Ocean Waves (1993)

Taku Morisaki receives a surprising call from his childhood friend, Yutaka Matsuno. Yutaka requests a meetup at their old high school, prompting Taku to reflect on their past together as he prepares to leave.

Upon arriving at the high school, Taku finds Yutaka with Rikako Muto, a new transfer student. Rikako is not only academically gifted but also excels in sports, although her arrogant behavior suggests she is struggling with the transition from Tokyo.

During a school trip to Hawaii, Rikako approaches Taku for a loan of ¥60,000 after losing her money. Although hesitant, Taku agrees to help her, trusting that she will repay him and that the incident remain a secret.

As the school year progresses, Taku begins to question if Rikako has forgotten about the loan. One day, Yumi Kohama calls Taku in a panic, revealing that she was tricked by Rikako into taking a trip to Tokyo using Taku’s borrowed money for the tickets.

Taku rushes to the airport and joins Rikako on the trip to Tokyo. Upon reaching her father’s residence, they discover he has moved on, leaving Rikako feeling abandoned and upset.

While staying at a luxurious hotel, Rikako shares her emotional turmoil with Taku about her father's new relationship. As they navigate their personal challenges, Taku offers support, showing kindness by giving Rikako the bed and sleeping in the bathtub.

Taku receives a distressing call from Rikako, needing help with her former boyfriend, Okada. When Taku arrives, frustrations rise as he confronts them about their shallow discussions and lack of communication.

Back in Kōchi, Rikako appears to disregard Taku, yet she spreads rumors about their shared night in Tokyo. Following Yutaka's confession of feelings towards Rikako, Taku confronts her in class, which escalates into a heated argument and Rikako slapping him.

As the cultural festival approaches, Rikako finds herself increasingly isolated from her peers. Despite the tensions in their relationship, Taku admires her strength when she stands up to a bully, but this moment is overshadowed by another slap and her running away in tears.

Years later, Taku, Yutaka, and Yumi gather for a class reunion but find Rikako absent. During their reminisce, Yutaka expresses his anger toward Taku, blaming him for not pursuing his feelings for Rikako, as they watch the sunset contemplating lost opportunities.

After the reunion, Taku learns that Rikako was in Tokyo that same day, opting to meet someone else instead of attending. This decision only deepens Taku's regret about their past.

While on the train platform, Taku unexpectedly spots Rikako standing across the way. Instead of boarding the train, she chooses to wait for Taku, hinting that, despite their complicated history, a connection still lingers between them.