Kogorou, there are two things I want from you.
First, I need duplicates of this pill.
And what's this supposed to be?
It's a pill that magicians need to live.
I'm going to need more context than that.
Okay.
It all started with a transfer student.
Just as I was about to be killed by a landslide, she saved me with her magic.
That magician was the spitting image of my childhood friend Kuroneko, who died ten years ago because of me.
I see. I get it, more or less.
But that sounds less like magic and more like powers induced by human modification.
So can you do it? Can you make copies of this pill?
It'll be a pain, but it's not impossible.
Really?
Yes, we'll just need to identify the drug's active ingredient and perform molecular analysis on it.
Then we'll find a way to synthesize it.
How much time will it take?
Let's see...
Half a year, if we're lucky.
If it has a complex structure, then maybe a few years.
Half a year? Maybe a few years?!
How many pills do you have left?
One month's worth.
Then your cause is hopeless.
Give it up.
Actually, wait.
If the active ingredient turns out to be some crystalline compound...
Yes?
Then synthesizing it would be much easier.
If I get all the students in the lab to help, we might be able to get it done in a month.
Really?!
We can see if it has a crystalline structure in a day.
I'll give you a call when the results are in.
And what was your other request?
Right. I want you to take a look at what's inside this.
And what's that?
An alien embryo, allegedly.
Oh? First magicians, and now aliens?
I'm not completely convinced about it.
That's just what she was told.
I want you to see what's really inside.
Very well. Leave it to me.
Fragment of Hope
Oh yeah, Neko. How'd the thing with the pills turn out?
They said they had to investigate further.
Shoulda expected that.
It'd be nice if they really could make some.
If we could make as many pills as we wanted, my dream might even come true.
I'm sure your dreams are nothing but dirty fantasies.
Oh, mind ya own business!
Still...
It's incredible to believe that we can live with hope now, and it's all thanks to Murakami.
I guess.
He's a little conceited,
but if it weren't for him, we'd all be long dead.
You're right.
But can we really keep relying on him like this?
Don't worry about that.
He likes Neko.
No, he doesn't.
The girl he likes is his childhood friend.
And I just happen to look like her.
It's not me he likes.
Hey, Murakami!
What are you doing?!
Nothin'. Your head was ripe for the hittin', so I hit it.
Morning.
I can't believe you...
Laters!
Must be nice, Murakami.
You get to talk to Kazumi Schlierenzauer-san.
Huh? In what way?
When she opens her mouth, nothing but dirty things comes pouring out.
We wouldn't know!
You're the only guy she talks to.
Just a word of warning: you have the jealousy of every man in this building bearing down on you.
Hey, Kuroha-san!
We're all going to karaoke tonight. Wanna come with?
Um...
Sure, I think.
Really?
Great!
We're meeting at six in front of the station.
Make sure you come dressed casually.
Got it.
Hey, what's "maramuke"?
Maramuke?
Kashiwagi-san and the other girls invited me to maramuke.
Oh. They were talking about karaoke, not maramuke.
Karaoke?
It's a thing where you sing to background music.
Sing?
What do I do? I can't sing...
But you can, can't you?
Remember that "Making her grand entrance, it's Neko-san!" thing?
And "Darling of all through the land!"
You can sure sing when it's about how awesome you are.
Okay, I got it! Sorry! I'll shut up now!
Fine. Murakami-kun, you have to come with me.
They all know me, you know.
I can't just show my face at karaoke without being invited.
You do seem bad at making friends.
That's not true!
Besides, I have work today!
Work?
I'm a home tutor.
Kana-chan, want to go?
How could I?
I can't even speak. They'd just be creeped out.
Here. Take this.
There should be enough money inside to pay for karaoke.
You went through so much to get into school.
You should do some normal high-schooler things too.
Thank you.
Huh? What's wrong?
Nothing!
What is this feeling?
Karaoke
What should I sing next?
Let's see...
Neko-chan, you should put in a song.
Huh? What's this?
Oh? Haven't you gone to karaoke before?
No, this is my first time.
Wow, you're so straight-laced.
I don't know many songs.
Kuroha-san, I see you with Murakami a lot.
Are you two dating?
Dating?
You see, I've had my eye on you for a while now.
All right! Let's wrap it up for today.
What? Isn't it a bit early?
Normally, you'd be yelling at me to keep going, too.
Sorry.
I have something to do today.
What?
Ryouta, you have a date?!
Don't call me Ryouta. I'm your teacher.
If you have time for boring questions like that, use it to review.
That wasn't a boring question...
Okay! If you don't know the song, I'll help you sing.
Hey.
What is it?
Holding your hand doesn't set my heart racing.
Why?
B-Beats me...
Neko-chan, you're so funny!
There's only one explanation!
I'll sing by myself.
Yeah, good call!
Atop a castle in spring
blossoms a grand banquet.
Why did she pick Kojo no Tsuki?
Dunno...
The sake cups make the rounds
and cast their shadows down.
I have to go to the bathroom.
Okay!
Murakami-kun?!
Did something happen?
Not really.
I came here to sing by myself.
It's not like I was worried about you or anything.
I see.
She takes everything at face value, doesn't she?
Is karaoke fun?
Yeah.
Okay. That's good.
Be careful on your way home.
What on earth am I doing?
I'm practically a stalker!
Hello?
It's me.
The results are in.
The crystalline structure tests came back...
...negative.
In other words, making copies of the pill within a month...
...is a hundred percent impossible.
As if that'll make me give up.
Giving up now means giving up on their lives.
There's no way I could do that.
I'm sure there are pills at the laboratory where they were held.
If only we knew where it was...
Man, I'm screwed.
It's totally busted...
Wonder what's wrong with it.
Why are you dressed like that?
Oh, this?
Like I have a choice!
It's burnin' hot in here!
By the way, these aren't panties.
It's a swimsuit bottom.
Those are practically the same thing.
If that disappoints you, I'm not wearin' a bra either.
Does it turn you on?
I couldn't even te—
You don't understand how delicate a maiden's heart is!
I thought you were asking for a witty comeback!
Besides, what kind of maiden goes around braless?
Kotori? Even Kuroha?
It's just so hot in here!
Murakami-kun?
What are you looking at?
Uh, nothing.
Oh yeah, Kazumi. What happened with that machine?
It's broken down, pretty much.
I can't connect to the internet without it...
Can it be fixed?
Probably, if we had a replacement part.
I was thinking of going to Akihabara tomorrow.
I can pick one up fo—
You're gonna take me?!
I was going to go by myse—
Yay!
I've always wanted to go!
Yay! Yay!
Oh, fine.
We'll meet at the train station at nine tomorrow.
Don't be late.
Alright! I'm so happy!
I can't wait!
Oh right, Kotori. There's something I wanted to ask.
Y-Yes?
Do you know anything about the laboratory?
Huh? Um...
A low-ranking magician like me doesn't get told much.
I see.
Oh, but...
I've heard something about why the laboratory was founded.
It's all rumors and hearsay though.
Anything's fine. Tell us.
They found it about a hundred years ago.
Found?
Found what?
The remains of an alien.
The remains... of an alien?
Well, you see, I've seen them myself.
Aliens.
Come to think of it, Kotori also said...
I know they exist.
Kotori.
Have you really seen aliens before?
Y-Yes!
I've seen aliens before.
The disposal of the escaped witches is progressing steadily.
More recently, three harnesses and drasils have been retrieved.
Additionally, Kikako's interrogation has revealed that she observed number 1107 alive.
To think she's still alive...
Our highest priority is the recovery of the Grani.
Number 1107's status is of little importance.
Understood.
Very well. Dismissed.
Can we really count on Ichijuku?
He is an excellent scientist.
He cannot fail.
Moreover, it won't take much longer.
It's been a century since the discovery...
The day our ambitions are realized draws near.
Good work.
We will retrieve the Grani.
We'll be using Nanami. Ready her.
Nanami?
So what was the alien like?
It was basically a blob of meat and organs.
I think they were conducting an experiment to see how it would react to us.
Oh, I've done that too.
That thing was an alien?
Did it look like an amoeba with eyes all over it?
No.
It wasn't so much like an amoeba as it was a blob of meat...
So that wasn't an alien?
There was another rumor, too.
Supposedly, there are unbelievably strong witches somewhere in the laboratory.
Unbelievably strong?
Stronger than Kikako?
Yes. According to the rumors, they have magic powerful enough to destroy mankind many times over.
Are ya talkin' about the Valkyria?
I've heard about them myself.
There's a rank of magicians above AAA called S.
There are S-rank magicians?
Don't waste time worryin' about it. We can't hope to stand up against somethin' like them anyway.
Valkyria...
The goddesses who take the dead to the afterlife...
The destruction of mankind...
Just don't forget this.
You are the only one who can save this world from ruin.
This might be what she was talking about.
You know about the Valkyria?
I don't.
But it might be that I have to defeat them one day.
By the way, how'd it turn out, Murakami?
How'd what turn out?
We know whether we can replicate the pills now, right?
Oh yeah, what's up with that?
Bad news.
He can replicate it, but it'll take at least half a year.
I shoulda figured.
Of course.
Sorry I got your hopes up.
We weren't expecting much anyway.
I want them to replicate the pill even if we won't be there to take it.
Why?
It might help any magicians that run away in the future.
Man, it's hot in here!
I'm gonna go outside to cool off a bit.
It's steaming!
Since we don't know where the laboratory is, all our hopes hang on this terminal.
So that's how it is.
The pills were a no-go.
Goodness. Kazumi's late.
Murakami!
Sorry I'm late!
You're ten minutes late.
Details, details!
When a girl is late to a date,
it's because she was fussin' with her makeup trying to look perfect for it!
You shouldn't yell at her.
This isn't a date, you know.
Hey!
How could ya ignore your girlfriend on your first date and bury your nose in a book?!
This isn't a date, and you're not my girlfriend.
Here, here!
Want some candy?
You...
Are you my grandma?
Ooh! So this is Akihabara!
Look! Slightly uncomfortable otaku all over the place!
You're way too loud!
Look, eroge!
Are all those people virgins?
You need to learn to shut up!
And you don't need to be a virgin to buy them!
Ah, spoken like a true virgin.
Aren't you a virgin too?
Hey, watch your mouth!
Society prizes virgin girls!
Please take one.
Maids sure are nice...
Huh?
I wanna go to a maid café.
Just cut it out already.
If we're not gonna stop by a maid café, then why'd we even come to Akiba?
We're here to buy your replacement part.
I guess you're right...
Radio Center
Found it!
Radio Center
This one. Right here.
Radio Center
That's pretty expensive.
But Kazumi's magic has bailed us out countless times.
It can't be helped.
Thanks! Now I can internet all I want!
Wanna go?
Huh?
To a maid café.
For real?
Yeah.
Yay!
Welcome home, Master and Lady.
At long last!
The maid café from my dreams!
Omelette rice!
I want omelette rice!
Here. "Shinobu", just as requested!
Ooh, looks great!
Why "Shinobu" of all things?
I wonder if the stress has gotten to her.
This is pretty good!
Have some.
Murakami, try some!
Stop it. It's embarrassing.
You know,
I had a lot of fun today.
It might be the most fun I've ever had in my life.
Why'd ya wanna come to Akiba anyway?
Have you seen one of these before?
No. What is it?
Kuroha gave it to me.
Someone from the laboratory gave it to her when she escaped.
Someone from the laboratory?
Wonder who it was.
It might broadcast our location, but if I turn it on here, hopefully it'll be lost in the sea of similar gadgets.
It should be hard for them to pin us down.
I'm turning it on...
What language is this?
Oh, you can scroll.
It's a map!
Is it saying to go there?
If it is, I'd better stay away.
Huh? Why?
The text you saw was in German.
Oh right, you're half Austrian.
What did it say?
"Kill all the witches immediately."
"Then I will tell you the truth."
That's what it says.
kagayaku hoshi miagete
We've always admired
itsumo akogareteta na
the shining stars we gazed upon.
ashita wo yume minagara
And dreaming of tomorrow,
koi wo shite mitari
we played games of affection.
nai mono nedari de
While I begged for something that wasn't there,
shiawase wa hito sorezore to
you taught me that happiness
oshiete kureta ne
was different for everyone.
sonna kimi ga suki de nee
That's why I like you so much.
watashi wa ima koi ni ochita
Now, I'm enraptured
ichibanboshi
by the first star of the night
onegai shite
so I make a wish:
douka kimi to itsumo issho ni ireru you ni
"May I get to be with you forever."
watashi wa ima hajimete shiru
Now, I've come to understand
koi wa setsunai
that loving can be rough,
kurushiku naru demo ai wa tottemo
but hard as things can get, love itself is
hora atatakai mono nanda
a very warm thing.