Tougen Anki (桃源暗鬼)

In the 24 ALIVE HERE

Days soaked in blood, tangled in unease

A glance exchanged becomes the signal

Where a dream awakens, lost in the moment

So far, so far

In the 24 ALIVE HERE

Gunfire devours fairy tales

Aimed straight ahead, what's the dream?

We tame despair and glory alike

Just something you prayed to God

That wish vanishes without mercy

So swallow even what's right when you must

So far from who I was

Even being incomplete

Means you can care for someone else

Doesn't matter what it is

We'll carry out the mission we were given

So far from who I was

So far from who you were

I'm afraid

The sadness, so merciless

Only deepens the pain

In the dreaming overnight

THANK YOU!

I thought there was no way I could lose.

No way I could lose.

Damn it. I underestimated him.

I can't even feel the heat anymore.

Manaka...

I wanted to remain a researcher with the Momotaro Agency...

because I had no interest in the deaths of others.

The days of dissecting Oni passed monotonously...

and every morning was peaceful.

But then...

Hey!

You!

Join my team!

MANAKA MOMOBE

Manaka Momobe.

I hated this man.

He twisted people's lives without warning.

I refuse.

Despite what I'd said, the next day, I was reassigned to Manaka's unit.

Orders from above are absolute.

Manaka was bold and passionate,

and he was deeply trusted by his comrades.

He even had the compassion to offer prayers for the Oni he had killed.

I couldn't comprehend it.

Ever since my parents were killed by Oni when I was a child...

I clearly felt something inside me lose its warmth.

I didn't have a candle in my heart that burned for revenge.

I even thought I'd become lighter,

now that there was no one left I cared about.

Both my parents were always tied up with work for the Momotaro Agency

and were barely ever home.

Even when they died, all I could think was, "Oh, I see."

Welcome.

My wife and daughter are my pride and joy!

Ever since the day I told Manaka about my family...

he took me to his house every day and made me eat dinner with his family.

As Manaka dragged me along...

my once straightforward life became more like a maze.

People live and die.

Life is meant to be a simple, straight path.

But our relationships twist that path into a complicated maze.

I thought it was suffocating...

but for the first time in a long while, I actually tasted my food.

Why even start a family when you're doing this kind of work?

Don't you think they're a liability?

What are you talking about?

Having them fires me up, makes me swear to come back alive.

Also quit smoking already!

I refuse.

The things you hold dear become your weakness.

And that became reality.

It happened when we raided a home where Oni lived.

An Oni child was there.

For a moment, Manaka saw his daughter in that child,

and in that instant, the Oni escaped outside.

The Oni fled into the city and went berserk,

turning the surroundings into a sea of blood.

Two of the victims were Manaka's wife and daughter...

who just happened to be there while out shopping.

Manaka killed the Oni...

but couldn't shield his wife and child in time.

They were slaughtered.

I was wrong.

Showing sympathy to an Oni was a mistake.

If only I'd stayed cold and ruthless...

my family wouldn't be dead!

Oni must be annihilated on the spot.

Even children must not be spared.

I can't believe it's ending like this.

Tsubakiri... use my corpse...

And so I began controlling Manaka's body...

and before I knew it, I had risen to captain.

But it's okay.

I haven't lost yet.

Right, Manaka?

This isn't the end yet, is it?

I'll avenge you!

As long as Oni exist in this world, you and I will keep fighting together!

I won.

Amazing.

Mei!

It's dangerous here, too. We need to run!

Let's head for an exit.

Shiki!

Mister! Mister!

Mudano...

what should we do here?

She's shut herself in.

There are too many of them, and Mudano's a pain to deal with.

She doesn't even have the strength left to keep sealing off the base.

Let's leave her.

Are you sure?

A collapse is imminent.

Our top priority is rescuing those inside.

Let's move.

You!

Yo.

You're alive?

Got my carotid artery cut, almost died.

Drank some of my own blood and came back to life, pretty much.

Honestly, it was just luck I came back.

I snuck over here to get treatment.

The others are getting ready to evacuate.

Pathetic.

Yeah, I think so, too.

Before we wrap this up...

what did you think of Shiki Ichinose's Kishin power?

It was incredible.

But to me, it looked like he was burning his very life away.

Hey! What is this "Kishin power"?

I'll explain later.

First, let's just get out of here.

Boss...

why'd you go and die?

You can't just die like that.

I mean, Boss...

your daughter was just born, wasn't she?

No one really knows why Tsubakiri started a family...

but there's no doubt Manaka's influence played a part.

A weirdo. Creepy.

More than a few people called Tsubakiri names like that.

But he stayed true to his way of life.

A man who...

through meeting another...

came to fully embody the Momotaro spirit.

Tsubakiri Momomiya...

TSUBAKIRI MOMOMIYA DEAD AT 31

dead at 31.

Where am I?

Oh, you're awake.

The pretty-boy doc!

ABURAYA INN

We rented out an inn that's run by Oni.

It's past 5 a.m. now.

The other students are resting in their rooms.

Professor Mudano...

You really took down Tsubakiri, huh?

I see. I won.

But Mei's mom and dad

aren't coming back, huh?

That's right.

We lost too much to celebrate anything.

Even so, we've got to face forward.

For now...

let's just be glad that we made it to morning.

Later!

Next time, let's do something normal, like sightseeing!

For real! Come visit!

I'm taking Mei in, so drop by every now and then!

Hey, we're taking off.

Did you go pee?

I'm fine.