Tomie: Beginning (富江 BEGINNING)

Only us two showed up, Yamamoto.

You're late.

I almost gave up and left.

"Class of '87 Reunion"

Sorry.

I've been busy.

Matsubara, it seems you live a normal life.

Normal? I don't know...

And you, Yamamoto?

Your eye okay?!

Suits my lousy life. Got what I deserved.

Well, I used to sit...

Here.

Definitely.

Fond memories...

Fond memories?

That sounds odd.

And she...

used to sit there.

"Tomie Tomie Tomie..."

"KAWAKAMI, Tomie"

Kawakami, Tomie. Transfer from a rural school.

But her Japanese is more refined than ours.

Introduce yourself.

Yes.

I'm Kawakami, Tomie. Pleased to meet you.

Beginning

So, Kawakami can sit...

there.

I guess only the first day was peaceful.

Yeah.

It all began within a week.

What you doing?!

"What you doing?!"

Inoue! What were you doing with this camera?

What do you mean?

Don't play dumb!

You secretly took a photo of Kawakami.

It's a crime, you know!

I'm taking this film.

Don't mess with me! Give it back!

What's wrong with you guys?

Hey, Inoue!

What?

Develop this.

Gorgeous.

What's that?

Oh! A photo of me.

When was it taken?

This guy secretly took it.

You take nice photos, Inoue.

Apologize to her.

You must be Gondo, right?

Yeah, Gondo.

I'll warn him not to do it again.

Sorry about this.

It's okay. I'm used to this kind of thing.

Used to it?

Yeah.

Anyone have cigarettes?

Here.

Thanks.

But I don't smoke. It's bad for my skin.

Oh, excuse me.

I'm just checking out the Photo Club.

Bye.

Tomie...

Who is it?

Surprised?

Matsubara...

Yes?

Can we be friends?

Huh?

I want us to be friends.

Well, you know...

I thought so, you don't want to be seen with me.

To be honest, that's how it is.

Someone that gets guys like you do...

should expect to be hated.

True.

Girls all hate me. Even detest me.

They'll end up stabbing me.

If you hang around with me,

you'll be resented too.

I just avoid trouble.

Matsubara, you're unusual.

Is that so?

You're unlike the other girls.

You don't openly avoid me.

Why?

I wonder...

You did nothing against me.

Boys are worthless creatures.

They just see the outside.

They really don't know me at all.

I've been bullied every time I transfer,

in any school.

In every school.

I resented the bullying,

but finally realized something.

Bullying is...

just human instinct.

Instinct?

Humans are an animal that takes pleasure...

in seeing others suffer.

Thinking that way...

took away the pain of bullying.

Those people are just acting naturally as humans.

I'm just being treated like the stranger I am.

Right?

You think so?

Here they come!

This always happens.

She...

Tomie... was fascinating to me.

Fascinating?

I can't explain.

Sounds predictable, but she's like...

both an angel and a devil.

But actually... she was purely devil.

Matsubara...

No, maybe worse than a devil.

What's this? Stop it.

Move, or we'll get you too.

Yeah. Why do you protect her?

What's your point?

Come on, talk.

I'm in a hurry to go home and watch TV.

Don't mess with me!

Don't shout so close to me.

You'll break my eardrums.

I won't forgive you.

Huh?

I've had enough of your attitude!

Natsu...

What? What's funny?

Because I know, Takayama.

What?

It's about Yoshino.

You're crazy about Yoshino, but he thinks only of me.

You can't forgive it!

What's that the Bible says?

If you're slapped,

you should slap your opponent back?

If you're with me, they'll resent you too.

Are you okay?

You're so kind.

You're to blame, too.

Blame? About what?

Your attitude.

Attitude?

I'm not aware of it. Is it strange?

I don't mean strange...

I'm not doing anything bad, it's the boys. Right?

That's true, but...

Reiko.

I want to use first names.

So stop calling me Kawakami.

Call me Tomie.

Okay, Reiko?

You're so...

It's cold, but great!

Come in, Reiko!

Reiko, look at me.

I never forgive girls that bully me.

I get total revenge.

Tomie...

Yoshino!

Sorry, kept you waiting.

Waiting too long! What happened?

Nothing.

Really.

Are you still chasing after Tomie?!

That's nonsense.

It's not her.

That girl's!

You don't know how she is?!

She's...

Stop! Let me go, Yoshino!

Tomie?!

What's wrong? Feeling faint?

Iron deficiency?

You caused this!

Yoshino?

You're really in the way!

Just die!

Tomie.

Tomie!

But that was just the beginning.

What's this, Gondo?! Let us go!

Please stop!

Shut up! You two don't know what you did?!

What?! What did we do?

We did nothing! Let us go!

You pretend you did nothing?!

Poor things.

So helpless.

Tomie!

What's going on?

What? You already know.