Infinite time stopped beating its heart, and humans burnt away without making any noise.
Not one person notices as the world becomes dislocated and is covered in the flames of Guze.
And stain this sky red.
Just walk through the times that approach you with your own body.
People that walk by you and things that get lost in the mess all have a time when they'll disappear.
Passionate unwavering strength...
Transient and wavering weakness...
In the end, it's the same future.
Melting down the rock hard Earth
As days start and the world ends.
Draw a line as the wind blows you.
Tips of paper flowing like water spear the enemy.
The determination wells up within me.
All I have to do at this moment is to complete the mission with these hands.
That's right, you're not a human!
You're an object.
You're not the only one.
All of those with light in them are the same.
They're replacements for the humans that got their power of existence eaten by Guze no Tomogara.
They're Torches.
So... In other words...
The "real" you's existence was eaten a long time ago and has disappeared.
The you right now is only the remainder.
I am already dead.
The girl just looked at me as I was unable to do anything but be stunned...
With those flaming eyes that would look at me many times thereafter.
That day, when my world got dislocated,
I met the flaming girl.
And...
I'm... dead?
How?
I told you. You were eaten by Guze no Tomogara.
Guze no... Those monsters?
Those were Rinne,
slaves of a sort to Guze no Tomogara.
Rinne collect, Tomogara eat.
But I thought you saved me.
I didn't necessarily save you.
It just worked out that way.
This wasn't the first time Rinne or Guze no Tomogara appeared in this world.
It's happened elsewhere in the world naturally.
You were eaten by them before today's case.
What the...
The light looks bright, so it doesn't seem like it was too long ago.
Don't worry, it'll burn out someday.
"Burn out"?
It means you, as a Torch, will disappear.
End of explanation.
Disappear?
Wait a minute!
Disappear...
That's impossible.
I mean, I am here, and all the stuff about Guze and...
Obviously, since we used Fuzetsu.
Fuzetsu?
Was that the firewall-like stuff?
More precisely, it's the dimension within the wall.
That place gets temporally dislocated from the world's flow,
so you're never told what happens in there.
Besides, Tomogara don't eat humans, but rather eat their existence, so those eaten are treated as though they'd never existed.
There wouldn't even be a trace of them.
What do you mean?
It means that they'd be treated as though they'd never existed.
Ah, perfect timing. You should be able to see that small Torch, right?
The flame is faint.
Why?
Why didn't they notice?
He disappeared right in front of them.
That's the reason why we place a Torch.
If an existence disappears, the world's balance gets distorted and bad things happen.
Don't you understand?
For example, if the bank you're walking on disappeared, you'd fall and receive a shock.
However if we change the ground to ice and gradually melt it, the shock would practically vanish.
Think of that ice as a Torch.
A Torch gradually decreases its existence, and by the time it disappears...
...the effect is minimized.
If you still cannot comprehend...
I get it! Ý understand what you mean!
But...
How should I react to this?
That I... Sakai Yuji... am already dead...
Then the me who is standing here is...
Five of these.
Here, thank you very much.
What are you doing?
Don't you know? Ýt's melon bread, something to eat.
Yes, I know that, but...
Then don't ask.
How long are you going to follow me for?
My house is on this side.
Really.
Is it really going to disappear?
This isn't a dream, is it?
Don't make me repeat myself.
It's reality.
This is reality?
It's too cruel.
That's how it is.
How it is?
This is reality?
Damn it, my head isn't following.
This isn't something to be said while eating melon bread.
Besides isn't she...
Um...
Ah, shut up, shut up, shut up!
You still have more questions?
What are you? A human?
I'm a Flame Haze.
Fla... What?
Flame Haze.
One who finds and hunts Guze no Tomogara.
Even if you place a Torch, it is only a temporary measure.
The fact remains that the world's crisis, due to the indiscriminate hunting of existences, does not change.
Flame Haze.
The Tomogara that used those Rinne seems to be in this town still.
From what the Rinne said, it seems to be a powerful being.
It wouldn't be afraid of us.
And there's another reason.
That Mistes.
Yeah.
Take a look, Marian...
...at how beautiful it is.
Yes, Master.
We will be acquiring eternity in this town.
Only a little more to go.
Yes, but that Flame Haze is...
You mustn't mention that inelegant name.
We must savor this beautiful moment.
I'm very sorry.
You don't even need to say that.
The only thing we need is...
Master.
Was that a dream?
I guess it wasn't.
Good morning, Yu-chan. You took your time today.
Eh? You're joking! Ýt's already this late?
It's rare for you to oversleep.
Last night you went right to bed after you came home, too.
Is something wrong?
No, it's just today.
She's fine.
Mom's not a Torch.
Dad called last night.
He can't come back to Japan for Golden Week.
Really.
How would Mom and Dad feel if they found out that I'm already dead?
Oh, but it would be as if they'd never had a child.
But he said that he'd definitely be home for summer break.
It might be better to be treated like I'd never existed rather than making them sad.
Oh right, I already don't exist... the "real" Sakai Yuji, that is.
Then what is it I'm worried about right now?
It's natural for the "real" Sakai Yuji to be worried or fall in despair, but I'm...
Is something bothering you?
No, it's nothing. I have to go now.
The homeroom teacher is strict about tardiness.
I'm off.
See you, have a safe trip.
Why are you here?
I figured it'd be more efficient keeping an eye on you rather than looking for Guze no Tomogara,
since you're a really unique Torch.
Come to think of it, that Rinne from yesterday called me something like Mistes.
Hmm, good memory.
A Mistes is a Torch that carries Hougu and other powers made by Guze no Tomogara.
Hougu?
When a Torch burns out, its contents are transported to a new Torch.
Simply put, it's a treasure chest that moves.
Why is it in me?
I don't know.
Hougu move on their own.
The enemy will probably come to you before you burn out.
Hey, what do you think I am?
I told you. You're a Torch and a Mistes.
But I'm thinking of everything as Sakai Yuji would.
Since you're his remainder, obviously.
I see...
Hirai-san.
That's right, Hirai-san was there and...
The flame is small.
She must not have much time left.
But she only got attacked yesterday.
Then they must have eaten her more than others.
The Rinne from yesterday were gluttonous.
Hirai-san! Hirai-san! Good morning!
Um, good morning.
Good morning.
This is Hirai-san?
She's totally different.
It is on its last the day at best.
What? Can't we fix her?
It's impossible, since that's all that's left.
She's already dead.
That's... too cruel.
What is? That's not a human.
It's only a Torch.
Hirai-san, we'll be late.
Let's run.
Come on, cheer up.
What's with that? Ýt never asked to be fixed when the matter concerned itself.
Wearing someone else's shoes changes the perspective.
I won't let Hirai-san disappear.
And I was like wondering... if he had girlfriend or not and...
Hey, you're really late, Sakai.
I'm sorry.
Sakai, one tardy.
Um, Hirai-san, too.
Oh right, you two came in together.
Whatever, take your seat.
What's wrong? Ýt's rare for you.
Yeah.
No one's looking at Hirai-san.
Will her existence keep decreasing, be forgotten, and...
Hirai-san, what are you doing for your lunch?
Nothing really...
Sakai, did you buy something for lunch?
I'm going to the school store.
Then I'll go, too.
Hirai-san, let's go together.
Okay? With Ike.
Right, Ike? Can she?
Fine with me, but...
See?
Is there a girl like that in our class?
She's only there because she is.
And see, that new teacher at cram school turned out to be Murata's older brother.
Ike, do you have cram school today?
No, not today.
Then would you like to go to the station area after school along with Hirai-san?
You've got time anyways, don't you?
Well, yeah...
Okay, it's decided.
Hirai-san, Ike said that he'd come, too.
Like I thought, if it's about Ike, she shows some reaction.
She might be able to be like she was yesterday, even for a little while.
Come on Ike, come closer.
Ready?
It looks pretty good.
Maybe I was in the way a bit.
I'm sorry, Hirai-san.
Hey, you're...
What should we do next?
Crane catcher?
Hirai-san, how about a fighting game with Ike?
Ike, can you spend time with Hirai-san for a while?
I'll be right back.
Hey, wait!
You're bait, so stay in one place a bit more.
Having you walking around so much is a pain.
That's your problem.
No matter how much you sympathize, that's just a Torch.
It's inevitable for it to disappear.
But not if everyone forgets about her!
It's not worth the effort.
Even if it's not...
I've never seen a Torch that stupid before.
Indeed.
Ike, where's Hirai-san?
Who's Hirai-san?
Hirai-san, she was with us, right?
Was she?
"Was she?"
Did Hirai-san disappear already?
Oh yeah, she may have just left.
Are you sure? She left?
Maybe.
Did I just beat the game?
Ike, why are you so inconsiderate about this?
Remember what happened!
The three of us were here together.
Hirai-san was... Hirai-san was...
Does Ike-kun have a girlfriend?
Hey, Sakai, what's wrong with you? Are you all right?
It's not Ike's fault.
This is what a Torch is.
I'm sorry, I'm going to go find Hirai-san.
What's gotten into him?
Hirai-san, you haven't disappeared yet, have you?
Please, not yet.
Really, I told it not to move around.
What a weird Torch it is.
There are always those that struggle until the last moment.
Thank goodness you're still around.
Oh, Ike said he had something to take care of.
That...
If you cut me out, you'll have a couple shot with Ike.
What did you say?
Because I love this view...
I see, that's why you came here.
Hirai-san, let's bring Ike here tomorrow.
We'll spend time with Ike here, so...
This... is a Torch?
That's right.
I'll be disappearing like this, too.
That's right.
A remainder will burn out.
No one will remember its existence, and not a trace will remain.
I told you it works out.
That's wrong!
I still know her!
I know that she existed!
That she liked Ike!
That she was Hirai Yukari!
She definitely existed!
Right here!
She existed.
So?
I'm here, too.
I know that I am Sakai Yuji.
You're just a Torch.
But I'm still Sakai Yuji.
You also...
I am just a Flame Haze.
That is all.
In a sense, I am the same as a Torch.
Stop saying "just".
But it is so.
You are just a Torch.
I am just a Flame Haze.
That's not so.
Yes, it is.
Why do you...
What?
Name...
Tell me your name.
I don't have a name.
I'm just a Flame Haze.
You said it again.
Shut up, shut up, shut up!
I don't need a name!
When I need to be distinguished from other Flame Haze, Nietono no Shana is enough.
Nietono no Shana?
It's the name of the long sword that she has.
Nietono no Shana...
Then you're Shana.
I'll call you with that from now on.
You're Shana.
You're no longer just a Flame Haze.
I'm not just a Torch either.
I'm Sakai Yuji.
That's right.
I named her.
From that day on, the flame-haired, red-hot-eyed Flame Haze...
...became Shana.
Those born with the dawn
Do not lose sight of it.
You are you, girl, it is time.
Shake it off and stand up.
There is not a single way to just gaze at you as you run through the wind
With that hidden wounded heart.
Are those eyes of yours searching for the you that stands somewhere ahead of you?
But I can hear your deep sad heart beat...
It's screaming!
I'm just telling, the darkness before the dawn
Could even determine the fate of the life
Don't worry girl, it is time.
There no need to be mortified or be ashamed.
Fire away!
Carry the cross on your back and run through the fire ready to die.
Rinne that even show up at school.
Friagne, the King of Guze, finally reveals himself.
And another Flame Haze sneaks into town.
Next time, The Torch and The Flame Haze.