01x08 - Episode 8

[bunniefuu]

Chan, Kam-Bo, come out here!

Give Minmay back!

Like a summer bug flying into flames.

We won't even dirty

our hands fighting you.

Get him!

Keiko, you forgot the steps!

No, it wasn't me! You forgot!

This is definitely being used!

-Hey, you look like Jackie!

-Come on, give me a break.

Ms. Kuroe come up with

funny background music for this.

The one who ordered Ms. Matilda's m*rder

was Trendy Mochizuki, a consultant.

It seems Mochizuki

and Matilda were fighting

over the lost videotape, Number 12.

Why on earth did Ms. Matilda need to die?

The one who holds the key is…

The granddaughter!

-The ghost member.

-Who?

The Movie Research Club wasn't

just us three. There's another member.

The granddaughter of old lady Kuroe.

The fourth member of the Movie Club.

Didn't I mention it before?

To meet the requirements,

I asked a truant kid

to just give us her stamp.

That's the witch's granddaughter.

The witch… You mean

that eccentric old lady?

Yes, the most hated person in town.

My parents used to

badmouth her a lot, too.

It's no wonder

that her granddaughter Keiko,

having been raised by her,

was also an eerie kid.

You never knew what she was thinking.

We let her join to fill the numbers.

We had no intention

of making the film with her.

So why was she in it?

We were looking for a filming location.

The final duel scene in the enemy’s lair!

Then Matilda said…

Look, isn't it perfect?

That's old lady Kuroe's house.

Even better then.

Keiko Kuroe can join too.

It's more fun if we all do it together.

I think she'll refuse, though.

What a lovely house.

They're tearing down

all the old buildings these days.

It certainly had the perfect atmosphere

for the enemy's lair.

Just like an evil lair!

This might be good.

It's amazing.

What are you doing?

Keiko, you play the piano?

Amazing.

Wouldn't it be great to have Keiko

compose our movie's soundtrack?

We're making a kung fu movie,

the music has to be manly.

Something cool that gets you

pumped for the fight.

I doubt she can make that.

Wow, she's incredible.

That's not all.

We gave her a role as the villains'

henchwoman, on really short notice.

But she learned the moves right away.

Surprisingly,

that girl was up for anything.

Maybe she was happy.

To have made friends.

But I think we only spent

a few days together.

Isn't your house in that direction?

Keiko Kuroe.

It's dangerous, please stand back.

-Grandma!

-Ms. Kuroe!

-It's dangerous! Ms. Kuroe!

-Grandma!

Grandma!

In the end, her house

burned down completely,

and the old lady died.

I remember saying,

"The witch burned to a crisp!"

And got severely scolded by Matilda.

What was the cause?

The old lady's cigarette butt.

Since her house was so cluttered,

the fire must have spread quickly.

Keiko Kuroe was taken in by relatives

right after that, and transferred schools.

Come watch our movie once it's finished.

We're having a screening on January 6th.

It has your music in it.

It will definitely be amazing.

We're making a sequel too.

Come help us again.

Take care.

That's our memory of Keiko Kuroe.

As long as it's not another delusion.

We don't know what happened after that.

Not even where she moved to.

We don't know her family circumstances,

but she didn't have parents

and lived alone with her grandma.

To lose her grandma like that…

What a tragic life.

I hope she's living happily somewhere.

Yes.

You all have New Year's off, right?

Let's split up and look for her.

No, not you. Go home already.

Yes. You have to face your family, Yuen.

-It's more peaceful when I'm not there.

-Even so, go home.

Once we enter the New Year,

you'll really lose your timing.

They'll just think I'm a nuisance.

Dads are supposed to be annoying.

Don't worry about it.

If it backfires,

you guys take responsibility.

As if we would! Right?

Sorry, I'm late.

I'll make dinner right away!

Merry Christmas.

Do you want some cream stew?

The food I bought will go to waste.

Oh, sashimi?

Stew goes well with sashimi, you know?

Yay!

Doing this won't change anything.

Oh, the bath will be ready in a bit.

You're too obvious,

it's coming off super annoying.

But…

this is all I can do.

You're so annoying.

You all did well the past year.

Okay. A toast to wrap up the year.

We can't wrap up yet.

We'll be in tomorrow

to handle the order error.

I'll handle it.

You guys can head out. Happy New Year.

-Muto.

-Yes?

-Happy New Year!

-Thank you.

Xuan, I hear you're going back to Vietnam?

I am.

Come back safely.

Of course. Thank you.

Namasu is easy to make

and has a New Year feel.

I'm so very grateful to all of you.

Even though I caused so much trouble,

you all continue to come here

just the same.

Please continue to support my wife.

Can you go bring me a bowl?

Sure.

Sorry, he insisted he would help…

It's fine.

Excuse me.

Trying to get in my students' good graces…

That's a cowardly trick. I hate it.

All right.

Our deepest apologies!

I'm sorry.

Mr. Fujimaki regrets what he did.

He has turned over a new leaf

and wants to work hard

for your sake, Chairman.

Well, I do acknowledge

your dedication to your work.

If you don't forget that humble attitude,

I'll give you one more chance.

Thank you very much.

This is your last chance, Director.

You should also learn humility--

Thank you so much for today!

We'll visit you again!

-If we don't respect each other…

-Please accept this gift!

You surround yourself with yes men,

you've gone numb!

What did you…

-What?

-You act like a big shot!

-Thank you so much for today!

-Yet you know nothing at all!

Your mother is done eating--

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

It's just that my stomach is a little…

I'm feeling better now.

Don't worry.

Excuse me, Mr. Kikuhara.

I'm sorry about Christmas.

For standing you up on our plans.

Don't worry about it.

You had urgent business.

I don't blame you.

There was nothing urgent.

I spent the day alone.

Sorry for inviting you.

No!

I was happy you did.

I was so happy, I was on cloud nine…

But it felt like I didn't deserve

that happiness.

My husband died less than two years ago.

I felt I shouldn't go…

That it would be wrong.

When is his death anniversary?

February 10th.

Then I'll wait until past that date

to ask you out.

Ms. Keiko Kuroe?

We want to find her, no matter what.

We want you to look into the fire too.

The fire?

Keiko Kuroe's house caught fire,

and her grandmother died.

It was December 1988.

The day of Michael Jackson's concert.

Right.

Is something wrong?

Aren't you using me

like your private detective?

What? No, you're overthinking it.

Woah…

I don't have that much free time.

We are busy at the end of the year.

There are lots of things I have to do.

Sorry.

The heck is with him?

Thank you for waiting. Your Ozoni Latte.

Is this… good?

The seasonal Ozoni Latte.

Try a sip.

No, I'm fine.

I'll pass.

Really?

Tsurumi already left, huh?

Seems he's busy.

It's New Year's Eve, after all.

Today, 37 years ago, Matilda disappeared.

Can't you remember anything?

The day we saw the UFO

was New Year's Eve, I think?

I think so too.

I feel like we met Matilda on the hill

and talked about something important.

See you. Keep our promise.

I feel like we were told

to keep a promise,

but I can't remember what it was.

So that was the last time

you saw Ms. Matilda?

Yes.

On New Year's Eve,

they do mochi pounding at the shrine.

My parents were roped

into that every year.

That year, didn't we plan to join too?

That's right.

Yes, so we met up

late at night at Jupiter.

LOOK UP AND DO YOUR BEST!

Matilda had left us this message.

I remember thinking, "This looks

eerily like a suicide note."

Was it just a year-end message, or…

Did she have a hunch

that she was going to be m*rder*d?

LOOK UP AND DO YOUR BEST!

Okay, I'll study.

Oh, it's fine.

I used to like manga too.

You need a breather once in a while.

Here, honey lemon tea. For a sugar boost.

You're still annoying, but thanks.

Truth is,

I wanted to help you with your studies,

but I got into university

thanks to a sports scholarship, so…

Sorry.

Amazing how you got into a big company

and became a sales manager.

Yes.

Once you're out in the world,

in the end, it's all about stamina.

And a heart that doesn't give up.

Aya, you have both.

Whether you go to university

or not, you'll be fine.

Don't say such irresponsible things.

Okay, back to studying.

-You get it?

-This is…

Jack and the Beanstalk.

It doesn't say that anywhere.

The detention center is really awful.

The food too, at first I was stubborn

and didn't touch a thing.

But by the second night,

I couldn't stand it anymore, and I ate it.

Their barley rice was delicious!

You can buy cup noodles too.

If any of you end up in jail,

you should definitely try it.

Check the oven. The oven.

Sure.

I'm glad your husband

is more approachable than I thought.

He's a former salesman after all,

so he's good with his words.

Ouch!

Yes?

Isn't it cold here?

Oh, I'm fine.

Why not sleep in the bedroom?

Huh?

We can't have you catching a cold

and passing it on to Aya.

Then, I'll take you up on it.

What's this box?

Oh, it's nothing.

You shouldn't look.

Hearing that, now I have to look!

Oh, hey!

Oh, no!

I told you not to.

Are those real?

Yes.

They were found at a construction site,

I took them from the police.

They probably belonged to the teacher

who went missing

when I was in middle school.

Is that why you've been so buddy-buddy

with your old friends?

Yeah.

I want to find out what happened.

I know this isn't the time

to be doing this, but…

I, myself, find it strange,

but I just can't help doing it.

I think it's fine.

Maybe that teacher is trying to tell

the current you something.

Something important.

I see.

If things are going well

with your family, that's fine.

Don't worry about the trial either.

I've already made up my mind.

Follow the plan, admit to part of it

for a suspended sentence.

I'll protect the company and Mr. Kagami.

That's what's best for Emi and Aya.

You're not still at it, are you?

What?

You were looking into

that old teacher, right?

You don't have time

to be doing useless things.

Brother, how did it go when you turned 50?

Did you ever look back

on your life and worry?

Like a midlife crisis?

Is there anything you regret?

Didn't you want to be

a reporter back then?

I don't remember that.

You admired a senior in university,

who was a reporter.

Ever dreamed of a life like that?

No.

Thinking about that is meaningless.

Yuta,

don't follow in Dad's footsteps.

Dad?

Our dad changed jobs

when he was around 50.

But he should have stayed

at the City Hall.

He wasn't cut out for sales

at an appliance manufacturer.

He overexerted himself

and ended up ruining his health.

Starting life over at 50 isn't easy.

Especially now,

the world is much tougher

than it was back then.

I know.

I told you.

I'll follow the company's lead.

I found this while searching

for Keiko Kuroe's name,

so I bought it online.

Keiko Fernandes Kuroe?

She seems to be

an indie singer in Portugal.

I thought it might be your Keiko.

Was she this beautiful?

What's with the "Fernandes" part?

Maybe she married a foreigner.

Released in 1999. That's quite old.

I tried emailing that record company.

Apparently, Keiko Fernandes

retired from singing,

became a composer, and went to New York.

-New York?

-So I emailed her agent in New York.

-And then?

-She was very talented.

But she had quit music,

and moved to Italy

to become a furniture maker.

When I contacted

the furniture workshop in Italy,

they sent me a photo.

She was a promising furniture maker,

but she suddenly quit, returned to Japan,

and became a rakugo storyteller.

-What?

-Rakugo?

-Then, the rakugo association?

-I inquired.

Are they really all the same person?

It can't be just one person's life.

Shorakutei Olive

was expected to be a great talent

who would lead the rakugo world, but…

She quit?

Apparently, she's living

a self-sufficient life

deep in the mountains of Gunma.

Is that her final form?

Her final form. For now.

Then shall we go meet her?

Though, we don't know for sure

if it's Keiko Kuroe.

Even if it's not Keiko Kuroe,

she seems like a person worth meeting.

Maybe I can make a The Nonfiction

episode about her.

This ozoni Latte…

-It's really good.

-Right?

Huh?

Your car won't be able to get in there!

Shall I guide you?

Please tell us the way!

Okay.

Go into that side road

and keep climbing up.

When it splits in two, turn right,

and you'll see a house!

-She's there?

-No one lives there anymore.

Go straight through the garden,

keep going down the back road,

and when it splits in two, go left.

Then it splits in two again,

so this time, go right.

There will be another fork right away.

This is why…

I said we should have

just let him guide us!

I knew we would get lost.

-Kam-Bo, you okay?

-Yeah.

But what if a bear appears here?

-What?

-Do bears live here?

I mean, aren't they hibernating?

Let's… Let's sing a song!

I don't think that's the right song!

A bear?

What?

Ms. Keiko Kuroe?

Oh!

So good!

It really warms you up.

This is my first time eating wild boar.

It’s truly delicious.

The fields were being damaged quite a bit,

and the village asked me to thin them out…

So I shot one the other day.

I pity the boar, though.

Just to confirm again,

you are Ms. Keiko Kuroe?

Yes.

Yuta Yoshii.

Okay.

Hajime Fujimaki.

-Here.

-Thanks.

Kisuke Kikuhara.

Right.

We hear you've done all sorts of jobs.

Is that for real?

After graduating high school,

while working part-time

at a family restaurant,

I happened to hear Fado,

a kind of Portuguese folk music,

and I felt like I was struck by lightning.

I went to Portugal to be a Fado singer.

The name "Fernandes"…

It's just a name I picked.

I see.

I got to make my CD debut,

and I felt like I had done it all.

So at that time, I saw a musical…

-I felt like I was struck by lightning…

-So you went to New York?

I composed a few songs off-Broadway,

and felt like I had done it all.

Then, I saw some old Italian furniture…

And lightning struck?

Then you did it all.

I wanted to incorporate the good parts

of Japan into furniture,

and while I was relearning

Japanese culture,

I was struck by traditional

performing arts.

So I apprenticed under a Noh actor

who is a Living National Treasure.

After that, I became a rakugo storyteller,

and while touring the countryside,

I got interested

in a self-sufficient life…

Thank you, I mostly get it now.

What a life you have led.

We always knew it,

but Ms. Kuroe, you're a genius.

I'm just doing what I want to do.

I'm moved.

Your curiosity, ability to take action,

and free way of living…

It's amazing. I'm envious.

We're relieved.

Honestly, we were worried.

About how you lived

after transferring schools.

Because a lot of unpleasant things

happened in Tanbe.

Right, we came here to ask about Tanbe.

I'm sorry, but I barely remember

anything about Tanbe.

Do you remember Matilda?

Ms. Miyashita.

You remember us, right?

We made a movie together

in the Movie Club.

Is that so?

We went to Tokyo Dome! Michael Jackson!

And on that day, your house…

There's no way you could forget!

I sort of remember living with my Grandma,

but the fire is a blur.

Now, I wonder if it was a dream

or a delusion…

It seems she has

the same symptoms as you three.

Ms. Keiko, if that's the case,

try to remember from the beginning.

Were you also born in Tanbe?

I was born in Tokyo.

When I was in fifth grade,

my mother died, my father disappeared,

and I was taken in by my grandma.

But I couldn't fit in

at the school in Tanbe,

so Grandma said I didn't have to go.

She was eccentric and disliked by others,

but she doted on me

and bought me anything I asked for.

I can't remember anything

other than that.

I think you must have had friends.

I didn't have any.

You did!

It was for just a short while,

but three middle-school boys…

Three boys.

I feel like there were.

-Right?

-Hey!

Friends I made up in my head.

In your head?

I heard later from others,

but I think they call those

"imaginary friends."

It's common for children, apparently.

Feelings of loneliness

make you create fictional friends,

as if they really exist.

We weren't imaginary.

We were really there.

That’s us. Yuen, Chan, and Kam-Bo.

You guys?

That’s what we’ve been saying.

Those kids were much cuter.

We got older.

We filmed a kung fu movie together, right?

You composed the music

and even acted in it.

-You did kung fu with Yuen.

-Yes.

Hey, come on.

Hey, stand up. Come over here.

Hurry.

Okay.

When I showed you the kung fu moves,

you mastered them in an instant.

It was like this.

Repeat after me.

And then…

-That's not it.

-What?

One last push.

Yuen, take her on.

What? I don't remember!

Just do it and you will.

Here, come on.

I remembered.

Yes! It was like this.

Ouch…

Did you remember?

Keiko.

After you transferred,

Matilda went missing.

Taken out by the yakuza.

The Number 12 videotape holds that secret.

It might have been lost at your house.

Do you remember anything?

Was the fire at your house

really caused by a cigarette butt?

The son of the City Hall official!

Yes.

Your dad headed

the shopping district association.

Yes!

My mother was a barber.

I'm the chaperone.

I’m sorry.

It was 1988,

an era of unprecedented prosperity.

Tanbe was also washed over

by the bubble wave.

A large-scale redevelopment plan

had just emerged.

No to redevelopment! Let's protect our…

Tanbe!

No to redevelopment!

Let's protect our Tanbe!

No to redevelopment!

No to redevelopment!

The town's pariah,

old lady Kuroe, had her home crowded

by City Hall officials

and real estate agents, every day.

Actually, my grandma was a major landowner

who held much of the land

in central Tanbe.

However,

she stubbornly refused

to agree to the land buyout.

The head

of the shopping district association

who initially opposed it, eventually

switched to support redevelopment,

and came to persuade Grandma.

At times, some people

gave blatant "gifts,"

but that only served

to make Grandma angrier.

I'm going to sh**t!

Someone call the police!

You guys, run over there!

After that, what came next

was intimidation, harassment, and threats.

As you know, they were active nationwide

back then. The land sharks.

What?

Sometimes, they would crash cars

into our house, pretending to be drunk.

It was quite a boisterous era.

"Grandma,

why do you go so far to hold out?"

The granddaughter once asked Grandma that.

"That’s because it belongs to me."

This whole area

was developed by my grandfather.

Even during the chaos after the w*r,

my grandfather and father…

they fought like hell to protect it.

That’s why I am protecting it too.

At that time,

three strange boys

and their teacher arrived.

The granddaughter

didn't really understand why.

She just did what she was told,

but it was so much fun.

Those days were like a dream.

One day, the boys gave her

concert tickets for a certain pop star.

She enjoyed herself,

and when she returned,

the house had burned down,

and her poor Grandma passed away.

At that moment, the granddaughter

realized, for the first time,

that she had truly loved

that eccentric Grandma.

And so, the granddaughter

left Tanbe behind.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Your grandma was a victim

of the land sharks,

and burned to death.

I bet the bamboo rod seller

was behind this.

Mr. Trendy wanted to make sure

Keiko wouldn't be caught up in it,

so he sent her to the concert with us.

So that's how it was.

Ms. Keiko, back then,

did you go to the police?

"Just a hated witch burned at the stake."

Who would have taken my side?

That's terrible.

Our parents might have known too.

No, they must have known.

Kisuke, you can go to a private school

or anywhere you want.

That town was rotten.

Matilda… How was Matilda related to this?

Why did they get rid of her?

Matilda…

Don't give it to the kids.

Give it to the teacher.

Got it?

If something happens to me,

give it to the teacher.

Come watch our movie once it's finished.

We're having a screening on January 6th.

It has your music in it.

It will definitely be amazing.

We're making a sequel too.

Come help us again.

Take care.

I gave the tape to that person.

The tape.

Number 12, right?

You gave it to Matilda?

What was on it?

Try to remember.

TANBE MIDDLE SCHOOL

MOVIE RESEARCH CLUB

Did you remember?

Tell us.

-I forgot.

-No way.

You remember, don't you?

I forgot.

Because you all forgot about me.

I couldn't go on the day of the screening.

But…

you said you were going

to make a sequel, right?

So, I went to see you.

All of you.

TANBE MIDDLE SCHOOL

ART ROOM

Ms. Yamamoto.

What do you think about this?

Good morning.

Morning.

Good morning.

Summer school is such a drag.

Yes, I get it.

-What do we have today?

-Japanese, right?

Man, I would have liked Science.

But English is tough.

Go for it!

I thought it was really all just a dream.

You forgot the steps!

No, it wasn't me! You forgot!

Matilda, Yuen, Chan, Kam-Bo…

and those fun days.

That it was all just an illusion

my brain created on its own.

You people in front of me now…

You are imaginary too, right?

No, we…

It's too late.

You showing up now is too late.

Everything is already too late.

You all forgot everything.

I forgot everything too.

I won't remember anymore.

Ms. Keiko might be right.

The only evidence, Number 12, is gone.

Most of the people involved

are already in heaven.

Even if we investigate more

and find the truth,

there's nothing we can do.

It’s all something from a long time ago.

I have work, so I'm going home now.

I must hurry home too.

Thanks for the drinks.

GALLERY SELECTION

Maybe that teacher

is trying to tell

the current you something.

Something important.

LOOK UP AND DO YOUR BEST!

Is something the matter, Mr. Yuen?

What is it?

If this is a note, what does it mean?

To look up, what else?

What is it?

LOOK UP AND DO YOUR BEST!

LOOK UP AND DO YOUR BEST!

LOOK UP AND DO YOUR BEST!

Hey.

Has it rusted?

It must be stiff.

-Oh!

-He got it.

He got it.

Hakuba. Get me a light.

Okay.

What is it?

Found something?

I'm home.

Welcome home.

I'm home.

Mom?

Yes?

Your back.

It was a gift from a different world,

one we call 1988.