Sket Dance 104

Reserved for Trinity BAKumA. Do not use without my permission.

Page 1
Panel 1:
Minakami Himiko Fortune-Telling Seminar
The Needle of a Compass

Panel 2:
Tanioka Osamu, 47 years old.
You...are worried about work, correct?
Y...yes. That's right.
The Sket-Dan marches into enemy territory...

Panel 3:
Himiko: You also have relationship problems.
Am I wrong?
Man: You're right! ...I can't get along with my boss...

Panel 4:
I know. Your fortune told me that you are unskilled at interacting with people in high social positions.

Panel 5:
That's amazing, Minakami-sensei...!



Page 2
Panel 1:
That goes without saying. Don't forget who you're talking to.
Putting up a bold appearance, with arrogance hidden in her words---
Chapter 104: Go Defeat the Fortune-Teller (Part 2)

Panel 2:
Because you're so soft-hearted, you can't refuse anyone asking you for favors.
Yes, that's right!
In addition, you're quite emotional.
Yes, I have cried many times when watching movies...
That's what I got for your personality assessment.

Panel 3:
Himiko: And lately you've gotten into something new right?
Hm...Now what could it be?
Man: Ah.
It's gardening! On days off I can spend a whole day messing around in the garden.
You even knew something like this!?



Page 3
Panel 1:
I know more. Lately your body has been getting weaker, hasn't it?
Your head...No, your back must have been hurting.

Panel 2:
Yes, it's just as you say. Recently, my back hurts...
Woah...it's scary how much you know, sensei.

Panel 3:
This pain is an omen. Next year, you'll be entering a period of great peril.
For three years after that, the situation won't improve no matter what you do. Be careful.

Panel 4:
Listen to my advice carefully.
Or else you will drop down to hell.

Panel 5:
*Shock*
Y...yes!

Panel 6:
Thank you very much.
Wow!
As expected of sensei.
And that concludes today's session with Tanioka-san.



Page 4
Panel 1:
Well then.

Panel 2:
Actually, we have some very cute guests here today.
They are some high school students who want to challenge my fortune-telling.

Panel 3:
What!?
They don't believe in Minakami-sensei's skills!?

Panel 4:
It is also my duty to try to convince the non-believers.
I called them here because I want the audience to get something out of it too.

Panel 5:
Come up here then.
Sket-Dan.



Page 5
Panel 2:
Himiko: Let's hear what you have to say.
Himiko: The good-looking guy in the glasses,
You say that there is a trick to how I tell fortunes. Why don't you explain that to us?

Panel 3:
Switch.
Yeah.

Panel 4:
With that 47-year-old man just now, it seemed like you knew much about him. However, most of those generic fortunes can apply to many people.

Panel 5:
Switch: Taking your fortune-telling just now as an example,
Of a majority of people's worries, most of them have something to do with relationships.
Switch: Many adults have trouble turning down requests from others, have had experiences of being emotionally moved, and probably have a hobby or two.
Switch: As for the great peril that you spoke of, some bad experiences are bound to happen within three years.



Page 6
Panel 1:
Even when hearing something very vague, humans can be easily tricked into thoughts like "that's right", or "maybe I do have that trait".
In Psychology, it is known as the Barnum Effect.

Panel 2:
A palm reader known to be very accurate did an experiment once, and gave the opposite reading. Even so, the believers supported it exactly like before.
Also, in a blood type personality test, random results that have nothing to do with the actual blood types were given, and 90% of people said the test was accurate.

Panel 3:
And that's what it is.
It is said that the more influence a fortune-teller has, the more effective Barnum Effect is. Since you are well-known, it must be greatly effective.

Panel 4:
...

Panel 5:
And that is our argument.
Why are you making it look like you're the one who said it?



Page 7
Panel 1:
Hmph. So you're starting with that kind of argument.

Panel 2:
You think I gained all this support with just that!?
That's bullshit!!

Panel 3:
The whatever Effect can't possibly explain how my fortune-telling works!!
No, but you were using conversing for a purpose.

Panel 4:
...

Panel 5:
I want you all to remember the conversation before with Tanioka-san. He himself said that he cannot get along with his superior.
While you took information from him, you made it sound as if you read it from the fortune.

Panel 6:
And surely you inferred the back pain from his age, and the fact that he likes to spend whole days in the garden.



Page 8
Panel 1:
The technique for secretly observing and drawing out information during a conversation, and later pretending to know many things about the person---
Is called "Cold Reading".

Panel 2:
You first used the Barnum Effect to bait the client with generic topics, then you started obtaining information through his response.
While pretending that it's all due to your skills, if you repeat to him what you have gathered, then he'll believe that you are in fact correct.

Panel 3:
Although mastering the technique is a must, but with enough experience, anyone can become a great fortune-teller.

Panel 5:
And that is our argument.
We didn't speak at all this time...



Page 9
Panel 2:
Ha---haha!
You did your homework well, little boy.

Panel 3:
But that's not good enough! Don't be so naive!
I can tell you things that I would never be able to find out through such petty tricks!

Panel 4:
I'll prove it by telling the boy with the horned hat his fortune, just like I promised.

Panel 5:
By looking directly at your aura.



Page 10
Panel 8:
Fuh...
I now know everything by just looking at your aura.

Panel 9:
I'll just skip the personality assessment,
Because talking about things that already happened is a more accurate measure of my abilities.



Page 11
Panel 1:
Fujisaki Yuusuke, you had a grand past.

Panel 3:
Himiko: You were born under the star of solitude.
I daresay both of them died not long after you were born, correct?
Himiko: Having no caretakers, you were brought up by strangers...no, perhaps family friends.
Himiko: After that, there was one more person in the family. A younger sister I see...Then the family of three lived happily.

Panel 4:
Until now, that is.



Page 12
Panel 1:
You were also born under the star of twins.
Recently, you found out about a part of you that has been seperated long ago.

Panel 2:
How is it, am I wrong?

Panel 3:
Hi hi hi! I'm surprised. I've been telling people's fortunes for a long time, but this is the first time I've seen a child like you.
If I have done this sooner, I could have at least told you of the existence of your twin brother. Hihihihi!



Page 13
Panel 1:
Himiko: Then you should know now!!
That I can see things in such detail!
Bossun: No.

Panel 2:
?

Panel 3:
You're completely wrong, you piece of shit*! *He is talking like how Bossun would be normally.
Hm?
Is that how I should sound?

Panel 4:
?
What...

Panel 5:
Himiko: Don't be a sore loser!!
There's no way I could be wrong!!
Bossun: Fool*!!! *The way Tsubaki says it.

Panel 6:
*Remove*



Page 14
Panel 1:
I am that other half you were speaking of.
!!!

Panel 2:
Wh,
What did you saaay----!?

Panel 3:
Tsubaki: Kuh, I didn't think making a stupid face would be so painful...!
I had my eyelashes cut too...
Himiko: You switched places!?

Panel 4:
That's riiight!
Ah! You...



Page 15
Panel 1:
Hehe...Good work Tsubaki.
Considering it was you, you did well.
Don't flatter yourself.
I only accepted this task to help out a student in need.

Panel 2:
So anyway, you don't need any more explanations do you, old hag?
Everyone already knows about how you sent people to find out about my background around school.

Panel 3:
You said just now that you can tell my fortunes through seeing my aura.
So why did you see my past in my brother's aura?
Th...that's...!!

Panel 4:
I have heard of rumors before that Minakami Himiko does research on the client beforehand.
That's why I tricked you before and waited for your reaction to confirm my suspicions.
Since there is a trick to your fortune-telling.



Page 16
Panel 1:
And that is how you became a great fortune-teller---
Doing research beforehand, using that information, and then performing the reading. That is the so-called "Hot Reading".

Panel 2:
Gah!!

Panel 3:
Now you can't talk your way out, in front of your followers!!
Give up!

Panel 4:
You are the one who is going to hell.

Panel 6:
You fraud-!!
Liar fortune-teller!!
Give me back my money-!



Page 17
Panel 1:
Wah!
Wait...

Panel 2:
Let me read my own fate!!

Panel 4:
Yuuki: It seems like I must thank you this time.
Thank you every one, for opening my eyes.
Yuuki: I'm so awake now that I can even feel strange powers.
Bossun: Oh...Ohh...That's great.

Panel 5:
Really...I wonder why I believed in something like this?

Panel 6:
Although when a fortune is correct, it leaves a strong impression---
When it's not, people will often dismiss it by saying "well, it can be wrong sometimes too". In the end, it will be thought of as correct no matter what.



Page 18
Panel 1:
The biggest reason I don't believe in fortune-telling is because of the way fortune-tellers do not take responsibility for being wrong.
I don't hate little things like omikuji* or daily fortunes. *Fortunes told on pieces of paper in Japanese temples.
But I cannot accept how people rely on such undependable things for major decisions.

Panel 2:
There is no such thing as predetermined fate.

Panel 3:
...

Panel 4:
It's as you say.

Panel 5:
Bossun: But--I want Yuuki-san to keep on pursuing fortune-telling.
Himeko: Yeah.
It's not like Yuuki-san to give up now.
Yuuki: Eh? ...Why is that?



Page 19
Panel 1:
Science is about "doubting", while occult is "believing", is it not?
If we don't each go down our own paths, then there would be no competition for me.

Panel 3:
Fuhahahahaha.
Just as you say.

Panel 4:
Yuuki: Then I will come up with my own fortune-telling method.
Switch: I will destroy that as well.
Tsubaki: Why did you say something to make them fight again!? I don't get it!
Bossun: Tch, what do you know about their relationship?
They're really weird~ Those two.
Himeko: You two are the same.
Horizontal line: Their separate paths that will never change...