DECEMBER 5TH
CANADA - STANLEY PARK
Andy!
Not a problem.
Yo, Autumn belongs to Under!
I'm betting on the charged-up Unluck.
Stand back, Fuko!
On it!
The future as I know it.
Oh, hello. Is that you, Anno?
It's me, 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.
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. It--
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.
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.
"To You, From Me" is a manga that helped Fuko
to live her life.
The story drawn within as Juiz describes it
was a prophecy of this world,
so she directs Fuko and Andy to investigate
the creator behind it.
Following Andy's suggestion,
Fuko ends up having to draw a manga as a means
to contact the author.
Creating one for her first time has Fuko at wit's end
until Andy advises her to just think about what would
make her heart throb to death.
With a fresh start,
Fuko begins to face her own emotions
This self reflection was not only for the mission
but also from a will to be able
to call bigger strokes of unluck for Andy.
With assistance from other members,
Fuko pours her feelings into her manuscript.
And thus she completes "Undead + Unluck."
With the finished story in hand,
the pair head to the publisher and succeed in speaking with
the author Anno Un as planned.
And now Fuko and Andy head
to their next destination: Canada.
That's right, where they'll find me.
020 - ANNO UN
I'm sure I heard them right.
They said both of us together.
I see.
I gotta assume they're talkin' about the two of us.
In other words,
this Anno Un definitely knows who we are.
Not only that,
it takes roughly nine hours to fly to Canada
on a passenger airplane.
But they've somehow got the lowdown
that Union tech can get us there in just three.
They ain't normal any way you slice it.
I wonder if we'll really be able to...
Actually meet them.
The Anno Un.
Age is unknown, sex is unknown.
In fact I heard no one knows what they look
or even sound like.
20 years ago they published the first chapter
of "You-Me" as a one-time special
but it was so popular it immediately won
a serial slot.
And for 20 years with their editors,
they've only had silent calls and letters, right?
They've never spoken out loud.
Something's clearly strange about that.
They're an elusive one for sure.
Hell, not even Union's been able to track down this manga maker.
So I say let's go nab 'em at all costs!
Yeah!
♪ 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 ♪
It's autumn.
DECEMBER 5TH
STANLEY PARK, CANADA
5:00 A.M.
Not here yet, huh?
- Ya hungry? - Hmm?
What's that? It looks so good!
The good old Canadian delicacy called poutine.
Go ahead and help yourself.
Thanks!
Mmm, mmm, mmm!
So good!
All right, then.
Should be any minute now.
You know the plan.
They get hostile with us,
it's go time.
And by hostile I mean anything from them pulling out weapons
to getting' too close for comfort.
So if they do, we just shoot them?
Yeah, go for the legs first.
I don't wanna have it come to that but...
If we're dealing with another Negator
or some sort of Artifact-wielder,
one wrong step and we're done.
And let's not forget they seem to know about us.
"Undead Unluck," huh?
I'm interested!
Although, you'll need
to do more work on the setup.
As is, it won't get past the pitch meeting.
They got that close without me noticing?
You're Anno Un, I presume.
Yeah, but that's just my pen name.
Here's the thing.
I'm well aware what you two are really after.
You want to know the reason for Billy's betrayal,
and how you're supposed to defeat the four UMAs.
There's also Andy's mysterious past, and lastly...
How to defeat God. That right?
Yep, I know everything.
But there's a price to pay.
- Watch out! - Are those more UMAs?
Ah, yeah. Autumn spawned those things.
They're Juniors.
This is already part of their territory.
You two will now battle Autumn
and in doing so learn about yourselves.
And once you do come to know each other even better,
you'll get several times stronger.
Those are all the hints you get.
Now reach out and grab your reward.
I'm sure the two of you can do it.
Now, let the UMA Autumn Arc begin!
Show me the ultimate ending.
A story that even I won't see coming!
I knew that would happen.
It's fine. Don't worry about me.
Look! Your manuscript is safe and sound!
That's all that matters! Anyway,
before you go fight Autumn, let's chat about it!
There's so much to praise,
and a bunch I wanna critique, too!
The composition and characters are pretty good,
but line work and figure drawing is just terrible!
- So you still a fan? - Just barely.
You'll battle Autumn, learn about yourselves,
and then in turn you'll get stronger than ever!
And I want to assist you in doing just that.
Spit it out.
Do you actually know the future or don't you?
If you do, what do you get outta hiding it?
What's your end goal here?
Here, you can have this back. Whoa, what--
I had a lot of fun reading through it.
Oh, but maybe I should hold onto it for you.
Teleportation?
Maybe a self-targeter?
Or a voluntary-type Negator ability.
Could possibly be an Artifact, too.
Oh, this is such a pain.
We'll battle with Autumn?
Wait, are you saying Autumn is here?
That's right.
Should be any moment.
I hear someone!
Hey, wait!
Fuko, stop!
Right now neither of you stand a chance!
If you can't fully utilize your powers,
you won't win against Autumn!
This isn't about winning or losing!
Once a UMA transforms a human, there's no changing back!
Teacher!
I knew you were still safe, Teacher!
Huh? Your arm's hurt.
Don't worry. I'll bandage you up.
Huh?
Tha--thank yo--
Did she just...
I understand.
Teacher? What's wrong?
Teacher!
Even if it's only one, I'll save them!
Oh, a pure and selfless line spoken from the heart.
So befitting of our protagonist.
I admit this is the sort of spirit you need right now.
It'll help you to progress.
But you see, without stopping to train,
you'll hit walls you won't be able to overcome.
- Wait, that's-- - Yep, UMA Autumn.
A UMA that feeds on human biography...
The guy who was screaming--
I see him!
Help--
UNDEAD UNLUCK
It turns people into books and reads them?
Boring!
Give me, give me!
Give me a story that's truly interesting.
Tell me, tell me.
Tell me a story that no one knows!
Show me, show me!
Show me a story that's yours alone!
Here it comes! Grab hold, Fuko!
Right!
Okay, same strategy as with Burn!
I charge up with Unluck, enter its body,
then deal big damage and nab this sucker!
It's body's going on lock down?
- It's closed every hole! - Then I'll...
Just pry it open!
Not gonna work. You lack creativity.
Crimson Bullet!
It didn't even leave a scratch.
Incoming!
Your leg is turning into books!
Don't worry. I'll cut it off.
What did I just say? It's not gonna work.
Can't you see? You both are too caught up
in the rules.
You assumed things work in a certain way so much
that you end up establishing more rules on your own.
I know it's in a Negator's nature
to do so, but...
In my opinion, we're Negators.
Why should you bind yourself up with more rules?
Growth can happen any time and anywhere.
You just need effort and a flash of inspiration!
Volcano Bullet!
VOLCANO BULLET
What was that?
Did that come from Anno?
Hop on!
That didn't even phase it!
Retreat, retreat!
Phew, that was a close call, huh?
Boy, this sure feels like an adventure now!
Real quick: that arm of yours coming back?
Oh, this? No, it's not.
After all, I can only materialize one drawing
at a time.
Then why would you do that?
Well, 'cause neither of you would have listened otherwise.
Please, I'm fine!
I don't need my left hand to draw manga.
So, now that you both owe me one,
I say let's kick off your training arc!
Whoops! Forgot there's no arm there!
Welcome to my humble abode.
I know it's pretty beat up but it's nice and quiet.
What do you say we head inside for a chat?
And here's my studio.
Oh, that's right. I should report in.
Report to your boss, that is.
All about me and Autumn.
They created their own emblem.
So on that note...
Can I train these two?
Not only to catch Autumn but for my sake, too.
Well, Juiz?
- Not a chance. - Wha...?
Anno Un, I take it?
Let me say this clearly. I still don't trust you.
What we want is information about the future.
Not some chaos-inducing coach.
My strategy guide only lists the bad endings.
Besides, these two were virtually powerless against Autumn
in their current state.
I'm sure you already have an inkling but...
Without a gamble, there's no future.
I know these members can make it happen.
So I'm proceeding cautiously.
That's backwards.
With a good hand you should go all in.
I mean, what's there to be afraid of
when you've got a Royal Straight Flush?
You've put together an all-star cast.
I'd hate for you to waste them on a trite ending.
I'm sure you feel the same way, don't you, Juiz?
Excuse me. - Hmm?
Ms. Juiz! I trust Anno!
Really, I mean it!
Why are you screaming in my emblem?
You've got one of your own, you know!
Oh, yeah, that's right! I forgot!
Oh, thanks a lot!
Now I can't hear out of my left ear!
I'm sorry!
Anyway...
Like I was saying,
Anno risked their life in order to save us.
I think it's safe to trust someone
who would do that, right?
And I'm askin' ya, too!
This person claims to know about me and my past.
Ah, and there goes my right ear!
I gotta say, it's always bugged me...
The power gap between me and Victor.
The key to closing that gap may be buried in the unknown parts
of my past.
I don't know what their training entails,
but if it gets me closer to that key,
I want to try it.
Mm?
I'm melting in this heat.
All right, but promise me two things.
That you'll come back safe...
And that you will capture UMA Autumn.
Wonderful. So...
- That means the deal is settled. - Uh?
Is that Autumn's claw?
Autumn turns people into books.
And so with this puppy right here,
You and Li'l Fuko can make contact with your past.
Just as you figured, Andy, my friend.
The key to powering up is hidden in your locked-up memories.
Objections?
Nah, I'm good. Hurry up and hit me.
Andy's turning into books?
Wha...
Whoa!
TO BE CONTINUED