She's in a coma.
Why did this happen?
Because she released the seal on her bow.
It's a divine bow that's been passed down for generations in the Shimazu family.
It's a highly efficient conductor of spiritual energy,
but it's very dangerous without its seal in place.
It absorbs all the spiritual energy of its user.
That can't be...
It's a forbidden bow, giving its user immense power in exchange for their life.
I'm sure my sister knew that.
What'll happen to Sakuya?
We can treat her wounds and alleviate her exhaustion,
but if we don't replenish her spiritual energy...
Sakuya...
Luckily, we have you, Asano-kun.
Huh?
She needs spiritual energy.
You mean...
We don't mind, so just do it.
I couldn't...
I couldn't just do that!
Then let us know when you're done.
We're counting on you to help Sakuya-sama.
That really doesn't make this any easier...
Wake up.
Come on, wake up,
Sakuya.
ima kanjiteru te o nobashitara
今 感じてる 手を 伸ばしたら
I can feel it now if I reach out my hand
sora takaku kirameku ryuusei
空 高く きらめく流星
The falling star sparkling high above in the sky
zutto oikakete nando korondemo
ずっと追い掛けて 何度転んでも
I always chased after it, and though I stumbled and fell countless times
mou tomerarenai shoudou nan da
もう 止められない衝動なんだ
Nobody can stop this urge anymore
yozora ni bokutachi no story
夜空にボクたちのstory
It's our story in the night sky
saisho no ichi peeji mekuri
最初の1ページめくり
Turn the first page
ugokidasu!
動き出す!
And things start to move!
megurimeguru mirai e to
巡り巡るミライへと
Now we'll start running
bokura ima kakedashite
ボクら今駆け出して
Toward the turning, turning future
nanjuuoku nen saki e todoku you ni
何十億年先へ届くように
Toward the far-off sky
harukakanata no sora e
遥か彼方の空へ
So we can reach a distance millions of miles away
utsusu yume no kakera o tsukande
映す夢のカケラを掴んで
We'll take hold of the fragments of our dreams reflected there
seijaku no yami sae inuku yo
静寂の闇さえ射抜くよ
And shoot through even the silent darkness
tsuyoku negaun da
強く願うんだ
I'm praying with all my might
Just! Never say Never
Episode 8: Trials
Sakuya will not be punished.
I won't accept that!
It is our law to banish anyone who allows their true name to be learned.
Sakuya has also committed the grave crime of breaking the seal on the divine bow.
However, she landed a blow on our enemy.
S-Suseri just wasn't feeling her best at the time.
If she had been, she wouldn't have allowed such a transgression by the enemy-
Mother.
I believe what Grandmother says is correct.
What are you saying, Suseri?!
It seems that your daughter is more composed than you are.
Stand down, Suseri!
You're the best candidate to stand at the head of this family.
Do you know just how hard I've worked for this day?
Grandmother, will you allow me to perform the ritual of exorcism?
Interesting.
It can't be...
I suggested this over and over, and she never agreed to it...
Are you confident you can succeed?
Onions, potatoes, and...
Shinichirou-sama, are you heading home?
Yeah, after I go shopping.
How's Nee-sama doing?
Sensei said she can probably come back to school tomorrow.
Once her spiritual energy stabilises, right?
You replenished it all at once, after all.
Anyway, do you need something?
Well, if it's of no imposition to you...
May I go with you?
Oh, the carrots are pretty cheap today.
She'll complain if I put these in, though...
She's just like a kid.
She doesn't like parsley, either.
There's a lot she doesn't like, you know?
I guess I won't get any.
You know her well.
Huh?
What she likes.
Y-Yeah...
She's an employer who makes a lot of demands.
It's pretty rough on me.
I'm not aware.
Well, it's not something you'd know if you didn't do the cooking.
I don't know what I don't like.
Huh?
I was taught never to voice anything like that.
Eventually, I wasn't even sure what I liked anymore.
This is awkward...
What's wrong?
I was wondering what this was.
Oh, this place is popular.
Do you like soft serve?
I've never had it before.
Want some?
I'll get some.
Hold on a second.
Ah, no...
Then I'll-
Watch it!
Geez, where are you even looking?
I-I'm sorry...
Are you okay, Suseri-san?
What should I do?
All right.
Let's buy some clothes.
Huh?
What looks good?
I don't know.
Huh?
I always just wore what Mother prepared for me.
Oh...
Then... How about this?
Anything you say, Shinichirou-sama.
You might as well try it on.
Shinichirou-sama...
These clothes are tight around the chest...
Don't come out here like that!
Sorry!
For what?
Anyway, I'll go get one that's a bit bigger, so wait here.
That freaked me out.
Thank you very much.
Asano-kun?
Huh?
What's this?
Could it be a date?
It's not!
You don't have to hide it.
I have to report this to Sakuya.
Don't!
Don't bug them during their date, Kanae.
That's mean.
Oh, well.
A warrior's gotta show mercy.
You've got this all wrong.
Whatever you say.
Have fun!
This sucks...
A date...
Huh?
Is that what this is?
Well, I...
Asano, what are you doing?!
Are you on a date with the big-breasted beauty?!
Another pest!
We're getting out of here, Suseri-san.
Hey, wait!
Here.
Thank you.
It's good.
Sorry everyone got the wrong idea about us being on a date.
No, it's fine.
Sakuya's going to kill me if she finds out.
You don't want her to know?
Well, I mean...
Why not?
I guess I'm not really sure myself,
when you ask me straight up like that.
I wonder why...
Don't worry.
I won't say anything about today.
Thank you.
I had a lot of fun.
Suseri-san...
I found something I like.
Let's have it again sometime.
Sure.
Those clothes look good on you.
Thank you.
I received word that everything is ready.
Understood.
Are you sure about this?
I made the decision myself.
I have no regrets.
Where have you been, and why?
Sorry, it took time to shop.
I'm starving.
I know.
I'm making food now.
You are ready, then, Suseri?
Yes.
Suseri-sama, I wish you luck.
Still not there yet...
Hey, don't push yourself.
What's with you, all of a sudden?
You need to rest.
I'm fine now.
Don't lie.
They said you'd be feverish until your spiritual energy stabilised, right?
T-That's... But...
L-Listen, about the other day-
Shinichirou!
We've got a problem!
Suseri-san!
Did a spectre do this to her?!
The ritual of exorcism.
I see...
Huh?!
What's going on?
Suseri-sama, you can't get up yet.
But I have to...
What is the ritual of exorcism?
If there's anything I can do to help...
This is Suseri's problem.
There's nothing we can do.
What does that mean?!
Asano-kun.
Sakuya isn't trying to be mean.
Huh?
The ritual of exorcism involves subduing a spectre with your own abilities,
and making it into your shikigami.
No one is allowed to help.
But that's...
What's the spectre?
A lightning beast.
A lightning beast?!
That's crazy.
Isn't that the one you sealed?
A low five class rare spectre.
You can't subdue it that easily.
Suseri wished to do it on her own.
I have to go...
You can't.
I have to complete the ritual.
In your condition? Why?
Watch out!
Please, let me help you.
I appreciate your concern, but I have to do this alone.
That doesn't matter!
I'm not part of the Shimazu, and I don't know your rules.
I just want to help you, Suseri-san.
Shinichirou-sama...
I understand.
I'll consult with the leader about this.
Okay!
That's fine by you, Sakuya?
Go ahead.
Do whatever you want, Shinichirou.
Thank you, Sakuya.
Good luck. You'll need it.
Jerk.
Are we clear?
In exchange for allowing you to accompany her,
we won't be able to go along.
Suseri-sama, take this.
There aren't many, so use them carefully.
Thank you, Matsuri.
Asano-kun, take care of Suseri for us.
Right.
Why are you pushing yourself so hard to gain a new ability?
Er, I mean, I'm not trying to stop you.
I was just wondering why.
Because I want to surpass my sister.
I see.
Has Sakuya always been like that?
Huh?
You know, a sore loser, selfish...
Being with her must've been hard.
Yes.
My sister has always been emotional and selfish.
She's crude, and doesn't like to study.
But... She seemed like she was having fun.
Sakuya's at the pool?
All she does is play around every day.
Suseri?
Suseri!
Answer me, Suseri!
You'll have fun from now on, though, whether you want to or not.
Because Sakuya and I will be with you.
Shinichirou-sama...
It's starting.
Shinichirou...
Shimazu Style Spirit Summoning Technique:
Kamaitachi!
In that case...
Yamaoroshi!
Suseri-san!
I can't lose...
No matter what...
Suseri!
Why aren't you paying attention?
What you need to do right now is solve the problems in front of you.
I'm sorry, Mother.
You don't want to play, do you?
No...
Good.
I won't allow you to waste your time like Sakuya-san.
The next head of this family will be you.
Yes.
If you have the skills, you will become the next head.
Work hard, improve yourself constantly,
and you won't have to feel the shame that your mother felt.
You only need to do as your mother says.
You mustn't lose to Sakuya-san.
No matter what.
Yes, no matter what.
Damn it!
How are we supposed to fight this thing?
The lightning beast was forced to come out, then sealed...
Of course it's going to be mad.
I'll go out there if it gets dangerous.
But if you do, she'll never make the lightning beast into a shikigami.
Even if Asano-kun figures out its true name?
He'll be able to control it if he learns its true name,
but he won't be able to tame its soul.
Suseri must get the lightning beast to recognise her,
or it'll be no use as a shikigami.
Then why allow Asano-kun?
The ritual of exorcism is to calm a wild soul and communicate with it.
The spectre isn't the only one with a closed mind here.
Yamaoroshi!
It's not working...
None of my techniques are working.
Why?!
What are you doing, Suseri?
Enough.
You have no talent for the bow.
That's why I told you to learn spirit summoning.
Let's go, Suseri.
Wait, Mother.
Let me try again.
It won't do any good.
Even though it's summer, it gets cold at night, yes?
But that will harden your body and mind,
and raise your spiritual energy.
You must be stronger in order to control shikigami.
Yes.
I hate my sister.
She just does whatever she wants, and she's selfish.
I hate her!
I won't let you!
I can do it.
I can get its true name-
Shinichirou-sama!
I'll heal you now.
No, you need those for yourself.
I'm sorry.
This is my fault.
No, I'm sorry.
I'm the one who suggested this, and I was no help at all.
That's not true.
But you can do this.
Everyone's with you.
Sakuya and I believe in you, Suseri-san.
So you're not alone.
Shinichirou-sama?!
Good. He's just unconscious.
I need to get to that before it heals.
It's the opening that Shinichirou-sama made for me.
I can't waste it.
Shinichirou-sama...
My sister was just using you at first,
and I just wanted to use your power.
That's all.
But now...
Shinichirou-sama...
Please give me power.
Have you decided what to do about your true name?
Well...
Many mages put their wishes and desires into their true name.
Desires?
Like what they want to be,
or who they want to be.
What you see as your ideal.
In other words, who you look up to?
Yes, that might be a good idea.
Who I look up to is...
Sakuya...
Shinichirou-
Sakuya...
Shinichirou-sama is by my side, helping me.
That's enough for now.
Power is welling up within me.
But it's warm.
I can feel Shinichirou-sama within me.
Shimazu Style Spirit Summoning Technique:
Kamaitachi!
Even if normal Kamaitachi won't work...
At this range...
Kamaitachi!
It can't be...
My spiritual energy is...
But...
That's quite the resolve.
You had help, but I wouldn't have expected you to wound me this far.
Why do you desire my power?
How will I benefit from becoming your slave,
in exchange for release from this accursed seal?
Three years.
Just help me for three years.
Three years?
The Shimazu will have chosen a new head in that time.
Just until then.
I don't want to lose.
I will change.
I won't be a person who only does as her mother says.
I won't be a person who only envies her sister.
And Shinichirou-sama, the boy who helped me think that way... Someday...
I understand completely.
So that's why you endangered yourself to seek my power...
Interesting.
Rather than some stupid reason,
a completely senseless one is far more interesting.
Three years.
Show me a good time, my master.
Thank you.
Shinichirou-sama.
Shinichirou-sama!
Suseri-san...
Are you okay?
Yeah.
But what about the ritual?
You don't need to worry.
Huh?
It worked?
Shinichirou-sama, will you name him?
Me?
Yes.
Okay...
Shiro, maybe?
That's a wonderful name.
Episode 8 - Fin -
yagate akumu ni shihai sareta yami sae hikari ga sasu
やがて悪夢に支配された 闇さえ光が射す
Before long light shines on even the darkness of the nightmares controlling me
shirazu shirazu ni hikiyoseau kegare o shiranu tamashii
知らず知らずに 引き寄せ合う 汚れを知らぬ魂
I'm unconsciously drawn towards it, with my soul that knows no impurities
nani o shinjireba ii
何を 信じればいい
What should I believe in?
doko e nagasarete ikeba ii
何処へ 流されて行けばいい
Where should I let myself be carried to?
itsuka kono te ni yasuragi no jikan kutsujoku ni sae miryou sareta mirai
いつかこの手に 安らぎの時間 屈辱にさえ魅了された未来
Some day I'll seize a time of peace in my own hands- a future I was fascinated with even in my disgrace
setsuna ga ugokidasu kanashimi wa kasoku suru
刹那が動き出す 悲しみは加速する
This instant starts to move, and sadness speeds up
tozasareta kokoro o tsuranuku you ni
閉ざされた心を 貫くように
Piercing through my closed-off heart
eien ga umareru shukumei ni ayatsurare
永遠が生まれる 宿命に操られ
Eternity is born. I'm manipulated by my fate
namida o kasanete Somebody to love
涙を重ねて Somebody to love
The tears piling up. Somebody to love