Shin-han'nin....the real criminal....

Naoki's in a car, keeping an eye on Kokubu's cousin........

Keita has a meeting with Kiichiro & tells him "As soon as Kokubu was released from prison, we found out that he went to look for his cousin....right now Ito Naoki is following him....as soon as there's anything, I'll let you know at once...." Kiichiro puts an envelope on the table & Keita eagerly picks it up. Kiichiro says "I'll wait for your news...." & gets up to leave. Keita says "Hamazaki! Why do you want to find out about Kokubu & know Naoki's movements?" Kiichiro answers "Didn't I say so already? In order to protect Minako...." Keita goes "Hmmm....I wonder if that's it...." Kiichiro sits back down & warns Keita "Nakajima....don't be too nosey...." Keita says "I'm really sorry...."

Naoki asks Kokubu's cousin Kokubu Kazuhiko "Please tell me....what did you say to him?" He looks at Naoki & then opens the door calling "Ken! Ken!" A little boy come & takes the bag from him "Dad!" "Take this in...." & then to Naoki he says "About 10 years after that incident, I went to burn some incense (joss) sticks for the victims....I learnt from Yoshihara's lawyer...." Naoki says "That Minako had moved & was being brought up by her uncle?" "Although he didn't know where they moved to but said something like after graduating from Tandai, she was working in a nursery in the city...." Naoki asks "You told Yoshihara after he was released from prison?" The man nods & Naoki mutters "Then he already knows...."

Minako pours over the documents & her voiceover says "Even having read the details of the trial, there were things I couldn't understand....if Kokubu Yoshiharu murdered 3 people & coming downstairs noticing me, why didn't he kill me....but instead left the scene of the crime?" Shoko comes in & says "Minako, sorry, I'm taking a break first....Yamamoto, let's go...." & then to Minako again "If anyone comes, please take care of them...." They leave & Minako continues "Someone must have come to the house....that's to say the first person to discover the crime....that's why Kokubu gave up the intention of killing me, rushed to the foyer to get his shoes & then ran out through the back door....but according to these data, the first person to discover the crime was Kokubu....if that's the case, the murderer must be....someone else! But if that's so then why didn't Kokubu say he was innocent during the trial?"

Outside as Shoko & Yamamoto leave the nursery, they walk pass a man....Kokubu Yoshiharu, standing & waiting........

At the restaurant in Chinatown Naoki & Keita question the Tamaki "Because I hurt someone, when I was in jail, I shared the same cell as Kokubu....a month ago he appeared....that he's disappeared from his parole officer, couldn't believe it...." Keita says "So he was freeloading for a while...." "No....he's got a home to come back to....he got married in prison, it just hasn't been registered yet...." Keita asks "Where is she? His wife?" Tamaki looks at Harue "My sister...." Keita mutters "His wife is...." Tamaki says "That man as disappeared...." Keita gets up & goes to her "Do you have any idea where he might be?" She recalls Kokubu telling her "You've never seen me, no matter what say you have no idea....whoever comes to check up on me, can you tell them that?" She looks at Keita & shakes her head. Naoki asks "Did your husband say anything?" She replies "He said that he'll return home some day...." Naoki asks "Anything....anything else?" She looks at Naoki & recalls her questioning Kokubu "What do you intend to do?" "For the time being I'm going to be someone else...." "What do you mean?" "When everything's over, I'll come home...." Back in the present Naoki says "Become someone else....he said that?" Tamaki says "Probably going to get a new koseki (identity register) from the slums...." Naoki goes up to her "Uhm....are you hiding anything else? Is it alright if your husband returns to jail?" She finally says "Hell...." "Eh?" "He said he's thinking of an appropriate hell for that person...." Naoki asks "Who's that person?" "I don't know...."

Keita & Naoki sit by the pier & talk. Naoki asks Keita "If the murderer isn't Kokubu Yoshiharu....what's going to happen?" "Hmmm....if he isn't the murderer then why is he targeting Minako?" "Minako was the sole witness....but Minako did not appear during the trial to prove that he was innocent....so Kokubu is filled with hatred for Minako...." "But if Kokubu had screamed innocence during the trial....they'd have discovered something....no matter what, Minako will be worried...." Naoki nods, not answering & then looking at his watch, gets up & leaves. Keita says "I'll hang around & do a little more checking up...." As soon as Naoki runs off, Keita makes a call on his cell phone "Hello, could I speak with Hamazaki of the cultural department please?"

Naoki arrives home & as he sticks the key into the lock, he turns around suddenly....Yuri's waiting for him....

Inside, Yuri looks out the window "Look's like she's not back yet...." "What do you want? If there's nothing, hurry up & go home...." Yuri says "I came to here to be held by you (made love to) ....things that are out of reach, doesn't matter....things that are within reach....as long as one has courage to grab them...." Naoki asks "Don't you have any pride?" "I do....the pride of being the only woman that loves you this much...." Naoki doesn't reply & right then they both hear a car pulls up & hearing it Yuri looks out "It's her...."

Kiichiro says to Minako "Sorry, couldn't take our time...." "You must be tired....don't overdo it...." Minako looks up to see Yuri drawing up the blinds & coming out into the veranda "Good evening...." Naoki grabs her in "What are you doing?" & draws the blinds shut. Kiichiro says "He's got a girl there huh...." Minako looks a little disappointed & then just says with a tired shrug "Bye...." Kiichiro says "Goodnight", takes a look up at Naoki's apartment & gets into his car........

Yuri says to Naoki "When she's with him all night....what does it feel like? Watching the light go out, do you drown your sorrows drinking?" Naoki tells her "Go home!" "No!" Naoki yells "Go home!" Yuri yells back "No! I said I came to be held!" She swipes of some light bulbs of the table & says to Naoki "You can't hold me here? Standing here being  faithful to another woman who's being held by another man...." & then with sarcasm adds "some strong sense of duty...." Naoki looks at her & starts taking his clothes off. He tells her "Hurry up & take your clothes off! You came here to be made love to didn't you....hurry & strip!" Yuri sadly takes off her coat. Naoki gets goes over "What! So slow...." grabs her & flings her onto the bed. Naoki says to Yuri "Making love here is fine isn't it....what are you crying for?! Stop fooling around" Naoki grabs her........

In the apartment across, Minako seems troubled....

Later, Yuri reaches for her clothes & starts dressing. Quietly she says "I understand for the first time....loving someone....hurts....terribly........that pain, can I stand it I wonder....Naoki, can you stand it?" Naoki lying on the bed doesn't answer. Yuri gets up says "Good night...." & leaves....

Working late at night & tired, Kiichiro stands by the window. All of a sudden he sees his mother's reflection in the window. It disappears & he turns around, goes outside, chasing her along the corridors. He finally runs up to the roof & as he looks around. Suddenly he says "Vanilla essence...." turns around & sees his mother across the roof, dressed in white & holding onto a stalk of orchids. He says "You're still alive!" "Yes!" "Why now...." "Didn't you want to see me?" "Where have you been all this while!?" "Everything about you....I've been watching....Minako's become a beautiful woman...." "What do you intend to do?" "At that time (the past)....I've said it...." She starts walking off & Kiichiro yells "Mother!" running after her. She runs into the building & as Kiichiro follows, he stumbles & fall at the top of the stairs. Kiichiro has a flashback to when he was a child, painting a nude portrait of his mother. She says "Steady yourself....just draw whatever's sent into your heart...." A young Kiichiro stammers "But...." "But what?" "But mom's face....isn't like mom!" She puts down a glass, stands up completely nude & stands in front of the boy "Remember this well....when nothing's sent into your heart....there is someone else seducing you in your heart....that seductress in your heart, I will never forgive!!!" Back in the present Kiichiro says "The seductress in my heart....will never forgive...." Sitting down he says "Mother....where were you? 15 years ago....that night....where were you?"

Keita & Naoki go around searching for clues regarding Kokubu. Keita says "Bought a koseki from the homeless, to the extent of becoming someone else, what are his intentions?" Naoki answers "Don't know...." Sitting along a pier Keita says "Naoki...." "Hm?" "Cherish her....Yuri...." "Maybe I can't (cherish anyone) like you can...." Keita says "I feel like killing you....sometimes...." Naoki answers "I....probably....can't cherish anyone, I think...." "Then what about Oba Minako?" Naoki doesn't reply. Keita says "The love of watching over someone for over 10 years....unimaginable...." "It's a long story...." "I'll listen...." "Forget it...." "Tell me...." Naoki sighs "When Minako was 13, & no longer in Gunma but attending Junior High school in Tokyo....I knew....at a nearby Shinto shrine whenever there was a festival, Minako would definitely come & catch goldfish, she was good, like a pro....I taught her everything....of course Minako mistakenly thinks it's her own ability but when I see that image I'm really happy....my memories....have become Minako's memories....the both of us have the same things in our hearts....it's that emotion....when Minako was in the 2nd year of high school, first time she started going steady....he was baseball player 3rd base....at a Sunday practice game....she'd bring sliced lemon sports drinks etc to cheer him on....that boring game....I'd stay until the end....walking home in the sunset, holding hands, I thought of throwing stones from behind....she even cried in a phone booth....that was the first time her heart was broken....but I couldn't comfort her or anything....graduating from high school & entering Tandai....but I was still a high school boy with acne....Minako....looking at her she was the type to enter parties (inter college parties) but because she could hold her liquor, she ended up looking after her friends who got drunk....couldn't do a two shot (a party of 2 people).... 'sorry, yuko is little drunk, I'll send her home....ah thanks, we're going to another place....'....that was the usual pattern....& then from behind Minako, I'd wave to her image "Bye bye....'....I'd take the last train on the Takazaki line....sacrificed my youth...."

At Kiichiro's apartment Minako says "I've packed away all the summer stuff....other things you don't need, send them over...." Kiichiro replies, working on his notebook "sorry, going on like this it doesn't seem like I can move in before the wedging....ah, the old magazines in the closet, can throw them out...." & muttering to himself "Cruel company....to be written up in that magazine like that....selling off paintings in your custody at your own discretion........" Kiichiro gets up & asks Minako "How about making some coffee?" He sees Minako looking at something by the closet, not answering & asks "What's wrong?" Minako's looking at Kiichiro's graduation certificate "This...." Kiichiro grabs it from her as she says "I saw it unintentionally....sorry...." Minako asks in shock "I heard you were from a university in the northwest but the same university as Kokubu Yoshiharu........" Kiichiro answers "I knew that I would have to tell you one day...." Minako asks "What do you mean?" Kiichiro tells her "Kokubu was my classmate....lived together in the same dormitory....I also knew that Kokubu & your sister were dating....on top of that, a Minako still in grade school....I met quite a few times...." Minako looks at Kiichiro who recalls a young Minako outside the dorm shouting "Kokubu-san! Kokubu-san!" Kiichiro looks at the window & says "Kokubu's been called away by the university...." Minako says "Eh? But I purposely brought a love letter from my sister...." Kiichiro laughs "Minako's love's cupid huh!" Minako smiles holding up the letter "That's right!" 

Back in the present Kiichiro says to Minako "I've kept silent all this time, sorry....when I met you 3 years ago, when we first started going out, thought that it couldn't be that child...." Minako says "Then, that child's family was killed by Kokubu....you already knew at the time...." "Yes....but you forgot everything about the incident....I thought I shouldn't speak about it....about your memories being buried & changed, I really didn't know anything about it....the Minako that time, really prayed in your heart that your sister & Kokubu would be happy....the both of them that were planning to elope on Christmas Eve....you were cheering them on...." Minako asks "Elope?" Kiichiro continues "But it never happened....cause that Christmas Eve that incident happened....when I learnt about it from the newspapers, I was in shock....that day was exactly when I mom's death was formally declared....I went back to Yokohama & drank until dawn with Dad....but that Eve, if I had remained in Fukushima, maybe I could've stopped Kokubu....just that, I still regret it until today...." Kiichiro ends up upset & Minako asks "I....what sort of child was I?" Kiichiro thinks "The Minako then....the Minako then liked to play with boys....we used to often play catch ball at the dormitory grounds...." Minako says "I used to throw curves?" Kiichiro tells her "I taught you that...." Minako says "Is that so...." seemingly a little disappointed. Kiichiro says "Don't worry....the memories that Ito Naoki's father gave you is surprisingly similar to the real memories...." Minako smiles "Tell me more? What sort of a child was I?" Kiichiro replies "You liked to look after others, because of that, you would lose out....that kind of child....ah, you even showed me your report book before....physical education was 5, language was 5, on the comments page the teacher wrote that although it it alright to be in control in class, you should help out the class monitor a bit more (literally, hold back & let the boy be the one in charge, ie give him face)....that sort of thing, you haven't changed...."" Minako smiles "What do you mean?" Kiichiro puts his arm around her "It'll be fine....from now on, the past that torments you won't anymore...." Minako smiles & says "I'll go make some coffee?" Kiichiro nods "Uhm...." Minako goes make the coffee with a troubled heart....Kiichiro tosses his graduation certificate back into the closet & stares at something. Reaching in he pulls away a cloth....his pictures of his mother, drawn when he was a child. He stares at the nude pictures & an image of his mother appears before fading away....

The next morning as Naoki's on his way to work, looking like he hasn't quite woken up completely, he sees Minako at the milk stand "Good morning...." Sitting down on the bench with a bottle of milk Naoki says "Fukushima University?" Minako nods "Yes....same as Kokubu....said they were classmates...." Naoki doesn't say anything, just takes a sip of his milk. Minako continues "Besides you, others who knew the old me are nearby...." Naoki asks "Then, what? He....with the girl he knew then, suddenly met again 3 years ago?" Minako tells him "The two of us have that deep a relationship....this is the first time I realized it....I....feel like I can become be happy...." Minako gets up "I'm done...." putting the empty milk bottle back & going off. Naoki doesn't say anything, thinks & drinks....

Naoki opens his door to see Kiichiro outside "Are you working?" Naoki replies "No, come in...." Kiichiro stands in the foyer looking around as Naoki, walking in says again "Come in...." Kiichiro nods & come inside. Naoki says "Ah, regarding Kokubu, what I've found out....like to know?" Kiichiro answers "Yeah...." Naoki replies "Classmates huh...." "You heard from Minako?" "Uhm...." answers Naoki going to his desk. Sitting down in front of the computer he says "3 years ago....meeting her at that concert where that incident happened, was that by chance?" Kiichiro asks instead "What do you think?" Naoki replies "Uhm....fate....I don't quite believe in it...."Kiichiro touches one of Naoki's lighting equipment "No matter what the thing is, depending on the way light shines on it, it can appear to be something else...." Naoki says "That's my job...." Kiichiro asks "The way of shining light on Minako, what sort of light is it?" Naoki replies "You & the girl who's family was killed by Kokubu....meet again 3 years earlier...." Kiichiro answers "Ah, it's as you say....the Kokubu that I lived with in the same dormitory killed Minako's family, Minako was left all alone....at the time, I felt a little responsible too....in the forest in Gunma, treatment she received from your father, I know that too....but what sort of treatment, returning to her uncle's place 3 months later, I didn't know about that...." Naoki asks "You've been to my house too?" "Ah....I did that....keeping watch over Minako....that's why at that concert, you can say it was a meeting by chance, or not by chance...." "In other words, the both of us have been standing at different corners keeping watch over Minako...." "Ah, that's why when I first heard about you, I didn't think you were a stranger...." Naoki smiles & Kiichiro walks into the kitchen asking "You're still here going to be here?" "Don't worry, when the wedding's over & you're starting your new life together I won't be here....I'm not that masochistic...." 

Kiichiro walks to the window & opens the blinds "Regarding Kokubu....better if don't go after him...." "Is that a warning?" "I know Kokubu's character well....once he gets mad, he's unstoppable....during school days he fought with some schoolmates at a bar, caused them great injury....that characteristic of Kokubu....Kimiko tried to change him & that incident happened....anyway, it's getting to the time where the law officers will handle Kokubu...." "That would be good...." Kiichiro says "bothered you...." & turns to leave. Naoki suddenly says "Hamazaki-san....no matter what I still have something I'd like to know....Kokubu didn't even touch one finger of Minako & ran off....he'd already killed 3 people, why didn't he kill Minako? Thinking about it, someone arrived, that's why the murderer fled...." "Coming to that house....there isn't such a person...." "There is, there's Kokubu...." "But that's what he said...." "But, if Kokubu really was the murderer....then appearing in front of the 'full of life' Minako as the first person on the scene....that was all pretense?" "Then you're saying that the real murderer is someone else?" Naoki gets stuck on his speculation "That....I don't know...." Kiichiro looks at Naoki....an image of his mother flashes in his mind.... "Sorry to have bothered you...." Naoki walks back in & passing the kitchen, goes to the window, closes the blinds....

At the nursery, Minako's working all alone. It's late at night & it's thundering outside, lightning going off furiously. Putting things away, she suddenly looks up out the window & sees an image. She's startled & then realizes it's a woman....it's Yuri. As Minako pours a cup of coffee, Yuri says "Hurry & be happy with your fiance....that happiness....show it to Naoki....hurt him more....Naoki...." Minako goes up to her "Your feelings....it's not that I don't understand....but you're mistaken....here...." offering her the mug. When Yuri doesn't take it or reply, Minako continues "What he feels for me isn't love...." "Are you serious?" "It's like an obligation....it might be his first love....watching over me for 15 years....looking at that, it's just his sense of duty...." "Isn't that love?" Yuri asks, walking towards her "What about your feelings?" Minako answers "I am getting married in December, creating a family....I haven't thought about anything else...." "Haven't you thought anything about Naoki?" Minako tells her "At first I thought he was creepy, destroying my happiness I hated him....but understanding him....but really speaking, I won't like him....it's the truth...." Yuri's about to say something when suddenly a flash of lightning & thunder trips the switches & the whole place is engulfed in darkness. The flashes of lightning stun Minako & looking at Yuri's white coat, suddenly has flashbacks to the murder. Minako grabs the side of the desk & Yuri asks "What's wrong?" Minako sees an image of herself as a 12 year old looking at the mirror ....Minako falls to the floor as Yuri starts to panic "Are you alright?! Are you alright?!" Minako looks at her hands not answering....

Naoki comes through the corridors of the hospital, worry written on his face. Coming into a room he sees Kiichiro & Yuri waiting outside a treatment room. Looking at Yuri he says "What did you go there to do?" Kiichiro replies "Because she was there, she helped...." Neither Naoki nor Yuri say anything. As Naoki walks towards the room & looks at Minako thru the glass window, Kiichiro says "Apparently another flashback occurred....what did she see this time?" Naoki answers "Not Kokubu, someone else perhaps...." Kiichiro asks "Not Kokubu, someone else?" Naoki replies "The real murderer...." Kiichiro stares at Naoki who turns around "The real murderer....went after Minako....in order to kill Minako, he came that windy (rainy) Christmas Eve...." Kiichiro remembers his mother saying "that seductress in your heart, I will never forgive...." Naoki continues "The murderer killed the family that tried to protect Minako....but at the crucial moment, he fled without killing Minako....Kokubu arrived...." Kiichiro walks up to Naoki & says "Who? Kill Minako for what reason?" Naoki answers "I don't know...." Kiichiro loses his cool "If you don't know don't say ridiculous things!!" 

Right then a nurse comes out to tell them "She's awake...." Kiichiro goes in "Minako!" She sits up, not saying anything. Kiichiro says "Lucky you weren't hurt....if you can't remember that's fine but....did you see anything this time? If you feel better telling us, tell us...." Minako sits there expressionless & in silence. Kiichiro asks "What's wrong Minako?" Naoki looks at her as she finally says "I....saw...." Kiichiro asks anxiously "What?" Naoki thinks, Minako suddenly smiles "the criminal who killed my family...." Kiichiro says "It's Kokubu isn't it?" Minako shakes her head as she gets up & both men look at her. Kiichiro asks "Then....who was it? Minako!" Minako looks at her reflection in the glass & says "Me....reflected in the mirror....me...." Naoki thinks as Minako continues "In my hand....I was holding a knife....my clothes were covered in blood...." as she remembers the flashback. Turning around she says "The one who killed my family....was me...." Kiichiro says "That's ridiculous...." but Minako continues "So Kokubu Yoshiharu's looking for me....on the real murderer who put the blame on him....he's going to take revenge....if you think about it, it's logical....why was I the only survivor, why wasn't I killed? That's 'cause I'm the murderer!" Kiichiro tries to calm her down "A 12 year old girl....that's impossible!" A distraught Minako says "Impossible?! Impossible?! Really impossible?! I had a knife in my hands! I could've been a child that stabbed an adult in the back!" Kiichiro says "You were not that sort of a child Minako!" Crying, Minako says "Kiichiro, what do you know?! All of you....all of you, what do you know?!" Naoki, after being silent all this while, calmly says "I'll find out....what sort of child Minako was....I'll find out for you....so you don't have to worry....go ahead & marry Hamazaki...." Kiichiro looks at him. Naoki goes to Minako & says "I'll go...." Kiichiro asks "Where are you going?" Naoki answers "Fukushima Prefecture's Mikura City....Minako's hometown...." Everyone in the room is silent, Naoki leaves & Minako cries....

Sitting outside Minako's apartment downstairs, Kokubu smokes a cigarette, humming the song White Christmas, folding an origami bird........finished, he blows it & it falls to the ground, lying on its side.......