How beautiful!
Thanks to Hazuki-chan, it seems this month's issue is selling like hotcakes!
You have our thanks.
It's a fantastic photograph... Who took it? Was it you, Hiromi-san?
Uh-uh... You wouldn't believe it...
Right?
Kouhei took this picture.
What?! Kouhei-san did?
Then... this photo is actually a mistake, right?
Huh?
Perhaps...
No, it's not! Kouhei did his best to take this. You're so rude, Elfriede!
Huh?
Oh? Why do you both have such a funny look on your face?
Oh, it's nothing at all...
That's right...
You're weird!
Kitty ears
Kitty ear mode
It's kitty ear mode!
Kitty ear mode
It's kitty ear mode!
Kitty ear mode
Meow
M-meow
Full, full, full moon
Kiss... Big Brother
Kiss... It's a promise
Kiss... My slave
Kiss
Kitty ear mode
It's kitty ear mode!
Kitty ear mode
It's kitty ear mode!
Kiss... I want to...
"Episode 17: 'Big Brother, Why Does This Happen?"'
What did you want to talk to me about?
I'm no good, am I?
I've never been able to finish anything I've tried to accomplish.
You know, what anyone should be able to do?
I haven't been able to even do that.
When I know that she's having a hard time of it... And, you know...
I want to protect her. She's being targeted by the other vampires...
and I want to protect her.
But I don't have the strength.
I want to be strong.
I know that I don't have the powers that you and Seiji have, Gramps...
But if I work hard... If I put my all into the training... I think I'll improve.
Please teach me... your techniques... your magic... I'll work hard.
So, please! Please teach me!
Is that what you wanted to tell me?
Huh?
You... fool!
Huh?
Gramps!
Pitiful! You're a failure so long as you depend on others... you fool!
What's wrong, slave?
Hey, slave! Hey!
What's wrong with him?
Damn...
Training? Why don't you teach him? He can't do anything by himself.
I can't do it.
What?!
I can't do it yet.
Gramps...
- I say, Haiji... - Yes?
You're a shikigami created by Shizuru.
That's correct.
- Don't you know where she is? - Huh?
Where my daughter is...
Hmm...
So, you don't?
I'm sorry. I'm afraid my soul is not connected to Shizuru-sama's.
I see. I wonder what Shizuru would say to Kouhei at a time like this...
I'm truly a hopeless old fool.
What are you doing lying around all day? You slacker! Get up!
Ouch! Stupid! Listen, you didn't have to kick me!
Oh, pardon me! I thought you were some trash.
What did you say?!
Oh, those two are at it again!
I must go to save my slave!
Hmph... That Haiji... Looks like she's inherited Shizuru's concern for Kouhei...
Hey, don't step on my glasses, you!
It's your fault for tossing it over here!
I didn't toss it. I set it down! What a pain!
I don't even have time to think things over!
Thank you, child...
Huh?
Thank you for all you do for me.
Not at all.
Oh, wild berries! How unusual!
Hiromi-san brought them over. They're not in season, but they're very good.
I see...
- Elfriede-san... - Yes?
That story you started the other day... Would you like to continue it?
Not that I can do anything to help after hearing it.
My home is in the Schwarzwald, the Black Forest, in the south of Germany.
I was raised by my aunt and uncle. That was about 100 years ago.
My aunt and uncle were kind to me,
and their daughter Nina was my best friend.
What about your parents?
Not long after my mother and father were married,
they went deep into the Black Forest where it was said a demon lived.
Perhaps it was the curiosity of youth...
They became lost and, a few days later, my mother returned to the village alone.
My mother was pregnant... with me.
My mother had changed completely.
She stayed indoors during the day, and headed for the forest at night.
The gossip in the village was that
my mother had been possessed by the demon.
And then, I was called the demon's child...
I hated my mother...
I hate you, mother! I hate you! Everything's your fault!
Nina was my only friend... but that was fine with me.
As long as Nina was there... With Nina by my side, I wasn't lonely...
After a while... my mother stopped crying out at night.
Things began to go well... That's what I thought.
Then one day my aunt and uncle... gave me a present.
These glasses...
They were big, and I couldn't see well with them on,
but they were my precious treasure.
I was so happy. I wanted my mother to be happy too,
so I went to see her, although I had promised not to visit her at night.
In her room, I found my mother and a strange man.
He said his name was Heimlich von Kinkel.
Kinkel?!
"My precious daughter..." Kinkel said to me.
And he said that his blood...
the blood of a vampire... flowed through my body.
Kinkel gave me two choices.
I could either stay on in the care of my uncle and be tormented by the people...
or I could become a vampire.
I pondered over it, and came to a decision.
I didn't want to continue to be a burden to my uncle and his family.
I was a child of a vampire...
I had Kinkel give me a kiss in order to become a true vampire.
And then, I made a promise...
In exchange for this agreement, I would give up my family to Kinkel.
Yes... I sacrificed my mother to him.
But...
My mother was unscathed.
The family Kinkel was talking about...
...was my uncle and his family.
When I realized it and rushed to their home... It was all over.
My aunt and uncle were dead.
Only Nina, who was near death, was hanging on to life.
Kinkel told me to give Nina the kiss of the vampire.
I refused.
But I was no longer human. I had received Kinkel's kiss,
and had become his slave.
And so, I...
I kissed Nina, whom I loved so much.
Then, as I felt Nina's life ebbing away, I made a promise...
I would live... No matter what, I would live...
and I would avenge Nina's and her parents' deaths!
Someday, I would get my father... Kinkel...
Thank you for telling me.
You have suffered so much.
Thanks for lending me your car, Kouhei.
Don't you dare put a dent in it!
You don't trust me...
Of course not! I can't count the number of times I almost got killed with you driving!
Are you really such a bad driver, Hiromi-neesama?
Kouhei's just very nervous. Oh, by the way...
What happened between those two?
How does this feel?
You noticed too, neesama?
- Well, it's so conspicuous! - I guess you're right.
The old man should think about the difference in their ages.
Well, that's true... But Elfriede could well be older than he is.
What's that?
Oh, it's nothing. Nothing at all!
Uh, I have no idea what you're talking about.
- What?! You're so thickheaded! - What?! You're so thickheaded!
Well, I'll be back tonight.
Good-bye! Good luck on your story!
I'll bring you back a present.
Ohh! Stop! Stop! Stop!!
It's fine! It's fine!
It's not fine! Get out! I'm not lending you the car, after all!
Hiromi! If you don't come back, I'll kill you! You idiot!!
When she gets back, you'll have to get a new car.
Ah... That car is only half paid for...
Huh?
Seiji-niisama...
What's with that scowl?
Kou-kun... I found this in your room.
What's that? Did you carve it, Kouhei? It's so ugly...
This is a Jugondo doll!
Jugondo?
I understand it's used as part of a spell to call evil spirits.
Some sort of miasma seemed to be hanging over this area.
It was suspicious, so I checked out where it was headed.
Yikes...
Why did you make this?!
Ugh... well, I...
A half-baked cure can cause more harm.
No, in the case of spells, it could even cause death.
You don't even understand what Jugondo is,
and you carelessly did a thing like this!
What in the world were you thinking?!
Come now, Seiji... You needn't be so harsh.
Well, sorry about that... Yeah, I don't know a thing.
That's why I was studying it- trying to learn about it!
Huh?
Kouhei?
Kouhei!
Did I go too far?
No. He was in the wrong.
Why did he suddenly decide to study ancient spells?
Gramps...
Kouhei... I'm coming in.
Oh, sorry!
You should've told me you were changing clothes!
It's okay now.
It's not okay!
Oh, wait a minute! Where are you going?
Jogging...
Come on... You're such a wimp!
Don't say that... I'm all... Ow! I can't run anymore. Let's take a taxi home.
Don't be silly. Hmm?
Huh? What's wrong?
It's beautiful...
Huh?
It's good to be a day walker!
Hazuki...
Okay, let's go a little further.
Wait a minute, can you take it, Kouhei?
I'm fine! I'm fine!
O-Ouch...
Stupid...
Oh, where's Hazuki?
She's gone to her room.
Is that so?
Kouhei... Sit down.
Huh? Oh...
"Mr. Yayoi Midou"
Huh?
If you want to train, go to him.
Huh?
Gramps...
A miasma!
It's Kou-kun again. He never learns...
Kaoru!
I'm all right...
Kouhei-niisama...
Mario! You!
Where is Miss Luna?
Leave!
In the room beyond? I shall enter.
What's going on, Gramps?
Never mind. Just take Hazuki and get out of here!
Grandfather!
So, the vampires have come for her?
I might be thickheaded, but I can guess as much! I will fight them too!
You fool!
I may be a burden to you, but I want to defend Hazuki myself!
That's why we want you to run, Kouhei-san!
Run for Hazuki's sake! If you don't want her to get hurt you must go, Kouhei!
Oh! It's not Kou-kun!
Go back! Go back, Kouhei!
I don't want to leave Grandfather and Elfriede behind!
Those two are all right.
They're all right!
Stupid! Stupid!!
So, she's run away...
A barrier!
What is this?
What in the world is this?!
Elfriede-san...
Yes?
I'm sorry...
No... It was I who decided to stay.
I didn't want to harm you.
This is as it should be.
Huh?
No...
No... No way... It's not true, is it?
It's not true, is it? Tell me it's not true, Kouhei! Kouhei!
Gramps...
No! No, it can't be!
Gramps!!
"To be continued"
Big Brother! Let's do a riddle with Hazuki.
Who is it that must be dutiful to his parents? Hazuki knew at once.
Full-full-full moon!
On the next Moon Phase: "Yahoo! Hi-ho! I'll See You Soon!"
The answer is a koukousei ("high school student").
Koukou sei!! ("Be dutiful!!")
"Episode 18: 'Yahoo! Hi-ho! I'll See You Soon!"' Good night, Big Brother...
"Episode 18: 'Yahoo! Hi-ho! I'll See You Soon!"'