Embarking on our recap of "Land of Tanabata," episode 9, the narrative unfolds with the police seeking the collective assistance of the villagers in tracking down Yoriyuki, who has now escalated into a national threat. Concurrently, Professor Marukami ascends to the helm of Marukami village, ushering in a new era.
Sachiko's grandmother, steadfast in her concern, insists that Nanmaru spend the night within the confines of their grand mansion, a sanctuary from potential harm. As the evening deepens, Sachiko's vigilance remains unbroken, urging Nanmaru not to venture outside, citing the tragic demise of two members of the enigmatic 'Within Reach.'
The pair finds solace in each other's company amidst the insomnia that plagues them, and Sachiko offers a remedy—a sake brewed by her grandmother's skilled hands. As they sip, their conversation drifts to the realm of the afterlife, with Sachiko painting a hazy portrait of Beyond the Window, a realm that hints at an existence beyond yet remains shrouded in mystery.
Dawn breaks, revealing Aki's startling discovery: the villagers are convening for a clandestine meeting, defying the police-imposed curfew. Amidst this intrigue, a contingent of officers descends upon Sachiko's abode, only for Nanmaru and Sachiko to evade them with nimble grace, slipping out the back entrance.
As nightfall descends once more, the villagers gather, defiantly ignoring the police's edict, their minds united in the pursuit of a solution. Their gathering is abruptly interrupted by the arrival of Masumoto and his men, who join the fray, their sights set on capturing Yoriyuki.
Nanmaru and Sachiko make their entrance into this tense gathering, Nanmaru's voice ringing out, imploring the villagers to set aside their misguided notions of servitude and loyalty, which have blinded them to the true purpose of their abilities. "For abilities are but tools, vessels meant to serve as means, never ends in themselves," he declares, his words echoing through the night, stirring the hearts of those who listen.
Professor Marukami finally confronts Emi, who, upon beholding the professor's grotesquely distorted visage, promptly succumbs to a swoon. Marukami, seizing the moment, brokers a truce between the factions, offering his assistance in apprehending Yoriyuki. When Emi regains consciousness, a bolt of comprehension strikes her, unlocking the enigmatic final piece of Marukami's cryptic letter.
The following day, at the professor's behest, the Tokyo contingent traverses to his laboratory, where Marukami and Emi unveil the authentic significance of Tanabata. Contrary to popular belief, it does not mark the seventh day of July, but rather, commemorates seven sunsets unique to the Marukami region during the festival's auspicious days. They further disclose that the avian iconography on the Kasagi banner once bore resemblance to a palm print, eerily mirroring Yoriyuki's own.
The Kasagi flag is then revealed in all its intricate glory—two opposing palm prints, their fingers spread wide, with a circular motif nestled between them. Drawing upon Tagaya's intricate miniature of Mount Marukami and its surrounding hills, Professor Marukami stages a mesmerizing recreation of the sunset's magic over the mountainscape, illuminated by a softly glowing lamp.
The scene that unfolds is nothing short of breathtaking: it transpires that the Kasagi flag was meticulously crafted to mimic the celestial panorama atop the mountain during that fleeting sunset—a palm reminiscent of Yoriyuki's juxtaposed against a human palm, their mutual gaze severed by a celestial circle, which symbolizes Mount Marukami at its zenith. This revelation shatters preconceptions and rewrites history, casting the Kasagi flag in an entirely new light.
