Original subtitles

Until I entered high school two months ago, I didn't know.

The dampness of my uniform's hem, soaked by someone else's umbrella.

The smell of naphthalene clinging to someone's suit.

The warm body pushed up against my back.

The chill breeze of air conditioner against my face.

Shinjuku. Shinjuku Station.

When I was little, the sky was closer. So much closer.

That's why I like the rain, because, with it, comes the smell of the sky.

And often, on rainy mornings, instead of transferring to the subway,

I exit through the station gates.

JUNE

Chocolate and beer?

But I think I've seen her somewhere.

- Here. - Thank you.

Um, have we met before?

No.

I'm sorry. My mistake.

It's okay.

Maybe it's fitting.

"A faint clap of thunder,

clouded skies.

Perhaps rain comes.

If so, will you stay here with me?"

THE GARDEN OF WORDS

This morning, the JMA declared the start of the rainy season in Kyushu,

five days earlier than usual.

The Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima prefectures

expect strong rains over a wide area.

I'm home.

Welcome home.

I bought croquettes.

Great. Dinner will be ready soon.

Thank you.

Where's Mom?

Ran out.

Lucky us, we get all the croquettes to ourselves.

She left a letter saying not to go looking for her.

But maybe...

Leave her be. I'm sure she'll be back after fighting with her boyfriend.

TO BROTHER & TAKAO

I've picked out a place. I'll be leaving next month.

Living alone?

With my girlfriend.

You don't think that's why mom ran out?

You told her yesterday, right?

I wish she could just let her children go, you know?

She's the one who's making the rounds, dating younger men, dammit!

Oh, yeah? Well, then I'm going to go live with my boyfriend!

She's got those youthful looks, after all.

That's because she's never worked hard her entire life.

You're the one who's been piling on the years.

All done.

You do the dishes. I've aged enough.

Won't you be glad to have more space?

I suppose so.

Help me move, okay?

Sure.

Hey, have you heard of this?

What is this, a haiku?

It's a tanka.

As if.

Ask Mom when she gets back.

"A faint sound of thunder, cloudy skies Perhaps it will rain, shall you not stay?"

"The world is..."

On sunny mornings, I transfer to the subway and head here,

like I'm supposed to.

But I think to myself, "This is not what I should be doing now."

Rain.

Hello.

Hello.

No school today?

And your office, is it closed today?

I'm skipping work again.

And drinking beer in the park in the morning.

Drinking beer alone isn't good for your health.

You need to eat something with it.

You know a lot for a high school kid.

It's not me. My mom's the drinker.

I've got snack food.

Want some?

You just thought, "This woman's a freak," didn't you?

No, I...

It's okay. We're human, after all. We've all got our little quirks.

Maybe.

Definitely.

Okay, it's about time for me to go.

Heading to school now?

I've decided to only skip school on rainy mornings.

Then maybe we'll see each other again.

Perhaps when it's raining.

It was the first day of the rainy season in Kantō.

ENTRANCE EXAM

TUITION

A shoemaker?

I know it seems out of touch,

but I enjoy creating designs and making shoes.

Of course, I'm still terrible at it.

Of course.

But despite it all, I want to make it my career, if I can.

I've never told anyone before.

Do you have any idea how late you are?

You know why I've called you here, right?

Hey!

In the evenings, before I'd go to sleep,

In the mornings, the moment I'd wake up,

I realized I was praying for rain.

I realized that, on sunny days, I was in a terrible, childish place

with nothing but impatience.

She exists in a world of working adults, so very far away from me.

To me, she represents nothing less than the very secrets of the world.

Honestly, there are only two things I know for sure.

One, she must think of 15-year-old me as just some kid.

And two,

making shoes is the only thing that will lead me out of this place.

Please stay behind the yellow line for your safety.

Please be careful of the closing doors.

Good morning.

I thought you might not come today.

It's a miracle you haven't been fired yet.

Wow! Is that a shoe design?

Hey!

I can't see?

It's not something worth showing.

- Really? - Yes, really.

Come on. Sit down over there.

I'm going to eat breakfast. Would you like to join me?

Okay, but I've brought my own.

You made it yourself?

What? I cook sometimes, you know.

Then let's trade.

Wait, I'm not really that good...

A cook, you know.

It's your own fault.

That's a side of you I didn't expect.

What?

Sorry. But it's tasty in its own way.

It's got bite.

Don't patronize me.

Can I have another?

Hurry up!

Wait, bro!

Takao, be careful.

Happy birthday, Mom!

Thank you.

What could the three of you have got me?

Do you think it's too late for me?

And you know what? I could actually taste the food.

So your taste disorder has improved?

I wouldn't go that far.

But just a little while ago, all I could taste was alcohol and chocolate.

I think your deciding to quit was really for the best.

Maybe so.

You speak to me so gently, like you're touching something fragile.

But back then, when I found it hard even to breathe,

you didn't believe me. You only listened to the voices around you.

Then we'll start the paperwork for you to leave after the holiday.

I'll notify the higher-ups.

Okay. Sorry to cause you all this trouble even after we split up.

I'm glad, really.

About that old woman you met.

You know, the one you keep talking about, who brings her lunch box to the park.

It seems like you've really made a connection.

Yeah, get some rest.

Ever since then,

I've been nothing but lie.

Rain.

It's raining again today in Kantō.

Here at Shinjuku Station's south exit,

the commuters all have umbrellas in their hands.

JULY

Here, this is for you.

For me?

I've always ended up eating your food, see,

and you said you wanted it, right?

This book isn't cheap!

Thank you very much.

It's my pleasure.

I'm actually making a pair of shoes right now.

Wow! A pair for yourself?

I haven't decided whose shoes yet. They're women's shoes.

But I haven't been able to get them right, and...

You know, before I knew it,

I wasn't able to walk properly anymore.

Are you talking about your job?

Yeah. About a lot of things.

I don't know anything about her.

Her job, her age, what worries she carries,

even her name.

And yet I can't help but be charmed by her.

The rainy season is officially ten days later than usual in Kantō.

The current temperature in the city is 26 degrees.

Like someone just flicked a switch, the sunny days came one after another.

Sure, now I think to myself, "I'm glad that he's not skipping class anymore."

But in reality...

I wish the rainy season had never ended.

This park sure is big.

I can't believe we're in Shinjuku.

Pardon us.

Go ahead.

This is the Japanese gardens, right?

Where should we go next?

- Isn't there a greenhouse? - Let's check it out.

It's like a totally different place on sunny days.

Thanks for the help.

Why don't you eat dinner with us, Takao?

Sorry, but I've got my part-time job today.

This late?

And I don't want to impose.

The opposite! I'm going to be living with him from now on, so just this once...

I can hear you.

Well, then see you later.

He's a cute kid.

Did you notice his shoes?

They're handmade.

What? Seriously?

Just some ugly moccasins, though.

He's got a bright future, doesn't he?

I wonder if he'd make shoes for me.

Who knows? Teenagers' interests change on a whim.

My brother moved out, and the rainless days continued.

I had no excuse to head to that place.

And then it was summer vacation.

AUGUST

I worked part-time almost every day over the summer.

Maybe chicken with cashew nuts?

Sounds good to me.

- We'll order it. - Thank you very much.

I wanted to earn what I could for tuition at a vocational school.

Tools and leather cost money, too.

Sure, I missed her,

but I think it's clinging to those feelings that is keeping me a little kid.

That's why I've decided to create shoes that'll make her want to get up and walk.

What will the weather be tomorrow?

I'm not any smarter at 27 than I was at 15.

I've always been here, stuck in the same place.

SEPTEMBER

It's just like Tsukishima

to have got that confused for a week!

English class is no big deal.

That's because Kiso's a pushover.

Akizuki!

Hey, long time no see. Looks like you guys got a tan.

Yeah, we went to the beach a bunch.

You're still as pale as ever.

What'd you do over summer break?

- Worked the whole time. - The whole time?

That's a lonely way to spend your high school days.

School, part-time job, housework. School, part-time job, housework.

I skip school sometimes.

Now that you mention it, you are late a lot, Akizuki.

Yup, this guy never shows up for first period when it rains.

I've got a condition where I can't ride the subway on rainy mornings.

Whatever, weirdo.

TEACHER'S OFFICE

Ms. Yukino?

Ms. Yukino!

- Sato... - Ms. Yukino.

- Sato, save it for later. - Ms. Yukino!

- Same goes for the rest of you. - I'm sorry, everyone.

I'll be here until fifth period.

After that, I'd be happy to.

Yuki came to school?

You didn't hear about Yuki quitting?

No. I didn't even know who she was.

You have old man Takehara for lit, right?

Yuki was always having trouble with the third-year girls.

Yeah, but Ms. Yukino didn't do anything wrong.

Someone's boyfriend fell for Ms. Yukino,

and as payback, everyone in the class treated her terribly.

They spread so many rumors even her parents heard them.

It went so far, she couldn't come to school anymore.

Yuki's just too kind. She should have brought it right to the police.

We told Mr. Ito again and again!

But he didn't want to make trouble for the school in public.

Hey, what's the matter?

Those upperclassmen,

do you know their names?

Ms. Yukino!

He totally sucks at it.

You're so cruel.

But, man, you sure go through them!

What do you want, frosh?

- Are you the third-year student, Aizawa? - An admirer?

Who the hell are you?

It seems like Ms. Yukino is quitting.

Like I care about what happens to that slutty hag.

Who does this guy think he is?

What's this?

What's your deal?

Let's go tell a teacher.

Never seen this kid before.

Who are you? Fallen for that old hag?

What a creep! Does he even know how old she is?

Poor guy, she must have tricked him.

She might go for him now, though,

since she ain't a teacher no more.

Damn straight.

You should thank us.

I'm waiting for the rain.

"A faint clap of thunder.

Even if rain comes not,

I will stay here,

together with you."

Yes, that's the correct answer.

That's the right response to the tanka I told you when we first met.

"If rain comes, will you stay here with me?"

In response to that verse, I answer,

"Even if it doesn't rain, I will be here."

It was in the classic Japanese literature textbook,

Ms. Yukino.

I'm sorry.

I thought you would realize I was a classic literature teacher.

I mean, everyone at school knows about me.

But you're always off in your own little world, aren't you?

Hey, what happened to your face?

I was acting like you and drank too much beer.

Then I tripped and fell on the Yamanote line platform.

Oh, my!

Just kidding. I got in a fight. That's all.

Look. It looks like we just swam across the river.

I think this might...

This might be...

The happiest...

Time of my life.

Yukino.

Yes?

I think I've fallen in love with you.

Not Yukino. Ms. Yukino, remember?

I'll be moving next week,

back to my hometown in Shikoku.

I made the decision a while back.

I was practicing how to walk on my own there in that place.

Even if I'm barefoot...

So then...

So I want to thank you for everything, Akizuki.

Thank you for lending me these clothes.

I'll get changed now.

But yours aren't...

Excuse me. I'm going home.

Thank you for your hospitality.

I made this lunch for myself, but I made too much,

so if you'd like...

I haven't decided whose shoes yet. They're women's shoes.

I was acting like you and drank too much beer.

Then I tripped and fell on the Yamanote line platform.

"A faint clap of thunder.

Even if rain comes not,

I will stay here,

together with you."

Yukino, please forget what I said earlier.

I was wrong. I hate you after all.

Ever since we first met, you struck me

like a person I should avoid.

Drinking beer in the morning, spouting off some random tanka at me.

You listen all day to other people talking,

yet never say a peep about yourself.

You knew I was a student, didn't you?

That's just unfair!

If I'd known you were a teacher, I would have never told you about the shoes.

After all, you think I'll never amount to anything!

So why didn't you say anything to me?

You thought maybe you'd humor the little kid's fantasies for a while?

Tell me I'll never live up to my expectations!

Tell me I'll never measure up to my dreams!

You knew from the very beginning!

So tell me, goddammit!

Tell me I'm in your way, that little kids should run along to school!

Tell me that you hate me!

You...

It's because you act like that!

You never say what's important!

You pretend it's none of your business!

You've been living your whole life alone!

Every morning!

Every morning, I put on my suit to go to school.

But I was scared.

I just couldn't go

in that place.

You...

You saved me!

Summer ended, and it came time to switch to our winter uniforms.

I got terrible marks on my final exams.

I wasted who knows how many pieces of expensive leather.

I worked part-time over winter break as well.

And every time I added a layer to my clothing,

I wondered to myself, how was she doing?

"I hope all is well with you, Akizuki. Ms. Yukino"

I was practicing how to walk, too. I realize that now.

One day, when I can walk farther on my own,

I'll go see her.