Shinigami no Ballad ep.5

April 1, 2006 | 4 Comments

Okay, it's done! After a rewatch, this episode is actually a lot more interesting than when I first saw it. The dialogue is a lot stronger and when you think about it, the meaning behind some of the words are quite powerful. This episode also marks the re-appearance of a character from a previous episode who ends up taking a rather important role here. I also think that the animation for some reason looks a lot better here. It's probably because there is only one more episode left so maybe the animators can spend more budget on the animation. Anyway, I wonder how the series will wrap itself up next week since there doesn't seem to be a single arc involving Momo or Daniel thus far. It will be weird if the last episode is just another story about some random character. Having said that, I think it'll be difficult to do a background story on Momo with just one episode left.

The episode begins with a group of kids trying to sneak into a school ground in the middle of the night. Apparently there is rumour that a ghost of their deceased female teacher is haunting the school so they're out to find it. When the kids get there, however, they are immediately confronted by a figure covered in white sheet. One which threatens to curse them if they go any closer. The kids are horrified upon seeing the figure and immediately flee for their life, thinking that this is the female ghost that they've heard about. Upon seeing the kids' reaction, the figure tries to stop them because she is actually just a girl pretending to be ghost. While contemplating the situation, the girl suddenly hears the sound of a bell. She, however, has no time to find out about this because a boy suddenly appears and heads towards her location. The girl tries to escape by going through an broken wired fence but ends up having her ghost costume stucked into the fence.

The boy spots the girl and asks her what she is doing at school this late at night. The girl becomes annoyed upon hearing this so she asks the same question and then accuses the boy of playing a dare game just like the other kids. Despite the accusation, the boys decide to help the girl with her stucked costume when she asks for his assistance. While trying to unstuck the sheet, however, the boy hears the sound of a security guard coming to inspect the area. Because of this, the two rush off to hide themselves. After the security guard left, a light argument brews between the two teens because the boy accidentally touch the girl's breast. As a result, the two start slinging insults towards each other. Strangely, when the boy addresses the girl as "Onee-san" (older sister), the girl suddenly looks sad so the boy apologises for his rudeness despite not knowing the true reason. The girl tells the boy that it's okay and decide to introduce herself to him.

The girl claims that she is a juniour high school student called Miyazaki Eiko while the boy turns out to be none other than a primary school student called Seitou Kouta, the boy from the first episode in this series. Their introduction, however, is interrupted when Kouta's friend who also appeared back in episode one appears out of nowhere, expressing his relief upon seeing his friend. The two then talk about how Kouta once saw something, prompting Eiko to think that Kouta really did come to school to do the dare in regards to the ghost tale. After Eiko left, Kouta hears a bell sound and realises that Momo is nearby. True enough, the Shinigami is seen perching on the school's rooftop with Daniel. Daniel wants to know if Blue the cat is doing well and it seems Kouta has been taking care of the cat quite well. In turn, he wants to know what Momo is doing here so Momo tells him that there is a person with regret left in this place.

After Momo disappears, Kouta's friend wants to know with whom Kouta has been talking to but he ends up getting spooked when Kouta tells him that he's been talking to a Shinigami. At the same time, Eiko finally returns to her home rather late and and as a result, end up yawning during her Kyudou (Japanese Archery/Sword technique) class the next day. When she walks out of the school and encounters a bunch of kids bidding goodbye to their teacher, however, Eiko is reminded of the time when her sister achieved her dream to become a teacher. Back then her sister also assured Eiko that Eiko can succeed in Kyudou as well. When she returns home that night, Eiko's mother asks her if she wants to come with her to see Fireflies. Because of this the two go to a park but unfortunately only a few fireflies are around. Eiko tells her mother that her sister once said that Firefly probably represents the happiness of a person.

Eiko also mentions how her sister once bought and raised a firefly when she was in junior high. Eiko's words, however, is interrupted when Kouta's friend that she met a few night ago, Saiki Takashi, recognises her. Her mother is weirded out that Eiko actually knows a primary school kid but before she can asks any question, Eiko already drags Saiki away from her mother. Eiko then asks Saiki not to tell anyone about what happened a few nights ago. When Saiki tells her that he saw a ghost that night, Eiko tries to tell him that the ghost was actually her. But unfortunately, Saiki doesn't pay any attention. Saiki also wonders what Kouta actually saw that night and explains how ever since Kouta's childhood friend died last year, he can see things that others can't see. Kouta not only talked but also made a promise to a ghost and saw a Shinigami. Eiko is creeped out by this but gets an idea when Saiki thanks her for buying him an ice cream.

It turns out Eiko wants Saiki to persuade Kouta to talk to her. Kouta at first refuses because he's in the middle of playing soccer but upon seeing Eiko's sad eyes, he agrees to talk for a while. Eiko immediately asks Kouta if he really can see ghost. After Kouta confirms this, Eiko asks her if they can go to school again so they can find a ghost. She reveals that the deceased teacher mentioned by the students at the start of the episode is none other than Eiko's sister. Because of this, Eiko can't stand hearing the rumour that her sister's spirit has been hauting the school. This is why she wants Kouta to come so he can tell others that the ghost is not her sister. Kouta refuses to do this because he thinks the ghost could be Eiko's sister. He promptly gets a slap and a few insults from Eiko. Kouta returns the insult, causing Eiko to tell him that she'll go on her own in that case. Despite Eiko's behaviour, that night Kouta ends up coming to the school to help her.

Once they get in, however, Kouta can't sense the presence of a ghost. Much to his surprise, Eiko looks disappointed. After hiding from two patrolling guard, Eiko reveals that prior to her sister's death, Eiko had a fight with her sister because she felt that her sister is beautiful and can do anything. Back then Eiko told her sister that she hates her sister and that it'll be nice if her sister disappears right in front of her. On the same day she said this, her sister got involved in a car crash that took her life. In the present day, Eiko tells Kouta that she wants be happy like her sister but she can't. Kouta understands Eiko's situation because he too once promised to protect Mai but he failed to do so he felt that he couldn't be happy either. But thankfully, back then a white figure came and visited him, promopting Eiko to think that the white figure is an Angel.

When the two arrive at the second floor, Eiko feels that something is nearby and a firefly suddenly appears in front of her. The two follow the firefly and ends up finding themselves in front of the classroom that was taught by Eiko's sister. The two suddenly hears a bell sound and the door of the class opens wide. Eiko immediately sees her sister standing in front of the classroom so she approaches the apparition in tears. She tells her sister that she's sorry for saying cruel things to her sister back then. The truth is, she doesn't hate her sister. She was just jealous of her. Upon hearing this, her sister produces a firefly which multiplies and fills up the room with warm green light. Eiko's sister then turns into multiple fireflies as well after thanking Eiko. Momo then appears behind Kouta so Kouta jokingly blames her for causing him to be able to see weird things. Momo, however, assures him that once he grows up, he will stop seeing this.

Impression:

This is definitely a lot more interesting than episode 4. I feel that the dialogue is actually a lot stronger and it also deals with regret, a topic that some people can easily identify from time to time. Eiko is clearly a rather brash character who has the tendency to be physically violent and able to throw insults to others quite easily. Unfortunately for her, at one point she went too far and hurt the feeling of someone who actually care for her. Ever since then, she has been filled with guilt and it simply multiplies when she heard that there is a female ghost haunting the school ground. She even went as far as pretending to be a fake ghost in order to clear her sister's name but that is not what her sister really wants. Her sister simply wants to know that Eiko didn't really hate her and what she said was just one of those hurtful words that people say to each other when they are angry.

I think the best part of the episode is the discussion about the fireflies that Eiko had with her mother early in the episode. Eiko mentioned how Firefly represents the happiness of a person. Back in the park, there were little fireflies around despite the fact that a park is probably a more natural habitant for the creature than a classroom. This, however, perfectly represents Eiko's unhappiness at that point in time. In contrast, even though a classroom is not a natural habitant for the fireflies, they miraculously appear there as a representation of Eiko's happiness at being forgiven by her sister as well as her sister's happiness in knowing that Eiko doesn't hate her. It's also nice how the writers manage to tie Kouta into the story by making him to be the one who helps Eiko to reconcile her feelings with her sister. Momo's role in this one is surprisingly minimal although as Kouta said, sometimes it feels as if she takes more of a guidance Angel role instead of a Shinigami one.

© memento 2003