musuu no yume kanaeteru you na
genjitsumi nado nai kotoba
soko ni yadoru mirai no katachi
kasuka ni kagayaita hitomi ni
guuzen mitai ni surechigau hibi tadotta
deai ga hajimaru nani ka o madowasu kigen
unmei ga waratte iru no? kikoeru
kousa suru kietsu to itami
ano hi tsugerareta koe ni kasumeru
hyouri no tsuyosa o kakaeta
ima wa tokenai wake o himo toite
kaneta negai no sono saki e habataku
Illumination.
She is late, indeed.
Urgent matters.
Still...
These sudden late arrivals over the past few weeks are odd, indeed.
Welcome back.
Anticipated return.
I'm back.
You have been returning late recently, indeed.
Discussion necessary.
Things came up.
What "things"?
Ambiguous.
Come, now. The front door is no place for a lengthy discussion.
She must first unload her things, bathe, and cleanse herself.
Dinnertime is near as well, is it not?
Mm. I'll see you later.
"Domicile"
That is the situation, indeed.
Afterward, she wouldn't give me a straight answer however hard I pressed.
Not even Flame of the...
I mean, even friends I've spoken to on the phone won't say anything.
Oh, I see. Even Alas Toru-san?
Are you worried?
Yukari-san's such a studious girl.
It's only natural to feel worried if she's suddenly stopped talking to you.
I've known her for almost half a year now myself.
I feel I have a good understanding of her personality.
Yukari-san doesn't strike me as the type of girl
to simply lie or keep secrets for convenience's sake.
Indeed.
If so, then maybe her secrecy signifies something.
Perhaps you should sit back and watch her for a while.
If you're that worried, you could try to ask in a more casual...
As brilliant as her idea is, this is a bit...
Tolerable compromise.
Why can't I just ask her myself instead of having to stalk her like this?
That's what my mom suggested too.
Heedless contact and discussion would only harden her attitude
and prove meaningless, indeed.
We must be careful not to let ourselves be detected.
Intent focus.
Oh, right.
Has her attitude at school changed at all?
No, not really.
Are you sure you simply haven't noticed, indeed?
I can't really say.
Until you told me, I never noticed Sha...
I never noticed that she was hiding anything or taking side trips.
You saw yourself that we parted ways today in the same place as always.
See you later, Shana.
Mm.
That shows that she's hiding it from me, too.
Logical argument.
The Missus must be correct after all, indeed...
But I don't think a few little side trips are anything to worry...
...about...
"A few little"?
Such aberrant behavior can have fatal repercussions.
Vulnerability.
Yes, I see your point.
As this lifestyle has dulled her attitude and preparedness,
perhaps it is necessary to rethink her role in this place, indeed.
Rethink her role?
W-Wait, are you saying you're going to make her quit school?!
Indeed.
I am sure there are many other ways of protecting your Treasure, indeed.
You can't be serious...
Enough idle talk.
It's time to recommence the pursuit, indeed.
Right.
What is wrong, indeed?
Immediate response.
Sorry. I lost her.
So you did not fail to track her energy; she purposely blocked it off herself?
Yes. It suddenly cut out.
"Sato"
And this is the only place where that could happen.
That is sound reasoning, indeed.
Yeah?
Margery-san's here, right? We have something to ask her.
Err, actually, she got wasted this afternoon and said she'd execute me
if I wake her up for anything other than a Denizen showing up.
Is this a really important emergency?
It is, indeed.
Immediate discussion.
Carmel-san!
- You have objections?
- Interference pointless. - You have objections?
You've come this far; why are you hesitant now, indeed?
Come here...
Judging from Sato's attitude,
Margery-san's definitely in on this whole thing too.
Those two don't get along, so they'd usually never work together.
That shows how carefully they've prepared.
It goes without saying that they'll have planned for us coming here.
Even if we do force a meeting, she'll just give some sort of excuse or lie.
It'd basically muck up the whole investigation.
So, rather than that...
Nope, she's not showing up.
It's only natural, given how carefully she's concealing herself, indeed.
Reference unnecessary.
Thank goodness...
Oh, no, it's not actually good, it's just, ever since the Tuning,
there haven't really been any other Torches besides me...
His words just now are free of the relief of self-preservation,
feelings of self-pity, animosity for the world, and servile envy...
Why does he seem this way?
Could he have a peculiar trait that, whether in peril or not,
keeps his true nature separate from his emotions?
That would make him too slow and out of touch
to deal with everyday matters of an emotional nature.
Premature conclusion.
Yes, there's no point in being hasty, indeed.
Carmel-san.
Could you display Unrestricted Methods?
Even if she's hidden herself,
she can't hide where Unrestricted Methods have been activated.
I know that, indeed.
Did Margery-san spread all these?
It would seem so, indeed.
I'll ask her again at school tomorrow.
I really doubt she's up to something bad, though.
I know it's a secret, but I'm sure she can at least explain what's going on.
No, no, Sakai-kun! You'll have to go home alone today!
Huh?
Shana-chan is coming shopping with us today!
We already made plans. Sorry.
Oh...
So it's not just Sato and his group;
Yoshida-san and Ogata-san are working with Shana too?
Could it be that they're all planning a surprise party for Carmel-san?
Then why won't they tell me?
Do they think I'd spill the beans if she tried to intimidate me?
No, it's still not for certain that it's a party.
Still...
Oh? You even have to walk home alone?
It feels like Shana-chan has been avoiding you all day.
I guess. I think she's trying to keep something secret.
Whenever I ask anyone, they dodge my questions.
You haven't heard anything, have you?
Anything about, you know, a surprise party for someone or something?
- Good question.
- Huh? - Good question.
If I was in on their secret, do you really think I'd share it just like that?
Who knows, I might just skirt the question
and give Shana-chan's side a thorough status report.
I wish to know her purpose for coming here, indeed.
Purpose? She's just here to shop, right?
I already provide the necessary provisions and household goods, indeed.
Full furnishment.
What is it, indeed?
Oh, nothing. I just realized it was just like this when I first met her.
I bet you wish she could go back to how she was
when she was just a simple Flame Haze and nothing else, huh?
Was she like that as a child too?
Of course, indeed.
She was extremely self-disciplined, devoted to her duty,
and ardently trained on a daily...
That has nothing to do with this, indeed.
Prying useless.
Oh, by the way, Carmel-san...
Those clothes... Don't you think they're too conspicuous?
No, there's nothing wrong with it.
I was just wondering if you ever wear anything else...
When I requested garb befitting a noblewoman's caretaker,
I was told this is the latest style, indeed.
I continue to wear it after leaving the Palace of Heaven's Road
simply because of its superb functionality.
When the two of you...
I mean, when the four of you lived together, did you ever get bored?
Did you celebrate things like New Year's or Obon?
There were five of us, indeed.
Oh? Really...
Now be silent, indeed.
Muzzled.
Yes, Ma'am...
- Is that all of it?
- Yes, I think we're set now. - Is that all of it?
- Good luck, Shana-chan!
- Mm. Thank you, you two! - Good luck, Shana-chan!
Was she really just tagging along with them after all?
- Well, see you later!
- Yeah! - Well, see you later!
Carmel-san!
You will be quiet, indeed.
Repeated reprimand.
We will trail from above and pursue her visually this time, indeed.
Why are you going to such lengths?
Deep down, you do trust her and all.
You know she'd never disregard her duty as a Flame Haze.
So... why are you so persistent about this?
- Regret.
- Huh? - Regret.
Secrets lead to regret.
I don't wish her to feel that foolish pain.
Pain like I once felt for the Engaged Link...
Do you think she's all right, indeed?
I hope this secret, however trivial it may be, isn't bringing her pain, indeed.
Carmel-san...
To be honest, she's changed a lot since I first met her.
After living here, she's really...
Yes. She's really grown a lot.
I think it's because she's discovered something in her feelings;
ones that might worry you and ones that might not.
I'm sure she's discovering more even now.
Evening!
I hear you dropped by while I was asleep yesterday?
- More like while you were plastered...
- Shut up, stupid Marco! - More like while you were plastered...
Just what is going on, indeed?
What do you mean?
You, umm, gave her a bookmark or something to hide her energy, didn't you?
Hmm? "Her"?
Oof!
Yep, she gave her one! She wanted one!
Apparently kids these days are always tryin'to do stuff after school
behind their parents' backs!
Banter unneeded.
Why would you, of all people,
lend a hand with something like this, indeed?
I, of all people, want to do this sort of thing now.
Seriously, since when do you chew people out over a measly bookmark?!
Sorry! I'm late!
Welcome back.
Hurry, Shana-chan. We're running out of time.
Right!
You trained an entire week for this day.
We need to finish everything before Carmel-san returns!
Won't be much of a surprise party otherwise!
Right!
By the way, I know it's strange to ask now,
but what does today commemorate for Carmel-san?
I don't know.
But Wilhelmina kept saying today is an important day.
Is it her birthday?
Possibly.
I guess all that matters is that it's an important day!
Oh!
What is it, Kazumi?
That... isn't hard flour.
"Plain flour"
Carmel-san. You know they're just going to give us the run-around, right?
We need to prove that they're in on it so they can't play dumb.
You will explain in clear detail later, indeed.
Reluctance.
Hey...!
Yes? What's up?
I'm sorry, Margery-san. We made a bit of a shopping mistake.
We need you to buy a little more time! Fifteen minutes is all we ask!
I-I can't!
I can't buy time against Carmel-san all by myself!
Do it anyway. Things are just starting to get good.
But I can't...
I thought so!
You've been using me to see where Carmel-san is!
So, Tanaka keeps watch here and reports to Shana and the others.
And since Mom made me go with Carmel-san,
she's in cahoots with them too...
I'm sorry, Yu-chan!
This isn't cool. Just what is everyone up to?
Okay. I'll tell you everything...
Yes. A cold wind blew through the withered trees on that winter morn.
I say withered "trees" because all the trees in town were withered!
"Hard Flour"
All of them! Can you imagine that?!
"Hard Flour - 500 yen"
That's how cold, how chillingly cold it was...
Err, wait, perhaps it was on a sun-drenched summer afternoon, actually!
It was an especially hot day,
which was why watermelon was more delicious than usual!
Or maybe it was a spring evening, or an autumn morning,
or maybe it was one late night during the rainy season!
It was then that Sato said to me,
"Let's grab a bite to eat."
It was then that I realized... Yes! A bite to eat!
And then I had croquette soba, while Sato had a salmon chazuke
and Oga-chan had...
Oga-chan had rice with egg on top!
- And then we...!
- What is your point, indeed? - And then we...!
Immediate response.
W-Well, uhh...
We're back!
I'm sorry about everything!
Alastor-san and Big Sister will explain everything to you now,
so you're asked to walk back to the Hirai family's house!
Alastor?
- The Hirai household?
- Suspicious intentions. - The Hirai household?
Tell them I'd like my little present.
That was quite a wild goose chase, indeed.
Hello, Carmel-san!
Yoshida-san? Ogata-san?
Just what is happening, indeed?
Just come inside where we can talk!
You too, Sakai-kun!
Welcome home!
Sheesh.
Keeping secrets from you is rough, whether they're good or bad, y'know?
So, once you became suspicious,
our plan was to stick Yuji with you so the others could keep tabs on you,
and then, when the time was right, you'd figure it all out.
Well, I'm done here.
I'm taking my payment now, and Keisaku's too.
Carmel-san! Shana-chan worked really hard!
She had Kazumi coach her like crazy!
No, I only chose the ingredients and made sure she didn't burn anything.
Right, Shana-chan?
Okay, I'm going to take Tanaka's home with me.
I'll take Ike-kun's.
So Ike was in on it too...
Come on. You should head home too.
Huh? Me too?
This is for your mother.
Oh...
Umm, Carmel-san.
That thing about her attending school...
I don't know what you mean, indeed.
Thank you!
Pannekoek, indeed?
Mm.
Investigate motive.
I wish to know why this scheme
involved having the Mystes accompany me, indeed.
Should you really have sent him home already, indeed?
It's of no concern.
In fact, being left unaware is in his best interest.
We felt it was important for you and Yuji to finally get on good terms.
In preparation for any future perils that face us.
We were of the shared opinion that it was necessary
to ferment the minimum amount of mutual trust between you.
How does Yuji Sakai seem to you now?
He is a strange boy, indeed.
That's good enough, then.
Now eat up, Wilhelmina!
How is it?
Delicious, indeed.
Food envy.
Say, Wilhelmina!
I was talking with Kazumi about it earlier and...
What day is today, anyway? You said it was important, but...
You remembered, indeed?
Mm!
After all...
Hey, Wilhelmina!
Are there any other days you want to write down?
Mm!
Today... is the day you came to us, indeed.
yuzurenakatta omoi idaki
sore demo koko made aruite kita
susumete nai you de toki no nami ni hakobareta
negai ni sukoshi fureta
tooi kioku o tadoru
"kou ja nakatta" koto de kagayaiteta ki ga shite
mabushikatta ano hi o koe
ima koko ni iru
owari toka hajimari toka doko demo nai kono basho de
kore kara bokura
mata aruki arata na yume mitsuke dasu koto darou