What happened?
Just now... Masumi left my side.
What's going on?
Did something happen to Manatsu?
It's dead? But that's not possible!
Same here!
What the heck?
What gives?
Radio interference?
My digital camera won't turn on either.
Crap! Which site is the Prez at?
Isn't Okochi at the riding grounds?
I'll take a look around, starting with the riding grounds.
Computers and cell phones start acting weird when I use them.
Miyuki!
Nonomura!
Do you think that Suzuhara has something to do with this?
I cannot say for certain.
But I knew beforehand that something would happen.
Is it linked to the Himegami?
Izumiko will awaken today.
Or so claimed the prophecy about this festival.
Is that what the Himegami said while possessing Yukariko?
Yes.
Take this with you.
Thank you.
Shinkou!
What the hell's going on? Was it Takayanagi?
Are you Manatsu? You're not Masumi, are you?
Masumi isn't here.
Suzuhara and Takayanagi are at the riding grounds.
I was just on my way to see if they had anything to do with all this.
I'm going with you. I'm worried about the horses, too.
This bites! Now what am I supposed to do?
That's weird.
I wonder if it's some sort of sorcery.
Huh?
What are you doing here?
Where is Suzuhara?!
Where did Takayanagi go?!
Tell me!
Why on Earth do you have a dog here?
Don't be absurd!
That voice... You're Takayanagi, aren't you?
Of course it's me!
I will not tolerate being referred to as a lowly cur!
Suzuhara vanished right before our eyes.
She entered a different phase...
And look at what she did to Takayanagi!
These planes are like the ones in Togakushi, right?
I think so.
But we can't pass through them without Masumi.
Wamiya, guide me to wherever Suzuhara went!
Sure, I could take you to her.
But Suzuhara has absolutely no desire to come back.
What's more, a powerful foe lies in wait.
A powerful foe? Why are you making it sound like I'll lose before I even go?
Masumi is there. He's on the other side.
What are you talking about?
I thought that he was the one person who would change the least,
but I was wrong.
Masumi managed to find someone...
Someone he loves besides me and Mayura!
He loves Izumiko!
I never once became the Himegami!
Despite everything I went through, it wasn't the Himegami who saved me—
I saved myself.
Does that mean that I was always the Himegami?
Did I simply want to believe that we were two separate entities?
I don't want anyone to see me like this!
As long as I never leave this plane...
everyone will be okay.
If I stay, I may not play a factor in the fate of mankind anymore...
I wish I'd never come to Houjou Academy.
Who's there?! Stay away from me!
Why should I?
It's just Masumi?
Bingo!
Is it okay for you to leave Mayura on her own?
Don't you have to help her win?
That's true, but I'm having a hard time understanding her.
Mayura doesn't mind if she throws herself away.
What do you mean?
Mayura's ultimate wish is to donate her heart to Manatsu and become one with him.
She wouldn't...
A long time ago, all three of us swore, "Let's become one!"
But some dissonance is forming between those two.
In what way?
They're currently trying to find an alternative to becoming one.
They each hold the other's survival above their own.
I'm envious... I'm not like them, am I?
I wanted to help Mayura defeat Takayanagi,
but that's no longer possible.
Why not?
I can't go back to the academy.
Apparently, I'm not really even human.
Of course you're human, Suzuhara!
Then what am I doing here with you, Masumi?
Gods reside on far higher waves than humans.
Suzuhara, you're a human,
but you were born with the ability to heighten your waves.
There used to be a bunch of humans with that ability a long time ago,
but you're an endangered species now.
That's exactly why I started to like you, Suzuhara.
In other words, I'm trying to say that I love you, Izumiko.
This is bad!
Suzuhara may decide to start a new life on the other side.
You're backing down?!
I'm fine with hitting the reset button.
Don't joke around!
You don't stand much of a chance.
Do you still want to try?
Do you have to ask? Let's go!
Wait, Shinkou!
I'm going with you.
Remember how Suzuhara brought me back at Togakushi?
It's my turn to save her!
Forget it. You need to stay with Souda.
If she loses both of you right now, she'll flip out again.
But Masumi's actions are—
Takayanagi!
You're coming with me.
You need to apologize to Suzuhara and convince her to turn you back to normal.
It would seem we definitely need to have words with each other.
You're up, Wamiya! Show us the way!
Sure thing.
A bird and a dog?
All I need is a monkey and I'll be Momotarou.
The bird is supposed to be a pheasant!
Furthermore, I am not a dog!
Which way should I go?
Directions have little meaning here, so go wherever you like.
Suzuhara was furious that I'd created homunculi and summoned the local spirits.
Do you think this is her idea of retaliation?
You only just figured that out?
Do you think that this realm's layout resembles that of the academy?
It could very easily overlap with the school.
In that case...
if we were to face anything, might we expect to see the ghosts from Hachiouji Castle?
Hey, Wamiya! You don't expect us to get past those, do you?
Of course. The only way forward is through them.
If you can get past them and cross over the rift, the ghosts will vanish.
Is this one of Masumi's spells?
Stick as close to me as you can.
If all else fails, run as if your life depended on it.
Before me stand soldiers, ready for battle.
The ghosts use people's mental energy to take form.
They should not be able to inflict much damage to those with strong minds.
This isn't the only rift.
There are more?!
You'll likely find it gets harder and harder from here on. At the very least, it won't get any easier.
It's not really about the number of rifts, but rather the power you require to cross them.
If you don't have enough, you'll just repeat this area until you give up.
What happens if we can't reach Suzuhara?
Easy. You can just turn back.
You're free to give up any time.
You'll be relieved of your burden. Your pain will be over.
It's okay. Calm down.
Mayura!
Manatsu?
Thank goodness you're all right.
Sorry. I was with Sagara.
Sagara?
Suzuhara and Masumi crossed into another plane.
Why would they do that?
It looks like Masumi's fallen in love with Izumiko.
So... he isn't coming back?
I'm not really sure.
He has to... He promised that he'd spend the day with me.
I don't want to lose Masumi any more than I'd want to lose you...
We haven't even finished things with Takayanagi yet...
Let's stop fighting to be the top student.
It's not right how we've been relying on Masumi to win this competition.
There are going to be victims.
And one of them could be Suzuhara!
Do you hate me?
I don't hate you, but we still don't know each other very well.
My main body knows you all too well.
And I've fallen for you so badly that I can't keep my eyes off of you!
To Masumi, "love" actually means...
Let's say I found some wandering souls. You know how I'd eat them, right?
That would count as a type of love, wouldn't it?
Let me show you just how much fun I'd bring into your life!
I... don't think I'll be able to have fun ever again.
Isn't this...
Houjou Ujiteru's wife, Ohisa, survived until the castle fell.
But even so, she was never reunited with her husband.
I'd never inflict such an unhappy ending upon you!
Milady!
How wonderful! The lord has come back to you.
We have prepared a modest party to celebrate.
Everyone's been worried about you.
Let's go to the palace and eat to our heart's content!
O-Okay.
C'mon!
Your costume is in tatters.
Does it merely look that way,
or are all of these attacks actually hurting you?
They're nothing!
This place doesn't actually exist, so these injuries aren't real.
If I start to believe I've been hurt, the wounds will open.
But for me to be in this shape, it proves that I don't fully believe that they aren't real.
Doesn't that mean I don't fully believe in Suzuhara as well?
Sagara, you're really quite the guy!
I can't help but admire someone who tries so hard to bring Suzuhara and I together.
And I can't help but admire that amazing personality of yours!
Earlier, didn't you mention the strength needed to cross the rift?
What type of "strength" were you referring to?
The power of your beliefs to do what is needed.
The strength of the phenomenon that connects to the future.
Suzuhara, do you plan to bear the weight of the Himegami all by yourself?!
Didn't you want to become a normal girl?!
What is your answer to my proposition?
Souda, you're a lot like me.
'
I wouldn't mind pretending to be your fiancee.
Even so, I feel that it's something we should not do.
Why not?
Because it would hurt those dear to us.
No matter how effective it may be, I can't agree to something that would harm those close to us the most.
Then the agreement is off?
I want to find a path that no one else has taken into consideration.
Are you... referring to Izumiko?
The power of your beliefs to do what is needed.
The strength of the phenomenon that connects to the future.
Izumiko, know that I am here!
What's the matter?
Someone just called my name.
I didn't hear anything...
Those things don't work here, you know.
When you run into trouble, don't try to resolve it all on your own.
Sagara Miyuki
Hello?
Suzuhara! Where are you?!
Miyuki, where are you?
Just say, "To my side!" and I'll come to you!
But this is—
Hurry up and say it!
Miyuki, to my side! Right now! Come to me at once!
You finally called! At last I get to see you!
Suzuhara, you can be so mean.
Wamiya?
This means you lost.
Suzuhara will never belong to Togakushi!
You're wasting your time if you push any harder.
I knew that he was here. You brought Shinkou, right?
But just because he's here doesn't mean that I'm not allowed to extend an invitation.
Don't be greedy! You already have those two.
True enough.
Get out of here.
I can always see you some other time, Suzuhara.
Did you really have to chase him away?
I'm about to do something extraordinary, and I didn't want him to watch.
Extraordinary?
You're Suzuhara, aren't you?
Yeah...
You're Izumiko, aren't you?
Yeah!
That's what I wanted to hear.
Are you all right?
Don't go around dressed up like the Himegami!
It makes my head spin.
I'm sorry. My braids came undone...
Today, I found out that I'm the Himegami...
I was terrified of everyone...
I didn't want anyone to see me...
I wanted to hide for the rest of my life.
But then you and Wamiya came, and now I feel a bit better...
You need to...
tell me that you need me!
What?!
I won't know if you don't tell me!
I can't act if I don't think you need me!
I'm pretty sure you already know this, but I won't become your servant.
But your Himegami is too heavy to bear.
You can't handle her on your own!
I'll help you search for a way to avoid becoming the Himegami and destroying all of mankind!
So, tell me that you need me!
I don't mind,
but there will be no going back...
Just as we grow taller, Masumi changes along with us.
But that doesn't mean our bonds will vanish.
When he comes back, let's gradually confirm our unchanging bonds as we ourselves change.
Souda!
The final round for the Battle Game has suddenly switched over to the Balloon Popping Contest!
We're currently informing all the teams about the change.
Our best option at the moment is to distract everyone with a game.
This dog is Takayanagi?!
I figured you probably did it without realizing it...
Takayanagi, you cast a spell, didn't you?
What exactly was that hot air balloon?
It was an experimental hybrid curse with some hallucinogenic chemicals mixed in.
Suzuhara, I sincerely apologize for underestimating you.
So please, turn me back to the way I was!
I'd like to,
but I don't think I can...
I can't believe it.
Suzuhara, you almost never use your powers consciously.
You'll have to dance in order to set your mind free.
Uh, we still don't know what exactly is going on around here,
but there is no point in just sitting around!
What's going on?
Let's decide who wins the Battle of Hachiouji Castle!
Ew! They have arrows coming out of them!
Are they ghosts?
For real?
Hey, are ghosts supposed to smile?
Where are they all going?
Masumi...
I'm sorry, Mayura. I kinda cheated on you.
How could you? Where's Izumiko?
Shinkou drove me away.
So she spurned you, huh?
It's hard to say.
But for now, I'm here to defend you, Mayura.
Welcome back, Masumi.
I always believed you'd come back to me.
Yeah. That's how I was able to return.
Is that Izumiko?
You have to watch quietly.
Suzuhara doesn't realize that we can see her.
Isn't she pretty?
I guess I can see why you'd want to cheat on me.
It looks like Izumiko has done a splendid job dissolving the spell placed on the school.
I suppose she has earned a passing grade.
We adults can take over from here.
You've done well today, Izumiko.
Episode 12
World Heritage Girl
Somebody calls me
From somewhere they call me
From far away that gentle sound drifts near and pulls my heart away
Tell me something,
for a premonition pains me
Do the feelings I don't understand yet
start to grow?
I dreamed of freedom
and yet keep hesitating about it
With a tiny voice
I prayed that I could
laugh together with everyone
Yes, I imagine she will be the top student here at Houjou Academy.
Unquestionably our World Heritage Candidate.
Listen, Miyuki.
How I respond to what you said earlier is extremely important,
so I'd like to sit on it, okay?
But I will never forget how you came for me when I was about to go astray.
Yeah...
So I will remember what you said to me for the rest of my...
M-Miyuki?