[hip-hop music]
"HANGING BALLOON"
[tapping]
[girl] Hurry up, Kazuko. Open this window already.
-[tapping] -Come on.
I know you don't have any food left.
If you don't come out and eat something, you'll die.
There's no way I'll fall for that.
[tapping]
[girl] Come on, Kazuko…
[Kazuko trembling]
ONE MONTH AGO
[wind gusting]
Live, at the home of Terumi Fujino,
who tragically passed away last night at this very location.
She was found dangling by a rope on the outer wall of this apartment building.
It's presumed she leaned out the window from her room
and tied the rope around that power line, from which she hung until asphyxiated.
SUICIDE? TERUMI FUJINO (17)
No suicide note has been found,
but her parents have stated she'd been worried
about working in the entertainment industry.
Today's guest is the talented Terumi Fujino,
popular in music and on variety shows!
Hello, there! Great to be here.
You've no idea how much it means to me.
[cheering and applause]
[trembling and sobbing]
[man] Terumi!
[crowd shouting and crying]
WOMAN OF GENTLE HEART, MERCIFUL LIGHT, AND TRUTH
[man] We will now begin the memorial address.
Miss Kazuko Morinaka will represent her friends
and say a few words on their behalf.
[girl sobbing]
Oh, Terumi.
[man] Terumi! Terumi!
[officiant] And with that, the funeral and memorial services
for the late Miss Terumi Fujino are now concluded.
Thank you so much for attending today's service,
and please be safe on your journey home.
[crying]
Taeko, are you all right? Do you need anything?
[sniffling] No. I'm okay. Thanks for asking.
I just don't understand. Why would Terumi kill herself like that?
She didn't seem like she was worried about anything at school.
Why do you think she did it, Kazuko?
Huh?
I have no idea.
The fans were really something, weren't they?
[girl 1] You knew they would be.
An idol's funeral? One who died at the peak of popularity?
[boy] Hey! Don't think we don't know what happened.
-You gonna say something about it? -[all] Huh?
-[girl 1] It's Shiraishi. -[Kazuko] I wonder what's wrong?
You're Shinya Shiraishi, right?
We all know you were Terumi's boyfriend, so don't try to deny it!
We also know you had been complaining to her about all her showbiz work!
I don't get it. What are you trying to say?
We're saying you were making her worry, you jerk!
You were the one that drove her to her death!
-It's because of you that Terumi-- -Yeah!
-It's your fault! -This is on you!
[Kazuko] Hey! Stop that right now!
[boy 1] Just stay out of this, okay?
Listen. Either you stop or I'm going to call the police.
There were tons at the service today, so they'd be here right away!
[boys scoff]
[all sigh]
Hey, Shiraishi.
-Are you okay? -[Shiraishi] Yeah…
Don't let them bother you. They don't know what they're talking about.
[Shiraishi] No. There might be something to those accusations.
I may have caused her a lot of emotional anguish.
Wait, what are you saying?
Terumi wasn't the type to kill herself over something like that.
-So get that thought out of your head! -I know you're right.
I know it, but… [whimpers]
[sobbing] Terumi…
[tapping]
[girl] Kazuko… Kazuko?
[breathing shakily]
TWO WEEKS AGO
[man] It's been two weeks since the incredibly shocking suicide
of Miss Terumi Fujino.
TABLOID TALK SHOW
While that was tragic, it's led to many other young adults hanging themselves.
To make matters worse, now there's a bunch of people
saying that they've seen Miss Terumi's ghost.
-Her ghost? -You must be joking!
It was at this park that the bizarre incident allegedly took place.
Multiple eyewitnesses have reported what they believe to be
the ghost of Terumi Fujino haunting the skies above these wooded areas.
You two witnessed it, correct?
-Yes. -Around when was this?
Let me see now, I guess it was about a week or so ago?
That's right. Sometime around midnight.
It was above that tree over there. Her head was enlarged and floating.
[reporter] Her head?
Uh-huh. Just the neck up.
It was huge and floating above the tree line.
Those are just two of the witnesses to the appearance of this strange apparition.
Similar reports of seeing the enlarged and bodiless head
of the recently deceased pop idol continue to roll in.
And while the witnesses don't have anything in common,
descriptions of the phantasm and the time of its appearance each evening
are all identical.
Tell me, what do you make of this new wave of ghost sightings being reported lately?
An intriguing question. Let's see.
Whether or not ghosts actually exist,
speaking from a purely psychological viewpoint,
the mental state of those who've made such claims
after losing a public figure they've admired must be quite unstable.
Meaning we must explore the possibility of there being a common illusion
that is connected to this recent tragedy.
TABLOID TALK SHOW 2
This is a recreation inspired by eyewitness testimony.
-Now, that's scary. -I can't get over how large that thing is.
From what I recall, her head was almost severed off
by the time they got her down, correct?
Surely that has some correlation to the fact
that all the ghost sightings have only been of the girl's head.
Hmm. You know, you may be on to something significant.
[Kazuko] This is so completely stupid.
What's the deal, sis? I was watching that.
Yosuke, you should go do homework.
Uh-- I don't have any.
[turns TV on]
[woman] The other day, a group of Miss Terumi's fans claimed
they saw her ghost and fell into group hysteria.
And later, everyone in that same group fell unconscious.
[boy 1] Hey, you see this?
This is an eyewitness photo, isn't it?
Must be some kinda trick.
SCOOP WHAT HAPPENED TO STAR SINGER?
[boy 1] Why would you make a huge head of Fujino and float it up?
[boy 2] I don't know about you, but that would scare the piss out of me.
[boy 3] I'd probably be so terrified, I couldn't move.
[boy 2 chuckles] You and me both, bro! I'd scare my balls off. Seriously.
[girl 1] Hear the story about Terumi Fujino's ghost?
Yeah, but are you sure it's true? I think it's a gag.
[girl 1] Or a lie.
[girl 2] But if it's real, don't you want to see it? A ghost head!
[girl 1] No way! That's too scary!
[giggling]
Hey, Shiraishi.
Did everyone just get over the fact that Terumi is dead?
It's all about ghost stories now. TV and magazines are only making it worse.
It floats above the yard of my house all the time.
Huh?
No matter where I am, it stares right at me with hollow eyes.
What in the world are you talking about?
You think I'm lying, don't you? It figures.
No, I-- I just think you need a little rest.
I'll contact you when Terumi shows up.
You can come over and see for yourself.
[telephone ringing]
[knocking]
-Hey, big sis, phone's for you. -Who is it?
I don't know, some guy. I'll keep this quiet from Dad.
Why you gotta make it awkward?
[phone playing "Für Elise"]
Yes, hello?
Huh? Shiraishi?
It's Terumi. She showed up. She's moving north really slowly.
Get over here quick and you can see her, too!
I'm calling from the phone booth at Eishoji Temple.
-Head over here as fast as you can! -[running footsteps]
[Kazuko panting]
Shiraishi?
Huh?
[gasps]
[creaking gently]
[whimpering]
[gasps]
[Shiraishi] Terumi!
Terumi!
I'm so sorry!
[sobbing] Please, forgive me, Terumi!
Don't look at me like that…
Terumi!
[screams] Terumi!
Shiraishi, no, get down from there!
-[crack] -[screams]
Shiraishi!!
I have to save him, quickly!
[leaves rustling]
[wind gusting]
[gasps]
[wind howling]
Wh-- what is that thing?
[soft creaking]
[Kazuko whimpering]
[screams]
[Kazuko] Come on. You guys don't believe me either?
Look, I don't think you'd be lying, Kazuko, but…
Shiraishi's been reported as a missing person.
A giant head that looks like Shiraishi's came from nowhere and hung him to death?
Admit it, it sounds weird.
Well, weird or not, I think this is the exact same way that Terumi died.
[all] Huh?
[Kazuko] The rope just happened to get caught in the power line and tore off.
That's why it looked like a suicide.
Terumi's head is still out there floating around somewhere
to this very day, I know it.
Just like Shiraishi's head.
[girl 1] That's so morbid!
[Kazuko] It's wandering around through the sky,
dangling his corpse right now!
-[girl 2] Kazuko! -[gasps]
Enough of the creepy stuff, okay?
-Are you really okay? -Hmm…
-Hey, look. Up in the sky there. -Um--
-What are those things? -What thi--
It's hard to tell, but I think they're hot-air balloons?
Maybe they're ad balloons that broke free from some event?
[Taeko] I don't know. They're kind of weird shaped for advertisement balloons.
[girl 1] Wait a minute…
That's… There's no way!
[Kazuko] Look closely!
They're all human heads! With ropes dangling from them.
Yeah, now I can make out the ropes hanging down.
They look like oversized heads of people.
You see it too, Chiharu?
Is it my imagination, or are they moving toward us right now?
[girl 1] You're kidding!
[Taeko] It's true! They are coming closer and closer!
[girl 1] Why are they coming this way?
[Kazuko] No! Look… look at them!
Those faces! Those are our heads!!
[all whimpering]
[grunts] Taeko and Miyuki were--
Kazuko! Above you!!
[yelps]
-[both gasp] -Chiharu, this way!
Kazuko, what in the world are those things?
I don't know, but they're trying to hang us to death!
But why?
I've no idea.
But they've already hung and murdered Taeko and Miyuki!
[Chiharu] I don't understand! Why were they chased and hung?
We haven't done anything wrong!
[both scream]
[balloon creaking]
[both scream]
-Someone help us! Please! -Hey, whoa! What's with all the screaming?
-It's those things there! -[sighs] What are you--
-[gasps] What the-- -[Chiharu] They're trying to hang us!
-Help us! -Stay there! I'll be back!
Die!
[screams]
[air hissing]
[Chiharu] All right! It's shriveling up!
Looks like it's nothing but gas.
He got it, Chiharu!
[groaning]
[Kazuko wailing]
[whimpering]
I'm safe…
I'm so sick of this.
It's Father's, Mother's, and Yosuke's heads.
-[balloon creaks] -[gasps]
[tapping]
[girl] Hey… You're hungry, right?
You'll die if you don't come out and eat something.
-[bang] -Come on, Kazuko!
FIVE DAYS AGO
Just where did all these mysterious and murderous objects arrive here from?
It's this way all over. Japan is infested with these strange, floating objects.
The skies above us are riddled with the lifeless bodies of their victims,
who were hung by their necks!
-[man] Hey, that one's-- -[reporter] Oh, no!
That one looks like me.
That's my own head, and its headed this way!
There's a rope coming down towards me. Is it-- [grunts]
For those of you out there watching this,
we urge you to stay inside your homes, if you can.
If you're in a situation where you must leave the house,
we ask that you please use a car to travel.
And, what else? A public announcement.
Whatever situation you may find yourself in, do not,
I repeat, do not attempt to harm or ignite the mysterious flying objects.
Sources say if these objects happen to burst or burn,
bursting or burning will happen to the person with the correlating head.
NEWS PLUS
The government has set up an emergency team tasked with facing this situation.
We will provide more information as it comes in.
-[turns TV off] -What's up with all this crazy crap?
Either way, I'm still heading to the office.
There's some work that must be done today no matter what.
-Dear, please! -Father, don't do this!
It'll be fine.
[whooshing]
I just have to make it to the car before one of the things swoops down to hang me.
-I can manage that. -[Mother] Why risk it?
I'm telling you, I'm fine! I should be back by six.
Just please have dinner waiting for me.
-[Mother] Dear! Don't! -[kids shouting]
[panting]
Here it comes!
Look behind you!
[groans]
[screams]
-Please don't do this! -Darling, come back!
[sobbing]
Those monsters! Damn you all to hell!
[Yosuke] How long are they gonna float around?
We either have to make a break for it or stay here and starve to death!
-[Kazuko] Yosuke, you need to calm down. -Are you freakin' kidding me?
I'm gonna go get some food.
Stop this, don't be an idiot!
[Kazuko] If you leave, you'll end up just like Father.
If we don't get some food, we'll die anyway.
-I'm done talking about it. I'm going. -[Kazuko] Yosuke!
[Yosuke] I'm sorry for yelling, big sis.
Don't worry. I won't go down without a fight.
I'll stab that thing with this umbrella.
I won't die, all right?
I'll be back real soon. With a whole lot of food.
-[sobbing] -Yosuke…
[Yosuke] Damn it!
Here it comes!
Yosuke. Be careful and return to us safely.
[tapping]
[girl] Hey, Kazuko. Open up. Your mother is telling you to hurry, too.
THREE DAYS AGO
What are you doing?
[murmuring]
[whimpers]
PRESENT DAY
[Kazuko] Alone. I'm all alone now.
[tapping]
[girl] Hey, Kazuko… Open up!
The weather outside is wonderful.
Ugh! What's your deal?
You're the only one that's still being stubborn about this!
[tapping]
[whimpers]
[tapping continues]
[Yosuke] Hey, big sis! Are you there?
Yosuke?
Please, open up! I brought some food.
If you don't hurry, that thing-- My head will come flying over!
I can only run from it for so long!
[tapping]
Yosuke! You're okay?
[Yosuke] Big sis! There you are!
I'm so sorry I'm so late. Is Mom okay?
Actually… she went outside and-- [sniffles]
I'm sorry. I'll open up now.
[gasps]
Yosuke…
-[Yosuke] Big sis. -Hmm?
Thanks for opening the window
[laughs]
[cheerful pop music]
[man] See, here it is. Right here.
It's not high-quality paper, but still, It's better than nothing.
I slide the soft pen over its bumpy surface, preparing to scribe.
What I saw last night was a sad man who could not fall asleep.
And there, a cicada out of season is crying out in an insane frenzy.