Amazing.
When you look down, it really looks like you're looking down, too.
That's because this HMD uses a gyro.
Well, there isn't much software that utilizes it though.
I can't say anything besides "amazing."
Do you play with things like this every day?
Hmm? I don't play them that often.
Or, rather, I wouldn't call that playing but... how should I say it...
...therapy, I guess.
Therapy...
...for sickness?
Well, you see...
I sort of have this fear of heights or something,
and I thought I'd use this virtual reality thing to remedy it.
Could something like this be a remedy?
Well I seriously do mean it.
Overcoming fears by intentionally making yourself experience the things causing these phobias and neuroses...
Oh, that thing called exposure.
Tarou should be more familiar with these things,
considering...
My dad is home.
Does your dad work for Dai-Nippon-Bio?
Yeah.
My dad's been living here for around three years.
Hmm...
Me? I pretty much only have a phobia for heights, but
it must be hard for you.
I hear you still fear...
Do you see it in your dreams?
Since you still have counseling every week...
I don't think I need it anymore.
But you do see it in your dreams, don't you?
Maybe you need exposure as well.
Eh?
We are going to go to the location where your fear rooted.
It rained today,
but you should still be able to walk to the former Kameiwa Village at the bottom of the dam now.
I'll come with you,
so why don't we go to the hospital at the bottom of the dam?
You haven't been there since then, have you?
Welcome back.
I'm home.
Get that dish for me.
Okay.
Mom...
What?
Do you see any dreams?
I'm on medicine, remember?
So I can't see any dreams.
That should have all been a dream, really.
It's amazing...
Hey, hey, let's ask Miyako's father next time.
Eh, no way.
Not my father.
Miyako?
Hmm?
What's the matter?
Oh, nothing.
Do you fear your sister?
It's not...
...that I fear my sister...
but I'm always afraid of something...
Exposure, you say.
Would that eliminate the phobia?
Some say it's effective,
but this EMDR and also TFT, which I want to try on you some other time...
TL Note: Thought Field Therapy, or TFT, is a treatment which supposedly can heal a variety of ailments through specialized "tapping" with the fingers at meridian points on the upper body and hands.
The counselors who employ these methods are the subject of much criticism as well.
Since what you fear isn't that simple,
wouldn't the exposure treatment itself be impossible?
Next week, if possible, I'd like to visit your home and meet your parents.
Y-Yes...
I'll tell them.
Have you thought about it?
Well? Well?
Oh, so you've decided!
All right!
Then we'll meet up at the Kameiwa Shrine at 01:00 PM next Sunday.
I just... have a fear of heights...
Hey...
S-Sorry I'm late.
No problem, since the other one isn't here yet.
Who do you mean by the other one?
Ah, here he comes.
Are you asking for a fight?
Why is he here?!
I didn't hear about you as well!
Well, well, come on!
Don't get so excited.
Since we're going on an expedition, the more the merrier.
I'm not going!
Oh, so Makoto was a chicken, only trying to look cool.
H-Hey!
A Jichinsai, right?
TL Note: Jichinsai is a Shinto ritual performed before a new construction to assure its safe completion; a ground-breaking ceremony.
But I have an academic meeting around that time...
Hmm, well...
I think it might work out... but, maybe not...
Well...
Hmm? What was that?
I could kill someone if I wanted to!
Stop it! Masayuki has a fear of heights.
Oh...
This is no place for kids to play!
Looks like we've really been underestimated.
I want you to go to the hospital at the bottom of the dam with Tarou.
I've been saying I don't want to.
But it's the scene of the crime which your late father may have been associated with.
I think you should see it as well.
So you won't stalk me any more if I go with you guys to the bottom of the dam?
Right.
All right, I'll go then.
I-I didn't say I wanted you to come wit—
Well, well, don't complicate things right after they're put in order.
Did something happen?
No, nothing.
I think a one and a half hour walk should probably get us there.
It won't take that long.
Oh? So you've been there before.
Have you two ever talked properly to each other?
No, right?
Even though we see each other sometimes...
Eh? Other than at school?
We are a branch family of the Komoris.
We're related, aren't we?
Hmm?
Let's take a break.
Want something to drink?
Oh, gladly!
Tarou, is your mother well?
Eh?
Yes...
She hasn't become worse, I guess.
How's your grandmother?
Don't know. I haven't seen her face.
Even though you live together?
Well, how should I say it... is it surprising, or is it understandable,
that you two were related?
It sure is good that the three of us came, seriously.
Speaking of which, didn't you just want more people?
What do you mean?
Well, I wouldn't mention the "three people" part if it had no meaning.
I researched the ruins of the hospital a lot,
and learned there were some other rumors before and after your incident.
You mean about the curse, right? That's just stupid.
Curse? What do you mean?
The dam was built thirty years ago,
but the dam is dry half of the year.
So, for a long time, high school kids thought it was interesting,
and used it for test-of-courage expeditions.
The next year after the village sunk under the dam,
three high school students went there
and when they entered the hospital,
they actually found a secret basement.
The basement looked like a prison.
One guy went into the prison-like room,
and he saw something.
The three ran back home,
but the one who went into the prison-like room...
...died!
I've never heard a rumor like that.
They wouldn't let you hear about it, out of all people.
Ah, finally, the top of the mountain.
Oh... and this is Kameiwa.
TL Note: 亀岩 = turtle (kame) + rock (iwa)
So over there must be...
Huh, I see my father's company as well.
Why did I think I wanted to come here?
And? What are we going to do?
We're going in, right?
Tarou...
This is...
I shouldn't be afraid!
This is the place where my sister died.
...the place where you were held captive after being kidnapped.
Also, while I don't know the circumstances, one week after this incident his father committed suicide.
And now, you two are here at the same time.
Even though there is no real reason why we should be here...
Well, as for myself and Tarou, it's justified,
but why did you have to come with us?
Back then, you said you could kill someone.
I have killed someone before.
All three of us have different reasons that aren't related,
but for all of us, it's something that can't be changed until we die.
Even if we can't call each other friends,
I just wanted to be like this, do something like this.
"Then, something might change," is what I thought.
Nothing will change.
Something that seems to be nothing of importance for someone
can become an object of great fear for another.
What intention was in the design of the functions of the brain that cannot be consciously controlled?
What's the reason why we have to live with the incurable disease of fear of things totally unrelated to the survival instinct?