Karakuri Circus

Narumi.

This is the last of the Aqua Vitae.

The first symbol of alchemy.

Rise like a phoenix with this supreme medicine.

And give me your assistance.

Before dawn, when the stars paint the sky

I am searching for the thing I lost

With a restless heart Under the sun yet in the dark

I patch together little prayers to light my path

I don't need anything, as my hands are full

My hands are full of emptiness

Please, just once, nod for me

Just once, reach out to me like the mirror

I will live for that single moment, that single second

All the rest can just burn away

What's right for me is for me alone

Whatever the path, I'll follow it to you

This feeling grows and grows, deep inside my heart

For one single reason

I continue to climb up on the stage

#6 Hell

Why? Why am I fighting?

I woke up from a long sleep one month ago.

While asleep, I kept seeing the same dream.

A crying girl.

And a kid with a great smile.

But I couldn't tell who they were.

Nor who I was.

I had lost my memory.

You're finally awake.

How do you feel?

You were hurt pretty badly,

so I guess you don't feel so great yet.

Where am I?

A hospital in Illinois in the US.

The US?

A hospital...

Why?

But more than that...

who in the world am I?

It seems like you've lost your memory.

Along with your arm.

According to your driver's license, your name is Narumi Kato.

Narumi... Kato?

I can't remember anything.

Don't worry.

It's not unusual to have temporary memory loss after a big accident.

Let me introduce myself.

I'm a descendant of French aristocracy

and connoisseur of all that's beautiful. My name is Guy Christophe Rech.

That old lady who looks like a witch out of a fairytale is Lucille Verneuil.

That analogy was unnecessary.

Why did I lose my arm?

Because of this "big accident"?

Oh, good. You've come around.

-I'll go get Dr. Banhart... -Miss Helen.

How beautiful you are, any time of the day.

Like a bouquet of roses.

But we just met...

Guy, was it?

Don't go around hitting on girls when I'm talking to you.

Quite lively for a man who's just awakened.

Maman, a brute from Japan is bullying me.

Who are you calling a brute!

Calm down, I'll explain everything.

When I found you...

Wait, we'll talk later.

Hey, wait!

I'm not...

I just...

What the heck am I doing?

It's like my body has a mind of its own.

Why am I doing martial arts in front of these kids?

Martial arts?

That's it, I remember.

I've learned martial arts in China before.

-That's so cool! -Wow.

What was that?

Show us again!

That's... No!

Are you okay, Mark? I'm so happy you're here with us.

ZONAPHA syndrome?

Don't be so reckless.

You've just recovered from injuries that almost took your life.

I don't know the details, but you were in an explosion at a mansion in Japan.

By the time I arrived, you'd almost lost too much blood.

So I brought you to this state-of-the-art hospital to save you.

That kid.

Yes, Mark.

He has ZONAPHA syndrome, right?

I remembered that I have the same illness.

That's right.

Around 2,000 children with ZONAPHA syndrome are cared for at this center.

It's the world's leading ZONAPHA research and treatment facility.

2,000 kids...

He's sufficiently recovered.

He can go to some other hospital now.

Why don't you all leave already, Mr. Guy and Ms. Lucille?

-Why? -You're asking us why?

You know why. We don't exactly like you.

The disease is spreading because you're taking too long to stop it.

Then why don't you hurry up and find a way to cure it?

-Who are you to say that! -Stop it, Peter.

Ms. Lucille is here to gather information from the children.

But I am with you in hoping she hurries up and finishes her job here.

There's still a lot I don't get.

But thanks. You saved my life.

Why though? Why bring me all the way to the US to save me?

Did I know you?

No, we'd never met.

I was in Japan to scout you.

Scout? What for?

You'll see in time.

For now, focus on regaining your strength.

Still clueless about what was going on, my life at the hospital began.

My job was to sleep well, eat well...

and play with the kids.

This prosthetic arm is incredible.

It moves like the real thing.

I'd lost my memory, but not my feelings.

I loved the kids, and they became attached to me.

Here Beth, an elephant.

That doesn't look like an elephant.

Can I have that, Narumi? I'm collecting everyone's pictures.

You sure? It's a pretty crummy drawing.

Pictures remind me of the people who drew them.

So I can remember those people forever.

Narumi.

Draw me a gorilla.

A gorilla? One that looks like this?

Phew, I'm pooped. Those little scamps are bundles of energy.

That sweet Mark, holding onto my drawing like that.

Tom is usually quiet, but he gets fired up when it comes to soccer.

And Beth likes dressing up.

Nurse Helen?

What the... Vitamins or something?

Hey! All your doctors and nurses are getting high on drugs.

They can't treat ZONAPHA patients like that!

So what? It's necessary for them to do their jobs.

That's how it is. Now get out.

So you saw it, didn't you?

The Midnight Circus.

Tom! Hey, what's going on?

Treating kids like criminals!

Ruthlessly interrogating children whose parents were killed

is part of hunting the automata.

That is their job.

You have no time to be scared. You're about to die.

Don't you want to be of help before you do?