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Dengeki Bunko
Where the Killer's Mind Changes Kirima Seiichi
Hey, Suema. Do you have any plans today?
Maybe we can walk home together...
Sure. I don't mind.
Hey, can we take another way home?
Why?
Because...
Someone's going to attack you and kill you?
I know I'm not aware of all the details, but you're probably overthinking things.
Think about it, Kyouko. It's not that easy to kill someone.
Identification Card No. **** This card proves that this individual is a student at this school. Grade: Year 2 Name: Yurihara Minako Date of Birth: ****/**/** Shinyou Academy High School
I guess you really are a manticore.
Manticore?
It means "man-eater" in ancient Greek.
I'll help you out, too.
Why are you...
Because I like you.
We're going to recreate this world with us at its center.
Is your hand okay?
So what happened with this Kusatsu Akiko person?
And what's this drug you mentioned?
I can't help you if you just keep crying.
Do you promise not to tell anyone?
Sure.
Kusatsu Akiko from 1-D was my junior in middle school.
You were in the same club?
Yes, and Akiko...
I think it started around midterms, so it's been about three months now...
She's been handing out this weird drug.
She said it'd be fun,
and would make our minds feel lighter, so it'd be a breather from our exams.
Oh... I see.
Eventually, some of my friends ended up running away from home.
They all just disappear without saying a word to anyone.
And then Akiko disappeared, too.
You think this is really weird, right?
N-Not at all! Please, continue.
Things like that do happen...
I see...
So everyone started wondering if it was because of the drug.
Kirima Nagi started showing up around us,
just like she did with me earlier, telling us to forget about that drug.
I can't help but think Kirima Nagi got herself suspended on purpose so she could do that.
I'm sure Kirima Nagi got to Akiko and the others and...
Hey, Suema, are you listening?
Huh? Oh, yeah...
Promise me you won't tell anyone.
I'll forget about this, too.
Faculty Room
Taniguchi
This should be the address...
Taniguchi
Hello, who is—
Ah, so you're one of Nagi's friends. That's rare.
I'll call her. She should be down in a sec, so please make yourself at home.
I'm sorry... Who are you?
He's my little brother, though we're not blood-related.
Let's talk upstairs, Suema-san.
So that's why the nameplate said "Taniguchi."
Yeah, that's because of my mom's current husband.
I'm still using my dad's last name.
Your father?
Aren't you here because you know who he is?
His name is Kirima Seiichi. He's written a ton of books.
What?! No way!
Why's that so unbelievable?
You mean... the author, Kirima Seiichi?
Y-Yeah...
Where the Killer's Mind Changes,
The Screams Within: Multiple Personality Disorder,
When a Man Kills Another,
The Bored Demon,
and VS Imaginator!
That's definitely my dad.
He died when I was ten, though.
So about yesterday, Kirima-san, why did you...
Ah... Why, huh?
Yes.
Why did you save Kyouko?
I'm surprised you could tell that I actually saved her.
Should I just break it off? It'd still take you a while to regenerate, Manticore!
Kirima-san?!
Ow, ow, ow! Stop!
It's not just me. Echoes is also looking for you!
I won't do it again! I won't use the drug again!
You've got some nerve saying that when you killed Kusatsu Akiko!
I don't know what you're talking about! I just got the drugs from her!
Guess you're just a normal human.
Kyouko! Wh-What the heck is wrong with you?!
I'm sure you prefer this over making it a public matter, Kinoshita.
Kyouko told me everything.
You saved those girls from that weird drug, didn't you?
Yeah, I dunno about that.
Also, what are the "Manticore" and "Echoes" that you mentioned to Kyouko?
Do they have something to do with the kids who ran away?
That has nothing to do with you.
I have a messiah complex.
A lot of stuff happened, and I quit being normal.
Besides, someone's gotta do it.
It's not like you can count on the teachers.
Now... I'll walk with you a ways before it gets dark, Suema-san.
This is far enough. Thanks.
Yeah? Well, see you tomorrow at school.
Oh, my suspension's over tomorrow.
I see...
Say, Suema-san...
You shouldn't let your past hold you back for too long.
If you get too obsessed, it'll end up a curse.
Kirima Nagi's back.
Looks like it.
It's fine. I told you, the current situation is in our favor.
Like I thought, she really does seems like your type.
Tea Ceremony Club
Yurihara-san?
You saw...
Since you saw, I can't let you live...
You want to be killed?
Since you're a guy, you'd probably work out better for me than that girl.
I think I'll copy you instead.
Copy?
That's right.
I'm going to take your place and blend in with society
so that no one can find me.
So that's it!
If that's the case, I think you're better off keeping me alive!
Akiko
Are you free this Sunday? Akiko If so, wanna go to a movie?
(Interlude)
Yay!
You should sing next, Saotome-kun.
Sure. Here's your drink.
Thanks!
It's killing me that I can't eat her right away.
You need to be patient for now.
I've given you power.
Use that power to offer me humans.
Listen well. You're going to willingly bring about your own destruction.
Huh? I...
You okay?
Café Tristan
The modification went well, right?
Yeah! Your powers are amazing.
Now that girl's going to get the people around her to inhale some drug
that she doesn't even know how she's getting.
A drug that she's subconsciously synthesizing from her brain cells.
Yeah, no one's going to be surprised if some loser who's started
doing drugs suddenly disappears.
You're such a genius, Saotome-kun!
Sorry about that.
Sorry about that!
Are you afraid of the people from the facility?
Yes... Considering what they're capable of doing...
I'm sure they have a few people looking for me.
Don't worry. If this slave plan works, we'll have something to fight with.
Then you'll be able to counterattack.
You mean we'll be able to erase those guys who're trying to erase me
because I'm a failed creation, right?
Of course!
That's amazing!
You're not a failed creation. You're going to be the ruler of the new world.
Saotome-kun, you're my prince.
Hey... Wanna make more slaves?
Yeah. Just a few more.
Eventually, we'll need all the help we can get.
Why? Why aren't you waking up?!
Don't worry. Just eat her to get rid of her.
I'm sorry... I'll do better next time.
There's no need to hurry. We still have plenty of opportunities.
Kusatsu Akiko?
Yeah. You two are in the same class, aren't you?
Were you guys close?
Well...
We went on a date once... But it was just once.
Did anything about her seem weird?
No, not really...
Um, did something happen to Kusatsu?
If there's anything I can do to help...
Senpai, those are...
Yeah, don't worry. It's nothing.
Kirima, what are these?
Kirima Nagi... Why is she...
I don't know, but she definitely knows something.
Why, though?! We've been doing so well!
Yeah, you're exactly right.
That's why she hasn't tracked us down yet.
But we should stop doing things on school grounds.
It'll be a pain if people get suspicious.
We're not going to kill Kirima Nagi?
Yeah... Not until we find out exactly how much she knows.
Let's kill her!
Don't worry! I won't leave any evidence!
Besides, she's a weirdo, so even if she disappears—
Don't you know? Her current parents are extremely wealthy,
so if she goes missing, she won't be written off as a runaway delinquent.
Is that really the only reason?
Huh?
Are you sure it's not because you like her?
Why would you think that?
Am I wrong? I'm right, aren't I?
Echoes? Are you here?
No... Not Echoes... He's... He's...
What's wrong? What's this Echoes thing?
My original... He evolved too much...
Echoes...
I wonder which ones the humans are...
You're trying to find something, aren't you?
Then you should probably save your crying for after you've found it.
Hey, you're hurt!
What happened?
What's your name? Where do you live?
Well, this isn't getting anywhere. I guess I'll have to get the police—
I see. I guess you have your reasons... Sorry.
Don't worry. One of my friends is a weird one.
I'm sure she'll help us.
As long as you're not a bad guy.
What? You're sheltering some guy?
Shh! Not so loud!
Don't worry, there's no one here.
What about that first-year, Tanaka?
Oh, no. This isn't like that.
Hey, if I told you that he came from space, would you believe me?
Well, I guess. Since you're the one telling me.
So why'd he come here all the way from outer space?
To test humanity. Apparently there's a vast will like that in space.
This all sounds intense. Not that I really get it.
Apparently he was supposed to conduct his investigation
by blending into society as one of us,
but I guess he accidentally evolved too much.
Then he got captured by the government or some organization
that wanted to take advantage of his powers...
They gave him the name Echoes and even made a copy of him.
Echoes?
Yeah. He can only repeat what other people say, so he's called Echoes.
For someone who's so evolved, that's pretty unfortunate.
That's not true.
Because Echoes just came to Earth to find out if humans are genuinely kind or not.
He doesn't need to say anything just for someone to be kind to him.
But apparently his clone ended up becoming a terrifying man-eater.
They killed everyone in the lab and ran away.
So this Echoes feels responsible and is trying to track down this clone?
How did you even get all this information, anyway?
Echoes can't talk, right?
I just had this feeling.
It felt like our minds were linked.
So you want me to find this clone?
Okay, where's Echoes right now?
At school. I thought that might actually be the safest spot.
Don't tell anyone, okay?
Well, then, I'll just have to get myself suspended soon.
Thanks, Nagi.
Don't worry, Manticore. Everything's still in our favor.
You disposed of Kamikishiro Naoko's corpse.
There shouldn't be any problems.
Everyone will just think she's another girl who randomly disappeared.
Hey, Nagi, when Echoes goes back home to space,
how do you think he'll present us humans to the rest of the universe?
Do you think he'll say, "Don't worry. They're wonderful creatures"?
As long as you're nice to him, yeah.
Otherwise, we're doomed.
I hope he does.
Naoko disappeared. I can't find her anywhere.
Damn it. Say something, Echoes.