Presented by [God-Speed Subs]
That's right...
Next time, together with Hamaguchi-kun...
Who...?
Flame Haze.
Fla...?
I am Nietono no Shana's Flame Haze.
Why...
Why is such a little kid...
So frightening...?
No... don't come any closer...
Please...
You do not exist.
A Guze no Tomagara has already devoured you a long time ago and you've been dead ever since.
You're a Torch.
A replacement made from the dead's remnants.
I'm... dead?
Me? I have no idea what she's...
No...
Stop...
Someone!
Mother!
Overture
Junko?
I'm home.
Welcome back.
That human's reaction just now... it was a bit odd.
But it's not like she would suspect anything.
A human can't see through the disguise of a Torch.
Yeah. Taking over her existence should have went flawlessly.
That torch... She left behind a considerable amount of Power of Existence.
I've got a good grasp of the bonds she had during her lifetime.
A perfect disguise must take those bonds, and bring it to life through actions and words.
For a bond between a mother and a daughter, it can cause a suspicion like just now.
Even if you don't like it, you must deal with it.
It's not that I don't like it.
It's just bothersome...
Because all it's for, is to track down the Tomagara.
It doesn't matter to me.
We're only here because it's a convenient location to investigate from.
That's all.
Is this the family's common room?
Maybe it's here?
Wednesday's newspaper.
And to be sure, let's grab the last 2 days' worth or so.
Eh, where's today's?
Junko, dinner will be ready soon.
Today's paper.
Where's today's newspaper?
It's on the shelf in the tatami room.
Why are you looking for the newspaper?
No reason.
Junko, what about cake?
Don't want any.
Here?
In the morning on the 15th,
The British man who went missing 10 years ago in New York suddenly appeared at George Park in Yosegi city.
This is definitely the Torch we saw yesterday.
Yeah. It's surprising that a torch on the verge of disappearing would get so much attention.
Just now, the American that was found at Yosegi city's George Park 10 years ago arrived at Yosegi city's police station.
The man was a famous model 10 years ago.
When he was found, he was wearing the same outfit that he was wearing around the time he went missing.
He had no recollection of the past 10 years and no one knows how he ended up in Japan.
It's definitely related to a Tomagara...
But at what point was he devoured?
So the man found in the same outfit from 10 years ago became a torch?
Indeed, this is a curious case, so the situation has caused quite an uproar.
It'd be typical of the Tomagara to move to a different location afterwards to avoid any Flame Haze.
And the reason we're here, is to search for any trails.
But to think...
that it's still in this city...
Welcome back.
You have a gloomy look on your face.
Things aren't getting better between you and Junko?
It's a bit worse than usual.
But don't worry.
She'd understand if we talk to her.
That's right.
From what I can tell from its presence, the Tomagara's incredibly weak.
It's hard to believe that someone that weak is not running away because it's not scared of a Flame Haze.
It's definitely still around.
But oddly, there's too few Torches.
We searched all day, but only found one Torch.
Our only clue is Oogami Junko.
How and when did she encounter the Tomagara...
Junko, dinner!
If there was anything odd about Oogami Junko recently,
the family may know.
Junko, did you hear me?
Don't let your disguise as a Torch go to waste.
Act accordingly, and our investigation will still go smoothly.
I got it.
Oogami Junko's father.
I'm home.
Isn't that your mother's seat?
Is it okay if you can't watch the TV?
Yeah.
Is something wrong?
Not really.
Is that so.
It's such a hassle to deal with humans.
Was there anything weird about me recently?
The stew's just about ready.
Thanks a lot.
After all, today was a bit cold.
Junko... You know...
Your mom didn't mean any harm.
Let it go.
She was just startled...
To see her daughter doing something like that in public.
So Hama... what was it...
Hamaguchi-kun, was it?
Your mom's really sad.
Stop treating her so coldly.
Junko, are you listening?
So that's what was weird about me recently?
Here you go, it's ready.
Ah... the newspaper...
Ah, for the pot stand?
Thank you, Junko.
I'll ask again to be sure. Was anything else weird about me recently?
Like me drifting off in a daydream...
Or you not noticing that I'm around?
Presented by [God-Speed Subs] http://godspeedotaku.blogspot.com/
It's hard to say that that was sufficient information.
As the torch with Oogami Junko's Power of Existence,
I would have expected more bonds, or maybe even a confrontation.
I don't want anything too cumbersome.
Anyhow, the real problem is just the lack of information.
We couldn't get any useful clues from the parents.
She had never left the city.
There was nothing suspicious about the turn of events.
All except the fact that she had a fight with her mom just three days ago on Tuesday.
Hamaguchi Yukio...
Classmate of Oogami Junko at her high school.
Could he be related to the Tomagara?
We have no choice but to find out at the school tomorrow.
What's she doing?
The fight with Oogami Junko must be bothering her conscience.
She'll soon forget about it anyways.
When I leave this city,
Oogami Junko's existence will be completely erased,
As if she had never existed.
She'll forget she ever had a daughter.
It does not matter...
Class 3, of the 2nd year.
Attendance number 2.
Oogami Junko.
Good morning, Junko!
You're here!
The love-love girl makes her appearance!
Shut up...
You got away yesterday, but today, you have to tell us.
So, how'd it go?
Hiding and doing those things without even telling us!
What?
Stop pretending you don't know!
Who else other than Hamaguchi?
Stop hiding it!
Hamaguchi?
Do they mean Hamaguchi Yukio?
I was about to ask them...
What did Oogami Junko do with Hamaguchi Yukio?
She was just startled...
To see her daughter doing something like that in public.
What's "something like that"?
Anyways, it's clear that there's some secret.
Where is Hamaguchi Yukio?
Asking for help right away?
Damn, you're mocking us!
I'm so jealous!
What's up with them? So annoying.
Good morning.
Speak of the devil!
What's this?
- Morning. - Good morning!
Hamaguchi Yukio.
Good morning.
What's wrong?
They're staring at each other so passionately!
Hamaguchi can be cheesy too!
I envy them!
I'm not feeling well so I'm retiring early.
Tell the manager of this place...
I mean, tell the teacher that.
You know the most about Oogami Junko's activities, right?
There's some things I want to ask.
Somewhere we can be alone.
Wait up!
Hey, Junko!
Class is starting soon!
The escape of love!
Hey, Junko!
Hey!
My gosh, what's wrong?
I told you.
There's some things I want to ask.
What is it, all of a sudden?
This is stupid.
There's no need to go easy on just this human.
Tell me about my actions over the past few days.
So they asked after all?
Did you fight again?
How do I respond to get him to talk?
They asked a lot, right? About us?
But of course, you can't answer them, right?
After all, it wasn't true that we were just taking a walk.
At the George Park for instance...
That time was our first...
The "something like that" the father had mentioned.
From what he tells me, it doesn't sound like it was anything that bad.
Then, what exactly was it?
You fought with your parents because of me..
I'm really sorry.
Is it related?
What she did with Hamaguchi Yukio three days ago...
At George Park...
George Park.
George Park!
Just now, the American that was found at Yosegi city's George Park 10 years ago...
- What about that place? - It's the same place...
It may be small, but there's a connection.
Hey, Junko!
What's wrong? You're drifting off again.
Again? What do you mean again?!
Ah, sorry.
I'm not getting mad!
I'm asking you!
When was I like this before?
When, you ask... Well... You know...
The time when you went to the bathroom at George Park, and didn't come back for a long while.
I went to look for you because I thought you were lost...
And you were drifting off in front of the pond.
I almost didn't notice you and walked right past you.
He didn't notice her, despite being right by her.
It was then, when she became a Torch!
Three days ago, Oogami Junko was devoured by the Tomagara at George Park, and became a Torch.
Junko, are you really okay?
Tell me what specifically took place at George Park!
From what happened, to what we did--everything!
Hamagachi Yukio and Oogami Junko...
It is likely that they encountered the Tomagara at George Park.
Yeah. However...
The only one eaten was Oogami Junko.
As I thought, there's many things fishy about it...
This Tomagara.
For that, we will go to George Park with Hamaguchi Yukio tomorrow and it will be clear.
Probably...
Welcome back!
There's some cake.
Cake?
Since yesterday's was spoiled...
You grew a lot...
But inside, you're still a little kid.
You make such a mess while you eat, just like when you were little.
Is that so?
Yup.
Remember how you used to crawl into my bed whenever something scary happened at night?
It's just like then.
You were scared of lots of things...
Lightning, Heavy rain...
Whenever you saw something scary on TV,
I noticed that you're not in bed and there you were, already crawled into my blankets.
The Oogami Junko this mother is talking about right now is already dead.
This mother does not know that.
You did the same thing when your brother started living by himself because you were lonely, right?
Lonely?
Do you run away when you're lonely?
Just like when you're scared?
Not exactly running away,
But rather, you try to stay together.
Together...
Like now.
Like how we're together here, right now.
Right now though... maybe it's me who's lonely?
You won't be lonely...
Because everyone will forget...
Oogami Junko will disappear.
That's what a Torch is.
There.
Open it.
I couldn't make it exactly the way it was.
There was a piece missing.
So, I used the ring you gave as a gift to me when you were young.
It's just a toy, but I thought of it as a gem.
Sorry...
Yeah.
She wasn't really mad...
She felt okay.
I don't mind at all.
Thank goodness.
Now's a time to smile.
That's how it is...
Whether you're a Torch... Or...
A Flame Haze.
That's right...
Next time, together with Hamaguchi...