Key of the Light
Chain reaction
mitsumeru
Stare,
Red eye
kotae wo sagashiteitanda
I searched for answers,
atemonaku samayoinagara
while wandering around aimlessly
ikusen oku no karamiau Elements
Billions of intertwined elements,
shikou no naka de
in our thoughts
yureteiru Chaotic town
Unsettled chaotic town
marude so Confusion
Just like a confusion
kienainda Spiritual pain
Unwavering spiritual pain
Where do we go?
hikari to yami ga mugen ni yureru
Light and darkness is infinitely unstable
tenshi ga akuma to odoridasu
Angels start dancing with devils
toki o koeta idenshi no kioku Key of the Life
The memories of the DNA that exceed time, the key of life
kotae wa sugu soko ni
The truth is just right there
FFFpeeps presents
Erindou University Hospital
When will you die?
When...
will you...
die?
Beyond Despair ~Notice~
Feel free to come say hi more often!
Dad worries about you too.
Sure.
Please take good care of Haruka from now on.
Or would that just be trouble for you, Yakumo?
W-Wait, mom! What are you talking about?
That's right!
There's something I'd like to give you guys...
so when I get back, I'll—
I can't tell what you're saying!
I wonder what it is...
that she wants to give us.
It comes out...
The ghost, you mean?
As for the newspaper, please don't…
Of course! I won't write about it.
It's just that I happen to know an expert on this matter.
Okay then.
That ghost apparently asks each patient one question:
"When will you die?"
Oh? That's...
Hi there, Nao.
Are you here for work today?
Yes.
I've been commuting to this hospital for a feature on cutting-edge medical facilities.
How about you, Mr. Isshin?
Well, it's nothing much...
but I've been getting a slight headache for a while.
So I'm just here for a quick check-up.
Nao, wait here like a good girl while I see the doctor.
Pino's Adventures
Every living thing dies.
Humans are no exception.
Humans live, moving towards death.
So there's a ghost in that hospital?
Yes.
I heard it appears before sleeping patients...
and always asks them, "When will you die?"
As for those who saw that spirit of the dead...
did they exhibit any abnormalities?
They don't seem to be possessed at least...
though a few got injured while trying to run away, or fell into a critical state due to the shock.
I understand.
I'll look into this matter.
Please.
We should get official permission from the hospital this time.
I'll negotiate with them right away.
I'll call you when we're ready.
Oh, and one more thing.
I met Mr. Isshin at the hospital.
My uncle?
Yes.
He was there for a check-up since he's been getting a slight headache.
I see.
Then...
I have some business to take care of, so...
see ya.
Aren't you going with him?
I have a club meeting today.
Even so, Yakumo sure has changed.
He might not exactly be amenable...
but he's at least become easier to talk to.
Has he really?
What a coincidence seeing you here...
or not.
You're here looking for Nanase Miyuki, aren't you?
A manhunt is a job for the police.
The main unit led by Chief Miyagawa is pursuing the fugitives in conjunction with the Nagano Police.
The two of us are, as always...
Left out of the loop, huh.
Yes, exactly!
Don't answer that with a smile!
Good heavens, it's noisy out here.
Doctor, about that matter...
Yes. I've carefully thought about it overnight.
What is this matter you're talking about?
Yakumo asked me something over the phone yesterday.
He'd like me to explain my motivation for taking this picture.
Wasn't it because you thought they were suspicious?
When I thought deeply about it, that wasn't the only reason.
There was more to it than just that.
This man had that same air as my favorite dish.
A human corpse always emits a unique presence.
This man, even whilst alive, was exuding that same atmosphere.
So before I knew it...
I get it!
This man is the "living dead,"
that is, a zombie!
Zom...? What's that?
That Yakumo...
probably intends to grit his teeth and face his father.
In any case...
he's become a much better person than he used to be.
The Takeda Shunsuke case must have helped him take another step, and...
Idiot! Don't stop so suddenly!
It's not that he's a zombie...
the answer is with Mr. Takeda!
The police believed that Takeda was the criminal and pursued him relentlessly.
However, he turned out to be just a spirit.
Are you saying Yakumo's dad is the same as Takeda?
Could it possibly...
Is that...
for certain?
I see.
That's...
a cherry tree, isn't it?
Yes.
Next spring...
I'll have to go flower viewing,
since the cherry blossoms the year after...
I probably won't get to see.
Catch her!
That way!
Nanase Miyuki was captured?
Yes.
Last night, Minatomachi South Station took her into custody.
That's great news!
We still have Yakumo's dad left.
Right now, I'm negotiating with higher-ups to visit her.
Are you going to meet her?
To tell you the truth...
the one who supervised the HQ for the case fifteen years ago...
is now a higher-up in the main office.
He's pressuring the mass media to play down the case.
If the case becomes a big gossip item...
it might come to affect him.
After all, he pointed out the innocent Mr.Takeda as the criminal.
What a dirty bastard.
Before that dirty bastard begins to dig his hands in,
I'd like to meet Nanase Miyuki.
He will come.
He will deliver me...
freedom once again.
Then, Mr. Saitou, we'll see you at the same time tomorrow.
Sure.
Thank you very much.
What's the matter?
Well... My daughter was just here before, but I don't see her now.
Do you have a minute?
Has a girl come by this way?
She's a little younger than you, and...
Does this eye bother you?
Does it scare you?
No...
I'm not scared of anything.
That's admirable of you.
Mister...
You're going to die soon, right?
What makes you think that?
I can tell...
because I'm going to too.
Half a year more, eh...
Well...
It's pretty much the same for me.
But for you...
there's the possibility of a transplant.
You shouldn't give up hope.
But...
In this world...
there are many people who are willing to donate their organs after they die.
So don't ever give up.
Mister...
Are you afraid of dying?
Yes, I sure am...
though I'm a chief priest of a Buddhist temple.
But...
it's something that everyone will experience sooner or later.
What happens to people after they die?
There are many ways to think about it.
There's no one answer.
Still, tell me.
That's quite a burden for me.
Is that something you made yourself?
Yes, it is.
It's my treasure.
It looks even prettier close up.
It's vibrant with such vivid colors.
It hardly looks like a pressed flower.
When my mom and dad were still friendly,
I made this from one of the flowers blooming in the garden.
What happens to people after they die?
No one really knows.
However, the undeniable proof that a person existed...
lives on in the hearts of their family, and friends...
in the form of memories...
just like this flower, beautiful and vibrant, and eternal.
Even though people live moving towards death...
there's something beyond it?
That's right.
There may be limit to a person's life, but their souls are eternal.
So I have faith.
That's why...
you're not scared of death?
Of course!
Well, I wish I could say that...
but I'm still scared.
But it's fine that way.
What's scary is scary.
What's sad is sad.
And so we live exactly the way we feel.
It's not good for you...
to bottle up your feelings...
because then it's as if you don't exist in this world even when you're alive.
I'm scared...
I'm scared!
I...
really...
don't want to die!
Yes, that's it!
Well said.
Oh, Nao!
Come over here.
I'm Saitou Isshin.
And this girl is my daughter, Nao.
What's your name?
It's Yoshiko...
Mamia Yoshiko.
Then I have a favor to ask of you, Yoshiko.
Would you be her friend?
Me?
Saitou Isshin
Who are you?
What're you looking at?
It's the call record of Nanase Miyuki.
I had Mr. Ishii send it to me.
So?
Upon examination of all evidence...
there were none that corresponded to my father.
You're slow.
Nanase Miyuki never talked to that man over the phone.
Isn't there some kind of mistake then?
Or maybe...
she has another cellphone just for that.
That's a pretty decent deduction coming from someone like you.
I'm flattered to hear that.
However...
a spirit of the dead...
can't interact with things physically.
Hello, Ozawa speaking.
Oh, Makoto!
What? The hospital gave permission?
Nao! Long time no see.
Where were you?
Nao and I were just taking a walk around the station.
So why are you two here?
We're here to borrow the car.
Let me guess, you invited Haruka out for a drive, didn't you?
No, it's not that.
Why would I go for a drive with her?
Now I remember. Makoto told me.
How was your check-up?
Oh, that...
it was just a bit of fatigue.
A certain someone's been making a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Haruka, you'd better watch out, too!
I know.
We shouldn't just stand here talking.
Have some tea before you leave, both of you.
A package from Keiko arrived.
From my mom?
An album?
She said there's something she wanted to give us.
Is this it?
This is for you, Haruka.
Oh, this is a family photo!
Yes.
This was taken when my older sister Ayaka was still alive.
When Keiko and Azusa were writing to each other,
it says they exchanged photos with each other, too.
Then, did Yakumo's mother take this picture?
Your mother...
cherished the pictures Azusa sent her like this.
That's so cute!
Somehow he looks like a totally different person!
Oh, they finally went outside!
My sister was so concerned about Yakumo's eye...
that she confined herself at home.
But, she knew she shouldn't, and she finally went outside.
That's what Keiko's letter says.
His cheeks look so squishy, just like marshmallows!
So he was like this back then...
My sister...
This is Yakumo's mother...
Mr. Shunsuke must have taken this one.
They're nice smiles.
Even for me, her brother...
it's the first time I've seen my sister smile like this.
They're like a real family.
Mom...
That man...
Do you hate your father, Yakumo?
I won't tell you to abandon your hatred.
However, you mustn't be possessed by it.
Oh my, there goes my bad habit again.
I'm sounding overly pious.
Well... in any case...
darkness exists in everyone's thoughts.
It's a matter of holding that in mind,
soothing and wheedling it at times, and living on.
Why are you telling me this?
I thought that I couldn't really hide it from you.
I've received a notice from the doctor.
In the best case...
I'll last a year.
I want to keep it from Nao at least.
Uncle...
Well, that's how it is.
A person's life seems short, yet it's long.
Let's take it easy.
Okay, Yakumo?
Saitou Isshin...
will be killed.
Saitou Isshin?
You bitch, are you planning on messing with him?
It's not me.
It's him.
Everyone...
lives moving towards death.
me ni utsuru
Reflected in the eyes
ikusen no hoshi wo
are that of a thousand stars
mune no oku ni
deeply etched
yakitsuketeta
in the heart
mou aenai
We can't meet anymore,
anata no namae wo
so I breathed out
sasayaite wa
your name
hitomi tojita
and closed my eyes
mamorenu
There are promises,
yakusoku nado
that cannot be kept
ano hi wa shiranu mama ni
If that day you, still unaware,
unmei dato iikireru nara
flatly state that is fate
toki wo koete ai ni yukitai
I would transcend time to go and meet you
haruka tooku kono koe hibiku yo
and the sound of this voice will resonate far beyond
towa ni negai tsudukeru
So I eternally wish,
maiochiru hoshikuzu no kakera
these cascading fragments of stardust
anata no mune ni todoku kitto
will reach your heart for sure
Preview
Beyond Despair ~Assassin's Dagger~