A n i m e s p i r i t s
She was crying alone.
She lost something important.
She lost someone important.
If someone would just embrace her,
and tell her, "You're not alone."
But... there was no one who would embrace her.
You understand, correct?
Yes.
I must be... a good girl.
I must not disgrace the name of Kagura Hinata.
Third Carving : 「Hinata」
It is 7:45 am.
Damn, I'm going to be late!
Taku-bou!
Uncle!
What's the matter?
You just transferred, but you've become quite the player!
Hold on, Uncle!
H-Hinata-chan!
Good morning, Hirose-sama.
I came to pick you up.
P-Pick me up?
Today is outdoor sketching class, isn't it?
I'm glad the weather is so nice.
Yeah...
I guess it is, but...
What's bothering you, Hinata-chan?
Let's go, Hirose-sama.
Well...
Wh-What should I do?
I-It's not like I was waiting...
It's just a coincidence.
Let's go to school together.
I don't remember promising anything like that.
H-Hirose...
What a coincidence.
G-Good morning, Hayami-chan.
Hinata-chan came to pick me up.
And then...
We should hurry, Hirose-sama.
H-Hold on, Hinata-chan!
Wait!
Hayami-chan, you should join us too!
Hey! Just wait a second...
Let's eat lunch together today, okay?
More importantly, Hinata-chan...
I'm looking forward to it, Hirose-sama.
No, well...
Hinata-chan, can't we bring Hayami-chan...
Let's go, Hirose.
Ko-Kohinata-san, what are you doing?
Hirose-sama is coming with me.
That's too bad.
Hirose promised he'd go to school with me.
Is that true?
Y-Yeah...
But Hayami-chan...
Hayami-chan, that hurts!
You two should get along!
All right, we're going to start the sketching class.
The theme is, "This is the scene I found the most beautiful."
Don't be late coming back.
All right, dismissed.
In this village, there is nothing more beautiful than me.
I was really surprised this morning!
Yeah, I never thought Hinata-chan, Kohinata-san, and you would all come to school together.
I got all excited, thinking it was a love triangle in formation!
Excited?
Hamaji!
Calling it a love triangle makes Hirose-kun look bad.
This is Kohinata you're talking about.
Kohinata.
Apparently when Hinata-chan was with Hirose-kun,
she just forced herself between them.
Why would she do something like that?
Because she's a cockroach.
Hirose-sama!
I brought some water!
I'm so sorry!
I-It's all right.
What do you think you're doing?
Hinata-chan, we need to make a rough sketch first.
We can't just start with paints.
Oh yes...
Rolled sweet omelette!
Yes.
Did you make this?
Yes, I put a lot of effort into making it.
That makes me so happy!
It's my favorite food.
Yes, I know.
I heard that from your uncle.
When did you...?
But then, that's why he...
...didn't pack a lunch for me today.
He just said something like, "I forgot!"
H-Hirose-sama?
Ah, Hinata-chan, I can eat it by myself, so, um...
O-Okay.
How... is it?
Delicious.
It's delicious.
I'm glad.
You're making me blush.
I'm really glad.
It was worth burning a hundred eggs.
A-A hundred?
I didn't mean that.
U-Um...
Actually, this is the first time I've tried cooking.
I bought a book,
a-and worked late into the night.
U-Uh...
Didn't you sleep?
Y-Yes.
You did this all for me?
Yes.
Why?
Because you are the Destined One.
Because Hirose-sama... is destined to be with me.
W-We're already out of water.
I-I'll go and get some more.
I wonder why...
Hinata-chan seems a bit strange today.
But anyway,
I'm getting a lot of names attached to me,
like "Promised One" and "Destined One".
What a nice scene!
I'm going to draw a picture of this place by myself.
But it's pretty boring to draw a picture all alone.
I know!
I'll talk to myself!
How stupid.
It's lonely not to have any friends to talk with at school.
Outside is another story, but at school it's impossible.
If you're seen with me,
you're also going to be targeted.
Then, why did you do that this morning?
I didn't mean to.
Didn't mean to?
A-Anyway, I won't do anything like that again.
I'm sorry.
I think it's really great to have friends.
They can help you out when you're troubled,
give you advice,
or do stupid things with you.
Ever since I became blind,
I've never really had many friends.
I had a very close friend once.
She said that candy tasted like happiness.
She said flowers will blossom in your mouth when you taste it.
But she also...
distanced herself from me.
Really?
Where is she now?
Hirose-sama!
So this is where you were.
Hayami-chan!
Come, let's go back.
Hayami-chan!
Hayami-chan, wait!
That Yui-san, she drew herself.
And on top of that, she drew herself in extravagant clothes that she doesn't even have.
Hamaji-san and Maki-san are skipping class at the Yakumo Store.
Ah yes, Hirose-sama,
do you want some candy?
Candy tastes like happiness.
Flowers will blossom in your mouth when you taste it.
Here.
No...
It can't be...
M
-
M
y
s
t
o
m
a
c
h...
G y u
r u
In the end, I never finished my picture.
It ended up as homework.
It's wonderful!
This is art!
It must be because the model was beautiful.
That's not a scenery sketch.
Hey, follower A!
You're just my follower, don't get cocky!
I'm sorry.
I... had a very close friend once.
Hirose-sama.
If it's possible, would you like to visit my house?
Hinata-chan is so bold!
You're introducing him to your family already?
That's not it.
Hirose-sama?
Yeah, okay.
There are some things I want to ask anyway.
All right, I have some business with the teachers,
so wait for me at the school gate.
She said that candy tasted like happiness.
Flowers will blossom in your mouth when you taste it.
Takuma-kun!
You're mean, Takuma-kun!
Avoiding my warm hug.
Sorry, I didn't mean to.
It's like I've gotten used to your presence.
You're pretty good to be able to sense the presence of a spirit.
What's wrong?
You look down.
It's just... something with a friend.
You're at the age to be worrying.
Okay, I'll cast a spell to make you happy!
A spell to make me happy?
Yep!
O wind, O light! Sing together with me!
Flowers, dance alongside me!
Let everything in nature bloom anew!
Th-That seems pretty amazing.
Tickle,
tickle,
tickle
tickle,
Stop it!
tickle,
tickle!
Well? Isn't that amazing?
Y-Yeah, in more ways than one.
No, I'm not praising you.
But you cheered up, right?
Hirose-sama!
Sorry for making you wait.
Hinata-chan,
let me introduce you.
Huh?
Otoha-chan?
Is something wrong?
Otoha-san?
Yes.
I thought she was a student at this school, but...
I'm not sure. I don't know anyone by that name.
Then...
You are Hirose Takuma-kun, correct?
Yes.
I have heard about you from Hinata.
Thank you for watching over my grandchild.
No, I'm always being a burden to Hinata-ch— I mean, to Kagura-san.
Did you come to the village alone?
Where is your family?
In Tokyo.
That is unfortunate.
I heard that you were here to recuperate from an illness.
Yes.
But I'm fine now.
I even participated in a sketching class today and painted a picture.
That is excellent.
Just relax and take it easy today.
Hirose-sama, I'll show you around the house.
Okay.
We should hurry, Hirose-sama.
Come, let's go back.
I'll show you my room next.
It's separate,
so I look forward to walking down this corridor when it rains.
This is my younger sister Hotaru's room.
You have a sister, Hinata-chan?
She died.
A long time ago.
And Yui-san was really mean!
My... my... skirt was...
No, I was wearing bloomers at the time, so it didn't matter.
Hinata-chan.
Yes?
There's something I want to ask.
Oh, yes, you did say that.
What is it?
It's about Hayami-chan.
Oh, no.
What should I do?
Hinata-chan.
The tea has gotten cold, hasn't it?
I'd better get some more...
Hayami-chan said she once had a close friend.
Wasn't that you?
Why are you ignoring Hayami-chan?
I've heard about what the village is going through, but...
Even when Hayami-chan, you, and I are together, you treat her like that.
And that's not all.
You seemed strange today.
Why were you acting like that towards me?
You even called me, well, your "Destined One."
That's not strange at all!
You really are... destined to be with me.
Why?
Why is that?
W-Well...
I felt it.
From the first time I met you, I've always thought that.
Hirose-sama, I will always...
I don't understand.
I don't understand what you're thinking.
About me, or Hayami-chan.
You're really not friends with her anymore?
What happened between you and Hayami-chan?
Hinata-chan?
Candy tastes like happiness.
Flowers will blossom in your mouth when you taste it.
You trash, don't try to befriend a daughter of the Kagura family!
Know your place!
Get out of this village!
Hinata-chan!
Save me! Hinata-chan!
Hayami-chan!
Kagura Hinata must be a good girl.
You must not disgrace the name of Kagura Hinata.
Hinata-chan.
No, I've never been friends with Kohinata-san.
Then, why is it so painful?
Hinata-chan?
Kohinata-san is a bad girl!
I'm a good girl!
Kagura Hinata must be a good girl.
I can't be friends with a bad girl!
That's a lie, isn't it?
You're not like that.
You're not the kind of person who would say that.
How?
How can you say that?
What do you know?
Didn't you just say that you don't understand me?
How do you know?
Because your omelette...
tasted just like my mother's omelette.
Your mother's?
Long ago, my mother also...
That's how I know you're not like that.
That's what I think.
Don't you actually regret what you're doing to Hayami-chan?
If you do, then I'll help.
I don't really understand this village yet.
But...
Hirose-sama.
Can I trust you?
Will you really not betray me... Hirose?
No!
No, Hirose-sama!
Let me go!
We're going to try talking to Hayami-chan.
You can't let things go on as they are now.
Hayami-chan.
Isn't it painful to be alone?
I'm fine.
What is it you really want?
If only everyone would *beep* themselves.
This preview is fiction. It has no relation to the actual story!
Forth Carving: 「Hamaji」
If only everyone would *beep* themselves.
W a l k
L o o k
forward to next time!!
Candy
Shock!!