-Iori? -Do you not remember?
I don't have any memory of the day of the accident.
There is something I haven't told you guys.
The first to the finish line would get to tell Mei how they feel.
That was our deal.
I just couldn't give up.
I was so childish.
I… killed Kota.
I'm sorry.
Do you feel okay?
I don't think you have a fever.
Hey, look at you guys all lovey-dovey from the morning.
What-- What's going on?
This morning, I thought you were headed out somewhere,
but then you suddenly collapsed.
So I contacted Mei,
and she hurried to your side.
You went through a lot yesterday, so I was worried.
Oh, yeah.
-I remembered something. -What?
The reason I got in an accident that day
was because a car came out of nowhere,
and then I fell when I tried to avoid it.
What are you saying?
Then,
I saw someone looking down at me from the cliff.
I tried to call out for help, but I couldn't.
That person…
just left me there.
I don't know who it was.
Kota, are you okay?
It's no use…
I can't remember.
Don't strain yourself.
With all this coming back to you at once,
you're bound to be confused.
You should concentrate on resting up for now.
-But… -No buts!
Did you hear me?
Yes.
I WISH HE'LL CONFESS HIS LOVE TO ME BEFORE THE BLOSSOMS FALL.
MEI KONNO
If I hadn't made that wish
seven years ago,
maybe the future
would have been different.
Is that so…
Well, I'm glad he's okay.
Yeah, he's resting now.
It was just like you said, Mei.
What?
After the accident,
if I had believed Iori and listened to him,
Iori might not have had to hold onto that burden for so long.
Haruka…
Just kidding…
There's no point
in saying something like this now.
If I didn't suggest having the race,
Kota wouldn't have died.
It was me
who tore you two apart.
Iori…
I'm sorry
about the other day.
Why are you apologizing?
You must have felt bad for so long,
but I didn't understand,
so I'm sorry.
There is no need for you to apologize, Mei.
I'm the one who was at fault, originally.
-That's not true… -Thank you for your nice words.
But it doesn't change what I did.
Iori…
Excuse me.
Wait, Kota said something
that's been bothering me.
The reason for the accident
was because a car came out of nowhere.
When he told me, he was quite confused,
so I'm not sure how true it is.
Sorry, I have to go.
It's so bitter.
Apparently it's good for headaches.
Maybe it's too bitter for a kid though.
Shut up!
I'm relieved to see that you're doing better.
What do you think I should do?
About what?
About Iori…
He's always been so stubborn.
No matter how much I tell him it's not his fault, he won't listen.
I knew you'd say that.
So I thought about what to do.
I have an especially…
You seem more absent-minded than usual today.
Huh? Oh, sorry.
Don't tell me, are you having girl problems?
That's not it.
The mayor is here again.
-You'll be about an hour, right, sir? -Yes, that should do it.
Enjoy your visit.
YAGAMI SHRINE
He calls that a good idea?
Tonight,
let's all meet again at the bar.
-Again? -At times like this, it's best
to forget everything and just drink.
I'll invite Haruka,
so you invite Mei and Iori. I'm counting on you!
He's crazy.
Why?
Just a second.
Kota…
Are you feeling better?
Yeah, thanks to you.
But I'm not here about that.
Ryohei wants us to meet again
tonight at the bar.
Can you make it?
Sorry, I'm busy tonight.
Tell Ryohei I said hi.
Make sure you don't overdo yourself.
Take it easy, okay?
Was that Kota just now?
-Yeah. -Is he okay?
He still doesn't have any definite proof.
Besides, I'm worried that he might collapse
if he tries to force himself to remember again.
Of course.
Haruka has training today, she said she'll be home late.
So why don't we get started?
Sure.
What was that about?
MAYOR AKAIKE - APRIL 12, 2013
If we can prove that Mayor Akaike was on that track when the accident occurred…
Is it true?
That you also saw a car that day?
Did Kota say anything else?
After the accident,
he said that someone was looking down at him from the cliff.
But they didn't try to help him,
they just left the scene.
If there was someone who abandoned Kota that day,
I will never forgive them.
What's wrong?
Nothing…
The car I saw that day…
belonged to Mayor Akaike.
Are you serious?
I will look into the accident a bit more.
Wait. Let me help you.
-Did you find something? -His schedule for that day.
THE MAYOR'S SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, APRIL 12
This is no use. It says nothing about the time of the accident.
Yeah, you're right.
Sorry.
Sneaking around and hiding things from me.
What the hell?
Hey, how come neither of them are coming?
How should I know?
-Where are Mei and Iori? -I told you. I don't know!
This is no good!
Haruka said she can't make it home from her training because of the snow.
Oh, well. I guess it'll just be the two of us tonight.
-What did you just say? -I said, it'll just be the two of us…
Before that!
Haruka can't make it home because of the snow.
Yeah.
Okay.
Okay. Bye.
Haruka said she can't come home because of the snow.
Oh, okay.
It's dangerous if she drives in this weather.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT DIES FALLING FROM A CLIFF ON HIS BIKE
If…
Kota hadn't been in the accident,
what do you think he'd be doing now as an adult?
Would he be working,
married,
maybe have kids?
It's Kota we're talking about.
I can't imagine any of that.
He's almost stupidly straightforward.
I'm sure that no matter
how old he gets,
he'll stay just as he is.
Do you still love him?
Kota, I mean.
Is that why you're still in town?
I don't…
really know.
Sometimes I still wonder,
if it's all…
just a dream.
THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT KAZUSHIGE AKAIKE
RURAL REJUVENATION A MODEL FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY
Why don't you take a break?
It's okay, I'm fine.
Huh?
-What did you find? -Look at this.
Is this your father?
MAYOR ATTENDS ANNIVERSARY PARTY FOR ISHIKAWA HOSPITAL
That cherry blossom tree is due to be cut down, right?
Well,
our hospital is due to build a new facility on that site.
Really?
So my dad has been cozying up to Mayor Akaike.
Sorry for not telling you.
No, it's okay…
IT WAS A GOOD TIME WITH MANY FAMILIAR FACES.
No way…
04/12 ISHIKAWA HOSPITAL ANNIVERSARY, NATSUKI SAKURA HOTEL
This venue…
NATSUKI SAKURA MAP
It's located on the mountain track!
-So that means… -What?
That day… What if Akaike was drunk driving?
That makes sense.
That's why he couldn't immediately report what happened to Kota,
in order to protect himself.
That's awful…
Morning!
How are you feeling, Kota?
Fine, I guess.
Huh? Are you angry?
Yesterday…
What were you up to?
What?
-Something you can't tell me? -Um, it's not like that.
-It's fine. Whatever. -Wait. I brought you this.
I'm busy.
I said wait!
Is that Iori?
Yes.
I'm glad you two made up.
Hello?
I know where Akaike is.
-Really? -Later today,
they're holding a council meeting at the city hall.
If we try to catch him there, we may be able to talk to him.
I'll head over right away.
Mayor Akaike.
We wish to ask you a question.
You're the son of the head of Ishikawa Hospital, right?
You're familiar with Kota Sometani, correct?
No, who is he?
You almost hit him with your car.
He was a high school student you left to die.
That day, after the party for the anniversary of our hospital,
we know that you drove down that mountain track.
I saw your car at the time of the accident.
I've no recollection of that.
How do I respond to an old story dragged up now?
Dragged up now?
It's not just being dragged up now.
For seven years,
we have been tortured by this.
We are still
suffering because of it.
Kota was robbed
recklessly of his life.
And came back to us because of how much he regretted it.
He came back?
Please excuse me. I'm in a hurry.
Why did you abandon him that day?
Why didn't you help him?
If you had helped him,
he might still be alive today.
He could have lived
to become an adult, just like us.
We could have stayed together.
Apologize! Apologize to Kota!
Even if I was involved in his death,
you need proof, so please bring it to me.
In any case,
reckless actions like this
will only hurt your father.
Wait.
I must get going.
What is it you wanted to talk about?
Yesterday…
you were with Mei
at Haruka's house, right?
I still consider you
my best friend.
So…
I want you to be honest with me.
Iori!
Mei and I were investigating
what happened to you.
We figured out
who left you to die.
It was the Mayor of this town, his name is Akaike.
Are you for real?
But Akaike
stubbornly refused to admit it.
I'm sorry we kept it from you.
She was worried about you.
Mei was worried.
If you tried to remember the accident,
she thought you'd collapse again.
So,
we were trying to find out the truth for you.
Yesterday, she worked really hard to investigate.
And…
she cried.
She told him to apologize to you.
I have to go.
YAGAMI SHRINE
I WISH HE'LL CONFESS HIS LOVE TO ME BEFORE THE BLOSSOMS FALL.
MEI KONNO
Why the long face?
Kota…
Iori…
told me everything.
What?
I…
didn't know anything
and went off on my own, sulking.
I'm…
really sorry.
But…
you don't need to worry about the past.
I mean…
I'm here now, alive.
Although,
I'm annoyed that I'm the only one
who's still 17.
I want to…
eat inari sushi with you again,
have you show me around Tokyo,
drink bubble tea,
and eat roast sweet potato.
It…
is so much fun
being with you, Mei.
What's wrong?
I'm sorry.
Mei?
That day…
if we hadn't agreed to meet,
that accident never would have happened.
I can't stop thinking about that fact.
Sorry…
I'm really sorry.
I'm right here.
I'll always be
right here by your side, Mei.
So…
stop crying.
-Please check these notes. -Sure.
Iori!
Hey!
Why do you think human eyes can only look forward?
What?
I think that
it's so that they can only look straight ahead.
So Iori,
stop looking back.
Even a ghost like me has decided to look forward into the future.
So a human like you should do the same.
Or else, how can I move on?
I just wanted to tell you that.
Okay. I'm off. See you.
I WISH HE'LL CONFESS HIS LOVE TO ME BEFORE THE BLOSSOMS FALL.
MEI KONNO
If a couple professes their love for each other
while the cherry blossoms are in bloom,
they'll be together forever.
It's my dream that someone would tell me they love me under that tree.
You…
are not from this world, right?
What?
When all of the petals on this tree fall,
you're going to disappear.
What do you mean?
It's something called destiny.
THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE STORY
Okay!
Now the five of us are here.
NEXT TIME
Let's create a lot of memories together.
No matter what happens in the future,
don't hold back anymore.
I think you should stop your involvement with Akaike.
I want to disappear with Mei's smile
imprinted in my mind.
He left.
And he won't
be coming back.
KOTA'S FINAL MIRACLE IS…
As long as you're with them, you'll be fine.
And now,
I have nothing to regret.
Subtitle translation by: Shane Forde