Boogiepop and Others
Dengeki Bunko
The customer you are trying to reach is unable to answer right now.
Kamikishiro Naoko Calling...
Apparently the beauty in archery
shows itself when true form and a peaceful heart become one.
Kei, a first-year boy wants to talk to you.
Senpai, you were on gate duty this morning, right?
Yes... I was.
Did you happen to see Kamikishiro-san?
Naoko-san?
Come to think of it, I didn't see her today.
I see...
Maybe she's skipping again.
That's not it!
We might already be too late...
Kamikishiro?
Faculty Room
She's in line to get into her first-choice school, isn't she?
Yes, she didn't have any apparent problems.
But I have heard that she hasn't been home in a few days.
Oh, Sensei. I'll leave these notebooks here.
Apparently Naoko-san hasn't been home much.
There's no one at her house right now.
Her parents are going through an ugly divorce.
I see...
Yeah.
That makes me even more worried.
In that case,
you should ask Kirima Nagi.
Masami? Why are you...
It might be something I know a little about.
So you know what's going on?
She's the one who might know something.
She's been good friends with Kamikishiro-senpai since middle school.
I saw Kirima-san today.
All right, then.
Hey, wait!
Kirima-san should be here somewhere.
You mean she's here, but she hasn't shown up for class?
Yeah, I mean, that's not exactly rare for her.
There's definitely something going on here.
Hey, Masami...
Why do you know so much about Kirima-senpai?
I got rejected by her once.
Really?!
That was a long time ago, though.
Kirima-san wasn't on the roof, either.
Any luck on your end?
I see...
I'm sorry to cause you two so much trouble.
It's fine. I'm just worried about Naoko-san.
Speaking of, what's your relationship with Naoko-san like, Tanaka-kun?
Um...
He's...
apparently dating Kamikishiro-senpai.
What?!
Hey, Masami! That's supposed to be a secret!
President, is there anywhere else on campus that might not draw much attention?
Huh? Well...
Maybe the gym's equipment closet...
How's it look, Masami?
I don't see anyone.
No signs that anyone's been here, either.
How strange...
I've been thinking...
Why don't we call Kirima Nagi over the PA system?
We'd get in trouble!
Besides, there'll be a teacher on duty.
That might be the only option we have left, though...
Well, I guess that's probably also our fastest option...
All right. I'll let the teacher yell at me.
You're the best, President!
Kirima Nagi-san of 2-D,
please report to the broadcast room immediately.
We'd like to speak with you regarding Kamikishiro Naoko-san.
Kirima Nagi-san, we'd like to speak with you about Kamikishiro Naoko-san.
Please report to the broadcast room immediately.
Echoes, do you sense Manticore at all?
Why? Because this is a trap?
That's even more reason to go, then.
If we don't fall for it, she's gonna run.
Then we won't be able to chase her anymore.
Which are they?
She's not coming.
The teacher didn't show up, either.
I wonder what happened.
Maybe Kirima-san's not on school grounds anymore.
No, she's definitely here. I'm sure of it.
Let's try another broadcast.
The power's out?
Tch. Must be the breakers.
Kirima-san! What's the meaning of this?!
That's nothing you need to know.
Kirima-san...
She's not one of them, Echoes?
She's not...
Who's that?
It also doesn't seem like they've been modified in any way.
Okay... Sorry about this.
You guys are clean.
You can go home now.
Hey, I don't get what's going on here!
Who is this guy?
He doesn't go to our school, does he?!
Niitoki-san.
I can guess about the other two, but what are you doing here?
That's my line! What in the world is going on?!
Y-Yeah! We're just looking for Kamikishiro-san!
I'm worried about Naoko, too.
That's why I'm asking you to explain what's—
Th-Thanks...
I'd like you to keep quiet about seeing us here.
For your own sakes, as well.
What?!
After you did all this to us? Yeah, right!
Is Kamikishiro-san okay?
I'm an acquaintance of Naoko-san's!
If you know something, tell us!
We can help, too!
No, you can't.
Why not?!
This isn't normal.
Someone eccentric like me has to take care of it.
So normal's not good enough again?
You're normal, right?
Getting involved with someone like me will bring you trouble.
Sorry.
Shirou-kun, right?
You should probably just forget about Naoko.
Why?!
Hey, what's your problem, anyway?!
I don't know what your deal is, but quit acting like you're dealing with this all alone!
Chill out, Niitoki-san.
But...
What can we do?
Kirima-san must have her own reasons.
Right, Kirima-san?
I understand.
Yes...
We just can't be satisfied with normal people...
What are you talking about?
I'm just thinking
about how I'm actually glad you ended up rejecting me.
I mean, if I'd ended up with you,
I would've been her enemy if I'd met her.
Again, what do you mean by that?
I'm saying...
For me, you're the one on the normal side now.
And now... you're our enemy.
Mantico—
After him!
You can actually defeat him now!
I was actually hoping to get killed myself...
But this was pretty pleasurable in its own way.
Being the killer myself...
I think I could get used to it.
Which are you?
You're not getting away!
Very nice, Niitoki-san.
I love your eyes.
I love powerful, strong-willed eyes like yours.
Who are you people?
Yurihara Minako...
What was that thing?!
The real Yurihara is already dead.
Huh?
She's Manticore now.
Manticore?
A man-eater.
Huh?
Then... all of the people who've disappeared recently...
Yeah, most of them.
I see. That's why Kirima-san was searching for you two this whole time...
She's a fool.
She was helping out Echoes,
but never figured her enemy might have someone helping her as well.
That's enough, Saotome-kun.
I'll take it from here.
You sure?
Are you all right?
There's no point in asking him for help.
He's going to die.
There was poison in that pen
to prevent him from using his regenerative powers.
He sure wasn't much of a threat, despite being your original.
Yes. He's supposed to be stronger.
To be honest, Kirima Nagi caused us more trouble.
That's why I'll be taking her form, right?
She's the perfect disguise.
I'm sure you feel that way as well, Saotome-kun.
Wh-What are you talking about?
Hm?
I'm going to get rid of this body and become Kirima Nagi.
Huh?
Don't worry. You won't officially be dead to society.
You'll be modified and continue to live as a slave.
A slave?
Yes. You'll be a walking corpse.
Your soul will be gone. You won't even feel anything when you see the boy you love.
You two are demons!
De... mons...
I wonder which ones the humans are...
Demons? That's perfectly fine with me.
I was never human to begin with,
and Saotome-kun is nothing like you foolish humans.
Humans are foolish?
He and I might die here,
but there will be others who find you unforgivable, just like me!
No matter where you go, someone will find you!
Humans...
What are you planning?
Still trying to do something?
I shall transform my body into information
and transmit myself back to the source.
What? What just happened?
Echoes...
I'll kill you...
I'll kill every last one of you!
I had no problem severing your arm,
but I guess your head won't be quite so simple.
M-Miyashita-san?
Right now, I'm Boogiepop.
Manticore, was it?
You seem to be stronger than humans,
but I am free to use the dormant strength that humans harbor subconsciously.
Now, Shirou-kun!
If you had the opportunity to shoot through the truth,
do you think you have the resolve to do it?
Are you all right?
Y-Yeah... But...
Do you know them?
I... I do, but...
I'd like you to help me out just a bit more.
Kirima-san!
Echoes shared some of his life with you...
Looks like you've escaped death again.
Manticore said that Echoes was too weak, and this is why.
Hey there, Fire Witch.
You again...
If you were out, you should've shown up sooner.
Come now, don't be like that.
Is it over?
Yes.
Due to the sacrifice that Echoes made and the bravery those two showed.
I see...
I'm guessing that in the end, it'll be like nothing ever happened...
Yeah.
So you think that Naoko-san...
Probably.
Thank you very much.
I'm not sure how to say it,
but I think I'm supposed to thank you in Kamikishiro-san's place.
I wonder who they really were.
Who knows? Although, Naoko did say that Echoes was an angel.
An angel?
He was ordered by God in Heaven to go down to Earth and pass final judgment on
whether humanity should be allowed to live or be destroyed.
To judge whether humans were good or evil.
If that's true... It looks like he let us off the hook this time.
Then the one who saved the world was...
Yeah.
And we can't even thank her now...
I wonder what Boogiepop thinks about this.
Who knows? Why not ask them yourself?
I doubt they remember anything, though.
Don't worry, it's fine.
Oh, are you heading home, Senpai?
Yeah.
Dating is prohibited at school... but I'll let you off the hook this time.
So you're Miyashita Touka.
I'm Kirima Nagi. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you!
The end of the beginning is also the beginning of the end, Boogiepop.