"The mystical is nothing but phenomena plus interpretation, Fukamachi-kun." Naoya Fukamachi's ability to unerringly detect lies has left him friendless and isolated all his life. It certainly isn't helping him meet new people in college. But when he catches the interest of the handsome but eccentric associate professor of folklore studies, Akira Takatsuki, he finds himself with a part-time job- research assistant in charge of common sense, on a mission to help catalogue the supernatural!
After a spur-of-the-moment one-night stand, one thing leads to another and they start living together. They're nothing alike. Not in terms of personality, nor the way they look- there's even a wide age gap between them. But...ever so awkwardly, ever so clumsily, they're somehow fitting into each other's missing pieces.
Most humans use only a small percentage of their brainpower, but a certain group of people called "dokeshi" can use a greater percent of their brain to unleash special powers, given one condition...For dokeshi Shotaro, that condition is doing one good deed a day. In exchange, he has the ability to use the powers of any animal by biting its bones. When Mana meets Shotaro on her travels, she expects nothing but trouble from the childish, ignorant boy-until he takes off into the sky like a bird. Mana may be impressed, but dokeshi are viewed as freaks by most of the population. And with the governor missing, all dokeshi are under suspicion. Ever-opitimistic Shotaro refuses to be discouraged and journeys on with Mana in the name of Justice!
Poor, in debt, and living on instant noodles, high school kendo instructor Kojiro makes a bet with an old friend on a practice meet between the all-girls' teams of their respective schools. The prize: a year's worth of free sushi! It's too good for the desperate Kojiro to pass up! But with only one active member on the kendo team, Korjio must move quickly to put together a squad before the meet. He's got his eye on Tamaki, the daughter of a kendo master and a skilled swordswoman herself. The only trouble is...she's not interested. Kojiro's willing to try anything, but what will it take to win her over?
Once upon a time, there was a city in grave peril...until a great hero saved the day. Now, Juso City's protector has become its mayor, and alongside his two secretaries, he's hard at work making his town a place anyone would want to live! Elsewhere, a young elf and her wolfman butler act out a real-life romcom, and a dragonian wrestler teams up with a bard to form an unlikely musical duo. Beings of all stripes and scales live in harmony in Juso City, lending surprise and adventure to everyday life. But when another disaster threatens to strike, will these citizens become part of an all-new legend?
There were no surprises in Gatlin County. We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.At least, that's what I thought.Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.There was a curse.There was a girl.And in the end, there was a grave. Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town ofGatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.
Asuka Tsukasa has an irrational fear of animals, especially dogs-which makes studying abroad in London, city of dog lovers, a bit of a challenge for him. There, in his vanished mother's hometown, he hopes to find a clue to her whereabouts and to meet the mysterious smiling girl from his dreams. But life only gets harder for this zoophobe when he's invited to join a secret organization that seeks to coexist with fantastical beasts and protect the world from the ones that go out of control. At least he gets to meet that girl-though she turns out to be a giant, snarling dog, who wants nothing more than to tear him to shreds!
When Eiji Hoshimiya was asked his heart's desire, the young boy could never have predicted the catastrophic consequences. Ten years after the "Great Destruction," the world has been reshaped with gifted individuals called "Orders" emerging, people capable to reshaping reality to their whims.
When some of these Orders start hunting Eiji, though will he have to summon the power that nearly destroyed the world?
The detectives are supposed to be the good guys, right...?
That's certainly what Arata Toiro used to think, but after having his first brush with a real-life detective, suddenly he's not so sure. I mean, there's no question that even though he's still just a teenager, Yoh Kuroba is a gifted sleuth. It's just that he seems to have a peculiar predilection for making his adversaries writhe more than just catching them... That's really not normal, is it?
Either way, now that he's found himself bullied into a position of playing Watson to Kuroba's Holmes, it seems that Toiro will have plenty of opportunities to find out!
The vampire Staz is one of the most powerful district bosses in the demon world, fending off everyone who dares challenge him. But secretly, the fearsome Staz is obsessed with human culture, especially video games, manga, and everything that comes from Japan! When a Japanese girl wanders into the demon world, Staz can't wait to meet the human and learn everything he can about her world. Unfortunately, before he's able to ask her anything, the girl is killed by one of his would-be usurpers, leaving just her bare soul behind. Staz vows to help the girl restore her body and return to her former life-especially since it means taking a trip to the human world himself!
In this collection of short stories and four-panel comics, Blood Lad creator Yuki Kodama teams up with artist Kanata Yoshino to take us through the black curtain to explore the lives of Demon World Boss Staz and his crew. In this hilarious behind-the-scenes trip, readers will discover the full extent of Staz's anime/manga obsession, join Bell on her treasure-hunting travels, and much more!
Half angel, half demon, Tsukimiya must drink pure demon blood to stave off the curse that will eventually claim her life. When she meets an angel named Hinata, he's eager to team up with the half-blood to take down a vampire that has been attacking humans. Tsukimiya is surprised to find that Hinata is a capable partner, but when the vampire is slain, it is Hinata who claims its demon blood, leaving Tsukimiya to be taken by the curse. In a last-ditch effort to save herself, Tsukimiya tries to drink Hinata's blood, now mixed with the vampire's pure demon blood. But in taking the blood that will save her, Tsukimiya has also transmitted the curse that will kill her. Hinata and Tsukimiya now share the curse...and they're running out of time.
Gloomy, introverted, and the daughter of a shaman-Naerim is an easy target for the bullies in her class. With no friends and an aloof mother, she faces this daily nightmare all alone. But just as she hits rock bottom, her knight in shining armor swoops in! Except he's dressed in sinister black...and he's an ancient vampire?! Fetechou makes it no secret that he desires her blood, but he'll work for every drop by giving her back what she most desperately needs-her smile. Can his manic energy help Naerim come out of her shell?
Kaede Honjou has never been much of a gamer. So when her best friend, Risa, ropes her into trying out the hit new VRMMO NewWorld Online, her biggest concern is...whether it will hurt! Her solution? To dump all her stat points into defense! She may not have anything in the way of magic, agility, or strength, but her extreme build transforms her from a total noob into a nigh-invulnerable walking fortress the game's admins never accounted for!
Presenting the first anthology of the popular supernatural action series Bungo Stray Dogs! Featuring a luxurious list of guest authors, these new Bungo stories feature everything from gags to heartwarming moments in a charming collection that will leave you begging for more!
From the pages of Bungo Stray Dogs comes a new series about the peaceful, everyday lives of the cast-only now, the Armed Detective Agency and Port Mafia are mini-sized?! Whether it 's sniffing out the dark secrets hidden in the agency lockers, or going to a public bathhouse with the Mafia barking at their heels, there's never a dull moment for Atsushi and his friends!
Deep within the forest resides a curious pair-Mira, a girl with an affliction that calls forth the night, and Rei, a kindly doctor searching for the cure. Their days pass peacefully, until an old acquaintance of Rei's appears...
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?!
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...
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!
"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.
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!
Suzu Sakura is a lazy author who can't keep a deadline, is twenty-four hours late to meetings, and falls asleep in the middle of crunch time-you name it! It seems like no one can keep her in line, but then she gets a new editor. Hasegawa's a super-mega HOTTIE, but his temper runs just as hot. Though he scolds her endlessly and they're quickly driving each other up the wall, will something bloom between this odd couple...?!
Himari Akeno can't wait to start high school! Even though she's parting ways with her twin sister, Mio, Himari's enthusiasm to start this new chapter of her life is palpable-that is, until a traumatic incident sends her home to hide in her room...Watching Himari's dreams shatter is more than Mio can bear, especially when her sister still longs for an ordinary student life. Determined to see her twin get back out into the world, Mio "catches a cold" and convinces her sister to fill in until she "recovers." As long as the shy, introverted Himari can pull off impersonating the bubbly, energetic Mio, nothing could go wrong...right?
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?
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!
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?
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!