haha wa nande shinda ka?

Why did mom die?

At the Spring Kendo Club training camp, the boys are furiously practicing against one another. On the wall, the schedule shows the day's plans from 7am to 10pm. The coach walks in, looking around, noticing something wrong, he angrily flings a towel onto the ground...

On a couple of bicycles, 5 boys dressed in their Kendo uniforms, speed along the country side in high spirits...Mt Fuji rising gloriously in the distance. Arriving at a convenience store, they grab shopping baskets. One of them stubs his toe in the doorway "Ow..." "What are you doing?" Bantering among themselves, they wander inside "...am buying this...ah they have it...it's over here...over here, over here...you've got to be kidding..." A teenage girl looks curiously at the boys from a distance. As the boys pick up groceries & things, Masaki Nao's voiceover comes on...

That day, we were angry...

...the social gathering with fireworks held at the spring training camp every year...

...was simply cancelled due to bad weather...

The boys find some fireworks "Hey fireworks!...Great!...Buy some!...this too!..." Nao says "Let's go..." walking in the direction of the girl. Nervously, she backtracks, bumping into a carton of oranges which go tumbling onto the ground. Nao coming round the shelves, stops & starts helping her pick the oranges up. Shyly, she says "You're Masaki from Toritsu Bunka high school aren't you..." Nao looks up at her as she adds "I saw you at last year's district preliminary finals..." Nao, surprised, nods "Oh..." Hearing his Kota call him "Nao!", he hands over a couple of the oranges to the girl "Here..." & goes back to them. Kota shows him a wallet "This is risky...there's 300,000 yen in here!" Nao tells him "We're already come this far, don't panic...that's our club funds after all..." "That's true..." the other guys chip in. Nao says "Let's go..." & the girl watches them quibble among themselves with a big smile...

As the boys return back to camp with all their shopping, Nao's voiceover comes on...

I didn't think that I had done anything wrong...

Certainly, the way we did it was a little rough but...

 ...as encouragement, aiming for the inter-high (competition),

...training from morning til night...

...we longed for freedom...

I thought it didn't matter if we just had a little bit of fun...

As the boys approach the camp "Damn! We're in for it..." The coach, talking to a police officer turns around & sees them, nodding angrily...

In the auditorium, the boys on their knees mutter to themselves "He knows we were the ones who did it, why did he have to call the police...that teacher's character is perverted...that's why I said it was risky...what a time to say that now...really..." The coach stomps in annoyed "Right now, this teacher with the horrid character is here to inform you...this time we'll let you off lightly......accordingly the police has decided to stay out of this...doing something this disgraceful, what the hell were you thinking of?" Nao replies "...because you wouldn't explain to us..." "Huh?" Nao boldly says "Please explain why you cancelled the fireworks get together without asking us..." The coach walks up to Nao & bites out "I said that it was decided at the staff meeting didn't I..." "Sensei..." The coach raises his voice "It was decided at the staff meeting!" Nao blinks "Your fly's down..." The coach looks at his zip "Eh?" As he does his zip up in embarrassment, the other boys start laughing. As the teacher continues scolding them, Nao's voiceover comes on...

...& then, I was the only one that was suspended......

It felt like a joke, but it was real...

Masaki Teruko walks up to the camp...

The next day, Mom was called to the camp...

...taking 4 hours from Tokyo, Mom game to get me...

In front of the other boys training, Teruko apologizes to the coach "I'm very sorry...I will give him a good telling off...ah, this...if you don't mind, please accept this..." Nao watches his mother from the doorway as she gives the coach some packages. Bowing to the coach, she says "I'm very sorry..." The coach replies "There's not need for that..." Kato & the other boys turn to look at Teruko saying "I'm very sorry...this isn't much but..." Nao, looking fed up, goes outside & sits down, putting on earphones & listening to music. After a while, Teruko comes out & pulls out Nao's earphones. Nao looks up & she says "I've explained everything...let's go..." Nao gets up, picks his bag & kendo equipment. As he starts walking ahead, he throws his mother a disgusted glance "Aren't you being idiotic?" Teruko looks surprised "Huh?"

As Nao walks ahead of his mother ignoring her, Teruko tries to keep up behind him "Wait a minute...how are you carrying all that...Nao...wait up! Nao! Nao!...Aahh!..." Nao hearing her cry, turns around to see what happened...

At the bus stop, Teruko holds one of her shoes with the heel broken off "What am I going to do? I've only got this one pair..." Hitting Nao gently with it, she says "Nao, you'll have to pay me for this..." Nao mutters "You didn't have to wear those..." "One can't just wear sandals to come here & apologize......" "But you didn't have to bow to him...usually just talking would be enough..." Teruko sighs "All because of you...if one didn't do that you think the coach would accept it...what I said was to pacify him...just getting off with being suspended...you're an idiot..." Nao retorts irritably "I know already...quit nagging..." A car speeds by & suddenly, Nao hears someone say "Hello!" Turning to look, Nao sees Ami smiling, running up towards him "Thanks for yesterday..." When Nao doesn't seem to remember her, Ami says "...yesterday at the store..." Nao remembers "Oh..." not looking too excited to see her. Ami asks "You're waiting for the bus? I happen to see you as we passed..." Teruko comes up to her "Sorry..." & gives Nao a smack on his shoulder. Teruko introduces herself "Ah, I'm Nao's mother..." "Pleased to meet you...if you'd like, how about a ride to the station? I'm with my mother..." They all turn to see Ami's mother Akiko come out of the car, giving them a nod in the distance. Teruko says "That's ok, it's not necessary..." but Ami replies "Please..." "Oh...in that case...thank you very much..." As Nao watches his mother walk towards the car, his voiceover comes on...

Mom got into the car......

& then she said if I waited for the bus I wouldn't make the train going back...

In the car, Nao looks out the window disinterestedly as his mother talks to Ami & Akiko "...wow, you have a summer home here?" "We come every spring & spend some time here..."

I was thinking that I'd never see that mother & daughter again...

It was annoying & I couldn't stand it...

Arriving at the station, Nao sullenly gets out of the car & walks off, leaving his mother thanking the the mother & daughter. Sitting in the train beside him, Teruko brightly offers him an orange "Orange?" but looking fed up, Nao gets up & takes another seat by himself...

Mom bowing to sensei over & over again...

 ...being so friendly towards that mother & daughter we just met... 

...laughing foolishly...

...her shoe with the broken heel..

...wearing the only suit she had...

...the color of the manicure she rarely had on...

...the cheap perfume... 

...everything about Mom...

...I felt annoyed & couldn't stand it......

...at the time, I......was 17...

As Nao takes his earphones & puts them on, he glances up & stares out the window......

From inside the train heading towards Tokyo...

...I saw the setting sun....

Turning around to look at his mother, Teruko cheerfully holds out the orange "Have some?" but Nao merely turns away...

A week after that......

...on April 13th.....

 ......Mom............died............

 

April 13th...7.40am...

Teruko calls out "Yuko! Yuko! Ah, you're going out again?" Yuko breezes by her mother "I'm doing part time work...said I was on the morning shift didn't I?" Teruko follows her to the door "Working part time's fine but that's not the main point of getting a job, if that's not the case there's no point in going to junior college......go wake Nao up, he's got school today..." "Ah, his suspension ends today..." "Go wake him up..." "Are you guys still fighting? It's been a week already..." Yuko's father comes by moaning & both Yuko & Teruko throw him a "Good morning" before carrying with their conversation. As Yuko slides the door open & walks out, Teruko says "If he doesn't speak to me I can't do anything..." Yuko brings in the paper & hands it to her father "Here...I'm leaving..." & slides the door shut behind her. Teruko calls out "Yuko!" & then gives up turning her attention on her husband instead "Go wake Nao up..." but Shiro rubs his stomach moaning "My stomach hurts...since the curry I ate last night..." "Are you saying there was something wrong with the curry I made?" Before Shiro can say anything, they hear the sound of glass breaking. Turning around, Teruko sees her younger daughter in the kitchen "Runa! What happened? Ah, isn't this my chawan (tea cup)?" Teruko sees the broken pieces of porcelain on the floor & reaches for a rag "What are you doing? Go over there..." gently telling Runa. As she wipes up the mess, she hears Runa say "Oni-chan good morning!" Looking up, she sees Nao in his school uniform, putting on his shoes, replying "Good morning..." Teruko goes up to him "Nao, I've bought your favorite mame-daifuku (soft round rice cake stuffed with sweet bean jam)...can have them when you come back...school's only in the morning today, you know that right?" Nao ignores her & walks out the front door even as Teruko says "This afternoon there's a talk for guardians (parents) on continuing education, I'll be attending...you want to go on to university don't you..." When Nao ignores her, she shouts "Nao! Nao!" Finally Nao turns around & says irritably "Stop it! Leave me alone!" Teruko mutters "What are you saying..." & then cheerfully yells "There's no way one will leave one's son alone!" When Nao turns around to give her a last glance, Teruko gives him a big grin "Bye!" & a happy wave...

Runa tells her mother "I'm off..." "Watch out for cars...bye..." Shiro comes up moaning "Have you got the medication Teruko?" "Here...I'm going to the salon later this afternoon so can you help out with the store...don't forget the cabbage & pork, order it from the grocers...& then, ah yes...the light for the sign outside, can you get that fixed as well..." Shiro gets up walking to the toilet again moaning "Don't ask me to do that..." "But I'm working every day...really..." Hearing the dog bark, Teruko looks out into the little garden "I know I know Wasuke...your walk...just wait a second..."

11.45am......

Class ends & as the students swamp the corridor, Mari mutters "Ah, found him...Nao!" running up to him. "Can I see you for a minute?" Along a stairwell, Mari tells Nao "There's a girl called Isetani Ami waiting for you outside the main gate, go see her? There's no club activities on today anyway..." Nao asks "Who's this Isetani Ami?" "I don't know...I got a mail from Uchi asking me to act as go-between..." "Huh?"

Queuing up to buy lunch, Kota goes "Uchi?" Nao replies "Yeah...the friend of that guy from grade school who was mad about pitching..." "That guy?" "Yes...a friend of his called Isetani Ami..." "Wow, have a friend so far away*" As they banter between themselves, the coach comes over to them "Masaki! Kashiwano! The both of you haven't handed up your shinro-saki (academic plans for continuing education) have you*hurry up & hand it in*"

On the roof top having their lunch, Kota groans "Shinro-saki huh..." Nao mutters half to himself "I want to leave Tokyo*" "Why?" "I want to leave home..." At that moment, the other boys on the roof call them "Nao! Kota! Come here..." The see a girl in a different school uniform by the main gate "Look! She must be from a private school...looks like she's waiting for someone!" Nao looks "Ah*" Kota adds "Maybe she's that girl..." "That girl?" "Ah I mean she's a friend*" "Ah, by any chance, she's waiting for Nao?" Nao replies "Probably*" & the guys go "Uwaaaa..." in envy....

Isetani Ami turns around & when she sees Nao, gives a big smile "Hello..." Nao nods "Hello...thanks for the other day...." Ami takes a card from her bag & gives it to Nao "Ah, this...it's the last day today..." Nao looks at it "A photograph exhibition?" "It's a quick bus ride, would you go with me?" "Eh?"

At the okonomi restaurant adjoining the Masaki home, a customer says to Shiro in surprised "Still not back yet?" Shiro replies "Yes...since she went out this morning, she hasn't come back..." "She said she was going to the salon didn't she? Having to go to school today..." "But she went out for a walk with the dog..." At that moment some customers come in & Shiro greets them "Welcome...", getting back to work, putting on one of the aprons. The other apron remains hanging on the wall.....

1.10pm...

On board the bus, Ami tells Nao "I cut school today...it's the first time I've ever done something like this..." Nao nonchalantly tells her "People like me do it all the time..."  The bus swerves, causing Ami to lean against Nao & embarrassed, she apologizes "Sorry..." Nao asks "What grade are you in?" "2nd year..." "Private high school?" "Yes..." At that moment, an ambulance goes by the bus & Nao looks out the window at it...

1.28pm...

At the photograph exhibition, Ami shows him one photograph in particular. Nao looks shocked to see it. Ami tells him "Shocked? This was the Masaki at last year's district preliminary competition..." Nao stares at the photograph of himself in his Kendo outfit titled "Defeat" that won an award for excellence. Annoyed, Nao says "Who? Who did this...." A woman (Kirino Setsu) comes up "Me...I was the one who took that picture...watched the competition last summer..." Annoyed, Nao walks off without saying a word, going into the elevator. Ami goes after him "What's wrong?" "Nothing..." Kirino follows them into the elevator "Seeing a picture of yourself in defeat...you're upset..." Ami looks at her & says to Nao "Cute...is she your girlfriend? On a date?" Nao retorts "You're really the worst...taking a picture of one losing..." "I know you...you're the son of the folks who run the Okonomiyaki-ya Shiro restaurant at the outskirts of town..." Surprised, Nao doesn't reply. As the lift opens & Kirino walks out, she says "I work above the pachinko place near the station...come by if you don't mind, I'll make it up to you for taking your picture..." With a smile & nod, she leaves. Ami asks Nao "You know her?" Nao replies irritably "How would I know her...."

3.20pm...

As they walk along the streets, Ami says "I went to see that competition with my friends...everyone said it was a really good match...I remembered everything about you & that match..." Nao replies "But a loss is a loss..." "But I thought that you should've won...you were much stronger...on top of that I really like..." Nao stops & looks at her "Eh?" Ami tells him "Your family runs a okonomiyaki restaurant right? I really like it...okonomiyaki..." Nao says "Thanks for saying that it was a good match...first time someone said that I should've won...thank you..."

At his friend's house, the other guys all crowd around Nao "How was it?" Nao embarrassingly relates "...went to the photo exhibition...sent her to the station...that's it..." "Huh!? That's it!? Nothing else?" "Nao's not interested..." "You're kidding, private school & all that..." "You're hopeless..." Nao looks around at his friends, then says "I agreed that next time we'd all meet up together..." Everyone cheers up & make a lot of noise. Finally Nao says "Alright alright...let's go for ramen (noodles)..."

7pm...

Shiro says "Is that so..." & then hangs up the phone. Anxiously, Yuko asks "What did obasan (auntie) say?" "Nothing..." Nao returns home "I'm back..." Runa says "Oni-chan..." & Yuko tells him "Mom didn't come back..." Nao looks at them...

9.40pm...

Yuko says "Mom didn't take her wallet or anything...there's been no word from her since she took Wasuke out for a walk..." Nao takes a drink from the kitchen, & walks by indifferently "Probably out gossiping somewhere..." "Wait a minute Nao!" Nao stops in his tracks & Shiro asks "Did you talk to mom this morning?" Nao replies "Yeah..." "Did she say anything?" "Nothing..." & goes off into his room...

9.41pm...

Nao enters his room & lies down on the bed...

9.42pm...

At a hospital emergency room, an operation goes terribly wrong...

9.43pm...

Teruko dies on the operating table...

　

The next morning, Yuko wakes Nao up "Nao! Nao! Get up, we've got to go..." Sleepily Nao looks at his sister. Finally out of bed, he asks her "Where are we going?" Yuko replies "Shoei Sogo Hospital..." "Hospital?" "There was a report on the cable news this morning...an unidentified woman was sent to the hospital wearing a pair of sandals, about 40 years old...I said it wasn't possible...but Dad said there was a chance so he went...he called from the hospital just now..." Runa walks in "Where's Mom?" Yuko continues "In any case, he said for all of us to go to the hospital right away..." Runa asks again "Where's Mom?" Yuko tells Runa "Runa, have your breakfast & then go get dressed...Nao, hurry up too..." Stunned at the news, Nao can only nod "ok..."

Arriving at the hospital, the three siblings look around. A nurse (Kitayama) walks up to them "Excuse me...are you the Masaki family?" Nao replies "Yes..." The nurse tells them "Please come this way..."

In a meeting room, a doctor walks in & the Kitayama says "This is the doctor that was in charge of your mother, Doctor Minami..." & then tells the doctor "This is her family..." Minami asks "Only three people?" "Yes..." Minami tells them "We tried our very best...but..." At that moment, the door opens & another doctor (Isetani Keizo) enters. Yuko says anxiously "Let us see our mother..." The Kitayama tells them "Don't blame your father..." Yuko looks surprised "Eh?" The other doctor says "I hear your family runs an okonomiyaki restaurant..." The Kitayama explains "Your father thinks that he's responsible for letting her do too much..." Yuko asks "What do you mean..." The doctor replies "All of sudden her heartbeat was irregular & stopped...that's to say...karoushi (death from overwork)..." Nao looks as if everything is surreal as Yuko says in tears "...karoushi..." Runa looks up at the both of them...

As they walk down a hospital passageway, Nao recalls scenes of his mother working at the okonomiyaki restaurant...

Mom...when mom gave birth to me it was still chilly...

in the middle of spring, for the sake of Dad who quite work,

renovated half the house to open the okonomiyaki restaurant...

...taking all the changes in stride, Mom would carrying me on her back...

...& work everyday at the store...

...ever since then, Mom has always been working, working...

for all our sakes, Mom that was always busy...that was always working so hard...

They enter the room where Masako Teruko lies. Nao walks in slowly & in disbelief, looks around to see his father already waiting there. Slowly, Nao reaches for the white cloth covering his mother's face...

Mom was...

...Mom was...

...Mom was.......dead.....

Nao stares at his mother, stunned. Yuko breaks down & screams "Noooo...."

Raining heavily the day of the funeral wake, Kirino walks by Nao's house & overhears the neighbors talking among themselves "...karoushi?...yes, she worked hard...but the husband..." Kirino listens for a while, then walks away...

Inside the house, the wake is taking place, Nao dry-eyed, going through the motions, looks over at his mother's photograph...

I felt like this was happening to someone else...

like some drama or game...

felt like I was looking for a reset button to start all over...

For sure I felt irritation & a wave of emotion but...

the feeling of Mom's death being real hadn't sunk in...

As the family walks along a passage way at the crematorium, Mari call out to Nao "Nao..." Holding Runa's hand, he approaches Mari. Mari looks at him "I'm going back now...Mom says to see your Mother's ashes would be too painful..." Her mother calls her "Mari..." & they both turn to look at Mari's mom nod. Mari tells Nao "Everyone's saying that the Teruko of the Okonomiya-Shiro restaurant shone sunlight on everyone....bye..." As Nao looks at Mari leave without saying a word, Runa says "Oni-chan..." Nao looks down at her as she asks "Why did Mom die? Why did she die?" Nao goes down on his heels in front of her "Runa..." but Runa starts crying "Is it because I broke Mom's chawan? I wanted to help Mom but I broke her chawan...I should've helped Mom more...I should've helped her out more..." Unable to bare it, Nao puts his arms around Runa, hugging her as she cries "Oni-chan...oni-chan..."

Even the words 'karoushi' weighed heavily on my sister's mind, a mere 7 year old...

Up to that point in time, my family...I...believed the hospital's explanation...

...until the cremation had taken place....

...until we found that in my mothers ashes...

As the family puts the bones into a jar, Nao suddenly sees something among the remains "What's this?" Yuko, Shiro & Runa look as Nao picks up a long piece of metal. Yuko says in shock "Isn't that a mesu (surgical scalpel)?" Nao says to himself "Why a mesu...a hospital mesu..." Shiro stares at it & suddenly grabs it from Nao. Nao surprised "Dad!" but Shiro tells them "Keep quiet!" Nao looks at him not understanding "Dad!" but Shiro tells him again "It's ok...keep quiet..." Nao looks on in disbelief...

Back home, Nao shouts for Yuko "Aneki! What was the name of that doctor? Aneki!" looking into the phone book. Yuko replies "Stop shouting...you'll wake Runa up, she's fallen asleep..." Nao looks through the phone book "What's the name of the doctor in charge of Mom?" Yuko replies "Doctor Minami...calling the hospital...what do you intend to do?" Nao retorts "Ask what's going on...expect us to keep quiet about something like this?..." Nao dials the number to the hospital "Hello?" A nurse on the other end replies "Shoei Sogo Hospital Emergency Department..." "Is Doctor Minami there? I'm the son of Masaki Teruko, who just died at the hospital..." "Doctor Minami has left for the day..." "Then, is there anyone else who knows anything about my mother?" The nurse (Kikui) replies "I was in charge here the day your mother was brought in..." "Then, can you explain to me what's going on? We found a mesu in my mother's ashes at the crematorium..." Before Kikui can answer, she turns to see someone next to her. Nao, not getting an answer, says agitatedly "Hello? Are you listening!? We found a mesu in my mother's ashes!! Hello?!" Suddenly, Nao hears the voice of another nurse reply "You must have made a mistake..." "We found it! It's the truth!" "Someone could've made a mistake during the noukan (placing the body in the coffin) or things left beside the body..." Nao gets upset "What are you saying!? What are you saying!?" Kitayama replies "We'll investigate over here...but as the doctor is not available at the moment, could you call back again?" Kitayama hangs up the phone, Kikui next to her not saying anything. Nao slams down the phone & then says "I'm going to the police..." running out, Yuko calling after him "Wait! Nao! Nao!"

As Ami helps her mother prepare dinner, her mother says "okonomiyaki?" Ami replies as she sets the table "You remember don't you? During spring vacation, we sent them to the station...they run an okonomiyaki restaurant..." "Oh..." At that moment, a cell phone rings & Ami says "Papa? Your cell phone's ringing...Papa!" As she's about to answer it, her father (Isetani Keizo) comes in & she hands it over to him "Hurry up..." "Thank you..." Answering it "Hello..." Kitayami greets him "Very sorry to disturb you...it's Kitayama..." "Oh..." "Regarding Dr Minami's case...we received a call from the family..." "I understand...I'll be there right away..." As Isetani hangs up & leaves, Ami says "Another emergency case I guess..." Her mother says "Ami, did you meet up with him again?" "Eh?" "That okonomiya boy..." Ami nods "We agreed that next time together with Hiromi & the others...we'd all meet up..." "I see..." replies her mother. not sounding too pleased....

At the police station, Nao says agitatedly "It's the truth! We really did find a mesu in my mother's ashes! I found it!" The policeman merely tells him "Don't get so worked up...just call the hospital & talk it out with them...which hospital? Do you know who was in charge?" Fed up, Nao says "Forget it..."

Back home, Nao says irritably "You've got to be kidding! Who would put something like that in there? For sure it has to be the hospital..." Yuko, sitting in front of the alter, asks quietly "Nao...you don't feel sad that Mom's died?" Nao looks at his sister in surprise "Eh?" Yuko continues "When I told you that Mom didn't come back, you were indifferent...all of a sudden you've got a change of heart..." Nao replies "....I......do not...." "Do you understand Dad's feelings for keeping quiet at the crematorium?" Nao looks at her without replying. Yuko says "Everyone around us say Dad caused Mom to die...Dad wanted to send Mom off properly...quietly send her off...regarding Mom...I'll leave it to Dad..." Nao turns away...

Going into the restaurant, Nao sees the mesu on the counter table, his father's jacket on the back of the chair, socks on the chair. Seeing the door open, Nao goes outside to see his father standing on a carton, reaching behind the signboard. Nao asks "What are you doing?" "The light behind the signboard's gone out..." "What...you don't have to do that now..." "Your Mom asked me to...said to fix it...fix it for me, she said..." Shiro has a hard time trying to fix it & starts getting upset. Nao goes up to him "Dad...stop it..." & grabbing him, both of them tumbling onto the road. At that moment in the distance, someone approaches & sees Shiro getting up "Didn't I say she asked me to do it!" Nao grabs him yelling "It's not your fault Mom died!" "Let me go!" "It's not due to karoushi!" "Nao let me go!" "Don't you think it's strange!? If she died of karoushi, then why did a hospital mesu appear in her ashes!? Why did a hospital mesu appear?!" Shiro finally stops struggling & Nao says "What if there's another reason for her death? That has to be it! There's another reason for her death! Dad, let's find out! Mom did not die of karoushi! It's not possible she just died like that! Isn't that so!? Say that's so! Dad! Say so!" Nao grabs his father by the collar & yells "Say that's so! Dad! Say it!" but Shiro shoves him away & goes back into the house upset. Nao yells after him "I'll find out! Why Mom died! Why there was a mesu! I'll find out!" Suddenly he hears footsteps of someone approaching & turns around to see Kirino. Holding a bouquet of flowers "I came to pay my respects to your mother...I often saw her walking together with the dog...wearing sandals, saying 'Good morning'...always saying it with a smile...." Nao gets up off the ground & grabs the flowers from her "You're really the worst after all...you just saw everything didn't you...just like taking the picture of me losing that match...aren't you just looking on at other people's disgraceful moments with interest again..." Kirino tells him "I didn't take that photo in jest...before I could stop myself I took that picture without realizing it...at that moment, even the result was that you lost, there was still the fighter in you left..." With understanding in her voice, Kirino continues "...but finding out the real reason for your mother's death is different from a Kendo match...if you lose it's the end...there will be no one to praise you 'it was a good match'...even if you win you'll get hurt...there'll be nothing left behind...on top of that....whether you win or lose, your Mom will never come back..." Nao looks at her "Why do you say all that..." Kirino replies "I told you...I work above that pachinko place..." As she walks off, Nao looks at her & then is about to go in when he changes his mind...

Going to the pachinko place, he looks up on the second floor. On the windows are the words "Nonaka Lawyers..." Slowly, he turns around & goes home...

Coming back home, Nao picks up the flowers Kirino brought, recalling her saying "...finding out the real reason for your mother's death is different from a Kendo match.......whether you win or lose, your Mom will never come back..." As Nao places the flowers on the table next to the mesu, the phone rings...

Answering it "Hello?" On the other end, Ami says "Nao?" "Yes..." "Good evening, it's Isetani Ami...is it convenient to talk now?" Nao takes a seat on the floor "It's ok..." but suddenly sees something at the foyer. Ami says "I called to ask about all of us meeting up again...we were thinking that maybe we'd come by your place to have okonomiyaki...will your Mom cook for us?" Nao goes to the foyer without saying anything, picking something up from the floor & sitting down on the step. At the long silence, Ami says "Hello?" Finally after a long pause, Nao says quietly "She's no longer here..." "Eh?" Hesitatingly, Nao says "...Mom's...no longer....here..." Holding on to his mother's shoe with the broken heel, face wet with tears, Nao says "...Mom's....dead..." With images of his mother running through his head, tears roll down his face. Ami quietly whispers "How?" Nao, crying, doesn't answer. Ami whispers "...when?" but Nao can only reply "...she's dead..." & hangs up. Glancing beside him, he sees his mother's apron hanging on the wall. Reaching out for the apron, Nao  buries his face into it, breaking down completely, crying "...Mom..." as his mother's death finally hits home....

On the table by the flowers, on a white napkin...lies the burnt mesu....