Recommendations from Iwamoto-Senpai (岩元先輩ノ推薦)

This is so nice.

YUYUSAKI HOT SPRINGS & INN

All these months after enrolling, I never would've imagined a day like this.

Iwamoto-san.

You should come in, too, Senpai.

Yeah, all right.

NO RUNNING

Too hot! Are you mad about something, Iwamoto-san?!

Iwamoto-senpai, you're overflowing!

Please don't bloom your flowers in the hot spring!

AKA THE BOX MAN

THE DAY BEFORE

Th-This is Iwamoto-senpai's senpai?

I always thought Iwamoto-san received Kitsujo-sensei's recommendation.

Y-Yeah, same here.

If you're hunting lions, you've gotta be stronger than one.

And that means... what, exactly?

Am I right?

That doesn't matter right now.

You've still got a knack for stating the obvious, Okuaki-senpai.

Knowing you, I bet this bunch is pretty quirky.

This isn't good. If Iwamoto-san's behind-the-scenes moves are revealed,

they might get reported to the brass.

Okuaki-senpai, the vice president of the student council.

He's always in and out of the school, and he's connected to army command.

He's basically a soldier already.

He helps run the school from behind the scenes, like a staff officer.

O-Okuaki-senpai, could you tell us more stories about Iwamoto-senpai?

Sure.

What exactly were you telling them about?

About when I captured you, obviously.

Please don't.

He's always been strong, then.

Well, of course. We're talking about Iwamoto-san.

You guys wanna hear more stories about Iwamoto, right?

Yes!

Gotta love a captive audience.

For now, could you please just let go? You're making them uncomfortable.

This is the rain man, right?

And this one... I don't really get, but all right.

You're the one who picked these kids with powers.

And I'm here for a pretty simple reason.

There's a sketchy character I'm hunting.

Who?

Don't play dumb. You know who I'm talking about.

A man who travels carrying a box.

They call him "The Phantom Box Man."

And after five months on his trail, I've finally got a solid lead.

I'd heard you were after him, but I'm not sure how it involves me.

I could use some help, y'see.

How about it? Anyone wanna join me on this gig?

Sensei said he'd arranged help for us. So he lied?

How many did you have in mind?

How about fourteen?

Fourteen people? Seems excessive—

Raise your hand if you wanna come with me!

Better look lively,

or you'll miss your chance to hit a hot springs town with Iwamoto!

Say what?!

Hey. What are you talking about?

Going with Iwamoto-san...

...to the hot springs?

That sounds great!

Me!

This case seems right up your alley.

I'm not sure why you need us.

Aw, quit bellyaching.

Just come along. It'll work out better this way, trust me.

FIRST SPRING THROUGH TO SEVENTH SPRING

Strangely enough, visiting all of Yuyusaki's hot springs

is supposed to offer the same benefits you'd receive

from bathing in all of the hot springs across Japan.

It's become a bit of a trend lately.

Is that right?

Well?

Notice anything weird?

Iwamoto-senpai. Okuaki-senpai. Everything seems normal enough.

Yeah?

Although, uh... is it all right for us to indulge like this?

Sure it is. Enjoy yourselves.

Well, if you insist.

Next up is the inn by the second spring.

Sorry for borrowing fourteen of your guys.

I wanted to station two lively men at each of the seven springs,

with the two of us on the prowl. That's how we'll catch him.

Well, here's hoping it turns out that well.

Anyone with powers is obviously gonna be trouble.

That's why I wanted some of these underclassmen you're so proud of.

How much have you found out about this man with the box?

He was originally a traveling performer

until he started attacking people one day.

Probably got a craving to use the powers he showcased in his act more and more.

He apparently shows up here pretty regularly.

He blends into groups of geisha and performs, and no one suspects a thing.

After doing that a few times, the guy who runs this place finally called it in.

So why actually bathe in the hot springs?

Don't be stupid.

They've gotta look like real guests, or this guy will run off.

His cover is a geisha, remember?

It's just not the plan I would've come up with.

GATHERING ROOM

Pardon me.

I'd like to thank you all for choosing to stay in Yuyusaki today.

Did anyone call for a geisha?

I don't think any of us have that kinda money.

Well, since you're here...

I promise you won't be disappointed.

Well? What do you have for us?

Please take a look at this box.

And I will take you on a journey to Shangri-la.

The third spring.

Bokuto-kun and Hebijomaru-kun should be here.

It's awfully quiet.

What's up? You guys oughta be talking.

I told you, you've gotta make it convincing—

What is it?

I heard something closing.

Okuaki-san. Down the hallway.

There's a boxlike object.

Boxlike?

No, wait. That's a Buddhist altar.

Hey.

Thing's shut tight.

Could you try to be a bit more careful—

See what I mean?

What the hell? It's sludge!

And it reeks like blood!

It's empty?

That's physically impossible.

That means it's a supernatural phenomenon.

The box man.

Impressive.

Get back here!

What?

The box man uses boxes with his power.

And I guess that's not limited to the box he carries around.

We need to check the other rooms, now!

Wild beasts leap through burning rings of fire.

And men will waltz into hell of their own free will.

Touring the hot springs, and touring the inferno.

If you want to take a tour so bad,