Hayashi's frank, guileless demeanor quietly draws the attention of classmates and strangers as he counts all the stairs in school, photographs street signs, and dries sweet potatoes on the classroom balcony. In a world shaped by conformity, Hayashi is refreshingly and unapologetically true to himself. Conversely, Nikaidou has worked very hard to perfect a gloomy, dour facade that keeps his classmates far, far away. While much of the school regards Nikaidou as a bad omen, one student catches a glimpse behind the mask and-undeterred by rumors of bad luck and supernatural powers-begins to pick away Nikaidou's carefully crafted persona...
When orphan Carole meets runaway Tuesday, an uptown girl who wants nothing more than to make music, it's as if they were fated to find each other. With their shared dream, the duo charges headfirst into the world of entertainment-but on colonized Mars, with a consumer base accustomed to "perfect" A.I.-produced songs, is there any hope their organic sound and heartfelt lyrics will reach their audience?
In a story based on the hit anime directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kids on the Slope), two girls from different worlds connect through a love of music and a desire to make it big on Mars.
Back in the day, Takebe was a tough-as-nails delinquent who could throw hands with anyone. But right when she finally decides to leave her old ways behind, Takebe has a surprise reunion with her old rival, the "Bloody Cardigan" Soramori. After all these years, she still wants a piece of Takebe-but not in the way anyone expected! Her proposal: If Soramori can beat Takebe in a fight, they have to start dating?!
Five years of inconceivable peace after two hundred years of war left erstwhile saboteur Toru Acura without a job or a meaning in life--until he saves a mysterious wizard with a coffin on her back. But when the coffin-wielding, silver-haired Chaika Trabant hires Toru and his sister, Akari, to accompany her on a death-defying journey, Toru's life of mind-numbing, meaningless peace is about to end!
Decades ago, gates to an otherworldly and dangerous dimension known as Mato-the "Demon City"-appeared across Japan. Those who partook in the "peaches" growing there gained unique abilities-but only if they're girls. When down-in-the-dumps high school boy Yuuki Wakura finds himself caught up in a gate, he's saved by Kyouka Uzen, the beautiful commander of the 7th squad of the Demon Defense Force, who...orders him to become her slave?!
When Arisa loses her memories from the past three years, her girlfriend, Mari, worries it might mean the end of their budding relationship. A needless concern, it turns out, because when Arisa lays eyes on her, she falls in love all over again! Arisa's not about to let a little severe brain damage get her down, because she has a chance to relive all their firsts for a second time-from dates, to kisses, and even beyond...!!
For Chio Miyamo, just making it to school is a miracle! From construction to biker gangs and the sudden call of nature, all kinds of troubles both big and small rain down on our titular hero!
"After all, death is better than an unbeautiful life." Saku Chitose is living the good life. He's got his friends, his harem of hotties, and his haters. What more could he ask for? However...his reputation as a problem-solver may be more trouble than it's worth. So when a teacher saddles him with the task of bringing a shut-in back to school, it's not like he can just brush it off. But no sweat! After all, there's nothing he can't handle...right?
Clad in school uniforms practically breathing with life are the girls of Hoshimiya Girls' Academy, their hair long and luxurious. When a puzzling incident involving the ever-mysterious and elusive student Hoshimiya-san disturbs their peaceful paradise, the hidden feelings these innocent schoolgirls possess begin to entwine and overflow in unimaginable ways...
Pieta, a normal girl, leads a normal, uneventful life in a world of constant black rain. As the rain pours down, like it always does, she takes her usual route to school and has a pleasant conversation with her friend Danae.
This is what every day is like for Pieta, and she takes a sort of everyday satisfaction from her totally normal life.
But then her typical, pleasant conversation with Danae...doesn't happen.
"Why...?! Why can I remember...yesterday's today?!!"
After a career spent slapping down superheroes as an evil minion of the Kisaragi Corporation, Agent Six has his next assignment-invade a fantasy world! With his pluck new partner, the "pretty-girl android" Alice, Agent Six sets out to bring his target planet to heel. What better way to accomplish that than by partnering with the locals?! Alongside Royal Guard Captain Snow, Battle Chimera Rose, and Archbishop Grimm, Alice and Six will square off against demon hordes-even if it's just a means of taking down the competition! Let the battle to be baddest begin!
Reanimated corpses called Shikabane walk the earth, but the Kougon Sect of the Grand Marshal School of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism has a means to combat them. Enter the Corpse Princesses! Undead-killers (usually young women) stand as humanity's first line of defense against the evil that lurks in the shadows, but can humanity tolerate defenders who are corpses themselves...? One Corpse Princess, Makina, may be the first to find out!
Kraft Lawrence has been walking the lonely path of the itinerant merchant for seven years. His life changes forever when he meets Holo, the Wolf-God of the harvest, and the two begin traveling together. Soon they discover a unique business opportunity, but their plans go awry when a competing organization captures Holo and threatens to turn her over to the oppressive, monotheistic Church. Can Lawrence rescue his companion, and will the pair become more than just friends?
"I'm going to uncover the mystery of the 'Blade Children.'"
World-class detective Kiyotaka Narumi's last words prior to his sudden disappearance continue to haunt his younger brother, Ayumu. The cheeky 10th-grader becomes further embroiled in the mystery when he is mistaken for the prime suspect in a murder at his school. Led by Ayumu's sister-in-law, Kiyotaka's wife and fellow detective, Madoka, the investigation into the murder gives Ayumu a chance to clear his name. But in doing so, he not only uncovers ties to the Blade Children but also more questions than answers about who and what they are.
Neneko Iizuna is a shy girl with a secret: cat ears. Embarrassed over her feline appearance, Neneko's retreated from the world. But when she receives a letter asking her to become the miko of an infirmary, she finds herself taking on the unexpected challenge of exorcism! Is this young cat girl up to the task of taking on the spirits, can she get along with her new co-workers? And how exactly does she feel about being chained up by a leash? It's an opportunity for new "bonds" to form!
A GARDEN OF FLOWERS READY TO BLOOM In a world torn apart by war and ruled by intelligence, Lily-code name Flower Garden-is determined to become a master spy and help bring peace to the nation. So, when she's offered to join an elite squad that takes on Impossible Missions with 90 percent mortality rates, she's ecstatic...until she finds out that said "elite squad" is made up entirely of spy academy washouts, like her. But each and every one of them has the potential to change the world, and under the tutelage of master spy Klaus, it's time for them to bloom!
"I am your future amore-your lover!" With these words, Pure Sakurasaka crashes into Akira Kouno's life. As if it wasn't wild enough that she says she's come from six years in the future, Pure insists that in her time, she and Akira are engaged to be married! It's an impossible claim, especially since Akira has sworn off 3D romance, content to immerse herself in 2D dating games. Besides which, why would someone as cute as Pure be interested in a loner like her...?
Kojou Akatsuki lives on the artificial island of Itogami, and he has a secret: He's the "Fourth Primogenitor," the most powerful vampire in the world. He's carefully kept this dark knowledge from his family and friends, but one day, a beautiful girl named Yukina Himeragi appears before him and tells him that she knows who he really is--and that she's been sent to...kill him?!
Momoko is the only child of the Kuzuryuu clan, a powerful martial arts family with inhuman strength. But strong as she is, her father fears a woman will never be able to master the skills of the family. Unless Momoko marries and bears a capable heir, the Kuzuryuu line is doomed to weaken and die off! With this mission in mind, Momoko is sent to the rival Inuzuka clan, where she is to marry the son of their mighty leader. But Koushi Inuzuka abandoned the martial arts long ago. Now committed to his legal studies, the last thing Koushi has on his mind is marriage-especially not to the world's strongest bride!
The "Roman Club," a school group interested in the occult, to which he's practically enslaved, has become boring for one Hideo Aiba. In fact, he finds his entire existence pretty tiresome until, one day, when a girl named Kurumi Sahana shows up and wants to join up. When the two are left alone in the club classroom, Kurumi makes a special "request" of Hideo, which makes him (understandably) freak out. Though he doesn't know what to think, one thing's for sure, Hideo's life just became anything but boring.
Accepted to a high school specializing in the arts, Yuno moves into a nearby apartment complex to make her commute easier. Just a few days into her new routine, she quickly discovers that creativity doesn't end with the art school bell! Her neighbors - Sae, Hiro, and Miya -are all fellow students, and each has her own hilarious quirks. And eccentricity clearly rules this school; Yuno's homeroom teach is a cosplay otaku and the principal is just...weird. Will the quiet Yuno be able to handle this creatively kooky cast of characters?
Kaede Takamura's teenage life swerves to the brink of insanity when she comes face to face with her twin...or does she? Suzu is practically the mirror-image of Kaede - except for having cat ears and a tail and being far more well-endowed than Kaede thinks any teenager ought to be. But the Takamuras have no qualms about bringing this strange, happy-go-lucky catgirl into their home. With Suzu completely ignorant of the ways of modern society, it's going to be a very long year for poor Kaede.
The goddess Urd is in danger, and only Kirito and his friends can save her! The evil frost giants have invaded her homeland of Jotunheim, bringing death and destruction in their wake. The linchpin of it all is the frost giant king's sword-the legendary weapon Excalibur! If Kirito's crew can make it to the end of the dungeon and pull the sword from the stone, peace will be brought to the land once more!
Kirito, having explored the latest beta test, has a pretty good idea of what to expect from the newest SAO launch. With Asuna along, the pair hope to experience the official playthrough together, but there's something about the release that's a little different from before...Certain unexpected tweaks from the previous version have Kirito and Asuna tackling a flood of puzzles anew!
Asuna and Kirito have made it to Aincrad's sixth floor, where in the town of Stachion they find something very odd-puzzles everywhere they look. New mysteries and complex riddles await, many of which can't be solved with a sword...Fighting against the odds, the two will have to put their heads together if they want to make it out alive. But as they focus their attention on confronting the challenges ahead, will they be ready for the sinister forces that lie in wait?
Yuuki Asuna was a top student who spent her days studying at cram school and preparing for her high school entrance exams--but that was before she borrowed her brother's virtual reality game system and wound up trapped in Sword Art Online with ten thousand other frightened players. As time passes, Asuna fears what will become of her life outside the fantasy realm--the failure she might be seen as in the eyes of her peers and parents. Unwilling to wait on the sidelines for more experienced gamers to beat the game, Asuna employs her study habits to learn the mechanics of the game--and swordplay. Her swiftness impresses Kirito, a professional gamer who invites Asuna to join the best players on the front line. Is Asuna ready to swap class rankings for player rankings and join Kirito?
Nearly two months have passed since Kirito and Asuna found themselves trapped in the world of Aincrad. Kirito's experience with the beta version of the game has put him far ahead of the curve, but it has also attracted the attention of some dangerous players...For Asuna, his competence has been a god send in this harsh world, yet she can't help but feel like her overreliance on Kirito's skills is becoming an obstacleto their growing relationship. Even so, they'll have towork together to make it through the ancient ruins ofthe fifth floor, where all sorts of undead monsters-and player-killers-lurk in the shadows!
In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online - a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other - debuts, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as they discover that, for all its amazing features, SAO is missing one of the most basic functions of any MMORPG - a log-out button. Now trapped in the virtual world of Aincrad, their bodies held captive by NerveGear in the real world, users are issued a chilling ultimatum: conquer all one hundred floors of Aincrad to regain your freedom. But in the warped world of SAO, "Game Over" means certain death - both virtual and real...
Karen Kohiruimaki always felt out of place in the real world. Due to her extreme height, she found it hard to make friends with other girls her age. Everything changes when she's introduced to VR and Gun Gale Online. In GGO, Karen is free to play the cute, chibi avatar of her dreams! Can Karen find friendship in this bullet-ridden MMO...?
Kazuto Kirigaya (aka Kirito) has beaten Sword Art Online, a VRMMORPG that transformed into a literal game of death, and returned to the real world. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Asuna Yuuki (aka Asuna the Flash), the girl with whom Kirito fell in love in the virtual world of Aincrad but who has yet to awaken from her game-induced slumber. As his sister, Suguha, sadly looks on, Kazuto continues to visit Asuna in the hospital in the hope of finding answers. But when one day he meets a man claiming to be Asuna's fiance, Kazuto fears that Asuna may be lost to him forever... That is until a fellow survivor of SAO taken form the latest VRMMORPG sensation, ALfheim Online - a screenshot that features someone being held captive who looks entirely too much like Asuna! His hope renewed, Kirito dives headlong into an all-new virtual adventure, but can true love conquer the game?!
The virtual world of ALfheim Online might not be literally deadly, but there's still plenty of tough adventuring to be had. The trio of Liz, Silica, and Leafa set out on a quest for a magical ring but immediately run into monsters tougher than they expected. A certain black-clothed swordsman comes to their rescue--but it's not Kirito?! It seems the "game of death" has had lingering emotional effects on everyone, and even the survivors bear scars. But the trio have gotten through tough times before, and they're not gonna let a buffed boss stand between them and their goal! Even if they succeed in finishing the quest, though, will they be able to heal the mysterious sword-wielder's broken heart...? Join Liz, Silica, and Leafa on a new adventure that's all their own!
A few months after escaping from Sword Art Online, Kirito is ready to dive into a brand-new VRMMO--Sword Art: Origin. This game promises to have all of the base features from Aincrad without any of the bad. When Kirito meets a mysterious girl in need of his help, that theory will be put to the test...
Kirito and Sinon's battle with Death Gun is over, but mere weeks later, something strange is afoot in the next-generation VRMMO ALfheim Online. A new duelist with a custom sword skill is defeating all comers--including Kirito! But when Asuna goes to face this duelist, she receives something she never expected: an invitation to an exclusive guild! But what is their aim? The Mother's Rosario arc begins!
A year after Kazuto and Asuna escaped from Aincrad, the deadly setting of Sword Art Online, they're still coping with the aftermath as they try to recover from the harrowing experience. Meanwhile, there's a new VRMMO game sweeping the world's gamers--Gun Gale Online. When a mysterious player who calls himself "Death Gun" claims to be responsible for real-world deaths, Kazuto (aka Kirito) is recruited to enter the game to investigate, bringing an end to his hard-won peace!
"This might be a game, but it's not something you play." - Akihiko Kayaba, Sword Art Online programmer With no memory of how he got there, Kirito wakes up in a mysterious virtual world, and it's up to him to find a way back home. But with no way to log out and no idea what kind of land he's found himself in, he's going to need allies! As a new tale unfolds, Kirito's journey through the Underworld begins!
By all accounts, middle schooler Seigi is pretty unremarkable except for his martial arts prowess and a desire to protect the weak. But when his good intentions are put to the test by saving an old homeless man from some street thugs, the mysterious man shows his gratitude by...burning a tattoo onto Seigi's palm?! It turns out, the tattoo is a powerful secret weapon that everyone--including a formidable girl with a tattoo of her own--is after. With his life on the line and his martial arts skills alone no match against super-powered foes, will Seigi be able to unlock the latent potential of his tattoo and live to fight another day?!
Based on the short story by Hugo Award-winning author Cixin Liu!
One mysterious day, over twenty thousand otherworldly spaceships settle into stable orbit around Earth. Six months later, in a certain Asian village, a young girl named Zhihan discovers an old man who fell from the sky...but the strangeness doesn't end there. Soon, many more elderly drifters in peculiar outfits begin descending all over the world, claiming they created human civilization. Now it's humanity's turn to take care of their Progenitors-but as Zhihan will soon learn, accepting God into your home isn't such a simple matter...
Purple-eyed Adarte, blue-eyed Adolte. One enveloped in light-the graceful son-and one shrouded in darkness-the prisoner. Even as their souls are drawn together, destiny would tear them apart. Elsewhere in the kingdom, a heroic king is served by an enigmatic aide from a faraway land. His path has torn him from his dearest kin and placed him in the halls of power-to what end...?
The first of Asumiko Nakamura's beautifully wrought tales set in a fantastic kingdom of intrigue and heartache...
Middle schooler Nishikata has had it with his classmate Takagi--the chronic teaser who sits nearby. Day in and day out, she comes after him with every sort of trick or prank. Even when he tries to get her back, she's always one step ahead. But rest assured, it's only the beginning. He's not about to give up that easily in this battle of cunning and youth!
With all its innovations, the kingdom of Tempest—founded by the demon lord Rimuru—is a veritable paradise for travelers such as Framea, the rabbitfolk chief's daughter. Framea has always had a nose for adventure, an inquisitive mind, and a knack for discovering and identifying the latest and greatest the world has to offer! Her notepad is open at all times, ready for any three-star delights she may encounter, so when Rimuru himself gives Framea a mission to catalog the area's attractions, she'll have her work cut out for her—and tons of stars to hand out!