Asumu
Please sit in a well-lit room, at a comfortable distance, when watching.
Slashing Sound: Razing Thunder!
Zanki!
Zanki...
Zanki! Zanki! Wake up, Zanki! Zanki!
He's dead.
No...!
Yagate maue ni taiyou nobori In time, the sun rises overhead
Subete ni kage wo tsukuru you ni Casting shadows on everything
Kimi ga fuan wo kanjita to shite mo... Even if you feel uneasy...
K
a
m
e
n
R
i
d
e
r
Hitori kiri ja nai You're not alone
Kimi no mawari ni wa omoi ga afure... All around you, thoughts are overflowing...
Ameagari niji yozora ni wa hoshi A rainbow after the rain, the stars in the night sky
Kokoro todoku koe kodamasuru kigi Voices that carry to the heart, echoing trees
Ashioto wa hibiki... The sound of footsteps resonates...
Saa, hajimari no kimi e Now to you, at the beginning!
Volume Forty­Five
Zanki's Glorious Death
Inside the house, the old man and woman were awoken by the sounds.
So they timidly went outside, and they were surprised.
"What could this be?" "There's..."
Hey.
Adachi, how was it?
It was good.
You're just lying. You weren't listening at all, were you?
I thought it was very interesting.
Really?! Then I'm glad.
Hey. You two are Hitomi's friends, right?
Would you like to join us?
I'm worried because we don't have enough members.
You see, there aren't many volunteers these days.
I'm asking you too. Please help my mom.
Well... I can't really...
It'll be okay. Promise.
Okay.
Cross my heart...
Huh?
I saw Zanki last night.
Are you sure?
Yeah. He came to encourage me.
Did something happen to Zanki?
Ah... no... it's nothing.
See! You must've misunderstood.
Anyway, listen to this.
I've become Zanki's apprentice again.
He said he'll help me until I get better.
I feel like I can see a ray of hope.
I'm so happy!
That's great.
Divination band?
What's that?
It has special powers.
The charm is this color.
I received it from Hibiki...
but I can't find it.
I was wondering if you knew.
What?!
Are you saying I stole it?
Do you have any proof?
No, but...
Are you someone that distrusts people without any reason?!
I doubt you can become a full Oni like that.
I'll tell you this. I haven't given up on becoming an Oni.
I just hate being compared to a person like you.
Umm... so how is Todoroki?
Oh, there's nothing to worry about. Y'know, he has Zanki with him.
But... it bothers me that I can't do anything for Todoroki.
I guess the bonds between men are stronger at a time like this.
I don't think so...
Hinaka... wait! Hey!
Yo.
Zanki...
Does it still hurt?
No. It's no big deal.
Don't overdo it. Let me help.
Zanki!
You didn't!
That guy!
I knew it was you!
Shut up! Don't get in the way!
Give it back!
Don't get in the way!
Hey.
Can I ask you something?
Why do you want to become an Oni?
You're not suited for it at all.
I want to do something for others.
That's really vague.
Then what about you, Kiriya?
My father was a firefighter.
He would plunge into the flames to save people.
Kiriya!
My father has always been a hero to me.
That's why I want to surpass my father.
I want the power to surpass my father.
You want power?
Did you think you'd be allowed to use the divination band for revenge?
Revenge? Me?
What?
Nothing.
Anyway, I'm using this.
I'm sure Hibiki will be astonished.
Spirit restoration technique?
Yes. I'm sure of it.
I know of that spell too.
An Oni who knows he'll die...
performs the spell on his body before his death.
A technique to come back to life.
But... wasn't the spirit restoration technique sealed away?
Yes.
But Zanki's teacher, Shuki, was a master of magic.
It's no surprise that Zanki got lessons.
I'm sure... he couldn't just die, could he?
He was thinking of Todoroki.
Just how much did he love Todoroki?
So... Zanki really is...
Yes.
I think he still retains his living self's consciousness for now.
But... eventually, he will lose his consciousness little by little,
finally falling into eternal darkness.
So it is said.
Should I tell him?
Todoroki?
Tell him, Ibuki.
For Zanki's sake...
and Todoroki's sake too.
Zanki is... dead?!
What are you talking about?!
It may be unbelievable...
but it's the truth.
Zanki is just being revived by magic.
He's concerned about you, so he couldn't die.
There's no way...!
This is too cruel to joke about!
Please stop it.
Todoroki...
if you stand on your own feet...
and show Zanki you've recovered...
you'd graduate as his apprentice this time.
Didn't I say to stop it?!
I don't believe what you said.
Please leave.
Please leave, both of you!
That's right, just a bit more.
Do your best.
Okay.
There's no way you're dead, Zanki.
You're the same Zanki as always, right?
What is it?
Hey.
Nothing...
Yes.
Ibuki...
Zanki's body was...
cold.
Like he was dead.
It was cold...
Todoroki.
It's like Hibiki said.
The only one who can save Zanki is you.
Zanki...
I'm sorry... For my sake, you...
Kiriya!
What was that for?!
Run!
Hurry!
You're fighting me!
If I defeat you, I'm sure Hibiki will acknowledge me.
Kiriya!
This way!
I'm sorry, Zanki.
It's my fault...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry... I misunderstood you.
You were trying to protect... that guy.
At first, I was going to get back at them.
But...
a Makamou suddenly attacked them.
The Makamou chased after the other one.
I thought it might target him again.
So I followed him.
Kiriya...
Zanki!
It's okay now.
I'll... be fine... by myself.
Zanki.
This is the best that I can do right now.
A Makamou...
Please stop, Zanki! Please don't go!
You...
You've done enough, Zanki!
You don't have to fight!
Then try stopping me.
With your strength.
Zanki!
There's a bunch of them.
Hibiki!
Yo.
Armed Hibiki.
Zanki...
Fierce Spirits' Rousing Howl.
Zanki!
Todoroki!
Zanki!
I see. You thought you could defeat the Makamou using the divination band's power.
But why didn't you use this power?
That's because...
it's not my power.
How to use the divination band's power is also part of training.
Believing in your own strength and fighting...
You know what's important, Kyousuke.
That's right. Strong guys smile.
Right!
Slashing Sound: Seismic Thunder!
Slashing Sound: Razing Thunder!
Well done, Todoroki.
Thank you.
Zanki...
It's... okay now.
Thank you very much!
Zanki!
I... won't cry...
so you won't have to worry, Zanki.
Zanki's Glorious Death
If those two believe in each other...
We need the Oni's power to suppress Orochi.
It'll be the head family's Oni, Ibuki. This is headquarters' decision.
I don't want to die yet!
Volume Forty­Six
Way
the Oni
Mastering
Volume Forty-Six: Mastering the Oni Way.