So Who's the True Perp?

Koki points out that her knife can only drain a person's power under certain conditions, but a sudden dizziness wipes those conditions from her memory before she can answer Aira. Momo concludes that Koki is just a pawn, and that the wicked teacher who dispatched her likely tampered with her to keep details from slipping out. Koki recalls that the same teacher sliced her with one of his countless blades to grant her sight of the pygmies. When the creatures fuss over tending to her, she shrugs them off her arm; Momo notes they only mean to help, yet Koki refuses to acknowledge them or be trailed by them, longing for an ordinary life again.

As Koki sinks into despair over her circumstances, Queen mentions that she looked into the pygmies after a student grew scared at the sight of one. She describes them as forgotten people, banished from the surface and aching to be recognized, a longing that drives them to swear loyalty to anyone who can see them, often read as a sign of luck to come; that very student is the one she has been advising. Koki weeps as her loneliness resurfaces, prompting the pygmies to stitch out a message of encouragement, "hang in there, Koki." Momo is let down to learn they have no way to restore her, while Aira grows curious about whoever owns the power-stealing knife and ties it to the Kur they fought earlier.

Seeing nothing more to gain from Koki, Aira tells the group to stick together so the enemy finds no opening, and Momo proposes watching Koki as bait for an ambush should the foe return. While insisting her own image be wiped once the culprit is caught, Aira realizes she has crossed paths with Koki before: the surname Yukishiro recalls a childhood piano contest she lost to her, a defeat that drove Aira to train relentlessly until she finally beat her. Koki recognizes Aira too and asks whether she still plays, only for Aira to say she gave it up out of boredom. Stunned, Koki reveals that Aira is the very reason she stopped playing herself. Aira snaps back that gifted people like Koki never have to truly work for anything. Meanwhile, Bamora and Rin announce they have patched up the ruined shirts for Okarun and Aira, Okarun follows Momo's guidance in trying to glimpse the pygmies, and Jiji checks on Kinta, who grumbles about disliking men but insists he is fine after Queen apologizes for hurting him.

Koki's recollection of the knife's conditions fades as she speaks. She wishes to stop seeing the pygmies and reclaim a normal existence. Queen reveals that one of her own students could see them as well and explains the pygmies were people the world forgot, stripped of identity, so they flock to anyone able to notice them. To show gratitude, the pygmies stitch out "Hang in there, Koki." Aira orders the group to stay united and hunt the enemy without leaving gaps. She also recognizes Koki from their old piano rivalry and brags about defeating her in the end.

Published November 19, 2024 as the opener of Volume 21 in the Ultimate Yokai Saga, the chapter deepens the pygmy lore and the mystery teacher's methods. It also ties Aira to Koki through a buried piano rivalry, adding a personal edge to the Kozuka Knives arc.