[hip-hop music]
[girl gasping and sobbing]
[echoing scream]
"UNENDURABLE LABYRINTH"
[girl 1] Any luck?
[girl 2 groans] I don't get it.
Where did I screw up?
-Are we lost, or… -Nah, we're okay.
We hiked uphill, so we'll just head back down to get off of this mountain.
And that'll help?
-Stop worrying so much! -Uh…
Hey, Noriko?
[Noriko] What's up?
You don't normally invite me anywhere, so why am I here?
You had everyone in class worried, me included.
We had no idea why you stopped coming to school.
-[girl] I see… -[Noriko] Mm-hmm.
[menacing music]
Super creepy Buddha, check.
I had no idea this was out here.
-Whoa. Hey, Sayako, look there! -Huh?
[Noriko] Are those monks in training?
Hey, uh, sorry to bother you!
We've got a question and would love some help!
[shudders]
I guess not, huh? Weirdos.
Looks like we are on our own.
There's no way I'm sleeping out in the open.
Let's try to find some shelter.
[both gasp]
[chanting]
-[gasps] -Huh?
[Noriko yelps]
[man] Those are our devotees currently in training.
Didn't mean to startle you. You two are lost, I take it?
[Noriko] Uh, yeah, we are.
I'm not surprised.
Our sanctuary has been closed off from the outside world for a long time.
It's quite hard to find and enter, and also very difficult to leave.
Oh…
[monk] People like yourselves manage to wander in every so often.
It's dangerous to leave the mountain so late in the day.
You're more than welcome to spend the night at our temple.
-Uh… -Hmm…
[Noriko] So, uh… which sect does this temple belong to, exactly?
[monk] Our doctrines stem from esoteric Buddhism, but they are unique to us.
[Noriko] Would that make this a new religion?
[monk] We've been around too long to be considered a new religion.
We have over one million devotees who all train quite passionately.
We recently started accepting those who are not devotees
for spiritual cultivation.
RESOLUTE ORDER HEADQUARTERS
If you hone your focus here, you'll surely become healthy.
How about it? Why don't you stay here and meditate with us for a few days?
Oh, thank you, but I feel like we're already pretty healthy, head-to-toe!
Learning never stops. How about you, then?
There's no real harm in trying it out, right, Noriko?
For real?
[breathing unsteadily]
[girl 1] Sayako is pretty awesome. She's beautiful, and so academic.
[girl 2, echoing] True, but…
Ugh, I feel like she has a terrible personality.
[laughs] Just look at her face.
[echoing laughter]
-[thump] -[gasps]
[shudders]
Whew. Well, I'm awake now.
[cicadas chirping]
You're Sayako and Noriko, am I right? I'm your new roommate.
My name's Aya Kuramoto. Nice to meet you.
Likewise.
What's your reason for cultivation, Miss Kuramoto?
Me? I came here to cure my anthropophobia.
That's what I told them, but I'm here to look for my eldest brother.
Your brother's missing?
He joined this religious order five years ago. No one's heard from him since.
ZEN DISCIPLINE SCHEDULE
I've looked for him while pretending to take part in their teachings.
But I can't find him.
[monk] Something tells me you're suffering from conflict within your head and heart.
Hesitation is agony. If you absolve it, peace will arrive at both of those places.
Join our religious order. That way, you'll have no more hesitations.
Our contemplation not only offers salvation,
but will someday save humanity from its tumultuous perils.
Um… I'll need to think about it for a bit.
Take your time.
[distant chanting]
You hear that?
It's the hundred-man chorus in the central temple.
What a solemn and peaceful feeling.
We need to train more so we can start
attending those ceremonies as soon as possible.
After all, our ultimate objective is to rest in peace.
[monk 1] Tonight's the hundred-man contemplation.
It's only held once every three years.
What is that?
[monks shouting]
[shouting continues]
[Noriko] You weren't kidding.
Those monks said the contemplation was tonight?
Hundred-man contemplation, held once every three years.
What exactly is this?
It's a private ceremony where monks enter coffins buried underground
for self-mummification.
They restrict their diet to raw vegetation,
cleansing of decomposition-causing fats.
This makes their mummification process smoother.
But self-mummification is illegal, religious reasons or not.
Look there. Those monks are all so gaunt and scrawny…
It's not your normal fasting.
This ceremony is not something a sane person would do.
Huh? I don't understand.
[Aya] Hold up. Seems like they're headed out.
[Noriko] I wonder where they're going…
[Aya] They might lead to where my brother is.
-I'm gonna follow them. -[Noriko] Hold up!
We're not allowed to leave at night!
I suggest you leave and never come back. If you stay, you could be trapped forever.
This is especially a warning for you, Sayako.
Hey! Wait a minute! We will go with you.
[Sayako trembles]
[Noriko] What if we get bit by a pit viper?
[Aya] Shhh!
Let's go.
It seems that three trainees have fled the sanctuary.
That is their choice to make.
By doing so, they willingly walk the path of hesitation
for the rest of their lives in the mundane world.
So many people. Where'd they go?
-[Aya gasps] -What is it?
[Aya] Looks like they ditched their torches and extinguished them.
Over there!
You see that door behind the Buddha statue?
[echoing clang]
[footsteps echoing]
[Noriko shivers] It's so cold…
[Aya] This hallway's getting narrower.
[Noriko] Hey, is this really safe? It might be dangerous.
-What if we run out of oxygen? -Gimme a break!
You two decided to tag along, I didn't make you!
-[Noriko] You don't have to yell. -[Aya] Why don't you just go back?
-[Noriko] Don't say that! -Hold up. Keep it down…
-[Noriko] What's wrong? -What is that?
-[Aya] Huh? -[Sayako] Over there.
[Aya shudders]
[Noriko gasps]
-[Aya] Oh no. -[Noriko whimpering]
They look like old mummies, but there's no doubt they were all devotees.
Hey, Miss Kuramoto, maybe we should head back.
[Aya] I can't! I told you, my brother might be here.
[trembling]
[whimpering]
[gasps] Big brother!
I finally found you.
Oh, seeing you this way just breaks my heart.
[sniffles] Listen, I… I need to stay here for a little while.
-[Noriko] No way! -[Aya] Please get out of here!
Leave me alone!
[Aya sobbing]
-[Noriko gasps] -[Sayako sighs]
[crying]
[trembling] Noriko, let's hurry up and leave. I can't take it anymore.
Sayako… believe me, I want out of here as fast as possible.
But making that happen? That's a problem.
This place is a maze, with no markers.
Is this even the way out?
We've been walking a while, but it all just looks the same.
Maybe this underground labyrinth stretches under the entire mountain!
It feels like it goes on forever!
So cold! [gasps]
[screaming]
[Sayako whimpering]
Noriko! Noriko, help me!
[sobbing] I can't take it anymore!
Sayako! This isn't the place to break down!
-Pull yourself together, I beg you! -I can't…
Those gazes! I can't handle it!
[shudders] Everyone's looking at me!
[Noriko] What are you talking about? Everyone is dead down here!
[Sayako] This must be divine punishment.
Retribution for leaving Miss Kuramoto!
[sobs] I'm a terrible person!
You're not making sense.
[crying] The mummies! They're looking at me!
Come on, don't be ridiculous.
Mummies can't stare at you! They don't even have eyes.
It's all in your head. Turn around and take a look.
[whimpers]
[dramatic music]
[both whimpering]
[both screaming]
[Sayako] Stop it! Stop staring!
[screams] Stop looking at me!
-[girl] You're next, Yutaro! -[boy] All right! Go!
[grunts]
-Whoa! -Check it out!
-A new record! -Amazing!
[laughing]
Hey, check it out. Kuriko's back again.
She's checking you out. She's totally got the hots for you.
-Why don't you go play with her? -Whatever, idiot. Gimme a break, you guys.
-Hey, Kuriko, you should head home! -[Kuriko cries]
-[laughter] -That's enough. Stop it.
-[woman] Hi, are you here alone? -Hmm?
Hmm.
"THE BULLY"
-[boy] Hey! -[Kuriko] Huh?
How about you share some chocolate with us, please?
[Kuriko] No way! I got it because I'm gonna play with this kid!
-[boys grumble] -We'll play together and have so much fun.
What's your name, anyway?
Oh, yeah, I never said it. My name's Nao, it's very nice to meet you.
Yeah, same, Nao.
[boy] Since when is this park a playground for girls and babies?
They're ruining it for the rest of us. Come on.
-Let's get our own chocolate. -Right!
-[Kuriko] You're all kids, too. -With caramel?
[scoffs] Looks like the swings are empty.
-Let's go play on them, Nao! -Uh…
Hey, big sis!
[grunts]
[growls softly]
[sighs]
The swings are open again! Let's go play on them!
Come on, big sis, let's go play!
[Kuriko] Sorry, I can't today.
No, don't be like that!
[whines] Nao wants to play with you!
Mm-hmm…
[Kuriko giggling] You're it!
[Kuriko] I'm home.
Oh, welcome back, honey. Get in here! Something came.
[Kuriko] Wow! Cake!
I received those little cakes from someone who introduced herself as Nao's mother.
-Huh? -I heard that you're playing with him.
He apparently has no friends here because they just moved to the area.
-I think you should keep playing with him. -[sighs]
-[boy] All right, bring it! -[clink]
-Oh, wow! -That's really good!
-[laughter] -Take that!
-That'd be a home run! -Amazing!
-Whoo! -[all laughing]
Hmm.
[Kuriko] Let me tell you something good, Nao.
[Nao] What is it?
Lend me an ear and you'll see…
-Hah! -[yelps]
-Surprise you? -Yeah. And it kinda hurt my ear a little.
Oh, yeah? Wow, I didn't think that would happen.
Let me look, maybe something's wrong.
Oh, here's the problem! You've got a brain-eating bug in there.
-It's gonna eat your brains! -[Nao] No, get it out, get it out!
All right, if you insist! [grunts]
Stop it! Ow! You're hurting me!
-[Kuriko laughing] -[Nao crying]
CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND
[boy] Go, Yu!
-Yaah! -Holy crap!
-[laughs] I'm amazing! -Hi, big sis.
[Kuriko gasps]
-[boy 1] I'm going next! -[boy 2] Hurry up!
Huh?
Hey, big sister, Nao really wants a drink of water.
[Kuriko] Mmm.
Aah!
Okay, now it's Nao's turn.
[Nao gasping]
[boys laughing]
-[Nao wailing] -[Kuriko grunting]
[Nao crying]
[whimsical music]
-[Kuriko] Wanna have a sword battle? -[Nao] Sure!
Get ready!
[Nao crying]
[Kuriko laughing]
Don't be a chicken! Take a big, brave jump down from there!
If you don't, I'll never play with you again!
[crying] I don't wanna, but I'll do it if you want me to! I'm gonna jump!
-Nao! What's wrong? -I'm gonna jump!
Thank goodness you're here, ma'am! Nao told me he's gonna jump down!
-You've gotta stop him! -Nao! Stop being foolish!
I'm heading up there. Wait for me!
-[Nao] Mommy! -[mother] Stay right where you are, okay?
[Kuriko] I was kinda surprised when your mom showed up yesterday, Nao.
Have you told her what we really do when we play?
Of course not. Nao hasn't said anything at all, I promise.
Is that so? All right. Let's see if that's the truth, come on!
Ow, you're hurting me!
BEWARE OF DOG
[Kuriko] Let's start a trial now. Look over there!
[whimpers]
[chuckles]
[growls]
Go get the ball. If you're innocent, Orco won't bite.
I don't know, big sis, he seems mad.
-[barking] -I can't, I'm too scared.
-Hurry up and get it! -Oh!
[laughs]
[Nao screaming]
[Kuriko laughing]
[man] You're acting kind of strange today.
Why are you telling me about that stuff?
It's a confession. I was a despicable child, Yutaro.
Knowing all that might change your feelings about me.
I get it. You're showing me your secret side.
But all those things happened years ago, correct?
That's not who you are today. My feelings haven't changed at all.
Well, maybe not. But that's not the end of the story.
Hard to believe, but there's a sequel.
[whimpers]
Is…
Is that you, Nao?
Yes, but my full name's Naoya. It's been quite a long time, Kuriko.
Such good memories back then…
Do you know if that park still exists? I wonder.
It does. It hasn't changed one single bit.
[Naoya] I know.
-Why don't we go to that park together? -Huh?
[Naoya] There's so much I wanna talk to you about.
[Kuriko] Oh, okay…
[Naoya] It hasn't changed one bit.
The slide, the landscape, everything.
I recall you grabbing my ear down on that slope.
You were quite the tomboy back then, huh?
I… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean you any harm.
But you-- I don't know. I just thought you were so cute.
-Oh, I'm so pleased to hear that! -Huh?
I was actually deeply in love with you.
You were the only one that would talk to me
and keep me company back when we were kids.
And I've thought about you every single day since.
So much that I could tell it was you just by looking at you from behind.
Huh…
[Kuriko] That was it.
The moment I was finally liberated
from the guilty conscience I'd harbored for so long.
It was so cathartic, Yutaro.
But that was the only time you met this guy, right?
No, we met on numerous occasions.
You what?
I'm seeing him today, too.
Naoya! There you are!
I'm sorry to do this, Yutaro.
But it's over. I've fallen in love with Naoya.
[trembling]
[insects buzzing]
[Kuriko] No, Mom, I have no intention of leaving this apartment!
I'm sure Naoya will be back here eventually!
And don't worry.
I can raise Hiroshi all on my own! No problem!
Mommy, I'm so hungry. When are we having dinner?
[Kuriko] In a little while.
[whines] But, Mommy, I'm hungry now!
Hiroshi! Enough! Be a good boy!
[whines] Mommy!
[gasps]
Are we really having fish again, Mommy?
I wanna eat some curry and rice, not this dumb stuff.
Why can't I eat curry and rice and omelets, Mommy?
Just shut up and eat, Nao.
What? Mommy, I'm not Nao.
[gasps]
I'm very sorry, Hiroshi.
It's just that you look so much like your dad when he was a little boy.
You're the spitting image of your father.
-Really? Like Dad? -Indeed.
Mommy used to bully your daddy every afternoon.
He was so cute when he was bullied, it was really amusing.
I think he secretly liked how much Mommy bullied him.
No matter how much I did, he wouldn't stay away.
Mommy just couldn't help but want to bully him for some reason, too.
Oh, where is Nao? I wonder what he's doing at the moment?
I really want to bully him again.
[trembles]
[crying]
Mommy pulled on my ear!
[Kuriko] So that's what it was, Naoya.
You'd planned your revenge against me from the beginning, didn't you?
How long do you plan to keep crying?
Little boys need to be tougher than that, Nao!
[Hiroshi] Stop it! That's not my name!
[Kuriko] You really are a terrible child.
Showing up knowing I only want to play with Yutaro!
You're only here to get in my way!
Well, fine then! I'll play with you!
We'll go the park right now and play, play, play, play!
But, Mommy, it's nighttime already
[Kuriko] Night makes it all the more convenient for me.
[giggles]
Mommy, you won't yank on my ear anymore, right?
[Kuriko] I promise I won't do anything. Nothing at all!
[cackling]
[footsteps echoing]
[cheerful pop music]
[man] Oh, it seems there's quite a bit more ink.
But I'm running out of paper.
Oh, there's paper over in the other room, isn't there?
Is it possible to get there?
Yes, but to do so, I must traverse this twisted back alley.
The… the spot where the ink stopped flowing
is white, hard, and pointed now.
If I dig with that, maybe I can bore a hole.