Chapter 1 (Behind the Scenes!!)

**Scene 1** is the 1st chapter of *Behind the Scenes!!* manga series.

## Summary

Ranmaru, a pessimistic son of a fisherman, runs into the shoot of the Film Studies Club and is introduced to the Art Squad. He is forced by Ryuuji to help with the Squad's projects but he escapes. When the Art Squad gets into trouble because of a collapsed skylight, Ranmaru's resolve awakens and he is able to save the Art Squad with his skills.

## Plot

Ranmaru Kurisu is a first year university student at Shichikoku University in Tokyo. He is a pessimistic but observant son of a fisherman who never fit in with the other kids in his fisher hometown and prefers to stick to the shadows and not have much attention drawn to himself. But things begin to change for Ranmaru when he gets caught up in the action of a zombie shoot being done by the university's Film Studies Club. Pessimistic Ranmaru insists that everything was his fault before passing out from the shock of seeing a zombie. He then wakes up in the company of the Art Squad, where he continues to be shocked by the strange and eccentric people around him. Ryuuji briefly explains the role of the Art Squad before promptly putting Ranmaru to work, tasking him to fold 100 paper cranes in exchange for them nursing him to health. Ranmaru quickly falls into another bout of pessimism and worry as he explains many different situations that were his fault. Concluding that he would only be trouble for the Art Squad, Ranmaru flees but not before pointing out a crack in the ceiling. Izumi notices that Ranmaru was able to finish folding 20 paper cranes despite all the commotion.

Back home, Ranmaru discovers his cousin, Soh, upset that her little brother, Riku's pet chewed her cell phone strap plushie.

Ryuuji finds Ranmaru again on campus and drags him back to the Art Squad. Ryuuji forces Ranmaru to sit and observe as the Art Squad works. Ryuuji also encourages Ranmaru to strive to evolve, which moves Ranmaru. Before he can respond, however, Ranmaru is reminded of the time and attempts to run back home to prepare dinner. Ryuuji chases after him but they are interrupted by the sound of the skylight breaking from a fallen branch in the storm. The branch crushes the model town that the Art Squad was working on for the school's movie festival. Ranmaru has thoughts that it was his fault since he noticed the insecure skylight in the first place and even noticed the storm worsening. He is also inspired by Ryuuji's word to evolve and dashes back home to get supplies in order to help the Squad fix the broken set.

It is briefly shown that Ranmaru had made a toy for Riku and had fixed Soh's cell phone plushie. Ranmaru apologizes for being unable to cook dinner and runs back to the Art Squad with a box of supplies. He provides creative ideas to restore the set and works quickly as the other members are impressed with his skills. Ryuuji asks Ranmaru about the full stories of those situations that ended badly supposedly because of Ranmaru. It is revealed that it was actually the bad attitudes of other people that made the situations bad. They both come to the conclusion that the Art Squad is a place where Ranmaru belongs.

## Characters

* Ranmaru Kurisu
* Ruka Enjoji
* Ryuuji Gouda
* Tomu Tenba
* Izumi Samura
* Maasa Rokubu
* Soh Kobora
* Riku Kobora