It's no use...
Blaze!
Julie...
Head off Julie's fang!
We lived in a closed-up past
With an ever-distant future and time unmoving
Finding in our battle now what we were searching for
The power to believe in each other, beyond even destiny
We'll get stronger, you and me: a pair to the end
This light reflects a bond even deeper than our wounds
I want to protect you... and so my soul runs out to you now
Just hand it over to me (all of it)--even your pain
We're together (together) that's why (that's why) we can make it our strength
I'll be your shield, and yours alone
My back to yours, I believe in miracles (in meetings)
No one can intrude on that (can't stop it)
Looking down on our limits from far above: Absolute Soul
"#01 Blaze"
So that's what they mean by "pretty young thing"!
You're new here, too? Why don't we walk together?
So this is Koryo Academy High School...
An all-expenses-paid academy with free room and board,
established by the Dorn Agency--
it's a dream come true!
I'm the only one here from my middle school, so I was a little nervous.
Yeah, same here.
We'll be studying... martial techniques here, right?
Uh-huh.
I haven't even introduced myself!
I'm Imari Nagakura. This is going to be a fun three years!
I'm Thor Kokonoe. Nice to meet you, Nagakura.
Call me Imari, Thor.
The opening ceremony will begin soon in the study hall.
--Shall we? --New students,
--Yeah, let's go. --please assemble in the study hall.
"Koryo Academy Opening Ceremony"
Welcome, new students, to Koryo Academy.
I am the Academy president, Sakuya Tsukumo.
We shall now perform our traditional Screening Rite.
First, please take note of the person sitting beside you;
he or she will be your partner.
I guess you're my partner, Imari.
I wonder what we're going to do?
And now...
...you are to battle your partner.
Only the winners will be permitted entrance.
The losers will have their Lukifers removed and will leave the premises.
What the...? This is news to me!
You mean that letter of acceptance wasn't enough to get in?
A battle? But... that's impossible!
If your battle is not over within ten minutes,
both students will be given failing marks.
--W-Wait--please! --Yes?
Isn't it a little much to say we can't get in if we lose?
Consider this Koryo Academy's entrance examination.
It is a struggle for survival based on one simple rule:
Defeat others to stay alive.
What's wrong with a normal exam?
You will all be plunging headfirst into battle before long.
You must have known that when you first expressed interest
in attending Koryo Academy.
Can we switch partners?
Understand this: The person beside you now is your first enemy.
It's okay, Thor.
I appreciate the sentiment...
...but don't treat me like a fool.
Now fight, heaven-chosen children--you Elcidae!
You have already been given the power you require.
Use your soul-power, your Blaze, to snatch up a future for yourself!
Blaze.
Why, you...!
There's something I have to do. It's why I'm here.
Imari...
So... I can't let you go any further!
Blaze!
Thor, get your Blaze out.
Then I'll just end it here!
So this is the power of the Lukifer...
This next one won't miss.
C'mon, that's enough.
So you're saying you admit defeat?
Give me a break! You didn't even really fight me!
A shield? Is that your Blaze, Thor?
Yeah...
B-But a Blaze--soul-power always comes in the form of a weapon!
I guess I'm an Irregular.
Thanks for protecting me, Thor.
Still...
...there are some things I just can't let go by.
You have those, too, don't you?
If not... then get out of my way!
She's weak. All she did was die.
Sorry, Imari. I can't let this go by, either.
This is mine!
It's over, Imari.
Time's up. Only the victors at this time will be permitted entry.
You okay?
Allow me to leave you with these final words:
May you someday reach Absolute Duo.
All that fancy fighting and no one even got hurt.
Blazes are weapons produced by your soul,
so I guess souls are the only things they can hurt.
You were totally holding back at the end there!
Th-That wasn't my Blaze-- I would have hurt you for real.
You're sweet, Thor...
...but you can't do that anymore.
No matter what your power is, no matter how strong your opponent,
lose once and it's over.
That's the kind of world that's out there waiting for us.
And once you lose, there's no do-overs.
Congrats on making it in, Thor.
Okay, well... bye now.
Haven't seen you in two years, Thor.
Never thought we'd meet again here, of all places.
Tora? It is you!
So you made it through the Screening Rite, eh?
Guess that makes us both Sakuya Tsukumo's guinea pigs.
Hey, now--aren't you going too far?
But I'm not wrong.
We got our Blaze powers from those Lukifer things she gave us.
You could say Koryo Academy is one big research facility
made just for Sakuya Tsukumo.
Hey, there's the first-year classroom. Let's get moving, Tora.
What's your hurry?
Let's make this a good year.
Uh-huh.
It's her...
You know her?
I don't exactly know her, but...
Thor?
"stare"
--Do I know her? --You're asking me?!
"stare"
She's obviously looking at you.
She's obviously looking at me.
Why don't you talk to her?
I should probably talk to her.
Hey, uh...
"stare"
So, er...
"stare"
Wow. She's good.
Hello, hello!
Nice to meet you! I'm your homeroom teacher, Rito Tsukimi!
Oh, but call me Professor Bunbun!
"stare"
Dear me! What could be the problem?
Oh! Are you perhaps dazzled by how gosh-darn cute I am?
Goodness me!
We just don't know how to react!
All this and she's still looking at me?!
"stare"
Okay, your turn! Introduce yourselves!
Tomoe Tachibana.
U-Um... Miyabi Hotaka.
Aoi Torasaki.
Okay, now, who's next?
Thor Kokonoe.
Kokonoe? Ooh, so you're that Irregular!
You're the talk of the staff room!
Uh... yes.
Okay, and next up is the silver-haired girl beside you!
Stand up, now!
Ja.
I'm Julie Sigtuna. Pleased to meet you all.
Julie, huh?
What's with that girl, anyway?
Okay! So! Have you gotten the hang of this place yet?
Oh, right! Your student ID can also be used as a credit card.
"Koryo Academy: Dorm Life Handbook"
You have a whopping 100,000 yen every month to use however you like!
"100,000 Yen"
Boys, feel free to give some of that dough to Professor Bunbun! Tee-hee!
"Duo"
We have a special Duo system here.
It boils down to students pairing up and living with partners.
Professor?
Yes?
Why do we have that system?
You know that once you graduate,
you'll be placed in the Dorn Agency's peacekeeping corps.
Well, there you'll be working in teams-- mostly teams of two!
So we're getting used to how the corps works while we're here?
Bingo-bango-bongo! Hit the nail right on the head!
Thank you very much.
And so, Duos always work together.
Together during classes and in the dorms--
which is why we house you in double rooms!
Okay, so here goes...
Duos will be discussed and decided officially by the weekend,
so until then, you'll all be in temporary Duos!
"stare"
Temporary Duos? What do you say, Tora?
I guess it was inevitable.
Now, these Duos may be temporary, but they come preassigned.
And by that I mean, just like in the opening ceremony,
the person next to you will be your partner!
The person...
...next to me...
My partner?
Wait! That's not good!
Already been decided!
No, no, no! It can't be! It can't!
Nice, Kokonoe! Your roommate is the beautiful silver-haired Julie!
Oh, and no extra roommates, either. And by that, I mean...
This is not good!
--I-I-Is she serious?! --We're roommates? This is my roommate?!
OMG! My heart is racing!
Wait--please! Let's be sensible about this!
This school holds an entry exam during the opening ceremony.
It makes its students fight each other.
Is that sensible?
Be a man and suck it up!
That's the problem--I am a man!
Oh, shut up! It's time for lights-out!
But...
What should I say when I walk in?
Good evening.
Excuse me.
Guten Abend!
No--this is my room, too. I should just walk right in.
Here goes.
Um... it's Kokonoe...
I guess she's not too thrilled about living with a guy, either.
She must be in someone else's...
Sorry--I went ahead and showered first.
Wh-Wh-What are you wearing?!
Pajamas?
Ohhh, no, no, no. That shirt is not pajamas!
I sleep in it, so it's pajamas.
No?
L-Let me reintroduce myself. I'm--
Thor.
Huh? Oh, you remembered.
"Thor" is a word from my homeland, Gimle,
so it's easy to remember.
Gimle, huh? Whereabouts is that?
Scandinavia.
And Thor is a thunder god, the mightiest in Norse mythology.
It's a good name.
The mightiest god, eh?
Thor? Thor?
--What is it? --N-Nothing!
Uh, actually, you were staring at me all through class today.
Like you are now.
Don't act like you weren't.
I'm interested in you.
Thor, I'm really...
...really interested in you.
Wh-What, uh... like how?
Huh? Whoa! Hey--
W-Wait a second! What are you--
That move of yours, in the Screening Rite.
I've been curious about it ever since.
Oh... That?
Ja. Teach it to me.
Sorry. That move puts way too much strain on the body.
If a girl used it, it'd destroy her.
So... yeah. I'm sorry.
You can't? That's...
...too bad.
Are you okay?
Apologies. It must be the time difference. I'm just so sleepy...
Oh, right. Sorry I waylaid you like that.
Go on ahead and get some sleep.
Ja, I will... if you'll... excuse me...
Hey! You can't sleep here! Sleep in bed, or you'll catch a cold!
Aw, man!
And it's only the first day...
I better turn in, too.
The wind stops, having touched your back
As you walked all alone
The sound of bells echoes beside you
Loneliness melts away in time
Wishes to the skies, oaths to eternity: my soul
Though caught in the driving rain, we are two: Just believe, believe, believe
Even the faintest voice will reach you-- that alone is enough
For even trembling hands to hold a shining hope
Courage spread wide, we breathe together and grab the sky
In my world, you're here
As if I could sleep!
What's that?
Sorry--did I wake you?
Nej. So what is that?
Just apple tea. The instant kind.
It smells nice.
Er... want some?
Ja.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Delicious.
Say, Miss Sigtuna...
Nej, "Julie" is fine.
Oh, okay...
Anyway, let's make this work till the real Duos are announced, Julie.
Ja, let's make this work, Thor.
What's that "ja" of yours mean anyway, Julie?
"Yes"
It means "yes."
Always "yes."
"Ja!"
--Ja! --Ja, "ja."
"Ja..."
--Ja... --Ja, "ja."
"Ja?"
Ja?
"Next time: Duo"
Next time: "Duo."
Ja. That's deep.