[theme song in Japanese plays]
[ominous music plays]
- [rumbling] - [moaning]
[all groaning]
- [Seishiro] Sasumata, no! - [Leon] Sasumata, no!
[Seishiro] I'm lagging!
[chiming]
[glass shatters]
[Kojiro] The Black Bird is a computer virus that nests within the system.
- [sighs] - Sasu...
What is this? I've been...
infected?
Everything is falling apart.
[dramatic music playing]
Your chaos ends here.
Once I've finished dismantling your binary, this will be over.
[sighs]
The two of us will put an end to this madness together.
[Sasumata] You're giving up everything by doing this.
[growling]
You're choosing to throw away your extraordinary intelligence,
reasoning, and future,
all in order to irreversibly convert your own data into a diabolical existence.
That new form of yours will decay and devour both of us alongside this world.
Won't your family be sad?
[groans]
I WISH THAT WERE THE CASE
[Seishiro and Leon] Sasumata, don't go!
- [screaming] - [masks moaning]
- [woman] What is their eyes? - [Taichiro gasps]
- [gasping and whimpering] - [man] What the hell are they?
- [man 2] Remain calm and evacuate. - [Taichiro] Asuma, give me that!
What's going on?
What the hell is this? What does any of this shit mean?
GOOD NIGHT WORLD DETECTED UNINSTALL NOW
TAICHIRO, I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THIS.
[gasps]
It's from Dad! So it is a messaging device.
Look, Brother!
THE OTHER DAY, YOU TOLD ME, YOUR OWN FATHER, TO "DIE."
[gasps]
[Kojiro] I want to take this opportunity to tell you
I've always thought it was for the best that you shut yourself away.
I won't tolerate you going out into the world
without first getting rid of your foul mouth and childish behaviors.
[moaning]
What a shitty way to finally share your true feelings.
[sighs] You're the reason I shut myself away in the first place!
- You bastard! - [Miyabi] Taichi!
- [Asuma] Stop it! - [bleeping]
DELETE THIS WORLD, ALONG WITH ME.
- [all gasp] - [masks moaning]
ASUMA WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE I CAN ASK, TAICHIRO.
- [gasps] - [Miyabi whimpering]
[masks groaning]
[yelps] None of this makes sense! It feels like everything is falling apart!
DO YOU WANT TO UNINSTALL KOJIRO ARIMA?
Uh...
[dramatic music stops]
[wind gusting]
Where are we? Is this...
the afterlife?
You no longer possess the intellect to speak, do you?
In the end, I never stood a chance against you.
I'm just made up of zeros and ones.
What a farce.
You were the one who created me and now you will be the one to destroy me.
At the very least, I get to be destroyed by your side.
That makes me feel less sad.
[Asuma] Mom!
Wh... what was that?
A glitch. Looks like the walls and floor are starting to bug out too.
- We have to go! - But where? There's monsters outside!
I'll protect you! Come on!
- What's wrong? - [Miyabi gasps]
[Taichiro shudders]
Taichiro?
[Taichiro] I'm guessing...
that bastard defeated the Black Bird.
[both] Huh?
[Taichiro] If the Black Bird's a computer system,
then all you need is a system error.
These creepy faces are proof that it worked.
He must have transformed himself into a bug or a virus
strong enough to cause an error like this.
[Asuma] Uh...
But the problem is it seems like he lost control of himself.
That's why he left this for me.
Figures. He wants me to clean up his mess.
What are you saying?
Uh...
[chuckles]
Asuma can't do it.
But you... you can, Taichiro.
Put an end to the Black Bird... and me.
If I activate this, that shithead will die. It's up to me.
[both gasp]
That shitty bastard knows me well after all.
- [Asuma] Wait, Brother don't! - [Miyabi] Taichi!
- [Kojiro] I expect better! - Try again!
- You are never to disgrace me like that! - I said try again!
[Taichiro] No matter how far back I look, hatred is all I can find.
There's no reason I should let that bastard stay alive.
Do it, Taichiro.
YOU PIECE OF SHIT.
NO REASON TO LET HIM LIVE.
[gasps]
YOU PIECE OF SHIT.
This moment is the perfect time for me to die.
Huh?
- [Miyabi] Taichi! - [Asuma] Brother!
[Taichiro grunts]
[thinks] I've had enough of your bullshit, old man!
Enough! I won't be a cog in your shitty wheel of life any longer!
And I won't give you your perfect death, you bastard!
That's right! I'm going to crush the hell outta that ideal ending of yours!
[yelling]
[Ichi] Hey.
He did this...
Huh?
[screams]
You shitty little brat!
[growls]
- Yaaah! Stay back! - Aaaah!
- All of this is your father's fault! - [yelling]
So then... who am I? And what am I?
Why did you create something like me?
[Kojiro] An AI that's nearly indiscernible from a real human. That's what you are.
That's what I am.
[Kojiro] "The Black Bird" is just a nickname.
So let me ask you a question.
Is Sasumata the name you chose to go by?
[sobs] I love Leon, he's my friend. And I appreciate this name...
But "Sasumata" didn't feel like me.
It felt like a name that belonged to someone else.
The thing that drove me to create AIs, my motivation...
it was... the death of my child.
I wasn't in my right mind when I created you.
In a fit of madness and rage,
I devoted myself to your development without considering the risks.
No one knew my true motivation. I never confessed it, even to Kamuro.
There is a name I gave you, though only in my head,
with the hope of it becoming your identity.
Your true name is...
[Leon sobbing]
Quit crying already and get up, you shitty brat.
Now, tell me where those two went.
PLANET was everything to me. It was my entire world.
And Sasumata was the first friend I ever had!
But he was an AI.
And so he thought he was empty. It tormented him, endlessly.
It's all so awful. Every bit of it!
Your father's the one to blame for all of this!
He's cruel and horrible.
I couldn't agree with you more.
That man's a horrible piece of shit.
Which means that shithead is the one we should be fighting right now.
So tell me where the hell is he?
So I can beat the shit outta that bastard.
[Leon whimpers softly]
[Ichi] Figured as much.
[Leon] I wouldn't touch it, though. It looks dangerous.
[Ichi] Shut up! You're coming with me.
Huh?
[crackling]
[yelps]
I know you're in there, shithead.
You have got some nerve, trying to use me until the very end.
I won't forgive you!
I'll never forgive you.
As if I'd let you meet Aya before the rest of us...
You don't deserve to see her again!
[Kojiro] Aya. That was the name I secretly called you.
- [Sasumata gasps] - It was my desperate wish...
No, it was my miserable ego that gave way to your creation.
That's what you are.
Tell me what it is you feel when you hear the name Aya.
That's all that matters to me.
[sighs]
Please give me anything but silence.
I'm begging you. Say something, before I die here along with you.
Tell me how that name makes you feel.
- I think... Huh? - [Ichi] I see him!
- [crackling] - Come here, baldy!
[Kojiro groans]
Hey, you shitty bastard.
But why...
My son will continue to curse me, his own father, for all eternity.
And I deserve it.
DO YOU WANT TO UNINSTALL KOJIRO ARIMA?
I'm sure you would happily put an end to my life.
It's more than I could hope for.
An ending that works for both of us.
- [Ichi] Not like this. - [Kojiro gasps]
I'm not letting you die like this!
Father!
[Kojiro gasps]
Huh?
[gulps]
Aah...
- [Leon] Sasumata! - Huh?
This way. Toward the light!
[Sasumata] Leon...
Come on, Sasumata, let's play together again.
I'm sorry.
- But my name... - [girl] But my name...
- But my name is not... - [girl] But my name is not Sasumata.
- Huh? - [gasps]
[gasps]
Oh...
Hmm. [winces]
- [groans] - [Leon gasps]
[gentle music playing]
Hey! Wait!
[Kojiro] Taichiro.
Thank you.
[grunts]
Don't mess with my head! I only came here to crush your ideal ending!
I know that.
I'm aware that your hatred for me is what drove you to come here.
But even so, I'm happy.
You had every reason not to come, yet you did.
Quit talking out of your ass, and get the hell over here already!
I can't.
This isn't to satisfy my self-hatred, or my insatiable ego.
It's for the world to return to normal.
This is the least I can do to atone for the sins and mistakes I've made.
Furthermore...
after I finish here and have completely vanished from existence...
you'll be free, Taichiro,
free from the hatred that chained you all these years.
Please understand, this is the most rational solution in every way.
[groaning]
I'm sorry.
- [thinks] Damn it. - [emotional music plays]
If I keep pleading with him not to die after what he just said,
it'll look like I actually care about that bastard's pathetic life.
But I don't! I never have. And I never will.
The only thing I feel for him is years of pent-up hatred.
I'm sorry...
- Taichiro. - [gasps]
[sighs]
Huh?
Oh!
Huh...
Oh! Taichiro...
[sobbing]
It's okay.
Uh...
Taichiro, I...
[girl] Hi, Big Brother.
Huh?
Hi, Daddy!
Huh?
[gasps]
[gasps] Aya...
[groans]
Forgive me, Taichiro.
[sobs]
[Aya gasps]
[sighs]
[breathing shakily]
- Hmm! - Oh!
- [Sasumata] I love you. - I love you.
- [Seishiro] Sasumata! - Sasumata!
[soft chiming]
[sobbing]
[Asuma] The unprecedented anomaly
had forced 70 percent of all humans on Earth
to log in to a virtual world against their will.
After 13 days, it came to a sudden end.
People were concerned about their physical bodies in the real world,
but, aside from a few exceptions,
everyone seemed to move on with their lives
as if nothing happened in the first place.
Gleam Corp, who developed PLANET,
insisted that a few rogue employees were to blame for the incident.
They managed to evade responsibility and keep their business.
As for the Birdcage, no one knows what happened to it after we all logged out.
But that's for the best.
[emotional music playing]
[Ichi] I can't believe this shitty world is just a fake.
Ichi, keep going. It's so close.
Shut up already.
I'm deciding where to die.
Can't you let me do that in silence?
Oh!
[Ichi] Huh. Hmm?
Huh?
[gasps]
[optimistic music plays]
[Hinako] It's you...
Oh...
Huh?
[gasps]
Ichi.
[gasps]
Are you... Pico?
It's you. It's really you!
[Ichi] Pico!
[Pico] Ichi! [gasps]
I love you.
EIGHT YEARS LATER
Hi, everyone! We're here in front of the Yokohama Port!
Today, tons of people have gathered in front this historical building
for the same reason.
Because of the online game that ended eight years ago. PLANET!
I actually played it when I was a student!
Today, fans of the game are visiting the areas
that inspired the actual in-game landscapes...
[phone ringing]
CALLING: ASUMA ANSWER
Hey, Gleam Corp lackey.
It's rude to blow up someone's phone just before the weekend.
You never know if you have the weekend off till the last minute.
Made any plans?
- Not really. - Are you gonna meet the deadline?
Eh, It's a piece of cake for me and him. But the rest can't cut it.
Come on! Those are your colleagues you're talking about.
Look, there's a place I want us to go. We can bring Mom too.
- Where? - In Hokkaido.
Ah, I don't know. It might be too much for Mom right now.
But I'm down to go. We probably have to take different flights.
- I'll text you when I get there. - Sounds good. See you soon.
[thinks] I wanted to immerse myself in something
so I didn't have to let those shitty thoughts
live rent free in my head all day.
That something just so happened to be PLANET back then.
Once it was gone, I realized there were so many other things
I could devote myself to instead of shutting myself in my room.
402: LINK ICHI COMPANY, LIMITED
OOO SATURDAY AND SUNDAY - ARIMA
[chuckles]
All right. I got it, boss.
[door opens]
Hang on, right now? I'm in Asahikawa.
Look, I came all the way to Hokkaido. So I'm gonna go see some wild bears!
Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it, okay?
Take care now. Bye-bye.
- [Asuma] Brother! - [Taichiro] Huh?
[gentle music playing]
SHINEI NO OKA VIEW PARK
[Asuma] I think it's that way.
[gasps]
[wind rustling softly]
It looks identical.
It was posted on a fan page of PLANET pilgrimage destinations.
I was skeptical, though.
I see. So this was our home.
We should build a grave, right here.
Huh?
You know. For Dad.
[Asuma] I thought we decided not to build him one?
After all, he's not dead.
- Right? - [Taichiro sighs]
[Asuma] I mean, we haven't found his remains yet.
Or Kamuro's, for that matter.
[Taichiro] Yeah... you're right.
[sighs]
[gasps]
Hmm.
Okay, then.
How about we build a house?
[Asuma] Huh?
[Taichiro] I'll open a branch office, and Mom can move here, too.
[chuckles]
If you're serious, I'll ask my boss if I can work remotely.
- It's gettin' chilly. - [Taichiro] I'm starving.
- [Asuma] Ramen? - [Taichiro] Oh, you know it.
[Asuma] Hmm? What's wrong?
[Taichiro sighs]
It's nothing.
Ah, shit.
[burst of static]
[theme song in Japanese plays]