Mimori's brother, Hirotoshi, challenges a Nokker to battle.
Alas...
I want to live.
I want to live, too!
That is the end of your cause.
Another Nokker reveals itself.
Are you an enemy? An ally?
Right now, an enemy.
Become as People
I'm so happy for Mimori-chan.
Yeah.
Thanks to her deciding not to go to paradise,
we could bring her back to life.
She stuck around this world after she died.
Maybe she really wanted to live.
That Nokker said it specifically took over the body of someone who wanted to die.
What about the other Nokkers, then?
What about that girl with the naginata?
Has Izumi-san told you anything?
She hasn't shown up lately.
Fen and Nixon are missing, too.
What is going on?
I mean, I know we've got a lot to deal with,
but let's call it a day and get some rest back home.
No, I'm not going home yet.
I have to defeat the Nokkers.
I can't just leave them.
Besides, they're after me.
They've got their sights on me. Probably even as we speak.
Huh?! They're watching us?!
Are they listening to our conversation right now?!
You aren't safe by yourself!
We have to come up with a plan!
Let's go back!
I'm not going home until I take out all the Nokkers.
Mizuha.
What do you think is up with Fushi?
He hasn't been to school in forever.
He's kinda standing out in a bad way.
It isn't his fault.
He says he's busy.
Hey, I heard you two hung out together last Sunday.
Oh. Yeah.
You know, I don't like talking this way,
but I hear he's been leading a bunch of girls on.
I don't think you should—
Is that what you wanted to talk to me about, Rikuya-kun?
Want to walk together?
I'm going home with Fushi today.
I have a feeling he's nearby.
What the heck?
Are you being serious?
Who told you to do what you did yesterday?
Fushi-kun?
Was it the Guardians?
Did they give you the orders?
The Guardians?
I've heard of them, but...
Your naginata is the same one Hayase had.
Hayase?
Wait, we met each other yesterday?
Not you.
I'm asking the Nokker inside you.
What are you even talking about?
I'll ask you, then.
Did you want to die, too?
Who told you that?
Saki? Nagisa?
Huh? No, er...
That's so gross.
Wait, I still have questions!
Hey...
It's nothing!
You!
Weren't you in love with Mizuha?!
In... What?
Rikuya-kun, stop.
Do you have any idea how Mizuha feels about you?!
Mizuha deserves better than—
You really are a girl, after all.
Mizuha...
Are you trying to get yourself
into a miserable relationship where reality can't catch up to your hopes?
You're such a perfect girl, except in that way.
Although I adore that about you.
Want seconds?
Yeah.
Rikuya, what's wrong?
It's time to get up.
Did you hear? Rikuya-kun had all the bones in his body broken.
What? No way.
Yup. In his sleep.
The police are at his home.
So scary.
Yeah...
President.
Later, Sayaka.
Yeah, see you tomorrow.
I heard about Rikuya-senpai.
Seems pretty serious.
Definitely a crime.
Though no one's been caught yet.
How could they be?!
This is an abduction by an extraterrestrial life form!
He was taken by aliens and had his insides all messed up!
I wanna get abducted someday!
Mizuha.
Hanna!
Rikuya-kun, he...
I've never seen you so emotional.
I was so cold to him yesterday.
I should have been nicer.
Please don't blame yourself.
You're just fine the way you are.
Oh...
I'm happy to get a hug from you.
I'll be right here if you'll let me.
Five hundred years ago...
I definitely sensed Kahaku and the Nokker in his left arm go away.
I thought that was the end of the Guardians' involvement with the Nokkers.
But if the Mimori incident was the Guardians' doing, I'd have to deal with them.
I want to ask them directly what they're up to,
but Funa's Nokker won't show up.
Should I spy on it?
They're surely watching what I'm doing, though.
What the hell is going on?
I don't get it.
I know! I can shrink down to the Nokkers' size.
Let's give it a try.
I have to have faith that the Nokkers will lose track of me.
Move faster!
Get even smaller and hide from sight.
Assess the enemy more thoroughly.
Yum, yum!
What do you want?
I offer you purging and ascension.
What are you—
Wh-Why?
Don't worry.
I'll be with you.
Stop!
Mizuha...
What is this?
Why?
Fushi!
That's my question!
Why would you do this?!
Mizuha!
I don't remember.
All right.
If you're in so much agony that you want to die,
I want to help you.
Fushi...
I know how you can do that.
Love me.
Fushi...
Er...
Sorry, I don't quite get it.
I'll do anything to make you feel better, though.
I might feel better if you hold me like this.
Congratulations.
It's been a long time, Fushi.
It's me.
The one who's been inside the Guardians for generations.
The Nokker.
I'm glad we've met again.
I haven't forgotten what happened 500 years ago!
Indeed. I haven't forgotten, either.
Back then, I was worried about whether I could be reincarnated
with all the knowledge and memories I'd accumulated on Earth.
And with the death of my host, Kahaku,
the time came for me to ascend to heaven.
But 500 years later...
I want to die.
I was compelled to reincarnate myself by Mizuha's SOS signal.
You got this! Go, go! Yeah!
With the encouragement of my peers,
I worked up the courage to leave paradise behind.
I focused my consciousness and established my being,
and I was reborn.
I, as myself.
That brought me joy beyond belief.
As always, I entered through the left arm,
arrived at the head, set root from there,
and evolved her into a body that would allow me to protect her in times of need.
What evolution? Ridiculous!
You say you're protecting her,
but what you're doing is the same as what you did 500 years ago!
You act like you're on our side and attack us!
Made us attack ourselves!
It's your fault Kahaku killed himself!
Yes, and we've reflected on that.
We see now that we cannot bring happiness this way.
We will no longer take lives.
What?!
You just did!
You just took her life!
This girl was intent on killing herself.
Her friendships weren't working out.
To wish for death is the same as not being alive.
The flesh you call Funa developed romantic feelings for you.
That was causing Mizuha immense stress.
Therefore, we had Funa's fye go to paradise,
and fully relinquished her body to that particularly loyal Nokker.
You didn't have to kill her!
Don't you think it's the most reasonable, peaceful solution?
Mizuha is relieved from her stress, and Funa has gone to a better place.
The same is true of Mizuha's mother.
Mizuha's mother was a source of pain to her.
She was attempting to earn her own self-esteem through her daughter.
Mizuha was always sure to make her mother smile.
But that happiness came at the cost of Mizuha's own life.
Mizuha was approaching her limit, as well.
Mizuha's soul resonated with my soul,
and we decided to do away with the stress.
So, what, the Nokker inside Izumi-san is one of you now?
What are you even doing?
Are you just making up all sorts of rhetoric
to manipulate the Guardians and gain more believers?
And you're taking advantage of little kids like Mimori?
Mimori's Nokker was extreme. We apologize for the trouble.
There was a purpose in that.
A purpose?
Nothing particularly important.
Just some research.
On where your life is.
What, you're still trying to kill me?
Nope.
We simply want to live alongside you.
So...
What are you so upset about, Tonari?
Are you upset that she's becoming part of our group?
Or that Fushi's being swindled by her?
That couldn't have been it.
It's really that...
I wanted to protect one of my own.
Not for any real reason.
I was just attached.
No!
Why am I remembering that nonsense again?!
Something must have happened to my head since I turned into a kid!
I just want to believe this world really is peaceful.
We're going to live in this world and die in it.
Did Fushi plan on being with us forever?
To be reborn even after we die...
as immortal friends.
Live alongside you?
With you Nokkers?
Selfish horse shit. I won't stand for it.
Why?
We've reformed our ways, revealed our hand, and are doing as you wish.
We will stand by your vessels and assume your pain.
You hate pain, after all.
Even the girl you hold dear, March,
said that life must not be taken away.
She was the one who galvanized us.
Your kind seem to want to deal with us somehow,
but you are completely mistaken in your intent.
The Nokkers share a vision with the Guardians.
We seek salvation for the human soul.
In doing so, we are not violating the flesh, but in fact making it more resilient.
Well, that's just great.
And what does that have to do with finding my soul?
What shall we do?
Huh? What was I doing?
Fushi...
Did I do something bad again?
Don't touch me!
Fushi...
Which are you?
No... Please, don't look at me like that.
You know I l—
Love me, please!
Stop controlling me!
Fushi...
You're... all right?
The Nokkers have chosen coexistence.
And the world became peaceful.
We've already lost.
What is happening?!
Was the Black One right all along?
What about me, then?
Do I have to accept that this is a peaceful, free world?
Someone...
Gugu...
What would Gugu think in this situation?
Should I just go home and tell everyone what happened?
No. No!
I'd be ruining their peace!
I brought them back to life!
I want them to live peaceful lives!
I have to take responsibility and keep this world proper!
I can do it!
I'm not weakened!
I'll make sure of it!
Ow, ow, ow...
Tonari?
Fushi?
Th-That wasn't on purpose, okay?!
What's gotten into you? You're never at home.
And that outfit...
You look completely suspicious in this world.
I didn't feel like wearing the clothes Mizuha bought me.
Yeah?
Sorry about the other day.
It was wrong for me to use your friends' bodies without asking.
Bye.
H-Hang on a second!
I should be the one to apologize.
I let myself believe their lives... Oopa, Mia, Uroy...
that they belonged to me.
The time they spent with you was special to them, too.
I should have realized that they were just as much a part of your life.
I... I was the one who was acting like they belonged to me.
I'm really grateful for what you did for them.
Your wishes are yours.
It's wrong for me to control them.
So you should do what you think's right.
With Mizuha, too.
Something like that.
Anyway, I'm sorry, Fushi.
I won't get upset and cry on you again.
I mean, my mind is one of a crusty old grandma.
What's wrong?
Did something happen?
No, it's nothing.
Bye.
Hey, wait.
Does it have something to do with why you've been away from home?
No.
Tell me!
You're part of my life, too.
You matter to me a lot!
Thanks, Tonari.
Fushi...
Fushi.
Bon.
Are you all right? You look pale.
I'll hear you out.
No, it's nothing.
The Nokkers are bad, right?
What?
Please tell me they are.
Yeah, of course.
Even if one's life is painful, that life belongs to that person alone.
No one should be taking it on.
One's existence ought to be validated by the sum of everything one experiences.
It's starting to come down.
I should go pick her up.
She didn't take her umbrella.
I'm surprised you remembered that.
I'm her mother. Of course I did.
Aren't you taking your phone?
Right, thanks.
I'm making stew tonight.
You're going to love it.
Okay. Stay safe.
Mizuha, you're going to get sick out here.
Let's go home for some warm stew.
Mom.
How did you know I was here?
Because I'm your mother.
Mom...
You look so gloomy.
Let me guess, a boy you like gave you the cold shoulder.
Bingo.
Oh, please.
You're a perfect girl, Mizuha.
All that matters is that you love him.
You don't need anything else.
Take all your sadness out on me.
You have to go back to being happy starting tomorrow.
Right?
That's no face for such a cute girl to be making.
Mom!
There, there.
No more playing human.
Preview
Fushi confronts Mizuha's false mother.
But Mizuha's desperate pleas dull his conviction.
The Guardians' lineage
is a shackle of blood from which there is no escape.
Their Home