Twin Spica

The Distant Dawn

A collection of sixteen short stories by Yukinobu Hoshino, spanning genres from science fiction and fantasy to psychological drama and romance. The tales explore a wide range of themes, including adventure, mystery, and the supernatural, often set in imaginative and thought-provoking scenarios. From a distant dawn and a steel queen to escape from wastelands and a funeral convoy, each story presents a unique conflict. Characters face challenges such as a call from afar, a whiteout, amazons of the river, and the Carneades plan, navigating through algae, lightning strikes, and the emperor of winter.

Samuku naru to Kata wo Yosete

A college student begins dating a girl who may be feeding him bugs. A painter is seduced by his patron to create his masterpiece. A demon in training develops a crush on a human girl at the video rental store. Two boys bond over their shared love of movies. These are just a few of the stories collected in this anthology by Kenya Suzuki. Loneliness is a common thread that ties these tales together, yet each one carries a secret hope that warmth can be shared between people. Love takes many forms, but it is never easy, and the characters must navigate the complexities of connection in a world tinged with the supernatural and the strange.

Natsu wo Shiranai Kodomotachi: Yamamoto Kazune Sakuhinshu

A collection of short stories by Kazune Yamamoto, spanning works created between 2008 and 2021, including new material. The tales explore moments of connection and loss in everyday life, often tinged with the supernatural or futuristic elements. In one story, children who have never experienced summer navigate a world changed by an unknown event. Another follows a woman on a mysterious galactic train journey. From a monster warning in a small town to a game played under the night sky, each narrative captures fragile human bonds and the things that are being lost.

Mushishi

Mushi are the most fundamental forms of life, existing since the dawn of creation. They are neither plants nor animals, neither good nor evil. They inhabit the shadows behind closed eyelids, the silence of deep forests, and the spaces between life and death. Most people cannot see them, but their influence shapes the world in ways both subtle and devastating. Ginko is a mushishi, a rare individual who can perceive these creatures. He travels from village to village, drawn by rumors of strange occurrences. With a calm demeanor and a sardonic smile, he investigates the mysterious afflictions and wonders that follow in the wake of the mushi. Each encounter brings him face to face with people

The Ancient Magus' Bride

Chise Hatori has spent her fifteen years unwanted and unloved. Abandoned by her father and orphaned by her mother, she has been passed between relatives who never wanted her, until desperation drives her to a slave auction. There, she is presented as a rare Sleigh Beggy, a being with an unusual affinity for magical energies, and sold to the highest bidder. Her buyer is Elias Ainsworth, a mysterious magus with a beast's skull for a head and powers beyond her understanding. He takes her to the English countryside and declares that she will not be his slave, but his apprentice—and his bride. Thrust into a world of fairies, dragons, and ancient magic, Chise begins to learn the ways of a mage.

Aria

On the planet Aqua, once known as Mars, Akari Mizunashi arrives in the city of Neo-Venezia, a faithful recreation of ancient Venice. She leaves behind her life on Manhome, formerly Earth, drawn by the rustic charm of a town where gondolas glide through winding canals and technology has not erased a simpler way of living. Her dream is to become an Undine, a professional gondolier who guides visitors through the city's waterways. To achieve this, Akari joins the Aria Company as a trainee. There she works alongside other aspiring Undines from rival companies, learning the skills of her trade while discovering the quiet beauty and hidden wonders of Neo-Venezia. Each day brings new encounters, f