Episode 12

## Light in the Darkness

**Light in the Darkness** (暗闇の中の光, *Kurayami no Naka no Hikari*?) is the twelfth episode of the *My Happy Marriage* anime series. It is also the last episode of the first season.

## Synopsis

With the Gift of Dream-Sight it might be possible to wake Kiyoka from a coma. Promising to bring Kiyoka home with him, Miyo gently closes her eyes next to him. In the deep darkness, Kiyoka is fighting against the Grotesqueries that appear one after another, and when he senses Miyo's presence, he becomes inspired. However, Miyo, who is supposed to have entered Kiyoka's dream, is standing in the Saimori estate...

## Summary

Kiyoka Kudou is wandering in a forest full of Grotesqueries and questioning if it’s all real. Meanwhile, Miyo Saimori lies next to Kiyoka as Arata Usuba guides her through the Dream-Sight process. Miyo promises Yurie and the others that she’ll save Kiyoka from his troubling scenario and enacts her Dream-Sight.

Miyo arrives in front of the Saimori estate while Kiyoka is still combating multiple Grotesqueries in the forest. During his fight, Kiyoka hears Miyo calling out to him and asks where she’s at. Miyo enters the Saimori household and cals out Kiyoka’s name. Suddenly, a small girl starts toying with Miyo, enticing her to track her down. Miyo realizes the girl is her younger self.

Miyo’s younger self leads her to a door the entrance of the storehouse that Kanoko locked her in. Miyo opens the storehouse’s door and notices that her younger self now turns into the version of herself when she left the Saimori family. Still battling Grotesqueries, Kiyoka desperately wants to see Miyo again and apologize to her.

Miyo’s variant tells her she won’t allow her to see Kiyoka because she’s not good enough for him. She tells Miyo Kiyoka is on the brink of death and says everyone Miyo comes across meets misfortune. Miyo acknowledges her failures and agrees that she might not be good enough for Kiyoka. However, Miyo feels it’s all right for her to be by Kiyoka’s side now, angering her spiritual variant. Miyo’s variant reminds her how miserable Miyo was after her mother’s passing. She says that Miyo made her heart numb to the pain to which Miyo agrees. Miyo tells her variant she knows she can change and plans to apologize to Kiyoka for hurting his feelings. She approaches her variant and tells her she doesn’t plan to run away from her problems anymore and will stand by Kiyoka’s side. Miyo promises her variant that she’ll bring Kiyoka back and live a happy life with him. Her variant wishes her luck and disappears. Kiyoka’s kumihimo cord ends up in Miyo’s possession, urging her to head to his location. Miyo arrives at the battlefield and defeats a group of Grotesqueries to protect Kiyoka. She tells Kiyoka she’ll be taking him home, but more Grotesqueries show up.

The Emperor arrives at the Burial Grounds. The excorcists inform him that a girl from the Usuba family’s appeared and interfering. The Emperor tells them it's important they eliminate the Kudou family because they pose a threat to them as well as the power of Dream-Sight. He uses his abilities to enhance the Grotesqueries' strength in the spiritual world, where Miyo and Kiyoka are located. Despite the Emperor's efforts, his powers are no match for Miyo’s, resulting in her protecting Kiyoka from his attack.

The forest lightens up and Kiyoka praises Miyo for protecting him. Miyo ties Kiyoka’s kumihimo cord for him and apologizes for the answer she gave to Arata’s question at the Usuba estate. Kiyoka apologizes for hurting Miyo’s feelings in the past, but Miyo says it’s fine. Miyo and Kiyoka admit they want the other to be by their side. After hearing their friends’ voices, Miyo and Kiyoka leave.

They awaken from their slumber to everyone’s delight. While Yoshito Godou hugs Kiyoka, Miyo notices Arata leaving and follows after him. Arata tells her he’s finished his business here. Miyo thanks Arata for helping her save Kiyoka but tells him she doesn’t plan to return to the Usuba estate. Kiyoka tells Arata he plans to rematch him in the future and Arata laughs.

Prince Takaihito speaks with Masashi Ookaito and informs him that the Emperor already lost his Divine Revelation abilities and committed a sin by opening the Burial Grounds. Takaihito plans to make the Emperor atone for his actions someday.

Miyo and Kiyoka return to Kiyoka's house. Miyo reflects on what happened after they returned home. She no longer suffers from nightmares, has lovely meals and trivial conversations with Kiyoka. Several days later, the day of the scheduled party arrives. Kiyoka is waiting for Miyo at the entrance of the party venue. Miyo approaches Kiyoka in her Western-styled dress and they both compliment each other. Before they head inside, Kiyoka asks Miyo again if she’ll marry him. Miyo asks Kiyoka if he’d hold any regrets doing so, to which he says no. The two promises to marry each other as they walk up the stairs.

## Adaptation Notes

* Upon entering the dream world, Miyo finds herself in the Saimori estate. The entire scene is exclusive to the anime and doesn't occur in the original novel, where Miyo directly enters Kiyoka's subconsciousness.
* Kiyoka loses the kumihimo cord that Miyo crafted for him during his fight with the Grotesqueries and with it, Miyo is able to locate him. This is exclusive to the anime and doesn't happen in the novel.
* After confronting herself in the Saimori estate, she changes into the shrine maiden outfit in which Kiyoka also sees her when she appears in his subconsciousness. In the novel, she already wears the outfit ever since her stay in the Usuba estate.
* Miyo appears in a dramatic fashion with a bright flash in the sky and floating down in front of Kiyoka. In the novel, Miyo just sprints towards Kiyoka and he finds her behind him.
* The scene of the Emperor in the Burial Grounds is exclusive to the anime and never happens in the novel.
* In the anime, Miyo comes across as remarkably powerful and well-versed in her battle against the Grotesqueries, leaving the impression that she knows precisely what to do. However, in the novel, her actions were marked by uncertainty, and she seemed to act somewhat randomly, saying she lacks a full understanding of her own actions.
* After the battle, the scene changes into a bright environment with a cherry blossom tree. In the novel, this doesn't happen and the two walk down an unlit road where they had to rely on the moonlight until they eventually wake up.
* In the post-credit scene, Kiyoka and Miyo attends the scheduled party. However, everything that happens during the party is omitted. In the novel, Miyo meets Masashi, Asahi Ookaito and Prince Takaihito. The latter explains the truth behind the entire ordeal to Miyo and Kiyoka. Instead, a small scene is added in the anime where Takaihito talks with Masashi about his father's wrongdoing.
* The entire epilogue in the second volume of the novel is omitted. In the epilogue, Arata visits the couple to propose becoming Miyo's bodyguard.

## References

1. ↑ STORY I Official Anime Website
2. ↑  Novel, Volume 2 Chapter 5
3. ↑  Novel, Volume 2 Epilogue