A Phantom is an illusion.
But what, exactly, differentiates illusion from reality?
For example, according to Kant's Critique of Pure Reason,
humans perceive the world through a framework of recognition called "categories."
Biologically speaking,
humans create a model of the world via the brain's functions.
Put bluntly, what we call "reality" is a mere illusion created by our brains.
Ever since a virus incident over a decade ago,
the human brain has undergone a drastic change.
Monsters, youkai, and other beings that were considered fictitious
have become visible to everyone.
That is what we call a Phantom.
I'm a Phantom, too! I am!
Phantoms causing trouble must be sealed.
However, they often need only be driven off.
Also, sealing a Phantom doesn't mean it is destroyed.
Under certain circumstances, they can reappear.
So what are Phantoms, anyway?
They aren't very well understood.
Have Phantoms always existed, independent of humans?
Or were they created by human consciousness or the subconscious?
That's not clear, either.
Then we're totally clueless!
However, phenomena in the past could be attributed to Phantoms.
For example, the subject of today's episode.
It's a UFO!
An Unidentified Flying Object.
Maybe what we called "UFOs" and "aliens" were, in fact, Phantoms of old.
This one looks like you.
Rude!
After we sealed the utility pole Phantoms,
Izumi Reina-san officially joined me and Mai-senpai on our team.
Now that we're a bigger team, things are looking up for us.
You'd better step it up, Haruhiko.
Or else Mai-cchi is going to fire you.
Shut up.
I bought a new sketchbook, see?
I have a special ability that lets me summon and seal Phantoms by drawing them.
But now that Izumi Reina-san, a Phantom Eater, has joined our team,
we're better off with her handling the sealing.
Which means that, from now on, my sealing abilities won't be needed.
In order to make myself more valuable, I should improve my summoning skills.
Better learn your new trick soon.
It's not a trick, it's a special ability!
Ichijo-kun. Ruru-chan.
Reina-chan! Morning!
Morning.
Starting today, we'll be in the same club.
Yes. I look forward to it.
You two are pretty close, huh?
You're always together.
By the way, my full name is
Rururaruri Rurararirararururirirari Rirararururararururararirari.
Rurarara...
Nope.
Rururaruri—
Don't bother taking her seriously!
She follows me around for no reason.
Apparently, she's become fond of me.
Haruhiko and Mai-cchi are both so much fun to tease.
Minase-san, morning.
We met in the hallway yesterday.
I'm in the first year, too. I'm Ichijo Haruhiko.
I'm Izumi Reina.
Rururaruri—
Minase Koito-san?
Yes.
She has a particularly proficient power, even among the special ability users.
So she spends most of her time working on her own.
She's even a candidate for the Phantom Control Agency.
That sounds amazing!
I tried inviting her to our club, but she turned me down.
It seems she hasn't gotten used to school yet.
I know how she feels.
Everybody feels anxious right after transferring schools.
Haruhiko, don't tell me you're going to ask Koito-chan to join our team, too!
No, I hadn't considered it.
Do you have a crush on her?
Is that why you can't stop thinking about her?!
That isn't on my mind, either.
You have me... Why?
So that's the kind of relationship you two have?
You're misunderstanding.
Preparation Room
An abandoned factory owned by Alayashiki?
Yes...
An old security robot has become a Phantom and is causing trouble.
We have a request to take care of it, since it could be dangerous.
Isn't Alayashiki the company that caused the viral outbreak?
Yes.
But the factory you're going to isn't the one where it all happened.
Actually, Minase Koito-san is already headed to the scene, by agency request.
Then wouldn't we only be getting in her way?
About that...
Apparently, Minase-san has had a powerful ability since she was little.
Because of that, people have always treated her differently.
But personally, I would like her to fit in at school as soon as possible.
I want her to learn to work with others.
That is why I want you to assist her.
Intruder detected.
Break, break, break, break into the tune of creation.
Tune, tune, tune, tune, control the key.
Break, break, break, break into the tune of creation.
Tune, tune, tune, tune, tunnel the flames.
My voice disappeared.
Switching to elimination mode.
Minase-san, this way.
Why are you guys here?
Himeno-sensei asked us to come.
To assist you.
I never asked for that.
You guys are up against me.
Additional intruder detected.
Beginning elimination.
Lots of Phantoms!
They're multipliers.
We have to get rid of the main body, or they'll keep multiplying.
Break, break, break, break into the tune of creation.
Tune, tune, tune, tune, tunnel the flames.
Not again.
Why is her voice...
Haruhiko!
Time for your useless trivia.
It's not useless trivia!
That phantom must be using antiphase sound waves.
I have no idea what that is.
When you want to erase a sound,
you can emit an inverse phase signal to cancel it out.
Noise-canceling earphones are an application of this principle.
That robot Phantom is emitting an antiphase sound against Minase-san's voice.
That's how it's dampening her Parole's effect.
Parole?
I see.
It figured it out when I destroyed the smaller ones.
Mai-senpai, destroy the speaker on the main unit!
Got it.
Koito-chan, now's your chance.
Since when are you in charge?
Break, break, break, break into the tune of creation.
Tune, tune, tune, tune, control the key.
She's fast!
You've got it from here, Reina-chan.
Right.
You aren't in charge!
Its attribute is definitely metal.
Of the five elements, the power of fire melts metal.
I summon the fire phase from my heart to my fists.
Let us do battle, one against a thousand!
Senpai, I'm done drawing.
Get back.
Thrashing Phantom, reveal your secrets to the Book of Thoth!
My directive is to protect Alayashiki's secrets.
That was amazing.
Just now, you were totally using me as a shield.
What do you mean?
Don't play dumb!
Ichijo-kun, what were those Phantoms?
Were they tsukumogami again?
I think so.
But they multiplied and evolved by themselves.
I think they're a different kind than the utility poles last time.
There's still a lot that we don't know about Phantoms.
Anything is possible.
Anything goes, huh?
Phantoms are kinda random, huh?
You're a Phantom, too!
I haven't introduced myself.
I'm Kawakami Mai. Nice to meet you.
You're pretty good.
Both you and her over there.
I-I'm Izumi Reina.
We can split the rewards evenly.
I don't think I owe you.
Nothing to say about me?
She's amazing, though.
She stopped a lot of Phantoms at once.
I'm covered in dirt again.
My laundry bills are starting to add up.
What should I do?
If I go home like this, I'll get in trouble.
Come to my place.
I'll lend you some of Mom's clothes.
Thanks for letting me use your shower.
Are your parents out?
Something like that.
This place is filled with books.
Is this the source of your useless trivia?
Please don't call it useless trivia.
And you have a ton of otaku merchandise...
What are you doing, Ruru?
What's that?
A game console?
I picked it up at that factory earlier.
You sure it's a good idea to steal stuff like that?
Who cares?
That factory was abandoned.
The light is on.
I wonder if it still works.
Maybe it's a PC device...
I guess it's not a game console.
Is it some kind of secret code?
Maybe it's just an error code.
Where's the reset button?
You broke it!
No, I just touched it!
But the light went out.
Crap... Maybe I just need to recharge it.
More, please.
Why don't you take some responsibility?
We'll be leaving now.
Thanks for everything.
You're a life saver.
Come visit whenever you want.
See you tomorrow.
Neural Error Corrections Room
So you never got that machine working again, huh?
Nope.
But I'll try a few more things.
I figure I should fix it first, even if I'm giving it back to Alayashiki.
What have you been drawing, Haruhiko?
It's a demon called Marchosias.
I figured I should improve my skills.
That looks kind of scary.
I want to reach the point where I can summon Phantoms to help me.
I do have summoning abilities.
You have me to help you out!
You're useless.
That might be a good idea.
After all, your sealing ability is no match for Reina-chan's.
I have a new Parole in mind, too.
Now I just have to finish the drawing.
Excuse me, but what's this "Parole" that you two are always talking about?
It's a kind of spell for when we use our special abilities.
Remember how Mai-senpai and I chant?
Like, "Reveal your secrets to the Book of Thoth."
Or "Of the five elements..."
Minase-san had something, too...
Something about the "tune of creation."
Paroles help make our special abilities easier to use.
I don't think too many people use their abilities without a Parole the way you do.
Oh, really?
"Parole" is actually a concept set forth by a linguist named Saussure.
Simply put, it refers to chatter.
According to Saussure, humans catalog the world using words.
Mountain Cloud Sky Tree Tree Grass Cow Grass Grass Cow Grass
The categories we can recognize are defined by linguistic frameworks.
Wittgenstein also applied linguistic concepts to philosophy, but Saussure—
Okay, that's enough useless trivia.
My...
Are you the only ones here?
Ah, yes.
The other teams are all out.
Do we have more work?
Yes.
A request from a nearby girls' college dorm.
A girls' college dorm?
Creeper.
It peeps?
Yeah.
There's a UFO that watches us through the window when we're getting changed.
It even takes pictures.
A peeping Phantom, huh?
We have to get going.
Can you take care of it?
Thank you.
This is a crazy room...
I don't care, so long as we get paid.
About the payment...
Can we request things other than goods or items?
I think it depends on what you ask for.
What do you want?
I...
I want
to go to an
a-all-you-can-eat buffet!
My parents are a little strict.
They won't let me. They say it'd be disgraceful.
An all-you-can-eat? Disgraceful?
I'll never understand rich people.
Hey, is the Phantom here yet?
Perhaps it will not appear until we change.
You might be right...
What?
What do you mean, "What"?!
Don't come in until the UFO arrives!
Jeez...
I guess I should get ready.
Jachin and Boaz.
It's here!
You damn peeper!
Mai-senpai!
Are you all right?
Not yet, Dummyhiko!
No pictures!
This way!
Over there!
Freeze!
Get over here!
Ichijo-kun, I think we need your assistance.
How dare you?
Why?!
I'm sorry... I lost control.
Don't worry, I'm fine.
Haruhiko, you're bleeding.
It's my fault!
But this is convenient.
Demon summonings require human blood.
Admonition then, admonition now, admonition henceforth.
Let the Lord admonish you.
Open, Open... Open, gates of Hell.
Return to life, vile demon of the damned.
Invoke, Marchosias!
It worked!
My Phantom summon!
No way!
Oh, my god! So cute!
Is this Marchosias?
How could this happen?
Hey!
It answered your call, so make it do something!
Hey, Marchosias... Go!
Quit taking pictures!
Stop!
No, Marchosias!
Marchosias!
Haruhiko, do something!
Stop, Marchosias!
Nice catch!
Reina-chan!
Right.
Hey, let go...
I said, "Let go."
Well done.
Good boy, Marchosias.
Is your finger okay?
Yeah, it's not bleeding anymore.
No big deal.
I'm sorry.
Wh-What the...
This sensation...
Hey, Izumi-san...
I-I'm sorry, I...
It's healed.
Is this also one of your abilities, Reina-chan?
I... I do not know.
I got so caught up...
Huh?
Koito-chan?
Minase-san, why are you here?
I was a little impressed yesterday, but I guess I was wrong.
What's with her?
She came all the way here just to say that?
There are all kinds of Phantoms.
Oni, utility poles, robots, UFOs...
It may be that this world ceaselessly creates new Phantoms.
I, too, have come up with a new Parole and special ability.
This world, like language, changes by the day.
Term one at Hosea Academy has just begun.
What will become of us in the following days?
Nobody knows.