Isn't there anything? Anything?!
If this is a game, there's gotta be a last-ditch move where I can turn it around!
"BANDA" "HAMADA" If this is a game, there's gotta be a last-ditch move where I can turn it around!
Should I use five points for a Help Call?! That's 500,000!
Who would I call in the first place? Kyoda?
No! That guy's been embezzling more points than me!
I can't afford to get mixed up in a judgment game!
But I probably don't have any other friends who can help...
"SUDO, KANAME"
"DO YOU WISH TO CALL KANAME SUDO FOR HELP?"
Sorry, Kaname! You're the only one I could think of!
"SAFETY FIRST"
Why's it gotta be a dead end?!
Dammit!
Shit!
Please... Please... Get your ass over here!
If you don't, he'll...
Goddammit...
Fine, I'll take you out myself!
It's just a stupid game!
You're dead!
Dammit! Where are you? Wh-Where are you hiding?
That's not fair!
Why...?
"EPISODE 01" "FIRST GAME"
Even used mid-size bikes cost an arm and a leg.
I gotta find a job that pays well.
Hey, Kaname!
Did you see that thing outside the station?
What thing in front of the station, Shinozuka?
Is there some new shop?
No, it's this!
The mysterious body outline art series that everyone's going nuts for!
Body outline art?
You haven't heard?
It says they've been found all over Shibuya! Cutting edge street art!
They say someone's making these carvings in the street and walls in the space of a night!
What the hell? It's creepier than graffiti.
Hey, Kaname, Shinozuka.
Have you seen Hamada?
Oh, Hamada? He's absent today.
Damn! So he hasn't shown up yet?
I won't believe that notification.
Did something happen?
N-No...
That reminds me, both you and Hamada bought new bikes recently, right?
Did you guys find some sweet part-time work?
Hook me up if they need anyone else!
N-No. It's not anything like that.
Nothin' like...
Anyway, if you happen to see Hamada, let me know! Please!
Oh, yeah, I just remembered. He sent me some notification last night.
What is this?
A free-to-play game?
Is he so into this game that he's ditching school?
This is just promotional spam. Don't fall for that!
But it says "free-to-play."
And if Hamada got hooked, it might be interesting.
Let's see, "Darwin's Game."
No, Kaname! Don't launch that app!
Huh? Is it pay-to-play?
What the hell?!
Hey, Kaname?
--Kaname! --Wake up, Kaname!
--Hey! Hang in there! --Hey, Kaname!
"PLAYER 'KANAME SUDO' IS CONFIRMED." --What do we do?! What do we do?! --Let's carry him to the infirmary!
"FRIEND 'HAMADA' IS ALREADY DEAD. THE GAME WILL BEGIN IN..." --You take him here. --Yeah, you get his arms.
What's the point of using cool weapons when they're weaklings?
"NEW PLAYER" "KANAME SUDO"
The avatar's face is kind of cute.
Do your best to survive, Kaname Sudo!
Oh, Sudo. You're awake?
You fainted in your classroom.
How do you feel? Do you think you can return to class?
No.
I feel awful. Can I go home for the day?
Oh?
Well, then here.
Fill out this form.
Sure thing.
Are you okay?
Yeah, fine.
Huh? Where'd it go?
Ah, there it is.
Does this work?
Yeah, okay.
Then excuse me.
Take care.
What, are you guys ditching, too?
You said "ditching, too"!
We're the ones who lugged you to the infirmary!
Yeah, yeah. Thanks.
Kaname, I need to talk to you about the game Hamada sent.
Wh-Why're you being so serious?
What's it called again, "Darwin's Game"?
Shh! Not here!
--W-What the hell? --Hey,
why don't we blow off school and go to a karaoke place?
We got P.E. this afternoon, which just wears me out!
No, I have to get back home.
Oh, it's like that, huh?
Kaname, I'll ride over to your house tonight. I'll explain everything then.
Otherwise, keep your hands off of it.
Go straight home!
So what about karaoke?
Yeah, I'll go...
Well, as long as he's feeling better...
What's this?
Did I have two of these pens?
Kyoda was acting weird...
Darwin's Game, huh?
Could this app be something like illegal gambling?
Come to think of it, when the app started up, I saw a strange hallucination of a snake.
It is just a regular game, right?
Oh man, it is just a normal game.
I gave myself the jitters.
"STANDING BY FOR CURRENT MATCH." "CONFIRMING INFORMATION" "KANAME SUDO" "0 BATTLES, 0 WINS"
"KANAME SUDO VS. BANDA"
Kaname Sudo versus Banda?
Why are they using my name?
They've even got an avatar of me.
And it's down to a three-count?
I don't even know the rules to this game!
What? That's the enemy?
I mean, it's the local baseball team mascot, Banda.
Is this okay?
Huh? Is he looking at me?
--We'll be arriving at the next station in a moment.
--Huh? --We'll be arriving at the next station in a moment.
What's a sports team mascot doing on the train?
That's Banda, the local baseball team mascot, right?
He's got a carving knife for some reason...
Is it for some event? A prank TV show?
Hey, go away. Don't come over.
U-Um, can I help you with something?
What the hell?!
What do you think you're doing?!
This isn't funny! I've never done you wrong, Banda!
Bastard!
What's with this guy? A random slasher?!
Right, the police! I have to get to the police!
--Hey, what is that? --Look at that panda! --Station staff, excuse me!
Oh, that's Banda, the baseball team mascot.
Hey you!
Somebody call the cops!
Huh? Is there some baseball event? A victory special sale?
It's still the middle of the season.
Dammit!
What does that psycho panda bastard have against me?!
"BEWARE OF BANK-TRANSFER FRAUD" Excuse me! Officer!
"BEWARE OF BANK-TRANSFER FRAUD" Hey, what is it?
Please help! A weirdo in a panda suit is trying to kill me!
Trying to kill you?
Hey, you! Stop right there!
No way...
Am I gonna die here?
Run, Kaname!
K-Kyoda! How...
Just go!
You'll win if you can escape and run out the clock!
Rookie-hunting bastard!
I'll kill you myself!
N-No way!
Invisibility Sigil?
That doesn't work on me!
Gotcha!
Shit!
Kyoda!
Hey, hang in there! I'll call an ambulance!
Damn! I screwed up.
Forget about me and get outta here, Kaname.
He's still alive.
Don't be stupid! I'll call you an ambulance!
Crap!
Let's go, Kyoda!
What was that costumed bastard?
He turned invisible!
That's probably... his Sigil.
This is Darwin's Game.
It's a game? What are you saying?!
Anyway, stop talking. I have to get you that ambulance!
Dammit! How do I call an ambulance when we're on the run?!
Somewhere...
Isn't there somewhere we can hide? Anywhere?
We did it!
He lost us!
Go, go! Keep on walking!
All right, now I can call for an ambulance.
It's pointless. You can't call an ambulance.
During the game, your only connection to the outside world is the app itself!
What are you talking about? Don't worry, I got this!
The number you have dialed is not currently in service.
That can't be! Did I dial wrong?!
The number you have dialed is not currently in service.
Anyway, keep an eye out for that panda. Focus on staying away from him until time's up.
No worries there. He's got no clue where we are.
Shit! Costume or not, does he have wild animal instincts?!
Go somewhere else, asshole!
Shoot! I didn't mute my phone!
Looks like he didn't hear.
All right, we're good.
No way his hearing is sharp with that head on.
Sorry, forgot to turn off my ringer.
But it's cool, the panda doesn't know where we are.
But that means my phone still works.
Who the hell called at a lousy time like this?
"YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FROM 'SHUKA.'"
A Darwin's Game notification again?
Could this all really be because of the game?
The hallucination I saw when touching the game button
and how when I saw a panda on the game screen, a costumed panda attacks me?
All of this is because of Darwin's Game?
"YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FROM 'SHUKA.'"
"IF YOU WANT, I CAN HELP YOU OUT, KANAME SUDO." Help?
Is this Shuka person reaching out because they know our current situation?
Search with the app?
Dammit, he knows! He knows where we are!
It's too late to quit now.
After all, you were bitten by the snake, right?
What is this piece of crap game?!
He's looking in the wrong direction.
Then "search" will give you an area, but not a precise location?
Can you move? We could escape downstairs while he's over there.
Forget about me. Get away on your own.
I'll stay hidden here 'til it's over.
B-But...
Just go!
You're the one competing, so only you can be found with the app's search function.
If anything, it's more dangerous for me to be with you!
A-All right. Wait here.
I swear I'll finish this game, then call for help.
Yeah, but don't worry about me. The bleeding's already stopped.
If I can lure him away, he won't find Kyoda!
Dumbass!
I'm over here, you panda-suit bastard!
He didn't hesitate to chase after me!
I'm definitely his opponent.
And he can only search for me with the app.
Now I just need to end this stupid game and call for help!
The problem is he's got a knife and some kind of invisibility power!
What can go up against that?
All right, Kaname.
That's good.
If my Sigil wasn't the second-rate power that can see the auras of living things,
I may have been able to help you more...
But knowing you...
Knowing you've got the strongest aura I've ever seen...
...I have a feeling you'll be able to help me.
It was irresponsible to get you involved, but hang in there, Kaname.
And then...
Too bad, boy!
I swiped the gun from that cop!
A knife alone just wasn't efficient enough!
Nice one, me! Nice one!
What is this?!
You're clear as day, shitty Banda!
You little shit!
You're not getting away!
Dammit! Get off me, brat!
Crap!
That's right! Where's the knife?!
Where are you? Where'd you disappear to?
It's not fair, dammit!
Show yourself and fight me fair and square!
You furry bastard!
What the hell? Did I just hit something?
Your front bumper's dented!
But I don't see anything.
Just a high school student.
It's almost time to meet up.
Aw, man, we'd better get going.
Hey, you've still got some fight in you?
"BANDA" "KANAME SUDO"
I am one unlucky son of a bitch.
Can't believe I lost to a brat who doesn't even know how to use his Sigil!
Ah, well...
The game was fun in its own way.
Unlike my shitty, boring job!
Well, have a good time if you can, kid!
Either way, there's no escape!
Hey, what is this?!
What the hell is Darwin's Game?!
What?! There's nothing more thrilling once you're used to it!
Like everything in life, experience is the best teacher!
Yes. That's right.
My friend was stabbed in the stomach by a random attacker.
Yes. He's on the third floor of a parking garage.
Police? No, I haven't called them yet.
Anyway, he's badly hurt! Please come quickly!
Kyoda! It's all over!
An ambulance is on the way!
Um, hello?! What happened?!
Hello?!
"NEW MESSAGE FROM KYODA"
"SURVIVE"
"FRIEND 'KANAME SUDO' HAS DEFEATED ROOKIE HUNTER 'BANDA'"
Given the circumstances, the rookie beat the hunter!
Not bad, Kaname!
I hope we get to play Darwin's Game together.
"FRIEND 'HAMADA' IS DEAD."
"YOU HAVE WON THE RANKED MATCH. YOU HAVE GAINED 10 POINTS FROM THIS MATCH. YOUR CLASS HAS RISEN TO D3. YOU HAVE UNLOCKED THE GACHA FUNCTION."
"FRIEND 'KYODA' IS DEAD."
Dammit!
I'm on my own now. What am I supposed to do?
Kyoda and Hamada are both gone.
Should I tell Shinozuka about it?
No, I can't get him mixed up in this.
In the first place, what is this Darwin's Game app?
"GET A RARE ITEM!" "CURRENT POINTS HELD: 40" "POINTS REQUIRED: 1"
A gacha function?
"GET A RARE ITEM!" "CURRENT POINTS HELD: 40" "POINTS REQUIRED: 1" Are you serious?
What was that noise?
Shit. I've got a bad feeling about this.
I hate this game.
Anyway, I'd better investigate this app.
If another match suddenly begins like yesterday's,
there's no way I'll survive.
Right!
"AKITA-KAI"
Wang!
Looks like he's conscious.
Are you assholes "Ace"?
Don't think some lowly punks can start a beef with Akita-kai and live--
Akita-kai... Akita-kai, eh?
Underboss, I think you misunderstand...
There is no more Akita-kai!
Everyone but you is dead.
Look, even your boss has become a compact size.
Boss!
You bastards!
I'll kill you! I swear, I'll kill you!
Ah, I feel sorry for your boss for having such weak underlings.
If he were still alive, he'd be cutting fingers off.
But, tell you what, I'll do it for him.
The hell you will! I'll--
What do you call that dance?
You did it, Wang!
Now Shibuya belongs to the Ace Clan!
Don't pat yourself on the back yet.
We've still got a loose end to take care of.
She's either with the Danjo Boxing Club or the Kanehira Insurance Union!
Let's crush both of those groups!
We can't do that.
We have to be clear on who our enemies are.
Ace is a righteous clan that protects Shibuya, after all.
R-Right! My apologies, Wang. I was out of line.
Oh, right. Pick up all of their loose digits.
We've got to pickle them in here.
I'll let you boys drink from here tonight to celebrate.
You'll have more vitality than a pit viper.
I-It's an honor!
Seven, eight, nine...
Ten, eleven, twelve...
Someone made short work of twelve piglets.
It must be a wolf with a big appetite.
Might even be worth hunting down!
Come on, are we really meeting up here?
"DON'T BE AFRAID. JUST COME INSIDE."
Crap, I've got a bad feeling about this.
"THIS WAY"
Totally smells like a trap...
"IF YOU WANT MY HELP, KEEP GOING. IF YOU'RE SKEPTICAL, WHY NOT GO HOME?"
Stop right around there.
Hey! Would you show yourself?
I wanna talk!
Where did she just come from?
The sky? No way...
At any rate, I didn't expect a girl as cute as her avatar to show up.
Are you Shuka?
Are you really willing to tell me all about Darwin's Game?
Well, that's if you seem trustworthy.
But you came this far, so I'll tell you one thing without any conditions.
What's your first question?
One free question to start?
Then I'd better choose it wisely.
All right, I'll ask you this first! How do you quit this game?
I got involved without knowing what I was getting into!
What, that question again?
Like I said in my message yesterday, there's no function that lets you quit the game.
Th-There has to be a way! Such a game just can't exist!
I'm not the one who designed it, so don't blame me-ow!
If you really want to quit, you could always die.
Quitting means giving up your life?!
Hey, what is this insane game?
I refuse to believe you can't just quit in the middle of it!
Besides, any way you look at it, this is all illegal!
What should I do from here on out if I can't quit?
Even if you don't do anything in this game, you get attacked, right?
I don't wanna be part of a game where I end up murdered!
Then win!
If you win, if you kill... then you'll survive.
It's simple, isn't it?
Y-You're telling me to kill people?
Well, if I can't quit, isn't there some way I can keep other players from attacking me?
At this rate, I won't even be able to sleep at night!
Well, of course it isn't impossible.
But I'm not saying how until I'm sure I can trust you, Kaname.
I said so at the start, remember?
How can I get you to trust me?
I have no intention of attacking you!
First of all, tell me what your Sigil is.
Then give me a demonstration.
Since I can't trust a player who doesn't know what his own Sigil is.
S-Sigil?
What is that? Some game jargon?
Hey, what's a Sigil?
Sorry, but I don't know anything about this game.
Didn't the Darwin's Game snake bite you, too?
A Sigil is an evolution that the snake gave you to fight with.
Evolution? What are you talking about?
True, I did hallucinate that I was bitten by a snake...
But I don't know about your Sigil.
That can't be.
Even if you're not told what it is, you should be able to use your Sigil naturally.
It's as natural as breathing,
like you could do it from the moment you were born.
Maybe for you it is...
All right, fine.
You might just not realize what it is yet.
Take a look at the details on your profile screen in the app.
It should say the Sigil you were given.
"KANAME SUDO" "1 BATTLE, 1 WIN" "NO AFFILIATIONS"
Details on the profile screen? This?
Name, Kaname Sudo... Results, one battle one win... Class, D3...
It says "Error: unable to analyze."
That can't be. I've never heard of an "error."
But that's what...
Even if it is the truth,
I doubt I can trust someone who doesn't know what their Sigil is.
Crap, I got the feeling she's not going to end this with an "Okay, goodbye."
I don't wanna fight you! At least believe that!
Then show me what's in your backpack.
If you don't have a weapon in there, I'll let you off the hook this time.
I'm glad I decided to leave the gun at home.
I figured if the police questioned me about it, that'd be the end of the line.
Still, being unarmed is uncomfortable...
I wish I had some kind of weapon. Something a little more legal...
All right!
What's wrong? You won't show me?
Shit! I spent a month's worth of living expenses on the self-defense tools in my backpack.
So, hypothetically, if there were a minor kind of weapon in the backpack...
Yep, that decides it.
I'm going to kill you after all.
Wait, so suddenly?!
Well, bye-bye.
Dammit! You're not giving me a choice!
See ya!
Wh-Why, you...! Aren't you a man?! Don't run away!
Man or women, makes no difference!
In fact, give 'em a weapon and I'm more scared of women!
Anyway, that flashlight was more intense than I figured it'd be!
A cheap flashlight's got nothing on that!
Crap, the factory's got a remote-controlled door?
But it'll be okay! I should just about be able to slide through!
No, wait! Something's off! What is it?
I've got a bad feeling...
If I hesitate, there goes my only escape route!
My only escape route?!
I missed!
Or rather, you dodged it?
I'm impressed, Kaname!
But...
This is bad!
If her vision recovers, it's all over!
All I can do now is hide somewhere!
Is there any other exit?
Or do I have to fight again?
The game's back on.
But first...
Damn! She can turn the lights on, too?
Oh, there you are.
Just so you know, all of the exits are locked, so I believe escape is impossible.
Shit!
I told you it was impossible!
If you don't fight back, you'll die!
See?!
Oh, nice dodge! You have good reflexes.
If I'm not serious, this might not work out for me-ow!
It was just dumb luck! So please ease up on me!
But if you don't show me your Sigil soon, I'll get bored!
I told you I don't know what a Sigil is!
No choice, my last resort!
Is this a stun gun?
You naively prepared all kinds of tricks, huh?
So is this the end?
If so, it's kind of a letdown.
H-Her chains are like snakes!
I was holding back to give you a chance to show off your Sigil...
But forget it, I'm gonna finish you off.
Goodbye, Kaname.
Sigil... Sigil, huh?
Then Shuka's Sigil is being able to control those chains.
Unfortunately, I wasn't given a single Sigil!
Dammit! If that spiky chain slams into me, I'm totally dead!
But if I dodge it, then what?
When she can control the chains with her will, I don't have a chance!
I got roped into this without knowing anything and now a strong player will kill me on a whim!
This is a horrible, shitty game!
Well, what can I expect?
Given the circumstances, I did my best.
Nothing else I could've done...
I don't accept this!
Well, accept it or not, this is the reality and there's nothing I can do about it!
Why am I running for my life?
This is bullshit!
Yeah, this really is bullshit.
I'd love to put a bullet in the head of whoever designed this lousy game,
but I'm all out of weapons!
I'm helpless!
But that's like I'm saying if I had a weapon, I could still fight.
Have I always been such a poor loser?
"SURVIVE"
That's right, bastard!
I'm saying I could still fight if I had a weapon in hand!
She pulled away!
No, she pulled back because of this!
But...
But why do I suddenly have a gun? I know I left it at home!
Don't tell me this is the Sigil that Shuka talked about?
Hey, Shuka!
Why don't we call this a draw?
Great, she's not in the mood to listen!
Probably because I just shot at her...
But killing a girl would be an impossible task for me!
In the first place, it's no longer a game if you kill someone!
This is no joke!
I stuffed the backpack with random crap from my place, but it's better than nothing!
That girl's nuts!
Probably trying to roust me from my hiding place.
On the other hand, it's an effective way to search blind spots.
And other than for bluffing, this gun isn't doing me much good.
But I'm out of places to run. I have to think of something.
I'm not really prepared to pull the trigger again...
...but is making a gun appear my Sigil?
I wish it'd been a weapon that's a bit easier to handle.
Even if you're not told what it is, you should be able to use your Sigil naturally.
"It's as natural as breathing," right?
Remember.
What was I doing the moment the gun appeared?
"WISHED FOR A WEAPON TO FIGHT WITH" So I created the strongest weapon I know.
Created? As if I could do that! What am I saying?
"YOU CAN"
I seem to have baseless self-confidence. What's with me?
"AFTER ALL THIS TIME, DO YOU NEED CONFIDENCE TO BREATHE?"
Bring it back!
Found you.
He used the gun as a lure?
No! It wasn't just a decoy!
Come on! Run out of time!
Now I can see.
My eyes adjusted to the darkness after first setting foot in here.
What's he going to do now?
Attempt to flee under cover of darkness, or...
No, he's attacking.
But I can still sense his presence!
Take this!
I win!
Lay down your weapons and do what I say!
Do you underestimate me?
You'll die if you don't kill someone when you have the chance.
Shut up. I do things my own way.
Cancel the game.
You don't wanna die after having your body cut apart bit by bit, do you?
Bit by bit? Are you talking about total point loss measure?
Total point loss measure?
I told you I don't know much about this game!
Both of us are going to survive! Unless you've got a problem with that?
He really doesn't know anything about Darwin's Game.
But...
Kaname is strong.
Once a game starts, you can't cancel it.
This is the only way to end it before it's complete.
I surrender. From here on in, I'll obey Kaname.
So it's over?
Yeah. Some of my points go to you.
Really?
Then we both get to live...
H-Hey! What's wrong, Kaname?!
Hey, Kaname!
Kaname?
Yeah, I've decided...
Even though the chances of a solo newbie winning their first match are less than 10%,
he not only beat the rookie hunter, Banda,
but also the Undefeated Queen.
His potential power is A-rank.
At any rate, Kaname Sudo's Sigil... It seems to make things appear.
But not apportation.
And it has a confirmed physical effect, so it can't be mind control or an optical illusion.
Could it really be an unknown, new type of ability?
It's been a while since I've had info to sell for a lot of points.
I'm pleased with this.
Where am I?
Why am I...?
You're finally up.
You slept all day yesterday, so I was worried!
And I have a favor to ask you, Kaname...
Wh-Wh-What favor?
Make a family with me.
"NEXT TIME: GEMSTONE MINE"
Next time, "Gemstone Mine."