Kanami-chan! Hiyori-chan!
The gate is closing...
Yanase, lend me your shoulder.
Even if I put my whole being and all my Toji powers into it...
Please cleanse and purify all the misfortune, sin,
and impurity!
Yukari-sama!
Wait!
These are our wishes we most humbly and respectfully pray!
Yukari-sama?
Hey! What about Kanami and Hiyori?!
Juujou and Hiyori... did their duty.
Then they're both...
God damn it!
Katana Maidens
Episode 24 The United Maidens
After the "End of the Year Disaster,"
the severe criticism against the Sword Administration Bureau
from the public became even more intense,
but with an increase in the frequency of aradama appearances,
the need for Toji to be dispatched also grew.
The Yonemura and Ogawa units will head to the main office.
The Iwakura unit will go to Tachikawa.
All units dispatch!
Yes, ma'am!
The raid squad will go in the first car, the defensive squad in the second.
The attack squad will go in the sixth car.
Everyone, follow me.
It has been two months since then.
Both Etou Kanami and Juujou Hiyori
are still considered missing.
And yet, everyone still believes they will surely...
Hiyori-chan?
How much time has passed since then?
My... house?
Dad?
Brother?
No one's here...
Kanami?
This is my home?
What is going on?
Mom's shoes and mine...
I see, so this is the home from my memories.
Even the feeling and the smell... It's almost like it's the real thing.
I wonder how many days it's been.
And Kanami...
I will go with you, even though I don't believe we will get lost in your loneliness.
Your life alone isn't even remotely enough.
The entire world will go along with me.
I'm sorry, Kanami.
I lied to you.
I know you did.
In Shinkage style, the final blow is delivered
so that you won't need to strike twice.
I can't give you everything, nor can Hiyori-chan.
I will give you half my life instead.
Kanami!
I promised to take half, didn't I?
So another generation meets the same end as their parents.
It's a curious twist of fate, isn't it, Princess Tagitsu?
Fate...
Hiyori-chan!
Right.
Oh, Kanami... so that was your plan all along.
You knew what I was going to do.
You idiot!
That's what you meant by carrying half the load.
Just like our mothers, we have...
I wish I could see her just one more time.
Then I would definitely...
Excuse me...
Who's there?!
Who are you?
Mom?
I-I'm Hiyori!
Juujou Hiyori.
I am your...
I am Hiiragi Kagari's daughter!
Huh?
Oh, so this is your house?
You wouldn't know about it, moth—master.
My mother and father got married,
and then had my brother and me after they moved here.
Ugh, I really don't want to picture it. Not with that guy.
You knew my father even back then?
He's a classmate I've kinda been stuck with.
How could I end up with a guy like that?
I'm sure there was a miraculous reversal of fortune.
My father and mother were totally in love!
Yuck...
But you were born thanks to that.
I was.
Then it's fine.
You're so easygoing, as always.
U-Um...
You're the version of my mother from the great disaster,
so that pretty much makes you a different person from my mom.
B-Besides, having someone not very much different from you in age
suddenly saying she's your daughter is—
Kogarasumaru...
You were also chosen by Kogarasumaru, weren't you?
It didn't come to me through official procedures.
I inherited it from my mom, the you from my time.
From me?
And this, too.
This is the one I used.
Yes.
I brought it with me from the Hiiragi household
when I went to go serve alongside Yukari-sama.
We both wield Kogarasumaru.
Mostly likely, you are the one who is real,
while I am just a spirit of the netherworld.
It doesn't exist in the real world, just like me.
Doesn't exist in the real world?
Chidori and Kogarasumaru.
I did not think there would be anyone in the present day
like both Fujiwara Minato and Hiiragi Kagari.
So that's what she meant!
Just like you split off from my mom,
Kogarasumaru also split in two!
And what's missing is supplemented by something in the netherworld...
Is this what it means to be similar to an aradama?
Split in two...
It would be the same Chidori that Kanami, no, Minato-san used.
Chidori? Then Minato-senpai met the same fate as me?
So you cut through Hiyori-chan's lightning.
Then it's no longer Chidori, but Raikiri.
You also wielded Chidori, didn't you?
We might've even been able to meet because we both wield Chidori.
That's true!
Huh?
This is...
So Minato-senpai... I see.
That's what happened over there.
My utter uselessness even got Minato-senpai dragged into things.
B-But you were able to defeat Princess Tagitsu in the end.
What about Yukari-sama?
She was with us till the final battle.
Do you hate Yukari-sama?
My mom...
In my world, you always deeply regretted what happened.
That you were never fully able to defeat Princess Tagitsu
and for getting Kanami's mother, Minato-san, involved.
That is—
The memory of seeing my mom
breaking down on the phone at the news of Minato-san's death still haunts me.
Years later, when my mom was in her sickbed,
she hardly ever smiled.
Sometimes she would mutter in her nightmares
that she had to destroy the great aradama, Origami Yukari.
I see, and so that's why your understanding was mistaken.
Huh?
I was saved by Minato-senpai and Yukari-sama.
Originally, I was supposed to send Princess Tagitsu to the netherworld on my own.
But Minato-senpai took on part of the burden and shortened her life.
And so she saved me, the other me, and...
Now I'm here.
And together, we were able to rival Princess Tagitsu's strength.
No, Princess Tagitsu was a bit better.
Yukari-sama was the one who kept her back from the real world.
Instead, by giving up her body for twenty years,
she is the one who suffered the most.
That is why I hope that you, Hiyori-san, won't hate her.
Perhaps this place we are in is a small gap in the netherworld.
I think it might have been created by the combined force of myself,
Minato-senpai, Yukari-sama, and Princess Tagitsu.
But if Princess Tagitsu is sent to the netherworld,
even this place will disappear into its depths.
That makes sense. I'm glad I got to see you in the end.
Um, Hiyori-san, can you tell me some things
about the version of myself from that world?
I loved the stewed dishes my mom would make,
and she taught me how to make soup stock.
I learned how to make it from my mom, your grandma.
You told me that.
It's so strange.
You know so much about my future that I don't.
Indeed.
What is this sound?
It's resonating?
That means that Kanami might be close by!
It did it again, and it's getting stronger.
Could Hiyori-chan be close?
Huh?
Chidori was guiding me even when I came here,
and I ran into you.
That's why I'm sure it's guiding me again!
Hiyori-chan!
Hiyori-chan...
Kanami...
Hiyori-chan!
Kanami!
Kanami, I thought I'd never see you again.
Hiyori-chan! Thank goodness!
Thank goodness!
It has been quite some time, Minato-senpai.
Long time no see, Kagari.
Minato-senpai, I...
I... I'm sorry.
There, there.
I'm so glad I got to see you again, Kagari.
So you're Hiyori-chan?
Yes.
You're exactly like I'd pictured.
What did you tell her?
N-Nothing...
You're totally like Kagari.
Kanami-san also looks a lot like you.
She does not.
Kanami is more of the cute type, while I'm the sexy type.
Are you actually the sexy type?
Then what am I?
The ill-mannered type.
Kagari! Jeez, you haven't changed at all.
But I'm glad we were able to have such adorable daughters,
right, Kagari?
Yes.
Come on, Kagari, say her name.
Hiyori... san...
She's your daughter, you don't need to use "san."
H-Hiyori...
Okay, now you call her "Mom," Hiyori-chan.
What?! But you always hate it when I call you that.
This is different.
Mom...
Hiyori...
This is...
Perhaps the small gaps that are drifting around in the netherworld
are being sucked into its depths.
Mother, I'm glad I get to be with you at the end.
What are you talking about?
Huh?
You two are going back.
But how are we supposed to get back?
How? I'm not exactly sure.
Wha?
No one who's ever gone to the ends of the netherworld has come back.
Who said something like that?
There is no precedent for going back.
That so?
But it might be possible for you two, since your bodies still exist.
For that...
I knew it'd come to this.
Why are we doing this exactly?
To sever as many lingering attachments as possible,
since they might be what is keeping you from going back.
Lingering attachments?
She says that,
but I know that you're just itching to fight with me, too, aren't you?
You saw right through me?
A mom sees through everything.
Let's do this.
Bring it on!
You're so strong. I can't beat you at all.
Really? You won't get back with an attitude like that.
I will get back to everyone...
Along with Hiyori-chan!
That's the spirit!
Shall we spar, as well?
No, I...
Too slow!
That's probably part of what makes you like me.
There is something I want to ask you, though.
What is it?
Do you regret anything?
Hmm...
Hiyori, are you happy now?
I am.
Because I have people—friends— dear to me, who are willing
to help me carry the load when things get tough.
I see. Then I don't regret anything.
Owie... I lost.
Even you have surprising moments of weakness.
That inconsistency is the nature of your sword.
That's why I didn't win at the tournament, either.
But you've beaten me countless times.
Yep, that's right.
Which means you're as strong as me now.
You're a full master.
Thank you!
Use this if you get lost.
This is?
You should be able to get back if you think hard about everyone.
Master!
My sweet, sweet, Kanami.
I wish I could've held you with my actual body,
but the sword is everything to me, and I committed myself to it.
Mother!
Hiyori...
Mom...
Mom!
You can't look back once you've gone ahead.
Right. Let's go, Kanami.
Okay.
See ya! Take care of yourselves!
You, too, Mother!
How am I supposed to do that?
But you've always been in good health.
I guess...
Looking at those two,
I start to get a sense of just how happy we were over there.
Yes.
Hey! Why don't you come and join us?
You're here with us, too, aren't you?
Do you wanna have a bout before we disappear?
I'm sure you're still sore about me beating you.
Okay, then, though we don't know how much time we have left.
Kanami?
It's all right. I'm here.
Don't let go of my hand.
I know. I won't.
Think of everyone...
Mai-chan, Sayaka-chan, Kaoru-chan, Ellen-chan...
Oh, right! I have this...
Let's follow it.
Okay.
One, two, one, two, one, two...
Come on, everyone! Keep bringing your arms down.
Right!
One, two, one, two, one, two...
Kanami-chan, it's the perfect time to see the cherry blossoms.
The passport to the outside world originally belonged to them.
Special Rare Metals Research Institute
We can be good neighbors to them,
since they have nowhere else to go.
Don't worry. They'll understand when they see Kaoru and Nene.
They will.
Damn it! Kaoru! Where are you slacking off at?
I'm on a security mission.
But you're the commander of the raid squad!
It'll be fine if you just leave it up to Sayaka.
Director Maniwa
End transmission.
Hey!
That little—! I'll let her have it when she gets back.
Things are so tough for you, Sana-chan.
They really are!
And I have to continue being director.
You seem to have gotten pretty used to your role, at any rate.
I want a vacation and a raise.
Prioritize evacuating anyone nearby!
All units, spread out immediately!
Attack once you're in configuration—
Good night. You won't be lonely anymore.
Itomi-san...
From the special raid unit.
Did you hear?
Itomi Sayaka finished another mission by herself.
Yeah, she's racked up a tremendous number of suppressions in such a short period.
Almost like you did once.
Itomi is doing her best to fill in the gap left by Etou and Juujou's absence.
She's very reliable.
I should have been more like that.
For Yume and Yomi both.
Could you please stop talking as if you are the only surviving member
of the former elite guard?
You're right.
Suzuka,
we should get stronger, too. Together.
O-Okay...
You can do this, Ayumu.
I know.
I'll do my best, so I can fight with Etou-san again!
Yomi...
Yukina.
Yuzuki-senpai!
This is...
Management of Suijingiri Kanemitsu
has been given to Renpu by Ayanokouji.
Thank you...
How is the reconstruction going on the noro shrines?
It is going well.
Each municipality has been cooperative,
and many new shrines have been established, too.
This way we will be getting closer to returning
to the ancient ways of people and noro coexisting.
Ultimately, the things that Princess Tagitsu did changed people.
When she returns here, whether after decades or hundreds of years,
we will welcome her as a stable deity, a nigimitama, rather than an evil one.
What about the search for Etou and Juujou?
It's still ongoing.
But we haven't found anything.
Keep at it. Don't let the fire go out.
We won't.
The cherry blossoms are falling already.
Soon, the preliminaries for each school will begin.
I'm sure Etou-san would've wanted to compete if she was here.
The cherry blossoms...
It's spring already.
We're back, aren't we?
Yeah.
I want to see them all right away.
Can you imagine the looks on their faces?
I'm sure they'll be surprised.
What do you want to do first?
You want to eat something that's mint chocolate, don't you?
Yeah, I do.
Good luck.
Will both the final competitors please come forward?
Yes!