Asumu
Please sit in a well-lit room, at a comfortable distance, when watching.
Ibuki!
Akira!
Stay away!
Don't come here!
Akira!
Ibuki!
Get up!
Ibuki!
Akira!
Kiriya!
Run.
Run!
Haruka tooku no chiheisen kara From the distant horizon
Hikari afurete kuru you ni The light overflows
Kimi no mirai wa hajimatta bakari Your future has only just begun!
K
a
m
e
n
R
i
d
e
r
Dare mo isogu michi A road that everyone hurries along
Kimi dake ni mieru asu he hashire Run to the tomorrow that only you can see
Oozora ni ao daichi ni inochi The blue of the sky, the Earth full of life
Senaka wo osu kaze unabara ni nami The wind at your back, the waves in the sea
Kurikaesu hibiki… This recurring resonance...
Ima, hajimari no kimi e Passes now to you, at the beginning!
Volume Forty­One
Awakening of Teacher and Student
Geez, what on earth were you guys thinking?!
Really... I'm astounded.
I can't believe you two became Akira's apprentices.
This isn't a game!
Right?
Right!
Really! It's dangerous to do Oni training without proper guidance!
You can get badly hurt if you're just playing around! Seriously!
I know that!
I'm not playing either! I'm serious!
But no one understands my feelings.
Hey! Feelings aren't good enough.
Think carefully about what it means to become an Oni one more time.
I've already thought about it countless times!
I thought and thought, and made my decision.
Asumu, what do you think?
I'm also...
the same as Kiriya!
I see.
But Akira is Akira.
What are you thinking?
Wait, what about the chief?
We've got to handle this properly!
We should have him talk to those two.
He said he had something to research, so he'd be shut away in the room.
He looked unusually serious, and said he didn't want to be disturbed.
"Reason for the Kodama's forest..."
"After the Kodama's forest materializes..."
"Orochi will come."
Orochi?!
It can't be!
This is... a shikigami?
Maybe it was a bad idea.
What was?
You know. Becoming Amami's apprentice without permission.
I feel like I ignored Hibiki and everyone else's feelings.
Then quit.
So you got scared just because of a little scolding.
I'd have been better off without you to start with.
You're an eyesore.
I'm not really scared though.
Also, back in the forest. You might've thought I was trying to run away.
Don't misunderstand.
I definitely won't run away.
Hibiki.
What a hopeless​ apprentice...
Transforming without getting the master's permission.
I'm sorry.
Will you tell me?
Just what were you thinking when you made those two your apprentices?
I just want you to tell me how you really feel.
Aren't you my apprentice?
You're still my apprentice, right?
Umm... Hibiki...
Are you mad?
Yo.
Hey, try it.
Yo.
No! Come on!
The angle, the composure, and the smile at the end are important!
Try it, boy.
Yo.
Ah, man, that's too gloomy. You try.
Nyo.
It's not "nyo"! Try again.
Yo.
Oh, that's it. Like that.
Why won't you talk to me?!
Please answer me.
Akira!
I'm sorry.
That's all?
I'm sorry.
I see.
Okay.
Do you two really want to be apprentices that badly?
Yes.
Of course! Your apprentice, if possible.
I see...
Alright.
Then I'll make you my apprentices.
- Really?! - Really?!
Yeah.
As long as...
you listen carefully to what I say. Okay?
- Yes! - Yes!
Then first... forget all about the Oni and Makamou...
and go back to being normal high schoolers.
Okay?
No way...
That's foul play!
It's not foul play!
Hurry and sit down.
Didn't you say you'd listen to what I said?
I don't like it. That's not funny.
Please don't make fun of me.
I guess I'll continue being Amami's apprentice.
Hey, hey! Wait...
What's with that kid?
Right?
Sorry.
Hey!
Why?!
What?!
You're the ones who called me here?
The Kodama's forest is but a harbinger.
Orochi will appear.
That time draws near.
You know, don't you? About Orochi.
Then gather the Oni.
Otherwise...
everything will be destroyed.
But, Hibiki, why don't you take apprentices?
Are you really displeased with those two?
Well... how do I put this?
At least Asumu has been watching you all this time, Hibiki.
I don't think his feelings are half-hearted.
But y'know... I feel like they're just drawn by the power.
Well, aren't they at that age? I feel like it's risky. Though I can't really express why.
I want to observe​ those two a bit more.
That's what I'm thinking.
Hey. Are you making fun of me?
How exactly is this training?
The ability to grasp the movement of each kindergartner...
The flexibility to handle sudden surprises...
Also, the patience​ to not get angry even if the children mock you.
These are all elements necessary for being an Oni.
That's deep.
Watch out!
Are you okay?!
Are you okay?
You saw, right?
I can get things done when I need to.
I definitely won't run away.
Understood?
Thank you for today.
No problem.
I get it.
Kasumi... you're trying to cheer me up because I'm upset over Akira.
Not really... that's not it!
I just feel like eating with you occasionally, Ibuki.
Could it be...
This is... the Kodama's forest?
It appeared again?
We've got to run.
We've got to get out of here, Ibuki! We mustn't enter this forest!
Kasumi!
Help!
Ibuki!
Ibuki, are you okay?
Kasumi?
Kasumi was...!
Hinaka?
Father just contacted me. Seems there was a hint to the forest's secret in Yoshino's ancient documents.
Okay? Listen carefully.
"The Kodama's forest is not a forest. It is under the sway of a single tree."
A single tree?
I want to tell Ibuki and Todoroki, but I can't reach their cell phones!
They've probably entered the forest!
Under the sway of a single tree means...
Yes. I think one tree controls the whole forest.
So... all we need to do is find and take down that tree?
Hey! Why would you tell the kids something so important?!
I didn't have a choice! I can't contact you, Hibiki!
At least get a cell phone!
Buy me one!
Hibiki!
I'm off!
Have a safe trip!
Ibuki!
Akira!
Ibuki!
Alright.
Help!
Hey... did you hear that just now?
It's Kasumi's voice!
Help!
Adachi, what's that?
Kasumi!
Help!
Kasumi!
Boy.
Hibiki!
You okay? Hang in there.
Armed Hibiki.
Fierce Spirits' Rousing Howl.
I'm happy I could support you one last time.
I see...
So that's the conclusion you've come to.
Yes.
Umm...
For making Adachi and Kiriya my apprentices without permission...
I'm really sorry.
But...
These two might become Oni one day,
so I wanted to teach them what I learned from you.
I thought that if I did that, then my time as your apprentice wouldn't just go to waste.
I see.
Thank you very much for everything up to now.
I have one last favor to ask.
Please make Adachi and Kiriya your apprentices.
Hibiki! I'm asking you too!
I really don't think their feelings are false.
Hibiki!
What's wrong? Aren't you coming?
Asumu. Kyousuke.
- Yes! - Yes!
Awakening of Teacher and Student
We cannot control the Makamou either.
I'm thinking of eliminating one of them eventually.
All humans would be devoured by the Makamou.
Hang in there! Todoroki!
Volume Forty­Two
Raging Monsters
Volume Forty-Two: Raging Monsters.