Boogiepop and Others
"It appears that all of my hopes won't come true until further into the future.
Dengeki Bunko
No matter how much you dream, it's not the dreamer who will achieve it,
but the next generation.
And for them, it's not a dream. It's established fact.
It's that kind of sacrifice that propels people forward."
The Victor's Principle The Victim's Future Kirima Seiichi
Sacrifice, huh?
Yes. It appears she's had unexcused absences four days in a row now.
How did you do on the test?
I also heard a strange rumor.
I'm not sure.
I was able to do the part you taught me, though!
Yes. This is concerning Kinukawa-san.
That girl... She was one of the...
What's the matter, Suema?
Oh, it's nothing.
You're being weird.
If something's on your mind, you should discuss it with your friends.
That's what friends are for, right?
Well, whatever.
Lately, there have been nothing but terrible rumors about her.
Kinukawa's rep sucks lately
Apparently she's bragging about being rich
I guess people have seen her around with thuggish-looking guys, too
I can't help but think that this incident
isn't a typical case of teenage rebellion.
I guess people have seen her around with thuggish-looking guys, too
Sorry for introducing you to someone like that, Suema
Of course, this has to do with me actually talking to her...
But I can't help feeling like something just isn't adding up.
Are you Asukai Jin-san?
I am. Are you a student here?
I'd like to talk to you for a moment. Is that okay?
Sure. You need advice on your future?
No. I'd like to speak to you as Kinukawa Kotoe's friend.
Have you heard about Kinukawa-san changing all of a sudden?
Yeah, I actually just found out about that.
And what do you make of it?
What do you mean?
Kinukawa-san had feelings for you.
Yeah... I had a hunch about that.
But I'm fairly certain that the current Kinukawa-san doesn't care about you at all.
That's honestly better, for her sake.
Are you sure you don't know?
Know what?
The reason she changed.
What makes you think I do?
It's just a hunch.
Kinukawa-san was very worried about you.
Worried? What do you mean?
I can't tell you that. I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone.
But now that I've met you, I can sort of understand why she felt the way she did.
It's true that she's changed, but it seems she wasn't the only one.
That might be true.
I won't be able to return her feelings.
That's just it.
Snow Falling in April
In the past, I don't think you would've had time to worry about that.
I believe that's why Kinukawa-san wanted to help you.
It's a very lonely painting, isn't it?
It must be a representation of yourself... before you changed.
What do you know about ar—
You seem rather intelligent.
Huh?
So this whole thing must not make sense to you.
That's not—
You said you were friends with Kotoe-chan, but I can't see you two actually getting along.
You just want to feel satisfied.
Am I wrong?
That... That may be true.
But...
What is it?
I want to save her.
It's because we're not close that I want to help her.
I see.
And in order to do that, I figured I should learn more about you first.
About me, huh?
Do you want to know what I'm doing?
I'm trying to change the world.
I want to fill in whatever's missing inside people's hearts.
That's my goal.
And to do so, I'm planting flower seeds within people's hearts.
The problem was the balance of that seed.
Without a complete shape, and unable to grant any single desire...
And yet, a balanced seed that included all the factors.
Fortunately, I managed to find a girl with that balanced seed.
Now I just need to find that girl, extract her seed,
and spread it all over the world.
Eventually, the seed will take root, and before everyone realizes it,
whatever was missing in their hearts will be filled.
I need that girl to become a sacrifice for that.
You also have something missing in your heart.
I'm sure you realize that.
What if I told you...
I'd fill that void for you?
I-I've—
I've already had someone else save me!
Oh? And who's that?
B-Boogiepop!
Ah, the superhero I keep hearing about.
Th-They're not anything that simple.
Well, you're the one talking about changing the world...
Snow Falling in April Asukai Jin
I was referring to my painting.
Every artist wants to change the world with their art.
But you just said something about sacrificing a girl...
Well, people who model for paintings need to stand still for about eight hours.
The girl I was talking about... happens to be a model.
Kotoe-chan might be jealous of her.
So I'll see Kotoe-chan and clear up any misunderstandings she may have.
I... see.
All right.
If you'll excuse me.
I wonder how that girl knew...
She wasn't exactly special, but...
She's right, though.
It looks like I'll need to take care of this matter first.
I can't avoid conflict with him any longer.
Internet & Comics
Internet & Manga Café
I'll take care of Spooky E myself.
Internet& Manga Café
That's him. I'm sure of it.
So this is where he was staying...
Wow, he's still taking this Boogiepop gig pretty seriously.
There are two tracking me... No, there's a total of six.
Ramen
What does that woman want with me, though?
I'd bet everything that she knows something.
He must be hiding somewhere around here.
Let's split up and find him.
Hold it. I have an idea.
Say, Taniguchi Masaki-kun...
You're continuing to parade around as Boogiepop for her sake, right?
But you shouldn't feel obligated to owe her anything.
I'm very aware of what she was forced to do and with whom.
Hey, did you know? People called her "Public Toilet" behind her back.
To be honest, I feel sorry for you. You fell for her goody-two-shoes façade.
You bastard!
Not bad, Taniguchi Masaki.
I'm not Taniguchi Masaki.
I'm Boogiepop.
If I told Axis that, they'd probably think you're the real deal.
How about you do some explaining? What was Orihata forced to do?
What? There are things you're better off not knowing.
Were you the one forcing her to do them?
What if I was?
Why are you following me? Where's Orihata?!
Who knows?
Answer me.
As for the reason I'm following you,
I was planning on killing you and making a spectacle of Boogiepop's corpse.
Have you ever thought about why you were taking on that stupid façade
in the first place?
What do you mean?
Go ahead and kill me.
I was gonna make a spectacle of your corpse,
but making you a murderer's not a bad idea, either.
Don't tempt me!
I was wondering what you were up to, you dumbass.
Jeez... How the hell am I ever supposed to face your parents again
if I let you become a murderer?
N-Nagi-neesan...
What's with that getup, anyway?
Who talked you into it?
Sorry, Nagi-neesan!
Hey!
Tch. That dumbass...
Who the hell are you?
Don't even think about moving, you fake Kinukawa Kotoe.
I wondered what had gotten into Kinukawa Kotoe lately,
but this wasn't quite what I expected.
There isn't a single student at Shinyou Academy who doesn't know about me.
Who the hell are you?
I'll be asking the questions here. Who's pulling your strings?
Answer me.
Oh, fine. I'll take care of all of you first.
I'm pretty sure I know who's responsible, so this should take care of it...
What did she—
What the hell am I doing here?
That's right, that bitch—
Who the hell are you?
L-Let go of me!
What... are you...
Kotoe-chan, I've known about how you felt for quite a while now.
I knew you had feelings for me.
I knew it was a mixture of yearning and pity.
Who... are you?
There's nothing you've found yourself engrossed in,
and that made you sad.
That's why you liked me.
You incorrectly believed that I possessed that same sadness.
Yes... Unlike your sadness, mine is just despair.
I cannot feel sadness.
That's why I couldn't return your feelings.
Help... Help me...
Help me... Jin-niisan...
Help...
Yes... I've wanted to for a very long time...
But I can't.
Even now, I'm not sure how to help you.
Jin-niisan...
That's why the least I can do
is create a world where no one has to feel like you ever again.
I'm going to go retrieve that seed.
I-Impossible...
Calling...
Mute | Keypad | Speaker Add Caller | Contacts
What the hell happened to these guys?
Damn it! None of them are answering!
You damned useless terminals!
What the hell's going on?!
Damn it... Guess I'm just gonna have to use these...
So is that the disinfectant I heard about?
We finally meet, Spooky Electric-kun.
Who the hell are you?!
I heard that you were looking for me. Was I wrong?
D-Don't tell me...
Yes. You people have been calling me "Imaginator."
What did you do? Why isn't my brainwashing...
You and I are on completely different levels.
The Towa Organization, was it? The syndicate you belong to...
Maybe "system" is a better word.
Something is changing.
You people are observing that change.
Am I wrong?
You've been spreading drugs among people to see how they'll affect them.
Right?
Do you know what'll happen to you for knowing that much?
Don't think you can survive after making an enemy of the Towa Organization!
It won't matter what you do to me. You'll be finished!
An enemy, huh?
What's so funny?
Speaking of enemies... did you know?
Know what?
There were a number of people who died from
the experiments you were conducting.
They had allergic reactions to the drugs or ended up in shock.
So what? That's not a big deal.
Correct. It's not a big deal.
You can just compare it to a car accident and call them unlucky.
He was definitely unlucky. He never had any luck.
What are you talking about? What the hell are you babbling about?!
History.
What?
Do you know the smartest thing you can do when confronted with an enemy?
History's proven this.
You make your enemy into your ally.
That's the smartest and most effective method.
Enemy... No, I'd consider you my sworn enemy.
What?
You and I have similar powers. This actually works out perfectly for me.
Meaning if I'm doing something similar,
the Towa Organization will just think that you're doing it.
Y-You bastard! Don't tell me you're—
Precisely. I'll use you as a cover and take over the Towa Organization.
Then eventually, I'll spread the Imaginator throughout the Towa Organization.
At least, that's my plan.
L-Like that's even—
It is possible.
And it is necessary.
In order for my plan to come true all over the world,
I absolutely need backing from a vast organization.
Plan?
To put it simply, I plan to standardize humanity's psyche.
That'll put an end to all the sad disconnections and misunderstandings in the world.
You're... You're completely insane!
What's the matter?
M-My body... My body won't...
It's not your body. It's your mind.
Wh-What did you do to me?
I stripped away all the thorns from your flower.
That's all.
It means that I've removed your capacity for aggression.
Th-That's impossible...
I told you. I'm on a completely different level than you.
Listen up. Your power,
the one that allows you to control a person's brain using electrical shock...
It lacks the concept of a soul.
You don't know anything about the principal force that drives human beings.
You just jam some information down into their minds.
That's not enough to really change any person.
First, you have to find out what's missing in their hearts,
and how you're going to fill that void.
That's the most important thing.
Like grafting.
I can do the same for you as soon as we find you a partner.
In return, I'll be taking some of your powerful stem.
It'll cut down your strong mental fortitude a bit,
but with the overwhelming joy you'll feel, it won't matter.
I don't understand.
You won't right now.
But everyone's happy. They've all become my allies.
No, what I don't understand is why doing something like this gives you so much joy.
Not that it matters anymore.
I've wanted to try this for quite some time,
but my hatred was too strong, so I couldn't.
It might be because these thorns you mentioned are gone now.
Imaginator... Boogiepop is after you.
I need to... I need to get out of here somehow.
Wh-Who's there?
Wh-What are you doing here?
Hello. I guess you do remember me.
P-Please, could you help me?
Unfortunately, I cannot.
Huh?
I need you to become a sacrifice.
Wh-What are you talking about?
There isn't much time.
I didn't plan on Spooky E dying.
He's dead?
I'm sure someone else from the Towa Organization will come to this city soon.
Before that happens, I need to make it snow, at least here.
Then he's—
Taniguchi Masaki
Incoming Call...
Orihata? Is that you, Orihata?!
Masaki...
Hello? Hello?
You're there, aren't you, Orihata?!
Orihata... Orihata!
Please, answer me!
Orihata! Orihata!