Sanda (2025) s01e09 Episode Script

I went and became an adult
We're two sides of the same coin,
with you still a kid
I went and blurted out the words
I'll never be able to take them back
There's nothing righteous
about unrequited feelings,
so let things stay as is
In the gaps between the seasons
that whiz by,
I was crying,
and I bet I always will
You don't believe, do you?
In despair? Being moved?
Unable to take it anymore, the night
that had turned white now turns black
Nothing's going to change
ever again? I just don't know!
I've been clinging to this moment
no matter what,
and I pray that today
my wish will come true
DON'T STOP
I won't forget the adultish heart
I stole from you ever again
Because neither the me that grew up
nor you will ever change
It's okay
Because I still haven't forgotten
the adultish heart I stole
Because even though I've changed,
I'm still me
Regrets, hopes and prayers,
Children, me,
I don't understand any of it
You can believe in wishes coming true,
but who I am will never end
CHIEF DIRECTOR'S OFFICE
EPISODE 9:
A FAKE FLOWER, YET ITS ROOTS RO
That reminds me.
I've always wondered about something.
Does Santa Claus only wear red clothes?
Well, that's actually a good question.
I heard about something called
"Black Santa" from my mother once
but personally speaking,
when I think Santa, I think red.
I see, I see.
Red is said to be
the color of passion and justice.
I hate the color red, though.
It's so in-your-face and vulgar.
Oh, you do?
Here in the Chief Director's office, all
I do is massage her shoulders as we chat.
When is she finally gonna start
teaching me how to fight?
Come on now, harder!
I-Is this better?
Harder!
Like this?
Harder!
Harder!
Harder, harder, harder, harder, harder,
hit me harder, dagnabbit!
C-Come on, I can't hit you
any harder than this!
Chief Director Tetsudome,
what is it that you're testing me for?
If you hold back against women and
children, you're in for a world of hurt,
so watch yourself.
Class 10's Fumi Namatame
is looking to kill you.
So, why don't we get you ready for her,
Santa Claus?
The fact that you let pain get to you
is all the proof I need
that you don't have it in you to fight.
That student in Class 10?
I have a pretty good idea
of what Oshibu is planning.
If you hesitate for even a second
because she's a child,
she'll kill you
before you know what hit you.
Kill her before she can kill you.
Okay?
What kind of Chief Director are you?
Ow!
Face that kid
with that kind of fire in your belly!
That fire is what you need.
Until you're able to land one blow on
this old lady without pulling the punch,
you're not leaving this room.
I-I can't do that!
You treat the elderly
like they're old and frail
and children
like they're helpless infants.
My point is that as long as you keep
obsessing over people's age
you'll never be able to face them
with everything you've got.
Come at me, Santa.
If you won't come to me
then I'll come to you!
What the hell?
Was that a vision of when she was young?
I-I want to become a strong Santa!
I don't see how
my landing a punch on you
is going to get me any closer to that!
You're saying you want to become
a fine, upstanding adult
without ever hurting anyone
or ever getting your hands dirty?
You young idjit!
Did she anticipate
exactly how this would play out?
I have barely any sensation
in the finger that she broke.
And because I can't feel
her wrinkly cheek as I hit it,
that lets me pretend that my pain
and my opponent's pain don't exist
so I can compartmentalize like an adult
and do what needs to be done!
Like an adult!
Now that's a good color on you.
Take a look.
You're Black Santa!
Don't you fret. I didn't have
any teeth to begin with.
No harm, no foul.
Ch-Chief Director, I'm so sorry! I
Why are you apologizing?
I told you to punch me.
I suppose we can call this
your first step toward adulthood.
Well done!
That pierced my heart worse than
any insult she could throw at me.
The strong adult I'm trying to become
The strong Santa
PEAK OF YOUTH CEREMONY
The only way to do it is to become
dark enough to hit a little old lady?
I feel like I've opened a door
that's best left closed.
What'll happen if I interact with kids
while I'm Black Santa?
The next time I transform,
I hope it's back into the red one.
E-Excuse me!
I think we've met!
I knew it!
Hello, I'm Namatame!
Do you remember me?
Um
I don't have many friends,
so I recognized you right away!
Hello!
It's been a while!
Yes, it sure has!
Have you been avoiding me?
Of course not!
There it is, that intensity!
No matter how hard I train,
I'll always be too scared
to go face to face with this girl!
Don't let her psych you out, Sanda!
By the way,
Namatame, do you always walk around
carrying dead potted plants?
It's kinda embarrassing.
Having them near me like this
gives me a sense of security.
I like them.
As I go on walks
around the school grounds,
I'm always on the lookout
for half-dead plants.
I didn't have much luck today, though.
Half-dead plants?
Why do you like them?
I'm in Class 10,
where they put the adult-killers.
They say we've all got
a screw loose somewhere.
The next thing I knew,
I was walking behind this girl
as she walked from one shaded, damp
and deserted spot to another.
Class 10's Fumi Namatame
is looking to kill you.
If I'm gonna do it it's now or never!
I feel like there's no going back
to the old me,
like the way a single drop of black
spreads out and stains all the water.
Black Santa won't hold back,
not even against a child.
This is someone who's killed an adult!
Naughty children have to be punished.
This is the perfect time and place
to transform and
Look! I found a pile of fallen leaves!
I hit the jackpot today!
Come on, touch them!
Huh? Me?
Close your eyes
and really feel the leaves.
I never really gave much thought
to why I like dead plants so much.
The way they feel
when they've lost all their moisture
when I touch
their skinny veins and stems
Maybe they remind me of my mother's hand.
Rejuvenating hands is a high hurdle
to overcome, even in this day and age.
Plastic surgery had given my mother
the face of someone in her 20s,
but just her hands
were those of someone in her 40s.
Even from the time
I was in elementary school
every time I came home to visit,
my mother's face had changed.
It's a basic thing
that everyone does, Fumi.
You get a cavity, you see the dentist.
You get a wrinkle,
you see the plastic surgeon.
Beauty and youth
in this day and age, are your most
important assets. You understand, right?
I got my eyes from my mother. I think.
Sure!
To make sure my mother would never forget
the smile she used to have
since I looked just like her,
I should keep smiling.
I got better and better at faking a smile.
My father and brother had walked out
because they were afraid of this person.
The only things that bound us together
as a family in this house
were my smile and my mother's hands.
Youth is the nation's greatest resource!
-I'm gonna go take my bath.
-Become younger and more powerful with
-Wait here, okay?
-Itagaki Pharmaceutical's latest
-Sure thing.
-"Young & Powerful!"
Mom was taking more and more pills.
So many that I thought
she couldn't go on like this.
YOUNG & POWERFUL
SUPER RICH PLACENTA
That I had to make her stop somehow.
Mom, listen.
Are you sure
you haven't been feeling sick lately?
Are you okay?
What's the matter?
Why would you ask such a silly thing?
I-It's because
I love you so much!
I'm worried!
You're such a sweet girl.
Can you blame me?
I mean, look at how light
your body's gotten.
Mom?
I'm sorry, Fumi.
I didn't mean to startle you.
But you see, Fumi
by doing this
my whole body
will finally be young again!
I couldn't bear these hands anymore.
A young and vivacious 10-year-old like you
would never understand
how it feels, you know.
With my mother's hands
and my smile gone
it seemed like
there wasn't any point
to that house anymore.
Strangely enough
a hint of her old happy self had come back
to her face when she was dead.
That's why I don't regret what I did.
If getting older in this country
brings people so much pain
then it's better to end
their suffering quickly.
Once I started thinking
about adults in that way
before I knew it,
I was in Class 10. But
I wish I could touch
my mother's hands one more time.
Her
big, dry hands.
Her hand has been moving
this whole time
like she's searching for something.
She really is trying
to remember her mother.
Namatame
Thank you for telling me.
I went and did it again!
My body acted before my head could think!
I transformed into Santa in front
of a girl who's trying to kill him!
And doing it like this
just makes it worse!
Let's meet up in the food court later!
Okay! See you later!
She kept holding my hand
until I snatched it away.
What's she up to?
Is she pretending she didn't notice?
Now that I think about it,
I never got your name.
Sa
If I tell her it's "Sanda,"
it'll be totally obvious!
Sanda.
Sanda
Let's meet up
at the Peak of Youth Ceremony, okay?
I can hardly wait.
To kill you.
That was totally a declaration of war.
You want to kill me, don't you, Namatame?
You keep killing adults
because you want to forget your past
with your mother, don't you?
I promised myself that I'd honor every
child's wish with everything I've got!
I won't fight a child.
I don't want to become
Black Santa Claus anymore!
In which case
I'll just have to endure
being butchered by a child!
So, that's the deal!
Shoot me
Amaya!
Shoot me!
C'mon, shoot! Cut loose! Let 'er rip!
This is for training!
Mr. Yagiuda even came
to coach you through it!
Look, I'm still technically your enemy,
you know.
Wait a minute!
Let's step back and take a breath!
I know I act cocky
but I'm as scared
as the kid I actually am.
Maybe we should let Fuyumura handle this.
She's got nerves of steel.
Hey, Santa is unkillable, right?
Yeah, I think. The problem
is that I feel pain like everybody else.
Now Careful,
dropping that would be bad.
-Pull the slide back and chamber a round.
-Wait, what?
Grip it with your left hand
wrapped around your right,
hold your arms straight out
take careful aim with both eyes open.
Wai Hang on, no way, I don't wanna!
RESERVED
CAUTION: LOUD SOUNDS
It's not enough!
I need to feel the murderous intent!
Shoot me like you mean it, Amaya!
I don't wanna!
Trust me, there's nothing to worry about.
I've shot this guy tons of times,
and he's still breathing.
That's not the problem!
If the recoil is too much for you,
bend your arms at the elbow a little.
I brought lots of bullets.
But
I don't like moonlighting if I ain't
getting paid for it, so start shooting!
Shoot me in the head this time, Amaya!
Take good aim!
Shoot, Amaya!
I can't handle this!
I need your help, Amaya!
I can't let myself be killed by Namatame!
If you can't be killed,
what're you worried about?
There's no telling what will happen!
Namatame's a child!
So am I, dammit!
Exactly! You're a child,
and you're my best friend!
I have to become a Santa Claus
that's so tough
that he can't be killed
even by a child like that!
I have to beat Oshibu and get them back!
Ordinary days that Fuyumura
can spend together with Ono!
I always knew it.
Adults are the absolute worst!
Good! I'm counting on you!
At least say "sorry" or "thank you" first!
Put yourself in my shoes,
being forced to help your friend train
by shooting him!
That hurt!
That stings! I really felt that one!
I seriously thought I was a goner
for a second there!
Just like that! Amaya, do it again!
Huh?
Cut it out, dammit!
You're still saying that?
PEAK OF YOUTH CEREMONY
That's all the bullets.
Children can mature overnight
and become strong.
It's finally over.
Kids are made of seriously stern stuff.
Fumi Namatame
I won't fight you,
but I refuse to be killed by you!
Amaya
Thank you.
TRAUMA-FREE CURRICULUM
Thanks for the food!
You brats are seriously fast learners!
The ramen's on me, eat up!
I'm a gunman at age 14!
I feel like I've been thrown into a war!
Huh? Don't be such a drama queen.
Can you blame me?
You made me be your triggerman and
pump my unkillable friend full of lead!
I'm this close to a mental breakdown!
How long is this training gonna go on?
And what about you, Sanda?
What about all the holes I put in you?
How are they?
Most injuries I get while I'm Santa heal
when I turn back into a kid.
The really bad ones leave a mark, though.
So, what you're saying
is that your injuries heal, no problem,
but my mental scars
are probably there for good, huh?
Um, I guess it is.
I mean it, I'm sorry, Amaya.
Brutal training like this isn't right.
From where I'm standing,
you don't want to become a strong Santa,
you just want to become a strong man.
You've got it all wrong, Amaya!
I'm just trying to figure this stuff out!
What I can do to become a great Santa!
Those two are tricking me
into feeding them, aren't they?
Sorry. I'm really bad at this.
That's fine.
You always hated
painted nails, didn't you?
You said it was
like your fingertips were cursed.
Yeah, pretty much.
But tomorrow's the Peak of Youth Ceremony.
I guess I can put up with it for that.
Thank you for doing this for me.
It means a lot to me.
Um, what time should I come here tomorrow?
Why don't we meet up outside tomorrow?
Uh, sure.
That's okay.
Then let's meet at the front gate at 4.
Got it.
Why?
Why do you stare at me like that
whenever there's a long silence, Ono?
You should have laughed there.
Like, "You're so awful at this."
I'll never laugh at you.
When you do something, you throw yourself
into it. I can't tease you, not anymore.
Why not? Because you're grown up?
It's not just that.
It's because I like you, Fuyumura.
I like you, too.
So much so that I was searching for you
like a madwoman after you went missing.
I was going to tell you this
on the day of the Peak of Youth Ceremony,
but you and I are using "like"
to mean two entirely different things.
I think.
Different? Different how?
Let's figure that out once and for all.
Fuyumura
When you see me naked,
how does it make you feel?
If I saw you naked,
I bet my heart would pound.
I would be so happy,
and my brain would go totally blank.
But
it's not like that for you, is it?
No way! You wouldn't feel that way!
I know for sure you wouldn't feel a thing
seeing me naked!
That's not true!
Take off your clothes and let's find out.
What?
Fine, then!
I was scared
of there being an awkward silence,
so I blurted out an answer.
We've gotten naked
in front of each other
lots of times.
I sort of feel
like I'm doing something wrong.
Like I forced a child to get undressed
in front of an adult. I'm sorry.
It's not like that.
But the fact is
even though we're both 14,
you've already gone through puberty
while I'm just a kid who's really tall.
I feel like you're leaving me in the dust.
You're beautiful, Fuyumura.
Be honest and tell me how you really feel.
Is it like I thought
and Sanda is who you like now?
Wh-What's all this about?
All this "love" and "hate" stuff
When you grow up,
is stuff like that all you care about?
While I was gone, you made
lots of friends, right?
That's a wonderful thing.
So, I'm not about to resent you over that.
That's what we are! We're friends!
All this talk about adults and children
and men and women I'm sick of it!
I'm sick of this!
Fuyumura?
Come on, Amaya,
please don't be mad at me!
Leave me alone!
I don't want to talk to you for a while!
-Huh? What?
-Huh?
What're you doing, Fuyumu
You're buck naked?
I'm such a pathetic baby
that I ran off naked, Sanda.
Bring Ono back.
Please.
The first wish
that anyone made to me as Santa.
Where did Ono go?
Will she ever come back?
Can adults ever turn back into children?
If you're Santa, get her back!
You promised me!
Fuyumura
The ability to make a tormented expression
look fabulous
is something of a perk for us.
Might I ask what troubles you
one adult to another?
When I'm feeling antsy,
full of muddled emotions,
I sometimes just stand there,
or sometimes I shout
at the top of my lungs
When I'm feeling indecisive,
full of emotions that ebb and flow,
the diary I grumble and complain to
is tucked away in a closed drawer
How's it gonna turn out?
Not knowing, I just cry
I bet that's how it is, right?
Out of desperation, a lie
Really, how's it gonna turn out?
I wish I could stay in my dreams
I wish I could stay,
could stay, could stay
When I'm feeling antsy,
full of muddled emotions,
I sometimes just stand there,
or sometimes I shout
at the top of my lungs
It's ironic that it's only once
you've grown up
that you realize
you can't stay a kid forever
There are even times
that I get depressed
thinking about these days
I find myself in,
but once they've passed me by,
will I look back and miss them?
How's it gonna turn out every day
I'm shouting every day