Sounds of Winter (冬のなんかさ、春のなんかね)

It looks delicious.

Thank you for the food.

Let's eat.

Delicious.

Was this really all right?

What's all right?

You haven't finished your novel yet, right?

Well, I'm sure some ideas will come to mind while enjoying a picnic.

You think so?

It's okay for me to be here.

If I was at home, I'd just be lounging around all day.

I'm fine as long as you're okay with it.

Yeah.

When I was in university,

I made lunch for my boyfriend,

and we went on a date to the zoo.

He was a very kind

and honest person,

but we eventually broke up.

Maki.

You should definitely stop seeing that kind of guy.

Break up with him right now.

Just take my word for it.

Break up with him.

Ayana, what do you know about Ashita to make you say that?

NOVEMBER 2018

I don't know anything about him.

I'm just saying, why are you still with a guy

who you caught sleeping with another girl in your house?

- Oh, you guys aren't even dating, huh? - Ayana.

He wasn't sleeping with her.

They were just lying down together.

Unbelievable.

Did you hear that? "They were just lying down together."

So then, what?

You got home, saw them,

- and just stood there watching them? - You're being too harsh.

I just want to be near Ashita, that's all.

I like him.

If I can see him from time to time, that's enough.

I don't care if he's married or sleeping with other women at my house!

He's married?

So what if he is?

That does change things a little.

Worst case scenario, you could get sued.

You know, you can do what you want.

If this is what you want, then that's fine.

But what do you want to become with this guy?

What?

There's no future with him.

Future of what?

By future, I mean things like,

you know, having a long-term relationship,

or getting married.

Or going on dates without having to hide.

Isn't the present more important than the future?

How lame. What the heck?

Then let me ask you this.

Do you date everyone with marriage in mind?

Yeah, I guess I do.

Seriously? That's so overwhelming.

You date people thinking of the future instead of the present, huh?

But the fact is, right now at "present," you're not even happy!

What? I am happy!

Listen, Maki…

What's wrong with you?

Why should this concern you?

I like Ashita,

and Ashita spends time with me. What's wrong with that?

Why are you being critical when I'm saying it's fine?

- It's because she loves you. - What?

Ayana loves you, and you're important to her,

and that's why she's worried about you. That much is obvious.

Well, I never asked for any of it.

Okay.

Yeah, you're right. You never asked for any of this.

Let's stop this. End of conversation.

Mr. Ashita is good looking.

So enjoy.

Bye.

Apologize to her later.

I am a little envious of you.

Since you're able to love someone that much.

What do you think about this, Tsukuda?

Me?

You heard everything, right?

Yeah, kind of…

Well,

I think everything Tsuchida said was right.

It's not that simple.

Then don't ask for my input.

Right?

Bye.

What?

- This is ready to go. - Okay.

Thank you for waiting. Here's your ramen.

Kotaro.

- Yes? - Clean up the tatami room.

- Yes, sir. - Thanks.

Okay.

GYOZA

Thanks for today.

Thank you.

Um…

What is it?

What happened to your hair?

You're mentioning it now?

We were working together all day today.

I wasn't sure if it was okay for me to bring it up.

Well, during class,

we had hands-on training

and had to give each other perms.

And it failed?

Don't call it a failure.

The person you gave the perm to,

also ended up with that frizzy afro?

No, of course not.

It looked really good.

Then yours is…

Yes, it's a failure. A mistake.

Yeah, I thought so.

By the way, Ms. Ayana, did I ever tell you

about the manager's hairstyle?

The manager's hairstyle?

I guess it's more about his hair type?

I never told you about it?

No.

I've never heard about it. What is it?

The other day,

when I had the early shift,

before the shop opened,

Manager was staring at the mirror for a really long time.

By the sink in front of the bathroom.

And I'm not sure if he decided to tell me because I'm at beauty school,

but you know he's 42 years old, right?

Anyway,

he was constantly fussing with his hair,

and guess what he said to me?

I wonder…

Did he say that he has more gray hair?

Hey Kotaro.

I noticed something yesterday when

I looked in the mirror after taking a bath.

I think I have naturally curly hair.

What does he mean?

At 42 years old, he realized for the first time that he has curly hair.

He never noticed?

Was that the first time he looked in a mirror?

Was he serious?

Yeah.

He was even telling our regular customer.

Why tell other people?

What kind of response does he want?

I don't know.

Maybe he wanted people to say, "No, it's straight."

Why is it bad to have curly hair?

- Hello. - Hello.

You can put those down.

Oh, thanks.

Um…

You might already have an idea

from the message I sent you yesterday…

Yeah.

I think

you have a pretty good idea of what's going on,

since I called you to an empty classroom.

Yeah.

What is it?

Um…

I…

Like you.

I like you.

So please,

go out with me.

You laughed.

No, it's not like that.

- Sorry. - No,

- I understand. - No, it's not like that.

- I'm sorry about this. - Wait.

It's okay.

Um…

May I ask why?

Why?

Right.

That's a good question.

Yeah…

So…

I like you…

What about me do you like?

We haven't really talked that much, have we?

Well, we have talked, but that was

when we were in the same class,

or in a group with other people, right?

We've never talked just the two of us, right?

Yeah.

- So why? - Why?

Why, huh?

What made you start liking me?

What made me fall for you?

Well, let's see…