Meiji Tokyo Renka
You're Ayazuki Mei-san, right?
That was...
Apparently, that girl can see ghosts.
Huh? Really?
She's even friends with them.
That's so weird.
Right?
Totally.
This is...
What is it?
The world I used to live in...
I'll be going back there soon.
Mei...
Why do you gaze at the moon?
Will you soon be leaving my side?
Mei...
I will...
finish writing this story for you.
No... It will be for me, so that I will finally be able to face you properly.
The Dancing Girl
There will be a full moon soon.
And I will go back to my time.
That's what I wanted at first, too.
But things have changed...
I want to stay here, forever.
By Ougai-san's side.
Then stay. Stay as long as you like.
I want to stay!
I want to stay with Ougai-san forever!
Meiji Tokyo Renka
Ougai's Study
What?
Oh, nothing.
G-Good night.
Yes, good night.
Ougai's Study
I haven't seen Ougai-san at all today.
Escaping at 3 O'Clock in the Afternoon
Six o'clock...
Ougai-san's bath time!
If I go to the sun room now,
I'll be able to catch Ougai-san while he's bath—
That's not right, is it?
I at least want to say good morning to him.
What?
Good morning.
Morning.
Good morning.
What's with you lately?
Oh, uh, well...
It's time for breakfast.
O-Okay!
What is it?
Oh, I was just wondering if Ougai-san was coming.
He should be here soon.
Right, of course.
Thank you for the food!
It's so good.
Ougai-san is pretty late.
He's probably not coming.
Huh?!
He seems to be particularly focused on his writing at the moment.
He probably just has more to do than usual.
Writing?
You mean a novel?
Yes.
So that's why.
Then...
D-Do you think there's something I can do to help him?
Of course not.
Ougai-san!
Well, good morning.
Syunso.
Little Squirrel.
G-Good morning!
G-Good morning.
So! Y-You're writing a novel, Ougai-san?
Fumi-san! Another serving of hot miso soup please!
All right.
Yup.
What kind of story is it?
It is...
Yes?
A romance novel.
Ooh, a love story!
Yes, a love story.
How wonderful!
I'm really looking forward to your romance novel!
I wonder what it'll be about.
Will there be a big encounter at a street corner?
What's that mean?
A big encounter... That would be nice.
You really think so?
Yes.
I'll be making good progress thanks to you, Little Squirrel.
I hope I was helpful.
Seems like it.
And so the lovers will probably be reunited
when he's transferred into the same class as her, right?
Pardon?
"Let's see... Your desk is the one next to hers," or something like that.
Okay...?
"He doesn't have the textbooks yet, so share yours with him."
And that's where their love will start!
Umm... that sounds nice.
Doesn't it though?
But...
That means Ougai-san is going to shut himself up in that room again.
Yes, he must be really focused.
For hours on end.
How long do you think it'll take him?
Till next week?
I'm not sure.
Will it be the week after that, maybe?
Hopefully he will be done soon.
Shhh! Doggies, shhh!
Ougai-san is focusing on his work right now, so please bark softly.
Huh?
He's bathing?
Ougai-san's bath time is...
My schedule is such that I bathe each day, morning and evening, at six o'clock.
Isn't it?
Midday Cannon
Shhh!
It's only noon, though.
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang
Now what?!
Hello there!
S-Someone making a challenge?
Pardon the intrusion!
E-Excuse me, wh—
It's fine, it's fine.
Is Mori-kun at home?
His sworn ally, Okakura Tenshin, has come with a gift to show support.
Sensei!
Sensei?
Hishida-kun, where might Mori-kun be?
The study?
Where is the study?
Here? Mori-kun! Not here.
Here, maybe? Mori-kun! Not here, either.
Mori-kun! Hey, Mori-kun!
E-Excuse me!
Please be quiet. Ougai-san is currently writing.
What? What was that?!
He's writing? Is it that piece?!
Has he finally started working on that romance novel?!
Yes... Are you familiar with it?
Of course!
It is the story of a young man who travels to a foreign land and meets a beautiful woman,
and they fall in love at first sight.
It's that passionate a story?
A-And what about a big explosive encounter?
That's right.
Dazzling days of splendid love that go bang!
But a cruel destiny will soon strike them like a bolt of lightning, ba-boom!
And two people in love are torn apart!
What? No way!
Eventually, as the man returns home to Japan on a ship,
he sheds a single tear as he thinks about the woman he left behind.
An unexpectedly tragic love story!
A man who chose his country over love!
A woman left behind all alone!
Oh, Mori-kun!
How will you depict those emotions, Mori-kun?
E-Excuse me!
Ougai-san!
Well now, there you are, Mori-kun!
Is writing going well? I brought you sweet buns!
I have high expectations, Mori-kun!
Of a story that makes my blood boil with passion!
A bittersweet, tearjerker of a love story!
Write your heart out!
When will you be finished? Next week? Or the week after that?
Sensei, let's just leave it at that...
Oh, Hishida-kun!
How is that painting going?
Have you painted that black cat?
How are your eyes?
Well...
Not yet? Okay, then! Hurry up and paint it, lickity-split!
I have huge expectations for you!
When will it be finished? Next week? The week after that?
About that...
Well then, I will come by again the week after next.
Thank you for having me.
Umm... who was that?
My art teacher.
My drinking buddy.
He's not a bad person, deep down.
Okay...
Where are you going, Ougai-san?
I thought I would bathe myself.
Huh? Didn't you just do that?
Oh, I guess I did.
Well, then.
Thank you, Little Squirrel.
Oh, sure.
I-...
I wish you luck.
What's wrong with me? What am I doing?
I don't want to bother him while he's writing,
but I just want to be with him for a bit.
The moon will be full soon.
I want to spend as much time with him as I can until then.
'Ello, Mei-chan. Good even—
Ouchie...
Huh?
C-Charlie-san! I'm so sorry.
No worries, no worries!
In fact, I wouldn't mind at all if you hit and kicked me while cursing at me.
Pervert!
Oh, sorry.
Totally fine!
What are you doing here, anyway?
I just had a feeling you might want to talk to me.
Huh?
It's not much longer, Mei-chan, till the full moon.
I've kept you waiting quite a while, haven't I?
Ah, but you just need to be patient a little longer.
Once there's a full moon, I will finally send you back
to your time in a flash, just as you wished!
Eh?
What's the matter, Mei-chan?
Umm... Charlie-san?
Hm?
I don't want to go back.
Huh?
Wha—?!
I don't want to go back!
Even I didn't expect that I would feel this way.
But I... I want to stay with Ougai-san much, much longer!
I want to stay with Ougai-san!
T-That's quite unexpected!
Oh my, I never would have even imagined you would say such a thing.
I'm sorry...
This is unexpected.
Unexpected, but...
In that case...
Why don't you stay?
Huh?
If that's what you really want to do, then you should stay.
Wha? C-Can I?
Sure.
Can I stay here forever?
Sure.
Really?
Yes.
Truly?
Truly.
Really and truly?
Yes, really and truly.
I'll stay, then!
I will stay here!
Mei-chan, it's a good thing you met Ougai-san, isn't it?
Yes, it really is.
And now I can stay with Ougai-san forever, can't I?
Yes, you can.
But!
Feel free to tell me if you ever change your mind, Mei-chan.
I won't!
I have no doubts. I'll be fine!
Thank you, Charlie-san!
You're welcome.
Instead of thanking me,
I wouldn't mind if you gave me a swift kick or slapped me again.
You're such a creep, Charlie-san!
Well then, Mei-chan, sweet dreams.
What a strange person Charlie-san is.
Mei...
Why do you gaze at the moon?
When the moon becomes full again,
will you disappear before my eyes?
Just as you suddenly appeared before me on that night of the full moon,
will you suddenly...
Mei...
I will finish writing this story.
In order to face myself.
The Dancing Girl
Before you suddenly vanish...
Mei, I...
Elise...
Meiji Tokyo Renka
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Labyrinth of Love and Heartache
It doesn't matter.
Not if I can't face my past or my present.
I love you even when you're upset, Ougai-san.