Tsukimatou Otoko......the stalker....

Staring into her eyes Naoki says "Sorry, I've scared you...." but Minako runs back into the office & grabs the telephone. She turns around & sees Naoki holding onto another telephone "Calling the police? Is that how you treat a long lost friend...." Minako asks "What do you want?" Naoki nonchalantly replies "You left halfway when we were talking...." "There's nothing more to talk about!" "But I have! (There is....) " "Just tell me what you want....you make me feel uncomfortable...." "But you find me interesting don't you....hm?" says Naoki walking towards her. Minako starts back peddling away from Naoki as he says "What on earth is this man thinking...." Minako denies nervously "No....I only want you not to come near me...." Naoki sits down on a chair with a sigh "Marry an elite company employee & then work together for a living? Receive artistic education from your boyfriend's father & then surrounded by mountains of orchids, become a young wife?" Sarcastically Naoki continues "So, how many kids will you have?" Minako answers "That's none of your business!" Naoki adds "Basking in happy sunshine?" Minako replies hotly "Yes!" Naoki tells her "Human beings will never be that satisfied...." Naoki gets up & Minako sidles away nervously as he says "No matter how much money one has, no matter how contented one is....no one will ever be satisfied! Will always wonder if one can be happier....have you never thought of having other desires?" "Never....I'm fine the way things are now...." As Naoki approaches her she moves away afraid. Naoki tells her "That's just giving up on yourself....just telling yourself....just making excuses for yourself for grabbing the wrong things (in life)...." Minako doesn't say anything & Naoki sighs "Getting married in 3 months....after that life is perfect...."Great thank you very much!" & breathe a sigh of relief...." After a silent pause, Minako says "The road ahead is dark (can't tell what lies ahead in life)....you said so yourself in the forest....no matter what happens to me, won't that be an interesting life?" Naoki doesn't reply & Minako's voiceover "He remained silent....then walking away without saying a word........I........followed him........"

As Naoki leaves, Minako locks up & follows him. Naoki gets into his 4 wheel drive & Minako flags down a taxi, following Naoki. Naoki arrives at his work site with Minako still trailing him, looking at the lighting effects & watching Naoki work. His colleague says "Take care of things...." "Alright...." As she slowly backtracks & walks away, from the corner of his eye, Naoki smiles mysteriously as he watches her....

In Naoki's apartment Keita's showing pictures of Kiichiro & Minako, telling Naoki "The guy lives in a studio apartment, no different from common apartments, free to bring in girls....this is the new place where they're moving to....this is the place where they've put a down payment for, 30 year loan....if he had asked his father & sold a painting, would've gotten 80 million yen....although a (rich man's) son, he didn't borrow money from his father....that's admirable...." Naoki says "Can you check up on him thoroughly?" "Yes....but more than this it'll be expensive...." "35 year old, first marriage, an elite company employee....father's a famous painter....no one's that perfect, if you hit hard enough dirt will fly out...." Keita thinks "an illegitimate child, another wife, bribery, strange inclinations.....that's all I can think of...." Naoki looks into his glass & says "Make him lose everything...." Keita asks "You want to break up the marriage that badly?" Naoki answers "His work, his life everything....on top of that I want him to give up on himself bit by bit...." "Can you really do that? What happens to Minako after that?" Hm? The baby chick just born....in front of it is the hyena but (I as) the parent can see...." Keita looks at him puzzled & Naoki smiles "Doesn't matter if you don't understand...." going off into the kitchen. 

Keita asks "What happened with Yuri?" Why change the subject?" "Tell me....what happened? You suddenly broke up with her, she's at a loss....you said that there is a woman you have to meet....who is she?" Naoki comes back into the room & Keita says "By any chance....this?" pointing to a photo of Kiichiro & Minako. "Intending to break up the marriage....& then grab her for yourself? Talk to Yuri!" "You're the one who loves her, what are you doing as mediator?" "I feel bad when I see her cry...." Naoki tells Keita "Well, sorry to have troubled you...." Keita spits out "Really!" & then taking out a file & handing it to Naoki says "This is the report....up until last week...." Naoki takes it, flipping it open & Keita continues "Kokubo Yoshiharu has not gotten in touch with his parole officer...." Naoki asks "Then his whereabouts are unknown?" "Hm....if he doesn't keep in touch, then his parole will be revoked & he'll be brought back into prison. He's started following the woman he's going to kill...."

Having dinner at Minako's apartment, Kiichiro says "Your apartment's kinda' clean...." "Hm....moving soon so I threw out stuff I didn't want...." Kichiiro looks around & says "A glove!" taking Minako's baseball glove "You're so feminine but you even played with this...." Minako asks "Can we move earlier?" "That's ok, the apartment's ours....but for the time being I'm really busy at work....can you bear being alone until the wedding?" "Then....forget it...." "Why? You can move in first....make the house ready for newlyweds!" "There's no meaning if we're not together...." "Hm....you seem to be a little lonely recently...." says Kiichiro, tapping her on her head. Minako smiles "No....I feel safer if we're together...." Kiichiro says "What am I, a watchdog?" "I don't mean that but...." "But before the wedding....I don't want to live a married life...." Minako looks a little disappointed but nods as Kiichiro continues "After the wedding, would like to look forward to married life with a fresh feeling!" Minako nods & then looking at the food "It's done...." Kiichiro says "Looks delicious...." Minako dishes some food out for him "Here...." "Thank you...." answers Kiichiro & has some "Ow! It's hot!" Minako laughs "Are you alright?" handing him a napkin. Kiichiro cleans up & says "Oh yes, dad went back to Yokohama last night...." "Is that right?" "He wants to meet up earlier....bother! He's really enthusiastic about painting your portrait to celebrate the wedding...." "My picture?" "Yes...." "By any chance it's a nude picture?" Minako asks. Kiichiro says "Definitely not....I won't allow it...." "ah, but if he draws one like your mother, even a nude's fine...." Kiichiro says "When I look at that painting, it feels like my mother's still alive....when I was in the first year of junior high, she left home....for seven years there was no trace of her....even the law assumed she was dead....exactly when I entered university, the Christmas Eve I was 20 years old, 7 years after the adjudication of my mother's disappearance, I found out that my mother was legally dead....that's why I don't really have good memories of Christmas...." Minako tells him "This year will be different...." "Yeah....holding the wedding on Christmas Eve....if I have that memory, from now on I'll always be happy about Christmas...." Minako smiles & nods in understanding. Kiichiro then hands her his plate "Seconds please...." & as Minako dishes out a helping, Kiichiro takes her glove "What memories to you have?" "Christmas Eve?" "Ah, asking abou the past bothers you...." Minako pauses & then says "I wonder if I got that glove from my father as a Christmas present...." "That must be it....you were a tomboy....you wouldn't play with a shuttlecock, instead would play catch ball with your father....due to that, after the winter you could throw curve balls...." Minako says "Seems to be so...." Kiichiro's surprised "Eh? Who did you hear that from?" Minako lies "From an old uncle...." "Oh...." Kiichiro replies & Minako recalls Naoki's letters "Your curve ball doesn't go upwards....it curves downwards....I know that....15 years today....in our forest....in the Sleeping Forest....let's meet...." Looking at Kiichiro, he asks her "What's wrong?" Shaking her head & then asking "Hmm....have you ever thought what we have in common?" "eh?" "We've both lost precious family...." "Me, my mother...." "For me, my whole family...." "But, because we know the value of that loss, that's why we're more conscious of it...." "If that's so that's great...." "Definitely so...." Minako smiles & Kiichiro says "Let's have some more to drink....Minako?" "Yeah...."

At the nursery Minako's boss says "The 50 pots of Columbian Miltonia order was taken by you, wasn't it...." "Yes....got a call the day before so I wanted to send it off as soon as possible....should be there by now...." "They have....but the customer says they didn't order them!" "What? But they said it was for the inaugaration ceremony of the south Aoiyama fashion building...." "They're sending it all back....who called?" "A young man....& a woman too...." "There is such a party but no one ordered these...." "Then who?" "You're getting married in December aren't you...." "What has this got to do with it?" "Maybe it's an old boyfriend harassing you...." Minako answers heatedly "That's got nothing to do with this!" "Don't get angry! I'm the one who should be angry! What am I going to do with 50 pots of Miltonia? Can I deduct from your salary?" "No!" "Then we'll go together to all the other nurseries & get them to take in all of them....ok?" "ok...." sighs Minako....

Coming back to her apartment late at night Minako sees a crowd & a fire engine outside of her apartment building. A lady says "Oba san, it's your apartment....the fire!" "Eh?" Minako's shocked & hurries to her apartment. The mail slot on her apartment door is scorched black & she says to the fireman & police "Sorry, I'm Oba...." The fireman tells her "Looks like someone put an explosive into your mailbox...." "Why do something like that to my house?" The neighbor says "It's scary!" & the policeman asks "Would you know who would do such a prank like this? A young man called 119 to report this...." The neighbor says "Who can that be? There's no one like that living here...."

Minako cleaning up says angrily to Kiichiro "The landlord was also too much! Said that the men going in & out of my apartment were criminals....that I was afraid so lodged a police report....treated me like I was a criminal!" Kiichiro says "Eh? What sort of voice was it?" Minako replies "They let me listen to the tape....sounds like the same guy who ordered the 50 pots of orchids...." "You really have no idea who it could be?" "Yeah...." Minako nods but she thinks of Naoki & her voiceover "Actually there is...." flash back to the night Naoki came to the nursery "It's me...." "But I don't think it was his voice...." Kiichiro suggests "Minako? If it gets too tough here, it's alright to move....although we still have to wait a while until we're married but the new place is also more convenient for you when you come back from work...." "Maybe I should do that...." "Let's do that....just this furniture....do it in the afternoon, the 2 of us....we'll be done by evening...." Minako looks at him a tad worried....

Moving to the new apartment, Kiichiro greets a neighbor "Pleased to meet you...." but the old man says "Come here for a bit...." "Yes?" Holding out a piece of paper to Kiichiro he says "This happened just this morning....this was placed in all the letterboxes of this morning....this is going to be troublesome....everyone was asking about it this morning....put me in a spot...." Kiichiro takes the paper & reads it "The newlyweds moving in today are religious cult members disguised as newlyweds. Everyone, please be careful...." Minako asks "This is about us?" Kiichiro asks "What's this?" The old man replies "That's what I'd like to know....I heard you were working at an excellent company, that's why I trusted you...." As the movers start bring things in the old man goes after them "Wait! Be careful!" Kiichiro thinks & then says "Ah, must be that guy...." "That guy?" asks Minako. "The same guy who put that explosive into your mailbox....because of that you moved....now it's this...." "But how did he know about this place?" Minako asks & then recalls Naoki telling her in the forest "I know....everything about you...."

Naoki's working when he gets called on the walkie-talkie "Naoki, can you here me?" "Yeah!" "You've got a visitor...." "Sorry, I can't leave now...." "It's a woman, said that you're bothering her not leaving her alone...." Naoki looks down from atop the scaffolding & shines a spotlight on her. The guy says "Miss, he's not someone to do something like that...." Minako asks "You're protecting him?" "He was my junior in university, when I first set up this business he was the first one to support........" Minako tells him "You're in this together so you're just lying....in any case please call him...." "He can't leave his work right now...." "Then that's fine, I'll go myself...." Minako walks to the bottom of the scaffolding & says to Naoki "Come down!" but Naoki says "You know about this place...." "I also know what sort of a company you work for & what you do...." "What?" "False orders for orchids, starting fires, distributing handbills....you did everything didn't you...." "Eh? What, what & what did you say?" "Nuisance calls, starting fires, slander...." "A lot of things happened...." "Don't say it was someone else....was your friend who called wasn't it....what are your intentions? Why are you following me around? In any case, come down!" Naoki says "Sorry, I'm busy!" "Then I'm coming up...." says Minako stubbornly. Naoki says "It's dangerous...." but Minako starts climbing up ignoring Naoki telling her "I said it's really dangerous!" Naoki says with a sigh into the walkie-talkie "Sorry, it's the upper section....there's a lady climbing up here like Donkey Kong....it's dark so could you shine the light over here please....thanks...." The spotlight heads towards the scaffolding & blinds Minako for a split second. She has a flashback to when she was a child & she sees a pool of blood at her feet....all of a sudden she freezes & Naoki asks "What's wrong? Don't tell me you're afraid of heights!" & then mutters "For real....don't move! Stay still!" He climbs down & as he puts his arm around her she screams "Don't touch me!" Naoki yells at her "It's only me! Don't move! It's dangerous!" & then calmly he says "Slowly, down one step at a time....slowly....don't look down! Just a bit more...."

Safely down, Minako asks Naoki "Answer me, what are your intentions?" "Hm? Of course it's love...." "What love? You're just messing up my life!" Naoki tells her "I'm the only one you can rely on in this world, I just want you to understand that...." "Why do I have to rely on you? You're weird!" "Can I ask you something?" "What?" "When you move to the new apartment, will you tell the (old) landlord where you're moving to? Then will you'll put your number in the phone book...." "I won't....that's like dangling a bait in front of you...." "Is that so...." "Then will you not move in to that place now but to somewhere I don't know?" "Even if you don't say it I'll think about it...." Right then someone announces "Right, we're starting the rehearsal...." Naoki says "I'd like to chat slowly with you but I'm busy....you don't have to wait...." leaving. Minako replies "I'm going home...." "Take care then...." says Naoki walking away & then turning to look back at Minako leaving....looking concerned as he remembers as a child, Minako being hypnotized....Back in the present Naoki says "Sorry I'm coming...."

Outside Minako's old apartment, a lady is sweeping the place. Kokubu Yoshihara approaches her "Excuse me...." "Yes?" "Where has Oba Minako moved to?" "Don't know....she left without a word....young people these days...." "Is that so...." replies Kokubu, turning & walking away....

Minako calls Kiichiro from the new apartment "I've packed everything....not a problem....I brought a gift to each house (apartment) & apologized for causing them trouble....looks like they all understand that the handbill was a practical joke...." Kiichiro replies "That so? For the time being don't change the resident's name plate (on the door / letterbox)....just wait & see....problem looks like it's on the work front....if you see any strange men around let me know at once, I'll come by right away...." "ok...." replies Minako. Kiichiro says with a huge yawn "Looks like I'll be here all night....call you tomorrow...." "Hang in there!" "Hm....goodnight...." Kiichiro hangs up & starts back on notebook - 'Under credit processing / criminal investigation stock catalog'....images of paintings appear "How do I buy these...."

In the new apartment, Minako pours some red wine into a glass & as she swirls it she recalls her flashback & her voiceover says "I'm certain that was my home....I was standing in the corridor....if that's the blood of my family flowing....why was I in the house?" Taking out her family album & looking at it, her voiceover continues "My family was killed on a public road, hit by a truck....by some miracle I was saved from that wreck...." Minako recalls waking up in a hospital, her uncle calling "Minako! Do you remember me? I'm your uncle!" Her voiceover says "The accident happened on the 3rd of January, when I woke up, it was already Sakura season (Spring)....apparently I was unconscious (in a coma) for over 3 months....I don't have any recollections of the accident....after that happened to my family, I was taken in by an uncle who was in the wine business...." The scene shows a young Minako looking at her album as her uncle comes by "Still looking at it?" & then bring her in front of a house her uncle tells her "That's your old home....other people have moved in....so now, are you satisfied? Minako....from now on you have to become a new Minako....come on, let's go home...." Minako voices comes on "Just with that little memory, I was satisfied...." As memories of her as a child continues....Minako standing on a ladder reaching for a book, the owner says "The Riddle of the Egyptian Cross....shall I wrap it up for you?" "ok...." "....but I was all alone....that was the time when the letters started to come...." Scene of a young Minako reading the letter as her voiceover says "15 years today, let's meet in the Sleeping Forest....that boy Ito Naoki, where was he watching me from?........The wine factory was taken over by someone else & my uncle moved to Tokyo....by then I was already adopted by my uncle...." Young Minako packs her books, glove & letters into a box & travels to Tokyo with her uncle........ "The uncle who brought me to Tokyo to start a new life passed away when I graduated from Tandai...." Back in the present Minako looks at the pictures, voiceover "I just realized something....there are many pictures of my family....there are also lots of pictures of the scenery of the hometown....but there isn't even one of my family in my hometown....how come?" Minako puts the album away & taking the photographs of Kiichiro & herself "to have only the future's will be fine....this future...."

Some people deliver furniture to the apartment & Minako tells them "Over here a little bit....yeah that's it...." as the guys place the dining table down. "What about the sofa?" "Ah this...." "Let us handle it...." & Minako smiles, watching them....

As Kokubu leaves his apartment, his wife asks "Who are you looking for?" He doesn't answer & she asks "You're going to be back late again? What are you hiding from me? ....not a woman?" He finally answers "I won't do that....a woman....that woman died 15 years ago....do you know? I killed that woman...." & goes out....

At the office along a corridor, Kiichiro says "Bucho, the details for the French Museum agreement has been finalized, will you take a look?" "Is this urgent?" "Yes, if it's possible, would like to sign the contract next week...." "I leave it to you...." says the bucho & walks off without looking at the documents. Kiichiro follows "Bucho...." "What else?" "I need  to explain to you...." "What about...." "About your daughter....you think that I used your daughter as a stepping stone (to one's own success in life)...." "I don't think that it was wrong pulling you out from the project in Malaysia....but Eriko is not a step-ladder to advance in life. Your father is not merely a stepping stone to advancement in life. Don't be mistaken about that....you're getting married soon aren't you...." "Yes...." "Congratulations....from now on, do your best...."

As Kiichiro goes to his desk, a couple of colleagues talk among themselves "Seems like the bucho's daughter went to Malaysia to look for Hamazaki (Kiichiro)....ignoring the boss's daughter, I couldn't do that....well, hopes his father lives to a ripe old age, if he dies, he won't have anything....he'll be finished...." Kiichiro walks out & leaves the office. As he gets into a cab & leaves, Keita trails him on a motorbike to a hotel. Out of sight from Kiichiro, he looks at Kiichiro talking to an man. Keita mutters "Who's that man...." & taking out a point & shoot camera, takes some pictures....

Later at Naoki's apartment, Naoki looks at the pictures "He's Yakuza? (Japanese mob)" Keita replies "At the end of the bubble economy....there was a museum that unknowingly bought stolen paintings of Paul Klee (pronounced Clay)....it was even in the news. When it was time to make payment, it was discovered that the paintings were used as collateral....the one who as in charge of the whole thing was this art dealer...." Naoki asks "What's the relationship between the 2?" Keita speculates "At the same time, the company that was successful in its bid for the paintings in the auction are until this day, holding them in its custody, at a loss as to how to deal with these paintings....Hamazaki Kiichiro must be seeking this art dealer's help in desperation....you guessed right....Hamazaki Kiichiro is a man that if you hit (hard enough) dirt flies....that's to say, if he fails, he'll have to leave the country...." Naoki mutters "Maybe...." "Playing around with the life of an elite, feels good huh....but wouldn't that mean that Oba Minako would follow him? She's the sort that would stay forever with the one she loves...."

Right then the doorbell rings & as Naoki goes to answer it Keita yells "It's open!" "What?" Keita opens the door....it's Yuri. Keita says "I called her....wanted you to talk to her...." Naoki replies "What are you thinking?" going in & clearing up the pictures on the table. Yuri says "So you're moving....where to?" Naoki doesn't answer & Keita says "He hasn't told me either...." Yuri asks "You've met the woman you had to meet?" looking at Naoki who looks away without answering. Yuri sees some photos that Naoki's thrown away "You're throwing this too...." Naoki mutters "Don't touch...." Keita goes next to Yuri & says "Reminds me....you were really bad at remembering lines...." Yuri nods "You had to prompt me all the time...." Keita whispers "If I can't leave, I'll become the sleeping echoes that shrieks in the caverns...." Yuri gets up & says "If I can't leave, I'll become the sleeping echoes that shrieks in the caverns...." Keita prompts "Towards the sky above me I'll shout until I grow hoarse...." Yuri repeats ""Towards the sky above me I'll shout until I grow hoarse....my lover's name Romeo over & over again...." Naoki tells the both of them "Will the both of you stop playing around...." but Yuri ignores him. Keita stands up "The one who calls my name....is my spirit....it's Juliet!" Naoki says to Keita "You were always doing the props...." Yuri says "Romeo, what time tomorrow...." but Naoki tells them "It's late! Quiet down!" Yuri says "Why have we become like this?" Keita mutters "The lines are correct!" Yuri continues "Why do men become so cold?" Keita plays along "Why, Juliet...." & then looking at Naoki "Why....I don't know...." Yuri's sits down upset "Those were really happy times...." Keita quietly says "Naoki, it's about time you thought about...." "Huh?" replies Naoki. Keita tells him "the happiness of the one who loves you...." Naoki doesn't reply, just appears to be in an irritable mood....

(-= CJ =- I can't stand Yuri! Come on girl, have a bit of pride! If a guy doesn't want you it's not the end of the world....cry, have a fit, whatever & then get on with life! Arrrgh! Annoys me to bits!)

At the nursery the boss says to a customer "Use this together....thank you very much...." & then to Minako "This week we've sold 3 pots of those!" Her cell phone goes off & her colleague Shoko says "Minako! Phone!" Minako answers "Hello...." "It's me....any strange things happening?" says Kiichiro. Minako assures him "Everything's fine...." "It's going to be lunch time soon....take a break...." "Here too...." "Then I'll call you again...." "Hm...." Shoko says "If anything happens he'll come right away....knight on a white horse!" Minako replies "Isn't that great?" "Ah, you're boasting! That's vexing!" The boss comes by & says "Who's in charge of the afternoon check?" "Ah, me...." "Shoko-san!" "I'm going!" "Please keep to the schedule....thank you!" Minako smiles & her voiceover comes on "Since that time, I haven't seen Ito Naoki...."

Minako locks up & goes home. Her voiceover continues "Maybe he's been warned by his boss....one needs to take on a firm attitude towards that sort of a man...." As she walks home, her cell phone goes off "Hello?" "It's me, are you home already?" "No, in front of the station...." "Any strange men following you?" Minako looks around "Everything's ok....working overtime?" "Entertaining at a club...." "You were invited?" "No....we're doing the inviting....can't stand it....want to go home early...." "Don't drink too much!" "ok....see you tomorrow...." "Bye bye...."

A man jogs by Minako scaring her for a second....continuing on round the corner, someone on a bike nearly crashes into her "Sorry...." Minako seems to be a bundle of nerves. As she approaches her apartment she suddenly stops & looks up at the apartment right across the street from hers. Naoki's fixing the blinds at his window & looking down he says "Welcome back....recently you've been pretty late....being abused by the folks at the nursery? Don't have to work over time do you...." Minako stunned to see him there finally says "What are you doing here...." but Naoki rolls down the blinds, shocking her. He comes out onto the veranda & says "Shall I bring it over? 'House moving' present...." Naoki smiles at her, Minako looks up at him terrified as her voiceover says "The man that has been following me....has moved into the apartment across from ours...."