Soap Bubbles and Deception/Episode 4 - Storyline

It Was Goodbye...

Ren Natsume	!
We trained every day like nothing had changed.
Natsume	!
Ren	...
Like she had never collapsed. I fought and lost, got up again, and lost again. Over and over.
Ren	!
Natsume	...
But I didn't hate losing. If my sister was still able to beat me down in training, then she was still alive. That's what I thought.

She would train me and I would stop worrying again. But then that worry would come back. Then seeing her alive again would put those worries to rest. I did that over and over again. I hoped that those days would continue. Then, one day.

Natsume	...
Ren	What?
Natsume	You heard me. Come at me like this is life or death.
Ren	That's... What's wrong all of a sudden? Come on, I've never held back! I'm not weak, you're just way too strong! I'll beat you someday!
Natsume	Just do it.
Ren	Natsume...
Natsume	I said do it.
Ren	... Okay.
Natsume	Good. Prepare yourself, Ren.
Ren	...!
Later...

Ren	...
In the past...

Ren	...
Natsume	You heard me. Come at me like this is life or death.
The present...

Ren	What...the...? Bubbles...?
Natsume	Let's talk, Ren.
Ren	Natsume...
To be honest, I don't remember what we talked about. We just talked like we always did, about nothing in particular. But we both were smiling. That I remember vividly. My sister blew bubbles for me. I don't know how long it had been... But I blew some too. They danced in sky, disappearing one by one.
Natsume	Something like this isn't so bad every now and again.
Ren	Why are you doing this with me today?
Natsume	I don't know. I figured it's good to make sure sometimes.
Ren	Make sure of what?
Natsume	Of where we belong.
Ren	Where we belong?
Natsume	...
In the past...

Natsume	...
Reimei	Say what you will. I choose to lead the Shiba Senko in a way that I wouldn't be ashamed of. No matter how many lives I have to take.
The present...

Natsume	Humans really live the best lives they can, don't they?
Ren	That seems like an ironic thing for an assassin to say.
Natsume	It's exactly why I can say it. The moment a person dies you can feel them release everything they once held within themselves. Even with just a slash of a blade, you can feel it. The stronger they feel, the more vivid the feeling. Even if they're a clumsy fool.
Ren	Is everything okay? Did you eat something weird or something?
Natsume	Hmm, nothing that you haven't eaten.
Ren	I was joking.
Natsume	Do you know why I have this blade?
Ren	To kill?
Natsume	Yes, to kill. I believe there's something at the beyond the moment of death. After killing or being killed.
Ren	Seriously, did you eat something weird?
Natsume	How rude.
Ren	What are you trying to say?
Natsume	The Black Star doesn't need you, Ren.
Ren	...What?
Natsume	This is not where you belong.
Ren	H-hey, don't joke like that! I'm your brother! I'm a Black Star...
Natsume	You will never beat me. And you'll never truly accept being a Black Star. Do you really think they need someone like you?
Ren	...!
Natsume	The bubbles are pretty, aren't they? Drifting so lightly on the breeze... It seems like they could go anywhere they wanted to. Just like you.
Ren	I don't get it! I don't want to go anywhere! I'm nothing like them... If anything, you...
Natsume	I what?
Ren	... If I went away, what would happen to you if something happened?! The Black Star line would end... That's against your code, isn't it?! The Black Star needs me!
Natsume	I've been thinking. The code shouldn't be continued based on blood. It should be ability. You've misunderstood me. The place you belong isn't necessarily where you're needed. You'll understand someday.
Ren	I don't get it! I don't want to get it!
Natsume	It's hard to understand. The code. Why we live. Why we fight. What lies beyond the moment of killing. You don't belong here if you can't understand.
Ren	But...
Natsume	It's because you couldn't face all of this. You should...go somewhere before you hold the Black Star back. Until you understand what waits beyond death.
Ren	I couldn't...face it?
Natsume	Yes.
Ren	What would that change? Does understanding change anything? It doesn't, does it?! Then why does it matter if I face things or not?! What...does it matter...
Natsume	... You'll find somewhere you belong. Somewhere that isn't here.
Ren	...
Natsume	Gather your things.
Ren	...
After Natsume left, the last bubble, floating on the breeze— Popped. At the time, I had no idea what my sister was thinking. And so I left, hoping that one day I would.

Ren	You don't have to go out of your way to see me off.
Natsume	I'm your sister. I want to see my cute little Ren start his journey.
Ren	Did you eat something weird or something?
Natsume	How rude.
Ren	...
Natsume	...
Ren	I guess I should get going.
Natsume	Yes.

Ren	Bye, Natsume.
Natsume	...Ren.
Ren	Yeah?
Natsume	Live a long life.
Ren	...!
I remember thinking... About how much my sister would do to protect me. About how she was the same as always. About how thankful I was. About how terrible she was at lying. But I still didn't know what was going on in her head. I hope that one day I can tell my sister that I understand the words she said to me that day. That's why I began my journey.
A moment later...
Servant	Lady Natsume?! Lady Natsume, wake up! Someone... Someone call the doctor!
Natsume	...

Ren	...
Maybe if I could have faced it all, things would be different. Not that it helps to think about it now.

Is there really a place for someone like me to belong? The more I thought about it, the more I wasn't sure. But I still kept my eye out for a place like that, because my sister had wanted me to. I hoped it would bring her peace.

I hated the weak. They died too fast, like those bubbles. I looked for someone strong. Someone like my sister, someone who could give me the same sense of security she had. I thought that if I did, that would be enough.
Hooded Man A	...
Ren	!
Hooded Man A	...
Ren	!
Hooded Man B & C	...
I killed and killed and killed and killed. No matter how much I killed, I still didn't understand what was beyond it. But...
In the past...

Ren	...
Gerald	...
Vettel	Think about it. Taking lives, living hidden in the shadows...or saving lives, surrounded by happiness. I think the latter would be much more fun. Don't you think so?
I felt like I'd found it. A place among the strong.
Natalie	...
Ren	...
Not just the physically strong, but those with strong hearts.
Nina	...
Ren	...
I didn't understand it at first, but little by little, I came to.
Chloe	...
Ren	...
They were fighting to protect others.
Victor	...
Ren	...
And they were willing to die for it.

Nina	...
Ren	...
Gerald	That's my justice, my...legacy. An...iron will...that will never...be broken. Ren... I'm not dying...for the therians. I'm...dying for me...the way I choose... My iron...will...leading me to a...glorious, blazing...end...and turning...to steel. Tell everyone...what I said! Nina... You...will inherit my legacy!
The best kind of outrageous. Thanks to them, I feel like I've begun to understand. Understand the things my sister told me. About what was beyond killing and beyond death.