Kanon and Itsuru both have a power that allows them to infiltrate psychological worlds called "zones", and are contracted to kill the conceptual lifeforms known as "phobias" that nest in people's minds and bring about their morbid fears. One day, a young girl suffering with scopophobia (the fear of being stared at) comes to them and requests their help. Kanon enters the girl's "zone" and encounters a mysterious illusionist who fosters fear through storytelling. In the midst of fighting him, the illusionist poses a question to Kanon: "You're turning away from your own dark, ugly past, aren't you?" Thus this fierce psychological battle grinds away at her own mind, gradually digging up and exposing the truth she had wanted to hide at all costs. Hearts are broken and sanity is lost as the battle enters a realm stained with fear and despair... Source: Shogakukan

A 33-volume collection of award-winning oneshots put out by Kodansha from 2002-2012. Some of these would later get serialized or collected in other volumes. **Serialized or otherwise collected:** AKABOSHI Tomo [Shishunki Syndrome](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=10895992058) AKIZUKI Risu [Oku-sama Shinkaron](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=8585) ARAI Hideki [8-gatsu no Hikari](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=48516) ARAMAKI Keiko [GENOMES](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=100366) ASADA Torao [Spoonman 3.18](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=7155) ASHINANO Hitoshi [Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=586) Endo Hiroki [Kitto Kawaii Onnanoko Dakara](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=5984) ENOMOTO Shunji [Golden Lucky](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=44334) IGARASHI Daisuke [Obayashi ga Hikoeru Hi, Hoka (collected in Hanashippanashi](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=2347) IRIE Kiwa [Haikibun! Sakanahime](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=54246) IRIE Noriko [Neko no Te Kashimasu](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=34406) KIMURA Kon [Koube Zaijuu](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=6616) KITOH Mohiro [Vandemieru no Tsubasa](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=2395) KOMAI Yu [Sonna Yatsua Inee!!](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=16844) MATSUMOTO Taiyou [STRAIGHT](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=9964) NIHEI Tsutomu [BLAME! (prototype chapter, included in NOiSE)](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=2275) OHARA Shinji [Boku wa Otouto](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=23188) SAMURA Hiroaki [Mugen no Juunin](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=1628) SOUJI Hajime [Sanmon Mirai no Katei Houmon](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=95297) TOUME Kei [Kurogane](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=1034) TOYODA Minoru [Love Roma](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=5227) TSUCHIDA Seiki [Miseinen](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=65435) URUSHIBARA Yuki [Mushishi prototype chapter, collected in Filament](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=35219) WAKANA Shouhei [Kamen Tenshi](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=38659) **Other:** Hiramatsu Kannosuke [Yume](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=134645) ABE Yoshitoshi [Ame no Furu Basho](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=70439511114) Eshikawa is a man who has lost sight of his life and stumbles through it, with no clear meaning or purpose. One day, he is informed that his ex-girlfriend committed suicide, which sets his brain on retrospect mode. He goes on a journey of self-revelation and contemplates upon the myriad of human emotions, the joys and sorrows of normalcy. YAMAZAKI Ren [Like a Laika](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=15464858831) From Atelier du Noir Scans: The daily, average life and interactions of some of a ship’s crew as they depart to explore space. Winner of the Jiro Tanaguchi Special Award for manga in the 2010 Four Seasons Award Anthology. NADEGATA Nazuna [Kokenoshima](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=25320595156) From Atelier du Noir Scans: On a remote island, a skilled swordsman who honed his craft on the local population attempts to atone for his sins and lift a curse by hunting and killing demons. Winner of the Hagio Moto Special Award for manga. KIBA Kouichi [Jagua](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=26870403448) As the protagonist is returning home one night, she runs into a man who had just been in a car crash. As he is dying, he asks her to throw a certain package into the sea. JOUYAMA Yui [Zanuff the Butcher](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=57841268625) A butcher with a dark secret finds a little girl. HAYASHIDA Q [Sofa-chan](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=9150331372) Tells the story of a female ghost who lives on a couch and it's the debut work of Q Hayashida as mangaka. KANOU Rie [Kingdom of Stars](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=20282565791) Oneshot about love, religion, and a big misunderstanding that leads to a weird situation...

The "Xenogears Comic Anthology" is a collection of short stories that take place throughout the present and future of the Xenogears timeline. Most are comical, but there are a few serious character pieces.