I'm With Her....

And a few Anime DVD's would be nice too...

Bandai Announces September 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Bandai has sent us over their September 2011 release schedule, and we now have them available on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

K-On! Vol #3 DVD - Sep 13
K-On! Vol #3 (BLURAY) - Sep 13
Mobile Suit Gundam Complete Collection 1 DVD Boxed Set (Anime Legends) - Sep 13
Girl Who Leapt Through Space Part #3 DVD - Sep 13
Melancholy of Haruhi: Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Movie DVD/BD Combo Pack - Sep 20
Melancholy of Haruhi: Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Movie DVD - Sep 20

Couple notes: It's nice to see original Gundam FINALLY get a Legends Release - this one is way overdue! Keep in mind that Bandai is releasing this schedule to retailers only about 6 weeks before the first releases are supposed to street, so there is a good chance some of these will be delayed later on. We've priced the Haruhi Movie BD/DVD combo version very low to encourage folks to order that version rather than the standard DVD release as we would rather not stock a lot of that version.

Media Blasters October 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Media Blasters has sent over their October 2011 release schedule, and we now have them up on the store site for pre-order.

Here's what's coming:

Twelve Kingdoms Part 2 : Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Maze BLURAY (Ep #15-33) - Oct 11
Ikki Tousen Great Guardians , Vol #2 DVD (Eps #7-12) - Oct 25

Just a heads up, the Great Guardians DVD's include the OVA episodes as extras. Vol #1 contains OVA ep #1-3 and Vol #2 contains ep #4-6.

Pre-Order Eden of the East: Paradise Lost and get a free Vinyl Decal!

I've been meaning to make a post about this for a couple of weeks and just haven't been able to get around to it until now. While supplies last, all pre-orders of the Eden of the East Movie 2: Paradise Lost DVD / BLURAY Combo Set (FN-08839) from RACS will include an exclusive Vinyl Decal courtesy of the fine folks at Funimation:

The decal is about 5 1/2" x 3 1/2" in size. We have them in our hands, and will take down the offer from the store once they are all spoken for. Get em while they last! :-)

Sentai Picks Up Ikoku Meiro no Croisee

Sentai has announced that it has licensed the television anime adaptation of Ikoku Meiro no Croisee to be released under the name Croisee in a Foreign Labyrinth ~ The Animation.

The anime premiered in Japan on July 3rd and is currently running there. Sentai plans to release the series on DVD in North America sometime during 2012.

Synopsis: The story takes place in the second half of the 19th century, as Japanese culture gains popularity in the West. A young Japanese girl, Yune, accompanies a French traveller, Oscar, on his journey back to France, and offers to help at the family's ironwork shop in Paris. Oscar's nephew and shopowner Claude reluctantly accepts to take care of Yune, and we learn how those two, who have so little in common, get to understand each other and live together in the Paris of the 1800s.

Media Blasters November 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

We got a sneak peek at Media Blasters November 2011 releases today, and have gone ahead and put them up on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

Squid Girl (Shinryaku! Ika Musume) Collection #2 DVD (Eps #7-12) - Nov 15
Bakuman DVD Collection #1 (Eps #1-7) - Nov 29

Bakuman Synopsis: Moritaka Mashiro, a junior high school student, content to live out a relatively normal life as any other does, is persuaded by his classmate, Akito Takagi, to become an aspiring mangaka when the latter realizes his natural talent as an artist. However, Moritaka is reluctant to pursue his dream as his uncle, once a mangaka with his own serializations, died from overwork trying to regain his lost status. With Akito's help, Takagi gets another classmate and his school crush, Azuki Miho, who is an aspiring voice actress, to voice in the anime adaptation of their future manga once it is completed. However, Mashiro also proposes to Azuki, who surprisingly accepts only on the condition she will marry him when both of them have achieved their dreams. With a goal set before him, Mashiro begins a long and struggling path to become a famous mangaka.

Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds DVD & BD - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Warner finally sent over the retailer sell sheets for the upcoming Naruto Shippuden: Bonds movie, and we now have it available for pre-order:

Naruto: Shippuden Bonds the Movie DVD - Oct 25
Naruto: Shippuden Bonds the Movie (BLURAY) - Oct 25

The 90 minute movie will street on both DVD and BD formats on October 25th, and will be the first Naruto release on BD in North America!

Synopsis: A group of mysterious flying ninja have arrived from overseas to launch a sudden attack against the Hidden Leaf Village, leaving behind a wake of destruction. The group is revealed to be the “Sky Ninja” from the Land of Sky, a nation thought to have been destroyed by the Hidden Leaf Village long ago. To save their village, Naruto and his friends set out to stop this new threat. During the course of the mission, Naruto crosses paths with Sasuke, his friend who has parted ways from the Leaf Village...

Queen's Blade II The Evil Eye Series, Collection #2 - On the Way!

We all know by now that when it comes to new releases from Media Blasters, street dates are optional. The thing is, some are estimated better than others.

The Queen's Blade II (Evil Eye Series) Collection #2 DVD was supposed to street yesterday. Even though it didn't release 'on schedule', we did get a shipping confirmation today from Media Blasters so our copies are now in route to our warehouse and will arrive early next week.

Just giving you folks a head up that are waiting for it that it won't be delayed by 4 or 6 weeks like happens with some of these. This one will only be about a week late. We'll start shipping your pre-orders as soon our copies arrive.

Section 23 October 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Section 23 has sent over their October 2011 release schedule and we've now got them posted to the store site for pre-order. Here's what coming:

Glass Maiden Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-12) - Oct 4
La Corda d'Oro ~ Primo Passo DVD Complete Collection (Eps #1-26) - Oct 4
Kobato Collection #2 DVD (Eps #13-24) - Oct 11
Princess Tutu Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) - Oct 11
Hell Girl Two Mirrors (Season 2) Complete Collection (Eps #1-26) - Oct 18
Ray Complete Collection DVD (Eps #1-13) - Oct 18
Himawari! Season 1 Collection DVD (Eps #1-13) - Oct 25

Funimation's October Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Funimation has sent us their October sales book this morning, and we now have it up on the store site for pre-order.

Here's what's coming:

Negima Season 2 DVD Boxed Set (S.A.V.E Edition) - Oct 4
Dragon Ball Z Dragonbox DVD Set #7 - Oct 11
Initial D First Stage Season 1 Set (Eps #1-26) (S.A.V.E.) - Oct 11
Bamboo Blade TV DVD Boxed Set (Eps # 1-24) (S.A.V.E.) - Oct 18
Darker Than Black Season 2 Complete DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps # 27-38 + OVA's) (Limited First Pressing) - Oct 18
Dragonball Z Kai Season 1 DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-26) - Oct 18
Full Metal Panic the Second Raid Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Classic Collection) - Oct 18
Full Metal Panic the Second Raid Complete Collection Boxed Set (BLURAY) (Classic Collection) - Oct 18
Witchblade Complete Collection DVD Boxed Set (Eps #1-24 ) (Classic Collection) - Oct 25
Witchblade Complete Collection oxed Set (Eps #1-24 ) (BLURAY) (Classic Collection) - Oct 25

Frankly, this is a little disappointing. Clearly October will be more about lowering the price of stuff Funi had already published than getting much new material on the street. Other than the 2nd season of Darker than Black, there is really not much to show here. Not a great way to kick off the 4th quarter if you ask me. Hopefully November will be better.

New Episodes of Hellsing Ultimate Streeting in Japan July 27th

Word on the street is that the LONG AWAITED next volume of Hellsing Ultimate (remember that show?!) will finally ship in Japan (BD and DVD) on July 27. It had previously been scheduled for June 22, but was delayed by the effects of the earthquake disaster in March.

This 8th volume of Hellsing Ultimate is the beginning of the third and final season, which will be 3 volumes in total. This final season is being animated by studios Graphinica and Kelmadick. Satelight and MADHOUSE animated the previous ones. Geneon had previously released the original Hellsing series done by Gonzo back in 2001.

The Hellsing Ultimate project has been in and out of production in Japan since 2006, so these new eps have been a long time coming. Funimation has the license to Hellsing Ultimate in the US, so any R1 release of these episodes probably won't happen until at least well into 2012, but at least we know they are finally coming! :-)

Bandai Delays Tales of the Abyss to October

Bandai just sent over a note letting us know that they have delayed the release of Tales of the Abyss to October 11th.

The first volume was originally scheduled to street July 7th.

Tales of the Abyss , Part #1 DVD (Eps #1-6) - Jul 7 to Oct 11
Tales of the Abyss , Part #1 Limited Edition DVD (Eps #1-6) - Jul 7 to Oct 11

Anyone that has an order holding for this title and wants to make a change, just drop us a quick note and we'll take care of it for you.

Section 23 / Maiden Japan Picks Up Ray Anime

Section 23 announced today that it has licensed the 13 eps anime series Ray to be marketed under their 'Maiden Japan' label. Section 23 plans to release the series English subtitled only on DVD later this year.

Synopsis: After a terrible past Rei (Ray) Kasugano has dedicated herself to saving others lives for no money. She works as a doctor and due to special abilities she can see inside a person, making her very good at her job. As she works at the office a friend of hers and co-worker, Shinoyama works at home to create quick ways to save lifes along with her. Ray, Shinoyama and her female co-workers face many obsticles to save these lives but work together to do it.

The Mountain - Amazing Time Lapse Video of the Milky Way

Nothing much happening in the Anime world today (it's summer after all), so here is a little something off topic.

I have a little photography hobby on the side (which I pretty much suck at) which causes me to follow a few photography blogs. Check this out. Terje Sorgjerd has captured the Milky Way in time lapse over El Teide, which is Spain's highest mountain. Filmed between April 4 and April 11, 2011, the individual frames were shot using a Canon 5D Mark II with a Canon 17mm TSE, Canon 16-35mm II, Canon 24/1.4II, and Sigma 12-24mm.

As you watch the video to get to catch a glimpse of how the earth feels as it falls through space. Just sit back and enjoy. It's amazing:

The Mountain from TSO Photography on Vimeo.
Music is by Ludovico Einaudi, the song is called "Nuvole bianche"

He has also previous done a shorter video called 'The Aurora' which he shot in and around Kirkenes and Pas National Park bordering Russia in temps around -10 to -15 degrees below zero:

The Aurora from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

Music is sung by Lisa Gerrard from the Gladiator Movie Soundtrack.

NIS America September / October 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

NIS America has sent us over their September and October 2011 releases, and we now have them available on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

Katanagatari Box Set 2 Premium Edition DVD/BD Combo Set (Eps #7-12) - Sep 20
Kimi ni Todoke Premium Edition DVD Collection #1 (Eps #1-12) - Oct 25

Both of these are premium editions, however, Kimi ni Todoke will be like previous NIS sets and be a DVD only release for now, unlike Katanagatari which is a DVD/BD combo set.

The 2nd Katanagatari DVD/BD premium edition includes a full color 32 page hardcover art book, featuring vivid, unique art work that conveys a story by itself, quest guides including character information, and song lyrics from quests 7 through 12. A detailed glossary was added to the art book in order to provide a deeper understanding of Japanese history and the traditional terminology used throughout the show. Go deeper into the minds of those who hold the Klesha Bringers and learn more about the inner-workings of Shikizaki Kiki and Katanagatari with the beautiful full-color artbook that comes with the Premium Edition of Katanagatari volume 2!

The Kimi ni Todoke DVD premium edition includes a full color 28 page hardcover artbook, featuring character information and Sawako’s most cherished memories. Get inside her head and experience the story of Volume 1 through Sawako’s memories!

Media Blasters September 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Media Blasters has sent over their September 2011 release schedule, and we now have them available on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

Queen's Blade 2: The Evil Eye Series Complete Collection (Eps #1-12) (BLURAY) - Sep 13
Squid Girl (Shinryaku! Ika Musume) Collection #1 DVD (Eps #1-6) - Sep 27

Media Blasters product setup indicates the Queens Blade 2 BD as Region 'A'. Squid Girl will be bilingual so it will include an English dub.

Synopsis: Squid Girl has come to the land from the depths of the sea to conquer humanity for its pollution of the ocean. Unfortunately she ruins the first house she uses as an invasion base and has to work to pay for repairs. Of course, she can't overcome the Aizawa sisters who manage the house, so who knows whether she can subjugate humankind.

Bandai Announces August 2011 Releases - Now Available for Pre-Order!

Bandai has finally sent us over their August 2011 release schedule, and we now have them available on the store site for pre-order. Here's what's coming:

Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya Nyoron! Churuya-san! Part 2 DVD Aug 2
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie (A Wakening of the Trailblazer) DVD/BD Combo Pack Aug 9

Now, this is just my professional opinion, but since Bandai got this mailer out to retailers about a month late (we should be getting their Sept schedule about now), I really don't see how it's possible for them to meet either one of these street dates given that they are taking orders from retailers so close to the first street date. You just can't make and deliver these things that quickly. I imagine both of these will eventually get delayed back into September. If they do come on time, great, but I doubt it.

Happy Independence Day Everyone!

Have a happy and safe Independence Day everyone!

Other License Announcements Round-Up from AX

In addition to the major announcements from Funi, Sentai, and NIS at AX, several other companies made various new license announcements over the weekend. Here's the roundup:

Viz Media announced that it will release the Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva film and the Bleach: Fade to Black - Kimi no Na o Yobu film (Bleach movie #4). The release details of the Professor Layton film will be announced later, but the Bleach movie will street on DVD & BD mid-November.

Bandai Entertainment had little to show at their panel, but did announce that they have the new Japanese series Sacred Seven and that it will be streaming at a couple of places starting next week. No word on a DVD or BD release. They also licensed two new manga series - Mobile Suit Gundam 00I and Lucky Star Boo Boo Kagaboo.

One of our favorite companies [sarcasm] for their expert pricing and distribution policies, Aniplex of America, announced at that they will release the Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Blue Exorcist television series. The details of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica release will be announced later, but the first of four DVD volumes of Blue Exorcist will ship in October, while the remaining volumes are tentatively slated to ship in January, April, and July of 2012 - so they clearly intend to release the series in North America across at least 7 single DVD's. They are like Bandai Visual reborn. Uggg.

Game company JAST USA said at their Anime Expo panel that they are "looking into the process of licensing" the Starry Sky project - honeybee's popular planetarium drama CD and game series. This otome game (games for female players) with bishonen inspired an anime. They have already announced seven new game titles on their blog today including: Saya no Uta - Song of Saya, Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer, Hanachirasu, Sumaga (Star Mine Girl), Outlaw Django ~Zoku: Satsuriku no Django, Seinarukana: The Spirit of Eternity Sword II, and Starless.

And finally, that company out in Iowa (who's name escapes me) dug through someone else's licensing dust bin (I'm just glad they are keeping busy) to bring back from the dead the very old Original Dirty Pair OAVs & Movie + Dirty Pair Flash, slated for release in 2012. They are also bringing back the Martian Successor Nadesico TV series, movie & the Nadesico Gekiganger III OVA - all three to be released together in an Anime value pack. They have also licensed the old Gasaraki TV series, formerly released by ADV. Gasaraki is also planned for a 2012 release as a value-priced DVD set. As one of the worst Anime series released this decade, I hope it's REALLY cheap. Over here at RACS the old ADV Gasaraki box remains one of the most traded in DVD boxed sets of all time.


Bleach: Fade to Black - Kimi no Na o Yobu (Movie)
Synopsis: A mysterious reiatsu (spiritual particle) explosion occurs in the center of Seireitei in Soul Society, causing it to be destroyed. At the exact same time, a major change overwhelms Kuchiki Rukia, which leaves her losing something important inside. Urahara Kisuke sends Kurosaki Ichigo to Soul Society to investigate the disturbance. Upon reaching Seireitei, Ichigo is set upon and attacked by shinigamis, once allies, who have no memory of him and Rukia. Now alone and on the run, Ichigo must find the missing Rukia and uncover the cause of the mysterious incident before it's too late.

Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva (Movie)
Synopsis: Puzzle expert Professor Hershel Layton and his apprentice Luke are invited to an opera by one of his former students, only to learn that most of the audience in attendance have come seeking eternal life, which has been promised to be given to a single person who successfully comes out on top after a series of puzzles. Along with the claim that a young woman who died has been reborn as a child and the search for a long lost civilisation, the mysteries run deep as Layton seeks the truth behind all the riddles.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica (12 Episodes)
Synopsis: After experiencing a bizarre dream, Madoka Kaname, a kind 14-year old girl, encounters a magical creature named Kyube. Madoka and her friend Sayaka Miki are offered the opportunity of gaining magical powers if they agree to make a contract with the strange little being. He will also grant them one wish, but in exchange they shall risk their lives by accepting the responsibility of fighting witches. Invisible to human eyes, witches are catalysts of despair in the areas they inhabit. An ally of Kyube, a magical girl named Mami Tomoe, befriends and encourages the two girls to accept the contract. For an unknown reason, another magical girl named Homura Akemi is determined to prevent Madoka from accepting the deal.

Blue Exorcist (24 Episodes)
Synopsis: Humans live in the world of Assiah, demons in Gehenna. The two dimensions are not meant to interfere with each other, but demons still possess creatures in Assiah in spite of this. The humans who can fight these demons are known as exorcists. Rin Okumura is a boy who bears the curse of being Satan's illegitimate son. His foster father sacrificed himself to save him from demons. To avenge his foster father's death as well as to prove himself, Rin decides to follow the path of an exorcist.

NIS America Picks Up Kimi ni Todoke & Dororon Enma-kun Meeramera

NIS America announced at its Anime Expo panel over the weekend that it acquired the rights to the first season of the slice of life Anime Kimi ni Todoke and also to this year's Dororon Enma-kun Meeramera television anime series.

Kimi ni Todoke will be released in two 13-episode half season boxes, the first half coming in October, and the second part "later". The first release will be a premium editon and include My Memories, an art book featuring a look back at the first half of the series from Sawako's point of view. I imagine that's going to also be DVD/BD combo packaging, but I'll confirm that with them tomorrow. They did not have release details for Dororon Enma-kun Meeramera yet, but the said they hope to have more information by next year's Anime Expo - so it's clear the Dororon release is still more than a year away.

Kimi ni Todoke (25 Epsiodes)
Synopsis: Kuronuma Sawako is nicknamed Sadako due to her resemblance to the girl from the Japanese horror movies "The Ring". Shunned by her classmates, her life starts to change after she befriends Shōta Kazehaya, a very popular boy in her class. Kuronuma Sawako’s one wish in life is to make friends. That’s a difficult proposition when everyone who meets her cowers in terror. She admires her classmate, Kazehaya-kun, a popular, easygoing and 100% refreshing guy who is nice with everyone, even with her.

Dororon Enma-kun Meeramera (12 Episodes)
Synopsis: It's Tokyo in the 1970s, and evil yōkai (evil spirits) are attacking the human world. The Yōkai Patrol—Enma, Yukiko-hime, Kapperu, and Chapeauji—are sent from hell to exterminate them.

Funimation's AX License Announcements

Funimation announced at its AX panel over the weekend that it has acquired the anime titles Deadman Wonderland, Steins Gate, Baka to Test to Shōkanjū Ni! (Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts 2), B Gata H Kei (Yamada's First Time ), and the Asobi ni Iku yo! TV series (Cat Planet Cuties). It also picked up additional rights for the anime action/fantasy series C (The Money of Soul and Possibility - Control). Funi said that all of these titles are slated for 2012 release with DVD/BD combo sets planned for at least B Gata H Kei and Asobi ni Iku yo, though I imagine they will probably all be in that format.

Deadman Wonderland (12 Episodes)
Synopsis: Ganta Igarashi has been convicted of a crime that he hasn't committed, and sent to a new, privately owned and operated prison, where the inmates are the main attraction in a modern day twist to the gladiatorial coliseums of ancient times. Throw in a healthy dose of weird little girl, some new-found super powers, and a little conspiracy theory, and you have Deadman Wonderland.

Steins Gate (24 Episodes)
Synopsis: Steins Gate is about a group of friends who have customized their microwave into a device that can send text messages to the past. As they perform different experiments, an organization named SERN who has been doing their own research on time travel tracks them down and now the characters have to find a way to avoid being captured by them.

B Gata H Kei (Yamada's First Time) (12 Episodes)
Synopsis: Yamada is a high school student, and a virgin, who aspires to have 100 casual sex partners. Despite this, she soon finds herself targeting and pursuing only one boy.

C (The Money of Soul and Possibility - Control)
Synopsis: The Japanese government was rescued from the brink of financial collapse by the Sovereign Wealth Fund. For its citizens, however, life has not improved, and unemployment, crime, suicide, and despair are rampant. Kimimaro is a scholarship student whose only dream is to avoid all this and live a stable life as a civil servant. One day, however, he meets a man who offers him the chance to make money fast. From then on Kimimaro is drawn into a mysterious realm known as "The Financial District," where people engage in supernatural battles for the possibility of money.

Sentai Filmworks AX License Announcements

Lots of announcements coming out of AX this weekend for me to sift through, so I'm going to start with Sentai Filmworks (Section 23) which announced that it has licensed the lolicon sports Anime Ro-Kyu-Bu! , the Sci-Fi movie Loups-Garous, the supernatural drama ef: a tale of memories (ef-memo), and it's sequel ef: a tale of melodies (ef-melo).

They also (per David Williams) licensed three new "Saiyuki: Requiem OVAs." Sentai Filmworks will release the OVAs with the original ADV Films Saiyuki dub cast. Sentai also said it will release the first season of Clannad on Blu-ray in November, as well as more of the Golgo 13 anime - which will satisfy a lot of the folks that have been wondering.

Ro-Kyu-Bu! (12 Episodes)
Synopsis: Subaru Hasegawa is a high school freshman, he joins the basketball team but soon finds out the team is inactive because the captain is being suspected as a lolicon. He miraculously is entangled with the job of being the coach of an elementary school's basketball team. With these girls and their love for basketball Subaru will have a hard time getting acknowledged by each of them.

Loups-Garous (Movie)
Synopsis: In a near future, the world's population has decreased dramatically due to a deadly virus that terrorized the whole planet. Now people eat only synthetic food and tend to avoid as much as possible any form of physical connection or "real contact" with living creatures. Real shops have disappeared from the streets, and with the exception of the community centres (what were once called schools), people communicate with each others exclusively online. But even in this tightly controlled and systematized society, there is a group of young girls who actively pursued real contact. And when a string of brutal murders emerges, their challenge to this closed world is just about to begin.

ef: a tale of memories (ef-memo) (12 Episodes)
The anime revolves around two protagonists, Hirono Hiro and Asou Renji. On Christmas Eve, Hirono Hiro meets a girl named Miyamura Miyako who was chasing a purse snatcher. Hiro later finds out that Miyako also goes to the same school as he does and they start hanging out together. This made Hiro's childhood friend, Shindou Kei, feel left out. Kei then tries to compete with Miyako for Hiro's affection and a love triangle ensues. The anime also tells the story of Asou Renji. Renji meets a girl named Shindou Chihiro at an abandoned train station. He soon learns that Chihiro suffers from a type of amnesia where her memory span only lasts for 13 hours. He also discovers Chihiro's dream of writing a novel, but she has never been able to fulfill that dream due to her condition. Renji then decides to help her fulfill that dream.

ef: a tale of melodies (ef-melo) (12 Episodes)
Synopsis: A tale of Melodies is a continuation where the tale of Memories left off. It tells the tale of two couples - Kuze and Mizuki, and Yuuko and Yuu. Alternating between the past and present, as well as two different twin-cities, it reveals the connections all of the characters share, as well as their tragic past... The anime once again tells two stories. The first story takes place in the past. Himura Yuu meets a girl, Amamiya Yuuko who seems to know him, but he doesn't know her. However, he soon remembers that she was a girl whom he knew from long ago. Yuuko then tells him something which he never knew. He was her first love since then, and her first love has not ended yet. The second story takes place in the present, just after the events of ef - A Tale of Memories. Shuuichi Kuze meets the cousin of Aso Renji, Hayama Mizuki and spends a lot of time with her. Unknown to Mizuki, Kuze had contracted a fatal illness and has little time left to live. Kuze had decided to break all romantic ties, but things go bad when Mizuki tells him that she loves him.