Original subtitles

- It's cold. - Waterfall!

The water's cold.

Splash.

Blocked.

Stop it.

A small waterfall.

Wow.

- I've never touched one. - I have.

Liar! Liar!

In a dream.

Hey.

Uh-oh.

- We have to go back. - Was that Mom?

Ayumi!

It's starting soon! Let's go!

There they are.

Hurry.

It's starting.

Misaki was 44, wasn't she?

So young.

She was in poor health.

It was her time.

She was an amazing child.

A model student at school.

Yawata-cho, Miyagi prefecture

Your mom's...

farewell note?

Yes.

I...

haven't opened it.

I can't.

When was this photo taken?

In college.

She didn't have many of herself.

She looks like Ayumi.

She's her mother.

You're like her reincarnation.

Identical.

Mom.

Can I stay here for a while?

What?

I can keep Ayumi company if nothing else.

Please.

Really?

Is that okay?

Yes.

I'd like that.

Really?

So it's decided then.

Yay! Thanks.

Granny!

Granny! Granny!

Are you sure?

Grandpa.

I'm staying here for a while.

Granny!

I'm staying.

Are you?

That's great.

Yay.

Stay all summer.

Mom, are you sure?

- Of course. - Great!

It'll be nice and quiet at home.

Shut up.

Take care.

Behave.

Bye.

Hold on!

This.

It came for my mom.

A high school reunion.

Reunion?

Nakatagai High.

Brings back memories.

I'll let them know.

Bye!

Bye!

Sendai, Miyagi prefecture

"We're home. Yuhri"

We're home.

Hi.

Hi, Dad.

How's work?

I'll make the deadline.

Sorry I couldn't go.

It's okay.

Soyoka is staying there for a while.

She wants to keep Ayumi company.

It was Soyoka's idea.

She's growing up real fast.

Did you sprinkle salt?

I forgot.

Eito, come here.

Do it outside or

you'll bring in the bad stuff.

Really?

Bad stuff?

Ghosts. Evil spirits. Your dad's specialty.

The supernatural?

- Demons? - Yes.

Outside.

Chest first.

Then the back.

Ready?

I can't do it.

You do it every day.

It's hot.

I'm tired today but let's stay up late from tomorrow.

Yeah?

- Okay. - Cool.

- Good night. - Good night.

A big turnout.

It was a lot of work.

I still couldn't find some people.

Remember Misaki Tohno?

The student council president.

No idea where she is.

Oh yeah?

Misaki!

We were just talking about you.

You didn't respond. We were worried.

So good to see you.

I'm not...

You're not what?

You were the golden girl

of our generation.

Say cheese!

"Misaki Tohno"

How about a speech?

The girl who captured the heart of every guy in class.

Misaki Tohno!

It's been so long.

Hello.

I have a lot of

unforgettable memories of high school.

Um...

I haven't spoken

into a microphone

in front of a crowd

since high school.

Today...

I hope you all enjoy yourselves.

Were you nervous?

Sorry.

Around three years ago, our high school moved into

a new building.

The old building is going to be torn down soon.

So I took some photos.

Please take a look.

I have to go.

So soon?

I live far away.

It was good to see you.

I found a cassette tape from your graduation ceremony.

Yes. Let's listen to it.

We are graduating today.

We'll cherish our memories of high school.

They'll no doubt stay with us forever.

If somebody asks me what my dream is, what my goals are

I have no idea yet.

But I think that's okay.

Our future is full of infinite possibilities.

We have countless options for what we can do.

Every one of us graduating today

has led a life that's uniquely our own

and will continue to do so.

We may achieve our dreams.

Or we may not.

When life gets tough,

when being alive is unbearable

We'll probably remember our high school days.

The place where our future

seemed limitless.

The place where we all sparkled

with the same brightness.

Representing the graduating class, Misaki Tohno.

Hi.

Hello.

Remember me?

Yes.

Long time no see. How are you?

It's been so long.

I...

couldn't say hi inside

so I followed you.

Sorry I left without saying anything.

Yeah.

Do you have time to talk?

How about a drink somewhere?

No... I have to go home.

Oh.

Then...

let's exchange contact info.

Okay.

Got it.

"Mom"?

You're a mom.

Yes. Sorry...

This...

Here.

Novelist? Wow.

Not so wow.

What kind of novels do you write?

I'll need time to explain.

One drink.

There's my bus.

Um... Did you read my novel?

What? Novel?

You don't remember?

What was it again?

I'm not telling you.

You're making me curious.

Perhaps another day.

Goodbye.

It was fun today.

Stay in touch if you want.

Okay.

Would you believe it if I told

you I'm still in love with you?

Don't tease me like that.

I'm home.

Hi.

Hi.

Hey, Eito.

Clean up.

Huh?

Not huh? Come on.

I'm home.

Hi.

How was it?

You won't believe it.

They thought I was Misaki.

Why?

It's been 25 years.

Nobody looks like they did in high school.

Everyone's so old.

Balding. Fat. Heavy makeup. Plastic surgery.

Did you tell them about your sister?

I couldn't.

I even had to give a speech.

I pretended I was Misaki.

Why did you go then?

I know. Don't rub it in.

"Kyoshiro Otosaka"

Are you okay?

"I've loved you for 25 years"

I'm fine.

What?

What's this?

What's what?

Who's this Otosaka guy?

Misaki's classmate.

"I've loved you for 25 years."

He thinks I'm Misaki.

Tell him the truth.

It wasn't the right time.

When is the right time then?

"Don't tease me like that." What does that mean?!

Don't read my texts!

No more texting!

Oh no!

Eito, go to bed!

"Dad broke Mom's phone. Eito"

What's up?

They're fighting.

Dear Kyoshiro Otosaka.

Have you texted me since then?

My husband got the wrong impression about us.

He broke my cell phone.

If you've texted me,

I'm afraid I haven't read them.

Just to let you know.

Kami-ochiai, Tokyo

Sorry for writing out of the blue.

You don't have to respond.

Forgive me for sending this without a return address.

"Misaki Tohno"

What was that novel you mentioned?

I can't remember.

Tell me if there's a next time.

Sorry for my messy handwriting.

Take care. Goodbye.

Misaki Tohno.

I feel bad.

Hi...

Dogs?

Aren't they cute?

That's not the point. So?

I'm thinking of writing about dogs.

They're for research.

Research? Two of them?

Yeah.

Who'll take care of them?

You.

Ayumi.

Ayumi! Dogs!

Look. Dogs.

Dogs.

- Adorable. - They're huge.

Mr. Otosaka.

Will you read what I wrote?

Sure.

"Misaki Tohno"

Dear Kyoshiro Otosaka.

We now have 2 huge dogs in our home.

My husband wants me to take care of them.

He's punishing me.

I'm not blaming you

but I thought I'd let you know.

I'm sorry. This will be my last letter.

You can ignore this too.

You okay, Mom?

Wait...

Run, Mom.

- Yes? - It's Akiko.

Mother? Hold on.

Your grandma.

I'm coming in.

Hello.

It's so hot every day.

What's up, Grandma?

I was in the neighborhood.

Eito.

You've grown.

Good to see you. Come in.

Thank you.

Is Sojiro upstairs?

Yes.

Clean up.

Hello, hello.

You have dogs?

Dad bought them. Bor and Zoi.

I'll take them.

No problem.

They scare me.

Don't pull hard.

Sorry about this.

Come.

Come here, you guys.

Your mother's here.

For you two.

For you, Eito.

This is for Soyoka.

Where is she?

She's at my parents'.

Is she? Then...

Thank you.

Eito.

So?

A reunion.

- Reunion? - High school.

Yuhri also had a reunion the other day.

Is that right?

Did you see your first love?

What first love?

You?

What?

Did you see your first love?

What are you talking about?

Your reunion.

No.

Mom.

Spend the night here.

Even the whole week.

Why yes, I'd love to.

He's huge.

This is Zoi.

Let me help.

Hi.

He's big.

There's another one at home.

How long do you want us to keep him?

Not forever?

Forever, huh?

We can't keep him. My hands are already full.

What should I do?

Take him to a shelter?

I'll take care of him.

Will you?

I'll help.

But you're only here for the summer.

Dear Kyoshiro Otosaka.

I visited our old high school

when I went to my parents' house.

Go.

He's not listening.

Soyoka, over there.

Come on. Run!

Go run, you guys.

Look at the leaves.

I should've expected this.

Take some photos.

Walking around the school

brought back memories.

Bye.

Bye.

I'm enclosing some photos.

Misaki Tohno.

Dear Misaki Tohno.

I don't know what to say

only that you have my condolences.

It must be my fault.

You can write me anytime.

Exchanging letters like this is

nice and quaint.

"High school yearbook"

"Misaki Tohno"

Is this address

your parents' house?

If I send the letter here, will it reach you?

Kyoshiro Otosaka.

Where's your grandma?

She went out.

- Where? - I don't know.

She shouldn't go out by herself.

She's not a kid.

But she's old. She could get lost.

Does she have dementia?

I didn't say that.

Where did she go?

Should we go look for her?

You need a German shepherd.

A trained dog.

I'm so hot.

My feet are tired.

Look. There she is.

Your son is a manga artist?

Yes.

Wow. Good job, Bor!

How much?

I didn't know old people could fall in love.

Geriatric romance, huh?

Geriatric?

- It means… - Forget it.

They're probably friends.

They're coming.

- Hide. - Wait.

It's not that

I feel the spirits but...

Hurry. Hide.

Hurry!

The maple leaves are growing.

They're lovely.

- Follow them? - No.

Stop.

You guys, stay here.

Go pray.

Take Bor.

Why do we have to pray?

Because this is a shrine.

Is it an adult thing?

Pray for me too. Now go.

Don't mind us.

Let's go, Bor.

Go!

Phew... What a steep hill.

What is this place?

I don't know.

Should we charge in?

- Should we? - No!

What do we have?

A letter to my mom.

From who?

Nothing's happening.

Definitely nothing criminal.

Let's go.

- Yeah. - Let's go home.

Come on.

Let's play a game.

Let's go, Bor.

Wait, you guys.

Buy tea with this. Stay hydrated.

Just tea, okay?

Okay.

Don't tell anyone about this.

Hush money.

No, it is not.

Be careful.

It's definitely hush money.

Hush money!

Watch your step.

Mother, are you okay?

It hurts.

- You are? - Her daughter-in-law.

- Her son's wife. - Daughter-in-law?

Please go with her.

They're hers.

Mrs. Kishibeno?

Come in.

Take a seat.

She has lumbar sprain.

In other words, back strain.

Back strain?

Thank God.

She was in so much pain. I thought she was going to die.

It'll hurt for a while.

"Dear Misaki Tohno."

"I don't know what to say"

"only that you have my condolences."

"It must be my fault."

"You can write me anytime."

"Exchanging letters like this

is nice and quaint."

Is he writing to the dead?

It's his fault that your mom died?

A murderer?

But he sounds too casual.

"Is this address your parents' house?"

"If I send the letter here, will it reach you?"

"Kyoshiro Otosaka."

Who is he?

Doesn't he know she died?

Should I ask my mom?

No. Wait. That wouldn't be fun.

Should we write him back?

I was just thinking that.

Let's write him back.

What should we say?

Granny!

Do you have letter paper?

Letter paper.

Hold on.

- Mr. Otosaka? - Yes.

Another one.

Thank you.

Dear Kyoshiro Otosaka.

How much do you remember about me?

This address is fine.

Misaki Tohno.

He wrote back!

It's from him.

Dear Misaki Tohno.

How much do I remember about you?

I remember everything as clearly as yesterday.

No...

Actually, even clearer than yesterday.

I transferred to that school in June of our senior year.

I wasn't even there for a year

but I'll never forget those days.

Your new classmate.

Let me introduce Kyoshiro Otosaka.

Let me introduce Kyoshiro Otosaka.

I'm Kyoshiro. Nice to meet you.

Alright then. Take that seat back there.

Okay.

I sat in the back by the window.

Away from the guys in the girls' section.

I felt really uncomfortable.

Yaegashi, the guy who sat nearest to me, persuaded me

to join the biology club.

Yuhri, introduce yourself.

I'm Yuhri Tohno.

This is Kyoshiro, our new member.

Hello.

Nice to meet you.

This is how I met Yuhri.

Dear Kyoshiro Otosaka.

My mother-in-law strained her back.

She was at her boyfriend's house.

She refuses to talk about him.

I can't ask her. It's really awkward.

Can I get you anything?

I'm fine.

Hold on.

Will you mail this?

"Akiko Kishibeno"

Okay.

She wanted me to mail a letter.

A love letter, I'm sure.

Letters are normal for people her age.

I'm also getting used to letters.

Thanks to you.

- Hello. - Your mail.

Thank you.

A letter!

Dear Misaki Tohno.

Members of the biology club collected aquatic creatures

in a canal after school.

I didn't really enjoy it back then

but now I reminisce about it fondly.

My sister is the student council president.

Cool.

It's not cool.

- I hate it. - Why?

We're always compared and I always lose.

Oh, I see.

A cold was going around at the time

even though it wasn't winter.

We'll participate in volunteer activities.

The student council president?

Yeah.

Yuhri's sister?

Yeah.

I'm sure you're busy with schoolwork and club activities

but the experience will...

Again.

What does your sister look like?

Why do you ask?

Because she always wears a mask.

You have a crush on her?

It's nothing like that.

I'm just curious.

I have photos at home.

We live nearby. Do you wanna come?

Let's go.

Here.

This is my sister.

Me when I was three.

Kindergarten.

That's her. This is recent.

It's not very clear.

I'm getting even more curious.

Want some watermelon?

Watermelon.

She'll be home soon.

I'll tell her to take the mask off.

Forget it.

We should get going.

Isn't she coming home?

Probably not for a while.

Eat.

Barley tea?

We should go.

Back to the canal.

Thanks for this.

Yeah.

Oh... That's my sister.

What?

Yuhri, what are you doing?

That's...

Kyoshiro Otosaka.

Biology club.

He's new at our school.

You're on a date?

No... No.

We're doing biology stuff.

What was your name again?

Otosaka.

Hi. I'm Misaki, Yuhri's sister.

Take off the mask.

I'm Misaki Tohno.

I'll see you tomorrow at school.

Yeah.

Isn't she pretty?

Speaking objectively.

Yeah... She's gorgeous.

Why don't you write her a love letter?

- What? - Love letter.

I'll give it to her.

Love letter?

I can't write her a love letter.

Dear Misaki Tohno.

This is Kyoshiro Otosaka.

I was with your sister the other day.

Yuhri is a good friend.

I'm new at this school

and I still feel lost.

It'd be nice if you'd help me get settled in

and help me get to know the neighborhood.

I hope to see you around.

Hey. I wrote a letter to your sister.

"Dear Misaki Tohno"

This was the first of all the love letters

I persistently wrote you.

It's gotten too long so I'll stop here for now.

I wonder what happened next.

Coming.

Hello.

Oh, it's you.

I heard she strained her back.

Yes.

Did you get the letter?

You haven't written back so I was worried.

Sorry about that.

I fell when I called the ambulance.

I can't use my hand.

It looks painful.

Why don't you come in? We'll talk inside.

Umm... Thank you.

"Mont-Saint-Michel is either a small island"

"or a nunnery in the Bay of Saint-Malo"

"in western France."

Does it really say that?

I correct her translation and send it back.

Really?

An English lesson?

I used to be a high school English teacher.

I saw my former students at a reunion the other day.

They joked about wanting to take my class again.

So I joked back and told them

they can come over anytime.

Then she really did. I was so surprised.

Why study English now?

I want to respond

but I can't write with this hand.

Draw a red line through "either."

Okay.

It should be "both."

And "or" should be "and."

"Either" would mean

Mont-Saint-Michel is a small island

or a nunnery. Not both.

And draw a red line through "nunnery."

I understand now.

This is fun.

No wonder she looks forward to this.

You think so?

Come in.

You got a letter.

Oh.

Here.

Thank you.

You have mail.

Thank you.

The door was unlocked.

"Dear Mr. Shozo Hatoba."

"Thank you for your reply."

"Please correct my English."

The rest is about the Palace of Versailles.

- Hello. - Your mail.

Thank you.

Ayumi! A letter!

Dear Misaki Tohno.

Each time I wrote you a letter

I entrusted it to Yuhri.

I wonder how many letters I gave her.

Dear Kyoshiro Otosaka.

Do you remember my little sister?

Her name is Yuhri.

She's the quiet type

so you might not remember.

Years ago, I had a crush on this guy in high school.

But he liked my sister.

He wrote love letters to her and asked me

to give them to her.

Isn't that awful?

Hey... Mr. Hatoba.

May I use your address?

Mr. Hatoba!

Yes?

May I use your address?

Sure. Go ahead.

I'm not expecting a response but if you want to write back

send it to this address.

If you feel like it.

Misaki Tohno.

Dear Misaki Tohno.

First love is a scary experience.

Full of uncertainty and something close to terror.

The world seemed to revolve around you.

I was pulled in by your gravity

and you were all I could think of every day.

Dear Misaki Tohno.

It seems like you're finally over your cold.

I'm happy for you.

My hobby is reading books.

I like Soseki Natsume.

What kind of books do you like?

How is your sister?

Is she married?

Is she a mother?

And you?

How are you doing?

Yes?

Hi.

How did you find me?

From the address in your letter.

Isn't this your house?

A friend of a friend's.

Will you wait a minute?

Yikes.

I didn't bring anything.

What's the matter?

He's here.

Who's here?

My first love.

I didn't bring any makeup. I don't believe this.

I have your mother-in-law's lipstick.

Hold on.

You can use this.

Oh... Right.

She left it here?

Aren't they too old for this?

Not bad.

Sorry about that.

What should we do?

Should we go to a park and talk?

Talk inside.

There are prying eyes outside.

I'll go take a walk.

Hello.

Thanks.

Something to drink?

I'm fine.

Did you get my letters?

I enjoyed each one of them.

I'm sorry.

The boring complaints of a housewife.

You wrote the letters here?

Don't look!

Let me put it away.

Sorry.

Thanks.

About that book...

I still can't remember.

What book was it?

A novel I wrote.

Titled "Misaki."

Misaki?

What?

It's a novel based on you.

How could you forget?

You're Yuhri, aren't you?

What?

Sorry. I knew from the beginning.

From the reunion.

I wonder why they didn't notice.

You knew?

You should have told me.

So where's Misaki?

With your parents?

My sister...

passed away.

When?

A month ago.

At the end of July.

I went to the reunion to inform her classmates.

I didn't get the chance to.

I left without telling anybody.

Passed away?

How?

She was always sick.

She took her own life.

We told people that she died from an illness.

I see...

Did we have to lie?

I wasn't sure about that.

We...

were seeing each other.

During college.

You were?

The novel...

is about us.

The novel titled "Misaki."

It won a small award.

I've been trying to write a new one but...

I'm trapped in my memories of her.

Each time...

I end up writing about her. It's pathetic.

Different versions of the same story.

Embarrassingly...

"Misaki" is

the only novel I've published.

The one I'm working on now...

is also about Misaki.

I wanted her to read it.

When she'd read it, I was going to...

quit writing for good.

I had no idea.

When Misaki went off to college

we drifted apart.

She got married during college. She practically eloped.

Ato?

Yoichi Ato?

You know him?

We met briefly back then.

I still don't know who he was.

He was a mystery all the way to the end.

He didn't work.

He lived off my sister.

He got violent with her.

But Misaki never talked about it.

One day, Ayumi came to my house.

My sister's daughter.

Her face...

was all puffy especially around her eyes.

I asked her what happened.

She wanted me to help her mother.

I thought it was an ordinary marital squabble.

When I went to see her...

she was gaunt and rotting away.

Her husband acted like nothing was wrong.

He went out to go buy tea.

He never returned.

What?

We still have no idea where he went.

My sister...

Her life was ruined by that man.

Her spirit was permanently damaged.

She'd slit her wrist.

She became suicidal and in the end

she went into the mountains...

I can't regret it enough.

If only she'd married you...

Going back to Tokyo?

After I visit some places.

For research?

Like Misaki's old neighborhood.

Nobody lives there anymore.

Maybe the building is even gone.

Do you want the address?

Kita Ichiban-cho.

That's right.

I wrote her there once.

Can I read that novel called "Misaki"?

It's gone out of print.

Not in bookstores anymore.

But if you want...

Here.

Thank you.

I don't know anything about novels

but I hope you keep writing about my sister.

Writing those letters pretending to be her

made it seem like her life was still going on.

Even when someone dies

thinking about them keeps them alive.

Yeah. Maybe.

What do you like about Misaki?

What about her?

Well...

That's what you should write in your letters.

I like this about you, that about you...

Let her know how much you like her.

My letters are no good?

No good.

You read them?

- No. - How do you know?

I didn't read them. Misaki read them to me.

I swear I didn't read them.

I can't believe she'd do that.

Oh well...

It's okay.

I forgive her.

I'll forgive her for anything.

You must really like her.

You okay?

No.

You have a fever.

Go home.

There's a student council meeting today.

Will you go in my place?

Hi.

Hi.

Um...

I'm here in Yaegashi's place.

He has a cold.

I see.

A weird cold is going around.

Maybe it's my fault.

Then...

will you help me with the tables?

Sure.

Move this next to that one.

That table too.

Hey.

Yeah?

Um...

Did you read the letters?

Letters?

What letters?

Nothing. Forget it.

Where are my letters?

You didn't give them to Misaki.

She didn't know about them.

Were you making fun of me?

No.

Then what?

I gave them to her yesterday.

Here.

My sister...

She told me to tell you the truth.

Is it from her?

No. From me.

"Dear Kyoshiro Otosaka,

I'm in love with you."

"Yuhri Tohno"

Sorry...

I didn't know.

204

This must be it.

I'm sure...

there's a new tenant.

- Sorry. - I'm fine.

Can I help you?

I'm...

a friend of someone who used to live here.

Misaki?

You know her?

Not in person. She's my husband's ex.

Husband?

Ato.

Ato?

Yoichi Ato?

Yes.

He lives here?

Yes.

Since when?

I'm not sure.

Since years ago, I think. I moved in last year.

He's at work. Should I tell him you're here?

What?

Wait... Um...

Come on in. It's hot outside.

Thank you.

He wrote back.

"Who is it?"

Oh yeah... What's your name?

Otosaka. My name is Otosaka.

Got it.

Okay.

Hold on. He usually writes back right away.

What do you do?

A novelist. A struggling one.

Novelist? Wow.

I'm not successful.

Did you write this?

Yes.

So...

Ato...

Does he act selfish?

Yes. You should know.

Right.

He wants to meet outside for a drink.

I work here.

Oh yeah?

I'll leave you two.

Oh.

Don't let him drink too much.

He gets quarrelsome.

Hello.

Hey, long time no see. How are ya?

What brings you here?

Um...

Research for a novel?

Right?

Beer for starters?

Yeah.

Excuse me. A beer and "ume chuhai."

Okay.

Beer and "ume chuhai"!

How long has it been?

Maybe 20 years.

How'd you get my address?

Years ago...

Misaki sent me a greeting card.

Your address was on it.

Oh.

I didn't think you still lived there.

I was surprised.

I have nowhere to go.

Here you go.

Quick, huh? The drinks must be made already.

They stir the beer to make the foam.

I swear they do.

Cheers.

Come on.

I know you didn't come to see me.

You wanted to see her.

But there was a different woman.

You don't know?

Misaki...

She's dead.

What?

About a month ago.

Suicide.

You...

You...

weren't a student at our college.

So...

what are you?

What are you trying to say? It's my fault that she's dead?

Isn't it?

It is.

It's my fault.

Mine. Not yours.

You...

meant nothing in her life.

So what?

You think she would've been happy if she married you?

A struggling novelist who's only written one novel.

Wait a minute.

That novel exists because she dumped you.

If she didn't,

you wouldn't even have that novel.

In other words, the novel

is a gift from me and her.

A wonderful gift

that was bestowed to you.

Am I wrong?

She was a wretch.

She was terrified of me.

I lived up to her expectations.

We had a daughter, Ayumi.

She too.

She'd look at me with these pure eyes.

Those eyes made me feel like

a real low-life scumbag loser.

A real low-life scumbag loser.

"This is my house."

"Get out of here." So I thought.

But I ended up leaving.

I drifted from place to place

and went home after about a month.

Nobody was there.

They were gone.

What did you say earlier?

What was it?

"What are you?"

I wanted to be somebody but

I became nobody.

Not a husband. Not a father.

No real job.

I blame everything on other people.

Funny, huh?

Write about it.

Write a sequel.

There's no part for you in it.

Don't you dare write it in first person.

You can't fit...

a person's life in a cheap novel.

Summer is almost over.

Come visit again.

- Hey… - Yeah?

I want to stay here.

A little longer.

What?

I want to spend more time with you.

What about school?

I can transfer.

What do you think?

It'd be great to go to school together but...

Hey. Are you worried about me?

Sort of.

Don't be. Seriously. Don't worry about me.

That would be... kind of...

a burden.

I love hanging out with you.

But how about the weekends?

You can always come visit.

I don't want to go to school!

What?

Will you sign this?

Thanks.

Is it a good book?

I don't know.

I'll read it.

A drink?

No.

- It's so hot. - Yeah.

Hey!

Um...

You two...

Are you Kyoshiro?

Are you Kyoshiro Otosaka?

Yes.

I'm Ayumi, Misaki Tohno's daughter.

- The letters? - Yeah.

You wrote the letters?

Wow.

What a surprise to see you here.

I'm Soyoka, Yuhri's daughter.

You look like your mothers.

I'm surprised too.

So...

why do you know about me?

We wrote the letters.

Pretending to be my mom.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I see... It was you two.

I should tell you...

about my mother...

I heard.

From Yuhri.

My mom?

Do you have some time?

Would you like to come over?

To say hello to my mother.

Come in.

Nobody's home?

My grandparents are out for the day.

Come in.

Thank you.

No recent photos of her.

We only have ones from when she was young.

She committed suicide.

I know.

Yuhri told me.

She was already dead...

when I arrived at the hospital.

My family decided to tell people that she died from an illness.

She was always sick.

So it didn't sound like a lie.

They said suicide...

leaves a bad impression on other people.

But it makes it seem like

Mom did something wrong.

I don't like it.

Mom...

didn't do anything wrong.

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

I shouldn't be saying this to someone I just met.

It's okay.

Don't worry.

Sorry.

Do you mind giving me some time to myself?

Sure.

Thanks.

Soyoka.

Hey.

- Yeah? - Are you free?

For what?

The graduation speech.

I don't know what to say. Will you help me?

But...

Help me write it.

You're almost finished.

But it's not very good.

Why me?

You're a good writer.

No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

You're the first person who's said that.

You wrote those love letters, right?

Yeah, it was me. Of course.

How's this?

What do you think?

It's not that different from before.

I like it.

Really?

Which part?

No particular part. Just better in general.

It's good.

You can be a novelist.

"Dear Ayumi"

"Misaki"

"Author: Kyoshiro Otosaka"

This book... I wrote it.

What's the title?

"Misaki"?

Auntie Misaki?

I read it.

The author is Kyoshiro Otosaka.

I knew right away when I got the letter.

I recognized your name.

Will you...

sign that book? Please?

Is my mother the main character of the story?

Hold on.

I read these first.

Do you remember them?

The same contents as the book.

Is it a coincidence?

Did you read them?

Love letters from high school?

They were Mom's treasure.

Back then...

every chapter I finished...

I wrote it in a letter and

sent it to her.

Because it was a novel I wrote for her.

I wanted...

her to read it first.

Misaki...

Did she...

read them all?

Yes.

Many times.

Over and over.

I did too.

I read them many times.

It was obvious that...

you loved my mom.

There were times when...

life was tough.

One day I thought...

this man who wrote about my mom...

was going to...

This man...

was going to come and get her.

Thinking about it...

That thought...

kept me going.

I wish you came sooner.

I'm sure she's happy to see you.

What is it?

There's...

a guy I like.

I started to realize

how I felt about him in June.

He sits next to me.

Then it was summer break.

My feelings for him have been getting stronger.

When I see him back in school after the summer

my face is going to turn beet red.

Is that why?

Why you don't want to go back?

Yeah.

Hey.

What's so funny?

Stop laughing. I shouldn't have told you.

It's nothing to worry about.

But anyway... Listen.

I'll go back to school.

Huh?

I'll go home.

I felt...

I felt embarrassed listening to your story.

My worries are so small.

So I decided to go back to school and tough it out.

Okay.

What is it about?

That novel "Misaki."

Why don't you read it?

The setting is a university.

Two former high school classmates...

Wait. Don't tell me. I'm going to read it.

"I had an odd sense of euphoria as if a spring breeze"

"were blowing on my back."

"The breeze was telling me"

"to move forward."

"To achieve my dream."

So you're leaving.

I'll miss you.

Hi. I'm home.

You're back?

Yes, I am.

Why didn't you call?

How's Ayumi doing?

Ayumi... She's fine.

She's fine.

Dad.

I'm home.

Good.

We're not open yet.

Oh...

Hi.

I'm returning to Tokyo.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thanks for everything.

I didn't do anything.

I brought you a souvenir.

You shouldn't have.

Here.

Our high school?

Yeah.

Thank you.

What? They're...

Girls from the neighborhood I ran into.

This is my daughter. And this is Misaki's daughter.

Soyoka and Ayumi.

To tell you the truth, I went to your parents' house.

I was able to

pay my respects to Misaki.

I see.

I'm glad.

We had a nice conversation.

About what?

Oh... This and that.

I'm glad I came.

"Ryunosuke Akutagawa"

I think

I'll be able to start writing again.

"Soseki Natsume"

I'm sure you can. Good luck.

Keep pursuing the things you believe in.

You're...

my hero.

Right.

Yay!

Our first handshake.

Well then...

Take care of yourself.

You too.

Wait.

Hold on.

Can I have your autograph?

"Dear Ayumi"

Graduation speech by Misaki Tohno.

Yes.

"We are"

"graduating today."

"We'll cherish"

"our memories"

"of high school."

"They'll no doubt stay with us forever."

If somebody asks me what my dream is, what my goals are

I have no idea yet.

But I think that's okay.

Our future is full of infinite possibilities.

We have countless options for what we can do.

Every one of us graduating today...

Every one of us graduating today

has led a life that's uniquely our own

and will continue to do so.

We may achieve our dreams.

Or we may not.

When life gets tough

when being alive is unbearable

We'll probably remember

our high school days.

What do you think?

Perfect.

You think so?

The place where our future

seemed limitless.

The place where we all sparkled

with the same brightness.

Representing the graduating class

Misaki Tohno.