This is Takeda Mieko, who will work here starting today.
(I'm Takeda Mieko.)
December 1997 --- No one cared about me, no one protected me,
I was quite overwhelmed by this reality, since I used to think I'd be able to do anything by myself.
The 15th Television ATP Award Grandprix Winner --- But, I met him.
The 15th Television ATP Award Grandprix Winner --- His name is Nobe Hirofumi, a hearing man.
He told me he loves me.
Of course we had many obstacles, while we were dating.
I don't want to let my son live a life with burden.
But... he said to me...
I didn't fall for you because you're deaf.
I love Takeda Mieko!
(Please marry me.)
His parents have also given their blessings and so we are happily married.
October 1998 --- Congratulations. You're 3 months pregnant.
October 1998 --- What do you mean you don't want to give birth to the baby?
October 1998 --- She won't know what the child is singing,
October 1998 --- she won't know what her child's voice is like!
Nobe-san, do you understand how painful this would be for her?
The 7th Hashida Award Winner --- I also.. want to... give birth to our child.
Although there are things you can't do,
there are many other things you can do for the child.
It'll be alright. Ah, it must hurt.
And so we have another member in our family.
Her name is Chizuru. Nobe Chizuru.
Kimi no Te ga Sasayaite iru (Your Hands are Whispering) --- ~* Chapter 3 *~
subbed by yanie
edited by jenn
Yay!
(You like it?) / Yes!
A rabbit again?
Why do you like rabbits so much, Chizuru? / I like it!
You're right. I'm going, then!
Papa, have a good day!
Okay, bye bye!
I'll be a bit late tonight.
I'll eat something with Nakata.
Bye!
Mama, eat the rabbit lunchbox too, okay?
Just promise me!
Good morning!!
Ah, Rui-chan! Mama, I'm going!
Good morning!
Yes, I'll take care of her.
Let's drink tea together.
Lunch last time was so good!
It was the best. / I love eating outside.
Let's have a meal together again next time! / Yes, yes!
Let's have a meal together again next time!
I have never heard a sound even once since I was born.
But even so, I got married,
and have a child.
I'm sure that it's a gift from God, for me to be able
to have more wonderful encounters than anyone, in place of my deafness.
That's what I think.
Chizuru is 4 years old now,
and she goes to kindergarten.
The world was just the three of us - family, all this time, so..
...as Chizuru started to go outside, I honestly felt scared.
I wonder if she can accept the fact that her mother is
different from her friends' mothers.
It seems like she hasn't shown any sign of being troubled about this now...
..but somehow I have a bad feeling about this.
I don't mind being hurt.
Whatever happens, I have confidence that I can endure anything for her sake...
But...
...if she's hurt..
If she's hurt, because of me...
I don't think I can stand that.
That's what I'm scared of the most.
Welcome home.
Welcome home! Good girl!
Mama...
I'll be a bit late tonight.
(Hello!)
(Ambulance...) / This is 119.
(Please!) / May I help you?
(Hello, ambulance!) / Can you tell me your name and address?
What's wrong??
What? I don't understand!
Call?
(Ambulance! Please!)
Ambulance??
Something happened to Chizuru-chan!?
Chizuru-chan?
Oh, no! What a high fever!
Mieko-chan, measure her temperature!
Huh? Ah, sorry..
Measure...
..her temperature.
Phone, phone!
Hello, ambulance please!
A 4 year old girl suddenly got a high fever...
How many degrees? Wait, wait...
Mama.
Uhh, Nobe! / What?
I met her by coincidence... Naoko-chan.
Is that so. And? How is she?
Yeah. Then, well... actually...
It's okay, go ahead.
A mail...
Chizuru in the hospital.
Minamigaoka Chuo Hospital.
Nakata, sorry! I'll leave the rest to you!
It was only a step away from pneumonia, but--
Please, wait for a moment.
How's Chizuru?
Then, I'll talk to the doctor.
I'm her mother. / Hello.
In her place, can you please tell me about Chizuru's condition?
There's no need to worry, he said.
She almost caught pneumonia.
She has to be hospitalized for 2-3 days, so that they can observe her condition.
It's alright.
For inpatient registration, tomorrow morning--
Somehow, as a mother,
I feel so helpless.
I feel so miserable.
What's wrong, Mieko?
Be strong!
Have confidence in yourself!
Ah, I'll get her changing clothes. Mieko, you better stay here.
I see. You won't understand them. But, hurry, okay?
Even if I'm there, I won't be helpful after all.
She doesn't need me.
As I think like this,
somehow I feel like my body has lost its strength.
I couldn't move.
Hirofumi-san.
Mother, thank you!
How's Chizuru?
She's alright now. The fever's down already.
Is that so.
Where's Mie-chan?
She went to get Chizuru's clothes, but... she's so late.
Nobe-san. / Yes.
Actually, Mi--
Chizuru, what's wrong? / What is it?
Mama...
Mama.. Mama..
Mama...
This time, I...
felt like I could hear Chizuru calling me.
What are you doing here?
Let's hurry and go to the hospital.
What are you saying?
Chizuru kept calling you, Mie-chan,
"Mama, Mama...".
You have to be there.
It has to be you.
It has to be 'Mama'.
Mie-chan, have confidence in yourself.
Chizuru's mother is only you.
It's only you.
Be more confident.
It reminds me of when..
my mother always stayed by my side
when I got a fever.
She thought I'd be anxious when I open my eyes
if no one is around me, especially since I'm deaf.
So she stayed by my side all the time.
Whenever I opened my eyes,
I always saw my mother's face.
In comparison, what kind of mother am I...?
It's so boring,
to be a father.
I went there in a hurry, but then she kept calling 'Mama'.
I wish she would call 'Papa' just once.
Let's go!
Mama...
She's so late.
Mama will come soon.
You're late!!
You have to be stronger!!
I'm sorry.
Mama...
Let's eat the rabbit lunchbox together.
In the end, I can never be on par with her mother.
No! I want a rabbit!
Aa!! It's a rabbit!
Mama, eat it first!
Yes, Mama!
(It tastes good.)
It's not good.
Chizuru left the hospital healthy.
And because she had been good,
as a present, we went to the zoo as Chizuru wanted.
Papa! Give me a ride on your shoulders! / Okay.
This one looks like Papa!
No way!
What's that?
Ostrich.
So long. / Yeah, ostrich.
Chizuru, let's go to Mr. Lion's place. / Yes.
She's weird.
Mama...
Look at that.
What is that woman doing?
Don't say that and don't point your finger at them. / But they're so weird.
Chizuru, what's wrong?
Papa, what are they doing?
He's telling a secret. / What's that?
It's something he doesn't want other people to hear.
Chizuru wants to do it too!
I want to tell a secret to Mama, too!
Did you get that?
Chizuru, stop it.
Why?
Chizuru also wants to tell Mama a secret!
Mama can't understand Chizuru's secret.
Alright?
Why?? Chizuru wants to tell Mama a secret too!
Chizuru!
This is not good.
Chizuru, let's go see Mr. Monkey, okay?
Mama, it's Mr. Monkey!!
Akkanbee~
Chizuru.
Mama is calling you.
There's a monkey look-alike in front of Chizuru?
Yes, they look alike!!
Akkanbe~ Mama, let's go!
Chizuru, you just shared a secret with Mama.
I see!
(I love Mama so much!)
(Mama loves Chizuru verrry much, too!)
It's so high.
You're not scared? / No! I wonder if we can see the rabbits from here.
Maybe...
Why does Chizuru like rabbits so much?
Rabbits... I asked her why she likes rabbits so much.
(Mama wants to know, too.)
Because, if Mama could have long ears like a rabbit,
Mama's ears would be healed too, right?
That's why you like rabbits?
Chizuru!
Mama will cry. She will definitely cry.
See? / You're right!
Nothing! Right? / Yes.
I wish that we could stay like this and that the Ferris wheel would never stop.
I thought like this.
I want to stay like this forever...
I'd be so happy if the world could stay like this, just the three of us...
I thought like this.
Because I know, there will be so many hard things waiting outside.
Especially for Chizuru.
I just wish that this Ferris wheel would never stop.
Nakata?
Aa! Naoko-neechan!
Yes, so we are dating now.
Oh, about that...
Since around a month ago..
Why didn't you say anything before? / Well... you know...
(I'm sorry.)
Oh, well... in any case, let's have a toast!
You're right!! Let's have a toast!
Not that I'm trying to imitate you. / What do you mean??
I wonder what they're talking about.
How's your sign language?
Currently on intensive learning.
But I wouldn't understand if they do it so fast like that.
What do you like about Nakata-san?
Kind, handsome,
funny, smart, everything about him is wonderful!
Seriously!?
I lied! / What do you mean??
Chizuru-chan??
Cheers!!
It's good! Chizuru-chan, cheers!
Cheers, once again! Cheers!!
Let's cheers, two more times!
And then, 2 years passed.
What do you think of this?
Father, how about this??
Chizuru will become an elementary student starting April.
I'm hooome!!
I'm home.
Yay!
Awesome.
We have to send last year's temporary budget calculation documents to the accounting department.
Nakata, can you do that? / Yeah, okay.
Nobe! / Come here for a moment. / Yes!
Please, continue.
Sendai?
Yes, for the time being.
Sit down.
Nobe, as an employee, this is definitely a good job relocation for you.
Well, I can't say much, but the Sendai office is currently growing now.
You know, right? / Yes.
But...
But your wife...
So, regarding this matter, please let me know as soon as possible.
Thank you.
So, you will be transferred?
I never thought of this before.
But as an office worker, I guess that's common.
So, you'll get promoted?
What about Mieko-chan?
What should I do...
I think even ordinary wives would generally hate the idea of moving.
It's a difficult matter, especially for her.
My parents' and her parents' homes aren't that far from ours right now.
She'd feel lonely if we move further from them.
Is that so..
She is finally able to communicate with the neighbors too.
Chizuru will also enter elementary school starting April. She's looking forward to entering the same school with her friends.
So, what are you gonna do?
What am I gonna do...
Chief said, if I don't do this, it doesn't mean I'll never get promoted,
and he said I can do other comparable things instead.
But as an employee, it would be hard for you if you reject this.
I guess so.
You have to face so many hard things, huh.
You were the one who bought it for her, right?
She seems so happy.
You went and saw her school?
It's great that she can be together with her friends, huh.
Of course...
It's great for Mie-chan too, that many mothers whom you know are there.
I see.
Is that so. You will be transferred.
I'm confused about what I should do now...
I really don't know what to do this time.
My life has changed ever since Mieko was born.
To be honest, it was so hard that ordinary parents would never experience it.
Yes.
I've changed jobs a few times too. I can't say my career was successful.
Is that... / But, it's okay.
Sometimes I think about it, too.
If I stayed in that company,
what my life would be like, now.
I wanted Mieko to go to a good school,
and at that time our place was too far away from the school, so...
Yes.
When I quit my job, a colleague said to me,
"As a man, is that the right thing to do?".
Of course, I do not regret it.
I don't regret it.
But, Nobe-kun.
No one will know what is right and what you should do.
I also can't tell you what the right thing for you to do is.
Yes.
However, it will be hard for Mieko,
if she starts thinking that she's a burden to you
and that it affected your career.
Yes.
I'm sorry. I can't help with anything.
What are you saying?? This was a big help.
I'm glad I can talk to you.
Okay, let's drink! / Yes!
They learned sign language for you, huh?
I see.
Mama!
You've decided?
Yep! / Really.
This is the best thing to do.
Then, please make copies of this.
I totally didn't notice.
I totally didn't notice that he had been facing
such a problem all by himself.
He must have thought of me,
and worried about that.
It is such an unbearable feeling.
(Why didn't you say anything?)
But... I've decided.
I will go there by myself.
I think that's the best thing to do.
Listen to me.
First of all, I won't be there forever.
Just for a few years.
Also, I can't say...
that it would be a very good environment for you.
You don't know anyone there. And you'll be far from your parents.
(I know, but--)
It's the same case for Chizuru, right?
Right?
Honestly, I was going to reject this.
But I want to do this work as a man.
I want to aim higher in work.
(I understand.)
I think this is the best choice for us.
I just didn't want to
burden Mie-chan and Chizuru.
I don't want you to leave this good environment.
That's why I think this is the best way.
I also want to stay together with you.
I want the three of us to stay together.
Please, understand.
This is the best way.
I've made a decision already.
I've decided.
Don't give me that face.
Please! It'll be alright.
It's not like I'm going abroad, anyway.
What do you mean you don't have confidence?
Why?
You're not strong like Mieko-chan?
But, Naoko-chan...
...we are "us," right?
Sorry, Naoko-chan. Please, more slowly.
More slowly. Or else, I won't understand what you're saying.
What is it?
Mama has a request?