Episode 20

"Echos" (残響, Zankyō) is the twentieth episode of Fumetsu no Anata e, and its season finale of the first season.

Synopsis
Fushi says goodbye to Tonari and returns to the port of Zedan, where Pioran awaits. However, his existence, which attracts the Nokkers, poses a danger to Pioran. It appears that it is still not time for reunion, but...

Characters
In order of appearance:

Summary
In an inn at the port near Jananda Island, Pioran is enjoying a dish of beans when the waiter asks of the friend she has been waiting to come. From outside one of the windows, Fushi, in the form of the Arctic wolf Joaan, watches sadly. He thinks to himself how separating from his old companion would keep her safe from the strong and restless Nokkers, as it is him that they seek to destroy. He returns to his default male teenage form, and makes the choice to distance himself from the elderly woman, but assure her of his wellbeing in the form of a letter.

Elsewhere, a kind man enters his home hut on a beach, only be attacked by the very person he had saved who extends her unusually powerful right arm and presumably kills him, which shows that she has merged with the Nokker that had attacked her earlier.

As months turn into years, Pioran gradually shows signs of dementia, which the Beholder had forewarned Fushi of but still does whatever he can to care for her. One day, the dying Pioran speaks to the Beholder and asks him to enable herself ("fey") be reborn as something that will help Fushi on his everlasting journey. As she enters Paradise, the Beholder takes a hold her vital essence through a white orb that looks similar to Fushi's true form. Fushi finds Pioran's lifeless body and mourns his lifelong friend and cherished companion; admitting just how happy he had been with her. Several decades later, a middle-aged Fushi laughs crazily as he has just overpowered and killed another pursing Nokker.

Anime Differences

 * The kind man who had found and nursed Hayase back to health enters his hut to ask Hayase how her injuries are healing as she awakes from the makeshift bed he had made for her; whereas here, he was pulled into his hut by her Nokker-infused and empowered right arm.