| Kazunari | Guys, check it out! |
| Izumi | ? |
| Kazunari | The collab video is done! |
| Izumi | Really!? |
| Sakuya | Oh, I want to watch! |
| Kazunari | Let’s all watch together! |
| Sakuya | I’ll go get everyone else! |
| |
| Banri | Huh, it’s well-done. |
| Kumon | Sakyo-san and Citron-san both look so cool! |
| Citron | I finally settled on a pose! |
| Guy | Just as I thought. Furuichi’s acting is better than in the first take, and so is everyone else’s. |
| Azuma | The effects make it look even nicer. |
| Tasuku | I can’t believe this was made by a student. |
| Tsumugi | It looks like a movie. |
| Sakuya | I want to watch the whole play like this! |
| Taichi | I bet everyone’s gonna be talking about it once it’s revealed! |
| Sakyo | People will have high expectations. |
| Izumi | Are you feeling the pressure? |
| Sakyo | No, bring it on. |
| |
| Izumi | (And before we know it, it’s the day of the show....) |
| (The PV had a good reception, so our guests have high expectations. Sakyo-san said he wasn’t feeling any pressure, but...) |
| Sakyo | .... |
| Izumi | (Looks like I don’t have to worry. He’s focused.) |
| Azuma | During practice, I was thinking about what we all have in common, and—. |
| Citron | I know! We’re the old crew! |
| Guy | No, we’re missing Arisugawa and Utsuki. |
| Azuma | That’s not it. I was thinking we’re similar because our various circumstances meant we couldn’t experience the kinds of childhoods we might’ve desired. |
| We each have different experiences, but I think we all must’ve felt really lonely. |
| Sakyo | ...Now that you mention it. |
| Guy | I see. |
| Citron | But that means we’ve got lots and lots of egg-sighting things left to do in life! |
| Azuma | Fufu, you’re right. |
| Sakyo | I used to think that growing up meant chipping away at your own potential; it meant giving up on one thing after another. |
| But then I joined this troupe, and ran into so many things I couldn’t give up on. |
| The troupe members inspired me, and.... |
| I was moved, watching a brat half my age desperately trying to carve open a future for himself. |
| Azami | .... |
| Sakyo | Instead of quietly giving up, I felt like I was better suited to live while desperately clinging on to my dreams. |
| ...Giving up and deciding that it’s “a dream that will never come true”—that might be a curse of sorts, too. |
| Guy | You’re right. But you can change that into a positive curse by saying it’s “a dream that will definitely come true.” |
| Citron | That’s right. |
| Sakyo | Our lives might not have been gentle. We were probably missing what others seemed to naturally have. |
| But that’s why our lives are full of things left undone; they’re overflowing with things we want to do. |
| Azuma | That’s what we all have in common. |
| Izumi | (Because of their experiences, they can keep moving forward... Everyone looks cheerful and calm. They’ll be all right.) |
| Everyone, the show’s about to begin! |
| Citron | Then, as an onmyoji, I shall cast a spell. |
| This opening day will “definitely be a success”! Hmm... Kyukyu-meow-meow-meow! |
| Guy | It’s Kyukyunyoritsuryo. |
| Azuma | You’ve made it sound quite cute. |
| Sakyo | We’ll make it a success even without a spell. |
| —Let’s go! |
| Citron | Alright! |
| Azuma | Yes. |
| Guy | Yeah. |
| |
| *Buzz* |
| |
| Noble A | “I hear another one passed away.” |
| Noble B | “Again?” |
| Noble A | “At this rate, it will reach the imperial court....” |
| Noble B | “Perhaps we ought to get an exorcist.” |
| Izumi | (The Heian period, with a regal aristocratic culture blossoming in the capital...) |
| |
| Head of the Onmyoji | “Seimei, you know of the epidemic spreading through the town, right?” |
| Seimei | “I do.” |
| Head of the Onmyoji | “This has been kept secret from all but a few of us, but—the Emperor has collapsed.” |
| Seimei | “——.” |
| Head of the Onmyoji | “If the court learns of this, it will invite pointless confusion. And if the worst comes to pass for the emperor, there will be war.” |
| “We need him to recover no matter what. Carry out the purification ritual with haste.” |
| Seimei | “Yes, sir.” |
| |
| Seimei | “Jyoshinju, jyoshinju....” |
| Kou | “This job sounds like a real pain. You’re basically just cutting off a lizard’s tail, you know?” |
| Seimei | “Cut the unnecessary commentary, Kou.” |
| Kou | “Fine, fine.” |
| Seimei | “——.” |
| Kou | “...Here it comes.” |
| Seimei | “Kyukyunyoritsuryou!” |
| Kou | “It got away.” |
| Seimei | “...Just now, that was.” |
| Kou | “See? That’s why I told you it’s a pain.” |
| Seimei | “The emperor’s life is in danger. We need to hurry—.” |
| Izumi | (Sakyo-san has an integrity perfect for Seimei’s image, and Azuma-san’s otherworldly, bewitching charm stands as a great contrast to that.) |
| (Plus, their exchanges are perfect. They might sound curt, but you can tell they trust each other.) |
| |
| Head of the Onmyoji | “A vengeful spirit? Nonsense. The barrier surrounding this imperial court is perfect. Such an evil being could never reach our emperor; it is simply impossible.” |
| Seimei | “But...” |
| Head of the Onmyoji | “Seimei. Do you intend to blame the failure of your purification ritual on some vengeful spirit? You may be talented, but you are too prideful.” |
| Seimei | “—That was not my intention.” |
| Head of the Onmyoji | “Then step down. I shall assign someone else to perform the ritual.” |
| Seimei | “....” |
| |
| Kou | “Leave that thick-skulled lot alone. Sooner or later, even a fool will figure it out.” |
| Seimei | “I can’t do that. At this rate, the epidemic will only claim more lives.” |
| Kou | “If you become an eyesore to the higher-ups within the Onmyo Bureau, you won’t be able to move around this court freely.” |
| Seimei | “Even so, I can’t stand by and do nothing.” |
| Kou | “My, how serious. Don’t come complaining to me when you regret it later.” |
| Seimei | “Enough of your rubbish. Tell me how the investigation went.” |
| Kou | “I told you. The barrier surrounding this court is perfect; nothing we can do about that. There’s no way an evil spirit could make its way in.” |
| Seimei | “So was the head correct...?” |
| Geppaku | “Seimei-dono.” |
| Seimei | “—Geppaku!? You came back!?” |
| Geppaku | “I returned yesterday. It has been a while.” |
| Seimei | “I see. It certainly has been.” |
| Geppaku | “I am glad you look well.” |
| Seimei | “You too, Geppaku—you look like you’ve grown far stronger.” |
| Geppaku | “Thank you. I hear rumors of your accomplishments even outside of the capital, Seimei-dono.” |
| Seimei | “No, I am but a powerless....” |
| Geppaku | “You look down. Is something the matter?” |
| Seimei | “...Have you heard of the epidemic making its way through the town?” |
| Geppaku | “Ah, yes, I hear the cause is a mystery.” |
| Seimei | “A vengeful spirit is likely at the root of it. But I haven’t been able to catch its tail...” |
| Geppaku | “...If you don’t mind me helping, I would be glad to.” |
| Seimei | “Really?” |
| Geppaku | “I do not know how useful I will be, but let me know if there is anything I can do.” |
| Seimei | “No, that is exactly what I need. Nothing is more reassuring than your help, Geppaku.” |
| “—Kou.” |
| Kou | “Yes?” |
| Seimei | “Tell Geppaku every detail you’ve uncovered about the vengeful spirit’s curse.” |
| Kou | “I don’t know how I feel about this.” |
| Seimei | “Your feelings are irrelevant.” |
| Kou | “Fine, fine.” |
| Geppaku | “Your shikigami seems to be quite the character.” |
| Seimei | “He gives me so much trouble.” |
| Geppaku | “But I can sense his great power. As expected of Seimei-dono.” |
| Seimei | “Geppaku, how about you? How did your training go? Tell me everything later.” |
| Geppaku | “I am no match for you, Seimei-dono.” |
| Seimei | “Nonsense. Our mentor said that our talents were on equal grounds, remember?” |
| Izumi | (Citron-kun’s Geppaku has a unique air about him. He looks foreign, yet his movements and gestures are perfect so he doesn’t seem out of place.) |
| |
| Seimei | “So this is where the vengeful spirit was spotted.” |
| Kou | “It’s close to where the first patient fell ill. The timing matches up, too.” |
| Seimei | “I don’t know if that’s the cause, but it’s worth looking into.” |
| |
| Townsman | “Are you the one who wanted to talk?” |
| Seimei | “I’d like to ask you about the vengeful spirit sighting.” |
| Townsman | “Aye, that was a night where I had plenty to drink. There was a will-o'-the-wisp floating right around this stone monument.” |
| “It was a mighty ominous color, and I was so surprised that my knees gave way. Don’t remember anything after that.” |
| Seimei | “Stone, huh... I wonder if it’s just some small spirit causing mischief. Kou, see if there are any similar set-ups around here.” |
| Kou | “Goodness, you really like to kick your shikigami around.” |
| |
| Seimei | “What a number. And, just as I thought, this arrangement is....” |
| Kou | “A powerful curse. It’s been cleverly scattered so as to surround the imperial court. Whoever did this must have a lot of time on their hands.” |
| Seimei | “It just means they loathe the court that much. Removing just one or two of these will have no effect. We need to defeat the very figure who set this up.” |
| Kou | “You’re going to fight this malicious loser? I personally wouldn’t recommend it.” |
| Seimei | “Fetch me Geppaku. We’re going to come up with a plan.” |
| Kou | “Don’t blame me when you regret this later.” |
| Izumi | (Seimei works with Geppaku to uncover the curse. He attempts to lure out the vengeful spirit....) |
| |
| Seimei | “This is the next location. I’m sure of it. Kou, hide me and set up the trap.” |
| Kou | “Yes, yes.” |
| *Woosh* |
| Hisui | “....” |
| Seimei | “Here it comes...” |
| “Kyukyunyoritsuryou!” |
| Hisui | “––—.” |
| Kou | “Tch.” |
| Seimei | “It got away—?” |
| Kou | “No good. This one is a real troublesome opponent—it has both power and intellect.” |
| Seimei | “If we let it roam free, it will surely cause immense damage... We need the support of the Onmyoji Bureau.” |
| |
| Seimei | “Geppaku, I’ve been granted permission. We can finally move about the court freely now.” |
| Geppaku | “That is wonderful. Then I shall continue to search for the curses scattered about the city.” |
| Seimei | “No, Geppaku, I’d like you to investigate the court as well—.” |
| Geppaku | “I do not have permission to enter the imperial court, after all.” |
| Seimei | “Do not worry. I’ve spoken to the Onmyoji Bureau about that.” |
| Geppaku | “They will be shocked to see someone like me walking about the imperial court.” |
| “There’s already an unidentified epidemic going around; they will wonder what kind of catastrophe I will bring forth next.” |
| Seimei | “That’s not—.” |
| Geppaku | “Humans fear foreign bodies. I am sorry I cannot be of assistance to you.” |
| Seimei | “Geppaku...” |
| |
| Seimei | “Kou, investigate the impurity within the court grounds.” |
| Kou | “That’s a back-breaking job. What happened to your friend?” |
| Seimei | “Geppaku is not allowed inside the court.” |
| Kou | “Oh my? Is he blocked by the barrier?” |
| Seimei | “No, he says people would be shocked to see him walking about....” |
| Kou | “Oh, I see.” |
| Seimei | “...Geppaku was supposed to belong to the Onmyoji Bureau, just like me. Our mentor had high hopes for his talents as well.” |
| “But those hopes never manifested because of his heritage.” |
| Kou | “I see. So that’s why he’s so twisted.” |
| Seimei | “Twisted? |
| Kou | “You haven’t noticed? Goodness, someone’s certainly innocent about the ways of the world.” |
| Seimei | “What do you mean?” |
| Kou | “I mean what I say. Your friend isn’t the kind of person you think he is.” |
| Seimei | “I won’t let you insult Geppaku like this.” |
| Kou | “My, my, well excuse me, then. I don’t understand how humans think.” |
| Izumi | (Despite his exasperation, you can tell that Kou really cares for Seimei...) |
| |
| Seimei | “To think that we’d find curses within the court as well....” |
| Kou | “Even I wouldn’t be capable of making my way through the barrier and setting up such a powerful curse.” |
| Seimei | “Only a human could accomplish such a task. Which means the spirit we failed to catch the other day was somebody’s shikigami....” |
| “There aren’t many people in this country capable of employing such a powerful—.” |
| Kou | “What’s wrong?” |
| Seimei | “No....” |
| “Kou, we’re going to return the curse with a counter-curse.” |
| Kou | “Are you serious? Even you won’t be able to withstand the sheer resentment it carries—it’ll swallow you.” |
| Seimei | “There’s no use continuing this never-ending game of tag. We’ll finish it in one go.” |
| Kou | “Goodness, you’re surprisingly quite the extremist.” |
| |
| Izumi | (Seimei takes the resentment upon himself, and attempts to return the curse...) |
| Seimei | “—gh, ugh...” |
| “Aaaagh!” |
| Kou | “This is bad. Hey, Master—.” |
| Seimei | “—counter-curse, kyukyunyoritsuryou!” |
| Kou | “This one’s really stubborn.” |
| “—All right, now you can’t get away.” |
| Hisui | “—gh, aaah!” |
| Seimei | “What is your purpose? What do you desire? Chaos in the capital? The emperor’s life?” |
| Hisui | “No reason, for me to tell... Guh.” |
| Seimei | “Who is using you?” |
| Hisui | “I will stay silent even if it costs me my life—.” |
| Seimei | “——.” |
| Kou | “I can finish him off right now, right?” |
| Seimei | “Yes, that’s fine.” |
| Kou | “It’s punishment time.” |
| Hisui | “——.” |
| *Woosh* |
| Kou | “!?” |
| Seimei | “He disappeared...?” |
| Kou | “Tch. Looks like the mastermind has finally made his move.” |
| Seimei | “...Kou, follow the spirit. We’re going to find out who this person is.” |
| Kou | “Goes without saying—.” |
