Koizora (Sky of Love)

Clear skies will mean you are happy. Rain will mean you are crying. Sunset means you are embarrassed. Night will mean you are gently holding me. – Mika to Hiro -

 

During her freshman year in high school, Mika Tahara loses her cellular phone but later finds it in the school library with the help of an unknown caller. Throughout the summer, Mika and the mysterious caller continue to communicate, and agree to meet each other once school starts again. The caller turns out to be Hiro, a delinquent-like boy that Mika is initially afraid of, who shows proof of his identity as the caller with a photo of the sky on his cellular phone.

From her friends and through her first sexual encounter with Hiro, Mika learns that he had a girlfriend named Saki. Although Hiro reassures her that he broke up with her, Saki, who still is in love with Hiro, holds a vendetta against Mika and hires a group of men to rape her. The horrific encounter ends with Hiro and his older sister Minako punishing both the men and Saki, but not long after, someone writes a provocative message on all of the school chalkboards with Mika's name and phone number. Hiro continues to protect Mika from all of the bullying advances, but she assures him that she's not frightened anymore from being with him.

Mika later becomes pregnant after she and Hiro consummate in the school library. Hiro is thrilled by the news and both of them gain Hiro's parents' permission to raise the child together, although Mika's parents disapprove of the action. Despite this, Mika is determined to have the baby until the birth becomes a miscarriage due to the physical trauma received when Saki pushed her down a flight of stairs. Despaired, Mika and Hiro build a grave for their baby and promise each other to come visit the memorial yearly on the day of the baby's death.

Shortly after their second year in high school begins, Hiro begins to distance himself from Mika and breaks up with her. Although hurt, Mika meets a college student named Yū at a gōkon, who becomes sympathetic to her situation. The two date, and Yū even prevents Mika's parents from divorcing. On the day of the baby's death, Mika finds Hiro visiting the grave as per their promise. The next year, she continues to move on from Hiro; however, on the day of the baby's death, Mika finds Nozomu at the grave. Nozomu reveals the truth about Hiro's sickly situation, and that he was asked by Hiro himself to watch over Mika.

Mika breaks up with Yū and finds Hiro, diagnosed with cancer, awaiting death at the hospital. Upset that he pretended he didn't love her only to ensure she would have a happy future, she insists that only he can make her happy. Hiro eventually gives into his feelings and gets back together with her. Mika begins to visit the hospital daily, even taking an academic leave, to take care of Hiro, who slowly begins to show signs of recovery. Hiro's resolve to live becomes stronger until he dies during a check-up. Mika is saddened by Hiro's death and tries to commit suicide, but is stopped by a flock of birds flying towards her. She takes this as a sign of Hiro, in the sky, discouraging her from killing herself, and realizes through this and Hiro's journal that he would have wanted her to continue to live. Seven years later, she reflects on how her life had changed upon meeting Hiro, and that she is living happily with him and their baby in mind.

 

Cast

• Yui Aragaki plays Mika Tahara (an ordinary high school student who falls in love with Hiro and finds her experiences in love to be one of the most wonderful feelings in the world)
• Haruma Miura plays Hiroki Sakurai , nicknamed "Hiro"(a former delinquent notable by his dyed hair. He later discovers he has cancer and stages a disinterest in Mika so as not to make her sad)
• Keisuke Koide plays Yū Fukuhara (a college student from the Kansai region who becomes Mika's emotional support after Hiro breaks up with her)
• Asami Usuda plays Saki (Hiro's ex-girlfriend who still is in love with Hiro and continuously harasses Mika through many lengths, including rape and physical assault)
• Karina plays Minako Sakurai (Hiro's older sister )
• Aoi Nakamura plays Nozomu (Hiro's equally delinquent-like best friend who immediately develops an interest in Mika)
• Haru plays Aya (Mika's best friend who has a crush on Nozomu)
• Ryuji Yamamoto plays Hirokazu Sakurai (Hiro's father)
• Yumi Asou plays Akemi Sakurai (Hiro's mother)
• George Takahashi plays Katsuji Tahara (Mika's father)
• Yūko Asano plays Yasue Tahara( Mika's mother)