A collection of short stories by Otsuichi which resembles a Zoo with its many short stories covering different topics, settings, and genre.... more>>

Identical twins brought up in the same household where one is treated like dirt and the other a princess.

The last man on the planet builds a robot to bury him as he muses about his own impending doom.

A family tries to find their father’s spare blood as he bleeds to death after having been stabbed by a kitchen knife.

And many others. <<less

"Ariya", a man enticed by death...
"Vakin", a man who admires those with will to live...
And "Lilith", an Angel's Corpse in between two extremes...... more>> /> These are the stories...
Of a bond spiraling into madness. <<less

*Title: 梓(zǐ) referencing to Chinese Catalpa(a tree with creamy white flowers);琴(qín): a musical instrument such as a guqin or zither... more>>

Not knowing how many times in the middle of the night dreaming about the past, there is always a soft voice whispering in his ear, the words “master”, “master”. The callings cause his heart to soften, but once again swiftly turns sour.

Hundreds of years getting by in emptiness and solitary on Qing Zhu Feng Shang (Bamboo Peaks), only a dried up peach tree that is about to die is left, along with qin that has broken strings. Everyday he shuts himself off, concentrating on refining his cultivation techniques, not because of the possibilities of receiving a serious internal injury but for whatever reason he was not aware of. He wanted to wait, to protect that person, but will not meet [that person] ever again… <<less

The story takes place in Kong Sang Continent, and revolves around the tumultuous love story between Zhu Yan, princess of the Chi Yi Tribe and Shi Ying, the royal prince and the great priest in the Jiuyi mountain. ... more>>

When he was only a child Shi Ying’s mother was framed, and he was banished to Jiuyi Mountain to cultivate. During his teenage years Shi Ying meets Zhu Yan and takes her as his disciple. With the time Shi Ying began to develop romantic feelings for Zhu Yan. However because of their relationship as teacher and student, both of them do not voice out their feelings.

Fate also stands in their way when they stood on opposite sides in political struggle and undergo life and death situations. However, they eventually put aside their issues, and work together hand-in-hand to protect Kong Sang Continent.

This is the prequel to the Mirror series. <<less

A terrible calamity has fallen onto Zhang Fan, not only becoming one of the three survivors of Grass Temple Village, where everyone else was horribly... more>> massacred, he was also tasked to carry one of the most evil artifacts, the Sinister Bead, and taught one of the most secret teachings of the Skysong Sect, the Brahmin Wisdom. Now he cultivates in the Jadeon Sect, his knowledge and possession will draw him into a chaotic story where he will have to carry some of the greatest burdens of the Martial World. <<less

The story begins 3 years after MC has been summoned. Together with his companions, he defeated the demon lord. ... more>>

He begins planning to build an organization to prevent a demon lord crisis from happening again. He plans to build an Adventurers Guild.

He also wants to start his love life with his female healer companion, but before he can confess his love he was once again summoned…by a demon. The demon is asking for help against adventurers. <<less

Inari Hinata was an ordinary high-school boy. He was visiting his father’s family during the summer holidays where, by chance, he met the fox spirit, Kon.... more>>

Kon was looking for someone to fight against the Impurity, which arises from people’s negative emotions, and Hinata was one of the few people who could fight against it. He wanted to help Kon, but to fight against the Impurity, he needed to become a fox miko.

A priestess… Yes, he had to become a woman.

It would have normally been an impossible proposition. However, Hinata has always had a wish he wanted to fulfill, and the proposal to become a woman was a godsend to reach that wish, so he readily agreed. Hinata’s wish was to be with his childhood friend and best friend, Ooyama Magami, for the rest of his life.

Even though two men couldn’t be together, it wouldn’t be if he became a woman. With this thought in mind, Hinata makes an unimaginable summer holiday debut as a gender bender.

Spending summer holidays as fox miko, she fought the Impurity daily as the Fox. Always by her side in battle was the Wolf, a wolf miko. Although she didn’t talk much, she had built up trust with her during their battles.

Despite all these new encounters, the summer holidays eventually ended, and Hinata had to return to school. When she arrived at her classroom, nervous about her incredible summer holiday debut, she found an unfamiliar tall and beautiful woman there.

She was Magami, who had made her debut during the same time.

Just as she was about to ask her what was going on, the Impurity appeared and Hinata headed off to battle. As usual, she cleansed the Impurity with the Wolf, who also rushed to the scene. However, the Wolf, who usually left without saying anything, suddenly asked her out of nowhere.

“You are… Hinata, aren’t you?”

Yes… The Wolf’s true identity was Magami, who had become a woman for the same reason as Hinata. Thus, the two were reborn as women after their mutual goals clashed.

This is a romantic comedy disguised as a transformation heroine story, in which two beautiful girls who used to be men enjoy flirting with each other. <<less

A story in which a woman, after learning that the world would end in ten days, sets out to finish one last thing: mu*der her ex-girlfriend.... more>>

However, she ends up befriending, and spending the world’s final days with, the little sister of her ex-girlfriend instead. <<less

Wataru Sajou , who is deeply in love with his beautiful classmate Aika Natsukawa, is continuing to approach her without getting discouraged while having dreams about their mutual love.... more>>

However one day he woke up thinking,

“I am not really fit to be together with someone as good as her, huh…”

Upon realizing this, Wataru started keeping an appropriate distance towards her, much to Aika’s surprise.

“Could it be that he hates me now…?”

Did his intentions slip by her because she was getting impatient after arriving at the wrong conclusion!?

This is the start of a romcom revolving around two people who just cant get their feelings across and both think their love is unrequited! <<less

Sajou Wataru is infatuated with his classmate Natsukawa Aika to the point of him living in daydreams about their mutual love and relationship, relentlessly approaching her at every chance. However, one day, Wataru sobers up, and has to face reality.... more>>

“There’s no way I’d be a good fit for an unattainable flower like her, right…?”

After starting to see reality as it was, Wataru proceeded to keep a certain distance to Aika, which left her in turmoil.

“Does he...hate me now…?”

Resulting from this misunderstanding is awakening of subconscious feelings that come and go!? Thus begins the romcom of mutual one-sided feelings, plagued by misunderstandings! <<less

I wonder if it was a dream.
Or is it a truly occurring event?
Now I do not know anymore.
But I still remember the... more>> thing of that summer day still clearly.
That was a hot day. <<less

The story is about a man who’s opposed to the now-common practice of implanting false memories, but is one day given memories of a fictional... more>> childhood friend. This fabricated happiness torments him, but then, to his surprise, he meets her - a girl who shouldn’t exist. <<less

She wanted to be loved when she was young, and to be recognized when she grew up.... more>>

The ground that buried her mother’s body hadn’t dried up enough, but her father already brought in his illegitimate child as her sister.

“...You did a good job, Charelize.”

When she heard that she did a good job for the first time, she thought from then on she was going to live a happy life.

However, that was her mistake. Charelize thought about what had happened for a while.

That illegitimate child drinks poisoned tea on her own to bring her down.

“All the time I've spent with you is terrible.”

Being betrayed by her fiancé, whom she loved with all her heart.

“Since you bring down our family dignity, our relationship is no longer a relationship between father-daughter.”

Her father didn’t recognize her as his daughter nor successor until the very end.

She gave up the child in her belly in the cold prison and chose to die.

It was only then that she was able to let go of the relationship that had been severe since a long time.

She ridiculed herself who had been struggling in her lonely life.

* * *

When she opened her eyes, the spring when she was 17 years old came to her again.

Her fiancé, who remembered everything about the past, weeps and begs for her forgiveness. 

Her father came to her because she made a different action than what she had been doing before.

“Don’t be happy, and don’t laugh too. Just live your life in hell.”

“If you couldn’t be a father, then you shouldn’t have given birth to me.”

At the sad regrets that coming late, this time she let go of their hand first.  <<less

The world has been told that his majesty in the north is greedy and warlike, dominating the commerce and trade in the west, cutting off the waterways in the south, and the army has been pressing on the border of the country for many years, forcing the people of Tianfu to breathe....
As everyone knows, he is only to ask his wife for his heart, to buy her the gold, the southern country's satin, revenge and bully her Empress of the country.
On a certain day, to the brothers said, why did Aye go to find Auntie when she finished hunting?... more>>

Xiao Xiao's little prince is disdainful, and Aye wants Auntie to scream. This is the case with his wife. The skin of the wife and the daughter are soft, and the hunting and smashing of the skin are all looking for a mother, bitterness.

The domain Xunyu used the military methods he had learned all his life in the reincarnation of the peace, who told him that he had lost her in the past, and the way to chase his wife in this life is so long, it is hard to get it, how soft the skin? <<less

The 17th Emperor, a woman, owes her throne to the Duke of Roark, who aided her ascent over her brothers. Though publicly revered, she harbors... more>> a secret liaison with the duke, her devoted supporter. Behind closed doors, she surrenders to him, shedding her regal facade. One fateful night, he breaches protocol, entering her chamber unbidden. Ignoring her protests, he asserts his desire, ravishing her despite her pleas. Authority crumbles in his presence as he claims her body, indifferent to her dignity. In his embrace, she is powerless, succumbing to his primal urges in a tumult of passion and betrayal. <<less

It’s a world of Swords, Guns, and Magic.... more>>

Yuuto is a katana wielding young mercenary. After leaving the care of his teacher, he started his adventure as a mercenary. Traveling around the country and visiting villages and towns with Guild and completing their requests. The requests had him sometimes fighting monsters, unmasking corrupt officials, or even dealing with events that are related with the fate of the world.

During his adventures he met new people and allies that accompanied his journey. There was also an encounter that change his life forever. The encounter with Yuusha’s Party who was chosen by The Church of Yuusha in order to face the imminent awakening of The Maou. <<less

He pressed her against the wall, "You want to divorce me for him? He's ten years younger than you. How can you do that?"
She... more>> smiled with reddened eyes and said, "His sister is so much younger than you. Don't you enjoy it as well?"
He gritted his teeth, "You can't divorce me unless I die."
She had said the same thing, but she was really going to die soon.
In fact, I'll be with you for ten thousand years and the rest of my life. So did he. <<less

One day,
Somewhere out there,
Somewhere along the line,
I thought I was dreaming.... more>>

Later, I woke up from a dream.
However, I didn’t know if it was truly just a dream. <<less

Abandoned by her family, Yuri lived in a temple. ... more>>

One day, the darkness spoke to her.

“Baby. I don’t hate you. I just want to give you a chance.”

“ A…..chance.”

“Yes. You’ll be married to the frontiersman soon. If you can get him to promise, you will win. I’ll listen to whatever you want.”

“….”

“But if you can’t, you’ll have to give me everything.”

How long had it been since she had accepted the bet? Yuri fell in love with the northern man.

“If I, I…….looked a little more like that woman. Would you have loved me…?”

“No, I swear. Even if I died, I wouldn’t love you.”

“Eddie….I, I.”

“You’re not my mother.”

She eventually surrendered to the darkness on the day she was abandoned once again by the people she loved. Yuri closed her eyes as the curse took everything from her. And when she woke up,

“I’ve been waiting for you, for years. I missed you.” (Husband)

“Mother. I’ve never regretted saying that word.” (Child)

“Yuri, if you agree. I want you to come back to the Duchy.” (Father)

‘Why are you saying that now? If I were then, I would have forgiven you. And I could have been happy saying thank you.’

Tears came out.

‘It’s too late to apologize. I am no longer the person I was then.’ <<less

She trusted someone her whole life, only to be betrayed. She lived solely for her father’s revenge, enduring intense pain through grueling training to become the ultimate assassin.... more>>

Her entire existence revolved around him. She even killed for him.

Yet, her father was an empire traitor, and the person I killed was my own cousin. Ayla Weishafen, deceived and driven to kill her father by a dagger, died by its poison.

That’s how it should have ended. But when she woke up, she was a child again. She didn’t know why, but it was a chance for revenge…… She was determined; his life would be the price of his deception. <<less

Charlie Jiang doesn't really care about the marriage with Mandy Song. During the three years of their marriage, he doesn't even try to understand her. He has always only listened to Vivi Qiao's one-sided words and condemns Mandy Song of crimes she never committed. Has it never occurred to him that when there is a crisis in Jiang family, Mandy Song agrees to their marriage without slightest hesitation, for what? Charlie Jiang never cares for Mandy Song, so he never knows that for such a long time he used to be her world, her whole world.... more>>

But even if he knows, what difference would that make?

I, Mandy Song, is simply not the one he cherishes in heart.

For Charlie, only Vivi matters the whole world to him.

How pathetic! <<less

I, Kaya Minafuchi, a Japanese high school girl, was summoned to another world by its god, in order to protect it. Their god had summoned me to defend this world, and to the people that summoned me, my reply was of course:... more>>

“I don’t care about that. It’s your world, so do something about it yourselves.” <<less

Watarase Mamizu: a girl hospitalized for the incurable “Luminescence Disease.“... more>>

She, who had a short life ahead of her, entrusted her last wishes to her classmate, Okada Takuya.

This is Mamizu and Takuya’s after story.

“Even now, I still love you.”

Takuya, who has become a little older, and his friend, Kayama, are featured in this sequel. Other episodes featuring the two that were not in the main volume are also included.

The world of You Shine in the Moonlit Night that impressed all of Japan and depicted life and death, love and the brilliance of life, returns. <<less

Ever since the death of someone important to me, I've been living recklessly. After I became a high school student, there was a girl in my class who remained hospitalized due to "luminescence disease." This disease is named for the fact that the bodies of those who suffer from it glow faintly when exposed to moonlight, and that glow becomes stronger as their time of death draws closer. The girl's name is Watarase Mamizu.... more>>

After learning that she doesn't have long to live, and there are things that she wants to do before she dies...

"Will you let me help you with that?"

"Really?"

As this promise was made, the time that had frozen for me began moving again - <<less

Ever since she was young, Mo Yun was tenacious.... more>>

When other girls fell, they would cry and wail in pain. Only she would press her lips tightly together, plastering on an obstinate expression instead. She would never attempt to gain pity or affection from others.

Even when her Master told her about the 8 sufferings in life: birth, aging, sickness and death, parting with the ones you love, meeting with the one you hate, unattained aims, and all the ills of the five skandhas. Everything was supposedly predestined, nothing could be forced. Even so, Mo Yun would lift her head up stubbornly and sneer: Parting with the ones you love and unattained aims? It merely applies to those who have no guts.

Even if it can’t be forced, I will force it!

Not long after she said this, Mo Yun met Shen Yue.

Shen Yue was just like the biggest joke the heavens played on her, as a reminder to Mo Yun that in this world, there were things that she could not obtain by force. <<less