01x09 - Promise

[bunniefuu]

Did lips, painted with poison,
just come to my room?

It seems as if my mind and body
are melting with your kiss.

Hateful self, 19 years old
Hateful self, 19 years old

Your heart is so beautiful
it's almost nauseating.

Why would you kiss someone like me,
who can't do a thing?

Hmm?

Hateful days, 19 years old
Hateful face, 19 years old

L-L-L-Like a black swallowtail butterfly,

I want to fly on magnificent wings!

P-P-P-Please don't say it's ridiculous!

That kind of life is good...

It's good!
[L-L-L-Like a black
swallowtail butterfly...]

--Hey, Watanuki-kun.
--Ah, Himawari-chan. What's up?

Do you believe in
the red string of destiny?

The red string of destiny?

Yeah. It's that story about soulmates
where somewhere in the world

two people could be bound together by
red strings tied around their pinkies.

Hmm?

I read this book last night.

"Soulmates"

"Soulmates"
Soulmates...

Soulmates...

Himawari-chan showing
me this book means...

No way! Is this an
indirect confession!?

No, I can't just think of it as that.

It's a shy maiden pouring out
her heart with all her might.

As a man, I've firmly caught it.

It's the rose-colored campus
life we were expecting.

That's right! Our pinkies are...

The pinky has a point that connects
with the heart called heart sutra.

What!?

Once again, when there's
such a good feeling

between Himawari-chan and myself...

Doumeki!

Because the pinky is
connected with the heart,

the idea of being tied with
the red string of destiny

came to indicate lovers.

Is that so?

Himawari-chan...

Incidentally, there seemed
to have been a custom

for prostit*tes during the Edo period

to cut off the pinky
of their own left hand

and give it to
the companion they liked.

Uh... Cut off their pinky?

Yes. So as not to betray the red
string of destiny tying them together.

The rhyme about the pinky promise
is derived from that custom.

You sure do know a lot,
huh, Doumeki-kun?

It's from growing up in a temple.

My grandpa just told that story often.

Oh. I envy you,
having such a grandfather.

So, you believe in the red
string of destiny, Himawari-chan?

Don't tell me you think there's
such a thing as soulmates?

--Yeah.
--Eh!?

If someone like that is
really out there somewhere...

It's totally romantic!

Eh? Ah... Mm.

That's true. That's true, right!?

Today, as soon as I get to Yuko-san's,
I'll start laundry, then...

Come on, cut it out.

--I only need a second.
--Let go of me.

Please, just listen
to what I have to say...

No. I don't even want to see your face.

Uh. Umm...

Uh...

Uh... Huh?

What was that all about?

There, there!

The rain has cleared
up completely, huh?

I suppose there is a relation between
the rainy season and Amewarashi, right?

Hot...

Y-Yuko-san? It's no use.
She's been done in by the heat.

Hold on, Yuko-san!
Yuko-san!? Yuko-san!

I've been revived!

Oh, thank goodness.
It's definitely sultry.

Please take care not to dehydrate.

Huh?

"Water"
Huh?

"Water"

This is...

...not water!

If there's mineral water in the fridge,

the contents have been replaced
with shochu. [Japanese liquor]

What!? Why would you
do something like that?

To dupe a certain bungler.

Well, it would, usually.

I want to drink shochu, too!

--Watanuki, a cup!
--Always ordering me around!?

Isn't it all right? This has
made me feel better, after all.

Uh...

All right, then. For letting me
have such delicious alcohol,

I'll show you something good...

Hmm? Isn't that a pipe container?

Yes. But this doesn't contain a pipe.

Oh?

A writing brush?

Ah! It moved!

What is this!?

--A pipe fox.
--Fox?

This is?

There should be what
appears to be a tail.

Well, you say tail,
but I can't tell which is which...

My, my, he certainly seems to like you.

I think he's just trying to strangle me...

For being so adorable,
he has amazing spiritual power.

Amewarashi gave this little
guy as payment for our help.

--Ah! Hey now!
--What, Watanuki? You being shy?

It's not like that!

Oh!

Oh, yeah! Yuko-san,
do you think there's such a thing

as the red string of destiny?

Well, it came up when I was
talking to Himawari-chan at school.

There could be.

I knew it!

But the end of the string doesn't always
necessarily connect to only one person.

Eh!? That's...

Seems someone has come.

Huh?

Ah... Sorry to keep you waiting...

Ah! You're that one from...

Ah, thank you for before.

That guy was being really obstinate
and putting me in a bind.

You really helped me out.

Not at all. I was glad to be of help.

Umm... Is it possible you are
an acquaintance of Yuko-san?

Yuko-san?

Umm, I just kind of wandered
here by coincidence.

Oh, I see.

--Ah, that's...
--That was no coincidence.

There are no coincidences
in this world.

All there is is inevitability.

That you came here
means that you must

have some wish you'd like granted.

Wish?

That's right. Here,
any wish can be granted,

as long as equivalent payment is met.

There really isn't anything
I'd call a wish, but...

But for some reason, lately,
I've had difficulty moving my pinky.

Odd... If I remember correctly,
there was someone before...

You have a really
nasty habit, don't you?

Habit?

Yes. Isn't there one
that comes to mind?

I... I don't really know what it could be.

I'll be going, then. I have an
appointment I can't be late for.

--Appointment?
--Yes.

It's the guy I'm seeing now.
He really cares for me.

So, I really need to go...

Again, from the pinky...

I see. Then, I'll give you this.

What is that?

A ring.

If I wear that, my pinky will get better?

Who knows? Whether you wear
it or not is up to you.

Same for the fixing,
or not, of that habit.

There was smoke
coming from her pinky.

--You could see it again, huh?
--Yes.

Will she become like that woman who
couldn't move her pinky before?

I'm going out for a bit.

Watanuki's as thoughtless as ever.

The habit this time is a bit
different from the one before...

Strange... I was certain
she came this way...

What are you doing!? Hey!

I don't particularly need to
explain every little thing.

I felt we didn't go well together.

That's all this is about.

--Oh!
--Like I said, my feelings have changed.

Could you please not call anymore?

It's such a headache.

Ah! Yoshiki-kun! Waiting long?

Nope. Just got here.

Really? For really real?
You're not mad at me?

Nope, not at all.

Thank goodness.

What's that?
She really is seeing someone?

Hey, hey, tomorrow's
your day off, right?

That's right.

Then, shall we go somewhere?
Take me somewhere...

--Huh?
--Please!

You're hopeless...

How 'bout we go to that theme park
we've been putting off going to?

Huh? Really!? I'm so happy!

You've been wanting
to go there so much, huh?

Thank you! Yoshiki-kun,
you're so incredibly kind.

All right, let's promise!

--Why?
--Come on!

After all, we're tied together
by the red string of destiny!

'Kay! From now on,
let's always be together!

Pinky promise, hope to die,

Huh? A kid?
swallow a thousand needles if you lie.

Ah!

Oh! You were just saving me!?

What's that about?

Why do I have to help you with
the after-practice clean-up!?

Because you put in
the most shots, probably.

What the hell kind of reasoning is that!?

That some kind of new
dance for showing protest?

Hey now! It's not... It's not!!

What's this?

A pipe fox.

This is a pipe fox?

You know about them?

I heard about them from my grandpa.

They have amazing
spiritual power, right?

Look, you! What about
your club activities!?

Day off. What about you?
What are you following me around for?

I take this way, too!

W-Wha... H-Hey!

What is it?

That woman over there came into
Yuko-san's shop yesterday.

But she seems totally
different somehow.

--Going in?
--Huh? Uh, hey! Doumeki...

And then, this odd fortune
teller-looking woman

forced me to take this ring...

Oh?

Got the feeling like, if I wear this,

somehow or other it'll
help me feel better.

I'm glad. Lately you'd been saying you
weren't feeling well, and I was worried.

Thanks.

It's so relaxing being with you.

It sure puts your mind at ease,
in the end, being unadorned.

Ah! Oh, no! It's this time already...

Huh? You have something to do now?

I was hoping we could
go get something to eat.

Oh, that's fine for today.

I'd promised to go to the amusement
park with some friends.

--Some friends?
--Yeah.

The three of us became friends when
we were just high school girls.

So, when do you think we can get
together again? How's next Sunday?

I'm sorry. On Sunday,
I'm going shopping.

I'm good for next Tuesday, though.

How about we get something to eat then?

I'd like to eat some Chinese.

Got it. I'll make reservations.

All right. Then, it's a promise.

Pinky promise, hope to die,
swallow a thousand needles if you lie.

All right...
A place with delicious Chinese food...

--Sorry!
--Yo!

The seminar ran long, and I had such
a difficult time getting out of there.

--Could you ever forgive me?
--Of course.

Hmm? Do you smell like cigarettes?

Huh!? No way! You know I don't smoke.

It must've been the professor.

He was smoking through
the whole seminar.

Aah... What a pain.

That so?

It's not so crowded here on a weekday.

You're right about that.

--Ah! I want to ride that!
--All right, let's go!

I don't know what's
so fun about two guys

coming to an
amusement park together.

That's my line.

At any rate, why would she go through
such a complete change of personality?

This one is probably the favorite
and that one is just one she uses.

--Hey...
--Uh, ah...

Hey, how 'bout we do that next?

All right, let's!

Test your love.

"True Love"
If your love is true,
your fingers will be unable to be cut.

If your love is true,
your fingers will be unable to be cut.

However, if it's false love, the red string
of destiny tying you together will be cut.

So, seems interesting, right?

Uh, yeah...

Hurry!

Mm...

This is quite a thrill...

What's that!?

Pinky promise, hope to die...

--Again!
--What is it?

What do you mean?
You can't hear the rhyme?

No.

Whenever that person links pinkies,
I can hear the Pinky Promise rhyme.

...swallow a thousand
needles if you lie.

Finger's cut.

Look out!

You helped me out again, huh?

You forgot this...

Sakikawa-kun!

I thought maybe you'd be
in a bind without this...

Who are you?

Hey, who's that guy? Weren't you
meeting your friends from high school?

Ah, uh... W-Well...

Hey, what's going on here?

Can't we try one more time
to patch things up?

--Huh?
--Hmm?

Huh? Why? You're here, too?

I thought I shouldn't,

but I came because I just
can't seem to forget you.

No way!

Hey, what the heck is this!?

Would you explain?

I said it yesterday, but I
really think I want to marry you!

You said it once, right? That we were
bound by the red string of destiny?

You said it to me, too, didn't you?

That the two of us were
connected by the red string?

--To me, too!
--Same here!

I'm certain you said it!

Abe-kun, Daishiro-kun, Shinpei-kun?

No way... Why are all of you here?

Hey, who are these guys?

You said you'd never dated anyone!

You said that, didn't you?

And so, thanks to this little guy,

their fingers weren't cut off.
In the end...

Their fingers weren't cut,
but their hands were, you mean...

Aah... That red string of destiny
thing is just a lie after all...

She was just using the red string
of destiny to find a good man,

Like the heroine in a romantic drama.

Well, it's not like there isn't
enough romance in this world.

That can't be! I firmly believe in
my destiny with Himawari-chan!

I believe, I believe,
I won't stop believing!

You're still talking about that?

Huh?

Watanuki Kimihiro,

--I can see your destiny.
--Huh?

Your red string of destiny...

M-My red string of destiny?

Is connected to Doumeki-kun!

Wha!?

Just kidding!

This feeling is welling up
for the first time.

The transparent ring connects,
yes, our eyes meet, baby, it's you.

Unto the coloring of the sky,
reincarnation is beginning.

The lamp of my heart is lit,
the door of insight is opening.

More than glossing things over,
I'd rather have your real intentions.

Reserve is the password,
someday we'll solve it.

This feeling is welling up
for the first time.

Pulling my arm, facing each other,
don't be afraid, call a name...

Even I will certainly be reborn.

Falling, crying, feeling,
everything for a reason.

At dusk, gatherings converge.

Other tales of this world...

A lit lamp, a point it doesn't reach...

A closed door, the other side...

From that other shore,
a voice is calling out.

Next time, Holic, "Lamplight."

Shall I grant your wish?