Original subtitles

Hyoma...

Run, Hyoma!

He's...

R-Run!

Hi-kun!

Big Sister! Big Brother!

"Marebito."

A name given to entities from the land of the dead—a foreign realm where souls run rampant—

which find their way to the land of the living.

Though fundamentally spiritual beings,

they're capable of possessing old inanimate objects to manifest a physical form.

And in this form, they are known by a more familiar name in Japan—

Tsukumogami

An inanimate object that develops a spirit of its own

"Tsukumogami."

Saenome...

Correct.

Enforcer of House Kunato, one of the three Saenome Houses...

Kunato Hyoma.

Malevolent Spirits

Hyoma

I see.

You ended up in our world by chance,

possessed this old coin,

and got yourself a physical body.

That must have been very confusing for you.

It sounds like he's just hearing his life story.

Just keep watching.

He's protecting law and order in our city

from these things that defy our ideas about what is normal.

I can take custody of your spirit a while,

Kunato

then return you to the world you came from.

If that sounds acceptable, could you come down to my level?

Kunato

The possessing spirit is sealed in the vessel.

I'll hold a memorial for it later, and that should be that.

Bravo!

Possessions like that of the old coin you witnessed, rookie,

are typically kept hidden from the general population,

but it's been happening in the shadows for ages.

Uh-huh...

Sounds like we've got a skeptic.

Kunato-san is part of a clan that's been

entrusted to deal with tsukumogami by the government for generations.

Department of Exorcisms \h\hMarebito Management Office

They're called the Saenome.

Saenome?

Looking forward to working with you, rookie.

Well, you'll get used to it in time.

Right...

Oh, Kunato-san.

How's your grandson?

He went after the other. You don't think he was attacked?

Oh, no! He's quite the professional, too!

Besides, we talk these things out when we can.

It's best to talk things out and reach a peaceful resolution!

Professionalism means resolving things with as little conflict as possible!

Kunato

Kunato

Talking things... out?

Would you call that... a peaceful resolution?

I guess that was talking... in the language of battle.

Don't hesitate to contact us if any more tsukumogami appear.

Honestly...

Hello?

It's me, Zohei.

Sorry for the short notice,

but I need to talk to you about my grandson.

I thought it might help him if he could stay with you for a while.

Mind having a look at him?

The target hadn't been a tsukumogami for long.

If it didn't know how to take a proper human form,

it wouldn't know how to use that form well.

That also meant it might not know its own strength.

I therefore judged it best to strike quickly and seal it, to prevent potential damage.

My actions might have been violent, but that comes with the Saenome territory.

As future head of the Kunato Family, I did the right thing.

All wrong!

Why do you always get ahead of yourself, you little punk?

May I ask what you mean?

It's what I'm always telling you.

Using force has to be our last resort.

Marebito have basically been dragged here against their will.

They start out disoriented.

Even after becoming tsukumogami, they all act in different ways.

I agree there are some troublemakers,

but some just want to go home, and others want to blend in here.

The job of the Saenome is to hear them out and guide them.

But when I see you...

Every single time you find your target, you attack them, no questions asked,

and seal them against their will!

You cause unnecessary conflict!

I can brush that off easily.

That's not the solution!

I believe I'm doing the right thing.

These creatures can turn on you without warning.

Reaching out to them carelessly can bring fatal consequences.

I saw it once with my own eyes.

Hyoma.

You still haven't shaken off your hatred of tsukumogami?

No.

You certainly made that crystal clear.

You're too preoccupied with the past.

Listen to me, Hyoma.

I thought you were strong enough to grow past that.

Because, as my grandson, you're my pride and joy.

But you just never seem to listen!

So I'll have to resort to drastic measures.

Huh?

Yes, sorry to call again.

I'd like to go with what we discussed after all.

Sorry for all the trouble.

I'll owe you one.

All right, Hyoma-san.

Are you aware of the existence of "special exceptions"?

Yes.

Tsukumogami allowed a measure of freedom

in exchange for conditions we assign them.

Though I've never met one personally.

Correct.

The truth is, I happen to know one— the person I was just talking to.

Actually, more than one...

It's a whole group of tsukumogami, living as a family.

And...

Serving a particular human master, at that.

Humans and tsukumogami, living together?

Is that possible?

Yes.

And Hyoma, regarding the drastic measures I mentioned...

In two days, under the pretense of monitoring them,

I'll be having you stay there for a while.

Wait—

Denied.

I told you these were drastic measures.

Because...

If you don't change, the only way this ends is with your self-destruction!

If you refuse my offer, you'll be stripped of your Saenome qualifications!

If you don't want that, you'd better start packing!

Why is this happening to me?

It would be one thing if all tsukumogami were willing to talk things out,

but as long as there's even a chance of violent retaliation...

We need to deal with them before they can hurt anyone.

Isn't that the wisest course of action?

I'll take this along.

Hyoma!

Hi-kun!

The head of your host family, the Nagatsuki Family, is named Botan.

She'll be about your age.

Nagatsuki Botan?

Hyoma, I think interacting with them day-to-day will be good for you.

It's very rare to find tsukumogami who coexist with humans for an extended period.

I want you to find what's at the heart of that relationship,

and see, for the first time, the nature of tsukumogami.

All right. Let's try it.

Why...

Why are you hunting your fellow tsukumogami?

Proxy

Why?

Because that's what we do.

Might be time to head back.

Understood.

Oh, crap.

I forgot the freeloader was coming today.

Who's at the house now?

Um... Haori and Kushige?

So, just the shifty-looking weirdos?!

Would you be the Kunato Hyoma-san whom we were told would be coming?

I am watching the house while my mistress is away.

My name is Haori.

— Haori —

This is Kushige.

— Haori —

— Kushige —

A pair of tsukumogami...

They look shifty.

Is Nagatsuki Botan not present?

All right, let's end it here.

What is it, Bon-chan?

We'll do the next chapter next week, so make sure it's fresh in your mind by then.

I totally spaced out on something.

Maybe I'll ditch third period today.

And don't forget to turn in your report.

Our mistress is a student, and currently away.

I see.

However...

Excellent timing.

Everyone else has now arrived.

I'm really sorry we're late, Haori-chan.

— Kagami —

Well... it seems like he only just showed up, though.

— Suzuri —

And Botan is at college as usual.

— Yu —

So this is the Kunato problem child, eh?

— Nagi —

Now, now, Nagi.

Let's not be rude.

As you can see, this is House Nagatsuki,

consisting of six tsukumogami and our mistress, Botan.

Many things about it may be foreign to you, but you are welcome here.

Let me make myself clear:

I despise tsukumogami.

Inhuman things taking human form,

using your deceptions to get close to us...

You can't be trusted.

B-But the point of this is to work together, right?

I'll just be observing you from a distance.

So I don't need any sort of welcome from you.

Listen to this nerd!

You think we give a damn about that?

Give us a break.

Or are you just venting on us because you're stressed?

I'm more suspicious that you're using this Botan person for your own ends.

Take that back.

Not a chance.

I thought so. An experienced combatant.

I'm not taking this kid's crap!

You guys stay outta this!

Okay...

You're allowing it?

Well, it's just a minor quarrel.

He's a good boy.

He came clean instantly, after all.

Don't worry, I won't kill ya.

But a whack from the flat of a sword still hurts!

Swords?

The ability to change form based on the possessed vessel...

That's the unique power of the tsukumogami.

When used to attack, it can be extremely dangerous to humans.

Time to cry!

Troublesome.

He's up for it.

I understand that you're a friend of my master.

So I'll match your promise.

I won't destroy you.

I gotta say...

You've got guts, kid!

He broke it?!

No, he erased it.

I think that's a power of the Saenome,

those chosen by Saenokami, guardian of the boundary.

Neat.

Amazing!

He's anticipating Nagi's every move.

Nagi's not taking it seriously yet.

But neither is he.

Well, kid? Give me your best shot!

I said I wouldn't destroy you.

Damn you...

Haori!

Botan's skipping her third period class to come home early!

What? Wait, what time is it now?

1:10 PM.

Then she'll be here any moment now!

Boys, boys! Please stop fighting!

Shaddap, Kagami!

I'm sorry!

Not bad at all.

Time to resort to force!

Everyone, restrain them both.

Hey...

Um...

Whoops.

O-Oh? Did we all go after Hyoma-san?

K-Kushige sat it out, at least.

Um... I feel kinda bad about that.

Tsukumogami truly... can't be trusted.

It's a pleasure... to make your acquaintance.

I'm Kunato... Hyoma.

Um... I'm Nagatsuki Botan.

So... you guys?

How did this happen?

Nothing to say for yourselves?

Tsukumogami exist in this world.

This is the tale of a girl who loves them,

a boy who hates them,

and the others who get involved in their shared life together.

Next Episode

Shoreline