01x05 - Episode 5

[bunniefuu]

TRADITIONAL CAFÉ PARIS

It's inconsiderate to rev up
the vacuum at six in the morning.

-Don't you think so too?
-I'm tellin' you,

my neighbors are elderly
like me, so they're up at four.

Choshu, Handa,

your loud bickering makes it difficult
for the customers to come in.

We aren't bickering.

-We're merely speaking loudly.
-He's right.

We're asserting our views
with our outside voices.

-This is "comma-nication".
-That's communication!

There he goes again. Hear that?

Geez.

But really, try to be mindful, okay?

Chloe said
she might have to ban the two of you.

That won't do.

If we get banned from here,

then our only other option
would be the bar by the station.

Old Yoshioka's got
his group of old women fawning over him,

-so I'd much rather be here.
-Right.

He grows his hair out
and ties it in the back,

almost like
that fortune teller Shingetsu Nathan.

He's quite the singer,
so when he sings karaoke,

it gets the women riled up.

Then, all their praises get to his head.

Trash talk certainly brings you to life.

This is how we let off steam.

That's right. We're doing
the same thing you do

-when you vent about Miss Chloe.
-Yeah, it's the same.

Speaking of Chloe.

There she goes.

She said she's visiting
an art museum today.

An art museum?

The demolition work
on the main house has started,

so it gets quite loud at home.

She went to the museum to k*ll time.

Then, it got brought up
that I've never been to a museum before.

Not even for field trips?

Nope.

And none were near
my elementary, middle, and high school.

-And they're expensive.
-Exactly.

If I really cared,
I can read about paintings online.

When I told her this,
Chloe insisted I must go visit the museum.

I should've kept quiet.

Here you go.

What's this?

Did we order one?

It's on the house.
I'd like you to taste it.

You're the very first guests
to try my egg sandwich.

You made this, Emma?

Now I see.

My egg sandwiches are finally
up to par with the café's quality.

I'd love your feedback.

Shall we?

-Thanks for the food.
-Thank you.

Bon appétit.

There it is.

Yum.

-Is it good?
-Scrumptious!

I'm glad.

-It's perfect.
-Perfect, you say?

This is café-quality, all right.

You mean it?

I'm back.

Welcome home.

Here.

A souvenir for you.

A souvenir?

It's merch from the museum.

Oh, what's this? How derpy!

Kuniyoshi Utagawa's A Set of Goldfish.

Is this the "personification"
that's on the trend?

On the trend? It's from the Edo period.
That's like the 1800s.

He painted goldfish in various settings,
one of which is as a bubble seller.

Back in those days,

there was a bubble seller
who peddled bubble solution.

Bubble solution?

Did that pique your curiosity?

Want to pay the museum visit?

It's starting to sound appealing, yes.

I'm getting brainwashed.

It's almost magic.

Fortune tellers are like wizards…

Come again?

It's nothing.

-Chloe.
-Emma.

Chloe et Emma.

CHRONICLE CARD
FORTUNE-TELLING


OPEN - ONLY ON SUNDAYS

Chloe…

You've got a visitor.
It's a shady-looking man.

-Shady?
-Yes.

He has a hunched back and long bangs.

He's, like, semi-cute.

Is that a compliment?

Or are you dissing him?

There's something about him I don't like.

But he's a client, right?

You're from before.

Yes, I know you.

That's quite the surprise.

Take a seat.

Our conversation on the train
inspired me to seek out a reading.

I looked up shops on the map app,
and this one had an interesting review.

I didn't expect it to be your shop.

An interesting review?

Yes.

This one.

MOLLY - YOUR LIFE
MAY OR MAY NOT CHANGE.

I KNOW MINE DID.
DON'T MISS YOUR LUCKY COLOR!

Kanata Tanaka.

SETAGAYA
APRIL, 1987

Thirty-eight.

What brings you in today?

Can I ask a rather abstract question?

An abstract question
yields an abstract reading.

Is that all right with you?

Oh, that's preferable.

So that I won't get cursed.

I've been looking for something
for a long time.

Will I ever find it?

Let's read your fortune.

Your past, present, and the near future.

Oh,

mon…

Dieu!

Excuse me,

may I speak?

Of course.

There's a rather
foreboding card in the mix.

It's not a bad omen.

Every card is upright.
This is a rare outcome.

Does that mean
things have been going well?

Rather,

it's that things
have worked out in your favor.

I see.

We decide how the facts are interpreted.

Right?

Now you sound like a fortune teller.

I spoke out of turn.

Well then,
let's start with your current situation.

January, upright.

Card of Encounter.

Technique, creativity, games.

Does your work require such skills,

or is your occupation
related to any of these keywords?

Well… in a way.

I tend to treat life like a game.

It ties back to my comment earlier
about deciding how we interpret facts.

Perhaps you have
an outsider's perspective.

Indeed.

Also,

I'm interested in the effect
my words and actions have on others.

Like magic?

Moving on.

It represents something from
the past that continues to affect you.

Friday, upright.

Card of Order.

Daily life, an exchange, embarrassment,

a process, habits, a gift.

Does any of these keywords
stand out to you?

It does.

I sense you are attempting
to achieve a balance with it.

I see…

Next card. The inner self.

Tuesday, upright.

Card of Purity.

Free-spirited and unique.

When emotions run high,
you retreat into silence and meditation,

and yet, you love to communicate.

Sounds like I'm a handful.

However, you have a pure heart.

Moving on.

The outer world.

April, upright.

Card of Action.

Maturity, sensuality,
attraction farms, ankles.

An attraction farm?

Not all keywords necessarily apply.

All right.

Aside from the farm,
do the keywords apply to you?

No comment.

The final card.

It represents an event in the near future.

The Doll, upright.

What you fear most will come for you.

Say what?

Why does this card seem so ominous?

The illustration is a bit dark,
but it's not a bad omen.

It represents a purge. A sublimation.

A reckoning necessary
to transcend to the next level.

This card also represents a departure.

Sublimation as in the psyches, yes?

Then…

could it also be hinting

that in the near future, I'll finally
find what I've been looking for?

Yes.

And it shall come to you
in the way you dread the most.

Will you quit it?

Don't hex me.

You're the one
who decides what this means.

That's all.

It was intimidating,
yet fascinating all the same.

I'm glad.

This concludes the reading.

You're free to go.

Say…

shouldn't you pick up
the cards scattered on the floor?

My assistant will clean up.

Mind if I pick them up instead?

I was curious about these cards.

What interesting artwork.

Chronicle Cards, was it?

Yes.

They're used to read the flow of time.

Speaking of artwork,
this happened about ten years ago.

I was viewing a portrait of a woman
at a museum. A Rembrandt piece.

It even had the fine hair on fingers.

I thought, "How true to life."
I was deeply moved.

Fine hair on fingers?

As in, the hair on fingers?

Yes.

It's a portrait of a beautiful woman,
so I never quite forgot this odd detail.

But, recently,

I took a closer look at this painting
using the museum's website.

Then, I realized…

it may be a crack on the varnish instead.

I wasn't sure which it was.

Whether it's fine hair on fingers…

Or a cracked varnish.

But…

for some reason, it never left my mind.

And what is the title
of this Rembrandt piece?

What was it?

I viewed it recently too.

I don't remember. Sorry.

Here.

Thank you.

Yes?

The lucky color mentioned in the review.

I almost forgot to ask.

The Doll is the only one from the set
that doesn't have a lucky color.

This card is meant
to serve as the Joker, you see.

So, such a card exists.

Sorry.

Oh, it's fine.

But… I'm a bit disappointed.

Thank you for coming.

-Oh, thank you.
-Come again.

Chloe, what happened to the cards?

That client picked them up for me.

Seriously?

What's that look for?

There's something abnormal
about that semi-cute guy.

He's definitely sus.

In your mind,
does being abnormal means suspicious?

I saw his name
and instantly thought it's fake.

Fake?

Look.

His name is a palindrome in Japanese.

It spells "Kanata Tanaka" both ways.

Yes, I noticed.

Speaking of,

his Chinese characters are
perfectly symmetrical too.

"Kanata Tanaka."

KANATA TANAKA

Oh, you're right.

Yep, it's an alias. Definitely sus.
He's another Molly.

Molly?

Oh, speaking of…

Did you know?
Molly wrote us another review.

You're kidding. Another one?

Read it.

Oh, Molly.

Rembrandt.

Woman.

A portrait.

And click.

THE WOMEN BEHIND
REMBRANDT'S PORTRAITS

He said he saw it about ten years ago.

PORTRAIT OF OOPJEN COPPIT

PORTRAIT OF MARIA TRIP

Could this be it?

PORTRAIT OF MARIA TRIP

Fine hair on fingers…

or a cracked varnish.

He's right.

Which is it?

Kanata Tanaka…

SEARCH

REMBRANDT'S PRECISION
BLOWS ME AWAY

THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE PIECE,
NOT THE NIGHT WATCH

I'M CAPTIVATED BY
THIS ELEGANT YET DARK PORTRAIT

I WISH TO SEE THE GENUINE
FLORA ONE DAY

"Tomorrow…"

"Tomorrow…

at 1

I will be at…

the station bridge."

He's trying to bewitch me.

What do you want from me?

You're the fortune teller.

What brings you here?

Don't play dumb.
You're the one who summoned me.

I read your secret message.

So you noticed.

You led me into it.

Wizard of words, Kanata Tanaka.

I'm here to accept
an invitation from the wizard himself.

What's the difference
between charm and magic?

Somethin' the matter, Emma?

It's just… I was recalling
a client who came by yesterday.

Something about him bothers me.

I wouldn't describe him as charming.

I know what this is.

You're in love.

How bittersweet.

No, it's nothing like that.

How do I put it…

I can't quite put it into words.

Charm and magic…

Where to, then?

Haven't decided yet.

Is there a place on your mind?

Then… a park.

That's a great idea.

We've got a clear sky.

Why don't we talk as we walk?

I was hoping we could talk more.

There's a big park that way.

I figured it out.

What is the similarity
between a charm and magic?

What is it?

There's a "demon" in both words.

Demon?

CHARM - MAGIC
DEMON

Welcome in.

For one?

Please find a seat.

Well? Did you find
what you were looking for?

You want to talk about that already?

I assumed that's what
you wanted to talk about.

Fortune teller,

do your romantic relationships last?

No comment.

Me,

I can only be interested in someone
until they start falling for me.

What?

When someone doesn't regard me at all,

but then they
start opening up to me little by little…

and their every word and smallest gestures

start to show their love for me,

well, it just sends me over the moon.

But…

I can't ever get beyond that point.

All that's left

is that I get tied down to them,

or they become dissatisfied

because I never act
the way they wish I did.

I keep wondering
what I'll find in the end.

Where is everyone trying to reach?

"In sickness and health…

'till death do us part."

Yes.

That's why

I keep searching for
what comes after romance.

There's no need…

There's no need

to try to meet

someone else's expectations
on how you should be.

Care to explain?

Well…

I'll tell you about myself.

Ever since I was little,

I always kept some distance
from those around me.

Were you the cautious type?

You could say so.

There were kids who wanted
to come over just for treats…

and children who touched
my belongings without permission.

I really couldn't stand them.

I see.

I can see how that's unpleasant.

So, naturally, I…

developed the habit
of keeping others at bay.

Due to that,

even when I first started dating someone,

I didn't know
what to say when we're together,

and

how to conduct myself around him.

Really, I was out of my depth.

So then, I…

turned to TV and the Internet

and started reading up
on how girls are expected to behave.

I took it to an extreme
and showered my partner with it.

Sounds pretty toxic to me.

Because he was so forgiving,

I'd convinced myself
I was doing the right thing.

I became more and more
dominant in our relationship.

I dragged him along.

In the end, he broke up with me saying,
"Sorry, I can't do this anymore."

In the six months we dated,
he gained eight kilograms,

all from stress.

Geez.

There's more.

Even after we broke up,
I stalked him online.

He is now married and has two children.

He lives a blissful life out in Nagano.

Sheesh, you're something else.

Why am I…

The wizard hexed me into talking.

Sorry.

In my case,
because I couldn't understand it,

I tried to imitate the world around me.

Instead of reconciling my real self and
my public image, I went off the deep end.

So…

if there's such thing as
"what comes next,"

then perhaps you already know the answer.

Are you cursing me?

Or…

Charm is cute and innocent,

but magic is seductive, maybe?

Seductive?

Only by your books, Handa.

Emma.

-Are you okay?
-Or…

-Emma?
-Emma.

…is it a spell?

That…

depends on your interpretation.

That's unfair.

Well, you yourself said

that you're the one
who decides how facts are interpreted.

Did I really?

Miss.

May I have your name?

One minute.

SIMON - EMMA GOT SICK
AND LEFT EARLY

JUST THOUGHT I'D LET YOU KNOW

Excuse me.

I have an urgent matter to attend to.

I must get going.

Really.

Well, be careful on your way home.

What a shame.

I'm back.

Welcome home, Chloe.

Simon told me you were feeling unwell.

Yeah.

I had an upset stomach,

but I kept it in until it got so bad
I couldn't even stay standing.

It got better after I came home
and sat in the bathroom for a while.

Maybe I got cold.

Oh, okay then.

Being cold causes all sorts of malaise.

Hence today, I made chicken pot,
albeit it's not the season for it.

Where did you go today?

Just… around.

Chloe?

Yes?

Don't tell me you met up with that man.

What man?

Kanata Tanaka.

Whom I spend time with
is none of your business.

I've been thinking about this all day.

Being charming is unintentional,

but magic has to be intentional.

What're you talking about?

That man wasn't charming, he was magical.

That's why I want you
to steer clear of him.

Oh, come on.

Who do you think you are
to talk to me this way?

We aren't even friends, you know.

I understand, but…

I may be living here rent-free,
but I can still worry about you.

What's that?

Like, "tread on a worm and it will turn?"

Now what is it?

The character "demon"
is in both charm and magic,

DEMON

but also in "soul"!

Yep.

There is. Your point?

So please watch out.

Speaking of…

What is it?

This chicken hot pot…

The weather is too hot for it, I know.

Sorry, I got a sudden craving for it.

No. That's not what I meant.

Just thought it's delicious,
even though it's out of season.

Then I'm glad.

I wonder what sort of folks
you'll see today.

Assuming anyone comes in, that is.

What is it?

-They arrested the Okutama serial k*ller.
-What?

The one where we thought Diane was taken?

Yes. The keyword trending
on social media is,

"Shingetsu Nathan and the k*ller"!

Wait, Nathan is the perp?

No, the prediction Nathan gave
of the k*ller on TV

was apparently spot-on.

Right,

a good-looking man
who's thin and has a hunched back, right?

Oh, and he's in his late 30s.

Takaaki Takada.

Twenty-five, works as a courier.

TRENDING


Takaaki Takada.

Sucks to be a news reporter
who has to say his name.

Is he good-looking though?

He doesn't fit
Nathan's predictions, does he?

He's just the driver.

The accomplice, the actual k*ller,

fits Nathan's description. Thin,
hunched back, and in his 30s… Wait.

SUSPECTS NIHITO KAMIO
AND TAKAAKI TAKADA

No way.

What? Chloe?

NIHITO KAMIO

Kanata Tanaka.

-Creepy!
-Sheesh!

You startled me! Seriously, don't do that!

Seriously, don't scream.

-Nihito Kamio.
-And?

His name spells…

NIHITO KAMIO

Kami as in god, oni as in demon,
and hito as in person.

There's a "demon"
between "god" and "person."

Demon?

Look, Chloe, I've got goose bumps!

I'm gonna pass out, this is freaky!

Do you want to close shop for the day?

What?

What should I do?

What do I do?

What're we going to do?

Wait, we're not in danger.
Nothing's wrong.

He's in custody.

True.

Yes, you're right.

I'll go pour us something warm.

SUSPECT - NIHITO KAMIO

Thank you for waiting.

Today, I made a spicy parfait

to help you get over the creepy incident.
This will energize you.

The bottom is
a five-citrus and ginger confiture

with yuzu and Japanese pepper jelly.

Chai blancmange and salted caramel cream.

The bitter chocolate discs

with Japanese summer orange spicy compote
and Japanese citrus guimauve.

and salted milk gelato.

The crowning pieces
are fried basil and a tom yum kung rusk.

What an interesting combination!

I figured there's no right or wrong
in parfait making.

Please enjoy this invigorating
parfait with a rich flavor profile.

-Thank you for this parfait.
-Thank you.

This sweet and salty rusk
is simply delicious.

Yum.

So, the serial k*lling case.

Apparently, what led to the arrest

was that the k*ller's girlfriend
suspected him of cheating,

and dug into his history.

That's how it all came down.

Really now.

I read articles from various websites.

The only conclusion
I can draw about that girlfriend of his

is that she's the girl from the college-
aged couple I sat by on the train.

They must've met then,

found a way to talk to each other,
and then start dating.

That's insanity.

You were in serious danger, Chloe.

But you know,

I won't deny that man
is crazed and is the worst.

But what scares me the most

is that I found myself
not only sympathizing with his words,

but I was also drawn to them.

You can't blame yourself for that, Chloe.

Con artists excel in deception.

Right.

I guess there's a demon within all of us,

and sometimes we turn it on others,
sometimes on ourselves.

Which means we must

all learn to harness
the demon within us all.

We decide how the facts are interpreted.

The girlfriend got frightened
and spoke to the police,

but she stated
she was truly in love with him.

But that man…

can only like someone
as long as they don't like him back.

He said he doesn't know what comes next.

What does that even mean?

He keeps searching for what lies beyond.

That's what he said to me.

What lies beyond, huh?

I wonder if he
ever found his answer in the end.

But that ego of his

means utter garbage to the victims
whose hearts and bodies were torn apart.

Perhaps magic

is what keeps people trapped,
long after they're ready to let go.

I'm just glad you're safe, Chloe.

Really, that's what's important.

You're absolutely right.

Here, you can have my lucky color. Brown.

As if.

How is your lucky color going to help me?

Besides, how long ago was that?

Does your lucky color
even count at this point?

That's a good question…
But I hoped to cheer you up.

Oh, whatever.

Well, Sho Emma.

Ready to begin?

Yes.

The first card.

It represents your current situation.

December, reversed.

Card of Trial.

You suffer
because of your clumsy attempt to help.

The second card.

It represents something from
the past that continues to affect you.

January, reversed. Card of Encounter.

Something from your past
still has a hold on you.

Technique.

A back.

Could it be my mother's back?

She raised me by herself.

The third card. Your inner self.

Tuesday, upright.

Card of Purity.

You wish to unleash your personality.

You long for freedom.

Miss Emma,
who actually loves cheerful colors.

Come again?

You've saved me twice now.

First the fire,

and now, my magic-detecting ability?

I thought the same.

Didn't I say he was sus from the get-go?

I'm pretty amazing, right?

You'd be dead twice over
if it weren't for me.

What's actually impressive
is Shingetsu Nathan's fortune-telling.

I agree. I took him for a wash-up.

I have to reconsider that.

Come on…

Even someone who has nothing to offer
can be a comforting presence.

Come on, Chloe.

I finally learned how to make
Paris' egg sandwich.

Actually?

Yes. I've got
the café regulars' stamp of approval too.

You're not off the hook yet.

After all, you still have to save up
in order to get back on your feet.

You're right. Thanks for being with me.

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION