M E D I A C L E A N S I N G A C T
The Media Cleansing Act.
It's a law that regulates publications that violate the privacy and sanctity of public order and traditions.
Censorship is carried out by the Media Cleansing Committee.
Its jurisdiction was arbitrarily expanded,
and the use of force is permitted against anyone who resists.
The final volume of my favorite children's book series was finally published after ten years!
We have a message for you.
Read it.
We shall carry out the censorship in accordance with Article 3 of the Media Cleansing Act.
Keep all publications in the store.
It's been designated as one of the censored books!
What are you hiding there?!
It's one of the books in question.
N-No! Give it back!
Hand it over!
Or do you want to visit the police station for shoplifting?!
I will.
What?
I'm shoplifting, so I'll go to the police station with this book.
Shut up!
Hand it over!
Give it to me!
No!
This is the Kanto Library Force
usu murasaki hirogaru
うす紫広がる
The faint purple spreads across the sky
orenji iro ni kawaru mado no soto
オレンジ色に変わる窓の外
The color changes to orange outside the window
yoru wa mou bai bai
夜はもう ばいばい
The night's already "bye-bye"
tada kirei na mono wo kirei to
ただ きれいなものをきれい と
I just want to be someone who
ieru atashi de itai
言えるあたしで居たい
calls beautiful things beautiful
ima wa dokidoki shitai no
今はドキドキしたいの
I want to get excited for it!
fumidashichae tomaranai
踏み出しちゃえ とまらない
So I step out, unstoppable
zenbu te ni hairi sou de
全部手に入りそうで
And take everything into my own hands
sono saki de aitai
その先で会いたい
Beyond there, I want to meet
mita koto no nai atashi
見たことのない 私
the new self that I've never seen
sayonara daisuki na machi
さよなら 大好きな街
Farewell, my beloved town
atashi mo ganbatte miru yo
あたしもがんばってみるよ
I'll try to do my best
kono sora no tsuzuku basho de
この空の続く場所で
somewhere under the same sky
Situation 01
My Prince Is In A Library Force
Year of Seika 31
Kanto Library Base
Kasahara Iku
Defence Force (In Training)
Rank: Librarian First Class
Age: 22 Height: 170cm
Hot-headed Idiot
Keep your arms up, Kasahara!
Yes, Sir!
Who gave you permission to fall down?
Do push-ups as punishment!
Dojo Atsushi
Defence Force, Library Task Force
That damn instructor!
Rank: Library Officer Second Class
Age: 27 Height: 165cm
Angry Shorty
I swear, that damn instructor has a grudge against me!
By "damn instructor" you mean Instructor Dojo?
He never gives the other girls similar punishments when they fall down.
And I only went down after I crossed the goal line!
What does he have against me?!
I actually like him a little.
Isn't he kind of cool?
Huh?! How?!
That shorty?!
Sure, he's a little on the short side,
but there'll be nobody left if you get picky about height.
Either way, he's out of the question.
He has a nasty personality, too.
So that's what you think of me.
A short, damned instructor with a nasty character, huh?
W-Well...
I'm only human.
I can't guarantee that any trash-talking I hear won't affect my instructing later on.
You had better be ready for hell.
I was praising you, so I'm safe, right?
Traitor
You traitor!
But this isn't the instructors' cafeteria.
Why did you come here?
There are too many old folks over there.
And the food is basically vegetarian.
Komaki Mikihisa
Defence Force, Library Task Force
Rank: Library Officer Second Class
Age: 27 Height: 175cm
Smiling Logician
Let's go, Shibasaki.
Hey, you dropped something.
It's a letter I couldn't finish writing.
Please throw it away.
But didn't you write this for your parents back in the countryside?
I folded it up because I can't send it.
They'd force me to come home if they ever read that.
Father, Mother, how are you? I am doing fine. I heard the air in Tokyo isn't clean, but Musashino isn't terrible about it. I'm getting used to life in the dorm, and my roommate and I are always together. We get along very well. I was finally hired by the library force that I've always wanted to join. Now I am training every single day.
The Media Cleansing Act was passed at the dawn of the Seika era.
Note: Seika era is a fictional era name.
Using it as an excuse to preserve human rights and protect young citizens from the media's bad influence,
the armed forces started cracking down on the freedom of expression.
Around the same time, the Library Freedom Act was passed to counter the Media Cleansing Act.
Libraries, falling under the jurisdiction of the local governments,
used this law as grounds to oppose the central government,
and eventually formed the Defense Organization for self-defense purposes.
The conflict between the two only escalated over the years.
In the thirty years since those laws were passed, it has grown into a full-fledged war.
So, how is she?
She's a monster.
Note: High port is a running exercise while carrying the rifle at chest height.
She came in twelfth in the co-ed high port training exercise.
I heard she was on the track and field team in high school.
She has enough athletic ability, so she would do great even in the JSDF.
She's really something to make you talk so much about her.
Wouldn't that just about make her a shoe-in?
Not yet.
The assessment isn't based on physical ability alone.
Kasahara, you're too strong.
I give up.
Kasahara, team up with me.
Sign: Be quiet in the dorms
Man, what's wrong with him?!
I heard you fought with Instructor Dojo again?
He provoked me!
He told me to make him fall face forward.
But still, who would drop kick someone there?
But he put me in an upper cross arm armlock, too!
I heard that nobody lasts longer than three seconds when caught in that armlock.
You lasted ten seconds, right?
So gentle that he's always merciful, even with a wild monkey.
Shibasaki Asako
Defence Force, In Training
Rank: Librarian First Class
Age: 22 Height: 157cm
Informant
I'm starting to like him more and more.
Who are you calling a wild monkey?
You aren't one?
By the way, you haven't told your parents that you were assigned to the Defense Force, have you?
No.
What are you going to do when they want to see your workplace?
You might be able to trick them into thinking you were assigned to the Task Force, since they also handle library administration.
With Task Force, do you mean that super elite group that consists of but the best members?
Well, I do admire them, but...
I guess a new recruit like you wouldn't stand a chance...
So why'd you apply for the Defense Force in the first place if you knew they were against it?
Well, that's...
Wait, how do you know what my first choice was?!
There are tricks on how to expand the information network.
So damn sly...
So, why?
O-O-Ow!
My arm hurts; I'm going to sleep.
Good night!
He's a hero of justice!
Go pay for this
But isn't the library confiscating all of them?
Not all of them
We give some back anyways.
You're the one who tried to protect this and risked being charged for shoplifting.
I'd like this.
The cover is damaged.
I'll go get a new one.
Please give me this one.
I want this one.
It was you who tried to protect this book.
And he was very admirable, wonderful, gallant, and looked dependable.
So...
Yes?
I want to protect books, just like that man!
I'm here right now because they recognized my passion that day.
Well, that's about all there is to this facility.
Classroom Training
I'm sure you learned about it in your lectures, too.
Well, um...
I don't do well in lectures.
Oh well.
I won't tell Dojo.
Don't worry about him.
Do you hate Dojo that much?
I think he hates me more.
That's not true.
Then why me?
Can't you take a hint that he cares about you more than the others?
Never.
Have you thought about why he's so strict on you alone?
Since he's not quite fair to you, I'll give you a hint.
Kasahara-san, you were on the track and field team, right?
Yes.
Are track and field and P.T. similar?
Why the long face?
I could ask you the same question!
Instructor Komaki, I can't after all.
Does he look suspicious to you, too?
Possibly.
Question him.
Yes, Sir.
Hey! What are you doing?!
Compared to Dojo, he's...
totally...
slow!
Don't underestimate me!
Kasahara!
I captured the man that was vandalizing the library book!
Are you an idiot?!
I-Instructor!
Stay out of this!
Ow! Ow! Ow!
Don't say you've captured him when you don't even have him restrained!
Quit the force if this is just a sport to you!
Hey, how long are you going to sulk like this?
Cheer up.
I saw that Instructor Dojo submitted the report with you as the one who captured that guy.
He probably acknowledges people when he needs to.
Are track and field and P.T. similar?
Quit the force if this is just a sport to you!
Why...?
What are you doing here?
Why do you have to show up now?
This place is for both men and women!
You have no right to complain.
No!
That's not what I want to say!
I just heard from Shibasaki.
Why did you put me down as the one who captured him?
You think you're great enough to question what your superior officer puts in his reports?
That's not my point!
No!
Don't cry!
I have no right to be the capturer, so...
Go to sleep.
I won't quit!
What?
I came here because I wanted to become like the library officer I met when I was in high school.
If I ever see him, I'll tell him that I came here because of him!
So I won't quit until then!
Suit yourself.
I heard Dojo slapped you.
Is the swelling gone?
Y-Yes, th-thank you.
He's really stubborn.
Do me a favor and forgive him.
No, it was my fault.
I put him in danger.
The instructor is responsible for mishaps during training.
He's sorry for what happened too.
He is?
He looked really bummed.
He almost injured you.
But...
He told me not to tell you about this, so I'm just mumbling to myself.
Right.
Instructor Genda, isn't that...?
Good work noticing that.
It's a Cleansing Committee vehicle.
Are they going to attack the library?
No, this is too close.
They typically employ surprise attacks.
My guess is they are after the large bookstore in the shopping center.
Then we'd better go!
Not so fast.
Our resistance is limited to the confines of the library facility.
We can't expand our effort to the town.
Are we going to let them censor whatever they want?!
Don't forget who we are.
Genda Ryusuke
Defence Force, Captain
We are not heroes of justice.
Rank: Library Supervisor Third Class
Age: 43 Height: 185cm
Middle-aged Wrangler
But we have the Rule of Book Selection.
Wait!
Hello?
Your rookie's about to be in big trouble!
Come right now!
I went after her, but she's too damn fast.
Stop it!
Please! Give it back!
No!
Please!
Give it back to me!
What are you people doing?
This is the Kanto Library Force.
See!
I hereby designate these books as Library Book Selections
in accordance with Library Law Article 30 regarding book collection
and by my executive authority as a Librarian First Class.
You've got a big mouth for a mere Librarian.
The right of Book Selection is only given to Library Officers and above.
Dang it!
I should have studied harder!
I'll have you return this book.
No! Don't!
Are you going to resist?
No!
This is the Kanto Library Force!
What's with this timing...?
A little late, but we have two Library Officers Second Class and one Library Supervisor Third Class.
That should be enough.
Are you an idiot?!
You let the Cleansing Committee teach you a lesson!
Did you pay attention at all during the lectures?
I'm sorry!
Furthermore, the library has to purchase the books we select!
Imagine what would happen if officers kept selecting books that aren't in the budget!
But that man did the same thing!
He's an idiot too!
Don't imitate an idiot, you idiot!
Don't call him an idiot!
Shut up!
He is a reckless, rule-breaking idiot!
It's best if he quits too!
Stop badmouthing my prince!
I can't contain myself any more.
You're something else, Kasahara-san.
Go give it to that kid.
I can?
That's the part of him you really want to imitate, isn't it?
Thank you, Sir!
A prince, huh?
Your rival is tough.
I don't understand what you mean.
Anyway, I think she's the one.
Any objections?
Of course not.
Human Resource Manager
NOTICE
KASAHARA IKU
YOU ARE TO REPORT TO
THE LIBRARY TASK FORCE
What?!
I'm to join the Task Force?!
nani ka ga kawaru kigashita
何かが変わる気がした
I had a feeling something was about to change
nani mo kawaranu asa ni
何も変わらぬ朝に
on this very ordinary morning
itsu mo yori sukoshi ii mezamedatta
いつもより少し良い目覚めだった
I woke up feeling a little better than usual
hito sashiyubi de sashimesu no wa mirai
人指し指で指し示すのは未来
My index finger points out to the future
kimi no te no hira ga fureru tabi ni afuru omoi
君の手の平が触れる度に 溢る 想い
My thoughts overflow each time I touch your palm
ch-ch-ch-changes saa kawatteku
ch-ch-ch-changes さぁ、変わってく
Changes, yeah. I'm changing.
sayonara furui jibun
さよなら 旧い自分
Goodbye my old self
shingenjitsu atarashii nani ka ga matteru
新現実 新しい何かが待ってる
There's something new awaiting me in the new reality
ch-ch-ch-changes saa kawatteku
ch-ch-ch-changes さぁ、変わってく
Changes, yeah. I'm changing.
ushinau mono mo aru
失うものもある
There are things I'll lose too
demo iindesu hitotsu unazuki kakedasu
でもいいんです ひとつ頷き、駆け出す
But that's okay, I'll just nod and keep running
saa subete ga ima kawatteku subete ga hajimaru
さぁ、すべてがいま変わってく すべてが始まる
Yeah, everything is changing now, everything starts now
shingenjitsu dare no mono demo nai atarashii jibun
新現実誰の物でもない 新しい自分
It's a new reality, my new self belongs to no one but me