Shuji comes riding on his bike & parking, says to the lady selling coffee & snacks from her truck "The usual..." "Just as I was wondering who it could be, it's the super stylist..." Shuji laughs "Don't say that..." "Ah, but you're famous now...appearing in the magazine..." teases the lady. As Shuji gets his coffee from her, she smiles "You'll become a top stylist soon, won't you..." Shuji tilts his head, doesn't reply, drinks his coffee...

At the library, Kyoko turns to wards the entrance when she hears the door slide open. A man walks in & Kyoko mutters "Wrong person..." Sachi teases "What? Have a date with that charismatic stylist?" Kyoko replies "It's not like that..." Sachi says with a big grin "So that's how it is...having a date in the rain..." Kyoko moans "But he hasn't come & that was the only time...said he'd borrow "The characteristics of Sodium Hydroxide too...I wonder if he's lost interest in that, Sodium Hydroxide..." Sachi tells her "Maybe he's lost interest in you..." Kyoko looks at Sachi "Hey, whatever you're thinking, there are times when it's appropriate to say & times when they're not!" The door slides open again & Sachi bluffs Kyoko "It's Shuji!" Kyoko spins around looking at the door & Sachi grins "Got you!" Kyoko turns to stare at Sachi but she says "Ah it's Miyama!" Kyoko turns to look, not seeing anyone . Sachi laughs at Kyoko "You're an idiot!" Kyoko whacks Sachi playfully on the shoulder "Hey!" "Ow!" "Stop it!" Just then a middle aged lady wearing a kimono enters "Excuse me...does a Okishima Shuji come here?"

At Hot Lip, all the employees gather around to hear the boss read out the promotions "Promoted to stylist are the two above-mentioned...promoted to top stylist is..." At that moment, Takumi runs in "Sorry I'm late..." The boss reprimands him "The regular meeting is always 3 hours before we open for business..." Takumi pants "Sorry, couldn't sleep last night..." The boss continues "Then, the promotion to top stylist is..." Takumi interrupts "Ah, the announcement for stylist...it's over?" Satoru replies "That's done..." Takumi mutters "Did I...?" Satoru tells him in a self satisfied tone "My condolences..." The boss asks "Alright?" Satoru replies "Sorry..." & the boss continues "The promotion to top stylist is Ozawa Mayumi..." Mayumi smiles as everyone applauds. Shuji looks disappointed but doesn't say anything. The boss says "That's it!" & Mayumi tells everyone "Today too, thanks for your help..." Everyone replies "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu" & gets down to work. Mayumi stares at Shuji who's rummaging into his doggy bag, taking out a burger. Shuji coolly tells her "Congratulations..." Mayumi nods "Thanks..." & Shuji bites into his burger nonchalantly...

At the boss walks off, Takumi goes after him "Tenchou, what about Shuji?" "Huh?" "He's not promoted to top stylist?" "Why?" "Even the article in the magazine was bigger than Satoru's..." The boss tosses the magazine onto the table "This?!" Takumi takes it "Yes!" "How do you expect me to evaluate that?!" Satoru appears & rubs it in "That's true, nothing appeared in that magazine worth talking about..." Takumi retorts "I wasn't talking to you..." Looking over as things get tense, Shuji calls "Takumi! Come over & stand by...stand by..." The boss comes over "Shuji..." "Yes?" "There'll be a top stylist test at the end of the month. By then, think of a new design that represents the face of "Hot Lip"..." "Alright..." replies Shuji, not all that enthusiastically...

Lunchtime at the library canteen & Kyoko, trying to buy a food coupon from the vending machine, can't reach the button for ramen (noodles). Someone's placed boxes in front of the machine & no matter how she stretches, she can't reach the buttons high up. Giving up with a sigh, she mutters "Can't be helped..." & turning around looking at the counter, mutters "...guess I'll get the curry..." Just then, Shuji comes by & seeing the buttons all lighted up on the vending machine & points to it "You...?" Kyoko nods & Shuji shoves the boxes aside "Which one do you want? Large helping of liver & leeks set?" Kyoko tells him "I don't eat that...ramen..." Shuji presses the ramen button twice & Kyoko says "I don't eat two either!" Shuji retorts "I'm eating...I'll pay you later..." Shuji gives her a coupon & taking the change from the machine, is about to put it in his pocket when Kyoko holds out her purse. Shuji drops it in with a clink & as he pushes her wheelchair, Kyoko tells him "You don't have to push..." Shuji mutters "That so..." Taking a tray, Kyoko tells the guy "1 ramen..." Shuji mutters irritably "Could've said 2..." & then to the guy "I'm having ramen too...normal ramen, right?" Shuji looks over & then asks "Can I add 'char siew' (roast pork) ?" Kyoko replies "You've bought the ticket, can't do it..." but the guy tells them "That's fine, just put 70yen over there..." Kyoko glares at Shuji. The guy comes back with their food "Here, one ramen & one 'char siew men'... Kyoko, added more bamboo shoots for you..." Kyoko smiles "Thanks!" taking her tray & putting it on her lap. Shuji tells her "I'll take that..." "It's alright...this, going right I push left, going left I push right...this is natural (providence), so accordingly..." "It's dangerous, I'll take it..." "It's fine! I can do it myself..." Kyoko being hard headed...

However, approaching a table, Kyoko looks at the chairs & then at Shuji "Hey..." Shuji, now ignoring her, puts his tray on the table ... Kyoko says louder "Hey!" Shuji asks "Who are you calling?" A man finishing his meal gets up & Kyoko calls out to him instead "Excuse me Kondo-san, could you move the chair for me?" "Sure..." & moves it for her. "Sorry..." "No problem..." "Thank you..." Kyoko looks at her food "Let's eat..." & reaches out for a pair of wooden chopsticks. Shuji, gives her a glance, then ignores her & starts eating. Suddenly just as Kyoko's looking at the pepper & about to reach for it, Shuji takes it & adds some to his ramen. Done, he purposely puts the pepper in front of him, out of Kyoko's reach. Annoyed, Kyoko asks "What sort of manners is that?!" Shuji pretends "What? Oh, this? Shall I get it for you?" Kyoko retorts "If you do that I'll get the group beat you to up!" "What group?" "Wheelchair group!" "Is that such a group?!" "Idiot! As if there's such a thing..." Kyoko turns to the folks at the next table "Excuse me, could you pass me the pepper please?" "Here..." "Thanks..."

Sachi comes running up to Kyoko "Sorry Kyoko! Non stop people returning books..." & trails off when she notices Shuji who greets her "Good afternoon..." Sachi looks surprised "Good afternoon...what this? Both of you having ramen? Ah that..." teasing Kyoko. Kyoko retorts "Enough of that, go get your food coupon...your favorite liver & leeks set's going run out..." "Eh?" Shuji tells Sachi "Terrible mood she's in isn't she...she's been like that all the while..." Sachi laughs "That's because of you..." & takes the seat between the both of them "Because you haven't come here at all, right?" Shuji looks at her "Eh?" Sachi carries on teasing "Well, you haven't..." Kyoko tells her "What are you saying? Stop it, talking like this..." but Sachi refuses to let up "But you've been waiting all along haven't you...suddenly looking at the 'win' every time to see who's coming..." Shuji interrupts "What's 'win'? Sachi explains "Win is the automatic door...looking at it...maybe it's Shuji, ah, maybe this time it's Shuji..." Kyoko denies "Was not! I was..." Sachi looks at her "I was…?" Kyoko says "I was waiting for Miyama..." Sachi tells her "That's not likely..." & Shuji adds "How boring..."

After their meal, Shuji starts sketching in a book. Kyoko, peering from two seats away asks "What are you drawing?" "Hm? My next hair design..." "You're good..." Shuji gives her a glance but merely continues on muttering to himself "Over here...lightly..." moving his pencil over the face of a girl he's drawn. Kyoko tells him "The feel of air...airy feeling...ah, often hear it on TV or see it in magazines...ah, I guess I'm bothering you..." Kyoko starts feeling awkward...

Sachi, coming back with coffee, stops & looking at them "I'll probably be in the way..." & walks away with a smile...

As Kyoko starts moving away, Shuji suddenly says to her "If it's possible...I might be able to be come a top stylist..." "Eh..." says Kyoko. Shuji looks at her "If that happens, will you say "We can really go celebrate!"..." Kyoko teases "Have you always been told that by young girls?" Shuji asks "You picking a fight?" "I'm accepting the challenge (to fight)..." Shuji doesn't reply but starts erasing his sketch, flipping the eraser onto the floor. Kyoko looks at the eraser on the floor but it's out of her reach. Shuji says "I'll get it..." & coming back into his seat, Kyoko tells him "But it's really nice, that hair style..." "Really?" "Hm...ah, I just remembered...a woman came by...she was wearing a kimono...asked if an Okishima Shuji came by here once in a while..." Shuji ponders & then without much expression, replies "Oh..."

At a busy Hot Lip, the boss greets a customer "Haven't seen you in a while..." & glancing around, walking away. Mayumi, talking with an employee, suddenly says "Excuse me..." & goes off after the boss. Shuji, with a customer, looks up to see her go by...

At the Hot Lip reception, Satoru says to a customer "Thank you, come back again..." The receptionist answering a call "'More...the special article...yes...what time on Sunday?" Satoru tells her "Tell them if it's not on the first page forget it..." The receptionist tells the caller "Please wait a minute..." & then to Satoru "It's not for you..." "Eh?" "They saw L'aman & they want to interview Shuji..." Satoru thinks & then takes the phone from her "I'll take the call, you can go..." Satoru tells the caller "I'm really sorry, Okishima is on vacation, don't know when he'll be back...really sorry..." & hangs up...

After work, Shuji sits at his work place, sharpening his scissors, sighing deeply. From a table with lots of sketches strewn about, Mayumi takes a rubber band & shoots it across at Shuji. Shuji asks "What are you trying to do?" "Hm? Trying to hit a target..." "Where?" "Where...your heart perhaps..." "What are you saying..." Mayumi walks over & sits next to Shuji "I hear you've been going to the library..." "Huh?" "I heard from Takumi...the girl you did the hair cut for the other time works there...the girl in the wheelchair..." "That's got nothing to do with it...my home's a mess, don't have a place where I can think for my design, that's why I go there..." "That's great...if a wheelchair can attract you I wouldn't mind losing a leg or two..." "Don't say that!" Shuji tells her, a little anxiously. "Hey Shuji, why don't you be a little nicer to the boss, like Satoru...discuss whatever with him..." "What's that..." "The boss is also human, he's happy when folks look up to him..." "That's why you whisper sweet nothings in bed with him?" "You're saying that the both of us are shacked up together?" Shuji laughs "There isn't anything to hide is there...you're free to love whoever..." Mayumi walks over & looks at Shuji's sketches "Jealousy...you're not jealous?" Shuji chuckles "Why would I be jealous?" & then walking over "Speaking of which, what do you think of the designs?" Mayumi looks at the sketches "Hmm...let's see...this one I guess..." picking the one that Shuji drew at the library canteen. Shuji mutters "Yeah...that one too..." "Hey...all of these pictures have the same face...looks like Satsuki..." Shuji doesn't reply but taking a rubber band instead & shooting them at Mayumi, changes the topic "Talking about it...being in the staff room isn't a good idea (with the boss)...not that it's got anything to do with me..." "You're think we're not in love anyway...that I'm being calculating... & that's why I became top stylist..." "If that's what you think, then that's it..." Shuji replies, walking away. Mayumi tells him "Don't speak so coldly to me like that...I'm really tired...being in the middle of Tokyo...being the industry's top saloon..." Mayumi walks up behind Shuji & puts her arms around him "...no matter how hard I work, there are always others threatening to catch up...the truth is I don't have confidence...it's scary..." Shuji unwraps her hands around him & continues packing his things, not saying a word, but understanding Mayumi's feelings...

In her room, Kyoko's trying on makeup on Sachi "...just a bit more color here, shade it..." using her fingers blending eye shadow onto Sachi's eyelids. Sachi goes "Ow...ouch! Not so hard..." "You've got contacts on?" "No, it's alright..." "Looks good..." "Really?" "What do you think?" & both ladies look into the mirror. Sachi comments "Looks more there's no make up..." "Says who...that's natural make up..." The door slides open & Masao enters "Hello!" Sachi immediately greets him "Sorry to be a bother..." Masao puts a tray of snacks on Kyoko's bed, sitting down "Here..." Sachi brightly replies "Beer? Is that alright?" Masao assures her "That's alright! We've got more than we sell..." & the both of them burst out laughing. Kyoko, looking rather annoyed at her brother's interruption, tells him "Talking nonsense like that, you'll never get a bride!...ni-chan, what are you doing? You can go..." Masao replies "Come on, joining in once in a while...right?" looking to Sachi. Sachi quickly agrees "Of course! Look Kyoko, there's 3 beers too..." Kyoko takes a can of beer & wheels to the door, putting it out in the corridor "Oni-chan, your beer is over here..." Sachi says "Kyoko!" but she merely replies "Once in a while, there are private things that will be troublesome if others hear about it..." Masao retorts "I see..." Kyoko tells him "I'm no longer a kid..." Masao grabs the snacks he brought in & takes them out as he leaves in a huff" Well, excuse me...don't forget to lock the door..." Kyoko mutters "He could have left that here..." Sachi sits down on the bed "What?" "Hm?" "What's the story about "there are private things that will be trouble some if others hear about, no longer a kid...?" "Hm? Oh...ah right, oni-chan got rejected again (omiai marriage)..." "That's your brother's story..." The door suddenly slides open & Masao says "Oi!" Kyoko tells him "I didn't say anything!" "You forgot your medication...take it..." Kyoko takes the packet from him "Sorry, water please..." "Alright..."

As everyone sees Sachi off, Kyoko's mom comes running up with a brown paper bag "Sachi! Take this, just steamed it..." "Sweet potato?" Masao says "Mom! No one eats this these days!" "But Kyoko does!" Kyoko's father adds "Sachi's been brought up in the city, that's why..." but Sachi tells them "I love sweet potatoes..." "That's good..." "Thank you..."

As Kyoko accompanies Sachi to the station, Sachi says "It's really nice, whenever I come over to your home..." Kyoko smiles "It's noisy isn't it...they didn't have to come out either..." Sachi holding on to the package "Got this too...it's warm..." putting it down on Kyoko's lap & going behind her, pushing the wheelchair "Really got well taken care of..." "Purposely coming over to visit, they're all really happy...you're a friend I made after I went out into the world...my parents always worry..." Sachi asks "...Kyoko, how's your (medical) condition?" Kyoko replies directly "The usual...visiting the hospital once a month for a check-up, take my medication after meals three times a day...other than that I'm fine...forget that I'm sick..." "That so..." Sachi suddenly stops in front of a park & suggests "Let's stop here for a bit & eat?" "I second that!"

As the both of them eating the potatoes, Sachi looks at Kyoko "That looks really good, that hairstyle...suits you..." Sachi suddenly saying that, Kyoko chokes "What's that...all of a sudden..." Sachi hands her a drink "I just think that you really suit each other..." "Hm?" "That guy...that Sodium Hydroxide addict..." Kyoko looks at her "Come on..." "Why not?" "Sachi...I won't fall in love..." "Eh?" Kyoko smiles "I've decided...I won't fall in love..." Sachi looks a little upset "Can one really decide that?...you like him don't you?" Kyoko thinks "Hm...to be honest, I don't know...even if I feel that way, I've got a habit of putting a lid on it...love...it's not possible..." Sachi asks "Why do you put a lid on it?" Kyoko explains "Sachi, if a guy in a wheelchair appears in front of you, could he become your boyfriend?" "...I guess, until that happens I don't really know..." "You'll be thinking about a lot of things, right?" "Um...I guess I would..." Kyoko smiles "I don't want to let that person think about that...& I don't want to think about that myself...don't want to get hurt...so, when he comes to the library, don't make fun of me...saying that I have feelings for him...stop it, ok?" "...get hurt?" "Eh?" "You won't know will you...you don't know if you'll get hurt!" "Why are you taking this so seriously?" Sachi says, upset "I...don't like it when you shut yourself up before anything happens...if you say that, it means that you can never fall in love your whole life, can never be with the one you love your whole life..." "Sachi..." "You're beautiful, cute...you're a little fickle but very interesting...I'm honored to know you...but when we talk about this, I hate it when you give in like that ..." Kyoko digs into her pockets & takes out her handkerchief, tossing it onto Sachi's lap. Sachi takes it, sniffing, wiping her eyes as Kyoko's voice over comes on...

Probably...words like what Sachi just said, 

my own family thinks that way too...Dad too, 

Mom too, oni-chan too, all think like that...

only, they just don't say it...

　

たぶん、サチが口に出して言ったようなことを、
ウチの家族たちはみんな思っている。お父さんも、
お母さんも、お兄ちゃんも、みんな思ってる。
ただ、言わないだけで。

As Kyoko drives to the library, her voiceover continues...

　

　

I understand what Sachi said...but in the end, after my two

legs weren't able  to move any more...perhaps I'm like a bird whose

wings are broken, having lost the confidence to take flight...afraid...

becoming small...quivering......

　

サチの言うこともわかるけど、やっぱり私は二本
の足が動かなくなってから、翼の折れた鳥のように
飛び立つ自信をなくし、怯えて、小さくなって、
震えているのかもしれない。

As Kyoko enters data into the computer, she suddenly looks up to see someone staring at her "Miyama!" "Good afternoon..."

Miyama pushes Kyoko to the little park outside the library. As they approach a bench, Kyoko says "Here..." "Ok..." & puts the brakes on Kyoko's wheelchair, taking a seat on the bench. "Ah, this, my new invention..." Miyama rummages in his bag, takes out a can holder & attaches it to Kyoko's wheelchair "Like this, you can put can coffee etc in it..." putting one into the holder for her...

As they have sandwiches for lunch, Kyoko awkwardly apologizes "I'm sorry about the other time...said that you're forcing your good intentions on others..." Miyama replies "No...I was dishonest...trying to be the cool volunteer, in actual fact I only wanted to see you again so used that as an excuse...forcing my intentions on others..." Suddenly, Miyama stands up & says "Kyoko, I really like you...would you go out with me..." Kyoko's stunned speechless but with Miyama standing in front of her, waiting for an answer, Kyoko finally replies "I'm sorry...you don't have to pick someone like me, there are lots of other normal healthy girls around...go on normal dates...normal..." Miyama goes down on his heels & looks at Kyoko "...things like that...don't say things like that...whether you say that intentionally not to hurt my feelings...or maybe that's what you really think...but if you said that seriously, I think it's better if you stop thinking that way..." Standing up, he asks "I won't do?" Kyoko, not looking at him "Sorry..." "Oh..." The bell chimes & Miyama says "Lunch is over...please go..." "Eh?" "Please go..." "Oh, ok..." Kyoko replies awkwardly & turns around, starts moving away. Suddenly, Miyama shouts "Kyoko! Kyoko!" Kyoko turns around, replies a soft "Yes?" Shuji, just arriving in the car park turns to see Kyoko & Miyama talking. Miyama hesitatingly asks "Can I come borrow books?" "Huh?" "Can I come & borrow books? There's still 3 volumes of "Gankutsu Ou" (The Count of Monte Cristo ~ Alexandre Dumas) that I haven't read that I want to finish..." Kyoko smiles nodding "ok..." Miyama, relieved "That's great..."

Shuji holds up an issue of Cosmopolitan magazine & approaches the counter where Kyoko's working "Oi! mote-mote!" (moteru = someone who's popular) Kyoko looks up "Ah..." Shuji teases her, mimicking Miyama "Kyoko! Can I come borrow books? There's still 3 volumes of "Gankutsu Ou"......hey, just what is "Gankutsu Ou"?" giving her the magazine to check out. As Kyoko swipes the barcode on his card "Hey..." "What?" "I think you should get rid of that habit...laughing at other people's good intentions...here..." Shuji takes the magazine "Oh..." Kyoko nods "Uhm..." "Sorry...thank you..." Shuji replies & then walks off, leaving Kyoko surprised at his abruptness...

As Shuji walks out, someone calls him "Shuji..." Stopping, Shuji turns to see an elderly lady dressed in a kimono. She asks "Have a minute?" Shuji stares at her & then nods "Uhm..."

Sachi whispers to Kyoko "What's that about..." Kyoko replies "What..." "I wonder..." "What's that...having an older lover?" "Don't know...he doesn't seem to have much principles..." "He's very popular..." "Goes without saying he's popular..." A man looking like a college student, approaches the counter with a translucent vinyl case. Stuck on it is a card that says Hot Lip, inside, sketches of hair designs. Kyoko takes it "Ah, it's his..."

In the library canteen, Shuji asks the lady "What would you like? Coffee?" She shakes her head "No, water's fine..." "What are you saying...haven't see you in such a long time too...tea ok?" Shuji goes over & gets some from the vending machine...

Kyoko comes down the corridor to the canteen & out of sight, listens to their conversation...

"Went to your apartment but you weren't there...went to the saloon but they said you were off today & that you might be here..." Shuji replies "My apartment's a mess, it's small...that's why I come here to think about designs...didn't I write that in my letters?" Taking out a cigarette he says "You look good..." Smiling, she takes out the L'aman magazine from her bag "I saw this..." Shuji replies with a smile "Oh, I wanted to let you know but then it's not such great article..." "That's what I wanted to talk about...please be careful..." In a soft voice, she continues "You don't know who might find out. This time we were lucky your father didn't find out...the neighbors purposely brought it to show me..." "You're still keeping it from him...that I'm a hair stylist..." "But you are the eldest son at the Okishima Hospital, didn't graduate from college & now working as a hair stylist...is it something that I can say?" Shuji doesn't reply & she says "From now on...please be careful..." Having said that, she stands up & starts to leave. Shuji calls her "Mom..." & she stops but doesn't turn around. Shuji turns to look at her "Haven't seen you in such a long time, is that all you can say?" Without a word, his mother walks away, not looking back. Kyoko moves out from behind the pillar & Shuji sees her. Without a word either, he takes his things & walks right past Kyoko, not giving her a chance to return his sketches to him...

Kyoko & Sachi come out of a restaurant with Sachi saying "Let's go to another place..." "We had too much to drink already...I've still go to drive..." "In that case let's go eat something..." "I am a little hungry..." "Then let's go..." "Let's go..." "After drinking, the best is...ramen!"

Both of them end up at the little ramen place Shuji brought Kyoko to before. Sachi says "It's delicious..." "Isn't it!" & the old man brings some 'char siew' over "Here, more for you..." "Thank you!" Kyoko says "Advantages of being a beauty!" Sachi asks "Who are you talking about?" The old man greets someone "Welcome!" & Shuji appears. Sachi looks up in surprise "Good evening..." Kyoko & Shuji look at each other but neither say anything. Shuji asks the old man "Can I sit here?" "Sure..." & Shuji sits by the truck. Sachi looks at Kyoko "Is that how it is...that's it! The both of you have been here on dates..." Kyoko replies "No..." Sachi laughs "What...so that's it...isn't it?" asking the old man. With a grin he replies "Date? Yes, he brought her here once...but he comes here very often...ah, Shuji, sorry..." "Ramen please..." "ok..." "Miso..." "Miso? Ok..." "Beer too..."

Sachi slurps down her ramen really quickly & Kyoko looking at her "Wait...are you alright?" Sachi chokes out "I'm done!" & gets up "Wanted to leave the both of you alone but I wanted to eat the ramen too, so ate it in a hurry...bye!" Sachi's about to run off when the old man says "Ah, one-chan, bill..." Sachi says to Kyoko "Thanks for dinner! Strapped for cash before payday!" & then to Shuji "Take care of her..." Shuji goes "Huh?" Sachi goes off waving & Kyoko looking "Wait! Sachi!" Left alone, she looks at Shuji who doesn't say anything. The old man serves Shuji "Here you go..." & Kyoko turns back to her own ramen muttering "ah well...might as well eat..." The both of them eat in silence & the old man says "Some how it doesn't feel very good, like at a funeral wake...how about some gyoza (dumplings)..." Shuji asks "Do you have any?" "No...just felt like talking..." Kyoko finishes "I'm done...excuse me...bill please!" "It's 1,300 yen..." Kyoko takes out her wallet "Here's 2,000yen..." "Here's your change 700yen..." "Thank you..." Kyoko & Shuji exchange glances but neither say a word to each other. Kyoko tells the old man "Thank you..." "Come back again...be careful..." "ok..." replies Kyoko, wheeling herself away, Shuji watching...

Kyoko wheels herself along but the cold gets to her & she stops, blowing onto her hands. Suddenly from behind, someone starts pushing her & turning around, she sees Shuji. Kyoko says "It's fine..." "Why?" "I can do it myself..." "Even if you can do it yourself, it's easier when someone else pushes you isn't it?" Crossing the road, Shuji says "The car park by the station right?" "I parked along the streets..." "You're still doing that?!" As they pass a boutique, Kyoko goes "Ahhh!" Shuji stops "What? What's wrong?" "That show window..." Shuji backs up & looking at a pair of red heels on display "That one?" "Yes...don't you think it's beautiful?" "It's not bad..." "Really? Every time I come by here I'll look at it..." Shuji looks at it "Buy it then..." Kyoko smiles "...I don't have the courage to enter a shoe store in a wheelchair...thank you, let's go..."

They move along again & suddenly Shuji stops "How about going some place for a rest?" Kyoko surprised "Eh?" Shuji shocked at her reaction "Huh? Ah, you were thinking something bad..." "No?" "Usually...no..." The both of them end up sitting in a park. Shuji asks "May I smoke?" Kyoko nods "Uhm..." As Shuji lights a cigarette "Today..." "Hm?" "...you saw something really disgraceful (embarrassing)..." "Eh?" "The canteen at the library..." "Ah...hm..." "That was my mother...haven't seen her in three years, since my grandmother's memorial service...they don't think very much of me being a hair stylist..." Kyoko nods "Uhm..." "Ah, you heard didn't you..." "Your family...are doctors?" "Eh? yeah....but I'm stupid..." "Eh?" "I took the medical entrance exams three years in a row, couldn't make it..." "But the medical exams are tough aren't they?" "They're hard but my younger brother got through in one try...by the fourth year, I thought, it's no good...so I went to beauty school...how shall I put it...I don't have the head nor the sense for curing people...maybe...I thought I had the sense to make people beautiful..." Kyoko nods with a smile "Uhm..." "But in reality, looks like that's not the case either..." Kyoko listens, not saying anything. Shuji asks "What about you? What dreams do you have?" Kyoko gets defensive "...are you being mean?" Shuji surprised "Huh? What?" "That I'm in a wheelchair so there's no way I'd have dreams..." "I didn't mean anything like that..." "Oh...sorry...sometimes I feel sorry for myself & ask for it...during lunch...you heard didn't you, me talking with Miyama..." Shuji nods but says "...but I didn't hear everything..." Kyoko nods & explains "It's better if Miyama goes out with someone normal..." Shuji, coming to sit in front of her "Why?" Kyoko replies "I've ever gone out before...with a normal guy...went on dates, went to various places...but then, it got really tiring...staircases were obstacles, train stations were obstacles, getting in & out of cars were obstacles, restaurants were obstacles too, always felt sorry for him...he might have felt that way but I felt really bothered too..." Shuji nods "Uhm..." smoking his cigarette. Kyoko asks "Eh, you understand?" "A little..." "Ah, by any chance being with me you find it a nuisance?" "Huh? No, I don't mean that..." "Ah, I did it again...sorry...see, even just normally talking like this, what normal people joke about, I'll start thinking strange..." Both of them smile & Shuji asks "Let's go?" Kyoko nods...

As Shuji pushes Kyoko along, he says "Sorry..." "Hm?" "When I first met you...I said it didn't I...what the view from a wheelchair was like..." Kyoko smiles "Ah, you did, you did..." Shuji hesitates "That...was pretty insensitive, wasn't it..." "How come?" "Just the effort of going for a bowl of ramen, I absolutely didn't know..." "I was really happy though...that even being in a wheelchair, this world could have something special I thought...maybe there is..." "Really...?" Kyoko smiles "Uhm...I'll start looking from now on..." Shuji replies "That's good..." Kyoko suddenly things "Ah, I've thought about my dream..." "Dream?" "The dream you asked about just now..." "Ah..." "Walking shoulder to shoulder with the one I love...I'm always pushed from behind...not that...being beside the one I love, walking side by side..." Kyoko starts pushing her wheelchair herself "But then again...I don't have anyone I love..." Shuji comes up & starts pushing her "Let's do it again..." "Eh?" Shuji starts pushing her really fast "Hang on!" Shuji gets on the back of the wheelchair & the both of them go flying down the sidewalk "Excuse us!" with Kyoko shouting happily "It's dangerous! Be careful!" Shuji says "This is fun!" Shuji's voiceover comes on...

The night scenery flowed by like being on a jet coaster at night, 

I was thrilled...she came into into the deepest, invisible place 

in my heart...but....when she disappears, together with her, 

I lose that place in my heart......

　

流れる夜景は夜のジェットコースターみたいで、
僕ははしゃいでいた。彼女は僕の心のいちばん
奥深く、透明なところに語りかけてきて、でも、
彼女がいなくなると一緒に僕は、自分のそういった
心も見失ってしまう。

Shuji arrives home on his bike to find Mayumi waiting for him at the lobby "Welcome back..." "What are you doing?" "Thought you'd turned off your cell phone anyway..." "What?" "The boss...today...had a previously arranged meeting with the magazine editors & models for a poster...had to break off our date...asked me to forgive him for leaving me alone..." "So you're saying that, you came here after your date got cancelled..." "...that was the intention..." Mayumi replies, taking off Shuji's glasses. Shuji asks "Intention...what sort of intention is that?" "Hm?" "Eh? We've broken up already!" says Shuji, going in. Mayumi follows him in "What's wrong with that? Don't be so mean..." Shuji's voiceover comes on...

& then, I headed towards impurity.........

そして、濁ってゆく僕．．．

The next day at the library, Sachi drops Shuji's case with the sketches in front of Kyoko. Kyoko picks it up "Ah, I forgot about this..." "Hurry up & send it back to him..." "Me?" "Didn't you have ramen with him last night? Then today, the day after yesterday! You have to proceed! Ta-ta-ta! & get closer!" "Can always return it to him the next time he comes..." "But then...it's really something important...what if he's searching high & low for it..."

Kyoko goes to Hot Lip but sees the sign hanging on the door "Closed..." Looking through the glass, she sees Satoru. Coming out to see her, Satoru says "You're the girl from the other time..." "I'm looking for Shuji..." "Sorry, we're closed today...I'm doing a cut for a friend..." "A friend?" "VIP...an actress...doing a Taiga drama so wanted a new image...something Asian...ah, you haven't heard of it...ah, is there anything?" Kyoko shows Satoru Shuji's sketches "He forgot this in the library...could you pass this back to him?" Satoru takes it "ok, simple enough task..." "Thanks..." & Kyoko goes off...

Inside Hot Lip, Satoru takes out Shuji's sketches & looks at them. His customer asks "What's wrong?" but Satoru merely replies "Sorry, just a minute..." & disappears into the staff room. Inside, he spreads Shuji's sketches out on a table & takes snapshots of the designs...

As Kyoko goes down the sidewalk, Satoru comes running up "Hey wait up! I think he might need it in a hurry so it's better if you give it to him yourself...he lives nearby..." "Eh?" "Ah, impossible..." "I drove..." "Car?"

In her car, Kyoko calls Sachi on her cell phone "...Hm? Hm...I'll send it to him at home..." "ok...why don't you ask him for his cell phone number, you know, randomly...?" "But there's no special reason for me to call him..." Sachi sighs "Ah...he's been thinking about designs right? Why not bring something over, like buy lunch or something..." "Eh?" "It'll be alright if you come back a little late in the afternoon...both of you eat together..." "Don't get all enthusiastic all by yourself! I'm hanging up...bye..." Kyoko smiles & then mutters to herself "...bring something over huh...times like this, a cute cake....isn't appropriate..."

Kyoko orders gyuu-don (beef on rice) at a takeout. As the guy hands her a bag, he says "Here's 2 to go..." "Thank you!"

Driving up to an apartment, Kyoko mutters "Veranda...glass walls...ok" As she parks & looks at the entrance to the building "Stairs..." but still gets her wheelchair out from the backseat & gets into it. As she gets Shuji's sketches & the takeaway food from the seat, Mayumi & Shuji come out of the building. Mayumi asks "It's cold! What shall we do? Go to the Kyanti or someplace?" "It's closed...put this on..." Shuji replies, handing her his coat. "Thank you..." & as they walk down the stairs Mayumi says "Let's go have some wine..." "What are you talking about..." The two of them suddenly notice Kyoko by her car & she looks back at them, too stunned to say anything. Embarrassed, Kyoko moves to get back into the driver's seat & in the process, the packed lunch falls from her lap, spilling onto the floor. Shuji walks down the stairs & the both of them exchange glances, neither saying a word...