AKIRA ANDY CHIKARA FUKO FUKOTATIANA JUIZ MICO MUI SHEN TAHIOKA TATIANA TOP JUIZ Andy, Fuko, there's something I would like you to investigate. FUKO Aye! Leave it to us, yeah! JUIZ I want you to check the legitimacy of a certain book. FUKO A book? JUIZ There is a chance that the pages of the book in question hold the past and future events of this world as penned by a certain Artifact. JUIZ Since Billy has turned against us, not even I know the route from here on. JUIZ Now that we're facing the unknown, obtaining this book is paramount. It will surely aid in clearing these four quests. FUKO The past and future recorded in a-- CHIKARA Book? FUKO But this seems important. You sure you want us to go? JUIZ I'm sure. As a matter of fact, I prefer it. JUIZ Once you see it, you'll know why. JUIZ This is it. ANDY Hmm? AKIRA The Union suffers a huge blow from Billy's betrayal. Juiz gathers the bewildered members of the Roundtable and reveals the truth about this world and her own situation. AKIRA By God's hand this world endlessly repeats a cycle of destruction and renewal. AKIRA Juiz had been using an artifact called Ark to experience these loops over and over, but she wasn't alone. Victor's Undead ability has also allowed him to live through multiple loops with her. AKIRA Fuko learns of Andy's eternal solitude, to never die even if the world ends. AKIRA Juiz declares the only ways to escape the rules are by suicide or killing God. She bows down in apology for hiding the truth and using her comrades. AKIRA However, it's not an apology the members of the Roundtable want. These comrades unify again under Juiz's leadership to slay God and liberate the world from irrational rules. AKIRA As Juiz describes the mission for their comeback, the item she reveals catches Fuko by surprise. FUKO B--But that's the book I use as my life's bible! FUKO The masterpiece by Anno Un, the author who holds the record for the longest running shojo manga! FUKO "To You, From Me!" aka You-Me! JUIZ That's right. And... JUIZ This here is the series' 20th volume, "Space Soccer Club Invasion Arc." JUIZ The Space Soccer Club is about to blow up the entire school but then the team's captain uses "Spiral Shot of Justice!" To destroy all the intergalactic soccer goals and restore peace. JUIZ Familiar, isn't it? Like something we all know. JUIZ I'm going to have to negate that justice. FUKO It's the aliens from before. JUIZ Additionally... the "Rotten High School Melee Arc" featured in volumes 11 to 18 seem to perfectly predict the battle we had with Spoil. JUIZ We must investigate. TOP Question, boss! JUIZ Yes, Top? What is it? TOP Are you for real with this? Also, what was that thingy's name again? You-Me? FUKO You've never heard of You-Me before? TOP Huh? FUKO It's the gold standard of long-running sci-fi shojo manga! TATIANA And there's plenty of action, too, so even you'd like it, Top. FUKO Right, 101 volumes in all. TOP 101? FUKO But still, the manga itself is surrounded by total mystery. No one knows anything about the author at all. JUIZ Precisely. If what I predict is true, and You-Me was indeed illustrated with the artifact G-Liner, then the objects drawn despite new rules would be unaffected and unchanged. ANDY So the raw manuscript wouldn't fall under the language unification. It would stay in Japanese. JUIZ Exactly. FUKO The raw manuscript. JUIZ Andy, Fuko. I have two things I'd like you to look into. I want the status of the raw manuscript. Also, gather any intel on the author Anno Un. JUIZ How is up to you. ANDY If we can find those two anywhere it'd be at the publisher, but I doubt they'll show it to us just like that. So that means... TOP Amazing! ANDY All we gotta do is whip up a killer manga for 'em! FUKOTATIANA What? MICO Pappy said you could use this room. FUKO Um... FUKO Oh! Oh! Oh! ANDY Thanks a bunch. And while I'm puttin' you out, would you mind preparin' the stuff on this list here? MICO Aye, aye! ANDY What up? What's stressing you out? FUKO It's impossible! Why do I have to be the one to make this thing? I'm just a blissful connoisseur of fiction! There's a huge difference between being a reader versus actually writing this stuff! ANDY I'll handle wrappin' it up. FUKO Huh? ANDY Okay, Unigle. FUKO Whoa. ANDY Your basic pipeline looks a little somethin' like this. FUKO Andy, you've made a manga before? ANDY Well, not from scratch, no. But I dabbled a bit when Tezuka was hypin' up the manga industry. FUKO Tezu-- ANDY Composition, background art, yeah, I got all that covered. But the base where it all starts... ANDY ...now, that requires passion and comes from your soul. That's not somethin' that can be taught. ANDY You're the one here with the most shojo manga know-how, aren't ya? ANDY So all ya gotta do is dream up a boyfriend and situations that'd make your heart throb to death. ANDY You can do that, can't ya? FUKO Yeah! ANDY Well, you sure are takin' this in stride. I expected ya to get more embarrassed than this. FUKO I can't afford to do that. I don't want my shyness to cause any hang-ups. FUKO And besides... ANDY Huh? FUKO If You-Me really is a book of prophecies, then its pages just might hold the key to stopping Mr. Billy and his group. ANDY So it's for Tatiana. FUKO Of course that's one reason. But if I can do a good job on this manga, I think it'll help me understand my own feelings better. FUKO And if I can do that, then I'll be able to cause even bigger strokes of Unluck. ANDY Hmm. ANDY Yeah. That'd be quite the treat. FUKO How is it? I--It's embarrassing so I don't want you reading too closely. ANDY Hmm. ANDY It's sick! Wicked sick! ANDY Now I'll start composin' the story board! I'll have it done in an hour tops! Production staff, get ready to draw! FUKO What? Staff? MICO Sha-ping! MUI Pardon. Did you ring for us, sir? FUKO It's Mui and Mico! SHEN Scuse me. MUI Huh? SHEN Anything I can do to help around here? ANDY You can go hit the gym. Your power's much too dangerous. SHEN Okay. FUKO Pan-Panda FUKO But it's a lot of work! Won't making one take forever? ANDY I got it all covered. FUKO Hmm? ANDY Mico, did you bring that gear? MICO Right here! FUKO MICO Shaka-boom! FUKO Whoa! They're moving all on their own! ANDY With you all hooked up to these brainwave-operated robo arms, we should finish it at least six times faster! FUKO By brute force? FUKO Ugh. It's no use! I can't control these things at all! ANDY Yeah, I know. That's why you've got an hour. ANDY You'll get it. FUKO You can't be serious! TATIANA Imagine looking down at yourself from above. FUKO Huh? TATIANA Once you get the hang of it, the rest is a piece of cake. FUKO Oh, Tatiana! TATIANA Time for training. TATIANA Fuko. FUKO Thank you, Tatiana. You really helped me out there. TATIANA Well, of course, silly. That's what friends do. FUKO Thanks to you I can move these around now. TATIANA If it's okay, I wanna help out with the manga, too. I know I take up a lot of space but... FUKO You're more than welcome to! It'll be fine! ANDY Storyboard's all done! FUKO That fast? FUKO Pan-Panda JUIZ Need help? ANDY Yeah, thanks. FUKO When you said it was a book of prophecies, I went back to read You-Me with new eyes. FUKO But the weird thing is I looked for Billy's betrayal and there was nothing like it or our current set of quests. Instead I found a bunch of these awkward gaps. FUKO The closer I got to the story's climax, the more obvious the plot holes would become. Even back when I would read each chapter as it came out, I'd often think, "Did I skip something?" JUIZ You think the author intentionally left parts out? FUKO Just a guess. JUIZ We need to confirm that aspect of this as well. Now which frame do you need assistance with next? JUIZ Mmm? FUKO Pan-Panda ANDY You really goin' in there all alone? FUKO Y--Yeah. ANDY I think it would be better for me to go in with you. FUKO No, you see, um, let's just say you don't look the part of a shojo manga artist. ANDY Huh? FUKO And, you know, our goal here's to win credibility. FUKO I'm sorry, really. Wait here, okay? TAHIOKA Hi there. So sorry to keep you waitin' there like that. You're a first-timer, right? FUKO Uh, yes! TAHIOKA Sweet, then let's see what you've got! TAHIOKA Let's see. "Undead Plus Unluck," huh? FUKO Oh, the plus is actually silent. TAHIOKA Huh, cool. TAHIOKA Hmm. TAHIOKA How long did it take you to make this? FUKO Huh? Well... FUKO I don't know the standard time and I can't say it only took a day. FUKO Um, about a week, give or take? TAHIOKA Only a week? You drew this in a week? FUKO Yes? FUKO I only said that to impress her! Manga artists of the world, please forgive me! TAHIOKA And the composition is extremely refined. All this at just 18? FUKO I didn't even do that! Andy did! TAHIOKA You know what? The character art is pretty good, too. FUKO Really? TAHIOKA Although unlike your composition, your line work, designs, and figures don't cut it. And your art style's old school. TAHIOKA Not to mention the lack of design sense overall. TAHIOKA That said, it has a certain lovely charm to it. I really feel it. FUKO Huh? TAHIOKA Your love for the male lead of the story transcends what's on the pages. Is he based on someone? FUKO Uh... TAHIOKA Kidding! Of course he's not. A real zombie boyfriend? FUKO Right. If someone like that did exist, I'd end up falling for them. TAHIOKA If you'd like, we'll submit this to the contest. I think it'll place really well. FUKO Oh! Yes, I would love that! FUKO And, uh, if you don't mind, I actually have a request I'd like to make. TAHIOKA Huh? TAHIOKA Now it makes sense. Once you said you're a You-Me fan, it all clicked into place. That story is a unique one, too, with its heavy use of sci-fi elements. TAHIOKA Now, I normally wouldn't do this, but this'll be a special treat. FUKO So you'll really show me the raw manuscripts? TAHIOKA Sure. We've gone digital nowadays so chances like this have become exceedingly rare. TAHIOKA You shall see the power of an original manuscript. Now, let's see. TAHIOKA Hmm. Huh? Well, isn't this odd? What is this writing? FUKO Andy, Japanese! ANDY Yeah, that seals it. JUIZ You-Me is definitely a book of prophecy. Fuko. FUKO Um-- TAHIOKA Uh? FUKO You-Me has some rejected story lines, doesn't it? TAHIOKA How do you know that? FUKO Oh, well, um, you see... It's been on my mind. The author has always excelled at clear story structure. So in the later parts it kinda stood out when the story progression got a little awkward. FUKO I mean, don't get me wrong. It stayed great until the end, but... TAHIOKA Ah, so you could see those plot holes, too! We ended up shelving three whole arcs! FUKO Three arcs? TAHIOKA "Kohei's Betrayal Arc," "The Four Kings of the Four Seasons Arc," and the "Ando's Past Arc." JUIZ Both of you, get in contact with Anno Un right now! They intentionally left out details about the future. I want those details and the reasons they were withheld. JUIZ Most likely Under hasn't caught on to this intel yet. We'll seize it for ourselves and gain the edge. JUIZ If you require, I can dispatch more members. I'll leave the choice to you. Andy, what do you say? ANDY Hmm. FUKO B--But how? That would be tough considering we don't even know how to look for Anno. TAHIOKA Ah, hello. Is that you, Anno? It's me, Tahioka. FUKO Huh? TAHIOKA I know you prefer to stay silent, so I'll just cut to the chase. TAHIOKA First order of business, well, the manuscripts you have stored here might have been replaced somehow. The other thing I want to talk to you about is we'd like you to judge this month's contest. FUKO Um, excuse me. TAHIOKA Regarding the first matter, I'll give you a report after we do some investigating. As for the second, will you be able to judge? FUKO Excuse me! Could you possibly let me speak to them? TAHIOKA Huh? TAHIOKA I can't do such a thing! ANDY Huh? ANDY Huh? ANDY Huh? FUKO Thank you very much. FUKO Hi. This is Anno Un, right? Nice to meet you. My name is Fuko Izumo. FUKO If you're available, could you read my story? I'd appreciate it very much if you did. If it's too far I wouldn't mind coming to your location instead. TAHIOKA No use. You're wasting your breath. Anno doesn't talk. I've never even seen them before. AKIRA So is it any good? AKIRA If it's an interesting read then I'll meet with you. In five hours, come to the bench at Stanley Park in Canada. Both of you together. TAHIOKA Th-That's the first time I've heard their voice.