"Hello." "I see their activities vary." "Yes." "Each child has different backgrounds and symptoms" "So they rarely do the same things." "I see." "Like the one who has a high IQ, but can't communicate with others." "So you're building their social skills." "You've come prepared." "Yes." "That's not all." "Do you mind if I ask the children some questions?" "No, go ahead." "But they might not answer." "Can I ask you some questions?" "What are you doing?" "Let's take a break." "May I ask you a few questions?" "I'm here to support the school, not to criticize it..." "The kids and I aren't a show." "Ms. Puffy scolded you." ""Ms. Puffy"?" "Ms. Izumi." "She calls these "puffy clouds."" "She put these up?" "Yes." "When the children graduate, they each take home their favourite one." "Right?" "I'm going to take this one." "Question time." "Do you like this free school?" "Do you like school?" "Yes!" "What do you like about it?" "Studying?" "What else?" "What do you like?" "Who's your favourite teacher?" "Nobody." "Nobody?" "Not anyone?" "Yes." "Who?" "Ms. Kimura" "Who's that?" "You're honest." "Who has friends?" "Me!" "Raise your hands if you have friends." "What's your favourite TV program?" "Any others?" ""Gekiranger," and "Pokemon."" "Tell me what you want most." "Or three if you want..." "What, Kako?" "What do you like?" "Soap bubbles." "You like soap bubbles?" "What's wrong with your leg?" "Were you born that way?" "This isn't an interview." "Then you're hitting on me?" "I suppose." "I've been this way since childhood." "It must be inconvenient." "Every little thing in daily life is such a hassle." "Why do you want to know?" "I find you rather interesting." "Did I say anything interesting?" "Hey, what does "puffy cloud" mean?" "Why do you photograph clouds?" "Why do you volunteer here?" "Why are you reporting on this school?" "Well, I want everybody to know about free schools." "Who's "everybody"?" "I don't believe in "everybody."" "I only need the people close to me." "Take a look at my photos." "Your Friends" "They're good photos." "Morning." "Morning." "We'll be discussing the upcoming jump rope competition." "First let's choose the two who'll turn the rope." "We already have one." "She's got a bad leg." "Emi, how about it?" "Emi, she's asking you." "Emi, will you do it?" "Is that settled?" "Well, the other one then." "Yuka for sure." "No hard feelings." "Yuka will you do it?" "Now we'll fix the jumping order, so everyone come up front." "I want to go first." "I'll go second." "I'm sorry if I mess up." "It's okay." "Who cares if we win or not?" "Do you want to practice together?" "No." "The class will practice anyway." "But what if we can't do it right then?" "Who cares?" "The order's settled, so let's start practicing during recess." "Is that all right?" "Yes." "Okay, it's recess then." "Emi, your birthday was yesterday, right?" "How do you know that?" "We've never talked before." "It was in the class list." "Huh?" "The one we made in April?" "Yes." "I copied down everyone's birthdays." "What?" "Why would you do such a thing?" "I'm sorry." "No, I'm not angry." "Just asking why." "I'm copying the hospital." "In the class called the "Friends' Room," on our birthdays the hospital staff sang for us and gave us gifts." "We looked forward to it." "So you're copying that?" "Yes." "But it's not the same." "They don't celebrate with you." "It's not the same at all." "I'm sorry." "But I understand." "Sort of." "Happy Birthday, Emi." "Shall we practice a little?" "You're too close." "Now you're too far." "Is this your first time?" "Yes." "I'm not allowed to exercise and sweat." "What's wrong?" "My kidneys." "They can't control the fluids in my body." "I see, Let's hurry." "I get tired standing up." "Oh, I'm sorry." "Don't apologize." "Here we go." "You have to hold it tighter." "I'm sorry." "One, two..." "Faster." "What are you doing?" "Turn it with me." "Match the size of the loop." "Why do you go faster and slower?" "It's no use." "Forget it." "Emi, I'm sorry." "Listen, Yuka." "Let me tell you a little secret." "You're half the reason why my leg is like this." "Emi, let me in." "Sure." "Let me in too." "Me, too." "It's too full." "It's cold." "I'm cold, too." "Who's that?" "Yuka Jushara in Class 3." "She's ill and doesn't come to school much." " Don't push." " Sorry." "Never mind, I'll go with Yuka." "Sorry." "See?" "It was your fault." "Don't you think so?" "I'm never going to recover." "I can't run." "I can't ride a bike." "I don't want to go swimming anymore.." "When it rains, using an umbrella with crutches is such a pain." "?" "?" "Is soccer fun?" " Is it fun?" " It's fun." "That's great." "I'm finished." "What's wrong, Emi?" "Nothing." "And get this." "The other goalkeeper was lousy." "Emi's birthday." "Mom, open the door." "I'll drive you." "No thanks." "Can I go to school with you?" "Okay." "I brought the biggest umbrella we have." "You've improved." "Let's rest a little." "Okay." "You all right?" "Yeah." "I'm sorry." "About what I said." "I didn't mean it." "Yeah." "Oh." "What?" "That's sort of like it." "What?" "That cloud." "There used to be a puffy cloud in the "Friends' Room."" "A puffy cloud?" "A sky was on the wall, with planes, butterflies, birds, and a rainbow." "The puffy cloud was at the top, and I felt like I was flying." "Wow." "Hello." "This please." "Yes, 50 yen." "Emi, do you want one, too?" "Yes." "100 yen." "Yes, that's exact." "Thank you." " Thanks." " Yeah." "Here, Emi." "Thanks." "But "puffy cloud" is just a name for it." "Is it still there?" "In the "Friends Room."" "It became a picture of a different sky when I entered school." "There's a cloud but it's different." "I think the puffy cloud escaped the room and is floating in the real sky somewhere." "Yuka." "You've never jumped rope before, right?" "Right." "Do you want to?" "Yes." "For five years after that, we were always together." "When did you come here?" "I was like you at first." "What?" "I asked the principal if I could take photos." "But he said no." "I see." "May I see these?" "No!" "Go play outside!" "She's mad." "So I said, "Then let me work here."" ""And if the kids give me permission, may I take photos?"" "But now I'm just happy to be here." "Did you have any other friends?" "Always just us two." "Why was it always only Yuka?" "Because we walked at the same pace." "But there was another girl, actually." "No!" "She's mad again." "No, give it back." "I don't have it." "Yes, you do." "What do you say?" "I'm sorry." "All right." "Hana!" "I can't go Saturday." "Sorry to always cancel, but we can go next week." "Togawa's got other plans that day." "Oh." "Okay." "Our friendship's eternal and invincible, but my relationship with him is shaky." "I don't want to regret things later." "You're not mad, are you?" "No, I understand." "Thanks." "See ya." "Togawa." "Today we'll use what we learned last week and apply them to isosceles triangles." "First, if AB equals AC in triangle ABC, what can be estimated?" "Nishida?" "Angle B equals angle C" "Correct." "In triangle ABC, supposing AB equals AC, then angle B equals angle C. To prove his, divide angle A..." "Hana, what's wrong?" "Sir, I think Hana isn't feeling well." "What's the matter?" "You all right?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "Is something wrong?" "I'm not sure." "Are you really okay?" "Yeah." "That's good." "What do you think about Shiho lately?" "She's crazy about Togawa." "You two don't hang out anymore." "Do you go home together?" "If you want, you could hang out with us." "Us meaning Yano-chan and Michiko." "I know." "They say that they'd be cool with letting you in our group." "Oh my god." "Are you okay?" "Are you okay?" "So many sick people in your class today." "How do you feel?" "You're awake." "Shall I call your mother?" "Oh, no, I'm fine." "Take it easy." "Yuka will use this bed." "Stay in bed." "We're taking the English test now, so don't bother going back." "Let's take the retest together." "Please look after her." "Of course." "Let me know when it beeps." "I'm sorry I woke you up." "Don't apologize." "I'm fine." "Can you sleep with someone nearby?" "Yeah." "How about you?" "I'm used to it from hospitals." "You're good friends with Emi." "Yeah." "Don't you get lonely with just the two of you?" "I mean, isn't it more fun having lots of friends?" "I'd rather spend lots of time with Emi." "What's so good about Emi?" "It's hard to explain." "You get along well?" "Actually, we don't." "Is she nice?" "She's short tempered." "Oh, I know." "Emi's the puffy cloud." "What's that?" "My friend from when I was little." "No offense, but you're talking nonsense." "Stop talking." "Down." "Right." "Left." "Everything appears to be fine." "Can you tell me when your vision blurs?" "At school, suddenly..." "During class?" "No, other times, too." "How about yesterday?" "I was talking to a classmate." "What were you talking about?" "Nothing." "Normal stuff." "About something fun?" "Or something unpleasant?" "Do I have to tell you?" "How about now?" "It's kind of blurred." "I believe she's got myopia." "Myopia can be unstable in its early stages." "My husband and I both have good vision." "Well, myopia is generally on the increase." "Try these on." "The tests show that these should be perfect for you." "I can see clearly" ""If your eyes are bloodshot, please notify the receptionist..."" "Hey, can I go home now?" "Will you be all right?" "Yeah." "I can see better now." "Be careful." "Okay." "Mrs. Hanai, could we have a word?" "Yes." "Emi." "You're wearing glasses." "Yeah, I went to the ophthalmologist." "And you?" "Yuka's been hospitalized again." "Oh no, that must be my fault." "Why?" "She wasn't feeling well but I made her talk." "It's not your fault." "Hey, what's a "puffy cloud"?" "Yuka said you were the puffy cloud." "Yuka said that?" "Yeah." "I see." "But I don't really know what kind of cloud it is." "Whenever I see one that I think is it, I show it to her but it's always not." "How is Yuka?" "She's getting worse every season." "Can I go visit her?" "No." "You have the right to tell me that?" "If you're going to forget anyway, don't bother making memories." "The puffy cloud is really Yuka." "Hey!" "Those glasses suit you." "Are these glasses real?" "I can see through them." "What do you mean?" "Really." "Try them on, Mom." "No, silly." "The doctor prescribed them." "Here." "See, they're real." "Let's eat strawberries." "Mom." "You can see now, so does it matter?" "What do you mean?" "The doctor said that these glasses are effective." "Strawberries..." "You spoke with the doctor?" "Hey." "Tell me the truth." "Can I have this, Sis?" "No, they're your sister's, so give them back." "You want milk with that?" "About this much?" "Okay, girls come here." "We'll run, so line up." "Okay, boys come here." "We'll do warm-ups." "Okay, get ready to run." "Everybody line up." "Get a move on." "Ready?" "Get Set..." "Run!" "Run!" "Stop talking." "You quit wearing glasses?" "Yeah." "They were too much hassle." "Oh." "They weren't real, anyway." "Mine's a psychogenic visual disorder." "How depressing." "Just because Shiho's got a boyfriend." "I can't believe it." "Emi, aren't you lonely when Yuka's not around?" "No, not really." "But your friends." "Yeah." "Don't you become friends with someone to always be together with her?" "Isn't that what friends are?" "To be honest, I think you're a cold person." "You can have that cloud." "The restroom." ""Eyes slanted up."" ""Eyes slanted down."" ""Cat's eyes."" "Go!" "Go!" "Yeah!" "You can play on your own." "Hey wait, that's not fair." "Isn't it tough being with my sister?" "Shut up." "No, it's pretty interesting." "You won't be saying that for long." "Mr. Nakahara, are you published?" "Well, just articles in magazines so far." "Please show me next time." "I want to read it." "Thanks." "May I borrow your camera?" " Sure." " Thank you." "Want me to take your picture, Sis?" "With Mr. Nakahara." "No, I don't like having my picture taken." "Ready?" "I enlarged the photos I borrowed from you." "I didn't ask you to." "Here." "Here." "Here are the results of the mid-term exams." "Quiet!" "Akazawa." "Ando." "Izumi." "Izumi." " Inoue." " Yes!" "Let me see." "Izumi scored the highest in our grade!" "460 points." "Wow, that's amazing." "460 points?" "Nakanishi." "Yes." "5 points short of Izumi, 2nd place." "Let me see." "Furuya." "Ninomiya" "Miyoshi." "You have to work harder." "Aren't Izumi and Nakanishi awesome?" "They're already regulars." "Yeah, too awesome." "But they're both cool." "I'm best friends with Bun-chan." "Huh?" "You know." "He and I were friends as kids." "Yeah, back in grade school." "We grew up together." "We're like brothers... no, twins." "Surprised?" "Isn't it cool?" "You're such a moron." "That's the past." "You and Izumi are too different now." "Bun-chan, good move!" "He's ignoring you." "Let's go." "Looking again won't change the score." "Kazu, do you want an apple?" "No." "What happened?" "Bun and Moto are two of the prefecture's best 11 players." "Really?" "They're the youngest players." "That's so cool." "Bun-chan, you did it!" "You're one of the best 11, right?" "Yeah, but what's it to you?" "But I'm so proud of you, Bun-chan." "Don't call me "Bun-chan."" "Don't use "-chan" like a kid." "So which country will you play in?" "I want to go to Brazil." "You won't make money in Brazil." "Miyoshi." "Why don't you come to practice?" "I quit." "I could never be a starting player." "But you haven't officially quit." "I can't go back now." "I'll apologize to the older players with you." "No thanks." "Dumplings, please." "250 yen." "Thank you." "Kazu." "Long time no see." "You never visit anymore." "Well, he and I live in different world's now." "What?" "What are you doing?" "I'm taking pictures of clouds." "Are you in a club?" "I joined the soccer club, but I quit." "Oh." "Bun never told me about that." "He'd never talk about me." "Oh." "Bun-chan's amazing." "He's now one of the prefecture's best 11 players." "I know." "Moto, too, right?" "Bun-chan is way cooler than Moto-kun." "He scored the most goals." "He's such a star." "Compared to him, I'm subhuman." "Really worthless." "Bun-chan's amazing." "He and I aren't..." "But back in 2nd grade, I learned how to multiply before he did." "I could run faster than him." "But that was only until 2nd grade." "After that, Bun-chan's always went way ahead of me." "He's just so awesome." "But he used to say, "You and I will be best friends forever, Kazu."" "But when Moto-kun transferred into our school, they used to fight at first, but soon they became friends." "But I thought that was only natural." "Gotcha." "Just come on over again." "Bun." "You're in trouble." "What will you do?" "I don't know." "Gotta pee." "What?" "Why is Bun-chan in trouble?" "Bun and Moto are in danger." "The 8th graders are out to get them." "I knew this was coming." "The 8th graders are pissed because they aren't regulars now." "Don't worry." "Bun-chan can take them on." "I'm sure he's stronger than you are." "He always says that the older guys are wimps."