Mao (2026) s01e02 Episode Script

When I was little, I really died.
FIVE LINE SHOPPING STREE
FIVE LINE SHOPPING STREE
Eight years ago
I was in the first grade
We'd happened to be passing by
That's when the road just gave way.
I hear something
What is this?
Master Mao, something seems afoot
in this town.
Please, help me!
Oh, it's escaping.
He killed it
I am Master Mao's assistant.
My name is Otoya.
You
You are an ayakashi, are you not?
What's
What's happening to me?
Master Mao is an onmyoji.
The Byouki
Are you familiar?
Byouki?
Of course!
I remember!
I saw a monster.
MAO
MAO
You say you saw a monster?
NANOKA KIBA
Yeah, but
Something about it seemed
almost human.
Do you know any monsters like that?
There are many such ayakashi.
So they do exist
Master Mao.
I've hailed us a ride.
Oh, I lost track of the time.
Where to, sir?
That's a rickshaw!
Here we go!
Hey! Are you leaving me here?!
We'll meet again, Nanoka.
I wasn't finished with my questions.
And I might never see him again.
Which do you think
Miss Nanoka is, Master Mao?
Is she human? Or ayakashi?
OTOYA
Hmm
OTOYA
If she's changed
since seeing that monster
It's possible that Nanoka is
Master Mao.
She's following us.
Huh?
What?!
Stop right there!
SPIDER LADY
You're so mean!
How could you leave me behind like that?!
What is this place?
Make sure you take me back home!
You've got strong legs.
You're doing it again!
Huh? What happened?
These people aren't see-through.
I passed through that gate again,
and the world looks normal.
Read all about it!
No
- Read the latest about
This isn't normal.
- the headless bodies incident!
It's all so retro
- Read all about it!
HEADLESS BODY FOUND
It happened again, didn't it?
Yeah.
This is worrisome.
Is that the news?
HEADLESS BODY FOUND
HEADLESS BODY FOUND
Another headless body incident.
HEADLESS BODY FOUND
This already makes five victims.
What?! I've never even heard
of such an incident!
CITY IN SHOCK
HEADLESS BODY FOUND
Let me see!
Let me see!
What kind of paper is this?
There aren't any photos.
MAY 8, 1923
MAY 8, 1923
What? 1923?!
I'm in the Taisho era?!
MILK HALL
MILK HALL
Oh.
TENKO
Welcome, Dr. Mao.
For you, Tenko.
I prepared a prescription
for your anemia.
Thank you.
And who might this be?
Whoa!
Everything is so retro!
Oh, dear!
Your legs are showing!
Is she
with the circus?
No, but she is a bit eccentric.
Look who's talking.
Uh So does this mean
you're from the Taisho period?
Well
For now
I suppose you could say that.
Huh?
What kind of vague answer is that?
Dr. Mao.
Let me introduce you.
She's like a little sister to me.
It was not easy to sneak out
of the residence.
SAYOKO
SAYOKO
My name is Sayoko.
I'm a housekeeper
at the mansion of a viscount.
Um
I presume you are familiar with
the headless body incidents, Dr. Mao?
Yes, of course.
There has been another victim.
The first victim was
a high school student.
Including an unidentified male,
all of the victims have
been young men.
Shortly before the murders began,
my lord fell ill.
It started with a growth on his face.
The viscount would not let the doctor
or housekeepers anywhere near him.
He permitted only
his wife to treat him.
Then he began leaving the residence
after nightfall more often.
He always returned,
but only after everyone in
the residence was asleep.
One night, I saw it
Something that looked like blood
was dripping from my lord's bag.
I was so frightened,
and I ran back to my room.
When I looked the next morning, the blood
had been completely wiped away.
Are you suggesting there might've been
a decapitated head in that bag?
The bag was just the right size.
Is there a possible connection with
the Byouki you are after, Dr. Mao?
Byouki!
What does the viscount's face
look like now?
His face is always covered
with bandages.
So I have no idea.
I'm going to have a look.
What? You're going right now?
It's almost evening.
I want to see for myself.
Just a minute!
Thank you very much!
That day
What?
I was supposed to be dead.
Mao.
Give me your body.
You're Byouki
Give your life to me.
Did someone send
the Byouki to curse me?
But who?
Byouki!
At least I can take you down with me!
I thought I had slain the Byouki.
But then
Hey.
You have no idea what
that viscount looks like,
but he is human, right?
Hey!
The Byouki
uses human bodies as vessels.
Are you saying it possesses people?
Dr. Mao.
I will leave the back entrance
unlocked for you.
Oh, no
It's already dark.
Grandpa must be worried.
But yesterday, when I returned,
no time had passed.
How does time work in this place?
Why are the present and
the Taisho era connected?
This place must hold
some sort of clue
to the changes happening to my body.
And
to what happened that day.
Hey, you are going to take me
back home, right?
Sheesh.
Ma'am, I brought some antiseptic
and fresh bandages.
Oh, it's you, Sayoko.
Just leave them there.
My husband does not wish
THE VISCOUNT'S WIFE
to be seen by anyone.
Yes, Ma'am.
Come in
Huh?
You're awake, my lord?
Sayoko
Yes, my lord?
THE VISCOUN
Who did you meet outside?
I can smell it on you
That odor I despise!
Dr. Mao!
I sense yokai energy.
W-What's wrong?
Hey!
Sayoko
You
You told someone on the outside
about me, didn't you?
Remember your place, young lady!
My lord!
I can't have you interfere!
Who's there?!
Those headless body incidents
You're the one behind them,
aren't you?
MAO
Sayoko said she'd leave
the back entrance open.
Why didn't he just use it?
This way is more direct.
Let's go too.
Miss Nanoka.
Okay.
Up we go.
Huh?
Oh! She's fast.
Huh?
I made that jump again.
You are an ayakashi, are you not?
Is it possible that I am?
You murder young men and take their heads.
Why?
Dr. Mao!
Are you really
the master of this house?
Huh?
Otoya! Nanoka!
Keep Sayoko safe!
Yes, Master Mao.
Me, too?!
Miss Sayoko! Miss Sayoko!
She's only fainted.
Uh
W-Who is that man?
His wife?
He's an onmyoji.
He came after hearing about
the headless body incidents.
An onmyoji?
I must ask.
Are you the Byouki?
Byouki, you say?
I will take your head as well!
Give me your head!
I was wrong.
His yokai energy is malevolent,
but the aura is completely different
from the Byouki.
I'm wasting my time here.
Show me your true form.
Threads?
Spiders
So his body was already dead.
His body controlled by spiders?
Damn it!
The true culprit is over there!
Otoya! Nanoka!
Eww! What is this?!
Gross!
Spider webs?!
You can't break it.
The wife?
Your friend, the onmyoji,
is quite the handsome one.
R-Really?
He's young.
I think I'll take his head, as well.
His head?!
Don't tell me!
But before I do
I have no need for a woman.
I'll use your head as fertilizer
for the flowers after I twist it off.
Huh?!
You think I'm fertilizer?
That's super humiliating!
Otoya! Nanoka!
Are you okay?!
Nanoka
Her eyes
Master Mao.
What is it, Otoya?
Miss Nanoka is being strangled.
Are you going to just watch?
No.
My sword could hardly
cut through the thread.
There's no way I can sever it.
If I don't do anything
It snapped!
Nanoka!
It didn't work.
I thought she was a human girl.
But she's an ayakashi, isn't she?
Master Mao!
How can this be?
An onmyoji and an ayakashi
working together?
A Spider Lady
You were the one controlling
the viscount's body
and collecting
the heads of young men.
That's right.
I need them to lay my eggs.
The vitality of young men
makes for healthy offspring.
I will take your head as well.
That's a dangerous sword.
Not that you could
cut my thread with it!
My, you truly are handsome up close.
He's not resisting.
Master Mao has lost all interest
in her since she isn't the Byouki.
Is he planning to let her bite him
so the poison in his blood kills her?
You again!
Miss Nanoka.
I thought I was going to die!
You melted my silk with your blood?!
What are you?!
Yikes! I'm getting out of here!
Come back here!
Why won't you fight, Miss Nanoka?
I can't! I've never
fought anyone in my life!
I'm a weakling.
A weakling? But you're
Stay away from me!
How're you able to move like that?!
Keep your hands off the sword!
Mao!
Nanoka!
Onmyoji
Are you going to melt my silk
with your blood, too?
How amusing.
I can't break it
There's Mao's sword.
You'll run out of blood
before you can melt away my thread.
Once your blood is drained,
your head will be mine
for the taking.
What?
Curse you
Nanoka, did you just use my sword?
I was trying to cut the thread.
That is a sword
only I am able to wield.
What?
If she is able to wield the sword,
it would mean
Nanoka
You and I are the same.
NEXT TIME
This sword, like me,
carries the Byouki's curse.
The town was ablaze
Master Mao, as we suspected,
this town is connected to the Byouki.
The cause of the sinkhole
on Fifth Street remains a mystery.
You should go.
Shoko can manipulate
people's life spans at will.
That woman
may have encountered the Byouki.
Next time: The Accursed