Urasekai Picnic (Otherside Picnic)

What are you--?

Stay just like that.

So beautiful.

Huh? What's gotten into you?

Sorao, your right eye is so blue.

Check this out.

It's translucent. How'd you do that?

Come on, it's not like I could do it on purpose.

I bet it happened when we hunted down that wiggle-waggle!

"Kisaragi Katasu - Yami"

Three days ago, we encountered a creature known as a wiggle-waggle

and barely managed to defeat it.

The wiggle-waggle urban legend is well known on the net.

They're said to be creatures that drive you mad just by looking at them.

I believe my right eye turned blue because I looked at one for too long.

If so, then Toriko's left hand probably turned translucent

when she yanked off those things that were growing around my eyes.

Let's have an expert take a look.

I know a researcher who specializes in the Otherside.

A researcher?

Yeah, that's who wants the mirror cubes that the wiggle-waggles drop.

An Otherside... researcher?

I hate to have to ask this, but...

You're not ripping off that researcher, are you?

Why do you say that? I'm just bringing the cubes from that side,

and the researcher is paying a ton of money for them.

Maybe I'm the one getting ripped off.

This is...

...that place the neighborhood kids say is haunted.

Hello?

We're here!

Keep it down. Hurry up and get in here.

Huh? Um, wait a sec!

Sorry for calling out of the blue.

Who're you?

Oh, that's my friend Sorao.

H-Hi, I'm Sorao Kamikoshi--

She's your friend? How much did you pay her?

Nothing, she's free.

Sorao, sit. Make yourself at home.

Don't try to run the show. This is my place.

She's the one I was talking about. Her name is Kozakura,

and she conducts research related to cognitive science and the Otherside.

She's a complete stranger. What have you been telling her about me?

I said you were an expert on the Otherside.

An expert, huh? So your name's Sorao?

Sit.

You met on the Otherside?

Yeah. And check this out.

Yikes! You're freaking me out!

It's not only me. Look at Sorao's eye.

That's a real eye, all right. What happened?

Um... Ever hear of the wiggle-waggle urban legend that's all over the net?

Not really. Care to explain?

Well, this is what happens when you stare at one too long.

I ended up like this when I touched Sorao while she was under its power.

That means...

...you've both had a close encounter of the fourth kind!

You have some nerve barging in here uninvited and touching everything!

You said we could come in.

Um, what's the fourth kind?

In ufology, contact events with UFOs are classified

as close encounters of the first, second, and third kind.

I've applied a similar scale to contact events with the Otherside.

The fourth kind has a physical impact on the body.

The closer the contact with the Otherside, the greater the danger.

Some contactees are enthralled by the Otherside.

It becomes an addiction, and they never return.

Like Satsuki.

Is that--

She disappeared over there. She was... my friend.

I was friends with Satsuki first.

We were classmates in college.

She somehow learned of the Otherside and dragged me into her research.

Have you been there, too?

No, I've never actually gone. I tried to stop her because of the risk.

Then one day, she said she'd found an enthusiastic assistant

and brought Toriko over to meet me.

Satsuki had been my tutor. In time, she told me about the Otherside.

We ended up exploring it together.

But I lost all contact with her three months ago.

I was worried, so I searched for her many times, but...

Even after I warned you it was crazy to do it alone.

She's our friend. We have to help her!

Oh, I almost forgot.

Look what I brought.

It's bigger than the last one.

It wasn't easy getting it.

Thanks!

Now, about my left hand and Sorao's right eye. What are we gonna--

I'm a cognitive scientist, not a medical doctor.

Ahhh...

It feels so good after it rains.

I wonder if we'll see a rainbow.

This is for you.

Are you good with a 50-50 split? Now you can get your phone fixed.

Okay.

I never thanked you, did I? So, thanks, Sorao.

Oh, no, I should thank--

So, when should we go again?

Again? Hold on! We haven't figured out what happened to my eye or your hand!

Shouldn't we have pressed a little harder for some answers?

Kozakura said she didn't know, so we shouldn't question her.

I'm sure she'll let us know if she discovers something.

Can we trust her?

Yes. After all, Satsuki did.

You were really close to Satsuki, weren't you?

Yeah, no one's more important to me.

But if I'm honest, I was scared to go over there on my own.

So I was so happy when I ran into you. Like, super happy!

O-Oh...

When we defeated that wiggle-waggle,

I realized I might never find Satsuki on my own, but maybe I could with you, Sorao.

I'll be in touch again tomorrow.

Leave me out of this.

And here I am.

Sorao.

Been waiting long?

Fifteen minutes.

Wrong answer. You're supposed to say, "I just got here."

What is this, a date?

Did you bring your gun?

Just in case.

So, where to? Any idea where Satsuki might've gone?

She wasn't the type to discuss her plans.

You're no help.

From above, I could see what looks like an abandoned building to the southwest.

Ever been there?

Then let's go have a look. If she's too injured to move,

she may've sought shelter where there's a roof over her head.

Is there something wrong?

No, it's just, you're so focused on finding your friend

but haven't given any thought to how to do it.

I know I shouldn't rush into this,

but when I think how Satsuki could be in danger, I had to act.

Hmph. Then I hope we find her soon.

Sorao, I don't care for that attitude.

Would you stop sulking and acting like a child?

Like a child? I could say the same about y--

Stop!

Drop the weapon!

Go any farther and you'll end up dead. This place is full of glitches.

Glitches? Whatever, just drop your gun.

No can do. I just saved your life.

Watch.

What just happened?

Step there and it'll be the last step you ever take. You'll be turned to ash.

What's a glitch?

It's a supernatural trap. Forging blindly ahead is suici--

You're... Michiko?

I've been looking for you! Ever since you suddenly vanished!

Oh, what a relief.

-No, wait.

--Michiko. --No, wait.

--What's the matter? --No, wait.

--What's the matter? --Back off!

You're not... Michiko?

That's right. We're not whoever you're looking for.