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WARNING! |
The Kozuka Knives Arc is the tenth story arc of the Dandadan manga series and the first story arc of the Current Saga.
After escaping from Danmara resulted in her being reduced to a tiny size, Momo seeks help from Okarun and their friends to find a way to turn her back to normal. In the midst of their research for a solution, Momo finds herself assaulted by a knife wielding female student named Koki Yukishiro who has an army of tiny creatures at her beck and call. The History and Culture Research Club soon learn that Koki is being blackmailed and is merely a pawn among other knife wielders who are acting on the behalf of a shadowy mastermind who seeks to collect powers from others and ultimately obtain Momo's powers.
Synopsis[]
The First Target[]
Despite only being able to afford to eat mere grains of rice and scant drops of water, Momo finds comfort in the fact that her small stature grants her a respite from school. Nonetheless, Seiko insists she shouldn't lag in her education and urges her to go to school incognito. Despite Momo's inclination to avoid school, she complies to go after choosing not to divulge her report card to Seiko upon her grandmother asking.
In class, Okarun whispers to Momo to better conceal herself while she takes notes and requests Bamora to ensure that she stays hidden while on her desk. Subsequently, Momo attempts to raise her voice to get a male student's attention, surprising Okarun. Yet, the student assumes Bamora is the one speaking to him. This incident confirms Momo's belief in paranormal fairy lore, which posits that humans can no longer see fairies, making them difficult to notice without intentional effort. This revelation sparks an idea in Okarun, which he inadvertently blurts out in class, resulting in a reprimand from the teacher.
Momo discovers a mysterious figure in the distance.
Later, Okarun arranges for Momo and their friends to gather at the library for research, hoping that information on fairies might aid in Momo's recovery. During this time, Momo apologizes for any trouble caused, but Okarun swiftly comforts her, stating their willingness to help is instinctive. Momo also reveals to Okarun that Turbo Granny hasn't been spotted at her residence since her departure, and she senses Seiko's longing for her, a feeling both she and Okarun share. Following his assurance that his kintama are intact, Okarun revisits his earlier confession to her. Momo, recalling the confession, requests to defer discussing it until she is back to normal and demands for him to not cheat on her until then. This prompts Okarun to challenge the notion of fidelity given their unofficial relationship status, which infuriates Momo as she perceives it as his intent to be unfaithful. However, her ire fades when she notices a diminutive figure perched on the bookshelf. Upon being spotted, the mysterious small figure quickly disappears from Momo's sight, prompting her to notify Okarun and encourage him to follow, suspecting it to be a tiny old man. Okarun believes she witnessed the infamous cryptid known as the "Tiny Old Man," but Momo suspects it was either a fairy or the same old man often mentioned by celebrities, possibly linked to her condition. When the bell signals the end of their break, Momo tells Okarun she plans to stay in the library to look for the old man. Okarun, Aira, and Jiji voice their worries about Momo being alone, yet she assures them she'll be alright. As her friends depart, Momo feels grateful for their support and wishes for her swift return to normalcy.
In gym class, Kinta asks Okarun to partner with him for physical fitness activities, confident he can outperform Okarun based on his mediocre 50-meter dash time from junior high. However, Kinta quickly agrees to let Hase partner with Okarun instead, as Hase is keen to compete against him. Despite Hase's impressive 50-meter dash time of 6 seconds as he had relayed to Okarun, Okarun astonishingly beats him with a time of 5.8 seconds. Excelling in other physical activities as well, Okarun catches the gym teacher's eye, who suggests he try out for the baseball team. Okarun, oblivious to the efforts required to surmount past obstacles, is puzzled by his newfound fitness, especially without Turbo Granny's powers.
Momo being pursued by a female student.
Momo realizes that her psychic powers remain unaffected by her diminutive size and uses them to navigate the library in search of the tiny old man she had seen earlier. Her search is interrupted when a female student enters the library, wielding a knife and looking for her. Momo hides and wonders about the student's identity, her reasons for searching for her, and her knowledge of her reduced size. The student pushes books off the shelves, attempting to trap Momo underneath one. When the student finds Momo is not there and the bell signals the end of her search time, she departs. Momo, safely atop the bookshelf, ponders the identity of the female student.
Okarun rushes back to the library to check on Momo. En route, he runs into Sanjome, who cautions him to not run in the halls. Curious about his agenda, Sanjome decides to tag along, questioning Okarun about his destination and the secrets he is withholding. Okarun suggests discussing it later, but Sanjome insists, stating his dislike for noise cancellation and begins to explain the concept to Okarun, along with his insights on metronome synchronization and bacteria. He then asks Okarun if he "yields" to the knowledge he showcased, to which Okarun agrees in order continue to the library as intended. After reacting with a shock expression, Sanjome pulls out a small knife from his pocket but then reconsiders and walks away.
After Momo informs the group about a girl searching for her with a blade, Aira has Momo conceal herself in her blazer pocket to later point out the attacker as they search the school. Okarun inquires if the girl had any notable features, and Momo describes her as having long hair and demanding her to "yield". Upon hearing the second part, Okarun is reminded of his conversation with Sanjome, where the advisor had used the same term. Okarun's close conversation with Momo leads Aira to misinterpret his actions as speaking near her chest on purpose. Okarun attempts to deny this but eventually submits to Aira's insistence on believing it, only to notice Momo's dismay after hearing her refer to him as "four eyes". Frustrated, Momo disrupts their exchange by telekinetically hurling a chair at Okarun and insists that Aira leave him be.
Meanwhile, the girl who was previously chasing Momo is told by a voice, apparently from behind a door, that her previous actions were misguided and that she must first force her target to submit to successfully take her power. The girl confesses her lack of mastery over "it", yet the voice urges her to yield to "it", promising that she can transform into the person she aspires to be. Subsequently, the girl is depicted surrounded by several small figures who are reminiscent of the tiny being Momo had previously discovered in the library.
Pygmy Princess[]
Koki fleeing from the History and Culture Research Club.
The History and Culture Research Club arrive at Class E to verify if the girl who pursued Momo is present, but the classmates confirm they haven't seen her. Momo, initially trying to draw the student's attention, is prompted by Aira to refocus on finding the girl. Suddenly, Momo spots her. Momo's purser named Koki Yukishiro also notices Momo and hastily exits the classroom after Momo alerts Aira, Okarun, and Kinta. Jiji and Bamora are then alerted by Aira that the fleeing girl is the one they're seeking and join them on the pursuit. Sanjome intercepts the club in the hallway and orders them to stop running, which they do until out of his sight. Having tracked her to another classroom, Momo instructs Jiji and Bamora to guard the back exit, while Okarun and Aira approach from the front. Okarun, concerned for Aira's safety due to Koki's knife, enters first, but they find the girl has vanished.
The pygmies surround Momo, Okarun, and Aira.
Upon entering the empty classroom, Okarun and Aira become trapped as the doors shut automatically behind them. Kinta thinks Okarun is excluding him, but when he opens the door, he sees an ongoing class and wonders where the three have gone. Momo alerts Okarun and Aira that they've entered Empty Space, leaving Okarun puzzled about how this is possible since he no longer possesses Turbo Granny's power. He then discovers that parts of his clothing are mysteriously being attached to either a classroom prep table or to Aira's clothes. After blocking incoming kitchen knives with Aira, Momo notices tiny creatures, the same ones linked to Koki, stitching Okarun and Aira's clothes together, recognizing them as pygmies. She attacks them to halt their actions and employs her psychic powers on the knives to separate Okarun and Aira's fused garments. Momo then alerts Okarun and Aira that the classroom is infested with pygmies poised to strike with what is inside the classroom, only to discover that they are invisible to them. Although unable to see the pygmies like Momo, Aira attempts to use her hair manipulation to lash out blindly. However, she discovers her hair is mysteriously restrained, leaving her defenseless against the pygmies who ignite it with a burner.
Momo uncovers Koki's hiding spot.
Momo implores Aira to free her hair before the advancing flames can reach her. Just in the nick of time, Okarun intervenes, utilizing a knife to sever the burning strands. Aware of the gas present in the room that could lead to an explosion, Momo provides Aira with a knife to assist in cutting her entangled hair while she focuses on extinguishing the fire. After the girls successfully block another onslaught of flying knives, Momo informs Okarun that there are countless pygmies in the room, with several climbing up his legs. Okarun then removes his shirt to rid himself of the pygmies. The pygmies proceeded to weave Okarun's shirt, pants, and Aira's blazer on the floor, rendering them immobile and susceptible to a relentless assault of knives and toothpicks. As Momo fends off the ceaseless tide of pygmies, she comes to the realization that her pursuer is orchestrating their actions from the shadows and focuses on finding her. In a bid to thwart the pygmies' stitching efforts, Okarun and Aira remove their upper garments. Momo then advises them to move around the room to divert the pygmies' attention, ensuring that the pygmies focus solely on them. While contemplating the effectiveness of her strategy, Okarun narrowly evades a flurry of knives that Momo alerts him to, leaving both her and Aira in a state of amazement. Although Momo commends Okarun for his enhanced physical abilities, he acknowledges that he cannot continue to evade injury indefinitely. He then glances down and realizes that his left hand is affixed to the floor by the pygmies. With Aira also immobilized in the same manner, they find themselves exposed to the pygmies' weaponry. Nevertheless, Momo asserts that she has located Koki, as indicated by the pygmies' reluctance to strike them, and employs her powers to hurl a desk at Koki using a camouflage cloak to hide.
Queen defends Koki.
After attacking Koki with a desk and realizing she had used a curtain made by the pygmies, Momo uses her psychic powers on a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. She then confronts the pygmies, declaring victory after defeating their princess, leading the pygmies to surrender and remove their stitches from Okarun and Aira to have them move again. However, when Momo is distracted by Aira getting close to Okarun, the pygmies attempt to flee with Koki. Aira employs her Acrobatic Silky hair to detain the pygmies, now visible thanks to the extinguishing agent, while Okarun ponders how Koki could control the pygmies while unconscious. The pygmies then disrupt Aira and Okarun by tickling them. Momo uses her psychic powers to fend them off and stop them from opening the door. Meanwhile, Jiji, Kinta, and Bamora ponder their next move as their break nears its end. Kinta deduces that Momo, Okarun, and Aira are trapped in Empty Space, and Jiji thinks they can enter using Bamora's kaiju suit like before. After this plan works, Okarun and Aira tumble out of the room towards Jiji and Kinta. Unaware of the situation, Jiji heeds Momo's instructions to chase after Koki being carried by the pygmies. As the pygmies prove too fast for Jiji, Kinta creates a hoverboard from a nanoskin cube to chase them, taking pride in his ingenuity. Suddenly, Kinta is struck in the face by a baton wielded by Queen, who questions if the students chasing Koki are bullies.
Koki comes clean about her misdeeds to Queen.
Finding Queen in Empty Space, Momo grows suspicious of her being the enemy. Koki wrongfully accuses Jiji and others of assaulting her to Queen, prompting the nurse to enforce her strict anti-bullying policy and demand the real perpetrator come forward. Jiji counters Koki's claim, telling Queen that Koki was the one who started the assault. After Queen doubts that Koki is the assailant, Jiji finds himself in a bind to convince her and turns to Momo for assistance. Momo comforts Jiji, affirming he need not lie as she believes in his goodness, and urges him to be forthright. Bamora intervenes to explain that it was Momo who got attacked. When Queen asks about the victim, Momo tries to reach out to her, but to no avail. Jiji firmly states that the woman he holds dear was the one injured and confronts Koki about her reasons for the attack. Koki retorts, alleging they all assaulted her when she was alone and asks Queen to reprimand them. Queen examines Koki's wounds, noting the inconsistency in her previous claim of not knowing Jiji. Koki, trying to cover her deceit, quickly says she wishes to forget Jiji, claiming he scares her. Aligning with Koki's story of being attacked by a group, Queen finds it strange given her larger company, revealing to Momo and the others her ability to see the pygmies. Queen tells Koki that she is often consulted to by students for their anxiety problems, which led to her seeing spirits, and promises not to judge her until she confesses the truth. Touched by Queen's words, Koki confesses to attacking Momo and offers an apology. While Momo is receptive to the apology and prepared to listen, Queen reacts by slapping Koki, leaving Momo, Jiji, and Bamora stunned. This act incites Jiji and Bamora to intervene and prevent Queen from further assaulting Koki.
Koki informing the History and Culture Research Club about her blackmailer.
Koki admits she was pressured by a teacher to attack Momo with a knife to protect her secret social media account from being revealed, yet she claims she cannot recall the teacher's identity. While Aira suspects Koki is shielding the teacher, Momo remembers Unji's account of a parallel incident involving someone who helped him with the cursed trunk, prompting Okarun to suspect the same individual is responsible. Additionally, Koki specifies that her task was to usurp Momo's power, not to take her life. She then starts to feel lightheaded attempting to recall and explain to them the conditions of the knife. Momo deduces that Koki is merely acting as an agent, and that the evil teacher who sent her may have taken measures to prevent any information from leaking. Koki explains that the evil teacher granted her the ability to see the pygmies by cutting her with one of his numerous knives and expresses her refusal to be pursued by them, as she longs to go back to her normal life. As she begins to feel despondent about the tragic circumstances of her existence, Queen informs her that she has researched the pygmies after about a student became frightened encountering one. She elucidates their origins to Koki, stating that they are forgotten humans who were driven out of society and possess a strong desire for recognition. She also elaborates that this longing compels them to pledge their loyalty to those who can see them, which may be interpreted as a sign that good fortune will confer upon such individuals, and that she has been counseling the student who is currently pursuing them. Hearing this, Koki emotional recalls her solitude, prompting the pygmies to stitch the words "hang in there, Koki".
While Momo is disappointed to learn from Koki that the pygmies have no means of restoring her to normal size, Aira expresses curiosity of the power-stealing and granting knife and connects it to the Kur they faced previously. Given that there is no advantage in seeking further information from Koki, Aira instructs everyone to stay together to prevent the enemy from finding any opportunities to exploit. Momo also suggests monitoring Koki in case the enemy returns, which would provide them with the opportunity to ambush them. After insisting that Koki's image also be erased once the perpetrator is apprehended, Aira realizes that she has encountered her before after learning and recognizing her surname "Yukishiro". She informs her that she competed and lost to her in the same childhood piano competition and became motivated back then to work diligently until she was able triumph over her. Koki, equally astonished to recognize Aira upon hearing this revelation, inquires whether she still plays the piano, to which Aira responds she quit after finding it tedious. This leads Koki to express disbelief, explaining that she discontinued playing the piano because of Aira. Aira then admonishes Koki, asserting that individuals with talent, such as herself, are not obligated to exert the effort in their endeavors.
Koki equipped with a surveillance hairpin to find her blackmailer.
Koki expresses her unease regarding the necessity of changing out of her school uniform, as it has become unusable due to being covered in white from the fire extinguisher. In response to Aira's observation about her perpetually sad expression, Koki snaps back, requesting Aira to remain silent. Kinta then proudly points out the surveillance camera hair accessory he made for her out of nanoskin for the purpose uncovering the identity of the person who supplied Koki with the knife. Observing Kinta's recovery, Jiji notes his improvement, to which Kinta attributes his enhanced state to a mere touch from Queen. Jiji then hypothesizes that this could imply the nurse has some special power. After Momo instructs the group to keep their distance from Koki until their target is captured, she checks on Okarun's well-being upon noticing his gloomy demeanor. Okarun reflects on their failed attempt to restore Momo to her original state after finding the pygmies and apologizes to her for his lack of assistance, leading him to make a personal commitment to improve. Momo disagrees with Okarun's self-assessment but recommends that he seek training from Seiko to help him fulfill his promise.
The Second Target[]
Seiko confronted by the jiangshi.
At the Juicy Gyoza Manufacutory Dandadan, Seiko meets with two men: Payase, a collector of cursed objects, whose latest acquisition is a painting that starts fires in his residence, and his associate Kashimoto, who irritates him. Seiko requests Payase to safeguard the Fairy-Tale Card's cursed trunk, to which he readily agrees. She then turns to Kashimoto, asking him if there is a method to reversing the effects of the cursed trunk's curse that has caused her granddaughter to shrink. Kashimoto confirms that he knows how to help, explaining that the Uchide-no-kozuchi, a magical hammer belonging to the deity Daikokuten, is the key, as it is said to have returned Issun-boshi to his normal size. He elaborates that Daikokuten and the great god Okuninushi are, in fact, the same being, and advises Seiko to head to the Izumo Taisha where they are venerated. Appreciative of the guidance, Seiko prepares to depart, but as Kashimoto offers to assist her, he is unexpectedly kicked aside by a jiangshi among a cluster of similar creatures.
Seiko battling against the jiangshi and the Minotaur.
Seiko defends herself against the jiangshi in fierce hand-to-hand combat and manages to hold her ground despite being outnumbered. In the midst of her battle against them, a Minotaur barrels toward her like a cannonball, aiming to knock her back. Acknowledging her agility, the Minotaur expresses his respect, to which Seiko modestly replies that she is just an old lady. Seiko delivers a kick to the Minotaur's groin but quickly discovers the toughness of his hide. Her attempt to enhance her strike with a piece of wood using the Power of Words also proves ineffective as it breaks upon impact. The Minotaur reveals that his body is made of iron, making any attacks against him futile as they only strengthen his material. Following a self-inflicted blow to his knees, the Minotaur retaliates by kicking Seiko into a wall and brutally assaulting her on the ground, all while declaring that he grows stronger whether she strikes him, he strikes himself, or he strikes her. After defeating Seiko, the Minotaur draws a knife from his briefs and demands her surrender. Before the situation can escalate further, Payase and Kashimoto intervene, delivering a powerful punch that sends the Minotaur flying away from Seiko. Kashimoto expresses his disdain for the sudden attack towards them earlier, while Payase criticizes their enemies for jeopardizing his cursed object. Together, they prepare to confront the jiangshi and the Minotaur with their power, with Payase declaring their intent to teach them a lesson about curses.
Payase and Kashimoto assist Seiko in fighting the jiangshi and the Minotaur.
Seiko stands back on her feet determined to keep fighting. Payase, concerned, asks if she's okay, to which Seiko compares her experience to the most dreadful osteopathy clinic in existence—a statement that resonates with Kashimoto but baffles Payase. She then informs them that the Minotaur's body is made of iron and that he grows stronger with every hit. As the Minotaur becomes thrilled by the challenge to face more opponents, the remaining jiangshi charge forward to attack. Seiko quickly instructs Payase and Kashimoto to handle the Minotaur while she retrieves her bag. Kashimoto, summoning the power of a guardian spirit, unleashes his technique, "Aphoom-Zhah", to attack the jiangshi, while Payase uses his cloak of darkness to control his shadow and disintegrate the jiangshi. Delighted by Payase's abilities, the Minotaur expresses his desire to make it his own, only for Payase to disapprove, stating that his body, being akin to Kodoku poison, is not suitable for someone like him. Payase tries to pierce the Minotaur's iron body with his shadow, but fails, giving the Minotaur a chance to grab Payase's shadowy form and hurl him away. Kashimoto tells Seiko to position herself behind him as he unleashes a series of "Aphoom-Zhah" strikes against the Minotaur, which Payase perceives to be effective. Nevertheless, Seiko warns Payase to remain vigilant. In retaliation, the Minotaur delivers a powerful blow to Kashimoto's chest, forcing him into a wall, and urges him to strike him more. Despite his concern for Kashimoto's safety, Payase continues to follow Seiko's guidance to assist her in overcoming the remaining jiangshi.
Seiko deals the final blow to the Minotaur.
As she gets close enough to retrieve her bag, the Minotaur kicks her away on time and suspects her possessing some form of trickery within her bag. Having reached his strongest state of "ultimate hotness", the Minotaur easily takes down Kashimoto and Payase as they try to attack him and recover Seiko's bag. He then grabs Seiko in a bear hug after stopping her from retrieving her bag thrown her way by Payase and demands that she concede her defeat or risk having her organs scattered as he constricts her with deadly force. Kashimoto once again launches an assault on the Minotaur with Aphoom-Zhah. However, the Minotaur advises him to desist, informing him that the force of his strikes is resonating through his iron body and affecting Seiko, as well as making him stronger. Regardless, Seiko yells out to Kashimoto to continue his assault. The Minotaur claims that his iron body doesn't feel a thing from his attacks and that he is only doing what he told him before. However, the Minotaur soon becomes shocked to see his arms broken off his body after Payase extends his hands through them. Following the Minotaur's inquiry regarding the unexpected fragility of his body despite achieving his utmost hardness, Payase, in his shadowy form, elucidates the nature of darkness, stating that the stronger the light the deeper the darkness becomes. On the other hand, Kashimoto informs the Minotaur that his lack of pain perception ultimately led to his defeat, elaborating that the ability to feel pain serves is essential for gauging one's endurance until the body ultimately succumbs, which is precisely what transpired in his situation. Despite this revelation, the Minotaur considers how his body intensifies in heat and strength with each strike from Kashimoto. Kashimoto then reveals that his flames used for Aphoom-Zhah, known as "Ice Flame", have the capability to reach absolute zero, resulting in his iron undoing hydrogen penetration. After successfully retrieving her bag, Seiko conveys to the Minotaur the difficulties he caused her, noting that it has been a while since she endured such punishment. She then takes out a talisman from her bag and attaches it to the Minotaur's head, reminding him of his desire to encounter a worthy opponent. In response, the Minotaur begins to panic and tries to persuade Seiko to spare him by disclosing who is truly pursuing her. However, Seiko interrupts him with a powerful kick to his face, obliterating his head and asserting that he would fare better against a deity as a more challenging foe.
The jiangshi controller fleeing the scene.
The Minotaur's body shatters from Seiko's powerful kick, revealing the enemy's true identity: a male human. As the man begins to beg Seiko for mercy, Payase is left perplexed by his sudden shift, while Kashimoto's irritation grows, fueled by the countless assaults he has endured. The man, now on his knees, apologizes profusely. Seiko demands to know why he targeted her. The man shows her a text message on his phone, explaining that an orchestrator had contacted him to confront her at the restaurant. Seiko, suspecting an accomplice, confirms her suspicions when she spots a dark aura figure walking away outside. Payase surmises that the accomplice controlled the jiangshi. Kashimoto demands that the man call back the accomplice, but the man insists it's impossible since he has only recently met him and their connection is solely through the orchestrator, whose face remains unknown. Seiko presses further, and the man reveals that messages are dispatched to all involved, occasionally resulting in target overlaps. When Kashimoto demands clarification, the man pulls out three knives. Payase, visibly shocked, turns to Seiko, who questions the man's possession of the knives. In response to Kashimoto's inquiry about the knives, Seiko explains that they originated from Asura, a sword stolen five years ago, known for stealing yokai powers and compelling its wielder to commit mass murder. The man reveals that he and his accomplice were tasked with collecting yokai powers, with the promise that those who gather a significant amount would have their wishes granted. Payase criticizes the man for his gullibility, but Kashimoto urges him to hold his tongue to learn more. The man explains that his actions were driven by the desire to save his wife, who has only a year left to live and that he became affiliated with the orchestrator through a work colleague. Despite recalling this, he admits he cannot remember the colleague's physical features, who seems to have faded from other employee's memories and company records.
Later, Bega arrives at Juicy Gyoza Manufactory Dandadan to investigate a report of suspicious activity at the restaurant. The staff informs him that a man was left alone at the scene, while three others left after paying the bill. As Bega turns his head, he spots Seiko, Payase, and Kashimoto conversing around the corner. Seiko tells Payase and Kashimoto that she will prioritize her granddaughter's situation and cautions them to stay vigilant given the dangerous circumstances they face. They assure her they will investigate and reach out to every quarter. Just then, Bega approaches the trio to ask them questions about the incident. However, before he can even begin, the trio swiftly and stealthily move to the top of the building, leaving Bega in a state of shock and confusion.
The Culprit[]
The History and Culture Research Club monitoring Koki's movements.
The History and Culture Research Club maintains a careful distance as they observe Koki's interactions to determine which teacher may be the suspect under investigation. Kinta points out that the teachers who have engaged with Koki include Queen, Adachi, and Sanjome. When Kinta mentions that Sanjome asked if Koki had discovered any secrets, Momo expresses skepticism, while Okarun recalls a similar inquiry from Sanjome directed at him. Although Kinta finds Sanjome's behavior unusual, he advises caution against making hasty judgments, noting that Sanjome did not reference anything about knives or powers. Aira insists on reviewing the footage from Kinta's glasses and observes a change in their shape. Kinta clarifies that the glasses are constructed from nanoskin, which responds to her mental imagery. Feeling embarrassed, Aira confesses that the image was of Okarun's glasses but urges Momo to disregard any idea that Okarun frequently occupies her mind. Okarun reassures her that it was merely because his glasses were in her line of sight and that it would be inappropriate to misinterpret her feelings.
Murakami sees Adachi seemingly coming back to the school and asks if she had been somewhere. Adachi responds that she had temporarily left to look after her sick mother. After offering his sympathies, Murakami invites her to a singles mixer with the staff. Adachi politely declines and walks away, while he continues to encourage her to join. Once alone, Adachi pulls out her phone to check the message she sent to the Orchestrator, and is revealed to be the Minotaur's accomplice as the jiangshi walk behind her.
Hase feeling the effects of the Asura knife.
Meanwhile, Hase attempts to flirt with two female students, but his actions make them uncomfortable when he inspects one of their phones and finds they are admiring Okarun, which surprises him. This leads the girls to walk away, feeling offended and uneasy. In a misguided effort to stop them, Hase grabs one of their hands, only to increase her discomfort as she insists he let go and calls him a creep. After making a scene by referring to them as skanks, Hase grows frustrated as he notices other students giving him strange looks. As he walks away, he recalls the shame he felt when Okarun outperformed him in gym class, determined not to let that memory linger. He then takes out an Asura knife, remembering how he obtained it during gym class after a mysterious voice revealed that Okarun had special powers and that he could also gain power and seek revenge with these knives. Hase doubts the knife's ability to grant him power, but decides to test it by cutting his hand. When he experiences no noticeable effects, he becomes convinced he was deceived. His certainty is suddenly interrupted by the unexpected arrival of an elderly woman behind him, signaling the knife's effect.
Unji reunites with Momo.
At the entrance of the school, Kinta and a few fellow Kami High students feel trapped, as a group of delinquents hangs around the gates, making them uneasy. Meanwhile, Okarun walks through the hallway with Momo and Bamora, contemplating whether Seiko will approach his training with the necessary seriousness. Momo offers her support, assuring him that he will be treated just like Jiji during the training sessions. Nevertheless, Okarun is skeptical, convinced that Jiji's natural abilities provide him with a significant advantage. The trio then notices the troublemakers outside, identifying them as students from Renjaku High School. After confronting the group, Unji shows himself to ask about Momo. With longer hair and glasses, Unji is unrecognizable to Momo, Okarun, and Bamora until he discloses who he is. Momo expresses her happiness at seeing Unji restored to good health. Unji is taken aback by a voice that seems to emerge from nowhere but soon realizes that its Momo after she delivers a kick in his direction to capture his attention. Surprised by Momo's diminutive stature, Unji learns that her size is a result of the food they consumed from the cursed trunk, prompting her to question why he remains unaffected. Unji explains that he has been searching for her since their escape from the cursed trunk. He shares that his vision has worsened and that, Daiki Hakono, the child trapped in the cursed trunk, is experiencing rapid aging. Furthermore, he reveals that Daiki's parents no longer recognize him as their son due to the accelerated aging resulting from their four-year confinement in the cursed trunk. Feeling sympathy, Unji expresses his wish to assist Daiki in returning to his original age. Just as Momo agrees to assist him once she takes him to her home, Aira and Jiji attack Unji after mistaking him for an enemy. Bamora steps in, activating her kaiju suit to prevent Jiji from advancing, while Momo harnesses her power to revert Aira and Unji's transformations, leaving them in a state of shock and confusion. Momo makes it clear to everyone that they are allies, reprimands Aira and Unji for their public transformation, and insists that the three of them offer apologies to one another, which they all consent to.
Rin shadowing Koki and the blackmailer.
As they make their way to the Ayase residence, Momo questions Aira and Jiji about their prolonged stare at Unji. Aira expresses her doubts regarding him, which Unji dismisses nonchalantly, much to her irritation. When they arrive, they spot Manjiro with his van parked in front. Jiji asks about the Evil Eye's briefs, and Manjiro explains that they are generating a lot of interest from tourists, leaving Jiji baffled. Seiko then comes out with suitcases, telling Momo and Bamora that they are heading on a trip while avoiding questions regarding her bandages. She reveals that they are going to Shimane, where there is a chance to revert Momo to her original state. The group is then thrilled to hear this encouraging news. Okarun, Jiji, and Aira seek Seiko's approval to accompany her, which she grants on the condition that they prepare quickly for the journey. Seiko then inquiries about Unji, his friend and the elderly man he is with. Momo clarifies that both Unji and the old man were trapped in the same cursed trunk as she was and require her assistance to remedy their situation. Seiko suspects they are afflicted by the same curse as Momo and invites them to join her. When Unji expresses concern about the cost of the trip, Seiko reassures him that finances will not be an issue. Kinta arrives on his hoverboard to announce that the blackmailer has been located following his meeting with Koki, and that Rin is currently tracking their movements. When Seiko questions the hold-up, Momo suggests postponing their trip to assist a colleague. However, Seiko informs her that they must depart right away to ensure they arrive on time for the ox hours during tomorrow's supermoon. Aira opts to remain behind and requests Momo to ensure her return to her original size. Wishing the same thing, Okarun also chooses to stay and offers his apologies to Momo. Momo expresses her understanding of Okarun's position, gives him the green light to assist their friends, and reassures him that she will revert to her normal size. Okarun, Aira, and Kinta then all race back to the school.
Upon reaching the school, Kinta informs Aira that the video feed from Koki's hair ornament abruptly cut off just as she entered the gym. Aira instructs Okarun and Kinta to stay behind while she investigates. Okarun, worried for her safety, insists on joining her, but Kinta reminds him that he no longer has any powers to be of any use. As Aira enters the gym in her Acrobatic Silky form, Okarun and Kinta are suddenly attacked by Hase and his accomplice. Inside the gym, Aira finds herself in a gym filled with headless bodies, their heads ominously floating above. The bodies launch an attack, using their floating heads as projectiles against her. Aira adeptly dodges their assaults, retaliates by targeting their weak points, and uses her Pirouette Noble Drill. However, she soon discovers that her attacks are futile as the bodies regenerate, leading her to suspect that a Power User, akin to Koki, is orchestrating this. As she contemplates the whereabouts of Koki and Rin, Aira is shocked to see one of the floating heads is Rin, with Mai beside her, mourning for her friend.
Rin repelling the Severed Head Dribblers.
Mai enlists Aira's assistance to help Rin, revealing that the headless bodies were responsible for forcibly detaching Rin's head after they threw her through a hoop. As Aira maneuvers through the chaos, carrying Rin's head and dodging the attacks from the headless bodies, she notices something unusual oozing from Rin's neck and inquiries about the identity of the headless bodies. Mai explains that these figures are known as Severed Head Dribblers, basketball players who use the heads of intruders in gyms at night. While trying to reassure a frantic Mai about the necessity of locating the Power User to resolve this crisis, Aira is taken aback when Rin's head speaks, warning that Koki is in danger, and is shocked to see her without a body. Meanwhile, Mai feels a sense of relief upon realizing Rin is still alive, clarifying that Rin's head exists in the living world while her body resides in the afterlife, putting her at risk of drifting indefinitely in the space they're in as her life force begins to escape from her neck. After being knocked off balance by one of the Severed Head Dribblers' heads colliding with the wall she is running on, Aira becomes exposed to their assaults. Mai tries to protect her by stepping in front, but Aira moves to shield Mai instead, resulting in a severe injury to her back. Mai encourages Aira to stay resilient and calls for Rin to use her powers through song, only to be informed by Rin that she cannot do so without her physical body. During this moment, Aira recalls a childhood game of dollhouse with friends, where one had imagined a doll as merely a head submerged in water while it was in a small tub. This memory leads her to realize that Rin can be restored by reversing the transformation inflicted by the Severed Head Dribblers. Utilizing her Acrobatic Silky hair, Aira retrieves Rin's head and guides it beneath the hoop to restore her. Once reformed, Rin dons her Idol attire and employs her gravity manipulation to repel the Severed Head Dribblers. While grateful for Aira's assistance, Rin feels a wave of embarrassment when Aira comments on her revealing outfit. She then urges Aira to take cover behind her as she defends against the attacks, but Aira, asserting her leadership, refuses and prepares to fight alongside her.
Koki reveals her blackmailer to be Murakami.
Rin is suggested by Aira to expand her gravitational power against the Severed Head Dribblers but clarifies that her power has a limited range, leading to Mai to inform Rin that this limitation stems from her underdeveloped song delivery. The two then shift their focus to finding Koki. Mai reveals that Koki is also a floating head above but is being protected by pygmies, complicating Aira and Rin's search as the small creatures causes Koki to be invisible. Being the only one who can see Koki, Mai temporarily leaves Rin's side to reach her. While Rin, who is powerless without Mai's power, and Aira navigate the gym as the Severed Head Dribblers attack them, Mai instructs the pygmies to assist in positioning Koki's head beneath the basketball hoop for her restoration. After this is accomplished, Koki regains consciousness with her body restored and is rescued by Aira her from the Severed Head Dribblers. Initially panicked, Koki quickly calms down and reveals that her blackmailer is Murakami, the teacher who has been monitoring the social media accounts of female students who have breached school rules, particularly those sharing revealing images. Aira expresses her disgust at Murakami's actions and prepares to confront him in the gym to put an end to this battle. However, Rin warns Aira that the Severed Head Dribblers are increasing in size. Additionally, Aira notices the walls closing in and Rin's gravitational range diminishing. To complicate matters further, Mai informs Rin that she can only continue singing for five more minutes before her power is depleted. Aira begins to feel overwhelmed, realizing the difficulty of defending against the giant Severed Head Dribblers while also protecting Rin and Koki. She then asks Koki to direct the pygmies to search for Murakami in the gym.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that Murakami is elsewhere, watching the battle unfold from an exercise bike. After finishing, Murakami approaches Adachi who stands uncomfortably dressed in a revealing bunny costume. Displeased with her lackluster attitude, he cautions her to improve her behavior if she wants to keep receiving his financial help for her mother's expenses. While this is said, Adachi discreetly conceals a talisman behind her back.
Koki returns to playing the piano.
Koki requests assistance from the pygmies to locate Murakami while also offering an apology to them for her previous disrespect towards them before. Koki discovers from the pygmies that Murakami is not at the gym and quickly relays this information to Aira. Upon realizing they have been misled, Aira insists that Rin keep singing as they confront the Severed Head Dribblers. Just as she starts to feel a sense of powerlessness, Koki is taken aback when the pygmies present to her a piano they construct on the spot. Koki complies to Aira, Rin, and Mia's request to play to potential amplify Rin's power, however, she starts to play an improper melody after memories of her mother's teachings resurfaces. Despite her lack of experience with this particular piano, Aira suggests to her to improvise as she commends Koki's past performances and urges her to reignite the passion she once had. Bolstered by this encouragement, Koki successfully produces a melody that moves Aira, who asks Rin if her power has grown. Rin responds hesitantly, while Mai speculates that Koki's music serves a purpose beyond amplifying power or controlling the pygmies. As the melody unfolds, a sinister swarm of flies begins to gather ominously over Kamigoe City.
Murakami yielding and allowing Adachi to steal his Severed Head Dribblers' power.
As Murakami carries Adachi to a chair, she notices her jiangshi appearing behind him and telepathically instructs them to wait until she has gotten a sense of Murakami's power and when he lowers his guard. At this moment, a swarm of flies descends upon the teachers, leaving Murakami stunned and panicked as he is being attacked by them. Seizing the chance, Adachi brings out an Asura and demands his surrender, promising to spare him if he does. Realizing her intentions, Murakami cuts his hand with the kozuka knife and reluctantly concedes, allowing Adachi to gain the Severed Head Dribbler power. Before she could help him, the flies carry Murakami out the window. Meanwhile, Aira and Rin are horrified by the sudden infestation at the gym, which Mai explains is caused by Koki's "Lord of the Flies" ability to control small creatures. After the Severed Head Dribblers vanish from Murakami's power being taken by Adachi, Aira comes to Koki's aid after she exhausts herself from using her power. The girls then notice a swarm of flies entering the gym to deliver Murakami. Murakami attempts to feign ignorance, claiming his bathe was interrupted by the sudden phenomenon, and attempts to leave. However, Aira kicks him as retribution for his wrongdoings and demands that he say something to the girls. No way out of his current situation, Murakami agrees to delete the incriminating photos of Koki but arrogantly suggests that they not make a big deal of the matter. Aira then clarifies with another kick that what they want to hear is him admitting that he is nothing more than a pig.
Settling the Score[]
Hase, enhanced by yokai powers, and an alien survivor from the Kur's Advance Unit, clad in a new exosuit, pursue Okarun and Kinta. While protected by the airbag gauntlets provided by Kinta after he receives a kick from Hase, Okarun cautions Kinta that this defense may not suffice against their assailants and insists they reunite with Rin and Koki. Kinta dismisses Okarun's worries about the airbags and urges him to focus on distracting the attackers instead since they currently don't have the luxury of reuniting with the girls. Feeling fatigued, Hase temporarily reverts to his normal state and instructs the alien to target Kinta, though she ignores him, choosing to use the time to adjust her exosuit given to her by Count Saint-Germain. After Hase transforms back, he warns the alien not to interfere with his revenge on Okarun. Taking advantage of their distraction, Kinta quickly uses nanoskin to create armor for Okarun, featuring verniers and pile bunkers. He then uses the remaining nanoskin to form the Great Kinta for himself, much to Okarun's dissatisfaction to be given limited armor protection compared to him. After finalizing the modifications to her exosuit, the alien lunges forward, dodges Kinta's strike, and delivers a kick to Okarun, which surprisingly causes little damage. Kinta proudly reveals his efforts in having his nanoskin take on the properties of steel by carrying a paper weight but sadly discovers from Okarun that the suits are heavy and difficult to maneuver as a result. This brief distraction gives Hase the opening to kick Kinta away.
Okarun fights against the exosuit alien.
Okarun confronts the alien, demanding to know her reason for targeting him. She responds bitterly, accusing him of taking everything from her. Okarun counters by pointing out that their conflict began when she stole his kintama. The alien recounts her tragic backstory: the destruction of her home planet by the Kur and her infiltration of the Kur's ranks to get close to the emperor and potentially assassinate him as an act of revenge—all undone by the Family's victory during the invasion. She demands recognition for her struggles, but Okarun dismisses her plight, responding with a fierce attack. Using his verniers, he launches himself at her, only for her to block the strike and prepare a counterpunch. In a decisive move, Okarun activates his pile bunkers, delivering a devastating blow that sends them both tumbling. Despite Okarun's attempt to de-escalate, urging her to stop and insisting he isn't her true enemy, the alien remains steadfast in her resolve. Memories of her past and her partner flicker in her mind, yet she resolutely vows to take Okarun's life—and then her own. She persistently assaults Okarun from multiple directions, compelling him to engage his boosters and collide with her directly. As she removes her suit's mask, she bites Okarun's arm, prompting him to activate his pile bunkers mid-descent. When she charges at him again, Okarun is taken aback to discover that the alien's face does not belong to the Kur race. With a precise kick to his arm, she forces his palm against the nanoskin, jeopardizing its integrity as Kinta had previously warned. The alien then powers up her exosuit to deliver a devastating kick that shatters Okarun's armor and propels him backward. Hase, who had been concentrating on Kinta, perceives her deadly intent and intervenes, asserting that he alone has the right to confront Okarun. Utilizing his Jumping Crone abilities, he propels her into the air and crashes her down, repeatedly striking her with powerful jumps to ensure she remains incapacitated.
Kinta forming a two-man battle suit with Okarun.
During this momentary pause, Okarun informs Kinta of his inadvertent contact with the nanosuit, which frustrates Kinta due to the effort he has put in. Recognizing that their only hope lies in uniting, Kinta envelops Okarun in nanoskin. This decision results in a peculiar robot that reflects their drastically different design philosophies, with Okarun awkwardly bearing Kinta on his shoulders. Although Kinta possesses superior control over the robot, he concedes that Okarun's battle prowess are essential for evading enemy strikes. After tossing the barely conscious alien aside, Hase commands her to remain out of his path. He is soon ambushed by the combined forces of Kinta and Okarun. Dodging their assault, Hase feels insulted by their seemingly derisive choice of weaponry, as if they underestimate his capabilities. The duo activates their verniers, narrowly deflecting Hase's attack, but their attempt at executing the Blast Wind Thrust Attack is thwarted by Hase's remarkable speed. Furious, Hase insists that Okarun relinquish the ridiculous mecha and confront him directly in battle. During their ordeal being attacked by Hase, Okarun discloses to Kinta that the nanoskin integration has made them weaker rather than stronger since they are burdened by the weight and their equipment is damaged, much to Kinta's astonishment.
Okarun and Kinta defeat Hase.
Despite Okarun's assertion that their strength has diminished post-merger, Kinta refutes this claim and initiates an assault on Hase with his Blast Wind Thrust Attack. Hase effectively counters by aligning his spring feet mechanisms against the robot's fist, utilizing the propulsion release to obliterate it. However, Kinta swiftly repairs the damaged arm, prompting Okarun to retaliate with his Pile Bunkers. While Hase looks down on Okarun's kick, Kinta commends his partner for the effort. Okarun expresses to Kinta that they still lack the capability to inflict substantial damage on Hase as a unified force and proposes utilizing their nanoskin to fabricate additional weapons by simplifying the robot's facial design. Kinta dismisses this suggestion, asserting he will not pilot a robot that lacks a 'cool' aesthetic, which frustrates Okarun. After he emphasizes to Okarun that passion is the source of his creativity, Kinta throws another punch towards Hase. Hase counters by kicking both him and Okarun into the air and shatters the robot from multiple angles while asserting their inferiority. Just as the robot is entirely destroyed, Okarun recalls a moment when Hase mocked him for his fascination with UFOs. This recollection drives him to seize Hase and express his passion for aliens by stating information regarding the US government. He then urges Kinta to merge with him, prompting Kinta to utilize the nanoskin to bind Hase's legs and create wings, enabling all three to hover aloft. As Hase demands to be released, Kinta reminds Okarun of his previous remark about their merger increasing their weight, but he disagrees that they have become weaker, proving this by using the wings to dive and slam Hase into the ground, rendering him unconscious. Following Hase's defeat, the female alien retreats with her exosuit damaged. Meanwhile, Kinta inquires if he can be referred to as "colonel", to which Okarun responds apathetically. The two then meet up with Aira, Rin, and Koki as they drag Hase's unconscious body.
Adachi meets the orchestrator.
Beneath the overpass, Adachi meets with an unidentified man to transfer Murakami's power, following the orchestrator's instructions sent to her on her phone. During their exchange, the orchestrator contacts Adachi, revealing to her Murakami, like herself, was one of their subordinates tasked with gathering powers and was never meant to be a target, much to Adachi's shock. When pressed for an explanation, Adachi defends her actions, claiming her suspicions about Murakami's abilities led her to pursue him. Though she promises not to repeat the mistake, the orchestrator disqualifies her, citing not only her error but her reliance on luck, as Murakami's power was only acquired because Koki activated her Lord of the Flies ability. With no patience for failure, the orchestrator orders Adachi to surrender both the Asura knife and Murakami's power to the man present. Desperate, Adachi pleads for another chance, but the orchestrator refuses, coldly explaining that her compassion prevents her from extracting power from an ID Cosmos — individuals who are fearless and only vulnerable when their loved ones are threatened. As Adachi protests, emphasizing her need to help her mother, the man attacks her, insisting she accept defeat. Before he can finish his assault, Bega intervenes, kicking the assailant away and immediately calling for backup. As Bega prepares to engage, the face card of the Fairy-Tale Card emerges from the man's back, causing Bega to recoil in recognition. Realizing that Bega is immune to the Fairy-Tale Card's control, the orchestrator swiftly changes tactics, taking control of Adachi and forcing her to attack Bega instead. Bega restrains the controlled Adachi but ends up giving the orchestrator the chance to have the unidentified man retreat.
Flight to Shimane[]
Momo's curse worsening as she fails to grab Bamora's attention.
At the airport, Seiko entrusts Manjiro with key responsibilities during her absence, while her student urges her to prioritize her health, reminding her of her ongoing injury. Meanwhile, Momo, perched on Bamora's shoulder, attempts to get her attention but instead catches Jiji's eye. Concerned, she confides in him, noting that Bamora has been unresponsive for some time, seemingly unable to perceive her — a troubling sign that the curse may be progressing, further transforming her into a pygmy.
Story Impact[]
- Momo's grades are confirmed to be low.
- The existence of fairies is hinted at, along with the Tiny Old Man cryptid.
- Okarun brings up the confession, but Momo asks him to redo it only after she returns to normal.
- Okarun is left without Turbo Granny's powers, but the strain he put himself under all this time enhanced his body to superhuman capabilities.
- Hase gets reintroduced as a major character, challenging Okarun to a race but ends up losing. His popularity will decline and he will blame Okarun for this. He'll be given Jumping Crone's abilities by the Orchestrator to steal Okarun's power, although they both don't know he has forfeited them back to Turbo Granny.
- A baseball club is confirmed to exist at Kami High.
- Momo's powers remain at their regular size even when she's little.
- Koki Yukishiro debuts, a sheltered girl in Class 2-E who had musical talent as a kid before falling from grace. She will receive the Lord of the Flies power by her blackmailer and ordered to attack Momo.
- Pygmies are also introduced. Queen states that these tiny creatures invisible to most who were originally humans that were driven away from the surface and forgotten by the world, losing their identity and memories. They group up around lonely people, in this case being Koki, and do everything they can to help them. Only Momo, Koki and Queen could see them, along with spirits like Mai.
- The kozuka knives manufactured from the Asura become a central point in the arc, as they allow a group of Power Collectors to steal and bestow supernatural powers.
- Sanjome affirms that he dislikes noise canceling because it gives him an irritating feeling. He also claims that bacteria align depending on ideal vibrations in the surrounding environment, stating that a tenth of the human body is made up of human cells while the rest is bacteria, denying free will and simply correlating it to the ideal alignment of the bacteria.
- Sanjome asks Okarun to yield and he does so, however he doesn't stab him as he feels that something is wrong. It's unknown if Sanjome has to ask this same question again in the future or if he can just stab him with the black kozuka knife. He later makes Okarun forget that he talked with him, though he remembers that somebody asked him to yield.
- Empty Space and a curtain with retro-reflective projection are deployed during the fight against Koki and the Pygmies, indicating that the Orchestrator is an alien or is collaborating with one.
- The Empty Space deployed in the home economics classroom forcefully closed the room's doors and wouldn't allow people with spiritual power to enter it even though they crossed its boundary, like when Okarun entered Empty Space during the Kur Invasion by running through it. Jiji theorizes that a maximum number of people allowed inside can be configured.
- Bamora learns to open Empty Space on her own through the Heart-Pounding Hidden Mode.
- Kinta invents a nanoskin hoverboard. It is later revealed that Kinta has kept a paperweight in his hand to become familiar with the sensation of steel so he could apply it to the nanoskin, thus increasing resistance but also its weight.
- He later creates a surveillance camera disguised as an hairpin, confirming that nanoskin can broadcast information like the Internet.
- Queen is reintroduced from when she first showed up in the Serpo Arc. She informs them that she has become spirit sensitive after participating in various rituals to help troubled students and she can also see the pygmies.
- A flashback shows her in the Tsuchinoko Shrine with Manjiro. Their relationship will be acknowledged in the Shimane Arc.
- Jiji's love for Momo hasn't died down and he'll do anything to protect her. Later when he sees Unji holding Momo, he barges in and pushes him away, believing that he would hurt her.
- Koki confesses her situation and informs them that her objective was to steal Momo's ability. She however suddenly forgets the conditions to use the kozuka knives, implying that the power collectors hired by the Orchestrator have all been put under a spell that automatically detects information leaks and causes their memories to vanish. The search for her blackmailer begins.
- Aira recognizes Koki from the junior piano competitions she played in. She remains in awe at Koki's performances that appear to her as pure freedom. She will make Koki remember these emotions later and remove her fear of playing piano to use the Lord of the Flies ability.
- Aira admits that she coped with the death of her mother by focusing on playing piano.
- Bamora and Rin learn to sew.
- Payase and Kashimoto are introduced, the former being a cursed object collector who reveals that cursed objects cannot be lit on fire. Seiko hands him the cursed trunk that caused the Renjaku Apartments Incident. Kashimoto has done lots of research into Tiny Old Men and he informed Queen about it when he was still a student at Kami High.
- Payase and Kashimoto's hoodies both have Eye of Providence designs on her back, indicating a possible relation with Ludris and Count Saint-Germain. The only difference is that theirs has the tip point upwards, while the two aliens have it pointing downwards.
- Payase's power is seemingly related to kodoku curse poison and allows him to shapeshift his body into a shadow. Kashimoto has befriended a guardian spirit that unleashes flames reaching absolute zero.
- Kashimoto tells Seiko about the Uchide-no-Kozuchi, a magic mallet wielded by the inch-high samurai Issun-Boshi that made him big when he swung it. It's owned by the god Okunikushi/Daikokuten who's venerated at the Izumo Taisha in the Shimane Prefecture and it's necessary to return Momo back to normal.
- The Minotaur, an agent of the Orchestrator with the power of an iron bull is introduced. When defeated, he confesses that the Orchestrator is giving out "wishes" to those who collect enough yokai powers. The orchestrator also recruits people by having other agents give a phone number to the person. When a target is chosen, the orchestrator sends out the notification to everybody via text, meaning that anybody can complete it but there are complications due to the agents not knowing who their allies are.
- The Kettetsu Power User's Wife is terminally ill and that's why he decided to commit these crimes. He was detained by the police after the ambush.
- He was also found with two black kozuka knives and one white kozuka knife to presumably get recruits of his own like Murakami did.
- Seiko affirms that the kozukas belong to the Asura, a cursed sword which was sealed by an organization of magi but was stolen five years prior. Count Saint-Germain is currently its owner.
- In its depictions, the curse of the Asura can only take over its wielder's mind if the scabbard is removed.
- Mika Adachi is reintroduced in the story and utilizes Jiangshi given to her by the Orchestrator. She works for them to receive economical aid to land her ill mother in a home.
- The Jiangshi are always behind her but they are not visible, not even to power users like Murakami because of talismans placed onto them. She also summons them with a talisman.
- Murakami organizes a singles mixer and asks Adachi and Sanjome to participate. His objective presumably was leading the teachers out of the school so he could proceed his plans undisturbed.
- Sanjome goes around the school asking students for the "secret they spotted". His intentions are still unrevealed. This leads the group to believe he's the most likely teacher to have blackmailed Koki.
- It's revealed that the orchestrator can contact people telephatically and supposedly teleport kozuka knives.
- Unji Zuma and Raiya Kazama return, blocking the Kami High gate along with other delinquents from Renjaku High School in order to find Momo. Unji's eyesight has gone bad due to the curse and he now wears glasses. He informs the group that they are trying to cure Daiki's aging condition. Unji and Vega brought him to his parents, but they believed it was a sick joke.
- Because his hair is now longer, it is hinted that a significant amount of time passed between the Danmara Arc and the Kozuka Knives Arc. However this could also be a remnant of his curse.
- Momo can suppress power users and block their transformations through her psychokinesis.
- The Jet Booster Exosuit Kur is shown outside of her destroyed exosuit after her loss during the Kur Invasion, revealing that she belongs to another alien species, and cannot stand up due to Earth's high gravity. She was rescued by Count Saint-Germain who essentially forces to work for him for an unknown motive. She's given a new exosuit but she's not shown with a kozuka knife.
- She later attacks Okarun and Kinta by teaming up with Hase, but because it's mostly fueled by her desire to take revenge against Okarun for stopping her plan to murder the Kur Emperor, it's unclear if this was truly the Count's objective.
- Seiko claims that the ritual to bring Momo back to normal can only be accomplished during the hours of the Ox under a supermoon, which is going to happen that night. She also allows Unji, Raiya and Daiki to come with them.
- Murakami approaches Koki while Rin watches nearby. This leads to Okarun, Aira and Kinta to remain in Kamigoe City while everybody else goes to the airport in Manjiro's van. This decision will shape up the following arcs.
- A strange design resembling the Eye of Providence is placed under Okarun's shoe. It's unclear if it's an aesthetic because of his love for the occult or if it was placed by somebody.
- Murakami is revealed to be an agent of the orchestrator and he's been given the Severed Head Dribblers, the fifth of the Seven School Mysteries. By dunking a person in the hoop, their head detaches. Mai states that the person is between life and death, but if their lifeforce completely spills from their neck, they will truly die. By inserting the head from the opposite side of the hoop, the body gets regenerated and reattached.
- Severed Head Dribblers can also increase in size and shift the environment around them.
- They ultimately will be stolen by Adachi after she enters Murakami's apartment and forces him to yield.
- Rin affirms that her range of effectiveness of her power is fixed, though it can shrink depending on her performance. Mai points out that if Rin doesn't develop her "idol power", neither her range will increase nor nor her outfit will become fabulous. Idol power is presumably increased by having fans cherring for her.
- Koki reveals that Murakami has not only blackmailed her but multiple girls at Kami High, implying that there might be more agents in her situation.
- Koki unleashes the power of the Lord of the Flies by playing an heart-wrenching melody on the piano. The range of her power seemingly covers the entirety of Kamigoe City, allowing her to control small creatures such as insects.
- Apparently, these insects also have a mind of her own because they were able to locate Murakami in his apartment despite their lack of information.
- It is revealed later in the Shimane Arc that the Lord of the Flies power was leveled up through her "extraordinary git", possibly connected to her innate ability to perceive Pygmies after becoming spirit sensitive.
- After Murakami's defeat, the girls force him to delete all of Koki's images.
- The Jet Booster Exosuit Kur reveals that the Kur had destroyed her planet and she decided to join them to murder their emperor. After a hundred years, she managed to become Hastur's right hand. On her planet, she was shown in a royal outfit with her lover whose condition is undisclosed.
- She reveals her identity as a non-Kur to Okarun. After being left severely injured by Hase, she later flees the battlefield.
- Kinta introduces the concept of merging and does so with Okarun, believing that it would make them stronger. He remarks the importance of his passion for robots.
- Okarun states that the government has acknowledged the existence of UFOs and he confirms that ProjectMKUltra, the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment and Operation Mockingbird all happened too.
- The Orchestrator affirms that all the targets are chosen by them and informs Adachi of her mistake in attacking Murakami, pointing out that it was Koki who did all the work anyways. He reveals that to steal a person's ability, they must surrender from deep within their heart, although they are aware of its difficulty to understand it.
- It is pointed out that Momo has an ID Cosmos, correlated to the possession of a marvelous power. The ID Cosmos doesn't fear death, meaning that to make Momo admit defeat and successfully steal her power, they must first attack her friends and relatives to break her apart. He understands that Adachi is not up to the task and fires her.
- The Orchestrator's Intermediary showcases the power of the Fairy-Tale Card but he cannot take over Vega's mind, forcing him to flee, leaving Adachi with both the Jiangshi and the Severed Head Dribblers' powers.
- Manjiro points out that Seiko's ribs are broken and she must take painkillers. This will cause her to not perceive Momo for a while.
- Bamora cannot sense Momo anymore and she believes that her curse is accelerating, meaning that she could end up like the pygmies. In the Typhoon Human Arc, both Unji and Daiki's curses will accelerate too.
Characters Introduced[]
Battles & Events[]
| Battles | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Momo Ayase, Okarun and Aira Shiratori vs. Koki Yukishiro and Pygmies | |
| Events | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nikujiru Gyoza Ambush | | |
| Battles | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Seiko Ayase vs. Jiangshi and Kettetsu Power User | |
 |
Seiko Ayase, Payase and Kashimoto vs. Jiangshi and Kettetsu Power User | |
| Event | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Kami High Ambushes |  |
| Battles | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Aira's Group vs. Severed Head Dribblers | |
 |
Okarun and Kinta Sakata vs. Hase and Jet Booster Exosuit Kur | |
 |
Masamichi Vega vs. Ultimate Yokai Vessel | |
Chapters[]
| # | Title | SJ+ Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 166 | Is This a Little Fairy? | September 16, 2024 |
| 167 | Hey, There's Something There | September 23, 2024 |
| 168 | There's Someone Here | October 1, 2024 |
| 169 | Find the Culprit! | October 8, 2024 |
| 170 | A Suspicious Woman | October 15, 2024 |
| 171 | Corner the Perp! | October 22, 2024 |
| 172 | Those Pygmies Are Scary | October 29, 2024 |
| 173 | Corner the Criminal! | November 5, 2024 |
| 174 | Queen Sensei's Infirmary | November 12, 2024 |
| 175 | So Who's the True Perp? | November 19, 2024 |
| 176 | Scattering the Bait | December 10, 2024 |
| 177 | Let's Do Some Kung Fu | December 17, 2024 |
| 178 | The Power of a God | December 24, 2024 |
| 179 | This Seems Kinda Deadly | December 31, 2024 |
| 180 | The Owner of the Kozuka Knives | January 7, 2025 |
| 181 | Must Be the Influence of a Curse | January 14, 2025 |
| 182 | Something's Taken the Bait | January 21, 2025 |
| 183 | So It's You! | February 25, 2025 |
| 184 | The Class Rep's Head | March 4, 2025 |
| 185 | So You're the Perp! | March 11, 2025 |
| 186 | Kouki Yukishiro's Power | March 18, 2025 |
| 187 | Kick the Crap Outta Murakami! | March 25, 2025 |
| 188 | Okarun and Kinta | April 1, 2025 |
| 189 | Jumping Granny and Kung Fu Alien | April 8, 2025 |
| 190 | Merging Is What Makes Us Strong! | April 15, 2025 |
| 191 | The Mistake | April 22, 2025 |