Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun (地縛少年花子くん)

"Toilet-bound Hanako-kun"

Hanako-kun said:

You can even make friends with murderers, Yashiro.

That time, Hanako-kun seemed...

...angry?

No.

That wasn't anger.

Nene-chan?

--That was... --Hey, Nene-chan.

Nene-chan!

Are you listening?

S-Sorry.

Really, Nene-chan, you always have your head in the clouds lately.

Oh, do you have a crush on someone?

No.

I wish that was it.

Oh, I know!

Have you heard this story, Nene?

The second of the Seven Wonders is...

"Apparition 3: The Misaki Stairs, Part 1"

The Misaki Stairs.

You must never step on the fourth stair.

If you break that rule,

you'll be dragged into the world of the dead.

You'll be ripped into countless little pieces.

And at twilight, that stair...

...drips with the blood of its victims.

It's the B stairs in front of the art room.

And a bunch of kids say they've seen puddles of blood there.

Huh?

I thought you liked stories like that, Nene.

I-I do! I love them!

I do like them...

--...but lately, all Aoi's stories have turned out to be true.

--You. Saw. Us. --...but lately, all Aoi's stories have turned out to be true.

I'm glad, then!

I'm not very good with scary stories,

but I'll tell as many as it takes if it cheers you up.

Aoi...

Hey.

Akane-san, aren't you forgetting something?

"Career Counseling" Career counseling. At 4:30. In the art room.

Oh, that's right!

I'll find more scary stories,

so feel better, okay?

Thanks, Aoi.

"Touched" Thanks, Aoi.

"Touched" But I'd really rather you didn't.

The flowers are blooming.

That will make Aoi happy.

Th...

They're gone!

All the flowers are gone!

Why?! Did someone clear them away?

Oh! Don't tell me...

Want one?

I guess not.

That's where Aoi's desk is supposed to be.

Time for the morning greeting.

Sensei! Excuse me, do you know what happened to the flowers that were there?

What flowers?

Aoi was taking care of them.

If you mean the class flowers...

What are these weeds?!

...he's in charge of them over the summer.

And who is Aoi?

There's no Aoi in our class.

Aoi? Who's that?

Who knows? Is she okay?

Yashiro-san?

Even the teacher...

What's wrong with everyone?

Aoi...

"Akane Aoi"

The number you have dialed is not in service.

Huh?

Please check the number and...

I know, I'll call her house.

Hello, Akane residence.

I-Is that Aoi's mom?

This is Nene!

Aoi isn't in school today, and I wondered...

Excuse me? No one by that name lives here.

Maybe you have the wrong number?

She's not there?

Hello? Hello?

No way. Even Aoi's mom...

The B stairs in front of the art room.

Career counseling. At 4:30. In the art room.

That's it!

Hanako-kun might know--

Whoops.

S-Sorry, I...

No, I'm sorry.

You okay?

He...

He's hot!

Here, you dropped this.

Th-Thank you very much.

What a gentleman.

No! I need to find Hanako-kun!

"Girls' Bathroom" "Cleaning in Progress"

"Girls' Bathroom" "Cleaning in Progress" Missing?

Hmm.

I need more than "hmm"!

You weren't around all day!

I ended up having to wait this late.

Well, I'm busy, too.

Why not call the police?

Well... it's weird.

Aoi's flowers and desk and things are all gone, too.

And everyone says they don't know any Aoi.

Hanako!

"Girls' Bathroom" Hanako!

"Girls' Bathroom" Minamoto-kun?!

"Girls' Bathroom" This is a girls' bathroom!

Damn you!

What'd you do with Yokoo and Satou from my class?!

H-Hang on. Calm down.

I know you did it!

You spread a bunch of weird rumors!

Why doesn't anybody remember them?!

Then...!

Five Brights.

Missing students and rumors about the stairs...

In that case, I do have an idea.

I knew it! You no good--

Where did Aoi go?

There are seven places in this school that connect to the spirit world.

Those stairs are one of them.

The missing students must have been taken to the spirit world.

Spirit world?

They're called "Boundaries."

When a living human wanders in, their whole existence is erased.

Boundaries...

My brother told me about those.

Boundaries are the seas between the shores of this life and the next.

The world of ghosts and apparitions with nowhere to go

and things everyone's forgotten.

C-Can't people come back from there?

Don't look so down.

It'll be fine.

I'll save them.

"Squish, squish" I'll save them.

"Squish, squish" Didn't I tell you?

"Squish, squish" I'm number seven of the Seven Wonders.

It's my duty to maintain order between humans and apparitions.

"Stretch" It's my duty to maintain order between humans and apparitions.

"Stretch" Although you'll be helping, too, of course, Yashiro.

Hanako-kun.

There, there.

Hey!

"Wiggle, wiggle" What is it? I was just getting to the good part.

"Wiggle, wiggle" Keep your sleazy hands off her!

"Wiggle, wiggle" You're taking Senpai into the Boundary, right?

"Wiggle, wiggle" Well, yeah.

I'm coming, too!

I'll protect her.

I don't mind,

but you're not my assistant, so I won't protect you.

Like I'd want your help!

Don't cry to me if you get shredded.

Shredded...?

F-Fine by me!

Damn you! Hey! Stay still!

Nene-chan!

Aoi... I'll save you.

"Art Room"

What's this?

Aoi...

I-I'll protect you no matter what, Senpai.

And exorcise him while I'm at it!

Let's go, then.

Step on the fourth stair, right?

Here goes.

--One! --What?! Already?!

Two!

Three!

Four.

Huh?

"Misaki"

"Misaki" Where...?

"Misaki"

Well, Misaki Stairs,

you sure are doing your own thing.

This is the spirit world.

It really is a different world.

Its atmosphere is nothing like the school's.

"Two"

Dolls...?

Hurry up, you two.

Whoa!

A puddle?

Scales!

What's wrong, Senpai?

Oh, it's nothing.

I-I've got to be careful not to trip here.

"Maybe just my feet is all right..." I-I've got to be careful not to trip here.

"Maybe just my feet is all right..." I'll turn into a fish.

"Maybe just my feet is all right..."