Fukigen na Mononokean

It's so peaceful.

Huh?

Too much has happened since I started high school.

If I hadn't met that fuzzball,

I would've had an ordinary high school life.

But I want to pet his fluffy fur again.

Yeah, his fur certainly was nice.

He was creepy and scary,

but when I slept, he'd curl up just so right next to my head.

It felt great.

What is he, a pillow?

If all yokai were fuzzballs, this job might not be so bad.

Fuzzballs?

I seriously can't handle man-eating yokai,

but if they're fuzzball jobs, bring 'em on!

Bring 'em on, my ass.

I know what you want to say!

I'm a five-year-old who can't even handle an errand!

I'm just a useless dead weight

who ultimately needed your help.

I might as well just...

You're such a pain in the butt.

Give me your hand.

Huh?

What is this?

It's your pay for that last job.

In the end, you did manage to return the mask to Mitsuchigura-sama.

But I owe you a million yen.

Save up, then return it to me.

Once you return it in full, I'll let you quit this job.

Okay.

Hey, Abeno-san...

You don't suppose Fuzzy will come back to the mundane world, do you?

I want to see him again.

If you stick with this job, you might run into him eventually.

Really?

Now, will you meet him first, or pay off your debt first?

Mystery 4: The Underworld

You're going out?

I'll be gone today and tomorrow.

I don't need you annoying me with your concern again, so I'm letting you know.

Where are you going?

The Kiyakudo.

Kiyakudo?

Hey, you didn't need to tell him.

Kiyakudo? That sounds familiar.

Oh, right!

That's the apothecary you mentioned to Big Boss Scree!

Uh, yeah.

But isn't it in the Underworld?

Which means...

Abeno-san, you can enter the Underworld?

You can go too, Hanae.

"You can go too, Hanae?"

Seriously?

Hey!

Wouldn't it be good for Hanae to see the Underworld once?

"Would it be good for Hanae to see..."

Go take a field trip to the Underworld.

A field trip to the Underworld?

What? He's terrified of yokai.

He'd never visit a place full of them.

I want to go.

What?

See? Take him with you!

No! And how can you say you want to go?

You just see this as a test of courage, don't you?

H-Honestly, I am a little curious...

B-But, I mean...

If I'm going to be working for you,

I want to learn more about the job and yokai!

Is that still not a good enough reason?

This Saturday, then.

We don't have class.

Meet me on the roof at twelve.

Really?!

Good for you.

Yeah!

Don't let any yokai eat your eyes or ears!

"Don't let any yokai eat your eyes or ears"?

R-Right.

The school shop's closed on Saturday, so wanna hit a restaurant?

Thanks for treating us.

You're so generous!

Since that day, even when I see him at school,

Abeno-san falls asleep immediately and leaves before I know it.

I didn't get to ask what the Underworld's like.

What if it looks like those paintings of Hell?

Gotcha, Ashiyan.

Fusshi!

Where'd you get the camera?

I'm in the photography club.

I'm taking pictures for an upcoming contest.

Yeah?

I took a picture of a cat earlier.

Let me see.

Sure.

That's scary!

Right?

I ended up with this.

Go to the nurse's office!

Where is that, again?

Straight down this hallway!

You'll find gauze and ointment in the white cupboard!

Of course you'd know, "Hanae-chan of the Nurse's Office."

What kind of nickname is that?

But I don't want to use medicine. It stings.

You have to disinfect it!

Sure.

Medicine, huh?

The medicine Abeno-san's going to buy

must be the one he used on Big Boss Scree.

Maybe that medicine is something exorcists need to have around.

Abeno-san.

That's not the kimono you usually wear.

I wear this when I visit the Underworld.

You wear this.

Me, too?

I don't want to.

I only had a women's cloak.

Suck it up.

As long as you wear that, they'll know you work for me.

If you don't want to be possessed, put it on.

I'd rather be possessed...

Put it on.

Also, the Mononokean wanted me to give you this.

The Mononokean? For me?

Thrilling Exciting Rules for Visiting the Underworld: Beginner Edition 1) Don't get lost in the Underworld! 2) Don't follow strange yokai! 3) Listen to Itsuki and don't quarrel! 4) Say something immediately if you get Underworld Sickness and feel unwell! Dress Code: Clothes Featuring Crest Destination: Kiyakudo Try not to get hurt, and have a safe trip From the Mononokean

Is this a field trip?

No.

It made me write that weird note this morning.

Anyway, you just need to follow the rules written there.

Is the Mononokean treating me like a child now, too?

You must be careful.

Ashiya-sama is dangerous.

What? You'd better not tell me I look like a creep after forcing me to wear this!

Or if you say it suits me, that's even worse!

You look fine.

I look fine?

I'm opening the door.

Mononokean master, Abeno Haruitsuki,

requesting a portal to the Underworld.

Hey, can I ask you something?

What?

Mitsuchigura-san entered the Underworld through the Mononokean's nijiriguchi, right?

Only the master of the Mononokean can travel between this world and

the Underworld through the Mononokean.

Because he entered from the Underworld,

he couldn't exit into this world.

That's why he hired us.

I see.

And because you entered from this world,

you can't exit into the Underworld.

What? Then...

The doors to the Underworld connect it to this world,

making it possible to pass between them.

I see. Then I'll be okay if I enter through this door.

That's why I don't want to do this.

If I take you, I have to open this door twice,

once to get there and once to come back.

Oh, right, and then you'll collapse from exhaustion.

Before we go, I have a another rule for you.

What is it?

While we're in the Underworld,

don't let anyone know you're a human.

That's it.

Now let's go.

What'll happen to me if someone finds out?

Well, they won't let you die easily.

My life depends on following that rule, then!

Do you not want to go?

No! I want to go!

Oh, really?

I'm scared...

But I hope I see Fuzzy again.

The Morose Mononokean

So this is the Underworld, home of the yokai.

I hope Fuzzy isn't all by himself...

What if Big Boss Scree ran out of strength on his way here?

Suddenly I feel really anxious.

And my body feels weak...

Now I feel sick.

Huh? Could this be...

4) Say something immediately if you get Underworld Sickness and feel unwell!

Well, it's not as if I can't walk.

Hey, we're almost at the exit.

O-Okay.

You're sick, aren't you?

I'm not sick.

Quit acting tough.

The rules said to tell me immediately if you feel sick.

I'm not sick.

You are! Underworld sickness can make you emotionally unstable.

That's why you should speak up right away.

Tsk. I told you, I'm not sick.

Whoops. Rule number one was no quarreling.

Is that the exit?

He's completely lost his mind.

So bright...

This is the Underworld?!