Soda Master (2026) s01e09 Episode Script

The stars born from this town of Tanbe
have returned to their hometown
after a long absence!
His latest work won the Grand Prix
at the Cannes Film Festival.
The master, Director Hajime Fujimaki!
Next, an original creator,
manga artist Kisuke Kikuhara.
And the one you've all been waiting for,
the Asian action star
and lead actor, Yuta Yoshii!
Today, a surprise guest
has rushed over to greet you three.
-What?
-Really?
Your dear teacher from middle school,
Ms. Michiru Miyashita!
Oh, wow! She really came!
You've all grown into fine men.
Congratulations.
Thank you!
Ms. Miyashita,
what kind of students were they?
All three of them possessed
something extraordinary.
The first film they shot,
Ramune Monkey Soda Master,
though just a film
by middle-school students,
won the Japan Academy Film Prize,
plus other domestic awards, a great feat.
Then the three of them
took flight into the world.
Truly, this New Happiness Town Tanbe
has nurtured their talent.
A staunch opponent of the Tanbe
redevelopment, old lady Kuroe,
died in a fire caused by arson.
Her granddaughter
entrusted a videotape to Ms. Matilda,
then left Tanbe.
Was Ms. Matilda killed
because of that tape?
Number 12, which was thought to be lost,
has appeared before us
after 37 years.
If we can figure out what's on this tape,
the mystery should be solved.
Give it to me.
This is bad. It's covered in mold.
No wonder. It was up there for 37 years.
So we can't watch it?
We'll need a professional
to remove the mold.
Even then, I don't know
if it will be viewable.
-Huh?
-What's wrong?
There's something else in the bag.
Don't trust Clark?
What does that mean?
Clark…
I have no idea.
EMI
COME HOME NOW
PLEASE
I'm sorry. Can I head back first?
What's the matter?
Nothing.
Let's just send the tape for restoration
and wait for it to come back.
Okay.
See you.
See you.
-What is it? Anything else written?
-No.
Aya, are you okay?
What is this?
There has been all sorts of slander
since you were arrested,
but nothing of this sort.
What is this? Why is this happening to us?
First, we need to call the police.
Both of you, try not to go outside.
We can't just do that.
Aya, let's go to bed.
Yeah.
-Hey, I said let go!
-Miss, which take do you think is better?
Miss?
Your back.
My back?
What? Really?
Did you get any threats?
Not me. I live alone, anyway.
I'll check with Kam-Bo and Hakuba.
Please do.
You stay out of this for a while.
-You think I'm going to give in--
-No!
Stay by your wife
and daughter's side. Got it?
Oh, sorry to bother you while you're busy.
You have five minutes.
That is worrying.
Okay, the company will provide security.
Thanks.
If it's harassment due to your lawsuit,
of course, the company will handle it.
If it were for a different reason…
If it's due to a personal reason,
the company cannot cover the cost.
Is that the case?
Never mind. Don't worry about it.
The 60th birthday party for Toyo Shimbun's
Mr. Tatsunami is next week.
Will you come?
I haven't been invited.
It's just a casual gathering.
It's better to have
the media on your side.
Clark Gable?
Arthur C. Clarke?
William Smith Clark?
Welcome.
Oh, you're here!
Come, sit down, young man.
The usual.
Yuen's wife and daughter were threatened.
One of the methods is the same as the one
Matilda received 37 years ago.
In other words, it's a warning.
Nothing has been done to me and Chan. But…
Hakuba…
It might just be my imagination,
but I feel like I've been followed
a few times.
Some time ago,
there was someone scouting us out.
They got away, though.
That means
the Matilda case is still ongoing.
You got a "stop" order from above, right?
You were told to stop investigating this.
What are you talking about?
The redevelopment of this town
began after the death of old lady Kuroe.
That old lady was the victim
of malicious land sharks.
Her house was hit by a car
disguised as a drunk accident,
and finally, she died in an arson attack.
The police processed it
as a mishap with a cigarette.
They probably snuffed it out, didn't they?
That's why even now, what happened
back then is untouchable. Right?
That's baseless.
Why involve Yuen's family?
-That's cowardly!
-Don't tell me that.
You're in cahoots with them!
An officer's job is to act under orders.
What a noble sense of duty.
It's fine.
You have no obligation
to cooperate with us.
-I'm going home today.
-Thanks for the coffee.
Here you go.
It happened way before I was born.
What am I supposed to do?
Right?
Yeah.
But,
we're living in the town
that was built back then.
So it's not like we're unrelated.
What's wrong?
It's nothing.
Tanbe is now a good town,
like they planned…
But to be honest,
back then, didn't we expect
it would be even more amazing?
We were imagining
something like Blade Runner.
Right.
Therefore, the city
has launched a redevelopment plan,
for the future of Tanbe City.
A new line will serve
the station to bring us
within commuting distance of Tokyo.
We'll build apartments
befitting a Tokyo suburb,
parks for citizens to relax in,
and a new bypass.
Our plan looks 30 years ahead,
and will transform the town
into a 21st century city.
That's great!
The smoke from that factory will be gone.
That's great, right?
-Yes!
-Exactly.
It's not good to have that thing
in the middle of town!
Dad sure changed his tune.
-Thank you.
-To think he was so against it.
As chairman of
the shopping district association,
he has the best interest
of the whole town.
Hey! You guys are here?
Hello.
Hello.
Thank you for taking care of Yuta.
It's an incredible plan!
I guess so.
Though I can't even imagine
30 years from now.
2018, huh?
That's way further in the future
than 2001: A Space Odyssey!
I wonder if there will be space colonies?
Cars will probably be flying in the sky.
I wonder what you will be doing.
Chan might have become a movie director.
Kam-Bo will be a manga artist.
Yuen will be an action star!
We should return to this town
and do a talk show together.
I will rush over, carrying a bouquet.
HAPPINESS RAINS FROM ABOVE!
New Happiness Town Tanbe.
Doesn't seem like
anyone calls it that now, though.
Because it just became a town
like any other in Japan.
If you can't even carry this much…
It's fine.
Sorry.
We polished it,
incorporating your feedback…
I think it's a really good script.
This will do. Let's use this.
Thank you.
Regarding the casting,
who will be the heroine?
We're contacting a few people now.
Wait a moment.
How about someone like her?
Huh?
YUNA YABUSAME
Yuna Yabusame?
Who is that?
She's a good actress.
She has appeared in movies.
Bright future ahead of her.
Let's make her a star with this.
Is she your…
acquaintance?
More or less. She has a spark.
Let's go with her.
Shall we go meet her now? Where she works.
It's a really great place.
Chairman, let's not use this person.
-She's good at acting!
-Even if she's good, we can't.
If people thought she got the role
because of you, it would damage her too.
We aren't like that!
People will think you are!
It will surely end up hurting the movie,
and hurting her too.
If you want to support her,
you must not put her in this movie.
If she has talent,
she will surely make it.
The heroine's best friend--
-No!
-No!
How does it look?
Wow, he made you look so pretty,
Ms. Shoko!
Yes!
She's ecstatic.
Mom.
Why not go to a coffee shop or something?
Shall we go?
Kisuke.
Yes?
Are you feeling better now?
What are you talking about? I'm fine.
Don't lie. It's no use hiding it.
Because I can tell.
Truth is, you're still sick, right?
You shouldn't push yourself.
You need to stay in bed.
Chickenpox is contagious.
Take the day off from school today.
I will call them.
Mom…
What era are you talking about?
I had chickenpox
back in elementary school.
You know how she is.
Aya, are things okay lately?
Yes, I have a guard with me
to and from cram school, so I'm at ease.
I feel a bit like a celebrity.
I see, that's good.
It's great that the company
is covering it,
it would be tough if we had to pay for it.
I think we'll end up
paying for it, though…
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'll escort you both as much as I can.
Is it because of what you're doing?
I didn't intend to cause you guys trouble.
I'll be fine,
but we have to protect Aya.
HAJIME FUJIMAKI
NO. 12 IS READY
Are you sure about this?
Once you see this,
there's no turning back.
How long do we have to be frightened?
Let's find out who they are.
All right.
Hakuba.
Don't look.
You were unrelated to this case.
We shouldn't put you in more danger.
No…
The truth is we should have
let you withdraw sooner.
Thank you for everything.
This is as far as you go.
Mr. Yuen.
I'm going to punch you!
You bumbling old men,
who helped you get this far?
I did!
My feelings for Ms. Matilda, and my hatred
for the culprit are the same as yours.
If you're seriously saying
you won't show me this,
I'm never making you good coffee again.
It has been digitized,
but I don't know how well
it has been restored.
Take three!
Okay. Start!
It's old lady Kuroe's house.
Yuen and Keiko.
It's pretty grainy,
but we can manage to make it out.
It's Kam-Bo.
-You're doing the Soda Fist.
-Soda Fist!
Cute.
Oh, it's me.
I was cute too, I tell you.
Oh, it was overwritten.
December sixth?
Three days before the arson.
It's the old lady.
Was this taken secretly?
Probably by Keiko.
This looks like Trendy Mochizuki.
Isn't that right, Mr. Shinryu?
Mr. Shinryu brought
this proposal in good faith…
He's saying "Mr. Shinryu."
Shinryu Real Estate.
The developer for the Tanbe redevelopment.
If I recall, when the bubble burst,
didn't they issue a lot of bad checks
and go bankrupt?
They were then bought
and merged into the Tazawa Group.
Your company?
Someone is coming.
I can't tell.
-Is it the Mayor?
-I don't think so.
Mr. Kagami?
Mr. Kagami?
Was he your teacher?
Rokuro Kagami.
The politician?
The insolence!
Who do you think you're talking to?
Did you film it?
Was it really Rokuro Kagami?
Yes, I can tell.
What connection does Kagami
have with Tanbe?
Tanbe isn't his constituency.
-It was a multi-member constituency then…
-Even so, Tanbe isn't his turf.
I know because my hobby is watching
election results while drinking beer.
Mr. Chan, what did you just say?
Drinking beer while…
No. You in this video.
What's wrong?
Oh, no. My brother's
gonna be mad at me again.
Just apologize, Clark will forgive you.
Just apologize, Clark will forgive you.
Clark…
I'm excited to see
what kind of town it becomes.
Yes.
However…
However?
Corruption is inherent in these projects.
So citizens must keep a sharp eye out.
Concessions, bid-rigging, bribery…
It may be too complicated for you.
Then…
Is dad also corrupt?
Who knows.
But if he is,
I won't let even our dad get away with it.
Journalism is the fourth estate,
the watchdog of society.
"Watchdog of society?"
What does that mean?
A watchdog that protects liberties
for the good of the people.
He's acting like he's a reporter already.
I see.
Your brother wanted to be a reporter?
He said there's an older student
from his university who is one.
Oh, I see.
He's cool, isn't he?
A high school baseball star,
and a reporter who fights for justice.
Plus, his name is Kento, right?
He's just like Clark Kent.
Clark Kent?
Superman's identity on Earth.
He's a newspaper reporter.
Back then, we used to call
Yuen's big brother…
"Clark."
"Don't trust Clark."
We aren't sure
if it meant your brother or not…
All done.
I'm sorry.
We're already closed.
Where is the videotape?
Hand it over and things won't get violent.
Where is it?
Here it is.
You came after seeing this, right?
FOUND A MOLDY TAPE
CAN SOMEONE RESTORE IT?
Can't we talk this out?
Let's talk it out!
Nemoto!
It's you, right? Nemoto?
QUALITY CONTROL DEPARTMEN
Yashiro, is Nemoto not here yet?
I messaged him, but he left me on read.
Youngsters these days…
Don't be too hard on him.
Okay.
-Where are you going?
-A post-offer trip.
To Hawaii.
-I'm going to surf and scuba dive.
-You got into a newspaper company?
I decided on a trading firm.
Tazawa & Co. I didn't think I'd get it,
but they made me an offer.
What about becoming a journalist?
Only idiots turn down Tazawa & Co.
It's a top-tier corporation.
The salary is completely different.
I'd like for us to get started in March.
The main staff has been secured.
We've also scouted the filming locations.
Right.
How do you like the Beaujolais Nouveau?
So this is Beaujolais Nouveau!
Thank you very much, truly.
On behalf of the city, I would like to ask
for your help and knowledge,
for the development of the city…
Don't be so stiff, Mr. Yoshii!
The fighting is behind us!
Must be hard for you too,
being caught in the middle.
Drink up!
Drink up!
Now, it's just Kuroe's place left.
That old lady is so stubborn.
-I'm home.
-Welcome back.
Hey!
Don't hang around with our kid too much.
You should be studying.
You're taking the entrance exam, right?
Kisuke, you can go to any school you like,
even private schools!
See you.
Keep our promise.
MISSING
MS. MICHIRU MIYASHITA (30)
Please help.
Please help.
Please help.
TANBE STATION
WELCOME TO TANBE, TOWN OF BONDS AND SMILES
Are you still looking for that teacher?
You're in ninth grade.
You don't have time for this.
Your elbow should be healed by now.
Get back to the baseball club.
COMMUNITY BOARD
BUILDING A KIND TOWN
If you get decent results
in the summer tournament,
I can recommend you to my alma mater.
I am also thinking
about quitting the city hall.
What?
Once you graduate from middle school,
we're leaving this town.
Thank you.
60TH BIRTHDAY - MR. KEISUKE TATSUNAMI
CHIEF EDITOR OF TOYO SHIMBUN
Oh, it fits you so well.
It looks good on you!
-You look great in it, sir.
-It will be your turn soon.
Sir, do you have an invitation?
Those without one cannot enter.
Please stop, sir!
Kento.
Oh, is that you, Yuta?
It has been a while.
Congratulations on your 60th birthday.
I wanted to offer my congratulations,
so I came without being invited.
No, you're very welcome.
Kento.
You remember them, right?
From middle school.
It has been a long time.
I'm Fujimaki.
I'm Kikuhara.
Oh, I vaguely remember you.
I'm just a bystander.
There is a story
I want both of you to hear.
What kind of story?
It's something related to this.
What is that?
Do you really have no idea?
Wow, I haven't seen a videotape in ages.
Ladies and gentlemen,
we'll have a celebration
for Professor Tatsunami in the courtyard.
Please gather there.
Is there still more?
I'll be back.
I wonder what celebrations are next.
So exciting.
What are you doing?
It was you who sent Nemoto
after us, right?
You lured him with a promotion
and turned him into a spy.
The one who was monitoring us
the whole time was you.
And you did terrible things
to Emi and Aya as well.
-What are you talking about?
-Don't play dumb!
This is from the day the land negotiations
for Tanbe redevelopment fell through.
There is a man shown here.
Do you know who he is?
I can't tell from such a blurry image.
You should know.
It's Rokuro Kagami.
The old woman,
who felt her life might be in danger,
learned the mastermind was coming
to persuade her himself that day,
and secretly filmed it.
Did you film it?
Three days later,
the old woman died in an arson attack.
What on earth is she talking about?
Listen.
Urban development
is an administrative matter.
Ultimately, a government warrant
is usually enough to evict someone.
There's no need to kill.
But…
lawsuits take years.
Moreover, old lady Kuroe
was a major landowner.
She must have affected many projects.
With no prospect of starting construction,
your plan would have completely collapsed.
The Mayor of Tanbe back then
later entered national politics
and was elected.
His backer was Kagami,
who had been rapidly gaining power
within the ruling party
and had become a leader
among young lawmakers.
The source of that power is money.
Give me a break.
Ms. Matilda
was entrusted with the videotape
by the old woman's granddaughter.
Of course, she intended
to blow the whistle.
But the police couldn't be trusted.
After much agonizing, Matilda…
she consulted you, didn't she?
You who wanted to be a reporter.
And your senior, Mr. Tatsunami…
You were Clark Kent, the man of justice.
Matilda believed so.
But in the end, you guys
were bought off by Kagami,
and suppressed the accusation.
Isn't that right?
And then, Matilda was silenced.
Presumably, by a man named
Torikai from the Hakuro-kai…
They say she was sunk in the swamp.
Journalism is the fourth estate,
the "watchdog of society"… What a joke.
That man, Tatsunami,
rose to power by doing favors for Kagami.
And…
you used Kagami's connections
to get a job at the Tazawa Group
and climb the corporate ladder.
I always found it strange.
Why did Dad quit the city hall?
He was disgusted by it.
He didn't want to be in that town anymore.
Because he knew about this.
Our parents probably knew too.
Thinking about it, it's weird.
They were so against the redevelopment,
but then they suddenly flipped.
Our parents were bought off too.
New Happiness Town, Tanbe.
Back then,
we imagined a glittering future city,
but the reality was filthy.
I, too, had a video camera
bought with that dirty money.
And enjoyed making movies with it.
In an era
where everyone chased their desires,
I also benefited from it.
I…
rode the rails you laid for me,
took over your work, and came this far.
Everyone…
was being fed poison
without even knowing it.
You guys always had vivid imaginations,
and loved making up stories.
Seems like you haven't changed.
It's an interesting fantasy.
Is it a fantasy?
Yeah, it is.
Then why did you monitor us?
Why did you need to threaten
my wife and daughter?
Yuta.
The one who threatened Emi and Aya…
-It wasn't me.
-Don't play dumb.
Listen!
The reason I used Nemoto to watch you
was to keep you from crossing the line.
But…
you guys might have already
stepped on the tiger's tail.
You angered someone
you should never anger.
Listen.
Listen carefully.
This is my sincere warning.
Video quality that has degraded
can no longer serve
as any kind of evidence.
Most of the people involved are dead,
and there are likely no witnesses left.
This is…
a battle you cannot win.
So, everything you just said…
is a fantasy.
It's all just a fantasy you've concocted.
Got it?
-Sir.
-Look at the gift I got.
Amazing.
Oh, right, earlier…
-They said they had a story for us?
-It's just their fantasy.
Just some trivial nonsense.
-Is that so?
-Yes.
It's true.
This footage has no value as evidence.
We can't go after Kagami.
But if we put it on the internet,
wouldn't it cause quite a stir?
It will be consumed momentarily,
and then it's over.
That's not what we want to do.
Then, we have no choice
but to let it all be a fantasy?
They say the wicked sleep well.
Let's review it all from the beginning.
Every single thing
we've investigated so far.
Is there anything we missed?
Any doubts or contradictions?
One more time.
If we're talking about doubts,
what Mr. Yuen said when it all started,
"It's our fault." That bothers me.
It's our fault.
I still don't understand it.
It's bugging me too,
but I can't remember.
You also said you made
some important promise to Matilda,
but that promise remains a mystery.
That's true.
Also, at first, you guys said
you had made a movie.
You confidently said you held a screening.
But in reality,
the movie was never finished.
SCREENING CANCELLED
-Then, what was that screening?
-Does that even matter?
That's what bothers me the most.
I think it's the biggest mystery now.
Please, try to remember.
I'm telling you, it doesn't matter.
Maybe we just misremembered.
I am a bit concerned
about that bamboo rod seller.
-Torikai?
-Yes.
Torikai was likely the one
who actually killed Matilda.
Probably.
Something is bothering me.
What is?
Torikai attacked Rambo.
At that time, according to police records,
Torikai was also injured.
Well, of course,
Rambo is a former Green Beret.
Torikai wouldn't have
gotten away unscathed. Rambo is Rambo.
That ex-yakuza chiropractor
also said that Torikai had a bad leg
and used a cane.
Right, which means he was hurt by Rambo,
which crippled his leg.
That would be the case.
Isn't that weird?
How is it weird?
How could a guy in that condition
have killed Matilda?
Yes. A crippled man…
Could a crippled man
kill an able-bodied adult
and sink them in the swamp?
No way, at least not alone.
I was just about to say that.
Does that mean there were other culprits?
Yeah.
Old lady Kuroe's house was crashed into
by a "drunk" driver. But who?
We were waiting.
Did you look into it?
Please, give me a break.
I told you I couldn't help you anymore.
What did you become a cop for?
-Not for justice?
-Chan!
Because it's a stable civil service job.
Not for justice.
I don't intend to defy my superiors.
From now on,
don't ask me for anything ever again.
However,
I'm a bit of a blockhead,
so I often drop things.
Hideyaki Tago.
-Tago?
-Do you know him?
No…
A-CLASS - FINAL RACE
Faster!
Go!
Pedal faster!
Excuse me.
Are you Hideyaki Tago?
Yes.
I'm the one who called you earlier.
Can you lend me some money?
Yes!
The one who crashed into
that stubborn old hag's house
was me.
Me!
I was trying to get into
the Hakuro-kai back then.
I wanted to be a member,
so I thought I would do anything,
even be a hitman.
Are you Hachiro?
Hachiro?
"Hachiro the Idiot,"
a low-level Tanbe Yakuza thug.
Hey!
Why don't I have a seat?
Why is that idiot Hachiro here?
What?
What did you say, bastard?
Hey!
Don't call me an idiot to my face.
How rude.
I had a feeling, but…
But we heard Hachiro died
in an accident a long time ago?
Yes, that's right.
Back in the day,
a rumor spread that I died…
"What? Did I die?"
I looked into it. And, in the newspaper,
it did mention a Tanbe resident
named something Hachiro
had died in an accident.
Everyone assumed it was me!
Mistaken identity?
Yes, because my real name
is Hideyaki Tago.
Tago… Sounds like Hachiro Tako, the actor.
So someone started calling me Hachiro.
Oh, so that's why.
HACHIRO TAKO
I don't get it.
-Hachiro… Oh, no.
-What?
Mr. Tago,
who was the culprit who killed Matilda?
Matilda?
Our middle school art teacher,
Michiru Miyashita.
Who sank her in the swamp?
The Hakuro-kai had a member named Torikai…
We suspected him.
But it must have been
impossible for him to do it alone.
There must have been someone
who helped him.
What is this about?
I don't know anything.
Hey, wait!
What? Let me go! That hurts! Let go!
What? Are you saying I did it?
Why would I do something like that?
-Show me proof!
-Why are you panicking?
-You did it.
-What?
You did it!
Stop, Yuen!
Keep calm and think.
Do you think "Hachiro the Idiot"
could do such a major job?
Couldn't have been him.
Right, Hachiro?
Hachiro was just a low-level thug.
The Hakuro-kai
didn't even acknowledge him.
Right?
We just want to know the truth.
Look, think about it carefully.
Matilda's body hasn't even been found.
She's just a missing person.
It hasn't been established
as a murder case.
So…
I won't be caught?
No.
Yuen, come on.
This is just between us.
Who did it?
Please tell us.
Or perhaps…
it was you who killed Matilda?
I did it.
I saw it through to the end,
and they made me
a member of the Hakuro-kai.
Don't look down on me.
That teacher…
I'm the one who sank her in the swamp.
You bastard!
Don't do it!
Subtitle translation by: Quang N.N.