Hana Yori Dango Vol.28, P.105-156
P.105
(in the classroom of a much younger F4... during grade school perhaps?)
(four characters are written on the blackboard)
teacher: Ok, can anyone tell me the pronounciation of this kanji phrase?
teacher: Doumyouji-kun? What about you?
(little Doumyouji sits back arrogantly, with his feet on his desk)
Doumyouji: "Ikki ikkai".
teacher: ........ Unfortunately, that's not the correct answer.
teacher: Um... do you think maybe you could take your feet down?
Doumyouji: [buzz off, you old witch]
teacher: Then... Nishikado-san? How about you?
(little Soujirou sits with little Akira and little Rui)
teacher: Maybe this is a little too hard? 
P.106
Soujirou: "Ichigo ichie".
(the correct answer, translates to something like "once-in-a-lifetime 
meeting/opportunity")
Soujirou: It's only natural that I would be able to answer something like this.
Soujirou: I'm the 16th generation of the Nishikado lineage and the next in line 
to head the family, after all. 
P.107
(title page)
title: Once-in-a-lifetime Story
(note: the present-time Hana Yori Dango storyline takes a little break, in order 
to tell this tale from Soujirou's past) 
P.108
(filler page)
(candies and sweets) 
P.109
(time setting switches to F4's first year of high school, roughly)
Soujirou: The world of the tea ceremony is all about the once-in-a-lifetime 
opportunity!!
Soujirou: Meaning, if you let this moment go you'll never get it back again.
Soujirou: So? Do you want to try it?
girl: Ehh? Are you really a tea ceremony master?
Soujirou: I really am, but why don't you let me show you?
girl: Ok, I'll go!
Soujirou: Hey Akira, the two of us are leaving early.
Akira: Okay.
Akira: (to his date) Why don't we go too?
date: Sure. 
P.110
(They all leave whatever club they were hanging out in. Soujirou hails a cab.)
girl: So what exactly are you going to show me?
Soujirou: What's the image in your mind?
girl: Mmm, let me see. A really feudal-looking house, maybe?
Soujirou: That's about right.
girl: Really? [kyahaha]
Soujirou: I wile away every night in amusement.
(they walk through the garden of the tea house)
girl: Woah... it's true.
Soujirou: Shh, this way, this way.
(he helps her into a small window-type entrance into the building)
girl: What is this? Why is the entrance so small?
Soujirou: It's called a "nijiri" entrance. It was designed to be small, so 
samurai couldn't bring their swords in with them. 
P.111
girl: Samurai?
Soujirou: Yeah, there's no need for weapons when one is drinking tea.
Soujirou: The same goes for you.
(they kiss)
Soujirou: I party everyday with nameless women. 
P.112
(the screen door to the room slides open)
Soujirou: Ah.
(a young-looking girl with short hair enters the room)
shorty: I figured you would enter through the "nijiri" entrance. 
P.113
girl: Wh...who is she?
Soujirou: Ah, er, this is--
Soujirou: (to shorty) Sara, what are you doing here...?
Sara: (smiley) I brought some tea and sweets. Let's all eat them together!
(Soujirou's date climbs out the "nijiri" entrance)
girl: Uh, I'm going home. Seeya.
Soujirou: Aah! Wait!
Soujirou: It's not what you think! This girl is just an old friend!
Sara: It's only so-so tea but--
(I guessed that "socha" might be a word for a certain quality of tea, since 
"cha" means tea, but I'm really not sure... =P)
Sara: Oh, she left. 
P.114
(Soujirou glares at her)
Soujirou: ..........
Soujirou: Saraa!!
Sara: Hyaa, I'm sorry!
Soujirou: You have the worst timing!
Soujirou: [and don't call the tea so-so when you got it from a person's own 
house!]
Sara: I'm sorry!
Sara: I was walking around this neighborhood today, and I ran into your mother.
Sara: And I had just brought a new type of sweet that came into the stores.
Sara: And I thought I'd have you try them too, so I chatted with your mother 
until you came home, 
P.115
Sara: And then, and then--
Soujirou: Ah, nevermind. I'm not that angry.
Soujirou: So what's this new type of sweet?
(her face lights up)
Sara: A-ah, yeah!
Sara: It's a bisquit wrapped in two layers of chocolate, then surrounded by 
white chocolate.
Soujirou: Yuck...
~young sara: Do you want some sweets? 
P.116
(flashback to an early meeting between Soujirou and Sara)
(they're both in a traditional type of Japanese garden in which sand is raked 
into patterns, with stone steps imbedded in it for walking on)
~y. Sara: Why are you crying?
~y. Sara: Where are you from?
~y. Soujirou: (wiping at his eyes) I... I'm not crying!
~y. Soujirou: Who are you?? This is my house!
~y. Soujirou: Who said you could come into this garden...? Ah!
(Sara runs off the stone steps and into the sand)
~y. Soujirou: You're not supposed to walk on the sand!
~y. Soujirou: The gardener goes to a lot of effort to rake it everyday.
(Sara starts to make a sand castle)
~y. Soujirou: Ahh! Stop it!
~y. Sara: (holding up a handful of sand) I'm Sara. My mom's learning tea 
ceremony here. 
P.117
Soujirou: [hah]
Sara: What?
Soujirou: Nothing, I just remembered something funny.
Soujirou: The first time we met you were eating some kind of snack too.
Soujirou: All your front teeth had fallen out.
Sara: Really? Ah, there's no more tea.
(Soujirou bites into one of the chocolate sweets)
Soujirou: This is way too sweet. [blech]
Sara: I'll go get some more tea.
Soujirou: It's ok, I'll do it. 
P.118
Sara: Eh? You will, Jirou?
Sara: Really? Great!!
(Soujirou mixes the tea powder into hot water with a brush)
{swish} {swish swish}
Sara: Say Jirou, do you remember how we used to pretend to be ninjas around 
here?
Soujirou: Yeah. And as ninjas, if we were ever caught we'd have to take our own 
lives.
Soujirou: We used to run around a lot, beneath the floors and over the fences.
Sara: And one time we hid inside the storehouse for a really long time.
Soujirou: Yeah, nobody could find us, and they even called the police. 
P.119
both: Then there was a big search!!
Sara: (starry-eyed) [ahhhh] It was so much fun. I wish we could do it again.
Soujirou: Get real. We're too old for that sort of thing now.
Soujirou: You're 16 years old already, so why don't you worry about finding a 
boyfriend.
Sara: You're 16 too, Jirou, and you don't have a girlfriend.
Soujirou: I don't need one. I have once-in-a-lifetime meetings every day.
Sara: Whatever.
Sara: You're once-a-lifetime meetings happen 365 days a year.
Sara: This tea looks good.
(she drinks from the large cup)
Soujirou: There's only one girl in my life that I think of as a friend rather 
than a woman. 
P.120
Sara: [haah]
Soujirou: How's the tea?
Sara: Great!!
Soujirou: That's this girl, Sara. 
P.121
Soujirou: You say that about everything
Sara: Eheheh.
{ring ring ring}
Sara: Oh, the phone.
(Soujirou picks it up)
Soujirou: Hello?
Soujirou: Ohh, Mina-chan.
Soujirou: Of course I remembered. Right now?
Soujirou: Ok, I'll be there in about 30 minutes.
Soujirou: Sara, sorry I gotta go.
Sara: It's ok. I should be going home myself.
(they walk out through the gardens surrounding the house)
Sara: Have you gotten taller, Jirou?
Soujirou: Have I? Tsukasa's definitely the biggest among us. He over 6 feet 
already.
Sara: Tsukasa? Oh, one of your Eitoku friends, right? 
P.122
Soujirou: How's school going for you?
Sara: Not much to tell. I have finals coming up soon.
Soujirou: Seeya. Take care on your way home.
Sara: Yeah, the next time I see a new snack on sale, I'll bring it for a visit.
Soujirou: Get something less sweet next time.
Sara: Ok. Bye bye!
(Soujirou turns and walks in the opposite direction. Sara watches him go with a 
faintly sad look on her face.)
Soujirou: The kind of women I like 
P.123
Soujirou: are lively, nice, and easygoing people I can chat and spend carefree 
hours with.
(Soujirou lies in bed with a girl)
girl: When can I see you again?
Soujirou: I dunno when. We'll see.
girl: Geez, you always say that!
girl: I know that you date a lot of girls. Which one is your favorite?
Soujirou: (grinning) Well that would be you of course, Rie-chan.
girl: ...... Liar.
Soujirou: It's the truth.
girl: Is it really the truth? Then you won't see those other girls anymore?
Soujirou: No can do.
girl: Why not? 
P.124
Soujirou: What does it matter, as long as we're having fun now?
Soujirou: I can't stand complicated, messy relationships.
(a female servant approaches Soujirou out in the garden)
servant: Ah, young master. The mistress is looking for you.
Soujirou: (to his mother) What is it?
mother: Oh! Soujirou-san, would you mind presiding over the tea ceremony 
tomorrow?
Soujirou: What? You can't be serious. I have plans tomorrow.
Soujirou: What about dad? 
P.125
mother: ... Your father, is off in Kyoto on business.
Soujirou: Hmm...
Soujirou: I can tell just by looking at her face.
Soujirou: He's gone to see another woman.
Soujirou: If only older brother were still around.
mother: Shouichirou-san left last year never to return. We all must accept that.
(as Soujirou begins to walk away, his mother calls out to his retreating back)
mother: So won't you do it?
mother: Please!
Soujirou: Get my kimono ready.
Soujirou: My serious older brother couldn't withstand these 1,000 years of 
unbroken tradition, so he left.
Soujirou: Despite all the care that goes into its appearance,
Soujirou: this household is a mess on the inside. 
P.126
(Soujirou sits in his bedroom, looking downspirited)
(his eyes dart to the left as he hears the door opening)
Sara: ......
Sara: Heya.
Sara: I had some free time, so I thought I'd drop by.
Soujirou: You... scared me.
Soujirou: Say something before you come in.
Sara: Ehehe, that was on purpose. 
P.127
Sara: Your room is as bare as ever.
Sara: No one would expect a western style room in such a traditional Japanese 
house.
Soujirou: I guess it's kinda deceiving to the eyes.
Sara: [ahaha] Yeah!
Sara: Say Jirou, why don't you put a big stuffed bear over in this spot?!
Soujirou: No way.
Sara: If this was my room, I'd fill it up with all kinds of stuff and make it 
really cute.
Soujirou: Then put one in your own room.
Sara: Uh-uh, my room is only 6 tatami mats. If I put anything else in there I 
won't be able to get inside!
(Tatami mats are a traditional type of floor cover, made from plant material. In 
Japan the size of rooms is sometimes measured by the number of standard-sized 
mats that would fit side by side on the floor.)
Soujirou: Sara-- 
P.128
Soujirou: has seen me in this sort of mood countless times,
Soujirou: but she always just smiles and talks about dumb stuff without bringing 
it up.
Soujirou: It's a relief,
Sara: I guess guys don't like stuffed animals much.
Soujirou: having Sara here.
Soujirou: It'd be scary if there was one who liked them.
Soujirou: She's a warm light in this dried up old house.
Soujirou: Besides, you're like my stuffed animal.
Sara: Huh, me? 
P.129
Sara: Then maybe I'll stay in your room and act like this.
(Sara sits with her arms and legs straight out like a teddy bear)
Soujirou: [ahahah]
Soujirou: That's a good one.
Soujirou: The two of us won't change.
(Soujirou holds a hand out in front of Sara's face)
Soujirou: [don't move]
Soujirou: We'll stay this way forever.
(he taps her lightly on the forehead with his pointer finger, and watches in 
alarm as she begins to fall backward) 
P.130
(Soujirou jumps forward and catches Sara's head, just before it hits the table 
behind her)
Soujirou: That was close!
Soujirou: Sorry, I forgot that there was a table back there.
Soujirou: Are you bleeding anywhere...?
(he looks down at her) 
P.131
(and she looks back up at him shyly, then closes her eyes)
Soujirou: Huh? 
P.132
(Sara lies on the floor, motionlessly... waiting)
(Soujirou gets up quickly, looking rather disturbed)
Soujirou: This table--
Soujirou: I've tripped over it a bunch of times,
Soujirou: or stubbed my toes.
Soujirou: Maybe I should move it over to the corner.
Soujirou: What? 
P.133
Soujirou: What was that face just then?
Sara: ........
Sara: Jirou.
Sara: Um--
Soujirou: Sara, have you been eating properly?
Soujirou: You only eat snacks, so you're too thin.
Soujirou: I remember when you were a pudgy little kid with a potbelly.
Soujirou: What the hell am I saying?
(Sara stares at him, looking a little hurt) 
P.134
(then abruptly switches to a smile)
Sara: I guess I looked a lot like a stuffed animal back then.
(Soujirou breathes a sigh of relief)
Soujirou: Yeah, and you haven't changed much since.
Sara: You're probably right.
Sara: I wonder if I'll always be the same as back then.
Soujirou: ............ 
P.135
Soujirou: What are you talking about?
Soujirou: Of course. You and I will never change.
Soujirou: Right?
Sara: (sadly) ... I guess so.
Soujirou: On that day inside the storehouse,
Soujirou: I only pretended to be asleep. 
P.136
Soujirou: If I went back outside, it would only be my parents arguing again.
Soujirou: I didn't want to return to that place.
Soujirou: So I just layed there and stared at the face of the sleeping girl next 
to me.
~y. Sara: [nm] Chocolate.
~y. Soujirou: [heh]
~y. Sara: Shoe cream. [mm num]
(ok, she probably didn't say "shoe cream" but that's what it sounded like 
phonetically...)
Soujirou: This is a being unlike my friends from Eitoku,
Soujirou: unlike anyone else around me.
(the sleeping Sara grabs onto one of Soujirou's fingers with her hand) 
P.137
~y. Soujirou: Oww!
Soujirou: That hand gripping mine softly,
Soujirou: gave me the gift of peace of mind.
(out on the town at night)
Akira: What's with you, Soujirou? You're totally in a daze.
Soujirou: Huh? Was I spacing out?
Akira: Yeah, you were. Wasn't he, Rui?
Rui: I'm sleepy. You guys are too noisy. I'm going home.
Akira: Rui! Doesn't nighttime have any other purpose for you than sleeping?!
(Rui shuffles away without answering) 
P.138
(Akira rests a hand on Soujirou's shoulder)
Akira: Oh well, forget him.
Akira: What do you think of that group of chicks over there?
Akira: We actually have Tsukasa with us tonight, so let's go 3 on 3.
Soujirou: Yeah...
(Doumyouji stands up suddenly, freaking out a couple of guys nearby)
Akira: Huh? What's with that lethargic answer?
Akira: Are you thinking of retiring early tonight too?
(the 3 girls giggle and smile at them from their table nearby)
(meanwhile, Doumyouji assaults the nearby guys)
Doumyouji: [what are you staring at?!]
Akira: ........ [Tsukasa...]
Soujirou: (standing up) Alright.
Soujirou: Let's go over there. 
P.139
(he sits next to the girl with short hair)
Soujirou: Good evening.
Soujirou: Wanna chat?
Soujirou: I know it's superficial,
Soujirou: but this is all I can do.
Soujirou: Sara,
Soujirou: Don't look at me that way. 
P.140
(Sara is walking down a Tokyo street with a couple of female friends)
friend1: Wow, we sang so many songs.
(meaning they just came from a Karaoke session probably)
Sara: Yeah, it was really fun.
friend2: I guess we missed the last train already. What now?
friend1: It's pretty unusual for you to stay out this late, Sara.
Sara: [ehehe] Every once in a while it's ok.
friend2: Did you have a change of heart or something?
friend2: Ah! Or maybe you finally started going out with that Ozawa guy?!
friend1: Ozawa is soo hung up on you, Sara.
Sara: No way, it's not like that.
friend1: Why not? He's a pretty good guy!
friend2: Hey! The emergency stairs to this building are open.
friend2: Why don't we hang out on the roof until the first train comes?
friend1: Sounds like a plan!
(they climb up the stairs) 
P.141
(while Sara's friends doze off against a wall, she stands near the edge of the 
roof, facing Tokyo Tower)
Soujirou: The two of us won't change.
Soujirou: Isn't that right, Sara?
(Sara gazes into the distance in a daze, as the morning sun shines across her 
face and the wind ruffles her hair) 
P.142
(an answering machine turns on, and Sara's voice rings out over the speaker)
Sara: Jirou? It's me, Sara.
Sara: Um, there's a place I'd like you to come to.
Sara: It's the roof of the Sinoda building, where you can see Tokyo Tower from.
Sara: ........ I want you to come, no matter what, tomorrow morning at 5am.
Sara: Er... there's something I want to show you.
Sara: Let's see, the address is--
(Soujirou presses a button on the answering machine. "Message deleted" appears 
on the screen.)
Soujirou: It's alright. 
P.143
Soujirou: If I don't go, everything will return to the way it was.
(Soujirou sits up in bed, next to a sleeping girl. He glances at the clock... 
5:00. Time passes... 7:38.) 
P.144
(later that morning, Soujirou walks by the wall next to his house)
Soujirou: It'll be alright.
(Sara stands by the gate, waiting for him)
Sara: ........ Did you listen to your answering machine messages? 
P.145
Soujirou: Yeah, I did.
Soujirou: Sorry, I had a previous engagement.
Sara: Oh.
Soujirou: 5am is too early to be asking someone to come out.
Soujirou: Don't tell me you waited all morning for me?
Sara: Eheh...
Soujirou: {yaawn} I'm bushed. I partied too hard last night.
(he walks past her)
Soujirou: I'm going to bed now. What about you? You can come in if you want.
Sara: ........ No, that's ok. 
P.146
Soujirou: Really? Ok then.
Soujirou: (turning around) Come back some other time.
(Soujirou's expression changes to shock when he sees Sara sobbing behind him) 
P.147
(she closes her eyes, as the tears spill down her face)
Soujirou: ... Sa--
Soujirou: Sara. 
P.148
Soujirou: Wha-what?
Soujirou: Sorry I stood you up! I'm sorry, ok?
Soujirou: Stop crying.
Sara: Goodbye. 
P.149
(she walks away)
Soujirou: Sara's back looked so tiny as it retreated from me.
Soujirou: But my feet seemed rooted to the ground, and I couldn't move an inch. 
P.150
Soujirou: Even so, I was sure she'd come back the next day like nothing had 
happened,
Soujirou: smiling tomorrow,
Soujirou: and we would return to our old selves. 
P.151
Soujirou: Isn't that right, Sara?
(Soujirou sits on his family's porch, chin in hand, as the autumn leaves fall 
around him)
servant: Young master, recently Sara-chan hasn't been coming around much, has 
she?
servant: I wonder how she's doing? 
P.152
(Soujirou takes an envelope out of a drawer inside the house. He rereads the 
letter within.)
letter: (written) To Jirou, I know you've come to see me many times. Sorry that 
I haven't meeten with you.
letter: You may have a lot of once-in-a-lifetimes opportunities, but my 
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was when I waited for you that morning on the 
roof of that building. 
P.153
(written at the bottom of the letter in small letters is "Goodbye. -Sara.")
Soujirou: I saw her once a year later.
Soujirou: She was walking down the street with some guy I'd never seen before.
(the girl next to Soujirou turns to him)
~date: What's wrong, Nishikado-san?
~Soujirou: No... it's nothing.
(he watches Sara's tranquil profile passing by him)
Soujirou: Even now, I still wonder, 
P.154
Soujirou: if I had run after her and hugged her back then,
Soujirou: what the two of us would be doing now.
Soujirou: Even though I've used the phrase "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" so 
many times,
Soujirou: my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was that moment.
Soujirou: And that chance will never come again.
~Sara: Jiro! 
P.155
~Sara: Who are you?
~Sara: Why are you crying?
Soujirou: Sara.
Soujirou: This was my once-in-a-lifetime story.
(end of side story...) 
P.156
(filler page)