视而不见

Akira is a sixth grader in elementary school. In his class, a trio of bullies led by Yarabase constantly torment Don-chan for fun. During art class, while drawing in the park, Akira sees the bullies scribbling on Don-chan's painting. Later, when they get scolded by the teacher, they blame Akira, which frustrates him so much that he takes out his anger on a weak cat by the riverside. A street vendor uncle who witnesses this scolds him and has Akira help him retrieve illegally dumped bulky garbage from the river. As the school arts festival approaches, during play rehearsal, Akira sees Don-chan being bullied again. That evening, when his mother sends him on an errand to the store, he finds the bully trio and Don-chan shoplifting. Yarabase forces Akira to take the stolen mechanical pencil. From then on, Yarabase and his friends start harassing Akira, threatening to make him join their shoplifting ring. Troubled, Akira musters the courage to consult his father, but he doesn’t listen properly. Akira, who has grown to hate going to school, feigns illness to stay home. Don-chan returns the mechanical pencil to the store for him. The next day, when Akira goes to school, Don-chan’s face is covered in bruises. After school, he is being bullied by Yarabase and his gang again. From the following day, Don-chan stops coming to school. Worried, Akira goes to the riverside and finds Don-chan desperately fighting off a flock of crows attacking the weak cat. The street vendor uncle, watching this, points out Akira and the others’ feigned ignorance. On the day of the arts festival, Don-chan comes to school. In front of the audience, Don-chan retaliates against Yarabase and the others for all the bullying he endured. After that, he stops coming to school again. When the third term begins, the teacher announces that Don-chan has transferred schools. The teacher is deeply remorseful. Akira receives a letter left by Don-chan, containing words of apology. Unable to bear it any longer, Akira goes to see the street vendor uncle, only to find his stall destroyed and the uncle repairing it. Upon hearing the story, Akira learns that the uncle helped a child being bullied by middle schoolers, and in retaliation, they destroyed his stall. The one being bullied was Yarabase. Amidst all this, graduation day arrives. During rehearsal, Akira pours out all his pent-up feelings in front of everyone. Though laughed at by the others, Yarabase encourages him. His heart feels lighter. This is just the beginning.