"FOUR X FOUR WALLS"
Hey, knock it off already, Soichi!
Damn it! I can't take it anymore!
Dad! Please! Can't you do something about Soichi?
Uh, what? Did he do something again?
He keeps interrupting my studying.
I've got an exam soon, you know!
Uh--
-Wait, Soichi? -Hmm?
How-- Weren't you just--
Um-- In any case, stop jumping around in the attic, you hear me?
Huh? Uh, what do you mean?
-Don't play dumb! -Mmph!
Weren't you in the attic?
You're losing it.
I think all that studying has started to get to your brain.
He's been sitting right here.
-Whatever you heard wasn't him. -You're kidding, right?
It's the truth. There's no need to blame everything on your brother now, is there?
This is so strange.
Less, less, you will score less.
-Hmm? -Less, less, you will score less.
Drop, drop, your grades will drop.
Be last in your class. Get everything wrong on your exam.
You'll get scolded by your teacher.
-Get scolded and you'll cry! -Damn that Soichi.
Hey! Soichi! I'm sick of your crap!
Get back here!
Stop bothering me!
Uh--
Huh?
Hold it right there, Soichi! You're dead!
I've got you now!
Why are you doing this? I don't understand!
I was running because I need to go to the bathroom so bad it hurts!
You liar! You were sabotaging my study time!
No, it's the truth, I swear it! Help me!
I've really gotta pee! I can't hold it much longer!
Ugh! You really peed your pants!
Making it my fault is just pathetic.
Everyone knows it wasn't me up in the attic, don't they?
Dad, please, will you do something about Soichi's pranks?
-Big bro is just being neurotic. -What was that?
Either that, or we've got a poltergeist.
A poltergeist?
That's right. Those sounds you hear when nobody's around?
Those are just the sort of creepy things restless spirits have been known to do.
It's been a bit cold inside the house lately,
and I've personally heard unexplained rapping sounds.
Just how stupid do you think we are?
It's winter, of course, it's getting cold.
Unexplained rapping sounds? You're just making this crap up.
Koichi, you're not sitting there making fun of the poltergeists, are you?
You deserve whatever's gonna happen to you!
Only an idiot would purposely try to piss off the spirits!
They're gonna get you! Get you!
Huh?
That isn't unexplainable. Soichi is the one doing it…
Huh?
Oh!
Huh?
Whoa. Could it really be a poltergeist?
What the--
Uh…
Would you care to explain why you're in my closet, Soichi?
Look, big bro!
If you pull these strings, it summons paranormal activity!
See? Check it out!
Uh-huh. So everything really was your fault, wasn't it?
You were the one jumping around in the attic.
No. That was the real thing, I swear.
The spirits just get tired and I help them out.
Damn you! Don't you mock me!
Good morning! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day.
Dad, come on! You've gotta do something about Soichi!
Easier said than done.
We've tried all sorts of things to help straighten up his crooked ways.
You're just giving up? Might as well move out.
Now, hold on a minute, Koichi. I've been thinking about something.
We could ask a carpenter I know to do some soundproofing to your room.
-That would work, right? -Maybe…
-Hey, I'm home! -Ah! Welcome back!
The carpenter's here already?
Indeed. Lucky for you, he was able to start right away!
Hey!
Mr. Tagaisu! It's time to take a break. The tea's ready.
Ohhhh! Thank you so very much!
How hospitable of you!
I appreciate all the work you're doing.
My, my, you must be their oldest son, yes?
Just leave everything to me.
I'll use all the latest methods to construct you a wondrous soundproof room.
-What do you mean by latest methods? -Curious?
The walls will be quadrupled to shut out all sounds and distractions from outside.
Quadrupled? Wow, that's pretty amazing.
There is proper reasoning to make it quadruple.
You see, "shi" in Japanese can mean "four" and "death."
It's not enough to simply double or triple.
Sound, when it's quadrupled, will truly die.
I see…
Hmm?
Die, die!
-Soichi! Stop it! -Die!
Don't get in the way of his work.
Sorry about this, sir. He can be a handful sometimes.
You don't say!
He's actually quite proficient with his hands,
and he nails things down well, too.
Your younger boy is an extraordinary little child, isn't he?
I love driving nails into things with a hammer.
Wonderful to hear! Perhaps I'll have you help me out on this little project.
Uh, what?
I see. I must have asked too much from Obata.
I'll call and give my thanks tomorrow.
I was surprised about Soichi.
He was helping the carpenter out all day today.
Even received some compliments.
That's something! Might be the first time Soichi's been complimented ever.
The carpenter said Soichi really had a way with nailing things down.
Right, I see. Maybe under the right circumstances,
Soichi could become an honest man after all.
-Did you notice… -Huh?
…anything weird about our carpenter, Tagaisu?
Uh… Time to take a look at how the construction is going.
-Dear, why don't you do that tomorrow? -Really?
Hey, the window got boarded up!
Oh, you're back early, Koichi.
-Yeah. -Ah, good to see you!
Always a pleasure, truly.
Mr. Tagaisu, what's up with the window?
Oh! Noticed that, did you?
Sound travels easily through a window, so I had no choice but to board it up.
With that last step, I think you'll find that the room is completely soundproofed.
This was the last thing I needed to grab, so I'll be taking my leave.
Huh? You're done already?
Yes. Until next time, stay well.
So, Mom. What's my room like now?
Actually, I haven't seen it yet.
There's another door behind the first one. A double door?
There's another door behind the door behind the door!
What's going on?
Maybe there's another door behind the door
behind the door behind the door?
Oh!
I knew there'd be one! Each door is getting smaller, too.
Oh no. If there's another door behind that, what do you think we should do?
I'll barely make it through this one. No way you can.
Don't worry. This was the last door.
Wow, check it out. This place is tiny!
-Whoa! Look, the desk is the whole room! -I think I know what happened with this.
It's like this. See?
So, because of the quadruple walls, the room got a lot smaller.
But he was correct, the soundproofing is now amazing.
You're okay with such a small room?
Well, even if it's cramped, as long as I can study in peace, I don't mind.
It's so quiet in here, my ears might start ringing. Wow.
Huh? What's that all about? This isn't the time of year for cicadas.
I know your voice anywhere, Soichi!
Damn it!
This distance between the doors…
There's enough of a gap for someone to slide in there.
That's it! Soichi's sneaking around between these gaps in the walls.
Like in this diagram.
Damn it. That creep must have entered through the attic!
That's it!
Huh?
Hmm?
My realistic cicada sounds must've made Koichi panicked by now.
Idiot. I hope you cry tiny little tears at your tiny desk in your tiny room,
you big pain.
Well, another round of noise.
Here we go again!
Hey!
I knew it was you all along! Get your ass outside!
If you want me, you're gonna have to catch me!
Hey, get back here!
Stop!
There's another entrance here?
You're dead!
Really?
I don't feel very dead!
-Going down! -Mock me, will you?
Ow! Aah!
S-- Soichi!
Gah! Damn you, you brat!
Got you now!
Gah!
Stop running!
Gah! Damn it!
What the hell is this?
Hee-hee! Looks like you found the murky sludge corner!
Hold on. This is exactly what he wants me to do.
Goodness! What in the world happened to you?
Me? Oh, don't worry about it. I'm gonna go study now.
"THE SANDMAN'S LAIR"
Yuji…
Yuji!
What's wrong? You look really worn out.
I haven't slept in over three days.
Three days? Have you started writing a novel again?
It's nothing like that.
Listen, Mari… You're the only person I can go to when I need advice.
And I need it.
Yuji…
What in the world is wrong?
I'm hoping you'll believe me. It's like this.
My other self, the one that lives inside my dream world,
is trying to find a way into the real world.
He wakes up the instant I fall asleep.
He's hoping that if he drags me into the dream world,
he'll be able to take my place in the real one.
He started acting on this plan three days ago.
I can't afford to go to sleep anymore. If I fall asleep, he wakes up.
Hold on a minute.
That's one of your fantasies again.
It's no fantasy!
I mean, someone's other self existing in their dreams
is your favorite trope, you know?
Mari, you have to believe me. It's not a lie, nor is it a fantasy.
Have you… tried seeing a doctor?
A doctor?
You're right! A doctor! Yeah! A doctor might be able to help me out!
Thanks, Mari! You really came through!
Yuji, wait up!
Wait, Yuji! You took that the wrong way. That wasn't what I meant.
-Come on, Yuji! -Look, I know, all right?
Listen, I'm trying to help you,
but I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about.
What do you want me to do for you?
Easy. I want you to watch over me so I don't fall asleep.
Yuji…
Hey, come on inside.
I'll go make a fresh pot of coffee.
I can do that.
Then make some for yourself. I've had plenty already.
Thanks a lot, Mari.
By the way, what is dream you doing?
He's asleep. But I'm pretty close to my limit myself.
Mari, take that tape and wrap it around my arms and legs.
What for?
To prevent you-know-who from coming out.
Hurry.
Is this okay?
Yeah. I have no idea if it'll help.
You're gonna be fine, because I'm here. So don't worry.
Hmm?
Let go of me! Yuji! Wake up!
Mari, I need your help!
Hurry!
What's up with that?
Did you take the tape off?
Yuji. What was that just now?
That's me from the dream world. He's the flip side of my body.
Impossible. Something like that can't happen!
You saw it with your own eyes, right?
-Yes, but I-- -It's true.
He's been dreaming within me all this time.
But he realized the existence of the outside world.
Human bodies aren't hollow like that.
You can't just flip out your internal organs.
That may be. But I might be the exception.
Because I've been hollow since I was born.
Or maybe since the day I lost my family.
Don't say that!
When I was a kid, I wanted to soar through the sky like a bird.
I tried all sorts of things to make it happen.
Even put wings on my arms.
No matter what, I couldn't fly.
And so I figured I should at least do so in my dreams.
But even in the dream world, I found that I'd simply laugh at myself.
"There's no way you can fly."
How have I never heard this story before?
For someone like me, dreams are more realistic than reality.
A person can do anything in the dream world.
Why would this opposite you want to escape from that?
Because he wants you, Mari.
What?
The flip side of me is still me, understand?
We share desires.
And what he really wants is you, Mari.
Yuji! Don't fall asleep!
I've had enough… I'm headed into my dream…
I don't want you to feel any more pain…
Yuji!
Yuji?
Oh.
I don't want that.
No matter what, I'll pull you out of the dream world!
All right. Fine, Yuji. I'll go there, too.
Mr. Hirano? Mr. Yuji Hirano? You're home, aren't you?
Can you open up, Mr. Manager?
There are a few things we want to ask you about.
Go ahead.
Miss Mari Igarashi.
She's currently missing. Whose bag is that?
No matter where you look, you won't find her.
At least, not in the real world.
The real world? What do you mean by that?
Confused? She's become my internal organs.
-What? You didn't-- -Did you eat her?
Eat her? Not at all.
She's merely departed this world for my dream one.
Long black hair protruding from the wall.
It was swaying from the letters I wrote on the wall,
and I was wondering what it was, but it was hair.
What exactly is it trying to do? Is it growing in an effort to touch me?
I just tore off that curious clump of hair.
When I did, that mound of mane became very docile.