Zaregoto Series

nihongo|Zaregoto Series|戯言シリーズ|"Zaregoto Shirīzu" series is a series of nine volumes written by Nisio Isin. The series revolves around a boy simply known as nihongo|"Ii-chan"|いーちゃん which is his nickname. His real name is never revealed. Ii-chan and his friend are invited to an island out somewhere in the sea of Japan with five geniuses, one being his close friend, nihongo|Tomo Kunagisa|玖渚 友|"Kunagisa Tomo", a computer engineer. Then on that island a murder happens and it has the guests of the island baffled. The mistress who owns the island then enlists the aid of a detective, known as the most powerful private contractor in the world. Then Ii-chan tries to find the murderer before anything else gets out of hand.

In November of 2005, the ninth and final volume of the series was released. The books were illustrated by take. The spin-off Ningen Series is still coming out. All books have been released in Japan by Kodansha Novels, and have been announced for release in the US by Del Rey along with the "xxxHolic" novel. [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-07/del-rey-announces-new-manga-fiction Del Rey Announces Zaregoto Series, xxxHolic novel] ] .

Book 1: The Kubikiri Cycle

Ii-chan and his friend, computer genius, nihongo|Tomo Kunagisa|玖渚 友|"Kunagisa Tomo" are invited to Wet Crow's Feather Island, out somewhere in the sea of Japan. The island is owned by nihongo|Iria Akagami|赤神 イリア|"Akagami Iria", a wealthy heiress who's been banished onto the island by an organization, The Akagami Foundation. Akagami has lived on the island with her maids for five years. Then she decides to invite five geniuses from Japan to stay with her for a week. Among the following is Kunagisa who's accompanied by her close friend Ii-chan who has been studying in Houston, Texas. In the start of the story Ii-chan is confined in a storage room where he stayed for most of the trip. Already he befriended one of the maids in the house, nihongo|Hikari Chiga|千賀 ひかり|"Chiga Hikari" who is supposedly the nicer twin compared to her other, nihongo|Akari Chiga|千賀 あかり|"Chiga Akari".Then there's the other geniuses, nihongo|Kanami Ibuki|伊吹 かなみ|"Ibuki Kanami" (Genius Artist), nihongo|Maki Himena|姫菜 真姫|"Himena Maki" (Genius Fortuneteller), nihongo|Yayoi Sashirono|佐代野 弥生|"Sashirono Yayoi" (Genius Chief), and nihongo|Akane Sonoyama|園山 赤音|"Sonoyama Akane" (A member of the Seven Fools) who all seem to intimidate Ii-chan, academically. While most guests seem to pick on Ii-chan, especially Maki, some do not seem to mind his presence like his friend, Tomo and the maid Hikari. Later that night after a dinner with everyone on the island, Ii-chan and Tomo try to find food for Tomo instead they run into a few of their dinner mates, Hikari, Maki and nihongo|Shinya Sakaki|逆木 深夜|"Sakaki Shin'ya" (Kanami's attendant) that are enjoying some wine and cheese. Then an earthquake happens and Shinya calls Kanami-san and checks to see if she's alright. That night seemed pretty sound until the next day.Kanami-san is found dead, decapitated. This depresses Shinya who has taught Kanami everything he knew. Iria, concerned about this murder she decides to contact nihongo|Jun Aikawa|哀川 潤|"Aikawa Jun" to solve the murder. Though Iria is confident that Jun will come, it'll take Jun a few days to arrive. In the meantime Ii-chan has the suggestion to eliminate the most suspicious subject, Akane and confine her in the room where Ii-chan was sleeping in. Also that the remaining members of the island to be divided up into groups. Ii-chan's group consists of Tomo Kunagisa, Hikari Chiga and himself.Later that day Ii-chan, Tomo and Shinya decide to bury Kanami's body in a sleeping bag and buried it somewhere on the island. Then Ii-chan and Tomo take a look back at the crime scene and try to round up some evidence to Kanami's apparent decapitation and notices something odd about one of Kanami's paintings of him earlier before she died. While trying to piece the mystery together Ii-chan passes by Akane-san's room/prison and have a little chat with one another. Then Akane brings up Tomo, his friend and shows the reader that he has affections towards Tomo. The next day Akane-san is found decapitated as well.

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