What? Friends?
You mean close friends?
About three, I think.
Hold on a second.
Hey, kid.
-Who is it? -Mom.
Hurry up! It's an international call.
Four, I guess. One of them, I'm not sure about.
Shuji.
-Me? -It's Mom. Hurry up!
-Yes? -How many friends do you have?
I've never really counted.
-You don't have friends? -Yes, I do!
Then how many?
What?
-Hurry up! Time's running out! -Fine! Two!
What was that all about?
So you've got two friends?
Oh, is that funny guy who stayed here one of them?
That guy who's a karate expert.
Yip!
No, not him.
And who's the other?
I know! That girl!
-Oh, the keychain girl? -Yes!
Nobuta power charge!
-Nobuta! -Nobuta!
Is Nobuta your friend, Shuji?
Don't you call her Nobuta.
She's your friend, right?
Being hated…
by others...
sure is terrifying.
It's okay.
Nobody will hate you.
Is she?
-What? -Is she?
Go to bed!
Hurry up!
Fine.
Ever since that day,
Nobuta has been avoiding me.
Nobuta…
I know this can't last forever though.
Nobuta!
I guess,
my only choice is to talk to her in the classroom.
Holy crap.
Everyone's watching.
Well…
Wait! I need your help with something! Catherine needs some help.
Morning four meters!
There it is! A new record!
Catherine needs some help.
I'll start being your producer again, Nobuta.
That's all I wanted to tell you.
I'm through with being produced for.
What? Why?
Well… I mean… After what I did…
Wasn't that…
I mean…
You were
just trying to cheer me up, right?
Right. Then… Well… Thank you.
That's the end of that, okay?
Aren't you angry?
Why would I be?
Well… I mean… What I did
was so thoughtless.
No, not at all. I'm to blame as well.
To be honest, I didn't know how to react.
In fact, you know,
I'm not a person who gets cheered up so much.
What about Mariko?
Do you think anyone was there to cheer her up that day?
Nobody likes to be alone, do they?
I guess you're right.
You know better than anyone what it's like to be alone.
If possible, I want every single person to find happiness.
Well… I don't think that's possible.
The three of us
started getting together again.
Okay, let's celebrate the restart of our group of three.
Wait. Don't tell me you made that.
-Yes. -Wow!
Okay, the three of us will pull it together.
Ready. Nobuta!
Sorry.
Ready. Go!
When I look back on it,
the party ball was just like my future.
Nobody could stop me from falling.
NOBUTA PRODUCTION RESTART
-Oh, dear. -That doesn't bode well.
Hey.
-Make another one. -Yes.
Make one.
-You make it. -You make it.
Let's Rochambeau for it.
Ready, set, good!
There was nothing I could do…
Me?
and I just fell.
Ready, set, good!
-Let go of me! -Come on, talk with me for a while.
Let go! I told you to cut it out!
-What the hell did you do that for? -Don't get violent!
-Fuck off, prick! -Why don't you fuck off?
Now, now! Don't get violent!
Get the fuck out of my way!
You fucking prick!
-I told you, don't get violent! -You fucking prick! Fuck off!
Hey, you there!
-What the hell are you doing? -That man and a woman were fighting!
-What woman? -Some office worker.
-What office worker? -I'm not involved!
-Come with me. -But I'm not involved!
-Tell your story later. -I'm not involved!
I didn't hit anyone.
-Please, believe me. -Everyone says that.
-"Please, believe me." -But I didn't…
-I was just passing by. -I told you.
That's what they all say.
-Kon-chan. -Yes? Oh, hi there.
Hold on a second.
-Wait. -You sit tight for a minute.
Coming.
Oh, well, well! What's this?
It's over.
My life is totally over.
Hey, son.
I'm the chairman of the neighborhood council.
In this world, the truth doesn't matter.
What matters is if you're a man who can be believed or not.
What's more, son,
even if you're devastated, it doesn't mean life is over!
Life continues after a disaster!
Life doesn't end that easily!
All right?
DELIVERY SEASON
Oh, my brother!
It's great to see you again! It's me, Hiroshi!
I haven't seen you in so long!
-I brought this for you. -Thank you very much!
It's really frightening when nobody believes you.
Thankfully, there was a witness.
But if there hadn't been one,
I would still be there.
As long as you have life, there will be miserable days.
However,
there will also be awesome days.
That's life!
IDEAS WANTED FOR LUNCHTIME BROADCAST
What's that? Did you get into a fight?
-Can I rip it off? -Leave me be!
-Rip! -Cut it out!
-Why rip it off? -Rip!
Oh, your idea is for a live broadcast.
If this is selected, you'll be the reporter, Nobuta?
Wow!
-Yes. -Seriously?
-Wow! -This is a great chance!
Hey, you! Help us think of something.
I'm not a member of the broadcast club anymore.
So? You can think.
Quit laughing.
There must be something. Come here, Nobuta.
If this idea is accepted,
Nobuta will become the noontime face of Sumidagawa High.
Whoa! The Mr. Mino of Sumidagawa High!
-Her? -I think you mean Mr. Tamori.
-Careless mistake. -"Careless mistake"?
Hold this.
Not like Mr. Mino. How about this? Yonesuke!
Nice!
Hello.
It's time for "Attack! Kotani's Surprise Lunch Check."
For the first episode, I'll be surprise checking Mr. Yokoyama's lunch.
Well…
Not today! Today's is really bad! Don't do this today!
Excuse me.
I LOVE YOU
Who made this?
I made this myself.
It's good, isn't it?
Yuck.
How dare you say "yuck"?
-You're back! -Hello.
-May I have some? -Sure. Go right ahead.
Yuck.
There it is! Kotani's "yuck!"
-You can tell by her face how awful it is! -Yes!
THIS IS SOYMILK
Yuck.
Hey!
-Your "yuck" is really funny. -No, it's not.
Why don't you make another kind of catchphrase?
When the show's over, I don't know how to end it.
A closing phrase?
What would be good? Something like…
"Watch again tomorrow!"
At the end.
"Won't you watch again tomorrow? Yip!"
If Nobuta's going to say it, it should be cruder.
"Won't you watch again tomorrow, morons?"
"You idiot! It's supposed to be 'Yip!'"
Okay, try that.
That could be funny.
It is funny.
Put your hands like this.
"Won't you watch again tomorrow, morons?"
"You idiot! It's supposed to be 'Yip!'"
"You idiot."
-Do it harder. -Hey! Don't touch her!
Okay. How about this?
"Morons! You idiot!"
-Chomp. -Chomp.
It's not an alligator!
You want to fight, prick?
I'll bust your head, prick!
You want to fight?
Who do you think you are?
Take that!
You fucking prick! Fuck off!
Hey, you there! What the hell are you doing?
-Tell your story later. -I'm not involved!
If I get involved,
nothing good will come of it.
Who said you could get up?
Shuji…
Wow! The IT revolution of pasta!
That's amazing!
-Shuji! -Yes?
-Lunch with Mariko? -Yes.
She's not coming for you today?
I thought I'd go to her first today.
-What a nice guy! -Whoa!
See you.
Hey, isn't Tani here today?
Yes. Tani is almost never absent.
Yip yip.
Where's Shuji?
Ouch, that hurts!
Shuji?
I know.
Shuji?
Of course, he isn't there, dummy!
So where's Shuji?
What's this?
A bento lunch.
Have it.
Really? I can have it?
Yes. Go ahead.
Open! Whoa!
Hey!
There's even a spoon and stuff!
Mariko!
Thank you for this food!
Go ahead.
It's great!
This is like a dream.
Where's Shuji?
They're here! Attack time!
Go in! Hurry!
Go ahead, Kotani!
Hurry up and attack!
Shuji isn't having lunch with Mariko.
Today, I'm doing a surprise check on Mariko Uehara's lunch.
Who's eating with Mariko?
Yip!
Kusano?
Astonishing! It's Kusano!
-What? -Liver is really good.
Are you serious?
This is totally serious.
That was quite a lunch. I'm so full.
What's wrong?
Was Mariko's bento lunch good?
The shrimp balls were great! Nice and thick!
The fried chicken took the longest time.
The fried chicken took the longest.
-I've heard that… -Ouch!
Shrimp balls?
You're such a big fat liar, Kiritani.
You all right?
Yes.
Let me know if you need anything.
Excuse me!
-What is it? -Tani!
He got in a fight with guys from another school yesterday!
-For real? -For real! He's all beat up!
Seriously?
Tani!
We just heard! Are you okay?
-Yes. -That looks bad!
-You poor thing! -It's not as bad as it looks.
Who did it?
I don't know them.
You're kidding!
You okay?
Looks like you can't use your arm.
If there's anything you need,
let me know.
You knew it was me, right?
What?
You saw me when I was getting beat up, didn't you?
What? What are you talking about?
You want to fight, prick?
I'll bust your head, prick!
Take that!
You mean,
that was you in that fight?
You're a jerk.
You ignored me, your own friend, getting beat up.
No, you're wrong. I really didn't notice.
Unbelievable. You looked at me.
I mean it. I totally couldn't see anyone's face.
You're such a smooth talker,
you're probably hoping you can convince me that I'm wrong.
Now I know what kind of guy you really are.
Wait! Hold on!
Did you hear that?
I'm telling the truth!
Believe me!
Everyone says that.
"Please, believe me."
-You mean Shuji saw but didn't help? -Yes.
That's what it sounds like.
-I won't stand for that. -Yes.
Wouldn't you call the police?
That's for sure. I'd call them or a passerby.
Shuji!
Hey!
Did you really ignore Tani?
Say something!
Let's go home together.
Wiggle wiggle!
Shuji!
I really can't believe Shuji would do that.
Morning.
Kiritani is actually way different than he always seemed.
From now on,
don't you guys ever come up and talk to me.
Okay?
Bye.
Why?
I don't want people to think you guys are like me,
especially Nobuta. You've gained popularity recently.
Don't you dare talk to me.
Isn't it true that you couldn't tell that it was Tani getting beat up?
Then don't you think you should tell everyone that?
There's no point in telling them.
Right now, it will just sound like an excuse.
But if you don't do anything…
You see,
my words don't carry any weight now.
Nobody believes…
anything I say now.
This is what it means…
when nobody believes you.
Aoi…
Why were you photographing me?
I was photographing Shuji Kiritani taking out his anger on pigeons.
You shouldn't harm animals.
What?
Why were you photographing that?
I'm making a record of your growth.
A record?
You mean you've photographed other things?
Of course.
Ever since the time you proclaimed you would be a producer for Nobuta.
I've got lots of photos.
I'll show you sometime.
How did you know that?
Who are you?
Kotani's friend?
Kotani…
DIE
You mean…
all that harassment…
Yes. That's right.
I did all that.
This is what I was thinking of doing next.
Poor Kusano will be shocked.
Are you surprised?
Why?
"Why?"
Are you asking why I'm doing this?
I think it's probably for the same reason you're producing for Kotani.
You can hide in the shadows and act like you're not involved at all.
Being able to change someone through your own actions
sure is fun, isn't it?
Right?
Bye.
See you tomorrow.
These little pigs bring good luck.
-They're talismans. -Talismans?
Talismans?
I'm home.
-Welcome home. -These are yours, Shuji.
What are these?
Mom sent them.
They're souvenirs from Chile. Three-legged pig talismans.
Remember how she asked you on the phone the other day
how many friends you have?
-Oh, yeah. -You've got two friends, right?
So including you, that's three.
How do you use these?
It looks like they're for friendship.
You probably give them to friends as a symbol of your friendship.
A symbol of friendship…
If you both have one,
then they probably bring lifelong, unflagging friendship.
How long do they work?
Forever, of course.
-Forever? -Yes.
Then maybe I won't give them out.
-You don't want it to be forever? -Yes.
Who's the next "Attack" victim?
Good morning.
Let's go.
Morning. Good morning, everyone.
-Good morning. -Morning.
Morning.
You want to get monjayaki again?
-Yes. -Do you know about strawberry milk?
-No. -It's like a dessert. It's sweet and good.
And let's go to a place only for girls again.
What is it? Why do you want to talk to me?
How can I
get you to stop?
Stop what?
This.
You just want me to stop?
I want you to stop seeing Kotani and never talk to her again.
I knew it.
That's what it is.
Your weakness is Kotani and Kusano, isn't it?
For Kotani,
you're her first friend.
So if she found out the truth…
I see why you're worried.
She's been hurt badly ever since she was a kid.
So why do you have to hurt her more than she already is?
Don't tell her.
Maybe I will.
I'm begging you. Please don't tell her.
Don't worry. I won't tell her yet.
I'm waiting until we're closer friends.
I plan on
plunging Kotani into such deep despair that she would want to kill herself.
What?
What's your damn problem?
No! Stop! Let go of me!
No! Stop! Let go!
Don't you do that, Shuji!
Bad hand! Bad! Bad!
Kiritani tried to…
Kiritani said…
that I was the one who wrecked the haunted house.
But I didn't do anything!
It's wrong to raise your fist against a woman, you know. Pow!
But knowing you, I'm sure you had a good reason.
Do you…
believe me?
You bet! I believe you.
No matter what?
No matter what.
I promise.
No.
Don't promise.
How come?
Well…
If you believe me…
If you still believe
what I say…
Then I've got something to tell you.
Tell me now.
Well, you see…
My head's so mixed up right now.
Can you wait until I've figured things out?
I don't really get it.
But all right.
We're always best friends!
Shuji!
Is it true that Aoi wrecked the haunted house?
Who said that?
Aoi said you said that to her.
I said that?
I didn't say that.
There's no way Aoi would do that.
I mean, she's your friend.
Right?
Kotani.
Yes! Akira is happy!
What?
Akira is shocked!
Isn't there any other outfit?
What's wrong with being vampires?
Wait!
Who's there?
You saw us, didn't you?
So could you tell how I did it?
No, it's all right.
We can change now, right?
Let's practice a little more.
Can't I do it in my regular clothes?
Well…
What is this?
Entertainment for the end-of-year party.
You know, I wonder if
vampires really do exist.
I don't think they do.
I guess they don't.
But, you know,
if even one person on Earth believes in them,
I get the feeling they exist.
We don't believe things because they're true.
Things are true because we believe them.
Understand?
The day everyone stops believing,
that's probably the day
that vampires disappear from existence.
Which hand?
What?
Which hand?
It looks like it is in your right hand.
Then which one is it in?
Choose the one you believe it is.
Nobody knows what the real truth is.
Then your only choice is the one you want to believe in, right?
The one I want to believe…
You're right!
Yip yip!
What's wrong?
What is it?
I saw something that
I didn't want to see.
And?
I want to act like I never saw it.
I see.
But that's not possible,
is it?
Yes, it is.
No way! Ouch!
So this makes me unsee it?
Yes.
Our family has always put things
we didn't want to see in here and sealed them away.
That's how we act like it didn't happen.
I'll give you some of this fermenting miso.
So put whatever you like in here.
When you pull it out in a few decades,
I'm sure you'll laugh about it.
There!
Will I really laugh?
You bet you'll laugh.
That stinks.
"Even if you're devastated,
it doesn't mean life is over."
Just like I was told,
life didn't feel like it was going to end.
Good morning.
Even so,
I still have to continue living.
You're still eating this yucky stuff?
Like the Goyokudo guy said,
as long as you have life, there will be miserable days.
However, there will also be awesome days.
The way things are now,
will I ever really have awesome days again?
If you believe,
any problem can be solved.
Believe with me.
Nobuta power charge!
Charge!
Shuji.
Let's go home together.
Okay.
Let's go home.
Ready, go!
-Nobuta power charge! -Nobuta power charge!
Yip!
I don't care if nobody believes me.
I simply want these guys to believe in me.
AKIRA KUSANO
Now and forever.
Subtitle translation by: Brian Athey