Volume 9
LOEV NANA for getting volume 9 of the English translation of +Anima today. GENERAL SUMMARY/random quotes underneath the cut. (warning: freakishly long)
Nana: So Keane is apparently the oldest out of all the princes. I guess being the king's favorite just assured his position?
me: once husky was presumed dead right
Nana: Bingo. After Crystala knocks out Kazana:
King: You're not attacking me?
Crystala: I suppose you believe in the superstition as well. The one where if one twin dies, the other dies with him? You're the one who believes that brother. It's the only reason I'm still alive.
gj, Husky's dad
me: .... dad :<
Nana: o-orz
So the king goes ">/" and just tells her to get Kazana out of the castle since it's already a disgrace an assassin got in. The king goes to see Marein
King: Marein...That silver-haired boy...It can't be-
Marein: *just looking out from her balcony * I hear here's a fish +Anima.
At the very least, the court painter suspects Husky being alive. And pretty likely, the king too
me: too bad he's a dick
Nana: Pretty much, yeah. :< After the kids and Crystala take Kazana back:
Husky: Crystala is a master at the staff. I'd expect no less.
And the others realize Crystala = Husky's aunt. (C-Chibi family tree). Crystala used to come to the harem to give Husky lessons
me: ...they didn't realize it before?
Nana: <---- GENIUS
me: OBVIOUSLY
Nana: |D
But yeah, they notice how she and Husky fight in a very similiar style and stuff
Husky: When I found out you had met Crystala, I wanted to let her know that I'm alive.
Nana: *giving him a Look * Hmm...You like Miss Crystala, don't you, Husky? Even though she's a girl!
Husky: *going askj;flsdkalhf * HUH?!
Cooro: Of course! Miss Crystala may be a girl, but she's not all clingy, and she's gallant and brave.
Nana: So Husky hates girls that aren't Miss. Crystala even more. <3
Husky: *in the background still going asjdgl *
me: ...
I DO NOT HAVE A CRUSH ON MY AUNT
Nana: Husky: DON'T GO MAKING UP STORIES LIKE THAT!!! *off-screen beatings go here *
And afterwards Husky and Crystala have a private talk and Husky declares he wants to have "a new life" with Nana, Cooro and Senri. So they go back to Astaria. And randomly, Crystala gave Nana some of her old clothes. Loli made new clothes out of them for the whole gang. :>
Nana: Husky...thank you. For coming back to Astaria with us.
Husky: *going hmph and faces his back towards them * It's not like I'm going back for *you*, Nana!
Nana: I know that! Never mind! Try these on!
me: I'M JUST YOUR DRESS-UP DOLL AREN'T I
I SEE HOW IT IS
Nana: ....HEY, SHUT UP. I TAKE CARE OF MY DOLLS
me: :|
Nana: :|
Meanwhile, we find out Kazana is going to work on Crystala's plantation and apparently a lot of the slaves there lose their +Anima.
Kazana: Is it true you don't need any +Anima once you're fulfilled? I've heard that+Anima possess people asking for their help but--
Cooro: ....Fulfilled? Does that mean the same as happy?
Kazana: Huh?
I think I'm happy even though I'm a +Anima. I can fly, I can eat food, and I have Husky, Nana and Senri.
C-Cooro. ;;
me: ....;~; (and then he becomes a tool)
Nana: o-orz
Cooro: ^_^ You kind of look happy too, Kazana.Is it because Miss Crystala was nice to you?
Kazana: *sadjkfhsdjla BLUSHING * Wha..?
Aaaand the rest is either chibi or offscreen:
Kazana: I'M NOT THAT CHILDISH!!!
Cooro: Ow!
Husky: Hey! What are you doing to Cooro?!
Kazana: You'd hit him too, if he asked you that!
Husky: *sweatdrop * o_o Erk.
Senri: ....
Nana: Senri, no glaring!
me: ...HAHA kazana socute tsuuuuun
[The kids go back to Astaria, to a town where an angel’s been seen]
Nana: ANYWAY! Next chapter is actually about Fly! The girl who tried to follow the kids before is Marca. She wants to become "a respectable researcher" like him. Fly's been keeping track of the kids. She ask why he wants to study +Anima. Cue flashback!
Fly and "Iggy" (Igneous. The military guy back at the Moss Mountain arc) were distant relatives and best friends. One of the things they liked to do was explore Astar, the capital of Astaria. They mention how Fly likes to help out at the lab and be with Aaron Newt. Apparently he was a famous scientist but kind of had a reputation for "being a freak." He's been studying +Anima. Marca also reads his books and I guess we can assume those book quotes from earlier chapters are from him
Fly doesn't care about reputation. "Researching isn't something about whether the subject is good or bad. It's about making the unknown known." So anyway, back to them exploring the city. They find themselves in the slums and meet a poor girl. Fly recognizes her uniform as one from a factory. He's about to help her get back but she freaks out and reveals her wings. She's a pigeon +Anima. She tries to leave. Fly says "I can't leave you! You're a +Anima!" She stares at him and he goes "^_^" while Iggy's going -_-
Anyway, the girl was working at the factory as an apprentice. She hated it but her family needed the money. The boys follow her to outside of the city. It's revealed there were a lot of pigeons at the factory and she wished she could fly like them. Fly talks about the different +Anima. "But I like birds best! With their wings...they're like angels, don't you think?" He smiles at her. Iggy gets angry and calls +Anima "beasts" and "devils." Fly goes ^_^ and points out there are gods who take on the form of animals. Iggy just yells back "NOT In Astaria!"
me: oh iggy
Nana: The girl understandably tries to leave but Fly goes after her and ask how she got her powers. She says that the other kids at the factory "did bad things to her." A-And one day she decided to commit suicide.
me: ....OH BOY
Nana: Except she became a +Anima instead.
LOL. OUR CANON
Girl tried to jump off the tower. o-orz
me: L....OL
I guess she didn't want to die as much as she thought?
Nana: GUESS SO. sob.
me: :<
Nana: Anyway, she didn't admit to the suicide attempt at first until she tried to run away from them again by jumping off a ledge. In her mind she says "Why do bad things keep happening to me? What's a +Anima? I don't understand!" And then she realizes her body's figured out how to fly now. "What I do understand is that I'm alive now."
....Meanwhile Fly jumps after her. GOOD JOB, KIDDO
me: .... SMART
Nana: The girl catches him and they manage to crash with just some bruises. |D
me: fly so smrt
Nana: Very. And at that point, he decides to research +Anima. The boys accompany the girl to her family home. She declares she's not going back. She only wanted to see the house again. Since she was suppose to be under an apprenticeship, things could be hard on her mother if she came back now. "I'll live...I'll survive...and someday, I'll go back there again!" Girl takes off while the boys watch.
Fly, thinking: Maybe bird +Anima aren't angels...but what about that girl...? The girl I saw in Mr. Aaron's lab...? Blanca...
TWO GUESSES WHICH GIRL HE'S TALKING ABOUT
me: ...TUBE GIRL
Nana: BINGO
me: olol
Nana: S-So tube girl is a lot older than we thought. ANYWAY, NEXT CHAPTER. BACK TO THE KIDS.
Fantale turns out to be a pretty religious place. Nana mentions how there wasn't a church where she lived but her mom told her that god is watching in heaven and that if she's a good girl she can go to heaven too
me: ...oh so we do have religion
Nana: Yep! And there was that line Fly mentioned about gods and he wasn't using past tense. S-So more than one religion?
me: oh boy
Nana: The kids watch a play run by the Alalran Troupe. Said play is about how an angel came down to the world before a "pure-hearted family." (Oh god. Socute. They used puppies to dress up like the kids) The girl who's playing the angel in the play is Miranda.
Meanwhile, Cooro notices someone in the crowd. Guy runs away when he sees he's being stared out. Cooro tells the others he was a +Anima. |D Nana is going "teehee!" and says he kept looking at the angel girl. The next morning, the kids out to see where the angel likes to land since it tends to show up during foggy mornings. While they wait, Cooro is staring at a church.
Husky: Cooro, what's the matter?
Cooro: *smiling * Oh, sorry. I was remembering the last church I was at.
Husky: Oh...that's right, you did grow up in a church, huh, Cooro?
Cooro: Yeah. The sisters and teachers were all so nice. And even though I had black wings, they said it was okay. They said that white angels are messengers from God in Heaven and black angels are messengers of death but we need both.
LOLOL
me: .... oh that must have helped his self-esteem
Nana: S-Seriously, after reading this volume, I'm starting to think Cooro must've had a couple of issues.
Nana realizes and ask Cooro why he left the church if the sisters were so nice. Cooro gives her neutral look. * COUGH * The angel shows up before anything else can happen with that plot point
me: TOOL
Nana: TOOL. :(
So the angel shows up and has come to "deliver the thoughts of your hearts to the poor people of the world." And a donation basket is set up. Meanwhile, Cooro notices another man in the crowd and actually looks a little worried.
So the villagers give the angel money and other things. (One little girl gave a strawberry. A-Aww) Angel thanks them and flies away. Cooro goes after him and naturally Nana follows. They catch up and the angel (m-male apparently. I swear, I thought he was a girl at first. SURPRISE TRAP?) mistakes Cooro for a messenger of death
me: snap
Nana: Nana and Cooro explain they're +Anima and Cooro points out that the angel guy was the same person he noticed in the crowd during the play.
me: ...wait what
Nana: When the kids first arrived to town and watched a play. Cooro noticed somebody in the crowd was a +Anima. Angel guy ran away before Cooro could go after him.
me: ohhh
Nana: Cooro tells angel guy that a man was watching him earlier. "It kind of bothered me, so I came to tell you."
Nana: What do you mean?
Cooro: Well...I kind of felt like it would be better not to get mixed up with that man.
"So...I think you should either stop being the white angel or leave town."
Angel guy freaks out and tells Cooro he should be the one to leave. Guy flies off towards the town. Cooro suggest that they all leave town. Nana doesn't understand why but they fly back to down too...only to find t-the whole town throwing rocks at them.
me: .....:<
Nana: Cooro definitely got hit but I wouldn't be surprised if Nana did too. L-Lot of people. NEXT CHAPTER, the townspeople were told by the "angel" Cooro's a messenger of death. The kids run like hell and hide in a tent. Turns out the tent belongs to the troupe from before. Cooro explains their story. The three siblings go :< and take care of their injuries.
Cooro (under a disguise) and Nana go back to town and find Senri and Husky. Meanwhile, the man Cooro didn't like before turns out to be a scout from Astar and is reporting back to Fly about the angel. Angel is actually a swan +Anima and is about 14 years old. The scout planning to make contact with him soon.
The troupe holds another show with the kids in the audience. Angel has come back to watch Miranda. (Oh god. Socute and a dope when he's looking at her)
"That's him? What's with the stupid look on his face?"
TWO GUESSES WHO SAID THAT ONE.
me: ...
me? >>
Nana: Husky somean. :/
Angel notices Nana and Cooro and tries to run away. Husky goes >( and follows him. OH HUSKY. WHAT A SHARK YOU ARE.
me: ...:|
Nana: Senri cuts the swan guy off. Swan guy surrenders and is pretty terrified of Senri's claw. W-Whoopsie. Guy's name is Cyranova (Cygnus constellation maybe?) Husky yells at him for what he did to Cooro before. Husky also goes on about how he sold out his fellow +Anima but Cooro stops him. "Well, Cyranova is the one suffering the most." And he goes "^_^ Even you know that, right Husky? <3" Husky: *sweatdrop * I do?!
me: ....what
Nana: I-I don't know
me: :<
Nana: Meanwhile, Cyranova is ready to cry. Nana asks why he's so different now compared to when he was pretending to be an angel.
Cyranova was the only child of a merchant family. After his parents died, his uncle took over the shop and sent him out to work as "training." The boy couldn't handle the work but the uncle kept abusing him, staving him and not giving him breaks
me: ...so basically +anima is about child abuse isn't it
Nana: ....Yeah, it really is.
me: :<
Nana: D:
Cyranova somehow managed to run away but because of the abuse he suffered, he nearly died. He was passing by a lake that had a flock of swans. "Next thing I knew, I was an angel." Cyranova did the things he did because he finally had a place where he belonged and where people admired him. "And, best of all...Miranda will gaze upon me." Nana and Husky yell at him that it's not the real him.
Cyranova: The regular me doesn't matter to anybody. If people don't notice me, it's as if the real me doesn't exist.
me: ..emooooooo
Nana: CUE COORO THE JESUS
Cooro: *puts his hand over Cyranova's heart * Look, you're right here, see, Cyranova? If there are no other people, will you disappear, Cyranova? If that was true, I don't think you would have become a +Anima.
Nana asks to make sure if Miranda doesn't hate the angel. |D NEXT SCENE. It's another foggy morning but Cyranova hasn't shown up for the townspeople. The kids go to his place to see if anything's wrong. Meanwhile, Cyranova is about to take off but two Astaria scouts approach him.
They're researching +Anima and want Cyranova to "help" them. He'll be guaranteed his livelihood. "We want to make use of the +Anima powers that you can't use in society." One of the scouts grab Cyranova's arm and starts dragging him away. Cyranova fights back and doesn't want to go because he has something important to do.
"You misunderstand...It's not a matter of whether or not you want to come. He told us to get as many bird +Animas as we can! So you are coming with us!"
CYRANOVA GETS DRUGGED.
me: cough bird obsession cough
als--DATE RAPE
Nana: Cooro and the others find them just in time. Cooro lands on top of one of the scouts. Senri scares the other. Cyranova is knocked away into the lake The scouts recognize Cooro and Senri due to Fly but are more focused on fetching the "angel" first. Husky fetches Cyranova out of the water. Nana knocks out the scouts with her screech. /o/
Cyranova walks off to think about it. Next scene is Miranda practicing in her angel costume. Nana walks by and they talk about the "angel." Miranda says it's hard for her because angels "are divine and pure and kind and wrapped up in an aura that's hard to approach.” And Miranda blushes and goes <3 and says how the angel she saw was enchanting and beautiful.
The kids set up camp to recover and Cooro tells Cyranova they helped him because they support his decision. Next scene is Cyranova stopping the troupe's weapon. First he acts as dramatic as he was when he pretended to be an angel and then "Can I join the Alalan Troupe?! Pleeeeeeease?!"
NEXT CHAPTER. The kids are traveling again and Nana is wondering if they're going to keep doing this for the rest of their lives. And s-she has the age-up fantasy.
Nana: *shaking her head and blushing *What?! Oh no! What was that?! Though...maybe that might not be so bad. Oh! But, but, I want to marry into a rich family too!
Husky: Hey, Nana....What're you doing? We're gonna leave you behind.
Nana: *still in her headspace * Ah! If I marry Husky, I will be marrying into a rich family!
Husky: -_-?
Nana: I think it's okay if Husky doesn't go back to being a prince right now.
The kids find a poster about a race for +Anima only. Back at Astar, the race is actually being sponsored by the government. The point is to scout out +Anima for low-rank positions and they'll be directly under the government's supervision. The ones for the race would be useful as messengers and such.
One guy wonders if it's because +Anima are being more accepted now. The other says no. "If +Anima realize how superior their powers are, it would be bad, right? So before that happens, we get them under our control." They talk about the research facility and turns out Fly is the head of the one that specializes in +Anima
me: ...NANA YOU GOLD DIGGER
Nana: ....HEY SHUT UP
me: GOLD DIGGER!!!1
Nana: BETTER ME THAN AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE, AMIRITE?
me: ... :|
Nana: :D?
ANYWAY, back to the race. It's actually two races. One on land, one in the air. Both will take about two days to finish since it's also a test of stamina. People are aware that it's Astaria backing it up. +Anima with the highest scores will be hired for jobs thus their social standing will improve too. Also, the first place prize is 10,000 gillah/gillers and everybody gets a prize for entering.
ANYWAY, Senri and Cooro enter the race. Senri realizes they're being watched. Cooro recognizes the girl as Lyra. At first he goes ":D! Lyra!" and tries to go up to her. Lyra smirks and shows off her swallow wings and says "I won't lose to you, Cooro!" Cooro tells the others he grew up with Lyra at the church but she wasn't a +Anima back then. Husky and Nana frown and look worried since it meant something must've happened
Meanwhile, Lyra wasn't expecting Cooro to come to the race.
me: why not?
Nana: The race starts and Cooro wishes Lyra good luck. Lyra igonores him. He goes "D: Does she hate me?" After seeing him and Senri off, Husky and Nana talk. Nana wants to ask Lyra after the race about Cooro's life. Husky says no because it's none of their business. If Cooro wanted the others to know, he would've said something by now. Husky goes on how everybody has things they don't want to talk about and says if things had gone according to plan, he wouldn't have talked about himself either. Husky is going >/ at that bit.
me: YOU'RE SUCH MEDDLERS
also why didn't nana join?
Nana: She doesn't want to. One definite reason is because there was a hawk +Anima would was bit of an asshole. I'm guessing she doesn't think she has the stamina too. |D
ANYWAY, Nana retorts and says Cooro seems mysterious and different from the other +Anima. Husky admits and agrees to that it's strange how accepting Cooro is about his +Anima.
Back to the race, the hawk +Anima is knocking out and slashing at the other racers' wings. Lyra is in first place so far.
Lalala. Next chapter~ Cooro has reached a checkpoint and feeding himself after getting rescuers to help out one of the hawk +Anima's victims. Cooro flies off. Meanwhile, hawk +Anima is chasing after Lyra. She tries to shake him off.
Back in town...
Nana: *sewing with Husky...lurking? idk Also, blushing * I'm alone with Husky until tomorrow. I feel kind of...shy.
me: GOLD DIGGER 8(
Nana: A-AM NOT. SHUT UP. IT'S CUTE.
Husky: *walking away from Nana * Arrgh! When you're alone with a girl, there's usually nothing but awkward silence!
me: unless it's crystala >:
Nana: Conclusion of Sailand arc totally said Crystala tops. Period.
Husky stops and recognizes Marca as the woman from the earlier chapters. Turns out she and Fly have come to check out if Cooro's in the race.
Fly: Cooro...would be surprised to see me, I'm sure.
Husky hears all of this. Nana comes up from behind but Husky drags her away from Marca and Fly. He doesn't look too happy about Fly.
Back at the race, Lyra is still trying to shake off the hawk +Anima. She finally does but Cooro finds her right after that. "I followed your aura, Lyra. :D" He wanted to see if she was okay since the hawk guy was following her. And he says he's glad she's safe.
Lyra: You always been like that, Cooro...Always smiling like an idiot! You can laugh stupidly like that because you've been a +Anima from the beginning! You're not like me--I had to wait to get a +Anima! *flies off, ready to cry *
me: ...who'd want to almost die
Nana: A-Actually. WAIT. IT GETS BETTER. So Cooro follows her and notes that she looked tired and her wings were shaking. He catches up...just in time to see Lyra's wings disintegrate.
me: uh-oh
Cooro manages to cushion her fall but they're both pretty beaten up. Senri was luckily nearby to see that and gets them. Cooro and Senri see her +Anima fade away and the swallow spirit fly away.
me: fun times
Nana: Y-Yeah GETS BETTER. GEE, THANKS, FLY. So Senri carries Lyra off so she can get treated. Cooro finishes the race in 11th place. Nana grabs him away to see Lyra.
Lyra is awake but upset. "What will I do? Getting hurt like this...he'll be mad at me." Lyra admits to how she was always jealous of Cooro being born a +Anima. "It seemed like the teachers were all nicer to Cooro. I thought that if I had an Anima, even though I didn't have parents, I could do something different."
"They took me from the church to the royal research facility. And there, he told me...I could be a +Anima too."
me: ....ohhh boy
Nana: Y-Yeah
Lyra: "He implanted a +Anima into me which caused me to become a swallow +Anima."
Cooro: Who do you mean by 'he'?
Lyra: The head of the research facility eight...A man called Fly Greena Aight.
For once, Cooro looks upset.
me: toooooooooooool
Nana: sooooob
Husky also is upset and says they have to leave town *now*. Cooro runs off since he forgot to pick up his prize. On the way back he runs into Fly and Marca.
Fly: *smiling * Hi there. (Husky, Nana and Senri catch up to Cooro.)
Cooro: *quickly turns his back to Fly * Hi, Husky! ^_^ I got my prize. Let's go.
Fly: *still looking calm * If you're moving on, Kilter is nearby. Why not stop by the church?
The kids walk away and Fly politely waves them good bye and going |D Nana asks Cooro if he knows that man. Cooro doesn't answer and is thinking about something...
END OF VOLUME
Nana: So Keane is apparently the oldest out of all the princes. I guess being the king's favorite just assured his position?
me: once husky was presumed dead right
Nana: Bingo. After Crystala knocks out Kazana:
King: You're not attacking me?
Crystala: I suppose you believe in the superstition as well. The one where if one twin dies, the other dies with him? You're the one who believes that brother. It's the only reason I'm still alive.
gj, Husky's dad
me: .... dad :<
Nana: o-orz
So the king goes ">/" and just tells her to get Kazana out of the castle since it's already a disgrace an assassin got in. The king goes to see Marein
King: Marein...That silver-haired boy...It can't be-
Marein: *just looking out from her balcony * I hear here's a fish +Anima.
At the very least, the court painter suspects Husky being alive. And pretty likely, the king too
me: too bad he's a dick
Nana: Pretty much, yeah. :< After the kids and Crystala take Kazana back:
Husky: Crystala is a master at the staff. I'd expect no less.
And the others realize Crystala = Husky's aunt. (C-Chibi family tree). Crystala used to come to the harem to give Husky lessons
me: ...they didn't realize it before?
Nana: <---- GENIUS
me: OBVIOUSLY
Nana: |D
But yeah, they notice how she and Husky fight in a very similiar style and stuff
Husky: When I found out you had met Crystala, I wanted to let her know that I'm alive.
Nana: *giving him a Look * Hmm...You like Miss Crystala, don't you, Husky? Even though she's a girl!
Husky: *going askj;flsdkalhf * HUH?!
Cooro: Of course! Miss Crystala may be a girl, but she's not all clingy, and she's gallant and brave.
Nana: So Husky hates girls that aren't Miss. Crystala even more. <3
Husky: *in the background still going asjdgl *
me: ...
I DO NOT HAVE A CRUSH ON MY AUNT
Nana: Husky: DON'T GO MAKING UP STORIES LIKE THAT!!! *off-screen beatings go here *
And afterwards Husky and Crystala have a private talk and Husky declares he wants to have "a new life" with Nana, Cooro and Senri. So they go back to Astaria. And randomly, Crystala gave Nana some of her old clothes. Loli made new clothes out of them for the whole gang. :>
Nana: Husky...thank you. For coming back to Astaria with us.
Husky: *going hmph and faces his back towards them * It's not like I'm going back for *you*, Nana!
Nana: I know that! Never mind! Try these on!
me: I'M JUST YOUR DRESS-UP DOLL AREN'T I
I SEE HOW IT IS
Nana: ....HEY, SHUT UP. I TAKE CARE OF MY DOLLS
me: :|
Nana: :|
Meanwhile, we find out Kazana is going to work on Crystala's plantation and apparently a lot of the slaves there lose their +Anima.
Kazana: Is it true you don't need any +Anima once you're fulfilled? I've heard that+Anima possess people asking for their help but--
Cooro: ....Fulfilled? Does that mean the same as happy?
Kazana: Huh?
I think I'm happy even though I'm a +Anima. I can fly, I can eat food, and I have Husky, Nana and Senri.
C-Cooro. ;;
me: ....;~; (and then he becomes a tool)
Nana: o-orz
Cooro: ^_^ You kind of look happy too, Kazana.Is it because Miss Crystala was nice to you?
Kazana: *sadjkfhsdjla BLUSHING * Wha..?
Aaaand the rest is either chibi or offscreen:
Kazana: I'M NOT THAT CHILDISH!!!
Cooro: Ow!
Husky: Hey! What are you doing to Cooro?!
Kazana: You'd hit him too, if he asked you that!
Husky: *sweatdrop * o_o Erk.
Senri: ....
Nana: Senri, no glaring!
me: ...HAHA kazana socute tsuuuuun
[The kids go back to Astaria, to a town where an angel’s been seen]
Nana: ANYWAY! Next chapter is actually about Fly! The girl who tried to follow the kids before is Marca. She wants to become "a respectable researcher" like him. Fly's been keeping track of the kids. She ask why he wants to study +Anima. Cue flashback!
Fly and "Iggy" (Igneous. The military guy back at the Moss Mountain arc) were distant relatives and best friends. One of the things they liked to do was explore Astar, the capital of Astaria. They mention how Fly likes to help out at the lab and be with Aaron Newt. Apparently he was a famous scientist but kind of had a reputation for "being a freak." He's been studying +Anima. Marca also reads his books and I guess we can assume those book quotes from earlier chapters are from him
Fly doesn't care about reputation. "Researching isn't something about whether the subject is good or bad. It's about making the unknown known." So anyway, back to them exploring the city. They find themselves in the slums and meet a poor girl. Fly recognizes her uniform as one from a factory. He's about to help her get back but she freaks out and reveals her wings. She's a pigeon +Anima. She tries to leave. Fly says "I can't leave you! You're a +Anima!" She stares at him and he goes "^_^" while Iggy's going -_-
Anyway, the girl was working at the factory as an apprentice. She hated it but her family needed the money. The boys follow her to outside of the city. It's revealed there were a lot of pigeons at the factory and she wished she could fly like them. Fly talks about the different +Anima. "But I like birds best! With their wings...they're like angels, don't you think?" He smiles at her. Iggy gets angry and calls +Anima "beasts" and "devils." Fly goes ^_^ and points out there are gods who take on the form of animals. Iggy just yells back "NOT In Astaria!"
me: oh iggy
Nana: The girl understandably tries to leave but Fly goes after her and ask how she got her powers. She says that the other kids at the factory "did bad things to her." A-And one day she decided to commit suicide.
me: ....OH BOY
Nana: Except she became a +Anima instead.
LOL. OUR CANON
Girl tried to jump off the tower. o-orz
me: L....OL
I guess she didn't want to die as much as she thought?
Nana: GUESS SO. sob.
me: :<
Nana: Anyway, she didn't admit to the suicide attempt at first until she tried to run away from them again by jumping off a ledge. In her mind she says "Why do bad things keep happening to me? What's a +Anima? I don't understand!" And then she realizes her body's figured out how to fly now. "What I do understand is that I'm alive now."
....Meanwhile Fly jumps after her. GOOD JOB, KIDDO
me: .... SMART
Nana: The girl catches him and they manage to crash with just some bruises. |D
me: fly so smrt
Nana: Very. And at that point, he decides to research +Anima. The boys accompany the girl to her family home. She declares she's not going back. She only wanted to see the house again. Since she was suppose to be under an apprenticeship, things could be hard on her mother if she came back now. "I'll live...I'll survive...and someday, I'll go back there again!" Girl takes off while the boys watch.
Fly, thinking: Maybe bird +Anima aren't angels...but what about that girl...? The girl I saw in Mr. Aaron's lab...? Blanca...
TWO GUESSES WHICH GIRL HE'S TALKING ABOUT
me: ...TUBE GIRL
Nana: BINGO
me: olol
Nana: S-So tube girl is a lot older than we thought. ANYWAY, NEXT CHAPTER. BACK TO THE KIDS.
Fantale turns out to be a pretty religious place. Nana mentions how there wasn't a church where she lived but her mom told her that god is watching in heaven and that if she's a good girl she can go to heaven too
me: ...oh so we do have religion
Nana: Yep! And there was that line Fly mentioned about gods and he wasn't using past tense. S-So more than one religion?
me: oh boy
Nana: The kids watch a play run by the Alalran Troupe. Said play is about how an angel came down to the world before a "pure-hearted family." (Oh god. Socute. They used puppies to dress up like the kids) The girl who's playing the angel in the play is Miranda.
Meanwhile, Cooro notices someone in the crowd. Guy runs away when he sees he's being stared out. Cooro tells the others he was a +Anima. |D Nana is going "teehee!" and says he kept looking at the angel girl. The next morning, the kids out to see where the angel likes to land since it tends to show up during foggy mornings. While they wait, Cooro is staring at a church.
Husky: Cooro, what's the matter?
Cooro: *smiling * Oh, sorry. I was remembering the last church I was at.
Husky: Oh...that's right, you did grow up in a church, huh, Cooro?
Cooro: Yeah. The sisters and teachers were all so nice. And even though I had black wings, they said it was okay. They said that white angels are messengers from God in Heaven and black angels are messengers of death but we need both.
LOLOL
me: .... oh that must have helped his self-esteem
Nana: S-Seriously, after reading this volume, I'm starting to think Cooro must've had a couple of issues.
Nana realizes and ask Cooro why he left the church if the sisters were so nice. Cooro gives her neutral look. * COUGH * The angel shows up before anything else can happen with that plot point
me: TOOL
Nana: TOOL. :(
So the angel shows up and has come to "deliver the thoughts of your hearts to the poor people of the world." And a donation basket is set up. Meanwhile, Cooro notices another man in the crowd and actually looks a little worried.
So the villagers give the angel money and other things. (One little girl gave a strawberry. A-Aww) Angel thanks them and flies away. Cooro goes after him and naturally Nana follows. They catch up and the angel (m-male apparently. I swear, I thought he was a girl at first. SURPRISE TRAP?) mistakes Cooro for a messenger of death
me: snap
Nana: Nana and Cooro explain they're +Anima and Cooro points out that the angel guy was the same person he noticed in the crowd during the play.
me: ...wait what
Nana: When the kids first arrived to town and watched a play. Cooro noticed somebody in the crowd was a +Anima. Angel guy ran away before Cooro could go after him.
me: ohhh
Nana: Cooro tells angel guy that a man was watching him earlier. "It kind of bothered me, so I came to tell you."
Nana: What do you mean?
Cooro: Well...I kind of felt like it would be better not to get mixed up with that man.
"So...I think you should either stop being the white angel or leave town."
Angel guy freaks out and tells Cooro he should be the one to leave. Guy flies off towards the town. Cooro suggest that they all leave town. Nana doesn't understand why but they fly back to down too...only to find t-the whole town throwing rocks at them.
me: .....:<
Nana: Cooro definitely got hit but I wouldn't be surprised if Nana did too. L-Lot of people. NEXT CHAPTER, the townspeople were told by the "angel" Cooro's a messenger of death. The kids run like hell and hide in a tent. Turns out the tent belongs to the troupe from before. Cooro explains their story. The three siblings go :< and take care of their injuries.
Cooro (under a disguise) and Nana go back to town and find Senri and Husky. Meanwhile, the man Cooro didn't like before turns out to be a scout from Astar and is reporting back to Fly about the angel. Angel is actually a swan +Anima and is about 14 years old. The scout planning to make contact with him soon.
The troupe holds another show with the kids in the audience. Angel has come back to watch Miranda. (Oh god. Socute and a dope when he's looking at her)
"That's him? What's with the stupid look on his face?"
TWO GUESSES WHO SAID THAT ONE.
me: ...
me? >>
Nana: Husky somean. :/
Angel notices Nana and Cooro and tries to run away. Husky goes >( and follows him. OH HUSKY. WHAT A SHARK YOU ARE.
me: ...:|
Nana: Senri cuts the swan guy off. Swan guy surrenders and is pretty terrified of Senri's claw. W-Whoopsie. Guy's name is Cyranova (Cygnus constellation maybe?) Husky yells at him for what he did to Cooro before. Husky also goes on about how he sold out his fellow +Anima but Cooro stops him. "Well, Cyranova is the one suffering the most." And he goes "^_^ Even you know that, right Husky? <3" Husky: *sweatdrop * I do?!
me: ....what
Nana: I-I don't know
me: :<
Nana: Meanwhile, Cyranova is ready to cry. Nana asks why he's so different now compared to when he was pretending to be an angel.
Cyranova was the only child of a merchant family. After his parents died, his uncle took over the shop and sent him out to work as "training." The boy couldn't handle the work but the uncle kept abusing him, staving him and not giving him breaks
me: ...so basically +anima is about child abuse isn't it
Nana: ....Yeah, it really is.
me: :<
Nana: D:
Cyranova somehow managed to run away but because of the abuse he suffered, he nearly died. He was passing by a lake that had a flock of swans. "Next thing I knew, I was an angel." Cyranova did the things he did because he finally had a place where he belonged and where people admired him. "And, best of all...Miranda will gaze upon me." Nana and Husky yell at him that it's not the real him.
Cyranova: The regular me doesn't matter to anybody. If people don't notice me, it's as if the real me doesn't exist.
me: ..emooooooo
Nana: CUE COORO THE JESUS
Cooro: *puts his hand over Cyranova's heart * Look, you're right here, see, Cyranova? If there are no other people, will you disappear, Cyranova? If that was true, I don't think you would have become a +Anima.
Nana asks to make sure if Miranda doesn't hate the angel. |D NEXT SCENE. It's another foggy morning but Cyranova hasn't shown up for the townspeople. The kids go to his place to see if anything's wrong. Meanwhile, Cyranova is about to take off but two Astaria scouts approach him.
They're researching +Anima and want Cyranova to "help" them. He'll be guaranteed his livelihood. "We want to make use of the +Anima powers that you can't use in society." One of the scouts grab Cyranova's arm and starts dragging him away. Cyranova fights back and doesn't want to go because he has something important to do.
"You misunderstand...It's not a matter of whether or not you want to come. He told us to get as many bird +Animas as we can! So you are coming with us!"
CYRANOVA GETS DRUGGED.
me: cough bird obsession cough
als--DATE RAPE
Nana: Cooro and the others find them just in time. Cooro lands on top of one of the scouts. Senri scares the other. Cyranova is knocked away into the lake The scouts recognize Cooro and Senri due to Fly but are more focused on fetching the "angel" first. Husky fetches Cyranova out of the water. Nana knocks out the scouts with her screech. /o/
Cyranova walks off to think about it. Next scene is Miranda practicing in her angel costume. Nana walks by and they talk about the "angel." Miranda says it's hard for her because angels "are divine and pure and kind and wrapped up in an aura that's hard to approach.” And Miranda blushes and goes <3 and says how the angel she saw was enchanting and beautiful.
The kids set up camp to recover and Cooro tells Cyranova they helped him because they support his decision. Next scene is Cyranova stopping the troupe's weapon. First he acts as dramatic as he was when he pretended to be an angel and then "Can I join the Alalan Troupe?! Pleeeeeeease?!"
NEXT CHAPTER. The kids are traveling again and Nana is wondering if they're going to keep doing this for the rest of their lives. And s-she has the age-up fantasy.
Nana: *shaking her head and blushing *What?! Oh no! What was that?! Though...maybe that might not be so bad. Oh! But, but, I want to marry into a rich family too!
Husky: Hey, Nana....What're you doing? We're gonna leave you behind.
Nana: *still in her headspace * Ah! If I marry Husky, I will be marrying into a rich family!
Husky: -_-?
Nana: I think it's okay if Husky doesn't go back to being a prince right now.
The kids find a poster about a race for +Anima only. Back at Astar, the race is actually being sponsored by the government. The point is to scout out +Anima for low-rank positions and they'll be directly under the government's supervision. The ones for the race would be useful as messengers and such.
One guy wonders if it's because +Anima are being more accepted now. The other says no. "If +Anima realize how superior their powers are, it would be bad, right? So before that happens, we get them under our control." They talk about the research facility and turns out Fly is the head of the one that specializes in +Anima
me: ...NANA YOU GOLD DIGGER
Nana: ....HEY SHUT UP
me: GOLD DIGGER!!!1
Nana: BETTER ME THAN AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE, AMIRITE?
me: ... :|
Nana: :D?
ANYWAY, back to the race. It's actually two races. One on land, one in the air. Both will take about two days to finish since it's also a test of stamina. People are aware that it's Astaria backing it up. +Anima with the highest scores will be hired for jobs thus their social standing will improve too. Also, the first place prize is 10,000 gillah/gillers and everybody gets a prize for entering.
ANYWAY, Senri and Cooro enter the race. Senri realizes they're being watched. Cooro recognizes the girl as Lyra. At first he goes ":D! Lyra!" and tries to go up to her. Lyra smirks and shows off her swallow wings and says "I won't lose to you, Cooro!" Cooro tells the others he grew up with Lyra at the church but she wasn't a +Anima back then. Husky and Nana frown and look worried since it meant something must've happened
Meanwhile, Lyra wasn't expecting Cooro to come to the race.
me: why not?
Nana: The race starts and Cooro wishes Lyra good luck. Lyra igonores him. He goes "D: Does she hate me?" After seeing him and Senri off, Husky and Nana talk. Nana wants to ask Lyra after the race about Cooro's life. Husky says no because it's none of their business. If Cooro wanted the others to know, he would've said something by now. Husky goes on how everybody has things they don't want to talk about and says if things had gone according to plan, he wouldn't have talked about himself either. Husky is going >/ at that bit.
me: YOU'RE SUCH MEDDLERS
also why didn't nana join?
Nana: She doesn't want to. One definite reason is because there was a hawk +Anima would was bit of an asshole. I'm guessing she doesn't think she has the stamina too. |D
ANYWAY, Nana retorts and says Cooro seems mysterious and different from the other +Anima. Husky admits and agrees to that it's strange how accepting Cooro is about his +Anima.
Back to the race, the hawk +Anima is knocking out and slashing at the other racers' wings. Lyra is in first place so far.
Lalala. Next chapter~ Cooro has reached a checkpoint and feeding himself after getting rescuers to help out one of the hawk +Anima's victims. Cooro flies off. Meanwhile, hawk +Anima is chasing after Lyra. She tries to shake him off.
Back in town...
Nana: *sewing with Husky...lurking? idk Also, blushing * I'm alone with Husky until tomorrow. I feel kind of...shy.
me: GOLD DIGGER 8(
Nana: A-AM NOT. SHUT UP. IT'S CUTE.
Husky: *walking away from Nana * Arrgh! When you're alone with a girl, there's usually nothing but awkward silence!
me: unless it's crystala >:
Nana: Conclusion of Sailand arc totally said Crystala tops. Period.
Husky stops and recognizes Marca as the woman from the earlier chapters. Turns out she and Fly have come to check out if Cooro's in the race.
Fly: Cooro...would be surprised to see me, I'm sure.
Husky hears all of this. Nana comes up from behind but Husky drags her away from Marca and Fly. He doesn't look too happy about Fly.
Back at the race, Lyra is still trying to shake off the hawk +Anima. She finally does but Cooro finds her right after that. "I followed your aura, Lyra. :D" He wanted to see if she was okay since the hawk guy was following her. And he says he's glad she's safe.
Lyra: You always been like that, Cooro...Always smiling like an idiot! You can laugh stupidly like that because you've been a +Anima from the beginning! You're not like me--I had to wait to get a +Anima! *flies off, ready to cry *
me: ...who'd want to almost die
Nana: A-Actually. WAIT. IT GETS BETTER. So Cooro follows her and notes that she looked tired and her wings were shaking. He catches up...just in time to see Lyra's wings disintegrate.
me: uh-oh
Cooro manages to cushion her fall but they're both pretty beaten up. Senri was luckily nearby to see that and gets them. Cooro and Senri see her +Anima fade away and the swallow spirit fly away.
me: fun times
Nana: Y-Yeah GETS BETTER. GEE, THANKS, FLY. So Senri carries Lyra off so she can get treated. Cooro finishes the race in 11th place. Nana grabs him away to see Lyra.
Lyra is awake but upset. "What will I do? Getting hurt like this...he'll be mad at me." Lyra admits to how she was always jealous of Cooro being born a +Anima. "It seemed like the teachers were all nicer to Cooro. I thought that if I had an Anima, even though I didn't have parents, I could do something different."
"They took me from the church to the royal research facility. And there, he told me...I could be a +Anima too."
me: ....ohhh boy
Nana: Y-Yeah
Lyra: "He implanted a +Anima into me which caused me to become a swallow +Anima."
Cooro: Who do you mean by 'he'?
Lyra: The head of the research facility eight...A man called Fly Greena Aight.
For once, Cooro looks upset.
me: toooooooooooool
Nana: sooooob
Husky also is upset and says they have to leave town *now*. Cooro runs off since he forgot to pick up his prize. On the way back he runs into Fly and Marca.
Fly: *smiling * Hi there. (Husky, Nana and Senri catch up to Cooro.)
Cooro: *quickly turns his back to Fly * Hi, Husky! ^_^ I got my prize. Let's go.
Fly: *still looking calm * If you're moving on, Kilter is nearby. Why not stop by the church?
The kids walk away and Fly politely waves them good bye and going |D Nana asks Cooro if he knows that man. Cooro doesn't answer and is thinking about something...
END OF VOLUME