Yes, she seems to be getting by.
She was even acting as an assistant to one of her senpais the other day.
I see.
I know she's determined, but she's just so weak emotionally.
What about with the others?
Is she getting along with them?
Yes...
She's getting along with the other girls.
She's totally fine.
Not to mention, it looks like they're going out today,
to the art supply store.
You're so cute with your hair up, Kaos-chan!
Th-This is a first for me.
It's my first time going to the big city, too!
I'm so excited!
Apparently all the buildings are art supply stores!
By themselves?
No... Tsubasa-chan and Ruki-chan will be with them.
That sounds really intimidating..
All right, let's go to the dungeon where the legendary item awaits!
I see. That's good to hear.
Tsu-chan, no cosplaying today.
Wear your normal clothes.
All right, off we go!
Okay!
Comic Girls
Now approaching Shinjuku.
I-I'm being swept away!
Kaos-chan!
Koyume-chan!
Kaos-chan!
Tsu-chan!
You saved me!
Fee 165 yen Remaining 523 yen
We made it out somehow.
You okay?
The city is scary...
Um...
Hm?
The big book store...
I'd like to go check it out.
Is this whole place...
New Bunko Volumes
Just for comics?
Snow Flower
Super Exciting Paradise
Pretty Highness
That's Sumomo Hatayama-sensei's Super Exciting Paradise,
and Mizuki Hana-sensei's Pretty Highness!
Oh, and this one!
It's a mountain of treasures...
Legit Dark Fantasy The New Star everyone's been waiting for:
Wing V
Is this...
#1 The Dark Castle Crumbles Wing V
Tsubasa-san's book?!
Well... Yeah.
That's amazing! It's on display face up!
And it's even got a flashy pop ad!
I-I-I-I'm so amazed!
This is incredible, Tsubasa-san!
New Volumes
I'm going to buy some right now!
What? But there are copies back at the dorm...
No! It'd be pointless unless I bought them myself!
Me, too!
We're going to make another stop before we get to our final destination.
Hey, this place...
But I thought only high school girls could go in here!
Kaos-chan, you're a high school girl, too.
I want to hurry up and go to the art supply store.
But you get so worked up while you're there that you get dizzy.
We need to make sure you eat something first.
Not to mention, we have first-timers with us.
True.
I love crêpes!
There are so many menu choices just for crêpes?
I personally recommend... This one!
O-Okay....
It's so cute...
Am I really allowed to eat this?
You want a bite of mine?
I couldn't!
What?
Kaos-chan, you haven't eaten at all.
I think my heart is full...
Here. Say, "Aah."
So good.
Wow, it's so huge!
This whole building is an art supply store?
Well, they do carry stuff other than manga supplies.
Is there something you'd like to buy?
I'd like a complete set of supplies so I can help as an assistant at any time.
All right, let's buy the necessities first.
All right.
I guess they're all used to this.
I need to make sure I'm not the only one panicking.
What's wrong, Tsubasa-san?! Wait! Please wait!
Tsu-chan's always like that...
Wow! There are so many things!
I wonder where Tsubasa-san went.
Oh, there she is.
They have new products.
I want to try them out.
I've never seen Tsubasa-san's face look so sparkly!
It happens once in a while.
Like when she discovers a really interesting manga...
Rukki! Rukki! Look, look, look!
Or when we're at an autograph session for a manga artist she likes.
Maybe you should calm down a bit.
She loves manga so much, it's adorable!
This looks cool,
but it doesn't seem very practical.
You look so cool with a quill!
So cool!
You look so strong!
I'm buying these.
Tsu-chan's so hyper all of a sudden.
That should be enough ink for a while.
As for pen tips...
This one.
I'll get that one, too!
Koyume, easy-to-use supplies differ from person to person.
F-For me, I feel the most motivated
when I use the same supplies as you.
Want to try it?
Yes!
For blood splatters, if you go sploosh like this...
it turns out pretty well.
I see!
Like this? Splash!
Would you ever even use that in shojo manga?
Ooh, there are new screen tones out.
You're right! That one's really cute!
Whenever they come out with new flower designs,
I always end up buying them!
For one piece dresses...
For underwear...
That's what I'll use it on!
This looks like one you can use, Koyume-chan.
You think so?
This one's intense!
That definitely fits Tsu-chan...
That suits you way too much, Kaos-chan!
There's a lot of nudity in my next manuscript, so I'll buy extra.
Where are you going to use all of those sheets of bubbly splotches?
Wh-Wh-Where?
Th-The protagonist of my manga gets stung by bugs a lot!
Way to go, Ruki-san!
I see you're a stickler for reality!
This is painful, Rukki.
There are so many varieties of masking tape, too!
So cute!
They even have wide ones and thin ones.
They're really convenient, so it doesn't hurt to have a lot.
Oh, right.
Kaos-chan, you don't use them since you draw digitally.
Sorry, this probably doesn't make much sense.
Oh, it's fine.
Why are these useful for?
You can use them as hair ties... and stuff.
Huh?! But that sounds like it'd hurt!
I'm kidding.
We use this to make sure our manuscript stays in place.
They're really cute, so I think I'll buy some, too.
Yeah!
Let's choose some for everyone.
This one with the donuts reminds me of you, Koyume-chan.
Then this kitty one is for you, Kaos-chan.
I think a bird design would suit Tsubasa-san.
For Ruki-san, something sexy, like leopard print or high heels.
Oh, this one with the kiss marks is good, too.
Just choose some cute ones for me, too!
I think this pen will work.
I'm not really sure.
Isn't this it?
Are you drawing manga for the first time?
Huh? Yes.
This pen isn't for beginners,
so you should pick this one instead.
Tsubasa-san is so kind!
Wait, are you manga artists?
Yes, though we're new.
Hopefully you can grow up to be a manga artist, too.
Let's all work hard!
R-Right!
You bought a lot, Koyume-chan.
I ended up using most of my allowance.
That comes to 2,850 yen.
Huh?
Oh...
I bought Tsubasa-san's books and a crêpe...
You don't have enough?
Maybe I'll give up on the masking tape.
Oh, I'll buy it, then.
Huh?
You helped me with my manuscript the other day, so...
But that was for my own education...
Don't worry about it.
You, too, Kaos.
So cool!
So mature!
The art supply store was so much fun...
And somehow I feel...
that I should work harder.
It's morning...
We ended up talking all night.
I think I might sleep a bit.
Now that Golden Week is over,
there should be a lot of people heading back to work and school.
I hope people aren't being affected by the May blues.
Wait! School starts back up today!
And here's today's horoscope.
Episode 2 "Back to School"
Kaos-chan, how long does this usually take you?
Hey, hey! Which one's cuter?
Hurghburbpth (We won't make it in time!)
First place today is Libra!
Look forward to some unexpected luck!
My new school uniform is so cute!
I feel like a manga protagonist.
You ready?
Oh, Kaos-chan, your uniform is so cute.
No, no. I'm just a background character!
I got ahead of myself!
Wait, what, Kaos-chan?!
I'm late! I'm late!
Everything about her is a shojo manga.
By the way, you two are basically transfer students, right?
Yes. I'm so nervous.
Tsubasa-chan, you're as cool as ever.
That T-shirt is so fashionable and lovely.
Thanks.
I knew Tsubasa-san would be popular!
Tsu-chan, did you always have that T-shirt?
This morning,
I spilled ink all over it.
Go and get changed!
Do you keep the fact that you draw manga a secret from everyone at school?
Yeah.
It'd be embarrassing if anyone spread rumors about me.
I mean... considering the kind of manga I draw...
It'd be a huge deal if people found out.
Hey, that's Ruki-san from class 1!
She's really pretty, but hard to approach.
She always seems busy after school and I don't think she gets enough sleep.
I heard that she has a sketchy job...
Yeah, I can totally see that.
Um... Are you sure people haven't found out?
They haven't found out!
And I'm not sketchy!
Faculty Room
What's wrong?
I'm getting nervous, thinking about my introduction.
You don't need to think too hard about it.
It'll be over in no time.
Not to mention,
I'll be there with you, so you'll be fine.
Koyume-chan...
No worries!
Yeah,
we're with you, too.
Huh?
Huh?!
So you though we were older?
Because we look old?
No, no, no, no!
Anyway, now you don't need to be so formal with us.
Okay?
We're going to start class now.
Yes, ma'am.
So cute!
You're even cuter with this!
You're one of the transfer students, aren't you?
Hurry up and get to class!
That goes for you two, as well.
That's our homeroom teacher, Nijino-sensei.
She's rather strict, despite how she looks.
See? Scary, right?
I want to be scolded by the beautiful teacher, too...
Really?!
Okay, Kaos-chan, let's go!
Oh, Koyume-chan, you're in a different class.
Huh?
The three of us are together.
D'oh!
Please don't forget me!
Kaoruko Moeta
All right, please introduce yourself.
I'm Kaoruko Moeta.
It's nice to meet you all.
I hope it goes that smoothly.
I haven't used my real name in a while!
Kaoruko Moeta
Wait, how do I pronounce it?
Is it Moeta, or Moeta?
Um, and Kaoruko...
Everyone's staring at me!
M-Moe... Moe...
M-M-M-M-Moe... Moe...
Moe Moe Moe...
Kaos-chan, you're coming off as a weirdo.
You can do it!
I'm Kaoruko Moeta.
It's nice to meet you all.
Is she okay?
Her seat's far away, so I'm worried.
She froze up holding a screen tone hera.
Oh...
She must've brought her pen case for assistant work.
What's that?
Now she's holding it like Prince Shotoku!
She's not fooling anyone.
You're so small, Moeta-san.
How tall are you?
Where did you come from?
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies...
are to watch or read anime and manga with a lot of girls in them,
collecting figures...
But I can't say that!
Who are your favorite celebrities?
Celebrities?!
Do voice actors count as celebrities?
How about characters from idol anime?!
Hey, what about fashion?
What styles do you like?
Fashion?! Do you mean cosplay?!
I usually just observe...
Um...
What kind of clubs were you in?
Cl-Clu...
Kao... Kaoruko-chan?!
Nurse's Office
Thank you for taking care of me.
Are you okay, Kaos-chan?
Yes, I'm fine now.
I was so worried!
Koyume!
Let's go to lunch!
Okay!
I'll see you later!
Where should we eat lunch?
She fit right in...
Let's go to the terrace!
There's a terrace? Let's go!
I'm so scared of people I don't know...
Do you want me to ask the teacher if we can sit near each other?
Ruki-san, thank you so much.
Hearing that makes me really happy.
I appreciate the sentiment, but, um, wouldn't that be a bother?
Of course not!
But, but... Aren't I being a bur—
It's fine! You can definitely ask more of me!
I'm sorry.
The way you said that is a bit lewd, Ruki-san.
Hey.
I don't think you have to force yourself to talk to people.
Huh?
You'll only be able to meet this many people while you're in school.
Just think of it as people watching for creating manga.
But it's like, how much should you really eat, right?
Yeah.
It's all you can eat.
I was told in a survey before...
"I've never seen such an unrealistic high school girl in my life.
The author should try to observe reality a little more."
I think that's because
I've always been so scared to step foot
into the world of normal high school girls.
Right...
If I think of it as people watching for the sake of creating manga...
Thank you.
I think I can be more positive about it now.
And I never have to worry about the variety of my enemy characters!
Whoa! So macho!
People watching?
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Kaos-chan!
I was so lonely without you!
Me, too, Koyume-chan!
Bye-bye, Koyume-chin.
See you tomorrow!
I'm sorry...
For a moment, I thought that we might be the same...
Don't look so sad!
You make friends pretty fast, Koyume-chan.
I'm a little jealous that you look like you're having so much fun.
What were you guys talking about?
I never had a chance to hear about relationships from girls who have boyfriends.
I think it'll help with my manga.
I see.
That's good.
Yes!
I got to hear all kinds of specific stories.
Sorry we couldn't be of much help with that...
Yeah, sorry...
No!
You two don't need to get sad, too!
So you didn't tell people at school
that you were a manga artist, either, Koyume-chan?
I want to be a normal high school girl at school.
Yeah, that's what I thought, too.
I want to make a lot of memories wearing this uniform.
Yeah.
Not to mention, we can all talk about manga back at the dorm,
and that's a lot of fun, too.
I'm really glad that I joined the dorm, too.
Nice to meet you.
She's quick to make friends with animals.
Yeah.
That's a talent.
You're so nervous...
You must've been through some really scary things.
You're such a failure!
Kaos-chan...
...is holding a kitten that looks just like her...
The cuteness is unbearable!
You're so cute, Kaos-chan!
Lovely!
You're cute, too!
Now I'm really getting into it!
Jiggle Jiggle Bounce
Next time, "Jiggle Jiggle Bounce."