Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy

Episode 1: “Magic (or Something Less Assuring)“
During a taxi ride back from a photo shoot, model Meiko learns about her best friend Tsugumi’s new romantic interest. After dropping off Tsugumi, Meiko takes the cab to her office, where she unexpectedly confronts her ex-boyfriend Kazuaki, who she realizes is the same person Tsugumi mentioned. She recounts details Tsugumi shared, including how Kazuaki struggles to move on from his previous relationship. Following a heated argument, Kazuaki embraces Meiko, prompting her to flee. Later, while at a café, Meiko and Tsugumi spot Kazuaki outside, and Tsugumi insists on inviting him in, convincing Meiko to stay and share her thoughts about him. In a moment of tension, Meiko demands that Kazuaki choose between them, leading to Tsugumi running away as Kazuaki chases her. However, this scene is revealed to be a figment of Meiko’s imagination. In reality, Meiko excuses herself, and Kazuaki plans to take Tsugumi somewhere after their time at the café.

Episode 2: “Door Wide Open”
A class session is interrupted as a desperate student, Sasaki, pleads with the French instructor Segawa not to fail him, fearing it could jeopardize his aspirations of becoming a news anchor. Segawa remains indifferent. Later, Sasaki is at his apartment with his intriguing friend-with-benefits, the married mother Nao. He discovers that Segawa recently won the esteemed Akutagawa Prize for his new novel. This motivates Sasaki to persuade Nao into seducing the professor, aiming to spark a scandal. Nao visits Segawa’s office under the pretense of being a former student, but he insists that the door remains open. After obtaining his autograph, she quizzes him about his novel, reading an explicit excerpt aloud that describes a rather intimate moment. Their conversation shifts to a more personal level, but Nao is actually recording their exchange. She makes a peculiar request, asking Segawa to “touch himself” while listening to her recording, to which he agrees. Unfortunately, upon returning home, Nao mistakenly sends the recorded audio to an incorrect recipient, an administrator at the university instead of Segawa. The fallout is catastrophic; Segawa’s reputation suffers irreparable damage, leading to Nao’s divorce. Years later, on a bus, Nao encounters a detached Sasaki, now an editor, while she works as a proofreader. Despite their shared history, Sasaki appears indifferent to Segawa’s ruin. Nao’s annoyance grows as he recounts his life, which leads her to reminisce about their past exploits. As she departs the bus, she gives Sasaki her card and shares a fleeting kiss, suggesting unresolved emotions linger between them.

Episode 3: “Once Again”
In a world transformed by a virus in 2019, where digital communication is a thing of the past, Natsuko attends an all-girls high school reunion, feeling increasingly out of place and unable to remember any of her classmates. At the train station, she recognizes a former classmate and is invited to her home, where they share memories. As they reconnect, Natsuko inquires about her classmate’s happiness, prompting her to reveal she no longer remembers Natsuko’s name. This revelation stirs embarrassment, causing Natsuko to consider leaving, but she ultimately stays. Opening up, Natsuko explains that she mistook her classmate, Aya, for her first love, whose breakup still weighs heavily on her heart. Aya humorously agrees to role-play as Natsuko’s ex-girlfriend from two decades past, allowing Natsuko to express her long-suppressed feelings. Their playful role-reversal assists them in addressing their unresolved past loves. As they part ways at the train station, Aya suddenly rushes back, recalling Natsuko’s long-forgotten name from school. Their reunion ends in a heartfelt embrace, as both women realize they’ve made significant progress towards reconciling their pasts, offering a glimmer of hope that years can sometimes heal old wounds.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 12:08