Chapter 142

Cutting Through the Silence, the Ghost in the Music Room is the 142nd chapter of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan) manga series released on the 6th of April 2015.

Characters

 * Saiki Kusuo
 * Toritsuka Reita
 * Kaidou Shun
 * Nendou Riki
 * Ushimitsu

Abilities Used

 * Telepathy
 * Psychokinesis
 * Clairvoyance
 * Psychometry

Short Summary
A ghost is haunting the music room at PK Academy and has been heard playing the piano late at night when no one is around. Reita decides to put an end to it by recruiting Kusuo and sneaking into the school after hours.

Long Summary
In the girls' bathroom, a group of students gossip about a recent rumor that a ghost has taken up residence in PK Academy's music room, playing the piano late at night. Although cliché, the rumor has been substantiated by a large number of people who have heard the ghost playing, and the teachers talking about it. As the girls exit the bathroom, they find Toritsuka, who was loitering near the door to listen in. He declares that the problem should be left to him due to its ghostly nature. He is subsequently beaten up for his creepy behavior.

In Class 2, Kaidou tells a dramatized version of the Piano Ghost rumor to the disinterest of Nendo and Saiki. Saiki remarks that when it comes to ghosts there should be someone who comes to mind, but he can't remember who. Toritsuka then opens the classroom door, bleeding profusely from his forehead, nose, and mouth. He asks to borrow Saiki for a moment.

The conversation continues in the boys' bathroom, where Toritsuka asks for Saiki's help in exterminating the ghost. Saiki questions whether a ghost is actually behind the rumor, since they can't touch anything. Toritsuka clarifies that ghosts are able to interact with objects they used a lot when they were alive, or objects they have a strong attachment to. Kusuo recalls the ghost of Nendo's father moving his old pencil in chapter 42. Toritsuka, who already promised a bunch of girls he'd solve the problem, once again begs Saiki to help him. Saiki asks him why he's being invited, since he can't see ghosts. Toritsuka readily admits that if the culprit is a delinquent instead of a ghost, he wants Saiki to beat them up. Saiki takes offense to being treated as a "muscle-brain character," but agrees to help after considering the attention the school might gain because of the ghost commotion.

That night, Toritsuka and Saiki enter the school. Toritsuka, jovial, remarks that the school is kind of exciting at night. Saiki notes that he'd expect a coward like Toritsuka to be at least a little afraid, but Toritsuka claims he has no reason to be scared since he has Saiki with him, and since the school is crawling with ghosts. Toritsuka then calls out to the ghost of a naked old man sprinting at full speed down the hallway to ask whether he knows about the ghost in the music room. As they talk, Saiki remarks that from his perspective Toritsuka is talking to empty air, and looks crazy. Toritsuka becomes flustered during the conversation, and he tells Saiki afterwards that the ghost didn't know anything, it was only talking about girls' genitalia the entire time.

As they consider who to ask next, the sound of a piano rings down the hall. Saiki uses clairvoyance on the music room and sees that the room is empty, meaning the culprit is truly a ghost. While he does this, Toritsuka thinks that from his perspective Saiki's cross-eyed expression makes him look crazy. The two of them run to the music room, where Toritsuka responds with extreme shock upon seeing the ghost. Alarmed, Saiki uses psychometry to view the ghost himself. It turns out to be a cute girl.

They explain the situation to the ghost, who tells them she didn't mean to cause any trouble. She noticed that the piano was the only thing she could touch, and found it so much fun that she couldn't help herself. Kusuo reflects on how ghosts, with their limited touch, have a sad existence. Toritsuka, distracted from his goal by the sight of a cute girl, has to be reminded of their mission. He steels his resolve to exorcize her. For a moment he looks intimidating as he looms over her, but it quickly becomes apparent that he has no power to forcefully remove her, and can only beg her to leave on her own. While begging, he says that if she has nowhere to go, she should come to his place. Once again distracted, he switches from begging her to leave, to begging her to come over. The ghost refuses, but says she understands the situation. She promises to stop playing the piano, apologizes for the trouble she's caused, and disappears.

The next day, Toritsuka sees the piano being lowered from the music room with ropes. He questions a random side character, who says that in addition to the rumors, a teacher on guard duty heard a voice filled with desperation pleading "Come with me!" over and over again. The teacher became so scared they peed their pants. Toritsuka also says it's terrifying, not realizing that the desperate voice was his own. Saiki rationalizes that this outcome is fine, since the piano was old and would have been removed anyways. He tells Toritsuka he doesn't need to feel any unnecessary guilt. Toritsuka is silent for a moment, but then asks Saiki for another favor.

The scene cuts to a faculty room, where the principal recounts the piano's history. About 20 years ago, a girl named Ushimitsu attended PK Academy and was incredibly good at playing the piano. After she passed away from an illness, her parents donated her piano to the school. Matsuzaki listens to the story and then looks out the window, noticing the piano is gone. He assumes the workers already took it away.

The scene cuts back to Saiki, who is walking away from Toritsuka's house. He smiles to himself, and admits that for someone like him, Toritsuka did a pretty good deed. Then we switch to Toritsuka, who is lamenting how cramped his room has become due to fitting a grand piano in a space that's only a little over 9 square meters. Saiki notes that he must've really wanted the ghost to come to his place.