Your Japanese has gotten a lot better.
No matter how many years pass, the warmth of summer never changes.
So, whenever this season comes around, I remember the summer of my thirteenth year,
my days as a young boy, when I knew nothing at all.
Even now, it remains unchanged within me.
Welcome!
Come in.
Are you ready to order?
I'll have some iced coffee.
I learned Arashi-san's secret.
Arashi-san is actually a ghost,
and she has the power to travel back in time.
This secret is mine and hers alone. I can't tell anyone.
Why are you spacing out, Yasaka?
What? It's nothing! Just a secret that belongs to Arashi-san and me alone...
Huh?
What's wrong?
Yasaka's hiding something about you, I think.
Oh, that.
I'm actually a ghost.
And I have the power to go back in time.
What's got you so shocked?
Arashi-san, it's not a secret?
Right. No point in hiding it.
N-No way...
You're a bit too old to be believing that crap.
Get back to work.
The fact that he doesn't believe it at all pisses me off.
Are you interested in unbelievable stories like that?
The speeding ticket I got had a massive fine attached.
Now, I won't even be able to eat.
Is there any good... Any food left?
There is!
It's not gonna fill me up, but it's better than nothing.
Hot water, hot water...
The gas is shut off.
Water'll do.
The water's shut off, too.
So's my cell phone.
Oh, well. Guess I'll just eat it by licking!
Back from break!
Arashi here, back to work!
Thank you.
Who the hell is that?
Master, you look just like Oiwa.
Another ghost!
Those students returned. They said they wanted to make a home movie staring a black-haired girl,
so I figured I might as well help them out.
They were obviously after Arashi-san!
What? If I had to, I could be way cuter than she is.
If they just wanted a girl in a wig, they wouldn't come all the way here, right?
That looks good on you. You could make a living off it.
You're very cute, Jun-chan.
Don't tease me!
I'd sure love to be in a movie...
I'm sure I'd be great.
Moving pictures sure are pretty lately.
"Moving pictures"?
In my time, they always contained propaganda for the war.
War?
You didn't watch romance movies or things like that?
I did.
The Sisters of Gion. The Naniwa Elegy.
I don't get people's wartime tastes...
You're a weird kid, you know that?
You're cute, but a bit off...
But that's also cute in its own way...
Somehow, saying that pissed me off.
By the way, where's this movie being made?
The Ookurayama Girls High School, they said.
I'm Arashiyama Sayoko, from the Ookurayama Girls High School.
That's...
Three stations away from here.
But they say there are ghosts there.
Ghosts?
It's an old, pre-war wooden building, and it's all dark inside.
And they say, in the summer, the ghosts of students who died during the war appear.
Really?
I wouldn't want something weird to show up on the video...
Why don't you quit? It's really creepy.
Don't be silly. That has nothing to do with it.
Being called an "actress" suits me.
Being called the "monster" would sure suit you-
Stupid kid! I'll strangle you!
Oh, whatever...
You should try to be an actor, too.
No way!
Aren't you scared of ghosts?
The only thing that makes a man weak are tears from the woman he loves.
Then why don't we go there now?
To Ookurayama.
This is...
It really does feel like ghosts live here.
Wait, Arashi-san! We can't just go in without asking.
What's wrong, Arashi-san?
It's nothing.
The place has changed since I was here.
Arashi-san?
I know! I'll show you something cool.
This is the library?
I think it was... Right here.
Good. It's still here.
Look at this.
This is... Arashi-san?
Yup, that's me!
In an old photo like this?
How?
From my perspective, it was just a short time ago that I was having fun in this room.
I told you, I'm a ghost.
What, you still doubt her?
Of course I do. There's no such thing as ghosts.
You were so scared of them yesterday.
That's got nothing to do with this.
I can't believe a story like that.
I didn't believe it at first, either. But you saw that, right?
These days, anyone can use CG to make something like that.
So, what are you going to do?
Ask a specialist.
You want me to tell you how old this photo is?
This is the oldest place in town, so I thought you might be able to figure it out.
Figure it out?
I'm the one who took this picture.
It was during the war.
I went to the girl's school to take some pictures, and this just happened to be one of them.
She was such a pretty girl.
She was from a wealthy family. You can feel her elegance in the picture itself, can't you?
Amazing!
She really did live sixty years ago!
You didn't believe her yourself?
I did! But isn't it cool to have physical proof like this?
I still think saying she's a ghost is too much.
Then what is she?
Um... Maybe she uses makeup to look younger?
How much would a sixty-year-old need to look that young?
You met the person who took this picture?
Yes. He still remembers the day he took it.
Amazing!
What memories!
Isn't that young man so cool?
He's an old guy now.
I see. I guess he'd be that old...
Kinda makes you sigh, hearing stuff like that.
Are you sad?
No, that's not it.
Just, you kinda sigh.
This is Sogoru. I was right.
There's no doubt about it.
Salt, please.
She was here, too...
Arashi-chan is late.
I hope she didn't change her mind.
Did you really ask her?
There she is.
Good morning!
The agency really doesn't like me doing this,
so I wasn't sure. But I figured it was OK to work with you guys.
No, we weren't after you...
Because I'm sure you guys are really good!
As an actress, I think this is a good step for me.
She even got Japanese straightening for her hair. She's really into it.
Are you sure about this?
If she leaves, Arashi-chan may leave, too...
Fine. I'll rewrite the script. Hold on.
All right, let's get your makeup on.
OK!
What is this?!
You're the old maid who yells at the hero-
Who's an old maid?
So, she does end up as the master...
Here comes Arashi-san!
Wow!
So cute!
She's just the heroine we wanted!
Does it look good?
It's perfect!
It's OK, I guess...
Right. Let's start filming!
Are you really joining the army?
If you go, your sister will be left behind.
But my brother volunteered. And like a man, he left to fight valiantly!
I can't just stay here and do nothing!
He went to protect the people he cared about!
So, shouldn't you protect the person who's closest to you?
Um, yeah...
Cut!
OK!
Wow, Kamigamo. I never thought you'd be an actor.
You're amazing!
You want to join our circle for real?
No, actually... Um, the agency...
All right, next! Arashi-chan, ready?
Ready!
Scene 15. Cut 3.
The girl remembers her fiancé heading to the battlefield.
What's that?
Ready.
We're rolling.
3, 2...
Action!
How long is this shot?
Cut!
What's wrong, Kamigamo?
Uh, no. It's nothing...
Good work.
Where's Arashi-chan?
Did you ask her to come drinking with us?
She said she had something to do.
I'll go.
Of course, you'll be treating me.
Kamigamo!
Is this where you've been?
We're going home, Jun-kun.
Arashi-san.
I believe you.
Jun, you...
I don't know how to put it. My intuition?
Your acting just now, the way you moved...
That makes more sense to me than anything.
Jun.
That wasn't an act.
That was your true self.
You were really alive sixty years ago.
They're stopping filming?
No, actually...
There was noise in all of yesterday's film, so they can't use any of it.
Noise?
They said they couldn't see a thing in the shots with Arashi.
They're saying maybe it was caused by a ghost.
I guess ghosts do exist.
Maybe it's my fault.
You showed up fine in the picture.
That was when I was still alive.
Is this person next to you a friend?
She was a very good friend named Kaya.
She was really pretty and really quiet.
She's not Japanese, is she?
She's German.
She has such pure white skin.
We used to play all the time.
I wonder what she's doing now.
You don't know?
We got separated in the chaos after the air raids.
I'm sure she's living peacefully somewhere, a cute and wonderful grandmother.
I'm sure...
Man, that brings back memories.
I want to see her.
Then, let's go meet her!
If we look, I'm sure we can find her.
Even if she's in Germany.
I'll help you!
Arashi-san?
That's right. I just need to look for her.
S-Sa...
I just need to look for her.
Why didn't such a simple thing ever cross my mind?
Arashi-san?
Jeez... People shouldn't be alone.
Thank you.
Wel-
The girl from the photo...
Why?
It's been a long time, Arashi.
Kaya...
There we go!
Over here, too!
I guess, if you look, you can find all kinds of things to eat.
Salt, pepper, soy sauce, cooking saké, wasabi in a tube, Tabasco, seven spice blend...
Why?
You're supposed to be a cute, wonderful grandmother, living peacefully somewhere!
That's my line.
Two people from sixty years ago...
Arashi-san, this is amazing!
But why?!
Arashi-san!
Well, whatever.
"Whatever"?!
I don't know why it happened to me, myself...
For now, I'll just be happy I got to see her.
Good to see you, Kaya.
That easygoing way of yours never changes.
This photo brings back memories. I'm amazed you carried it this long.
It's a symbol of our friendship. Of course I did!
Liar.
You forgot that you used it as a bookmark for a library book.
Has that habit of losing things gotten any better over the last sixty years?
Of course! Everything I'd have lost is already gone, so I'm fine.
That's not "better."
She lost the diary I exchanged with her, too.
That's not true!
It was on my desk!
Aren't you a little old for that tone of voice?
Is lying and making excuses all you've learned over the past sixty years?
Sixty years isn't a "little old."
It's way too old.
You shouldn't talk about a lady's age.
I'm sure you never read it, but that diary had important things written in it.
Important things?
They're too stupid to talk about now.
I want to know!
It's your fault for losing it.
Fine. If it's that important, I'll go get it.
Hajime-chan, help me.
Are you going back in time?
Arashi, can you...
That's right. We connected.
OK, then let's go.
Ready, Hajime-chan?
All set!
This is...
Ookurayama Girls High, sixty years ago.
I got a letter yesterday, from my sister who was evacuated. Half of it was blacked out.
There's no point in censoring what little kids write, though.
I hope this war ends soon. Then my brother could come home from the front lines.
Don't let go.
If we get lost, we won't be able to get back.
Hey, Arashiyama-san.
If you're dressed like that, they'll get mad at you.
Yeah.
There it is. Kaya's exchange diary.
Oh, I see...
I'll write an answer.
We're back!
See, it was there.
I didn't lose it.
You're as thoughtless as ever.
What's wrong, Hajime-chan?
I know why the diary went missing.
Because she brought it to this era.
So, what was the important thing written in the diary?
You fulfilled your promise.
Yeah!
How are you, Yayoi?
I'm very good indeed, Kanako.
I see. I'm happy to hear that.
I read another fascinating book.
My, what was it called?
Well... Oh, I've forgotten the title.
Will you tell me what kind of story it was?
Yes, gladly.
It was a world ruled by despair.
Giants like elephants, clothed in devils' raiments, taint the land with murder and destruction.
Betrayed by the friend he believed in and lost to despair,
our hero vows to use his vast powers for revenge.
The pain of losing the woman he loved carved into his heart,
he uses his sadness to fuel his war to save the people.
His is the Legend of a True Savior...
My, what a grand story!
This mighty Messiah had a phrase he would always say.
What is it, would you tell me?
You're already de-
When you think of summer...
You think of swimming.
I'm very good at swimming.
Freestyle?
Or the breaststroke?
Shin. Gyo. So.
Those are old-fashioned strokes, aren't they?
Get up bright and early tomorrow!