The Morose Mononokean (不機嫌なモノノケ庵)

This is it.

Today's the day.

I'm actually gonna make it.

Come on. You've got this.

Okay, on second thought, maybe not.

Get it together, man. Yokai aren't real.

Just a story made up for kids. Right?

At least that's what I used to tell myself.

Several days ago...

Hanae, sweetie, can you do me a favor?

What is it?

Do you mind stopping by the store and picking up

a few things for dinner tonight?

Yeah, sure.

Thanks.

Back-to-school season's got me super busy.

Voilà!

These are for you. For being such a good son.

Let's call it a "proud mother's bouquet."

Do you have to express everything with flowers?

Bell peppers. Eggs. Baby carrots.

Cool, that's everything on the list.

Just a stuffed animal.

Some kid must've dropped it.

Now you'll be easier for your owner to find,

and no one else'll step on ya.

I did a good deed!

Am I ready for high school or am I ready for high school?

Talk about mature!

Hey, what the--?

Hey... Uh... Stop!

Get offa me!

What is this thing?

I'm home.

How did it go?

I thought you'd be back before--

Honey, you look awful.

Is everything all right?

Not by a long shot.

I can't get whatever this is off of me.

What are you talking about?

This thing. It's stuck.

Hm? Do you mean your hood?

Crocuses.

In the language of flowers, they say, "I believe you,

but I'm a bit concerned."

She can't see it?

What's wrong with me?

I have a headache, I'm nauseous, crazy tired,

so off-balance it's all I can do to walk in a straight line.

And as far as I can tell,

I'm the only one that can see this thing.

Almost there.

Just a little farther.

Ah, that's cold!

I'm wearing an ice pack?

Feeling better?

Wait, am I... in the nurse's office?

Oh. Yes, you collapsed at the front gate this morning.

What? I should get to class!

Now, now. Don't get all worked up.

School's over for the day.

Say wha--?

Way to start things off on the right foot.

I spent my first day of high school unconscious.

To make matters worse, I still feel like crap.

Clearly, the common denominator here...

...is this stupid fuzz ball!

I get it, okay? Yokai are real!

-- Get off! --

-- Leave me alone! --Um, what exactly is he doing?

I don't know. Maybe we should hang back.

Day two.

First time I've actually cleared the gate.

Today I turn over a new leaf.

My life as a high school student begins.

Man down! Man down!

Get him to the nurse's office!

Day three.

Ah! Oh, no! He's dead!

Somebody call the nurse!

Day four.

You okay, kid? Need the nurse?

Day five.

You're really not looking so hot.

Meh. It's nothing. I'll be all right.

It could be anemia.

Used to make me pass out all the time when I was a little girl.

I think it's hereditary.

Sure. See you tonight, Mom.

I'll make an arrangement of red gardenias!

'Kay? In flower-speak, they mean "perseverance!"

I believe in you!

Perseverance. That's the key.

Don't give up. Keep going.

You've got this.

Just a little bit farther and I'll be in class.

Now, my life as a high school student will finally--

This is ridiculous.

My whole high school experience has been in the nurse's office!

Ever since this fuzz ball showed up,

I've been getting worse and worse.

Meanwhile it's getting bigger by the day.

Obviously it's feeding on me.

Unless I get rid of it somehow, I'll end up dead!

No!

I won't be taken down by some cute little yokai !

Look at me!

I haven't made any friends yet.

That's pathetic.

I don't want to die a loser!

Screw this!

Whoa...

Ugh! You made me tear the bulletin--

Exorcists? Seriously?

I can't tell if this is real, but you never know.

Odds are I'm walking into someone's idea of a joke.

I'll end up a laughingstock.

But if there's even a remote possibility

of shaking this thing...

I'll take my chances, thank you very much.

Perseverance, right?

Yes? Who is it?

They picked up!

Um, can I talk to Abeno?

Speaking.

Uh, hey.

So I stumbled across your help wanted poster.

Interesting.

You could actually see it?

Bit of a long shot on my part.

It was kind of an accident.

Can you come in for an interview right away?

When?

The sooner the better.

Where are you?

Oh, um, the nurse's office.

Fine. That'll work. Open the door.

Okay.

Where do I go from there?

You'll see.

What?

Is he already waiting outside?

Come in and take a seat over there.

Something wrong?

Uh...

No?

Whoa! The fuzz ball totally shrank!

I don't have all day.

Take off your shoes.

Right!

Has the nurse's office always been next to a tearoom?

Here you go.

So, like, are you a...?

Indeed.

I am the master of this Mononokean.

Haruitski Abeno.

So, when will you be able to start?

Huh?

Guess you'll have to do.

A bit scrawnier than I'd like,

but the only one who answered my ad.

Actually, though...

I'm not here looking for work.

I was hoping you could help me out.

Wait. You need my help?

This weird fuzzy thing's latched on to my back;

it's caused me nothing but problems!

I saw your post and thought maybe you could do an exorcism!

That is, if this is for real.

I mean, that is the kind of thing you do, right?

Of course. Consider it done.

Oh, that'd be awesome! I've been living a nightmare!

Wow. You actually thought I was serious.

Get out and stop wasting my time.

Huh?!

Hold on a minute!

Will you let go of me?

There's gotta be something you can do!

C'mon, I'm begging!

I only let you in here because I thought

you were looking for work!

If it's an exorcism you're after,

I'm afraid you'll just have to wait your turn!

How long are we talking about?

You have other customers or something?

About ten days.

Ten days?

If that's not good enough for you, do something

about it yourself.

No, no. It's fine. I'll wait.

Will I even be alive in ten days?

Very well.

Tell me who you are and I can put you on the waiting list.

Hanae Ashiya.

That's your name?

Ashiya? Really?

There some kind of problem?

What's the big deal?

Fine.