Between memory and reality"

Kaito: "Misaki... was that the accident where Iroha died?"

Misaki: "No, but it was the day I realized judging from only one point of view without seeing the rest is wrong."

---

Misaki (frightened): "Iroha! Iroha!"

The driver steps out of the carriage: "Oh my God, she's bleeding! We need to take her to the hospital quickly!"

Iroha's mother and Misaki's parents stand in front of the room, terrified.

---

Misaki's Father: "Are you the one who called the driver?"

Iroha's Mother: "Yes."

Driver: "Iroha is fine, don’t worry. She has a minor head wound and a broken arm only."

Iroha's Mother: "And the girl who was beside her?"

Driver: "She’s in shock and hasn’t spoken yet. She's in the next room."

---

The doctor reassures everyone: "Iroha is fine, thank God the carriage was moving very slowly."

---

Misaki's Father: "Can we take Iroha home today?"

Doctor: "Yes, once I finish the cast and complete the paperwork."

---

Misaki's father enters the room to talk to Misaki:

Misaki's Father: "Why didn’t you stay here with your friend to check on her?"

Misaki (regretfully): "How could I? I was the cause."

Misaki's Father: "I know, learn how to handle it."

Misaki's Father: "The driver told me you two were arguing, then you fell and Iroha saved you."

Misaki: "If you know that, why didn’t she scream at me? I didn’t see you this calm before."

Misaki's Father: "Because Iroha's mother wanted to hit you badly for hurting her precious daughter, but she stopped when she saw you like that. And once she was reassured about her daughter, she asked about your condition."

---

Misaki (guiltily): "Why didn’t she do it? I hurt her only daughter and almost killed her."

Father: "Why?"

Misaki: "Because she sees you as a father too."

Misaki: "I don’t deserve that. I’m someone who almost killed her friend out of jealousy."

---

Father: "Why?"

Misaki: "Because my father cared more about her. He came to her birthday but never came to mine or talked to me. He focused on someone else instead."

Father: "That’s just your perspective. I cared for Iroha hoping to compensate for my friend’s absence from his daughter due to his death. I took care of her to give her a part of fatherhood she longed for."

---

Father: "Do you know that Iroha's mother once wanted to meet me to ask me to come to Iroha’s birthday and give her a gift? Her father was waiting to give it to her when she grew up because she considered me her second father."

Misaki listens silently.

---

Father continues: "When I ignored you for a few days, I hated the world. So, how do you think those who lost their father at a young age feel? Tell me, do you know their feelings?"

Misaki: "No, I don’t."

---

Father smiles and strokes her hair: "If you don’t know, don’t judge from just one side. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes, then you will understand."

Misaki: "Yes, but it’s late now, and I don’t know how to face Iroha and her mother. I just don’t know."

Father: "Let’s go and find out."

---

Back to Iroha, her mother, and Misaki’s mother:

Misaki's Mother: "Are you feeling better now, my daughter Iroha?"

Iroha (fearfully): "Did something happen to her?"

Misaki's Mother: "No, she’s fine."

Misaki’s father suddenly enters: "She’s fine and coming now."

---

Misaki opens the door fearfully, eyes down, and moves toward Iroha and her mother, unable to look at them.

Misaki: "Iroha, listen, I..."

Iroha quickly hugs her: "I’m glad nothing happened to you."

---

Misaki (sighs): "You didn’t do that, I was the one who hurt you."

Iroha: "I do it because you’re my only and dear friend. If I lost you, it would hurt me more than parting with Takashi."

Iroha's Mother: "Then I didn’t have to give you the gift to give her; Misaki was the better one."

Misaki's Mother laughs: "Yes, and none of that would have happened."

---

Iroha’s stepfather enters angrily: "My husband brings me trouble from everywhere."

The husband is shocked and tries to hide in...

---

Iroha’s mother holds Misaki’s hand: "Misaki, I consider you like my own daughter, so no need for all this sadness. Thank God my daughter is a little better, and all this was because of your father."

---

Father (angrily): "And what’s my fault? I’m trying to make peace, and I became the cause of problems."

Mother: "Yes."

---

Father: "Alright, since this was a mistake, I’ll fix it. How about a picture to remember this day?"

Misaki: "Yes, to remember that you caused Iroha’s injury."

Iroha: "Okay."

---

Everyone takes a picture.

Iroha: "I want to take a picture with you, Misaki, just us."

Misaki: "Okay."

---

Father: "Say cheese!"

Everyone: "Cheese!"

---

Back to Misaki and Kaito:

Misaki: "That’s the story behind that picture. I learned that day to pursue everything I want, except hurting those who don’t deserve it."

---

Kaito looks at her but can’t speak. He thinks: "How did Misaki bear this pain all these years? I don’t know, but I will do my best so Misaki never goes through this again."

---

Misaki: "You zoned out, Kaito."

Kaito: "No, but I have a question. How do you bear all that?"

Misaki: "Everyone has a limit depending on their burden."

Kaito: "Then tell me, how did Iroha die?"

Misaki: "Well, maybe another day, because night has fallen, and I’m late, so I have to go."

---

Kaito: "Ah, sorry I kept you."

Misaki: "It’s okay, thank you for listening."

---

Kaito walks toward home and spots Rin sitting on a bench.

Kaito: "Rin! Rin!"

Rin: "Do you like your brother-in-law too?"

Kaito: "No, I was with Misaki for a while."

Rin: "Since you met Misaki, have you become interested in her?"

Kaito: "Of course not, you’re my girlfriend after all."

Rin (blushing): "What?"

---

Kaito in his mind: "I messed up again, mixing past and future."

Rin: "Lovers?"

Kaito: "Listen, I was just..."

Rin: "I like that."

Kaito: "Huh? You said you like it?"

Rin: "Yes, but let’s be friends first, then we’ll see if I choose you or not."

Kaito: You mean you’re rejecting me now, Rin?

Rin: It’s not that I’m rejecting you, but I don’t know you well enough yet, so let’s be friends, okay?

(She extends her hand)

Kaito: Okay then. What made you wake up this late, Rin? Do I look that worried?

Rin: Yes, Kaito... Well, someone came from America a month ago. He’s someone dear, but I don’t know what I’ll do when I meet him.

Kaito: Someone from America? Is he a relative or something?

Rin: You could say that.

Kaito: A relative and dear? That doesn’t sound good at all.

Rin: Haha, I haven’t seen you lost in thought like this before.

Kaito: Are you jealous?

Rin: I’m naturally jealous, but not of those who are basically out of the picture.

(Misaki puts her hand behind her back)

Rin: Yes, I promise when he arrives I’ll tell you.

(Kaito in his thoughts)

Kaito: That kind of annoys me.

Rin: Go home now, Kaito.

Kaito: Sure.

Rin: Let’s consider this our first introduction as a couple.

(Kaito blushes)

Kaito: Okay, Rin... don’t get carried away like that.

(Kaito in his imagination) Even after I confessed to her, I’m still like this.

Rin: So, what did you and Misaki talk about?

Kaito: Just some things.

Rin: Well, since I’m your girlfriend, I have the right to know. It’s not a big deal, right?

(Kaito stands up a little)

Kaito: Rin, do you really want to know what Misaki and I talked about?

Rin: Oh, was it really that important?

(Rin tells Kaito what happened with Misaki, Iroha, and the bully who tried to provoke Misaki with pictures — strangely she was listening without reacting)

Kaito: So that’s what happened?

Rin: In a calm voice... really, for someone to go through all that, I don’t know how to describe it, but I feel angry because she’s my friend and I didn’t know all this.

Kaito: It’s okay, she got the pictures back and the bully won’t bother her anymore.

Rin: She got all the pictures back?

Kaito: Yes, Rin.

Rin: What about the remaining three pictures? Did he take them?

Kaito: No, I haven’t taken them yet, but I don’t think Misaki will need them.

Rin: She will look for them, I know her because that bully will use them.

Kaito: But what will he use them for?

Rin: Not to use on Misaki, but maybe on her father, especially since there’s a deal coming with a foreign company.

Kaito: What? Then we have to get those pictures back.

Rin: Yes, and I’m with you. I couldn’t be there for Misaki when she was in that trouble, but I will be with her this time.

Kaito: Okay, let’s get them back.

Rin: Yes.

---

At School

Teacher: Students, there will be a mandatory homework assignment for everyone before the exams.

Park: My life is falling apart, aren’t exams enough already?

Kaito: What shall we do?

Park: I don’t know, Park bee.

Kaito: Yes, Mr. Machine.

Park: What’s that? You sound like you replaced your brain with a machine. You’re not the Kaito I know.

Kaito: Maybe, maybe I’ll need help then.

Park: You’ll find me there. Take out your brain and put it in Kaito.

Kaito: Thanks.

---

Misaki: I didn’t want to meet you in the library, Rin.

Rin: Because I want to apologize to you, I found out late.

Misaki: Find out about what?

Rin: Kaito told me about the pictures.

Misaki: It’s okay, it’s not your fault but mine because I didn’t tell you.

Rin: Yes, it’s your fault. Tell me next time if you face a problem.

Misaki: No, it’s not my fault, it’s just that your mind is not very observant.

Rin: No, he notices everything.

Misaki: That’s obvious.

Rin: No, seriously, if you face any problem I’ll be with you.

Misaki: Then my problems will only get worse.

(Rin hits Misaki)

Misaki: No, they’ll all get solved if you get involved.

(Misaki smiles)

Rin: Okay, but you owe me.

Misaki: Owe you? What do you mean?

Rin: You attacked me and kept hitting me.

Misaki: Ah, I was just joking.

Rin: You can’t do that.

(Misaki laughs quietly)

Rin: See? I told you it will get worse.

(Rin hits Misaki again)

Misaki: Then I’ll be with you in it.

Rin: I look forward to that.

---

Kaito searches for the bully

Kaito: Ugh, where could he be? I’ve been looking for him since after school, I’ll keep searching, but tomorrow because I’m late now.

---

Kaito goes home

Mizuhara: I see you finally came home. Where were you?

Kaito: What’s it to you?

(Mizuhara throws a book at him)

Kaito (fearfully): Don’t say that word. Got it, I’m your big sister.

Kaito: Okay, Mizuhara... where were you?

Kaito: I was out with some friends.

Mizuhara: Even though you’re lying, tell me the truth.

Kaito: I wanted to escape your face until you slept.

Mizuhara: Oh, I get it, hahaha.

(She looks at the wall)

Mizuhara: And you think saying that will save you, huh, Kaito?

Kaito: No, I don’t think I’ll survive this time.

Mizuhara: Good, now come here so I can vent my anger on you.

Kaito: As if I’ll come, as if I’ll leave you. Come on.

---

Back to the bully the next day

Shiguro: So, did you tell everyone what one of your friends told you?

Friend: Yes, but why so many people?

Shiguro: We’re now more than forty people.

Friend: Why? I think the three of us are enough.

Shiguro: Then let me tell you, that boy and girl have a weapon, which is martial arts, but we don’t. So we’ll use sticks and numbers to avoid mistakes.

Friend: Now I get it, but did the man call?

Shiguro: Yes, the day after tomorrow we’ll deliver the pictures.

Friend: And how much will each man get?

Shiguro: You’re stupid, we’ll give each man ten dollars.

Friend: But that’s a lot, how much did the man offer you?

Shiguro: That’s why you’re stupid. Company owners spend tons of money monthly on employees and their companies, yet they settle for ten percent leftover because they profit. All the workers work while he takes all the glory.

Friend: I don’t get it, Shiguro.

Shiguro: Then stay a pawn I move.

Friend: Okay.

(Voice from behind)

Kaito: Finally found you, Shiguro.

(Shiguro turns and smiles)

Shiguro: Ah, but it seems I was right in bringing my friends, right Kaito?

Kaito: Numbers don’t matter because I’ll teach you a lesson.

Shiguro: Oh, then make the first move.

(Kaito steps forward but gets hit in the back)

Kaito: Ah!

Bully: I was told to stay and hit that boy. What a waste of time.

Kaito: Ugh! Then get ready!

(Shiguro approaches Kaito who is lying on the ground)

Kaito: (hits the bullies)

Friend: We hit him, what should we do with him?

Shiguro: Grab him and get some water for our friend.

(Kaito regains some consciousness after water is sprinkled on him)

Kaito: Ugh, where am I?

Shiguro: At my house, hero.

(Kaito tries to attack but his hands are tied)

Shiguro: When I let you go—no, we still have some talk. First, don’t try to bother me. I got the pictures.

Kaito: Return the rest of the pictures to Misaki.

Shiguro: They’re the same pictures.

Kaito: Don’t try to bargain for the pictures, I know that.

Shiguro: No, I’m not bargaining, because whoever wants them called and will receive them tomorrow.

Kaito: What?

Shiguro: Until then, I’ll keep playing with you.

(He hits Kaito with a stick)

Shiguro: What do you think?

(Sound from outside)

Shiguro: What? Police siren? Eyes, let’s run!

(Bullies run away)

(Sound from behind after bullies flee)

Kaito: Are you okay?

Rin: What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you to try to make Misaki go home?

Rin: She went, and I hurried to you.

Kaito: Did you call the police?

Rin (smiling): No, it was my phone.

Kaito: Your phone then.

Rin: What happened?

Kaito: Seems like we’ll need help