Volume 7 (Novel)

Otherside Picnic 7: Funeral of the Moon (裏世界ピクニック７ 月の葬送) is the seventh novel in the Otherside Picnic series. It was released in Japanese on December 16, 2021 and June 7, 2022 in English. The series is written by Iori Miyazawa and illustrated by shirakaba.

Synopsis
Satsuki Uruma—a young woman of considerable importance to Toriko who disappeared while studying the Otherside. She has menaced Toriko and Sorawo many times as an apparition, but now, she makes her boldest move yet towards the latter. In an act of desperation, Sorawo resolves to use everything she knows about the occult to finally “exorcize” her. Enlisting the help of not just Toriko, but Kozakura, DS Research, and even former cult leader and high schooler Runa Urumi, Sorawo leads the charge on a funeral operation.

Chapters

 * File 21: A Midterm Report on the Mysterious
 * File 22: Toilet Paper Moon
 * File 23: Funeral of the Moon

Additional Content

 * Works Referenced (Vol. 7)

File 21: A Midterm Report on the Mysterious
Broad Chapter Summary: Kozakura plans to take Kasumi in. Sorawo discusses her field of study. After a strange echo of the past at the closed Oomiya gate, Satsuki appears in front of Sorawo.

Characters in order of appearance: Kozakura, Sorawo, Toriko, Professor Abekawa, Cultural Anthropology Class, Benimori, Doppelganger, Satsuki

Locations: Kozakura's house, Saitama University, Oomiya gate

Summary of Parts:


 * 1) Kozakura announces a plan to take Kasumi in, and asks Toriko and Sorawo to talk a lot around her to improve her vocabulary. Kozakura and Sorawo believe she's genuinely human, and simply acting as an interface. Sorawo and Toriko get into an argument over celebrating Sorawo's birthday.
 * 2) In class, Sorawo discusses the topic of "true ghost stories" and what considerations may need to be made for research into this. Along the way, she points out the empty chair and mysterious class register denoting the absence of T-san. The professor's insight stings Sorawo. Afterwards, Benimori tells Sorawo that "things worked out", to Sorawo's confusion.
 * 3) Sorawo decided to give the Oomiya gate another visit, but gets trapped in the alley on the other side of the door, then hears herself and Toriko, from their first meeting, talking inside. Sorawo bangs on the door, just like at that time, and peers through the peephole. Back inside, she spots her doppelganger and Satsuki sitting at the table. Toriko calls Sorawo and apologizes, then Sorawo confronts Satsuki, drawing her attention.

File 22: Toilet Paper Moon
Broad Chapter Summary: Satsuki tries to seduce Sorawo and take her to become a part of the Otherside. Sorawo resolves to kill her for good, and meets with other people as she formulates a plan. Satsuki also makes an attempt on Toriko. Runa negotiates a plan for her assistance in exchange for her freedom.

Characters in order of appearance: Satsuki, Sorawo, Toriko, Natsumi, Akari, Kozakura, Runa, Migiwa, Kasumi

Locations: Oomiya gate, Dinner buffet hotel, Sorawo's apartment, Akari's house, Kozakura's house, DS Labs

Summary of Parts:


 * 1) Satsuki, seeming very human this time, explains to Sorawo that she had become a part of the Otherside (though she doesn't seem to know everything). She tries to seduce Sorawo and offers to do the same to her. Sorawo avoids her, but Satsuki vanishes, and Sorawo resolves to kill Satsuki once and for all.
 * 2) Sorawo and Toriko go out for a one-year anniversary party, and Toriko mentions that Sorawo's doppelganger appeared at her house, seeming down. Sorawo admits to her encounter with Satsuki, and after some emotional discussion, Sorawo explains her intention to kill, Satsuki. Toriko bites Sorawo to claim her, in case Satsuki reappears.
 * 3) The next day, Sorawo and Toriko call each other, and they plan to hold a funeral/exorcism to deal with her, acting instead of waiting passively. Sorawo calls Akari to meet with her, and learn more about Satsuki.
 * 4) A jealous Natsumi defends the Seto household. Akari, with Natsumi and Sorawo, explains that she had respect for Satsuki, but was on guard with her, sensing some "feinting" in her. Akari and Sorawo explain the Otherside- or Akari's understanding of it- to Natsumi, who's relieved by knowledge of what's been going on between the two.
 * 5) In recap with Kozakura and Toriko, Kozakura remembers how Satsuki was someone who didn't value people as people, but as tools, and how she would give "tests" of the paranormal to her potential recruits. Sorawo notes that an offhanded comment from Natsumi about "changing the air" is actually a good model of defeating otherside entities, and that the framework of stories is what's really being interacted with. They conclude that some kind of powerful ritual, combined with use of the available Fourth Kind abilities, and involving all the people with strong lingering attachment to Satsuki, is necessary to defeat her for good- which means getting Runa involved.
 * 6) Sorawo, Toriko, and Runa meet in her cell. Sorawo explains her plan to lay Satsuki to rest, and offers Runa freedom in exchange for her aid, and for a promise to not use her Voice indiscriminately. Leaving Runa to consider the offer, Sorawo and Toriko discuss the meeting with Migiwa. He suggests methods of control- making her dependent on DS Labs and bound by "family" to Sorawo, Toriko, Kozakura, and so on. Toriko expresses her gay appreciation for Sorawo, and Sorawo leans into it using a low voice to fluster Toriko. Kasumi then appears, warning them of a "woman" downstairs, on Satsuki's lab floor. Satsuki's notebook has returned, but Toriko feels Satsuki grabbing her hand, unseen by Sorawo. Satsuki tries to take Toriko away but is stopped when Toriko shoots her.
 * 7) Sorawo and Toriko catch up with Kozakura. Runa does a video call with the trio, discussing the plans for Satsuki's funeral, and Sorawo is confident that Satsuki will show up for it.

File 23: Funeral of the Moon
Broad Chapter Summary: Sorawo, Toriko, Kozakura, and Runa go to the Otherside to attend Satsuki's funeral/exorcism/murder. The four of them hack Kokkuri-san, Japan's ouiji board equivalent, to force Satsuki to stop haunting them, and exorcise her completely.

Characters in order of appearance: Sorawo, Toriko, Kozakura, Runa, Migiwa, Satsuki, Ushi-oni, Doppelganger

Locations: DS Labs, the Farm, Satsuki Uruma Funeral Site, surface seaside cliff, Kozakura's house

Summary of Parts:


 * 1) Sorawo, Toriko, and Kozakura gather at DS Labs for the funeral. Runa and Migiwa appear, with Runa gagged. They travel through the Round Hole to the Farm, explaining what had happened to it to Runa. Sorawo explains that Runa's voice is probably "meant" to summon Otherside entities, and that mind control is its side effect when used on humans- same as how Sorawo's eye drives people crazy, and Toriko's hand can be shoved into bodies. Sorawo explains that she means to have Runa call up Satsuki, then to alter their perception to change her into something scary but harmless- Cow Head.
 * 2) Cow Head is a ghost story about *another* ghost story called Cow Head, which is never itself seen. Sorawo goes into technicalities about how she can use her eye to replace the "scary woman" ghost story with the "nonexistent ghost story" ghost story. As they go forward to enter the Otherside, it drags them in first, and Sorawo ungags Runa. They spot a sign directing visitors to Satsuki Uruma's funeral.
 * 3) Sorawo and Runa discuss the Otherside's effect on cognition, and in reverse, how taking things from the Otherside to the surface can create cursed objects, like the cat amulet, or Satsuki's notes. The group arrives at a massive curtain, inside of which is Satsuki's funeral site, and a coffin full of white flowers.
 * 4) After surveying the situation, Sorawo gets out Satsuki's notebook and prepares Kokkuri-san as a means of summoning, communicating with, and influencing Satsuki. Runa calls her with her voice, and Satsuki communicates via the game. Satsuki appears behind the group as an ultrablue void, and Sorawo warns that they should not look at her. Toriko tries to use her hand to force Satsuki to admit she isn't really Satsuki, but it stops completely until Runa, Kozakura, Sorawo, and Toriko all say goodbye to her (though Runa looks at Satsuki and falls unconscious). Satsuki is changed into an Ushi-oni instead, however. Kozakura faints, and Sorawo's doppelganger appears, sadly admitting her promise to go with Satsuki. Toriko intervenes, declaring her love for Sorawo in the strongest terms, and kisses Sorawo. Sorawo notes an association between the Ushi-oni and Lion Dancers, and tells Satsuki that she'll look after all the girls Satsuki messed with. Sorawo and Toriko send Satsuki away, and the group is transported to the surface, where a woman in black vanishes into the sea.
 * 5) Sorawo meets with Kozakura, who is relieved to have dealt with her feelings. Runa is recovering in DS Labs, and Toriko seems to be doing okay, if in mourning. Kozakura reminisces about the good memories of Satsuki, and Sorawo discovers a picture of a happy Kozakura, the picture having been taken by Satsuki.