Lo, I have come this far.
Yet my pen proceeds not one line at all!
I knew that I had not the talent that could fulfill Miss Kuroda's wishes!
Plot
But I cannot resist, no, not my burning desire!
I must atone for my sins!
Oh, shut it! I must atone for my sins!
Oh, shut it!
Where the hell'd you get this "sins" business from?!
You didn't interrupt me with a joke, so I had no idea where I was going with that.
Who cares?
Are you not being appreciated enough?
Ugh, I'm totally stumped!
Plot
A Melody of Selfishness and Subtraction
Yes, yes!
I'm getting so hyped, so hyped!
Bunta!
How's the plot coming along?
Little by little.
How careless of me!
I forgot to order the materials for the backgrounds and music!
Hojo-kun! I'm so sorry.
Wait, why are you apologizing to me?
I can only order those materials once the scenes in the plot are set in stone.
Wait, so you mean...
I want you to write down what materials you need for each scene.
Huh? Off the top of his head?
I'm really sorry.
It's all my fault.
Kuroda-san, you don't have to apologize.
Everyone makes mistakes.
Hojo-kun...
It's alright. I've only written about five lines of the plot, anyways.
So that should be pretty easy, huh?
Right?
Wait, only five lines?
What do you mean?
Um, uh, well...
I didn't know you were struggling so hard.
I wasn't sure if I should ask for help.
I couldn't make any progress.
Oh, but I've already got a basic idea!
I got this idea of the protagonist's bathroom having a wormhole in it!
So basically you've stuck yourself with this impossible idea and things got out of hand, yes?
Huh? Impossible?
The best way to write games is to make the most of a large amount of data
and write the everyday in a carefree manner.
That's why simple plot points and settings are best.
Simple, huh?
Instead of writing a grandiose story,
why not try writing a short, contained story?
Short and contained...
The protagonist turns her back on her dying enemy's cries of agony and picks up the coins.
Done!
[Heroine A] "Is there nothing else we can do?" They're in trouble! Then, the protagonist accidentally drops some coins! (sound of coins falling) "C-coins?" The enemy is distracted, and from the shadows leaps Heroine B to execute the killing blow! "Whooooooaaaaaaa!!" The protagonist turns her back on her dying enemy's cries of agony and picks up the coins. Chapter 4, End.
Next is chapter 5!
I can do this!
This is great!
It's almost as if it's flowing out from the spring of creation itself!
With the way I am now,
everything in this world...
is mine to write!
Today, too, she and I are spending... Chapter 13: The End.
To go from a pathetic five lines to a complete plot in just three days,
I'm impressed, Hojo-kun.
Please, it was nothing for me.
24 Hours with Asamori-san Plot Draft Written by Buntarou Hojo
You read it? What'd you think?
Yeah, it's pretty good.
Huh?
It wrapped up nicely. It's not bad.
Good work, Bunta.
I see.
It's not bad.
I read it!
What'd you think!?
Yeah, it's pretty good.
It's...
You too?
What's wrong with saying it was good?
T-there's nothing wrong with that, just...
Just what?! I gave you a compliment!
It's just, kinda hazy?
Yuki finished reading it and went right back to her normal routine.
That means...
Good work, Hojo-kun.
K-Kuroda-san!
What'd you think? Did I stretch it a little to far?
It's pretty good.
There it is again!
Calm down, it's good this way. There it is again!
But "pretty good" means it's not especially good or bad at all, doesn't it?
No, it's not bad.
I pretty much liked it.
P-pretty much...
Our project is to produce a low-price love comedy.
The customers will want something that's just "pretty good".
So I can be happy about it?
What's wrong with being happy about it?
Yeah, you're right.
Well, there were some weak parts.
Where? What parts?!
I mean, if I had to pick something--
If you had to pick something?!
Umm, the characters are kinda weak, like, they need to be more RAHH!
Like a strong character, you know?
A strong character... like what?
Like a hot teacher and his male student that turn into zombies when they make love!
Agh, she's fangirling!
All fangirling aside, she does have a point about strong characters.
Strong characters, huh?
Um, Senpai?
I read your story and my imagination went wild...
Could you please look at this?!
Huh? You drew that now?
I'm, I'm sorry I didn't ask!
No no no, it's totally okay!
L-let me take a look!
P-please do!
Whoa!
It's t, te, ter--
It's terrible?
T-terrific!
It's ridiculously awesome!
Lemme see, lemme see! He reacted just as a commoner would.
Whoa, that's super cute! He reacted just as a commoner would.
Whoa, that's super cute! Is he truly that stupid?
I wanna see!
Me too!
Whoa, she's super good at this!
I wanna go right into this drawing!
And never ever come back!
Not only is Yuki-san a talented artist,
she has a good sense of what clothes and props work for the characters.
T-that's not true!
If you're able to draw so quickly, perhaps you can get the art for the website done quickly as well.
Can you?
Y-yes, I'll do it!
Then I'll make the website.
You can do that, Andou-san?
Um, it's a no-brainer for a programmer.
Then let's decide on the day we'll publish it.
I'm getting excited!
Anyone'd get excited after seeing Torry's art.
T-thank you!
Shoryuken
You wanna take time off work?
I'm sorry to ask all of a sudden.
Jeez, you discovering the opposite sex, too?
No, I figured I should stop dabbling in lots of things and focus my all on one.
If you found something you wanna do, then do it till you're satisfied with it.
Huh?
I'll make Nakajima make up for what he owes you.
Come around every once in a while for a bite, alright?
Strong characters,
strong characters,
strong characters...
What's up, Bunta?
Goin' to the bathroom.
Hojo-kun.
K-Kuroda-san?!
Will you come with me for a bit?
Hyakkei Coffee Shop
Welcome!
Yo, Ser Kuroda!
Man, it's been a super duper long time since we last met!
This is the scenario writer--
Oh, nice to meetcha!
I'm a writer, too! Name's Blooter!
I'm Buntarou Hojo.
Well! Pleased ta pleased ta make your acquaintance!
Scenario Writer Blooter
Is that his real name?
It's his pen name.
His real name is Hosokawa-san.
No, my real name's out just like that?!
I was gonna tease you with it at the end,
but I guess I can't outmatch this kuu-tsundere high school girl, cuttin' me down with no mercy!
She's so cold she'd freeze one of Kanada's animations flat!
Hosokawa-san is the most well-known writer in the business.
Huh?
You looked stuck, Hojo-kun, so I thought you could learn something from talking with a pro.
I-I see.
Hosokawa-san, right now I'm actually writing the plot for a game, but--
And you're stuck!
Ser Hojo, you were about to begin climbing the mountains of scenario development,
but you're on the brink of falling into Hell!
Y-yes.
Then let me tell you the secrets of this art!
Please!
Listen up, the most important thing...
Is?!
Never agree on a due date!
That's all there is to it!
What?
When I take on a job, I've already got other jobs I'm doing,
so I tell them there's no definite due date!
Are you serious?
That's how you draw out the due date!
There's one more secret technique!
That is the apology that will always get you out of missing your due date!
Hosokawa-san...
I don't want advice that would lead him on a terrible path.
Huh? Then what did you want?
Um, the trick to writing a script.
The trick to writing a script?
You just have to write it is all.
Just write it?
But you get into slumps when you can't write at all, right?
Even so, my answer's still the same.
Even if you're only writing 2 or 3kb a day.
Writing a plot isn't about tricks, it's about building it little by little.
B-but--
That's basically it!
Alright, Mr. Blooter's gonna get himself a parfait!
Excuse me, can I get a menu?
Thanks for the food, Ser Kuroda.
Ser Hojo, once you recover from the brink of Hell, let's meet again!
If ya don't, I'll kiss ya for real!
Adios!
He's... an interesting guy.
He did mention one fact.
What?
Even if you're stuck, you have to keep writing.
I have to keep writing...
You're right.
I was dumb to think there was a trick to it.
You're still in the tutorial level, Hojo-kun, so it's alright to be dumb.
So I'm a noob?
But man, was Hosokawa-san a real character!
He came off so strong and...
So strong?
What is it?
I think I can roll with this!
Huh?
W-wait, I'm still drinking this!
There are so many interesting people in my life that I could never dream up on my own.
I'll put that into my characters...
I'll make them feel so unbelievably alive...
so easy to believe...
I fixed everything we thought was weak.
How is it?
Hey, this is good!
I really got into it!
Really?!
Yes, it's much better than before.
You're right! It's like they're suddenly in color!
Yeah, I get it.
It really feels like Bunta, huh?
Right?
Color? Like me?
All right!
I'm glad it's better, but we lost a lot of time.
Are we alright?
Goal: 10KB every day
We're fine.
We'll make up for the lost time!
Senpai, this is amazing.
I have to work harder, too!
Even harder...!
Atomu, I uploaded today's bit of plot to the share drive.
Wow, things are going good, huh?
This is a good pace. Keep it up.
You got it!
Hey, there, Mister Literary Master!
Wait, you talking about me?
You're really annoying me with your loud typing and that stupid smile on your face!
Says the girl who's sitting there reading manga!
There!
It was so much better back when it was quiet.
I wish you'd get in a slump again, Bunta.
Like hell I will!
Um, uh, Senpai?
I drew something again.
Wait, when did you do this?
Yesterday, after I read Senpai's script.
You did these all in a day?
These are barely sketches at all!
They're way more detailed than before!
This is amazing.
It's fantastic, Yuki!
I'm glad you like it!
I'll work even har--
Hey, you alright?
Sorry, I just lost my balance.
Are you sleeping enough, Yuki-san?
It's just caught my attention.
This isn't something you could just draw in our club time.
You're drawing at home too, right?
Y-yes. But I'm alright! I make sure to get two hours of sleep!
Two hours?!
Um, that's definitely not good.
That's right, don't forsake your health.
If you fall apart at a crucial time, all will be for naught.
I'm fine.
Once I finish sketching I sleep for a whole 25 hours.
She wasn't fine.
Our worries were right after all.
Huh...
Yuki stopped being able to draw anything.
She's in a total slump.
And she looks pretty bad, too.
Yuki-san, how about you take a little break?
I'm fine! I'll draw!
Yuki, you can stop for t--
No, I'll draw! I'm fine!
Utayomi Bookstore
She's absent?
I went to her class to check for her, but they said she has a cold.
Kai, how are we on our schedule?
Honestly, we're about to be in trouble.
We haven't gotten anything from her for a while.
S-sketches, sketches...
Wait, just now...
Yuki?
Yuki! What are you doing here?
I thought you took the day off school!
You've got a fever, right? Your face is bright red!
I'll draw...
I have to draw...
I gotta draw...
I gotta draw!
You have to rest!
Stop it and go home, Yuki.
But if I take a break, I'll be late on my sketches!
Tori-chan!
Tori-chan, are you okay?!
Hey, Tori-chan!
Nurse's Office
Let's call it here for today.
Alright.
What should we do with this picture?
Erase it.
Huh? Hold up a sec.
You can't erase it.
Andou...
Torry is our artist.
She worked hard to draw that for us.
I agree. Let's leave it up.
Bunta...
Her fever went down a little.
Really? That's good.
Yuki's passion and talent are admirable,
but there's a big problem with how she paces herself.
I kinda understand how she feels.
I don't have any knowledge, I'm a total newbie,
but I want to do a good job.
I want to do everything I can and finish something I'll be satisfied with.
That's why I feel like I'm in a hurry.
I think that's how she feels, too.
I have some advice.
I think if you cut a few more scenes from your script, it'll be even better.
Cut?
If you reorganize the events based on the sketches Yuki's finished,
you might be able to make it simpler and easier to understand.
Then we might be able to cut down on the number of graphics we need!
No... you can't.
Yuki?
Hey, get some sleep!
Don't reduce the graphics... it doesn't help me.
Huh?
The art is really important to a game!
I won't sleep and work hard so you don't take them out!
Yuki...
When...
When everyone said my art was good,
I felt really happy.
I was happy when I secretly uploaded them to Pixy,
but making it together with everyone was really nice.
But I...
I don't want it to be my fault it's ruined!
It's not your fault, Yuki.
It's a decision I've made after considering everything.
And reducing the number of graphics in a game won't ruin it.
But...
I also think the story will be more interesting if I cut it down a little.
No, it'll definitely be better.
I'll write a story that'll make the best of your art,
so will you give it to me?
Alright.
We can still rework our schedule.
So focus on getting better for now.
That's right, get some reset.
Everyone's waiting for your art when you get better.
Hojo-senpai.
Thank you so much...
Utayomi Bookstore
Um, uh, I'm really sorry to have bothered you all!
Congrats on your recovery!
I'm glad you're feeling better!
Torry!
That picture...
Whaddya think? Cool, huh?
Looking at it like this, it's kind of like our symbol as Rokuhara.
Our symbol?
My drawing?
Let's make a great game!
Right!
I'll sleep two hours a day so we can master up!
What did I tell you?!
Alright, let's toast to Torry's recovery!
Oh, that's a good idea!
I have five or six boxes of vitamin drinks if you want.
I don't think we should be drinking those to celebrate.
Let's go buy something then!
It'll be a party to celebrate Yuki-chan's feeling better!
Kuroda-san, you're not coming?
I'm alright.
Okay, we'll be back.
I like that!
What song were you humming just now?
I was humming?
Yes, it was such a pretty melody, too!
I recorded it!
W-when did I...
We should use this as the theme song for our game!
Yeah!
My imagination's running wild again!
Yuki, are you feeling better?
Yes! I'll be sure to have a vitamin drink before I pass out again!
You can't do that every day, else it'll lose its effect.
R-really?
You should always try to recover your energy by sleeping.
Ten minutes should be good.
Ten minutes?!