Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu (Girls Beyond the Wasteland)

Atomu-san, Atomu-san!

I hear our nerdy Bunta is making a sexy game!

That's right Yuuka-san, it's super sexy!

Super sexy, huh?

Hey, Bunta!

This world is a wasteland.

This is Another Spring of Youth

Houjou

To Houjou-kun Kuroda

To Houjou-kun Kuroda

Oooh, a love letter!

Obviously not.

10 hand-picked bishoujo games I highly recommend.

Why'd you bring them to school!?

I want you to study and learn exactly what bishoujo games are.

You seriously don't care what others think of you, do you, Kuroda-san?

Come in.

Th-this is...

The Marketing Research Club.

The Marketing Research Club?

Yes, I'm the club president.

Wait, you mean...

Just as I expected of you, Houjou-kun.

You did well to realize the Marketing Research Club is a front.

It's actually a bishoujo game club.

No, I just figured it was for your own personal use...

I'm surprised the application went through.

Perhaps it's because they valued my accomplishments.

Sayuki Kuroda Accomplishment Compendium

Holy crap, there's tons of perfect scores!

My, don't make me blush.

You won a Rubik's Cube puzzle competition when you were twelve?!

Don't make me blush.

You won the grand finals at the speech contest in middle school!

That won't make me blush!

This is your desk, Houjou-kun.

I've prepared six seats for the time being,

I want you to study bishoujo games while gathering allies at the same time.

Allies?

We need a writer, a 'ducer, an A-Lead, a 'grammer, a CGA, a scripter, and a VA.

Is this ancient Atlantean or something?

It's English.

The writer is the scenario writer.

That's you, Houjou-kun.

A 'ducer is me, the producer.

A-Lead is animation lead.

A-Lead isn't English, is it?

Both the words "yuri" and "slice of life" are Japanese.

In the same vein, so is A-Lead.

'Grammer is short for programmer.

CGA is short for CG Artist.

And VA is short for voice actor.

Other people really understand those acronyms?

They were commonplace at my older brother's company.

Huh? Your older brother's company?!

Yes...

my brother is a game creator.

So, do you think you can find such people?

I'm not sure.

On top of finding people with these specific talents,

I've gotta find someone who's obsessed with this stuff enough to really get it.

Obsessed?

That's not the right word.

Moe is a part of our culture.

It's an idea that has surpassed 2D and entered a new dimension.

As the national computing industry suddenly boomed, computer-literate youth grew in number,

and they began to want a way to fulfill their youthful desires through electronic media.

This progression led to the coining of new vernacular,

and now it is no longer just for the "obsessed", but part of a wider sphere of--

I'm sorry, that went on much too long.

Did that disturb you?

I certainly get that you're passionate now!

It's amazing that you have something you can get so into.

I'm sure you'll find your something, too.

I don't get it at all!

Can I really write a story for a game?

alright, let's find some people who can be on staff.

Good morning!

I found your staffers!

I just knew you could do it, Houjou-kun!

Why do they all look like dead fish?

'Cause they've all kept themselves hidden.

Just try talking to them.

Artist who doesn't draw

Meh, I haven't really been in a situation where I can really draw.

Programmer who doesn't program

I haven't had any opportunities to really program.

Graphic Designer who doesn't design

I mean, it's not that I can only copy other people's designs...

You don't have an eye for creators, do you, Houjou-kun?

It's certainly not an easy task.

But I'd like you to use your communication skills to get some insight.

I dunno if there are any students who--

Whoa, it's so big in here! Awesome! I dunno if there are any students who--

Whoa, it's so big in here! Awesome!

Wow, yeah, really. It's a real room.

Hey, you two. Wow, yeah, really. It's a real room.

Hey, you two.

I'm Atomu Kai. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you, too.

She's in our class.

I'm sorry.

I can remember character names and faces right away...

You're funny, Kuroda-san!

T-thank you.

Well then, ah...

Can I stop using polite speech?

Of course.

Thanks!

Why'd you even ask?

Wow, it's so shiny!

Kuroda-san, can I have one?

N-no!

You can have one if you join our club.

Huh?

Yay!

This is Yuuka Kobayakawa.

Star of the drama club.

She could work as a voice actress.

Kobayakawa...

Do you like bishoujo games?

Nope!

But I'm a little interested in being a voice actress.

I'm good at making voices,

and I always thought I could do voice acting if I felt like it'd bring out my talents.

Understood.

Does the drama club allow concurrent enrollment in clubs?

I don't think our advisor would complain.

You're quite favored in that club.

Which means your talent is accounted for.

Though for all her talent, she's really annoying.

Whaaaat?

Working with creators is difficult.

I don't mind.

Alright!

We got an ally, though she's one of our friends!

Yes.

Hey, hey, when do I get to start?

Not for a while.

U-um, could I join, too?

Atomu?

What is your talent?

Well, it's not like I have a special talent or anything...

Are you interested in this kind of world?

Yeah, though I've never played a bishoujo game before.

If you have no special skills, then you can work as an assistant helping with small tasks.

That's totally fine!

I say 'small tasks', but many of them will not be small at all.

You'll be working with various members of the staff,

and you may be working much more like a director.

However, the assistant is looked down upon as an easy job.

Are you still fine with that?

I'm not prepared for all that, truthfully.

But I'm not in any club, and I don't have any particular interest in anything.

I still want to help you.

That's not a very strong motivation.

Game production takes a very long time to complete.

If you aren't attached to the work, you'll only end up hurting everyone.

For example, if you like shoujo manga,

or are in a relationship like a normal person...

A relationship...

A relationship...

A relationship...

I'm done...

with love!

Atomu?

He got dumped, yeah?

Less dumped and more that I wasted my time...

Tell me more!

She asked me out, you know?

Said she liked gentler, nicer guys.

So I tried acting gentler and nicer.

But then she said it wasn't enough that I was "nice".

Even though she was the one who wanted it in the first place!

Dammit, what the hell?!

Even gruffer!

She complained about it and then had the nerve to get mad at me?!

Women are the worst!

Atomu broke!

Screw reality!

I love 2D!

Girls can go piss off and die!

I welcome Kai into our club.

What?

He hates women, having been betrayed by reality and is aggressive towards cute girls.

I haven't seen talent like this in over a decade.

Thank you! I'll work hard!

Are you really okay with that?

What do you do once you've made a game?

Are we gonna present it at the school festival?

Oh yeah, I didn't ask that.

Will you accompany me on a trip this weekend?

So this is Akiba!

Where are the tsunderes?!

Over there, over there!

Hey, it's not your first time here.

I know, but...

Please come by! I know, but...

Please come by!

Please come by!