DEATH PARADE

EPISODE 5 CHAPTER 1

Just as the sun is about to be replaced by the moon, a boy in a grey shirt waves a girl with a white dress. The girl joyfully announces that she would see him later, the two waves and the girl is taken away by her mum.

His eyes fluttering open, a man is awakened by Decim .

" Where am i? " They man asked..

" Did you sleep well? " Decim followed his question with a question . Decim directs him to the bar that he would explain things better there. They hed over to the bar where a girl with brown hair and an overall was waiting. Taking his seat near her they seem like strangers. The girl greeted him cautiously . The guy stammers because he was stunned by her beauty and the girl immediately ask if he was okay and he said he was fine.

Decim introduce himself and also welcomed them to the bar . QUINDECIM .

He then ask what they remember from their past and the man said he was on a bus coming from college but not much else. The girl couldn't remember anything. Decim thanks them and proceed to explain their situation while the black haired woman counts things off

" welcome to QUINDECIM , I can't tell you where you are but the two of you would now play a game "

" A game ? " both the man and the woman said in unison.

" Yes a game " Decim replied smiling

" The game would be chosen by a roulette, you would both stake your lives and cannot leave until the game was over are we clear? " Decim asked with a deadly grin on his face.

They both stood up and left the bar immediately but came back soon enough because they couldn't find a way out. The man asked if she knows anything and she replies that she does not know anything not even her name. The woman asked if he could remember his own name and he could. His name was Shugeru Muira.

They eventually returned to the bar and Decim told her that if she plays the game her memories might come back. Shugeru is skeptical but the woman speaks up , she said she hasn't been able to remember anything and she's willing to take the chance but she's hoping Shugeru would be willing to play to. After some deliberation Shugeru said he was going to help her out. Seeing that the two was in Consent, the black haired woman proceeds to show them the roulette button. They pressed it and the game chosen was bowling , suddenly the lounge of Quindecim explodes into smoke and is illuminated by gold light. Once everything settled the bowling alley was revealed. The black haired woman proceeds with the rules.

" These are the rules , it is exactly like traditional bowling , 10 pins, 10 frames , Each turn would last one throw insted if two , they would take turns until the game is over , each person would play with special balls which contains their heart in them, they will bowl using each other's heart balls "

Decim declears the game had began.

Shugeru picks up an orange bowling ball but was scared because of the heart beat of the ball. Decim notes that the balls corresponds with their heart rate but it would not be painful. He also mentioned that the balls are the same temperature as their bodies. The woman asked if there was any other. ball they could use But Decim told them they must follow the rules.

Shugeru picks up a ball and places his hands in the holes, the womans heart was beating fast which means she must be nervous. He then feels how warm and soft her heart is and his face became flushed . Snapping himself out of this trance and shocked by his own behavior he bowls and knocks down 8 pins.

The woman went to take her turn and was starteld by the heartbeat as well . The girl pick up a ball and Shugeru tries to slow down his heart beat . After a few seconds the girl ponders if Shugeru is nervous , but brushes it off a quite normal given the situation . Releasing the pins the girl knocks down 5 pins .

Shugeru compliments her by saying her form is good. The girl thanked him brushing some of her hair out of her face. This causes the light to catch the strands , reminding him of a young girl waving good bye to him in the sunset ( Same memory as the intro scene ) . Taken aback Shugeru thinks the girl he used to play with could be the woman he is now with. He brushes it off and tries to bowl. With his mind so preoccupied, he throws a gutter ball. The girl encourages him for next time.

Observing from the sidelines, the black haired woman is quite relieved to have a friendly judgment without anyone having to resort to violence. Decim comments it's good that she is getting used to it.

Shugeru and the girl take turns bowling and are having fun, encouraging and inspiring each other as they play. In the 8th frame Shugeru puts the score at 69-49 for himself. The girl mentions she's having a lot of fun even though she doesn't remember who she is. Shugeru apologizes, but then asks if she will go out with him if he wins.

By listening to what Shugeru had said, the black-haired woman next to Decim groans. From her response, Decim inquires her on what concerns her, for the woman says that she feels bad that the two players aren't aware that they are dead.

Shifting back, the girl notes that her heart is beating quickly, as is Shugeru's, but isn't bothered by it. In fact, it feels nostalgic, familiar, and delightful. Rolling her ball, she recalls a memory in which she is working at a bowling alley and spots Shugeru with his friends. She rolls a strike and Shugeru compliments her. She is disappointed that she can't remember anything else, but apparently knew Shugeru.

Shugeru takes his turn, then she bowls again. As she throws her ball getting another strike, she recalls another memory. It's of a girl saying goodbye to Shugeru as children and Shugeru responding goodbye to "Chisato". Shugeru is impressed she got another strike. The girl spins around and happily announces that she's Chisato Miyazaki, his old friend who used to play in the park with Mai. Overjoyed, he leaps off the couch and embraces her hands, remembering who she is and that she moved away.

Still, behind the counter, Decim mysteriously says it really begins now. The black-haired woman asks what he means, but is given a blank no, until she shakes him by his collar demanding he tell her. Decim agrees only if she will lower her voice. Decim whispers something, causing her to scream and Decim quickly covers her mouth. He continues saying the information may cause the two (Chisato, Shugeru) to not be on such good terms by the end, but they must make judgements depending on how they react.

Staring down the lane as he is about to take his final throw, Shugeru recalls the conversation that just occurred with Chisato. For her last shot, she'll throw a gutter ball, meaning he will only need to knock down 3 pins to win and secure their date. Knowing that he will receive a date regardless, he decides to embrace his manly roots and wants to get a strike. Lining up and releasing, he has another flashback to when he was at the bowling alley with his friends.

Shugeru is telling his friends that he wants them to see a cute girl he likes, he points her out (Chisato). His friends reveal a secret about her that he wouldn't know because he wasn't in their high school. Shugeru is shocked by what they tell him. Later, he spots Chisato on the bus home from college and approaches her. He speaks a few words, but she is unable to respond because the bus collides with something resulting in their deaths.

Shugeru gets a strike but falls to the ground, crushed by what he remembers. Knowing that they are dead, Shugeru stays on the ground. Chisato checks on him and he quickly picks himself up cheerily. He puts on a brave face and declares that everything is okay. She proceeds to intentionally miss her last shot, but notices Shugeru's heart is beating out of control. As she bowls, she has more flashbacks in quick succession.

An operating room ceiling, a view of the countryside, checking her face in the bus window, and Shugeru approaching her. She also recalls that her actual name is Mai Takada, the other friend and not Chisato, who moved away.

Decim announces that the game has concluded and Shugeru has won. The black haired woman congratulates Shugeru, who remains slumped over. He asks if they are already dead. Affirming, Decim starts to give his speech about Heaven and Hell, but is interrupted by Shugeru, stating that everything has become clear, and he needn’t waste his breath. Shugeru approaches Mai, who tries to explain. Before she can say anything he asks her out, saying this is his only chance because they are dead. He states he wants to be with her until their last moments. She accepts tearfully and happily as Decim watches on, seemingly interested. The black haired woman does a small fist pump in excitement.

Turning, they ask Decim if they would be allowed to have some time together before they must leave. He says he will allow them to have five minutes. As everyone gasps, the black haired woman throttles him again, proclaiming that it must be extended. Admitting that it was a joke, he wants them to have as long as they need. The black haired woman calls him lame and he averts eye contact.

After, Shugeru and Mai are holding hands at the elevators. Saying how much fun he had, Shugeru doesn't want this to end. Shugeru is glad that they have both passed on. The two enjoy the gallows humour and give their last goodbyes.

Looking on, Decim recalls what he whispered to the black haired woman. Decim informed her that Chisato is not the true Chisato Miyazaki, but rather someone else. Mai mistakenly believes she is Chisato because she had plastic surgery to look like her and got confused by her own memories.

We are shown more of Mai's memories.

Mai recalls that she (Mai Takada), Shugeru, and Chisato would play as kids but stopped when Chisato moved away. She recalls always loving Shugeru, even confessing to him as a kid. Throughout high school she felt like she never caught his eye. And then her talking with a surgeon about plastic surgery to finally be noticed by Shigeru.

* We also see more of Shugeru's memories *

Shugeru recalls his friends telling him that Mai actually had plastic surgery done to her face.

Decim bids the two farewell and watches the elevators ascend. Both elevators have a Woman Noh Mask above the doorway.

During the credits, Still shots of Shugeru and Mai's first and final date are shown. Them sharing a drink at the bar. Observing the jellyfish tank. Checking out the pond by the elevator. Paddling a canoe in the small lake by the bowling alley. Checking out the crystals and floating petals in the lake.

After the credits, The black haired woman is wondering if Mai looked like Chisato, while Decim is cleaning the bowling balls. Having no clue himself, Decim remarks that life is really mysterious. Each life spins its own totally separate tale, yet can be so intertwined. No one knows how life will end up.

"Until after you die", the black haired woman chimes in and takes a ball from Decim. "But that's what makes it interesting", as she bowls a strike. Decim comments that was "nicely done", and she spins around, smiling brightly.