Contents

Futon š 3

Wooden Spirit 11
Тотю • Red Turtleneck 41
Gentle Goodbye . = sen Б
Dissection-chan nn 105
МЕТ ЛС;

Magami Nanakuse EE kau 165

Whispering Woman -.......... -= 197
Afterword .....--.-- ОЕ 222
 GS

+:.1S TERRIFIED
OF SOMETHING
AND НЕ WON'T
COME OUT
FROM UNDER
THE FUTON.
 C'MON,
TOMIO...
HONESTLY,
WHAT’S THE

THIS WORLD
IS JAM-
PACKED WITH
DARK NATURE
SPIRITS/

THERE...
LOOK, YOU CAN’T
THEY’RE SEE
THERE TOO! THEM?! |

HURRY AND
НОЕ! GET
UNDER THE
FUTON//
 IN THIS STATE,
EVENTUALLY, HE STOPPED
HE STOPPED LEAVING THE
DOING APARTMENT
EVEN THAT AND REFUSED
AND BEGAN ТО Go ТО ТНЕ
TO WEAR PSYCH симс.
DIAPERS.

AT FIRST, НЕ
AND OF OCCASIONALLY
COURSE, I CAME OUT FROM
WAS THE ONE UNDER THE
WHO TOOK FUTON TO GO TO
CARE OF HIM. THE BATHROOM,

um1 | |
(a=
2 M
2
=
 woman
A
|| THIS ONE 1
WAS NIGHT MAS са
PASSING || WHEN YOU SE ONE WHO
eы; 3 WERE /7 SUMMONED
ол; 2 ёй) HER HERE!

CREEPY, SO
I BROKE IT
OFF PRETTY
QUICK, BUT
SHE REALLY
IS A WITCH.

A MONTH
PASSED
BEFORE I k
RETURNED
 Í
и
MN

AUST

М SPONGY E
| MATERIAL WAS АМ
— UNKNOWN MOLD
WITH STRONG |)
HALLUCINOGENIC RESCENCE
EFFECTS. 4 НА
4 COLONIZED
THE FUTON.

FUTON/END
11
 LAST YEAR, IT WAS МУ HOUSE НАЗ
SELECTED TO BE А PEDIGREE;
A REGISTERED IT'S BEEN IN
NATIONAL TANGIBLE MY FAMILY FOR
CULTURAL GENERATIONS.
PROPERTY.

THE NOBLE
WOODEN
BUILDING
WITH ITS
THATCH
ROOF IS MY
FATHER'S
PRIDE AND
JOY.

12
 ||
BUT, DAD, TO
BE HONEST, WE'LL HAVE
REGULAR
VISITORS TOO,
SO WE HAVE
TO KEEP THE
PLACE CLEAN.

PUBLIC SEE
THE HOUSE.

WHO’S THAT?
MEGUMI, GO
AND SEE.

18
 I'M STUDYING
ARCHITECTURE
AT UNIVERSITY. I'M SORRY
I HEARD ABOUT FOR INTRUDING
YOUR WONDERFUL UPON YOU LIKE
HOUSE, AND SO I THIS. MY NAME
CAME BY HOPING 15 МАМАМ! KINO.
YOU MIGHT ALLOW
ME TO TAKE
A LOOK
АТМ.

COULDN'T
YOU
MAKE AN
EXCEPTION
?
 MEGUMI, LET OUR
GUEST IN. SHE'S
COME ALL THIS WAY.

THIS
HOUSE
WAS
BUILT IN
1854,
= THE
(WE'RE DIRECT FIRST
DESCENDANTS YEAR
OF THE OF THE
BUILDER; OUR ANSEI
FAMILY НАБ |, ERA.
MAINTAINED
ITFOR
GENERATIONS.

IT'SA
WONDERFUL
BUILDING.
 AND I CAN
SOMEHOW, FEEL A
IGET NASCULINE
CHILLS STRENGTH IN
LOOKING THE JOISTS
AT THEM. IN THE
CEILING.
 “5 JUST М)
ACER МАМУ... ELEVEN
AND MYSELF | НОМ МАМУ ||ALTOGETHER.

I THINK IT'S
GOING то
BEAKEY
-
=
EVEN MORE
WONDERFUL
ELEMENT IN THAN ED
PROGRESS-
ING WITH MY | IMAGINED.
ARCHITEC-
TURE А 5
STUDIES. A | 5
I REALIZE Rs е
IT'S QUITE : - | =
SHAMELESS =
OF ME TO ASK | i
YOU THIS SO
SUDDENLY THE = 2
FIRST TIME I
VISIT, BUT... 4

UM
DELIGHTED
BY YOUR
VERY KIND
WORDS.
 WOULD
THOROUGHLY YOU
ENAMORED P E R
ALLOHWAPS
ME
TO BOARD
HERE FOR
A WHILE?

BUILDING’S
HISTORY

En
WHILE I’M
HERE, I'LL
TAKE CARE
OF YOU
A N
DAUDGHYTOEURR.

YOU'RE
REALLY
TWISTING
 MM-HMM. you JUST “=
IT’LL BE FINE THAT
FOR ALITTLE WOMAN
WHILE, IS
WON'T IT? DECIDED GOING
(7 TO LIVE
HERE?

AND SHE GOING AROUND

WAS MAKING TO OTHER
EYES AT PEOPLE'S
YOU, DAD. HOUSES AND
SHE WAS. TALKING ABOUT
HOW SEXY
THEY ARE.

ANDI
SHE SAYS DON'T
SHE'S GOING THINK IT'S
TO TAKE SUCH Å
CARE OF US. BAD DEAL
FOR YOU
EITHER.

SO YOU'LL
BE ABLE TO
CONCENTRATE
ON YOUR
STUDIES.

19
NOTHING’S DO NOT GET FINE, BUT LET
GOING TO R- INTO ANY KIND ME JUST SAY
HAPPEN RIDICULOUS/ OF WEIRD THIS, DAD.
BETWEEN RELATIONSHIP
05! WITH THAT
WOMAN!

TE
(E)

ху?

BUTI
REALLY AM
LOOKING nm
FORWARD
TO THIS. >

ar
STØTT р
SN в
EE ST

YOU'LL
BE USING
А ROOM | |
UPSTAIRS.

20
GOODNESS!
THIS LOVELY
ROOM?
 OH, THIS
IS REALLY
GOOD.

er å

И w JUST AS
5 IMPRESSION ah
OF HER 4
CHANGED. MANAMI
KINO TOOK
юм PERFECT
5 САВЕ ОР
IT WAS IN S EVERYTHING
LIEU OF FOR US.
RENT, BUT
IT WAS TO
THE POINT
WHERE WE ГЭ”
SHOULD № а
HAVE BEEN
PAYING
HER.

IT DIDN'T = =
TAKE MUCH | — bos
TIME AT ALL : ТНЕ 5АМЕ
BEFORE 2 THOUGHT.
THE TWO OF N
THEM MADE
THINGS
OFFICIAL.

I EVEN WONDERED
WHAT IT WOULD BE
LIKE IF SHE WERE
TO MARRY DAD.

99
 WE'RE МОТ. SO WHERE ARE
WHAT? ARE | МАМАМ! SAYS YOU GOING
YOU SURE, SHE WANTS 2 ON YOUR
TO STAYAT | HONEYMOON?
HOME.

ANYWAY, AFTER
THAT, FOR SOME
AND REASON, DAD
THEN, SUDDENLY SEEMED
ONE PRETTY DOWN.
NIGHT...
 ARE THINGS NOT HEY, DAD.
GOING WELL YOU HAVEN’T
WITH MANAMI? BEEN YOUR
USUAL SELF
С LATELY...

Is IT
REALLY THAT
WONDERFUL?

IT'SA Y
TANGIBLE THAT’S OUT OF В
CULTURAL THE BLUE! WHAT waq
ASSET, AND ARE YOU TALKING =
MORE THAN ABOUT? ISN'T IT?
THAT, IT’S
THE HOUSE
WE GREW
З. UP IN.

хуц

СУ
(
S
2) (S=
I)
二 一 2 \ Veg
"=
2
К З

94
 LATELY, THE 月 |
HOUSE... AR

HEY,
“U | WHERE IS
9 МАМАМ!
Gy ANYWAY?

PROBABLY Ф
UPSTAIRS
 SHE |J z WONDER \ Үс
2
REALLY IS IE SNE = R
A WEIRDO, DOING
AFTER THAT...
ALL...

AND...
SOMETHING ||`
2. SMELLS... |

ALMOST 77
228 HUHZ...A
2.

LIKE.. NES жи
ВАБ М
BREATH... (Å )

28
I SCRUB AND — / COME ON,
SCRUB AND А
ZZ DAD! DO
IT DOESN'T з 4 A THAT LATER!
COME OFF. E — IT'S AN
EARTH-
QUAKE!
N 1 N)
 VANDALIZING

er LIKE THIS!

INS N МУ
ED 42 |
= «Ў
қ |/
ч / |

Ам".масс N
А,
2 Л
NÅ
NyŠ
ПШ
SN
an
Қаш 2
A (NA) MA WHERE
IS SHE?!
 IHADA
4. DREAM...

xх
Z
=
 LET’S
JUST GET
OUT OF
HERE!

38
 II ІШ | H

| Ї! 1 !! и
| (AT Ще |
| 1
|
| (6
1
| Å
||

f | || ||
М

2727 Л Ш
|
 SHE WAS...A NO CLUE// MAYBE
PERVERT... SHE SHE GOT BORED Y ee
OUR HOUSE WOMAN
ISN’T OURS LUSTED AFTER OF THE HOUSE
BUILDINGS, AND AND LEFT...
THEY LUSTED OR ELSE SHE 60?
AFTER HER...

WHEN A “NATIONAL TREASURE" OR АМ

“IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY” HAS LOST
ITS VALUE AS SUCH, OR WHEN THERE IS ANY
OTHER SPECIAL REASON, THE MINISTER OF
EDUCATION, CULTURE, SPORTS, SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY MAY ANNUL SUCH DESIGNATION
| А5 “NATIONAL TREASURE” OR "IMPORTANT
CULTURAL PROPERTY.” (ARTICLE 29, LAW FOR
THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY)

PRAT |

WOODEN SPIRIT/END 40
SIMISS
 / YOU'RE

JUST GO
BACK
TO THAT
WOMAN
ALREADY.

I-I DONT
WANT TO

WANT TO
DIIIE! 6
 I CANT
STAND IT
ANYMORE.
WE'RE
THROUGH!
GET OUT!

TOMIO,
I'VE HAD IT
WITH YOUR
CHEATING!
 THE FORTUNE
SHE STOLE 4 2 TELLER WE
TOMIO’S 4 у S Í) MET WHEN WE
HEART... = WENT TO HAVE
N
ШЕ: = OUR FUTURE
5 TOGETHER
> М TOLD...

WH-WHAT DID
YOU SAY?! AND YOU YOU ARE
WILL SOON DEEPLY
SEPARATE. INCOMPAT-
IBLE.

TOMIO...?
THE SECOND /
I SAW YOU, , ў HEH. SO
I WAS HEAD | 5 \ YOU FINALLY
SIN
OVER HEELS. | \ BROKE UP.
 AND NOW
AE LOOK...
PI ща ~ THE MARK’S
> Ў NOT GOING
р; =
~ 2: AWAY...
| |
> Du y
S ) [2
а s ЕУ Z

I САМТ B =
GO я 1
OUTSIDE | || £
LIKE
THIS. \

ги.
SHOW you у ERE.) |
SOMETHING TH |
GOOD. 992
 THIS
“SOMETHING MAT,
GOOD”... Е
Å
>
Å 51
7 || i

| =

2) 2
N 2
| ке”

4
4
ША;
29 |

HMM? —

A А

297 IG

= As
Хаш Эл
шээж
4
==" = Ма

53
 НЕН НЕН/
GOODNESS!
WHATEVER )
$ COULD BE THE
MATTER?

TURTLENECK,
HMM?

OTHERWISE, HURRY AND

ТАЦ. FALL a SUPPORT ў
7 YOUR HEAD.
 LUCK! IF
THE NERVES
SLIP EVEN Å

MY HEAD'S
NO’
ATTACHED.
 “YY y" У
RIGHT M 7 INN THE FLESH OF THE

а
NOW, UA CROSS SECTION
HOLDING IT | [ | ОР MY NECK IS
DOWN WITH SWELLING, AND
EVERYTHING IT FEELS LIKE
THE NERVES AND
| "I BLOOD VESSELS
FEN: COULD COME
2 Ç КФ) APART AT ANY
SECOND.

IF MY HEAD
SLIPS JUST
ALITTLE
BECAUSE OF
THE SHAKING
IN MY HANDS,
ILL DIE...

КІМО ОР
BULLSHIT
IS THIS?

TRICKS YOU
PULL. I’M
NOT TAKING
YOU BACK.

R-RIGHT.
YOU'LL
BELIEVE ME
IF YOU SEE
THE CUT...
ІШ

ІШІ
OK <
 «HELLO?
I NEED
AN AMBU-

HIS HEAD’S

THE SOUND
OF MY CUT
VERTEBRAE
RUBBING
TOGETHER.

IF THEY
SLIP JUST
A LITTLE, MY
NERVES'LL
BE DISCON-
NECTED.
LONGER!
 you!
WHAT
DID YOU
DO TO
TOMIO?!

WH-WHAT ARE
YOU GOING
TO 20?
 I WONDER
WHAT NERVE
GOES ALONG
HERE.

THE А
MOMENTUM Эрт
WILL KNOCK =
HIS HEAD \ =
RIGHT OFF.
==

66
TOMIO, WE HAVE TO
HURRY AND GET
THE COCKROACH
OUT...
 «KKKXK<KTIODU

ҮЙ
 у PLAY
I'M NOT и 8 WITH
YOUR АХ 055555!
DADDY/ ! |
 AH! YOUR
HEAD’S
ATTACHED!!

AND YOU
JUST KEPT
DESPERATELY
HOLDING
ONTO IT, HUH,

BUT THE WITCH

DEFINITELY
EXISTED AND
REALLY DID CUT
YOUR HEAD
OFF...

MEMORY OF REGARDLESS
THE TERROR OF THE FACT
KEEPS HIS THAT TOMIO’S
HANDS IN HEAD IS
PLACE EVEN ATTACHED...
NOW.

TOMIO » RED TURTLENECK/END Tå

 I’VE BEEN
DREAMING OF
MY FATHER
DYING ALL THE
TIME, EVER
SINCE I WAS DAAADDYYY,
ИТТЕЕ. YOU DIED! Ç

YOUR
EVEN DADDY'S
So, МУ NOT GOING
ANXIETY TO DIE,
DIDN'T RIKO.
GO AWAY.

A AT FIRST,
I LOVED
SG IT AND
PLAYED
WITH IT,
BUT...

21
«IN THE =
END, I
LEFT IT
IN THE
DRAWER.
 „МУ TOY AND THEN,
FATHER AS THE
WENT OFF LONG
SOMEWHERE MONTHS
WITHOUT ME PASSED...
REALIZING.
E© 2 207
2
Jin (27) УД

«WAS
TRADITIONAL
IN THE
PEDIGREED
TOKURA
FAMILY.
 I'M STILL
VERY YOUNG |
HOPE you GRANDFATHER, FATHER,
WILL GUIDE AND INEXPE-
ME. RIENCED.. GRANDMOTHER. | MOTHER.

I GUESS
YES, I I HA
RIKO/
GUESS so, ||"une
TOMOKA. OL
“SISTER” på
FROM NOW А 20 =
ON, HUH?

78
 МУ HUSBAND
MAKOTO WENT
AGAINST THE
TOKURA FAMILY’S
WISHES AND
MARRIED ME.

THEY'RE OLD
NOW, SO
THEY DIDN'T

79
 I'M SORRY, RIKO...YOU
MAKOTO... DREAMED OF
ALWAYS HAVING YOUR FATHER’S
THIS SAME DEATH AGAIN,
NIGHTMARE... DIDN'T YOU?
 ЕҢ DON’T LAUGH! Үү
YOU EITHER,
HA DAD. OR YOU,
НА / GRANDMA AND
HA! GRANDPA.

| А
ша
ES

23)
 GREAT-
GRANDMOTHER.

82
 THAT'S
NOT A RIKO. |р
GHOST. Å [

А (0

NAV
JS ay
28
Ve
их
5

WHAT YOU THOUGHT

MY GREAT- WAS A GHOST AND, WHEN
GRANDFATHER’S WAS PROBABLY I LOOKED
MOTHER. MY GREAT-GREAT- CLOSELY AT
GRANDMOTHER... YOUR GREAT-
GRANDPARENTS
A HUNDRED YOUR GREAT-
ND N GREAT-
GRANDMOTHER?
SHE’S STILL
ALIVE?!

„АМ ADDITION S-SUCH AN

TO MY GREAT- ELDERLY
GREAT- WOMAN...
GRANDMOTHER,
МУ GREAT-AUNT
AND MY GREAT-
UNCLE ARE
ALSO HERE.

IF YOU LOOK ALTHOUGH

FOR THEM,
ТНЕУМЕ
THOUGH, I GOTTEN PRETTY
THINK YOU HAZY NOW;
CAN STILL THEY'RE NEARLY
FIND THEM. TRANSLUCENT.

MY GREAT-
WHY DO GREAT-
GRANDFATHER
THEY «++ THEY'VE |4 AND HIS
VANISH?! сом- | MOTHER ALSO
PLETELY USED TO BE
VANISHED f HERE, BUT.
NOW.
 AFTER-
IMAGES?

BECAUSE
THEY’RE
AFTERIMAGES.
 МУ
GRANDFATHER-
IN-LAW PASSED
AWAY THE
FOLLOWING
YEAR.

ШЕП

RIKO, IS
THE FAMILY
TAKING GOOD
CARE OF

1 IM
 WELL THEN,
MAKOTO, PLEASE
TAKE GOOD CARE
OF MY RIKO.

Ч |
ОКАУ, RIKO,
THERE’S A
GATHERING OF THE
ENTIRE TOKURA
FAMILY IN THE
LIVING ROOM NOW.
EVERYONE! ===
I'D FINALLY == FOR MY
CONCLUDED
WITHOUT
INCIDENT.

++ THE IMAGE
OF RYOZO AS
HE WAS IN LIFE
WILL RETURN
THROUGH THE
PRAYERS OF
HIS KIN!

~—РРРОО
А
 YOU’RE
HERE FOR HOME,
US NOW, N 5
RYO. N GRANDPA/

би)

(0
DAAAAAD/ ФР

SO IT'S NOT WE TALKED

THAT THEY THAT THE PRAYER ABOUT THIS
ACTUALLY OF OUR FAMILY BEFORE TOO.
PHYSICALLY CREATED. WE GRANDPA
EXIST. CALL ITAN DIDN’T COME
| “AFTERIMAGE”... BACK TO LIFE.

AND IT’S
NOT LIKE
HE TURNED
INTOA
GHOST
EITHER.

DELUSION,
THOUGH.

YOU TALK TO
THEM, BUT
NO ANSWER BUT WE FEEL
EVER COMES LIKE WE'RE
BACK THAT TOUCHING THEM,
SURPASSES THE WE FEEL LIKE
EXPECTATIONS WE'RE TALKING
OF THE LIVING. WITH THEM.
 AND THEN THE
AFTERIMAGE
LIVES AS PART OF
THE FAMILY JUST
AS THE LVING
RELATIVE HAD
BEFORE.

AFTER THAT,
NO MTTER
HOW HARD YOU
PRAY, YOU CAN’T
CREATE ANOTHER
AFTERIMGE
OF THE SAME
PERSON
AGAIN.

BUT THOSE
TWENTY YEARS
GIVE US THE TIME
PASSING DAYS
TO SAY A GENTLE AND MONTHS, THE
GOODBYE TO
OUR DEAD, THE IMAGE GRADUALLY
TIME FOR A GROWS HAZIER,
COMFORTABLE AND THEIR
GOODBYE. EXISTENCE MORE
TENUOUS.

IT'S NEARLY TWENTY-

ТНЕУМЕ HAD TWO YEARS SINCE
PLENTY OF TIME MY GREAT-GREAT-
FOR THEIR GRANDMOTHER BECAME
GOODBYES OVER AN AFTERIMAGE. IF SHE
THESE TWENTY- WERE ALIVE, SHE’D BE A
« HUNDRED AND TWENTY-
FIVE... SHE'LL PROBABLY
VANISH SOON.

I DIDN'T FROM THE N,

START, BUT NOW MY
DAD AND МУ GRANDMA (2
DON'T NEED MY ё
GREAT-GREAT- 3
GRANDMOTHER +
ANYMORE.
N CANI
© ASK
Š4
YOU A
FAVOR?

WHEN MY
FATHER
DIES IN THE
FUTURE...
«Ми YOU
MAKE HIS
AFTERIMAGE?

I MEAN, YOU
ESPECIALLY I THOUGHT
YOU MIGHT
ASK THAT.

I'LL TALK -„Вит І

TO MY DAD CAN'T DO
TONIGHT. BUT ANYTHING ALL
DON'T GET BY MYSELF.
YOUR HOPES
TOO HIGH,
OKAY?
TO MAKE THE
AFTERIMAGE, 3 зи
Y YOU NEED THE
CONCERTED
И|
|| EFFORT OF THE
ENTIRE FAMILY.

97
 WHY ARE YOU
SHOULDN'T BRINGING
EVEN BE / THIS UP,
TALKING ABOUT МАКОТО?
THIS!

...TO JUST WHAT

MAKE THE WOULD IT
AFTERIMAGE y MEAN
OF RIKO'S А FOR
FATHER?

MAKOTO...
THIS IS
JUST ы
IMPOSSIBLE. = /,

I WAS WRONG! PLEASE

I APOLOGIZE 7 EXCUSE
FOR MY SELFISH A ME!
REQUEST!! ag
®
|
Å |
с EA

22

|| TT 21
 ML ze DESPITE ALL DON'T
THINK
APOLOGIZ OF THAT, POORLY OF
TO MOTHER MEBEING THEY REALLY MOTHER
AND FATHER SELFISH, ARE KIND
AND
AGAIN : PEOPLE. FATHER.
TOMORROW.

WATCHING
OUT FOR

94
 SO YO!
NOTICE!

LATELY, HER ~“
AFTERIMAGE >
HAS BEGUN -
TO GET
HAZIER. =

95
 SHE’S
A GOOD HEY,
DAUGHTER- MOM.
IN-LAW, YOU
KNOW.

I'M NOT МОМ...

GONNA ILOVE
GET YOU,
MARRIED. ; MOM.

Sy I WISH
> IT COULD
4 JUST LIVE
LIKE THIS
WITH YOU.

96
 THERE WAS A TIME PASSED AND
HAVING ALREADY FUNERAL THE GREAT-GREAT-
BEEN THROUGH OTHER DAY AT Å GRANDMOTHER
SEVERAL BRANCH FAMILY, DISAPPEARED,
FUNERALS, I | AND AS A FAMILY, ALONG WITH THE
ALSO PRAYED ml WE PERFORMED THE GREAT-AUNT AND
WITH ALL MY RITUAL OF CALLING THE GREAT-UNCLE.
HEART AS А THE AFTERIMAGE.
MEMBER OF THE |
TOKURA FAMILY.

THE GREAT-
GRANDMOTHER
AND GREAT-
GRANDFATHER
ALSO |
GRADUALLY
FADED INTO
SOMETHING
LIKE MIST.

97
I THOUGHT

WE GOT
||MARRIED...
«МУ
MOTHER-
AND
FOR THEM. FATHER-
IN-LAW
REMAINED
COLD AS
USUAL.

HMM? AND OF
I JUST DIDN’T COURSE
WANTED HONEY! FOR МУ
I SAY YOUR
TO SEE HUSBAND
YOU NOW. Å TO MEET
AT THE
LUNCH!

STATION?
 THE
WOMAN
THIS
MORNING... HONEY.
THAT WAS
MS. MORI
FROM YOUR
OFFICE,
WASN'T
ПЕ

НАУЕ
YOU TWO
GOTTEN
CLOSE?

THERE'S
NO WAY
YOU'RE
LEAVING
ME!!

99
 WHAT ARE IM RIKO,
YOU TALKING || MARRIED DONT
YOU'RE ' ABOUT? HOW TO YOU WORRY...
TALKING Gai / CAN YOU FOR LIFE. (| ІМ NOT
NONSENSE! I М MARRY HER I HAVE А жа.) GOING
WITHOUT RESPON- 7) TO LEAVE
nr LEAVING МЕ? || SIBILITY. ÍA YOU OR

= гм GOING
Ж ||DONT! TO TALK
AND 60
2
ES j WITH HER
MYSELF!
YOU WERE
INA CAR
ACCIDENT.

I BEGGED
TO PLEASE
en : с} ! МУ РАТНЕР.
AFTERIMAGE! \

IT WAS JUST SO it)

INCREDIBLY SAD... а OF COURSE
I GOT SPECIAL :
PERMISSION.
 STUCK
IN THERE
BEHIND THE |
TOMBSTONE
SHOULD
BE YOUR
OWN NAME
TABLET.

102
 ТРЕТ |
| STRANGELY
LIGHT
WHEN I
THOUGHT
ABOUT IT.

= A Т]

I BOWED
OVER AND
OVER AND
SAID My
GOODBYE TO
MY SISTER-

GOING?

108
13 |
 WHEN I
N LOOK BACK
ON IT, I
3 WONDER
Й ШІ WHAT
MAKOTO
г ABOUT А THOUGHT...
I WAS THE WIFE WHO |
ONE WHO CRIED,
SHOULD DREAMING
HAVE BEEN | OF HER
APOLOGIZ- |: FATHER’S
ING. DEATH ALL
THE TIME.

TEN YEARS
“TIL I
DISAPPEAR

I THINK N
ILL №
PROBABLY
DISAPPEAR
FIRST.
 o 2
—< _
su
m
|
МОМ ТНЕМ, -
YOU MEDICAL
STUDENTS WILL |
START YOUR |
DISSECTION
TRAINING

AS STUDENTS OF OVER THE

MEDICINE, YOU NEXT THREE
MUST BURN THE 4 MONTHS, YOU
STRUCTURE OF THE гы] WILL WORK IN
HUMAN BODY INTO ӨШ ” GROUPS ОР
YOUR BRAINS. SÅ 2 FOUR WITH
= A ONE CADAVER
1 F 4 = FOR EACH
DY | (22 3 GROUP.

FIRST OF ALL,
A MOMENT OF
SILENT PRAYER
FOR THESE NOBLE
CADAVERS. 77

га?
OA
М (М
ENи)
ON
pa Ц а y (>

106
 PLEASE
TAKE
OUT THE
CADAVERS.

HEY,
TATSURO/
YOU OPEN
IT...

AND HER
COLOR'S
REALLY
 HEY... JUST NOW,
THE CADAVER
OPENED ITS
EYES...

HEY! QUIT
AROUND BODY'S
AND GET ALIVE!
NA TO WORK! | \ў Л
2 M қ US
7s >] (Wea (6011
4< BEN
2) = (ANS
: ||

2 N

108
 (ТҮЗ ЕТЕ?) PROFESSOR?
THIS DONOR
= АА т BODY IS STILL
ALIVE!

Е------5
5 S ц <
š ONTBE || `
И K— = RIDICULOUS: | |,
„(Сем й

„..ТТ 15 WARM. HMM...

AND THE
ELASTICITY OF
THIS SKIN...

HEY, YOU!
“Ў ОРЕМ
У YOUR
EYES!

HEY!

109
 WHAT—? WHO
ARE YOU?!
WHAT ARE
YOU DOING

HOW DID
YOU GET IN
WITH THE
CADAVERS?

WELL, THIS IS
WH— WHERE YOU
WHAT?! I WANT COME TO BE
TO BE DISSECTED,
DISSECTED! Q RIGHT?

ТОШ
(1! ШТІ N ( =
DD
— — 2 LAN 1)
=

110
 WELL,
ANYWAY,
WE'LL
REPORT
ITTO THE
POLICE.
 NEW HEY, YOU HEAR?
KIND OF THAT WOMAN
PERVERT, SHOWED UP
I GUESS.
AT ANOTHER
MEDICAL
SCHOOL,
PRETENDING TO
BE A CORPSE!

APPAR-
ENTLY,
SHE WAS
DEFINITELY SHOUTING,
NOT SANE. “DISSECT
ME.”

WE DID SEE SHE’S

HER WITH OUR ALREADY
OWN EYES, AN URBAN
THOUGH. LEGEND.
CORNERS
TOO.

ACCOSTS
PASSERS-
BY AND
DEMANDS
THEY
DISSECT
HER.

THAT WOMAN...
THE MORE I
THINK ABOUT
HER, THE MORE
I'M SURE I
KNOW THAT
FACE...

ARE YOU
SPACING
UT
|
IT’S
DEFINITELY
RURIKO
TAMIYA!

Мо
=. ў Y
Doctor? | HEY,
q LET'S PLAY TATSURO.
па DOCTOR.

I MEAN, WHEN
YOU GROW
UP, YOU'RE
GONNA BE
A DOCTOR,
RIGHT?
 A HEY,
waar? I HE'S NOT
BRING || СОМА
5 раз
De í NEXT ||
||ONE ME Å
we SCALPEL.
Es
IX A
7 <,
=>

УОЏ САМ
JUST GET
ONE FROM
YOUR
DAD’S
CLINIC.

YOUR FATHER
IS SEEING
A PATIENT 0-2-г0
губ-баса
эз»
RIGHT NOW.
DID YOU NEED
SOMETHING?

114
ng

115
 TO MAKE HEY,
IF YOU DON' UP FOR TATSURO.
LET ME HAVET LETTING
THE FROG
CANI
HAVE THIS
ITY, OEULL TEL
R DADL GET AWAY. SCALPEL?
YOU STOLE IT.
те
хе
mA

116
 G TLL
NEVER READY?
VA TALK HOLD
DOWN IT
A TO you TIGHT
A
AGAIN IF THIS
YOU LET TIME.
| IT GET
H AWAY...
2/

you po HEY,
SERIOUSLY В EN) TATSURO! WHAT
SICK DISSECTED | ARE YOU AND
THINGS! M RURIKO ALWAYS
: SNEAKING
В ABOUT?

EVERYONE’S
AND YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT
NDISSECTION- IT AT SCHOOL!
KUN"! HAAAH/ THEY'RE
8 CALLING RURIKO
*DISSECTION-
CHAN"!

«а

аб

117
 A | WHATEVE R... ЦАВ Қ
BIGGER I WANT TO О-ОР FEE I
"| DISSECT A COURSE Е
BIGGER ANIMAL. || NOT...? |
GIMME A HAND.

IF YOU DON’T
DO WHAT
I SAY, I'LL
DISSECT YOU.

NOW I'M
EXCITED.

5
 IT’S BEEN
EIGHT YEARS
SINCE THEN...
AND THEN WE
MEET AGAIN
LIKE THAT...

SHE’S AND NOW

DEFINITELY SHE WANTS
STILL TOBE
FIXATED ON DISSECTED
DISSECTION, HERSELF!
THOUGH.
 WILL YOU
PLEASE
DISSECT
ME?

121
 YOU’RE
TATSURO,
RIGHT?

122
 I MEAN, І MEAN,
YOU ТОРА
THAT TIME, SERIOUSLY
МУ STOMACH SWITCHED
REALLY DID SCHOOLS TERRIBLE THING
HURT. I WAS RIGHT TO YOU...I’VE
SUFFERING AFTER ALWAYS WANTED
AND YOU THAT. TO APOLOGIZE.
DIDN’T
HELP ME.

THINK
YOU WERE
ALITTLE
TERRIBLE
TOO...

TVE ALTHOUGH I GOT

GE A LOT
STOMACH
STARTED
THINKING ТООМТ
STOP DIS- ACHES
HAL AFTER
AY
THAT RATHER SECTING CHILDHOOD
THAN THINGS. WASНАВС,
REALLY
DISSECTING, å :
I'D LIKE SS
To BE SS
DISSECTED.
BUT AFTER A
WHILE, I GOT
TIRED OF
DISSECTING
THINGS.
IT WASN'T
ENOUGH,
AND NOW...

BEING
DISSECTED...
DON’T YOU
THINK IT’S SO
MUCH MORE
EXCITING THAN
DISSECTING?

I GET
TURNED
ON JUST
IMAGINING
IT!
 AAH!
NOW I’M
EXCITED!

AND
YOU'LL DO
A GOOD WILL KILL
JOB.
YOU'RE
IN MED
SCHOOL.

PULL MY
INTERNAL
ORGANS
ол

194
 HURRY
AND
DISSECT
MEEEEE!

y LM JUST зай
«(© DREAMING! у
| il1 2 ja/
зûлРР»

199
 (9

ў Cus
~| С (mars) ДАЎ mis is THE

AAN т” PULL HERE.

«AM 100 вее

Å
WE'LL GET
INTO THE
PROCESS
WHEN YOU

Al rå,
ст DISSECTION

ae
YOU'LL BE

SEE THE = AND OTHER

DIGESTIVE
ORGANS. =

| 4

IF YOU'RE SAID,
IT
NOT FEELING
“зы. F LOOKING
` FORA
SPECIAL
y SOMEONE
MX TO DISSECT
МЕ“
 THE MAN I'M HERE WITH
LIVED IN THE THE SEVEN
BUILDING WHERE O’CLOCK NEWS.
THE STABBING
OCCURRED, AND
WAS FLAILING
AND SCREAMING
INCOMPREHENSIBLY.
NEIGHBORS
CALLED THE
POLICE, AND
A SERIOUSLY
INJURED WOMAN
WAS DISCOVERED
IN HIS
APARTMENT.

AN AMBULANCE
BROUGHT
THE WOMAN
THE MAN TOLD TO HOSPITAL
POLICE ARE INVESTIGATORS WHERE SHE
QUESTIONING UNDERWENT
HIM FOR EMERGENCY
FURTHER ASKED HIM TO SURGERY.
DETAILS. DISSECT HER,
SO HE DID.

THE WOMAN sss ACCORDING TO

REE FR Å REPORT THAT
ОБРА. ST, JUST CAME IN,
IMMEDIATELY THE VICTIM HAS
R SURGER DISAPPEARED
AND EXITED THE ROM THL.THE
HOSPITA
BUILDING.

IN RELATION TO THE POLICE ARE

LAST MONTH'S CONTINUING TO
INCIDENT IN INVESTIGATE HER
WHICH A WOMAN WHEREABOUTS.
ENTERED THE
DISSECTION
LAB AT CHUO
MEDICAL
UNIVERSITY...
 AND THIS IS JUST
A RUMOR, BUT
APPARENTLY, THE
SURGEONS ALSO
LATER SHOWED MENTAL
ABNORMALITIES.

I HEARD THE
MAN WENT
DUNNO... COMPLETELY
WELL, NUTS AFTER
RUMORS CUTTING HER
ALWAYS STOMACH
EXAG- 7 OPEN.
GERATE
THINGS. 22 e \

YOU CAN'T
POSSIBLY BE RURIKO
PLANNING TO DO TAMIYA...
THE SAME THING WHERE
AGAIN... MERE OL go ru,
SATISFIED ыу Га o AF
1 ONCE YOUR re
= ||STOMACH WAS бы <
° | J| OPENED... =
: HAVE YOU
«WP LEARNED N
YOUR =>
e LESSON...

IS SHE GOING
TO APPEAR
BEFORE ME
AGAIN AND
AGAIN LIKE A
BAD DREAM...

«Ии. THIS
END WITH
ME NEVER
SEEING HER
AGAIN?
 AFTER A MOMENT N
OF SILENT NOW, FOR THE
PRAYER, PLEASE NEXT THREE
TAKE THE MONTHS, WE'LL
CADAVERS OUT BE DOING
OF THE DONOR DISSECTIONS.
BAGS.

129
 SHE'S
IT seems DEFINITELY ду RURIKO
SHE TRIED DEAD THIS TAMIYA?
DISSECTION TIME.
| MANY TIMES

AND NOW ;
SHE WILL FO ЭЭ \
REALLY BE 4 3
DISSECTED
WITHOUT
INTERFERENCE, |
RIGHT DOWN
TO THE

аў
/ ALL RIGHT.
TODAY, WE’LL
BE GETTING
INTO
PLEASE DISSECTION
PAY CLOSE OF THE
ATTENTION INTERNAL
ORGANS.
TO THE u
MUSCLES OF
THE STOMACH
WALL AS YOU
PROCEED
WITH THE а
DISSECTION.
 TH -THE
INTERNAL
ORGANS...
WHAT ON у
EARTH...
DISSECTION-CHAN/END 134
 IT...HAPPENED
WHEN I WENT OUT
BIRD WATCHING
FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN A WHILE.

OT Y

EXCUSE ME/

I'VE BEEN I WAS = 3

WAITING HIKING AND 5 PLEASE
FOR AGES.
Rig
то
ER чат
FELL. NOW
MOVE. ИА
РЈУ 23
SS
E
HELP

4 ў 7-5 „М 2
Š x U :
Nes TENG MS) ЎЎ
NN Сы “ЫҚ

М N @/
SU ZEN
\ NS МІ
l 2
\ ў< 2
Š | NRS MS
fe мя Эў МК
У 2 | er КР
= | ҮШ) N
 M WHAT2
Аў THIS IS
У $, SERIOUS!
W

ара ў 27 ў
yfell Л

| _ YOUR LEGS
SOME TIME — ARE BROKEN,
MUST HAVE BUT THE
PASSED BONES HAVE
SINCE THE а ALREADY
BREAKS. (У FUSED.

137
 YOU’RE
А HIKING PLAN SHIRO

YOU UNDER YOUR | MORIGUCHI

leFELL, | NAME WAS FROM
m me | POSTED АТ TOKYO,
THE SHIRO-
GANEDAKE
TRAILHEAD A
MONTH AGO.

I RATIONED YOUR LEGS

THE FOOD РА WERE
IN МУ BACK- BROKEN, YOU
PACK...

BUT YOU SEEM |

IN RELATIVELY
GOOD HEALTH.
 THE BONES
HAVE FUSED
FOR SURGERY „ IN THE WRONG
POSITION.

4
A 7 NINNS
ды(

TT
EVERYONE’S
TALKING ABOUT MORIGUCHI,
HOW YOU YOU WERE
SURVIVED A ON THE
MONTH ON THE NEWS.
FOOD IN YOUR
BACKPACK.

139
 ... COULD
PLEASE! 0/ …PLEASE. | YOU STAY
HERE
TONIGHT?

GIVEN
SHIRO
ши MORGUCHI'S
ALARMING
STATE...

eel
DECIDED

OH, DIDN'T
MEAN TO
BRING UP BAD
MEMORIES.

I GREW
UP IN AN
ORPHANAGE.
 ONCE I MY LONE
LEAVE HERE, HOBBY
I'LL HAVE IS SOLO
HIKING FRIENDS?
TO СЕТА
JOB... IN THE
MOUNTAINS.

I WASN'T
CAREFUL,
AND THIS

TALK TO ME
ABOUT YOUR
TROUBLES.
WE HAVE A
CONNECTION

АМУМАУ, IT'S
LIGHTS OUT,
SO LET'S GO
TO SLEEP.

141
148
MORIGUCHI,
SERIOUSLY,

I'VE BEEN
RESCUED...
BUT SHE

NEED THE
MEAT ANY-
MORE...

144
I-IT WAS
ABOUT A I DON'T
WEEK OR UNDERSTAND
SO AFTER WHAT'S
I FELL... GOING ON!

AND THEN
THAT WOMA N PAIN WAS
AP PEARED. INTENSE, NO
HELP WAS

WA
 THE MOST
WONDERFUL 2 SHE
FLAVOR ф PUSHED
FILLED MY CHEWED-UP
STARVING RAW MEAT
MOUTH. IT = FROM HER
SIZZLED. = I MOUTH
INTO MINE.

GN М

wHo AH! HEY!

WAS -..PLEASE
ТА у "stop
WOMAN...

(17 "
4 зу?
- Зи (
DA I AG
VANNER

HUNGER 1
SWEPT I ASSUMED ЕТО ВИТ
OVER МЕ НАДН. НААН, SHE eee B$
ONCE AGAIN WOULDN'T REALIZED
AND I WAS ° COME AGAIN. MATE
TORTURED я /
WITH THIRST.

147
 THAT TIME, SHE
POURED SOME
LUKEWARM
LIQUID INTO MY

ен
MOUTH.

ШИЙ

148
 AFTER THAT
TOO, SHE CAME
ALMOST EVERY
DAY AND FED
ME BLOOD OR
MEAT FROM
HER MOUTH.

AND... THIS
MEAT, IT
TASTED SO
INCREDIBLE
WHEN I WAS
STARVING...

IT'S BUT... EVEN NOW

BUT STARTING Үү?
NOW IT'S THAT I'VE BEEN
DISGUSTING
ТО FEEL | RESCUED, SHE
CREEPIER COMES AT NIGHT
AND TO FEED ME...
CREEPIER.

WELL, YEAH.
I WONDER A STRANGE
WHAT KIND WOMAN FEEDING
OF MEAT YOU FROM HER
IT IS? MOUTH IS KIND
OF DISGUSTING.

I FEEL
LIKE IT'S
SOMETHING
I SHOULDN'T
BE EATING...

149
I-I MUST BE
DREAMING?!
 ЁОЛ ad >=] THE NEXT
THE WOMAN DAY, I
FILED A
POLICE
REPORT
E ABOUT THE
WOMAN.
а ALONG
A WITH THE
MEAT“...

WORRY. I'M SCARED!

SHE’S NOT THAT WOMAN 15
COMING A MONSTER!
BACK!

FEEDING
HER

WHEN I WAS A
BABY I WAS LEFT
IN THE CORNER
OF A PARK FOR
АМЕЕК OR SO.

MAYBE
THAT
MONSTER
WAS
FEEDING
ME THEN
TOO...

158
 он! ||
(ARE you
YES. ||| MORIеGйUCHI
AND KUME? 5
5
1
IWANTEDN
TOASK |
YOE
UAS
FET
W| 0
QUESTIONS | ит:
| ТЕ
POLICE.
TH
MEAT..A.T THE
te
TRUTH

OF DNA
DETERMINED
THAT...
225
+s THE MEAT
AND THE
EYEBALL ARE
OF HUMAN
ORIGIN.

WE WERE
+ QUESTIONED
<> FOR A LON
G
TIME.

THE
DETEC
SUSU,SPECTITVEED
B
UT ALL
WE COULD
DO WAS TELL
HIM W AT
WE KNH
EW .
 AND THEY
NEVER FOUND
THE BODY
THE FLESH
AND EYE
BELONGED

Ti

THANK
TOO BAD ARE YOU YOU FOR MORIGUCHI, 4
YOU DON'T GOING TO EVERYTHING = CONGRATS
Ом YOUR
RECOVERY.
INTRODUCE IN TOKYO? FOR ME.
YOU TO
SOME
 дая
Vivea СР
чату:

50 I GUESS
IT WAS JUST
A BLACK KITE FROM SHIRO
OR АМ EAGLE, |, MORIGUCHI—
AFTER ALL. HE HAD FOUND
THE CARD А NEW JOB.
SAID
NOTHING OF
THE WOMAN,
SOIWAS
RELIEVED.
 A FEW YEARS
LATER, SHIRO
MORIGUCHI’S
CORPSE WAS
DISCOVERED...

SHIRO'S
POSSES-
SIONS
WERE
FOUND
AND DNA NEAR THE
TESTING BODY...
CONFIRMED
THAT
IT WAS
INDEED

THEY SAY THAT

WHEN HE WAS
FOUND, A HUGE
BLACK BIRD WAS
PECKING AT THE
CORPSE , BUT THE
TRUTH OF THAT IS
UNCONFIRMED.
 BUT CERTAIN
FACTS LEAKED
ВУ THE POLICE
TO THE MEDIA IN
WOMAN HAD THE AFTERMATH
FED SHIRO A BAFFLED
FEW YEARS PEOPLE.
EARLIER...

...МАЗ A
PERFECT
MATCH FOR
SHIRO'S
OWN DNA.

WHAT FOLLOWS
ARE THE FINAL >
SECTIONS OF o ~ HOW ON
THE JOURNAL . ў EARTH
COULD
FOUND AMONG : :
SHIRO'S 1 <q THIS BE?
POSSESSIONS. )

*AUGUST в.
THAT WOMAN
SHOWED
UP!! I
THOUGHT
SHE
WOULDN'T,
AND YET...
 IM NOT

“AUGUST 9.
WHY?! THE
WOMAN
OVERSEAS!!” TORE INTO
МУ FLESH!!

NIF I DON'T
Е: 7
SHE'LL KILL
ME!! BUT
WHERE CAN
I GO?!

159
“SHE RIPPED
THE FLESH
OF MY LEFT
THIGH WITH
HER SHARP
TEETH!! I
CAN'T WALK
ANYMORE...” “AUGUST 10.
ААН, I NEED
HELP!! THAT
MONSTER’S
CAPTURED ME
] AND BROUGHT
ME UPTOA
CRATER ON
MOUNT FUJI!!

NAUGUST 11.
IT'S so
COLD, I

TEARS OFF
AND EATS
A BIT OF
MY FLESH
EVERY

ЭТНЕ
REVERSE
OF HOW SHE
FED ME A
LITTLE FLESH
EVERY DAY A
FEW YEARS
AGO.”

160
 IF THE
MEAT SHE
+++ SHE MUST FED SHIRO
HAVE GONE MORIGUCHI
å 5 ES 5 + щ WAS SHIRO'S
TO BRING
HIM HIS OWN
 ў
y
SE
SS
IN
ўА NN
же
D N

<a
=N
А

LS ~

NG
22
см.

К| 1
|}.
Au
Ер
2
 THOSE IN
WITH THEIR К Ж АВЕAWARE
sme
ADDICTIVE
2
NANAKUSE’S
р 5
”
< NANAKUSE
ISE 15
IS
| \ А BRILLIANT
SELECT THEIR ER
READERS.

I’M ONE OF 5 ий
HER FANS. = BECOME A
HABIT ONCE
YOU GET
INTO THIS
AUTHOR.

RN
N LUCKILY,
N THERE’S NOT
N A SINGLE
= NANAKUSE
FAN AROUND.

FINGERS,
ITCHING
FOR A MAN,
CLEANLINESS| >
AND MANY
MORE.
 AND NO
ONE KNEW
THAT
WAS GOING
TO MEET
NANAKUSE.
TAKE THAT!

`
WEIRD THAT
SHE LIVES
FAR UP IN THE
MOUNTAINS
THOUGH.
 А KUSECHI, A TOUGH TLO
SEE, IS COME AL
PLDAICSEASWTHEERRE
YOU
THIS МISАУ
TO TH
Y
LLS WHENIT.
OFUA ENTER KUSECHI.

170
 NOT TO BE
RUDE, BUT
ARE YOU
NANAKUSE
SENSEI'S
MOTHER?

NGT
м
Å ҮЛҮ!
у SENSEI.
` гэ ша
 ALL THE
WAY ТО А
KUSECHI.

INEVER OH... OHHH!

THOUGHT ID UM, YES, ГМ
СЕТ ТО MEET / р KOKETSU.
YOU. IT’S А | THANK YOU
DREAW : SO MUCH FOR
INVITING ME.

t AN N

СУ
ІШ
|
 FOR ME,
CLEANLINESS
OBSESSION!
HO! руно! HO? |

E AAH!
“У SHOULDER
ТІС! TIC-Y
SHOULDER!
 Е |Ш \ |
KAORU,
HOW
| ABOUT A
DRINK?

) 2 ES IN
ES ° = ТАМЕ
COLLECTED
3 NE 5523 IN THIS БООМ
~ 55 ONLY THE 5
я at || =) еј QUIRKIEST
8 ALCOHOL FROM
e ñ å ALL PLACES
AND TIMES.
WHEN IT » $ l; 3 : з NpСИ, ©

= : у )

368 ШШ)

“WC kd

177
 ALCOHOL,
YOU KNOW!!

HEY, NANAKUSE
SENSEI...YOUR NOVEL
FORTY-EIGHT AGAINST |Ку
SEVEN, RIGHT?

РЕК: SON
WITH TICS,
 DO YOU
SEE? AM I
A PERSON
N WITH TICS?!

д |
III å

YOU'VE ©
GOT BAD 2
DRUNK
пс...

вент, бт
SENSEI? NEM.
THIS STUFF, RECOGNIZE
| BUT I TOTALLY ||MEAS ATIC
RECOGNIZE З
шё “Ж Ñ N YOU AS ONE

77
777
 ALSO,
SENSEI,
TONIGHT HAVE SOME
YOU HAVE UNEXPECTED
THE SOIREE PROMISE.
WITH THE THROW HER IN
TOWNS- THE DUNGEON.
PEOPLE.

YOU JUST ISHII. THIS

WAIT. THIS IS THIS
MONTH'S
IS THE FINAL MANUSCRIPT.
DRAFT.

SENSEI,
YOU SHOW
YOUR
WONDERFUL
HABIT WITH
PAPER
ONCE
AGAIN.
 WELL, WHEN
IT COMES AND I MUST
DOWN TO SAY, WITH
IT, IS А TONIGHT’S
MATTER OF SOIREE YOU
COMPAT-
IBILITY.

„WOULD = IT MAKES ALL OF

Дарт US TRULY PROUD NANAKUSE
OUR THAT SONEONE SENSEI.
TOWN. AS FAMOUS AS
YOURSELF...

182
 меш, mis W|; WHAT IT COMES
Quite THE ||| DOWN TO IS І
HONOR! || HEARD THAT
THIS AREA WAS
Å KUSECHI, SO
I MOVED HERE.

/ THAT IS TRUE. WHEN IT

THERE ARE SO COMES
MANY STORIES RIGHT
ABOUT THIS DOWN TO
IT, THE SO-
CALLED
KUSECHI
++. SUCH AS IT
USED TO BE
AN EXECUTION
SITE OR A DEN
OF HEATHENS.

I SEE...
SO THEN
IT SEEMS
THAT THIS
LAND DOES
HAVE A
SPECIAL
THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY |
CORRECT.
SEPPZ<I

SIDPPZX<I

зө»
от

SIPPZ<I

SIPPZ<I

184
 WHEN I
CAME TO,
IWAS INA
DUNGEON.

ONCE MY
EYES GOT
USED TO THE
DARKNESS,
I REALIZED
 THEY WERE
ALL MOVING
REPETITIVELY.

186
 SEEMS
YOU’VE
SOBERED
UP,
KOKETSU.

HOWEVER,
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS LOT IN
THERE’S NOT HERE, THEY'VE
ONE RIGHT ALL DEVELOPED
NOW WHO TICS AND
LIVES UP TO MY TWITCHES FROM
EXPECTATIONS. THE STRESS OF
CONFINEMENT...

THEY JUST
DISPLAY THE
MOST RUN-
OF-THE-MILL
MOVEMENTS.

187
 I DON'T
UNDERSTAND BUT YOU, HOWEVER,
1 IDI HAVE A FAIR BIT OF
mile PROMISE. PERHAPS
= A SPECIAL ABILITY
y WILL BLOSSOM
WHILE YOU'RE
I'VE GOT IMPRISONED.
HIGH HOPES ў
FOR YOU...
THAT
UNIQUE TIC, а =
SOMETHING
NO ONE'S
EVER SEEN
BEFORE,
WILL REVEAL
ELF.

I'LL GET MY
| INSPIRATION
4 FROM YOUR

YOU'LL BE
ABLE TO LIVE
ON FOREVER
IN MY NOVEL!

GREATEST
MASTER-
PIECE!!
 THIS! YOU
PERVERTED
KN BASTARD!
 WEIRD
THINSS
STARTED
HAPPENING
TO МУ
BODY.
 YOU CAN’T YOU
MAKE CAN'T
MAKE ME
MOVE.

BLOOM...

B-BUT IT’S
WEIRD.
SOMETHING’S
HAPPENING IN
МУ BODY...

191
 SHE HASN’T
BEEN
TOUCHING

I KNOW.
I'VE BEEN
WATCHING HER
THIS WHOLE
TIME ON THE
 4--І>>>>

О-ОҒ
COURSE!
== I GET IT!

A SS

SHE’S
FROZEN HER
ENTIRE BODY
COMPLETELY
SOLID...WHAT
š IT COMES
DOWN TO IS
THAT I HAVE TO
DECLARE THIS
THE ULTIWATE
пс!
 41111277
“| Aetžereome|)HEEEEE!
SPIRIT OF HER
IVE GOT MY G
INSPIRATION! SA
SP

==

--AND I WAS
DONATED TO
THE TOWN
ASSOCIATION
HALL.

MAGAMI NANAKUSE/END 196

 RIGHT? 2 | |
.…LEFT? THE ONLY
CHILD
`. OF THE
WEALTHY
SHIGEKI

SHOULD I EAT
SIR, I CAN NO SUPPER? OR
LONGER TAKE SHOULD I GET
CARE OF HER!

SHOULD
I START
WASHING AT
MY ARMS?
SHOULD
I START SHOULD I
АТ МУ SLEEP?
Ly LEGS?

SHOULD I
DO AFTER WHICH ONE
THINS?! я SHOULD I
DRINK?

SHOULDI Y
BE AWAKE?
 БӨХӨН
IF SOMEONE ==
"У AS YOU

==, MAYUMI CAN'T

CONSTANT
DECIDE WHAT
Ne LE TO DO BY
S HERSELF...
PANICS...

NONE OF
THEM COULD

I TRIED A
ROTATING

PEOPLE IS
CRITICAL.

SHE NEEDS
TO HAVE
THE SOLID
SUPPORT
OF A SINGLE
ATTENDANT.
АААААН? WHAT
SHOULD I
2000000!

A)AN /H
ЖУ |
AZ

SHOULD I
2 STAND?!

1
(11 SHOULD
11 ||| I SIT?!
|

SIT ONA
CHAIR?!
SIT ON THE
FLOOR? ON
MY KNEES?!
сі ROSS-
LEGGED? УЙ
 THE BED?
HOW? ON
МУ KNEES?!
CROSS-
LEGGED?!

UNTIL
you BREATHE ОКАУ
сам FOR ВУ
DOWN... WHILE...
OH RIGHT...
OKAY, WE'LL
GO РОКА
WALK IN THE
GARDEN

INSTRUC-
TIONS...

MS. UCHIDA,
BUT THANKS TO I'M SORRY
ALL YOU, MAYUMI HAD A FOR
RIGHT... STABLE DAY...COULD THROWING YOU
THEN ILL I ASK YOU TO KEEP INTO IT ON
! SEE YOU COMING, STARTING YOUR FIRST
TOMORROW TOMORROW? DAY...
|| AT EIGHT
А.М...
 FOR THE LOOKING AT THE IT’S BEEN
WONDERFUL TIME BEING, SURVEILLANCE A MONTH...
THAT YOU MAYUMI’S FOOTAGE FROM SHE’S THE
FOUND MENTAL STATE THE CAMERAS IN FIRST TO
SOMEONE IS ENTIRELY THE HOUSE, SHE HAVE EVER
GOOD, SIR. NEVER NEGLECTS STAYED THIS
HER DUTIES.

ШИЛ
Ш
 J Д/ MAYUMI IS IT'S TRUE SHE
UCHIDA5 a | GOING OUT HAS REALLY
ДЕ FIRST. у AND GOING DONE A GREAT
BEEN Я SHOPPING OR JOB THIS
Š HAVING DINNER
ABLE TO а у WITHOUT ANY
ACCOMPLISH АХ 0, PROBLEMS...

AND
PRECISE. N

CONVERSELY,
THERE’S Ym
ҮШІ m
ALSO
SOMETHING
THINGS SHE
COULDN'T
DO BY
HERSELF.

DON'T REALLY
KNOW THAT
MUCH ABOUT
HER TO
BEGIN WITH,
 SHE | 2 | THERE WAS
CONTINUALLY aa A 1 || INDEED
(@ тэ

SHE STAGGERED
HOME IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT.

5, D
BEEN GOING
LIKE THIS
 NO, MITSU,
IF YOU Я
KEEP THIS
UP, YOU'LL EXHAUSTED...
TAKE
RUIN YOUR
HEALTH. Ñ == TOMORROW
OFF.

IS THAT YOUR
SO? WELL, ESSENTIAL
PLEASE SELF...?
DON’T PUSH
YOURSELF
I FEEL LIKE THIS
WORK IS BRINGING
ME BACK TO MY
ESSENTIAL SELF...
THROUGH YOUR
DAUGHTER'S
HAPPINESS, I ALSO
FIND HAPPINESS...

SOMETIMES,
YOU SEEM TO
GET THESE
BRUISES ON
YOUR FACE.

207
 HOW HAS
MITSU BEEN |
RECENTLY? WALK AS S 7 AND MITSU
4 SS TODAY?

N ТО THE POINT
WHERE І GET ТТІ
A SLIGHT
Г| CHILL SEEING
ПА Her THERE. JA ЕХСВЕВЕР THAT
PERSON.
THAT'S RIGHT... THE
DETAILED CHOICES EXHAUSTED AS
OF EVERYDAY LIFE... SHE IS, MITSU
FOR INSTANCE, CARRIES OUT
WHETHER TO PUT HER DUTIES
JAM ON YOUR BREAD PERFECTLY...
AT BREAKFAST OR

THE GARDEN IN
THE VASE OR
THREE...

IN OTHER
WORDS, IT’S
A FRAME OF SHE WORKS
MIND. IS TO ADD THE
RESULTS OF
ALL THESE
CHOICES TO

AND THE TRUTH

IS, THE WALKING FOR INSTANCE,
ROUTE THE LOOK. THAT TRUCK
GIRLS USUALLY ACCIDENT THE
TAKE WOULD OTHER DAY... MANY
HAVE BROUGHT OF THE PEOPLE
THEM TO THAT ON THE SIDEWALK
LOCATION. WERE KILLED OR
INJURED...

THAT DAY, MITSU

HAPPENED TO
CHANGE THEIR
ROUTE AND SO
THEY ESCAPED
WITHOUT
INCIDENT.
YOU DON'T
FOR BOTH
FATHER
5 АМО
DAUGHTER,
MITSU ISA
GODDESS
ОЕ
FORTUNE.

OH, MAYUMI,
YOU’RE
BACK? YES,
OF COURSE, JI

AN
S

NNN
THEY WERE
SO PRETTY
BLOOMING

BY =E >
ЧЕ

рPo№Мт,с И
 MM...I THE RESULTS
DID HIRE OF THE
THEM TO INVESTIGATION
TRACE INTO MITSU
HER, UCHIDA HAVE
DIDN'T COME FROM
т? THE DETECTIVE

HIS NAME IS
RYOICHI AGA.
HE’S UNEMPLOYED MITSU UCHIDA ALL...
AND SIMPLY LIES IS SINGLE,
AROUND MITSU’S BUT SHE
APARTMENT...A APPARENTLY
KEPT MAN, IN LIVES WITH A
OTHER WORDS.

MITSU DOES
ANYTHING AGA
SAYS, AND HE MITSU FOR HIS
BEATS HER ENTERTAINMENT
BASICALLY EXPENSES.
EVERY DAY.
EVERYTHING
SHE DOES
COMES
HE SEEMS TO
SPEND PRETTY
MUCH ALL OF
THE MONEY
MITSU EARNS.
 HE’S THE ONE
MITSU WHO CAME
WORKING LIKE ACROSS THE
SHE’S BEING AD FOR AN
FORCED ATTENDANT
TO RUN IS FOR YOUR
BECAUSE OF DAUGHTER,
HIM, IS IT? AND THE
HIGH PAY.

IT SEEMS
THE TRUTH

IT'S A STRANGE
THING... THIS
WOMAN WHO
GIVES MAYUMI
SUCH WISE
AND ACCURATE
INSTRUCTIONS...

ATANY
RATE, SIR...
DAUGHTER’S THIS ISN’T
ATTENDANT IS A PROBLEM
SUFFERING. WE CAN
SIMPLY
IGNORE.

...YOU COULD SAY BUT WE CAN'T DO

ANYTHING ABOUT
THAT MITSU’S BEEN HER PRIVATE
ABLE TO WORK WITH LIFE...AND...
SUCH FOCUS UP TO
NOW BECAUSE OF
THIS MAN, AGA.
 WOULD THE
NOW-FREE
MITSU KEEP
EXPENDING
EVERY EFFORT
FOR MAYUMI

САМ I ASK?
SHOULD I
NOT ASK?
 THERE WERE
THE POLICE EXTERNAL
SUSPECTED
INJURIES ON
"| HER BODY, AND
THESE WERE WEEKS AFTER
DETERMINED TO THAT WHEN
BE THE DIRECT MITSU DIED.
CAUSE OF DEATH.

WHO DID THE

AUTOPSY
NOTED
THAT FROM
THE STATE

HER BODY
WAS FOUND
IN HER
APARTMENT,
COMPLETELY
EMACIATED.
 THIS IS
TERRIBLE!!

WHAT WILL

IF YOU’RE
LOOKING FOR
MITSU, SHE’S
RIGHT HERE.
 PERHAPS
IT WAS A ...MITSU
DELUSION WERE STILL
OF MAYUMI'S
THAT MITSU RIGHT
WAS STILL THERE,
THERE... DESPITE
BEING
ALONE.

«MR. SANTO
FELT LIKE HE
COULD ALSO
HEAR MITSU'S
WHISPERING.

LIKE THIS JOB

WAS GIVING
HER BACK HER

START OVER
IN ANOTHER
 NED:
= Nr

NNN
Мү Wick \

Ч
56
ER

©9
Nў
< №

NN
AnЏ
|
>
;ER
`
ЩЕ
h
39 ES
N бал i &
 BECAUSE
SHE TOLD
ME TO KILL
нм...
MITSU DID...
 AFTERWORD
SO THIS IS MY FIRST COLLECTION OF HORROR STORIES
IN EIGHT YEARS. EVER SINCE I PUT OUT SHIN YAMI NO KOE
KAIDAN IN 2006.

DURING THOSE EIGHT YEARS, I WAS DOING PLENTY OF

WORK ON ILLUSTRATIONS AND MANGA ABOUT CATS OR
ABOUT SOCIETY, BUT EVEN TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT,
THE TIME SEEMS TOO EMPTY SOMEHOW. WHAT ON EARTH
WAS I DOING ALL THAT TIME? WELL, I DO REMEMBER A
BUNCH OF THINGS —LIKE SOME REALLY DETAILED WORK
AND A BUSY PRIVATE LIFE —BUT EVEN STILL, EIGHT YEARS?!
IT IS TRUE THAT ГМ NOT AS STRONG AS I USED TO BE
AND I COULDN'T WORK ANY FASTER THAN I WAS, BUT I
FEEL LIKE I WASTED A WHOLE LOT OF TIME. DURING THIS
PERIOD, MR. TOSHIYASU HARADA, MY EDITOR, А MAN WHO
HAD BEEN SO GOOD TO ME FOR SO MANY YEARS AT ASAHI
SONORAMA, PASSED AWAY. I HAD WANTED TO WORK WITH
MR. HARADA AGAIN, SO WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, HE LEFT A
GAPING HOLE IN MY HEART. OH, AND A FEW HOURS AFTER
MR. HARADA LEFT US, OUR CAT YONSUKE ALSO DIED (THE
MODEL FOR THE MONSTER CAT YON THAT SHOWS UP
IN MY CAT MANGA). IT MIGHT BE A COINCIDENCE, BUT I
EXPERIENCED IT AS A MYSTERIOUS SORT OF CONNECTION.

AND SO, A COLLECTION OF HORROR STORIES AFTER

EIGHT YEARS. WHEN HE SAW MY FIRST STORYBOARD FOR
THE FIRST STORY, “FUTON,” MY EDITOR MR. YOSHIDA GOT
WORRIED AND CALLED ME. HE FELT THAT MY INSTINCTS
FOR HORROR HADN'T RETURNED. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
BECAUSE I HADN'T DRAWN HORROR IN SUCH A LONG TIME,
BUT IT WAS INDEED A SUB-PAR STORYBOARD. I REDID THE
WHOLE THING, BUT IT STILL DIDN'T QUITE COME TOGETHER
FOR ME; IT WAS A RELUCTANT START TO MY FIRST HORROR
SERIALIZATION IN SOME TIME. I WENT ON TO DRAW SIX
MORE STORIES AFTER THAT, SO MAYBE IN THE END MY
HORROR INSTINCTS HAVE RETURNED...?

AT ANY RATE, I’M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THIS COLLECTION

PUBLISHED. I WANT TO OFFER MY SINCEREST GRATITUDE
TO EVERYONE IN THE NEMUKI+ EDITORIAL DIVISION WHO GAVE
ME THIS OPPORTUNITY, STARTING WITH MY EDITORS MIKIO
YOSHIDA AND MAKIKO HARA, AND TO KEISUKE MINOHARA OF
ROCKET BOMB WHO DID THE COVER DESIGN.

JUNJI ITO
APRIL 30, 2014
 About the Author
Junji Ко made his professional manga
debut in 1987 and since then has gone
on to be recognized as one of the
greatest contemporary artists working
in the horror genre. His titles include
Tomie and Uzumaki, which have been
adapted into live-action films, and Gyo,
which was adapted into an animated
film. Ito's influences include classic
horror manga artists Kazuo Umezu
and Hideshi Hino, as well as authors
Yasutaka Tsutsui and H.P. Lovecraft.
 Fragments of Horror
VIZ Signature Edition

Story & Art by Junji Ito

Translation & Adaptation/Jocelyn Allen

Touch-up Art & Lettering/Eric Erbes
Cover & Graphic Design/Sam Elzway
Editor/Masumi Washington, Nick Mamatas

Fragments of Horror
oJunji По 2014
Originally published in Japan in 2014 by Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc.,Japan.
English translation rights arranged with Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc.,Japan
through TOHAN CORPORATION, Tokyo.

The stories, characters and incidents mentioned

in this publication are entirely fictional.

No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any

means without written permission from the copyright holders.

Printed in the U.S.A.

Published by VIZ Media, LLC

P.0. Box 77010
San Francisco, СА 94107

10987654321
First printing, June 2015

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