Original subtitles

Can you change the world?

Mr. Kaji,

I'm glad I met you!

A second year student in the third section has fallen out of a classroom window!

Maybe... She was being bullied...

Who bullied the two of you?

Mr. Kaji, you think that we killed Asuka Aizawa, don't you?

No one is being bullied.

That was just an accident.

What you're trying to do here is exact revenge.

I don't want you to do something like this.

She pawned this...

...her father's keepsake, for money...

...to buy a new textbook.

And then, she

took her own life.

Ms. Ameki,

I

am going to sue this school.

- One year later -

Today's another day in court.

I wanna go see.

Anyway, I wonder why we aren't being sued.

It's probably because the school is obligated to protect its students.

Even the bullies?

Yeah, even the bullies.

Cool,

so we are being protected?

Anyway, if they sued the bullies, theyfd have to sue everyone.

- They're cute. - Aren't they?

Hey, help us out.

Doesn't that one look like Aizawa?

Reincarnation?

Ghost?

- You guys are being haunted! - Shut up!

You guys were bullying her, too!

- Tomomi. - We're looking for owners.

Hey, can you ask Kaneyoshi too?

Kaneyoshi was the one that started bullying Aizawa in the first place.

Don't you think he's obligated?

You know how stubborn his parents are.

They'll say "There's no way our son could be a bully!"

and they'll storm the school again.

He WAS a bully!

What are you guys doing?

Hurry up and get to class.

Morning!

- Congratulations on your wedding!! -

- Congratulations, Mr. Kaji! - Congratulations!

Thanks!

It makes me happy, even if they're half teasing us.

Just one year ago, it would have been unthinkable.

After the school was sued,

the media camped out outside the doors every day.

The students couldn't concentrate on their studies,

I thought this school was finished.

Every day we talked with the students and reported to the parents.

That's why we can see smiles on the faces of our students again.

Yea.

Now we've put all that unpleasantness behind us

and we're back to being a normal school again.

Unpleasantness?

Like the accident, and the accusations of harboring bullies.

What?

Nothing...

I just thought, the old Kohei wouldn't talk about it like that.

Back then I was just a temp.

I didn't have any real responsibilities.

Yeah...

Saki,

When the lawsuit's over, let's get married.

According to each of your assertions,

the main points of this case seem to be

whether or not there was bullying,

whether it was an accident or suicide,

and whether or the school was lax in its vigilance.

- Is that correct? - Yes (Yes)

Then starting the next session, I would like to examine the witnesses.

- Does the plaintiff's counsel wish to call any witnesses? - Yes.

To start, I'll call Asuka's first year teacher, Akiko Misawa,

and her second year teacher Kouhei Kaji to appear as witnesses.

Up to Checkpoint 2 on the field, Mr. Tsuruda

Yes.

Up to Checkpoint 3 at the Kirioka Temple,

Mr. Kumazawa.

Well then, in next session we will hear witness testimony.

Our Textbook Part 8

So can you win or what?

She didn't leave a suicide note,

so the explanation that it was an accident is quite popular.

It'll be tough.

So you only poured one for yourself, huh?

However, we have Akiko Misawa on our side.

If she testifies,

we can prove the "bullying" point.

We can turn this around.

We have to leave it up to that woman...

Whoa, speak of the devil.

Hello?

Misawa?

What?

Huh?

What?!

She said she can't come to the first witness examination.

Why not?!

What?!

Look here!

Yoga presentation.

Individual student guidance records including personal information.

It was left in classroom 3-3.

- Please be more careful. - Yeah.

Doing that work during class

and furthermore leaving it in the classroom is a big problem!

Yes, it is.

If something happens right now, the effects would be substantial!

Effects?

- Are you talking about the court case? - Yes.

Isn't that your problem, Mr. Kaji? It has nothing to do with me.

Oh, and

aren't you misplacing your frustration?

What is it?

Hey hey hey, it turned out ok, so let's leave it.

- Yamada. - "Po~".

Mr. Kaji, how are you planning to answer?

Answer what?

On the witness stand.

Don't concern yourself with that.

I'm sorry to worry you,

The school is making every effort

to create the best environment.

You guys...

I don't really care anymore.

Mr. Kaji, are you busy tonight?

There's something I want you to read.

Another one of those dubious novels?

Why don't you have the language teacher read it?

Mr. Kumazawa?

That man doesn't understand literature.

I understand even less!

Oh...ok...

I wanted you to read it, Mr. Kaji...

I understand.

Yes?

Welcome home.

Thanks.

Please recite the oath.

Please rise.

I vow to follow my conscience and expound the truth,

and to not conceal any details or commit perjury.

Kouhei Kaji.

- The witness may also be seated. - Yes.

Counsel for the plaintiff, please begin your direct examination.

Yes.

Tamako Tsumiki, representing the plaintiff, will begin the questioning.

On 16 April 2007,

were you temporarily appointed to the faculty at Kirioka Middle School,

and given a homeroom assignment?

Yes.

I am homeroom for the third section of the second year.

Did you feel any hesitation, about being left in charge of homeroom so soon?

No, recently, it i has become very common,

especially due to the shortage of teachers...

Lacking experience,

you were left in charge because of a shortage of teachers,

- and thus interacted with the students? - What?

Asuka was a student in this class.

Was there any prior information regarding Asuka?

Yes.

"Ms. Asuka does not have parents,

lives in a foster care group home,

and can be somewhat unstable, so be watchful."

Who told you that?

It was Vice Principal Ameki.

So the Vice Principal

recognized that Asuka could be unstable?

Did Asuka desire to attend school?

I don't know.

Have you ever observed Asuka being friendly with other students?

No,

but she herself...

Nevertheless, you told her to come to school.

That's expected of a teacher...

As a teacher, shouldn't you have determined why she didn't want to attend school?

Did you ever try to find out from Asuka?

Did you ever think that Asuka may have been bullied at school?

You were forcing her...

Your Honor,

that question is misleading.

Your objection is sustained.

Please change the question.

Yes.

The night of 26 April,

it seems you convinced Asuka,

but you also received the key to a coin locker from her, did you not?

Yes.

Why did Asuka give you this key?

I don't know for certain.

What did you do with that key?

What did you do?

I didn't do anything with it.

You did nothing?

A few days later, after Asuka's accident, I remembered the key and opened the locker.

Was there anything inside?

Her school bag, and it contained vandalized textbooks and notebooks.

Vandalized how?

With phrases that were offensive.

Explicitly?

For example "die".

and "you smell".

Asuka entrusted these textbooks to you.

Do you find any meaning in that?

Your Honor,

that question asks the witness to offer an opinion.

The plaintiff's line of questioning is based on nothing but speculation,

and is intended to confuse the witness.

Who, in the witness's opinion, was responsible for the vandalism?

Asuka wrote those things herself.

What did you do with those textbooks?

They're gone.

They disappeared?

Didn't you believe it was especially important to verify who had written in them?

At the time, we did not believe it was.

This was recorded on the 30th of May, after Asuka's death.

Your Honor,

may I replay a sound clip entered into evidence as exhibit 35?

Proceed.

"Maybe, she was being bullied..."

"Maybe she was trying to leave signs..."

"But..."

"I didn't notice..."

"Without picking up on her signs,"

"I made her go to school..."

"I'm to blame."

Whose voice is this?

That's my voice.

But at that time...

You acknowledged the possibility that she was being bullied, didn't you?

The vandalized textbooks must have been critical in verifying that!

Why would they disappear?

Do you think those textbooks were

a sort of confession to you?

An earnest confession by Asuka, saying "I'm being bullied".

Your Honor!

No further questions.

I just...

Would the witness please remain seated.

Yes.

Well then, will counsel for the defendant please proceed.

Naoyuki Seri, representing the defendant, will question the witness.

Earlier you mentioned that Asuka's speech and behavior were at times unstable?

Yes.

The plaintiff's counsel seemed to imply that this was due to her being bullied...

Do you agree with that?

No,

I believe the reason lay with Asuka's upbringing and her surroundings.

So the reason was, instead, at home?

Yes.

Shortly after she was born, Asuka lost her mother,

and subsequently, her father also disappeared.

Besides...

Besides?

I have heard that she also had problems with the woman whom her father remarried.

Who is that woman?

It was Tamako Tsumiki, the plaintiff's counsel!

Your Honor!

That question is out of line

and has no connection to the issue at hand.

Is that really true?

As long as the plaintiff insists on blaming some bully

for Asuka's otherwise inexplicable behavior,

I believe it is necessary to submit alternative explanations.

The plaintiff's objection is overruled.

Will the defense counsel please continue his cross-examination.

What sort of relationship did Tamako Tsumiki and Asuka have?

They were living together at one time,

and she said they were like mother and daughter.

As a mother, was she taking good care of Asuka?

No,

she admitted to being negligent.

That for three months, she neither looked at nor spoke to the child,

and she abandoned her child rearing duties.

She also said that she was the one who placed Asuka in the foster care group home.

Immediately preceding Asuka's death,

were you present at a restaurant where Asuka and Ms. Tsumiki met?

Yes.

At that time, how did Ms. Tsumiki act toward Asuka?

She was cold.

In response to Asuka's troubles, she accused her of "running away from reality".

On the day of Asuka's death,

did you see Asuka?

Yes.

How would you say she was doing?

She looked cheerful.

She did not look like she was going to commit suicide.

Even though she had been troubled by something, she looked cheerful...

Did you think about why that was?

The previous night, I had tried to offer her encouragement.

I believed that I had been able to help.

I see.

She received encouragement from her teacher,

and was treated coldly by the woman who had once been like her mother.

When Asuka heard this at the restaurant, how did she seem to respond?

She looked dejected.

And finally, what do you think was the reason behind Asuka's inexplicable speech and behavior?

I believe it was her home life.

However it seemed Asuka was trying to overcome that and live life to its fullest.

I can't believe she would have committed suicide.

I believe it was an accident due to her leaning too far out of the classroom window.

I have no further questions.

Does the plaintiff wish to rebut?

No I do not.

I was watching in the courtroom.

Who are you?

My name is "Po"

You're a middle school student?

Of Kirioka Middle School?

Isn't he terrible? That teacher called Kaji or whatever.

Ignoring his responsibilities and blaming everything on you...

You know, Ms. Lawyer,

I know how to get that teacher in some trouble.

I was assaulted by that teacher.

That man wouldn't do something like that.

It's a pretty common scam.

High school and middle school girls have their friends take pictures like this one,

and use it for blackmail.

But...why are you doing this?

If you make this public, that teacher's finished!

I think you'd be hard-pressed to find any other teacher as devoted to his students.

He's not a good teacher...

- There are bullies at this school! - - All teachers issue an apology on TV! - - Otherwise, there will be a second suicide! -

Just a prank?

There haven't been any recently...

but after the school was sued, we received many such threats.

There were photographs enclosed.

At the very least, we can say that whoever sent this letter is inside the school.

But to issue an apology on TV...

surely there's no need to entertain such a ridiculous demand?

Because there are no bullies at our school.

Sooner or later, it will be necessary to investigate.

In any case, I will take this to the board of education.

The situation will depend on whether this letter was sent to the media.

Let's decide what to do later.

Yes.

There can't be a bully...

If there was,

I will take full responsibility!

That's what I've worked for this past year.

An investigation will verify that.

- I'll leave the rest to you. - Yes.

I don't think there are any in our classes.

Can you please reconfirm that?

Should we just ask them to raise their hand if they are being bullied?

Mr. Kumazawa, please take this seriously.

Mr. Yahata, were you listening?

Yes.

- Please be thorough. - Yeah.

Really, I mean it, ok?

I said I would! Do you have a problem?

I know...

I'm always being thorough.

Please.

It can be anything small.

Like you've seen someone in class be a loner.

Maybe I shouldn't be at this school.

Huh?

What are you talking about?

I'm famous for bullying Aizawa.

So I'm going to be suspected again, right?

It won't be like that.

The teachers and other students know

that your name just came up as a scapegoat.

That's why...

My name's plastered on the internet and I've been labeled as a criminal.

My parents couldn't even go shopping.

I'm sorry.

Those were the circumstances.

No,

I've never seen anyone being bullied.

No?

Of course not.

Of these two daily logs, which one contains the truth?

- Not that one. - Oops!

The first version you wrote is the red one, right?

Blue is the one the Vice Principal made you re-write.

That's right!

Why can't you do something so simple?

All you have to do is remember to point at the red one!

Ok, ok...

Ok~, which one is the real one?

- This one? - Are you a pre-schooler?!

A threat?

Maybe there is still someone at the school who's being bullied.

Huh?

Are you doing a thorough investigation?

However small the indications, you need to look into them.

- Something odd was found. - What?

There was a piece of paper torn out of a notebook in the trash can,

and it had "Kasuko" written on it.

"Kasuko"?

There was a teacher that thought someone might be teased and called KASU (trash).

But that's like an elementary school-level nickname.

I'm gonna help myself to your coffee.

I'm home.

You're going out?

Yeah. I'm going to go find a job.

At this time of night?

An old friend said he would help me out.

Be careful.

Yeah.

I'm going...mom.

I'm going to watch today, too.

Pet's aren't allowed in the courtroom.

Oh, really?

What should I do?

You want it?

No thanks.

Won't someone take care of it?

What is this?

It's a poem written by "Master Po."

Want to read it?

Here.

Thanks...

..."Master Po".

Sorry to make you wait!

Thank you very much.

Hey hey hey hey, red, right? Red?

That's right.

Did you see? That was a weird one.

These two daily logs, while dated the same,

contain entirely different stories.

Ms. Misawa,

- Of these two daily logs... - Red!

I'm still in the middle of my question.

Of these two daily logs, which is the real one?

Please answer.

Red. It's the red one. Red.

The red one is exhibit 39.

So then why does a false log exist?

The Vice Principal told me to rewrite it.

That if I didn't rewrite it, I would be forced to leave the school.

I have no further questions.

Ms. Misawa,

what was the reason you left the school?

The Vice Principal told me to leave.

There's no doubt, Vice Principal Ameki said that.

Yeah.

Wait...

Am I wrong?

How are you wrong?

If you lie, you may be tried for perjury.

Please give accurate testimony.

I do not remember exactly.

Is that so?

Then let me ask a different question.

- Could you please turn around for a moment? - Huh?

Please.

Do you see Vice Principal Ameki sitting there?

Yes.

Now, do you know the person sitting next to her?

Your Honor,

the defense counsel's question has no relation to the issue at hand.

Please allow me to explain.

That person is a member of the Nishi-Tama-Shi board of education,

and primarily investigates the competence of teachers.

Ms. Misawa,

during your tenure as the homeroom teacher of the first year students,

how many times did you fail to submit paperwork required by the school?

I don't remember.

28 times?

Instead of conducting in-home parent-interviews, didn't you cut corners by doing them over the phone?

Didn't you neglect to keep daily attendance records,

and once even submitted a made-up attendance record?

Have you ever re-written an advising report to better suit your position?

Your Honor,

- In addition to having no basis, these questions... - There is evidence.

Your Honor,

I would like to submit these documents,

that Akiko Misawa authored, which will serve as a basis for these questions,

as exhibits 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43.

Vice Principal Ameki found these documents to be suspect

and requested that the board of education investigate the competence of Akiko Misawa.

Ms. Hatsue Murakomo, sitting over there, was placed in charge of the investigation of Ms. Misawa.

The conclusion was: incompetence.

I'll show exhibit 44 to the witness.

However, without waiting for the result this investigation,

you suddenly stopped showing up at the school.

In other words, wasn't the reason that you stopped going to the school

was that you were being investigated?

Rather like a child who has been scolded, you refused to go back to school.

Isn't that right?

Your Honor,

that question is clearly out of order.

My apologies.

One last thing...

Why have you been hiding the reason you quit from counselor Tsumiki?

It's true that the Vice Principal said terrible things,

and I was upset,

You tried to put the blame on the Vice Principal?

Yes, but...

- In actuality... - I see.

In order to carry out your revenge, you are perfectly willing to lie about things...

For example, even if the real daily log was blue...

Your Honor.

I have no further questions.

Just...

just hold on there!

Why? Why am I being scolded?

You're just like a bully!

Will the witness please return to her seat.

I really saw it!

Aizawa was being bullied!

Riku Kaneyoshi burned her textbooks!

Be quiet!

What?

It's true!

Do you need something, Kaneyoshi?

What's up?

- It's class time. - Yes.

Mr. Yahata didn't come to class.

What are you doing out here?

What are you doing, leaving the students and crying like that?

Hurry up and go back to class!

I don't want to!

I'm sick of it...

Of what?

Don't you think...

that something's wrong?

What am I supposed to do?

Lecture?

Advise for the entrance exams?

Discipline the students?

Submit paperwork?

Or...

have meaningful exchanges with the students?

There's no way...

If we could do that, we teachers would be gods!

Stop talking nonsense!

- Snap out of it! - Stop it!

Mr. Kaji, let him go.

You have to get back to your class!

Stop it!

Calm down.

What are you talking about? I am calm.

It isn't like you, Mr. Kaji.

What isn't?

Can't you understand what Mr. Yahata is saying?

Huh?

Teachers aren't omnipotent.

It's not some sacred job either.

Wasn't it you, Mr. Kaji, who taught me that?

But...

How could you say something like that?

That if there was any bullying at the school you would take all the responsibility?

- That's... - What is "responsibility"?

If a student dies, how are you going "take responsibility"?

That kind of responsibility...

no one can take!

That's it...

That's it.

Mr. Kaji is a god!

Hey, if that's the case you should resurrect Asuka Aizawa.

Come on, do it!

Show me how to "take responsibility"!

Someone's going to die again.

Someone's going to die again!

- Did you find owners? - Yeah.

Kasuko said she reeeaaally wanted them.

You forced them onto Kasuko!

Cuz didn't you hear, Kasuko told the school...

that she's being bullied.

Really?

Kaneyoshi was really ticked off.

Scary...

I messed it up!

Oh, by the way, when I arrived,

weren't you talking to someone in a ridiculous outfit?

She is a student at Kirioka Middle School.

Oh, right?

She was in my class...

What was her name...

- I believe "Po". - "Po"?

That's not it!

Umm...

It's Kazuko Yamada!

Kazuko Yamada?

She gets mad when you call her by her real name.

She says "My name is not Kazuko Yamada!"

Well I guess it's pretty common for someone her age to be unhappy with her own name.

There was a piece of paper torn out of a notebook in the trash can,

and it had "Kasuko" written on it.

Yamada...

Kasuko.

What are you doing? I'm going ahead.

- Black chicken -

I am ugly.

An ugly,

black chicken.

I am ugly.

An ugly

black chicken.

A peacock said,

"Your wings are disgusting."

A parakeet said,

"Your scent is extremely putrid."

A thrush said,

"You are not one of us."

The birds said,

"You're not a bird."

"Because you can't fly in the sky,"

"you're not a bird."

"Because you can't fly in the sky,"

I am ugly.

An ugly

black chicken.

But I can fly.

I can fly in the sky too.

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

There's someone on the faculty who's on our side!

It is necessary to make sure that there is no extraneous testimony given.

Mr. Kaji,

Who do you think is telling the truth, me or him?

Don't involve me in this!

It will be our trump card.