At the dawn of the Seika era,
in order to regulate unwanted messages that presented a bad influence to society,
the Media Cleansing Act was passed.
The libraries armed themselves in order to protect freedom of expression
from the extreme censorship of the Media Cleansing Committee.
The conflict between the two continued to escalate.
In the 31st year of Seika, a hot-blooded girl who can run really fast
plunged herself into the middle of this conflict without letting her parents know.
usu murasaki hirogaru
うす紫広がる
The faint purple spreads across the sky
orenji iro ni kawaru mado no soto
オレンジ色に変わる窓の外
The color changes to orange outside the window
yoru wa mou bai bai
夜はもう ばいばい
The night's already "bye-bye"
tada kirei na mono wo kirei to
ただ きれいなものをきれい と
I just want to be someone who
ieru atashi de itai
言えるあたしで居たい
calls beautiful things beautiful
ima wa dokidoki shitai no
今はドキドキしたいの
I want to get excited for it!
fumidashichae tomaranai
踏み出しちゃえ とまらない
So I step out, unstoppable
zenbu te ni hairi sou de
全部手に入りそうで
And take everything into my own hands
sono saki de aitai
その先で会いたい
Beyond there, I want to meet
mita koto no nai atashi
見たことのない 私
the new self that I've never seen
sayonara daisuki na machi
さよなら 大好きな街
Farewell, my beloved town
atashi mo ganbatte miru yo
あたしもがんばってみるよ
I'll try to do my best
kono sora no tsuzuku basho de
この空の続く場所で
somewhere under the same sky
Situation 06
The Library Force Did Not Fire
Are they down there?
No!
So come up!
You're so fast.
It's what I'm best at.
Call the base.
Yes, Sir.
What should I tell them?
Tell them that we're in dire straits.
Yes, Sir.
That night, Instructor Komaki and I had gone to a used book store in Yamanashi
to retrieve a valuable book known as the Book of Prophecy.
Please take this.
Are you sure about giving up such a valuable book?
I can't sell it regardless.
I want it to be read by many people.
Having it in the Library is the only way to achieve that.
We appreciate it.
Is this book that valuable?
It was censored vigorously immediately after the Cleansing Act was passed.
There probably aren't any copies of it left on the market.
It's a Western novel, right?
It's a sci-fi novel by an American writer.
Sci-fi?
It's about a world where books are hunted down.
The protagonist's job, as a member of a group just like the Cleansing Committee, is to burn books.
That's...
It's almost as if it prophesied our current situation, isn't it?
It was written sixty years ago, too.
That's why it's called the Book of Prophecy...
A French filmmaker also made it into a movie.
It's been censored as well, and you can't watch it anymore.
The car behind us bothers me.
Let's get off at the exit before ours.
Yes, Sir.
Was I worrying too much?
Looks like it.
They were waiting for us!
It's the car from earlier!
Just as I thought!
We'll be the decoys!
I found them!
There they are!
Shoot!
Run!
This is Genda.
Halt!
Or we'll shoot!
Instructor Komaki!
I'm fine.
It's just a scratch.
Who fired that shot?!
Urban areas are a buffer zone as determined by the agreement!
Not even the Cleansing Force has the right to fire!
I'll beat you up, so step forward!
Kasahara-san, this is no time for this!
But...
Is it from Kasahara?
She called us, but hung up when I answered.
She hasn't picked up since then, no matter how many times I've called.
Nothing from Komaki either?
Nor Sakai or Harada.
Considering the time, they must be near Hachiouji or Hino.
Found them?
No, Sir.
All right, move to the meeting point a block ahead.
It was really close, but we lost them.
Is your leg okay?
It was just a ricocheting bullet that grazed me.
But it'll be tough to run now.
This is terrible.
That Cleansing Force member is inexcusable.
What's so funny?
It's nothing.
Is this Kasahara?
What happened?
Yes.
Yes, Sir.
We'll wait here until the rescue team arrives.
Also, Instructor Komaki is injured.
No, it's not serious, but his right calf—
Kasahara-san!
The Cleansing Force shot at him!
In a residential area, too!
They're in Hino!
Head there immediately with some men.
Yes, Sir.
Let's go!
Was LOSC Komaki injured?
She said he was shot in the leg.
It's not a serious injury, though.
Damn them!
Hurry, Tezuka!
Yes, Sir!
Thanks.
You didn't have to tell them about my injury.
It'll only make them needlessly concerned.
I have an obligation to report it.
Also...
You can't forgive the Cleansing Force member who fired a shot in a residential area?
I will ask the Force to protest it firmly later.
It'll be useless.
They had silencers on, so nobody in the neighborhood will have noticed it so late at night.
What about your wound and the ricochet mark on the cement?
They'll make an excuse of some sort.
In their eyes, the rules are not there to be followed, but to be broken in crafty ways.
No! No! Stay away!
No!
Damn it, now I won't be able to go to the bathroom.
I thought I'd enjoy a single's life, but...
Shoot!
What's the matter?
The phone battery is almost dead.
I guess mine got broken earlier.
Well, all we need to do is wait for the rescue team.
Instructor Komaki,
why did you laugh earlier?
Tell me!
It really wasn't an appropriate time to laugh!
Well...
They aren't in this sector.
We can't find them, even after so much searching...
Where are they hiding?
The Hino switchyard...
What?
They're in the Hino switchyard!
Call the railroad company and get permission to search inside their facility!
Remind them that we won't hinder their train schedules.
We'll move out!
Yes, Sir!
Please be safe.
Tell me why you laughed earlier.
I was just thinking about how much you always resemble him.
Your demonic instructor...
It's a long story...
but I guess that's okay.
We have nothing to do until the rescue team gets here anyway.
I know I'm the one who asked,
but stories involving Instructor Dojo are often painful to me as well,
so please go easy on me.
During the year after Dojo and I joined the Library Force,
the year before we were assigned to the Task Force,
there was a battle involving the books stored at a children's center in Tokyo.
The Task Force was called to action.
Dojo and I hadn't joined the Task Force yet, but they expected us to do so eventually because we graduated from a library school,
so they took us with them too.
Their object of pride was a large collection of children's books.
They had rare books not found anywhere else.
The Cleansing Committee focused there and came after those books.
The reason you joined the Library Force was because of a children's book, wasn't it?
Yes.
So children's books get targeted a lot?
Children's books clearly reveal the world's absurdities that adults can no longer see.
So their existence must be bad for the Committee.
Our society turned out like this because of political reasons,
but if people from a place with no Media Cleansing Act or Freedom of Library Act saw this,
it would seem ridiculous and incomprehensible to them.
True.
But unfortunately, this is our reality.
Man, where did all those people come from?
Looks like breaking through them won't be possible.
Yeah.
They have far more people than we do,
and we can't have a big shoot-out here.
LOSC Dojo, the Cleansing Force fired at LOSC Komaki, right?
That's what Kasahara seems to have said.
What about it?
Nothing.
Let's search around and do recon with fewer guards.
The battle, which started in the middle of the night, came to a stalemate.
That's when morning dawned.
Fire to the left!
The battle will end when the facility opens.
That means our victory.
Don't let them enter the building until then!
Roger!
We couldn't break through from the right either!
10 minutes to opening...
It's about time to offer them a cease-fire.
The children's center is closed today!
Go away!
Let us in!
We came to feed the bunnies.
No!
What is he doing?
He must be getting edgy because they're about to lose.
These are the carrots grandma prepared!
Shut up and go away!
Hey! Wait!
No way!
He shot at him?
It was only a warning shot, though.
The shot landed ten meters away from the kid.
But still...
Yes, it was a preposterous act.
It made me upset too.
But I heard something really snap next to me,
and Dojo was running out before I realized it or had time to stop him.
Hey!
Who fired that shot?
I'll beat you up, so step forward!
I knew that was it.
I was really impressed.
Is it the result of Dojo's teachings, or a natural instinct of yours?
I don't like it either way!
It's only a matter of time before they find us here.
I'll be the decoy.
Please get away from here with the Book of Prophecy.
See, that's just like how Dojo used to act, too.
But...
What's important is to not let them have the Book of Prophecy.
There they are!
Kasahara-san, that's enough.
There's no need to injure each other needlessly.
Hey! Don't treat me so roughly!
Neither of them have the Book of Prophecy.
What?!
Did you hide it?
What?
Are you going to stick a needle between my finger and fingernail?
I don't think they'd do that in this day and age.
I don't care about myself, but don't mistreat our female member.
You'll regret your actions.
I don't think you'd tell us if we interrogated you normally.
We'll comb the place and find it.
Anyone get hurt?
We only got scratched up.
They probably got two or three broken ribs.
You always overdo it!
I don't want to hear that from you!
By the way, about the story earlier...
What happened after Instructor Dojo charged out alone?
That?
Who fired that shot?
I'll beat you up, so step forward!
You scum!
Dojo got beat up badly by the Cleansing Force then, but...
Don't let Dojo get all the action!
We were lead by LSTC Genda, so we would never just watch...
We all charged in under his order,
and I have no idea what really happened after that.
Dojo had to make a written apology after that incident.
I guess that's when the captain decided to make Dojo a squad leader, and pair him up with me.
He said a brash person like Dojo needed to be in a position of responsibility, or else he'd continue to be uncontrollable.
The first train, huh...
Hey! Stop that train!
Hurry!
Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom!
I can't hold it any more!
Shut up!
I'll tell you where the book is if you let me go!
Silence!
The Book of Prophecy is on that train!
Stop that train; I don't care who!
The Library Force is attacking us!
What?
I'll go, then!
Enoki, that's enough.
I said that's enough.
But Sir! The book is on that train!
We can still make it!
The Department of Justice requested the Committee to stop.
The DoJ did?
No way!
There was a complaint filed by the residents regarding shots being fired.
This mission is over.
Retreat!
Everyone okay?
Yeah, we're fine.
Who shot Komaki?
Was it you?
Are you going to punch him?
Are you really punching him?
Instructor Dojo!
We will file a vehement complaint about this breach of our agreement.
Don't think you can get away with this!
Dojo is a madman, but he's capable of learning.
You should learn from him.
Yes, Sir!
The call just came in to let us know that the Book of Prophecy was picked up safely at Hino Station.
With that, the mission is finally complete.
I'm surprised with how quickly the Cleansing Force retreated.
They said that the DoJ requested them to stop.
It's also hard to believe that the residents filed the complaint, too.
The DoJ taking action so early in the morning isn't normal either.
A complaint to the DoJ?
No way...
I'm home.
And while I was in a life-and-death situation...
20 missed calls?
Shibasaki
Shibasaki...
thanks.
nani ka ga kawaru kigashita
何かが変わる気がした
I had a feeling something was about to change
nani mo kawaranu asa ni
何も変わらぬ朝に
on this very ordinary morning
itsu mo yori sukoshi ii mezamedatta
いつもより少し良い目覚めだった
I woke up feeling a little better than usual
hito sashiyubi de sashimesu no wa mirai
人指し指で指し示すのは未来
My index finger points out to the future
kimi no te no hira ga fureru tabi ni afuru omoi
君の手の平が触れる度に 溢る 想い
My thoughts overflow each time I touch your palm
ch-ch-ch-changes saa kawatteku
ch-ch-ch-changes さぁ、変わってく
Changes, yeah. I'm changing.
sayonara furui jibun
さよなら 旧い自分
Goodbye my old self
shingenjitsu atarashii nani ka ga matteru
新現実 新しい何かが待ってる
There's something new awaiting me in the new reality
ch-ch-ch-changes saa kawatteku
ch-ch-ch-changes さぁ、変わってく
Changes, yeah. I'm changing.
ushinau mono mo aru
失うものもある
There are things I'll lose too
demo iindesu hitotsu unazuki kakedasu
でもいいんです ひとつ頷き、駆け出す
But that's okay, I'll just nod and keep running
saa subete ga ima kawatteku subete ga hajimaru
さぁ、すべてがいま変わってく すべてが始まる
Yeah, everything is changing now, everything starts now
shingenjitsu dare no mono demo nai atarashii jibun
新現実誰の物でもない 新しい自分
It's a new reality, my new self belongs to no one but me