Mizuha-senpai is right-handed.
Mizuha's Nokker challenges Fushi to battle.
Our battle in the current age is over.
Come with me.
You did well.
Fushi brought Mizuha back.
Coexist
This hot pot is so good!
How did you flavor it, anyway?
Wanna teach me?
I'll ask Grandpa.
Mizuha...san.
Here.
Let's eat.
I bet you're starving.
Thanks.
I'll talk to the school to make sure Mizuha-kun can go back starting tomorrow.
I appreciate it.
He didn't hesitate to drink the water with Nokkers in it.
Come with me, Yuki.
Fushi, what's wrong?
Satoru, you, too.
Yuki swallowed a Nokker.
Get it out of him. Please!
I refuse!
Why?
Because I said so.
But... that's dangerous!
It could manipulate you if it wanted to.
It could even kill you! It's a threat to your life!
I know that.
Then why?
We'll coexist.
Couldn't you coexist with it after you get it out of your body?
You saw what happened to Mizuha when she was controlled by the Nokkers.
Who knows when you'll end up like that?
I won't.
So I'm fine the way I am.
But...
We ought not to intervene if it isn't his wish.
You heard him. Later!
Yuki!
I'm leaving, as well.
Hey!
I am concerned about Yuki.
I'll be back tomorrow.
So yeah, I gave Mizuha-senpai that album gift again last night, properly this time.
And then...
she grinned and said, "Thank you."
And that's when your hands touched?
That's right!
And that's when you confessed?
I couldn't do it!
It's all good. You'll have more opportunities.
What's up?
Opportunities for what?
Um, er...
An opportunity to give you the birthday gift I meant to give you last night.
For me?
Come on, President!
It was supposed to be my turn!
The Occult Research Club!
We need to talk.
Am I being courted? How delightful.
No, dummy, we're in trouble right now.
Is something the matter?
They suspect we're behind what went down yesterday.
The security camera footage has been deleted for some reason.
The police want to chalk it up to you guys pulling pranks.
They're probably going to interview you sometime soon.
You'll need a good explanation,
or you might not be able to come back to school.
Huh? You're going to get arrested?
That's why we're having a meeting at the family restaurant,
so we don't get arrested.
You guys weren't at school for a while.
Work with us so we can get our story straight.
You, too, Mizuha!
You're involved with all the Nokker stuff, aren't you?
But I have a curfew.
You don't care if Fushi-kun gets arrested?
That would be bad.
The family restaurant, you say? In that case...
Seasonal mango parfait!
Steak combo!
Do we have a deal?
Dick move.
Fine.
Pizza for me, then.
Me, too.
Sounds like we should bring Bon along.
And Satoru, too.
We have an update on the fire and mass hypnosis incident
at Minamoto Middle School yesterday.
We've learned that the security footage
from the time of the incident had been deleted.
The police suspect that this was the result of a deliberate crime.
Sheesh, how terrifying!
Who could have done such a thing?
Was it you?
Yeah.
There's no record of the important parts.
That'll keep it from becoming a huge incident.
I'm not sure just deleting the video is enough.
It seems like the police will be hunting down the arsonists.
You might as well have erased everyone's memories at school, too.
Can he even do that?
Yeah, remember when he froze our bodies in place?
Like that.
I could, but I won't.
Tampering with a person's memories damages their fye.
It's tantamount to murder.
Though, I may have done so previously.
Is this kid really that black thing?
Yes.
Satoru.
Let's head home.
There you are. Satoru-kun!
I have some questions about yesterday. Do you have some time?
I gotta go with them, Grandpa.
Is she your friend?
Yeah.
So sorry. We gotta get back home.
We have to hold a meeting about the Nokkers.
Nokkers? What's that?
It's fine. There isn't a problem.
Wha?
Okay, just as we planned.
We're here to pick you up as instructed by Bon-sama.
Please.
All right, let's go!
We're headed to the family restaurant, Gramps.
Don't worry about our dinner, okay?
What's up with them?
Operation: Like Hell We're Getting Arrested.
Pretty simple.
Commence the meeting!
First, I think we need to make sure our testimony is consistent.
So I've put together a script.
Huh? When did you manage that?
Hey, you've started.
You're late, Fushi-kun.
Hello, Bon-san.
We've gotten started with dinner.
I'm home.
Welcome home, Mom.
How was school?
I talked lots with my friends.
How's Grandpa?
You went to the hospital, right?
Yeah.
Seems the injury wasn't critical.
His treatment didn't take long. They said he should be okay.
Well, that's a relief.
Have you forgiven him?
No.
But I'll try my best to forgive him, even if it takes a few years.
You're putting those photos up, huh?
Yeah. I want make decorations out of them.
Evidence of our love.
Look, Mom, Dad!
The moon's huge today, isn't it?
Oh, yeah, it is.
Well, Mizuha, how are you feeling right now?
Okay, I guess.
Normal.
Yeah?
That's a huge success, then.
Yup.
Good.
Another day, no anomalies.
Vice President!
We finished the draft of the Occult Research Club Monthly.
Well done. That was quick.
Are you sure we should be writing this?
I am.
First off, about the arsonist...
It was one of Fushi-kun's mega fans.
She came to school in cosplay, but Fushi-kun wasn't around,
so she got upset and spiked the water supply.
How do you know?
She said so herself,
after everyone fell asleep.
That's the only motive?
And she was angry at the school.
So Tonari-san shot her with arrows?
I know. Vicious, right?
She survived because she was wearing a bulletproof vest.
So we lit her on fire, blew her up, and did a bunch of stuff until she died.
No regrets.
Wait, hold on!
Why were you so ready to kill her?!
Because!
I thought everyone was dead!
It was revenge!
Be strong.
Let me think...
From what I remember,
Tonari-san had taken the bow with her before everyone passed out.
The attacker had issued a warning.
She's famous even among Fushi fans for being volatile.
That's why Aoki-kun and I were at my place, protecting Fushi together.
I see...
And where'd you get the bow?
I borrowed it from the archery club.
It didn't look like the bows they use in the club.
It's from a club member's collection.
Bring that student here.
They already graduated.
Bring them here.
Hey, I'm that graduate.
You work here!
Also, you were on TV yesterday!
You spoke as if you had nothing to do with it, but you're totally involved!
The very same!
I am Bonchien Nicoli la Tasty Peach Uralis.
Have my autograph!
Aren't you...
ashamed of yourself?! You're a grown man!
Ow, ow, ow!
What the hell are you doing, brainwashing these kids?!
My precious ears!
You've got it wrong, Madam!
That's enough, Sensei!
Aoki-kun!
I'll tell you the truth.
About what happened that day.
I wrote it all down here!
Yuki-kun...
Let's see...
"The attackers were countless extraterrestrial beings called Nokkers"?
Aoki-kun, you know...
I don't have time to indulge your silly hobbies!
The only way we'll ever identify the unidentified is if we accept it!
So please let the Occult Research Club deal with this!
We have to take the first step in finding common ground with the extraterrestrials!
Ow, ow, ow! Let me go, Sensei!
Yuki...
It's been a week since Mizuha returned.
Bon and the Foundation used their influence to
keep all of us from getting arrested.
But...
Even without their leader, the Nokkers are still on the surface.
Judging from the pedestrians passing by, they haven't diminished in number at all.
We did tell them to stop their invasion,
but I suppose there are going to be more Nokkers causing problems.
I'm sorry!
Are you okay?
Humans are no different.
Some of us commit murder, even.
But most of us don't.
That's what we need to focus on.
There's no point in worrying about the bad ones all the time.
You're right, Yuki.
I can't say I hate your opinions.
Whether it's through magazines or TV or whatever else,
I want people to learn more about the Nokkers.
We gotta show off all the good things about them.
If we humans accept them, the Nokkers will open up to us, too. I'm sure of it.
So you're in favor of manipulating people's bodies like the Nokkers do, then.
I just think it's too early to say. First, we need to understand them.
Hey! Over here!
Hirotoshi?
I just moved out.
I finally get to live on my own.
It's hard to talk about the Nokkers outside.
So we're borrowing Hirotoshi's room.
Hello, Mimori-kun.
Aren't you...
Sumika's sister?
Michi. She's fully-merged. I invited her.
I don't want us to be enemies.
So I want us to understand each other.
Could you tell me everything from the start?
Help yourself.
Let's stop this.
Michi is trying to live as a human being.
It's fine.
I'll talk.
In the beginning, they told me there were baddies that we had to get rid of.
I didn't know why at first, but it didn't take long.
They're taking some of our own and locking them up in dolls.
There, they learn the sensations of pain and suffering before they come back.
So we had to save them.
So I descended, too.
To a place called Renril.
Although I got killed right away.
When I went back up,
they taught me that I wouldn't get killed next time if I became small.
So...
Who are the "they" that you're talking about?
They're us.
The ones like me.
But one of us happened to know a lot about the humans,
so we all listened to them.
One of the Nokkers that was in the Guardians?
I suspect so.
And they would say...
"Seek to coexist."
"Strive to live up to justice as it's practiced by the humans."
Hold it!
They didn't tell you about what happens after you coexist?
They led you to believe it'd be harmless!
There, there. Calm down, Fushi.
We would live inside people indefinitely.
I hadn't heard anything about what would come next.
Are you going to replace all of the world's beings with Nokkers?
Is that the ultimate goal of your ambition?
I don't know.
But Fushi awakened.
Fushi brings back the dead.
The Nokker inside Mimori-chan tried to erase Fushi, but it didn't work.
And then it was Boy Black.
But that didn't work out, either.
The leader, Mizuha's Nokker, is gone.
But Mizuha's dad's Nokker said it wasn't over yet.
It's clear that they intend to do more.
So we have to come up with a plan now.
We have to decide what to do.
All we can do is find ways to spend the time we have left.
I want to become Michi, for Sumika's and Tomori's sakes.
So you want to live a peaceful life.
Yeah.
And you aren't interested in your original goal anymore?
When I entered Michi's body, I was surprised...
by the new sensation that was born inside me when those two smiled at me.
I want to hold on to this sensation for now.
Even if the pain comes alongside it.
I want to help you do that.
I want you to help me make it so that you can live your lives more easily.
Michi-chan.
I envy Yuki.
He knows what he has to do and what he wants to do.
I get what Yuki's trying to accomplish.
It's just...
I don't know what I could do for him if things don't work out.
An unfounded fear.
So long as they have flesh, the Nokkers, and all else, are under our auspices.
Huh? Say what?
Attain me, Fushi.
Attain... you?
What are you talking about?
I'm not making a joke.
That's what I trained you for.
As the strongest entity to inhabit this world.
Wait, what are you talking about?
What do you mean by "attain"?
I'll transfer all of my abilities to you.
And then all the world, Nokkers included, will be yours.
First, the ability to create something from nothing.
You can make anything.
You can design and manipulate it as you like.
Even living things.
Everything that exists was part of me.
I created, gave autonomy, and allowed development.
I own everything, and I can affect anything.
In this world, matter is stronger than fye.
Even if the fye in the form of Nokkers
attempts to rule over it, so long as they don flesh, they're no match to me.
I'll give you that right.
Wait...
From what I understand,
the smaller the Nokkers are, the harder they are to detect.
Yes.
And you said we'd have to get close to see them.
That's because I took on this body.
But you said we lost!
What fun would it have been if I had said otherwise?
What?
Does it amuse you?
Only those who are attached to this world can live in this world.
If I'd given them power from the beginning,
no one would have helped,
and you would have never come to care about anyone.
In order to give you this power, I needed you to become attached.
Relax.
If you don't want to see your friends die,
you can stop their bodies from deteriorating.
I've never attempted it on humans, but you're free to give it a try.
You're literally omnipotent.
Will that power let me bring back the people who are gone?
You want to bring people back from Paradise?
There is no matter in that world.
It's impossible to drag the fye back against their will.
But...
if that's what you want, feel free to try.
Perhaps it was too early to give him knowledge of all matter.
Nah, this is within expectations.
That ought to have built up his tolerance.
Fushi, I can wait another three years.
Come back when you've made up your mind.
You will become me.
Fushi!
Sorry! I finally made it!
Where are the Nokkers?!
Gugu.
That's done with already.
No!
Damn it, Fushi!
Don't die! You aren't dead yet, are you?
Please! Wake u—
He's been passed out since last night.
What happened?
Gugu?
Thank goodness! You're okay!
I can finally clean.
This kid's always passed out.
It's all right, Tonari-neesan.
You will become me.
I'm becoming the Black One?
Help me, Gugu.
Fushi?
I see.
I get the overall picture.
It's like he's inviting you to become a god.
Or a demon.
It isn't decided yet, though, right?
If you can do anything, that means you have the responsibility to do everything.
Though, even if you don't take it that far,
it sounds like you'll have to keep an eye on the Nokkers forever.
I mean, that wouldn't be anything new.
Why not just lock up the Nokkers if that's something you can do?
"Help me," my ass, you wimp.
Fushi's fine the way he is!
Better than if he tried to hide it!
I don't know why, but something about it is making me anxious.
I wanted to hear what you guys would think about it.
Okay, I'll go.
I'm against it.
You don't need to let the Black One get you freaked out over his shit.
Agreed.
Can we even hang out with Fushi anymore if he becomes a god?
I'm against it, as well.
The more you can sense, surely, the more your body will suffer.
It wouldn't be very positive if it means you'll be asleep like you were before.
I'm for it.
If it's something only you can do, you should do it.
Especially if you don't know what could happen.
Bon...
Are you serious?!
Can you take responsibility if something happens to Fushi?
If that happens, we'll support him with everything we've got.
If he's up for it.
I'll let Fushi decide.
I don't care either way, but just make my life easier.
Eko.
You're right, Eko.
I want to live on like this, too.
Fu-chan.
You can do what you want, you know.
I'll always be watching over you, wherever I am.
March...
Well, you've got another three years, right?
You don't have to decide right now.
I take it back.
I agree with March.
I also agree with March-san.
You're all so kind.
I agree with me.
Onii-chan, you're on shopping duty today!
Oh, I forgot.
I'll come with you.
If I were you, I'd probably take the power.
Why?
I'm always up for doing what's fun.
Even though there's no guarantee it'll be fun?
If it isn't fun, you just have to have fun not having fun.
Say what?
You know, though, Fushi, I think what we have is more than enough.
I'm just a human being, so I'll die from old age in sixty years.
But if the Nokker inside me does anything bad, I could die before that.
But I won't let it.
I want to show the Nokker that I'm not so miserable that I'd give it my body.
If I do live out my whole life, you'll just have to accept that
this world is already peaceful and fulfilling just the way it is.
So you have to be there in my final moments, okay?
I have to wait another sixty years?
It'll be too late by then.
True.
Preview
No one exists but Fushi to assume the world.
But the burden he inherits is far too much.
Spring comes.
The time for Fushi's decision draws near.
Stay Here