世紀末の詩

Professor Shafu loses the university president election and attempts to commit suicide. He encounters Akaki, who is also about to jump, but neither can muster the courage. They are interrupted by a mysterious girl, Mia, who laughs at them. Meanwhile, teacher Rimi investigates students staying out late, linked to rumors of ghosts. She is startled by masked figures—Shafu and Akaki—who cause further chaos.

This episode explores the theme of perception and illusion. Professor Shafu reprimands Noa for judging people by appearance, comparing it to gossip. Noa questions why Pandora’s box holds hope, not love. The story reflects on how greed and desire distort true love, while hope remains as the one redeeming element.

Shafu and Akaki party at a hotel but end up humiliated. Akaki is asked to visit the ailing daughter of Tsuda, a man who photographs people at the beach. Akaki grows close to the girl but is conflicted because of his feelings for Rimi. The girl’s serious illness, lupus, makes Akaki experience her struggles. In the end, she tragically proves her love for him by running naked in the sunlight, and sacrificing herself.

Professor Shafu encounters a diligent newspaper boy, Yumoto, who is later bullied. Shafu invites Yumoto to his base, impressed by the boy’s integrity. Rimi visits Yumoto's father, learning about their poverty. Later, it’s revealed Yumoto is a girl raised as a boy by her father to protect her from societal expectations. A tragic stabbing leaves Yumoto in the hospital, and she is eventually saved by a blood transfusion from her biological father.

Professor Shafu shares the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, drawing a parallel between love and trust. Noa’s love interest, Rumi, loses faith, leading to their relationship's downfall. Shafu teaches that love, unshaken by doubt, is built on trust, while insecurity can crack even the strongest bonds.

Shafu explains that female creatures are biologically wired to seek out talented mates, though as women age, they may lower their standards. He points out that Noa, while ordinary, could still attract women due to certain genetic traits. Shafu also highlights the struggles of geniuses like Hirota, a brilliant pianist, who suffer due to their complex minds, making their lives more painful.

A husband keeps his deceased wife in a freezer, reflecting a warped sense of love. His wife once said she wanted to stay by his side even after death. The characters debate love: is it choosing to live or die after a loved one passes? Shafu argues that true love isn’t about living in memories or clinging to death but rejecting the idea of their passing. Noa, however, believes true love is living on for the other person, keeping their memory alive in your future, similar to the film Titanic.

Shafu explores the topic of cloning, arguing that family ties are stronger because of blood, while couples lack that connection. Higashiyama suggests that cloning a loved one would eliminate the need to adapt to them, providing endless love. Noa disagrees, asserting that a clone isn't the same person. The episode questions whether love is truly selfless or ultimately about one's own needs and desires.

A mysterious man dismisses joy, seeing it as fleeting and a precursor to disappointment. He argues that sadness and anger distort love, turning it into hatred or indifference. He believes that by rejecting joy and desire, humans could avoid suffering. Noa pushes back, arguing that love is more profound and enduring, despite life's challenges.

Shafu, now lonely after losing everything, converses with Oshima, who reflects on how power and status have isolated him from his family. Shafu asks Noa what it takes to love someone, and Noa argues that true love requires qualifications, not everyone can find it. The episode explores how men and women differ in dealing with love and the burdens of family expectations.

Shafu dies, and Noa falls for a teacher who is already engaged. She hopes Noa will come for her on her wedding day, but he doesn't interrupt the ceremony. Instead, he releases balloons into the sky, symbolizing his love and letting her go to live her own life. Noa chooses to bless her happiness rather than selfishly take her away. The episode suggests that love is like a balloon—fragile yet colorful, floating with the wind, sometimes enduring life's rain and storms.