Chapter 1

## Let's Go to School

* Volume Version
* Magazine Version

## Chapter Chronology

**“Let's Go to School”** (学 (こう) 校 (がつ) へ行 (い) こう, *Gakkō e Ikō*) is the first chapter of the *Kill Blue* manga series, written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki. This also serves as the first chapter of the first volume of the manga series.

## Summary

Juzo Ogami arrived at an abandoned location where a group of men were gathered for a meeting. As soon as they spotted him, fear overcame them, for he was renowned as a legendary hitman, willing to eliminate anyone for the right price. Someone in the group even mistakenly suggested he would kill just about anyone, but Juzo corrected him, clarifying that his targets were only those with a chance at redemption.

Juzo, currently employing a newspaper as makeshift cover against the gunfire from his adversaries, displayed remarkable agility in neutralizing his foes. With lightning-fast reflexes, he neutralized them before any harm could befall him. In the midst of the chaos, his subordinate, Kotatsu Nekota, arrived just in time to shield him from an imminent threat from above. Kotatsu couldn't help but wear a smug grin, prompting Juzo to playfully jest with him by hitting his knee.

After successfully completing their mission, Juzo lit a cigarette while Kotatsu caught his breath. Kotatsu showered Juzo with praise for his exceptional skills, implying that he didn't need a partner at all. Juzo, however, interrupted him, insisting that he cease referring to him as a legend. Their conversation shifted to Juzo's habit of carrying newspapers, which served multiple purposes, such as blending in with the crowd in business districts or concealing handguns.

As they conversed, Juzo noticed a partially open bottle containing a small wasp nest but paid it no mind as he discarded it. Instead, he suggested they satisfy their hunger with a bowl of ramen, as he was famished. The two found themselves at Nankotsu Eat All You Can Ramen Shop, with Juzo generously garnishing his ramen with garlic. Kotatsu couldn't help but comment on the excessive amount, but Juzo brushed it off, unapologetic for his culinary preferences.

Following their meal, Juzo arrived at an apartment building, stifling a yawn from fatigue. A chance encounter with a hurried child in the elevator resulted in the child's tearful retreat, leaving Juzo pondering his inability to relate to children. He reflected on his early immersion into the world he now inhabited, preferring interactions with the irredeemable individuals he was hired to eliminate. Upon reaching his apartment, he shed his coat and tie and reminisced about his past regrets while gazing at a photo of himself with his wife and daughter. His contemplation led him to view his life as monotonous and lacking meaning.

While standing on the balcony, a doorbell rang, announcing Kotatsu's arrival with something to deliver. As Juzo turned to respond, he was bitten by a wasp on his neck, causing intense pain and profuse sweating. In his struggle, he managed to eliminate the wasp, but soon, a searing pain in his chest overcame him. This bewildering ordeal unfolded before Kotatsu, who had just entered Juzo's apartment.

Presently, in Eri Wanibuchi's laboratory, Juzo's ex-wife, Eri, was engrossed in her computer when Juzo finally awakened. Concerned about his exteme physical changes, Eri reassured him that his vital signs remained stable. She explained that the individuals he had eliminated in his recent job were associated with a group researching genetic manipulation, and the wasp that had bitten him was far from ordinary. When Juzo saw his reflection, he was shocked to see his 13-year-old self staring back at him. Desperate for a solution, he implored Eri for help, and she revealed that she was analyzing specimens from the hive Kotatsu had brought back but cautioned that the situation was complex. Eri suggested he take a leave since his life wasn't in immediate danger, but Juzo's financial responsibilities pushed him to continue working. As they spoke, the Boss called, likely with a proposal, leaving Juzo curious.

Juzo answered the call and discussed his predicament with the Boss. Although Juzo expressed his willingness to work despite his condition, the Boss presented a proposal tailored to Juzo's current circumstances: he was to attend a middle school, in search for a better school experience for his daughter. Juzo initially dismissed it as a joke, but the promise of payment convinced him to accept the mission.

Juzo now masqueraded as a middle school student, donning glasses with a spy camera installed by Kotatsu for support. He felt utterly helpless, particularly since he had no experience with children. Despite his trepidation, he accepted the challenge due to financial necessity.

On orientation day, a fellow classmate introduced himself to the applause of some girls in the room. When it was Juzo's turn, he delivered an awkward, mumbled self-introduction that left his classmates perplexed and led to unfavorable first impressions. Kotatsu, through their communication device, criticized Juzo's cringe-worthy introduction, emphasizing the importance of blending in and sharing hobbies and talents. Juzo struggled to come up with any, eventually settling on airsoft guns and paintball wars, further complicating his classmates' perception of him. At his locker, Juzo sighed in frustration, as two female classmates inadvertently bumped into him, playfully calling him a creep as they apologized. Juzo simply sighed and brushed off the comment.

Currently, Kotatsu is in Juzo's apartment, preparing some omurice for him. Juzo reflects on why he's staying at Juzo's place and how skillful Kotatsu is in the culinary department. Kotatsu humorously suggests that Juzo's habit of consuming unhealthy, garlic-laden ramen could make him less popular at school, especially when combined with his nearly blown cover during his self-introduction, which might result in suspension or expulsion, jeopardizing his income. While Juzo eats and Kotatsu cleans, Kotatsu inquires about Juzo's preparations for the upcoming school day, emphasizing the core purpose of school, which is learning.

The following day, Juzo sits at his classroom desk, reminiscing about his upbringing. He recalls being taken in by the syndicate as a child, trained, and set to work, never advancing beyond elementary school. Despite life's ups and downs, he married and had a child at the age of 39, and now he finds himself in a classroom, engaged in the act of learning. The teacher instructs the students to open their math books to chapter 1, page 6, which covers positive and negative numbers. As Juzo observes the teacher's explanations, he is overwhelmed by the new knowledge he is absorbing. Until that moment, he had perceived numbers as entities that only increased, unaware of the existence of negative numbers. This realization leaves him pondering the workings of this new concept. The class concludes after some time, and Juzo is moved to tears, recognizing the sheer enjoyment of learning, encompassing math, science, social studies, and language arts. He attributes this newfound passion to his prior occupation, where he never allowed himself to think about anything beyond the job. Now, every drop of knowledge is sinking into his brain, akin to the smoothness of the whiskey he used to indulge in after completing a hit.

Kotatsu once again finds himself at Juzo's residence, preparing dinner. However, he notices Juzo deep in thought, slumped at his desk, prompting concern that something may be amiss. Juzo laments how middle school coursework is so captivating that he has already reviewed all the material, completed his homework, and organized his supplies for the next day. Kotatsu, baffled by Juzo's perceived problem, assures him, acknowledging the overwhelming feeling Juzo is experiencing, emphasizing that he is taking his schoolwork exceptionally seriously.

The subsequent day at school, Juzo sits at his desk, quietly anticipating another eventful day, with social studies as the subject of particular interest. He reminisces about a past mission where he encountered an ancient burial mound, finding amusement in the connection between his hitman life and history. Although he is surrounded by students much younger than him, he still grapples with a degree of awkwardness in their presence. However, his thoughts are interrupted by Kotatsu, who senses some commotion nearby. Some students are shouting, urging others to return to the school building, as they claim that a pervert is on the school grounds.

A short while later, a man wearing a panda mascot head and boxer shorts makes a dramatic entrance by kicking a school guard. He proceeds towards a group of female students, with some recording his antics. As he approaches, two of Juzo's female classmates are left behind, facing the perverted panda man, who intends to expose himself to them. Despite the girls warning him about the imminent arrival of the police, the man remains undeterred, believing he can escape without consequences. As he begins to lower his boxers, the girls cry out in distress. Not far from this scene, Juzo stands, still connected with Kotatsu through a communication device, observing the situation. Kotatsu reminds him that these girls were among those who had made fun of him recently, suggesting he has no obligation to intervene. However, Juzo, who has a daughter the same age as his classmates, is unwilling to tolerate what he is witnessing. He acts swiftly, creating a smokescreen using chalk, then confronts the perverted panda man. After a brief exchange, Juzo manages to incapacitate the man, although his punch isn't as powerful as he anticipated due to his current childlike state. The panda man reaches for a firework from his boxer shorts, but instead of being alarmed, Juzo is more intrigued by the origin of the firework. He uses a non-lethal handgun to disarm the man, shooting the firework into the air. The panda man falls unconscious to the ground. Following the incident, the two female classmates Juzo rescued open their eyes to see their savior. Juzo, however, offers a feeble excuse, claiming that an unknown person appeared out of nowhere and handled the situation. He insists he is just an ordinary middle school first-year student who attends school to learn, despite the confusion on his classmates' faces.

A while later, the police arrive at the school, surprised that the perpetrator has been subdued. They begin to clear the area of students. Meanwhile, at Eri's residence, she watches a news report about an explosion at a middle school, where a criminal had a homemade bomb. The identity of the girls' savior remains unknown. A woman in Eri's vicinity expresses disbelief at such incidents occurring, a sentiment with which Eri concurs.

The following day, Juzo's classmates plan to have some post-school fun and discuss creating a group chat to exchange contact information. They inadvertently exclude Juzo, assuming he wouldn't want to join. Some even express reluctance about including him. However, the two female classmates saved by Juzo the previous day insist on inviting him to prevent him from feeling left out. The rest of the class hesitantly agrees. The girls approach Juzo's desk, thanking him for his help and extending an invitation to the class group chat. Despite Juzo's initial reluctance, he accepts the offer. As he returns home, Juzo is inundated with message notifications from the group chat, leaving him somewhat overwhelmed. Kotatsu suggests muting the notifications, citing Juzo's supposed slowness in typing, leading to a somewhat offended response from Juzo. Afterward, Juzo steps out onto his balcony, pondering how his life as a student is proving to be better and more fulfilling than his previous occupations. He realizes that he can endure it a little longer and proceeds to tackle his homework with newfound enthusiasm.

## Quick References

### Chapter Notes

* **Introduction of Juzo Ogami:** Juzo Ogami is introduced as a legendary hitman known for taking on jobs for the right price, although he only targets those with a chance at redemption.
	+ Juzo encounters a wasp nest but dismisses it, unknowingly leading to a significant event later.
	+ Juzo and Kotatsu enjoy a meal at a ramen shop, highlighting Juzo's penchant for garnishing his ramen with excessive garlic.
	+ **Transformation:** Juzo is bitten by a wasp, leading to a mysterious transformation that turns him into a 13-year-old version of himself.
* **Introduction of Eri Wanibuchi:** Eri, Juzo's ex-wife and a scientist, explains the situation and reveals that Juzo's attackers were involved in genetic manipulation research.
* **The Boss's Proposal:** Juzo speaks with the Boss, who proposes that Juzo attends middle school in search of a better school experience for his daughter, prompting Juzo to accept the mission.
* **Juzo's Middle School Experience:** Juzo reluctantly attends middle school, disguised as a student, and grapples with awkward social interactions and his own unique background.
	+ Juzo discovers a newfound passion for learning and experiences the joy of acquiring knowledge in various subjects.
	+ He reflects on how his life as a student is proving to be fulfilling and contemplates tackling his homework with newfound enthusiasm.

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Juzo Ogami**Debut
**Kotatsu Nekota**Debut
**Eri Wanibuchi**Debut
**Boss**Phone call
**Baba**1st Appearance
**Takada**1st Appearance
**Panda Man**Debut

## Feautured Media

Lead Colored Page for Chapter 1 (Magazine Version)WSJ Issue #20 Featuring Juzo Ogami