Ear's Gift - Earpick-sensei by Marutsuki Takaaki TL by boke ### TL notes indicated by hash tags like this: ### ### Page numbers indicated by —XX for example, page one is: —1 ### Panel numbers indicated by -X for example, panel one is: -1 ### sfx- means the following is a sound effect. ### hw- means the following is handwritten. ### Unless otherwise noted, panel and text balloon flow is from upper right to lower left. ### Sometimes my comments are snark or color, so feel free to ignore those. —01 New Serialization! A [Dream] Lures You To The Door of [Reality] ###above panel -1 My name’s Mitsuno Wataru. I dream. A dream where I’m talking to a friend on the roof. sfx- Tmp Tmp -2 Nurse’s Office ###sign I say a friend, but I don’t know her. But in the dream we’re close friends and we’re talking. -3 sfx- Sliiiide Excuse… Ears’ Gift. Earpick-sensei. -4 Me…? -5 In dreams, I guess it happens like that, but… -6 Wheooooow —02 -1 Earpick-sensei 1st Step Open The Door Presented by Marutsuki Takaaki Fantasy Original Fantasy Mystery Starts Now!! —03 -1 The author of the Comicalization of “Isekai Cafeteria” has composed this work. This world and that world are connected. —04 -1 Wataru Do you know the seven mysteries of the old school building? sfx- Wooooaaaa -2 sfx- Tappa tap Mm-nn? -3 The old school building’s used for storage and club rooms. But I’m not in a club. sfx- Tappa tap sfx- Whaoooooo -4 The old school building has a nurse’s office you can’t open. They say hidden inside is a super scary demon that eats students. A demon? -5 I don’t believe in that crap. Fufu That’s right, you don’t. —05 -1 Here. Take this. It’s the key to the nurse’s office. Eh? sfx- Plop Why? -2 No one goes there, so it the perfect place to take a nap. I don't get in trouble like that. -3 You haven’t been sleeping, right? —6 -1 Me either. -2 Hey! —07 -1 sfx- Whang sfx- Jolt ###above wataru Whagh?! ###jagged bubble sfx- What the?! -2 Hm? sfx- Clamor Clamor sfx- Waking up Whaddya mean “Hm”? -3 Mitsunose, If you’re that tired, go get some sleep in the nurse’s office. Don’t make light of economy class syndrome. ### see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8412040/ -4 ‘Kay. You say “Yes”, ok? -5 Huh? My knee really hurts… hw- Am I getting old? sfx- Throb Throb You did that to yourself. Apologize to your desk. sfx- It huuurts ###desk —08 -1 sfx- sliiide Ok, next problem - Izumi! Izumi’s not here. She’s on a date. Tsk. Well, if it’s a date I guess it’s legit… sfx- Wah hah Hah Hah sfx- Sliiide-chak -2 Another bad dream… sfx- Yaaawn sfx- Silence -3 Recently I always wake up when she jumps off. sfx- Tmp Tmp -4 It’s like she want’s me to see it. sfx- Tap Tap —09 -1 He didn’t say I had to go to the new Nurse’s office, right? sfx- Pondering Nurse’s Office ###sign -2 Hm sfx- Clack hw- Can’t open it It’s locked… hw- Well, of course. -3 sfx- Rustle Hm? -4 It’s the key I got in the dream…? sfx- Jingle -5 Shhk -6 sfx- Click hw- Oh, it opened. -7 sfx- Sliiide Excuse me… —10 -1 Whoooosh —11 -1 I’m… sfx- Wheooow Whoa. She’s gorgeous. -2 They say hidden inside is a super scary demon that eats students. -3 Um… Who might you be? sfx- gulp -4 sfx- Whiiish —12 -1 Nn…. -2 Sensei…? sfx- Getting up hw- She’s a teacher? -3 sfx- Wha? sfx- Flap -5 I-I’m going back! Don’t rush off! It’s dangerous! Owie! sfx- Thumpa Thud -6 Thumpa Thumpa Thumpa Owie Whud —13 -1 And you are? Ah! Mitsunose from class 2D! sfx- Right! -2 Mmph From 2D, hm? That’s Kaisawa-sensei’s class, right? -3 Well. Have a seat. -4 Hmm sfx- Slide Your face is a bit red, but you don’t seem to have a fever. —14 -1 Where are you hurting? sfx- Squeeze Squish Ah! No, it’s… I’m sorry, I’m just sleep deprived… I see. -2 Perhaps you’ve been having bad dreams. -4 There’s a lot of girls like you. Not getting enough sleep. Heart and soul getting out of balance. Ah, I see… —15 -1 Whumpf -2 Come here. If you talk it out, you’ll feel a little better. sfx- Pat Pat -3 sfx- Gulp hw- Laying my head on her lap?! —16 -1 Hm… -2 So you wake up every time she jumps off. Yeah… it’s like that… -3 hw- Hmm Hmm So just what are you doing? Call it a hobby. Don’t mind me. sfx- Scrape Scrape Hobby… -4 sfx- Scrape Scrape -5 When you speak about ears… They remember more about their owners than anyone. sfx- Tug —17 -1 If you shut your eyes you cannot see yourself. If you plug your nose, you cannot distinguish things. -2 If you shut you mouth, it’s as if you aren’t there. sfx- Nn… But, if you plug your ears, you cannot shut out your internal sounds. -3 sfx- Tug sfx- Scrape sfx- Scritch Scritch sfx- Fidget —18 -1 sfx- Wipe Wipe Whew -2 sfx- Sliiiide Whatever’s been said up until now, no matter how quiet, has been captured. -3 sfx- Caress Caress The night you cried alone… And the night you were too excited to sleep. Both are remembered. Somehow… her voice is too soft… I’m not getting what she’s saying at all. -4 I could just go to sleep like this… hw- Mm. Nice and clean. Deep in a person’s ears, that person themself sleeps naked. —19 -1 The dream you are having? I wonder if it’s a dream at all. sfx- Stroke Stroke Nn… Sensei… -2 That was a good ear cleaning. sfx- Shhff It’s alright. I’ll carefully… -3 Listen to you… sfx- Phwooooo Aaahn -4 It feels… Aaaah… It feels so… -20 -1 She’s got such soft thighs… sfx- Stroke Stroke sfx- Zzzz —21 -1 Hnn…? -2 Blink -3 Where am I? sfx- Mmph… —24 -1 …what? sfx- Whoooaaaooo -2 Sensei… What’s this…? Wow sfx- Whoeeeooow -3 sfx- Aloof This is the bank of the Sanzu river ###buddhist equivalent of the river Styx Sensei, haven’t you changed up your image? -4 Uh, huh? The bank of the Sanzu…? —25 -1 Wheeeoooa -2 Whooooeeea -3 So that means this river… Is the Sanzu? sfx- Whooooaaw sfx- Burble Burble -4 The… —26 -1 The ear cleaning felt so good I slept forever! hw- What the hell?! Calm yourself, please. We are still in the world of the living. As long as you don’t cross the river, this is just a dream. -2 hw- Whaa? And I ended up naked? sfx- Ba-bam It’s the realm of the dead. It would be more strange for a soul to be wearing clothes. -3 W-well, I guess you have a point… I mean I can see through my body and all… But… -4 But you stripped me, right? My pardon. It’s an old habit… —27 -1 Geez… You lie with such a straight face. sfx- Shff Snap Tug Take me back to the Nurse’s office please! You’re not surprised by anything, huh? sfx- C’mon! -2 But… -3 Are you sure? That you don’t need to say goodbye? —28 -1 Splish Splash Splash -2 Yank -3 sfx- Grab You can’t! —29 -1 If you cross, you’ll never be able to come back! -2 Fufu -3 You stopped me again. -4 Wha…? hw- Again? Wataru… -5 Do you know my name? sfx- Splish Um… huh? I’m sorry… -6 That’s right. I don’t know either. -7 For spirits, there’s nothing to contain things like pain or memories. After wandering this world for such a long time, memories fade away. hw- Come back. —30 -1 That’s why I don’t remember my name or my lingering regrets. Oh… I see… Huh? -2 You were a ghost? -3 Even if you forget your lingering regrets… Once you are bound to this world, as long as that chain is there, no one will come to fetch you. sfx- Wheeeooo -4 Actually, if you are sensitive to the supernatural, you can get possessed. Spirits think that if they make you have an accident in the real world, they could get taken along too. ###box So they’re super casual about gunning for my life? Ghosts are like that. sfx- Whoooo -5 On three… sfx- Blink —31 -1 sfx- Whoosh Hm? -2 Huh? Wha? -4 Roof Falling girl -5 No… sfx- Whap -6 Not gonna happen! sfx- Clang —32 -1 I don’t know what happened, but… It would be a shame for it to end like this! -2 sfx- Shake Shake Um… Wha… What are you saying? Jump with me… -3 If you’ve had a hard time, I’ll listen to you! Let’s be friends! Ok?! -5 Pomf Wha?! She disappeared! —33 -1 H-huh? sfx- Um… what? Hey, Odango-chan? ### Odango referrs to the bun hairdo -2 sfx- Zing …a dream? -3 Hw- Mmmmf Since then, my soul cannot leave Wataru’s vicinity. And we’ve become something like real life friends. -4 We’ve talked about all sorts of things, but she won’t believe I’m a ghost. I don’t believe in ghosts. -5 sfx- Go! hw- Wha? hw- Must be a dream If I jump, she just says it’s a dream. -6 Sometimes I think that things are ok like this, but… -7 If I stay connected to her like this, her heart will vanish. sfx- Zzz sfx- Snrk —34 -1 So I went to consult with the sensei of the Nurse’s office you hear about. So that’s why you knew about the key from the start, huh? Yes. -2 It’s about time for the bell to ring. It’s not good to stay here for long. I’m preparing back over there. -3 When you’re ready, come back. I’ll do your other ear for you. sfx- Tromp Tromp hw- What does she mean? -5 So this is where we part. I’m sorry for everything, ok? Mm-nn. I wish I had figured it out sooner… sfx- Shaaaaa —35 -1 But, thanks to you, Wataru, I was able to come here. -2 You’ll be able to get good sleep now. I wonder about that. -3 But it’s sad to lose a friend, after all. -4 sfx- Whish Then my last request as your friend… -5 You have a strong spiritual affinity. So I think you’ll run into a lot of troubled spirits like me after this. sfx- Poke -6 So that why I’d like you to help them out. Just like you helped me out. —36 -1 Mmm… I’m not a fan of sticking my neck out into other people’s troubles… ###except for pretty girls with bun hairdos… -2 Well, don’t expect too much, ok? -4 Welcome back… To the dream of the real world. —37 -1 Are you feeling rested? -5 Well, in a way… hw- In a way? —38 -2 Since she’s gone to heaven and is not here, not much meaning in this, but… -3 I hope you’re well… Er, maybe that’s not it… sfx- Whssh -4 Good job. hw- What’s going on? -5 Clomp Clomp —39 -1 sfx- Slam Mitsunose Wataru! -2 I heard what happened! sfx- Ta-dah -3 Eh? Who? You did it, right? You solved one of the seven mysteries! The one about the girl with the bun hairdo on the roof! sfx- Stomp Stomp Stomp -4 I’m Kashima Reiko from the Urban Legend Research Club! sfx- Whap sfx- Squeeze -5 Let’s solve the school’s mysteries together! Most definitely! —40 -3 sfx- Oh shit No way! That sounds like a pain! sfx- Shake Shake —41 -1 Clamor Clamor -2 Transfer student? Ah, yes, I know. As for the documents, just say their whereabouts are unknown or something. -3 sfx- Beep Whew… -4 Mitsunose Wataru, huh? -5 The portal you’ve opened… Is far more momentous than you know. —42 -1 If something is bothering you, stop by anytime. Nurse’s office. ###sign -2 Sensei, so just what the heck are you? sfx- Nnn What am I? -3 A person’s body is the vessel of the real world. -4 A person’s soul is the dream of the afterlife. -5 Neither the vessel or the dream have the power to change things in the body. However, when the dream alights into the body, a person has the power to achieve their dreams for the first time. Soul -6 It’s just that if a soul that has lost their vessel, if it has strong feelings or resentments, it can create a vessel of their own. Soul Souls that have a vessel like that… —43 -1 Are called demons or apparitions in this world. -2 Mmmmm. hw- Vessels of the soul? -3 I don’t really get it, but you must be an important person, right? That’s right. hw- Get it? I get ‘cha! -4 Then, Time to go back to your classroom. Okay! —44 -1 Ok, I’ll be back sometime, “Earpick-Sensei”. -4 “Earpick-sensei”…? —45 -1 Ding dong Dang dong -2 Ho! sfx- Whoosh -3 Thud Thud Thud -4 sfx- Sliiiide Nurse’s Office Excuse me! -5 sfx- sliiiide sfx- Ka-chak Whew -6 Hm? —46 -1 2nd Step Walking. Revving. Your worries? I’ll make them better Presented by Marutsuki Takaaki —47 -2 sfx- Pipin’ hot hw- Hm? -4 Didn’t you go on to heaven? I’m back. ? Welcome back. sfx- Sip —48 -1 Q. Didn’t you say you couldn’t come back if you crossed over? She almost made it to Wah! Wah! Wah! sfx- Whisha Whisha Whish -2 And so… She didn’t cross the river. Is that ok? -3 I do need someone to bring me tea, so… It helps me out. hw- Delicious… hw- Leave it to me! Is that the problem here? -4 As long as I’m watching over things, I won’t let her become an evil spirit. Don’t worry. Well, if you say so sensei. -5 But why were you rushing here? Ah, that’s… —49 -1 Sfx- Slam Recently, my lunch breaks have been… -2 Mitsunose-san… sfx- Stomp sfx- Erk So here you are! -3 We’re gonna blow open the seven mysteries starting today! I’m going to give you the Urban Legends Research Club Briefing! sfx- Shove No, I’m not gonna join some weird club! -4 sfx- Whump sfx- Fling hw- Ah, bento-san -5 Can you keep it down in here? -6 sfx- Shh! Just like Sensei said! sfx- Whisper ###repeat We have to finalize our plan! Yeah, the plan to escape from Kashima-senpai… hw- Hahaha —50 -1 Anyway, in Meifu high the academic level’s high and the seven mysteries stuff is kinda retro… And this is the first time I’m hearing about it, anyway. hw- I’m gonna eat. sfx- Steamin’ hot -2 sfx- Chomp While that may be true… -3 The seven mysteries of Meifu high all belong to the old school building. sfx- HaHah! Since the new building was erected, all the entrance ceremonies have been held there. So no wonder you don’t know. -4 And so, Let’s review the seven mysteries of our school! sfx- Bzz Bzz I told you, this is the first time I’m hearing about this. sfx- HaHah! —51 -1 As far as I know, the seven mysteries of the old school building are: sfx- Whish Barring the two you solved, Mitsunose-san… -2 The maze in the music room. The thinking man in the science room. Hanako-san in the restroom. The 18th step of the staircase. The ghostly procession on the full moon. Those are the five. -3 Hmm… Huh? Two were solved? -4 Besides the girl with the bun hairdo, what was there? hw- A girl who came back from the other side sfx- Sip What are you talking about? —52 -1 This very room that we are in! The “nurse’s office that won’t open”! -2 Ah, right… -3 Earpick-sensei… Is not human, after all, right…? —53 -1 So… Where do you want to start? -2 Yeah… where…? Somewhere easy to find, I think. The music room or the science room are easy to find. -3 The music room, which should be totally empty… If you hear the sound of a piano, you won’t be able to leave the school, it’s said. -4 On the other hand, in the science room, some is said to be sitting there, observing the human anatomy model. The science room sounds gloomy. -5 Well, Maybe we should go take a look at both. sfx- Hah? If things go well, we’ll encounter both and can scratch them off the list. —54 -1 I knew I could count on you, Mitsunose-san! sfx- Grab hw- Get offa me -2 I’m gonna need a replacement for club prez too! hw- Club prez power! I’d disband the club immediately! -3 Ok, I’m going back. After school, once I’ve prepared, I’ll meet you at the school gates! sfx- It’s 12:45, ok? Wha? We’re not going now? -4 hw- Ok then! Good day to you, everyone! sfx- Tsk Tsk Tsk For chasing ghost stories, We’ll prepare after school and then encounter them at night! —55 -1 sfx- Tromp Tromp Tromp hw- She’s finally gone… -2 sfx- Tok You ended up helping her out anyway. sfx- Pipin’ hot -3 Sip -4 
Haah It’s more hassle to try to run away from that senpai. Grade 3 Class A, Misima Reiko. —56 -1 Gets good grades in all subjects. Has great athletic ability. Beautiful and stylish. Total ojyou-sama. Mitsunose-san! sfx- Slam Sfx- Snort -2 Come with me! -3 Her endless energy and her complete disregard for other people’s feelings cause people to call her the “The girl revving her engine just walking down the hall”. The seven mysteries! -4 Walking? Revving? You get targeted by scary senpai. I know that. Not even the teachers can keep up with her. -5 Hmm… But she… —57 -2 Earpick-sensei! What? -3 Nn —58 -1 Mitsunose-san…? -2 You looked so sad before, so… -3 Aren’t you curious? Why this was the room that couldn’t be opened? —59 -1 Well, I’m not in the Urban Legends Research Club. -2 I’ve got to get back. Also… -3 
You can just call me Wataru. -4 After all, I call you Earpick-sensei. hw- Ok, we’ll leave it at that. —60 -1 Wata…ru… -2 Sip -3 So then the electrical resistance is two ohms -4 Ding dang Dong dang Later! See you tomorrow! -5 Whoa What’s with the outfit? Total preparation! -6 Rattle Rattle —61 -1 sfx- Clang C’mon you two. hw- Whoa hw- What’s with that outfit? It’s not like you don’t know the rules about after school schedules. -3 You don’t? Seriously? After school, you need permission. Whether it’s club activities or not. Without it, you can’t stay at school. hw- Kani-chan, you’re totally acting like a teacher right now hw- I am a teacher ###bold or italicize “am” If you want to stay after school, go talk to your club advisor. hw- It’s in your student handbook, ok? -4 sfx- Hmph Well, if we must. We’ll be back. hw- With the gate closed it’s like we’re behind bars Aah —62 -1 The next day. So… sfx- Ba Ba Bam Principal ##sign -2 Going straight to the Principal? -3 Just ask your club advisor. sfx- Deep breaths The Urban Legend Research Club doesn’t have any such thing. Wha? -4 Since I’m responsible for everything, We don’t need such a thing! sfx- Ta Dah —63 -1 Your group has insufficient members and no advisor. There’s no way I can give you permission to be a school late at night. Principal ###sign -2 I’m very sorry! hw- Of course not! -3 Ka-chunk You’re alway the same, Principal Enma. Hahaha -4 Vice Principal Malcolm. —64 -1 Why not let them? Students taking it on themselves to solve the school’s mysteries? I would like to encourage that. -3 That thing in the old school building that can’t approach “us”. I’m intrigued too. sfx- Whooooeoooo Malcolm-sensei… -4 Even though it wasn’t necessary to hide that door? You’re playing games. —65 -1 Senpai… Nurse’s Office ###sign -2 Mitsunose-san…? sfx- Push -3 When you don’t have members or an advisor, you’re not a club, you’re just someone interested in the occult! sfx- Intense! Eh? -4 So there’s no way we’d be able to get permission like that! Ok, Okay… So we won’t get permission, we’ll sneak in! sfx- Hmph Hmph That’ll get you slapped with a suspension! Suspension punch! -5 Why… —66 -1 Why are you so wrapped up in the seven mysteries? —67 -1 That’s because… sfx- Nuzzle Nuzzle -2 O-of course it for the safety of the school! -3 Pet Pet -4 Pet Pet -5 I can’t let you go home while it’s dark. So tell your parents that you will be staying at school tonight. After school activities are over, a teacher will come patrol the grounds. I’ll hide you until they are finished. Really? You’d do that?! sfx- Whooaaaoooo —68 -1 Tmp Tmp -2 Nurse’s Office Hm? -3 sfx- Sliiiide This is unusual. For you be here this late. -3 Clap -4 I had a book I wanted to read. Good timing anyway. The principal asked me to give this to you. Thanks. -5 hw- Good job! Ok, see ya. -6 It’s ok to come out now. —69 -1 Grind Grind -2 Even if it’s not an urban legend, this hidden room is fascinating! hw- What’s with this? sfx- Grind Grind hw- What is with this? ### bold or italicize “is” Even before encountering the school legends, I’m falling over with surprise! -3 I’m having Odango-chan go with you. If some dangerous spirit shows up, come right back, ok? hw- Nice to have you You’re not coming, Sensei? —70 -1 I don’t handle dark places well. Take care and come back safe. -2 Ok, we’re heading out! Yes, indeed! —71 -1 Mitsunose-san, If you’d like, you can use this flashlight. Ah, thanks. What about you, Kashima-senpai? sfx- Fufufu -2 For myself, I have prepared this headlight! sfx- Flash sfx- Click hw- Wahaha Oh, so that was a headlight. -3 sfx- Weeeooaaow —72 Earpick Sensei 3rd Step The Music Room Maze Do you want to know more about me? Marutsuki Takaaki —73 -1 Hm? -2 Mm… -3 Huh? -4 Senpai… sfx- Jolt Hya! -5 Did something show itself?! sfx- Whish sfx- Flip Naw… -6 We’ve been walking for ten minutes now… Shouldn’t we head to the music room? Nn… sfx- Gulp -7 I-it’s dark… so everything looks different… Maybe I got lost or something… hw- Odango-chan, do you know? hw- I don’t remember, sorry. I see. -8 sfx- Rummage Rummage B-but… —74 -1 I thought this might happen! sfx- Ta-dah So I brought a map of the campus! -2 Oh! Good on you, Senpai. sfx- Clap Clap Clap Nng… -3 You two… You’re just teasing me since it’s just the student handbook. But I didn’t know there was a map in it. I bet most students haven’t bothered to read it. -4 Ah, so yesterday… That’s why you reacted like that? hw- So serious! sfx- Bluuuush —75 -1 Don’t tell me you haven’t read it, Mitsunose-san! -2 I dropped mine in the toilet during the Entrance Ceremony… sfx- Ahahaha And I just flushed it down. That’s not something to be laughing off! -3 Can i see that a sec? hw- Here hw- Thanks I guess I gotta… -4 I don’t know where we are right now, but… It’s not that far from the Nurse’s Office. sfx- Hmm Music Room Courtyard Nurse’s Office -6 For now, let’s find the stairs. —76 -1 But uh… -2 You weren’t surprised when you saw Earpick-sensei, huh? Aaah. In the Nurse’s Office! sfx- Tmp Tmp -3 So she’s called Earpick-sensei? hw- Take a left Then right… What’s with this? It’s a like a subway station… Weeeell, That’s just what I call her. I-I see. -4 Before the new school building was finished, I saw her during morning assembly and in the halls. Oh… I see… Yes, indeed. I haven't seen her since we moved to the new building, since I don’t go to the nurse’s office much. -5 I totally forgot about her… I did… Hm? —77 -1 Kashima-senpai? Can we… take a break? sfx- Haah -2 sfx- Ulp I’m feeling a bit dizzy for some reason… -3 Dizzy? -4 There’s the stairs. Ah! -4 Ok, let’s take a little break. —78 -2 Uuugh… I feel pathetic… -3 This seems out of character for you. sfx- Stroke Stroke You seem to be the type who can do anything. -4 That’s not true at all… —79 -1 I’ve had to obey my father since I was young. Walk the line my father put down.. I’ve lived my life solely trying to exceed his expectations. -2 I have high hopes for you. So please don’t trouble me. -4 Yes… Father. Before I knew it, I was just a doll. —80 -1 I cannot do anything that hasn’t be taught to me. So that’s why… -2 Fufu Why am I telling you this, here in a dark school building? -3 Slide -4 Sometime, I want to hear about you too, Mitsunose-san. I don’t have much out of the ordinary to say… -5 Mm? —81 -1 Mitsunose-san? -2 I can hear it… Eh? -3 The sound of a piano. sfx- Twang -4 Whoosh -5 That must be the ghost of the music room! Wait! sfx- Grab sfx- Yoink —82 -1 The sound’s coming from above, but I think the source is down below. -2 What do you mean by that? -3 I see. sfx- Squeak Squeak hw- HmHmm If you follow the sound, you enter the maze… —83 -1 Are you ok, Senpai? Indeed… -2 If you think you’re going down, you go up. So you proceed in the opposite direction than you think. hw- It’s left hw- Up is down? Down is up? It’s like it’s not the campus I know. No wonder I got lost. -3 But you seem fine, Mitsunose-san, right? sfx- Hmph I wonder why… -4 Well finally, we have arrive at our goal! Of one of the seven mysteries of this school - the music room maze! sfx- Whooooaaah —84 -1 Have you steeled yourself… Excuse us! sfx- Sliiide hw- Just like that?! Hey! That’s abrupt! -2 I’m haven’t prepared myself yet -3 Ruuumble —85 -1 Ruuuumble —86 -1 Ruuumble -2 Glance -3 Who… Are you two? —87 -1 Earpick Sensei 4th Step The Girl Who Can’t Be Seen Marutsuki Takaaki —88 Why… did you come here? Sorry to intrude -2 I’m Mitsunose Wataru. -3 This is 3rd year Kashima Reiko-senpai. She’d like to help you go to heaven. sfx- Jolt Eh?! Eh? -4 Wasn’t that what you meant by solving the mysteries? sfx- Whisper hw- True, but… Y-yes, that’s the objective! -5 Um… sfx- Rummage Rummage —89 -1 sfx- Flap Spirit who has returned to earth! sfx- Booom You will appear before me! -2 sfx- Flop Ah! -3 Senpai? —90 -1 Go to heaven…? After I’ve been taking pains to keep people out? No way. Not going to happen… sfx- Uh -2 Since I’m not done practicing! —91 -1 Jyyyyaang -2 Whaa —92 -1 Nnng…. sfx- Stab Senpai?! Jyaaaang -2 This is completely different from the dizziness I felt in the hall. sfx- Prickle sfx- Squeeze -3 What is that sound? ###bold or italicize “is” hw- Hm? sfx- Whooaaao -4 I see. —93 -1 sfx- Poof Odango-chan! -2 Where have you been all this… sfx- Stare -3 It seems like Kashima-san doesn’t have spiritual affinity. Eh? That’s crazy… —94 -1 She can’t see me… And maybe all she hears is noise instead of the piano? -2 She could see Sensei, though. Sensei’s not a ghost. -3 Mitsunose-san…? Senpai, don’t tell me… sfx- Whooeeaao -4 You can’t see them? sfx- Twitch -5 Th-th-this is my first time with this stuff, so… I’ve worked hard, and tried to train my eyes, but… -6 Um Um —95 -1 I can’t see any piano… -2 You can’t even see that… Sniff —96 -1 My practice… -2 I won’t let you interfere! sfx- Baaaan Wha? What is… sfx- Roll -3 We’re falling! Dan Da da Ja Ja -4 sfx- Splat sfx- Whooaooo sfx- Ugh -5 Owie… Mmph -6 sfx- Ba Dan sfx- Roll Hey! —97 -1 Oh, craaaap! sfx- Stretch sfx- Whooeoaaa -2 Wataru! Senpai! -3 hw- Nn! sfx- Yank Senpai! -4 Tru… —98 -1 Trust me! Just jump, okay? Where?! -2 Of… sfx- Whack -3 cou… rse… sfx- Shove Hm? —99 -1 We’re going outside! sfx- Jump Whaaaaaaa —100 -1 We’re… gonna fall! -2 sfx- Woompf sfx- Hurk! -3 A… parachute…? I brought it just in case. sfx- Whew Just what kind of war are you prepping for? -4 What else did you bring in there? A barbaque… Dump that right now! sfx Drift Drift —5 Dump it?! sfx- Shwump —101 -1 sfx- Squeek And…? -2 I have no idea why you two are in gym clothes, but… I’m glad you made it back safely. -3 We had to parachute from the 3rd floor and ended up the track and field sand pit. We borrowed the showers to wash off. That sounds quite dicey. hw- What are we gonna do about panties? -4 But, yeah, that was cutting it close. sfx- Droop I’m very sorry… —102 -1 I guess I’m really not cut out for this after all. sfx- Clench -2 I wonder if that’s true. -3 Sensei…? sfx- Creak -4 sfx- Lift Whether your suited for it or not… With only a tenth of your life lived it’s too soon to tell… -5 10 percent… -6 I wonder if that means I’ll live to 170… hw- Great great great great great grandchild? Possibly, hm? -7 However… —103 -1 If I can’t see spirits, then there’s nothing I can do. -2 But you could hear the sound, right? sfx- Spin Y-yeah… But it was really faint… -3 If so, then it might be that you simply haven’t noticed yet. Hey! Heeey! Even if someone is calling your right in front of your face, You might be focused too much on this world, and won’t notice until they tap your shoulder. -5 It might be a matter of waiting for you to gain awareness of your hearing. sfx- Shhf —104 -1 Let’s clean your ears, hm? Let go to the other world! —105 -1 Nn… sfx- Scrape -2 sfx- Slide Ahhh… -3 sfx- Scrape… Nnn Ahh… Did that hurt? -4 No… sfx- Ah sfx- Twitch It’s… Ticklish, or… sfx- Scrap -4 sfx- Quiver It makes my back shudder! Woof! Feels so goood! Earpick-sensei 5th Step: Nice To Meet You Marutsuki Takaaki —107 -1 Shhaaaaa -2 Oo….. sfx- Shaaaaa -3 D-dad…? M-mommy… sfx- Shaaa —108 -1 Shaaaaaa …san -2 Mitsunose-san! sfx- Blink Hn? —109 -1 Huh? Done already? hw- Changed your clothes? hw- Yeah -2 It seems that way. But thanks to that, I can see clearly now. -3 Nice to meet you… But we have, haven’t we? Me? -4 Until recently, I was the evil spirit on the rooftop. Now I am a spirit bound to the Nurse’s Office. sfx- Bow I’m called Odango-chan (that’s what Wataru named me) and I’m her protector spirit. You’re pretty breezy about all that… —110 -1 The piano… -2 She’s practicing again, huh? Practice? -3 Ah, right. You couldn’t hear that. -4 Recap of what went on. Nurse’s Office -5 I see… Practice… hw- Mmm… Practice…? Senpai? —111 -1 Mitsunose-san. Yeah? -2 Let’s go. sfx- Snap To the music room. -4 Senpai… Did you also see the other world? If that’s what you call it? The world of the dead, right? —112 -1 Mitsunose-san, you were able to see spirits after you climbed, right? Climbed? No, I just carried Odango-chan there… Oh? Well, I see then. -2 There was bitter tea… There was a barefoot hike… It was exhausting. Hmmm… -3 Nn? -4 Did you have to climb naked? sfx- Whoa! What are you seeing?! Wha? When I climbed I wore the clothes given to me… sfx- Whoosh —113 -1 When I awoke, I wasn’t wearing anything. -2 Since you’re a soul when you go there, I guess that’s how it is. -3 Ooooo…. I-I guess so, huh? -2 That teacher… Just what is she, anyway? Mmmn… -3 This school’s hidden… sfx- Stare hw- Ngh -4 Protector Goddess? Maybe? Achoo! —114 -2 A school nurse getting a cold? Huh? -3 Mimi-sensei… -4 Those parachuting girls… You’re guiding them, right? If they get busted, suspension’s the least of their worries. sfx- Jumping High School Girls Ugh -5 If they’re like that, spirit’s might snuff them out, right? S… —115 -1 I’m sorry… I don’t forgive you. You know why I’m here, right? -3 Are you worried about those students? I’ve taken the precaution by making them take a charm ###bold or italicize “charm” If something happens I’ll go help out. Hmm -4 Even though you can’t leave this room? -5 sfx- Clench I’m ready… -6 Bam Music Room ###music room —116 -1 Music Room sfx- Sliiide -2 Ah, So that’s what you look like. Pause -3 You came again?! Urgh?! sfx- Clatter —117 -1 You didn’t get lost at all this time. sfx- Lean HmHmn! Once I learn something, I have it down! -2 You two… This time I’m going to hurt you bad! sfx- Doooom -3 hw- Wait up, wait up No, I’ve already had my life in danger once. sfx- Whoooaaaoo -4 Don’t look down on me! I’ll fling you right down the stairs… sfx- Whoaaeeeoo —118 -1 Even though I was trying to carry you to the 1st floor. When you suddenly jumped out the window, I have to admit, I was a bit surprised. -3 Yeah, you’re a strange one, alright. sfx- Ding Ding! If Senpai is calling you that, you’re certified! Hahah! -4 For being able to practice as much as you please… -5 Just what in the world are you working on? sfx- Hah —119 -1 When I was coming here, I felt dizzy. And the sound comes from the opposite direction of the music room. sfx- Whish sfx- Klack Klack -2 The tilting class room just when you play… sfx- Nnggh… -3 I’m finally starting to see the truth behind how things are getting warped. Don’t you get near me! sfx- Swish -4 That piano there… —120 Won’t you let me play it for a bit? —121 -1 Here. This is for you. sfx- Whish A student notebook? -2 If you’re a ghost holing up in our school, you should be able to sing our school song, right? -3 Ok, You sing it. —122 -1 Can you hear it? My sound… Earpick-sensei 6th Step You’ll be cursed, ok? Marutsuki Takaaki —123 -1 Hasumi-chan, you’re so good at piano! R-really…? -2 I want to sing with everyone too… -3 You can’t! sfx- Jolt -4 Hasumi-chan, you’re the only who who can play! Yeah, yeah, Kisaragi-san, we’re relying on you, so… —124 -1 She’s… Tone deaf. -2 I knew it. sfx- Creak -3 When you sing by yourself, you can’t keep the pitch. —125 -1 The sound we hear late at night, has to be you practicing, right? Once I was in this classroom, my dizziness went away. -2 It has to be because you stopped singing. -4 People who try to find the music room by listening to the melody lose their sense of direction and thus: the rumors of the “music room maze”. -5 You, yourself… Have been practicing so as to not find the exit. -6 I… I… —126 -1 Why is Hasumi-chan in the chorus club anyway? Why? Because she likes singing, right? -2 Peek -3 But it’s really a pain, to be honest. She doesn’t even realize she’s tone deaf. We’re the one’s being stupid for trying to take care of her. -4 Oh, come on, Kisuragi-san’s working really hard as accompanist, right? If anything, we’re just letting her play. Kitajima-senpai, you’re such a softy. Don’t give me that. -5 If my hands don’t work… -6 That’ll show them! —127 -1 I’m sorry Kisuragi-san, but this coming concert is a really important one for the school. I’m really happy you want to participate, but… You’ve been the accompanist all this time and haven’t practiced the signing, right? -2 I’m going to have Kitajima-san play the piano, So don’t worry and just rest up. Eh… -3 When you feel better, we’ll see you at school. sfx- Sliiide sfx- Klud -5 Drip -6 I… I’ve become unneeded… —128 -1 I just wanted to sing with everyone… That’s all! —129 -2 Sniff Sniff -3 Hey… you should haunt me. -4 Eh? -5 Wha?! Senpai! What are you saying?! Haunt you?! -6 I’ll correct your tone-deafness. -7 Hey Are you sure? Making that promise? —130 -1 sfx- Poof If it doesn’t work out, you’ll be cursed! -2 In any case, there’s no guarantee a spirit can be fixed… Odango-chan? -3 No need to worry. -4 Once I learn something… I never forget it. -5 That goes for how to teach it, too. —131 -1 The vocal training my father forced on me was rather strict. -2 But that’s only if you choose to haunt me. -3 I… -4 I… —132 -1 I’m not going to the other side until I fix my tone-deafness… -2 That suits me just fine. It would trouble me if you escaped my special training. -4 Are you sure…? —133 -1 Senpai, dawn’s about to break. Let’s go back to the nurse’s office and get our stuff. -2 The nurse’s office? You came from there? Yeah. -3 I see… Then I’ll send you off. sfx- Shhf -4 sfx- Uwaaah Not the falling thing! -5 Da daaan —134 -1 sfx- Silence Hhn? -2 I moved us next to the nurse’s office. Music Room ### over door Nurse’s Office ### sign sticking out from wall Whaaah?! You can do that kinda stuff?! -3 Huh? -4 sfx- Glide Glide —135 -1 That girl… She was in the nurse’s office before… sfx- Glide Glide -2 Um… -4 I’m Kisuragi Hasumi. Please don’t forget your promise… ok? —136 -1 Indeed! I will certainly keep it! -2 Who was that girl coming out of the nurse’s office? ###underpanel —137 -2 Whoooaaa -3 Kya Kya -4 So that’s the beautiful senpai that’s recently been playing the piano in the old school building. Nita-kun! -5 Did you come to listen to Kashima-senpai’s playing too? Naah Lookin’ for the nurse. But she’s not in the old school building either. Hmm… —138 -1 Marutsuki Takaaki Earpick-Sensei 7th Step: The Real World And The Other World —139 -1 sfx- Clamor Clamor ### that is the smallest soccer field ever… -3 Huh? -4 Hm? sfx- Scritch Scratch -5 Ka-whack sfx- Pwheeet -6 sfx- Roll Roll Whew -7 Ah -8 Chooh! Nita-kun sure is into cats, as usual. —140 -1 Not really. Every time I try to help them, nothing good happens. A senpai collapsed, I got dragged into helping, and practice’s brutal! I see. -2 Well, I guess it wasn’t all bad. sfx- Stick Paste Hokay, all done. -3 Thanks! You did a great job! Because you had someone great working on you. I come here a lot. -4 Ah- Normally people don’t come to the old school building, hm? sfx- Ufufu sfx- Excited If you get hurt again, lemme know! -5 I’ll even give you a massage! It tickles! Stay away from me! I’m just messing with you. That’s even worse! —141 -1 Ruuumble Thud -2 Oh? -3 Earpick-sensei. H-hello. sfx- Whish Whish Good afternoon. -4 I’m sorry. Are you not feeling well? sfx- Boing Ah! No! I’m fine! -5 Mitsunose, later! sfx- Whoosh hw- Thanks again Sure —142 -1 A classmate? Yeah. -2 Am I interrupting something? sfx- Pour Nope. Not at all. -3 Back when we were hiding from the patrolling teacher, I saw it, but… Just wondering what’s on the other side of that door… sfx- Sliiiide -4 …you can take a look, but if you mess around you might not come back. So just look, ok? Sure. hw- So you’ll let me? -5 So what do we have here? sfx- excited -6 Creaaak —143 -1 Wha? sfx- Dooooom -2 Shhhhhhhhh -3 Wha?! sfx- Roll hw- Heya! —144 -1 Mitsunose-san? sfx- Jolt Hya! -2 Wha… What seems to be the matter? hw- you scared me. Mm-nn. It’s nothing. -3 Are you done with piano-chan’s practice? hw- I’ll sit here If we push too hard on Hasumi-chan’s practice, it’ll injure her throat. I see. -4 My own voice. Listen to it a lot. Scales. Remember them. -5 sfx- Stare What? hw- Here hw- Thank you -6 So that room. It’s really that kind of room? ###bold or italicize “that” That room? We can plainly hear you. Yes. It’s dangerous, so try to stay out, ok? —145 -2 Fufu -3 Grr Earpick-sensei, you just added a mystery to your list. -4 Speaking of mysteries… -5 When I first visited the music room next door, At first, I couldn’t see the piano at all. -6 But the girls who were gathering before, They could see it, and they could hear me playing as well. -7 Do they all have a spiritual affinity? sfx- Quiver Quiver ### an tea leaf/stalk floating upright is a sign of good luck —146 -1 That piano… The fact the it existed before, perhaps was getting overwritten. -2 Getting overwritten? -3 A time paradox…? hw- What’s that? Senpai, you know your stuff! -4 With both the appearance of the piano, and the way the classroom tilted and moved space… Hasumi-san was able to change the past. However, it was our recognition of that chance that fixed that “reality” in place. Something like that. The classroom’s tilted past… hw- What’s what now? ### middle right balloon I wonder if you’ve hit on something. Although what you two experienced, and how her dream changed, are both just the upper levels of reality. Original history ### upper left of flow chart Change! hw- In actuality, the piano was there to begin with The world with the piano in it ###right branch Actual piano ### right piano The world with no piano in it ###left branch Phantom piano ###left piano hw- Ah, I want a piano ### by hasumi-chan I can see it! ###middle bottom I can’t see it! ###bottom left —147 -1 The place we call the “real world”… “Heaven” and “Sukhavati”… and the any of the “other worlds” are just dreams of the creators. In addition to various agreements, they share ownership of the “outer’ worlds. The real world and the afterworlds all have their existences stacked one on top of the other. It’s often said that ghost can pass through walls. They are just shifting from one stacked world to the next. -2 sfx- The worlds of the creators hw- Yay! Yay! Same place ###box -3 sfx- The real world sfx- Vooop hm- Boo! —148 -1 With a place like the old school building at night, which is a location where it’s easy to “form a lingering attachment” and “in a state where there’s few people”, The old school building becomes a “place where you can encounter strange phenomenon”. That’s the principle behind it. -2 The amount of spirits remains the same, but as the amount of humans decreased, the relative balance shifted. sfx- Hnngh sfx- One Two! One Two! When you get close to a wandering spirit, you can get distracted by their surroundings. -3 Since memories of those encounters infringe on the rules of this world’s reality, they often ends up dismissed as dreams or rumors.
 hw- Let’s just sweep it under the rug hw- Sounds good. hw- Nooo hw- A strong affinity to spirits When someone has a strong spiritual affinity, and they resist that interference, To resolve that contradiction, the memories often gets changed to “the abandoned schoolhouse” and the “music room with forgotten piano”. They then believe that it’s always been that way. -4 So, uh… Does that mean it’s our fault that there’s a piano there now? sfx- Voop About half? Since spirits and humans are both interfering with each other, it’s nothing to worry much over. -149 -1 Since events that can warp reality like accidents or natural disaster can happen, it’s good to be at least a little cautious. hw- This world is no good -2 You’re already personally experienced the power of an angry demon, right? Yes. sfx- That is… -3 Definitely true. If… there was a human, or a ghost, who were to intentionally try to cause that… sfx- Munch Munch —150 -1 sfx- Chomf From the outside that might look like witchcraft… -2 This school’s particularly easy to generate mysteries like that. sfx- Hah? When did she get there? sfx- Whish -3 I wasn’t a student at this school… But before I knew it, I was here, practicing music. I think there is something that make it easy for spirits to gather here. sfx- Rip —151 -1 Be careful. It’s not just lingering attachments that bind spirits to this world. -2 Whoooeeaooo ###goes down to panel 4 -3 Resentments and implacability… And there are other, more dangerous anchors as well… Science Room ###sign -4 sfx- Sliiide —152 -1 Are you… The thinking man in the science room? I-I… sfx- Whooaeeaaa -2 Glance -3 You’ve done well to come. Let me cast a spell on you. -4 To the next of the seven mysteries! —153 -1 Ear’s Gift Earpick-sensei Serialized monthly ###all above panel Includes new content and preliminary sketches! First volume on sale April 24! ###vertical -2 This is… -2 Wah! sfx- Rub Rub -3 Nyan A kitty? -4 Huh… —154 -1 The Nurse’s offices is a gathering place for maidens. Marutsuki Takaaki —155 -1 8th Step: Captured Earpick-sensei This world and that world are connected. —156 -1 Earpick-Sensei ###above panel Are you awake? Yes. -2 Whoa! sfx- Peek -3 The patrolling teacher is gone now. You’re going to the science room now, right? Seems that way. -4 Senpai! Please wake up! sfx- Zzz Zzz Coffee… I’m going to smack the person who sent me just the top half of a pic of coffee flavored ice cream… Just what kind of dream are you having? -5 Shall we let her sleep until morning? That could be good. sfx- Blink -6 The time! What time is it now?! sfx- Whonk sfx- Rarin’ to go —157 -1 Mitsunose-san! Are you still sleeping?! ###bold or italicize “still” sfx- Shake We’re going to go check out the thinking man in the science room! sfx- Shake I’m gonna blow up your phone with pics of ice cream… -2 Come back safe, ok? sfx- Flirt Snuggle sfx- Ufufu -3 We’re getting used to being at school when it’s dark, huh? -4 Isnt’ Odango-chan coming with us today? Hm? She’s here. sfx- Step Step -5 Here sfx- Poof —158 -1 She’s gotten pretty small. hw- Power saver mode Even so, she’s still connected to sensei. If something happens, she’ll help out or something. sfx- Step Step She’s like a some sort of radio operator. -2 What about piano-chan, isn’t she coming? Ah, Hasumi-chan? I can’t use my power without a piano. I’ll stay on standby in the music room. I see. -4 But come to think of it… The thinking man in the science room is kind of strange, huh? sfx- Step Step A thinking man? That image is more like the art room…. The science room brings to mind an anatomical model. -5 Even so, this spirit lost it’s life in a real experiment gone wrong. —159 -1 During class? No, seems like he was doing sketchy experiments on his own. Thanks to that, he’s got a pretty crappy reputation. -2 Thanks to that failure, it became a lingering attachment and he got stuck in this world. sfx- Crack He was the brightest person at the school. He must have had an enormous ego. -3 hw- Whoa Mitsunose-san? I was just thinking, “wow, you come prepared”. -4 Actually… I didn’t research this all by myself. sfx- Click —160 -1 I have a friend who really knows this ghost story. hw- The nurse’s office in the old school building… hw- Goodness It’s thanks to her that I got interested in urban legends. -2 Hmm hw- Who would have thunk it? Doesn’t that girl want to come? That’s challenging… -3 She’s frail, and often has to miss school. I see. Guess that’s that then. -4 Ok… We’ve arrived. Science Room ###sign sfx- Weeeooohh Logic ###kanji on door. This is actually the first kanji in the compound 理科 (science), but by itself means logic or reason. This is ambiguous to whether the author wants it to indicate “science” or “logic”, but until i get more evidence, I’m going with logic. No need to make this a TL note. —161 -1 We got here just fine this time. hw- We did it hw- Ufufu You get results if you don’t get lost. -2 Ok, let’s prepare ourselves to… Excuse me! sfx- Sliiide You jump right in! hw- just like last time! -3 Hm? -4 Silence —162 -4 No one’s here, huh? Maybe I just can’t see it like last time? No. I can’t see anything either. I don’t feel anything. But this is the science room, right? sfx- Nnn? Yeah, it’s the science room, alright. Science Room ###sign -5 Ah… -6 sfx- Tap Oh, c’mon, you two… —163 -1 The next day. ###box Principal sfx- Ding Dong sfx- It’s Lunchtime. -2 Remaining at school, late at night? sfx- Grim hw- I warned you, right? You’re not allowed to do that without permission, right? -3 Yes. hw- You did say that sfx- Bow We’re very sorry. sfx- Slump -4 hw- Ok, showdown! What would the two of you do if something happened? -5 Come on, now… It’s ok, right, Principal Emma? Vice Principal Malcome… —164 -1 There are students sneaking in and we haven't’ been able to stop it… But recently, the number of students getting lost in the old building has fallen. -2 These two might be able to solve the recent increase in students suffering injury. sfx- Flap sfx- Shock Eh…? Vice Principal… -3 What’s this about injury? sfx- Tsk -4 Over the last several days, there have been a number of students from sports clubs who have fallen suddenly ill. We’ve ascertained that they have snuck into the school at night. sfx- Sigh… There’s been a history of similar events happening in the past too. -5 Due to the number of occurrences of the illness, there’s no doubt that something is going on in the old school building. Since Piano-chan has stopped creating the maze… The number of students getting into incidents has increased? -6 Gulp… —165 -1 Principal Emma… Can’t you please allow us to explore at night? It might be my fault that the number of illnesses is increasing. -2 They might continue to increase… Mitsunose-san…? -3 That someone might get hurt because of me? I absolutely can’t stand it. I think that we may be able to solve this. (Though I’ve got no basis for that) -4 Please…. sfx- Twist Twist -5 Fufu —166 -1 Ok, how about this? I’ll be your advisor. What?! Don’t decide that on your own! hw- Hey! We’ll gather members along the way, But for now, there’s no problem, right? -2 The club activities take place in the nurse’s office in the old school building, yes? sfx- Pat -3 So, it’s ok, right Principal? sfx- Yank sfx- Squeeze Squeeze Yes… Ok. -4 Mitsunose… Yes! You have the key to the nurse’s office, right? -5 Hah? -6 I don’t know how you obtained it, but… sfx- Whhsh That’s the school’s spare. Please return it. Ah… yes…. I’m sorry. —167 -1 Here -2 Grab hw- Messing around?! -3 Sorry about this. Come here after school. We need to talk. -4 Mitsunose-san…? sfx- Fidget Fidget Eh? Ah! Mm-nn, it’s nothing! —168 -1 Ok, you have your task. -2 Well, then. The club’s formed? Then, we should head back to class. sfx- All business -3 By the way… hw- Not to cast doubt, but… -4 Can’t we call the “Urban legend research club” the “Occult club” instead? Well! The “Occult Club” has an ominous right to it, right? R-really…? The urban legend is plenty ominous Eh? sfx- Ding Dong —171 -1 Oho. So this is the old school building nurse’s office. Sfx- Bam -2 You’ve never been here? hw- Even though you’re the vice principal? Well… I’ve been focusing on my work. -3 So, the nurse isn’t here, uh… sfx- Shhhak What was her name? -2 Kannade. Earpick Sensei The vice principal is now the advisor. The Urban legend research club officially starts moving! —172 -1 Kannade Mimi-sensei. Right, right. That was the name. Step 9: Kannade Mimi Marutsuki Takaaki Earpick-sensei ###vertical Ear’s gift ### white letters —173 -1 Are you sure you’re ok with it? hw- Throw it to me -2 sfx- Ok… This is within standard deviation. Measurement error. hw- I cut my own hair all the time. sfx- Snip -3 If you’d like, I can do your hair next time. sfx- Yank -4 Do I look weird? Not… weird… Science room ###sign -5 You look like an octopus. It’s pretty cute. sfx- Octo… Pus? hw- Can I just go home now? —174 -1 Ok, done. sfx- Paste -2 Put a lock of your hair in a black envelop. Tuck it behind the heart of the anatomy model. Then come back after midnight. hw- I’m relying on you, Mr. model. I heard it from someone who did it. So no mistake. -3 You’ve got quite an info network. hw- There’s someone on the basket ball team who knows I managed to hear about them from someone on the soccer team. -4 And then it was a matter of using my conversational charms. Won’t you tell me about it? Yes… Way to go, Kashima-senpai. -5 Ok, let’s head back to the nurse’s office. hw- Okay sfx- Sliiide —175 -1 So you knew…? Sensei’s name? Hm? I just learned it from the principal. I see. -2 So that’s why you were late today, huh? hw- Hmph Huh? sfx- Twinge -3 Are you, uh… mad? No… I just wanted to be there too. sfx- Grump Grump Sorry hw- At least you’re honest -4 Mitusnose Wataru. 2nd year, class D of Meifuchuu High School. Principal ###sign You lost both parents in a traffic accident six years ago. Currently you live with your cousin, just the two of you. Is that correct? —176 -1 Your favorite food is omurice. You hate unpeeled apples. Your three sizes are, from the top: 81cm, 6… All correct. Can you stop now? -2 How long have you been able to see ghosts? hw- Um… How long… it’s uh… I just noticed recently, but… -3 But my relatives would say things like “it must be an after effect of the accident”. hw- She’s starting at the wall again… sfx- Woooo sfx- Stare Maybe we should have her checked out? Maybe since then? -4 It’s common for someone with a near death experience to become sensitive to spirts. So… hw- I see… —177 -1 How much do you know about Kannade-sensei? Kannade-sensei? sfx- Who? -3 Wait, wait… You’ve been to the nurse’s office, right? sfx- Clatter hw- Eh? Ah -4 Maybe you mean Earpick-sensei? Earpick-sensei? -5 You haven’t heard anything from her? It’s not like I haven’t, but… -6 Demons… hidden door… The other world… I see. I get the picture. —178 -1 You. On top of her head. sfx- Poof Go to the nurse’s office right now. Make sure to hide certain things from the Vice Principal. -2 Certain things? Kannnade Mimi. The one you call Earpick-sensei. -3 She’s the one who has you attached to Mitsunose, right? sfx- Nod If you say “go ahead and sleep”, she’ll understand. sfx- Pawhoof -4 sfx- Whish So you could see Odango-chan? sfx- Hmph I’m an adult, after all. -5 I’ve made one promise to the vice principal. hw- Is that the issues here? Normally, you and Kashima would go to the nurse’s office together. If you’re too late, he’ll get suspicious. I’ll just tell you the critical points. So no questions. 
 —179 -1 Ka-chak -2 Whew -3 “Earpick-sensei” and “Odango-chan”, huh? -4 You’re not going, vice principal? sfx- Night ###upper right sfx- Ruuuuumble -5 I’ll do my work here. Take care and come back soon. sfx- Ha Ha Ha -6 Is this ok, vice principal? It’s fine. You can go home. Ebisawa-kun, right? It’s Kanisawa… Okay. —180 -1 Listen up, you two. Even though it’s club activities, don’t stay up too late. I won’t let you sleep in class. Okaaay! -2 It’s weird being here are night with permission. sfx- Step Step hw- The lights are even on… Yeah, you said it. hw- Hahaha -3 sfx- Step Step So is Earpick-sensei on the other side of the door? hw- Yeah -4 sfx- Th-thump Th-thump It’s seems that way. sfx- Tappa Tap -5 sfx- Wooeaaah I don’t really get what’s going on, but… Since the vice principal’s in the nurse’s office, I guess it’s ok. sfx- Whooeeeaaa —181 -1 Whooeaaaaaah -2 A barrier? There’s something like that there, so she said it’d be ok, but… sfx- Wheeeaaaaooo -4 And Odango-chan’s hidden there just in case. If something happens, she’s supposed to let the principal know. sfx- Stare sfx- Tappa Tappa —182 -2 Ok, then… sfx- Bam! Science Room ###sign Let’s try this again! -3 sfx- Sliiide Logic ### on door, cut off Eh? -4 It’s dark. sfx- Silence -5 This is the science room, right? They must have the blackout curtains pulled. hw- The moonlight’s not entering… hw- Where’s the lights? —183 -1 Just so. Wah! sfx- Flash -2 Since you were so late in coming, I took liberties to prepare. sfx- Bam sfx- Smirk —184 -1 Earpick-sensei ### above panel You are… The thinking man in the science room, right? -2 Yes. Its seems that’s what some call me. -3 We’ve been looking for you! Why are you targeting only sport club members? hw- I heard they end up feeling sick! Targeting? Ah… They come to me all on their own. -4 As long as I can gather data, that’s fine by me. All I’m doing is giving my clients medicine to achieve their goals. -5 If someone wants to crush their club senpai, I give them the medicine to do that. If people want to curse others, they dig their own grave by become cursed themselves. Hahaha —185 -1 Just like this child here. She told me she wanted a better body. So I provided her with the body of her dreams. -2 sfx- Bam You’re the girl who told us about the charm! From the basketball club! -3 Since her body breaks down when she exceeds her limits, more research is needed. -4 
What did you do to her? If she’s in danger, we have to tell sen… Hngh -5 sfx- Jolt —186 -1 Mitsunose-san? sfx- Pat Pat Something… Hm? I guess it’s nothing. -2 Rest easy. sfx- Menacing -3 Since it only acts on the soul, you won’t fail a doping test. -4 sfx- Fidget Fidget Of course, from someone’s hair, I can formulate something for their soul. Power? Stamina? Anything. I can raise your intelligence. —187 -1 Welcome! To my laboratory! sfx- Whooosh -2 Let me cast a spell on you. sfx- Ruuuuumble Something’s going on with Wataru’s body…?! —188 -1 Magic? Just what can you do? Wha? Mitsunose-san! What are you saying?! -2 Sorry… You’ve been acting strange for a while now. Is something the matter? sfx- Vvvvvvmmmmm -3 Mm-nn. I’m ok. sfx- Weeooaaah -4 I can do anything. sfx- Wheeeaooa sft- Tap -5 sfx- Slide The two of them have found the thinking man… what next? ###vertical —189 -1 Are you aware of the placebo effect? sfx- Clink -2 sfx- Clack You could say it’s an illness that comes from one’s feelings. The heart, you could say, is something that is made from one’s body. sfx- Blub blub blub sfx- Psshhh And the heart… -3 Is in the soul. sfx- Tap -4 To sum up… If you can fool the soul… sfx- Plurp pop burble A grade school student could topple an olympian. Even a gorilla could become an artist. —190 -1 And the existence called Mitsunose Wataru can overwrite anything she chooses. sfx- Poof -3 Flip —191 -1 10th Step: Request of the hair Earpick-sensei Hold it right there! Marutsuki Takaaki —192 -1 Ear’s Gift sfx- Chack sfx- Gleam —193 -1 A gun?! sfx- Bam It’s just a water pistol, see? Although it is filled with holy water. sfx- Fufu -2 Holy water… The famous water imbued with the power to dispel spirits. -3 With this, I can be effective against spirts even if my spiritual affinity is weak. sfx- Gulp —194 -1 Since it seems your lingering attachment won’t allow you to release the students from their illness… If we can’t work through this with negotiation, I have no alternative but to exorcise you. Oho? sfw- Whooooeaaa -2 If you’ll pardon me… sfx- Yank -3 Nn sfx- Kiss Nn —195 -2 Spt -3 Plick -5 sfx- Glare -6 You. Kashima Reiko, if I’m not mistaken. So you knew. You’re famous, after all. Accomplished with the pen and sword. Gifted with beauty and brains. With the ability to take initiative. —196 -1 Must be nice to be someone born with talent. I always have a seat prepared for you. What are you talking about. -2 Listen. How about a game? -3 You can go ahead and shoot, if you want… sfx- Mitsunose-san? sfx- Whish But I take all those students with me. Along with Mitsunose-san. sfx- Shake Shake Eh? —197 -1 Just like a straw effigy… If you put a part of your target’s body in it… When you injure the effigy, the real body receives the pain. -2 A soul with a vessel is just like a curse that binds you to this world by your lingering attachment. No, you’re… sfx- Clack Clack -3 Indeed. When one offers their hair to the Thinking Man… It binds them to me. sfx- Vvveaaaoooaaw —198 -1 No… That can’t… I did say I would give you a chance, did I not? -2 This girl from the basketball club. sfx- Doom sfx- Swish -3 Nnngh… If you win against her. -4 I will release the other students… and Mitsunose Wataru as well. —199 -1 sfx- Bam ### bleeds onto next page The rules are one on one. First one that gets to ten. This is the science room, right? -2 If the ball is stolen, or if you score, possession changes. sfx- Whapsh —200 -2 I understand. If I win, you undo the curses everyone is under. Yes. Indeed. sfx- Whap -3 But… —201 -1 But if you lose… sfx- Whoosh -2 You will go to the other side with me. —202 -1 Clank -2 What an absurd contest. hw- A weird delusion! sfx- Spin Sfx- Tromp Tromp sfx- Pat Pat Win or lose, I will go the the other world, right? sfx- Heh Heh -3 If my doping technique wins, in addition to ascending to heaven, don’t you think I deserve a reward? “Doping”…? Are you saying “that’s not true ability’? ###bold or italicize “that’s” -4 Are you saying that they are not trying hard enough? You only can think that because you have enough talent that you aren’t criticized by the world. -5 But the ability to cheat without being caught is also a talent. The courage and determination to bet ones own life to get results should also be applauded. —203 -1 Earpick-sensei sfx- Flap -2 That’s why I grant the wishes of students who have the courage to come forward. If they pay the price, I wish to show that they can leave a greater mark on the world than those just born with talent. sfx- Wheeeaaaoo -2 Sfx- Weeeaaoe -3 Weaaaaaooooh -5 Yeah, I’m not going to be able to win like this, Noku-kun. —204 -1 And… So… We’ll play… And lastly, on the bench will be Tamatsuki. Eh…? -2 But coach, I was supposed to go in for Izumi, since she’s out with an injury… -3 I called in a 3rd year, Kashima, to help out. -4 Everyone’s watching Kashima-senpai. hw- Go for it! -5 But… Senpai didn’t look at me… What is the view that senpai sees? ###vertical —205 -1 Tamatsuki-san… The drug you are taking now takes you to your limit. So why can’t I win? sfx- Wheeeaoooo -2 Because Kashima Reiko operates beyond her limits. sfx- Wheeaooo -3 Her head fakes and sidesteps. The moment of her shot. She unleashes a power that is higher than her specs should give her. The necessary exertion. The body capable of responding. Her brain able to make instant decisions. -4 She’s more than I expected. I absolutely want to see what makes her up. -6 Noku-kun… Are you also not looking at me? —206 -1 Ok, fine. Give me medicine that will let me win against her. hw- Her Not possible. It’s a question of which gives out first, body or heart. -2 You want to win, right? sfx- Rage hw- Hm? -4 Let me win this for you. sfx- Whssh -5 sfx- Clench So please… -6 Gulp —207 -1 Phwoo sfx- Ruuuumble -2 Senpai. It’s my turn. Ball please. Ah, yes. sfx- Tromp Tromp Tromp -3 sfx- Whap sfx- Bounce -4 sfx- Squeek Here I go… —208 -1 Whashoom -2 Boooom —209 -1 Earpick Sensei Ear’s Gift 11th Step: Inside Wataru Marutsuki Takaaki —210 -1 Thud -3 Huff Huff -4 Ok, your turn, Senpai! sfx- Ruuuumble -5 Dribble Dribble Squeek —211 -1 I may also be… coming to my limit… Mitsunose-san What? What is your desire? sfx- Wheeeoooaa -2 You have my hair and I’m bound to you. Can’t you see into my heart? Magic? Just what can you do? -3 I… have seen your heart. -4 Science room -5 This hair… Belongs to Mitsunose Wataru. sfx- Flop —212 -1 I was sure that it would be Kashima Reiko. Are you disappointed? hw- What an amazing color. I’m just interested. -2 I won’t speak of Kashima-senpai to you anymore. After all, I have peered into your heart, hm? sfx- Hmph -3 Well then, I need to prepare for their arrival. sfx- Gulp Me too… -4 I have to dress for the occasion. -6 aaaaaaaa -7 Shhhhaaaaaaa —213 -1 Where…? sfx- Shhhaaaaa -2 Shhhaaaaa -3 Are you Mitsunose Wataru? You left me an offering. sfx- Shhhaaaaa -4 What are you talking about? But this is Wataru’s heart, though. ###bold or italicize “is” sfx- Shhhaaaaa Just what is this…? -5 Ahh. Did she get cursed again? Must be, right? —214 -1 Well, take your time. sfx- Shhhhaaaa But if you plan to kill her, I’ll toss your ass right out. Sorry, but that’s the promise I made. -2 Mitsunose… inside of your heart… you weren't’ there. What do you mean? -3 I don’t know. There are still things in this world that not even I know about. -4 Clang Shoof —215 -1 Urg… sfx- Thud sfx- Whump -2 Huh? -3 Wheeze Wheeze -4 H-hey! Are you ok? Eh? Yeah. -5 Wobble Wobble -6 Glomp! —216 -1 Let’s stop this already. There’s no reason to push it this far. -2 A reason? There is, right? -4 You’re now looking at me, Kashima-senpai. ###bold or italicize both “You’re” and “me” —217 -2 Huff Huff Huff Huff -3 Wheeze Wheeze -4 The next possession decides it… Nn Senpai still might be able to turn it around. That’s not what I’m talking about. -5 Unlike Kashima Reiko, Tamatsuki-san is using all five senses at full power. sfx- Zing And the strain of that is about to suddenly come due. Either her body or her heart will collapse and then it’s over. -6 Although she likely intends to fight on. See? —218 -1 Shut up, already! I can hear everything! sfx- Bam -2 All I have to do I make this next point, right? I can read each of senpai’s glances. sfx- Stretch Stretch Her breathing and the rhythm of her breath doesn’t escape my hearing. -3 I can feel the dimples in the ball in each of my fingertips. sfx- Th-thump Th-thump There’s no way I can fail. -4 Senpai… Here I come… Damning herself with heart and soul…! ###vertical ### the next pages are from the tankobon and don’t match up with the magazine scans here.