Sophie-chan!
It's nighttime.
Aren't you going to get up?
Five more minutes.
My name is Amano Akari.
I'm a regular girl in high school, living with a vampire.
When she's like this, she really does look just like a doll.
She doesn't breathe, no body warmth, and she never ages.
Vampires sure are great.
My friends often say that my tastes are quite unique.
You're really not getting up?
I'll play a trick on you if you don't.
Good morning.
You got up!
Why are you so surprised?
Didn't you come to wake me up?
No reason.
Something's fishy here.
No, everything's just fine!
Did you doodle something on my face?
Meat
Of course not!
See?
Um, that doesn't work for me.
Well, whatever. Sorry for doubting you.
Huh?
Don't do my hair without asking!
Episode 2
Akari's Friend
Celebrating 3 Million Copies Sold & The Release of Volume 8 The autograph session with Surume-sensei is finally this Sunday!
It's Tough Putting Up with My Little Sister And My Mom
It's finally tomorrow.
But the book signing is during the day.
You'll turn into a pile of ash if you go out in the sun.
Isn't that dangerous?
Not if I go in prepared.
Like using a parasol,
or a cloak.
I see.
And if I write a will just in case, I'll be even safer.
"My computer's hard drive is to be destroyed without inspection of its content."
Is this really going to be okay?
Wow, you have so many!
Collecting signed books is a hobby I've had for a long time.
I collected them all myself.
These all look really old.
That's Poe's autograph.
Wow.
Wait, Poe was alive over a hundred years ago, right?
How old are you again?
Well... It's ten and some years into the 21st century now...
So that would be around 360...
No, wait! That's a secret!
Don't you know it's rude to ask a girl's age?
Oh, I'm sorry!
I guess even 360-some-year-olds are self-conscious about that.
Even when the author dies, their works live on.
Getting a book you've read while its author is still alive signed
makes the book a sort of memento.
There are a lot of books here that nobody knows anymore,
but for me, they're all full of memories.
It's a wonderful collection.
You forget a lot of things when you get as old as me,
but when I pick up one of these books, I remember it
as if I read it yesterday.
Like the day I got this book signed...
I remember that the author wasn't anything like I had imagined.
Macho
That a dog barked at me on the way home.
Bark
Pour
That I got caught in a rainstorm.
Pour
A surprising lack of pleasant memories...
I guess humans and vampires experience time in a very different span.
You're 360 years old, huh? That's a little surprising.
Forget about my age already.
Can't you just consider me forever thirteen?
Being able to see lots of different eras sounds nice,
but it must be hard to watch friends and lovers
who were born after you pass away before you do.
Akari...
You're very wrong to assume that everybody has friends and lovers.
Sophie-chan, you have me!
Cheer up!
I didn't expect such a depressing answer.
I'd better use a parasol, cloak, and some gloves.
It's a sunny day, so I need to be very mindful.
Good morning, Sophie-chan.
Morning.
Intruder?!
All right, I'm ready to go!
I've got my parasol and cloak, so the sun doesn't scare me!
Wait!
I need to get ready!
The weather's so nice.
Look at these cute flowers.
Sophie-chan?
Are you okay, Sophie-chan?
I lied. I'm scared.
I see.
You can prepare, but you can't get rid of that fear, huh?
This weather is nice for me, but for you, it's horrible.
Akari...
Don't leave my side.
What?!
Is she depending on me?!
Don't worry! I'll stay with you for the rest of my life!
Actually, why don't you step back fifty centimeters?
Maybe you could look into some UV-blocking creams?
They didn't really work.
So you've already tried it.
I also tried UV-blocking contacts and treatments.
Look, birds!
We could have easily left much later. She must be really excited.
Huh?
It's shorter if we go this way.
But there's a gyoza shop in that direction, and the garlic smell...
If we turn here, it's...
That goes along a river, though, so I'd rather not.
I don't like running water.
What about this way?
There's a church.
This street looks fine.
The four-eyed dog is here!
Let's retreat for now.
The four-eyed dog?
I'm starting to think we might not make it in time.
We're almost there!
Come to think of it, this is the first time we've ever
gone out somewhere on my day off.
It's like we're on a date or something.
Really?
D-Does it bother you that much?
No, I'm just a little tired.
Being under the sun makes my energy drop down to Spe*unker levels.
Oh, good.
Well, we still have some time, so why don't we take a break?
This is perfect.
It's in the shade, too.
The wind feels nice.
The light filtering through the leaves is so sparkly and pretty.
You're right.
Sophie-chan, it's turning you to ash!
I guess even under the trees isn't safe.
Maybe we should go in somewhere.
Let's go in there!
Oh, right... Sophie-chan only drinks blood.
Rich
Tasty
Maybe we should find another place.
Wait, that's the stuff high school girls in anime are always eating!
I always wanted to go in one!
So fast!
I got a strawberry one and a chocolate one.
Maybe Sophie-chan can eat sweets?
You're still growing, so you need to eat more.
You're not going to eat it?!
Just wanted to order some.
This is it.
Thank goodness. We made it.
Oh, no! The parasol!
Sophie-chan!
Are you okay, Sophie-chan?
Yeah, you saved me.
I'm so glad.
I thought you were going to die!
D-Don't cry!
I'm totally fine!
A girl's tears are harder to deal with than the sun.
The sun's finally gone down.
It's good that we were able to get that autograph.
It's all thanks to you, Akari.
Huh?
Thank you.
If you hadn't been there,
I would've had to go to the book signing without a head.
Your work has blown my mind.
Did you mean literally?!
So you would've gone even without a head.
She might have been too scared to sign my book, though.
She's actually quite the immortal vampire.
One more addition to my collection.
I wonder if she'll always remember this day, too.
This is the day Akari saved me from the sunlight.
I'm glad I could finally be a little help to her.
Scary!
The day Akari suddenly started to smile in a creepy way...
is probably how I'll remember this day.
My name is Natsuki Hinata.
Not too long ago, my friend Akari made a new friend,
and I guess she's living with her now.
That reminds me.
Huh?
Can I visit you at your new place sometime?
I wanted to meet your friend, too.
She's always had a flaky side,
so I worry if she's actually doing okay over there.
And who is this new friend, anyway?
They're "living together," so does that mean...
Imagine Imagine Imagine
It's not a guy, is it?
Why don't you come over now, then?
Now?
J-J-Just wait a minute!
I want to go, but I have to mentally prepare!
Mentally prepare?
You're just visiting a friend. Don't be dramatic.
I'll call first to make sure it's okay.
I mean, if it was really her boyfriend, it'd be a huge shock!
Hey, Sophie-chan?
Yeah?
Oh, sorry. Were you sleeping?
Can I bring a friend over today?
I don't mind.
Sounds like it's not a guy.
Actually, I didn't know you had friends.
I do!
There's Hinata-chan, who's coming today,
and I have two other friends.
So three friends altogether?
Th-That many? That's too much!
Four, counting you.
Well, see you soon!
Whoever it is, just how few friends do they have?
Anxious
Oh, Akari's friend is coming over.
I need to prepare something.
Like food and such...
DVD/CD Rental
Big Sale Today
Wait, isn't this the area where that...
Oh, they're having a sale today!
We could rent something and all watch it together!
Good idea!
Recommended!! Special Horror Collection
Just in
That looks so scary!
I'm just gonna walk by without even looking at it.
Oh, this is their recommendation!
Akari, shouldn't we get one of these?
Hinata-chan, are you scared?
N-No, I can watch stuff like that just fine!
I just didn't want you to be scared.
Oh, okay! Then let's rent a whole bunch!
S-Sure!
When I'm around her, I always end up acting tough for no reason.
This is it!
It looks like a haunted house.
I'm home!
This is my friend, Hinata-chan.
We've been friends since grade school.
It's nice to meet you.
This is Sophie-chan.
Doesn't she look just like a doll?
Nice to meet you.
She sounds younger than she did on the phone.
Her skin's so pale.
She's definitely pretty, but that doll-like vibe is a little scary.
Did she just laugh?
I was kind of worried when Akari said she wanted to bring a friend over,
but she looks like a normal person.
Was nervous.
Huh?
Hey... She doesn't have a reflection...
Yeah!
Sophie-chan is a vampire.
Naturally, she has no reflection.
Oh, yeah. Of course.
V-Vampire?!
Well, no need to stand out here. Why don't we go in?
Do you guys want some drinks?
Yes!
She seems to be a friendly vampire.
Um, thank you. You're so considerate for your age.
She looks young, but she's actually 360 years old.
Don't bring up my age.
Oh, uh... Sorry for being so informal, Sophie-san.
Informal is fine with me.
Is Akari going to be okay, living with a vampire?
She could be sucking her blood or something!
Sophie-chan, you're looking cute as a doll, like always!
Hey! Stay back!
Stop that, Akari! You're scaring her!
Huh, what? It's the other way around?!
I prepared a snack. Have some, if you'd like.
Rice balls as a snack?
I thought humans liked rice balls.
Let's eat!
Let's eat.
Maybe it's like that thing with hamsters,
where people like feeding them sunflower seeds?
Look, sunflower seeds!
Yup, humans and rice balls belong together.
Scary!
Hinata-chan, do you have enough room?
I'm fine! I like small spaces.
But I don't want Akari to see me being pathetic,
so I have to be strong...
This is so scary.
These rice balls are so good.
How come this isn't scaring Akari?
Ghosts really are freaky.
And how come she's scared?
Vampires are monsters, too.
This girl seems like a scaredy-cat, too.
We might get along.
That's such a waste of food!
Guess I was wrong...
That sure was scary, huh?
That reminds me, Sakuya was talking about a bunch of
scary rumors about this area.
I mean, I don't particularly find it scary,
but there's this rumor about a doll mansion...
Oh, that's this house.
The Doll Mansion
Apparently people mistakenly started that rumor about Sophie-chan and her house.
Oh, really?
But there were so many others, too.
Like the girl who wanders around the forest at night,
or the girl floating by the road...
I walk around this area a lot, but I've never seen her.
Maybe...
...they were all about Sophie-chan?
Now that I know that, I'm not really scared anymore.
I didn't know there were rumors like that... Maybe I'll change my walking route.
She's the only one who doesn't get it.
It's gotten late,
so why don't you eat dinner here and stay the night?
Good idea.
I won't say no to that.
Then I'll go make dinner!
Uh, I'll help!
I think something's missing...
Why don't you add some kind of accent flavor?
Blood Vessel
Want to try this?
Uh, no, we won't be needing that.
But this is good, domestic stuff.
Domestic doesn't change anything!
Wow, this looks great!
Oh... Sophie, what are you having?
The only thing I eat is blood.
Oh.
So we can't all eat the same meal.
That's too bad.
But tonight, I made tomato soup,
and I'm serving the ketchup like this.
There you go!
Blood-soaked style!
Now we can pretend we're eating with her!
There goes my appetite...
We're going to bed now.
Goodnight!
Okay. Goodnight.
I'm going to bed with you, too.
Huh? But it's nowhere near your bed time.
I mean, I'm happy, but...
This house is so dark.
The hallways and bathroom can get kind of scary.
R-Really?
I mean, it doesn't bother me,
but if you need the bathroom during the night, I'll go with you.
Really?
Then I guess the halls and bathroom won't be scary.
Right?
Wait, this is the scariest room in the house!
You know, Sophie,
I was worried when I first heard that Akari was living with a stranger.
But I'm relieved, now that I see her enjoying herself here.
I mean, you're kinda weird, but you seem like a nice person.
I'm not really weird.
I guess you really care about Akari, huh?
Y-Yeah, I do.
We've been friends for a long time.
Besides, Akari is so cute and girly and sweet.
To me, she's sort of an idol, or an angel...
She can cook and sew, and she has so many womanly skills.
I-I see...
You have strange preferences...
Episode 3
The Vampire Goes to School
Okay, we're going to school now.
Watch out for cars.
Hey, Sophie...
I'll come over to visit again, okay?
Okay.
Come over whenever you like.
Isn't that great, Sophie-chan? You made another friend!
But don't forget that I'm your best friend!
Just go to school already.
Akari...
You used to like me the most...