Chapter 144: Episode 3 · Remaining Sense Of Pain (Part 5)
The film then begins to follow two parallel storylines.
One follows Mikiya Kokutou as he searches for the real reason behind Fujino Asagami's killing spree, while the other focuses on Shiki Ryougi, who has resolved to eliminate Fujino for her murders.
In his investigation, Mikiya seeks out an old professor, upon Aozaki Touko's recommendation, to inquire whether psychic powers really exist.
"The existence of psychic powers is indeed real, but there are different kinds," the professor explains. "This field of study is shrouded in secrecy, with only a few research facilities in the world studying it behind closed doors. I don't have detailed information, but it's said that in the past three years, there have been significant advances, making it almost practical. But it's hard to say. After all, these abilities require a breakthrough right from birth."
Mikiya, intrigued, presses on, "In what form do humans possess psychic powers?"
"It's like tuning into a channel. Do you watch television?"
"Of course I do. But what does that have to do with this?"
"The human brain is like a television receiver. We can only tune in to the signals we're capable of receiving and watch their content. There are other channels out there, but we can't pick them up. Do you understand?"
"I see, that's unfortunate."
"No, it's not unfortunate."
"Why not?"
"Because if you could tune into these abnormal channels, your perception of the world would change. You would gain a different sense of reality, a kind of understanding that doesn't exist in normal society. And within that society, you'd be considered an anomaly."
"An anomaly? You mean someone with a mental disorder?"
"Exactly. Take someone who can communicate with plants, but lacks the ability to communicate with people. To the outside world, wouldn't they seem mentally ill?"
"That... makes sense."
"In fact, there are many such individuals. They're often labeled as killers or madmen, but I call them maladaptive existences. There are many people who can't adapt to society, but these individuals are twisted from the start, incapable of fitting in. Psychics are just a subset of these maladaptive beings, individuals with special powers built on an already abnormal foundation."
Mikiya's conversation with the professor ends there. While he gains a deeper understanding of the concept of psychics, he finds himself more confused than ever.
Is there still hope for Fujino Asagami?
He doesn't have an answer.
Meanwhile, in an abandoned building, Fujino crouches wearily in a corner, clutching her abdomen.
Outside, heavy rain pours down, accompanied by fierce winds.
Lost in thought, she recalls a childhood memory when she once twisted her ankle.
Lacking any sense of pain, she continued to walk, unaware of how pitiful she looked.
In that moment, the memory of a black-haired upperclassman appeared in her mind. He had gently asked her, "Does it hurt?"
"You're so silly. Listen, you don't have to endure the pain in silence. If it hurts, you should cry out, Fujino."
Saying that, he had picked her up and carried her to the infirmary, leaving right after.
That memory, faint as a dream, lingered in her thoughts. Perhaps, Fujino had started to like him from that very moment. It was a beautiful dream that belonged solely to her.
But all dreams must eventually end.
When she opened her eyes again, amidst the raging storm, the 'Grim Reaper' was already standing before her.
"I've finally found you, Asagami."
In a red coat and white attire, Shiki Ryougi stood in the storm, smiling at her. Her ghostly figure seemed almost unreal.
No words were needed; both of them knew that the inevitable clash between them would be anything but harmonious—it would be a brutal, unforgiving battle.
…
As the scene teetered on the brink of an intense showdown, the viewers collectively held their breath. Simultaneously, the scene sparked heated discussions among them.
"By the way, isn't the Kara no Kyoukai universe devoid of supernatural powers like magic?"
"Not exactly. It's more like those powers exist in the shadows, hidden from ordinary people."
"It's hard to imagine how such a world would develop. Don't the humans in that world have any external enemies? If not, would they even have wars?"
"No idea. In our world, we're constantly dealing with other races. There's only one human kingdom left on the entire planet. If it weren't for the first Archmage Roland, who led humanity to victory in several national defense wars, we'd still be a scattered and divided race."
"The presence of powerful external threats has driven humanity to explore magic and martial arts. For us, superpowers aren't abnormal—they're something to be proud of."
"Nowadays, the peace of the Empire relies heavily on the existence of mages. Magic has shifted the balance of power, ensuring that the other races' kingdoms no longer dare to underestimate us."
"If there were no external threats and no magic in a world, it would probably be a very peaceful place."
As they processed the scene, viewers shared these thoughts, pondering the differences between worlds and the impact of power and conflict on society.
In this world, people believe that if humanity had no external enemies and there were no magical or martial powers, large-scale wars might not occur.
But in reality, war is an inevitable part of any world. The root cause of war is always the same: desire and greed.
…
At the same time, students at the Imperial Mage Academy were engaged in a heated debate about the upcoming battle.
"They still haven't explained Ryougi Shiki's ability. What exactly is her Mystic Eyes power?"
"Whatever Ryougi Shiki's ability is, she has to get close to Asagami Fujino for it to be effective. But Fujino's Mystic Eyes can affect a wide area around her. In that case, Shiki won't even be able to get close."
"That's right. It seems like this fight might actually put Shiki at a disadvantage."
"But Shiki's combat skills aren't weak either. Remember how she was jumping around at those heights earlier?"
"We'll just have to see how it plays out. This is basically a battle between a mage and a knight—it's all about who can seize the right moment!"
"Haha, I'm still betting on the mage, which means I'm siding with Asagami Fujino!"
"Heh, but Shiki's the main character of this series. Do I even need to say who's going to win?"
The discussions among the mages were lively and intense.
At the same time, everyone was glued to the screen, eagerly awaiting the start of the epic showdown!
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