25 Years of You (告白ー25年目の秘密ー)

The world is full of coincidences.

Twenty-five years ago,

I had a fateful encounter with Mariko.

I've always just watched over here.

But now, she is finally aware of me.

Coincidences can be manufactured.

A coincidence meant to make Mariko smile.

However,

there are plenty of people who approach Mariko and those who envy her.

They say Mr. Tateiwa was killed.

I must do what I need to.

Who is this man…

Because I'm the one by Mariko's side…

Protecting her.

Excuse me.

May I speak with you for a moment?

INSPECTOR TAISUKE SAKURA

Yes.

Where were you on July 7, around 10:25 p.m.?

Is that when the thing with Mr. Tateiwa happened?

Yes.

Was I caught on a security camera?

That's probably what the police have gathered.

So, what?

I was meeting with Tateiwa at the place on the news where the incident happened.

What were you doing there?

We were talking about work.

In a place like that, outside of working hours?

Yes, that is correct.

Immediately after meeting with you, Tateiwa was murdered by someone.

I am shocked.

Normally, you wouldn't have any contact with the victim, Mr. Tateiwa,

who is a director, right?

- What specifically were you talking about? - Uh…

It wasn't on camera, was it?

The part where I killed Tateiwa.

Since it wasn't on camera, that means I didn't do it.

TOKYO POLICE TAISUKE SAKURA

INSPECTOR

THANKS FOR WATCHING THE DRAMA "BACK TO SQUARE ONE, DETECTIVE"

PUBLIC ORDER MAINTENANCE

TAISUKE SAKURA

AWARD

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD

TAISUKE SAKURA

There are things I must do.

- I'm first! - I'm second.

It's cold!

Can you reach out your hand?

It's okay.

It's not scary if we hold hands.

Let's go.

Ready, and…

The cold water feels great.

I've seen it before.

I've seen Mariko's smile before.

Oh.

But that was different.

What was?

The power of it.

Thank you.

She…

Smiled at me…

At me…

So you're saying that peeking at a smile meant for someone else

is different in impact compared to a smile directed at you?

It was so cute.

Oh, no, not like that.

I'm not talking about her looks or anything.

I get it, I get it.

I understand.

You want to be the only one

who can make her smile and the only one who gets to see it.

And you'll start wanting more things that are just for you.

People call that possessiveness.

Well, it's a natural part of love.

- What, for you too? - No, not me.

I've never been that obsessed with a single person.

But it's like that for you, right?

I'm sure that soon, you'll start hating it

when she smiles at other people.

Be careful.

No way that will happen.

I want Mariko's life to be happy.

So,

I want her to always be smiling, no matter who she's with.

But…

NOSE COSMETICS

Lately, Mariko is far from smiling.

She's in an extremely bad mood.

Why?

Because her birthday is approaching.

More precisely, the annual family birthday celebration

at her parents' house is approaching.

Here you go.

Thank you.

- You really don't have to do this. - No, I was making one anyway.

- Izumi. - Yes?

Will you come to my family's house with me the day after tomorrow?

There's no way I can go.

I…

Don't like her.

The president's wife, I mean.

Not that I dislike the president, though.

He's a good person. Kind too.

Who knows? I don't know him well.

There you go again.

Maybe it's just that you don't open up enough, Mariko?

If you showed your true feelings more, wouldn't you get closer?

If you could open up to someone,

it would ease your mind more too, Mariko.

Really?

Yes.

Well, I'm actually not good at sharing things with people.

What? Really?

Any progress on the project?

Speak of the devil…

- I will check on it. - Thank you.

Outside of work,

Mariko and the president have almost no communication.

I've watched many types of parents and children, but…

I heard Hatano was released from prison, right?

Be careful.

It was a long time ago, but he might talk about things involving you too.

GINJIRO NOSE

YEAR 6, CLASS 3 NO. 1 GOLD STAR CLASS

SATORU HATANO

GINJIRO NOSE

Is the issue the father as an individual?

Or is it the whole family as a collective unit?

I want Mariko to smile.

So,

I must eliminate the risk factors

that stand in the way.

I'm home, Mom.

Mariko?

Hi, I'm back.

Welcome home.

Your father is out for a bit right now, but we'll start as soon as he returns.

Yes, hello?

Sorry, I know it's your day off.

I didn't know you were at your parents' before I called.

I should have waited until the beginning of the week.

It'll cause trouble for their side if it's late.

- Wait here a second. - Okay.

Oh, can I help you?

Chairwoman! I am Yukimura from the Brand Business Department.

I forgot to have the samples confirmed yesterday.

Oh, well, thank you. Anyway, come in.

Oh, no, no.

I'll be leaving soon. I'll just wait here.

No, it's okay.

In the old days, all the employees would often come over to eat.

Come on, quickly!

I definitely prefer The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle too.

Right!

Well, Norwegian Wood is good too,

but this is definitely his true masterpiece.

Mariko's grandmother

likes Haruki Murakami.

On the release day of a new book

she is a die-hard fan who queues at bookstores

for hours before they open to get a copy.

It is said that in that work, the expression of evil,

which had been fantastical until then, began to take shape as real evil

accompanied by history and physicality.

Yes, exactly!

Oh, have you read the new one?

No, not yet.

I'll lend it to you then.

- What, really? - Yes.

Wow, thank you so much.

- Here. - Yes.

Thank you very much.

Well, I'll be going now.

Already? Stay for lunch.

Mom, that's too short notice for him.

Do you have plans after this?

No, well, I don't, but…

Eat with us, why not?

What?

You can just email this after work today, right?

But…

Man, I'm starving.

Who are you?

Come, sit here.

Ah, excuse me.

I'm home.

- Welcome back. - Welcome home.

President…

Thank you for the other day.

Oh, Yukimura. Hello.

Welcome home.

I'll go wash my hands.

Mariko, have this too. You like it, right?

Thank you very much.

Mariko's stepmother, Sayuri, came into the family

when Mariko was seven years old.

THERE'S A NEW LADY THERE NOW

She entered the family less than a year