Chapter 2

## The Wisdom of Others

* Volume Version
* Magazine Version

## Chapter Chronology

**“The Wisdom of Others”** (爪 (つめ) の 垢 (あが) で も 煎 (い) じて 飲 (いん) め, *Tsume no Aka de mo Senjite Nome*) is the second chapter of the *Kill Blue* manga series, written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki. This also serves as the second chapter of the first volume of the manga series.

## Summary

Juzo arrived at school while engaged in a phone conversation with Kotatsu on the other end. During the call, Kotatsu expressed frustration with Juzo's intense focus on his studies rather than addressing the unusual situation of his transformation into a child. While stowing his belongings in his locker, his female classmates greeted him with a new nickname, "Oga." Juzo attempted to respond with a smile, but it came across as creepy. His classmates encouraged him to participate more in their group chat, but Juzo simply agreed to end the conversation, as he preferred not to deal with children. In class, Juzo struggled with math and carried his negative feelings home. Kotatsu, who was busy with chores at the time, was taken aback by Juzo's mood. Juzo asked for math help, but since Kotatsu was not well-versed in the subject, he suggested that Juzo seek assistance from Eri, who could potentially serve as a tutor.

Juzo sought help from Eri, but she declined due to her existing commitments, including housework, work, and finding a solution to return Juzo to his adult form. Despite her refusal, Juzo persisted, but Eri recommended he approach his teacher instead. However, Juzo felt embarrassed about seeking help from his much younger teacher. This led Eri to advise Juzo to drop his adult persona and take responsibility for his situation, even in his younger form.

Juzo felt disheartened as he hunched over a table in the library, determined to fully grasp a challenging lesson before moving on. While consumed by his concerns, a classmate, Ryo Shiraishi, noticed the stack of books on Juzo's table. Ryo simplified the material for Juzo, resulting in Juzo achieving a perfect score on their class quiz the next day. After class, Juzo expressed gratitude to Ryo with tears in his eyes, addressing him as "Master" for his assistance, which made Ryo somewhat uncomfortable due to Juzo's elderly demeanor.

To celebrate his excellent test score, Juzo treated Ryo to a drink at a restaurant. While complimenting Ryo, their conversation turned to Ryo's aspiration to become a doctor, driven by the loss of his mother during his youth. Despite Ryo's insistence that his story was not tragic, Juzo became emotional and referred to Ryo as an "angel" instead of a "Master," causing Ryo to feel embarrassed.

During their conversation, someone nearby began questioning Ryo's ambitions, trying to discourage him. They argued about whether pursuing a medical degree is worth it in today's world, suggesting that Ryo's choice was unwise. The person stood up and confronted Ryo further, emphasizing that he hadn't considered the practical aspects of his goals and advised him to research earnings data. They pointed out that in Japan, many doctors don't earn much, except for a few in private practice. They also mentioned that even though doctors in public hospitals might seem to make a good income, it's not a good deal considering the demands placed on them due to the country's aging population and low birth rate, asserting that Japan is already in trouble.

While Juzo considered the idea of a physical confrontation, especially when the person called him unintelligent for struggling with first-year middle school coursework, Ryo advised against it. Instead, Ryo responded verbally, stating that the person's words wouldn't affect his dream of becoming a doctor and that he had no right to belittle Juzo's efforts. The people in the restaurant reacted to Ryo's arguments, causing the person to feel embarrassed and leave.

Juzo and Ryo strolled down the street, discussing the earlier events at the restaurant. As they walked, Ryo became distracted by the surroundings and walked ahead of Juzo. Juzo sensed the presence of the man from the restaurant who held a grudge against them. He retrieved a compass from his bag, prompting Kotatsu to discourage him. Nevertheless, Juzo was determined to teach the man a lesson for crossing the line this time. He threw the compass at the man's bike, causing him to lose balance and fall, along with his belongings. Juzo quickly caught the man's laptop before it hit the ground and returned it to him while the man tumbled towards the river. Meanwhile, Ryo was unaware of the events and only noticed the loud sound of something falling into the river, prompting him to inquire about it.

Currently, Juzo is on a phone call with Eri, discussing Ryo Shiraishi, whom Juzo refers to as "Master" for helping with his math problems. During their conversation, Eri provides an update on her research progress regarding Juzo's condition. She has discovered that Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals, a rapidly growing corporation and the nation's second-largest, is responsible for the artificially created wasps that caused Juzo's transformation into a child. Furthermore, Noren Mitsuoka, the daughter of the president of Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals, is currently attending Juzo's school and is in his class.

## Quick References

### Chapter Notes

* Juzo, still in his child form, arrives at school and has a phone conversation with Kotatsu. His classmates give him the nickname "Oga" and encourage him to participate in their group chat, but Juzo prefers not to interact with children.
	+ Juzo faces challenges with math and feels frustrated. Kotatsu suggests he seek help from Eri or his teacher.
* **Ryo Shiraishi's Introduction:** Juzo receives help from a classmate named Ryo, who simplifies the material for him. Juzo scores perfectly on their class quiz as a result.
	+ Juzo expresses gratitude to Ryo with tears in his eyes, addressing him as "Master" for his assistance, which makes Ryo uncomfortable due to Juzo's elderly demeanor.
	+ Juzo treats Ryo to a restaurant meal to celebrate his test score. They discuss Ryo's aspiration to become a doctor and encounter someone who questions Ryo's choice and argues about the practical aspects of the profession.
* **Eri's Update and Noren Mitsuoka's Introduction:** Juzo has a phone call with Eri, during which she provides an update on her research into his condition. She reveals that Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals is responsible for the artificially created wasps that caused his transformation into a child, and Noren Mitsuoka, the daughter of the pharmaceutical company's president, is in Juzo's class.

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Juzo Ogami**
**Kotatsu Nekota**
**Baba**2nd Appearance
**Takada**2nd Appearance
**Eri Wanibuchi**
**Ryo Shiraishi**Debut
**Random Individual**Debut
**Noren Mitsuoka**Debut