Ah!
Seiko Shima...
Hikari Middle School's Third-year 2nd-group Class Reunion...
Seiko Shima
Seiko Shima...
Seiko Shima!
I've never attended something like a class reunion before.
See, I've never received an invitation to one before.
Good to be home...
Sushi? How'd you know...
No, Papa.
Aren't you home early today?
Jeeze...
Wait a bit, they deliver.
It's okay, I'll just have ochazuke or something... Ochazuke is a traditional Japanese food made with rice, some toppings, and usually warm tea.
You have to call if you're coming home early.
Ochazuke is a traditional Japanese food made with rice, some toppings, and usually warm tea.
Returning home all suddenly, jeeze...
The nerve...
Maybe I won't come home, then.
Thanks for the food.
Well, I'm going to bed.
Papa, can you lower the volume on the TV a bit?
Tsuyoushi is studying for his cram school.
Alrighty.
Oh, that reminds me, this came in for you.
Information regarding Hikari Middle School's Third-year 2nd-group Class Reunion?
Seiko Shima
And so, I received an invitation quite suddenly.
It was there that I found that nostalgic name
and my heart suddenly leapt backwards twenty years.
Because of my father's work, I was transferring schools.
So, I can't remember much about my fellow classmates.
Except for Seiko Shima.
Shinomome-kun, are you really transfering?
Yes, to Singapore.
That's awesome, Shinomome.
A foreign country.
A foreign country?
I had a crush on Seiko Shima.
She was talking to me, reading the same book as I...
Shinomome-kun, take this on the plane with you.
What?
It's a white book, ain't it?
It's got nothing written in it.
That's it. I knew it.
A book?
And it was then that I was given an empty book, with nothing written in it.
U-Umm...
On the first page I've written the words I love the most.
I'd like you to fill in the rest.
We interrupt the current broadcast...
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's it.
I was given that white book.
Her most beloved words... What if it's about love...
A-A proverb?
What did she write again?
I can't remember.
It's been 25 years since then.
I wonder what's happened to her?
She's probably got two or three kids by now.
Seiko Shima
That's her maiden name...
Seiko Shima... She's still unmarried...
But, that type of beautiful young girl...
Oh yeah.
She may have been divorced.
Papa, take out the garbage.
Hey, what happened to that?
What?
I put an envelope on the table last night...
About the class reunion.
I threw it away.
I looked at the address and it's at a location where you don't have any relatives...
Why can't you ever ask before doing something like that?
Well I'm sorry.
Were you planning on attending?
Maybe.
But that's not the point.
I see...
The class reunion is out in the countryside.
I don't have many memories for me to go all the way there...
Only my nostalgic feelings of Seiko Shima.
Got it.
But, the class reunion is on the 2nd of January.
What to do...
Kachou...
Kachou.
Please stamp this.
Ah, sorry.
Have any plans for New Years?
Err, no.
New Years, eh?
I could spend time with Tsuyoushi and still make it to the class reunion.
So, what are we doing for this New Years?
We could go to a hot spring.
What are you saying, Papa?
Tsuyoushi has to prepare for exams!
But just for New Years...
Man, you don't understand at all.
For a student in cram school, there is no such thing as New Years!
Okay, I am going to say this once.
I don't want to be getting a drunk phone call from Tsuyoushi on New Years.
Okay!
Did she have to get so angry...
She wasn't that kind of woman before I married her.
Seiko Shima...
Ah, Shinomome-kun.
Good morning.
Class reunion?
You're going?
Yeah, I'll just stay in a business hotel for one night.
Papa.
You're not really going to go on such a far trip, are you?
Idiot, I'd come up with a better lie than that if I wasn't.
Oh, congratulations.
Congratulations.
Good luck with everything.
Okay, I'll be back.
Have fun.
He's up to something.
Anyway, let's see what I'll be getting out of this.
I won't be able to buy it if I don't hurry. This is because in Japan, stores shut down for most all of the New Years week.
Thank you again for riding on the Jouetsu bullet train today.
I get to see Seiko Shima again tonight...
I wonder if she'll even remember me.
Hikari Middle School's Third-year 2nd-group Class Reunion Meeting Spot
Oh, long time no see.
Hikari Middle School's Third-year 2nd-group Class Reunion Meeting Spot
Wow, it's been so long, Shinomome-kun!
Hikari Middle School's Third-year 2nd-group Class Reunion Meeting Spot
To love you was all I ever wanted.
Me too, Shima-san.
So, are you married?
Well, the truth is, I...
I am still by myself.
I couldn't forget about you...
That's a bit unnatural...
She probably won't be wearing her school uniform.
Shima-san, are you married?
I was, once. But it failed.
I see.
It's already been 25 years, eh?
A lot has happened since then.
How about you, Shinomome-kun?
I'm just a normal salaryman.
My son just entered a cram school this year.
That must be a lot of trouble.
Well, I don't have any real complaints, but...
...I haven't been enjoying life, either.
I don't live in a great home...
I don't make a good head of the family.
I'm not really serious when it comes to parenting.
Wow...
You poor thing, Shinomome-kun.
I guess I am.
Shinomome-kun?
Happiness.
I...
I am lonely.
Shima-san.
I thought I could smile if I came here, but...
I really used to like you, back then.
So, to be sad on the day where we get to see one another again...
I feel the same way, Shima-san.
Wow, so you came here all the way from Tokyo just to see me?
I came to see you.
I want to sit down and talk to you, just us two.
Can we go to your room?
What the hell am I doing...
Such a delicious story...
It'd never happen.
Hey, hey, who was that guy you used to go out with?
The Hikari Middle School's Third-year 2nd-group...
Hey, hey, who was that guy you used to go out with?
Ah, here it is.
Reception
Excuse me...
Yes?
My name is Shinomome.
I transferred in halfway.
Wow, you came all the way from Tokyo?
I am the organizer, Kaori Oda.
H-Hello.
I'm Tajima, remember me?
Y-Yeah.
Wow, he came all the way here.
Yeah, Shima-chan is going to be so happy.
Err, Shima-chan?
She's the woman who requested that we invite Shinomome-kun as well.
Yup, because she said that she had a huge crush on him back then.
We're lucky he has a rare name.
It made it easy to track him down.
O-Oh, is that so?
Is she doing well?
Well...
I shouldn't be talking about this, but she got divorced last year.
Apparently her husband cheated on her.
She's trying her best, but she seems really lonely as of late.
W-Well...
S-See you.
Take care of yourself, Shinomome-kun.
It happens all the time.
People reunite when they are adults and they have a fling.
N-No way...
I had no idea, Shima-san.
It must have been quite troubling.
But now I'm free.
I've got a home, but I'm neither happy nor cheery.
The truth is, I wish I could throw it away.
Don't wish for such a thing.
But, just one night of passion.
If it's only for one night...
Actually, I've already gotten a room at a hotel.
Just the two of us...
I want to talk to you slowly.
Oh, she's here, here!
Hey, Shima-chan!
Shinomome-kun is here!
Wow, Shinomome-kun! It's been so long!
My class reunion was over.
So, what have you been up to?
I've been working in this company...
Oh, still with that?
Wow, the three of us are together again.
So, Bu-chan, you dropped that grudge, right?
What a change of events.
My entire image of her was off.
Remember culture class?
Oh, that? Crazy!
Those missing 25 years that I had rebuilt in my mind...
All my fantasies are gone.
It's all unfolded before my eyes.
Hey, Shinomome-kun, why are you just standing there?
Drink, drink!
Shinomome?
Who's that?
He looks like...
You know him?
Well...
I think I've seen him before.
Ah, this brings back memories, Shinomome-kun.
Hey, Shima-chan...
Why don't you give him some space...
But, I really liked him, so isn't it okay?
I bet you don't even remember me, Shinomome-kun.
Oh no, I remember.
You gave me that white book when I was transfering schools, right?
You wrote in your favorite words.
Huh?
I suppose that might have happened.
O-Oh no, it's okay. Feel free to forget about it.
I'm so lonely.
Shinomome-kun, you're only here for one night, right?
Can we go to your room?
Eh? Already?
Yes, today was a blast.
So, farewell.
Hey, hey, what number is your room?
You drank too much, Shima-chan.
If I check out and leave, I can still make the final bullet train.
Thank you very much.
That takes care of that.
Eh, Shinomome-kun?
Aren't you Shinomome-kun?
I'm Shima.
Seiko Shima...
You're going home already?
But it's so nice to see you again.
After I heard you were coming, I decided to come and have fun as well.
Did you meet Shima-chan?
Takai Shimako-san.
She put on a little weight, didn't she?
Takai Shimako...
Takai Shimako
Shima-chan
Oh, so that's it...
Umm...
Shima-san...
Right now...
I've been running the family dumpling shop.
I took it over from my father.
Anyway, this river is supposed to be filled with fish during the Fall.
I-I see.
That's why she's using her maiden name.
I never thought about that.
Shinomome-kun, I found this and thought of you.
This is that white book from back then.
You remember.
See, I actually bought myself the same book back then.
I just wanted to have the same one for some reason.
T-That must mean...
Just because you were a really attractive guy back then.
You had such great hair.
I've lost a bit since then, though...
B-But...
You haven't changed a bit.
You're as beautiful as ever.
Eww...
You can't say that to me.
Anyway, see ya.
Shima-san, this...
Take it back with you. It'd be a waste to throw it away.
Ah, Sei-chan!
Sei-chan is here too?
Yeah, I wasn't sure if I'd come...
So that was it.
She hadn't completely forgotten about me.
She sure seems happy, Seiko Shima.
I'm glad.
Me and her live in completely different worlds.
I know that, but...
I guess that book had a lot more meaning to me than it did to her.
The inside is probably all blank pages.
She never used it, but she brought it for me.
And then on the first page, there was a childish note.
She'd written the same words that she wrote back then.
Walking time is in Mie. Mie is a prefecture in southern Japan.
The future falters as it moves closer.
The present day quickly flies away like an arrow.
The past will remain there, quietly, for all eternity.
I'm home.
Mama, Mama! Papa is home!
What's going on, Tsuyoushi? Are you still studying?
What were you doing?!
I called the hotel and you weren't there!
Well, I...
If you're coming home, you have to call!
Your cell phone was off too. I thought you had an accident, or something.
So, were you worried about me?
Of course I was!
So the three of us ate sushi bentou that I bought at the station.
I wanted to eat it by myself and enjoy it.
And like that, that's when my class reunion really ended.
And so, that brief one-day dream...
I wonder if those memories will fade with time.
Beginning today, I'll be living together with my mother-in-law.
Mother is going to be loaning us the money for our down-payment,
so we can finally buy the house of our dreams.
Believe me, Darling. No one takes care of houstguests better than me.
Welcome to our home, Mother!
What the hell is this huge thing?
Jeeze, it's all because of you that Mother hates me!
Next time on Rumic Theater:
A Large-Size Happiness.
See you there!