Asumu
Please sit in a well-lit room, at a comfortable distance, when watching.
Here?
Yes, there's no doubt.
We've finally found it.
Yeah.
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 Forty­Six
Mastering the Oni Way
Please let me become a full Oni.
This year, please let my relationship with Todoroki develop a little more.
Sorry for my small offering, God.
This year, please let me be feminine and find a wonderful love.
Okay.
Okay!
Alright!
Keep at it.
How are Hibiki and Todoroki doing?
Umm... Hibiki had something to discuss with his apprentices,
and Todoroki is...
I don't know!
We promised to make the New Year's temple visit together, but...!
Slashing Sound: Seismic Thunder!
Zanki!
Happy New Year!
I'm fine! I'll live strong!
Both of you were praying very hard,
but what did you pray for?
Yes.
To become a full Oni quickly.
Oh, I see.
Do your best, Kyousuke.
Yes.
What about you, Asumu?
Hibiki, what did you ask for?
Me?
I said...
please let these two grow quickly.
And also...
this year... please let me keep living for another year.
Keep living?
Yeah.
The two of you...
Have you ever thought about the fact that you will die?
Being aware of death.
If you do that... you'll eventually understand the meaning of living.
Since I'm an Oni,
it means living with death.
Of course, I am prepared to die at any time.
Is that so?
But now, you might be suddenly attacked by a Makamou and die.
Can you still die without regret?
What it means to live...
Eventually, both of you will have to figure that out.
It's them...
Where did they go?
This is good.
Yeah.
It's good.
I hope this'll be a good year.
But, y'know, boss.
First of all, we have to take care of the Orochi issue​.
Are you okay?
That was unexpectedly careless.
Kasumi made it, so it might be a little too much.
Are you okay?
Excuse me.
Let's have a contest. Who can finish eating first?
Kyousuke!
There's no need for pointless contests.
Father!
There was a call from Todoroki.
He wants you to go somewhere right away.
I followed some people who looked just like the Hime and Douji, and ended up here.
But it almost seemed like they guided me here.
You know, don't you?
About Orochi.
Then gather the Oni.
Otherwise...
everything will be destroyed.
Hey, boss.
This is the Oni script.
And it looks like it's from very long ago.
What does it say?
"This place is..."
"...a sacred ground..."
"...to purify Orochi."
Purify Orochi?
What does that mean?
I don't know the details yet.
I have to decipher it properly.
I don't want to say this right after the New Year, but...
you two have been missing too much school lately.
I'm sorry.
If you're not careful, you won't make it to the next grade. Watch out.
Kiriya's dropping out anyway.
Dropping out?
And so, Kiriya has decided to leave this school.
I'm sure everyone is surprised by this sudden news.
Now, say your farewell.
It was a short time, but I'd like to thank everyone.
Thank you.
As of today, I'm leaving school.
But that is something I chose to do myself.
I found a path worth risking my life on.
I want to ask everyone one last thing.
What meaning is there in a life half-lived?
Everyone, please reexamine your own lives once again.
I was really surprised!
It was so sudden.
Is that so?
But I think it's stranger for people who are becoming Oni to go to school.
The path of the Oni is not that easy.
Did you discuss this with Hibiki?
No, I decided on my own.
I'm sure Hibiki will be pleased.
Because it shows how serious I am.
Speaking of which, I don't know why you're doing that panel theater thing.
What exactly are you thinking?
It's unbelievable.
For someone who wants to become an Oni.
Is that so?
Adachi!
Oh! Mochida!
There's another panel theater practice today.
Naomi will be waiting, so make sure you come.
Yeah.
Promise.
Yeah.
Cross my heart...
Today we're practicing "The Honest Woodcutter."
It's pretty difficult.
Oh, I see.
"The Honest Woodcutter"?
Sounds fun.
Well, do your best.
What are you doing?
Are you thinking useless things again?
Pointless?
Do you know the answer?
Who I am...
or who you are?
That answer...
Pointless.
The honest woodcutter did as the goddess told him.
He worked very hard and became very happy.
But no matter how much the greedy woodcutter cried at the edge of the lake,
the goddess did not return his axe.
This is the end of the story "The Honest Woodcutter."
You've gotten really good at this, Hitomi.
Thank you very much.
Ah, right!
Why don't you try it next, Adachi? Here.
Huh? Me?
Good luck, Adachi.
Wait... no...
Yeah! Give it a try, Asumu.
Hey, wait, wait...
I can't do this.
It'll be okay.
Withdrew?!
Like I said, I quit school.
To focus on the path of the Oni.
From now on, I will be by your side at all times, Hibiki.
Please train me hard.
Well...
Right now, learning from school life is the best training ground.
That's insignificant.
I want to become an Oni as soon as possible.
Just don't rush it. That's your weakness.
To find yourself within a set of rules and continue training...
That's important.
No way...
At this point...
It may be embarrassing,
but tomorrow, bow your head again and ask to come back.
If you can't value where you are now,
you won't be able to move forward.
"Is this silver axe the one that you are looking for?"
"No..."
"My axe is much shabbier."
"Then... is your axe this iron axe?"
"Goddess, that is my axe."
"Thank you very much."
Naomi!
Naomi?!
Naomi! Naomi!
So with that, once again... here is Kiriya who will be studying with everyone as of today.
Thank you...
It's training.
This is training also.
Naomi?
Yeah.
She's been sick for a long time.
It seems pretty bad.
She's been sick for a long time.
It seems pretty bad.
Ten more seconds.
Good.
Okay.
Kyousuke...
your physical strength has improved.
Yes.
What's wrong, Asumu?
Oh, nothing.
Alright. Kyousuke, one more time as usual.
Yes.
Asumu...
Go ahead home.
Your mind isn't here, is it?
It doesn't make sense for you to be with me like that.
I'm sorry.
Purify the earth and suppress Orochi?
I had the headquarters at Yoshino decipher that monument stone's inscription.
Long ago,
there was an Oni that sealed Orochi.
In order to halt Orochi, the earth itself must be purified.
And the proper place to do that is where that monument stands.
That's what it meant.
But... how exactly do we purify the earth?
It requires using a taiko technique.
To purify it by striking the ground directly.
Furthermore, it appears that this ceremony must be performed by a single Oni.
Boss.
No...
It'll be the head family's Oni, Ibuki.
This is headquarters' decision.
I understand.
Hibiki.
Please...
instruct me in your techniques.
Yes.
And also...
This is hard to say, but...
it's possible that during the purification ceremony, innumerable​ Makamou will attack.
I understand.
I am prepared to give up my life at any time.
All the more so for a mission given to the head family's Oni.
No way...
I can't let Ibuki do something so difficult alone!
Even if it's just one, I'm gonna go beat the Makamou.
I'm off.
Todoroki!
You still haven't eaten your New Year's dish, right?
Please eat up. Here you go.
Hinaka.
Yes?
This isn't the time.
Excuse me.
Ah, Todoroki?!
Protect... the Oni?
That's right.
We need the Oni's power to suppress Orochi.
From now on, it is your job to protect the Oni.
Okay?
What's wrong?
Go on.
What's wrong? You're spacing out.
Can I ask you something?
Sure, sure. What is it?
What does it mean to help people?
What does it mean to die?
What does it mean to live well?
What?
Well...
I guess you've started thinking about such things too, Asumu.
Everyone thinks about these questions at some point,
but they just keep living the same way, without finding the answers.
Ah!
But young master Asumu,
I want you to think about it thoroughly.
And y'know, if you find the answers, tell me too.
Okay? I'm counting on you.
Yay.
That's a heavy burden.
Really?
Ibuki...
Concentrate, and release the rhythm from your body.
Right!
Come on, Ibuki!
Alright, guess I'll give it a shot.
Hurricane Flash!
Hey...
What's wrong, Ibuki?
Thanks.
Alright.
Armed Hibiki.
Fierce Spirits' Rousing Howl.
Wasn't it our job to protect the Oni?
Why are you asking?
I don't know.
But I'm starting to feel like ignoring their orders.
I feel the same.
What's going on, Ibuki?
Ibuki?
Just for a little.
Just for a little while,
please let me stay like this.
I don't want to die.
I don't want to die yet!
Mastering the Oni Way
Stay quiet and watch me.
The path of the Oni is not one you can walk while hesitating.
Someone who can't decide on their own way of life...
How can they help other people?
Volume Forty­Seven
Words to Follow
Volume Forty-Seven: Words to Follow.