Do you not know the answer?
But there's no reason for her to hate Mizuki.
So, why?
You don't know, do you?
Why does Mio hate Mizuki?
Then, I have no choice.
As I stated earlier,
step down from the role of Mio.
I leap out from my dusty room
and start running down the block
I'll hurry it up until I'm faster than anyone
because I want to reach my dazzling future!
A come-from-behind story
I believe it'll go my way
I'll speed off into the distance!
Beating and taking on any chance I get
even if my heart to skip a beat
Rather than pray for a miracle, I'll lay footsteps towards my goal!
Across the horizon, past a yet-unseen future,
lays my true freedom and confidence.
I see.
The Day the World Shattered
So that's what happened while I was gone.
But you didn't get fired, right? So that's good.
Yeah, but still...
Excuse me, Mrs. Iizuka...
We haven't got the time to search for an actress of your choosing to play Mio.
Please, give this girl some time.
It'll be fine. She will be able to portray a Mio that you will be satisfied with.
I guarantee it.
Intense Pressure
How can he be so sure?
Is this some new method of bullying me?
No! He was genuinely trying to help you!
Then couldn't he at least tell me the answer?
I know Tsuruga knows why Mio hates Mizuki, so why won't he tell me?
Ms. Mogami, what are your true thoughts about Mio?
She's introverted, reserved... and gloomy.
To tell the truth, she's not the rich, young girl I was hoping for.
But if she grew up in such a household, it's obvious that her personality would be warped.
Yeah, true.
Well then, what do you think of Mio, knowing she grew up in such a family?
I envy her surroundings, as a rich, young girl.
But no matter how rich she is, and no matter how luxurious her life is...
I feel sorry for her.
If you understand that much, you'll be fine.
You'll soon figure out why Mio hates Mizuki.
Her Thoughts
I'm stuck in a maze.
It's because of that bogus hint he gave me.
I knew he was bullying me.
No... I think he means he wants you to figure it out on your own.
He didn't give you the answer for your own sake.
Yes, Ren's doing it out of love!
Ren's in love with you!
...in love with you!
Hey, Kyoko, are you listening?
Still, Mio is really a gloomy girl.
I was never favored by my family, and I don't think I'm as gloomy as she is.
No...
I had something that supported me that Mio lacks.
Sho!
I love you!
Kyoko?!
Love?! I hate you!
Kyoko, are you angry at something?
I went off on a tangent, so I'm starting over.
SAVE
CANCEL
START OVER
END GAME
Still, Mio is really a gloomy girl.
Mizuki's parents died at a young age so she doesn't have anyone to support her, just like Mio.
And she's treated terribly at her guardians' home, whom she barely has any relation to.
But yet, she grew up to be such a positive, honest, and sweet girl...
Under the same set of unfortunate circumstances, Mizuki is so cheery,
and Mio is the complete opposite.
Ah! I get it!
Mio was dazzled by Mizuki.
Mizuki, who was always smiling like the sun, and never let her situation get her down.
Each time she smiled, she realized how different they are, like complete opposites.
She grew envious.
And...
...she grew to hate her.
It's so simple.
She developed a complex from comparing herself to her all those years.
So that's why she hates her...
Kyoko?
She's introverted and reserved, but she hates to lose.
Wait, what?
"Introverted and reserved" and "hate to lose" don't go together.
Kyoko?
Can someone introverted and reserved blow up so intensely at Mizuki and Katsuki? And right to their faces?
Man, I got out of one maze and walked right into another.
Kyoko, did you forget that I'm here?
Could it be...
No, it all makes sense like that!
Kyoko?
I found it.
I found it... That's my Mio.
This is bad! Kyoko disappeared!
What? What are you talking about?
I'm not sure what happened. She had this eureka moment and then just ran off...
Kyoko!
I'm sorry! I'll be back soon!
Wait!
She was just too fast for me.
Running off in the middle of a shoot?
She must have been unable to portray her character and ran away.
No, I don't think it's that.
It's not a matter of if she can act or not.
This is completely unprofessional!
I agreed to give her time, because Tsuruga asked me to,
but it was a complete waste!
Kyoko... Why would she do such a thing?
Sir, let's continue with the shoot.
Pardon?
Wha-?
But, Kyoko went missing.
Mr. Yashiro said so himself... That she had a eureka moment.
She will be back. She's not the type of girl to run away from a job.
He trusts her.
And his eyes say he believes it.
Am I... expecting something?
I'm expecting something. But what?
Agreed. We will continue the shoot.
What? Director!
You've got to be kidding! You're just going to go on? She may have run away!
I believe in her.
Unbelievable!
What am I expecting from Kyoko?
The wind...
A strong wind that will lift the dark clouds that linger upon my heart
and free me from the curse of the original production...
Am I expecting her to be that wind?
I actually came here... What should I do?
This isn't the time for questions like that!
I came here knowing I'd be scolded.
What were you thinking?
The Demon Lord is Holding Court
Give me an explanation that I can accept.
I-I'm so scared!
But I couldn't tell them, or else...
I may not be trying to do the right thing,
but, I feel so alive.
The moment I realized who Mio actually is,
I felt that I wanted to act her out, and I couldn't stay still.
Yes, right now.
But, I have to be patient. I have to prepare first.
Neo-Mio Spirit
Hey, toots.
You're blocking the way.
Make up your mind if you're going inside or not!
Hurry the hell up or I'll lift up your skirt and rip your panties off!
You little...
If you're not going in...
...then...
...move already!
I want to be her! I want to act as the new Mio right now!
Damn, what's with that chick?
Oh, long time no see, Harry, everyone.
Hold it right there, you cretins, Harry.
Will you say those vulgar words to me one more time?
Say what?!
I come from a good family,
so there were many words that I didn't quite understand.
If you'd be so kind,
can you say it again in words that even someone like me may understand?
Looks like it's gonna rain.
It's been three hours already.
Maybe she's not coming back.
Maybe she ran away? She couldn't handle the pressure of the role.
Yeah.
To be totally honest, Mio is a tougher role than Mizuki.
And to have a rookie actor with no TV drama experience do it?
She never stood a chance.
Hey, that wasn't her, right?
Of course not. I mean, Mio, she's...
Cut!
OK.
Do you not know the answer?
Mizuki's relaxing on the windowsill.
Katsuki, take it from when you enter the classroom.
Okay.
All classmate extras, standby.
Tsuruga, is everything OK?
Ky...
Kyoko?
What did you do to your hair?
That's not a wig, is it?
Did you die your hair black?
Are you planning to act as Mio like that?
Is this some sort of joke?
You won't be able to hide her scar with that haircut!
Mio hides her scar with her hairstyle because she's self-centered.
What on earth were you thinking?
Hey! Answer me!
Ms. Mogami, what's wrong? This isn't like you.
Ms. Mogami-
Her eyes... She's not Kyoko anymore.
She's...
What's with that attitude?
Tsuruga asked you a question!
Hold on. Tsuruga, she might be...
Yes.
Mio sits before us.
What?!
Yes, her eyes showed the hatred for her sister.
It's how Mio would look at her sister's fiancé.
But, she seems so intense.
The Mio twenty years ago just had a subtle hatred stirring under the surface.
Yes, like the self-centered Mio.
Mrs. Iizuka's Mio would have avoided Katsuki's hand and simply moved away.
No, even the symbolism of hiding her scar with her hair is gone.
The Mio she's given birth to shatters the established impression everyone has of her.
I am expecting her to be the wind that blows away the dark clouds that linger over me.
But this... This is no wind.
This is a tornado that is going to wreak havoc and destruction!
An acting test, huh?
No way that Mio can pass.
Yeah, since she can't use her hair to show off her narcissism,
she's going to need some serious acting skills to pull it off.
She just tied her own noose.
Why do I have to go along with this?
She doesn't need a test, she needs a pink slip!
Why can't he pull the trigger on her? That idiotic director!
I agree with you, sir,
she is not being faithful to the original interpretation of Mio.
But, this is the first time she's created a character on her own,
and this is the Mio she's come up with.
Could you at least watch her acting a bit before you say no to the idea?
He really looks out for her.
But, no matter what she shows me, I cannot use her Mio.
Director.
Y-Yes?
May I begin?
Please.
Mio.
Mio!
H-Hey! Are you ignoring me?
Hold it right there! I'm talking to you!
Answer me! Mio!
Were you calling for me,
Mother?
I was! Answer me when I'm talking to you!
What is this? This isn't the Mio I played.
Is she being self-centered and reserved?
She's almost like an elegant, rich, young lady.
"Almost"? No.
Mio's family is established and rich. She is a rich, young lady.
But, because she's self-centered, she lacks pride...
My apologies. I could have sworn you were calling for my sister, Misao.
"Mio" and "Misao" sound so similar.
I don't know how much you love my sister,
but you could have at least given me my own name instead of just copying hers.
Then people wouldn't tease me, saying, "she's such a failure, she's even missing a syllable."
Don't you think so, Mother?
Is she being sarcastic?
How dare she make snide comments to her mother!
Mio's pride... Did she really lack pride?
Did her inferiority complex towards Misao and Mizuki actually happen because she has pride?
W-Wait! What am I saying?
It's like I'm trying to find flaws in the original Mio.
And I find myself leaning more towards Kyoko's.
Depending on how you interpret it, her take on Mio makes sense.
But, I can't use her Mio.
I will not stand to have her interpret Mio this way.
I will make her go back to the original style!
Mio, people are making fun of you even more so now.
That haircut looks terrible on you.
If you don't want people looking at you funny, grow your hair out again!
Mother, you can come out and say it.
"This scar is not becoming for a daughter of the Hongo family."
Wha-
Yes, Mio's mother would think that in this situation.
Y-Yes, since you understand, do as I say.
There's no need for you to go out of your way to show that scar to anyone!
Yes, that is how Mio's mother would respond.
But then, why?
If they both don't want people to see the scar, why does she leave it like that?
They've got plenty of money, so why doesn't she do something about her daughter's scar?
There's only one answer.
It's because Mio...
Mio, herself, doesn't want to do that.
You can see your wretched heart in it, can't you?
You see my sister's beautiful face each time you look at it.
And it hideously twists,
almost as if she's in pain.
What kind of Mio is this?
All right. That was a good answer.
What a Mio...
The scar is supposed to be the source of her inferiority complex,
but she's using it as a weapon to blame her sister.
Sir!
Are you all right?
I'm Okay. I just feel dizzy, my heart's thumping, and I can't stop shivering...
That's not "all right"!
That's not "all right"!!!!
Sir, her Mio, she's...
Her Mio is too intense.
I can't use her Mio.
...Is what I thought at first.
When she started off, I kept desperately telling myself
that her Mio was too different from the original,
and that I couldn't use her.
But, even after I kept going on in denial,
she rectified all the contradictions, and made me drop my denials.
The force of her emotions
made me feel that going with her Mio is the right choice.
I've never felt this way before.
My entire body feels like it's boiling.
Sir...
And I realized I want to film this show...
My heart aches to do it.
And it hit me. She's not the Mio from twenty years ago.
This is a brand new, reborn Mio.
And so, I must create a new world for her to exist in.
A new world for Tsukigomori that's different from twenty years ago:
Dark Moon.
You said you weren't crying,
but your voice was trembling.
So I just held you there, without saying a word.
There's not even a hint that we'll be able to promise a future for one another.
So why me?
I'm sure... I'm sure there's no answer to that.
You said you're not scared,
but your voice was trembling.
You're defenseless, so I will protect you.
And though we lack a future, we held onto eternity.