A Direction of the Day After Tomorrow

*A Direction of the Day After Tomorrow* centers on Karada Iokawa, a young girl on the cusp of entering junior high school once summer ends, and Shōko Nogami, a young woman who has just returned from her studies overseas and happens to be the former girlfriend of Karada’s older brother. On the day of Shōko’s return, Karada insists on bringing her along to the beach, joined by her brother and a few mutual friends, as Shōko had known Karada’s brother Hiro years earlier. Irritated with Hiro for having left her behind in the United States, Shōko deliberately remarks that Karada’s ribbons look childish—a comment that deeply stings the girl, who resents being seen as a child. Later that same day, Shōko comes across Karada praying at a shrine, where the girl wishes to grow up faster. To her astonishment, the wish is granted, and Karada is instantly transformed into a grown young woman. At the same moment, however, Shōko has her own adulthood stripped away, regressing to the age of roughly eleven years old.