Everyone is searching for a new world
to attain that overflowing dream.
They all jump over the horizon,
regardless of what lies beyond.
We've run,
we've dived into hope,
and forgotten only courage.
And we've been swept away by the crowd
only to lose something dear to us.
I smile with a twisted face,
and it was the best smile I could put on.
The inside of my mask overflowed with tears
so I covered my wet mask with yet another mask.
I continue to walk through the flat battleground,
and I struggle, unable to warp.
The dream waits quietly on a cape far away.
Even if I fumble around clumsily,
I'm sure I'll still be able to make it there.
All the Blade Children... must be exterminated...
We don't do not have any time to waste.
To the death...
Just ten more minutes.
Time to wake up. You're gonna be late.
I'd rather quit.
I thought you were the adult in this family.
Yeah? Narumi...
What?!
You're sure it's Sonobe?
Yeah, I'll be there in thirty.
Why are these people who apparently know Kiyotaka being targeted?
What's this all about?
You won't be happy to see this.
What the...
The floor the victim fell from has been under a strict lockdown
for the past few days...
Everything seems routine except a watchman who got to work 5 minutes early.
Have you started questioning the watchman yet?
Uh...
It looks like Sonobe had a knife on him when he died.
Any signs of a struggle?
Probably. Haven't checked yet.
No, Sonobe didn't resist.
You again?
Sonobe would have defended himself if given the opportunity,
but he was pushed out the window from behind.
And your theory is based on what?
For someone hospitalized in a wheelchair, I find it unlikely he would have been able
to pull out that knife in time to do any good.
It's possible the knife was planted on him,
or maybe he planned on hurting someone, or even himself.
Don't you have school?
Both of them do have valid points.
Nevermind the knife. What about these flowers?
You think they were put there in remembrance of the dead?
Notice how all the flowers are irises...
Ayumu, maybe the killer is trying to send a message with the flowers...
But why irises? Do they mean something?
What do you think, Inspector?
I think the two of you should leave the investigative work to the professionals
and get back to school where you belong!
I scattered the irises around Sonobe's body, just as you instructed.
And just to be sure we're on the same page, you don't mind if Little Narumi
happens to be killed in this next little trick I throw at him. Right?
Go ahead.
Sweet.
Outside the window... Kira Kira Kira Ki...
- The stars are twinkling... - Lame song.
Ayumu, look at those beautiful doves!
Sure you want to skip school? It'll go on your record.
I have decided to use my position at the newspaper to pursue a breaking story.
Lucky me.
Am I annoying you?
Yes.
Come on! Why do you always have to be a jerk to me?
No particular reason.
Fine then! I don't need you! I'll find the killer myself!
Nice catch!
Hey buddy, watch where you're throwing things. You almost took my head off!
I don't mean to sound forward, but you're really cute.
Yeah? Good luck convincing Mr. Grumpy over there of that!
Speaking of cute chicks, does this little guy belong to you?
Yeah, his name is Robertson. Don't worry, though. He's harmless.
Well, hello there, Robertson!
Here.
So, you up for a quick little game?
Sure.
Okay, in my hand, I hold seven cards.
'Kay.
Let's see what you got. Queen of diamonds. Two of spades. Ten of hearts.
King of spades and the aces of spades, diamonds and clubs.
That seems like a really unbalanced hand.
Go ahead, you can take the cards from me...
Great. Choose one and make certain I can't see which one it is...
Then, utilizing my unique reasoning skills, I'll deduce which card you chose.
I'll believe it when I see it.
Okay, let me see here...
I'll choose this one.
Well, I know right away I can eliminate the three aces.
How come?
It seems unnatural that there are three aces out of only seven cards...
When the average person chooses an ace, you get the misperception
that you're limiting yourself to choosing from only three cards.
That makes... some sense.
Basically, people who are extremely honest,
or who are extremely clever would choose an ace. I peg you as somewhere in between.
Okay, then it's down to four cards now.
Right. So logic tells me your card is...
The queen of diamonds.
No... Your card is the two of spades.
You're right.
Don't tell me I'm that easy of a person to read.
No, I just have a way with the really cute girls.
Interesting pick up line you got there.
Ayumu?
After you said her card was the queen, you saw her reaction and changed your answer...
You also paused to check her reaction after you excluded the three aces.
This is true, however one answer change is my limit...
But how do you explain my method
of narrowing down her choice to between two cards?
Shall I confess then?
I assumed there was a high probability that she would choose neither
the King nor the ten of hearts.
I figured that she would get a bad feeling had she picked one of those two cards.
My reason for this conclusion being that you both just came from
the scene of Professor Sonobe's death.
Remember the flower petals scattered around his body?
The shape on an iris resembles the pattern on the ten of hearts.
And the King... he holds a sword in his hand.
Much in the same way Sonobe was found this morning.
So you...
Killed Sonobe?
You did see the knife like this one near his body.
Sonobe had been shadowing us for quite some time now.
He wanted to kill us all.
You... You mean you're...
My name... is Kousuke Asazuki. And yes... I am one of the Blade Children.
The Blade Children?
Well then, down to business... You want to know what the Blade Children are...
to know about the children who possess a cursed mark...
I'll tell you anything you want to know as long as you beat me at a game.
A game?
Yes. It will test your wisdom, courage, and luck.
I've prepared it already, and if you are able to beat me,
I'll give you the whole story about us.
What happens if I don't win?
Well... Let's just say you'll end up in a bit of danger.
I hate bees!
Don't you ever do that again.
Ayumu, I hate to point this out, but you're hiding behind me.
Yes, I realize that... Thanks.
Cowering behind a girl? Real manly, Ayumu!
Sorry. It's just that bees are dangerous.
No need to state the obv ous.
It hurts whenever I get stung too, and sometimes people even die from bee stings!
In my case, the chance of dying is one hundred percent.
Anaphylaxis... An extreme allergic reaction to certain foreign substances...
Guaranteed death for those with the condition,
but not before devastating bouts with hives, scorching fever, and choked breaths.
Where did... Who told you about this?
Your brother happened to mention it to me in conversation once,
which got me thinking, what kind of person tells someone how to kill his own brother?
Eh? Little Narumi?
Wouldn't you like to know about your older brother?
Take this piece of paper. It'll tell you where to go.
We'll play the game there.
Be there in one hour.
That is... if you want to put your life on the line
and get involved with the Blade Children.
Little Narumi... I have to wonder. Is what Kiyotaka said true?
Do you have the potential to save the Blade Children?
I'm glad you decided to show.
Follow me.
This elementary school was recently abandoned.
It's the perfect place for this sort of game.
Here we are.
This isn't the time for cold feet.
This way.
All right then. What do you say we get started?
Tell me about this game first.
It's a card game similar to the one before.
I will begin by choosing one card out of this regular fifty-two card deck.
Then, all you have to do to win is guess which card I picked.
Get it right and I'll tell you anything you want to hear, but if you get it wrong...
I'll have to open the lid on this box.
You do realize there's no guarantee the bees will attack me?
I'm afraid I covered the note I gave you earlier
with pheromones that attract this species of bee.
In other words, you're the perfect target.
This game is bogus. I mean, how do you expect Ayumu to have a chance
when you've already stacked the odds in your favor?
That's why I'm giving you a concession.
I will allow you to ask me four yes-or-no questions.
As it stands now, your odds of winning are fifty-two to one.
Depending on what you ask, you can raise the probability to your favor.
If you're smart, you'll find a way to get a peek into my choices
and confirm your hunches before making a final decision.
So it's in your best interests if you ask the right questions.
What assurance do I have that you won't lie in response to a question? 1 9
I'm taking this game seriously,
so you have my word that I'll be completely honest at all times.
Besides, what fun would it be if I cheated?
Okay, I promise I won't cheat. After all, your life is depending on this.
You should know, Little Narumi, that someone before you guessed my card
under the same conditions.
I know what you're thinking, and you're right. It was your brother.
Should you decide to run, I won't stop you.
You're far inferior to your brother, so the stress may be too much for you.
Just ignore him.
Better take this back before I stick it somewhere else.
Anything my brother can do, so can I.
Now stop wasting my time and choose your card.
Let's begin.
I'll remove the card that holds your fate... And now it's time for your questions.
Try guessing while you hum a little tune, the way that Kiyotaka did.
It's alright, Ayumu. I know what you're capable of. You won't get it wrong...
You get to ask four questions, which means you can narrow it down
to the card's color and suit, and possibly even the number.
But you're smarter than that.
You'll guess it by prying into this guy's mind, thinking how he thinks.
Okay. Question number one.
Here's something you might find interesting...
Kiyotaka asked only one question before guessing correctly.
The real question is can you do the same?
It would mean you two are equal, but remember...
if you ask me more than one, you will have lost to him once again.
And you will sink deeper into the shadow of his success.
What do you say... Little Narumi? Are you up to the task?
I can figure it out with only one question too.
Ayumu, be careful. He's setting you up.
Let's get this going... What's your one question?
You already decided which card you would choose before the game even started,
am I right?
That's right. Keen observation...
But that's not the question Kiyotaka asked.
So that's it. No more questions. Now guess, just like your brother did.
What card have I chosen?
Ask the three other questions, Ayumu.
Don't be stubborn. It's not worth dying over.
You honestly believe you outsmarted me.
All that talk about my brother...
how he needed just one question to win this lame game...
I bet he asked something about how much of a twisted freak you are.
But from what I've seen of you, I don't need to ask.
The fact is you are a twisted freak,
and even though you like toying with your enemies,
you would never allow them to get an edge.
Before explaining your game, you removed a Joker.
Wait a minute! That joker is from a different set of cards.
You didn't say anything when you removed it earlier.
You didn't say that it was from the same set of cards,
nor did you say Jokers would be off limits in the game...
So technically, you didn't lie.
But your deceptive presentation was tied directly to your choice of card.
You wanted to hide the fact that you could choose a Joker from the deck,
and you needed the extra card to make that possible.
In the process you gave up the solution to me.
Your reasoning... is logical enough...
but are you confident enough in your answer to bet your life on it?
I am a twisted freak, after all.
Do you really think I'd only use one simple trap in this game?
Yeah, I do. I have plenty of faith in my own reasoning.
I'm not afraid... and I will bet my life on it.
Your card is a Joker.
You did it!
I win. I beat you fair and square.
Now tell me about my brother and the Blade Children.
Start talking, Asazuki.
What's so funny?
It's frightening, the resemblance between brothers...
You won the game with almost the exact same logic as Kiyotaka,
and even your grandiose and cocky speech was the same... Well played.
You've proven that you do have wisdom and courage.
Now, step this way and I'll tell you everything you want to know.
What's going on?
The continuation of the game... I never said it was over.
On the far wall you'll find a box underneath a cloth. Take a look.
Not what you expected?
I have a remote for that box, and with the click of a button,
I can unleash those bees on you.
Don't think escaping will be easy as both doors and windows are locked.
So this is another test. What for?
Why, your luck, of course!
It's gonna take a lot to escape from that room without being stung.
Are you trying to kill us?
Yes, I am. I have no use for you two since we Blade Children can't be saved anyway.
For eternity, we, the Blade Children have been denied the blessing of true life.
I hear anaphylactic shock can be quite painful.
Too bad I forgot to bring any antidote.
There won't be any dying today.
Impossible! How'd you get out?
You're a twisted freak, remember? I assumed you would try something like this.
My suspicions began when you decided the best place for the game
would be this abandoned building.
By choosing this location you unconsciously revealed to me
that you had ulterior motives...
Luckily, I still had the note you had given me earlier today.
I figured if you wanted to kill me using the bees,
the best method would involve a swarm attacking me in a locked room.
Then when you led us through that room before the game,
I knew that's where you would try to do it,
so I blocked the hole for the deadbolt with the crumpled up note.
Then it was simply a matter of opening the unlocked door.
You gave me your word...
Now tell me everything about my brother like you promised.
Little Narumi... I neglected to tell you this before, because it's a tragic flaw...
but I'm not really known for keeping my promises.
Unfortunately for you, the game will continue!
Kiyotaka... What in the world are you trying to do to me?
Ayumu, you really were amazing with that card guessing game...
Oh yeah?
Your life was on the line, yet you didn't get scared or anything.
In fact, both of our lives were at stake
and your advanced intuition and logic pulled us through.
Actually, I didn't use logic to figure out the card he chose.
I used a trick of my own.
Huh?
This knife reflects pretty well, wouldn't you say?
I stuck the knife in the table on purpose.
I placed it in a spot that would give me a good angle on the card
when he pulled it out of the deck, and sure enough,
he gave me the answer without even knowing it.
What about all your deductions?
Just acting. I even tried to look angry when I threw the knife down on the table.
- Who am I kidding? - Outside the window...
- I still don't believe in my own - Outside the window...
- luck or strength. - Kira Kira Kira Ki...
- Kiyotaka probably didn't - Kira Kira Kira Ki...
- need a trick to figure out the answer. - The ocean shimmers... Kira Kira Kira Ki...
I'll never surpass my brother.
Do you know what an iris signifies? The happiness of those who believe.
The only humans who can surpass fate
are those who can truly believe in themselves to the end.
A sweet scent washes into my throat
and my feelings continuously overflow...
Don't look at me with that same gaze
that's like you're following a soccer ball.
I've already grown used to my third year at the office,
but did I lose something instead?
Those days long ago when we would talk about anything...
We're finally old enough now
to have those slightly awkward discussions about love.
A single day seems so long, but a whole year ends so quickly.
A whole year seems so short,
but how well will I be able to live the rest of my life?
Time for Hiyono's Useful News Report!
Did you know if you rearrange the letters in "Newspaper" it spells "Answer Pep"?!
Next episode's highlights include Hiyono's exhaustive investigation
and the amazing book "Hiyono's Data" playing a huge role!
Take this! Hiyono punch!
On the next Spiral: The Misty Gallows.
Don't miss all the excitement! That's all for today's Hiyono's Playhouse!