Original subtitles

Just like the stars twinkling in the night sky...

The melting heart that won't let go...

Even if I let go my hand...

As long as we don't forget...

[Narumi Takayuki]

Takayuki-kun, please forgive me.

Even though I promised Mitsuki...

Forgive me, Mitsuki...

Welcome back.

I'm home.

Dinner is ready.

Sorry, but I've eaten.

Oh, really?

I was asked to take the next shift at work.

I guess I should have called.

Eh? It's no problem.

Sorry about this.

I'll eat it tomorrow.

Curry tastes better if you leave it for a day, doesn't it?

Have you eaten, Hayase?

Oh, no!

Welcome!

Are you meeting your friends?

Yes. But it looks like he isn't here yet.

Hey, Shinji!

Over here!

He's here.

Sorry. Did you wait long?

I just got here.

Come on, you could have ordered first.

Sorry for calling you out here.

I just felt that it wasn't something that we should discuss over the phone.

Yeah, I'm sorry too.

I made you worry unnecessarily again.

But, I'm glad you're in better shape than I thought.

Welcome.

All right, let's drink!

So, any luck with work?

Sorry, I still haven't been hired.

I'm having a rough time too, so I guess it's only natural that it's hard getting employed mid-fiscal year.

For the time being, I've started looking for part-time work.

Part-time work, huh?

Well, as long as there's steady income.

I'll be able to rent a room at least, right?

You don't have to rush because of me.

The rent and the utility bills are divided.

And you handle the cooking as well.

You're a great help too in a way.

I'm happy to hear that.

That's not it.

I'm not trying to stop you from leaving, so don't worry about it.

All the places with easy access to the trains are the same.

Everywhere in Tokyo is so expensive.

I guess I was overly optimistic.

Hey, aren't you Hayase?

As I thought.

Tsujimura!

Weren't you working in our hometown?

Well, no...

Let's just say a lot of things happened.

I had a change of heart, and I just felt like starting over in Tokyo.

I haven't decided on where I'm going to stay though.

You should have just refused. You make me look like an idiot.

Whoa, you sure are going at a high pace.

Do you have any worries?

Well, it's the poor economy.

It's hell trying to find a job.

Huh? Whatever happened to your Otosan's office?

Ugh! He told me to seek training outside first.

Hey! Forget about me.

More importantly, what are you planning to do about Suzumiya?

Let's say goodbye.

We're going to stay apart for a while.

Hey, what do you mean by staying apart?

Haruka was the one who brought it up.

I'd like to respect her decision.

That reminds me... What was his name again? Narumi-kun?

What happened between you two in the end?

Seeing that you're here, that means you must have broken up.

But, were you two together until recently?

Yeah. Something like that.

So, you came to Tokyo because of that?

Yeah...

I'm sorry.

It's something I hear a lot, I suppose.

But well, the negative rumors about you two last time never ceased, did they?

So, a lot happened even after you broke up, huh?

For an ambitious national class swimmer like you to gain time and quit like that...

It was speculated that the cause was Narumi-kun.

As a former member of the swim club, being told not to take interest in him would be rather unlikely, right?

I'm sorry.

I...

It's not something to apologies for.

I was probably one of the members who wanted you to quit anyway.

You didn't do anything wrong, Tsujimura.

That's right. I didn't do anything.

Well, I didn't join the bullying, but I didn't try to stop you either.

To be honest, I'm still pissed off at you now.

You had the ability, yet why?

But, I'm in no position to complain since I ran from the club soon after.

Tsujimura.

I woke up.

I realized it was pointless to continue swimming.

Letting you stay here is like squaring my past accounts, I guess.

It's something like balancing the accounts.

I did it to satisfy my own conscience.

So, you don't have to worry.

Tsujimura.

Since I'm already troubling you, will you hear me out?

Please take your time.

I think the reason why Haruka said that...

...was because she was having apprehensions about my present condition.

Apprehensions?

What do you mean?

It may sound quite pathetic...

...but my search for work hasn't been going well.

The situation lately was like me having to choose between my part-time job or Haruka.

So, the reason why you're taking time apart...

Yeah, it's what I want too.

I want to do what I set out to do, get a firm footing, and make Haruka feel secure.

I made her say something not easily spoken.

That's why I can't do things half-heartedly, right?

It's true that time is needed.

During the summer holidays of Year 3, there was an accident in front of Hiiragi Station.

Do you remember?

It was Suzumiya Haruka, wasn't it?

Our high school star hopeful, Suzumiya Akane's sister, right?

Yes.

Haruka is my good friend.

Also, she had been going out with Takayuki for about a month then.

I don't know much about that one.

So, after that, you and Narumi-kun...

Yes.

But...

The accident was my fault.

What do you mean?

I knew that Haruka liked Takayuki since Year 1.

Morning!

What's the matter?

At first, I approached Takayuki to see if he was a suitable guy for Haruka.

Just leave it to me!

But, I fell in love with Takayuki while trying to get close to him.

Well, I guess it's something that happens a lot.

But, because I couldn't betray Haruka...

...I thought that I could give up on him if they started going out.

I always held back.

That's why, so much happened.

And when they finally tie the knot, I thought that I would have closure.

But, on that day...

On the day of Haruka's date...

I bumped into Takayuki by chance in Tachibana.

I knew that they were going to meet...

...yet I asked him to buy a present for me for my birthday.

Takayuki was late because of that.

Haruka met with an accident.

Haruka?!

If Takayuki had reached there at the appointed time...

...Haruka would not have...

In spite of that, Takayuki never blamed me even once.

He said that it was all his fault.

He said that it because he was late that Haruka met with the accident.

Haruka fell into a coma due to the accident.

But, Takayuki believed that Haruka would recover.

He visited her at the hospital each and every day.

He managed to graduate from high school somehow...

...but the exams were obviously out of the question. He remained unemployed as well.

Throughout the visiting hours...

...he didn't rest even once.

That's hardly normal, is it?

Indeed.

Around then, I felt that something inside Takayuki's heart was breaking.

Around autumn a year after the accident...

Because they couldn't let Takayuki waste his life due to their daughter...

...Haruka's parents denied him permission to visit.

Her parents probably accepted the fact that Haruka may never wake up.

However, that event completely shattered something inside Takayuki's heart.

But as for me, even after Haruka's accident...

...I thought that Takayuki was handling it much better than expected.

I was sure that things would turn out okay this time as well.

That's why, even though he stopped doing housework which he did quite earnestly...

...I figured that it would only be temporary.

He stood me up, didn't pick up my calls...

...and not coming back although it was late worried me.

I resigned into thinking nothing could be done.

When I asked where he had been...

...he answered with a gentle look...

..."I was at a spot where I could see the hospital and Haruka."

"I understand her Otosan's feelings."

"So, I wanted to watch over her from afar so I don't cause any trouble.", he said.

"I believe that's what Haruka wants.", he said...

...smiling happily.

That's rough.

Yeah, it sure was.

I didn't understand anything.

Honestly, Takayuki's heart was always at the very edge.

That's why, I thought I had to get closer to him.

Since that day...

After work, I'd commute to Keiyaki to see Takayuki everyday.

I would do everything I could to support him no matter what happened until Haruka recovers.

I would always drag him out on weekends.

I would try to keep him far away from the hospital.

I didn't care what others thought.

I was okay with it if that's what was best for Takayuki.

Even after that, Takayuki continued to stare at the hospital room as always.

But, it stopped being a daily occurrence around December.

He was doing things around the house again.

Little by little, I felt that he was certainly getting better.

Isn't that good?

A lot happened after that...

...but that day was certainly drawing close.

The day Haruka met with an accident.

I panicked because I thought Takayuki's condition might regress.

So, I wanted to take him on a trip during that period.

I planned to use about a week of the Obon holiday.

Upon telling Takayuki...

Hayase, thanks for watching out for me.

But, I'm fine now.

So, don't force yourself, but rest normally.

That's right!

Let's go somewhere during your Obon holiday.

I'll take you.

I'm all better now thanks to you and Shinji.

This is a way of saying thanks, I guess.

He said that even though he was cash-strapped.

So in the end, we ditched the trip idea and went to the aquarium instead.

It sure was fun.

We were together everyday during the holidays.

Well, we went to the nearby park, window shopping, and such.

It was a cheap date.

But, I was happy.

On the final day of my holiday, I cut my long hair.

So, that's when you two officially went out together?

Yeah.

After that, for a year, I was loved by him.

But, near the end of July, Haruka...

Haruka woke up.

But, Haruka had no recollection of the three years she had been unconscious.

She believed that she was still a Year 3 student of Hakuryo.

So, the plan at the start, until Haruka recovers...

...would be to act as ourselves from three years back for a while.

Takayuki would return to being the boyfriend of Haruka from three years ago.

Huh? What the hell?

Narumi-kun was already your boyfriend, wasn't he?

That's what I believed.

I made a promise with Takayuki...

...that we would break up if Haruka wakes up.

I believed those feelings.

At first, I put up a front, and pretended to be understanding.

But, I quickly grew anxious.

In the end, I didn't care about my appearance any more.

And, you ended up sleeping with Narumi-kun's friend?

I understand your feelings...

...but isn't that a bit close for an escape destination?

I know.

Truly, I'm horrible, aren't I?

The same goes for all of you guys.

That's where you're wrong.

Takayuki, Haruka and Shinji were not at fault.

Neither are you.

Nothing.

Continue.

In the end...

...my selfishness pushed Takayuki and everyone into a corner.

There was a large hole opened up inside Takayuki's heart; Haruka.

I just forced myself in.

It's only natural that he had many memories left inside.

And it's only natural that those sealed memories would come rushing out after Haruka woke up, right?

I knew it right from the start.

Yet, I desperately tried to cling on.

Save me...

The one who put Takayuki through the suffering...

I... I... No matter how much I'm spoken ill of...

I just didn't want to hurt either of them.

I never wanted to be forgiven.

I know that I'm to blame for everything.

But, I can't bear the criticism any longer.

Someone...

...please tell me how to return everything back to how it was.

Please tell me how to solve it without making Haruka nor Mitsuki cry?

Nothing pains me more than to see her in tears.

I can't take this any more!

Mitsuki, we have to talk...

What is it?

Mitsuki, well...

Don't be sloppy. Tell me clearly.

Let's break up.

I've known.

Hold out your hand.

Here.

Mitsuki...

You're...

But, I have one final request.

I'd like you to throw out all my leftover belongings in this room with your own hands.

With my own hands?

I'll also do everything properly on my own.

So, with that, it's over.

From now on, we are neither a couple nor anything.

Mitsuki.

It was simpler than I thought.

I'm going to go back then.

I believe I'll be able to forget you one day.

So, don't worry.

Till we meet again.

Thank you.

Mitsuki.

Mitsuki...

Mitsuki?

Congrats on your discharge, Haruka.

Thank you.

Mitsuki, thank you.

Well, Haruka, I'll...

...be leaving town.

To be honest, I still can't forget Takayuki.

He fills a big part of my heart.

But, the one Takayuki chose is you.

I understand his feelings clearly.

And I think that's all right.

Also...

He's suffered enough.

I'd like to quickly relieve him of his pain.

This town is pretty small.

There are probably many places that we'd bump into each other.

Then, he'd probably try to be considerate about my feelings.

And think about a lot of things.

And, I guess I won't be very reliable right now.

Mitsuki...

So, I've decided to live somewhere without you or Takayuki there.

I've already handed in my resignation at work.

And I've already decided on a room.

You can't pull me back now.

How could you?

You idiot!

I'm sorry.

Haruka...

I've done nothing but push the suffering to you.

I... I...

Idiot!

Be strong, Haruka.

I've spent more time with Takayuki than you.

This town has many more memories of me together with Takayuki.

Those are painful things which I've forced onto you two.

We're both in the same boat.

Please don't apologies.

Mitsuki.

I'll be fine.

I'd like try thinking about things after becoming single.

About what I have left, and what I'm capable of.

That's why, today is going to be the day we begin our journeys.

Okay?

That's right.

That's right, isn't it?

Come on now, don't cry, Haruka.

But, you're crying too, Mitsuki.

With that, I put everyone through so much suffering.

Only if I hadn't been so selfish back then.

Then, Haruka, Takayuki and Shinji...

Look here. Let me say one thing.

You're a victim too.

If you think about it normally...

...the one at fault was the person who caused the accident, right?

Tsujimura?

Let's drink.

Why all of a sudden?

I suddenly had a really strong urge to drink after hearing your boring story.

Whatever, just drink.

But, Tsujimura, even if you drink with me...

Did you know that knowing someone with even worse luck than yourself...

...is very important for the mental health of petty minded people?

Ah, this is wonderful.

A ruined local star; what a great catch.

Well, I'm warning you.

I have bad drinking habits.

Tears rice wine?

You certainly have bad drinking habits.

That's why I told you right from the start.

Go ahead and cry. Serves you right!

I almost forgot, didn't you tell Suzumiya-san that you had already decided on a place to stay?

Well, I guess you were just trying to act tough then, huh?

Sorry.

Well, I understand what you're getting at...

...but will you really be all right?

I decided it on my own.

That I'll live together with Haruka.

Well, I understand that.

I'm not doing this just for Haruka.

It's for the sake of my own life.

That's what I want to do.

Takayuki.

To achieve that, I know it won't be a smooth ride.

It won't turn out well if I don't do the hard stuff as well, right?

I think that Haruka is worried.

But, it is me who made her feel that way, and made her say those things.

Takayuki.

That's why now, I'll try to do what I can with everything I've got.

I see.

Besides...

...if I rush things now, I'll only be repeating the same mistakes.

She'd beat me up.

That's right.

You sure have changed.

Did you say something?

Nope.

I was just thinking that we're out of drinks.

Another round?

Ah, sure.

Excuse me!

Narumi-san hasn't been coming here lately, has he?