Are you looking for something?
You've been walking around this whole time.
Not in particular.
It just feels like I'm home when I'm here,
Mr. Doll.
Chapter 7
"Does Not Appear in the Eyes of the Seer"
Cow Tits!
How could this happen to someone of your skill?
Pardon me.
Yachi.
Prez?
What on Earth is going on?
You know something, don't you?
A cursed—
My greatest wish is to have you forget about everything by tomorrow.
Sorry.
We had a little accident.
Little ?
What's so little about this?
Well,
that's because you...
U-Uh...
Well,
I swear I'll tell you later!
Sorry!
No, no.
Why the heck am I staring at them?
Haruaki-kun...?
Oh, are you up?
You should stay in bed, though.
What...
Oh, right. At school.
Huh? Why am I in my pajamas?
It was Fear!
Fear changed you!
I wouldn't mind if it was you, Haruaki-kun.
What're you saying?
Anyway, do you want something to eat?
Just let me know.
Let you know...?
Well, there is one, just one thing...
that'd help me recover faster.
It's not just a hunch, I really think it will...
Yeah? What is it?
Heeey,
Konoha-san!
Your hand.
My hand?
I want to...
...hold your hand.
Is that okay?
W-Well, I guess that's fine.
Um...
This is fine, but...
How do I put it?
Just a little more...
I feel something soft...
Now I can sleep peacefully.
I feel like I've regained something.
It's relaxing...
Eh?
She fell asleep?
It's...
kind of hot in here...
That's right.
She did say it was more relaxing like this.
Damn, that was close.
It was for the best!
Not that I was getting turned on, though.
That's right!
I'm not disappointed in the least!
What's wrong, Fear?
Do you have a tummy ache?
It's just that...
I'm useless.
What makes you say that?
I made a promise.
I did my best.
It was all in vain, though.
In the end,
I guess it's hopeless for me to try to help others—
And here we have an example of how well mochi stretches.
Beautiful.
Wh... What are you doing?
I'll curse you! Dummy!
Konoha's feeling better, so let's go shopping for food.
Shopping?
Yep.
It's not the time to be doing something so leisurel—
You don't have to go, you know.
Is that fine with you?
The market has loads of rice crackers.
A variety pack?!
What are these white, fluffy ones?
Those are okaki.
They're very similar to the original.
You're way too excited, by the way.
They're similar?
I'll need to consider buying these as well.
Omigawd, which do I pick?
Fluffy Texture
Sabor de sal
Black Bean Okaki
I've made up my mind!
Professionally Crafted
Sweet Soy Sauce Flavor
Soy Sauce Rice Crackers
I'm taking this, and this!
All right.
Now, grab me some cabbage.
You do know what cabbage is, right?
Be quiet!
Of course I know!
Wait here!
Right here.
Thank you for screwing up, just as expected.
That is...
lettuce!
Ah!
Good job.
See how the core is still moist?
That means it's fresh.
If it's dry or dark,
that means it's not.
Seems nitpicky to me.
Now we need meat.
Meat is even more difficult!
Hey, old lady.
The core of a cabbage determines its freshness.
My, my.
Thank you, Missy!
Don'tcha worry.
'Cause you see, I'm practically a cabbage master!
See ya later, old lady!
Hey there, cabbage master.
That was a good deed.
A good deed?
You mean, that?
You betcha.
I don't understand.
Hmm?
Still, hearing someone say "thank you" feels good.
Do you like humans?
Eh?
Not in particular.
I care about them as much as I do rice crackers.
Right, then.
You're not allowed to say "hopeless" anymore, okay?
You can only be yourself, and that won't change.
So saying, "I'm hopeless" is just an excuse to give up.
But I'm...
You know,
you should learn to rely on others more.
That in itself can help people, even make them happy.
What do you mean?
If someone's happy for being relied on,
then that means you've helped someone.
That's exactly why I want to help.
I see.
So, it's okay to rely on you?
Of course.
If you understand,
then let's get going.
There you go.
Just wrap it up now.
Don't rip it, cabbage master.
I know!
How's that?
Check out the beauty of its form!
Perfection at its finest!
It's weird.
What is?
My hands were made to torture and execute,
and they were used as such.
I became cursed and was abandoned.
And now,
I'm using it to make something called rolled cabbage.
For you, me, and Cow Tits.
Yeah.
I'm sure it'll taste good.
That doll doesn't know.
She's probably suffering right now.
That's why I want to tell her,
before it's too late.
C'mon, don't fret.
Konoha and I are here for you.
Prez?
I apologize for coming unannounced.
Don't worry about it.
Because of what happened yesterday...
Rather, regardless of what happened yesterday—
I actually...
Oh, Konoha's doing fine.
Glad to hear.
A-And how are you guys doing...?
Yeah, we're fine.
I know!
I know, but...
I want to know if there's anything I can help with!
Well, you don't have to take care of her...
How can he be so dense?
It's absurd.
I should be thankful for it, and yet...
Damn it, Yachi!
Er, what's wrong?
Was it something I said?
The problem is that you haven't said anything!
Enough is enough!
You know why I'm showing you something I told you to forget about, right?
I'm not involved with any organizations anymore!
S-So... who are you?
Just an individual named Ueno Kirika.
TL Note: Homophone of 個人(individual) and 故人(deceased person)
Though that was a silly pun.
Do you mean...?
Good grief.
You're having trouble, aren't you?
I could tell something was up,
so it was aggravating me that you wouldn't tell me.
Sorry.
We were actually in a heap of trouble.
Are you sure, though?
If turning a blind eye to my secret changes your attitude,
then I'd rather you acknowledge it and stay the same.
Does Not Appear in the Eyes of the Seer
It's the curse of a boy who died here, I'm telling you!
Do you really think a ghost would steal slippers and uniforms?
A dream?
Let me get this straight, Yachi.
Ueno-san...?
You found Sovereignty there instead of a pretty boy,
and figured that she sent the message?
That's not possible!
If Sovereignty was waiting at the track,
then how could I, the person chasing after Haruaki, have been attacked?
So she has a friend who can also drain energy?
Were you able to make out your attacker, Konoha?
But when I fell, there seemed to be a boy nearby... I could see his pants.
A boy?
Wait.
When and where did Sovereignty find that friend?
Maybe they called out to one another and gathered to one place?
Shiraho might know something.
We still have unanswered questions, but in any case...
we should first find Sakuramairi Shiraho.
Ah, she's absent.
I don't know why, but she's not here.
Superintendent's Room
I guess he's gone on some crazy adventure again.
I figured the superintendent would know her address, but...
The nurse's office!
They should have records of every student in the school!
Nurse's Office
Yes, come in.
Ah.
Yachi, Kubrick, Ueno, and...
Muramasa from Class 1.
Saying all your names is tiring.
I'm so sleepy.
Anywho, what do you want?
Could you show us Sakuramairi Shiraho-san's records?
Why?
She's absent.
She promised us she'd be here today!
Sure, why not?
But I'm way too tired to do it myself.
They're in alphabetical order on that shelf.
The newest one is Sakuramairi's.
Thank you very much!
Is this it, Yachi?
Yeah.
Name
Sakuramairi
Shiraho
Year Month Day OO years old
Male Female
Hey!
What does this mean?
Please Touch Here
I thought she was Sovereignty?
I still have some questions.
It's about that student who called herself Shiraho.
Why was she walking around the modiste room?
It was her first day, and she hadn't even met the superintendent.
She had to do something there.
But what exactly?
Her uniform!
That's where the samples are.
That explains some of the theft cases that were reported.
GellyJelly
Drink
Grape Flavored
From Concentrate 100% Juice
I'm... I'm kind of low on cash.
She wasn't low on cash.
She just didn't have any to begin with.
So, hey,
does that mean that...
Sovereignty, is she—
That's what we're going to find out.
We're jumping, Haruaki!
Wai— Am I the princess?
It's fine.
You're still fine.
Please!
Stop!
11th Mechanism.
Crushing Cyclic Form: Breaking by Wheel at Francs!
Kurokawa Karen!
Thank you...
Who... are you?
It's...
...me.
I am Sovereignty-Perfection-Doll.
Perfection is perfect, and thus perfection.
I am androgynous, to satisfy any desires my owner may have.
What were you doing?
Were your words of encouragement a lie?
Did you deceive me?
Yes, I did.
Even though we were friends.
But—
So it was all a lie.
You called me your friend,
and yet you fooled and betrayed me!
No!
But... I...
I really wanted to save you two!
From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to!
Wanna tell us the whole story?
I-I...
Sovereignty...
N... No.
No more!
No!
Move!
If you don't—
Haruaki-kun!
Yachi!
Prez!
Don't worry.
I won't die.
Yachi...
It's kind of embarrassing when you stare at me.
Sorry!
So you're the real Shiraho-san.
May we ask you some questions?
I, too, wish to ask you a question.
Will you kill Sovereignty?
Please, don't kill her.
Even though she almost killed you?
Sovereignty's curse isn't to drain energy.
Its real curse is...
to make its owner love it to death.
Are you looking for something?
You've been walking around this whole time.
You'll be sold if you stay here.
Do you want to come to my room?
That's not a good idea.
I'm cursed.
What will happen?
You will fall in love with me.
That is my curse.
I have a mechanism called Killing Organ.
It's a trap of blades hidden throughout my body.
When our love reaches a certain point,
the mechanism activates.
"Embrace Only Once."
It's the first, and last embrace of death.
That will mark the end of our love.
Also, I can't draw the blades on my own will,
nor can I stop them from coming out.
Just forget about me.
You won't die that way.
Why did you talk to me, then?
You seemed lonely.
Fair enough.
Come with me.
My room is this way.
Were you listening to me?
We'll be fine.
Why?
Do you think dolls can...
...fall in love?
yawarakana tsukiakari ga terasu utakata no yukigane
The soft moonlight lights up the fleeting snow
kachikanda chiisana te wo awase sukitooru machi ni hohoemu
Holding my small, blistered hands together, I smile at the lucent town
sayagu toki wo subete tsutsumikonde tada somaru yoru ni tokihanate
It wraps around the rustling leaves of time, and releases it all into the dyed night
furisozoku shiroi hanabira kokoro wo sotto hodoiteku
The white blossoms showering down slowly undo the knots of my soul
te no hira de toketa setsuna wo miseru
I watch the moment as it melts in my palm
ao no nai sora no kanata ni yuku saki no hikari utsushite
At the far end of the blueless sky, they reflect the light of where we've yet to go
madoi mo tomoseba ii
Why not light up my doubts as well?
musunda hana yo
O knotted flower
ima ni todoke to
Please come back today
Chapter
8
"Like a Curse One Cannot Escape—"
Chapter Eight.
Like a Curse One Cannot Escape—
Watch it or I'll curse you!
If you don't tune in next time, I'll curse you!
Artist Komatsu E-ji