Fragtime 2019

Misuzu Moritani is a quiet, shy high school student who silently carries a remarkable gift: she can stop time for three minutes each day. This strange ability often feels like her only refuge from loneliness, a way to peek into the world around her without being seen. When a classmate arrives with an invitation to join a club, she hesitantly considers stepping out of her shell, a small act that sets off a chain of events she never expected.

Her curiosity leads her to Yukari Kobayashi, a classmate who seems to sense that there’s more beneath Moritani’s quiet exterior. Moritani’s power soon becomes a tool for observation—she slips through the classroom when others can’t, and one day, she discovers that a certain popular girl, Haruka Murakami, remains unfazed by Moritani’s time-stopping. Murakami’s captivating presence draws Moritani out of the shadows, and when Moritani finally stops time to pull Murakami away from the confines of the classroom, a confession unfolds in the dim hallway: Murakami opens up about her feelings for Moritani and asks for a date.

Their Sunday outing becomes a turning point. Murakami reveals a painful truth—her boyfriend, Tamaki, cheated on her—stoking Moritani’s protective instincts and nudging her toward a reckless urge for revenge: humiliate Tamaki in a lingerie store. It’s a moment that tests Moritani’s boundaries and signals the intensity of her attachment to Murakami. In the days that follow, Moritani uses her ability not just to observe but to uncover secrets swirling around the school, while Murakami’s feelings grow bolder. Murakami even places Moritani’s hand on her chest, signaling a deeper, more intimate connection, and Moritani realizes she wants Murakami entirely for herself.

But the closeness comes with friction. Repeatedly freezing time causes Murakami to confront a widening distance between them. After a stretch with no use of her power, Moritani wakes in the sickbay to find Murakami visiting, and a bold kiss happens as time stands still. They decide to begin dating and promise to carve out moments away from everyone else, a private space where Moritani can breathe and Murakami can feel seen. In the washroom, Moritani acknowledges her own loneliness and wonders if Murakami might share that ache.

During a test, Moritani stops time again, and Murakami performs a daring act—undressing on her desk—encouraging Moritani to act on her impulses. They share an intensely intimate moment, but when Moritani asks that Murakami put her clothes back on before time resumes, Murakami seems disappointed, a stark indicator that the relationship carries fragile, complicated expectations.

Back in the hallways, Kobayashi notices Moritani hasn’t disappeared while speaking with her and the two friends eat together, while the topic drifts toward Murakami. Moritani watches Murakami’s loneliness echo in her eyes, and the awareness of others’ judgments never fully leaves them. As the school day closes, Moritani stops time once more and senses that Murakami is troubled, though Murakami does not want to talk about it. Outside for air, Kobayashi and Moritani discuss career plans, a quiet moment that Moritani uses to protect a confidante by stopping time to safeguard Kobayashi’s survey answers from prying classmates.

A rift emerges when Murakami discovers she and Moritani have not always been honest about what they share. To prove her sincerity, Moritani reveals their relationship to the entire class, prompting Murakami to flee. Moritani pursues, insisting on speaking the truth about the pull she feels for Murakami and the impact of their bond. Moments later, the truth becomes heavier than a single moment: Moritani’s power begins to fade, yet the romance remains, and Murakami reaches out with a steadiness Moritani hadn’t expected.

In the aftermath, Moritani finds herself changed by the relationship—even as her powers vanish, she grows more outgoing and self-assured. Murakami remains by her side, and their bond endures, underscoring a message about connection, longing, and the courage to reveal who you truly are. As the days stretch on with the ability to pause time gone, Moritani discovers a sense of companionship that doesn’t hinge on miracles, but on mutual care and honest companionship with Murakami.