Where am I?
Is this...
Huh, been a while since I saw this.
This is...
The Seika Dorm?
Oh, yeah. No doubt about it.
But... What am I doing here alone?
Hey! Anyone here?
Benio-sama?
Is anyone around?
Hey!
I don't care who it is, somebody answer me!
No answer... Wonder where they all went.
And what am I doing here?
I'm pretty sure I was...
Oh, someone's back!
Whoops...
Huh? What the...
Why am I so weak? This can't be right...
C'mon, Kinako-chan! Are you a pro shikigami or what?
Ta-da!
Huh?
Benio-sama!
Benio-sama, goodness, you sure have grown!
Wait, grown?
Kinako-chan!
Mayura-han?!
Thank goodness...
Thank goodness! You're finally awake!
That's so great! I'm so glad!
Because I'm With You Wai Wa Kinako Ya!
What? I've been out for three days?!
Yeah.
You came back with the others...
Rokuro!
Adashino-san!
We're back.
We've just returned.
Oh, it's so good to have you back, Benio-sama!
I'm so, so glad you're safe...
Of course she is!
She had me with her, y'know!
So there's no way anything could happen to Benio-sama...
H-Huh?
Kinako?
Kinako!
I guess you overdid it during the trip with them.
You had almost no spell power left and spent all this time sleeping.
That's right... I was...
All of us...
Benio-sama, and the imp, and Sae-chan... We went to Kyoto.
And then, Sae-chan...
Sae-chan... For our sake, she...
Rokuro told me about Sae-chan.
The reason the sky is blue again is all because of her, isn't it?
Narukami Emergency Shelter
And all the people who were sick because of the miasma from Magano feel better.
Little by little, Narukami is starting to turn back to normal.
We could never thank her enough, huh?
Yeah. But, still...
Benio-sama!
Adashino-san? She always comes by to check on you.
I haven't seen her yet today, though...
Oh, no! Oh, no, no, no, no!
Kinako-chan?
I'm back, Benio-sama!
Benio-sama!
Benio-sama?
Sae-chan...
Wait, what good does it do for me to cry?!
Benio-sama's bound to be suffering far more than I am!
Benio-sama....
Even ten years ago, when a lone wolf like me...
Or a lone shikigami, I guess, was brought to the Adashino house...
It was the same.
Kinako, this is Adashino Benio-sama, who will be your master from now on.
This shikigami is small in size,
but he is said to be highly competent in his service to people.
If you ever need any help, feel free to call upon him for anything.
I only hope that this helps Benio-sama's heart heal a little...
Man, what a weirdo, sitting there without saying a word.
But I ain't some kinda rookie who's looking to win anyone over.
Whether or not you deserve to have Kinako-sama serving you
will depend on the first thing you say.
C'mon, say something already!
Listen up!
"It's nice to meet you," or "Nice weather, isn't it?"
Or "Where are you originally from?" You must have something to say!
You gotta realize communication is crucial between people!
It's a verbal game of catch!
The way you understand and sympathize with other people...
That's the most important thing in life! Remember that!
And this is where you say, "That's rich, coming from you!"
Totally ignored, huh?!
All right, if you're gonna be like that...
I'm the Kinako-sama who showed the shikigami world what a fox-cat can do!
Your eyes are gonna be glued to me soon enough! Better brace yourself!
There you go. Need any seconds?
Gotta eat lots and grow up big, right?
Done already?!
Man, not much of an appetite, huh?
That's your main course?!
Oh, right, right, I was keeping them warm for you.
Here you go!
Huh?
What, you don't like it?
Oh, thank you!
How nice and warm!
Those were yours?!
Like this... and that... and this...
There we go.
How's this?! Pretty funny, right?
I'm just getting warmed up.
When I get serious, you'll die laughing!
How are things, Benio-sama?
Is your talisman scripting coming al—
Hey, come on...
At least let me carry your bag.
It won't kill you to let me carry it.
Man, what the heck? No point in even being here to serve her.
What's this girl think I'm here for?
Ow!
That's dangerous! Don't just space out!
Don't jump around too much. It's dangerous.
Okay!
Gotta watch your surroundings!
Oh, you're just tired?
You're such a kid!
Hup!
Oh, all right. I'll show you my favorite place for relaxing.
J-Just a little further...
Can't give up just yet...
Hey! H-Hold up!
Looks nice, right?
But that's not the best part. Look behind you!
One heck of a pretty view, isn't it?
This is my favorite view of Kyoto!
Seeing something this pretty calms the heart...
Makes you realize you can keep on going, y'know?
How about it? It's my favorite spot, and I'm the only one who knows about it!
I knew about it.
She talked! She talked for the first time!
Wait, you knew?
This is my favorite place.
I knew about it first.
What the heck are you saying?! I was first!
I found it first!
I was first.
No, me!
Me.
It was me!
No, me.
It was me, I tell ya!
No, me.
Kibiken
Right!
Excuse me.
Yes?
Can I get some ohagi?
Coming right up.
Huh? Some are missing...
You're still leaving yourself open.
Is this your idea of serious?
Time for the pro shikigami, Kinako-sama!
Ah! Huh?! Wha?!
Let's call it a day.
I... I can still keep going!
Two things I don't like: overdoing it, and natto.
See ya.
G-Get a hold of yourself!
You're all banged up! You shouldn't keep going!
What's with that chick?!
I dunno if that's her idea of training, but it's just brutal!
Subaru-sama is one of the Twelve Guardians...
And my master.
Don't talk badly about her.
B-But...
You're already hurt... That's enough!
See? I tried to warn you!
Here! Eat some of these and cheer up!
Leave me alone!
This is not your concern.
So leave me alone!
Not my concern?
What the heck?
I was so worried about you...
And you have no idea...
Do whatever you want, then, blockhead!
Man, I've had enough!
It ain't like I came here because I wanted to!
I can quit whenever I feel like it!
Maybe right now...
Why? Why does it bother me so much?
How was she, Subaru-sama?
That voice...
How is Benio-sama doing?
Well, now...
If she continues torturing herself, she's not gonna get any stronger.
That's the first thing to deal with.
Torturing herself...
I see.
I guess you can't blame her, though.
She saw her parents killed by Kegare before her very eyes.
I suppose she'll need much more time before her heart can heal...
I'm such an idiot!
I never knew she went through something that terrible!
Hey! About before...
Huh? Where'd she go?
I guess she's not here...
Kinako.
L-Look... I had no idea...
About your dad and mom and... Well...
This.
Did you bring it for me?
N-Not especially! I just saw 'em and thought...
You looked like you enjoyed those, so...
I got curious about how good they were, that's all.
Thank you.
And thank you for telling me about this place.
But you said you already knew about it...
Oh, you were just trying to act cool, huh?!
Heck, I got plenty more to teach you about!
All kinds of stuff!
Really?
You bet!
After all, I'm your shikigami, Benio-sama!
I'm always gonna be with you!
Okay!
That's right...
That day, I swore on that sunset
that I'd always stay by Benio-sama's side!
That I'd never let her be sad again!
And yet I... I'm so sorry, Benio-sama,
for leaving you at a time like this!
I'm coming right now!
Just wait for me, Benio-sama!
Kinako?
Benio-sama! You were this close by?
When I went to the Seika Dorm, they said you had left in the direction of the house...
I'm glad you're awake.
Benio-sama!
I'm so sorry for worrying you!
Don't stress us out like that.
What are you doing here, imp boy?!
You're the one acting like an imp!
I am not!
You just were!
Well, let's go home.
Yeah. All of us, together.
Right.
Your tea's ready, Benio-sama.
And I poured you some as an afterthought, imp.
Afterthought or not, thanks.
Thank you, Kinako.
She seems to be doing okay.
Wait, no! Benio-sama always hides what she's really feeling.
She's probably just putting up a brave front.
There's an extra cup.
Oh, I can't believe it... I made some for Sae-chan, too.
Just like me.
Benio-sama... Are these...
I ended up buying enough for Sae-chan, too.
She can never eat them again, huh?
Sae-chan, we said...
we'd eat ohagi together when we got back...
She was so happy... We were all getting along so well!
Kinako...
I thought she was always gonna be with us!
And now Sae-chan's gone!
What're you crying about, stupid? Sae's right here.
Don't be stupid, imp boy!
Sae-chan, she...
She's a branch on the Ame-no-mihashira again.
That's just it.
This is where I always was.
From here,
I protected the smiling people...
The people I loved.
She's protected this world all this time...
And she's going to keep doing it.
That's why Sae is always here with us.
The wind that blows, the rain that falls...
The sunlight that shines down...
All of it is Sae.
She's everywhere!
Sae-chan's...
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad.
But...
We can't keep crying forever. Sae would laugh at us!
Right.
Benio-sama has gotten so strong...
Maybe she doesn't need me anymore.
Oh, darn it!
There was a sunset like this on that day, too.
The day I first ate ohagi with Kinako.
Benio-sama! You remember that?
Of course I do.
Oh, Benio-sama!
What's with you two? You're being weird.
Honorable Twelve Guardians...
I appreciate you assembling today.
While the search for Arima-sama continues,
we still have no leads to his whereabouts.
A continued absence in the office
of Head Exorcist could lead to chaos in the Exorcist Union.
In light of Arima-sama's continued absence,
I, Tsuchimikado Mikage, while aware of how forward this may seem,
will be serving as acting Head Exorcist.
Next Episode
Jane Austin said,
"Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure."
Past remembrances, huh?
When we first moved into the house,
Into Chaos Seeking the Past, Seeking the Future
you'd forgotten to put your shorts on, so your underwear—
Bash!