A tattoo?
Who are you?!
There's nothing under the bed.
Is this how you write "meat"?
Oh, you're awake?
Whoa! What are you doing in my room?!
And you, you can't just rummage through my desk!
Isn't looking for porno in a boy's room
Glint
part of being a Japanese gentleman?
And aren't you supposed to write "meat" on sleeping people's foreheads?
Right, Tom?
Crease
That's not "meat," it's "crease." That's hard to write. She even added ruby text!
I don't get you.
Surprise Attack
That's right...
I was about to be killed by that bear guy.
If your tattoo hadn't activated,
you may well have died.
My tattoo...
So, Seigi-kun...
What? You're getting awfully friendly.
I'll get right to the point.
I want you to join us.
What?
We're with the US Army.
Our mission is to retrieve the tattoos that were taken from the country
by a certain researcher.
Yours counts as one we need to retrieve.
The army? You guys?
But unfortunately for us,
once a tattoo is affixed to someone, it takes root in the body
and can't be easily removed.
If you refuse to assist us,
we'll have to take one of your arms, at the least.
At the least, mind you.
H-Hey, hang on a second!
Your tattoo creates a nothingness that swallows space,
or in other words, a void,
which is why it's called "Void Maker."
And it's quite unstable, at that.
Failure to control it
has the potential to result in the user's death.
Death?
But with our support, that can be prevented.
We'll even make sure it hinders your current lifestyle as little as possible.
Or would you rather
be devoured by Void Maker and die?
Cut the crap!
I've heard enough!
You're basically saying it's you guys' fault, right?!
Yet instead of apologizing, you tell me to join you!
Stop making this all about you!
You're just a kid, anyway! Who do you think y—
If I may remind you, you're the one who wanted the power.
And you ended up getting it.
You can't get what you want without just compensation.
Just look what happened to me.
I'm in a child's body forever.
I'll give you time to think about it.
Let's meet again soon.
Goodnight.
I look forward to a favorable response.
What the hell is this?
I transferred here from Los Angeles. I'm Bluesy Fruesy.
You can call me Izzy.
That girl...
Wh-Why?!
She's hot...
She's cute!
Seigi-kun!
Everyone be nice to her.
If you're not, I'll get you. That is all.
Nice to meet you, Izzy-san!
What are your measurements?
What celebrity do you most want to he held by?
Your Japanese is so good! Where'd you learn it?
Your hair's so pretty! Is the color natural?
Izzy-san, do you know Akatsuka-kun? What's your relationship?
Well...
Let's just say it's not your normal relationship.
Whoa, hey...
Hold it!
As Seigi's guardian, I cannot allow that remark to slide!
You're the girl who was stalking Seigi, aren't you?
What is it that you want?
Y-You've got it all wrong! This is not funny, seriously!
Protagonist-type guys like you are supposed to swim in the sea, right?!
So off you go!
You're Ichinose Touko, right?
Akatsuka-kun's childhood friend.
How do you know that?
Are you jealous? How cute.
I like that kind of thing.
I-It's not like that.
That chest is unbelievable.
She's developed way too much.
S-Stop... Stop it...
My chest... I...
Whoa, something very sexual is going on!
Please, stop...
Stare
Time to start class. Please take your seats.
What's wrong with all you boys?
Guess I went too far...
Wow! A Japanese specialty, the geisha Fujiyama wall slam!
Shut up! What the hell are you thinking, transferring into my class?!
Being close to you will make things more convenient, won't it?
Well, I had intended to ask you this elsewhere on a later date,
but now works just as well.
What's your answer?
You said that your body is the compensation for your power, right?
The lieutenant is older than me.
Her body stopped growing
when the tattoo was affixed to her.
Her actual age is—
Just like with drugs,
there are side effects if your constitution isn't compatible.
Mine was a rare case, though.
I-It is not as though
we know everything about tattoos, either.
Y-You're really toughing it out...
You see, tattoos are ancient relics
that modern humans are not capable of creating.
Ancient relics?
I'm suggesting this for your benefit.
Not that you have the luxury of choice...
Does getting involved with the army mean
I'll have to do anything dangerous or dirty?
I won't deny it.
If power is justice,
then I want to get stronger.
From the moment I decided to follow in my dad's footsteps,
I was prepared for danger.
Just tell me one thing.
Why are you guys in the army?
To prevent war from breaking out.
We're maintaining a precarious balance at the moment,
but there is deep-seated tension between America and the Kingdom.
And the Kingdom's knowledge and technology
regarding tattoos far exceeds America's.
If they were to use tattoos as weapons of mass destruction...
Fine. I'll join you.
This sounds shady as hell,
but you sound honest about wanting to prevent a war.
But if I ever think what you guys are doing is wrong,
I'll stop you with all I've got.
That's my condition.
That's fine.
Then allow me to formally introduce myself.
I'm Lieutenant Bluesy Fruesy of the US Army.
I'm Sergeant Tom Shredfield.
Welcome to Team Blue Moon.
Thanks.
Whoops, sounds like lunch break's over.
We'll continue this here.
Oh, right. Just be careful around blood.
When you were fighting yesterday, I figured out your tattoo's trigger.
It's blood.
Blood?
It wouldn't have been surprising if
you'd been swallowed by the void then.
He's so naïve.
You persuaded him well.
For now, it's enough to make him see the pros and cons without making him anxious.
Telling the truth is not always the right thing to do.
So, how should we report back home?
We won't. Not for a while.
Huh?
We'd be sent back home, and then he'd be used as lab rat.
He's the Sealed for the triggerless tattoo,
whose match we couldn't find before.
But we can't hand him over to the Kingdom.
Then it would be best for him
to be kept under our supervision, correct?
We'll have him get used to using the tattoo first.
He can help us with our work after that.
Now that he's involved with that,
he's a part of our world, whether he wants to be or not.
Aren't you giving him a bit too much special treatment?
I didn't know you were so concerned with being a humanitarian.
I shouldn't have said that.
It's starting to rain.
I'll hail a taxi.
What's the situation?
We've taken control of most of the principal facilities.
And we of Brahman have
eliminated the king's bodyguards.
Supporters of the king in the military are resisting around the castle,
but it's only a matter of time.
Good.
Kumbhakarna.
Devour him down to his last bone.
My foolish father needs no grave.
Captain Ajita, proceed to the next stage of the plan.
As you wish, Princess Aryabhata.
Capturing a country is but a minor event.
In terms of RPGs,
it's like acquiring a world map.
The Dragon King tried to give half of the world to the hero,
but that's not enough.
I will have every last grain of sand,
drop of water, and breath of air
on this planet for myself.
I should make sure Touko
doesn't find out about Izzy.
I don't want to get her involved.
Suspicious...
Tomorrow Saturday 17:00 Come
Here!
Jeez, you could've given this to me normally...
This is the house, right?
This is the US Army's secret hideout?
So what's inside?
Don't scare me like that!
Yes, yes?
If you're selling newspaper subscriptions, please go away.
Huh?
No religious solicitations either, please.
Um, ah...
It's Akatsuka.
Oh, Seigi-kun?
Oh, okay! Just a moment.
I'm sorry about that.
Glint
We've had a problem with solicitors lately.
He looks like he's making himself at home here!
Well, come on in.
Th-Thanks.
Pardon me while I go change.
Feel free to look around.
Uh, sure.
Definitely suspicious.
Ever since Izzy-san showed up,
it seems like Seigi is avoiding me.
If he's getting into dangerous stuff again,
I have to stop him!
Wait, doesn't this make me the stalker?
This isn't really a good idea.
I'm going to grill him when he gets home!
What...?
It's more normal than I expected.
In fact, it's totally normal.
There's nothing that really stands out as being military.
"Tom"? As in...
A bunny!
What's wrong?
Hello?
Hey, it's me, Izzy.
Are you at the house already?
Yeah, no thanks to you.
Sorry! I'll be home soon. Can you wait there for me?
What? You told me to come, and you're not even here?
You can ask Tom any questions you have, while you wait.
He's useless in individual battles,
but he knows all sorts of things.
Is that the lieutenant?
Okay, I'll see you soon!
Wha— Wai— Hey! Hello? Hello?!
Oh? Now the home phone is ringing.
Huh? That's a phone?
Seigi-kun, I'm sorry,
but could you bring the cardboard box up from the basement?
We'll be needing it later.
It's down the hall.
Oh... Sure.
Hello?
A basement, huh?
This seems like secret hideout stuff.
A coup d'état in the Kingdom of Selinistan?!
Yes. It was just reported that Princess Aryabhata
killed the royal couple and took the throne.
It can't be!
Princess Aryabhata is an infamous hardliner.
If she's become the new leader of the Kingdom...
That changes things immensely.
What is this place?
It's bigger than the above-ground part...
Is this even legal?
Ah.
Oh, yes! I must inform the lieutenant!
This is not the time!
Yes, yes, yes? Who is it?
I-It can't be... So soon?
You aren't him.
Whoa, wait!
Tom-san, is this the cardboard box you—
I found the Sealed of the triggerless tattoo.
Touko?
Whew, the last one's all set.
That took longer than I expected.
Now I just need to fix the settings for incoming calls...
Huh? Why is it already ringing?
Is that a device for detecting the ripple in space
that occurs when a tattoo is activated?
Impressive.
I intended to tear apart your flesh, as well.
I'd expect no less of Blue Moon's Lieutenant Bluesy Fruesy.
Are you an envoy from the Kingdom?
I can't believe the wise king
would allow something like this.
The king and queen just
recently passed away.
The new ruler of my Kingdom
is Princess Aryabhata.
I'm a member of the princess's personal tattoo force, Brahman,
the "Behemoth Viper," R. R. Lakha.
I'm 22, single, looking for a girlfriend.
And by the way, I'm a total sadist.
To annihilate the young ones working behind the scenes
and retrieve the triggerless tattoo...
That was my master's royal decree!
Dance! Dance, little bunny!
How thrilling to be able to torment my idol,
Mandy Rabbit,
to my heart's content!
I like that look on you.
That immature body is just irresistible!
I think junior is about to
fly up to Seventh Heaven!
I hate vulgar men.
You barely messed with my skirt...
You sure have great taste.
I'm honest with my lower body, that's all.
The way this is going, I assume there's a guest visiting my house, too?
Bingo.
I will take the triggerless tattoo back to the princess.
Why...?
There's no way to defend against
the void produced by Void Maker.
Promise me that you won't use it without my permission.
Now, let's continue our lesson.
Next time: "Misery Loves Company."
Misery Loves Company