Oh, hello.
You've still got a long way to go.
Compared to this, my little brother is better than you are.
Don't kid with me. Hiro's only in elementary school.
You think I'm lying?
I get it already.
I can kind of do landscapes.
If you're going to go into design, you have to be able to draw just about any genre.
Are sculptures portraits or still-lifes?
The distinction is vague, so it's difficult.
If you're tired of drawing sculptures, want to do a nude sketch?
It's fine! I want to draw sculptures.
So just which one is it?
Sorry, Nagi.
About what?
Truthfully, I wasn't supposed to force something like this onto you.
I'm not someone that harbors troublesome feelings.
Besides, I'm having fun teaching you art like this.
Sorry.
If that's what you really think, hurry up and get better.
I'll start making you do nudes.
I'm home.
Welcome home, Yuu-kun! Your food's ready.
This is delicious...
The landlord gave me these eggs.
The landlord?
Apparently, they're from the chickens he raises.
Oh, I see. We should go thank him.
His twin grandchildren sent them.
Kei-chan and Chihiro-chan. They're so cute and similar to each other!
I want kids like that!
They're only cute now.
They'll grow up sooner or later, and they'll become cheeky and rebellious.
Jeez, no tact at all.
I can live without tact.
We live in an age where those lacking sensitivity don't have jobs.
That's what a senior at my part-time job said.
Well, I, the insensitive guy, asked my boss if I could become a company man when I graduate.
Oh, really?!
Yeah, but he told me that he'd think about it.
I see. You really aim for the top, don't you?
I gave up on that.
I don't aim up anymore. I aim forward.
Forward...
Yuuko, are you happy now?
What do you, all of a sudden, ask that?
Tell me.
I'm happy. I've been liberated from an unavoidable pain, and I'm living together with you, who I desired all this time.
I would be lying if I said the wounds of my past didn't hurt, but you accepted me despite them.
You saved me.
Yuuko.
Thank you, Yuu-kun.
I want to protect the present.
The present?
Yeah. I want to continue to protect you and the happiness you feel right now.
That's why...
It's not about looking up or down. It's not about winning or losing.
I just want to walk forward with you.
Yuu-kun...
Let's go, shall we?
Yes!
Is someone there?
A kid?
What's wrong? Here at this time of...
A girl from the orphanage?
What's your name?
I'm Yuuko. Amamiya Yuuko. Your name is?
Miki.
Miki?
Written like "Mirai," Miki.
I see. What's wrong, Miki-chan, being outside on a night like this?
I'll call an adult from the orphanage. Yuuko, look after her.
No!
No, don't let anyone come!
This happens to kids who are new to the orphanage.
They're not used to their surroundings.
It doesn't seem to be that.
I asked someone earlier, but it seems she's been at the orphanage for half a year already.
Is that so?
It seems that Miki-chan's parents tried to kill her in an act of group suicide.
After her own parents tried to kill her, I think she can't trust other people anymore.
Ever since then, she avoided contact with people.
She won't come out when others are around,
and apparently she won't eat unless she's alone.
No one's tried to adopt her, and she shuts herself in.
I see.
It really seems that God doesn't exist anywhere.
Because God doesn't exist, many sad and painful things happen.
If God existed, I would want Him to make the world more beautiful.
Get rid of all the pain, all the sadness. Everyone would be nice, and no one would be alone.
Yeah.
Yuu-kun?
If only such a convenient world could be created...
Can I create such a world?
Did something happen, Yuu?
Not really. Why?
Your lines are different from usual.
Different?
Are they better? Are they worse?
There's no confusion in them. You're giving it your all.
Really?
Yeah. You're still a bit far from the passing mark, though...
Oh right, Nagi.
What?
If I drew a nude, would I become better?
Not really, but you have to do it at least once.
I see.
Nagi, can you strip?
No.
Why not?!
Being told to take off my clothes is a bit embarrassing.
What the hell?
Instead of that, I'll give you this.
A mirror? Why?
As long as it's a real person, it's fine. No need for it to be a woman.
Perfect. There are things I want to draw, too.
Okay, you can go ahead and strip. No one's going to care.
I'll care!
Miki-chan.
Wait!
Miki-chan, I have a request for you.
Could you help me?
Please.
What?
I'm really lonely right now.
There's a person who is very important to me, but he's at work right now.
I can't meet him until he comes back in the evening, so I'm really lonely.
Weakling.
If he's going to come back, then you shouldn't be lonely.
Yeah.
Miki-chan, you're strong, aren't you?
I'm weak, so I'm lonely. So, do you want to stay with me for a bit?
Thank you, Miki-chan.
Miki-chan, do you have any friends?
No.
Why?
I don't need them!
It's fun to have them, you know.
But I don't need them.
I see.
How lonely.
Why?
Because I thought I could become your friend.
No?
No, it's okay.
Really?
Okay, then will you shake hands on it?
Okay?
Please, help me!
Thank you.
You're not lonely anymore?
Yeah. Now, I'm not lonely.
Yuuko.
You're here, after all.
She fell asleep while we were talking.
She's going to get a cold.
It'll be mean if I wake her up.
This way, it'll be the same as if you covered Miki-chan.
I don't have that sort of duty.
How stubborn.
Miki-chan?
Scary...
The dream... was scary...
It's okay, I'm here.
Good night.
Yuu-kun? You're still awake?
Yeah.
Can I come closer?
Yeah.
What's wrong? Why are you turning the other way?
We'll be warmer if we put our backs together.
Really. I'm warm.
When I was a kid, I would sleep with Akane like this during the winters.
It was pretty cold in my house, too.
Is that so?
Yuu-kun, did you know?
In Australia, Christmas is in the summer, so I heard it's hot during this time.
That's because it's in the Southern Hemisphere.
In reverse, it's winter in July.
Christmas in the summer... How would that be? I would like to experience it.
Just set up a Christmas tree during Tanabata would do.
If a miracle occurred, I wonder if Christmas could be in the summer.
Miracles don't exist in this world. There are only coincidences, inevitabilities, and actions that people take.
You really aren't a dreamer, are you?
If you want to see a dream, go sleep already.
Jeez...
Night.
Good night.
Hello, Miki-chan.
Yuuko!
I see. A dream?
I see it all the time.
Even though I didn't see it the day I met you...
That so?
I see. I think it's because we held hands.
Hands?
Yeah. Want to try?
How is it?
Warm.
You'll be fine now.
What about tomorrow?
Will you hold hands with me tomorrow, too?
Yes!
The courage to be alive...
And an entrusted future...
What is it?
It's a song a friend of mine played for me a long time ago.
At a time, when I was feeling a lot of pain, when I hated this world, I heard this song.
It was so beautiful, it made me wonder:
Maybe I could love something in this world.
I was moved.
It was painful for me then, but now I've been saved.
I can listen to that song with a pure heart now.
Yuuko...
I made up the lyrics.
It's still a work in progress, though.
Sing it again.
I'm not done yet!
That's fine.
Really?
The courage to be alive...
An entrusted future...
The strength that everyone gave me...
Trust in love.
You're with that girl again?
I'm not "that girl". I'm Miki.
Okay, Yuu-kun, stretch out your hand.
Here!
Isn't this great?
If you hold hands like this, you'll be fine.
You won't cry anymore?
...I don't know.
Girls need to smile all the time, you know?
Why?
If you think you're going to be sad, and put on a sad face, something sad will actually happen.
But, if you put on a smile, someday that smile will become real and your sadness will disappear.
Really?
Yeah.
So, smile all the time.
Yeah! I won't cry anymore.
I want to make a beautiful city.
Not just a facade to cover up a wreck, but a truly beautiful city.
A city where everyone is kind, and no one is alone.
A bright city with a future.
Yuu-kun...
Yeah. If it's you, Yuu-kun, you can do it.
Isn't it great? Miki-chan is feeling a lot better now!
It's Kuze, from Germany.
Kuze-san? What does he say?
"German girls are the best!"
Also, he's coming back to Japan for Christmas.
Christmas?
But, he's promised a girl he'll meet her, so there isn't much time for us to meet.
Yuu-kun, what are you doing for Christmas?
If it's okay, let's-
I'm working on Christmas, starting in the morning.
Earlier than usual, too; I need to go help.
Is that so?
But, in exchange, I get off earlier in the afternoon.
Let's go somewhere!
Yes!
We'll meet at the church, as always.
I'll go as soon as work's done.
Okay, I'll go and wait for you.
Don't be late, okay?
I see.
You're going to spend Christmas alone with Yuko-chan, huh?
Nagi.
But a bouquet...
The one item that doesn't suit Himura Yuu the most.
None of your business.
But, it suits Yuko-chan.
Ah, really?
Yeah. Yuko-chan and flowers go well together.
What is it, little lady?
That song just now...
Do you like it?
Yeah.
I see.
Here. You're cuter this way.
Really?!
Thank you!
Maybe I came a bit too early...
Really...
So, until when are you going to keep follow me?
I'm wondering how you're going to give her that bouquet.
Oh, you...
I'm joking.
I don't intend to interrupt your date.
Jeez.
Huh? Miki, is that you?
What's up?
Look!
It's a Stairway of Angels.
Stairway of Angels?
Yeah. They say angels descend from the light.
There's still... many things I want to say...
I want... you to... know more about me...
The courage to live...
An entrusted future...
The strength that everyone gave me...
Tru... st...
i... n..
lov...
I want to meet Yuu-kun again!
Love, I've got to feel it
If you put your trust in me
I know what my life would be
Oh, you are all I ever need
I try to hear what you say
So I pray. But you're fading away
Don't go and break my fragile heart
We won't fall apart
'Cause you're my only star
I wonder why my tears come at night
Calling you so like a little child
All the things you have in mind
I wish I could see your insides
My love, you've got to feel it
And if we put our trust in you and me
You know what our love would be
Oh, you are the one I believe
Somehow, it feels that our reunion here is something of the distant past.
Yeah, it does.
It'll become even more further soon.
No way.
I'm going to entrust this to you, Yuu-kun.
Me?
This was a place I used to be alone.
A place where, even if I cried, no one would see.
I'm no longer alone, and I don't cry anymore.
Yuuko...
That's why, I want to give it away.
That's in order not to have the past repeat itself.
Please give it to someone who needs it.
I got it. I'll take it.
Reach him, my wishes.
Ef - a tale of melodies: reread.
Can you hear it? The true melody.