Social Distance Manga

Crossfire Hearts follows Riku Hayase, a talented but emotionally burnt‑out FPS player, and Miyu Aoyama, a gentle, isolated girl who finds comfort in MMORPGs. Their worlds collide when they meet inside Eternal Realms, where Riku plays as the swift, deadly ranger Crossfire, and Miyu plays as the luminous healer LunaVale. What begins as a simple dungeon run slowly becomes a bond neither expected.
As they grow closer, their in‑game partnership becomes a lifeline for both of them. Riku rediscovers joy after competitive burnout, while Miyu finds someone who listens, understands, and never judges her. Their first real‑life meeting is awkward, sweet, and life‑changing — the moment their online connection becomes something real.
But their relationship is tested by Obsidian Crown, a rival guild led by the cold strategist Blackthorn and the obsessive assassin NightReaver, who fixates on Miyu and targets Riku out of jealousy. Guild wars, PvP duels, and server‑wide conflicts push Riku and Miyu to fight side by side, strengthening their bond even as real‑life pressures mount.
Miyu’s strict home life becomes the greatest obstacle. Her mother disapproves of gaming, isolates her, and eventually cuts her off entirely. The emotional distance nearly breaks them — Miyu feels trapped, Riku feels helpless, and their worlds begin to drift apart. But they refuse to let go. Riku confronts her mother, Miyu stands up for herself, and their friends rally around them.
The final arc brings everything full circle: Riku competes in the world esports championship while Moonlight Vanguard races Obsidian Crown to defeat the expansion’s final raid boss, the Eclipse Sovereign. Both battles mirror each other — pressure, teamwork, trust, and the fear of losing what matters most.
Riku wins the championship.
Moonlight Vanguard clears the raid first.
And in front of a roaring crowd, Riku and Miyu finally confess their love openly — not as Crossfire and LunaVale, but as themselves.
The story ends years later, with the two living together, still gaming side by side, still partners in every world they share.

Comic Title: The 5-Year Ping
Theme: A story of high latency, hidden processes, and a final successful connection.

Part 1: The Legacy Code (School Days)
Visual: A split screen. On the left, Class 11, the boy looking at her across a classroom. On the right, The Last Day of School, the boy holding a letter, standing next to her empty chair.

Caption: "The script was written years ago, but the environment was never stable enough to hit 'Run'."

Dialogue (Boy's thoughts): “I waited for the perfect moment... but the perfect moment was a ghost.”

Part 2: The Debugging Phase (College Years)
Visual: Panels showing the chaos of 1st and 2nd year.

Panel A: The crowded college bus with "Talkative Friends" as blurred background noise.

Panel B (The Dare): The boy on the phone, sweating, asking her for "crush advice" while his friends laugh in the background.

Panel C (The Fake Photo): The boy showing her a photo of a random girl on his phone. The girl looks interested, but the boy’s heart is shown as a "broken link" icon.

Caption: "Sometimes, to protect the system, you have to run a decoy."

Part 3: The 3rd Year Transition (The Near Miss)
Theme: The broken logic of a missed opportunity.

Visual 1: The golden hour light hitting the college main gate. The crowd of students is thinning out. The boy catches up to the girl just as she’s about to exit.

Dialogue: * Boy: "Are you heading home right now?"

Girl (turning with a smile): "Yeah, just leaving. Are you coming along?"

Visual 2: A close-up of the boy’s face—a mix of conflict and regret. In the background, he sees his teammates or the work he has to finish, realizing he can't walk with her today.

Dialogue:

Boy: "I... I have to finish some work before I head out. I can’t join you today. You go ahead."

Girl: "Oh, okay! Don't work too hard. See you!"

Visual 3: A wide shot of the boy standing completely still by the gate as her figure shrinks into the distance. The long shadow of the college gate stretches toward him.

Dialogue (The Internal Monologue):

Boy (whispering): "Go home safely..."

Caption: "A request was sent, but the path was blocked by circumstance. Status: 404 - Opportunity Not Found."

Part 4: The Execution (The Night Call)
Visual: A beautiful night scene. On one side of the page, the boy is walking under a single golden streetlight, phone to his ear. On the other side, the girl is tucked in her room, surrounded by books, smiling.

Dialogue (1.5 hours in): * Girl: "So... be honest. Do you even talk to that crush of yours anymore?"

Boy (Shaking, close-up on his face): "Actually... I'm talking to her right this second."

Part 5: The "Loading" State
Visual: A full-page spread. The girl’s face is a mix of shock and a deep, rising blush. Behind her, a faint, glowing "Loading... 99%" bar appears.

Dialogue:

Girl: "I... I can't process this much data at once."

Boy: "I waited five years for the server to respond. I can wait a few more days for you."

Final Visual: The boy looking up at the moon in the mountains (foreshadowing your Himachal trip).

Closing Caption: "The connection is finally established. Status: Happy."

Creative Elements to Include:
Color Palette: Use cool blues and greys for the "missed" years, and shift into warm oranges and pinks for the phone call scene.

The Symbol: Use the flower you mentioned (the one that bloomed 3 years ago) as a recurring symbol in the corners of the pages.

The "God" Motif: In the background of the college scenes, you could have a small, subtle "halo" over the boy whenever she’s looking at him, showing how she admires him.

$In a world where a few can bend probability through raw will, a quiet drifter named Kai Kurozawa discovers his gift isn’t luck—it’s a loaded weapon. Each choice twists the odds, but the universe charges interest. SERIES BIBLE (Concise) Power System — Will / Odds / Backlash • Dwellers: Rare individuals who can impose Tacks (micro‐edits to probability) via focused Will. • Odds: A visualized “grain” of reality; Dwellers sense vectors of likely outcomes as shimmering filaments. • Tacks: Intentional nudges (“make that rope snap,” “let the bus be 8 seconds late”). Each Tack accrues Fate Friction—stress that rebounds later as Backlash (nosebleeds → fractures → catastrophic karmic events). • Edges: Personal rituals or anchors (coin flips, mantras) that stabilize Will and reduce friction. • Zeroshift (mythic tier, late series): A liminal state where Odds are a silent ocean and Will is a blade—do not reveal yet. World • Haven District: Port-city sprawl; rusted rooftops, market alleys, flooded underpass murals. • Glassline Metro: Arteries of the city; reflective tunnels where odds feel “loud.” • The Quiet: A rumored zone where Odds stop moving—foreshadowing endgame forces. Factions • Municipal Risk Office (MRO): Bureau that tracks statistical anomalies; polite on paper, predatory in practice. • The Erased: Black-bag unit rumored to “remove” unstable Dwellers. Recurring Antagonists • Rael, “The Eraser”: Uncanny calm; his talent dampens other Dwellers’ Tacks in close range. He is the city’s whispered full stop. • Anti-Kai (Kairo Tsukami): Never named on-page yet. Thematic opposite of Kai—fixes outcomes by stealing other people’s Will. Themes • Choice vs. inevitability, the cost of power, anonymity in crowds, the math of mercy. VISUAL STYLE GUIDE (for art consistency) • Line: Clean, high-contrast inks; thin outline on faces, heavy shadows on urban geometry. • Tone: Filmic noir with sharp whites for the “Odds” filaments. • Odds Visualization: Fine hairline threads and moiré patterns drifting off objects; when Kai focuses, threads bloom like dandelion seeds frozen mid-gust. • SFX: Minimalist lettering, small caps with long em dashes for sustained sounds (e.g., VRRR—). • Panel Rhythm: Quiet micro-panels for intention → explode into wide panels for consequence. CAST (Core + Non-Dwellers — at least 5) Kai Kurozawa (17) • A drifter with a coin ritual. Soft voice, sharp eyes. Edge: Coin Flip. • Quirk: Counts his breaths when deciding; breath 7 is commitment. • Flaw: Terrified of being the cause. Mei Arakawa (19) — Journalism student, street photographer. Non-Dweller. • Brave to a fault; sees patterns in people. Keeps instant camera on wrist. Jun “Switch” Tanaka (18) — Electronics stall kid; builds things from city trash. Non-Dweller. • Grease smudges, perpetual grin, a tool roll like a scroll. Aya Mori (20) — Med student volunteering at a night clinic. Non-Dweller. • Steady hands; refuses to look away from ugly truths. Inspector Haruto Ishii (34) — MRO field officer. Non-Dweller. • Polite, dry, exhausted; catalogues “anomaly sites.” Koji Nakamura (52) — Market grocer. Non-Dweller. • Kind man, jokes in proverbs. (Mark as at risk in early arcs.) Daichi (12) — Rooftop runner, orphan. Non-Dweller. • Knows every shortcut; sells maps he draws by hand. Rael (??) — “The Eraser.” Dweller. • Neutral face; shoes make no sound. The city gets quiet when he arrives. HIDDEN SEEDS in Chapter One • Page 3: A passerby with a ring—three triangular prongs. Later revealed as an Erased marker. • Page 17: Black van reflection in puddle (MRO plate pattern: 131-21). • Page 28: Blank spot in Kai’s Odds vision (Rael’s signature dampening at distance). • Final Page: A second coin in gutter, heads scratched with a thin inverted cross (Anti-Kai sigil—unexplained). CHAPTER ONE: PAGE-BY-PAGE SCRIPT & STORYBOARD Length: 36 pages (tankōbon pacing). Goal: Introduce Kai, demonstrate low-tier Tack, show cost, hook with a moral pivot.$

Scene 1 – The Alarm Didn’t Ring
🖼️ Panel Description: Close-up of a digital alarm clock showing 8:17 AM. Bright red numbers. School starts at 8:30. Morning sunlight blasting through bedroom window.
Ren’s hand suddenly slams down onto the bed as he jolts awake.
🎭 Emotion: Shock. Rare panic.
🌫️ Lighting: Bright morning light flooding the room.
📌 Important Detail: Ren without glasses here. His eyes look sharp and intense without them.

🎬 Scene 2 – Running Through Neighborhood
🖼️ Panel Description: Wide shot of a quiet Japanese residential street. Houses, power lines, vending machines. Ren sprinting in school uniform, bag bouncing behind him.
His tie slightly loose from rushing.
🎭 Emotion: Focused but stressed. He hates being late.
🌫️ Lighting: Crisp bright blue morning sky.
📌 Important Detail: This should feel energetic and dynamic — motion blur on legs.

🎬 Scene 3 – First Sign of Malice
🖼️ Panel Description: Ren running past a salaryman standing at a crosswalk. The man looks exhausted, staring blankly ahead.
Around the man’s shoulders floats faint black smoky aura.
Ren turns his head slightly while running.
🎭 Emotion: Ren – alert, observant. Salaryman – drained, emotionless.
🌫️ Lighting: Normal daylight, but the dark aura slightly distorts the air around it.
📌 Important Detail: The aura should look subtle but unnatural — like smoke that moves against the wind.

🎬 Scene 4 – The Street Feels Wrong
🖼️ Panel Description: Ren slows down slightly as he runs through a busier intersection.
Multiple people visible now — students, office workers.
Several of them have darker, thicker Malice around them.
Some have it trailing behind them like shadows stretching too long.
🎭 Emotion: Ren’s expression shifts from annoyed to concerned.
🌫️ Lighting: Still bright morning, but add faint shadow tones creeping into the corners of the panel.
📌 Important Detail: This is unusual — normally only a few people have visible Malice. Today, there are many.
This hints something is escalating.

🎬 Scene 5 – Close-Up: His Eyes Notice Everything
🖼️ Panel Description: Close-up of Ren’s face while running. Wind pushing his hair back.
In his pupils, reflections of dark smoke drifting through the crowd.
🎭 Emotion: Subtle unease. He realizes something is off.
🌫️ Lighting: Bright light on face, but reflection in eyes darker.
📌 Important Detail: No glasses yet — his gaze looks sharper and more serious without them.

🎬 Scene 6 – A Student About to Rupture
🖼️ Panel Description: A high school boy walking ahead of Ren. He’s clutching his chest slightly, looking irritated.
Thick dark smoke is swirling violently around him — more aggressive than the others.
The smoke twitches like it has claws.
🎭 Emotion: The boy looks stressed and angry. Ren looks alarmed.
🌫️ Lighting: Slight shadow cast over this section of the sidewalk.
📌 Important Detail: This Malice is unstable — it should look heavier, almost forming shape.

🎬 Scene 7 – The Almost Touch
🖼️ Panel Description: Ren reaches out while still jogging and lightly bumps into the stressed student’s shoulder.
The moment their shoulders touch—
Black smoke flows rapidly from the student into Ren like it’s being vacuumed.
🎭 Emotion: Ren winces slightly from the sudden intensity. The other student looks confused, like a headache just disappeared.
🌫️ Lighting: Brief dark flash effect around Ren’s chest.
📌 Important Detail: Inside Ren’s chest area, faint dark swirl appears again — slightly bigger than before.

🎬 Scene 8 – Inside His Mind (Very Brief Flash)
🖼️ Panel Description: Dark cathedral-like void. Massive chained shadow creature.
A thin stream of smoke falls from above and merges into it.
One chain rattles loudly.
🎭 Emotion: Oppressive. Watching.
🌫️ Lighting: Deep black with faint red glow from creature’s eyes.
📌 Important Detail: This time the creature’s head slightly lifts.

🎬 Scene 9 – School Gates in View
🖼️ Panel Description: Ren finally sees the school gates in the distance.
Students flooding in.
But above the school building…
A faint dark haze hovering like a storm cloud.
🎭 Emotion: Ren looks unsettled.
🌫️ Lighting: Bright morning sky — but the haze above the school subtly darkens that area.
📌 Important Detail: This is visual foreshadowing. The Malice concentration is strongest at school.

🎬 Scene 10 – He Puts On His Glasses
🖼️ Panel Description: Close-up of Ren stopping just before entering school grounds.
He pulls his glasses from his pocket and slowly puts them on.
His expression becomes calm again.
🎭 Emotion: Controlled. Composed. Mask on.
🌫️ Lighting: Light reflects off lenses dramatically.
📌 Important Detail: When the glasses settle on his face, the dark haze becomes slightly clearer in his vision — like focusing a lens.
This suggests: The glasses are a limiter and a focusing tool.

半分の君
Romaji: Hanbun no Kimi Meaning: “Half of You”
At Hoshizora Academy, the Compatibility Program forces second year students to live together like married couples — cooking, cleaning, studying, sharing a dorm unit, and being graded on emotional sync. High scores mean scholarships. Low scores mean repeating the year. The program is infamous for creating bonds that feel too real and exposing feelings students try to hide.
Ignatius Arimura enters the year hoping to stay invisible. He’s quiet, introverted, and still carrying the ache of a breakup he never healed from. Aoi Kisaragi was his first love — the girl who made him feel alive, and the girl who walked away from him without ever explaining why. Aoi hides her guilt behind her bright smile, convincing herself she’s moved on to Ren. Ignatius tells himself he likes Mina because it’s easier than admitting he still aches for Aoi.
When the pairing announcement arrives, Aoi silently begs for Ren. Ignatius silently hopes for Mina. Both pray they won’t be paired with each other. But fate is cruel. Their names appear together with a compatibility score of 12%, the lowest in the program. The room goes silent. Aoi’s smile cracks. Ignatius’s heart sinks. Moving into the same dorm feels like reopening a wound neither of them survived.
Their first days together are a disaster. Aoi’s loud music, Ignatius’s quiet routines, her clutter, his need for order — everything clashes. Their first evaluation ends in failure. But when Ignatius freezes during a public speaking assignment, Aoi steps in without hesitation, her voice steady, her hand brushing his as she takes over. For a moment, it feels like the version of them that used to exist. Their score rises to 18%, and Ignatius realizes with a painful twist that he never stopped caring.
Seeing Mina and Ren working together so naturally only deepens the ache. Aoi watches Ren laugh with Mina in a way he never laughed with her. Ignatius watches Mina shine beside Ren and wonders if he ever had a chance. Both feel jealousy they refuse to acknowledge. That night, Aoi cries quietly in the bathroom, and Ignatius hears her through the door. He stands there, hand hovering over the handle, but he doesn’t know if he’s allowed to comfort her anymore.
They eventually agree to a truce and create a “Compatibility Strategy Plan.” Cooking together leads to soft laughter. Communication drills turn into arguments that somehow end with them smiling. Late night study sessions blur into moments where they forget they’re supposed to be exes. They fall asleep on opposite ends of the couch, but each night they wake up a little closer. Their score jumps to 41%. Aoi wakes one morning with Ignatius’s jacket draped over her shoulders. She doesn’t ask why. He doesn’t tell her.
And then comes the chapter that changes everything.
One night, after a long study session, Aoi falls asleep at the table, her head resting on her arms. Ignatius tries to wake her, but she mumbles something soft and exhausted, and he can’t bring himself to shake her. He sits beside her, meaning to stay only a moment. But he’s tired too. He rests his head on his folded arms, inches from hers. The room is warm. The silence is gentle. Without meaning to, they drift off together.
When they wake, the sun is rising. Aoi’s head is resting on Ignatius’s shoulder. His hand is loosely holding hers. Their breaths are slow and in sync, like they’ve been sleeping together for years. For a long moment, neither moves. Neither speaks. The world feels fragile, like one wrong word could shatter it. Aoi’s cheeks turn pink. Ignatius’s heart races. They pull away slowly, reluctantly, as if their bodies haven’t caught up to their minds. Their score jumps to 52% the next day, and the teachers quietly note that their emotional sync spiked overnight.
Aoi begins noticing Ignatius again — the way he concentrates, the way he softens when he’s comfortable, the way he still remembers her favorite snacks. Ignatius begins noticing Aoi’s hidden fears — her loneliness behind her popularity, her pressure to be perfect, the way she tries so hard not to disappoint anyone. They move around each other like a married couple who never learned how to stop caring. They share toothbrush cups, laundry baskets, late night ramen, sleepy mornings, and quiet moments that feel too intimate for two people who claim they’re over each other.
During the festival test, their booth becomes the most popular attraction. Aoi turns down a confession from another boy, her voice trembling. Ignatius gets flustered when Mina compliments him, and Aoi notices the way he blushes. Their score jumps to 63%. That night, Aoi quietly asks him if he ever hated her after the breakup. Ignatius can’t answer. He can’t lie. The silence between them is thick with everything they never said.
Rumors spread that pairs might be reassigned. Aoi panics at the thought of losing her chance with Ren. Ignatius panics at the thought of losing Mina. But beneath those fears is something heavier: neither of them wants to be separated from each other. Aoi cries alone on the balcony, and Ignatius silently places a blanket over her shoulders. She doesn’t turn around, but she leans into the warmth. They stand there together, the distance between them shrinking in ways neither of them can deny.
A storm knocks out the power one night, leaving them in darkness with no cameras, no expectations, no pretending. They talk honestly for the first time in months. Aoi admits she’s tired of being the strong one. Ignatius admits he’s tired of being the quiet one. They sit close, closer than they have since before the breakup, sharing warmth in the dark. Aoi falls asleep with her head on his shoulder again. Ignatius doesn’t move. Their emotional sync test the next morning hits 92%, the highest in the program.
As Ren and Mina grow closer, Aoi and Ignatius realize their old crushes were fantasies — safe illusions they clung to because they were afraid of the real thing. The real connection is the one they’ve rebuilt: messy, painful, warm, and real. They act like a married couple — cooking together, arguing, laughing, sharing space, sharing silence — but they’re not lovers. Not yet. They’re something in between, something fragile and terrifying and impossible to name.
When the reassignment list is posted, Aoi’s hands shake and K Ignatius’s heart pounds. They scan the list, terrified. Their names remain together. Not because of luck. Not because of the system. But because they earned it. Aoi turns to him, eyes shining with something fragile and hopeful, and whispers, “Ignatius … can we try again?” He takes her hand gently, like she might break, and says, “Yeah. This time… let’s not run.”
They’re not lovers. Not yet. But they’re closer than they’ve ever been — a pair who lives like a married couple, fights like rivals, and holds each other like home.

Volume 1 – Spring & First Love

Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 1
Chapters: 10
Tone: Light, tender, school romance, slow-burn

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Chapter 1 – The Seat by the Window

Page 1
• Panel 1: Wide shot of classroom, morning sun through windows. Students settling.
• Narration (Mio’s thoughts): “Another spring… another year at this school.”
• Panel 2: Teacher at front, pointing to empty desk.
• Teacher: “New student, Akiyama Haru. Window seat, next to Yamada Mio.”
• Panel 3: Close-up of Mio, surprised, glancing at new student entering.
• Mio (thought): He looks… different.

Page 2
• Panel 1: Haru sits beside Mio, smiling awkwardly.
• Haru: “Hi… hope I’m not in your way.”
• Panel 2: Mio blushes slightly, returning a small smile.
• Mio (thought): Why does my heart feel funny?
• Panel 3: Close-up of both hands reaching for an eraser at the same time. Fingers touch.
• Panel 4: Soft focus on their surprised expressions.
• Narration: “A spark, small as it was, somehow lingered.”

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Chapter 2 – Small Gestures

Page 3
• Panel 1: Lunchtime, Mio eating alone at her desk.
• Panel 2: Haru walks up, holding a milk carton.
• Haru: “You forgot this.”
• Panel 3: Mio blushes, accepting it.
• Mio (thought): He notices me…
• Panel 4: Hallway shot of them walking side by side after class.
• Narration: “We didn’t say much, but every step together felt meaningful.”

Page 4
• Panel 1: Rainstorm outside. Students rushing.
• Panel 2: Haru holding an umbrella for Mio.
• Haru: “We can share.”
• Panel 3: Close-up: their shoulders touching.
• Panel 4: Mio’s inner thought: Please don’t let this end.

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Chapter 3 – Cultural Festival

Page 5
• Panel 1: Festival night, lanterns glowing. Wide shot of the school yard.
• Panel 2: Mio in a simple yukata, looking around nervously.
• Panel 3: Haru approaches, pauses, amazed.
• Haru: “…Wow.”
• Panel 4: Close-up: fireworks exploding behind them, illuminating their faces.
• Narration (Mio’s thoughts): “A perfect moment I wished could last forever.”

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Chapter 4 – Illness Revealed

Page 6
• Panel 1: Haru coughing during class, looking pale.
• Panel 2: Mio discreetly slides a note: “Are you okay?”
• Panel 3: Haru writes back on paper: “Just tired. Don’t worry.” with a small smile.

Page 7
• Panel 1: Hallway after school. Mio watches him leave.
• Panel 2: Inner thought: Something feels wrong… but I can’t ask.

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Chapter 5 – Growing Closer

Page 8
• Panel 1: Rooftop scene at sunset. Haru looks out over the school yard.
• Panel 2: Mio approaches, hesitant.
• Mio: “Do you come here often?”
• Haru: “Yeah… it’s peaceful.”
• Panel 3: Their hands almost touch. Close-up.
• Narration: “Small closeness became our secret.”

Page 9
• Panel 1: Side-by-side flashback panels of their shared laughs, sketching together, walking home in rain.
• Panel 2: Close-up of their intertwined fingers, subtle blushes.
• Panel 3: Wide rooftop shot, petals drifting in the wind.
• Narration: “I didn’t know then that this happiness was fragile.”

Chapter 6 – Rainy Confession (Foreshadowing)

Page 10
• Panel 1: Heavy rain outside school. Students rush with umbrellas.
• Panel 2: Mio walks alone, holding her sketchbook. Haru appears under a nearby umbrella.
• Haru: “Hey… want to walk together?”
• Panel 3: They walk, shoulders touching slightly. Close-up on their hands almost brushing.
• Panel 4: Mio’s thoughts: Every time we touch, my heart skips…

Page 11
• Panel 1: Close-up of Haru, smiling softly, slightly pale.
• Haru (thought): I wish this moment could last forever.
• Panel 2: Mio looks down, quiet blush.
• Panel 3: Their feet step in the same puddle accidentally. Splash.
• Panel 4: They both laugh. Narration: “Little things became everything.”

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Chapter 7 – Festival Confession Attempt

Page 12
• Panel 1: Rooftop at school festival, night sky, fireworks.
• Panel 2: Mio hesitates, looking at Haru.
• Mio (thinking): I want to tell him… but…
• Panel 3: Haru leans against the railing, smiling nervously.
• Haru: “Mio… I—”
• Panel 4: He staggers slightly, clutching his chest. Mio catches him.
• Panel 5: Close-up of their shocked faces.
• Narration: “Life has a way of interrupting perfect moments.”

⸻

Chapter 8 – Hospital White

Page 13
• Panel 1: Hospital hallway. Soft sunlight through windows.
• Panel 2: Mio sits outside Haru’s room, clutching her sketchbook.
• Panel 3: Doctor approaches.
• Doctor: “He’s hiding a serious illness… it’s better you know the truth now.”
• Panel 4: Close-up of Mio’s tear-filled eyes.
• Mio (thought): I should have known…

Page 14
• Panel 1: Haru lies in hospital bed, pale but smiling at Mio.
• Panel 2: Mio holds his hand.
• Mio: “Please… don’t leave me.”
• Panel 3: Haru gently squeezes her hand.
• Haru: “I’ll fight… but if I can’t… remember me, okay?”
• Panel 4: Close-up: Mio nods, tears streaming.
• Narration: “Even in fragile moments, love feels eternal.”

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Chapter 9 – First Kiss

Page 15
• Panel 1: Sunlight streams into hospital room. Haru awake, Mio sitting beside him.
• Panel 2: Haru reaches out, touching her cheek softly.
• Haru: “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time…”
• Panel 3: They kiss gently. Soft panel borders, focus on intimacy, not graphic.
• Panel 4: Mio pulls back, smiling through tears.
• Narration: “A moment too precious for words, too fragile for time.”

⸻

Chapter 10 – The Empty Desk

Page 16
• Panel 1: Back at school, Haru’s desk is empty.
• Panel 2: Mio places a small flower on it, lingering.
• Panel 3: Flashback panels: laughter, shared sketches, rainy walks, festival rooftop.
• Panel 4: Close-up of Mio’s hand holding a note from Haru:
• “Thank you for loving me. Keep smiling, Mio.”

Page 17
• Panel 1: Wide classroom shot, sunlight through windows, empty chair in back.
• Panel 2: Mio stands, looking out the window at cherry blossoms.
• Narration: “Love doesn’t disappear when someone is gone… it stays, like petals in the wind.”
• Panel 3 (Final Page Panel): Close-up of Mio’s hand resting on the desk, eyes soft but resolute.
• Narration: “And some memories are forever.”

Volume 2 – Confession & Loss

Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 2
Chapters: 10
Tone: Bittersweet, emotional, hospital drama, first heartbreak

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Chapter 1 – Winter Illness

Page 1
• Panel 1: Classroom in winter. Snow visible outside the windows. Students in jackets.
• Panel 2: Haru coughs into his sleeve, looking pale. Close-up of his strained smile.
• Panel 3: Mio notices, worried, writing a note: “Are you okay?”
• Panel 4: Haru writes back, faintly smiling: “Just tired. Don’t worry.”

Page 2
• Panel 1: Hallway after class. Students rush past.
• Panel 2: Mio watches Haru’s back as he leaves.
• Panel 3: Close-up of her worried face.
• Narration (Mio’s thoughts): “I felt a shadow over the happiness we’d built.”

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Chapter 2 – Feverish Days

Page 3
• Panel 1: Hospital exterior, snow lightly falling.
• Panel 2: Mio arrives, coat buttoned tight, holding a sketchbook.
• Panel 3: Haru lies in bed, pale but smiling.
• Haru: “Hey… didn’t think you’d come today.”
• Panel 4: Mio sits beside him, gently taking his hand.
• Mio: “Of course I came. I’m not letting you face this alone.”

Page 4
• Panel 1: Haru coughs softly. Mio wipes his forehead.
• Panel 2: Close-up: Haru’s hand holding hers tightly.
• Haru: “I didn’t want to worry you… but maybe I’ve been too weak.”
• Panel 3: Mio looks determined.
• Mio: “We’ll face it together. Always.”

⸻

Chapter 3 – Confession Attempt

Page 5
• Panel 1: Hospital rooftop, late afternoon. Sun casting long shadows.
• Panel 2: Haru leans against railing, eyes distant.
• Panel 3: Mio approaches.
• Mio: “I… I want to say something.”
• Panel 4: Haru glances at her, softly smiling.
• Haru: “Me too…”

Page 6
• Panel 1: Close-up of their hands almost touching.
• Panel 2: Haru sways slightly, Mio catches him instinctively.
• Panel 3: Both faces close.
• Panel 4: Narration: “In that fragile moment, words felt too heavy to speak.”

⸻

Chapter 4 – Winter Memories

Page 7
• Panel 1: Flashback panels of winter school days: shared lunches, walking in snow, laughing.
• Panel 2: Close-up of sketchbook pages with drawings of each other.
• Panel 3: Haru coughing in the classroom. Mio’s worried glance.
• Panel 4: Narration: “Every memory felt more precious, because I knew it might be all we’d have.”

⸻

Chapter 5 – The First Kiss

Page 8
• Panel 1: Hospital room, sunlight soft through blinds.
• Panel 2: Haru reaches out, touching Mio’s cheek gently.
• Haru: “I’ve wanted to do this for so long…”
• Panel 3: They kiss softly. Focus on emotion, not graphic.
• Panel 4: Mio pulls back, eyes wet, smiling faintly.
• Narration: “A kiss, fleeting but eternal, marked the start of a memory that could never fade.”

⸻

Chapter 6 – Days of Waiting

Page 9
• Panel 1: Hospital corridor, empty. Mio sketches quietly.
• Panel 2: Close-up of sketches of Haru smiling, laughing, and in hospital bed.
• Panel 3: Narration: “I tried to hold onto him… even as he grew weaker.”
• Panel 4: Haru sleeps, Mio watching, softly crying.

⸻

Chapter 7 – Farewell

Page 10
• Panel 1: Haru’s hand slips slightly from hers.
• Panel 2: Close-up of Mio’s eyes widening, heart pounding.
• Panel 3: Haru murmurs faintly, smiling.
• Haru: “Remember me… always.”
• Panel 4: Mio holds his hand tighter, tears streaming.
• Narration: “I whispered my love… but the world had other plans.”

Page 11
• Panel 1: Wide shot: Haru’s hospital bed, sunlight breaking through clouds.
• Panel 2: Mio alone in the hallway, holding her sketchbook to her chest.
• Panel 3: Flashbacks: laughter, rooftop, rain, first handshake, first shared umbrella.
• Panel 4: Narration: “And just like that… the seat beside me was empty forever.”

⸻

Chapter 8 – The Empty Desk

Page 12
• Panel 1: Back at school, Haru’s desk empty. Snow falling outside.
• Panel 2: Mio places a small flower on the desk.
• Panel 3: Close-up of her fingers brushing carved initials in the wood.
• Narration: “Love doesn’t vanish. It lingers in the smallest spaces, in the quietest moments.”

Page 13
• Panel 1: Wide shot of Mio looking out the window at falling snow.
• Panel 2: Close-up: tear slides down her cheek.
• Panel 3: Mio clutches Haru’s note: “Thank you for loving me. Keep smiling.”
• Panel 4: Narration: “Some memories are too precious to let go, even when hearts ache.”

⸻

Chapter 9 – The First Goodbye

Page 14
• Panel 1: Flashback: rooftop festival, fireworks. Haru laughing, holding Mio’s hand.
• Panel 2: Cut to hospital: Mio alone, looking at petals falling outside window.
• Panel 3: Narration: “I had learned that love is sometimes measured in fleeting moments, not time.”
• Panel 4: Close-up of sketchbook page with both their faces smiling.

⸻

Chapter 10 – Volume 2 Closing

Page 15
• Panel 1: Wide shot: classroom empty except Mio’s silhouette.
• Panel 2: Soft sunlight illuminates the empty desk.
• Panel 3: Close-up of Mio writing in her notebook:
• “Haru, I’ll always remember you. Always.”
• Panel 4 (Final Panel): Snow falls outside. Narration:
• “Even as life moves on, some love stays eternal… etched in the heart like petals in the wind.

Volume 3 – Adult Mio & Reflections

Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 3
Chapters: 8
Tone: Nostalgic, reflective, bittersweet, healing

⸻

Chapter 1 – Return to the School

Page 1
• Panel 1: Wide exterior of the school in spring. Cherry blossoms bloom, petals drifting in the wind.
• Panel 2: Adult Mio (mid-20s) stands at the gate, briefcase in hand, soft smile.
• Mio (thought): I haven’t been here in ten years…
• Panel 3: Close-up of her hand brushing against the gate, remembering.
• Panel 4: Wide shot of school yard, empty, echoing past laughter.

Page 2
• Panel 1: Mio walks through the familiar hallway, dust motes in sunlight.
• Panel 2: Close-up of her gaze stopping at the back corner — Haru’s empty desk.
• Panel 3: Mio (whispering): “You’re still here, aren’t you?”
• Panel 4: Flashback panel: Haru laughing, giving her a playful wink in the same seat.

⸻

Chapter 2 – Memories in the Classroom

Page 3
• Panel 1: Mio sits at Haru’s desk, fingers tracing carved initials.
• Panel 2: Close-up of old sketches she kept in a notebook: shared doodles, cherry blossoms, small moments.
• Panel 3: Mio smiles softly, eyes misty.
• Narration: “I carry these memories like treasure… even now.”
• Panel 4: Wide panel of empty classroom, sunlight streaming in.

Page 4
• Panel 1: Mio notices a little girl outside the window, sketching petals in her notebook.
• Panel 2: Close-up: Mio smiles, heartwarming.
• Panel 3: Mio kneels beside the girl.
• Mio: “Mind if I watch?”
• Panel 4: Girl smiles shyly: “Sure!”

⸻

Chapter 3 – Haru’s Letter

Page 5
• Panel 1: Mio finds a yellowed envelope tucked under the desk.
• Panel 2: Close-up of handwriting: “If you’re reading this, it means you’ve remembered me. Thank you for loving me. Live fully, Mio. Promise me.”
• Panel 3: Tears roll down Mio’s cheeks. She clutches the note to her chest.
• Mio (thought): I did, Haru… every day.
• Panel 4: Wide panel: cherry petals swirl around her, sunlight hitting her face.

⸻

Chapter 4 – Life Moves On

Page 6
• Panel 1: Mio walking down a cherry blossom-lined street.
• Panel 2: She watches children playing, couples laughing.
• Panel 3: Close-up: little girl from before showing Mio her sketch.
• Panel 4: Mio opens her old sketchbook, inspired to draw again.
• Narration: “Love doesn’t end with loss. It continues in memories, kindness, and inspiration.”

⸻

Chapter 5 – Reflection at Sunset

Page 7
• Panel 1: Mio revisits the school one last time, sitting on the steps outside.
• Panel 2: Cherry blossoms fall around her.
• Panel 3: Soft, imaginary voice of Haru: “I’m proud of you, Mio.”
• Panel 4: Mio smiles, eyes glistening:
• Mio: “Me too, Haru… always me too.”

⸻

Chapter 6 – Moving Forward

Page 8
• Panel 1: Wide shot: Mio walking away from school gate, briefcase in hand.
• Panel 2: Close-up: her sketchbook tucked under her arm, pages fluttering in the wind.
• Panel 3: Narration: “Some love never fades… it simply guides the next steps of our lives.”
• Panel 4 (Final Panel): Cherry blossoms fall, school bell rings faintly in distance, symbolizing past and hope for the future.

Volume 4 – Teacher Mio & Mentorship

Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 4
Chapters: 8
Tone: Reflective, mentoring, subtle hope, echoes of past love

⸻

Chapter 1 – First Day as a Teacher

Page 1
• Panel 1: Exterior: School in spring. Cherry blossoms in full bloom.
• Panel 2: Adult Mio stands in front of a classroom, smiling warmly.
• Narration: “I never imagined returning… but life brings us full circle.”
• Panel 3: Wide shot of students settling in.
• Panel 4: Mio notices a boy at the back, sketching quietly.

Page 2
• Panel 1: Close-up of boy, Riku, focused, messy hair, serious expression.
• Panel 2: Mio’s inner thought: There’s something familiar about him…
• Panel 3: Students chatting around him. Mio approaches.
• Mio: “Hello, I’m your new art teacher. Can I see what you’re drawing?”
• Panel 4: Riku hands her a sketch.
• Riku: “It’s nothing special.”

⸻

Chapter 2 – Echoes of Haru

Page 3
• Panel 1: Mio studies the sketch. Wide shot shows her gentle smile.
• Mio: “No, this is wonderful. I see a lot of feeling here.”
• Panel 2: Close-up: Riku blushes slightly, looking down.
• Panel 3: Flashback panel: Mio sketching with Haru in school.
• Panel 4: Narration: “It reminded me of someone I once knew… someone who changed me.”

⸻

Chapter 3 – Mentoring Moments

Page 4
• Panel 1: Art club room, students painting, drawing. Riku sits quietly sketching.
• Panel 2: Mio kneels beside him, pointing at a detail.
• Mio: “Try feeling the wind in the petals… imagine it moving through your brush.”
• Panel 3: Riku nods, focused, inspired.
• Panel 4: Close-up of Mio’s thoughtful face.
• Narration: “Teaching him reminded me that love isn’t just for the heart… it’s for the soul.”

⸻

Chapter 4 – Festival Preparations

Page 5
• Panel 1: Students decorate school for cultural festival, Mio supervising.
• Panel 2: Riku approaches, holding a folded sketch.
• Panel 3: Close-up: sketch shows Mio at the school steps surrounded by cherry blossoms.
• Panel 4: Mio gasps softly, tears welling up.
• Mio: “You… captured something I didn’t even know I remembered.”
• Panel 5: Riku smiles shyly.
• Riku: “I wanted you to see what your presence does… even without knowing it.”

⸻

Chapter 5 – Graduation Day

Page 6
• Panel 1: Graduation ceremony, students in caps and gowns. Wide shot.
• Panel 2: Riku approaches Mio, holding a sketchbook.
• Riku: “Thank you for believing in me.”
• Panel 3: Mio hugs him briefly.
• Mio: “Carry your feelings with you. That’s how people live on.”
• Panel 4: Close-up: Mio watching Riku walk away, cherry petals swirling.
• Narration: “Haru’s memory guided me here… and now I could guide others.”

⸻

Chapter 6 – Reflection on Love and Mentorship

Page 7
• Panel 1: Mio stands on the school rooftop at sunset.
• Panel 2: Soft, imaginary voice of Haru: “I’m proud of you, Mio.”
• Panel 3: Mio smiles, eyes soft, remembering.
• Mio: “I hope you see… I’ve carried you in everything I do.”
• Panel 4: Close-up of sketchbook in her hands, sketches of students, cherry blossoms, and memories of Haru.

⸻

Chapter 7 – Passing the Torch

Page 8
• Panel 1: Classroom empty after school, sunlight streaming in.
• Panel 2: Mio tidies up Riku’s art supplies.
• Panel 3: Narration: “Some love leaves only memories… some leaves a legacy.”
• Panel 4: Wide panel: Mio walking through school gate, cherry petals falling.
• Narration: “Haru’s presence lingered, but life moves forward… and so must I.”

Volume 5 – Adult Romance & New Love

Title: When the Bell Rang Twice – Volume 5
Chapters: 8
Tone: Bittersweet romance, healing, hope

⸻

Chapter 1 – A Chance Encounter

Page 1
• Panel 1: Mio walking home after school, cherry blossoms drifting in the wind.
• Panel 2: She bumps into Kaoru, books flying everywhere.
• Kaoru: “Oh no! I’m so sorry!”
• Panel 3: Mio kneels to help him gather the papers. Their hands brush.
• Panel 4: Mio (thought): There’s something… calming about him.

Page 2
• Panel 1: Kaoru hands her a book with a shy smile.
• Kaoru: “I think fate wants us to meet like this.”
• Panel 2: Mio blushes slightly, smiling faintly.
• Panel 3: Wide shot of cherry petals swirling around them.
• Panel 4: Narration: “Life has a way of introducing new stories… even after heartbreak.”

⸻

Chapter 2 – Shared Memories

Page 3
• Panel 1: Mio and Kaoru walking side by side under cherry trees.
• Panel 2: Kaoru glances at her.
• Kaoru: “Do you like cherry blossoms?”
• Panel 3: Mio smiles softly, thinking of Haru.
• Mio: “I do… they remind me of fleeting moments.”
• Panel 4: Kaoru takes a deep breath.
• Kaoru: “Then maybe we can make new moments together.”

⸻

Chapter 3 – Past and Present

Page 4
• Panel 1: Mio visits her old school with Kaoru, showing him the classroom and Haru’s desk.
• Panel 2: Kaoru: “He must have been very special.”
• Panel 3: Mio nods, tearful but smiling.
• Mio: “He still is… in a way.”
• Panel 4: Kaoru gently squeezes her hand.
• Kaoru: “And I’ll try to be special too… without replacing him.”

⸻

Chapter 4 – Confession Under Cherry Blossoms

Page 5
• Panel 1: Spring festival at school, petals falling everywhere.
• Panel 2: Kaoru nervously presents a small sketchbook to Mio.
• Kaoru: “I drew this… it’s us, walking here together.”
• Panel 3: Mio flips through it, softly laughing and tearing up.
• Mio: “You captured… something I didn’t even realize I remembered.”
• Panel 4: Close-up: Kaoru leans slightly closer.
• Kaoru: “Mio… will you give me a chance?”

⸻

Chapter 5 – Acceptance

Page 6
• Panel 1: Mio’s eyes glisten with tears.
• Panel 2: Close-up of Mio’s hands hesitating, then intertwining with Kaoru’s.
• Panel 3: Mio (thought): Haru… it’s okay to love again.
• Panel 4: Wide panel: both walking hand in hand, petals falling around them.

⸻

Chapter 6 – New Beginnings

Page 7
• Panel 1: Mio and Kaoru strolling under cherry trees, soft sunlight.
• Panel 2: Close-up: sketchbook in Mio’s bag, showing drawings of Haru and past memories.
• Panel 3: Mio (thought): “Love can exist in layers… the past shapes the present.”
• Panel 4: Kaoru smiles at her.
• Kaoru: “Thank you for letting me walk with you.”

⸻

Chapter 7 – Life and Memory

Page 8
• Panel 1: Mio pauses, looking at the school from afar.
• Panel 2: Soft voice of Haru in memory: “I’m proud of you, Mio.”
• Panel 3: Mio smiles, holding Kaoru’s hand.
• Mio: “I am too… for both of us.”
• Panel 4 (Final Panel): Wide shot of cherry blossoms falling, school bell ringing in the background.
• Narration: “The bell rings for past love… and for new beginnings.”
Manga

Blond men staring at the castle from far away (medieval)

A young man name Ousugi Sakae (an anarchist) looks out over a crowd of fascists facing away listening to a leader speak (generic Imperial Eagle imagery) High, distant wide shot: protagonist small; world/crowd huge. Power imbalance. Telephoto compression Backlit silhouettes / blown-out sky Long, hard shadows at ground level: predators’ viewpoint. “Manga page with a grounded, paramilitary neo-noir style: realistic anatomy, weighty tactical gear (steel plates, cloth straps, gas masks, red-lensed goggles), late-1950s/’60s industrial city backdrop—concrete, rebar, rusted rail lines—night rain and fog, low-key lighting, desaturated blues/grays, cinematic 35mm framing, hard shadows, subtle film grain, crisp fine linework, dense hatching, high-contrast screentones, reserved facial expressions, somber atmosphere. Original characters only.”

A young man name Ousugi Sakae looks out over a crowd of fascists (generic Imperial Eagle imagery) High, distant wide shot: protagonist small; world/crowd huge. Power imbalance. Telephoto compression Backlit silhouettes / blown-out sky Long, hard shadows at ground level: predators’ viewpoint. “Manga page with a grounded, paramilitary neo-noir style: realistic anatomy, weighty tactical gear (steel plates, cloth straps, gas masks, red-lensed goggles), late-1950s/’60s industrial city backdrop—concrete, rebar, rusted rail lines—night rain and fog, low-key lighting, desaturated blues/grays, cinematic 35mm framing, hard shadows, subtle film grain, crisp fine linework, dense hatching, high-contrast screentones, reserved facial expressions, somber atmosphere. Original characters only.”

Kurisutīna is a short, shy blonde girl who fled her homeland because of war. Her father died in the conflict, and her mother, consumed by grief, escapes into alcohol and neglects her emotionally. In a foreign country, Kurisutīna struggles at school, is rejected because of her origin, and feels isolated despite her constant efforts. Lost and fragile, she searches for her identity and a reason to keep going.

One day, she meets Māseru — a tall, quiet, and mysterious boy whose face is never fully shown. Calm and distant, he helps Kurisutīna see the world differently, teaching her that life is not built on grades, status, or material things, but on inner peace, self-understanding, and finding one’s own happiness.

Later, another person enters her life — more direct and grounded in reality. They become close, and through this friendship Kurisutīna becomes aware of the cruelty, injustice, and emptiness of the world around her. Suddenly, this person disappears, leaving behind only words that linger in her mind.

Kurisutīna continues attending school, but slowly begins to understand the meaning of those words. Eventually, she runs away from home to truly discover herself.

During her journey, she encounters situations that reveal both the good and evil of humanity. Each experience helps her confront her fears, emotions, and desires. Step by step, Kurisutīna begins to understand who she is — realizing that the answers she was searching for in others had always existed within her.

Aiko spends her days working between two jobs, one of them a small bakery filled with the scent of warmth and routine. It’s there that she meets Kaito—a quiet boy who becomes a regular customer, always ordering the same thing, always lingering just a little longer than necessary. What Aiko doesn’t realize is that, somewhere between shared smiles and late-afternoon conversations, Kaito has fallen in love with her.
Aiko’s heart, however, remains tied to Ren, her childhood friend. Even as Ren grows distant and emotionally unavailable, she continues to chase the comfort of what they once were, unaware of how much she is losing by holding on.
Mina watches from the sidelines, as she corrupts Ren’s mind even more only loving him for his money isolating him from all his friends and making him hurt aiko.
Kaito stays silent, offering kindness without expectation, choosing patience over confession. He listens when Aiko talks about Ren. He smiles even when her pain has nothing to do with him. And each day, as he leaves the bakery, he carries his unreturned love with him.
Four hearts move in the wrong directions, bound by timing, silence, and fear. In a world where everyone is loving someone who cannot love them back, happiness feels impossibly far away.
A bittersweet manga about quiet devotion, missed chances, and the kind of love that exists even when it is never chosen.

[Manga Page 1 Prompt: The 3rd Rhythm - Flashback Intro]
Create a high-quality full-color manga page, Page 1. The page should be divided into 3 distinct panels with a clear narrative flow.

Overall Tone & Style: Gritty Seinen Manga, Urban Grunge aesthetic. Detailed line art, vibrant but slightly desaturated colors, sharp focus on character expressions and internal monologue.

Panel 1 (Top - Medium Shot):

Content: The protagonist (Ryo - 182cm, muscular build, stoic face) is sitting on his stock Honda Wave 110i motorcycle with a Line Man delivery bag, stopped at a city red light. He's wearing his black baggy oversized sweater, light blue baggy jeans, and a retro half-shell helmet (no visor), showing his messy hair and silver ear piercings.

Action/Expression: He looks straight ahead, calm and expressionless. The background shows blurred city traffic.

Dialogue/Text: None from the protagonist.

Panel 2 (Middle - Wide Shot, slightly above the protagonist's eye level):

Content: Shifts focus slightly to the sidewalk beside the protagonist's motorcycle. A small, innocent boy excitedly points at a passing military truck (or a prominent military poster), looking up at his mother with bright, hopeful eyes.

Dialogue/Text (Speech Bubble from boy): "Mom! I want to be a soldier when I grow up!"

Mood: Hopeful, innocent, a stark contrast to the protagonist's inner world.

Panel 3 (Bottom - Composite Panel, showing a split flashback):

Content: This panel depicts a dual flashback, a direct visual response to the boy's dream. The left side of the panel shows a dark, gritty flashback of the protagonist (younger, more intense) fiercely punching a heavy sandbag in a dimly lit boxing gym. Sweat is flying. The right side shows him wildly playing drums on a dimly lit, smoky stage, hair flailing, with extreme intensity, a drumstick possibly breaking.

Mood: Intense, raw, powerful, and slightly melancholic or regretful. The colors in this flashback should be darker, more muted, with strong contrast, emphasizing the lost passion or intensity compared to his current quiet life.

Dialogue/Text (Thought Bubble from protagonist): "A dream, huh..." (The text should appear slightly faded, emphasizing it's an internal thought).

📖 CRÔNICAS DOS REINOS ENTRELAÇADOS
Volume 1 — Capítulo 1: O Céu Quebrado
20 páginas
🌓 PÁGINAS 1–2 (Splash Dupla)
Arte:
O céu literalmente rachando. Uma fissura colossal corta as nuvens.
Três cores irradiam da fenda: verde, laranja, violeta.
Silhuetas quase invisíveis nas nuvens:
A Árvore-Mãe
O Coração de Ferro
Uma torre distante em Nocturne
Narração:
“Toda era termina da mesma forma.
Primeiro… o céu se parte.”
🌓 PÁGINA 3
Quadros fragmentados, como vidro quebrado.
Floresta queimando.
Engrenagens esmagando corpos.
Mãos esqueléticas emergindo do chão.
Sem texto.
🌓 PÁGINA 4
Close no protagonista correndo em um vazio branco.
Uma voz ecoa:
“Você viu.”
🌓 PÁGINA 5
Ele para. O chão se transforma em raízes negras.
Outra voz, metálica:
“Você criou.”
🌓 PÁGINA 6
Sussurro grave:
“Você libertou.”
Três sombras o cercam.
🌓 PÁGINA 7
Ele acorda bruscamente.
Respiração pesada. Suor.
Quarto simples. Madrugada.
Silêncio pesado.
🌓 PÁGINA 8
Ele percebe algo na mão.
Um fragmento cristalino, pulsando nas três cores.
Pequeno. Antigo.
Ele não sabe de onde veio.
🌓 PÁGINA 9
Ele tenta largar o fragmento.
Não consegue.
Por um segundo, o quarto escurece.
🌓 PÁGINA 10
Corte externo.
A vila dorme.
Mas o céu pisca brevemente com as três cores.
Ninguém parece notar.
🌓 PÁGINA 11
Manhã.
Mercado simples.
Pessoas comentam:
“Os animais ficaram agitados ontem.”
“Senti um peso estranho no ar.”
O protagonista observa em silêncio.
🌓 PÁGINA 12
Um velho viajante encara o protagonista fixamente.
Ele aponta para o fragmento.
“Você também viu?”
🌓 PÁGINA 13
Close no velho.
“A Eclipse das Almas não é mito.”
Ele menciona três reinos:
Eldoria
Ferronis
Nocturne
🌓 PÁGINA 14
O protagonista pergunta:
“O que é isso?”
O velho responde:
“É o começo… ou o erro.”
🌓 PÁGINA 15
O fragmento esquenta.
O velho se afasta, assustado.
🌓 PÁGINA 16
O protagonista vê por um segundo:
A Árvore-Mãe chorando seiva negra.
Pisca.
Volta ao normal.
🌓 PÁGINA 17
Visão rápida:
O Coração de Ferro abrindo um “olho” mecânico.
Pisca.
Desaparece.
🌓 PÁGINA 18
Visão final:
Um selo rachando em Nocturne.
Algo respira atrás dele.
🌓 PÁGINA 19
O fragmento se eleva levemente no ar.
Forma um símbolo antigo.
Pessoas ao redor não veem.
Só ele vê.
🌓 PÁGINA 20 (Splash Final)
O céu acima da vila racha por um segundo.
Muito sutil.
Mas real.
Narração final:
“O destino não escolhe heróis.
Ele escolhe pontos de ruptura.”
Preto.
🎭 Função do Capítulo
Introduzir o mistério.
Conectar protagonista aos três reinos.
Estabelecer que algo já foi iniciado.
Criar sensação de inevitabilidade.
Nada foi explicado completamente.
E isso é intencional.
Mistério bem feito é tensão sustentada.

Shounen manga, near-future. 1 panel only.
Panel 2: Interior of a massive, high-tech exam hall of Arcadia Sovereign Academy. Dozens of rows of desks with students sitting and taking a written exam. Overhead lights and digital clocks add a tense atmosphere. Focus on three students:
– Kanzaki Reo in the middle, relaxed, leaning back slightly with his pen down, already finished early, a small confident smirk on his face.
– To one side, Kurozawa Rika, short black hair and glasses, sitting straight with a serious expression, calmly answering questions.
– To the other side, Sakurai Hina, shy-looking girl with short brown hair and a hair clip, sweating and nervously gripping her pen, clearly stressed.
Caption at top: “Arcadia Sovereign Academy – Entrance Exam, Stage 1: Written Test.”
Small thought bubble for Reo: “So this is how they pick future rulers… interesting.”
Clean shounen lineart, same visual style as previous panel.

Langit masih ingat hari pertama ia bertemu Putri.
Hujan turun deras di kampung halaman mereka. Saat itu, ia baru saja pindah dari kota bersama orang tuanya. Anak-anak desa agak enggan mendekati bocah baru itu—terlalu pendiam, terlalu canggung. Tapi tidak dengan Putri.
“Namamu siapa?”
“...Langit.”
“Bagus. Aku Putri. Ayo main!”
Begitu saja, tanpa banyak basa-basi, Putri menarik tangan Langit dan membawanya ke tengah hujan. Mereka bermain lumpur, membuat sungai kecil dari aliran air, dan tertawa hingga langit berhenti menangis.
Sejak hari itu, mereka tak terpisahkan.
Tahun-tahun berlalu, dan mereka tetap dekat. Dari SD sampai sekarang di SMA. Mereka punya tempat rahasia di tengah hutan dekat rumah kakek Langit—sebuah batu besar di samping sungai, di mana mereka sering membayangkan jadi penjelajah, pemburu naga, atau bahkan penjaga dunia.
Namun, SMA membuat segalanya... berbeda.
Mereka masih bersama, tapi kini ada rasa asing yang tumbuh diam-diam.
Langit mulai sadar ia sering mencuri pandang saat Putri tertawa. Putri juga merasa jantungnya berdebar aneh setiap Langit memujinya, meski hanya soal tugas sekolah.
Tapi keduanya memilih diam. Mereka takut.
Takut kehilangan kenyamanan yang sudah bertahun-tahun mereka miliki.
Liburan panjang akhirnya tiba.
Langit mengajak Putri ke kampungnya, seperti dulu. Kakek Langit sudah lama tinggal sendiri, dan mereka sudah berjanji akan mengunjunginya lagi saat liburan datang.
“Tempat kita masih ada gak ya?” tanya Putri di perjalanan.
“Kalau belum tumbang dimakan waktu sih, masih. Kita bisa cek besok,” jawab Langit sambil tersenyum kecil.
Di malam hari, mereka duduk di beranda rumah kayu, menatap bintang. Suasana hening, nyaman... dan menggantung.
Putri ingin bilang sesuatu. Begitu juga Langit. Tapi tak satu pun dari mereka berani membuka suara lebih dulu.
Esok harinya, mereka masuk hutan.
Namun saat mereka menemukan jalan menuju tempat bermain dulu, mereka malah melihat sesuatu yang aneh: sebuah gubuk yang tak pernah ada sebelumnya. Terlihat tua, ditelan akar dan dedaunan, tapi... utuh. Seperti menunggu seseorang.
Mereka saling pandang.
“Kamu juga liat, kan?”
“Iya... harusnya di situ cuma ada batu besar.”
Rasa penasaran lebih kuat dari rasa takut.
Mereka masuk.
Dan di situlah mereka melihatnya: sebuah buku besar tergeletak di atas altar batu. Tidak berdebu. Tidak kotor. Seolah baru saja ditaruh.
Langit mendekat.
“Putri... kamu lihat ini?”
Putri mengangguk. Mereka mendekat bersamaan. Saat Langit menyentuh buku itu—halaman terbuka sendiri, mengeluarkan cahaya putih menyilaukan.
Mereka berteriak. Dunia berguncang.
Lalu semuanya gelap.