Ayumi-san and Ryuzoji didn't seem like they were lying.
So was that a dream?
Did I dream about that girl? And the gun?
No, it was real.
"Episode 2: Parallel World Constitutive Theorem"
Okay.
Yup. It's back where it was.
One more time!
So what I carry stays with me?
Takuya, what is history?
Did you call me here to ask me that?
Tell me.
History is the sum of everything we've done--
That's what the old ways of thinking say about history.
They say it's the memories of how things have changed throughout time.
But history is actually memories of the process of change itself.
What are you talking about?
The concept of "history" applies even to changes that take place to time itself.
Not that your flea-sized brain could comprehend that.
Are you picking a fight with me?
For instance,
let's say I wondered what would happen if I hadn't eaten this piece of cake,
and went several minutes back in time to find out.
A thought experiment.
What would happen then?
If you asked a robot shaped like a cat,
they'd say that you'd just create a new history, where you didn't eat the cake.
And that's wrong.
Let me ask you a question, then.
What happened to the initial fact that caused me to go back in time?
Well... You went back in time because you ate the cake.
If you never ate the cake in the first place, then...
Huh?
Yes.
The initial cause of my choice does not disappear.
I eat the cake, then go back into the past.
A world where I don't eat the cake is born.
All three of these things are carved into history.
"The Reflector Device is a device that allows one to move to another parallel world."
"It is a very different beast than a so-called 'time machine'."
Oww...
There it is again.
Does something bad happen if you use this thing too much?
Kanna-chan!
Were you watching that?
What do you mean by "that"?
If you didn't see, it's fine.
It's fine...
See you around.
Summer break starts tomorrow.
I want you to work as hard at having fun as you do at your studies.
Everybody, make sure to have a great time.
Hey, why are we making a diorama of Sakaimachi, anyway?
It doesn't seem very historical...
Dr. Arima believed that the city itself hid a historical mystery.
Yuki-kun, what do you think of Mt. Sankaku here?
Hmm... Well, it's a weird mountain.
Yeah. It's hard to believe that erosion from sea winds could make a shape like that,
and the place's geology is...
Hey.
Arima-kun? What is it?
Do you want to join the club after all?
I had a question.
I came here yesterday, right?
Yes.
You came right as we were talking about Dr. Arima. So I remember it well.
Right. You said you wanted to borrow his research notes.
I see...
Something wrong?
No, just wanted to check.
I'm gonna borrow your phone.
Hey! Don't just use our stuff!
Sorry. It's urgent.
Hello?
Hello? What's wrong?
You were talking to Ryuzoji-san this morning at school, right?
What happened with my dad's research notes?
I promised to send them to him.
So that hasn't changed, huh?
No, it's nothing.
Oh, right. Good timing.
I wanted your help with that.
My help?
Kodai-san's notes have a lot of personal things mixed in with them.
We need to sort through them before the delivery people will take them.
You want me to go through his notes?
Don't tell me you mean that whole room...
That's right...
Chief...
Sorry, things are kind of a mess here right now.
Okay, I'll do it...
You're such a good son, boss.
You're going to help me.
Why me?
I want to do it.
I know a lot about Dr. Arima's research, and nobody's better suited than me
to go through his things and say what's part of his work and what isn't.
It's okay, right?
Yeah, I don't mind, but...
I guess you and I will be alone together, then.
I-I'll join you!
Did you see that special on the paranormal last night?
They covered our city!
Of course. It was a whole thing about the curse.
"Bizarre Incident in Sakaimachi - Brutal Murder?" "Curse Controversy Continues"
The police kept getting strange reports
"Witnesses See Headless Corpse - Mystery Deepens" The police kept getting strange reports
"Witnesses See Headless Corpse - Mystery Deepens" about people being attacked by a headless monster.
"Body Found - Potential Murder?" about people being attacked by a headless monster.
"Body Found - Potential Murder?" And then they found a torso with no head or limbs.
The limbs and head have yet to be found.
The most likely theory is that it's some kind of dangerous mountain cat, but...
There's a theory that it's zombies too, right?
That's going too far.
Last night they were saying it might be aliens.
That's ridiculous...
The lightning strikes, and then the curse...
There's a lot of weird stuff going on, huh?
You never change, Mio.
You're obsessed with ancient history and the paranormal.
I'm interested in both of them from a purely scientific perspective.
And it's the job of the historical research club to solve those mysteries!
Right!
Something wrong?
Oh, nothing.
If you find any porn, give it to me.
Not that I can imagine having the same tastes as my dad.
Wow, this one too...
Arima-kun?
I'd like to make copies before we send this to Ryuzoji-sensei.
Sure, whatever.
Boss, what about this stuff?
Oh, put anything fragile over there.
Sure.
I knew it. He'd kept researching the 400 Year Cycle Theory.
Four hundred year cycle? What's that?
The 400 Year Cycle Theory.
It's a famous theory that Dr. Arima proposed.
It's less a theory and more the fantasy of a delusional lunatic, though.
The theory remains completely original, even today.
It was so "original" that his academic society disowned him.
There's no point in talking to you about this.
If only Dr. Arima was here, he could talk some sense into his idiot son.
I feel the same way.
I still feel like I owe him a punch in the jaw.
The way he just up and died on me...
I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me.
Don't worry about it.
I know that when you get excited about something,
you lose track of what's going on around you.
Um...
So what's this 400 Year Cycle thing?
Oh, my dad's theory was that Japanese history undergoes a revolution every 400 years.
Around the year 1600, they established the Edo Shogunate.
Around the year 1200, they established the Kamakura Shogunate.
Around the year 800, they moved the capital to Kyoto.
And around the year 400, the Yamato court unified Japan under its control.
What's important is that in each case, the revolution was brought by outsiders to Japan.
That part isn't written in the official histories.
My dad's theory was that even the ancient nations of Japan,
and our own unique culture, were brought here by people from outside the country.
Of course, he got a lot of angry complaints from the right.
The details are written here in Legacy.
That's an impressive-looking book.
You're a part of the historical research club now, so I hope you'll read it.
Of course, if you want me to, Shimazu-san.
That thing's out of print.
He's not going to be able to find a copy.
I have multiple copies. For collecting, for reading, and for lending.
I see.
We're finally done, huh?
We never did find any porn.
It's still light out. Let's go to Mt. Sankaku.
You've got way too much energy, Shimazu-san.
What could we even do there this late?
I told you before what I was doing. We can do more of that.
Before?
You mean when you peed your bed?
I did not!
Not even when you were little?
Well, of course I did back then...
Why are you making me say that?
You mean investigate Mt. Sankaku, right?
Let's go!
Let's go right now!
Mt. Sankaku! How exciting!
Yeah...
You think so, too?
Of course I do.
If he finds us there'll be trouble. Let's hurry.
Isn't that...?
Hey.
It's dangerous. You should stay away.
Then what are you doing here, Kanna-chan?
Goodbye.
Wait, Hatano-san.
What were you doing here?
Enjoying the wind.
We could see you. You were doing something.
I didn't feel well, so I was sitting down. That's all.
Hatano-san, are you hiding something?
What kind of answer would you like me to give you?
You don't have to say it like that...
Did you put these flowers here?
They're always here when I come.
You can answer that question with a yes or a no, right?
Wait, Mio...
Goodbye.
Wait!
Knock it off.
Stop!
Are you attracted to her?
But Hatano-san's not a good choice.
What are you talking about?
There's a lot of bad rumors about her, you know.
Rumors?
Futago Rock has a really weird shape, doesn't it?
They did radiometric dating on it once
and found out it's around 8,000 years old.
Eight thousand years?
That writing is older than the four ancient civilizations, huh?
Radiometric dating isn't perfect.
Something as simple as a meteor falling can change the results.
All we know is that we still know basically nothing about Mt. Sankaku.
Calm down, guys...
Another guy got injured two days ago!
You want us to work on a dangerous job site like this?
I'm just doing what the company tells me to...
You're the one who told us to move those rocks!
No! That was Chief Arima's orders!
We're wasting time here.
Let's go to Geotech and talk to them directly.
I try to play nice, and they act like assholes...
Hey.
Looks you were feeding them a line of crap, huh?
Oh, it's you!
What are you talking about?
You lied about Ayumi-san ordering them to move those rocks.
If I didn't say that, I would've been in danger.
You little...
Boss?
Oh, this is Flunky A, he works for Ayumi-san.
The name's Toyotomi.
He films porn.
I run a construction site!
You told them to do it without getting her okay, didn't you?
You got any proof?
Nope. But it sounds extremely likely to me.
Even if I did, it's still her responsibility because she's my boss, right?
Piece of shit...
What did you say?
Nothing.
You'd better not have been up there on Mt. Sankaku.
That place is off-limits.
Mt. Sankaku is a public space.
They finished their examination of the lighting strikes.
Miss, I'm sorry, but it's under Geotech's authority now.
It's dangerous. We're tearing down Futago Rock when we expand the construction site.
You can't do that!
Mt. Sankaku is famous!
It could be declared an Important Cultural Property by the government!
Well, if you don't like it, sue.
Mayor Shimazu's already given his permission,
and the legal application paperwork is just about complete.
Why are you tearing it down?
Company secret.
I can't tell you.
You're not even saying why,
and all you need is the Mayor's permission?
That can't be allowed to happen!
Who are you, anyway?
I'm Mio Shimazu. The mayor's daughter.
The mayor's daughter?
I, um... I'm just doing what the company tells me to.
It's only a matter of time before the city council approves...
Democracy is all about process!
You need to get approval before you do something, not after!
I don't know what to tell you...
I'll talk to my dad personally about this.
I've got to be somewhere!
Bye!
In the end, the good guys always win!
What's his deal?
I'll ask my dad about Mt. Sankaku,
but just in case, let's hurry up with our investigation.
Right.
Yuki, walk her home.
Sure thing!
The hotels are that way, by the way.
Hey!
I'm home.
Takuya-kun, I'll be home late again tonight. Eat dinner without me.
"Geotechnics"
I love you, Mother.
Don't say that. I know I'm not your real mother, but you and I...
So what?
--And what of your father? I can't betray him--
--Excuse me. --And what of your father? I can't betray him--
What do you want at this hour?
My name is Takuya Arima.
I want to get in touch with my mother, Ayumi...
She just left.
Where did she go?
I can't tell anybody that. Even her son.
Please!
I know you take this job seriously, and you're not the type to watch TV at work...
Mother!
No!
She was on her way to a scientific equipment leasing corporation.
In the warehouse district at the port.
Ayumi-san?
Who are you people?
Just like we said on the phone. We're repairmen with the leasing company.
Don't be ridiculous!
It's not good to judge people by their appearance.
Now hand it over.
Hand what over?
Don't play dumb.
The research data.
Why are you doing this?
Just hand it over.
Unless you want to get hurt.
Okay!
Hey!
Takuya-kun!
Ayumi-san, are you okay?
Was this guy in the script?
No, he's probably not part of the show.
I called the cops.
You're bluffing.
In five minutes, you'll find out.
In five minutes, you won't have an unbroken bone left in your body.
Stop it!
I'll give you the data!
So please don't hurt him!
Ayumi-san, you don't need to give them that!
No, Takuya-kun.
Don't do anything crazy... Please!
Forget about the kid, lady.
We're a lot more fun to hang out with.
It's been a while since you've had a man, right?
I can tell by the look on your face.
Cut it out, you bastards!
Idiot.
Takuya-kun! Takuya-kun!
Don't mess with professional brawlers, kid.
You still want to do this?
Yeah. Time for round 2.
I can't do this unarmed.
Hey!
Takuya-kun!
Ayumi-san, get out of here.
Was this guy in the script?
No, he's probably not part of the show.
Takuya-kun! Takuya-kun!
Don't mess with professional brawlers, kid.
You still want to do this?
Yeah. I'm not the type who gives up.
Takuya-kun!
Was this guy in the script?
No, he's probably not part of the show.
--Takuya-kun! Takuya-kun! --Gotcha...
Are you okay?
One more time...
Hold it!
Episode 3: "Tears That Can't Be Stopped."