The Young Man and the Auto Memories Doll (青年と自動手記人形, Seinen to Ōto Memorīzu Dōru?) is the third chapter of Violet Evergarden Volume 1.
Summary[]
Aidan Field and his squad are supposed to launch a surprise attack on the oil drilling facility of their enemy nation when they are suddenly ambushed. Aidan runs into the forest as his fellow soldiers are getting picked off. He runs into Yale, the youngest member of his squad, and the two try to escape together. They get struck by a powerful explosive, and while Aidan manages to emerge unscathed, Yale's arm is blown off and he quickly dies, plunging Aidan into despair.
Just as Aidan is thinking about how much he doesn't want to die, he gets shot from behind by enemy soldiers. They make callous remarks as they continue to shoot at his body. When they are about to shoot his head, a giant axe suddenly falls from the sky. It is followed by Violet Evergarden, parachuting down from a plane. She asks for Aidan, and after he asks her for help, she effortlessly disarms the enemy soldiers. Aidan notices that she called out for someone called "Major", and that she never used her axe or land any lethal hits.
Violet appearing before Aidan
After Violet defeats the enemy soldiers, Aidan asks her how did she know him. She tells him that he had asked for an Auto Memories Doll from the battlefield. Aidan recalls drunkenly find an advertisement for an Auto Memories Doll service at a bar and having to call the number after losing a card game. Violet picks the dying Aidan up and takes him to an abandoned house in the forest to hide for a while. Aidan notices that Violet is able to avoid enemy soldiers on their way there, presumably because she was receiving instructions on an earpiece.
Aidan, knowing that he's about to die, asks Violet to write a letter for him. He addresses it to his parents, thanking them for taking care of him and apologizing for not writing many letters to them and not being able to come back to them. He wishes to be born again as their son in their next life.
As Aidan's condition worsens, Violet asks him if he wants to write another letter. Aidan decides to write one to Maria, his childhood friend. She confessed her feelings to him, and he liked her back, but he was sent out to war before they could even kiss. Violet encourages Aidan to hold on for a little longer as he dictates the letter. He tells Maria how happy he was when she confessed to him and that he wanted to start a family with her one day. Aidan's consciousness begins to fade as he deliriously tells Maria not to forget him and thanks Violet for saving him and not leaving him alone. Before he dies, Aidan feels a kiss on his lips and mistakes it for Maria. Violet prepares to return Aidan's body and the letters back to his hometown.
At Aidan's hometown, Violet gives the news to his heartbroken parents and Maria. Aidan's mother thanks her for bringing back her son, which surprises Violet, who is now unable to hold back her tears. Even though no one blamed her, she apologizes for letting Aidan die and not being able to protect him.
Characters[]
Trivia[]
- This chapter was adapted in Episode 11 of the anime.