The brain is a complex system composed of ten billion nerve cells.
Even the thing we usually refer to as a "soul" can be explained...
...as a simple electrical exchange governed by a scientific process:
neurons and synapses communicating through neurotransmitters.
However, as was proved in the aforementioned experiment with a rat,
the process is...
Hey! What are you talking about in the middle of my presentation?
Well, the wind is just so strong...
...we thought the Moondrop might even cry!
You shouldn't snap over every little thing.
You two should be ashamed!
You trying to start something?
Don't get all high and mighty just because you've been accepted for the Special Course!
You still wear clothes from like, a century ago!
That's what I call starting something!
What was that?
Safu...
Just what is going on here?
Get away from him Safu-san... Let go!
fuwari yoru wo kazoeteru
ふわり夜をかぞえてる
I've been carefully keeping track of the nights,
futari dake no himitsu no jumon
二人だけの秘密の呪文
it's a secret spell we keep between the two of us.
kowaresou na omoi nosete
壊れそうな思いのせて
Gather up all of your thoughts that are on the verge of breaking,
tonaeteku
唱えてく
and chant them out loud.
hora fuan ha itami no naka
ほら 不安は痛みの中
Watch carefully, anxiety lies amidst the pain,
hora shizuka ni tomoru ibuki
ほら 静かに灯る息吹
watch carefully, as our breaths softly change to flame.
#01 「Soaking-wet Rat」
Geez... you're much more suited for martial arts than neural science.
You weren't listening, were you...
...to my presentation.
Shion...
Mankind only recognises itself as such by the conception of self placed upon it by society.
In other words, we are able to draw a conclusion about...
...the process of self-realisation that occurs in the brain in terms of...
...whether the individual perceives sovereignty.
Hey, is it today?
Yeah, it is. Isn't that why you invited me?
No, I mean the typhoon.
Ah, they said it would be passing through No. 6 today.
Man, I'm really excited. It's like the best present ever!
What are you talking about? C'mon, let's hurry!
H-Hey... Safu!
It's so nice to see you, Shion!
You've grown so tall!
It's been a while, Granny.
Hey, hey, Granny!
Yes, yes, it's finished.
Shion! Happy Birthday!
Huh? For me?
Yep!
Hey, do you remember, Shion?
The very first time I wore mine to school, you were the only one who complimented me.
You said you could tell that I had a warm personality.
Was that really what happened?
I was thinking of giving you the same colour... but since it's for you...
The flower you were named after is light purple, so...
Yeah, thank you!
Thank you very much, Granny!
Even after you move into the Special Course, please continue to look after Safu.
Yes!
I'll go bake the cake!
I'll help too.
Don't worry about it!
I did all of the preparation this morning.
All I have to do is bake it!
Really, I'm so glad you like it.
Huh? Ah, certainly.
I feel like there's nothing else I can really do for you.
Granny...
Shion! Come with me!
Take a look. Isn't it something?
Whoa... Granny made all of these?
She sure did.
There are even some from when she was a young lady.
Isn't it great?
That's why I have no desire for clothing with special fibres.
Isn't that right, Granny?
But you know, I have no idea what to do for you.
In No. 6... and Chronos, living so freely...
Other than gardening and knitting...
Tomorrow... and the day after... I just have no idea what to do!
I'll come and pick up my bike tomorrow.
Okay.
My present to you will end up going to waste...
But, in actuality, this is a present from your grandma.
I have one for you as well.
What?
Why are you doing the same thing as my mother?
It's different! What I'm doing is a display of my reproductive instinct,
and an action based expression of it...
Ah! The Moondrop is crying!
It's been so long since I've heard the Moondrop's weeping.
It certainly seems to be more than just a typhoon.
Blister...
Huh?
It's just like a blister formed upon human skin...
Don't move.
So you're used to doing things like this.
I'll help patch you up.
You understand what I mean, right?
What's up... Mum?
Shion, your window's open, isn't it?
The window?
Ah, yeah.
You should close it. You'll catch a cold.
Got it...
Ah, Mum... I have a report to do, so can you leave me alone for a bit?
A report?
The Special Course sure is rough, isn't it?
Yeah, I guess.
I have a lot to take care of...
...so I'll have my dinner later.
I see... don't push yourself too hard.
I have to stop the flow of blood.
She said you're in the Special Course?
Starting next month.
That's amazing. So your IQ is high.
Are you making fun of me?
Surely not.
You were probably able to enter the most prestigious educational institution,
because you got an A-rank on your two-year-old examination.
To be able to progress to the Special Course at age 12...
...you're among the highest of the elite.
Hey, just what are you planning to do?
Local anaesthetic!
Wait a second!
Numb me up and then what?
Stitches.
Stitches?! You have experience with that?
Of course not! My major is ecology!
However, I do have a basic knowledge of suturing blood vessels.
Knowledge, huh?
It'll go numb quickly.
Just hold it there with this gauze.
You're really strange.
Why?
You won't even ask for my name.
But... I haven't given you mine either.
Shion, isn't it?
The name of the flower?
When my mother was younger, she used to love wild flowers.
What about you?
Rat.
Huh?
My name.
Rat?
Seems a bit... strange.
Strange? What is?
Hey, I'll get to stitching!
Where did you get this wound?
I was shot.
By a gun?!
Yeah.
I thought that only the Hunting Club was allowed to use guns.
They're pretty much the same...
...only they hunt humans.
What do you mean?
Among humans, there are those who hunt and those who are hunted.
At least here in No. 6.
You should rest here until the storm calms.
There's a sweater on my bed.
Go ahead and change into it.
Your taste is a bit off, don't you think?
Take a look at yourself before saying that.
What?
Tasty.
Hey, are you always like this?
Huh?
Are you this defenceless with everyone?
Or are all blue blood elites this kind at heart?
You can live without feeling fear or uneasiness.
That's not...
If not, then why?
It's 'cause... You're tiny and look like a girl...
You come in here all injured and you still look like you could collapse at any second...
And...
And?
I don't know.
Thank you.
Early this morning, near the Lost Town area,
Prisoner VC103221 escaped while being transferred to the West Block Correctional Facility.
He is suspected to have fled into the Chronos region,
and a designated area has been marked for restricted entry.
Reply acknowledged.
Have you finished with your report?
No, not yet.
There's a message from the Security Bureau.
Be sure to read and reply to it.
Okay.
VC...
I wonder what he did?
But he has a VC Chip inside of him, so the search system will find him in no time.
Let's have dinner.
What's wrong, Shion?
Huh? Ah... It's nothing.
Hey... Mum?
Don't turn the light on.
I can't see anything in the dark.
You don't have to.
You can't even freely walk around your own room?
Sad to say... I'm not nocturnal.
You can move around just fine?
I'm a rat after all!
Of course I'm nocturnal.
VC103221.
It was on the news.
You're quite famous, aren't you?
The real thing is much better, isn't it?
I brought you some stew and cherry cake.
Is that all right?
Of course!
I told Mum that my report was giving me trouble, so I'd eat dinner in my room.
It smells great.
My mum's a really good cook.
Mm, delicious!
Will you be able to escape?
Of course.
What about the VC Chip?
It's still inside me.
Then...
Nothing to worry about.
That toy of a VC chip has long since been useless.
A toy...?
In addition, you may as well say that this entire No. 6 is a gigantic toy.
Do you know how it was made?
Uh... Yeah...
The Babylon Treaty.
In the previous war,
after humanity lost the greater half of its inhabitable land, all armaments were outlawed,
and a city state was created to govern the remaining six areas.
And No. 6 is one of those areas.
What were you arrested for?
They said you escaped en route to a correctional facility.
That's a lie.
I was originally at the correctional facility.
The Security Bureau brought me here to No. 6.
You were brought here?
Exactly.
Where were they...
To the city hall?
Why would they take you to the centre of the city?
You're better off not knowing.
But I'm asking you!
Shut it already...
Just let me go to sleep.
Can you not say?
Can you forget something you've been told?
Can you pretend you never heard it?
Can you put on a clueless face and pretend you don't know anything?
You may be smart, but I don't think you're mature enough to do that.
Well...
Hey.
You get it, don't you?
You're in a heap of danger yourself.
Sheltering a VC, neglecting to notify the Security Bureau...
And in the end, you've done it through and through?
I get it, all right?
Then don't ask.
For my part, I won't ever speak of it.
I'll keep my mouth shut about your screaming as well.
I was blown away!
I sneak into your garden and I'm thinking, "What should I do now,"
Hey!
Stop that!
then all of a sudden, the window flies open, you pop out, and...
Stop, I said! Cut it out!
It was the first time I'd seen anyone make that face!
Shut up!
If this was a knife,
you'd be dead in seconds flat.
Amazing...
Huh?
There's a trick to this, right?
How do you render someone's body motionless like this...
...is there some kind of nerve that you're applying pressure to?
You're messed up...
You're really messed up!
You're a complete natural!
Your body is hot!
You've got a fever.
I'll bring some antibiotics.
It's fine... I just want to sleep.
If you sleep with a fever like this, your body will exhaust itself.
You're pretty warm yourself.
So, living humans are warm...
Hello?
Huh? The Security Bureau?
kizutsuita toki ha
傷ついたときは
When I'm hurt,
sotto tsutsumikondekuretara ureshii
そっと包みこんでくれたらうれしい
just hold me gently in your arms.
koronde tatenai toki ha
転んで立てないときは
And if I've fallen and I can't get up,
sukoshi no yuuki wo kudasai
少しの勇気をください
give me a bit of your courage.
omoi ha zutto todokanai mama
思いはずっと届かないまま
My thoughts are never heard,
kyou mo tsumetai machi de hitori
今日も冷たい街でひとり
even today, as I wander alone through this cold city.
koko ga dokokamo omoidasenai
ココが何処かも思い出せない
I don't even remember where this place is.
owaranai yoru ni negai ha hitotsu
終わらない夜に願いはひとつ
In the endless night, I have but one wish,
"hoshi no nai sora ni kagayaku hikari wo"
"星のない空に輝く光を"
"That shining light in the starless sky."
modorenai basho ni suteta mono de sae
戻れない場所に捨てたものでさえ
Even the things we've left behind in places we can never return,
umarekawatte ashita wo kitto terashitekureru
生まれ変わって明日をきっと照らしてくれる
will be reborn and illuminate our tomorrow.
Shion, age 16.
Received an A-rank from his two-year-old examination.
Admitted to a top learning facility.
Major in ecology.
Aided in the escape of a VC 4 years ago, and subsequently had his qualifications stripped away.
Four years ago, why didn't you proceed into the Special Course?
It's not that I didn't take the course...
I wasn't able to.
Did the city authorities manipulate the news?
For the time being, you're suspected of discontent with the administration.
Let go of me...
Get your hands off!
Sorry to have kept you waiting, my liege.
Rat!
Welcome... to reality.