25. Bölüm: Ai'nin trajik çocukluk kurbanı olması, köylüler tarafından ihanete uğraması ve Sentaro Shibata'nın ortaya çıkışı

25

Ai's sad past is revealed: Doomed to be a harvest sacrifice at seven years old, Ai is abandoned in the mountains to die; her parents and Sentaro Shibata, who is actually her older cousin (meaning the Shibatas are in fact related to Ai as well) and only friend, want to save her, so she is sheltered in the mountains, where Sentaro smuggles her food and water. Six years pass, and it seems Sentaro and Ai have feelings for each other. When Ai is discovered by the villagers, they bury her and her parents alive as punishment, and force Sentaro to help; Ai's grudge is born of this betrayal. Heartbroken, Sentaro leaves the village. It is also revealed that Ai saved her three companions from hellish fates, for which they are indebted to her. (Source: Wikipedia)