Ever since I was little, I've always been fond
of the little bird from that book.
Flying around and visiting different worlds,
staining its wings black with their colors,
into the valley of death.
Truly a sad end.
So, why was I so enchanted by that book?
Why?
BlackWRock Shooter
How much longer do I have to shout?
How much longer do I have to cry?
Stop now, I can't run anymore
The world I dreamed of one day closes to me
On this dark and cracked road, without the faintest light
I felt like I saw the rays of hope
emanating from my past
Why?
Black Rock Shooter, what fond memories
I recall my times of happiness
Black Rock Shooter, but I can't act
I wish upon the stars soaring through the darkness
because I will run one more time
Episode 7
Wish Upon The Star Soaring Through The Darkness
It's no good.
I can't reach that world.
I can't reach Gold Saw.
She's locked up in that world.
There's nothing I can do.
I'll give it a shot.
I'll try and call out to her.
Mato responded when you addressed Black Rock Shooter, right?
In that case...
No, you can't.
If you go to that world,
our counterparts will—
But...
If I don't go,
I won't be able to save Mato.
She's mysterious, that girl.
Jealousy, hatred, anguish...
Those feelings are unknown to her.
Perhaps it's best to say that what she hates is anguish itself.
Anguish itself...
She denies the part of her that is in anguish.
She saves those people who are overwhelmed by it.
Those feelings are what gave birth to Black Rock Shooter.
She relieves people's sorrow
by severing them from their emotions.
Black Rock Shooter is sure to defeat our counterparts.
When that happens, Mato will be unreachable to us forever more.
You're assuming they'll disappear!
What the hell do you know?
You are mistaken.
Neither Mato nor the other girl will disappear.
I won't let them.
What are you thinking of doing?
Thanks for everything, Saya.
Our friendship was short-lived.
Goodbye.
Mato!
Come to, Mato!
Wake up, Mato!
Mato!
Yu!
Is that Yu?!
That girl must be...
Stop!
If you hurt her, I won't forgive you!
Stop fighting!
I don't want to fight you!
Mato!
Mato, I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry!
Don't lose!
Get out!
Will yourself out of here!
Out of here?
Yes.
You must leave Black Rock Shooter of your own volition.
Scream out that this isn't who you are.
This... isn't who I am?
What's wrong, Mato?
I am...
Mato!
Black Rock Shooter...
isn't me?
Eh? About my sister?
Umm...
She's a bit of a boofhead.
Things go in one ear and out the other.
She can be pretty annoying.
But all things considered,
I'd say she's a pretty good person.
Kuroi?
She's nice and all, but...
She doesn't really open up.
She's cheerful all right, but...
It's kinda hard to tell what's going on in her head.
That's it. Everything she says is sorta sugar-coated.
Mato is a good girl.
I thought she'd complain about her father leaving on a business trip,
but I haven't heard a peep from her.
I think she's just trying to act mature.
She never says anything negative.
She tries so hard to be good.
It worries me somewhat.
I think she's pushing herself too hard.
I am...
a good girl.
What happened? Mato? Mato!
To me,
nothing is painful.
There is no such thing as anguish.
Even if some things seem like they hurt,
deep down, everyone is a nice person.
We can understand each other.
Or so I thought.
Or so I liked to think.
I didn't want to wallow in misery.
I didn't want to become spiteful.
I just didn't want to be hurt.
I didn't want to be hated.
Ever since I was little, I've always been fond
of the little bird from that book.
By the end, its plumage had turned pitch black.
Mato! Mato!
I've realized...
I'm just running away.
Eh?
I know why I've always admired that little bird with its fuligin feathering.
What's with you, Mato?!
To me, that little bird is...
That's right.
It's Black Rock Shooter.
I am...
What of it, Mato?
You didn't want to be hurt,
but that's normal!
There's nothing wrong with that, Mato.
Yu...
You're wrong. You weren't running away.
You've faced reality through thick and thin.
The one running away wasn't you.
If the one running away wasn't you,
then who was?
I hate people who talk crap about me.
All that whining earlier was excruciating!
Hey, it hurts, right? See?
Yu, what are you doing?
See, you hurt me! I'm in pain!
You'll pay attention to me, won't you?
You'll set me free, won't you? Won't you?!
You're on the wrong track.
Both of us, we...
Telling me what to do now, are we?
You're just another version of me.
It is your duty to protect me!
Isn't that so, Strength?!
Yu!
Why?
Strength...
Yu!
What?
How rude to not introduce yourself, Kuroi Mato.
My Strength has been under your care, it seems.
Your... Strength?
My name is Kotari Yu.
Strength is here right now, as are you.
It feels like someone was in great pain just now.
Study time
The exact feeling is eluding me,
but perhaps that's for the best.
Study time
May I have your attention, please?
Does anyone know of Kuroi's whereabouts?
She isn't on the schoolgrounds?
I just received a call from her mother.
She hasn't returned home since yesterday.
She hasn't been home?
What do you mean? Did she run away?
No way.
A kidnapping?
Hey, be quiet.
Enough chit-chat.
Silence! Silence!
Yomi?
Kuroi Mato.
We were placed in the same class in middle school.
Nothing more.
Or is there?
If not...
Why does it hurt so much?
Look at that!
Whoa, it's the cops.
This must be a pretty big deal.
Kagari?
Pain.
Someone's in pain.
Yes, same here.
Yes.
I'm sorry to have to ask for a leave of absence at such a serious time.
Okay.
Bye.
Strength...
I don't get it.
Yu is Strength?
Yu's...
Yu!
Yu's wounds are deep.
Eh?
I've been fighting in this world.
We and this world were born
from the pain and anguish of girls living in reality.
We didn't have feelings of our own.
We were guided by their emotions, which lead us to combat.
And then, Black Rock Shooter came.
I could feel the power she held.
Back then, I fought without purpose.
Win or loss, neither held any meaning to me.
But then,
on the brink of death...
You can't.
I heard Yu's voice.
And in that instant,
my own feelings awakened.
Feelings?
You cannot fathom Yu's pain.
Among all of the girls, it was by far the most terrible.
It affected me deeply.
From the moment I started having emotions of my own,
I could tell:
Yu's feelings were overwhelmingly those of pain and anguish.
As those are mine to bear,
if Black Rock Shooter were to kill me,
what would remain of Yu?
And thus...
That's good.
I'm glad you didn't die.
I'd be troubled if you left me.
Yu...
Yes, it's me.
Why? If I disappear, then your pain will also—
This world is tough. It's filled with only cruelty and hardships.
Even if you die here bearing my pain, I'll just accrue more over time.
If you left me, what would I do?
Your world, on the other hand, is straightforward.
There are no ambiguous feelings, only combat.
Pain is a simple emotion.
Hey, let's trade places.
Trade places?
Yes, an exchange.
I'll stay in this world while you take on reality.
Sorry...
Strength.
You took everything on your shoulders.
I hope...
that you can protect that world in my place.
Because that world...
is her only shelter.
Art Room
You want to be somebody else,
but there's no way that could happen
If you feel sorry for yourself
a different side of you hidden deep inside
will tell you what to do
Some things are just the way they are
I don't want to think about it!
It hurts!
Even though it hurts!
Everybody has troubles, everybody struggles
W-Wow, that's a name for smart people!
Stop!
We complain
You...
Let's go have fun!
and grumble
Let's see lots of different things!
You are my...
and pass the days doing that
No!
We're used to being hurt, but we know
I'm not leaving without you!
you can't survive on feelings of kindness alone
My friend.
But one day, we'll want to be who we truly are
Mato.
and walk down that path as always
Mato!
Why did I...
Mato! Mato!
forget about Mato?
Mato!