Library Abandoned Factory The Beginning of the World
Two thousand two hundred and eleven, twelve, thirteen...
fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen...
nineteen, twenty.
Sumika?
You got me.
How did you know?
Your shoes.
Oh.
Stop wearing heels. You'll fall down.
Damn, you sound like my mom.
So, how much longer can you work?
Till the end of this month, officially.
What?
That's only four more days.
Oh, that's just for the official record.
I'll help as long as I can, though I can't do any heavy lifting.
Don't try too hard.
Are you all prepared?
Boy, there's so much to do.
Handing over my work, submitting paperwork, etc, etc.
Speaking of which, is the Director here?
Probably downstairs.
I guess I'll take care of the hard part first.
You're a friend of Nemu's?
Yes, I'm Rakka.
Nemu's letting me visit here since I'm a newborn.
I'm Sumika, a librarian here. Nice to meet you.
Though I don't know how long I'll be here.
Come on, I'll give you a hand.
Please, I'll be fine.
It's too heavy for one person. Come on.
Thank you.
Newborn means you just came into this world, right?
But you don't look like a baby to me.
How did you feel when you were being born?
Scared?
No, I can't remember very well.
But it felt like someone was Protecting me in my dream.
Thank you so much.
Not at all, thanks for the advice.
On how a parent should frame her mind.
You brought them up all by yourself?
A lady named Sumika helped me.
Oh, Sumika is my senior.
No, former senior, I should say.
All the books here are acquired through trade with the Toga...
so you never know what kind of books will arrive, or when.
So it's very hard to keep them organized, and...
Then all of these were written in the outside world.
And they are all old, so be careful.
BOOKS TO BE REPAIRED
Only 20 minutes left.
I'll go bring these to the book binder.
Can you do the labeling?
OK.
Nemu?
Oh?
Thank you for helping me again.
No, it's my job to begin with.
But what were you reading and concentrating so hard on?
Nothing in particular.
I just wondered if I could find a book that tells what's outside this town.
Oh, I know what you mean.
I looked everywhere for a book like that a long time ago.
You did?
Did you find it?
No, I couldn't.
I guess that's no surprise.
You know, I once thought about leaving this town.
I wanted to find the beginning of the world.
The beginning of the world?
This town exists now, for instance, because someone built it first, right?
So, no matter how wide the world is...
I think there's a beginning to it somewhere.
I wanted to find it.
But I couldn't.
Because my life here was so much happier than fulfilling that dream.
Well, a dream is beautiful because it remains a dream.
But I still wonder about it once in a while.
Alas, life is difficult.
Oh, no!
Sumika is something else, really.
I'm sorry.
You don't have to be. This is your first time.
But Sumika is a senior librarian. She should be...
a good example for others.
OK, OK, I'll take over here.
It's time for Storybook Lady.
THE WITCH IN THE TO WER
The young man climbed up the stairs in the high tower to rescue the children.
He planted the seed that the old lady had given him...
and vines grew out of it instantly...
enabling the young man and the children to come home safely.
And peace was returned. The end.
- Wow! - All right!
Stop it, you're embarrassing me.
Hey, did you say "thank you" to the Storybook Lady?
Thank you.
This place has changed a lot.
It used to have an air of "scholars-only."
I know, we've been putting a lot of effort into this place.
Oh, I have to go pick up some things. Hikari, can you take the kids home?
Sure, that's fine, Kuu can help me.
Kuu, do you want to be a substitute teacher?
A teacher? I'll do it!
Thanks.
See ya.
Oh, I'm all stiff.
How can Reki deal with the children day in and day out?
You seemed you were having a good time with them, though.
Because it's only once in a while. I couldn't possibly do it every day.
CLOSED FOR THE DAY
Sorry. The meeting for tomorrow dragged a bit.
It's okay. I'm sorry I wasn't much use.
You did great.
But only four more days.
I meant Sumika.
I was planning to give her a gift.
But not sure if I can finish it in time.
What is it? Knitting something?
It's a secret.
I'll help if you tell me what it is.
It's somewhat embarrassing.
Well, here's a hint: The beginning of the world.
There was a book with that title in the library a long time ago.
But it's discarded now.
THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD
Sumika and I racked our brains trying to come up with the rest of the story.
And then?
That's the only clue.
Reki.
Reki!
What?
She's going in the opposite direction, isn't she?
Oh, it's only some gas for her scooter.
I told you. It is Reki.
What are you doing here?
Hyoko!
You're so cool!
What was that for!?
Quit smoking, you stupid girl! And stop riding that bike around.
You're stupid!
I have permission from town.
It's perfectly legal for me to ride it!
Jerk.
Too bad, Hyoko. You lose.
Come, let's leave before we get caught up in that.
OK.
Abandoned Factory in the East District...
is also a nest for the Charcoal Feathers.
Lucky for them, it's coed.
So, that boy with the cap is one of the Haibane in Abandoned Factory?
Yes, and one thing led to another between those two.
What kind of things?
Back then, there were only Reki, the children, and me in Old Home...
and Reki was, well, wild and troubled.
Things lead to a big fight between she and l, then she ran away.
Later I heard that she had ran away with that boy.
Wow, ran away together. That's so cool.
Don't you follow in her footsteps.
Because of that, they can't go into each other's district.
I don't think having boys around would be too bad.
But I don't like the ones at Abandoned Factory.
They're so rowdy.
In my memories exists another version of myself...
Nemu and others said it isn't so.
But I can't quite shake off the feeling...
that maybe my parents and the town I used to live in...
still exist somewhere.
I wonder if this sense of uneasiness will disappear when my wings have...
completely become a part of my body.
Here, everybody, even little Kuu, has ajob and is living on their own.
Yet, the truth is that everybody is mutually supporting each other...
in ways that are not apparent to the eyes.
It's perfectly natural, but I don't think I realized it until I came here.
I wonder if I deserve to be as happy as I am.
Good morning.
Is it okay if I help?
Well, sure, but I won't be leaving till this evening.
I'll do some research until then.
Research what?
The beginning of the world.
What's up with her?
It's a secret. Please leave her alone.
Oh.
Come to think of it...
you were like that when you first started working here.
Was I?
At the beginning of the world...
there was nothing but a dark mist, called the Nothingness.
God appeared.
By merely being there, he brought...
light to the Nothingness.
When God... glowing over his head...
it became the sun.
It's hopeless, this book is full of holes.
THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD
Oh no, wake me up instead of watching me like that.
You looked so happy in your sleep, so...
How did your research go?
Fine. The beginning of the world is very interesting.
There are many stories in many places...
but they're all sort of similar in parts.
And the answer?
Giving the answer as a hint isn't fair, Nemu.
Alright then, don't laugh when you see it.
THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD BY NEMU
I asked the craftsman who repairs our books.
It was a lot of work.
Can I read it?
You won't laugh?
Absolutely not.
I see.
Oh, this is it?
Well, I can't decide on the ending.
Any ideas?
You won't laugh?
Absolutely not.
And then...
You're laughing! You can't!
Be serious.
I am being serious.
I was thinking something like that a minute ago...
Iooking at your sleeping face.
How rude! No! This is a story about a great being.
But it's your book, so I think it should remind the reader of you.
I don't have such bad manners. How can you think of such a thing?
I invite ideas with more class.
Now, it's time for overtime.
I'm so glad. I'm exhausted from working overtime.
Where's Nemu?
Doing double overtime.
She has to talk with the book repairman.
I found out a lot from working together with her.
Despite her appearances, Nemu is a really capable person.
'Course she is.
Nobody gets mad at her for her naps because...
she always does what she has to.
I see.
Though it is amazing.
Here you go.
Thanks.
Yeah, see you later.
Oh, yes.
Good-bye.
Alright. You take it easy, boy.
Here you go.
Bye-bye.
Kuu!
Oh, Rakka.
What are you doing?
Greeting.
Greeting?
I said no!
Come on, it's OK.
No!
Mornin'.
Hey, where's Nemu?
Still in bed.
Oh, I thought she was doing a good job of getting up early for a change.
But she was at the library until midnight last night.
What? For work?
It's a private but very important thing, I guess.
Whatever it is, she'll probably be sleeping until the last minute.
Rakka.
That's...
supposed to be a triangle.
Oh.
Oh, no!
Rakka! Forget my breakfast!
What?
Right on time.
I hope Sumika will like it.
If she thinks it's stupid, it'll be your fault.
What, why?
Because it's a collaboration with you.
Your name is on the cover, too.
What?
It's too late for that.
It's not that. Are you sure it's OK?
You're jointly responsible. Be prepared.
Nemu, I'm so glad.
I hope Sumika will be, too.
How can she not be?
When God... glowing over his head...
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 forming the sky and the other the land.
However, the line was skewed, thus creating mountains and valleys.
"It was a mistake, but it isjust as well, "said God.
When God drew pictures on the land...
grass and trees grew, and birds and animals came to life.
God then envisioned creatures that looked like himself.
But these creatures were too similar to himself and were a failing.
So he colored their wings charcoal...
made holes on their halos, named them Haibane...
and tucked them away in the back of his head.
After that...
God created human beings that did not have wings or halos.
This time, it was a satisfactory creation.
Completely content...
God, despite himself, fell asleep.
The Haibane, destined to be erased...
were hence able to escape from his head.
When God awoke...
the Haibane were already floating in the sky.
However, ever tolerant of mistakes...
God decided to let the Haibane and their tiny world be.
This is why the town of Glie is still floating somewhere today...
where it is neither on land nor sea.