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.

None of us has a home.

What's so nice about having a home.

It's no fun being all alone.

You lonely?

Why are you always like that?

Like what?

Like a grown-up... cold.

He's older than you.

Kazuhiko, it was you who made Yu do it!

Stop it!

I'm going back.

Stop it!

But...

Come on!

I know you'll come back someday.

Who is it? Help me!

Naoto!

You scared me.

You shouldn't come down 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.

Do you really think he's dead?

It's been three months now.

His body hasn't been found.

He chose this lake to sleep in forever.

You think it was suicide?

Three for Naoto.

Two for me.

Two for Kazuhiko.

That's strange. There's static?

Morning.

Another dream?

I forgot it...

already.

I'm all sweaty.

I'm going to shower.

Hurry up. Norio won't wait.

I cooked everything.

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

He doesn't feel very 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 very good.

You don't have to eat it.

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 killed it!

Stop!

I'll go clean my shoes.

You're mean.

I meant it.

It wasn't like you. That was just cruel!

You think it too, don't you?

That he killed Yu?

No!

The clouds are beautiful.

That one looks just like you.

I'm always thinking of you.

Because, I...

I don't understand, but...

Maybe I shouldn't have these feelings.

I don't know.

It hurts me.

It's hard to explain.

It hurts.

We shouldn't talk to each other as 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 already vacation.

I know that.

But my parents wanted to get rid of me.

So they sent me away for 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 knew Yu?

No. This is creepy.

I'm Kaoru.

I'm going to go head to the school.

Kazuhiko.

I'm back.

Yu!

My name is Kaoru.

How do you know my name?

You told me yourself.

You're wierd.

Not again!

What?

Are you surprised to see me?

- Where're you going? - To 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.

Is it a problem that I arrived 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, it's like no one'd been here.

Who was here?

A nice quiet boy.

And...?

He fell off a cliff and died three months ago.

His body's still missing.

That boy who killed himself.

Killed himself? Who said so?

Kazuhiko told me.

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

Not a suicide?

- An accident. - Really? That's strange.

Come on in.

Jeez, I'm not a ghost.

Yu's back.

Stop it.

He's the new boy?

No. I mean Yu.

He's not Yu.

He's in Yu's room?

He likes it there.

Why did you do that without asking us?

It doesn't matter what you think.

You're really carrying on.

Yu gave me a record before he went away.

I always remember what 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.

And...

I break the egg and I flap my wings.

Then... I fly toward him.

To who?

Listen to this.

The same music Yu gave me. He is back!

What?

Stop!

Stop!

Did I do something wrong?

Why'd you hit me like that?

Stupid!

I'm sorry.

I'm finished.

I'll be leaving now.

You can't yet.

Why not?

We have rules about this.

It's a stupid rule.

We live together, so we need rules.

I won't follow it.

You going to hit me again?

He's gone.

Let him.

Don't fight.

Let him go.

Yu, stop!

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

You did didn't you?

No!

Kazuhiko!

Kazuhiko!

What is it?

A bad dream.

You were groaning.

What time is it?

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 on me. Kazuhiko!

Can you hear me?

Are you Kaoru?

Of course. Who else?

Why're you up?

Why're you?

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 feel suffocated.

I hate being cooped up here.

This is like a safety zone.

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.

There's Kazuhiko, Naoto and Norio.

Two seniors and one junior.

Naoto is very serious.

Kazuhiko is real temperamental. Norio is still a kid.

Mom, what are you doing?

I'm still sad about you getting remarried.

I still love you more than anything in the 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 wish I could 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 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.

That's strange.

Static?

Here.

No, here.

Is this all?

Ham and vegetables?

Yes.

And bread, milk and eggs.

Not enough for a meal.

They deliver food only once a week.

We have rations for three.

You're an extra.

Why'd you stop?

Changing. Let Kaoru do it.

You play.

Yu was a good pianist.

Kaoru is much better.

Yu wanted to be like Kaoru.

He was honest enough, but

he wanted to be more selfish.

Did he?

I think Yu is inside Kaoru.

- What is it? - Let's play.

Get up.

I don't want to.

Let's have some fun.

What do you think you're doing?

Get off of me!

I liked Yu better than you.

So what.

Yu was honest, true to himself.

He looked at Kazuhiko with love.

But Kaoru is selfish, and fake.

I wish you were like Yu.

I've told you I'm not Yu!

Quit thinking I'm Yu.

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.

You like him?

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 about the other night?

About Yu.

- Naoto. - What?

When I got a prize for that recital.

Yu gave me a bouquet.

Congratulations.

Kazuhiko.

White flowers? You think this is a funeral?

I can't believe it, how could you?

I tried to make him hate me.

But...

He just couldn't hate people.

I've been awful 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.

I'm glad you confide in me.

Go get it before it gets dark.

And in the forest flowers are blooming

I got up early to pick some flowers.

The same flowers you and I picked.

You painted a picture of them.

I loved it.

No, nobody's here.

I thought somebody was coming.

Who would it be?

I played the piano today.

They were surprised how good I was.

Don't you play sometimes?

Or you just paint?

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...

to be near Kazuhiko. I wanted to stop time.

But then Kaoru came and changed everything.

I got it!

It's dead.

Of course. It's the acid.

No!

Why'd you do that?

You're not Yu. He was nice.

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

I can. I'm not Yu.

Catch 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.

What if Yu died?

Kaoru, 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 ever 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 I can change this.

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 that's 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'll never find him.

Kazuhiko, aren't you lonely?

You're always alone.

Why don't I 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...

gone forever.

Where's Kazuhiko and Kaoru?

- Kaoru's mother died. - What?

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.

No.

You're lying. 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 so worried, 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 more than anything in the world.

There was always plenty of sunlight.

We were alone with each other here.

Lots of memories.

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!

I was dreaming.

What's the matter?

Norio's gone.

I was bad to him. He ran away.

We're through though.

We have to find him.

He can't be far away.

Maybe I've hurt him too much.

Maybe it's too late.

Don't say that.

Let's go! Hurry!

Here he is!

What's the matter?

We've been looking for you.

Are you hurt?

No. But one of his legs is 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 so awful 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'II tear it up 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?

You're 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.

Your 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?

Kaoru, 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, to love him!

You wanted Kazuhiko for yourself?

Yes.

After Yu died Kazuhiko turned to me.

He began to rely on me. It made me happier than anything.

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.

- Kaoru. - What?

Jump!

I'll watch.

I'll see to it. That you never 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.

What?

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 me?

There's one way to have my forgiveness.

Tell me.

You have to die with me.

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

Let's die and be reborn again, together.

Enjoy being kids over and over.

Die and be reborn.

We'll be young forever.

All right. Let's die.

No!

Just like you said. I am Yu.

And like you said, I'll die here.

But not alone. With Kazuhiko.

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 like I've been 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

Subtitles ripped from the HK VCD by helge 79

Subtitled corrected and retimed by CHiU

Timings adjusted again by corvusalbus