"Indeed, I am resentful."
Demon Pond
Shirayuki...
Meiji Tokyo Renka
The cutlet at Rengatei was so good.
Ougai-san...
Then stay. Stay as long as you like.
I want to.
I want to stay here forever.
I can send you back on the next full moon.
It's really coming down.
With the amount of rain we've been having, the water level of Shinobazu Pond has risen.
Is that so?
I heard the Supernatural Division is stirring.
They are?
Yes.
It's clearing up.
Come on, Syunso-san! While the sun is out!
Huh?
Let's go find the black cat.
I Miss You Dearly, Rainy Day
Meow, meow, black kitty, meow...
So, what's your secret weapon today?
Silver vine! Cats just love silver vine.
I see.
Kitty, kitty, meow, kitty, kitty, meow...
Pigeons, coo, coo, pigeons, coo, coo...
Here, I have some delicious beans for you.
Pigeons, coo, coo, pigeons, coo, coo...
This tempo is andante.
Pigeons, coo, coo, pigeons, coo, coo...
Hey, wait!
Wait, come back!
Do pigeons like silver vine, too?
I have no idea!
That was unexpected.
Shinobazu Pond... I guess the stories were true.
Let's go. It isn't safe here.
Okay.
Hushabye, hushabye, my darling baby.
You are such a good little child, hushabye now.
Where—
What?
Pardon us.
Now, wait just a minute!
You think I'm some weirdo that likes
to sing to myself as I stare off at a pond, don't you?
Wait, you're not?
No!
So, the dragon goddess from your play escaped?
A divine spirit, huh?
What happened after she escaped?
She came here to Shinobazu Pond.
The play I'm writing, Demon Pond, is a story about the dragon goddess,
Shirayuki, who is in love with the distant lord of Senja Pond.
She only has one wish,
which is to go and be with the man she loves.
However, because of a promise made long ago, she is unable to leave her pond.
If she goes against that promise, Shirayuki will die
and a flood will occur, sinking the village into the watery depths.
Shirayuki suffers because of this.
To help console her, the villagers would sing a lullaby.
Oh, so that's why you were singing that song earlier.
Yeah. Got it now?
Yes.
On the night of the recent red full moon...
Shirayuki!
Shirayuki was afraid that the play I was writing would end in tragedy,
so she escaped.
Shirayuki, wait!
Shirayuki!
This long stretch of rain we've been having is because of her, as well.
Then, will Shirayuki-san not be reunited with her lover
in the play you're writing?
I'm not sure.
Huh?
I don't even know.
I can't continue writing unless Shirayuki returns to the play.
I want Shirayuki to come back.
I want to write the rest of the story.
M-Maybe there is something I can do to help!
We can get Shirayuki-san back together!
Wha?
What the heck is a dolt like you gonna do?
Those guys from the Supernatural Division are skulking around, too.
If Shirayuki-san is slain by Fujita-san, Demon Pond will remain unfinished.
There has to be a way.
Don't touch me!
Let's come up with something together, Kyoka-san!
I never asked you to decide for me.
It'll be fine.
What part of it will?
Umm... All of it!
Absolutely not!
W-Why not?
You were supposed to be searching for Syunso's black cat, were you not?
Why were you in such a dangerous area?
Syunso, she was in your care.
M-My apologies.
Syunso-san is not at fault.
I just want to do something for Kyoka-san and Shirayuki-san.
Mei, I want you to look for the black cat.
I swear I won't do anything dangerous.
Mei...
I am not a Tamayori,
so I would not be able to tell if something dangerous was getting close to you.
You understand, don't you?
Yes.
Mei, can you speak English?
Eh?! Uh, w-well...
A-A little.
Mei, you should study English more.
There will be quite a number of foreign guests
at the upcoming formal fiancée presentation.
Do you understand, Mei?
Y-Yes, I do.
Very good.
He totally evaded me.
Wait.
Syunso-san?
I don't think you should get involved.
Huh?
Unlike with my black cat, where the cause is clear,
Izumi is the only one who can resolve the Shirayuki situation.
B-But...
You know, Ougai-san isn't the only one who worries about you.
Damn, will this blasted rain ever stop?
The pond is going to breach its banks tonight at this rate.
Come home, Shirayuki.
You won't be able to accomplish anything staying here.
Come back within me.
That idiot...
I'm sorry, Ougai-san, but I just have to...
Please, Shirayuki-san, go back to Kyoka-san.
Never being able to be with the one you love is hard, isn't it?
I know how you must feel.
I also want to be with the one I love.
You know, he even told me that he wanted me to stay forever.
But I'm going to have to go back.
I'll have to leave him in half a month.
I'm sure I'll never be able to see him again after that.
I want to stay with you forever...
Ougai-san.
So it was a ghost after all.
What's that?
Hey! Get away from the pond!
Kyoka-san?
What the heck?!
You finally show yourself.
Shirayuki!
That's Shirayuki-san?!
Crap, she's lost control.
Come on, you dolt, hurry up!
R-Right.
Shirayuki, calm down!
This isn't where you're supposed to be!
Kyoka-san!
Shirayuki! I'm the one who created you!
So please come back to me!
Evacuate nearby residents immediately!
The banks are going to breach!
Pretending to be a dragon god? Foolish ghost.
Kyoka-san!
Izumi Kyoka?
How resentful I am...
Were it not for that accursed promise, I could be with my beloved for all eternity.
Shirayuki...
Cease with that infernal noise!
Izumi Kyoka!
What is a lowly writer like you doing here?
It appears that you have something to do with this endless rain.
Tell me all the details.
Please wait!
You again? Move!
I will not.
Kyoka-san is trying to help Shirayuki-san!
Shirayuki? Is that the name of that monster?
I want to see him.
I want to be with my beloved right now!
Shirayuki!
Please listen to us, Shirayuki-san!
Insolent humans! Do not come near me.
I will no longer listen to anyone!
The monster is right there!
I will not cast aside love for my life.
Every single one of you!
I will trample anyone who dares to try and stop me!
No, Shirayuki-san!
Stop!
You idiot!
Shirayuki-san...
Please, go back to Kyoka-san.
The man you love is within Kyoka-san.
I cannot believe the words of a human.
You will never be able to see him again like this.
Shirayuki-san, please believe in Kyoka-san.
Believe in him.
I can't breathe.
Ougai-san, I'm so sorry.
I know I promised I wouldn't do anything dangerous.
Shirayuki!
Come back to me, Shirayuki.
Shirayuki...
If...
If you can't do that, then I will share my fate with you here!
Shira...
Mei! Mei!
Mei!
Ougai-san...
You fool!
You fool...
Ougai-san.
Shirayuki-san...
Love creates such remarkable strength of spirit.
I will return, back to within you.
Back to my beloved.
Shirayuki!
Shirayuki...
Shirayuki-san, you went back inside Kyoka-san.
I-It hurts!
Muscle pain?!
G-Good morning.
Well, good morning, Little Squirrel.
Did you sleep well?
I-I did, and, well...
You have a visitor.
Kyoka-san!
You doing okay?
Yes, I am! No, I'm in pain.
My story is progressing.
Really? That's great!
So, what's going to happen with Shirayuki-san's romance?
You want to know?
Of course I do!
I can't just tell you the outcome of a creative work.
If you're interested, come and see it next month.
A certain third-rate actor will be performing it.
Third-rate actor?
Oh, you mean Otojiro-san!
Okay, then I will definitely come and see it.
I wonder how everything is going to turn out!
Okay, but please tell me just one little detail.
Not a chance!
Then at least tell me if everything works out.
That would be like giving it all away.
I hope your romance works out as well.
You pushed yourself too far.
Does that mean it works out for Shirayuki-san, too?!
I'm so glad!
Thank you so much!
Y-You're so weird! I'm the one who was thanking you.
See you next month.
Yes, next month.
Next month...
I will no longer
be here next month.
W-Wait, not that way. I want to go this way. Woah!
Ougai-san! Come on, this way.
Ouch! Don't be so rough, Syunso! That hurts!
Meiji Tokyo Renka
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