I Love You to Death

Junpei, who has never been able to confess his feelings to his classmate Mika, wants to find out if the Valentine's chocolate left in his shoe locker was really from her. While his parents are away visiting banks, struggling to keep their factory afloat, Junpei teams up with his friends Shogo and Futoshi to stage a fake funeral, making it look like an accidental death, just to see how Mika truly feels about him.

However, as soon as the funeral begins, not only Mika but other classmates and teachers also show up to pay their respects, making it impossible for the boys to back out of the elaborate prank. Standing by the coffin, Mika confesses that she had feelings for him. After she runs out of the house in tears, Junpei's parents and others arrive to attend the service as well. Trapped inside the coffin and unable to come out, Junpei is nevertheless thrilled to learn of Mika's romantic feelings. While celebrating with his friends, he eventually falls asleep inside the coffin.

The next morning, his friends, who drank heavily out of guilt, wake up to find the coffin gone. Realizing it has already been taken to the crematorium, they frantically chase after it on a motorcycle. Meanwhile, Junpei wakes up to find himself being transported in a hearse inside the coffin. Just as he struggles to escape, a child darts out into the street, causing the driver to slam on the brakes. Junpei hits his head hard and loses consciousness. When he next opens his eyes to the sound of chanting monks, the cremation furnace is about to be ignited.

Shogo and Futoshi arrive at the crematorium, only to find that the furnace has already been turned on. Junpei's parents smile at the devastated friends, remarking that Junpei has been a dutiful son. With the factory's finances in dire straits for some time, the payout from Junpei's life insurance will allow them to save the business. The friends stand in utter shock, staring at the smoke rising from the chimney.

Storyteller Tamori concludes the tale with a piece of advice: "If you want to know how someone you're interested in feels about you, it's probably best to just gather your courage and ask them directly."

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