Tokyo, Aoyama. On a bright & clear sunny day, Okishima Shuji zooms thru the streets on his motorbike. Speeding along in a bright red car, Machida Kyoko turns a corner & stops at a traffic light. On her cell phone she says "That's why I already said it'll be fine...yes...eh? No way...wait..." Kyoko hits the button winding down her window & sticks her hand out "It's not raining...not raining..." Right then Shuji zooms right by her, barely missing her hand, screeching to a stop. Kyoko, not realizing what happened happily continues "I said it's not raining...uh...I think it's good weather..." Shuji tries to get her attention "Oi!" but when Kyoko doesn't notice, shouts "Hey lady!" Kyoko hangs up & looks at Shuji "What lady?" Shuji suddenly wavers & says "You're sticking out of the traffic lane...traffic lane, sticking out..." Kyoko sticks her head out the window to look & then backs up "Excuse me..." Shuji backs up his bike along Kyoko & still annoyed says "& also, suddenly sticking out your hand like that, can you not do it! It's dangerous..." "When?" "Just now, sticking your hand out..." "Did not, I was on the phone all the time..." "You did, saying 'It's not raining, not raining!'" Kyoko remembers with a smile "Ah! Rain! My friend was thinking that it might rain, there's a soccer match today..." Shuji retorts "I wouldn't know! I'm not a weather man..." Kyoko taken aback "What are you trying to say..." Shuji continues "Thanks to you sticking your hand out, I..." The cars behind honk as the light turns green & Kyoko, ignoring Shuji, turns left & starts driving off. With Shuji yelling "Oi!" Kyoko speeds off, Shuji following...

Just as Kyoko arrives at the library & pulls into a parking lot, Shuji arrives & parks his bike next to her. Kyoko winds down her window "Hey, why are you here too?" Shuji replies "I have something to do here..." getting off his bike. Kyoko ribs him "You don't look like the type that reads..." & Shuji retorts "Neither do you..." & starts walking off. Kyoko sounds her car horn & Shuji turns back to look at her as she says "Wait a minute..." Shuji replies "Huh?" Kyoko points to his bike "This...can you move it over there a little bit?" Shuji asks "Why?" Kyoko replies "It's in the way, I can't get out..." Shuji walks up "What are you saying? There's all this space, you can get out..." Kyoko interrupts "Never mind just move it, I can't get out..." Shuji grumbling & muttering to himself, gets on his bike & moves it out of the way. Kyoko smiles "Thank you..." & opens her car door. Taking her foldable wheelchair from the backseat, she puts it next to her & gets into it. Shuji, surprised watches without a word as Kyoko locks up her car & turning around, says to him with a smile "Second my car..." Kyoko wheels herself up the ramp into the library, Shuji walks up the stairs...

At the library, Shuji checks out information on the computer as Kyoko, working behind the counter, glances at him. Her colleague Tamura Sachie says "This weekend, we've got to organize the bookshelves..." Kyoko replies "OK..." Shuji still at the computers looks at an elderly man holding up the mouse & mutters "Put it down & press it..." Seeing Kyoko at the counter, he reluctantly approaches it & ignoring Kyoko, says to Sachie "Excuse me..." Kyoko replies "Yes..." but Shuji intentionally ignores her, addressing his question to Sachie "Have you got books regarding Sodium Hydroxide?" Sachie asks "Sodium Hydroxide..." Shuji replies "Yes, Sodium Hydroxide..." & Kyoko wheels up "This library doesn't have books like that..." Shuji tells her "I'm asking this person..." Sachie says "Sodium Hydroxide right?" Kyoko interrupts "Don't bother, he's just playing around..." Sachie, a little surprised says to Shuji "Please wait a minute..." & disappears into another room. Kyoko says "Dangerous guy...are you making a bomb or something?" "Yeah..." "To blow up the National Convention Center?" "Huh? Hasn't it already blown up?" Shuji retorts, looking at Kyoko's bushy hairdo. Kyoko insulted replies "What's that supposed to mean?" "Really something, that hairdo..." Before Kyoko can say anything, Sachie comes out with some papers & explains to Shuji "Over there, after the 3rd shelf there's the chemistry corner arranged accordingly or if you enter Sodium Hydroxide into the computers over there..." Shuji thanks her "I understand..." "Here, take this..." "No it's alright, 3rd shelf...Sodium..." & Shuji disappears, Sachie smiling to herself. Annoyed, Kyoko calls her "Oi!" "What?" "He's making a bomb..."

Shuji finds the book he's looking for & returning to the counter, sees Sachie busy explaining something to an elderly gentleman. Left with no choice, Shuji approaches the counter & drops the book on the table in front of Kyoko with a bang. Kyoko asks "What?" "Borrow this..." replies Shuji, dropping his library card on the book. Kyoko scans the card & book into the computer & with a grin tells Shuji "I'm very sorry but this book isn't allowed out of the library. You can only read it in within the library..." Shuji asks "Copy?" Kyoko points to the line of people using the photocopying machine "Please line up over there..." Just then Sachie comes back to the counter "Copy? Sorry, final exams are just round the corner for the Aoyama University students..." Reaching for the book, Sachie flips to the back cover & then says "It's fine, take it..." Kyoko says "Wait, Sachi..." Sachie flips open the book "But look, the last time someone borrowed this was in 1984, 16 years ago...if he borrows it for 3 days, it won't trouble anyone..." Kyoko stubbornly says "Rules are rules..." Shuji retorts "You don't obey traffic rules..." Kyoko asks "What?! In any case, go queue up..." Shuji replies "I haven't got time..." Kyoko takes out some paper & a pen "In that case, lend you this..." Shuji starts laughing "Interesting..." Sachie looks apologetic "Uhm..." but Shuji tells her "I'll come again, it's all right..." & leaves. As Kyoko fumes, Sachie moans "It's gone...will he come again?" "He won't..." "Why do you talk like that? What does he do I wonder..." "Said he's making a bomb..." Sachie looks at Kyoko "You can't make bombs with Sodium Hydroxide..." Kyoko looks surprised "Oh..." "At the very least, I did science in university..." replies Sachie.

Along the streets, Okabe Takumi says to a couple of girls "When it's done, I'll call you..." having taken some pictures of them "Thanks, bye..." Shuji arrives on his bike & yells "Oi!" throwing him a can drink. Takumi shows Shuji the photos "Look, look...not to bad..." Shuji takes a look at it "How shall one put it...try again..."

At the Machidaya Liquor Store, Machida Masao says to an elderly lady "Here's your change 300yen..." She says "Masao, your omiai (arranged marriage) meeting didn't go well again did it..." Masao asks "From mom?" "I heard...don't lose heart..." Masao teases her "No, I've fallen for you..." Laughing she replies "Don't pull my leg...bye, cheer up!" Masao goes back into store & into their home "Mom!" Kyoko, sitting munching senbei (Japanese crackers) & watching TV replies "She's gone out, together with dad, town meeting..." Masao scratches his head "Oh...what about dinner?" "I've eaten..." "Mine!" "In the kitchen, oden..." Masao grumbles "Again? Had that yesterday..." "Leftovers from yesterday..." "If you've eaten what are you eating now?" 'Desert..." "What's that..." Kyoko says "Oni-chan, if you keep saying things like 'Here's your change 300yen...', you'll never get a bride..." "Why?" asks Masao, bringing a plate to the table in front of the TV. Sitting down he says "Matsushima...what?" Kyoko replies "Nanako..." Masao looks at the commercial on TV showing Matsushima Nanako & says "A cute woman like that, becoming my bride..." "Never..." "I know...Matsushima is not possible...it's not that but like this...how shall I say, this atmosphere..." "Never..." replies Kyoko, munching away. Masao playfully whacks Kyoko on her forward & Kyoko returns it. Masao tells her "You've got senbei crumbs on your face..." as Kyoko cleans up. Masao continues ribbing his sister "You yourself, can't get a boyfriend..." Kyoko retorts "I don't want one..." Masao throws back "Not cute!" going back into the kitchen, leaving Kyoko munching away...

The following day in the early afternoon, Kyoko says to Sachie "Hey..." "Hm?" "There's nothing to do..." "Uhm..." "There's nothing to do & we can't even take a nap, it's torturous..." "Uhm..." Kyoko rolls her wheelchair back & forth, Sachie sits flipping thru a book, both women bored in the empty library. Sachie says "Hey..." "Hm?" "I've been thinking about it, can I say it?" "Yeah..." "Your hairstyle's strange..." "I know..." "Then that's fine..." "My brother always brings me to the nearby barber shop, if it's the cut like the usual it's alright but recently, a new person started working there. Said he learned the perm, asked if I wanted to try, 2000 yen only, so..." Sachie says '2000 yen perm huh..." "2000 yen barber shop perm..." "2000 yen barber shop perm huh..." "That's unusual, a guy like that..." "Uhm, the whole shop was full of elderly men..." "Did you get a shave?" "Of courses not..."

Just then, both women turn to see Miyama entering the library "Good afternoon..." Kyoko surprised replies "Good afternoon..." Miyama comes up to Kyoko with a look of surprise on his face "You changed your hairstyle! It's nice..." Kyoko shakes her head "I don't think so..." Miyama assures her "It suits you...ah, how is it? Have you made up your mind?" "Eh?" "Next Sunday's 'Let's Dance' party, together with us, dancing. Take the plunge!" Kyoko turns him down "But, dancing for me..." Miyama, refusing to give up "It'll be alright, leave it to us. Last time was at Maebashi, before that Ito...held it at various places. This time, for someone like you, everyone will be really happy..." Kyoko takes offense "What do you mean someone like me?" Just then Shuji arrives in the library to see Kyoko telling Miyama off "I am me, only me, people like me can't go anywhere..." Miyama stammers but Kyoko continues heatedly "Why do we have to dance in a wheelchair? Do you think it's fun dancing in a wheelchair? Just spinning round in circles..." Kyoko returns to the counter & Shuji sneaks by without her noticing. She continues her tirade "So called volunteers like you, how shall I put it, helping out people who are less fortunate than you, you feel good...that's just forcing your good intentions on others..." Miyama a little embarrassed, takes a pair of tickets from his pocket & hesitatingly asks "If that's the case, how about going to the movies?" Kyoko with a fierce expression "I can go to the movies alone!" Miyama finally gets the hint "That's right...sorry..." & leaves. Kyoko takes a book from the counter, looking a little embarrassed & Sachie says shocked "Kyoko!" Kyoko replies, as if trying to convince herself "It's ok, someone like him if I don't do that, he won't understand..." Dropping a book in front of Kyoko, Shuji says "But that was a bit much..." Kyoko retorts "What? A sermon?" "No..." "When did you arrive?" Shuji thinks "When he said 'Take the plunge!'..." Returning the book to him, Shuji says "He's not forcing his good intentions on you...just picking you up..." Kyoko looks at him shocked "Huh?" "He likes you, that's why he was trying to date you..." "No such thing!" "But he had the tickets, movie tickets, 2 tickets...didn't you see?" Sachie butts in "I saw it too..." Kyoko retorts "Don't talk rubbish..."

As Kyoko organizes some books on a shelf, she see Shuji on the other side. Kyoko tells him "I don't mean to brag, guys in wheelchairs have asked me out before but not someone who's normal..." Shuji replies "Naïve..." "Hey, coming to the library this time of the day, what kind of job do you do? At this age, dressed like that, coming to the library during weekdays...ah I know, you've been laid off...there's been a lot of people like that recently at the library...if that's not it, nothing to do, chasing girls..." Shuji, plucking books off the shelves finally says "Hey..." "What..." "You said some strange things just now..." "Eh?" "I am me, only me...why just because he's a volunteer, treat him like that?" Kyoko mutters "That's..." Shuji adds "Feel sorry for him...to be told off that he's forcing his good intentions on you...normally one wouldn't say that...saying that just cause you think you're feeling sorry for yourself..." Kyoko gets worked up "You saying that I'm feeling sorry for myself?!" Shuji retorts "Not cute...that's not cute..." "Wait a minute...what are you trying to do?" Shuji replies "Selecting books to borrow..." looking at the books in his hand & then says "I can't take any of these out! What's this place?!" Shuji dumps them all on Kyoko's lap & starts walking away. Kyoko infuriated "Wait a minute! What am I suppose to do with these! Oi! What are you doing to a handicap person?!" Shuji turns around "What handicap person? Just like a Spring Desert Mouse...this is the library, be quiet..." & walks off. Kyoko puzzled, watches Shuji leave "Spring Desert Mouse?"

Outside the Machidaya store, an elderly lady shows Masao an omiai photo to Masao "I also know this girl, she's really nice!" Masao apologies "I'm sorry, but it's alright..." going back into the store explaining "I can't think about getting married now, I still have things I want to do..." She follows him in asking "What is it that you want to do?" Masao grapples for some excuse "For example, this table...Italian design..."

Inside the house, Kyoko pours over a book "Desert mouse...mouse family...length approximately 15cm..." Kyoko surprised "It's big...an animal that moves about non-stop during the night..." Masao comes in & plonks himself down muttering "That woman! She's persistent!" Crunching into a senbei, Kyoko tells him "That's gone soft, it's yesterday's..." Masao retorts "Should've told me before! What are you looking at?" "Hm?" "Looking at that..." Kyoko asks her brother, pointing to the mouse in the book "Is this pretty?" Masao answers grouchily "Pretty...it's just a mouse..." "Cute?" "That's a matter of taste..." "A matter of taste..." "Why?" "Nothing..." "Make me some tea..." "Ok..." Masao turns on the TV & Kyoko says "Oni-chan, a strange guy came to the library today..." Masao asks "Miyama the volunteer?" "That guy's strange but there's someone even more so...usually, people view someone in a wheelchair with a disdain...it's not to that extent but like with curiosity, or be a little kinder...but with that person there's none of that...the attitude too..." "Maybe this person isn't used to people in wheelchairs or the handicapped?" "I didn't get that feeling...somehow, feels like this person's got no barrier in his heart...barrier free..." "Hmmm...it's a guy isn't it..." "How..." "Hah! It's a guy! So anxious!" "Am not!" Kyoko grabs the apples from the table & throws it at Masao "Stop it!"

At the library, Kyoko checks the computer, looking at the books Shuji's borrowed. Sachie comes behind her "Okishima Shuji huh..." Kyoko hits a button muttering "What..." Sachie says "Look, look...he has to return the book today, he'll come today...that's the nice thing about the library..." "What are you saying..." "You're waiting for him aren't you..." "Who's waiting for him?! That Sodium Hydroxide..."

Late in the evening, Sachie says "He didn't come..." Kyoko replies automatically "Uhm...eh? Who?" Sachie smiles "Idiot...I'm leaving...take care of things, he might make the last 5 minutes..." Left alone, Kyoko looks at her watch...

The next morning, Kyoko arrives at the library saying "Good morning..." to Sachie who's clearing up the returned books from the drop off box. Sachie replies "Good morning...it's finally returned...chi-maruko cha isu..." putting it on the table. "Ah, so yesterday...that guy? Did he come?" asks Sachie, putting more books on the table. Kyoko says "Ah..." Sachie looks at the book "But, that could be someone else..." Kyoko shakes her head "It's this book...the characteristics of Sodium Hydroxide..." Sachie ponders "So he returned it at night...avoiding the enemy..." 

The Hot Lip hair salon bustles with activity. Next to Shuji, Mayumi says to a customer "How do you want your fringe?" "Want it a little long..." Shuji's busy with a customer when suddenly the light shines onto his face, irritating him. Looking up, he sees the top hairstylist Kawamura Satoru attending to an actress, TV camera around them. Satoru says "Cutting your hair off, won't you get into trouble with the company?" "It's fine, the drama's finished already..." "That's great, I've seen that too..." "Thank you..." A reporter fawns all over the actress "This is great, together with the hairstylist...great, great feeling..." Satoru turns on the charm "You're getting very popular..." "Is that so?" Across the aisle, Shuji finishes a haircut when the girl says "I'd like to have this cut a little shorter..." but Shuji replies "I think it's more balanced this way..." turning her down. Looking at Takumi he says "Takumi, shampoo..." "This way..." Takumi says to the girl & then to Shuji "Kawamura's been appearing a lot on TV lately huh..." Shuji ignores him "Customer's waiting..." & Takumi remembers "When you're free, the boss wants to see you..." Shuji nods & attends to another customer. The cameraman bumps into him "Ah, sorry..."

In the staff room, the owner points to Shuji's paper "Sodium Hydroxide, development of a non alkali perm...I've read this...a perm that doesn't harm the hair...that's fine but it's tough on you...when a star's around..." Shuji notices the coffee stain left on his paper & picking it up, says "You mean Satoru?" "He's an idiot, not clever. A paper like that, he wouldn't understand it. But as far as charm goes he's number one...the customers complained again...that you're don't listen to their wishes..." Shuji doesn't reply & his boss says "Never mind...this magazine's going to do an interview, Hot Lip's new winter style. Usually Satoru does it but this time, you do it too..." Shuji surprised "Huh?" "This time the one that's better will appear in print. This is not my decision, it's the decision from the editor...I think this is good news..."

Out on the streets, Takumi & Shuji are scouting for models. Takumi's enthusiastically pointing "What about that one...it's cold today...ah that one...hurry!" "Which?" "That one! That style!" "That's no good..." "Those legs look good!" "You're kidding..." "Yeah..." "What are you doing..." "I'm not chasing girl, just interested..." Mayumi walks up "It's Shuji...Takumi too..." Takumi says "Everyone's here, the boss too..." "What are you guys doing?" "Looking for models..." Satoru tells them "In that case there're none here, I've looked already..." Takumi asks "Satoru, you've decided on who's your model already?" "Yeah sort of, the girl from that magazine that time...eh, what's her name...Youko..." Takumi replies "Youko?! Isn't she a really popular model?!" "She's a friend, that's why she's doing this..." The boss says "Let's not stand here jabbering away like this...it's been a long time since we got together, let's go have a drink...you guys come too..." Shuji turns down the offer "Sorry, I'm looking for models..." The boss says "Let's go..." leaving with Satoru. Mayumi says to Shuji "When you're done how about a drink? Come over to my place..." Shuji replies bluntly "Sorry..." & Mayumi nods, going after the boss. Takumi says "Shuji, I'm not talking about girl/guy relationships but once in a while to go out with the boss, build up relationship..." Shuji replies irritated "You sound like a salaryman..." "It's the same thing...that's why with Satoru..." Shuji tosses his cigarette onto the floor saying sarcastically "It's in his nature to be all naïve & innocent..." "Somehow I feel that it's all calculated...but Youko? I wonder...impact&it's like one shot impact to win..." "I know! That's why I'm looking!" Takumi laughs & bumps into someone with short blond hair "Sorry..." Takumi says "That's a strong impact! But then, that's not...what are we going to do?" Shuji thinks & then suddenly says "That person!" "Who?" "Huh? Her..."

At the library, Kyoko finishes a book "Done..." looking bored when Shuji arrives. Kyoko stares at him & Shuji asks "What, you look like you've seen a ghost or something..." Kyoko replies "What do you want?" "How about doing something to your hair?" "Eh?" "That's some perm..." replies Shuji with a chuckle. Kyoko mutters "I like it that's why I did it, leave me alone..." Shuji stares at her for a while & then says "How about if I cut it for you?" Kyoko surprised "Huh?" Shuji goes behind the counter & asks "How about being my 'cut' model?" Sachie comes up "Are you a hairstylist?" Shuji, embarrassed, goes back out in front of the counter replying "Yeah..." Sachie replies "Oh...I was thinking that you dressed like one...which saloon?" "Place?" "Place..." "Aoyama..." "Oh Aoyama, nearby...that's why you come to this library..." Kyoko asks "Which saloon in Aoyama?" "Hot Lip..." replies Shuji & Sachie exclaims "Hot Lip?! I know it! Often seen it in magazines...won't I do?" Shuji tells her "Uhm, the length..." Sachie says "Won't do huh...a lot of people from the entertainment business go there right?" "Yeah...but I don't cut their hair..." Sachie says "Ah, Kyoko, last time we saw it in AnAn magazine you said you wanted to go..." Kyoko replies "Did I?" "You did! But you said it wasn't barrier free so couldn't go & got your brother..." Kyoko cuts her off "Don't talk nonsense..." Sachie replies "Sorry..." Shuji, listening, quietly asks Sachie "What's barrier free? Barrier free...what?" Sachie in a hushed tone replies "Hmm, for a wheelchair, if there's a difference in levels, it can't go there right? Not places like that...where's there's a slope, inside the shops there's space..." Shuji ponders & then says "I'll make it barrier free for you..." Kyoko turns around, looking at him in surprise...

Kyoko wheels herself towards Hot Lip. Inside, Shuji sees her & comes out. Kyoko, as if changing her mind, starts to go past the salon when Shuji appears "You're going past it, it's here..." Shuji wheels her inside "Welcome..." Seeing no customers Kyoko asks "It's closed today?" "No, today's special..." "Special?" Takumi asks "Should I remove this?" "Yes..." As Takumi moves a chair away, Shuji wheels Kyoko in front of the mirror "The height's ok huh..." Kyoko looks around at the strange people standing around & asks "Who are those people?" "They're from the publishing company..." "Publishing company?" "Yeah, they're here for the magazine article...if the cut's good, it'll appear in the magazine..." "I didn't hear about that..." "If I had said it, you wouldn't have come..." "Of course I wouldn't have come, I'm going back..." replies Kyoko, turning around to go. Shuji stops her "Wait, sorry...they won't just take it like that, only if they like my cut..." Kyoko doesn't reply, wavering. Shuji wheels her around & says "Actually, it's a competition..." Kyoko looks across to see Satoru & his model Youko & says "Competition?" "Whichever one is better will appear in the magazine..." Kyoko recognizes Satoru & says excitedly "I've seen that person before on TV! He's famous..." Shuji smiles "We're 'classmates'...but I'm nowhere as good as he is..." Kyoko looks at Shuji who continues "That's why...this time...it's a chance to get back...won't you help me out?" Kyoko doesn't reply & Shuji turns around to look at Takumi. Turning back to Kyoko, he suggests "Let's do this...cut it...if you don't like it, then we won't take any photos...but if you feel like it's ok to take photos, if you like it, then we'll take the photos, how about it?" Kyoko thinks about it & then looks at Shuji "ok..." Shuji looks relieved & says "First let's get rid of the perm...shampoo..." Takumi wheels Kyoko away, Shuji saying "Be careful..."

Looking around, Kyoko says with excitement "This place is great, different from that place near my home...don't have cabled Enka music...one by one all dressed up..." Shuji interrupts her chattering "Sorry...don't talk..." Kyoko shuts up & Shuji sits down behind her, both of them looking in the mirror. Shuji asks "So how?" "Eh?" "Your likes or dislikes, what you feel like..." Kyoko replies "I leave it to you..." Shuji surprised "Eh?" Looking at his reflection in the mirror, she says "I trust you so I leave it up to you..." Shuji nods "ok..." & starts on her hair. Across on the other side, Satoru finishes up on the model & they start taking photos. Kyoko turns to look at them but Shuji with a smile, turns her head back. At long last, Shuji says "Done..." Kyoko looks up in surprised "Eh?" "It's done..." Kyoko stares at her new hairstyle in the mirror not saying a word, touching her hair. Shuji holds up a mirror behind her "So?" Kyoko smiles & says "Can I tell you what I think?" Shuji replies "What...sounds scary..." Kyoko smiles "It's beautiful..." & Shuji smiles in relief. Kyoko says "You're laughing..." Shuji replies "Usually one doesn't say that..." "But it's beautiful...like it's not me..." "You like it?" "Love it..." "That's great..." A reporter asks "Can we talk a bit?" Shuji agrees, telling Kyoko "Wait a bit..." going off with the reporter. Takumi takes the sheet off her "Otsukaresama..." & Kyoko smiles "thanks..." Shuji comes back & tells Kyoko "Sorry, if it's alright, they said they wanted to take the pictures outside..." Kyoko asks in surprise "But they can take it here..." "But they want to take both..." "Oh..." Shuji sits down behind her "Ah, so how?" "Eh?" "You haven't agreed to having your picture taken..." Kyoko says hesitatingly "Is it really ok...someone like me..." Shuji replies "Of course...how about makeup?" Kyoko says "Make up?"

Outside, a very nervous looking Kyoko has her picture taken. With Shuji watching, the photographer says "Look over here...smile... relax...changing the lens..." Shuji goes up to Kyoko, retouching up her hair "Everything's fine...cold?" "No..." "Alright?" "Uhm..." "You look nervous..." Kyoko smiles nervously & Shuji says "Everything's fine! You're very beautiful...look!" & holds up a mirror, touching up his own hair. Kyoko starts laughing & the photographer says "Let's continue..." Halfway through, Shuji goes up to her & redoes her hair "Excuse me..." Kyoko teases him "Really like a beautician..." Shuji does the same looking at her "Ah just like a model!" Kyoko laughs "Stop!" "Don't move..." The photographer has a few words with the folks from the magazine & then from another angle, takes more photographs of Kyoko...

Crossing an overhead bridge, everyone parts with a round of "Otsukaresama deshita" Kyoko says "That was nerve racking!" Shuji asks "Why? It was great..." Kyoko laughs "I wonder..." Shuji turns around & looking says "Wow, it's magnificent!" "Eh?" "The sunset..." Both of them look at the setting sun & Kyoko says "It's true...the scenery's beautiful here..." Shuji looks around & then suddenly bends down behind Kyoko, looking at the view from over her shoulder. Kyoko says in surprise "Eh?" Shuji replies "Just wondering how you see it..." "Oh..." "It's different huh..." "Hm?" Shuji goes down on his heels "From a wheelchair, it's always from a height of about 100cm isn't it...so the world one sees is different..." Kyoko smiles "You're strange..." "Me?" "Yes, that's the first time I've heard of something like that..." "Really?" replies Shuji, standing up. Kyoko explains "Usually what I hear are things like 'it's tough isn't it, you've got to hang in there, you can say anything, I'll do anything for you'..." Shuji doesn't reply & Kyoko smiles "The world I can see...I've never even thought about it before..." Shuji stares at her at her not saying anything, then lighting up his cigarette. For a while, the both of them, from their own heights, watching the sunset. As it gets dark, Shuji asks "What shall we do?" "Hm?" "You hungry?" Kyoko nods "Hm...." Shuji smiles "Then I'll treat you to dinner...." 

 Shuji wheels Kyoko down the sidewalk, speeding & happily shouting "Model's coming thru....!" with Kyoko laughing "It's dangerous!" Shuji steps onto the back of her wheelchair & the both of them race along, laughing & shouting......

As Shuji comes out of a basement restaurant, the waiter says "We're very sorry...." & Shuji signs to Kyoko that they can't enter this restaurant.  Climbing up a flight of steps to the top, he sighs "Where can we go?" Kyoko on her wheelchair mutters "Where...."

Shuji checks with another restaurant & closing the door "Sorry...." & signs to Kyoko 'no', crossing his hands. Walking up the couple of steps to Kyoko who says with acceptance "So...." Shuji looks back muttering "They're a bit much...."

As Kyoko waits outside another restaurant, Shuji comes out, walking down the steps "They said no...." Kyoko merely replies "Oh..." Shuji exasperated "Really, why!" Kyoko, used to all this, tells him "Can't be helped...there are very few restaurants that wheelchairs can go to....there are lots of steps, it's narrow inside...." As she turns to go, Shuji says "Wait...." pulling her back "I've got a good idea..." "What?" "Wait..."  Shuji takes off his backpack, putting it round in front of him & then goes down on his heels with his back to Kyoko. Surprised she says "Eh?" "Piggyback. Like this we'll be able to go in..." Kyoko feeling uncomfortable "How can..." Shuji assures her "It's alright, what are you feeling embarrassed..." "That's not a good idea...." "Why? I look like this but I'm strong enough, it's alright..." "No, it's fine..." Shuji ignores her "Hurry up, it's cold..." grabbing her hand but Kyoko gets upset "It's fine...." "Come on..." Kyoko pulls away & finally yells "I said it's fine!" Shuji falling back, looks at her, realizing that he's somehow hurt her feelings "Sorry...."

The both of them end up at a little street stall, a ramen (noodle) stall eating along the roadside. Shuji apologizes "Coming to a place like this, sorry...." Kyoko shakes her head "It's delicious...." "It's really good huh...." The owner comes by with a couple of cans of beer saying "coming to a place like this, sorry...." Shuji says "You heard?" "I heard....I hear everything!" teasing them. Shuji mutters "Sorry...." Kyoko holds up the beer "Cheers!"  & Shuji, hesitating, clinks cans with her "Cheers!" Taking a big swallow, Shuji asks "Alright if you drink?" "Fine...anything's fine....except the wheelchair...." Shuji, eating, merely grunts. Kyoko hesitates "Just now...." "Hm?" "No....just now...." 'What?" "It's not that I don't like you to piggyback me...." Shuji doesn't reply & Kyoko embarrassingly tells him "Skinny....my legs can't move, right....legs that can't move become like sticks....really skinny...." Shuji nonchalantly continues eating his noodles & Kyoko says "If you knew that, I'd feel rather embarrassed...especially when you made my upper half this beautiful...." After a pause, Shuji finally says "Can I ask you something?" "Hm?" "Was it an accident?" Kyoko shakes her head "No, illness....I could still walk when I was 17...pretty well too...." Shuji replies "Even now...pretty well too...." Kyoko smiles "I guessed you'd say that...." "What's that?" Kyoko, embarrassed, changes the subject "These bamboo shoots are delicious, I love it!" Shuji takes some from his bowl & puts it in hers "Here...." "No way....lucky!" "In return....give me the egg..." taking the piece from her bowl & eating it....

After dinner, Shuji tries to flag down a taxi. As an empty one passes by Shuji mutters "Hey! What?! Again?!" Kyoko explains "Refusal to accept passengers.....2 out of 3 will refuse to accept passengers because it's a hassle with the wheelchairs...." "That's not the real problem is it..."  Kyoko says "Since we're here, let's talk until a taxi comes...." "What about?" "I'm a little tipsy...." "So it's your turn to ask question?" "Not really..." "Then what?" asks Shuji, looking at her "Hm?" Embarrassed, Kyoko tells him "Don't look at me..." pointing him to look back out towards the street. Shuji complies "Oh...."  Kyoko hesitatingly says "I really enjoyed today....because I don't really mix with new people a lot....I really enjoyed myself today....." Shuji replies "But photos were also taken of Satoru's as well....don't know who's  will appear in the magazine...." "Doesn't matter if it doesn't appear in the magazine.....I really enjoyed it...laughing with confidence in front of a camera like that, it was the first since my legs became bad....." Shuji replies casually "Oh...." Kyoko nods "Uhm...." "Me too..." "Hm?" "I enjoyed myself today too...like I forgot about work, really engrossed in it...." Shuji looks a little embarrassed & then sees a taxi coming "Ah, it's here...." Kyoko smiles as Shuji goes "Yes, yes, yes...." Opening the car door, he asks "OK?" Kyoko gets in "Alright?" "Uhm..." Shuji puts the wheelchair in the trunk & then tells the driver "Alright...." "Where to?" asks the taxi driver. Shuji looks at Kyoko "Shinkoi?" "Uhm..." "To Shinkoi..." "OK...." As Shuji shuts the door, Kyoko says "Wait..." winding down the window "I forgot...." "Huh?" "Thank you for today....making me beautiful, thank you....was really happy...." Shuji nods & then asks "I..." "Hm?" "Have I got....any talent? How shall I put it....do I have talent as a hairstylist....." Kyoko stares at him "You do! You definitely do! Hey, if it appears in the magazine, that magazine today, shall we celebrate?" "Celebrate?" "Uhm..." When Shuji doesn't answer immediately, Kyoko mutters "No huh..." Shuji hurriedly says "No no no...let's do it...." "Really?" With all the delays, the taxi driver asks "Can we go yet?" Shuji replies "Just a bit..." & then to Kyoko "The ramen place..." "There?!" "After work, about 8, is that too late?" "Ok....it's a date...." The driver says "Let's go..." & both of them agree. Shuji tells her "Date!" & watches the taxi leave, saying to himself "It's a date...." 

A few weeks later, the day of the magazine's publication finally arrives. Kyoko goes to the convenience store to the magazine racks,  anxiously searching for the magazine. Not seeing it, she sees a store attendant unpacking bundles "Hi, what are you looking for?"  "Do you have L'aman?" "L'aman? Ah, it's over here..." That please...." says Kyoko with a big smile. As she comes out of the store, unable to wait any longer, she stops on the sidewalk & anxiously opens the magazine. Flipping thru the pages she suddenly finds what she's looking for & smiles. Slowly, the expression on her face changes as she reads the caption accompany her photo in big print "Even in a wheelchair, a charismatic hairstylist" & followed in smaller print "can make me beautiful, make a handicap beautiful too."

On the way to work, Shuji's picked up a copy of the magazine too & reads it, not liking what's written in it....

Kyoko reads the caption aloud "Even in a wheelchair, a charismatic hairstylist" & then calmly closes the magazine. Turning around, she goes by the trash bins outside the convenience store & stopping in front of one, she drops the magazine into it.....

At Hot Lip, Shuji's washing his hair in one of the basins when Takumi comes up excitedly with the magazine "Shuji....look at this! Isn't it a big spread?! You have the best sense after all...look at this, isn't great..." Shuji, grabbing a towel, cuts him off "That's enough...." Takumi, not understanding why Shuji's not thrilled with the magazine, says "Trying to be cool huh....but this is bigger than Satoru's!" Satoru, unnoticed by Takumi says "I can hear you...." Takumi mutters innocently "Oh, you're here....." Satoru says "Speaking of which, don't you know it yourself?" Shuji doesnt reply & Takumi asks "What are you talking about?"  Satoru "What about...? Why your spread is bigger....it's because of the wheelchair.....you had it all planned from the beginning didn't you....bringing that girl here would have impact, bring attention to yourself....." Takumi tells him "Please don't be rude...." but Satoru merely replies "If you really had the confidence in your cut, then you could have used an ordinary girl...."  Takumi jumps to Shuji's defense "You're really crude. Shuji's not the sort to even think about something like that!" pushing Satoru. Shuji finally speaks "Stop it!" & Takumi backs off, getting a glare from Shuji.....

In the library, Kyoko places a book back on the shelves & overhears a colleague saying to Sachie "No wonder it had to be Kyoko....if it wasn't for the wheelchair, this article wouldn't have appeared...." looking at the magazine "That's why it couldn't be Sachi...." Sachi sees Kyoko approaching & takes the magazine, closing it. Kyoko nonchalantly says "That's true...." "Eh?" "Asking me was for that reason...."  

As Sachi leaves the library for the day, she sees Shuji sitting on the floor, waiting outside. Seeing her he scrambles to his feet "Uhm...where....where is she?" "Today....went with the mobile library...." "Mobile library?" "Making rounds to places like institutions, letting kids read books...& then going straight home after that...." Shuji mutters "Oh...." & then as he turns to walk away, Sachi stops him "Hey...." "Huh?" "Did you make use of Kyoko?" Shuji looks at her, not replying....

Kyoko's in the kitchen preparing dinner when Masao comes inside exclaiming "It's cold! Wow, smells good! Dinner?" "Uhm, nabe tonight...." The phone rings & Kyoko's mom answers "Hello, Machidaya.....oh, yes, please wait a second...." To Kyoko she says "Kyoko, telephone!" coming inside & handing the cordless phone to her "It's a guy called Okishima..." Taking the phone she says "Yes..." Shuji, calling from the ramen shop says "It's Shuji...." "Yes...." Shuji tells her "Don't just say 'yes'...." Kyoko asks "What do you want?" Shuji hesitates "Uhm...the magazine....have you seen it?" "Haven't..." "I know you've seen it..." "....Sachi?" "Uhm, I asked her for this number too...." After a pause, Shuji presses on "I'm sorry, I never thought that they'd write the article that way...." "Really, I wonder...." "Eh?" "Is that the truth?" "What's that supposed to mean?" "You know what I'm talking about....if it were me, I'd appear in the magazine....not normal person but one in a wheelchair.....you thought about the impact it would have didn't you....that's why.....although there were many other girls, you deliberately asked me....." When Shuji keeps silent, Kyoko tells him "Say something...." Shuji finally answers "You might be right....." Kyoko surprised by his direct answer. Shuji continues "Even looking for models in the streets, no one was suitable....no one caught my eye....right then I thought of you....'ah, this is the one' I thought....but I don't have the confidence to say that the wheelchair had nothing to do with it...I certainly thought about the impact aspect...." With tears welling in her eyes Kyoko says "You see..." "What?" "So it is that, you used me....can I hang up now?" "Wait..." When Kyoko doesn't hang up, Shuji tells her "But....when I saw the magazine....I....I lost the urge to do anything...." "You're doing fine...." "Can we meet & talk?"  "There's nothing to talk about...." "I want to talk to you....I'll wait for where we met the last time, wait for you at the place where the both of us ate ramen...." "There's no reason to celebrate....no way I'd celebrate!" Kyoko hangs up, upset. As Shuji hangs up, the shop owner taps him on the shoulder "Got dumped?" "Not really..." "Looks like rain....time to close up shop.....here, take this..." The old man hands Shuji an orange umbrella......

Kyoko, sitting up in bed, hears the sound of rain & looks out the window "Rain..."

 Shuji, swinging the unopened umbrella, waits & is just about to walk below to the underpass when he spots Kyoko coming out of her car. Surprised, he runs towards her in the pouring rain shouting "Oi!" trying to get her attention. Kyoko stops, turning around & seeing Shuji, smiles "Yo! I forgot to tell you on the phone just now that the book "Characteristics of Sodium Hydroxide" is in the library." Shuji asks "Can I go borrow it?" Kyoko nods "Uhm..." Shuji nods without saying anything & then looking around as the rain pours down, as if suddenly occurring to him that it's raining mutters "Use an umbrella....." 

Shuji comes towards her, opening the umbrella & giving it to her. Kyoko takes it, holds it up & Shuji after a while, awkwardly, comes under the umbrella with her. Kyoko's voiceover says......

hey Shuji, this world was beautiful.

looking from the height of 100cm, the world was beautiful.

meeting you, these last few months, my life glittered as if sprinkled with stardust.....

ねえ、柊二。この世は綺麗だったよ。
高さ１００センチから見る、世界は綺麗だったよ。
あなたと会って、ラスト何か月かで、私の人生は星屑をまいたように輝いたんだ。。。