PHIGHTING demons

041326 // the current state of belief in nounuki-sama

most people are skeptical. however, among those whose families have lived in the village for generations and have lost a relative to a mysterious disappearance or unexplained death harbor a sense of awe.

yet, the last reported case of a mysterious disappearance was nearly 50 years ago, involving the daughter of the matsuura family, and many believed that the other unexplained deaths of people who had gone into the mountains were unrelated to nounuki-sama.

very few people knew about the duties of the indou family, and there was no ostracism or social exclusion.

042726

I was in a daze and ended up agreeing to their request. what should I do...?

042026 // people don't believe so easily

wasn't it enough just to show that he was in pieces?

satou: now, look at this

hikaru: woah, everyone's here

050426 // super spicy mapo tofu challenge

hikaru: yum!!

yoshiki: so spicyyy

yoshiki (thinking): why is this guy unfazed..? spiciness is a form of pain, right? even though he said he could feel pain now...

sfx: whoosh

yoshiki: that's cheating!! you're eating it with your true form, aren't you?

hikaru: huh? what's wrong with that? you should do that too lol

yoshiki: like I could!

maki: even for me, this is too much...

asako: the feeling on my tongue-

051826 // hair styling

hikaru: oh!

yuuki: yoshiki, you should try putting on some wax too

yoshiki: it's fine! I don't really...

asako: his hairstyle is always the same, I wonder if he just doesn't care?

hikaru: ah, that's not it! apparently, he gives his mom extremely detailed instructions on how to cut his hair!

yoshiki: please don't cut my bangs anymore

satoko: okay, okay

yoshiki: but it's fine to keep the back of my hair short

060126

yoshiki: he's bigger than I thought...

about hikaru's sense of self

in volume 1, hikaru says, "this is the first time I've had such a clear sense of self," meaning he wasn't without a sense of self bef ore entering hikaru's body. it would be more accurate to say, "he had a sense of self, but it was vague."

since hikaru can't die, there was no need for him to think, and he didn't deeply consider anything he felt. his actions, driven by instinct and reflexes, were like a machine.

now that he entered a human body and learned many things, his sense of self and memories won't disappear even if he leaves that body.

060826

"illegitimates" don't normally cry, no matter how sad they may be, but hikaru naturally acquired this trait while living as a human.

if he were to live as an animal that cries when they're happy, he would learn to do the same.

061526 // hikaru's grandfather in his youth

in his grandfather's time, the villagers' attitude towards the indou family was much harsher than it is now, but even so, he was a fine young man who worked very hard. and he was popular with the ladies. it is said that the villagers' attitude towards the family softened considerably during his generation.

he has two younger siblings who live separately. he was reluctant to take over the shiitake mushroom farm when he was young, but he eventually developed a love for shiitake mushrooms and continued farming.

he diligently performed the ritual just like his ancestors. he believes that the success of his brand of shiitake mushrooms is due to his deep faith and respect for nounuki-sama. he believes that the ritual is absolutely essential for both the family and the village.