It's a shame, to be honest.
In the end, you're also stuck in the present.
It's truly a shame.
But no matter how long you wait, I'm pretty sure nothing will begin.
Don't you think so?
Say whatever you'd like.
It appears that, unlike myself, you haven't split.
I guess you're still automatic.
Either way, you're finished. There's nothing left for you.
But nothing's even started yet.
I don't even have a name yet.
In that case, I'll give you one now.
Kirima Nagi's father called beings like yourself "Imaginators."
"Love is like snow that falls in April.
Unexpected, yet not unforeseen," was it?
The end of the beginning is also the beginning of the end, Boogiepop.
You may have stopped me here...
But that is just the beginning of the next ending.
There's still plenty of time before I actually hit the ground.
Will you be able to find me before then?
Boogiepop and Others
Karaoke
Tonkatsu
Fukadai Prep School
Dengeki Bunko
There are times when I suddenly wake up in the middle of the night.
There's something sitting on my chest, and it feels like it's staring into me.
But when I open my eyes...
Ah... There's nothing there, correct?
I mean, I know it's probably just a dream, but...
Whatever this thing is... Does it try to talk to you?
Yes! How did you know?
Do you remember what it said?
No, I don't...
So you can't remember.
She doesn't have any roots.
Barely any leaves, either.
Only the bud is large...
I'm sorry for talking to you about something so weird.
And it's almost breaking the stem.
Um, Asukai-sensei?
I probably shouldn't say this,
but I don't think you should be taking exams so seriously.
Huh?
It's not like your problems will be gone once you get into university.
It doesn't exactly secure your future, either.
I'm sure you probably realize that.
I believe that dream is a sign
your subconscious is sending you, saying you should reconsider entering university.
Right...
Wanting to get into college isn't a bad thing at all.
But you shouldn't stress yourself out over it.
I think... I understand.
Looks like the bud has relaxed a little.
Thank you very much.
I know you're trying your best.
You just need to learn to relax and keep moving forward.
Right. I feel a lot better.
Guidance Counselor's Office
I think you'd make a great therapist or something like that, Sensei.
What?
Oh, sorry. That was probably rude...
I'll think about it. I mean, they call us starving artists for a reason.
Oh, yeah... Sensei, what does the phrase "Sometimes it snows in April" mean?
Huh? What was that?
Well, that's the one thing I remember from that dream.
But I'm sure it's not that important.
Goodbye!
Sometimes it snows in April, huh?
Ever since I was born,
I've had the power to see what people are missing in their hearts.
There was a book I read as a kid with the line,
"The reason this child was beautiful was because he had a rose within his heart,"
and that's precisely what I see.
However, every plant I see is missing something.
Just like that girl was lacking roots,
everyone is always lacking something.
There's nothing they can do about what they're missing,
so sometimes I try to say something helpful.
But in the end, all I know is what they're missing.
Hey, it's snowing.
You're right! It's so pretty!
And I can't see my own plant within me...
Huh?!
D-Don't!
What's going on?
I'm sure it's no fun
being able to see what others cannot.
What?!
I understand how you feel.
Because I used to be like that, too.
Y-You, too?
Yes, because I can see people's deaths.
Their deaths?
To be more precise,
I can see the energy that living creatures generate right before
they burn themselves out.
I am a possibility in which people can manipulate death.
My purpose is to recreate the world in that way.
I am an enemy to the current world.
I bring cold to the world even in the spring. I make it snow in April.
Huh?!
Would you be willing to help me with my work, Asukai-sensei?
What are you talking about?
Who are you?
My enemies call me "Imaginator."
W-Wait!
Welcome back!
You haven't had dinner yet, have you, Jin-niisan?
Huh? Not yet.
Oh, good. I made some stew, so I'll bring some over later.
Okay, thanks.
You look exhausted today.
Yeah, well... It's about to get pretty busy.
Must be rough.
You talk as if it's not your problem,
but you'll be going through the same thing next year.
I'm not really sure yet...
Maybe I'll go to your prep school.
Since when were you interested in going to art school?
But you're also counseling kids, right?
Yeah. But most of the kids who come see me are pretty serious.
Hey! Are you trying to say I'm not serious?
I guess that is how I come off...
I'm kidding. You shouldn't come to me for counseling, to be honest.
Huh?
You should try to figure out your own problems.
Especially when it comes to exams... I'm a teacher, so I can't really say much.
There's actually very little I can do.
You worry way too much about others.
I think you can take it a little easier.
She's very thoughtful, kind, and overall, a good girl.
If only she had a bud...
Thanks. That makes me feel a lot better.
Nothing is ever futile. Everything works out!
There's always a way!
I wish I could think like that...
However, that way...
can be slightly cruel, and could even go against what the world sees as just.
That's the thing.
Y-You're—
That hallucination from earlier! Were you actually a ghost?
I wouldn't say that's accurate.
I'd say I'm more a future that's taken form in the present.
Or maybe a hypothetical possibility given substance.
Asukai-sensei, don't you want to do something?
A-About what?
About what people are missing in their hearts.
What do you think you're missing, Asukai-sensei?
Huh?
What you're missing... is a calling.
I'll give you just a tiny glimpse into the future.
What'd you think?
What was that?! What did you just show me?
That is your calling, Asukai-sensei.
I'd never do anything like that!
And whether you do or don't is solely up to you.
But you can... and that truth won't change.
Don't be ridiculous! Who the hell are you?!
Are you a demon? Is that why you're trying to...
Tempt you?
No. You have to be the one to decide.
Sometimes birds fall from the sky,
and sometimes it even snows in April, Asukai-sensei.
G-Get away from me!
Wh-What?
Sorry! Are you okay?
Are you okay, Jin-niisan?
Karaoke
Tonkatsu
Fukadai Prep School
Are you listening?
Sensei?
Hm? O-Oh, yes.
You keep having the same dream, right?
Yes, where someone's talking to me.
When I listen to them,
I feel like exams and the rest of the world just don't matter anymore...
Is there something wrong with me?
Sensei? Asukai-sensei?
Huh? Oh...
Is something wrong?
No. Please continue.
That dream was just too nice...
And it... sort of scares me.
What the hell am I doing?
Imaginator...
So this girl assaulted you,
then she suddenly slit her own throat... Is that right?
Yes.
H-Help me...
Who is that?
Hey, is something wrong?
Wha... Are you all right?!
What's wrong?
Help... me.
Don't you dare scream, Asukai-sensei.
Huh?
I guess you're still a softie.
I figured you'd fall for this.
You're... You're Imazaki-kun.
You actually remember me.
Now, give me your cash. All of it!
Are you just going to buy more drugs with it?
What in the world happened to you?
That doesn't freakin' matter! Just hurry up and give me all your money!
So you knew the girl?
Yes. Her name is Imazaki Shizuko.
She was a student of mine, and a very good one.
Can you think of any reason why she'd have a grudge against you?
There might be.
Although, from what we found out, this apparently stemmed from family issues.
It's probably because when she asked for advice, I couldn't help her.
Come on! Hurry up!
If you don't want to die, give me your money!
If you're going to kill me, just do it.
I'm serious, damn it!
And so am I!
But you fell right into using drugs... What good could those possibly do?!
What the hell?
You can get high or whatever... But there's nothing we can do!
Yup. Drugs.
Oh, but these aren't for her.
You're...
Don't get the wrong idea. Everything until now, she did of her own free will.
But it's not like she really wanted to do this.
She was a dealer we'd been after for a different case.
So you knew about her?
Yeah. We had our eyes on her to get to a bigger target we were after.
Say, what do you think these drugs are for, Asukai-sensei?
She was probably forced to sell them.
Correct.
These are cheap batches to get beginners hooked.
There are so many other ways to make money quickly.
But the poor thing... Looking this tattered, she couldn't even do that.
All she could do to make money was obey someone else.
But she couldn't bring herself to do that.
It's such a sad story.
She didn't want to create more people like herself,
but there was nothing she could do.
That's why she relied on you, because she remembered you were nice to her before.
So you knew, and yet...
There's nothing we can do
once they're that far gone.
But you see, Asukai-sensei...
Either way, this girl is finished.
What?!
The drugs have destroyed her body.
Even if she hadn't run into you, she wouldn't last the rest of the month.
She was going to helplessly die... Pitiful, miserable, and sad.
But there might be something that you can do.
I'm sure she had enough reason to kill herself.
Suicide?
Yeah. You can go home shortly.
Apparently, there's a witness.
Suicide...
Damn... it...
Damn it...
Damn...
Say, Asukai-san.
Yes?
As you saw her dying... Did you say something to her?
Why do you ask?
Well, despite the way she died, she had a very peaceful look upon her face.
Like all the thorns in her heart had been plucked away.
That's how she looked.
I see. I didn't say anything, though.
I guess I'm going to be busy from now on...
Stop! She's got nothing to do with this!
Who the hell do you think you are?
Get the hell outta here!
We're here to have some fun with her.
S-Stop!
Hey, you there.
Just to make sure I have the right idea...
Wh-Who the hell are you?
Do you want to save that girl?
Y-Yes.
I see. In that case, leave this to me, and run.
Yes, sir. Thank you very much!
H-Hey, wait!
You're the ones who're going to wait.
What?
The hell's your problem, man?
Well... It's not that I have anything against you boys...
But I will
be using you as guinea pigs.
What... What the hell did you do to them?
You wouldn't get it even if I told you.
But I haven't hurt them.
I've actually given them happiness.
Wh-What are you talking about?!
Who the hell are you?!
Oh, yeah...
Hey, what was that name again?
Imaginator.
Yeah, let's go with that.
Wow, that's such a pretty melody.
If that sounded pretty,
it's just because you were predisposed to like the song from the start.
When she was still alive, Suiko-san used to always say...
Komiya-san, nothing is absolute in this world.
Sometimes birds fall from the sky,
and sometimes it even snows in April.
Suiko-san.
Do you...
want to follow Minahoshi Suiko?
But even if you were to jump off that ledge, you wouldn't be able to join her.
Are you... Boogiepop?
Ah... So you've heard of me.
What do you mean, I won't be able to join her?
Well, that's simple, really.
Unlike Minahoshi Suiko, you're willingly trying to take your own life.
You know who I am, right? Then you must know my mission, as well.
B-But that means...
Yes... I am a reaper.
I'm the one who killed Minahoshi Suiko.
B-But why?
Because she was an enemy to this world.
I guess I can put it another way...
Minahoshi Suiko has not yet reached the next world.
Wh-What do you mean?
It means that I don't know where she currently is, either.
Do you still feel like dying?
But... But...
I mean...
Sorry, but I have no intention of killing you.
I'm afraid you're not even worth it.
I guess you're not here anymore...
But are you still going to continue, Imaginator?