come on, I can tell just by looking at you.

You really know a lot about engines and stuff,

and the way you take care of them, it's like,

only someone with a lot of experience does that.

Yes, I was.

Why'd you stop?

Well…

You know…

Sorry, sorry. It’s fine. It’s okay.

-It's fine, it's fine. -I'm sorry.

It's fine.

Thank you for waiting.

Here you are.

MARUZEN GROUP

Hello.

Hello. Is there a problem?

You keep staring over here every time you pass by on your bike.

I was wondering "what's with this guy?"

I'm sorry.

It doesn't especially mean anything.

Really? I see.

I'm sorry.

Hey, hey! Since you've stopped,

why don't you sit down for a bit?

Here.

Here.

Okay.

Isn't the bench cold?

It is.

But if I stay home, my wife won't let me drink.

I see.

And you?

Why are you out riding a bike in this weather?

Actually…

it's so I can quit that.

-This? -Yes.

I used to drink a lot as well.

If you ever want to quit as well,

give this a try.

Come on.

If riding a bike were

enough to quit, I would've done it years ago.

Well…

true.

I've

tried every possible method too…

but I couldn't quit.

It was hell.

I became a truly miserable person.

People called me a "murderer"

and said things like, "I'll never forgive you."

All because of alcohol.

That's… yeah…

Well…

I only have a little more road left in front of me anyway…

Thanks, thank you for the chat.

Good luck with your bike.

Thank you.

Please don't leave your bottle behind.

It might tempt me.

-Good night. -Sure.

I'm really glad you're my supervisor, Kuramoto.

Why?

Because

you’re kind, and you know everything.

Oh, come on…

But seriously, for a first long-distance trip,

they don't usually assign a supervisor, do they?

It must be that the boss doesn't trust me much.

No…

Well…

The boss might seem that way, but deep down, he cares a lot.

He's really overprotective, you know?

See?

Even when you say something like that. 100 out of 100 on the kindness scale.

What is it with you? Stop teasing me.

All right…

Keep coming.

YAGI EXPRESS CO., LTD.

-Huh? Tada… -Hello.

Hello.

Wait,

-were you assigned to Kobe today? -No, no.

I only had to go as far as Hiroshima.

But the boss called me this morning suddenly,

and I was like, "What, me? Seriously?" But you know how work goes.

So here I am, unexpectedly in Kobe.

-I see. -Kura,

you're looking after Natsu, right?

Yes, that's right.

So? Any problems?

Let's see…

No.

Despite how she looks, she handles things perfectly.

Despite how she looks?

Well…

-Thank you very much. Good night. -Good night.

Huh? Wasn't that Tada?

He got assigned to Kobe too.

What a coincidence.

-Anyway, good work today. -Ah, you too.

It's already past midnight.

Yeah…

Natsukawa, why did you want to become a driver?

It's really tough work.

Well, I'm able to work really hard.

And I get paid, so I'm happy.

I see.

But be careful.

If you do this for 10 or 20 years,

you can end up ruining your health before you even get to spend the money.

Whoa…

Well, if you want to get married someday, you should take it easy.

I'm already married.

Huh?

Actually, I'm already divorced.

I've got one strike.

-What, really? -Yes.

He was such a terrible guy that it’s laughable.

Terrible guy?

Shortly after we started living together, it was drinking, women,

violence, the worst of the worst.

A total jerk.

I think I'm a huge idiot,

but staying with him made me a complete fool.

I was top-tier stupid.

That's why right now,

I just want to work.

Work, work, work, and work…

Family, friends…

I want to forget all of that stuff.

Awake or asleep, I just want to work.

The joy of living,

sorrow, and all those things…

I only want to feel them through my work.

Just work a job I like and then die,

that's my ideal way of life.

Are you married, Kuramoto?

Should I not ask?

As for me…

I ruined my life in an accident.

I crashed while working.

And while I was in prison,

my wife left me.

But

when I got out, the boss made sure to call me.

He said he'd look after me at the company if I came back.

I see…

But my wife and I aren't divorced.

I still want to live with her again, someday.

Tada, did you work as a driver before coming here?

Well,

it's just that…

you're really good at it…

-Really? -Yes.

In fact, you drove the most this month, again.

Is that so?

Well, you know,

the truth is I never liked studying.

After high school, all I thought about was working.

The company that hired me was a home delivery service back where I lived.

You took pictures of them too, Kura.

You took photos of them, right? In the back.

You saw me?

Yes, by chance.

-It really is good. -Right?

If I don't eat this bento, my week just isn't the same.

I eat one every week.

How can eel taste this good?

-Hello. -Hey!

-Hello. -Hey.

Kura, you're really admirable.

You decided to quit drinking, and you've stuck to it.

Not just anyone can do that.

Changing your life, changing yourself,

trying to live a new life…

You're amazing.

No…

Kura.

I don't want you to laugh at this…

You see…

I'm always thinking that

I want to be someone else.

You?

Yeah.

Because I'm completely hollow inside.

Come on…

You're enough just the way you are.

Uh, you're great.

No,

there's nothing great about me.

If you became someone else,

the company would be in trouble.

By the way, Kura, what's your wife like?

-Well… -You have photos, right? Show me.

Well, uh…

I'm sure you have some on your phone, right?

Let me see them.

Give me a second.

She's really beautiful.

Way to go, Kura.

I can't believe it.

She's gorgeous.

THE PARK IS COVERED IN FALLEN LEAVES, WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN, HUH?

Kuramoto!

-The boss is asking for you. -Coming.

Sorry. Sorry I’m late.

-Hey! -Good to see you.

-Have a drink. -Did I make it in time?

-I made it, I made it. -Tada is finally here.

-Ah, hello. -Hello.

Okay, okay, okay.

So, for Kuramoto returning to his driver job…

Let's celebrate! Congratulations!

-Congratulations! -Cheers!

-Cheers! -Good job!

-Cheers! -Good job.

-Cheers. -Congrats.

Congratulations, Kura.

-Thank you very much. -Congratulations!

Alright, drink up, everyone.

Thank you.

Kuramoto, you remember that super long trip we took the other day, right?

Shortly after, the boss called me and asked,

"How was Kura doing?"

Hey, Natsukawa!

And I told him, "Kuramoto was a solid ten out of ten!"

"I've never met anyone who knows the job so well!"

So, you owe me one.

I got you the boss’s stamp of approval!

Hey, don't laugh at that!

-Natsukawa… -You're laughing!

Okay, can you all huddle up a bit closer?

Closer!

Closer!

Get close to Kuramoto, like you're super good friends.

Hisada, you're too far away!

-It's Hishida! -What? Really?

Hishida, you're too far away.

Natsu, switch places with me.

What are you saying? If you're not in it, it won't be the same.

Without you, it’s gonna be a really dull photo, Natsu.

Look at them. What a bunch of scruffy guys.

-Hey, we heard that! -That's true…

-Anyway, come on. -Okay, okay, I got it.

-Okay, I'm getting in position. -Alright.

Alright, here we go, everyone.

-Okay, one more. -Okay.

-Yay. -Okay,

-last one. -Alright.

Alright, okay!

Kana Kuramoto, age 37.

She worked at a pharmaceutical company in the city.

The estimated time of death was around 5 a.m. yesterday.

It appears the body was washed down the river from the mountains.

According to her mother,

she was being persistently harassed by her husband,

whom she no longer lived with.

Apparently, he even showed up at her workplace last week.

She was under severe emotional distress

and jumped into the river?

That seems the most probable.

-Suicide note? -None, as far as we know.

I see…

A separated husband, huh?

The husband has a criminal record.

Eight years ago, he was a truck driver for a delivery company,

but he caused a fairly serious accident while driving drunk.

Drunk driving?

He was always saying he was going to quit drinking,

but instead of quitting,

it got worse and worse.

Once…

Kana won the lottery,

and he spent

all the money

on alcohol.

One million yen.

One million yen, you know?

How could he do something like that?

"I couldn't help it." Seriously?!

And after that…

he drank and caused that accident.

Since then,

I never trusted him again.

And I never will.

There is a possibility that Kana jumped…

Jumped?

Why would Kana jump?

Why on earth would Kana jump?

Why would Kana jump?

Kana didn't jump!

Kana didn't jump!

I see…

And what is the husband doing now?

Apparently, he's still working

at the same delivery company but now as a mechanic.

The victim's mother suspects the husband.

Well, still,

even if she wants to blame him, there's no evidence to prove it.

No.

Did she have any other romantic relationships with men?

None.

Suicide or murder…

In either case, we have no evidence.

Well,

at this rate, it'll end up being ruled a suicide.

What do I do…?

What do I do? What do I do?

He's not picking up…

What is Kura doing?

Um,

excuse me.

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

ANY PERSONS OR ORGANIZATIONS WHO APPEAR

HAVE NO RELATION TO ANY ACTUALLY EXISTING

You're a cleaner?

Ah, yes.

What were you talking with her about?

What? You saw us? You're way too shy.

-I saw it… -Even if they're going to be thrown away,

it's stealing, isn't it?

For example, how about after work today? Can I see you?

Don't tease me.

Since we bumped into each other,

how about one drink?

I wanted to have a drink with Shim.

We're going to order their famous eel kamameshi.

I can't really eat eel…

I know it's a rude question,

but you've been in the pen, haven't you?

Ah, I'm sorry, Shim. Just ignore him.

NEXT TIME

Subtitle translation by: Maslin Friedman