Karakuri Circus

Francine, I've finally caught up with you.

Let's do this.

-Stop, Kato. Stand back. -Move.

I'm the one who will protect you.

Am I destined to lose my way?

All I want is to have fun in my life

All I want is to be with those I love

Ready or not Here I come

I don't care anymore

I just don't know anymore

I wish everything would just disappear

There are days when I think like that

But everything is precious to me

And so I fight on

Today was a tough day

I almost gave up hope

But the truth is I don't want to lose anything anymore

I wish everything would just disappear

There are days when I think like that

But everything is precious to me

And so I must fight

#34 Rearguard

I'm the one who will protect you.

Yeah right, I can protect myself.

Your mission is to go to space for the sake of mankind.

Huh? Is he...

She's already decided for herself who she belongs to.

Are you the one that owns Éléonore?

What are you talking about?

You see, I've fallen for that girl there.

I really want her.

Never!

Éléonore, you stay there and wait.

I swear on a pigeon's beak, I'll be right with you. But first...

I'm going to kill him.

-Hey... -Didn't you hear me?

I am your opponent.

Well, okay then.

I see my dear Éléonore needs a little discipline.

You won't die, anyway. So let's have a little fun.

It's...

-Oh...? -Arlequin!

Mr. Arlequin, eh? Long time no see.

I swear on a centipede's legs, it's going to be fun disciplining you.

I've seen enough.

You're fighting me!

Boom!

Kato!

Give it up. See? You're all bloody now.

Call it quits, and let's be good friends.

I will never.

You're a blood-sucking automaton. As if you could be friends with a human.

You think you're a human, huh?

Let me tell you something. A human that doesn't die isn't human.

You're just like an automaton.

I bet humans don't even accept you as one of them.

You might be right.

But still...

I can sacrifice myself for those who are precious to me!

And that precious person is going to be me.

Les Arts Martiaux!

Flèche Enflammée!

Blade of Saint George!

Not bad.

-Okay, my turn. -Éléonore!

Take that!

It's easy. I just take the puppeteer out.

Now then. Time to take care of my rival in love while Éléonore is down.

Say bye-bye.

Let's see you try.

Wait.

This is my fight, Kato.

I already told you.

That I would be the one to protect you.

You fool, look at yourself.

You don't have to know.

About how much you gave to me.

Like an abandoned puppet.

Being picked up by human hands for the first time.

Like a stray dog being taken in.

And petted on the head for the first time.

Out of the way, dear Éléonore. I'm going to kill that human.

Move! Stand back, I'll handle him.

Kato.

Thank you for coming into my life.

-What? -If you won't move, I'll put you to sleep.

Thank you for talking to me.

Oh dear, is that the best you've got?

Thank you for giving me memories.

Les Arts Martiaux!

Swirling Tiger!

I don't care if you hate me again.

So please.

Will you come into my life again someday?

Éléonore!

Éléonore...!

So this is it.

Not bad, human. You must be Narumi Kato.

What if I am?

I am Brighella Cavicchio da Val Brembana.

All my opponents this far were weak. I expect more from you.

Éléonore, don't you die.

No, forget about her.

My mission is to defeat him and go to space.

For mankind.

-Ready? -Always am.

Grim Reaper!

Sangre y Fuego!

Know your place. You've put up a good fight, but you're no match for me.

I am Captain Graziano.

I come from a noble lineage dating back to the crusades.

Master, he's coming!

Dammit.

I still recall the final move campaign of 1982.

How I defeated 10,000 shiroganes...

Don't listen to him, he's lying!

There's no way he even existed back then.

Quiet! I am tired of you. Time for you to perish.

By my ancestors' lethal move.

Fracasso!

What's wrong, Narumi?

There's no qi in your punches, just ungainly brute strength.

You dare take me lightly?

He's stronger than any automata I've fought.

Now, show me that explosive force I've heard about.

Or be skewered by my spear hand!

No wonder you're lackluster. You can't channel qi into machine limbs.

Not all of me is machinery. And I'm not finished yet.

Too slow.

How unskilled.

This is how you do a horse punch.

I like fighting with my bare hands.

Because it shows who is stronger, not who has better weapons.

It is the true test of strength.

Now you will become proof of my strength.

I can't lose.

What are you reading?

Leave me alone. They're just letters.

The kids gave them to me when we left.

Dear Narumi. Hurry up and go ask how to fix Mommy and Daddy.

Be careful.

I'm going to bake Mommy cookies when she gets better.

Her body is like stone now because of ZONAPHA.

I can't lose.

I'm disappointed. You're nothing but a wooden doll that can hardly stand up.

The children love you, don't they?

What would a puppet-human like you understand?

Go away.

Okay...

That's right.

I've said so many mean things to her.

It's over, Narumi.