Kanon (2006) - 09: Baby Fox's Berceuse

As Makoto continues to struggle to do simple things like hold chop sticks, Yuuichi accepts the idea that the young, injured fox he rescued on Monomi Hill and kept when he stayed with Akiko-san ten years before. However after a period of time, young Yuuichi was forced to abandon the young fox as he was going to be returning to his own home. Remembering this, he becomes kinder and gentler to Makoto, even offering to buy her more than just the typical pork bun -- anything she wants. She wants a simple ¥100 "jingle bell" bracelet, which surprises Yuuichi.

That night, Makoto can no longer brush her teeth, and while it embarrasses her to do so, she allows Yuuichi to brush her teeth for her. Makoto fears that Yuuichi will leave her, so she wants to sleep with him, using Piro as an excuse. Yuuichi agrees, but later in the night heads to Monomi Hill in a vain attempt to see if he can learn something. As he does, Makoto follows him and begins remembering things, though she doesn't completely understand her memories. Yuuichi stops her from remembering more, and embracing her, tells her she is the human girl Sawatari Makoto. Returning home and to Yuuichi's bed, Makoto confesses fears that she has when sleeping alone, prompting Yuuichi to tell her that he'll never leave her again.

At school the next day, Amano ignores Yuuichi's attempts to talk to her. After school, he is surprised that Makoto is not waiting for him, nor is she at home. During his search for her, he is observed by Amano. Eventually Makoto returns home tired, weak, and with a fever. Her verbal skills have lessened, but she had been looking for Piro, who'd disappeared. The next day, Makoto does not want Yuuichi to leave her, so he skips school and spends the entire day with her. That night, Amano calls Yuuichi, and they meet. She tells her own story of how she encountered a kitsune and how it went through the same things that Makoto is going through; then tells the legend of the kitsune Youko who lives on Minomi Hill. Returning home, Yuuichi tells Akiko-san and Nayuki the whole story about Makoto. Akiko-san knew that Yuuichi had secretly been keeping the young fox 10-years before. The fox apparently liked the bells on her purse and so would emerge whenever Akiko-san moved the purse. Nayuki has trouble believing that the fox from back then is indeed Makoto, but since her mom and Yuuichi believe it, she accepts it as well.

Yuuichi gets permission to stay home from school for a while so that he can stay with Makoto. Her language skills continue to deteriorate, but she is able to get him to read her favorite shoujo manga. With great difficulty, Makoto confesses that she would like to marry Yuuichi so that they would never have to be parted again.

AstroNerdBoy (03 Devember 2006)

I have to say that this was a special episode for me. Having made Makoto go from annoying, then having her much more sypathetic and not annoying last week meant that the audience could finally appreciate her and her struggles in this final episode. Granted, I know how this thing will likely end, but I couldn't help have a couple of tears in my eyes as the final scene played out for this episode. Makoto being so sweet and childlike, yet so earnest as she desperately clings to her human form and her desire to never leave Yuuichi made her more endearing to me. It will be difficult seeing her story end with the next episode.

As for Amano-san, I hope that she won't just be forgotten once the Makoto story-arc concludes. As DD stated, she should become a long-term friend of Yuuichi, but we'll see what the writers do.