Negai no Astro chapter 9 review: The Hibaru Faction and Kinpa solve the mystery of the haunted house

Negai no Astro chapter 9, titled Wax and Roses, was published in Japan on Monday, June 17, 2024. This chapter brings together the distinct abilities of Hibaru, Terasu, Kuran, and Kinpa as they solve the mystery of the haunted house and confront the Ghost Thieves. This gang has gained notoriety for using scare tactics to carry out their looting.

In the previous chapter, readers saw how the Ghost Thieves dealt with intruders. They managed to neutralize the fearless Kuran who was being rash, while also scaring the wits out of Hibaru and Terasu. It was only through Kinpa's timely intervention that they narrowly escaped. Had Kinpa not arrived, Hibaru, left alone with his brothers knocked out, would have been utterly helpless.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers.

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

Brief chapter highlights

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

Negai no Astro chapter 9 begins with Terasu and Kuran reverting to their original forms outside the haunted mansion. Putting his wits to use, and with some help from Genki, Terasu deduces that their terrifying experience within the mansion is connected to the numerous bouquets of roses and candles they found scattered all over. However, Terasu then realizes that he has lost his Astro link.

Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Hajime Ikari, a member of the Ghost Thieves, discovers Terasu's lost link and decides to keep it. Hajime is accompanied by Karin Ikari. The two boast about their reputation and how they successfully frightened the intruders.

At this point in Negai no Astro chapter 9, Kinpa and Hibaru confront them. They reveal that they have figured out that the Ghost Thieves’ powers are ineffective against girls, which explains why Kinpa was never affected. Moreover, they use roses to induce panic through hallucinations before covering their victims in wax and stealing from them. To counter this, Kuran transforms into a giant fan, which Terasu and Genki use to disperse the roses' scent.

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

While Terasu's deductions are close, they are not entirely accurate. This is proven when Hibaru tries to attack Hajime. Hajime uses his Astro, which allows him to manipulate all forms of wax and partially petrifies Hibaru. Hibaru then starts hallucinating about a monster again. However, this time it is not due to the roses, but because of a special perfume that Karin carries, called Eau de Phantasm.

In the midst of this, in Negai no Astro chapter 9, the Ghost Thieves completely forget about Kinpa, who while invisible, steals their Astro links and destroys them. This renders them powerless, as one cannot use their Astros without their links, something that Terasu discovered only after losing his link.

Karin then fires multiple shots from the gun they stole from Genki at Terasu. But Terasu blocks the bullets using his shield Astro, thanks to Kinpa retrieving his link. Following this, Hibaru delivers a satisfying punch, knocking out both Hajime and Karin.

Negai no Astro chapter 9 review

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

Negai no Astro chapter 9 takes a more comedic approach in unraveling the mystery behind the haunted house and the strange events witnessed by Hibaru and his siblings. The one thing that becomes evident in the process is the excellent teamwork displayed by Hibaru, Terasu, Kuran, and Kinpa. It is also likely that Kinpa will join the Hibaru Faction moving forward.

This chapter also highlights Hibaru's strong moral compass. Introduced from the beginning as a gangster with a good heart, this theme is reemphasized when Hibaru becomes furious at Karin for using Genki's gun without hesitation, as he believes Karin is unworthy of wielding the firearm of such a righteous policeman.

Later, Hibaru also humbly declines Genki's show of gratitude, suggesting that as a yakuza, he is not worthy of it. He assures Genki that he will always help in times of trouble.

Negai no Astro chapter 8 recap

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

In the previous chapter, the Hibaru Faction learned from a police officer named Genki Kimoto that in the aftermath of a meteor strike, crime was rampant in Asakusa. A gang called the Ghost Thieves had become notorious for using their Astro powers for burglary. Genki sought help from Hibaru, Terasu, and Kuran after his attempt to take down the gang alone failed.

Genki was determined to create a society where the police could handle criminals without civilians needing to use their Astro. Moved by his dedication to society, Hibaru decided to confront the gang at their hideout, which was interestingly a haunted mansion.

Inside the mansion, the Hibaru Faction was taken by surprise by the giant face that covered Kuran in a gooey substance. Next, Terasu’s body began to rot before Hibaru's eyes. As Hibaru continued to freak out, he was pulled away by an invisible hand. It turned out to be his childhood friend Kinpa who had the power to turn invisible. With her help, Hibaru found the courage to escape, while carrying the other two members of the Hibaru Faction with him.

The chapter ended with two gang members finally appearing and discovering that their lair had been infiltrated.