What happened?
This girl...
She lived close by and often came here to play.
Now that you mention it, I might have seen her before.
Her parents didn't want her to come over here...
However, Hikaru-chan, for whatever reason...
She liked Shouta.
She was always following him around.
An accident of all things...
We don't have parents, so we're weak to kindness.
Ah, no, I really do think of you as a parent, Riko.
It's fine.
I heard Hikaru-chan is having a wake.
Want to go together?
Let's say farewell.
Idiot.
What?!
It was a big accident, so the media will be there, won't they?!
It would be shameful for Hikaru if outsider kids like us came around, acting like friends.
Unlike you, I'm good at reading the mood.
But...
So you came, Ouri.
This is perfect.
I'm going to give you all these figurines.
Why would I want crap like that?!
You know you like them.
Could the sky be shedding its tears at the life lost so young?
What's wrong with Hikaru-chan?
What?
What's going on?!
Just now, something happened inside!
Could you get me the Kougon-shuu?
I'm Nakamura from the Shinkou Temple.
Call an ambulance!
It begins again...
I wonder, how do you make a flamethrower from an alcohol lamp?
I'm sorry that I'm so inexperienced.
Is that the problem?
Hey Master, this part-timer is useless.
Master?
She came back to life apparently... One of the kids who died in that accident.
A miracle has happened.
Yotsuha Hikaru, who was supposed to have died, came back to life, and...
Hikaru-chan...
It appears that she has been saved.
Either way it's a good thing that pretty girl was saved.
Her condition is unknown.
That's inappropriate.
She was taken to a hospital in Kinrin.
Gotcha...
In that case, I'll excuse myself.
Is it all right for you not to go?
If you find someone who escaped death at a wake, a funeral service, or a cremation ceremony,
then it must be reported to the Kougon-shuu.
That is this country's unwritten rule.
The guy in charge of the area has already made his move.
It's not a job for assault units like us.
This area's is Tagami Keisei, right?
Yeah.
Did you know? Our part-timer is Keisei's little brother.
Huh?
But his last name is Kagami...
To be more accurate, he was picked up.
If he gave the kid the name of Tagami, he'd end up having to succeed the Kougon-shuu.
That's why he changed one syllable and raised him.
Does Tagami Keisei know that he's working here?
As if he'd know.
In the first place, he doesn't even know we're within his territory.
In any case, we're that type of group, aren't we?
What is this?
Leave her alone.
What's wrong?
Come on.
It'll be fine if I can just give it to a nurse...
Before, what did you...
Huh?
That girl is...
the one who died and came back to life.
The same as Hikaru-chan?
There's no need for confirmation.
It's already moving.
I see...
Will you be fine by yourself?
I'll be fine.
But, how did you catch on?
Who is she talking to?
I thought that was the case.
In any case, dispose of it quickly!
If you'll follow me, it's this way.
It's hard, isn't it? Children...
Is Makina-chan all right?
Don't talk like you understand.
The time for hide and seek is over.
Is that the form you wanted to become?
Kids don't have any designing sense!
You'll soon wake up... from this nightmare.
Save me!
What are you doing?
You...?!
We met, didn't we...?
In the middle of the forest.
Get away from here.
What are you doing?!
That doesn't matter, just go!
Save me!
Hurry, please!
Hurry!
What about the other kids?
Yeah...
Amongst the kids who died in the accident, two of them have disappeared.
It was coincidence that Yotsuha Hikaru's reanimation was witnessed...
The rest became Shikabane without anyone noticing and escaped from their coffins.
It's unbelievable that so many Shikabane could reanimate at once...
It took us time to keep their families quiet about it, but we'll hurry and rendezvous with you.
Go after the remaining Shikabane, Keisei.
The one from the hospital is my responsibility.
I'll hunt it down.
Weren't you injured?
If the monk you made the contract with isn't close to you...
It wasn't such a bad injury.
It's already gotten better.
Delivery, delivery!
Is it all right for you not to return to your home?
No, I can't!
I see. That girl might come after you, after all.
But...
This way...
Where do you want to go?
According to the newspaper, her bones were thoroughly broken and her organs ruptured...
What does this mean?
A child Shikabane's lingering desire is probably the desire to play.
It's common for them to want to remain.
Play...
Let go!
You guys are...
Shikabane.
Shikabane?
Those who die with a strong, lingering desire gain an immortal body and reanimate.
That is a Shikabane.
Not a single injury remains on the bodies of the children who died in the accident.
Didn't you think that was strange?
You were reanimated too.
And you are moving.
Are you a Shikabane as well?
A Shikabane is a being from beyond death, which is why they kill people.
I am the one who kills such beings from beyond death. An immortal that kills immortals. Shikabane Hime!
Play... Play... Play... Play... Play!
Shikabane...
The only way to kill a Shikabane is to destroy their brains or completely tear them apart.
You are prepared, aren't you?
Play!
This is...
Are you saying that this is playing?!
My little doll...
I see...
I understand... why these three children all became Shikabane.
Your lingering desire was the same, wasn't it?
You wanted to play more... to continue playing.
From the beginning, you were a single Shikabane.
Hikaru-chan!
Hikaru-chan, play with me!
I have something to give you!
Why are you hesitating?!
Even if you pretend to be a child...
the punishment won't end!
All right. You did well, Minai.
Are you all right, Makina?
I'll take care of the cleanup.
Hikaru-chan... Here.
Hand over the Shikabane.
You saw it. She's a monster.
You're a monster as well...
I am.
Give it to me.
Thank you.
What is that in your right hand?
I was asked by a friend of hers...
to leave it in the coffin.
The Shikabane sensed that, and stopped moving...
That is...?
Follow him, Minai.
Since he knows this much, there's a need to keep him under observation.
There's no need for that.
We can't leave a normal person alone...
That's my little brother...
What? You didn't know?
Then why did you protect him?
Because he was a regular person.
Well, it's fine.
Because I'll take care of the observation.
After all, I know his favorite gravure idol pose.
Like this... or this.
I'll leave it to you.
Makina-chan, how are your injuries?
Thank you...
That's a bit distant...
No, I meant Keisei's little brother.
He said that to me when I disposed of the Shikabane.
Why?
Because you had a gun and asked him to give you the girl.
If you hadn't done that, he wouldn't have handed the girl over.
Even though he knew she was a monster. No matter what.
That was why you threatened him with the gun, wasn't it?
That was why he thanked you.
Ouri is that type of guy.
Ouri...
You can't forget about that girl?
Those eyes... those lips... or perhaps the odor of death she wore.
Now... be led on by the voice of the night and go out--