Episode 2: The message that transcends time
Tamura Yumi gets a rude shock to hear Ikuko tell Nakano Yumi in her dream that she died two years ago. She cannot hide her agitation at this unexpected news when she jolts awake. “I’m going to die?” she says to herself in a tone of disbelief. Yohei is awoken from his sleep and drowsily asks if something happened. She tells him that she had a scary dream in which Ikuko told an friend that she died two years ago, and wonders if it is normal to dream of one’s own death. He gives a dismissive answer, saying he does not know because there are all sorts of dreams, and goes back to sleep.
At work that day, the dream continues to gnaw at Yumi. Then, Ikuko drops by to invite her and her family for a barbecue next week because she is in the neighbourhood. Yumi takes the opportunity to ask Ikuko if she knows Takata Design and an employee there called Nakano Yumi, claiming that a friend of a friend had been there. Takata Design turns out to be Ikuko’s client. She does not know of Nakano Yumi and offers to make a phone call to the managing director of the advertising agency, but Yumi tells her firmly that it is not necessary.
Having made up her mind, Yumi ventures to locate Takata Design. As she heads over to where it should be, she ponders if what she had seen is a precognitive dream that portends the future two years later. There is a signage on the wall at the building which houses the advertising agency. It reads Takata Design. Yumi stands outside and stares up at the office. At that moment, Hayashi Jotaro approaches one of the office windows and looks out. She immediately recognises him from her dreams. Although she does not know Nakano Yumi’s whereabouts, the fact that Takata Design and Nakano Yumi’s boss exist in reality unsettles her.
That night, Yohei returns home to find Yumi sitting in a daze in the dark. He seems to associate her distraction with the affair that she suspects him of having, and asks if she still doubts him. With her back to him, Yumi mutters to herself that it does not count as an affair if she is going to die. That thought makes her panic. Unable to restrain the emotions swirling inside of her the whole day, she questions if she looks likely to die. Does she have the look of death or aura often done on TV? Yohei cannot make sense of her behaviour and turns to walk away. She desperately reminds him about the dream she mentioned in morning, a dream that may come true. “I may die.” Yohei’s initial bafflement turns to irritation and he tells her to cut it out. If she has a bone to pick, he would rather they talk about it than have her insinuate that she may die. He finds this awful and warns her not to speak of it again.
Realising that no one will believe what she says, Yumi tries to send a message to the future, fervently hoping that Nakano Yumi will receive it if their consciousness are connected. She seeks her help to find out when and why she is going to die. It is information she thinks Ikuko should know.
Nakano Yumi, who wakes up with Tamura Yumi’s message, comes to work and sees a man with her boss. Hayashi introduces him to her as his high school classmate, Tatsuno, and says he ran into him outside the building. This is the first time in decades that they have seen each other. After Tatsuno leaves, Yumi asks her boss what he does for a living. Hayashi tells her that he asked but Tatsuno did not tell him. He did not want to be too insistent since many things would have happened by the time one reaches their age. Yumi hurriedly enquires if he remembers a woman who gazed up at the office from downstairs two years ago. She tries to describe Tamura Yumi’s appearance and the time of the day. However, he does not recall anything.
Yumi returns home thinking to herself that Tamura Yumi is already dead in the world she lives in. Her attempt to find out about Tamura Yumi’s death did not get her anywhere and she seems reluctant to probe any further.
The next day, Tamura Yumi is sent on an errand by her boss. While walking to the post office, she suddenly catches sight of Tatsuno casually leaning against a post at a playground on the opposite of the railway tracks, and panics. Another person she had only seen in her dreams has turned up in reality. This convinces her that Nakano Yumi’s world truly exists, and brings her back to the questions she has relating to her impending death.
That evening, Yumi goes to pick up Ami from playschool. On the way home, Ami tells her that everyone said the bag she sewed for her is cute. She requests for hamburger steak for dinner tonight because her hamburger steak is very delicious. But what wrings Yumi’s heart is her daughter’s declaration that she loves her very much. In response, she stops and hugs her tightly. She cannot imagine how Ami will react to her death or what will become of her. With no one else to turn to, she sends another message to Nakano Yumi, asking to be saved because she does not want to die and leave her daughter behind.
And so, Nakano Yumi drops by the playschool she saw in her dream after work and lingers outside. One of the teachers who notices her asks if there is anything she can help with. Yumi hesitates, and then asks if Tamura Ami is here. When the teacher enquires what her relationship is with Ami, she awkwardly apologises and turns to leave. Just then, Yohei arrives to pick up Ami. Yumi impulsively follows father and daughter at a discreet distance.
Yohei and Ami stop at a bench by the riverside, and Yohei attempts to entertain her by blowing bubbles. Yumi hears Yohei suggest to Ami that they go shopping for a new bag the next weekend. However, Ami refuses to even though it is all worn-out because her mother made this bag for her. She asks if her mother is in heaven today too, and if she is watching over them. Yohei says that she is and the two of them start singing the children’s song that Ami used to sing with her mother. The sight of a forlorn little Ami brings tears to Yumi’s eyes.
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