Asumu
Please sit in a well-lit room, at a comfortable distance, when watching.
Hibiki is a man who transforms into an Oni and saves people.
Since meeting him, something within me, Adachi Asumu, has begun to change.
Shortly after starting high school,
I had intense stomach pains and was taken to the hospital.
Now I'm lying in a hospital bed.
And as for Hibiki...
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Volume Fourteen
Devouring Douji
Ibuki!
Where is he?
He's on the move again.
I see...
Let's hurry after him.
Hm?
So, that's him?
Hibiki!
Ibuki!
He got you, huh?
Yeah, a bit.
And you, Akira?
I'm fine.
Alright.
Hinaka should be here soon, so let's regroup when she arrives.
Okay.
Hang in there, Asumu!
Operation in Progress
A mutation, huh?
Indeed.
This cannibal type is identified as a Deranged Douji in the same book we found the previous Warrior Douji.
I see.
So, is there a strategy to counter it?
Nope.
The text only provides its name.
If I were to hazard a guess...
Go on.
These might be experiments.
Experiments?
Yeah.
It looks like they're harkening back to older cases in an attempt to create stronger Makamou and defeat Oni.
Was it created cannibalistic on purpose, though?
There's no way of knowing whether that was the intended result,
or whether it's cannibalistic because the experiment failed.
True.
Well, it seems to have taken damage from Ibuki's sound attacks, so...
Yeah.
We'll team up to defeat it using our sound attacks.
Hitomi?
Tomizou?!
It really is you, Hitomi!
Long time no see!
Yeah! Since last New Year's, right?
Yup. But why are you here?
Oh, I'm visiting my hospitalized mentor.
What about you?
A friend of mine collapsed during class.
A friend from school?
Yeah.
Wait, is that taxi driver lady your friend's mother?
That's right...
Alright, how about we try asking at the reception desk?
Okay?
Thanks.
Just what I'd expect from a policeman.
Say, Ibuki.
Yes?
If it dislodged the Oni Stones,
I don't think I'll be able to attach my taiko drum that easily.
The way it is now.
That's true...
The strong ones use willpower to repel things like taiko drums and Oni Stones.
Then we need to weaken it, or nothing will work...
Yup.
That's why the three of us will join forces!
- Right. - Right.
You two are really in sync, huh?
- Yeah, I guess so. - Yeah, I guess so.
There's just something beautiful about the master-apprentice relationship.
It's wonderful.
Isn't it, Hibiki?
Well, it's not like I ever said it was a bad thing, y'know!
I suppose.
Really?
Really!
I just don't think I'd do well with an apprentice.
Is that why?
But y'know, if you ask me, Asumu would be great...
...as your apprentice!
What a waste!
It is a waste, geez.
What, even you, Akira?
Oh, not really.
Akira, you should get along with the boy and have yourself a great school life.
No, I'm good.
That's not good at all, Akira!
Ms. Adachi!
Hitomi.
Ah, thank you for earlier.
Not at all.
How is he...?
He has acute appendicitis...
He's in surgery now.
Operation in Progress
It looks like he'll be hospitalized for a few days.
Really?
Oh, but please come visit him a lot.
It'll cheer him up.
I will.
By the way, is he a friend of yours?
He's my cousin, Todayama.
I see!
Uh...
This is Tachibana's.
It's Mochida Hitomi.
Oh, hey, Hitomi.
Sorry, I've got a cold.
Okay...
Yeah...
Ah, Hibiki and the others are out on a job...
Eh?
Asumu is...?
We're counting on you!
Asumu was hospitalized!
Ehh? He was?!
Ominous
322...
323...
324...
325...
326...
Still...
You must be worried about Asumu.
Yeah.
I mean, he just started high school.
That's true.
- 329! - Food's ready!
Let's go eat, Ibuki.
Yes, let's.
I'm starved.
Hitomi?
Yes?
Are you enjoying high school?
Yeah... I am, definitely.
I see.
And, well, I joined the cheerleading club.
Oh, really!
Wait, what about the drama club?
I feel like I've grown out of it.
Is that so?
It looks like my son still hasn't joined the band yet.
I guess not.
I thought we'd have a good time together, with him in the band and me cheerleading, but...
Sheesh, what'll we do with him?
With this happening, though,
I'm glad he won't have extra things to catch up on.
To Asumu
Young master Asumu,
I'm off to work.
I'll come again in the evening.
Mom.
Good morning.
How are you feeling?
Still in pain?
A little.
I see.
Shall we go to the bathroom?
Huh?
You're young, so moving around as much as possible will help you heal.
Okay.
Take it slowly.
Congratulations on your release from the hospital.
Thanks for all you've done, Todayama.
Not at all.
I'd like to drop by Ishii in room 306 for a bit.
Okay. I'll wait in the car.
Thanks.
I'm sorry.
These take some getting used to.
Hup!
Another miss.
Ours too.
There's a lot of area to search, after all.
Let's keep at it.
- Yes. - Okay!
Whoa, hey, what the—!
Geez, these guys sure like narrow spaces!
Sorry.
They are cute, though.
We've got a hit, Hibiki!
Really?!
First time hospitalized?
Yes.
Since yesterday, because of my appendix.
It's almost as if we've switched places.
I was released today.
Ah... okay.
You in middle school?
No, first year of high school.
So, right after you started, huh?
Yeah.
Well, don't rush things.
Okay.
Take care.
Okay.
You are a failure.
We will eliminate you.
It should be nearby.
Hibiki.
Those are...
An Otoroshi's...
Guess that makes twice in a hundred years.
Let's go!
- Right! - Right!
Alright.
Ibuki!
Got it!
Ibuki!
Akira!
Ibuki!
Right!
Hibiki!
Alright...
Explosive Strike Style!
Explosive
Strike
Explosive Strike
Explosive
Strike
Good work.
You too.
Good work.
Devouring Douji
For some reason, you feel empty…
Everything seems to have no meaning…
Is that how the world seems?
Boy! If you've set out on a journey…
Hold your head high, even in the pouring rain...
Hit the beat! Keep your beat!
Trust in the rhythm that has struck your heart.
Hit the beat! Keep your beat!
Live life your way, and yours alone.
That is your resonance!
All that's left is to finally become an Oni, huh, Akira?
Don't tell me it's another Warrior Douji.
The enemy is a Yamaarashi,
so we'll need a stringed-instrument user.
Let's go, Todayama.
Right.
Volume Fifteen
Dwindling Thunder
Volume Fifteen: Dwindling Thunder.