Original subtitles

[Year 2015]

Shohei Matsushima-kun?

Are you okay?

This?

It's a bear bell

To ward off demons?

You can have it

Let's go home

Big brother

...was found safe

According to the Gunma Prefectural Police, Shohei-kun

was discovered near a river,

about kilometres from the forest road where he went missing

by a male volunteer who was part of the search party

Morning

I'm home

You just woke up?

Yeah

Hey!

It's bright!

If you'd called, I would've picked you up

You had work, didn't you?

Yeah...

That's for you

From my mom again?

Yep

My parents wouldn't send me anything even if I asked

What's wrong?

Are you hungry?

Shall I make something?

I'm good

Actually, I think I'll some

Oh, okay

Hey...

Do we have a video player?

Excuse me...

Can I help you with something?

Sorry to bother you so suddenly

My name is Kuzumi Mikoto from the Social Affairs Department at the Gunma Shinpo newspaper

I see...

I have some questions for Keita Kodama-san

I rang the doorbell a little while ago but no one answered

Oh

He just got back so he's probably sleeping

Right, of course

You are Keita Kodama-san's...

I'm his roommate

Is something wrong?

It's about the boy who went missing and was found the other day...

Shohei Matsushima-kun

I saw it on the news

What about it?

Is it okay if we talk while you walk?

Oh, sure

There was a volunteer who found Shohei Matsushima-kun

and then disappeared from the scene

I was thinking that might have been Keita Kodama-san

And?

Are you aware of the disappearance 13 years ago?

The one involving Kodama-san's younger brother, Hinata-kun

This may be rude of me to say...

That personal alarm...

This is just a guess...

The person following you is not a stalker

I can see...

that kind of thing

You don't like people prying, do you?

I'm Tsukasa Amano

I may not be able to help you with Keita

but if you're troubled by something like that

I can at least listen

Well then, excuse me

Does this have to do with your brother?

How do you know?

A newspaper reporter approached me today

She wanted to know about you

Said she's looking for the volunteer who found that kid in Gunma the other day

I turned her down for an interview, though

He went missing

When I was in primary school

He still hasn't been found

Sorry for not telling you

I'll be in my room

Tsukasa...

I want you to watch it with me

Hinata and dad are playing catch

Hinata is...

Keita

That's your dad's, isn't it? You'll get told off again

It's fine, dad said I could use it

Did he?

Well then, Keita

Go play with them outside

You're so annoying

I guess I'll go...

What's that?

Guess I'll go...

Looks like a dam

Whoa, shit!

It's so high...

There are no fish

This place is sketchy

This place is scary

Whoa, it's all rocks

Big brother

I told you to go away

Why?

I want to play by myself

I want to play hide-and-seek

Well, I don't

Why?

What do you mean why?

You're so annoying

Just go away

Come on, go stay with mom

What is this place...

This is amazing

There's a Puyo Puyo here

What?

An insect?

A Puyo Puyo!

Huh?

What's that?

There's nothing here, see?

Can't you see it?

No

Alright, let's play hide-and-seek

Hinata, you go hide over there

I'll be 'it'

No way

Come on, just do it

Okay, go

One... two... three...

four... five... six...

seven... eight... nine...

ten

Ready or not?

Can I go look?

Not here

Not here either

Where is he?

Found you

Okay, now you're it

Huh?

Hinata?

Hinata?

Hinata?

Hinata?

You can come out now!

You can come out now!

Hinata...

You can come out now!

Hinata...

Come out...

What happened after that?

I went down the mountain

I told my mom and dad

and the police came

But no matter how much they searched they couldn't find the ruins themselves

And that was it?

Do you feel anything?

I think you should burn this or throw it away

Yeah, I guess so

Why would your mom send something like this?

It was open...

The kids will be here soon

I've got a little time if you're quick

Excuse me

Are you angry about something?

You're the one who gave him my number, aren't you?

Gave it to who?

Keita Kodama-san's father called me yesterday

But I could barely have a conversation with him

I'm not sure I follow

He said, 'Please take care of my son'

What on earth was that about?

Um...

His father died last year

What?

His ashes are at our place now

His parents are divorced

so apparently there was no one else to take them

What, that can't...

Is this okay?

- Thank you - You're welcome

Thank you

Yamato...

Yamato?

Yamato?

Yamato?

Yamato?

Yamato?

Kodama-kun, can you get the till for a bit?

Yamato?

Huh?

Someone got lost?

Yamato?

Nah, he'll turn up in a second

What if he doesn't?

Huh?

Mom...

Yamato!

See?

He turned up

The till

Get on the till, thanks

A videotape that shows the moment of the disappearance?

Yes

His mother...

she was sorting through his late father's belongings

and she sends them to us sometimes

It was mixed in with those

Is there any way I could see it?

No, I don't think so

Right

But why so suddenly?

Sometimes I have no idea what Keita's thinking

I guess I just felt like talking to someone about it

I'm...

sorry

It's just that I'm drifting further and further from my original article

so I'm not sure what to do...

What are you going to do?

Would it be okay if I asked you a bit about yourself?

Is that relevant?

It's for my own personal interest

Oh

Okay

You can see things that ordinary people can't, right?

Which means...

dead people

I suppose so

When you see one...

what do you do about it?

I actually don't do anything

With most of them there's no need to

Most of them...

Yes

Does it affect your daily life?

Well, seeing them is normal for me

So not particularly, but...

But?

If I had to say,

I suppose I end up keeping more secrets

Does Keita Kodama-san know?

Yes, Keita knows

That I can see them

I see

This thing...

I have to carry it even when I'm in my room

I think...

I'm starting to understand

what it is I'm afraid of

If you like,

I can ask Keita

if he'd be willing to at least talk to you

What's with the change of heart?

You don't seem like a bad person

Thanks

Morning

Well, I should be going

Just wait a second

I'll be done in a minute

Well then, I look forward to tomorrow

Yes

Um...

Aren't you scared?

No, I'm not scared

Right

I'm home

Welcome back

I'm exhausted

What are you doing?

I've decided to take this video back to my mom

You could just mail it back to her

I want to talk to her

I don't want to see my mom

but I need to tell her to stop sending me things like this

She has to stop

That's because you're her family

My mom doesn't know the first thing about me

About family...

about me living my life with a face that looks like a pitiful older brother

I want to put an end to all of it

Then...

I'll go with you

Your phone's been buzzing for a while

[Reporter Kuzumi]

It's fine

Amano's off today

I see...

He called in this morning

He should be back tomorrow

I understand

- Okay - Thank you

Hello, Kuzumi speaking

How's it going?

That 'super volunteer'...

did you manage to talk to him?

Are you sure it's him?

Yes, it's definitely Keita Kodama-san

Great

Looks like we'll make it for tomorrow's morning edition then

Well, the situation has changed

What?

I thought you met and talked to him

He went back on our agreement

You'd better get on it today

W-Wait a minute

Can you give me a little more time?

How long?

I'll head back there today

From then on, maybe two or three days

You'd better hurry

Another paper is going to sniff this out soon

I'm sorry

There's somewhere I need to go

I'll be back by tonight

Hello

I'm home

Excuse me

Mom

What's wrong?

Can I stay downstairs?

Is the second floor scary?

My mom wasn't here

I see

I used that when I was little

This might be the first time I've seen your family

You don't even have a memorial photo of your dad

It feels kind of strange

You think so?

Looking at it like this

they seem like a much more normal family than I'd heard

Sorry

There's a little park near here

We used to play catch there a lot

On his days off, my dad would take me and Hinata

Hinata was still small so he would just watch

My dad would say, 'Make sure you watch and learn from your big brother'

Even back then, I always felt...

like he was just acting the part of a father

It creeped me out

Even after Hinata disappeared

on his days off, my dad...

would say, 'Let's play catch'

Let's play catch for Hinata too

My mom was the same

Every year on Hinata's birthday

she'd always buy a whole cake to celebrate

She'd look so happy

Almost as if Hinata was right there with us

She'd say, 'Happy birthday, Hinata'

My dad would join in too

Even though we weren't normal anymore

I feel like family...

is just people playing the roles of father, mother and child

That's what I thought as a kid

Tsukasa...

My mom and dad...

they probably thought I killed Hinata

There's no way that's true

I know

I'm going to go to that mountain now

It's only about an hour's drive

That mountain?

The one where Hinata disappeared

[Mount Mashiro hiking trail entrance]

We're going to climb this now?

It'll be fine

We didn't bring much gear

We won't go too deep in

Seriously?

Good way to get some exercise

This is rough

[We are looking for Hinata Kodama!]

You heading up now?

Yes

I see

Be careful

It gets dark early

Hinata Kodama-kun, right?

You know of him?

Of course

Everyone around here searched so hard for him

You know, after he disappeared

I saw him once on the mountain

What?

I followed him...

but he was gone in a flash

That boy...

I wonder if he's still playing hide-and-seek

It's happier to think of it that way

That's what I think, anyway

What do you think?

Excuse me

Wait a minute, Keita

Hold on...

Let's take a break...

Are you okay?

Here

Right

I gave the bell away

It's getting dark

Hinata?

Hinata!

Hinata!

Keita!

Hinata

Keita, that's...

Huh?

An urn...

But why is something like this...

There's another one over here

Huh?

What's going on?

Sorry to have kept you for so long

Not at all

Most likely, when someone was moving a grave somewhere

the reburial company illegally dumped them

Illegally dumped...

things like that?

It's a sacrilegious act

That's all the questions we have so thank you for your time

Can you get back on your own?

We'll be fine We have a car

Keita Kodama-san

Yes

The disappearance 14 years ago...

It was 13 years ago

My apologies

The older brother of Hinata Kodama-kun who disappeared 13 years ago

Is that right?

Yes

It happened right when I was posted here

so I remember it well

I see

We are still doing everything we can regarding Hinata-kun's case

I feel ashamed of our failure

Your mother used to come in here often as well

Though I haven't seen her much recently

You may already know this but on that mountain...

Takiuchi-san

It's time

Well then, excuse me

Thank you for your cooperation

Keita

The company still hasn't been found?

Yes

Oh and I also wanted to ask about the person who reported it

Do you know anything else other than them being a hiker?

I see

Yes, thank you

(When you are free, please call me.)

You startled me...

Oh, sorry

You look even more fired up than usual

Do I?

In the first place,

this was just a good news story about Shohei-kun being found, wasn't it?

What's the point of digging so deep into Kodama-san's past?

I know...

The place you said on the phone you wanted to go to, was that Mount Mashiro?

Yes

But that's in a different prefecture

I know

It won't be expensed

Well, about that...

So...

if you want to pursue this further your only option is to go there yourself

Yes

There was a case I was covering 20 years ago

The Meiyo University Mountaineering Club Mass Disappearance

Several of the club members were from our prefecture

I was covering it at the time

Mount Mashiro itself isn't a difficult mountain

It's strange that none of the bodies have ever been found on a mountain like that

Unfound Ruins?

With no other leads just one piece of evidence was found

A cassette tape and a recorder

The voices of the missing club members were on it

What was on it?

While the club members were hiking

it sounded like they arrived at some kind of ruins

based on their conversation

And...

the audio cuts off right after they go inside

But the ruins were never found?

If I'd written it up properly, people would've thought it was some occult story

That's why it was never published

And...

this is that tape

Isn't this evidence?

I got it from a friend in the police

The police couldn't handle a story like this properly anyway

It's totally empty

Do you work at this inn?

Sort of

You're not the guy who found those funeral urns, are you?

What if I am?

No reason...

Do you know about Hinata?

Anyone who lives around here knows about that

Yukito

What are you doing?

I'm so sorry

He's my son but he has such a bad attitude

Shut up

- Please, come in - Oh, um...

I still have someone with me so I'll go get him

(You're the Mr. Amano who discovered the illegal dumping of urns on Mount Mashiro, right? I also have something I'd like to tell you, so could I call you)

Keita

Yeah?

I'm going to go to the bath for a bit

Okay

I have some documents I want to show you so a video call would be better

Okay

The signal might cut out

Was Kodama-san with you when you reported it?

Yes

So, what information have you gathered?

It might be a bit hard to see

There have been other strange incidents on Mount Mashiro over the years

Spirited away

This one is a mass suicide

A family suicide

This many?

With this many incidents you'd think it would be famous

as a haunted spot or something

There are very few posts about it online

There were some that didn't use the name Mount Mashiro, right?

The name of the mountain has changed several times

Town mergers and redistricting have also happened repeatedly

It was difficult to gather it all

I see

You've done a lot of research

Now...

this is the audio I mentioned I wanted you to listen to

The one about the university students who disappeared?

Yes

This might also be hard to hear

Right, um...

we started about two hours later than planned

For a while from the starting point we'll be on a paved road, so it's easy going

The leader was late

Seriously?

There's a building

It's not on the map or anywhere...

We're inside the ruins

They are ruins, right?

No one's here

- Anyone here? - Stop that

I'm gonna check upstairs, just in case

Are you coming?

I'm good

Is the second floor scary?

No, it's not that it's scary or anything

Are you okay?

There's someone there

- What? - Lots of them, look...

In that room too

That room...

What do you think?

The ruins mentioned in this audio...

they were also in the videotape that captured the place where Hinata-kun disappeared

It was on there

What did the ruins look like?

It was less like a house

and more like some kind of facility

I researched back to the Meiji era

but besides the maintenance of the hiking trails

there doesn't seem to have been any large-scale construction in that area

In that case,

both the mountaineering club students and Keita and his brother

must have gone to a place that doesn't exist

Do you think something like that's possible?

Impossible

is what you'd think, right?

Are you alright?

When Keita went to his family home

he said something very similar to what was on that audio

He asked if the second floor was scary

What does that mean?

I don't know

But I think I'm going to go to Keita's family home

I was actually just about to head over there myself

Right now?

I want to see it with my own eyes

And besides, I'd like to talk

to Keita Kodama-san directly soon

I'm sorry about breaking our promise

That's fine

Let's meet up over there

Okay, see you later

Kuzumi-san, um...

Wait...

Um

Have you seen my friend?

He went to the bath but hasn't come back yet

I saw him go outside a little while ago

I see

Um

Is there something else?

Could we talk for a bit?

About what?

You said you knew about Hinata

He's my younger brother

What should I talk about?

Anything about that mountain

Anything that could be a clue to finding my brother

Finding him?

I saw Hinata

Before I found the urns

So you were the one who found them

That place is full of things like that, just dumped there

Everyone's known that for ages

The police officer said something similar

If you know why do you just leave them there?

Because it's a place where you're allowed to throw things away

A place where you're allowed to throw things away?

How should I put it...

My late grandmother used to say...

My grandma, who started this inn

That place...

that mountain...

it seems her parents told her not to go there

when she was a child

But the adults...

after the children had gone to sleep at night

they would all secretly go to the mountain

So my grandma thought the adults were being unfair

When she was little,

the adults must be doing something fun there

That's what she thought

But she was completely wrong

So?

My grandma couldn't stand it anymore

so one evening,

she went to the mountain with some friends and played tag

Nothing happened...

but when her parents found out later

she said they scolded her like she'd never been scolded before

And so my grandma...

said, 'I know you adults go there to have fun'

Then my grandma's mother...

my great-grandma?

My great-grandma...

told her, 'The adults don't go to the mountain to have fun'

And then my grandma...

asked, 'Then what are you doing?'

'We go there to throw things away'

Throw what away?

Gods

What?

Gods, Buddhas...

things that belonged to the dead...

even human ashes

She said they threw all of that away on that mountain

You see...

my grandma...

around the time before she entered junior high she got her first period

At the time, she was really scared and embarrassed

And since it was a small village

rumours that 'the girl from that house has become a woman'

would spread immediately

She said she wanted to avoid that at all costs

That's when she suddenly remembered about that mountain

'That's right, I can just go and throw it away there'

That's what she thought

So my grandma,

secretly took her soiled underwear at night

and went to the mountain

Deep in the mountains

it was dark and hard to see...

but there were Torii gates and sacred ropes

just thrown about like rubbish

My grandma threw her blood-stained underwear in amongst it all

And after that...

my grandma said she never had another period again

She was so happy

'I'm glad I had a life where I didn't have to be bothered by such a hassle'

She used to laugh about it a lot

but when I first heard that story, I too...

thought, 'I'm so happy for you, Grandma'

But now...

every time I remember my grandma's laughing face

I get scared

Because if that's true,

then who exactly did my grandma give birth to

and what does that make me to her?

What about my mother?

You met her earlier, right?

That woman...

my mother...

she's not my grandma's child

Is that what she's saying?

That's why I stopped thinking about it

I...

try to stay as far away from that mountain as I can

I can't escape it since my family lives here but...

I just try not to think about it

Thanks

I don't know what you're planning...

but I think you and your friend should get out of here quickly

That's what I would do

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Wow, today...

is Hinata's th birthday!

Congratulations!

Happy birthday, Hinata! Happy birthday!

Happy birthday!

- Film it - Okay

Alright, Hinata-kun Your 7th birthday

Happy birthday!

Right, let's sing Happy Birthday

Should we? Wait a second

- Ready, and... - Go ahead

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

Come on, you too, Keita

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear Hinata ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

- Happy birthday! - Wow, happy birthday!

- Blow them out... - Blow them

There we go, happy birthday! Happy 7th birthday!

Happy birthday

The person you are calling is unavailable...

Mom

Tomorrow is Hinata's birthday

You can't forget, can you?

You're his big brother

I haven't forgotten

You're lying again

I'm not lying

Hinata has been waiting and waiting

This isn't your life

Hurry up and find him

You're Keita Kodama-san, right?

Nice to meet you

Kodama-san

You've been to the ruins on that mountain, haven't you?

Yes, I have

This cassette tape...

I don't know why but it's recorded the entire journey

If we use this and your memories as a guide

do you think we might be able to find it?

Why do you want to go there so badly?

Why...

I wonder...

Can I take this call?

Yes

Hello, Kuzumi speaking

Kuzumi-san

Is Keita nearby?

Yes, he is

On the second floor of Keita's family home...

I found his mother's body

She probably killed herself several days ago

You were the one who found her?

Keita went up

to the second floor alone earlier today

He must have seen her then

And yet, he probably didn't see her at all

He's been under the influence of that mountain for a long time

Kuzumi-san,

if Keita tries to go anywhere you have to stop him

Go to the mountain now

Take Keita with you

What?

What do you mean?

Hm?

Kuzumi-san?

Hello? Kuzumi-san?

I'm going to go alone

Could you wait here for Tsukasa?

Are you sure? You don't have to go right this second

I feel like I can find that place now

I think Tsukasa would try to stop me

Wait, but...

Please tell him I'll be right back

We've come about an hour from the trailhead

We've come out onto a much more open route

Once we get here, it should be another two to two and a half hours

until we reach the summit

I wonder if the fallen trees are from the typhoon last month

And also...

Huh?

What was that sound just now?

What?

It sounded like someone was calling from behind us

Huh?

You heard it?

I didn't hear anything

No, I definitely hear it

Sakai fell and seems to have twisted his ankle slightly

He says he's fine but I'm a little worried

- I'm going on ahead - Okay

Uh...

It's only 2 pm, but it's pitch black

The trees are getting thicker and it's become quite rugged

Hey, someone was just watching us

Calm down

What?

Look, look, look, over there...

Uhm, we found a sign

We're at the 3.8-kilometre mark from the summit

How much further do we have...

It's pitch black...

Should we turn back?

No...

Huh?

What's that?

What?

There's a building

It's not on the map or anywhere

Maybe we can take shelter from the rain there?

Let's go

[Mount Mashiro summit 3.8 km]

Hello

Tsukamoto-san?

You should go shouldn't you?

You should go and see them

You should go and see them...

What?

Um...

- The sound is... - Please take care of my son

Mikoto, Mikoto, Mikoto...

Where's Keita?

He's gone

Wait

You said before that with 'most things' you don't have to do anything

You remember saying that, right?

Yes

Then...

The thing on this mountain...

it's not one of those most things, is it?

Hinata-kun called it

a 'Puyo Puyo'

That was probably

the only way that child could explain it

I also...

don't know what to call it

Let me go with you

But...

You said before that you weren't scared

I'm sorry

I was lying

To be honest,

I've never once thought that I wasn't scared

Hearing that actually makes me feel relieved

This is what Kodama-san took...

I think Keita probably remembered

Ruins... no one's here...

- Anyone here? - Stop that, man...

I'm gonna check upstairs...

with...

What is it?

Nothing...

Let's go

This is...

Was that just...

Keita

Hinata

Found you

Keita!

Let's go home

Together

Yeah...

Hinata, too

That thing isn't Hinata-kun

What are you talking about?

There's something

I've been hiding from you

What?

Hinata-kun

has been by your side this whole time

Even now

I've been able to see him from the very beginning

From the first moment I met you

That's why...

Hinata-kun is already dead

The thing you're seeing right now...

That's not Hinata-kun

That thing...

I see

You're right

I'm sorry

Let go

Huh?

Okay, found you

Now you're it, Hinata

Huh?

Hinata

Keita

Hinata?

Hinata?

Hinata?

Where's Tsukasa?

Found you

Okay, now you're it

[3 months later]

[Tsukasa Amano Missing, Search Ongoing]

Isn't that the one Tsukamoto-san got angry about, saying it wasn't a story?

Are you still chasing it?

It's not over yet

Besides, it might become a proper article one day

I'm home

Tsukasa?

One... two... three...

four... five...

six... seven... eight...