Come on.
Yet another transfer.
It's what the parents wanted.
We have more dangerous missions lately,
and there is severe criticism against the Toji as well.
How did she feel about it?
She seemed to want to stay, but you're just students, after all.
Your parents have to agree to it. Otherwise, you have to hand in your okatana.
Absence Permission Slip
You're off to Kamakura again next week, right?
I'm sure it will be tough, but do your best.
I will, thank you.
Please excuse me.
Father
Father?
Katana Maidens
Episode 14 Family Scene
I'm home.
Huh? Mai-oneechan!
You're not staying in the dorms today?
No, something came up. Where's Mio?
Mio-oneechan would be...
Potato Chips
Welcome back, Mai-nee.
Don't "welcome back" me. You're lazing about in your uniform again.
I'll change after I'm done with this.
You're getting it all wrinkled.
Come on, take it off.
Jeez, it's such a pain...
Father and the others will be home soon, so behave properly.
Huh? Dad is coming home?
He was actually in Japan?
Does that mean Mom is coming home, too?
Yes, she is with him.
That's unusual.
When was the last time we were all together?
Let's see... Not since Shiori's birthday, I think?
They've been pretty busy, it seems.
Hey! Don't eat standing up!
Yes, yes.
Only say "yes" once.
What?
Fussing over details like that is why you don't have a boyfriend.
That is none of your concern!
Welcome home, Father, Mother.
Welcome home!
Welcome back.
We're home.
Mai, we need to speak with you.
Yes, sir.
Mai, we want you to leave Minoseki Academy.
Your mother and I have decided on a new school for you.
You can transfer there immediately.
That's not what you said before.
You said I could do what I wanted until I graduated from high school.
Surely you understand that the circumstances have changed.
The number of Toji getting hurt during missions has been increasing, hasn't it?
Even you've been in a fair amount of danger.
That's true, but...
Magorokukanemoto here chose me, and I chose to become a Toji.
I am prepared for what that means.
You shouldn't say such frivolous things!
Mai, don't forget, you are a member of this family, too.
Is it that bad for the reputation of the Yanase family to have a Toji in it?
Mai...
I'm sorry. I went too far.
You too, dear.
Okay, then. We'll give you some time.
Think it over well.
Yes, sir.
Etou Kanami
Headquarters to all units on guard:
take action as soon as you capture the target.
Don't let it contaminate anything else!
Sakuma!
She took down an aradama that powerful with a single blow?
Who was that?
You make the most delicious breakfasts, Mai-oneechan.
I'd rather have toast, though.
Stop complaining and eat.
Yes, yes.
Only say...
..."yes" once.
Morning, Dad!
Morning.
Is Mom still asleep?
Yes, we were pretty busy for a while.
You even have to work on a Sunday?
Yes.
What about breakfast?
Dad always just has coffee.
Then, I will get your coffee right away.
No, I don't have time.
Shibata, bring the car around.
Certainly, sir.
Mai, I need you to get ready to leave, too.
Where are we?
Up until recently, this place was known as
the Special Rare Metals Research and Development Organization.
I'm sure you've at least heard of it.
Yes, but wasn't it closed when the structure of the Sword Administration changed?
Only as a state-owned independent administrative corporation.
We provided it with funding and re-opened it
as a private research institution, the Special Rare Metals Utilization Research Institute.
Utilization?
That's right.
It is a facility searching for uses for tamahagane steel
beyond just okatana.
What is this?
Here, they are currently conducting research to extract energy
from the netherworld with tamahagane steel as an intermediary.
Is something like that even possible?
Theoretically.
Tamahagane steel is a metal that can affect the netherworld while existing in this world.
By using that characteristic,
we can blur the boundary between this world and the netherworld
and make a substance emerge in this world that has never existed before.
If this becomes possible,
we could acquire an inexhaustible energy source
that ignores the conventional laws of physics.
Pardon me, but you are?
Oh, forgive me.
I am Kohagura Kimitake. I serve as the chief of research here.
And I'm his wife, Jacqueline.
Nice to meet you.
Likewise.
Kohagura? Then...
Yes, we are Ellen's mom and dad.
Huh?!
Are you surprised?
Friedman-san!
It's been a while, Mai-kun.
What are you doing here?
Your father asked me to come.
I'm serving as honorary advisor to this institute.
My father did?
That's exactly right.
But you must really have some kind of connection with my family
to be acquainted with my granddaughter, my daughter, and her husband.
I've heard a lot about you, Mai-mai.
Mai-mai?
Ellen-san, their daughter, likes to call me that.
I see.
Chief, the proximity reaction experiment is finished.
I'd like to move on to data analysis.
Got it. Please return the noro to the storage area.
Noro?
What's wrong, Mai?
What experiment is that?
We are observing the reaction that occurs
when tamahagane steel is brought close to noro.
You use noro here in your experiments?
Well, yes, we do.
You seem to be exceedingly afraid of noro, Mai-kun.
I am not afraid of it. I respect it.
You were the one who taught me to do so, Friedman-san.
That's true. I did tell you it was better for it to be separated and enshrined.
But while that may be a better way, perhaps it is not the best.
Noro has a consciousness and will.
Not to mention, we have Princess Tagitsu and Nene as examples.
So you're saying you don't wish for noro to be enshrined?
It's much better than just leaving it alone.
But I'm saying maybe there is an even better way.
An even better way?
I've been wondering if the noro's impurity
is actually loneliness.
Loneliness?
Enshrining noro seems to be nothing more
than just a gesture with the intent to forget it while appearing admirable.
Just like the festival in the village.
Why do noro feel so lonely?
They seek the tamahagane steel.
The other part of itself
that it was forcibly separated from by the hand of man.
That experiment is to demonstrate that noro's impurity
will be cleansed by bringing it closer to the tamahagane steel.
In fact, a decrease in the impurity
has been observed in proportion to the distance and time.
It almost sounds like a child who feels relieved
by being held by its mother, don't you think?
But...
Right. Unfortunately,
there is no way to recombine the noro with the tamahagane steel.
We call that one Nemo.
Nemo?
Lonely Little Nemo.
You know, I would like to hear its voice.
What is it that it really wants?
Is there some place more comfortable for it than being enshrined?
So it can tell me all of that.
I decided to fund this place after I heard that story.
If possible, I would like for you to help us in the future.
I...
Mai-mai!
Long time no see!
E-Ellen-chan?
So, are you on a mission?
Yes, since there have been
consecutive incidents where noro have been stolen recently,
we are on extreme alert.
But Minoseki is closer to this location.
Well, when Grandpa heard about the security issue,
he thought we could get the family together again after so long. So he nominated me.
He tends to mix his business and his personal life.
That phrase doesn't really have a good meaning in Japanese.
Anyway, what are you wearing?
This is a present from my dad.
It's not really suitable for a mission,
but I figured I would wear it where he could see me.
So that's the reason.
It looks very nice on you.
Thank you.
Your dad is so wonderful, Mai-mai.
W-Wonderful?
If this place closed down, my parents would've be out on the streets.
My grandpa is rich, so he could have helped them if it came to that,
but it's not good to mix business and personal matters.
That's a bit different from what I meant earlier.
Why do you think your dad funded this place?
Because he thought tamahagane steel research would be profitable?
Not quite.
If it had been profitable research,
then it wouldn't have almost gone under in the first place.
Then...
If we can clear away the impurities of noro with tamahagane steel,
then Toji might not be necessary anymore.
And you won't have to be in danger, either.
That's why he'll do whatever it takes.
At least, I think that's what he's thinking.
You're overthinking things.
You think so?
My family is unique.
My mom, dad, and even grandpa
are people who have dedicated their lives to research.
We may be all together like this at the moment,
but that's a pretty rare occurrence.
Much like my family.
But Dad gives me presents on my birthday.
Even if he can't be there in person,
every year, without fail, I get new clothes.
Then that dress...
Yes.
It is Kohagura Ellen's 16th birthday present.
It's pretty childish, huh?
Honestly, it's not really my style.
He doesn't really get it.
But even still...
This dress is full to the brim with Dad's love.
That much I can be sure of.
What about you, Mai-mai?
I...
What is this?
This is an image taken late last night in Aichi Prefecture.
Could this be the person who's stealing the noro?
You're pretty in the know.
Guess I can't stop people from talking after all.
This person has an okatana.
So this is why you've been hiding this?
What's that mean?
The big shots haven't abandoned the idea that this is an inside job.
Don't go talking about what you've seen and heard here.
The credibility of the Administration would sink, too.
If it's a secret, then why...?
She's right. Why are you showing us this image?
About that...
Do you recognize this swordsmanship?
That looks like Shidou-san?
So you think so, too?
What's going on?!
An okatana!
Then the noro thief is...
Yes, a Toji.
Ellen, what are you doing?
I'm sorry, Dad!
I'll sew it back on later.
Dad, Mom, Grandpa... I'm off.
Wait, I'm coming, too.
Mai!
I'm sorry, Father.
I am still a Toji, after all!
Mai!
Yanase-san...
Even if we were to go, too, we would only be in the way.
Stop!
We will cut you down if you resist!
Seems we don't need to hold back, Mai-mai.
Indeed.
Mai...
Goodness! They are quite surprising, aren't they?
Children grow up big and strong before we realize it.
Far more than their parents think.
Yes.
What should a parent do in that situation, I wonder?
Ellen-chan, we must finish this.
We won't let you go any farther.
Ellen-chan!
I'm fine! Please, go after her!
Right.
I see. So Nemo is gone, then.
We're sorry.
No, it's thanks to you both that no one got hurt.
You did well.
Grandpa...
Ellen.
Dad...
I'm sorry. I ruined your present.
Dad?
Your father isn't upset about the dress.
All that matters is that you're safe.
Okay.
Now it's your turn, Mai-kun.
Father...
I'm sorry for what I said yesterday.
It doesn't have to do with the family.
You are our precious daughter.
I don't want you to forget that.
Father...
Mai-mai!
I'm well aware that you're the dependable older sister type,
but it's okay to act spoiled once in a while.
Ellen-chan?
Mai?
Thank you, Dad!
The presence disappeared?
Okay. So we're giving up on the transfer, then.
You accepted that rather easily. You're not concerned?
Of course I'm concerned, but I sensed it would turn out like this.
After all, my dear, you're awfully soft on Mai.
Ugh, another Japanese meal?
Why don't you like it? Mai-oneechan's cooking is so delicious.
Like I said, I prefer toast.
Stop complaining and eat.
Yes, yes.
Only say "yes" once, right?
Mom!
You're up early today.
Yes, I wanted to eat the breakfast Mai made.
You, too, Dad?
Yes.
And not just coffee?
Yes.
Is that all right, Mai?
Of course!
Ayanokouji Martial Arts School
You are back late, Princess.
Yomi...
Excuse me.
Next Episode Slothful Person's Honor