Your Imperial Majesty, regarding your schedule after this:
There are 27 matters requiring your approval,
15 diplomatic matters to attend to,
as well as—
Trifling!
Huh?
This discussion bores me!
I-I'm sorry, Your Imperial Majesty!
No more talk of work!
Talk about something more fun.
W-We could never do such a thing!
That's enough.
Leave me.
Y-Yes!
This is no fun...
8. The Melancholy of Her Imperial Majesty
Whoa!
Is this me?!
All together now:
"Taste good, taste good,
moe moe kyun!"
Shinichi-kun...
What were you thinking when you taught her this?
What was I...
I just taught her the proper way for a maid to act. What of it?
D-Did I make a mistake?
You're fine.
The one who's mistaken is the one who recommends biased knowledge to others.
You're one to talk.
I don't really understand that charm we did just now, but regardless, this is good!
I'd love to share this with my wife.
Huh?! You're married?!
Petralka?
Petralka, it's me, Shinichi.
Your Imperial Majesty, what is the matter?
Your Imperial Majesty!
Excuse me, Your Imperial Majesty.
Your Imperial Majesty?
Oh?
Her Imperial Majesty has run away.
She left a note saying that she's fed up with her duties.
She can't have gone far.
Hurry up and find her.
Sir!
Your Imperial Majesty!
This is Snake.
I'm in the warehouse now.
Just kidding.
Target acquired!
I found you, Petralka.
Yeah, I can see why you'd want to run...
Father...
Mother...
Shinichi.
Galius-san...
I saw you heading this way.
Your Imperial Majesty... Your Imperial Majesty...
Galius? Shinichi?
Please come back, Your Imperial Majesty.
I know, I know!
I was just taking a break!
Petral—
We're going!
You have my thanks for finding Her Imperial Majesty.
Well... um...
Yes?
Um, even if... even if it's just for today,
would it be possible to let Her Imperial Majesty take the day off?
I'm afraid that's an impossible request.
There's a mountain of matters that only Her Imperial Majesty can oversee.
Today and tomorrow...
Yeah... of course...
Minori-sama
Th-This again?
Master, what's the matter?
Oh...
I was just thinking about how everyone has their own hardships to face...
Of course they do.
Everyone faces some form of hardship or another if they're working.
If they're working, huh?
Lord Shinichi!
Her Imperial Majesty! It's Her Imperial Majesty!
So you see,
Her Imperial Majesty has abandoned all of her work since this morning,
and locked herself in this room.
She's placed a barrier on the door,
and no Eldant inhabitant is able to enter.
Ouch.
I guess this means we can go in...
Please! Help us!
This could be...
Forget "could be." It is.
Wh-What?!
What's happening?!
This is an illness only members of the elite succumb to!
"Hikikomori!"
"Hikikomori"?
Yes.
"Hikikomori" is when
someone spontaneously retreats from work, studies, human relations,
and other aspects of a normal daily life,
and locks themselves away in their home, or their room, for a prolonged time,
severing all contact with the outside world.
Th-This can't be!
How terrifying!
Th-Then, what do we do?!
At this rate, Her Imperial Majesty will...
Please leave it to us.
He's a top-notch expert on hikikomori in our country.
Huh?
So there you have it, Shinichi-kun.
We're counting on you.
Me?
You define hikikomori, and hikikomori defines you.
Having been through it yourself, you should know how to handle it, right?
That's an awful way to put it...
Well, I'll try my best.
For now, please leave me alone with her.
Hikikomori especially hate it when large groups try to sway them.
I see!
I can see that you're a top-notch expert!
I'm sorry...
Our own deficiencies brought this upon us...
All because we forced Her Imperial Majesty—
Petralka to shoulder everything alone...
You called her Petralka?
She's my cousin.
When the previous Emperor passed away,
Petralka was first in line for the throne,
and I was second.
So she became Empress,
and I became her aide.
Petralka's parents were supposed to inherit the position...
but they both died in a conflict over the right of succession when she was young.
No. They were murdered.
Murdered?
You mean...
The murderers who slew Petralka's parents...
were my own parents.
It is a foolish story.
Siblings serving each other poison, only to die together...
When the previous Emperor learned of it, he died from grief.
Does Petralka...
Of course she knows.
I believe that's why she always strives to be the perfect Empress...
To prevent such folly from ever happening again.
The rest of us have all been taking advantage of those feelings...
I understand.
I'll do everything I can.
I beg you to.
But... promise me one thing.
That no matter what happens, you won't interfere.
Please leave everything to me.
Petralka, it's me, Shinichi.
I have nothing to discuss!
I absolutely refuse to come out of here!
Trying to persuade me is futile!
I'm not trying to do that.
I just wanted to be with you and talk a little.
Is that really all you want?
Yeah, I promise.
But only you, Shinichi.
Thank you.
Every single day, it's work, work, work!
I'm fed up with it!
From today onwards, I'm shutting myself in here!
What's with this room?
The Perfect Hikikomori Manual
I studied one of your books from Japan.
Hikikomori live in rooms like this, right?
I'm going to stay here, spending all my time watching anime and reading manga!
I see.
But you're naïve.
You're too naïve, Petralka.
Huh?!
I would only give this room 50 out of 100.
What?!
Let me show you!
The pride of Japan: A true hikikomori's room!
Th-This is...
First of all, a hikikomori's room isn't this huge.
Their range of movement is extremely small!
And manga, games, and all of that are placed within easy reach of their hands!
All remotes are within arm's reach, as well!
This is a proper hikikomori's room!
Wh-What?!
This truly is the kind of hikikomori room I envisioned!
If it's hikikomori knowledge you seek, just leave it all to me!
Shinichi!
Outbreak Company
Brooke Darwin
Favorite Game: Star Force Favorite Character: Gordez
Outbreak Company
Sherrice Darwin
Favorite Game: Monster Busters Favorite Character: Great Jaggia
You look awfully worried.
I have faith in Shinichi, but...
It's frustrating that I can't even touch her door.
Galius-san, love means having faith.
Minori?
B-But...
Well, I don't love them, so I'm going to peek on them.
Huh?!
Oh! Another Level Up!
Dull, monotonous tasks like grinding for EXP
are perfect for hikikomori with nothing but time on their hands!
I see!
Junk food is all you need to eat.
Since you don't move much, this is enough.
Yeah, this is good!
When you get bored with your games, you can read manga.
You're free to do as you like.
Oh!
And when you get tired, you sleep.
No one can complain.
Ah! What a sense of freedom!
Wh-What is this?!
And now for the tenets of the Hikikomori Union!
Number One:
Being a hikikomori is proof that you're a winner who has seized freedom!
Number Two:
If you work, you lose!
Number Three:
Society is at fault! Not me!
Number Four:
I just haven't started trying yet!
And none shall gather my corpse if I die!
Now, never forget these tenets,
and enjoy your hikikomori life to its fullest!
Roger, O Wise Teacher!
Hm...
You're right, Minori.
We should wait and have faith.
Galius-san...
This might be bad news...
What?!
Master won't be returning?
He said he's staying in Her Imperial Majesty's room tonight.
Stay—
Her Imperial Majesty?!
Playing games when you want, reading manga when you want...
Being a hikikomori is the best!
I never knew freedom felt so wonderful!
By the way, Shinichi...
I want to take a bath...
A true hikikomori only rarely takes a bath, though.
I see.
It's deeper than I thought.
I guess I still have much to learn...
Guards, huh?
If they find us, they might seize me...
Understood.
Leave this to me.
Punishment! Cure Rosetta
This feels nice.
You should take one too, Shinichi.
No, I'm fine.
I'd hear it from all sides if I did.
But still,
to not even peek when there's a beautiful girl bathing nearby...
Plus, if I got turned on,
it'd clear up her misunderstanding that I like big breasts!
What will you do, Shinichi?!
By the way, Shinichi...
Y-Yes?!
Are you sure you really don't need to persuade me?
W-Well, everyone did ask me to,
but you wouldn't be doing this if persuasion was enough to break your resolve, right?
Of course.
I made a firm decision to become a hikikomori!
Then, I'll wait patiently.
As a fellow hikikomori, I can understand.
That's my wise Teacher!
The people in this castle don't understand me at all!
I'm not going to do any more work!
I'm hungry.
Is dinner ready yet?
I'm sorry. Please wait a little longer.
Speaking of which, where is the Master?
I heard he was spending the night with Her Imperial Highness.
Myucel, does something smell funny?
I'm sorry. Please wait a little longer.
What are you making?
I'm sorry. Please wait a little longer.
Myucel?
I'm sorry. Please wait a little longer.
The pot's empty?!
Get a hold of yourself!
Water! Water!
I'm sorry. Please wait a little longer.
I feel better now.
Now, let's go back to my room and continue our game!
We have to go through here again?
Shinichi, do you have another one?
Hold on a sec.
Still, I wonder if Her Imperial Majesty is all right.
She did seem awfully worn out.
I just hope she feels better soon.
to rescue me, Petran." Laura: "I am Laura, daughter of Lars XVI."
Petran — Level 30 Commands: Talk Magic Abilities Equipment Stairs Search Door Take
to rescue me, Petran." Laura: "I am Laura, daughter of Lars XVI." Laura: "Will thou take me to the castle?"
Talk: Yes No
Laura: "But thou must."
Laura: "Will thou take me to the castle?"
Talk: Yes No
Laura: "But thou must."
Ah! What?
Why are you lowering the volume?
I'm still playing!
Hikikomori show restraint towards others in the house,
and they're careful to make as little noise as possible.
Restraint?
Why would I have to show restraint?
Because you're not working.
How is this "proof you're a winner who's seized freedom"?
It's more like you're a loser living in the shadows.
Well, that is how society sees hikikomori.
Very few people choose to be one.
Really?
Then, why did you become a hikikomori, Shinichi?
It all started for a really dumb reason.
I confessed my love to a childhood friend and she turned me down.
I skipped school for a few days afterwards out of embarrassment and frustration,
and in time, even seeing my classmates started to feel awkward.
I started running to places where I wouldn't have to face anyone else.
It grew difficult even to face my family.
And before I knew it, I was already a hikikomori.
So, most people don't become hikikomori with the same resolve as you, Petralka;
they just end up being one before they can stop it.
They ran away...
into their own room...
That door, you see...
It starts to grow heavier.
Heavier and heavier...
the longer you stay a hikikomori.
Until it finally grows so heavy, you can no longer open it on your own...
Talk: Yes No
thee on thy journey." Laura: "May I travel as thy companion?"
Am I a failure as an Empress?
I selfishly abandoned my duties,
causing great trouble for both my retainers and my people...
I'm the worst, aren't I?
That's not...
And that's not all!
When things don't go my way, I'm always taking my frustration out on others!
On Galius, on Zaharl, and on Myucel, too...
You were worried about that time, weren't you?
B-Be quiet!
I didn't mean anything!
I don't know what it's like being an Empress,
but I think you're fine the way you are, Petralka.
The way I am?
Yeah.
I see...
I want to try cutting it apart.
Huh?
Petralka?
The door...
You're right. It is heavy.
It's depressing when I think of how Galius and the others will look.
But still...
Good morning, Your Imperial Majesty.
We're very grateful you've decided to return.
Galius... Zaharl...
Yes. I'm sorry.
Let's get going.
Yes!
Thank goodness.
Still no food?
I'm sorry. Please wait a little longer.
Shinichi-kun... Come home!
Don't look, don't look!
I can't allow this preview!
What's wrong, Petralka?
Everything is wrong!
According to my spy's reports,
Next Episode: Swimsuit of the Dead
the next episode features embarrassing images of me!
Oh, yeah! It's a swimsuit episode!
But, Petralka, you're not even in it,
so there can't be embarrassing images of you.
I-I see!
Since I don't have any boobs, there's no demand for me...
No, wait!
According to my spy, Episode 9 has Fuchigami Mai down on its schedule!
So, "Uh, Fuchigami-san, Petralka won't be appearing today,
so please voice Swimsuit Girl B for us!"
Not that!