Unsung Heroes (いつか、ヒーロー)

They're still not biting.

Reading a newspaper? Aren't you trying to get with the times?

How long can this recession go on?

How can you have stagnant wages for thirty years?

The politicians and the businessmen…

only think about today, and profits, and themselves.

Everything went to hell while you were asleep.

Three lost decades.

Those kids are only thirty, what are they supposed to do?

It's our fault.

We have to make it right.

Come on, come on, come on…!

Maybe you really can't catch fish without bait.

That's common sense.

But you know…

I'd still like to see the kids catch a big one.

Me too.

Happiness isn't in the cards for you.

I can't let you be happy…

…while I'm miserable.

-Alright! I get another half hour? -A whole hour even.

-No way! -Have a good time.

Like heads and tails on a coin…

humans also have a side you see and a side you don't see.

Whoa, take it easy there, gramps.

Group photo!

Everybody look this way!

Say cheese!

The side you see…

THE JAPANESE ECONOMY

The side you don't see.

Whether it's deliberate or instinctive…

…humans survive by flipping between them.

I'm very… very sorry…

I'm very sorry…

The real problem…

is that a person's true self…

…can never be seen from the outside.

I FORGOT TO SEND YOU THIS PHOTO

-The skin's the best part. -It is?

Yeah.

Good, right?

Thanks for the meal.

Don't mention it.

Oh, Seichan wants to see Ibuki.

That's the girl you were looking for?

Someone from her old facility gave us her number.

Yukari met with Ibuki twice, but she won't let Seichan see her.

-You can't see her. -I've been waiting patiently--

Stay!

I'm begging you.

Because he'd go bananas.

He never changes.

He's dumber than he looks.

He's got too much heart.

Round two!

What? Birthday?

Ibuki hit you just because you mentioned your birthday?

Nono…

Did you ask what Seichan was up to for twenty years?

He wouldn't tell us. He said he was sleeping.

Gramps said he was in Atlantis, even has a souvenir to prove it.

That's even more ludicrous.

So why did Yukari move here even though she has a boyfriend?

Apparently she broke Yuki's time capsule.

She said she wanted to apologize.

I wonder if that's really the only reason.

Are you hurt?

Thanks.

Hey, Rui!

I need to borrow your clothes.

-Yummy! -It's good?

Yeah, it's good.

You keep getting it on your face.

-You too, Mama! -Where is it on Mama's face?

It's right here.

Mama, who's that man?

Don't look.

Seichan!?

Sorry, Yukari

I tagged along.

You tagged along? And why are you dressed like that?

Isn't that Ibuki and her daughter?

I could tell instantly.

Seichan, I told you not to come. I was going to talk to her

and then let you see her when the timing is right.

We'll be taking her now. Come on, Saori-chan.

Stop! Hey, stop!

Somebody help!

-Kimihara-san! -Don't take my daughter! Stop!

Let go of me!

-Stop! -Kimihara-san!

Kimihara Ibuki. After leaving the children's home

she attended a vocational school on financial aid.

Then worked as a temporary government employee.

She married her co-worker and had a daughter

But divorced after two years due to domestic violence.

Could you just tell me why?

I can't share details with an outsider.

This is an emergency intervention by Child Protective Services?

Because I worked at Ibuki's old orphanage--

Right now you're an outsider.

Was there abuse that required immediate action?

I can't discuss that.

Or like, a double suicide kind of thing?

A double suicide…!?

I'm not obligated to answer.

You decided this on your own?

No… We received a tip-off about child abuse.

A tip-off?

Ibuki! Calm down.

That CPS woman has it out for me. Did you call her?

I did not call her.

-You brag about your boyfriend-- -Take it easy!

You never change!

-You think I would abuse my child!? -No, that's not--

I have three jobs, I finally got a day off!

We know you wouldn't do that, Ibuki.

Kimihara-san!

I'm sure you understand.

It's for Saori's protection--

-Ibuki. -Don't walk away, Kimihara-san!

She seemed depressed when I first spoke with her.

But the second time we spoke she was the opposite, very upbeat.

Those are the more dangerous times.

But still, did they have to rush like that?

Apparently Ibuki blocked that woman's number…

so she didn't have much choice.

KIMIHARA

10 MESSAGES FROM AKAYAMA SEIJI

IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M HERE TO LISTEN. CALL ME!

Here.

Yes, take it slow.

Do you think you can eat another bite?

Chairman, after your two older brothers died in a tragic accident…

and the grief left your father bedridden…

You suddenly had to take over the family business

but apparently people had low expectations at the time.

Not low expectations…

Zero expectations.

I felt like I wanted to die every day.

But I crossed paths with someone…

…and things turned around.

Rumors of your political ambitions are still swirling

so I'll ask you…

The three lost decades…

The leading cause of death for people in their thirties is suicide.

What do you think about young people who find life unbearable in today's world?

They're doing the right thing!

This country has no future.

We're not making babies, geriatrics piling up, innovation is dead.

To save costs, it's all part-time and temp jobs…

of course young people can't survive.

It's heartbreaking.

But still everyone…

all of them…

It's great how they don't complain.

The fruits of the Japanese education system!

What an achievement!

People these days hate it when anyone speaks out or makes a big fuss.

So no one says anything.

And everyone thinks they're the only one struggling.

It's the best! The absolute best!

Come on, come on

I mean look at you! You're about to get killed, wake up!

Just staring at your smartphone and then from behind THWACK! Turn around!

And that's why…

I'm going to lead all of them…

…to a better place.

Does that place hold a special significance for you?

It leaves a strong impression?

It was full of them…

little cubs.

Cubs?

Yuaan, yuyoon, yuyayuyon.

That was so much fun.

Let me introduce you.

The only one worthy to be my successor.

My… hero.

I'm Himuro, good to meet you.

The land is strange?

You see, it shouldn't have been allowed to build a tall building on that land

yet somehow there it stands.

-Look, I'm a real estate professional. -You're just a scam artist.

Shut up. Help me look into this, you're not busy.

What? I'm busy, I do stuff.

-Have a nice day. -You too.

Sorry, thanks.

Thank your mother for me for dinner the other day.

-Alright, see you later. -See you.

Take care.

A SINGLE MOTHER WHOSE BELOVED DAUGHTER WAS TAKEN

A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER'S SORROWFUL SECRET

This arcade is a blast from the past.

We used to go to a nearby arcade at the mall once a month…

…with the whole gang.

Bold to show your face…

…after twenty years.

I'm sorry.

It doesn't matter anyway.