COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM GUIDE
Yes! That was exactly 10 seconds!
We're giving the track to the soccer team soon,
so let's all run it one more time.
What?
Nan High's Kurata set a personal best in the 100-meter race.
Wow, she made a full recovery after rupturing her Achilles tendon.
Kyan senpai, did you know about this?
Yeah, but I didn't know she was injured that badly until now.
That's the same injury that Tachibana senpai has, right?
Yeah.
Kurata is going to be in today's main race at the prefectural tournament.
I wonder if she's going to break Tachibana senpai's tournament record.
I'll be disappointed if Tachibana senpai never starts running again.
That would be awful.
AND THEN
I know it's different for everyone, even if it's the same injury.
But...
I can't believe Akira can't do it but somebody else can.
Akira.
-Switch places! -Okay!
Looks like it'll rain.
-It'll definitely rain. -I don't think it will yet.
Track team! Leave the running track!
Okay!
TACHIBANA'S NOVEMBER'S SHIFT REQUEST MON, TUE, FRI, SAT, AND I CAN DO SUNDAY TOO.
After school, shoe cupboard, resonating sound of rain
My shirt gets wet as I run out with no umbrella
You’re out of my league
I wish I was the rain... so I could easily feel you
Let me touch you...
One, don’t treat me like a child
Two, it’s even worse to play it off by being nice
I love you （can you hear me?）
I love you
Right now, I can jump over the puddle
After the rain, I caught your eye as a rainbow appeared
You’re so indifferent to romance... That’s why!
Raindrops sparkle against the blue summer sky
Lulu lala I’m in love
After the rain...
Right now, I have no doubts
I need no umbrella
-Goodbye. -See you.
PASSING SHOWER
Get back!
Looks like it's going to rain.
I wonder if this weather will hold until I get to the station.
Poor soccer team.
SHE DID IT! NAN HIGH'S KURATA! PERSONAL BEST IN THE 100M RACE!
Personal best...
But that's nowhere close to Akira's record.
They're all overreacting.
Akira!
Hey, Akira!
CAFÉ RESTAURANT GARDEN
Mr. Kondo, you'll be late if you don't leave soon.
Yeah, as soon as I finish typing this.
Mr. Kondo.
Here.
It's my shift request for next month.
Oh, thanks.
Let's see.
What? Sundays too?
Are you sure about this?
Yes.
-Tachibana... -Mr. Kondo!
You really shouldn't be late for the meeting at the head office.
Okay, okay.
I'll be back before this evening.
Jeez, why can't he just leave here ahead of time?
Tachibana.
Let's make sure we work hard.
Time is money.
Okay.
KONDO
Enjoy your meal.
Just as I thought. It's not here.
I have to go back.
Hello. How--?
-Haruka. -I'm here on my own.
Can I choose where I sit?
Oh, damn it. I completely forgot.
Oh, I need to get going.
One bottomless soft drink.
I won't be staying long, I won't need anything else.
Well, let me know if you want to order anything else.
Wait.
She's wearing the same uniform as Tachibana.
Hey, Akira.
You should come back.
Huh?
You should come back to the track team.
At this rate,
you and track and field...
You and I...
Will continue to grow apart.
That would be unbearable.
I'm leaving. Sorry, cancel the order.
That girl, Kurata, who set her personal best at the prefectural tournament's main race today...
She had the same injury you had two years ago.
I'll always be waiting for you, Akira.
BOOKS
Seriously?
A movie?
WINDOW BY THE WAVE - CHIHIRO KUJO LONG-AWAITED SCREEN ADAPTATION!
-Hello? -Hey, it's me.
I heard your novel is going to be made into a movie!
-Congratulations! -Thanks.
-By the way, where are you right now? -What?
SHIRAKABA APARTMENT
Where am I right now? I just went for a walk, I'm almost back at my place.
Oh yeah, I can see you.
I'm here.
Jeez, you surprised me.
-I wanted to surprise you. -You're so weird.
I didn't know you were coming, so I don't have anything.
I don't need anything.
My room is really messy too.
That's true.
What's that? Why do you have a hamster?
I'd rather not say.
Therefore, no smoking in there.
I brought something good today.
Something good?
Look!
Ta-da!
-Oh, this brings back memories! -Right?
The one I used to have broke, so I bought a new one.
I bought it online.
It's great you bought this online, but I don't have any coffee beans.
That's what I thought. So I also bought that online.
-You bought that online too, huh. -I buy everything online.
Kilimanjaro coffee and some coffee filters!
I'm much obliged to you.
It's starting to boil.
Shall we be on standby then?
Let's see.
Hey, bring that out.
What do you mean, "that"?
"That" can only mean one thing.
The manuscript papers.
Hey. Don't tell me you're thinking of doing that thing.
Of course, we're going to do that thing. Right, Tsubu-tsubu?
-His name is Tsubu. -Come on, bring it out.
I don't have any.
I should get some cups.
I'm going to look for it then.
Look at this.
That idiot. He does have it.
I can't.
I give up.
How about you? Were you able to write something?
Here.
"The birds sing, 'How far? How far should we go?'
What kind of seed did they bring?
There's no knocking sound from the ground yet."
You got me.
I couldn't do it either. This was a complete failure.
I never thought we'd write a one-minute novel here.
Reminds you of your student days, doesn't it?
There's a penalty if you can't write a short story before the coffee drips.
Now that I think of it, it's an outrageous ritual.
Does siphon coffee drip in one minute to begin with?
I don't know. It's just an approximation.
Nevertheless, I really couldn't write anything.
Maybe it was my enthusiasm, but words used to come naturally back then.
I was excited every day even though there was no guarantee.
It wasn't like there was something beyond that point,
but I used to run up the hill ahead of me with all my might.
Get ready, Akutagawa!
I'm a rock in a raging torrent that'll change the tide of literature.
I can't believe I used to say such things!
I guess that's what is commonly referred to as being young and thoughtless.
I can't write anything anymore.
You're amazing in that respect.
Now you're a super-popular writer.
The novel you wrote is being made into a movie.
That novel is a piece of shit. An attempt to gain the public's favor.
But your work is helping a lot of people.
Literature isn't something that's supposed to help people!
Literature should be a poison!
Don't you agree, Kondo?
Chihiro,
don't tell me you came here today just to say that.
Do you have a problem with that?
-I also came here to see your face. -That's so creepy.
I wanted to see you because you know who I used to be.
Once it takes off, things won't stop.
You're not allowed to stumble, you must charge forward.
You don't even know where the finish line is.
You are nearly overwhelmed by everyone's expectations.
In the end, you just continue producing pieces of shit.
I came here to see you today because I wanted to caution myself.
And to make sure of who I am...
because I nearly lost sight of who that person is.
Chihiro...
Just kidding!
You said you can't write like you used to.
Yeah.
In reality, it's not that you can't write. It's just that you won't.
You feel like you shouldn't write if you don't feel the same as before.
Otherwise, your younger self would be disappointed in you.
You're the one who's getting in the way of yourself.
I'm already this age.
I know I can't go back to those days.
There were a lot of things I couldn't solve with only my naive feelings.
But I wanted to stay true to my dream and my writing aspirations.
It could be just one line. I want to pour in a deadly poison.
Just one person...
I want to influence that person's heart with poison.
Just kidding.
Actually, Kondo...
You live an honest life.
You think so?
Yeah.
You're still living for that one dream.
That room isn't about your regrets, it's about your obsession.
Then, Chihiro, you're the same as me.
You're holding on to one dream...
and you're trying to reach a higher point in literature.
Just like you used to.
Nevertheless, you have an awful view.
It's exciting because you can't see what's ahead.
An obsession, huh?
Then, if I keep holding on to this feeling...
does it mean I can find my way there one day?
She...
ISN'T THE RECORD HOLDER TACHIBANA SENPAI?
had the same injury you had two years ago.
Someone left this behind.
Excuse me!
The swallow that truly gives up on flying...
would likely even forget about looking up at the sky.
Goodnight.
Thanks for your help.
Oh, Tachibana.
About the shift request that you gave me the other day...
Are you sure you want to work this much?
Don't you have midterm exams?
It's okay. I'll be able to work.
Oh, okay.
If you have something else you want to do more than this job,
you should use your time to do that.
I mean, we don't have enough staff,
but we can manage.
I'm sure you have school and other things you have to do.
I don't have anything else I want to do!
Raining One summer afternoon in a rain shower
Under the umbrella Kissing
I kissed gently on your wet cheek
I’m still longing for that season
I’m so distracted that I keep daydreaming
Nothing but you’re the part of me
It’s still not enough It still hasn’t gone away
Innocence of our stacked hands
What a good thing we lose?
What a bad thing we knew
In the rain, I get soaked in those phrases
It’s just not enough
I still can’t say goodbye
To the days I dreamed of counting down
What a good thing we lose?
What a bad thing we knew
If I hadn’t touched you, would I be smiling？