Episode 10

**Cross Road Blues** (クロスロード・ブルース, *Kurosurōdo Burūsu*) is the tenth episode of LISTENERS. The ending theme is by Jin sung by µ (Rie Takahashi).

## Synopsis

Echo finds himself in the strangely tranquil town of Clarksdale, where he learns a little more about Jimi and a little more about himself.

## Summary

Echo Rec remains on the leaving train and ends in Clarksdale. He is found by Janis, who brings him to her farm and cleans him. Echo tells her about his journey and Janis is impressed by his adventure. As he doesn't have where to go, she tells him he can stay there for a while.

Echo stays there and starts helping out in the farm. One day he finds vinyls in the basement and wonders what are they and Janis explains its sort of like chronicles about things they don't want to forget. Time passes and Echo gets used to the life in the farm, making him state that he doesn't mind staying forever there. Janis then asks him if he will give Mu's Core Part then, but he tells her he can't. Janis comments he is the same as her brother then and asks him to come with her as he will be tested by the Crossroads.

She takes him to the Crossroads, where everything in the world intersects, lies and truths, past and future, humans and earless. She explains that at the center of all is the father of all Players and source of all Equipment, The Origin. Robert explains that the Origin grants Humans the power to convey what's in their hearts and to Earless, a guidance to salvation. Robert plays a vinyl making Mu's Core Part to shiny. He explains that one day the Earless appeared in front of the humans, but soon a war started between them and being helpless the humans prayed to at least convey what was in their hearts. The Origin then appeared and its light gave birth to Cores of numerous Equipment and Humans passion guided many Earless. However at the same time, emotions like rage and hatred brought greater savagery in the Earless. The People of Blues, who advocated against the fighting, were reduced to a half. A young man, Jimi, decided to protect the land even if it means to sell his soul. In front of the gate, Jimi realizes that they have been hearing them and decides to embrace the Listeners anger. As his Core part falls, a Listeners pick it up and turns into Mu. Echo doesn't care of he doesn't become a god or devil, but all he wants is to see Mu again. A jag plug appears on his back and Robert tells him to stay true to his heart. Robert then disappears and Janis explains that Origin houses the memories of all creation and plays them back and Robert was one of those memories of a country which ended long ago. She tells Echo he is like her brother Jimi, just a human but he managed to change the world a little. She tells him he will do something that anyone can do, but when he does it that will become something only he could have done. Janis then also disappears.

In front of the gate, Mu grows horns and explains she is neither Jimi or his sister, but the King of the Earless, Listeners. She then releases more Earless from the gate and Tommy states they if they kill her, it will fulfill their long-held dream. Listeners then easily kills Tommy, and states that in seven days, she will descend upon this land once more and creates a blast and leaves.

## Characters

* Jimi Stonefree
* Robert
* Echo Rec
* Mu
* Tommy Walker
* Sally Simpson