There is a huge gulf between how I feel and how you feel.
They'll never be connected with an equal sign.
What are you talking about? I don't understand.
Human emotions grow hollow over time.
I can't tolerate the evanescense inside of me.
There's nothing you can do about that.
You're sweet.
But you're cruel.
What do you think you need to do to apply brakes to that evanescense?
The answer is simple.
Things that you can't do anything about.
In the real world, there are some things that just don't have a correct answer.
They get used to the happiness they've found, and seek even more happiness.
That's why I think people have the emotion called "sadness."
I'll stop while I feel joy.
The answer is simple.
You just have to stop before sadness overwhelms you.
If you don't want to feel sad, you just have to stop, Kei.
Kei...
Miss Kazami is out sick today, so I will be your homeroom teacher for today.
I will now take roll, so take your seats, everyone.
I wonder what's wrong with Miss Mizuho?
There must be a bug going around.
Kei's not here, either.
It's just the two of them.
Maybe it's spreading in a very contained area.
- Ino. - Here.
Ichigo...
I know.
It's no use.
Aside from a few cells, all life functions are hopelessly close to zero.
There's even a protective layer over his skin to prevent dehydration...
There aren't any cases like this in the Galactic Federation database, either...
The only thing remotely close to Kei's condition on this planet...
...is where people sleep for religious reasons.
To put oneself into suspended animation to reach a state of peace...
But if that's what Kei's standstill phenomena really are...
If this is something that Kei wants, there's nothing that I can do.
What should I do, Marie?
What should I do...?
What can I do? How can I...
Edajima Clinic
Kei?
Something sudden came up, and he went to see his parents.
With Miss Mizuho?
I-I don't know what you're talking about. Right, Konoha?
Of course, dear.
Please, tell us the truth.
Kusanagi came to a standstill, didn't he?
I'm partially responsible for making him sick.
So I... I want to apologize to him.
We want to do something to help Kei.
I see. Thanks.
But Kei is all right. I understand why you're worried.
Just give him a little time, okay?
Please.
Yes, sir...
Tell Kusanagi that I'm all right now.
Sure, you bet.
Kei...
No... My husband.
Hey, do you remember?
The day I met you was the night that I first landed on Earth.
That was it. That was where it all started.
Then, I saw you again the next day.
I was your homeroom teacher, and you were my student.
I knew in an instant that you were the boy I had seen the night before.
As chance had it, I moved in next door to you,
and when I led you on, I realized you really did remember me.
And from there, things got so crazy I had no idea what was going on..
Because I really wanted to stay on Earth, I told you everything.
You listened closely to what I had to say.
No, you even talked to me about your secret illness.
Come to think of it, that might have been the moment.
The moment that I fell for you.
Our marriage and our living together...
I didn't mind any of it.
There was a part of me that was really excited about it.
But I'd never felt that way before, so I had no idea...
It was the same when you went out with Miss Herikawa.
That time, I felt frustrated. Lonely. Hopeless.
And when you were in a standstill...
That was when I thought we had really connected.
That we were going to move forward together.
I really believed it.
Honest.
Our honeymoon was fun, too.
I had planned on spending the whole time having fun with you,
...but then one thing happened after another.
I was waiting with my heart racing in our room when some stranger came in.
I panicked, screamed, and longed for you.
I was running, thinking, "Help me! Help me!"
I was overjoyed when you confessed to me that you loved me.
And when you kissed me, I was so happy that I started crying like a baby.
And as I cried, I thought to myself that I didn't want to be parted from you.
No, I hated even the thought of being separated from you.
I'm sorry about Miss Herikawa. I was only thinking of myself.
The same with Miss Morino.
When I was alone in my room, I was thinking,
"If only Miss Morino didn't have the same disease as Kei..."
In spite of that, I told you that I hated you...
...even though I love you.
Even though I love you so much...
I love you, Kei. A whole lot.
So, please, don't come to a standstill!
We decided that we would walk forward together, right?
If you come to a standstill, I'll come to a standstill, too...
I can't move anymore... I can't go anywhere...
So, please, don't come to a standstill.
You know...
In the real world, there are some things that just don't have a correct answer.
Things that you can't do anything about.
There is no way that every person can be happy.
Why not?
Because happiness corrupts people.
They get used to the happiness they've found, and seek even more happiness.
They're awfully greedy.
That's true.
That's why I think people have the emotion called "sadness."
Because they can't understand happiness without sadness?
Even though they contradict each other.
That's true.
I don't want a world that's full of contradictions like that.
I'll come to a stop while I feel joy.
I'm going to transcend reality.
And go to a place I can be at peace. Not wanting anything, not feeling sadness.
You have the same potential that I do. You can leave, too.
That's why you came to me?
Yes.
To let me see you leave.
Yes.
To stop existing. To halt existence itself.
You will come to a standstill.
I...
I'll come to a standstill...
Sight, hearing. Smell, taste, touch.
Time, consciousness, body, space.
I'll come to a standstill...
You will come to a standstill.
A standstill.
I'm caught on something. Something's holding me back.
There's nothing here, and I don't need anything, but something is...
There's something inside me.
Hello.
Oh, um, hello.
Um, who are you?
Mizuho Kazami.
Uh...
You don't know me?
I'm sorry...
Have we met before somewhere?
I'm sure that we'll meet in the future.
In the future?
Yes.
I'm going to marry you in the future.
Marry me?
Yes. You're going to marry me, and we'll live together.
No way...
You don't believe me?
I mean, you're beautiful, and you seem older than me.
It seems like we'd be a mismatched couple.
But if it's true...
I bet it would be a lot of fun to live with someone like you.
It won't be?
There will be fun times, but there will also be sad times and tough times.
We'll even have fights.
There will also be times that I'll feel like crying, and so will you.
And we'll still get married?
We will.
Why?
Because we'll be happy.
Even if we're sad sometimes?
Yes.
Even if we feel like crying sometimes?
Yes.
We might end up being miserable!
What might look like misery to others might actually be happiness for me.
Even if I cry, it might actually be from joy.
I think everyone feels that sunsets are really Ionely.
I feel that way, too, and so might you.
But a sunset spent with you can only be happy to me.
Because I'd be there with you.
With you.
M-My body!
It's sad that we can't touch.
We could hold each other if this were reality.
Still, I'm glad I was able to meet you.
I'm sorry, I think it's time.
I have to go now.
Will I meet you?
In the real world, will I meet you?
Yes.
If I do meet you, I'm sure I'd...
I'm sure we'd fall in love.
Yes!
Is it all right for me to fall in love?
I'd welcome it!
Love me so much that I'd say it's too much!
Please hold me in the real world.
M-Ma'am...
Ma'am...
Kei...?
Kei!
I'm sorry, Ma'am. I need to go.
I'll make sure to come back, so wait for me!
Sure, I'll wait. I'll wait...
I'll wait!
Mizuho...
Kei...
I understand. Standstills are my weakness.
This is the weakness I created because I didn't want to feel sad.
But misery will be waiting for you in the real world.
You might be right, but then again, you might be wrong.
The universe feels like it's eternal because in my eyes it seems like it's standing still.
But the universe keeps expanding continuously.
The world inside me isn't all there is.
Kei...
I'm sorry. I don't want eternity.
I don't care if it's finite.
I'll live in a world that has its limits.
I'll live in the present.
I'm sorry.
Kei...
Wait, Kei!
You may have given up the present in order to leave.
Kei!
Then I'll give up this place to live in the present.
Goodbye...
...big sister.
Kei... Kei!
What...? My body...
Kei...
W-W-What do you want?
What do you mean?! School!
You're gonna be late!
W-What are you two doing?!
Konoha, are you cheating on me?
Are you cheating on me?!
I am not!
That's a hopeless misunderstanding!
You're late, Kei!
Sorry. I must've forgotten to set my alarm clock.
That's such a childish excuse.
Sorry!
Well, let's get going.
Kusanagi.
Yeah?
There's something sticking out of your pocket.
What's this?
Snacks?
I don't remember buying these...
Is someone pulling a prank?
Beats me...
I don't get it. What were these doing in my...
K-Kei...
Kusanagi, are you crying?
Huh? What?
Why am I crying?
Are you hurt?
Wanna go to the hospital?
It's not that.
It's not that, but...
That's not it...
I thought I heard a voice calling to me from somewhere.
But I didn't know whose voice it was.
The tears just kept falling.
You have to watch the next episode, too!
This is a priority one!
It was the end of summer vacation in my 11th grade year.
I was living in the present, feeling the presence of a gaping hole inside my heart.
Hello, everyone.
I'm Mizuho Kazami, and I'll be in charge of this class starting today.
That's right, I start to accelerate again after meeting my teacher.
Kei Kusanagi's...
...and Mizuho Kazami's exciting experience.
Next time on Onegai Teacher!
"Teacher Once Again".
You have to check it out! This is a priority one!