I see.
So you saw the device under Mt. Sankaku?
I would've preferred to tell you about Ryuzoji in writing,
but at the time, I didn't know that he was actually something else.
I'm back.
Hello?
Mitsuki-san?
Takuya? Why are you calling so late?
I just really wanted to hear your voice...
What?
That's why you're calling me in the middle of the night?
Yeah. That's the only reason.
I think my heart skipped a beat.
It reminded me of old times...
Takuya, you sound tired.
You know better than anybody that I've got the endurance to keep going on forever.
If you can tell jokes like that, it means you're probably okay, huh?
Yeah.
Talk to you later.
Ryuzoji...
What are you after?
"Episode 12: The Secret Under the White Coat"
This is your wake-up call!
--Your superhero in your hour of need, Masakatsu Yuki, is here!
--My superhero in my hour of need, Masakatsu Yuki, is here, huh?
Boss, how did you know what I was going to say?
Are we bound by the red thread of fate?
Forget that. You know a lot about the curse, right?
Yes.
Do you know when Ryuzoji moved into that mansion?
Oh, I think by the time everybody started talking about the curse, he'd moved in.
I see.
You do know a lot. Thanks.
Ask me about anything!
The lightning strikes, rumors...
You sound happy.
That's right.
I'm looking into it all for Shimazu-san...
Time for class!
Since I'm a nice guy, I'll ask you to do my work for me again.
What?
Don't you want to do the same work Mio's doing?
Never mind.
I do!
I'd love to do your work for you!
I'd like nothing more in the world!
Right?
Okay, I'll let you do my work for me again, then!
Thank you!
I'll see you later, Mom.
Goodbye.
So Ryuzoji moved into that mansion the same time
the rumors about the curse started, huh?
At this point, that doesn't seem like a coincidence.
I could try confronting him directly, but that Niarb is tough to handle.
What separates it from regular hypnosis
is that your normal consciousness remains awake.
It's a state of hypnosis where since you're awake,
you don't realize you're being controlled.
Eriko-sensei may know a way to deal with it.
Eriko-sensei!
She's not here?
Man, she's never around.
Her clothes are on the bed again!
They're still warm.
So the suspect is still nearby...
Eriko-sensei?
Where is she?
I don't know how she can sleep on this hard floor.
How do you sleep?
On the floor.
Is that the new thing?
Abel... Del... Midra...
Abel! It's so hot... the flames...
Abel!
Are you okay, Eriko-sensei?
Don't leave me.
I swear I'll find them and...
Abel...
This is, um... well...
Abel!
You came back!
Abel...
Eriko-sensei!
Snap out of it!
Huh? You're...
Hello. I'm Arima.
Did you see that special--
That voice!
It came from the nurse's office!
--What's wrong?! --Eriko-sensei!
What are you doing?
Arima!
I'm sorry. It seems I gave you the wrong idea.
You just happened to walk into the nurse's office,
where she just happened to be changing?
Was it really a coincidence, I wonder?
Shimazu-san, you should trust me more--
What did you say?
Nothing. No.
Sensei! They made this boy by sticking arms and legs on a libido,
and covering it with the skin of a pervert!
Be careful!
That's pretty mean...
But I'm right, aren't I?
You've got a track record.
A track record?
What's she talking about?
Um, nothing big.
What do you intend to do with that thing?
I can't imagine you want it for financial gain.
Pure academic curiosity?
Don't ask too many questions.
It's not good for either of us.
I'm aware of that.
I was just a little curious...
Why would someone like you be willing to take risks like this?
Oh, Yuki!
What's that video?
A special on the paranormal they did last night!
It was all about the curse!
The curse?
Sounds interesting.
If you're going to watch it, let me join you.
An inhuman monster that stalks the streets at night...
Perhaps it's still out there somewhere in Sakaimachi,
searching for its next victim.
So it's either a big carnivore cat, a zombie, or maybe aliens.
That really narrows it down.
Right now, the fact that the bodies were so badly damaged
makes most people think it was a big cat.
It was weird that they never covered Principal Ryuzoji's mansion, though.
That's where this whole thing got started, right?
Yeah. That was really lazy of them.
You don't think they were worried about character defamation?
I'm surprised you're into this stuff, Eriko-sensei.
Women are drawn to things that are mysterious.
Be they crimes, or men...
"UFO Special, Ghost Special, Psychic Powers Special, UMA Special (1), UMA Special (2), Buried Treasure Special, Crop Circle Special, Seven Mysteries Special, Supernatural Phenomena Special"
All right, time for Masakatsu's special selections!
These are all masterpieces!
Boss, which one do we start with?
No, I...
Arima-kun, we need to talk.
Okay, sure.
Whew...
The swallows and sparrows know not the thoughts of geese and swans.
You been busy lately?
I'm spending every day going through your father's research notes.
Hey, don't you think something's changed with Ryuzoji-sensei, lately?
Yeah, I think he's acting weird.
I knew it...
Hey, Mitsuki-san.
Have you ever gotten a headache when talking with Ryuzoji?
Sometimes, maybe...
It's possible he's using a type of hypnosis called "Niarb" on you.
Hypnosis?
When did you start thinking he was acting weird?
Two months ago.
I knew it.
That's when the curse started.
Nothing. I'll keep an eye on him.
Thanks.
There wasn't anybody else I could talk to, so it's a huge help.
I have to go.
I promised I'd meet him.
Will you make it in time?
Don't worry. It's the historical research room, so it's close.
I have to be somewhere too.
See you later.
I guess this is the only place...
Eriko-sensei?
What are you doing?
That's my line!
Get out of there!
I can't do that right now!
But I need to use...
Is something wrong?
No.
This isn't meant for two people...
Just deal with it for a while.
Ichijo-kun,
why don't you just come out and tell me what it is that's been bothering you?
You've changed.
You're not who you were.
Why do you think that?
It's hard to put into words, but...
But your mannerisms, the way you move, your expressions...
You seem like a different person at times!
I see.
But if you'll allow me to speak in my defense,
the old you wouldn't have said something like that.
Isn't it possible that you've changed, instead of me?
The way you look at things. The way you think.
The way you understand. They've all changed.
But instead of noticing that,
perhaps it seems to you like the world around you has changed?
Perhaps you're simply lying to yourself?
I haven't changed...
But what if you were the only one who felt that way?
Neither myself, nor my mother, have changed.
You're the one who's changed, Ichijo-kun.
That's impossible!
Hey, something hard's pressing up against me...
Well, that's just how men work...
And at a time like this...
Well, times like this are when it happens...
You don't need to let it worry you.
It's a very natural thing.
Why did you change? Why do you refuse to admit it?
I've noticed the hidden feelings within you, Ichijo-kun.
Sensei...
I can't see, damn it.
What is he doing?
You've been holding back because I'm married, right?
No, I...
Damn it! Mitsuki-san!
Forget about Mitsuki Ichijo.
What do you mean?
She's going to disappear soon.
Oww...
Mitsuki-san will disappear? What does that mean?
What are your plans after this?
I'm very busy...
No plans. Got it.
I'll see you at Cafe Evening on Central Street.
What's this about?
There's something I want to show you.
Kanna-chan!
Someone who smells different.
Ryuzoji?
Yes.
He seems to want my necklace...
No, the stone itself.
Be careful, Arima-san.
Hey there.
Why are you dressed like that?
It's a disguise, obviously.
Look at that.
Ryuzoji and Kaori Asakura the journalist.
I should've known it wouldn't surprise you.
I guess not.
How much do you know?
I know most things.
I guess that's what happens if you keep doing it over and over again...
What about you?
How much do you know?
I know most things.
That's all I wanted to make sure of.
Now, let's head to our next destination.
Where?
To see the cause of the curse.
Hey, you ever played catch?
What's this got to do with anything?
Okay, catch!
Hey!
Sorry. That one went wild.
That was definitely deliberate.
I'd better go in and get it back.
Now hurry.
So why are we trespassing into somebody's house in the middle of the night?
A certain woman has promised to give me information on Principal Ryuzoji.
A certain woman?
Mitsuki-san?
No. His mother.
The old woman?
I can hear it...
The breath of 400 years...
You sure there's any point in talking to her?
She's just pretending to be senile.
You couldn't tell?
I think she figured out the principal's secret.
That's his mom...
He wanted to keep her quiet, I'm sure.
You won't get away!
Hey! Are we just leaving her?
Oh no!
Hey, what happened, Eriko-sensei?!
I hope she's okay, but...
M-
Mitsuki-san?
"Episode 13: An Ordained Fate"
Episode 13: "An Ordained Fate."