Yuki Yuna is a Hero > 09. Those Who Know Grief

Fu: So as Heroes, we can never die? Our bodies are offerings to the Shinju-Sama?

Yuna: That's right.

Togo: When we went Mankai, each one of us experienced some kind of loss. And one way or another, we've all been physically disabled. Turns out things are being taken away because we're sacrifices. That's what Sonoko Nogi told us. And she should know there isn't much left of ours now.

Fu: You mean, none of us aren't gonna get better? We'll... never be normal again?

---- <OP> ----

Fu: This is serious. Have you told Karin and Itsuki?

Yuna: No, we decided that it'd be best to talk to you about this first.

Fu: Okay. I want you to promise me you won't tell the others yet, until we're absolutely sure this is true. There is no need to make them worry.

Yuna: You have a word.

Fu: Mm.


(Kameya)

Newscaster: According to response crew reports, [???] number of [???] sinkholes have been identified. All [???] span of 4,000 square meters. As [???] broadcast, there was no injury or property down.

Salesclerk: Here you are.

Fu: Uh, thanks.

Salesclerk: I noticed You haven't been coming here with your friends lately.

Fu: Oh, I uh... Yeah, I guess they haven't been feeling so great these days. But I'm sure they're all gonna get better soon. They just need some of my girl power. Ha! And then, if I still think they need an extra boost, I'll use this shop's mighty udon power, too! When combined, udon and girl power can cure anything!

Salesclerk: Wow, that's amazing!

Fu: Uh-huh? So soon as they feel well enough, we can... come back here... again.



Student: Okay, maybe next time.

Fu: Some friends from your class? They want you to hang out with them. Why don't you say yes?

Fu: Yet-
Teacher: Are you Itsuki's sister, aren't you?

Fu: Yes, ma'am. Are you her homeroom teacher?

Teacher: Yes, that's right. If you have time, do you think I can speak with you for a moment?

Fu: Sure, I'd be happy to.


(Small Classroom 1)

Teacher: I want to talk to you about her condition. It's having an effect on some of her classes.

Fu: She isn't causing any problems with the other students, is she?

Teacher: Oh, no. She gets along with her classmates. This is regarding Itsuki herself. Specifically, it pertains to music class. She isn't able to sing with the others. We've been trying to address the situation by changing the curriculum, but I feel certain that it would hurt Itsuki if we were to make more blatant changes to our lesson plans.

Fu: It's okay, she's gonna get better. The doctors told us her voice will come back.



Fu: Itsuki, it's time for dinner now! Itsuki?
You'd better hurry before it gets cold!
You're asleep?
Hey, Itsuki.
Wake up.
Come on, let's eat.
Hey, you know, uh, the weather's been crappy these last few days, hasn't it? I think it's a good idea to keep an umbrella in your bag because there's no telling when it'll rain again.
Uh... So, uh... O-Oh yeah, our skit! We've got to start practicing for the cultural festival soon. I'd say we should rent out the gym stage and practice like hell [???]! What's wrong? Wait, did you find a problem in my flawless script?!
O-Oh, yeah.
N-No, stop worrying, okay? By the time the festival gets here, everything's gonna be fine.
We just need to be patient. It'll get better soon. It has to. None of us did anything wrong.


(Togo's home)

Fu: What's up, Togo? Is everything all right?

Togo: I want you and Yuna to be here too. There's something you both need to see.

Yuna: What's that?
Are you okay, Togo?

Fu: What's the matter with you?! What if the faery hadn't try to stop it?

Togo: But I knew it would. My faery always saves me. In the past few days, I've tried to commit suicide at least ten different times. Stabbing, hanging myself, jumping, inhaling carbon monoxide, suffocation, burning. But the faeries stopped me every single time.

Fu: Togo, what do you say?

Togo: When I was trying to cut my throat, I didn't have the Hero system activated, did I?

Yuna: No, I guess not.

Togo: Regardless of that, the faery still blocked the knife, and protected me. On the will of its own.

Fu: Yeah, it did. So what are you trying to tell us?

Togo: They act alone. It doesn't matter what we want them to do at all. That's what I mean. I had it wrong before. I used to believe each of the faeries was responding to the Heroes' will to fight. But that's not true. In fact, Heroes' thoughts don't even affect them. Once I discovered that, I started questioning their motives. What if they have another purpose for being here? What if the reason for the faeries' existence isn't to help the Heroes? What if their only purpose is to bind us to our duties? I think it's their job. ensuring that we're going battle without ever being allowed to die.

Yuna: Y-Yeah, but if that's true, it doesn't sound like such a bad thing to me. They are still protecting us, aren't they?

Togo: Of course, which is fine. If that's really what this is about. But if the faeries are keeping the Heroes from dying, then it proves that she was right. Everything Sonoko said was true.

Fu: So we're... forced to stay alive?

Togo: I wasn't sure then, but I believe it now. Our symptoms won't go away... will be like this forever.

Fu: No.

Togo: The Taisha saw what happened to Sonoko. They must've known about the after-effects of the Hero system. We were all being kept in the dark and deceived.

Fu: Wait, Togo. Are you telling me... my sister's voice won't ever come back? I can't believe it. No, I can't this'd happen. I didn't know saving lives would mean sacrificing our bodies. I swear I didn't. It's my fault. I'm the one who let Itsuki join the Hero Club.

---- <Eyecatch> ----

Fu: Hello, Fu Inubozaki.

Fujiwara: [???] me for calling you at a bad time. My name's Fujiwara, with Iyono Music.

Fu: Sorry? "Iyono Music"?

Fujiwara: Mm-Hmm. Are you Itsuki Inubozaki's legal guardian?

Fu: Yeah. Yeah, that's me.

Fujiwara: Pleased to speak with you. I want you to know that Itsuki passed our initial screening process.

Fu: Huh? What... what are you talking about?

Fujiwara: Oh, she hasn't told you yet? Itsuki auditioned for us recently.

Fu: When was this?

Fujiwara: About three months ago now.

Fu: (Gasp)

Fujiwara: Itsuki recorded sound files from home and sent them in. Hello? Is something wrong? Hello? Are you still there?

Fu: Itsuki!
Aren't you here?

Itsuki: So, I'll start by... Wait, did I remember to turn the mic on? Um, hi, my name's Itsuki Inubozaki, I signed up for the vocalist audition, and twelve years old, and a first-year Sanshu Middle School student. Thanks for listening. When I heard of your having this audition, I got so excited. Of course, I wanted to give this a try because I really enjoy singing. But there's another reason. For me, it's a chance to be something. If I become a professional singer one day, it might help me find my purpose in life. Here at home, I'm living with my big sister. I love her. She's such a strong person. I guess you'd call her a natural-born leader. On the other hand, I'm pretty weak and timid most of the time. Truth is I spent most of my life standing in her shadow. But to be honest with you, it's always been my dream to walk along her one day. She's everything to me. Still, I'm ready to walk on my own, [??? bragging] behind. I [???] my own dreams now. Maybe try to help my own life, too. That's why I wanna be a singer, why it's so important. It's kinda funny. Until recently, I would have been embarrassed to send [??? auditioning]. I was so nervous [about] people, [???] I couldn't raise my voice. But now, thanks to my good friends in the Hero Club, who helped me, I learned to love singing songs all over again! I don't feel [??? to do] anymore. In fact, I want as many people as possible to hear me sing! Oh, you probably don't know what I meant. The Hero Club's something I'm in at school. We spend our time playing with the kids in preschool, finding home for stray cats, you know, things like that. When I joined, I felt kind of worried. I get shy around strangers when I wasn't sure what they expect. But the girls in the club are so sweet to me. Now I love getting to spend time with them doing fun things. On, I'm sorry, guess I went off on a little tangent, huh? Okay, here's my song.

Itsuki: Oh, hey, Big Sis? I think I know what I want to do now.

Fu: Are you saying you have a life goal now or something? You can tell me. Come on, out of it.

Itsuki: Mmm... It's a secret.

Fu: Hey, that's not fair. I won't go tell anyone. Come on.

Itsuki: Someday, I promise.



Karin: Wait a minute!
Come on, what do you think you're doing?

Fu: It's the Taisha! I'm taking them down! They lied to all of us! [???] That's right. We'll never [get ???] better.

Karin: Hold on!

Fu: Damn them all! They knew about the after-effects for the whole time. And yet they were just hiding the truth! They wanted nothing but human sacrifices!

Karin: You don't know what you are talking about!

Fu: You wrong! Another Hero's fallen victim to this!

Karin: Huh...

Fu: Listen, there were others who came before us, Karin. They went Mankai so often, they aren't even able to move anymore! And this time, we're the ones who are being sacrificed! Why do we have to go through this?! Why did my little sister have to give up her dreams?! Why did they take away her voice? [??? what ???] for saving the world?!

Karin: Yuna.

Fu: Out of the way!

Yuna: No, Fu. I don't wanna see you cause anybody pain! It isn't right!

Fu: We can't let them, the Taisha, get away from that!

Yuna: I know what you're saying.

Fu: Then back off!

Yuna: But even if we'd known about the after-effects using Mankai from the beginning, we still would have gone to battle and fought! It was the only way we knew to protect this world. It isn't anyone's fault! All right, Fu? None of us had a choice!

Fu: If I'd known, I could've saved you! I wouldn't have gotten you involved in all of this! Then at least, you'd have been saved. Itsuki would still have her voice!

Yuna: No, come on, Fu, that's not true! You're wrong!

Fu: Yeah, about what?!

Karin: Yuna, no!

Yuna: If I got through to you at all, Fu, it's worth it. Because, no matter what, I'm a Hero.

Fu: Yuna.

Yuna: Uh.

Fu: Itsuki?

Fu: Sorry. I'm sorry, all of you.
Yeah, but... Itsuki! If I never started the Hero Club in the first place, then...
Itsuki, I...

Yuna: I am, too. I feel the same way, Fu. So, please. Don't say you shouldn't have made the Hero Club. It's important to us.

---- <ED> ----

Togo: It's like being in Hell.

Yuna: Hey, Togo!

Fu: Togo is the one you can always count on.

Karin: Let's get a read on this.

Yuna: The alarm's not stopping.

Togo: It's done. Now I'll be able to save all of them.