""YAJIMA"" ""Mr. YAJIMA Shinji"" ""Nishihara Junior High School"" "Hi!" "Morning!" "Yeah!" "First here!" "Think you can arrive first in the morning?" "I'm first in running." "Newspaper boy." "Shot baskets?" "Not yet." "They're still at it!" "They sure are!" "Who'II you bet on?" "Masaki." "Right." "Takahashi." "Running!" "Assemble!" "' Hara ' Junior High!" "Fight, fight, fight!" "' Hara ' Junior High!" "Fight, fight, fight!" "Next." "Raise your hand if you choose Wada." "Yes." "Three." "The vote decides the Culture Festlvval reps wil be Sugiar a and Nonakaa." " Sir." "Thas all f or today." " Yes." "Sugihara, Nonaka, good luck with that next term." "I also have something to report to you all." "Takahashi." "To the front." "Quiet please." "Takahashi will move to the US because of his parens work." "He'll leave school at the end of this term." "Really!" "Quiet please!" "Takahashi, go ahead." "Well because of that I have... only one week left with you." "I'll continue bask etball in the U.S." "Look f orward to seeing me play in the NBA in ten years!" "Maybe one unfinished thing..." "I have to do in Japan..." "What?" "Tell us!" "Well, maybe later..." "Anyway, thanks f or being my friends." "Really, thank you so much!" "I'II be moving mid-August, so until then les enjoy our time." "When did you know?" "Six months ago." "Six months!" "Didn't say anything!" "Nothing between us?" "!" "Sorry!" "Don't get so mad." "To the U.S.!" "We can't meet." "You shoulïve told me sooner!" "These days we can keep in touch with the Internet." "Or by cell phone." "Is only 1 hours door to door." "Maybe closer than Ogasawara!" "Well could be a bit lonely..." "Idiot!" "Terribly lonely!" "I don't have many friends." "Be responsible!" "Responsible?" "What can I do?" "I'II think about it, haven't sorted out my f eelings." "'Sort out f eelings ' doesn't sound right coming from you." "Watch it!" "Ouch!" "Idiot." "You'll play over there?" "Of course!" "Glame's from there!" "NNCAA, then to the NBA." "Sounds great." "You've always been a luck y guy." "I've hardly grown since first year." "I'm tall in a Japanese junior high, but maybe not over there." "Play guard I guess." "Don't talk about short guards!" "Ahh I wish I'd grow." "So drink milk." "Milk isn't all that good f or me." "Heard you're transf erring..." "What about it?" "Nothing..." "Don't fight." "The juniors will b banned fn onn th ganmnes" " Hi." " Long day." "You work hard in this shop." "Oh great, praised by you." "Finally yyou told thenm It was tgh keeepig quiet." "You do like talking." "Yeah." "Right." "I wil miss looking at yur It thoull." "Stupid." "Wonder if I could still get a phot o with her?" "Sure, I'll tell her." "Really!" "I'll treasure it!" "She was this year's Miss Meisei Academy!" "So, Masaki." "Is there something between you and Suzuki?" "Between us?" "You guys seem close lat ely." "Oh!" "You jealous she's taking your childhood friend?" "Hopelessly stupid... e're in the sam e class bu haavenn't spokun." "Whas she like?" "Seems to talk lik e a guy." "Suzuki's basically simple and good." "Says complex things though." "Wonder why that is?" "I don't know." "You guys should be friends." "Why's that?" "Both slmmple, direct." "Y ouu'ld get alonng well." "Is you who's simple." "Come on." "Your best customer f or 15 years requests it." "You're not so special." "Haruna." "I'm sure you two will hit it off." "I'll mention it to Suzuki whoen see her." "Thas one thing solved." "Hey, you've got no right to decide these things!" "Thought so, just like her!" "Oh!" "Takahashi?" "So, it is you." " Shibuya?" " Yeah, you too?" "Yeah." "By yourself?" "Yeah." "Strange?" "Is okay I guess." " And you Chairman?" " Buying a text." "Such an honor student!" "Summer break is when you pass or f ail." "Guess you don't care in the U. S high school's a right." "How'd you know that, Chairman?" "Ichida tell you?" "Saw it on TV." "Stop calling me ' Chairman '!" "Only you do that." "We're both ' Ta kadasdl,' and you've Ibee cass n ep sinnse flnsst yeeaan." "It f eels weird to call you by my own name." "Is the same f or me." "Maybe call you ' Alisa '?" "Alisa!" "' Ohairman ' is okay." "Why are you in Shibuya?" "Thought I'd see a movie." "See a movie?" "Which one?" "Forgot." "Huh?" "Suzuki wanted to go see a movie, so I was going along but she cancelled a hee laast nninutoe." "So whall you do?" "Don'tt know..." "Maybe go along to the book store Ohairman." "What?" "!" "How about a drink?" "Sounds good." "Thas my home number." "This is my cell number." "Cel pdhone with a camera I Nlcee I Don't haave ne on nnin." "No point now that I'm leaving." "Les take a picture..." "Yeah." "Les do it!" "' Double Takahashi.'" "There!" "Well." "I've got to do something f or Mom." "See you tomorrow." "Fun date!" "Date?" "I guess is a date." "I wonder..." "I guess it is." "Ichida, teacher said to bring the class report." "She's so quiet." "Maybe ' standoffish '?" "Hayami!" "Sir." " The class report." " Fine." "Excuse me." "Oh Ichida." "How's everything now?" "Gotten used to Japan?" "No reason to." "I'll move back to England after graduating." " Really." " Yes." "Excuse me." "One on one?" "No way." "Why not?" "Thas no fun." "How about me?" "No fun playing with you." "Hey!" "Idiot." "I'm here 'cause you ask ed." "Are you awake?" "Delivering newspapers?" "Not supposed to work part-time." "Don't talk like a teacher." "Don't hide things from me!" "I decided to do it in first year." "Oh... but thas not really your f ault." "Is my f ault." "Nothing could have been done about that..." "Heavy!" "Outfit makes you seem slimmer." "Shut up!" "You arrive too early with me." "What do you do?" "Just sleep in the infirmary." "Really." "Be good after I leave." "Of course." "I asked Haruna to look out f or you." "What?" "Who's Haruna?" "Kawahara." "Instead of me she'll be there f or you." "I've never even talked to her." "How could you do that!" "You really are heavy." "Quiet!" "Don't repeat that!" "Hi!" "Since when are you a 3-point shooter?" "You led off ense." "Quiet!" "Nothing to do with you." "Sir... since I'm leaving maybe somebody else should do it." "Quiet!" "No excuses." "Everybody says 'quiet.'" "Should be nicer to a guy thas leaving." "I'm here!" "You home?" "Delivery?" "Thought so, you're last." "Can you finish?" "School and basketball end tomorrow." "Then I'll do it fast." "I used to come here whoen I wwass litl." "Thas true." "You always made me cry." "Yeah." "I did." "This brings back memories." "You'll never finish if you think about each one." "Shinji..." ""Entrance Ceremony"" "He stopped coming to school... because of me." "Thas... not how it was." "If I'd had more guts at the time..." " he'dd bee coming here." " N coicee." "There was no way to stop it." "I was scared too." "You really slept." "Have some dirty dreams?" "Shut up." "Masaki, I'm going ahead." "See you later." "As you know." "This is our final practice with Takahashi as captain." "A bit early, but a f ew words f or graduation." "Thanks so much f or everything." "Is my last day at this school bef ore transf erring." "Today is our last day together." "During my time at ' Hara ' Junior High, long or short," "Bask etball Club was everything." "So I'm really disappointed that we weren't in this year's all-Tok yo meet." "Thee besst result for us guyss wass flnsst yeeaan, aa-Tokky'o BBes Eiglht." "Because of that..." "I have something to ask of the Club juniors." "Take the championship in this f all's rookie event!" "I'm counting on you!" "We'll do our best!" "We'll do our best!" "For tie girls' roookle evenht, cotinnuoe he succeessssivee wlnss." "Wor k haandd att it" "Thank you." "Thank you." "And finally." "In wind rain, summer and winter I was here just f or bask etball." "Neglecteed my studies, othinng buut hbaaasskketbaall I" "Actually I liked a girl t oo but gave up everything... f or the sak e of bask etball." "Wait a minute." "Who is it?" "Can't really..." "Anyway." "You guys fight on my behalf!" "Thas all, dismissed!" "You'll leave without telling?" "!" "Idiot." " You got a message." " Okay." "Phone messaging?" "You said it was a nuisance, insisted I call." "True." "I did insist." "Not going to reply?" "Later." "What?" "Something's weird." "Who was it!" "A girl?" "Never mind." "Thought so!" "We swore there'd be no secrets." "I give up." "Is from Ichida." "Who's that?" "You know, she's in our class!" "Ichida Naok o." "Ichida?" "Naoko?" "In our class?" "You don't know her?" "Didn't know Haruna either..." "you okay?" "I don't have friends can't help it!" "Don't be so defiant." "She transf erred here towards the end of second year." "Oh, thas Ichida Naoko?" "I asked her about forelgt ccouunttriees." "She came back here from England." "You know." "A returnee." "She never talk s." "Maybe she can't speak Japanese well!" "Just like you." "Thas not nice." "Hey, whas ' returnee ' mean?" "Huh?" "At last your junior high days in Japan end." "American lif e soon begins." "I don't really like the U S. Much with its 'law of the jungle. '" "But there's more chance of success if you work hard." "Although Japan's called 'equal, ' there's much inequality, and sometimes I don't know if is democratic or socialist." "To be honest" "I regret that I don't belong in Japan, as I am Japanese." "But there are good things about Japan too." "There's no point in judging the way you have Ichida..." "Ahh!" "To say it more f ormally... ¨'Would you tell me" hen thme sanmee..." ""how to get to"..." ""the theater."" "The diff erence is..." "In the change from "Wlll oou" TO "wOuldD YOu"... it becomes more f ormal..." "Alisa..." "Yudai, you okay doing this here?" "You're luck y, no entrance exams." "Don't say that." "I've got lots of challenges too." "Lik e what?" "You're always so vague." "I didn't say anything vague." "What you said about the girl at the end." "Oh that... it just came spilling out on its own." "Whas wrong?" "Les race to over there." "So you'll be gone, right?" "Of course." "Hat about lhHoW tie nest oF uS feel?" "Don't talk like that." "Ready!" "Go!" "Not faaln!" "Easy win!" "You really are f ast!" "So?" "Forget about it..." "You'll leave it hanging?" "Hey!" "Don't come over here!" "She's scary." "In a bad mood recently." "Well, "reap what you sow"..." "Jerk." "So, the girl Takahashi likes... who can it be?" "I wonder..." "Who can it be...?" "FouunEd it I" "The special limited edition!" "Is great." " Y ou lknHoW It?" " I'nm aa neeaal fan." " Me too, from now." "My strategy." " Strategy?" "Hayami likes this song." "Really?" "You know her well." "I've been checking." "You really like Hayami." "And what about you?" "Whas that mean?" "You know what I mean." "Hi." "So why the unif orm?" "Going to school now." "Get leftover things." " You should get it done soon." " What?" "The unfinished thing." "Oh..." "Telling her at the last minute leaves no time to respond." "Is not like that." "What?" "Thas not whas unfinished." "I know that..." "You in a bad mood?" "Huh?" "Not especially." "Everybody's so cool to me." "Considering I'm leaving." "Just doesn't get it." "Oh, moving day's decided." "When is it?" "August 22nd." "Is an evening flight so we'll leave around noon." "No direct flight to San Diego so change in LA." "Or drive." "Really." "Oh!" "My sister can meet after 300 PM day after t omorrow." "Okay!" "Thas a priority!" " So, come over." " Got it!" "You still here?" "What are you doing here?" "None of your business." "Excuse me." "Oh, a friend?" "Katsuya's always..." "He's nobody." "Not a friend." "Nothing." "I'm done with the Bask etball Club..." "Thas why you couldn't fight?" "Yamashita..." "Nothing." "Tak e care, Masaki!" "Dirty-minded..." "Is okayy, vyoUr sister Iss IIIkse umyy nisser." "You jealous?" "No way!" "Okay, I'II tak e that pose." "Haruna, give me the camera." "I'll tak e you guys." "What?" "No way." "Come on." "Why the hesitation?" "You shy?" "I'm not shy." "You are so!" "Quick, get closer." "Hi." "For a change?" "Nothing to do..." "Who's the girl you like?" "Could it be Alisa?" "Huh?" "It isn't?" "Why do you ask?" "I thought it would be good if is Alisa." "She lik es you Masaki." "But it seems she doesn't know it yet." "Hayami, how do you know?" "I know whaat I knoww." "Have you told her?" "The girl you lik e." "Not yet." "But... it doesn't matter." "Oh." "I'm here!" "Fooled you!" "You still here?" "Just went to the bathroom." "Oh." "F orgot to wash my hands!" "Hopeless!" "I'm making progress." "Yeah." "My gra ndparents anren't going, sso tliss plaace will stil lbeee..." "." "My f amily home." "Thas true." "I'll come back during holidays." "No way." "You're the type that won't return after leaving." "You think so?" "Definitely." "You won't return." "Who knows..." "Oh!" "Introduce me to Suzuki." "Oh yeah, thas right." "So... you won't tell anybody?" "Promlse." "I'ld teeli beeadaauss i youu, Hayanni." "I understand." "I've really thought about it and I think I lik e Takahashi." "But I'm all mixed up about it." "When we had that chance date I started to think he's nice." "But I wonder if thas really ' liking '?" "I don't really know..." "Hey do you like somebody Hayami?" "Well..." "So." "There is somebody." " No there isn't." " Tell me." "There's nobody!" "Come on." "I told you." "Not f air saying that..." "So." "There is somebody." "Tell me." "I'll back you." "Who is it?" "Takahashi..." "Huh?" "Hi." "Why so dull?" "Les play." "Is soon now..." "Yeah." "Hey, did you know?" "Every year Yuudal tels Hayyarml how umusch le lilkOss hn un dhen blnthdddaaty" "Oh her." "Everybody knows, since elementary school." "She rejects him every year though." "He tells Hayami once a year since he lik es her so much." "His stubborn annual custom." "I think is okay." "He's not lldke a stalker, Is lkldl of nefrselhinng." "He's okay that guy." "What about you?" "You never tell..." "You'll run out of time!" "Fooled you!" "Finally here!" "Sorry to be late." "This is Kawahara." "This is Suzuki." "Afternoon." "Why so f ormal?" "Not like you guys." "Quiet!" "I get tense sometimes too." "Right." "Be quiet!" "Can't you two be more ladylike?" "Hey, you f orget?" "I'm here too." " Go home if you want." " Sure just go home." "Hey, hey." "Things to do, right?" "Hey Alisa..." "Hey..." "Washroom..." "Ah, overdue..." "Hi." "A contest?" "Okay." "Play f or real." "You okay?" "Shut up." "Holding is a violation." "Bef ore that... you brok e the 3-second rule." "You should like Alisa." "Ceaseless wave of people Walking down the road" "Searching still f or The shadow of happiness" "As you disappear" "Remaining in this Now more spacious room" "So many memories" "Can't be left f orever here" "Kept instead inside my heart" "Under a melancholy Late spring sk y" "Within the whirling Transf orming city" "The way of return Is disappearing" "There was a time We envisioned here" "Our modest future" "But the passing time Led to diff erent roads" "Our steps beginning to diverge" "In gentle swaying sunlight" "In early afternoon breeze" "In those days of transient dreams" "I like you." "I know your response." "If you know then why do you say it every year?" "My f eeling doesn't change." "Happy Birthday." "Thank s." "How old are you?" "Of course the same age as you, Sugihara." "Good." "Whas ' good '?" "How many years now?" "Six in a row." "Always lose on the first try." "Until when?" "Until victory." "Oh." "Well thanks." "Les have a f arewell party f or Masaki." "The Basketball Club should have a big 3rd-year student event!" "Yeah." "Evening of the 20th." "Tell others in our class." "All right." "See you." "Hayami..." "Come on the 20th." ""Exam Prep School"" "In a sentence lik e "That man carried a bag..."" "you would say "A man"..." ""who" carried "had"..." "Preparations okay?" "Room's a mess." "I find old photos and can't put them down." " That happens." " Grandparents will be lonely." "But Mom sees how relax ed they seem and really complains." "Of course." " Welcome back!" " Hi." " I'm home!" " Hi Haruna." "Haruna!" "Sorry Masaki, she's upset because you're leaving." "Not at all!" "You guys fight?" "No..." "Alisa!" "There's a Club party f or Masaki the day after tomorrow." "Can you come?" "Classmates are welcome." "All right." "Sorry about the other day." "I shouldn't have said anything." "Just f orget about it." "Thas not true." "I saw you guys in the park yesterday." "Is not like that." "Enough." "Don't tell me." "Not lik e that." "Good that is mutual." "Nothing mutual..." "You said you liked Takahashi bef ore." "No." "What I said bef ore... was not about him." "What are you saying?" "So who is it?" "Tell me." "Just lies..." "I meant you, Alisa." "Takahashi Alisa." "Don't talk nonsense." "Disgusting." "I'm not so smart, dun' let alog witl nny' fanmnlly." "My sisters do well, but not me." "Thas not so." "Your family gets along, running the shop looks lik e fun." "But recently supermarkets and variety stores have opened." "There are less customers every night my parents are consulting." "Really." "I like the shop and want it to continue on just the same." "You think a lot." "Haruna." "See you next time." "He really gave us a deal!" "So do you know which girl Takahashi likes?" "Well, kind of." "Really?" "But anyway It doesn't mattter nmuuc whho he likkees." "Huh?" "If your f eelings are changed by that you'd find someone else." "Really?" "Right?" "I've never really cared about a guy." "Come on." "Les speak frankly." "What about Tak ahashi?" "Known him 15 years." "Our mothers were in the same maternity ward." "Live nearby, same kindergart en and elementary school." "Thas amazing!" "Childhood friends." "Can be a nuisance or be good." "Is hard to know." "Thas right." "Is better to have than not have." "Right..." "so it f eels strange right now." "You'll know sometime." "I guess so." "Well." "Rather than losing touch maybe I should go see him..." "Thas it!" "Go and see him!" "But all the way to the U. S..." "What?" "!" "I'm talking about serious things." "Sorry!" "butt I admire that yyou sstill like hhlmm eve now." "Heyy, issn't thaatt.?" "Thas Yajima, right?" "He's alive." "Like he's come back to lif e." "Whall we do?" "Whas he doing?" "Seems to be a volunteer." "Really?" "You knew that?" " Yeah." " Takahashi knows?" "Is best if I don't say anything." "They can deal with it between them." "Thas fine if a childhood friend thinks so." "Morning." "Haruna I heard something from Mom." "There's a f arewell firework s party f or Masaki tonight." "You give him the photos?" "Not yet." "Don't f orget, they're a f arewell present." "See you." "See you later." "Hi." "Afternoon." "Aren't you..." "Ichida, right?" "Looking f or this?" "Takahashi's idol, Iverson." "Yeah." "I beat you to it." "Hey Suzuki!" "This?" "I wanted to try this." "You haven't tried this?" "Not since returning to Japan." "Not with Takahashi?" "No way." "You exchange messages." "Oh, you know?" "By chance." "I pressured him." "I suddenly transferred into third term of second year, and didn't know anybody." "Feels diff erent than overseas." "To be honest it was a tough time f or me." "At the time only Takahashi talk ed to me." "But in Japan kids around you mak e a fuss if a guy talks to you." "Thas true." "But he didn't mind." "Or probably didn't notice!" "Just lik e him!" "So I sent him a message." "It took a long time to get a reply." "Said even reading the manual didn't help him." "Can't message with those thick fingers!" "When you move, all the things around you suddenly just disappear." "Friends..." "For example, people you lik ed, those you f ought with..." "Takahashi really helped me." "Really." "Y ou lknHoW aabout tie fanoe'well paaanty ttOoight?" " Is that so?" " You come too." "Okay." "But you're sure is okay?" "Of course." "Didn't expect you would contact me." "Heard you said something's unfinished." "Right." "Follow me." "I'm transf erring too." "Don't mak e a big deal of it lik e some people." "Second term, I'm gone." "Sorry I didn't bring matters to a close." "Ne xt stop West Taishido." "See you." "Hayami?" "I'm fine." "Whas up?" "Is it okay if I don't go to the party?" "Why not?" "Hey!" "You hear me?" "I don't need to go." "Have a good time." "No good." "Is f or Masaki." "Basketball Olub members and classmates." "His friend, right?" " All right." " Be there!" "Okay." "Glot lt?" "Run If you'ree fournd out Look tt four vyour selveeess." "I'm not confident about situations lik e that." " All right." " She talked." "Who can help her out?" "Here!" "All of us Basketball Club guys promise to look after you." "The rest of you tough girls can run yourselves." "Don't listen, ill rot your brain..." "You are really a scary girl." "Hey!" "Hey!" "The main guess coming." "Everything ready?" "Nobody here." "Hey, Yudai!" "What did you want to talk about?" "!" "Where are you?" "Whas going on?" "Serves you right!" "Here!" "You tak e one too!" "Thanks... so much." "Thas hot!" "Don't f orget to send letters!" "You mak e some friends!" "Shut up!" "I will." "Everyone thank you!" "Sports guys really are loud!" "We'll get caught." "Thank you!" "Last summer holiday together, so we needed something unusual." "Ch." "Alr nnaan." "Hayami!" "Les have a contest!" "Chairman a contest." "Oh I won." "Chairman, mak e a wish." "Don't they say that mak es wishes come true?" "Something like that." "Takahashi, your wish came true?" "Not at all." "But thas best." "TChaainnmaan..." "What?" "I won't call you ' Chairman ' after today." "There'II be just one Takahashi." "Takahashi, my regards." "Okay." "Takahashi!" "Rude." "So must be f or me." "Yeah." "What?" "!" "Really bad timing..." "Stay well and k eep on trying once you get there." "You too Takahashi." "Be well." "I'm backing you." "Okay you too." "Here!" "What?" "A present?" "You can see that." "Open it." "Wow!" "Is it really?" "!" "Thank s Suzuki." "Is great!" "Plmckkedl ltt ouut witth lochiEdaa." "Right?" "Thas true." "Thank s." "Is lit." "Everyone gather!" "Tonighs main event!" "There's something more?" "Whall happen next?" "Here!" "Is this!" "Whas this?" "A time capsule!" "The best thing to remember farewells." "Write our f eelings now, and who we'll be in five years." "We'll put them in here." "A bit old-f ashioned..." "Wish we were given time to think." "Boring!" "Writ e your f eelings now." "Then we'll seal it." "Is too embarrassing!" "Interesting, but five years is too soon." "Mayybe ten yyears wwouu." "Id be oaassiudn to wnite cbouut." "Okay!" "Mak e it ten years." "Finished writing?" "What about Yudai?" "Trying to dig the hole!" "Forgot a main point!" "Work hard over there." "I'll send you tearful messages." "Be there then." "I'm waiting." "You tak e care and work hard too." "Thank s." "This is a good place too." "We'II really open this in ten years?" "We'II definitely open it!" "Really." "After ten years?" "Twenty-five years old." "Wrote something you regret?" "Shut up!" "Call us when is time to open it!" "All right." "What a scary girl." "Don't repeat that!" "Whad you write?" "Secret!" "Is okay to tell, I'm leaving." "No way." "A secret f or ten years." "You're so tight." "BUt tenn yyears..." "wEnEdleen whatt will haappen." "Wonder what will happen." "I can't imagine." "Keep an eye on Suzuki f or me." "Yeah." "But she may be steadier than me." "Oh yeah, your f arewell gift from my sister." "Face looks weird..." "Both of us." "Thank s." "Just one more thing..." ""YAJIMA"" "See you." "Shinji." "Tak e care." "Yeah." "I'm sorry." "I'll see you off." "Get going." "Hayami." "Good morning." "Morning." "Yes!" "Good morning." "Assemble!" "A f ew words f or the new term." "Good morning!" "The f all rookie event is in two months." "We'll support you." "Play with spirit!" "Okay start practice!" "Begin practice also." "Running!" "Running!" "I'm off!" "Morning." "Morning." "Morning." "Morning." "Hi." "So you are here." "Home room's starting." "All right." "Come on les go!" "This sk y is connected all the way to America, isn't it..." "Wonder if is sunny there?" "Childhood friends..." "Can be a nuisance..." "is hard to know." "Amazing!" "A message came!" "Really?" "!" "He managed to do it!" "He's just as dumb over there!" "And here's a... photo." "Weird f ace." "So stupid!" "A disgrace to Japan!" "Thas his strong point." "You've f allen f or him." "Look who's talking." "Both of you really lik e him." "Can't be his f ace." " Morning." " Good morning." "Huh?" "So many absent so early in the term!" "I'm taking it!" "Okay, ' cheese.'" "Home room!" " Thas right!" " We're in trouble!" "Hurry!" "Translation by Paul BRYDEN"