Atomu-san, Atomu-san!
I hear our nerdy Bunta is making a sexy game!
That's right Yuuka-san, it's super sexy!
Super sexy, huh?
Hey, Bunta!
This world is a wasteland.
This is Another Spring of Youth
Houjou
To Houjou-kun Kuroda
Oooh, a love letter!
Obviously not.
10 hand-picked bishoujo games I highly recommend.
Why'd you bring them to school!?
I want you to study and learn exactly what bishoujo games are.
You seriously don't care what others think of you, do you, Kuroda-san?
Come in.
Th-this is...
The Marketing Research Club.
The Marketing Research Club?
Yes, I'm the club president.
Wait, you mean...
Just as I expected of you, Houjou-kun.
You did well to realize the Marketing Research Club is a front.
It's actually a bishoujo game club.
No, I just figured it was for your own personal use...
I'm surprised the application went through.
Perhaps it's because they valued my accomplishments.
Sayuki Kuroda Accomplishment Compendium
Holy crap, there's tons of perfect scores!
My, don't make me blush.
You won a Rubik's Cube puzzle competition when you were twelve?!
Don't make me blush.
You won the grand finals at the speech contest in middle school!
That won't make me blush!
This is your desk, Houjou-kun.
I've prepared six seats for the time being,
I want you to study bishoujo games while gathering allies at the same time.
Allies?
We need a writer, a 'ducer, an A-Lead, a 'grammer, a CGA, a scripter, and a VA.
Is this ancient Atlantean or something?
It's English.
The writer is the scenario writer.
That's you, Houjou-kun.
A 'ducer is me, the producer.
A-Lead is animation lead.
A-Lead isn't English, is it?
Both the words "yuri" and "slice of life" are Japanese.
In the same vein, so is A-Lead.
'Grammer is short for programmer.
CGA is short for CG Artist.
And VA is short for voice actor.
Other people really understand those acronyms?
They were commonplace at my older brother's company.
Huh? Your older brother's company?!
Yes...
my brother is a game creator.
So, do you think you can find such people?
I'm not sure.
On top of finding people with these specific talents,
I've gotta find someone who's obsessed with this stuff enough to really get it.
Obsessed?
That's not the right word.
Moe is a part of our culture.
It's an idea that has surpassed 2D and entered a new dimension.
As the national computing industry suddenly boomed, computer-literate youth grew in number,
and they began to want a way to fulfill their youthful desires through electronic media.
This progression led to the coining of new vernacular,
and now it is no longer just for the "obsessed", but part of a wider sphere of--
I'm sorry, that went on much too long.
Did that disturb you?
I certainly get that you're passionate now!
It's amazing that you have something you can get so into.
I'm sure you'll find your something, too.
I don't get it at all!
Can I really write a story for a game?
alright, let's find some people who can be on staff.
Good morning!
I found your staffers!
I just knew you could do it, Houjou-kun!
Why do they all look like dead fish?
'Cause they've all kept themselves hidden.
Just try talking to them.
Artist who doesn't draw
Meh, I haven't really been in a situation where I can really draw.
Programmer who doesn't program
I haven't had any opportunities to really program.
Graphic Designer who doesn't design
I mean, it's not that I can only copy other people's designs...
You don't have an eye for creators, do you, Houjou-kun?
It's certainly not an easy task.
But I'd like you to use your communication skills to get some insight.
I dunno if there are any students who--
Whoa, it's so big in here! Awesome! I dunno if there are any students who--
Whoa, it's so big in here! Awesome!
Wow, yeah, really. It's a real room.
Hey, you two. Wow, yeah, really. It's a real room.
Hey, you two.
I'm Atomu Kai. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, too.
She's in our class.
I'm sorry.
I can remember character names and faces right away...
You're funny, Kuroda-san!
T-thank you.
Well then, ah...
Can I stop using polite speech?
Of course.
Thanks!
Why'd you even ask?
Wow, it's so shiny!
Kuroda-san, can I have one?
N-no!
You can have one if you join our club.
Huh?
Yay!
This is Yuuka Kobayakawa.
Star of the drama club.
She could work as a voice actress.
Kobayakawa...
Do you like bishoujo games?
Nope!
But I'm a little interested in being a voice actress.
I'm good at making voices,
and I always thought I could do voice acting if I felt like it'd bring out my talents.
Understood.
Does the drama club allow concurrent enrollment in clubs?
I don't think our advisor would complain.
You're quite favored in that club.
Which means your talent is accounted for.
Though for all her talent, she's really annoying.
Whaaaat?
Working with creators is difficult.
I don't mind.
Alright!
We got an ally, though she's one of our friends!
Yes.
Hey, hey, when do I get to start?
Not for a while.
U-um, could I join, too?
Atomu?
What is your talent?
Well, it's not like I have a special talent or anything...
Are you interested in this kind of world?
Yeah, though I've never played a bishoujo game before.
If you have no special skills, then you can work as an assistant helping with small tasks.
That's totally fine!
I say 'small tasks', but many of them will not be small at all.
You'll be working with various members of the staff,
and you may be working much more like a director.
However, the assistant is looked down upon as an easy job.
Are you still fine with that?
I'm not prepared for all that, truthfully.
But I'm not in any club, and I don't have any particular interest in anything.
I still want to help you.
That's not a very strong motivation.
Game production takes a very long time to complete.
If you aren't attached to the work, you'll only end up hurting everyone.
For example, if you like shoujo manga,
or are in a relationship like a normal person...
A relationship...
I'm done...
with love!
Atomu?
He got dumped, yeah?
Less dumped and more that I wasted my time...
Tell me more!
She asked me out, you know?
Said she liked gentler, nicer guys.
So I tried acting gentler and nicer.
But then she said it wasn't enough that I was "nice".
Even though she was the one who wanted it in the first place!
Dammit, what the hell?!
Even gruffer!
She complained about it and then had the nerve to get mad at me?!
Women are the worst!
Atomu broke!
Screw reality!
I love 2D!
Girls can go piss off and die!
I welcome Kai into our club.
What?
He hates women, having been betrayed by reality and is aggressive towards cute girls.
I haven't seen talent like this in over a decade.
Thank you! I'll work hard!
Are you really okay with that?
What do you do once you've made a game?
Are we gonna present it at the school festival?
Oh yeah, I didn't ask that.
Will you accompany me on a trip this weekend?
So this is Akiba!
Where are the tsunderes?!
Over there, over there!
Hey, it's not your first time here.
I know, but...
Please come by! I know, but...
Please come by!
Wow, a maid! A real maid!
Man, Akiba is amazing! It's so amazing!
It seems that the more of a commoner Houjou-kun feels, the further his intelligence falls.
S-so that's what doujinshi are...
Looks like you were crushed by them.
I'm glad the books I missed out on buying the first time got reprints.
Wow, they look so professional!
That's because some pros make doujin work.
Huh? I thought doujins were all made by newbies.
Even pros do some doujin work.
It's a world where you can compete with your talents even with no programming experience.
Huh, I like that kind of competition!
That is the world we will attack.
You can't make a game just for fun.
We will put a game on sale and beat them all.
That is our club's final goal.
Renmoir Coffee Room Renmoir
I'm getting a little nervous.
I'm nervous 'cause I don't know what to get nervous about.
Then you're not nervous at all!
Prepare yourselves.
We're going to make a game the users will fight to be the first to play.
There's no point in making one if we don't win.
Kuroda-san, you don't really seem like the pure kind of game fan.
Because the pure and innocent will only be devoured.
Huh?
I told you, this world is a wasteland.
You're not coming back with us?
I was gonna stop by the convenience store on my way back.
Can't you just go once you're home?
No, uh, well, I just had...
You have business in Akiba?
Bunta, don't tell me...
No, no, no!
I see, so that's what it is!
It's nothing, really!
I'm not going to get porn doujins, or anything lewd!
He totally lost his composure.
Alright.
Then let's disband here.
I'm calling you "porn doujin" from now on!
I'm not going there, I told you!
Have fun!
Houjou-kun.
Kuroda-san, I...
Beware of questioning once you've made your purchase.
It'll be a public execution.
Today's Special Includes free drink!
I won't make excuses.
...though I already did.
But I'm just really interested!
Don't Touch Me Currently serving lunch specials!
Welcome b--
Huh?
Welcome back, Master!
Master, are you ready to order?
This is way different from how you act at school, huh, Andou-san?
My name's Luka!
Isn't it Teruha Andou?
Oh, silly, I'm Luka!
It's my work name.
Are you that dumb?
Here you go!
Thanks.
How is it?
Perfect.
Yay!
Now I can go back to my maid planet!
Maid planet? Really?
Please enjoy!
Keep this a secret, alright?
You're suddenly back to normal.
It's not like I'm really trying to hide it,
but I didn't get the school's permission to work.
Luka-chan!
Coming!
Please don't, alright?
Wow.
Boss
Hello, nice to hear from you, Boss.
Tomorrow? That's pretty sudden...
Sorry, I've got something going on tomorrow.
Yeah, I'll contact you.
Alright!
Wow.
It's like the animators have miscolored your face.
He pulled an all-nighter.
Even though you hate pulling all-nighters! You idjit.
That's not good.
The ability to pull an all-nighter is an indispensible skill for a creator.
Y-you're crazy...
The game I was playing yesterday was just so interesting ...
Which one?
Huh? Your brother made that one too?!
It's the first time I've been interested in the Romans!
I'm still only halfway through but it's really fun so far!
You guys should play it, too!
Totally don't care!
It's a historical setting, right? That'll be hard to get into.
That's what I thought, too! It's a historical setting, right? That'll be hard to get into.
That's what I thought, too!
Looking for more staff?
Getting an artist is high priority.
About that...
Wouldn't it be faster if you looked for one?
Bunta is terrible at sniffing out otaku.
Honestly, everyone's art looks the same to me.
I still think it's best if you're the one who found them, Houjou-kun.
Why?
it's a matter of motivation.
If you find an artist you like, they must be talented, yes?
An artist I like...
First, you've got to improve your eye.
Art is the essence of bishoujo games.
Utayomi Bookstore
Hey Bunta, you going to work?
Oh, I'm off today.
Utayomi Bookstore
That's a surprise. See ya!
Yup!
Is it the eyes?
I feel like the shape of the eyes is different...
No, the hair...
The way the tips are colored?
Alright, I think I'm getting it a little!
This!
Excuse me!
Sorry, I'll get someone right away!
Mister!
Cute girls! Here's our recommendations for Light Novels!
Sorry about that!
Oh, I'm not complaining.
Do you know who drew this sign?
Oh, that? I'm not sure myself.
Huh?
Someone keeps putting them up without us knowing...
But it feels like they're made with love, so we leave them up.
How's this?
I-it's amazing!
It's amazing.
I found it at the bookstore.
The girl who drew it's highly ranked on Pixi.
A-are you serious?!
Wha?! What's it mean to be highly ranked on Pixi?
It means they're always ranked highly on the art site Pixi.
And she's a first year at our school.
I spent all night looking her up.
I posted the art on a forum
and I got her pen name, Hokekiyo.
And her real name, Uguisu Yuuki.
The person who put the art there is the girl at the bookstore!
Yuuki
To Uguisu Yuuki
Someone dropped a mysterious letter into my slightly high school girl-like locker!
"T-to Uguisu Yuuki...
To Uguisu Yuuki Sorry for the sudden letter. I have to tell you how I feel about you. I'll be waiting behind the school building after school. B. H.
Sorry for the sudden letter.
I have to tell you how I feel about you.
I'll be waiting behind the school building after school.
B. H."
What do I do?!
What do I do with this?
You're Yuuki-san, right?
N-no!
Um, uh, I'm sorry!
Guess that's how anyone would react if they were surrounded by upperclassmen.
Houjou-kun, what should we do?
Yuuki-san?
Yuuki-san, can I talk to you for--
I just want to talk--
I-I'm sorry!
She's too stubborn!
Sup? You haven't told anyone about that, huh?
Yeah, I promised I wouldn't.
I've got other things I'm working on.
Huh, like what?
Like making video games.
Seriously?!
I didn't know you were that kind of guy!
Well, it's kinda complicated.
What? A bishoujo game?
Whoa, how'd you know?
What kind of game? Who's doing the art?
Um... Someone called Hokekiyo is...
From Pixi?! The one who draws all those vocaloids?!
Seriously?! How'd you contact them?!
She's a freshman at our school.
No flippin' way!
We haven't gotten her on board yet, though!
Hokekiyo-san?
You don't need to run.
I've seen your rankings, you're always near the top.
A game artist?
Yup!
The art's super important in a bishoujo game, right?
I think it'd be awesome if you did the art, Hokekiyo!
How about it? You can just come look if you want!
Tori-chan, wanna eat?
Tori-chan?
Alright, I'll call you Torry then!
Note: All plays on her name are kinds of bird.
B-Bird...
I didn't know you liked games, Akkina.
Yup, I'm a total fujo.
What does she mean, fujo?
It means she likes BL.
BL?
So Torry's gonna do the art, and Yuuka's voice acting?
Yes!
Bunta's writing the script, and I'm the assistant director.
I see.
So I'd be doing programming, then?
You're a programmer?!
Welcome back!
Akkina, she says she can program!
Is this true?
If it's just putting a script together, then yeah.
I'm fine if you're gonna blow me off.
I won't.
You're here too, Yuuki-san.
T-thanks for having me...
This means you'll join us then, yes?
Um, no, I'm just checking it out today...
Why don't you wanna join?
This is your opportunity to go pro!
Pro? But I...
Yuuki.
I think your art is really good, Yuuki.
I really like it!
With your art, the game will be so much better!
So I really want you to join up with us!
B-but...
You don't want to work on a bishoujo game?
N-no, a-actually, I'd like to work on a hen...
Hen?
...tai...
...Game?
So you're pretty interested in working on it.
Y-yes.
You understood her?
She's got no problems at all.
Really?!
Yes, it's fine!
Thank you.
U-um...!
Welcome, Tori-chan!
You're in!
I look forward to working with you, Yuuki.
Me... too... everyone.
Which means...
Kuroda-san, we're done gathering our allies!
It seems so.
Proposal 24 Hours with Asamori-san (subject to change) Project Manager Sayuki Kuroda
It's a totally crazy scheme...
Proposal 24 Hours with Asamori-san
But I'm sure it'll probably, maybe...
be super fun.
I hadn't said "moe" for a long while.
Really? You don't say it when you're playing bishoujo games?
When I'm playing and the urge is simply too hard to hold back, I can't even speak.
Houjou-kun...
Huh?
Have you ever felt like, "whew"?