Episode 5: Accumulated Memories
By the time night fell, Yuuki and the others had grown completely accustomed to purifying wishes. As the crowds at the shrine showed no sign of abating, the work only continued to pile up.
Hiyori
I'm back... How long have we been at work now...?
Yui
Shouldn't it be about time to take a break? We'll be in more trouble later if we go on working without resting, right?
Rei
... I'm certainly at my limit, but we don't know when another wish will appear.
Priest
Everyone, truly, thank you for working so hard.
Hiyori
Ah, Mister Priest!
Priest
You must be tired, so please, take this time to rest. Things may only be getting busier from here on out.
Hiyori
I guess so...
Priest
The last few hours of the year are when the most wishes will appear. As the despair from people not having their wishes granted accumulates, unexpected situations are likely to occur.
Priest
Please, do not let your guard down.
Rei
Unexpected situations?
Priest
Many things have been known to occur throughout the long history of this place. If you yourselves also have wishes that you would like to see come true, then please write them and toss them into the fire now as well.
Rei
... The only things I'd like to burn are those memories from earlier. Ha ha, ha ha ha...
Hiyori
Rei! Hurry, come back to us!
Later.
Hiyori
Are you all finished writing? I'm all done!
Yui
I'm also done writing.
Hiyori
What did you write? Let me see!
Yui
No, no, you can't see. It's embarrassing...
Hiyori
That only makes me more curious! Rei, what about...
Rei
Ha ha ha ha...
Hiyori
Maybe I'd be better off not knowing...
Yui
How about you, Yuuki? Did you write something down?
Yui
1. "I didn't write anything."
Hiyori
Is there really nothing, Yuuki? Nothing that didn't go the way you wanted, or that you wanted to forget?
Yuuki
1. "I don't have anything I can burn."
Hiyori
... That's right. Yuuki, your memories...
Yuuki
1. "They're all my memories of everyone."
Yui
... Yuuki.
Rei
Certainly... I couldn't burn any of my memories of my friends, either.
Hiyori
Then, then, let's go on to make tons of memories with each other from now on! How about that?
Yui
Yeah!
Rei
Of course. Then, just wait here for a moment as we go to burn our papers.
Later.
Rei
... Perhaps we shouldn't have brought him with us today, after all.
Hiyori
Why not? Yuuki seems to be having a lot of fun, right?
Yui
... I can understand what Rei is saying.
Rei
He's lost his memories. This ritual of burning away old memories must not sit well with him at all...
Hiyori
Ah...! Yeah, I guess... But! Today will be another new memory for him!
Yui
... I wonder if there isn't anything that the three of us can do for him...
Hiyori
There has to be somethign! There has to be... No, there definitely is!
Rei
I think so, too. When the time comes that he needs us, we'll be there to lend him our strength. No matter what...
Hiyori
In other words, we'll help each other when we're in need!
Rei
Yes, exactly that.
Yui
Yeah! Definitely!
Hiyori
... Now then, let's go back to Yuuki right away! It's a race to see who gets there first! Ready, set, go!
Yui
Hiyori, running in a kimono is dangerous!
Rei
You've got some gall, running ahead of us on your own like that!
Hiyori
Don't sweat it! I just wanted to see Yuuki's face all of a sudden! I'm sure you both felt the same...
Woman's Voice
Eeeek!!!
Three
Huh!?
Rei
What's happening!?
Yui
Has another wish materialized?
Hiyori
Somehow, this feels different from before...
Rei
Let's hurry!
Later.
Wish A
College... acceptance...
Wish B
Don't... cheat on me...
Wish C
Poochy... isn't coming home...
Rei
... What's going on? We didn't look away for a few minutes, did we!?
Yui
Are these all of the wishes that have materialized...!?
Priest
Ahh, everyone! You're here!
Hiyori
Mister Priest! Please run away! We'll do something about all this!
Priest
Yes. I've begun evacuating the worshippers as well. I'll leave the rest to you...!
Yui
We have to purify all of these wishes one by one...
Rei
It looks like this year won't be ending without more trouble...
Hiyori
We've got to reduce their numbers however we can!
Rei
Wait, Hiyori! Watch out!