The Garden of Words (言の葉の庭)

Until I entered high school two months ago, I didn't know...

The dampness of my uniform's hem, soaked by someone else's umbrella...

The warm body pressed up against my back...

The cool breeze of the air conditioner against my face...

Shinjuku... Shinjuku station...

Thank you for riding with us.

When I was little, the sky was closer... Much, much closer.

That's why I like the rain, since with it comes the smell of the sky.

And often, on rainy mornings, instead of transferring to the subway, I exit out the station gates.

June.

Chocolate and... beer?

Here.

Thank you.

Um... have we met before?

No.

I'm sorry, my mistake.

It's okay.

Maybe it's fitting...

A faint clap of thunder.

Clouded skies.

Perhaps rain comes.

If so, will you stay here with me?

The Garden of Words.

The Garden of Words.

This morning, the JMA has declared the start of the rainy season in Kyushu, five days earlier than average.

Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima prefectures expect strong rains over a wide area.

I'm home.

Welcome home.

I bought croquettes.

Great. Dinner will be ready soon.

Thanks.

Where's Ma?

Ran out.

Lucky us, we get all the croquettes to ourselves.

She left a letter saying not to go looking for her.

But maybe...

Leave her be.

I'm sure she'll be back after fighting with her boyfriend.

I've picked out a place. I'll be leaving next month.

Living alone?

With my girlfriend.

Don't think that's why Mom ran out?

You told her yesterday, right?

I wish she could just let her children go, you know?

She's the one who's making the rounds dating younger men.

Oh, yeah? Well then I'm gonna go live with my boyfriend!

She's got those youthful looks, after all.

That's 'cause she's never worked hard her a day in her life.

You're the one who's been piling on the years.

All done.

You do the dishes. I've aged enough.

Won't you be glad to have more space?

Suppose so.

Help me move, 'kay?

Sure.

Hey, have you heard of this?

What's this, a haiku?

It's a tanka.

As if.

Ask Ma when she gets back.

On sunny mornings, I transfer to the subway and head here, like I'm supposed to.

But I think to myself "This isn't what I should be doing right now."

Rain...

Hi.

Hello.

Hey...

No school today?

And your office... Closed today?

I'm skipping work again.

And drinking beer in the park in the morning.

Drinking beer alone isn't good for your health.

You need to eat something with it.

You know a lot for a high schooler.

It's not me. My mom's the drinker.

I've got snack food.

Want some?

You just thought to yourself "This woman's a freak," didn't you?

No, I...

It's okay. We're human, after all.

We've all got our little quirks.

Maybe...

Definitely.

Okay, it's about time for me to go.

Heading to school now?

I've decided to only skip school on rainy mornings.

Well, we might see each other again.

Maybe when it's raining.

It was the first day of Kanto's rainy season.

A shoemaker?

I know it seems out of touch,

but I enjoy creating designs and making shoes.

Of course, I'm still terrible at it.

Of course...

But despite it all, I want to make it my career... if I can.

I've never told anyone this before.

Do you have any idea how late you are?

You know why I've called you here, right?

Hey...

Evenings, before I went to sleep...

Mornings, in the moment I woke up...

I realized I was praying for rain.

I realized that on sunny days, I was in a terrible, childish place,

with nothing but impatience.

She exists in a world of working adults, so very far away from me.

To me, she represents nothing less than the very secrets of the world.

Honestly, there are only two things I know for sure.

She must think a 15-year-old like me is just a little kid.

Making shoes is the only thing that will lead me away from here.

Please stay behind the yellow line for your safety.

Please be careful of the closing doors.

Good morning.

I thought you might not come today.

It's a miracle you haven't been fired yet.

Wow! Is that a shoe design?

Hey!

I can't see?

It's not something worth showing.

Really?

Yes, really!

Come on, sit down over there.

I'm going to eat breakfast. Would you like to join me?

Thanks, but I brought my own.

You made it yourself?

What? I cook sometimes, for your information.

Oh?

Then let's make a trade.

Wait, I'm not really that good a...

cook, you know.

It's your own fault.

That's a side of you I didn't expect.

What?

Sorry. But it's tasty in its own way.

It's got bite.

Don't patronize me.

Can I have another?

Hurry up!

Wait, bro!

Takao, be careful.

Happy birthday, Mom!

Thank you.

What could the three of you have gotten me?

Hey...

Do you think it's too late for me?

And you know what? I could actually taste the food.

So your taste disorder has improved?

I wouldn't go that far.

But just a little while ago, all I could taste was alcohol and chocolate.

I think you deciding to just quit was really for the best.

Maybe so.

You speak to me so gently,

like you're touching something fragile.

But back then, when I found it hard to even breathe,

you only listened to the voices around you.

You didn't believe me.

Then we'll start the paperwork for you leaving after the holiday.

I'll notify the higher-ups.

Okay. Sorry to cause you all this trouble even after we split up.

I'm glad, really...

About that old woman you met.

You know, the one you keep talking about who brings her lunch box to the park.

It seems like you've really struck a chord.

Yeah, get some rest.

Mr. Itou Mr. Itou.

Ever since then,

I've been

nothing but lies.

Rain...

It's raining again today in Kanto.

Here at Shinjuku Station's south exit, the commuters all have umbrellas in their hands.

July.

Here, this is for you.

For me?

I've always ended up eating your food, see...

And you said you wanted it, right?

This book isn't cheap.

Thank you... very much.

It's my pleasure.

Um...

I'm actually making a pair of shoes right now.

Wow... A pair for yourself?

I haven't decided who they're for yet...

They're women's shoes.

But I haven't been able to get them right, and...

You know...

before I knew it, I wasn't able to walk properly anymore.

Are you talking about your job?

Yeah...

About a lot of things.

I don't know anything about her.

Her job, her age... what worries she carries...

Not even her name.

And yet I can't help but be charmed by her.

The rainy season is officially over ten days later than normal in the Kanto region.

The current temperature in the city is 26 degrees.

Like someone just flicked a switch, the sunny days came one after another.

Oh sure, now I think to myself "I'm glad that he's not skipping class anymore."

But in reality...

I wish the rainy season

had never ended.

This park sure is big.