Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 8
Insert Song: Start
Dies irae - Animation OST: Ewige Wiederkunft
DCMK Earth-Prime...
Between the Lines...
Ever wondered what it was like growing up in Japan sometime in the 50s?
That was surely a tough time for a Japanese citizen to live through. Actually, it was in fact not so much of a tough time as one would think. Japan was currently undergoing the so-called "economic miracle".
After Japan surrendered in 1945, ending World War II, Allied forces led by the United States occupied the nation, bringing drastic changes. Japan was disarmed, its empire dissolved, its form of government changed to a democracy, and its economy and education system reorganized and rebuilt. Years of reconstruction were required to recover from thousands of air raids, including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. By the 1950s, a former enemy became a Western ally, parts of American culture became part of the Japanese landscape - and Japan began to find its economic footing as a manufacturer of consumer devices and electronics.
It was April 28, 1952.
Today was a very big day. A significant fact of history. For this is to be the date wherein the Occupation of Japan would finally cease to be as part of the Treaty of San Francisco that was signed on September 8, 1951. General Douglas MacArthur had already made a sweeping change in the SCAP power structure that greatly increased the power of Japan's native rulers even as the occupation had drawn to a close.
At this time, there was the city of Tenjin, a city located a few kilometers away from Tokyo. People were wearing all types of clothing ranging from business suits to kimonos and were going about their daily lives in a sort of daily routine.
Three people were walking throughout their surroundings. One of them in fact was Touma Kamijou, an eleven-year-old boy wearing a simple light blue robe kimono with simple brown sandals. Accompanying him side by side, holding his left hand was a young and lovely girl wearing a white kimono who was humming in a lively manner. The girl herself was almost likened to a princess in a way. Walking alongside the two was a young adult woman wearing her own brand of kimono, the color blue.
They were walking down the street just like any other family one could suppose. The town appeared to be celebrating as is the rest of the nation for the eventual finality of independence that they've been longing for. After more than a few years since the late 1940s, it was finally time for Japan to rise anew and face the future with idealism and prosperity.
Touma Kamijou walks around and sees all of the faces that pass by. Even now, he was still weirded out by the fact that he was in another place aside from the usual hot spots where he ended up. He was fortunate (irony!) to have been founded by the mother of the girl he was holding onto as he was just lying down on the streets all bloodied and bruised from his last trip. It was a nightmare for him in particular.
Nowadays, Kamijou was just enjoying the sights of Post-War Japan, having taken care of the girl that he was holding for the past year or so since his stay.
How long had it been since he had peace after what amounted to fighting for so very long? Was this another Test from the Theatregoing Witch? Sending him to another world where Hinamizawa never seem to have existed? Does any of his struggles even matter at this point?
He has asked that question so many times before. He answers that his struggles define him for who he is based on his actions.
He had been through so many worlds already. Some specific worlds appeared peaceful but carried sinister purposes. Some specific worlds just became a battleground that struggled around the concept of survival of the fittest. Some were just downright cruel as he gets gunned down before he even has a chance to say anything. The times when he actually gets some form of peace and quiet were relatively rare in between.
This was one of those times.
It was a time when he gets to spend time with a young girl and her mother walking down the streets and enjoying the holiday. No school for today as the entire world is celebrating a time of independence.
Now, he was celebrating this historical day alongside two women of a significant family.
The Shinozakis.
On the outside, they look just like any other family walking down the street. The mother however is a nurse working at a good prestige school that Kamijou is currently attending during his stay, however temporary it may be.
Heavenly Host Elementary School.
The very pride of the town, founded sometime a few weeks ago on the very 1st of April, now has an influx of children either ranging from his age or less, give or take. The timing couldn't be more than perfect.
Holding the girl by the hand, he enjoys the morning walk with a smile as he enjoys the limited time that he spends with the little girl who is about six years old.
Sachiko Shinozaki.
Of course...
That was a time of innocence...
It was a time that the vengeful spirit dyed in red could recall as one of the more precious memories in this influx of paradoxical proportions. As such, Sachiko Shinozaki, the girl forever dyed in red, was cursed to follow a certain time loop, bounded by a darkness that was not her very own.
What choices did she have?
Is there little light left for her?
Her innocence was stripped and gone; replaced by no more than a crimson figure that stands in the way of nine protagonists as part of some messed up script.
Is there any hope left for her?
"...Onii-chan..."
As if the girl dyed in red had an epiphany, she muttered softly as she dangled a pair of bloodied scissors, floating around the halls of her own domain surrounded by nothing but darkness.
All alone.
Unloved.
Unwanted.
Insert Song: End
OP Song:
YU-NO (Anime) Opening 2 Sub Español『Konomi Suzuki - MOTHER』
Main Companion Protagonists:
Touma Kamijou - VA: Atsushi Abe
Main Enemy Characters:
Sachiko Shinozaki - VA: Ikue Ōtani
New Characters:
Yoshie Shinozaki - VA: Ikue Ōtani