Flesh-Colored Mystery

肉色の怪

by Junji Itou

While walking home one night, Momoko Takikawa has a bucket of foul-smelling liquid poured on her by a mysterious woman. When she makes it home, she manages to peel the drying substance off of her skin, but is forced to cut her hair short. The next day, at her job as a kindergarten teacher, Momoko has to deal with Chikara Kawabe, an antisocial boy with a tendency to scratch other kids when provoked. He also has a terrifying appearance, which scares his classmates.