Remember this, Masaru.
If you're ever feeling lost,
think with your heart and decide what you should do.
And when you realize that it's time to smile,
don't cry.
I'm alive.
We're alive, Narumi!
Before dawn, when the stars paint the sky
I am searching for the thing I lost
With a restless heart Under the sun yet in the dark
I patch together little prayers to light my path
I don't need anything, as my hands are full
My hands are full of emptiness
Please, just once, nod for me
Just once, reach out to me like the mirror
I will live for that single moment, that single second
All the rest can just burn away
What's right for me is for me alone
Whatever the path, I'll follow it to you
This feeling grows and grows, deep inside my heart
For one single reason
I continue to climb up on the stage
#5 Circus - Departure
Narumi.
It's been 2 months since you left us.
Narumi.
I... I'm doing great.
I did have to stay in hospital for quite a while with those injuries.
But I'm finally going back to school today.
Mr. Masaru, your napkin.
Shirogane has quit the Straw Circus and works as a maid at my house now.
She said she wants to stay close should anybody attack me again.
And I'm grateful for that, but...
Here, Mr. Masaru.
Open wide.
Stop that! I can feed myself.
Of course. Forgive me.
She's overprotective.
I'm off!
A school uniform?
I will be going to school with you starting today.
Oh, of course. You're going to high school, right?
Yes, I was admitted into the school under the Saiga name.
It's right next to your school, so I'll come running if anything happens.
Good morning.
-Please. -Thanks, but it's unnecessary.
Right, Shirogane?
-Right. -But...
We want to walk together.
Narumi, see how much I can smile now?
Shirogane is really pretty and really nice.
I learned so much from you, Narumi.
We both did.
Masaru, you keep on smiling.
You can cry.
But...
keep on smiling.
May I have a word, Mr. Masaru?
What is it?
This is hard to say...
but I heard you are bullied at school.
It's not really...
Please try not to stand out.
Standing out is what irritates those people.
But Shirogane, I never really stood out before either.
Look at my eyes.
See how they're different?
I was bullied because of them in circus school.
-You too? -Yes.
But I did my best not to stand out.
And they soon moved on.
I'm not sure that'll work.
Hey, isn't that Masaru?
After all this time.
Our little pet is back.
"MIDORI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL"
I will be at the high school next door.
Okay, bye.
Remember, don't stand out.
But if they still bully you, call for me.
I'll use Arlequin and...
Les Arts Martiaux...
I'll stand out even more!
I'd forgotten that this is what they did to me.
Reminds me of how I had no shoes in that mansion.
This is nothing compared to that.
Why's he smiling?
He used to be a crybaby.
-Saiga. -Good morning.
You're finally back.
How was your trip overseas?
Trip overseas?
That's what the teacher told us.
That you were gone on a long vacation.
Oh yeah. Yeah, it was fun.
Lucky you, you're so rich.
Tell us more about it.
Overseas trip? Whatever.
He won't be smiling for long.
"CHUO EAST HIGH SCHOOL"
We will be welcoming a foreign exchange student in our class.
It'll be a good chance for you all to learn about French culture.
My name is Shirogane Saiga. A pleasure to meet you.
-Wow, she's so pretty. -Look at her!
Whatever. French or not, who cares?
Snob.
Miss Saiga, your seat is at the back.
Yes.
Ouch!
Hey, stop right there.
What's with that suitcase?
Yeah, apologize!
My sincerest apologies.
Hey...
What? Huh?
Oh good, you're not hurt.
Please forgive me.
She smells nice.
A true French girl.
I'm going to talk to her.
How do you say "hi" in French...?
I... um... merci!
"LET'S CHANGE YOUR DIAPER." "OKAY, I'LL PAY YOU."
Kajiyama's at it again, Orie.
I know, I hate it.
But it's Saiga's fault too. He never stands up for himself.
I might be class president, but I'm not helping.
You're good at drawing.
Damn it.
Stand up. Bow.
All, sit.
I knew it. Mr. Masaru's being bullied.
He held his strong hands up to the fire...
and told us about his adventurous hunting trip.
Oh, poor Mr. Masaru!
I wish I could...
No, I'd make him stand out.
What is it?
You're back after all this time, and didn't even greet us properly.
You're our servant, remember?
Oh yeah, sorry...
Who do you think you are? You rich crybaby!
Mr. Masaru!
Stop it, Kajiyama.
He didn't do anything to you.
What?
She's nice.
What now, Orie? I bet you like Masaru.
No, I don't!
Then stay out of this or we'll bully you too.
Don't, Kajiyama. And I'm fine, Miss Ueda.
Don't mind me.
Come on, that's exactly why they keep picking on you.
That's okay.
Why are you smiling? You little brat!
Mr. Masaru!
He's not like before.
Saiga...
Sorry. I didn't want to scare everyone.
So I hid it with a bandana.
But you'll all find out anyway
since the next class is PE.
This isn't something you tell everyone, but...
I wasn't away on a vacation.
I went through some really scary things.
I found out there are people who don't think twice about killing.
These are the scars I got then.
So compared to that, no amount of bullying could get to me now.
But...
that's not what I wanted to say.
Kajiyama, you asked me why I was smiling.
It's because there was someone who saved me.
Whatever happened, he never gave in.
Whatever the danger, he smiled.
I want to be like him.
So I have to smile. I have to keep smiling.
Explain yourself!
She skipped class on her first day here.
She really does stand out, huh.
"RECYCLING SERVICES"
Mr. Nakamachi, I've put up with you long enough.
You haven't paid your rent for a whole year.
-I'm really sorry. -Sorry.
I just need a bit more time...
Just give up on that circus nonsense.
It's out of date.
I'm telling you.
Shut up!
Out of date, my ass!
We've put our lives on our line to keep it going!
-Boss! -Calm down!
Hey, Saiga?
Yeah?
You've changed.
-Have I? -Yeah.
Like with Kajiyama just now.
What happened?
You said someone saved you. What were they like?
There were two. One was a French girl.
She's at the high school next door.
She's always really serious so I'm sure she's studying hard.
Do not remember the empty cheers.
What else could have remained forever in one's ears?
Sleep in the quiet blue of the mirror.
Wow, is she really not Japanese? What a fine voice!
"HOME ECONOMICS"
Miss Shirogane, you don't have to do all that.
It's ready.
Looks so delicious!
-Give me a bite! -No, me!
She was in the circus?
She must be good at sports then.
Yep.
Miss Kozuka will show us an example.
Here I go.
Look at her. Trying to stand out just because she's on the gym team.
Stand out? That must not be.
I was bullied because of my eyes when I was in circus school.
Huh? You were in the circus?
Miss! Let's have Miss Shirogane show us, too.
I... I'd rather not stand out.
Good idea. Give it a shot. It doesn't have to be difficult.
But what should I do?
Something like the other girl did?
That little snob. What can she do, huh?
What the...?
She's just being a show-off. You're a lot better.
That's not gymnastics.
You beat me...!
That Shirogane person sounds like she's perfect.
Perfect?
No, Miss Ueda. She isn't.
Shirogane isn't perfect at all.
No matter how much she's praised, how much people love her,
she never laughs.
She just tilts her head and shows a sad little smile.
"NIHON IKAGAKU HOSPITAL"
Shirogane told me how she felt,
when I was hospitalized after what happened at the mansion.
Mr. Masaru.
I couldn't smile for Kato that time,
despite him suffering a ZONAPHA attack.
He needed somebody to smile for it to calm down.
So I can't anymore...
Narumi needed somebody to smile then,
but Shirogane couldn't smile for him.
So as long as Shirogane remembers Narumi...
she won't be able to smile.
But there's no way we could forget him.
Tell me, Narumi.
What can I do to make Shirogane smile?
Hey, Saiga.
So what circus is Miss Shirogane going to join next?
Circus?
Yeah, she was in one, right? She should join another.
I want to go see her perform in a circus.
That's it, a circus.
Damn it, why do I have to do all this?
It's because you made the landlord mad.
It's the least we can do.
But what do we do now?
You think the landlord was right about circuses being outdated?
Probably. Kids are only into TV shows and games these days.
Is God telling us to quit the circus?
Where are you taking me?
The circus!
Circus? What do you mean...
Around here somewhere...
There it is!
"NAKAMACHI CIRCUS"
See? I haven't seen it yet, but there's a circus in this town, too.
You like the circus, right?
Wait. I don't care about what I want.
But I do! You do everything for me.
You should have fun, too.
So join the circus.
Hold on there.
I just overheard you two. You want to join the circus, young girl?
Are you from the circus?
Yeah, I'm Shinobu Nakamachi, the boss.
Woah, she's hot!
Hello. My name is Masaru.
Please let Shirogane join your circus.
But I haven't said I would...
Come on, Shirogane.
Hey, naughty little boy.
You can't pester someone into joining a circus.
You're in the circus?
What do you do?
-If you insist! -Just a little bit then.
Wow!
Shirogane, show them something too.
Yes, Mr. Masaru.
Incredible.
So you'll really join us?
Mr. Masaru. My mission is to protect you.
But if your wish is for me to do what I like...
then I will join these people.
In the circus.
I can tell you have charisma as a performer.
The future is beginning to look bright.
Nakamachi Circus is going up from here!
-Right on! -All right!
Let me introduce you. These two are Nori and Hiro.
And there's one more.
Our animal handler, Sister Liselotte.
Nice to meet you.
The pleasure is all mine.
Narumi, I can smile. All the time.
Because you taught me how.
Shirogane will be able to too, someday.
So don't worry about us, Narumi.
Fly up high, Marionette
Turn to ash, gracefully
My only purpose in life was to fight
Why am I so angry even I dump my humanity
Without you, I can't smile anymore
I assume that I am to be blamed
Like a puppet that can't smile naturally
I feel like someone is pulling my strings
What am I even living for?
I was hurt, and thought that nobody would understand
But you came along, and took me in your arms
I felt my tangled arms and legs
become free
Fly up high, Marionette
I think now I can reach you
Before I met you, I was empty
Now I have something I'd give my all to protect
You taught me how to feel, the feeling of sorrow too