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A Rainy Night's Moon

A Rainy Night's Moon

"If you could go somewhere other than this world..."

That was the question on the psychology test.

I've never been interested in that kind of thing.

The world has always been "me" and "everything else."

That's all there's ever been.

These are pretty well made.

Welcome, and thank you for coming.

In my first year of senior high, I flunked Japanese History spectacularly.

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The Bakumatsu (1853-1867) refers to the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate, when Japan's 250 years of isolation ended.

The Bakumatsu (1853-1867) refers to the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate, when Japan's 250 years of isolation ended.

Put on your goggles for a timeslip back to the Bakumatsu!

Using the latest cutting-edge CG, you can now experience the streets of Edo.

This was supposed to be my spring vacation, but I ended up coming here for a remedial class.

The Edo Bakumatsu Walking Tour and Exhibition.

I'll put these away for you.

It's still Japan,

I guess this is my costume.

Yes.

Here's your ticket. Be careful not to lose it.

but it's a whole different world.

This may be an unexpected stroke of luck.

You've got it on backwards.

Huh? Got what?

That. That there.

Haven't you noticed that at funerals, the dead body's shoes will be

the wrong way round, and the kimono tied backwards?

O-Oh, right.

Is this better?

Thank you, um...

Shinonome Kon.

Thank you, Shinonome.

It's nothing.

Later.

Hey, do you know a lot about kimonos and stuff like that?

Eh? Maybe I know more about it than you do.

Then that's perfect. Would you look around this place with me?

You can explain everything to me.

Why do I have to do something like that?

Why not?

We both flunked the test.

We can help each other.

I have no idea what I'm going to put in my report.

Don't lump me in with you.

I didn't flunk.

Then...

I skipped class too often.

Huh...

The other night, they found out I was messing around with some guys from another school.

Someone ended up in the hospital, and I got suspended.

Does that count as skipping class?

Compared to a twenty page letter of apology, a report is a piece of cake.

Is it?

A report is more than enough of a challenge for me.

I'm not bragging or anything, but I got 5% on that test.

Man, I guess it can't be helped.

So ask me something.

I'll answer one question.

If you start from there, you should be able to string together two or three pages.

Really?

Um, then...

What's that?

Put on your goggles.

Long ago, the sun was used to tell time.

People of this era were always carrying lethal weapons, right?

One question, I told you.

Weren't people scared?

Weren't they worried they might be cut down at any time?

Samurai didn't just go around killing people at random.

Really?

In the Edo Period, people were more scared of illnesses, fires, and disasters.

People used to say, "Earthquakes, thunder, fires, fathers."

Hey, I've heard that before.

Though we can leave fathers out of it.

Because people didn't understand these events, they blamed them on spirits or gods.

Gods? Spirits?

Apparently, everyone believed in them.

Even without knowing if they existed?

You can't say for sure that they don't exist.

In that age, people thought they did.

Really?

That's why they were always going to temples and shrines to pray.

"Protect me from evil," or "please don't inflict any evil on me," and all that.

Oh... so do you know about topknots?

Huh? Shinonome?

He got away?

Aw, where'd he go?

Sorry to bother you, mister.

I'm looking for someone.

He has dyed brown hair,

and, um...

Hey kid, that's just a CG image.

Put out your hand.

Hey! It's a wall!

There's an information desk marked on the pamphlet map.

Look at that to make sure you don't bump into the walls.

There it is.

If you need to, just take off your goggles and look at the ceiling.

The exits are clearly marked there.

Later then. Have a fun experience in Edo.

Thanks!

Man, it's bigger than I thought.

If I don't hurry, I won't get all the way around the exhibit.

So the entrance to Edo Castle is...

Hey, it looks like I can get there by crossing here.

Question: What is emptiness?

I-Is this some sort of event?

It looks so real... Is this virtual too?

What is emptiness?

Question: What is reality?

What... are you...

What is reality?

Don't move, boy.

I was so close to finishing it off.

What's going on?

The pain and the blood...

is this real?

That was a pretty close call for you, boy.

Why did that nue attack you? Who are you anyway?

Nue?

Yes. We call the beast a nue.

We call the smaller, man-shaped thing a yakou.

Despite appearances, the beast isn't dead.

It'll return to how it was, and appear again.

They're a bother.

Are you wounded?

Huh? My goggles!

Goggles? What are those?

If I take the goggles off,

I should be able to see the arrows for the exits on the ceiling and all over the walls.

Why?

Boy! Look out!

It-It hurts...

My chest hurts.

Why...

did this happen?

Let me pass, let me pass.

What is this narrow pathway here?

This is the narrow pathway of the Tenjin Shrine.

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Tenjin is the Shinto god of scholarship.

Tenjin is the Shinto god of scholarship.

Humans are ruled by their minds.

Please allow me to pass through.

Sight, hearing, touch...

Ultimately, the senses are but a feeble gleam inside the mind.

Those without good reason shall not pass.

The world in which people believe cannot be trusted.

To celebrate this child's seventh birthday,

Inside your mind, everything easily changes shape.

I've come to dedicate my offering.

Meaning changes.

There are as many truths as there are people.

Going in may be fine, fine, but returning would be scary.

So, child.

What is emptiness?

What is reality?

It's scary, but...

What is death?

What is life?

Let me pass, let me pass.

Let me pass, let me pass.

What is this narrow pathway here?

It's the narrow pathway of the Tenjin Shrine.

Please allow me to pass through.

Those without good reason shall not pass.

To celebrate this child's seventh birthday...

That girl...

Hey, you're finally awake.

Y-Y-Y-You! You're Shinonome... right?

What happened to your hair? And those clothes?

And you're the kid who flunked the test back then.

What was it? 5%?

Yes, that's me—

What do you mean "back then"?

I only lost you a little while ago.

It might've seemed just a little while to you.

Unfortunately, for me, it was a long time ago.