At times, a person's life suddenly opens up.
Kei's choreography for a dance show, and a commercial,
took the world by storm.
Kei went overseas to choreograph.
He was flying ever higher...
I'm off to London!
...saying goodbye to me.
I don't want to be restricted to Japan.
Dance transcends borders.
- You must get that. - I don't!
What do you want, Yui? Is there no goal?
Marriage...
I want to marry you, Kei.
I failed.
With things like that, he flew to London.
~ SECOND LOVE ~
It's morning in London. He'll be at the hotel.
Pick up...
Where are you?
Where are you? Where are you?
I want to see you. Where are you?
"Where are you, where are you?" Kei once said,
but since he left 5 days ago, he hasn't called me.
LONDON
We just received a phone call from the chief pursutier
who watched your videos.
What did he have to say?
He said he's become a friend of Kei Taira.
His schedule was tight at first but you've come through.
Now how about we get something to eat.
I appreciate it but I am not ready.
Take a look at this later.
What is this?
We want to take your dance to the whole world.
[Are you fine?] [I'm busy with work]
[Are you eating properly?] [I'm in the middle of work]
[Is it cold in London?] [I'm in the middle of work]
[Are you well? Did you arrive safely?] [I'm in the middle of work]
Were you crying, Teacher?
No.
- Here we are. - Sorry to intrude.
- There are slippers if you want. - No need, I'm fine.
What are you looking at?
So you had sex here.
Next time, invite me to inspect your love nest
so I can say the same thing.
There may be a skylight
but it's not exactly the "La Boheme" attic.
It's really loud when it rains.
It's raining hard.
Good; no-one can hear us.
We're not that loud.
Aren't we?
- I like you. - What?
I like you!
I can't hear you.
I like you!
Right! Here... my short, stout man.
Like mother and son.
He's cute, isn't he?
I don't really like slim men.
People seek what they lack by falling in love, right?
Like a dancer with a teacher?
From when we met, I've been unsure what to think.
Trying to understand your partner is love but...
no point thinking too much.
You're right.
I take one day at a time because
I hope he'll come home to me.
What roof do men sleep under and come back to?
After London, he'll come back here, right?
Well, it's his apartment.
I felt suddenly anxious.
Will he return to me?
I expect I'll go to France.
- You finally decided?! - Yes.
I'll give up my position.
I'm doing the school a disservice
so I'll try hard.
You're so cool.
Living under one roof is a rule for men and women.
Recently, my image in his heart is getting smaller.
- I want to reclaim my territory! - Good.
Kei and I living together in London or Dresden,
and you two together in France...
Japanese citizen and contemporary dancer
Ichinose Yuuta has made great efforts as
Dresden Fortner Company's principal dancer.
On the other hand, Taira Kei is well known for
- his pasta sauce commercial dance... - What?!
What? I must record this! What is this! What!
Seriously! That seedy guy? Is Yui a good luck charm?
Is she really with a famous guy?!
[ Mum ]
Hi. Kei's office, this is Nokuchi.
My name is Nishihara Yui.
Ah...
Could you please tell me Taira Kei's flight number
for his return tomorrow? It wasn't confirmed when he left.
East Airlines, flight 79, Narita Airport, 5:30 arrival
East Airlines, Flight 79. Narita Airport, 3.00.
- Thank you. - No problem.
I'm back.
Aren't you due tomorrow?!
The London work is moving fast, so I must return.
- What's moving? - Look at this.
I would've have picked you up.
I need to finish here
and get back to London. Do you have the schedule?
It's not simple to sort out.
- Mr Yamaoka, what's that proposal? - Ah.
It's a project to tour Paris, New York, Moscow, Beijing,
other big cities, and smaller regions too.
Smaller regions?
We'll take a minimum number of dancers
to areas where dance has never been seen.
Where there's no theatre, we'll dance on earth.
- One year...a long project. - I'm really keen on it.
You're joking. You're back on track and
you'll turn down major work for a year?
Taira Kei, what on earth are you aiming for?
It's just a hunch but I have a feeling
this tour is close to my goal.
I aim to create dance never seen before.
This tour has that potential...
What the hell? That isn't enough.
Ideals can't fill your stomach. Please earn in Japan.
- I want to go. - Why now?
Things are going well!
I'm glad there's work for me.
After losing my position, I finally found a new place.
But it struck me... could this be my real goal?
What're you on about!
Famous dancers all turned it down
- but I want to do it. - Of course they did.
Mr Yamaoka, you stop it.
I want to do this.
I'll make Kei's favourite sweet and sour pork.
Let's add ammonia, bit by bit, to the copper sulphate solution.
Pay attention to the change in colour.
An hour and a half to go.
Technical problems?
Hello, Kei's office.
Hello... Kei's office.
Why are you there?
Yui...
Weren't you on East Airlines flight 79?
Sorry. I came back yesterday.
Yesterday...?
Yesterday...
So why didn't you come home?
Where did you go?
Hello...?
Do you hate me now?
That's not it.
- Am I in your way? - No, you're not.
So why didn't you come home?
Isn't it your home?
- I went to the office yesterday to work. - The office?
I ending up staying there.
With Nokuchi?
Why are you saying that?
Nothing's going on with Ayako.
But...
This is painful.
We can talk next time.
When will that be? Why don't you head home?
I'm leaving shortly.
I'm sorry I couldn't contact you
but I won't be back for a while.
Are you OK?
Yes.
[Welcome home. Sweet and sour pork tonight - Yui]
He's decided not to return here
or sleep under the same roof as me.
If I could just see him, I'd calm down.
If I could see Kei's face.
Can I help you?
This is Yamaoka office - and Kei's office.
I'm Nishihara Yui. Where's Kei?
He's's out at a meeting with his manager.
When will he return?
Ah...he'll be a while.
What's your connection with Taira...?
Shall we contact his manager?
Tell him Nishihara was here, please.
Why couldn't I say I was living with him?
I have no confidence in our relationship.
I have no confidence in myself.
Could you give us a week?
It's fine. I'll complete it by tomorrow.
That'd be very helpful.
It's in your hands.
Thank you.
You're clearing up work fast
- but we need to do a good job. - Of course.
Lies. You just want to get rid of it quickly.
It's a rush but I'll do a proper job.
Remember how things were a few months back.
You finally got hold of important work.
I got you a hotel room, so sleep there.
- It's fine at the office. - I've checked you in.
If you sleep on the sofa, you won't rest properly,
then you can't do good work.
I understand you best so...
So?
So do the work I got you properly.
I am.
Welcome.
Dumplings, fried rice and Oolong tea.
Coming up.
- May I ? - Yes...fine.
You're here too?
I got the urge to eat dumplings.
What made you feel that way?
Well, things happened.
I have good memories of this restaurant so
I come here every three days.
That often?!
Our first time here, we had to queue.
That's right.
I'm sorry about the past. I apologise!
- Sorry to keep you waiting. - Yes.
Have a dumpling.
It's good you have an appetite.
I understand having a dancer in his 20s is great
but people from that world are hollow.
Hollow?
Stop!
Watch me for a moment.
People think there's value in having something showy,
something pretty. In short, something shallow.
But the education we give students will live on for decades.
In such ordinary work, it's hard to know if our efforts count.
It lacks showiness
but our feet are on the ground.
Grounded like that, we're living in the real world.
We don't understand the world of those hollow people.
But I want to understand it.
Doesn't my desire to understand count as love?
Maybe so?
But you don't know if he wants you to understand.
It's dangerous. I'm becoming hollow too.
I think I understand you better.
Shall we go to our usual place?
OK, let's go.
- Thank you for the food. - Thank you.
Um...
I'm sorry. I'll just go home.
I think I always want to be your Goddess.
I'm so glad... Kei's home!
Are you hungry?
Not at all.
Why have you made an effort to come home?
I want to talk to you.
You want to talk? About why you haven't come back here?
I'm sorry I made you feel lonely.
It's fine, you're home now.
The programme in London is
going on a world tour. I told you, didn't I?
Yes. London, Paris, Rome, New York.
Los Angeles, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo.
Good memory!
I memorised it.
After that, it's downscaling...
and going to smaller regions.
Smaller regions?
There are no limits in contemporary dance.
I want dance to reach the poor.
I want this production to touch lives.
On the way back, we're going to the Philippines and Tibet.
It would be amazing
if my dance could reach children there.
For sure...I will also change.
But aren't you the choreographer?
Why do you need to tour smaller places?
The company will scale down, so I will dance.
How long will you be gone?
Including the big cities... 10 months.
With preparation time... one year.
You'll be gone one year?
Yes.
A year you say...
You want to break up...?
If I did, I wouldn't be here.
At the time I met you, I wanted to die
and then my path opened up.
Not just dancing,
my choreography is in demand.
It all started with you.
The first time I saw you on that walkway,
I had a premonition.
- Premonition? - Right.
When I first saw you,
I had a premonition a new way would open for me.
This time too, I feel the same.
I think this tour will open a new road for me.
I want you to know you started it all.
A theatre is not the only stage.
I was dancing when I met you.
I'll be dancing this time too, but on the ground.
Where are you going? Africa?
Africa and South America.
Asia, the Middle East.
No way. I won't see you for a year.
I want to go.
Won't you come with me?
What?
I want you to come and see it yourself.
Put aside your teaching, and your mother.
If you can come, come.
I'll be all over the place.
Maybe I'll get hurt, or things will be bad
but if we go together...
I'll ask the producer.
I'll ask to bring you.
That's my love for you...
my proposal.
But if we go together...
I have to ask the producer.
I'll say I want to bring someone.
That's my love for you...
my proposal.
Will we marry?
Marriage...I haven't thought about it yet.
But to me... this is the same as proposing.
I don't see it's the same...
Think it over.
Are you going?
Before the tour, I have work to finish.
I'm going back to the office.
I only want him to come back here.
Yui couldn't say she'd go straightaway ...
- I'm resigning as of first term. - What?
Truth is, I have a partner and it's because of his job.
He has to go to France.
We'll be without a teacher till the year's end.
- Any alternatives? - There aren't.
What will we do about the form tutor?
- She's leaving. - That can't be right.
Right, but it happens.
Please accept this.
- You love him that much? - Yes.
Regarding your partner's job relocation,
are plans fully set?
Miss Ueda's resolve is amazing.
Teacher, did you hear? Maru got dumped.
She doesn't understand men.
I told her she's too serious.
Teacher, do you understand your boyfriend's heart?
No way she understands. It's Nishiboo.
But doesn't Nishiboo have a younger boyfriend?
I don't know if that's true.
No way.
No way a man's heart can be understood.
I've been teaching 11 years but
I don't understand students' feelings either.
And you don't understand teachers' feelings.
People don't understand each other's feelings.
That's why they hurt each other.
What is it?
I like you.
One minute, here, hand these papers out.
- Who's Sora like? - Isn't it Nishiboo?
- Not Naginagi. - Nishiboo.
Come back to the classroom.
Are you okay?
Miss Nishihara...
I like you.
I'm surprised but honoured.
But I have someone I love.
So I can't respond to your feelings.
Teacher... Is it going well with him?
It's not going well...
but...I really like him.
I understand.
I feel better after being rejected so clearly.
I'm glad I told you.
I'm going back.
What should I do?
Mum!
Welcome back.
Your fridge is surprisingly well stocked!
- The dumplings won't fit. - Leave them here.
Hey, I saw him on the telly. He was amazing.
Crab...shrimp....shrimp.
That was him, wasn't it?
With that, you'll be financially stable.
It'd be good if you could buy an apartment.
Yep.
What's up? Why do you look sad?
Maybe we should eat some dumplings.
Yes, let's eat them warm.
Where's the soy sauce? Ah, here...
It looks good.
Hoi.
Here you go.
- I'm tucking in. - Here you go.
- Tastes good? - Yes.
May I have one?
You can help yourself.
I gave them to you.
Okay, I'm tucking in.
Good.
Eating dumplings makes you look energised, Yui.
Isn't it too soon?
People with talent...are frightening... so don't lose out.
When your dad went off with that woman,
I was so lonely...
I broke down, right?
So, Yui... performers have a special talent.
I'd hate it if he played with you
and you became so lonely, you broke down.
It's okay.
Please don't break.
I won't break.
You got strong after sobbing your eyes out last time.
If I met him, I'd be sarcastic so I'm going.
You're going already.
Hang in there.
Can you get his autograph for me?
Should I close the office?
Why?
I won't be back for a year. It's no good for you.
Do you have to go?
I do.
One year is fine by me.
I'll look after things here in your absence.
After this tour,
I don't know if I'll still do this kind of work.
You'll still need a manager.
You're an idiot!
Anyway, what are you going to do about her?
I've decided I won't break.
- What is it? - Good work.
- I want to ask something. - Yes?
There's a woman I want to bring with me on tour.
- What? - I spoke to the London producer
but there's no good way of doing it.
Would you like a drink? I have tea or water.
Water.
More water?
I was happy you wanted me to tour with you.
I talked to the producer.
Since then, I...
tried imagining seeing different countries with you.
I don't really know.
If you don't go,
you won't know what it's like.
But it will be meaningful
for me and the people who see the dance.
I'm sure you're right.
That's what makes you amazing.
I love you so much, I could die. I truly love you but...
I can't go tour with you.
Even if I went, my heart wouldn't be in it.
Eating with you... sleeping and waking in the same room...
Having sex and looking at your sleeping face afterwards...
I want all those moments of happiness.
Even if it annoys you, worrying about your health...
Asking "How was work today?"...
Showing your dance in foreign lands
is important to you. I understand but...
I want ordinary happiness.
I want an ordinary life.
But back then,
didn't you accept me as a dancer?
Didn't you see me dance, and fall in love with me?
That's right.
I wanted an ordinary life with that Kei.
But I know that's just my selfishness.
The happiness you want is different.
We are too distant
so it's sad but...
So sad my heart's breaking but...
we can't carry on in this way.
If we don't follow our own paths,
we will be broken for sure.
We're breaking up?
Thank you for wonderful times.
I'll clean the apartment next Saturday.
Yui... I love you.
Beautiful...
Sayonara.
Goodbye.
It may be hard to understand but
I want to find my own dream to talk about.
The next time I met her
was one year later...in spring.