Otherside Picnic (裏世界ピクニック)

What would happen if I died here?

I wonder how long it would take

before anyone noticed.

Not like I have any friends who would call

and wonder why I'm not answering.

I guess the school might eventually be curious

why my tuition wasn't being paid.

And maybe, maybe student services would reach out

to complain about how far behind I am

on my student loan payments.

Doesn't matter. Guess I'll find out pretty soon.

Because soon... it'll all be over.

Hello? Anyone there?

--A girl? -- Satsuki? Is that you?

Okay, well I hear someone.

Are you human? Do you need help?

Are you already--?

Yes! I'm human, and I'm alive, and I need help!

Watch out! That thing is very dangerous!

What is?

I-It's white and wiggly.

Don't look! Whatever you do!

It's so...

...beautiful, bright, golden.

You know, you looked like Ophelia.

Uh...

Huh?

U-Um, hey, please wait!

Hm...

I'm gonna throw up.

I told you.

You can't look at that thing, it's bad news.

You never said that!

You just weren't listening.

What happens if you don't stop looking at it?

Wha--? I have no idea.

Go away!

What now?

It went away...

Really? I hit it, didn't I?

I guess. What did you throw at it?

Oh, it was rock salt!

I heard it works on those kind of things.

Lucky us. Thought we were goners--

You're a superhero.

Upsy-daisy.

Wow! Talk about creepy!

Uh, yeah. Thank you for saving me.

Name's Toriko Nishina. Who're you?

Me? I'm Sorawo Kamikoshi--

Hi, Sorawo. Did you enter from somewhere near here?

Um. Yeah, it's close.

Oh, thank goodness!

I'm actually a bit lost, to be honest.

Be right back! I'm gonna go grab my salt.

Hm?

How many times have you been?

To that world, I mean?

I dunno. Maybe, like, ten trips.

That's a lot!

But it explains your expertise in fighting the wiggle-waggles.

I'm guessing you're talking about that white thing.

Is it really called a wiggle-waggle?

I mean.

That's the name I've heard associated with it.

Ah. Sounds like you're the expert here.

I'm not. I just remember reading about it.

But I thought it was just a story.

For entertainment.

It's an urban legend.. dating back to around 2003.

Most of the information I read came from internet sources.

It's basically just a white shadow that appears

and wriggles around unnaturally.

Anyone who looks at it goes nuts.

That's all I know.

Wow, that's crazy.

I found something else while I was out there.

Do you know what this is?

Never seen one before.

It reflects the room but not us.

Ew, that's creepy!

Yeah... Weird.

How much you think we could get for it?

Seriously? Neither one of us knows what it is!

Or if it was safe to bring over from that side!

What side?

Are you talking about the other world?

Does it have multiple sides?

No, I just don't know any other name for it.

So I say I'm on "this side",

and occasionally I'm stupid enough to visit "that side".

I refer to it as the Otherside.

You run into anyone else when you've gone?

Well, no.

You're the first person I've ever met in that place.

I see.

Are you looking for somebody?

I remember you saying a name when you found me.

I think it was Satsuki.

Uh? What should we do?

Oh wow, so weird.

Do you see anything?

No. Nothing. It's just.. blue.

Move it!

Is that a gun?

It's a Makarov. Calm down.

Just got it.

We'll be fine.

You said it was all blue?

Um. Yeah.

Right. 'Kay.

Huh?

Wow! I was freaking out. That could've been really bad!

Looks like you can't use that entrance anymore.

Uh, hello?

Uh, Sorawo, are you good? You seem upset.

Don't make that face, you'll break my heart!

I'm gonna take you to the entrance I use next time, cool?

No, it's fine.

But I wanna know what the blueness was.

And why you pulled out a gun.

It's something I heard about.

The other side is full of messed up situations.

But you're in some serious danger when it all turns blue.

So, does that mean something evil was about to attack us?

I don't know. This is all new to me, too.

Enough!

Let's stop psyching ourselves out and go get some rest!

Gimme your number so we can meet later.

Um...

I would give you mine, but I never memorized it

and I didn't bring my phone with me.

Please be okay!

It's not broken. Thank goodness!

Uh, what's wrong with it?

I forgot to give her my number,

but I saw her a week later.

Sorawo? Guess who?

You're not eating by yourself, are you?

Where are your friends?

None of your business!

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap.

How did you find me?

I didn't give you my number or email.

True.

But you did mention where you went to school.

And a name is all you need these days.

So she looked up my school, found an address, and came here.

I'm pretty sure that's called stalking.

Hey, do you wanna go back?

To that side?

Mm-hm!

No thanks, you go ahead.

It would be more fun together!

That a no?

It's not as easy as "yes" or "no".

Wh-What are you looking at?

That's disgusting!

Why do you want to go back there?

I'm so glad you asked.

I met someone who wants to buy mirror cubes

like the one we found.

It's not like we've got a stock in the back,

we were lucky to find that one.

Actually, I know where we can get more.

Oh great.

We hunt down those wiggle-doodle whatevers.

Huh?! Hunt the wiggle-waggles?

The ones that make you go insane just by looking at them?

So? You in?

I dunno.

We could make some sweet, sweet cash together.

What makes you think that?

Look. A full stock of ammunition.

That's a big bag of "nope".

I almost died last time.

Yeah, I know.

Felt like I stumbled upon a drowned rat.

You did, a rat named "Ophelia".

Right. Sorry, I don't mean to push.

I just really don't want to go there alone.

If you won't come with, I'm afraid I'll end up dead.

Are we supposed to be having a conversation?

Awkward. How did I even end up here?

I don't know what made me think I was socially skilled enough

to handle this. I haven't interacted with people in ages.

Sorry, didn't see you.

We're here.