"Last night I sleep really well!"
Tanaka woke up groggy, a satisfied smile lingering on his face.
An entire summer vacation...
It was the first time he'd had such a perfect chance to relax!
With both parents out of the house, it meant one thing:
Freedom!
A private home, just for him!
"Is too bad..."
Even though he was young, he hadn't managed to stay up all night.
What time did he crash? 4 a.m.? Maybe 5?
He couldn't remember.
Grabbing his phone, he checked the time—12:30 p.m.
Ah, youth. Just a few hours of sleep, and he was fully recharged, brimming with energy.
"Good thing my parents didn't call to check in."
If they had, nothing could've woken him up in that state.
Explaining it later would've been bad, his mom will kill him.
He made instant noodles and brushed his teeth while waiting.
His stomach growled.
After all, he'd played game the entire night without eating breakfast. Feeling hungry was only natural.
But...
"I felt like I forgot about something... What was it?"
As the noodles cooked, Tanaka opened his phone's notes app—nothing.
"That is weird. I was sure it was something important... Why can't I remember it?"
He frowned, thinking hard.
What was it?
He was obsessing over it before going to sleep, and staying up last night was partly because of that.
Why couldn't he recall it now?!
Then his eyes inadvertently caught the date: August 1st.
Whoa, was summer vacation already halfway over?
Oh well, July was unbearable anyway—August was a welcome change...
Suddenly, Tanaka's eyes widened as the forgotten memory came flooding back.
"August 1st... Volume 2 of Madoka Magica releases today!"
"Crap!!"
He clutched his head, howling in anguish.
He had planned it perfectly: Stay up all night, go to the bookstore first thing in the morning, grab Volume 2, read it, and then crash.
Now that flawless plan was in shambles—all because he overslept!
The regret was suffocating.
"Well..."
Tanaka sighed. "Forget it."
It was already past noon; the perfect plan had flaws now.
Being a little late didn't matter anymore.
First, food.
He should've felt lucky for waking up late.
After all...
If he had read Volume 2, sleeping would've been a whole other problem.
Twenty minutes later, with stomach full, Tanaka bolted out the door to the nearest bookstore.
"Do you have Madoka Magica Volume 2?"
The shopkeeper, barely lifting his head, lazily replied, "Nope."
"??"
Tanaka couldn't believe it. "What do you mean no?! It's such a hot series!"
"Why run a bookstore if you don't want money?"
The shopkeeper smirked.
"Kid, I'll throw that question right back at you—why want it if you're coming so late?"
"You think I'm lazy? I hadn't even opened the store this morning, and people were already camping outside."
"Within 30 minutes, every copy was gone."
"Of course I stocked up—it just sold out that fast."
What?!
Were people seriously that crazy?
Camping outside before opening and clearing out an entire store in under half an hour?!
[TL Note – You never know how much passion otaku in Japan have…..]
Even wild animals don't go that hard!
Tanaka wanted to call the shopkeeper's story nonsense but then remembered his own plan.
Had he not fallen asleep, he would've left at 8 a.m. himself.
"Damn... they thought the same thing as me!"
Teeth gritted, he turned to leave.
The shopkeeper called out.
"Looking for other stores?"
Tanaka's face gave it away.
"Don't bother. Every store with stock has already sold out."
"If you really want it, wait for the second shipment."
"When's that?"
"With Shueisha's efficiency? Probably by noon tomorrow."
Tomorrow in noon?!
Tanaka's face darkened.
That might as well be never!
Waiting until tomorrow? Was he supposed to die out of frustration?!
No way.
Tanaka stormed out.
If this store didn't have it, maybe some other store would.
But experience proved the shopkeeper is right.
Tanaka searched every nearby bookstore under the blazing sun.
The only thing he gained was drenched clothes and the same answer: "Wait until tomorrow."
"DAMN IT!!"
He roared in powerless fury.
Was he really going to give up?!
Desperation lit a spark in his brain, spinning faster than it ever did during exams.
Then—
"I know!"
Tanaka's eyes gleamed as two familiar faces appeared in his mind: Tadakuni and Tabata!
Maybe... just maybe...
With trembling hands and a racing heart, he dialed.
Tadakuni answered, sounding half-dead, like a fish without a dream.
"Tanaka? What's up?"
"Madoka Magica Volume 2! Did you get it?!"
"...!!"
Tadakuni's voice became booming. "Wait—did you miss it?!"
"I overslept! No time for that—do you have it or not?!"
Tadakuni glanced at the lifeless Tabata sprawled on the tatami like a corpse, his soul visibly drifting out.
"Tanaka? Is that you?" Tabata whispered faintly.
At his feet, the coveted Madoka Magica Volume 2 lay scattered across the floor.
A sinister smile spread across Tadakuni's face.
"I have it~"
His voice dripped with false sweetness.
But Tanaka, overjoyed by the confirmation, missed the ominous tone.
"You're at home? Don't move! I'm coming right now!!"
"I'll be waiting~"
After hanging up, Tadakuni's smile vanished.
He glanced at the "corpse" on the floor, dragged it to another room, and tidied up.
Looking at the ominous manga on the floor, he muttered,
"Don't blame me, Tanaka... You chose this fate."
With a wicked grin, he whispered:
"Kehehehe."
Ten minutes later.
Thudding footsteps.
The door flew open.
A sweat-soaked Tanaka stood there, eyes glowing green, and hands outstretched.
"Quick where is it!"
"Give me Madoka Magica! I can't wait another second!"
"Tch."
Tadakuni reluctantly handed over the manga.
"Here—take it already."