The seventh episode of the drama series "Reunion ~Silent Truth~" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 9 PM), starring actor Ryoma Takeuchi, aired on February 24th. The episode included a scene in which Junichi (Takeuchi) poured out all the painful feelings he had been harboring in front of Makiko (Inoue Mao), which caused a stir on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers.
In episode 7, Junichi confesses that he shot and killed a bank robber 23 years ago. However, detective Minami Ryo (Noriko Eguchi), who was re-examining the crime scene with Junichi and four of his classmates, warns them not to tell anyone about their conversation. Junichi is confused when he learns that Minami Ryo has no intention of reporting the incident to the police higher-ups. Minami Ryo then quietly tells him, "Because that case isn't over yet."
Meanwhile, Ryo Minami secretly returns to visit Makiko, whose alibi has been ruined, in search of the truth behind the murder of supermarket manager Hideyuki Sakuma (Yuto Koyanagi). He tells her that he wants to keep what he's about to tell her a secret between the two of them, and that he thinks Junichi may have been mistaken about shooting Oshima.
Afterwards, Junichi is called by Makiko and goes to her house, where he pours out all the pain he has suffered up until now...and so the story unfolds.
When asked by Makiko what he had been thinking since shooting the bank robber 23 years ago, Junichi coughed violently and confessed, "I was desperate to protect myself." "I was scared that people would find out who I really was. I didn't think I should be happy."
He continued, occasionally coughing violently, "There's no point in blaming myself, so even though I try to help others, I feel like I can't forgive myself for that." "I no longer know who I am, where I am... I don't know anymore. That's never going to change," he confessed. Then, saying, "I can't pretend that I committed a crime..." he ran into the kitchen, hitting his left hand and trying to wash it over and over again. Makiko placed her hand on Junichi's and gently embraced him.
On social media, comments such as "I can't breathe seeing Junichi still suffering even after 23 years," "It was amazing," "I cried as I felt Junichi's feelings," "Just watching it breaks my heart," and "I felt his pain so much" were posted in response to Junichi pouring out his hidden feelings. There were also comments praising Takeuchi's acting, such as "Takeuchi Ryoma's acting is amazing," "His performance of suffering is so realistic it makes me worried," "It was incredible..." and "Hats off to his acting."
