惑わない星 [Madowanai Hoshi] #9

Volume 9 of Masayuki Ishikawa's Madowanai Hoshi presents a striking cover pairing: a dark-haired girl in an elaborate black gothic lolita dress clutches a blade, while beside her stands a softer, brown-haired companion in a cream and brown maid-style outfit wielding a large pair of scissors — both flanked by small, shadowy floating creatures with glowing eyes. The contrast between the two figures, one severe and one almost doll-like, gives the image a quietly unsettling tension that perfectly suits this Kōdansha Morning KC series. Fans of atmospheric, character-driven manga will find plenty to linger over here.