Nii-sama...
Since I came here, there's been so much I didn't anticipate,
which has kept me off-balance...
But I will become an exorcist stronger than any other, like I promised.
You're still awake?
I was just... thinking a bit.
But I'll head to bed now.
Can I talk to you for a second?
Before...
I mentioned you changing Rokuro back to how he used to be, right?
Right now, he says he doesn't want to be an exorcist,
but I want Rokuro to walk that path again.
I mean, I don't want him to suffer again,
but instead of turning away and running,
I want him to accept what happened and move on.
You seem to care a lot about him.
Well, yeah... He and I both have no relatives.
Besides, exorcists are more like families than teams.
So, to me, Rokuro is like an adorable little brother, and the only one I have.
Of all the people to say that to...
How could you be so embarrassing, Ryogo?!
The Sound of Magano Bothersome Twosome
We're running low on talisman stock...
Going to need to make more soon.
Isn't this...
Okay, let's go over today's schedule.
Jissama has business, so he's been gone since morning.
Shinnosuke, Atsushi, and I will
deliver a report to the branch in Ayame, the next town over,
and then head to a Kegare exorcism.
Since it's a Sunday, do you want to come along, Rokuro?
Uh, I'll...
What about you, Benio-san?
I'll be staying at the dorm to do maintenance on my swords.
Okay.
What about you, Rokuro?
I don't have anything special to do.
In that case, you should study!
Have you been doing your homework?
Your grades have been falling a bit lately.
You're still a middle school student,
so studying should be your top priority.
If you don't do it now, one day you're gonna—
You're annoying me!
How can you say it's annoying?
I say this because I worry—
That's what annoys me!
It's not like I haven't thought about any of this!
Wait, Rokuro!
Leave me alone!
I understand, Rokuro.
That you're carrying around something incredibly heavy...
Again?
Hey!
There we go!
Stupid Ryogo...
He just says whatever he wants!
He's always been like that...
It's so annoying.
Ayame Exorcist Branch
Thank you so much.
It's good to see you again, Fushihara-san.
Here are reports on the Kegare exorcisms the Seika Dorm has performed in our jurisdiction.
That they are.
You all seem to be working hard.
We're just doing our duty.
The Twin Star Exorcists live in the Seika Dorm, correct?
I kind of envy you.
You get to exorcise Kegare with such amazing exorcists.
No...
Twin Star Exorcists or not, they're still in middle school.
As long as they're in school, we do our best to avoid taking them on exorcisms.
Besides...
I don't think it'd be right to rely on them for everything.
We need to do what we can on our own.
I guess you're right.
Ryogo-san...
What is it?
That guy from earlier...
Oh, Fushihara-san?
Do you know him?
I've met him a few times when we had
liaison meetings with this branch.
What's he like?
Wearing an apron like that, he sure didn't look so tough.
What are you talking about?
Fushihara-san is the ace of the Ayame branch.
Huh?!
His spell power and skills far surpass ours.
Really?!
That was his childcare worker uniform.
He has a job in childcare,
and devotes a lot of energy to exorcising Kegare that are haunting children.
He seems like a nice guy!
Well, we have to keep up with him!
Let's do a good job with today's Kegare exorcism.
I get it, okay?
I know I can't run away forever.
So this is it...
The house we were asked to exorcise.
It really looks like that kind of house, huh?
The client is its owner.
The owner's parents originally lived here,
but when they died, the owner inherited it and began renting it out.
A newlywed couple, a group of five college students who lived together,
and a family with two kids... The total comes to 11 people.
Every last one of them, within a month of moving in,
seem to have vanished.
A house where people disappear...
First, let's split up and check each room.
Stay on your toes.
Rokuro-chan?
You're Rokuro-chan, aren't you?
You sure have grown since last I saw you...
is what I would say, but you haven't changed much at all.
Kinoue Shop
Yeah...
Did you forget me?
You came here to buy candy all the time when you were little!
Of course I remember that.
I mean, how could I forget?
Well, either way, come on over.
I'm bored with so few customers.
Bored?
I'll give you something special, on the house.
Oh, thanks.
Here.
Take this.
You liked them so much, you were always eating them.
How's your brother doing?
Brother?
You know... What was his name again?
Let's see... Oh, right, Ryogo-chan!
Ryogo?!
How should I know what he's doing?
Still fighting, huh? Some things never change!
You fought all the time back then, too.
One time, it was over who had to serve whom, or something,
and how you'd never talk to each other again.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Oh, and how's the girl?
You know, the cute one!
Mayura-chan, wasn't it?
Did you kiss her yet?
Of course not! I would never!
Look at you, getting all embarrassed!
That actually hurts!
Ah, to be young!
Well...
I'm heading home. See ya.
Already? That's a shame.
Drop by again whenever you feel like it!
I'll probably be bored around the store!
Let heretical impurities found within this space, imparting their wicked influence,
be purified without a trace, restoring equilibrium with no disparity.
Cleanse all impurity! Come forth at once!
Ryogo-san.
I didn't sense any malevolence in the kitchen,
but I purified it just to be sure.
The back room is taken care of, too.
This room was no problem, either.
Which leaves...
Just that last room.
There's an unpleasant energy...
It must be here.
What is this sensation?!
Like the air just got heavier!
Are you two okay?!
I'm sorry, Ryogo-san, I...
I don't think I wanna be in this room for another second...
It's not the room itself...
It's more like... we're being watched, isn't it?
I'll open the gate to Magano!
Magano gate, open!
Come forth at once!
Ow...
Ryogo and the guys still aren't back?
Not that I'm gonna apologize when he gets back or anything.
I mean, maybe if he begs me to...
What's wrong with you guys?
Rokuro...
What happened?!
It doesn't make sense...
As soon we went into Magano, the Kegare were on us, like they'd been waiting for us.
Ryogo... Where's Ryogo?!
We went back into Magano to find him, but...
There were just so many Kegare...
We couldn't do anything.
Adashino Benio!
Ryogo was exorcising Kegare, and...
I'm not really sure, but...
Ryogo...
Ryogo's...
Adashino Benio!
Please, lend me your strength.
I know I'm being selfish...
But... I'm begging you!
I'm afraid...
I'm afraid to fight.
But...
I'm more afraid to lose my family!
Raise your head.
Raise it up.
No one should ever need to bow to an exorcist when asking them to fight.
If it's my strength in battle you need, then you have it, whenever necessary.
Thank you!
With no talismans for opening a gate,
there's no way for me to escape Magano.
I wonder what Rokuro would say if he saw me like this...
Damn it!
Now the small ones want to pick me off?
Damn it...
Let me at least get one attack off...
My enchantment!
That's right...
I wouldn't want you to see me looking this pathetic!
Well? What'd you think of my attack?
Ryogo!
Rokuro?
Ryogo!
You okay?
Yeah... I'm fine.
How could you be that reckless?
I thought if I let this kind of thing get me down...
Servant
You wouldn't make me your servant.
That's...
Here!
Ryogo!
I'll give you... I'll give you...
Servant
This!
Cool! But what is it?
I'm gonna become the strongest exorcist.
If you can be of any help to me then, I'll make you my servant!
Really?
Serving the strongest exorcist, huh?
Hey, you're laughing!
I'm looking forward to it!
Don't make fun of me!
You actually kept it all this time?
How stupid are you?
Behind you!
You're not laying a finger on Ryogo!
Rokuro...
The small ones who wanted to pick me off!
They're crawling out of the cracks now...
Nice, Benio-sama!
Benio-san...
I could've handled that.
No good! There's still too many!
These guys are tough...
There are still so many?!
Just hang on, Ryogo.
I'll wrap this up soon.
Get... off!
Adashino Benio!
I'll handle this.
Get Nagitsuji-san!
I appreciate it!
Hey, imp! Weren't you listening to Benio-sama?!
Rokuro...
It's true, after all...
When you fight as an exorcist...
You're at your coolest.
Well done, Benio-sama! You wiped them all out.
Ryogo!
Are you okay?
Yeah... I'm fine.
Liar! You're all messed up.
Hey, listen...
I'm sorry about this morning.
What's so funny?!
Nothing...
I was just thinking, it doesn't look like I'll be your servant any time soon.
Huh? What's that supposed to mean?!
Come on, lean on me...
Ow!
I mean... It doesn't hurt.
Quit trying to act tough.
Man...
Benio-sama?
Thank goodness!
Took you long enough.
What were you doing?
I purified the inner room.
How is Nagitsuji-san?
At-chan and Shin-chan took him to the hospital.
Why didn't you go with them?
Oh, well... You know...
Thank you, Adashino Benio!
I'm glad you were there!
Raise your head...
Raise it up.
I didn't do anything to warrant your thanks.
You're actually pretty nice, huh?
Whereas you seem to generally be useless.
Oh, come on!
Why pick a fight at a time like—
But when you're fighting, I think you're great.
I've heard that, in the past,
something terrible happened that made you want to stop being an exorcist.
Nagitsuji-san told me.
Even if you're normally totally useless...
The fact that you were able to fight, despite having been scarred emotionally...
I think that's great.
That's the only thing I would say is good about you, though.
What?!
I don't like you, after all!
I suppose I could also say you're very loud.
You're just too quiet!
I just don't like wasting energy.
Hey, imp!
Next Episode
Oh? Are you feeling up to doing this now?
Shut up! Y'know, Jissama once sang...
"Only the crow knows!" he said!
Twelve Guardians, Vermilion Bird The Guardian Shimon
What's that even mean?
Just be sure to watch next time, okay?!