Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria

Volume 1 Cover

Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria (空ろの箱と零のマリア, The Empty Box and The Zeroth Maria) is a light novel series written by Eiji Mikage and illustrated by Tetsuo (formerly known as 415), the series is complete with 7 volumes. While Utsuro no Hako, often abbreviated as Hakomari, is Eiji's fourth publication, it is the first to feature illustrations. One of his earlier works can be found here: the Kamisu Reina Series.

This series has been licensed by Yen On on 16th December 2016 under the title "The Empty Box and the Zeroth Maria".

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The Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria series is also available in the following languages:

• Português (Brazilian Portuguese)
• Español (Spanish)
• Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
• Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
• Deutsch (German)
• Français (French)
• Polski (Polish)
• Türkçe (Turkish)
• Italiano (Italian)

(Note: Translation progress varies for each version.)

Story Synopsis

Kazuki Hoshino values his everyday life above all else. He spends the days carefree with his friends at school, until the uneventful bliss suddenly comes to a halt with the transfer of the aloof beauty Aya Otonashi into his class and her cold, dramatic statement to him immediately upon arrival:

"I'm here to break you. This is my 13,118th school transfer, and even I can't help but reach the end of my tether after so many iterations. So for a change of pace, I'll declare war this time."

And with those puzzling words, the ordinary days that Kazuki loved so dearly become a cycle of turmoil and fear—Aya's sudden appearance signals the unraveling of unseen mysteries surrounding Kazuki's seemingly normal friends, including the discovery of mysterious devices known as "boxes."

Character Introductions

Kazuki Hoshino

A completely ordinary high school student who loves idle chatter with his friends and Umaibōs, a Japanese snack. One day, he somehow suddenly antagonizes Aya Otonashi — even though he has never met her before. She threatens to “break” him.

Aya Otonashi

An antisocial beauty with a resolute personality. She transfers into Kazuki’s class on March 2^nd — right before the end of the school year. Immediately upon her arrival, she announces her intent to “break” Kazuki.

Daiya Oomine

A self-centered and arrogant student who dyes his hair silver and wears three piercings in his right ear. He is also the class president and a shrewd friend of Kazuki’s.

Haruaki Usui

A cheerful but frivolous baseball ace. He often hangs out with Kazuki and Daiya.

Kokone Kirino

A bright and beautiful girl who cares a lot for her friends, but can sometimes be meddlesome.
She and Daiya have known each other since childhood, and their mutual verbal abuse has become legendary among their classmates ever since.

Kasumi Mogi

The girl who has won Kazuki’s heart. She is docile, silent and expressionless.

Updates

• 27th July 2015 - Translation of "Hakomari" completed
• 7th July 2015 - Volume 7 Prologue & Chapter 1 completed
• 19th February 2013 - Volume 6 completed
• 26th August 2012 - Volume 5 completed
• 31th July 2012 - Volume 5 "Before the Show Begins" completed
• 21th July 2012 - Volume 5 Prologue completed
• 19th April 2012 - Diamond Days completed
• 2nd August 2010 - Volume 4 completed
• 25th July 2010 - Volume 4 Chapter 1 completed
• 2nd July 2010 - Volume 4 Game Explanation and Prologue completed

Older Updates can be found on the Utsuro no Hako updates page

Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria by Eiji Mikage

Volume 1 (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• 1^st time
• 23^rd time
• 1,050^th time
• 13,118^th time
• 10,876^th time
• 8,946^th time
• 2,601^st time
• 2,602^nd time
• 4,609^th time
• 5,232^nd time
• 27,753^rd time
• Interlude
• 27,753^rd time
• 27,754^th time
• 3,087^th time
• 27,754^th time
• 0^th time
• 27,755^th time
• 27,755^th time
• 27,755^th time
• 27,755^th time
• 0^th time
• 5,000^th time
• 6,000^th time
• 7,000^th time
• 8,000^th time
• 9,000^th time
• 9,999^th time
• 10,000^th time
• 27,755^th time
• 27,756^th time
• 1^st time
• Epilogue
• Author’s Notes

Volume 2 (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• April 29 (Wednesday) Shōwa Day
• April 30 (Thursday)
• May 1 (Friday)
• May 2 (Saturday)
• May 3 (Sunday) Constitution Memorial Day
• May 4 (Monday) Greenery Day
• May 5 (Tuesday) Children's Day
• May 18 (Monday)
• Author's Notes

Volume 3 (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• Beginning
• Round 1
• Round 2
• Round 3
• Epilogue
• Author's Notes

Volume 4 (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Game Explanation
• Prologue
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Author's Notes

Volume 5 (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• Before the Show Begins
• Scene 1: Close-Up Goodbye
• Scene 2: 60 Feet and 6 Inches Apart
• Scene 3: Repeat, Reset, Reset
• Author's Notes

Volume 6 (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Intermission
• Scene 4: Piercing at Fifteen (1/3)
• Scene 4: Piercing at Fifteen (2/3)
• Scene 4: Piercing at Fifteen (3/3)
• After the Curtain Falls
• Epilogue
• Author's Notes

Volume 7 (Full Text)

• Novel Illustrations
• Prologue
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Epilogue
• Author's Notes
• Translator's Notes

Dengeki Smile Bunko

• Diamond Days

Miscellaneous

• Interview with Eiji Mikage (April, 2013)

Purchasing the books

There are several ways to legally acquire the books in Japanese. Please consider doing so if you enjoyed them.

• honto.jp (how to buy from honto.jp)
• Amazon.co.jp
• YesAsia (no shipping fees after ~$40)
• CDJapan.co.jp

You can also acquire them as eBooks (English FAQ to Book Walker):

• Specific volumes
• Bundle with all volumes

The series is also available in Polish:

• Waneko

Project Staff

• Supervisor: None
• Project Manager: EusthEnoptEron

Translator

• EusthEnoptEron

Editors

• Kadi
• Grrarr
• Quintasan

Links

• Wikia
• Wikipedia
• MyAnimeList
• Replica Letter (Eiji Mikage's music group)

Series Overview

• Volume 1 - 空ろの箱と零のマリア1 (January 07, 2009, ISBN 978-4-04-867461-4)
• Volume 2 - 空ろの箱と零のマリア2 (September 10, 2009, ISBN 978-4-04-868012-7)
• Volume 3 - 空ろの箱と零のマリア3 (January 10, 2010, ISBN 978-4-04-424115-5)
• Volume 4 - 空ろの箱と零のマリア4 (June 10, 2010, ISBN 978-4-04-868595-5)
• Volume 5 - 空ろの箱と零のマリア5 (July 10, 2012, ISBN 978-4-04-886733-7)
• Volume 6 - 空ろの箱と零のマリア6 (January 10, 2013, ISBN 978-4-04-891251-8)
• Volume 7 - 空ろの箱と零のマリア7 (June 10, 2015, ISBN 978-4-04-865193-6)