HE 03-45
NF HOBBY
Hm?
Any sign of him?
We're in trouble now… Where'd he run off to?
JAPAN ANGEL FEDERATION HEADQUARTERS
Here it comes! Yes!
Yes! Yes! Even as a spirit, Inoki's still Inoki.
The gong of souls declares victory!
-Ugh… typical. -Huh?
Slacking off during work hours.
Eh, shut up. They gave captain the day off.
So it's only fair I rest my legs a bit.
I don't follow your logic.
Angeles do double the work,
therefore I have to relax twice as hard.
Don't worry.
Soon enough every day is going to feel like a summer vacation for
both of you.
Just when I'm free of that pint-sized maniac,
here comes the spoiled brat.
At least the simple-minded delinquent is here too.
-What?! -Anyway,
What's wrong with your Captain? Is she out sick?
No, no…
She took paid leave today.
Paid leave?
Is she taking a trip or something?
Yeah, a trip to the human world.
She went to the human world?
Er… So, to briefly summarize…
Over in the Send-off Department,
our squads are working hard
and giving it their all to meet the new daily quotas.
My… my… that's certainly very admirable.
Make sure you actually hit those quotas. It would be such a shame if the your
department had to be disbanded for poor performance.
Our people are doing the best they can in the field. It doesn't help anybody
when you trample on those efforts--
Results are everything.
Without results,
it wouldn't matter even if they worked themselves to the bone.
Effort is nothing.
Squads that fail to meet their quotas will be disbanded. That policy will not
change. Next.
Uh-Yes, sir.
Um… The latest from Reincarnation Division is, uh… well, in terms of
quotas, we, er-…
Chairman Kyoga.
It's always a pleasure to make these reports.
And it's always my pleasure to receive them, Chief.
No, no, please Mister Chairmen!
No need for that.
Yes, well…
You'll be glad to hear your boy Masaki is working hard.
He joined the underperforming Dandelion Squad
He's really devoted himself to turning it around.
You must be so very proud to have such an excellent son.
Excellent?
Don't go easy on him just because he's my son. Be as critical as you must.
Good day.
Here you are. Pardon the wait.
I can't wait to dig in!
Mmm!
This is what I've been missing!
Here.
If you take that, you'll be able to spend time in the world below just
-like any human. -Thank you, Chief. I will.
Remember… it only lasts for twenty-four hours.
Right, I understand.
Everything's so delicious!
Wow, you sure had an appetite, miss.
I had a blast just watching you.
You know what? One more.
You're… not finished?
That was such a treat!
And now… it's time.
So you're stalking girls now?
Weird hobby,
I'd think a rich kid could afford better.
So? You figured out anything? Learned captain's secret weakness?
Hmph. I'm not playing along.
Clearly, you know everything already.
Whatever. It's not like I'd expect you to tell me.
Now, excuse me.
It's a long story.
Ah… Jeez.
Never thought I'd become the geezer boring newbies about the olden days…
It was many years ago…
Back then, I was the top-performing member of the Rose Squad.
My Squad was the largest and most elite group in the Send-Off Department.
Hey, it's Tetsu the Mad Dog!
Hm?
Your numbers this month are off the charts again, you little shit.
I don't know why they don't just make you captain of the Rose Squad.
Come on, I'm not interested in that.
That's a shame,
Everybody here knows you're the very best in the department.
But here we are stuck with this ass of a captain. I don't care
who his father is, he uh-
No private conversations while on duty.
Well, well, if it isn't our brave captain himself, Mister Daigoro Kyoga.
My apologies for slipping up.
This guy…
I heard he was supposed to be promoted right away through his family's
connections,
But hasn't delivered the results, so it looks like he's stuck with us in
the field.
I guess even a rich boy's got his own problems.
Tetsuo.
Can I have a word?
Yeah, sure.
BREAK ROOM
A monster-like spirit?
They're quite the formidable opponent.
Even all the angels from our branch office working together couldn't
-handle this one. -Who do you think this spirit was?
Former wrestler or something?
Go find this spirit and help it… to pass on.
Who me?
I don't mind, but still-
If you can take care of this, the angels from our branch office will
owe you a very big favor.
Sure they will…
plus you'd be that much closer to a promotion.
You little punk! That's not what I meant!
There's nothing wrong with it. You can be honest.
Well, in any case, if you do succeed,
it'll be a great achievement for us both.
However… if you fail… our reputation and the branch office's honor
will be ruined.
Got it? It's all or nothing.
You're the only one I can trust with a job this important, Tetsuo.
How should we celebrate? Barbecue or sushi?
If you succeed, I'll treat you to whatever you want!
-I'll have both! -Wh- both?! Very well…
Really?
This way, this way!
-Okay! -Jeez,
When I heard there was a monster, I couldn't wait to find out who it was.
You're just some kid.
MI 00-80
What?!
Yep, that's right… I bet you're shocked.
Damn right. You were an elite angel?!
Hey, wait a minute!
Was this in an alternate reality?
No, no, no, the most surprising part is that Captain used to be a human!
No way that is complete and utter nonsense.
Humans and angels are-
They're entirely different beings.
What you're talking about is impossible.
Normally, yes.
KIN
Nothing personal.
I'm just doing my job.
Wha--
Heh…
What the hell? Let me go! Hey, hey, I said let me go!
Whoop.
I think you dropped something.
Hey, that's my Tamakin.
You little… Give it back!
Okay, pipsqueak,
now you've pissed off an adult.
I'm not gonna hold back!
Aye!
Alright you…
Time for Inoki-style!
-Aaaah! -Cobra twist!
Octopus hold.
-Stop! -Roundhouse kick.
Antonio Inoki's full arsenal!
With his fighting spirit coursing through my body…
INJECTION OF FIGHTING SPIRIT
I'm unbeatable!
Hey, my mom loves pro wrestling.
She and I used to watch it together.
So, do you also like Stan Hansen and Hulk Hogan?
I'm more about Tiger Jeet Singh.
Same!
Thanks for earlier.
Huh?
I always wanted to try out some pro wrestling moves on a real opponent.
You didn't when you were alive?
I was too sick when I was alive.
I spent most of my life just lying in bed.
Being a pro wrestler was my dream.
When I got close to the end, I lost the ability to speak.
And I couldn't even tell my mom "thanks."
"Thanks for giving me… a dream."
-Hey. -Huh?
You think it'd be okay… if I went to say goodbye to my mom?
I'm sorry,
but that's forbidden.
Stop it! Don't look at me like that!
That spirit is…
-Don't look at me like that! -Could it be…
I can't take it!
Any minute,
I'm afraid they're going to realize who you really are.
Is this it?
Better make this quick, okay?
One more thing… don't tell-
Tetsuo!
Whoa, what are you guys doing here?
Hand over the spirit, Tetsuo.
Don't make a scene.
Chief?!
What the hell is this?
You said you'd let me handle it.
The situation has changed.
Captain Kyoga?
The mother of that spirit next to you…
is a former angel.
An angel who used to be a human, and a human who used to be an angel.
Now I'm sure this is nonsense.
It sounds like a lie,
but it's not it's the truth.
Hey…
MEN'S PUBLIC BATH
Does Captain Kurogane return home every year?
To meet with her mother?
Well…
Hm?
We lost him. This is terrible.
Is something wrong?
Huh? Who are you?
We're Angels. We're from headquarters.
You're from Headquarters?!
This is an honor.
I'm Inomata, an angel from the regional branch!
And I'm Inuyama!
Why are you two so wound up?
Because last night, we let the spirit of a vicious criminal get away.
He died of an illness in prison… and we tried to make him pass on right away…
but…
But our spirit got away while Inomata was… uh getting seconds for
lunch.
What?!
It was while you were taking a leak on a telephone pole!
No! It was because you got seconds!
-You took a leak! -You got seconds.
-You took and endless leak! -So basically,
-It's not because I was peeing! -he got away because of your mistakes.
We spent all of last night looking for him, without any leads.
If we haven't found him by now, there's a possibility that he possessed something
and ran away.
It's a very dangerous situation.
That could definitely be an issue.
We can offer our assistance.
-Thank you, thank you, thank you! -Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Okay… well…
should we split up?
Wait a minute.
-Hm? -We won't find him like this,
just searching blindly.
Even if you have a point, there aren't any leads.
Where was the spirit last spotted?
I think it was…
a toy store.
In that case, if he did possess something…
Mini Proto!
If you find a toy acting suspiciously, inform me immediately.
Misato!
Come back over here, Misato!
Hey, Misato!
I thought I said-
Misato?
Misato?!
I'm gonna use this kid to make my escape.
Who the hell are you guys?!
Did you consider that a huge ass plushie might not be the best disguise?
Let that child go now.
If you want me to let her go,
all you gotta do is get me a new body.
I've heard enough crap outta you.
Stay back,
don't come any closer.
Don't you care what happens to this little brat?
Bastard!
Y'know I never was a patient man.
So if you don't hurry up, there's no telling what I might do.
I'll take it up with headquarters,
but I need time to-
Captain Kurogane!
What the hell? Are you one of them, too?
Tell her… if she comes any closer, I'll take this kid and--
Huh?
There you are!
It's alright, she's just asleep.
My baby!
That human…
is Captain Kurogane's mother.
What?!
I-Is that true?
Misato. Answer me.
-Mommy? -Misato!
Thank goodness!
What do you mean she's a-
"former angel"?
I received a report from Kyoga that the girl's spiritual abilities were
abnormally high.
So I looked into it.
Captain? Were you following me?
You've got quite the hobby.
Just listen to me, Tetsuo.
That girl's mother is Asako Kurogane. She was the former captain of
the Send-off Department's Dandelion Squad.
She quit the department and willingly descended to the human world.
She's a fallen angel.
While carrying out her duties in the world below… she fell in love
with a human.
She decided to abandon her work and spend the rest of her life with her beloved.
With that choice, she gave up her status as an angel.
I can't believed you're not moved by that.
She has a connection to the department,
at least let her have a final goodbye.
I can't do that.
Huh?
Whenever an angel chooses to descend into the world below…
in effect, they reincarnate as a human
That act is strictly forbidden by the Code of Netherworld.
So what're you gonna do about it?
We're not only here for the girl
but the mother as well.
Asako Kurogane and her daughter will both be forcibly sent to the afterlife.
What? You can't do that.
It's not like this little girl's done anything wrong.
The Code of the Netherworld is clear.
"Code of the Netherworld. Code of the Netherworld." I don't care!
How dare you!
Speaking to a superior like--
Shut up! I wasn't asking you!
Come on, Chief. Can't you do anything?
It's out of my hands.
I don't really follow all this
And I don't really care what happens to me.
But…
at the very least… can't you save my mom?
She's been through a lot.
She's been taking care of me by herself this entire time.
Now all I want… is for her to live her life for herself,
even if it's only a little bit.
Oh please…
I beg you.
I'm truly sorry,
but there's nothing I can do to change the code.
Wait a minute.
How about this?
Why not have her take over the Dandelion Squad…
She'd replace her mom.
Please. What are you talking about?
If she takes her mom's spot you got nothing to complain about, right?
Let her off the hook.
Are you stupid? How do you expect a mere child
to perform the job of an angel?
Well, lucky for her…
I'm joining Dandelion Squad, too.
Wha… What are you talking about?!
You're going to throw everything away for one spirit?!
Sure, doesn't matter to me.
Tetsuo, you're this close to a promotion.
If you decide to team up with that former human,
you'll regret it for the rest of your life.
I guess that's a chance I'll have to take.
It's a lot better than making a little kid cry.
That's it! I've heard enough of this absolute nonsense!
Captain!
Tetsuo,
I have great respect for the resolve you've shown.
I'm going down with you.
The kid's got potential.
It'd be a waste to throw it away.
But this is ridiculous.
There's no way I'll allow it!
Kyoga.
You said that you wanted results?
If you let this one go,
I'll make it worth your while.
But the decision that we made that day…
came with one big sacrifice.
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!
No, please, don't worry about it.
I just noticed her as I passed by.
It was no trouble at all.
And please, let me thank you properly.
What's your name young lady?
It's okay…
Don't worry about it,
I'm just glad she's back with you.
She doesn't remember.
She doesn't know she was an angel, or recognize her daughter.
Erasing her mother's memories…
was the condition for letting both of them off the hook.
Even so,
She still likes to catch a glimpse of her mother doing well.
That's why captain takes these trips.
The chief was able to persuade the higher-ups.
Congrats.
They're making you an angel.
There's still a lot that I don't understand…
but for now, thanks.
Seriously, I can't handle you crying like that.
Tears are a girl's greatest weapon.
Huh?
Thanks mom.
She said that.
And it turns out she was right!
Bye-bye!
How do hamburgers for dinner tonight sound to you?
Misaki?
Mommy?
What's wrong? Do you have an owie somewhere?
No, it's nothing.
-Nothing at all. -Then why are you crying?
Remember, tears are a girl's greatest weapon.
Careful… you shouldn't cry so easily, mom.
Okay?
Misaki…
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry… Misaki…
Don't apologize.
I'm having a lot of fun where I am.
But time's almost up…
Goodbye Mom.
Be happy. That's the only thing I want.
What am I supposed to do as an angel?
I wouldn't worry about any of that too much.
As of today, I'm your captain.
Heh heh heh.
-Thanks. -Huh?
This is something I've always wanted.
I tap out! I tap out!
C'mon, he's getting away!
Can't you pedal any faster, Tetsu?
Shut up! Don't talk to me like that, you brat!
Excuse me? What did you just call me?
I have a title now.
I wanna hear you say it.
Ca… Captain!
I've always wanted…
my own servant.
Wh…
What the hell's that supposed to mean?!
Good… morning!
How are you guys?
Look at you! You're in an awfully good mood.
Well, I ate some yummy food and got a good chance to relax.
Oh, right. I found something interesting.
The hell is this? A butt-shaped keychain?
It's not a butt, it's a peach!
A success…
The Spirit-Body Separator is complete. n?