01x19 - Undead+Unluck

[bunniefuu]

Andy, Fuko.

There's something I would
like you to investigate.

Aye!
Leave it to us! Yeah!

[Juiz] I want you to check
the legitimacy

of a certain book.

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.

Since Billy
has turned against us,

not even I know the route
from here on.

Now that we're facing
the unknown,

obtaining this book
is paramount.

It will surely aid in clearing
these four quests.

The past
and future recorded in a...

Book?

But this seems important!

You sure you want us to go?

I'm sure. As a matter of fact,
I prefer it.

[groans]

Once you see it,
you'll know why.

-This is it.
-Hmm?

[gasps]

[Anno]
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.

By God's had this world
endlessly repeats a cycle

of destruction and renewal.

Juiz has 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.

Fuko learns of Andy's
eternal solitude,

to never die even
if the world ends.

Juiz declares the only ways
to escape the rules

are by suicide or k*lling God.

She bows down in apology
for hiding the truth

and using her comrades.

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.

As Juiz describes the mission
for their comeback,

the item she reveals
catches Fuko by surprise.

[gasps]
B--But that's...

The book I use
as my life's bible!

The masterpiece by Anno Un,

the author who holds the record

for the longest-running
shojo manga!

"To You, From Me!"

A.K.A. You-Me!

That's right.

And...

This here
is the series' 20th volume.

"Space Soccer Club
Invasion Arc."

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.

Familiar, isn't it?

Like something we all know.

[gasps]

[hissing]

[booming]

I'm going to have
to negate that justice.

[booming]

It's the aliens from before.

[Juiz grunts]

Additionally...

The "Rotten High School
Melee Arc" featured

in volumes 11 to 18 seem
to perfectly predict the battle

we had with Spoil.

-We must investigate.
-[both grunting]

[Top] Question, boss!

[Juiz] Yes, Top?
What is it?

Are you for real with this?

Also, what was that
thingie's name, again? You-Me?

You've never heard
of You-Me before?

-Huh?
-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.

-Right, 101 volumes in all.
-101?

[groans]

But still, the manga itself
is surrounded by total mystery.

No one knows anything about
the author at all.

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.

So the raw manuscript
wouldn't fall under

the language unification.

It would stay in Japanese.

[Juiz] Exactly.

[grunts]
The raw manuscript.

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.

How is up to you.

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...

Amazing!

[Andy snickers]

All we gotta do is whip up
a k*ller manga for 'em!

[both] What?

[♪ Shiyui's "Love Call" playing]

♪ Up, up, up, up ♪

♪ Down, down, down,
down, down ♪

♪ Up, up, up, up ♪

♪ Down, down, down,
down, down ♪

♪ Up, up, up, up, ♪

♪ Down, down, down,
down, down ♪

♪ Up, up, up, up ♪

♪ Down, down, down,
down, down ♪

♪ Bad ♪

[♪ Shiyui singing in Japanese]

♪ One, two ♪

[♪ singing in Japanese]

♪♪

♪ Good ♪

[♪ singing in Japanese]

♪♪

♪ Up and down ♪

[♪ singing
in Japanese]

♪♪

♪ Repeat the ♪

[♪ singing in Japanese]

♪♪

♪ Lucky ♪

[♪ singing in Japanese]

♪♪

♪ Happy ♪

[♪ singing in Japanese]

♪♪

-♪ Repeat the ♪
-[♪ singing in Japanese]

♪ Love call ♪

♪ Up, up, up, up ♪

♪ Down, down, down,
down, down ♪

♪ Up, up, up, up ♪

♪ Down, down, down, down ♪

DECEMBER 3RD



[♪ thrilling music playing]

♪♪

[doors swoosh]

Pappy said you could use
this room.

[Fuko Izumo] Um...

[snickers]

[Fuko grunts]

-Oh!
-Thanks a bunch.

And while I'm puttin' you out,

would you mind preparin'
the stuff on this list here?

Aye, aye!

[snickers]

[doors swoosh]

[Fuko groaning]

What up?
What's stressing you out?

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!

I'll handle wrappin' it up.

Huh?

[Andy] Okay, Unigle.

[electric whirring]

-[Fuko] Whoa.
-[Andy] Your basic pipeline looks

-a little somethin' like this.
-[gasps]

Andy, you've made
a manga before?

Well, not from scratch, no.

But I dabbled a bit when Tezuka
was hypin' up

the manga industry.

Tezu--

SELF-CENSORED

[gasps]

Composition, background art,
yeah, I got all that covered.

But the base
where it all starts...

Now, that requires passion
and comes from your soul.

That's not somethin'
that can be taught.

[gasps]

You're the one here with
the most shojo manga know-how,

-aren't ya?
-[groans]

So all ya gotta do
is dream up a boyfriend

and situations that'd make
your heart throb to death.

[groaning]

You can do that, can't ya?

[Fuko whimpers]

Yeah!

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 hangups.

-And besides...
-Huh?

If You-Me really is
a book of prophecies,

then its pages just might hold
the key to stopping Mr. Billy

and his group.

-So it's for Tatiana.
-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.

And if I can do that, then...

I'll be able to cause even
bigger strokes of unluck.

Hmm.

Yeah.
That'd be quite the treat.

[whimpers]
How is it?

I--It's embarrassing so I don't
want you reading too closely.

Hmm.

It's sick!
Wicked sick!

[gasps]

[gasps]

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?

Sha-ping!

Pardon.
Did you ring for us, sir?

It's Mui and Miko!

-'Scuse me.
-Huh?

Anything I can do
to help around here?

You can go hit the gym.

Your power's much too dangerous.

[speaking Chinese]
[crying]

[giggles]

♪ Pan-Panda ♪

But it's a lot of work!

Won't making one take forever?

I got it all covered.

-[Fuko] Hmm?
-Miko, did you bring that gear?

Right here!
[giggles]

-Shaka-boom!
-[shouts]

-[beeping]
-Whoa!

They're moving all on their own!

With you all hooked up
to these brainwave-operated

robo arms, we should finish it
at least six times faster!

By brute force?

[snickers]

-[humming]
-[Fuko shouting]

It's no use!

I can't control these things
at all!

Yeah, I know.
That's why you've got an hour.

-[Fuko whimpers]
-You'll get it.

You can't be serious!

[high-pitched sustained beep]

APOLOGIES FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

[groaning]

[Tatiana snickers]

[groans]

[mechanical whirring]

[Tatiana]
Imagine looking down

-at yourself from above.
-Huh?

[Tatiana]
Once you get the hang of it,

the rest is a piece of cake.
I promise.

Oh, Tatiana!

[Tatiana] Time for training.
Let's do this.

UNDEAD
UNLUCK

[Tatiana] 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.

[whimpers]
If it's okay,

I wanna help out
with the manga, too.

I know I take up a lot
of space but...

You're more than welcome to!
It'll be fine!

Storyboard's all done!

That fast?

♪ Pan-Panda ♪

[♪ rock music playing]

[snickering]

♪♪

[grunts]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

THE SWORD AND ZEN AS ONE

[door whooshing]

Need help?

[Andy] Yeah, thanks.

[quiet slurping]

When you said it was a book
of prophecies,

I went back to read You-Me
with new eyes.

But the weird thing is I look
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.

The closer I got
to the story's cl*max,

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?"

You think the author
intentionally left parts out?

Just a guess.
[gasps]

We need to confirm that aspect
of this as well.

Now which frame do you need
assistance with next?

Mm?

♪ Pan-Panda ♪

DEADLINE TODAY

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

HERE LIES CHIKARA

[snoring]

[breathing deeply]

[hissing]

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

♪♪

[grunts]

[grunts]

♪♪

THE SWORD AND ZEN AS ONE

[snickers]

[gasps]

Hmm.

DECEMBER 5TH

TOKYO-JINBOCHO

You really goin'
in there all alone?

[Fuko] Y--Yeah.

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.
-Huh?

And, you know,

our goal here's
to win credibility.

[snarls]

I'm sorry, really.

Wait here, okay?

[snickers]

[wind howling]

[gasping]

Hi there. So sorry to keep you
waitin' there like that.

You're a first-timer, right?

Uh, yes!

Sweet, then let's see
what you've got!

Let's see.
"Undead Plus Unluck," huh?

Oh, the plus
is actually silent.

Huh, cool.

[whimpers]

[Tahioka] Hmm.

How long did it take you
to make this?

Huh? Well...

I don't know the standard time

and I can't say
it only took a day.

Um, about a week,
give or take?

Only a week?
You drew this in a week?

[Fuko] Yes?

PLEASE DON'T LOOK FOR ME

I only said that to impress her!

Manga artists of the world,
please forgive me!

And the composition
is extremely refined.

All this at just 18?

I didn't even do that!
Andy did!

You know what?

The character art
is pretty good, too.

Really?

Although unlike
your composition,

your line work, designs,
and figures don't cut it.

-And your art style's old school.
-[groans]

Not to mention the lack
of design sense overall.

NO TASTE IN DESIGN

That said, it has
a certain lovely charm to it.

I really feel it.

Huh?

Your love for the male lead

of the story transcends what's
on the pages.

Is he based on someone?

[Fuko] Uh...

Kidding! Of course he's not.

A real zombie boyfriend?

[Fuko] Right.
[laughs nervously]

If someone like that did exist,
I'd end up falling for them.

If you'd like,

we'll submit this
to the contest.

I think it'll place really well.

Oh!
Yes, I would love that!

And, uh, if you don't mind,

I actually have a request
I'd like to make.

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.

Now, I normally wouldn't
do this,

but this'll be a special treat.

So you'll really show me
the raw manuscripts?

Sure. We've gone
digital nowadays

so chances like this
have become exceedingly rare.

You shall see the power
of an original manuscript.

-Now, let's see.
-[whimpers]

Hmm. Huh?

Well, isn't this odd?

What is this writing?

TO YOU, FROM ME

[Fuko gasps]

Andy, Japanese!

Yeah, that seals it.

You-Me is definitely
a book of prophecy.

Fuko.

[grunts]

-Um--
-Uh?

[Fuko] You-Me has some
rejected story lines, doesn't it?

How do you know that?

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.

I mean, don't get me wrong.

It stayed great until the end,
but...

Ah, so you could see
those plot holes, too!

We ended up shelving
three whole arcs!

Three arcs?

[Tahioka]
"Kohei's Betrayal Arc,"

UNBREAKABLE

"The Four Kings of
the Four Seasons Arc,"

and the "Ando's Past Arc."

[grunts]

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.

Most likely Under hasn't
caught onto this intel yet.

We'll seize it for ourselves
and gain the edge.

If you require,
I can dispatch more members.

I'll leave the choice to you.

Andy, what do you say?

Hmm.
[snickers]

[phone trilling]

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.

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.

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?

Excuse me!

Could you possibly let me speak
to them?

-Huh?
-[snickers]

I can't do such a thing!
[stammers]

-Huh?
-[whimpering]

Huh?

[whimpering]

[Andy] Huh?

[Tahioka gasps]

Thank you very much.

Hi.
This is Anno Un, right?

Nice to meet you.

My name is Fuko Izumo.

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.

[groans] No use.

You're wasting your breath.
Anno doesn't talk.

I've never even
seen them before.

So is it any good?

[both gasping]

[snickers]

[Anno] 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.

[beeps]

That's the first time
I've heard their voice.

[Fuko whimpers]

[snickers]

MEMORIES OF FUKO IZUMO INSIDE
OF SHUEISHA HEADQUARTERS,



ERASED.

TO BE CONTINUED

[♪ OKAMOTO'S' "Kono Ai
ni Kanau mon wa Nai" playing]

♪♪

[♪ Sho Okamoto singing
in Japanese]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪