The Flowers of Evil (惡の華)

THE FLOWERS OF EVIL - BAUDELAIRE

MIYAMA BOOKSTORE

Dear Baudelaire,

can you believe this?

For the first time in my life,

I'm witnessing with my own eyes,

someone reading that book!

Tokiwa,

that book...

The Flowers of Evil... Why are you...?

What's your problem?

You're creeping me out.

It's just... That book...

I've never seen anyone reading it.

Sorry.

Hey, wait a minute!

SANITIZING WIPES

Do you want one?

Yeah, thanks.

I'm surprised you know it.

It's a pretty obscure book.

When I was in junior high,

I read it till the pages wore out.

Impressive.

Actually,

a mystery novel I read recently

used one of his poems to solve the trick.

So, when I saw it on the shelf here, I thought I'd take a look.

Honestly, I don't really get it.

You like books?

I do...

I mean, I did.

I don't read at all now.

Why not?

Busy with club activities?

Well, no...

Do you wanna read it?

The mystery novel I mentioned.

I just finished it.

THE FLOWERS OF EVIL

Thanks for this.

You finished it already?

EPISODE 9

It was a really good book!

I kept wondering what comes next. I couldn't put it down.

Right?

There's a sequel, isn't there?

Here.

No way! Thank you.

I kept wondering what happens to the protagonist.

To be honest, I couldn't concentrate on my studies or anything.

I know, right?

Hey, let me borrow one of your books, too.

Ah.

Nothing like The Flowers of Evil, please.

Got anything more serious, with substance, and fun to read?

I got rid of all my books when we moved here.

Just give me the titles, then.

You used to read a lot, right?

Takao!

How you doin' these days? Everything good?

Now, listen.

Don't worry your mother, you understand?

Hey! Go take a bath already!

What'd you say?!

Don't nag me like that.

I've been working all day, you know.

And I do the housework on top of a part-time job.

Well, I'm sorry I get paid peanuts.

Do you think I want to be in this job?!

Here we go again...

What's that?!

Here.

Wow.

Tsutsui? I like his work, too. You like Erotic Avenue?

I liked Lagos on a Journey better.

Sorry.

What?

Why are you apologizing?

You're silly.

Thanks for lending it to me.

It was really interesting.

This is from me, then.

Here.

I told you it's not.

Is that Kasuga over there?

- What? - What's he doing?

He's reading a book.

That's not like him.

THE METAMORPHOSIS X KAFKA TRANSLATION BY YOSHITAKA TAKAHASHI

I read it, but,

you sure have terrible taste!

Sorry about that.

That unsettling feeling that maybe people are really like this.

Right... I see your point. You... think so?

Come on! You're the one who recommended it to me!

You have to get it together!

You're the only one I can talk to about books.

Sorry.

Kasuga, we saw you yesterday. Getting some alone time with Tokiwa.

No, that's not... I was just borrowing a book from her.

Too bad, Kasuga.

Tokiwa has a boyfriend!

I heard he's a third year at North High, and they met at her part-time job!

What a fleeting romance it was for you, Kasuga.

We won't let you get ahead of us. Right, guys?

Come on, it's not like that.

Mmm.

What are you doing, trying to build relationships with people?

Have you forgotten what you did?

You shit bug!

Hey ya.

Thanks for letting me borrow these.

Weren't they great?

I think they're the best of the whole series.

Yeah.

What? You didn't care for them?

That's not it at all! I can't wait to read the rest.

I'm sorry.

I stayed at a friends' house last night, so I don't have the next volume.

Your friends' house...

Of course.

Wait, what is this? Are you that bummed about it?

Wanna come over to my house to get it?

What?!

There you are!

Tokiwa!

Why don't you come to this with us?

Sorry, I have plans today.

Okay, then. We'll see you tomorrow.

- Yeah. - See you.

- Bye. - Bye-bye.

Who was that next to her?

- No clue. - Off we go, off we go.

Let's go.

Okay, sure.

TOKIWA

You can relax, you know.

Well, I mean... I'll leave as soon as I borrow the book.

Where did I put that one...

What?

This is amazing!

Hey, don't gawk at it like that.

I don't mean to, but... You've read all of these books, right?

You must really love to read.

It really is amazing.

Stop it already.

PLOT

What is that?

It's nothing.

By any chance...

Is it a novel you wrote?

No, it isn't.

Can't I take a peek?

I'm telling you it's not!

Hello?

What? Wait a second, it's nothing like...

What?

Kasuga,

I'm sorry.

My boyfriend's here.

What?

Thanks for waiting, Koji.

This is Kasuga.

Hello.

No way! I wondered what stud you'd taken into your room, but this guy?

Well... I'm...

I'm sorry, sir.

It's obvious you don't have the guts to do anything.

Hey, wanna go to our usual spot?

We can get pizza or something.

Sounds good. Let's go.

I'm really, truly sorry.

Hey.

Come with us, Kasuga.

What?

Wanna go clubbing? A sick DJ's coming.