Kemono Jihen (怪物事変)

Here's your bed, your bathtub, and your light.

That should be everything you wanted.

Is there anything you're missing?

What... is that...?

Inugami and two others who said they were your friends.

It looked as though they were here to come get you,

but I can't very well let you go outside.

So I froze them and brought them in.

Akira?

Why... would you...?

Do you not feel well? I'll go see if there's any mint growing in the woods.

Akira, Yui's life signs have gone away.

Is it all right if I speak at normal volume?

They're dead...

They're all... dead...

After I finally managed to meet up with him, why would Yui-niisan...?

This can't be happening!

Correct. Everyone is still alive.

Huh?

They're alive? Ah!

That's right! Kabane-kun doesn't die!

Oh, I'm such a dummy!

"Episode 11: Memories"

Oh, I'm such a dummy!

"Episode 11: Memories"

Huh? But what about Inugami-san and Shiki?

"Episode 11: Memories"

I do not know how it was done,

I do not know how it was done,

but they have been preserved with their body temperatures intact.

So that's it! It's probably one of Inugami-san's transformations.

I'm not sure what's going on,

but I wonder if Shiki is still alive because of it, too. They're all amazing!

But they're going to die at some point if they remain frozen, right?

Nii-san! Is there any way to melt this ice quickly?!

Yes there is.

Several years after we promised we'd live together...

...I became the snowy village's chief.

Why...

...was I chosen to be chief, instead of Akira?

I can pretty well guess what they were thinking.

You're late getting back. Were your chiefly duties hard to carry out?

What were they? I'd like to help out, too.

Both of us working together would be quicker.

It'd be too much for you, Akira.

You'd have to read lots of documents, and use your head.

Not your strong suit, right?

Well, I...

Can you tell me I'm wrong?

No.

Okay then, Brother...

...you can have this.

You know what? I found a tree today that had blossoms on it.

Isn't that unusual? They say it's called a sasanqua.

Congratulations on being made chief.

You say that, when really, you want to keep the flower, don't you?

No I don't!

Once I became the chief, I learned all sorts of things.

Deep inside the village, the nullstone, a stone with great power, was enshrined...

...and the snowstorm that surrounded the village was caused by it.

It was a strangely relaxing place.

The hunting was carried out by the women.

There may be only 200 of them, but all grouped together,

distinctions between who is more talented and who is stronger arise.

And, if the stronger ones make a show of their strength,

then so do upset feelings.

Yui!

Have you ever looked under Hisame's facecloth?

Which one of us is more beautiful, her or me?

I don't know who decided to start the practice,

but the yuki-onna's facecloths, which seem like the very definition of inconvenient,

were meant to prevent a mental hierarchy based on one's looks.

--Ugly... Ugly... Ugly... --Every day, I was pelted by curses that came one after another.

--Polluted... Polluted... Polluted... --Envy... jealousy... contempt... derision...

Each time, I felt the sensation that my body was being corrupted.

Time and again, I was swallowed up by hatred and animosity. However...

Oh, welcome back.

Sorry, did I wake you?

Mm-mm, I'm up.

I only ever get to talk to you before you go to sleep anymore.

Oh, those are...

Yeah.

Thanks.

Each time, he pulled me back. Akira was my only salvation.

Salt?

Yes! When I put it in the bathtub, it makes my skin feel slippery.

I sure would like some.

So then, salt and water, right? Very well.

Thank you!

Good. Brother is acting weird, but he'll do anything I say.

I hate to do it, but right now, I have to take advantage of that.

Are you feeling better now?

Huh?

Oh, um, mm-hmm.

I'm fine now.

You are? Okay then.

Brother, why...?

You smashed my smartphone, locked me up in this castle, and froze the others.

You're acting strange. And yet, I've been incredibly naive.

There's lots that I don't understand about this,

but I'm probably the only one who can stop you.

I have to save the others.

Me.

Wow...

Seeing it up close, it's even better.

There isn't even any water. So this is the power of the nullstone.

Astonishing, isn't it?

Utterly unlike the power of a yuki-onna or yuki-onoko to freeze water.

What the nullstone feeds off of is life.

Indeed, there isn't a single blade of grass left growing around the castle.

Now then, where could that fool of a tanuki be?

What do I do?

I can't bear to do nothing but wait until Yui-niisan comes back.

Maybe I can try rubbing them with a towel.

I do not believe that you can melt this degree of freezing by yourself.

Aw, this is so frustrating!

Take it easy, Akira.

Huh? What's that?

K-Kabane-kun?

I can move at last.

Just a second, Kabane-kun! Pants! Pants!

Th-The nullstone? What's that?

Inugami-san mentioned it. It's supposed to be something from the snowy village.

Now that you mention it, the snowy village has a snowstorm barrier

to keep humans from getting in,

and I heard it was from the something-or-other-stone's power.

I see. That might be it.

I think they said other stuff about it, too. What was it...?

Try to remember. If I can't do something about the nullstone,

I won't be able to beat that man.

Beat him?!

Kabane-kun, are you planning to fight Brother?

Then that man really is your brother.

We came here to get you. That's when he froze us.

I have to convince him, even if it means fighting.

Wh-What is this? He absolutely can't do that!

If they get frozen again, they'll all be killed for sure.

Plus, I'm not even sure I can persuade Brother the way he is now.

I'm sorry about this morning, Akira.

I wasn't aware that "being of any use" didn't apply to just being able to work.

Without you around, we don't talk as much, and I make Shiki angry.

Akira,

come back. I...

...like the office better with you in it.

I want you to come back. I think Shiki probably feels the same way.

You never change, do you, Kabane-kun?

Akira?

You don't even know who I am. What are you, dumb?

I'm the one who asked Yui-niisan to deal with all of you.

Akira...

And I don't need this plushie anymore, either!

I never asked you to come and get me.

And here I thought I could finally live a quiet life with Yui-niisan.

You aren't welcome.

Akira, why are you lying?

You wouldn't say those things. Do you have some reason why you have to lie?

No, I don't. I never said anything, but actually, I've always felt this way.

That's not true.

And as for all of you...

Akira!

I hate you!

What's with that face? Did you think that I was crying here?

Does it look to you like I'm lying?

N-No, it doesn't, really...

Brother!

Wait! Don't!

Get away from him, Akira. You can't tell what's pure from what's polluted.

That's not why!

I don't care what happens to these people!

Forget about them, I've grown tired of this castle. Let's move! Right now!

Okay. Then we'll do that first.

This time, I'd like a place with a view of the ocean.

Oh, I don't need that salt anymore. You can drop that here.

"Salt"

Akira!

A--

Thank goodness I'm a yuki-onoko.