Forgive me.
Your welcome party is two months late, and it's just you and me.
The branch manager leaves work right on the dot.
No worries.
Here we go, Kudo-kun. The shelled shrimp is really good here.
Right.
By the way, our mahjong friends mentioned today
that there's apparently a plan to demolish Kowloon.
Well, it's already happened once before.
What?
It was demolished once back in 1994.
Then what's this Kowloon?
The official name of the current Kowloon is the Second Kowloon Walled City.
Kowloon was recreated illegally after it was removed.
Why remake it?
It's kind of anachronistic, and to be frank, it wouldn't hurt if it was gone.
That's because...
somewhere deep down, everyone wants to go back.
Back to the nostalgia.
So it can't be erased even if you want it to be.
Maybe.
Are you okay?
Listen, Kudo-kun.
You said you had a go-to spot.
They serve alcohol too, right?
Let's go there.
No, we can't.
Why not?!
It's a bit of a walk from here.
And you've already had too much to drink.
Above all, I haven't gone there enough to call myself a regular.
Boo.
Kujirai-san, your shoulder.
My shoulder?
Your strap!
Oh, my bad.
You really should be more cautious.
Do you remember that I told you you're the type to be well-loved by your elders?
Oh, good morning.
G-Good morning...
Where am I?
My place.
What?!
How are you feeling?
You passed out on the rooftop yesterday.
Don't you remember?
Rooftop?
And you slept like a log until now.
Did you pull an all-nighter or something?
It's true that I hadn't gotten enough sleep.
About yesterday.
Shall I tell you...
about the Reiko Kujirai I know?
Don't do it.
No, thank you.
You sure?
Well, if that's what you want.
I'm going to work now.
You go home and get more rest.
I'll explain things to the branch manager.
Y-Yes...
What did I do with my key?
This is the spare key to your apartment.
Are you really sure you don't want to know why I have this?
I'm sure.
I left the spare key to my room on the table.
Lock up after yourself and leave the key in the mailbox.
Faat
What's up with these outfits?
Come on, we're in disguise.
Hey, Miyuki-chan. Please don't go walking around Kowloon alone, okay?
Why not?
Because... you might bump into the second version of me.
The fake Reiko Kujirai is in love with Kudo-san too, right?
Then the fake me is going to hit on you. I know it.
I see.
I'd love to find out if the second version of you would be interested in me.
The more samples I have, the better.
Miyuki-chan!
Goldfish Teahouse
Is this the place?
Yeah. The exterior looks the same as back then.
We can't inspect the interior, but let's check out the back door.
It's not here. I knew it.
I made a shelter so the stray cats could get out of the rain.
But it's not here.
Not even a trace of it.
This Kowloon isn't the Kowloon I know.
There are other things that feel off.
"Feel off"?
NEW PRODUCT Hebinuma Pharmaceutical
Eyedrops
This.
It's a product we launched three years ago.
As you can see, this is being sold as a new product.
The peculiarities of Kowloon lead to a number of logistical quirks.
It's not strange to see a product released three years ago marketed as new.
Like I said, it's not just that.
Things just feel shabbier than when I lived here.
Shabbier, huh?
Even though Reiko Kujirai's beauty mark is identical.
Beauty mark?
A mole under her left eye.
Moles aren't duplicated in a clone.
What? Then is she...
This might be very entertaining indeed.
She has the same appearance, voice,
and warmth as the one you once loved, and she loves you like she used to.
But she doesn't have a memory of your love.
Sai Sing Tower
Can you imagine the utter despair?
It's such an amazing place to work for!
You were right to ask Xiaohei for a recommendation.
It's a job as a seamstress?
Yes! There's no quota, and they pay for overtime.
So, you're looking refreshed, Reko-pon.
Anything good happened to you?
Kujirai B is a different person than me,
and Kujirai B seems to have passed away already.
My gosh! So scary!
Does that mean this is a dead person's room?
Yes... I guess?
Kudo-san seemed to know that too.
"Seemed to"? You didn't ask?
Don't do it.
Why the hell not?!
I felt like I would disappear if I did.
Listen, Yaomay.
I decided to become my absolute self.
"Absolute self"?
Say I do something and regret it.
But if my decision was absolute, then it wasn't a mistake.
"Absolute" means trusting myself and seeing things through.
Even if just for a second, I want to be able to say I am me, and no one else.
That's really wonderful!
But you know, looking identical to someone and not having memories of your past...
That mystery remains.
Where on earth did you come from, Reko-pon?
Director Hebinuma mentioned before
that my wrinkles looked like they were there from the beginning.
This room, too.
I can't remember when I started living here,
but I remember where everything is.
It's as if I'd been created to match the life of Kujirai B.
Do you mean like a clone?
I saw this post online, so it's sketchy to say the least.
But they say they're planning clone research with the Gene Terra project.
The post has been deleted, but I wonder if that has something to do with you.
Oh, only they didn't call it a clone, but they called it a Zirconian.
Zirconian... I wonder if it comes from zirconia, the artificial gem?
I guess?
Oh, my earrings today are also zirconia.
Artificial gems. Fake diamonds.
If I was created as a fake from the beginning,
is it too much for me to ask to be a real thing?
Turn off the light and come join me.
Look.
So pretty.
Zirconia might be a fake that looks like a diamond, but I like it.
Maybe I feel affinity to it because I myself am the result of plastic surgery.
It encourages me that even a fake can sparkle so brightly.
Listen, Reko-pon.
There are a lot people in the world who say a fake is nothing but a fake.
But there are people like me who see genuine sparkle in a fake.
Don't forget that.
Right.
Thank you, Yaomay.
Good mornin'.
Locker room
Good morning.
Yo. How are you feeling today?
Meeting with Yaomay cheered me up.
Hajime Kudo
Wong Loi Realty
I'm going to lunch with her again today.
LATE
Thanks!
That place was pretty good.
Totally! By the way, for the party we talked about...
Let's bring a table and do it on Xiaohei's rooftop.
Love that idea.
Are you going to invite Kudo-san?
What should I do?
Why did I hide?
Listen, Reko-pon.
Why don't you move out of that room?
What?
Throw all the stuff away and buy new everything!
Create a room of your own!
Not a hand-me-down from Kujirai B.
I kinda want to keep that room as it is.
But why?!
For Kudo-san's sake?
For Kujirai B's sake.
Huh? Even though she no longer exists in this world?
I know she doesn't.
But that's why I want to keep it.
I feel like that room is a fragment of her.
If that room goes away,
I feel like her presence itself will be completely erased from the world.
And I think I understand how scary that can be.
You do?
You're not convinced?
Not really.
Hey. Was the new place any good?
Yes.
Um... Xiaohei's throwing a housewarming party.
Would you like to join us?
Who's coming?
It'll be me, Xiaohei, and Yaomay.
I'll pass. You guys should have fun on your own.
I thought you might say that.
I'd be willing to contribute, though.
Wait, that much?!
It's a special favor.
Now we can splurge.
Oops! I have a showing.
Sai Sing Tower
Thank you for your donation!
Sure thing.
So I'm not moving, and I'm not throwing away anything.
But then it's like your life is being bound by Kujirai B.
Exhaling CO²
That girl is breathing
Celebrating Xiaohei's new apartment...
Cheers!
So you are here?
Xiaohei forced me to come.
The more, the merrier!
I see lemon chicken!
I'll serve it for you guys.
Here you go, Kudo-san.
Thanks.
Um...
Got a problem?
Absolutely not.
Listen, Reko-pon!
Remember our discussion about a new place?
I found you a nice-looking room.
Are you moving too, Kujirai?
I told you I'm not.
Taking a look at it may change your mind!
It won't.
What do you think, Kudo-san?
It's not a bad idea to move out of that room
and make a clean start in a new room, right?
Yaomay!
If "Reko-pon" hates that room and wants to move out, then why not?
I don't hate it, so I'm not moving.
Let's split into two teams,
one to throw away trash and one to clean up the tables and chairs.
I'll take out the trash.
I'll come with you.
Let's go for a smoke.
Okay.
Kudo-san, may I borrow a cigarette?
I'm out.
Too bad! This is my last one.
Well then, take your time.
Sorry.
I thought it felt really bright.
There's a full moon tonight.
Hebinuma General
Center
You know how Director Hebinuma
mentioned he wanted to open another clinic in Kowloon?
I wonder what happened to that.
When he visited the office last time—
The day he kissed you?
Well, yes...
What are you doing?!
You leave yourself too open.
They say the moon shines because it reflects the sunlight.
So what light does Gene Terra reflect to shine?
Gene Terra looks like it's shining because...
we have high hopes for it.
High hopes?
Everyone has high hopes for Generic Terra.
That's why it looks so appealing and shines so brightly.
Under the tree of bougainvillea
I look for her
But the moonlight gets in the way
And I can't find her fragments
Me, having high hopes?
Something's definitely wrong with Kowloon this summer.
Riichi!
Again?!
Kudo, you're on a roll!
Hello! In the middle of a game?
Kujirai-chan!
I thought you were going to lunch with your seamstress friend.
Her name's Yaomay.
She's off today, so I thought I'd go for boiled dumplings with you for a change.
Oh yeah?
Oh? No Mr. Chan today?
Absent without notice.
Hebinuma General
Center
I'm sorry for summoning you out of nowhere, Mr. Chan.
You mentioned my health checkup.
Don't tell me you've found something's wrong with me.
I've brought him here.
We're entering Kowloon right now.
Whoa, this takes me back!
You've got to be kidding me.
I'm just fine, as you can see!
We're in.
Would you like to meet him?
No. Please give him the gratuity and escort him back to his home.
What an unexpected turn of events.
It's not a place you can predict.
There's an existing item named "Sai On Tower" in this location. Do you want to replace?
No
Replace
There's an existing item named "Sai On Tower" in this location. Do you want to replace?
No
Replace
Well, we're back to square one.
But most likely, the second version of you no longer exists.
Happy now?
Very much!
Anyhow, how did you manage to find Mr. Chan?
We got lucky.
By the way, I'm contacting the Wong Loi Realty in Japan about Hajime Kudo.
Kudo-san...
I never asked, but what was Reiko Kujirai's cause of death?
Wong Loi Realty Company
'Kay, let's go home.
Do you think Mr. Chan is doing okay?
He lives alone, doesn't he?
You think he might've dropped dead at home?
D-Don't say stuff like that!
People can die so easily, you know?
I'd rather not talk about it.
Kudo-san and I both said back then that it must've been some kind of mistake.
Because...
Kujirai.
You...
How much do you know?
Huh?
Th-That she no longer exists in this world.
Who did you hear it from?
The server at the Goldfish Teahouse.
Gwen?! Did you see him?
Y-Yes.
I bumped into him a while ago, and that's what he told me.
Okay.
I see.
I can see why you find it incomprehensible.
And why you're angry with the second version of Reiko Kujirai
and are concerned about the whereabouts of Hajime Kudo.
Kudo-san?
I killed Reiko Kujirai.
Must have been a mistake.