04. Mekakushi Chord I

Mekakushi Chord I (メカクシコードI Mekakushi Kōdo I) is the fourth chapter of the Kagerou Daze manga.

Summary

 * Kido asks Momo why she's so confused and tells her that it's nearing 1 PM; Momo remembers that she was scheduled to meet her manager then and assumes that Kido is part of her TV drama's production staff. Momo explains that she had quit her job, and Kido smiles in understanding and asks Momo to follow her regardless. The two girls enter an apartment complex to unit 107, and, inside its living room, Momo observes the lack of studio equipment. Kido wakes up Kano, who was sleeping on the couch with a magazine over his face, and asks him to explain Momo about who they are. Kano responds in confusion. Apparently, he had mentioned that a "new girl" would be recruited today, and Kido assumed that he had made arrangements for her and Kido to meet. Kido, frustrated, orders him again to explain who they are to Momo.


 * Kano stands up and welcomes Momo to the Mekakushi Dan. He explains that they "evade the eyes of the police and sneak into dangerous places [to] borrow stuff" and that they are currently in the organization's hideout. He introduces Kido as the boss of the Dan and himself. Momo interrupts him and asks for the director of her TV drama. She explains that she had only followed Kido to tell the director that she had decided to quit being an idol. Kido, shocked, questions Kano, and he says that Momo is a super popular idol and points to his magazine, which has a photo of her. Momo dejectedly notes that she was half-asleep during that photoshoot as Kido loudly asks Kano about the information he told her about the "new member" she was supposed to meet. Kano admits that he was just lying as he thought Kido was ignoring him by listening to her music.


 * Momo interrupts them, asking if this was just a misunderstanding. Kido agrees and almost tells Momo that she can leave, but then she realizes that since Kano told her about the Dan's illegal activities, she can't just leave. Kano laughingly says he explained because Kido insisted he did, and Kido, embarrassed, whacks him over the head. Momo, observing their banter, thinks that the two are not really bad people and introduces herself.


 * Kano mentions that he just saw a livestream of the commotion Momo caused earlier in the streets and compliments her power. He says that even for an idol, her ability to attract attention and crowds is abnormal. He explains that she should stay in the hideout for a while to avoid bringing trouble to the Dan and proposes that, in return, they can help her "cure [her] body's tendencies." Momo's confused by his wording, as she does not see her abnormality as a disease nor a physical trait. Kano remarks that this reminds him of when Kido was worrying about her own power, and Kido jabs him in the side for mocking her. Kano smiles through the pain and tells Kido that she should demonstrate her powers to help Momo believe them. Kido asks why he can't show her his power instead.


 * As they jabber, Momo notices a door opening and a young-looking girl peeking at her from the doorway. Kido notices her as well and calls out to Marry, who panics and retreats back into her room while slamming the door shut. Momo asks if she's hated, and Kido explains that Marry's like that with everyone. Kido talks to Marry at the doorway and convinces her to come over and meet Momo. Marry, extremely nervous, doesn't make eye contact and chants reassurances to herself, and Momo tries to make a friendly introduction. Marry stutters her own introduction and loses her balance; Kido tells her to sit down, and so she takes a seat between her and Kano.


 * Kano decides to continue their previous discussion and tells Kido to demonstrate her power. Kido agrees and leaves the living room, shutting the door behind her, and Marry leaves to make some tea. Momo wonders what they're waiting for, and, after a moment, glances over to Kano to ask. She sees Kido sitting by him and, startled by her sudden reappearance, screams. Kano explains that while Kido and Momo have opposite-acting powers: While Momo's power makes people look at her, Kido's makes people look away. She had learned how to control her powers and thus can help suppress Momo's own. Momo, realizing that she can be "cured" of her own power and that she can start living her life as a normal girl, declares that she'll join the "Mekameka Dan" and be a part of its operations in return. Kido smiles and welcomes her to the group.


 * Momo's phone vibrates, and she looks to see a lot of missed calls from her idol agency. At Kido's suggestion, Momo starts drafting a text to her agency about her resignation and her recruitment to the Dan–the explanation sounds nonsensical. Marry returns and immediately trips, spilling her tray of tea all over Momo and sending the mugs crashing to the ground. Momo screams, and Marry apologizes frantically while Kido orders her to get a rag. Momo, in panicked tears, screams that her soaked and now malfunctioning phone is sending her garbled text. Marry returns with a wet rag and apologies but then trips again. The rag lands on Momo's face with a loud splat. Kano and Kido stare in shock as her phone confirms the sending of her text. Momo, still dripping wet, notes Marry's teary face, Kano's stifled laughter, and Kido's troubled expression. Despite the troublesome situation, she realizes that she's having fun for the first time in forever, and smiles widely while promising to do her best for the Mekakushi Dan.


 * Momo changes into a different jacket and begins drying herself off. Her phone is completely broken from the tea; Marry wants to pay her back, but Kido asks how she can if Marry's a NEET. While they argue, Kano pulls up a job ad for Ishiburo Package Delivery. Knowing that Marry's not suited for such a hands-on job, he goads her to apply and suggests that he'd himself call them to schedule an interview for her. Marry's eyes suddenly glow red and Kano freezes with a troubled smile. Kido lightly knocks Kano's head and tells him that he went too far, since they were about to leave. Kido tells a concerned Momo that Marry's "Locking Eyes" ability can turn people into stone. She suggests throwing Kano into the trash and Marry agrees. Kido explains that Marry's ability is only temporary; Kano suddenly regains his movement and teasingly questions why Kido is grabbing him. Kido kicks him and berates him for teasing Marry.


 * Momo asks about Marry's identity, and Kido explains that she is apparently the descendant of a Medusa. Marry's mother could actually turn people into stone, but Marry's power can only temporarily paralyzing people. Momo is in disbelief that Marry isn't human, and Kido asks if she would hate Marry now. Momo denies this and adds that she wants to be her friend. Kido smiles in relief and says that they can learn more about each other later.


 * Once Momo is fully dried off and ready to go, the four of them head out to buy new mugs and a replacement cell phone. Kido tells Momo not to worry about drawing attention to herself. Momo walks down a populated street with Kido and Marry in amazement; Kido says that the lack of attention is normal for her and wonders when Kano, who had separated from the girls, will notice them. Kano, at the side of the street, spots them after a moment of searching and approaches them. Kano explains that Kido's ability does not make them "disappear" but instead makes it almost impossible to notice them despite actually seeing them. Momo wants to try spotting Kido herself, but Kido tells her that she'd just attract crowds again and warns that her own ability has only a two-meter radius. She then scolds Marry, who is tightly clinging onto her in fear of the strangers walking on the street. Momo reflects that since she is part Medusa, Marry must have avoided humans most of her life. Despite the bizarre circumstances, Momo is just happy to be able to find new friends.


 * Momo suddenly notices her older brother, Shintaro, crossing the street ahead of them and stares in disbelief, as he had not stepped outside in two years. Despite her uneasiness, she tells herself that she must have been mistaken, and the Dan members approach the two-building structure from Jinzou Enemy I.

Trivia

 * This chapter was originally published without a numeral.