Glancing up towards the sky,
Whenever I turn my back
Against this perfect world
I mumble out
"Where should I go?"
With you, someone who shares the same thoughts I do.
In the shadows of an alley, the hands on a clock
Restart the time that stood still
The arms extended out to you
And the unfinished puzzle
Have been left behind
Until we met
And realized something was missing.
So the last piece
Must be found
In order to move forward.
Tatsuhiro, calmly listen to what I have to say.
O-Okay.
To tell you the truth, I'm sorry, but your...
Huh? I can't hear you clearly.
Your...
Allowance will be cut in half?
Welcome to the NHK
Welcome to the...
Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai!
Tatsuhiro?
Meeting!
Hey, are you listening?
Oh...
Cut it out, Mom.
What a cruel joke...
It's not a joke.
I know it must be hard on you, but it's the same for your mother.
But... why so suddenly?
Actually, your father lost his job at the end of March due to corporate restructuring.
Huh?
Despite pursuing all possible options, like frequenting the unemployment office and asking acquaintances...
He hasn't been able to find a new job.
Still... you can't just cut the allowance by half!
Until now, we've been able to maintain your expenses with your father's unemployment checks and my secret savings.
I've decided to work more at my part time job.
So you should find a job, too!
You have a girl like Misaki-chan by your side, so you should be able to do it, right?
Y-Yeah, I think...
Failure, failure, failure, failure of a person...
It seems like your father came out of the bath.
I'm going to hang up.
Huh?
See you later.
Hang in there, Tatsuhiro!
W-Wait a second...
Being told to find a job so suddenly...
I'm a hikikomori NEET...
I can't even afford a CD.
Welcome!
Working in the service industry is impossible for a hikikomori.
If I did manual labor, I'd collapse in a day.
A college drop-out wouldn't be hired for tutoring work.
Besides, I don't even want to go outside, so working part time is out of the question.
Isn't there a way to make money, even if I seclude myself inside my room?
Huh?
An acquaintance of mine, who I met online, is also a hikikomori and makes a lot of money by playing this game.
From a game?
He's into RMT... Real Money Trading.
The items and gold you've obtained in the game are traded for actual money.
You can earn money even if you isolate yourself indoors.
It's perfect for Satou-san.
Real Money Trading, huh?
I still have a means of survival.
I can play the game at no fee for a month...
During that time, I'll pick up general information about RMT...
By the next month, I'll sell my items and make a huge profit!
After all, unlike businessmen and students, I have all the time in the world.
It'll be easy.
A long time ago There was a great war between man and beast...
A period of chaos, dominated by swords and sorcery
However People did not lose hope and set out on a journey.
To the land of Vina Teelo...
So this is Vina Teelo...
Unlike regular games, all of these characters are manipulated by someone.
Excuse me, would you care for some herbs?
Huh?
This isn't good... I inadvertently ran away.
T-That's right... I have to fight.
That was quick!
I already died...
I get it... There are monsters in the forest.
I'll keep that in mind and be more careful this time.
It should be somewhere around here.
There you are.
Take this!
Ah, shit! He got me again.
This time, for sure...
I suppose I can't win with this kind of armor.
Items like my sword and body armor need to be made of stronger material.
Whoa, it's expensive!
There isn't a single thing I can afford.
Satou-san...
Even if I sell all the items I have...
Satou-san!
I'm still short by quite a bit...
Hey. are you listening to me, Satou-san?
Huh? Yeah... What were you talking about?
Our game! I was talking about our game.
The product we displayed at the Natsucomi was merely a trial version.
We have to release a completed version at the Fuyucomi.
The Fuyucomi is in December, you know.
There's still a lot of time before then.
What are you talking about?
If we begin to relax, time will fly before we realize it.
Just like what happened during the Natsucomi.
I got it, I got it. I'll start once I get a better understanding of what I'm doing now.
Once you get a better understanding?
Satou-san, don't tell me you're playing by yourself.
Huh? Yeah.
You normally form a party.
Party?
You gather some companions and go out on an adventure.
Once you've formed a strong party...
Did we do it?
You can raise your level effortlessly this way.
Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!
I-I see!
A hack, huh?
It's nothing like a hack at all!
Great! I'll gather some companions and level up!
Thank you, Yamazaki.
I'll leave you alone for today, but...
Don't forget about finishing the galge, okay?
I hear you, I hear you.
I took this for granted...
Even if this is a game, there's no way a hikikomori like me can casually talk to complete strangers.
Besides, if that person happens to be a foreigner, I... can't speak any English.
Aren't there any alternative options?
Since it's come to this, I have no other choice but to charge in by myself!
It's no good...
It killed me again.
The balance of this game is atrocious.
Why are the monsters so strong?
Huh? H-Holy shit! Is it that time already?
Ababa ababa odoru yo...
Sorry!
I overslept.
Then let's begin today's lecture.
People who don't make an effort or refuse to take the initiative tend to be the ones who dream of immediate success in the future.
However, the world isn't that convenient.
Our forefathers left this wonderful quote...
What she's saying makes sense.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
At this rate, making a fortune from RMT is an unrealistic dream.
"He who doesn't work shouldn't eat."
In order to achieve great success, an accumulation of small effort is necessary.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
You must take one small step at a time.
One small step at a time...
I see. I completely forgot about that!
I understand, Misaki-chan!
Huh? What?
That's right. I have to start small.
Isn't it elementary?
Huh?
I have an urgent appointment, so I have to leave now.
Thank you, Misaki-chan!
Er, yeah.
Yahoo!
Thank you, huh?
It seems his situation is improving.
Singing an infantile song,
There you are!
The insignificant monster, a RPG fixture.
Although I'm fairly popular.
I'm going to start off with you!
Inside my heart, this masked man
All right!
Shouts at me from the top of a lighthouse.
By defeating weak monsters in this manner, I can increase my level.
I'll call this "Operation: Start Out Little by Little".
"Don't be so arrogant!"
I'll be able to get more items this way!
"I'll tell you what you think!"
The failures are leaving their mark on this world.
Blow 'em up with dynamite!
Three two, one zero!
Failure, failure, failure, failure of a human. Failure! Human, human.
Good, good. It's going well.
Oh, it's time for Misaki-chan's counseling...
Ah, forget it.
Geez, there'll be a million yen fine!
Oh, well...
He was trying to do something, after all.
Whoa... No, no.
Is he writing a scenario for a game again?
Take this!
Damn... Even after defeating stronger enemies, I still can't manage to raise my level.
I'm still at level five...
My savings consists of a mere hundred gold...
And I don't have any useful items.
The road to RMT sure is distant...
Huh?
Whoa, awesome!
I definitely need to establish a party...
But I can't even manage to do that, which is why I'm struggling.
Someone save me!
Help!
Let the fires of hell burn those who stand in my way!
Crossfire!
Thank you very much!
Wow! You're a magic knight, aren't you?
Huh? Y-Yeah, I am...
Cool!
Huh?
If it's okay with you, mind if I come along?
Although I look like this, I'm a healer.
A healer, huh?
If I remember correctly, they have the ability to replenish a party member's hit points.
My name is Mia. What's yours?
Huh? I-I'm... SA-SA10.
It's a pleasure to meet you, SA10-kun!
Could he not need any further counseling from me?
SA10-kun!
Let the power of the beast...
Thanks, Mia!
SA10-kun, the enemy is debilitated.
Now's the time!
All right.
Sacred thunder, possess my hands and purify the tainted behemoth that stands in front of me!
Thunder Blade!
All right!
Great! I've reached the level thirty mark.
SA10-kun, let's open the treasure chest!
Okay!
Whoa... This is something that costs ten thousand gold at the shop, the Spirit Blade!
Good for you, SA10-kun!
This is all thanks to you, Mia.
Don't be modest. It's because of your skills, SA10-kun!
No, it's a fact I was able to considerably raise my level after partying with you...
And I was able to obtain many items, as well.
You have my gratitude, Mia.
T-That's not necessary...
It's time for my part time job, so I'm going to log off.
Huh?
See you tomorrow!
Mia...
E-Excuse me...
Is Satou-kun doing well?
Who knows? I haven't seen his face lately.
I see.
Sorry for bothering you.
If you're that concerned, why don't you visit his room yourself?
Oh...
Sorry about the wait!
Mia...
Huh? Did you already raise your level further?
Just by a bit during the daytime.
Ever since I obtained this sword, it's been fairly easy.
I see.
Where are we going today?
I heard a rumor about a dwarf that wields a green shield residing in the woods near the east...
What's wrong?
Oh, it's nothing.
Huh?
Satou-kun?
Satou-kun!
Is something wrong, SA10-kun?
Huh? Oh, there's been a disturbance from the gallery for the past few seconds.
By gallery, are you talking about the real world?
Well, even if I ignore it, it won't be a problem.
Satou-kun, don't tell me...
Death from malnutrition
That's definitely unacceptable!
Satou-kun, I'm coming in, okay?
Huh?
Satou-kun!
Damn... How annoying.
Who is it? A family member?
It's just someone I know.
Someone who still thinks I'm a hikikomori and a failure of a person.
No way! Even when SA10-kun is a genuine magic knight who surpassed the level thirty mark?
S-Satou-kun!
That's right... I'm no longer a hikikomori and a failure of a person.
I'm a valiant, young magic knight of Vina Teelo...
SA10!
He's even worse than before!
The ultimate NEET.
There's one condition.
There is true companionship in this world.
Next episode, Welcome to Game Over!