Welcome!
How about some piping-hot fried chicken?
YUMMY JELLY
SUGAR-FREE TEA
Please tap your phone there.
IF YOU PURCHASE OVER 700 YEN,
YOU CAN DRAW ONE!!
All right, sir! Here's your
lottery ticket for our campaign!
Draw one, please.
By any chance...
LAST NIGHT
CONVERSATION IN FOS
You'll go to a convenience store
tomorrow, right?
did you pester me so hard
just to get me to do this?
Then drop by mine!
See, we have a fun event going on!
Is your interest piqued?
Hey, why not?
It's on your way home, anyway, right?
THEY'RE DOING THIS
NEAR MY PLACE, TOO
YOU REALLY
DON'T EAT HEALTHY
And you buy your dinner here every day,
don't you?
Right. I guess so.
We haven't seen each other
since the festival, huh? How's Runa doing?
Yeah, she seems to be studying hard.
Is that right?
HE WON SOME CUP RAMEN
She calls me once in a while,
but we hardly ever get to see each other.
Is that a friend of yours, Akane?
AKANE'S CO-WORKER,
MS. SHINOHARA [HOUSEWIFE]
Ms. Shinohara!
What a good-looking kid!
He sure is! We met playing the same game!
He has such a gorgeous face.
He looks like an actor!
My heart's pounding!
Okay, I'll be heading—
My shift will be over soon,
so wait for me!
Let's go home together!
Look at him waiting so faithfully.
Is he your boyfriend, by any chance?
No, no! He seems to have a hard time
dealing with women, so it's not like that.
Oh, well, what a shame.
FUFU
But you like him, don't you, Akane?
Huh?
You were so determined
to keep him from leaving!
Uh... I don't know about that.
FUN!
Ah! Spoken like a true maiden!
It's true that,
compared to when we first met,
I'M NOT INTERESTED
Yamada seems to have
really opened up to me.
WHAT A PAIN
I WANT TO GO HOME
KINOSHITA
I can see that he's
really a very sweet kid.
Good job.
The thought does cross my mind.
Thanks for waiting!
Even if we're only linked by a game,
I'm happy that we're able to get closer.
But the same goes for Eita and Runa,
doesn't it?
The Guild is Facing a Crisis!!
Hey, I didn't ask you here
for the lottery.
Actually, I made you a meal to thank you,
and I wanted to give it to you.
To thank me?
For my computer.
Since I couldn't really do much for you
during the festival.
It's not really a big deal, you know.
Now that my penny-pinching days
are finally over...
there's a pretty lavish feast in there!
I don't know why...
but I feel like I shouldn't see him...
in a romantic light.
Achoo!
Uh-oh, I sneezed in front of someone
about to take entrance exams.
Do you have a cold?
I'm not sure.
Did I have a mask in here?
Did you find one?
Found it.
I hope that it doesn't get worse.
Your cold.
Yeah.
Thanks.
FARAWAY GAZE...
A guy who's unwittingly kind,
don't you think that's terrifying?
Keep going.
Let down your guard,
and you're like,
"Wait, is he into me?"
But it's a delusion, and that's
not the guy's intention at all.
He's just displaying kindness.
It's a terrifying trap.
Let me confirm one thing.
How can you be so sure
that it's not his intention?
STUDYING NAIL ART
Also, can I try something
a little flashy on you?
The theme is "Night Butterfly."
What? Please don't.
I'll get into trouble at work.
You're not naming any names,
but you're talking about Yamada, right?
OHHH
Yup.
But you were so thrilled
that he said you were out of his league!
I don't even think he meant much by that.
Huh?
That's what makes it so terrifying.
If a hot, younger guy
ever said that to me,
even if he wasn't thinking straight,
I wouldn't waste any time making a move.
NIGHT BUTTERFLY
I have no idea
why you're hemming and hawing.
WELL?
NO
I'm not hemming and hawing.
Really? It looks to me like the most
hemming and hawing you've ever done.
I see you having a blast
talking about Yamada
and trying to figure him out...
but you haven't said a word about
what you want to do, Akane.
If you don't tell me that,
I can't possibly make any comments.
You're absolutely right.
- Night Butterfly?
- That, I decline!
RUNA SASAKI
It's Runa.
Oh, that girl? I remember her.
The middle-school Goth girl.
That's right.
Hello?
Akane! Can we meet up now?
The guild is facing a crisis!
Huh?
Runa!
Thanks for waiting!
Are you sure it's okay
for you to be out at this hour?
It's starting to get dark.
I came by taxi, so it's all good.
I'm also going home by taxi.
Then I guess
there's nothing to worry about!
Hey, listen. This afternoon,
I was with Yamada, and—
Never mind that! Did you read my text?
Yeah, sure.
I read it.
We're getting a new guild member.
Yet another woman that I don't know
just joined our guild.
It's unbelievable! We agreed
to keep it in the family when we started!
Oh, I do like you now, Akane,
Talk about cliquish.
but at this rate,
when I'm done with my exams,
it'll be a totally different guild!
Not only that, but it's a woman!
When I can't deal with women!
Women always hate me!
BECAUSE I'M CUTE!?
Well, I'm looking forward to it, you know.
GRIND GRIND
I hope it's a girl
who's new to online games.
Hey, I bought some hot chocolate.
Want some?
IT'S A LIMITED EDITION
FOR WINTER
Too nonchalant!
CONFIDENTIAL
SUPER SECRET
ABSOLUTELY CANNOT PEEK
So anyway...
I drew up a plan
to drive her out immediately.
Hey!
New players have anxieties,
so it's on us to welcome them, okay?
COCOA
And you know what,
once you get to really know her,
you might end up as friends.
Just like you and me.
The thought that you
might get to be friends
with someone you normally wouldn't meet...
isn't it kind of exciting?
That's what I don't like!
I know that you're going
to get close to her right away!
Then you're going to start hanging out
with her all the time, not me, right?
That's not true.
I haven't even talked to her yet.
I just know that's what's going to happen!
UH...
The three of us can all be friends,
can't we?
I don't like odd numbers!
One of us will be left out!
Let's all get along together, okay?
Okay?
JUST RIDE THIS OUT WITH COCOA...
It's like I have a jealous girlfriend now.
Well, I knew all along...
that you'd say something like that.
And my brother's like,
"Yamada's introducing us to this girl,
so you'd better
give her a proper welcome."
It was Yamada?
THANK YOU FOR THE COCOA
I hear it's a girl in his class.
She usually plays FPS games,
but she wants to take a break
and play an MMO.
They seem to be pretty close, but when
I called and asked him about her...
Tell me!
She's normal.
...Yamada wouldn't tell me much.
And he said if I was mean to her
like when you joined, he'd really get mad.
I HAVEN'T EVEN DONE ANYTHING YET...
A girl that he's friends with?
Kind of unexpected, don't you think?
For Yamada to bring in a girl?
Huh? Yeah, I guess so.
Oh! Never mind that! I have a great idea!
Give me your phone!
ADD A PHOTO
YAMADA
What are you doing?
I'm saving Yamada's number.
You call him, Akane!
He was wary of me, so Runa didn't
get anywhere, but I bet he'd tell you!
If Runa just knew what kind of girl
she is, I could rest easy!
AKITO YAMADA
I hear that they
started dating after that!
For real?
But didn't they say
they weren't each other's type?
Even still,
we're talking about a boy and a girl, so—
Even if you think there's no way,
they can end up together
thanks to something trivial.
Can people fall in love
thanks to something trivial?
Hello, Prez!
Good evening, Okamoto and Yamada.
- Hi.
- Hey, Prez,
that's pretty funny,
walking in here, muttering to yourself.
What? I was asking you two a question.
WELL, SORRY ABOUT THAT
Lovers, huh? Well, the thing is...
YEARS WITHOUT A GIRLFRIEND = WHOLE LIFE
HOBBY = VIDEO GAMES
I'm not sure you're asking
the right people here.
Well, you do have a point.
Oh, and, Yamada,
thanks for letting me into your guild...
talking to the guild master for me.
Sure.
What's this about?
About games.
Oh, FOS?
I just started playing it,
and I heard that it's better
to be in one of the stronger guilds.
So I asked Yamada to let me join his.
CAN I EAT
THIS BURGER?
BUT CLASS IS
ABOUT TO START
Well, you are a secret gamer, right, Prez?
I wouldn't say that I'm hiding it.
But it's not like I can talk about it
with the other girls.
It's all mostly girl talk, anyway.
Prez! You're into girl talk?
Not really.
So you've sacrificed your youth
to gaming, too, huh?
You're not picking up?
IT'S SUPER
VIBRATING...
It's an unknown number.
INCOMING CALL
And class is about to start.
TELEPHONE
Hey, it stopped.
You seem to get a lot of those calls,
huh, Yamada?
And when you pick up, it's some girl
you don't know confessing her love!
THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T HAPPEN
If you wanted to, you could get any—
Yamada...
isn't into romance, isn't that right?
SCARED ME,
SUCH A LOUD VOICE
Well, I guess not.
I thought so.
Man, I'm starving!
Can't take it anymore. I'll die!
Didn't you just have a hamburger?
I'd k*ll for a burger now.
Another one?
Right, this time,
I'm gonna get some fries, too!
Huh? Hey, are you listening?
My phone.
Huh? The same person who called before?
If it's a girl with a sweet voice,
give me the phone, okay?
Hey, you blowing me off?
AKITO YAMADA
INCOMING CALL
Coming!
Yes?
Uh, sorry. You just called me.
Yamada?
It's me, Akane!
Akane?
I knew it was a woman.
Wait, did I give you my—
I know, I know.
Sorry I took the liberty of calling!
The thing is,
I was with Runa this evening—
A-Achoo!
Are you all right?
Yeah, sure. Anyway,
I wanted to ask you something,
but I have to go to work right now.
WELCOME!
What? But you worked this afternoon.
Well, my boss can't reach
the person on the night shift...
so I got called in on short notice.
Can't someone switch with you?
No one seems to be available.
Since I live nearby,
I guess I'm fair game!
Is that right?
Hey, Yamada.
Yes?
Your voice is
a little lower over the phone.
Never mind!
FULL MOON BURGER
OKAMOTO'S OFF SHOPPING
That call you just got, was it
the person who came to the festival?
AMAZING
How could you tell?
Because I heard you call her name.
We're in the same guild in FOS,
so you'll be hanging out with her, too,
sooner or later.
I see.
You seem pretty close
in private as well.
I guess so.
The guild master
was an upperclassman back home.
I can't...
remember her face.
What's she like?
Ei—You mean the master?
No, I mean the person named Akane.
Akane is...
This is my new boyfriend!
Don't tell me it was a one-night stand?!
Yamara!
ALWAYS MAKING THOSE WEIRD FACES
Yamada!
I really couldn't say.
Could it be...
that you like her?
Akane! Sorry, I really owe you one!
I can't get in touch
with the night-shift worker,
and I can't handle it on my own.
Isn't it high time
you fired the habitual shirker?
I HAVE A HUGE GRUDGE
W-Well, you're right, I guess!
But he's not all bad, you know!
Loves guitars—
Hey, to make it up to you,
I'll treat you to dinner!
What do you say to tomorrow night?
- I know a great—
- Not going!
I'LL BE HAVING DINNER AT HOME
Oh...
I wanted to call it a night,
because I'm coming down with a cold.
CALL LOG
AKITO YAMADA
MOMO
MOMO
MOMO
Seems strange to have Yamada's name
in my call history!
All right, let's get to work!
You haven't said a word
about what you want to do, Akane.
- Akane!
- Oh!
Coming!
Not good, not good!
DRAGON HELM
DRAGON MAIL
DRAGON CUIRASS
DRAGON GREAVES
DRAGON BOOTS
LOG IN TO ARIA SERVER 5?
YES NO
PLAYER RURIHIME HAS INVITED YOU
TO JOIN THE CHOCOLATE RABBIT GUILD.
WILL YOU JOIN?
YES NO
TO YOU, WHO HAS LOST LOVE
MEDICINE FOR A BROKEN HEART
Not that I still have feelings for him...
But now, maybe just a little...
Sorry, Akane.
I do have some regrets.
AKANE
Hey! It's Akane!
I'M SO TIRED
Can I take this?
Go ahead.
So what's going on, Akane?
I'm in a tutoring session!
Ru... na.
LIKE A ZOMBIE
What's wrong with your voice? Sounds bad!
A cold?
Then you can't play with me tonight?
I see.
No, no, it's all right.
It can't be helped, right?
Take care of yourself.
AND WE HAD PROMISED
TO PLAY FOS TOGETHER
AT NIGHT...
Akane says she has a cold.
She sounded like she was dying.
I wonder if she's okay?
I hope it's not too serious.
COLD COMPRESS
COLD PACK
My throat hurts so much.
I can't drink any water.
I've got to take my medicine.
QUITE SERIOUSLY ILL
Actually, first I need to eat something.
I haven't eaten since yesterday.
Oh... let me take a little break.
A SHORT BREAK
I'm exhausted.
Not only that, but somehow
I picked the perfect time... to be...
KOYANAGI CLINIC
CLOSED SAT./SUN.
MOMO
The person you called cannot be reached...
unlucky in every way.
But...
no one's going to help me,
even if I weep and wail.
So unless I take action,
only death awaits.
First, I've got to eat.
Something like rice gruel...
Shopping.
I'm out of rice.
Not taking the bus.
Or I'll spread my germs.
I know. I'll go by bike.
Good girl. You're still intelligent.
Somehow, I've got to will myself
to get through tonight.
I can't go by bike.
There's no way that I can.
So hot.
Wait, can't I order takeout?
Why didn't I think of that?
Right, takeout should do.
Smart girl!
First, I need to put these bikes back.
And then I'll go back to my apartment.
Then what am I supposed to do?
I have a headache.
Akane?
What's going on?
I can see someone who looks like Yamada.
But there's no way
that he'd be at my place, right?
Can you hear me?
A dream? Oh, come on.
Now he's even showing up in my dreams?
Sorry, Yamada.
For having such a self-serving dream...
Butterfly...
butterfly...
come and alight...
on me!
Night butterfly, Momoko Maeda.
Tonight, for sure,
I'm going to capture the prince
I'm meant to be—
GLASSES GIRL
COMFORTING TYPE
NIGHT BUTTERFLY
DISASTROUS DEFEAT
Excuse me? I'd like another.
AKANE
With extra gin.
Momo's not picking up.
Achoo!