Original subtitles

That summer vacation in 1999

opened up a whole new world for me

It was the hatching out of the shell of my ignorance

It still lives in my memory that summer vacation

as if it were only yesterday

SUMMER VACATION 1999

They've all gone back home

Except for the three of us

We've got no homes

What's so nice about homes

No fun being alone

Lonely?

You're always like that

Like what?

Like a grown-up... cold

He's older than you

Kazuhiko, it was you who made Yu

Stop it!

I'm going back

Stop it!

But

Come on!

I know it you'll come back someday

Who is it? Help!

Naoto!

You scared me

Shouldn't come here alone

I wanted you to come with me, but you were with Kazuhiko

I asked him

He refused, didn't he? He should have come here first

He will

You always take his side That's because you like him

No, stupid

Let's pray together

Look, do you believe he's dead?

Three months now

His body hasn't been found

He chose the lake to sleep in forever

You think it was suicide?

Three for Naoto

Two for me

Two for Kazuhiko

Funny. Static?

Morning

Another dream?

I forgot

Already

I'm sweaty

A shower

Hurry. Norio won't wait

I made it

The pan was big and heavy, but I did my best

He doesn't feel good today

I'm sorry

I know you don't like eggs

But it was my turn to cook, and all I can cook is eggs

It's good

You don't have to eat

A wasp!

Don't move, or it'll sting you

I'm scared

Poor wasp! How could you do that?

But you were scared

You didn't have to kill it

You could have let it go

Right. I should have

But you were scared

Don't blame me

That's enough

But, that poor wasp

It was alive

You killed it. You did it

Stop!

I'll go clean my shoes

You're mean

I meant it

It wasn't like you. Cruel!

Then you think so, too?

That he killed Yu?

No!

Nice clouds

That one looks just like you

I'm always thinking of you

Because, I...

I don't understand, but

Maybe I shouldn't have such feelings

I don't know

It hurts me

It's hard to explain

It hurts

We should not talk to each other so much

Wait. Don't say that, please!

Yu, here's my answer!

No!

I'm not a ghost

Do I look that bad?

You're alive, Yu!

Yu? Who's that?

We're going to be schoolmates

I'm new here

Something wrong?

It's vacation

I know that

But my parents wanted to get rid of me

So they sent me away to school here

What's your name?

Why are you asking me that?

You look like him

Who?

He's dead

He looked like me?

You know Yu?

No. This is creepy

I'm Kaoru

I'm going to the school

Kazuhiko

I'm back

Yu!

My name is Kaoru

Why do you know my name?

You told me yourself

You're creepy

Not again!

What?

You're surprised to see me

Where...?

My room

Who are you?

Here. Keep it, if you're in charge

I heard we'd have a new student

That's me

Are you and Yu...

Yu again! I don't know anyone named that

It's all right, my coming so early?

I have to let you in

My room?

Any room. It's vacation time...

Anyone I like?

This one

Why?

The other rooms smell like they're lived in

Not this one, like no one'd been here

Who was here?

Nice quiet boy

And?

He fell off a cliff and died three months ago

Body's still missing

That boy who killed himself

Killed himself? Who said so?

Kazuhiko

Kazuhiko? He looks serious, but he tells too many jokes

Not a suicide?

An accident

Really? Strange

Come on in

I'm not a ghost

Yu's back

No. Stop

He's the new boy?

No. I mean Yu

He's not Yu

He's in Yu's room

He likes it

Why did you do that without asking us?

It doesn't matter

You're really carrying on

Yu gave me a record before he went away

He said

We're really birds. We're being hatched

We're struggling to get out

Our egg is a world

But if you want to be born you must break that world

The birds fly to the god

That's Hesse's Demian!

He said that

Then?

I break the egg and I flap my wings

Then I fly toward him

Who?

Listen to this

The same music Yu gave me. He is back!

What?

Stop!

Stop!

Did I do something wrong?

Why hit me like that?

Stupid!

Sorry

All done

I'll be going

Not yet

Why not?

We have rules about this

That's stupid

We live together, so we need rules

I don't

You going to hit me again?

He's gone

Let him

Don't fight

Let him alone

Yu, stop!

Did you kill him? Did you push that boy named Yu?

No!

Kazuhiko

What is it?

A bad dream

You were groaning

What's the time?

Three. Most people die at three

Who is it?

Standing there

You're imagining

Outside the door

It's him

He's there. It's Yu!

There's no one

What's the matter?

Get off my chest!

Stop!

No!

Let go!

Don't die

Can you hear me?

Are you Kaoru?

Of course. Who else?

Why're you up?

You, too

Maybe you're a sleepwalker

No

I couldn't sleep, so I went to Naoto's room

And?

Nothing

They wouldn't let you in?

Come on in

Tell me about Yu

Yu liked Kazuhiko

He's no good

But Kazuhiko didn't like Yu that way

Is that why Yu died?

Who knows?

Everybody likes Kazuhiko

He's no good, but everyone likes him

That's why I hate him

You okay?

Forget about him

I want to go away

Why?

Sometimes I suffocate

I hate being cooped up here

This is like a safety zone

So I hate it

I want to knock down the walls

You'd only find more walls

All we can do is to find better walls

I'm fine, Mom

Let me tell you something about the school

It's vacation time. Only three students are left in the dorm

No, we're all right

They're named Kazuhiko, Naoto and Norio

Two seniors and one junior

Naoto is serious

Kazuhiko is real temperamental. Norio is still a kid

Mom, what are you doing?

I'm still sad about your getting remarried

I still love you best in the whole world

So I can't live in the new house you're going to build

And I can't call that man my father

I want to put my clock forward so I can grow up faster

And I'll stop your clock so it won't go at all until I become an adult

You'll be like the Sleeping Beauty

and only wake up when I kiss you

You know this one?

No

It's called horsemint

You know a lot

Here too

Funny

Static?

Here

No, here

Is this all?

Ham and vegetables?

Yes

And bread, milk and an egg

Not enough for a meal

They deliver food only once a week

We have rations for three

You're an extra

Stopping?

Changing. Let Kaoru do it

You play

Yu was a good pianist

Kaoru is better

Yu wanted to be like Kaoru

He was honest enough, but

he wanted to be more selfish, free

Did he?

I think Yu is inside Kaoru

Don't bother me

I won't

You are

But it's fun

This is no game

You're bothering me

I liked Yu better than Kaoru

So what

Yu was honest, true to himself

He looked at Kazuhiko with love

But Kaoru is selfish, gets in the way

I wish Yu was like before

I've told you I'm not Yu!

Don't keep saying it

I see. Yu's dead after all

Don't cry

You cry so easily, I don't like it

Stop crying

Watching Kaoru?

He's not Yu

He isn't timid like Yu was

Your type?

He's okay

I didn't like Yu

He made me feel funny

But when I see Kaoru I'm

relieved

What did you dream the other night?

About Yu

- Naoto - What?

When I got a prize for that recitation

Yu gave me a bouquet

But

Congratulations

White flowers? For a funeral?

Cut it out

I tried to make him hate me

But

He just couldn't hate people

I've been bad enough to go straight to hell

You've got to forget it

But I can't forgive him

He should have hit me like Kaoru

Then maybe I'd have liked him

Sorry, you don't have to listen

The problem's mine

No. Let me share it

Go get it before it gets dark

And in the forest flowers are blooming

I got up early to pick some

The same flowers you and I picked

You painted a picture of them

I liked it

No, nobody's here

I thought somebody was coming

Who would come?

It's midnight

I played the piano today

They were surprised how good I was

Do you play sometimes?

Just painting?

As I played, I remembered how you sang with me

I heard you sing

The clock in my room shows 11:57 The hands don't move

I won't let them move because you gave it to me

I wished this vacation would last forever

All I wanted was

being near Kazuhiko. I wanted to stop time

But then Kaoru came and everything changed

I got it!

It's dead

Of course. It's the acid

No!

What?

You're not Yu. He was nice

He'd never just kill a butterfly. He couldn't

I can. I'm not Yu

Get that butterfly

I didn't ask you to break it!

Sorry, I didn't mean to

I wanted to kill it without hurting its beauty

Hurt or not, death is death

No sympathy for that life you destroyed?

I don't like insects

I wouldn't care if they all died

If Yu died either?

What do you know?

The boy who looked like me lost his lover and died

His friends say it was an accident

Say it for your sake

Friendship!

I don't know why Yu felt that way

I don't like myself

I don't like you either

But Naoto does, and Yu did

Yet you refuse everybody. Your heart's so hard

Why? What for?

Maybe because I'm weak

A coward

I'm afraid of showing what I am

I've been living this way, only myself

So you hated Yu

You can accept Naoto's love He is like a big brother

But if his love had been stronger

you'd be afraid, and you'd have fought to keep him away

Yet Yu dared to touch you, though hurt, bleeding

You couldn't stand it

He's dead now. You must forgive him

When Yu wrote that way to me

I told him I didn't like it

But he wrote again

"I love you in my heart"

I wouldn't allow him to

I told him that I can only love myself

More letters came

But I didn't read them

After the last letter

he fell off the cliff

It was selfish of him to die

He won't let me forget him

He went and put himself right in my heart

He walked all over it. With his boots on

No, barefoot and naked

He would never have done this

How do you know? You never met him

He's not a stranger to me anymore

If you treated me that cold

I would have felt like Yu did

I understand him

I can hear him whispering to me

He offered himself. He was refused. So he died

And his death is heavy on your heart

I'm sorry, but you can't kill anyone already dead

You can't run away from the love Yu left behind

Yu! Just go away!

I'm Kaoru, not Yu

Yu, get out of Kaoru

Yu's gone

I know he didn't want you to forget him but

But I'm not Yu

He's dead

You can't find him

Kazuhiko, aren't you lonely?

Always alone

Why not kill him? It's Yu

Yu liked Kazuhiko

Naoto likes him, too

Then Kaoru came

This is me, left alone

I'm always left out. Nobody likes me

Only Yu was nice to me

But he's...

dead

They've gone. Why?

Kaoru's mother died

He went home last night. Kazuhiko went after him

Was there a call last night?

Kaoru took it

I was up late last night. The phone didn't ring

You're hiding something

Why?

You lied. You wanted to get rid of him

Not him -- you

Why?

You're always complaining that nobody likes you

It's disgusting

Surprised? I was worried so much I had to come

This studio's going to be sold

So will all my mother's paintings

This was where she worked?

I loved my mother best in the world

There was always plenty of sun

We were alone with each other here

Lots of memories then

Tell me some

I'm happy you feel this way

How about your mother?

I don't remember my parents

They were killed in a power plant accident

Then you grew up by yourself?

But it didn't make me sad

I don't have any memories

So tell me about your mother I want to know how you feel

Will you stay here with me?

Why not? Let's talk all night

Talk and cry. You'll always remember her

Kazuhiko, no! He's

A dream

What's the matter?

Norio's gone

I was bad to him. He ran away

We're through though

Got to find him

He can't be far away

Maybe I've hurt him so much

Maybe it's too late

No

Let's go! Hurry!

Here he is!

What's the matter?

We've been looking for you

Hurt?

No. But he has one of his legs broken

Norio

Are you all right?

Yes

He's so warm

He's cute!

I heard your mother died

But I'm not alone anymore

I'm sorry I was bad to you

That's all right. I found the rabbit limping

So I stayed here with him all night

I fell asleep. He was like me

All alone like an outcast

You're not an outcast!

Kazuhiko, you're nice now

Stupid

He's always been nice

I got something good

We'll do it tonight

Summer will be over soon

and autumn will come and go

At the end of winter, all of them will leave

They'll graduate

I'll be here alone next summer

I don't think you'll read this letter

You'll tear it and throw it away

Still I can't help writing

It's my last letter

I don't want anyone to read it

I just want to talk to somebody

I don't think my feelings about you are worth anything

But I know they're true, sincere and

they won't change

If you'll always remember me

if I can find a place in your heart

I don't mind losing my life

So I'm going to leap towards you

And if, by any chance, you read this letter

can you somehow forgive me?

Crying?

For Yu

Why now?

Why...?

You died

And came back

As if you wanted Kazuhiko to love you

But only as Kaoru could you make him

That trick worked really well

Right, Kaoru? I mean, Yu

You're Yu. Yu's mother was an artist, too

You led Kazuhiko to her place, but she'd died long ago

Kaoru, where are you going?

Where are you going?

Naoto hates Kaoru

They're going to the cliff where Yu killed himself

You did it here

When I heard about it, I was more glad than sorry

While he was alive he tried to make Kazuhiko like him

He was always standing around wanting Kazuhiko...

to look at him

You wanted Kazuhiko for yourself?

Yes

After Yu died he turned to me

He began to rely on me. It made me really happy

But later I realized something

He was possessed by Yu

By dying Yu won a place in Kazuhiko's heart

Stop!

I couldn't make Kazuhiko forget Yu, then you came here

Jump!

I'll watch

I'll see to it. You won't come back

Now jump!

Don't!

Don't do it!

Everybody's dying

Everybody!

What's happening?

I didn't think you'd come

But you did

Ask Kaoru... I mean, Yu

What happened?

He's sick. He's crazy

He almost killed me

What for?

He loves you. You know that?

No

You're blind

Go to him. He's suffering

Only you can help him

Just like Yu

I love you, Kaoru

I'm in love with you

How much?

I'd never been in love

I was always on the safe side, like being locked up

I was never in love. I was afraid

I was afraid of being loved

So I refused Yu, and he died

But when I watched you I knew how he felt. I fell in love

with you

It was like a door opening

I asked. How much do you love me?

Kazuhiko

I'm Yu

I'm just getting even

I came back as the new boy and managed to win your love

Now it's my turn to refuse you

You never forgave?

There's one way to forgiveness

Tell me

To die with me

Die with me. The best time of your life is when you're little

Let's die and get born again, together

Enjoy being kids over and over

Die and get born

Always as little kids

All right. Let's die

No!

Just like you said. I'm Yu

And like you said, I'll die here

But not alone. With Kazuhiko

Kazuhiko! Kaoru!

Don't die!

No. I didn't expect an ending like this

I had a dream

About Yu

He forgave me

I feel as if I were reborn

We could only save you

Yu? Kaoru?

He's gone

He really died this time

When I was a child, I cried looking at the sunset

I went catching cicadas. My friends left me

I was alone under that burning sky

So terribly alone

As if I were the only living being on earth

All alone!

The sunset was so beautiful

Everything was glowing, all red and gold

But there was no one to share this beauty with me

I was so scared

and so lonely

I was helpless

All I could do was cry

I still dream about that sunset

It was just like this one

Forgive me, Kaoru

Are you Yu or Kaoru?

Neither

But I know you

That summer vacation in 1999

Opened up a whole new world for me

It still lives in my memory as if it were only yesterday

Eri Miyajima as Yu and Kaoru

Tomoko Otakara as Kazuhiko

Miyuki Nakano as Naoto

Rie Mizuhara as Norio

Produced by Yutaka Okada and Eiji Kishida

Written by Rio Kishida

Photographed by Kenji Takama

Art design by Shu Yamaguchi

Music by Yuriko Nakamura

English titles by Tadashi Shishido and Donald Richie

Directed by Shusuke Kaneko