The Owner of the Kozuka Knives (小柄の持ち主 Kozuka no Mochinushi?) is the hundred eightieth chapter of the Dandadan manga series.
Summary[]
The History and Culture Research Club monitors Kouki's movements in order to determine which teacher interacting with her may be the culprit they are looking for. According to Kinta, the teachers who engaged Kouki so far have been Queen, Adachi, and Sanjome. After Kinta points out that Sanjome had previously asked Kouki if she had discovered any secrets, Momo voices her suspicions of him, while Okarun mentions that Sanjome had once asked him a similar question as well. Although Kinta considers Sanjome to be an unusual person, he advises against hastily concluding that Sanjome is the culprit, especially since he did not mention anything regarding knives or powers during his conversation with Kouki. Aira insists on reviewing the footage from his glasses, which excites Kinta as she approaches him. Aira then observes a change in the shape of the glasses while holding them and learns from Kinta that they are constructed from nanoskin, having responded to the mental image she is projecting. Aira feels embarrassed, admitting that the mental image was of Okarun's glasses, and urges Momo to disregard any idea that Okarun is frequently on her mind. Okarun deduces that this was due to his glasses being in her line of sight and reassures her that it would be inappropriate for him to misinterpret her intentions.
Murakami notices Adachi seemingly returning to the school and questions whether she had gone somewhere. Adachi replies that she had left momentarily to care for her sick mother. After offering his sympathies, Murakami invites her to join the staff for a singles mixer. Adachi politely declines the invitation and walks away, while he persists in encouraging her to attend. Once she is alone, Adachi takes out her phone to check the message she sent to the Orchestrator and is shown being accompanied by the jiangshi.
Meanwhile, Hase attempts to engage in flirtation with two female students; however, his actions lead to their discomfort when he inspects one of their phones and discovers they are admiring Okarun, which surprises him. This leads the girls to walk away, feeling offended and uncomfortable around him. Hase then grabs one of the girl's hands in an effort to prevent them from departing, only to intensify her discomfort as she insists that he release her and labels him a creep. After making a spectacle by referring to them as skanks, Hase grows increasingly frustrated noticing a few students casting him strange looks. As he walks away, he reminisces about the shame he felt when Okarun bested him in gym class, determined not to let that moment linger in his memory. He then takes out an Asura knife, remembering how he came into possession of it during gym after a mysterious voice informed him that Okarun has special powers and that he too could gain power and seek retribution against Okarun through the use of these knives. Hase doubts taking the knife, believing that what he was told about gaining power from it was false. Nevertheless, he opts to conduct a test by cutting his hand. After experiencing no noticeable effects, Hase becomes convinced that he was indeed deceived. This certainty is then disrupted by the unexpected arrival of an elderly woman behind him.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Kouki Yukishiro
- Kinta Sakata
- Okarun
- Aira Shiratori
- Momo Ayase
- Jiji
- Bamora
- Queen (Mentioned)
- Adachi
- Sanjome (Mentioned)
- Murakami
- Jiangshi
- Hase
- Elderly Woman (Debut)