6-6 The Day to Come

1: Mihono and Kagutsuchi (1)

Tsugumi: Then, the operation will commence. I'm starting the countdown-.
Mirja: Investigation team, are you ready?
Mihono: I'm ready whenever!
Chie: No issues here.
Kofuki: Let's just do this already.
Kiyoka: I-I'm starting to get nervous.
Yui: Don't worry, I'll be right with you, Kiyoka-chan!
Mirja: ...It doesn't seem there's any problems. What about you three, Satsuki Yomi, Inago Akira, Nitta Hirona?
Yomi: I'm ready.
Akira: All good here too.
Hirona: Riiight, I'm readyy.
Mirja: All members report no issues. Please begin the countdown.
Tsugumi: I'll start then. Three, two, one...
Tsugumi: Launch.
Tsugumi: ...Please make it back safe.
Chie: Is everyone okay!?
Mirja: Everyone seems to have landed safely!
Kiyoka: Look out, Mirja-san!
Kiyoka: YAHH!!
Mirja: Thank you, Musumi Kiyoka!
Kagutsuchi: ...
Mihono: That's...
Kagutsuchi: ...Kanaymahime...
Mihono: --!? Kanayamahime? She's reacting to Kagutsuchi...!?
Mihono: This is...
Kagutsuchi: ...Give her back...!
Mihono: Listen to me, Kagutsuchi! We didn't come here to fight you!
Kagutsuchi: ...Give her back...
Akira: ORAH!
Akira: What now, Mihono! Kagutsuchi's not about to start letting us talk!
Kagutsuchi: ...Kanayamahime... Give her back.
Mihono: Kagutsuchi...
Kofuki: Quit just standing there, Mihocchi!
Kofuki: Let's show her a good time first! Otherwise we're never getting this talk started!
Mihono: Talking with our swords... That's the Kanami way of doing things.
Kofuki: Am I supposed to care!
Mihono: Still... Yeah. Here I come, Kagutsuchi!!
Mihono: Tell me how you're feeling!!

2: Mihono and Kagutsuchi (2)

Mihono: ...I guess I can't really do it like Kanami can.
Mihono: But... I can tell from where you're looking and how you're moving, you're scared of us.
Mihono: Can't we just stop this?
Kagutsuchi: ...
Yui: She ran off!?
Mirja: What's she after?
Yui: Maybe she thought she couldn't beat Mihono-chan...?
Kiyoka: I don't think she can fix that by running though...
Kofuki: Besides that, it's friggin' hot... Let's just get after her.
Chie: ...The heat?
Yomi: ...The surrounding temperature is rising.
Akira: Oh yeah!? That jackass Kagutsuchi's tryin' to boil us alive!!
Makoto: Please listen to me, Kagutsuchi! Akira-chan and the others only want to talk!!
Kagutsuchi: ...No.
Makoto: The toji aren't going to exorcise you!
Kagutsuchi: ...No.
Makoto: If you keep doing this, Akira-chan will die... Please... Stop this, Kagutsuchi!!

3: Time Limit

Yui: [pant pant].... Nngh, this's rough!
Mirja: Don't lose speed! If you get too far from Kagutsuchi, you'll be engulfed in the heat!
Aradama: GYAOOOOO!
Kofuki: Shit! If we weren't in this oven, I could get all the aradama-chan I wanted!
Kofuki: Sorry, aradama-chan! I'll play with you next time! So outta the way!!
Chie: I don't know how long we can keep running like this... This could be bad if we don't reach Kagutsuchi soon.
Kiyoka: There's even more aradama coming after us too...
Kofuki: Tch, they're bringin' out all the cheap tricks.
Chie: What should we do, Mirja? At this rate...
Mirja: I do have a plan, but...
Akira: Just say it! No matter how bad it is, we gotta do something here!!
Mirja: ...
Mirja: We need to ensure Mihono reaches Kagutsuchi untouched by the aradama.
Mihono: Eh!?
Mirja: Whether we exorcise her or persuade her... Asakura Mihono is the only one who can stand a chance.
Akira: The hell, what's so bad about that! I'm in!
Mihono: H-Hang on a minute!
Mihono: If I mess up... You're all going to die!? Are you really okay with that!?
Akira: Then just don't screw up then.
Akira: I mean, we came here on a one way ride in the first place. We all put our lives on the line.
Akira: I'm bettin' my life on you. ...Take care of Makocchan for me.
Hirona: ......I guess that's all there is to it.
Mihono: Hirona!?
Yomi: Then, Akira, Nitta-san, and I will take the rear.
Mihono: Even Satsuki-san...
Yomi: I think this strategy has the highest chance of success.
Yomi: We have the ceremonial attire too. We shouldn't succumb to the heat that quickly.
Akira: So that's that. Let's go.
Mirja: ...We're countin on you!
Akira: You guys are real dumbasses, goin' out of your way to draw the short straw. This's the most likely place to die, y'know?
Yomi: Did you come here planning to die, Akira? In that case, feel free to die on your own.
Yomi: I'll be returning alive.
Akira: Who said anything about tryin' to die? I'm makin' it outta here, and I'm bringing Makocchan with me!
Hirona: ......
Hiyori: You two sure get alongg.
Akira/Yomi: Hell no we don't!/We're just normal.
Akira: ...Don't go makin' me shout. It's hard enough keepin' breathing as it is.
Yomi: They're here.
Akira: Bring it on! I'm countin' on both of you, so don't go dyin' on me!!

4: Because it's You

Mihono: Why are they doing this... Couldn't we have talked something better out!!
Kofuki: This's the problem with you, Ahocchi. You think we got time for that?
Mihono: But...
Kiyoka: You were the one who said we should talk to Kagutsuchi first, Hono-chan. So you'd better take responsibility and talk.
Mirja: Asakura Mihono. Just do as you wish.
Yui: After we finish up here, we can all hop in the bath, Mihono-chan!
Mihono: Fukki, Kiyoka, Mirja-san, Yui...
Chie: Mihono-chan.
Mihono: Chii-nee...
Chie: You get the big role.
Mihono: ...Okay.
Chie: ...Mihono-chan. If it were anyone else, even if they had Kanayamahime with them, I would never stake my life for them. Only for you.
Mihono: Eh?
Chie: After all the worrying and suffering you've been through... after how hard you worked to get here, I know you'll do it, Mihono-chan.
Chie: I'm sure we all feel the same.
Mihono: ...Yeah.
Mihono: I'll do it, Chii-nee. I'll talk Kagutsuchi out of it no matter what!
Kofuki: Look at Chichie, tryin' to act all cool for her.
Chie: I-I wasn't trying to act cool...
Yui: No way, she was super precious!
Mihono: Yeah, I actually felt a little embarrassed too.
Chie: Mihono-chan!?
Mirja: We can't afford any more chit chat. Thanks to our rear guard, there are less aradama attacking.
Mirja: ...Asakura Mihono. Don't think about anything; just race to Kagutsuchi!
Mirja: We'll keep your way clear!
Mihono: Okay!!
Kiyoka: I wonder if Hono-chan made it to Kagutsuchi...
Chie: I'm sure Mihono-chan will be fine.
Kofuki: This sucks... It's like fighting in a damn sauna.
Yui: Haha, I want us all in a bath when we get back, but a sauna could work too...
Mirja: ...Live so we can make it back! Endure it until Asakura Mihono persuades Kagutsuchi, Investigation team!

5: Three Intents

Mihono: I made it, Kagutsuchi!
Kagutsuchi: ...
Mihono: Don't be scared... I just came so we could talk, okay!
Kagutsuchi: ...No.
Mihono: Kgh!
Mihono: Please, just stop, Kagutsuchi! Just cause I'm a toji doesn't mean I want to hurt aradama!
Mihono: I know we can talk to each other!!
Kagutsuchi: ...No!
Mihono: Kagutsuchi!!
Mihono: It's no good; she's not listening... What do I do? Every second I take, everyone's...
Mihono: (Do I kill her...? No; I can't do that!)
Mihono: Killing a scared aradama's definitely the wrong thing to do!
Mihono: Ngh, huh, my chest feels hot... Is that... you, Kanayamahime?
Kanayamahime: Please leave the rest to me, Mihono.
Mihono: Kanayamahime?
Kanayamahime: The aradama, Kagutsuchi, was fearful from the beginning.
Mihono: She was?
Kanayamahime: Do you not believe me?
Mihono: ...No, I do. Seeing Kagutsuchi now... I get it.
Mihono: She's kinda like... a scared kitty.
Kanayamahime: ...Inside of Kagutsuchi, three intents resided.
Kanayamahime: There was I, who sought to understand and if possible form friendly relations with toji to overcome that fear of toji.
Kanayamahime: There was the intent to destroy all toji that would threaten it.
Mihono: That's the Kagutsuchi who took me over, right...
Kanayamahime: Yes.
Kanayamahime: And the last remaining... The intent to reject and avoid all connection to toji.
Mihono: To reject everyone...
Kanayamahime: It has no intention of communicating with toji. It will reject everyone and everything toji, seeking the farthest from mutual understanding.
Mihono: ...Then what're we supposed to do? Use your power to exorcise it?
Mihono: I don't want to do that!
Kanayamahime: Please leave it to me.
Kanayamahime: I want to understand and form friendly relations with toji. It falls to me to convince that Kagutsuchi.
Mihono: ...Alright, Kanayamahime. What should I do?
Kanayamahime: Please touch Kagutsuchi.
Mihono: I just have to touch her...? Okay, here goes, Kagutsuchi!!
Kagutsuchi: !!

6: The Fearful and Timid Aradama

Kagutsuchi: Kanayamahime... Become one with me...
Kanayamahime: Yes. Let's return to one. I will offer everything to you.
Kanayamahime: And then... please come to know. All the things I have seen alongside Mihono...
Kagutsuchi: ...!?
Kanayamahime: These girls are an answer. They are the potential for humanity and aradama to coexist.
Kagutsuchi: This is...
Kanayamahime: It is another possibility. The form of coexistence that is being fostered at this very moment.
Kagutsuchi: Kanayamahime...
Kanayamahime: Yes.
Kanayamahime: These are... My memories together with Mihono. My very precious memories...
Kanayamahime: Please look on and see, Kagutsuchi. This is the toji I have watched over for so very long.
Kagutsuchi: ...
Kanayamahime: Do you fear toji?
Kagutsuchi: ...I do...
Kanayamahime: I have learned. Toji are not something only to be feared.
Kanayamahime: That is what Mihono has taught me.
Kagutsuchi: ...No. I cannot...
Kanayamahime: It can happen. In five hundred years I am certain.
Kagutsuchi: ?
Kanayamahime: It is the time I have spent with the Atago.
Kagutsuchi: ...
Kanayamahime: I have spent that much time myself. So you can take that same amount of time.
Kanayamahime: And then, one day...

7: Mihono and Kanayamahime

Kanayamahime: ...
Mihono: Kanayamahime...?
Kanayamahime: Yes, Mihono.
Mihono: What happened with Kagutsuchi?
Kanayamahime: She is within me.
Mihono: So she didn't just go away.
Kanayamahime: Yes.
Mihono: Wait, hang on! What about everybody else!? We have to go save them!
Kanayamahime: Please calm down, Mihono. None of their lives are in any danger.
Mihono: Thank goodness! So then... then this can finally all go back to normal!
Kanayamahime: Mihono.
Mihono: First off, you've gotta meet Kohime! I bet you'll be really good friends!
Kanayamahime: Mihono.
Mihono: Hm? What?
Kanayamahime: I will be going to the netherworld with Kagutsuchi.
Mihono: ...Huh?
Mihono: W-Wait, but why!? Kagutsuchi's not dangerous anymore, right!? So, just stay with me!
Kanayamahime: Kagutsuchi's urges have not subsided. Even now, Kagutsuchi fears you.
Mihono: ...
Kanayamahime: One day, when Kagutsuchi's fear has gone... On that day, I will come for you again.
Mihono: ...That's no fair. When you tell me that, I can't just say no.
Kanayamahime: Thank you, Mihono.
Mihono: I'll get to see you again, right?
Kanayamahime: ...One day, I promise.
Mihono: ...Okay. Then, I'll see you again someday, Kanayamahime!!
Kanayamahime: Yes.
Kanayamahime: Goodbye, Mihono.

8: Visitation

Mihono: Hello-!
Makoto: Come on in, Asakura-san.
Akira: Yo, Mihono. You came to see how she's doing?
Yuuki: Hi, Mihono-san.
Hirona: Hellooo.
Mihono: Good, you're all here!
Mihono: I got you a gift: a cake Ellen-san told me about! We should all have it together!
Makoto: Thank you, Asakura-san.
Makoto: If Kohagura-san recommended it, it must be delicious. Aren't you lucky, Akira-chan.
Akira: Oi, Makocchan!? Not in front of Mihono!!
Mihono: What do you mean?
Yuuki: You probably didn't know, but Akira-nee-sama loves cakes.
Mihono: Ehh!? Really, Akira-san!? I always thought you were into senbei or something!!
Akira: Why!? I mean, I don't hate 'em, but... Well so what!? I like cake, okay!!
Makoto: Fufu.
Mihono: So that's what you're like when you're with Hitakami-san and them, Akira-san...
Hirona: You have no idea; she's pretty much always like this.
Mihono: Hmm~.
Akira: What! Quit smilin' at me like that!
Mihono: Anybody'd be smiling hearing them talk about you!
Akira: Then we're talkin' about something else now!
Mihono: That's tyranny!
Mihono: Umm, uhh... Then, what were you talking about before I got here?
Makoto: ...
Makoto: It was about tamayori toji. We were told the Sword Administration Bureau has started their re-inspection of it, along with looking into the side-effects.
Mihono: ...Yeah, I heard. They want me to help where I can too.
Makoto: ...I'm sorry, Asakura-san. Because of what we did... you were forced through so many terrible experiences...
Makoto: And also... Thank you, for saving Kagutsuchi.
Mihono: You were with Kagutsuchi the whole time, weren't you, Hitakami-san?
Makoto: I was.
Makoto: Though... it isn't as if I could understand all of what Kagutsuchi was thinking either.
Makoto: Even still... I could always feel how afraid she was of toji. Because of that... I started strongly hoping Kagutsuchi would be saved from it...
Makoto: I couldn't bring myself to hate or want her destroyed anymore.
Mihono: I'm sure it'll happen eventually.
Mihono: Eh?
Mihono: I'm sure someday Kagutsuchi won't be scared of toji anymore. After all, Kanayamahime's with her!
Makoto: ...You're right.
Makoto: Before that day comes, we have so much to do.
Mihono: What are you doing?
Akira: We're joining in the inspection of tamayori toji. We gotta do all we can for the ones who're victims of it, y'know?
Yuuki: And there's no tamayori toji besides Onee-sama and I, after all!
Hirona: ...I'll do what I can to help too.
Hirona: I can't keep letting it be just Akira-san and Yuuki-san while Akira-san gets all full of herself about it.
Akira: I'm not gettin' full of myself!
Mihono: Ahahaha!
Mihono: (I thought Hitakami-san was a scarier kind of person... I guess she's more like this.)
Mihono: (I get the feeling we could all get along!)

9: Admiration

Aradama: OOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Kofuki: C'mon! I love you, aradama-chan!!
Mirja: We've finished suppressing the aradama.
Mirja: Even here, there's still no sign of aradama affected by Kagutsuchi.
Mihono: I told you, everything's fine now! Kanayamahime talked Kagutsuchi out of it!
Chie: It's not like we're doubting you, Mihono-chan. But still, we have to do our investigation.
Mihono: I guess, but...
Chie: Though, our investigation is done for now, so do you want to check back at the shelter?
Mihono: Ah, sure! Let's go! I wonder how everyone's doing.
Kofuki: Ugh, I'll pass! It's a waste of time.
Kofuki: Oi, you listening? Tell me where some aradama-chan is around here!
Tsugumi: You just can't work in a group, can you Shichinosato-san.
Tsugumi: I'll keep an eye on Shichinosato-san, so the rest of you go on ahead to the shelter.
Kid A: The tojis are back!
Kid B: Thank you for beating the aradama!
Kid C: Did you fight aradama too, onee-sans?
Yui: Fu fu fu, would you believe it? Mihono-onee-san here beat Kagutsuchi herself!
Mihono: Yui!?
Kid A: Wowww!
Kid B: Did you really?
Kiyoka: She sure did. Hono-chan's an amazing toji.
Mihono: You too, Kiyoka~!?
Kid C: ......Um!
Kiyoka: Mmhm, what is it?
Kid C: I'm learning swordfighting! When I grow up, I want to be a toji too!
Yui: Ohh, that's awesome! You're our kouhai then-!
Kid C: Do you think I can be one?
Mihono: Yeah, if you keep on trying, you'll definitely be one! Where there's a will, there's a way!
Kid C: Where there's a will, there's a way... Thank you very much!!
Kid C: Ah-- Could I show you my swordfighting?
Kiyoka: Sure, go ahead.
Yui: Wow, you're so good! You've got the hang of it!
Kid C: You think so!?
Mihono: (I wonder if I was just like her a few years ago.)
Mihono: Fufu.
Kiyoka: What are you laughing about, Hono-chan?
Mihono: Oh, it's nothing!
Mihono: We'd better keep doing our best so she never stops looking up to us, huh! Kiyoka, Yui!

10: The Day to Come

Teacher: That's all for today's supplementary lessons. Be sure to review what you've learned.
Mihono/Kanami: Okaaayyy...
Mihono: Uugh, my head won't stop spinning...
Kanami: Just when I thought the stuff with Kagutsuchi was calming down, makeup classes came back and made everything hard again...
Mihono: Mmm... I hate studying...
Mihono: Oh yeah, actually, what were you doing when we were fighting Kagutsuchi, Kanami?
Kanami: I was on aradama suppression missions. They were sending me all over Japan; it was rough...
Kanami: How'd it go for you, Mihono-chan?
Mihono: I guess I realized, there's all kinds of different aradama, aren't there.
Kanami: ...Huh?
Mihono: I don't really know how to put it... Kagutsuchi had three different things she wanted.
Mihono: See, there was Kanayamahime, who saved me, right?
Mihono: And there was the scary Kagutsuchi you fought.
Mihono: And then there was the scared Kagutsuchi that possessed Hitakami-san.
Mihono: Aradama are weird, aren't they.
Kanami: ...I know what you mean. It was the same with Tagitsuhime.
Mihono: I made a promise with Kanayamahime. That, when Kagutsuchi stops being scared of toji, we'll see each other again.
Mihono: But I mean, it took her 500 years to understand toji.
Mihono: That's five hundred whole years. I can't live that long...
Kanami: I hope Kagutsuchi starts to understand toji like Kanayamahime did.
Mihono: Yeah!
Mihono: If Kagutsuchi turned out like Nene or Kohime, we'd have even more aradama friends!
Kanami: ...Mihono-chan, you're a genius.
Mihono: Eh?
Kanami: If more people could think like you do, we could get along a lot better with aradama!
Mihono: Y-You think so?
Mihono: Everybody in the investigation team calls me Ahocchi and stuff all the time though...
Mihono: But maybe I was really smart all along!?
Kanami: Yeah, you're smart, Mihono-chan!
Kanami: Let's keep going for it together! And then we'll make a bunch more aradama friends!
Mihono: That sounds good! We should make it a contest to see who can make the most aradama friends!
Kanami: You're on!
Mihono: Mmnn!
Mihono: I used my brain too much, so now I feel like moving my body. Kanami, wanna spar with me right now?
Kanami: You took the words out of my mouth!
Mihono: Okayyy, today's the day I win a match with you!