Negai no Astro Chapter 9 Review: The Hibaru Faction and Kinpa Solve the Mystery of the Haunted House

On Monday, June 17, 2024, Negai no Astro chapter 9, titled Wax and Roses, was released in Japan. This chapter follows the collaboration of Hibaru, Terasu, Kuran, and Kinpa as they work together to uncover the truth behind the haunted house and confront the infamous Ghost Thieves. These criminals are known for their use of scare tactics to carry out their thefts.

In the last chapter, readers witnessed the Ghost Thieves handle unwanted visitors. Despite Kuran’s recklessness, they successfully subdued him and terrified Hibaru and Terasu. Thanks to Kinpa’s timely intervention, they narrowly avoided disaster. If Kinpa had not arrived, Hibaru would have been defenseless with his brothers unconscious.

Please be advised that this article contains spoilers.

Kinpa helps bring down the Ghost Thieves in Negai no Astro – Chapter 9

Chapter Highlights

Hibaru and Kinpa in Negai no Astro chapter 9 (Image via Ken Wakui/Shueisha)

Terasu and Kuran revert to their original forms outside the haunted mansion at the start of Negai no Astro chapter 9. However, Terasu soon realizes that he has lost his Astro link.

As the events unfolded, Hajime Ikari, a member of the Ghost Thieves, stumbled upon Terasu’s lost link inside the mansion and made the decision to keep it. Accompanied by Karin Ikari, the two reveled in their infamous reputation and took pride in scaring off any potential intruders.

In chapter 9 of Negai no Astro, Kinpa and Hibaru confront the Ghost Thieves. They disclose that they have discovered the group’s powers are ineffective against girls, which is why Kinpa was not affected. Additionally, they use roses to cause panic through hallucinations and then coat their victims in wax to steal from them. To combat this, Kuran transforms into a giant fan, while Terasu and Genki use it to disperse the scent of the roses.

The Ghost Thieves as seen in Negai no Astro chapter 9 (Image via Ken Wakui/Shueisha)

Despite Terasu’s deductions being mostly correct, they do have some inaccuracies. This is evident when Hibaru attempts to attack Hajime and is stopped by Hajime’s use of his Astro, which enables him to manipulate wax and partially petrify Hibaru. As a result, Hibaru begins to experience hallucinations of a monster once again. However, this time the cause is not the roses, but rather a unique perfume that Karin possesses, known as Eau de Phantasm.

Despite the chaos, in chapter 9 of Negai no Astro, the Ghost Thieves fail to remember Kinpa’s presence. Taking advantage of his invisibility, Kinpa steals their Astro links and renders them helpless. This realization comes too late for Terasu, who only discovers the importance of the links after losing his own.

After taking the gun from Genki, Karin proceeds to fire multiple shots at Terasu. However, Terasu is able to block the bullets with his shield Astro, thanks to Kinpa retrieving his link.

Negai no Astro: Chapter 9 Review

Hajime vs Hibaru in Negai no Astro chapter 9 (Image via Ken Wakui/Shueisha)

The ninth chapter of Negai no Astro approaches the mystery of the haunted house and strange occurrences witnessed by Hibaru and his siblings with a more comedic tone. Through their teamwork, Hibaru, Terasu, Kuran, and Kinpa demonstrate their excellent collaboration. It is highly probable that Kinpa will become a member of the Hibaru Faction in the future.

This chapter further emphasizes Hibaru’s unwavering moral principles. From the start, he is portrayed as a gangster with a conscience, and this is reinforced when he becomes enraged at Karin for using Genki’s gun without hesitation. In his eyes, Karin is not deserving of possessing the weapon of a virtuous police officer.

Subsequently, Hibaru humbly refuses Genki’s display of appreciation, acknowledging that as a yakuza, he is undeserving of it. However, he promises Genki that he will always be there to assist in times of need.

Recap of Chapter 8 of Negai no Astro

Genki in Negai no Astro (Image via Ken Wakui/Shueisha)

In the preceding chapter, Genki Kimoto, a police officer, informed the Hibaru Faction that following a meteor strike, Asakusa was plagued with rampant crime. The Ghost Thieves, a gang that utilized their Astro abilities for theft, had gained notoriety. After Genki’s solo attempt to apprehend the gang failed, he reached out to Hibaru, Terasu, and Kuran for assistance.

Despite his determination to create a safer society, Genki knew that civilians should not have to rely on their Astro to handle criminals. Inspired by his selfless dedication, Hibaru decided to confront the gang at their hideout, which happened to be a spooky haunted mansion.

Inside the mansion, the Hibaru Faction was shocked when a massive face engulfed Kuran in a sticky substance. To make matters worse, Terasu’s body started decaying right before their eyes. In a state of panic, Hibaru was suddenly yanked away by an unseen force. It was then revealed to be Kinpa, Hibaru’s childhood friend who possessed the ability to turn invisible. With her assistance, Hibaru gathered the strength to flee, carrying the remaining members of the Hibaru Faction with him.

The conclusion of the chapter saw the arrival of two gang members who were shocked to find that their hideout had been breached.