zubunure de dakishimeta hito...

　

the person I, drenched to the skin, embraced...

　

　

Back at the Nonaka Lawyers office, Kirino's places a pile of documents on her desk, saying to Nao "If at that point in time when the mesu was discovered at the crematorium & this had become a police case, your mother's doctor in charge, Minami Etsushi might be under investigation for manslaughter (homicide by misadventure)..." Nao looks at Kirino "...manslaughter?" "An error in medical treatment by forgetting the mesu & perhaps causing death...but, we'd need to prove the relationship of cause & effect..." Nao says "...relationship of cause & effect?" Kirino sits down in front of Nao "Proof that Dr Minami left the mesu inside your mother without a doubt...& that caused your mother's death...under what circumstances she died, no one knows..." Nao doesn't say anything as Kirino adds "Just carrying on like this, even if Dr Minami is brought to court, it'll be over as soon as the relationship as to the cause & effect of the mesu is rejected...do you understand? If you insist on sticking to the mesu alone, the possibilities are high that the actual facts will end unresolved in obscurity..." Nao listens in silence & then says "Other than Dr Minami, there's someone else who knows everything...my mother..." Kirino turns to look at him as he recalls the noukan-shiki (ceremony of placing the body in the coffin) "...saying goodbye to our mother for the last time, we placed various things in the coffin...because the undertaker told us not to put in things that wouldn't burn...one by one, we wondered if it was alright...would it burn, we wondered...my older sister put in my mother's suit...my younger sister put in the dress made for her nursery graduation...she remembered our mother staying up all night in order to make it...I...just placed a piece of imo-youkan (a bar of sweet potato paste) I bought at a nearby shop...Mom loved the imo-youkan from the Yoshida shop...that's why I thought she'd be happy...then a mesu appeared...the mesu that I found...I think it's a message from Mom..." Kirino doesn't say anything & Nao pleads "Kirino-san...if I can find any other leads besides the mesu...will you bring Dr Minami to court to expose the truth?...will you fight together with me?...if I do my best & look hard enough, I'm sure that Mom will tell me something..." Kirino stares at Nao, quietly replying "Alright...if we find something other than the mesu...let's fight this together..." Nao smiles & Kirino tells him "In any case, before bring on a lawsuit, gather as much leads as possible..." Nao replies "Alright..." & Kirino warns him "But don't stir up the hospital..." With a big smile, having won Kirino as an ally, Nao assures her "I'll find something for sure..."

　

Yuko looks at Nao in the living room, designing a flyer & asks "What do you mean...?" Nao replies "...that's why I wanted that lawyer Kirino  to help us..." Yuko asks "& then? In order to find any leads, hand out flyers? Don't do anything embarrassing..." Nao retorts "Then what other way is there? Talking to the hospital, no one even cares..." Sitting quietly on the stairs, Runa listens to her brother & sister. Nao continues "After Kirino mentioned it, I just realized...Mom was killed..." Shiro comes walks in the front door & stops as he hears Nao say "...dying because of an error in medical treatment...is perhaps the same as being killed...by that Dr Minami...I'll do it...even if you hate it...no matter how much  Dad objects to it...I'll copy this flyer...distribute it all over...gather any leads of the time Mom collapsed...even alone, I'll do it alone..." Little Runa disappears upstairs as Nao says "I want you to let me do it..." Yuko remains silent as Nao continues putting the flyer together. Suddenly Runa comes back & puts three 100 yen coins on the table. Nao looks at her & she says "Copy my share too..." Nao stares at her, not knowing what to say. Runa tells him "I'll distribute too!" Shiro & Yuko listen in silence, Nao stares at Runa, & then at the coins on the table...

　

Out on the streets, Runa helps Nao distribute the flyers "onegaishimasu.....on April 13th, after my mother brought the dog out for a walk to the time when she was taken away by the ambulance...does anyone know anything? Did anyone notice her? onegaishimasu! On April 13th, after my mother brought the dog out for a walk to the time when she was taken away by the ambulance...does anyone know anything? Did anyone notice her?"

 

At the Masaki home, Shiro, seated across the table from Yuko, looks at the photographs of Teruko "If it's as Nao says...that she was killed by the doctor....your mom would be upset..." Yuko doesn't say anything & Shiro looks at a photograph of the whole family in front of the house.....

 

Runa hands out a flyer to someone but is ignored & she quietly stares at the picture of her mother on the flyer...

 

Nao puts a stack of flyers into the basket on Mari's bicycle "Could you hand these out to the people around the neighborhood?" Mari replies "ok but...why are you doing this?" Before Nao can reply, Runa tells her "Mom was killed by the doctor!" Nao warns "Runa!" & then explains to Mari "...it could be an error in medical treatment..." Mari says in shock "Error in medical treatment?!" "In any case, I want to find out what happened when she collapsed...anything..." Mari nods "I understand...I'll ask around..." & leaves. As she walks off, Nao hears Mari greet someone "Good afternoon..." & looks up, surprised to see Shiro & Yuko walking towards them. Yuko smiles & without saying a word, reaches into the paper bag Nao's holding & takes out some of the flyers, starts handing them out "onegaishimasu, onegaishimasu..." Shiro, looking at Nao, does the same thing, quietly taking out some flyers from the bag as well & starts handing them out to passers-by "onegaishimasu..." Nao, at a loss for words, merely stare at them as Runa turns around & smiles up at him "Oni-chan!" Nao smiles "Great..." & gets back to handing out flyers as well "onegaishimasu! On April 13th, did anyone Masaski Teruko? Masaki Teruko is my mother! After she was sent to Shoei Sogo Hospital in an ambulance, she passed away...I need information on how she died, what happened to her...it doesn't matter how trivial it is...I need everyone's help! onegaishimasu!"

 

Kota comes flying up on his bike "Nao! I heard from Mari...something about an error in medical treatment..." Nao nods "Uhm..." "My father runs a dry cleaners & makes deliveries all over so I'll ask him to distribute too..." taking the stack of flyers in Nao's hands. Nao pleasantly surprised "Kota!" Another lady offers "Nao-chan! I'll put some up at my store for you too..." Nao can only say "Okami-san..." Yuko calls him "Nao! The liquor store guy says he'll help us too..." The man says to Nao "Your mother was always a very happy-go-lucky person..." Nao thanks him "...then, onegaishimasu!" handing him some flyers. Taking them, he says "These? Alright, leave it to me..."

 

As every continues handing out the flyers, Mari comes running back up to Nao "Nao! Give me some more?" Nao hands her some "Thanks!" Mari looks up & sees someone her mother "Mom! Come help too!" Mari's takes them but with a hesitant nod to Nao, turns around & walks away, leaving Nao wondering at her reaction. A woman calls out behind him "Excuse me...could I have one please?" Nao takes one from his bag & hands it to her with a smile "onegaishimasu..."

 

At the hospital, the head nurse Kitayama hands over the flyer to Isetani Keizo "Appears that they're handing these out, saying that the death was due to an error in medical treatment at Shoei Sogo Hospital..." Behind her stands another nurse, the same woman who asked for a copy of the flyer from Nao. Isetani looks at it & without saying a word, crushes the flyer in his hands...

 

Someone crushes a flyer & throws it into the basket of a bicycle. Nao notices & goes to retrieve it, straightening it out & continues handing them out "onegaishimasu...onegaishimasu..."

 

Late in the evening, Minami arrives at the hospital & as he gets out of the car, notices Kirino talking to a man. The man nods in acknowledgement to Minami & saying to Kirino "Then, excuse me..." & leaves. Minami looks at Kirino writing into a notebook when she turns around smiling "Good evening..." Minami walks up to her "Hello...is there anything?" Kirino answers "Ah, even though I'm at the hospital I'm not looking for you..." "Then what are you doing here?" Kirino whips out a packet of tissues & throws back the same line he once used "May I blow my nose?" At Minami's reaction "Wow..." Kirino replies "I only came to see the undertaker that comes here frequently..." blowing her nose on purpose in front of Minami. Done, she says "Excuse me..." & starts walking away but Minami persists "What are you investigating? If it's that case, it ought to be over..." Kirino stops walking "That case?" "Don't feign ignorance...you're investigating that the mesu was left behind forgotten, aren't you?" Kirino spins around looking at Minami "...left behind forgotten?! I knew for a fact that a mesu was found from the coffin, but I didn't know that it was from the body...but now, hearing from you personally that it was left behind forgotten...such an important idea, thank you very much..." With that, Kirino turns & walks away, leaving behind a Minami sighing at Kirino catching his error...

 

At Kendo practice, Kota says "Nothing?" Nao replies "Nothing...the only ones who called were merely to encourage us or pranks calls, really...ah, what about your end? Asking the delivery people to help?" "I asked but they all said they were busy..." "Oh..." At that moment, Mari comes running in "Nao! Yamashita-kun from the baseball team said that he saw your mother..."

 

At the baseball ground, Mari & Nao approach a boy sitting alone on a bench "You're Yamashita-kun?" Mari says "You said that you saw Nao's mother didn't you..." Yamashita nervously replies "Not me...my grandfather..." Nao says "That was on April 13th?" Yamashita half mutters "That day, my grandfather went to the shrine to pay his respects...that's why he probably saw..." Mari, a little annoyed, says "Probably?! Your grandfather senile?" Nao steps in & says politely "Thanks for telling me..."  

 

Back at Kendo practice, Nao's friends talk among themselves "Where's Nao?...he's left!...eh? what happened?...who knows...what is he up to, that guy..." Kota listens, not saying a word...

 

Mai & Nao, walking towards the shrine, listens to Yamashita's grandfather telling them "Yes, yes...I met her here...she greeted me..." & then points to Mari "...with your mother..." Mari looks surprised "My mother?" Nao asks "Then my mother?" "Your mother...was inside the shrine..." replies the old man, laughing...

 

As Nao & Mari walk towards the shrine, Mari says "Must be senile...not possible that she was together with my mother....my mother didn't say a single word about it..." Nao says "Why did your mother not say anything?" Mari looks at him "Eh?" Nao continues "Everyone who knew Mom, asked around, helped to distribute the flyers...why only your mother..." Mari retorts upset "You're blaming my mother for not cooperating?" Nao replies "No, I don't mean..." but Mari tells him off "Really! Then you don't have to take Yamashita's grandfather seriously!" As he watches Mari walk off in anger, Nao hears something & walks towards the shrine. Inside the temple grounds, he looks around, glancing at some girls hanging up "ema" (tablets with one's wishes written on them). Turning around he walks away. Hung among all the tablets is one written "April 13th, Masaki Teruko"...

 

Kirino works on her computer consolidating emergency information on Masaki Teruko from the Higashimukoujima Fire Station records when Nonaka walks in "I'm back..." to which Kirino tosses back "Otsukare sama desu....." Nonaka says "Have you heard of the BC Medical Company?" "Yes..." "It's the top manufacturer of medical equipment..." "What's with BC Medical...?"

 

As Kirino looks at the business card in her hands "BC Medical Japan" - Takagi Masashi & then at the man seated across from her. Takagi says "We've heard of your reputation...we'd like you to be the legal advisor of our company...as a legal advisor, you'll be paid a monthly amount of 1,200,000 yen...what do you think?" Kirino doesn't reply...

 

With a bouquet of flowers in her arm & a piece of paper in hand, Ami looks around, crossing the bridge & looking over the river bank where she helped Nao searched for the mesu. With a sigh, she recalls what Nao told her "...from my mother's ashes, a mesu appeared...after this, I'm going to the hospital with my lawyer, that Shoei Sogo Hospital...show to the doctor in charge that the mesu is the hospital's..." Looking at the sketch of the map of where Nao home is, Ami sighs. Behind Ami, looking over the river, Kirino munches on a snack, noticing Ami...

 

Arriving home, Nao rips open a package on the restaurant counter, to see copies of his flyer professionally made. Yuko explains "The printer Tanaka did them free of charge for us..." Runa shows him a packet "The auntie at the grocers gave this to us free..." Nao smiles "That's great...then, let's go distribute these again?" Runa nods, smiling. At that moment, the door slides open with a "Good afternoon..." Nao turns around to look "Kirino-san!" & then stares at Ami next to her...

 

Without a word, Ami places a stick of incense at the alter, staring at the wrapped container holding Teruko's ashes. Quietly, Nao leaves as Ami places her hands together, offering a prayer. Outside in the living room, Kirino says "She's your girlfriend isn't she?" "No, just acquaintances..." "Oh..." In the next room, Ami listen. Yuko places some tea in front of Kirino "Please..." & Kirino replies "Thanks...where's your father?" "Ah, is there anything?" asks Yuko. Kirino takes out some documents from an envelope "I wanted to get permission from him regarding the perpetuation of evidence..." Nao asks "What's 'perpetuation of evidence'?" Kirino explains "Your mother's medical records & examination records...to prove the existence of the mesu was due to the surgery carried out...need to get the hospital to produce those surgical records & information regarding the medical examination...if we don't hurry, don't know what they will do..." Nao looks at her in surprise "Eh?" as Ami listens in the next room. Kirino takes the flyer "That's because you are distributing these flyers..." Nao replies "But that's just for trying to find some leads..." Kirino tells him "If anyone in the hospital gets a hold of these, they're sure to come up with a countermeasure..." Nao replies "Then hurry & get that 'perpetuation of evidence' done..." Kirino smiles "But I need your father's permission..." Nao retorts "But I said to do it!" Kirino explains "According to juvenile law, one needs a guardian's permission..." Nao gets agitated "If you keep being so rigid, you're just forestalling things!" Kirino tells him "If you break the rules of society, you can't fight in society!" Nao states adamantly "The one I'm fighting is Dr Minami! Shoei Sogo Hospital!" Kirino tells him off sternly "There's no point getting worked up! Calm down!" Fed up, Nao mutters "I'll do things my own way.." going out through the restaurant, taking the flyers. At that moment, Ami comes up to him "You're going to distribute these?" Nao replies "Yes..." & turns to go but Ami takes the stack of flyers from him "I'll help you too..." "It's ok, I can do it alone...besides, it's got nothing to do with you..." Ami looks away & then says "I..." but Nao stops her "Just your good intentions is enough...thank you..." taking them from her. Ami confesses "I like you..." Nao looks surprised "Eh?" "Ami says again "I like you...I'm on your side..." Nao doesn't say anything & suddenly feeling conscious, Ami says "I'm sorry..." "There's no need for you to apologize..." "Sorry..." Ami quickly dashes out, leaving Nao speechless...

 

Ami runs round the corner of the street before slowing down. Suddenly Nao comes running up behind her "Wait!" Ami stops & turns around. The both of them stare at each other, neither knowing what to say. At that moment, one of the neighbors come running up to them "Nao-chan! They're holding a press conference..." Nao & Ami find some of the other merchants & neighbors crowding around in front of a store, watching the press conference on television "Look, hurry!" Nao stares at Minami apologizing showing tears & deep remorse "What happened this time, I sincerely regret...I never thought that leaving the mesu behind forgotten in the body was possible...but I..." Minami breaks down & Isetani Keizo appears to explain, shocking Ami "So that no one has any wrong ideas, there was no relationship between leaving the mesu behind forgotten & the cause of death...to the very end, when the patient's heart had stopped, as a last ray of hope, her chest was opened & a heart massage was performed...as a result, the mesu was left behind forgotten by mistake..." Another hospital representative continues "Although there is no relationship to this case, the notification to the police will also be settled..." The newscaster comes on "According to Shoei Sogo Hospital, they want to clarify to the bereaved family in this capacity & to meet them one on one with sincerity....." Kota's father says to Nao "That's great...although we didn't do anything about the flyers you gave to Kota, sorry...but this ends it, doesn't it..." Everyone around agrees "Yes...this is resolved isn't it..." Quietly, Nao looks at the flyers in his hand & walks off without saying a word. Ami runs after him but he merely says "I'll call you later..." & carries on walking...

 

At the lawyers, Nao says to Kirino "Why did they simply admit that they left the mesu behind forgotten? & what's more,  hold a conference on purpose! Something's definitely wrong..." Kirino asks "Why?" "But...to say that it's not related to the cause of death...why here & now, holding a press conference?" "Holding a press conference means that there's something they're hiding...something more important than just the mesu, there's something else they want to keep hidden..." "...then, what if that's really what the press conference is about..." "Yes...then it's the other things besides the mesu that we're searching for..." "...the leads..." Kirino says "Let's proceed with the 'perpetuation of evidence'...the hospital might consider this over...but we'll let them know that we're not done over here..." Nao answers "ok..." & then going up to her, he apologizes "Going against your wishes, I'm sorry..." Kirino tells him "It's alright if you go against me, as long as you trust me..." Then cheekily Nao says "Then, trust me too...even if you go against me..." They both smile at each other...

 

Coming home, Nao returns to find the neighbors congregating at the okonomiyaki restaurant in celebration. "How much are they going to compensate you?" Shiro answers "No need, as long as the doctors apologize..." "What? You'll get a pile of money for sure!" Nao walks in "Dad! Don't be taken in..." Shiro looks at him surprised. Nao continues "They're hiding something...Kirino said so..." Kota's father, sitting next to Shiro asks "What's that about?" Yuko comes out to hear Nao say "We've consulted with a lawyer...for the sake of suing Dr Minami..." The others reply surprised "Eh?...even if you sue, you'll get money won't you..." Nao listening, answers annoyed "That's not the point!" "But it's not the fault of the doctor that caused the death...ah, had nothing to do with the mesu they said...even then, there'll be compensation, lots!...yeah yeah yeah..." Hearing all this talk about money upsets Nao & he says "Can you all leave?" Yuko looks at him "Nao!" Shiro doesn't say anything & Nao tells everyone "Excuse me but please leave!" walking into the house. Yuko goes after him "Wait..." leaving everyone dumbfounded in the restaurant...

 

As Kota lays out the futon, his father half drunk stumbles into the room "Kota! Absolutely do not get involve with bringing that doctor to court..." Kota asks "Why?" "Idiot! They are our number one customer, Shoei Sogo Hospital..." Taking the stack of flyers & handing them to Kota, he mutters"...no way one would bring a lawsuit to one's customer! Don't get involved!" stumbling out of Kota's room...

 

In her room, Ami lies on her bed, holding the little soft toy that Nao gave her. Getting up, she stairs at her cell phone. A knock on the door & her mother asks "Ami? Are you going to have a bath?...about the press conference, I didn't know myself...finding out that the person was that okonomiya boy's mother, I got a shock...but it's got nothing to do with your father...Minami-sensei tried his very best..." The door suddenly opens & Ami comes out taking her towel going for her bath, not saying a word. Her mother calls her "Ami..." but Ami doesn't reply....

 

Kirino goes to a bar & sits at the counter near Isetani Keizo. Speaking into his cell phone, he says "...is that so...hasn't said anything..." His wife Akiko tells him "Not since she came back...this is the first time she's like this..."

 

In the bathroom, Ami takes out her cell phone hidden between her clothes...

 

Akiko says "When she's calm down please explain to her...your position at the hospital, about Minami-sensei as well...of there's a need, tell her what Minami-sensei did to that woman..." Isetani assures her "He didn't kill her...neither Minami nor the hospital is at fault...that was just her fate to die...uhm...please...uhm...bye..." As Isetani hangs up, he looks over & notices Kirino looking at him. At that moment, BC Medical's Takagi shows up to meet Isetani "Sorry to keep you waiting...I bumped into subsection chief Tabuchi from the Public of Welfare office..." Suddenly he notices Kirino who smiles at them "Good evening...I seem to have bumped into someone too...I just realized that this bar is also used by MC Medical to entertain clients too...uhm, how about an introduction?" Isetani says "Excuse me..." "Ah, I'm Kirino..." "Ah, so you're a lawyer...I'm Shoei Sogo Hospital's Isetani..." "I saw you on TV today...I came here to find out who BC Medical relied on...this is great, you can save me time..." Isetani offers "Since you took the trouble, how about a drink?" Kirino walks up to Isetani "I don't know who the other person at the other end of the line but...'didn't kill her so we're not at fault'...if you're not at fault then why not fight fair?" Isetani answers "I have no intention of fighting...it's as we said at the press conference, we admitted that the mesu was left behind forgotten & have apologized..." Kirino warns him "Don't look down on my client...that boy is more than you think...no, me too...don't think you can intimidate a lawyer like me...put on questionable press conferences...& saying conceitedly that it was just her fate to die & didn't kill her....that's unforgivable..." On that note of warning, Kirino leaves. Isetani coolly continues drinking, not saying a word...

 

As Nao leaves the next morning, he tells his father "If the lawyers from the hospital come, tell them to leave...Kirino will deal with them directly... " Yuko tells him "Dad & I don't really fully trust in that lawyer Kirino...it's just that we don't know what to do..." Shiro tells Nao "You do as you feel it should be done...but if you can't get any evidence from the medical records what will you do? If what Kirino has said is a mistake, what will you do?" Nao remains silent, unable to reply...

 

Kirino marches into the hospital, passing some nurses along the way, Kitayama among them who gives her a sidelong glance. Cooling passing Minami along the way without flinching, Minami turns to see her enter a room where all the records are kept. Inside, various medical records are photographed & looked over. From the doorway through a glass panel, Isetani Keizo stares at Kirino checking out the documents & X-rays. Coming back to the office, she sits down at the table & goes through all the copies of the documents...

 

At Kendo practice with all the guys practicing, Nao sits despondently on the side, not doing anything. The guys turn to look & then walk up to him "If you don't feel like doing this then quit! The preliminaries are coming & we're working like crazy everyday! What are you doing?! Always in a daze! Enough already! Go home!" Kota watches, not saying anything...

 

In the changing room, Kota explains "Everyone said that on purpose...they know how hard you're trying to fight your mother's case...doing both would be too much...that's why everyone said such hurtful things..." Nao changes & slams the door of his locker shut. Kota adds "There's no need for you to quit the club...if anything you should quit, it would be suing the doctor...if you do that, you can concentrate on the club just like before...the press conference wasn't wrong...Shoei Sogo Hospital is a proper hospital...no way they can make a mistake..." At long last, Nao replies "Kota, just what do you know? The truth is much deeper than that!" Taking offense at Nao's words, Kota mutters "What are you trying to be so cool about? In any case I don't understand, do as you please!" Kota takes the stack of flyers from his locker & gives it back to Nao. They go flying over the floor & Kota, upset, walks out, leaving Nao alone to pick them up...

 

Downhearted, Nao tosses a coin & says a prayer at the shrine. As he walks out, he takes the stack of flyers from his back, not noticing the ema that his mother hung that day on April 13th. As he walks, a gust of wind blows & the wooden tablets clatter against each other, catching Nao's attention. Slowly, he walks up where the tablets are hung & look at them. Suddenly spotting his mother's, he grabs it & reads what his mother had written "To win the district Kendo preliminaries, May the university entrance exam go smoothly, Nao gambare! April 13, Masaki Teruko" Staring at it, Nao suddenly looks up at the shrine seeing a sign saying "ema - large 700yen, small 500yen" Suddenly, something occurs to Nao...

 

At the Yoshida store, Nao asks Mari's mother "Weren't you together with my mother at the shrine?" "Not together..." Yoshida replies. Nao says "That day, Mom went for a walk without her purse...but she bought an ema!" "I don't know...I really don't know anything..." Someone comes to the store at that moment "Excuse me..." & Yoshida takes the opportunity to excuse herself. From inside the store, Mari stares at a despondent Nao...

 

Trudging along home, as he's about to enter his house, someone says  "Good evening..." Looking up, he sees Minami with a bouquet of flowers & a package. Without a word, Minami bows to Nao. Minami then says "I came to pay my  respects...will you allow me inside?" Nao stares at Minami & then walks into his house. Minami follows but just as he reaches the door, Nao slides the door shut & locks it. Stunned, Minami says "I understand how you feel..." Inside, Nao listens as Minami pleads "..but please...at the very least, let me offer one stick of incense for your mother...at the very least, the flowers..." Inside, Yuko preparing dinner, stops & listens. Shiro & Runa sitting at the table, wordlessly listening as Minami pleads "...will you let me offer my respects!?" Shiro gets up from the table but stops when he sees Nao. Minami says "Will you listen to me?" Shiro nods but Nao shakes his head silently. Both father & son stare at each other & finally, Shiro turns, going back into the house. Minami says "Your mother was beyond help..." At that moment, the neighbors come out of their shops & gather around to look. Minami casts a sly glance around him & seizes the moment "...but I wanted to do something, anything to try to save her...wanted to do anything to save her! Did my best to treat her...desperately tried to save her!" As Minami puts on a dramatic performance outside, Nao makes a phone call "It's Nao...anything...did you find anything?"

 

In her office, Kirino replies looking at the documents "Other than what was said at the press conference, nothing else is recorded..."Nao asks "You didn't find anything?" Kirino tells him "Just glancing at them right now, can't see anything doubtful in Minami's medical treatment..." Nao mutters "That can't..." Outside, Minami carries on his performance "I was only desperate!" Kirino, surprised, hears Minami say "I tried to save your mother!" The neighbors start calling from outside "Nao-chan, let him in..." Kirino says "But..." Nao asks "But what?" Kirino continues "Something's wrong..." "Wrong? What's wrong?" "I don't know..." Minami continues with the act outside "I tried to save your mother!" The neighbors say "It's been tough on you Nao, but the doctor's suffered enough too..." Not knowing what to do, Nao says to Kirino "Right now...outside..." Kirino tells him "Don't take him on...give me a bit more time...wait for me to get in touch with you..." Nao replies "Alright..." Kirino says "Bye..." & hangs up...

 

Kirino sits down at her computer & gets to work...

 

As Nao hangs up, the neighbors, playing into Minami's hands, say "Even if the mesu was left behind forgotten, this treatment is too much! You're in aren't you? Let him in, let him in, Nao-chan..." Minami falls dramatically against the door. The neighbors continue their assault on Nao "Let him apologize! Just let him! Doing this, do you think your mother will be pleased? What's wrong? It's not like you!" as they start banging on the door. Slowly, a step at a time, Nao approaches the door. Slowly lifting his hand up, Nao turns off the light. Outside the neighbors mutter "What the..?! Could've just forgiven him..." Minami contemplates, a look in his eye. Inside, Nao moves away from the door, listening to the people say "The doctor's suffered enough! Forgive him! This is repaying someone's kindness with resentment! Forgive him already! Stop this nonsense!..." Nao puts his hands on the counter, hunched over in torment...

 

Nao stands outside along the corridor, watching the Kendo practice session...

 

I want to become strong...

I want to become a strong person...

 

The coach comes up "Masaki! What are you doing? Go inside..." but Nao merely hands him a letter of resignation from the club & without a word, walks away, out of school...

even if no one understands me, it doesn't matter...

that I am right & what I believe in...

carry that through right to the end...

no matter what everyone around me says...

I want to make sure with my own eyes...

I want to think with my own mind...

& with my own legs....

whatever happened to Mom...

I'll struggle towards that truth...

but...everything to me was a first experience...

 

As Nao walks home, he overhears neighbors talk about him & look at him strangely "So in the end the doctor left...it's money? That's cruel!" With the neighbors whispering about him, Nao stops & stairs a phone...

 

At that moment, I was really...really...

feeling helpless...unable to do anything, uneasy

I was all alone...

 

Nao picks up the phone & makes a call...

 

In the pouring rain, carrying an umbrella & running towards a park, Ami looks around searching. In a distance, she sees Nao sitting desolately alone on a bench, hunched over in the rain. Slowly, Ami walks up to him & puts her umbrella over Nao. As if bringing him out of a trance, Nao looks up & sees her smiling at him. Reaching out for her hand, Nao gets up & puts his arms around her. The umbrella goes flying to the ground as Nao embraces Ami, totally drenched....

 

In the distance, sitting in her car, Ami's mother Akiko looks on....