Toshokan Sensou 11 ~Struggle to the Death! The Defense of Ibaraki Prefectural Exhibition~

In a press conference, the governor of Ibaraki was inform the media and the public of the plans to defend the upcoming arts festival. When the governor announced that the Judiaciary and the Media Enhancement Committee will be responsible if ever civilians get caught up in the battle, a reporter asked why the Library Task Force will not be held liable as well. But they stated that it was them who requested for the help of the Task Force and will be held responsible if they are not going to be able to protect the art work. When another member of the media asked if it made more sense to stop the festival, the governor only replied that the festival was for the people.

Of course, Genda was happy about that statement. But Kasahara commented that it seemed that it seems that the media has something against them to which Genda only answered that it's for balance. Then Dojo reverted Kasahara's attention back to the TV where her father was sitting to right of the governor. And Kasahara beamed proudly that her father was also fighting alongside them. A phone rang and Tezuka excused himself and went outside.

Satoshi gave him information that there is only going to be one inspection at the start of the festival, which surprises Tezuka. It would seem that the Media Enhancement Committee were humiliated and lost it because of the "most excellent artwork of the year" and as man-in-uniform, his little brother should be able to understand that. And that the Judiciary didn't really care about the feelings of the Media Enhancement Committee but the governor was firmly resolved to have the festival and the inspection was for the Media Enhancement Committee's honor. When Tezuka still expressed his doubts, Satoshi just told him that it was up to him if he wanted to believe it or not. Tezuka thanked him anyway and said that he had his gratitude was earned. Then Satoshi just asked him if Tezuka really believed that he was being mean to him, but didn't get a chance to answer because they both hung up.

Back in Musashino Library, Shibasaki just handed a report to Commander Inamine which said that the Non-Resitance (peace-loving) movement in Mito Library is being funded by the Media Enhancement Committee, which is pretty much the sum of their fears. And because of that, the defense team of Mito Library has been weakened. With that grim news, Inamine ordered Shibasaki not to inform any of the Task Force in Mito at that time because they didn't want to give them any discouragement at that time. Shibasaki follows orders.

In Mito, the members have just confirmed what his brother informed him was correct when Genda received a notice from the Judiciary about the one inspection before the opening of the first day of the festival. Dojo was thankful for it because a long series of battles will probably be too harsh of the members of the Mito Task Force because of their current level of training (Kasahara-level according to the last episode). When Kasahara commented that it was a good thing that the information from Satoshi was accurate, Tezuka only said that he wasn't sure if it even helpful. But it was because they are able to prepare for the battle well. Then Genda gave a briefing about the battle plan for the next day.

Outside, when they were preparing the barricade, Aoki announced that Dojo's group can take a break, Kasahara asked him if it was alright, there was a place that she'd like him to go to with.

Later, on their way, Dojo notices Suganawa wandering around aimlessly around the barricades. But was distracted back to Kasahara as she walked ahead of him. In the greenhouse, she asked him to go inside. Then Kasahara ran ahead to a patch of chamomiles saying that he said that he wanted to see them blossom and Dojo just smiled like a little boy. (^^ seriously, like a little boy)

In a konbini, Komaki bumped into Enoki, the man that he and Kasahara encountered in Hino and the one who shot and wounded Komaki in episode 6, when they were transpoting The Book of Prophesy.

Back in the greenhouse, Dojo was admiring the chamomiles' fragrance and Kasahara commented that perhaps the person who planted them also understand their symbolism "Stength Admist Hardships". Then she announced that they may not be treated well in Mito but she believes that things were going to get better someday. And for tomorrow's battle, everyone in the Task Force will be doing their best in the battle, including her. She declared that she will no longer a newbie and she started talking about how she was going to be doing her best as well, but Dojo concernly interrupted her.

On their way back from the konbini with the most outrageous amount of energy drinks in their bags, Enoki didn't think that he would encounter Komaki again and told him that because of that incident (in episode 6), he had a paycut for three months. Komaki just answered that even in private, it is dangeorus for a person from the Library Corps and the Media Enhancement Committee to have such reckless discussions. Enoki just told him that he admires intelligent people like Komaki and people in the Media Enhancement Committee were nothing but a bunch of idiots. Komaki asked him why don't he just join the Library Corps as a lot of his own superiors are former members of the Media Enhancement Committee. But he said that he wouldn't be able to do that because he got in because of personal connections, which is the same for most people in the Media Enhancement Committee (or economic reasons i.e. getting a job) so it will not be easy for him to get out so easily.

Dojo was reminding Kasahara that the members of the Media Enhancement Committee were humiliated because of the artwork and their main goal for tomorrow's battle was for their own honor. Because of the humiliation that the Media Enhancement Committee experienced, they were not aware of what they are capable of.

Komaki was informed that the battle tomorrow was for the honor of the upper ups of the Media Enhancement Committee. Personally, he had no interest in trivial things like honor. Of course, despite being morons, the Media Enhancement Committee has a high level of self-belongingness and because of that, they will fight for their pride.

And as bad it seems for an officer to order his subordinate, if things comes to the worst, he told her that she should kill in order to defend herself before anything else. Of course, Kasahara was not able to believe such omnoius words from her superior.

In her office, Suganawa was still thinking about the humiliation that she received when Genda confronted her about the maltreatment of members of the Department of Defense.

The next morning at 6:00, the Media Enhancement Committee attacked the Mito Library. Of course, gunshots were exchanged.

On the roof, one of the snipers, Shindou, was shot by enemy fire on the right arm and Tezuka reported it. Kasahara became aware that the enemy snipers are in the trees. And she reported it telling the arcophobic Tezuka that she was counting on him, but said that he has alreayd gotten over his arcophobia. Shindou, despite his injury, volunteered to be bait so they can identify the location of the enemy snipers and Tezuka can bring them down. He was able to do it in two shots and was complimented about his improvement. When he said that his skills were still the same, Shindou commented that he was expecting to fire some more before Tezuka got him to where he countered that he's not that bad. Then he took Shindou to the medical ward. He was ordered back to the roof with Komaki.

The ground troops that Komaki left started to panic, but Dojo ordered them to fire in order for the area not to become a weak spot. Then he ordered Kasahara for additional troops, but the phone was dead and she made a run for it. Of course, there aren't enough people to support them.

But thirty minutes before the end of the battle, the Media Enhancement Committee were becoming agitated and made a run for it to attack the art museum. So Task Force members were ordered in that area to strengthen the defense. Genda gave the order to shoot short range and not to let any members of the Media Enhancement Committee to advance. But the Media Enhancement Committee were become a mob determined to get inside the museum.

Kasahara announced that all casualities should be moved to the museum and Dojo ordered her to go to the musuem as well. But she refused saying that she was his messenger and that she has to be with him until the end. All of the sudden, Kasahara became overwhelmed with the battle, wondering if the Media Enhancement Committee really have something that they need to protect that they are so determined to get into the library. When she saw Media Enhancement Committee members ready to fire on her, she fired her gun and took them down. When she ran out of ammo, she was trying to get the magazine in but her hands were shaking too much that she wasn't able to. Dojo came to her saying that she did well and hugged her saying to calm down. But she broke down and cried.

Then the sirens signalling 9:00 came and the battle is over. Finally calming down, Dojo assured her that a lot of people are like that when they first fire a gun. But she commented that Tezuka wasn't like that. And he only said Tezuka's was fighting a different battle within himself. Then he told her that she should train herself to make herself emotionally stronger for battles like these but then retracted the statement that it may be too hard on her. But she was really determined to become stronger. But then he said that she sort of beated him with her willingness to stay by him as his messenger. Then he spotted Sugenawa walking on the sidelines carrying a container of what looked like gasoline. He excused himself and asked Kasahara to stay.

The governor and the prefectural committee came thanking Genda for their work in protecting the art festival. All of the sudden, a member of the Media Enhancement Committee came out of nowhere and pointed the gun on "Freedom" but Genda got his way and used himself to block off the artwork.

In a warehouse, Dojo caught Sunegawa pouring gasoline on boxes (which presumably are the artworks) that Sugenawa declared to have violated the library. But he told her that what she was doing violates the library. She pointed a gun at him and told him to shut up and asked him who he thought was responsible for all this anyway. He just said that no one is held responsible when it to comes to fighting inspections, but bowing down to the inspections and burning down the things that was placed under her care is actually the disgrace of her life. But she was too crazed about the disgrace that was coming to her once they left Mito and declared that their peaceful solutions was good enough to combat the inspections and she lit a lighter.

And Kasahara being Kasahara, followed Dojo into the warehouse. She was just outside when she heard a gunshot and rushed in.

Outside in the main gate of the museum, the crazy Media Enhancement Committee started shooting at Genda. But he held his ground before falling on the ground. Kasahara's father called out for him. And the Task Force members were finally able to get the Media Enhancement Committee guy.

Back in the warehouse, Kasahara found Dojo shot on the arm and a huge fire. Instead of asking for help, he ordered her to restrain Sugenawa who was on the verge of running away. She was able to do so and witnessed that as Dojo was trying to escape, a flaming pile of boxes fell to block his way. And after that, another piled crashed on him.

I actually wasn't really up to blogging this epiosde until I see episode 12. But I thought that I should get it out of system because the bad feelings I have able this episode wouldn't go away (when I think about the series).

I'm actually not sure if I'm looking forward to the next episode or not. What can I say? I'm a KasaDojo fangirl - I've always been since I watched the first episode. The thought of anything like this happening didn't even cross my mind even after the OP was pointed out to me. For me, I'm seriously hoping that Dojo was able to jump out of the falling boxes way before it fell on him. I'm actually sad that the KasaDojo moments were filled with nothing but ominous talks of battle, but those moments were more poignant than for the purpose of fangirling. I really wish I could gush about Prince Charming and his princess finally being able to see the chamomiles bloom or her not leaving his side in the height of the battle and how he calmed her down when she was on the verge of losing it or how awesomely GAR she was in battle before finally breaking down, but I just can't.

I'm actually sad to have an ending like this because this is the one few series that I never get tired of watching over and over. With other shows, I'm pretty much content after one viewing but this is one that I can watch over and over again because I enjoy the animation, the characters, the script, and pretty much everything about it. And I am finally able to distinguish my watching this and my disgust with war against my watching Code Geass and my yay for senseless violence. In Geass, I don't really give a shit about any character (despite me finding Karen awesome) whereas here, I am able to fangirl for the first time in my entire life on an anime about a pair of truly awesome characters and the two of them not ending up with each other defies the laws of nature (if not physics). Hell... whatever happens, this show still rocketed to linger at the top of my "most favorite anime of all time" list.

Well... it's gonna be a couple of days before I see what finally happens. *Sigh* Fuck war.

EDIT: Sleepy yet too full of caffiene to do so, I started wandering around and found this as a teaser for episode 12 on the official site: 死闘の末に傷ついた図書隊。世論が逆風となって襲う中、稲嶺はある決意を抱く。カミツレの花言葉を胸に、堂上の快復を信じる郁。いま自分にできること、愛するものを守りぬくこと……。郁たちが見つけた答えとは？I think zoo-i told me about this but he pointed out the title ("The Library is for Everyone") which really didn't really encourage me. But having painstakingly translated the teaser, *sigh* I don't want to stir up anything so I won't post my mediorce attempt to translate it or say anything anymore. I just hope I didn't get lost in translation. Shit... I have too much free time. Ah to hell with it! Wait for Friday, blog Jounjou 10 and Greenwood 06 tomorrow.
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So who's lying on the hospital bed?

Click only if the suspense is killing you and you can't take it anymore.

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