Those poor clueless otters(?) never catch a break.

Edit: Actually, with those ears, tail and glasses, she might be Meerkat.

Okay, that was just stupid.

It's not her fault. Remember that friends can't read.

Popotchero said:

It's not her fault. Remember that friends can't read.

English i guess. Since Arai-san can understand Japanese.

"Darkness, my old friend!"

In the ceiling, with the light, is the last place I'd expect shadows to hide. These things might be like moths who are drawn to light.

I think they eat light. Just another feature in these 5000 yen per month apartments.

On another note, this is an apartment complex where all the building signs are in Russian, the human explorers write and speak in English, and the Friends all communicate in Japanese.

T34/38 said:

English i guess. Since Arai-san can understand Japanese.

Nope, they can't read anything. The distinctive characteristic that Kaban had from other "friends" is that she could read.
If you look at the first image, Fennec had to draw instructions to Arai, because friends can't read.

It took me several viewings of this comic before I realized that the dark shapes are surrounding the light fixtures on the ceiling before the switch is thrown.

Popotchero said:

Nope, they can't read anything. The distinctive characteristic that Kaban had from other "friends" is that she could read.
If you look at the first image, Fennec had to draw instructions to Arai, because friends can't read.

Interesting to think that the theater floor would still generate movie posters for them with Japanese titles, even if they can't read it.

Also brings up the thought of who is the person who left the few scribbled notes that there are in Japanese. Given one of them is one of Serval's catchphrase, perhaps Kaban?

Meddy-san said:

On another note, this is an apartment complex where all the building signs are in Russian, the human explorers write and speak in English, and the Friends all communicate in Japanese.

Should also note though that like the spirits on floor Г-1-13-А also are depicted as communicating in Japanese, so whoever they used to be were likely also Japanese.

NWF_Renim said:

Interesting to think that the theater floor would still generate movie posters for them with Japanese titles, even if they can't read it.

Also brings up the thought of who is the person who left the few scribbled notes that there are in Japanese. Given one of them is one of Serval's catchphrase, perhaps Kaban?

I'm pretty sure the owls can read a little bit, some kana. They knew enough to set up a quiz even though they still needed Kaban to read to them.
It could also be Kaban or some other Japanese explorer, since you mentioned that.