xxxHolic: Rō (×××HOLiC・籠)

There are many mysteries in this world

and this store is just one of them.

It’s a place where wishes may be granted.

This secret place is run by an owner who has stopped his own time from moving forwards.

Yet although the store exists,

it’s not open to everyone.

It appears solely before those fated to enter, and only when their appointed time has come.

Inside, the owner will be waiting to serve them.

Any wish can be granted in this store.

As long as you pay the price,

there is no wish that the owner cannot grant...

Good evening.

Good evening.

It’s spring already, eh?

See? Even the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

But this is just a dream.

If I remember correctly, it’s actually mid-March now.

There’s still some time until they’ll bloom.

In the real world, right?

But even if we’re dreaming,

aren’t you glad that we can still admire something so beautiful?

True.

In dreams, even cherry blossoms in eternal bloom are possible.

Isn’t that a little over the top?

Human hearts are selfish.

They prioritize what they want over everything; even reason.

So what brings you here tonight?

I wanted to see you.

But I also have a wish I’d like you to grant.

You do?

I want you to grant me my wish.

So, Doumeki’s grandfather made a request?

Yeah.

What kind of request was it?

“Yumetagae.”

It’s written as “Dream Breaker.”

How different is it from being a Dream Merchant?

Let’s see... the tapir with the Osaka accent is a Dream Merchant that raises dreams...

but it isn’t the same thing...

I’m surprised you know that.

Kohane wrote about it for her senior thesis!

Ah, so she did.

A Dream Merchant buys and sells dreams.

A famous example would be Houjou Masako’s dream barter.

Masako’s sister dreamed of climbing a tall mountain

and placing the sun and moon in either sleeve of her kimono.

And placed on top of her head was a Tachibana branch that bore three fruits.

After hearing about her sister’s dream, Masako stated that her dream wouldn’t come true.

In fact, she even informed her sister that it was a terrible dream that foretold misfortune.

Masako then offered to become the recipient of that dream by buying it off her sister

in exchange for something her sister had always wanted; thus, making her the owner of that dream.

What did Masako give her?

If I remember correctly, she gave her a mirror.

It’s said that the direct consequences of Masako buying that dream was her marriage to Minamoto no Yoritomo,

[Note: Minamoto no Yoritomo was the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan.]

and her subsequent rise to power.

What do the moon, sun, and everything else in the dream actually symbolize?

The sun and moon symbolize good fortune and honor.

The three Tachibana fruits are believed to symbolize the three children she later bore him.

I see.

It’s not limited to Japan either.

Tales of people buying dreams like this exist all over the world.

But that’s not what he wished for, right?

Yeah.

When you’ve had a nightmare or a dream filled with ill omens,

you can perform a Yumetagae to ensure the dream does not become reality.

There are many methods you can employ such as the use of talismans.

But this time, it’s going to be a bit different.

How’s it going to be different?

That’s a secret.

What?!

In that case, whose dream have you been asked to destroy?

That’s also a secret.

One... two...

One... two...

One... two...

One... two...

Watanuki, we’ve brought it.

Yeah, that’s the one.

Is this okay?

Push it in a little farther.

How about now?

Yeah, that’s exactly right.

All right!

Thanks for carrying them even though they were heavy.

It’s okay.

We’re fine.

But it’s unusual for you to ask for all four of them at once, right?

Well, it’s Haruka-san’s wish after all.

It’s better to be safe than sorry.

The stronger the barrier, the better.

Yup!

Oh, what about the other item I asked for?

We brought it, just like you asked!

Thank you.

Now, I wonder what kind of dream I’ll be entering.

Ah, I see he knows how to do it correctly;

two bows, two claps, and one bow.

Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be better by the time you start grade school.

We’re holding a wake tonight, so there’ll be many visitors throughout the night.

Will you be all right?

Why don’t you try resting in your room for a while?

Grandfather...

Everything turned out exactly as you said it would, right until the very end.

Ever since I was little, you’d mention things that were beyond my comprehension,

and whenever I asked for an explanation, you refused to give me one most of the time.

Back then, I thought that they were things I wouldn’t understand because I was still so young.

But now that I think about it, they must’ve been things that I didn’t need to know.

There are things in this world that we must know,

but there are also many things in this world that we’re better off not knowing.

However, there is something I realized without you telling me.

Grandfather, there was always something - something to do with me - worrying you, wasn’t there?

And it wasn’t because I was frail as a child, but...

rather, you were worried about something happening, right?

Although, I’ve never figured out what that something is...

Oh, this is when I first met Doumeki.

What do you think you’re doing?

You irritate me!

What?

Everything about you irritates me whenever I see you!

Ah! I can’t stand this anymore!

Ah, yes. This was indeed our first encounter.

Don’t run away!

I guess he really does remember.

Hey! Where are you going?!

I guess it’s kind of hard to forget

someone trying to kick you completely out of the blue.

Don’t ignore me! Hey!

Doumeki Shizuka-kun, right?

What?

You’re both amazing despite not being on the soccer team.

That was just a coincidence, Himawari-chan!

There’s no way that an idiot like him can save my shots.

It was just a fluke...

Yes! A miracle!

It was a miracle!

So miracles can happen six times at this school, eh?

That voice... Doumeki!

“There’s no way he can save my shots,” yet I managed to save six goals?

Shut up! I did that on purpose!

I kicked them so that they’d be easy to catch!

Was I really this noisy back then?

Well, I guess it was because I was up against Doumeki.

Still, I’m surprised he let us use his temple when we told the Hundred Stories.

Welcome home, Shizuka-san.

I’m home.

Mother, I’d like to have some people over tonight.

How many will there be?

I’m told three.

Oh, my. Are they friends?

No.

My, I wonder how long it’s been since you last invited friends over.

It’s not like that.