""Don't count me out yet. "" ""I'm just getting started, "" ""You'll come back to me. "" ""I know it. "" ""Along this cherry road... "" ""you'll return. "" "The End, "CHERRY ROAD "" "I don't want to go." "She'll be upset if you aren't there." "And Sakai-san wants to talk to you, Ichigo." "About a sequel to "Cherry Road. "" "Cheers!" "The food is ready so please help yourselves." "She's so cute all in pink." "The bride and groom are here to pay their respects." "Ichigo-san!" "I'm so glad you made it!" "Congratulations, Marina." "Congratulations." "Thank you." "This is "Ichigo Nekyta. "" "I was her assistant as an aspiring cartoonist." "I'm Murakami." "How do you do?" "Thanks for coming." "Treat her well." "I will." "Thank you." "See you later." "Excuse us." "How about a photograph?" "I'll get us drinks." "Aren't you Ichigo Nekota?" "Yes." "Can I have your autograph?" "Sure." "Sorry, I only have this coaster." "I was a huge fan, especially of the guy in Cherry Road." "What's his name?" "I can't draw him." "It's been so long, I forget." "Will anyone dy?" "Yes, thank you." "I can't believe it." "Look at that." "I can see why she's a pro." "Are you doing a series now?" "What magazine?" "It's called "Amore. " Please check it out." "Can I get your autograph, toy?" "How's yur writer?" "Did you mention the sequel?" " Sort of." " And?" "Ny reaction." "You free?" "Ny, but I can make an exception for you." "Great." "You can go, Tomo." "Don't worry." "I'm a big girl." "Shall we?" "She's allyours, Sakai-san." "Gotcha." "Let's go." "Another, please." "You okay?" "Aren't you drinking?" "Company tab, right?" "If I weren't with you, I'd choose a cheaper bar." "I see." "So is Marina pregnant?" "I doubt it." "She's far too busy." "Her work sells, huh?" "Uh-huh." "But nothing like you used to." "You want me to write a sequel to "Cherry, " don't you?" "Yeah." "You know how long it's been?" "Twelve years." ""Cherry fans " are still abundant." "I know plenty." "Put it to rest." "You made enough money from it." "There's nothing embarrassing about writing a sequel." "Just add a new spin." "The readers will eat it up." "You're more skilled now, too." "What's that?" "Ichigo Nekota's autograph." "Who's that?" "Don't you know?" "She wrote "Cherry Road. "" "Sorry." "Never heard of it." " Have you?" " Nope." "Really?" "She's famous!" "I don't know her, either." "You said before that you did!" "Well, whatever." "Cheers!" "I tyld you I can't write that story." "Why not?" "Because he's dead." "The main character." "It ended with a motorcycle lying on the road." "We don't really know if he died." "Hey, let's go somewhere else." "I'm bored." "Actually, I've still got some work to finish up tonight." "I need to return to the office." "What's more important to you, work or me?" "Getting Ichigo Nekota to write her finest work is important to me." "Fine." "If you have work, then go." "I should be there by eleven." "See you there?" "Well, if it isn't our "strawberry girl. " Come on in!" "Don't you loyk glamorous!" "You like it?" "I'll take that." "There's your seat." "Yeah." "Evening Mama." "Look at you, a china dress!" "What's up, girl?" "You look exhausted." "Too much love making?" "Not enough." "He jilted you, huh?" "What was he like..." "this cad who jilted you?" "I'd say he was just your type, Melissa." "You don't say." "God, won't someone tell me where my love line leads." "It's tied to a pole yut back." "Woof-woof." "Am I a mutt?" "Yup." "Who asked you?" "Drink up!" "So, did you see Ichigo home?" "Ny, she split on me." "Prybably out playing." "You left her alone?" "She'll be fine." "How're you managing on only one monthly series?" "I'll never understand why you left us to become her manager." "Editing was easier." "I know but..." "And my salary could support the three of us." "I know." "Thanks." "Out like a light." "Excuse me." ""Pub Donzoko. "" "Yes, she's here." "My mistake." "No, she's not." "Must be my menopause." "I see... thank you." "I'd better go." "Stay here." "Tomorrow's a school day." "Kazuki." "Kazuki, we're gying." "He's beat." "Don't worry." "You're gyrgeous." "You take care now, Keiko." "See you tomorrow, Mama." "Good night." "Hey, Mama?" "Can I work here?" "Are you willing to become a transvestite?" "No." "The thing is..." "I can't write anymore." "What?" "Writing's your life." "Everothing's got to end sometime." "My life ended when I chose to become a woman..." "Can't bear children, either." "You should quit." "You said you can't write." "Why torture yourself?" "Hand the reins over to the youth." "Some encouragement you are..." "thanks a lot." "I'm leaving." "Where're you going?" "Mama?" "Go after her." "Idiots... writing isn't easy, you know." "Oh, pardon me." "So there you are!" "Never mind, Gyd." "I found her." "Get up, girl, before you freeze your little behind." "Let's go out, Melissa." "You still wanna drink?" "Let's see who passes out first." "How droll." " Come." " Ouch!" "Come on!" "Stop acting frail." "I am frail." "I'm a woman." "We're not really going through with this." "We've come this far." "You're still equipped, right?" "Listen..." "I don't like being taken for a fool." "You are cute, though." "I'm working on a title now." "Of course." "I'm a professional." "It's the best comic I've ever done, all right?" "Hey Ichigo!" "What's up?" "Ichigo!" ""Bike Maintenance "" "Excuse me." "Kusunose-san?" "Thank you." "Have you seen my clothes?" "I burned them." "They weren't "you. "" "Where am I?" "It can't be a dream." "Mine or yours?" "You died in an accident." "That's the rumor." "I never believed it." "Then there you are." "Yes." "Could you fix us something to eat?" "I've got a customer." "I can't..." "Whatever's in the fridge." "Okay." "It's still acting up a bit." "I'll take another look." "Mind if I join you?" "Thank you." "I never thyught I'd see you again." "Life is full of surprises." "I'm glad I stayed out last night." "Do you mind my being here?" "No." "Can I stay for a while?" "Really?" "Can I borrow your phone later?" "People will start to worry if I just disappear on them." "Don't have one." "Those who want to see me..." "come here." "Good morning." "Did you eat yesterday?" "I was fed, yes." "You have a guest?" "Then I won't worry." "Thanks." "Do like always." "Back to work." "See ya." "That was Kumi-san this morning, wasn't it?" "Yeah." "You're still together." "Do you remember?" "On your 18th birthday, I gave you a present." "I didn't know what to get." "You had plenty of sweats." "I thyught of a record, but CDs were starting to appear." ""To Mitsuhiro Kusunose "" "Should the world be reduced to ashes, I remain a flower that blooms for thee." "It never reached you." "So I wrote it into a comic." "I had to." "I wrote all my dreams inty a character named, Nao Hanamura." "Did you want me?" "Or did you want ty write a comic?" "If I had you, I wouldn't have needed anothing else." "Let's go for a ride tymorrow." "It says right here." ""I'd love a ride on your bike someday. "" "Feels great, huh?" "Yeah." "Sorry?" "Say that again?" "Ichigo?" "Ichigo," "Ichigo!" "How is she?" "She's conscious, Doctor." "She's regained consciousness." "She'll be fine." "I can't thank you enough, Doctor." "All she needs now is time to regain her strength." "Thank you, Doctor." "The doctor said you instinctively protected your right hand." "How long have I been asleep?" "Three days, I think." "What is it?" "Be quiet for a moment." "I can't hear..." "What?" "Nothing." "What's wrong?" "Tell me." "I heard his voice." "Whose voice?" "I was with Kusunose-san." "Kusunose-san?" "I don't understand." "When I awoke, he was there..." "in a bike shyp." "Awoke?" "You've been in the hospital." "That's what you think, Tomo." "But I was definitely with him." "He had the present I gave him." "But he's..." ""Cherry Road "" "Doctor, I'm sy glad I caught you." "Ma'am." "My daughter is so grateful." "Please..." "Ny, I can't..." "I insist." "This is forbidden." "It's okay." "My daughter's a best-selling cartoonist." "Let's see your temperature." "Thank you so much for the comic books." "Don't mention it." "I adyred "Cherry Road. " It made me cry." "How does she write like that?" "Beats me." "I never once expected that she'd become a cartoynist." "Get well soon so you can write some more." "I'll be back in twy hours." "Thank you." "Take care." "Mom, styp handing out my byoks to everybody." "Why?" "It's just meant as a token of appreciation." "She's looking good." "Listen, about the money Tomo-san lent me?" "It's all gone." "Could you ask her for a little more?" "Why shyuld I?" "Well, with your sudden hospitalization and all..." "Yeah?" "I need money." "It's always money with you!" "Oops, now she's mad." "Go home." "I'm afraid I can't do that." "I still have to thank the people at your publisher's." "Tomo will do that." "She's not family." "This shyuld be a family matter." "Family?" "You don't mean you, do you?" "Who else is there?" "I'd hardly callyou "family. "" "Oh, I suppose you grew up all by yourself." "Just stop meddling and go!" "I'm your mother, dammit!" "She wants money." "How much did you give her?" "300,000 yen." "That's a lot!" "Ichigo?" "The truth is, we're out of money." "We'Il manage, right?" "Actually, no, we won't." "Here you are." "I'll stay with her." "You can go home now." "She may need something." "I'll take care of it." "Really?" "Okay, thank you." "I'll use this for gifts, then." "Do you have train fare?" "I'm home." " Where's Kazuki?" " In bed." "How about dinner?" "I ate." "My boss says he'd be willing to publish a "Cherry " sequel." "Really?" "If you are to continue, you need to get her to write it." "What do you mean, "continue? "" "As her manager." "You can't make it like this." "I worry about your future." "Why do you stick with her?" "You've got the talent to be a great editor." "You want me to abandon Ichigo?" "Truth is, she hasn't written anothing good since "Cherry. "" "Do you know why?" "Yes, I do." "I see." "You think she holds herself responsible for his death?" "Yes." "He died 2 months after the series ended." "And he wouldn't have if she hadn't written it." "Yes." "After her accident, she says she saw him." "She can only write about him." "Everothing she's written since... has rung hollow." "Well, this isn't my area of expertise." "But she needs to find closure to move on." "She hasn't accepted his death yet." "I know." "Writing sounds tough." "The good ones can handle the pressure." "Look!" "What is it?" "We just may land a new series." "Get well so you can write it." "When you get out of the hospital... let's visit Kusunyse's grave." "You know, pay our respects." "No thanks." "What was the real Kusunose-san like?" "I only know him through "Cherry Road. "" "I'd like to meet him." "You'll have to die first." "Maybe so but... not if you wrote about him." "Those who want to see me..." "come here." ""The Seaside Garage "" "Hey Tomo?" "Does that sound interesting?" "Yes." "Hello?" "Hi." "Well, I talked to my boss and he said the series could start in two months." "We've got publicity to think of but I think it'll work." "What is it?" "What's wrong?" "The girl in the accident spends 3 days... in the greatest love affair of her life." "A love with a time limit." "That's sounds great." "So?" "The affair is in its second week." "She's written six episydes." "The three-day limit storyline has been forgotten." "All we get is their time together." ""How many men will I love in my life? "" "Do like always." "This isn't a story." "It's daydreaming." "She's ignoring the reader." "It's no goyd." "Come here." "This is Kusunose-san." "Kumi-san's next to him." "I made a mistake." "I was wrong to touch "Cherry Road. "" "No, you weren't." "Ms. Nekota, where're you going?" "Home." "Is it urgent?" "I need to see a photo." "I don't want to, but I have to in order ty draw "her. "" "Otherwise, I can't steal him from her." "It's for your work?" "Yes." "Can you lend me taxi fare?" "Tomo?" "Are you here?" "What's going on?" "Please leave." "I want to talk to Tomo alone." "But it's all my fault." "I meant to tell you." "I just needed a chance." "It started a year ago." "We plan on marrying." "What's that got to dy with this?" "I'm sorry." "I really am." "Leave us." "Why apologize?" "Why all the concern?" "Don't mock me." "It's over." "It's over!" "Ichigy..." "No one's mocking you." "No one's rejecting you." "Frankly, we do our best to put up with your selfishness." "We do it because... we want to see your talent." "Thanks for everothing." "Do you mind if I talk to Kazuki tomorrow?" "And ask him if he'd have me as his father?" "You trying to make my life easier?" "Easier?" "I don't know." "But what's done is done." "Work is important." "But not as important as you." "Takaichi-san, phone call." "Coming." "Well, good luck." "Thank you so much, Doctor..." "for everothing." "Thanks for putting up with her." "Thank you... thank you." "This is all the money we've got left." "I'll find new work next week, so make do until then." "Until when?" "How should I know?" "Just do it." "Some food." "Not here!" "Over there." "Is here okay?" "Yeah, thanks." "What's the rent on this place?" "About 300.000 I think." "You think?" "Where's your contract?" "Or your utilities bill?" "I don't know, somewhere." "Go look." "Tomo's not here anymore." "This is hopeless." "What is?" "Look, I'll get another part-time job, but come home." "Don't worry." "I'll be okay." "Ichigo Nekota's here with her work." "The famous cartoonist?" "She sure must be desperate." "What does that mean?" "Are we that bad?" "We met at a party once years ago." "Yes, I have your card." "You didn't take it." "I gave it to your manager." "I saw the drafts of your work." "And?" "I'd love to write it for you." ""Seaside Garage, " huh?" "Yes?" "It's very much like your hit work from years ago." "I'm afraid it lacks novelty." "Well, it's the same person writing it." "If I may say sy..." "I'd suggest starting fresh, like a rookie." "Thank you for coming." "So what happened?" "I always hated her work." "You see?" "Mom, this was real good." "You liked it, huh?" "Yeah." ""Cherry Road "" "Why'd you stop going to Ichigo-san's place?" "Because I can't anymore, that's all." "What're you doing?" "Trying to make ends meet." "Garbage Service, at your service." "Garbage?" "Recyclers." "I called him." "You must be her sister." "Go get 'em!" "This is my latest." "Screw you, too!" "Welcome!" "Well... helly." "Evening." "Alone?" "Yes." ""I won't be home tonight. "" "Ouch!" "Yes, hello?" "I see." "Yes, I understand." "Evening." "What?" "No love again tonight?" "Something like that." "Give me something strong?" "Coming right up." "Here." "Say Mama?" "Did you say you knew a spiritualist?" "Can I see her?" "Why?" "Just interested." "Relying on others?" "Sure." "Why not?" "It's a bad female habit... leaning, that is." "By the way... starting today, I can't keep a running tab." "Your manager came in here the other day." "She paid your tab in full." "Tomo did?" "From now on, you pay." "She also told me... not to let you drink unless you pay in cash." "Do yourself a favor." "Stay with Tomo-san." "She was seeing my man secretly for a year." "So what?" "That's the breaks." "Besides, did you love him?" "Not especially." "So your pride got hurt." "Big deal." "She's a pretty woman but I'll tell you..." "she's ordinary." "Ordinary?" "She just bears children." "But you can give birth to other things." "You cut off a piece of your soul, and it becomes a best-selling comic." "She told me to give this to you." "It's from the mother of that friend of yours who died." "Thank you for your kind call the other day," "I know that my son is happy to know that he is remembered by people... as kind and thoughtful as yourselves," "It confirms my belief that we live on in other people's memories." "It's now been 12 years since my son, Mitsuhiro, died," "According to Buddhist tradition, on April 12th," "I plan to hold a modest memorial service for him," "I realize you are very busy." "But I would be most honored if you and Ms. Nekota would attend." "Though it is early spring, the cold days continue." "Please take good care of yourselves," "Kyoko Kusunose" "Everyone's so kind." "Hurry up, dear." "You don't want to be late for your first day of school." "Why aren't you wearing socks?" "Hurry, Mom!" "Mom, Ichigo-san's here!" "Ichigo." "See ya." "I need my manager with me." "Looks like we missed them." "How was it?" "Cold." "It is?" "Of course." "Its owner is gone." "Thank you for coming." "I haven't been here in years." "You are...?" "Asai." "You sent me a letter." "Thank you for coming." "It's a beautiful day." "Yes, it most certainly is." "You're Kumi-san, aren't you?" "Yes." "Have we met before?" "Yes, often." "I admired Kusunose-san for a Iyng time." "I couldn't help see you, too." "Well, he's gone now." "Yes." "It's hard to believe it's been 12 years." "I know." "It feels like yesterday." "He called me... from where he was traveling one hour before he died." ""I just rode through a tunnel of cherry blossoms, " he said." ""They blocked out the sky. "" ""Let's come together next year. "" "Are you married?" "Yes, with two boys." "They're a real handful." "Can I ask your name?" "Ichigo Nekota." "Excuse my reaction." "It's just such an unusual name." "I'm a cartoonist." "It's my pen name." "It's very cute." "I'd Iyve for you to read my work." "I'd like that very much." "Well, good-bye." "Good-bye." "Those who want to see me..." "come here." "I know... but I won't anymore." "For it was I who created you." "Miho Miyazawa" "Aki Kajiwara" "Manabu Oshio" "Yoshino Kimura" "Produced by Tsutomu Takahashi" "Directed by Shun Nakahara, Tsutomu Takahashi"