How to Become Myself

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Hurry, hurry!

Eat this, nerd.

Hey, I brought a camera today.

Let's take one together.

- Let's take one.

- Sure!

Take one for us then, Juri.

Thanks.

Back then...

I was afraid of the arrival

of tomorrow.

Say cheese!

Let's take one together, Kanako!

If I wasn't myself...

If I was her...

Would there have been a different

tomorrow for me?

Say cheese.

Hey, let's play dodgeball.

Let me borrow it.

Hey!

Who wants to play dodgeball?

Me!

Dodgeball? Let's play!

It must be the same in all

elementary schools.

Juri! What are you staring at?

There's a bullied one,

a chosen one...

and one who is neither.

Enough is enough!

Don't raise your voice like that,

our kids will hear us.

It must be the same

in all families.

Should we go down?

That place is too expensive.

There's a father,

It's no use.

There's a mother...

and a child trying to keep them together.

Have you thought about which junior

high school she should apply to?

I'll leave everything to you.

Can you stop being so irresponsible?

I woke up because I was thirsty.

Oh? Want something to drink?

Back then...

I was afraid of the arrival of tomorrow.

Smile, Makoto.

Look at the camera,

all right? Smile!

Say cheese!

Okay, okay. That's it.

Great, great.

How to Become Myself

Sugitani.

Yes?

I received a phone call

from your mother.

I heard you're taking a week off from

school until the entrance exam.

Yes.

I don't approve of it as a teacher,

but there's nothing I can do if that's

what your parents want.

Please sit down.

I can't spend quality time with my daughter

because of my busy work schedule.

So I'm thankful to my wife for

holding the family together.

I try my best to put my grateful

feelings into words,

and express them to my

wife in front of Juri.

Juri is a kind, sensitive girl

who cares for the family.

Not only is she kind,

she's growing up to be a truly strong girl...

I was so nervous!

That made me hungry.

Hey, why don't we grab a

bite on our way back?

Let's... go straight home for today.

Okay.

Let's get Makoto too, and go out for dinner together

when you're accepted by this school.

- Really?

- Sure.

So work hard for the exam.

Yes, I will.

It can't be helped!

She only took the entrance exam

because you wanted her to.

So it's my fault now?

"Work hard", "I will",

"try to work hard", "let's work hard".

Are you trying to say it's

my fault she failed?

I tried my best.

But no one taught me what to do

when I tried my best...

and still failed.

I'll get going.

Juri!

("Do your best" gesture)

- I'll get going.

- Take care.

Don't worry too much

about our parents.

They are a lot stronger

than we think.

But...

It might have been worse

if you actually passed.

What?

They like to be needed

by their children.

Good morning.

Things changed while I was taking

days off from school.

That popular Hanada Kanako lost her status

because of some disagreements

during a class rep meeting.

...what do we call planting different

crops in the same space?

Yes, Hanada?

...ssion planting.

I can't hear you!

Hanada?

It's... Succession planting

That's correct.

The most common example in Japan

is rice and wheat, remember?

Rice during the summer...

And that Kubota Manami

was accepted by the private

school I got rejected by.

Mom, I have to return some

books to the library.

Bye.

Thank you so much.

Send me emails, okay?

Don't forget about me.

Sugitani, did you come here

to avoid them too?

They're sad about leaving each other,

even though they never got along.

They exchange thanks,

when they're not really grateful.

Everybody's so stupid.

We're finally graduating.

So, you don't ignore me when

you're by yourself.

I'm sorry...

I don't mind.

Everyone's like that.

I was a class rep,

then I was excluded by everyone.

My school life was a

roller-coaster ride!

Question:
Which one is the real me?

The real one?

I finally figured it out after being

bullied for 2 months.

Hanada Kanako for the past

Fake?

Myself from before,

the class rep is the real me.

Smart,

popular...

But I'm going to hide that right now.

Fake Kanako is enough to

deal with those people.

I guess it's like I'm taking the position that

someone in our class has to take?

You know, someone else had to fill the void,

after Kubota got out of that role.

The role of a sacrificial lamb?

I would've never imagined

it would fall on me.

Such a role...

You know,

the one who was studying hard

was Sugitani Juri who wanted

to please her parents.

The truth is... my mom and dad were the ones who

wanted to be accepted by that junior high, not me.

That's the kind of role I get.

I see...

Then we're both the same kind of people.

I wonder why people lie.

Have you ever read novels

by Dazai Osamu?

No.

"You're a good liar,

so at least do the right thing."

But it's easier said than done.

Right.

Juri?

Juri? Where did she go?

Juri?

Juri?

I haven't spoken to Hanada ever since.

The bullying of Hanada continued

in junior high school.

I gradually got better at

acting various roles.

Me, who was nervous unless I was

doing the same thing as others.

Juri's hair is really smooth!

It's so smooth!

Me, who didn't have the

courage to stop studying

or have anything else

I wanted to do.

Listen to me!

How do you think I feel, doing nothing

but work day after day?!

How do you think I feel, working hard

for the family day after day?!

Me, whose hands were full with

just taking care of myself.

In August of my second

year in junior high,

my parents divorced.

I turned into Ooshima Juri

from Sugitani Juri.

I began living in a condo

with my mother.

[2 years since then]

You're going to be late.

I'm going as fast as I can.

I left your lunch box on your bag.

It's those spring rolls you love.

Okay, thanks.

It's been a while since we

left home together.

You're right.

I have an early meeting today.

Are you busy with work?

I think it's starting to get better lately.

That's good to hear.

Today's the dinner day

with your dad, right?

I'm going to be late anyway,

so take your time.

I'll probably be back home

before you.

[Sorry, I missed the train. I hope

you'll wait for me!]

Are you going to the literature

club today?

Yes, I think I'll be pretty late today.

I have a student council meeting too,

so I'll send you an email when I'm done.

Let's go home together if we can.

It's a dad day today though.

Oh, then we can only walk

up to the station.

Pay attention!

It's not for a while, but listen carefully.

We have a school anniversary

festival on October 31st.

At this school, we have a traditional group

game by freshmen every single year.

"Ryougetsufu".

It's still more than 2 months away,

but we're starting the dance

lessons tomorrow.

Okay?

This year's opening ceremony

was from homeroom A,

the sports festival has had a representative

chosen from homeroom B,

so a class rep from our homeroom will be

chosen for the opening speech this time.

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