Mama...
"Was what happened that day...
"...really a miracle?
"When I woke up,
"a husband and child were waiting for me...
"I had lost all of my memories.
"Still, I'm certain...
"...this is where I should be.
"Isn't that right... Takumi-san?"
Takkun!
Mama's not here!
Good morning.
Is something the matter?
No, just a little... surprised...
Mama! You're not a dream!
Mama's come back...
Ah! It's nothing.
I forgot.
I'm not supposed to say those useless things to Mama, right?
That's right.
Papa almost did the same thing, too.
Still, Takkun. Seeing Mama drying the sheets made me want to cry a little.
Ah... Mama really has come back.
This isn't a dream.
We shouldn't talk about it anymore.
Why not?
Because I might start crying.
You're right. People will call us that 'crying father and son' again.
"The Planet Archive...
"...is where people from Earth, who have passed away, go to live,
"and so is the Planet of Memories.
"Yuji, one day Mama will journey to the Planet Archive.
"But don't cry.
"For when the rainy season comes,
"to you, Yuji, I will return.
"And then, after one year has passed,
"I will keep my promise,
"and come back to you during the rainy season.
"The three of us... together..."
That's enough for now, Yuji. Let's stop.
Takkun! Wait a minute!
What's up?
I thought it was strange...
What is?
When Mama came back to us, she had forgotten everything,
but she didn't write anything about that in here.
This is the book Mama wrote...
I don't know what to think...
I think Mama may have dropped something along the way.
She dropped something?
Like maybe she dropped her memories on the train from the Planet Archive.
She's forgotten everything...
That's why she has no memories at all.
Yuji, let's not show the picture book to Mama just yet.
Why not?
If Mama saw it,
she might want to get back on the train to the Planet Archive to get her things, wouldn't she?
Moreover, we have to keep it an absolute secret from anyone that Mama's come back.
Because no one is expecting Mama to be here anymore.
Because of the funeral, right?
Yeah.
If they make a fuss, I think Mama might think she shouldn't be here.
No! She can't!
Don't you think?
All right. I won't tell anyone!
And I won't show this to Mama either. I'll hide it!
Is there something wrong?
Ah... no, not really.
Something's strange.
Why are you always... staring at me like that?
No, it's not like that...
AH!! She peed!!
"Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu" "Now, I'm Coming To Be With You"
Episode 02: "Jugyou Sankan" "Classroom Visit"
Well, I think we should call her 'Oshikko.' (Oshikko - to pee)
But it's not very cute.
Oshikko, in the toilet! Oshikko, do it right.
Yuji-kun, you think that's funny don't you?
I think "Shiro" would be better. (Shiro - "White")
But she's not white.
Well then, "Kuro?" (Kuro - Black)
But she's not black, either.
Then, "Chai..." (Chairo - Light brown)
That's boring! No way!
I think "Oshikko" is pretty good myself.
Big hug. Once more, big hug.
And another big hug.
A complete big hug.
That's all the big hugs.
Well, doesn't that feel right?
Ah, maybe I shouldn't go to school today after all.
Eh?
Because I don't want you to disappear while I'm gone.
What are you talking about?
I should stay here!
If I'm next to Mama, I can watch out for her!
Don't worry.
I won't go anywhere.
You don't have to worry about me.
No matter what, I'll be waiting here for you.
All right, let's go.
We're leaving...
Have a nice day.
Takkun... I'm losing my confidence.
About what?
At breakfast, I thought I might start crying again.
Me too.
It was really good, wasn't it?
Hmm. It's been awhile since we tasted it.
I tried to think of a name for the dog so I wouldn't cry.
I see.
Everything on that side is your responsibility...
Good morning!
AH! Are you sure you can get tomorrow off from the library?
It's okay. Don't worry about it.
Don't be late. They hate that.
I know...
It'd be better though if Mama could come for Visitation Day.
We promised.
We can't tell anyone about Mama coming back.
But...
For tomorrow's Visitation Day, Papa will definitely be there.
You better be. Don't forget.
"My Family" (uses both male and female forms)
Okay. This is the title of the essay you're going to write today.
Huh? No way!
And you'll read your essays
in front of your families tomorrow in class.
But I don't know what to write about.
It's easy.
Just write about something that's peculiar to your family.
Sensei, what do you mean by 'peculiar?'
By 'peculiar' I mean...
...the cute, silly things that happen all the time.
"Aio Yuji"
I'll read a new book tomorrow at 10 o'clock, okay?
Okay!
Please bring your mothers.
Mari-chan.
Can you come over here a minute?
What's wrong?
Ah... Well... That is...
Calm down.
I promised to hold a book for him,
but I forgot and lent it out to someone else already.
It's all my fault.
I see...
I'm sorry.
We're sorry.
What if I read you a book about a crying kitty, okay?
It's okay. Let her help you out.
But...
I'm always such an annoyance to her...
I understand how you feel, though.
The rainy season's started.
They just said so on the news.
It has?
How are you feeling?
I made a lot of mistakes at work today.
I even made a child start crying.
Ala, ala, alaa...
And then...
Umm...
Because of my mistakes...
I started thinking of various things and began to tremble.
Want one?
Ah, no, I...
It's really good. It's sweet tasting and soothes the heart.
Sure you don't want it?
Well then... thanks.
Mio came back.
Eh? I'm sorry. Who came back?
Mio did.
Huh? Eh!?
Mio-san has come back?
I don't believe what I'm saying either.
That's certainly surprising... Eh...
And, what then?
Your wife was resurrected in the forest.
She lost all of her previous memories.
She's living with you again.
Since that's the case, you must have come here to consult me about something.
That's right.
I can't hear you. What is it?
Yuji is really happy about it.
He clings to Mio and won't let go.
But...
When the rainy season ends, Mio will disappear.
How... how do you know that?
In an illustration in the picture book she left behind, she drew that.
But... Yuji hasn't realized that yet.
When Mio came back,
the impact was such, it felt as though something had grabbed my heart, too.
At first, I thought I had mistaken her for someone else.
No...
I... realized it was Mio.
But, after thinking about it,
Mio's destiny is to disappear once more...
And then I realized Yuji...
...was going to have go through the difficult loss of his mother a second time.
It's still not too late... to tell Mio the truth.
"If you stay here, you'll just end up hurting Yuji again.
"I'm very sorry, but I have to ask you to leave."
I'm sure Mio would understand.
And then I can tell Yuji:
"Mama's coming back was just a dream.
"We've all just been dreaming."
Sensei, what do you think?
Takumi-kun, what do you want?
What do I want?
This is your problem.
You have to think about your own relationship with Mio-san.
If you only think about Yuji-kun, without thinking about yourself as well,
you'll probably never come up with an answer.
I think if you prepare yourself, even if it is for a cruel destiny,
then I'm sure Yuji-kun will be able to overcome anything.
Sensei...
I think you should do what you want to do.
Thank you very much.
Hearing my story, you must think it's just a dream.
Hey. I was certainly surprised, but I never thought it was a dream.
In this world, there are many strange things.
Our own science is still poor, and we can't understand everything,
so unscientific things like this are treated badly.
Be at ease. I am your friend.
This is very good.
Yes. Thank you very much.
Sensei, sorry for being so late.
The flowers aren't going anywhere, so take your time.
Yes.
Wow, they're beautiful!
I've arranged these as patterns,
but please try to create your own design.
Yes, ma'am.
Ah, that's good, isn't it.
Sensei, you seem tired lately.
Am I?
A lot of my energy went into Mio's first anniversary service, tiring me.
You've always been so tense.
Thank you. But I'm fine.
At Mio's anniversary service, I heard from various people.
That Home Economics Teacher, Riyouko-sensei, is retiring.
I never thought myself that I would ever consider retiring from teaching.
But, after Mio's death,
I haven't been able to concentrate on anything.
That time was really...
...a living hell.
I remember you telling me once, you hadn't known Mio and Aio-kun,
had been seeing one another.
Weren't you surprised?
When they told you "We're getting married"?
Still, I had a hunch she was interested in somebody.
But, I guess 19 was too young to get married at...
And then, when she told me it was Aio-kun, I really was surprised.
Aio-kun was a student of yours in Junior High School, wasn't he?
That's right. I tried to convince her so many times.
Since the two of them were so young, I asked them to wait a little to get married.
"At least wait until you've graduated from college."
But... she was like that.
Strong-willed, wasn't she?
Yes. So I gave in to them...
I'm sure Mio, from Heaven, is still thanking you for that.
Perhaps.
But I don't know...
Tomo-chan!
This is really good! Are you sure you don't want any money?
It's okay!
Whenever you eat, lots of customers come out to eat as well.
Really?
They do. I guess this town has a new star now.
Having you around has been good business for me.
Sensei, come by anytime.
Mama! I'm home!
Welcome home.
I made you a new gym bag.
However hard I washed it, the stain on the old one wouldn't come clean.
Thank you...
Something wrong?
It's nothing.
Still awake?
Yuji-kun just fell asleep.
Mysterious, isn't it...
How you never get tired looking at a sleeping child's face.
Um... could I ask you something...?
What is it?
Is this... my mother?
Do you want to see her?
Such a beautiful person...
You're beautiful, too.
This is something new you made.
Yes. I only did as much as I could, though.
Thank you.
Not at all...
Good night.
Ham and eggs?
Yes.
My favorite!
Ham and eggs.
Hello. This is Aoi.
This is Nagase.
I'm sorry for calling you so early this morning.
Ah... yes. Good morning.
What's happened?
Last night my father collapsed.
I'm at the hospital in another town now.
And then...?
I need to stay with him.
I'm really sorry to ask on your day off,
but could you please substitute for me at today's readings, please?
The Chief will be there, but you know...
Okay? You understand don't you?
I'm sorry.
All right. Take care.
Yuji...
What is it?
I won't be able to make it today.
Eh! No way!
Keep your voice down. We don't want Mama to hear.
But...
You promised, didn't you?
Excuse me...
Ah... it's nothing.
Is it ready?
Just a little longer.
We'll be right there.
Don't say you don't understand.
The librarian Mariko-san is counting on Papa to look after things for awhile.
Isn't she always playing with you, too?
That's true, but...
Now's not the time to not return a favor when she needs it.
Understand?
On Visitation Day... no one from our family is going to come...
I'll probably be the only one...
I'm sorry.
Can't Mama do it!?
She can't.
We already talked about that, didn't we?
Mama can't go out in public.
You know that.
You don't have to give me big hugs today. I'm leaving.
Sorry about the confusion.
Since your physical condition isn't restored, you shouldn't exert yourself.
You shouldn't go outside.
Just stay inside and rest.
I will. Take care.
Bye.
Hey. Yuji...
"Vegetables Here"
"Vegetables here. Cheap."
You shouldn't have added that.
Ah... are you still upset about that?
It would've been fine without it.
That isn't what you've said before.
Then, how would you say...
Excuse me...
I'm sorry for interrupting you.
Uh, I would like to buy some vegetables.
What do you think about the blackboard?
In my opinion,
"Vegetables here. Please call out in the back field,"
is more than enough.
But my wife thought if we didn't insert the word "Cheap,"
people would think they were for free.
Ah, I see...
In Japan, there's no need for such crude things, it's not a part of our culture, is it?
I think...
if you insert 'Cheap' it might be best. Then people would better understand.
Ah, aren't you going today as a guardian to the elementary school for Visitation Day?
Is it okay if you don't go?
Visitation Day?
My mother said to my father "Give me a birthday present..."
My Papa gave her an electric blanket.
Mom was angry.
Ah, Rena-chan, thank you.
Who wants to go next?
"Kitty, why are you crying?
"I feel great."
The other day, my father came home drunk at night.
For some reason, he wasn't wearing his usual suit,
but the bartender's outfit.
The next day, he couldn't remember anything, and my mother was mad...
Ah... I'm so hungry.
It hurts. Yuji-kun, help me. Help me.
I'm sorry.
I'm not in the mood right now.
I see.
Yuuuji!
What's wrong? Where's your Papa?
At the library.
Eh? But today's Visitation Day, isn't it?
So why didn't you ask me to go?
All it would have taken was one call.
If you had said something to me, I would have come running.
Ah, I'm sorry.
It happened so suddenly, I really didn't have the chance to think of it.
I feel so sorry for Yuji.
This is his first Visiting Day since entering elementary school.
That's enough.
Takumi-kun is in the middle of work.
But...
Well, what's wrong?
Grandma, thanks for the food.
I'm sorry, but I think I'd better go home.
Ah, already?
But you've hardly touched your hamburger.
I'm sorry.
Hey, Yuji. Let's play together! Okay?
You have something there.
Why didn't you say something to me about it?
Maybe I would have gotten back some memories if I had gone to Yuji-kun's Visitation Day.
I'm sorry.
Could you please tell me whenever something comes up?
Yuji-kun's gym bag...
Eh?
I don't understand why he won't take the new bag I made for him.
Welcome home. I'm sorry, I didn't notice.
Yuji. Sorry about today.
No... It's okay.
I'm sorry. We weren't talking bad about you...
Um. I know.
I'm going to play in the forest.
Then I'll go with you.
That's okay.
Yuji! It's getting dark.
How's Yuji-kun?
He got tired playing, and fell asleep.
Ah, I'll take his bags.
Thank you.
This guy, he's gotten heavy.
I...
...want to get back my memories as soon as possible.
It's not fair to Yuji-kun.
You don't have to be impatient.
Of course we'd be happy if they did come back though.
If I don't start remembering soon,
then what happened today will almost certainly happen again.
So, isn't there anything we can do that will help me get back my memories?
Anything is fine.
Can we stop somewhere along the way?
This is the junior high school we used to go to.
It's where we met for the first time.
Third year, Class Two.
This was our class.
Our third year here was the first time we shared a class together.
What is it?
That's right!
I sat here, and you sat there.
This was the most comfortable place; our "Best position."
We always felt like that.
You should remember that.
That, most of all.
'Vivid Action Drawing'
I heard the model for that painting was Kudou, did you hear that?
I wonder what's so great about that show-off?
I'm sorry!
Even though we sat next to one another in class,
our encounters didn't have much feeling to them before then.
Weren't you the person I liked then?
I don't know.
Still, there's a lot more to come in this story.
Anyway, I'll tell you about it little by little.
Shall we go?
Yes.
Are you okay?
I'm sorry, Yuji-kun.
"Sensei likes your composition very much.
"You should show it to your parents, okay?"
"I was the one who named our puppy 'Oshikko.'
"When I was told it wasn't very good,
"Mama laughed and praised me."
'I think "Oshikko" is pretty good myself.'
"My Mama is silly, but she understood me right away."
I'm sorry, Yuji-kun.
I couldn't understand your loneliness.
When no one came to your Visitation Day, it must have been very sad for you.
But, you did your best anyway...
...and went to school today.
You did your best, Yuji-kun.
I admire you for going.
I'm sorry for not realizing it before.
I...
...love you, Yuji-kun.
I'm sorry.
About that thing on his gym bag...
You sewed this when the nurse wasn't looking
while in your hospital bed when he was born.
That's why Yuji kept using it, and why it's so old.
Maybe I was a little lonely then.
I envy my old self.
It's okay.
Someday, just as we met as junior high school students...
...Yuji will also have a similar encounter, and leave our home.
But he won't be leaving our family for a long time yet.
So until then, the three of us will be together.
That much is good enough, isn't it?
It's enough, isn't it?
Hey, hey! I'm gonna name the puppy "Aio Oshikko."
"Takumi-san...
"Even though it was my fate to disappear after 6 weeks,
"and you alone knew that,
"even so, you accepted everything about me.
"How hard was your decision?
"Supported by your love...
"...I gained the courage to start walking again.
"Thank you, Dear."
Original Air Date: July 10, 2005