Mekakucity Talkers 01

Mekakucity Talkers 01 (メカクシティトーカーズ 01 Mekakushiti Tōkāzu 01) is the first volume of Mekakucity Talkers containing the first 12 scenes of the official side-story released originally on the site Pixiv. It was supervised by Jin, illustrated by Asahimachi, with composition assistance by Haruaki Higuchi. It consists of a chat-log of the Mekakushi Dan's conversations.

English Translation
Released on March 9, 2018.
 * -|Scene 1=

''The official spin-off chat story of the media-mix fanchise Kagerou Project has arrived! Mekakushi-dan created a chat group!? The members confront incidents that unfold within their everyday conversations! Let us try to secretly take a peek into the activities of the Mekakushi-dan, which is enveloped in mystery!''

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Kano: The settings are complete~. Everyone~, are you seeing this~? Actually, did I even manage to invite everybody?

Shintaro: Oi~ssu (´ ∀ `)

Kano: Oh? A member that easily gets into the mood has appeared, huh~! Oi~ssu!

Shintaro: Kano-kyun, thanks for inviting me into the chat, nyan. ♡

Kano: …eh? Wait. That icon… you’re Shintaro-kun, right?

Shintaro: Yep. (・`ω・´) *resolute*

Kano: No. Wait. This is hard to grasp. Isn’t that Ene-chan playing a prank?

Shintaro: It’s really me. ( ✌ ’ω’)✌ Mekakushi-dan member number 7, Shintaro~ ☆

Kano: No… hum… I see. I get it… you spend so much time in the internet that you’ve forgotten how to use normal words, right…?

Shintaro: No, I can talk normally.

Kano: You can?!

Shintaro: I thought that fixing myself a character was important here.

Kano: You should have done that from the start!

Shintaro: There are ten of us, right!? If I don’t act enthusiastic, I’ll be outshone!

Kano: You ended up standing out in a bad light and made it hard to interact with you instead!

Shintaro: Don’t get so worked up. More importantly, what happened? You suddenly put us in a chatroom.

Kano: You changed the topic magnificently well, huh.

Shintaro: We can talk anytime, right? And there’s also the guys living in the hideout with you.

Kano: Man~. You don’t understand, do you, Shintaro-kun~? This is something that everyone has been doing nowadays, right? You can send these more easily than e-mails. It’s perfect for having conversations with friends!

Shintaro: Is it?

Kano: Shintaro-kun, you’ve exchanged e-mails with friends before, right?

Shintaro: No. Actually, I don’t even know the e-mail addresses of you guys.

Kano: Eh, huh? Ah~, well, this kind of thing happens too~. S-See, what about phone calls!?

Shintaro: My history only has my mum and Momo.

Kano: What about SNS…?

Shintaro: Eh, you guys use SNS? You haven’t given me your IDs, though.

Kano: No, look. You just have to learn how to use this!

Shintaro: No, you guys give me your SNS.

Kano: Anyway! Let’s have fun chatting here!

Shintaro: Like I said, your SNS…

Kano: I don’t know!!!

Shintaro: Eh? Kano, could it be that you also…?

Kano: No one has given me… their SNS.

Shintaro: No… one…

Kano: They also often don’t answer the phone. Before I realized it, Kido had even changed her e-mail address. So I had been wondering if I’d be able to talk to everyone if it were in a chatroom…

Shintaro: ALL RIIIIIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!!! Chatrooms are really fun, huh?!!! Tell me a lot more about them!!!

Kano: Shintaro-kun…

Shintaro: Hey, let’s forget what we talked about regarding each other until this point, yeah? From now on, we just gotta make a glamorous SNS life, just the two of us… y’know.

Kano: Shi-Shintaro-kuun…!!

Shintaro: Hehe, how about we start a nice talk right away? Well, what kind of conversations do people usually have?

Kano: Erm, according to a magazine I read… they ask others to go get the eggs that they forgot to buy, or get the milk that they forgot to buy, or the sugar…

Shintaro: Isn’t that a housewife?! No, you… what kind of magazines do you normally read? It’s not glamorous at all.

Kano: Eh~? Is that so? I think it’s convenient for when Kido forgets to buy something and ask Seto to get it when he’s coming back home from his part-time job, though.

Shintaro: You guys are pretty absorbed in your own domestic life… Isn’t there anything else? Something like what girls talk about…

Kano: Eh~, like… “My God~! How super cute~! ☆” or something?

Shintaro: Eh?

Kano: “This pancake is super cute~! ♡” or something?

Shintaro: Hm? Don’t people usually say it’s “delicious”?

Kano: No, I don’t get it very well, but it seems girls have conversations like this.

Shintaro: Girls do that?

Kano: Yes, girls do that.

Shintaro: If girls talk like this, there’s no helping it. All right, Shintaro-san will try it too!

Kano: Oh! I’ve been waiting!

Shintaro: Toilet paper is cute~ ♡

Kano: Hm? Why toilet paper?

Shintaro: Well, I’m using the toilet at the moment.

Kano: You don’t have to explain that kinda stuff!

Shintaro: You’re the one who asked! Well, but I’m able to talk on even when I’m in the toilet… so, doesn’t that mean I’ve mastered this chat thing?

Kano: Ah~, hum, well, that’s true, huh?

Shintaro: All right! I’ll continue sending messages from the toilet!

Kano: No, get out of there!! It gives off a disgusting feeling!! I don’t wanna chat with someone who’s in the toilet!!

Shintaro: Hey, hey, I’ve done my best all the way up to this point.

Kano: You don’t have to give this kind of report! No, wait a minute. You mean that, from the very start until now, you were in the toilet!?

Shintaro: Okay, hold on. Coming out now.

Kano: By “coming out”, you mean that you’ll come out of the toilet, right? Right? I’m begging you, don’t be so quiet!

Shintaro: My bad, just came out.

Kano: You came out!? It came out!?

Shintaro: Oh? Looks like we can also send pictures through this chatroom.

Kano: Stop. Seriously, stop. I’m gonna eat after this, so for real, stop it!!!

Shintaro: Hey, calm down. See, there are apps specifically for sending images, right? With gleam on them and whatnot.

Kano: Ah~, that’s right. SNS has it too~.

Shintaro: I sometimes see those. I wonder how people take them.

Kano: Indeed, even when it’s selfies, they’re glittery.

Shintaro: Where do people sell cameras that can take shots like those?

Kano: Hu~m… Ah, see, some cameras have “skin tone correction” written on them, right? Surely people use that function to make their skin seem cleaner, I guess?

Shintaro: Meaning that, the more skin is shown, the prettier it becomes!?

Kano: There’s a high possibility of that…

Shintaro: Hm? Wait. What about the gleam in places other than the skin?

Kano: Hm~, it’s not like people produce light on their own…

Shintaro: I see.

Kano: Shintaro-kun? Could it be you figured something out?

Shintaro: It’s lamp bulbs. People tie them around their bodies to produce light.

Kano: Eh…? Shintaro-kun is a genius…?

Shintaro: Stop that. It’s a simple trick.

Kano: All right! Now the only thing left is the place!

Shintaro: No, wait. Isn’t it somewhat early to make merry?

Kano: What’s that… supposed to mean…?

Shintaro: Stylish cafés… just this is enough of a hint.

Kano: Hah! That’s right, what stupid things I was saying… Cafés mean going outside… and Shintaro-kun is…

Shintaro: Right. It’s a tall wall for a NEET like me. Haha, how pitiful it is to chicken out after coming this far…

Kano: Shintaro-kun, are you really okay with that? Are you fine with being this way?

Shintaro: Kano, you…

Kano: If we don’t ever give up our dreams, even we… can post glittery pictures and become popular with SNS! We can master chatting and become a winner duo that will receive the acknowledgement of the other members as well!

Shintaro: Sorry, Kano.

Kano: Shintaro-kun, no way…!

Shintaro: I had forgotten something important… I… We won’t give up the future… until we’ve taken shiny selfies in a stylish café, that is!

Kano: Shintaro-kun…!!!

Shintaro: Since it’s settled, we gotta look for a shop. Cat café, pancake café, organic lunch café… I’m lost. There are countless of them.

Kano: Don’t fret, Shintaro-kun.

Shintaro: Well, I know. I have a lot of time. I’m a NEET, after all.

Kano: Hehe… Shintaro-kun is sorta cool today.

Shintaro: Stop that, you’re embarrassing me. Oh, there are ranch cafés too.

Kano: Eh, but stylish cafés are better…

Shintaro: They give off a feeling of liberation. For pictures with people in them, a feeling of liberation is important for the subject of the photograph.

Kano: Is that so, Genius?

Shintaro: Stop it… Cows, sheep, horses… We’ll have them stage for our feeling of liberation.

Kano: It’s decided… huh. Now, things will get busy from this point on, Shintaro-kun.

Shintaro: Don’t get exhausted on the way, Kano.

Kano: You too.

Shintaro: Hahaha…

Kano: Huhuhu…

---

Kano: As a result of this talk, the first thing is that Shintaro-kun and I tied light bulbs around our naked bodies and there’s a photo that we took with a ranch as background. Kido, wanna see it too?

Kido-san has logged out.

Released on March 16, 2018.
 * -|Scene 2=

The second chapter is about Momo and Kido’s girls’ talk!?

Momo: Hello~! Uwah! The sentences are showing up! Ama~zing! It’s like I’m speaking! KI-SA-RA-GI MO-MO ( ☝ ͡ ° ਊ ͡ °)☝

Kido: You seem to be having fun, Kisaragi.

Momo: Waaaah! Da-Danchou-san! For how long have you been watching me!?

Kido: From the get-go.

Momo: Man~! Then why didn’t you talk to me~!?

Kido: You had started something out before I could talk. I thought I shouldn’t get in your way.

Momo: Please don’t mind what I did earlier… More importantly, good timing!

Kido: What, you have some business with me?

Momo: Fufufu~… I found something nice in the street a while ago.

Kido: “Something nice”?

Momo: Something really pretty and cute! I thought about showing it to you, Danchou-san, so I took a picture! I decided to use this chat, since it was already made, to show it to you!

Kido: Is that so? I kind of don’t get it very well, but if you’re thinking about showing it to me, then do it.

Momo: E~rm… How do we send photos in here? Is it with this button? A weird indicator just appeared… P-Please wait a bit~. Erm, here is where the kaomoji are, so… ei! ( ☝ ͡ ° ਊ ͡ °)☝ Huh?

Kido: You don’t have to write everything down, y’know? Also, no need to hurry. It’s not like I have anything to do. On second thought, “something cute”, huh…? Is it a cat? Or maybe a dog?

Momo: Eh? Why?

Kido: Ah, no reason. It’s not like I’m curious. I just thought of putting my imagination to work.

Momo: Ehehe, Danchou-san, you do like cute things after all.

Kido: O fon’t. *I don’t. I don’t really.

Momo: Eh~? Is that so~? But unfortunately, it’s not a cat or dog.

Kido: I see… You’d said it was something pretty. Is it a flower?

Momo: Ah~, wrong~. Do you like flowers?

Kido: You’re mista—I don’t. No… It’s not as if I don’t like them.

Momo: Which is it?! Man~, you don’t have to hide it, y’know? Danchou-san, you’re so shy~

Kido: Don’t tease me. I just have doubtful thoughts about them.

Momo: Ye~s, I understand~.

Kido: In the end, what’s the picture of?

Momo: Fufu, then I’ll give a hint. Decisively, it’s a living being!

Kido: The range of that is too wide so it’s not “decisive” at all… Then again, a living being that can be found by the road, huh? Pretty and cute… Is it a bird?

Momo: Ah~! Close one! You’re not getting it right at all~

Kido: This was also wrong? But there’s no other animal in the streets…

Momo: There is~

Kido: Kisaragi, are you still not gonna send the photo?

Momo: Hu~n, I have a feeling it will take just a little more~. Is it this button? Ei! ( ☝ ͡ ° ਊ ͡ °)☝

Kido: Now that we’ve come this far, I’ve gotten interested. Tell me the answer before you send the picture.

Momo: Eh? You’ll hear it out~?

Kido: Yeah, I don’t mind it. Just what kind of living thing is it?

Momo: Understood! Then I shall tell you! A pretty and cute living being by the roadside! The answer is~

Kido: “The answer is”…?

Momo: The right guess was “a bug”! My, you got close with “bird”~! Since birds eat bugs! Ah! It seems the photo is about to be sent so I’m sending it right no~w.

Kido: pleadr dyopp

Momo: Eh?

Kido: *Please stop. Stop it.

Momo: Huh?

Kido: You don’t have to send it. You absolutely don’t have to send it.

Momo: Eeh!? It’s really pretty and cute, y’know!? It was probably a rainbow shield bug, I guess~. It’s an especially famous insect even in Japan! Their shades of green and orange are awesome.

Kido: It’s fine!!! Just your feelings are enough.

Momo: Eh~, why?! Didn’t you say earlier that you were interested?! If a cute bug is no good… then I’ll send a picture of a cool bug I saw lately! One that is a lot like the tailless Tanzanian giant whip scorpion.

Kido: Kisaragi!! Just forget the photos!! Let’s quit this topic!!

Momo: Ah, could it be you don’t like bugs? I’m sorry for not realizing it… Every now and then, I hear of people who are no good with bugs.

Kido: No, it’s not like I’m no good with them. It’s just that there are times when I’m not in the mood to look at them.

Momo: Then, in exchange, how about frogs?

Kido: KISARAGI!!!!!!! Please, stop it. I’m begging.

Momo: W-What’s the matter, Danchou-san? Could it be you’re feeling unwell or something?

Kido: T-That’s right. I’m a bit sick today. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to look at your pictures.

Momo: Was that so…? I took a really cute one of the frog…

Kido: About the photo, that’s right… how about you show it to Seto? Wouldn’t he be pleased? See, he’s into the color green, and it seems he’d be fond of frogs and the like, doesn’t it?

Momo: Aah, that’s true! Seto-san also knows the names of rare reptiles, and our conversations match~. I’ll show it to Seto-san!

Kido: Yeah. Do that.

Momo: Ehehe.

Kido: What? What’s up all of a sudden? It’s not that I hate or am scared of bugs or anything like it. I simply said that showing it to someone who would be more pleased was better. Don’t misunderstand in a weird way.

Momo: Ah, you got it wrong. I’m happy! I’d never had a carefree talk in a chatroom like this until now.

Kido: Kisaragi…

Momo: Being able to announce casual things such as cute stuff I found in the city and whatnot makes me really happy!

Kido: Yeah, that’s right. I am also having fun talking with you like this. From now on, too, come talk to me casually in the chatroom.

Momo: Thank you very much! Whenever I find something cute, I’ll take a picture and contact you as soon as possible!

Kido: You don’t need to show me that. I’ll listen to what you have to say, so don’t take photos.

Momo: Is that so…? But I just took a lot of them, y’know? I wanted to show you the images I got of bugs until now…

Kido: Leave them to Seto.

Momo: Eh?

Kido: See, he has things that resemble the eyes of a bug in his hood. Surely he’s keen of insects.

Momo: Now that you’ve mentioned it, you’re right.

Kido: Send them to him in a separate chat.

Momo: I will! I have a huge stock! About 100 just from different angles!

A few days later...

Seto: To tell the truth, I’ve been receiving a lot of photos of bugs all the time from Kisaragi-san lately, even when I’m eating or sleeping. Did I do anything that made her angry…?

Kano: What’s with that? Scary.

Released on March 23, 2018.
 * -|Scene 3=

For some reason, it seems something terrible happened…!?

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Hibiya: Anyone! Isn’t there anyone around!? Help!

??: What’s wrong? Are you okay?

Hibiya: Aah, thank goodness! It is an emergency! I do not know who you are, but please help me out!

??: Oops. To think I’d do something like this… I forgot to set up my username and picture.

Ene: All~ right! This Ene-chan shall grant your wish by any means!

Hibiya: Change with someone!

Ene: Hah!? What’s with that?! Do you have any problem with the hyper super pretty virtual girl Ene-chan?!?

Hibiya: Anyone else!? Isn’t there anyone else around!?

Ene: Speaking of which, it seems no one has come today, huh~

Hibiya: What about Shintaro!?

Ene: Master is usually here, right~? Now that you mentioned it, I haven’t seen him since earlier. Isn’t he in the toilet or something?

Hibiya: Then he’ll come back soon!?

Ene: No, Master will probably take one more hour.

Hibiya: Haah!? An hour in the toilet!? What the heck!?

Ene: Master also has his own issues… By the way, hasn’t it been a while? You were forced to go back to your town, weren’t you?

Hibiya: No, I just went back like normal. Well~, how can I put it? I feel like returning home? I’ll be living in the city in the future~, so if I think of this as my last time living in the countryside, it’s not bad, I guess~? Something like that.

Ene: Aren’t you having too big of a misunderstanding after having come to the city just one time?!

Hibiya: I-It’s not a misunderstanding! I really am thinking of taking the admission exam of a middle school from Tokyo and I’m getting ready for it!

Ene: Are you seriously planning to live in Tokyo!? Isn’t that great~?! From now on, you’ll be able to see everyone right away, huh?!

Hibiya: Well, about that… I gotta begin studying for the middle school admission exam~, so I don’t have time to fool around with the… “Mekakuso-dan”, was it~?

Ene: H-H-Hold on! This is a way of making a mistake that you shouldn’t get behind! It’s ME-KA-KU-SHI-dan, you see!!

Hibiya: Sorry, sorry, I typed wrong. But, well, shouldn’t everyone else also quit these embarrassing activities and start contemplating their future by now~? It’s what I think.

Ene: G-Guh…

Hibiya: You, too, are a “virtual girl”, right? Shouldn’t you graduate from that already?

Ene: Y-You…! That’s a bit too cocky! My appearance is of a physically weak and lovely girl, but even Ene-chan can get angry! For starters, there’s something called “respect” that you should have for older people.

Hibiya: What, should I refer to you as “Auntie”?

Ene: Uuhn!? You picking a fight!?

Hibiya: Uwah! S-Stop ringing up my phone’s vibrator! Hiih! Somehow, a ton of mail is arriving from weird places!! A lot of messages like “thank you for your membership” are coming to me!! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!!

Ene: It’s fine as long as you get it. As long as you get it. Or, rather, what was your business in the end? Why don’t you go study since you love it so much and then hurry to bed? *spit, spit*

Hibiya: R-Right, I had forgotten. I’m… locked up.

Ene: Hah? That’s… like an incident? Like kidnapping? Bad guys!? Hey, it’s no time to be doing this! Please help, Master~!! No, police~!!

Hibiya: Sorry to interrupt while you’re so ecstatic, but it’s not an incident or kidnapping.

Ene: Is that so? If it’s not an incident or kidnapping, then is it a strange phenomenon…? Or you’re being offered as live sacrifice…?

Hibiya: Your prejudice against the countryside is too horrible!

Ene: If it’s not something like that, then what is it?

Hibiya: Well, my family is pretty strict, you see. I told my parents that I was gonna take an admission exam for a Tokyo middle school, and they completely opposed to it. When I woke up in the morning, I was inside our warehouse…

Ene: Aah, that’s what it was… Then, do your best.

Hibiya: Wait a minute! This phone is my only salvation!!

Ene: Your parents are severe, huh? You were quite forfeited, huh~?

Hibiya: This is just ‘cause I finally managed to get my hands on a much-wished-for cellphone! I hide it in my pants when I go to sleep so that my parents won’t find out and so that I don’t leave it out of my reach!

Ene: Uwah…

Hibiya: I was also able to receive heat from the warm phone in my pants, even from within this cold shack!

Ene: Hieh…

Hibiya: Hey, you can move into phones, right? Come to mine!

Ene: Eh~. Isn’t it a long journey to go all the way there~? It’s pretty far, right~?

Hibiya: I don’t know how it works, but through electromagnetic waves, it takes only an instant, right!?

Ene: Kaah~! This is why children nowadays are so…! You think anything can be solved with electromagnetic waves! You won’t become a proper adult in the future!

Hibiya: You’re going there!?

Ene: In the first place, it’s better if I don’t go.

Hibiya: Eh, why?

Ene: Won’t people find out you have a phone if we talk?

Hibiya: Aah, is that so…?

Ene: Also, I don’t wanna go to a phone that was in someone’s pants.

Hibiya: Doesn’t that have nothing to do with it?

Ene: It’s a matter of feelings!

Hibiya: Man! That doesn’t matter! You’ll help me, right!?

Ene: Eh~? Are you okay with that way of asking~?

Hibiya: Uwah, what a handful…

Ene: Eh? What? You want someone to help you? Hm? What do they look like? Super pretty?

Hibiya: Hey~, that doesn’t matter at all!

Ene: Eh? You want her to help you? The Super Pretty Who-sama?

Hibiya: Ah~, man, I get it already! Super Pre-something Ene-sama, please help me!

Ene: Hmm~? I’m a bit concerned about the way you put it. Really, no choice~! This super pretty virtual girl Ene-sama will help you! So? How’s the situation of the interior?

Hibiya: E~rm… there’s only one door in the warehouse. It’s got a locker with a number code.

Ene: That’s a weird warehouse, huh~. Can it be opened from within?

Hibiya: Hn, looks like it… They said, “if you want to take the middle school exam, try solving this mystery”. There’s a paper with something like a cipher written on it. I think that, if I solve it, I’ll definitely find out the numbers for the locker.

Ene: Your parents are quite the entertainers, huh…?

Hibiya: Can I write down the cipher?

Ene: Hum, show it to me.

Hibiya: E~rm… “change the initial letters into numbers: 12/31 12/25 2/14” is what it says.

Ene: Hoh~, I see, I see.

Hibiya: How is it?

Ene: ……speaking of this, Master is late, huh~? Does he have a stomach ache or something~? This is that kind of thing, right~? He’s a good-for-nothing when I’m not around, right~? He’s calling, he’s calling~. I gotta go~.

Hibiya: See~! You totally didn’t get it! In the end, I should have asked someone else!

Ene: Oh~? Are you okay with this kind of attitude!? I could sneak into your phone and spread the~se and even tho~se kinds of pictures all over the chatroom!

Hibiya: That’s a terrible guess to make! Actually, can you do something that terrifying!? Just… Just cut me some slack with that.

Ene: Huhu~n? By this reaction, you also have nasty photos, don’t you~? Eek, eek, men are all like that~

Hibiya: “Nasty”, you say!? Rude!! My “This is Hiyori Mobile” is the ultimate image folder that pursues sophisticated beauty!

Ene: The name is gross!! You sure had courage to name it like that, huh!?

Hibiya: It’s because I dedicate my life to it!! This is nothing!! My lock screen, e-mail address and ringtone have Hiyori-related specifications! Even my password is Hiyori’s birthday!

Ene: Isn’t that a police case?!! In the end, it’s better if you stay locked in that shack!! Hm? “Birthday”?

Hibiya: What? Got a problem with This is Hiyori Mobile or something!?

Ene: The name is gross! No, no, more important than that…! I found out the answer!

Hibiya: Eh? What?

Ene: These are dates!

Hibiya: Haah?

Ene: 12/31 is Oomisoka, right? If we assume that its initial is the English letter “o”, it would look like the number “zero”!

(T/N: Oomisoka or Ootsugomori is the name of New Year’s celebration, also used as a synonym for New Year’s Eve in Japanese.)

Hibiya: T-Then, 12/25 is Christmas, isn’t it? If the initial is “ku”, that means it becomes 9 if transcribed into a number?

(T/N: “Christmas” is written as “kurisumasu” in katakana, and “ku” is one of the readings of the number 9.)

Ene: That’s it! And 2/14 is Valentine! The “ba” definitely stands for 8!

(T/N: “Valentine” is written as “barentain” in katakana. “Ba” is close to “ha” and “pa”, which are syllables associated with the number 8, which reads as “hachi”.)

Hibiya: W-Wait a bit! I’ll try to match the key numbers!

Ene: H-How was it?

Hibiya: I

Ene: “I”?

Hibiya: I got out~!!

Ene: Yeeeaaah!! Did you see that!? This is my power!! Ayo, ayo, please praise me grandly!!

Hibiya: I-It’s frustrating, but you did end up helping me… thanks.

Ene: No, no, I don’t need gratitude~! You don’t have to call me Ene-sama from now on~! Or to keep on talking forever about how you are alive due to Ene-sama, no way, no way~!

Hibiya: No, I didn’t say that much… Ah! My father is in front of the warehouse!

Ene: Ooh! Meaning that he was waiting because he believed in his son!? How touching! With this, they will allow you to take the exam!

Hibiya: Yeah!

Ene: Hm? Hey–Wait a moment! Is it all right for you to be typing this down? You were hiding from your parents that you had a phone… O~i………

Hibiya has logged out.

Ene: Aah…

Released on March 30, 2018.
 * -|Scene 4=

''On chapter 4, Seto is looking for Kano, who has gone missing. His comrades disappear one after another… What lies under the mystery of the cursed mask is…''

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Seto: Hello.

Shintaro: Oi~ssu. Huh, what, it’s Seto?

Seto: Ah, Shintaro-san. Oi~ssussu.

Shintaro: O-Oh… Anyway, it’s pretty rare for you to be here, Seto.

Seto: True. It’s been a while since the last time I wrote anything.

Shintaro: You’re always at your part-time jobs, right?

Seto: Yeah. I read everyone’s conversations afterwards in the… logs? Is that how they’re called?

Shintaro: The thought of being left to be read later makes me wanna die…

Seto: No, no! Shintaro-san, yours are funny! See, just some time ago, Ene-chan made a mistake and shared a video, right? Of Shintaro-san in the bathroom, that is.

Shintaro: STOP!! STOP!!

Seto: With your pants halfway down.

Shintaro: HEY!!!! HEY!!!!!!

Seto: It was hilarious.

Shintaro: Is that so? Thanks… Now please forget it…

Seto: Seeing the chats is fun. Knowing that everyone talks like this makes me happy.

Shintaro: I see. Well, I guess chats aren’t bad? What’re you doing today?

Seto: It’s my day off, so I’m cleaning up the hideout.

Shintaro: You… You’re really serviceable, hey…

Seto: No, it’s been messy lately so it was terrible, and Marry went out for a walk, so…

Shintaro: Ooh, she became able to go out on her own? That’s great.

Seto: I’m happy about it, but… she always comes back with something weird, like flowers and animals.

Shintaro: What, aren’t those cute?

Seto: Also rusty iron scraps, cast-off skins of unidentified living things, frog eggs… moss that emits a nasty smell…

Shintaro: I don’t wanna go to the hideout anymore.

Seto: That’s why I’m cleaning.

Shintaro: Well, do your best. Should I go over to help?

Seto: Eerm… I’m good.

Shintaro: (´ ;ω ; ` )

---

A few days later…

Seto: Is anyone online?

Shintaro: Oh. What’s up, Seto?

Seto: Ah, Shintaro-san. Have you seen Kano?

Shintaro: What’s with this right off the bat? He isn’t in the hideout?

Seto: No.

Shintaro: Speaking of which, I haven’t seen him around here lately. Even though he normally goes into the chatroom about as many times as myself… Did he have an appointment or something?

Seto: Well, actually, he hasn’t come back for the past few days.

Shintaro: Hah? Did he run away from home?

Seto: Even if he did, we don’t know why. He won’t pick up. As expected, he also isn’t coming to the chatroom, huh?

Shintaro: Didn’t he have a fight with Kido or something?

Seto: I was thinking that too, but it seems Kido also has no idea of what’s going on. We haven’t found him despite searching.

Shintaro: Aren’t you pretty calm? Any other hints?

Seto: It’s not like I don’t have any, but…

Shintaro: Oh, try saying it.

Seto: I told you about how Marry had been picking things up lately. To tell the truth, a while ago, she brought me a present. A strange mask that seems like something an ethnic group would wear.

Shintaro: Getting an ethnic mask as a present is incredible, hey…

Seto: It made me happy, though…

Shintaro: You were happy…?

Seto: She’s the kind of girl that doesn’t normally give people gifts or the like.

Shintaro: Oops. Could you stop with any more of this sweet talk? I feel like leaving this chatroom.

Seto: Sorry. May I continue?

Shintaro: Oh, my bad. Please do.

Seto: I put the mask up as a decoration for my room after receiving it… but something about it is off. No matter the angle, I had the feeling it was meeting my gaze.

Shintaro: Hieh

Seto: I got scared, and when I tried doing an internet research… I found out it seems to be a famous ‘Cursed Mask’.

Shintaro: That’s a lie, right…?

Seto: No, I also thought it couldn’t be, but… ever since the mask arrived, Kano has been missing. Maybe it was the curse’s doing…

Shintaro: THAT’S TERRIFYING!!! Throw it away!! Hurry and throw that mask away!!

Seto: I don’t want to! I won’t! Marry went through the trouble of giving it to me! She might’ve had a hard time choosing!

Shintaro: You’re reeking of impertinence!! You only have one option of what to throw into the fire!!

Seto: But… for starters, this might have no relation to curses.

Shintaro: Well… thinking reasonably, maybe not…

Seto: In the end, I think the cause is something else.

Shintaro: H~m… Well, if you say so… I’ll ring you up if I figure anything out.

Seto: That’d be helpful.

---

The next day…

Seto: Shintaro-san.

Shintaro: Uwah, that startled me. Why are you calling my name out directly?

Seto: As expected of Shintaro-san. You’re quick to react.

Shintaro: Shut up. More importantly, did you find Kano?

Seto: About that… Shintaro-san, haven’t you seen Kido?

Shintaro: Hey, don’t tell me…

Seto: Kido also disappeared.

Shintaro: Hey, hey. You’re joking, right? Following Kano, even Kido has…

Seto: Shintaro-san… what on Earth should I do…? So the Cursed Mask really is taking everybody… one by one…!

Shintaro: C-Calm down, Seto. Marry is in the hideout, right?

Seto: Yes.

Shintaro: Then you should properly stay by her side. I’ll try to look for the others.

Seto: Shintaro-san…

Shintaro: Pull yourself together.

Seto: I will…

---

The next day…

Shintaro: Seto. Hey, Seto. You alive?

Seto: Shintaro-san.

Shintaro: Thank goodness. Are you in the hideout?

Seto: Yes. But Marry and I are at the end of our wit already. Our consciousness keeps getting gradually fainter…

Shintaro: Hey, hang on!! Don’t give up yet!!

Seto: Shintaro-san, it’s enough… I think as I look at this mask that we can no longer escape…

Shintaro: What are you saying…!? There should definitely be a way to save you!!

Seto: Thank you very much, Shintaro-san. But my consciousness is already…

Shintaro: Hey!! I’m going to the hideout right now! Stay firm!

Seto: I think that, despite this situation, I’m glad I won’t have to leave Marry alone…

Shintaro: Seto? H-Hey… Answer! Dammit, you’re kidding me, right?!! Se… Setooooooo!!!!!

---

Momo, Kido

Momo: Danchou-san, are you doing all right?

Kido: Yeah. No problems.

Momo: Man~, speaking of which, it sure was terrible, huh? To think that a new type of fungus would sprout in the hideout after it became a garbage dumpster of a house and that you’d collapse after going outside, get carried by an ambulance and be hospitalized just like this.

Kido: I wasn’t even able to use my phone, after all. Sorry for worrying you.

Momo: No, no! I’m glad you’re fine!

Kido: It seems Kano will also be discharged by now. The hideout better be clean, though…

Released on April 6, 2018.
 * -|Scene 5=

''Ayano brought up a certain advice request to Kano. He spends strenuous effort for the sake of his family member, however…?''

Ayano, Kano

Ayano: Shuuya? Right now, do you have a moment?

Kano: Huh? What happened for you to call me to a separate chatroom?

Ayano: Hm. There’s a little something I wanted advice for, you see.

Kano: Eh, what is it? Is it something you can’t tell everyone?

Ayano: Yeah…

Kano: C-Could it be this is serious talk? Like that you’re dating someone or something of the sort!? We’re having this kind of topic!?

Ayano: It’s not a serious talk. Hum… lately, it seems someone’s put on weight.

Kano: Eh? W-What’s with that~! It’s okay to not care about this stuff!

Ayano: Is that so? The numbers on the scale increased a little…

Kano: No, Nee-chan, you don’t have to worry about the numbers or anything.

Ayano: But I am…

Kano: They say that girls fret over this a lot, but surprisingly enough, people don’t notice those things!

Ayano: H~m.

Kano: Was it that much weight?

Ayano: Not really. Erm, how much was it again?

Kano: No, it’s not like you have to tell me! This is a delicate matter for girls, after all. Welp, that being said, it’s not like

Ayano: It was roughly a bit past 70kg, I guess.

Kano: it’s that much more, right? …Hah?

Ayano: Hm?

Kano: Eh? This is a lie, isn’t it!? Ain’t that too graphic!?

Ayano: If you show so much surprise, you end up startling me instead! But just as Shuuya said, it might not be something to pay mind to. It doesn’t change things that much, right?

Kano: It does!!! Eh, eh? For real, I didn’t even realize it!?

Ayano: We haven’t seen each other in a while, after all~.

Kano: Even if you say that, it’s only been about a week, right!? How did this happen!?

Ayano: I guess there has been a tad too many meals.

Kano: No, that’s already in the level of disease! It’s better to go properly see a doctor!

Ayano: You’re exaggerating, Shuuya. Going to a hospital just because of gaining a bit of weight would be embarrassing…

Kano: That’s not “a bit”!!

Ayano: I-Is it really that terrible?

Kano: Ah, no… hum, that’s not it. It’s not terrible, like, in an aesthetic sense.

Ayano: Hm…?

Kano: See, even if someone gets a little fat, they themselves don’t change that much! Like, one doesn’t have to worry about appearance too much~. That’s what I think, y’know?

Ayano: Hm~… should I send a pic?

Kano: No, no, no!!!!! It’s ok for now!!!!! It’d take me 5 days to ready my heart!!!!

Ayano: T-That long…?

Kano: Nee-chan, as expected, wouldn’t it be better to get everyone to help with this…?

Ayano: Eh~, but… it’d be embarrassing. I can’t count with councelling from anyone but Shuuya for this.

Kano: Eh? Ah. Is that so? I see. Nee-chan, you’re asked for my advice because you trust me, huh…?

Ayano: I don’t know any dieting methods, so I thought that if it was you, Shuuya, you’d figure something out.

Kano: …Hm. Got it. Nee-chan, leave it to me. I’ll support this diet with all my might!!

---

A few days later…

Kano: Nee-chan!

Ayano: Ah, Shuuya. What is it?

Kano: It’s about the diet! I did a little research!

Ayano: Shuuya, you seriously thought it out.

Kano: Of course! I told you to leave it to me, right? First and foremost, I went to buy and gather diet products, so I wanted them to be tried out!

Ayano: Ehh!? You prepared that?

Kano: I thought it was better to do this kind of thing quicker! First, I got a whole year worth of the current trending diet product. It’s called “Super Food”. They say it’s low-calories and nutritious!

Ayano: Heeh~! So this kind of stuff exists~.

Kano: I also thought that there had to be exercise involved, so I got the best-suited type of machine to have at hand for a diet! It seems that, if one holds the very center of the stick and swing it… they can train their abdominal muscles!

Ayano: Is that so~?

Kano: Yeah, yeah! There’s one that uses a rubber ball too. Looks like one can train their trunk with it! I also tried buying a roller that can make the face smaller! And I bought a cookbook for diets. I will do my best too!!

Ayano: Amazing… To think Shuuya would spend so many efforts… Onee-chan is happy.

Kano: Hehe… This is just the obvious! We’re family. We gotta help each other when we’re troubled.

Ayano: Hm! Thank you! I’ll tell him you did your best, Shuuya!

Kano: Hm!! Hm? Tell who? Ah? Nee-chan? He~y.

---

Ayano, Kido

Ayano: Tsubomi, listen up! Regarding our talk of a while ago, it seems it’ll be okay~.

Kido: Aah, about gaining weight?

Ayano: Yep. I got some advice. Shuuya was super eager. With this, Dad will be able to go on a diet!

Kido: Even if you say so, he only put on a few extra kg, right?

Ayano: That’s right! Shuuya was exaggerating~. He was worried about Dad! They sure get along, huh~.

Released on April 13, 2018.
 * -|Scene 6=

''On chapter 6, Mekakushi-dan goes flower-viewing!! However, Shintaro finds himself in a pinch…!?''

(T/N: Any typos beyond this point are intentional.)

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Marry: Hello. Marry here. I would like to go out fo r Onanami.

Momo: Eh!? Marry-chan!?

Shintaro: Hey, hey, seriously?! Is this really her!?

Kido: Couldn’t this be… a prank by Kano!?

Kano: Everyone, calm down! This isn’t a dream. That Marry who couldn’t even type a single word on a phone is…!

Marry: Stip. Don’t make fun of me.

Momo: We aren’t!

Kido: We’re just moved by your growth, Marry. To think that Marry would become able even to talk in a chatroom…

Kano: Kido Mama, don’t cry~

Kido: Who is “Mama”? I’ll beat you up. I’m off to beat you up.

Kano: S-Stop, stop! Don’t hit my room’s door! Quit rattling the doorknob!

Momo: But that’s really amazing, Marry-chan! I’m happy that we can talk in the chatroom! ( ☝ ͡ ° ਊ ͡ °)☝

Marry: Mw tpp.

Kano: There’s the fact that it’s a bit hard to understand what you’re saying, but, my, my, this is progress.

Kido: You’re doing good, Marry.

Momo: If you keep up like this, not even a blog debut would be a dream!

Marry: L Ll Le

Shintaro: Hey, y’all, stay still! Marry is trying to write something!

Marry: Let’s all go out for Ohanimi.

Momo: “Ohanimi”…?

Kido: Speaking of which, she was also saying something similar to that earlier.

Kano: If I’m certain, she had said “Onanami” or something?

Kido: “Ohanimi” and “Onanami”, huh… Are those spells? Or maybe codes?

Shintaro: Wait. They might be words passed down by Marry’s family.

Kano: If so, then their meaning…

Shintaro: They might not be words that can be spoken carelessly.

Momo: Man! What are you saying!? If she said “Onanami” and “Ohanimi”, it can’t be anything other than “Ohanami”! Right, Marry-chan?!

Marry: Ye p.

Kano: Aah, flower-viewing, huh~? Isn’t it fine for us to go see them together?

Shintaro: Aren’t cherry blossoms something pretty wide-spread? Instead of going through the trouble of eating lunch boxes outside, it’s the same if we all eat them in the hideout, right?

Momo: Be quiet.

Shintaro: Eh?

Momo: Don’t say anything else.

Shintaro: Hey, Momo.

Momo: Just stop! Get out of the chatroom!

Shintaro-san has logged out.

Momo: Geez, he can’t read the mood. Now, Marry-chan! The weirdo left! With this, we can enjoy the flower-viewing, yeah?!

Marry: Yep.

Kano: Shintaro-kun… (´ ;ω ; ` )

---

A few days later…

Ene: My, my, it’s sunny, huh~? Everyone, are you heading to the meeting place?

Kido: We’re almost there. In a way, I’ve also made a lunchbox.

Ene: Waah~! That’s great~!

Momo: Ene-chan, it’d be great if you had brought your physical body~

Ene: True~

Kano: Just seeing that in words is scary… Are you guys already there?

Momo: Ah~, sorry, we just entered the park. Onii-chan is waiting in a queue to use the toilet.

Kano: Ah, Shintaro-kun is coming?

Momo: When I was about to leave the house, he acted kinda gross, like, “Oh! You’re off for the flower-viewing? Will you be okay on your own? Hm?” and left me with no choice, so I ended up bringing him.

Ene: I wonder if he’ll at least be of use for guarding our spot~

Kano: Shi-Shintaro-kun… (´ ;ω ; ` )

Kido: By the way, he’s always in the toilet, isn’t he? Shouldn’t he just move into it once and for all? Into the toilet, that is.

Momo: Aah~. He’s in the toilet most of the time at home. It’s already like he lives in there. Quite a bothersome story.

Kano: Now, now. It’s not like Shintaro-kun is in the toilet because he likes it. Hasn’t he come the all way there while wriggling because this crowd got him nervous?

Ene: Just like a Chihuahua coming to get vaccinated, isn’t he? Well, but it’s indeed crowded, huh? The cherry blossoms scattered about a lot, though.

Kido: I also hadn’t predicted this many people. Plus, aren’t their numbers increasing?

Momo: Marry-chan, there’s a lot of people, so will you be okay?

Marry: I’m okey. I’ no

Momo: Eh? What?

Kido: I thought she’d be more anxious, but she’s not alone, so it’s fine. That’s what it seems.

Momo: To think “I” and “no” would have such a meaning…! Marry-chan, you don’t have to push yourself! Let’s talk a lot when we see each other!

Marry: Yep. Thanks.

Ene: Ah~, wait. Sorry for interrupting while you’re in the middle of chatting, but Master has an emergency.

Kano: Eh? What happened?

Momo: Aah… this indeed looks bad. He’d been in the toilet line all this time, but it doesn’t seem to be moving.

Ene: He’s making a cat-like face, as if he’s reaching his limit, and hopping in place.

Kano: Y’know, I have a bad feeling. Couldn’t it be that these people are gathering because of Kisaragi-chan?

Momo: Eh?

Ene: Now that you mentioned it, everyone is looking at Imouto-chan!

Momo: Eeh!? But I had become able to control it lately!

Kido: It’s no wonder that the number of people had been continuously increasing… Anyway, Kisaragi, you back away from the queue!

Momo: But Onii-chan is still…!

Kano: You’ve got no other option but give up, Kisaragi-chan… As long as you stay there, the line won’t move. That won’t help Shintaro-kun’s bladder!

Ene: Ah~, Master! He has started gritting his teeth and saying “sheeshee~”. Please hurry and decide!

Kido: You get it, right, Kisaragi? Leaving that place is for his sake.

Momo: But I…

Ene: It’s fine, Imouto-chan. I will stay.

Momo: Ene-chan…

Ene: See, take a look at Master’s expression. He’s suffering so much that it’s becoming something outrageous, right?

Momo: His face is indeed terrible…

Ene: In order for him to be quickly freed from this hell, leave this to me, and please go to where everyone is!

Momo: Ene-chan… I… I…

Ene: Go, Imouto-chan!

Momo: I… will go to where everyone is…!

Kido: Well said, Kisaragi! You’ve grown up.

Momo: Ehehe…

Kano: On another note, this is really bad, huh? The park is being buried over by the crowd.

Momo: It’s no good for flower-viewing like this…

Ene: Then how about we return to the hideout and eat the lunchboxes there or something? After I see through Master’s outcome, I’ll bring my body and eat too.

Kido: Right. Then, for today, shall we change the plans and throw a lunchbox party at the hideout?

Momo: Yay~! Danchou-san’s lunchbox! I’m looking forward to it!

Marry: I’m looking forwerd to the lunchbo

Momo: Marry-chan, is it okay if we leave the flower-viewing for another time?

Marry: Yep. I had just wanted to play around with everyone.

Momo: Marry-chan… That’s right, if everyone is together, a lunchbox party at the hideout will be fun too!

Marry: Yep.

---

A few hours later…

Shintaro: Hey, Marry. Right now, I’m watching the scattered cherry blossoms all by myself. Cherry blossoms are beautiful, huh…

Marry: mohi

Released on April 20, 2018.
 * -|Scene 7=

''On chapter 7, Kido was supposed to teach Konoha how to cook. Would they ever be able to safely make a dish…?!!''

(T/N: There are quite a few typos in the original this time too, but I think these weren’t on purpose, so I’ll ignore them.)

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Konoha: Hello? Ah. This isn’t a phone call. Hi there.

Kido: Ah, Konoha is here today? How rare.

Konoha: It’s Kido. Hi.

Kido: Yeah, hi.

Konoha: I’m hungry. Can I come over to the hideout?

Kido: You… have only been coming here to eat lately, y’know?

Konoha: Aw. I’m sorry.

Kido: No, it’s not like I’m berating you. After all, you eat anything like it’s delicious. Makes it worth cooking for me too.

Konoha: Kido’s meals are tasty. They have a soft flavor.

Kido:

Konoha: Kido? Are you there?

Kido: Well, I am. It’s just that you say weird stuff all of a sudden.

Konoha: “Weird stuff”? Did I say anything like that?

Kido: No, it’s okay. Don’t mind it. That’s right. How about you try making something too?

Konoha: “Making”?

Kido: If you become able to make your own food, you won’t have to stay hungry anymore. Besides, cooking is fun.

Konoha: Cooking… can I also manage it?

Kido: It’s fine. I’ll teach you.

Konoha: For real?

Kido: Yeah. I can’t say it’ll be soon, but you’ll become able to eat what you like at any time.

Konoha: Any time…! The things I like…!! As much as I want…!! I’ll… do my best!!!!

Kido: No, I haven’t said it’d be as much as you want… Anyway, it’s your first time and all. Is there anything you wanna eat?

Konoha: Negima.

Kido: “Negima”, huh?

Konoha: Negima it is.

Kido: Hum, well, learning skewed dishes from the get-go might be easier for beginners. As long as you don’t mess up the frying temperature and seasoning of the chicken meat, we can work it out somehow. Will you be fine without shopping for ingredients?

Konoha: There’s meat and green onions in the fridge here at home.

Kido: Then, I’ll give you the instructions via chat just like this, so try to do it as I say.

Konoha: Yes. Please.

Kido: Wash your hands well.

Konoha: ‘Kay. Ah. There’s no apron…

Kido: You’re fine without it for today. You can buy one next time.

Konoha: ‘Kay.

Kido: First, cut the meat and green onions into bite-size pieces.

Konoha: Is my bite-size okay?

Kido: Any size you like is fine.

Konoha: The meat looks yummy.

Kido: Don’t eat it raw, yeah…?

Konoha: I’ve cut it.

Kido: All right, next is the seasoning, but before that, it’s good to leave the green onions grilling lightly.

Konoha: What should I grill them with?

Kido: If you don’t have a net grill or fish grill, a frying pan will do.

Konoha: Something that makes fire… Found it. The flame will be too small, I guess…? It’s from the thing Sensei often uses.

Kido: ……? I don’t get it very well, but if it can fry, it’s okay.

Konoha: They’re frying. I might… have fried them a bit too much.

Kido: Do they look edible?

Konoha: I can eat them.

Kido: Then it’s cool. You got skewers?

Konoha: I have skewer… ish things. Maybe they’re skewers.

Kido: Are they really…? Well, it’s probably fine as long as it can pierce through. Do it while placing the green onions in-between the meat.

Konoha: Meat, green onion, meat, green onion, meat… Is it okay like this?

Kido: Are… you properly washing your hands every time you type?

Konoha: Yep.

Kido: Well, then it’s fine. You don’t have to go through the trouble of writing everything down. Next is the seasoning, but to tell the truth, I have a certain obsession about this. The key factor for the taste is smoked salt!

Konoha: ……?

Kido: Salt that was smoked.

Konoha: “Salt that was smoked”?

Kido: It’s a brownish salt.

Konoha: Brownish salt… Ah. I kinda feel like we had this.

Kido: It brings out a nice flavor and is delicious. If you don’t have it, normal salt is also good, but if you do, it’s better to use that.

Konoha: It’s something brown that looks like salt, right? I’m using it.

Kido: All right. Cover the ingredients with the salt and mass slightly to season them.

Konoha: Done. I think.

Kido: You’re doing good. It’s finally time to grill.

Konoha: Yes. I’ll do it.

Kido: A frying pan might make this easier. Pour a bit of oil on it and line up the negima. Can you do it?

Konoha: I’ve lined them up.

Kido: Okay, let’s fry them. Once one of their sides gets seared, turn them around and sear them in the same way.

Konoha: It’s got a nice smell.

Kido: That’s great. Just a little more. When they’re seared, you’ll season them again. Adding sake to it brings out the flavor so it’s good. Either cooking sake or traditional sake is fine.

Konoha: “Sake”? I wonder if we have it…

Kido: Well, it’s also okay if you don’t have that.

Konoha: Found it. Sensei drinks this sometimes. It’s probably sake… I guess.

Kido: Dad drinks traditional sake…? Well, if you have it, one swing is enough.

Konoha: I have to swing it?

Kido: Yeah, pour it like you’re swinging it.

Konoha: Pour… like swinging… Done.

Kido: Then, next is the sauce. Mix shoyu, sweet rice wine, sugar and water.

Konoha: Sugar… The brown one of just now was salt, so I guess sugar is over here.

Kido: Once the sauce penetrates the meat, it’s finished.

Konoha: Finished…! I was able to do it too…!

Kido: How’s it looking?

Konoha: It’s browned. Seems yummy.

Kido: Is that so? Sounds like a success.

Konoha: I’ll eat it right away.

Kido: Well, wait.

Konoha: Hm?

Kido: This is your own cooking that you’ve gone through the trouble of making for the first time. Having someone eat it with you might be good.

Konoha: Someone…

Kido: Rather than eating by yourself, having someone else say it’s tasty will make you feel like doing your best next time too, right?

Konoha: Yep. Got it. I’ll give it to Shintaro. I’ll bring it over to him right away. Thanks, Kido.

Kido: Don’t mind it. Looking forward to their opinion.

---

A few days later…

Kano: Huh? Hasn’t Shintaro-kun been absent from the chatroom lately?

Ene: Aah, if it’s Master, he’s been living in the bathroom over here for the past few days~. Seems like he got an upset stomach and can’t walk from the abdominal pains. Did he eat something that he picked up somewhere~?

Released on April 27, 2018.
 * -|Scene 8=

''On chapter 8, there was an abilities battle in the chatroom!? The powers of the members will now be tested…!?''

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Shintaro: I’d forgotten about it lately, but the Mekakushi-dan is, in a sense, a group of people with superhuman abilities, right?

Ene: Hey, hey! Please don’t forget our precious identity! Look! Even I am using my admirable ability at the moment!

Shintaro: Your ability is hard to understand. What even are the “Stirring Eyes”, anyway? You just use your ability to infiltrate in the internet, isn’t that it?

Ene: No~, isn’t this power about detaching my soul from my body? In that meantime, I don’t get hungry and I feel light. I can also move freely within the internet. It’s honestly the best.

Shintaro: Heck, I’m jealous…

Ene: Well, if I get giddy and continue with it for too long, my body is on the verge of starvation when I get back.

Shintaro: Scary.

Kano: Oi~ssu, Shintaro-kun and Ene-chan. You’re talking today too, huh~. What kinda conversation is it?

Shintaro: Oh, Kano. Well, I was just a bit curious, but can’t the abilities of you guys also be applied to this chatroom?

Kido: You’re having a rare serious exchange today. How fascinating.

Kano: Oh, it’s Kido~. Oi~ssu!

Shintaro: Oissu~.

Ene: Oissu to yo~u!

Kido: Is this a trend or something? I won’t say it.

Momo: Oissu to y’a~ll!

Ene: Oh~! Imouto-chan, oissu!

Kido: I-Is it really a trend?

Momo: Don’t you seem to be chatting about something interesting? Please count me in!

Shintaro: ‘Ka~y, we’ve already assembled, so each of you, try using your abilities.

Kano: Great, great~. Then, who will go first?

Ene: How about having Danchou-san do the honors for this?

Kano: Ene-chan, nice idea!

(T/N: The “nice idea” bit is originally said in English, but written in katakana.)

Kido: Hey. T-That’s too sudden, ain’t it?

Momo: Isn’t it fine~? Yo! Danchou-san!

Kido: Wait, I haven’t readied my heart yet—

Kano: It’s all right, Kido~. Show us your cool ability~!

Kido: You’re simply annoying.

Kano: ( ☝ ͡ ° ਊ ͡ °)☝

Kido: Well, whatever. Let’s hurry and get this done with.

Shintaro: Kido’s ability is the “Concealing Eyes”, huh… You’re able to hide yourself and the existence of things and people near you. In short, it’s an ability that makes others unable to cognize something.

Ene: Looking forward to how it’ll turn out in the chatroom!

Kido: —————

Shintaro: Dang, me too. Hm?

Kido: Went well, if I do say so myself.

Ene: Uh? Danchou-san, you’re giving off the feeling that you pulled some feat, y’know?

Shintaro: What’s wrong, Kido? C’mon, use your ability.

Kido: No, I just erased the words of one message before, right? How’s this? It’s my ability.

Shintaro: Hey, that’s difficult to tell!

Kido: Say what? Then I’ll do it one more time. _____do_____is. See that?

Shintaro: No, don’t “see that” us. It’s so plain!

Kido: Look closely! I erased some letters of the sentence!

Shintaro: No, I can tell that much! It’s unimpressive!!

Kano: My, my, I can’t stand and watch this.

Shintaro: Kano!!

Kano: Kido’s ability isn’t enough to serve as entertainment. I’ll show you something actually surprising.

Shintaro: Kano has the “Deceiving Eyes”, huh? You can transform your appearance into anything else, right? I’m curious whether it can be applied to words.

Kano: Today is Thursday. How’s that?

Ene: Today is Friday, though…?

Kano: Yep. I changed the “Friday” part into “Thursday”.

Shintaro: It’s hard to tell!! That doesn’t bring out the awesomeness of your ability at all!!

Kano: Hey—Don’t say such cruel things! I even became able to use my ability on stuff I write lately! Look! Look, look!

Shintaro: At what?

Kano: I changed “see” into “look”!!

Shintaro: That’s mediocre!!! Actually, why were you even saying “see, see” in the first place?!!! I don’t get it!!!

Momo: Onii-chan! Leave this to me!

Shintaro: Momo! Your ability is the “Snatching”, which gathers people’s attention, right?! I’ve got expectations on you! Show it!

Momo: Boobs. See? Can’t take your eyes off this, right?

Shintaro: No, for starters, you’re writing that down, y’know!? Girls must not say this in front of other people!!

Ene: Onii-chan is so desperate, huh~

Seto: Oi~ssussu.

Shintaro: Ooh, Seto! Isn’t that a star entrance!?

Seto: I more or less understood the situation by skimming through the log. You’re doing something fun, huh?

Shintaro: Seto, how about you join? Aah, but your ability of “Stealing” reads people’s minds, so you’re not that enthusiastic about it, are you?

Seto: It’s fine from time to time. Lately, I’ve gotten better at using it, so I think I won’t end up reading anything strange.

Ene: In short, you can read people’s feelings through this chatroom, right? It kinda makes my heart race~!

Shintaro: ‘Kay, get on with it now!

Seto: Shintaro-san thought something weird when seeing what Kisaragi-chan wrote earlier.

Momo: Uwah…

Kano: That’s no good, Shintaro-kun.

Kido: Could you not come near us ever again?

Ene: Master, I’m disappointed.

Shintaro: uurRaS SHUT UP, YOU GUYS!! Even if he said it was something weird, you don’t know exactly what it is!! Don’t demean people just from your imaginations!!

Seto: May I say exactly what it was?

Shintaro: By all means, spare me from that…

Ene: Master, you’re utterly unbelievable. You kept complaining about everyone’s abilities, but in the end, you only think about these kinds of things!

Shintaro: W… W-W-W-What about you!? Aren’t you just randomly commenting in-between!?

Ene: That “randomly” is uncalled for! Wasn’t I giving precise follow-ups as Master’s ally!?

Shintaro: You were only booing me, right!? Actually, how are you able to type letters down when you’re in your virtual body?

Ene: Eh~? It’s kinda like “ei”. They come out when I have them in mind.

Shintaro: So it’s random?! In the end, you guys don’t have proper abilit

Ene: Master? Eh? What happene

Kano: Eh? What’s wrong with you tw

Kido: Hey, something’s kinda out of pla

Momo: My body doesn’t mo

Seto: This is

Marry: Evv Everyone, I tried doing it too. How’s my ability? Huh? Did you all fall asleep?

Released on May 2, 2018.
 * -|Scene 9=

''On chapter 9, due to a strange occurrence, Hibiya wound up lost in a forest. Seto makes use of past experiences to give him advice, however… would Hibiya ever be able to return home safely…!?''

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Seto: Oi~ssussu.

Kano: Ah, Seto, good work~. Is your shift over?

Seto: Just ended.

Kano: Buy some pork meat on the way back. Dinner will be ginger grilled pork tonight.

Seto: Got it;

Kano: Counting on you~

Hibiya: My…

Seto: Oh.

Kano: Huh~? Hibiya-kun~! It’s been a while~

Hibiya: Ginger grilled pork, huh… Nice… I’d also wanted to eat something tasty in my last moments…

Seto: Hibiya-kun, what’s wrong?

Kano: What’s this, what’s this~? Could it be you got in a pinch again? A while back, you were locked up and asked for aid in the chatroom, was it?

Hibiya: No, no, as expected, not even I would get in a pinch so often. It’s nothing too terrible.

Seto: Did anything happen?

Hibiya: Yep. I went on a stroll in the woods for a bit, but I fell into a swamp, and only my face and hands are out of it. Help…

Kano: There’s a limit to how terrible things can get!! What’s this!? Why were you walking through the woods!?

Seto: Anyone goes for a walk in the woods.

Kano: No, Seto, that might be just you!

Hibiya: I wasn’t strolling in the woods because I wanted… Stuff happened and my parents confiscated my phone, but I had some business that required me to use the phone no matter what. So I tried taking it out with me in secret, but they caught me. I frantically ran away and, before I noticed, I had gotten to the forest. When I realized it, I was in the swamp…

Seto: I get it. When I run off recklessly, I end up in the woods. It happens, it happens.

Kano: There’s no way it “happens”, is there!? Actually, Hibiya-kun, why did you do something so careless? Did you not get your phone back even after talking it out with your parents?

Hibiya: Well, we had an agreement that they’d return it to me within a month if I at least studied proper and seriously…

Kano: Was your business something so important that it couldn’t wait this long…?

Hibiya: Yeah… The new semester started and I met up with Hiyori at school. And she asked, “Why won’t you reply to my e-mail?”

Kano: Ah~, yes, yes.

Hibiya: Someone like me! Got a mail from Hiyori! I couldn’t handle not being able to confirm this!

Kano: Ah~, hm, I see.

Hibiya: To answer Hiyori’s mail, no matter what… no matter what, I needed my phone…!

Kano: E~rm, well, we understand your reasons. Yup, don’t mind it, don’t mind it.

Hibiya: Aren’t you being kinda random!?

Seto: You two, is it okay for you to be having this kind of talk? The swamp…

Hibiya: Well, I really am in a pinch, please help me. I already can’t breathe from anywhere but my the right side of my nose.

Kano: YOU’RE UP TO THE BREAKING POINT!!! First things first, can’t you move your body somehow to get outta there?

Seto: Wait. Swinging your body around is dangerous. The more strength you apply, the further you’ll gradually get stuck into the swamp.

Hibiya: Eeh!? Then what should I do!? I’m at my limit! I’ve been in this situation for half an hour after all!

Kano: “Half an hour”!? Why didn’t you contact us right away!?

Hibiya: Well, I had a hard time getting my phone outta my underwear…

Kano: Stop making of your underwear the usual place to put your phone in!

Seto: Both of you, easy. Hibiya-kun, take a deep breath. Kano, too, leave your phone for a moment.

Kano: Sorry, I’ve calmed down…

Hibiya: I’ve also tried to take a deep breath with my right nostril…

Seto: Hibiya-kun, are there any sticks nearby? Better be as lengthy as possible.

Hibiya: If it’s tree branches, there’s one beside my face. I have nothing to complain about the length.

Kano: So there was one. That’s kinda convenient.

Seto: It can be that branch.

Kano: What’cha intending to do with it?

Seto: Hold it side by side, push it against the swamp’s surface and get out by dispersing your body weight.

Kano: I see!

Hibiya: ‘Kay, I’ll try it!

Kano: By the way, how come you know something like this, Seto?

Seto: I also got lost in the woods for a bit in the past. I ended up stuck in a swamp, was unable to breathe and had been close to dying. My experience from back them served a purpose, huh?

Kano: Well, hum, it’s the first time I hear about this. You had too great an adventure without me knowing, hadn’t you?

Seto: It wasn’t something worth mentioning.

Kano: No way, you’re so cool…

Hibiya: I did it!! I got outta the swamp!!

Kano: Ooh~! Congratulations!! I’m glad, I’m glad~

Seto: It’s great that you’re unharmed.

Hibiya: But now what do I do…?

Kano: As expected, isn’t it better to go back home?

Seto: Your parents are surely worried.

Hibiya: Even if you say that, I don’t know anymore what the direction of my house was…

Kano: H~m, that’s troublesome…

Seto: Hibiya-kun, can you tell what the direction of the forest was as seen from your home?

Hibiya: Eerm, if I’m certain, it was east-northeast, I guess.

Kano: Eh, aren’t you kinda too knowledgeable? Isn’t this sorta convenient?

Seto: Then you should be able to know the direction from the position of the Sun.

Hibiya: “Direction”?

Kano: Aah, I see! It’s evening now, so the Sun is in the west, right?

Seto: Yes. If the woods were at east as seen from your place, if you go west, as in, towards the direction of the Sun, you’ll definitely get home.

Hibiya: Got it! I’ll try to walk facing the Sun!

Kano: But man, Seto really knows a lot of things…

Seto: I also did this often to return home.

Kano: Aah~, that’s why you’d mostly come back when it was sunny. There was a time you didn’t come home until the next day.

Seto: The time I spent the night in the woods was predictably scary. Even now, I can’t forget the feeling of a bear’s breath against my neck.

Kano: Hm, well, it’s a first for me to be hearing about this too.

Hibiya: Hey. I found something kinda like a weird scratch. The trees are hollowed out.

Seto: Aah, that’s a bear’s doing.

Hibiya: “Bear”!?

Kano: Wai That’s no joke!!

Seto: Forests do have bears. If you’ve spotted the claw marks of a bear, it’s best to walk through the woods while yelling loudly.

Kano: No, no! Bears and the like are dangerous! Hibiya-kun, hurry and run!!

Hibiya: Right, I gotta hurry and run… Uuh… I shouldn’t have come to this place…

Seto: Hibiya-kun, that’s not it.

Hibiya: Eh…?

Kano: Seto…?

Seto: Forests are alive. They will only return to you the same sentiment you feel towards them.

Hibiya: The sentiment I feel… towards the forest?

Seto: It’s because we’re scared of forests that the forests in turn become scared of us and causes us harm.

Kano: What’s with the flow of this talk? Kinda seems like something’s started?

Seto: But we live on through taking away the lives of animals and plants, so forests are our lives themselves. I want you to not forget that.

Hibiya: Master…

Kano: Eh? “Master”?

Hibiya: I’m sorry… I was wrong -ssu.

Kano: Hey, hey, your way of talking just changed, y’know!?

Seto: It’s fine as long as you understand.

Hibiya: I… will stay in the woods for a bit more.

Kano: Eh!?

Seto: Living in the woods is extremely hard.

Hibiya: I’m prepared.

Kano: Eh? Eh? What’re you saying!? Why’re you trying to do something even more reckless!!? Plus, on second thought, if Hibiya-kun used his ability of “Focusing”, wouldn’t he know the way back!?

Seto: Kano, it is how it is.

Kano: Eh, eh, what is?

Hibiya: It seems Master’s words didn’t reach him, huh?

Seto: Too bad.

Kano: Eh? What’s this!? Scary, scary!!

Hibiya: Master! I want to hear more of your stories!

Seto: That’s fine. I also haven’t been to the woods in a while. From this point onward, I wanna talk to you face-to-face. I’m heading there right now. I’ll arrive in the middle of the night.

Kano: Eh, hum…

Hibiya: For you to come all the way here… Thank you very much!

Seto: Tonight, we’ll talk until sunrise.

Seto-san has logged out.

Hibiya-san has logged out.

Kano: No, wait a minute… I’d just… wanted you to buy the pork that we’d use in tonight’s dinner…

Released on May 11, 2018.
 * -|Scene 10=

''On chapter 10, the group members headed for a meeting place on Ayano’s invitation. However, they were by no means able to arrive at their destination…!?''

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Momo: Guys, I’m sorry! I left home late. Looks like I won’t make it in time for the meeting hour.

Kido: What happened, Kisaragi? Some sort of trouble?

Momo: Aah, Danchou-san! The truth is, it was Onii-chan who overslept and wouldn’t come out of the toilet…

Shintaro: My bad.

Momo: Man! At least apologize seriously!

Kido: Shintaro never changes.

Momo: It’s really a pain. I thought about holding it in as I walked, but it’d be terrible if I shit my pants.

Kido: Well, you were probably already having enough trouble with that, so it’s fine. More importantly, you’re an idol, right? What’s that about soiling yourself?

Momo: Ah, sorry, it was on accident. Onii-chan also got angry at me for this a while ago.

Kido: Well, it’s okay to speak however you want. To be honest, it seems we’ll be late too.

Marry: the trin wos lae

Kido: Aah, Marry, no need for you to type. It’ll get confusing.

Momo: The train was late, right?

Kido: Yeah. You’re amazing. You were able to decode that?

Momo: I often talk with Marry-chan on a separate chat! As of now, even if she says nothing but “a” or “u”, I can perfectly understand what she wants to say! By the way, there’s a high possibility that the “a” stands for “Andean Mountains” and the “u” stands for

Kido: I get it. That’s enough. Where are you guys at the moment?

Momo: E~rm, I think we’re not too far from the meeting place… If I’m certain, it was a park with big flower beds, right?

Kido: Yeah, some stuff happened there when we were kids. It’s a place that Nee-san likes.

Shintaro: How unexpected. She’s got interest in flowers?

Kido: No, it’s just that hero shows are held there.

Shintaro: I see, makes sense.

Momo: Ayano-san loves those kinds of things, after all.

Kido: On another note, there are no messages from Nee-san at all. We promised to meet up there, so I wonder if she hasn’t already arrived.

Shintaro: Isn’t she sleeping in or something?

Momo: That’s rude! Onii-chan, she’s not you!

Ayano: I’m here!

Shintaro: Uoh, that was a surprise.

Momo: Ayano-san! I’m sorry, we’re late.

Ayano: It’s okay! Also, good timing!

Momo: What do you mean?

Ayano: Hum, can I change our meeting place?!

Momo: Eh?

Kido: But Nee-san, you’d wanted to go to the park.

Ayano: We can go to the park anytime. Right now, there’s a place I want everyone to come to!

Kido: Well, Nee-san, if you’re fine with this, I don’t mind it.

Momo: We’re okay with it too~.

Ayano: Sorry! I want you to come over here:



Momo: Erm, where is that?

Kido: By the map, it’s not too far from the previous meeting spot, which was the park.

Momo: Ah, then we can get there soon!

Shintaro: Isn’t that a waste factory? Why should we go to such a place?

Ayano: Momo-chan, you’ve said before that you like haunted houses, right? And that you wanted to visit one.

Momo: I did! If I’m not wrong, I pointed that out in some magazine… Eh, did you read it!?

Ayano: Of course!

Momo: Wah~! I’m so happy! I get to try it out with friends!

Kido: Wweiy Wai Hey, I didn’t hear about trying anything out.

Momo: Ah~, Danchou-san, you’re no good with haunted places, huh?

Kido: It’s not like I’m bad at dealing with them or anythi… I’m not bad at dealing with them.

Momo: Great!! Then let’s go!!

Shintaro: Wait a minute. Shintaro-san also hasn’t heard about this.

Momo: By the feeling I got when seeing the map, the road is pretty complicated in this area, isn’t it?

Shintaro: Hey.

Momo: Ayano-san, is there any sort of landmark?

Ayano: Erm, there’s a red sign nearby, so it’ll be okay if you watch out for it when you come over!

Kido: “Red sign”… this kinda gives me a bad feeling.

Momo: It’s okay, Danchou-san! There’s no way Ayano-san would lead us to a place that’s actually dangerous! So please make sure to go. ( ☝ ͡ ° ਊ ͡ °)☝

---

A few hours later…

Ayano: Quite some time has passed. You guys okay?

Momo: Sorry, Ayano-san… I think we’ll take a bit more.

Ayano: Did you find the landmarking red sign?

Momo: Well, about that… I found a red sign, but Onii-chan kept saying “that’s orange”.

Shintaro: It was orange.

Momo: The next sign we found looked brown to me, but Onii-chan said it was red…

Shintaro: No matter how you look at it, the previous one was red!!

Momo: Onii-chan, you also said that the bean-colored one that we found after that was red!

Ayano: You two, calm down. You’ve come up to nearby, right? If you see a sign like that, look over the area…

Momo: No, we’ll go after properly finding the red sign! It’ll feel losing if we do that! My red is redder than Onii-chan’s!

Shintaro: What’d you say!? My red is redder!

Momo: Anyhow, we’re gonna look for a red that both of us can agree on! Please wait a little more!

Ayano: S-Sure…?

Kido: Sorry, Nee-san. We’ll be late too.

Momo: Danchou-san, did something happen?

Kido: Marry was about to be convinced into buying an expensive vase from a street vendor, so we’re all trying to stop her. We’ll take a bit more.

Ayano: Is that so? Everyone, come as soon as possible…

---

A few hours later…

Kido: The Sun has already gone down completely, huh?

Momo: We’ve walked around quite a lot, huh… I’m sorry, Ayano-san. I was contemplating the concept of the color red together with Onii-chan, it got this late before we realized…

Kido: We’re sorry too. In the end, she was almost buying not only a vase but also an expensive painting from the street vendor, so we used up our time negotiating.

Momo: Now we can’t tell the landmark apart all that well either.

Shintaro: Ayano, sorry for having left you waiting, but it’s this late, so let’s leave it to another day.

Ayano: But…

Kido: That’s right. Nee-san, let’s go together next time. If you show us the way, we won’t get lost.

Ayano: ‘Kay…

Momo: Ayano-san! Let’s hang out another time!

Ayano: If Momo-chan says so, let’s leave it to another time.

Kido: Looks like my phone’s battery is about to die.

Momo: It seems our phones are also at their limit, so should we call it a day?

Kido: Be careful on your way home.

Momo: All ri~ght, Danchou-san!

---

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Ayano: Sorry~, guys~. It seems I dropped my phone somewhere so I wasn’t able to get in touch at all! But, everyone, did you go to the meeting place? I couldn’t find any of you. I’m back home now. I’m typing from Dad’s computer. Huh? Guys, who were you talking to until now?

Ene: I just found a wicked headline. Is it related to that?



Released on May 18, 2018.
 * -|Scene 11=

''On chapter 11, Shintaro gets himself in a pinch, but the Leader takes action…!! Will Kido manage to save her precious comrade…!?''

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Shintaro: Why? Why did things turn out like this? Aah, dammit. It’s become a disaster. It’s over for me…

Kido: Hey, Shintaro, what’s up with you? Did something happen?

Shintaro: Kido… I… I… don’t believe in anything anymore… I don’t know what I should do.

Kido: Stay calm, Shintaro. This isn’t like you. Chill out.

Shintaro: As if I can stay calm! It’s already the end…

Kido: I don’t know what happened, but if you’re okay with it, I can listen to what you have to say. I’m the leader, after all. What would I do if I weren’t at least able to listen to the members’ troubles?

Shintaro: Kido…

Kido: If something is impossible to solve with the strength of just one person, two people might be able to pull it off if they help each other. Right?

Shintaro: Aah, it’s just as you said… Sorry, I lost my cool.

Kido: I don’t mind it.

Shintaro: Honestly, our leader is so reliable. That’s right, I have comrades. These comrades are called the Mekakushi-dan…

Kido: So, what on Earth happened?

Shintaro: Aah, Kido. Seeing as you are the leader, I have a favor to ask.

Kido: By that attitude, you’re on quite a pinch, huh? I’ll lend you strength.

Shintaro: I’m in your debt. Kido, could you bring some toilet paper over to my restroom?

Kido-san has logged out.

Shintaro: No, it’s really, really, really bad, seriously. Please, please, please, please.

Kido-san has been invited in. Kido-san has been invited in. Kido-san has been invited in.

Kido: Don’t keep notifying me over and over. I’ll sue you for chat harassment. People can go out when they please. Though, in your case, it’s more like you’re letting something out.

Shintaro: It’s no time to be talking smart, for real! Weren’t you gonna help a member with his pinch?!!

Kido: I gotta decide on that based on the timing and circumstances, right? What’s with that messed-up favor?

Shintaro: Like I said, I need toilet—

Kido: Enough. Don’t say it all. Either way, you’re in some ridiculous situation where you only realized that you were out of paper after going into the toilet and finishing your business or something like that, aren’t you?

Shintaro: As expected of Danchou. It’s just like you guessed. The cores of toilet papers shouldn’t be so thick. They make you think that there’s still something there.

Kido: You just had to check it when you were going in, right? Honestly, it’s always “toilet this, toilet that” with you. Shouldn’t you pick a different joke material by now?

Shintaro: This ain’t a performance! I’m really in a pinch!

Kido: Isn’t your family home? What about Kisaragi?

Shintaro: No, Mom and Momo are home, but it’s difficult to ask them that.

Kido: Now, shall I log out…

Shintaro: AAAAAAAA. Please, have mercy… please, forgive me…

Kido: It’ll be done with if you just call out to them from the bathroom, right?

Shintaro: I don’t want my family to know!! My lifeline is the chatroom alone…

Kido: You say you don’t want them to know, but Kisaragi is in the chatroom, isn’t she? If you keep talking, she’ll eventually notice.

Shintaro: No, at this time of the day, she’s watching videos of people attempting to do random stuff, so she doesn’t pay attention to the chat. If I erase this log later, we can accomplish the mission without a trace.

Kido: You use your head so wastefully… How about making that speck useful for other things?

Shintaro: Don’t say something so cold. Kido, I’m counting on you!

Kido: You’re a hopeless man. I just got back from shopping. I had bought some toilet paper by chance.

Shintaro: For real!?

Kido: Plus, I’m coincidentally close to your place. Honestly, you’re a lucky guy.

Shintaro: The Heavens sided with me…! My bad, but bring it over as soon as possible! My ass will get dry.

Kido: Don’t report it in detail, it’s gross… ah.

Shintaro: What’s up? Have you arrived?

Kido: I have, but your mother just came out of the house. I had been intending to pretend that I had some business with Kisaragi to make her let me in. No choice. Guess I’ll ring the chime and call Kisaragi.

Shintaro: No, wait! If she finds out that I’m stuck in the toilet and asked for toilet paper, it’ll be over…

Kido: But there’s no option other than explaining the circumstances, right? Why’re you so reluctant?

Shintaro: Some time ago, something like this happened once… Back then, I asked Momo the favor. She did give me the toilet paper, but the scornful eyes she looked at me with… as if she didn’t think of me as anything but meek dirt that accumulated over the corridor… I can’t forget those eyes. I can’t think of it as the kind of gaze someone would direct at their actual older brother…

Kido: How exaggerated. Well, I get it. I’ll think of another way.

Shintaro: Thanks…

Kido: Though, entering someone’s house without permission is awkward. Besides, it’s locked. Any ideas?

Shintaro: The window.

Kido: “Window”? Don’t tell me… The toilet’s window?

Shintaro: I will now squeeze my last ounce of strength to open the lock from inside. Kido, you open the window from the outside, and get the toilet paper in one way or another!

Kido: Looks like this is the only way… Don’t show me anything filthy.

Shintaro: I’ll be careful.

Kido: The toilet’s window is the one to the right side of the door?

Shintaro: Yeah, that’s right.

Kido: Its position is on a higher spot than I had thought… It’d be good if there were something like a pole here…

Shintaro: There’s no way we’d have a pole in our house’s surroundings.

Kido: No, I found one.

Shintaro: We have it? That’s kinda handy.

Kido: The length is also nothing to complain about. I can open the window with this. Unlock it, Shintaro!

Shintaro: All right, here it is. Uoooooh! It’s unlocked!!

Kido: Yeah, I could catch a glimpse of your black hair just now. Quite a shocking image.

Shintaro: Don’t go making improper observations about my hair!

Kido: ‘Kay, now I just gotta use this pole…

Shintaro: Oh! Ooh! It’s little by little, but the window is opening! Seems like just a bit more and the toilet paper will get through! Do your best, Kido!

Kido: Ah.

Shintaro: Hm? What’s going on? Why did you stop?

Kido: This is bad. Looks like the kids of the neighborhood are gonna pass by here. There’s no way I can let them see me like this.

Shintaro: Eh? Hey.

Kido: My bad, Shintaro. Do something about it on your own.

Shintaro: Wai—

Kido: See ya. Will be hoping for your success.

Shintaro: Wait up.

Kido-san has logged out.

Shintaro: No, there was no need for you to log out, right?!!!! Also, use your ability!!!! I wanted!!!! You to have at least closed the window!!!!

Momo: Huh ? Onii-chan, you’re in the toilet? Don’t you wanna get out of there already?

Shintaro: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Shintaro-san has logged out.

Released on May 25, 2018.
 * -|Scene 12=

''Chapter 12 has been uploaded!! Seto and Marry started cleaning up the hideout. Their objective was… Kano’s weak point!? Inside his room, there was a closed drawer. What lay inside of it was…!? Please make sure to check it out!!''

Mekakushi-dan Chatroom

Momo: Hello~

Seto: Hello-ssu.

Momo: Huh?! Seto-san, your reply was quick! Are you on a day off from your part-time job?

Seto: That’s right.

Momo: Then you can take it easy, yeah~? You always seem busy with work, after all.

Seto: Ditto Kisaragi-san. You work as an idol. It’s commendable.

Momo: No, no~. It doesn’t feel much like working. I attend school, and I have proper days off. Seto-san, aren’t you on your part-time job nearly every day? Please take it slow today, okay?

Seto: To tell the truth, I can’t take it slow.

Momo: Eh? Did something happen?

Seto: I’m about to clean up the hideout now.

Momo: Eeh!? Didn’t we all clean it up just a while ago?!

Seto: Yeah, everyone cooperated back then, so it was helpful.

Momo: I was appalled~. It was like those garbage houses that appear on TV.

Seto: It’s something you surprisingly don’t notice when you’re living there.

Momo: Is that really so~?

Seto: But the rainy season is almost here. It’ll be a disaster if we don’t clean up frequently.

Momo: Aah~, I see. If some new species of virus appeared and got you sick, it’d be terrible…

Seto: That’s right… A while ago, we only cleaned up the trash sitting outside, but this time, I’ll be keeping everything tidy and in order.

Momo: Don’t tell me you’re going to do the cleaning alone?

Seto: No, Marry will help too. We were actually all going to do it together, but it seems Kido and Kano had some business to do.

Momo: The hideout is pretty big, so it’ll be a hassle with just two people.

Seto: I thought about waiting for them to come home, but we’re going to clean at least the living room.

Momo: Please do your best! A-And, if you find anything interesting, please tell me!

Seto: I don’t know about interesting stuff, but we did find something nostalgic.

Momo: Eh? What was it?

Seto: A plushie that Kido used to own in the past.

Momo: Plushie…! Danchou-san had a plushie…! How cute…!

Seto: One of these days, Nee-chan brought it here from our house. It’s something she cherished ever since she was small.

Momo: Heeh~!

Seto: It seems Nee-chan didn’t want stuffed toys all that much since long ago, so the instant Mom and Dad found out that Kido liked those, they bought it to her with pleasure.

Momo: I also have dolls that I’ve been given in the past. Their dress-up clothes weren’t very much my type, so I sewed up fabrics together to make some. I’d also arrange their hairstyles. If Danchou-san likes that, I’ll show them to her next time~

Seto: I’m sure she’ll be glad. She normally won’t say that she’d want to see that kind of stuff.

Momo: Even though it’s okay for her to honestly say she likes it~

Seto: Kano is to blame because he teases her.

Marry: unnforgivible

Momo: Ah, Marry-chan. Eh, what’s wrong? What do you mean by “unforgivable”?

Seto: As always, you understand very well what Marry says.

Momo: It’s practice, practice! The rest is that thing called women’s intuition!

Marry: Kano, unforgivible. I’ll get revinge.

Momo: “Revenge”!? What happened, Marry-chan!?

Seto: She was teased by Kano again yesterday.

Momo: Kano-san did that!? Man~! He’s always bullying Marry-chan!

Seto: Kano is the way he is, so I think he was showing affection towards Marry. Though I can’t say decisively that he has no ill intentions.

Momo: Limits exist. Limits!

Marry: revenge

Momo: Yep! Let’s avenge you, Marry-chan!

Seto: No way… Nothing’s born out of revenge, except for more avengers…

Momo: No, she won’t go with the heavy kind, just give him a payback!

Marry: i’ll search for kano’s weak pointt

Momo: “Weak point”, huh~. Seto-san, do you know what Kano-san’s weak point is?

Seto: His weak point? Let’s see… He seems to feel pain when Kido hits him.

Momo: That’s valid for everyone! Speaking of which, even being hit by Danchou-san is because Kano-san does unnecessary things, right? They really do have to pay him back!

Seto: Hu~m… But a weak point…

Momo: This calls for that kind of thing, doesn’t it? Pretending you’re cleaning up, and then secretly getting into his room…

Seto: We can’t just enter someone’s room without permission.

Marry: revenge

Momo: See, see, Marry-chan is also saying it! I’m telling you it’s fine! It’s just rummaging around the shelves a little and sneaking a peek!

Seto: The part about rummaging around the shelves is already out of the line.

Marry: revenge

Seto: Aah, Marry has turned into a revenge demon… She went into Kano’s room in no time.

Momo: Hey, Seto-san, you go after her too!

Seto: Uugh…

Kido: What’s with you guys? Weren’t you cleaning up?

Momo: Ah! Danchou-san! We were looking for Kano-san’s weak point.

Kido: Good. By all means, do as you want.

Seto: You don’t have even the slightest intention of stopping them, huh…

Marry: I foud his seecret nrawer

Momo: “Secret drawer”!?

Seto: It’s a locked drawer.

Momo: Aah, that’s definitely the place where he keeps those kinds of books. He’s the worst.

Kido: Yeah, it’s definitely those kinds of books. Truly filthy.

Seto: S-Stop it, you two! For men, this sort of thing is really inevitable…

Kano: Hey~. Everyone, what’cha doing~?

Momo: Uwah, here’s the Ero-Demon.

Kido: Filthy Ero-Demon. You sure did manage to come out under the sunlight.

Kano: Eh, eh, what!? Hah!? What do you mean by “ero”!?

Seto: They’re talking about what’s inside the drawer in your room, Kano. The locked drawer.

Kano: Haaah!? Eh!? Did you open it!?

Seto: No, we didn’t.

Momo: We can tell that much without opening it. How very dirty of you. I’m disillusioned.

Kido: Never cross the threshold of our house again.

Kano: Wa-Wa-Wait a minute! That’s a misunderstanding!

Momo: Then what’s inside?

Kano: Well, that’s…

Momo: All right, this is a black fla~g.

Kido: Completely black. No room for arguments.

Seto: While we were at it, Marry found the key.

Kano: GYAAAAAA!!!! WHAT’RE YOU DOING?!!!! SETO, IF YOU’RE SEEING THAT, THEN STOP HER!!!!

Seto: Kano… I’m sorry.

Kano: TRAITOR!!! Hey, there’s something really bad there!!

Momo: Marry-chan, open it to your heart’s contentment!

Marry: Ii’ll open.

Kano: He-He-Hey, wai—wait, wait.

Seto: A book out.

Kano: AAAAAAAAA

Kano-san has logged out.

Kido: He fled, huh.

Momo: For him to panic so much… Isn’t it really his weak point? As we thought, isn’t it that kind of book!?

Seto: No, ah—. It’s an album.

Momo: “Album”? Kano-san’s?

Seto: Our family album.

Momo: Wha~t? Isn’t that nothing to be embarrassed of?

Kido: Frankly, he’s not honest at all.

Seto: I don’t think it’s Kido’s place to talk about others in that matter.

Kido: Shut up. I’m also going home now. Since it looks like the cleaning isn’t progressing.

Seto: We’ll be waiting.

Momo: I also gotta clean up after seeing this talk! That’s what I thought. I’m going to tidy up my room for a bit~

Seto: That’s great. Now, then…

Marry: On more.

Seto: Marry.

Marry: I foud one more.

Seto: Marry, stop it already.

Marry: A different book.

Seto: MARRY!! STOP IT ALREADY!!!

Trivia

 * The first edition of this volume comes with the song "Tomodachi no Uta Radio Ver." by Jin sung by Momo.