Mystery - Page 54

While still in high school, Shinomiya Ryouma is consumed by the need to accumulate a billion yen to pay for his beloved sister's crucial medical treatment. Then, out of the blue, he encounters a woman shrouded in mystery who challenges him with the question: "What would you sacrifice for your desires?" She then provides him with a ticket, and in no time, he is struck by a tragic event. Upon regaining consciousness, he realizes that he has undergone a transformation into a female and now must contend with a life-and-death "game." His triumph would restore his fortune but defeat would mean certain death!

Akira Takashiro and Eiji Kudou had made a bet ahead of the highly-anticipated inter high basketball tournament: whoever scored the most points would win the heart of long-time crush, Miku Aizawa. But their friendly competition was abruptly halted by a devastating earthquake, which left Akira unconscious. When he awakens, he discovers that his school has been overrun by grotesque monsters, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake. Where had Eiji disappeared to amidst the chaos? And what was causing these monstrous beings to attack? As Akira searches for answers, he uncovers shocking truths and realizes that there may be more to this catastrophe than what meets the eye - perhaps even sinister government involvement.

Cain, a young nobleman, navigates the dimly-lit and labyrinthine streets of 19th century London. Born into the upper echelon of society, he takes on the mantle of earl and assumes leadership of the Hargreaves family, whose reputation is steeped in mystery and scandal following the untimely death of his father. His loyal manservant, Riff, and his ten-year-old half-sister, Mary Weather, accompany Cain as he unravels the mysterious crimes that seem to lurk at every corner. Bonus Chapter: Chapter 5: The Sabbath of Solomon Grundy

With her parents dead or missing, Azuma has been taken into her uncle's family. However her new family has been harshly abusing her, to the point she has become so mentally unstable she developed the rare syndrome of Alice in Mirrorland, which makes her see things that shouldn't be there reflected on mirrors, water, glass, etc. Everything begins when the things she sees start affecting the real world directly, and the barrier between reality and illusion breaks apart. Welcome to the world at the other side of the mirror. Welcome to wonderland.

Sydney was on a college club trip to a rural village when a mysterious power transformed him into a woman. Determined to turn back, he soon finds himself helplessly addicted to the overwhelming pleasure of his new female body.

Sydney was on a college club trip to a rural village when a mysterious power transformed him into a woman. Determined to turn back, he soon finds himself helplessly addicted to the overwhelming pleasure of his new female body.

Ever since they were little, twins Itsuka and Rika could see what others could not. At first, they believed that they were seeing ghosts and spirits, but when they turned 14 they realized everything. They realized that what they saw was the depiction of regret and self-disgust in people who know that they did something wrong. They see these disturbing images whether they wanted to or not, so in many cases their curiosity leads them into trouble. In every case, these two try to bring peace to the person who holds the dark secrets.

When a crime involves the use of "magic," apprehending the perpetrator becomes a challenging task. One fateful day, Anne - an investigator serving the royal palace - crosses paths with a remarkable boy, capable of consuming supernatural energy to assist in cases related to sorcery.

When humanity dwindles to a minuscule size, Alice and her trusty companion, Poco, must confront the daunting task of adapting to their new reality. Amidst bizarre, yet familiar landscapes, they strive to build a new life for themselves. But navigating a world that is now larger and more treacherous than ever proves to be a challenging feat.

A story about a possessor in a book who would even commit murder to achieve their goals. Brinny, who lived in compliance with her stepfather, thought it was something that had nothing to do with her—until she got entangled in an incident with the sickly 2nd Prince, Lucian. In a moment of crisis, Brinny uses her immense strength to save Lucian and feels relieved when she sees that the possessor ‘Aridna’ has been captured, believing everything has been resolved. But somehow, her beloved sister and the 1st Prince die in a carriage accident, and afterwards, even her now-fiancé Lucian starts acting strangely. Wasn’t the possessor executed in the past? Could ‘Aridna’ still be alive? Determined to fill the void left by her lost loved ones, Brinny makes up her mind. She will fight against the possessor.

Yoshio, a 30-year old NEET, received an anonymous package containing a game disk called "The Village of Fate," a breathtaking CG game with real-life visuals. In the game, Yoshio is designated as the god of destiny who has the power to guide high-functioning AIs - the villagers - that behave astonishingly like real humans. However, Yoshio's sole capability in the game is to provide a daily message or prophecy. The villagers dutifully follow his instructions and their gratitude fuels the god of destiny's power to perform miracles. Despite living as a recluse, Yoshio is revered as God in the game. Ultimately, the villagers teach him the joys of life, while he, in turn, saves them from peril.

Presented in this book are nine of Junji Ito's top short stories, handpicked by the author himself and given insightful notes and comments. The featured stories are: 1. Secondhand Record (Chuuko Record, 中古レコード) 2. Chills (Samuke, 寒気) 3. Model Look (ファッションモデル) 4. Hung Balloons (Kubitsuri Kikyuu, 首吊り気球) 5. Puppet Mansion (Ayatsuri Yashiki, あやつり屋敷) 6. Artist (Gaka, 画家) 7. The Never-Ending Dream (Nagai Yume, 長い夢) 8. Venerated Ancestors (Gosenzo-sama, ご先祖様) 9. Slathered (グリセリド) 10. Model Look: Cursed Frame (Fashion Model: Norowareta Framing, ファッションモデル・呪われたフレーミング) [new]