FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CONFUSED:
I read the manga too, and even if the movie is a bit different, I'll try to explain Natsume and Koh's complicated relationship.
To provide some background on Koh, they live in a religious and spiritual village and Koh's family being the head of the village, see Koh (the only son in the family) as the next chief. He always had a strong presence, so everyone treats him almost like a spiritual child, unable to defy him. This results in his solitary and proud personality.
Koh and Natsume are both struck by each other's unique and dazzling presence at first sight, which results in a strong attraction and curiosity towards one another. Because they are both young, they use childish ways to capture each other’s attention. Since coming to the village, Natsume feels as if Koh is always ahead of her, and she is the one chasing after him, so she tries to show him that she is an impressive person, who he could also chase after. This explains all that chasing around in the beginning.
Koh always seems so much in control, so the incident during the firework festival really tears them apart. Natsume partially blames Koh mainly because she too believed that he was invisible, and Koh heavily blames himself, for being so useless. Pride and admiration was such a huge part of their relationship, so both of them kind of run away from the situation at first. Because Koh feels lost and ashamed, he inclines to delinquency as a distraction.
Something that the translations (from kissasian) didn't show as clearly was Koh's unwillingness to hinder Natsume's development. Although he appears selfish, he wants Natsume to reach her full potential, even if it means that they can’t be together. The whole part where Koh tells Natsume not to see him again was translated kind of weird. Koh told her to leave him because she has “her calling” (a successful future in tokyo) and he was going to stay in the village (because of his background). She then tells him that she’ll stay too because all she wants is to be with him (this part was translated wrong in the video). Because of this, he reveals his insecurities, and basically tries to conveys that she is beautiful and will shine in Tokyo, but if she stays in the village because of him, it will hinder her. He hasn’t been able to help her, and her wasting her future would make him feel more useless. He wants her to go so he doesn’t have to be eaten by his guilt, and can continue to live as a dazzling person with pride like how she wants.
In the end, the death of the rapist relieves both of their pent up emotions, and Natsume then goes on to become successful in Toyko. The ending is just an imaginary confrontation between her and Koh wishing each other the best, meaning that they weren’t together. However for those Koh x Natsume shippers, they end up together in the manga.
I hope this clarified some things, and sorry for making it so long.
Suda Masaki as Haru!! I love him as an actor so much, and I think he's one of the only actors who would be able to portray Haru's 3 dimensional character and look convincing as him (age and appearance wise). Although I'm not sure about Tao yet, I think she has the potential. I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS!!
http://kissasian.sh/RequestDrama
I read the manga too, and even if the movie is a bit different, I'll try to explain Natsume and Koh's complicated relationship.
To provide some background on Koh, they live in a religious and spiritual village and Koh's family being the head of the village, see Koh (the only son in the family) as the next chief. He always had a strong presence, so everyone treats him almost like a spiritual child, unable to defy him. This results in his solitary and proud personality.
Koh and Natsume are both struck by each other's unique and dazzling presence at first sight, which results in a strong attraction and curiosity towards one another. Because they are both young, they use childish ways to capture each other’s attention. Since coming to the village, Natsume feels as if Koh is always ahead of her, and she is the one chasing after him, so she tries to show him that she is an impressive person, who he could also chase after. This explains all that chasing around in the beginning.
Koh always seems so much in control, so the incident during the firework festival really tears them apart. Natsume partially blames Koh mainly because she too believed that he was invisible, and Koh heavily blames himself, for being so useless. Pride and admiration was such a huge part of their relationship, so both of them kind of run away from the situation at first. Because Koh feels lost and ashamed, he inclines to delinquency as a distraction.
Something that the translations (from kissasian) didn't show as clearly was Koh's unwillingness to hinder Natsume's development. Although he appears selfish, he wants Natsume to reach her full potential, even if it means that they can’t be together. The whole part where Koh tells Natsume not to see him again was translated kind of weird. Koh told her to leave him because she has “her calling” (a successful future in tokyo) and he was going to stay in the village (because of his background). She then tells him that she’ll stay too because all she wants is to be with him (this part was translated wrong in the video). Because of this, he reveals his insecurities, and basically tries to conveys that she is beautiful and will shine in Tokyo, but if she stays in the village because of him, it will hinder her. He hasn’t been able to help her, and her wasting her future would make him feel more useless. He wants her to go so he doesn’t have to be eaten by his guilt, and can continue to live as a dazzling person with pride like how she wants.
In the end, the death of the rapist relieves both of their pent up emotions, and Natsume then goes on to become successful in Toyko. The ending is just an imaginary confrontation between her and Koh wishing each other the best, meaning that they weren’t together. However for those Koh x Natsume shippers, they end up together in the manga.
I hope this clarified some things, and sorry for making it so long.