AN: Heyo! Skip this chapter if you don't want to read the recap + notes!
Man it's been quite the journey...reading back on these stories- it's been long enough to the point where I actually forgot what happened so I find myself smiling like a dork at some stupid plot twist.
Things I've noticed over the months is that...well. I wouldn't say my writing has got better, at least not by a whole lot, but it sure as hell got easier. Something about typing away on good old' cherry MX blue switches at 2AM seemed to have tuned my brain so that it's prime time for fanfic writing.
Same chair, same desk, same room but it's just not the same when it's day: day is for math and programming. Now that I think about it, kinda should be the other way around but that's besides the point.
25 chapters in and I can honestly say this has been very therapeutic for me. Trying to put myself in other people's shoes (it's a bit easier since they're teenagers) and all this world-building has seriously made me feel not so empty inside, y'know? I mean, it is at the cost of not being able to sleep because you're trying to connect all the dots; why didn't he do that and what if this happened to him and yadada...I could've sworn I almost had a seizure trying to do all four parts of Nanami Aoyama mini series.
But it's totally fucking worth it, and I have no clue where this series will go. It's so strange being able to control where a work of fiction will go, isn't it? I think I'm speaking on behalf of most people when we're kind of just watching a show or reading a book knowing that it's already ended or will end. And you have no say in it.
I'll be honest, this definitely has a chance of being abandoned and never finished. But, either way, it was an honour and still will be for as long as this series lasts.
I think I have some notes here about the general story so far...
Numbers do not represent chapters because some chapters are just filler (does not contribute to the advancement of the plot).
1. Story takes place right after the anime ended; Mashiro wants to get laid
2. Mashiro manages to get Eromanga inside a brown paper bag like she had just done a drug deal. Aoyama teaches Mashiro how to masturbate (also Aoyama's bisexual apparently)
3. Sorata makes a plan to submit his game to Japan's Indie Game of the Month, but needs assets. Cue Mashiro's artistic genius.
4. Oops, sudden beach episode! The residents of Sakurasou (Misaki and Jin, alumni are very much welcomed) get hammered on the beach. Mashiro ends up brawling with Aoyama who admits she's incredible jealous of Mashiro.
5. Chapter 5, we learn that Mashiro was hated by her peers back in England because of her talent, which was why she moved. At least for a while.
6. Sorata barters one Sunday date for some assets for his game towards Mashiro, who obviously accepts without a moments hesitation.
7. Meanwhile, Aoyama's working again as a temporary motion capture character. Her performance, motivated by her feelings towards Sorata, was so perfect that Fujisawa ends up giving her a bigger role. Rita, Ryuunosuke, Mashiro and Sorata end up going on a double date by coincidence (well the three of them (Aoyama, Rita and Ryuunosuke) did leave to spy on Mashiro and Sorata's date, Aoyama had to work after and Rita and Ryuunosuke might as well enjoy the Sunday together), when the four of them get the news of Aoyama's promotion. Also Rita trips over.
8. Aoyama's promotion hotpot Sunday special let's goooo. They get drunk again, and Sorata, Mashiro and Aoyama have a fun night. Rita and Ryuunosuke too.
9. Rita trips again, this time down the stairs. The residents of Sakurasou end up leaving school to check on her at the hospital, but she's fine.
10. Filler, but Sorata and Aoyama smoke weed together. I like these little comfi moments like that which is why it's in there I guess. Rain + best friend + a joint = sounds like a pretty good night to me.
11. As per their deal, Mashiro helps Sorata with his game! They decide to skip school and by the end of the day, it's finally finished!
12. The next day they present their game at the Indie Game of the Month convention area, and their game gets ignored so hard which devastates Sorata, and Mashiro indirectly. They eat McDonalds at a hiking trail and go home.
13. Beginning of Nanami Aoyama 4 parter, Sorata and Mashiro get home, Mashiro has to work on her redraws, but Sorata gets pulled into the bathroom by Aoyama where she has sex with him. She admits she was raped by Fujisawa.
14. Beginning of Hase's mundane life, how she likes to read, she doesn't like other people and is a mega introvert. Himemiya is trying to get her attention but is shot down.
15. The next day, Sorata visits the girl who recorded what happened to Aoyama (as she told him last night). Instead of calling her out for not doing anything or not calling the police, he's very understanding and just wants the video.
16. Sorata meets up with Mashiro and they meet Fujisawa at his house. They show their cards to one another and Sorata and Mashiro walk away, powerless to do anything. But that night, after Sorata and Aoyama fight, they realize Fujisawa was bluffing with the blackmail footage.
17. Before Fujisawa is about to go to court and jail, he meets with Sorata at the hiking trail one last time (oh, but didn't Sorata call Aoyama to come meet him there? Weird) which is where Sorata saves Aoyama from getting stabbed. Fujisawa dies at the hands of Aoyama but Sorata is badly injured.
18. After the news that of the murder in self-defense, Mashiro is forced to go back home to England, Rita and Ryuunosuke as well. On the night before her flight, Sorata meets Aoyama at Sakurasou and they kiss.
19. Mashiro is at England, at another art interview, when she runs into a homeless looking boy her age. Meanwhile, Aoyama followed Sorata all the way up some mountains where they could meet with a famous ex-game developer who improves Sorata's game as well as tells them both about the story of why he's left society (he made a super addicting game, more like a drug than a game. He killed a lot of people as a result of his games and couldn't bear the guilt).
20. Aoyama also had to move back home for the summer vacation (and because her parents found out that a murder took place, but they don't know that she killed him and she killed her rapist) , but they get into a heated fight and she ends up walking all the way back to Sorata's hospital, where she finds out he escaped before he's supposed to. She reads the notes he left behind and follows where they say he'll be.
