I used to hate my own name.
It's associated with one of the four Heroes that fell fighting the Vertexes,
Takashima Yuuna.
The name Yuuna is given to children who make a specific gesture after birth.
I have no idea what that gesture means.
But what I know is that children named Yuuna...
Are seen as somewhat special.
*Looked* at as someone special.
Those gazes are a curse.
They'd make me impudent, drive me crazy, be filled with scorn,
make me anxious, make me furious...
They made me suffer.
But, having met Lily, I managed to accept them.
Both my name and the everpresent hold of gazes directed at me.
It's... a bit embarrassing to explain why exactly, so I won't say it.
However...
If there was a Yuuna other than the two us...
How would she be living, I wonder?
What would she think of the name Yuuna?
Hero History Revelations: Fuyou Yuuna becomes a storyteller.
Episode 2:
Bon appetit!
Deeply delightful!
This place makes some great udon!
Am I actually seeing a real case of "makes me want to empty my head and just eat"...?
Apparently, this place has been using Kagawa-made flour since the Christian Era.
We should put that in our records of the Christian Era!
Thanks for the food.
Already!?
So, what was that about you possibly having found another Yuuna?
Wait, wait! I'm almost done!
That was great...
Now... To start off, I must first explain to you the concept of the Yuuna network.
Yuuna... network?
A social network only people named Yuuna can join!
That's a thing!?
I made it!
Huh?
You see, Yuzuki-kun, I got an idea around the time we two met.
"Could there be quite a lot more people named Yuuna other than us?"
Then I set up a server and used some open-source tools
to create an invite-only social network exclusively for Yuunas!
You made your own social network!?
Lily, you... Really know how to waste your brainpower!
I'd say I put it to good use!
Well... Not that anyone joined it...
My mom told me before that there aren't really a lot of people who have that name.
An utterly uncharacteristic oversight...
After that, I forgot about the website and abandoned it.
But when I checked it for the first time in a while, there was a request to join!
So, someone named Yuuna?
Yeah! Her name's Suzuki Yuuna, apparently.
Yesterday, I sent that Suzuki Yuuna a message.
She'll respond any moment now!
The next day.
SHE DIDN'T RESPOND!
Insanely infuriating! She's not responding! Why!?
What does this mean!? Does this Suzuki Yuuna not want to become a friend of ours!?
Hey, don't take your anger out on the hamburger!
You're gonna choke on it!
Half of the blood that runs through my veins is American, so hamburgers are my soul food!
As if I would ever choke on one!
COUGH
Here, a drink!
Still...
Why isn't she responding?
It hasn't even been a day yet, right?
Try waiting instead of jumping to conclusions.
Good point.
One more day later.
Still nothing!
Grings my gears!
Udon's great!
Can you either seethe or eat, not both at once?
It's only been two days, wait a little longer.
Another day later.
STILL NOTHING!
Resoundingly rage-inducing!
Takoban is so good!
T/N: Takoban - fusion of takoyaki and oobanyaki made in western Kagawa
It's almost like takoyaki, but this texture...
The mayonnaise, nori and bonito flakes on top...
Is this dish an evolution of takoyaki?
An aberration of okonomiyaki?
It's ever a mystery for me.
Right?
Now how about you listen to me instead of talking about food!?
I want to finish it before it goes cold!
Takoban costs 150 or even 200 a piece!
I rarely ever get it!
Yu-Yuzuki-kun...'
I'm sorry... Enjoy it to your heart's content... Do you want one more?
Why are you all teary-eyed now!?
It's not like I can't eat these because I'm too poor!
I just don't buy them because I can make them myself when I want to!
Yuzuki-kun! How decidedly dastardly of you to flaunt your household skills like that!
That's unfair! I lost...
Were we competing...?
I only have money to my name, but you have household skills!
You're definitely worth more points!
I lost...
Again, what are we even competing in?
Okay, but really, why isn't she responding?
Lily, I've been thinking, didn't you say you abandoned that Yuuna network?
How long has it been since Suzuki Yuuna messaged you?
Oh, it was two months ago.
...Huh?
Two months ago.
ARE YOU STUPID!?
You left it there for two months, why would she ever respond to you after so long!?
Huuuh!? Why!? Naze!?
She submitted a request to join your shady site and got no response,
why wouldn't she assume it was a prank or a scam?
It's been two months, of course she forgot about it already!
Shady!?
Just forget it, Suzuki Yuuna probably won't respond.
Though I am curious about other Yuunas, too...
What?
I will not give up! My spirit is infinitely indomitable!
Yuzuki-kun! We're meeting at my place, right now!
W-What's gotten into you?
I'm home!
Excuse me...
Let's boot the PC up...
What's the idea?
If Suzuki Yuuna managed to find my Yuuna network,
she most likely frequents the Web to some degree.
Meaning...
On the Internet, there are microblogs, blogs, imageboards, video hosting sites and so on.
All social networks of some sort.
So, if we look up the name Suzuki Yuuna across them all...
See?
Ooh, you found a few accounts!
Now we cross out the ones that changed usernames in the past, it's likely not their real name.
That cut quite a lot out.
Now let's see the contents of their posts.
If it's the same person, we should see the same posting habits across different platforms.
Take a look, Yuzuki-kun.
That's one evil grin...
This Suzuki Yuuna on different platforms is most likely one person.
She must be the same person that messaged us!
And now, let's analyze the photos she has posted.
Photo scenery, utility poles, manholes and houses are a geolocation treasure trove...
Let's run the reflections on glass objects, people's glasses and eyes through AI...
The reflected items are yet another hint.
From the post time we can derive her behaviour patterns,
From her posts themselves we can guess her age, area of activities and daily routine.
I see...
She's a pretty eccentric Takashima Yuuna freak.
Freaky... Lily keeps digging up info from her social media!
Brr... She'd be a real danger if I ever got on her bad side...
Yuzuki-kun, I got it!
G-Got what?
Let's open a map...
Suzuki Yuuna lives in Ehime, around here.
She's in middle school, like we are.
We can guess her school based on her address and area of activities.
From her friend list and follows we can get an idea of who she associates with.
You can learn that much?
Yikes.
Wait, why are you creeped out?
Have you considered putting those skills to better use?
Wait... Huh?
What's wrong?
This name she has in her friends...
You know her?
Well that's handy!
We can approach Suzuki Yuuna through that acquaintance of yours!
Not quite an acquaintance...
In elementary school, I was both naive and reckless.
Adults who knew the Christian Era would often link the name Yuuna to Takashima Yuuna,
so I got some attention because of my athletic skills.
And I deluded myself into thinking it was because of my own strength.
That girl and her team were the ones to shatter that delusion.
I've only met them once, but heard rumours of their exploits afterwards.
Wanna go somewhere on the way back?
Look at how petite and cute that girl is!
Pardon me! Pardon me, I say!
We're not here to challenge them!
A remarkably rapid reaction!
Try not to attract so much attention! This isn't our school, they'll just kick us out!
We're sneaking into another school here! If we don't show enough spirit,
they'll surround us and beat us to a pulp!
Have you been watching too many delinquent movies?
Uh...
Yuzuki-san, is that you?
Uh, yes, I am.
Ninomiya-san, right?
Yeah...
I'm Yuzuki-kun's best friend, Fuyou Lilienthal Yuuna!
You're Ninomiya-san, right?
The one who trounced my Yuzuki-kun in elementary school?
We're here to take revenge for that day!
NO WE'RE NOT!
Really?
What the hell are you talking about!?
Don't pinch my cheeks!
I was pretty surprised when you messaged me out of the blue.
How did you know my contact details?
We were looking for someone and your social media account happened to pop up.
Do you know of anyone named Suzuki Yuuna in this school?
Suzuki Yuuna...? Oh, could it be...
You know her!?
Well, we are in the same class.
Please, introduce us!
Alright...
I'll introduce you if Yuzuki-san beats me.
Beat you?
One on one.
Go for it! Go for it! Yuzuki-kun!
Yuzuki-san, why did you quit your basketball club?
I've heard rumours that you quit basketball after that match.
What, your spirit broke after you lost to us? You're a lot more fragile than I thought.
A feint!?
She slipped up, now's my chance!
It's in...
A three-pointer...
Third loss in a row...
Yuzuki-kun, that was incredible!
I just got lucky.
And my team in elementary only beat yours because we got lucky too, Yuzuki-san.
Okay, but really, why did you quit basketball?
I didn't think any results would come out of it even if I continued playing.
Results, huh...
Most of my team at the time quit basketball for the same reason.
I mean, if you become the best in Shikoku, there's nowhere further to go.
Did you know? In the old era, people aimed to be the best in Japan and even the world!
Yeah, we don't have anything like that these days.
Yeah. This world is so small.
Okay, I lost, so time to do good on my promise. I'll bring her here.
It was fun to play against you, Yuzuki-san.
Ninomiya-san!
Hm?
I don't think it matters what stage you shine on, Japan or world or whatever!
What you do has a meaning for yourself and your surroundings!
So be it just Shikoku or the whole world, it doesn't matter!
The most important result is what you've accomplished for yourself!
Lily...
Fuyou-san...
You say some very mature things for a kid.
Huh? Kid?
Thanks.
I'll go get that "Suzuki Yuuna". Wait here, alright?
Though I don't think she'll be the person you two are expecting...
Huh? What do you mean?
A kid...
Yuzuki-kun and I are the same age!
Um...
Hm?
Ninomiya-san told me to come here...
We've been waiting! So you're Suzuki Yuuna, yes?
Eh?
Uh, well...
Sorry, I'm not!
...Eh?
Um, my name is Yokote Suzu!