Sorawo and Toriko take steps to explore the Otherside on a more permanent basis in Otherside Picnic, Volume 8. At the same time, they learn about the consequences of contact with the Otherside….will this deter them?

No, obviously not.

The gate opening in Kozakura’s front yard is a boon for Sorawo and Toriko, even if it is a burden for Kozakura. She’s living in fear most of the time now, and is starting to get used to it, something that does not thrill her.  She’s worried about the other two, too. Their reckless behavior (from her perspective) is going to get them in trouble and she’s half annoyed she’ll have to pick up the pieces and half upset that they will get themselves hurt. This would all feel more adult, if she wasn’t portrayed like a child, honestly. It’s nice to have an adult in the room, but it is hard to take Kozakura seriously as an adult.

Now that Sorawo and Toriko have determined to investigate deeper into the Otherside, they are taken to the halls of DS Research, the obscure organization that is buying the artifacts they bring back. While this book has always had a horror element to is, relying on netlore and urban legend for the weirdnesses of the Otherside, for the first time, our intrepid adventurers come face to face with the results of digging too deeply into the “Ultrablue Light,” or UBL.

As if on cue, Uruma Satsuki appears and leaves behind an item that is a very direct attack on Sorawao and Toriko. The Toribako, a curse box full of bird-like shadows that fly through one’s body, shredding it from the inside, was illustrated in the manga as horrifyingly as it was described in the novel. Up until now, the Otherside has been vaguely menacing, but now…now it it actively trying to kill our protagonists.

This is one of the two scariest moments of the novels and once again Mizuno Eita does an absolutely outstanding job of illustrating it. I cannot get over how much the art enhances the already subtlely terrifying aspect of the UBL. Much as with Aonoshimo’s art for I’m In Love With The Villainess manga, the compelling narrative of the novel really is enhanced here by the art.

Now we must wait to see if Toriko and Sorawo will survive Uruma Satuski’s attack.

Ratings:
Story – 9
Art – 9
Character – 8,
Service – 0
Yuri – 7

In the meantime, Toriko has pointed out to Sorawao how she is changing  and becoming more caring about other people … and that terrifies her. Intimacy is the great hurdle here and will be for some time.