Original subtitles

Hey, can you keep it down?

I told you to keep it down.

-Hey. -Keep it down, okay?

Your sister has homework.

Making progress?

-Yeah. -Mom.

-It's written really well. -Really?

Yeah, it's very neat.

My parents always sided with my elder sister.

I'm home.

They're not the biggest agency,

but many of their talents are in dramas and magazines.

They said I could be on TV if I worked hard and took lessons.

Are you being serious?

I am. I'm going to quit school and move to Tokyo soon.

Don't be foolish.

It's not going to be that easy.

What do you mean, "foolish?"

At least go to college first.

Riko.

I'm not the same as you.

I'll live my life my own way!

Hey, wait. Riko!

I wanted to make my family accept me.

After defying my parents' wishes, I found myself breathing the Tokyo air,

which was murky and full of exhaust fumes.

But to me, it was the smell of freedom.

A smell I didn't have back home.

Here we are.

Feel free to use the slippers.

This one was built 50 years ago.

And it's far from the station with no automatic lock on the door,

so it's not the best place for a woman to live alone.

But considering your budget, this is about what you can get.

Everything related to water usage should be relatively new, though.

But if I recall, the water heater for the bath is an older model.

I'll take it.

MK PROMOTION

This will be your stage name.

Risa Hirayama.

You'll have to pass the trial period first, though.

Your lessons will cost 30,000 yen monthly.

Whether you get officially signed on with us will depend on your performance.

Sorry, I was told my lesson fees would be covered for me.

Oh, that's only after you are officially signed on.

Is that okay?

Yes, I understand.

Good.

I started part-time work to cover my lesson fees.

Ms. Hirata, restock the drinks after that.

Okay.

I genuinely believed what my manager told me.

Ready? Start.

Don't you get why Yuu feels so sad?

Stop. You don't have to fight over this.

This is important.

How would I get it? She just randomly started crying.

That's why you--

-Ms. Hirayama, put more emotion in it. -Okay.

Unfortunately, we will not be signing you on this time either.

I see.

But you're really close.

How about you keep taking lessons a little longer?

Look, it's not just me.

Others in the agency agree there's something special about you!

Let's keep trying.

Okay, I will.

Also, the lesson fees will go up by 5,000 to 35,000 yen from this month.

-Sorry? -Hope it's not an issue.

Please sign here.

Right here.

Okay.

Thinking back on it now,

I'm sure he must have said the same thing to dozens or even hundreds of people.

Hey, can you man the register?

Coming.

And yet, all I could do was trust his words.

Sorry for the wait.

-Stay away! -Stop.

Don't do it!

This doesn't concern you two.

Do you have any idea how I feel? How could you?

-Let's switch now. -Okay.

Stay away. This doesn't concern you two.

RIKO HIRATA

Before I knew it, three years had gone by.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?

NEXT STAR AUDITION 2020

CEO, YOKO KODAMA WE WANT TO UNCOVER YOUR UNIQUE TALENT

I decided to bet everything on it.

The Kodama Productions Next Star Audition 2020.

The winner of this tournament-style audition

will be officially signed on with Kodama Productions,

and be awarded a lead role in a movie.

I thought of it as my last chance.

One, and two, and three, and four.

Five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four.

Looking good, Ms. Hara!

Ms. Hirasawa, you're falling behind.

Four, five, six, seven, eight. One, two, three, and four, and five.

-Hello there. -Oh, hello.

Hi there.

Hello.

-Thank you. Good luck. -Thank you.

Ms. Hirayama?

-Yes? -I'd like a comment.

What is it that drives you?

Right.

I left my home against my parents' wishes.

I know they must be worried,

so I want to put them at ease by showing some results.

"Say something."

"Do you know how precious it was to me?"

"It's a treasure from…"

"It's a treasure I received from someone dear to me."

"It's a treasure I received from someone dear to me."

"What's with that attitude? Say something."

"Do you know how precious it was to me?"

-Cheers! -Cheers.

I wanted more time to practice, so I started work as a hostess.

You're a heavy drinker, huh?

Go for one more?

-Sure. -I'd love to.

We've kept you waiting long enough.

Now, we'll announce the winner who passed the final review.

The winner of the Kodama Productions Next Star Audition 2020 is…

Ms. Yuri Hara!

Congratulations!

Come to the center of the stage.

It was my last chance.

-Did you hear? -What?

That the audition was rigged.

Seriously?

Apparently, the agency did it to get publicity for their talent's debut.

I guess it's all about who you know, huh?

And it was then of all times…

LANTERN FOR THE DEPARTED

He was still so young.

I feel sorry for the wife.

Why didn't you come?

HEY, IT'S MARIKA

WANT TO GET DRINKS WITH HIDETA ASO FROM KODAMA PRODUCTIONS?

GOOD NETWORKING CHANCE!

Try it sometime.

-Can you keep going? -Of course. We just got started.

You're good with your drinks, I see.

I like that.

-So, where are you from? -Kyoto.

Wait, me too!

-Really? -Yeah, really.

-Not just trying to hit on her? -No, I'm being for real right now.

SORRY, SOMETHING CAME UP, SO I CAN'T MAKE IT.

Enjoying yourself?

Mr. Aso.

Are you alone?

Care to join me?

Yes.

So you quit high school and moved to Tokyo alone?

Yes.

My parents opposed it, so I basically ran away from home.

But things haven't gone well since then.

I actually took an audition for your agency recently.

For us?

Yes.

But I didn't make it past the final stage.

I decided to come here today because I thought I could get to meet you,

and ask what you think I'm lacking.

Maybe the judges just lacked taste.

You have a lot of charm, if you ask me.

I can hear you out if you want.

Will you really?

Mr. Aso, we'll be leaving first then.

Thank you.

Take care.

See you again.

How about another drink?

What?

Or will you go home?

I'm fine either way.

How about it?

I'll stay. I want to talk more with you.

Come with me then.

Thank you.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Here.

Thank you.

Sorry, I think I drank too much.

Wait. Stop it!

That hurt.

I'm sorry. But that's not why I…

Just leave then.

If that's the extent of your resolve.

Just kidding.

I'm willing to help you out, you know.

I can connect you to the right people.

I'm leaving first, okay?

Have a shoot to get to.

Here's your taxi fare.

Bye.

Goodbye.

"Goodbye"?

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm fine…

I'm fine.

Over and over, I tried to convince myself.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

If I didn't do so, I thought I might snap.

In the end, neither Aso nor Kodama Productions ever contacted me.

I had to face the reality.

I was…

My dream was taken advantage of.

I was just used by him…

as an outlet for his sexual desires.

That was five years ago.

Let's take a break.

Please let me continue.

-But-- -I want to tell you.

All of it.

Tell me if it gets too much.

Did you ask anyone for help?

I told my agency about it, and they let me go the next day.

What?

My manager said,

"Don't drag us into this. We don't want any issues with Kodama Productions."

As he yelled at me.

"Sexual assault? You just tried to seduce him and failed, didn't you?"

I thought, "Oh, I see."

"I guess that wasn't sexual assault."

"It's just an excuse that I couldn't fight back."

"It was my fault for going to the party

and trying to get close to him, so I could get more work."

"It was all my fault."

"I deserved it."

"So there was nothing to be done."

Did you try the police?

I couldn't.

I thought they wouldn't bother.

But as time went on, I started to feel detached from it.

It started to feel less real, almost like it was a bad dream.

What was I fussing over?

I'm totally fine now.

I probably looked normal to others.

But for that entire period,

I wasn't even sure whether I was alive or dead.

Everything felt so dull, no matter what I did.

-That'll be 2,700 yen. -Okay.

I tried to maintain a sense of normalcy on the outside.

I would remember that day less and less often.

To a secure future.

However…

I hadn't gotten over it even a little bit.

We want to protect your smile and the smiles of those dear to you.

Japan Sanwa Insurance.

Why did I, the victim, have to suffer, while he, the assailant, gets to smile?

At that moment, I felt immense rage for the first time.

I can't forgive him.

I refuse to.

As long as he stays in the limelight,

until he is judged for his sins and forced out of this industry,

I will never be able to regain control of my life.

That's why you went to Buncho?

Weekly Buncho covered many scandals in the entertainment industry,

so I thought they'd publish it.

Though I didn't know you were a reporter for them.

But that article was ultimately suppressed.

After that,

someone from Kodama Productions strongly urged me to settle.

But now, after meeting you and hearing what you had to say,

I've decided I don't want this to be settled with money.

I want him to atone.

I want him to apologize.

I want to expose all his wrongdoings!

Is that strange of me? After all this time?

It's not.

It's not strange at all.

Have you ever heard of dissociation?

Victims of sexual assault distance themselves

from what happened to them in order to protect themselves from the trauma.

I think you did so as well. To keep yourself sane all this time.

And after spending a long time coming to terms with the facts,

you finally recognized the anger that was inside you all along.

But I'm the one who made the choice to go.

It was absolutely not your fault.

Aso abused his superior status in the entertainment industry

and took advantage of your aspiration.

And you were alone with him in a private room.

It would've been tough to resist.

When he said, "Just leave then,"

I thought if I defied him,

I wouldn't be able to stay in the industry anymore.

I couldn't go against him when I thought of that.

What Aso did was undeniably sexual assault.

There's no need for you to blame yourself.

No one's ever…

said that to me before.

I'll try one more time to make this into an article.

The problem is,

even if we keep your identity hidden, people will likely slander you anyway.

Of course, we'll do our utmost to ensure you can't be identified.

I understand.

Also, I can't write an article based on just the information you've provided.

I need other sources.

Why? Do you think I'm lying too?

I trust you, Riko.

But the public won't just take your word for it.

"Where's the proof? Did she just fabricate it?"

They'll be sure to respond with scrutiny.

Not to mention, Kodama Productions and Aso will most likely respond too.

So we have to get the accounts of the other people at the party,

and build our case with supporting evidence.

It'll take some time.

So I need you to be patient and keep all this a secret.

Okay.

I'm grateful…

that you told me.

I'll see her home.

Let me know when you pin down the participants of that party

and need to get in touch with them.

I'll help as much as I'm able.

I appreciate it.

Bye then.

Ms. Saki!

Can you come with me?

Sure.

Over here.

-Good work. -Hello.

About that online drama, Mr. Fujiwara is now officially a part of it!

Really?

That's great.

Chief, you don't look very excited.

You can look a little happier.

Mori worked hard for this.

You're right.

Good job, Mori.

Thank you.

Ms. Yoko won't try to sabotage me again, will she?

It'll be fine.

I won't let Kodama Pro do as they please.

Let's put a stop to this absurd injustice.

It's just as Hashimoto, the editor-in-chief, told us.

I hardly believed it at first.

You mean Ioka is also involved in this?

What shall we do?

Given that she's in contact with Ioka and the reporter from Buncho,

she likely won't agree to settle.

As long as Mr. Hashimoto is on our side, Weekly Buncho won't publish their article.

However, we should make our move sooner rather than later.

Mr. Kondo?

I need your help with something.

Ninomiya.

Can we talk?

I talked to the victim in the Aso sexual assault story.

I plan to write an article on it.

You're still on that?

You'll never get it published in Weekly Buncho.

That's why I need your help.

Find a publisher that won't bow to Kodama Productions.

You have more connections in the industry than me.

Don't be ridiculous. What about my standing?

What about your standing as a journalist?

The perpetrator's crimes are covered up, while the victim is forced to stay quiet.

Do you really find that acceptable?

Why are you so invested in this?

If you're going to get this invested in strangers, this job's not for you.

The victim is my little sister.

I didn't know that until I actually met her.

You're saying that girl is…

You want to write the article for your sister's sake?

Yes.

But that's not all.

When I learned that she was the victim, I finally understood.

The people in news stories aren't just strangers.

People dear to us could become victims at any time.

That's why we, as reporters, have to uncover and publicize the facts.

I should've realized that sooner, huh?

What's this?

Can you tell?

It's a cloud!

I see that smile.

-Mirei. -You're so cute.

Don't get the wrong idea.

I haven't forgiven you.

I just don't want to be known as the woman who got cheated on

and had her marriage collapse.

What is it?

You're so cute.

I'll get your food ready, okay?

Ms. Mori contacted me.

Said you got a role in an online drama.

Yeah.

Work your ass off.

Also, this.

It's still a prototype.

But I'm thinking of starting a new brand and selling anti-cheating underwear.

You'll model for it, okay?

You lost me there.

What's wrong, sweetie?

What?

You hungry? Let's get some food.

Are you Riko Hirata?

I'm Kondo, a freelance journalist.

You're trying to get an article published, right?

About a big-name actor's sexual assault.

A bunch of people have been making false accusations,

trying to get publicity or settlement money

by taking advantage of the recent MeToo Movement.

I'm writing a special feature on such cases, which brings me here.

Are you accusing me of lying?

There are people who saw you arguing with a member of a major talent agency.

Over settlement money, they said.

That's not--

You made a false accusation and demanded settlement money, didn't you?

But they ignored your demands, so now you're trying to get an article out.

Am I wrong?

That's not true! I'm not--

You're short on cash, aren't you?

And you work as a hostess, right?

Don't record without my permission!

Come on now.

I'll include this in the article, okay?

Riko?

A reporter visited me. Said I'm lying for publicity and settlement money.

What?

If he writes that in an article, no one will believe me!

I only told you guys about it. How did he know?

Did you tell him?

Of course not. Calm down.

I promise I'll find out how this happened.

Okay?

How's Ms. Riko?

I told her not to go outside for now.

She was pretty shaken last night.

How do you think they found out about this?

Only one person knows I'm investigating this story.

What do you want?

Did you tell anyone about my sister?

What's that about?

A reporter came to my sister's place.

Said he'd write an article,

claiming she's lying about the assault to get publicity and money.

-It wasn't me. -But--

I swear.

And also…

That article's already out.

What?

"A former talent, now a hostess,

falsely accused a famous actor of sexual assault for settlement money."

But how…?

YASUO KONDO, FREELANCE JOURNALIST

Ma'am!

IS RISA HIRAYAMA THE MENTIONED TALENT?

SERIOUSLY? IT'S RISA HIRAYAMA?

They got us.

Even if Ms. Riko's article comes out now, people won't take it at face value.

You think Kodama Productions is behind this?

-Hello. -Riko?

What?

You didn't answer my calls. I was worried.

About that article, I'm sorry I couldn't stop it.

Are you at home? I'll come over.

Don't.

But…

Just don't.

I'm fine.

Get some rest, okay?

We'll think of a countermeasure.

Call me if anything happens.

Okay.

Riko?

See you tomorrow.

Hirata, finish the article for the web edition by tomorrow.

-Okay. -Thanks.

Good night.

Good morning.

Hello.

Morning.

Hello?

This is Ioka. Did you see it?

What?

To Sengawa, please.

Ms. Riko's post is getting heavy criticism.

You should go to her immediately.

Okay.

Five years ago, I was sexually assaulted by Hideta Aso.

That night, I went to a drinking party attended by people in the industry.

In the end, I was left alone with Aso, and he then assaulted me.

I've tried to speak out about it several times,

but I was silenced every time.

I was even betrayed by the people I trusted.

Everything written in that article is a complete lie.

TRASH HUMAN BEING

Please believe me.

WHAT A VULGAR WOMAN I'M DISGUSTED

Please hurry.

Thank you.

Riko?

Riko?

Riko!

Riko!

Riko!

Riko!

Riko!

I'm curious what choice he'll make. Aren't you?

PREVIEW

THE FINAL EPISODE

I haven't changed a bit since then.

IOKA'S PAST WITH KODAMA BECOMES KNOWN

Do you really think you can antagonize Kodama Pro and still get by?

You monster!

Give my Yuri back!

THE MYSTERIOUS GIRL YURI HARA

We need to talk.

SCATTERED MYSTERIES ARE ALL CONNECTED

What have you been digging into?

You wrote that article.

As if you haven't done the same thing as well.

Absolutely unbelievable.

So it's finally time.

I'm counting on you, okay?

AND THEN, THE FINAL FACE-OFF

What are you plotting now?

You've made the wrong decision. But I'll give you a chance.

They'll attack her again with baseless speculations.

I thought about dying.

Looks like it went well.

TO COVER IT UP?

You think that's acceptable?

They lost their future because they were involved with you.

OR TO EXPOSE?

We can't let this injustice continue.

THE FINAL STAGE OF THE OPPOSING SCANDALS

IOKA AND HIRATA ENTER A FINAL FIGHT TO BRING THE TRUTH TO LIGHT

Subtitle translation by: Saim Ul Hassan