[Nemu]
Two thousand two hundred and eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty.
Ah, Sumika?
[Sumika]
You got me.
How did you know it was me?
[Nemu]
Your shoes.
[Sumika]
Oh.
[Nemu]
Stop wearing heels.
You'll fall down.
[Sumika]
Damn, you sound just like my mother.
[Nemu]
So, how much longer can you work?
[Sumika]
Just till the end of the month
[Nemu]
Huh? Four more days?
That's not very long.
[Sumika]
That's just for the official record.
I'll help as long as I can.
But I can't do any heavy lifting.
[Nemu]
Don't work too hard.
So, are you all prepared?
[Sumika]
There's so much left to do.
Handing over my work to others and submitting paperwork.
Oh, speaking of which, is the Director here?
[Nemu]
Downstairs I think.
[Sumika]
Ah, I guess I'll take care of the hard part first.
[Rakka]
Ah... Huh?
[Sumika]
Oh.
You're a friend of Nemu's?
[Rakka]
Yes, my name is Rakka.
Nemu's letting me visit here since I'm a newborn.
[Sumika]
I'm Sumika, a librarian here.
Nice to meet you.
But I don't know how much longer I'll be here though.
Say, let me help you.
[Rakka]
No, it's okay. I'll be fine.
[Sumika]
It's too heavy for just one.
Come on.
[Rakka]
Thank you.
[Sumika]
Newborn means you just came into this world, right?
But you don't look like a baby to me.
[Rakka]
Uh...
[Sumika]
What did it feel like when you were being born?
Were you scared?
[Rakka]
Not much, I can't remember very well.
But in my dream I think that I remember that someone was protecting me.
[Sumika]
Really.
[Rakka]
Oh, thank you very much.
[Sumika]
Not at all, thank you for the advice.
[Rakka]
Huh?
[Sumika]
On how a parent should frame her mind.
[Nemu]
Did you bring them up all by yourself?
[Rakka]
A Nice lady named Sumika was helping me.
[Nemu]
Oh, Sumika is the senior librarian.
Actually, I meant she used to be.
[Rakka]
Huh?
[Nemu]
All the books here, we acquired them through trade with the Toga, so we never know what kind of books will arrive, or when.
So it's very hard to keep them organized, and...
[Rakka]
So, then all of these library books were written by somebody in the outside world.
Ahh!
[Nemu]
And they're very old, so you should be careful.
[Rakka]
Uh.
[Nemu]
Only 20 minutes left.
I'll go bring these over to the book binder.
Rakka, can you help me by doing the labeling?
[Rakka]
Uh-huh.
[Sumika]
Nemu? Huh?
[Rakka]
I'm sorry.
Thank you for helping me again.
[Sumika]
Oh, it's supposed to be my job to begin with.
But what were you reading that held your interest so much?
[Rakka]
Oh, it was nothing very special.
I just wondered if I could find a book that could tell me what's outside this town.
[Sumika]
Ah, I know what you mean.
I looked everywhere for a book like that a long time ago.
[Rakka]
Really?
Did you find it?
[Sumika]
No, not at all.
[Rakka]
Oh, I guess that's to be expected.
[Sumika]
I guess I could tell you, I once thought about going out beyond the walls.
[Rakka]
Eh?
[Sumika]
I wanted to find the beginning of the world.
[Rakka]
The beginning of the world?
[Sumika]
The way that this town exists as it is now, is because someone first began by building it.
So along the same line, no matter how wide the world is, I think there's a beginning to it somewhere.
I wanted to find it...
Of course I couldn't go.
Because my life here is so much happier than chasing that dream.
[Rakka][Sumika]
Hehehe.
[Sumika]
Well, a dream is only beautiful because it remains a dream.
But still I wonder about it once in a while.
Ah, that's why life is so difficult.
[Rakka]
Ah!
[Rakka][Sumika]
Oh, no!
[Nemu]
Sumika is really something else.
[Rakka]
I'm sorry.
[Nemu]]
You don't have to be.
This is your first time here.
But Sumika is a senior librarian.
She should...
[Sumika]
She should what?
Set a good example for everyone else.
You're right.
So I'll take over here for now.
It's time for storybook lady.
[Nemu]
Uh.
And so, the evil wizard was transformed into an ugly frog.
In order to rescue all the little children, the young man climbed up the stairs in the high tower.
He planted the seed that the old lady had given him, and vines grew out of it instantly, allowing the young man and all the children to come home safely.
And peace was once again restored to the village.
The end.
[Kids]
Yay!
[Nemu]
Stop it, it's embarrassing.
[Reki]
Now, did you say "thank you" to the storybook lady?
[Kids]
Thank you!
[Reki]
This place sure has changed a lot.
Whenever I used to visit, it had an air of "scholars-only."
[Nemu]
I know, we've put a lot of effort into changing this place.
[Reki]
Oh I forgot, I have to go pick up some things.
Hikari, do you think you can take the kids home?
[Hikari]
Sure, that's fine, Kuu can help.
Kuu, do you want to be a substitute teacher?
[Kuu]
A teacher?
All right!
[Reki]
Thanks. See ya!
[Rakka][Nemu]
Hm.
[Nemu]
Ah, I'm all worn out.
How can Reki deal with the children so easily day in and day out?
[Rakka]
But you seem like you were having a good time with them.
[Nemu]
It's only once in a while
I couldn't possibly do it every day.
Sorry.
The meeting for tomorrow's assignments dragged a bit.
[Rakka]
It's okay.
I'm sorry I wasn't much help today.
[Nemu]
Oh, you did great.
But only four more days.
[Rakka]
Huh?
[Nemu]
I meant Sumika.
I was making her a gift, but there's no time to finish it.
[Rakka]
What is it?
Knitting something?
[Nemu]
It's a secret.
[Rakka]
I can help if you tell me what it is.
[Nemu]
It's somewhat embarrassing.
Well uhm, here's a hint, the beginning of the world.
[Rakka]
Huh?
[Nemu]
There was a book with that title in the library a long time ago.
But it's discarded now.
An old and crumbling book only the first few pages were legible.
Sumika and I racked our brains to come up with the rest of the story.
[Rakka]
And then?
[Nemu]
That's the only hint.
[Rakka]
What?
Hmm... Ah, Reki.
Reki!
Where's she...?
Um, she's going in the opposite direction.
[Nemu]
Oh, she just needed some gas for her scooter.
Hm.
[Rakka]
Hm?
[Reki]
Hm?
[Haibane of Abandoned Factory]
See. I told you.
It's just Reki.
[Midori]
What are you doing here.
Hiyoko!
[Haibane of Abandoned Factory]
Whoo hoo!
This is gonna be classic!
[Reki]
What was that for?!
[Hyohko]
Quit smoking, you stupid girl!
And stop riding that bike!
[Reki]
You're the one who's stupid!
I have permission from town.
It's perfectly legal for me to ride it!
Hup!
[Hyohko]
Ah!
[Reki]
Jerk.
[Haibane of Abandoned Factory]
Too bad, Hiyoko.
You lose.
[Nemu]
Come on, let's leave before we get caught.
[Rakka]
Uh, okay.
[Nemu]
There's a place called Abandoned Factory in the East District.
It's also a nest for the Haibane, and lucky for them, it's coed.
[Rakka]
Really?
That boy with the cap is one of the Haibane from Abandoned Factory?
[Nemu]
Yes, and one thing led to another with those two.
[Rakka]
What kind of things?
[Nemu]
Back then in Old Home there were only Reki, the children, and me.
And Reki was, well, troubled and bit more rebellious.
Things led to a big fight between us, and Reki ran away.
Later on I'd heard that she had actually run away with that boy we saw.
[Rakka]
Oh, wow!
That's sounds so cool.
[Nemu]
Don't you follow in her footsteps.
Because of what they did, neither one is allowed to go into each other's district.
[Rakka]
Oh...
[Nemu]
I don't think having boys around would be too bad, but I don't like the ones in Abandoned Factory, they're so rowdy.
[Rakka]
In my memories there exists another version of myself.
Nemu and the others said it isn't so, but I can't quite shake off the feeling from my mind that maybe my parents and the town I used to live in still exist somewhere.
I wonder if this sense of confusion will disappear when my wings have completely become a part of my body.
Here, everyone, even someone as little as Kuu, has a job and has become a self sufficient part of this world.
Yet, the truth is that everybody is mutually supporting each other in ways that are not apparent to the eyes.
It's a perfectly natural, but I didn't realized it until now.
I wonder if I deserve... to be as happy as I am.
[Nemu]
Ahh...
[Rakka]
Good morning.
Is it okay if I help?
[Nemu]
Well, sure, I'd love your help, but I won't be leaving till late.
[Rakka]
Well, I'll do some research until then.
[Nemu]
What are you researching?
[Rakka]
The beginning of the world.
[Sumika]
So what's she studying so intently?
[Nemu]
It's a secret.
Just leave her alone for now.
[Sumika]
Oh.
When I think about it, you were acting just like her when you first started working here.
[Nemu]
Was I?
[Sumika]
In the beginning of the world, there was nothing but a dark mist, called the nothingness.
[Nemu]
And then god appeared .
By merely being there, he brought, umm... let me see, um, light into the nothingness.
[Sumika]
When god...something...glowing over his head...
It... Er... It became the sun."
[Nemu]
It's hopeless, this book is too damaged to read.
[Sumika]
Oh, well!
We'll just have to come up with the rest by ourselves.
[Rakka]
Ah.
[Nemu]
Oh, you should wake me instead of watching me.
[Rakka]
But you looked so happy sleeping like that...
[Nemu]
How did your research go?
[Rakka]
Fine.
The beginning of the world is very interesting.
I found some different references to it in many books, but they all have some common similarities.
[Nemu]
And, what's the answer?
[Rakka]
Nemu, why should I tell if you just gave me a hint?
[Nemu]
Alright, then.
Don't laugh when you see it.
Here.
[Rakka]
Wow, this is great!
How did you do this?
[Nemu]
I asked the man who repairs our books to do it.
It was a lot of work.
[Rakka]
Can I read it?
[Nemu]
You won't laugh?
[Rakka]
I won't.
[Rakka]
Oh, is this all?
[Nemu]
Well, I can't decide on how to write the ending.
Got any good ideas?
[Rakka]
Ah! You won't laugh, right?
[Nemu]
I promise.
[Rakka]
........
[Nemu]
Ha ha ha!
[Rakka]
You are laughing.
You promised.
[Nemu]
You gotta be joking.
[Rakka]
I'm not joking.
I was thinking something like that a minute ago, when I was looking at your sleeping face.
[Nemu]
That's not funny.
Be serious.
This is a story about a great and powerful being.
[Rakka]
But it's a book written by you, so I think it should remind the reader of the author, don't you?
[Nemu]
But I don't have such bad manners.
How can you even think like that?
I should inspire ideas with a lot more dignity.
Well, I've got to work overtime to finish this.
[Rakka]
I'm so glad you picked me up.
Overtimes is exhausting.
[Kana]
Where's Nemu?
[Rakka]
She's got double overtime.
[Kana]
Huh?
[Rakka]
She had to stay late to talk to the book repairman.
I learned a lot from working with her.
Even though she appears sleepy, Nemu is a hard worker.
[Kana]
Of course she is.
Nobody gets mad at her for her naps because she always gets the job done.
[Rakka]
I understand.
[Kana]
But it's still hard to believe.
[Kana]][Rakka]
Hahaha.
[Cafe Master]
Here you go.
[Kuu]
Thanks a lot.
[Cafe Master]
Yeah, see you later.
[Kuu]
Hmm, oh yeah.
Good-bye.
[Cafe Master]
Alright.
You take it easy, boy.
[Kuu]
Ah, here you go.
Bye-bye.
[Rakka]
Kuu!
[Kuu]
Oh, Rakka.
[Rakka]
What are you doing?
[Kuu]
Hmm?
Just saying good-bye.
[Rakka]
Saying good-bye?
[Kana]
I said no!
[Kuu]
Come on, it's okay.
[Kana]
No way!
[Reki]
Morning.
Hey, where's Nemu?
[Rakka]
She's still in bed.
[Reki]
What now?
I thought that she was trying to get up early for a change.
[Rakka]
Mmm-hmm.
But she was at the library very late last night.
[Reki]
What?
For work?
[Rakka]
Uhh, it's something private but it's also a very important thing, I guess.
[Reki]
Huh?
Whatever it is, she'll probably be sleeping up until the very last minute.
[Rakka]
Ah...
[Reki]
Rakka.
[Rakka]
Ah.
[Reki]
Look.
It's supposed to be a triangle.
[Rakka]
Oh...
[Nemu]
Oh, no!
Rakka!
Forget about breakfast!
Oh.
[Reki]
Right on time.
[Rakka]
I really hope that Sumika will like it.
[Nemu]
Mmm...
If she thinks it's stupid, it's gonna be all your fault.
[Rakka]
What, why?
[Nemu]
Well, because I collaborated with you.
Your name is now on the cover, too.
[Rakka]
Huh?
[Nemu]
It's too late for that.
[Rakka]
No, it's not that.
But, is it okay?
[Nemu]
Well, you're jointly responsible.
Better be prepared.
[Rakka]
Nemu, I'm very happy.
[Nemu]
I hope Sumika will be, too.
[Rakka]
How can she not be?
[Sumika]
When God...something...glowing over his head...
[Nemu]
When God took into his hand, the halo glowing over his head and held it high, it became the sun.
God waved his staff, and the nothingness was ripped into two, one part forming the sky and the other the land.
However, his hand was not straight, thus creating mountains ant valleys.
God said 'It was a mistake, but it's just as well.'
When God drew pictures on the land, grass and trees grew, and birds and animals came to life.
God then envisioned creatures that looked almost like himself.
But these creatures were too similar to himself and that gave him concern.
So he colored their wings charcoal-gray, and made holes on their halos and named them Haibane.
Then he tucked them away in the back of his mind.
After that, God started over and created human beings that did not have wings or halos.
And this time, he was satisfied with his creation.
Completely content, God...
[Rakka]
...God, despite his omnipotence, fell asleep.
The Haibane, who were destined to be erased, were able to escape from his mind.
When God awoke, the Haibane were already floating in the sky.
However, ever tolerant of mistakes, even his own, God decided to let the charcoal feathers and their tiny world be.
So, that is why the town of Glie is still floating somewhere today.
Somewhere that is neither on the land nor the sea.