
Artist's commentary
Amakusa Shirou's Rally Flag
...From that point in battle, defeat was certain.
What is vital is to show your will to fight.
We are with God, death will be peaceful.
But still, I could not simply die.
I kept thinking I needed to save even a single life.
The victory of today is tied to the despair of tomorrow.
I understand that. I understand, but...
Hear me, our flag.
If they had ever committed a sin, it would be believing in me.
The sin of following my lead.
I gladly dedicate my life to You.
So please, I wish to know how to save them.
But, if You cannot save them, if at the end of this battle, You need their lives, I will abandon saving people, and vow to save humanity.
Both good and evil, weak and strong, I will show you and save all of them.
This is the story of a boy who gave up being a hero.
A story of how he wished to do so even as he understood the egotism of it.