HSHK Chapter 26

The Cursed Cat Ears (いのネコミミ) is the twenty-sixth chapter of the spin-off Houkago Shounen Hanako-kun. It was released alongside Chapter 107 of Toilet-bound Hanako-kun in the November issue of Monthly G-Fantasy.

Summary
The chapter begins with Hanako barging into the science prep room with a joyful expression on his face as he informs Tsuchigomori that he has finally got his hands on the Cursed Cat Ears. The Cursed Cat Ears is a magical headband with cat ears attached to it that will turn whoever wears it into a cat. Then Hanako proceeds to explain his reason for wanting such a thing: If he wears it, then all kinds of "erotic" (In Hanako's terms) stuff will happen to him. As he says this, an illustrative example of what he means by an "erotic situation" is shown in which Nene finds Hanako, turned into a cat, and stuffs him into her jacket, unaware that it's actually him.

Tsuchigomori snatches the headband away from Hanako and, while holding it above his head, attempts to lecture Hanako about the consequences of doing such a thing. But before he can finish what he is trying to say, a sleeping Mokke rolls off a shelf and onto the Cursed Cat Ears Tsuchigomori is holding. The impact forces the headband onto Tsuchigomori's head and turns him into a cat. Tsuchigomori's cat form is a white cat with black spots that looks remarkably similar to the human form of Tsuchigomori, complete with a black spot on his head and fur styled like side bangs that mimic his hairstyle. Upon seeing this, Hanako fretfully screams his name, while Tsuchigomori just stares on with a blank expression.

Hanako holds the now-cat Tsuchigomori outstretched in his hands, commenting in wonderment that the Cursed Cat Ears really worked, while Tsuchigomori struggles to free himself, demanding that Hanako "turn him back this instant." Unfortunately for Tsuchigomori, he has lost the ability to speak, and is only capable of meowing now. Hanako seems to understand what Tsuchigomori is trying to say, though, and assures him that he will turn him back soon--and that once he has, it will be Hanako's turn to become a cat. Hanako then begins to rummage through his back pocket, only to realize that he has no idea how to turn Tsuchigomori back to normal. Hanako apologizes sheepishly and tells him as such while Tsuchigomori meows angrily at him, cursing the other mystery inside of his head.

Tsuchigomori surveys Hanako with a mixture of what looks to be horror and disgust on his face as he mentally questions how Hanako was planning to return to normal in the first place, as well as insulting Hanako's lack of ability to plan ahead. Hanako, on the other hand, is worried that if Tsuchigomori remains a cat, then it means that Nene will find him and stuff him into her jacket instead, something Tsuchigomori heavily doubts. Hanako, finding his resolve, proceeds to take out his kitchen knife and stare worryingly at it, all while muttering about how it's "now or never," causing Tsuchigomori to flee the room in terror.

As Tsuchigomori runs away, he curses Hanako and determines that he has no choice but to find a cure to his predicament himself. He runs through the halls of the academy, passing several students along the way, before he is eventually picked up by none other than Nene Yashiro, who finds him cute. Her friend Aoi, meanwhile, looks on worriedly at Tsuchigomori and wonders if he's lost. Tsuchigomori stares at Nene and wonders hopefully if she might recognize him, since she's accustomed to paranormal encounters, but unfortunately for him, she merely interprets it as him staring at her because he likes her. Blushing happily, Nene talks to him like he's a baby and lovingly strokes him, much to Tsuchigomori's disappointment. Nene then asks Aoi if she wants to hold him, and while Aoi says no, she clarifies that it's only because cats tend not to like her. Nene encourages Aoi to reconsider by telling her that this cat is well-behaved, and tries to prove this by dressing Tsuchigomori in cutesy cat clothes and playing with his paws, much to Aoi's panic. Unamused by this, Tsuchigomori breaks away from Nene and quickly makes his escape, losing the crown Nene put on him in the process but keeping the bib.

As he returns to his search for a cure, he decides to avoid the female students from now on due to their apparent tendency to pat, pet and play with him. Suddenly, he comes to a staircase and finds Yako in her fox form sitting on one of the steps. Tsuchigomori figures that, since Yako transforms between human and fox form all the time, then she may know of a way to change him back. As tears of relief stream down his face, he attempts to communicate with her, only for her to immediately try and bite his head off. Tsuchigomori breaks into a run as Yako chases him off, screaming at him to "Get off her turf!" as a surprised Nagisa scolds her.

From there, only more misfortune awaits Tsuchigomori, as Kou Minamoto grabs him and attempts to feed him cat food, and his brother Teru Minamoto, apparently aware of the cat's true identity, jokes about skinning him to make a shamisen. These encounters leave Tsuchigomori hoping desperately for someone to save him, and eventually, he ends up on the side of a curb with Mitsuba, who lets out a dejected sigh the same time he does.

Noticing the others presence, the two of them exchange glances. Tsuchigomori quickly recognizes Mitsuba as School Mystery No.3, but Mitsuba is only surprised that this "cat" is able to see him. Tsuchigomori decides this isn't worth his time and makes a break for it, but before he can get too far, Mitsuba begs him to stop. He proceeds to explain that he's having a fight with Tsukasa, and that he can't go back to the Broadcasting Club room just yet. He asks Tsuchigomori to stay with him a little longer, so that he won't be lonely. As Mitsuba begins to cry, Tsuchigomori, overwhelmed by pity, returns to Mitsuba's side. Mitsuba's face brightens up when he sees that the cat has come back, and he brings Tsuchigomori into his lap and begins to stroke him. He asks if he came back to comfort him, and Mitsuba thanks him, but calls him "Vivian" as he does. Meanwhile, Tsuchigomori stares off into the distance with faint displeasure as he wonders who Vivian is supposed to be.

Crying tears of joy, Mitsuba nuzzles Tsuchigomori and asks if he would become his pet, albeit jokingly. Tsuchigomori is shocked at the proposition, but before he can think it over, he turns back into a human, still wearing the cursed headband. Now carrying a grown man in his lap, Mitsuba reacts in bewilderment and disgust as Tsuchigomori looks taken aback. Mitsuba yells at him and calls him a pervert, while Tsuchigomori desperately tries to explain himself. The chapter ends with a box explaining that the effect of the Cursed Cat Ears lasts only half a day.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Hanako
 * Tsuchigomori
 * Yashiro Nene (Imagination, appears in story and on Release Notice)
 * Mokke (Cameo)
 * Akane Aoi
 * Yako
 * Nagisa (Cameo)
 * Minamoto Kou (Cameo)
 * Minamoto Teru (Cameo)
 * Mitsuba Sousuke
 * Yugi Tsukasa (Mentioned, appears on Release Notice)

Trivia

 * This chapter first released in Monthly G-Fantasy instead of the spin-off gag magazine that After School Hanako-kun originates from, P-Fantapy. It is the first and so far only chapter to release in G-Fantasy.
 * The chapter was released almost two years after the previous chapter (HSHK Chapter 25) was released.
 * This chapter is possibly a little nod and reference to the Bakeneko Ryokan Hanakotei event, which ended less than a month before this chapter released.