Original subtitles

this series of articles, dealing with the corruption of a politician,

Stop it!

...believe there is no disagreement.

Pending an investigation, the truth of these articles...

A 2nd grader in the 3rd section has fallen from a classroom window!

...will be submitted.

"Middle school girl falls to her death: The dark truth" "Skipping school and prostitution"

"I'm lonely..." "Photograph submitted to online dating service"

"Strange rumors surrounding the school"

Let's begin our staff meeting.

First, a report from our strategic response committee.

They've come up with some new suggestions regarding the safety policies.

The safety rails for the classroom windows, which were the cause of the accident, will be replaced.

Where will the special budget come from?

We will cancel the planned class trips,

and plan to use those school funds for an anti-accident campaign.

Mr. Yahata, will you please head this campaign?

...Yes.

- Mr. Toita? - Uh, yes?

Did you go to a convenience store by the train station last night?

...Yes, on my way home, to buy a toothbrush.

There was a call from one of the parents,

commenting on the propriety of a teacher idly going shopping after the death of a student.

But, it was a toothbrush...

Please be more careful.

Yes.

This goes for all of you. Please refrain from shopping and having meals outside of the school,

and also please avoid having personal conversations

and smiling in public places, where you may be seen.

Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!

What's this?

Right now, our priority is to get to the hospital.

I will hold on to this.

You should come to the hospital too, Mr. Kaji.

It's stifling

Have you learned all the students' names yet?

Yes, I've managed somehow.

Please keep it up.

Is there something else?

No,

another time, when you are not busy.

Is this about Ms. Asuka Aizawa's bag that I received from you the other day?

Yes!

- Did you have a look at it? - Yes.

It's evidence of bullying, isn't it?

Is it possible that Asuka Aizawa was being bullied since the first grade?

Even considering the accident,

isn't it possible that it was no accident at all, that of her own will...

It's been about two weeks since you've started here, Mr. Kaji?

Yes.

Please rest assured...

At this school, there has never once been a report of bullying.

Is that so?

Then what about that bag?

There are several reports regarding Asuka Aizawa's untruthful statements.

What?

She lied about having her club fees stolen,

but really bought herself clothes.

She lied about being followed to school by a suspicious man,

as an excuse for being late to school.

- Shows no signs of interest in learning... - Increasing absences... - Untruthfulness is becoming apparent...

But, she didn't look like that sort of child.

Of course, this doesn't mean we won't continue our investigation.

However, we should be prudent.

At this point, to announce uncertain information

would only invite more anxiety among the students.

Yes.

Thank you.

Welcome

There are plenty of other seats.

A coffee, please.

It's about Asuka Aizawa.

Has she ever come to you for advice?

No, she hasn't.

Why didn't you come to the funeral?

I had a court case.

Is this some sort of interrogation?

- So it was a lie, after all. - What?

Didn't you say the other day,

that "I am Asuka Aizawa's mother"?

You're so chatty, you made me make a mistake.

Because you told such an irresponsible lie...

It isn't a lie.

What?

At one time, when I was 22,

I was married.

Our Textbook 2nd Story

translation: henna_juna

editing: furansu timing: provided by tianj

At one time, when I was 22,

I was married.

Huh?

Asuka Aizawa was the child of the man that I was married to.

Then...

We're not related by blood, we have nothing to do with each other at all.

I've been told that her real mother died soon after she was born.

I see.

As soon as we got married,

my husband left the child and disappeared.

He deceived me.

That's our only connection.

But the other day, you were so fervent.

That was...

I just had a professional interest in the matter.

It wasn't that I was worried or anything.

You said it yourself.

That is the school's business.

Yes.

If there's nothing else, please leave.

To tell you the truth,

I don't know what to do.

Even though I was only her teacher for 2 days,

I keep thinking there was something I could have done.

When I think about that, I can't help...

wanting to do something about it.

But,

practically speaking, I don't know what to do.

What the vice principal says is sensible,

I'm tied up with everyday work,

and I can't do anything about it.

You'll forget about it soon enough.

What?

Humans are wired pretty conveniently.

If someone dies, no matter how close you were,

you'll get hungry...

you'll eat meals, and

you'll get sleepy at night.

You'll also have work.

Eventually, as you busily occupy yourself,

you'll forget those around you who have died.

Do you really think that?

Day by day, you forget,

and suddenly it'll come...

a day that you won't have thought about that person even once.

What should we do about these?

Don't you think it's about time?

I'll be taking attendance.

- Ms. Asuka Aizawa - Here

Here you go, otsukaresama [professional greeting commending hard work]

Thank you very much

Is it about time we can start going out to drink?

It should be OK if you stay away from the school district.

Great! Alright then, let's go, Ms. Nozomi.

- I didn't say I'd go with you! - What's wrong, Mr. Kaji?

It's nothing... We really will forget, won't we.

I've started seeing more cheerful faces among the students in my class.

As if they've forgotten that just a month ago, one of their fellow students passed away.

Is that really how it ought to be?

Of course, it's a good thing.

Due to a mishandling of a school incident,

the students are emotionally injured.

That sort of thing happens often.

That things didn't happen that way this time,

is a result of the staff's combined efforts, starting with the Principal.

Mr. Kaji, you have also done a commendable job.

Hmm.

Now then, everyone. I will collect your instructional reports.

Aah, this one was really a pain.

I haven't slept these past two days!

If you had done a better job planning,

you wouldn't run into such trouble.

Sure, sure.

Mr. Yahata, you're really admirable, aren't you?

In ten years, you'll probably be called Vice Principal

Wow, our school's ace!

Mr. Kaji,

- Please take these to storage. - Yes.

These contain personal information about the students, so please look after them earnestly.

Yes.

Umm,

Thank you very much.

Mr. Yahata, why did you want to become a middle school teacher?

Well, it's a government position and has good job security.

How about you, Mr. Kaji?

Me?

Surely you're not going to say you were inspired by "Kinpachi Sensei" (a famous drama about a very dedicated teacher)

That's definitely part of it.

I want to become that kind of teacher.

Not dwelling on the teacher-student relationship,

but treating each other as human beings,

I want to be able to give them something.

That's the most detrimental philosophy for a teacher.

Do you think so?

Well, I have to go to entrance exam strategy meetings in addition to student club advising meetings.

It must be rough. Thank you very much!

- I'm back. - Welcome home.

What are you so rushed for?

You're working like there's no tomorrow.

Why don't you tell me what's wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

So it's something you can't even say to your fiance.

I'll go make another pot.

- Naoyuki. - Hmm?

I'm a divorcee.

Oh? Is that so.

I'm relieved.

I wouldn't have known what to do if you'd said you were from outer space.

Although if that was the case, I guess there's nothing I could do about it.

Tamako is Tamako.

- And, one more thing. - There's more?

I see... so this is the girl.

Is that why you've been down lately?

I wasn't feeling down.

This girl and I have nothing to do with each other.

Oh really?

Like I told you, I was just duped.

This girl never thought of me as a mother

and I never thought of her as my daughter.

- Then why... - Hm?

Why haven't you been eating lately?

You hardly eat anything, and drink coffee all day.

You're not sleeping well either, are you?

Nothing to do with anything.

Well in any case, a person has died.

You're just having trouble coming to grips with it.

Why don't you at least go offer some incense?

"Hinagiku House"

"Asuka Aizawa"

Go ahead.

Isn't it like time just stopped in here?

Yes.

We can't just leave it like this.

This will all have to be taken care of before long.

Would you like to take anything?

It's an allowance diary.

I'm making all the kids here keep one.

[That's a sweet snack called taiyaki]

4/23 "taiyaki"

What?

What the?

I'm sure I put them in the storage locker and locked it up.

Then why would they disappear?

Mr. Yahata, you were watching me lock it, weren't you?

Yes, it's the truth.

Mr. Kaji did indeed put them in the storage locker.

There's nothing we can do.

Everyone, I'm very sorry

but please re-write your instructional reports.

I'm very sorry!

"Asuka"

"Mother" 1st grade 3rd section, Asuka Aizawa

I call my mother "Ms. Tamako"

Also, my mother calls me "Ms. Asuka"

Whenever Ms. Tamako and I walk along the shops,

The lady at the korokke store always says:

'You're so alike! You have the same face!"

Me and Ms. Tamako get a little embarassed,

but we get a little happy, and look at each others' faces.

Is it our eyes? our noses? our mouths? our cheeks?

Even if our height and weight are different, same face.

When we are watching TV, we laugh at the same parts.

Our favorite color, our favorite number our favorite clothes

they're all the same!

I wonder why.

Why are parents and children similar?

Is it so that we can find each other if we ever get lost?

Is it so I can look in the mirror and think of my mother?

It's magical.

My name is Tsumiki. We spoke the other day.

There is something I'd like to talk to you about.

Yes, it's about Asuka Aizawa.

I've made a horrible blunder.

Blunder?

I've lost the students' instructional reports.

I'm sure I locked it up in the storage locker.

But they had disappeared.

So they were stolen.

Yes, but only teachers have access to the area.

I'm sorry for bringing up such a pointless thing.

Please don't tell anyone.

So what's happening regarding that bag?

Is the investigation moving along?

Bag?

I've entrusted to the Vice Principal. Everything is fine.

Is that what you brought me here to talk about?

What are the details of the investigation?

Details?

I'm sorry.

We've been pretty busy with the accident involving Ms. Aizawa and everything.

I'm sorry.

Why...

Why are you treating the accident and that bag separately?

That's evidence that the girl was being bullied.

That "accident"...

- Is it really bullying? - What?

There's no such thing at our school.

What are you saying?

Then what about that photograph that was sent to the online dating service?

You think she sent that in herself too?

I um...

Well, it's all currently being investigated; please be patient.

Well, excuse me then. I have to go home and rewrite my instructional report.

Excuse me.

There's no need to rewrite them.

What?

This is one tree.

If you wanted to hide this tree, where is the best place to do so?

Do you mean a forest?

Oh, I guess you have some brains after all.

So, what if you lost that important tree hidden in the forest?

What would you have to do to hide that fact?

That's right.

You hide the entire forest.

Suspect A, due to circumstances,

was not able to finish writing his documents.

Suspect A feared that it would be discovered that his own submissions in storage were all blank sheets,

and decided to hide all of the files.

Does Suspect A ring a bell?

That's not possible.

Why would he do such a thing?

Criminals are creatures that, in order to conceal a small crime,

will commit a series of many larger crimes.

But, that sort of thing is abnormally perverse...

You still don't get it?

Right now, that school is in an perverse state!

Submitter: Yahata Da... Subject: ________

Mr. Yahata, it's Kaji.

Instructional report, April Yahata Daisuke (Math)

I'd like to ask you something regarding the instructional reports.

Mr. Yahata?

Our jobs as teachers doesn't end at teaching the subjects.

Even if we are bogged down with 25 classes every week

advising student clubs, writing an enormous amount of reports,

you were exhausted.

With all of that going on, not being able to finish your instruction reports

is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Please,

I won't tell anyone.

Please return them by tomorrow morning.

- Me too. - What?

It was my dream to become like Kinpachi Sensei too.

What?

I'm...

too exhausted.

I burned out.

School is a desert.

Even if we sprinkle water from a spout,

the flowers won't grow.

- Even then, we have to... - Leave.

I haven't done anything to be accused of.

It was no use.

Oh, really.

The students are finally starting to show some spirit.

The school is returning to normal.

So?

So...

We plan to proceed with our investigation with prudence.

What is it?

That's called a "cover-up".

What do you mean "returning to normal".

The school is trying to get out of it.

Don't jump to conclusions.

Anyways, I don't see how you have any right to butt in to begin with.

- I do. - Why is that?

Because I'm Asuka Aizawa's mother.

What are you saying?

Didn't you say you had nothing to do with her?

But I do.

- I did have something to do with her. - What?

It was just 3 months,

but there was a time we lived together.

I let her stay with me, but I never took care of her.

What you would called "neglect"...child abandonment.

We never spoke,

and I didn't even care to look her in the eyes.

Even so, she...

brought home an essay one day that she said she wrote for school.

When I saw that...

I ripped it up in front of her.

Why?

"Mother" by Asuka Aizawa, 1st grade, 3rd section.

"I wonder why are parents and children alike?"

"Is it so we can find each other if we ever get lost?"

"Is it so I can look into the mirror and be reminded of my mother?"

Were you and Ms. Aizawa alike?

We weren't alike.

It's a lie.

A lie?

I said to her:

"you're such a liar".

"There isn't a single thing about us that is alike."

"There's no way anyone would think that we look like mother and daughter."

"Your mother..."

"is already dead."

She didn't say anything but only replied "yes".

Since then, she never said anything about it again.

After three months,

it was decided that she would live in a foster care facility.

I am the one who put it through and sent her to the facility.

Hurry up.

You look so happy. Why?

Oh I get it.

You're happy that you won't have to be near me anymore.

It's because I feel like I'm going on a trip with Ms. Tamako!

Isn't it ridiculous?

It was just 1 train transfer away...

and it was like being tossed away...so a trip?

But...

to her, it was a trip, wasn't it?

It was a one-way trip.

"taiyaki"

"2 taiyakis"

Just because we're too early.

What is it?

- It's the same. - What?

I'm the same as Ms. Tamako.

About what?

Eating taiyaki from the tail side.

I eat it from the tail side too,

because it would be cruel to eat it from the head.

We're the same.

We're the same.

'We're the same'.

She said 'we're the same'.

As if it was the symbol of our being mother and daughter.

The way to eat taiyaki...

just that?

Just that being the same made her so happy.

Thank you!

Thank you, Ms. Tamako!

She was...Asuka was...

waving her arms.

She was waving her arms in thanks.

I didn't do anything.

I abandoned that girl.

Even so...

Ever since then, I've forgotten about her.

After I failed at marriage,

I only thought about passing the Bar exam.

Please wait here, I'll be right back.

Please wait here, I bet you.

Let's eat this together.

Let's eat it from the tail.

Why?

You should cry.

It's better not to hold it back.

I'm horrible.

Even though Asuka came to me for help...

I...

I'm the horrible one.

Why?

Why you?

Maybe...

there was a case of bullying.

Maybe she was exhibiting signs of that.

But,

I didn't realize it.

I didn't pick up on the signs,

and made her come to school.

It's my fault.

Please, try not to worry.

I will make sure to...definitely to bring Ms. Aizawa's case to light.

God doesn't pick the righteous person and reward him.

Nor does he pick out the evil person and punish him.

Sometimes unfairly,

sometimes whimsically,

people will receive light

or receive darkness.

I wonder who was responsible in the end...

"I'm sorry" ...that they would return it with such a piece of paper.

Well, it just means that someone with a twisted mind is lurking around somewhere in this school.

Let's just forget about the whole thing now.

Nothing has happened.

The instructional reports were submitted safe and sound.

- Is that alright? - Yes

- Vice Principal. - What is it?

It's a court order.

It seems they will be coming to the school today.

They insist on securing all the evidence relating to Asuka Aizawa's case.

Securing the evidence?

Does that mean submitting things like the instructional reports to the court?

What does that mean? Is the school going to be sued?

Please calm down.

But...

When it comes to a fatal accident,

it isn't surprising that some would urge such a response.

Please cooperate swiftly with the court requests.

Yes.

But this means someone talked to the court, doesn't it?

Who?

What do you mean by this?

I don't intend to bring this to court right away.

This is a countermeasure to prevent the destruction of evidence.

Come on...

I'm sorry, please go ahead.

I understand.

It's this way.

Ms. Tsumiki?

You asked me why I don't cry.

Yes.

It's because no one noticed Asuka's tears.

Maybe...

there was a case of bullying.

Maybe she was exhibiting those signs.

But I didn't realize it.

Why?

Like I said,

God doesn't pick out the righteous person and reward him.

Nor does he pick out the evil person and punish him.

Excuse me. I'm sorry to make you wait.

We have awaited you. I am Vice Principal, Amagi.

According to the Tokyo regional court,

we will begin securing evidence.

"Mother" by Asuka Aizawa, 1st grade, 3rd section.

I call my mother "Ms. Tamako".

My mother also...

If I could move the world with one small lie, Chiisana uso de sekai ga, furimukuno nara

then I'll be a liar. usotsuki ni naro.

If I could make you cry by writing you a letter Anatani kaita tegami de, naitekurerunara

then I'll write a million nanmantsuu mo kakou

I'll write both truths and lies arukoto naikoto kakou

I'll even write by moonlight. tsukiakaride demo kakou.

A flower standing in a scorched desert, Kawaita sabaku ni, rin to tatsu hana wa,

screams out don't let me dry, water water me. karasanaide to, sakebuno WATER WATER ME.

if my hurt and pain will be healed Kizo mo itami mo, ieteyukunonara,

I don't mind being doused, so water me. zubunere de ii to, dakara WATER ME.

Everyone was craving freedom Dareshimo jiyuu ni ueteta

in the formless corner of the classroom. mohan nado nai kyoushitsu no sumi

Smile, my crying friend with defeat on your face akiramegao de naiteta tomoyo, hohoende

and let me give you this water kono mizu wo ageyou

and let me give you this pen kono pen wo ageyou

Let me give you a single truth. hitotsu no honto wo ageyou

Your methods are improper.

That Vice Principal is planning to destroy evidence.

There is no bullying at this school.

What is the reason for having school?

I don't know.

Who are you?

You're doubting the students?

Can you, as a teacher, do that?