Yumi Ozawa

> Yasogami High drama club...
> You watched the students practice...

Alright everyone, vocal exercises!
Repeat after me!
The lips, the teeth, the tip of the
tongue!

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises.
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

Just doing fundamentals all the time
gets boring, so let's try doing some
real performing!

We'll hold an audition. Everyone,
remember the line I'm about to say.
After the audition, we'll decide our
roles and finish it off with a five-
minute skit.
Got it? Now pay attention...

"What crazes me is not the light of the
moon, nor the golden sea, but merely
the trickle of your tears."

You all got that?
Well, I'm not going to repeat it!
Alright, we'll start with .
Come on up here, in front of everybody.
Show some emotion!

Don't worry, believe in yourself!

> The line began...

> Then it went...

> You're getting into it!
> You recited the entire line, with
lots of emotion.

> You doubt that you successfully
repeated the entire line...
> You stumbled your way through
the line...

Okay, next person!

Mi-tan, you wanna try?
We already know that you're going to
be my main character!

I'll do it. I'm confident that I can
remember.

"What crazes me..."

> Yumi appears to be a completely
different person as she recites.

"...is not the light of the moon, nor
the golden sea!"
......

"But... merely...
the trickle of your tears..."

> Yumi's own eyes are full of tears.
> She has become the character...

That was amazing...

She's always so good... It's scary...

If anyone thinks they can do a better
job than me, please come on up.

Yumi, don't say it like that...

If only standing around flirting made
you a better actor, huh...?

H-Hey, come on! We all remember the
line, so we might as well do it, right?
I think watching others act is a good
experience, too. Don't you, Yumi?

...You're right. Go ahead.

> Everyone recited the line, but...
> Yumi was the best, hands down.

Okay, we've unanimously decided that
Yumi will be the protagonist...

And she'll be opposite... !

I mean, it's either you or me, and
what I'd really rather do is direct.

> You must play Yumi's husband in
a short skit...

Do you have your lines memorized?
Are you ready to go?
Don't be so tense. This is just practice.

...But I do want us to take it seriously,
so give it a shot, okay?

Well, I'll lead you through it!

> Yumi seems excited.

Acting is fun, isn't it?

Huh, why? Acting is fun.

> Yumi looks distant...

Everything else... isn't.

When you're acting, it's like you get
to take on the life of another person.
Not just yourself. Not some Yumi Ozawa...
But another life to live...
I don't need lights. I don't need
costumes. All I need is a role to play.

All I need... is to not be me...

...Oh, sorry! If I keep talking, you'll
end up forgetting your own lines, huh?
...Let's give it a whirl, "darling!"

> With Yumi's encouragement, you decided
to accept the role of her husband.
> You feel that your relationship with
Yumi has deepened a little...

Alright! Want to ad-lib a kiss?

> With Yumi's help, you were able to
complete the skit to the applause of
the entire drama club.
> Yumi seems very happy. You went home.

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises.
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

Oh yeah, -kun. Have you
heard that the drama club's going to
be in the school concours?
I'm going to have the lead role
this year!
Can you help me with my part later?

Yumi! Your mother collapsed!

There was a call from the hospital!

Huh...? Oh, er... What should I do...?
We're still...

Huh... oh, okay...
I-I'm going!

Huh!? Oh, no, it's okay...
I-I'm going!

> Yumi ran out of the room.

The hospital?
I wonder what happened...?

I think we're all too worried to get
any more practice in... Let's call it
a day!

> Did Yumi go to the hospital...?
> ...You decided to go see.

> Inaba Municipal Hospital, hallway...

Hey... What's going on!?
What is HE doing here!?
Why are you here with him!?
You didn't collapse!? You lied to me!
I can't believe this!
Tell me what's going on!

...Yumi.
He's the one who collapsed, not me.
But I knew you wouldn't come if I told
you that.

So, yes, I did lie to you.
I wanted you to see him.

Mom... Do you think I want anything
to do with that man?

No.
I know you've suffered a lot. I feel
responsible for what happened, too.
But, you see... It was his last request.
...He doesn't have much longer.
That's why he wanted to see you...

S-So what? I don't care if he
lives or dies!
He's a complete stranger!
He's not my father!
Mom, you and I...
He abandoned us both!
And now what? Now that he's on his
deathbed, he expects us to forgive him?
Don't give me that crap!

...I've made up my mind. I'm going to
stay by his side until he passes away.
Letting him die all alone would be too
cruel to think of...

Are... Are you stupid!?
No... You're not doing this!

Yumi... I'm sorry.
But it's what I want to do.

Th-Then go ahead!
It's not my problem!

After all... I've been abandoned
before...

Wh-When did you get here!?
Were you listening to me?

You... Eavesdropping on people's private
conversations! You're a real sicko...!

> Yumi seems at a loss.

Wh-Why don't you quit the drama club!?
You're a terrible actor!

> Yumi is lashing out... She seems to
be at a loss.

......
Mom didn't collapse...
When I got to the hospital, it turned
out that the person in bed is the man
who used to be my father...
......
He abandoned my mother and me...
about ten years ago.
He found another woman...
He's a dirty sleazebag.

And now he comes crawling back to his
"daughter" because he's dying? Yeah,
after getting dumped by his bimbo...
Talk about shameless...

*sigh* This sucks so much...
I'd forgotten him after all this time...
His name, his face, his very existence.
I completely blocked him out!
Even worse, Mom's going to look after him
until he kicks the bucket. She's being
stupid. How gullible can you get!?

HE left HER, understand? Now he's a
hand-me-down from the other woman who
dumped him when he got sick.
They're both pathetic...!

> Yumi is trembling with anger...

Shut up!
What do you know about me...!?

> Yumi hangs her head.

......

I'm sorry...
...I'm sorry. I've calmed down.
......

What are you even doing here?

All this... It must be hilarious to
watch, huh...?

> In some small way, you were able to
help comfort Yumi.
> You feel that your relationship
with Yumi has deepened slightly...

I'm going home. Let's walk together...

> You walked home with Yumi. She seemed
to be filled with gloom.

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises.
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

I know it's a bit early, but we're at
a good place to stop. Why don't we call
it a day?

No!

The bell hasn't rung yet!
You want to quit early? You're slacking
off! You need to take this more
seriously!

Y-Yumi, maybe you've been working
too hard...

I feel like I'm the only one who cares
about this club! Stop holding us back!
The reason you never get any lead roles
is because you act like that!

Yumi!

Oh...

...

It is time to go home.
Please, don't forget anything.

L-Look, it's time to go home now, anyway.
Let's all just stop for today, all right?

Okay.

> Yumi stands, silent and unmoving.

...Was I wrong when I said that?

But...!
......

> Yumi bites her lip in frustration.

Y-Yeah, I'm just doing my best, huh...

> Yumi nods to herself.

Maybe you're right.
...I practice controlling my emotions
in this club, and it still doesn't help
me in real life...

> Yumi smiles wryly.

I'll... keep practicing.
At the riverbank or somewhere...
...Anywhere but at home.

No... But thanks.

> Yumi smiles...

There's no one there. I don't have a
family to worry about me...
......

> Yumi trembles slightly...

...There's nobody at my house.
Mom's been going straight to the
hospital after work, to see HIM.
There's no real point to going
home now...

...When I'm by myself at home, I can't
stop thinking about all that stuff.
The past... Why things turned out the
way they did... You know.

I thought I'd forgotten them...

Sorry... I've just been whining...
Just forget about this, okay?

Thanks. I don't like to show off
my bad side...

> Yumi smiles wryly...

That's mean! Can't you be a little
nicer to a girl?

> Yumi seems to have cheered up a little.

I have my acting.
That's how I can keep going. No matter
what happens, I will go on!
Yeah, that's right!

Thank you, -kun! If I was
by myself, I'd have been down in the
dumps for a while, I just know it.
So, um... I'm glad you were here.
Haha... I hope you'll stick around
for a while longer.

> It seems you were able to help
support Yumi...
> You feel that your relationship
with Yumi has deepened slightly...

I'm going to stop somewhere on my way
home and practice some more there.
I finally got a lead role! I have to
make sure I can do it!
Alright!

> You left Yumi and went home.

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises.
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

> Yumi isn't here...
> The lead role Yumi is supposed to play
for the concours is being played by the
vice president...
> Did Yumi go to the hospital...?
> ...You decided to visit the hospital
after practice ended.

> Inaba Municipal Hospital hallway...
> Yumi is sitting here, looking gloomy...

-kun... Why are you...?

-kun...

> Yumi looks happier...

Your house is in the other direction
from school.
Geez...

> Yumi looks happier...

Huh!? No way! Are you all right?
What...? You were joking!?
You jerk! I was worried!

> Yumi pouts...

I'm sorry. You came because I didn't
show up to practice, right?

...Mom collapsed.
She works from sunup to sundown, and
then she comes here to look after him
every day...
The doctor said it was exhaustion.
She'll be released from the hospital
soon, but...

She's pushing herself too far.
She's so stupid...

...It is.

My parents...
Is that even the word for people
like them?

Yeah... I want to, but...
She's looking after that man...
I don't like that at all.

Nothing matters anymore.
Now I have to look after Mom, like
she looked after him.
If I don't quit the drama club and get
a job, Mom will just make herself sick
again working all the time...!

I'm stepping down from my role!
The lead role... I had all my lines
memorized! My script was full of notes!
I'd practiced by myself all this time...
......

But there's no point now.
Nothing goes my way...
It's all because of my parents.
They're both holding me back...

I want to quit...
Why can't you quit your own family...?
This whole situation sucks.

> Yumi makes an angry face...

What do you know!?
All the pain I went through...!
We were abandoned!
Why did he have to come back now?
He stole my childhood, and now he's
stealing my dreams for the future!
I can't take this!
I just can't take it anymore...

> Yumi makes an angry face...

...Thank you...
...You didn't seem very reliable
when we first met, but you know,
you're pretty kind after all.

> Yumi smiles and looks relieved.

...I'm sorry for complaining like this.
It's not like you have anything to do
with what's happening in my life.

In for a penny, in for a pound?
Ha... It's nice to hear you say that,
though.

> Yumi blushes...

I know. I'm sorry...
But... I'm happy you came here to
see me. It makes me think I could...
hang in there a little longer.

> Yumi blushes...

> It seems you were able to support
Yumi in a time of need.
> You feel that your relationship
with Yumi has deepened slightly...

I'm going to visit my mom's room now.
...I'll see you at school.

> Yumi walks off sadly. You decided to
go home.

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises.
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

> Yumi isn't here...
> You decided to stop by the hospital
again.

> Inaba Municipal Hospital hallway...
> Yumi is standing at the door...

-kun...
...I just came from Dad's--that man's
room...

That's not funny...

> Yumi sighs.

I just went to see him...

> Yumi smiles distractedly.

It was nothing. She's already out
of the hospital...

> Yumi smiles, relieved.

I was here anyway... I came here to
pick up some medicine for Mom. I just
decided to stop by.
He looked at me, and he smiled like
he was so happy...

"Do you want to watch TV?" "If you want
to read some manga, go ahead and buy
some." "Here's some money for ice cream."
......

He's so stupid...
Getting all excited... Coughing...
Causing trouble for the doctors...
He's so stupid...
That man is not my father. I keep
telling myself that over and over,
and yet...
I can't take it anymore...

Why me... Why me, why me!?

Excuse me, can you keep your voice
down, please?

Oh... I'm sorry...

I'm sorry... I just lost control for
a moment...
...Why do I have to go through all of
this? Why me!?

I see... Then do you think that one
day, good luck will come my way...?
Or are people who have bad luck doomed
to stay unlucky forever?

> Yumi smiles sadly...

...He cheated on us. He left us.
Now he's dying.
Mom's poor health recently? The fact
that I had to step down from the lead
role in our play...?
All of that... You're saying that it's
all my fault!?

> Yumi yells at you with tears in her
eyes.

So what if it's not just me?
...No one can understand what I'm
going through!

> Yumi yells at you with tears in her
eyes.

Oh... I have to go. I need to get this
medicine to my mom.
Um... I'm glad you came.

> It seems you were able to give Yumi
some emotional support.
> You feel that your relationship
with Yumi has deepened...

...I'll see you at school.

> You watched Yumi walk off sadly.

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises.
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

> Yumi isn't here...
> You decided to stop by the hospital
again.

> Inaba Municipal Hospital, in front of
Yumi's father's room...

> You hear Yumi's voice coming
from inside...

Here, open your mouth...
Oh, it fell out...
...I didn't peel it. This fruit came
from a can.
You want me to cut it into smaller
pieces? Are you sure?
...Then I'll go throw this away.

Oh! We had practice today, didn't we...
You came here because you were worried
about me?
......

When I come to see him... he wakes up.
He should be in a lot of pain, but he
won't take his medicine because he says
it puts him to sleep...
He says... because he doesn't have much
longer... he wants to stay awake as long
as he can... So he can see Mom and me...

...He's so stupid.

Now...!
He waits until now to appear from
nowhere... and act like this... like
he loves me...

Like I'm his precious daughter...
That's not fair...

> Yumi bites her lip...

I forgot about him all this time...
No, I just didn't want to remember...
That he actually was a kind man.
He played with me so much when I was
a child...

> Yumi smiles, lost in memory.

He waits all my life to show up all of
a sudden and turn my life around...
And then he's going to leave again...
It's not fair...

He really is stupid...
Now he comes out... and... and acts
like that... like he loves me...

Like I'm his precious daughter...
It's not fair...

> Yumi bites her lip...

-kun... Thank you
for coming...
I'm... I'm scared...
I'm scared to be alone... in that room,
listening to him breathing...
It's so quiet... I don't know when he's
just going to stop breathing, forever.
......

I'm glad that you came... That I was
able to see your face...
I... I don't know what to do, but I
don't want to have any regrets later.
So I'll do what I can now...

> It seems you were able to give Yumi
some support...
> You feel that your relationship
with Yumi has deepened...

Oh... Visiting hours are almost over.
I'm going to stay here.
...I'll see you at school.

> Yumi walked off, looking helpless.
You went home.

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises.
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

> Yumi isn't here...
> You decided to stop by the hospital
again.

> Inaba Municipal Hospital,
Yumi's father's room...
> The door was open, so you cautiously
went in.

Now, try speaking to him...

...Can you hear me?
Look... It's Yumi. She's come to see
you today.
It's your daughter...

...Dad.

Yu...mi...

Yumi... Thank you...
You are... a kind girl...
Like your mother...

I-I'm not kind... Not at all!

You are a kind girl...
You're your parents' pride and joy.
You may be a bit angry and have a harsh
tongue, but I know that's because you're
trying to protect yourself...

It's my fault...
I'm sorry... I was so selfish...
I caused you nothing but trouble...
But seeing you at last...
Seeing you care for me...
I'm such a lucky man...

......

Yumi...

*sob* *sob* *sob*

Yumi, it took your mother and me many
days to come up with your name.
Your name means "bear fruit," because
we wanted your life to be full of good
things...

What good things have I ever
had in my life!?

Only you know that...
Because you see, Yumi, the good fruit
of our own lives... is you.

Mom...
Dad...
*sob*

No...
You must keep breathing...!

Dad... Dad!

...You never gave me the chance to
say it...
Dad... Thank you for bringing me...
into this world...

You came...

*sniff* *sniff*
Dad... died.
I... I just don't know what's
going on...

Th-Thank... you... *sob*

> Yumi is trying to come to terms with
what happened.

H-Hey, why are you crying too...?
*sob*
Thank you... For coming...
For crying... For me...

> It seems you were able to give Yumi
some emotional support.

I'm sorry... I'm only embarrassing
you by crying like this...
I'm... sorry...

> Yumi is desperately holding back
her tears...

-kun... Please, stay here
a little longer...
Stay... by my side.

> You can feel that Yumi is relying on
you to help her.
> You feel that your relationship
with Yumi has deepened...

Oh... I'm supposed to talk to the
doctor...
I'm sorry. Goodbye...
...I'll see you at drama practice.

> You said goodbye to Yumi and
went home.

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises.
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

> Yumi is back for the first time in a
long while, but she doesn't seem to be
participating in the exercises.

> Yumi is still standing there
absentmindedly...

Oh... Sorry, I didn't realize it was
over already...

Huh? Oh... You're right...

After trying to act again, it's so
different from the way it was before...
I can't step into the role.
I can't become a different me...
I don't want to...

> Yumi smiles sadly...

There's... There's no one who will say
my name like that anymore...
No one... to call me "Yumi" with that...
That voice full of love...
No one, anywhere...

> Yumi clenches her teeth...

Huh...? *sob*
Waaaaaaaaaaaah!

> Yumi begins to cry like a dam has
broken inside her.

What...? *sob*
Waaaaaaaaaaaah!

> Yumi begins to cry like a dam has
broken inside her.

Oh... No... Say something...
I don't... want to cry...
*sob* *sniff*
Waaaaaaaaaaaah!

> Yumi begins to cry like a dam has
broken inside her.

I-I hated him. I despised him.

> Yumi's voice trembles when she
speaks.

I wanted to know why he left us...
But I didn't want to know how he felt
about us...
I didn't want to think that he hated
me and my mom!
...That's why I decided to act like I
never had a father.
When he abandoned me, I didn't think
anything about him.
I didn't think about myself being
abandoned, either...

...I just wanted to run away from all
of that. I wanted to look the other way
from my entire life!

What... What should I do now...?
What did they mean by "bear fruit"...?

Yeah...
Stay with me...

> Yumi tries to smile as she cries...

Yeah... You're right. I shouldn't think
of my dad as a burden...

> Yumi tries to smile as she cries...

Do what I can...
But what can I do...?

> Yumi thinks while she cries...

-kun...
Just today...
Just this one day...
Don't... leave me alone...

> Yumi trembles helplessly...
> You can feel that Yumi trusts you
greatly.

> After waiting for Yumi to calm down,
you walked her to her house, then went
home.

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises.
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

> Yumi is just watching the other
members play their roles.

It still makes me sad...
Knowing that this is my last day.

I'm thinking about finding answers
to the questions I had before.
To "bear good fruit..." What can I do?
What must I do?

I hated him... I despised him...
But he was my one and only Dad...
He and Mom are the ones who gave me
life...
Then... What can I do for the people
who gave me this life? For the people
who have supported me?
I've been thinking about it all
this time...

I think I was using acting as a way
to hide from the world.
To me, the plays were where I could
live a different life.
Where I wouldn't have to look at my
own sadness...

I don't know what I can do, but I'm
going to find out.
I'm not going to run from my own life
anymore. After all, I'm the only person
who can live it.
So... As of today, I'm quitting the
drama club.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this
sooner. But I know if I had, you'd try
to make me feel better.
If you told me that I didn't have to do
it, then I might not consider any other
ways to find myself.
I think I might blame you one day if
that ever happened, even if you only
had my best interests at heart.
That's why I had to make this decision
on my own.

I'm sorry. And... Thank you.
Um... Can you take this?

> You obtained .

Even if it was my escape from the world,
I put my heart into my work.
If you can remember what I was like
then, I can carry on even further.

-kun... Thank you...
For listening to me and supporting me...
You gave me the opportunity...
to start walking.

> You feel Yumi's deep gratitude...
> You feel a strong bond forming between
yourself and Yumi...

Y-Y'know...
I... I love you...

So, uh...

I'll turn around, so if you're going to
reject me, just leave the room and I
won't have to see you go...

Are you sure... you're okay with me?

> Yumi's face is deeply red.
> ......
> There's no turning back...
> Your relationship with Yumi has
become intimate.

I-It looks like I wasn't that great
an actress, after all...

> You decide not to respond to Yumi's
admission and leave the room.

...Goodbye.

> Your room...
> You brought Yumi...

> Your room...
> You brought Yumi...

Picturing it...
It's kind of embarrassing, huh?

It is!
You studying, you sleeping,
you getting undressed...
...Er, that's kinda racy, huh!?
Ha, haha...

Huh, er, well... Normal stuff, y'know?
You studying, you sleeping, you
changing clothes...
...Er, that's kinda racy, huh!?
Ha, haha...

Ummmmmmmm... Er, well...
High school students doing that?
That's, y'know, umm...
What are you smiling about!?
You jerk!

H-Hey... Don't be so quiet all of
a sudden!

Why are you staring at me...?
S-Stop that...!

You jerk! Are you going to make me come
out and say it?

...Y-You know exactly what I mean!

> You spent a long time with Yumi.
> ......
> Darkness has fallen, so you walked
Yumi home.

> Yasogami High drama club...

> You participated in the acting
exercises..
> You thoroughly practiced expressing
a variety of emotions...

> The drama club feels like it's missing
something without Yumi there...

Ahhh, it's so relaxing here...
There's a kind and gentle smell here.
You smell the same way...
......

Hey...
Umm... Can I... stay next to you?
......

> You spent a long time with Yumi.
> You feel that the tight bond you have
with Yumi is something irreplaceable...
> ......
> It has gotten dark, so you walked
Yumi to her house...

> Your room...
> You brought Yumi here...

> Yasogami High drama club...
> Yumi is here...

-kun...
I knew you'd come... Hehe.
I came here today to turn something in
and... I felt this wave of nostalgia.
We used to be in this club together...
......
You're leaving tomorrow, right?

I have something to tell you.

I haven't really put my thoughts in
order yet... But I want you to hear
what I have to say.
Because you're the one who changed how
I think, -kun...

I'm thinking of joining the student
council. I figured I should do something
for my school.
I want to take part in some local
politics, too. Heheh... The town is
voting whether to keep the gas masks.
I understand why people wouldn't want
to see them ever again... But what
happens if the fog comes back, y'know?
Oh, and I've started working at Junes.
I'm a cashier at the food court.
I'd like to try some more of the clubs
at school, too. To be honest, I'd like
to go back to the drama club.
......
I... I want to see and feel the world
I live in.
So, I'm planning to try as many things
I can, as long as the opportunities
are there.

I've been thinking about...
what I'm supposed to do in my life.
That is, I want to find out what the
significant meaning in my life is.
Why my parents created me.
Though, if I do find that out, I can't
be satisfied with that answer.
I have to do something with that
knowledge. Do something for the people
who live on after me...

I believe the goal of life is... to pass
things on to as many people as you can.
It's not about inheriting blood, or
continuing your genetic line. It's more
like passing on your memories.

And since my father passed his down to
me... I have to do the same for future
generations.

I'll do my best to see that my life
"bears fruit."
......
I hope that you'll come back to see
me again.

...Maybe I should start off by getting
a boyfriend.
I mean, I can't be with you, since
you're leaving.
And, anyway, you ran away when I asked
you in the first place!
...I doubt I'll ever find anyone as
good as you, though, -kun...

...I hope we can see each other again.
Take care of yourself.
The fact that I care about you so much
won't change, no matter how far we're
apart.
We won't be alone... Bye.

> Yumi's eager smile cheers you up.
> You feel a close bond between yourself
and Yumi...