Hanamonogatari

With Koyomi Araragi and Hitagi Senjougahara now graduated, Naoetsu Private High School feels noticeably emptier—leaving Suruga Kanbaru, bearer of the Monkey’s Paw, as one of the few familiar presences still around. When whispers spread about a mysterious “Devil” who can supposedly fix anyone’s troubles through supernatural means, Kanbaru suspects the rumors might be tied to her and sets out to track down the truth.

The “Devil” turns out to be Rouka Numachi, Kanbaru’s former junior-high basketball rival, sidelined by a leg injury and now offering free counsel to those who seek her out. Rouka styles herself as a collector of misfortune, easing clients’ stress by giving them comforting—if misleading—hope that their problems will be resolved. Kanbaru initially sees little damage in the act, but she can’t ignore the dishonesty for long; and after returning home, she discovers something unsettling: her left hand has reverted to its human form.