Andy, Fuko.
There's something I would like you to investigate.
Aye! Leave it to us! Yeah!
I want you to check the legitimacy
of a certain book.
A book?
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.
Once you see it, you'll know why.
- This is it. - Hmm?
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 killing 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.
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.
I'm going to have to negate that justice.
It's the aliens from before.
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.
Question, boss!
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!
And there's plenty of action, too,
so even you'd like it, Top.
- Right, 101 volumes in all. - 101?
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.
Exactly.
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!
All we gotta do is whip up a killer manga for 'em!
What?
♪ 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 ♪
♪ One, two ♪
♪ Good ♪
♪ Up and down ♪
♪ Repeat the ♪
♪ Lucky ♪
♪ Happy ♪
-♪ Repeat the ♪
♪ Love call ♪
♪ Up, up, up, up ♪
♪ Down, down, down, down, down ♪
♪ Up, up, up, up ♪
♪ Down, down, down, down ♪
DECEMBER 3RD
019 - UNDEAD + UNLUCK
Pappy said you could use this room.
Um...
- Oh! - Thanks a bunch.
And while I'm puttin' you out,
would you mind preparin' the stuff on this list here?
Aye, aye!
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?
Okay, Unigle.
Whoa. Your basic pipeline looks
a little somethin' like this.
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
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.
You're the one here with the most shojo manga know-how,
aren't ya?
So all ya gotta do is dream up a boyfriend
and situations that'd make your heart throb to death.
You can do that, can't ya?
Yeah!
Well, you sure are takin' this in stride.
I expected ya to get more embarrassed than this.
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.
How is it?
I--It's embarrassing so I don't want you reading too closely.
Hmm.
It's sick! Wicked sick!
Now I'll start composin' the story board!
I'll have it done in an hour tops!
Production staff, get ready to draw!
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.
♪ Pan-Panda ♪
But it's a lot of work!
Won't making one take forever?
I got it all covered.
Hmm? - Miko, did you bring that gear?
Right here!
Shaka-boom!
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?
It's no use!
I can't control these things at all!
Yeah, I know. That's why you've got an hour.
You'll get it.
You can't be serious!
APOLOGIES FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
Imagine looking down
- at yourself from above. - Huh?
Once you get the hang of it,
the rest is a piece of cake. I promise.
Oh, Tatiana!
Time for training. Let's do this.
UNDEAD UNLUCK
Fuko.
Thank you, Tatiana.
You really helped me out there.
Well, of course, silly.
That's what friends do.
Thanks to you I can move these around now.
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 ♪
THE SWORD AND ZEN AS ONE
Need help?
Yeah, thanks.
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 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?"
You think the author intentionally left parts out?
Just a guess.
We need to confirm that aspect of this as well.
Now which frame do you need assistance with next?
Mm?
♪ Pan-Panda ♪
DEADLINE TODAY
HERE LIES CHIKARA
THE SWORD AND ZEN AS ONE
Hmm.
DECEMBER 5TH
TOKYO-JINBOCHO
You really goin' in there all alone?
Y--Yeah.
I think it would be better
for me to go in with you.
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.
I'm sorry, really.
Wait here, okay?
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.
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?
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.
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?
Uh...
Kidding! Of course he's not.
A real zombie boyfriend?
Right.
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?
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.
Hmm. Huh?
Well, isn't this odd?
What is this writing?
TO YOU, FROM ME
Andy, Japanese!
Yeah, that seals it.
You-Me is definitely a book of prophecy.
Fuko.
- Um-- - Uh?
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?
"Kohei's Betrayal Arc,"
UNBREAKABLE
"The Four Kings of the Four Seasons Arc,"
and the "Ando's Past Arc."
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.
B--But how?
That would be tough considering we don't even know how
to look for Anno. Ah, hello.
Is that you, Anno? It's me, Tahioka.
Huh?
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.
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?
I can't do such a thing!
Huh?
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.
No use.
You're wasting your breath. Anno doesn't talk.
I've never even seen them before.
So is it any good?
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.
That's the first time I've heard their voice.
MEMORIES OF FUKO IZUMO INSIDE OF SHUEISHA HEADQUARTERS,
17:00
ERASED.
TO BE CONTINUED