Kazoku Game - Ep 9

In previous the episodes, they only reveal bits and pieces of Yoshimoto's past. Now, we finally get to see the full picture of his past and who he really is.

After the chaotic ordeal from the previous episode, the family has stopped talking to each other. Shinichi quits school. Kazushige is looking for a job. Kayoko has gone somewhere by herself. Shigeyuki resumes his daily life and his friends continue to bully.

Maki tells Shinichi the truth about herself and Yoshimoto. Her real name is Mizugami Sara and she is a theatrical performer (I'm guessing). She lied about everything about her past and Yoshimoto's past about him being a murderer. Tago Yudai  (the fake Yoshimoto) is her former school teacher. One of his students, Sanada Souta, who committed suicide eight years ago, was her childhood friend.

The real Yoshimoto (Oshinari Shugo) and Yudai works at the same school. Yoshimoto is known for being a popular teacher and a very nice guy. But Souta finds out that he is not at all what he seems to be. Yoshimoto catches him eavesdropping on him and the other teachers destroying someone's school books. They beat him up and threaten him to not to tell anybody that he is bullying another student. And, if anyone asks him about the bruises, he should say that it was his father who did this. But Yudai notices that there is something wrong with Souta and tries to help him. Then, he confronts Yoshimoto about him bullying Souta. But Yoshimoto promises that he will never do this again.

However, Yoshimoto set up ways to sabotage Yudai's career and he continuous to bully Souta. He even has gotten Sara to walk into his trap and threatens her that if she doesn't take her clothes off, he'll hurt Souta.

Later on, Souta steals the camera and photo's of Sara nude from Yoshimoto's bag. During the struggle, he pushes him down a flight of stairs which lead him to a coma and  he is currently hospitalized.

After the incident, the school teachers held an emergency meeting. Yudai was the only one who witnesses the whole incident and tells them that Yoshimoto tripped and fell down the stairs. But some of teachers don't believe this story and thinks that he might be the one who pushed him off the stairs. But Yudai quickly excuses himself from the meeting when he gets a phone call from Souta.

Souta explains everything on what's going on. Yoshimoto was planning to use the photos to frame Yudai. So, Souta only wanted to protect Yudai and Sara. He wants to end his life because he believes that this the only way to solve the problem. But Yudai wants to apologize to him for failing to protect him. He begs him to stop what he is doing. But unfortunately Yudai could not make it in time to save him.   

Back to the present, the father announces that he is going to sell the house. The mother wants him to sign the divorce papers. And, surprise! Yudai is back.

Thoughts: So, now we know what happened in the past. But my biggest question is why did Yudai took on Yoshimoto's persona? That is the real mystery here. I'm hoping that the finale will answer this question.