Mizuha/Plot

Introducing Mizuha
Mizuha, in her youth, is admired and praised by adults and peers alike. She is unparalleled in her studies and athletics, surpassing many of her classmates' capabilities. Like the people around her, Mizuha notes she believed she was perfect for a long time. When she began junior high, Mizuha became acutely aware of three "things she didn't have". Mizuha did not have a perfect friend, and states she avoided spending time with peers she didn't respect. Second, Mizuha believed her mother, Izumi, was not perfect because she treated her daughter as a trophy. Third, Mizuha bemoans not having enough time, expressing distress over aging, developing wrinkles and saggy skin; her youth is what makes her perfect, and perfection will eventually yield to mediocrity.

The Present Day
Five hundred years after Fushi began spreading his roots throughout the entire world, Mizuha overlooks a city from a field on her way to school. Yuki Aoki, Mizuha's junior, calls her name repeatedly, and when she turns around, he presents her favorite hair-tie that she'd left behind.

The next day, Hanna encounters a cheerful Yuki, and inquires as to his good mood. Yuki gushes over Mizuha's hand touching his when he handed her the hair-tie. Hanna explains she had made that hair-tie for Mizuha, who insisted for it because it was her birthday at the time. Yuki asks Hanna when Mizuha's birthday is, when Mizuha unexpectedly appears from behind him. She reveals her birthday is on April 6.

Yuki, Kazumu, Suzuhiko, all members of the Handicrafts Club, are in their club room, energetically musing about a "peaceful world", while Hanna, president of the club, sits a ways behind them, knitting. Mizuha enters the club room and joins the discussion on world peace. Hanna notes Mizuha has been coming to the club room often, wondering if anything happened to Mizuha's obligations with the naginata club. Mizuha explains that, as with many activities in the past, she left the Naginata club, becoming bored after winning competitions. Mizuha departs as suddenly as she entered, passing a pair of awed male students viewing school trophies on display that Mizuha had won. Nagisa, Funa, Saki, and Kasabe abruptly end their gossip when Mizuha walks by.

After she arrives home, Mizuha has only a short moment to relax before Izumi greets her and tells about a neighbor who has entered into an distinguished ballet tournament. Izumi offers Mizuha to try ballet as well, oblivious to the fact that her daughter had already won a tournament when she was ten. After Mizuha tells her about this, Izumi proudly snaps a picture with her, praising her family while doing so. When Mizuha mentions that she wants to take a break from extracurriculars, Izumi quickly loses her excitement and becomes quiet. At her mother's shocked and insisting expression, Mizuha backtracks almost instantly and adds that her break would be only for a day. Izumi agrees, but adds that Mizuha should consider her next extracurricular soon. Izumi leaves to resume her writing, and Mizuha steps out onto her apartment balcony. Gazing over the city, Mizuha gives a dejected sigh before offhandedly stating she wants to die. She then scratches at her left elbow.

A few days later, Yuki notices that the roots covering an old building on the school grounds has stopped growing all of a sudden. He tries to set up a meetup for Handicrafts Club the next Saturday and asks Hanna to invite Mizuha, but she refuses, stating that Mizuha's mother is very strict and wouldn't let her go. Mizuha overhears this conversation and promptly invites herself.

On Saturday morning, Mizuha says goodbye to her parents and is about to exit the apartment, but Izumi tries to stop her, reminding her that she would have lessons that day. Mizuha says that she has already told her teachers that she'd take the day off and quickly leaves. At the roadside, she meets her grandfather, who offers to give her a lift to wherever she wants to go. However, before Mizuha can get into the car, Izumi interjects, demanding that Mizuha should be doing personal studies instead. Mizuha refuses at first, saying that she was allowed a day off, but her mother angrily grabs her wrist and pulls her back. Mizuha complies with Izumi, and returns inside, where she sits idly at her piano until nightfall.

Fushi's Return to Yanome
At the Handicrafts clubroom after the weekend, Yuki barges through the door, excitedly rambling about the "beast boy" his family had taken in. With his friends' skeptical attitudes only emboldening Yuki further, he promptly invites the members to come meet the "fluffy" beast boy. Mizuha, who joins in on the conversation, declares she will be temporarily joining the Handicrafts club. Aoki promptly extends his invitation to her, but Mizuha declines, citing that she is busy with lessons. When Yuki mentions Fushi by name, Mizuha is suddenly nostalgic, gripping her arm and remarking that the name reminds her of something. The school bell rings, and a student appears to tell Mizuha that a third-year wants to talk to her. Before she leaves, Mizuha tells Aoki that his family sounds really nice, to Yuki's pleasure. After Mizuha leaves, Yuki remarks how busy Mizuha seems to be. Hanna brushes off Yuki suggesting that the two girls are "best friends", when Hanna reveals she has known Mizuha for only a year.

Hanna is departing from school when she overhears a male student asking Mizuha to go out with him. Mizuha rejects the advance, saying that she already likes another person. Taking notice of Hanna watching, Mizuha cheerily suggests the two walk home together. Hanna mentions how popular Mizuha has been after being asked out by eight boys this year and wonders if Mizuha keeps rejecting offers for the sake of the person she likes. Mizuha replies that the attention does not make her happy, and laughingly refuses to tell Hanna who she holds feelings for.

When Kasabe approaches and asks to speak to Hanna, Mizuha promptly leaves. Funa, Nagisa, and Saki arrive, and begin to gossip about Mizuha. The girls tell Hanna to be wary of Mizuha, as they convey Mizuha has been "boy crazy" and actively stealing boyfriends. Hanna dismisses their passive-aggression and walks off. At an intersection, Mizuha calls out from above, teasing Hanna with a hint that her crush is also in the Handicrafts club.

The next afternoon, the second-year students participate in practice for field day. Saki intentionally steps on Mizuha's foot, causing Mizuha to fall, cutting and twisting her ankle. Saki and her group feign concern before Rikuya dashes in to carry Mizuha to the infirmary, much to Saki and Funa's visible jealousy. A concerned Hanna follows Mizuha to the infirmary to check up on her. Hanna offers emotional support to Mizuha, emphasizing their friendship. Mizuha rises from her seat, and gently holds Hanna to the wall, asking whether Hanna would cry if Mizuha were to die. Confused and overwhelmed by the off-guard question, Hanna hesitates answering, eventually beginning to stammer. Mizuha suddenly pulls back, excuses herself, and thanks Hanna for checking up. Ignoring her twisted ankle, Mizuha makes brisk strides out of school into the city. Her distraught reverie is interrupted when Fushi, sitting nearby on a sign platform, inquires as to her ankle, and suggests she seek medical care.

Awakening of the Past
Immediately recognizing Mizuha's heritage by her face, Fushi drops from the platform and peers intently into Mizuha's eyes. The immortal lifts up Mizuha's left arm sleeve, while Mizuha grows increasingly uncomfortable with the sudden contact and silence. Mizuha pulls back from Fushi when she spots two students in the distance who have noticed them. Mizuha can do nothing but react in confusion as Fushi casually asks whether her life is fun. Izumi arrives by car, chastising Mizuha for not staying in the school infirmary. Mizuha remains taken aback by Fushi's strange questions and serene demeanor as the car drives away.

Later in the evening at home, Mizuha is sharing her bizarre encounter with her parents at the dinner table. Izumi announces that the family will move by next month, compounding Mizuha's bewilderment for the day. The next morning, Mizuha walks through the city, carrying a suitcase when Yuki waves at her from Kazumitsu's passing car. Having run away from home, Mizuha had also left a hair-tie in the Handicrafts club room before leaving.

Mizuha, in "a tiny act of rebellion", arrives at her grandfather's home. He proceeds to inform her of the Guardians, describing their grand goal of protecting "an immortal monster" and that Mizuha is expected to become the 18th leader. Receptive to the tale, Mizuha agrees to go to the study room where the Guardians have kept written histories. Mizuha reads first of Hayase's biography, one that unsurprisingly paints her in a heroic light. Realization alights upon Mizuha when she sees a picture of Fushi, and in a rush of wonderment and excitement, she closes the book.

Fushi, in Pocoa's form, emerges from a thin window in the study room. He maintains his ostensible cover by introducing himself as Yuki's relative, and brings Mizuha to a bus station. The Handicrafts club members, with Izumi close behind, greet Mizuha in relief. Izumi is less enthusiastic, expressing concern first, then resigned frustration when Mizuha tells her that she went to her grandfather's home. Mizuha informs the club members that she will be moving, and Izumi proceeds to snap a photo with Mizuha. Hanna, seeing clearly Mizuha's lack of agency, runs to her and hugs her tightly, saying that if Mizuha moves, Hanna will cry. Hanna gently urges Mizuha to speak her mind, to which Mizuha replies that she wants to stay. A knowing glance from Mizuha to Fushi, still in Pocoa's form, reveals she realizes who he is.

Mizuha's Newfound Happiness
At school, Hanna initiates greeting Mizuha, who is sitting alone in class, to join her in the club room. Mizuha expresses excitement at seeing that Hanna is wearing the hair-tie left behind in the club room. Hanna reassures Mizuha that Izumi's recent, but seemingly tentative decision to cancel the move will work out just fine.

In her apartment later, Mizuha removes her hair-tie and places it on the bathroom counter before taking a bath. Izumi, from outside the bathroom door, apologizes to her daughter, and confirms that the decision to stay is final. Surprised and relieved, Mizuha finishes her bath before noticing that her hair-tie is no longer on the counter. Izumi denies seeing the accessory, asking Mizuha to hold her hand out. Izumi presents a diamond-shaped hair-tie, tenderly affixing it to Mizuha's hair, and tells Mizuha that the hair-tie had belonged to her since Izumi's youth. Mizuha then glows in her mother's warm embrace.

The following day, Hanna and Mizuha sit by the wharf. In a panic, Mizuha apologizes for losing the feather hair-tie, but Hanna dismisses her worry, stating that their friendship is more than capable of weathering a lost gift. Hanna then invites Mizuha for an outing at the mall during their next day off. A confident Mizuha exclaims she will ask her mother for permission.

Hanna and Mizuha enjoy a relaxing trip to the mall shopping for a hand mirror for Hanna. Mizuha's attention is caught on a row of 300 yen hair-ties identical to the one gifted to her by her mother. The girls visit a crepe shop and happily while their time chatting when Mizuha suddenly tears up. As she walks home, Mizuha removes the hair-tie from her head. Back at home in the kitchen, Izumi asks Mizuha about her trip.

A Perfect Mama
A mobile phone rings, and Mizuha is startled awake from the floor.