Original subtitles

Very soon, I will finish my life happy.

So, I'm still alive.

Huh?

Schedule notes.

On today's page, 1 entry has been input.

10 AM. August 17th. Showa-dori Intersection.

An entry you don't recall?

Yeah.

I have absolutely no memory of it, but it was entered into my IP device.

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

10 AM Showa-dori Intersection

Mon.

Tues.

Wed.

I see. How strange.

That's in about two and a half hours.

Some Grandpa from a parallel world probably came and input it.

That might be it, actually.

That, or you've gone so senile that you forgot you put it in there yourself, Grandpa.

Ai!

I'd say that's the far more likely possibility.

So? Are you going?

That's a good question.

It does read like a promise, or something.

I don't think you should go, Grandpa.

Why?

'Cause you'll only realize you really have gone senile.

Ai, that's quite enough.

And the chilled chocolate is a treat you get at 3 PM.

I thought you were studying in your room until lunch?

Which is why I need some barley tea as a study buddy.

So, kids these days already know the term "parallel world" in elementary school.

Supposedly, they learn it in the early grades.

Eri-san mentioned it.

Is that so...

Why not go?

Aren't you curious?

If you go there, you might remember something.

That's true. And it's in the neighborhood.

I'll be back in a bit.

Yes, dear. Be careful.

Hold on.

Your hat. I'll go get it.

Oh, that one's fine.

This one?

Please wait until the traffic signal changes.

Tell me, dear. Why are you standing there?

It's dangerous.

You came for me?

Yeah. I'm here.

The light is changing. Please exit the crosswalk.

Take care not to stop in the middle of crossing.

Please wait until the traffic signal changes.

Please wait until the traffic signal changes.

Did I Parallel Shift?

Display IEPP.

An error?

Where am I?

To Every You I've Loved Before

To Every You I've Loved Before

From the moment they're born, people make countless choices.

The worlds with the option you didn't choose are alternate realities.

In other words, parallel worlds.

And their existence has now been demonstrated.

Moving into a parallel world is called Parallel Shifting.

That said, it's not your physical body that does the moving.

Your consciousness, termed your imaginality, trades places.

Small Parallel Shifts are an everyday occurrence,

but you basically never notice.

When you can't find something where you left it,

but then it's there when you double-check,

it's often because of a small Parallel Shift.

If we say your original world is "0",

you Shifted from world 0, where you left the item there, to world 1, where you didn't,

then Shifted back to 0.

The farther from 0 you go, the greater the difference in the tangible world.

You might have a different occupation tha n you did in world 0, or a different spouse.

Still, they're all worlds that your choices can lead to.

The first time I made a major choice was when I was 7.

Between Dad...

Or Mom...

Who do you wanna go with?

I no longer remember where or how exactly they said it.

But that was essentially the situation.

I wonder how I felt, and what I said.

Even after my parents' divorce,

several times a month we'd all go on outings together.

But, once fun time was over,

we'd leave my dad, and I'd go with my mom back to her childhood home.

Her home was large but very old.

"It was already ancient when your old Grandpa was a kid."

Old enough for my grandpa to say that.

Despite there being no second floor, it had two entryways,

but it wasn't a two-family home.

The one in front is only ever opened during New Year and on special days.

Normally, we just use the smaller one in the back.

We lived there with my grandfather, my grandmother, and a big dog.

The pond in the inner yard didn't have fish or turtles,

and most of the rooms were empty.

The only things it had in excess were empty space and ceilings.

Koyomi, where'd you get that?

Dad bought it for me last time I saw him.

It's my present for my eighth birthday!

Yuno.

Bang.

You're too young to have this.

It says for ages 10 and up.

Yeah...

But the other kids have them, too.

You don't need to copy bad stuff from the other kids.

Grandpa!

Koyomi, is something wrong?

I'm never talking to Grandpa again!

Mom.

Yes, dear?

Can I take Yuno for her walk?

Go ahead. But come back early so you can get ready for the wake.

Yuno?

Geez...

You can't just take off.

Hey! Yuno!

Stop, Yuno!

Wait! W—

Hey. Can you open this?

Open this lid.

Thanks.

Hey, wait a second!

Imaginary Science Research Institute

Imaginary Science...

This is where Dad works.

U-Um! Um, excuse me, ma'am?

Excuse me. Could I borrow your phone?

I was really surprised to get a call from you all of a sudden.

You could have just called your dad since you were at the Institute.

I don't have Dad's cell phone number, though.

You had mine?

I don't have it. I know it. I call it all the time.

What are you talking about? You're a goofball.

Koyomi, what are you doing?

Um, nothing. I'm coming.

I'm home. Koyomi's visiting.

Visiting?

Hey there, Koyomi.

Is Mom in the kitchen?

She is.

It's been a while. Tell me, how've you been?

I'm in a different world.

If I'd known I could've made something special!

Not that you ever need to call us first. This is your home, too, Koyomi.

This is a world where I chose to go with my dad.

And it's a world where Grandpa's still alive.

Right?

Right.

That's right. Come by any time.

Now then, I think I'll go give Yuno her supper.

I'll come with you.

You will?

Let's both go, then.

Yuno, Koyomi came to see us today.

Grandpa.

Ah, Koyomi.

What is it?

Can I sleep in your room with you tonight?

Yes, of course you can.

That reminds me.

Is this the first time you've visited since you turned eight?

So Yuno's gone.

Yeah.

There's no way we could make it so she's alive again?

Unfortunately, that's not possible. The dead can't come back to life.

Grandpa, I'm sorry.

I never got to say sorry after our fight.

Our fight?

Did we have a fight the last time you came over?

Did your old Grandpa scold you for something?

Even when that happens, it doesn't mean Grandpa doesn't love you.

Don't worry.

Really? How come?

How do I explain it?

Would you rather be sad yourself, or for someone else to be sad?

Well, I mean... I don't wanna be sad.

Right. And everyone's like that.

So, because of a momentary mood or whatever other reasons,

people do things that make others sad.

Usually, they only realize their mistake later,

and wonder why they ever did those things.

But at that point, they can't fix it,

so they suffer the pain of that sadness over and over.

It's truly a difficult thing to go through.

So you see, your old Grandpa

is only trying to help you avoid that based on his own experiences.

Because Grandpa loves you.

Because you love me?

Yup, it sure is.

But y'know, your old Grandpa makes mistakes sometimes, too.

So in the end, what you do is for you to decide, Koyomi.

You're going to experience all sorts of things.

You might encounter situations where nobody knows what might happen.

That's just how plentiful the choices you have are.

Choices...

Then my grandfather explained the significance of possibilities to me,

but at that age, I couldn't really wrap my head around it.

It's even hard for your Grandpa to figure out a simple explanation.

You're bright, Koyomi,

so once you get it, make sure you can explain it clearly to others.

Okay.

Even when you mess up, your old Grandpa will never hate you.

So even when Grandpa occasionally makes a mistake of his own,

don't go hating him immediately, okay?

I love you, too, Grandpa.

Good morning.

Mom?

What is it?

Where's Grandpa?

The funeral people made him look really nice,

and now he's resting in the main hall.

Is something wrong?

Mom, yesterday I...

There's no reason to feel embarrassed.

This is a tough time.

It's perfectly normal to want some company.

Okay.

Now, let's get ready.

We've gotta give Grandpa a proper sendoff.

The man in my grandfather's altar photo wore a stern expression,

and looked nothing like the same, mellow man from the previous night.

The thin-looking man in the coffin didn't look like the picture, either.

I brought fresh water.

Thanks.

Put it down there.

Now, take a look in the top section of that tall cabinet.

Okay.

Be careful, honey.

Yes, Grandma.

Mom, look.

Oh my. I'm amazed he saved this.

What do we do with it?

Well, it's not like we need to completely empty this room out,

so let's put it back and...

Happy 10th birthday, Koyomi. Don't point this at people or animals.

-Grandpa

-Grandpa

In that moment, the three versions of my grandfather finally merged together,

becoming a single person in my mind.

This was the first incident where I became conscious of parallel worlds.

The Yuno in my world died of old age 2 years later

and now rests in the same place I saw in that other world.

Imaginary Science Research Institute

"We have demonstrated the existence of parallel worlds."

It was Japan's Imaginary Science Research Institute that first announced that.

As in, the research facility where my father works.

The research done by him and his colleagues garnered global attention.

Perhaps thanks to having a brilliant father,

my grades were abnormally good, even if I never did much studying.

Still, having abnormally good grades

basically translates to isolation in adolescence.

At least, that's how I thought at the time.

Koyomi, could it be you don't have very many friends?

That's how my mother put it. But that was incorrect.

In middle school, I didn't have a single friend.

So I swore to myself

that in high school I would make friends.

And so, when I was asked to give the entrance ceremony speech

due to having the highest entrance exam scores,

I politely declined.

That way, I wouldn't draw attention to myself.

I wholeheartedly planned to make friends.

But reality was not so obliging.

Prior Academic Year University Entrance Ex National & Public University Pas

University of Tokyo Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Tokyo Institute of Technology Hitotsubashi University Ochanomizu University Tohoku University Nagoya University

At that top class feeder school, the atmosphere was not at all friendly,

and my high school life hurtled yet again toward lonely choices.

Koyomi.

What're you ignoring me for, Koyomi?

Huh? Uh, um... Takigawa-san?

Um, by "Koyomi," do you mean me?

Who else is there?

I'm not angry anymore.

Huh?

If you still want to apologize, I'll hear it on the way home.

Oh—

Um, h-hold on a moment, Takigawa-san!

What was with you just now? Why are you calling me that?

Huh?

I hate that way of doing things.

Um... is something wrong, Takigawa-san?

Something's definitely off.

It's true that it's felt like we're on different pages lately,

but for you to act like this, it's not like you, Koyo—

My apologies.

Excuse me, got a sec?

Was there something else?

I need to talk to you. It's for real.

I'll explain everything, so come with me.

Huh?

Karaoke?

You can sit down.

Okay.

Do you know what this is?

Huh?

Um, it's... not a watch, huh?

Have you heard of an IP device?

More or less. It's a device that displays which parallel world you're in, right?

If I remember right, they're still in the development stage,

and researchers in imaginary science or similar fields are doing the testing.

My dad is one of those researchers.

Oh, my dad also works at the—

I know.

I see...

Good. You have the same level of knowledge as the Koyomi in my world.

"My world"?

Um... So then, uh...

the Takigawa-san I'm talking to...

From your perspective, I came from the world that is a distance of 85 away.

What?

Basically, I hadn't realized I had Parallel Shifted

when I called out to you, Koyomi— I mean, Takasaki-kun.

You can drink that. Aren't you thirsty?

B-But um, why call out to me?

My boyfriend, you mean?

I see.

So, what's my relationship to this boyfriend?

Me? Your boyfriend?!

B-By "boyfriend," you mean we're like, dating and everything?

You're a regular Sherlock.

So then, have we, um...

You could really use some tact.

I'm sorry.

Ugh.

This just throws me off!

You're totally different from my Koyomi!

Sorry.

The Koyomi I know is more put-together and dependable...

Dependable?

That's right!

When I was about to be attacked by a wild dog, you saved me, didn't you?

A wild dog?

When?

Forget it.

Um...

Just to confirm, you are Koyomi Takasaki, aren't you?

Well...

I'm Koyomi Takasaki all the time, not just when someone's asking.

But I can't really help it if I'm different from your Koyomi.

Since 85 should be quite far away,

shouldn't we be almost entirely different people?

I'm not so sure.

Well, I mean, I don't know the you here at all,

and the one over there doesn't—

"One over there"? Which one of us is that?

Oh, the Takigawa-san from here, who's over there...

This is irritating.

Huh?

All this "here" and "there" stuff.

Can't we just distinguish ourselves with first and last names?

The us from this world will be Takasaki-kun and Takigawa-san.

The us from my world will be Koyomi and Kazune.

Which would mean...

It's, um... okay for me to call you Kazune? Wait, is it?

Yeah. What's the issue?

I take it that's what Koyomi calls you, right?

For me to address you the same way he does, it just feels kinda...

It's just a name to use.

Besides, I am who I am.

Well, if you're okay with it... Kazune.

To get back on track,

an IP device reads an imaginality's Imaginary Elements Print

and represents it as a number.

Right.

It replaces the number of splits with an expression of distance.

A Parallel Shift distance of 85 is quite far, isn't it?

But until I spoke to you after school, Takasaki-kun,

I didn't notice a Shift had occurred.

That's how similar our worlds are. They just don't seem 85 apart.

Which got me thinking...

Among the many worlds derived from two worlds that were far apart at first,

maybe a series of splits toward the same direction occurred,

and then two coincidentally similar worlds were produced.

The paths they took were different, but they arrived in the same place...

Sort of like fluctuations?

This presupposes that imaginality behaves similarly to physical matter, though.

If so, then what happens next is...

Convergence.

The two worlds would overlap each other...

Wait, the two worlds would've traced different histories,

so I guess that wouldn't happen.

Like binary stars, they could influence each other and remain equidistant...

and continue in the same direction. Like that?

The fundamental model of Imaginary Science likens parallel worlds to bubbles in water.

If we follow that model,

the two bubbles would circle each other as they ascend in the same direction.

Something like that.

But right now, you and Koyomi are totally different...

Maybe this is over-thinking things,

but could there be some reason why Takigawa-san and I

underwent a distance-85 Shift?

The ability to keep the two bubbles from separating...

What do you make of that?

Well, for instance, Takigawa-san—

I mean, Kazune dating me is an option.

As in me dating you, Takasaki-kun?

Oh—

S-Sorry!

My bad. That's too much of a leap.

No, wait, I mean... I got confused...

I don't really like-like you, Takasaki-kun.

Right. Duh.

But, I do adore Koyomi,

so it might be a possibility for Takigawa-san to like-like you, too, Takasaki-kun.

There should be a path of choices for you to reach that point as well.

Well, if you're interested, go for it.

I don't know what will happen, but let's keep this a secret for now.

I'd prefer to avoid a fuss.

And let's leave here separately.

Yeah. Good point.

I'll pay.

You're a guest here, Kazune.

An amusing way to look at it.

Thanks.

Once we leave, act naturally. Go about life the same as before.

Yeah. Naturally. Got it.

That's right. Go with the flow.

Well, who knows if I'll see you tomorrow.

Huh?

Oh. Yeah.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

With those final words,

the Takigawa-san I'd never seen before, "Kazune" from world 85 and I parted ways.

Parallel world 85...

The next day, she came to school like any other day.

But,

was it Kazune?

Or was it Takigawa-san?

With a distance as large as 85, there had to be some difference in demeanor.

But the way she carried herself only read as "Kazune" to me.

Of course, I'd never even said hello to Takigawa-san before,

so I had no point of comparison for how different they might be.

And the next day,

and the next day after that, and the next next day after that,

I saw her, of course.

Except I didn't speak to her.

I couldn't.

Her world had its own version of me.

Another me, not the one here now.

In that world,

she and I were apparently going out as boyfriend and girlfriend.

The other... me and her...

Cigarettes Liquor

Hey, so...

is it possible to go to, or return to, a particular parallel world?

Theoretically, yes, it's possible.

And in actuality we're currently researching Optional Shifting,

meaning Shifting to an arbitrary world.

You are? So then—

However, that doesn't mean the technology is established.

I expect it'll take... 10 more years to reach practical realization.

I see... Thanks.

Me too. Talk to you soon.

10 years, huh?

Morning, Kazune.

Kazune?

That's Takigawa-san.

So Kazune made it home.

Takigawa-san

Hey. Sorry for calling you here.

Then this was...

Yeah.

Well, come on in and sit down.

Want something to drink?

No.

Oh, wanna sing something?

Excuse me?

Erm, never mind...

Um, so... I'll just get straight to the point.

Like I wrote in the note,

you were in parallel world 85 for a while recently, right?

Yes.

So then, um...

How was it?

What do you mean?

Erm, well, um...

With the me over there...

No, forget it. Sorry.

How were things here?

Huh? Right.

Yeah.

I had a talk here. With Kazune.

Kazune?

Oh, sorry!

If you don't like it, I'll stop.

No. It doesn't bother me.

Could I see the menu?

Uh, yeah. Sure.

Here.

What was your impression?

Huh?

Of... that "Kazune."

I guess that Kazune was in love with Koyomi.

In love?

Yeah.

Oh, but I don't mean with me, of course.

By "Koyomi" I mean the one from that world, the Koyomi Takasaki of world 85.

Is that so?

Yeah. It is.

Look, I'm not saying it's a good reason, but...

Takigawa-san, w-would...

would you be f-friends with me?

Be... friends?

Uh, yeah.

Takigawa-san!

Takigawa-san?

S-So... you go with... "friends" there?

Huh?

Hey, take a look.

Huh?

Ka-Kazune?!

Y-You tricked me!

And here I was, being happy for you for getting to go back to your world!

You've got it all wrong.

The thing is...

See?

A sticker?

Pretty well-made, right?

Um, uh, so this means...

Meaning, I was never off in any parallel world from the start.

I've been the Kazune Takigawa of this world the whole time.

There never was a Kazune 85.

Wh-Why?

Why do all that?

To get back at you.

To get back at me?

Because you forgot about me.

Huh?

As I was saying, you had the top entrance exam scores,

yet you declined the ceremony speech, right?

Uh, yeah... I did.

The student who gave the speech instead of you

was me.

Was it?

See? You don't even remember!

I was so proud of myself.

But I didn't actually earn it.

How could I let that go?!

Um, I don't suppose that's the whole reason you wanted to get back at me?

It's how a person would react normally.

I don't think they would, normally.

Look, I just wanted to avoid standing out.

I guess it caused a problem...

What's this for?

Reconciliation.

I feel better after laughing that hard.

Thanks.

Kazune.

Yes?

W-Would you go out with me?

No.

Huh?

I told you before.

I like Koyomi. He's a more dependable person.

So my answer to Takasaki-kun

is no!

And thus my very first confession of feelings...

Keep things like before and don't say hi when you see me.

...ended in spectacular failure.

What's even going on here? Man...

Nevertheless, even though she said not to even greet her,

it was Kazune who first struck up our next conversation.

What is it?

This.

95, eh? You were really close.

Not that.

First-Years First Semester Mid-term Exam Answer Sheet Math I

This question.

The teacher said only you got it, Takasaki-kun.

Oh? Huh.

Tell me.

Why were you the only one not fooled by the tricky question?

It wasn't tricky so much as something not covered yet in class.

Really?

Yeah.

Except, if you expand the previous concepts...

Perhaps her previous prank hadn't been enough,

because she started competing with me in everything.

But I don't know whether to call her methods forceful, or meek.

Oh.

I see it now.

Thanks.

Whoa, she was kinda cool.

Huh?

Takasaki-kun.

You didn't get a 100 on the Classical Japanese test.

Need any advice?

For that, I don't really...

I knew it!

You weren't trying.

You need to take it seriously!

Why?

I don't really get why,

but during lunch or after school

Kazune and I started little semi-study sessions.

At the beginning I was distrustful,

but when all is said and done, I was happy to get to talk with her,

so I started participating in earnest, too.

Our study sessions became a great source of joy for me,

but perhaps it looked like the two top students were pushing each other farther,

because our classmates gradually joined us,

and just like that, our private bubble was popped.

"Ugh, if you wanna raise your grades, go to a cram school."

I had that thought a few times, to be honest.

Still, the study sessions spurred the class to talk to each other more,

and in part because everyone's grades went up,

the mood in the classroom became increasingly congenial.

I even found people I could call friends.

But still, even after we got close...

Well, we all know Takasaki lacks a human heart.

They'd occasionally say stuff like that.

And with Kazune...

"You really need a sense of tact."

...was a frequent refrain.

Basically, they said I didn't have a human heart,

and therefore I was unable to be considerate.

What's more, you have absolutely no awareness of it.

That couldn't be true.

During high school, with my friends' collaboration

—well, more amusement-motivated help—

I confessed to Kazune.

Kazune.

What is it?

I think you already know, but, I really do like you.

Will you—

No.

I don't have a human heart? Could they be any more wrong?

Kazune wouldn't engage at all,

and even breezily sidestepped my confession on graduation day.

I enrolled at the first university in the world

to establish an imaginary science department.

And so did Kazune.

By the way,

there's something I want to ask you.

What is it?

Wanna go out?

Sure. Where to?

And so, we started going out.

An unexpected error occurred. Program halted. Error Code (S0108)

Kazune fundamentally maintained her silent, cool, brilliant style,

but when we were alone, she'd make jokes or be more sweet and vulnerable.

But, she'd often get angry for reasons I didn't understand,

and as a result, our relationship was often on-again off-again.

Ta-ka-sa-ki!

Morning.

Morning.

You look sleepy.

Yeah. I am sleepy.

Your hair!

Imaginary Science Research Institute

Imaginary Science Research Institute

After graduating, we both joined the Imaginary Science Research Institute,

where my father served as Deputy Director.

What's wrong?

Hmm.

You've been here before.

Huh?

Multiple times, between the tours and interviews.

Oh, right. That's true.

At this time, IP devices were just on the verge of practical realization,

but they were occasionally malfunctioning.

The first team we joined was assigned to improve their reliability.

I think this will work.

I think so, too.

This is pretty good.

Actually, it's perfect.

Thanks for letting me use this.

Calligraphy pens are pretty easy to use, huh?

It's eyeliner.

Eyeli—

Are you actually gonna tell me you never noticed?

Do you have a moment?

Sure!

The input on smart phones is time-consuming,

and the small screen makes it hard to see the entire formula.

So, what'd your mom say?

You mean about the dry cleaning bill? I'll cover it.

No need.

Oh, I see. Sorry.

I'll pay you back for the shirt.

It's fine.

The idea Kazune and I had drastically improved IP device performance.

Due to that, it was discovered

that people routinely Shift to extremely close parallel worlds with no awareness.

The devices were even distributed to general testers,

and the collection of further data began.

Please do me the honor of marrying me.

You got an aquamarine.

Yeah. I heard it's the birthstone for March.

This is well done for you, Koyomi.

Something wrong? It's the left ring finger.

Thank you.

Why say that? It's the beginning, not the end.

To our wonderful future.

I guess it's a little cold now for having a beer outside.

Is it?

Hmm, well, I do think it'd be nice to have a glass.

Also, there's supposed to be a nifty view here at night.

But it looks like I got the time wrong.

Now that's much more like you, Takasaki-kun.

What do you mean by that?

I'll look forward to seeing that view.

Okay?

Is something wrong?

I don't see my bag.

Other side.

What?

That's strange.

I could swear I put it on my right.

Sorry. Where were we?

How far back should I go?

I suddenly had this thought.

Was it "Kazune 0" who accepted the ring?

Was I "0" at the time?

Come in.

Koyomi Takasaki, sir, it's time.

No IP device.

Yeah. You, too.

Yes.

Who exactly will I be marrying?

As research on parallel worlds advanced,

parallel worlds communicated with each other.

Consequently, the world quantum computerized,

and not just imaginary science, but all science and tech development accelerated.

At the same time, the front entryway at my home opened twice in quick succession,

making things pretty lonely.

But we also welcomed new family.

What color?

Orange!

Look, right here.

Oh, there it is.

What are you drawing?

I dunno.

You don't know what it is?

Nope.

I don't know what it's called, but it was cool.

Oh, I see.

Where did you see it?

Um, well... I went to see it with Papa one day.

Where?

I don't know.

It's a secret.

Oh? Where is it?

It's a secret!

Hey, tell Mommy!

I'm not telling!

Mama, I'm trying to draw!

Come on, tell me!

Coochie-coochie-coo!

Sorry to interrupt the fun, but we'd better get going.

Get this. Ryou won't tell me what place he's drawing.

Papa, you'll know!

It's a place you like.

Hmm, I'm not sure.

Well, it's not finished yet.

Okay, time to get going.

Aww.

Can I draw a little more first?

Please!

What if...

just for today, we leave the crayons out?

We aren't picking up?

That way you can go back to drawing as soon as you get home.

Okay!

Make sure not to step on them, okay?

I know.

Incredible!

The grounds contain low-illumination areas for the purposes of the exhibit.

"Fantastical Zoo" is a work of moving monumental sculpture by Claire Udesky.

The names of the individual works are...

The line's not moving. Looks like it'll take a little longer.

Maybe five or ten minutes.

Where are you right now?

The hill in the central plaza.

By the fog whatchamacallit.

Kazune?

Hello?

Run!

Ryou? Ryou!

Ryou, I'm over here!

Mama!

Ryou!

What's wrong?

Nothing, I just had a nightmare.

It's no wonder after what happened.

Yeah.

But it's all right.

There's nothing to worry about now.

That's true.

They even apprehended the guy at the scene.

I'm just glad Ryou is okay.

And all thanks to you tackling the guy, Koyomi.

I seemed kinda cool, right?

I guess I've managed to be more like Kazune's version of me.

Huh?

Remember? What you said way back when.

That the Koyomi you knew was a more dependable person.

I'm so glad that nothing happened to you and Ryou.

Kazune...

It's not healthy to let this keep a grip on us,

so I think we should try to get back to normal.

How do you feel about starting kindergarten again next week?

I wanna go!

I wanna go to school!

No!

What'll we do if we let him out and something happens?!

It's okay.

Mama's not angry. Right?

Did I startle you?

I'm sorry, honey.

Oh, hey. What do you want for lunch?

Huh? Mama, we just ate breakfast.

They're gonna crash!

I'm off to work.

Have a good day, Papa!

Be safe.

Anything I should grab on the way home?

Let's see...

I think we're good.

Can I fly the Flying Humanoid outside through the window?

The wind will carry it off and it'll get lost.

What?

See, I told you.

Hey, Ryou. Remember your drawing?

You don't want to finish it?

I don't remember what I was gonna draw.

How's Kazune-kun?

Immediately after, she was calmer than I was,

and I thought, "That's so like her."

But for the past three days, it's like...

she won't leave Ryou's side even for a moment.

Well, that was quite a thing to go through.

Isn't that a natural reaction for a mother?

I suppose so...

But...

Don't worry too much.

You're okay because you protected Ryou,

but if you hadn't, who knows how you'd react?

If I hadn't?

Pardon me. Do you have a moment?

What is it?

Deputy Director, I need to speak with you.

We received an emergency message from the Imaginary Science Agency.

Emergency?

Regarding the newly established Shift Monitoring Office.

The relative SIP value is 22 plus 10?

The issue is the Shift distance.

I'm going to leave early today.

Stop, Koyomi.

Apparently an unauthorized Optional Shift targeting Kazune-kun has been confirmed.

An Optional Shift.

A Shift where a magnetic device is used to artificially cause a Parallel Shift

and swap into a designated parallel world.

Kazune

Calling

Optional Shifting experiments began to be conducted

over 10 years ago at the Institute,

but even back then, oversight authorities

had already mandated filings to conduct an experiment.

Optional Shifting poses a variety of problems.

One of which is the possibility of it being used for crime.

This goes without saying,

but your family's safety is the top priority.

Still, depending on the outcome,

the impact on the academic world and society will be large.

We must proceed carefully.

What concerned us in this case was a different, more complicated problem.

I'm home.

Kazune, it's me.

Ryou, I'm coming in.

You aren't cold out here?

Papa!

I bought these on the way.

I want the cocoa!

That fact that you're here means you knew what the picture was.

No, I figured it out this morning.

I didn't know before, really.

Oh.

At that point we were still in the same world.

Should I open your cocoa?

I'll have it later.

Okay.

I'll put it here, then.

Okay.

I brought this for Mama.

Taking this off this doesn't mean your Optional Shift won't be noticed.

It wasn't a logical choice.

I hated that it wouldn't show 0.

You're risking an identity diffusion.

"Identity diffusion."

If a split occurs while you're Shifting to a far-off world,

you get even farther from your original world.

Also, from the perspective of the consciousness you swapped with,

there ends up being two points of return,

and every action causes complicated splits.

Let's go straight to the Institute and—

No!

I'm never leaving my son again!

You aren't the Kazune of this world.

I finally found him!

No.

He isn't "your" Ryou.

Your...

Your world's Ryou is...

Where's Mama?

Hey, tell me. Where'd Mama go?

I have to face it.

You aren't my Ryou anymore, are you?

Only the one who died is my Ryou.

My legs...

wouldn't move!

I was too scared...

I couldn't save him!

I'm sorry, Ryou.

I couldn't protect you...

I'm so sorry!

Ryou, pick up your crayons.

Okay. But...

Make sure not to step on them, okay?

Okay.

It's not your fault.

It is my fault!

I killed him!

And Koyomi must think that, too!

He doesn't think that. I promise you.

You don't get it!

You got to go down the happy path!

How could you possibly...

Maybe I don't.

But, I can tell.

Because no matter what path, I'm still me.

Right now, I'm waiting, hoping for Kazune to come back to me.

So I'm sure that the me in your world is waiting for you to return, too.

Look!

They turned on!

Did you see?

The lights turned on!

It's pretty, isn't it?

Mr. Hidaka, what's that?

Ah, yes. We're making a clone of the IP device for investigation.

I finished it!

Hey! Come back. You can't come in here.

It's all right.

It's not a problem.

This is for you.

This is what I wanted to see.

Thank you.

Kazune.

Well then... Take care of yourself.

You could really use a sense of tact.

Sorry.

"It's not fair." That's what it looked like she said.

Why not us, too?

Starting Optional Shift protocol.

Vitals normal.

Magnetic field set up.

Beginning Optional Shift.

Optional Shift complete.

Vitals look good, but brain waves a little weak.

At the time, an IP Capsule could only be operated from the outside.

I'm reasonably certain that Kazune 13's collaborator was me 13.

They were probably driven from academia over this incident.

Having lost both Ryou and their research,

they would have to find another way to live.

Because of the identity diffusion, this person was no longer 0 numerically.

Her world had split, so when she Shifted back,

she split into two people and ceased to be 0 numerically.

But there was no one closer to 0 than her.

From her frame of reference, Ryou and I weren't 0.

I once had someone talk to me about the significance of possibilities,

but as an elementary schooler, I didn't get it.

Okay.

He said it was my homework.

Except it seemed like he didn't have a clear answer himself.

Wait, really?

I still haven't found my answer.

But, I do know I love possibilities.

In trying to find the answer, I ended up loving them.

This is about love?

Regarding people, I want my love to also encompass their possibilities.

Love that encompasses... their possibilities?

Every part of them, in their entirety,

including possibilities for both happiness and sadness.

There must be as many possibilities for sadness as for happiness...

As I see it, as long as we're alive, we'll go from one to the other in turn.

For example, let's say there were 100 worlds with 100 of me and 100 of you.

I'm sure the 100 me's would love the 100 you's.

Whether life was happy or sad.

In each individual world, each individual me loves Kazune.

Kazune, I—

I love every you, too.

I love the you that saved me from the wild dog, and the you that didn't.

Huh? What are you talking about?

Oh, nothing.

After that, we peacefully grew old,

and went from being called "Mom" and "Dad" to "Grandpa" and "Grandma."

Out of the people close to us, the older ones departed one after the other,

but the front entryway of my home never opened for anything but the New Year.

However, apparently it will soon.

And the one who leaves through it will be me.

It was just before my granddaughter Ai turned ten

that the doctors broke the news to us.

Kazune didn't say anything.

Strangely, I felt calm.

Well, good night, dear.

Good night.

I didn't want to burden my family,

but partly at Ryou and Eri-san's suggestion,

I decided to spend my final days in the familiar surroundings of my home.

Kazune Takasaki-sama

"Kazune Takasaki-sama. Greetings.

My name is Kazune Takigawa.

I must start with an apology.

I am sorry for Optional Shifting like this.

I'm currently borrowing your hands to write this letter.

The truth is, there is something I badly wish to ask of you.

In order to do so,

I need to tell you my story.

The story of me and my world's Koyomi, Koyomi Hidaka.

This might be end up being a long letter, but please bear with me to the end."

Koyomi Hidaka and I are not married.

Imaginary Science Research Institute

We spent many years together, always as research partners.

Entrance Ceremony

The point of divergence between your world and ours

appears to be which of his divorced parents he chose to live with when he was seven.

It was when I was in high school that I met Koyomi Hidaka.

Entrance Ceremony

He talked to no one and was frequently absent,

yet had the highest grades. It got on my nerves.

I unilaterally viewed him as my rival.

So when I learned he wouldn't be attending college,

I felt somehow relieved, and somehow lonely...

a complicated bundle of feelings.

Looking back on it now, my attitude might have been more than simple rivalry.

First Semester Exams

Hidaka Koyomi

Takigawa Kazune

Whatever the case,

I eventually joined the Research Institute, where our paths crossed again.

News

Latest Technology

Research Studies

Opinion

Data Science

The Inevitable Event Radius

(Imaginary Science Research Institute)

I suppose that's a misleading way to put it.

I joined the Research Institute specifically to see him.

Before long, he offered me an opportunity to join him in his secret research.

Research into time travel.

I was taken aback.

It all seemed so ridiculous and lacking in common sense.

I imagine you understand why.

At first, I thought it was a joke.

The best attempt at a joke

that the Institute's biggest eccentric could muster.

But, he wasn't the type of person who could tell jokes.

I was witnessing him at his most heartfelt and earnest.

As for why, it was because time travel

was the sole way to save the ghost of the intersection.

This ghost was his young sweetheart.

Beds Bedding

Adjustable Beds

A certain accident untethered her imaginality from her body,

and she became a ghost at the intersection.

"It's my fault,"

he told me.

And that thought alone

drove him to continue his research to save her from that intersection.

Looking at him, he seemed...

I don't know, but somehow tinged with madness.

But in another light, he looked just so incredibly pure and pitiful...

It felt just like looking at a small, crying boy.

And the answer this man had arrived at

was time travel.

Of course, not physical time travel,

but time travel in the imaginary world.

That is to say, Time Shifting.

Time Shifting...

Just you wait!

I swear I'll save you!

You've done enough for me, Koyomi-kun.

A whole lot of time has passed now, hasn't it?

Shiori?

Only for me...

For you to be living your life solely for me...

That isn't what I want.

What are you saying?

I promised, remember?

I'd help you no matter what.

Koyomi and I spent decades investigating Time Shifting,

and at last we discovered a way to do it.

We also discovered Koyomi would be left brain dead as a result.

I swear, he can be so self-centered, so self-righteous,

so inconsiderate of his impact on others...

Well, I suppose I'm the only one who will suffer an impact, but still...

Regardless, his determination didn't waver, no matter the cost to him.

I wasn't taken aback that time.

As I could have predicted, it was just...

a jerk giving no thought to me being left behind.

In that case, why not follow through to the end, right?

It was that kind of stubbornness,

and the knowledge that I was the only one who could....

We carefully selected a destination for the Time Shift.

That destination was this world, your world.

Koyomi wouldn't say a word about what happened between them.

He only repeated that the accident wouldn't happen

in a world where they never met.

I'm sorry you had to wait so long.

What do you mean?

We met as kids and you suffered your accident...

It's been six decades since then.

It's truly been a long time.

Koyomi-kun?

Shiori,

this is farewell.

Yesterday, Koyomi executed the Time Shift.

In our world,

from the outside, it looks like an old man collapsed mid-research

and fell into a state of brain death.

But I know the truth.

That he went to your word's past.

Inside Koyomi Takasaki, the husband now sleeping at your side,

dwells Koyomi Hidaka's imaginality, which joined with him at age seven.

And within her counterpart in your world

dwells her imaginality, which Koyomi saved.

If we just let them live their respective lives,

the two of them probably won't meet.

That would be all right.

After all, they chose a world where they would absolutely never meet.

But, just before the Time Shift,

Koyomi told me he made a promise with her to reunite.

The promise was to meet at the intersection

at the end of their lives in your world.

According to theoretical predictions,

the possibility of memories from my world remaining after the Time Shift

can be considered essentially nonexistent.

And so, it sounds like it was a way to persuade his young sweetheart.

A promise that would be difficult to keep.

Rather than a promise,

you might say it was a faint hope on Koyomi's part,

that such a miracle might occur.

My desire at present is to bring about that miracle.

It's true that deep down, a part of me didn't want the two of them to meet.

But,

I just input an entry about the Showa-dori intersection

on your husband's IP device.

Showa-dori Intersection

I ask that in one month's time, you please send him off to the site of the promise.

I'll be honest with you.

I imagine that as another me, you already have in inkling of this, but...

I love the Koyomi of my world.

I love Koyomi Hidaka.

Of course, that love was not part of a romantic relationship,

nor was it a love that led to marriage.

But all the more, I can feel that I spend my life loving Koyomi Hidaka.

At this moment, I feel it, deeply.

I know this is a self-centered request.

After all, for you—though for me, as well—

this would mean sending the person you love to someone else's side.

I ask that you let my love act through your feelings.

Happiness and sadness in life come to an end.

But one person caring for another—

if I can believe that feeling continues on,

the fact that we're born into a certain world,

meet,

live,

and die will have meaning.

I'll be able to say that at the end of my life.

Morning.

P.S.

The truth is, I Shifted here once before.

I saw your aquamarine ring then, and I copied you by getting one of my own.

Sorry.

Error?

Please wait until the traffic signal changes.

Please wait until the traffic signal changes.

Where am I?

How far away did I end up?

Assuming a Parallel Shift occurred,

I'm not in that world where the girl in the crosswalk is,

so there's nothing I can do about that.

I can only pray that the me I swapped with doesn't get confused...

Prayer, huh?

But, why does it say there's an error?

Assuming inability to measure, one possibility is...

If by chance, my imaginality itself changed—

Hold on.

This idea sounds like something I've heard before.

What was the paper?

Did I hear it at a conference?

Who did I discuss it with?

Excuse me. Are you alright?

Hello? Sir?

My medicine.

Get... my medicine.

Is this it?

Oh, I'll open it for you.

Here. Can you take it?

I'm all right now.

You were a great help.

Thank goodness.

Thank you.

Excuse me, ma'am. If possible, might I ask your name?

My name's not important. I'm nobody special.

Huh?

Oh, you see,

it was something on my bucket list.

To say, "My name's not important. I'm nobody special."

Well, my goodness.

I'm honored I could help.

Your hat.

Sorry for the trouble.

Woops.

Oh my, this...

Yes, it's a ladies' hat.

I'm borrowing it.

I see.

Um, haven't we met somewhere before, ma'am?

Have we?

Pardon me, but could I get your name?

It's Takasaki.

I'm sorry. I just don't seem to recognize you or your name.

Is that so?

Then perhaps we might have met in a parallel world.

Oh, that's true.

That is possible, isn't it?

Um...

Is your life... happy?

Yes.

It is happy. Very much so.

I'm glad.

Well, then.

Take care.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Thank you.

Welcome back.

Thanks.

You waited for me?

Maybe.

By the way,

who are you?

Huh?

My IEPP is reading "error", so I don't know where I am right now.

Don't phrase it like that.

Sorry, sorry.

Look. Think it's a malfunction?

That's unusual.

I left to go to the Showa-dori intersection. Is that accurate?

Yes. At 10.

Even if I did Parallel Shift,

I seem to be in the neighborhood, so I guess it'll go back to 0 soon.

So, this mysterious appointment. How did it go?

Right. Nobody showed up.

Oh.

Maybe my schedule malfunctioned, too.

But, I did have a lovely interaction with someone.

Who was it? An old acquaintance?

No. Someone I don't know.

She said her life was happy, and I was very happy about that.

Wasn't she a total stranger?

Yeah. I took pleasure in a stranger's happiness.

I realized that the reason I could take joy in a stranger's happiness

is because I've known happiness myself.

Nice and simple.

It is.

When I try to put it into simple terms, that's just how it goes...

Kazune, because I had you with me,

my life right now is happy.

Tell that to your Kazune 0.

I absolutely will.

But I want to tell every you.

At the same time, to each me who loved someone who wasn't Kazune:

Because you loved someone other than her,

I got to love Kazune.

Thank you.

Grandpa, welcome back!

I'm home.

I take it you watched Grandpa go out instead of studying?

I couldn't help it. I was so curious!

Ai sure has a strong sense of curiosity.

She wanted to look out for you.

And finally, to the someone who wasn't Kazune that loved a different me:

I pray that you and the person you love

find happiness somewhere out in the world.

To Every You I've Loved Before