Hey, this is great! All these posters!
And they're playing
the opening theme song over there!
Hey, Eita,
the menu's pretty cool too.
They're all named
after the dungeon bosses.
Some are real blasts from the past!
Hey! Talk about eagle eyes, Mr. Kamota!
Let me see! Let me see!
And they actually look good!
What's everyone having?
Uh-oh.
I know Yamada and Rurihime,
Scorching Hot Salamander Curry!
but who is this old guy
and the one wearing glasses?
Scorching Hot Salamander Curry!
That brings back memories!
Are you into spicy foods, Eita?
Actually, I love sweets!
They look like they're having a blast.
Rurihime...
who are those two?
They're in our guild, right?
That's Mr. Kamota and Eita.
Huh?
Uh, right. Can you tell me
a little more about them?
By the way,
my character name isn't Rurihime.
And I'm actually wondering
who you are.
Huh?
Um, what do you mean?
What is this? Why are you
sitting in on our guild's meetup?
What? You're Rurihime, right?
I told you I'm not.
But...
Never mind me. Who are you?
Hold on a second.
Then where's Rurihime?
- Rurihime...
- I just said—
Eita, shouldn't we introduce ourselves
before we order?
You have a point there!
Sorry about that, Akanecchi!
Once again...
Eita Sakaki, age 19.
Hobby: online gaming.
I'm the one who plays Rurihime!
Nice to meet you.
Akanecchi!
Ne...
"Nekama" means...
a guy posing as a woman online,
where his true appearance
and identity remain unknown,
the actual person posing as a woman,
or the act of doing so.
It's an abbreviation
of the term "net okama,"
which has been in use
since the pre-Internet days
of online communications.
Ne...ka...
You couldn't be more wrong!
I am a gear that moves my muse,
who descended upon the cyberspace sea.
In other words, Rurihime and I
are one and the same
and yet totally different!
I'm loathe to describe this unique state
with a cheap term like "Nekama,"
or should I say
it's not as simple as that?
I mean, in the 2D world,
Rurihime and I are, if anything,
bound by a common destiny.
Like, she's my goddess, my mother,
my bride, and my alter ego?
When a guy starts using
a female character,
they cry "Nekama! Nekama!"
but what do they know?
In that regard, Rurihime and I have
a more creative kind of relationship, see?
Eita...
In that regard, Rurihime and I have
a more creative kind of relationship, see?
In that regard, Rurihime and I have
a more creative kind of relationship, see?
Not that this is easy
for most people to understand,
but what I'm trying to say is—
Eita...
but what I'm trying to say is—
Not everyone's as enthusiastic as you.
Hey, I gave you my number
and turned to you
for advice about being dumped!
Calm down, Akanecchi. It's all good.
Because that wasn't me. It was Rurihime.
What does that even mean?
Um...
I'm Takezo Kamota.
My character name is takezo,
spelled out in English.
I'm usually grinding in the dungeons,
so we've never met as characters.
And this young girl is Runa.
She's Eita's younger sister
and the model for Rurihime.
How creepy is it to base your character
on your own kid sister?
And that's Akito Yamada.
Wait, you two already
know each other, right?
Huh? What does that mean?
You know each other?
What are you two?
How do you know each other, exactly?
Huh? Uh, actually...
It's too complicated to explain.
It's a long story, so—
No, it's not!
We met at an event, that's all!
In a nutshell, yeah.
Well, it's not like
I wasn't starting to realize...
I knew it, she totally hates me!
Oh, but...
I see.
It was you and Eita
that I saw in the game.
I mean, you were kind of flirting,
so I thought you were a couple!
He was an upperclassman back home,
so when he's totally in character,
I've got to play along.
Yamada!
Flirt, flirt! Flirt, flirt!
Upperclassman's orders.
I see. That must be tough.
You told me before that you
didn't have a girlfriend...
so I thought it was a lie.
I wouldn't lie about something like that.
Right! Of course you wouldn't.
I'm so glad!
Wait...
What did I just say?
You're so glad?
"I'm so glad"?
Is that what you just said?
Just what did you mean by "glad"?
Akane, could it be...
are you in love with Yamada?
N-No...
Sorry, Akanecchi!
Not only is my sister
super territorial,
she's in the throes
of adolescent rebellion,
so she can be really abrasive!
Really, now! We can't have that, Runa.
That's so rude,
talking to an older girl like that—
Oh, no, it's totally fine, all right?
If you act like that, you're going
to have a hard time in life!
Back off, Nekama.
I'm not a Nekama! I'm a romanticist!
Shut up.
Please don't fight.
Uh, does everyone know what they want?
What should I order?
What a shock.
Should we get someone to take our—
Oh!
Are you okay, Akane?
I-I'm so sorry! It slipped out of my hand!
Are you hurt? Let's call someone over!
It's fine! I can do it.
You could hurt yourself,
so we should let the staff handle it.
I-I guess you're right.
Excuse me! We broke a glass over here!
This is crazy.
I mean, I didn't see that coming.
What am I going to do?
I just know my face's red!
Should I run to the restroom?
Would that be unnatural?
But I've got to pull myself together fast.
Uh, excuse me.
I'm going to go make a call.
Sure.
Oh, what are you having?
I'll order for you.
Please go ahead and order first.
Thank goodness.
Are you all right?
Oh, yes.
Sorry! I think I feel the call of nature.
So he's Rurihime, huh?
She's still staring at me!
Enjoy!
Thank you very much.
Feel better now?
Yes! Sorry to cause a commotion.
So glad that you didn't hurt yourself.
Thank you so much!
Mr. Kamota's so nice!
Since this is your first offline meetup,
Akane, we were all looking forward to it.
No one told me about it,
and I'm not having fun.
Have you all known each other long?
The four of us met in a previous game.
We started playing FOS
when Eita asked us to.
Runa here hardly ever logs in, though.
We see her maybe once every three months?
I see.
Runa here hardly ever logs in, though.
We see her maybe once every three months?
MMO is a drag.
So aside from me, everyone
at this meetup knows each other.
MMO is a drag.
So aside from me, everyone
at this meetup knows each other.
Eita was so excited about today,
saying there was a lovely person that he
couldn't wait to welcome into our guild.
Hey! You're not going after
my brother too, are you?
No, I am not!
I thought you never lied.
But you lied about making a call.
What happened?
Somehow...
I got the feeling that I
should vanish from her sight.
You stay away from me.
She was giving off that kind of aura.
So that's how you interpreted it.
I think what Runa said to her
really upset her.
If you ask me, I think Akanecchi
was just a little embarrassed.
Why would she be embarrassed?
Don't make me say it.
But I won't know what it is
unless you say it.
Well, that's the kind of guy you are.
Not that I mind.
Still, real-life Akanecchi
sure is pretty, huh?
You said she was just like her character,
so I thought she'd be more childish.
Yamada!
- Yamada!
- Yamada!
She's totally like that, though.
Huh?
Come on,
she's nothing like that character!
You think?
I mean, the female characters in FOS
are all the little-girl type, anyway.
Well, it's not like I can tell
the difference between girls.
You're never going to find yourself
a girlfriend with that kind of attitude.
Isn't giving me a hard time
about not having a girlfriend getting old?
It used to be fun, but these days,
I'm starting to worry.
Your indifference towards girls
is abnormal.
Yeah.
Did you feel sorry for me?
Did you?
Goodbye.
Thank you very much!
All right, that's it for now!
There's a guild battle tonight,
so let's meet up again online!
- Okay!
- Okay!
Sorry I can't walk you home, Akanecchi!
If only I didn't have to head to work now.
And you got lost earlier.
That worries Ruri!
I'll be fine.
What's wrong, Runa?
Glaring like that...
Runa doesn't like her.
Clinging onto Yamada and my brother...
she's like a bitch.
Bi—
Oh, dear!
Where'd you hear such a word, Runa?
It's always been
the four of us playing together.
Why should we let that girl in now?
I'm going to kick her out of our guild
if it's the last thing I do.
Hmm.
Hey! We're headed in the same direction,
so let's go home together!
So I blurted that out impulsively,
but the conversation's not taking off.
Hey, Yamada.
Yes?
Do you guys hang out together
like this sometimes?
Yes.
Really? So you all get along, huh?
I guess so.
Oh, hey! Eita sure is a fun guy, huh?
Yes.
Um...
Huh? Huh?
Whoa.
Ouch.
Are you all right?
Sorry.
You should switch places with me.
What? It's all right. I couldn't do that.
It's fine.
Thanks.
Huh?
Oh.
Ah, it's him.
Whoa. For a second, I thought
they were staring at me.
Well, I was taken aback
by his good looks at first too.
...are you in love with Yamada?
Is that what it looked like to her?
Not good! Not good!
Yamada's a valued online gamer friend!
Oh, hey, Yamada,
what are you having for dinner?
Well, I'm not that hungry.
You're not?
Pudding or something.
What, are you serious?
That will be 128 yen.
Thank you very much!
Um, so you were
being serious just now?
Yes.
- Do you live alone, Yamada?
- Yes.
And you don't cook at home?
Not at all.
What? Then what do you eat every day?
I buy food from convenience stores
and stuff.
Oh, really?
Yamada's a high school student, right?
Doesn't his mom say anything about that?
But I shouldn't really pry
into someone's family life.
Hmm.
Hey! Yamada!
Do you have a little time now?
Yes.
Fifteen... no, ten minutes!
Wait here for ten minutes, will you?
I'll be right back!
Ten minutes.
But she seemed so down...
Yamada! Long time no see!
People do bounce back, then, I guess.
Yamada!
Th-Thanks for waiting!
Huh?
Hey, are you okay?
Oh, man. I haven't run like my life
depended on it... since high school.
What's in these big bags?
Oh, this here's curry!
I'm pretty sure
you don't cook rice at home,
so I brought some frozen rice too.
I just made this curry this morning,
so it'll be good for at least two days.
Since I'm strapped for cash this month,
there's not much meat in it.
But to make up for that...
I'm giving you the salad
and pickled veggies
I just bought at the convenience store!
No. Uh...
I wouldn't feel right about that,
so it's okay.
You did just say money's tight too.
You have to eat right,
or you won't grow up!
Well, but...
Pudding is for dessert!
Well, yeah, but...
From one guildmate to another!
But...
That's your phone ringing.
Oh, it's mine?
Wonder who it is? Momo, maybe?
Huh? I don't know this number.
Yes? Hello?
Oh, um...
This is Runa.
Runa? Hey, what's up?
I got your number from my brother.
Sorry I didn't ask you.
That's okay!
I'm sorry for being so rude to you
when you came just to meet us.
My brother told me to apologize too.
What? I don't mind at all!
Who doesn't get nervous meeting
people for the first time?
So if you want,
I'd like to hang out again.
Next time, I want to do it right
and get closer to you.
Runa...
Okay!
Sure.
Next Saturday, right?
Yes, sounds good!
Sure! I'm looking forward to it too!
Bye!
I'm going to hang out with Runa!
Uh, right. I could hear.
I thought she couldn't stand me,
so this makes me happy.
I wonder what Runa's like in-game?
Do you know, Yamada?
A little.
What's her Job Class,
and what does she use?
Is she a Wizard, maybe?
I'd love to see her sometime!
What level is she, I wonder?
That's great.
Yeah! I'm going to add
Runa's number to my contacts!
She said Saturday, right?
Runa Sasaki, tutoring job.
That's what I thought.
Maybe I heard her wrong.
Today, I'm going to show you
the avatars Rurihime likes to use!
First, Alice's Flower Clock Set!
It's a really popular avatar!
I wear it now and then.
Next, the Priest's Holy Robe, maxed out!
When I remove this avatar,
my armor's on full display!
Next, the Red Roses for the Queen Set!
Looks so gorgeous!
I don't really wear this that often!
Last, but not least, my usual!
So powerful, and it's my favorite!
Thank you all for watching!
Please look forward
to more hot tips from Rurihime!
- Okay?
- Creepy!