Allow me to explain the rules.
Here's the game we are about to play.
Difficulty level, Queen of Hearts,
"Croquet."
"Croquet"?
Often called lawn billiards,
it's a ball game that was popularized in 19th century England.
But I'm afraid it's not very well-known in Japan.
I don't know the rules.
It's perfectly fine if you don't know how to play croquet properly.
You see,
it doesn't matter if you win or lose.
What?
To clear this game,
you simply need to play three rounds of croquet without quitting.
If you quit before we're done, it's game over.
You can even have weapons.
The only rule is to complete three rounds of croquet.
If we play until the end, we clear the game even if we don't win?
That's right. Easy, isn't it?
Now, let's enjoy ourselves.
The game is played with a wooden mallet and two balls.
You must hit both balls through six hoops in a prearranged order
and then hit the finishing peg before the other player to win.
Yes!
Round 1, I won.
If we play three full rounds without quitting, we clear the game
and we win.
Just two more rounds.
What in the world is she thinking?
Okay, now for Round 2.
She's simply dragging the game out.
She's just entertaining herself.
We need to finish this game fast.
Oh, my! This is such fun!
Nice!
This is never going to end.
Yes!
I won.
Looks like I lost Round 2.
You've got talent for this.
Okay, let's play Round 3.
I'm feeling a bit weary.
Why don't we have some tea?
Tea?
Forget the tea.
Let's hurry up and play.
Enjoying tea during a match is proper etiquette for ladies and gentlemen.
Please, enjoy your tea.
When this game is over, can we go back to the real world?
You'll know when it's over.
Don't ask her any more questions.
Don't listen to what she says.
Just finish this game. That's all we need to do.
Do you want to know the answer that badly?
My friends died without knowing the answer.
I want to know the answer for their sake as well.
That's why I've come this far.
And you want to return to the real world.
Can we?
Who knows?
I certainly can't tell you that.
Besides, this just might be the ruins of that other world.
You talk like that,
but I bet you don't even know the answer yourself.
I do know.
I guess I have no choice.
If you want to know that badly,
I'll just have to tell you
the truth about this land.
However, you must accept that no matter what I tell you,
it was you who wanted to hear it.
Don't you forget that.
Have you sometimes wondered
what the world would be like in the future?
In the future?
Yes.
Nanotechnology, renewable energy,
iPS cells, virtual reality, cryonics, terraforming…
The technology of your era is still filled with hopes and fantasies.
You should probably be happy.
All those things became a reality.
In fact, technology achieved radical developments and advances.
In 30 years, the economies of developing countries will grow,
and the barriers to improving living standards will be demolished.
In 50 years, lives will be prolonged thanks to genetic manipulation.
Hold on.
What's this all about?
Don't you understand?
I'm simply telling you
what the future will be like 1,000 years from now.
A thousand years?
In the future?
Since the human race obtained even greater mental capacity,
perpetual discoveries will be made in every field of knowledge.
Ten years after the present, that is, the time you believe you live in,
avatars and virtual reality
will become the way that life is lived, including how we work and have fun.
In 50 years, genetic engineering will be used
to treat all diseases, such as cancer and dementia.
In 100 years,
due to the development of weather control and other environmental regulating tech,
natural disasters will be eliminated.
In 200 years,
due to a perfect understanding of brain mechanisms,
it will be possible to transfer memories and consciousness.
In 300 years,
humans will no longer die from natural causes
and we will live an average of 300 years.
In 400 years,
due to a perfect understanding of physics, we'll understand all laws of causality
and be able to scientifically explain even things such as coincidence and fate.
In 500 years, nothing unexpected will ever happen.
By achieving perfect control over everything,
humanity will become nearly immortal.
For the next 500 years,
we'll be able to live just by injecting pleasure compounds.
That is what the world will be like 1,000 years in the future.
In fact, right now, you are playing this game in virtual reality.
You're in a deep sleep, so you've forgotten that.
This kind of game tourism is the most popular activity
a thousand years in the future.
Since we have become nearly immortal, we have little reason to live.
The era of 1,000 years earlier,
where the threats of death and the end of the world were a reality,
has captured our fascination.
Incidentally, I am the administrator of this system.
Just kidding! I lied about all that.
What?
Cut the crap!
The truth is…
due to genetic manipulation,
massive amounts of mutant vegetation appeared.
You saw it too, right?
The city has become overrun with vegetation.
The city became surrounded by mountains.
It was aliens that brought this about.
Aliens?
They captured all of humanity and wiped out our memories,
and forced us to play all these games to conduct behavioral experiments on us.
Is that the truth?
Yes, it's the truth.
But…
there is this rumor circulating among the humans forced to play these games.
In actuality, due to a nuclear war,
humans can no longer live on the Earth's surface.
Now, the ultra-wealthy, who live underground,
have put androids implanted with artificial memories
on the surface to play games, and are betting on which will survive.
You believe
that you're oppressed humans who are being forced to play games by aliens.
But the truth is
you're nothing more than androids that have been implanted
with artificial memories.
And that's the truth?
Just kidding.
We just need to finish one more round.
Stop listening to Mira.
I bet you don't even know the truth.
Maybe so.
Is the truth really that important?
You want to know for the sake of your deceased friends?
You poor thing.
I can see that your deceased friends
were very, very precious to you, weren't they?
Incidentally, I made the Seven of Hearts game.
I mean, you were so close, I just had to.
Arisu!
It's all right.
Please don't stop him.
Having something to hate is one of the greatest motivators in life.
This is also part of your plan, isn't it?
To have yourself killed
while the game's still going on.
If I kill you in this game,
I won't be able to clear the game and there will be no game over for me.
In other words, this game will continue forever.
If that happens,
then all the players in this land will just wait until their visas run out.
That's exactly
the kind of extreme despair that you wanted to thrust on us.
While you were playing the games,
didn't you also lose all interest in what happens in the world?
Did you care about how the world works, or what its grand purpose is?
Did you care about any of that?
Those things didn't matter anymore, did they?
Then why does it even matter what the real truth is?
Arisu, don't listen to Mira.
-I want to know the truth. -Arisu!
You really want to know?
Yes.
Then I guess you're prepared to accept the truth, aren't you?
All right.
I'll stop prevaricating and reveal the real truth.
I'll start with the reality.
The world you can see now
is not real.
It's an illusion.
You're saying this is all an illusion?
Since you've been here, didn't you doubt even just once that it was real?
The desolate city,
radical technology, and ludicrous games.
Is it aliens? People from the future?
Even if they were behind it all,
can you think of any serious reason why they'd run these games?
Tag and hide-and-seek are both children's ideas.
Nothing can happen here that is beyond your own imagination.
It's only natural that a person like yourself would survive until now.
You see, that's because…
these things are happening in a tiny world
that exists inside the mere 1,500 grams of your own brain.
Arisu, don't pay attention to her.
If this were an illusion,
then it means you believe that my life is something you imagined!
But I'm right here, alive!
That's right.
You do exist.
But that is not the reality that Arisu sees.
What?
Arisu.
Don't you remember
what happened then?
When you lost
your precious friends.
The shock was so traumatic, you lost all memory of what happened.
I am
your doctor, Mira Kano, a psychiatrist.
You are receiving counseling from me.
You simply
don't remember it.
You just don't remember.
So…
Do you remember now?
Are your memories
gradually returning?
How about it, Arisu?
Are your memories gradually returning?
Chota…
Karube…
You two sure are close.
She's always
worried about you.
She also lost someone precious to her
and has been hospitalized here.
Okay now.
Tell me.
Tell me what really happened
when you saw those fireworks.
Okay.
Try to remember.
At that time…
-Hey! -Oh, shit!
-Yikes! -That was close!
-Hurry up! -Look, fireworks!
Run for your lives!
It was my fault…
that they died.
You remember it all now, don't you?
The one who killed them
was me.
What you wanted to know
wasn't why this world exists.
What you wanted to know was
what you are.
You want the answer
to why you live.
You want to know why you exist.
You grew up starving for love.
Long before you came here,
you've been looking for that answer.
That's why,
in your fantasies,
these ludicrous games appeared.
As you continued to survive these games,
your desire to know what this place is
and your desire to know why you exist
eventually became intertwined.
Does anyone
in this world
need you?
You think I can?
Come now. You're fully prepared, right?
I am, but…
Does your existence in this world
have any meaning?
What's your purpose in life?
How long are you going to keep living this way?
Listen.
Is there a point in you being alive?
But now,
you're the one who survived.
My life is…
utterly pointless.
Those guys are the ones who should have survived.
Karube…
Chota…
But instead,
it was me, whose life is pointless, who survived.
I shouldn't be alive.
Arisu…
You wait outside.
I haven't called you yet.
Arisu!
Leave him be!
He's trying to remember everything now.
Listen! Listen to me! Wake up!
Stop it!
Arisu is trying to remember his past and recover,
but you're preventing that.
-You're wrong! -Get out.
Now then…
Arisu.
Let's bring this to an end.
If I can confirm your desire to quit,
the game will end.
The game will end?
I knew it. That wasn't…
an illusion.
I was participating in that game too.
Okay, now.
Arisu.
Let me confirm it with you.
You will…
quit the game, right?
You'll feel better if you take this medicine.
Take it.
Then…
give me your answer.
Arisu… don't!
Arisu! Don't!
Put that down.
Arisu…
Remember what you said?
You said you'd risk your life to save me.
No matter what Mira says,
I am most definitely here with you!
I am alive!
If you still believe what Mira says,
then our time together will be…
nothing more than an illusion you created.
If it was all just an illusion,
then no matter what I do, it shouldn't affect you, right?
Arisu…
Wake up.
Arisu…
Wake up.
Please!
What a beautiful sight.
But…
a person's love is ultimately powerless.
Arisu…
Please…
I…
shouldn't be alive.
I have no reason to live.
Come back…
Arisu!
The answer…
The reason for living…
Forget about those things, Arisu.
The answer
is different for everyone.
A reason for living…
It doesn't matter if you have one or not.
This whole time we've searched…
we've been searching together.
That alone was enough.
That alone…
The one who made me realize that…
was you.
It was you, Arisu.
You poor thing.
Looks like I've won.
You'll quit the game,
won't you, Arisu?
Then…
the game is over.
Usagi…
I want to
hold your hand again.
I want to
walk with you again.
I want to eat with you.
Me too.
I want to
say, "Good morning"
to you again tomorrow, Arisu.
I want to laugh with you every day.
Just once,
I'd like us to climb a mountain together.
Just being with you
is enough, Usagi.
And even
arguing sometimes would be nice.
I simply want you
to live, Usagi.
I want to protect you, Usagi.
Let's continue
the game.
Arisu…
It's all right now.
Use this.
How magnificent.
That was moving.
For her sake as well,
let's finish this game.
Yes!
Okay!
Yes!
I won!
You played
three rounds
without quitting the game.
Congratulations, Arisu.
The game has ended.
At last.
Is it over?
Yeah.
We won.
So…
What is this place anyway?
Arisu…
You'll soon find out.
Of your two choices,
no matter which you choose,
you'll know the answer.
You'll know what kind of person you are.
You'll know.
Life is
like a game.
Enjoy it more.
Congratulations.
All the games have now been cleared.
Now, all the surviving players will be given a choice.
Please select whether you will accept permanent residence in this land
or if you will not accept it.
I repeat,
please select whether you will accept permanent residence in this land
or if you will not accept it.
I don't want it.
I…
don't want it!
I don't want it.
Let's go back together.
PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN THIS LAND ACCEPT. / DO NOT ACCEPT.
Of course, I'll take it.
I will gladly take it as well.
I…
don't want it, I think.
What will you do?
I don't want it.
I…
don't want permanent residence.
I also…
don't want it.
The usual?
Yeah.
Here.
What?
Your nose hair is sticking out.
No way.
Seriously?
Just kidding.
You jerk! Cut it out!
You looked so depressed.
Hey, you know how you can put wax on your nose hairs to remove them?
That must really hurt!
And they'll never come back?
Of course, they will.
A nose-hair cutter would be better.
But if something fell on your head while doing that, it'd really hurt!
No. An explosion hurts more.
-It sure does. -For sure.
I'm sorry.
It's all my fault.
I'm sorry.
"His fault," he says.
You're as overconfident as ever.
I bet you think you're alive because you're special and a chosen one, right?
No, I don't.
It's all thanks to you guys.
It sounds like he believes we sacrificed ourselves so he could live.
Dang, Chota. That's a pretty cruel thing to say.
Can't you see? Arisu doesn't get it at all.
What's with you guys?
What are you trying to say?
Make yourselves clear!
One thing I can say for sure is…
there wasn't a single game that you cleared by your own effort alone.
If you thanked us forever, it would never be enough.
Then…
should I apologize for the rest of my life?
Don't be stupid.
Live your life to the fullest until the very end.
Okay.
I will.
It would be bad if zombies were to appear in Shibuya, huh?
If they're all bitten here, they will all turn into zombies!
Stop it with the zombie talk, and think about which shop to go to.
But if zombies were to appear, I guess only Karube would survive.
You'd knock those zombies out with one punch.
No, it wouldn't be me.
You'd be the one to survive, Arisu.
Me? Why?
I'm sure you're the one who will survive.
All right.
Here we go.
-What are you doing? -Hey!
This is your Independence Day!
Passing through!
Move aside!
-Move aside! -Hey, this is dangerous!
-Hey! -Oh, shit!
-Hurry up! -Look, fireworks!
It's the police! This is bad!
Let's run for it!
Over there!
Can you hear me?
-Can you hear me? -Can you hear me?
-Check this one. -Got it.
Checking for carotid pulse.
He's breathing!
He's conscious! Stretcher!
-His heart's started! -Right!
Stretcher, over here! Hurry!
A meteorite has exploded over Tokyo,
causing severe devastation in and around Shibuya City.
Firefighting has been proceeding slowly.
The identified victims are: Kodai Tatta, Saori Shibuki,
Takeru Danma, Sho Okada,
Daikichi Karube, Urumi Akamaki,
Momoka Inoue, Asahi Kujyo,
Chota Segawa…
Both Karube and Chota died.
How come only I survived?
Don't think about it.
It'll only make you feel worse.
That kind of thing is called "survivor's guilt."
"How come only I survived?"
"How come they couldn't be saved?"
People who survive disasters and accidents
often blame themselves like that.
But when the first responders found you,
your heart apparently had stopped.
And for a whole minute.
For a whole minute,
you were at the border between life and death.
One minute?
Yeah.
One minute, huh?
It seemed
more like
I was
in a faraway place for a very long time.
Dad…
He cried.
The last time he cried
was when Mom died.
Can I help you?
Apparently, your heart stopped as well.
How do you know that?
It happened to me too.
What a coincidence.
Since you almost died,
did anything change with you?
I'm not so sure.
Well, I guess I look flashier than before.
What about you?
Since I've wasted my life until now,
I think I'll be able to live a more useful life from now on.
That's about all.
So, you were a good-for-nothing jerk too, huh?
Yeah.
-Doctor, please check this exam data. -Okay.
He's come pretty far for having survived a cardiac arrest.
-Bring me some gauze. -Okay.
Are you a friend?
Well… No.
He's doing his best to survive too, huh?
Yes, he is.
Starting CPR.
-Prep defib, now! -Right!
Ann! Ann Rizuna, can you hear me?
Ann!
Clear!
-No heartbeat! -One more time! Charge it up!
-Right! Charge complete! -Clear!
Her heartbeat's back!
Sinus rhythm. BP is steady between 80 and 90.
She's back. Restarting surgery.
Pean clamp.
Are you all right?
Yes.
There's no need to rush things.
Okay.
Welcome back.
Hikari.
…and has approved two trillion yen of national treasury disbursement.
It's been a week since a meteorite exploded over Tokyo, and as of today,
many sections of the railway service are still suspended,
and major highways are still closed.
Excuse me…
Can I use it now?
Oh, sorry. Go ahead.
Wait.
Your change.
Thank you.
Sorry… Have we met somewhere?
I don't think so.
Wait.
Are you sure we've never met before?
What?
Are you
hitting on me?
No. I'm not doing that.
Well… Then…
would it be all right if I was hitting on you?
Sorry.
That was a weird thing to say.
I think we may have met before.
Last year?
Two years ago?
When was it?
I forgot,
but I think we did somewhere.
Say, the weather's nice.
How about taking a walk out in the garden?
Sure.
Wait up!
Subtitle translation by: Brian Athey