Birdmen 15

1 (157)
Eishi: "That was the voice of my dead brother."

Title: flight013 RAIN

Eishi: Is it really possible for a Black Out to speak with the voice of his deceased brother...?

2 (158)
Title: flight013 RAIN

3 (159)
Tsubame: Rei-kun and I went to the same cramming school when we were little.

Tsubame: I knew he had an older brother.

Tsubame: He would happily tell me where his brother would take him next.

Tsubame: But then Rei-kun started studying under a private tutor and stopped coming to cramming school... // After that we didn't meet for a while...

Tsubame: It was probably last year... // One of my friends, who is in the art club, forced me to visit an art gallery with her. // That's where I saw Rei-kun again, he was alone.

4 (160)
Tsubame: I knew with one look at his face, // yet I couldn't help but feel something had changed about him.

Tsubame: But when I called out to him, // he was still the same Rei-kun as I had known as a child.

Tsubame: He treated us to some tea and cake.

Tsubame: (Ah, it looks delicious!)
Friend: Sagisawa-kun, do you often visit art galleries?

Rei: Yes, well... // Those are the paintings made by my brother's favorite painter, I just wanted to see the real pieces...

5 (161)
Tsubame: After that we would meet now and then, // but it wasn't until a few months later he told me about his brother...

Tsubame: At that time, // he also showed me a picture of his brother...

Tsubame: It was like looking at an adult version of Rei-kun. // They really looked alike.

Tsubame: It seems he committed suicide... // I'm not good at serious conversations, so I didn't ask for the details...

Tsubame: It was quite unexpected, so his family fell apart and he failed all exams... // I think he also mentioned something about transferring to a school where no one knew him...

6 (162)
Eishi: He's a rich guy. He could buy everything he wants. Why do I feel sorry for him?

Eishi: Even though we depended on Takayama-kun again... // He took care of that Black Out without sustaining any severe injuries...

Takayama: The previous Black Out...

Takayama: If it had been any of the other 3, they probably would have died there.

7 (163)
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8 (164)
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9 (165)
Text: TITLE: To you who feels down... / I discovered a new way to use our wings! / For tonight you'll be the only one I'll tell this! / Really... I never expected this could be... / If you are interested, GO to the Sky Terrace!

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11 (167)
Eishi: This idea, it's not that amazing.
Rei: Yes... Well...

Eishi: These wings are very efficient. They are water-repellent. // So even if it rains we can fly, because they don't get heavier. // The raindrops roll off with a wiz. Did you know that?
Rei: (With a wiz...?) No...

Eishi: And it's depressing when the rain pours like this, your sight is limited and you could get wet. / No one would willingly set a foot outside, right?
Rei: Well...
Eishi: That's when I realized it.

Eishi: If we want to fly around the city without anyone seeing us, // this is the best time!! (They won't hear us either!)

12-13 (168-169)
Eishi: We're going all the way to the ground!

Rei: EH!?

14 (170)
Rei: Wha!

Rei: Wha! // This is dangerous! // Too fast!
Eishi: Did you know? // Contrary to expectations, there are less car accidents on rainy days!

Eishi: Whoops!

Eishi: Did you ever fly this low?
Rei: I haven't!

Rei: Ah...!!

15 (171)
Woman: !?

Rei: (Aah) I'm sure she saw us.
Eishi: That's why we can't slow down.

16 (172)
Driver: ?

Eishi: We will never have to pay for a taxi ride again!
Rei: We never had a reason to take a taxi to begin with.

Eishi: Wow, see all that rain!

Eishi: Let's fly around some of the skyscrapers?
Rei: Wow, // that looks pretty cool!

17 (173)
Eishi: We're pretty drenched though?
Rei: No, we look sexy!

Eishi: Come to think of it... // Sexy and Taxi sound the same?
Rei: Then, let's switch those words in the sentences we just said.

Eishi: We will never have to pay to be sexy...
Rei: The opposite, we're a taxi...

Eishi: I don't think it works like that... (Hehe...)
Rei: You're right... (Ahaha...)

18-19 (174-175)
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20 (176)
Eishi: It's still raining... // Wow, // according to the forecast it will rain until after noon.

Rei: My brother...

Rei: would often sneak out in the middle of the night // and drive around Tokyo Bay without any specific purpose.

21 (177)
Rei: I'm starting to understand // why he did that.

Rei: I always... // thought my brother was the perfect human being... // Guess I was wrong.

Rei: You probably noticed the paintings and sculptures in my room? // They all belonged to my brother.

Rei: I thought that I would understand him better if I kept them close, but // he's still a mystery to me...

Eishi: ...... // What kind of person was he?

22 (178)
Rei: Hehe... he was really cool. // A cheerful person, who loved to entertain the people around him. // He had many friends, was popular with the girls and he was always surrounded by people... // He was very skilled with his fingers and was able to make anything he wanted.

Eishi: Popular, huh...?
Rei: My brother

Rei: He was my hero.

Rei: But what I loved most, was watching him quietly work on a painting. // Brother.

Brother: What's up, Rei?
Rei: Can I watch you?

23 (179)
Brother: Sure.

Rei: My brother said that painting allowed him to relax.

Rei: But, it was only a hobby then. // When he graduated from university and he had to take up his position at our dad's firm, he suddenly said he wanted to go to an overseas art school and had an argument with my dad...

Dad: Hey, Rui. // Just keep doing it as a hobby.

Dad: Just like me... // skills alone won't bring you to the top, you don't have what it takes. // Don't get too serious about the painting.

Dad: Focus on reality...

Dad: Just get serious.

24 (180)
Rei: After that my brother left our house. // Sometimes, // only when my father wasn't around he would come home, but he always looked depressed...

Rei: Brother, you're back...
Brother: Fuck off, I'm just here to get some stuff.

Brother: I can't bear the sight of you. // Always daring to gauge my feelings with that foolish smile on your face... // You think everyone will treat you nice if you smile at them...

Brother: The truth is, I really hate you.

25 (181)
Rei: Later my brother took his own life. // In his suicide note he wrote...

Rei: "I am empty inside." // Like that...

Eishi: As I thought, to me it sounds // like a luxury problem... // I don't think that was true.

Eishi: As long as you are alive, it's impossible to be completely empty inside.

26 (182)
Rei: I guess so...

Eishi: Ah, old man? // Got some time?

Eishi: I'm not sure... // He didn't come to school, but // I expect him to show up for our bird club meeting.

27 (183)
Eishi: I did as you said. // After I got him to let off some steam and clear his head, I waited for him to start talking by himself. // I made sure not to interrupt him and had him verbalize the situation between him and his brother to some extent.

Tatsume: I see, // if he starts talking about his brother again, just listen quietly again.

Tatsume: It is said that PTSD is deeply connected with one's temporary memory.
T/N: PTSD = Posttraumatic stress disorder

Tatsume: First you gather the memories as a temporary memory in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, // then you take steps to move them to the cerebrum to be preserved as long-term memories. // A smooth transfer of said memories to the cerebrum, // or leaving them in the "past", is the best cure for him.

Tatsume: Arranging the events and verbalizing them, quickens that process. // Rather than letting him forget, you allow him to talk about it. However this should never be forced.

28 (184)
Tatsume: And... because his brother committed suicide, // don't try to sympathize with his brother too much.
Eishi: Yeah... // I'm going to Kamoda's place now, but I'll also tell the others.

Eishi: But he and his brother are different, right? // Because, when he was in that bus accident // he chose to live.

Tatsume: I see... // Well, you should be able to understand him pretty well.
Eishi: Well, that... // ...........................

Eishi: I don't. // I'm not a kind person, // and I don't understand other people.

Eishi: I wouldn't know how to handle this kind of stuff unless I do a cunning thing like thing... // In the end, I don't really get what he told me, I can't sympathize with him...

Eishi: It worked this time, but // for him it's---

29 (185)
Tatsume: "I want to help." // That's what you thought, right?

Tatsume: This, // even though you had to depend on some adult you barely know.

Tatsume: You did everything in your power. // I'm sure he understood.

Tatsume: That's right, // I got the results of your blood tests. (Your hemoglobin levels and such)

30 (186)
Tatsume: Well, in a sense your values are comparable to those of an average top athlete, but // what really stands out is this.

Tatsume: Every value I tested // came back the same for all of you.

Eishi: Eh...?
Tatsume: It's like all of you have the exact same blood running through your veins.

Tatsume: Well, your DNA isn't the same of course, but // it's possible that your physical conditions, and maybe even your mental states, are connected. // If that's the case, every thought and action towards one of your friends could have a huge impact of the group.

31 (187)
Tatsume: As you said, // that all birdmen are connected, // I'm starting to believe it too.

Tatsume: I would like to see your progress notes soon. // Please bring them as soon as you can. // The connection between the Blackouts and your mental states worries me.

Eishi: I understand.

Tatsume: Well then,

32-33 (188-189)
Tatsume: to have heard the song of an angel just before taking the first step towards Paradise... // It brightens my mood and makes this backache and the narrowness of this net cafe booth mean nothing...

Tatsume: Well then, let's see what trouble I will find...

Text: BIRDMEN VOL.3 - END