Why'd he have to dump all of these on me?
Dad only bought the series for the parts, then decided he didn't need the books.
BUILD YOUR VERY OWN VICE PRINCIPAL
THIS WEEK'S TASK: MAKE THE VICE PRINCIPAL'S MUSTACHE (CLOSE-UP INSIDE!)
He's like a kid who only wants the prize inside.
Oh well. Guess I'll stash these in the closet for now—
What the hell, Mechako?
What the hell is going on with my closet?!
Mysterious legends of apparitions, ghosts, and all kinds of supernatural phenomena.
In other words, ghost stories.
Behind them all is a secret organization that exists
to terrify folk and send them into a frenzy.
It's called...
the Kaikigumi.
MYSTERY 3
What's with this mountain of tissues?
I've been under the weather for a couple of days now.
I can't stop sneezing and my nose won't stop running.
That doesn't mean you can turn my room into your own personal trash can!
You're one to talk. What about them?
Huh?
On your shoulders.
You've got an army of ghosts clinging to them.
You don't see them? Okay, I'll make it so you can.
A-Are you dense? That's totally unnecessary, Mechako!
Seeing 'em would scare the hell outta me!
They're cute.
Where'd you manage to pick up so many?
Well, a little while back...
Hey, bro.
This area's...
pretty haunted, huh?
Haunted?
So, how about it? Want one of my ghost-repelling talismans?
That's sketchy as hell.
Ya got quite a mouth on ya.
Wh-What the... My shoulders suddenly feel heavy.
No kiddin'.
You can't see 'em, but your shoulders are crawling with ghosts right now.
What?
It's just weight. That's not creepy.
You're too damn pragmatic.
Who are you even supposed to be, old man?
Me? I'm more than just a good-looking middle-aged guy.
HEAVY DRINKER
I'm a one-of-a-kind master medium.
A medium?
This neighborhood's got a ghost problem.
A couple of days ago, I got asked to go around and put up talismans.
GOOD FOR THE SOUL
So, how about it? I'll do you a good deal on one.
Talk about a hard sell.
I'm done here.
Oh, yeah? Take another five ghosts with you, then. On the house.
I thought he was a total fraud, but he really dumped ghosts on me, huh?
Wait a second.
Mechako, didn't you say you've been under the weather for the past couple of days?
I did. What about it?
That so-called medium started putting up those talismans
a couple of days ago, too.
Is it possible...
GOOD FOR THE SOUL
Take down every one of these talismans you've put up.
Thanks to you, my room's covered in tissues.
I've got no idea what you're talkin' about, but no can do.
I have a job to do.
What "job"? You're just plastering weird doodles all over the place!
That's what separates a master medium from everyone else.
Heave-ho!
Learned your lesson?
Huh?
You really thought I'd take on a pain in the ass like you alone?
Look beside you!
Beside me?
Thank you for reporting this.
I won.
Much obliged.
My sneezing's stopped.
Huh?
Mechako?
If he said it was a job, someone must've hired him.
Anyone come to mind?
Nope.
Stupid old man.
Looks like he got busted.
What a loser.
What's with the screaming?
My shoe locker's full of hair.
That's creepy.
You're still freaking out after a second look?
Was this Mechako's doing?
When did she get so good at creeping people out?
Not bad.
Now he's smiling.
Now that's creepy.
It wasn't me.
What?
Then, who did it? I brought the hair home because I figured you could use it again.
Ew, gross. Throw it away.
I spent all day going through my father's things.
I didn't have time for pranks.
Didn't you say you were doing that the other day?
It's not something I can finish up in a day or two.
It's hard to figure out what to do with most of it.
Like this one.
What's that?
It's supposedly an orb that's sealed away the souls of middle-aged men
who never wanted to grow up.
Why would anyone seal those?
Well, anyway...
I'll get rid of this clump of hair.
Man, it's so creepy.
Ain't it just? I'm on a whole other level than her.
Huh?
That Mechako or Achako or whatever her name is. She's got zero talent.
She ain't cut out to be the boss.
Th-That cat is talking?
I'm the one who deserves to be the boss of the Kaikigumi. The name's Shurako-sama.
What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?
Man, it's chilly here. Are we in a valley?
Uh, no. It's 'cause you're naked.
Oops. Got mixed up.
With what?
Ah, I've been switchin' between my human and cat forms so much,
I got confused which is which.
You're clearly bad at it.
Anyway, you're helping that woman get the Kaikigumi back on its feet, right?
I saw everything while disguised as a cat.
Don't snoop into other people's business.
That woman and I are cousins.
As his niece, I owe the old boss a lot.
But making that useless daughter of his the next boss was a huge mistake.
That's why I'm getting rid of that klutz and taking her place as boss.
I'll make the strongest Kaikigumi in history!
One that'll rule humanity through fear and terror!
So it's a succession thing?
I've got way more power than she does. You freaked out this morning, didn't ya?
That. The thing you're holdin' there.
That hair's from bathtub drains in homes I've snuck into over the past few days.
Beat that.
Gross!
Gross! Gross! Gross!
A stunning victory.
As long as you're on her side, I ain't lettin' ya off easy.
Well, look who it is.
Shurako? What are you doing here?
Careful, Mechako. My arm's done for!
It looks fine to me.
Thanks for stoppin' by, klutz. I was just about to pay you a visit.
Here's a little present for ya!
Mechako!
Huh?
Th-These talismans are...
Yep. They were made by that master medium you had hauled off.
I hired the old geezer.
His work ethic was awful, but he could definitely do the job.
Looks like I win!
Damn it. You're of the same kind. How could you use that talisman on her?
Hey.
Enough with the theatrics. Get these off me.
You're right.
Oh no you don't!
Die like a dog!
Real fear doesn't play fair.
I don't care what it takes. I'm only here for her head.
Stay out of this and I'll spare you.
I'm the next boss of this organization.
Hey! Stop snoozing and wake up already...
funny features!
What the...
Hey. What'cha lookin' down at—
Sh-She shrank?
It's the curse of the sealed souls of middle-aged men who never wanted to grow up.
Wh-Why the hell was somethin' like that just lyin' around? Turn me back!
Sorry, Shurako. I don't know how to undo it.
I'm a klutz, after all.
This ain't over.
You'll pay for this!
Who would've thought those weird souls would come in handy?
It's as if my father knew this would happen.
Is this what you call a father's love?
Mechako...
Who are you calling "funny features"?
I totally forgot I called you that.
Just you wait.
I'll make sure you get what you deserve.
I failed!
Hey, you kids!
Quit fooling around and go home already!
Shove it, old man!
Mr. Poopy Pants!
You little brats.
You'll be sorry when the ghosts come out after dark!
Hey, old man.
Hello.
Wh-What? You freaked me out.
Have you ever seen a ghost in real life?
Huh?
Right.
Using something you've never seen before to scare us off is messed up.
Right?
Old-timer!
Old-school!
Mr. Poopy Pants!
I have seen one.
Huh?
It happened the other day, when I was walking down the street up ahead.
Guess I should've booked an appointment before I went and had my teeth checked.
Huh?
What's a kid doing out at this hour?
When I got a better look, the kid was plastered with talismans.
My instincts told me not to get involved, so I ran away without thinking.
Meaning I still don't know what it was.
A kid plastered in talismans?
Yeah, it's gotta be "Evil Spirit Boy."
Evil Spirit Boy?
It's a ghost story everyone at our school knows.
It's about this boy who's plastered in talismans from head to toe.
They say the exorcism of this possessed kid failed,
and he ended up becoming an evil spirit.
You were smart to run. You'd have been cursed for sure.
Your old-timer instincts are amazing!
I-I see.
I kept it to myself because I didn't want people to think I was crazy.
But I did the right thing.
You kids!
Go home before it gets dark, or the ghosts will get you.
'Kay!
Be good to your parents!
'Kay!
And respect your elders!
I've never heard of this Evil Spirit Boy before.
'Kay!
Does it ring a bell?
Nope, but he sounds impressive. Look how much influence he's had on people.
Why not invite him to join the Kaikigumi?
Man, it's gotten pretty late.
Huh?
Mechako?
What are you doing?
We're waiting for the ghost that walks down this street.
But there's no sign of him. Help me out if you've got nothing else to do.
I come down this street all the time, and I've never seen anything like that.
What kind of ghost is it?
A child ghost plastered in talismans.
Ow. Ow.
They call him "Evil Spirit Boy."
What?
Apparently, he's famous at the elementary school near here.
Have you heard of him?
Uh, well, actually...
That's about me.
Huh?
Back in elementary school,
I was so scared of ghosts, I covered myself in talismans and went to school,
thinking it'd stop them from finding me.
But that doesn't add up.
The old man who told us said he saw him the other day.
Old folks say "the other day" even if it happened decades ago.
And the fact that he saw the boy at night?
Track practice used to run late.
ARE YOU DENSE? | OW!
And I'd bang into things and need to get patched up, so I'd end up leaving after dark.
YIKES! | ARE YOU DENSE?
Probably because I couldn't see where I was going with all the talismans.
ARE YOU DENSE? | ACK!
That's right. That's why I stopped covering myself in talismans!
I kept getting hurt and everyone made fun of me, calling me "Evil Spirit Boy."
But I was serious back then.
It's bad enough kids are still talking about it, but now old geezers are, too?
Sheesh. Talismans have never done me any favors.
And here I was, giving him credit.
I'm mortified.
THIS WEEK'S TASK: MAKE THE VICE PRINCIPAL'S ELBOW (1/6 SCALE)
I gotta stow these books. It's way too cramped in here.
Huh?
TRANSLATION: NAOMI SUDA
TIMING: ANDY ELLIS EDITING: SMR
QUALITY CONTROL: S BILYEU TRANSLATION CHECK: ELIZABETH ELLIS
Hey! Are you here, Mechako?
Be sure to shout back "No, I'm not!" if you aren't!
She's not.
Huh?
You won't find the person you're looking for here.
Oh, it's just a kid.
You know her?
I guess. Are you her friend or something?
I wouldn't call us friends exactly, but sure.
Say, if you know her, you know what this place is, too, right?
I'm having trouble 'cause I can't use my closet.
I gotta find a way to cram a whole bunch of tied-up Vice Principals into it.
Help me out, will ya?
You don't have to make it sound so weird.
The closet should go back to normal soon.
But me? I'm stuck here.
Why's that?
Because I'm still too small.
Even so, you'll get sick if you stay somewhere this depressing.
Want me to bring you books from my room?
You'll learn new things.
I'll pass. You'll just bring me Vice Principal books.
But you're a kind person.
I'll come visit you when I'm bigger.
So...
Promise you won't forget me.
Huh? When did I...
Oh, yeah. What happened to my closet?
M-Mechako, that's not fair. Why'd you make me take a closer look first?
What are you talking about?
F-Forget that. Have you been sleeping there this whole time?
Yup. Got a problem with that?
Of course I do. This is my room!
Then, what was that about earlier?
Who was that kid that looked just like Mechako?
Hey, what are all these piles of books?
They're Weekly Vice Principal Collection Magazine.
Every issue comes with a new part so you can make your own vice principal.
Want them?
I'll pass.
What's the matter?
Nothing.
I was just thinking about how nobody wants these books.
NEXT MYSTERY... MYSTERY 4