"......Yo..." Shuji finally manages to say to Satsuki, looking a little awkward & unsettled...

As they walk along, Satsuki says "Sorry, giving you a call..." Shuji merely replies "Oh..." "I was just in the neighborhood, that's why...you're looking well..." "You too...everything's ok now?" "Uhm..." "Taking the bus home?" "Uhm..." "Let me go take a look..." & Shuji walks towards the bus-stop, taking a look at the schedule "In another 2 or 3 minutes..." "Oh..." replies Satsuki & then tells Shuji "I got married..." When Shuji merely grunts a reply "Uhm..." Satsuki asks "You heard about it from someone?" "No...this..." Shuji explains, holding up his hand & Satsuki looks at the ring on her finger "Oh..." Shuji asks "How's work?" "Right now I'm working at an art gallery in Ginza..." "Huh?" "I originally wanted to be a doctor...but after I got married I couldn't continue..." "Oh..." "What about you? Become a hairstylist?" Shuji nods "Yeah...ah, I'll give you my card..." digging into his pockets, trying to look for his business cards. Satsuki laughs at him & Shuji asks "What?" "You haven't changed...putting everything into your pockets like that & then can't find anything..." Shuji smiles "Sorry..." & pulls out a card from one of his pockets, straightening it & giving it to Satsuki. "Thank you..." "If you'd like, I'll cut your hair for you..." "Uhm...ah, my telephone number..." says Satsuki, taking out a pen & piece of paper. "...ah, that's right, your number's changed too..." "That's right..." "No longer staying at the same place either huh..." Satsuki hands Shuji her number "Here..." "Thank you..." replies Shuji, stuffing it into one of his pockets "It's cold, want to go someplace?" "No...I have to go..." "Ah...didn't you have something to say? You called..." "Ah...the class reunion...there's a class reunion when we were at that prep school..." "Not likely I'd go to a class reunion..." "That's true..." Shuji nods, giving a little smile when they hear the bus coming. Satsuki gives a somewhat lonely looking smile to Shuji saying "Bye..." Shuji looks at her "Bye..." watching her as she boards the bus...

Back at the apartment later with the both of them sitting at the table, Kyoko says rather chirpily, swirling the wine in her glass "...swirling their wine in the glass & then slurping it all down, there are people like that..." Shuji, in a world of his own, continues with his dinner. "Shuji..." "Hm?" "You've been rather absent minded since you got back..." "That so?" Kyoko nods "Uhm..." Shuji looks at the wine "Let's drink tonight..." getting up from the table. Kyoko protests "But I'm driving..." "You can take a taxi..." Shuji insists, getting another wine glass for himself...

Morning arrives & Shuji, having spent the night on the floor, finally wakes up. Sleepily, he reaches for the remote control & turns the TV off. Getting up, he stumbles to the fridge, getting out a bottle of water, & walks into Kyoko's wheelchair "Oww...what's this..." Taking a drink of water he turns around & sees Kyoko asleep on his bed. Trying to wake her up "Hey, hey... it's morning...wake up, it's morning!" Kyoko wakes up with a start & Shuji asks her "What now?" Kyoko sits up frantically "What...what am I going to do!?" Shuji grabs her, lifting her up & is about to put her in the wheelchair when a thought suddenly occurs to him "Toilet?" "Yes..." "ok..." carrying her to the bathroom...

Masao comes downstairs & goes to the garage, not seeing Kyoko's car there "What is she doing?!"

Driving back in her car, Kyoko says to Shuji "Coming back in the morning when nothing happened is more vexing that coming back in the morning when something did happen..." Shuji retorts "I know..." "In any case they'll be suspicious..." "I know already! You've been saying that a hundred times already..." Kyoko pulls over by the side, stopping the car. Shuji asks "What's wrong?" Kyoko says "I think you'd better get out...it's not good..." "Huh?" Kyoko explains "Suddenly bring someone home saying 'sorry, I was together with him'...you'll be beaten up..." clenching her fist as if throwing Shuji a punch. Shuji asks worriedly "Your father's prone to violence?" Kyoko replies "No, my brother..." "Oh, your brother..." "I think I should go home alone..." Shuji replies "I understand..." taking his seatbelt off & getting out of the car. Kyoko says "Do you know where we are?" "Eh?" "This place..." "Uhm...sort of..." Kyoko says "Hey..." Shuji sticks his head in the car "What?" Kyoko tells him "There's something I always wanted to do when I got a boyfriend..." "What?" "Come in..." "Huh?" "Come in..." Shuji gets in the car & Kyoko pulls him over, kissing him. Shuji says "...satisfied?" Kyoko, with a big grin & a little embarrassed, nods "Satisfied...bye..." Shuji shuts the door & watches Kyoko drive off, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. Then looking around, Shuji frowns "Just where am I?" running off...

From the garage, Kyoko gets on the ramp, lifting her up to the house. Sliding the door open, she says "I'm back..." going into her room. Frantically, her parents & brother come running behind her "Kyoko, Kyoko!" "I called earlier already...Sachi suddenly came down with a fever & I fell asleep looking after her...when I realized it, the skylarks were singing...no, they were nightingales...it's not morning yet...ah, no, it's morning...said the skylarks..." Masao looks confused "What's that?" Kyoko replies "Romeo & Juliet..." Her mother asks "& then? Did Sachi's fever come down?" Kyoko nods "Yes...back to 37 degrees..." Masao replies "That's great...she's recovered?" Shrugging off her coat, Kyoko says "It's probably the flu that's going around now..." Her father adds "It's really tough huh, a girl on her own...but even if you go & visit her, please call home..." "Yes..." replies Kyoko. Satisfied, both her father & Masao leave her room, Kyoko breathes a sigh of relief. Suddenly, her mother says "Kyoko..." startling her "Sachi called yesterday..." Stunned, Kyoko says "Eh?" Taking a seat on the bed, Kuniko says "It's that guy who calls here often isn't it..." Frantically Kyoko tries to explain "No, no...it's nothing..." "Shhh...you're too loud..." Kyoko nods. Her mother looks at her with a little smile "Bring him home..." Shocked, Kyoko says "Eh!? Bring him home!?"

At Hot Lip, it's Takumi cuts a model's hair as everyone watches. "It's time..." says the boss as he freezes the time on the stopwatch "What does everyone think?" Shuji looks around & then goes up to the model, taking a look at her hair "Style balance is ok...but here, the blunt cut isn't done at all..." Takumi mutters "Oh..." The boss says "With a bit more practice it'll be alright...Takumi, from next week on you'll be a stylist..." Surprised, Takumi goes "You're kidding!" Satoru says "Congratulations!" smiling as everyone else applauds. Shuji goes after the boss "Tenchou..." but he merely tells Shuji "It's good enough..." leaving Shuji with nothing to say...

At the Machidaya, a notice on the door says "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are closed for the day" Inside in an awkward atmosphere, Shuji looks around uncomfortably to see Kyoko smiling strangely at everyone around the table. Kuniko asks "Well, that's a far place...what are you going to see?" Shuji replies "A movie called Anna & the King..." Kyoko says "Mom...you asked that already just now..." Kuniko nods "That's right..." Yoshio asks "What about tea?" "Not yet, boiling water right now..." Kyoko says "Just put the water on..." Kuniko adds "It'll whistle..." "That's right...it'll whistle..." laughs Yoshio. Shuji glances at Masao who sits off to one side rather glumly. He tells Shuji "You don't have to sit that way..." "Eh? It's ok..." Masao knocks himself against the alter & Shuji immediately asks "Are you alright?" Masao nods "Fine..." Kuniko continues, trying to make conversation "...that hair...curly curly...really like a hair stylist..." Kyoko adds "Different from the hairstylists around here...in Aoyama, appears in magazines..." Shuji interrupts "It's not really a big deal..." Silence descends again until the kettle suddenly whistles & everyone goes "Tea!" Kuniko gets up to turn it off when Masao suddenly says "Regarding...regarding Kyoko..." Kyoko interrupts "Oni-chan! What!?" "Mom, sit down too..." "But the kettle..." "Turn it off & sit down..." Kuniko turns off the stove & Masao asks Shuji bluntly "Going out with Kyoko, what are your intentions?" "Oni-chan!" "This guy? This guy...how shall I put it......she's my precious little sister, she's only 27...but you simply coming over here today...can you be trusted?" Shuji turns to look at Masao "What do you mean by 'trusted'?..." Masao replies "...well...the future..." Kuniko interrupts him "Masao!" a look of warning on her face. Masao stops & Shuji doesn't say anything. Yoshio finally says "Shuji, don't take it too heart...we're not that old fashioned...although the house is...times have changed...come over any time...ok Kyoko?" With Kyoko looks grateful but finding it hard to smile...Shuji looking on...

In the car as Kyoko drives along, she says "Sorry about that..." Shuji, a little morosely, shakes his head "No..." "Will we make it in time I wonder..." Shuji looks at his watch but doesn't reply...

At the Machida house with Yoshio & Kuniko at the table, Masao puts on his jacket about to go out. Yoshio, reading the paper, says "Masao..." "Yeah?" "Don't say things like that..." "Why not?" "Enough, just don't say it..." Kuniko adds "I feel the same way...recently Kyoko's become really cheerful & happy...I think it's great..." Masao turns around & looks at his parents "Why? We won't do? We've brought her up properly...we're always together...she's cheerful & happy isn't she?" Kuniko tells him "There are things that a family can't do...bringing him back home, it's the first time since she couldn't walk...for her it's a youth that's come late...let's be happy for her...Kyoko knows that herself..." Masao retorts "I don't understand! Why are you so grateful that she's going around with someone! She's a real beauty...can't tell that she's 27...she's smart...she's smarter than I am...it's fine for her just working at the library!" Masao gets up & leaves the house all upset. Kuniko tries to go after him "Masao!" but Yoshio stops her, shaking his head...

Back at Shuji's apartment after their date, Shuji gets a wet towel & going to the foyer where Kyoko is, proceeds to clean the wheels of her wheelchair for her. Kyoko says "Thank you...going to the movie was good wasn't it..." Shuji grunts "Ah..." wiping the wheels. Kyoko looks at him "Sorry..." "Eh? What for?" "The shoes...those red shoes that I got from you..." "Oh..." "I still haven't tried them..." "I was thinking I still haven't seen them..." "I don't have the courage...a beautiful pair of shoes, I haven't got the courage to put them on..." Shuji finishes & as he pushes Kyoko into the apartment, he tells her "Then wear it the next time..." "Eh?" "Then wear it on our next date..." coming into the living room. Kyoko mutters "But..." Taking a seat tiredly next to her, Shuji says "But? But what?" Kyoko looks at him "But..." "But...??" Shuji uses his legs & swings Kyoko's wheelchair so that she faces him "What is this 'but'...? Hmm?" Smiling, Kyoko leans over & then kisses him. Shuji looks at her & then hugs her. Holding each other, Kyoko says "Sorry, I can't go further than this..." "It's fine...just like this..." "No...don't feel like you've got to do this..." "Why? Isn't it fine like this? No?" Kyoko smiles "Hey..." "Hm?" "What sort of looks have we got on our faces?" "What?" "It's like I'm looking on from a distance...even being this close together...holding each other like this...don't know where we're looking or with what kind of expressions..." Shuji, feeling Kyoko's unease, holds her close "Why say that? Hmm? Why say something like that?" trying to console her...

At Hot Lip, Shuji's in the midst of another interview for a magazine, being told "Okishima-san, even with our own magazine, you're very popular with the ladies...do you have any dreams for the future?" Shuji mutters "Dreams...dreams..." looking over to see a customer with Takumi waving to him. Shuji says "Right now I don't have any dreams, sorry..." getting up & leaving the interview, going over to his customer. She says "Really busy these days aren't you..." "Not really..." "Become really great..." "Did we have an appointment today?" "What are you saying? Said you couldn't so I got Takumi to do it for me today..." Takumi says "Well then, shall we start?" Shuji interrupts & tells Takumi "Can you take care of my appointment over there?" Takumi surprised "Eh?" but when Shuji ignores him & tells the lady "I'll do it for you..." "Is it ok?" "Yes...", Takumi walks off as Satoru glances at him. Shuji says "It's long...what about the color?"

With the salon closed for the day but the assistants still around, Shuji asks Mayumi "Just what on earth is going on?! Accepting interviews & being asked about things like one's dreams, didn't even get to do a customer's hair..." Mayumi tries to explain "The boss wants both you & Satoru to publicize the salon..." Shuji asks sarcastically "We're attraction pandas?" referring to those people in costumes trying to attract customers. Satoru sighs "That's right...we're pandas..." "Takumi becoming stylist, assigning him all our customers too...just where is tenchou?" Satoru looks at the time, replies "Out raising funds I guess..." Shuji asks "What's that about? Raising funds..." "Expanding the salon..." "He's still intends to do that!?" Mayumi says "Satoru!" Satoru replies "It's alright...before the boom disappears, he wants to have 3 salons, we'll become tenchou..." Shuji asks "How come you know all that?" "Hm?" but before Satoru can answer, Takumi says "Shuji, telephone..."

Walking back to the reception, Takumi listens as Shuji answers "Hello...what...you're really bold, this is the salon!" Hirasawa says "That purple parka suits you very well..." Shuji surprised, looks out the salon "Huh?" & sees her waving to him "You..." "Well? Have you decided? You'll come to our saloon won't you, the stylist with charisma..." "Can you give me a little more time? I'll give you a call soon..." replies Shuji, hanging up. As he walks away, Takumi turns to look at him, having heard & understood his conversation...

Arriving back home, Shuji dumps his helmet on the TV & takes of his jacket, emptying his pockets onto the table. Taking a can of beer from a bag, he notices a piece of paper among the coins on the table & picks it up. It's Satsuki's phone number. His voiceover comes on...

　

From a crevice in my heart, nostalgia surged through...

心のすきまに、懐かしさが押し寄せた。。。

　

Opening the can, he walks over to the phone & dials the number. Just as he takes a sip of his drink, Satsuki answers "Hello..." Shuji chokes "Ah..." "Hello?" "Ah, it's me...Okishima..." Satsuki smiles "Shu-chan! What's wrong?" "Nothing...just found the memo you gave me..." "I thought it would have gone into the laundry just like that..." Shuji replies smiling "No, saved at the last moment..." Satsuki smiles at her hand, sitting on the floor. Shuji slides down & does the same thing, saying "Didn't you want to talk with me about something?" "Eh?" "You didn't come here by chance the other day did you...on top of that, prep school reunion? I've never heard of that..." Before Satsuki can reply, she hears the door open & hurriedly gets up "Sorry..." "Huh?" "My husband's home..." "Really?" "Sorry, talk to you again..." Satsuki tells Shuji & hangs up. On the other hand, Shuji stares at the phone & glumly hangs up as well...

At Hot Lip, Shuji's working on a customer when Takumi comes up to him "Shuji, can you do a test over there?" "Alright..." & saying to his customer "Just a second..." he goes over to Takumi's & takes a look at the hair color on another customer "Looks good, just another 7 minutes..." "ok..." Mayumi walks in "Shuji, there's a customer looking for you..." Shuji turns to look & is surprised to see Satsuki looking back at him...

Walking up to her, Shuji asks "What's wrong?" Satsuki says "I was thinking of getting my hair cut..." Shuji looks at her "Sorry, but the appointments are all taken today..." "Oh..." "What shall we do?" "Then it's ok, I'll come again...hang in there..." "Sorry..." says Shuji, watching Satsuki leave. Someone calls "Shuji-san!" "Yes!" "Can you come over please..." Shuji walks by Mayumi & Takumi, standing & watching him with Satsuki. Satoru come up to them "She's a real beauty..." Takumi agrees "Yes isn't she..." Mayumi tells them "She's Shuji's ex-girlfriend..." "You're kidding..." "It's Satsuki..."

Shuji tells an assistant "First wash her hair...excuse me for a minute..." Shuji runs out of Hot Lip to look for Satsuki "Wait a minute...wait!" Satsuki turns around & Shuji tells her "Tomorrow...if you come tomorrow it'll be ok..." "Tomorrow?" "Yes..." "Thank you..."

Kyoko drives to a cafe & pulling up at the sidewalk, winds down the window to see Kosugi waiting for her inside. Seeing her, he waves to her & with a smile, Kyoko waves back...

Inside an empty Hot Lip, Shuji sits alone on the counter with a big sigh "I've sure been here a long time..." talking to himself. Takumi walks in "Ah...Shuji?" Shuji turns to look at him "What are you doing here?" "You said my blunt cut wasn't good enough so I came to practice..." "Oh..." "What about you? A VIP? Some actress?" "No, not that..." Before Takumi can probe further, a voice calls out "Is anyone here?" Shuji turns to look & smiles. Takumi walks up to Satsuki "We're closed today..." but Shuji tells him "It's ok, ok..." Takumi says "Ah...yesterday's..." Shuji says "What?" but Takumi just laughs. Shuji adds "Let me introduce you...classmates when we were trying to get into college...sounds kind of weird huh...Nakajima Satsuki...ah sorry, no longer Nakajima right?" Takumi asks "No way...you're married?" Satsuki smiles as Takumi says "Can't tell..." Shuji adds "She's working in an art gallery..." Takumi asks "Where?" Shuji replies "Ginza?" Satsuki says "The Fujikawa Gallery..." Takumi says "I know that! They had Monet on display some time back..." Shuji looks at Takumi surprised "You know all that?" "Of course!" "How do you know all that..." Takumi looks at them grinning "I'm intruding..." Shuji tells him "Hurry up & go practice! Idiot...I know..." Left alone, Shuji looks at Satsuki "Then...let's do it..."

With Takumi practicing, Shuji cuts Satsuki's hair as she looks at him in the mirror...

At the cafe, Kyoko apologizes to Kosugi "Te-chan, I'm sorry...what we spoke about the other time...I've got someone that I like..." Kosugi merely says "Uhm..." Kyoko asks "What 'uhm'...?" "I heard from Miyama..." "Oh..." "Are you going to marry him?" "How's that possible..." "But you're already 27...it's normal to think about it...I'm not trying to be mean, just worried about you...I guess this is none of my business..." "But...marriage & love are different things...I'm only in love..." Kosugi looks at her, not saying anything...

At Hot Lip, Shuji finishes Satsuki's haircut "What do you think?" Satsuki smiles, fingering her shoulder length hair "It's great..." "Is it ok?" "Yes, thank you..." Shuji gives a sigh of relief "Otsukare sama..."

At the reception, Shuji takes Satsuki's things giving them back to her "Is this all you have?" "Yes, thank you..." Satsuki opens her handbag "Money..." but Shuji says "No, no need..." "But..." "Seriously, it's ok...I used to cut your hair before but they always turned out wrong...so today it's ok...what are you doing now? In any case I've got a bike so I can send you..." "But..." "It's ok...wait a minute, I think there's another helmet..." Shuji walks into the staff room...

Kyoko drives up & parks across the street from Hot Lip. Looking at the salon, she says "Ah, it's closed..." & takes out her cell phone. Seeing Shuji come out, she sounds the horn but Shuji doesn't hear her. Kyoko watches in silent shock as he hands a helmet to Satsuki. Satsuki gets on the bike & they both ride off...

As they ride on, Satsuki says "Hey!" "What?" "Go faster!" "Serious?" Shuji says with a smile & goes faster...

Stopping at a beach, Shuji sits & watches Satsuki playing happily with a few kids by the water. Getting a couple of drinks, Satsuki gives one to Shuji "Here..." "Thank you..." Satsuki asks "What's wrong?" "No...I was just thinking that you're really healthy & happy..." "Me?" "Uhm..." "I wonder..." Shuji says "I'm seeing someone who can't walk at the moment..." "eh?" "...in a wheelchair..." Satsuki looks at Shuji "I see...must be tough..." Shuji nods "Well..." Satsuki tells him "Actually...I came to get courage from you..." Shuji looks at her in surprise "Huh?" Satsuki laughs "I really came to get courage from you..." "What's that?" "I'm thinking of getting a divorce..." "...oh, I see..." "He's got someone..." "He's having an affair?" "Uhm...they seem serious..." "What do you intend to do after the divorce?" "I was thinking of going back to being a doctor again...but I don't have the confidence...divorcing now & then going back to being a doctor, I don't have that courage...that's why I came here to get courage from the Shu-chan who gave up being a doctor & becoming a hair stylist..." "But I was just stupid, that's all..." "But you're really something now...appearing in magazines, you're really great..." "No, I'm not..." "But it's fantastic..." Shuji merely sighs & Satsuki asks "Is work really that tough?" "A little...but, you saying all that to me, I'm really happy..." Smiling with a touch of sadness, Satsuki says "Somehow...it feels like I'm being tossed about in the huge ocean..." Shuji agrees "I also feel like I'm being swallowed up by the waves..." "Those times the waves were still tranquil weren't they..." "When we were trying to get into college?" "Uhm...but it's only when it's over that we think that way..." "That's true...things were tough then too..." "Yeah..." Both of them sitting on the beach, reminiscing about the past, watching the sun set...

In her room, Kyoko sits on the edge of her bed, morosely recalling the scene of Satsuki climbing onto Shuji's bike & riding off with him...

Having dinner together, Sachi says to Masao "I understand that you want to protect Kyoko like a bird in a cage...but are you really thinking about Kyoko?" Masao replies "Sachi...sorry but family's not like that...really thinking about her, then it's better if she doesn't fall in love...she'll only end up getting hurt..." Sachi takes a sip of her drink "If you think that way, then Kyoko's really pitiful..." Masao retorts "Before that happens, I'll rescue her...that's my duty...what do you know?" getting annoyed & using the intimate/impolite form for the word 'you' - omae - to Sachi. Sachi says "Ah...you just said 'omae'..." "What!?" "So you're the sort of guy who uses 'omae' to women..." "What!?" "Saying 'omae'..." Masao childishly says "omae, omae, omae!...what's wrong with that!?" Sachi glares back at him "No manners!" "What's the problem?" "It's a problem! Then I'll call you 'anta' too!" "Go ahead! Call me that! ...anta & omae......" "Sounds like an enka song...really disappointing..." "I'm the one that feels disgusted!" "What!?" Both of them reach for a yakitori stick & the pieces of meat go flying as they fight over it...

Raining when Satsuki & Shuji get back, Shuji goes & gets an umbrella from a store & gives it to Satsuki "Here..." "You didn't have to..." "It's ok, once in a while..." "Thanks...take care..." Shuji looks at her "Sounds like we're never going to see each other again..." Satsuki replies "...but we aren't going to meet again..." Shuji, understanding, says "Take care...hang in there..." Satsuki smiles "Bye..." & starts walking away from him. Suddenly, she turns around & says "Shu-chan..." "Huh?" "You too..." Satsuki walks away & Shuji closes his eyes with a sigh, turns & walks away...

In the staff room at Hot Lip with Satoru munching on a hamburger, Shuji says to the boss "Thinking about it that's really too much...it's not going to work..." The boss replies "I said that a salon would be waiting for you too..." Shuji continues "Right now at Hot Lip, me, Satoru & Mayumi, the three of us are working like crazy...on top of that, I think that Takumi becoming a stylist is too soon, he can't do it...if you're really going on like this, the quality will drop & we'll be finished..." Satoru adds "When it ends, it will end no matter what..." Exasperated, the boss finally stands up & tells Shuji "I'm just informing you, not discussing it with you, not taking orders from you!" Shuji points to Satoru "Then you discuss it with him but not me..." "If you don't like it you can quit...I'll just put Takumi as tenchou of the new salon that's all..." As the boss leaves the room in a huff, Shuji mutters to himself "Do as you please..." Satoru comes up with a packet of French fries "Have some?" Shuji takes the whole pack from him & goes to his locker, Satoru going "Taking all of it?"

As a customer leaves Hot Lip, Masao enters to see the guy with blond hair leave. Masao mutters in shock "Wow...that guy...even guys go to salons..." Mayumi greets him "Welcome...first time customer right?" "Yes..." "This way please..." "Is Okishima...Okishima Shuji in?"

Shuji goes to a cafe to look Masao "Sorry..." Masao tells him "Sorry, all of a sudden..." "It's ok..." "Finished with work?" "No...not quite, I'll have to go back after..." "Really...I'm sorry..." "It's ok..." The waitress comes by & Shuji tells her "Coffee please..." Awkwardly as Masao starts to say something, Shuji's cell phone rings. Taking it out of his pocket & apologizing, he presses a button & puts it back in his pocket. Masao asks "Is it ok?" "Yes, fine..." Masao looks at Shuji "It's regarding Kyoko..." Equally serious, Shuji looks straight back at Masao "Yes..."

In her room, Kyoko takes the red pair of shoes & looks at it, putting it by her feet...

Masao says to Shuji "I'm glad that you've become good friends with Kyoko...but what are your intentions?" Shuji asks "...my intentions...?" "Have you thought about marriage?" Put in a spot, Shuji says "Ah...to be honest, I haven't..." Masao replies "Oh...oh I see..." Shuji quickly adds "But it's not that I'm not serious...on the work front, it's not quite settled yet..." "You're a person that wants to work, right? As a hairstylist, appearing in magazines...someone that wants to work, right?" "What do you mean?" "If you get married to Kyoko, she'll have to be your number one priority, you can't just only work...that's...that's...life with a handicapped person..." Shuji looks at Masao, not saying anything. Masao continues "...that's why I never got a proper job...I thought it would be better if I stayed at home...it's easier to move about, that's why I continued with the store..." Shuji says "Yes..." "Between you & Kyoko...just seeing each other is for a little while...you might think it's fine...but...it's wrong...accepting the future...means you have to accept her illness & the barriers...it's a burden..." "Yes...I understand all that..." "Just going out with her for a bit...what do you know!? I'm not saying anything bad...it's also for your sake, I think it's better if you stop...also for her sake, it's better not to get in too deep...you're a person who's talents can take you places...for that sort of a person...a normal healthy girl is the best..." Being told all that, Shuji only looks at Masao in silence, keeping whatever his feelings are inside himself as he walks back to Hot Lip...

At Hot Lip, Takumi's practicing on a model wig as others prepare to leave for the day. Takumi walks into the staff room & says to Shuji "Shuji...aren't you being a bit too much?" Shuji putting on his coat, replies "What?" "You told tenchou that my becoming a stylist was too soon..." "In actual fact isn't it too soon?" "Why are you getting in my way?" "Getting in your way!?...I'm not getting in your way...do you really think that you're a stylist because of your own ability?" "Aren't you just afraid that I'll take away your customers from you? That I'm now being relied on by tenchou & that maybe I'll be promoted over you?" "What are you saying..." "Maybe it's not going to make any difference...seems like you're going to be leaving...a strange woman has been calling, she's headhunting you isn't she..." Shuji looks at the remaining staff listening anxiously to the both of them & merely says to Takumi "Say what you like...otsukare..." & walks out...

As Shuji steps out of Hot Lip, his cell phone rings "Hello..." "It's me..." says Kyoko on the other end. After a pause, Shuji says "Ah..." "Finally got through..." "What?" "What do you mean what...I called earlier..." "Oh really? I was meeting with someone..." "Who?" "Doesn't matter..." "A woman?" "No way..." "I...I saw it yesterday...a woman getting on your bike..." "Oh...that was just a friend...I said I'd give her a ride so I did..." "But you didn't have to let her on the bike...I want to ride the bike too but I can't..." Shuji sighs & finally says "Sorry..." Kyoko realizing she shouldn't have taken it out on Shuji "I'm the one who's sorry..." Shuji says "Sorry, I'm still outside...I'll call you when I get home..." & hangs up, letting out a tired sigh. In her room, Kyoko stares at herself in the mirror...

Shuji rides home & as he walks up the steps towards his apartment, Satsuki calls him "Shu-chan..." Shuji stops & turns around to see her "What's wrong?" Holding up the umbrella, Satsuki says "I came to return this umbrella..." "Huh?" Shuji looks surprised "...that isn't necessary...that umbrella, it's just an ordinary umbrella..." Satsuki gives a teary smile "You see right through me..." Shuji tells her "Right through you..." Satsuki says "When I showed him the divorce papers, he hit me...told me to get out...I didn't have anywhere to go..." Shuji looks at her & then puts his arm around her. Satsuki says "You're...warm..."

In her room, Kyoko waits for Shuji's phone call in vain. Sliding the window open, she looks at the rain starting to come down...

In front of his apartment building, Shuji holds Satsuki...moving apart, he looks at her in silence...