Nanao Nanao – författare

In the town of Utsuwa, bizarre phenomena like trains not stopping and people vanishing continue unabated. When an incident involving the sudden disappearance of a head teacher at a kindergarten occurs, the threesome of Yue, Tougo, and Akira undertake the investigation. But while seeking out the fate of the missing teacher, the boys are unexpectedly attacked by a mysterious young man. Introducing himself as Sagano, the young man addresses Yue: "I need you to give me back my body"--

Yue struggles with the knowledge that the town of Utsuwa was created by Shin for the sole purpose of ensuring a source of sustenance for the local ayakashi. Akiyoshi too begins to have doubts about his friendship with Yue, who spends so much of his time with the ayakashi. Meanwhile, Tougo finds himself on the menu for a stray's ultimate Meal!!

Although Sagano requests his help in tracking down and taking out the ayakashi, Akiyoshi is more intent on finding a way the ayakashi and humans can talk. And following Yue's rescue of Tsubaki from the clutches of anakujiki, Tougo's father, startled by the sight of Yue, utters the name "Yoshiki." What exactly is the connection between this Yoshiki, to whom it seems Tougo owes his life, and Yue? And what about the relationship between Yoshiki and Tougo's mother?! The secret behind the Meal is at long last revealed...

Both the Akujiki and Sagano descend upon the shrine of Utsuwa, now with its protective lamp out of commission and its barrier a distant memory. To save the captured Tsubaki, Yue goes up into the shrine with Akiyoshi, where he learns about the ties that bind ayakashi annihilator Sagano, Mikoto, and Shin, and the truth of the past that lies between the three. The beginning of the thread begins to unravel...

Satou declares a change in Tougo's fate: in order for Mikoto, the master of the ayakashi, to regain her power, Tougo will be sacrificed to the camellia pond. Held prisoner, the unconscious Tougo weeps in his dreams over his mother Akane's betrayal in running off with the mysterious Yoshiki. Will Abe-san and Company, tasked with Tougo, who is immersed in bleak thoughts, be unable to resist the temptation of a three-star Meal?! The truth looms ever closer...

Within the barrier, Yue is up against an unexpected foe in his attempt to rescue Tougo-his dear friend Kurogitsune. To force Yue's hand in taking a Meal and saving himself, Kurogitsune casts Tougo into the camellia pond. But upon rushing after the helpless captive, Yue is confronted by the age-old conflict between the desire to protect and the desire to consume that befalls all humans who assume the role of yorishiro. What path will Yue choose?