Chapter 7

## Groan

* Volume
* Magazine

## Chapter Chronology

**"Groan"** (呻吟 (しん ぎん) , *Shingin*) serves as the seventh chapter in the *Gokurakugai* manga series, a work written and illustrated by Yuto Sano. It is also featured as the first chapter within the third volume of the series.

## Summary

Alma arrives at their office and tells Tao about his new friend, Kanata. Tao reads a news article about a Gokurakugai cannibal case involving a girl with Kanata's description. She suggests Alma handle the Kanata situation while she deals with another issue on 6th Avenue. Kanata struggles with her urge to harm humans but manages to control it and flees when approached by a concerned passerby.

In a separate scene, a group gathers for dinner, including Yomi, Yoru, and others. They discuss Kanata's internal battle with her Maga nature and her desire to lead a human life. Yomi expresses a wish for Alma to join their group. Yoru agrees, believing Alma is a suitable addition. Meanwhile, Alma searches for Kanata and eventually finds her upset and crying at a subway station.

## Plot Details

Upon Alma's arrival, he casually placed Tao's coffee jelly on the second shelf. This action led Tao to comment on Alma's cheerful demeanor. Alma took this opportunity to share that he had made a new friend. Meanwhile, Tao remained engrossed in reading a news article that detailed an incident occurring around 10:40 pm on Gokurakugai 8th Avenue. The report described a girl, a student of Izumisawa High School, who had bitten a 34-year-old man in a public restroom. The man sought assistance from bystanders and promptly called emergency services. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, with the girl having bitten through his palm. Law enforcement labeled this as a Gokurakugai cannibal case. The news further revealed the girl's physical attributes: she was petite at 155cm, had light blue hair, and wore a hooded sweatshirt over her school uniform.

The victim recounted being unexpectedly assaulted by the girl upon entering the restroom. Alma, while sharing the details of his new friend's appearance, was interrupted by a ringing phone. This interruption prompted Tao to inform the caller, Tatsuomi, to direct the bills to Yoki. It came to light that there was a separate outbreak on 6th Avenue, unrelated to their current concerns. While Alma was in the midst of changing clothes, Tao tossed him the previously mentioned news article, indicating that this was the case they were presently dealing with – an image of Kanata, Alma's newfound friend, was featured in the news.

Tao pointed out that Alma possessed more information about Kanata than she did, suggesting that he handle the matter involving Kanata. Meanwhile, Tao would address the situation on 6th Avenue. Kanata had managed to control her primal urge to harm humans, distancing herself from them despite her internal struggle with violent thoughts. When approached by a concerned passerby, Kanata offered a smile, albeit an anxious one. However, rather than engaging in conversation, she chose to flee. The chapter then transitioned to a scene where a group was dining together.

During a group gathering, Yomi. who have just arrived, intervened a man seemingly causing harm to himself with a table knife. The gathering consisted of seven individuals, including Yomi and Yoru. The man with a buzzcut hairstyle, sporting a noticeable scar on the upper left part of his face that extended from his left eye down to his nose, questioned the purpose of the gathering. In response, Memeko, a member wearing an eye patch, remarked that families don't typically convene at dinner tables without a specific reason. This sparked a minor disagreement between them, resulting in a heated exchange.

Among the group, there were two other distinct individuals: a younger man and an older one, roughly Yomi's age. The older man had a prominent scar on the right side of his face that covered almost half of it. Additionally, there was the man who had been harming himself earlier, characterized by a wolf-cut hairstyle with a highlighted color.

Following a brief altercation, the man with the buzzcut departed, leaving the remaining six members to discuss Kanata's struggle. Kanata was endeavoring to resist the urge to embrace her Maga nature by consuming human flesh, instead striving to lead a human life. Yomi expressed his concern over Kanata's internal battle to retain her humanity. He even expressed a wish for Alma, who possessed a Maga hybrid status, to be groomed into their group. Yomi firmly believed that Kanata should come to terms with her new identity sooner rather than later.

The conversation shifted to Yomi inquiring about Yoru's opinion on Alma joining them. Considering Yoru's recent positive interaction with Alma, he expressed willingness for Alma's inclusion, noting that he did not hold any aversion towards him. Yomi concluded that Alma was a fitting addition to their group.

Meanwhile, Alma was actively searching the area for Kanata. He had been running around and eventually stumbled upon a key ring he had given her near a phone booth. After a period of tracking her movements, he located Kanata at a subway station, visibly upset and crying in solitude.

## Quick References

### Chapter Notes

* Tao reads a news article about a cannibalism case involving a high school student who bit a man in a public restroom. The victim sought medical attention, and the incident was labeled as a Gokurakugai cannibal case. The girl's description matches that of Alma's new friend, Kanata.
* Tao suggests that Alma handle the situation involving Kanata, as he possesses more information about her. Tao will address a separate situation on 6th Avenue.
* Kanata struggles to control her violent impulses and flees when approached by a concerned passerby.
* A group gathering includes Yomi, Yoru, and others. They discuss Kanata's internal battle to resist her Maga nature and strive for a human life. Yomi expresses a wish for Alma to join their group due to his Maga hybrid status, and Yoru agrees.
* Alma actively searches for Kanata and eventually finds her at a subway station, visibly upset and crying.

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Tao**
**Alma**
**Yoki**Mentioned
**Tatsuomi**Mentioned
**Kanata**
**Lady Bypasser**Debut
**Yomi**
**Memeko**Debut
**Unnamed 1**1st Appearance
**Yoru**
**Unnamed 2**1st Appearance
**Unnamed 3**1st Appearance
**Unnamed 4**1st Appearance