Onee-chan!
Don't worry...
I'll take care of this.
My name is Kawakami Mai.
They call me the Phantom-Hunting Mom.
How did I end up like this? Well...
A Few Days Ago
Thank you for the meal.
You sure do have an impressive appetite...
I'm sorry.
What's the big deal?
It's your reward for all your hard work.
Right?
Yes.
Now!
Sit still when you eat!
I hate tomatoes.
Don't play with your food.
There, there...
Ice cream! Ice cream!
They sure have it rough.
Were you all like that when you were kids, too?
I used to get in trouble a lot for being picky about food.
My parents were strict.
I don't remember.
Oh!
What about you, Mai-cchi?
Huh?
W-Well...
I don't remember.
Huh?
Where did I put the driver CD?
What was this box again?
My stuff from back in elementary school.
This takes me back...
My essay?
"What Happened on Sunday."
"Class 1-A, Ichijo Haruhiko."
I can't believe I wrote something like this.
Ow...
Huh?
Why's it so big?
Look at the time!
The housemaid didn't wake me up...
Huh?
This is my room, isn't it?
It's huge!
Why?
This'll do!
Where's my backpack?!
Morning.
Who's that?
He isn't from our class, is he?
I don't know him.
Maybe he's lost.
Huh?
Weird, maybe I'm in the wrong class.
But I'm pretty sure I'm in 1-A.
So it's your class, but you don't know anyone there?
Yeah.
And it doesn't seem like anyone else there knows me, either.
Okay!
Let's go talk to the teacher.
What's your name?
Ichijo Haruhiko.
Ichijo Haruhiko-kun?
There's no boy named Ichijo-kun in the first grade.
Not even in the whole elementary school.
But...
I'll ask the other teachers, too.
You're sure your name is Ichijo Haruhiko, right?
I'm sure.
And you're sure you attend this elementary school, right?
Yes, Hosea Academy.
That bag...
Do you mind if I take a look?
Sure.
It looks like Haruhiko-oniisan's.
Is this really yours?
Yes.
Do you mind if I look inside?
Go ahead.
This sketchbook...
No way.
Neural Error Corrections Room
He does look like Ichijo-kun when he was in elementary school.
His address and belongings are the same, too.
I think he's the real Haruhiko-oniisan!
But then...
You don't recognize any of us?
No.
He doesn't know Ruru-chan, either.
I met Haruhiko in middle school.
Do you not remember that you're a high school student, either?
What happened last night?
Do you remember anything?
Anything at all?
Try to remember.
Haruhiko-kun...
Hey, Haruhiko...
Sorry.
It's okay.
We'll get you back to normal.
Please don't treat me like a child.
Oh, come on!
Right now, you are a child!
Well, yeah, but still!
You're kind of cute.
You were like this when you woke up, right?
I guess it's better than waking up as a monstrous insect...
A monstrous insect?
From Kafka's "The Metamorphosis."
You're in high school, and you've never read it?
I haven't.
So he's always been a nerd.
Then he reverted to a child in his sleep?
I wonder if it's a Phantom's doing.
In any case, we should all go check out his place after school.
For now, I want you to go to your usual class.
You might find a way to return to normal.
Okay, understood.
Thank you for all your help.
Ew...
You were a teacher's pet.
You should be more polite, Onee-san.
Shut up, stupid! Shut up!
My name is Ichijo Haruhiko.
I look forward to studying with you.
When Ichijo-kun woke up, he was apparently a child.
I'm told I used to be in high school...
Anyway, nice to meet you!
Ichijo Haruhiko
I did it.
He's so cute!
Are you actually Haruhiko?
Please teach me things, ladies.
He's so polite!
Lucky you...
You're totally in your prime.
I don't sense any Phantoms.
Maybe it goes away during the day and returns at night...
Then we can't leave Haruhiko-kun by himself.
Oh, don't worry about me.
I'm used to being alone.
But...
You're right.
We'll have to leave him with someone.
Reina, your place is big, right?
My family's...
Oh, right.
What about you, Kurumi-chan?
Then, I'll do it!
Don't worry, I've got this!
Let's think this through.
No, Ruru-chan...
No way, no way.
Fine!
I'd rather deal with it than leave it to Ruru.
Haruhiko?
Want to come over?
I don't mind coming over, if that's what you want.
You're so snotty!
All right.
Since we don't know when you'll be back to normal, we'll have to do some shopping.
Anything is fine.
That's a little childish.
You are a child!
Um, I've got clothes and a toothbrush, and now...
Oh, I need a pastime for the evenings.
There.
There—
Buy one!
Just buy one!
There.
Now, ketchup...
What do you think you're doing?
It's yummy.
I didn't give you permission!
Heave-ho, heave-ho...
For someone so young, you seem geriatric.
Say what?
What did you just say?!
It's so small in here...
And it's really messy.
I've heard that women who can't clean make poor life choices.
Maybe I should have just stayed at your place instead!
There.
I'm beat...
Um...
What?
Would you write "love" or something with the ketchup?
Are you crazy? You're just a kid!
You totally are Haruhiko!
Since then, my life was spent alongside Haruhiko.
I studied, worked, and hunted Phantoms.
Ow!
Ow...
Are you all right?
I'm not all right!
Neural Error Corrections Room
You look really tired, Mai-oneesama.
You have bags under your eyes. I can't bear to watch.
Bear?
Not that kind of bear.
I'm exhausted and in big trouble financially...
Couldn't you take care of him, Sensei?
I'm often at Alayashiki at night.
Mai-oneesan's going to fall sick if he doesn't return to normal soon.
If we stimulate him with something he likes, I wonder if we could get him back to normal.
Biggest Boobs of the Century! Busty Idol Yurirun Photo Set
Take a good look!
Stop it!
That didn't work...
Mai-oneesama?
We'll work hard to figure out the cause for your sake as well!
Reina...
Thanks.
I owe you.
More, Mom!
All right.
Wow!
Now,
we should get some sleep.
I have work tomorrow.
I'll work, too.
Come on...
Who would hire an elementary school kid?
Right, come with me. Let's brush our teeth.
Are you brushing properly?
I am.
It's on your face.
There.
I'm turning the lights out.
Okay.
What's wrong? You're being awfully obedient.
Goodnight.
Are you afraid of thunder?
I-It isn't that I'm scared...
If you're scared, you can scream.
Like, "Aiee!" or "Ah!"
You've always endured everything all by yourself, haven't you?
How can you tell?
Because I'm alone as well.
I can kind of tell.
You too?
Yeah.
It's a long story.
Just like me.
Dad travels around the world for work.
Mom... She left.
I see.
Onee-chan, what's your mom like?
She kept to herself, and she was really kind.
I admired her.
Maybe that's why I thought I was like that when I was little, too.
I'll be done with work at noon tomorrow.
Let's go play afterward!
But...
Aren't we going to try to figure out how to get me back to normal with the others?
Don't worry.
I'll talk to them!
We'll play so much, you'll fall asleep at the park!
Onee-chan, that tickles...
Take that and that and that!
Well?
Want to play with me?
Okay.
That's more like it!
Not bad.
Go!
Onee-chan!
Coming!
Huh?
Onee-chan?
Sorry.
Let's have some fun.
What's wrong?
I want to stay at your place.
Haruhiko...
How dare you dirty the sandbox?!
A Sandman Phantom!
Pugh, it stinks!
Stay back, Haruhiko.
Stinky pee. Stinky pee...
Stinky, stinky pee!
Wood parts earth.
Of the five elements, I call on the power of—
The power of...
Onee-chan!
Cat pee is nasty as hell!
Onee-chan!
Run...
No!
Now!
No!
Stop!
Don't bully Onee-chan!
No...
No.
I want to help Mai-oneechan.
I...
I—
If only I weren't a kid!
Ow, ow...
My underwear's so tight.
Why am I practically naked?
What the...
Mai-senpai?
A Phantom.
You...
What have you done to Mai-senpai?!
In Hell or life, glory be to the Lord.
Open, open... Open, gates of Hell.
Invoke, Cthulhu!
But it was so stinky!
Mai-senpai!
Haruhiko...
Why aren't you wearing anything?
No, it's not what you think!
I didn't mean anything...
Are you done changing, Haruhiko?
I'm coming in.
Okay.
Sorry, it looks like I've caused a lot of trouble.
Seriously, you were a huge pain.
Here.
Phantom Friends Sketchbook
I bought this for you at the supermarket while you were a kid.
Wow, this is the kind of stuff I was reading?
You looked a bit upset when I picked it out for you, though.
Are you serious?
I really can't remember any of it.
Oh.
You don't remember, huh?
Then there's no way we can learn how you ended up a kid.
Could it be...
What?
Oh, I thought maybe it's because I read this...
Haruhiko, everyone's here!
Okay.
Mai-senpai, I'll see you there.
Sure.
"What Happened on Sunday."
"Class 1-A, Ichijo Haruhiko."
"Today, I played with Mom and Dad at the park.
I went on the see-saw and swings, and I went down the slides.
It was very fun."
He made this all up, didn't he?
Haruhiko became a kid because he wanted his fake essay to be true.
His abilities reacted to his mind, like what happened with Kurumi-chan.
Senpai, you're keeping everyone waiting!
Okay.
Phantom Friends Sketchbook
Why did you go back to normal, Haruhiko-oniisan?
Right?
He was cuter as a kid.
He was.
What a shame.
Not you too, Reina-chan!
Shouldn't you be glad I'm back to normal?
We lied.
That was just a joke.
Jeez, don't do that.
You can say that again.