Myriad Colors Phantom World (無彩限のファントム・ワールド)

This is the famous Rubin's vase.

Depending on how you look at it,

it could either be a vase or two people facing each other.

The Müller-Lyer illusion.

The two lines are the same length, but the top one looks longer.

This is the checker shadow illusion.

Tiles A and B appear to be different colors,

but when extended, so that they overlap, you see that they're the same color.

The human brain's cognitive ability is surprisingly iffy and unreliable.

If our brains were, for whatever reason, to become altered,

the world we perceive would become vastly different.

For example, entities thought to be fictitious till now,

could appear before us in our reality.

Like me!

Don't go back to sleep!

Ow, ow, ow!

Stop it!

What are you doing?

It's your fault for not getting up, Haruhiko!

Look!

No way.

Ow!

Damn it...

There.

Crap, crap, crap...

If I'm late, Mai-senpai will roundhouse-kick me again!

You're so slow, Haruhiko.

Take a break from reading for once, and play some sports.

That's none of your business!

It's already here.

Wait up!

I did it.

Crap, it didn't work!

You're late, Haruhiko!

Sorry.

Are you done yet?

It keeps moving around. It's hard to draw.

Why are you even dressed like that?

I was in the middle of getting changed.

Go, Mai-cchi!

Isn't that the Phantom that's been interrupting gym class

and wrecking the flower gardens?

It's kind of a pain...

Shouldn't you go help, Ruru-chan?

Nope.

I'm an expert observer.

Hey, can you two handle it by yourselves?

Maybe you should ask a better team for backup.

I was just getting warmed up.

I'll show you what I'm made of.

Haruhiko, move!

Why can't you be more nimble?

You know I have terrible reflexes!

Morning.

Morning, Kurumi-chan.

Is your cold better?

Yeah.

What are you all watching?

Some high schoolers are fighting a Phantom.

This is getting nowhere.

Is there anything I can do?

That's it.

Mai-senpai, what are you...

They're coming this way.

There.

Nice, Mai-senpai!

Haruhiko, this is your chance.

Right.

Thrashing Phantom, reveal your secrets to the Book of Thoth!

Yay!

Haruhiko and Mai-cchi win!

See how good we are now?

That was lame.

Normally, you fail more spectacularly.

At least it was a good way to kill some time.

Let's go, Kurumi-chan.

That was exciting, huh, Albrecht?

They're all leaving.

Let's finish up, Haruhiko.

O-Okay!

Judging by color, fire is this Phantom's attribute.

Based on the law "water extinguishes fire," its weakness is the qi of water.

Of the five elements, the power of water extinguishes fire.

Her huge boobs never cease to amaze me!

I summon the water phase to my fists from my kidneys.

Quit ogling!

I have to buy a new sketchbook again.

You earned nothing today!

Why, Sensei?

You destroyed school infrastructure.

You earned just enough to pay for it.

No way.

How will I get by?

I'll find you more work, so be patient.

Okay, that's it for today's meeting.

Get home safely!

Good work, Mai.

Better luck next time.

Don't get so down, Haruhiko.

Some days it rains, some days it shines.

Thanks, Shosuke.

Quit sighing.

You're letting your happiness out.

You were sighing, too.

This is bad.

This is really bad.

I was counting on today's reward.

Are you so cash-strapped this month?

This month, next month, and every month thereafter.

It isn't easy for a high school student to live on their own.

Maybe our team needs more than just us.

We need to recruit members somehow.

Go Hosea!

Hey, isn't there anything better to read?

Like something smutty or something smutty?

You won't find anything like that here.

There might be some hidden talent nearby.

Like Zhuge Liang or Pang Tong from Records of Three Kingdoms.

I don't remember that.

Your stories always go off on stupid tangents.

Huh?

Was there always a cemetery here?

You must have taken the wrong path.

I always come this way. How could I have?

There's a phenomenon called "jamais vu."

It's when you feel like you're seeing a familiar scene for the first time.

That might be what this is.

Haruhiko, look!

Phantoms!

A girl?

I have to help her!

Please don't stare. It's embarrassing.

No!

A Phantom Eater!

She's a special ability user!

That was delicious.

Wow!

H-Have you heard of Gaius Plinius Secundus?!

G-Gai...

An ancient Roman naturalist!

Also known as Pliny the Elder...

There's an animal called the manticore in his book!

It would eat anything. Not even an army could slow it down.

Just now, you looked like the manticore!

Is that supposed to be a compliment?

This animal's also mentioned in Aristotle's books—

See? Going off on tangents!

Oh, yeah.

You're wearing a Hosea Academy uniform.

What's your name?

I-Izumi Reina.

Izumi Reina-san...

I'm Ichijo Haruhiko.

Have you chosen your club yet?

Would you like to join the Phantom-hunting club?

I-I... Sorry, I'm going home now!

Look out!

Don't fall!

S-S-Sorry!

I didn't see any blue stripes!

How dare you?!

W-Wait.

Aw, she ran away.

All because you had to meddle.

You're so awful! I helped you out!

Izumi-san, I'm not giving up on you.

We need you.

You jerk!

Please! I'm begging you!

I don't know.

You're a Phantom Eater. You have a rare gift.

It'd be a shame if you didn't use it.

Are you pissed about yesterday?

If you want, you can kick his ass.

I'll allow it.

Why are you the one granting permission?

N-No, it was just an accident.

I'm sorry I threw you.

It's fine.

But I'm sorry. I really don't think I can.

Come on...

W-Wait.

Oh, yeah. Have you had lunch?

I'll treat you.

At the school cafeteria.

The school cafeteria?

The food here is so delicious.

I could keep eating forever.

She has such an appetite...

Awesome!

I've always wanted to come to the school cafeteria.

But I don't get an allowance, so I don't have any money.

You don't get an allowance?

Never mind. It isn't important.

Anyway, would you please explain?

All right.

Let's begin with what Phantoms are.