Meiji Tokyo Renka
Elise...
The Dancing Girl
You won't let me keep writing?
Do you still resent me?
Elise...
If you refuse to let me write...
Then so be it.
The moon will be full soon,
and she will disappear from me
just as quickly as she appeared
on the night of the last full moon.
I am out of time.
I have run out of time.
Escaping at 3 O'Clock in the Afternoon
Meow, meow, mreow-mreow-mreow?
Meow, meow?
What are you doing?
I'm asking if he knows a black cat.
See, he looks just like Pork Loin from Fujita-san's house.
Meow?
Can he even understand you?
He can! He can understand my feelings, at least.
He can understand my feelings.
If that's what you really want to do, then you should stay.
Yes. I will keep waiting for you, Ougai-san.
Little Squirrel.
Would you like to go indulge in some sweets with me?
You too, of course, Syunso.
Yes! Gladly!
Why didn't Syunso join us, I wonder?
Well, he mentioned something about his stomach suddenly hurting.
All right, then.
We'll be going now, Syunso-san!
You seem so happy and full of smiles
whenever Ougai-san is around...
So, Tatsuno-san, why does Tokyo Station use header bond brickwork?
Tokyo Station? Are you referring to the Tokyo Railway Station?
I am still working on the design for it,
but what did you just say about header bond brickwork?
I was just thinking that erecting such a large building with header bond brickwork would be unusual.
Wait, that's actually a good idea.
Thank you for the food!
So does the header bond with facing bricks?
It's absolutely scrumptious!
You really seem to be enjoying it.
Getting to see how much you enjoy it is enough for me.
No way, that's silly.
So, Ougai-san, how goes the progress on your novel?
Maybe I shouldn't have asked about it?
Y-You know,
Yakumo-san calls Fujita-san's place Café Fujita.
He has a dish there called the Goro Special, and it looks really good.
Indeed, your expression of delight is truly delicious.
I probably shouldn't ask him about his novel.
I wonder if Otojiro-san will end up
playing the role of Shirayuki in that play Kyoka-san wrote?
I'm really glad he was able to finish writing it so soon.
Oh, I-I'm so sorry! I-I wasn't thinking...
You finally have a chance to relax. I'm sorry.
Would you like to order some red bean soup as well, Little Squirrel?
I-Is that all right?
Of course.
It's so sweet! I'm so happy!
I... am thinking about quitting writing.
Huh?
Y-...
You mean as a profession?
I can't write.
Besides...
You are right here with me now,
and I think that is more than enough.
I'm glad to hear that, but...
I thought you would be more pleased.
I'll try doing the framework in the British-style.
British-style? That sounds like chaos!
But I would like to read it.
I would like to read your novel, Ougai-san.
So...
I can't write it.
I know...
...that it's probably rather impertinent for me to say this,
since I can't do anything and I don't know anything...
But I want you to keep writing your novel, Ougai-san.
Quitting in the middle just doesn't seem like you...
Hey...
Syunso-san?
Got a minute?
The story Ougai-san is trying to write...
It's...
about him and his former lover.
Ougai-san is trying to write a novel about the lover
he met while studying abroad.
They met in Germany and fell in love.
They considered spending the rest of their lives together.
But...
Since Ougai-san had studied abroad for the sake of his country,
those around him were against him marrying her.
He was only permitted to live as a public figure, not as an individual.
And so Ougai-san decided to break it off with her.
Elise...
I believe he regrets that, even now.
Elise... I know.
I know you will not let me write.
I assure you...
I have quit writing altogether.
So please...
Stop appearing to me!
Elise...
That story traces the path of why his heart was closed off.
That's why he can't write it.
Why is he trying to write such a painful story?
For you.
Ougai-san is currently trying to face his past.
He is doing it for you, because you're here now.
He's putting himself through all that suffering... for me?
Ougai-san...?
The Dancing Girl
Hey!
Oh, Mei-san.
Fumi-san!
I saw Ougai-san just now.
We passed one another over there, but when I tried to call out to him,
it was like he couldn't hear. He was completely out of it.
Thank you so much, Fumi-san!
Ougai-san!
Can I help you?
Oh, pardon me!
Well now, you're quite the looker.
I was mistaken!
What are you doing?
I might have driven Ougai-san away.
All because I didn't know anything!
Even if that's true, Ougai-san is not such a weak person.
Y-You may be right.
But still...
I can't just do nothing while Ougai-san is suffering.
I can't stand to see you like this!
Thank you, Syunso-san.
I am fine now.
I'm fine. I'm fine.
Mei!
You are...
an illusion that I've created.
You are the very weakness of my heart.
I knew that from the beginning.
I thought you would disappear if I stopped writing, though.
Elise...
I never imagined...
that facing you would bring me this much pain.
I give up, Elise. I won't write anymore.
No...
I can't write.
I never thought that I was so pathetic
that I wouldn't be able to face either my past or my present.
Elise...
Ougai-san!
Thank goodness.
I finally found you!
Please don't look at me like this.
I love you even when you're upset, Ougai-san.
I truly do.
I will read it.
No matter what the story is, or how sad it may be.
No, I can't...
You can write it!
I am positive that you can write it.
It is the story that you struggled so hard and suffered for.
I am absolutely certain that it will be a wonderful story.
And if... And if you absolutely...
Absolutely cannot do it, Ougai-san,
You can just
escape from it with me.
We'll go somewhere nice, like a hot spring.
Mei...
Yes?
Stay with me forever, Mei.
Stay by my side forever.
Yes, I will.
I will always be by your side.
Mei, you are incredibly strong.
This fell on the study floor.
Elise...
You finished writing it!
I did.
And it is entirely thanks to you, Mei.
Thank you.
I didn't really do anything,
but it makes me glad to hear you say that.
I'm looking forward to reading it.
No, you don't get to read it, Little Squirrel.
What? Why not?
I am going to find the black cat.
I want to see your finished painting!
I'm sure I can paint it now.
My eyes...!
Meiji Tokyo Renka
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Chat Noir Won't Look Back
Syunso-san...
If having the surgery means you can get better, I...
There's no guarantee I'll get better if I have the surgery.