So, the kid did save his mother and all his friends. He's a hero. But, who saved him? He changed the course of time, a PARADOX! But at what price? Who saved him?
Erased, as popularly/easily called. Proper name of the name: Boku dake ga Inai Machi - The City where only I am Missing.
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Satoro Fujinuma was introduced as a man with dreams of becoming a great Mangaka, but due to his age, the company he is working in have doubt if he could succeed in joining. He believes that he have wasted all his life in nothing. Well, that is because he is undervaluing himself.
Satoro, unlike others, have special gifts. One of which is his near photographic memory, though half of his memories from his childhood had been wiped and last and the most interesting gift is his 'Revival,' not much of a power since he has no control for it but when this power kicks in, he troubles back in a short period of time, right before some sort of scheme, accident or whatever is to happen, and he tries to prevent it. He feels like it's a dejavu. No one knows of his power but only himself.
He gets acquainted with his co-worker, Airi Katagiri when he was hospitilized after his 'Revival' kicked in and saved a boy from dying. She saw what had happened, praised him and had a little chat with him. She seemed to admire Satoro. Later on, his mother, Sachiko Fujinuma, arrived to check and care for his son. He was hesitant at first but in the end obliged.
When he and his mother went out on shopping, his Revival powers suddenly kicked in. But no accident happened immediately at that moment. Then they met up with Airi Katagiri. Sachiko Fujinuma invited her to have dinner with them. She accepts. Sachiko thought that Airi and Satoro were a couple but she declined and said that to her Satoro, 'is a friend she can respect.' After dinner, Satoro gave Airi a lift to the station.
When Satoro came back home he had a little talk with his mother. They discussed a certain serial kidnapping and murders that have happened in the past. Satoro, though vague in his memory, did remembers it. No matter how his mother tried to make him forget of this incident, Satoro blamed himself for the death of one of the victim, and that is the memory he wants erased, forgotten.
The next evening, as Satoro was about to go home. Sachiko Fujinuma was killed in their apartment. When Satoro got back home, he was tipped to the police as a suspect for the killing of his mother. Afraid, he ran away. But that was when his 'Revival' kicked in. Instead of just mere moments ago, he went back in time, to when he was only just 11 years old.
Then he remembers the murders and kidnapping that have happened in the past. He must do something about it to save his mother in the present.
At first he managed to save one of the victim from the past but when he came back to the present, nothing changed. His mother was killed by an unknown killer, he a suspect of the crime and he was still running away. He made a mistake. As he was further pursued he met up with Airi Katagiri. She tells him that she will help her. With no other option, he believed in her and went to her house. She tell her to stay there.
The next day, when Airi was about to go home she was tailed in her house. Upon finding out who was following her, she and Satoro went under a bridge to discussed of what had happened. He then asks her how Airi can still believe in him. She then replies, 'it isn't that she can' but it's because she wants to believe in him. She then tells her of her story as kid how her father was accused of stealing even though he didn't, no one believed in him. Her father later on quit his work, filed a divorce and left. Her mother didn't believed in her father.
She wants to believe Satoro because she wants to.
Satoro then tells her to go back home, report him to the police, to tell them that he threatened her to let him stay. She refused. She then tells him that he couldn't ran away on his own and she won't tell that to the police. She tells him then that she will bring him back some clothes for him to wear for the time being.
But Airi came back home, she was targeted by a killer. Her house was rigged to burn with her inside. Satoro came back to the house of Airi and help out. Fortunately, the manager, a friend of theirs also the first one to betray Satoro, suddenly appeared and help Airi. The manager asks Satoro to leave and that he will be taking all the credit for rescuing Airi. But Airi knew.
Satoro ran away and called the one most trusted friend her mom have, the chief editor for a news company. He met up with him aside letting him stay under his care, he gave Satoro some lead and facts about the past. He might still be able to change everything if he could just go back in time.
Airi was hospitilized after the incident. Later then, Airi had a conversation with her mother. She tells her mother after all that have happened she believes in Satoro though no one else did. She empathize for Satoro by telling her mother, 'Not being believed is the what hurts the most.' Her mother replies by telling her that she regretted that she let her father leave back then and told Airi that she could go to Satoro.
Satoro got a message from Airi that she wants to meet with him. He declined her offer, he mustn't drag her even further. But she tells him that everything is going to be alright and promises him that she'll meet with him alone. He obliged and went their 'usual place.' He was there first but had doubts that it could be a trap and so after waiting for a few moment started to walk away. But before he could get away, Airi came running. She was glad that he trusts her.
He then asks Airi if there was anyone else who knew her schedules and where she lives. She then reveals the name 'Nishizono.' A name of which Satoro had the faintest clue. The name wasn't on the info he got from his mother's friend. Who is this person? He then suddenly tells her of manga idea he has and how his story reflects that of his manga. Airi then empathize with the character in Satoro's manga. Stating that the main character should believe in himself more as the story still unfold.
It was too late for them to realize that while the two were having a conversation they were being surrounded by the police. End of the line of Satoro Fujinuma. He was accused with the charges of murder, attempted murder and arson. He surrendered when Airi tried to protect him. But wasn't that the the plan all along, not to let Airi Katagiri get involve any further? He was prepared for it from the start. Though he regrets it.
Airi tried following him before he gets to the police car but was stopped. She shouted her apologies to her. Satoro hears it. He knows. He believes in her. He suddenly stopped and tells Airi: "You got it wrong. I can still hang in there because you believed in me." He thanked her and told her that he was glad that he trusted in her.
Right before Satoro was about to get in the police car, he saw the murderer. The last man he saw leaving their apartment. From here he forced 'Revival' to kick in. He wants to get back for the last time. He wants to do everything he could to solve the mystery of the past. He wants to save everyone. He wants to save his mother.
Suddenly, 'Revival' kicked in. He was back on his child body again. Currently on a date with the first victim, Kayo Hinazuki. From here on he made more direct approach and placed more effort in doing everything to saving the victims. It was odd to see that when Satoro saved the first victim, his age was that of a 29 year old and his first love would be a little girl. He didn't realize this at first but when he came running for her when Kayo was really going to be save, he was crying. He successfully saved her but that was the last time for a very long time that he will see her.
After saving Kayo and ensuring her safety, he took precaution on the next two victims, Hirumi Sugita and Aya Nakanishi. His effort of having stick with him and his group made his effort against the killer successful.
But it was too late when Satoro realized that the killer knew everything, he was really close to him and his next target was Satoro.
Satoro thought that there would be a fourth victim came and went to her help but on the process Satoro got abducted by the killer. The killer revealed all his plan, how Satoro foiled all of it, and told him that he will kill Satoro by making it look like an accident. He was powerless. Being back to his young self, there was nothing he could do against a grown up.
Before Satoro got killed, he told the killer that he knew everything about his future. Dead End (as told in the Future Diary).
15 years later, Satoro woke up, he was in a hospital5. He was in a coma for 15 years after his incident. He was rescued right before he drowned. His mother took great care of him for that whole 15 years. It was his mother who welcomed him when he woke up, after sleeping for 15 years.
Satoro saved everyone, the victims, the one who would be victim and his mother. Everyone of them. All of them. Satoro saved them all. He changed the future. At what cost?
The doctor checked up on him asked him what he remembers. A vague picture of Airi Katagiri popped in his mind But it was not all clear. He couldn't clearly remember what happened. He changed the future yet he knows everything. He should just be a child in a grown up body yet he knows it's not. If he changed the future, if he fell asleep for that long, how can he be knowledgeable of many things around him that none can?
He was then visited by old friends. They were all doing well and great.
After a therapy/rehabilitation session, he was then visited by an old friend, Kayo Hinazuma who's now Kayo Sugita, wife of one of his friends. She was carrying her son, Mirai. They chatted and wanted to apologize to him of what they did but tells them it's what he chose and that they don't need to feel responsible on what have happened to him. She then tells him her gratitude for helping her and that her was happiness was made possible because of him. Mirai suddenly cried and Satoro placed his palm on the baby's palm. Mirai calmed down.
Later on, he was drawing a perfect picture of Kayo carrying Mirai, her baby.
He then met up with a patient name Kumi, who was then being taken care of by none other than the killer, "Nishizono," who Satoro was after from his previous present and his changed past. At first Satoro showed no sign of remembering him but it was during their final bout that Satoro revealed it all.
Satoro remembered everything that have happened and why was he there when he touched the palm of Mirai, son of Kayo.
Nishizono planned on killing Satoro by making it look like a suicide as well as kill Kumi and have Satoro take the blame. But Satoro had planned way ahead of him. Satoro told him that he changed him. Somehow he saved him. He made Nishizono hold back all this time from when he was visting him. He changed him. And without Satoro, Nishizono cannot live on.
Suddenly, Satoro, on his own, rushed towards an open fence off the edge of the rooftop of the hospital. He meant to kill himself. But Nishozono ran after him and held his wheelchair. He couldn't kill him. Satoro changed the killer after all this time during his coma. He told him that the killer did nothing wrong to him and his friend, that he bears no hatred towards him and it was only Satoro who knows who the killer's self was. The killer let go as Satoro fell and the sound of a wheelchair crashing below echoed. Satoro is dead. Nishizono has no more to live for. Without Satoro, Nishizono cannot live on.
It was when Nishizono planned on jumping off the edge as well did he realize that it was all planned. Kumi was safe and Satoro's friend caught him. Satoro is saved. Nishizono was arrested for attempted murder.
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Airi Katagari, when I saw her character design, both the drawing and how she acted, she reminds of Eru Chitanda, of the anime Hyouka by Taskohna. How she spoke and the fluidity of her character, everything about her, seemed to me, is Eru Chitanda. Then it was too late for me to realize but Satoro Fujinuma also seemed to be like Hotaro Oreki of the same anime.
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So what was the price for the paradox our Oreki did? He did managed to change the future after all, right? Was it the fifteen years sleep? His friends, on his behalf, lived that fifteen years after. Most of them actually, did live on for his sake, right? Most of them are alive because of him, right? Was it a trade? But is that really the price?
Is he missing something? Where'd Chitanda go?
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Years passed, he became a great Mangaka. The company of his previous present that doubts him have now respected his works. Did the company changed or did he changed, he must've written a better story, right? Revival, the power he once had, no longer happens. Did he lost it? Or was it the price?
On the credit scene, he met up with his old friends, his best-friends. Had a drink with them, shared laughter and all until they parted ways. I'm pretty sure more of this bonding will happen from here on out. He was smiling, content of what had happened. Was that it? Is that all the story? Did he not forget something? His 'Revival' disappeared, I'm sure of it but he still has his memory. Isn't he forgetting someone?
He believed in friends. His friends believed in him. Right? Were they the first one to believe in him? Who was it, that first believed in him? His mother? She does but there's somebody else. A stranger. Someone he doesn't know.
Satoro went back the place where for the first time in the longest time, someone had believed in him. Wanted to save him. Protected him. Who'd probably given her own life for his sake. Because she believes in him. It was her who thought him about believing. It was her who thought him to trust. But in the changed future, both Satoro Fujnuma and Airi Katagiri are strangers.
He remembers her. But to her, he is no one.
The snow drizzled heaving, the city turned more white, he has to go back now. His colleagues might be looking for him. But suddenly a butterfly of wings in blue suddenly appear. Is Revival going to happen again? What's going to happen?
Satoro's eyes followed the blue butterfly but there in a not so far distance, a flash or two appeared. Someone was taking a picture, of him? Or perhaps the floating butterfly. The photographer ran for him and he was dumbstruck. There right in front of him, Airi Katagiri in the flesh. The one who was never with him but for some odd reason, had been there for him from the start. She was the one who told him about believing and trusts.
"Can I take shelter from the snow with you," she asks.
Surprised Satoro suddenly wanted to give way to tears. For so long, he never anticipated this, but here she is, here they are. Under the bridge, their usual place, their promised place.
She changed her face to a look of surprised. They are after all strangers in this changed future. Satoro held back his emotion and gave her smile.
"I never stopped believing," he said. Was it out loud? The screen have already faded to black.
Last episode of the anime:
https://animelon.com/video/594b248ab78f54074a7c336f
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Here's a manga hereafter: in the side of Airi Katagiri, in case you'd want to see it. Also, I searched for this because I want to know more of what happened in the story. I'll be reading the RE version, IF I COULD FIND A GOOD LINK! Aside from that, what I posts here is all about the anime, aside from this, nothing else. arigatou gozaimasu
http://fhxxccxxcc.com/boku-dake-ga-inai-machi-chapter-44.5/0
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"Who saved him, first and foremost? You tell me," the teary-eyed Firefly King.
~/_ ~
Instead of a review I gave a summary... gomenne... also when I wrote this summary, I was rewatching certain episodes, I cheated. gome...
I focused on the story between Airi and Satoro which I think should've been since Airi had the least screen time yet I know she's the princess, the partner of Satoro.
Before I watched the anime series, I read about a summary of this anime of how a boy changed the past to save everyone but he never marries his first love, a childhood friend. But then again, that childhood friend, wasn't. And I'm glad I watched this, it cleared something to me.
Other than, I get to watch another time travel anime. Along with the paradox and costs it entails as it usually have. Previous animes I've watched with this same cliche are:
1. Charlotte - Time-Leap ability, ability to change the past, at the cost of one's sight. Gradual degradation, that is.
2. Kimi no na wa - your name? I wouldn't want to spoil more of this amazing movie
I wanted to include Mirai Nikki (Future Diary) but then again... I might be wrong. Was there a paradox that have happened? Two birds of the same name and feather? What was the cost? Did it costed the god? Or I might be wrong, right?
I almost forgot, this movie also tackles the theme of abuses, just like Magical Girl Site, watching this series, "ERASED", one might find a good answer to what they are seeking for. Or perhaps finding good people to watch this series is probably better, right? Is it the word: yukki? I wonder what it means.
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