So after learning the truth about her aunt's death,
Kaya-sama's mother realized her only purpose was to bear a cursed object.
And now she's trying to use that to wipe out the Ebisumori family?
Yes.
Gosh. Master, I understand your grievance, but can't you do something?
Osamu-kun, are you asking me to put my life on the line?
Y-You have a point.
Incoming Call
Sato Shizuo
Shizuo-san?
Yes, Nana speaking.
Nana-san!
Mirai's disappeared from the hospital!
What?
It appears she was bleeding heavily.
The staff say she might've panicked and left the hospital.
I'll head back with Kaya.
Please do. See you soon.
Well, you heard.
Nana-san!
You sure it's okay to go back there?
Because of the curse, Mutsu-san...
Um...
My mother died in my place,
but that thing isn't fully grown yet.
As long as the host is alive, its true power can't be unleashed.
And we cannot let Mirai die.
For my sake...
and for Kaya's.
Right.
Episode 12: Kaya-chan Isn't Scared
This way, Kaya-chan.
Wait! Tell me what your plan is for when we get there.
The most certain method is to remove it by human hands.
The process for making a shrine maiden and a leech child is the same.
We only need to force it to be born human before it takes the mother's life.
Judging from what we've heard,
she probably thought the hospital would induce the delivery if she stayed.
Just like when she had Kaya.
Huh?
She's full-term and covered in blood. She can't possibly go unnoticed.
It shouldn't take long for her to be found.
We can deal with everything else after the baby is born.
Kaya-sama! Are you three okay?
Kaya-chan!
Are you okay?
Stay with me!
How did she get here?
She walked here...
in that condition?
What's happened to you...
Mirai?
Th-That's...
It's pulling her along.
Master!
She's too far gone.
But I guess we should be glad she's still alive.
Kaya.
Stop! No!
You poor thing. I'm sorry for dragging you into my problem.
Chie-sensei.
You really went out of your way for Kaya to end up here.
Thank you.
Huh? Uh, sure.
But everything's all right now.
Huh?
The monstrous Ebisumori clan will be wiped out today.
Every last one of us.
Thank you for everything.
Wait a second! Why are you doing this?
Isn't Kaya-chan your precious daughter?
Let's name our baby "Kaya."
Kaya
Eighth
God
Kaya?
That's a unique way to write it.
The eldest daughter gets a special name.
It's a tradition in my family.
Okay.
Let's name her Kaya if the baby is a girl.
Thank you.
But what if the baby is a boy?
It's a girl. I know it is.
Emergency services. Fire or medical emergency?
Medical!
My wife fell down the stairs! She's pregnant!
Sato-san.
It's a girl.
I screwed up.
I followed Yoshi-chan's instructions.
Ohara-sama's Role
But I slipped up when I was so close.
I'm still alive, and all that came of it was one small, ordinary life.
Oh, Kaya!
An ordinary husband.
An ordinary daughter.
And ordinary me.
A happy life that makes the days before it feel unimportant.
Don't go too far, Kaya.
Maybe it means I should forget it all and live with an ordinary family.
I'm sorry.
What did she squish just now?
She's just started walking.
No, I'm overthinking it. Because Kaya's just an ordinary...
Mommy, what's that?
Huh?
Wh-What do you mean?
Mommy...
You don't see it?
You're right. Kaya is my precious daughter.
That's why I want to end her life while she's still precious to me.
No... That's so selfish of you.
Kaya-chan isn't the Ebisumori clan's shrine maiden!
She's not who you should hate—
I don't hate Kaya at all.
But...
The curse that will be born
will hunt down the Ebisumori bloodline for generations until the family's gone.
Even Kaya can't escape it—
I'll just have to die, then!
Nana-san?
Mom's gone. This family ends once I'm dead.
If that's what it takes to free you from our family's curse—
You're still great at playing the victim.
You hid the fact that I'm a disposable vessel for giving birth to the accursed.
No! You've got it all wrong!
How so?
Yes, Mom fulfilled her role and gave birth to both of us.
But she always feared you would become the next Ohara-sama.
After Aunt Yoshie died and your turn grew closer,
she secretly prepared a way out for you.
So that you would leave the house without knowing anything and never try to return.
She couldn't tell you the truth.
Because if you found out, fear and suspicion would spread to us sisters.
She wanted...
you to leave your hatred with her and move on.
Nana.
That's why she forced you out into the outside world,
even if it meant you'd resent her.
Even if it was hard for a while, it was so you could leave this house...
and find happiness elsewhere.
Don't give me that crap!
Huh?
There you go, talking as if you're the ones who had to play the bad guys!
I'm the one who was humiliated, abused, and hurt! Me!
So don't you talk to me...
like I'm some product of yours when I had to go through all that!
Ow.
Mirai! Stop! Let's get you to the hospital—
Don't get in my way.
I'll die here. This is where the curse will take shape.
None of this will have ever existed!
Not you! Not me!
And not Kaya!
You're too old to be fighting shamelessly in public.
Kaya-chan! Are you okay?
You're...
It's embarrassing to watch.
Poke, poke.
Huh?
Mob-san?
Master says the safest place to be is the room with Mutsu-san's memorial portrait.
Quickly!
You're that branch family boy who got cast out.
Isn't the Ebisumori family's downfall exactly what you want?
Yeah, the main family's internal drama means nothing to me.
But like it or not, I ended up owing the old woman a favor.
So I'm just here to repay it.
Seriously? Well, there goes my plan.
Never mind protecting Osamu-kun, I'm going to wind up dead.
I thought even death wouldn't be enough to keep this old woman down.
Good grief.
Looks like you've acted above your station, branch family boy.
Ebisumori Mutsu?
You're a tough one.
You'd put your grudge aside to get what you want, huh?
Hmph. Give me your hand.
I'll take it with me.
Don't look at me like that. This is just the last flicker.
You'll understand when you're older.
Did you think an abandoned kid like me would live this long?
Who's to say? But...
You wouldn't have lived long in the Ebisumori family, that's for sure.
Now, I have a favor to ask of you.
Of me?
Make sure to pass it on.
I'm counting on you.
Who said I'll—
Let every curse be laid upon Ebisumori Mutsu
Ebisumori Mutsu's last words were...
To my dear daughters.
I hope you both find happiness.
I'm glad she kept it nice and short so I didn't need to write it down.
So...
Let's get out of here, Osamu-kun.
What about Kaya-sama and Chie-sensei, Master?
Weren't we going to put up a fierce battle for Kaya-sama—
I told you.
I have no intention of risking lives.
Mine or yours.
Uh, Master? I don't remember you having a driver's license...
I've returned the favor, so do whatever you want now.
Think.
Think, think, think, think.
Think!
How can I stop Kaya-chan's mom?
Staying here won't solve anything.
If she gives birth to that thing, Kaya-chan will...
Chie-sensei.
E-Everything's going to be okay, Kaya-chan.
I'll protect you, no matter what.
Do you feel scared?
Huh?
Scared?
Why would she ask me that when she's the one facing something terrifying.
My face is giving it away. I look frightened.
Chie-sensei, your feelings are written all over your face.
It's so obvious. Especially when you're in trouble.
Sorry.
Kids will pick up on stuff like that right away, you know.
Right.
So when that happens...
Smile.
Huh?
Even if you're just bluffing, smile with confidence,
like you're not afraid of anything in the world.
Don't let children feel your anxiety.
That's what a professional teacher does.
That's right. Even if I'm bluffing, I have to smile with confidence.
Not at all!
It did surprise me a teensy tiny bit, but no, I'm not scared!
After all, I'm with Kaya-chan, who can go up against any kind of ghost.
But I made a promise.
To take care of the baby.
Let's take good care of it together, okay?
But I didn't.
And that upset my mommy.
I see. Kaya-chan isn't scared of the curse.
She's afraid of breaking her promise to her mother.
Because for a child, a parent's words are the strongest curse of all.
But...
No!
A strong hatred and determination are driving her actions.
Nothing I say will change her mind.
What will open up Kaya-chan's mother's heart?
What's that?
My drawing we showed to Grandma.
To your grandma?
This...
Mirai.
She said "daughters"?
That's impossible.
She should've only left a message for Nana.
I was never even human in her eyes!
That's not the kind of person our mother is.
You realize that, don't you? Think how Ebisumori clan women are named.
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
The pattern doesn't just apply to the eldest daughter.
Yoshie
From the second daughter on, names aren't written in kanji.
Michiko
It's so they can tell at a glance who's human and who isn't.
Fumi
Hatsu
Aki
Birth Certificate Registration
The child that was born
How to read
Child's full name
Ebisumori
Future
Ebisumori
Mirai
But...
The name Mom gave you...
Future
Mirai
Enough!
There's no point in telling me this now!
Mutsu is dead!
And soon, I'll become the Ohara-sama and die as well.
Then, Kaya will also...
Kaya?
Where's Kaya?
Kaya!
Mirai!
No.
Kaya is my daughter.
I have to be there for her when the moment comes.
Kaya... Give me back my Kaya.
Mirai, wait!
Kaya...
Mirai!
Kaya...
Ow!
Chie-sensei...
Please save them.
Kaya...
Where are you, Kaya?
Kaya...
Kaya... Kaya...
Where are you?
Where are you? Where?
I can't find her.
Where are you?
Sato-san!
Sato? Who's that?
Sato Kaya-chan's mother!
Kaya!
That's right. Kaya, where are you?
I'm Hasumi, her teacher!
I've come to talk about her future!
Chie-sensei.
Your daughter, Kaya-chan...
She had a hard time being understood at first and was often alone.
But in the past few months, she's grown tremendously.
She has a very bright future ahead of her.
I want to see what the future holds for her.
I'm sure you don't want to be the Ebisumori clan's Ohara-sama,
but as Kaya-chan's mother—
That's not going to happen!
Kaya doesn't understand anything yet because she's too small.
But when she grows up, she'll become heartless, just like Mutsu and Nana.
So the only thing I can do is die with her before that happens!
Besides, Kaya doesn't see me as a human anymore.
I can tell just by watching her!
I'm home, Mom—
Sorry, Kaya. Mommy isn't...
You can't talk to my mommy.
Thank you for coming, Sensei.
Kaya wouldn't see a sack hiding a monster as her mother!
Don't underestimate a child!
She's too small to understand anything?
She doesn't see you as her mother?
Then, how do you explain this?
This is a drawing Kaya-chan really treasured in school.
There's no way she doesn't know anything.
Even so, Kaya-chan is trying to accept the baby,
because that's what the mother that she loves so much wants.
And she has faith that the future she imagined is still ahead.
Kaya-chan is incredible.
She can make this drawing a reality, if you, as her mother, simply wish for it.
Wish for?
Kaya...
No! Don't! Stay away from me!
No! No, no!
Don't!
You shouldn't see your mommy like this!
Mommy.
I...
I'm not scared. Don't worry.
Kaya.
Please help... me and the baby.
In Surgery
Kaya.
It's the year-end ceremony. We have to head out early.
Are you ready?
Yup!
Sorry, Kaya.
Huh?
I promise I'll be there at the new year ceremony.
You look so tired, Mommy.
Sorry for making you deal with the baby all night.
Don't be. You did everything when I was in the hospital.
Not only that, but I caused you so much trouble.
Don't worry about that.
What matters is the four of us are happy as a family.
Translation Timing Editing Quality Control Translation Check
Naomi Suda Krzysztof Kunc SMR Gabriella Alabanza Rei Miyasaka
Hanamugi Kindergarten
Today's the last day of school.
You'll no longer be in the middle-year class.
So starting in April, which year will you all be in?
Third-year!
That's right. You'll all be big sisters and big brothers.
Snap!
Why are you even here?!
Well, you see...
Guardian ID
For: Sato Kaya
Hanamugi Kindergarten
He asked, so I bought off the photographer in charge of the commemorative photos.
That's crossing a line!
Thanks to Mob-san calling an ambulance right after we got out of there,
Mirai and the baby both made it.
Snap, snap, snap.
So this is the least I could do.
W-Well, I guess.
I also want to repay you, Chie-sensei.
Who, me?
Dispelling Mirai's loathing
and having Kaya exorcise the Curse Gestation Hiruko-no-kami...
I never could've done that on my own.
So I'm glad I asked for your help.
I didn't do anything.
Let's go to the front for the picture.
It's all because Kaya-chan is growing up to be a good, upright person.
And there was proof of that. That's what reached her mother's heart.
Kaya-chan did all the hard work.
You don't have to repay me at all.
I'm just glad to have the opportunity to watch how Kaya-chan grows up.
Okay, group picture time!
Yay!
Oh, everyone's so good at lining up, I see.
Mobuo's here.
I know, huh?
Okay, look this way.
Give me a big smile!
Now, say "Cheese"!
The End