the shadow cocoon that Shinra was trapped inside.
Oh, Shinra. I’m sorry.
If I don’t make it home…I’m so sorry!
As for the target of that message, Shinra was up on the top floor of the apartment building, lying on the floor of the living room, grinning happily and staring vaguely into nothing as he talked to himself.
“Ohhh… Is this one of those kinky abandonment things?”
Chapter 2:
Youth Magazine MAO
“New Spring Life! High Schoolers’ Tokyo Debut Special! Ikebukuro Edition”
“Everything gets refreshed in the spring!
A new life and new encounters in a new town!
Have you found new people since your move to Ikebukuro?
If you have, leap up to the next step by following this guide to enhance your Ikebukuro life and meet the perfect partner!”
The boy skimmed through the article, then promptly took the magazine to the register.
His name was Mikado Ryuugamine.
He was a student entering his second year at Raira Academy, a private school in the heart of Ikebukuro. It was his second year in Ikebukuro, but for some reason, he was searching for articles about starting a new life in the neighborhood. There were already three such magazines in his bag.
The boy left the convenience store and headed right into the karaoke place next door. It was well known for serving restaurant-quality food and having an ample selection of songs available to sing.
Mikado walked inside, looking nervous, and told the employee at the desk that he was meeting someone, then gave the room number.
In a large room on the sixth floor, he found that several people were already waiting inside.
“Yoo-hoo! How you been, Mika-poo?”
“You’re late. We already ordered a big ol’ pitcher of oolong tea!”
The first two to speak were a boy and girl in casual, stylish outfits. They looked as sharp as fashion models, but that image was ruined by the mountains of manga, books, games, anime DVDs, and merchandise stacked around them.
Next to them was a blushing girl wearing the same uniform as Mikado, holding a figurine of a girl wearing a scandalously revealing outfit. When she noticed that he was there, she shrieked and quickly returned the figurine to Karisawa.
“Uh, err…may I sit next to you, Sonohara?”
“…Um, yes!” the quiet girl with the glasses said, her face red. In truth, her own proportions were worthy of the figurine’s. “W-welcome, Mikado.”
“Sorry about showing up late. Sorry to you, too, Karisawa and Yumasaki,” Mikado said, dipping his head. The other boy and girl smiled kindly.
“It’s okay. We’ve got plenty of time around midday.”
“That’s right. Essentially, we’re free to hang out during the business hours of any bookstore.”
Unlike the relaxed street-clothes duo, the uniformed couple was awkward. An employee came into the room to take a drink order, the door shut, and then they were ready to get down to business.
“So, what did you want to ask us?”
“Well…I feel awkward even having to ask…,” Mikado began, sighing heavily and looking for the right words before continuing.
“Can you…teach us how to guide someone around Ikebukuro?”
Two hours earlier
Raira Academy was brimming with new students after its official entrance ceremony.
Mikado and Anri were in the same class again and voted to be the representatives for the second year running. After they attended a brief meeting with the other student body representatives, Mikado was hurrying to catch up to Anri when he was stopped from behind.
“Um, excuse me! Are you Mr. Ryuugamine?”
He turned around to see a boy wearing the Raira Academy uniform.
“Uh, and you are… Let’s see, we just had introductions. Aoba?”
“Yes! Aoba Kuronuma, first-year student!”
The sparkling-eyed boy had a girlish face and short stature, which made him look like a middle schooler at a glance, if not outright elementary school. Mikado knew that he himself skewed young in appearance, but the boy here had him beat in that
Oh, Shinra. I’m sorry.
If I don’t make it home…I’m so sorry!
As for the target of that message, Shinra was up on the top floor of the apartment building, lying on the floor of the living room, grinning happily and staring vaguely into nothing as he talked to himself.
“Ohhh… Is this one of those kinky abandonment things?”
Chapter 2:
Youth Magazine MAO
“New Spring Life! High Schoolers’ Tokyo Debut Special! Ikebukuro Edition”
“Everything gets refreshed in the spring!
A new life and new encounters in a new town!
Have you found new people since your move to Ikebukuro?
If you have, leap up to the next step by following this guide to enhance your Ikebukuro life and meet the perfect partner!”
The boy skimmed through the article, then promptly took the magazine to the register.
His name was Mikado Ryuugamine.
He was a student entering his second year at Raira Academy, a private school in the heart of Ikebukuro. It was his second year in Ikebukuro, but for some reason, he was searching for articles about starting a new life in the neighborhood. There were already three such magazines in his bag.
The boy left the convenience store and headed right into the karaoke place next door. It was well known for serving restaurant-quality food and having an ample selection of songs available to sing.
Mikado walked inside, looking nervous, and told the employee at the desk that he was meeting someone, then gave the room number.
In a large room on the sixth floor, he found that several people were already waiting inside.
“Yoo-hoo! How you been, Mika-poo?”
“You’re late. We already ordered a big ol’ pitcher of oolong tea!”
The first two to speak were a boy and girl in casual, stylish outfits. They looked as sharp as fashion models, but that image was ruined by the mountains of manga, books, games, anime DVDs, and merchandise stacked around them.
Next to them was a blushing girl wearing the same uniform as Mikado, holding a figurine of a girl wearing a scandalously revealing outfit. When she noticed that he was there, she shrieked and quickly returned the figurine to Karisawa.
“Uh, err…may I sit next to you, Sonohara?”
“…Um, yes!” the quiet girl with the glasses said, her face red. In truth, her own proportions were worthy of the figurine’s. “W-welcome, Mikado.”
“Sorry about showing up late. Sorry to you, too, Karisawa and Yumasaki,” Mikado said, dipping his head. The other boy and girl smiled kindly.
“It’s okay. We’ve got plenty of time around midday.”
“That’s right. Essentially, we’re free to hang out during the business hours of any bookstore.”
Unlike the relaxed street-clothes duo, the uniformed couple was awkward. An employee came into the room to take a drink order, the door shut, and then they were ready to get down to business.
“So, what did you want to ask us?”
“Well…I feel awkward even having to ask…,” Mikado began, sighing heavily and looking for the right words before continuing.
“Can you…teach us how to guide someone around Ikebukuro?”
Two hours earlier
Raira Academy was brimming with new students after its official entrance ceremony.
Mikado and Anri were in the same class again and voted to be the representatives for the second year running. After they attended a brief meeting with the other student body representatives, Mikado was hurrying to catch up to Anri when he was stopped from behind.
“Um, excuse me! Are you Mr. Ryuugamine?”
He turned around to see a boy wearing the Raira Academy uniform.
“Uh, and you are… Let’s see, we just had introductions. Aoba?”
“Yes! Aoba Kuronuma, first-year student!”
The sparkling-eyed boy had a girlish face and short stature, which made him look like a middle schooler at a glance, if not outright elementary school. Mikado knew that he himself skewed young in appearance, but the boy here had him beat in that
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