"Although I have yet to say it...
From April I'll not be in school"
"From then perhaps a dark And rugged road awaits"
"As your present courage falters"
"And you can no longer play...
A pure and cheerful note"
"If your resolution fails...
No longer will I see you..."
Let's see... Furuhata, please read the next part.
Okay.
"Because those who get by On some slight labor"
"And then just settle down"
"I despise that vast majority"
"And if you... listen carefully... listen carefully..."
Don't let me down!
Because this is my favorite poem.
Listen, please.
"When becoming fond of One certain gentle girl"
"In front of you an image of...
Infinite shade and light"
"You will make it into sound"
"All living together in towns...
Having pleasure all the day"
"Alone in a stony field...
You are mowing hay"
"From that solitary life You will make sound
Much insult and poverty...
You'll bite on that and sing..."
Ipponyari! Where do we get started from?
I'm coming!
"If you have no instrument...
Listen, you are my disciple"
"Firmly seize all of the sky
And play a pipe organ Made of light."
That's all for today's lesson.
Homework must be handed in by tomorrow.
Stand!
Bow!
- Teacher, Good-bye! - Good-bye!
Maybe the day after tomorrow?
I'm too busy. Not tomorrow!
Tomorrow.
Really?!
Perhaps I like this Miyazawa Kenji poem because...
it taught me that hope can arise...
even from despair.
Ipponyari!
Yes.
Job number two is done.
Okay.
Ayuta?
Oh!
It is you...
What have you done?
This kind of thing.
Four years already!
Yeah.
Time passes so quickly.
You didn't start college?
'Mighty' told me.
Figures!
Everyone's concerned.
You're still too trusting.
That's not nice!
I'm going.
'Mighty' says...
you really should draw people.
No more pictures.
You should draw again!
No one I want to draw.
Isn't there even one!?
Four years ago, we were lovers.
After Ayuta, there were many others.
Many short and shallow affairs.
After breaking up with me,
Ayuta had only one lover.
It seems that relationship continues even now.
< Angel's Egg >
(Four Years Earlier)
Failed once?
Failed twice?
Maybe three times...
High school senior.
Huh?!
Excuse me.
'Failed Once'!
You'll get dirty.
So, get me dirty.
It was going well...
You promised.
It's a bit early.
We'll walk slowly to arrive on time.
Now, get started!
Welcome!
Oh!
Pleased to meet you. I'm Saito, Natsuki.
Ayuta, it's her!
The yearbook girl I said was pretty.
Oolong tea.
You didn't tell me.
Two glasses?
Oolong tea!
Pretending you don't drink!?
You forced me.
Customers did.
And he forced me to drink.
Just what you'd expect of a failure!
Two glasses.
It's a nice place.
Your mother is as I'd imagined.
You should sit down and look after her.
I wanted to join the fun.
Plantain!
Natsuki, could you chop these?
Okay.
One order from the young wife.
And one for me.
Two orders.
'Young wife'...
Why so happy?
She's nice. How'd you meet?
I started it.
What do you see in him?
He has a great mother.
Don't be silly!
Sachi, she got you!
That's true.
It was good.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Good evening.
Let's go now.
Why leave?
We're on a date, too.
Natsuki, wait a minute.
Okay.
Fukusuke, let's go.
Sorry it took so long. Look what she gave me!
Good, take Fukusuke.
Let's go.
Your mom has a boyfriend. That's why she looks so pretty.
She's in between.
How's that?
She's still married...
They're separated?
For 10 years already.
And your father has an okay life?
I guess.
Your mother should remarry.
Easy for you to say...
You're angry?
Not really.
You are so.
How about a drink?
With Fukusuke?
It's okay by me.
See, she did make you drink.
I didn't drink!
And we're not in high school.
I'm not in college yet.
Don't let that bother you.
Right?
Hey!
Wait up!
Dad, you used to draw blueprints, right?
It seems I inherited it,
my drawings are very precise.
This year I'll refine my skills.
School went well last year.
And I have your thinking ability.
You have time for visiting?
A failed student should study!
End your mother's worries.
She wants you to become head of your household.
Stop that in front of Dad.
A patient that doesn't improve...
in 10 years will never improve.
Ipponyari, show your suffering.
Get angry.
Hello.
What's up?
Oh, Natsuki!
Why so surprised?
Is somebody there?
No, just me.
What do you want?
Do I need a reason to call?
Of course not.
If I don't call you,
you'll never call me.
Never call?! We just met today.
I'll hang up. You seem busy.
Ayuta filled his sketchbook with pictures of her.
When he could no longer draw her, it seemed that time...
had become frozen for Ayuta.
Ms. Saito,
can we switch the Yokota and...
Tsuda pairs at the next meet?
Okay.
Thank you.
Excuse us.
I forgot to return this to you.
I said don't bother.
You don't want to remember?
I remember her every day.
When I remember,
surplus thoughts evaporate,
what's left is more intense.
I can draw blind.
Ipponyari, let's go!
Okay!
Then why don't you draw?
I can't move on.
Getting ready for the exam?
Slowly but surely.
I said it's okay.
Bye, Professor.
'Mighty,' bye-bye.
Making a living after art school is tough.
I'm a living example.
Show me.
The wretched, failed student...
next moves on to love.
Saito, Natsuki.
That's rather abrupt!
You are seeing her?
Who told you such nonsense?
She told me herself.
She's rather proud!
Fool. She's worried about you.
After failing, you just work at your job.
She's just mad because we don't meet.
You're such a foolish guy.
You can draw me.
Dad!
Dad. Dad.
Oh! Ipponyari, is he your son?
Could I...
I'm Godoh, Haruhi.
Godoh, Haruhi.
Ipponyari...?
Ayuta. Written like 'walk - great.'
- Ayuta. - Yes.
It's a nice name.
Is your hand better?
You remembered that?
No... well...
What do you do here?
I'll be looking after Ipponyari.
Huh?!
Sorry I'm not more dignified.
Anyway, I'm glad we met again.
Do you visit often?
Yes, but it's tough to come here.
It's not a happy place.
It takes courage to leave.
Reality awaits me outside.
Maybe I'm just depressed from failing the exam.
Just finish high school?
Yes.
Which school?
Higashioji.
In your year was there a Saito, Natsuki?
You know her?
Yes.
My younger sister.
Your surname...
I got married.
Dr. Godoh, can I see you?
Yes.
Excuse me.
Secret.
Crime.
Repentance.
Atonement.
What's up?! Those aren't the titles.
You met my elder sister.
You didn't tell me.
I didn't want you to know about Dad.
Why not?
Imagine your family is like that...
So you hid the fact that you met her?
Can I believe that excuse?
Yeah.
I called my sister and said...
we'll go together sometime.
Did you mention me?
Of course. I said we're dating.
Do I resemble her?
I guess so.
Which is prettier?
About the same...
You should flatter me, even if it's not true!
But it's okay. I'm proud of her.
You two get along?
She's eight years older, so we don't quarrel.
Eight?
She looks young.
Eight.
He keeps gazing at me, like this.
For how long?
Two or three minutes. And doesn't break the gaze.
It's a good change.
Thanks to you.
Maybe he knows I'm unreliable...
so he's taking care of himself.
I'm grateful in any case.
You also like drawing.
Why 'also'?
I'm quite amazed.
You're... really very good.
It's for you.
You'll become an artist?
I want to go to art college.
Really.
Maybe it's just chasing a dream.
Dad's been sick, and Mom works standing up all day.
I failed to enter college and had decided to work,
but Mom insisted I go to prep school.
You don't need to always think of others.
There is a time when you should put your own happiness first.
Did I say something strange?
You're the first.
The first to say that.
Hey, Haruhi.
How about I treat you to lunch?
Who's he? Younger brother?
A friend.
Hey, he's the son of a patient.
Nice. Picking up the Doctor?
Sorry. He thinks that's attractive.
I'm glad you said I'm a friend.
Thanks.
Next time, let's meet outside the hospital.
You could have waited inside.
I'm sorry.
It's a bad day.
Come on, I live nearby.
Okay.
I'm really sorry.
Don't worry, it's okay.
Looks rather slippery.
Sorry, I'll wipe it up.
Don't worry about it.
It's this way.
Who is he?
My younger brother.
Is it okay? Your husband...
I'm on my own now.
I'm revived!
I'm so sorry.
I'm thankful to the rain.
About your father.
He would like to live together with his family.
I agree it would be good rehabilitation.
He can go home at the end of this month.
That's why you asked me here?
Maybe something hard to say at the hospital.
Can I talk?
Fine by me.
About Natsuki.
I hear you haven't met recently.
She's worried that...
you have met someone else that you like.
So, it's true.
What's she like?
Other than you, there's no one.
You know your sister's feelings,
but not mine.
Forgive me.
Sorry to bring you up here...
and disappoint you.
It was nothing like that at all.
You don't need to say 'at all'.
What are you doing?
Sorry, I think this is a great picture.
Godoh is the man you married?
I have no strength left to like someone.
Ayuta!
This is where you are! I looked all over.
Actually...
Close your eyes!
Go ahead.
What do you think it is?
Open your eyes.
It's my first one so I started...
real early to finish by Christmas.
Finished this morning. Banzai!
Banzai, arms up.
Looks good.
Do this.
Did it warm you up?
Sorry.
I'm warm, too.
I'm sorry, but I can't accept it.
There's someone else...
You can kiss someone that you don't love?
Who is it?
Natsuki, you're too good for me.
It's not about me.
This sweater will suit...
only one person.
Ayuta, not there!
Ayuta, what's wrong? Sit down.
Yes.
It's a real feast.
To celebrate leaving hospital.
Ayuta, how old are you?
Nineteen.
Nineteen?
Nineteen.
Nineteen...
Matsutake mushrooms, for you!
Please eat, dear...
What's wrong?
I'm looking.
Thanks to you,
the three of us are together.
It's really great.
It's not good.
With Dad at home,
I have no excuse to meet you.
Doctor, I really want to meet you.
Doctor, thank you for coming.
I'm to blame. Forgive me.
Doctor, don't say that.
What happened?
Someone check the breaker.
Dr. Godoh, please!
Let's go.
Excuse her, she's upset.
Oh!
It's been a while.
May I?
Come in.
I blame it on alcohol.
I wish I had a... lovely daughter like you.
I also thought...
I'd like to have a mom like you.
Natsuki, are you drunk?
You two got along so well.
I was keeping this for Ayuta.
I'm sorry, it's tough.
He hasn't attended college for a long time.
I wonder what he was waiting for?
I want him to draw again.
It's not for me to say,
but you should take care of...
It is about me.
I don't know what to do with...
my own life, so I push him.
I'm sorry.
I guess he's not here either.
Ayuta becomes restless in this season every year.
The place where his father jumped...
was full of blowing red leaves.
Father...
Bye-bye.
It seems Dr. Godoh humbly apologized at the wake...
That was her personal...
Perhaps it was, but it could be...
interpreted as hospital negligence.
It could form the basis for a lawsuit.
We have no intention...
In any case,
the hospital is very cautious.
Put me in touch with her. Where is the Doctor?
We'd like to know that also.