See? It's the same as ever, isn't it?
The repairs haven't been completed yet.
They really aren't very responsible.
Don't you think so, Murasaki?
I do not know.
Father is hopeless.
He is too careless with everything.
I almost lost my precious little sister.
There isn't even someone to replace you.
Is that so?
Murasaki.
Don't step on the threshold.
Do you want to step on father's head?
Note: A saying to scare children, but actually used to teach manners.
Not a bad joke at all.
What are you doing?
I'm asking you what you are doing.
I spilled my tea.
I did it, so I should take care of it.
That is why we have servants.
I can't do it myself?
No.
I don't know what you've seen outside,
but please be obedient.
Tea has been spilt!
Go wipe the table.
Hey, wipe it yourself.
Why? It's your job, isn't it?
You spilled it, so you have to wipe it up.
Hey, it'll spill onto the tatami!
I can't even do things myself anymore.
When will you put Murasaki back into the Inner Sanctuary?
On the first day of spring, I will...
You intend to let the year pass by?
Her experiences outside have strongly affected her thoughts and...
Make her forget them.
Those kinds of feelings are unnecessary for a woman of the Inner Sanctuary.
Yes.
Renjou, do not forget your predecessor's final will.
I know.
I could let Ryuuji handle it.
No, I will handle it.
She is my daughter after all.
"My daughter," huh?
Yes.
I cannot even allow you to let the winter solstice pass.
She should be placed in the Inner Sanctuary immediately.
Even in this cold weather he mentions the final will, huh?
It's cold! It's too cold!
What about the stove?
In the closet.
You don't have to be so stingy over your electricity bill.
You don't even turn on the lights during the day on weekdays, anyway.
You didn't need to say it.
I'm just telling him the truth.
I'm not talking about that.
How many days do you think have passed since then?
How long do you intend to be irresolute?
Recently, those kind of men are okay, you know!
No, they're not.
I'm going shopping.
Meat! Meat! Meat!
Is pork okay?
Beef, beef!
Very well, I will treat you all to dinner today.
I got some money last night after doing a palm reading for a drunken salaryman.
You worked?
He looked like a man with money, you see.
I told him things that'd make him happy and he coughed up the money just like that.
Isn't that swindling?
We can buy anything!
I want to try and eat that oyster thing.
You've never had it before?
Oysters, you see,
are a forbidden food laced with the devil's flavor.
Is that why it has such a disgusting shape?
People become adults if they are able to overcome that, you see.
All right! Let's have oyster soup!
I'll go!
Very well, I will give you the sword of bravery, boy!
I'll be going now.
Wasn't that trick a bit old?
The one on top was real, though.
Hey.
What?
You were in my room all of last night, right?
Are you sure it wasn't the night before?
We're eating that again?
We always eat this, though.
Is there something else you want to eat?
I want the dish called simmered mackerel with miso.
You sure you want that?
What is it?
The shrimp over there is cheaper and tastes better.
Really?
Oysters?
Have you ever eaten it before?
I have.
It was a fried-oyster lunch box, though.
Do you have a problem with that?
Not at all.
Did you want something?
I'm just watching you.
Why?
It'll be troubling if you do something reckless.
Me?
Once more.
Thank you.
That's enough.
Okay.
Is that the Houzuki-ryuu?
It's a fighting style that doesn't really have a stance.
I see.
It'll be a formidable art with more training, though.
Once my body is back to normal, I'll be training again.
That'd be for the best.
With the way you are now, it'll be impossible to face someone like the Kuhouins.
You'd die.
I know.
The pain was so bad that I almost couldn't sleep for several days.
Me too.
I don't ever want to get near that family again.
I'm amazed we were even able to take her away.
I get the chills just by remembering it.
The Inner Sanctuary was an abnormal place.
It's isolated from the world,
and it felt like whatever happened outside had absolutely nothing to do with it.
I knew right away that the child sitting at the back was Murasaki-san.
Her eyes looked dead.
She was living locked inside that monstrous house, unable to rely on or talk to anyone.
And then you came to my place after that.
I was against it though.
I didn't think you could do it,
and thought that it was my job.
And moreover, I failed.
But, it was impossible for me too
Plus, thinking of her daily life,
I'm sure she had more fun being with you.
But I was at school during the day,
so she was mostly with Tamaki-san and Yamie-san.
I'm just...
That's not true.
I'm sure she's more thankful to you than anyone else.
I couldn't protect her, though.
There are times when things don't go well, too.
I've failed many times also.
You did?
Of course.
I don't even know how many times Benika-san saved me.
Really?
There are even people who died because of me.
I was careless...
It was a simple bodyguarding job, too.
Maybe something carbonated is better.
What about your blood sugar levels?
Please.
I want to drink sweet stuff sometimes.
I won't be responsible then.
Maybe orange would be better?
Which one, then?
Orange.
I want orange.
It happened in an instant.
I thought it was over for me.
What did Benika-san do after that?
She told me not to make the same mistake again,
and gave me my next job.
The next one...
You may have failed, but Murasaki-san didn't die.
You're better off than me.
Once she enters the Inner Sanctuary, it'll be the same as if she had died.
But she's alive.
She just has nothing to do with us anymore.
We have to switch our minds to a new job.
I'm not that strong yet.
No one is that strong.
You become strong when you try to be.
Right...
The Kuhouin matter is over.
That name has nothing to do with us anymore.
I know.
I know, but...
But...
You have to accept it even if it means you have to force yourself to.
You won't be able to move forward if you don't.
Are you telling me to forget all that has happened?
You're a pro, aren't you?
Yes...
Morning.
Yeah, morning.
It's unusual for you to be late.
Really?
Did you get paid or something?
Why?
Because you're in a good mood.
Really?
You're in a good mood when either Juuzawa Benika compliments you or you get paid, right?
It's neither.
I haven't been working recently.
What about the bodyguarding job?
I failed that one.
I've got nothing to do with that job now.
Anyway, I have to make sure I don't mess up on new jobs.
What?
So you've become a person who can say that.
What do you mean?
Whatever, that kind of thinking is necessary.
What are you trying to say?
Do you like your current self?
Don't say something Benika-san would.
I was just wondering if you were that honest.
What?
You even told me that the Kuhouins were a big job and to stay out of it.
I didn't say it was bad or anything.
I'm sure you're glad you were able to change your mind so easily.
Don't say it like that.
Next time I'll take on jobs that fit me and do them well.
Maybe, that might suit you the most.
I'm trying to do what you've been telling me to do all this time, so what are you getting at?
I hope it all goes well for you.
Are your injuries okay now?
Yeah, they are.
It's all right, I didn't use this.
In the end, I couldn't protect Murasaki,
I'm still too weak and inexperienced.
That's not true.
It's okay, I lost.
This is my strength right now.
Have you given up?
I mean, I understand that this is my current strength.
Are you okay with that?
It's not about that, it just can't be helped.
I've only just begun with this career,
so these things happen.
If there's anything you need help with, please tell me.
I said I'm all right.
Hello?
Ah, what's up?
Hey, what do you normally do when you get home from school?
Huh? What are you saying?
Is it Shinkurou?
Well, uh, I was just wondering about what I usually do.
How would I know?
Call him over.
You can play games.
Games? I've never played them before, so teach me how.
Come over, Shinkurou.
Eh? Can I?
Hold on!
Do you want me to cut the link?
Hello?
Forget it, let's keep going.
Call me back later, Shinkurou.
Games, huh?
I want a game, Shinkurou!
I guess I'll clean.
It sure gets clean.
I'm sure more would come off if I used a cleaner.
Coming!
Um...
I don't believe I need to move.
This place is too far away for your next job.
It'll be the opposite direction when you come home from school.
I've had jobs like that before, though.
It may be a long job.
Do I have to protect someone?
I'll contact you later with the details.
Anyway, just prepare to move for now.
I see.
Is there anything you need?
No, nothing.
I see.
Eh? Why?
I'm moving.
Because of my job.
I thought it stank of cigarettes. So, that woman came, huh?
So, you're going to leave?
Well, yeah.
What an adult thing to do.
What do you mean?
You really just want to forget your memories, right?
No...
It's because you're always so hesitant!
I'm not being hesitant or anything.
This is just for my job.
I can't just ignore Benika-san's orders.
Even so, you're acting too cold.
What do you mean, "just your job?"
I'm still a paid pro, though.
A pro that can't even protect a 7 year old, huh?
I won't make a mistake next time.
So you're just going to treat Murasaki-chan as a mistake.
What else can I do?
That's right, they were too strong, right?
Do you think running away is winning?
Leave me alone!
I'll be moving out soon.
So you're even running away from this room.
That's enough.
The boy can do what he wants.
All right.
It looks as if we'll get in the way of Shinkurou-kun's growth if we're around.
I'm surprised she was able to watch this happily.
This was also something Tamaki brought for Murasaki.
It really is different when we have a stove.
It's like the room has instantly become luxurious.
Now it won't be cold!
She was so excited over such a simple stove,
and so happy with a simple futon.
If I didn't come home quickly from school, she'd get angry.
You're late, Shinkurou!
I'm so hungry I can't stand it anymore!
I was busy.
There are many things I have to do.
You always, always, say that you're busy.
That's right.
Because I am busy.
It's my job.
It's my job...
I'm a pro.
Will you swear to protect me?
Do you know what you're saying?
I see.
Shall we meet, then?
It's impossible, you won't just be getting experience out of it.
I'll do it even if it's impossible.
My promise with Murasaki's mother was only to take her outside and to teach her love,
and that's been done.
What do you mean "love?"
Her mother, Souju, prayed that her daughter could fall in love.
With someone from the outside, that is.
Then our job isn't over yet.
She wanted her to fall in love, but she's only seven.
It's difficult.
But I'm sure that Murasaki had feelings of love for you.
I don't think it was feelings of love or anything like that.
She believed in you, though.
Then that's even more of a reason for me to go!
It's enough!
If you go to the Kuhouins, it won't end how it did last time.
I won't be able to move forward if I run away now!
There's nothing behind me!
Right, that's true, but-
And even then, you knew I would fail, yet you let us go back to the apartment.
I was just happy that you didn't run away and faced it head on that time, you know.
So I thought it was okay for you to fail.
Then let me go this time too!
You can't this time!
Why?!
You can say that because you don't know the Kuhouins!
You'll be killed if you delve into this!
I didn't die last time.
Because you fought here!
Once you step foot on Kuhouin property, you'll be killed in an instant!
I want to ask Murasaki once more!
She said it was okay, didn't she?
She was just made to say it!
She...
She only said it because she wanted to save me.
It could just be your imagination.
Her eyes looked like she was in fear.
She was pleading with her eyes, "I don't want to go back!"
You're mistaken.
I don't care if I'm mistaken, I want to ask Murasaki once more and hear the truth from her!
At any cost?
At any cost!
What a stubborn child.
I'm sorry.
I don't think poorly of you.
Yes.
Why are all my pupils like this?
I'm sorry.
Is that becoming a habit of yours?
No.
Do you know where the Kuhouins are?
I'll get the address from Ginko.
We're not delivering mail here.
Once you get there, it's not like you'll be able to find the Inner Sanctuary immediately.
I'll search for it.
The Kuhouin estate is bigger than Marutomi Park.
See? You don't know anything.
Get your stuff together.
I'm not moving.
Murasaki liked it here.
It's cold over there.
You'll freeze to death before you fight.
I just can't hand you a map and say good luck, can I?
My dear pupil is saying that he'll fight the Kuhouins, after all.
I'll take you there.
Ah, hello?
About my car, did we have any studded snow tires for it?
Are you going to Murasaki's place?
You were listening?
Maybe I should prepare some beer to celebrate and wait for you.
I'm underaged.
It'll just be for the mood.
Boy.
Yes.
This doesn't look good on you at all, boy.
Give this to Murasaki.
Yes.
Here are the pictures from Shichi-Go-San.
It was hard to show them after all this happened.
Take these and show them to Murasaki.
I'm sure she'll be happy.
Could we shake hands?
It's like a farewell, then.
If I can remember the warmth of your hands,
I believe that I'll feel that my friends are protecting me when I fight.
Rather than a handshake, this would be better!
I-It just tickles!
You won't forget with this!
It's okay!
This is your chance to touch a young boy, Yamie-san!
He's not my type, but...!
I'm going now.
Take care.
Come home soon.
Yes.
It's a scary place, isn't it?
It'll be fine.
Yeah.
You're coming too, Yayoi-san?
Yeah.
There's someone I need to pay back.
I see.
What's the matter?
It's nothing.
Next on kurenai:
I Think.