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Miyashita Touka Incoming Call
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Special The Moon Temple Now Open
Living with Your Space Long Interview with 16 Japanese Architects
"The Monster" Teratsuki Kyouichirou's Tower of Babylon Complete Analysis of Its Unveiling Event
Hello? What's up, Miyashita?
Thank you for coming today.
We are aware that it's terribly crowded,
but please wait patiently to enter the building.
Mom, I need to go pee.
Huh? You need to...
Why didn't you tell me earlier?
Because I didn't need to earlier.
But we're already in line...
I can go by myself. It's fine.
I'll be right back.
Do you know where the bathrooms are?
I'll be fine! I saw them on the way here.
Make sure you hurry back!
It's so weird.
Some monster should just show up and destroy that thing.
Ugh... Then I could just go home and play video games.
Goodness, were you dragged here against your will?
Who are you, old man?
"Old man" is a bit harsh. I'm still young.
But you're older than me, right?
Well, I'm sure I look older to you.
But to tell you the truth... I was just born.
What are you, stupid?
No way that's true.
But there are no absolute truths in this world, little boy.
Everything is distorted and twisted somehow.
The line's already this long?
The place ain't even opening for over an hour!
Damn... Guess I gotta wait.
Huh? Is that you, Habara-san?
You're Habara Kentarou-san, right?
Oh, hey, Shirou!
It's been a while! Has it been since middle school?
I think so. How's school going for you?
You went to a pretty competitive school, didn't you?
Well, I'm getting by.
I ran into some trouble, but it all worked out.
So, what's up? Did you come here by yourself?
You're not on a date or whatever?
No... This was a date.
Huh?
The girl who was supposed to come with me can't go anywhere anymore.
So I came here alone...
You mean... she died?
I'm not exactly sure... But probably.
We passed by this building together while they were still building it.
She mentioned that she wanted to visit it someday.
I suddenly remembered that last night,
so I decided to come... and treat it like a date.
I see.
What about you, Habara-san?
Oh, I came here by myself. I was just a little curious.
Then would you mind hanging out with me?
Huh? But didn't you say...
She liked being with big groups of people,
and you're pretty knowledgeable with this high-tech stuff, aren't you?
High-tech? I'm not sure if "high-tech" is the right way to describe this thing.
That Teratsuki guy who died recently was the one who had this built, right?
Yeah.
Well, calling this Teratsuki Kyouichirou's folly
might be the best way to describe it.
He was an entrepreneur who amassed an enormous fortune all on his own,
and helped advance various fields through his contributions.
This is the Tower of Babylon that "the Monster" Teratsuki Kyouichirou left behind:
the Moon Temple.
Teratsuki made it big with the accessory company he founded at the age of 24.
Teratsuki Kyouichirou
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MCE | Moon Communication Enterprises
Top News The Moon Temple that the Monster" Teratsuki Kyouichirou Constructed Opens to the Public
After that, he dabbled in every industry and became the owner and president of MCE.
But then he suddenly died at the age of 56.
President and CEO Profile
President and CEO Teratsuki Kyouichirou
Profile
Teratsuki left behind MCE, a private company that he ran all on his own,
so there was no successor.
Parts of it remained, but others were disbanded.
Moon Temple Guide | Access | Events | Shop | Contact
The Moon Temple that Teratsuki built on a whim was supposed to act
as a central network that would connect information
from all around the world,
but no one knows exactly why it was built.
So they basically built something that they don't know what to do with?
Yeah, though I imagine Teratsuki had some ideas for it.
That said, this thing is definitely impressive.
They needed some extra funds to help resolve the mess Teratsuki left behind,
so they delayed demolition for a month
and opened it up to the public as some kind of exhibition.
Wow... I had no idea.
But a central network? Is there any point to something like that in this day and age?
Yeah... Despite how long it took to build,
I'm sure Teratsuki was able to foresee all that.
Uh-oh... Looks like it might rain.
Oh, right... That thing was opening today.
Look at all those people...
I guess I wouldn't mind seeing it if Miyashita wants to go.
We can, right? I know you might be busy, but...
Well...
All I've been doing lately is studying, so I've been kinda lonely.
Yeah... true.
I've been pretty lonely myself, so why don't we go out?
Really?!
Yeah, sure.
So where do you want to meet up?
How about the place we first met?
Yeah, sure.
Well, this isn't good.
Aw, it's raining?
Guess the weather report was wrong again.
We're going to try to get people inside faster due to the bad weather.
Please wait for the people in front of you to move, and don't push.
The Moon Temple.
It's constructed to look like two structures pulling at each other,
so the whole building is twisted.
Everything inside is on a slope, so there aren't any actual floors inside.
It's pretty interesting from an architectural perspective,
but I wonder if Miyashita would have any interest in it.
Morning! I'm excited for today!
Morning.
I shouldn't be late today!
I don't mind if she's a little late...
As long as it's not like that one time.
I wouldn't mind seeing them again, though.
Do you want to see me that badly?
But you can see me at any time.
Hello there, Takeda-kun.
It's rather simple to see me.
I appear whenever there is a threat to this world...
So all you need to do is create a threat to this world.
Well, what will you do, Takeda-kun?
Who are you? They don't smile like that!
You're not Boogiepop. You're a fake!
I am the King of Distortion. I was born to turn this world into gold.
American Hot Dog
Ugh! Wasn't it supposed to be sunny today?
I just wanted to turn in my prep school application.
Guess I'm just gonna have to wait it out.
What the heck am I doing?
I'm such an idiot!
Huh?
It can't be...
Boogiepop?
What are they doing here?
Hey... Wait!
Coming through! I work here!
Was that Niitoki Kei?
She works here? What the heck?
Hey, Sakiko,
did you see that person who ran past?
What?
They looked like they were in some weird cosplay.
Did they? I didn't see anything.
There so was!
They went by super fast, so I didn't get a good look...
But they had on a black cape and some hat that resembled a... pipe?
We're not talking about Boogiepop here.
Huh? What's that?
Nothing.
The next line can head on in.
Ah! We finally get to go in.
I almost feel like we shouldn't.
Huh? What are you talking about?
Sakiko.
The elevator's this way.
Let's walk up. We might as well since we're here.
No way! It looks the same no matter where you are in here!
Well, we won't know unless we look.
"I made it all the way to the top! Yay!" What are you, a little kid?
Suit yourself, then. I'll go up alone.
H-Hey, wait!
Did I do something to piss you off?
No.
Why are you so mad, then?!
Look, I didn't come here because I was interested in you.
Got it?
Whatever!
I'll be waiting at the top.
Wow, are you guys fighting?
Habara-san! You don't need to say it like that!
Can I help you?
Oh, my bad. It's just, his situation looked similar to mine, so it just came out...
It's so mysterious.
I wonder what the person who made this building was li—
Boogiepop?
It's said that they're a young man who would kill people when they
were at their most beautiful, before they could grow uglier.
Wait!
Wait! Boogiepop!
Hey, isn't that the girl from earlier?
Boogiepop?
What the heck is that?
You know what it is?
Uh, no... Sorry, it's nothing.
What the hell is that?!
What's going on?!
HQ, please, come in!
Can you hear me?
HQ, please come—
What's going on?
Doesn't something seem weird?
We haven't moved at all for a while.
I wanna go home.
Why'd the shutters go down?
Maybe they reached capacity?
What? That sucks.
The emergency system activated?
Yes. Something caused an error in the system, and it caused the shutters to come down.
How are the people inside?
I'll check right now.
What is this place?
It's so creepy.
Where the heck did you go, Boogiepop?
Where's it coming from?
What's going on?
Why's the song the only thing I can hear clearly?
Wh-What is this?
What's... going on?!
Niitoki-senpai, what are you hiding?
What?! Who are you?!
Please stop!
Are you just going to hide that forever, President?
What in the world is going on?
I was working my security gig...
Now, calm down, Shinozaki-kun.
Noriko? What are you doing here?
Wait, what?! What the heck was I just doing?
That's what I want to know.
Huh?
Have you done anything worth talking about?
You know... these last three years.
I see.
So this is where you end up.
It was at this place and at this moment
that you hid something.
S-Saotome-kun? N-No...
Y-You can't be...
You died!
Correct. I am not Saotome Masami.
What do you mean?
I am the King of Distortion.
Distortion?
I rule over the distortion within the hearts of men.
I am everywhere,
and I am nowhere.
You're... the King of Distortion?
Yup. I'm here to help you remember something that's lingering in your heart.
And the reason I've taken on this form
is because you desired it.
There's still something lingering in your heart.
And in order to do something about that, you had to see Saotome Masami once more.
What are you talking about?
You should already know what it is.
This is HQ, come in.
Shinozaki here.
How's everyone doing inside?
Everything seems to be fine.
Everyone's staying calm.
Roger. We're looking into what caused the problem.
Please stand by.
Roger that.
So, what were we talking about, Shinozaki-kun?
Three years ago,
didn't you invite me to this place because you wanted to tell me something?
Or did we just randomly end up walking home together?
This time, I'll wait as long as you need...
until you can tell me what you need to say.
So you're saying that I'm here with you right now
because that's what I wanted?
Yes.
But why is it just you? What happened to your girlfriend?
I'm talking about Manticore! You two were together!
Yes. If you so desired, I would have appeared as both of them.
Just so we're clear,
I've never once thought I wanted to be alone with Saotome-kun.
Yes, I imagine that's the case.
But I'm not here to fulfill your wishes.
What matters right now is whatever is lingering in your heart.
I'm here to give you a chance to do something about it.
What are you even talking about? What are you trying to achieve
by showing me this dream?
I'm not trying to do anything.
You're the one who's going to do something, President.
Don't call me that.
It's not like I wanted to be—
"But someone has to do it"?
It sure looks good on your college applications, though.
I'm sure that's part of the reason why.
That's not—
Everyone thinks that.
"Niitoki Kei is a disgusting, brown-nosing shrimp
who always has to act like a goody two-shoes."
You're the last person I want to hear that from!
Then who do you want to hear it from?
What about Takeda Keiji?
Takeda Keiji knew that you had feelings for him.
And what if, despite that,
the reason he never responded to you was because that was how he felt about you?
S-Senpai's not like that...
He broke your heart. You have no reason to defend him.
I'm sure...
that's how you feel deep inside, isn't it?
You should be more honest with yourself, don't you think?
Now, tell me...
What would you like to do?
I...
That's enough.
Boogiepop!
It's you again, Niitoki Kei?
Oh? I had a feeling you'd come.
You know who I am?
I do.
And that's exactly why I'm not going to let you get in my way.
I won't allow anyone to stop my experiment to turn everything into gold.
Tell me your name.
I am the King of Distortion.
Huh? Where are we?!
What's going on?
He called himself the King of Distortion.
This probably won't be simple.
I might not be able to protect you this time.