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Introduction
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Canorus —Snow Flower— is the nineteenth episode of the anime adaptation of Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas.
This article contains plot and/or ending details for The Case Study of Vanitas.
Read at your own risk.
Synopsis[]
Vanitas identifies Chloé's malnomen. Astolfo's hatred spirals out of control. Chloé must choose between annihilation and a dismal life. Vanitas remembers he doesn't have to be alone, but is it too late? Will our heroes save Gévaudan and themselves?
Summary[]
Vanitas identifies Chloé's malnomen to be Millie, Theater of Ice and Snow. As he prepares his book, he recalls his master telling him about the malnomen, which causes the afflicted to be trapped in a closed world, prison of their own memories and the repeating slowly destroys their soul. The malnomen is intractable because you cannot treat it by performing an inverse operation, and unless the curse-bearer rejects their world, they will remain bound until they vanish, erasing them from existence. Vanitas asks Chloé if she prefers to vanish along with her world or continue her life, hunted by the Church for being the Beast. Jean-Jacques then falls in front of Chloé, who starts crying wondering what she has done. Two shadowy figures then appear and put her in a cage. Seeing this, Vanitas tells Jeanne to go.
Noé defeating Astolfo
Outside, Noé and Astolfo are fighting. Noé recalls his conversation with Roland from earlier, where he tells Ronald that he may hurt one of his people. Ronald tells him that Astolfo's entire family was slain by vampires, Ronald isn't sure why he tells him this, but Astolfo used to be far too kind. Vanitas tells Noé to think if Astolfo's hatred is justified, as one man's justice, can be another's evil. He must not overthink and act to where he draws the line, not what he feel is right. As Astolfo and Noé fight, Astolfo starts to feel the side effects of taking too much injections. Noé manages to block his attack, but Astolfo activates his weapon and causes and explosion, that blows Noé's arm, but in that moment, Noé had made a decision to save Chloé and Jean-Jacques and comes out of the smoke and punches Astolfo, knocking him out.
Jean and Jeanne pulling out Chloé
Chloé recalls how her father wanted to make her human again, and all his actions where of love to her, which brought her joy, but in reality, she was lonely, as she wasn't human, not really her true self. Chloé wanted to be accepted for who she is and be part of the family. Jean-Jacques and Jeanne reach out and grab Chloé's hands, pulling her out of the cage. Vanitas then uses the power of Luna in his right hand and activates the book. He ends up seeing Chloé's true name, Canorus, she who makes music with snow flowers, and heals Chloé, breaking her world. As Chloé's world disappears, flower petals fall from the sky, the villagers are free and the wolves disappear too, making Olivier and Ronald realize the fight is over.
Noé starts to feel the pain of his missing arm. Dante comes running bringing his arm, but is unsure if they can reattach it. Looking around, Noé wonders from where did all the asterisque flowers came from and Dante explains that its said they bloom around places where the World Formula is tempered with. Astolfo stands and is still obsessed with killing all the vampires. Ronald then appears in front of him, causing him to recall the moment his family was slain and that it was Ronald who came and killed the vampires. Astolfo then asks Ronald to save his sister, and stating its his fault for all of this. As he hugs Ronald, he tells him its over and to come with him.
Chloé winning the argument
Jean-Jacques tightly grips Chloé by the shoulders and fusses over her, worrying if she’s okay, if she’s hurt anywhere, along with Jeanne supporting her on her other side. For a moment, Chloé doesn’t react as the two of them worry over her. Jean-Jacques gets more concerned, calling out for her. Chloé’s lip curls up. She slaps Jean-Jacques in the face. He goes flying backwards and slamming into the ground behind, his battered body flying past a spooked Jeanne. Chloé leaps to her feet and yells angrily at Jean-Jacques, still lying beaten on the ground, for getting so badly injured and even nearly dying “without her permission.” Jeanne sweats nervously at this. Jean-Jacques leaps up and throws the exact same accusation towards Chloé, yelling at her for planning to die by herself with no consideration for him being left behind. Jeanne ends up stuck in the middle of this back-and-forth, head whipping between the two of them as she tries unsuccessfully to calm them both down. The two then continue arguing for almost dying, but Chloé ends up punching him again, winning the argument. Jeanne on the side fusses about their quarrel. Chloé then notices the flying flower petals and starts crying recalling the same moment from years ago with Jeanne, and explains that she now wants to live. Jean-Jacques wishes they both live together.
Jeanne watches them with a heartfelt smile, joy and relief blooming in her heart. She gasps with a realization. She looks around at the falling flowers of white and wonders, where is Vanitas?
Jeanne smiling
Jeanne finds Vanitas and hugs him tightly, thanking him for saving Chloé. Vanitas states that it’s unknown what Ruthven and the Senate will do, but there will likely be a punishment for Jeanne. She states she is aware of that and she’s happy anyways in spite of all the caveats to their victory, so happy in fact that she’s bursting with it, and Vanitas tiredly allows her to revel in her delight. Jeanne calms down and thanks Vanitas once again. It was all due to him that not only Chloé could be saved, but that Jeanne too was pulled from the depths of darkness and depression. That she could find hope.
Jeanne looks up at Vanitas. Vanitas, slightly puzzled, looks back down at her. Suddenly, Jeanne’s face is overcome with pink blush. Her heart races, her breath quickens, her fangs come out, all of which confusing her greatly. Jeanne grabs Vanitas by the shoulders and shoves him to the ground. She bites his neck. Vanitas shudders in surprise and tries to protest at the suddenness—Jeanne drinks his blood. Vanitas flinches and goes silent. For the entire duration that she drinks his blood, all Vanitas can do is lie there and allow her to do so, paralyzed by the pleasure, face flushed and panting from the sensation. Jeanne finally releases her fangs from Vanitas’s neck, kneeling atop him as he goes red and flustered, covering his face behind his hands. Fumbling for something, anything to say, Vanitas scolds her with a shaking voice to not drink his blood so suddenly and without warning. Jeanne doesn’t say anything. She swallows the last of the blood. She seems to make a decision. Jeanne grabs Vanitas by the collar and yanks him upward, bewildering the human—
Jeanne kisses Vanitas on the cheek.
Vanitas’s eyes are wide. Jeanne reminds him of what he’d said, that If there ever comes a day where she becomes something no longer herself… Jeanne tells Vanitas: “If that ever happens, as you promised… make sure you kill me. ” Jeanne jumps off of Vanitas. Vanitas sits up in surprise and calls out to her as she runs off. Jeanne stops and starts to turn around. Just like when she was a child, with exuberance and radiance and joy enough to light up the world—
Jeanne smiles.
Vanitas stares at that brilliant smile, dumbfounded. Vanitas then recalls his master saying that everyone is alone and you can never completely understand someone, and many even live and die without even understanding themselves. But because of that people seek each other out to share the warmth of an emotional bond. One day, Vanitas will find someone to snuggle up as long as he doesn't close his heart. If he opens his heart, he will never be lonely even when he is alone.
Vanitas sits in the blooming flowers, holding his cheek where he’d been kissed. His heart is racing. Vanitas blushes a bright red.
Noé comes out of the brush, looking around, searching.
“Just as the two of you are here for me…”
Vanitas, his little brother, and the Vampire of the Blue Moon all embrace one another.
Noé calls out to Vanitas, if he’s alright, and Vanitas clutches at his chest and his beating heart with bewilderment.
“Even you, the one who’s forever cold, will meet someone who will keep you warm.”
As Noé approaches, Vanitas lets out a distressed and confused scream.
Jean-Jacques explains that he wanted the power of the Beast to protect Chloé, but if its going to harm her, he no longer needs it and he will protect her himself. Vanitas accepts his request and uses the book to heal him and restore his true name, Aprix, he who nestles up to the last snows.
The Chasseur’s prepare to leave, Roland cradling Astolfo and Murr standing on a hill, watching all our heroes with an ominous glow in his blue and purple eyes.
Characters[]
- Chloé d'Apchier
- Jean-Jacques Chastel
- Jeanne
- Vanitas
- Vanitas of the Blue Moon*
- Dante
- Marco
- Noé Archiviste
- Astolfo Granatum
- Roland Fortis
- Marquis d'Apchier*
- Johann
- Maria
- Olivier
- Astolfo's sister
- Unnamed vampire boy
- Mikhail
- Murr
(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.
Chapters[]
- Mémoire 41: Canorus — Snow Flower
- Mémoire 42: Encore une Fois — Love
- Mémoire 43: Encens Restant — Lingering Scent of the Dream
Episode Preview[]
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| v - e - t | The Case Study of Vanitas Episodes |
|---|---|
| Parisian Excursion Arc | 1 • 2 • 3 |
| Bal Masqué Arc | 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 |
| Hunters of the Dark Arc | 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 |
| The Beast of Gévaudan Arc | 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 |
| Amusement Park Arc | 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 |
| Blu-ray/DVD | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • Season 1 Part 1 |
| Other | Recap • Special |