"SPRING AWAKENS Haru no mezame" "Directed by NARUSE Mikio" "I'm home!" "Tomie!" "Welcome home." "Who was that?" "It was..." "That cat was here." "Is that right?" "Where's Mother?" "She went to the Hashimoto's place with Fusako." "The baby must have been born then." "Yes." "I wonder if everything's OK." "Tomie!" "Quick, quick!" "What's wrong?" "Disgusting!" "There's a caterpillar!" "Where?" "Can't you see?" "Right there!" "I'm home." "Welcome back." "I saw the Hashimoto's baby!" "Was it a boy or a girl?" "A boy." "It must have been cute." "It looks like a monkey." "Really?" "We went to congratulate Hashimoto-san." "I wanted to see the baby, too." "They said you can come over, too." "Did they?" "Mother, it's alright if I go to Kyoko's to borrow a book isn't it?" "Come back right away, though." "Yes." "Can you jump across?" "" 'Twas in the glorious month of May, When all the buds were blowing," "I felt — ah me, how sweet it was!" "—" "Love in my heart a-growing." "'Twas in the glorious month of May," "When all the birds were quiring, In burning words I told her all" "My yearning, my aspiring."" "That's just right for the season." "Yes, I think so, too." "Hey, Kumiko, they say that your maid is in love." "In love?" "Didn't Hanae say anything to you?" "No." "The maid at Hanae's overheard someone talking about it at the bath." "I haven't heard anything about that." "Let's go to Hanae's place." "I don't think you've ever been there." "No, I haven't." "What kind of person is he?" "I don't really know." "Hey, mother what kind of guy did she say he was?" "Who?" "The guy that Kumiko's maid is in love with." "What did they say?" "He's a broker." "That means he's a black marketeer." "Hey Mother, if I'm in love, it doesn't matter who it is, does it?" "That's because if you like someone," "I'm not going to stop you by saying "no" to you." ""No matter what anyone thinks..."" "Mother, stop that." "What will Kumiko think?" "Sorry about that." "I'm pretty laid back." "Come on in, Kumiko." "I should be going." "You can stay a little while longer can't you?" "Oh, my brother's here." "Welcome home!" "We have a surprise guest today." "It's Hirobe Kumiko." "Here's my older brother." "This is Noshiro-san." "You already know Koji pretty well, don't you?" "How do you know her?" "Her father plays go with my father." "We came to talk about our circular." "Circular?" "Yeah, we're going to write poems and reviews of books and poems, copy it, and pass it around." "That sounds interesting." "You'll write something won't you?" "Sure." "Kumiko, do you want to write something for us?" "I can't write anything." "Anything will do." "I want to put a nude on the cover." "What would that tell the readers?" "It'd be a symbol of youthful beauty!" "That's disgusting." "Don't you think so?" "Yes, it is." "Noshiro is good at art." "I think that if it's artistic, it would be OK." "I forgot who it was, but there was someone who made sure that the children saw a lot of nudes from the time they were very small." "It was so that they didn't develop any strange ideas about the body of the opposite sex." "Having "strange ideas" means something lewd, right?" "Yes, I think that's right." "I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's physical." "Are you?" "You're going to take your clothes off?" "No!" "Who's going to take their clothes off?" "Noshiro wants to draw a naked woman." "Noshiro, I never know what to expect next from you." "Maybe so, but my dreams never seem to come true." "Master, the guest is here." "I see." "You shouldn't bring the bar customers up here." "Yes, yes." "Tomie is that you?" "Yes." "May I have a moment with you?" "Tomie, who was that guy who was here before?" "He wanted to know if we wanted some soap." "A black marketeer?" "Yes." "Oh." "Well, that's all." "I thought she seemed a little strange these days, but the neighbours are talking about her." "Hmm." "She's my maid, but..." "I think we have to let her go before she makes a mistake." "Yes." "Kumiko is about to come of age, too." "Good night Father." "Good night Mother." "Good night Father." "Good night Mother." "Good night." "Good night." "Kumiko, how do babies get born?" "Babies?" "They're born when you get married." "So you can't have a baby until you get married?" "That's right." "I want a cute boy baby." "How about you?" "I'd want a boy and a girl." "Two babies?" "Yes but I think both boys and girls need someone to talk to, so I think I'd like to have two boys and two girls." "So four kids altogether?" "Yes." "I guess I'll have four, too." "OK. 152.3cm. Next." "Stand up straight." "75.5cm" "47.5kg" "Straighten up." "OK...150.3 cm." "Next!" "I just hate getting measured, don't you." "It tickles." "Yours are big, Tsukiko!" "Hey!" "Stop it!" "Who's that?" "Who's making trouble?" "Hey look!" "This is Hanae!" "Stop!" "And here's Kumiko." "Next, next we have —" "This is—" "What is that?" "Akiko!" "What happened to you this morning?" "I didn't feel right at all this morning." "So you skipped school?" "No, that's not the reason." "Did you have the physical?" "Yes." "It was disgusting." "Let's look at books." "I have to get home early today." "My mother yelled at me the last time I didn't come right home." "Bye!" "See you later." "I'm back." "Kumiko, Fusako doesn't feel well." "Oh my." "What's wrong?" "Dr. Ogura had a look at her and said that she had an upset stomach." "You don't feel well?" "I feel a little ill." "You must have eaten something you shouldn't have." "I don't think so;" "I didn't eat anything." "Kumiko, I gave Tomie some time off, so I need you to go to Dr. Ogura's and get some medicine for Fusako." "Oh." "What happened to Tomie?" "Her father got sick and she asked me to let her off." "Will she come back?" "Well... maybe not." "Mother, Tomie—" "What is it?" "Never mind." "So all I need to do is ask Dr. Ogura for the medicine?" "Yes, he'll know what you came for." "Bye!" "What's up?" "I came for my sister's medicine." "I see." "Just a moment." "Thanks." "Will you stay for a while?" "No, I have a painting to finish." "Thanks." "Noshiro is drawing pictures of flowers at the temple." "He has to eat, too, so he's cooking up there." "Wow!" "That sounds hard." "I'll get the medicine." "Thanks!" "Here it is." "My father says that Fusako will be OK." "I see." "Thanks." "I'm going to the bookstore." "I can go with you up to there." "We're going to have a picnic next Sunday." "Hanae and Kyoko are coming." "Why don't you come too?" "I'd love to." "Let's go!" "My folks are so strict, though." "Oh." "But I'll ask." "Tomie!" "What happened Tomie?" "You're still here." "Thanks for everything, Miss." "Is it true that your father is sick?" "What?" "Um..." "It's a lie, isn't it?" "Farewell, Miss." "Who was that?" "The maid who worked at my place." "Oh." "They say she's in love." "Love?" "That's right." "I hear she's the talk of the town." "Koji, you're going that way, right?" "Yes." "Well, goodbye." "Goodbye." "I'm back." "Thanks for getting the medicine." "Mother, I ran into Tomie." "Tomie?" "Did she say anything?" "No." "I guess she hasn't left yet." "Mother they say she was in love." "Where did you hear that?" "From a friend." "That's not true!" "Is it wrong for a maid to be in love?" "Yes it is." "Such a dirty thing!" "Is love wrong?" "A woman mustn't make any mistakes before she goes off to get married." "It's a little early for you to be worrying about things like that." "Hurry and take that medicine to Fusako." "Father, they say that the maid at the Hirobes was in love." "Oh?" "When I was there today they said that they had let her go." "So that's the reason they fired her." "They're a little old fashioned over there." "That's right." "Where did you hear that, Koji?" "More important than that, is love such a bad thing?" "Love is fine if it's the right kind of love." "What's the right kind of love?" "Hmm..." "That's love that's in accord with reason and one's parents' judgment." "But there must be love even when people aren't reasonable or listen to their parents." "Yes, that's true." "That's why it's difficult, especially since true love often conflicts with reason." "It seems simple, but it's actually very complicated." "Yes." "Koji, you've matured all of a sudden." "It's a little early for you to be thinking about things like that." "You shouldn't forget your studies." "You decide to get married and all of a sudden you're acting like a grown up!" "Why are you talking to me like that, Koji?" "I'm done eating!" "Koji." "Yes." "I brought this for you." "What is it?" "Some souvenir?" "Couldn't you put it more nicely?" "Don't say it like that." "If you're going to give me a present, give me something a little more interesting." "But all of my memories are in that book." "I want you to take good care of it." "Kazuko, how can you be so complacent?" "Complacent about what?" "When I think of you going to live at someone else's house, I—" "Are you that jealous of me?" "Sometimes I feel like I hate Suzuki-san." "Why?" "Because he touches you." "Well, but..." "Kazuko —" "What?" "Do you really know?" "Know what?" "What marriage really is." "What a question to ask, Koji." ""Ogura Koji 11 yrs, Hirobe Kumiko 8 yrs., Ogura Kazuko 14yrs."" "'Thy deep blue eyes enchant me," "So lovingly they glow;" "My gazing soul grows dreamy," "My words come strange and slow.'" ""My words come strange and slow"" "Are you still studying?" "Yes." "It's late." "I'll go to bed soon." "Hey Mother..." "Next Sunday, can I go to Kyoko's place?" "But I'd like you to help me around the house." "Just this once." "Come on." "It'd be OK wouldn't it?" "Did you finish what you were writing for you circular?" "I am going to write an essay about death." "Death?" "About human death?" "Everyone dies sometime." "You know, it's pretty up here in the mountains." "It's perfectly innocent." "But when I'm surrounded by natural beauty, for some reason I find I can think about death." "Why do you suppose people die?" "You're going to die, too." "And you, too." "That's right." "But if that's so, why do we consider it a tragedy?" "There's a secret in there somewhere." "I think that the only reason why there is such a thing as disgraceful death is because people think death is such a tragedy." "Beautiful death — human death is probably pretty beautiful." "Why?" "Tell me." "Ouch!" "What's wrong?" "I got stuck with a thorn." "Where?" "Here." "I can take it right out." "There I got it." "That will be a good picture." "Thanks." "Kyoko, could you take our picture?" "Sure." "Let's have our picture taken together, Koji." "Us together?" "Yes." "You know, I'm a painter, but when I look at a sculpture of a nude, I always look at one place first." "You're a philosopher." "What about you?" "I can't answer a question like that." "Come on, tell me." "Tell the truth!" "Don't be stupid!" "What's wrong with you?" "Leave me alone!" "Tell me!" "You're an idiot." "Shut up!" "Hey wait!" "This is a difficult problem." "You don't know which student had it, do you?" "It was after classes had let out yesterday." "I was making the rounds checking on the cleaning, and I found it near the entrance to the hallway in Classroom Number One." "Sensei... you've been at a lot of schools, but was there ever a case in one of those schools that pictures of this sort were discovered?" "No, not even once." "What kind of picture was it?" "I got rid of it on the orders of the Head Teacher." "I'll just say that it was very suggestive." "Suggestive?" "Extremely vulgar." "Oh my, what a headache!" "Yes." "At any rate, let's go through all the students' desks while they're out." "Sounds good." "Good morning!" "Good morning!" "Kumiko!" "I got the pictures from the other day." "Take a look." "Please show them to me." "What's happening with Hirobe-san?" "We don't know any more than you do." "Let's have a look at the classroom." "Don't do that!" "Think of how she would feel." "So you and Machii-san, and Takemura and her brother, and who else?" "Noshiro-san and Ogura." "That's all." "Ogura is the one in this picture, right?" "Yes." "You didn't go alone with him did you?" "If I had gone alone with him, there wouldn't have been anyone to take the picture!" "N-no." "I-I'm not talking just about this time." "You don't especially like him do you?" "I've liked him very much since I was small." "I see." "Your families know each other then?" "Yes." "Is this your book?" ""He loved and kissed, forsook, forgot, For such is the way of men."" "Do you know what this means?" "There are a lot of things in the book I don't understand." "Yes, I suppose that's true." "It can't be too interesting reading books you don't understand." "Here, you can have it back." "May I go now?" "Your mother will be here soon." "Why don't you go home with her." "My mother?" "They didn't go alone." "I don't see what the problem is." "No, she lied and said that she was going to Kyoko's place." "That's how kids start going wrong." "And after they found that dirty picture at her school, I've started to worry about her." "I see." "What shall we do?" "Well, I think that it would be good if you talked to her about the physical act of love." "No, I think it would be better if I didn't mention it all." "We wouldn't want her to get curious about it, would we?" "Hmm." "Could you be more quiet?" "What's wrong, Kumiko?" ""Toyama Private Girls High School"" "Since they found that smutty picture at school... they're keeping her on a tight leash, even at home." "That doesn't seem good." "Are you talking about Kumiko?" "All Kumiko did was get caught with a snap- shot from our picnic and a collection of poems." "I feel like I've done something wrong." "I think it's weird that they would be angry with her for that." "But who would bring a picture like that to school?" "It must be someone who's really crude." "What shall we have for tea today?" "What do they mean by a "suggestive" picture?" "I don't know." "Something that would make you really embarrassed." "That's for sure." "Hey Takemura, you know, I think embarrassment comes from education." "I think so, too." "Today's humans look like they've progressed a lot, but in some areas, like sex, they've regressed." "Kunio, just shut up about that stuff." "Let's go play catch." "Sure!" "Let's go." "Hey, that's Akiko isn't it?" "Who's that guy?" "That's the guy who lives upstairs at her place." "The guy that she goes out with a lot." "That's right." "Help!" "I don't like being female." "I feel that way every time I get my period." "I wanted to be a boy." "All they have to do is put on an air of superiority." "But men and women have equal rights." "If girls study hard, they can become big shots, too." "Women have babies." "They say it hurts a lot." "I still wish I'd been born a boy." "Bye, Kumiko." "Bye!" "I feel sorry for Kumiko." "I think her mother really scolded her." "She said that she felt like she was going to have a breakdown." "That's terrible." "It is pretty bad." "Doesn't your mother yell at you when you go to my place?" "No." "Why should she?" "You're right, it would be strange if she did." "My parents are really understanding." "No matter what poems or novels I read, they never say anything." "My mother is like that, too." "When I told her I liked Ogura, she just said "Oh?"" "Really?" "My mother says it's OK if I tell her I like someone." "Why do you suppose she says that?" "I don't know." "Hey, you know, my brother likes you." "He gave me a big confession about that the other day." "You like him, don't you?" "Ah..." "like him?" "You know, I read a lot of poems, and some of them are about men." "You know, if you decide that a poem is about a certain person — even if it's only in a very general way — it gets a lot more interesting." "Kumiko!" "Are you going home?" "You're early today." "I left early." "My sister is getting married today." "Oh it's today, is it?" "I have to ride in a rickshaw, too, but I don't want to do that." "I feel like I got you in trouble because of that picture we took together." "Don't worry about it." "I'm going to go and see what kind of face you're putting on when you're riding in the car." "Don't!" "I will." "Please don't." "I think I'll have a look." "She's a really pretty bride." "Yes she is." "Kumiko, you'll be a pretty bride, too." "You too, Fusako." "Who are you going to marry, sister?" "I don't know yet." "Boo!" "Hey, no fair!" "Hey, take a look at this." "It must be tough without a maid." "Actually, it's easier than having a maid with a difficult personality." "Kumiko's old enough to help now, too." "Yes, but I have to teach her to do the simple things around the house." "We're home!" "Ah, it sounds like they're back." "Oh, hello Sister." "It's been a while, Kumiko." "We saw a bride." "It was Dr. Ogura's daughter Kazuko." "Her wedding today was it?" "Yes." "Was she pretty?" "Yes, she was very pretty." "He's so cute!" "May I hold him?" "Leave him alone, it's dangerous." "Oh, it's alright, Mother." "I want to hold him, too." "No, you can't." "It's no fair!" "You can't." "Mother, we'd like a baby brother, too." "You two are so silly!" "Aren't we going to have any more babies in this house?" "The gods aren't going to give you any more babies." "The gods give you babies?" "Kumiko, take your bath." "I want you to give your sister a bath before she gets too sleepy." "Fusako take your bath with Mother tonight." "Why?" "Just do what I say." "And don't come in either." "What do you think?" "They've gotten kind of small." "What's wrong." "Don't you feel well?" "It's this gloomy weather." "It gives me a headache." "Here, try this on." "It's small on you." "You've grown so much since last year!" "Don't stare at me." "I guess I'll have to redo all of these." "Ouch!" "That hurts!" "What a huge pimple!" "Your fingers should be here." "I hate it when it rains everyday." "I'm going to go crazy." "Noshiro, did you know Ha-chan likes you?" "Cut it out!" "It's true." "She said so the other day." "That's stupid." "If you think it's a lie, let's ask her." "Ha-chan!" "Stop it!" "Ha-chan, do you like Noshiro?" "Noshiro?" "Of course." "I thought so." "He likes you, too." "That's a lie." "Is that so?" "Noshiro-san!" "Really?" "No, it isn't." "Please Noshiro-san!" "What's going in here?" "You kids are too much." "Get him a rag to wipe himself off with." "Yes." "You never let up, do you?" "The rain's stopped." "I'm going for a bath while I can." "You're such a slob, Noshiro." "Let's go to the movies." "Sounds good to me." "I'm going to see Kyoko." "It's that bad?" "You're worried about her I see." "Koji, come with me." "Just wait while I get ready." "We'll go on ahead." "See you later." "Maybe I shouldn't go." "Kyoko doesn't feel that bad." "What's wrong with her?" "She said she had a headache." "Do you want to do something together?" "I think I'll go home." "I see." "I guess I'll go to see Kyoko after all." "I think you like Kumiko, Koji." "She's pretty." "Koji, do you know what a woman's weapons are?" "Ha-chan told me that a woman has to protect her weapons." "Do you know what she's talking about?" "I don't know." "Oh my." "What a scary face." "You look like a doctor telling a patient that that she shouldn't eat too much." "Sorry to keep you waiting." "Let's go!" "What's wrong?" "Kumiko, how did you do?" "I studied hard, but..." "It was easy, but tomorrow is the math exam." "Why don't you study with us tonight?" "We can get my brother and Noshiro to help us." "But—" "Koji will come." "Studying?" "No." "You seem a little down these days." "Anything wrong?" "Nothing in particular." "Well, if that's really true, I guess there's nothing to worry about." "It sure is raining." "Yeah." "Here Koji, read this." "What is it?" "SEXUAL SCIENCE" "You probably already know most of what's in it, but this book is pretty good." "If there's something you don't understand, just ask me." "But I want you to remember Koji, that even if it's necessary to know about these things, it's stupid to get too wrapped up in it." "There are a lot of other things in human life that are pretty important." "Yes." "I'm a doctor and I know from my experience that you men and women can be very complicated sometimes." "I want to try to teach you how to be human." "Koji, if you think you feel love for someone, I want you to come to talk to me about it." "OK." "Do you need a light, Father?" "Don't worry about it." "I have to go downstairs anyway." "I want you to save some time to study." "What's wrong with Kumiko?" "I don't know." "It seems like she's back." "I'm home." "Kumiko—" "I was studying with Kyoko for tomorrow's exams." "That's not another lie, is it?" "Ask Kyoko if you don't believe me." "I promised I'd study with her again tomorrow." "Why can't you study here?" "Because you're busy and Mother says that she's forgotten everything and can't help me." "If my marks are bad, I'd disappoint you two." "That's why I'm studying so hard." "Is that something to cry about?" "Did you have something to eat?" "You must be hungry." "You could eat now, or you could eat after you change if you like." "You're pretty late, Kumiko." "Have you ever told a lie?" "No." "Well, that's a lie!" "Maybe we should have hired a tutor." "But her marks have been good until now." "At any rate, I don't think we should be so strict with her during her exams." "Yes, you're right." "How's that?" "Thanks." "When is Koji going to finish that story of his?" "He can't just whip it off like you do with your essays." "Do you think he'll stay away until he's finished?" "I think it will be a while before we see him again." "You think?" "Try this next one." "It's just like the one we just did." "Hanae, Hanae!" "What is it?" "We need some help downstairs." "It's really busy today." "Yes." "Hanae helps out that much?" "She cares a lot about the family business." "That's really big of her." "She's like Mother that way." "I can't study with all this noise." "Stop that!" "We're trying to study." "They're really making fun of me down there." "What happened?" "One of the customers asked me to sit down, so I sat on his cushion." "Then he said that because I sat there, I'd have his baby." "What a crude thing to say!" "I think it's funny." "Hey Hanae, when someone says that, here's what you tell them:" "if a man sits on a cushion where a woman has been sitting, he'll have a baby." "That's so stupid." "I have had enough!" "Hi there Ko-chan." "Hi, Sis." "Are you studying?" "What is it?" "Nothing." "You're weird." "Soon it'll be time for your summer break." "Are you going anywhere?" "I don't know yet." "What about you two?" "I don't think I'll be able to go anywhere." "Why?" "Are you that satisfied with your married life?" "You're so cheeky." "What are you thinking?" "That you haven't changed at all." "What hasn't?" "Does marriage have such little effect?" "Be quiet." "Come downstairs." "I have something for you." "Hi there, Father." "It seems you two are getting along." "Father was wondering if you were going to have a baby soon." "What shall we give you to eat today?" "Whatever you feed her, give her a lot." "Kumiko, how did you do?" "Pretty well." "I thought the second problem was a little strange." "Me too." "The problems that Noshiro-san said would be likely to show up on the exam were all there." "That's great." "That guy has been a genius at figuring out what problems would be on the exams since he was in middle school." "That's what my brother told me." "Is that right?" "I'm glad you did well." ""Notice:" "Summer Break From 25 July to 31 August"" "Is everyone going away during the vacation?" "My brother and his friends said they were going to go camping." "Are you going somewhere Kyoko?" "I might go to Lake Norie with my parents and my little brother." "Why don't you come, too?" "I'd love to!" "Kumiko will you come?" "I'd like to." "My brother should go camping there." "Yes, he should." "I'm back." "Are you alone?" "Is Koji still writing his novel?" "Yes." "Where's Noshiro?" "He's painting." "He's made a big decision to go to Tokyo if these next paintings turn out well." "To Tokyo?" "Yes." "He showed some of his stuff to a painter that he re- spects, and the painter told him that he had talent." "He wants to work and study painting in Tokyo." "What will he do about school?" "He says he's going to quit." "Kumiko wants to thank him for helping her with her exams." "I did very well." "I see." "He's at the temple painting." "Is that the manuscript?" "I just read a book about Socrates." "They make him drink poison as a punishment, right?" "He drinks it just like that, without making a fuss." "He tell his disciples that all their knowledge is just a memory." "Socrates told them that if there were no soul, there would be no possibility of memory, and consequently, no possibility of knowledge, either." "What's that supposed to mean?" "You mean you don't understand?" "There they go again, talking about difficult things all by themselves and forgetting about the rest of us." "Hanae..." "I want you to go with the people from the lumber company today." "Does it have to be today?" "Yes, we need someone right away." "Excuse me, but I guess I have to go." "Noshiro-san!" "Noshiro-san!" "I did it!" "I finished it!" "What?" "My painting!" "My painting!" "I wanted— but—" "It's up there." "Come and see it!" "I wanted —" "I was just thinking that I wanted to show it to someone and you showed up!" "Come and look!" "When I was painting, I had the feeling that I'd just disappear when I finished it." "I was in a groove;" "I was so happy." "But—" "Come and look I said!" "Can't you walk more slowly?" "Hurry, hurry!" "Come!" "Aren't there snakes here?" "So what if there are?" "I don't like snakes." "Here it is!" "Have a look!" "Don't you think it's good?" "Did you just praise me?" "Thanks!" "What's wrong?" "Hey, what's wrong?" "This smells good." "What does?" "This grass." "Don't worry, it's a good smell." "It smells warm." "It's a smell that makes me feel as if my body is getting smaller." "It's a smell that makes me want to curl up in a ball." "This feels so good!" "Kumiko!" "Kumiko!" "I'm sorry!" "Sister when did you get home?" "What's wrong, Kumiko?" "It's finished." "Hanae and your mother are going to get wet." "They went to gather reeds." "They could be anywhere." "No one's here." "Are you afraid?" "I don't like thunder." "It makes quite a sound." "Don't worry." "If the lightning hits us, we'll both die together here." "Are you afraid?" "I don't know why, but I'm not afraid anymore." "Welcome back." "I'm home." "Where's Mother?" "She was right behind me." "She'll be here soon." "You must have gotten wet." "We borrowed an umbrella at Furukawa's place." "There's more important news than that, though." "Kyoko, it seems Akiko is pregnant." "Pregnant?" "Akiko is one of your classmates, isn't she?" "That's right." "Mother, is it true that Akiko is pregnant?" "Yes, I heard from Furukawa." "It's quite a shock." "Does she love that guy on the 2nd floor?" "Don't be stupid." "You don't have to be in love to get pregnant." "That's what scary about it." "Whatever else you do, I want you to be really careful about that, Hanae." "Don't say that." "I'm not kidding." "The others aren't here yet?" "No, we're the only ones here." "Isn't there anything you can do?" "As a doctor, I can't really say anything about that." "But Doctor, she's still a girl." "I feel sorry for the baby." "Whether you feel sorry for them or not, we have to think about what to do next." "Don't let her marry that guy." "There are a lot of options." "Most of all, she needs your support, and your love and honesty." "But that's—" "What's wrong Kumiko?" "What's wrong?" "Mother..." "What is it?" "Mother, tell me." "Tell you what?" "Mother... how are babies born?" "I was wondering what you were thinking about." "I want to know!" "But you're— I'll tell you when you get older." "No, tell me now!" "Babies are — you have babies when you get married." "But how?" "What do you mean "how"?" "How?" "Tell me, Mother." "Kumiko!" "Don't be angry with me for asking." "Tell me." "I want to know." "Tell me!" "You're upset." "I'll tell you later." "I want you to tell me now." "Kumiko, I can't explain it very well." "You shouldn't put your mother on the spot." "Never mind..." "I'll ask someone else." "Kumiko, don't be silly." "What is it?" "Father..." "What's up?" "Do you need something?" "Father, I like Kumiko." "How does she feel about this?" "All I know is that I like her." "That's all." "Thanks for telling me." "You have my support." "But I think my studies are more important now." "That's right." "You have lots of time to think about Kumiko." "If you run into trouble, come and talk to me." "Yes." "What are you going to do during the break?" "I want to go camping with Takemura." "Is that right." "That sounds good." "You should get some exercise and bear down with your studies." "Ah, it's really cleared up hasn't it." "We appreciate you coming." "What's happened?" "It's nothing." "She's locked herself in her room and won't even let Fusako in." "She's up there weeping." "I don't know what it was, but she must have had quite a shock." "A strong shock?" "After all, this is the age when people are most sensitive." "There's a rumour going around town that I feel I need to mention." "It seems one of Kumiko's schoolmates is pregnant." "Pregnant?" "Oh!" "There comes a time when as a parent you have to stop thinking of your kids as little children." "It's the responsibility of parents to make kids feel the things that develop within them in the correct way." "It's a dangerous thing to let adolescence run it's course without any guidance." "Parents really have to work to get their kids to defend what needs defending and help them get through their adolescence cheerfully and smoothly as possible." "Kumiko, What's the character where you write 'dirt' and then 'dig'?" "Look it up in the dictionary." "Kids are so irritating." "I'm sick of kids." "What?" "Are you an adult now, Kumiko?" "Summer in Tokyo is hot." "Master doesn't say anything even when I show him my paintings, but I've decided to quit school." "All the best to the faraway Akebono group." "Help!" "Stop!" "Hey, that's Kumiko!" "Where?" "Kumiko!" "English Translation by GUY YASKO" "Timings by BRESSONIAC" "Special Thanks to GLYNFORD"