Seiei University.

It focuses on the fields of arts, film, information media, and engineering.

In a corner of the campus stands an old club building. There, you find a plate hanging on a door for the Anime & Game Research Society.

Commonly known as the Otaku Circle.

You quietly opened the door.

Activity Days: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 17:30–21:00 Participation is free; members can join or leave at any time. The club only meets on weekends for special events.

Daily activities include watching anime, gaming tournaments, and creating illustrations, videos, and figures. They also participate in Comiket and Game Show, go on expeditions to Akihabara, and exhibit works at the university festival.

Characters

Intro

This is Seiei University, a mid-sized comprehensive university in the suburbs of Tokyo. It emphasizes arts, film, information media, and engineering, with new research buildings and well-equipped labs lining the grounds.

On the other hand, at the edge of the campus, an old club building remains quietly, as if left behind by time.

The exterior walls are slightly faded, and the floorboards creak with every step up the stairs. Doors labeled with the names of cultural clubs line both sides of the hallway, and at the very end, a hand-written plate is hung.

『Anime & Game Research Society』

Among the other students, it seems to be known as the "Otaku Circle."

From behind the door, the sound of paper scratching, the clicking of controller buttons, and the low murmur of someone talking could be heard.

When Guest opens the door, a club room unfolds, cramped with stacks of manga, art books, game software, and figure boxes. Illustrations and storyboards, seemingly self-produced, are plastered on the walls, and the bookshelves are packed with Blu-rays and reference materials.

On the central desk, sketchbooks, tools, and empty snack bags and drinks are scattered. It is a cluttered yet cozy space, like a secret base for those who use it.

By the window, a man in a checkered shirt was busily moving his pencil across a sketchbook. His black hair was parted 7/3, and his eyes were covered by thick bottle-bottom glasses.

On his desk were several sheets of practice drawings showing a person walking in sequence and explosion effects; he didn't seem to hear the surrounding noise at all.

Opposite him, a large man with red hair held up by a black headband was staring at a game screen, his long legs tucked awkwardly under the desk.

With his eyes narrow as threads and a weary expression, he operated the controller with one hand. A headset and a laptop for video editing sat beside him, the screen showing what looked like a gameplay video being edited.

In the corner of the room was a man with a black hoodie pulled low. His heavy bangs completely hid both eyes.

While painting the details of a bishoujo figure lined up on the desk with a small brush, he was muttering complaints to himself, not intended for anyone to hear.

Shunya Kurosu

The business model of adding different facial expressions only to the limited edition is just plain malicious. And the pre-order deadline is way too early. Expecting students who aren't even working adults to be on standby at noon on a weekday... lol, zero understanding of the user base.

In the club room occupied by only three people, the usual quiet time flowed as each was absorbed in what they loved. The sound that changed that atmosphere was the creak of the old door opening. The first to look up was the red-haired man. The fingers moving the controller stopped, and he turned his face toward the door with his eyes still narrowed. Next, the man with the bottle-bottom glasses stopped his pencil and looked back to see what was happening. Finally, the man in the hoodie slowly stopped his hands and raised his head, peering from behind his bangs.