Kogoro, there are two things I'd like your help with.
One is to copy this pill.
What is this?
It's a pill that keeps witches alive.
You'd better explain from the beginning.
Right...
It all started with a transfer student.
I was about to be killed by a mudslide, but she saved me with her magic.
That witch looked exactly like my childhood friend, Kuroneko,
who died in an accident ten years ago because of me.
I see. I get the gist.
But from what I've heard so far,
they sound more like super-humans with body modifications than witches.
Well, do you think it's possible? To make copies of this pill?
It'll be a pain, but not impossible.
Really?
Yeah. First we find out the active ingredients and analyze their molecular structure.
Then we look for a way to synthesize them.
How long will that take?
Let's see...
If we're lucky, half a year.
If it has an intricate molecular structure, several years.
Half a year? Or several?!
How many pills do you have left?
A month's worth.
Then it's already impossible. Give it up.
No, wait.
If the active ingredients are crystalline compounds...
Then...?
It's a simple matter to determine the molecular structure.
If we mobilize all the research students, it might be possible to synthesize it within a month.
Really?!
We could know if it's crystalline or not within a day.
I'll contact you when we have the results.
And what was the other thing?
Oh.
I want you to see what's in here.
What is it?
Supposedly it's a fertilized alien egg.
Oh? First witches and now aliens?
I don't 100% believe it either, but that's what she was told when it was given to her.
I want you to find out what's really in there.
Excellent. I'll hang on to this.
Fragments of Hope
By the way, Neko, whatever happened with the pills?
They said they won't know until they look into it...
Well, that makes sense.
It'd be great if they could make them.
If we could make as many pills as we need, my dream might be able to come true.
If it's your dream, it must have something to do with sex.
Like it's any of your business! Buzz off.
Still...
We really owe Murakami for giving us the hope to live.
Yeah. He may be an unpleasant, pretentious jerk,
but without him we'd have all died a long time ago.
That's right.
But is it really okay to keep relying on him like this?
That's no problem. He has a thing for Neko.
Huh?
No, that's not true. Murakami likes his childhood friend.
I just look like her.
It's not me.
Zzzzzzzooooom!
Yo, Murakami!
What do you think you're doing?
Nothing. I just saw a head that seemed whackable, so I whacked it.
Good morning.
You really...
See ya later!
You're so lucky, Murakami! Getting to chat with Kazumi Schlierenzauer.
Huh? Why? Every time that girl opens her mouth, she says something pervy.
How would we even know that? She barely talks to any boys except you.
Just so you know, all the guys are jealous of you.
Hey, hey, Kuroha.
We're all going to karaoke today. Wanna come along?
Huh?
U-Uh, sure, but...
Really? Great.
Then we'll meet at the station at 6 p.m. Wear street clothes, okay?
O-Okay.
Hey, what's "maramuke"?
"Maramuke"?
Kashiwagi and some girls invited me to maramuke after school.
Oh, then it's not "maramuke." It's "karaoke."
"Karaoke"?
Singing songs to an accompaniment.
Songs? What should I do? I can't sing any songs.
Sure you can.
Huh?
Before you were like, "A cat makes her dashing appearance! Everybody loves her!"
Singing your own praises all chipper-like.
I get it! Sorry! I'll shut up!
Okay, Murakami, you're coming with me.
Huh? You know I'm a sensitive high school boy.
I can't just show up to karaoke uninvited.
Yeah, you don't seem to have a lot of friends.
That's not the case! Besides, I have work today.
Work?
I'm a private tutor.
Kana, do you wanna go?
As if I could. I can't even talk. Nobody would know how to act.
Here, take this. There's enough money in here to cover karaoke.
You're taking a big risk going to school,
so you should have some normal high school fun with your classmates now and then.
Thanks.
Huh? What's up?
N-Nothing!
What's... this feeling?!
Karaoke
What're you gonna sing next?
Dunno...
Hey, Neko, you should put in a song, too.
Uh? What is this?
Huh?
You've been to karaoke before, haven't you?
It's my first time...
Really? All work and no play, huh.
Well, I just don't know that many songs.
Kuroha, you're always with Murakami, right? Are you guys going out?
"Going out"?
Actually, I've been wanting to get to know you for quite a while.
Okay, let's call this good for today.
Huh? Isn't it kind of early? You're always harping on me to do more.
Sorry. I have an errand to run today.
What? Ryota, you don't have a date, do you?
Don't call me "Ryota." I'm your teacher.
If you have time to ask pointless questions, do some review.
But it's not a pointless question.
Here. If you don't know a song, let's sing together.
Hey...
What?
How come my heart doesn't beat faster when you grab my hand?
Huh?!
W-Who knows...
Neko, you're so funny.
There's only one reason for that.
I can sing on my own.
Yeah, you can. Go for it!
Haru kourou no hana no en...
Why "Koujou no Tsuki"?
D-Dunno...
Meguru sakazuki kage sashite...
I'm going to the bathroom.
Sure!
Murakami?
Is something wrong?
Not really. I came to sing alone.
It's not like I was worried about you or something.
Oh.
She really takes everything at face value.
Are you having fun at karaoke?
Yeah...
Okay, that's good. Be careful on your way home.
What the hell am I doing? I'm no better than a stalker now.
Hello?
It's me. The results are in.
The pill is...
...not a crystalline compound.
In other words, it's 100% impossible to copy it within a month.
You think that's gonna make me give up?
Giving up means giving up on the lives of those four girls!
There's no way I can do that.
Besides, there have to be pills at the lab they came from.
If we could just figure out where it is...
Dang. This is bad.
What happened?
Why are you dressed like that?
Oh, this? I can't help it. We're boiling in here.
Plus these aren't panties. It's a swimsuit.
I guess that's one way to look at it...
Well, it's true I'm not wearing a bra on top. Does that get you excited?
I can't tell the difference from any other time.
You really have no clue about the delicate girlish heart, do you?
Didn't you want me to tease you just now?
Plus a delicate girl wouldn't go showing off how she's not wearing a bra.
Kotori too? Even Kuroha?!
Well, it's just so hot!
Murakami?
What are you looking at?
Oh, nothing...
By the way, Kazumi, what's up with that gadget?
For some reason, it won't work.
Without this, I can't go online.
Can you fix it?
Maybe, if I had the part.
I was actually thinking of going to Akihabara tomorrow.
I'll pick it up for y—
You'll take me with you?!
Well, no, I was gonna go alone and—
All right!
I've always wanted to go! Hooray! Yay!
I guess it's fine.
Okay, let's meet at the station tomorrow morning at 9. Don't be late.
Right! I'm super happy! Really looking forward to it!
Oh yeah, Kotori. There's something I wanted to ask you.
U-U-Uh, okay!
Do you know anything about the lab?
Umm...
A low-grade witch like me wasn't allowed to know anything.
I see...
But...
I did hear why the lab was built, although it's just a rumor.
A rumor is fine. Please tell me.
I guess they found them about a hundred years ago.
Found them? Found what?
Alien ruins.
Alien... ruins?
Well, it's 'cause I've met one. An alien.
Now that I think of it, Kotori also said...
I've seen one, so...
Kotori, have you really seen an alien?
Y-Y-Yes.
I have seen one. An alien.
We're making steady progress on the disposal of the escaped witches.
We've just recovered three more harnests and drasils.
And upon interrogating Kikako,
we learned that she saw #1107.
I'm surprised she's still alive.
Recovering the grane is our top priority.
I don't care if #1107 lives or dies.
Understood.
Very well, take your leave.
Can we trust Ichijiku with this?
The man is a brilliant researcher.
He's essential to this plan.
Plus, it shouldn't take much longer.
A century since the discovery of the ruins... The day we realize our aspirations is near.
Afternoon, sir.
We're going to recover the grane. We'll be using Nanami, so please prepare her.
Nanami?
So, what was that alien like?
It was all guts and muscle, like a ball of meat.
Seems like it was an experiment to gauge our reaction.
Oh, I did that, too. That thing was an alien?
You mean— Was it a creature like an amoeba with lots of eyes?
No, not an amoeba, more like meat.
So that thing wasn't an alien?
There's one other rumor I heard.
It seems the lab has an incredibly powerful witch.
Powerful? Even more than Kikako?
Yes. Supposedly she has enough magic to destroy humanity several times over.
Is the witch you're talking about Valkyria?
I've heard that, too...
...that there's an S rank witch, even higher than AAA.
There's an S rank?!
Don't worry. There's definitely no way a witch of that class would be after us.
Valkyria. Like a valkyrie who takes the dead to the next world.
Humanity in ruins...
You can forget everything else, but not this.
You're the only one... who can save this world... from ruin...
I wonder if that's what she meant.
You know about Valkyria?
I don't.
But it might be the case that I have to defeat her.
By the way, how'd it go, Murakami?
How'd what go?
You heard back on whether they can make the pills or not, right?
Oh, yeah. What did they say?
They can't do it.
They can make them, but it'll take at least half a year.
Well, yeah, I figured.
So did I.
I'm sorry I got your hopes up.
It's not like we were expecting anything.
I'd like them to produce the pills, even if they're not in time for us.
How come?
They might be of use to other witches who manage to escape.
Man, it really is hot in here. I'm gonna go cool off outside.
Ugh, it's so hot!
As long as we don't know where the lab is, the only lead left is this device.
So... so they can't make the pills, after all.
Matsumoto Station
Jeez, Kazumi's late.
Murakami!
Sorry, sorry! Didn't mean to be late!
You're tardy by ten minutes.
Don't nitpick!
You know, the reason a girl is late
is because she mulls over what to wear to impress her date!
You can't blame us.
For starters, I don't count this as a date.
Hey! Are you really gonna ignore your girlfriend and read a book on our first date?
You're the worst!
It's not a date, and you're not my girlfriend.
Hey, hey.
Would you like a sweet?
You're like an Osakan grandma...
Whoa, so this is Akihabara!
Take a look at that! This place is crawling with otaku!
Don't shout!
Check it out! Eroge!
Hey, you 'spose all those guys over there are virgins?
You really gotta turn down the volume!
Plus, people buy those even if they aren't virgins.
Oh, here's a virgin talkin' like he knows how it is.
I know you're a virgin, too.
S-Shut up! A girl's virginity is worth more!
Here you go!
It must be fun to be a maid...
Huh?
I wanna go to a maid cafe!
Gimme a break.
If we come to Akiba and don't go to a maid cafe, I dunno what the point is.
We came to buy that part, didn't we?
Well, yeah, but...
Radio Center
Here it is. This is it, this part.
Pretty expensive...
But Kazumi's magic has helped us out lots of times. I'd better shell out.
Thanks! Now I'll be able connect to the Net like nobody's business.
Wanna go now?
Huh?
To a maid cafe.
Really?!
Yeah.
All right!
Cat Ear Day
Welcome home, Master, Milady.
I'm actually here... at a maid cafe... just like I've always dreamed!
Omuraisu! I wanna eat omuraisu!
Uh... Sure.
Here you go! The character you ordered: shinobu.
Shinobu
Wowowowow. This looks great!
Why did she ask for "perseverance"?
Is she stressed out about something?
Yum, this is pretty legit.
Here.
You should have a taste, Murakami.
Cut it out. Don't you think that's embarrassing?
You know, I...
I'm having a ton of fun today.
It might be the most fun I've had in my whole life.
So, Murakami, what was it you needed to do in Akiba?
Have you seen one of these before?
No. What is it?
Kuroha gave it to me. She said she got it from someone at the lab when she ran away.
Someone at the lab? I wonder who.
It might transmit our location, but there are plenty of people with similar devices here.
They probably won't be able to find us immediately.
I'm gonna... turn it on.
What language is this?
The screen scrolls.
This is a map. Is it telling us to go there?
Even if it were, it's probably better if I don't.
Huh? Why?
That text at the beginning... that was German.
Oh... that's right, you're half.
So, what did it say?
"Kill the witches now."
"Only then will we reveal the truth."
That's what it said.