Be with You 2004

Mio's death and aftermath

Mio Aio dies, leaving Takumi and their six-year-old Yuji to fend for themselves. Takumi becomes disorganized with the household chores and experiences fainting spells, fearing he cannot keep Mio's happiness alive. Yuji overhears relatives gossip that his birth may have contributed to Mio's illness, and he blames himself.

Yuji discovers Mio's picture book

Yuji finds a picture book Mio left behind, a keepsake that hints at a celestial place called the Archive Star. The book implies Mio departs to that star and returns in Japan during the following year's rainy season. Yuji clings to the pages, eagerly awaiting her promised return.

The amnesic Mio arrives during a forest rain

On a walk outside their house, Takumi and Yuji encounter a woman sheltering from the rain, whom they immediately accept as Mio. She has no memory or sense of identity, yet she is drawn to the family and agrees to live with them. The unexpected reunion marks the start of a strange new chapter.

The amnesic Mio's questions about their past

The new Mio asks how they met and fell in love, prompting Takumi to recount how they first bonded. He shares the long history from school days and how Mio encouraged their marriage. Her questions force them to confront memories they had tucked away.

Recounting their high school romance

Takumi narrates their high school years, describing missed chances and the growth of their connection. Mio's encouragement is shown as a turning point that eventually brought them together. The tale evolves from casual acquaintances to a life they built together.

Mio's encouragement and marriage

The couple's path to marriage is described, with Mio encouraging Takumi to seize their future despite obstacles. The narrative shows their commitment strengthening over time and through shared losses. It underscores Mio's influence on the course of their life.

Rainy season nearing; discovery of the time capsule

As the rainy season draws to a close, Yuji discovers a time capsule that he had hidden with Mio before her death. The discovery triggers a flood of memories and hints at a hidden history between Mio and Takumi. The capsule becomes the hinge for understanding their past.

The diary inside the time capsule

Inside the capsule lies Mio's diary, whose pages recount the Mio-Taku romance in a version that answers the lingering questions. The diary acts as a key to understanding the mystery surrounding the amnesic Mio and the Archive Star. It reveals intimate details the family never knew before.

The Archive Star and Mio's departure

The diary describes Mio's departure for the Archive Star and her predicted return during the following year's rainy season. This revelation reframes the apparent disappearance as part of a cosmic cycle rather than a tragedy. The family begins to see the Archive Star as a living connection to Mio.

Yuji's anticipation of Mio's return

Yuji reads the diary and understands that his mother might reappear, reinforcing hope rather than despair. He continues to wait for her return while clinging to the promise of the Archive Star. The idea of a future reunion shapes how the family faces each day.

The amnesic Mio's identity clarified by the diary

The diary clarifies the nature of the amnesic Mio, linking her to Mio herself and to the Archive Star myth. The family gains a new understanding of who she is and why she is with them. The revelation shifts their sense of reality and belonging.