E6 - Logical Fiction

Source: Crunchyroll
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    Steel Lady Nanase Wiki
SIGN    F o r u m
SIGN    Name: Anonymous 09/03 23:57
      I was just attacked by Steel Lady Nanase
      in a park in East Makurazaka City!
SIGN    Name: Anonymous 09/04 00:07
       Just now? You're the fifth person to say they
       saw and got attacked by Steel Lady Nanase
[00:10] Terada
    A wiki site, huh?
[00:12] Kotoko
    Monsters of the imagination only survive
    through people's imaginations.
[00:17] Kotoko
    So long as people fantasize
    and desire their existence,
[00:20] Kotoko
    Steel Lady Nanase will remain immortal.
[00:23] Kotoko
    Even if we cut off her head,
    she'll come back over and over.
[00:26] Kotoko
    Her life comes not from within her,
    but from the desires of others.
SIGN    Nanase Karin's vengeful spirit haunts Makurazaka City
SIGN    Nanase Karin's immortal because she's a ghost
SIGN    You're safe from her wrath if you own merch from when she was an idol
SIGN    A ghost that appeared in Makurazaka City
SIGN    She's getting revenge on everyone who went after her
SIGN    She's wearing a red dress
SIGN    If you run into her, you're doomed
SIGN    She carries around a steel beam and attacks you
[02:03] Kotoko
    Steel Lady Nanase has neither
    intelligence nor the ability to think.
[02:06] Kotoko
    She's an automaton that just continues
    to move in the way people want her to.
[02:10] Kotoko
    This makes her completely different
    from actual yokai and ghosts.
[02:17] Kuro
    Iwanaga.
[02:19] Kuro
    How are we supposed to defeat her, then?
[02:20] Kuro
    Steel Lady Nanase is going to kill someone.
[02:24] Kuro
    I've never seen a monster of the
    imagination grow to this extent.
[02:28] Kuro
    I saw the wiki, but it seems like
    they're making her more violent.
[02:34] Kotoko
    And that's why we'll have to use
[02:36] Kotoko
    this site to our advantage to defeat her.
[02:39] Kotoko
    If she's become immortal because
    of everyone's imagination,
[02:42] Kotoko
    then we'll just have to
    conquer that imagination.
[02:46] Kotoko
    This is where we'll need your abilities
    as a police officer, Saki-san.
[02:50] Saki
    Like have the police shut the site down?
[02:54] Kotoko
    Of course not.
[02:55] Kotoko
    It's not very realistic to shut down a
    personal website without a valid reason.
[02:59] Saki
    Then what do you want me to do?
[03:01] Kotoko
    I need information.
[03:02] Kotoko
    I need you to get me valid information
    on Nanase Karin's death.
[03:06] Kotoko
    Then we'll create a story that surpasses
    the rumors of Steel Lady Nanase.
[03:11] Kotoko
    Steel Lady Nanase is a ghost
SIGN    Steel Lady Nanase is a ghost!
[03:13] Kotoko
    as well as a monster of the imagination
    created from that story.
SIGN    Ghost!
[03:16] Kotoko
    To get past that,
[03:18] Kotoko
    we'll have to overwrite this story
SIGN    Steel Lady Nanase is not a ghost!
[03:21] Kotoko
    by writing that she's not a ghost.
[03:25] Kotoko
    If the people who believed in
    Steel Lady Nanase's existence
[03:27] Kotoko
    start to believe the revised story,
[03:30] Kotoko
    Steel Lady Nanase will lose
    her vitality and cease to exist.
[03:34] Saki
    A story where the ghost doesn't exist...
[03:37] Saki
    So you plan to apply
[03:38] Saki
    a rational explanation to an urban
    legend and prove that it was a lie?
[03:43] Saki
    That's impossible.
[03:45] Saki
    Once a rumor is spread, it doesn't
    matter if there's a rational explanation.
[03:49] Saki
    Not everyone will accept it.
[03:51] Saki
    If the rumor seems more believable,
    then lies can replace the truth,
[03:55] Saki
    even if there are some discrepancies.
[03:58] Kotoko
    Correct. The truth isn't
    always the strongest.
[04:01] Kotoko
    But Steel Lady Nanase is also the truth.
[04:04] Kotoko
    That's why I'm going to use
    rational fiction to counter her.
[04:07] Kotoko
    I'll post something more appealing
    than "Steel Lady Nanase is a ghost,"
SIGN    F o r u m
SIGN    <333> Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:51 ID.ogyuaeiaj125
    I live in Makurazaka, but yet again,
    I didn't run into Steel Lady Nanase today
    
    
    <334> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:00 ID.itrujhwa44
    Apparently someone runs into her every day in Makurazaka City
    
    
     <335> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:15 ID.optim31a8
    But every time there's an incident, people keep putting their own 
    spin on it, so I don't know what's going on anymore.
    
    
     <336> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:23 ID.ijuowjiha59ae
    But there must be some real accounts among the fake ones.
    She should run into a police officer on patrol pretty soon
    
    
     <337> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:31 ID.hgaea66ha
    What's the police officer supposed to do if they run into her?
    Question her?
    
    
     <338> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:40 ID.rhnns71shrs
    Police Officer: Excuse me.
    Nanase: °Smack°
    Police Officer: °Collapse°
    
    
     <339> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:47 ID.dbzspsjig8
    Right?
    That's probably exactly what's going to happen
    
    
     <340> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:55 ID.mmnbda211ea
    But this is getting boring since people
    write about it every day
    
    
     <341> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:00 ID.2rgahr65
     I mean, she was an idol, so she was
    at least somewhat famous
    
    
     <342> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:07 ID.ookjihnu33
    She actually seems more famous now than when she was an idol.
    I bet her songs will start selling again
    
    
     <343> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:11 ID.ijhajhar21aj
    If I run into her, I'm running like hell
    
    
     <344> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:23 ID.imjbhy73ug
    Nanase Karin came back to get revenge on everyone who went after her!
    
    
     <345> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:30 ID.aad391haha
    I wonder if she's really a ghost. There could just be a lot of people trying to act like they're her.
    
    
     <346> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:38 ID.iknu8wja5
    I wonder how she shows up. Does she just lurk around the corner?
    
    
     <347> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:45 ID.25hhpame
    I'd be nervous if I ran into her on my way home
    
    
     <348> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:52 ID.pehgiajgoa56
    How many people actually ran into Nanase? Talk about a persistent ghost
    
    
     <349> Name: Anonymous 09/03 20:11 ddpnjh82njh
    I wonder if she keeps appearing in the same places
    
    
     <350> Name: Anonymous 09/03 20:34 ID.y6asfga
    I heard she appears near Makurazaka Shrine
    
    
     <351> Name: Anonymous 09/03 20:50 ID.qawrsa56
[04:12] Kotoko
    something like "Steel Lady Nanase
    is fiction," on the forums.
SIGN    <333> Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:51 ID.ogyuaeiaj125
    I live in Makurazaka, but yet again,
    I didn't run into Steel Lady Nanase today
    
    
    <334> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:00 ID.itrujhwa44
    Apparently someone runs into her every day in Makurazaka City
    
    
     <335> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:15 ID.optim31a8
    But every time there's an incident, people keep putting their own 
    spin on it, so I don't know what's going on anymore.
    
    
     <336> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:23 ID.ijuowjiha59ae
    But there must be some real accounts among the fake ones.
    She should run into a police officer on patrol pretty soon
    
    
     <337> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:31 ID.hgaea66ha
    What's the police officer supposed to do if they run into her?
    Question her?
    
    
     <338> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:40 ID.rhnns71shrs
    Police Officer: Excuse me.
    Nanase: °Smack°
    Police Officer: °Collapse°
    
    
     <339> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:47 ID.dbzspsjig8
    Right?
    That's probably exactly what's going to happen
    
    
     <340> Name: Anonymous 09/03 18:55 ID.mmnbda211ea
    But this is getting boring since people
    write about it every day
    
    
     <341> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:00 ID.2rgahr65
     I mean, she was an idol, so she was
    at least somewhat famous
    
    
     <342> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:07 ID.ookjihnu33
    She actually seems more famous now than when she was an idol.
    I bet her songs will start selling again
    
    
     <343> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:11 ID.ijhajhar21aj
    If I run into her, I'm running like hell
    
    
     <344> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:23 ID.imjbhy73ug
    Nanase Karin came back to get revenge on everyone
    who went after her!
    
    
     <345> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:30 ID.aad391haha
    I wonder if she's really a ghost.
    There could just be a lot of people trying to act like they're her.
    
    
     <346> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:38 ID.iknu8wja5
    I wonder how she shows up.
    Does she just lurk around the corner?
    
    
     <347> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:45 ID.25hhpame
    I'd be nervous if I ran into her on my way home
    
    
     <348> Name: Anonymous 09/03 19:52 ID.pehgiajgoa56
    How many people actually ran into Nanase?
    Talk about a persistent ghost
    
    
     <349> Name: Anonymous 09/03 20:11 ddpnjh82njh
    I wonder if she keeps appearing in the same places
    
    
     <350> Name: Anonymous 09/03 20:34 ID.y6asfga
    I heard she appears near Makurazaka Shrine
    
    
     <351> Name: Anonymous 09/03 20:50 ID.qawrsa56
[04:17] Saki
    Rational fiction?
[04:19] Kotoko
    "Ghosts don't exist, therefore
    Steel Lady Nanase doesn't exist."
[04:24] Kotoko
    No one is interested in a story like that.
[04:27] Kotoko
    The hopes and fears people have make
    her existence more interesting to them.
[04:31] Kotoko
    Steel Lady Nanase exists, but is no more
    than a monster of the imagination.
[04:35] Kotoko
    She'll disappear if people
    stop fantasizing about her.
[04:37] Kotoko
    Telling that truth will
    produce the same result.
SIGN    Steel Lady Nanase
[04:39] Kotoko
    In fact, there'll be more people
    writing that they hope she exists.
[04:42] Kotoko
    Because that's far more interesting.
[04:45] Kotoko
    But even if it is a lie,
SIGN    New
SIGN    New Theory
[04:47] Kotoko
    if we can create a story that's
    more interesting than the spectre,
[04:50] Kotoko
    people will flock to it instead.
[04:53] Kotoko
    Though people do believe in ghosts,
[04:56] Kotoko
    they also wish that such
    terrifying things didn't exist.
[05:00] Kotoko
    These desires exist on opposing
    vectors, but they coexist,
[05:03] Kotoko
    so we can easily flip their direction.
[05:06] Saki
    I'll admit that all makes sense.
[05:08] Saki
    Still, since you sympathize with spectres,
[05:11] Saki
    the idea of you trying to prove that
    they don't exist is basically fraud.
[05:16] Kotoko
    Indeed, it is. It's all a hoax.
[05:19] Kotoko
    But there's no other way to exterminate her.
[05:24] Kotoko
    Let's talk about something
    a bit more realistic.
[05:26] Kotoko
    In order to convince the forum posters
    that Steel Lady Nanase isn't a ghost,
[05:31] Kotoko
    we need to address two problems.
[05:33] Kotoko
    First, we have to explain
    who's causing all of these
SIGN    Perpetrator
SIGN    Perpetrator
[05:36] Kotoko
    attacks around Makurazaka City.
[05:39] Kotoko
    Second, we have to explain
    why they're doing it.
SIGN    Motive
[05:44] Kotoko
    If we can offer a realistic
[05:46] Kotoko
    and appealing solution that
    explains these two factors,
[05:49] Kotoko
    we'll be able to bind Steel Lady
    Nanase in rational fiction.
[05:53] Kotoko
    And to make this happen,
    I need accurate information.
[05:57] Kotoko
    If I were to write something with just
    the information that's available online
[06:01] Kotoko
    and someone points out
    later that it was in error,
[06:03] Kotoko
    our solution won't sound as credible.
[06:06] Kotoko
    And that's exactly why I need
    more information from the police.
[06:10] Kotoko
    Especially concerning Nanase Karin's death.
[06:13] Saki
    Are you asking a police officer
    to leak personal information?
[06:16] Kotoko
    What's this?
SIGN    Nanase Haruko
    Investigation Documents
[06:18] Kotoko
    I thought this might prove difficult since
    you're an officer in a different division,
[06:21] Kotoko
    but you already have
    documents on Nanase Karin!
SIGN    Nanase Haruko
    Investigation Documents
[06:25] Saki
    Give that ba—
[06:27] Saki
    Kuro-kun!
[06:29] Saki
    What's with this girl?!
[06:30] Kotoko
    I warned you yesterday!
[06:34] Kotoko
    I told you not to get involved
    with Steel Lady Nanase!
[06:36] Kotoko
    But seeing how you have documents on her,
[06:39] Kotoko
    I'm sure you can't let
    Steel Lady Nanase go, either.
[06:42] Saki
    As I told you yesterday,
[06:44] Saki
    the detective I work with
    believes Steel Lady Nanase
[06:46] Saki
    is part of a larger incident
    and is looking into it, so...
[06:48] Kotoko
    We have the same goal.
[06:50] Kotoko
    We want to defeat Steel Lady Nanase,
[06:52] Kotoko
    and that's exactly why I need these.
[06:54] Kotoko
    Will you help me out, Saki-san?
[06:58] Saki
    I'm fine with helping you
    gather more information,
[07:01] Saki
    but what about the perpetrator?
[07:03] Saki
    Even if you're going to make
    up some rational story,
[07:06] Saki
    a suspect we can actually arrest doesn't exist.
[07:08] Saki
    And I don't really like the idea
    of framing someone, either.
[07:13] Kotoko
    I'll figure out a way to avoid all of that.
[07:15] Kotoko
    Our ultimate goal is to offer a story
    more appealing than the truth
[07:20] Kotoko
    that there's some ghost
    actually causing these incidents.
[07:24] Kotoko
    So it doesn't matter if we
    can't pinpoint a suspect.
[07:28] Kotoko
    Steel Lady Nanase was deliberately
    thought up by someone.
[07:32] Kotoko
    We just need people to believe that solution.
[07:36] Saki
    So it doesn't matter if the
    police can solve this or not.
[07:40] Saki
    As long as the people who
    believe in Steel Lady Nanase
[07:42] Saki
    are convinced by something that
    makes sense to them, we win, right?
[07:47] Kotoko
    Correct.
[07:48] Saki
    That seems a bit harsh.
[07:50] Kotoko
    Compared to a fake solution that relies
[07:52] Kotoko
    on a police investigation and trial,
    it doesn't seem that difficult.
[07:56] Saki
    I guess I can at least tell you
    everything I'm allowed to tell you.
[07:59] Saki
    How about we start with an outline
    and go over any questions or doubts?
[08:03] Saki
    Nanase Karin was suspected
    of killing her father,
[08:06] Saki
    and the media was after her,
    so she hid in Makurazaka City.
SIGN    Nanase Haruko
[08:10] Saki
    Her body was discovered on January
    30th of this year, just after 8:00 AM.
[08:14] Saki
    One of the first questions to
    come up in the investigation
[08:17] Saki
    was what Nanase Karin was even doing there.
[08:20] Saki
    She was found at an unattended
    construction site for a future condo.
[08:24] Saki
    That's a very unlikely place for
    a 19-year-old girl to visit,
[08:27] Saki
    and after midnight, it was pouring, so there
    was really no one around in the area.
[08:32] Saki
    It was very unnatural for her to be
    out in that weather and at that time.
[08:36] Kuro
    The only plausible explanation
[08:38] Kuro
    is that someone called her
    out there to meet with her.
[08:41] Kotoko
    But according to the reports,
    there were cigarettes near her body.
[08:45] Saki
    There was an umbrella and
    five cigarette butts.
[08:48] Saki
    Even in her coat pocket, they found a
    lighter and an open pack of cigarettes.
[08:53] Saki
    Nanase Karin was a minor, so she
    wouldn't legally be allowed to smoke.
[08:58] Saki
    The police think that she came over here
[09:01] Saki
    to have a smoke without being noticed.
[09:06] Kotoko
    Nanase Karin was called out
    there to meet with someone,
[09:08] Kotoko
    and was smoking while waiting
    for them to show up.
[09:10] Kotoko
    Or perhaps the person who called her
    there was already there and was smoking?
[09:17] Saki
    That wasn't completely ruled out.
[09:19] Saki
    It was pouring the whole night,
[09:21] Saki
    so even if someone else was there,
    their footprints would've been washed away.
[09:25] Saki
    But if someone was trying
    to get a hold of her,
[09:27] Saki
    you'd think there'd be a record of
    someone trying to call her phone.
[09:31] Saki
    But all they found in her phone history
[09:33] Saki
    was her and her manager
    contacting each other.
[09:35] Saki
    The police were trying to rule
    this as an accident even early on.
[09:40] Saki
    Steel beams suddenly falling as she was
    smoking and killing her instantly
[09:43] Saki
    would be the easiest and
    most rational explanation.
[09:49] Saki
    But if that's the case,
    some other problems arise.
[09:53] Kuro
    Like what?
[09:54] Kotoko
    The fact that there was no sign
    of her trying to defend herself
[09:56] Kotoko
    from the steel beams falling on her face.
[09:59] Saki
    If a steel beam was about to fall on you,
    even if you knew it was useless,
[10:02] Saki
    you'd try to move away
[10:04] Saki
    or instinctively try to
    defend yourself somehow.
[10:07] Saki
    But there was no sign of that,
[10:09] Saki
    so it's also questionable that
    she just let herself get crushed.
[10:13] Kuro
    I guess that's a good point.
[10:15] Saki
    There was a theory that
[10:16] Saki
    if it was murder, the suspect could've hit
    her just hard enough to knock her out,
[10:19] Saki
    then laid her down on the ground,
    and just knocked the steel beams onto her.
[10:24] Saki
    But Nanase Karin was on
    the run from the media
[10:27] Saki
    and was suspected of killing her own father.
SIGN    Nanase Karin's True Form
SIGN    I'll be back soon, my dudes
[10:30] Saki
    They thought she might be at her wit's end.
[10:33] Saki
    It seemed likely that she was desperate,
[10:35] Saki
    so if steel beams had fallen
    on her around that time,
[10:38] Saki
    it wouldn't be surprising if she was
    too out of it to react in time.
[10:41] Saki
    That theory seemed more likely,
[10:43] Saki
    so the theory about someone
    knocking her out was thrown out.
[10:47] Kotoko
    So Nanase Karin was tired
    from running from the media
[10:50] Kotoko
    and had even contemplated suicide.
[10:53] Kotoko
    The steel beams fell on her amid all that,
[10:55] Kotoko
    so she just didn't bother
    to avoid getting crushed.
[10:59] Kotoko
    That's another possible explanation.
[11:01] Saki
    Other investigators came
    to that same conclusion.
[11:03] Saki
    In the end,
[11:05] Saki
    even though the police officially
    ruled Nanase Karin's death an accident,
[11:09] Saki
    considering the situation,
    there was an unofficial conclusion that
[11:13] Saki
    this accidental death
    could've also been suicide.
[11:16] Saki
    The person who seemed most likely
[11:18] Saki
    to have a motive to kill her, her older
    sister Nanase Hatsumi, had an alibi.
[11:23] Saki
    There weren't any other likely suspects,
[11:25] Saki
    so the police came to a conclusion
    a month after her body was found.
[11:28] Kuro
    Her sister had a reason to kill her?
[11:31] Saki
    Yes. The fact that she had told others that
[11:33] Saki
    her sister was responsible
    for their father's death.
[11:36] Saki
    If Nanase Karin were to die, her entire
    inheritance would go to Hatsumi.
[11:40] Saki
    Basically, her younger sister dying was
    convenient to Hatsumi in many ways.
[11:44] Saki
    And among all the questions
    surrounding Nanase Karin's death,
SIGN    Nanase Hatsumi
[11:47] Saki
    the biggest one is Nanase Hatsumi.
[11:50] Saki
    During the investigation,
    Nanase Hatsumi was the only one
[11:53] Saki
    who denied the fact that her sister
    was in a suicidal state at all.
[11:58] Kuro
    It's strange that she'd object to the police's conclusion that it was an accident.
[12:04] Kuro
    You'd think an older sister
    being suspected of murder
[12:06] Kuro
    would want it wrapped up quickly.
[12:09] Saki
    But it bothers me how she
    seemed convinced that if
[12:11] Saki
    her sister was going to die,
    it wouldn't be in such a way.
[12:14] Kuro
    So, Iwanaga, what actually happened?
[12:17] Kotoko
    What do you mean?
[12:18] Kuro
    Considering how things usually go,
    you probably know what happened.
[12:22] Kotoko
    I'm glad you know me so well, Senpai.
[12:25] Kotoko
    But I didn't use my usual methods this time.
[12:27] Kotoko
    There were too many people around during
    the day, so I couldn't go to the crime scene.
[12:31] Kotoko
    So why don't we head
    over there right now?
[12:32] Saki
    Go where?
[12:34] Kotoko
    We're going to go find a witness.
SIGN    Logical Fiction
[12:46] Saki
    Why in the world did you bring me here?!
[12:48] Saki
    It's been over six months
    since Nanase Karin died here!
[12:51] Saki
    What's the point in coming to
    the scene of the crime now?!
[12:54] Kotoko
    Correct. You won't find anything here.
[12:56] Kotoko
    Which also means no one will be watching.
[12:58] Kotoko
    And that means it's an opportune time
    for those who aren't human to act.
[13:06] Kotoko
    All right... Let's have a look!
[13:13] Kuro
    She's not satisfied unless
    she goes through all this.
[13:16] Kotoko
    It is a holy priestess's dance!
[13:18] Saki
    Priestesses draw magic circles now?
[13:20] Kotoko
    Didn't you see how cool it was?!
[13:22] Saki
    Who are you trying to show off to?
[13:24] Kotoko
    Well, of course, the one
    who's about to show up.
[13:28] Haunt
    Jeez, you guys are loud.
[13:32] Haunt
    What are you doing here
    this late at night?
[13:36] Kotoko
    Ah, we're quite lucky to
    run into a human spirit.
[13:40] Haunt
    Oh, are you the lady
    of one eye and one leg?
[13:43] Haunt
    All the ayakashi around town
    have been talking about you.
[13:46] Haunt
    So that would mean he's...
[13:48] Haunt
    The creature that's part
    kudan and part mermaid?
[13:51] Kotoko
    He's part human, too.
[13:52] Haunt
    My goodness, how horrifying.
[13:55] Kotoko
    So have you been here for a while?
[13:58] Haunt
    Yup. Ever since I died last year.
[14:01] Kotoko
    So you're aware of the accident that
    occurred here in late January, right?
[14:05] Kotoko
    An accident in which a 19-year-old girl died.
[14:08] Haunt
    Oh, you mean Nanase Karin, right?
[14:11] Kotoko
    Ah, so you know of her.
[14:13] Haunt
    Well, after all...
[14:14] Haunt
    I witnessed the moment she died!
[14:17] Haunt
    That night in the rain, she was all alone.
[14:21] Haunt
    She seemed terribly depressed.
[14:23] Haunt
    And then...
[14:27] (Flashback) Haunt
    Look out!
[14:37] Haunt
    She didn't even try to
    dodge the steel beams.
[14:41] Haunt
    It happened so quickly!
    That was basically suicide!
[14:44] Haunt
    If only I were stronger...
[14:46] Haunt
    I might've been able to stop them.
[14:49] Kotoko
    There's no reason for
    you to feel responsible.
[14:52] Kotoko
    This now clarifies the truth.
[14:54] Haunt
    Huh?
[14:54] Kotoko
    The Japanese police are indeed efficient.
[14:57] Kotoko
    This is truly an accidental
    death bordering on suicide.
[15:00] Saki
    W-Wait a sec! Is this really
    a good way to learn the truth?
[15:03] Saki
    There was no deduction
    or theorizing involved!
[15:05] Kotoko
    We have eyewitness account from
    an unrelated third-party witness.
[15:09] Kotoko
    What could be better?
[15:11] Saki
    You didn't even need to confirm
    the police investigation, then!
[15:15] Saki
    You could've found everything
    out by asking ghosts and yokai.
[15:18] Kotoko
    The truth is important.
[15:20] Kotoko
    But it's also important to see what
    is generally seen as the truth
[15:24] Kotoko
    and the conclusion that stems from it.
[15:27] Kotoko
    That's how those on the Internet
    who fantasize about Steel Lady Nanase
[15:30] Kotoko
    get their ideas and function.
[15:33] Kotoko
    Openly, I won't be using anything
    beyond what's available to them, either.
[15:36] Kotoko
    And even if there's information
    that's not the truth
[15:39] Kotoko
    but is being believed as the
    truth, I will use that, as well.
[15:42] Kotoko
    I am the Goddess of Wisdom.
[15:44] Kotoko
    If I need to make fiction sound more
    convincing to create this fiction,
[15:47] Kotoko
    I will use any means necessary.
[15:50] Haunt
    That's our lady!
[15:51] Haunt
    I will use this frustration I'm
    feeling to do my best, as well!
[15:54] Haunt
    By the time this building is done,
[15:55] Haunt
    I'll be strong enough
    to be a guardian spirit!
[16:01] Saki
    All of this is starting to feel reckless.
[16:04] Saki
    Even if the conclusion
    you post is well-written
[16:07] Saki
    and can draw people's attention,
[16:10] Saki
    in the end, whether people
    accept it or not is
[16:12] Saki
    going to depend on luck, isn't it?
[16:16] Saki
    People aren't always logical.
[16:19] Saki
    Some are impressed when
    something mystical gets resolved,
[16:22] Saki
    but others want to believe in ghosts.
[16:25] Saki
    Will your lies be able to hold up
[16:27] Saki
    when we don't even know
    where that balance lies?
[16:29] Kotoko
    But that's also why monsters of the
    imagination aren't so easily created.
[16:34] Kotoko
    We can't know if a lot
    of people will believe it
[16:36] Kotoko
    or not unless we give it a try.
[16:38] Kotoko
    Our chances against the
    rumors of Steel Lady Nanase
[16:41] Kotoko
    that have already spread
    aren't going to be the best.
[16:43] Kotoko
    But every rumor is at least
    believable to some extent.
[16:47] Kotoko
    Besides, we have
[16:49] Kotoko
    Kuro-senpai.
[16:51] Kotoko
    If there's a chance that I can
    produce a somewhat appealing lie,
[16:55] Kotoko
    Kuro-senpai will be able to make it 100%.
[17:01] Kotoko
    He didn't eat kudan meat and still
    manage to survive for nothing.
[17:05] Kuro
    Well, Saki-san, goodnight.
[17:08] Kotoko
    Goodnight.
[17:09] Saki
    Right... Goodbye.
[17:11] Kotoko
    Senpai, did you get a hotel in the area?
[17:14] Kuro
    No, I hadn't gotten that far yet.
[17:17] Kotoko
    I figured that might be the case, so I'm
    staying in a room with a double bed.
[17:21] Kuro
    I'm pretty sure I saw a
    business hotel by the station.
[17:24] Kotoko
    Why do you refuse to sleep with me?!
[17:26] Kuro
    Now's really not the time for that.
[17:29] Kuro
    Iwanaga.
[17:30] Kuro
    Do you have an idea of what kind of
    "solution" you're going to create?
[17:34] Kotoko
    Why does the perpetrator
    take Nanase Karin's form
[17:36] Kotoko
    and attack people every night?
[17:38] Kotoko
    I could come up with countless motives.
[17:42] Kotoko
    But if you're asking whether it'll be
    impactful enough to draw attention...
[17:45] Kotoko
    It's hard to say.
[17:47] Kotoko
    Linking it with the past incident
[17:50] Kotoko
    and polishing it into more of a tearjerker
    might make it more appealing.
[17:54] Kuro
    So not exactly something realistic,
    but a truth that seems more like a story.
[17:58] Kotoko
    Yes, the world is filled with harsh truths.
    No one finds them desirable.
[18:03] Kotoko
    It'll all be up to you
    after that, Kuro-senpai.
[18:07] Kuro
    Yeah, I'll go get the future that
    goes along with your solution.
[18:11] Kuro
    I'll die as many times
    as I need to for you.
[18:16] (Flashback) Kuro
    There's not just a single future.
[18:18] (Flashback) Kuro
    When you look into the
    future from the present,
[18:21] (Flashback) Kuro
    it splits, changes, and spreads
    out into different paths.
[18:26] (Flashback) Kuro
    There are paths to various kinds of
    futures, and any future is possible.
[18:32] (Flashback) Kuro
    And when you choose a
    path and move forward,
[18:35] (Flashback) Kuro
    all the splits behind you disappear,
    and your past becomes one path.
[18:40] (Flashback) Kuro
    One path to the past and
    infinite paths to the future.
[18:42] (Flashback) Kuro
    The future is always
    unknown and undecided.
[18:45] (Flashback) Kotoko
    But wouldn't that make telling
    the future impossible?
[18:49] (Flashback) Kotoko
    If the future continues splitting infinitely,
[18:51] (Flashback) Kotoko
    there's no way to find
    a single destination.
[18:54] (Flashback) Kotoko
    But the kudan is able to predict
    the future without fail.
[18:57] (Flashback) Kotoko
    So why the contradiction?
[18:58] (Flashback) Kuro
    The kudan doesn't make predictions
    by looking into the future.
[19:01] (Flashback) Kuro
    The kudan is able to make those
    infinite splits into a single future.
[19:06] (Flashback) Kuro
    It has the power to determine
    which future will occur
[19:09] (Flashback) Kuro
    and what destination awaits.
[19:11] (Flashback) Kotoko
    So that's the true power
    of the prophet beast kudan?
[19:14] Kotoko
    What a terrifying power.
[19:17] (Flashback) Kuro
    In exchange for using that power,
    the kudan loses its life.
[19:20] (Flashback) Kuro
    It looks through the endless amounts
    of futures and chooses one,
[19:25] (Flashback) Kuro
    so its life probably burns out.
[19:29] (Flashback) Kuro
    But it can't determine any kind of future.
[19:33] (Flashback) Kuro
    They can't use it to
    their advantage, either.
[19:34] (Flashback) Kotoko
    Are there limits?
[19:36] (Flashback) Kuro
    Well, if I'm not prepared to die,
[19:38] (Flashback) Kuro
    I can't see the splits in the future and choose.
[19:41] (Flashback) Kotoko
    Perhaps the kudan doesn't die
    because it states its prophecy,
[19:44] (Flashback) Kotoko
    but is able to state its prophecy
    because it's about to die.
[19:48] (Flashback) Kuro
    Then I guess seeing the future is a
    privilege for those who are about to die.
[19:53] (Flashback) Kotoko
    You talk like it doesn't apply to you.
[19:55] (Flashback) Kuro
    Well, I can return to life.
[19:57] (Flashback) Kuro
    Also, I can only choose futures that
    have a high probability of occurring.
[20:01] (Flashback) Kuro
    If we're talking about
    a year into the future,
[20:04] (Flashback) Kuro
    there are too many splits, so I can't choose.
[20:06] (Flashback) Kuro
    And if the probability of that
    future happening is too low,
[20:09] (Flashback) Kuro
    the branch is far away
    and hard to grasp.
[20:12] (Flashback) Kotoko
    This all sounds like a pain.
[20:14] (Flashback) Kuro
    Yeah.
[20:15] (Flashback) Kotoko
    By the way, Kuro-san,
[20:16] (Flashback) Kotoko
    I wanted to report
    something to you today.
[20:19] (Flashback) Kuro
    Report?
[20:20] (Flashback) Kotoko
    Yes! I just received my 
    letter of acceptance!
[20:20] (Flashback) Sign
    Iwanaga Kotoko-dono
[20:20] (Flashback) Sign
    Letter of Acceptance
[20:20] (Flashback) Sign
    We are pleased to inform you that you have passed the entrance exam
    for our law program.
[20:23] (Flashback) Kuro
    Oh, congrats.
[20:25] (Flashback) Kotoko
    We'll be going to the same university
    in the spring, Kuro-senpai.
[20:29] Kotoko
    Kuro-senpai, when Steel Lady
    Nanase killed you earlier,
[20:33] Kotoko
    were you not able to see a
    future in which she was destroyed?
[20:36] Kuro
    There probably was one,
    but I couldn't reach it.
[20:39] Kuro
    There were too many splits, so I
    couldn't sort through them in time.
[20:42] Kuro
    Determining the best future
    to defeat that thing
[20:45] Kuro
    and coming back to life
    took everything out of me.
[20:48] Kotoko
    Though, you didn't actually defeat her.
[20:50] Kotoko
    You always think you can
    solve everything on your own.
[20:53] Kuro
    Look who's talking.
[20:55] Kuro
    I can come back to life,
    but if you die, that's it.
[20:58] Kotoko
    You leave me alone for a week, and now you
    act like you're my guardian or something?
[21:04] Kotoko
    Back then, Senpai died once,
    determined a future, and came back.
[21:09] Kotoko
    But even then, he couldn't choose
    a future where he was able to
[21:12] Kotoko
    defeat Steel Lady Nanase and win.
[21:15] Kotoko
    That was a future outside
    of Senpai's grasp.
[21:19] Kotoko
    That's why I have to make
    it something obtainable.
[21:22] Kotoko
    If I can at least set up an opportunity,
    we can defeat Steel Lady Nanase.
[21:27] Kotoko
    Senpai will make that opportunity a reality.
[21:31] Kuro
    So you haven't told Saki-san 
    about her, have you?
[21:35] Kotoko
    Not a single word.
[21:37] Kuro
    Yeah. It hasn't been determined that
    she's actually involved in any of this.
[21:42] Kotoko
    Senpai, didn't you try
    picking a future where you
[21:45] Kotoko
    and Saki-san didn't break up
    with your power over the future?
[21:48] Kuro
    If I can do that,
[21:50] Kuro
    I'm going to go grab a future where
    it's okay for me to break up with you.
[21:53] Kotoko
    Th-That's totally unfair!
    How dastardly can you get?!
[21:57] Kotoko
    Stop laughing!
SIGN    Makurazaka Central Park
[21:59] Kuro
    Don't worry.
[22:00] Kuro
    It's not as if I think I can
    get back with Saki-san.
[22:03] Kuro
    I'm pretty sure she feels the same way.
[22:05] Kotoko
    I don't appreciate you two
    agreeing like that, either.
[22:08] Kuro
    So what exactly do you want me to say?
[22:11] Kotoko
    Passionately say that you'll
    make me happy, no matter what.
[22:15] Kotoko
    What's so funny?
[22:17] Kotoko
    Kuro-senpai's attachments to
    others can seem rather weak.
[22:21] Kotoko
    So weak that I can see him leaving
    me one day and seeing it as a favor.
[22:27] Kotoko
    He's such a pain.
[22:29] Kotoko
    Why can't you be true to your feelings?
[22:33] Kotoko
    Let's head to the hotel. Once you
    get through the park, turn right.
[22:36] Kuro
    Okay.
[22:38] Kotoko
    I need to think.
[22:40] Kotoko
    If a victim turns up, creating this
    solution will become even more difficult.
[22:46] Kotoko
    It's okay. I'm sure Steel Lady Nanase
    won't be able to kill anyone yet.
[22:50] Kotoko
    As long as no one tries to approach
    her, nothing should happen tonight.
[22:56] Terada
    I'm a police officer.
[22:57] Terada
    What are you doing at this
    hour dressed like that?
[23:01] Terada
    Just like the rumors said...
[23:02] Terada
    A woman without a face, wearing a
    red dress, and carrying a steel beam.
[23:06] Terada
    Are they using special effects
    makeup? It's pretty well-done.
[23:09] Terada
    Is she charging me?
    Then I have no choice.
[23:16] Terada
    What...
[23:18] Terada
    What just happened?
SIGN    Name: Anonymous 09/04 09:1
    
      Did you see the news this morning?
SIGN    Name: Anonymous 09/04 09:15 ID.9jivbci
    
    
    
      Did you see the news this morning?
SIGN    Name: Anonymous 09/04 09:17 ID.pkndzz
    
    
    
      I saw it, and that's why I came here. Anyone have any details?
SIGN    Name: Anonymous 09/04 09:18 ID.kredco
    
    
    
      Did Steel Lady do this?
SIGN    Name: Anonymous 09/04 09:24 ID.
      Apparently a detective from the Makurazaka
      Police Department was killed
SIGN    Name: Anonymous 09/04 09:2
    What does that have to do with Steel Lady Nanase?
SIGN    Name: Anonymous 09/04 09:26
      The victim's face was crushed in
SIGN    To Be Continued
SIGN    Preview
[23:46] Kotoko
    Detective Terada was killed
    by Steel Lady Nanase.
[23:49] Kotoko
    At this rate, we might see even more victims.
[23:52] Kotoko
    We have to defeat Steel Lady Nanase tonight.
[23:56] Kotoko
    Next time, "Preparing to
     Conquer the Steel Lady."