Jin said to my face...
that I’m missing something...
And that’s why he couldn’t go with me.
Jin... may not like me, not the way he used to...
That isn’t true!
Jin-Jin doesn’t hate you at all, Rae-Rae.
Even now, he loves you to pieces!
That’s what I, Ana, think.
Who... are you?
Rae-Rae is a Feline Friend
Yeah?
So that’s what happened while I was abroad
on my photo shoot for my third photo album?
That’s right!
Thanks to Raetsel, every day has been crazy!
DaiMORON, you should have your guard up!
In that case, I have a question for you.
Can you let it drop? Don’t be such a prick!
What is that all about?
Here! Go, “Ah!”
Rae-Rae, you’re blushing!
I’m not blushing!
I’m begging you! Could you please go away?
What is up with that girl?
I take it she wasn’t our enemy after all?
Meh. Just leave her be.
What?!
That’s what we’ve decided.
We aren’t going to have anything more to do with her.
We’re going to uncover the truth about Jin without her.
What’re you talking about?
That makes absolute no sense!
For one thing, she’s still oozing with unanswered questions!
Aren’t you the least bit curious?
Well, sure I’m curious, but...
Oh, jeez! I’ll never get anywhere if I try talking to you!
I’m going to take this up with the person in question!
“Ah!”
Excuse me!
We need to talk.
What? Let’s hear it.
Well, you see...
I’d like to hold a welcoming party for you.
A welcoming party?
Right! Since you just transferred,
I bet you still don’t know your way around.
I’ll show you the ropes.
In exchange, could share some information?
Like about yourself?
I, Ana, approve!
As do we!
Miss Elena, I am truly moved!
I had no idea that you were such a thoughtful, caring person.
We’ve been worried since Miss Raetsel
hasn’t been her usual self lately.
Is something weighing down on you?
No, not really...
There is, isn’t there?!
What is it? What happened?
President, please figure that out for yourself!
Isn’t there only one thing that
weighs heavy on a young lady’s heart?
It’s love! She’s love sick!
Well, actually...
You’re right. What was I thinking?
As the student council president, I can’t turn a blind eye!
We should hold a welcoming party as a way
to show Miss Raetsel our support!
Yeah!
We should all let down our hair for the day!
Ele-Ele, let’s get going!
I-I guess I’m stuck going, too.
In that case, I want all of you to follow me!
Yay!
Raetsel, huh?
She may be another one of Enigma’s pawns...
Do you think he’s using her?
Who the heck is that Enigma jerk?
His national rating as a president is by no means low.
But apparently the Republic of Amgine
regulates information with an iron fist,
so the actual situation over there is shrouded in darkness.
In the end, he’s just another mess of riddles, huh?
However, I was able to obtain one piece of solid information.
Gammon.
Yeah?
Your bounty is now lower than mine.
What?!
You’re right.
Cube’s is for $830,000 and Gammon’s is now $640,000.
Why?! There is no way in hell I’m worth less than Q-taro!
It’s because I just recently defeated a Master Brain.
Inversely, you haven’t solved a puzzle by yourself in ages.
D-DaiMORON, you jerk!
What?! I only stated a fact!
Now, now.
That’s just because no one has gone after Gammon.
Sheeit! I don’t like this.
When ya get down to it, they’re only interested in Kaito.
Hey, Gammon!
This $640,000 is heading out.
Gammon...
Miss Raetsel!
Hurry! Hurry up!
If there are any shops you’d like to check out, just say the word.
You’re the star for the day!
Doesn’t window shopping together make this feel like a girl’s day out?
But I, Ana, am a boy.
What?!
Oh, lookie!
Wouldn’t that look great on Miss Raetsel?
Rae-Rae!
You should try it on.
Huh? But I...
Try it on, Miss Raetsel!
Yay! She’s trying it on! She’s trying it on!
Isn’t that cute as well?
Yeah, it is cute.
1600--Target D.
Confirming the whereabouts of the other three.
Target B: Locked On!
This is a golden opportunity to initiate Strategy #8377.
Complimentary Ticket to the Pool
You look wonderful, Miss Raetsel!
Not half bad.
Yay!
Hey!
You should come in and join us!
Complimentary Ticket to the Pool
Rae-Rae, you’re very pretty.
What are you after?
Huh?
You’re plotting something, aren’t you?
What do you plan on doing after you get close to me?
Cats are my friend!
So you’re also a feline friend, Rae-Rae!
I’m sick of your jokes! What are you really--
Wh-what’re you doing?
Rae-Rae, you smell just like Kaito.
So I’d like you to have just as much
happy-smiley, fluffy-smiley as Kaito.
That is how I, Ana, feel!
Were you the one who called me out here?
I’m glad you were man enough to come.
’Course I’d come!
It’s about time one of you Master Brains realized I’m a great genius!
Listen! Nice men are more like landmines
than any other type, so be careful!
I see. Good to know!
Just what I’d expect from an idol!
No one gives advice quite like someone rich with experience!
R-right...
Sheesh!
Now then, Miss Raetsel,
I’d like to turn the spotlight onto you.
You really love that cat brooch, don’t you?
This...
By any chance, did it...?
It came from your special someone, didn’t it?
This brooch represents... our bond.
Don’t give up, Miss Raetsel.
That’s right!
If you love him, you shouldn’t give up!
I’ll be here rooting for you!
Thank you.
Rae-Rae smiled!
Miss Raetsel, you have a wonderful smile.
Really! It’s not like I was...
Kaito...
It looks like everyone is here.
This battle is as good as won!
I said that I don’t know what’s going on!
Don’t play dumb!
If you didn’t call us here, I’d like to know who in the world did!
It’s a trap!
Target A: Kaito Daimon,
along with all of you other targets,
I am the greatest strategist amongst the Master Brains,
Colonel Demolition Man!
What?!
I am pleased to see that you fell for my trap!
As of this moment, your fates rest in the hands of this man, Target B!
Gammon?!
Punk! You never said anything about this!
Have you taken everyone in that building as hostages?!
I most certainly have.
I am not giving you the right to refuse to fight!
The moment this puzzle commences, that tank will start moving.
Once it does, it will not stop until you have freed the puzzle.
Target B, should you fail to free the puzzle,
the tank will crash into that building’s boiler room and...
You bastard...!
This is all for the great Jin Makata!
Now then, allow me to explain the battle rules.
This puzzle is called, “Tank Place.”
Once you’ve assigned each of the tanks a tile on the onscreen field, you’re done.
However, the tanks cannot be lined up next to each other horizontally or vertically.
What do the numbers on the tanks represent?
That represents the main cannon’s range for each individual tank.
You cannot place another tank within its range.
Furthermore, the cannon’s range must not go out of bounds.
There are a total of three missions.
So the numbers on the tanks are my hints, huh?
This works out well.
It’s the perfect chance to give my deteriorating bounty a major boost!
Now then, may the battle... commence!
What is going on here?
What is Enigma thinking...?
Is it immature to pick a college because the person I love goes there?
Aw, I wish I could hurry up and find my soul mate already!
Isn’t that Miss Itou...?
I should start by crossing out the areas where I can’t put a tank.
That’s the right way to tackle this puzzle.
But if I’m stuck solving this in my head, it’s gonna be an insanely hard puzzle!
It’s passed Point 4.
Code 10 and Code 604 are proceeding smoothly.
What do you think of my strategy?
Starting with Kaito Daimon,
I gathered all of the important targets into one area,
where I will annihilate you in one fell swoop.
The one to trigger this chain of events shall be their weakest ally, you, Target B.
That friggin’ hurt!
You only have a measly $640,000 bounty on your head.
I’m taking minimal risk to achieve maximal results!
This is one of my ingenious strategies!
That’s a load of crap!
I’m gonna make you regret messin’ with me!
You’re gonna realize that you
made the ultimate strategic error when you chose me!
Boo-yah!
She left to find Upperclassman Kaito?
Miss Elena invited us over, but apparently Kaito and the guys got lost.
After all, I beat them here by a long shot...
Where is your swimsuit?
This one is giving him a hard time, isn’t it?
Yeah. Solving it without making any mistakes is practically impossible.
Galileo...
Oh, what’s this?
Where did all of your fiery enthusiasm go?
Can’t solve a puzzle all by your wee little self, Target B?
I should have figured as much from one of Kaito Daimon’s flunkies!
Who’re you callin’ one of Kaito’s flunkies?!
You think I can’t solve a puzzle by myself?!
Keep your wise cracks to yourself!
Got it!
Down to the last--What?!
The number of spaces just increased!
I never said that the field would remain fixed at a constant size.
Now what will you do, Target B?
With such precious little time remaining,
can you solve the puzzle now that it has grown even more difficult?
He won’t make it in time!
Hey, sit back and watch.
I know him all too well.
You can hit him with all you’ve got,
but he’ll stand strong, refusing to back down.
He can be a real pain!
My strategy has led me to victory!
You’re finished, Target B!
My name ain’t “Target B”!
What?!
I ain’t Kaito’s flunkey, either!
I am me, Gammon Sakanoue!
Impossible!
But you won’t finish in time.
I won’t stand for it!
You better believe I’m gonna make it!
I’m Galileo:
The Great Gammon Sakanoue!
Sweet!
Yay! Gammon did it!
You really can be a pain in the butt. Yay! Gammon did it!
Enigma...!
Preposterous! He defeated my glorious strategy?!
N-now that it has come to this...
I’d better retreat!
Strategic retreat!
Gammon...
You took forever, dummy!
I owe ya one, Gammon.
It’s not like I did it for you.
I’ll CRUSH anyone stupid enough to pick a fight with me!
Always have, and I always will!
Kaito!
Guys, over here!
Huh? Where is Miss Raetsel?
Come to think of it...
Huh? She’s gone...
Where’d she wander off to?
Raetsel!
Miss Raetsel! Raetsel!
I wonder where she went...
Thank goodness!
I’m glad to see you made it back alive.
I am truly happy to see that you are all right.
Stop it! That sounds so fakey!
I nearly got killed!
I would have been willing to accept your death.
If that were to happen, I felt it was meant to be.
After all, you have begun to doubt Jin.
Falling for Kaito Daimon and his friends’ lies,
you were on the verge of believing
their nonsense that Jin actually LOVED puzzles.
No matter how special you are,
I simply cannot tolerate such betrayal.
As such, I let the Fates cast their judgment in his stead.
I’ve never doubted Jin... Not even once.
I will fulfill my contract.
Raetsel!
I am glad to hear it!
Now our misunderstanding has been cleared up!
I’ve put you through a horrible experience, haven’t I?
Just as you’ve helped us in the past,
please continue to offer your full support.
Everything we do is for our Jin Makata...
Rae-Rae!
What happened? You left in the middle of our--
Stay away from me!
I’ve heard about you, Elena Himekawa.
You were one of Kaito’s friends, weren’t you?
Listen up! I’m your enemy!
I will annihilate Kaito Daimon and all of the puzzlers in the world!
If it’s for Jin, I’ll use any means necessary.
Thank you. I had a good time yesterday.
That smell... It’s gone.
As it worked out, I managed to punish the kitten this time.
But kittens tend to act out of a passing whim.
She truly is a hopeless stray.
Isn’t that right, Mister?
Hurry, Freecell! You’ll be late for your test if you miss this train.
You certainly can be a worrywart.
But we are cutting it--Oh, I forgot my rail pass.
Hurry and buy a ticket!
I forgot my wallet, too.
Then use mine!
Your wallet is completely empty.
Someone, please help us!
Next time, “Would You Also Like Some Flowers?”
Would You Also Like Some Flowers?
There is no need to panic. The train has already left.
Checkmate!
We get to repeat the year...
Art: Akeru Otsuki