Original subtitles

There was a time when I bore witness to two worlds.

Through my left eye I saw the present.

Through my right eye I saw the end.

In seeking the future I desired,

I lost sight of all hope.

For the future I saw was set in stone.

I seemingly forged my own future,\N\hbut was in fact a slave to it—

To:

Shiki Ryougi

the cast-offs of a vulgar god.

If it had all been just a delusion of mine,

perhaps I could've turned out to be a better person.

Hey.

Got you now, Bomberman.

My futuresight is absolute.

What I see is set in stone, no matter what.

Call in-progress

Option

Back

No one, and I mean no one, can escape the box.

ＭＯＶＩＥ

{\fs74.667\fscx66\blur0.333\ Future Blessing

Original Work

Kinoko Nasu

Summer Comiket Manuscript Plot

Decide within the week

August

Seo Shizune-san of Class 1-A.

We have a call for you from your father.

Please come to the office on the first floor.

Reien Girls' Academy Director M. Riesbyfe

Reien Girls' Academy Keep in mind while on summer vacation:

For those dormers wishing to leave campus, make sure to submit the proper paperwork to the school asking for permission.

Remember that you are still students of Reien Girls' Academy while outside school. Act appropriately. Reien Girls' Academy Director M. Riesbyfe

Ugh. A whole half hour till the next bus.

Oh! Found me a lounging cat.

No, I guess you're more of a dog than a cat, huh, Seo?

My bad, my bad.

So? What'cha sleeping here for?

I'm not sleeping.

I am to return home, per orders from my good father.

Seriously?

You're not going home, Naomi-chan?

Your parents live in Hong Kong, right?

I didn't get permission to leave.

I got pushed down the school ranking\Nthanks to a certain new kid,

so I guess I'll bury my head in a book during break.

You mean the girl who placed among the top on the national exams, right?

Why'd she come to our school, of all places?

Don't ask me.

Apparently she was dead set on it, though.

But forget that. Seo, are you going home in that?

Not going to change out of your uniform?

I don't have any other clothes.

My dad never sent me any.

Stupid, say something sooner then!

Come!

I'll lend you something to wear.

What's up?

Oh, nothing.

Okay, let's go!

Come on, get up!

O-Okay.

August 3rd, 9:30 a.m.

At this point, my future had played out\Nexactly as I had envisioned three days ago.

Nothing's new to me anymore.

List of stuff

to buy me

{small pink}Thanks!

Suicide Garden's new CD

There are two of me in this world.

One in the present, and one in the future.

Two different vantage points from which to look at the same subject, the world.

Student Handbook

Reien Girls' Academy

Unable to change the future,

I can only wait for events to unfold.

I haven't anything special to say about\Nor expect from the future.

I drift through a boring everyday.

I expect a boring future.

I live a boring life.

But I'm sure that the most boring thing of all is me.

Mifune Station

Kanto Center Transit

E-Excuse me.

Excuse me. Wait, please.

You, the scam artist-looking guy!

You!

What was that?

You talkin' about me?

U-Um...

If you have that bag, then...

Mister, you'll get hurt. In an accident...

To say the least, you'll be swept off\N\hby a dump truck and turned into mincemeat...

Whoa, hey!

Let go!

Let go, damn it!

You can't...

go that way!

Forgive me for interrupting.

Is something the matter?

What, you know this girl, man?

Sorry.

I'm just a curious stranger.

I was walking down the street, doing no harm,

when this girl started picking a fight with me.

What?

Um, is this true?

We're done here, right? I'm going.

You take care of her.

Are you okay?

U-Um, thank you!

But I really have to catch up to him!

H-Hold on!

Can I ask you just one more thing?

Why do you think that man is in trouble?

Well, I...

I just do.

My hunches are always right.

Well, that's a surprise.

You think he'll get hit by a truck on a hunch?

It's certainly something we want to avoid, though.

I'll go and talk to him.

You just wait here.

If all goes well, I'll be sure to let you know!

Uh, let's think this through.

I didn't dream that, did I?

It was so unreal, yet it was real.

And when he said he'd handle it, I felt relieved.

But if I stay here, I'll miss the express.

I guess...

it doesn't matter.

An explosion?

What?

Over there!

What if he got caught in that?

But this...

This wasn't what I saw...

You okay?

Thanks for waiting for me.

You were completely right!

Man, that was close.

He got off with just a little tumble.

Huh?

You saved him?

Yes, quite luckily.

He's probably thanking you right now for what you did.

Huh?

Wh-What?

Guess it's to be expected after all that.

Let's see...

Would you like to catch your breath\Nwith me in that cafe over there?

That must've worn you out.

O-Okay!

Thank you very much.

You see, um, I have over an hour before the next train.

Then as a reward for your good deed, this is on me.

Oh.

You don't even know my name, do you?

I'm Kokutou Mikiya.

Nice to meet ya!

I-I'm Seo Shizune!

This is how it began, and pretty much how it all ended.

That was how fate brought me, Seo Shizune, and Kokutou Mikiya-san together.

Throb.

1998

August\NJuly

3\N2\N1\N30\N29\N28\N27

3\N2\N1\N30\N29

rd,\Nnd,\Nst,\Nth,

The future instilled in me neither hope nor disdain.

I, Kuramitsu Meruka,\Nhad the power of premonition.

With my right eye I saw the outcome I desired.

And with my left eye,

I saw exactly how to bring that to fruition.

Hurry out of here!

The future is not some fantasy.

It is built, piece by boring piece.

I did not "see" the future.

I only knew the inevitable outcomes\Nfor things five, ten minutes down the line.

I lived without hope for the future.

Nothing ever happened in my life\Nthat I didn't see coming.

Nothing ever caught me by surprise.

The Bomberman-for-Hire.

That's how I made my living.

My bombs were just tools to move the populace.

In essence, bombing was simply the best way\Nto make the most out of my futuresight ability.

July 31st

Excuse me, Aozaki-sama.

Thank you so much for the lovely design.

It was my pleasure.

I'll get us something to drink.

Sorry!

I couldn't find anything I was sure you'd like, Shiki...

Huh?

Hey. It's dangerous over there.

Oh, you!

Hey. It's dangerous over there.

That woman knew something was\Ngoing to happen at the hotel?

Did I overlook something?

I probably did.

But I can't leave any loose ends.

It's possible she can identify me.

My future has...

no need for her.

August 2nd

The Bomberman is after you?

It's more like he's latched on to me, really.

I think he's the same guy who blew up the hotel.

It's like you're fated to attract only the strangest men.

This is no laughing matter.

Look at this.

It was in my mail. Apparently he'll contact me.

Back

Then some kind of mine in an alleyway.

Now a timebomb in an abandoned building.

No witnesses, no victims.

Not even you.

You're still alive and well, even after all that.

No way he's taking this lying down.

So, has he called?

Not once.

More importantly, Touko,\Nsomething's weird about him.

Something's weird? What exactly?

He sees too far ahead.

That last time, I'd only stopped\Nat that building on a whim.

In the center of the room was an alarm clock.

And then the moment the second hand struck midnight...

Boom.

Boss, I've got your smokes.

I've heard a bit about this Bomberman myself.

He might be a futuresight wielder.

August 3rd

Mind if we sit by the window, Shizune-chan?

Shi—

Sure.

Great.

Here, the menu.

Thanks.

Today's special is...

Huh? Same as yesterday, I guess.

That's too bad.

I would've recommended the\Nblueberry pie without reservation, too.

Welcome.

Hello, could I have a cup of coffee?

I...

I'll have an iced cocoa, please.

Coming right up.

Can I ask about earlier?

Kokutou-san, why did you believe me so easily?

I'm not sure how to answer that.

You just looked really serious, Shizune-chan.

I guess that's not very convincing.

Was it because you pitied me?

The only thing I'd figured out at that point was\Nthat you had no reason to lie, Shizune-chan.

There wasn't anything to gain from fooling that man.

You believed me because I wasn't lying?

"My hunches are always right"\Nwas obviously a lie, though.

Maybe so, but you were entirely serious, weren't you?

It was enough for me to believe\Nthe premise of it, at least.

Here you go.

Um, you see...

I can see the future.

August 2nd

There have been a number of explosions\Nover the years similar to that one at the hotel.

The perpetrator always left a\Nwritten statement at the scene.

From the time of the explosion\Nto the scale of the damage,

the number of injured people to the\N{fine }details of the injuries in question,

it's all there, down to the letter.

The contents are quite simple, too.

They're almost like reports.

So basically he thinks of this as a job.

The problem is, this bomber with a reputation for leaving no loose ends is after you now, Shiki.

Huh?

Shiki, where were you that night?

Nowhere.

Got tired of looking at people, so I went outside.

But more importantly, are these so-called statements the results of predicting the future?

He sends these to the police,\Nblows something up, then gets away scot-free.

You'd need a miracle to explain that.

The power of premonition.

Only one who could know what the future looked like,\Na wielder of futuresight, would be capable of that.

Kokutou.

Have you heard of the Mother of Mifune?

Oh, I think I remember that name.

She was what you'd call a street fortune teller, right?

She was popular with the girls for a time.

The Mother of Mifune didn't so much read the future as proficiently help others avoid tragedy.

Yeah.

For example she'd say, "Two days from now,\Nyou and your lover will have relationship troubles."

"If you don't want to break up,\Ngo on vacation for three days."

{zakkubaran}Very candid advice like that.

And all who didn't heed her words\Nwere guaranteed to meet tragedy.

Right.

So, what about her?

It's highly probable she possessed\Nsomething like futuresight.

Kokutou, stay here.

Shiki, you go and find this person.

You can scope her out if you\Nmeet her face-to-face, right?

Bombing Report

Time of explosion

July 31, 1998. 8:10.00 p.m.

Site of explosion

Mifune Grand Hotel, 12th floor

Explosive used

Attached to walls; countdown timer-type; fuel-type incendiary bomb, 20 count.

Placed on 20 positions on pillars of the 12th floor.

Bombs placed on pillars two floors above inauguration party.

Simultaneously set off 40 minutes after start of party.

Sprinklers activated on floors 10, 11, 12.

Inauguration party guests evacuated.

Fire and police arrive at scene.

Date: July 31, 1998 8:30.00 p.m.

Bombing Report

Time of explosion

Site of explosion

Mifune Grand Hotel, 12th floor

August 3rd

Care to look at your future?

Are you the one they call the Mother of Mifune?

My, that name takes me back.

I haven't been called that in years.

So, now they call you the Bomberman?

Don't insult me.

I read love fortunes and people's futures.

The things young people just eat up.

I have nothing to say to a murderer like you!

Oh?

How'd you know?

You practically scream it.

However, it seems you can't catch...

what you most desire.

Futuresight...

Th-This is a weird thing to talk about, right?

Actually, I'm the one who's weird, huh?

What do you mean when you say\Nyou can see the future?

Do you actually see a picture of it in your mind?

Y-Yes, but it's more like a dizzy spell than a picture.

When did that start?

I first realized I was seeing the future\Nwhen I was in middle school.

When I was a child, I had no clue what I was seeing.

I don't think the visions were as clear as they are now.

That's a relief.

Huh?

That's a silver lining.

I guess that's inappropriate to say, though.

A kid would certainly have their\Nown problems in dealing with it.

I can only imagine, but you must have gone through a lot.

You're a tough cookie, aren't you, Shizune-chan?

Oh no.

Now I want to cry.

I haven't felt this {kind of }pain since winter, two years ago.

When I went home, I saw the\Nlifeless form of Chris, my Shiba Inu.

Filled with sadness at his prospective death,

as well as joy that he was there waiting for me,

I cried all night.

The next morning I found him not in the dog house, but under the porch, lifeless.

And I cried again.

I have to endure twice the sadness\Na normal person has to go through.

And this man realized all that\Nwithout my having to say it.

U-Um!

Yes?

P-Please don't take this the wrong way...

But, um, could I...

Could I possibly call you Mikiya-san from now on?

Sure, whatever comes easier to you, Shizune-chan.

Yay!

Whatever.

I dunno if you're the real thing or not,

but now I understand how people\Nwho can see into the future think.

And what exactly do you know about me?

If you're picking a fight, then bring it.

How about I start by telling you some\Nhalf-truths about your unrequited crush?

The one you love with every ounce of your soul?

My, you're surprisingly kind.

I can read your fortune anyway\Nif you like, no ill will this time.

No thanks. I'll pass.

See you, then.

These streets are dangerous at night.

They're no place for the elderly.

My, how gallant of you to say.

Have we met before?

Never.

And if you're trying to pick me up, then quit it.

I see. Too bad.

But remember, bridges are bad luck.

Be careful.

Not that it'd be anywhere\Nnear enough to kill you, though.

So, this futuresight.

How far into the future can you see?

R-Right!

Um, I can see scenes from about\Nthree days into the future.

But sometimes these images\Nwill suddenly flood my vision,

and those are from about\Na month or even a year later.

So, there are levels to your ability.

Is there nothing good about seeing the future?

I wouldn't say that.

But I could tell in advance what\Nquestions would be on my tests,

so I had the best grades in my year until recently.

I'm not even smart, though.

Weird, isn't it?

If I may ask, are you scared of\Nseeing the future, Shizune-chan?

I'm not sure.

I am, however, afraid of seeing\Na future that's set in stone.

But you've never seen something like that\Nfor someone close to you, right?

No.

But...

Incidents like today's scare me.

I think rather than fear, that's simply...

Simply what?

Oh, we'll save that for last.

Let's continue talking about your futuresight ability.

Shizune-chan, you'd never met that man before, right?

Yeah.

And is this your first time in town?

No, I've been to Mifune lots of times.

You came by train?

No, I took the bus from Chounodai.

I got here around 11 a.m.,\Nand that's about when it started.

The bus from Chounodai would mean\Nyou came from the same direction I did.

How did you meet that man?

I first talked to him after I had that vision of the future.

Before that...

Weird, when was it?

You had your vision as soon as you\Ngot to the bus stop, right?

Could the man have been on the\Nsame bus and got off before you?

Oh!

Yes, now I remember!

I see.

To borrow Touko-san's words,\Nthat does seem to fit the bill.

Huh?

The Hollow Shrine

Staff

Mikiya Kokuto{large}

Okay, now for my last question.

Shizune-chan, are you scared of seeing the future?

Or...

Are you scared of the fact that\Nthe future is set in stone?

Both are scary, but if I had to say, then the latter.

Then that's a relief.

As your elder, I'll tell you that your worries are completely unfounded, Shizune-chan.

In fact, you should see as many of them as you can.

What? N-N-No way!

Mikiya-san, were you listening to me at all?!

Of course.

And from what you told me,\Nyour ability isn't a bad thing at all.

Huh?

There are several types of futuresight.

This is someone else's theory, but...

Boss, does the power of premonition actually exist?

It does.

It's basically just the power to see, though.

The two kinds of futuresight\Nare prediction and evaluation.

But futuresight is ultimately predictive.

For example we have Victim A,\Nwho is going to be killed,

and Murderer B, who is going to kill Victim A.

Someone with futuresight can see how things\Nwill end simply by looking at these two people.

Without knowing their faces, their names, or the reasons for the crime.

What the hell?

If they know the end but not the reasons, then that's not seeing the future.

It's just a hunch.

Don't lump it in with your sixth sense, Shiki.

Here.

If I were to explain it in simple terms, these are people who do not forget.

All visual data they take in\Nis recorded and not thrown away.

That information is then mixed in organically,

and they see as images the results\Nderived from their arrangement.

Prediction is nothing more than\Nadvanced information processing.

They see not the future minutes from now,

but the results minutes from now which make reality.

But she wasn't like that.

She didn't see anything.

Huh?

Seeing the future without an\Ninitial basis can't be prediction.

That's not a privilege, but rather overstepping your bounds.

In any case, there are two kinds of futuresight, right?

Touko, what's the difference\Nbetween prediction and evaluation?

Well, let's see.

The evaluative kind would be\Nmore useful in everyday life.

It'd also be more dangerous for a criminal to have.

On the other hand, the more human kind is prediction.

And the one that'd match you most, Ryougi Shiki, is...

But there's no point in what-ifs.

That's enough about futuresight.

Boss, if one were to run into someone\Nwith futuresight, what should they do?

If they're the predictive kind, then just letting them be would be fine, no?

With proper advice from a third party,

only you can choose your present.

Here's your order.

In other words, evaluation builds up a future,

whereas prediction infers it from their surroundings.

And, Shizune-chan, you are clearly the latter.

So you don't have to worry.

Another great dish!

You're saying I just have a good memory?

It doesn't seem real to me.

If you were aware of it,\Nthen that's where the danger lies.

I'm sure your futuresight ability is disconnected...

so it doesn't interfere with your daily life.

Excuse me!

Could I have the orange and\Nsunflower seed mixed pie, please?

But, in the end, I only have one thing to say to you.

Wh-What's that?

Shizune-chan, you aren't that special.

The ability to see the future isn't\Nsomething to get hung up over.

Mikiya-san, you can only say that\Nbecause you can't see the future.

You couldn't possibly understand...

Here you are.

To tell the truth, I can see a little into the future, too.

Huh?

Shizune-chan will

order the orange pie.

See? Cool, isn't it?

The Hollow Shrine

Maybe...

But don't mock me!

You just guessed it randomly.

Anyone can figure out what will happen\Nif they just think about it.

What I'm talking about is a future that you\N\hcan't change, that actually comes true...

...that is set in stone, you mean?

It wasn't the case with that man from earlier.

Oh, right.

You saved him.

You saved him, Shizune-chan.

My prediction is nothing compared to yours,

but in essence they're the same.

You're taking the future as a matter of course.

But remember what you said, Shizune-chan?

Anyone can figure out the future\Nif they just think about it.

All humans live by looking into the future.

No one simply lives in the present,\Nwithout dreams for the future.

All I see in the future are painful things.

Is that...

Yup.

It's trying to tell you something, I think.

"Live your life without regrets."

Well, you're probably right,

but I dunno about knowing what'll be on my tests.

You see three days into the future, right?

Try thinking beyond that.

I know it'll be hard, but think of it as\Nthe price you pay for having special eyes.

It'd be a waste to "fix" them.

You got me there.

Mikiya-san, you look nice,\Nbut you're actually really strict.

Um, could I have that business card as a memento?

Huh?

My business card is just a piece of paper, really.

Then again, I guess all business cards are.

The Hollow Shrine

Staff

Mikiya Kokuto

This is the name of the man who showed me\Nmy problems and how to fix them.

That if I have time to be worrying, I should put that effort into bettering my life.

Mikiya Kokuto

Shizune-chan will

order the orange pie.

By the way, you were off by a little bit.

You got me there.

How could I have known you'd pick the house challenge?

Mikiya-san's futuresight was missing the sunflower seeds.

Such limits are what make humans\Nhopeful and unpredictable.

August 3rd

Hello.

I do believe this is our first acquaintance, Ryougi-san.

Please.

You've seen me from nearby plenty of times.

That's absurd.

All I do is set up bombs.

Right now I'm talking to you from\Nan apartment complex far, far away.

So you're a busybody and a liar?

Whatever.

What do you want?

I've been trying to kill you, you know.

Aren't you going to ask for motive or intent?

Would you answer if I asked?

I haven't any interest in you, anyway.

If you insist on this, I'll just have to\Nswat you like an annoying fly.

Now aren't you confident?

I didn't foresee that answer.

You'll die.

You're gonna die.

You'll die, engulfed in the flames of an explosion.

Still alive here.

It is inevitable.

I can see every future, you know.

And the futures I see are set in stone.

Oh, so that's the type of futuresight you have.

Huh?

It's the same as a math formula.

If I know the numbers, there's no altering the answer.

Do you enjoy this?

Who knows?

I haven't had what you'd call\Npersonal will in nearly six years.

Is pestering me some kind of game to you?

I do not play games.

You've seen my face.

Now I must dispose of you from far away,\Nwith nothing connecting your death to me.

You're a terrible liar.

You're nearby, aren't you?

I said I wasn't.

No. You have to be nearby.

If your visions of the future are images,

then you'd have to be the camera.

You must be at the scene.

That is the condition for your futuresight.

You haven't been nearby for\Nyour previous three attempts.

That's why they all failed.

Call in-progress

Option

Back

And now I've found you.

She's coming!

Surviving the bridge bombing was the final key!

At last!

Fifteen minutes from now, in that parking structure.

That's where...

Hey.

Got you now, Bomberman.

No way!

No...

Can you hear me, Bomberman?

If it can't see anything, then you don't need that eye.

Had it been simple prediction,\Nyou might've actually killed me.

It hardly bears saying, though.

You see too much.

Why?

Why?!

Why did the future change?!

It didn't change.

There never was such thing as "the future."

You can't interfere with something that doesn't exist.

Prediction is seeing the possibility\Nof a future coming to pass.

On the other hand, evaluation is purging all possibilities and bringing to pass the future you see.

It's a special ability that far surpasses prediction.

However...

The future is invincible because it is formless.

But give it form, and it's only natural that it'll be broken.

And your future was even clearer\Nthan the ridges on a screw.

The moment you gave shape to the end of this,\Nyour future halted in its tracks.

Goodbye, Bomberman.

What's with you?

Come on, let's go!

R-Right!

August 31st

Welcome back!

Anything interesting happen?

Thanks, Naomi-chan.

You could tell it was me?

Of course.

So? Spill.

Nothing interesting happened,\Nbut I did experience something new.

I hath loved and lost for the very first time.

Wait, what? Loved and lost?!

You see, before I went home\NI had a run-in with someone.

Oh, I bought what you asked me to.

Should I go get it?

Sorry, I got it from somewhere else.

But this lost love of yours!

Let's talk about that, Seo!

I've really kept you a while.

We should be off.

Th-Thank you very much.

Um, you said futuresight wasn't that special.

That you knew someone like that.

Were you talking about your girlfriend, Kokutou-san?

What?

Well, uh, I'm not too sure.

That came as a surprise.

Did you have a vision?

Please don't get mad when I tell you this.

Um, if you keep seeing this woman,

Mikiya-san, you'll die.

I see.

Thank you, Shizune-chan.

I won't ask for the details, though.

It sounds scary, but if I know what'll happen I might not\Nbe able to do something important when the time comes.

He said he was more afraid of\Nrunning away than facing his fate.

His strength made me genuinely respect and admire him.

I only knew him for an hour,

but it would become a guiding light for me that I wouldn't trade for the whole world.

And that is the story of my\Nvery first love, from beginning to end.

Seo, uh, I hate to say this, but that wasn't love.

You think so too, Naomi-chan?

Yeah.

It was just admiration on your part.

Love would be more mind-blowing, full of shame,

and unpredictable to boot.

It's a roller coaster ride in which you either reach your destination, or crash miserably.

To be frank, no pretty memories are left after...

What?

Oh, nothing.

Your conversation sounded like fun, that's all.

Mind if I join in?

Nice to meet ya!

Oh? Could you possibly be Seo-san?

This is great!

Saves me the trouble of coming to say hi.

Hey, you!

Who said you could join in?

What's wrong with it?

I'm just meeting my new roommate.

She and I would be together\Nfor a year—no, much longer.

That last night of summer vacation,

I met the girl who would one day\Nstand at Reien's zenith,

my inseparable and best friend.

And that's the whole story\Nof what I did this summer.

I still see the future.

Confined to\N\h\h\hthe dorms\h\h\N\h\h\h \h\h\h\hagain

ＷＡＨＨ

Boo\Nhoo\Nhoo

but I am completely through with being worried.

I have to believe in myself, just like\NKokutou-san did when he so graciously smiled at me.

{koufuku}Otherwise, my blessed future won't come to pass.

I'm cheating in life with the\Ngreat power of futuresight,

and with it naturally come great responsibilities.

Still, I was able to accept my sight and not shun it

{kitto}because I believe it will one day\Nlet me do good to someone.

And I'll live by that belief, with a smile on my face.

So hot.

Future Blessing, Intro

August, 2010

It's not that I envy humans or anything.

It's just that the town is too lively and bright.

This might be an odd comparison,

but I am like the ink used to record things.

A great flower in the night sky, as if to steal people's eyes\Nfrom the cherry blossoms, dancing as they fall.

Spring comes but once a year.

What to do? They are going to chase me out.

What to do? They are going to fear me now.

In his last moments, a lone tear\Nstreaked down the man's face.

Oh, Mitsuru-san!

I thought you'd gone out.

The Vampire's Tears

I was on the roof.

Oh. I really missed out.

I should have come up.

Please, no.

That would've ruined my break.

Mitsuru-san, you always seem to be in a bad mood.

And I had ditched my lessons to bring you a job, too.

How many times must I tell you not to\Nskip cram school and come here?

Do you want to get me killed, Mana-ojousama?

Mitsuru-san, I don't like being called "ojousama."

This is an order.

You have to call me Mana-kun,\Nlike you did when we first met.

Sorry, but I'm not playing your games.

I'm not about to be some ten-year-old's puppet.

Yup, yup.

That's what I like about you.

You talk and act like a punk.

I like it when people don't use pretty words.

About two years ago,

I got into a lot of debt and had to face my creditors.

Loan Repayment Contract

Problem was, the boss of said creditors was\Na rather influential person around these parts.

{omoni}And a gangster, at that.

The Vampire's Tears

You're Kamekura-sensei, right?

It's such an honor to meet you!

This girl, Mana, was the big boss's only daughter.

And so I became a member of their gang\Nand lived to see another day.

Why, this is fortunate.

We were just looking to acquire a detective agency.

You have the skills, right?

What? You draw picture books?

Very well.

You can keep that as your side job.

Okay, Mana, what's this job you bring from the gang?

Some suspicious person has set up shop\N\hin the area. You're to investigate them...

and give them the boot!

I'm not proud of it, but I can't exactly\Nput the squeeze on anyone.

It's some fortune teller that no one goes to.

She's an acquaintance from quite far back...

Huh? Oh, the other way.

So you're to take care of her until the very end.

Your new hardware is installed and ready to use.

USB Mass Storage Device

This is her address?

I can't believe it.

That old bag's still alive?

Characteristics:

{)\fscx71\fscy100\fs36\blur1.533\be0\1a&H10&\b1\q2\c&H3E3D3D&}Large, female. Wears mostly black. White hair and hat, with veil that covers face.

Age :

Unknown (Presumably 60's)

Occupation:

Fortune telling

Real name:

Unknown (Alias: Mother of Mifune)

Subject of Investigation

Do you know this person, Mitsuru-san?

From long ago, yes.

She used to be famous for always\Nhitting the mark with her fortunes.

Wow, it says here that she can see the future.

Is that for real?

Yeah.

Most futuresight abilities are fake,

but hers is real.

The Vampire's Tears

The Vampire's Tears

I'm amazed.

Adults are such night owls.

Mana, this way.

Stay close to me.

Welcome.

Care to take a look at your future, young man?

Yes!

Yes, yes, yes!

Nice to meet you, fortune teller lady!

Um, I'm not a grownup,\Nbut can I still get my fortune told?

My, what a lovely voice.

Very well.

What would you like to know?

Ask me anything you'd like.

Girls don't have to pay.

Could you divine the love fortune\Nbetween me and my papa?

My, there's nothing to divine!

You're both deeply in love.

Any deeper, and you'd be crossing ethical boundaries.

Good!

Defeating my mother and\Ntaking back my papa is my goal!

How the mighty Mother of Mifune has fallen.

Are you trying to say that your "avoiding misfortune" shtick is now behind the times?

Of all the people I should meet.

This takes me back.

A fellow seer.

Or should I say that we used to be fellow seers?

What a surprise.

And here I thought you were practically blind.

I'm not talking about you.

I meant myself.

I'm old, you see.

I haven't been able to see\Nother people's futures for a long time now.

You can't see the future?

No. Not anymore.

I can't see anything bright.

It's a load off my shoulders though, honestly.

So this is what the world has come to\Nin these past ten years.

I won't insult you, but give it up.

No one wants to see a bleak future\Nor be reminded of their shabby past.

Finding meaning within pure hope\Nhas long since lost its charm.

What's the saying?

The times have passed you by.

Oh?

What about you, then?

Have you changed in these ten years?

Me?

I...

No, not much, I'm afraid.

Unlike you, I'm not even a threat to society.

I'm just some half-assed punk.

That's not true!

You're a good person, Mitsuru-san!

Have some confidence in yourself!

Well, gee, thanks...

But how would you know?

How?

Why, you're just like my papa!

Like, you're unremarkable, one of your eyes \hdoesn't work, you get dragged around by girls...

I'm good at using people like you.

Quit laughing, you old hag.

The stress might kill you.

Think about your health.

I'm glad I lived long enough for this!

I can't believe that boy I once knew\Nhas grown to be so human!

You've had a good ten years.

Anyway, you can't set up shop here!

Next time, it'll be some rough people visiting you.

You'd better retire before they come.

Mind your own business.

I've been doing this since before you were born.

And I'll do it to the end.

We're leaving, Mana.

I did my job.

It's up to the gang, now.

Wait!

Something I heard's bugging me.

Lady, why do you keep telling fortunes?

Now that you can't see the future,\Nyou can finally take it easy.

Why, indeed?

Now that you mention it,\Nthere's been nothing but pain.

I guess...

It's because helping other people is

the only way I can use this power.

A girl changed my life, long ago.

Thanks to her, I was freed from my fateful future.

Instead, I was given a life full of failure.

T{*\c&HEEE3CE&\3c&HEDE1D1&}h{*\c&HEDE2CC&\3c&HECE0CF&}e {*\c&HEBDFC9&\3c&HEBDDCC&}V{*\c&HEADDC8&\3c&HEADCCA&}a{*\c&HE9DCC6&\3c&HEADBC9&}m{*\c&HE8DAC4&\3c&HE9D9C7&}p{*\c&HE7D9C3&\3c&HE8D8C5&}i{*\c&HE6D7C1&\3c&HE8D7C4&}r{*\c&HE6D6C0&\3c&HE7D5C2&}e{*\c&HE5D4BE&\3c&HE7D4C1&}'{*\c&HE4D3BD&\3c&HE6D3BF&}s {*\c&HE2D0B9&\3c&HE5D0BC&}T{*\c&HE1CEB8&\3c&HE4CFBA&}e{*\c&HE0CDB6&\3c&HE3CDB8&}a{*\c&HDFCBB5&\3c&HE3CCB7&}r{*\c&HDECAB3&\3c&HE2CBB5&}s

The Vampire's Tears

But still...

I had something to hold on to.

Hey, Mitsuru-san, can I ask a favor?

Let's hear it, but I'm not promising anything.

I think fortune telling is a wonderful job.

This town needs the Mother of Mifune.

And I love this lady!

You've got a bad habit of loving\Nanyone and everyone you meet.

So? What do you want from me?

You've got a bad habit of asking when\Nyou already know the answer, Mitsuru-san.

Do you still want me to say it?

No, thank you.

If you say it out loud, I'll feel even more depressed.

Fooling Mana's mother is... impossible,

so I'll persuade her like my life depended on it.

This old bag's business still mightn't thrive, but I can at least give her my backing.

That's what it means to take care\Nof someone until the very end.

I don't even know if this old bag will agree.

I only do what I want to do.

See? She's raring to go!

Any dumb problem can be solved when you put on your glasses, Mitsuru-san!

Hey!

Or should I...

call you Kuramitsu when you do that?

You know, I wish you'd stop bringing up that name.

It was ten years ago.

There was a boy who could see a future in which he succeeded, and thus could only abide by it.

At some point, he became a slave to that future.

He became a cold, mechanical Bomberman.

After setting some bombs off in a parking structure,

he was killed by a certain cold-blooded murderer.

There were two victims from the explosions in that parking structure.

One was a man, who sustained\Nlight injuries protecting his daughter.

The other was not caught in the blast,

yet his right eye was injured and blinded.

A 14-year-old boy.

Kuramitsu Meruka is...

not of this world anymore.

I suppose there's greater worth in\Nbuilding something up than breaking it down.

Then that's that!

Don't you worry, lady!

He could do with a bit more drive,

but Mitsuru-san's super reliable when he gets serious!

Hold on.

I know the young man's name,

but I haven't heard yours yet.

Mana.

Ryougi Mana, ma'am.

You're a wonderful fortune teller.

My mother...

No,

my father thanks you for it!

Oh, I see.

These things happen, I suppose.

Go in good health, now.

Though you didn't need me to tell you that.

And you take care too.

I hope you lead a healthy, old lady life.

Time to go, Mitsuru-san.

First we have my mother to deal with, don't we?

I have to start at the last boss first, huh?

The story in which I was the protagonist\Nended ten years ago,

but it seems I can still play a minor role in another.

So the story continues, my path\Nfraught with danger and full of hope.

My destination may be hazy,

but I can see it clearly in the present, with my left eye.

January, 1996

A midnight tryst.

A moonlit wandering.

A meeting with a murderer at a crossroads.

If I disappear, she can live happily.

Death doesn't scare me.

Other things do.

The blue of the midday sky.

The sunset after school.

Things like that.

Welcome.

Care to look at your future, young man?

Oh? How interesting.

Gimme my fortune.

Go on. Tell me what you read.

How do I avoid the terrible future that awaits me?

I suppose futures like yours actually exist.

I'm sorry.

You're going to die.

No matter what you do or try to do,

you do not have a future per se.

Color me surprised.

You're the real thing.

I am sorry about this.

What?

You're done, aren't you?

My future's pure shit, right?

It's not like I was looking for a way out.

In fact, it's a load off my shoulders.

I'll leave peaceably, but not because of your fortune.

No, that's not it.

You will die no matter what, that's for sure,

but a future like yours is quite unusual indeed.

Huh?

You'll soon disappear.

Your outlook is bleak, and your future helpless.

Not a trace of you will remain,\Nnor a helping hand extended.

And yet, strangely enough,\N\hdespite the doom and gloom...

Your dream will live on.

Goodbye, lady. I hope you live a long life.

These streets are dangerous at night.

They're no place for the elderly.

Despite the doom and gloom,\Nmy dream will live on, huh?

I see.

That's nice, then.

My outlook is bleak?

Seems like it's always that way for me.

Mirai wa kimi ni yasashii darou ka

Tell me, will the future be kind to you?

Midori no ame ga kimi wo nurasu made

Till you sing in the rains of summer

Massugu ni

Keep faith {Tell me}

Massugu ni

Keep faith {Will you keep faith}

Yukeru darou ka

Tell me, will you go forth? {And go on forth}

Nakeru darou ka

Tell me, will the tears burst forth?

Subete ga shizukani

Till the day all creation

Moeru hi made

Smolders silently in the sun

Areruya

Alleluia

Inori wa doko ni mo

Our prayers are lost

Todokazu kieusete

No ears to hear them, so they fade

Bokura wa uzukumatta mama

Cowering in the darkness

Yoake wo yarisugoshite

We wait for dawn to pass us over

Akarui hou e

To follow its fire trail

Akarui hou e

To follow its fire trail

Kitto mogaite

You can bet we'll crawl

Nandomo naite

You can bet we'll cry

Bokura wa yuku

But we'll still go forth

Bokura wa yuku

But we'll still go forth

Konna chiisana kimi no te wo totte

Little one, here, take my hand

Itai hodo no

A blinding

Kagayaki ga atte

Light hangs above us

Shiawase no kioku dake

And so we wish to leave behind

Nokoshitai to negainagara

Only a history of happiness and fortune

Yasashiku muimi ni

Till the day we

Kieru hi made

Slip into gentle nothingness

Areruya

Alleluia

Subete no inochi ga

All creation will soon

Utau toki ga kuru tte

Break out in song

Shinjite

Have faith

Ame no naka de ryoute

As the rain pours down

Furikazashite odotte

Raise your hands and dance

Waratterunda

The world's smiling

Waratteyou yo

Come smile with it

Namida no umi de

Swim through the ocean of tears

Nuki te wo kitte

Strong and fast

Mirai e yuku

To the future

Mirai e yuku

To the future

Chiisana inochi wo

You can do it, little one

Furishibotte

Be strong now

Furishibotte

Be strong, now

Furishibotte

Be strong, now

Furishibotte

Be strong, now

Kimi no mirai e

Forge your own future

Areruya

Alleluia

Areruya

Alleluia

Areruya

Alleluia