Kenichi Amamiya remembered that there was actually a small turning point here. This turning point was mainly reflected in the novel version of Ju-On. In the Ju-On novel, the characters' emotions were portrayed in greater detail, and those descriptions revealed some information. For example, Kayako had initially held certain expectations toward Kobayashi. Though she was already dead by then, her obsessive love for Kobayashi made her hope to see emotions such as concern and affection from the man she loved. But in the novel, Kobayashi felt only terror, dread, and fear toward Kayako, nothing else. That broke Kayako mentally, and once she broke down, she completely transformed into Ju-On, becoming that monster without reason or awareness. Kenichi Amamiya had thought at the time that if Kayako had seen even a trace of pity or sympathy in Kobayashi's eyes, perhaps she would not have killed him. Instead, she might have become Kobayashi's powerful guardian spirit. Then Kobayashi truly would have reached the pinnacle of life. The only problem would probably have been dealing with Kayako herself. Given her twisted feelings for Kobayashi, it was hard to say what she might have wanted from him. But Kenichi Amamiya felt that even if unlucky Kobayashi had been forcibly turned into Ghost Rider by Kayako, that would still have been better than being killed by her. In the film, however, Kayako saw Kobayashi fleeing in a panic and completely transformed into Ju-On. She did not even care that Kobayashi had taken Toshio away in an attempt to protect him. Then unlucky Kobayashi reached the first floor. He was about to leave when the phone rang. No one knew what he was thinking, but he actually answered it. Only after picking up did he realize that Takeo Saeki was on the other end.
Takeo Saeki