The New Guild Member Arc

**Unofficially Titled Arc**
**The New Guild Member Arc'**s name is **conjectural** which means that no official designation has been assigned, and it is susceptible to change at any time.

## Arc Chronology

**The New Guild Member Arc** is the fourth arc of *Loving Yamada at Lv999!*

Yamada invites Tsubaki to the Chocolate Rabbit Guild with Eita's consent in order for her to become familiar with the Forest of Savior game. According to her research, in order to be a strong beginner, you must join a powerful guild. On the other side, Runa, who was the most distant from Akane during her early days in the guild, is upset about another female joining the group.

## Arc Summary

Yamada visits Akane at her workplace and she asks him to draw a prize as part of the store's promotion. They discuss Runa, whom Akane hasn't seen in a while due to her studies. Akane's coworker notices Yamada and asks if they know one another. Akane boasts that they play the same game online. However, when asked if she is dating him, she denies it and reflects on Yamada's changing behavior.

After her shift ends, they walk home together, and Akane mentions wanting to make him a bento as thanks for fixing her laptop. She concludes that it would be inappropriate for her to show romantic interest in him, but as a bicyclist passes, she suddenly sneezes. Yamada promptly pulls her away from danger and wishes for her cold not to worsen.

Later on, Akane talks to Momo about Yamada while they both get their nails done. She expresses her fear of unconsciously kind men because it is difficult to tell if they are interested in women or not. Momo encourages Akane to act on her feelings rather than hiding them. Suddenly, Runa urgently calls and requests a meeting about an important matter in their guild.

Akane and Runa met at the park, where Runa expressed concern about a new female guild member. Although Akane disagreed with Runa's exclusive attitude towards women, she assured her that they would become friends. However, Runa remained worried about losing Akane's friendship to the new member.

Yamada had invited the new member, who was taking a break from FPS games to play MMOs. Overhearing gossip about an unnamed couple, Tsubaki asked Okamoto and Yamada if two people could end up together against all odds. She thanked Yamada for introducing her to his guildmaster in Forest Of Savior and defended him when he received an unknown call by saying he was bad at love.

Yamada, Tsubaki, and Okamoto walk home together after their class. While Yamada is on the phone, Okamoto asks if he is calling the unknown number from earlier. Yamada answers the call, and Akane explains that she had something to ask earlier but has to go to her part-time job because nobody else is available to cover the night shift. Before ending the call, she promises to talk to him in the game.

While waiting for Okamoto outside a restaurant chain, Tsubaki inquires about the girl Yamada was talking to on the phone earlier and whether he likes her. Yamada thinks silently about Akane's ridiculous faces but doesn't reply when asked if he likes her. At her workplace, Akane drops her phone and notices Yamada's name in her call history. She reflects on what she wants for herself before getting called for work.

Upon reaching their homes, Tsubaki logs into Forest Of Savior and joins the Chocolate Rabbit Guild.

Akane is feeling regretful about her past relationship with Takuma, despite not having any feelings for him anymore. While being tutored by Yamada, Runa receives a phone call from Akane, who cancels their plans due to feeling sick. Despite trying to take care of herself, Akane ends up fainting outside her apartment while attempting to go grocery shopping. Yamada locates her and helpos her back to her apartment, where Tsubaki is crying over the possibility of losing him to someone else. As Yamada carries Akane inside, Tsubaki reminisces about how they first met and encourages herself to make a move on him before it's too late.

Tsubaki reflects on Yamada's personality and notes that despite being a kind and humble person, he can sometimes come across as cold. She overhears classmates discussing how Shiraishi asked Yamada out but was rejected, leading them to wonder if he is even interested in women. Tsubaki confronts Yamada about the rumors and asks him about his relationship status and type. He reveals that he has never been in love, but he remembers a girl from elementary school who liked him and was frequently bullied. This experience has made it difficult for him to pursue romantic relationships.

Meanwhile, at Akane's apartment, Yamada is taking care of her while she is sick. Despite his attempts to get her to drink water, she remains unresponsive until suddenly waking up with a fever. Yamada takes her to the hospital and brings her back home later that night, feeling better.

Akane wakes up in the middle of the night to find Yamada asleep beside her. She is surprised to find him there sitting on the floor in her room and initially believes it to be a dream. However, she sneezes severely, and he asks if she is okay. Yamada tells her that she had fainted earlier outside her apartment complex. Akane becomes emotional and thanks him for rescuing her, noting how kind he is despite his cold exterior.

Yamada steps on one of Akane's romance books that he borrowed to pass the time, leading to a discussion about rejection. Akane notes that it must be tiring for Yamada to reject people all the time, but he reveals that he has made mistakes in the past and isn't as nice as she thinks.

Akane reflects on her past relationship with Takuma and how his honesty about his affair helped her accept their breakup more easily. She believes it is better for Takuma to remember her with a smile rather than as a total wreck after their breakup. Yamada remembers his childhood friend who cried upon learning that he only pitied her, leading him to agree with Akane's perspective on rejection.

Akane is worried about Yamada going to school without sleeping, but he reassures her that he is accustomed to it. He reminds her to go back to the doctor for a checkup before leaving. Later, Momo drops by and gets to know that Yamada had taken Akane to the hospital the previous night. She wonders if they are dating, but Akane insists that they are just friends.

After Momo leaves, Akane cooks and studies while waiting for Yamada's reply. She receives a message from Runa asking to hang out over the weekend and decides to take a break by playing Forest Of Savior. There, she meets Princess Ruri and newcomer TSUBAKI, who is also a Paladin like her. They team up in the game, and TSUBAKI tells Akane that Paladins are the only ones who can challenge bosses alone, which excites her.

Akane, TSUBAKI, and Princess Ruri are playing Forest Of Savior together. They are struggling to defeat a monster and Princess Ruri teases them for their inability to kill it. Eventually, the monster withdraws from the battle as time runs out. Afterward, Akane calls Yamada for advice on how to defeat the monster. Meanwhile, Princess Ruri helps TSUBAKI repair her armor and they discuss their guild. TSUBAKI cryptically tells Princess Ruri that she lacks courage and bravery, but she is unsure of what she means. Yamada admits to being tired when Akane calls him later in the evening, but she simply wants to hear his voice before ending the call quickly. She then calls Momo with something to say.

Akane meets Momo at a café while apologizing to Runa for not being able to play with her. However, instead of discussing love as Momo expected, Akane talks about her recent breakup and her desire to address her insecurities when it comes to romance. Two men from Momo's group date interrupt their conversation but are eventually escorted away by the waiter, Eita, whom Akane thanks for saving them. Momo is shocked by his notable good looks. Later that day, while on his way home from work, Akane and Momo call out to Eita because Akane has something to tell him.

Akane recalls the first time she met Princess Ruri in a game, and Ruri offered to repair her armor at a discount. In the present, Akane meets up with Eita, who initially thinks she wants to confess her feelings for him. However, Momo tells Eita that Akane likes someone else and is hesitant to pursue them due to past heartbreak. Akane explains that she just wants to know if there is anything flawed about herself that caused her breakup and wants to be upfront about liking someone. Eita attests that the person Akane likes is a good person and encourages her to confess right away. As Akane heads off, Momo introduces herself and asks if Eita has a girlfriend. On the way to his house, Akane reflects on her feelings for him and concludes that she likes him.

Akane goes to Yamada's house to confess her feelings but is interrupted by loud neighbors. Yamada invites her inside and asks if they can talk on the way to the station. On the way, Akane hesitates to confess in public and almost gets hit by a car, causing her to feel guilty. She decides to come back another time but is surprised when Yamada holds her hand as they cross the street. At the station, he apologizes for not being able to listen and offers to call later if it was important before they part ways. Meanwhile, at cram school, Tsubaki is wondering about the weather on their way home.

After his classes, Yamada wants to quickly get home because of the heavy rain. Okamoto offers to share his umbrella, but he secretly offers it to Tsubaki instead. Tsubaki reluctantly accepts it and later asks Yamada for the umbrella. While they walk together, Yamada seems disinterested in Tsubaki's conversation and becomes captivated by a blonde girl who runs past them. He hands his umbrella to Tsubaki and intends to run all the way to the station, leaving her behind.

Tsubaki chased after him but fell and broke her glasses in the process. Yamada returned and helped her find them, while she unconsciously confessed that she likes him. They were caught in a downpour as Tsubaki requested that he think only of her for the day. Meanwhile, Akane was napping by her window, watching the rain when she received a text from Yamada saying they couldn't talk anymore that day, leaving her feeling disappointed.

Yamada is at the Sasaki Residence for his daily tutoring session with Runa when Eita asks if anyone has confessed to him, assuming it is Akane. However, Yamada reveals that Tsubaki has confessed to him, and he is unsure how to respond as he considers her a friend. He tries to contact Akane but is unable to reach her, so he goes to her workplace where she cheers him up. She tells him that what she was going to say is not essential, and she has already told Momo. Later in the day, Yamada meets Tsubaki near a bridge.

Yamada and Tsubaki arrived at their meeting spot on time. Tsubaki had been concealing her emotions for Yamada for years but had finally mustered up the courage to tell him everything she liked about him. She knew that Yamada could not return her feelings but still chose to express them. Tsubaki was aware of how Akane had changed Yamada, even though others were unaware of it. When Yamada responded that he could not reciprocate her feelings, she was grateful that he let her say what she needed to say. During their conversation, Tsubaki noticed a drawing on Yamada's hand which she recognized as Akane's work, revealing that Yamada liked Akane instead of her.

## Chapters

* **Chapter 25 "It's a terrifying trap"** (恐ろしい罠なのよ, *Osoroshī Wanananoyo*)
* **Chapter 26 "I hate odd numbers!!"** (奇数はいやっ!!, *Dai Nijūrokuwakisūwa Iya!!*)
* **Chapter 27 "Can't anyone switch with you?"** (誰か代わりいないんですか?, *Dareka Kawariinain'desuka?*)
* **Chapter 28 "I'm sorry, Yamada."** (ごめんね山田, *Gomen'ne Yamada*)
* **Chapter 29 "Come to think of it, when I was little..."** (そういえば昔..., *Sō Ieba Mukashi...*)
* **Chapter 30 "Don't you think it's better that way?"** (なんかそっちのが良くない?, *Nan'ka Socchinoga Yoku Nai?*)
* **Chapter 31 "I'm a Level 55 Paladin!!"** (レベル55のパラディンです!!, *Reberu Gojūgono Paradin'desu!!*)
* **Chapter 32 "This is getting us nowhere!!"** (このままでは不毛, *Kono Mamadewa Fumō*)
* **Chapter 33 "Dreamier than group dates"** (合コンより夢があるね, *Gōkon'yori Yumega Arune*)
* **Chapter 34 "I like you."** (好きだよ., *Sukidayo.*)
* **Chapter 35 "That's not fair"** (そんなのはちょっとずるい, *Son'nanowa Chotto Zurui*)
* **Chapter 36 "Wanna share with me?"** (僕と相合傘しよう, *Bokuto Aiaikasashiyō*)
* **Chapter 37 "You can trust me."** (信じていいよ, *Shin'jite Īyo*)
* **Chapter 38 "Even if nobody else realize."** (誰も気付かなくても, *Daremo Kizukanakutemo*)

## Episodes

* **Level 9 “The guild is facing a crisis!!”** (ギルドの一大事だよっ！！, *Girudo No Ichidaiji Da Yo!!*)
* **Level 10 “I'll definitely be hurt someday”** (きっといつか傷つく, *Kitto Itsuka Kizutsuku*)
* **Level 11 “There's something I want to talk to you about”** (話したいことがあるの, *Hanashitai koto ga aru no*)
* **Level 12 “I like you. ”** (好きだよ., *Sukidayo.*)
* **Level 13 “In the morning when I wake up”** (朝 起きたら, *Asa Okitara*)

## Characters Introduced

**Akito Yamada**
**Akane Kinoshita**
**Shinohara**
**Momoko Maeda**
**Runa Sasaki**
**Yukari Tsubaki**
**Takeaki Okamoto**