Mana Hinoki/History

## History

### Past

   Raised in Chugoku, known as "the Land of Martial Arts," Mana desired to train in her family's style of martial arts. Found to be too weak for such activities, however, Mana was bullied by others for her seemingly limited skills. In the face of bullying, Mana resolved to put on a cheerful face to others.

Mana has long had a desire to earn as many commendations as she can, frequently consulting fortune tellers to learn where she should travel. One fortune, coming from a teller dressed in an astronaut's outfit, told her to travel to Toykyo.

### Arriving in Toykyo

Upon driving her scooter into the Chinjuku Section of Toykyo, Mana reminds herself that the danger of this city requires that she be careful so as not to be "ripped off." Despite such cautiousness, however, Mana is excited at this opportunity.

Mana then decides to find one fortune teller in Chinjuku who is said to offer information that is frequently correct. But noticing how crowded is the district, Mana also wonders whether in this crowd is someone who could become her friend--which will bring her numerous commendations.

Mana is then distracted by a shout from nearby, as a boy around her age is standing in front of a shop's television set. This boy, Shotaro, is obsessed with a broadcasted fight between a villain and the superhero Charisma Justice. As he imitates the the superhero's Justice Blade technique, Shotaro accidentally enters the street--and is struck by Mana's scooter. Still atop her scooter, Mana calls down to Shotaro, collapsed on the street, to ask whether he is okay. Mana then proceeds to perform first aid to his injured knee--ignoring the fact that blood is squirting from a wound atop his head.

When Shotaro awakens, he becomes frightened by Mana checking for signs of life, mistaking her for a "monster." Offended, Mana screams she deserves more respect after administering first aid to Shotaro (conveniently ignoring that her scooter was partially responsible for reason Shotaro's injury). Shotaro immediately apologizes--as Mana simultaneously apologizes to him.

After Shotaro explains he is looking for his friend Emine, Mana then sees a local Toykyo child lose her balloon. Mana watches as Shotaro reveals he is a Dokeshi, capable of biting bones of animals to gain their powers. Biting the Bone of the Bird, Shotaro flies up to retrieve the balloon, although revealing his Dokeshi abilities earns him scorn from the girl's mother. While bothered by this mother's reaction, Mana explains that many people are afraid of Dokeshi, especially after one kidnapped the Governor. Shotaro had not heard of this news, but before Mana can explain, she first has to chase after someone who stole her scooter. After beating the hijacker and retrieving her scooter, Mana points to a nearby newspaper, posted to a wall, that accuses Dokeshi of kidnapping the Governor. Mana mentions such news has been on television right now. After removing the bandages from his head because the bleeding has stopped, Shotaro explains that he only watches *Justice*--even though he cannot remember when the show airs. When Mana explains that there are weekly listings for all television shows, Shotaro assumes Mana can predict the future, angering her.

Mana's discussion is interrupted by noise nearby, as she and Shotaro see Charisma Justice himself, carrying the Governor's kidnapper over his shoulder while the Governor stand with him, seemingly unharmed. When Mana and Shotaro approach the Governor, his accompanying Vice Governor criticizes all dokishi, including Shotaro. Mana defends Dokeshi, saying they are not all evil, to which Shotaro chants in agreement. The Vice Governor says that they cannot predict whether a Dokeshi will use their powers for evil--and Shotaro chants in agreement again, earning him a punch to the top of his head from Mana, as horns grow from her own hat.

Mana is interrupted by Charisma Justice himself. He urges her to calm down, explaining the Vice Governor is simply uneasy about this recent kidnapping. Mana silences herself, reasoning that while she is still upset, she has to behave maturely. But the Vice Governor continues to antagonize her, promising to "clean the streets of trash like you." Mana begins screaming again at the Vice Governor while Shotaro calls out to Justice, but it is too late: the two are already walking away.

Mana crosses her arms and blames people like the Vice Governor for how bad Japon has become. But she is also surprised that Shotaro is still more interested in the fact that Charisma Justice is a real person and not the prejudice against Dokeshi like him. Shotaro claims he is used to such hatred, but Mana screams "No! You shouldn't get used to people saying things like that to you" Confused, Shotaro asks whether she is telling him not to let people say "no" to him. Annoyed, Mana clarifies loudly: she meant that Shotaro should not tolerate the kind of hateful comments made towards him like those said by the Vice Governor. But Shotaro has his fingers in his ears, explaining Mana just told him not to listen to other people. Mana is so angry that she is chewing on her scooter's light to calm herself and stop this conversation.

Mana then realizes how late she is for her competition in town: the "Stop Putting on Such an Obviously Fake Expression" Competition. Upon leaving the competition winning a commendation, she returns to Chinjuku to find Shotaro being taken into the Vice Governor's limo. Furious, Mana rushes at the Vice Governor, accusing him of attempting to criticize Shotaro more. With little time left, the Vice Governor orders his security to drag Mana into the car. Mana is kicked by a security guard into the limo, as this guard promises to have her scooter sent to her later.

While Shotaro is impressed at the limo and Mana is annoyed, the Vice Governor explains the Governor and Justice are actually Dokeshi in disguise. The Vice Governor had brought the police to the Governor's office, but those officers did not believe him. Therefore, the Vice Governor is now asking Shotaro to get rid of the Tast Brothers. Mana yells at the Vice Governor: first he insults Shotaro, then he selfishly expects the boy to help him. But Shotaro agrees to help. Mana herself refuses.

### Rescuing the Governor

And yet Mana ends up accompanying Shotaro, the boy guessing that she too wants to see inside the building.

Mana is confused why Shotaro would offer to help the Vice Governor when he already did his daily good deed. Shotaro grins and says he is helping the Vice Governor "for the world" and "for humanity." Shotaro then asks why Mana is here--and she answers as well "for the world" and "for humanity." But Shotaro does not believe her, as Mana really wants to solve this case to earn another commendation. Standing nearby, the Vice Governor interrupts.

In the elevator, Shotaro asks whether Mana will be okay fighting against Dokeshi. Mana assures him that everyone in her hometown of Chugoku, "the Land of Martial Arts," knows how to fight. Shotaro has difficulty following Mana's logic, prompting her to knock him in his head--which happens to knock him into the Governor's office. Standing before them is someone who looks exactly like Charisma Justice. But when this man fails to perform the superhero's signature Justice Blade, both Mana and Shotaro realize he is actually the Younger Tast Brother in disguise.

Before Shotaro and Mana can attack, the Younger Brother performs Water-Swelling Press, which allows him to divide his body in two so that it crushes the children under the weight that heavier body while he stands apart from them. Once Shotaro manages to bite his Bone of the Hedgehog, however, the Press deflates. Before Mana's kick can land, the Younger Brother opens his mouth, drenching the children in his accumulated water. Distracted by how disgusting that technique is, the duo fail to stop the Younger Brother from escaping down the hallway. Shotaro and Mana split up to find the Younger Brother. Mana realizes that, given the severity of this mission, she will earn a high commendation. Then she spots the Vice Governor in the hallway. Recognizing him as a fake, she does a flying kick to his face, knocking him down. But as the Vice Governor's face does not transform, she silently realizes her mistake.

Shotaro arrives to find Mana standing over the injured Vice Governor. While Shotaro thinks he ran in a circle, Mana says she did not see the Younger Brother run by. Mana then mentions that the Younger Brother looked exactly like Charisma Justice, prompting her to ask Shotaro whether he watches the show weekly. Shotaro says he does--and gives the exact time when it airs, 10:30 on Sunday.

Mana immediately decks Shotaro, who is actually the Younger Tast Brother. Mana explains that, although Shotaro is a *Justice* fan, he does not know when that television show airs. Mana completes her attack with Senkyaku Banrai, disabling the Younger Brother. Even as Mana celebrates her inevitable commendation, the Younger Brother reminds her that his brother will be more difficult to battle.

Mana bounds the Younger Tast Brother and drags him to where Shotaro is fighting the Older Brother. Furious at his sibling's defeat, the Older Brother disowns the Younger and prepares to attack both him and Mana with Ripping Waves. Shotaro manages to block the attack, however, forcing the Older Brother to retreat. Shotaro and Mana follow the Older Tast Brother to another room--where there are two Governors. Mana is not sure how to discern the real one. But with his enhanced sense of smell thanks to biting the Bone of the Dog, Shotaro identifies and defeats the Older Brother.

The Vice Governor enters the room. Mana falls to her knees to apologize, but the Vice Governor admits he deserved such punishment. The Vice Governor then approaches the rescued Governor, admitting that, in light of Shotaro's actions, the two of them will have to re-think their policy on Dokeshi.

### Beginning Her Travels with Shotaro

After rescuing the Governor, Mana drives Shotaro on her scooter. During this drive, Mana is gleeful at having put her intelligence and physical strength to good use for today's work. Mana then asks whether Shotaro would like to accompany her on a visit to local fortune teller, who may be able to help Shotaro find Emine. Shotaro, pleased, agrees to join her.

### Getting Lost in Toykyo

While getting lost in Toykyo trying to find Christina S. Imbroglia's fortune shop, Mana is excited to travel with Shotaro through Toykyo to see why the city is called "the City of Toys and Games": where even the most mundane activities are made into a game. For example, pedestrians are required to play a Whack-a-Mole Game in order to make the traffic signal change before crossing the street. And the crosswalk Mana and Shotaro approach is a punishment game: if a pedestrian steps off the white lines, then upon arriving on the other side of the street, you have to perform. Shotaro reveals he has faced that punishment game for stepping off the white lines. Mana playfully teases Shotaro as clumsy--until he reveals he has had twelve punishment games. While Mana is shocked, Shotaro explains he had fun because his punishment was to do the Justice Blade twelve times by himself. Shotaro brags that bystanders cheered him by yelling "Stop it!" and "Go away!" As the duo cross, Mana corrects Shotaro that the bystanders were actually heckling him. Distracted, Mana accidentally steps off the white line.

Upon crossing the street, for her punishment game, Mana dons an outfit to impersonate the noises of a fur seal. Hecklers, including Shotaro, mock her performance as inaccurate and annoying. But what truly infuriates Mana is Shotaro's insult of her as a "pipsqueak." Mana proceeds to beat Shotaro, leaving him with a bump atop his head and his face bloody.

### Meeting Imbroglia

Despite his injuries, Shotaro smiles as Mana leads him to the fortune teller. Mana explains the fortune teller is evidently an attractive Dokeshi. Passing through the curtains into the fortune teller's room, Mana is pleased to see that indeed the fortune teller Christina S. Imbroglia really is "pretty." Shotaro agrees, referring to that fact as "typical," but Mana corrects him that the word he means is "mystical."

Imbroglia welcomes the children to take a seat and make their requests. Shotaro begins by saying he is looking for his friend Emine. But when Imbroglia looks into his eyes, she says they have "very deep darkness" and he must acquire "the four powers which can repel the darkness" or else he will encounter difficulties. While Shotaro does not understand Imbroglia's advice, Mana approaches Imbroglia to have her fortune told, first asking Shotaro to wait outside. While Mana smiles to Shotaro, once he turns his back, she begins to look worried.

### Meeting Yohei

After Shotaro exits the fortune shop--and finds himself involved with Yohei Nanami's car chase with Commander Solace of the Fear Factory--Mana speaks with Imbroglia about what the fortune teller discovered about the Dokeshi. Imbroglia explains that Shotaro is dangerous, and his darkness must be resolved before Mana can properly befriend him. Mana leaves the shop, worried about what kind of person Shotaro actually is.

Mana discovers that Shotaro is not waiting for her outside the shop--which leads her to exclaim that “it’s not like I’m all that important.” Instead, she finds Yohei Nanami, who just worked with Shotaro to defeat the Fear Factory leader Solence. Yohei is seated on the road and studying his Jeep, his laptop next to him and recording an episode of *Justice* broadcasted on Channel 10. Yohei approaches her by name with a letter from Shotaro.

Unfortunately, Mana cannot read Shotaro’s scribbling and doodle, so Yohei explains that the young dokeshi is repairing the burger stand destroyed by Solence’s gang and will return in an hour. Shotaro also had asked Yohei to record ‘’Justice’’ for him. Having passed along the message, Yohei returns to repairing his Jeep. But as Mana notices Yohei smoking, she worries he may be an indication that Shotaro really is a bad person.

Yohei senses Mana studying him and asks what she wants. Embarrassed, Mana simply says that smoking is bad and departs. Seemingly amused, Yohei smiles and observes that she and Shotaro are similar: "Weird girl. I guess it’s true what they say: birds of a feather flock together..."

### Toykyo Hostage Situation

Wandering through Toykyo, Mana worries whether Yohei does indeed indicate Shotaro is bad. But she also admonishes herself for not being as cheerful as she thinks she should be. Seeing Toykyo Tower nearby, Mana considers climbing it. Unbeknownst to her, Solence, the Fear Factory leader whom Yohei and Shotaro defeated in their recent car chase, is similarly depressed and decides to climb the Toykyo Tower as well. Mana and Solence happen to both stand at the same elevator to Toykyo Tower, where both sigh in depression.

Upon reaching the top of the Tower, Mana’s admiration of the view gives way to thoughts about why she loves fortune telling: she concludes it is because it is a practice in which other people can make decisions for her. “I’ve always been all by myself, and fortune-telling is the only thing that gives me answers.” She worries how she has never made a friend, that Shotaro is the only person she has conversed with naturally, but now the opportunity to befriend Shotaro may fail. She also wants to help Shotaro find his long-lost friend Emine, to learn why Shotaro is keen on reuniting. But upon remembering Christina’s warning that she conveys what fortune shows her, Mana sighs.

Next to Mana, Solence is disappointed as well. Afraid how Fear Factory will retaliate for his failure to kill Yohei, Solence becomes suicidal. Solence screams aloud how he will not let the Fear Factory downsize him, which surprises nearby bystanders like Mana. Furious, Solence performs Generate Sleeping Gas, intending to “downsize” everyone around him before avenging himself against the Fear Factory, Yohei, and Shotaro. Mana and the bystanders pass out from the sleeping gas, while Solence continues to rant and perform Anger Blast and Bus Gas Blast.

The hostages awaken to find their legs and hands tied together. Standing above the hostages, Solence promises to kill them as part of his murder-suicide plot. It is just a matter of which gas he should use to kill them all: poison gas or explosive hydrogen. Solence seizes one hostage by the collar and, when he cannot answer how he wants to die, knocks him to the floor.

Before Solence can kick the hostage, Mana rushes at the Dokeshi. Solence responds by kicking Mana in the head. Knocked to the floor, Mana thinks how, if Solence is a Dokeshi like Shotaro, then there is a chance her new friend could become evil, too.

Solence and Mana are then distracted by the sound of the elevator arriving to the observation deck. The doors open to reveal Yohei, with a device he constructed from Mana’s scooter, and Shotaro, who is wearing Mana’s bra on his forehead like goggles. While Mana recognizes her bra, the hostages all call Shotaro a pervert. Shotaro is overjoyed to see the hostages are alive, but Mana’s head is steaming in embarrassment and anger: despite being bound, she leaps up and kicks Shotaro into the elevator, knocking the bra off his head. The elevator’s doors close, sending Shotaro back downstairs.

Yohei simply stands aside to smoke, asking what Shotaro did to bother Mana. Upon seeing Yohei again, Mana jumps in fear of him and shuffles back to the hostages--which surprises at least one of them.

After Solence mocks Yohei for being a “softy” unwilling to kill, Mana listens to Yohei’s reply to Solence and notices an inconsistency: he replies that he is willing to kill Solence if necessary but that he is not interested in making weapons because they serve only one purpose, which is to kill. Mana hence realizes that while Yohei seems tough, he actually may be a good guy. Yohei is then interrupted by a bespectacled hostage crawling towards him, begging that he remove the ropes around his hands and feet. Yohei simply kicks the hostage in the face, knocking off his glasses and threatening to kill him. Mana and the other hostages stare in horror as Yohei kicks him again for interrupting his conversation with Solence, which only confuses Mana.

As Yohei battles Solence's gas abilities with an anti-Solence device to suck up his gases--and which he made by disassembling Mana's scooter, which she parked outside Imbroglia's fortune shop--Mana hears the elevator next to him ding. Mana and Solence anticipate Shotaro is returning. When the doors open, however, no one is inside. Solence cackles that Shotaro has abandoned his friends. His cackling is interrupted by Shotaro, using his Bone of Bird powers to fly into the room and kick through the Observation Deck's window. Furious, Solence backs away towards the hostages, grabbing the detonator. As he walks back towards Mana, however, she lies on the floor and kicks upward, knocking the detonator out of his hand. Shotaro then performs Justice Blade to slam Solence’s shoulders, knocking the opponent to the floor.

Police enter the observation deck, but Yohei assures them that the hostage-taker Solence has been defeated. Shotaro approaches Mana, asking whether she is okay. As he struggles to untie her--and accidentally ties up himself--Mana realizes that although Shotaro is dangerous, she is the first person she has befriended, and she did decide to be more cheerful. Freed of her ropes, Mana retrieves Shotaro’s letter to her. She thinks that, while she believes in fortune-telling because she wants to believe what people say, she also realizes that not every fortune is accurate. Mana then asks Shotaro to explain what his scribbled letter says, but he even he cannot remember.

### Traveling to IC Prefecture

Mana walks back with Shotaro and Yohei to return to their vehicles, which they left in front of Imbroglia's fortune shop. While Yohei prepares to enter his Jeep to travel to IC Prefecture, Mana screams in horror upon seeing her scooter disassembled--which Shotaro, who had seen the scooter, finally realizes indeed has been disassembled. Sobbing, Mana seizes Shotaro by his face, asking how he could take her bra and then wreck her scooter. While Shotaro is confused, Yohei attempts to scamper away with the anti-Solence device he constructed from her vehicle. But Mana, seeing her own name written on Yohei’s device, realizes the truth. Yohei tosses the device to her and says he is leaving for Tube to stop NoFix. Because Yohei destroyed her scooter, however, Mana coerces him to give her and Shotaro a ride in his Jeep as he drives to IC Prefecture. Yohei mocks Mana for writing her name on her scooter, then suggests she probably wrote her name on her “not sexy” underwear. Mana is outraged, so Yohei tells Shotaro to pull her underwear out of her bag to confirm. Mana knocks Shotaro to the street to prevent him from doing so. But even as she is furious, Mana smiles, thinking that, if Emine could befriend Shotaro, then what kind of person is he.

During their ride in Yohei's Jeep to IC Prefecture, Mana explains she can find competitions in IC to earn more commendations while Shotaro can use IC's numerous databases to locate Emine. She also complains that she spent so much money on that scooter, which she could have spent instead on clothes. Annoyed by her rambling, Yohei knocks Mana in the head with his handgun and threatens to shoot her. Annoyed, Mana says she will remember Yohei's insult.

The trip from Toykyo to IC Prefecture takes four days. While traveling through Silent Hill, Mana explains that the region is also known as "the Hill Where Ogres Live." While Shotaro insults her by saying "there's gonna be a lot of Mana-sans there," Mana adds that in Silent Hill ogres and humans get along. Yohei tries to mitigate Shotaro's insult by saying that, although he has not seen one, most Ogres, although large, tend to be gentle. But Shotaro then insults Mana again, saying "gentle" is the opposite of her--which earns him another punch in the face. Shotaro changes the topic by asking Mana whether they will meet ogres. She smiles and says if they are lucky.

### Camping in Silent Hill

As it is getting late, Yohei pulls over at the Silent Hill campground to rest for the night. Annoyed with Shotaro, Yohei instructs him to play by himself while he and Mana set up their tent and prepare their meal. Later, Yohei's barbecue announces it has finished. While Yohei continues to type on his laptop while Mana says she will get Shotaro before their meal gets cold.

After Mana calls to Shotaro, she sees he has returned--his legs hanging out the mouth of a towering goby frog before he is swallowed. Shocked, Mana punches and kicks the frog's face. The frog's eyes widened, as its stomach begins to rustle. Mana hears Shotaro call to him, but she does not see him. Shotaro then appears behind the frog--having used Bone of the Snake to crawl out the frog's anus. Mana stops Shotaro from telling the story of how he passed through the frog's intestines, while the frog looks concerned. Shotaro slithers towards Mana. His serpentine appearance and the fact that he slid out a frog's anus causes horns to grow from Mana's hat in anger. She throws a rock at Shotaro and tells the unclean boy to stay away. Afraid of Mana's anger, Shotaro sadly returns to the frog's backside, sticking his head back to its anus to go back inside. Mana tells Shotaro to stop.

While Shotaro goes to a nearby pond to clean himself, Mana pets the frog, wondering why a usually peaceful animal would attack a person. Assuming the frog must be hungry, Mana tells the frog to come to her campsite for a meal.

Returning to the campground, Mana is shocked to see that Yohei finished the food--cooking it and eating all of it. While Yohei compliments Mana’s cooking (and she blushes in acknowledgement of the compliment), she is shocked he could eat food that was to serve three people. Mana then knocks Yohei in the head and turns to apologize to the frog--and finding the hungry amphibian has swallowed Shotaro again. Although annoyed, Mana is too angry to continue yelling.

### Helping an Ogre Child

Mana is then distracted by an elderly local farmer yelling at an gore for ruining his field. In the chances of seeing an ogre for the first time, Mana and Shotaro (still inside the frog) approach the elderly man to ask what has happened. Annoyed, the elderly farmer throws his sickle at the teenagers, which smacks Shotaro in his face. But the elderly farmer, admiring Mana as pretty, takes her hands to apologize for his goby frog consuming Shotaro. Embarrassed, Mana assures that she is not injured, while Yohei and Shotaro refer to the elderly farmer as “nasty,” both mean-spirited and perverted.

The elderly farmer explains that he grows tea but an “ogre brat” named Kisuke wrecks his field until he is unable to sell to market and has been unable to feed his hungry goby frog. While Kisuke has been kind before, after his parents were killed by poachers for their horns, Kisuke is lashing out. The elderly farmer managed to retrieve the horns of Kisuke’s father, to return these remains to the son, but Kisuke has refused to open up to humans. The elderly farmer agrees that humans are awful: he lived alone, but he was close to Kisuke’s family. He was as friendly with Kisuke’s mother as he was with Mana (and likely other women). While sympathetic with Kisuke, the elderly farmer intends to teach the ogre a lesson.

Shotaro, still inside the frog’s mouth, has an idea. He requests the horn of Kisuke’s father. Mana brings the horn to Shotaro explains he will need Mana and Yohei’s help.

That night, Kisuke returns again to the elderly man's farm and again clubs the land, until he is interrupted by a hooded person. It is Mana, pretending to be a traveling spiritual medium. While outwardly stoic, inwardly Mana is giddy at getting to play-act. But she is interrupted by the elderly farmer, who is attracted to her beauty. Lustful, the farmer compares her to something out of Harry Potter or like Teru-Teru Bouzu. Mana punches out the elderly farmer and continues speaking to Kisuke. She explains that Kisuke's father is upset with the son's actions and has come from Heaven to speak with him.

Kisuke, distrustful of humans, refuses to believe any medium could summon a spirit. Mana feels upset at this accusation, but someone else interrupts to demand Kisuke apologize to them. Mana directs Kisuke to look behind him, where he sees in the shadows the spirit of his father. The spirit is actually inhabiting Shotaro, who is using Bone of the Ogre by biting upon the horn of Kisuke's father. The spirit of the father asks for Kisuke's forgiveness for failing to survive and successfully urges him to trust the elderly farmer. While Kisuke is not sure the elderly farmer will forgive him, the elderly man reveals he has had a bed set aside for Kisuke ever since his parents' deaths and welcomes him to live on the farm. Kisuke, sobbing, apologizes, as the elderly man smiles and covers his ears against the ogre's loud cries.

With Kisuke and the elderly farmer reconciled, Mana returns to find Yohei, smoking, and crouched over the unconscious Shotaro. Yohei puts Shotaro on his back to take back to camp. Yohei explains to Mana that, in biting the Bone of the Ogre, Shotaro absorbed not only the father's powers but also his memories and personality. As Yohei hands the father's horn to Mana to return to Kisuke, she asks why Yohei knows so much about Dokeshi. Yohei simply answers that he's a genius.

### Entering IC Prefecture

The next day, Mana and Yohei place the still sleeping Shotaro into the Jeep and continue towards IC Prefecture. Upon entering the Prefecture, Shotaro awakens, shocked to learn from Mana that he has been asleep an entire day. While Mana looks forward to getting commendations, Shotaro initiates Bone of the Bird and hurriedly leaps out of the Jeep, worried that he has slept an entire day, right after performing his good deed for Kisuke and now needs to complete his next good deed before this day ends. While Yohei is surprised by Shotaro's immediate departure, Mana worries what it must be like to be a Dokeshi.

Yohei parks his Jeep around the 758 Block of Tenmusu Street and walks with Mana. She worries whether Shotaro will be alright. But Yohei is not worried: he refers to Shotaro as like a "homing pigeon" and will find them when he's ready, much as Shotaro was able to find Mana by using Bone of the Dog and the scent from Mana's bra. Upset, Mana claims she does not write her name on her underwear.

### Preparing for the Robot Fight Tournament

Yohei takes this opportunity to separate from Mana: he promised only to give her and Shotaro a ride, not to accompany them further in their search for Eneme. Yohei instead focuses on how to infiltrate the Fear Factory--until he feels Mana tugging on his shirt sleeve. Mana holds up a flyer for the local Robot Fight Tournament, and she wants him to make her a robot so she can get a commendation.

Yohei knocks the flyer out of her hand and takes her by the collar of her shirt, warning her not to enter the Robot Fight Tournament. Yohei turns and leaves the "airhead." But Mana has a plan: she will tell the stubborn Yohei that he is simply afraid that he is not good enough to build a robot to win the tournament. Before she can even speak her completed thought, Yohei finishes her sentence, suggesting he will not be coerced by her reverse-psychology. Silenced for only a moment, Mana still finishes her sentence. Yohei pauses. Then he grabs Mana by her shirt and promises the "vixen" that he will build the robot.

Yohei hands Mana a list of supplies he will need, then obsesses about which kind of robot to build, as a robot that simply punches or even performs a Justice Blade will not be impressive enough. Mana interrupts to warn Yohei not to make a strange robot, but he tells her to leave already and get his supplies.

As Mana leaves, she realizes she never found out why Yohei has come to the IC Prefecture. As Yohei is obsessed with his new project, he has forgotten as well, so Mana ignores his concern.

But the flyer that Yohei knocked from Mana's hand explains why he told her not to compete: the Robot Fighting Competition is sponsored by the Happy Factory, actually the Fear Factory Yohei was to infiltrate. The flyer blows away from Mana as she departs and sails to the rooftops, where she is followed by Fear Factory agents Zuno and Ashi, intending to kidnap her to get to their target, Yohei.

### Confronting Fear Factory and Meeting Tool

Mana visits multiple shops, where she buys items on sale, in part because salespersons find her so attractive. Leaving one shop, Mana walks through an alley, as she carries the supplies in a paper bag. Mana complains that her ignorance about robotics prolonged her shopping errands, but she is pleased to have received "a free CPU or PTA or something" from the shops, even if she does not know what they do.

Behind Mana, two Fear Factory lackeys, armed with knives, leap to attack her from the air. But Mana already senses them. Hugging the supplies to her chest, Mana spins to kick one lackey in his chest, knocking the knife out of his hand. Mana then kicks the other lackey in his head. Both lackeys crash into the walls of the alley. Mana apologizes, as she refuses to deal with thieves again.

But from down the alley, a cord is whipped at and around Mana's leg, pulling her down onto the street. The cord is attached to a gauntlet around the wrist of Ashi. As he drags her towards him, he notices Mana's skirt lifting up.

Out of a side-alley, a kappa, Tool reappears, studying the whip. With his sickle, Tool slices the cord, which knocks Ashi back into the Fear Factory lackeys. The kappa complains that such cords are easily to trip upon. But he is surprised to see the lackeys and Ashi escape through a hole in the street.

Mana is surprised to see Tool, who reveals that he is holding a kiwi, whose sourness he desires to eat--which surprises her more, as she thought kappas preferred cucumbers. Only then realizing she is in prone on the street next to a kappa, Mana panics, but the kappa simply confirms that yes, he is a kappa.

Mana is then interrupted by the appearance of Zuno. Rather than reveal his intentions, Zuno claims to a passing tailor who noticed Mana's attire was frayed from her earlier fall on the street. Mana tried to turn down his offer to sew up her damaged attire, but before she knew it, Zuno had completed his work. Although worried by his actions, Mana tried to ignore him and simply walk away.

However, as Ashi explains as he stands back up, Zuno actually sewed one of his nose hairs as "Trapping Hair," using his ability to receive electromagnetic waves to listen to any sounds near Mana's attire while also tracking her location.

### Informing Yohei

When Mana returns to Yohei, he is still soldering his new robot and complains at her how long it has taken her to return. Mana quickly explains all that just happened, including referring to Zuno as "suspicious," sewing her up with some ulterior motive. Zuno and Ashi are stunned that their plan is discovered so quickly. Therefore, Zuno orders Ashi to report to Rodigy--and to lie that their mission was successful, with Mana suspecting nothing.

As Mana describes the kappa, Yohei realizes Mana met his acquaintance, Tool. Yohei explains Tool lives in a Prefecture garbage dump and would help him find parts for his machines. According to Tool, he is highly empathetic to his surroundings. Yohei also says that it was fortuitous to run into Tool, as he only comes to town every few months to buy kiwi. Yohei thinks Mana was also lucky that she did not insult Tool by calling him "baldy."

### Waiting for Her Robot

Yohei completes all but the head for his short, humanoid robot for Mana. He assures her not to worry about Shotaro--only to be interrupted Shotaro's arrival, his head slamming down onto the headless robot. Yohei and Mana leap back in shock. Shotaro, although dazed from his injury, still lifts the robot's right arm and introduces himself.

Shotaro regains consciousness and hides behind Yohei, explaining he has only five minutes left to complete his good deed but is impeded by "this weird guy." Mana directs Shotaro to help "a guy a few minutes ago who looked liked he might need help." They are interrupted by Tool's arrival, as he lands and slams his pickaxe to the street. Before Tool can confront Shotaro, he and Yohei recognize each other. Seizing upon Yohei's distraction, Mana takes Shotaro by the hand towards the person who needs help.

### Helping Shotaro Perform His Good Deed

While Tool and Yohei catch up, Mana introduces Shotaro to the man who required help--to remove his finger out of his nose. Shotaro and Mana are exhausted by the effort, but at least the man is grateful, and Shotaro has completed his daily good deed.

### Explaining Bassai to Tool

Having completed Shotaro's daily good deed, he and Mana return to Yohei's workstation. While Shotaro is climbing pipes, Tool watches Mana practicing her martial arts. After noticing how calm this setting feels, Tool then compliments Mana on her Batsu-sai. Mana is surprised Tool knows kata, which she explains allow her to control her power, flexibility, and pacing. As a demonstration, Mana gestures to her forehead, welcoming Tool to attempt to hit her. But when Tool throws his punch, Mana uses her fists to block both of his before bringing her fist within an inch of his face, stopping just in time to end the demonstration. Tool is impressed as Mana explains she was performing one of the Bassai movements, Yamazuki, in which she strikes the face and center of her opponent to counter their attempt to strike high.

As Tool returns to his seat, he explains that, in the Fantastic Island garbage dump, he learned from reading whatever humans threw away, including karate books and "bodies of strange animals." Tool then notices how kindly Mana treats him, but he explains he already knows about the "civility" humans practice, so she can stop being polite to a "monster" like him. Mana grows silent in response to Tool's remark--before immediately asking to touch his bald kappa head. Twitching in annoyance, Tool asks why martial artists like her want to strike so closely.

### Meeting Get

Meanwhile, as Yohei makes additional modifications to Mana's robot, he remembers his time working for the Dokeshi Hunt and fears that, as he put his colleagues in mortal danger in their failed attempt to kill NoFix, he risks the lives of Mana and Shotaro. Yohei looks back at Mana, who is patting some dust off Shotaro. As Tool can sense Yohei's thoughts, he expresses his frustration with how the "dumbass" Yohei is willing to fight alone. This remark begins a heated argument between Yohei and Tool that almost comes to blows. Mana struggles to break up the fight. When Yohei tells Tool to return to his "trash heap" like the "piece of raw garbage" that he is, Mana stops: she remembers how children near her family's house would also call her raw garbage. Her depression finally distracts Yohei and Tool from their shermish.

Yohei tries to mollify Mana by informing her that he finished building her robot. Yohei is surprised how quickly her depression evaporates, before she explains that, "If I didn't [bounce back fast], I wouldn't get anywhere."

As they look at Yohei's robot, Get-kun, Mana is impressed with how "cute" it is. As Mana picks up the robot, Yohei explains the robot's fuel is garbage and its AI will follow her fighting instructions.

### The Team Breaks Up

But when Yohei notices the flyer Mana originally showed her, he remembers that Fear Factory is sponsoring her tournament and demands Mana not enter the competition. What he does not tell her is that he knows Agei will be at this tournament and will recognize his distinctive design immediately. He suggests she enter the robot in a different competition in IC Prefecture, but Mana refuses, as the Fear Factory tournament is the biggest current robot competition.

Tool tries to defend Mana, telling Yohei, "The shrimp says she wants to enter." Mana then becomes furious, screaming at Tool that she hates being 17 years old yet likely not growing any taller. Mana then calls Tool a "bowling-ball head," which infuriates Tool. As Mana continues to yell at him, Yohei can only think of his Dokeshi Hunt colleagues blaming him with their dying breath. Yohei turns away from her, retrieves his toolkit, and says he is leaving, finally separating himself from Mana and Shotaro because he has "somewhere to go." Watching Yohei depart, Mana is still adamant that she will enter the robot competition.

After Yohei infiltrating the Fear Factory, he is soon ambushed by NoFix and Dr. Agei's robots, to be taken as NoFix's bond prisoners inside the cockpit of the Fear Robot, so that Yohei may see up-close the carnage this robot will cause.

### Entering the Fighting Robot Tournament

The B-Block quarter-final begins with Mana Hinoki and her robot, Get-kun, competing against her opponent, Nemuta and his robot C3P-Oh. With his remote control, Nemuta mocks Mana's "puny robot." But he is surprised as her robot dodges C3P-Oh and jabs it with Yamatsu-ki, its fists denting into C3P-Oh's torso. Get-kun follows up with additional jabs before drop-kicking into the torso again, knocking C3P-Oh to the floor. Impressed with Get-kun's performance, Mana still cannot understand why Yohei discouraged her from participating in this competition. But Mana then realizes that Get-kun has ignored her orders: despite her orders, Get-kun dashes at C3P-Oh to attack with its special move, piercing a hole into its opponent, defeating it.

From the stadium's audience, Dr. Agei confirms with Rodigy that Mana is the girl that Zuno had followed with his Trapping Hair and that Yohei indeed built her robot. Agei also confirms whether his robot army is about to capture Yohei, but Rodigy says that Nofix will take care of Yohei himself. Although Nofix's actions are likely less practical, Rodigy assures Agei that Nofix will still keep their plans on schedule, so for now, they may enjoy this Robot Fighting Tournament. As Rodigy hears Mana's Get-kun won "in the blink of an eye," he smiles, thinking the same will speedy defeat awaits Yohei.

Later, Mana is about to battle Luke Akiho in the final match. But first, the announcer introduces a special guest: Happy Factory's Vice President, Rodigy. Rodigy stands before the enthusiastic crowd that applauds his arrival before politely asking that they quiet down. Rodigy begins his speech, addressing all the products the Happy Factory has developed to make life easier and more comfortable. He then reveals that the Factory has a new secret product that they will reveal today. Mana whispers that she wish Rodigy would show it already, while Luke says a place like Happy Factory only makes products that cheer up customers.

### Attacked by the Fear Robot

Rodigy then pushes a button, causing the stage in front of Mana, Luke, and the announcer to slide apart to reveal something hidden below. From below rising the Fear Robot, piloted by Nofix, with Yohei bound next to him. Looking down to see Mana is impressed by the size of the robot, Nofix recognizes her as Yohei's friend from Zuno's photographs. Yohei feigns a lack of concern for Mana, but Nofix intends to give his enemy "a VIP seat" to some violence. Rodigy continues to announce that the Fear Robot "will be a bridge to a wonderful future," "a new symbol of I.C. Prefecture" so he may "see you smile!" As the audience applauds and smiles at the Happy Factory's new robot, Nofix commands: "Die...you pieces of shit!" The Fear Robot slams its fist into the audience, knocking attendees out of their seats and into the air.

As the Fear Robot proceeds to attack and kill spectators and contestants, amidst the smoke, Mana still stands, clutching Get-kun. As the smoke clears, she witnesses the Fear Robot's destruction of the stadium, and the numerous attendees it has killed. Mana then feels Luke clutch her ankle. She sets down Get-kun and assists him. With the smoke cleared, the Fear Roboto's pilot Nofix can see on his television screen Mana. Recognizing her as Yohei's friend, Nofix chides him: "Doesn't that make you happy?" Yohei screams at Nofix not to hurt her, as she did nothing. As the Fear Robot towers over Mana and Luke, Nofix says to Yohei, "It doesn't matter if she has anything to do with this or not. [...] I kill every last person who has anything to do with you!" Yohei begs Nofix to kill him instead. Nofix promises to do so, but as he is "greedy," he intends to kill more than just him. As Yohei look at the television screen, Nofix adds, "Whenever you watch your buddies die, it's always on the monitor, isn't it?" Mana stares at the Fear Robot and thinks, "You serious?" Nofix whistles while Yohei, watching the monitor, screams: he sees the Fear Robot's fist crush Mana and Luke. However, Mana (although likely not Luke) is saved by Get: Yohei had programmed the robot to use all of its energy to protect Mana whenever necessary. Get likely used Yama-tsuki to kick Mana out of the way, knocking her out of the path of the Fear Robot while Get used its remaining strength to hold up the debris so not to crush Mana, at least until someone could find her.

### Captured by Fear Factory

Elsewhere, inside the destroyed stadium, Zuno is using his electromagnetic hearing to track their nose hair-tagged target among the rubble. Zuno points Assi to their target, who removes the rocks to reveal the barely living Mana. Zuno struggles to figure out what to do now. Zuno and Assi are interrupted by the arrival of Fear Factory lackeys, escorting a big-rig carrying the downed Fear Robot. Next to this big rig is a vehicle transporting Rodigy who pulls over to Zuno and Assi, who salute their boss. Rodigy then notices Mana at their feet, amidst the rubble. When Zuno informs Rodigy that Mana is still alive, the vice president orders she be "dispose[d]." Zuno insists that their plan has succeeded, hence she need not be killed. Rodigy repeats his order, and Zuno acquiesces. Zuno and Assi pick up Mana, along with Get, who is near her but now no longer operational, to return to Zuno's office at Fear Factory.

### Escaping Fear Factory

Inside Zuno's office at Fear Factory, Assi holds a knife over the unconscious body of Mana, laid out on a makeshift operating table. But Assi cannot bring himself to follow Rodigy's earlier instructions to kill Mana. Zuno buries his head in his hands, peeking at Assi and hesitantly ordering him to execute her already. Assi refuses and asks Zuno to do so. Zuno and Assi grow silent, realizing neither one is willing to kill Mana despite their work for an evil organization like Fear Factory. Assi then turns attention to Get, the robot Yohei built for Mana's tournament. Zuno complains that Assi is trying to "escape reality" by obsessing with how cute the robot is. Zuno then realizes why, despite the lethal damage that the Fear Robot did to the Stadium, Mana is still alive: Get must have saved her. This fact motivates Assi and Zuno to decide that, as Get saved Mana, they too want to let her live.

Zuno then realizes how they can save Mana: they can put her down the garbage chute to the basement, where she will end up outside the Fear Factory, at which point she likely will regain consciousness and can escape on her own. Assi reminds Zuno that the garbage chute leads to a canal, so she could catch a cold from the water. Zuno screams that they can put her in a wet suit. Assi then reminds Zuno that Mana could drown, so Zuno suggests putting an oxygen tank onto her. Assi grins, realizing Zuno is about to disobey Rodigy's order. Zuno then explains, honestly or facetiously, that his Dokeshi condition made him forget Rodigy's order--and Assi claims he too has forgotten.

After placing a Fear Factory wetsuit, oxygen tank, and flippers onto Mana, Zuno and Assi carry her unconscious body to the garbage chute, dumping her body down to let her escape.

### Reuniting with Shotaro and Tool

Mana's unconscious body falls down the garbage chute and out of a sewer pipe--where Shotaro and Tool happen to be, preparing to go up that pipe to infiltrate Fear Factory, rescue Yohei, and destroy the Fear Robot. Despite the tumble, she is still unconscious, falling into the canal, surviving despite being face-deep in sewer water because of the oxygen mask put onto her. As Shotaro and Tool look down on Mana, floating in the canal, they wonder why she came out of the garbage chute. Shotaro then refers to her as "Mana garbage." Mana's body begins to twitch, as she is regaining consciousness in annoyance at this nickname she has had since childhood. Tool, giggling, then explains why Shotaro's remark is funny: "Mana" is an anagram of "nama," Japanese for "raw," as in "raw garbage." Shotaro repeats "Nama Garbage" until Mana, increasing with fury, rises from the canal and kicks Shotaro in his face. While Shotaro lies on the sidewalk, bleeding, Mana realizes she is wearing an oxygen mask and wetsuit--and feels her head, noticing she is missing her hat. She asks what happened to her, and Tool says he would like to know as well.

Mana removes her wetsuit and changes into Shotaro's fuku uniform (after he removes it, now standing in only his boxers). As she dresses, she complains that she was attacked by the Fear Robot, then put into "some weird suit," and falls face down into sewer water--without earning any commendation. Her body is still wet as well from the sewer water, evidently having changed from the wetsuit directly into Shotaro's outfit without drying herself first. Annoyed at how wet is her hair, Mana ducks under Tool's biker jacket and uses it to dry her hair. Tool complains until Mana glares at him with the reminder that "a girl's hair is her life!"

### Infiltrating Fear Factory

As the reunited trio climb up the garbage chute and into the Fear Factory, Mana learns that Yohei has been captured. Tool warns his colleagues to be quiet as they enter the garbage room--but Shotaro still lets out a loud sigh of relief. Shotaro still has on his shirt, shoes, and bone satchel, yet as he gave up his fuku uniform to Mana, he lacks pants, his bone-covered boxers on display. Tool complains Shotaro is inappropriately dressed for this mission, but Mana points out that Tool's attire is hardly better.

Tool explains that he will listen to the objects in Fear Factory to locate where Yohei is held, so he orders Mana and Shotaro to be discreet. He is then dumbfounded as both Mana and Shotaro begin calling aloud for Yohei. Tool complains that the duo are going to get themselves caught--so he will just have to catch them himself: he lifts both of them and carries them out the garbage room, much to the teenagers' embarrassment. Having now listened to Tool's orders this time, Mana and Shotaro skirt along the hallway wall. Approaching an elevator, Tool presses the down button. The doors ring, so Tool, Mana, and Shotaro turn from the hallway to enter the elevator--and find it full of Fear Factory lackeys. The lackeys simply and politely say, "Going up." Tool is sweating nervously as Mana and Shotaro stare with bemusement. Tool simply says that they are actually waiting for a down elevator, so the lackeys depart with a pleasant "Very well." After the doors to that elevator close, Tool sighs in relief that the lackeys are stupid. Then Tool hears the elevators behind him all chime. He turns to find an embarrassed Mana explain that, in her impatience, she had pushed the buttons for all the elevators to make one arrive quickly. Tool shouts at her that she was to be discreet. Tool and Mana are then spotted by a Fear Factory lackey. While Tool worries, Mana asks where Shotaro has gone. Shotaro reveals he has returned with numerous Fear Factory robots, offering one to Mana. She chooses the one of the right, claiming it seems "like the most tolerant." Tool says her choice is wimpy.

Tool then reminds himself that these robots are their opponents and knocks one with his pickaxe. A robot strikes at Shotaro, who leaps to dodge. But another robot wraps its limbs around Mana, her hands dangling underneath its. As the robot squeezes, Mana is not scared but simply annoyed: she complains the robot feels cold and hard, that its squeeze hurts, and concludes robots are not tolerant--so she flips the robot over her shoulder and lands a punch into its chest. As Shotaro begins to battle with Bone of the Cat, Tool again complains that the teenagers were to be discreet. But he concludes that, if Fear Factory wants a fight, this team will give one to the evil organization. Mana reiterates her desire to earn a commendation, while the cat-influenced Shotaro hisses. More Fear Factory lackies arrive, intending to kill the trio. Shotaro and Mana dash at the lackeys, as she performs the Rising Sun kick and Shotaro follows up with a Cat Strike slash.

### Rescuing Yohei

Mana and her teammates make their way through Fear Factory until they find the solitary jail cell holding Yohei. Inside, whether from his trauma or NoFix's influence, Yohei has nightmares of his past, including his assumed failure to protect his Dokeshi Hunt teammates from NoFix's fatal attacks. Mana and her teammates open the cell door, at which point Yohei awakens from their noisy entrance, still fighting off Fear Factory soldiers. Yohei's friends approach him, Tool and Shotaro happy to have managed to defeat the Fear Factory opponents and find Yohei in time. After removing him from the cross, Mana tends to Yohei and asks whether he can stand. Yohei only asks why they bothered to rescue him. He tells them to not worry about him, to leave him behind, and to escape to save themselves. Otherwise, Yohei worries, the three of them will get themselves killed. Remembering Nofix's words, Yohei says he is nothing but a God of Death.

Shotaro immediately disagrees, saying Yohei is his friend. Shotaro then says he has no idea what a God of Death is anyway, while Mana starts sobbing over the idea of friendship. Meanwhile, Tool removes from his pants' pocket something for Yohei: the Law-Abiding Silver Gun. Tool explains the gun is proof that Yohei can trust others and is willing to fight beside others. By throwing away that gun, Yohei showed he lost that trust, but having it now in his hands, Yohei must start trusting his friends again. Shotaro adds that his friends will trust and believe in him, hence they will be saved. While Mana continues sobbing, Tool mocks that Yohei is about to cry, too.

Yohei tenses up. He then tells the trio not to get cocky: he decides whether they regroup, and he has thus decided to do so. Yohei aims his weapon at the trio and tells them they are simply "pawns in my game," so they better be ready for him to use them to reach his goals. While Shotaro smiles (and has "King" written on his forehead), Tool and Mana express annoyance at how mean Yohei is acting. But the two then smile, teasing him for being so mean when they have better things to do than rescue him. Yohei replies that he himself has better things to do. As he tries to stand, Yohei mocks the trio's attire, which causes Tool and Mana to become upset again and criticize how poorly dressed is the beaten and bloody Yohei. Shotaro interrupts to remind everyone that, now that Yohei is saved, they are ready to fight again. While other become excited to fight, Yohei manages to stand, put a cigarette in his mouth and light it, and quickly say, "Having a smoke with everyone actually isn't so bad!" Tool turns around to ask whether Yohei said something. As the group leaves the jail cell, Yohei says it was nothing.

### Traveling through Fear Factory

After getting dressed, Yohei hacks into the Fear Factory's video surveillance system to send a message to its security room: on camera, Yohei says he about to destroy the Fear Robot and, since he is out of cigarettes, teases that the Fear Factory vice president Rodigy had better buy him some more. Along with her teammates, Mana interrupts to ask for anmitsu. Mana and her group then wishes Fear Factory a nice day before ending the communication.

The group walks through Area Five of Fear Factory to find the Fear Robot. Mana is surprised to see Yohei is simply scratching his head with his Law-Abiding Silver Gun and wishing someone would buy him cigarettes. Mana stops watching, slaps her hands together, and bows in apology. Yohei is confused. Mana explains that she lost Get during the Fighting Robot Tournament, hence losing the robot that Yohei put in so much work to complete for her. Mana assumes Get-kun must have run off after rescuing her from the Fear Robot, although she does not understand why a robot would save her. Yohei explains that he programmed Get-kun to use all of its energy to protect her. Mana realizes Get-kun must have used Yama-tsuki to kick her out of the way, knocking her out of the path of the Fear Robot (although likely not saving Luke Akiho). Yohei adds that there was only a 50-50 chance Get-kun would be able to save her, but her survival right now proves Get-kun was a success. Mana blushes a bit upon hearing that Yohei was concerned for her. Yohei then looks wicked as he tells Mana she will have to pay him back for all of his labor, which can begin by becoming his lackey to do everything he says. Mana quickly assumes a cheery attitude as she pushes Tool and Shotaro ahead on their path, hoping to distract Yohei from his plan to coerce her.

Mana then changes the subject, asking whether it is a good idea to attempt to destroy the Fear Robot without first coming up with a plan. While Tool agrees with Mana, Yohei assures the others that they do not need a plan. Shotaro adds that he would not be able to remember a plan anyway. Mana blocks their walk, reminding the group that last time they had no plan, did not work together, and were defeated. Yohei responds that actually they did have a plan--and "went too all-out." Therefore, it is better to improvise. Tool then repeats that Shotaro would not remember the plan--and Shotaro again agrees. Yohei then asks whether Shotaro has a plan. The young Dokeshi responds that his plan is to crush the Fear Robot, which Yohei says is sufficient. Mana is shocked, and Tool is surprised that Yohei used to be a commander with such a limited plan. Frustrated with Tool and Mana's concerns, Yohei acquiesces: he tells the excited Mana that they will break into two teams. Yohei and Shotaro will be "Take It Easy" Team, and Tool and Mana will be "Class Clowns." Yohei says that is the entire plan. Furious at the lack of a real plan, Tool screams at Yohei, while Shotaro points at Mana and laughs at their foolish name. Yohei ignores the complaints and leads Shotaro to their mission.

### Separated from Shotaro and Yohei

While Tool and Mana continue to yell at Yohei, the room begins to beep--and a wall falls from the ceiling, separating Yohei and Shotaro from Tool and Mana. Yohei seems calm at the wall dividing the team, while Shotaro compliments him on splitting them up right before the separation. From the other side of the wall, Tool and Mana shout at Yohei that this timing is actually bad. Yohei and Shotaro turn to leave, promising to come back "when we get the chance." Tool and Mana are shocked at Yohei's continued vagueness: they begin to bang onto the wall, demanding to know when and where they will reconvene. Although worried, Mana stokes her and Tool's courage by reminding themselves that they are separated, but now that they had the chance to reunite, they now have trust in each other.

### Fighting Agei

After the wall separates them from Yohei and Shotaro, Tool and Mana find themselves surrounded by more Fear Factory robots. Tool and Mana are easily handling the Fear Factory robots. Tool attacks with Cobra Twister. But Mana's knuckles are already bloody. Tool then sees signs pointing out that the Fear Robot is beyond this tunnel. Tool notices Mana's hands and asks whether she is okay. Despite the pain, Mana smiles and says she can keep going, especially now that these "pieces of junk" robots are defeated.

"Hold it right there!" someone shouts. The wall to Tool and Mana's left crushes as a giant robot breaks through, slamming its fist into Tool, knocking him back. It is Rage Agei, piloting his Tatihi 80 robot. Agei expresses annoyance that Mana insults his robots as "pieces of junk." Agei explains he created the Fear Robot--but Tool is confused why Agei phrases that statement as a question. Mana tries to calm Tool down by saying Agei's quirk is simply phrasing all of his statements as questions. Annoyed at Mana analyzing him, Agei intends to analyze her and Tool, by targeting his robot to attack the duo. With his left fist (marked "Pax"), Agei attacks with a Pax 217 punch "for the peace of my company."

Mana pushes Tool out of the way of Agei's robotic fist, leaping onto the fist and off of it to land a Hinoki Ryu Ultimate Technique kick into Agei's exposed face. Agei sneers and uses his right fist, labeled "Irene," to attack with Irene 218. The fist knocks into Mana's left leg. She tries to block with her left forearm, but the force knocks her back into Tool, causing both of them to crash into the wall. When the debris clears, Mana is revealed to have landed atop Tool--specifically, her backside has landed onto Tool's face, giving him a view of the front of her underwear. While Mana is surprised at the robot's speed and strength, Tool quickly leaps from the floor to get away from Mana's crotch. Tool covers his face and blushes, waving his hand to proclaim that, as a man, he cannot handle "stuff like this." Mana is confused. Then Tool has a massive nosebleed that knocks him to the floor, unconscious. Not realizing Tool became lustful at seeing her underwear, Mana assumes the injury is because of Agei's attack. Agei initially tries to say she is wrong but then drops the subject. Agei instead points out that Tool is already defeated, so Mana will be defeated soon as well. After all, the chest censor on his robot will sense Mana and immediately pulverize him with both fists. Mana realizes she will have to block and attack simultaneously. She stands still in a Bassai pose.

Agei decides that, if Mana will not approach him, then he will attack: he punches with Irene--but Mana manages to deflect the punch and, with that forward motion, slide across the floor and do a double-punch Yamazuki to Tatihi's chest. But the punch lacks force: blood gushes from Mana's knuckles as Tatihi's armor is too strong. Mana realizes she will have to fight in some way other than through her hands. Agei then mocks how damaged are Mana's fists, "crushed like that." To prove her hands are not crushed, Mana slams her left fist into a nearby wall, scaring Agei. "Who cares about some little injury!?" Mana asks. She has determined not to let some injury ruin the trust she has in Yohei. She then shows Agei that she has another way to defeat him: not with her fists but with her kicks.

Mana is on her seventeenth, now eighteenth, kick against Dr. Agei's Tatihi 80 Robot. As Mana pants from exhaustion, Agei mocks her, suggesting she is likely exhausted from her kicks. Undeterred, Mana kicks up a metal sheet among the debris--that slams into Agei's unprotected face. Mana then sticks out her tongue at Agei, calling him "stupid." Mana is then surprised to hear Agei admit he had not considered shielding his cockpit when designing the robot. Agei tries lowering his seat 30 centimeters to prevent another attack, but Mana is not impressed.

Agei then asks why Mana does not attack his weak point, the exposed cockpit, if she now knows it. Mana explains she has too much pride to win so easily. Agei responds that pride will not be enough to defeat his Tatihi. Mana initiates her nineteenth kick, this one a roundhouse. She follows it up with her twentieth kick, a Senkyaku Banrai. Even that powerful kick is not enough to destroy Tatihi, as Mana has to flip back to avoid a punch from the robot's Irene fist.

When Agei praises his "high-tech" robot, Mana questions what can be so high-tech about simply swinging iron balls. Agei explains his robot hides advanced technology, such as an automatic eyedrop dispenser fixed to his pilot seat. He demonstrates by leaning back, waiting for the one drop to fall into his eyes--and instead has his entire body dosed in a shower of water. Agei tries to cover up this failure by referring to the dispenser as a combined shower. He then pushes a button to change the seat into a bed for a nap--which only turns on the shower again. Agei again tries to cover up his failure by claiming the shower woke him up as good as any nap.

Furious at Mana pointing out his failures, Agei attacks with another Irene punch. But when Agei calls Mana a "little shrimp," she becomes furious, noting that Agei is shorter than her. Agei responds that the robot is part of his main body, so he is still taller--and this lie increases Mana's fury.

Mana says Agei's remarks are creepy enough without needing to hear them from Agei's tanuki face. Agei is initially furious, claiming that Mana's remark suggests he tends to repeat "Correct?" and is playful and mischievous. Realizing Mana's insult is actually accurate, he then apologizes and becomes depressed. Mana begs him to stop feeling badly. Furious again, Agei says he is as human as Mana is, and for her insult, he will crush her.

But as Agei attempts to attack, his Tatihi robot overheats. Mana explains she focused her twenty-one kicks on the same spot on the robot, which is the point of a Bassai attack, which means "to break down your enemy's fortress." As Mana dashes to complete her twenty-second and final kick, Agei screams that his theory was that his robot's armor was too strong to be defeated by a little girl like Mana. Mana responds that fighting isn't about fighting or logic but guts. Mana completes her Rising Sun kick, destroying Tatihi and defeating Agei. Mana concludes that her kick "has the spirit and force of the rising sun"--before saying she was just kidding as she does a spin kick to knock the robot down the hall.

Coughing from the exhaust coming off his destroyed robot and his exhaustion, Agei struggles to crawl away, promising to retreat and return with a better robot. But Mana, with a devilish grin across her face, stands over Agei. She asks him what she thinks he looks like. He suggests a tanuki. She responds by kicking his head and demanding he give her a commendation immediately.

### Finding Yohei

Leaving the injured Agei behind, Mana decides to find and reunited with Yohei and Shotaro. But as Tool is still unconscious from the nosebleed he had after seeing her underwear, she struggles to drag him by his biker jacket down the hall. Hearing the loud noises from nearby battles, she decides that she can move him more easily not by dragging him--but by kicking him! Mana stretches and swings to kick. But at that moment, Tool regains consciousness. Mana tries to stop her kick, but it is too late: the force of her kick (and maybe Tool seeing up her skirt again) causes him to collapse in a bloody mess. As Mana lets Tool fall, she wonders whether Shotaro and Yohei are okay.

After Tool recovers from his injuries, he and Mana follow the rumbling sounds of explosions from Yohei and NoFix's battle. Tool warns that he hears the objects around him "getting violent fast." They follow these objects' directions to the Fear Robot's hangar.

By the time Tool and Mana arrive at the Fear Robot's hangar, they see that Yohei has disabled NoFix, using Cold Shot to freeze his hands to the wall, preventing the King of Spin from using his Dokeshi powers to attack. But as Yohei aims his Silver Cannon to attack NoFix, he sees a bolt fall to his side. Nofix explains that, before his hands were frozen, he used his Power of Spin to loosened bolts in the ceiling tank right above Yohei's head. Yohei has a choice for his last bullet: fire at Nofix and maybe stop him but be crushed by the ceiling tank, or save himself by firing at the ceiling tank but let Nofix escape. "Like I give a damn!" Yohei shouts. He keeps his aim on Nofix and charges his attack. The ceiling tank begins to fall. "Get crushed and die!" Nofix shouts. The Silver Cannon completes its fire right before the ceiling tank likely crushes the gun and Yohei with it. But as the smoke of the attack clears, Yohei is surprised to find he has not been crushed: the tank is still above him, held by the Kappa Style, Art of the Dish, Dish Shield--Tool is standing upright, his hard head keeping the tank above! Yohei and Tool smile at each other.

Yohei is then surprised to see Mana attempting to chop his forehead, as she teases how messy is his hair. Yohei mocks Mana as "ugly." Tool then wonders who here looks like the "bigger idiot for trying too hard." Tool asks where is Shotaro, and Yohei responds that the still-missing ally is likely fine. As the debris of the Silver Cannon attack clears, Mana nervously alerts her friends that Nofix is still standing--right next to the Fear Robot. The nose of the robot begins to spin as Nofix assumes the Robot is asking him to pilot it again.

### Stopping the Fear Robot

Even with his hands still frozen to the wall by the Law-Abiding Silver Gun's Cold Shot, NoFix is able to make the Fear Robot move. Tool, Mana, and Yohei stare in shock as NoFix asks whether the robot wants him as its pilot. With that, NoFix snaps his frozen arms from the wall and uses his Powers of Spin with his feet, tearing up the floor and propelling himself like a cyclone. The spinning also opens the entrance into the Fear Robot's pilot seat, upon which he seats. NoFix uses Spinning Cells to regenerate his lost limbs--which somehow makes the Fear Robot grow new limbs as well. Mana and her teammates stare in fear as NoFix cackles and orders the trio to die.

Mana and her teammates try to attack the Fear Robot, but they fall before it easily: Tool's arm becomes broken, and Mana feels out of breath. Yohei loudly asks why NoFix is targeting his friends rather than him. The Fear Robot prepares Spin Spin Nose Drill, the nose of the machine spinning off its face and heading towards Mana. Yohei manages to push Mana out of the way--the tip of the drill piercing him into shoulder, pinning him to the wall. NoFix is outraged--at Mana, as he did not want to injure Yohei. Despite blood pouring from his wound, Yohei giggles and asks whether Mana is okay. Meanwhile, NoFix curses Mana and send the robot's right fist to pummel her. The attack is blocked by Tool's thick dome atop his head. Tool orders Mana and Yohei to retreat while he determines how to defeat the Fear Robot. Tool chides the Fear Robot as not being strong enough to crack his head. Upset, NoFix decides to increase the power of his punches, one of which shatters the dome atop Tool's head. Undeterred, he leans against his pickaxe to stay standing--and is punched against by the Fear Robot. Mana rushes to Tool--and NoFix uses this opportunity to fire Spin Spin Little Drill through her left thigh. Mana falls to the floor. The Fear Robot's right hand scoops her up and begins to squish her. NoFix begins to giggle again before he uses the left index finger of the Fear Robot to flick Mana's head.

Furious, Yohei tries to stand, shouting for NoFix to stop. NoFix tells Yohei to be silent, reminding him that he has told him before--even if he cannot quite remember the date--that he was going to kill Yohei's friends. To prove his point, NoFix has the Fear Robot's left index finger start to rub Mana's bloody head. Yohei stands, impotent against NoFix's power: he fears he will again see his friends die. Yohei reflects on how he left Dokeshi Hunt to avoid losing friends again. He remembers after that loss how he threw his Law-Abiding Silver Gun into the Fantastic Island trash dump, so he could forget his pain. He remembers Tool handing him back the Silver Gun with the direction to trust friends like him, Mana, and Shotaro. With these memories, Yohei refuses to let his friends die. NoFix cackles upon seeing how tortured Yohei looks. He prepares to kill Mana with one more punch.

"Justice Blade!" Yohei and NoFix are surprised to see Shotaro fly towards the Fear Robot's fist. With one swipe of his hands, Shotaro shatters the fist holding Mana, then holds onto the back of her fuku uniforms with his teeth to fly her to the floor. He concludes, "Justice is here."

Shotaro sets the unconscious Mana down onto the floor and stands before her, Tool, and Yohei to protect them from any additional attacks by the Fear Robot. For Mana and his other friends, Shotaro promises to make his daily good deed enacting vengeance against NoFix. But as NoFix cackles at how weak Shotaro is, Shotaro starts to hear a thumping. Skull-shaped smoke circulates around Shotaro, as he communes with Kyokotsu, the spirit of his very bones, who unleashes increased Bone Powers in him that allows him to single-handedly hold back the Fear Robot and begin breaking portions of it.

While Shotaro continues his fight, Mana awakens, finding Yohei tending to her. She asks whether Shotaro has arrived. Yohei picks her up, cradling her in her arms. He asks whether she is alright, and she simply giggles and flashes a peace sign. Yohei apologizes to her, as he chastises himself for failing to keep his friends from being hurt. Mana grins, saying she has had far worse injuries from martial arts training than this battle. She then presses his nose and tells him not to worry. Yohei sets Mana down by a wall as he intends to back up Shotaro. He turns his back to her. Before he departs, however, he asks, "Will a bike be all right?" He remembers destroying her scooter earlier and offers to build her a new one, "then we'll call it even." Mana gives a thumb up. Yohei smiles.

Shotaro flies Tool to the top of the Fear Robot, where he can use his kappa abilities to remove the Robot's soul to make it inoperative. But the soul proves too large for the kappa to fully extract on his own. Yohei tries to give Tool more time by tethering the Fear Robot's limbs with his Silver Gun, but NoFix slowly rips through the tether. Meanwhile, Mana manages to move herself towards where Tool's dome had cracked, where she finds an object: a chip from his dome. As such a chip can act like a bone, she calls to Shotaro and throws the chip at him. Shotaro catches the chip and, realizing what it is, bites into it to perform Dish of the Kappa. As Shotaro now can use his own kappa abilities to see the soul, he and Tool finally managed to extract all of the soul, stopping the Fear Robot before NoFix can use it to kill them. After Tool and Shotaro reflect on what it means now that this inanimate object no longer has its soul, NoFix, now trapped inside the Fear Robot, continues to bicker with Yohei. But Mana interrupts, noticing that the Robot seems to be shaking--then collapsing! Yohei realizes that NoFix's fight has destabilized the entire facility: the Fear Factory is about to collapse on top of all of them!

### Escaping Fear Factory Again

The Factory is collapsing around Mana and her friends. Shotaro, still under the influence of Kyokotsu, is carrying the injured Mana. Along with Tool and Yohei, they see that every exit is blocked. Tool explains that the inanimate objects in the Factory told him this was their only path out of the collapsing building. Yohei assures everyone they will escape because they can draw upon Shotaro's Kyokotsu power. But when everyone turns back to Shotaro, they see he has already lost that ability. Furious, Mana, still being held by Shotaro, strangles him. Shotaro struggles to explain: Kyokotsu had told him that he was so tired that he would go to sleep, as he would be able to survive in Shotaro's bones even if Shotaro himself dies. This information infuriates Mana. Yohei calmly draws on his cigarette and thinks Kyokotsu's advice was heroic--which amuses Shotaro but angers Mana and Tool. Yohei then explains his plan to use Shotaro to escape, then has it enacted: Shotaro bites on Dish of the Kappa to gain a hardened head--then Yohei commands Mana to kick Shotaro into the ceiling above.

Outside Fear Factory, Assi stares with fear as he sees the building collapsing. He fears for Shotaro's group. Behind him, the street is beginning to chip away--before it explodes behind him. Emerging from the street is Shotaro, who is biting on Dome of the Kappa--barely conscious having used his hard kappa head to break through the ground. Assi is surprised to see his new friend emerge. Below Shotaro, Tool looks up, sympathizing with him for injuring himself (especially when he looks just like him). Meanwhile, Yohei commends himself for his plan. The group climbs up, with Shotaro complaining about his injured head, Mana complaining about her sore body, and Tool complaining that he can see Mana's underwear as he is under her skirt again. Once the group is above ground, they witness the Factory finally collapse. Yohei looks to Mana and his other new friends. He mentally thanks them for defeating Fear Factory.

### After the Fall of Fear Factory

After having her injuries attended to, Mana changed out of the fuku uniform and dressed in a cat-ear hat, oversized hoodie, a baggy skirt, and star-decorated sneakers. The day after the destruction of Fear Factory, Mana was with Tool, Yohei, and the newly reactivated Get. They are surprised to hear someone on a newspaper coming towards them, asking to meet with "my bro Shotaro!" It is Assi--whom the trio do not recognize. Assi ignores the insult and hands them the newspaper. The headline features Shotaro, celebrated as the hero of I. C. Prefecture. He is referred to as a superhero as notable as children's idol Charisma Justice and housewives' idol Vector Jibako. Mana, starstruck, wonders whether that means she will become a top idol like Burning Musume Moeko, which confused Assi. Mana then slaps Assi on his back to ask whether he knows Moeko's famous line, "I am burning white hot!" Tool and Yohei are bemused and annoyed by Mana's behavior. Assi regains his composure to again ask where is Shotaro. Mana answers that he has gone out to perform his daily good deed.

At his workstation still in I. C. Prefecture, Yohei asks Mana to hand him a wrench. After she does so, she expresses worry that Shotaro is late returning from his daily good deed. Yohei exhales smoke--then knocks his knuckle against Mana's head, telling her she worries too much and that he is simply dawling. Mana, rubbing her head, cannot ignore her concern.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 3
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 1
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 2
4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 4
5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 5
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 6
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 7
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapters 8 and 9
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 12
10. ↑ *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 10
11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 11
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 13
13. ↑ *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 14
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 15
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 16
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 17
17. ↑ *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 18
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 19
19. ↑ *B. Ichi* Manga: Chapter 20