In the darkness
it starts, now we start.
Curtains of ruthlessness
stain this world in darkness.
Eternal night comes
writhing with hideous ones.
Gears of fate.
Look, they've begun turning.
The forbidden grimoire.
Grimoire, grimoire, grimoire.
The clock of destruction
engraves times of atrocity.
Silent snares
nobody can ever escape.
Born in secret,
a tale shadows whisper.
Dance in the abyss of Hell.
Now, the curtains rise.
"Depravity and the Forbidden Quadrille"
Morning, Ritsuka.
Morning, Mom. Didn't get enough sleep again?
Yeah, my deadline's soon.
Don't overdo it.
The weather's great today, too!
Let's eat.
I'll make dinner tonight, too. I don't have work.
Thanks! I'll finish the manuscript today.
Are you translating for a magazine this time?
Yeah, about British fantasy.
Wow.
Coming.
Morning! More like "good evening" in London, right Big Brother?
Oh, is it Lindo?
Yup, I'm fine! I'll let you talk to Mom.
Okay, I'm leaving now.
Oh, wait. It's Monday.
Oh.
There!
Sometimes I think it's adorable how you like these charms.
Adorable? They're very important, you know.
Of course, Mom.
Have a good day.
Bye, Mom!
♪ Chatting with friends, cream puffs, and herb tea are all things I like. ♪
♪ Today's the same as yesterday. I'm a normal high school girl. ♪
♪ I'm not a kid anymore, so I know that glass slippers, castles, and princes ♪
♪ are all just fairy tales. ♪
♪ But sometimes I wonder, in the wind after I turn the corner, ♪
♪ if there's a new world. Yes, that there's someone smiling and waiting for me. ♪
Ritsuka! Morning.
Morning, Azuna.
Hey, did you finish the English composition homework?
I got my mom to help me.
I knew it! Help me.
--Mm, maybe-- --Ritsuka!
Hm?
What did you do?
Huh?
"Urgent Notice" "Ritsuka Tachibana, second year class D, report to the third library immediately." "Student Council President, Rem Kaginuki"
What?! The Student Council President is summoning me?
Wh-Why?
Ritsuka, what's going on?
Huh? That's what I want to know.
But, it's a summons from the Great Rem. You really don't know?
No, I haven't done anything...
It's her.
She broke the rules or something?
Doesn't look like the type to do that.
Oh, but I'm a little jealous.
Right? A summons from the Great Rem.
I'd like to go to the third library, too!
Hey, are you okay, Ritsuka?
Yeah. Anyways, I'll go see what they want.
The third library...
♪ Give up, checkmate. It's time to confess. ♪
♪ Say yes! ♪
♪ Come along, lovely butterflies. I'll enchant you with a sigh. ♪
♪ We love your sweet soul! ♪
♪ You'll become mine. Leap and embrace you. ♪
♪ Kiss you! ♪
♪ Poor little you. I'll break you gently. ♪
♪ Worship us. ♪
♪ Everybody's hearts ♪
♪ will be stolen. ♪
♪ To the ends of eternity ♪
♪ they fall. ♪
♪ Charmingly ♪
♪ Sweetly ♪
♪ Labyrinth of depravity. ♪
♪ We are Shiko Academy's Student Council of the third library. ♪
♪ We'll bless those who come ♪
♪ and bestow a seal. ♪
♪ The forbidden flower garden, Shiko Academy's Student Council. ♪
♪ You can't run now ♪
♪ from our captivating charm. ♪
Ritsuka Tachibana?
Oh, yes.
I'm Rem Kaginuki, president of Shiko Academy's Student Council.
We received a note that you're violating school regulations.
What?! I've done no such thing.
I only know what the letter says. Anything else, I'd need to look into.
I haven't gone against school regulations!
Who wrote the note? What does it say?
I'm the one asking questions here.
I should get a say in this, too!
Very good. This butterfly's talking back at you.
Interesting!
How exciting.
Ritsuka Tachibana. You're quite intriguing.
"Feedback Submission Form"
Actually, I summoned you to ask you something.
Oh.
Hm?
Anyway, I haven't broken any school rules.
E-Excuse me.
What a surprising pendant.
Seems she's unaware, poor thing.
Looks like it'll be harder than we thought, Rem.
It won't be a problem.
Next time, we'll checkmate.
"King"
Ugh, what was that about? Geez.
Ritsuka!
Azuna.
How was it?
The nerve! They said I was going against school regulations without giving me any say!
What?
Everybody gets all googly-eyed when they see the Great Rem.
I can't believe this is what he's really like.
Is it okay, though? They won't summon you anymore?
Even if they do, I'm won't go.
Let's go.
Huh?
What?
This is terrible.
Oh!
Hm?
It's in the other room.
Ritsuka!
Oh!
Mom!
Don't!
Th-The police!
What?
What's the meaning of this?
Um...
Uh, this is...
You reported there was damage.
Yes, but...
You said thieves entered, right?
And that they got your mom.
Yes! The room was all messed up--
How?! How did it--
How? That's what I'd like to ask you.
Well, I'm glad everything's fine.
But, my mom!
She probably just went out.
It can't be! She was bleeding...
How about you contact us again if she doesn't come back?
Please, wait!
Wait...
Mom!
The number you have reached is out of range or turned off--
Did they take her?
Hello? Ritsuka?
Big Brother!
What's wrong?
It's Mom...
I'll go home right away.
Stay at your friend's house until I'm back. Was your friend Azuna?
Huh? But I should be home if Mom comes back.
No! Those men might return.
Ritsuka, don't lose your pendant.
Huh?
Azuna!
"To Mom: I'm at Azuna's. Contact me when you come back! --Ritsuka"
Anyway, come over right away.
Should I meet you on your way over?
No, it's okay.
You guys are...
Wh-Where's my Mom?
Where's the forbidden grimoire?
Tell me.
Ow, my eyes...
Why?
Damn, it's verbena.
Let go of her.
You're not going to stop me.
What? What's going on?!
Oh! It's Rem.
They ran off.
U-Um... Thank you very much.
I... I...
Huh?
Wh-What is it?
No, it's nothing.
This fragrance...
I don't understand.
The house was back to normal and the police wouldn't believe me about my mom.
It was them. The people from earlier ransacked my house...
Then, they tried to carry you off?
Yes. They asked me where the forbidden grimoire is.
The forbidden grimoire?
A grimoire is a book of magic, right?
Why would they ask me?
I don't get it...
Do you know what a grimoire is?
My deceased grandfather studied ethnology.
He studied folklore about European necromancy, magic, and vampires.
So, I know a little.
Welcome home, Master Rem.
This is just a guess, but I think your house being ransacked, your mother's disappearance,
and the disturbances at school are related.
Disturbances?
It seems there are students who are devil worshippers.
Devil worshippers?!
The note said you were involved.
No, I don't know anything about it!
They may think the grimoire is in your house.
It's not! I've never heard of that!
Um, I'll go talk to the police again. I need them to help my mom.
I'll contact them.
--Huh? --They'll listen if it's someone from the Kaginuki family.
Um...
Thank you very much for helping me... and for even helping my mom.
Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not doing this for you.
I just want to keep order in our school as Student Council President.
Oh.
Where'd you come from?
Come here.
Do you know where it might be?
My grandfather's house...
This is my mom's!
She was here!
Checkmate.
"Doubt and the Secret Jitterbug"
Act two, "Doubt and the Secret Jitterbug."