[Scene: In summer, in Takemichi’s apartment. Takemichi lounges around while eating potato chips and watching the news on TV.]
TV
Now that July has started, the weather in China has been hot, and the distribution of air pressure has been bringing in warmth, making the overall temperature higher than last year all across Japan.

The Kantou Koushin’etsu area as well as the Tokai region will have clear, sunny, summer skies ahead!

The temperatures will be hotter inland, so please beware of unexpected rain storms in areas near the mountains.

And now for our next story.

The escalating dispute between the Tokyo Manji Gang has now claimed innocent victims.
Takemichi
Wait, seriously? That’s insane…
TV
Six were injured in this incident.

One was sent to the hospital but is in cardiopulmonary arrest.

The ones who died at the scene have been identified as Tachibana Naoto-san, 25, from Shibuya, Tokyo…
Takemichi
Hm? Tachibana Naoto?
TV
… and another victim from Shibuya, Tokyo, Tachibana-san’s older sister, Tachibana Hinata-san, 26.

The MPD is on high alert.
Takemichi
Tachibana… Hinata?


[Scene: At Takemichi’s apartment.]
Takemichi
(Thoughts) Apparently, my one and only girlfriend, who I dated in middle school, Tachibana Hinata, is dead.
[Action: Takemichi’s landlady pounds on the apartment door.]
Landlady
Hey! I know you’re in there!
[Action: Takemichi opens the door.]
Takemichi
Yes?
Landlady
How many times do I have to tell you that your TV is too damn loud?
Takemichi
Sorry about that.
Landlady
Honestly, kids these days…
Takemichi
Ah…


[Scene: At a DVD shop. Takemichi’s boss lectures him.]
Boss
Seriously, how many times do I have to tell you the same thing, Hanagaki Takemichi-kun?
Takemichi
Ah…
Boss
DVDs need to go back on the shelves as soon as they’re returned.

I told you this before, right?
Takemichi
I’m sor --
Boss
Yeah, I know. All you ever are is sorry.


[Scene: On the street. Takemichi is walking back home from his job. A group of kids are hanging out near a car.]
Takemichi
Ugh…
Boy 1
Hahaha! Wow, that’s lame!
[Action: The boys notice Takemichi approaching.]
Boy 2
Hey, old guy.
Takemichi
Huh?
Boy 1
You got a problem?
Takemichi
Uh, no… Uh, I’m sorry…
[Action: The three boys surround Takemichi. One of the boys takes a rock and scratches it into the side of the car.]
Boys
Fufu!

Hehehe!

Hmm~!
Takemichi
Ah!
Boys
Hahaha!

Dumbass!

Run away!
Takemichi
Ah…
[Action: The three boys run off as the owner of the car approaches.]
Man
Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!
[Action: Takemichi runs off.]
Man
Ahhh!!


[Scene: At Shinjuku Station. Takemichi stands on the platform above the train tracks.]
Takemichi
(Thoughts) I never thought that my life would turn out like this.

(Thoughts) Living in a crappy apartment with paper-thin walls, treated like an absolute moron by my manager who’s younger than me.

(Thoughts) Then those punks picked a fight with me, and I somehow ended up apologizing.

(Thoughts) I’ve only had one girlfriend in my entire life, and that was in middle school.

(Thoughts) To top it off, I’m still a damn virgin.

(Thoughts) Where the hell did I go wrong?
[Action: Someone approaches Takemichi from behind and pushes him onto the tracks as a train is approaching.]
Takemichi
Ah… Huh?
[Action: The train approaches Takemichi.]
Takemichi
(Thoughts) No way…

(Thoughts) The moment I thought I was going to die, I didn’t remember my parents or my friends. I remembered Tachibana Hinata.
[Action: Takemichi has a flashback to his middle school days.]
Students
(Flashback) Apparently, Tachibana-san from Class 2 likes Hanagaki.

(Flashback) Nice!

(Flashback) Ufufu!
Yamagishi
(Flashback) Seriously? Why you, though?
Students
(Flashback) What are you going to do? Some boys from another class came looking for you yesterday.

(Flashback) Don’t give me that. Tachibana-san’s super popular, you know.
Takemichi
(Thoughts) Thinking back, my second year in middle school was when I peaked.

(Thoughts) I was number two in a kickass gang of second-years, and that was the only time I had a girlfriend.

(Thoughts) Is this, like… the thing where you see your life flash before your eyes?


[Scene: In the past, in a train arriving at Shibuya Station. A feeling runs through Takemichi’s body.]
Announcer
Shibuya. We have arrived in Shibuya.

Please make sure you have all your belongings.
[Action: A woman bumps into Takemichi as she gets off the train.]
Takemichi
Oh, I’m sorry.
Atsushi
Hey, Takemichi!
Takemichi
Ah…
Yamagishi
Takemichi!
Takemichi
Ah… Huh?
Atsushi
What are you doing? Get off the train.
Takemichi
W-Woah!
[Action: Takemichi runs off the train, narrowly missing getting trapped inside.]
Takemichi
Ah…
Atsushi
Hurry up.
Takemichi
(Thoughts) Woah, t-talk about nostalgic!

(Thoughts) Makoto, who couldn’t keep his hands off his ♥♥♥♥!

(Thoughts) The fool Yamagishi, who thought he’d be smart if he wore glasses!

(Thoughts) Our leader, Akkun!

(Thoughts) Takuya, who I knew since we were little!
[Action: The five boys leave the platform.]
Makoto
Yamagishi, did you see this week’s issue?
Yamagishi
Hell yeah, I saw that pin-up! It was insane!
Atsushi
Yo, guys. We’re in public, you know.
Takuya
I’m starving. Wanna get something to eat?
Yamagishi
I could go for a hamburger.
Makoto
I’ve got a coupon.
Atsushi
Got enough for all of us?
Makoto
Nope.
Takuya
The hell, man?
[Action: As the boys are leaving the station, Takemichi notices his appearance in the mirror.]
Takemichi
Huh?

An open collar and baggy pants?

(Thoughts) Who the hell is this lame-looking punk?!

(Thoughts) It’s me! It’s me from middle school! I was so lame!

(Thoughts) But this was supposed to be when I peaked!

(Thoughts) What’s in my pockets?
[Action: Takemichi takes out his phone and a coin from his pockets.]
Takemichi
(Thoughts) A single 500-yen coin and a cellphone!

Yo, it’s a flip phone! Talk about memories!
[Action: Takemichi opens his phone.]
Takemichi
Ah… July 4th, 2005?

Uh, wait. Right now, it should be… One, two, three… This is exactly twelve years ago!
Yamagishi
Hey, Takemichi!
Takemichi
Ah…
Yamagishi
The hell are you doing?
Takemichi
(Thoughts) Who knew seeing your life flash before your eyes looked so realistic?


[Scene: In the past, in Shibuya. The five boys are gathered in a fast food restaurant.]
Makoto
Seriously, Takemichi? Just fries?
Yamagishi
And you got a small!
Takemichi
Well, I need change for the ride home.
Yamagishi
It would’ve worked out.
Atsushi
I’m glad your cousin’s the leader of Shibuya Third Middle School, Takemichi.
Takemichi
Huh?
Yamagishi
If any third-year tries to mess with us, we just need to name-drop Masaru-kun.
Takemichi
Wha?

(Thoughts) My cousin? Are they really talking about Masaru-kun?

Hang on a sec. What’s so good about having Masaru-kun around?

I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.
Boys
Huh?
Takemichi
W-What?
Takuya
What?
Atsushi
What are you talking about?
Yamagishi
You hit your head or something?
Makoto
Come on, Takemichi.
Takemichi
Ahh… Hahaha…
Makoto
We’re gonna go pick a fight!
Takemichi
Ah…
Masaru
(Flashback) Bring it.
Takemichi
(Thoughts) Come to think of it, Masaru-kun did mention that he was the leader at Shibuya Third Middle School.
Makoto
We’re gonna have us a little war with the second-years at that school!
Yamagishi
Yeah!
Takemichi
Huh? We’re gonna go over to their school and fight them right now?
Boys
Ahh…
Yamagishi
Hey, someone say something.
Takuya
Takemichi, they think we’re wusses, so we gotta fight.
Takemichi
They think we’re wusses? And that’s why we’re fighting?
Yamagishi
You don’t need to act like you’re sc