Uh... um... is this okay for the club form?
Sure.
So you're Takatori Kotori?
Y-Yes! Are you all club members?
Yeah, that's right. I just joined today, too, but...
W-Wow! What a coincidence! I'm a first-year! Takatori Kotori!
I don't have any experience, but please let me join, anyway.
Hey...
You have huge boobs, don't you?
Really though, what the heck?
S-S-Stop that! They make me self-conscious!
Look, Kazumi.
You're always going on about "booby fees" and whatnot,
but to be worth a fee, you gotta have boobs like—
Astronomical Observation
You seriously gotta tone it down!
Shut up! My nipples are prettier, no contest!
U-Umm... is this girl also a member?
Uhhh... well, she's...
Crap. I forgot to put her away.
Hey, don't treat me like an object!
I'm not a student at your school. I'm more like a club mascot.
And since I'm a mascot, it's only natural that I can't move.
Huh?!
Treat me with appropriate affection.
R-Right.
And there's one more.
Kuroha Neko. Nice to meet you.
Ah... right! Nice to meet you.
So, what kinds of stuff does this astronomy club do?
Stuff? Well, we mainly just look at the stars here.
Oh, but last year the upperclassmen and I went stargazing on a mountain.
Sounds fun. I'd like to do that, too.
That's right. Everything has been so tough lately.
We can only really have fun now while there are pills to spare.
Well, we have more members now. Let's bond over some astronomical observation.
Huh?
Are you free tomorrow?
Ah... yeah! That's fine.
You guys don't have anything to do, right?
Well, no, but I'm not interested in going, either.
I really don't care about stars.
That's not gonna fly! Everyone participates.
If you want to stay in the club, this is mandatory!
Who died and made you king?
Why'd you have to say that?
Hey, are you dense?
What do you—?
A man and a woman together at night, and they have to look at some stars?
I think there are other, more fun, things they could do...
Are you... teasing me?
I'm always serious. How about we prove it by starting with a kiss?
Huh? What... could have happened?
I didn't mean to! My magic just...
W-W-What?! What was that just now?!
O-Ohh! It must've been a kamaitachi!
A kamaitachi?
A-Anyway! We'll have an astronomical observation party tomorrow.
Mountain nights are cold even in summer, so be sure to come dressed warmly.
"Come"? But we live here.
Shh!
Well... I have to head home early today, so...
Okay. Then we'll see you here tomorrow at 6.
Okay!
Sorry, Neko. I need to use the bathroom.
Ah... okay. Upsy-daisy.
What are you doing staring after Kana? Wanna watch her pee?
What?! Are you out of your mind?
I was thinking it must be hard for Kuroha, but I obviously can't help.
Well, duh, no kidding.
Anyway, if that's what you're into, I can show you.
Look... you've been talking about sexual stuff nonstop since yesterday...
...but I bet you're actually a virgin.
S-So what if I am? Is there something wrong with being a virgin?
No, nothing wrong with it, but there's no need to try so hard, either.
I always try hard. I'm doing the best I can...
Doing your best at what?
What's it to you?
Oh, that reminds me. I have something to ask you.
Hm? You mean the size of my boobs?
That I already know.
You're an A-cup. Or maybe you squeak into a B with some padding or something.
Look, Kana was saying before
that Kuroha loses important things when she uses magic.
That must be her memories, right?
I don't know the details, but it seems like she mostly loses memories that don't matter.
But if she's unlucky...
If she's unlucky...?
She'll forget something she shouldn't.
Neko was experimented on so much that she doesn't have a single childhood memory left.
She says she doesn't even remember her parents' faces.
No childhood memories at all?
What a great night sky. You can really see the stars tonight.
I would have been fine staying behind.
Huh? Why?
Well, I'm heavy, aren't I?
Not really. I think I'm used to it by now.
Pretty soon, you'll feel just like the bag I take to school.
You mean... you're just gonna keep carrying me?
What are you spacing out at?
The Summer Triangle.
Triangle? What's that?
Vega of Lyra, Deneb of Cygnus, and Altair of Aquila.
Vega is Orihime from the Tanabata story, and Altair is Hikoboshi.
See how they're shining from opposite sides of the Milky Way?
Vega is the brightest one.
Deneb and Altair are first magnitude stars, but Vega is even brighter: magnitude zero!
Huh? How do I know all this stuff?
Maybe Kuroha really is Kuroneko.
What the heck?! It's freezing!
I said to come dressed warmly, didn't I?
So we just do whatever you say?!
How is it? Can you see?
So cold!
Yeah. I can even see Saturn's rings!
By the way, what made you decide to join the astronomy club?
Well, as you might expect, I'd like to meet an alien.
You believe in aliens, too?
It's not that I believe in them. More like they just exist.
I've seen one, so...
A harnest! Are you a—?!
Come here for a sec, Murakami!
Now's not the time!
Just get over here!
What?
Come next to me.
I got a forecast.
Neko is going to be killed by that Kotori girl.
How is she going to kill her?
I don't know. I didn't see as far as that.
Shit! My options here are limited.
I at least have to buy some time so Kuroha and the others can act!
What's up?
I saw a forecast where Kotori kills you.
What the heck?! So she's from the lab?
What kind of magic does she use? If it's attack magic like Saori...
U-Uh, is something the matter?
You're a witch, aren't you?
H-H-How'd you know?!
I saw the harnest on the back of your neck.
H-H-How do you know about harnests?!
E-E-Everybody who knows about witches gets killed!
Well, you came here to kill one, didn't you?
N-No! Besides, are you saying there's a witch around here?!
Uh, we're all witches.
Whaaaaat?! R-Really? Th-Th-That is...
...such a crazy coincidence!
What?! As if she didn't know!
It obviously isn't!
So then show us your magic. If you didn't come as a killer, you should be able to, right?
Okay, watch this! My magic is teleportation.
Teleportation?
Here I go!
They changed places!
How about it? Amazing, right?
Lackluster.
Oh... every time I use it, I hang up.
Useless!
How is she supposed to kill Kuroha with that?
Maybe she's actually a hybrid and is hiding powerful killer magic?
I'm not gonna kill anyone! Why won't you believe me?
Well...
We shouldn't be suspicious.
That's a nice thing to say, but you're the one who's going to get killed!
Fine.
What's "fine" about that?!
I want to check out the telescope, too.
Oh, sure. Go ahead.
Kuroha...
She's more worried about the girl in front of her being hurt than her own possible death?
That's just like Kuroha.
Okay, let's keep observing.
It's not really the time for that!
She hung up. If she can't use magic, there's no issue, right?
Hang on, I'll make it so you can look at the moon.
Was Neko the only one who gets killed?
I only saw Neko.
Well then, whatever. I don't believe her yet, but I'll stop doubting her for now.
Here you go. Try this.
Whoa! Crazy! The moon looks so close!
Huh? But it's flipped.
Astronomical telescopes produce upside-down images.
Oh, huh.
Kana! The moon is so cool! I could see how uneven it was and...
Kuroneko would know how a telescope works. Well, I guess she could've forgotten.
So not interested.
Whaaat?! It's this gorgeous? I figured it'd be totally underwhelming!
Whoa, you weren't kidding! A rabbit! There's a rabbit on the moon!
Kazumi, what are you talking about?
What does it matter? I'm just saying that's what I see.
I wanna see, too!
Take a look at that. I knew this would be a nice change of pace.
C'mon, give me a turn!
Just a little longer! A little longer!
Going to school, being in a club, making these memories — this is like a dream.
What's the matter, Kana?
O-Oh... Nothing.
That was fun.
Well, maybe we could do it again sometime.
Murakami, slow your walking pace down a bit.
Hey, between your life and Neko's, which is more important to you?
How am I supposed to pick one or the other?
But if I could save Kuroha...
My forecast changed a bit ago.
Neko won't die, but instead Kotori will kill...
...you.
What?!
Two...
Guess I'll stay here for the night.
I wonder how Kazumi and everyone else are.
Oh, a kitty. You don't have any place to go home to, either?
Okay, got it. You should escape with me!
School's already over?
Yeah. I caught an earlier bus than the one I usually get.
Let me ask you about yesterday's forecasts before Kuroha and the others get here.
Sure. You have the right to know.
Well, first of all, where was Kuroha going to get killed?
It was at a big lake... near here, I think.
I can't see forecasts for places that are far away.
There's only one lake in this area.
Neko was dead, and Kotori was standing next to her smiling.
What about after the forecast changed?
The location was the same, but Neko was alive.
Instead, you were killed.
Does that mean that either way, one of us will die?
When will it happen?
Probably tonight.
Got it! Then, for the whole day, we'll be sure to steer clear of the lake.
I declared my unshakable resolve... The forecast didn't change?
Not at all. There must be some reason you'll have to go to the lake.
I think this goes without saying, but the forecast I saw about you is a secret from Neko.
If she finds out, she'll do everything in her power to save you.
That could make the forecast change again.
I don't care if you die, but I can't lose Neko.
I understand that.
Man, she's so guarded.
If she really didn't care, there'd be no reason to tell me about the forecast.
Since she did tell me, she's asking me to find a way to save both of us.
Hey, was there anything else that bugged you about the forecast?
There was. When you were killed, Neko was tied up nearby.
Tied up?
You're here already? If you're gonna leave without us, you could at least let us know.
S-Sorry.
We brought Kotori so we can grill her.
U-Umm...
Well, have a seat, everyone.
Did you run away from the lab, too?
Y-Yes, with Chie.
Oh, I know Chie. She uses the same type of magic as me.
Is she doing okay?
N-No... She died recently.
You must have killed her for the pills!
Me?! Kill Chie?
Kazumi!
According to Kana's forecast, this girl kills you.
How can I help but suspect her?
W-W-Well, that doesn't change the fact that I...
What are you grinning about? You're a suspect!
H-Heh.
Kotori was standing next to her smiling.
Oh, yeah. If she were just aiming to kill Kuroha and the other witches,
she wouldn't need to enroll in school and join the astronomy club.
Which means... Could Kana be misunderstanding something?
What? Who would be radioing me?
Coming, coming. What?
Kazumi?! Help me!
That voice! Shino?!
Yeah, it's Shino. Save me, Kazumi! There's a AA+ after me!
AA+?!
Two of us have already been killed. If she finds me, I'm a goner!
My battery's gonna die. Please hurry!
Shino, we're on our way.
Neko!
Where are you right now?
In the park by the lake!
Got it!
Crap!
Murakami, stop her!
Hold your horses, Kuroha! Calm down!
Get out of my way. There's no time.
No! Kana's forecast takes place near the lake.
I see. Move.
There's nothing I can do. Kuroha can't leave a friend to die.
I'm sorry.
Wait! Shit. I gotta go after her.
Murakami!
Take this. I'll back you up.
Right.
Kotori left, too? She's the one who kills Neko!
Jeez, I've become a real sucker, doing all this for free.
Now, then...
We ended up at the lake just like the forecast. Even if it is to save that Shino girl...
Murakami, do you read me?
Yeah. I read you.
Shino isn't over there. She's on the north side of the park.
Huh? You can see us?
Yeah, quite well, since I hacked the park's security cameras.
Then... can you find out if Kotori is here somewhere?
Okay. Kotori...
If things go according to Kana's forecast, Kotori should be at the lake, too.
Kotori, Kotori...
Crud! Hide!
What?!
Hide behind the stage to your right!
What are you talking about?
Don't argue! Just go!
Kuroha, this way!
I can't believe they would send her out! This is bad.
Neko, Murakami, come straight back.
The one after Shino is Kikako.
Huh?!
S-She's coming. Kikako!
I'm out of batteries. Somebody save me! Somebody...
Boat Rentals
Who the heck is Kikako?
Kikako uses cannon magic.
She can only use one type of magic, even though she's AA+.
But that just means her firepower is no joke.
What's that?
Get down!
She's a total weapon!
We can't stay here.
Huh?
If we don't get closer, my magic won't reach.
You're going to fight her?!
All of us B-rank witches who escaped the lab are weak,
so we have to help each other out.
We may not say it out loud, but we all know it. Kana and Kazumi included.
So I can't just abandon Shino!
Thank you for worrying about me.
Don't move from this spot, okay?
Shino...
Shino!