REFRESHING SMELL
Fire prohibited. A Don't burn, be moe!
I had a dream about my childhood.
I forgot about it.
And I was never able to recall it.
A dream about the distant past.
kara no kyoukai
I, Azaka Kokutou, am a 16-year-old magus apprentice.
I have a brother named Mikiya Kokutou,
a master named Touko Aozaki,
and a rival in love named Shiki Ryougi.
I'm what you would call a troubled young lady.
I'm going to explain myself so there won't be any misunderstandings.
I'm not troubled by the fact that I love my own brother.
I seriously love Mikiya Kokutou to the point where I can't believe it myself.
I got adopted by my uncle,
entered a boarding school called Reien,
and lived away from Mikiya so that he would forget about me being his younger sister.
So there's only one problem I'm facing right now.
It's that woman who came barging in and took my prize!
Mikiya, I'm home!
Welcome home, Azaka.
Hey.
Oh yeah. This is the first time you've met her, huh?
Let me introduce her.
She's my classmate, Shiki Ryougi.
I need to get that woman to break up with Mikiya as fast as possible
and get him away from dangerous things.
I even became an apprentice magus so that I could match her mentally and physically
and become her rival.
This is a story about such an admirable girl: Me.
But...
What's the meaning of this, Touko?
Oh, sounds like the secret weapon has arrived.
How is that a secret weapon?
Do you remember my request?
Detection and elimination of the magus who is using fairies
to spread anxiety among the students at Reien Academy.
That's right. Since you can't see the fairies, you'll need the eyes.
T-That's...
I'm Shiki Ryougi, and I came here because I was ordered to by Ms. Touko Aozaki.
Stupid Touko!
I can already tell there'll be problems.
Nothing's going to happen.
After all, Shiki thinks of Azaka as her little sister.
You don't understand, do you?
Don't understand what?
Everything.
So I've been thinking.
Touko may actually be stupid.
You're right. It's crazy to have you of all people sneak into the academy.
This sucks. I'm definitely the victim this time.
I have to help find fairies on New Years.
I'm sorry.
Unfortunately, I don't have this thing called mystic eyes like you or Touko.
Hey, is this your dog?
He followed us to your room.
No.
He's the dog of my roommate, Seo, who happens to be traveling overseas with her family.
She asked me to take care of him,
but it's so annoying because he misbehaves like his master.
I see.
This place tolerates pets even though it's a strict school, huh?
It's not like they tolerate them!
Why did you bring him here?
Why? He's been with us for a while.
Hurry up and take him back to the room.
Hurry up!
We're a boarding school,
so there are many students at school even during winter break.
Please try not to do anything that stands out-
That's the chapel. Did you see something?
Do they hold Mass there?
Like, "Our Father called to heaven"?
What are you going to do by calling him there?
Oh, is it "Our Father in heaven"?
First of all,
we'll hear from the teacher of class 1-4.
That Hayama guy?
No. Mr. Hayama suddenly disappeared in November.
There was a rumor about him being associated with dangerous people,
so he may be deep in Tokyo Bay by now.
Please don't feed the
fish without permission
How did a guy like that manage to become a teacher here?
He's the chairman's younger brother.
So who's the teacher now?
I'm in
It's Mr. Kurogiri.
I'm Azaka Kokutou from class 1-1.
Did you receive the message from Mother?
Yes.
The rumor about fairies who steal memories?
Yes, there have been a few times when the students asked me about them.
And what did you do?
I told them that they shouldn't worry about it too much since the fairies are just mischievous.
Do you believe in them?
Yes.
Legends about fairies may be rare in Japan, but they're popular in Europe.
You're from Wales, was it?
Yes.
There are many stories in my country about cute fairies such as cat fairies and dog fairies.
I'm rather fond of them too.
Have you ever heard of fairies killing people?
Are you talking about what happened to Kaori Tachibana?
Yes.
A student from class 1-4 said
that Kaori was attacked by fairies and that she didn't commit suicide-
Excuse me.
Oh, Ouji.
Is it time already?
Yes, Mr. Satsuki.
It's already past the appointed time of one o'clock.
Time isn't eternal, so please use it efficiently.
She's Misaya Ouji. She's the student council president.
And the chairman's daughter.
You're so strict, Ouji.
You're bringing up a difficult subject like eternity.
I don't think what happened to Tachibana was the fairies' doing.
Kokutou, was it?
Yes, Ouji.
Mr. Satsuki has nothing to do with that.
Please try not to trouble him too much about it.
Okay.
We can't talk to class 1-4, the people who were involved.
Nobody wants to talk about it.
I guess we should talk to others.
What's wrong, Shiki?
Oh, you were surprised because Mr. Kurogiri looks like Mikiya, right?
Yeah. So that's why you act modest in front of him, huh?
W-What's that supposed to mean?
It sounds like you're suggesting something.
No. It's just something that came to my mind.
A-Anyway.
He's a person named Satsuki Kurogiri.
No matter how much he may look like him, he's not Mikiya Kokutou.
Look like him? It's more like...
More like?
Shiki?
What's wrong, Shiki?
It's time for work.
Hey, Shiki. Don't be so selfish.
Hey, Shiki!
Geez!
Azaka Kokutou.
Eh?
Hey, Azaka. You're gonna catch a cold.
M-Mikiya...
Punch!
Ow!
What are you doing all of a sudden, you idiot!
That should wake you up.
Yeah.
Azaka. Do you know what time it is?
It's just past two in the afternoon.
Shiki, could it be...?
The fairy took it away.
I don't know who this magus is, but I'm gonna beat him silly.
I won't forgive him even if he apologizes or cries!
This isn't it either.
What?
You're pretty bold, Azaka.
The chairman's at some New Year's party and won't be back until tomorrow, so...
This is the only one that's locked.
Shiki?
Damn, girl...
Thank you, God!
For departmental use only: '98 Class 1-4 Kaori Tachibana Investigation Notes
It's here.
It's the internal record of the questioning conducted on the students of class 1-4
right after that thing with Kaori Tachibana.
"Kaori Tachibana started to act strange at the beginning of the second quarter."
"She suddenly grew thin, looked pale, and she always seemed afraid of something."
And on the day of the incident, she said during class...
Help!
The fairies...
The fairies are coming!
Tachibana!
Wait! Tachibana!
And the old school building caught on fire after that.
They made such a coherent testimony, but now they don't even remember it?
The magus using the fairies is trying to erase what happened to Kaori Tachibana.
Hayama's the suspicious one.
Hideo Hayama
He looks pale.
This is...
Touko!
So, did you see anyone suspicious out of the people you met today?
I see.
Hey, Azaka.
Would the memories taken by the fairies never return?
I think so. But why're you bringing it up now?
No reason.
People don't die from getting their memory taken away.
I'm a good example.
Are you saying that murder isn't the fairy user's intention?
I think it's just turning out that way.
First of all, it's easy to kill someone without relying on fairies.
That's true.
I see, taking memories away means...
There's something someone wants to hide and wants people to forget.
Shiki. You have something you're hiding, right?
Don't play dumb.
I'm telling you to take out the knife you just stole from the dining hall.
It's just a knife. Don't worry about it.
No. You're someone who can kill a lock with a ruler.
I'm collecting them to look at them.
You're not going to take it out no matter what, huh?
You're persistent.
All right. I'm going to resort to force.
Give it to me!
I said give it to me, you...
Got it!
You're ridiculously strong!
Excuse me.
But that should be enough to push Mikiya down.
What did you just say?!
I didn't mean anything else. I just thought so.
You can tell?
I dunno.
I'm not the one who noticed. At the very least, I'm sure he doesn't know.
Isn't that good enough?
I see...
What's so good about him?
You two are siblings, right?
I have a confession.
I like special things.
More accurately, it seems I'm attracted to taboo things.
So I think it's actually a fortunate thing that the person I love is a close relative of mine.
You pervert.
Don't call me that, weirdo.
The problem is that I don't remember when I fell in love with him.
Shiki. Wake up.
Geez, wake up.
I said we're going to check out the arson site in the old school building first thing in the morning.
Wake up, stupid Shiki!
Keep sleeping forever!
Are you here, Kokutou?
Your brother called you.
Brother?
Okay Azaka, pull yourself together and start the investigation.
Last year in November,
Kaori Tachibana screamed that the fairies are coming, ran out of the classroom,
and ran into this old school building.
And she set this spot on fire to kill herself.
The fairy user is taking this memory away from the students.
What's the magus's goal?
Good morning, Kokutou.
Good morning, Ouji.
What an unusual place to meet.
Would you like to join me for morning service?
Sure.
If you don't mind.
Thank you, Kokutou.
It's been a while since I prayed with someone.
If that had never happened, she would still be standing next to me.
Are you talking about Kaori Tachibana?
Yes.
She was like a little sister to me.
She was clumsy and would always get the short end of the stick,
but she was kind and more religious than anyone.
But...
I want to erase all traces of her disgrace.
It's you, huh?
I obtained magic
for Kaori's sake.
Please back out of this, Kokutou.
I don't want to fight you.
You're the one who made the first move.
Yes. That's why I know.
You love your real brother from the bottom of your heart, even though you don't remember why.
You're very good.
So you know everything, huh?
Then I'll come out with it.
I don't have the exact memory of when I fell in love with him.
Before I knew it, I was in love with him.
So if you can draw out that memory, I'll let you go.
That's impossible.
The fairies can only take away memories you remember.
No one can recover lost memories, the oblivion.
And Kokutou. You said you'd let me go,
but I have no intention of stopping after merely taking away their memories.
Ouji...?
They deserve to be punished.
Kaori was dragged into it, but nobody tried to help her.
They didn't do anything. That itself is a crime.
What happened, Ouji?
You... You pushed her to commit suicide!
Stop! Don't come near me!
What is this?
You know, right, Kokutou?
You need something to make familiars out of.
It was an accident.
Then Hayama is...
Go to sleep, Kokutou.
I shall repeat your grief within your hollow sleep.
Kokutou.
Azaka.
Kokutou.
M-Mikiya.
What?
M-Mr. Kurogiri. I'm sorry.
You don't look well.
Did something happen?
Well...
Wait, I remember.
But why?
The students of class 4 disappeared?
Is there a secret Mass or something?
That can't be...
Could it be?!
Mr. Kurogiri.
Did you see where Ouji went?
No. I haven't seen anyone besides you, Kokutou.
So she's resorting to force right after her persuasion fails?
Resorting to force?
Yes. Misaya Ouji intends to erase the memory about Kaori Tachibana from all the students in class 1-4.
Shiki, let's split up and search for them.
Can you go search the school building again?
I'll search the forest.
I have an idea.
Oh, there's nothing over there.
Never mind.
Please be careful.
Okay. Excuse us.
No way...
Where did she go?
I'm sure she's in this school.
And that classroom...
Mikiya...
What would Mikiya do?
What if it's Mikiya...?
Why won't you cry?
I don't know.
Hey, why won't you cry?
Geez, I'm tired. What're you doing?
Oh, Shiki.
Did you find something?
No.
Anyway, you got a call.
It's from your brother.
Information about Hideo Hayama?
Shiki requested it, but it's more suitable that I report it to you.
Oh, Shiki requested that?
Shiki said that you're concerned about Hayama.
Yes. But I never said I wanted him investigated.
I don't want you associated with dangerous things like this.
I'm sure Shiki isn't worried about your well-being.
Nothing I can do about that.
Right now, Shiki's worried about your well-being.
So, what did you find?
Okay, I'll tell you about Shiki's request first.
And I'll give you Touko's message as well.
From Touko?
I told her just like you told me.
Okay, thanks.
You're really not going to go help them?
Satsuki Kurogiri is a dangerous magus called God's Word, right?
I'm sure it won't get serious.
He controls people's recognition using words, but he has no other ways to attack.
I told her a counter-measure.
And if she's my apprentice, she should manage.
Enough of that. Let's eat.
Kokutou.
Good evening, Mr. Kurogiri.
There's nothing over there.
I'm in a hurry, so please excuse me.
Isn't it going a bit too far to make a whole class burn to death like Kaori?
Don't they deserve it, Kokutou?
This will all end tonight.
The real culprit won't get in my way either.
You use a circuitous approach, huh?
What're you after?
I don't know.
I merely granted someone else's wish.
This is happening because of their wish.
I personally don't have a goal.
This must be fate.
I came to this country because Souren Araya requested that I return
the memory that you lost in oblivion two years ago.
No, you're also looking for your lost memory.
I can see your mind hidden behind your words.
That's my only role.
As for Ouji...
Well, in human terms, I'm just killing time.
One needs amusement to live.
Just living would make you a machine.
Are you a magus too?
Yes.
I'm a magus who controls words.
I'm called God's Word.
Let's stop playing with fire,
Ouji.
Please don't joke around, Kokutou.
If you stop now, it'll remain a joke.
People have died already.
Yes. Hayama is dead.
But you didn't kill him.
The one who killed Hayama is...
Hayama himself.
The fairy was the one who told me about it.
For Kaori's sake, you obtained magic and used Hayama as your magic's foundation.
But why did the two of them see the illusion of these fairies?
Illusion?
Drastically losing weight, becoming emotionally unstable and seeing illusions.
These are all withdrawal symptoms of a drug addict.
Kaori tried to commit suicide because she couldn't forgive herself for becoming a drug addict.
And while Hayama was talking with you, he had a heart attack due to the drug.
Meaning nobody died and nobody killed anyone, except for Hideo Hayama who killed himself.
Which just leaves the ones who couldn't save Kaori Tachibana when she was in distress.
And the one who wanted to look away from that inconvenience is...
That's why your memory was stolen before anyone's.
That's why that memory was lost into oblivion.
You should know already that your revenge is...
Just a convenient fantasy that you wished for!
That's good, very good,
Kokutou!
AzoLto!
You're the one fantasizing, Kokutou.
I used the fairies to eavesdrop on the students in class 4.
It's the unmistakable truth!
I see.
But.
You couldn't hear from Kaori or Hayama.
Your truth is a mere rumor born amongst the students after the incident.
Everything about you came afterwards.
The motive for your revenge and your magic.
And the one who gave you your power is...
You'll lose sight of me.
Again?!
That's scary.
We can't talk if you're trying to kill me.
But a wish returns to its owner.
It consumes the host when the host recalls it.
Your oblivion is of that nature.
You cannot see here.
I shall play back the grief.
Even if you forgot it, the memory is actually recorded inside of you.
How ridiculous.
Ouji!
Outta my way!
Give it up already!
Azaka.
You're late.
What were you doing?
Is it over?
Of course.
Ciao!
How are you, Akira?
Come on.
Thanks for taking care of him, Azaka.
Yes.
The incident was settled without any trouble.
And I don't see Shiki around.
She's pretty generous, huh?
She did do her best this time, so I'm sure it's a reward.
Touko?
God's Word Mayday.
It seems even the magus designated to be sealed wasted his efforts this time.
Touko?
Can you tell Azaka that she did well?
Oh, okay. I'll be sure to tell her.
Mikiya, where's Shiki?
I think she already went home.
Did you have some business with her?
No.
Anyway, did you hear that Tachibana regained consciousness?
Yeah.
According to the testimony, she unfortunately happened to be around
when Hayama collapsed from a fit in October.
And Hayama drugged her so she wouldn't tell everyone.
She was a victim too.
It's a sad memory.
I hope she can forget it.
Eh, wait!
Azaka, what about the bus?
It's cold!
I'm hungry, Mikiya.
Is there a place to eat around here?
That's far.
You have to make up for ignoring me and going out with Shiki the other day.
If you bring that up...
Then please don't complain.
I had a dream about my childhood.
A person who was important to my brother and I died.
He looked really sad,
but he didn't shed a single tear.
Why won't you cry?
I don't know.
Is it because boys shouldn't cry?
Hey, why won't you cry?
I couldn't cry even if I wanted to.
Because crying is a special thing.
His strength touched my heart.
He's normal, and he doesn't hurt others more than anyone.
He can understand anyone, but nobody notices him.
An empty loneliness.
I think at that moment,
Mikiya Kokutou became a valuable person to me.
A person I can't lose no matter what.
Under the starlit sky, we siblings gazed up at the starry sky.
This is my primary image.
It was a dream from a distant day I should never remember.
January 1999
Oblivion Recording
I don't like weak people.
So you chose consumption to hide the corpse.
Why don't you keep drinking?
Are you binded by your morals as a human?
Then why did you start eating it?
I thought it was a natural thing to do.
I see.
That means you're special.
I'm special?
That's right.
Your common sense is already gone.
Are you saying I'm broken?
Then you should completely break.
An hour, huh?
You're excellent.
But that's also your limit.
That's all you can manage by merely becoming aware of your origin.
The origin will not take shape unless you awaken it.
The ability of a transcendental man who will not be bound by anything...
The uniqueness as an extraordinary life form...
Don't you want them?
Understood.
You're the first.
Who are you?
Magus.
Souren Araya.
What's your name?
That's regrettable.
You were one letter away from being a lion.
Next Episode
Just being with you and having you smile made me happy.
It brought me peace of mind, even though I was uneasy.
Just being with you and walking with you made me happy.
Being together, even though we weren't together.
Those really are traces of the dreamlike days.
Murder Speculation
(Second Half)