It was the summer of the year after she left.
I was chased by deadlines and canned up in my usual business hotel
as I wrote my manuscripts.
It was around the time my essays were being compiled
and published as a book.
My other serializations were also popular.
And books from my past series were due to be reprinted.
I received good news about work
and a report about an old friend's passing in one sitting.
It was a strange summer.
Oh, hello.
- Good morning. - Morning.
- Sure is hot. - Yes.
Checking out.
- Sorry to keep you waiting. - Hey.
It's hot!
- Come look at this. - What is it?
Is that Yabu?
What magazine is it?
The restaurant looks fancy.
Look at his extremely smooth skin.
He's particular about his skincare routine.
Did he really look like this? I haven't seen him in a while.
He's opening a second location soon.
Really?
His place is making good money.
KAZUNORI OZEKI
When I used to work as a contractor for TV production,
I had a friend who was an Assistant Director.
He passed on after a long battle with illness.
Did you bring the condolence money?
Of course.
You're right.
Here it is!
Over here.
Why did they choose this picture?
KAZUNORI ONEKI'S FUNERAL
- Didn't they have a better one? - Right?
Inui?
Hello Inui.
Sorry. I have to go say hi.
It's good to see you.
Somehow I managed to...
Thank you for coming.
I'll take it.
Please write your name here.
I saw him just last week.
At the hospital?
He was connected to all sorts of tubes, but he was able to sit up and talk.
How long did you know Ozeki?
Thirty years or so.
But I haven't seen him much recently.
When I first laid eyes on him, he was still a young Assistant Director.
He was sleeping in a sleeping bag on the emergency staircase.
Things were rough back then.
We used to talk about where we would be in 10 years.
But still, he did become a producer in the end.
Forget ten years. It's more like thirty now.
I guess he accomplished everything he set out to do in life.
When I last saw him, Ozeki, laying in bed,
said he wanted to visit Tottori.
"I know a hot spring that seems good," he said as he stared at the ceiling.
But the very next day, his condition worsened.
I unintentionally became the last person he ever spoke with.
Oh, Sensei...
Aren't you coming to Lighthouse?
My mother has gotten sick. I have to move back to my family home.
It's hot and she lives alone. So I'm worried about her.
See you then.
So you two already live together?
- Oh, of course. - Wow.
I'll leave it to the wife.
- Come on. - Sorry.
- Can I have salt? - Oh, salt? Hold on.
Salt, right?
We have salt, right?
- Is this enough? - Yes.
- Don't sprinkle too much. - Okay.
Did you say that your deceased friend was a TV producer?
Yes.
Did you use to work with him?
Yes. I went to the funeral with Inui.
That must've been rough.
Inui said she was moving.
Yes, her mother isn't doing well.
Yes.
Sorry about the timing.
It's fine.
It's a reason to celebrate.
Which one looks best?
- This one. - Wow.
- It's the first time anyone chose this. - Yes.
But I like this one.
Yes, you've been saying that.
- They all look good. - They do.
I like the white.
- Go for the best face. - Face?
- They all have the same face. - Yes.
- You look the same in all of them. - Do I?
- All of them. - I'll ask Inui.
- Really? - Is that right?
I guess we won't be seeing much of you anymore, Nishi.
No, I'll still come around.
My wife is pretty relaxed.
That's how everyone stops coming.
Yes, just look at Tani.
- Are you getting married? - Oh, no.
I'm retiring in March.
I'm going to wind down and enjoy a new stage in life.
I want to take over my family's cake shop and open a bread shop.
Why not just run the cake shop?
Well, I guess everyone's busy then.
Look.
Whoa.
- Wow. - She looks happy.
Wow. Looks nice.
I wonder if she's eating well.
Korea has lots of good food.
She said the cafeteria food is good.
But things are expensive over there.
That's true.
Let's send her a package.
Yes.
Wait. What does Mito like again?
Bread.
- No way. - Didn't she like rice balls?
That's right.
She always had smashed rice balls in her bag.
- They get smashed by the other objects. - Right.
Bread tastes better smashed.
That's how pastries are made.
They're smashed down.
Not that much.
You're opening a bread shop and you want to smash bread?
- Yes, smashed bread. - After baking the loaves?
- Why do that? - Sell them before smashing them.
LET'S STAY FRIENDS FOREVER
CAFÉ MERMAID
Oh, you aren't writing today?
Just a meeting today.
You don't come around as much anymore.
I write at the hotel.
I have too many serializations. I've gotten busy.
Wow. Look at you, a popular writer.
Sensei.
Oh, nice to see you.
- A blend coffee please. - Yes.
- You're late. - Sorry.
- Thank you for your work. - Sure.
How were the ideas for the titles?
We've narrowed the choices down,
so you can pick the one that sounds good to you.
What if you pick, Sawada?
But it's your book, Sensei.
I don't have a preference.
This is your first time to have a serial published as a book, right?
Thank you very much.
Don't cry. You're embarrassing me.
I'm quitting come September.
What? Why?
I was recruited by the book-reviewing Tiktoker's agency.
What will you do?
I'll be a manager for their Tiktokers.
What?
They wanted me because of our success in promoting you.
- I'm really grateful. - Well, good for you.
What about this serialization?
Oh, about that. Someone else will take over.
I was hoping to introduce you to him today.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Hello.
Great to meet you.
I'm Wakabayashi. I'll be working with you starting next month.
- Good to meet you. - Great to be in your care.
Let's sit down, shall we?
Excuse me.
- Here's your blend coffee. - Oh, thank you very much.
- Here you go. - What do you want to drink?
- Oh, cola for me. - Cola?
You should know, we have great coffee.
- Don't we? - Sorry, I don't like bitter drinks.
We also have cafe-au-lait made with plenty of milk.
Cola will do.
Cola, right.
- Yes. - Thank you.
Is this where you usually write?
Well, yes.
We recently rented a co-working space close by.
Feel free to use it.
It'll be convenient for meetings too.
That may be, but I write well here.
I've come here for years.
Sorry, but I don't like tobacco smoke.
Sorry.
So about the title.
These are the titles I got from Sawada. What did you think?
I think there's room for more consideration.
Oh, don't worry about that.
We chose one. I'll tell you later.
Understood. Then about the cover design...
WE BUY AT A HIGH PRICE
- Right over here. - Thanks.
THE BAR IS CLOSED TODAY
DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?
KAORU
What's wrong?
What?
Wow. What happened here?
Oh, no.
The dentist upstairs had a pipe burst.
Look at this flooding.
Did you know
that ever since we got a new landlord, they won't repair anything?
The toilet clogs easily too.
I'm at my wit's end.
It's no good.
- Where's Fuku? - Man...
He's at Fuji Rock with Izumi.
I see.
What if I just close this place for good?
And then I'll open up a tiny bar in Ishigakijima Island.
Competition is fierce in Ishigakijima Island.
You're kidding.
No! I want to go to Ishigakima Island!
Man...
This is hopeless.
Thanks.
Come again.
The landlord's not planning on paying for the damage.
- Another round. - Okay.
- You chugged it. - One chicken-and-egg rice bowl.
- Here it is. - I'll open it.
- Okay. - Ta-da.
Thank you for the food!
This looks delicious!
Time to dig in.
- It's good! - Yes.
I taste the ashes!
The ashes?
You mean charcoal.
Now I want to do a barbecue.
Wonder if Fuku's having barbeque right about now.
What if we go too?
Where?
To Fuji Rock.
My bar has to stay closed tomorrow anyway.
I have to do an interview tomorrow.
I see...
Let's go somewhere close then.
Now? Where can we go?
Somewhere.
Somewhere I've never been to.
Don't observatories make you sleepy?
That's because you're drunk.
How are you doing recently?
- What do you mean? - Got any good news?
Well, I make curry at home. I use all real spices.
I'll come eat some.
Okay.
What about you, Kaoru?
What?
Anything happening between you and Fuku?
Nothing, really.
Oh, my son might attend a university in Hokkaido next year.
He might get a recommendation.
Wow, that's great.
Guess it's a good thing.
But I suppose you'll be lonely.
No, I might feel relieved.
Family, lovers...
Those things are too much work.
Being just a bit miserable and alone is comforting.
Know what I mean?
Yes, I do.
I don't want to promise a forever with someone at this point.
But you know...
I hope we stay friends forever.
Okay.
Yay! In that case, you'll pay for the first spot.
What?
And then, I want to go to this expensive restaurant.
Premium ingredients and seasonal vegetables.
You want a hefty meal? Now?
- Let's do it! - No way.
The title is pretty wordy,
so we thought an abstract design would suit the book.
What do you think?
I don't know...
It was difficult to choose whether to stick to the title
or go for a twist.
I understand what you mean.
Maybe the title doesn't cut it.
Is this the title Sawada came up with?
Yes.
For essays that are fairly sensitive, the title is a bit macho.
I agree.
The readers might pass on the book before they get a chance to read it.
Is it too late to change the title?
We have some time before the deadline.
Sensei, what if we rework the title?
It's a net loss at this point.
Sure. Why not?
I think that's a good idea.
I can't imagine this title on Amazon's best-seller list.
I can revise the design if you submit the revised title by this week.
Should we brainstorm?
Can you give me a few references?
I handled a different essay collection, recently.
I have data from that.
Hey!
Over here!
Here.
Good work today.
Each person can take up five steps.
Let's talk up there.
Over here.
Come on.
Over here.
Here we go. Ouch!
Right here.
Sorry, it's a bit messy up here.
You're such a slouch.
Want any coffee?
I didn't put my mouth on it.
I'll take some.
Great.
Okay.
There you go.
Here.
Buy a new jacket already.
I patch it up now and then.
I spread the jacket on the ground and sleep on it, so it rips.
I mean,
- You could at least buy a black parka. - Yes.
Thanks a ton.
Where do you think we'll be in ten years?
Will I become a producer by then?
You will be.
And you're still a sub-sub-contractor.
I bet you're sleeping on the floor even as an old man.
I...
I became a mystery writer.
Seriously?
That's awesome!
What's your book called?
"The Room No One Knows."
Sounds really boring.
Come on.
Many people get murdered
in a room even the architect didn't know existed.
- What about your other books? - Other ones?
"Winter Story."
What a sloppy title.
It's divided into two volumes.
Not even two years have passed since starting this serialization,
and already, many people are gone from my life.
My editor, friends, and even those particularly close to me.
When I read over our memories,
they are full of moments that can be easily forgotten.
I'm glad I wrote them down.
Events that happen in real life, things we imagine
over time, we forget everything.
BECAUSE WE FORGET EVERYTHING AUTHOR'S FOREWORD
Hello there.
It's hot, isn't it? Have a good day.
Can we get a few more...
And it stared right at me...
Everyone's mad. Listen.
We're mad.
What's so funny?
Thanks for coming.
Unlimited drinks today too!
I'll take a photo so please gather in the center.
That's it. Thank you.
Oh, be careful!
- That's dangerous! - Come on!
- Can I order rice? - Yes.
Let's get gyoza too.
Sounds good.
- Go back. - Okay!
Good!
BECAUSE WE FORGET EVERYTHING
I want to say to you
That my greatest work
Is loving you
That's right
Look into my eyes
I don't want to let go of your hand
Gaze up at me
Let's feel how in love we are
Let it rain down
Do you need love advice?
Never-ending sweet kisses
Just a little bit is fine How inviting
Sadness and tears
- Are they sweet? - No!
With everything in our hands
Hey save me
I want your love to set me aflame
Pretend like it's just the two of us
In this world
Oh, really
Really sweet
Let's turn love-making
Into our joy
Great researchers of romance
You and I
We're on the pursuit
The unseen shape of love
But it's
A very powerful feeling
Look into my eyes
I don't want to let go of your hand
Gaze up at me
Let's feel how in love we are
Let it rain down
Although you are always serious
Your face smiles Why is that?
The unseen shape of love
But it's
A very powerful feeling
Look into my eyes
I don't want to let go of your hand
Gaze up at me
Let's feel how in love we are
Let it rain down
That's how in love I am with you
Let it rain down
Translated by Megumi Hunter