To Me, The One Who Loved You 2023

In a parallel universe, seven-year-old Koyomi, portrayed by Hio Miyazawa, decides to live with his father, Shodai Hidaka, after his parents’ divorce. At the Imaginary Science Research Institute, Koyomi listens intently as his father delves into Imaginary Science, the intriguing study of parallel worlds, along with the concept of Imaginality, a phenomenon where one’s consciousness shifts between different realities through a process known as Parallel Shift. Tragedy strikes when Koyomi learns that his beloved grandfather’s dog, Yuno, has died in an accident.

During this emotional time, he encounters Shiori Satō, played by Aju Makita, the director’s daughter, who discovers him in tears. Shiori compassionately leads him to an IP capsule, a remarkable device designed to transport individuals between parallel worlds. Koyomi finds himself in a reality where Yuno is alive, but unfortunately, his grandfather has passed away. Upon returning to his original world, Koyomi learns that Shiori has offered her assistance in exchange for his help, as she wishes to journey to a world where her parents remain together. However, their plans are thwarted by Genko, her father.

As time progresses, Koyomi and Shiori develop a close friendship, navigating the complexities of adolescence together. Their parents, however, soon announce their intention to marry, leading to a challenging dynamic for Koyomi and Shiori. Recognizing their deepening feelings for one another, they decide to perform a Parallel Shift to a reality where they aren’t stepsiblings. Their attempt brings them to a world where their parents remain together, but tragedy strikes once more when Shiori is fatally injured in a car accident at the Showa-dori intersection.

After returning to his original world, Koyomi finds Shiori unconscious in the hospital, where she is declared brain dead yet her heart continues to beat artificially. It’s then that Koyomi encounters Shiori’s Imaginality manifested as a ghost at the very intersection where her accident occurred. Shodai and Genko reveal that the timing of the alternate Shiori’s death coincided with the shifting of the original Shiori’s consciousness, causing her Imaginality to lose connection with her body. Driven by love and determination, Koyomi dedicates himself to the research of Parallel Shift in hopes of saving Shiori while attending high school.

Years later, now a graduate employed at the Institute, Koyomi learns heartbreaking news: Shiori’s heart has ceased functioning. This prompts him to enlist Kazune Takigawa as his assistant. Their bond grows as they discover Kazune has the ability to see Shiori’s Imaginality as well. Together, they embark on a groundbreaking venture, investigating the potential of Time Shift—a method to send Shiori back to a reality before her tragic accident. Kazune agrees to support Koyomi in his quest.

In the decades that follow, advances in Imaginary Science enable the Optional Shift, yet Koyomi struggles to activate the Time Shift. Inspired by a conversation about buoyancy and viscosity, Koyomi formulates a plan to shift Shiori back in time to a parallel world where their paths might not cross. He realizes that Shiori’s fate is intertwined with his, leading him to make the immense sacrifice of undergoing the Time Shift alongside her, even at the cost of his own life.

As they grow older, Koyomi and Kazune prepare for the pivotal Moment Shift. Despite past hesitations, Kazune stands beside Koyomi, who bids farewell to Shiori. He assures her that by returning to separate lives, they may eventually reunite at the intersection on August 17 at 10 AM as they age. Kazune initiates the Time Shift, marking the beginning of a new chapter.

In a poignant post-credits scene, we see an elderly Koyomi from a parallel world encouraged by his wife Kazune to meet the future at the intersection, where he unexpectedly reunites with the older version of Shiori, sparking a journey of reconnection.