Another (generic discussion thread)

[Guardian Enzo]

"I don't exist" can just as easily refer to social status as physical. I've heard that exact expression used about pariah kids many times.

Also - not endorsing any specific theory, but if students and teachers can pretend a dead girl is really alive, I see no reason to assume they can't pretend a real girl doesn't exist.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by konart

Spoiler for cover(s):

Or is it not a novel cover?

The one on the right is the cover of the second volume, I believe. I had only ever seen the first one.

Originally Posted by miketyson

Way too long speculation:

Spoiler for Mystery Speculation:

Just applying logic: it's not clear how wide of a radius the secret is really known for. The kids at school know. The aunt knows (see below), and the female assistant teacher knows (not sure about older male teacher). But, beyond that, the nurse doesn't seem to know, does she?

I might've missed her saying she just moved down from Tokyo, or whatever, but as of episode 3 she also mentioned her younger siblings are seemingly on the same exam schedule as our protagonist, which makes her into a local resident.

If the nurse doesn't know about the curse that seems really significant: the standard trope for "small town" settings is everyone knows everyone and everyone knows almost everything, but that's not true here. It's a piece that doesn't fit, and as I see it there are two rough possibilities:

Either: the aunt is the anomaly; most locals don't know about the curse, she does, and the fact she does is very important.

Or: the nurse is the anomaly; most locals know about the curse, she doesn't, and the fact she doesn't is very important.

I'm inclined to think it's the aunt that's the likelier anomaly, but for what're mostly meta-reasons (she's more-closely related to the protagonist and has gotten more screentime so far); there's also the way the nurse is anomalously helpful to the protagonist (she tries to answer his questions, no one else does).

That to me is the main mystery right now (not Mei): how real is the mystery? How widely known is it? Why do the people who know about it know about it? Why do the people who don't know, don't know (and why can't they be told about it)?

We have an additional hint about something being not quite right with the school trip to tokyo: the "countermeasures-chan" thinks she met the protagonist somewhere before, and the class took a trip to Tokyo (where the protagonist could live). Too soon to know if that's just a red-herring, but it seems designed to suggest that she might've met him there and then something weird happened so that they don't remember clearly. Could be memory alteration, could be some kind of time loop, etc..

A final thought: my gut on Mei is she's just an unpopular, creepy girl from an unpopular, creepy family, whom the class naturally chose as a scapegoat/sacrifice/whatever; they didn't like her anyways, she didn't like them anyways, so she was the natural choice. Her situation seems too much like a lame fake-out for her to any kind of ghost; I think she just enjoys trolling the protagonist a bit (behaving like that, it's not her fault she's not popular).

The aunt went to that school too, didn't she? There's nothing odd about her knowing about the curse. It's hard to say how infamous that urban legend is, but I'm sure all the people who attended middle school there heard of it at least once. The way Tracksuit-kun (I really need to learn the name of the characters in this show... I only know Mei and Kouichi) said it sucked he ended up in the cursed Class 3 gave me the impression he already knew about the legend beforehand. At this point I think Kouichi is the only at school who is clueless.

So, right now, I'm inclined to think the nurse is the anomaly. She might be an outsider who only moved here for work.

I share your view of Mei. She really seems to enjoy creeping Kouichi out. I don't think she has any ill intent though, she just learned to like scaring people off using her status as "the Ghost" as that is probably the only kind of entertainment she can have anyway, being shut out by everybody. I love her voice by the way - her tone is perfect. I could listen to her scary stories for hours.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

"I don't exist" can just as easily refer to social status as physical. I've heard that exact expression used about pariah kids many times.

Also - not endorsing any specific theory, but if students and teachers can pretend a dead girl is really alive, I see no reason to assume they can't pretend a real girl doesn't exist.

Indeed. the whole thing could still be a red herring.

But damn that last scene...

Holy frik...

[Robotech Master]

I think the general idea, so far, is that they pretend she doesn't exist because bad things happen IF they acknowledge she exists. If anyone does. Everyone in the school, maybe in the whole town, is in on it. That's why they don't want him associating with her; by doing so, he's going to cause tragedies to befall people.

Whatever force controls those "bad things" is likely separate and has been there for 26 years at least, but I guess it is held at bay if there is someone who, I don't know how to put it...effectively takes the place of the original dead girl?

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for ep3:

"You want to see what is under this eyepatch...?"
((((；ﾟДﾟ))))ｶﾞｸｶﾞｸﾌﾞﾙﾌﾞﾙ
...
ヽ(・ω・)/ｽﾞｺｰ
Just a fake eye?! With that atmosphere and build-up, I thought it was something scarier than just a fake eye. On top of that, it... err, apparently can see stuff others can't see.

I thought the characters would "transfer" a bit more peacefully, so I was surprised when a character died off in a Final Destination-leveled (for better or worse) accident. Woah~!
I'm afraid the nurse (who hasn't died yet, phew...) might get her head stuck between elevator doors or get dosed in acid.

[Qikz]

I've just noticed something. How did the umbrella open when she dropped it? :S

[User165949]

it would have been - how could I say that - maybe a good word would be "romantic" if Mei

Spoiler:

was originally an "empty doll" and through various soul-catching killings she became almost human, with only her eye left as a doll

anyway, up until now, couldn't sense any intentional ill intent from the girl. on the contrary, she's telling the male lead to stay at a safe distance from her - and leading him on where he would be more confortable. again, she seems to possess a warm personality, just a little creepy

[PringlesXD]

Wow, the episode was just amazing.
Everyone who wasn't enjoying the series certainly are now.
And the end... wow.

[haguruma]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

Spoiler for ep3:

"You want to see what is under this eyepatch...?"
((((；ﾟДﾟ))))ｶﾞｸｶﾞｸﾌﾞﾙﾌﾞﾙ
...
ヽ(・ω・)/ｽﾞｺｰ
Just a fake eye?! With that atmosphere and build-up, I thought it was something scarier than just a fake eye. On top of that, it... err, apparently can see stuff others can't see.

I thought the characters would "transfer" a bit more peacefully, so I was surprised when a character died off in a Final Destination-leveled (for better or worse) accident. Woah~!
I'm afraid the nurse (who hasn't died yet, phew...) might get her head stuck between elevator doors or get dosed in acid.

Just one thing that could become important.
The shop’s name 夜見のたそがれの・うつろなる蒼き瞳の　(Yomi no tasogare no – utsuro naru aoki hitomi no) was translated as “The Hollow Blue Eyes of Yomi at Twilight” in episode 2 of the anime (I'm not sure about how other subbers went with the translation) but the Japanese aoki is both blue and green.
I would translate it as (the title is like a poem and not that easy to translate) "From the Twilight of Yomi and the Hollow Green Eye".

In the novel when Mei removes her eyepatch among Kouichi’s first thought is “utsuro naru aoki hitomi” – “the hollow blue/green eye”.
Somehow this didn’t make it into the anime, probably because the difference isn’t there in such an instance and Japanese people immediatly make that connection.
When I read this part in the novel I thought of a blue eye as well, but maybe the Kanji they used is leaning more towards green than blue...who knows.

Anyways, just thought this is worthy to mention.

[Arya]

Originally Posted by Robotech Master

I think the general idea, so far, is that they pretend she doesn't exist because bad things happen IF they acknowledge she exists. If anyone does. Everyone in the school, maybe in the whole town, is in on it.

I have this idea too. But limited only to the school range.

Spoiler for theory:

First, each character, even Mei, told Kouichi to stay away from Mei and her legend. So right now it seems that Kouichi, nosing around, has activated the curse. In which way? Not directly, but talking about it. The countermeasures are (could be) to not talk about it, to not think about it, to the extend to believe that the legend is not real, and so Mei. But. But Kouichi talked about it and whom Kouichi was talking about it to mostly? Megane-umbrella-RIP-chan (ok, sorry, sorry) Yukari chan. That conversation, mixed to the urge of the moment, most probably related in some way to death, has broken her belief, her defensive wall, to the point that she has been even able to see Mei. So she has freaked out. And when you see her .. is something like chanting candyman, candyman, candyman before a mirror
Why other guys looked like to see her on top of the roof etc, etc? Because these are some favorite places of the real Mei. So they associated the place to the person.
And the rules / countermeasures are so strict that it plausible that people outside even that class could not know about it or how serious the curse is.
But I know this theory has a lot of holes
First the month time limit. Gone through that, why classmates don't talk about it with even outsiders?
Second, I'm among those who don't believe she is a ghost. If Mei were a ghost, what about her cousin? what about the doll's eye?
Plus we must take in count the title, Another, that have to be a hint, related to that duality thing that I don't remember well right now because of all that pages you wrote guys. I saw the episode yesterday night and this evening there are so many pages, my mind is messing up

On a side note in my country just last year or two there was a big fuss about the death of a girl who died being hit by an umbrella from another girl. They were arguing on something trivial and the second girl pierced other girl's head through an eye. Instant death. So .. be careful out there! Don't mock umbrellas anymore!

[Setsuryuu]

The eyepatch was really a letdown... I wonder what that eye can see (she was vague about it).

And if the "I don't exist" is a red herring it would be silly. Too many people acting like she isn't there apart from Sakakibara and the girl who died. It's a way too big "she's a ghost killing people" vibe now.

Which brings the question; what about people thinking they saw Sakakibara before? Or something about his name bringing bad memories? They said it in the first episodes right? The whole series premise is also about "another" person living the life of someone who isn't suppose to be there anymore... But is the "another" really Misaki or Sakakibara or I'm remembering things wrong? XD

[Dop]

Whoa. That was nasty and no mistake. Don't run downstairs with a pointy umbrella!

Still sticking with the scapegoat theory, when Misaki said she doesn't exist, she means she doesn't exist as far as everyone else is concerned, she's a non-person who everyone ignores and has nothing to do with.
I'm wondering if the curse of class 3 is that the class 26 years ago caused the death of the original Misaki?

And maybe, just maybe, I shouldn't have watched that just before going to bed....

[kk2extreme]

Originally Posted by Dop

Whoa. That was nasty and no mistake. Don't run downstairs with a pointy umbrella!

And maybe, just maybe, I shouldn't have watched that just before going to bed....

Don't run with pointy objects period

I did not sleep too well last night either

[PzIVf3]

Originally Posted by Qikz

I've just noticed something. How did the umbrella open when she dropped it? :S

A cheap or old umbrella can be open when drop at the floor it may be the locking mechanism is finally loosen it. I dont understand why would they make such a long object at the top of the umbrella.

[djmaca]

This week they dropped Lovecraft(dat book, micro print?). For those who are familiar with the name, it's synonymous with "You have learned something you shouldn't".

Search the name and the works. This guy is King's inspiration.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by haguruma

Just one thing that could become important.
The shop’s name 夜見のたそがれの・うつろなる蒼き瞳の　(Yomi no tasogare no – utsuro naru aoki hitomi no) was translated as “The Hollow Blue Eyes of Yomi at Twilight” in episode 2 of the anime (I'm not sure about how other subbers went with the translation) but the Japanese aoki is both blue and green.
I would translate it as (the title is like a poem and not that easy to translate) "From the Twilight of Yomi and the Hollow Green Eye".

In the novel when Mei removes her eyepatch among Kouichi’s first thought is “utsuro naru aoki hitomi” – “the hollow blue/green eye”.
Somehow this didn’t make it into the anime, probably because the difference isn’t there in such an instance and Japanese people immediatly make that connection.
When I read this part in the novel I thought of a blue eye as well, but maybe the Kanji they used is leaning more towards green than blue...who knows.

Anyways, just thought this is worthy to mention.

I also thought blue, and the manga cover does use blue...the novel is green though. So I think that's where it comes from.

[Kirarakim]

LOL that final scene definitely got me, what a horrible way to kick the bucket (although I think the amount of blood was a bit over the top personally).


Anyways I think I support the theory that Misaki is really there somehow. The girl did see her (otherwise why was she so scared). I don't know maybe Sakakibara acknowledging her forces the others to see her.

At the same time I don't understand why they don't just tell Sakakibara what's going on. Seems to do more harm than good.

[Qikz]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

LOL that final scene definitely got me, what a horrible way to kick the bucket (although I think the amount of blood was a bit over the top personally).


Anyways I think I support the theory that Misaki is really there somehow. The girl did see her (otherwise why was she so scared). I don't know maybe Sakakibara acknowledging her forces the others to see her.

At the same time I don't understand why they don't just tell Sakakibara what's going on. Seems to do more harm than good.

I guess we'll find out in a months time when the MC does.

I'm guessing it's some old legend to do with this apparent curse.

[Leo_Otaku]

Great episode god such a horrible way to go >.>

[MeoTwister5]

Just a bunch of observations, finally I had time to watch:

1. Sakuragi was the first person to acknowledge a Misaki when confronted by Rei, and probably paid the ultimate price in relation to it.

2. The month of May. It's heavily suggested that this month they're in is heavily tied to the incident 26 years ago and probably to the events going on in the series. There is something taboo about talking about the story during this month.

3. Mei's physical existence is still probably in question, but it seems that the other characters somehow are able to perceive her but actively deny her existence. There seems to be some sort of anger and animosity towards her. Whether this is related to 26 ago remains to be seen.

4. I'm forgetting the names of the childhood friends, the guy in the jersey and glasses guy, but looking at that exchange between them about high school and how they've known each other for so long, the look the guy gave to Azakawa when she wanted to go to Tokyo to study and the anger they seem to give to Mei's non-existence suggest they know things far more and intimate than they let slide, and that they've somehow been down this road before.

5. The abject fear on Sakuragi's face before getting speared by her own umbrella suggests she knows something terrible just happened, is about to happen, and likely related to Mei.

Putting all these together, I have one suspicion:

Groundhog Day loop.

I'll flesh out this idea some other time, but I suspect that this is something like Higurashi, with Mei and the incident 26 years ago being the focal point of the loop. Mei in fact may have a more direct and omnipresent hand in the events unfolding. Again I'll explain it when I have more time.