Heavenly Forest 2006

On his first day at university, Makoto Segawa, Hiroshi Tamaki, a shy freshman, meets Shizuru Satonaka, Aoi Miyazaki, a girl whose childlike appearance and playful demeanor catches his eye. He is reserved around others, but Shizuru’s charm awakens a curiosity he cannot shake.

Shizuru Satonaka, with that same playful energy, shows an interest in Makoto’s hobby of photography, and the two begin spending time together in a nearby forest, taking pictures and sharing quiet, revealing conversations that hint at a growing bond.

Yet Makoto soon finds himself drawn to another student, Miyuki Toyama, Meisa Kuroki, whose beauty and maturity attract him in a different way.

Seeing this, Shizuru hints that she will grow up to be a beautiful woman, telling him he would regret not choosing her later.

One birthday, she asks Makoto to photograph them kissing in the forest as a personal gift, and they share a kiss.

Afterward, Shizuru unexpectedly leaves school and disappears for two years, leaving Makoto to wonder what happened.

Then he receives a letter inviting him to New York to attend Shizuru’s debut photography exhibit, and by this time he has broken up with Miyuki, realizing he truly loves Shizuru and is willing to wait.

Arriving in New York, he is greeted by Miyuki and learns that Shizuru had been hiding a disease and has died.

At the exhibit, he sees a collection of Shizuru’s work, including many photographs of Makoto, and a huge portrait of Shizuru grown older, just as she had foretold.

There is also the photo of the forest kiss, with a caption declaring that it was her one true love.