[Nanmaru] Now we're connected, even though I'll be far away. Message me anytime.
You are…
Within Reach, aren't you?
[Takashi] I'll teach you from scratch.
[pops]
We're special. We're the chosen ones.
[Mr. Hayano] Outsiders keep on showing up in our village.
[Professor Marukami] The Window… it opened.
Goodbye.
-[pops] -[crowd gasps]
[Tagaya] This isn't good.
It's just like the murder that took place in Marukawa Town.
[Emi] That Takashi person might be the murderer.
[Takashi] I see potential in your power.
There's something I want your help with.
I have a terrible feeling.
Previously on Land of Tanabata
[birds chirping]
-[pops] -[crowd gasps on video]
[screaming on video]
Amazing.
You've come through for me, Masumoto.
I never thought such a power really existed.
Much obliged.
The assassination you ordered on Councilor Tamabe
has been carried out without a hitch.
But the incident in Marukawa Town presents a problem.
Why would he do something so stupid, at a time like this?
There is no problem with him.
He was simply trying to protect his hometown.
As a person Within Reach.
I need someone more reliable.
I'm afraid that won't be possible.
The police have begun investigating what happened to Councilor Tamabe.
What a hassle.
That's why…
I'd like to make a request of you.
[indistinct chatter]
-[student 1] But I nearly drowned. -[student 2 chuckles]
I nearly drowned! [chuckles]
[student 3] The sea!
Let's go to the sea.
-[student 4] Yeah, let's do that! -[groans]
[inhales sharply]
[door creaking]
You're late.
Welcome
I'm sorry.
[Takashi] Whatever.
So, how big has your power gotten?
Um…
About the size of a watermelon.
That's good. [soft chuckle]
Then,
I'll be needing to use your power soon.
[nervous chuckle] Soon?
[paper rustling]
[Takashi] Look. I want your help with this.
New Skills Development Seminar
[Nanmaru] "New skills development"?
What is this?
[soft chuckle]
[♪ theme music playing]
Land of Tanabata
[wind gusting]
[♪ ominous music playing]
[gasps]
[♪ calm music playing]
[muffled breathing]
[muffled yelp]
[muffled scream]
[gasps]
[heavy breathing]
[exhales deeply]
[breathing deeply]
[indistinct chatter]
Thank you.
Reception is over here!
Hello. Please line up over here.
-[staff] Have your 12,000 yen fee ready. -Choose any seat you like.
New Skills Development Seminar
[Takashi] Hmm. Looking good.
-[nervous chuckle] -[footsteps approaching]
Mr. Minamimaru! Thank you so much for coming today.
My name is Yagihara.
I will be the host for today's event.
[Nanmaru] Thank you.
-A host? -[Yagihara] Yeah.
All right, show us your power. Don't hold back.
Once you're on stage, I'll guide you.
All right.
You got this.
Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for coming.
[Yagihara] The dubious nature of supernatural phenomena
often points toward the darkness
or to far and distant places,
away from true scrutiny.
Wouldn't it be great to simply prove that such things exist?
That's exactly why
I want to introduce Mr. Yoji Minamimaru, our new skills instructor.
Please give him a big round of applause!
[applause]
[♪ light suspenseful music playing]
No way. Nanmaru?
[Takashi] Ready, Minamimaru?
Let's begin.
Hold up both your hands.
Close your eyes on the count of five.
Five,
four,
three,
two,
one,
zero.
[♪ music fades]
I can see something.
Me too.
-[attendee 1] What? -[attendee 2] What is that?
All right, good. Bring that.
[crowd murmuring]
Everyone, please take a look.
This is what's called a "Dimension Ball."
[murmuring continues]
[Yagihara] Does this look like a regular soap bubble to you?
Of course not!
Now I'd like to show you all
just how powerful this body of energy is.
[murmuring continues]
All right, it's ready.
[Yagihara] Everyone,
please watch closely.
Go ahead.
-[pops] -[crowd exclaims]
[crowd exclaiming, gasping]
[Yagihara] This is the power of a Dimension Ball!
Woah.
[Yagihara] Let's have a big round of applause for Mr. Minamimaru.
[applause]
-Wow! -Incredible…
For me?
[Yagihara] Let's give it up for him!
-Well done. -[Nanmaru] Ah.
Do you think it went well?
-You were a huge success. -[soft chuckle]
I knew you'd be able to demonstrate such great power.
Really? [chuckles]
Of course.
It would be a waste not to share this power with the world.
Everyone was blown away, right?
-Yeah. -[both chuckle softly]
This is something that only special people can do.
Special people like you, Minamimaru.
[cup thuds]
I'd always thought it was all useless.
I can tell you're Sachiko's brother.
Thank you so much for developing my powers.
[Yagihara] Great work out there!
The crowd loved it!
-[Nanmaru chuckles] -Wonderful stuff!
All right, here's your pay for today, Mr. Minamimaru.
-We should do this again. -Yeah.
-Tomorrow or the day after. -Really? That's so soon.
[Yagihara] We could even do it again today.
-[Nanmaru and Yagihara laugh] -[Nanmaru] Today?
Application for New Skills Development Seminar
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
[Takashi] How much did we make?
Over three million just today.
With him as the face of this thing, we could earn even more.
Here. Your share for today, Mr. Higashimaru.
[Yagihara sighs]
[Yagihara gulps, exhales deeply]
There are some busybodies around too. We need to be careful.
But Mr. Minamimaru is easy to handle.
[Takashi] I'm not sure if he's dumb or just foolish.
[Yagihara] Either one works.
We should increase the number of seminars, shouldn't we?
[Takashi] Right. [inhales sharply]
Should we do more in a different location?
[Yagihara inhales sharply] Where should we do it?
[Takashi] Somewhere that pays well.
[Yagihara] Mm…
-Osaka, Nagoya, or Fukuoka. -[Takashi] Right.
So, what did you find?
[Masumoto] The residents of Marukawa Town have a stronger solidarity than expected.
There should be several more of them.
I want to find them at all costs.
I've gotten information that there's one in Tokyo too.
Is that right?
What? 300,000? [chuckles]
This much for one day?
I don't even need to get a job.
[laughs]
Woo!
This is crazy. My power is amazing, after all.
Hmm?
[inhales sharply]
What's that?
[Nanmaru groans]
Maybe a pimple or something, since I'm tired.
[sighs]
Marukami Village
[sighs]
Professor Marukami…
Why…
Why would you throw away your life here?
Is it that important?
[♪ pensive music playing]
[Professor Marukami] Emi.
-[Emi] Professor… -[soft chuckle]
[Professor Marukami] My roots may lie in that town,
but it's more complicated than that.
I am… drawn to it.
"It"?
That festival that was held
just 10 days after Michiyasu Shimadera was killed in battle.
Tanabata?
[soft chuckle]
Exactly.
That year, just as usual,
it began on April 29th.
That's right. April…
Just as usual?
The fourth year of the Einin Era
Marukami Festival held from May 8th for seven days
[Emi] May?
Tagaya. Can you come to the seminar room?
[Tagaya sighs]
Tenbun Era. From May 23rd…
[Emi] It was mostly held in May.
It moves away from the date of Tanabata, doesn't it?
On the Western calendar…
Western calendar?
[Sakuragi] It's 64…
All right.
[Tagaya] Hmm…
I know! Maybe they hold the festival once the rice planting is done.
To pray for a good harvest.
No. Some were held in April.
[Tagaya] That might be fine in the south, but Marukami Village is in the northeast.
April would be way too early to have finished rice planting.
Yeah. Exactly.
How did I miss this?
Huh?
[keyboard keys clacking]
Convert Japanese calendar to Gregorian calendar
Year 8 of the Tenbun Era
[keyboard keys clacking]
[mouse clicks]
[Tagaya] The dates pretty much match up.
It wasn't the Japanese old calendar.
The festival dates were set to the Western calendar,
the Gregorian calendar.
The most recent Tanabata Festival was also…
Look.
[Nanmaru] A festival.
Marukawa Festival
[Nanmaru] "From June 18th… to June 24th."
That's seven days!
[Tagaya] June 18th!
Now I see!
But Professor, when was the Gregorian calendar first implemented?
From October 1582…
and still only in the Catholic countries of Europe.
Which means…
even before the Gregorian calendar reached Japan,
it was already being used in Marukami Village?
It must have something to do with the purpose of the festival.
[Tagaya clicks tongue]
Everybody, let us once again witness Mr. Minamimaru's supernatural ability!
[applause]
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
[pops]
[crowd exclaims]
[cheers and applause]
[pops]
[applause]
[pops]
[applause]
All right everyone, next up is a refrigerator!
[pops]
[crowd exclaims]
[cheers and applause]
[Nanmaru sighs]
Hey, Nanmaru!
[exclaims]
-Sorry about how I acted before. -[Nanmaru] Huh?
I never realized you had such an amazing ability.
[chuckles] Not at all.
[Asano] Please let me ask you something.
I understand that we need to train alone, but could you give us just a little hint?
-[attendee 1] Yes, please! -[attendee 2] Please.
Um… a hint for what?
-The Dimension Ball, of course! -[soft laughter]
[Nanmaru] Ah!
You mean Beyond the Window?
Uh, that's something only Marukami descendants can do,
and only a select few at that.
-Oh, come on! -Don't say that!
-Don't keep it to yourself! -Please!
-[attendee 1] I promise I'll train hard. -No, I'm telling the truth.
-[attendee 2] What? -[attendee 3] No way.
All of you! You mustn't trouble Mr. Minamimaru.
-Aki? -Come on, out of the way.
-Huh? -[Aki] Excuse me!
But why?
[attendee 1] Please teach us soon!
-[Nanmaru] Sure… -[attendee 2] Please, sir!
[Nanmaru] Wait, are you angry?
[Takashi] How much did we make?
[Yagihara] Over three million just today.
With him as the face of this thing, we could earn even more.
Here. Your share for today, Mr. Higashimaru.
[Takashi] There are some busybodies around too.
We need to be careful.
[Yagihara] But Mr. Minamimaru is easy to handle.
[Takashi] I'm not sure if he's dumb or just--
Turn it off!
[Aki] Nanmaru, you're too gullible.
[♪ somber music playing]
Why go out of your way to follow Takashi, getting a part-time job too?
Why go this far?
I want to work for a newspaper and become a journalist.
Not just cramped up here in Tokyo, but traveling all around the world.
[Aki] So I'm looking for that chance.
This scoop is a huge chance for me.
[inhales deeply] So Nanmaru…
please don't stop me.
Well, I'll head back, since I've still got work to do.
[footsteps receding]
[♪ somber music continues playing]
[Nanmaru panting]
What's wrong, Mr. Minamimaru?
[breathing heavily]
I'm… quitting.
What?
Why?
I don't like this.
I want to… do things my way.
Huh?
[Nanmaru] This feels wrong.
My power isn't meant for this.
There must be a better way to use it,
to use it effectively--
I taught you that power.
For that…
I'm grateful.
[♪ tense music playing]
You don't get it.
We're special.
[Takashi] From here on, there's nothing we can't do together.
The way you use the power…
must be wrong.
[Nanmaru] Sachiko…
She wouldn't want this either.
You too…
You too, huh?
What?
[Yagihara] Just calm down a second, Mr. Minamimaru.
Okay?
-Want a drink or something? -It's over. Go home.
Don't say that, Mr. Higashimaru.
Sir!
[shouts] Go home!
-Go home! -[Yagihara] Mr. Higashimaru.
Please calm down.
You too, Mr. Minamimaru, let's talk, okay?
Mr. Minamimaru. Hey!
[Yagihara sighs]
-[breathing heavily] -[Yagihara clicks tongue]
[Yagihara] I knew this would happen eventually.
He's too darn honest.
-[♪ calm music playing] -[birds chirping]
[pops]
[heavy breathing]
[pops]
[grunting]
[breathing heavily]
[insects chirping]
Higashimaru Family Grave
[indistinct chatter]
[crunching]
[passenger] I'm going for a stroll.
[subordinate] Mr. Marukami. Would that be such a good idea?
Perhaps you shouldn't wander around too much.
[passenger] You needn't worry. This is Marukami Village.
For me, Yoriyuki Marukami, it's a garden.
[insects chirping]
[Sachiko] Yoriyuki?
[Yoriyuki] Hey, Sachi.
I knew you'd come.
Since it's the anniversary…
of my mom's death.
Thank you.
[Sachiko] I'm sure this would please my mom the most.
[Yoriyuki] It was good to see you.
Wait.
[Sachiko] Tell me, Yoriyuki.
Isn't it scary…
to leave this town?
Since you're a Window Opener.
[♪ pensive music playing]
[Yoriyuki] Are you scared?
[Sachiko] Yes.
Very scared.
[Yoriyuki inhales sharply] Those are dreams. Just dreams.
Though they are…
dreams filled with terrifying malice.
I'm going to put an end to the nightmares.
Yoriyuki.
The incident at Kurone Construction…
That was you, wasn't it?
[♪ pensive music continues playing]
[Yoriyuki] That's right.
Unfortunately, I still can't beat my dreams.
[Nanmaru's mom] How's your job hunting going?
Hmm?
Oh…
I'm searching around, but…
I can't find a job that matches my ability.
Ability?
You know, Grandad would often open a hole in a saw or newspaper, right?
Oh, his magic trick.
It's not magic, it's a supernatural ability.
But your grandad would say that it was magic.
It's so like you to look for a job using magic, but try to be serious--
-Oh! Sorry, Yoji! -Hmm?
I completely forgot to clean the bath.
And your dad is nearly home. I'll have to go.
All right. I'll call again.
-Okay, see you. -Goodnight.
Goodnight.
[phone thuds]
[pops]
-Wow! A hole. -[Nanmaru's grandad panting]
Only special, chosen people can do this trick.
Yoji, do you want to be a special person?
I do!
All right, let's practice.
Lend me that.
Hold your hands up here, like I did before.
[Nanmaru's grandad] Think, "Open a hole. Open a hole." More.
-[pops] -[thuds]
[breathes shakily]
[♪ pensive music playing]
Sachiko. Maybe I shouldn't use this power.
[sighs]
What do I…
want to do?
[insects chirping]
[indistinct chatter]
The outsiders have increased their activity.
We need to take measures now.
It feels like someone powerful is backing them up.
They're after the power of those Within Reach in this village.
Um, regarding that…
What?
Yesterday, I saw Yoriyuki.
-[villager 1] What? -[cafe owner] Yoriyuki?
Surely not. In this town?
Yoriyuki…
might be here to win over the outsiders.
-[villager 2] What did you say? -[villagers murmuring]
[Sachiko's great-uncle] We must not be taken in
by external influences.
This is the rule that has been passed down
through generations in the Marukami village.
He who possesses this power…
must understand this.
Yoriyuki,
what exactly are you thinking?
[car doors closing]
[Masumoto] There's no need for you
to entertain the curiosity of an idle old man.
[Yoriyuki] I'm the one who wishes to see him, to plan for the future.
[knocks on door]
[door opens]
[Masumoto] Excuse me.
[elder] Hello, Masumoto.
Did you bring him?
I did. Sorry to keep you waiting.
This is Marukami.
[door closes]
[Yoriyuki] So you're the Baron?
Could you stop prying in Marukawa Town?
What are you talking about?
Marukami, you're being rude.
[Yoriyuki] You want all those Within Reach for yourself, don't you?
And you want to keep monopolizing the wealth you've built up until now.
Why not at least take off your hat?
Remember, I'm paying 100 million for you.
[Yoriyuki chuckles] 100 million…
You can have it back if you want.
What's that?
[Yoriyuki] Currently, you live a life without any hardships.
You have influence in political and financial circles.
I don't know whether people respect you or not,
but you are certainly feared.
What more could you want?
That's enough, Marukami.
[♪ tense music playing]
[Yoriyuki] A lonely old man, slowly sinking into obscurity,
wants to get his hands on some exclusive toys…
You just want to show off, don't you?
[breathes angrily]
[guns cocking]
[popping]
[♪ tense music playing]
[♪ music intensifies]
[Yoriyuki] I'm faster than you can clap.
[breathing shakily]
[Yoriyuki] I'll join your collection, for a limited time only.
[♪ dramatic music playing]
Let's get on well…
shall we?
An alien?
How rude.
I'm Japanese, despite how I look.
[♪ music intensifies]
[♪ closing theme music playing]
Translated by Zak