Kazu-nii, it's morning.
Kazu-nii. Come on, Kazu-nii.
If you don't get up, you'll be late for school.
Just five more minutes. No, five more days.
That's way too much, Kazu-nii.
I'm still tired. I'm not getting up.
Fine, then.
If you don't get up, I'll start burning
the books in your room in alphabetical order.
Why would you say that, you idiot?!
You're so mean, Kazu-nii.
You're the one who told me to say that when you won't get up.
Oh, that's right.
What are you doing?
Flirting with another girl after we talked about having children...
Natsuno-san.
What?!
It's time for your punishment!
It was a dream...
I can't believe I'm dreaming about her...
She's a woman to be feared.
I wonder how Madoka's doing.
D
Do
Dog
Dog &
Dog & Scissors
Chapter Three
The Winter Dog Flies into the Fire
Who are you?
Hello?
Not that she can hear me.
She's not moving a muscle.
Surely she's not dead...
What?
Is she laughing?
Is it you?
What?
Is it you?!
Does that mean...
Is it you?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Did you think I wouldn't notice?
I'm not sure anyone would, generally speaking.
You cannot escape from me.
I was rather hoping I could escape, but if you can understand me,
that's a different story.
I've been looking for you.
Okay, but we've never met before.
I didn't expect to find you here.
What?
But now that I have come this far, I cannot turn back.
Isn't that right, Zerugenomu-sama.
Even you, the most malevolent of gods, are a caged bird now.
But don't worry! I will take over governing the spirit world!
I, emperor of the demons, Ngangu!
Emperor of Demons
Ngangu
Yup, I get it now.
Episode 1
Return of the Demon Clan?!
You don't understand what I'm saying.
Ngangu-sama has started fighting.
Is her opponent Zerugenomu-sama?
Who is Zerugenomu-sama, anyway?
This is dangerous.
If Natsuno were to appear now, it would rain blood...
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Yes, there's Natsuno-san.
You're in big trouble, Ngangu-sama.
More demonic than a demon, more evil than a evil, she's an evil human.
You're doomed.
Come down from there immediately.
Hello, Sensei. That was quick.
Hiiragi Suzuna
"Shorinsha, literature department, second literary section, Hiiragi Suzuna."
I was cleaning another room while you were reading my manuscript.
Isn't Shorinsha the "Deadly Sins Series" publisher?
I apologize for taking your time.
What?
THIS person is Akiyama Shinobu's editor?!
It had been about an hour, so I came to check on you.
It was a wonderful work.
Oh, man. Is this a meeting between an author and an editor?
I knew you could do it, Sensei. It's fantastic.
I've never seen one of these before.
I don't care what you think.
How is it?
Yes. It's terrible.
What?!
I told you, I'm out of sorts.
Yes, I understand very well now.
I can't believe you're in a slump.
What? A slump?!
You're kidding! You've been writing so much every day!
You exaggerate.
Simply put, no matter how much I write, I'm not satisfied.
Why don't you try a change of pace?
A change of pace?
You could try going on a trip,
or getting a new hair style,
or take up gardening.
That's too much work.
Why don't you get breast enlargement surgery?
With that chest, people will think you're a man.
Whoa, hey!
Do you want to die? Plus, you're huge, aren't you?
If I could, I would share my breasts with you.
You've leapt into the epicenter!
Never, huge-tits!
Hey, come on!
You shouldn't use your scissors against a real live human.
Th-Thank you!
What?!
See?
Your scissors are always so sharp, Sensei.
They make me feel like I'm alive.
You're the only one who enjoys being cut.
You, and my dog.
I don't enjoy it!
Oh, yes, how awful of you.
I can't believe you got a dog without telling me.
Why do I need your permission?
You already have a dog,
and you're cheating on me with another dog.
Don't call yourself a dog.
I'm sure he's been enjoying being cut by you very much.
I told you, I don't enjoy it at all!
I understand.
I could never make such beautiful cuts myself.
You've done this to yourself?
You love to fantasize, AND you're a huge masochist.
I wish you would cut me at least once a week.
I hope you'll cut me again next week.
What is this place, a salon?
What's her deal, anyway? I can't correct her fast enough!
Well, you have plenty of time in your schedule,
so take your time and write.
I'll do my best.
A slump, huh? Now that I think of it...
I feel like I can write my new book now.
After that you started writing "Lust,"
but then you stopped writing for a while...
Maybe you write better when there are incidents.
In that case, shall we raise the curtain on a pet murder case?
Every day of my life is a sudden injury case.
Everyday is an incident.
Well, I'm leaving for today.
Oh, right.
Apparently, there has been talk of a slasher in the area recently.
A slasher?
Terrifying, isn't it? Please be careful, Sensei.
You're right. I'll try to be careful.
The scissors girl next to me is far more terrifying.
Successive Slasher Incidents in Katsuragawa-ku Shin-Inaba
By the way, how long have you been in a slump?
Since the middle of August, I think.
For three months now, huh? That's pretty long.
The middle of August?
That's when I...
I see.
What?
You arrived here in the middle of August, which means...
This pattern...
I found the reason for my slump.
Yes, it can be interpreted that way.
However, in that case, the slump may have its own reasons for...
S-Slumps have rights, too.
You still can't write?
She's back.
No, I can't write. Abuse me all you'd like.
No, abuse me. Abuse me.
How can you discuss this with straight faces?
Why don't you read some magazines for a change of pace?
By the way, the slasher I mentioned the other day
got an article in our magazine.
People are talking about it.
A high school girl, OL, and salaryman have been attacked.
What's this? "All the victims were stabbed
You really must be careful, Sensei.
with a sharp object while walking around at night..."
Why don't you use yourself as bait and draw out the slasher?
You'll be injured,
and if you capture the culprit, I'll reward you with abuse.
How appealing! Let's do it!
You're doing it?
I will not let anyone else become the next victim!
See you later!
Don't worry about coming back.
Are you worried about her?
With another dangerous incident occurring in this city, yes.
Fine. I'll ask my sister about it.
Yeah, thanks.
Anyway, let's go look for the slasher ourselves!
That was sudden. Did you talk to your sister?
She wouldn't tell me anything.
She persistently told me, "You absolutely mustn't do anything!"
"Absolutely not!" and tried to stop me.
Well, that much is obvious.
But if she insisted I not do it, it must mean she wants me to, right?
No. Why are you thinking like some young comedian?
Let's begin our investigation immediately!
You ignored me!
Shin-Inaba Station
Puppy.
Hey, Yayoi!
What's your dog's name?
Mutt, mongrel, dog.
Mutt
Mongrel
Dog
Those aren't names.
You can call him whatever you want, then.
All right!
What do you want to call him?
You can pick whatever name you like.
Kuro, then. Kuro, because he's black.
Let go of me.
You were asking about the victims of the slasher, right?
Yes, have you heard anything?
Well, it's just a rumor, but I heard there was
a girl who chased off the suspect with a book she had.
Natsuno help me! Natsuno!
A book?
Akiyama Shinobu's book, apparently.
It was so thick you could use it as a weapon.
My customers told me the OL who was
assaulted next was attacked just after
buying an Akiyama Shinobu book from us.
Did I sell a book that late at night?
I don't remember.
My customers' memories are more reliable than mine.
Ah, not there...
Dad, try to believe in yourself a little more, okay?
What was that for?
How dare you try to make a girl as young as her,
you horny dog!
Horny Dog
You didn't even try to help.
I don't need your excuses.
I'll listen to what your body has to say later.
I'm late, I'm late.
Ouch...
There's plenty I could say about this.
A salaryman?
My colleague was attacked by the slasher.
He was assaulted on his way home from reading in a café.
Do you know what he was reading?
I think it may have been an Akiyama Shinobu book.
Akiyama Shinobu again.
What? A slasher?
They stab people with a knife?
You mean...
I'm sorry!
Fight back! Beat her, Afro!
My muscles are rippling again today.
Your muscles are rippling again today.
Those voices...
Natsuno-kun, dog.
Munakata Wanriki!
Let's go.
Oh? What are you running for?
Come here.
I'll give you some special vanilla flavored protein.
Shining!
I knew it. It's that white girl.
I shine brighter than a sun shining down on three thousand worlds!
Yes, everything is as you say, Maxi-sama.
Hey, Natsuno. Don't you know her?
Oh, was there someone there?
Shining!
I shine brighter than the sun!
Yes, everything is as you say, Maxi-sama.
Yeah, this pointlessly shining girl.
Oh, was there someone there?
You're seriously ignoring her?
No one can ignore me!
After all...
I shine brighter than the sun that shines down on
all things in this world!
Yes, everything is as you say, Maxi-sama.
Maxi-sama? Maxi-sama is...
Akizuki Maxi!
What?
Shining Beauty: Akizuki Maxi
Shining Beauty: Akizuki Maxi.
Known for her book "Color-age."
She began working as an idol around the time of her literary debut.
Akizuki Maxi-sensei Corner
Popular among young readers, she's a charismatic idol author.
Earth-Shattering
An earth-shattering raging storm,
Raging Storm
The Black Knife that Cuts Through the Literary World Akiyama Shinobu
the black knife that cuts through the literary world: Akiyama Shinobu.
Internationally Recognized Artist
An internationally recognized artist,
The Opposite Side of the Abyss
Himehagi Momiji
the young master on the opposite side of the abyss: Himehagi Momiji.
Along with these two, the three of them are known
as the three young bestselling authors of this age.
But what is Akizuki Maxi doing?
She's been following me lately.
I don't know how she learned my true identity.
An idol and popular author.
She's sure to have a lot of influence.
I was curious to see how brilliantly
an author compared to me would shine,
but she's amazingly black.
You will see I am so full of light,
the two of us are not even comparable.
Um...
Let's go.
Oh, okay.
Are you running away?
I don't have time for you.
You're actually scared of me, aren't you?
What?
I know. Oh, I know.
You want to avert your eyes because I'm so bright.
However, you cannot escape from my brilliance!
N-Not that pose!
What do you think you're doing?
Do you like this?
I call this pose "The Have and the Have-Not."
It makes my upper body shine particularly brightly!
Really? Interesting.
She's feeling dangerous.
I'll take off all your golden hair and
make your bald head shine even brighter than before.
Shining!
I'll polish your breasts and make you even flatter.
Um, Natsuno-san? What about the slasher?
Let's go, white one!
Let's go, black one!
That's enough.
Let go of me, Daimon!
I told you not to run off in the middle of a job.
No! Let me go!
I'm still shining!
Yes, everything is as you say, Maxi-sama.
She writes good books, though.
Let's go over the facts.
Your book is related to all three slasher incidents.
It's an interesting development.
What could it mean?
Dark clothes are difficult to see at night.
A sharp object on your thigh.
Akiyama Shinobu.
You're the culprit.
I'll kill you here and now.
Wh-What's going on?
What is this?
Afro! Hey.
It's all right. Only his hair was cut.
What? His hair?
This seems to be the fourth slasher incident.
There!
Natsuno! Hey!
What's gotten into you?
My precious afro... Gomez-san's afro...
Gomez-san?
Oh, man. This is so much fun.
Now isn't the time for this.
If he was attacked by the slasher,
Afro must have one of Akiyama Shinobu's books...
I'm curious. What am I sensing?
"Sloth!"
Do Akiyama Shinobu's books really have something to do with this?
Perfect.
I'll read this until Natsuno comes back.
Hey, Kazu-nii.
I finally finished reading Akiyama Shinobu's "Deadly Sins" series.
What? That's great news.
S-So, what did you think?
Um, yeah. They were interesting.
I see, I see.
You finally understand the greatness of Akiyama Shinobu.
We'll celebrate tonight.
It took you long enough.
I'm not like you.
I can't breeze through thick books like these.
They're practically lunch boxes.
You idiot, that's what's so great about them.
So, what did you like about them?
What?
Which volume? Which chapter?
Which page did you like?
Kazu-nii, you're so close. Your breathing is scaring me.
Huh? Oh, sorry.
Nothing's more wonderful than
discussing Akiyama Shinobu with a sibling.
I got excited.
You really do like Akiyama Shinobu.
I don't recognize this ceiling.
No, I do.
It's Sumiya Hall! And...
What is this?!
Good morning.
I finally found you.
Kazu-nii.
Madoka, is that you?
Episode Preview
With these kinds of elders, it's hard to respect them.
I don't need your respect or polite words.
If you could just call me a pig when you speak to me...
Drowning Men Clutch at Dogs
I'll never call you that, you pig.
Chapter Four
Yes!