Episode 12 「For Some Men I Grieve」
Are you sure it's all right, showing up like this?
Sure...
Given everything that has happened.
Right, Saya?
Fumito-san...
You're back to your old self, aren't you?
Even if you drank the coffee, it wouldn't help now.
This isn't what it looks like!
We made a mistake.
A tiny mistake...
R-Really, you know?
You know?
The kids screw sometimes up!
And you've got to let kids be kids! Right?
That's right.
That's one way to look at it.
Isn't it?
I'm done with this.
Pay me what you owe, and I'm out of here!
Your actions are a clear violation of your contract.
Shut up!
I suppose this is kids being kids, too?
I'm running out of time.
Not being able to publish...
Because of those rock-headed old idiots.
And then, new researchers keep showing up...
Calling me a lunatic!
And then, and then...
First of all...
Take your hands off Saya.
Saya, I thought I'd give you some food.
You eat things like yourself.
And things like you have been in this country for a long, long time.
They take various different forms as humans,
but that makes them quite powerful.
And they love to eat humans.
I found something marked "Top Secret" on top,
among Japan's classified documents.
It's called the Shrovetide.
It's nothing special.
The nation's leaders made a deal with an opponent they couldn't defeat.
"We'll let you eat a certain amount of humans, and in return, you promise not to eat any more."
I discovered this Shrovetide.
How?
Those ancient, heteromorphic beings...
Well, let's call them "Elder Bairns," shall we?
This Shrovetide covenant was made with them ages ago?
No one who deals with it now understands how terrible they really are.
Do you?
Oh, I'm very frightened of them.
But some people desire to obtain that power, because they fear it.
And I was asked if I could use this Shrovetide to help.
Impossible!
But I have all the cards I need.
First, I obtained him, to capture you...
And then, Saya, I found you.
You don't feed on humans.
You feed on the blood of those like you.
That's why the Elder Bairns fear you.
You're special.
And so, I'll prepare food and a feeding ground for you.
Some place with clean air.
Some place quiet, devoid of outsiders,
and easy to manage.
What are you planning to do?
There's something I wish to create, and something I wish to discover.
What?
I want you to tell me...
Humans change.
But aren't there some parts that can change, and some that can't?
There's a fundamental part that never changes.
For example, your abilities!
Your strength.
If we kept those but change your birthplace, your surroundings,
even your memories...
If all those things changed,
would you still be the same person as before?
Would you think the same things?
Act the same way?
Or would you change, at your deepest level?
Is it possible for something fundamental to change?
So what?
I saw that light in your eyes.
Are you thinking of a way to escape?
You were beautiful when you fought my private guards, too.
I will not change...
Then let's test it, the two of us.
So this is the stage and the actors you gathered for your test?
That's right.
For you.
You said you wouldn't change.
And I wanted you to.
So I said if we were going to do it,
we would decide a winner and a loser.
And a prize for the winner, and a penalty for the loser...
Isn't this already over?
Is this like a grand finale?
That's right!
Her memories are back, so it's over, right?
We can go, right?
That's right.
If our actors won't act, they can leave the stage.
Hey!
The talismans... We're wearing the talismans!
Yes.
But the ones I gave you after your first deaths were fake.
They won't work.
Let me go!
I said let me go!
It hurts! It hurts!
Please stop!
I expected your betrayal.
So your talisman's been fake the entire time.
Thank you for your performance.
Her weapon doesn't matter at all, does it?
Nope.
That nonsense about the shrine maiden and sacred blade was just part of the story.
If it can draw enough blood, anything will work.
Save me! Save me!
Father...
Please save me!
Maybe he drank too much of Saya's blood this morning.
I guess he's back to his old self.
You knew that would happen when you gave it to him.
So you're back as well, Saya.
I'm sure you know what he is now.
And Elder Bairn...
A half-Elder Bairn.
Yes, the result of a congress between a human and an Elder Bairn.
That's why he has a human form but is stronger than normal humans.
He is the being closest to you.
Besides the false memories of him being your father,
that could be why you obeyed him so blindly.
Your blood controls the Elder Bairns,
given appropriate suggestions.
So the Elder Bairns I encountered...
I've been controlling them with your blood...
Ever since we started this game.
The places they appeared.
The people they attacked.
If you can control them, why let them eat the others?
It was more efficient to have the main cast survive.
But there was no particular need to worry about the extras.
Why make that face?
Humans don't matter to you.
You aren't like them, and you can't eat them.
You can't eat humans because you're under another compulsion.
It wasn't me.
Someone else put it on you.
I just used it to make the false memories.
You can't kill humans.
So it was a suggestion...
No! It was a contract you made with someone that you would protect them.
So I promised you that if you won,
I'd would arrange it so you could kill humans again.
And if I won...
I guess you can't beat her in human form.
Tadayoshi!
You're just being controlled by my blood.
Go back to normal!
Go back...
Saya...
Tadayoshi.
Did you find where the light leads?
You were the first person I ever met like me...
I was happy to be with you...
That is no lie...
That's why it hurt...
Father...
Do you want to kill me?
But it isn't time for that yet, Saya.
You won't escape!
Saya!
Why?
I wonder, myself.
It was all an act.
But as I acted, I think I started to really like you.
That wasn't me.
It wasn't.
But it was a part of you...
I'm certain, Saya.
This wasn't the deal!
What is this?
Who's controlling them?
Let me in!
Run!
This wasn't in the contract!
So you're the only main cast survivor.
I want to be a politician.
Governor of Tokyo, wasn't it?
That's why I'm still playing at being a high school girl, at my age.
Please help me reach that goal.
I didn't tell you yet, did I?
Your beloved guimauve was made with blood from your food.
It was good, wasn't it?
I'm told it tastes like human organs.
If you can kill humans someday, you'll have the real thing.
Bye, Saya.
Before her capture, Saya made this wish:
I want to stay myself.
I granted it, but...
Time to reach for the next wish, Saya.
But that wish...
oboroyo ni nagare ochiru kuchi susabu koe wa
朧夜に流れ落ちる口遊ぶ声は
The sound of someone singing came flowing from the mist.
kuukoku wo kagoyaka ni yurara mai odoru
空谷をかごやかにゆらら舞い踊る
And danced serenely through the deserted valley.
te wo nobaseba kieyuku tsukanoma no yume ni
手を伸ばせば消えゆく束の間の夢に
Over a transient dream that will vanish when I reach out my hand,
mienai ai wo kazashite hitori hohoemu no
見えない愛を翳して独り微笑むの
I hold aloft an invisible love, and smile alone.
utsuro na tsukikage wo nazoru shinayaka na sono yubisaki ni
虚ろな月影をなぞるしなやかなその指先に
I trace the evanescent moonlight with the soft tip of my finger.
subete hodokare yudanete shimau
すべて解かれ委ねてしまう
Everything will unravel and become mine.
aa... moyuru himegoto
あぁ…燃ゆる秘め事
Ah... a burning secret.
mugen no shirabe rakuen ni izanau
無弦の琴-調べ- 迷宮-楽園-に誘う
An endless tune of a stringless koto allures me to a labyrinthine paradise.
utau hodo ni utsukushiku karamiau towa no kioku
歌う程に美しく絡み合う永却の記憶
The more we sing, the more beautiful our intertwining, everlasting memories will be.
omoi no tsuyu wa anata wo motomete
思いの露は貴方を求めて
The dewdrops of my thoughts, while seeking after you,
kareru koto naku kono sora wo someage
枯れることなく この暗海を染め上げ
unfading, it stains the deep, dark sky.
kagayaki tsuzukeru deshou
輝き続けるでしょう
and will continue sparkling.