5 Centimeters Per Second (2007) - full transcript
Takaki and Akari are two classmates in elementary school. During their time together they have become close friends. Their relationship is tested when Akari moves to another city because of her parents' jobs. Both of them struggle to keep their friendship alive, as time and distance slowly pulls them apart. When Takaki finds out that he is moving further away, he decides to visit Akari one last time.
Hey...
They say it's five centimeters per second.
Huh? What is?
The speed at which cherry blossoms fall.
It's five centimeters per second.
You sure know a lot of
stuff like that akari.
Say... don't you think it
kinda looks like snow?
I guess...
Hey! Wait up!
Akari!
Takaki-kun!
It'd be great if we could watch the cherry
blossoms fall again together next year.
"To thono takaki-sama."
"It's been a really long time."
"Summer's pretty hot around here
but compared to Tokyo it's so much milder."
"But when I think about it
i liked Tokyo's hot humid summers too."
"The melting-hot asphalt"
"the distant skyscrapers
shimmering in the heat"
"and the freezing air-conditioning
in department stores and on subways."
"The last time we were together was at
our elementary school graduation."
"It's already been half a year since."
"So takaki-kun..."
"Do you still remember me?."
"Dear takaki-kun..."
"Thanks for replying."
"It made me so happy."
"It's already well into Autumn and the
leaves are turning beautiful colors."
"I had to pull out a sweater the day before
yesterday for the first time this year."
Tohno-kun.
Senpai.
What's that? A love letter?
That's not it.
Sorry for having asked you to do all that.
No problem I finished quickly.
Thanks. So is it true that
you'll be transferring schools?
Ah yes at the end of the year.
Where to?
Kagoshima. Because of my parents.
I see... it'll be lonely
around here without you.
"I'm actually writing this
letter on the train because
practice has been starting
really early lately."
"I had my hair cut the other day."
"It's so short you can even see my ears..."
"So you probably wouldn't even
recognize me if you saw me."
I'm back.
Welcome home.
"I bet you're changing little
by little too takaki-kun."
"Dear takaki-kun..."
"Have you been doing well
during these cold days?"
"It's already snowed a
number of times here."
"Every time it does I wrap myself in
layers of clothes when I go to school."
"It hasn't snowed in Tokyo yet right?."
"Even though I moved away..."
"I still look at Tokyo's
weather forecast out of habit."
Wish it would rain one of these days...
It wouldn't be any better indoors.
Say... have you guys ever been to tochigi?
Huh? Where?
Tochigi.
Nope.
I wonder how you get there...
No clue.
A bullet train or something?
It's a long way...
Freshmen!
Yes?!
Onto the final three laps! Fight! Fight!
"I was surprised to hear that you were
the one transferring schools this time."
"We both got used to transferring schools
when we were little.."
"But still... kagoshima.
That's kind of far away isn't it?"
"It's no longer a
distance where I can just
jump on a train and see
you whenever I want..."
"So... I guess... that makes
me feel a little lonely."
"Please be well takaki-kun."
"Dear takaki-kun..."
"I'm so happy we'll see
each other on march 4th."
"It'll be just about a year
since we last met won't it?"
"For some reason I feel kind of nervous."
"There's a really large cherry tree close
to my house so I bet that in the spring..."
"The petals will fall at
five centimeters per second."
"I'm really hoping the spring will
come with you that day takaki-kun."
Wanna stop somewhere on the way home?
Well... it's raining out.
The forecast said it's supposed
to turn to snow by tonight.
Really? I thought it felt cold.
And we're already in march...
Yeah it feels like I'm gonna catch a cold.
We can get off at shimokita.
Yeah.
Tohno let's get to practice.
Right...
About that... I don't think
i can make it today.
Getting ready to move?
Something like that.
Sorry.
"I'm glad you're coming all the way
out to the station closest to me..."
"But it's a long trip
so please be careful."
"I'll be waiting for you in the station's
waiting room at 7:00 that night."
On the day akari and I were to meet
the rain turned to snow in the afternoon.
Hey takaki-kun.
It's that cat chobi.
He's always lying here.
But it looks like he's
all by himself today.
What happened to your friend Mimi?
It must be lonely all by yourself huh?
How's that book so far?
I really like it.
Last night I read four billion
years' worth of evolution.
Where are you at now?
Just about when the
anomalocaris start showing up.
The cambrian era!
I really like the hallucigenia.
They look like this!
Yeah something like that...
Which one do you like takaki-kun?
The opabinia maybe?
The five-eyed one right?
I think akari and I were
a lot alike somehow.
Exactly one year after i
transferred to Tokyo...
A new friend just transferred to our
school. This is tohno takaki-kun.
Akari transferred into my class.
Starting today shinohara akari-San
will be joining our class.
Because our bodies were still small
frail and prone to illness...
The two of us preferred the library
over playing on the sportsfield.
Naturally we became friends...
And because of that there were times
when our classmates would tease us. But...
I feel kinda bad for her.
Those two are always together.
Ooh! There he is!
As long as we were both together
strangely things like that didn't scare us.
Aw what a nice guy!
Wow!
And yet for some reason I thought we'd
end up going to the same middle school...
And stay together just as we were...
From that point on.
Shinjuku shinjuku last stop.
For passengers which...
Jr line heiou line subway...
It was the first time I'd gone
to shinjuku station alone...
And all the lines I would soon be
riding would also be firsts for me.
My heart was pounding.
I was going to see akari again.
How did it go with that guy?
Who?
You know that nisshou boy.
Are you kidding? His tastes
were a little gross...
We will be arriving at musashi-urawa
shortly. Again this is musashi-urawa.
At our next stop musashi-urawa in order
to connect with the express train...
In order to connect with the express train
this train will be stopping for 4 minutes.
Those passengers who wish to quickly reach
yonohonmachi and oomiya please board...
Um... this is shinohara.
Umm is takaki-kun there?
It's akari-chan.
Huh? You're transferring schools?
What about nishi middle school? You went
through all that trouble to get accepted.
They said they'd handle
the paperwork of
transferring me to the
public school in tochigi...
I'm sorry...
No... there's no reason to apologize.
I told them I still wanted to go from
my aunt's house in katsushika but...
They said I couldn't until I was older.
I understand... you don't
have to say anything else.
That's enough.
I'm sorry...
Through the receiver painfully
pressed against my ear...
Akari's own pain was palpable.
But... there was nothing I could do.
That was pretty good huh?
Yeah. See you later!
The terminal I transferred at was
crowded with people heading home...
And everyone's shoes
were soaked from the snow.
The frigid air was saturated with the
classic smell of a snowy city day.
All passengers your attention please.
Due to the snowy weather
conditions the utsunomiya line
outbound trains traveling
to oomiya and utsunomiya...
Will be experiencing an
8 minute delay in arrival.
We apologize for any
inconvenience in your busy day.
Until that moment I hadn't
even considered the
possibility of one of
my trains being late.
My creeping anxiety suddenly
became much greater.
This train is currently running 10 minutes
late due to the snowy weather conditions.
We apologize for any
inconvenience in your busy day.
After we had passed a little
beyond oomiya station...
Almost all the passing buildings
suddenly vanished from view.
Next stop is kuki. Kuki.
We apologize for our terribly late arrival.
Those passengers transferring
to the tobu isesaki
line please make your
way around to exit ♪5.
Due to the next train's
delay this train will be
stopping at this station
for the next 10 minutes.
We apologize for any inconvenience in your
busy day and appreciate your understanding.
Sorry about that.
Due to the next train's
delay this train will be
stopping at this station
for the next 10 minutes.
We apologize for any inconvenience
in your busy day and...
This is nogi. Nogi.
To all passengers we express
our deepest apologies.
Due to the continuing delay of
the following train this train
will be stopping at this station
for an extended period of time.
We apologize for any inconvenience in your
busy day and appreciate your understanding.
The stations seemed
unbelievably far apart...
And the train would stop
for an unbelievably
long amount of time
at each station.
Kurihashi > koga > nogi > mamada > oyama.
Omoigawa > tochigi >
ohirashita > iwafune > sano.
The wilderness on the
other side of the window
seemed like nothing I'd
ever experienced before.
The slowly ticking time...
And my pangs of hunger...
Continued to dampen my spirits.
The time we had planned
to meet had passed...
So I had the feeling that
akari was beginning to worry.
On that day...
The day she called...
Akari must've been so much
more jittery and upset
than me yet I couldn't find
the words to console her.
I felt so ashamed of myself.
As we look back we thank our
teachers for all they've done.
Then I guess after today...
This is goodbye.
Any summer vacation plans?
I received the first letter
from akari half a year later...
During the summer of my
first year of middle school.
I remember every last word of it.
Over the two weeks before
the day we were to meet...
I spent my time writing
a letter I would give her.
It was filled with all the
things I had to tell her.
All the things I wanted her to hear.
There were so many.
We apologize terribly for the wait.
This train will shortly begin its
departure towards utsunomiya.
This is oyama. Oyama.
For those passengers changing over to the
tohoku bullet train please transfer here.
Those passengers transferring
to the down-train the tohoku
bullet train towards morioka
please transfer to line 1.
Those passengers
transferring to the up-train
towards Tokyo please
transfer to line 5.
Those passengers transferring
to the mito line-
all passengers your attention please.
Due to snowy weather
conditions the ryomo line
is currently experiencing
a serious delay.
We apologize for the
terrible inconvenience.
We ask that you please be patient and wait
a little longer until the train arrives.
The next up-train headed for...
Either way...
I had no choice but to keep going towards
the station where akari was waiting.
This is the up-train
line 8 towards takasaki
passing ashikaga and
maebashi on the way.
Please stand behind the white line...
All passengers your attention please.
Due to the disrupted
schedule from the heavy
snowfall this train will be
making a temporary stop.
We apologize terribly for this
inconvenience in your busy day...
But presently we are unable
to resume normal service.
I repeat...
"Dear takaki-kun..."
"How are you?"
"I'm actually writing this
letter on the train because
practice has been starting
really early lately."
Every time I tried to picture
akari from her letters...
She was always alone for some reason.
In the end the train remained stopped
in the barren wilderness for two hours.
Each minute felt like an eternity.
With clear malice towards me...
Time continued to drift
slowly forwards around me.
I clenched my teeth tightly together...
And could do nothing but endure
the pain and hold back my tears.
Akari...
Please tell me...
You've already...
Returned home.
Line 3 towards takasaki passing ashikaga
and maebashi on the way has just arrived.
Due to the snowy weather conditions this
train will be making a temporary stop.
Akari...
It tastes good.
Really?
It's just hot roasted tea.
Roasted tea?
This is my first time having it...
You're kidding. I'm sure
you've had it before.
You think?
You must have.
And... since I made this I can't really
guarantee how good it'll taste but...
If you'd like please have some.
Thanks!
I was really hungry.
How is it?
It's the most delicious
rice ball I've ever had.
You're exaggerating!
It really is!
It's probably just because you're hungry.
You think so?
It must be.
I think I'll have a bite too.
So... you're moving soon right?
Yeah. Next week.
Kagoshima huh?
It's pretty far away.
Yeah...
Though this trip to tochigi
was pretty far too.
You can't even go home today now after all.
We'll be closing soon. There aren't
any more trains coming or going.
Yes sir.
Be careful on your way home in this snow.
Yes sir.
Can you see the tree way out there?
Is that the tree from your letters?
Yeah. It's a cherry tree.
So...
Don't you think it
looks a little like snow?
It sure does.
In that moment...
I felt like I knew where eternity
our hearts and ours souls all lay.
I felt as though we had shared
all the experiences of my 13 years.
And then... in the next moment...
I was suddenly filled with
an insufferable sadness.
Akari's warmth... and her soul...
How could I take them in and
where could I bring them?
I felt that sad because i
didn't have those answers.
I clearly knew that from that point
on we wouldn't be together forever.
The overwhelming weight
of our lives to come...
And the uncertainty
of time hung over us.
But... the creeping anxiety
that had taken hold of me...
Would soon gradually melt away.
And all that remained would be the
feeling of akari's soft lips.
We spent that night in a shack
by the side of a field.
Wrapping ourselves in an old
blanket we talked on and on...
Until finally we had
fallen asleep side by side.
The next morning as I boarded the train
that had started its run again...
I parted with akari..
Umm... takaki-kun... Yeah?
Takaki-kun...
I'm sure you'll be okay from now on.
I just know it!
Thank you.
Akari you be well too!
I'll write you!
I'll call too!
I never told akari that I'd lost
the letter I wanted to give her.
Because I felt that my world had
completely changed after that kiss.
All I wanted was the
strength to protect her.
With that thought in my mind
I continued to gaze out
over the landscape beyond the window...
forever.
Kanae are you going to go after school too?
Yeah are you okay with that onee-chan?
Fine by me. But be sure to
get to your studies too.
Yeah.
Okay!
Morning.
Good morning tohno-kun.
You're really early this morning huh?
You too sumida. You went
to the beach again right?
Yeah.
You're practicing hard.
I wouldn't say that...
See you later tohno-kun.
Later.
Got it? It's time to begin
making your choices.
Be sure to turn it in by Monday okay?
And remember to talk it over
with your parents before.
Looks like sasaki-San's gonna
be going to a college in Tokyo.
No surprise there. I was thinking of maybe
going to a 2-year college in kumamoto.
What about you kanae?
Huh? Umm... Will you get a job?
Umm...
You really haven't thought
about it at all huh?
The only thing on your
mind is tohno-kun right?
He definitely left his girlfriend
in Tokyo I'm telling you.
No way!
Still not going well for you?
Yeah... what's gotten into me?
It's better if you don't
think about it too much.
You'll be able to surf again
in no time I promise.
It must be nice taking
things so easy onee-chan.
What are you in such a rush for?
At this rate I won't be able
to say it before graduation...
Thanks onee-chan.
I can take you home too...
Don't worry about it.
I'll take my bike home.
Sumida you're on your way home?
Yeah.
You too tohno-kun?
Yeah.
Wanna go home together?
If I had a tail like a dog's...
I'm sure it'd be wagging
back and forth right
now since I'd be unable
to hide my happiness.
I was sort of relieved
and thought to myself
"thank goodness I'm
not really a dog..."
And I was surprised at how foolish i
was for thinking what I did earlier.
But even still the trip home
with tohno-kun was bliss.
Right from the start tohno-kun seemed
a little different from the other boys.
I'm tohno takaki.
I'm sorta used to transferring schools
because of my parents' jobs...
But I'm not too used to this island yet.
It's nice to meet you all.
I fell in love at first sight on
that day in the second year of
middle school and wanted to go to
the same high school as him...
So I studied really hard
was somehow accepted...
And every single time I saw him
fell more and more in love with him.
But it's so scary and everyday is painful.
Yet every time I see him I'm
filled with such happiness...
That I'm at a loss for what to do.
Tohno-kun there you go
buying the same one again.
It's really good.
Sumida you always think your decisions
through seriously don't you?
Yeah.
I'll be outside.
Yeah.
Just this please.
That'll be 90 yen.
Here you go.
Thanks as always.
Welcome back.
What'd you buy?
Well it was hard to pick
but I went with this.
Sometimes tohno-kun would be
writing a text message...
And every time he did
i would always wish...
That the text message he was writing...
Would be addressed to me.
Kabu I'm home!
Kabu kabu!
I'm back.
This is a message from your town hall.
The next normal open
gasoline stand will be at
the sakai agricultural
cooperative gas station.
Sumida kanae-San from class 3-1...
Itou-sensei is calling for you.
Please report to the
guidance counselor's office.
That's your girlfriend tohno.
She's not my girlfriend.
You're the only one in the grade
who hasn't filled one out.
I'm sorry.
Look this isn't something someone
in my position should be saying...
But this isn't really something
you have to wrack your brain over.
Has sumida-sensei said anything?
No...
If you really can't decide then how about
a 2-year college within the prefecture?
But...
Onee-chan has nothing to do with it...
After all...
Surfing even after I pestered
my sister so much to teach me...
And the most important guy who
takes up all of my thoughts...
Are two things I'm still no good at.
Thanks as always.
Not at all. See you next time.
Whenever I go to where tohno-kun is...
Deep down my heart... it clenches up...
Just a little.
Tohno-kun.
Sumida what's up? I'm surprised
you found me way out here.
I saw your bike so I decided to come on by.
That okay?
Ah I see. I'm glad to see you.
We didn't run into each other
at the bike shed today.
I'm glad too.
He's really kind.
So kind that sometimes it
feels like I'm going to cry.
Hey are you going to test
to get into college?
Yeah. I'm going to take a few
for some universities in Tokyo.
Tokyo... I see.
I thought that might be the case.
Why do you say that?
You seem like you want to go far
away from here for some reason...
What about you sumida?
I don't even really know what's
going to happen tomorrow.
Everyone's the same.
No way! You too tohno-kun?
Of course.
You don't look like you have
anything to worry about.
Oh stop that. I'm filled
with nothing but worries.
I'm doing all that I can just to keep up.
I have no breathing room.
Really?
I see...
A plane?
Yeah.
Wow...
They say it travels at
five kilometers per hour.
It's going to the
minamitane launch facility.
Looks like there'll be a launch this year.
First time in a while.
Yeah. It's supposed to go to the
far reaches of the solar system.
No matter how many years it takes...
Hey... you should really talk to kanae
about her plans for the future.
You know how absent-minded she can be.
She'll be fine. It's not
like she's a child anymore.
I remember when I used to be just
like that a long time ago...
Hear that kabu? Tohno-kun
apparently doesn't
know what tomorrow
will bring either.
We're both the same. Tohno-kun and me.
It must really be...
A lonelier journey than
anyone could imagine.
To just press forward through
the true pitch darkness...
Barely encountering even a
single hydrogen atom...
Wholeheartedly believing you'll
come closer to discovering...
The secrets of the universe within
the unfathomable abyss of space.
I wonder how far we should go...
How far can we go?
I wonder when I got in the habit of
writing messages to nobody?
Kanae have you decided what
you'll be doing in the future?
Nope. Like I thought I'm still not sure...
But it's all right! I decided that I'll
just take things on one at a time.
Off I go!
Since that day a number of
typhoons have passed through...
And the island's become
a little cooler each time.
The wind blowing through the sugarcane
has taken on a slight chill...
And the sky seems a little higher.
The edges of the clouds
have become gentler...
And my classmates have begun
wearing light jackets when
riding their bikes with the
change in the weather.
By the time I managed to ride the waves
again six long months had passed.
Even though it was the
middle of October it felt
like a little bit of summer
had been left behind.
The weather forecast for
tonight shows a clear
evening with winds up to
eight meters per second.
So I heard that Yamada
confessed to sasaki-San.
No surprise there.
Huh? Kanae you seem awfully happy today.
Something good happen
between you and tohno-kun?
No way!
Today I'm finally going to
confess to tohno-kun too.
If I don't tell him today on the day
i finally rode the waves again...
I'm sure I won't ever be able to.
Sumida.
To...
Tohno-kun.
On your way home?
Yeah.
I see.
Then let's go home together.
Huh sumida? Decided already today?
Yeah.
What's the matter?
To me...
No... I'm sorry. It's nothing.
Is your bike acting up?
Yeah... that's kind of weird.
Is it broken?
Yeah... I think the spark plug's dead.
Was this a hand-me-down?
Yeah. It was onee-chan's.
Did it stall when you tried accelerating?
It might have actually...
Let's leave it here for today.
You can have someone from
your house pick it up later.
Let's walk back today.
Huh? I'll walk by myself!
You go on ahead.
We're this far out and
your place is nearby so...
And... I kind of want to walk today.
Tohno-kun please...
What's wrong?
I'm sorry...
It's nothing.
I'm so sorry...
Sumida...
I'm begging you... please...
Don't be so nice to me!
As we humans desperately and recklessly
stretched our arms to the top of the sky...
And launched something of that
mass and size into the air...
Gazing off into the distance towards
something far beyond our wildest dreams...
I felt like I somewhat
came to understand why
tohno-kun was different
from the other boys.
And at the same time...
I clearly realized that tohno-kun
wasn't really looking at me.
Which is why on that day i
couldn't say a word to tohno-kun.
Tohno-kun is really kind but...
He's so truly kind but...
But tohno-kun was always
looking far beyond me.
Far beyond me towards
something in the distance.
I'm sure I wouldn't be able to give
tohno-kun what he truly desires.
But still... despite that...
Tomorrow the day after
and even beyond that...
I know I'll still be
helplessly in love with him.
While thinking solely of tohno-kun
i cried myself to sleep.
I strongly felt...
That if I looked back now...
She would look back as well.
The last chuo line train bound
for Tokyo is now arriving.
You should stay till new year's.
I know but I have a million
things to take care of.
I guess so.
Be sure to cook him good meals you hear?
I will.
If there's ever a problem don't
hesitate to call us akari.
I'll be fine.
We'll see each other at the wedding
next month so don't worry so much.
The train for platform 2 is now arriving.
You'd better head home. It's cold.
Last night I dreamt of something
from the distant past.
Back when he and I were
both still children.
I'm sure it's because of that
letter I found yesterday.
Mizuno-San.
Ah yes sir?
Have time for that meeting?
Yes sir.
Through the act of living itself
sadness piles up here and there.
Whether in the sheets
hung to dry in the sun...
The single toothbrush
in your bathroom...
Or the history logs of your cell phone.
"Even now I still love you..."
That's what the girl I'd been with
for three years said in that e-mail.
"But I'm sure that even if we had written
1000 text messages back and forth..."
"Our hearts probably wouldn't have
moved even 1 centimeter closer."
Over these past few years
I've only wanted to move
forward and touch that
which I couldn't reach...
Though I've never been able
to tangibly define what it was.
Not knowing where those obsessive thoughts
came from I simply continued to work.
Then one day I realized
that my heart was
withering and in it there
was nothing but pain.
And then one morning...
When I realized that I
had completely lost my
earnest and acute
feelings from long ago...
I knew I was at my limit...
And quit my job.
Yesterday I had a dream.
A dream of long ago.
Within the dream the two of
us were still thirteen...
Standing upon the vast field blanketed
in snow as far as the eye could see.
In the distance the lights shimmering in
houses were set sparsely far and wide.
All that was left upon the newly
fallen snow were our footprints.
Just like that...
We wished without
hesitation that one day...
The two of us would be able...
To see the cherry
blossoms together again.
I'm always searching for you
always searching for your figure.
On the opposite platform or
through window in the back alley.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If my wish were to come true
i would be at your side.
There would be nothing I couldn't do.
I would risk everything to embrace you.
If only to avoid loneliness anyone will do.
On this night when it seem stars will fall
from the sky I cannot lie to myself.
One more time don't fade away seasons.
One more time I want that time
when we fooled around together.
I'm always searching for you
always searching for your figure.
At the intersection in my dreams.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If miracles do happen i
want to show you right now
the new dawn who I'll be from now on
and the words "i love
you" that I never said.
The memories of summer revolve around me
and your throbbing heartbeat
that suddenly stopped.
I'm always searching for you
always searching for your figure.
In the city at dawn in sakuragi-Cho.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If my wish were to come true
i would be at your side.
There would be nothing I couldn't do.
I would risk everything to embrace you.
I'm always searching for you always
searching for even a fragment of you.
At the shop I'm going to in
the corner of a newspaper.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If miracles do happen i
want to show you right now
the new dawn who I'll be from now on
and the words "i love
you" that I never said.
I always end up looking
somewhere for your smile.
At the railroad crossing waiting
for the express to pass.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If I could live life over again i
would be at your side every time.
Because I would want nothing
more precious than you.
The end
They say it's five centimeters per second.
Huh? What is?
The speed at which cherry blossoms fall.
It's five centimeters per second.
You sure know a lot of
stuff like that akari.
Say... don't you think it
kinda looks like snow?
I guess...
Hey! Wait up!
Akari!
Takaki-kun!
It'd be great if we could watch the cherry
blossoms fall again together next year.
"To thono takaki-sama."
"It's been a really long time."
"Summer's pretty hot around here
but compared to Tokyo it's so much milder."
"But when I think about it
i liked Tokyo's hot humid summers too."
"The melting-hot asphalt"
"the distant skyscrapers
shimmering in the heat"
"and the freezing air-conditioning
in department stores and on subways."
"The last time we were together was at
our elementary school graduation."
"It's already been half a year since."
"So takaki-kun..."
"Do you still remember me?."
"Dear takaki-kun..."
"Thanks for replying."
"It made me so happy."
"It's already well into Autumn and the
leaves are turning beautiful colors."
"I had to pull out a sweater the day before
yesterday for the first time this year."
Tohno-kun.
Senpai.
What's that? A love letter?
That's not it.
Sorry for having asked you to do all that.
No problem I finished quickly.
Thanks. So is it true that
you'll be transferring schools?
Ah yes at the end of the year.
Where to?
Kagoshima. Because of my parents.
I see... it'll be lonely
around here without you.
"I'm actually writing this
letter on the train because
practice has been starting
really early lately."
"I had my hair cut the other day."
"It's so short you can even see my ears..."
"So you probably wouldn't even
recognize me if you saw me."
I'm back.
Welcome home.
"I bet you're changing little
by little too takaki-kun."
"Dear takaki-kun..."
"Have you been doing well
during these cold days?"
"It's already snowed a
number of times here."
"Every time it does I wrap myself in
layers of clothes when I go to school."
"It hasn't snowed in Tokyo yet right?."
"Even though I moved away..."
"I still look at Tokyo's
weather forecast out of habit."
Wish it would rain one of these days...
It wouldn't be any better indoors.
Say... have you guys ever been to tochigi?
Huh? Where?
Tochigi.
Nope.
I wonder how you get there...
No clue.
A bullet train or something?
It's a long way...
Freshmen!
Yes?!
Onto the final three laps! Fight! Fight!
"I was surprised to hear that you were
the one transferring schools this time."
"We both got used to transferring schools
when we were little.."
"But still... kagoshima.
That's kind of far away isn't it?"
"It's no longer a
distance where I can just
jump on a train and see
you whenever I want..."
"So... I guess... that makes
me feel a little lonely."
"Please be well takaki-kun."
"Dear takaki-kun..."
"I'm so happy we'll see
each other on march 4th."
"It'll be just about a year
since we last met won't it?"
"For some reason I feel kind of nervous."
"There's a really large cherry tree close
to my house so I bet that in the spring..."
"The petals will fall at
five centimeters per second."
"I'm really hoping the spring will
come with you that day takaki-kun."
Wanna stop somewhere on the way home?
Well... it's raining out.
The forecast said it's supposed
to turn to snow by tonight.
Really? I thought it felt cold.
And we're already in march...
Yeah it feels like I'm gonna catch a cold.
We can get off at shimokita.
Yeah.
Tohno let's get to practice.
Right...
About that... I don't think
i can make it today.
Getting ready to move?
Something like that.
Sorry.
"I'm glad you're coming all the way
out to the station closest to me..."
"But it's a long trip
so please be careful."
"I'll be waiting for you in the station's
waiting room at 7:00 that night."
On the day akari and I were to meet
the rain turned to snow in the afternoon.
Hey takaki-kun.
It's that cat chobi.
He's always lying here.
But it looks like he's
all by himself today.
What happened to your friend Mimi?
It must be lonely all by yourself huh?
How's that book so far?
I really like it.
Last night I read four billion
years' worth of evolution.
Where are you at now?
Just about when the
anomalocaris start showing up.
The cambrian era!
I really like the hallucigenia.
They look like this!
Yeah something like that...
Which one do you like takaki-kun?
The opabinia maybe?
The five-eyed one right?
I think akari and I were
a lot alike somehow.
Exactly one year after i
transferred to Tokyo...
A new friend just transferred to our
school. This is tohno takaki-kun.
Akari transferred into my class.
Starting today shinohara akari-San
will be joining our class.
Because our bodies were still small
frail and prone to illness...
The two of us preferred the library
over playing on the sportsfield.
Naturally we became friends...
And because of that there were times
when our classmates would tease us. But...
I feel kinda bad for her.
Those two are always together.
Ooh! There he is!
As long as we were both together
strangely things like that didn't scare us.
Aw what a nice guy!
Wow!
And yet for some reason I thought we'd
end up going to the same middle school...
And stay together just as we were...
From that point on.
Shinjuku shinjuku last stop.
For passengers which...
Jr line heiou line subway...
It was the first time I'd gone
to shinjuku station alone...
And all the lines I would soon be
riding would also be firsts for me.
My heart was pounding.
I was going to see akari again.
How did it go with that guy?
Who?
You know that nisshou boy.
Are you kidding? His tastes
were a little gross...
We will be arriving at musashi-urawa
shortly. Again this is musashi-urawa.
At our next stop musashi-urawa in order
to connect with the express train...
In order to connect with the express train
this train will be stopping for 4 minutes.
Those passengers who wish to quickly reach
yonohonmachi and oomiya please board...
Um... this is shinohara.
Umm is takaki-kun there?
It's akari-chan.
Huh? You're transferring schools?
What about nishi middle school? You went
through all that trouble to get accepted.
They said they'd handle
the paperwork of
transferring me to the
public school in tochigi...
I'm sorry...
No... there's no reason to apologize.
I told them I still wanted to go from
my aunt's house in katsushika but...
They said I couldn't until I was older.
I understand... you don't
have to say anything else.
That's enough.
I'm sorry...
Through the receiver painfully
pressed against my ear...
Akari's own pain was palpable.
But... there was nothing I could do.
That was pretty good huh?
Yeah. See you later!
The terminal I transferred at was
crowded with people heading home...
And everyone's shoes
were soaked from the snow.
The frigid air was saturated with the
classic smell of a snowy city day.
All passengers your attention please.
Due to the snowy weather
conditions the utsunomiya line
outbound trains traveling
to oomiya and utsunomiya...
Will be experiencing an
8 minute delay in arrival.
We apologize for any
inconvenience in your busy day.
Until that moment I hadn't
even considered the
possibility of one of
my trains being late.
My creeping anxiety suddenly
became much greater.
This train is currently running 10 minutes
late due to the snowy weather conditions.
We apologize for any
inconvenience in your busy day.
After we had passed a little
beyond oomiya station...
Almost all the passing buildings
suddenly vanished from view.
Next stop is kuki. Kuki.
We apologize for our terribly late arrival.
Those passengers transferring
to the tobu isesaki
line please make your
way around to exit ♪5.
Due to the next train's
delay this train will be
stopping at this station
for the next 10 minutes.
We apologize for any inconvenience in your
busy day and appreciate your understanding.
Sorry about that.
Due to the next train's
delay this train will be
stopping at this station
for the next 10 minutes.
We apologize for any inconvenience
in your busy day and...
This is nogi. Nogi.
To all passengers we express
our deepest apologies.
Due to the continuing delay of
the following train this train
will be stopping at this station
for an extended period of time.
We apologize for any inconvenience in your
busy day and appreciate your understanding.
The stations seemed
unbelievably far apart...
And the train would stop
for an unbelievably
long amount of time
at each station.
Kurihashi > koga > nogi > mamada > oyama.
Omoigawa > tochigi >
ohirashita > iwafune > sano.
The wilderness on the
other side of the window
seemed like nothing I'd
ever experienced before.
The slowly ticking time...
And my pangs of hunger...
Continued to dampen my spirits.
The time we had planned
to meet had passed...
So I had the feeling that
akari was beginning to worry.
On that day...
The day she called...
Akari must've been so much
more jittery and upset
than me yet I couldn't find
the words to console her.
I felt so ashamed of myself.
As we look back we thank our
teachers for all they've done.
Then I guess after today...
This is goodbye.
Any summer vacation plans?
I received the first letter
from akari half a year later...
During the summer of my
first year of middle school.
I remember every last word of it.
Over the two weeks before
the day we were to meet...
I spent my time writing
a letter I would give her.
It was filled with all the
things I had to tell her.
All the things I wanted her to hear.
There were so many.
We apologize terribly for the wait.
This train will shortly begin its
departure towards utsunomiya.
This is oyama. Oyama.
For those passengers changing over to the
tohoku bullet train please transfer here.
Those passengers transferring
to the down-train the tohoku
bullet train towards morioka
please transfer to line 1.
Those passengers
transferring to the up-train
towards Tokyo please
transfer to line 5.
Those passengers transferring
to the mito line-
all passengers your attention please.
Due to snowy weather
conditions the ryomo line
is currently experiencing
a serious delay.
We apologize for the
terrible inconvenience.
We ask that you please be patient and wait
a little longer until the train arrives.
The next up-train headed for...
Either way...
I had no choice but to keep going towards
the station where akari was waiting.
This is the up-train
line 8 towards takasaki
passing ashikaga and
maebashi on the way.
Please stand behind the white line...
All passengers your attention please.
Due to the disrupted
schedule from the heavy
snowfall this train will be
making a temporary stop.
We apologize terribly for this
inconvenience in your busy day...
But presently we are unable
to resume normal service.
I repeat...
"Dear takaki-kun..."
"How are you?"
"I'm actually writing this
letter on the train because
practice has been starting
really early lately."
Every time I tried to picture
akari from her letters...
She was always alone for some reason.
In the end the train remained stopped
in the barren wilderness for two hours.
Each minute felt like an eternity.
With clear malice towards me...
Time continued to drift
slowly forwards around me.
I clenched my teeth tightly together...
And could do nothing but endure
the pain and hold back my tears.
Akari...
Please tell me...
You've already...
Returned home.
Line 3 towards takasaki passing ashikaga
and maebashi on the way has just arrived.
Due to the snowy weather conditions this
train will be making a temporary stop.
Akari...
It tastes good.
Really?
It's just hot roasted tea.
Roasted tea?
This is my first time having it...
You're kidding. I'm sure
you've had it before.
You think?
You must have.
And... since I made this I can't really
guarantee how good it'll taste but...
If you'd like please have some.
Thanks!
I was really hungry.
How is it?
It's the most delicious
rice ball I've ever had.
You're exaggerating!
It really is!
It's probably just because you're hungry.
You think so?
It must be.
I think I'll have a bite too.
So... you're moving soon right?
Yeah. Next week.
Kagoshima huh?
It's pretty far away.
Yeah...
Though this trip to tochigi
was pretty far too.
You can't even go home today now after all.
We'll be closing soon. There aren't
any more trains coming or going.
Yes sir.
Be careful on your way home in this snow.
Yes sir.
Can you see the tree way out there?
Is that the tree from your letters?
Yeah. It's a cherry tree.
So...
Don't you think it
looks a little like snow?
It sure does.
In that moment...
I felt like I knew where eternity
our hearts and ours souls all lay.
I felt as though we had shared
all the experiences of my 13 years.
And then... in the next moment...
I was suddenly filled with
an insufferable sadness.
Akari's warmth... and her soul...
How could I take them in and
where could I bring them?
I felt that sad because i
didn't have those answers.
I clearly knew that from that point
on we wouldn't be together forever.
The overwhelming weight
of our lives to come...
And the uncertainty
of time hung over us.
But... the creeping anxiety
that had taken hold of me...
Would soon gradually melt away.
And all that remained would be the
feeling of akari's soft lips.
We spent that night in a shack
by the side of a field.
Wrapping ourselves in an old
blanket we talked on and on...
Until finally we had
fallen asleep side by side.
The next morning as I boarded the train
that had started its run again...
I parted with akari..
Umm... takaki-kun... Yeah?
Takaki-kun...
I'm sure you'll be okay from now on.
I just know it!
Thank you.
Akari you be well too!
I'll write you!
I'll call too!
I never told akari that I'd lost
the letter I wanted to give her.
Because I felt that my world had
completely changed after that kiss.
All I wanted was the
strength to protect her.
With that thought in my mind
I continued to gaze out
over the landscape beyond the window...
forever.
Kanae are you going to go after school too?
Yeah are you okay with that onee-chan?
Fine by me. But be sure to
get to your studies too.
Yeah.
Okay!
Morning.
Good morning tohno-kun.
You're really early this morning huh?
You too sumida. You went
to the beach again right?
Yeah.
You're practicing hard.
I wouldn't say that...
See you later tohno-kun.
Later.
Got it? It's time to begin
making your choices.
Be sure to turn it in by Monday okay?
And remember to talk it over
with your parents before.
Looks like sasaki-San's gonna
be going to a college in Tokyo.
No surprise there. I was thinking of maybe
going to a 2-year college in kumamoto.
What about you kanae?
Huh? Umm... Will you get a job?
Umm...
You really haven't thought
about it at all huh?
The only thing on your
mind is tohno-kun right?
He definitely left his girlfriend
in Tokyo I'm telling you.
No way!
Still not going well for you?
Yeah... what's gotten into me?
It's better if you don't
think about it too much.
You'll be able to surf again
in no time I promise.
It must be nice taking
things so easy onee-chan.
What are you in such a rush for?
At this rate I won't be able
to say it before graduation...
Thanks onee-chan.
I can take you home too...
Don't worry about it.
I'll take my bike home.
Sumida you're on your way home?
Yeah.
You too tohno-kun?
Yeah.
Wanna go home together?
If I had a tail like a dog's...
I'm sure it'd be wagging
back and forth right
now since I'd be unable
to hide my happiness.
I was sort of relieved
and thought to myself
"thank goodness I'm
not really a dog..."
And I was surprised at how foolish i
was for thinking what I did earlier.
But even still the trip home
with tohno-kun was bliss.
Right from the start tohno-kun seemed
a little different from the other boys.
I'm tohno takaki.
I'm sorta used to transferring schools
because of my parents' jobs...
But I'm not too used to this island yet.
It's nice to meet you all.
I fell in love at first sight on
that day in the second year of
middle school and wanted to go to
the same high school as him...
So I studied really hard
was somehow accepted...
And every single time I saw him
fell more and more in love with him.
But it's so scary and everyday is painful.
Yet every time I see him I'm
filled with such happiness...
That I'm at a loss for what to do.
Tohno-kun there you go
buying the same one again.
It's really good.
Sumida you always think your decisions
through seriously don't you?
Yeah.
I'll be outside.
Yeah.
Just this please.
That'll be 90 yen.
Here you go.
Thanks as always.
Welcome back.
What'd you buy?
Well it was hard to pick
but I went with this.
Sometimes tohno-kun would be
writing a text message...
And every time he did
i would always wish...
That the text message he was writing...
Would be addressed to me.
Kabu I'm home!
Kabu kabu!
I'm back.
This is a message from your town hall.
The next normal open
gasoline stand will be at
the sakai agricultural
cooperative gas station.
Sumida kanae-San from class 3-1...
Itou-sensei is calling for you.
Please report to the
guidance counselor's office.
That's your girlfriend tohno.
She's not my girlfriend.
You're the only one in the grade
who hasn't filled one out.
I'm sorry.
Look this isn't something someone
in my position should be saying...
But this isn't really something
you have to wrack your brain over.
Has sumida-sensei said anything?
No...
If you really can't decide then how about
a 2-year college within the prefecture?
But...
Onee-chan has nothing to do with it...
After all...
Surfing even after I pestered
my sister so much to teach me...
And the most important guy who
takes up all of my thoughts...
Are two things I'm still no good at.
Thanks as always.
Not at all. See you next time.
Whenever I go to where tohno-kun is...
Deep down my heart... it clenches up...
Just a little.
Tohno-kun.
Sumida what's up? I'm surprised
you found me way out here.
I saw your bike so I decided to come on by.
That okay?
Ah I see. I'm glad to see you.
We didn't run into each other
at the bike shed today.
I'm glad too.
He's really kind.
So kind that sometimes it
feels like I'm going to cry.
Hey are you going to test
to get into college?
Yeah. I'm going to take a few
for some universities in Tokyo.
Tokyo... I see.
I thought that might be the case.
Why do you say that?
You seem like you want to go far
away from here for some reason...
What about you sumida?
I don't even really know what's
going to happen tomorrow.
Everyone's the same.
No way! You too tohno-kun?
Of course.
You don't look like you have
anything to worry about.
Oh stop that. I'm filled
with nothing but worries.
I'm doing all that I can just to keep up.
I have no breathing room.
Really?
I see...
A plane?
Yeah.
Wow...
They say it travels at
five kilometers per hour.
It's going to the
minamitane launch facility.
Looks like there'll be a launch this year.
First time in a while.
Yeah. It's supposed to go to the
far reaches of the solar system.
No matter how many years it takes...
Hey... you should really talk to kanae
about her plans for the future.
You know how absent-minded she can be.
She'll be fine. It's not
like she's a child anymore.
I remember when I used to be just
like that a long time ago...
Hear that kabu? Tohno-kun
apparently doesn't
know what tomorrow
will bring either.
We're both the same. Tohno-kun and me.
It must really be...
A lonelier journey than
anyone could imagine.
To just press forward through
the true pitch darkness...
Barely encountering even a
single hydrogen atom...
Wholeheartedly believing you'll
come closer to discovering...
The secrets of the universe within
the unfathomable abyss of space.
I wonder how far we should go...
How far can we go?
I wonder when I got in the habit of
writing messages to nobody?
Kanae have you decided what
you'll be doing in the future?
Nope. Like I thought I'm still not sure...
But it's all right! I decided that I'll
just take things on one at a time.
Off I go!
Since that day a number of
typhoons have passed through...
And the island's become
a little cooler each time.
The wind blowing through the sugarcane
has taken on a slight chill...
And the sky seems a little higher.
The edges of the clouds
have become gentler...
And my classmates have begun
wearing light jackets when
riding their bikes with the
change in the weather.
By the time I managed to ride the waves
again six long months had passed.
Even though it was the
middle of October it felt
like a little bit of summer
had been left behind.
The weather forecast for
tonight shows a clear
evening with winds up to
eight meters per second.
So I heard that Yamada
confessed to sasaki-San.
No surprise there.
Huh? Kanae you seem awfully happy today.
Something good happen
between you and tohno-kun?
No way!
Today I'm finally going to
confess to tohno-kun too.
If I don't tell him today on the day
i finally rode the waves again...
I'm sure I won't ever be able to.
Sumida.
To...
Tohno-kun.
On your way home?
Yeah.
I see.
Then let's go home together.
Huh sumida? Decided already today?
Yeah.
What's the matter?
To me...
No... I'm sorry. It's nothing.
Is your bike acting up?
Yeah... that's kind of weird.
Is it broken?
Yeah... I think the spark plug's dead.
Was this a hand-me-down?
Yeah. It was onee-chan's.
Did it stall when you tried accelerating?
It might have actually...
Let's leave it here for today.
You can have someone from
your house pick it up later.
Let's walk back today.
Huh? I'll walk by myself!
You go on ahead.
We're this far out and
your place is nearby so...
And... I kind of want to walk today.
Tohno-kun please...
What's wrong?
I'm sorry...
It's nothing.
I'm so sorry...
Sumida...
I'm begging you... please...
Don't be so nice to me!
As we humans desperately and recklessly
stretched our arms to the top of the sky...
And launched something of that
mass and size into the air...
Gazing off into the distance towards
something far beyond our wildest dreams...
I felt like I somewhat
came to understand why
tohno-kun was different
from the other boys.
And at the same time...
I clearly realized that tohno-kun
wasn't really looking at me.
Which is why on that day i
couldn't say a word to tohno-kun.
Tohno-kun is really kind but...
He's so truly kind but...
But tohno-kun was always
looking far beyond me.
Far beyond me towards
something in the distance.
I'm sure I wouldn't be able to give
tohno-kun what he truly desires.
But still... despite that...
Tomorrow the day after
and even beyond that...
I know I'll still be
helplessly in love with him.
While thinking solely of tohno-kun
i cried myself to sleep.
I strongly felt...
That if I looked back now...
She would look back as well.
The last chuo line train bound
for Tokyo is now arriving.
You should stay till new year's.
I know but I have a million
things to take care of.
I guess so.
Be sure to cook him good meals you hear?
I will.
If there's ever a problem don't
hesitate to call us akari.
I'll be fine.
We'll see each other at the wedding
next month so don't worry so much.
The train for platform 2 is now arriving.
You'd better head home. It's cold.
Last night I dreamt of something
from the distant past.
Back when he and I were
both still children.
I'm sure it's because of that
letter I found yesterday.
Mizuno-San.
Ah yes sir?
Have time for that meeting?
Yes sir.
Through the act of living itself
sadness piles up here and there.
Whether in the sheets
hung to dry in the sun...
The single toothbrush
in your bathroom...
Or the history logs of your cell phone.
"Even now I still love you..."
That's what the girl I'd been with
for three years said in that e-mail.
"But I'm sure that even if we had written
1000 text messages back and forth..."
"Our hearts probably wouldn't have
moved even 1 centimeter closer."
Over these past few years
I've only wanted to move
forward and touch that
which I couldn't reach...
Though I've never been able
to tangibly define what it was.
Not knowing where those obsessive thoughts
came from I simply continued to work.
Then one day I realized
that my heart was
withering and in it there
was nothing but pain.
And then one morning...
When I realized that I
had completely lost my
earnest and acute
feelings from long ago...
I knew I was at my limit...
And quit my job.
Yesterday I had a dream.
A dream of long ago.
Within the dream the two of
us were still thirteen...
Standing upon the vast field blanketed
in snow as far as the eye could see.
In the distance the lights shimmering in
houses were set sparsely far and wide.
All that was left upon the newly
fallen snow were our footprints.
Just like that...
We wished without
hesitation that one day...
The two of us would be able...
To see the cherry
blossoms together again.
I'm always searching for you
always searching for your figure.
On the opposite platform or
through window in the back alley.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If my wish were to come true
i would be at your side.
There would be nothing I couldn't do.
I would risk everything to embrace you.
If only to avoid loneliness anyone will do.
On this night when it seem stars will fall
from the sky I cannot lie to myself.
One more time don't fade away seasons.
One more time I want that time
when we fooled around together.
I'm always searching for you
always searching for your figure.
At the intersection in my dreams.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If miracles do happen i
want to show you right now
the new dawn who I'll be from now on
and the words "i love
you" that I never said.
The memories of summer revolve around me
and your throbbing heartbeat
that suddenly stopped.
I'm always searching for you
always searching for your figure.
In the city at dawn in sakuragi-Cho.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If my wish were to come true
i would be at your side.
There would be nothing I couldn't do.
I would risk everything to embrace you.
I'm always searching for you always
searching for even a fragment of you.
At the shop I'm going to in
the corner of a newspaper.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If miracles do happen i
want to show you right now
the new dawn who I'll be from now on
and the words "i love
you" that I never said.
I always end up looking
somewhere for your smile.
At the railroad crossing waiting
for the express to pass.
Even though I know you can't be there.
If I could live life over again i
would be at your side every time.
Because I would want nothing
more precious than you.
The end