Jyunishi Comedy #106

Awwww... this was such a cute chapter! And we learn bits and pieces of what had happened to Rin since New Year's and just how much she saw between Kureno and Tohru as well as learned new mysteries. One thing's for sure though, that old woman who's always with Akito, she's so old fashioned it's painful. Anyhow...

I can no longer return anywhere--...

A nurse(?) goes into Rin's hospital room only to discover her missing and goes off to tell the doctor as Rin narrates how she'd had a bad dream about waking in a hospital. She was supposed to have be "in that place", the cat's room. A room that is so quiet, it's like it's at the ends of the world. Unclear of anything, she wonders if her being there had been a dream.

I don't know

I want to go back

I have to go back

I'll go back

Where?

The hospital in the meantime contacts Hatori that Isuzu's gone missing, and he in turn calls Haru. We see an indistinct shot of Haru's Mom who has long hair knocking on his door. Haru is inside unresponsive.

At the mainhouse, Kureno inquires with the servants how Akito is doing and learns that she's in such distress she is unable to eat. The maid then turns and asks Kureno why he did such a thing and if he hadn't realised that his actions would be a betrayal to Akito. To which Kureno realises that the woman had known everything that had transpired with Rin.

Kureno: You

...Think things should have been left as they were?

Maid: If that was Akito's wish

The maid goes on to ask Kureno just whose side he is on, and whether he wished for "that woman" to win. "That slutty, repulsive woman..."

Maid: ...Make no mistake Master Kureno

That the 12shi exist solely for Master Akito's sake
Living and dying for that alone is fine

That without Master Akito, the 12shi

Maid: Are monsters little different from the cat!!

Rin continues to recount her "dream" of how Kureno how come to that room and carried her out of there. How she'd originally wanted to talk to Kureno because she'd seen him with Tohru that day. Seeing Tohru crying like that had made her so angry she chased after Kureno thinking to demand what he'd said and maybe even to hit him, but unfortunately she lost him.

However, while searching for him, Rin ended up being found by Ren. Rin remembers Ren as being nice and commenting how her family was so happy and so she decided to ask Ren if she knew how to break the curse. Just as she's about to ask if she doesn't know however, Ren replies that, if Rin does something for her, she'll tell her how after.

Ren tells her she wants something from Akito's room, something that was originally hers; "treasure". Ren however can't simply go into Akito's room and take it back, she's not allowed there and she's very closely watched. She comments that Rin however, might be able to find it.

However, just as Rin finds what Ren wants, Akito appears behind her, and she realises that she'd lost her chance. Akito gives her a choice between leaving or having Haru's eyes put out. Rin makes the only choice she can and is banished to the cat's room where she swears she'll stay and she realises that she's worthless, unable to accomplish anything.

Ren later learns from her maid what had happened to Rin. And when the maid asks if she really knew how to break the curse, whatever that might be...

Ren: Hmm?
As if I'd know anything

About that sort of thing

More to the point however, is unlike Rin's sweet, naive memory we find out what Ren thought of Rin.

Ren: ...Since a long time ago, I've never liked that child...

Instinctively.

I'd thought she'd be more useful than that but...

Useless people really are useless......

Rin's mind sees her as being locked back in the cat's room and she figures that the whole bit with Kureno and the hospital must've been a dream. And if so, at least in the end, she'd like to be able to dream about sweet, gentle Haru.

Rin: I'm sorry...

It was no good
I couldn't find it

Haru's happiness;
I couldn't

Find it...

I'm sorry......

Haru: --...

Which means...

Rin's journey is, with this

Over.

Rin: ...Yeah

Haru: In that case

Welcome back

When Haru picks Rin up, she finally realises that Haru really is there and that she'd collapsed somewhere on the road. However, unlike when a similar thing had happened when she was a child, Haru can carry her on his own this time.

Haru: So I'm not going to give you up

You too

Should go as far as you can on you own
And when things don't turn out, it's okay to be carried.

Or rather I'll carry you

You're not a burden

You are not
A burden.

[The end

Of a long journey]

And Rin, finally realising she's found a place she can go back to cries saying "I'm back/home" to which Haru welcomes her home.

Banner: Rin's long and solitary journey has, come to a happy end...