Saturday, November 28th.
Around 11 PM, in a Tokyo home.
Koyama Eri and Fujimiya Chiyoko huddled under the kotatsu, chatting while they waited for the latest episode of as to air.
"Time flies, doesn't it? Episode 9 is coming out soon, and there are only a few left."
"Yeah, it doesn't feel like long ago we were watching the first episode together."
"Never mind that. Tell me what's going on at school."
"School? Nothing much to report. I was hospitalized for so long, and now that I'm finally back, I just can't seem to fit in with the class."
"Hasn't anyone tried to befriend you?"
"No. You're my only friend."
"I see..."
"I don't need any other friends. Just the two of us. Let's be friends forever, okay?"
"That's a given, isn't it? Absolutely, absolutely let's be friends forever."
As they chatted, time quickly passed, and it was soon half past eleven when Episode 9 of as finally aired.
In the previous episode, the return of all Kanade's clones had caused a massive assimilation of consciousness, making her faint once again.
By Episode 9, she had been taken back to the infirmary and was now lying in a hospital bed.
After the assimilation, there was no guarantee that the Kanade who woke up would be the friendly one. She could also be a hostile version dominated by one of her clones, so the members of the Afterlife Battlefront were somewhat worried.
The Male Lead, who had grown quite fond of Kanade, sat alone by her bedside. In his dazed state, he suddenly recalled more of his past life.
It turned out his life hadn't ended with the train accident and his lost exam ticket.
After the accident, everyone on the train was trapped in the tunnel.
With no cell signal, they couldn't make calls, and they had no idea when rescuers would arrive or how long it would take to be rescued.
Many people on the train had been injured.
Although the Male Lead hadn't officially begun his medical studies, as someone preparing to major in medicine, he already possessed a certain foundational knowledge. Working with a man named Igarashi, he helped bandage the injured, treat their wounds, and gathered everyone together to collect and ration water and food, hoping to ensure everyone's survival.
This was the ideal, but in reality, the Male Lead was himself in dire straits, suspected of a ruptured spleen. He was merely holding on, determined to save everyone else.
In this environment where rescue seemed uncertain, selfishness and lack of cooperation were inevitable. While most people chose to cooperate actively, one person snatched a bottle of water and fled, sparking a chase that led to a heated argument and the bottle being knocked to the ground, spilling most of its contents.
The others present were naturally furious.
But the Male Lead said, "It's fine. What spilled was my share. I won't drink any more water, so don't worry."
After that, there were no more incidents of water or supplies being stolen.
Yet, in this environment where rescue remained elusive, simply refraining from stealing wouldn't truly guarantee everyone's survival.
Water and food were inevitably insufficient. The injured could receive temporary treatment through wound dressing, but they would ultimately need hospital care to survive.
Three days passed without any sign of rescue. Some were already weakening. Despite the Male Lead's emergency measures, they proved ineffective, and he couldn't save the person.
This event brought tears to the Male Lead's eyes and was the first time he felt truly lost.
By the seventh day, with no sign of the rescue team, despair had set in for everyone.
Lying on the ground, the Male Lead suddenly recalled a visit to his sister in the hospital:
His sister sat on the hospital bed, reading the manga he had brought.
As she read, she suddenly coughed twice.
"Shouldn't you rest now?" the Male Lead reminded her.
But his sister replied, "I want to read a little longer."
"I can't do anything with you," he said, his voice tinged with helplessness. He quickly took off his jacket and draped it over her.
"Put this on. You don't want to catch a cold... But why isn't she getting any better?" he asked, his concern mixing with confusion.
"If only there were organ donation," his sister replied.
"Organ donation?" The Male Lead was taken aback.
The memory ended. In the tunnel, the Male Lead, lying on the ground, borrowed a pen from Igarashi, who was lying beside him. He then took out his "Organ Donation Card"—actually his health insurance card, which served as an ID in Japan—circled the organs he wished to donate, crossed out the damaged ones, and signed his name at the bottom.
These cards, which everyone carried to prove their identity, had organ donation options on the back.
While some people filled them out in advance, organ donation consent rates remained low even in Japan. It was unrealistic to expect many people to agree to donate their organs after death.
Over the days they had been trapped in the tunnel, the Male Lead's actions had earned everyone's deep admiration. Now, his decision to donate his organs moved those around him to pull out their own health insurance cards and sign their names.
Watching this scene, Igarashi, beside the Male Lead, couldn't help but remark, "You really are something else."
"Otonashi, look! Even though everyone was so desperate, they're now all pinning their hopes on you. You saved everyone's lives."
"Otonashi, hey~ Otonashi, are you listening?"
She called out the Male Lead's name, but by then, he was completely gone, too weak to respond. The health insurance card in his hand slipped and fell to the ground.
Just then, the collapsed tunnel was abruptly dug open, and a white light pierced the darkness, illuminating the Male Lead's face. But he could no longer see it.
With this, the Male Lead's life before his death came to a complete end.
Without this scene, viewers had assumed the Male Lead had suddenly died in a train accident on his way to the exam. They'd thought, "He finally turned his life around, became positive and driven, only to die before achieving his goals. How truly depressing."
But now that these memories have been revealed, viewers no longer see his pre-death story as depressing. Instead, they're deeply moved.
Those with lower tear thresholds couldn't help but burst into tears as they watched.
Not tears of despair, but tears of emotion.
Thanks to this flashback, the animation as transformed from a Depressing Anime into a heartwarming one.
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