the manga did reveal who "the other" is but there wasn't any clues in the manga itself for the readers.
Then it sounds similar to the novel and it is my major disappointment.
Make no mistake. I still like the story as a whole (Mei = moe ) and especially the creepy parts, but I think it will do much better by ending in a different way.
the manga did reveal who "the other" is but there wasn't any clues in the manga itself for the readers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doraneko
Then it sounds similar to the novel and it is my major disappointment.
Make no mistake. I still like the story as a whole (Mei = moe ) and especially the creepy parts, but I think it will do much better by ending in a different way.
Actually I have to disagree personally.
Spoiler:
There are several hints throughout the story if you go back and actually think about them in context.
Mikami-sensei is in charge of the arts department and while Reiko is an artist Kouichi has never actually been to her studio.
When Mochizuki said that he could walk home with Kouichi the latter felt very uncomfortable because they would get close to his grandparents home.
Everytime Kouichi is questioned about Mikami-sensei's "hotness" he doesn't know how to respond and merely says that it's difficult for him.
Everytime Kouichi and Mikami meet at the school their way of talking is very personal, down to Kouichi being surprised by her being at school so early.
Also the fact that Mikami-sensei is the only character of whom we never learn the first name.
I agree that it kind of lost its impact through the novels length alone. I assume the intent was to make every character equally mysterious...but even though it hinted strongest in the Reiko/Mikami direction it was hard to keep track of such small hints over almost 700 pages.
And the manga might have actually lost some of that, but that is because the artist seems to have choseen to make Mikami and Reiko look very much alike.
I don't really like it that they gave them different haircolours in the anime, but the hints are actually pretty strong. The one scene in episode 3 alone where Rei (the mynah-bird) is heard calling out "Good Morning Rei-chan, Good Morning" right when we see Mikami-sensei arriving. That was a rather clever transition.
There are several hints throughout the story if you go back and actually think about them in context.
Mikami-sensei is in charge of the arts department and while Reiko is an artist Kouichi has never actually been to her studio.
When Mochizuki said that he could walk home with Kouichi the latter felt very uncomfortable because they would get close to his grandparents home.
Everytime Kouichi is questioned about Mikami-sensei's "hotness" he doesn't know how to respond and merely says that it's difficult for him.
Everytime Kouichi and Mikami meet at the school their way of talking is very personal, down to Kouichi being surprised by her being at school so early.
Also the fact that Mikami-sensei is the only character of whom we never learn the first name.
I agree that it kind of lost its impact through the novels length alone. I assume the intent was to make every character equally mysterious...but even though it hinted strongest in the Reiko/Mikami direction it was hard to keep track of such small hints over almost 700 pages.
And the manga might have actually lost some of that, but that is because the artist seems to have choseen to make Mikami and Reiko look very much alike.
I don't really like it that they gave them different haircolours in the anime, but the hints are actually pretty strong. The one scene in episode 3 alone where Rei (the mynah-bird) is heard calling out "Good Morning Rei-chan, Good Morning" right when we see Mikami-sensei arriving. That was a rather clever transition.
By saying that I would rather see the story end in a different way, besides more exposition on that very point, more importantly I feel that there is much more the author can expand on given the very interesting settings.
Spoiler:
I was in fact expecting something like Higurashi or Shiki with creative plots (supernatural or not) that operate behind the veil of curse, as well as drama and politics that arise from people being in dilemma, denial, suspicion and fear. But what I got is only an abrupt end with minimal closure. By the end of the story we still don't even know much about the mechanisms behind the curse.
There is also wasted potential in certain characters, like Akazawa, who could be further developed given the amount of attention on her throughout the story instead of suddenly killing her and stripping her of any possible development.
Because people seem to have extreme problems with Chibikis explanation concerning the phenomenon I decided to translate the much longer passage from the novel and make it available here. As someone suggested the novel thread is the best place as people can just be directly linked to the post but it needs a certain willingness to read it.
I don't know how high the spoiler factor actually is at this point (episode 6). The anime still has time to reveal some of the facts and trivia metioned in this passage so it's up to you if you want to risk it or not. There is no reveal to the central mystery, but there are many more cases of previous years used and therefore much of the functionality of the phenomenon is revealed...though the only NEW information is probably in sub-chapter 10 so you could skip that as well and save it for later...
Spoiler for Conversation with Chibiki: chapter 10, p. 382-409:
7
“I really don't want to talk much about that case from 26 years ago. And I have become the only person left at that school who knows about the case personally.“
The class 3-3 from 26 years ago. The death of everybody's darling Misaki. And...
“Nobody had any malicious intent back then.“
Mr. Chibiki spoke in a low voice, clenching his teeth.
“I was still young, I held unto certain ideals as a teacher...I chose this way because I believed it would make things better. It was the same for my students. Thinking about it now though, it was a foolish idea. As a result it became a trigger to all this. Now I have all the responsibility for the 'calamity' that started the year after and for not being able to stop it whatever I do. That is why I still remain at this school, even now. I quit as a teacher, but as a librarian ... you could probably say that it was half an escape.“
“Escape?“
I just blurted it out suddenly.
“Why...“
“Half of the reason why I quit being a teacher was remorse. I had no rights being a teacher. But that other half was that very real fear, that I myself could be caught by death if I ever again became the homeroom teacher of the 3-3. That's why it was an escape.“
“Where there instances of teachers dying as well?“
“Homeroom-teachers and assistant homeroom-teachers. They are also a member of the whole 3-3 group. Teachers who only hold classes are excluded from that.“
Aah, so then...that was when I realized it.
That is why Mochizuki Yûya was always noticing it when Miss Mikami took a day off too often. That was not only a student worrying about the health of a teacher he has a crush on. He was honestly concerned for her life, that she might become a victim to the 'calamity' ... because she's the assistant homeroom-teacher.
“That is why I ran away.“, repeated Mr. Chibiki.
“But I didn't want that to lead me into completely running away from this school. Through some lucky coincidences I got the position in this library and so I decided to stay here. To stay here always and watch over how the events are developing...oh, somehow I skipped a little too far ahead as it seems.“
Mr. Chibiki twisted his lips as if he was whispering something while stretching his neck. I used that opportunity to sneak a question in.
“That Misaki from 26 years ago, was that a boy or a girl?“
“A boy.“
He answered that so easily.
“Misaki wasn't his surname though, it was his given name. You know that cape, Erimomisaki on Hokkaido? It's written the same as the Misaki part from that word.“
“And his surname?“
“Yomiyama“
“Sorry?“
“It was Yomiyama. Written just the same as this town. Yomiyama Misaki, that was his full name.“
His name was Yomiyama...what?! Well maybe. It's the same as a Mrs. Adachi living in the Adachi district or a Mr. Musashino living in Musashino.
I looked in Meis direction. She was looking towards me as well, her head slightly tilted. It meant, “I'm just hearing about this now as well“.
“And this Misaki died in a plane crash or something?“
I asked only to make sure about it.
“In a fire.“
That answer too came out so easily.
“After that much time this story has been passed on from person to person and went through so many changes it developed a tail of different versions. I think the plane crash theory has been around since back then, but it was actually a fire. One night in May his home caught on fire and burned to the grounds. With it his whole family perished. His parents and his one year younger brother as well...“
“So that's what it was. And the cause?“
“Unknown. At least it was decided that it had not been a crime. Though there were theories sorrounding meteors...“
“Meteors?“
“His home was in the outskirts west of town in the direction of Asamidai. On that night there were claims of a giant shooting star. Maybe that was the cause of that fire. But I never heard of them finding any traces of it ... so it probably belongs to all the other rumors.“
“...I see.“
“According to my memory, these are the facts sorrounding Yomiyama Misakis death 26 years ago. But...“
Mr. Chibiki's eyes were fixated on his hands and in a very low voice he added,
“I have honestly no confidence that my memories are absolutely correct.“
“Eh?!“
“Maybe somewhere along the way a gap or some alteration crept into all this somehow. Without me noticing that is. Not only because this is a memory from way in the past but, how do I say this, I have this feeling that, without me actually noticing it, more than anything else my memories of this case become more and more vague. But you probably get it already, without me spelling it out.“
The aftereffect of something becoming a legend. The image of a phrase like that popped up in my head.
“What about the graduation picture with the Misaki who shouldn't be there in it?“, I tried asking.
“Sir...sorry, Mr. Chibiki, you've seen it?“
“I did.“
Mr. Chibiki nodded and just for a moment his gaze flew up to the ceiling.
“It was the memorial picture we took together in the old classroom in the old building. After some days students began getting upset and came flocking to me, bringing that picture along. It sure looked as if the figure of the dead Yomiyama Misaki was in it. Ah, if I remember correctly, Ritsuko was among the class members who came to me then.“
“My mother?“
“Only as far as I remember, of course.“
“Do you still have this picture?“
“No.“, his lips stiffened.
There was one additional copy but I threw that away. If I came upon one after that, honestly, I would be afraid. I always thought that this catastrophe continued because that picture existed in the first place.
“Uuh...“
Together with my sigh severe shivers went up both my arms.
“Shall we continue?“, and with that invitation Mr. Chibiki lowered his eyes again.
“The following year I was the homeroom-teacher of the first year students that's why I only know of the events of that years 3-3 from a bystanders perspective. I heard about there being a chair and desk too few at the beginning of the first term and about at least one student or one blood relative dying each month but I didn't get the idea yet that they'd have an intrinsical conncetion to the events of the year before. It was simply something painful that kept going on by accident.
But in the end 16 people lost their lifes during that one year...and right after the graduation ceremony I heard about it from the homeroom-teacher of the 3-3. It seemed like somehow during that year the student count had secretly been increased by one. A 'one more' who shouldn't be there seemed to have snuck into class. And only after the graduation ceremony when that student vanished did he notice.“
“Was that “'one more' who shouldn't be there“ Misakis younger brother who died the year before?“
“It seemed like it.“
The corner of Mr Chibikis mouth quivered and he hesitated to speak any further.
“I have the feeling that I should better say nothing about this at all. Haven't you heard from Misaki already? All the people who had any connection to the 'phenomenon' that occured in the 3-3 can't hold on to those memories, especially “who was mixed in as that 'one more'“. With time the memory fades until it vanishes completely.
To tell the truth, not even one month had passed and that teacher who told me all about it had forgotten everything concerning the events and my memory was failing me as well. Only because I barely managed to leave a memo in my notebook...“
- When the banks of the river burst the water bursts into town. But that water is soon going to ebb away again...
That simile that 'that particular person' Mei told me about last week used.
The truth that there was a flood remains of course, but after the water has receeded it becomes ambigious where exactly what part of the water went. It's similar to that.
Rather than just forgetting about it without a reason, maybe it's something you naturally can't keep yourself from forgetting.
“And the year after that this same phenomenon happened as well and many people died. This really was strange somehow and it seemed almost unnatural...that was the mindset that spread among all people connected to it. And then...“
Mr. Chibiki drove the fingers of his right hand through his disheveled hair so they stood up in a heap.
“And then 2 years after - in 1976 - I was once again chosen as the homeroom-teacher for the 3-3. And this is when I first experienced it. At this time it had just begun to be refered to as the “cursed 3-3“ when I became one of them again...“
8
The year before that - 1975 - was apparently a year where nothing happened. Maybe he held on to the hopes that something similar wouldn't happen again when he took his place in the '76 class 3-3, but...
That year was a year where it happened.
As a result there where 5 students and 9 close relatives, alltogether 14 people who lost their lifes during that year. Besides sickness they died through accidents, suicide, murder...so many different ways to die.
Maybe it is this classroom that is cursed. Mr. Chibiki got that idea and asked the schoolboard to relocate the class to another room, that was at the beginning of the summer break. But still the catastrophe did not stop...and after the graduation in March the “'one more' who shouldn't be there“ in other words the Dead One vanished.
Mr. Chibiki who was the homeroom-teacher then couldn't seem to remember himself who that “one more“ might have been. Afterwards he collected information and even though he got the name of somebody who might possibly have been that one, he couldn't remember his own experiences, he had forgotten everything concerning that. He apparently hadn't yet grasped the full extent of the problem concerning the memory of everyone involved...
While we listened to the story 5th period ended and the beginning of the 6th period passed as well.
It was still raining outside. During that hour we were talking it had grown into quite a shower. The windows of the old library rattled against the wind and sometimes raindrops beat against the glass.
“...And then again after 3 years, there was this chance to become the homeroom-teacher of class 3-3 again. I thought about refusing to do so, but this was no situation that you could just avoid. Maybe at least this year could become a year where nothing happens. I prayed, but it didn't help.“
Mr. Chibiki continued talking in a low voice, Mei and I huddled together and tried to listen closely.
“This year again I tried to attempt some simple countermeassures and sugested them to the school. We tried renaming the class names from X-1 or X-2 into X-A or X-B. So the 3-3 became the 3-C. I thought that maybe by renaming that ''place'' maybe the curse would disolve."
That apparently didn't work.
I had already heard about this from Mei. There were many plans and realizations of countermeassures, but non of them actually did any good. But it was through that that they developed a method that actually had some effect against the phenomenon. That was making somebody into a Non-Existence and ignore him to outweigh the presence of that One More.
“...the result was the same. That year as well we had many casualties.“
Mr. Chibiki sighed as if he didn't even want to stop, he watched us and apparently waited for a reaction. All I could do was nod silently.
“It seems like the One More during that year was a female student who had died while in class 3-3 during '76. Just to have some prove of that I wrote down her name right after the ceremony. That is why, even though all memories regarding the One More were lost, I can declare to myself that it “seems to have been that way“. I also understood through that, that the One More who sneeks into the class seems to be a dead chosen randomly among those who lost their lifes in the calamity of this phenomenon...“
Again Mr. Chibiki let out a long sigh.
“After that year was over I quit as a teacher. That was 18 years ago now. The principal at that time wasn't ever going to openly acknowledge this story, curse or anything, but as a sign that he understood what was going on I was able to carry on remaining at this school as the librarian here.
From that day on I have been staying here and have watched over the events. I came to the decision that I would observe every phenomenon from that year on as an outside observer. Well and sometimes there were students like you two, who would keep me company.“
Suddenly he stopped and looked towards us, waiting for another reaction. Compared to just before the tension had eased and his looks softened.
“Can I...ask one thing?“, I tried to ask.
“What is it?“
“I think I heard about it from Misaki but, during the time that One More...the Dead One is mixed into the class, some kind of manipulation of memories and records takes place? So this is how impossible things can acchieve coherence and I wouldn't even notice the Dead One? Is that really true?“
“It truly happens.“
There was not the slightest bit of hesitation in Mr. Chibikis answer.
“But you can't question why or by what method. Even if you'd ask, out of apparent reasons I couldn't explain. The only thing I can say is that it is that kind of a phenomenon.“
“......“
“You can't believe it, no?“
“But I can't really say that I have much doubt about it anymore.“
“What?“
Mr. Chibiki slowly took off his glasses, gripped into the pocket of his trousers and retrieved a crumpled hankerchief. Absentmindedly he wiped the dirt off the lenses.
“Well...“, he said looking up at us while putting on his glasses.
“It's probably better I show it to you. That is probably the fastest way to understand.“
So he opened one of the drawers on the opposite side of the desk and crammed through the content of said drawer only to finally reveal ---
A pitchblack filing folder.
9
“Wouldn't you like to see an easy to understand example with your own eyes.“
Saying that Mr. Chibiki handed the folder to us. Placing it on the counter I slowly and frightened placed my finger on it.
“It contains copies of the class rosters of all the 3-3s. All the 27 schoolyears from 1972 to this day. The newer ones are placed on top and it follows in that order downwards.“
While listening to his explanation I opened the folder.
Like Mr. Chibiki had said the first and second page were the class roster of 1998, in other words the current one of class 3-3. Under the part where it mentions Mr. Kubodera and Ms. Mikami as the homeroom-teacher and assistant homeroom-teacher respectively the names of the students where listed in order.
My own name ''Sakakibara Kôichi'' was added in handwriting on the bottom of the second page. Because I came late as a transfer student. And...
On the left beside the names of Sakuragi Yukari and Takabayashi Ikuo an X had been added in red marker. There was the name, their contact adress and in the empty field to the right there was ''26th May: died in accident on schoolground'' and ''Same day: mother Mieko died in car accident'' was added for Sakuragi. In Takabayashis line there was ''6th June: death through illness''. And one more , in the empty in Mizuno Takeshis line somebody wrote ''3rd June: Older Sister Sanae dies in accident at work''.
“By the way, please look at the class roster from 2 years back.“
That means last year was a year where nothing happened. So that's why I have to look at the year before that, I kept thinking it over, and like I was told I opened the page with the roster of 1996.
“I think you will probably have noticed already but I added red cross-marks to those people who died that year. And I added the date and reason of death in the empty slot. I also wrote down the relatives who died with similar comments.“
“Yes.“
When I tried counting the students with an X added to them I came up with 4 of them. And there were the names of 3 relatives. So that results to 7 people altogether...
“On the second page in the empty part down at the bottom there is a name written in blue ink.“
“Oh, yes.“
Asakura Mami
That was the name that stood there.
“That was the Dead One in that year.“, said Mr. Chibiki.
Mei who was sitting at my side turned around exactly then and stared down at the file down at our hands. When I felt her breath right at my side I felt deep inside a great impatience.
“That girl called Asakura Mami entered the class from the beginning of April to next years graduation in March. And nobody noticed how she was One More who shouldn't even be there.“
“Sorry, Mr. Chibiki.“, I mentioned.
“That year there were 7 people to die...that is not within the ''at least one person per month'' rule, is it?“
“That is because that year the countermeassures had an effect.“
“Countermeassures...“
“That charm that you should probably know all about already. Making somebody in the class into a Non-Existence.“
“Ah, yes.“
“It had its merit and so not even one person died during the first term. But when the second term began something nobody had expected happened.“
“What was that?“
“The student who had been chosen to become non-existent could no longer bear the weight of it and the feeling of exclusion and so he broke the commandment. He began shouting for everyone to accept him as existent, that he was actually there...and nobody was able to just sit by during his appeal.“
“And as a result the calamity started?“
“It appears that it happened that way.“
I couldn't help but notice that a slight breath escaped Meis mouth.
I don't know who it was that they chose as the Non-Existence, but because he (or maybe she) gave up the role halfway through it resulted in 7 people loosing their lifes. How did he (or she) react to that horrible truth and what happened when he had to face the class and him or herself? Only thinking about it made shivers go up my spine again.
“Well then...“, Mr. Chibiki continued.
The Dead One in 1996 was Asakura Mami as I have written down right here, but her name is nowhere else to be found on that years class roster. She was originally a student of the 3-3 in 1993, 3 years earlier, you will see if you check it that she died during the calamity that year.“
I turned the pages in the folder and checked the roster of 1993.
Just as Mr. Chibiki had said there was Asakura Mamis name and she had a red X attached. In the empty slot on the right hand side ''9th October: death by illness'' was added.
“So that is how that coherency is acchieved during that time. But...“
Mr. Chibiki shifted the weight of his upper-body on the desk and pointed to the corner of the folder with his index finger.
“During that time from April two years ago until the following March it was not like this.“
“Like this?“
“This is just according to my memory, so beware. But Asakura Mamis name must have been here on that class roster as a member of that class of '96 at the point of April 2 years ago. And, though that is just my recollection as well, her name didn't exist on the roster of the class of '93 at that point, it just vanished you could say. And the X and my notes on her death as well.“
“It all just vanished?“
“Yes.“, Mr. Chibiki nodded without even a smile.
“That is why it is useless to investigate anything while the current years pheomenon is in progress. It's not only the class rosters. From every other document in the school to records kept in the town hall, peoples diaries and notes, pictures or videos, even data that was stored on a PC, it's all the same with all of them...they are manipulations and changes inexplainable by common sense, they just happen by the Dead One sneaking into the class that year. And then those impossible things become coherent.“
“It's not only about records and such, it's also about the memories of those involved, right?!“
“Yes. Taking the story from 2 years back as an example, even I as a bystander had no suspicion at all about Asakura Mami, who shouldn't have been there, at that time. She actually did die in '93 when she was 14 but everybody had forgotten that truth. Her parents, friends and teachers...everyone.
More than that, because that Dead One who had snuck in was still 14 when she appeared in '96, everybody believed that fake truth that she had just advanced to the 3rd class of middle-school. Nobody doubted it, nobody could doubt it. And to complete it every memory of her past was manipulated and changed as well to make the events coherent.
And when that one year had passed, after the graduation ceremony, all the records and memories returned to how they had been before. And all the memories about her appearing as the Dead One dissappeared from the hearts of those who came in contact with her, classmates and family alike.
When I looked down at the list within the folder I lost every power to return anything. Any phrases like ''This is madness'' lost any meaning even before they entered my mouth. So I thought.
“Why does something like that happen? I said it before, but I just didn't see any reason. I didn't even understand how something like this could happen. Maybe in the end something actually physical like the entries in the list increasing or decreasing didn't happen at all. I even thought of something like that.“
“What are you saying?“, was what Mei asked.
And so Mr. Chibiki raised his shoulders with a deep inhale and,
“What if the problem lies with the people who are connected to this...maybe it is born from within myself. Maybe we all just accept a physical change that actually never happened as something that did happen.“
“Something like...group hypnosis?“
“Yes, like that. At least something like that. Maybe something like this actually does spread from the center of this school, around all of Yomiyama and at times even into the outside world...“
Having spoken so far Mr. Chibiki let out another drawn out sigh.
“But this as well is only the unbased ideas and delusions I ended up with after being a watcher for so long. I have no evidence and not even a way to proof it. Even if I could make sure of it, nothing would actually come out of it.“
“......“
“......“
“Basically it's a hopeless situation.“
Just as to prove his words he threw his hands into the air.
“I might as well say that the only thing of any use that we could draw from these cases is one thing and one thing only. That is simply put, you two being the current execution of the countermeassure. The countermeassure of creating a Non-Existence in class. This is of course just the strange idea of a countermeassure thought up by somebody ten years ago, but there have been years where the calamity was prevented by it, though there were of course cases like 2 years ago where it failed midway.“
“2 years ago...“, as if she spit them out Mei uttered those words.
And just as if to snuggle up to me again she looked closely at the folder.
“The homeroom-teacher of the 3-3 2 years ago was Ms. Mikami, right?“
Hearing this I suddenly felt a jolt and looked at the roster again. It was true. There was her name, assigned to the slot of homeroom-teacher.
“Oh, you're right.“
“Why? You didn't know?“, Mr. Chibiki asked with a meaningful expression.
With the middle finger of his right hand he repeatedly tipped against the center of his creamy white forehead and continued,
“She probably made some terrible experiences as well. And still they made her the assistant homeroom-teacher of the 3-3 this year...“
10
And even as we went on, we kept asking Mr. Chibiki different things about the events sorrounding the phenomenon.
Concerning myself there were many different things that were completely new information to me, but I think not the same could be said for Mei. I think she probably knew about most of the matter already.
Among the things I heard first were things such as that the calamity has something like a range. That was something that Mr. Chibiki who regarded himself as an observer, followed as something he had recorded as truth.
“The calamity befalls the members of class as well as family members up to second degree, that appears to be the range.“, he said in complete seriousness.
“This second degree range includes parents and grandparents as well as siblings. The presence of a blood relation became an important factor as well. There was never any instance of a non blood relative dying, like an adoptive parent or sibling. You could see them as outside the range as well.“
“Blood relation, hmm?!“, whispered Mei.
Blood related parents and grandparents as well as brothers and sisters. Aunts and uncles, as well as cousins were excluded.
“And there was another thing concerning the range. There was also the fact of geographical range as well. I think I mentioned it before, this is a phenomenon that has this very school and the town called Yomiyama as its center, that is because with increasing distance to the town its influence grows weaker.“
“So if you get far away you'd be safe?“
“It's a little shaky as a simile, but let's compare it to the OUT OF RANGE of a cell phone. There has never been any case of anybody dying while being in a removed area during the calamity. Even if they have their home in Yomiyama nobody ever died while outside of town. That's why...“
If that is the case, then wouldn't it be better to just run away from Yomiyama then?
“Ehm...is it okay to ask a question?“
It just came to me and so I had to ask this.
“Had there ever been something that happened on a class trip?“
As if I planned it, wrinkles appeared on Mr. Chibikis nose bridge out of depression and answered this,
“The tragedy of '87.“
“Sorry?“
“It was during the class trip of 1987 when a huge incident happened. At that time the class trip was in the first term of the third year, but because the destination is always a different prefecture and therefore out of range the students of the 3-3 have never been befallen by the calamity during that time. But then...“
Mr. Chibikis forehead grew more and more wrinkles and he spoke with an emotionless, yet tortured voice.
“That year the students headed towards the airport divided into different buses by class and that is when the accident happened. When they were on the highway, about to leave town or just crossing the border, the bus carrying the 3-3 collided with a truck that had left the opposite side of the road when the driver fell asleep...“
I waited for Meis reaction to this while I had a gloomy feeling in my heart. She didn't even change expression. Did she already know about this?
“In that gruesome accident the accompanying homeroom-teacher and 6 students of the 3-3, altogether 7 people lost their lifes. Many more dead and injured happened when the following buses crashed into the ensued accident.“
“That's why...the class trip was moved to the second year from the following year onward?“
“That is correct.“, Mr. Chibiki nodded with his forehead in wrinkles.
“It's not only the class-trip. Also field trips and even things like providing busses for all members of the school, all these things were cancelled for the 3rd graders after that tragedy.“
That was when the chime rang that announced the end of the 6th period.
Mr. Chibiki gave a short glance to the wall clock and then took a seat on the chair behind the counter. He removed his glasses again and cleaned his lenses.
“Shall we call it a day for now? The discussion has grown quite long.“
“That's...alright. But can I ask one thing?“
“What is it, Mr. Sakakibara?“
“I just wanted to ask about the results o the countermeassures.“
I placed both my hands on the counter and stared at the white face of the librarian.
“The practice of creating a Non-Existence in class as a countermeassure began only 10 years ago, but how high was the rate of success so far?“
“I see. That is truly quite a pressing question.“
Mr. Chibiki leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes, afterwards he let out a long breath. And in that same posture with his eyes still closed he answered.
“ '88, the very first year they did it, was a success. It seems like there was in fact a Dead One who snuck into class in April but no people died in the process. It was the year right after the tragedy of '87 and nobody wanted to risk anything so they were desperate to try something new. And so because of this it became a rule to use this countermeassure in case it was a year where it happened.
From the year after that until now...if we don't count this year, there was a total of 5 years where it happened. I mentioned it before but 2 years ago it failed midway through. Of the remaining 4 times there were apparently 2 successes and 2 failures.“
“And a failure means that the Non-Existent cast off his role?“
“No, not directly just that.“, when he answered Mr. Chibiki opened his eyes.
“Concerning this countermeassure there are many details that have to be decided upon. Like is it enough to treat the Non-Existent as inexistent in school and is it okay to treat him or her normaly after or does it have to be all the free-time associated with school as well. That's why nobody can actually say when it failed due to a mistake...“
“...my God.“
“But this is it. The real circumstances.“, he said glumly and pushed the bridge of his glasses up.
“I thought of all the different analogies, until now again and again. First and foremost I wouldn't call this a curse at all. I am sure that the case sorrounding Misaki from 26 years ago was the trigger but this catastrophe is not raining down through such workings, it's not his evil spirit, his lingering hatred or some curse. The people are also not dying due to the actions or the will of the Dead One that arrives.
There is nobodys wickedness or vile intent anywhere. Not anywhere at all. Taking that into account even if people that they feel but can't see any kind of evil when the catastrophe rains down --- then it's similar to a natural catastrophe.
This happens just naturally. That is why it is no curse. That is why it is a phenomenon. It is a natural phenomenon, like a typhoon or an earthquake, just that it's supernatural.“
“A supernatural, natural phenomenon...“
“I'd really like to be able to call it just a “supernatural phenomenon“. But even to the countermeassures to prevent it such reasons seem to exist. Like for example...“, Mr. Chibiki said while turning towards the window.
“The rain is falling. The first thing to do in order not to get wet is not to go outside. But in case we have to leave the house, we take an umbrella with us as a countermeassure. But no matter what umbrella you take, you can never fully protect your body from the rain. Even if that rain was falling in a perfectly straight line, through the way you held your umbrella or the way you walked, you would still get pretty wet. But it's still far better to carry an umbrella than not.“
Or isn't it, was the expression in his face when he turned back to us. Just when I was about to answer something, Mei said silently,
“It's like doing a raindance when there's a drought.“
“Huh?“
“You dance against the drought. But just dancing and dancing for rain to fall won't do any good, but the method of lighting a fire and sending smoke to the sky, that is principally a valid move. But even if it is done on a huge scales, there are cases where rain falls and those where it doesn't.“
“Hmm, something like this.“
“Well then, Mr. Chibiki?“
There had been enough similes for me, so I opened my mouth.
“So what about this year then? Raising the number of the Non-Existent to two, will that stop the calamity?“
“I can't say anything for sure, as I said before. But...“, and again he pushed the bridge of his glasses up.
“There has been almost no instance of the calamity being stopped midway after it had already started. Therefore...“
“Almost?“, I asked wondering about the exact meaning of that phrase.
“It's not like it never happened. That's all it means...“
Driiiiiing, came a sudden shrill sound, like the ring of an almost ancient telephone. Was that the ringtone of a cell phone?
“I'm sorry. Just a minute.“
Saying that Mr. Chibiki held the phone to his ear. He spoke in a very low tone, whispering only short answers so we couldn't understand. After hanging up he returned the cell phone to his pocket.
“My time is up for today. But you can come by anytime.“
“Oh, yes.“
“But I will be absent tommorrow. Some silly business came up and I have to get out of town for a while, if it really draws out I should be back at the beginning of next month.“
Calculating that Mr. Chibiki had a very tired expression on his face.
Suddenly he stood up from his chair and swooped the black folder up from under my hands. And that was when I remembered one other thing.
“I'm very sorry.“, I said apologetically.
“I have just one other thing that I'd like you to confirm.“
“Yes?“
“It's about 15 years ago. 15 years ago --- 1983, was that a year where it happened or where nothing happened?“
“'83?“
“The roster of that year should be in here as well. Therefore...“
“No, Mr. Sakakibara. Please don't.“, he said and withheld the folder.
“I remember now. It was the 4th year after I had run away to this librarians job...and it was a year where it happened. That class 3-3 was...“
I couldn't help myself from gasping loudly at that.
“So that's how it was. I had considered it, yes, but...Aah“
“What is it? What happened in that...oh“, and that was when Mr. Chibiki seemed to understand as well.
“I see. That was Reikos year.“
“...yes.“
1983 was the year when Reiko, who is now 29, was in the 3rd grade of middle-school. She was a member of class 3-3 at Yomi North. And...
“Also Ritsuko...your mother died that year, didn't she?“
A new form of shadow appeared on Mr. Chibikis face.
“You don't mean she was...in this town?“
“She came to her home in Yomiyama to give birth to me, so that she could stay at her birthplace after giving birth...that's why...“
“And she died in this town?“, whispered Mr. Chibiki with an open mouth.
“Back then I didn't truly grasp the whole dimension of it. So that's why. That's what happened.“
Yes. Yes, that's what happened.
The death of my mother, Ritsuko, 15 years ago.
Her condition after childbirth wasn't good and when she caught a summer cold...is all what I had heard about her death so far, but maybe it was in fact a part of the calamity connected to the class 3-3 at Yomi North. No, not maybe. There is no doubt that it was.
Maybe it truly was just a string of coincidences...that possibility had a possibility of existence. But at that time I had no strength in my heart to actually think like that.
Where did you see this? I cant seem to find any info and I have the volume 4 (manga) raws but don't see that either.
edit: hmm..maybe I see it. In which case if that is it, that's kinda lame way to throw it in at the end
Just in case people don't know, the finale of the manga is very different from the novel.
Spoiler for novel finale:
I'm gonna spoil part of the end of the story here beware!!
Spoiler:
In the novel the youth hostel is owned by the maternal grandparents of Takabayashi (the one who died of a heart attack). The grandmother goes insane after probably learning something about the death of her grandson and goes on a rampage. She first kills her husband, sets the kitchen on fire and then starts a killing spree through the building.
She is revealed to the reader when Kôichi returns to the hostel after checking on Kazami. There he sees Akazawa screaming in her room, a figure approaching from behind and then her falling down the balcony with stabwounds over her body. Then Kôichi tries to run away from killer-grandma and is saved by Chibiki.
So, no fight between Akazawa and Mei and no magical lighting making the gas tanks explode...
Because people seem to have extreme problems with Chibikis explanation concerning the phenomenon I decided to translate the much longer passage from the novel and make it available here. As someone suggested the novel thread is the best place as people can just be directly linked to the post but it needs a certain willingness to read it.
I don't know how high the spoiler factor actually is at this point (episode 6). The anime still has time to reveal some of the facts and trivia metioned in this passage so it's up to you if you want to risk it or not. There is no reveal to the central mystery, but there are many more cases of previous years used and therefore much of the functionality of the phenomenon is revealed...though the only NEW information is probably in sub-chapter 10 so you could skip that as well and save it for later...
Spoiler for Conversation with Chibiki: chapter 10, p. 382-409:
7
“I really don't want to talk much about that case from 26 years ago. And I have become the only person left at that school who knows about the case personally.“
The class 3-3 from 26 years ago. The death of everybody's darling Misaki. And...
“Nobody had any malicious intent back then.“
Mr. Chibiki spoke in a low voice, clenching his teeth.
“I was still young, I held unto certain ideals as a teacher...I chose this way because I believed it would make things better. It was the same for my students. Thinking about it now though, it was a foolish idea. As a result it became a trigger to all this. Now I have all the responsibility for the 'calamity' that started the year after and for not being able to stop it whatever I do. That is why I still remain at this school, even now. I quit as a teacher, but as a librarian ... you could probably say that it was half an escape.“
“Escape?“
I just blurted it out suddenly.
“Why...“
“Half of the reason why I quit being a teacher was remorse. I had no rights being a teacher. But that other half was that very real fear, that I myself could be caught by death if I ever again became the homeroom teacher of the 3-3. That's why it was an escape.“
“Where there instances of teachers dying as well?“
“Homeroom-teachers and assistant homeroom-teachers. They are also a member of the whole 3-3 group. Teachers who only hold classes are excluded from that.“
Aah, so then...that was when I realized it.
That is why Mochizuki Yûya was always noticing it when Miss Mikami took a day off too often. That was not only a student worrying about the health of a teacher he has a crush on. He was honestly concerned for her life, that she might become a victim to the 'calamity' ... because she's the assistant homeroom-teacher.
“That is why I ran away.“, repeated Mr. Chibiki.
“But I didn't want that to lead me into completely running away from this school. Through some lucky coincidences I got the position in this library and so I decided to stay here. To stay here always and watch over how the events are developing...oh, somehow I skipped a little too far ahead as it seems.“
Mr. Chibiki twisted his lips as if he was whispering something while stretching his neck. I used that opportunity to sneak a question in.
“That Misaki from 26 years ago, was that a boy or a girl?“
“A boy.“
He answered that so easily.
“Misaki wasn't his surname though, it was his given name. You know that cape, Erimomisaki on Hokkaido? It's written the same as the Misaki part from that word.“
“And his surname?“
“Yomiyama“
“Sorry?“
“It was Yomiyama. Written just the same as this town. Yomiyama Misaki, that was his full name.“
His name was Yomiyama...what?! Well maybe. It's the same as a Mrs. Adachi living in the Adachi district or a Mr. Musashino living in Musashino.
I looked in Meis direction. She was looking towards me as well, her head slightly tilted. It meant, “I'm just hearing about this now as well“.
“And this Misaki died in a plane crash or something?“
I asked only to make sure about it.
“In a fire.“
That answer too came out so easily.
“After that much time this story has been passed on from person to person and went through so many changes it developed a tail of different versions. I think the plane crash theory has been around since back then, but it was actually a fire. One night in May his home caught on fire and burned to the grounds. With it his whole family perished. His parents and his one year younger brother as well...“
“So that's what it was. And the cause?“
“Unknown. At least it was decided that it had not been a crime. Though there were theories sorrounding meteors...“
“Meteors?“
“His home was in the outskirts west of town in the direction of Asamidai. On that night there were claims of a giant shooting star. Maybe that was the cause of that fire. But I never heard of them finding any traces of it ... so it probably belongs to all the other rumors.“
“...I see.“
“According to my memory, these are the facts sorrounding Yomiyama Misakis death 26 years ago. But...“
Mr. Chibiki's eyes were fixated on his hands and in a very low voice he added,
“I have honestly no confidence that my memories are absolutely correct.“
“Eh?!“
“Maybe somewhere along the way a gap or some alteration crept into all this somehow. Without me noticing that is. Not only because this is a memory from way in the past but, how do I say this, I have this feeling that, without me actually noticing it, more than anything else my memories of this case become more and more vague. But you probably get it already, without me spelling it out.“
The aftereffect of something becoming a legend. The image of a phrase like that popped up in my head.
“What about the graduation picture with the Misaki who shouldn't be there in it?“, I tried asking.
“Sir...sorry, Mr. Chibiki, you've seen it?“
“I did.“
Mr. Chibiki nodded and just for a moment his gaze flew up to the ceiling.
“It was the memorial picture we took together in the old classroom in the old building. After some days students began getting upset and came flocking to me, bringing that picture along. It sure looked as if the figure of the dead Yomiyama Misaki was in it. Ah, if I remember correctly, Ritsuko was among the class members who came to me then.“
“My mother?“
“Only as far as I remember, of course.“
“Do you still have this picture?“
“No.“, his lips stiffened.
There was one additional copy but I threw that away. If I came upon one after that, honestly, I would be afraid. I always thought that this catastrophe continued because that picture existed in the first place.
“Uuh...“
Together with my sigh severe shivers went up both my arms.
“Shall we continue?“, and with that invitation Mr. Chibiki lowered his eyes again.
“The following year I was the homeroom-teacher of the first year students that's why I only know of the events of that years 3-3 from a bystanders perspective. I heard about there being a chair and desk too few at the beginning of the first term and about at least one student or one blood relative dying each month but I didn't get the idea yet that they'd have an intrinsical conncetion to the events of the year before. It was simply something painful that kept going on by accident.
But in the end 16 people lost their lifes during that one year...and right after the graduation ceremony I heard about it from the homeroom-teacher of the 3-3. It seemed like somehow during that year the student count had secretly been increased by one. A 'one more' who shouldn't be there seemed to have snuck into class. And only after the graduation ceremony when that student vanished did he notice.“
“Was that “'one more' who shouldn't be there“ Misakis younger brother who died the year before?“
“It seemed like it.“
The corner of Mr Chibikis mouth quivered and he hesitated to speak any further.
“I have the feeling that I should better say nothing about this at all. Haven't you heard from Misaki already? All the people who had any connection to the 'phenomenon' that occured in the 3-3 can't hold on to those memories, especially “who was mixed in as that 'one more'“. With time the memory fades until it vanishes completely.
To tell the truth, not even one month had passed and that teacher who told me all about it had forgotten everything concerning the events and my memory was failing me as well. Only because I barely managed to leave a memo in my notebook...“
- When the banks of the river burst the water bursts into town. But that water is soon going to ebb away again...
That simile that 'that particular person' Mei told me about last week used.
The truth that there was a flood remains of course, but after the water has receeded it becomes ambigious where exactly what part of the water went. It's similar to that.
Rather than just forgetting about it without a reason, maybe it's something you naturally can't keep yourself from forgetting.
“And the year after that this same phenomenon happened as well and many people died. This really was strange somehow and it seemed almost unnatural...that was the mindset that spread among all people connected to it. And then...“
Mr. Chibiki drove the fingers of his right hand through his disheveled hair so they stood up in a heap.
“And then 2 years after - in 1976 - I was once again chosen as the homeroom-teacher for the 3-3. And this is when I first experienced it. At this time it had just begun to be refered to as the “cursed 3-3“ when I became one of them again...“
8
The year before that - 1975 - was apparently a year where nothing happened. Maybe he held on to the hopes that something similar wouldn't happen again when he took his place in the '76 class 3-3, but...
That year was a year where it happened.
As a result there where 5 students and 9 close relatives, alltogether 14 people who lost their lifes during that year. Besides sickness they died through accidents, suicide, murder...so many different ways to die.
Maybe it is this classroom that is cursed. Mr. Chibiki got that idea and asked the schoolboard to relocate the class to another room, that was at the beginning of the summer break. But still the catastrophe did not stop...and after the graduation in March the “'one more' who shouldn't be there“ in other words the Dead One vanished.
Mr. Chibiki who was the homeroom-teacher then couldn't seem to remember himself who that “one more“ might have been. Afterwards he collected information and even though he got the name of somebody who might possibly have been that one, he couldn't remember his own experiences, he had forgotten everything concerning that. He apparently hadn't yet grasped the full extent of the problem concerning the memory of everyone involved...
While we listened to the story 5th period ended and the beginning of the 6th period passed as well.
It was still raining outside. During that hour we were talking it had grown into quite a shower. The windows of the old library rattled against the wind and sometimes raindrops beat against the glass.
“...And then again after 3 years, there was this chance to become the homeroom-teacher of class 3-3 again. I thought about refusing to do so, but this was no situation that you could just avoid. Maybe at least this year could become a year where nothing happens. I prayed, but it didn't help.“
Mr. Chibiki continued talking in a low voice, Mei and I huddled together and tried to listen closely.
“This year again I tried to attempt some simple countermeassures and sugested them to the school. We tried renaming the class names from X-1 or X-2 into X-A or X-B. So the 3-3 became the 3-C. I thought that maybe by renaming that ''place'' maybe the curse would disolve."
That apparently didn't work.
I had already heard about this from Mei. There were many plans and realizations of countermeassures, but non of them actually did any good. But it was through that that they developed a method that actually had some effect against the phenomenon. That was making somebody into a Non-Existence and ignore him to outweigh the presence of that One More.
“...the result was the same. That year as well we had many casualties.“
Mr. Chibiki sighed as if he didn't even want to stop, he watched us and apparently waited for a reaction. All I could do was nod silently.
“It seems like the One More during that year was a female student who had died while in class 3-3 during '76. Just to have some prove of that I wrote down her name right after the ceremony. That is why, even though all memories regarding the One More were lost, I can declare to myself that it “seems to have been that way“. I also understood through that, that the One More who sneeks into the class seems to be a dead chosen randomly among those who lost their lifes in the calamity of this phenomenon...“
Again Mr. Chibiki let out a long sigh.
“After that year was over I quit as a teacher. That was 18 years ago now. The principal at that time wasn't ever going to openly acknowledge this story, curse or anything, but as a sign that he understood what was going on I was able to carry on remaining at this school as the librarian here.
From that day on I have been staying here and have watched over the events. I came to the decision that I would observe every phenomenon from that year on as an outside observer. Well and sometimes there were students like you two, who would keep me company.“
Suddenly he stopped and looked towards us, waiting for another reaction. Compared to just before the tension had eased and his looks softened.
“Can I...ask one thing?“, I tried to ask.
“What is it?“
“I think I heard about it from Misaki but, during the time that One More...the Dead One is mixed into the class, some kind of manipulation of memories and records takes place? So this is how impossible things can acchieve coherence and I wouldn't even notice the Dead One? Is that really true?“
“It truly happens.“
There was not the slightest bit of hesitation in Mr. Chibikis answer.
“But you can't question why or by what method. Even if you'd ask, out of apparent reasons I couldn't explain. The only thing I can say is that it is that kind of a phenomenon.“
“......“
“You can't believe it, no?“
“But I can't really say that I have much doubt about it anymore.“
“What?“
Mr. Chibiki slowly took off his glasses, gripped into the pocket of his trousers and retrieved a crumpled hankerchief. Absentmindedly he wiped the dirt off the lenses.
“Well...“, he said looking up at us while putting on his glasses.
“It's probably better I show it to you. That is probably the fastest way to understand.“
So he opened one of the drawers on the opposite side of the desk and crammed through the content of said drawer only to finally reveal ---
A pitchblack filing folder.
9
“Wouldn't you like to see an easy to understand example with your own eyes.“
Saying that Mr. Chibiki handed the folder to us. Placing it on the counter I slowly and frightened placed my finger on it.
“It contains copies of the class rosters of all the 3-3s. All the 27 schoolyears from 1972 to this day. The newer ones are placed on top and it follows in that order downwards.“
While listening to his explanation I opened the folder.
Like Mr. Chibiki had said the first and second page were the class roster of 1998, in other words the current one of class 3-3. Under the part where it mentions Mr. Kubodera and Ms. Mikami as the homeroom-teacher and assistant homeroom-teacher respectively the names of the students where listed in order.
My own name ''Sakakibara Kôichi'' was added in handwriting on the bottom of the second page. Because I came late as a transfer student. And...
On the left beside the names of Sakuragi Yukari and Takabayashi Ikuo an X had been added in red marker. There was the name, their contact adress and in the empty field to the right there was ''26th May: died in accident on schoolground'' and ''Same day: mother Mieko died in car accident'' was added for Sakuragi. In Takabayashis line there was ''6th June: death through illness''. And one more , in the empty in Mizuno Takeshis line somebody wrote ''3rd June: Older Sister Sanae dies in accident at work''.
“By the way, please look at the class roster from 2 years back.“
That means last year was a year where nothing happened. So that's why I have to look at the year before that, I kept thinking it over, and like I was told I opened the page with the roster of 1996.
“I think you will probably have noticed already but I added red cross-marks to those people who died that year. And I added the date and reason of death in the empty slot. I also wrote down the relatives who died with similar comments.“
“Yes.“
When I tried counting the students with an X added to them I came up with 4 of them. And there were the names of 3 relatives. So that results to 7 people altogether...
“On the second page in the empty part down at the bottom there is a name written in blue ink.“
“Oh, yes.“
Asakura Mami
That was the name that stood there.
“That was the Dead One in that year.“, said Mr. Chibiki.
Mei who was sitting at my side turned around exactly then and stared down at the file down at our hands. When I felt her breath right at my side I felt deep inside a great impatience.
“That girl called Asakura Mami entered the class from the beginning of April to next years graduation in March. And nobody noticed how she was One More who shouldn't even be there.“
“Sorry, Mr. Chibiki.“, I mentioned.
“That year there were 7 people to die...that is not within the ''at least one person per month'' rule, is it?“
“That is because that year the countermeassures had an effect.“
“Countermeassures...“
“That charm that you should probably know all about already. Making somebody in the class into a Non-Existence.“
“Ah, yes.“
“It had its merit and so not even one person died during the first term. But when the second term began something nobody had expected happened.“
“What was that?“
“The student who had been chosen to become non-existent could no longer bear the weight of it and the feeling of exclusion and so he broke the commandment. He began shouting for everyone to accept him as existent, that he was actually there...and nobody was able to just sit by during his appeal.“
“And as a result the calamity started?“
“It appears that it happened that way.“
I couldn't help but notice that a slight breath escaped Meis mouth.
I don't know who it was that they chose as the Non-Existence, but because he (or maybe she) gave up the role halfway through it resulted in 7 people loosing their lifes. How did he (or she) react to that horrible truth and what happened when he had to face the class and him or herself? Only thinking about it made shivers go up my spine again.
“Well then...“, Mr. Chibiki continued.
The Dead One in 1996 was Asakura Mami as I have written down right here, but her name is nowhere else to be found on that years class roster. She was originally a student of the 3-3 in 1993, 3 years earlier, you will see if you check it that she died during the calamity that year.“
I turned the pages in the folder and checked the roster of 1993.
Just as Mr. Chibiki had said there was Asakura Mamis name and she had a red X attached. In the empty slot on the right hand side ''9th October: death by illness'' was added.
“So that is how that coherency is acchieved during that time. But...“
Mr. Chibiki shifted the weight of his upper-body on the desk and pointed to the corner of the folder with his index finger.
“During that time from April two years ago until the following March it was not like this.“
“Like this?“
“This is just according to my memory, so beware. But Asakura Mamis name must have been here on that class roster as a member of that class of '96 at the point of April 2 years ago. And, though that is just my recollection as well, her name didn't exist on the roster of the class of '93 at that point, it just vanished you could say. And the X and my notes on her death as well.“
“It all just vanished?“
“Yes.“, Mr. Chibiki nodded without even a smile.
“That is why it is useless to investigate anything while the current years pheomenon is in progress. It's not only the class rosters. From every other document in the school to records kept in the town hall, peoples diaries and notes, pictures or videos, even data that was stored on a PC, it's all the same with all of them...they are manipulations and changes inexplainable by common sense, they just happen by the Dead One sneaking into the class that year. And then those impossible things become coherent.“
“It's not only about records and such, it's also about the memories of those involved, right?!“
“Yes. Taking the story from 2 years back as an example, even I as a bystander had no suspicion at all about Asakura Mami, who shouldn't have been there, at that time. She actually did die in '93 when she was 14 but everybody had forgotten that truth. Her parents, friends and teachers...everyone.
More than that, because that Dead One who had snuck in was still 14 when she appeared in '96, everybody believed that fake truth that she had just advanced to the 3rd class of middle-school. Nobody doubted it, nobody could doubt it. And to complete it every memory of her past was manipulated and changed as well to make the events coherent.
And when that one year had passed, after the graduation ceremony, all the records and memories returned to how they had been before. And all the memories about her appearing as the Dead One dissappeared from the hearts of those who came in contact with her, classmates and family alike.
When I looked down at the list within the folder I lost every power to return anything. Any phrases like ''This is madness'' lost any meaning even before they entered my mouth. So I thought.
“Why does something like that happen? I said it before, but I just didn't see any reason. I didn't even understand how something like this could happen. Maybe in the end something actually physical like the entries in the list increasing or decreasing didn't happen at all. I even thought of something like that.“
“What are you saying?“, was what Mei asked.
And so Mr. Chibiki raised his shoulders with a deep inhale and,
“What if the problem lies with the people who are connected to this...maybe it is born from within myself. Maybe we all just accept a physical change that actually never happened as something that did happen.“
“Something like...group hypnosis?“
“Yes, like that. At least something like that. Maybe something like this actually does spread from the center of this school, around all of Yomiyama and at times even into the outside world...“
Having spoken so far Mr. Chibiki let out another drawn out sigh.
“But this as well is only the unbased ideas and delusions I ended up with after being a watcher for so long. I have no evidence and not even a way to proof it. Even if I could make sure of it, nothing would actually come out of it.“
“......“
“......“
“Basically it's a hopeless situation.“
Just as to prove his words he threw his hands into the air.
“I might as well say that the only thing of any use that we could draw from these cases is one thing and one thing only. That is simply put, you two being the current execution of the countermeassure. The countermeassure of creating a Non-Existence in class. This is of course just the strange idea of a countermeassure thought up by somebody ten years ago, but there have been years where the calamity was prevented by it, though there were of course cases like 2 years ago where it failed midway.“
“2 years ago...“, as if she spit them out Mei uttered those words.
And just as if to snuggle up to me again she looked closely at the folder.
“The homeroom-teacher of the 3-3 2 years ago was Ms. Mikami, right?“
Hearing this I suddenly felt a jolt and looked at the roster again. It was true. There was her name, assigned to the slot of homeroom-teacher.
“Oh, you're right.“
“Why? You didn't know?“, Mr. Chibiki asked with a meaningful expression.
With the middle finger of his right hand he repeatedly tipped against the center of his creamy white forehead and continued,
“She probably made some terrible experiences as well. And still they made her the assistant homeroom-teacher of the 3-3 this year...“
10
And even as we went on, we kept asking Mr. Chibiki different things about the events sorrounding the phenomenon.
Concerning myself there were many different things that were completely new information to me, but I think not the same could be said for Mei. I think she probably knew about most of the matter already.
Among the things I heard first were things such as that the calamity has something like a range. That was something that Mr. Chibiki who regarded himself as an observer, followed as something he had recorded as truth.
“The calamity befalls the members of class as well as family members up to second degree, that appears to be the range.“, he said in complete seriousness.
“This second degree range includes parents and grandparents as well as siblings. The presence of a blood relation became an important factor as well. There was never any instance of a non blood relative dying, like an adoptive parent or sibling. You could see them as outside the range as well.“
“Blood relation, hmm?!“, whispered Mei.
Blood related parents and grandparents as well as brothers and sisters. Aunts and uncles, as well as cousins were excluded.
“And there was another thing concerning the range. There was also the fact of geographical range as well. I think I mentioned it before, this is a phenomenon that has this very school and the town called Yomiyama as its center, that is because with increasing distance to the town its influence grows weaker.“
“So if you get far away you'd be safe?“
“It's a little shaky as a simile, but let's compare it to the OUT OF RANGE of a cell phone. There has never been any case of anybody dying while being in a removed area during the calamity. Even if they have their home in Yomiyama nobody ever died while outside of town. That's why...“
If that is the case, then wouldn't it be better to just run away from Yomiyama then?
“Ehm...is it okay to ask a question?“
It just came to me and so I had to ask this.
“Had there ever been something that happened on a class trip?“
As if I planned it, wrinkles appeared on Mr. Chibikis nose bridge out of depression and answered this,
“The tragedy of '87.“
“Sorry?“
“It was during the class trip of 1987 when a huge incident happened. At that time the class trip was in the first term of the third year, but because the destination is always a different prefecture and therefore out of range the students of the 3-3 have never been befallen by the calamity during that time. But then...“
Mr. Chibikis forehead grew more and more wrinkles and he spoke with an emotionless, yet tortured voice.
“That year the students headed towards the airport divided into different buses by class and that is when the accident happened. When they were on the highway, about to leave town or just crossing the border, the bus carrying the 3-3 collided with a truck that had left the opposite side of the road when the driver fell asleep...“
I waited for Meis reaction to this while I had a gloomy feeling in my heart. She didn't even change expression. Did she already know about this?
“In that gruesome accident the accompanying homeroom-teacher and 6 students of the 3-3, altogether 7 people lost their lifes. Many more dead and injured happened when the following buses crashed into the ensued accident.“
“That's why...the class trip was moved to the second year from the following year onward?“
“That is correct.“, Mr. Chibiki nodded with his forehead in wrinkles.
“It's not only the class-trip. Also field trips and even things like providing busses for all members of the school, all these things were cancelled for the 3rd graders after that tragedy.“
That was when the chime rang that announced the end of the 6th period.
Mr. Chibiki gave a short glance to the wall clock and then took a seat on the chair behind the counter. He removed his glasses again and cleaned his lenses.
“Shall we call it a day for now? The discussion has grown quite long.“
“That's...alright. But can I ask one thing?“
“What is it, Mr. Sakakibara?“
“I just wanted to ask about the results o the countermeassures.“
I placed both my hands on the counter and stared at the white face of the librarian.
“The practice of creating a Non-Existence in class as a countermeassure began only 10 years ago, but how high was the rate of success so far?“
“I see. That is truly quite a pressing question.“
Mr. Chibiki leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes, afterwards he let out a long breath. And in that same posture with his eyes still closed he answered.
“ '88, the very first year they did it, was a success. It seems like there was in fact a Dead One who snuck into class in April but no people died in the process. It was the year right after the tragedy of '87 and nobody wanted to risk anything so they were desperate to try something new. And so because of this it became a rule to use this countermeassure in case it was a year where it happened.
From the year after that until now...if we don't count this year, there was a total of 5 years where it happened. I mentioned it before but 2 years ago it failed midway through. Of the remaining 4 times there were apparently 2 successes and 2 failures.“
“And a failure means that the Non-Existent cast off his role?“
“No, not directly just that.“, when he answered Mr. Chibiki opened his eyes.
“Concerning this countermeassure there are many details that have to be decided upon. Like is it enough to treat the Non-Existent as inexistent in school and is it okay to treat him or her normaly after or does it have to be all the free-time associated with school as well. That's why nobody can actually say when it failed due to a mistake...“
“...my God.“
“But this is it. The real circumstances.“, he said glumly and pushed the bridge of his glasses up.
“I thought of all the different analogies, until now again and again. First and foremost I wouldn't call this a curse at all. I am sure that the case sorrounding Misaki from 26 years ago was the trigger but this catastrophe is not raining down through such workings, it's not his evil spirit, his lingering hatred or some curse. The people are also not dying due to the actions or the will of the Dead One that arrives.
There is nobodys wickedness or vile intent anywhere. Not anywhere at all. Taking that into account even if people that they feel but can't see any kind of evil when the catastrophe rains down --- then it's similar to a natural catastrophe.
This happens just naturally. That is why it is no curse. That is why it is a phenomenon. It is a natural phenomenon, like a typhoon or an earthquake, just that it's supernatural.“
“A supernatural, natural phenomenon...“
“I'd really like to be able to call it just a “supernatural phenomenon“. But even to the countermeassures to prevent it such reasons seem to exist. Like for example...“, Mr. Chibiki said while turning towards the window.
“The rain is falling. The first thing to do in order not to get wet is not to go outside. But in case we have to leave the house, we take an umbrella with us as a countermeassure. But no matter what umbrella you take, you can never fully protect your body from the rain. Even if that rain was falling in a perfectly straight line, through the way you held your umbrella or the way you walked, you would still get pretty wet. But it's still far better to carry an umbrella than not.“
Or isn't it, was the expression in his face when he turned back to us. Just when I was about to answer something, Mei said silently,
“It's like doing a raindance when there's a drought.“
“Huh?“
“You dance against the drought. But just dancing and dancing for rain to fall won't do any good, but the method of lighting a fire and sending smoke to the sky, that is principally a valid move. But even if it is done on a huge scales, there are cases where rain falls and those where it doesn't.“
“Hmm, something like this.“
“Well then, Mr. Chibiki?“
There had been enough similes for me, so I opened my mouth.
“So what about this year then? Raising the number of the Non-Existent to two, will that stop the calamity?“
“I can't say anything for sure, as I said before. But...“, and again he pushed the bridge of his glasses up.
“There has been almost no instance of the calamity being stopped midway after it had already started. Therefore...“
“Almost?“, I asked wondering about the exact meaning of that phrase.
“It's not like it never happened. That's all it means...“
Driiiiiing, came a sudden shrill sound, like the ring of an almost ancient telephone. Was that the ringtone of a cell phone?
“I'm sorry. Just a minute.“
Saying that Mr. Chibiki held the phone to his ear. He spoke in a very low tone, whispering only short answers so we couldn't understand. After hanging up he returned the cell phone to his pocket.
“My time is up for today. But you can come by anytime.“
“Oh, yes.“
“But I will be absent tommorrow. Some silly business came up and I have to get out of town for a while, if it really draws out I should be back at the beginning of next month.“
Calculating that Mr. Chibiki had a very tired expression on his face.
Suddenly he stood up from his chair and swooped the black folder up from under my hands. And that was when I remembered one other thing.
“I'm very sorry.“, I said apologetically.
“I have just one other thing that I'd like you to confirm.“
“Yes?“
“It's about 15 years ago. 15 years ago --- 1983, was that a year where it happened or where nothing happened?“
“'83?“
“The roster of that year should be in here as well. Therefore...“
“No, Mr. Sakakibara. Please don't.“, he said and withheld the folder.
“I remember now. It was the 4th year after I had run away to this librarians job...and it was a year where it happened. That class 3-3 was...“
I couldn't help myself from gasping loudly at that.
“So that's how it was. I had considered it, yes, but...Aah“
“What is it? What happened in that...oh“, and that was when Mr. Chibiki seemed to understand as well.
“I see. That was Reikos year.“
“...yes.“
1983 was the year when Reiko, who is now 29, was in the 3rd grade of middle-school. She was a member of class 3-3 at Yomi North. And...
“Also Ritsuko...your mother died that year, didn't she?“
A new form of shadow appeared on Mr. Chibikis face.
“You don't mean she was...in this town?“
“She came to her home in Yomiyama to give birth to me, so that she could stay at her birthplace after giving birth...that's why...“
“And she died in this town?“, whispered Mr. Chibiki with an open mouth.
“Back then I didn't truly grasp the whole dimension of it. So that's why. That's what happened.“
Yes. Yes, that's what happened.
The death of my mother, Ritsuko, 15 years ago.
Her condition after childbirth wasn't good and when she caught a summer cold...is all what I had heard about her death so far, but maybe it was in fact a part of the calamity connected to the class 3-3 at Yomi North. No, not maybe. There is no doubt that it was.
Maybe it truly was just a string of coincidences...that possibility had a possibility of existence. But at that time I had no strength in my heart to actually think like that.
I humbly thank you for putting in effort to translate something of this length. It was well worth it. Cleared up a few things I had in mind.
And, it also confirmed the one fear I had - as awesome as this anime looks to be, it clearly can't adapt the feel and the small details from the Novel. Oh well.
Can novel readers tell me, between anime and manga, what is more accurate to the novel?
I ask this because I watched another ep.7 and saw that Izumi's behavior and action are totally different from manga.There are also additional scene between her and MC in that cafe. So, I wonder if those scene are in novel or they are original.
P.S. Somehow, I like Izumi in anime more than in manga.
Because people seem to have extreme problems with Chibikis explanation concerning the phenomenon I decided to translate the much longer passage from the novel and make it available here. As someone suggested the novel thread is the best place as people can just be directly linked to the post but it needs a certain willingness to read it.
I don't know how high the spoiler factor actually is at this point (episode 6). The anime still has time to reveal some of the facts and trivia metioned in this passage so it's up to you if you want to risk it or not. There is no reveal to the central mystery, but there are many more cases of previous years used and therefore much of the functionality of the phenomenon is revealed...though the only NEW information is probably in sub-chapter 10 so you could skip that as well and save it for later...
Spoiler for Conversation with Chibiki: chapter 10, p. 382-409:
7
“I really don't want to talk much about that case from 26 years ago. And I have become the only person left at that school who knows about the case personally.“
The class 3-3 from 26 years ago. The death of everybody's darling Misaki. And...
“Nobody had any malicious intent back then.“
Mr. Chibiki spoke in a low voice, clenching his teeth.
“I was still young, I held unto certain ideals as a teacher...I chose this way because I believed it would make things better. It was the same for my students. Thinking about it now though, it was a foolish idea. As a result it became a trigger to all this. Now I have all the responsibility for the 'calamity' that started the year after and for not being able to stop it whatever I do. That is why I still remain at this school, even now. I quit as a teacher, but as a librarian ... you could probably say that it was half an escape.“
“Escape?“
I just blurted it out suddenly.
“Why...“
“Half of the reason why I quit being a teacher was remorse. I had no rights being a teacher. But that other half was that very real fear, that I myself could be caught by death if I ever again became the homeroom teacher of the 3-3. That's why it was an escape.“
“Where there instances of teachers dying as well?“
“Homeroom-teachers and assistant homeroom-teachers. They are also a member of the whole 3-3 group. Teachers who only hold classes are excluded from that.“
Aah, so then...that was when I realized it.
That is why Mochizuki Yûya was always noticing it when Miss Mikami took a day off too often. That was not only a student worrying about the health of a teacher he has a crush on. He was honestly concerned for her life, that she might become a victim to the 'calamity' ... because she's the assistant homeroom-teacher.
“That is why I ran away.“, repeated Mr. Chibiki.
“But I didn't want that to lead me into completely running away from this school. Through some lucky coincidences I got the position in this library and so I decided to stay here. To stay here always and watch over how the events are developing...oh, somehow I skipped a little too far ahead as it seems.“
Mr. Chibiki twisted his lips as if he was whispering something while stretching his neck. I used that opportunity to sneak a question in.
“That Misaki from 26 years ago, was that a boy or a girl?“
“A boy.“
He answered that so easily.
“Misaki wasn't his surname though, it was his given name. You know that cape, Erimomisaki on Hokkaido? It's written the same as the Misaki part from that word.“
“And his surname?“
“Yomiyama“
“Sorry?“
“It was Yomiyama. Written just the same as this town. Yomiyama Misaki, that was his full name.“
His name was Yomiyama...what?! Well maybe. It's the same as a Mrs. Adachi living in the Adachi district or a Mr. Musashino living in Musashino.
I looked in Meis direction. She was looking towards me as well, her head slightly tilted. It meant, “I'm just hearing about this now as well“.
“And this Misaki died in a plane crash or something?“
I asked only to make sure about it.
“In a fire.“
That answer too came out so easily.
“After that much time this story has been passed on from person to person and went through so many changes it developed a tail of different versions. I think the plane crash theory has been around since back then, but it was actually a fire. One night in May his home caught on fire and burned to the grounds. With it his whole family perished. His parents and his one year younger brother as well...“
“So that's what it was. And the cause?“
“Unknown. At least it was decided that it had not been a crime. Though there were theories sorrounding meteors...“
“Meteors?“
“His home was in the outskirts west of town in the direction of Asamidai. On that night there were claims of a giant shooting star. Maybe that was the cause of that fire. But I never heard of them finding any traces of it ... so it probably belongs to all the other rumors.“
“...I see.“
“According to my memory, these are the facts sorrounding Yomiyama Misakis death 26 years ago. But...“
Mr. Chibiki's eyes were fixated on his hands and in a very low voice he added,
“I have honestly no confidence that my memories are absolutely correct.“
“Eh?!“
“Maybe somewhere along the way a gap or some alteration crept into all this somehow. Without me noticing that is. Not only because this is a memory from way in the past but, how do I say this, I have this feeling that, without me actually noticing it, more than anything else my memories of this case become more and more vague. But you probably get it already, without me spelling it out.“
The aftereffect of something becoming a legend. The image of a phrase like that popped up in my head.
“What about the graduation picture with the Misaki who shouldn't be there in it?“, I tried asking.
“Sir...sorry, Mr. Chibiki, you've seen it?“
“I did.“
Mr. Chibiki nodded and just for a moment his gaze flew up to the ceiling.
“It was the memorial picture we took together in the old classroom in the old building. After some days students began getting upset and came flocking to me, bringing that picture along. It sure looked as if the figure of the dead Yomiyama Misaki was in it. Ah, if I remember correctly, Ritsuko was among the class members who came to me then.“
“My mother?“
“Only as far as I remember, of course.“
“Do you still have this picture?“
“No.“, his lips stiffened.
There was one additional copy but I threw that away. If I came upon one after that, honestly, I would be afraid. I always thought that this catastrophe continued because that picture existed in the first place.
“Uuh...“
Together with my sigh severe shivers went up both my arms.
“Shall we continue?“, and with that invitation Mr. Chibiki lowered his eyes again.
“The following year I was the homeroom-teacher of the first year students that's why I only know of the events of that years 3-3 from a bystanders perspective. I heard about there being a chair and desk too few at the beginning of the first term and about at least one student or one blood relative dying each month but I didn't get the idea yet that they'd have an intrinsical conncetion to the events of the year before. It was simply something painful that kept going on by accident.
But in the end 16 people lost their lifes during that one year...and right after the graduation ceremony I heard about it from the homeroom-teacher of the 3-3. It seemed like somehow during that year the student count had secretly been increased by one. A 'one more' who shouldn't be there seemed to have snuck into class. And only after the graduation ceremony when that student vanished did he notice.“
“Was that “'one more' who shouldn't be there“ Misakis younger brother who died the year before?“
“It seemed like it.“
The corner of Mr Chibikis mouth quivered and he hesitated to speak any further.
“I have the feeling that I should better say nothing about this at all. Haven't you heard from Misaki already? All the people who had any connection to the 'phenomenon' that occured in the 3-3 can't hold on to those memories, especially “who was mixed in as that 'one more'“. With time the memory fades until it vanishes completely.
To tell the truth, not even one month had passed and that teacher who told me all about it had forgotten everything concerning the events and my memory was failing me as well. Only because I barely managed to leave a memo in my notebook...“
- When the banks of the river burst the water bursts into town. But that water is soon going to ebb away again...
That simile that 'that particular person' Mei told me about last week used.
The truth that there was a flood remains of course, but after the water has receeded it becomes ambigious where exactly what part of the water went. It's similar to that.
Rather than just forgetting about it without a reason, maybe it's something you naturally can't keep yourself from forgetting.
“And the year after that this same phenomenon happened as well and many people died. This really was strange somehow and it seemed almost unnatural...that was the mindset that spread among all people connected to it. And then...“
Mr. Chibiki drove the fingers of his right hand through his disheveled hair so they stood up in a heap.
“And then 2 years after - in 1976 - I was once again chosen as the homeroom-teacher for the 3-3. And this is when I first experienced it. At this time it had just begun to be refered to as the “cursed 3-3“ when I became one of them again...“
8
The year before that - 1975 - was apparently a year where nothing happened. Maybe he held on to the hopes that something similar wouldn't happen again when he took his place in the '76 class 3-3, but...
That year was a year where it happened.
As a result there where 5 students and 9 close relatives, alltogether 14 people who lost their lifes during that year. Besides sickness they died through accidents, suicide, murder...so many different ways to die.
Maybe it is this classroom that is cursed. Mr. Chibiki got that idea and asked the schoolboard to relocate the class to another room, that was at the beginning of the summer break. But still the catastrophe did not stop...and after the graduation in March the “'one more' who shouldn't be there“ in other words the Dead One vanished.
Mr. Chibiki who was the homeroom-teacher then couldn't seem to remember himself who that “one more“ might have been. Afterwards he collected information and even though he got the name of somebody who might possibly have been that one, he couldn't remember his own experiences, he had forgotten everything concerning that. He apparently hadn't yet grasped the full extent of the problem concerning the memory of everyone involved...
While we listened to the story 5th period ended and the beginning of the 6th period passed as well.
It was still raining outside. During that hour we were talking it had grown into quite a shower. The windows of the old library rattled against the wind and sometimes raindrops beat against the glass.
“...And then again after 3 years, there was this chance to become the homeroom-teacher of class 3-3 again. I thought about refusing to do so, but this was no situation that you could just avoid. Maybe at least this year could become a year where nothing happens. I prayed, but it didn't help.“
Mr. Chibiki continued talking in a low voice, Mei and I huddled together and tried to listen closely.
“This year again I tried to attempt some simple countermeassures and sugested them to the school. We tried renaming the class names from X-1 or X-2 into X-A or X-B. So the 3-3 became the 3-C. I thought that maybe by renaming that ''place'' maybe the curse would disolve."
That apparently didn't work.
I had already heard about this from Mei. There were many plans and realizations of countermeassures, but non of them actually did any good. But it was through that that they developed a method that actually had some effect against the phenomenon. That was making somebody into a Non-Existence and ignore him to outweigh the presence of that One More.
“...the result was the same. That year as well we had many casualties.“
Mr. Chibiki sighed as if he didn't even want to stop, he watched us and apparently waited for a reaction. All I could do was nod silently.
“It seems like the One More during that year was a female student who had died while in class 3-3 during '76. Just to have some prove of that I wrote down her name right after the ceremony. That is why, even though all memories regarding the One More were lost, I can declare to myself that it “seems to have been that way“. I also understood through that, that the One More who sneeks into the class seems to be a dead chosen randomly among those who lost their lifes in the calamity of this phenomenon...“
Again Mr. Chibiki let out a long sigh.
“After that year was over I quit as a teacher. That was 18 years ago now. The principal at that time wasn't ever going to openly acknowledge this story, curse or anything, but as a sign that he understood what was going on I was able to carry on remaining at this school as the librarian here.
From that day on I have been staying here and have watched over the events. I came to the decision that I would observe every phenomenon from that year on as an outside observer. Well and sometimes there were students like you two, who would keep me company.“
Suddenly he stopped and looked towards us, waiting for another reaction. Compared to just before the tension had eased and his looks softened.
“Can I...ask one thing?“, I tried to ask.
“What is it?“
“I think I heard about it from Misaki but, during the time that One More...the Dead One is mixed into the class, some kind of manipulation of memories and records takes place? So this is how impossible things can acchieve coherence and I wouldn't even notice the Dead One? Is that really true?“
“It truly happens.“
There was not the slightest bit of hesitation in Mr. Chibikis answer.
“But you can't question why or by what method. Even if you'd ask, out of apparent reasons I couldn't explain. The only thing I can say is that it is that kind of a phenomenon.“
“......“
“You can't believe it, no?“
“But I can't really say that I have much doubt about it anymore.“
“What?“
Mr. Chibiki slowly took off his glasses, gripped into the pocket of his trousers and retrieved a crumpled hankerchief. Absentmindedly he wiped the dirt off the lenses.
“Well...“, he said looking up at us while putting on his glasses.
“It's probably better I show it to you. That is probably the fastest way to understand.“
So he opened one of the drawers on the opposite side of the desk and crammed through the content of said drawer only to finally reveal ---
A pitchblack filing folder.
9
“Wouldn't you like to see an easy to understand example with your own eyes.“
Saying that Mr. Chibiki handed the folder to us. Placing it on the counter I slowly and frightened placed my finger on it.
“It contains copies of the class rosters of all the 3-3s. All the 27 schoolyears from 1972 to this day. The newer ones are placed on top and it follows in that order downwards.“
While listening to his explanation I opened the folder.
Like Mr. Chibiki had said the first and second page were the class roster of 1998, in other words the current one of class 3-3. Under the part where it mentions Mr. Kubodera and Ms. Mikami as the homeroom-teacher and assistant homeroom-teacher respectively the names of the students where listed in order.
My own name ''Sakakibara Kôichi'' was added in handwriting on the bottom of the second page. Because I came late as a transfer student. And...
On the left beside the names of Sakuragi Yukari and Takabayashi Ikuo an X had been added in red marker. There was the name, their contact adress and in the empty field to the right there was ''26th May: died in accident on schoolground'' and ''Same day: mother Mieko died in car accident'' was added for Sakuragi. In Takabayashis line there was ''6th June: death through illness''. And one more , in the empty in Mizuno Takeshis line somebody wrote ''3rd June: Older Sister Sanae dies in accident at work''.
“By the way, please look at the class roster from 2 years back.“
That means last year was a year where nothing happened. So that's why I have to look at the year before that, I kept thinking it over, and like I was told I opened the page with the roster of 1996.
“I think you will probably have noticed already but I added red cross-marks to those people who died that year. And I added the date and reason of death in the empty slot. I also wrote down the relatives who died with similar comments.“
“Yes.“
When I tried counting the students with an X added to them I came up with 4 of them. And there were the names of 3 relatives. So that results to 7 people altogether...
“On the second page in the empty part down at the bottom there is a name written in blue ink.“
“Oh, yes.“
Asakura Mami
That was the name that stood there.
“That was the Dead One in that year.“, said Mr. Chibiki.
Mei who was sitting at my side turned around exactly then and stared down at the file down at our hands. When I felt her breath right at my side I felt deep inside a great impatience.
“That girl called Asakura Mami entered the class from the beginning of April to next years graduation in March. And nobody noticed how she was One More who shouldn't even be there.“
“Sorry, Mr. Chibiki.“, I mentioned.
“That year there were 7 people to die...that is not within the ''at least one person per month'' rule, is it?“
“That is because that year the countermeassures had an effect.“
“Countermeassures...“
“That charm that you should probably know all about already. Making somebody in the class into a Non-Existence.“
“Ah, yes.“
“It had its merit and so not even one person died during the first term. But when the second term began something nobody had expected happened.“
“What was that?“
“The student who had been chosen to become non-existent could no longer bear the weight of it and the feeling of exclusion and so he broke the commandment. He began shouting for everyone to accept him as existent, that he was actually there...and nobody was able to just sit by during his appeal.“
“And as a result the calamity started?“
“It appears that it happened that way.“
I couldn't help but notice that a slight breath escaped Meis mouth.
I don't know who it was that they chose as the Non-Existence, but because he (or maybe she) gave up the role halfway through it resulted in 7 people loosing their lifes. How did he (or she) react to that horrible truth and what happened when he had to face the class and him or herself? Only thinking about it made shivers go up my spine again.
“Well then...“, Mr. Chibiki continued.
The Dead One in 1996 was Asakura Mami as I have written down right here, but her name is nowhere else to be found on that years class roster. She was originally a student of the 3-3 in 1993, 3 years earlier, you will see if you check it that she died during the calamity that year.“
I turned the pages in the folder and checked the roster of 1993.
Just as Mr. Chibiki had said there was Asakura Mamis name and she had a red X attached. In the empty slot on the right hand side ''9th October: death by illness'' was added.
“So that is how that coherency is acchieved during that time. But...“
Mr. Chibiki shifted the weight of his upper-body on the desk and pointed to the corner of the folder with his index finger.
“During that time from April two years ago until the following March it was not like this.“
“Like this?“
“This is just according to my memory, so beware. But Asakura Mamis name must have been here on that class roster as a member of that class of '96 at the point of April 2 years ago. And, though that is just my recollection as well, her name didn't exist on the roster of the class of '93 at that point, it just vanished you could say. And the X and my notes on her death as well.“
“It all just vanished?“
“Yes.“, Mr. Chibiki nodded without even a smile.
“That is why it is useless to investigate anything while the current years pheomenon is in progress. It's not only the class rosters. From every other document in the school to records kept in the town hall, peoples diaries and notes, pictures or videos, even data that was stored on a PC, it's all the same with all of them...they are manipulations and changes inexplainable by common sense, they just happen by the Dead One sneaking into the class that year. And then those impossible things become coherent.“
“It's not only about records and such, it's also about the memories of those involved, right?!“
“Yes. Taking the story from 2 years back as an example, even I as a bystander had no suspicion at all about Asakura Mami, who shouldn't have been there, at that time. She actually did die in '93 when she was 14 but everybody had forgotten that truth. Her parents, friends and teachers...everyone.
More than that, because that Dead One who had snuck in was still 14 when she appeared in '96, everybody believed that fake truth that she had just advanced to the 3rd class of middle-school. Nobody doubted it, nobody could doubt it. And to complete it every memory of her past was manipulated and changed as well to make the events coherent.
And when that one year had passed, after the graduation ceremony, all the records and memories returned to how they had been before. And all the memories about her appearing as the Dead One dissappeared from the hearts of those who came in contact with her, classmates and family alike.
When I looked down at the list within the folder I lost every power to return anything. Any phrases like ''This is madness'' lost any meaning even before they entered my mouth. So I thought.
“Why does something like that happen? I said it before, but I just didn't see any reason. I didn't even understand how something like this could happen. Maybe in the end something actually physical like the entries in the list increasing or decreasing didn't happen at all. I even thought of something like that.“
“What are you saying?“, was what Mei asked.
And so Mr. Chibiki raised his shoulders with a deep inhale and,
“What if the problem lies with the people who are connected to this...maybe it is born from within myself. Maybe we all just accept a physical change that actually never happened as something that did happen.“
“Something like...group hypnosis?“
“Yes, like that. At least something like that. Maybe something like this actually does spread from the center of this school, around all of Yomiyama and at times even into the outside world...“
Having spoken so far Mr. Chibiki let out another drawn out sigh.
“But this as well is only the unbased ideas and delusions I ended up with after being a watcher for so long. I have no evidence and not even a way to proof it. Even if I could make sure of it, nothing would actually come out of it.“
“......“
“......“
“Basically it's a hopeless situation.“
Just as to prove his words he threw his hands into the air.
“I might as well say that the only thing of any use that we could draw from these cases is one thing and one thing only. That is simply put, you two being the current execution of the countermeassure. The countermeassure of creating a Non-Existence in class. This is of course just the strange idea of a countermeassure thought up by somebody ten years ago, but there have been years where the calamity was prevented by it, though there were of course cases like 2 years ago where it failed midway.“
“2 years ago...“, as if she spit them out Mei uttered those words.
And just as if to snuggle up to me again she looked closely at the folder.
“The homeroom-teacher of the 3-3 2 years ago was Ms. Mikami, right?“
Hearing this I suddenly felt a jolt and looked at the roster again. It was true. There was her name, assigned to the slot of homeroom-teacher.
“Oh, you're right.“
“Why? You didn't know?“, Mr. Chibiki asked with a meaningful expression.
With the middle finger of his right hand he repeatedly tipped against the center of his creamy white forehead and continued,
“She probably made some terrible experiences as well. And still they made her the assistant homeroom-teacher of the 3-3 this year...“
10
And even as we went on, we kept asking Mr. Chibiki different things about the events sorrounding the phenomenon.
Concerning myself there were many different things that were completely new information to me, but I think not the same could be said for Mei. I think she probably knew about most of the matter already.
Among the things I heard first were things such as that the calamity has something like a range. That was something that Mr. Chibiki who regarded himself as an observer, followed as something he had recorded as truth.
“The calamity befalls the members of class as well as family members up to second degree, that appears to be the range.“, he said in complete seriousness.
“This second degree range includes parents and grandparents as well as siblings. The presence of a blood relation became an important factor as well. There was never any instance of a non blood relative dying, like an adoptive parent or sibling. You could see them as outside the range as well.“
“Blood relation, hmm?!“, whispered Mei.
Blood related parents and grandparents as well as brothers and sisters. Aunts and uncles, as well as cousins were excluded.
“And there was another thing concerning the range. There was also the fact of geographical range as well. I think I mentioned it before, this is a phenomenon that has this very school and the town called Yomiyama as its center, that is because with increasing distance to the town its influence grows weaker.“
“So if you get far away you'd be safe?“
“It's a little shaky as a simile, but let's compare it to the OUT OF RANGE of a cell phone. There has never been any case of anybody dying while being in a removed area during the calamity. Even if they have their home in Yomiyama nobody ever died while outside of town. That's why...“
If that is the case, then wouldn't it be better to just run away from Yomiyama then?
“Ehm...is it okay to ask a question?“
It just came to me and so I had to ask this.
“Had there ever been something that happened on a class trip?“
As if I planned it, wrinkles appeared on Mr. Chibikis nose bridge out of depression and answered this,
“The tragedy of '87.“
“Sorry?“
“It was during the class trip of 1987 when a huge incident happened. At that time the class trip was in the first term of the third year, but because the destination is always a different prefecture and therefore out of range the students of the 3-3 have never been befallen by the calamity during that time. But then...“
Mr. Chibikis forehead grew more and more wrinkles and he spoke with an emotionless, yet tortured voice.
“That year the students headed towards the airport divided into different buses by class and that is when the accident happened. When they were on the highway, about to leave town or just crossing the border, the bus carrying the 3-3 collided with a truck that had left the opposite side of the road when the driver fell asleep...“
I waited for Meis reaction to this while I had a gloomy feeling in my heart. She didn't even change expression. Did she already know about this?
“In that gruesome accident the accompanying homeroom-teacher and 6 students of the 3-3, altogether 7 people lost their lifes. Many more dead and injured happened when the following buses crashed into the ensued accident.“
“That's why...the class trip was moved to the second year from the following year onward?“
“That is correct.“, Mr. Chibiki nodded with his forehead in wrinkles.
“It's not only the class-trip. Also field trips and even things like providing busses for all members of the school, all these things were cancelled for the 3rd graders after that tragedy.“
That was when the chime rang that announced the end of the 6th period.
Mr. Chibiki gave a short glance to the wall clock and then took a seat on the chair behind the counter. He removed his glasses again and cleaned his lenses.
“Shall we call it a day for now? The discussion has grown quite long.“
“That's...alright. But can I ask one thing?“
“What is it, Mr. Sakakibara?“
“I just wanted to ask about the results o the countermeassures.“
I placed both my hands on the counter and stared at the white face of the librarian.
“The practice of creating a Non-Existence in class as a countermeassure began only 10 years ago, but how high was the rate of success so far?“
“I see. That is truly quite a pressing question.“
Mr. Chibiki leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes, afterwards he let out a long breath. And in that same posture with his eyes still closed he answered.
“ '88, the very first year they did it, was a success. It seems like there was in fact a Dead One who snuck into class in April but no people died in the process. It was the year right after the tragedy of '87 and nobody wanted to risk anything so they were desperate to try something new. And so because of this it became a rule to use this countermeassure in case it was a year where it happened.
From the year after that until now...if we don't count this year, there was a total of 5 years where it happened. I mentioned it before but 2 years ago it failed midway through. Of the remaining 4 times there were apparently 2 successes and 2 failures.“
“And a failure means that the Non-Existent cast off his role?“
“No, not directly just that.“, when he answered Mr. Chibiki opened his eyes.
“Concerning this countermeassure there are many details that have to be decided upon. Like is it enough to treat the Non-Existent as inexistent in school and is it okay to treat him or her normaly after or does it have to be all the free-time associated with school as well. That's why nobody can actually say when it failed due to a mistake...“
“...my God.“
“But this is it. The real circumstances.“, he said glumly and pushed the bridge of his glasses up.
“I thought of all the different analogies, until now again and again. First and foremost I wouldn't call this a curse at all. I am sure that the case sorrounding Misaki from 26 years ago was the trigger but this catastrophe is not raining down through such workings, it's not his evil spirit, his lingering hatred or some curse. The people are also not dying due to the actions or the will of the Dead One that arrives.
There is nobodys wickedness or vile intent anywhere. Not anywhere at all. Taking that into account even if people that they feel but can't see any kind of evil when the catastrophe rains down --- then it's similar to a natural catastrophe.
This happens just naturally. That is why it is no curse. That is why it is a phenomenon. It is a natural phenomenon, like a typhoon or an earthquake, just that it's supernatural.“
“A supernatural, natural phenomenon...“
“I'd really like to be able to call it just a “supernatural phenomenon“. But even to the countermeassures to prevent it such reasons seem to exist. Like for example...“, Mr. Chibiki said while turning towards the window.
“The rain is falling. The first thing to do in order not to get wet is not to go outside. But in case we have to leave the house, we take an umbrella with us as a countermeassure. But no matter what umbrella you take, you can never fully protect your body from the rain. Even if that rain was falling in a perfectly straight line, through the way you held your umbrella or the way you walked, you would still get pretty wet. But it's still far better to carry an umbrella than not.“
Or isn't it, was the expression in his face when he turned back to us. Just when I was about to answer something, Mei said silently,
“It's like doing a raindance when there's a drought.“
“Huh?“
“You dance against the drought. But just dancing and dancing for rain to fall won't do any good, but the method of lighting a fire and sending smoke to the sky, that is principally a valid move. But even if it is done on a huge scales, there are cases where rain falls and those where it doesn't.“
“Hmm, something like this.“
“Well then, Mr. Chibiki?“
There had been enough similes for me, so I opened my mouth.
“So what about this year then? Raising the number of the Non-Existent to two, will that stop the calamity?“
“I can't say anything for sure, as I said before. But...“, and again he pushed the bridge of his glasses up.
“There has been almost no instance of the calamity being stopped midway after it had already started. Therefore...“
“Almost?“, I asked wondering about the exact meaning of that phrase.
“It's not like it never happened. That's all it means...“
Driiiiiing, came a sudden shrill sound, like the ring of an almost ancient telephone. Was that the ringtone of a cell phone?
“I'm sorry. Just a minute.“
Saying that Mr. Chibiki held the phone to his ear. He spoke in a very low tone, whispering only short answers so we couldn't understand. After hanging up he returned the cell phone to his pocket.
“My time is up for today. But you can come by anytime.“
“Oh, yes.“
“But I will be absent tommorrow. Some silly business came up and I have to get out of town for a while, if it really draws out I should be back at the beginning of next month.“
Calculating that Mr. Chibiki had a very tired expression on his face.
Suddenly he stood up from his chair and swooped the black folder up from under my hands. And that was when I remembered one other thing.
“I'm very sorry.“, I said apologetically.
“I have just one other thing that I'd like you to confirm.“
“Yes?“
“It's about 15 years ago. 15 years ago --- 1983, was that a year where it happened or where nothing happened?“
“'83?“
“The roster of that year should be in here as well. Therefore...“
“No, Mr. Sakakibara. Please don't.“, he said and withheld the folder.
“I remember now. It was the 4th year after I had run away to this librarians job...and it was a year where it happened. That class 3-3 was...“
I couldn't help myself from gasping loudly at that.
“So that's how it was. I had considered it, yes, but...Aah“
“What is it? What happened in that...oh“, and that was when Mr. Chibiki seemed to understand as well.
“I see. That was Reikos year.“
“...yes.“
1983 was the year when Reiko, who is now 29, was in the 3rd grade of middle-school. She was a member of class 3-3 at Yomi North. And...
“Also Ritsuko...your mother died that year, didn't she?“
A new form of shadow appeared on Mr. Chibikis face.
“You don't mean she was...in this town?“
“She came to her home in Yomiyama to give birth to me, so that she could stay at her birthplace after giving birth...that's why...“
“And she died in this town?“, whispered Mr. Chibiki with an open mouth.
“Back then I didn't truly grasp the whole dimension of it. So that's why. That's what happened.“
Yes. Yes, that's what happened.
The death of my mother, Ritsuko, 15 years ago.
Her condition after childbirth wasn't good and when she caught a summer cold...is all what I had heard about her death so far, but maybe it was in fact a part of the calamity connected to the class 3-3 at Yomi North. No, not maybe. There is no doubt that it was.
Maybe it truly was just a string of coincidences...that possibility had a possibility of existence. But at that time I had no strength in my heart to actually think like that.
Thank you very much. I was wondering how Chibiki can be so sure of himself in the anime, and this makes it clear that he's well aware the conclusions he drew from his observations could be wrong. The school trip being moved down a year was a surprise though, did the anime change things to fit in a beach episode next?
__________________
Currently watching: Arrow, The Flash, Gundam IBO, Euphonium, Occultic;Nine, Girlish Number
Can novel readers tell me, between anime and manga, what is more accurate to the novel?
I ask this because I watched another ep.7 and saw that Izumi's behavior and action are totally different from manga.
I heard that manga is more accurate, Izumi (manga version) is similar to Izumi (novel version) while Izumi (anime version) has different personality...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marina2
There are also additional scene between her and MC in that cafe. So, I wonder if those scene are in novel or they are original..
The school trip being moved down a year was a surprise though, did the anime change things to fit in a beach episode next?
No. The school trip being moved to the 2nd year of middle school was still a topic. I think Kôichi discussed it in episode 3 with Sakuragi if I remember correctly...or Teshigawara. It is a huge deal that they are attempting another school trip during the 3rd year now.
I still hope we learn that part of the story that deals with previous school trips next episode.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rememblaire
I heard that manga is more accurate, Izumi (manga version) is similar to Izumi (novel version) while Izumi (anime version) has different personality...
Well both are not completely accurate. While the manga made her much more aggressive and vile the anime canceled those traits out completely and made her a real part of the gang.
The anime goes as far as to apparently write Kazami completely out of those scenes and let Izumi take his lines as well...probably so that it wouldn't be an all guys group when Mei is gone. That's one of the things that shows, the series will have lots and lots of skimpy clad girls merchandise later on
Spoiler for About Izumi fate in anime compare to manga&novel:
Now, I hope Izumi will survive in anime because I am really like her now >.< The whole personality change and her additional and orginal scene must have some meaning right? At least, there must be the ep. where she remember when did she meet MC before.
2012-01-31, 23:13
) and especially the creepy parts, but I think it will do much better by ending in a different way.
Author
