Fukigen na Mononokean

Today... Today's the day...

I'll make it there.

Today's the day...

I don't think I can go on anymore.

Yokai and such are imaginary characters.

They don't actually exist.

Right...

Until that day, that's what I believed.

Mystery One: The Beginning

Several days earlier...

Hanae! Hanae, are you there?

Yeah?

Could you go grocery shopping for dinner?

Sure.

Thanks. I'm so busy with the school year starting.

Ta-da!

I expressed a mother's joy at having a fine son

with a bouquet of flowers.

Please stop expressing your emotions with flowers!

Bell peppers, carrots, eggs...

Good. I don't think I forgot anything.

Oh, it's just a stuffed animal.

That scared me.

Did some kid drop it?

Now no one will step on it,

and it'll be easier for its owner to find.

I did a good deed.

Now that I'm in high school as of tomorrow,

I've really matured.

Wh-What?

Wh-What is this thing?

I'm home...

Welcome home. That took a while.

You look pale.

Did something happen?

More than just something.

This weird thing stuck itself to me.

What stuck to you?

This thing.

What thing?

Huh?

Crocuses.

In the language of flowers,

they mean, "I believe you, but I'm worried about you."

She can't see it?

Why?

Headache, nausea, full-body fatigue...

I'm so unsteady on my feet, I can't even walk straight...

As far as I can tell,

I'm the only one who can see it.

I'm almost at school...

Entrance Ceremony

Nurse's Office

Cold!

An ice pack?

Are you okay?

Is this the nurse's office?

Yes. You collapsed in front of the school gate.

Sorry!

There's no need to rush.

Classes have already ended.

Huh?

What?!

I can't believe I spent my entire

first day of high school in the nurse's office.

On top of that, I still feel terrible.

No matter how you look at it, the reason for it must be...

This fuzzy thing!

I'm sure of it! This thing is a yokai!

Get off of me!

Enough already!

Wh-What is he doing?

We should keep our distance.

The second day.

Okay, I made it past the gate.

Now my high school life will finally...

Someone collapsed!

Take him to the nurse's office!

The third day.

Someone collapsed!

Get him to the nurse's office!

The fourth day.

What's wrong with you? Need to go to the nurse's office?

The fifth day.

Are you sure you're okay?

I-I'm fine...

When I was younger,

I used to collapse from anemia all the time.

Do you think it's genetic?

I-I'm off.

In the language of flowers, red gerberas mean,

"always give your all and challenge yourself!"

You can do it!

That's right... I have to give everything I have.

Everything I have...

Everything...

I'm almost at my classroom.

My high school life will finally...

Nurse's Office

I can't believe I've spent

my entire high school career since the entrance ceremony here.

I've been feeling worse and worse since this thing showed up,

and it keeps getting bigger.

It's clearly sucking something out of me.

He's going to curse me to death!

Damn it! I refuse to be cursed to death!

At this rate, I won't make a single friend.

I'll be a loner. A gloomy high school life awaits me.

No way!

I did it!

I-I tore...

Now Hiring Exorcists!! No experience necessary Contact Information 090XXXXXXXX Abeno

Exorcists?

Brush your teeth!!

I have zero judgment right now.

I'm sure they'll just mock me for taking it seriously.

But if there's even a 0.1% chance I'll escape this fuzzball,

I'll do whatever it takes!

Yes? Who's calling?

He picked up!

Is this Abeno-san?

It is.

I saw your "help wanted" poster...

Ah, so you "saw" that paper?

I didn't think anyone would actually call.

Anyway, uh...

Come for an interview immediately.

Huh?

Where are you right now?

The nurse's office.

Okay, open the nurse's office door.

Huh?

Where should I go from here?

You'll know once you open the door.

Huh?

Is he already waiting outside?

Have a seat.

The Morose Mononokean

Come in.

Uh, okay...

It shrank!

Hurry up and come in.

Take off your shoes.

Okay.

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

Here.

Um, are you...

Yeah, I'm this Mononokean's master, Abeno Haruitsuki.

So, when can you start work?

Huh?

You look pretty weak, but no one else responded, so you'll do.

That's not why I'm here.

I actually called because I need your help.

What? Help?

This fuzzy thing's possessed me and it's causing huge problems!

When I saw your notice, I thought maybe...

you'd be able to exorcise it...

Sure, I'll exorcise it.

Really? Thank you so much!

You really thought I'd say that?

Get out of here, weakling.

What?!

Hold on!

What are you doing? Let go!

Can't you do something?!

I let you in because I thought you wanted to work.

If you want an exorcism, then wait your turn.

The other customers come first.

Other customers?

How long will I have to wait?

Ten days.

Ten days?

If you can't wait, do something about it yourself.

I'll wait.

Will I still be alive in ten days?

Then I'll put you on the waiting list.

What's your name?

Ashiya Hanae.

Ashiya?

"Ashiya," huh?

Yes, it's Ashiya.

Wh-What is it?

Fine. I'll exorcise that thing now.

What? Really?

I changed my mind.

You leave first. I'll follow you.

Okay.

Huh? There's no door.