Meiji Tokyo Renka
I remember...
everything.
Everything about the modern day and myself.
My home is a small antique shop.
I live there among the antiques.
And I had lots of friends to keep me company.
Mei-chan, what are you doing?
Playing with blocks!
That looks hard.
It's really easy. Look!
Huh?
You're so funny, Mei-chan.
Now that I think about it, those friends were ghosts.
But that was all normal to me.
Did you know? Apparently, that girl can see ghosts.
Whoa, really?
That was when I realized it was just me.
I couldn't stand being so different.
So, I covered my ears
and stopped interacting with both humans and ghosts.
But, still, sometimes...
Mei-chan, Mei-chan!
A voice would keep calling out to me,
and I blocked that voice out as well.
It was so much easier not to interact with anyone or anything.
I was more at peace by myself.
But...
You're Ayazuki Mei-san, right?
Do you wanna come with us?
When that girl invited me to go with them...
Oh, I'll have to pass.
Y-You sure?
Forget about her.
She's always by herself.
Really?
She seems to like it that way.
Really?
She's been able to hear ghosts talking since we were kids.
I'm sure that this time... this time...
Then I was sent back into Meiji-era Tokyo
by Charlie-san's magic.
And I met Ougai-san.
Coming here changed me into someone totally different.
No, that's not exactly right.
I've come to realize that this is the real me.
Which is why I'm sure...
You're Ayazuki Mei-san, right?
Do you wanna come with us?
I could respond to her very differently now.
With the way I am now...
Mei-chan.
Huh?
Mei-chan, it's me.
Charlie-san?
Yep, that's right.
Huh? But this voice...
You've changed quite a bit since coming to this time, Mei-chan.
You've been able to smile more.
You've learned to shed tears for others
and learned to face what's ahead with all your strength.
I am so glad.
Getting to see you grow like this has truly made me glad.
Tomorrow is the full moon, Mei-chan.
I was so happy when you said you wanted
to stay here forever.
Umm... Charlie-san.
I...
Mei-san, are you there?
Fumi-san?
Forgive me, but Ougai-san is calling for you.
Ougai-san is?
All right, I'll be right there.
Embraced by the Strawberry Moon
Ougai-san is in a really good mood.
Behold!
Uwah, it's finished?
Yes. What do you think?
The whole form is also ideal.
It was completed with true craftsmanship.
It matches the design right down to the details.
The color has also been splendidly recreated.
It's wonderful.
The golden color really shines.
I will finally be able to present my Little Squirrel while she's wearing this tomorrow night.
I'm so excited! Ah, so very excited.
It's so beautiful.
It will look lovely on you.
I'm so happy,
Ougai-san.
He's crying!
Ougai-san.
What is it?
May I wear it now?
Of course you may!
I would love seeing you in it as soon as possible!
Fumi-san, please assist her with getting changed.
Please help me, Fumi-san.
All right.
Now then, Mei-san. Come with me.
Okay.
How incredible.
You shine so brightly, Mei.
My fiancée.
May I have this dance?
You may.
You are dancing so gracefully, Mei.
Thanks to you, Ougai-san.
Mei,
I look forward to tomorrow's party.
Mei, we are going to go on ahead to the Rokumeikan.
I have to greet our host, Minister of Foreign Affairs Inoue.
I have arranged a carriage to take you separately,
so you can take that to the party once you are ready.
All right, thank you.
Thank you...
Hey, Mori-san. I heard you will be presenting your fiancée here this evening,
but I don't see the princess in question.
A princess makes her appearance fashionably late. Right, Mori-san?
I am very much looking forward to seeing Mei-san at the party tonight.
I have not seen her since the banquet.
Please don't bring up that day.
She is going to be arriving a bit late.
But to think my Little Squirrel has inspired such feelings in all of you...
My fiancée is certainly loved.
Ougai-san.
She's here.
Oh, Mei-san!
The first time I met you was here at the Rokumeikan,
and you were wearing that same skirt!
I am impressed, Mei-san.
By all means, shall we dance?
Ougai-san?
Ougai-san!
Wait.
What is it?
Mei-san, I might have been tormented
by eternal darkness and regret had it not been for you.
Thank you so much, my fairy.
Yakumo-san, I hope you will always be close with Jane-san.
Of course I will.
My relationship with her was repaired thanks to you.
Mei-san.
Tosuke-san.
I will be sure to make the future you saw a reality.
I know you will. I fully believe that you can do it.
Mei.
You've become such a fine lady, I might not have recognized you.
Otojiro-san.
Now, now. What are you crying for, you silly girl?
A woman's tears are more valuable than diamonds.
You mustn't let them fall so easily.
K-Kyoka-san!
You dummy, what're you doing? Come on.
D-Don't get the wrong idea.
I will make sure to sanitize myself later.
Don't think for one second that I'm happy to be dancing with you, though.
Okay.
Fujita-san.
Girl, just keep looking ahead.
Huh?
Girl...
Take care of yourself.
Syunso-san.
There were so many times that I hoped your memories
would never come back.
I had hoped the days when you would always be here would go on forever.
But I knew.
That you had a place you chose to be,
and that you would have to go back there someday.
I'm sure Ougai-san feels the same.
Ougai-san is in the park.
The place where we first met you.
Go there.
I will.
Goodbye...
This is where we met that day,
but everything looks different to me now.
That's...
Mei, you remember everything now, don't you?
I do.
That also made me remember
that there are still some things I need to do there.
And I...
And I have to see them through.
Ougai-san...
You must go, then.
Go ahead and finish those things, Little Squirrel.
Ougai-san...
You will be able to do those things now.
You are no longer a little squirrel
shivering with fright, like when we first met.
Ougai-san.
Now you are my darling, darling, Little Squirrel.
I was able...
to truly be myself because you were here.
Because my beloved Ougai-san was here.
I love you, Ougai-san.
I love you too,
Little Squirrel.
You will always be my precious Little Squirrel.
Go on now.
Okay.
I'll be going.
So you've made your decision, Mei-chan.
Yes.
I will go back to my time, Charlie-san.
All right, then.
Mei-chan, you have such a wonderful expression.
It's very charming.
I was always being protected by a voice, your voice.
Three!
Thank you, Charlie-san.
Two!
Thank you.
One!
This is the finale of my magic.
Mei-chan,
please find happiness!
Mori Ougai Anthology
So, have you heard about that café they introduced on TV yesterday?
Oh, I saw that. It's near here, isn't it?
Their desserts should be half-price right now.
Why don't we go check it out?
I'll totally go.
I definitely want to go!
You're Ayazuki Mei-san, right?
Do you wanna come with us?
Desserts? Half-price? I'd love to go!
I love desserts!
Right? I thought you might.
It's the one that was on TV yesterday, right?
Yeah! It has this huge ghost parfait!
A ghost parfait?!
It's got fruit and the whipped cream is shaped like a ghost.
They say it's so light that when you eat it,
it'll disappear in your mouth like a ghost.
So that's why they call it that!
Is it true that you can hear ghosts, Ayazuki-san?
It's true, they're my friends.
That's so cool!
Aren't you scared of them?
Ougai-san.
Do you think we'll ever see her again?
Of course we will.
We must have faith in that.
Hey, Mori-san!
Hey!
Mori-san!
You're being a nuisance.
We brought alcohol!
I even brought some Japanese sake.
Koizumi! How dare you bring sake from someone else's home!
We thought you two might be feeling lonely.
And I just happened to run into everyone.
Why do I have to tag along with you idiots?
Come on, let's have a drink!
Looks like it's going to be rather lively around here again.