The brain processes the information gathered by the eyes or ears
and presents it within the realm of consciousness.
But the brain of a human being is tricky.
It is not only careless, but it also has a lot of pride,
so it will not admit when it doesn't know something.
When this happens,
the brain will attempt to persuade itself
by piecing together a plausible scenario for the person concerned
based on what is already known.
Throughout this process, we tend to disregard the accuracy,
and unconsciously build a narrative based on common beliefs and traditions
that aligns with what the concerned one
wishes to see, believe,
and find most logical.
Mysterious things that are hard to understand and for which no one
has an answer will be seen as acts of ones that do not exist in this world.
So, the first thing you might do
when you see a monster is to ask yourself,
Ikebukuro Police Station
"Is this monster actually a result of reality projection?"
That's right.
There are no mysterious things in this world.
The Mononoke Lecture Logs of Chuzenji-sensei
- He Just Solves All the Mysteries -
Showa 23rd Year
Delicious!
It's super puffy.
Why is honeycomb toffee so tasty?
Looks like you grabbed a snack on your way to school again.
I just bought it because it looked so delicious!
Geez.
Seaweed
Groceries
Hardware
Dried goods
Kanna, the bus is here.
Skeletal Inside the Well
Okay, I'll be right over.
I will have this.
Thank you for your purchase.
Sorry, Shizue.
You get on the bus first.
Bus Stop
Kanna?
Did something happen?
You dropped your things.
Kanna, hurry up!
- Bye. - Huh?
Thank you.
I caught up!
Goodness, what are you doing?
Because I couldn't just ignore it.
Tokyo Metropolitan Mitogawa High School
This is Tokyo Metropolitan Mitogawa High School.
Watch Where You Walk
Since April of last year, the old school system
has been replaced by the new one.
So now we are in our second year at this high school with new system.
Good morning.
Kanna.
What's wrong?
Are you feeling unwell?
Actually…
Sachiko seems to have seen a ghost.
Huh? A ghost?
Last night,
Shingo and I
were thinking about heading to the library in the old school building.
But then…
What if we get caught?
Don't worry.
There is no one in the school at this time.
Shingo.
W-Who's there?
It doesn't look like a patrolling guard.
Could it be a thief?
Library
Huh?
No one is here.
There are no other paths
in that corridor.
He should have gone into the library.
We thought it might be
the rumored library ghost.
Library ghost?
Haven't you heard about it?
I don't really know much about ghost stories.
It is said that 30 years ago,
the school fired a teacher of Japanese class unilaterally.
So he harbored resentment toward the school.
In the end, he killed himself.
After that,
the ghost of that teacher was often seen in the old school building.
It is said that anyone who saw him
- would die in a month! - No!
D-Die?
Is this true?
- Of course, it is true. - So scary.
- Everyone is talking about it. - So scary.
So, did you tell the teacher?
Perhaps they might know something.
How am I supposed to tell them?
Spending time alone with a guy late at night.
Well, you're right.
What should I do?
I'm going to die because of the curse.
I don't want to die.
Sachiko.
She said it was a ghost.
But…
Sachiko looked really scared.
Can I do something for her?
A pouch?
Someone's pouch fell.
Thank goodness!
That's mine.
Great.
Uh…
That pouch
is actually mine.
Huh?
Wait a minute!
That's mine! Give it back to me quickly!
Um…
Take a closer look.
This is a woman's pouch, right?
Indeed. So…
Wait.
That's my wife's pouch.
This morning, I accidentally took it.
I-I see.
Stop talking nonsense!
Because my wife is sick,
she asked me to keep it for her!
Huh?
I'm in a hurry!
Hurry up and give it back to me!
B-But…
That's mine!
It's mine!
So whose is this?
Is that pouch's pendant
a komainu?
Komainu?
Yes, it's a komainu.
Because I like dogs the most.
Stop talking nonsense!
I made it myself!
I carved it while gazing at the komainu
when my wife and I visited the shrine!
Which shrine is that?
Well…
I think it was a shrine in Saitama.
I-I don't quite remember.
It's Tomioka Hachimangu!
I bought it there!
I see.
What's the point of asking such a question?
First,
the suit-wearing man over there.
You're not the owner of the pouch.
Huh?
There is no more room in your bag for a pouch
because it is already full.
And it's a bit too big to fit in your pocket.
Then how did you carry it with you?
Well…
Tsk.
Darn, what a buzzkill!
Oh,
you mentioned that you carved the pendant on your own.
Are you a woodcarver?
Y-Yeah.
I carve Buddha statues for a living.
That pendant looks like
a wolf or a komainu, right?
Yeah.
It is unique because that shrine uses a wolf as komainu,
so I carved one for my wife.
There's a Mitsumine Shrine in Chichibu City, Saitama.
That shrine reveres wolves as deities and faithfully worships them.
Really?
Mitsumine Shrine!
That's right, it's there! I miss it so much!
Stop talking nonsense!
You don't have any evidence!
There might be proof inside the pouch if you need it.
Huh?
With that size,
there're definitely omamori in there.
How does he know that
when he hasn't even looked inside?
Mitsumine Shrine
There really are omamori inside!
Darn!
Thank you, girl.
That's great.
Luckily, it was returned to the real owner.
That being said,
he can tell a lot from the pendant alone.
Um…
Thank you for…
Who is that person, anyway?
Huh?
Sachiko is absent?
Yeah.
I heard Hanayo went to pick her up this morning.
But Sachiko said she didn't want to come to school.
Sachiko's mother also asked me about that.
But I can't mention that Sachiko was with a boy in the classroom at night.
It's really a headache.
Is Sachiko okay?
Everyone, please return to your seats!
We will introduce a new teacher to you all today.
Oh, really.
Now is not the time to introduce a new teacher.
Chuzenji
...hiko
As of today, I will teach Japanese class for the time being.
I'm Chuzenji Akihiko.
T-That person is…
What's wrong with you?
It's nothing.
Students, please introduce yourselves.
It's not necessary.
Huh?
My job is to teach Japanese.
It's not necessary to know the detailed information of each student.
Huh?
W-What's with him?
Well, let's get started with the class.
R-Right.
Then, I leave the rest to you.
The Mononoke Lecture Logs of Chuzenji-sensei
- He Just Solves All the Mysteries -
The fledglings were chirping loudly,
creating a lively atmosphere
as they moved back and forth in front of people,
which was rather entertaining.
Kouda.
Yes?
What is different about this passage
from the last Montaigne's dialogue?
Huh?
I-I don't know.
There is no definitive correct answer to this comparison
as one of them falls under sensory expression.
It is part of the learning to think about the answer.
Get your answer ready before the next class.
O-Okay!
That's it for today.
Chuzenji-sensei is so scary.
Yeah, he doesn't really get angry out of nowhere,
but the vibe he gives off feels pretty intense.
But he kind of feels like Ryunosuke Akutagawa.
Don't you think he's quite cool?
I can't just ignore this.
If I understand the real nature of the ghost,
Sachiko might be relieved.
Just head up this part and then take a right turn,
I will see the library there.
A-A ghost?
Library
I have to confirm.
How come?
I did see someone just now.
There was also the sound of someone walking in after the door opened.
Is there really a ghost?
Am I going to die too?
Help!
What are you doing here?
Uh.
Huh?
Chuzenji-sensei?
It has been quite a while since we wrapped up school.
You're
Kusakabe Kanna from class 2-1, right?
I'm not sure what brings you here,
but it might be a good idea to head home soon.
Because
there was a ghost here just now.
Huh?
But…
So I searched the library.
But I didn't see that person.
I see.
I have heard that anyone
who sees that ghost will die within a month.
That ghost
is probably me.
What?
Huh?
So
that ghost is me.
Huh?
What does this mean?
You said so, right?
Just head up the stairs and take a right turn,
you can see the library.
There are no other paths.
Y-Yeah.
Come with me.
Huh?
Library
Take a closer look at this wall.
Huh?
This wall?
What is this place?
It's the book preparation room.
While you and your classmates
thought I went to the library,
I was actually in this preparation room.
I can't believe there's such a room here.
After all, very few people know about this room.
But why it was built in such a place that is hard to notice?
It's all to respond to censorship.
Yasuda-sensei, who retired in this spring, has been firmly against
the censorship of books that occurred during the wartime and postwar periods.
So, he changed the door to the preparation room in this manner
to hide some rare books and borrowed cards that were about to be penalized.
After all, most books that could attract the attention of censorship agencies
are now extremely rare.
The principal knew what was going on,
so I asked for permission and was able to read these books.
So, neither Sachiko nor I will be cursed and killed.
I feel relieved.
There are no mysterious things
in this world.
Kusakabe.
Let's wrap up our conversation here.
I have got some things I am curious about and want to look into.
You shall head home soon.
By the way,
I will help you keep this a secret.
And you are forbidden from telling others about this room.
Why?
This room feels really cozy.
I don't want others to know.
Um.
Can I tell just one person?
No.
Because the secret could get out anywhere.
In that case,
I'm afraid I can't promise you.
Well,
I remember your father is a doctor, right?
S-So what?
I wonder what he would think if he knew you broke into school late at night.
Huh?
A-Are you threatening me?
Do you mean I should keep quiet
if I don't want my parents to find out?
I'm making a deal with you.
We both want to have a calm school life, right?
Even so,
I still can't agree to it.
Seems like you can be pretty stubborn as well.
No matter what happens to me,
I can't let Sachiko be scared any longer.
Sachiko is really afraid that she might die.
When I see her like that,
I can't ignore it.
I see.
Then I'll think of another way.
Really?
However,
it could require some effort from you.
You wouldn't mind, would you?
G-Good morning.
What's wrong?
Oh, come on.
We all know now.
I heard you exorcised the library ghost.
Kanna, is this true?
U-Uh…
Um, if I have to say,
I guess it's true.
Awesome. It's true.
I didn't know you had that ability.
It's nothing.
Kanna,
when did you first discover that ability?
Um…
By chance.
It has come to this after all.
So what is the other way?
It's very simple.
A solution will do.
A solution?
The unresolved mystery creates a sense of unease,
prompting some individuals to feel the urge to dig deeper into it.
In that case,
to avoid bringing it up again,
we just let everyone know that "it has already been solved".
I-I see.
And for this incident,
we have to tell everyone that the ghost has been exorcised.
So they will not be afraid of the ghost anymore.
Yes,
it is a story that everyone can believe.
Huh?
But
who exorcised it?
Who else but you?
Good girl.
I ended up being mistaken for a paranormal detective.
I clearly am not.
What are you doing?
I think that if I touch you, it can keep me safe.
Kanna!
Sachiko!
I'm glad.
You are feeling energized!
- Sachiko, welcome back. - Good morning, Sachiko.
Thank you, Kanna.
Thanks to you,
I feel relieved.
Looks like being a paranormal detective might not be so terrible, huh?
Oh no, Chuzenji-sensei is here.
Well, let's start the lesson.
I take back what I said.
I absolutely don't want to be a paranormal detective!
Episode 1
The New Teacher with a Stern Face