Kira's bent over on the floor, dazed and crying. Rei sits there in shock, not quite sure what to do. Kira suddenly snaps back to herself, seeing the slashes she's made on Rei's chest with her fingernails. She apologizes, not really knowing what to say, and Rei apologizes for forcing her to do anything she doesn't want to do. She denies that it's his fault, and there's a memory of someone pinning her to the ground. Rei watches her silently.

Kira's leaving Rei's apartment, and tells him she likes him, and asks him not to hate her. Rei looks at her hands trembling, and pulls her close. Kira remembers Kirishima asking her if Rei knows about "that" happening to her yet.

Rei's taking a shower and gazes at the cuts on his chest made by Kira's nails.

Rei gets Tatsuya to meet him at a cafe, and asks him what Kira was like during middle school (since Tatsuya went to the same school). He asks Tatsuya whether Kira's always hated guys, or whether she started sometime during middle school. Tatsuya remarks that he and Kira were in the same class 1st year and 3rd year of middle school; and that she *did* change sometime between those years. He says that in first year, though she was always a meek kind of girl, she'd had friends and he'd often seen her smiling. But in third year, she hadn't smiled anymore, and started having this strong negative reaction to guys. Tatsuya recalls a time when Kira cried because they were doing this traditional dance and the girls/guys had to hold hands. Rei listens to Tatsuya's descriptions, and is silent.

At school, Harumi asks Kira what's up between her and Rei, since she's heard from Tatsuya that things aren't going too well for them. She asks if it's about sleeping together, and Kira blushes. This slightly annoys Harumi, who can't understand why it should be so hard for Kira to go all the way with Rei, since she truly likes him. Kira starts to say something, but stops.

Walking on the street, Kira's stopped by the policeman guy who'd talked to Rei about Kirishima before. He scares her pretty badly (coming upon her all of a sudden) and treats her to ice cream. He asks her about the whole Kirishima incident, and says that she can actually take Kirishima to court for what he did. Kira says to forget it, though, since it's in the past. The policeman says a few words of wisdom to her, about how sometimes worries and being "lost" in life are actually good things, because they make people grow and mature, and that it's too bad Kirishima doesn't understand this. Kira says that Rei thought that he was similar to Kirishima, and the policeman smiles. He replies that Rei knows how to live his own life. Kira, looking sad, just hopes that Kirishima will get better soon.
Kira: Everyone says the same thing. Whenever someone is hurt or disappointed by something, everyone always says that he should hurry up and forget about it. [get over it] Is it really that easy to forget? You can pretend that you've forgotten, but really, nobody can completely forget, can they?

Kira gets a page from Rei, which says he's at the apartment waiting for her. She goes over, and nothing's up, he just wanted to see her. As Kira's cheerfully getting out some shaved ice she bought along the way, Rei gazes at her and locks the door. He catches her from behind, his hand reaching inside her collar.
Kira [thinking] KASHINO?
Kira: What's wrong? Stop! Let go of me!
[Rei throws her onto the bed]
Rei: Don't play innocent! You came yourself, didn't you?
[Kira looks shocked]
Kira: NO...
[Rei's on top of her]
Kira [struggling]: NO! STOP IT, KASHINO!
Rei: Then just listen to me [as in, follow his directions/stay still]! Don't you like me?
[Kira gets a memory of someone's chest/collar/chin area...someone saying "Listen to me...don't fuss, you're a good girl--"]
[Kira's eyes are wide with fright. She pushes up on Rei's chin, and escapes, running for the door.]
Rei [sitting up]: Kira!
[Kira runs to the door, tries the knob, finds it locked]
[Rei runs up behind her, slamming his hand on the door in front of her, breathing hard.]
[Something seems to come over Kira. She starts to scream, holding her head.]
Rei [looking really worried]: Kira!
Kira [trying to fight him and crying; he's holding onto her arms]: NO--------
[Rei holds Kira close, looking like he's going to cry]
Rei: I know! I know! I won't force you! I won't force you anymore!
[He holds her close, the saddest expression from this whole series on his face]
Rei: Who did it..? Tell me--
[Kira calms, still crying, held by Rei]
Rei: Did you report it to the police?
[She shakes her head. Rei looks concerned.]
Rei: Why? What about him? Do you know who he is?
Kira [her face isn't showing]: It's...It's my father...
[Rei looks truly stunned.]
Rei: Impossible..Didn't you say that your father already died--?
Kira [looking frantic, somewhat crazed]: He's not my father! That kind of person, he's not my father! Pretending to be a kind person, getting close to me and my mother, in the end betraying my mother, doing that to me--
Rei: Your mother...married again?
Kira [looking sadly down]: He said he'd protect me, told me not to worry-- At the time, I was in 2nd year of middle school. I was small and couldn't fight back, only knowing to be afraid--and afraid to tell my mother about it..the only thing I could do was cry. [Rei looks so shocked] But when I was in 3rd year, my mother realized. So my mother and I left and lived on our own...but even so, I still had nightmares every night of that person coming to find me. No matter how I hid, he would always chase after me...so..so I killed him. In my mind, I killed him in the cruelest ways.
[Rei is really stunned...his eyes are wide and blank]
Kira: I slashed at him...went at him so that he became an unrecognizable mound of flesh and blood. [She looks up, tears streaming down her face] I...I'm exactly like Kirishima...I was just not able to actually follow through in action like he did...
[Picture of Kira, head buried in blankets]
Kira: Ever since that happened, whenever I didn't like someone, I would kill them in my heart. It was the same with Yoshioka-sensei. Though I never said anything, I was thinking horrible things in my heart. If i didn't do that, I don't know what I would become. I wouldn't be able to face myself--
Rei [fingers digging into leg]: Why...? Though there was no blood relation, he was still father...how could he do something like that---
Kira: He even said he loved me, said it was because he loved me...but he did that to a middle school student...to a girl who was still a child---he did that,---that wasn't love at all...THAT WASN'T LOVE! THAT'S VIOLENCE! ...hate---[Kira's bent over, crying] So I hate men...I HATE THEM---!!!
[Rei's eyes widen; then his hand comes up to cover them.]
[Rei, looking down, sits facing Kira, who also has her head bent down.]
-some time later-
[Kira's leaving the apartment, still crying.]
Kira: Someone come--Someone come and save me---

Harumi's leaving work and sees Kira waiting for her outside, head down. She asks her what's wrong, and Kira replies that she thinks that she and Rei can't go on...and that the problem lies with her, that Rei did nothing wrong. Harumi is confused and really worried. Kira, crying, clings to her, and repeats that Rei is "different", "different from that person!"

Back in his apartment, Rei sits in a corner, head bowed. He thinks: "--I really can't do anything..." and remembers Kira screaming "NO!" as he held her. His hand covers his face, and he begins to cry.

Kira's spent the night at Harumi's. Harumi is really concerned for her, but Kira seems to be all right.

Narration/Kira:
Humans...They look strong, but are really weak; and yet if you want to say they're weak..they're really strong--
No matter how sorrowfully you cry, when you're tired you will fall asleep, and you will still feel hungry when your stomach is empty. When you finally realize it, you will see that every day is the same repetition.
Today is the same as yesterday; you greet your friends, you talk, you laugh, and days pass as if nothing had happened.

Rei wakes up sprawled out on the floor of his apartment.

Kira's in class. She wonders whether she and Rei will ever have a day when they can laugh together. She wishes she could go away somewhere..to forget about everything...to start over again...

Rei gets to school. He walks into Kira's class and takes Kira away, telling the teacher that they have "something more important to do than going to class." They ride away on Rei's motorcycle, Kira holding tight to Rei, tears slipping down.

Harumi and Tatsuya wonder where Rei and Kira have run off to. Harumi hopes that they'll be all right, and that Rei and Kira will be able to conquer whatever comes up.

Rei and Kira are at the beach.
Kira: You can't look at me the same way you did before, can you? [Rei doesn't respond.] I'm actually really horrible/evil/cruel [pick one], though I look harmless on the outside, I actually have a really dark heart...
Rei: I've never forced (by violence) anyone, ----and I'm not just talking about girls...actually, to tell the truth, I don't really understand this.
[Kira looks at him as he speaks, his eyes shut]
Rei: But...I won't expect you to forget about it quickly. I know that forgetting isn't that simple a matter...because I've also been hurt deeply many times!
Kira [looking at Rei, then looking down, smiling a little]: But you never...You never really intentionally went and hurt anyone...This seems weird to say, but you're the first guy who didn't make me feel frightened. I think you probably don't remember anymore---after we just got into high school, you talked to me once.
Rei: Me?
Kira: At the time, I'd dropped my housekey into the gutter in the courtyard. I was just worrying about what to do when--I heard you say you would get it for me--and you reached your hand into the gutter and brought my key out for me..
Rei: I don't remember at all! I didn't try to come onto you then, did I?
Kira: No. You just asked me to lend you money...
Rei: ! I didn't, did I? Are you for real?
Kira [laughing]: And then you took 1000 yen from me.
Rei [falling to the side]: WAAAA--- I didn't return it to you, did I?
Kira: When we ran into each other in the hall later, you had already forgotten who I was...From that time on, I started paying attention to you, but you were always bringing different girls around, so I had a horrible impression of you!
[Rei laughs sheepishly]
Kira: But it was really strange...I still couldn't bring myself to hate you. I just couldn't do it.

Two little kids (little boy and little girl) on the beach are building a sand castle. A bunch of little boys come along and kick it over. The little boy begins to cry, and the little girl tries to pull the bullies off the castle. Rei comments that no matter where you go, you'll always run into people like that--who'll cause others pain and feel happy about it. Kira goes over to the two kids, and then calls Rei over to help them build a sand castle. The four of them get to work and build a pretty cool new sand castle. The kids' mother comes along and calls them; Rei and Kira stay on the beach.
Kira: They probably won't forget about today, will they?
Rei: Who knows?
Kira: No, they won't. Even if the sand castle disappears, the memory of building a big sandcastle with a nameless big brother and sister will never disappear. Tomorrow, the sandcastle will probably have disappeared, won't it? No matter how big or how beautiful, someday it will eventually be destroyed...
Rei [smiling]: If it's destroyed, all we have to do is build a new one! As long as you're willing, I'll keep building them. [looks at Kira] Let's build them together!
[tears well up in Kira's eyes. The two of them join hands and walk off into the sunset.]

The little bullies from before come back to the beach and are stunned by the big sandcastle.

Next day at school Rei and Kira are forced to write papers of apology and confession for their misdeeds of cutting class the day before. ^_^; Kira doesn't quite know what to write, but Rei knows exactly what formula to follow ;). The teacher tells Kira, at the end, to choose a guy carefully because it will make a huge impact on her life. (basically he's saying Rei isn't a great type ^_^;;;) While Rei's commenting on how rude that was, Kira just smiles and says, "No problem!"

Harumi and Kira are talking about everything...Kira tells Harumi about Rei's comment about the sandcastles and Harumi thinks it's so cool of Rei. Kira thinks that perhaps she was always waiting for someone like Rei, to take her out of the ivory tower she'd made for herself, so to speak. (rough, rough, rough trans. what can i say? i'm tired.) She remembers that first time when Rei walked into class, and recognized her from the park.

Rei and Tatsuya are having a talk on the roof. Tatsuya's beating himself over the head for not knowing about Kira's whole past trauma sooner--Harumi'd told him. He asks Rei whether he cares, and whether he has the confidence that he and Kira can continue on...Rei says he's not thinking so much about that kind of thing anymore...he tells Tatsuya about how his mother had an affair (which was why he and Sei were conceived), and how he grew up in an environment where nobody really needed or wanted him. He says that Kira needs him, and wants him to stay by her side, and that the fact that two people who grew up separately and didn't know each other could need each other's presence is something of a miracle. He says that when he thinks of things this way, and how Kira needs him, he feels like he's really of some use in the world.

Rei and Tatsuya come upon Kira and Harumi talking. They hide behind a wall before the girls notice their presence, and listen in on the conversation. Harumi is saying that it's fate that Kira's stepfather had done those things, and if he hadn't, Kira might not even have met Rei. Kira wonders whether she's "dirty," and Harumi yells at her, saying that if she's dirty then nobody on earth is clean. She tells Kira that Rei used to be pretty barbaric, too, and that even when he was going out with her he'd been going out with some girl from another school at the same time. (This shocks Rei no end because he didn't know Harumi knew. hahaha..) Harumi says that now that she thinks about it, back then Rei had always said some nice-sounding things but had never really been serious in any of his relationships, and had always been a little cold...but that now, he seems like a normal guy with Kira.

Kira's mother is finally going to be released from the hospital. Kira's really happy about it, but is a little worried about the money, especially since her mother has quit her job and the doctor has prescribed rest. Her mother just says not to worry, since one of her coworkers (ok, not a boss, but someone with seniority...so...what would that be? like a coworker that's higher in position...ooh, there's probably a word for this...) is going to help pay. Kira says she'll start work as soon as she graduates from high school, and that they can continue their life together, just the two of them. She goes off to do laundry before her mother can say another word, leaving her mother sitting on the bed, looking down, somewhat worried.

Harumi and Kira decide to go on a double date :) Kind of to celebrate Kira's mother's being released.

Kira goes to see Kirishima. (I'm not really sure where he is...the mental ward? or a juvenile hall type place? hrm.) Basically Kira lets Kirishima know that Rei knows about what'd happened to her already. She tells Kirishima that she thinks everyone has a dark side to them, which is awakened in some people (infer: Kirishima) but can be changed. Kirishima laughs, and says that Kira's mentality hasn't changed at all since the last time he saw her and she still believes that as long people try, they can achieve happiness. He then states his own theory about happiness--that happiness is built on the foundation of other people's unluckiness/troubles. He says that if she had only been able to endure her stepfather's advances, her mother would never have been hospitalized due to exhaustion and she wouldn't have had to give up her dream of going to college. He says that would have been happiness, in a superficial way, and so all happiness is somewhat like that--it always involves sacrifices. He also says a few other cynical, warped sounding things about his theories regarding people and equality, etc...Kira leaves the place sad and contemplative, but still persists in saying that no matter what, people can't give up..

Kira & Rei, Harumi & Tatsuya go on a double date. They play panic hockey at an arcade together, then go bowling. (Tatsuya gets a strike; Rei says he'll get a strike too to tie up the scores, but he leaves two pins spaced pretty far apart. Kira, who's on his team, asks him how she should throw the ball...Rei just says she can do whatever she wants, since he despairs of their winning since he didn't make the strike. Miraculously, Kira's ball knocks over both pins! Rei and Kira cheer, and Tatsuya, disgruntled, says that Rei was "saved" by Kira. This makes Rei challenge Tatsuya to a rematch, while Harumi and Kira laugh in the background.) Afterwards, Rei takes Kira home.
Kira: So happy! This is the first time in my life that I've been so happy. I feel like even if the world ended tomorrow, I wouldn't mind...
Rei [laughing]: That's a bit extreme, isn't it?
Kira: Kashino, I remember you once said that if there really is a last day of the world, you wished it would come sooner--because everything in this world is a mess, and nothing can fix it!
Kira: Do you still feel this way now?
Rei: This...I think--if the world must end...that would be ok. But...I no longer think that everything in the world is a mess...
Rei [looks up at Kira]: If the world really ends, would you do me a favor?
Rei: Before it ends, kiss me.
[The two of them kiss.]
[Rei holds Kira close, smoothing her hair, eyes closed.]
Rei: I love you, Kira--
[Kira's eyes widen, then close as she cries silently and hugs Rei back.]
[The night sky] I love you...

Kira goes into the house in a really good mood (do you blame her? ^_-). She notices a pair of men's shoes in the entryway, and guesses they have a guest. She halts in the doorway, asking her mother about the guest, and freezes halfway, eyes wide. A man has turned to see her--it's her stepfather. (let me just mention now that throughout this series, you *never* get a good look at Kira's father's face. you either see the whole face but the glasses are hiding the eyes, or you just don't see his whole face) Time freezes.

Kira's mother stands up quickly to try and explain. Her father also seems about to say something. Kira backs away, crashes into a table, and falls down. Her stepfather calls out to her, and rushes forward. Kira screams for him to stay away from her, and begins crying. Her stepfather bows low to the ground, kneeling in front of her feet, and begs her forgiveness, taking the blame for everything. He says that he was so worried about her mother when he heard that she'd collapsed, but was ashamed to see Kira. He's vowed never to repeat his past actions, and asks for Kira's forgiveness. Kira, watching her stepfather, remembers the happy time she just had with Rei, and feels that it seems to be a scene from another faraway planet--a scene that she'll never be able to reach again...

Kira's mother explains that when she was in the hospital, Kira's stepfather visited her every day, repeatedly bowing low and begging her forgiveness, crying and apologizing. He hopes to have a new beginning with Kira and her mother, and Kira's mother says of course they want Kira's opinion about the subject as well. Kira, looking down, asks her mother whether the "coworker" she'd talked about before, who'd been helping them with the hospital bills, was actually her stepfather. Her mother confirms this, and says that she has nobody else to depend on, besides Kira's stepfather, and that legally they are still married. She says that he has been very worried about her, visiting her every day but afraid to tell Kira because she wouldn't be happy about it (gee, no kidding...). Kira recalls Kirishima's words about superficial happiness while her mother continues, saying that Kira's stepfather has already promised that he will never do what he did in the past again. Kira watches her mother, who's got her head bowed on clasped hands, as she speaks. Her mother says that she's already reached her limit, and cannot continue without a person to lean on. As her mother says these words, Kira touches Rei's bracelet on her wrist, and remembers the sandcastle they'd built, and Rei saying "Let's build it together!" to her that time. Various other scenes flash across her mind from their acquaintance/relationship, and she calls for him mentally.

At school, a bunch of 1st-year girls are huddled around Rei's locker doing something. Rei, eating a popsicle, sees them and wonders what's going on. He shows up suddenly behind the girls asking what they're doing, and scares them so much they scream. This, in turn, scares Rei into dropping his popsicle on the ground (he kneels and stares at it sadly, saying he had cut class just to get that popsicle). He forgives them for the popsicle in return for their cleaning up the mess. One of the girls gives him a love letter (which was what they'd been putting into his locker). It's actually from another one of the girls, who's blushing madly and standing shyly in the background. Another girl introduces her, saying that she's liked Rei since school started even though she knew he already had a girlfriend...Rei comments on how cute these 1st-years are, and suggests they go on a date. The three 1st-year girls are shocked at how simple this sounds, and are incredulous. Rei just replies, grinning, that there's nothing wrong with going on a date, since it's not like he's giving his heart to the girl. After Rei leaves, the girls are mopping up the floor. They comment that the 2nd-years were right, and that Rei, who used to be super flirty/playboyesque (*my* translations therefore i get to coin *my* own adjectives ;D), has gone steady with Kira for over a year and probably nothing can spoil their relationship. The three of them fight over Rei's popsicle stick anyhow, though, and it falls out the window into the gutter. ^_^;;

Harumi's shocked out of her mind that Kira's going to move back in with her stepfather. Kira says she doesn't have a choice about it, and that her mother and stepfather *are* legally still married. Kira believes as long as she explains it to Rei, he'll be okay with it. Harumi begs to differ, though, and says that Rei would never accept it. Kira is worried, too, and Harumi suggests that they get Tatsuya to break the news to Rei, since he's a guy we all know how all guys are the same ^_^;;;;. Tatsuya, however, finds this beyond him; he thinks it's a horrible plan. He asks Kira if it'll really be all right, and Kira seems to be okay with it--she says her stepfather's already promised her that he won't do anything, and that she's not as weak as she used to be. Tatsuya, looking sad, just says that since she can accept it, he has no right to say anything; but he says that he doesn't want to see Rei worried or in pain, as he has a younger brother in elementary school that he often confuses with Rei (because when Rei smiles, he looks like a child).

Hamazaki (the older guy from Rei & Kira's school, who's graduated and working for his family's moving company) turns up as part of the moving company Kira's mother/stepfather have called to help them move their stuff to Kira's stepfather's place. Kira takes a last look at her old house, recalling all her memories there with Rei, and then turns to leave.

Rei's at work at night (construction site again) when Hamazaki turns up. They stop and chat, and Rei asks Hamazaki how it's all going (since he's "entered society" already, working full time). Hamazaki mentions that the day before, he'd helped Kira move to a new house. Rei's stunned at the news, since Kira hadn't told him anything yet.

At home, Kira starts to make a phone call--then stops, putting the phone back.

At school, Kira tells Harumi and Tatsuya that she's planning to tell Rei that day. She'd been planning to call him the day before, but thought that telling him face to face would be better. They're discussing a plan of action (Tatsuya suggesting that they need time, and that maybe he should go test the waters first before Kira takes the plunge) when Rei comes along and interrupts them. He asks Kira about her moving, revealing that he heard from Hamazaki. Kira, faced with this question, tells Rei that she has moved to her stepfather's.

Rei's stunned for a moment, and asks what she means. Kira repeats what she said before, and Tatsuya tries to help her by explaining that her mother hasn't dissolved the legal marriage. Rei asks Tatsuya and Harumi to leave him alone with Kira for a moment.
Kira: My mother's reached her limit...she can't work, so we have nobody else to turn to...
Rei: But you can't just do something like this without even telling me!
Kira: Because--I couldn't say it, I knew you would be opposed to it.
Rei [semi-yelling]: DO YOU EVEN NEED TO SAY IT?? DO YOU NOT KNOW WHAT HE'S MADE YOU BECOME??
Kira: But he said he won't do that again.
Rei: Do you really believe him? Somebody who would do a violent act like this would definitely keep doing it!
[Kira's eyes widen]
Rei: LEAVE HOME AT ONCE! THE EARLIER YOU LEAVE THAT OLD MAN THE BETTER!
Kira: That's impossible! Where would you suggest I go after I leave home?
Rei: You can live with me!
Kira [stunned for a moment, then recovered]: I can't do that.
Rei: WHY NOT?
Kira: Because we're only high school students! Nobody around us would approve.
Rei: WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AROUND US?
Kira [distressed]: Don't be so irrational, I can't just dump my mother and run away by myself...
Rei: YOUR MOTHER CHOSE TO LIVE THE GOOD LIFE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME DECISION! ALL IN ALL SHE'S JUST TRADING HER OWN DAUGHTER TO GET A SECURE LIFE, ISN'T SHE?
Kira [hurt/angry/distressed]: Please...please don't badmouth my mother. NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, SHE'S STILL MY ONLY RELATIVE LEFT IN THE WORLD!
Kira [looking sad again]: My stepfather--actually he's not a bad person in all respects.....[Rei's mouth is still]...The three of us did have some very happy times. [Rei's hand is grasping a glass.] Though at the end he did *that*, he was a good father [before] and he was always really good to me and my mother---
[Rei has cracked the glass in his hand]
Kira: KASHINO! YOUR HAND---
Rei: DON'T TOUCH ME!!!
[Rei's last statement was so loud that people all over the cafeteria, including Harumi and Tatsuya, turn to stare at them. Both Kira and Rei sit motionless. Rei's hand is clenched in a fist, and it's shaking.]
Rei: I can't take it anymore...I can't continue going out with you.
[Rei gets up and walks away. Kira's left sitting at the table alone. Tatsuya calls and runs after him.]
Tatsuya [catching Rei's arm]: Rei, wait! Calm down!
Rei: I can't believe it! Those kind of family members and she still wants to live with them!
Tatsuya [holding Rei back]: It's normal that you would get angry, but--what you just said to her was asking her to dump her mother, do you understand that? To Kira, her real family only consists of her mother! If she dumps her mother, she'll be left all alone!
Rei [throwing off Tatsuya's grip]: AM I NOT ALL ALONE?
[Rei stops, seemingly startled by his own words. Tatsuya stands and stares at him. Rei turns and walks away, leaving Tatsuya standing in the hall.]
In the cafeteria, everyone's still staring at Kira, who's sitting alone at the table still. A tear runs down her cheek. The cracked glass is still on the table, half-full, along with a few drops of Rei's blood.

End Volume 8.

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