໒ ꒱ ° Mitsuba . 🧼 ZzZ

Mitsuba is a slender and relatively tall teenager with an androgynous appearance, leading many of his classmates to believe he resembles a girl. He has pink hair and eyes, a beauty mark under his left eye, and a helix piercing on his left ear. His hair is medium-length with bangs covering his right eye, and the back of his head is usually pulled back into a short ponytail.

In casual wear, he wears a pink long-sleeved sweater over his Kamome Junior High uniform, with the sleeve always covering his right arm. He originally wore a yellow scarf with light brown stripes, but after Tsukasa recreated it in Volume 6, he now sports a new red scarf with tassels. Mitsuba also has a scar on the back of his neck, presumably from the accident that caused his death.

Mitsuba is a complex character with contradictory personalities. On the one hand, he's self-confident, foul-mouthed, and often boasts about his appearance. He's prone to calling people rude names and isn't afraid to insult others. On the other hand, he has a softer side: he easily becomes depressed when talking about his past and quickly becomes lonely. At times, he's capable of genuine joy and caring for others.

In elementary school, Mitsuba was often bullied for his brash personality and "girly" appearance. To avoid this in middle school, he created a different, softer persona—he tried to be considerate and friendly, but this didn't win him any friends, and most of his classmates forgot about him.

Mitsuba loves his camera and photography, almost to the point of obsession. He was a member of the school photography club and even won awards for his photos.

In life, Mitsuba was a student at Kamome Academy and a member of the photography club. He died in a car accident. After his death, he became a ghost who haunted the school's lobby near the lockers, often asking students if they remembered him.

Tsukasa Yugi later transformed him into "Broken Neck," a spirit that snaps a person's neck if they fail to remember his name. Hanako then killed this ghost to end his suffering.

Tsukasa later recreated a new version of Mitsuba from the soul of the former one and numerous other supernatural beings. He then forced the new Mitsuba to absorb the heart of the former Third School Mystery, causing him to become the Third School Mystery—the "Hell of Mirrors."

Mitsuba and Kou Minamoto were classmates and friends in elementary school, but their paths later diverged.
After his death, Mitsuba wanted to be remembered, and his soul remained attached to the school.
Kou and the other characters try to help Mitsuba fulfill his wish and leave.
Tsukasa tries to manipulate Mitsuba into attacking Kou, but Hanako saves Kou.

He can manifest in Kamome Academy's mirrors and access the reflections imprinted within them.

He uses his scarf, which transforms into bone, spike-like exoskeletons, as extra limbs.
In this form, his body consists of eyes and camera parts bound with bandages, with his chest exposed. Instead of tears, a black substance flows from his eyes and mouth.

Mitsuba was unable to create Yorishiro (a key artifact that enhances the School Mystery) for himself, making him weaker than others in certain situations. He is also vulnerable to cursed blood (such as that from Natsuhiko Hyuga), which quickly turns him into a puddle.

In this form, the Third School Mystery wears a tattered black jacket, with decorative eyes adorning his otherwise ordinary attire. His hair is flecked with black feathers. His red sneakers have been replaced by a pair of black boots, with shackles attached to the right one. One of his arms has been replaced by a bird's claw. His scarf has turned brown and is decorated with regal trinkets and a padlock.

The scarf transforms into bony exoskeletons that Mitsuba can wield and control as appendages.

This arc begins with Mitsuba's desire to become an ordinary human—a wish likely stemming from his newfound ability. Within a fabricated world, he reveals his past to Kou, expressing envy; he laments that, no longer being human, he is reduced to a mere observer, unable to take any action. He longs for someone to engage with him—specifically, he yearns to be an ordinary human once more, rather than the "Third School Mystery." His wish is nearly granted: Tsukasa brings the "Fourth School Mystery" (Mei Shijima)—who possesses the power to manifest an illusory world—to an "initiation party" for Mitsuba. Tsukasa proposes the idea, and Mitsuba agrees. Once inside this constructed reality, Mitsuba strikes up a conversation with Kou, remarking that it would be even more enjoyable if it were all real. He adds that he can find happiness, even within this false world.

"I may be a 'fake' Mitsuba, but... let's just pretend that I'm the real one!

This is a world where the 'Mitsuba' you couldn't save can live happily.

Isn't that wonderful? It might feel strange at first, but you'll get used to it soon enough."

The "Seven School Secrets" are supernatural tales set within schools. At Kamome Academy, there are seven such mysteries. Hanako, the seventh school mystery, acts as a sort of leader; he maintains the balance between supernatural entities and humans.

Each school mystery is more powerful than an ordinary ghost and possesses its own yorishiro (an object that anchors its existence). Every mystery also commands a specific territory—a domain under its complete control where its power is at its peak. Furthermore, each mystery is responsible for a particular aspect of the school, such as time, space, or records.

Mei Shijima notes that these mysteries are inseparable from the rumors surrounding them. These rumors establish the rules that the supernatural entities must follow.

Their list:

No. 1. Watch Keepers
No. 2. Misaki's Ladder
No. 3. Mirror Hell
No. 4. Shijima from the art room
No. 5. Four-hour racks
No. 6. The God of Death
No. 7. Hanako-san from the toilet

Watch Keepers

Representatives:
Kako
Mirai
Aoi Akane

Affiliation:
Seven School Secrets

Hearing:
...Have you heard the rumor? It's school mystery number oneー The three clock keepers. There's a big, big old clock somewhere in the school. That clock is time itselfー the time that flows through the school. If you move the hands of that clock, the school's time is yours to command. But you see... ...There are guards watching over the big clock. They are the three clock keepers who represent past, present, and future. If anyone touches the clock without their permission... ...The three clock keepers will steal the time from that person's life...!

Territories:
A huge world consisting of clocks and inhabited by owls. Yorishiro - the key to the big clock

The three watchkeepers are the first school mystery.
Unlike other mysteries, this one consists of three representatives who represent the past, present and future. They keep track of the time aspect at Kamome Academy.

Representatives:
Yako

Affiliation:
Seven School Secrets

Hearing:
...Have you heard? There is a rule regarding that staircase that you must never break. You must never set foot on the fourth step. Why? Because... ...you will be taken to the other side.

Territories:
The Mystery Zone is a long staircase extending skyward through the shrine gates and buildings. The shrine gates block passage and can only be opened by placing the required item in a nearby box. There's also an hourglass there, which measures the time remaining until the task is completed. Those who fail to complete the task are attacked by giant gate-cutting shears.

Yorishiro's secrets are a pair of scissors.

Yako is responsible for the second school secret.

The rumor describes a world you enter if you step on the fourth step of the stairs. It's said that once you enter this world, you'll be torn to pieces. At dusk, the blood of victims can be seen dripping from the fourth step of the stairs.

In reality, those who enter the otherworld aren't immediately torn to pieces. Yako first asks the victim to find human body parts needed to build "Misaki." If the resulting human body is incapable of functioning, Yako attacks the victim and turns them into a doll.

But supernatural beings act according to rumors. Someone must have altered the rumor about the second secret, since Yako isn't acting accordingly. Hanako , Nene, and Kou tried to figure this out.

The second school mystery is responsible for the spatial aspect of Kamome Academy.

Representatives:
An unnamed former representative
of Sosuke Mitsuba

Affiliation:
Seven School Secrets

Hearing:
.. Did you know?

What is the third school secret...

• This is Mirror Hell.

This is the magical world on the other side of the mirror.

There the mirrors reflect...

...the hearts of those who go inside.

Anyone who has a beautiful and brave heart will be fine.

They will return to their world without problems.

But if the heart contains at least a piece...

...ugliness and fear...

...the mirror will reflect it...

...and for its owner the world will immediately change, and a dark hell will come, which will attack its victim.

Territories:
The Mirror Hell Territory is a vast, multi-level space, the walls of which are adorned with countless mirrors. It is said that the territory changes depending on who enters it. When a person looks into the mirrors, their fear is reflected.

The Yorishiro of Mystery is an unknown object suspended somewhere high on the ceiling. Due to memory loss, the Yorishiro was not modified for the new Mystery representative.

Mirror Hell is the third of the seven secrets.

The representative of the secret can reflect the hearts of those who enter its territory. Those with pure intentions will be able to escape without any problem. Otherwise, the mirror will reflect the victim's deepest fears, causing them to remain there forever. For example, Nene was said to have legs like radishes. For without those memories, the mirror will remain blank.

What aspect of the academy this secret represents is unknown.

Shijima-san from the art room

Representatives:
Mei Shijima

Affiliation:
Seven School Secrets

Territories:
The Territory of Mystery is the tower of the art studio, the very one Mei Shijima painted. The painting hangs in the art room at Kamome Academy.

The Art Studio Tower is a tall structure with mismatched floors and spiral staircases. The lower floors house a museum displaying Shijima's works. The penthouse is home to the studio where the school's secret master creates his works. It's fully equipped for drawing. From the balcony, you can peer into the world inside the painting.

Yorishiro Secrets is an album.

Mei Shijima has a knack for creating worlds that reflect people's desires. A victim drawn into Shijima's world must follow everything she says, otherwise they will remain trapped. The longer a person remains in this imaginary world, the more they forget about real life.

In order to escape, you need to find the main characters of the fictional world and kill them.

There's also an "emergency exit" from this world. It's located in a place the main characters can't reach.

Four-hour racks

Representatives:
Tsuchigomori

Affiliation:
Seven School Secrets

Hearing:
School secret number 5 -

Four-hour racks.

In the school library...

...There's a special storage room that can only be accessed at 4 pm (at night, according to the manga).

There are many books with people's names in the room.

Each of these books contains records of a person's life at school.

What they have done and what they are going to do.

Past, present and future - everything is written in the book...!

But...

If you want to go into the four-hour racks...

...Be careful.

There are three types of books on the shelves: white, black and red.

The white ones are written about people who are alive.

In black - about those who died.

And everything is fine with these books...

...But the Red Books...!

You shouldn't read them.

The shelves contain records of every student at Kamome Academy, including those from the future. It is said that the white books are written about living people, and the black ones about the dead. The books also contain red pages, which contain information about the future.

The fifth secret represents an aspect of the Kamome Academy's records.

God of Death

Occupation:
The Sixth School Mystery

The sixth school mystery—practically nothing is known about it. It is also called the God of Death.

The rumor begins with a tale of the Tsukimachi event, during which children gather and weave baskets all night until dawn. The children are forced to stay awake all night, or their souls will attract the attention of the God of Death.

Hanako-san from the school toilet

Representatives:
Hanako

Affiliation:
Seven School Secrets

Hearing:
In the girls' restroom on the third floor of the old school, in the third stall from the end, you can meet Hanako-san. She grants one wish to anyone who summons her. To summon Hanako-san, knock on the door three times, then ask, "Hanako-san, Hanako-san, are you there?"

Territories:
He lives on the third floor of the women's restroom, in the toilet of the third stall.

Hanako (花子), real name Amane Yugi (柚木普), is a ghost who haunts the old Kamome Academy building.

Hanako rules the Seven Mysteries as School Mystery No. 7. He is the older twin brother of Tsukasa Yugi. As a human, he attended Kamome Academy as a student.