Chapter 243 Old Thief! Let me grab a knife and… peel you an apple
[It's starting, it's starting! Little stools, sunflower seeds, and peanuts are ready!]
[Newbie here—regret not watching yesterday. DIO bros, is it okay to start with Season 2?]
[Thanks for the invite, 18 cm. Binged all day yesterday—pure warm, cheerful slice-of-life. Season 2 should carry the same vibe. Relax, you're good to go!]
[Hurry hurry hurry, I can't wait!!]
"Rush, rush, rush—always rushing. Why do I have to suffer like this…"
Staring at the barrage of comments, Sirin muttered under her breath, feeling even more dejected.
Downstairs, everyone's probably already seated together, right? Uuu… I wonder who'll snag the seat on Xander's lap today…
She talked like that, but her hands were honest—she tapped the video open. As the images flowed, her restless heart slowly settled.
This is Xander's work. Of course she has to watch it seriously.
At the start, after a few seconds of the male lead and his father's blurry figures from childhood, the scene cut to the Furukawa family plus the male lead—a four-person baseball slice-of-life. Akio's over-the-top yet adorable affection for Sanae made Sirin, who'd watched yesterday's episodes, curl her lips into a smile.
Very soon, the new season's OP rolled.
It was still Eden as music supervisor, still an earworm of a song you can't get out of your head.
After a pleasant intro, Eden's wonderful voice rang out once more.
"On the slope after you left all alone…"
Nearly everyone was intoxicated by the beautiful singing and didn't notice that the lyrics this season seemed… a little off.
A minute or so flew by; Sirin pressed her lips together, feeling unsatisfied. Looking forward to the next episode, her eyes were gradually drawn in by the cheerful daily life. This whole episode was about the Furukawas, plus the male and female leads and their friends playing baseball—pure fun that kept you laughing the entire time.
[As expected—this is the vibe. Old Thief, please forgive my initial doubt!]
[I just love happy stuff. No knives, no knives—may Tomoya and Nagisa live happily ever after~]
[Hiii, Tomoyo Sakagami is so cute. Kinda want to buy the game and play Tomoyo's route.]
Sirin was having a blast too; she felt like her aching heart was being healed.
Right—Xander said his favorite character appears this season. Time to keep an eye out.
In the next few episodes, the original adaptation had some issues that made the experience not so great—because they adapted different side routes, character logic felt stiff.
But for the now-experienced Xander Masato, this wasn't hard. He was the client himself, so he tweaked things a bit and trimmed some draggy bits—compressing three episodes into two. That alone made it flow much better.
Watching Mrs. Sanae try outfits one by one at home to pretend to be Youhei Sunohara's girlfriend—nurse uniform, police uniform, gym shorts, and finally that cat-eared maid outfit—the audience howled, spamming all kinds of ethically questionable comments.
I mean, Mrs. Sanae still has that mature charm~
Sirin clicked her tongue in appreciation, but then her thoughts forked. She froze for a second and, inexplicably, thought:
Xander specially wrote this plot… is he interested in Cecilia-mom?
No no no, impossible!!!
She hurriedly shook the thought out, shivering.
Even if Xander's a flirt, he has principles. He'd never cross a line that far. Otherwise, Kiana wouldn't even need her to act—one kick and he'd be sent flying.
Next, the two fake-date; aside from people messing around spamming "Poor Uncle Akio," everyone laughed nonstop. Youhei Sunohara perfectly fulfilled the clown role.
And at the end, when he landed a punch on that jerk from the soccer club, his image suddenly felt three-dimensional—and he unknowingly won a bunch of fans.
These two revised episodes really captured that pure high school brotherhood, striking a chord with many who've already graduated. Especially when Youhei said he could entrust his little sister to himself and feel at ease—it hit anyone who's had a good bro.
In the two episodes after that, the main couple barely appeared. Through the male lead's dreams, the story told a past involving the dorm matron. It wasn't as directly moving as Fuko's route in Season 1, but that unique sense of regret—at the final moment, when voiced through the male lead—touched the heart with ease, and Sirin almost started shedding little pearls again.
[Have to say, this side route gets full marks!!]
[For real. ba thought wu without qi male-nu liu leads would liu be boring, but san who knew si just two short episodes si made me cry er.]
[That's it? I mean, decent. sunglasses.jpg]
Separated by life and death—nothing is more sigh-worthy. Sirin didn't even dare imagine the possibility of Xander leaving her. Just a sliver of that thought filled her with endless dread.
But then she remembered that a year from now they'd go to Schicksal for genetic adjustments, after which they could live healthy together for centuries. She couldn't help but grin like a fool, making viewers wonder if something was wrong with her head.
Crying through a scene you should cry at but laughing so happily—maybe go register with psychiatry.
As for what came next—Yukine Miyazawa's story—he decided to streamline it. After all, this anime is meant to focus on Nagisa Furukawa's route; too much on other routes would steal the spotlight.
Once the trimmed plot wrapped, a new episode began.
Nagisa's final main route unfolded.
If it were in the previous life, the comments now would probably be "Kids, run!" and "Main show starts."
Watching the screen, Xander Masato sat on a beanbag, holding Seele, his chin resting on her shoulder, unable to keep from smiling.
The warm breath made Seele's neck itch; leaning against her brother, she asked curiously, "Brother, why are you smiling?"
"Nothing. Just thought of something interesting."
"Interesting—as in the upcoming plot?"
Bronya, sitting beside him and hugging one of his arms, asked.
His arm sank into a soft valley; his palm rested on warm, sleek black stockings. On the other side, Elysia refused to be outdone—hugging his other arm and clamping his fingers between her thighs, teasingly rubbing back and forth, making it almost impossible to focus on the TV.
"Mm… you could say that."
Xander nodded with meaning.
"Eh? Is the cheerful arc finally here? That dorm matron one nearly made me cry. Didn't you say no knives?"
Same seating as always, Kiana could only stand behind him, pouting as she griped.
Cheerful arc?
Mm. Let Kiana think that.
Then the plot slowly unfolded, and the first scene made everyone's faces change.
Nagisa fell ill—seriously. The kind of sick where she had to rest at home.
A group of girls immediately gave Xander strange looks. He stared at his nose, his lips, then his heart—pretending to see nothing at all.
Soon after, the warm daily life between the two of them made viewers relax a little, thinking it was just an event to help their relationship deepen.
Very quickly, the lead graduated. But Nagisa, because of illness, had to delay graduation by a year. Watching Tomoya cry as he said he would leave school ahead of her still left a bitter taste.
Thus Tomoya officially stepped into society.
After a stint at the Furukawa Bakery, he said goodbye to go live independently. They continued, stumbling along, together.
Work fatigue, life pressure, the rapid shift from campus to society—many who couldn't react in time felt dazed. From a fairy-tale campus to grim reality in a blink—the huge gap was hard to accept.
Just as Tomoya's life was getting back on track, his father's imprisonment ripped open his inner wound. The father–son rift, the pain of being unable to communicate and understand—cold reality drenched him to the bone.
Yet in that suffocating moment, the embrace and confession between the leads made one tremble.
Like a pure white flower sprouting amid ruins—just seeing it felt beautiful.
"Yes. I'm willing to stay by your side—no matter when, no matter how long…"
When Nagisa said that through tears, the sensitive girls looked at Xander with watery eyes.
Understanding what they meant, Xander shut his eyes and raised both hands in surrender.
Oh—both hands were being hugged. Couldn't raise them.
After that, life seemed to brighten. Tomoya smiled more, and their sweet daily interactions made the audience show their auntie grins.
With friends by her side, Nagisa also graduated, put her hair up, and walked into marriage with Tomoya.
[Wow, in this lifetime I actually get to see the leads of a youth anime get married. What a curious feeling.]
[Congrats to Nagisa and Tomoya on finally making it happen. It hasn't been easy for either of them.]
[I have a hunch—happy life starts now!! Will they have a child? A warm, cozy family!!]
[Seconded. I love this stuff!!]
Sirin's eyes sparkled too; she began to imagine herself in a wedding dress.
Hehe. Hehehe…
After the wedding, they stepped into blissful cohabitation. But barely over ten minutes later, as the episode was about to end, Sanae's line—"There's a baby"—left everyone dumbfounded.
[Dude, what? We didn't even see the kiss—suddenly there's a baby?]
[Math teacher: And the process?]
[I don't get it—but I'm deeply shocked!]
"Th-this is… this fast?"
Sirin opened her mouth slightly, wanting to comment but not knowing what to say.
Soon, when Nagisa blushingly told her parents, "We've done the lewd stuff too," Sirin couldn't hold it—pfft—she burst out laughing.
Downstairs the girls laughed so hard they nearly fell over. Kiana laughed while griping, "Wow, are there really people who can say that to their parents? Nagisa is just too cute~"
"There should be~" Seele replied with a smile.
Then Elysia leaned to Xander's ear, winked, and said, "How about… we try it?"
At that, the living room laughter froze; the air solidified with a single line.
Kiana's mouth hung open, Bronya frowned, even Seele stopped smiling—pressing her lips together as she looked up at her brother.
Behind them, Kaguya narrowed her eyes; Griseo on the side was full of curiosity. The odd mood made Raiden Mei stop laughing too; she shrank into a corner, feeling completely out of place.
As for Xander—he didn't dare say a word. Just like the male lead on the screen, he broke into a cold sweat.
"Aiya, I'm joking. There are still so many places I want to go with Xander. I don't want to take care of a child yet~"
Elysia stuck out her tongue, smiling as she broke the stalemate.
No, no, no—that tone just now was definitely not a joke!!!
The girls all roasted in their hearts at the same time, but on the surface, they cooperatively smiled.
No matter what was going on outside, the anime kept playing.
With a baby on the way, everything started revolving around the child. By the sea, they named their daughter Ushio.
When that name appeared, Seele thought of something and naturally asked, "Brother, is your favorite character this child Ushio?"
"Mm. That's right."
By now, Xander didn't think much of it and nodded naturally.
"I see… Brother's favorite is a little baby…"
She rubbed her little belly and murmured—words that made Xander tense up in an instant.
Sensing the atmosphere turning weird again, Xander hurried to explain with a guilty smile, "I—I like this child's cute personality, okay? I don't actually want a child!"
"Tsk."
Kaguya smacked her lips softly.
Just when viewers expected the child's birth, when Nagisa's due date came, a heavy snow paralyzed the town's traffic.
And Nagisa started running a fever—going into labor two weeks early.
Seeing Nagisa writhing in pain on the futon, the comments exploded.
[No. Don't do this—really, don't do this?!!!]
[I can't—I can't breathe. Don't put this in, okay? I don't want to watch this!!!]
[Wait—this is going to turn out okay, right? Old Thief, say something! I'm scared!!!]
"I-It should be fine. I mean—it's supposed to be a pure, wholesome, warm story, right…"
Sirin stared unblinking at the screen, nervously comforting herself.
Soon, the doctor and the Furukawas arrived, easing the anxiety a bit.
But with roads blocked by snow and no way to reach the hospital, having to give birth at home made everyone's hearts clench again.
After a long struggle, finally—a loud newborn cry rang out.
The swaddled infant brimmed with life, bringing the whole picture to life. Everyone's clenched hearts dropped heavily back into place.
[Phew~ thank goodness. All good. All good.]
[This kind of plot is too much for the heart.]
[At least the Old Thief has a conscience.]
Sirin let out a long breath. Hands on her hips, she was about to say something—when the next image stunned her once more.
Nagisa's voice grew smaller and smaller. When she said, "I'm a little tired. Let me rest for a while," Sirin just broke.
"Wait—you…"
Before she could finish, they saw Nagisa's hand slip powerless from Tomoya's, resting quietly on the futon—no more sound.
Tomoya's cries in her headphones blurred; even her vision started to haze.
She raised a hand to wipe her eyes, feeling her fingers tremble.
"No way… it shouldn't be like this…"
She was on the verge of breaking, but many were worse off—especially as the screen played Nagisa's life like a revolving lantern, each memory a blade stabbing into viewers' chests.
[I'm fing done. Old Thief is a dog, right? He's definitely a dog, right??]
[I really… I, I… fck, can't even type…]
[Why add a flashback as a knife on top? I can't take it. I'm gonna go blow up the Old Thief!!!]
"M-maybe… she's okay? Just asleep…"
Choking on words even she knew were hopeless, Sirin hurried to click the next episode.
This time, she skipped the OP and dragged straight to the main story.
A gray world, only the male lead's decadent, solitary life left—completely extinguishing the last bit of hope.
Angry and heartbroken, Sirin slammed a fist on the table—pain twisted her face, and she cried even harder.
But she didn't know—the real crying hadn't even started.
Once the first knife fell, it was like a valve had opened—no stopping it.
After several years in a slump, at Sanae's urging Tomoya finally faced his daughter Ushio and set out on a journey with her.
In a golden field of flowers, little Ushio choked up: "The only places you can cry are the bathroom and in Daddy's arms."
[ba∩wuqiliu∮∑liu≤◎san\♂si≠￡sier瑜,寒:…]
At that moment, just as the warming father–daughter bond moved her, Sirin burst into tears again.
She cried for ages; just as the tears stopped, the conversation on the train made her lose it even more—she slumped over the table.
Tomoya started telling Ushio about her mother, Nagisa, to fulfill her wish. But after only a few words, those beautiful memories drowned him. Clutching his forehead, he tried to smile through it; tears streamed uncontrollably as he could only whisper the name of the one he loved.
Things remain, people are gone; the words die on the lips, and tears fall first.
[Dude, I held it together during Ushio's scene, but when the guy started crying, I just lost it—full-on ugly sobbing.]
[Thinking those might be tears he held back for five years—this pain… wow, I don't even have the strength to curse anymore…]
[My tears didn't stop at all. It hurts.]
Unfortunately, the Old Thief still didn't let them off.
In the next episode, Tomoya reconciled with his father—understanding his hardships. Childhood memories overlapping with the present kept Sirin's abundant tear ducts working; she never stopped crying—nearly called her old man on the spot.
After that, Tomoya finally walked out of the darkness and started living positively with Ushio.
But tragedy is about tearing beautiful things before your eyes.
When Ushio collapsed in the snow, Sirin couldn't bear it anymore—eyes red, she rushed out.
And the comments? A total eruption.
[Old Thief, you're not human. You're not fing human!!!]
[Aaaaah—magnetic field rotating a million horses—I'm gonna blow this damned world up!!!!]
[Born, huh? Born to suffer? Tomoya's already this miserable—are you going to take his last hope too?!!!]
[Sirin, hurry up and go beat that bastard to death!!!!]
[Beat the Old Thief!!]
[Beat the Old Thief!!!]
As for downstairs—Xander had been under siege ever since Nagisa's death appeared.
Not only did he get a beating; he got tossed aside. Even the gentlest Seele glared at him with red eyes and refused to talk to him.
When Sirin ran downstairs, the screen was exactly at the moment Ushio fell in the snow.
Fury surged. The instant Xander tried to bolt, he felt his calf grabbed; he stumbled and face-planted on the carpet.
"Wait, wait—there's a twist at the end!!!" Xander shouted his explanation. Too bad—nobody wanted to hear it.
"But I want to beat you up right now!!!"
Sirin gritted her teeth; her little fists rained down.
Kiana, still clinging to his calf, rushed him with red eyes—and the sister tag-team began.
Bronya saw there was no room to join, so she frowned and gave him a kick.
Seele didn't dare dive in, but she just switched personalities—Veliona, fed up long ago, pounced immediately. Grabbing his collar, she snarled, "You bastard, why did you write Ushio to die!!!"
Veliona subbed in—Seele used, all praise.
Let's just say: build up for a season and a half, then concentrate the firepower—the first time Xander caused such public outrage at home.
"I told you, there's a reversal! Trust me!!"
Xander covered his face helplessly.
"The dead can come back to life?!!" Veliona snapped.
"Why can't the dead come back to life?"
Xander's line made Veliona's fist freeze mid-air. She eyed him suspiciously. "You're serious?"
"Of course. Seele, when have I lied to you…"
"Hmph. You—you think sweet talk fixes everything?!"
No—sweet talk works wonders on you.
Seeing Veliona's aggression disappear completely, Kiana and Sirin couldn't help roasting him inwardly.
Xander wasn't lying. He soothed everyone; they reluctantly resumed the final episode.
Sirin shot him a vicious glare, then ran back upstairs.
Soon, in the last episode, time rewound. A miracle took Tomoya back to the moment he met Nagisa. When he shouted her name, the audience who'd cried all afternoon finally smiled.
[I used to be a science believer. Now all I can say is: to hell with science—I love this kind of story!!!!]
[Wow—this mirrors the very first meeting scene perfectly. The foreshadowing was this deep?]
["Please don't regret our meeting." That line is too good. Uwu… Old Thief, I wronged you!]
Then the screen flashed; time jumped to the moment Nagisa was giving birth at home.
Just as Tomoya thought Nagisa was leaving him and screamed her name, this time—Nagisa opened her eyes with a smile.
[Old Thief, let me grab a knife and… peel you an apple. You did good, kiddo!!]
[Earlier was all a misunderstanding. Actually, I've always been a faithful fan of the Old Thief. Everyone, believe me!!]
[You know I've always been a diehard. I believed him completely. As for Sirin—I wish her stream goes smoothly.]
[Same here!!]
Finally, no more twists—a steady happy ending. Fuko even popped out at the end to sell a little moe, making Sirin laugh again.
As for downstairs~
Xander sat proudly in the chair, looking around with disdain, completely ignoring the girls trying to butter him up.
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